Hold Fast. He is Faithful.

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thessalonians 5

Technology

Blogging.
There's an app for that!
Wow!

In other news, court is spending the night. She went to bed first. When I was ready to go to bed, she was in the middle, so I tapped her and asked her to scoot over. She replied, "scoot where?" So I explained to scoot to her side, that she was in the middle. She said, "it's cause your pillows are so big!" And then she rolled to her side, and continued sleeping. It was funny

Good night.

A Desire to GO.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? 

And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? 

And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? 

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

(Romans 10:13-15 ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”        

(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

"I've sat by far too long, and I've watched the hurting suffer on their own. I have chances everyday...to live like You, die to myself; Give Your love away.
               And I wonder why, I feel so empty inside. While I sing la la la la la la la la la
               As the hungry roam the streets, La la la la la la la la la
               As the broken are on their knees, La la la la la la la la la
               I keep singing
We are frozen, we are still, But we're called to be a city on a hill
And as our melodies resound, We cannot hear the silent cry this world is screaming out
               Remember salvation's day. When Jesus washed our sins away. The lost are crying out to be saved
We keep singing. But just a song won't heal, The bleeding wound
Church wake up, We're sleeping in an empty tomb
               Church arise! arise and shine! Shake yourself from the dust, God is calling us to go!"
(Leeland: While We Sing)

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? 

Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” 

(Spurgeon)

Last year, while at Snowbird, Brody talked in staff church about some of our personal desires to go on the "mission field," internationally. He talked about how some of us had no desire to leave the US. He talked about how some of us had a healthy perspective of waiting to go, seeing where the Lord led. And then, he talked about the rest of us. The ones that he compared to a dog on a leash struggling with every ounce of strength to run free. In this case, he was the one holding us back...teaching us more, and making sure we were ready, prepared. We laughed, and I could easily think of 10 people in the room that were the ones who were like a wild dog...a few of them/most of them being my closest friends. I don't know why that's one of the analogies I remember. Maybe because it's when I truly realized that I'm not ready yet...that I still have things to learn. But, it made me want to be one of those wild dogs. I have (have had for five years now) a desire to go and spread the name of Jesus to the nations that do not know him. 

Last night, I was reading in the Gospel according to Luke. I have been in this good book for months. In chapter eight, he talks about a man that was possessed with demons. Jesus came upon this man, and sent the demons into some nearby pigs. The man pleaded with Jesus to come with Him, join His ministry, and follow Him wherever He went. Jesus said no. He told him to go home, and tell his people all that God had done for him. It convicted me. It convicted me deeply. How often do I not tell people all that God has done for me? How often do I keep quiet about his ever so frequent mercies and grace in my life. I pray that I would not be quiet here. I pray that I would speak of all of God's goodness wherever I am. And I pray that wherever God sends me, that this would be the message that I would speak.

It's funny getting ready to graduate from college...the possibility of leaving the nest! 

I have such a desire... a desire to go to SENOIA. 

To go where my church family is, and live life there with the locals. I am so thankful for this desire. I am so thankful for this body of Christ that encourages me so much. We are currently praying for a building. Praying that God would give us what He desires for us to have. I am so thankful for a body that leans of the Holy Spirit for every bit of blessing. I am thankful for where I am headed now...knowing that this church will support wherever the Lord sends me next.

So for now, while I have this desire to GO...to speak the name of Christ to the people who have never even heard His name...an unfathomable statement that I can't believe is even true...I commit to speak His name, here. To speak of His glory, here. To speak of His mercies, here. To teach good doctrine, here. To know good doctrine, here. To pray, here. To be dependent upon the Holy Spirit, here. To pray for missionaries, here. To LOVE, here. So that I may do the same, there (whether that be Senoia, Newnan, Uganda, the horn of Africa, or the little country that is making my heart flutter right now). Because everywhere, every single person on every single continent needs Jesus most. They need Him more than food. They need Him more than shoes. They need Him more than happiness, wealth, or family. Making most of Jesus means making most of life.

May my perspective be healthy and my obedience be great. 

Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD!

For he commanded and they were created.

And he established them forever and ever;

he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and mist,

stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

Beasts and all livestock,

creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and maidens together,

old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his majesty is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his saints,

for the people of Israel who are near to him.

Praise the LORD!

(Psalm 148 ESV)