Grace Shields

Have you ever felt the power of God come on you in the form of a grace shield? The day is overwhelming, your body eats a schedule with its regulated doses of anxious torment and your spirit experiences soreness until God bursts in with His love over you. It's like a warrior jealous for you to know a secret plan of war and the revealing promise of endless days of peace afterward. Rejuvilation in action.

True Beauty

Arguments in my head were leading me into that prison of self-pity. I left my house for a break from my studying. I decided I would walk the pain away. As I was going my Jesus called to me. He said "Andrea. Andrea walk with me." He was drawing me, comforting my soul. The rain had been pouring in a small storm. When it was ended I walked down the street in tears, in anguish of heart. All of my reasonings weren't accurate, I knew. A puddle of muddy water below me, I gazed into it. The clouds were reflected in it. I looked above me and saw the real thing. Gorgeous. I looked back down at the puddle, now I saw that the reflection could not compare to the real thing. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know...." (1Cor.13:12) I was looking at my circumstance through a glass. God wanted me to see how glorious His plan for me, out of that darkness really would be.

Preaching Jesus

It was in Las Vegas. Two men stood at the crosswalks boldly proclaiming Christ to hundreds of silenced people slowly shuffling the sidewalks. The men were sweating for the Gospel in the heat of that glorious day. Was their message in vain, though? It looked to be. The crowds were packed against the other like a full glass jar of marbles. "Come to Jesus. He can set you free." No one else joined them. Not one voice was raised against them. Could the people hear? Yes. Did they? I don't know. The message was the same as it has always been. Many diverse people. One single need. These men were living their Christianity. It was heroic, but it is simple obedience. Preaching Jesus is like every other obedient act toward God. Jesus wants our obedience.

Revival is here!

God's power is working. Let's rejuvilate the church!

Gina

A friend in Christ. Now a missionary. She had a way of enlightening me to the person of Jesus. Gina showed me how to picture Him, and understand how he really feels about me - she'd never tell me - she let me fill in. Her purpose: that I might discover Him for myself. I'll never forget that. She always saw me cry tears of joy, though I had come to her with tears of uncertainty. And when I'd smile through my wet face out of realization of God's extravagant love - I saw her own eyes well up with tears.

Work

I care for a client with Alzheimer's disease. My job has humble tasks such as bathing, cleansing, feeding, dressing, turning(change of position), slight upkeep of the home, lots of tlc: these tasks grew me up so much. I know my routine, yet it has variables, the way I speak to her, and assure her. The way I read to her, and chide her to allow me to care for her. When I sing to her, or let go of an "argument." And then there are always the waiting periods. The "waiting" has been for me, a time of solace and joy - because I've made it that way. I'd much rather be for her a joyful presence than a rush-rush care worker, the affliction is hard enough. Alzheimer's maligns its wearers and sheds no tear.

Small Joys

Today I got to read a story to my client and also I read her Psalm 84. I don't know if she understood everything. She is dying, and it's important to me that I be a calming presence to her for the time is short. That is what I've decided I want for her. By God's grace, last night He had given me a similar blessing. I was sitting down next to my two little boy cousins reading to them. They were captivated and hung on every word. Oh! I love what comes of the small joys of life. I marvel at God's handiwork.

Reason behind this blog:

I came up with the title "Rejuvilation" out of creative notion. Some of you may be wondering about why I chose that to describe my blog. For 2 things:

1 Bipolar - When I found out I was bipolar, an illness of 2 "poles" (these being both high and low emotional states) I essentially became new in my person. I was struggling under so many changes. My medications were changed. My personality was strained - stressed and strained. My body was utterly exhausted. My mind was so busy and so burdened. (I'm o.k. now, my meds are perfect for me and I am well!)

2 spiritually - God gave me Himself, the reality of my life is His Presence. His Spirit has comforted me, given me soundness of mind, love so immense, and power - that same power that raised Christ is in me! And I have His Word! I searched and searched and I found Him! I was so broken, but He made me new again.

Purify Me!

Don't you agree that hard words that people say to you whether you think it's of God or of flesh (whether their motives are pure or evil) are beneficial? God uses both to bring out the truth in you. God wants to see you transformed to His likeness. Out of your old pattern and into the new. I don't know about you, but I'm ready. "Purify me!"

Go Before's

The go before to Faith: The transforming work of God in the heart of man.
The go before to Missions: Prayer.
The go before to Confidence: Trust in God.
The go before to Satisfaction: Trust in God.
The go before to Work done for God: Desire after God.
The go before to Ableness: Life by the Spirit.

Brianna whom I babysit 

me 

Go Ye

I've been reading Amy Carmichael's bio. Chance To Die. Interesting to note: Amy got started as a missionary long before she was sent. She worked hard and kept busy. It's amazing how innovative she was, the ideas she had for reaching people in her community, she carried out. And her courage! What no one else was willing or even conceiving of doing, she was doing! She listened to God and went for it, no reservations, and no looking back. Oh to be like her and lose my life to find it in God and His work!

Do You Worry?

For the analysts out there: Our tendancy to "overdo" becomes an encomberance that looks like a blessing. I'll show you what I mean. A task clearing the dining room table, for instance, becomes a "let's see what else we can clear..." so we do the counters, side tables, coffee table, floors, and that's all well and good, but we end up spent. When taken to the extreme, that is, if we overdo the overdoing - before we do it - we become panicked to paralyzation. We are not able to accomplish anything. And the emotional response then would be anger -especially if there's someone pushing you to do more. The others could be feelings of uselessness, an "I don't care" attitude, or maybe you would end up in tears. No matter your situation, there's a spiritual lesson that can be drawn from this.

To analyze can often lead to worrying excessively. In both cases the "doing" or the "sitting" can be problematic, because ultimately we want to get our eyes on things above, on Christ. Prayer does that. Prayer that just has you crying "help" is enough - God meets you there. It should never be forced. Even if you don't say anything to God, but you get your gaze on Him. That's all. That is enough. Try it!

Restrained Elation

It struck at around 2:oopm. "Oh Mother I'm high!" I said with a smile that could not be cast down. I'd made the decision to listen intently - an unspoken thing that I do best when I'm "high". Thoughts were beautiful - pure and beautiful. A taste Christ gives me now of when I'll be with him. I know in a way they must be irritating to others, but for me, liberty. But that liberty must be held back because it's unhealthy now. The "then" Paul talks about is coming, and as a bipolar, I will "see" and "know fully", but now I'm waiting for my King. And I must restrain my elation. (i.e. take medication)

Busy?

Is it really easier to do nothing than to be busy with all sorts of somethings? I would argue that the person who finds himself doing something is more content than the person who is doing nothing. The person doing "nothing" is really working the hardest in his mind, if he is anything like me, because imediately when there's a lull he's thinking "there's got to be something to do..." and he is busier than the first.

Need for Comfort

A little girl I know stayed at my home today. She found (as all little girls do) the fluffy-white stuffed bear in my room. "My baby" she informed me, as she held it close. When she carried it, I could tell there was a struggle for her, because the bear caused her to lean back to where she couldn't see very well where she was going. When God sees us walking by faith, He gives us the comfort that we need, and that comfort may make us to seemingly walk awkwardly, blindly. It is in our best interests that way.

Battered Mind

"Ok...yes, there has got to be a way out of this...." I muse. I turn my head to focus on something or someone and then my mind wanders off to a completely different subject, like eternity. My mind rages in a spiritual battlefield. What do I fix my mind on? Truthfully I admit that it doesn't settle but on one thing - eternity. Yes, heaven, hell, demons, angels, me, you. It's a war that I can't get my mind off of even for a second. The most awful things to bear, though, when your awareness to spiritual darkness and light are plain to you, are the burdens of a battered mind because of not doing anything about it.