Dad's Lesson of the week:

My dad has bible lessons each Sunday. Today's was on James 1. He goes through a book a chapter, and a verse at a time. I'm proud of him ---not only because he is my dad, but that he has so much responsibility.

Here is this weeks lesson:
V1
"To the churches scattered abroad..." the basis of this comes in the next verse :
"my bretheren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"

explanation: Prophecy in Acts 1 "you will be scattered to the ...uttermost parts..." What does the verse say? Scattered abroad. When harm comes to the church and we are seperated and tempted in many ways, we are to count it joy. Often if you see from other patience given gifts from your past temptations you have seen you can look in God's perspective and find joy in it ---- "look now, there may be many saved in this desolate place. Only God knows. " These seek to build the church even if they are alone.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."
"let him ask in faith nothing wavering..." that is, doubt or fear beside.

A contributer said about the book of James that the verses are there to show a simple person how to have God's character. I added, concerning James, that Christians should read James as often as they can. The book says so much about how we need to live it's impossible to be victorious without it. What encouragement! Also we turned to Proverbs 2:2 "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;" That wraps up James whole message in James. It's all about how to apply your heart to understanding. AMEN

Driven

A book that I finished last December really impacted my life. The Purpose Driven Life. It is presented in a volume of God's glory-focus. Brilliant! I find purpose looking into Jesus through God's works in the gospels, which the book suggests as a focus in a way that sparks new faith in old eyes. Driven, gives the reader steps to discover a "life purpose statement." Another thing is that direct mention in this book tells of where your talents lie, whether cooking cleaning, building, plumbing, your education, your favorite interests are most likely your talents for God's ministry for you within the Body of Christ. And where you have experienced your hardest or most painful days of trial and redemption, that is how you impact the children in your congregation the most. Open it up! Driven is on my heart now. I learned to minimize my pursuits, get insights into how God has worked in my life, and have successfully set my gaze on God and His will.

Updated the ol' girl...

Praise God for His faithfulness! The start of this year brought a lot of changes, for one I decided I'd read the whole Bible this year, not easily done, but not near have I begun to read as much Scripture as increased as an amount as this- goodness! At least! So far I have missed a week since December 15th. Scripture hungry anyone? I sure was/am. Besides starting the year with that bang0-boomo (now I dont mean to say anything more than "it's a big task" ok? The thing I most wanted for this year was to be reading big hunks of Scripture). (and if anything else, it has been my delight daily! and blessings are huge out of this decision and step in the right direction, for which I praise my God). Ok, now besides starting the year with the Bible, I have decided that I was going to work for some time, it's by faith to, and I'm glad in my job. I can sing all I want in the back (we work, but rarely have customers after 6p.m.) of the Cafe- it's great. I work at the Main Street Cafe doing all kinds of different business, such as janitorial, cooking/baking/salad-tossing. I wait on people, make smoothies and coffees. Near the end of the day it is mostly janitorial and stocking. I like it all. I love my job. And God is blessing me in everything I do. Did you know with God there's "everything" attached to it? With God I can scale a wall, with my God I can climb the heights....

Pray

Let's here it for prayer, hip hip horray!

Some verses on doing good...

"..[T]here is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live." ~Ecclesiastes 3:12
"So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work," ~Ecclesiastes 3:22
"But to do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." ~Hebrews 13:16
"Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." ~John 14:12
"[W]isdom is proved right by her actions." ~Matthew 11:19
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit" ~John 15:16

Doing Good

When you think of doing good but you don't go ahead and act you have already failed. But if you think of the good and do it and leave it to God that He will give you more when you can handle it, yes, that is very good. Don't make it a real big deal in your mind, really, that must be the hardest thing I've had to learn to let go (I'm still learning). The thing you want to remember is do. Simply do. Most of what is good is not thought about with much thought at all. And this is shocking to us something crazy.

To Do Good...

One of the greatest secrets of planting and reaping up a harvest of righteousness is doing good. Everytime "let him show it by his good life, by deeds done [in humiliy]" (Ja.3:13). But doing good is a sacrifice. It will always involve giving on the part of the do-gooder. I love the mark of love that Mother Theresa has left for us: She said, "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." But when you come against a situation where you do not feel like you can give any more love, that is when you need God-love. Only He can make it possible to love like He did. In case I haven't taken my case home: serve others, put them first. It's easy to know God, you do good and forget about yourself.

Live like a Christian!

Just when we think it's all a bunch of steps in the dark we have to make, concerning the big decisions nineteen to early twenty-somethings have struggles with, it's not always so easy if you've become a "somebody" with standing, or a person who went into debt for sake of "good-times" and fun...Not even if you travel around and see places all over and have a dream home with a family who loves and cares for you. Something may look good, only to not be as good as "so and so's" or whatever life you may wish to have different than what you have. Because selfishness battles to portray happiness in a way that is more than''' more than what you have. But key to happiness is "loving what you got" as one song states it, adding more to satisfaction, yeah, that's just for overindulgence, or nausea. In a position of defeat, being single with babies or married and have to run schedules and ops you find some work for pennies or a man who is half what you want and nobody's happy. Even if you do it right you can be miserable. If there can't be hard work and hard prayer and hard waiting on God's timing and hard awareness of evil....whatever situation a young person might approach. The part I see about indecision is laziness. All that's not worth it for us. It's going to take some good collection of funds...some good strategic planning, waiting on God's timing for a love-bird of one's own to continue in ministry with. It's just time for us to pray for what you want and serve other's in whatever loving way God has shown you. Josh Harris isn't the one who's started the service-mindset, but by way of starting it fresh in our Gen-Y day...yes, we did learn these things and there's no excuse not to live them. Other's may not have seen any other choice. That is for the Christion to quit his foolishness and declare God's righteousness and love with all that God has given us for influence now. Praise God and live right!

Revival here...

Hasten the day, let's rejuvilate the church!

Ministry of Heart

Recently I was met with instruction in love, totally God-appointed and here's how it happened: I was ravished. I reached. I received. Praise the Lord! I was met with unusual challenges this week...thankfully, my brothers and sisters were there to lean on and God in Christ prayed for my poor tent of bodily weariness. I'm so thankful. But, yeah, this ministry of heart is what I'm getting at...encouragement. love. honor. sharing. devotion. That's what's needed. And there's always going to be hurts and needs. I cannot pretend I've got it all together or simply cope because that's stupid, I know I have need. Do you know you do? We as the body need eachother, daily, as long as the day, until Jesus comes. Let's do so.

Thank God for Amy

Amy Carmichael is my heroine! Although I cannot imagine leaving America right now because of all the work I feel needs to be done reaching girls in the city where I live; it does leave me wondering where I'll be when I let God really have His way with me :) Oh, dear! You will be there, my reader, my witness to see God work His work. Here and now, I have really ordinary tasks. Nothing like shaping your attitude in the base things as Amy Carmichael has said herself

"If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider 'not spiritual work'I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love,"

If I can work at base things with a heart full with love, I know that this yes this is what the Father wants for me, and knowing this He may choose to use me later, how He will, whatever that may be. Be patient little child.

"Utterly Irregular"

This is my generation: "Utterly irregular." This is taken from a beautifully disturbant speech at my graduation. Utter- Irregularity _fitting not to the public standard, yet forever and always in the public eye. Not because of us, but because of Whose Name we bear are we in the spotlight of the world. Marked by difference. We are

• Daily cross-bearers.
• Preachers of peace
• Proclaimers of God's truth
• United in love the world over
• Ceaseless intercessors

And why would we want to be anything else? Obviously this is not for cowards. I wrote in my Bible once that being Christ-like, is anything but cowardice. And I know it is, because I have "died" to that old life I thought was so very important to me. Time and again I died these deaths. Until recently have I learned that all death is swallowed up in victory. That victory is mine and has been won so I might always see this one thing before me - the cross of our Lord.

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.