About Staying Home ...

During my day thoughts come to my mind concerning things I want to write about, but rarely do I actually remember what I want to write. Today was one of those exceptions ...


Recently as I've been thinking about my life and things I want to do in my lifetime I have had this overwhelming fear that ... I may never got to fly across the ocean, I may never get to visit Australia, China, Thailand, and other exotic places. Places where family & friends have gotten the chance to visit. I may never take my "dream road trip" that I've always wanted to take. I may never get to serve as a missionary in a foreign land, and experience the reality of living in a culture that I don't know the main language.


It's hard accepting that these things may never happen and I might live the entirety of my life in the US working as a cashier and home health aide, serving in my fellowship of believers (Rockville Mennonite) as a Sunday school teacher, and the closest I may ever get to overseas missions is by praying for my friends who are in those exotic places.

In my mind I "know" that these things (which I'm doing) are just as important in the Kingdom, but my humanness shines through pretty strongly - I WANT to go and see the world, at least see the US of A!!

Oh, if I only had the patience ...

On Being a Slave/Bondservant ...

There I was, sitting in Sunday School on June 13th, 2010. The teacher was teaching from Acts 2, Pentecost and Peter's sermon. He made a comment that made me think very hard, he said "as Christ's slave" and I balked. My first thought was "I'm not a slave, I'm a servant" ... so this lead me to the following study!

Acts 2:18 is translated:
"even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy." (KJV)

and:

"even on my bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of mu Spirit and they shall prophesy." (NASB)

I got to thinking ... "what does that word servant/bondslave mean in Greek? What is the root?

I didn't do an intense study but this is what I came up with:

• The word is δοῦλος (doo'-los) From the root δέω (deh'-o) [which is "A primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively): - bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind."]; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
  
• So this word can have three meanings:

1. A slave bondman, man of servile condition
   
2. Metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men.
   
3. Devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests

(taken from Thayer's Greek Definitions)

Looking at the context I tend to believe that we are more than a slave, who is bound to his master by demand.

We are ...

• Servants of the Most High God. Redeemed people who have given up our own will to the will of the Father. For the sake of the Kingdom, extending and advancing God's cause among men. Devoted to God, to the disregard of our own interest!

I want to live my life patterned after the LORD Jesus Christ, following the Father's will, and allowing the work of the Holy Spirit in my daily living!

God uses me ... a scary thought!

As I was driving to work this morning a thought came to my mind ...

"God uses me as a reflector of His image to the world around ... despite my failures, or should I say in spite of my many failures!"

This thought should motivate me to "act" more like a Christian ... to act as though I am being watched every moment of every day!

How am I shining His light?

1. In my work place:

• Am I a faithful employee?
• Do I work my hardest?
• Do I honor my employer? - this means no gossip!
• Do I honor my fellow employees? - once again, no gossip!
• Am I sharing my faith to my employer/fellow employees?

2. At Home:

• Am I honoring my parents?
• Do I respect those I live with?
• Am I "pulling" my fair share around the house?

These are just some thoughts that have been running through my head and I figured that I had better write them down before I forget.

I encourage you to, be a LIGHT to the world around you! Live your talk!

I go to write and the words seem to fail me ... there is so much that I want to say ... the past three weekends have been really good for me, here are some snapshots into some of the recent Sunday school lessons and sermons I have heard!

Sunday, April 11, 2010 ~ New Life Assembly of God, Farmville, VA.

A new perspective of the work of Christ, my High Priest:

• Christ stands in the Holy of Holies, ministering, interceeding for us. As the High Priest, Christ keeps us filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit to be a witness of the gospel. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the boldness to speak in moments when we need to speak, to share the gospel to the world. Without the oil we lose our flame to shine the light of the Gospel. Christ is waiting, like the High Priest in the OT, for vessels to fill with oil (the Holy Spirit) - If you come to Him asking to be filled, He will fill you!
• You should expect Christ to pour out the Holy Spirit - to keep the gospel flame burning.
• It takes FAITH - this is how the kingdom of God is established. Asking, Seeking, and Knocking are the prayers of humility. We need to be PERSISTENT in faith, asking, seeking, & knocking!

Sunday, April 18th, 2010 ~ Rockville Mennonite Church, Honey Brook, PA

Ephesians 5:1-2

• Be imitators of God - Be a mimicker of Abba Father - follow His way.
• Live a life of love in response to God - just as Christ loved us - focus on the needs of others - reach out - show Jesus.
• Jesus said "I have come to do your will" - seek to do God's will.

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 ~ Rockville Mennonite Church, Honey Brook, PA

"Our Human Resistance to Grace

• We resist the grace of God when ... we refuse to forgive those who have "sinned" against us.
• We resist the grace of God when ... other people, who we think are less deserving, receive the same grace we have received.
• the grace of God does not excuse sin, past of present.

What do "grace people" look like?

1. They need to have experienced the grace of God.
2. They do not put confidence in rules or traditions of man, but in the Cross.
3. They make much of the Cross.
4. They are accepting people - non-judgmental
5. They extol the work of the Holy Spirit.
6. They really know how to worship, serve, & obey.
7. They are filled with JOY!

* some of these words are taken directly out of my sermon notes, I hope they make sense!

You have told me LORD,
that You take pleasure in those who fear You,
those who hope in Your mercy.
(Psalm 147:11 personal paraphrase)

So remember me LORD,
give ear to my cries.
In Your faithfulness, through Your righteousness, answer me!

(Psalm 143:1 personal paraphrase)

I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah.
(Psalm 143:6 ESV)

In the morning, show me Your Love,
for in You I put my trust.
Show me the way I should walk,
for to You I lift up my soul.
(Psalm 143:8 personal paraphrase)

Recently I have had the opportunity to sit in on some court hearings ... each time I see how faulty the world's court system is and over and over again I rejoice that I serve a God who does not judge according to man's standards. I serve a God who is perfectly just and perfectly true in every aspect of life.

Psalm 9 talks about this "side" of God:

• When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. (Psa 9:3-4)

• But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psa 9:7-12)

As I dwell on these words I cannot help but agree with the Psalmist David's opening words in this psalm ...

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psa 9:1-2)

God is on the side of the oppressed ... they are not alone! God will fight for them - when they call on Him, when they put their trust in Him.

But what if they don't know? It's you and my responsibility to tell them ... this is my personal challenge! When they feel alone and like no one is there for them, God IS!! But, He give us the responsibility to tell them ...

The more you love, the more you grieve when that person is gone.
The deeper your relationships, the more you open yourself up for hurt.

... just some thoughts running through my head.