Light

John 12:34-36 (NRSV)

The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

I LOVE candles! Anyone who's ever lived with me can tell you that, i've got them everywhere. Besides the ones I have out in my room I have at least 2 shoe boxes/tupperwares filled mostly with tea lights, i've got at least 200. Why you might ask? Well if you've ever been to a lock-in, camp, or metting when i've done worship, you most likely know already.

The light candles give creates a mood. In a worship setting it is very reflective and quiet mood. The soft light seems to affect everyone, yet differently. It calms the most roudy of youth, focuses the group, and prepares them for prayer. I decorate the alter with a few big candles then a tea light or two for everyone who will be at worship (always plan for extra). Making sure they are all over cloth and hopefully two layers or plastic too. When worship begins, i only light the large candles.

First logistics of this~ you can put it anywhere in the service, it works great for a reflective time at the beginning to center the group, or great as a prayer time in the middle or towards the end to meditate or clam down from energetic worship. I ask the group to think of the ways God has been present in their lives and be thankful, as well as things they are praying for in their own lives. Then i invited them to light a candle to represent their prayer. If there is a small group or enough time/candles, I encourage them to light one for a friend as well. In general, soft music allows for people to come up as they are ready, and pray or reflect until everyone is done. **demonstrate how to light the candle by taking an UNlit candle and tipping it upsidedown/sideways into a lit candle** There is also unending ways to explain the importance of this event.

I work with youth often, and began doing this when i was a youth, leading worship for our CCYM meetings for my cousin. Giving an individule something they can claim as theirs gives them ownership, but the little tea lights together make a big light. The little lights add so much more light, a visual analogy to the difference a group can make in the world. Each of us have a light in us, and others see that (even if you don't think so!), but that light by itself is not very strong, and it needs other lights to keep it going strong.

The messiah does remain forever, through his followers, and his light is in us, but we are not him. We can't do it alone. But we shine together!

your sister in Christ~Erin

Serving

Christmas time always gets us in more of a helping/sharing/serving mood. I ran accross this devo and thought it was appropriate for that feeling. I included the whole thing because as wonderful as scripture is I for one have a hard time remembering it, but when linked with a story it makes it easier for me. Happy Holidays!
your sister in Christ~Erin

ideas to serve this season
*bell ring for the salvation army
*angel tree gifts/sponering a family
*serve food at a food kitchen
*coats for kids/mitten trees
*finals care packages for college students
*instead of giving gifts, donate money
*carol at a nursing home
and many many more, check out in your community!

Matthew 25:31-40 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'"

_________________________

Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
- Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
_________________________


Dan West (1893-1971), a Christian aid worker in Spain during their civil war, agonized over the life-and-death decisions involving the cups of reconstituted milk he gave to starving children. It was never enough, and infants who received no milk died. "These children don't need a cup of milk; they need a cow," he thought. He dreamed of bringing some cows from his native Indiana to hungry people so they could produce their own milk. Then he got another idea: "Why not send pregnant cows, so those who receive the gift of life in the name of Jesus Christ can pass it along to others and become part of the chain?"

When he returned home in 1938, he told dairy farmers in his church about his idea. When World War II ended, West and the others began to ship cows and then sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, and other animals to people on both sides of the conflict. The idea grew, and many churches joined in.

Since then, millions of animals have been given to people in 128 different countries by the ecumenical organization that West founded - Heifer International. In all those years its mission has remained unchanged - to provide a future with hope by bringing to the hungry a long-term source of food, all in the name of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord of all, help us to serve all. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I make a difference?

Doubt

Good story, read it carefully!

Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."


The typical understanding of this story talks about keeping our focus on God. But recently i heard a different interpretation. When I read this Peter sticks out to be at first as arrogant. Trying to do what Jesus does? But then i remind myself, we all have a different interpretation of Jesus, and Peter's was difiatley different than mine, which is okay! Then as the story goes on I begin to relate to Peter. I want to be like Jesus, maybe not walk on water, but have compassion for all people, serve and love everyone especially the outcasts of society. But here's what catches me, Peter doubted HIS capability. He didn't just take his eyes off of Jesus, he doubted what he could do.

As christians we all believe that God is amazing and powerful. We don't doubt what he can do, we don't really find fault with him. We doubt ourselves and find fault in ourselves saying that we can't possibly do that! It can be anything, not feeling as if we are smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, a good enough christian, and many many more. Often we begin to feel a call in our lives to do something, possibly for God or possiby just to do something good, to make a difference. But we doubt ourselves.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, talented, and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the most high God. Your playing small doesn't serve this world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you..." - Nelson Mandela

Keep your eyes on Jesus not in the mirror. YOU CAN DO IT. You are amazing, not because you try, because God made you that way, with a purpose. Let him use you. Sure it's scary. But nothing good comes without a risk. Trust him and take it!

God Bless!
your sister in Christ~Erin

Energy

I am the youth director at my local church. At the age of 19 (2 weeks from 20) this is a pretty big deal. The city here is at least 50,000. And with 3 United Methodist Churches in town i was amazed that none had a youth program. So i started one. I've been involved with youth leadership for years, since i've been about 12 or 13. Mainly in the annual confrence, but also at my local church I lead our youth, yes as a youth. Some of the biggest challenges for us was finding adults to take us places because you can't stay overnight without one.

Anyhow, the kids here are amazing! Sure it's alot of work to focus their energy, but you can see pure innocence come out of their smiles. They love being at church! We play games, we talk, we have fun. They inspire me as well as try me sometimes. But in general they are awesome and the church staff is so supportive.

I had asked when i returned this fall (being a student, i am a seasonal resident and an avid camp counselor) I told the church staff i wanted to have a lock in for the kids and i wanted to pain the youth room. With months of planning I assured the adults that yes i wanted to do this and it would be okay. The lock in was this past weekend. Recruiting some college friends we spent the night at church. I have 3 groups split by grade levels. One is 3-6, one 7-8, and one 9-12. So everything from about 9 years old through 18. 6th grade on up stayed the night. We had a total of about 30 ppl (w/chaperones). We painted ( i still have it on my hands), we played games, we worshiped, we stayed up late, and we went to church the next day in our pajamas.

The adults i brought with me were amazed in particular with my kids energy. The last ones finally fell over at about 5 am, so we all got at least a little sleep. But all night without sugar or soda they were bouncing off the walls. They had brought friends and were so excited about not having a bedtime, and just being there. The kids from my youth groups made a design and painted on the wall. Their design included their name and a favorite bible verse, otherwise whatever they wanted. And friends helped paint the three other walls a solid color. It was going great, a few minor things, but great. It only took about 2 and a half hours to finish up the room and the kids were painted out. But still full of energy!

Then we played team games! Over the years I have learned it is crucial to get kids to split up. After they are comfortable, challenge their bounderies! So i made 4 groups each of about 5 with a chaperone. I split up my kids and their friends, and everyone was alittle uneasy. But they all made new friends, built a community, and got alittle of that energy focused. Then due to popular request was sardines. The famous lock in game, but can easily be overdone. i only let them play 3 rounds and kept lights on in the basement where i was so when they got scared they could come tell me about it then run and play again (kinda like venting, if they tell you about it they aren't scared anymore!).

Then midnight worship. After a night of super fun activites, painting, games, and sardines when better to remind them why we are here. I love worship. I love doing it, i love planning it. I have learned many types of worship and i've gotten pretty good at reading a group and helping them to worship in a way that they are able to encounter God. Kids after running around all night, need some time to reflect. Direct simply questions to focus on and time. 2 or 3 minutes is pleanty with most jr high kids. So i asked my kids, who are you? We played get to know you games earlier, but who are you? what makes you different? and how does God have anything to do with that? I wanted to show them a clip from Anger Managment, where Dave (Adam Sandler) goes to his first session of anger management and is challenged with that very question. You are not simply your profession, your hobbies, or your personality. Some of the kids shared, and i began to talk. I read a verse from galatians and told them you are god's children. You are his chosen one, he loves you. And no matter what no one can take that identity away from you. He has made you different. Special. embrace that. he will tell you who you are.

Then we sang, and prayed, and i had a tea light for each kid to light one as a prayer.

Then more fun! Late night options inculded sleeping, creation station, movies, or the chat room (also for games). Everyone did eventually sleep, but we were up late! In the morning they spoke in church and it was overall an amazing experience. I'll write more later as i have to get to class but there are two verses that kept me going this weekend.

1 Timothy
Don't let them look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in love, in purity, and in faith. (something like that)

and i'm not sure where this is at the moment:
Even youths grow tired and weary, even young men stumble and fall

your sister in Christ~Erin

Remember

Sometimes i get caught up in my own life and my own problems. I so easily forget all of the things that are happening to my brothers and sisters throughout the world. Remember to pray for those less fortunate than you as well as those facing persecution for following Christ.

In Peace,
Your sister in Christ~Erin

Girl Who Rejected Islam Now Facing False Murder Charges - ASSIST

News Australian media reports that on October 9th, 17-year-old Kaihana Hussain was attacked with a knife by her father, Dr Mohammed Hussain, after she reiterated her commitment to convert from Islam to Christianity. According to the reports, Kaihana's mother was fatally stabbed when she tried to intervene, and her father attempted to kill himself after Kaihana escaped the apartment. Police confirmed at the time that Kaihana was not a suspect. Dr Hussain survived, and now alleges that Kaihana stabbed her mother to death and attempted to murder him because they disapproved of her boyfriend. Kaihana was subsequently arrested and faced a court on November 7, where she was charged with murder and attempted murder. She did not speak and no plea was entered. Kaihana Hussain remains in custody until her trial, which has been slated for May 22, 2007. Pray God will reveal the truth in this matter and Kaihana will be set free.

Matthew 10:26
26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Psalm 40

A Paraphrase of Psalm 40



Holy God, I waited for you.

And waited.

And finally you were there,

bending to hear my cry.

You drew me back

from the edge of the depths,

when I thought I could journey alone.

You held me, calmed me,

steadied my steps on stone.

You've turned my cry into song.

See how they gape at the joy of it!

They call me fool.

But they don't know joy,

or song,

or you.

Wonders tumble from your hands!

Such plans you have for us!

You don't want the ram

caught by its horns in the thicket.

You want me.

So here I am.

Phases

As we go along through our lives we go through phases. Currently I'm in a phase where I don't neccessarily have alot to say, but I like to take in what others say. Here are some great quotes I found on a fellow bloggers page.

quotes

Religion ought not to be a pain reliever. It ought to be a pain inducer that invites us to see the injustice suffered by our neighbors so we might work to alleviate it.

Bishop Gene Robinson


I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination which homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups. For me, this struggle is a seamless rope.

Bishop Desmond Tutu

**What do you think?

In Peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Fun t-shirts

I love fun christian t-shirts. I have a couple awesome ones, how about anyone else?

One of mine says in bold letters on the back

JESUS WAS A LOSER (and so am i) Losers go Home
and goes on to quote Matthew "for those who want to save their lives will lose it, and those who lose their lives for my sake will save it"

then there is the one with the awesome midevil knight on it with the armor of God verse

and the captian planted element one from a YAK (youth annual conference)

and my Garrett Shirt with the swirls and the verse from timothy "don't look down on those who are young, but set an example"

and this one i just found is awesome and I want it!!
(sadly i'm still trying to get it to show up) check out www.randomshirts.com

In Peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin

fellowship

Fellowship is a big fancy word for hang out with your fellow believers. Many of our churches have fellowship halls, fellowship time after church, or use the word frequently to mean, come hang out at church. I think this is a very important thing to do. Most of us love to hang out with friends, we don’t often think why. The bible mentions in a few places that it is really important to hang out with people like you. Those around you will rub off on you. Here in 1st John we are told to hang out together by Paul…
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all [ Or every] sin.

Yet we are also warned that as good as it is to surround our selves with friends, it is important that we have Christian friends.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

I find this a little troublesome, yet partly true. What do you think? It is really important to have people around you who can support you spiritually. Who can pray for you, go to church with you, and be there for you when you need it. But where do you draw the line? Some churches look down upon marriages between faiths, even between denominations. What do you think “yoked” means?

Discussion Questions:
What if anything from your friends has rubbed off on you?
Do you seek friends that are of the same faith as you?
Do you have friends of other faiths than you?
How do you feel about relationships of different faiths?

Egypt

As a young girl I found this troubling. Pray for those in the world less fortunate than you! I also praise God for living in a safe country where I am free to believe in him. God Bless!

Peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Christian Girl Kidnapped by Muslims Escapes - Compass Direct
An Egyptian Christian teenager escaped her Muslim kidnappers last week hours after they had drugged her on a public bus. They threatened to rape her and convert her to Islam if her family did not leave their Nile Delta city of El-Mahala el-Kobra. Laurence Wagih Emil, 15, escaped the ground-floor room where she was being held in Cairo's southern Helwan suburb at 10 p.m. last Tuesday (October 3) while her captors were away breaking their Ramadan fast. Her father, Wagih Emil, had received several threatening text messages from his daughter's mobile phone. "Take the rest of your daughters and leave the city, or you will lose them one by one," said one. "The girl is not accepting easily, but she will embrace Islam for sure." Before family members recovered her, State Security Investigation officials interviewing Laurence Emil told her she would never see her parents again unless she reported a false story denying the kidnapping. The kidnapping of Christian teenage girls in Muslim nations has reached into the thousands. Pray for VOM's safe houses where Christian teenage girls, who have been threatened with or have escaped from abduction, can learn job skills and receive spiritual training. Psalm 143:9

Christian Blogsphere

There is so much out there, I can read for hours and not get bored. I encourage you to check out some more blogs, comment, make friends, ya know. I can't figure out how to link the methodist blogroll, but we're on it!!

Go visit
www.welselyblog.com and you'll find a new world of blogging!

Peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Outreach

Matthew 28:18 -20 (The Message)
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Everyone you meet? I mean I love Jesus, but the great commission isn't something we like to draw attention to all the time. I was discussing with my campus chaplin yesterday how our baby ministry is going. We are having a hard time getting people into the house. Hm... I thought, this rings a bell, we are having a hard time getting people into our churches as well!

But how do we change that? Outreach? Well to do outreach you need people, and we only have 3, but we have 3. Most of our churches have more that this but the problem still occurs. What kinds of things do we do? Who do we aim for? The unchurched? Young people? acording to Matthew, Jesus said everyone. Period.

yet, there always seems to be a but. Most often I run into, but they already go to a bible study or another church. Or many other excuses. So many of our church events focus on the people already in the church. Not saying this is bad, because helping our members grow in their faith is a huge responsibility as well, but what about the people outside the church?

How do we get people (in my case) accross the street and to the ministry house?
we already offer free food
How do we feed people if they aren't there?
How do we make disciples???

God Bless,
your sister in Christ,
Erin

The same table

As many of us do, I often find myself totally swamped but so busy i'm running from here to there all the time. Especially on Sundays. I am musical, so often I am asked to help out with services. My friend Pious asked me to help him with yesterdays service, as he was having a real hard time putting things together. I have already commited to my church, and yeserday I was the only soprano. But I told him I would help. I made both services and recieved many thanks and compliments from each, but I was not fed.

It was world communion sunday, so literally yes i was fed, but I was not able to really worship or spend time honoring God. So like i sometimes do, I went to Mass. I know i'm not Catholic, and they don't want ppl who aren't catholic to take communion simply because it is one of the biggest doctrinal issues between Catholics and Prodestants. But I needed to take it. No big deal, but I laughed a lil bit when i went up and Father Mark happened to be giving communion in my section and he recognized me. Our campus priest is one of the best speakers I have ever heard, and one of the funniest religious leaders I have ever been around. I have spent some time with him, enough that we have had the communion conversation as well as he knows I am on the path to be a UM pastor. Defiately remembered I wasn't Catholic.

But the one thing stressed yesterday was that on World Communion Sunday we celebrate with Christians all over the world our salvation in Jesus. Sure each of the traditions do it a bit differently, each of the churches I took communion at yesterday was a bit different, but that we can celebrate the sacrifice of our Lord together is awesome. That we can eat around the same table. It also gives us a reminder to pray for each other.

Luke 22:19-20
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Pray for our fellow Christians today all over the world as they celebrate or suffer as we all do.
God Bless!
your sister in Christ,
Erin

Personal

You never know what may cause them.
The sight of the Atlantic Ocean can do it, or a piece of music, or a face you’ve never seen before.
A pair of somebody’s old shoes can do it … a horse cantering across a meadow,
the high school basketball team running out onto the floor at the start of a game.
You can never be sure.

But of this you can be sure.
Whenever you find tears in your eyes,
especially unexpected tears,
it is well to pay the closest attention.
They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are,
but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from
and is summoning you to where you should go next, if your soul is to be saved.
~ I found this very touching and wanted to share it with you all.
your sister in Christ,
Erin

Rules from God

Rules from God for 2006
1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!... To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Send this to the people you care about.
I thought this was mighty special, just like you.
Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember:

God answers Knee-Mail.

hungry?

As many of you know, I am now living in a house owned by the Wesley Foundation. I do have a title as a peer minister, but it would be hard for me to not be involved in the ministry that goes on in the house. Our ministry is called Crossroads and we are a small group, mostly prodestants, who are just getting started as a newer group.

We serve a meal a week and so this Tuesday was our first. We were so excited, cooking, preparing, making flyers and a big posterboard, it was great. Granted we only had a few people those people are coming back (if anything for the excellent Methodist food!). And as I've been thinking about all this and talking about it the thing that kept coming out of my mouth when talking to people was "come for lunch". And i've begun to wonder what i want to attract people to our house. I mean food is great and a great way to bring in college students. . . but isn't sharing faith more important?

One of the things we offer is a weekly online bible study. Going with the theme of food, i thought it would be great to throw light on the idea of feeding the spirit. We all know how important it is to feed our bodies. When we don't, we get sick, we don't have enough energy, sometimes to the point where people faint. Our spirits are the same way. We all have a hunger inside of us for more. For truth. Many times i know i have fed that hunger with quick fixes. Throwing things at my spirit that don't really satisfy it. Kinda like junk food. It does the trick for a very small time, but eventually just makes you more hungry.

Without knowing it we hunger for God. Many times we find ways to supress this hunger, but it's still there. We long to be "complete", little do we know that there is nothing but daily time with God that can really "hit the spot". Sometimes we get a great feast at a weekend retreat, or a week at camp, even sunday church services. We leave feeling God's presence and our spirit feels good. However one meal, even a great feast doesn't last forever. We need to feed our spiritual self daily just as we feed our physical selves.

I know that i struggle with finding time each day and i have covered that in some of my other posts, but i again encourage you to find an accountability partner and work together. We are all a family in Christ, here to love and support each other.

I had a hard time finding verses that fit exactly what I was looking for, but here are two good ones. God Bless!

Exodus 16:4 (The Message)
God said to Moses, "I'm going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day's ration. I'm going to test them to see if they'll live according to my Teaching or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as their daily ration."

2 Chronicles 13:10 (The Message)
"But for the rest of us in Judah, we're sticking with God. We have not traded him in for the latest model—we're keeping the tried-and-true priests of Aaron to lead us to God and the Levites to lead us in worship by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and aromatic incense to God at the daily morning and evening prayers, setting out fresh holy bread on a clean table, and lighting the lamps on the golden Lampstand every night. We continue doing what God told us to in the way he told us to do it; but you have rid yourselves of him.

your sister in Christ,
Erin

School starts again!

Well I have returned to a world where internet exists!

Summer camp was amazing and i have a million and three stories for anyone who'd like to hear them, i'm sure a few will come up in future posts.

I would like to ask again if anyone would like to help with the posting. I have lots of resources, many of which are online, and putting together devotionals is a great way to help one establish for themselves what they really believe. I am also asking for help because this blog gets to be a bit much for one person to keep up.

God Bless!
your sister in Christ
~Erin

Support

Sometimes I feel needy. . . do you ever feel that way? I know I need something, but I'm too afraid or too proud to ask. We all need friends. True, close, honest friends. The ones who you know don't mind a phone call at 2 am, or in the middle of class because you need them. But why do i feel sometimes afraid to ask? We all say, call anytime. . . stop in anytime. . . don't worry about it. . . but do we question comments like these? I love this poem:

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow,
don't walk behind me, i may not lead,
Just walk beside me and be my friend. -Camus

Many times I can't articulate my needs. Many times we don't think it's important enough to bother anyone about. Many times, i'm scared they will freak out. God offers constant support, is always there, and will always be there. But the thing I like about this poem is that i'm not asking you anything. I am answering your question. YOU asked, where do you want me? I guess that's how i view most relationships. I know what I want to get out of it, I know what i need to get out of it, but what about you? what do you want? Do you truely want to help, or just be around? God always says, I want to help you through this, how do you need me. Well . .. i need support. We all do. I encourage every Christian to create a support group amoung them. Wesley used to organize groups he labled classes. You had to go, and you had to share. You were help accountable. Create a space where you are comfortable and find people who will keep you accountable. We need support to grow, or we will crumble. God Bless!

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Your sister in Christ,
Erin

Schedule God too

I know I've been busy, but being sick last week (hospital sick) kinda reminded me of an old lesson sometimes i just haven't learned yet. Schedule God too. So often I get so busy, often with things i try to explain as "out of my control" and i simply run out of time. Homework, church, music things, finacial things, work, all of these things take time and often demand the time I have, but I do the deciding and in the end it is me who gives my time. When I don't give enough time for God every day, i find myself slipping. Maybe it's not a big deal today, or tomorrow, or even next week, but in a month or two months i soon find I have left my God time for church.

You can't expect to meet God at church if we do not meet him daily. We gather at church to celebrate God's godness, to tell him, hey - you are amazing and i thank you for that. If we don't have him in our lives not only do we fall apart but we can't say "God you're amazing" truely, we don't really know him. And the refocusing doesn't happen, nor do we feel better. Church becomes another thing on our to do list. We are missing the joy and the goodness. We are missing the hugs and the refreshment our souls need. When I forget this, and i miss it, my body fights on for awhile, then bad things pile up. All the sudden it just seems like everything is due and nothing is done. My soul just isn't feed, and I am not in an attitude to let God help. I must do it. This is pride. Then i fall. Most often it is me getting sick (like i was last week) where I am forced for at least a day to rest. Sometimes it is me relapsing to some of my old "bad habits". Stress coping things i used to do, my cutting, or my ED (eating disorder), things that I can control when I feel my world out of control.

I am coming into this monday head on, ready and rested with God by my side. Writing my schedule for the week, and including prayer and quiet time with God. Make sure you smile alot, and take the time to rest with God.

Manna and Quail

While the Israelites were in the desert they could not find food and water. Many complained to Moses and Aaron saying "at least in Egypt we had food and water!" Then God said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from Heaven for you. Have the people go out and collect enough for each day and on the 6th day gather enough for two days." The people still grumbled for meat. So the Lord said "at twlight you will eat meat and in the morning you will be filled with bread." In the evening wuail came and covered the camp, in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. The Israelites were confused until Moses said it is the bread from the LORD. Take enough for each in your tent. No more or less, none is to be saved (except for the sabbath day). The bread was called manna and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses had Aaron take some and put it in a jar to keep for future generations.

Manna meant "what is it?" and quail migrate around the sinai penisula resting on the ground or in bushes making them easy to capture. It is amazing how God provided for the people even after their grumblings. Also his system eliminated greed. Just a heart warming story.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ, Erin

Chronological Order

I think sometimes the wordiness of the old testement gets us confused so i decided to try and abbreviate the things we generally highlight through the Exodus.

Creation
Adam and Eve
expelled from the garden
Cain and Able
Noah and the flood
Abrah and Sari- Abraham and Sarah
Hagar - Ishmael
Sarah - Issac
Issac and Rebeka
Jacob and Esau (Jacob gets the blessing)
Jacob has 12 sons - youngest being Joseph
Joseph gets sold to Egypt
becomes adviser to the king
when Jacob dies, Joseph brings his family into Egypt (about 70)
350 years later a new Pharoh (unaware of Joseph) decides to enslave the Hebrews in fear of a revolt
Murder of the boy infants
Moses, escape, grows up in palace, goes into wilderness, burning bush, exodus
40 years in wilderness
10 commandments
then we come up to Leviticus

so that is my overview of Genesis and Exodus covering the main stories, but sometimes we get confused of how they all relate to each other

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Dinah

Interesting story. . . ( found in Genesis 34)

So Dinah was one of Jacob's and Leah's daughters. (Abraham- Issac- Jacob)
When Jacob and his family were in Shechem in the land of Cannan. They had been traveling around and Dinah went out to meet some of the other women in the area. While she was out a guy named Shechem saw her and fell in love with her. He violated her and then asked his father to get her as his wife. Jacob found out and soon did Dinah's brothers. When Shechem's father came to ask for Dinah as a wife for his son they agreed only if the men of the city would be circumcised. They agreed and all became circumcised. 3 days later, while all the men were still in pain, two of Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, went into the city and killed every male. The looted where their sister ad been defiled and took flocks and herds, donkeys and anything else they could find out to the fields. They carried off all of their wealth and their women and children as they left. Jacob yelled at his sons for bringing him trouble in this new land knowing that those left in Cannan could band together and kill him and his family. His sons replied, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

So family revenge? We aren't really told how Dinah feels about this whole mess. . . just that he charmed her. So alot can be see in this story. . . even without God's view on the story. We see alittle more of humanity here. . . we get angry, we do things we may regret later. We are protective of our family members.

Then I always try to think with a little historical perspective. Think towards the end, the brothers looted and took the animals, wealth, and women and children. Women and children and just thrown in their like donkeys, someones property to be taken. Yet the whole story brought about because of a woman.

These are the stories that i find facinating. . . why is it here in the bible? What does it offer us today? or even. . . how much has been exaggerated over the years until someone wrote the story down? Is it possible that the two brothers killed every male in a city? I'd love to know what you think.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Tower of Babel

Many of us have heard many different stories with pieces resembling the story of the tower of babel. Many dismiss it as a simple legend however I believe that the story was kept because it has a good lesson to learn. (The tower of Babel occured after the great flood. )

Genesis 11

The Tower of Babel
1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward, [a] they found a plain in Shinar [b] and settled there.
3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel [c] —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

So, challenging. The idea that we as humans are capable of working together is a warming idea, but the idea that God didn't want us to work together. . . is harder to swallow. Granted the intent of the tower was prideful. . . showing God that we something. Any thoughts?

Cain and Abel

Well I thought we better get an overview, maybe understand a little bit more about biblical history along with stories. I know this is late, but forgive me, college life is crazy.

I thought we could start with Cain and Abel, seeing as most of us are roughly familiar with their parents, but not so much them. Cain and Able were the children of Adam and Eve. The story is found in Genesis Chapter 4.

Genesis 4
Cain and Abel

1 Adam [a] lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. [b] She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth [c] a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." [d] And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so [e] ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, [f] east of Eden.

Sibling rivalry, something many of us can relate to. . . but here in an extreme. Other things brought out in the story are jealousy, anger management, and punishment. Abel brought to God the best of his labors while Cain simply brought "some fruit". God was pleased with Abel for sacrificing his best for him, but not so much with Cain who just kinda gave God some stuff because he was suppose to. The intent, not the quantity, was the problem. God knew their hearts. He didn't plan on punishing Cain for not sacrificing the best of his crop, he just wan't very happy with him. Because of this though Cain gets angry.

This is the ironic part. Cain doesn't do his best but Abel does, so who suffers? Abel. His brother is jealous that God is pleased with him and blames it on his brother, not his lack of effort to please God. So he does his worst, he kills the object that he sees as an obstacle between him and God. To me this says something about conquering our fears, not simply destroying them. Learning to work with the problems in life. The punishment that Cain recieves brings this idea home. He gave him a new challenge. Cain wasn't able to be killed and wasn't able to work the land, and as much as this may seem like a terrible thing the Lord gave him mercy. And protection.

So all in all, an interesting story which has much to tell and teach about. Jealousy, sibling rivalry, and mercy.

God Bless you and yours,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Obscure Stories

I find the best way i learn is through stories, i can remember them and relate while learning a lesson. Therefore i thought we could look at some stories for the next month from the bible for our devotionals.

The bible is full of stories, most of them from the old testament. We do not study these stories much anymore, they are not often taught. Stories of the prophets, judges, and many others. Inspirational stories such as Ruth and Naomi, brotherly love and loyalty such as in David and Johnathon, and stories of courage like Ester or Joshua.

These stories give us strength, courage, and hope. They help us to better understand the personality of God as best we can. Pray for guidance and understanding as we go more indepth into studing the bible.

2 Chronicles 1:10-12
10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

11 God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Temptations

As humans we all sin. The problem arises for me when i fall into temptation and the same old ways. The same old sins that drag me down. Then i feel guilty and on top of that beat myself up. God understands that as humans we have temptations and advises us on how to fight them.

Luke 22:46
"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Don't ignore them. . . acknowledge that they are there. And learn to recognize them.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Temptation is not a problem only some of us face, ALL of us have temptations. There are not different levels of sins, we all fall and do wrong. We therefore all need to learn to defense against it.

Mark 14:38
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Matthew 6:13
'And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '

Matthew 4:1
[ The Temptation of Jesus ]" Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."

Jesus again sets a great example of how we can prepare ourselves. He spent 40 days (a sacred period) preparing for his ministry and during that time we get the story of how he was tempted by the devil (see Matthew chapter 4). He prayed, and he spent time preparing himself. He knew the scriptures and he used his knowledge to fight off temptations. We need to study so that we have the knowledge to fight our temptations. There will always be hard times in life but it's having the hope that comes with Jesus and the stories of Gods love and mercy that will help us live through them.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~ Erin

Loss

life is a series of events- good, bad, and indifferent. I have recently experienced the bad in the loss of a friend. Crystal and i graduated from high school together and coming from a small school that means we knew each other well growing up. The news was a huge shock. A car accident. An event that happens in life. I went home for the funeral and grieved with my friends. It was hard and as we all do when faced with difficult times in life we ask God - WHY?

But we can't find the answer. Sometimes it seems to come to us later in life, sometimes not. It's hard to imagine a good reason for a person to die. The old question, why do bad things happen to good people?? There is never really an answer, or an answer we can understand. We can not even try to understand the mind of God, the reasonings that he has. But we always try. We always search, and sometimes that search almost destroys us.

We all have a emptiness inside of us, a whole that we need filled. We spend much of out lives searching for what's missing and loss adds to the hurt and pain of emptiness. However there is only one thing that will fill our emptiness and it's God. He also tends to be the one we blame our pain upon. This does not make us very open to him.

Faith in God's grace and love gives us hope for a better world. We trust in his promises that he is good and his plan is not to harm us but for us to prosper and give us hope and a future. As hard as it is to accept the pain caused by loss God offers us comfort and love instead of a world of sorrow and bitterness. We many not be able to understand his plan now, but through our faith we trust that he is the way and the life.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Food!

So there was a very cute little skit done in my church today to "advertise" for the youth's sub sale for Super Bowl sunday. The boy was sad because the Packers weren't in the Super bowl but the girl set him straight by reminding him Super Bowl sunday was NOT about football - but about food! (Which is funny knowing how methodist gatherings are very often about food!) So the point of the skit was to get people to think about food on super bowl sunday instead of foodball and buy that food from the youth.

I chuckled just at all the old jokes we used to make about if there is food the people will come. We all need food, we all like food. . . but lets go back to that we all need food. Our physical bodies need food for strength. When we don't get it we get hungry. Our spiritual bodies are the same way - we need food for strength. Where does one get food for the spirit?

Food for the spirit is found in many ways. I find that it is most important to get a regular daily schedule going. A time set aside, 5-20 min a day. Time to quiet, time to read, time to pray. Everyone has their own ways to relax and have God time. I like to write personally but one can draw, sing, paint, meditate, take a walk, or a million other things. Reading scripture should be a part of these quiet times. Here is some scriptural wisdom:

1 Peter 2
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Jude 1:19-20
20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

1 Timothy 4:7-8
7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Just as we feed our physical bodies we must feed our spirits. We are not accustomed to feeding them but many of us feel an emptiness that can only be filled with God. We can't just fill it with God once a week, we need to feed our spririts everyday. I highly recommend having an accountabilty partner or group. I'll do another blog on that one though. Remember however the importance of feeding your spirit. We all experience some of that emptiness that can only be filled with God's love.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Sabbath

Genesis 2:2-3
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

God took a day of rest after working hard. We work hard, therefore following his example we also need to take a day off.

Exodus 16:23
He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

It is also one of the ten commandments. Over the years we have learned much about stress, it's complications and it's problems. I don't think anyone will tell you they don't have stress, and many of us have too much stress. I learned a lot this summer about the importance of taking daily time for yourself as well as taking a Sabbath. Many of us will say we don't "need" it, however are not telling the whole truth. We need to feel our souls and rest our bodies and our minds. I don't think I really need to harp on this topic, but I did want to touch on it.
Take some time to rest

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Loas

Laos was taken over by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975. Although Laos is rich with natural resources and has great potential for foreign investment, growth is hampered by the government’s slow reforms.

Religion: Buddhist 61.05%, Traditional ethnic 31.20%, non-Religious/other 4.20%, Christian 1.85%, Muslim 1.10%, Chinese 0.50%, and Baha’i 0.10%

Ideological Influence: Communism

Head of State: President Gen. Khamtai Siphadon

Persecution: The three or four Christian churches in the capital city of Vientiane are considered potentially subversive and are closely monitored by the government. House-church meetings are raided, and Lao Christians are arrested, while foreign Christians are expelled. Communist leaders in some districts have implemented a program called “New Mechanism,” in which anyone who does not convert to Buddhism or animism is forcibly removed from their district. Christian villagers also have been forced to sign a document renouncing their faith. If they refuse, they are forced to leave their homes, and their property is either seized or destroyed.

Missionary Opportunity: The church has grown despite persecution and restrictions. There have been reports of entire villages turning to Christ. Significant numbers are turning to Christ among the Hmong and Khmu people.

Something not often known is that the Hmong people came from the mountains of Loas. Their young men were recruited by the Americans to help in the Vietnam War and as refugees have come to America. Many of them have settled in WI and MN. Loas is a very diverse country in a influential part of the world. There are christians in Loas who need our prayers.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.... By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:1, 5-6 NASB).

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

God's Image

So from the society we live in many of us have different views about ourselves than may be true. Once a leader took a group of us through this exercise. We were asked to answer these questions and given about 2-3 min for each one.
1. Who are you?
2. Who are you to others?
3. Who are you to God?

Taking time to answer these questions one by one is difficult. Reminds me of a scene from "Anger Management". When Adam Sandler goes to his first counseling session. They ask him to tell the group a little about himself. He begins to tell the group about what he does and is quickly stopped by the facilitator "No, don't tell us about your career - tell us who you are" he is told. So he begins to tell the group about what he enjoys doing and again is stopped. "Not your hobbies, - who you are." So frustrated he begins to talk about himself that he is a pretty good guy and . . . "Not your personality! Tell us WHO YOU ARE." To which he blows up at the group "I don't know what you want to hear!" bringing about a laugh from the audience ( he is trying to convince them he doesn't need anger manangment yet has these angry outbursts.

Who are we? We are bombarded with a lot of ideas of who we should be. . . but do we know who we are? Many young people go off to "find themselves". I think the 3rd question above had a lot of our answers. We were created by God for a purpose. Therefore should we not begin at God to find out who we are?

We are children of God. Beloved children.
John 1:12-13
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

As children we are given the blessing of the father and loved with the intense love as a child is loved by a parent. This is an incredible gift. To be loved, honestly loved, by the creator of the universe. By thearchitectt of our world. . . we are loved. Not for our actions but we have always been loved this way!

Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

God knew us before we were born. He loved us before we were born. He formed us the way we are and loves us for the way we are. No matter what other people may tell us we are special the way we are. Special and beloved. We have been given a physical body from God to care for. It is a gift. . . a temple. Many of us ( myself included) have out of anger and pain abused this gift. Feelings of depression,lonelinesss, and unworthiness can cause us much pain. We look at who we think we should be and are often not happy with ourselves. Because of this we cause our body to suffer. Over dieting, over exercise, over strenuating ourselves can cause damage to our bodies. These image problems can develop into serious issues. Self harm problems, eating disorders, and other problems of lack of control. God does not want us to hurt ourselves.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

God created us to look like we do. We are not all super models with "hot" bodies. We are not all popular or well liked. We are all different. We all have different gifts. But the bottom line is - we are all beloved children of God.

If you ever face the question of "who amIi" Ii urge you to look towards God for theanswerr. You are his beloved child. And do not let our world lie to you - telling you that you aren't good enough, because YOU are perfect.

Romans 12:2 "The Message"
2Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

God Bless!
your sister in Christ~Erin

Self Image

This is a hard thing for many in todays society of perfection. We grew up in a world of virtual reality and media. Not learning the ways of life or failure. The social pressures are also extreme and unneccessary. The show "Beauty and the Geek" stresses it's okay in society for guys to be smart but girls must be pretty. What are these messages telling us as christians?

Romans 12:2
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God wants us to be who we are, who we were created to be. But when we find out in some way we are different, not "normal". We scrutinize ourselves pysically, mentally, socially. Girls are taught somehow that they are not complete without the love of a guy, so they will do anything to fulfill those feelings. This can lead to all kinda of problems. Really it can just be a big mess.

Tomorrow I will list some more Godly ways to view ourselves and others. Today i ask you too think about yourself and ask a couple of these questions:
~What do you struggle with most? appearence, accomplishments, or status
~ In your idea what does the ideal person look like?
~What do you like most about yourself?
~If you could change anything about yourself would you? What?

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Praise God!

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

just thought this was an interesting verse for the day i lost my voice. Sometimes we are in the middle of the hardest time. . . stress, sickness, many things. Still in all of these problems we need to take the time to praise god! Take time to walk outdoors, to the car, to class, walk the dog. Outside is an amazing portrait of God's love. Enjoy it, even if you may be to sick to talk.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Agree to Disagree

1 Corinthians 1
10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[a]"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into[b] the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

If i have learned one thing at college it is that when you have a discussion you will encounter multiple views. You will probably even argue. As christians we have argued for years - look at the divisions it has caused amoung us - denominations. I urge you to work towards bringing union again between christians, make friends, TALK, respect everyone, and agree to disagree. WE have so much to learn from one another.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Gritted-Teeth Prayers

This is a devotion from The Upper Room magazine:

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]'

Read Matthew 6:9-13

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

-Matthew 6:12 (KJV)
AS I was going through a divorce last year, I dealt with feelings of betrayal, hurt, anger, and abandonment. I resented the time I'd invested in a lost marriage. At the same time, I tried to grasp the idea of forgiveness. While I wanted God to hear my prayer of repentance and to forgive me, I was having a hard time forgiving my soon-to-be-former wife. I prayed through gritted teeth, "I forgive her, God." I did not mean it and God knew I did not mean it, but I kept praying the same prayer daily.

It was hard to forgive someone who had treated me badly. But at times when memories popped into my head and I felt hurt and resentment, I said my gritted-teeth prayer. I read self-help books about anger management, but they didn't help. Nothing helped but my daily, strained prayer. Gradually, I began to unclench my teeth, to relax, and to honestly pray to be able to forgive my wife. Then, I felt, God forgave my lack of contribution to the marriage.

Forgiveness is a spiritual two-way street. I had not worked hard enough at my marriage, and I had not worked at my relationship with God. While the marriage could not be salvaged, my relationship with God has grown as I have learned to forgive.

Ed Ridgley (Alabama, U.S.A.)


Lord, teach us to forgive as you forgive. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God hears and responds even to the prayers we pray through gritted teeth.

It is so hard to forgive, especially when those close to us hurt us. Parents, siblings, close friends, these are the people we trust. When they hurt us we build up this wall and do not let anyone in. It is a dark and lonely road. I know, i've been there. It is almost impossible to forgive someone close to you who has hurt you - but with God it is possible, and it is neccessary for living a healthy life in Christ. Even if you are gritting your teeth, those prayers are important.
God Bless,
Your sister in Christ ~Erin

Waiting

Hello everyone! I have been pretty sick and unable to keep up with the blog for a few days, but i'll try to catch us up! Here is a devotion I get e-mailed from my campus ministry program. ~Erin

E-mail BIBLE STUDY “Moved by faith in God.”
But those who wait for he Lord shall renew their strength,

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

A social activist, Leonard Woolf wrote of his life’s work: “I see clearly that I have achieved practically nothing. The world today and the history of the human anthill during the past 57 years would be exactly the same as it is if I had played ping pong instead of sitting on committees and writing books and memoranda. I have therefore to make the rather ignominious confession that I must have in a long life ground through between 150,000 and 200,000 hours of perfectly useless work.”[1]
Jesus was much younger when he cried out on the cross, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” But whether we are young or old it is possible for the world to “get to us.”
After we have given the world around us our best shot no good seems to come from our effort.
As students we sometimes work hard to prepare for an exam only to get a terrible grade.
After four to six years of university work there is no employment waiting for us.
As parents we do our best to raise a child only to have the child turn against us and spurn our values.
Martin Luther King worked for civil rights and nonviolence only to be brought down in violent assassination.
Jesus came to earth from God indicating how God so loved the world, only to be crucified!
In America it is easy to believe that life should have comfort, luxury and convenience. The reality is that life can also be cruel.
Does our Christian faith help us with our feelings of futility?
The verse for today from Isaiah says, “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” This is a hard word for those of us who want the pain to be gone NOW. We remember that Jesus was in the tomb for three days. I think of this as a way of “waiting for the Lord.” In spite of the miraculous power which Jesus exhibited in his earthly life, still he lay in the tomb doing nothing. If Jesus waited upon the Lord, surely we must wait too.
This word from Isaiah has proved itself many times in my life, but there is more to the wait than the promise that we shall mount up with wings, run and not be weary and walk and not faint. We also wait for God to being all history together. A Hebrew Testament scholar, T.C. Vriezen believes that “God holds history in the hollow of His hand, and that He will make the history of the world end in complete communion between God and man, so that He will come as King; or, in other words, so that He may be all in all.”[2]
Here is the difference between humanism and faith in God. Yes, human effort is needed, but by faith we enter into a promise and power that goes beyond all that we can do. Thanks be to God, but Lord help me to wait.[3]

Yours,
Ron Erickson

[1] The Journey Not the Arrival Matters: An autobiography of the years 1939-1969 (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World), p. 217.
[2] An Outline of Old Testament Theology (Boston: Charles T. Branford Co., 1958), p. 371.
[3] Many of the ideas in this meditation are inspired by Ernest T. Campbell, Locked in a Room With Open Doors (Waco: Word Books, 1974) p.113 ff.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

All things free

After diving into grace more deeply we must also back away and look at the wonderful overall picture of grace. The following is the outline for one of John Wesleys sermons, Free Grace. The whole sermon can be found at http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/serm-128.stm

Sermon 128 (text from the 1872 edition)
Free Grace

by John Wesley

Preached at Bristol, in the year 1740

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans, 8:32

TO THE READER
Nothing but the strongest conviction, not only that what is here advanced is "the truth as it is in Jesus," but also that I am indispensably obliged to declare this truth to all the world, could have induced me openly to oppose the sentiments of those whom I esteem for their work's sake: At whose feet may I be found in the day of the Lord Jesus!
Should any believe it his duty to reply hereto, I have only one request to make, -- Let whatsoever you do, be done inherently, in love, and in the spirit of meekness. Let your very disputing show that you have "put on, as the elect of God, bowel of mercies, gentleness, longsuffering; "that even according to this time it may be said, "See how these Christians love one another!"

How freely does God love the world! While we were yet sinners, "Christ died for the ungodly." While we were "dead in our sin," God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." And how freely with him does he "give us all things!" Verily, FREE GRACE is all in all!

The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is FREE IN ALL, and FREE FOR ALL.

I. It is free in all to whom it is given.
II. The doctrine of predestination is not a doctrine of God.
III. Predestination destroys the comfort of religion, the happiness of Christianity.
IV. This uncomfortable doctrine also destroys our zeal for good works.
V. Furthermore, the doctrine of predestination has a direct and manifest tendency to overthrow the whole Christian Revelation.
VI. And at the same time, makes that Revelation contradict itself.
VII. Predestination is a doctrine full of blasphemy.

God's grace is a wonderful and free gift for all of us. Yay!! Praise God!!!
God Bless you,
your sister in Christ,
~Erin

Sustaining Grace

Wesley believed that, after we have accepted God's grace, we are to move on in God's sustaining grace toward perfection.Wesley believed the people could "fall from grace" or "backslide." We cannot just sit on our laurels, so to speak, and claim God's salvation and then do nothing. We are to participate in the what Wesley called "the means of grace" and to continue to grow in Christian life.

Some Christians tend to focus on God's justifying grace, but Wesley asserted that the Christian walk does not stop with acceptance of new life in Christ. Wesley said in his sermon, "On Repentance of Believers":

It is generally supposed, that repentance and faith are only the gate of religion; that they are necessary only at the beginning of our Christian course, when we are setting out in the way to the kingdom.... And this is undoubtedly true, that there is a repentance and a faith, which are, more especially, necessary at the beginning: a repentance, which is a conviction of our utter sinfulness, and guiltiness, and helplessness.... But, notwithstanding this, there is also a repentance and a faith (taking the words in another sense, a sense not quite the same, nor yet entirely different) which are requisite after we have "believed the gospel;" yea, and in every subsequent stage of our Christian course, or we cannot "run the race which is set before us." And this repentance and faith are full as necessary, in order to our continuance and growth in grace, as the former faith and repentance were, in order to our entering into the kingdom of God.

John Wesley believed that Jesus is God's means of grace. For him, the "means of grace" were also "works of piety" (spiritual disciplines) and "works of mercy" (doing good to others). He said that means of grace are: "...outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men, preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace."

Basically, Wesley is saying that after we accept God's justifying grace we aren't done. We need to always be growing in a relationship with God through his sustaining grace. There are many things we can do to keep our Christian life growing but they need to come from the heart not just doing because we are told. This is one of the hardest aspects of living a Christian life. Believing in God is not just a sunday thing, but an everyday all the time thing. We need to foster a relationship with God to keep our relationship with God. Imagine meeting a friend and hitting if off real well at first. Then ignore them after that. You don't create a real relationship. Even if you have had a relationship it takes lots of care to keep that relationship. Sustaining Grace is God's side of caring for that relationship we just need to recognize it and add in our part too.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Justifying Grace

Today some call God's justifying grace "conversion" or being "born again." When we experience God's justifying grace, we come into that new life in Christ. Wesley believed that people have freedom of choice. We are free to accept or reject God's justifying grace. Wesley emphasized "Free Grace" saying:

The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is FREE IN ALL, and FREE FOR ALL.... It is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in man; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in anywise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything he has done, or anything he is. It does not depend on his endeavors. It does not depend on his good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God; they are the streams only, not the fountain. They are the fruits of free grace, and not the root. They are not the cause, but the effects of it.

I think many of us can probably recall the moment when we recieved this kind of grace. Wesley talks about his experience at Aldersgate, and felt his "heart strangely warmed". This can take place anytime anywhere, but i do believe it is essential. Accepting God's justifying grace to me is truely comfirmation. Yes many of us take the class and answer questions in front of the church saying we will take responsibility for ourselves. However, this seems more real and a more moving experience. Any stories to share?

God Bless,
your sister in Christ ~Erin

Prevenient Grace

Prevenient= meaning before
Wesley believed that we are all born with God's grace even though we are too young and incoherent to accept it ourselves we are stilled loved by God. Paul says we are all born sinners yet God gives us grace. This kind of grace is granted to everyone - no exceptions. Here are a few verses to bring this idea to light.

All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3

Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 12:50

You did not choose me, but I chose you. John 15:16

Just some interesting info from www.umc.org - prevenient grace reminded me about baptism and i was confused about the two, so i went searching - here's what i found!

Within the Methodist tradition, baptism has long been a subject of much concern, even controversy. John Wesley retained the sacramental theology which he received from his Anglican heritage. He taught that in baptism a child was cleansed of the guilt of original sin, initiated into the covenant with God, admitted into the church, made an heir of the divine kingdom, and spiritually born anew. He said that while baptism was neither essential to nor sufficient for salvation, it was the "ordinary means" that God designated for applying the benefits of the work of Christ in human lives.

On the other hand, although he affirmed the regenerating grace of infant baptism, he also insisted upon the necessity of adult conversion for those who have fallen from grace. A person who matures into moral accountability must respond to God's grace in repentance and faith. Without personal decision and commitment to Christ, the baptismal gift is rendered ineffective.

Baptism for Wesley, therefore, was a part of the lifelong process of salvation. He saw spiritual rebirth as a twofold experience in the normal process of Christian developmentÂ?to be received through baptism in infancy and through commitment to Christ later in life. Salvation included both God's initiating activity of grace and a willing human response.

Any thoughts?
God Bless,
your sister in Christ ~Erin

Wesley's Grace

Did you know that John Wesley believed that God provides us with three kinds of grace? He believed in:

prevenient (preparing) grace
accepting (justifying) grace
sustaining (sanctifying) grace

God's grace is a wonderful gift to humankind. Grace is God's love freely offered to us. We do not do anything to "earn" it. Take a moment and reflect upon how you have experienced God's grace in your life.

God's prevenient grace is with us from birth, preparing us for new life in Christ. "Prevenient" means "comes before." Wesley did not believe that humanity was totally "depraved" but rather God places a little spark of divine grace within us which enables us to recognize and accept God's justifying grace. Preparing grace is "free in all for all," as Wesley used to say.

Today some call God's justifying grace "conversion" or being "born again." When we experience God's justifying grace, we come into that new life in Christ. Wesley believed that people have freedom of choice. We are free to accept or reject God's justifying grace.

Wesley believed that, after we have accepted God's grace, we are to move on in God's sustaining grace toward perfection. Wesley believed the people could "fall from grace" or "backslide." We cannot just sit on our laurels, so to speak, and claim God's salvation and then do nothing. We are to participate in the what Wesley called "the means of grace" and to continue to grow in Christian life.

Who knew grace was so complicated??? Interesting though to see how Wesley divided the Christian journey. Any thoughts?
God Bless,
your sister in Christ,
~Erin

Grace Week

I have enjoyed studing about John Wesly lately and his teachings. He focused often on grace and it's role in working towards Christian perfection. This is an interesting yet somewhat complicated idea, so I thought together here we could see what we thought. Today I want to pose the question to you - what is grace? What does it mean to you? Have you experienced it? Do you have any questions about it? Tomorrow we will begin John Wesley's answers to those questions.

John 1:15-17

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ ~Erin~

Wesley

John Wesley read the Bible every day, usually early in the day or late in the evening. A scholar, he could read the scriptures in their original languages and wrote commentaries on the Bible. His Explanatory Notes on the New Testament and his sermons are a part of the Doctrinal Standards of The United Methodist Church. John Wesley gave Methodists advice on how to read the Bible. Read Wesley's advice and try it. Is his approach helpful to you? What is your method of searching the scriptures?

Today I am beginning The purpose driven life. I recieved the book for christmas thinking this should be interesting. I soon learned reading the intro that it is a 40 day journey. A holy journey. It may give me some things to but here, but I have also been studying John Wesley.

John Wesley was the founder of Methodism. There is alot of history about him and his teachings which reveal alot of reason behind methodist tradition. I encourage anyone who is not familiar with history of the wesley's ( John/Charles/ and their family ) to do alittle research - or ask.

Here is some more of Wesley's advice:
If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

1. To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?
2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?
3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should,
4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness.
5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.
6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short.

And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.

and personally I would encourage anyone who would like to make a commitment of the sort to find an accountablity partner. Someone who can read with you and talk with you. always wonderful.
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ ~Erin

"conservative"??

right now i am in the middle of a class on human differences. We talk a lot about biases, prejudices, discrimination and understand why these happen. It's a topic that often comes up in my discussions with others about social justice and how to get more of it in the world. There is oppression and hate but the question is what as Christians do we do about it?? Though one thing that has come up in our conversations is the label "conservative"

many people are confused by what "conservative" refers to. Is it a political frame of mind? If used as an adjective what does it really mean? It comes up in our class often because one particular person describes conservative views as if they are terrible and others obviously take offense to this tone. I can understand both sides of this issue. I hate to be ignored because "your just a crazy liberal" or blown off because "i think more conservatively" this to me seems as an excuse to ignore the issue we were discussing. yet on another hand it is something that is not really addressed.

what is a conservative christian?

well i can really only answer for me but i tend to classify conservatives as people whos views are more traditional and more focused on their own group instead of the entire world. That is a super broad idea (not even definition) but i think most of us already have an idea of what a conservative is. so why bring it up? i seem to at least find myself "fighting" against what i would call conservative ideas when talking about why it is so important to feed the hungry or reach out to those who are poor. Why?

Taking this class has taught me a little about appreciating diversity (that and kristina) though i have settled on the idea that we as christians are not going to agree completely and that is okay. Diversity of people and ideas are not ever going to completely go away and that is a wonderful thing. We will always have theological differences, different beliefs, cultural tendencies, however we believing in Jesus's teachings should be able to rise above and celebrate our differences while coming together to help our world. Conservative, liberal, progressive, catholic, methodist, hispanic, whatever lables we may find ourselves in- we can and must respect each other. The beauty of it is we have enough in common as christians to come together and make the world a better place. We also have a world of things to learn from all our differences it's beautiful.

So not alot said but yet an issue brought up - we are called to love each other -everyone, and i know i often forget what that means.

1 Corithians 13

if i speak in the tounges of men and of angels, but have not love, i am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.
if i only have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.
if i give all i possess to the poor and surrender my body fo the flames, but have not love, i gain nothing

love is patient , love is kind
it does not envy, it does not boast
it is not proud, it is not rude
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered
it keeps no record of wrongs
love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
it always protects, always trusts
always hope, alays preserves

love never fails

God is love and God loves us- social justice isn't about giving to the poor or having gifts, life is about loving God and our service coming out of that love.

God Bless
your sister in Christ ~Erin