The World's Redeemer

"...and he saw in Jesus the world's redeemer."

The words hit me. Do I see in Jesus the world's redeemer? The question may seem a little odd. Of course I believe that; if I didn't, why am I working to tell others about Jesus? Maybe that isn't the right question. A better question would be what does it mean for Jesus to be the world's redeemer? I get it that we have sold ourselves, rather cheaply, to sin and we are so deep in bondage that Jesus through his death got us out of bondage and now through Jesus we are free. But has that understanding impacted how I relate to people? Is my character being changed day to day because Christ is the world's redeemer? All of these thoughts were going through my mind.

I believe with all my heart that Jesus is my redeemer. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has redeemed me. Without him I would be empty, broken, and lost. As I work with people who are just that (empty, broken, and lost) how does that translate? Jesus loves those people so deeply. I am coming to believe that a true understanding of Jesus as our redeemer will translate into sacrifice so that others will know that they too can have freedom. It is modelling Jesus to others so they can see that there is hope in this world. Not only that but coming to love those people wanting nothing but to see them in the kingdom of heaven the man or woman that God intended them to be. It translates into death of self so that others too can have salvation. Being a Christian is so much more than believing in Jesus; being a Christian means death to self.

The sentence I started with is from Acts of the Apostles and it is referring to Nicodemus. Though he was wealthy and respected he gave up all of that to follow Christ. He gave all his wealth to further the Gospel. Those who hed respected him ridiculed him. Though he died poor he died faithful. Believing Jesus is the world's redeemer has to be more than intellectual.

God's Way

Three weeks ago this Sunday my church held a health expo. Long before the actual day of the health expo we had a planning committee and all but one person quit and said that it was too much and they didn't have a clue what they were doing. This was a bit discouraging but I pressed on. Much prayer and effort went into putting together the expo and on the day of six people came through but I had perfect peace about the whole thing. This was not the case a few hours before. In fact due to stress my immune system was down and I ended up getting very sick; which lasted for about a week after the expo. So that being said my body was aching and I was not feeling well the day of the expo. But God blessed in an unusual way. I had run out of money and couldn't buy ink for my printer to print some of the forms needed. My parents were coming to help and they graciously bought me ink but they didn't make it until about 1/2 hour before I needed to be at the site to set up. Ink cartridge in and I'm ready to go but my printer is not cooperating. I try everything but there is error after error. I sent everyone over to the site to set up while I mess with the printer. One page printing! Every once in awhile someone would call and ask a question. I was so thankful I wasn't over there because from the phone calls I could tell people were frustrated and my being over there wasn't going to help their frustration (I could tell because of the nature of the situation). This was such a blessing. By the time I got over there they had solved the problem and I had taken the time to pray and surrender the health expo to God. 

Before all of this while advertising there was a mix up. We were hosting a blood drive at the same time and had agreed on a time. I had posters printed up: Health Expo from 3 - 6. Then I received the Blood Drive posters: Blood Drive from 1 - 5. Well this was a bit of an issue. So we set up and were ready to go about 1:30ish. I have learned to be flexible because we can plan and things rarely run exactly as planned. But God knew this. He saw this coming. We were outside under tents and around 4:45 the rain clouds started forming. At 5 it was down pouring. We had most everything packed up by the time the rains hit. Praise God for moving the time.

Monday we began a cooking class. A few days before this a person was telling me how I needed to advertise more and when they did stuff they always managed to fill the church with complete strangers. They also said that if I didn't advertise more then the cooking class is going to turn out like the expo and they'd be discouraged if they were in my spot. I learned something. It is always important to realize that people are not you and they do things differently and situations  are different and before you take the time to criticize someone you should take the time to find out why they are doing something the way the are and offer aid instead of criticism. Was the person correct? Absolutely! I do need to advertise more. But when I asked for help in organizing stuff no one stepped forward. That aside on the way home I prayed and prayed and prayed. So by the time Monday night rolled around I was excited. It didn't matter if anyone showed up I knew that God wanted us to do a cooking class and if we are faithful that is what matters. Numbers is not the important thing. So three people came. 

God brought the right three people. The one was a church member and her cousin. The other was a food columnist for the local paper. She couldn't figure out why more people weren't there so she posted on her facebook about the class to try and get more people. No one came. So the next day she interviewed me about the class and various other things and their will be an article in the paper this weekend. God is always faithful and despite trials and difficulties it is important to walk with him in surrender and complete dependence. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged about the circumstances but we need only to look to Jesus and He will pull us through.

Seeing God

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

I've been thinking a lot about this verse a lot lately. If I look to myself I see a lot of impurities. I would be utterly lost if it weren't for the saving grace of Jesus. As I've mediated on this verse I've realized what a precious promise it is. There is no way in this world that I can have a pure heart but as I keep my eyes on Jesus he purifies my heart. The things that I once loved are no longer appealing. Things that were a struggle because I loved those things as I look to Jesus I see them in a new light and my desire for those things fade. it is in Christ that victories can be found. It is by beholding Jesus that as he purifies or hearts we see him clearer and clearer.

Clip-clop, clip-clop

Clip-clop, clip-clop, the sound of a horse and buggy can be heard from the bedroom window as the Amish drive by. I look down at the brown horse and black buggy. The sound seems to be more common than the sound of cars. "Where are they going in weather like this?" I wonder as the wind whistles and the snow falls in little flakes. I have moved to Amish country. Instead of deer crossing at night, though there is that danger too, the more common thing to watch out for is a horse and buggy barely visible with the little lantern that the have hanging on the buggy.

The other I went to the Amish dry goods store about five minutes away. I missed it the first time because my only sign that I was at the right place was D.E.E. on the mailbox. I pulled into the driveway and parked the car. The sign on the door said "open" so I walked into the little dry goods store connected to the house. There were bags of flour, sugar, and oats stacked up on the floor along the wall. There was one wall of shelves and then halfway in the room was another shelving unit. On those shelves was so many goodies. I found what I came for and wandered around some more because no one was there to check out my order. Finally a girl came in. She stoked the fire and said "winter-land has returned." It took me a minute to understand what she was saying because of her thick accent. The day before had been 62 but you wouldn't have guessed it by the wind and snow.

When I left the little shop a young man was hitching up the buggy and a little boy, lunch-pail in hand was next to him. As I started backing down the driveway the kid ran down to meet a bunch of other boys. As I drove off they all raced after my car. I felt a little out of place as if I too should be wearing a bonnet and dress and riding in a buggy.

That day there were many Amish out and about. I had heard whisperings of a funeral, which are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but nothing concrete. "I saw some buggies by the pond, maybe it was _____________ boy, did he break through the ice?" "No I heard it was one of the English (non Amish), the ice broke off and the Amish boy threw his shoes on land and swam across to get help." In the end I don't know what it was but as I fell asleep it was to the sound of clip-clop, clip-clop.

Looking at Jesus

 It started sometime last year; I decided to read the Bible chronologically alongside the Conflict of the Ages Series. This has been such a blessing to me and has helped me to understand the Bible more and where things fit in. Somewhere during the course of reading I felt a lack in my life. I wanted to know Jesus more. I desired more than ever before to reflect God's character. Each day we as Christians should be drawing closer to Jesus day by day. Walking with Him and talking with Him. Beyond that talking of Him.

When I finished Prophets and Kings I was so excited to begin the gospels. I am trying to go slowly learning and digesting rather than rushing through things. This morning I was reading about the temptations. Jesus met every temptation with a "It is written..." and when He was younger and his brothers wanted him to do something he shouldn't he met them with a "thus saith the Lord..." Throughout His whole life Jesus was saturated with the scriptures. He loved God and therefore loved the Word of God. He spent time learning the word of God so that He knew God and would know the will of God and so He could meet temptation. It so important that we look to Jesus as our example how to live. Just as he faced temptation young and old with scripture we can do the same thing. Whatever our situation demands there is a promise and/or command for us. When we are faced with temptation we should do as Jesus and turn our faces to God and lean on His word to help us overcome!

Verse for this week: "Deliver me in your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline your ear to me, and save me." - Ps 71:2 NKJV

God's Appointment

Yesterday I began my new "job," I'm actually a volunteer for a month and we shall see what happens after that, and I was supposed to meet Pastor McNeil at the church at 12pm. Everything was starting off to great day. My car was packed as I hopped in a half an hour before I needed to leave. I had planned to make a slight detour to say good-bye to a friend and then be on my way. I started up the car and slowly took m... the tires were spinning. My car was sitting on a patch of ice. I dug out in front of the tires, I dug out behind the tires, I put salt down, I pushed and pushed, and still the tires spun. No matter what I tried I could not make the car budge. Much prayer was going into this as the minutes ticked away.

As I was praying I was reminded of  Elijah and Mt. Carmel. As Elijah was praying for rain it didn't come the first time nor the second but it took seven times before he saw any evidence that there was going to be rain. By the time Elijah prayed the seventh time he was completely emptied of self. Was this one of those times? I prayed instead that God would empty me of me and be filled with Him. 

The car did not miraculously move the next time I started the car but I got an idea. One of those "brilliant" ideas. I left my car in first and pushed and pushed. My car began to inch forward and because it was in first I quickly made my way around the car grabbed the door and jumped in to pull the emergency brake and pull the car out of gear just as the car made its way into a bucket and a plow. Thankfully nothing was damaged except for my license plate which is a little bent up. 

Then I realized that my car was stuck again. I was actually enjoying this. It was a puzzle something that needed to be solved. Praying and pushing and digging forty five minutes from the time I first turned the key I was on my way. I called the Pastor to tell him I was late and I found out he too had been stuck in his driveway and was going to be late. 

The most exciting part of the day came a few hours later. Pastor McNeil was showing me one of the churches when a man with two kids walked up to us. We began chatting and during the conversation it was brought up that he was the man that mows the grass (the church has been dead for awhile but the pastor has plans of starting it again.) We told him we were going to be starting the church up again and it would be on Friday evenings. The man was interested in coming to church because it was only two doors down from his house and it would be more convenient than going to the next town over to go to church. We got his name and number and will be visiting him soon. God's timing is precisely perfect. Had our cars not gotten stuck the pastor and I might have been at the Salamanca church earlier and missed the meeting with the man. It is better to let God organize our day; our appointments may get a little messed up but we will make it for all of His.

I just wanted to add that the verse I was memorizing last week was Psalm 71:1

In you, O Lord, I put my trust. Let me never be put to shame. -NKJV

I think that it is a fitting verse to describe this experience. 

A Busy Week and Verse 5

This week has been a busy week between Kindergartners, a Birthday Party, baskets, and a Bible Study. I really enjoy busy weeks because Sabbath is all the more sweeter. I remember thinking on Tuesday, "I can't wait till Sabbath because it is going to be great." Then I remembered that Sabbath was going to be full as well but I think it will be just as sweet. A midst all of  this busyness I have not been on the computer to write down what last weeks verse was. I have to admit that it was a challenge for me to memorize but well worth it.

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. - Nehemiah 9:17

Now one may be thinking why in the world I would choose that verse. Well during my morning devotions two Sundays ago I came across this verse. I wanted to memorize a verse that highlighted God's character and made it plain. This verse did just that and while it is talking about the rebellion of the Israelites it  further illustrates the depth of God's grace. I realized that God's love is so deep who can know its depths.I want to memorize verses that will point me to the character of God because by beholding we become changed and I want my character to be like God's character.

Bible Verse 4

This past week it was really difficult to pick a verse. I am not sure why since there are so many amazing verses and all would be helpful in my walk with God and in sharing God with others. Needless to say it took until Wednesday to decide that I wanted to memorize Proverbs 16:3.

Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. - Proverbs 16:3 NKJV

The reason that I settled on this verse is that I have trouble being decisive, as is evidenced by my difficulty in choosing a verse. So I choose Proverbs 16:3 because it shows me that my responsibility is to commit my works to God. He takes the responsibility in establishing my thoughts. In other words I determine to do God's will, whatever that may be, He is the one that changes my thoughts to be according to His will. So when I've determined to do His will I'll be working in His plans and I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm making the wrong choice because I am committed to doing God's will. If God doesn't want me to do something He will put a stop to it because I want to follow Him and have committed to do so. It helps one be a little more decisive because God will lead and guide me as long as I submit to Him. It has helped me make a decision about where to go from here. I am going to proceed and commit my plan to the Lord and He will lead and guide me and make it clear if this is the way. (If any of this thinking is off base or have something to add please show me because I'm not sure if I 100% understand this verse completely and it would be much appreciated)

Bible Verse 2/3

This past week I had been struggling with something and I know that sin really starts in the mind. God had been showing me this and then the pastor preached on that very topic. His scripture reading was 2 Corinthians 10:4,5. I decided to memorize those verses. It was such a blessing because God helped me every time my mind started to wander to places it shouldn't be I started to quote this verse.

 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

It reminded me that the real battle lies in our minds. worship is really about who we are going to serve. True service starts in our minds. I want my mind to be fully submitted to God and for Him to change all of the pathways of bad habits and thoughts to pathways of good habits and thoughts. It is good to know that we are not alone. We do have help and that is through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bible Verse 1

After reading a friend's blog about memorizing 1 verse a week this year I decided to take up the challenge. This first verse is actually from last week.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 

I discovered this verse about 14 months ago. I was at a weekend retreat and the special music was the song  "I am Crucified with Christ." As I listened to the words of the song I had a desire to find the song. Instead of finding the song I found Galatians 2:20. It is such a beautiful verse about our lives once we accept Christ. When we begin walking with God we are crucified with Christ. The old self becomes dead and we have new life because it is Christ living in us. It isn't some mystical force controlling us or dwelling in our bodies but the day by day looking to Jesus that changes us. We live by faith. We live by faith that Christ has redeemed our sins and that He is and will give us victory over our sins. We live by faith that He is changing our character. We walk in newness of life because Christ is changing our thought patterns. Why does do this? Because, he loved me and gave himself for me.