Monday, August 31, 2009

Christ offers peace...

I have been working hard at school and have been involved in two group projects. Through talking with my group mates, I find myself searching for words to say that might bring them to Christ. They both have very hard outlooks on life, lacking Christ first but also missing out on the peace of Christ through faith. I wish I knew something to say. Proverbs 1:5 says "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." I will ask the church what to say that might bring them to the Lord. The only way I can learn better how to speak Christ to someone is to read his word. So I will be sure to continue to Abide in my Lord, also.

I pray that I might speak my mind more often to my wife.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Starting School

So... I just started school yesterday, again... I'm really excited about finishing this year! I have to keep reminding myself to fix my hope completely on the grace of Christ (1 Peter 1:13) to keep myself grounded and in the present. It keeps me grounded by making me realize, from 1 John 2:28, that I do not want to be in shame when my savior returns. It's going to be a busy year, but the Lord is my strength and in his word I will rest!

I'm praying for:
  • my family
  • Piper Ruth
  • Myself, that I may speak boldly and truthfully


Matthew 24:42-51
42"Therefore (BC)be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

43"But be sure of this, that (BD)if the head of the house had known (BE)at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

44"For this reason (BF)you also must be ready; for (BG)the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

45"(BH)Who then is the (BI)faithful and (BJ)sensible slave whom his master (BK)put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

47"Truly I say to you that (BL)he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48"But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'

49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;

50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

51and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be (BM)weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Livin, Lovin, Laughin

Praise the Lord for giving us the Holy spirit through Christ that we may be able to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) who is the exact representation of God (Heb 1:3). It is only by his word that we may be sustained (Heb 1:3). In Psalm 51:11, David mentions that he does not want the Holy spirit to depart from him, so apparently certain people had the spirit of God before Christ came, but Praise God that now we are all able to take part in the spirit of God!

We have lived on the Farm for just two weeks now, picking cucumbers and building decks. I really enjoy living within a community of believers, sharing all things just as in Acts 2. We must all, in the body of Christ, consider how to encourage each other to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24), but we should also remember that we are called to spread the gospel, creating disciples as we are going (Matt 28:19-20). I look forward to being given the opportunity to be hospitable to my family and those I am in school with (Titus 1:8), not forgetting that the Gospel of Christ is for all (Gal 3:8), so I should be hospitable to all and not just these that I have mentioned!

I am very much still looking forward to the blessing of my daughter, Piper Ruth. I pray that God would save her soul, and not harden it like pharaoh's. I know that if I bring her up the way of the Lord, she will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). I can rest in Lord with that promise. She has been kicking Rachel so much lately, I think she's going to break out even before it's her time! However she arrives into our midst, I will have the Holy Spirit as my guide to love her and raise her.

I am praying for:
  • Healthy Piper
  • Teaching from the Holy Spirit
  • People, my friend Rob may be able to relate to better than those that are already with him
  • Opportunities to show hospitality
  • Work that I might be able to provide for my family

The Joy of Children!