“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
My friend Savannah and I went to donate plasma today in order to raise support for our trip. (Crazy, I know :) Anyway, as I was sitting there squeezing my hand so that the blood will flow out better, I thought of Christ. I might have felt a little light-headed, but I was sitting in a comfortable chair with pillows, a blanket, a T.V. to watch, and nurses around me to make sure everything was ok. However, Jesus had no such “luxuries” when he shed his blood on the cross. He was stripped, beaten, spit upon, mocked, slapped, pierced, and marred. He took my punishment so that I could be seen as righteous. He stepped down from the luxuries of heaven because he loved us so much. What a wonderful God!
On another note, the Lord’s been opening up some unexpected doors for support. I talked with my dad the other day on the phone and he said that my mom’s best friend (who was there the day I was born), came up to him with a support check from Sherwood Baptist. This was the church that I was baptized in and attended until I was ten. I was not expecting anything, especially since I did not even ask for anything. God is so good to provide through this sweet body of believers.
I also got an opportunity to share with Redeemer, my church here in Florence, about my trip last Sunday. The congregation was so encouraging and excited about my trip. They decided to take up a love offering for me and some team members from UNA. Please continue to pray for me and my team. Right now I’m at about 27% on my funds, praise God!
I continue to thank you all for your prayers. (I especially need them as I take my finals next week). You can pray this for me and my team members, “10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light“ (Col. 1:10-12). I love you all and pray that God is teaching you to live a life worthy of him.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Beloved
“As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
As many of you know, my sweet sister, Lydia, got married last weekend, so the Bond family has had our hands full. It was so wonderful to stand at the end of the aisle and watch my beautiful sister walk down the aisle toward her groom to the song “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North (if you get a chance, look it up). As I was watching her walk down the aisle, I couldn’t help but think about Christ and how He sees the church. He loves her and she is without blemish because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. What a wonderful God! That is how he views you and me! We should get excited about such love.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” Phil. 4:6.
We learned to put this verse into action last weekend. Thursday night as my family was praying over Lydia’s upcoming marriage, we heard my grandmother scream in the other room. We all went in there and found out that she was suffering from blood clots on her spine. We called the ambulance and prayed over her. The second her and some of my family members left the house, the remaining ones got together and prayed. All weekend, we bathed everything in prayer. Every time we would begin to worry, we prayed. It didn’t matter if we were in the bathroom, on the phone, or driving (we kept our eyes open, don’t worry). Mema is still in the hospital, so please be praying for her.
“Faith without deeds is dead” James 2:26.
Anyway, I have realized that only God has the power to get me to Australia, so please join with me in prayer for Him to move! The Lord has provided about $3,700 which is so great! Please continue to pray that the other $2,300 comes in. I’m also asking you to pray that the Lord works in my heart. I want to believe that He can do huge things in my life. I want to not only say that God can do these things, but actually put them into practice. I want my life to reflect this verse. I was realizing as I talked with some friends tonight that this is the first time I have truly had to trust God with something this huge. He is so big and so faithful. He is my Beloved. I love you all and covet your prayers.
As many of you know, my sweet sister, Lydia, got married last weekend, so the Bond family has had our hands full. It was so wonderful to stand at the end of the aisle and watch my beautiful sister walk down the aisle toward her groom to the song “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North (if you get a chance, look it up). As I was watching her walk down the aisle, I couldn’t help but think about Christ and how He sees the church. He loves her and she is without blemish because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. What a wonderful God! That is how he views you and me! We should get excited about such love.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” Phil. 4:6.
We learned to put this verse into action last weekend. Thursday night as my family was praying over Lydia’s upcoming marriage, we heard my grandmother scream in the other room. We all went in there and found out that she was suffering from blood clots on her spine. We called the ambulance and prayed over her. The second her and some of my family members left the house, the remaining ones got together and prayed. All weekend, we bathed everything in prayer. Every time we would begin to worry, we prayed. It didn’t matter if we were in the bathroom, on the phone, or driving (we kept our eyes open, don’t worry). Mema is still in the hospital, so please be praying for her.
“Faith without deeds is dead” James 2:26.
Anyway, I have realized that only God has the power to get me to Australia, so please join with me in prayer for Him to move! The Lord has provided about $3,700 which is so great! Please continue to pray that the other $2,300 comes in. I’m also asking you to pray that the Lord works in my heart. I want to believe that He can do huge things in my life. I want to not only say that God can do these things, but actually put them into practice. I want my life to reflect this verse. I was realizing as I talked with some friends tonight that this is the first time I have truly had to trust God with something this huge. He is so big and so faithful. He is my Beloved. I love you all and covet your prayers.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Remember
Mark 8:16-21
16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." 20"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." 21And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
The Lord showed me these verses the other day when I was starting to be doubtful of His provision this summer. So often He provides in miraculous ways, and after a while, I forget what he has done in the past. Jesus was telling His disciples, "I fed 4,000 people out of just a few loaves and you're worried about just 12 of you?" I pray that I would trust in the Lord each day for my needs.
16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." 20"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." 21And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
The Lord showed me these verses the other day when I was starting to be doubtful of His provision this summer. So often He provides in miraculous ways, and after a while, I forget what he has done in the past. Jesus was telling His disciples, "I fed 4,000 people out of just a few loaves and you're worried about just 12 of you?" I pray that I would trust in the Lord each day for my needs.
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