Ppppp ...

Ever have one of those days?

One of those days where all you can do is exhale?

When your lips are relaxed, you exhale and end up making that "Ppppp ..." noise.

I have had one of those days today. Despite the highs and lows, joys and frustrations, good and bad; I have reason to rejoice. God is with me, living in me, and speaking to me.

After pacing back and forth, rubbing a hole in my forehead from all the thinking, and finally conceding to the fact that things may not turn out the way I really would like them to, I exhaled. It was in this moment of "Ppppp ..." that God showed up. The noise that came from air moving between my lips reminded me of five significant words from my day.

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Prayer
Purity
Purpose
People
Possessions

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Prayer really ought to be what makes my heart beat. When I pray, I am actually having a real conversation with the living, loving God who created me. This is insane. By His grace, I can cry out to Him with my needs, listen to His patient, calm, comforting voice, and know what I ought to do.

More often than not, a conversation with the Almighty reveals my need for ...

Purity in my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Only through faith in Jesus' death and resurrection can this happen. I am a filthy, rotten, sinner addicted to sinning. Fortunately, I am the type of failure-prone, habitual hypocrite that Jesus came to save. Be it pride, lust, anger, greed, selfishness, or whatever - I need to seek purity in all of me.

This brings me back to Jesus, which brings me to my ...

Purpose in life. The ultimate question that all people ask at some point; why am I here? I have come to know my purpose. The Bible talks quite a bit about this; from Genesis to Revelation. The answer can be summarized in the words of YHWH found in Leviticus 11:44 "... be holy, for I am holy." This seems like a daunting task, insurmountable by me, never to be attained by anyone. That's because it is. No human can be holy the way that God is holy. Sin has forever ruined any hope of doing this on our own. But, with a humble, repentant heart, anyone can come to Jesus and be holy, just as He is holy.

This is a promise for real ...

People with real needs. If we were all willing to take 34 seconds out of our day to be silent, I'm sure each and everyone of us could think about something we need. Someone may be in dire need of money in order to pay the bills. Another person might hear their stomach growl, and honestly be in need of food. Looking around and being surrounded by people, laughing life away and looking like everything is O.K. there are people in our midst who need a friend. Whatever it may be, by God's grace, with the helping hands of believers led by the Spirit, I pray that your needs may be met today.

There needs to be something said about ...

Possessions in this temporal world. There are so many things in this world that we want to have, know how to use "for His purposes," and carefully consider whether or not they are becoming idols. We are blessed beyond belief here in America. Our pockets are filled with technology that was unheard of ten years ago. Looking in our closets, it seems like we each could clothe a small village or two. But what do we do? We want more. Suddenly the next best thing has become obsolete. It's time to upgrade. But will this stuff last? Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven, rather than things on this earth.

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Take a moment to consider ...

What possessions are distracting me from people?
Does my purpose in life push me to higher standard of purity?
How do I feel about prayer? Is prayer a duty or a blessing? Does prayer make my heart beat?

Drowning.

When I was seven I fell off a floating raft into my babysitter's pool. I didn't know how to swim, not even a doggy paddle. With arms stretched towards the surface above me and eyes wide open, I instinctively held my breath. Within moments my babysitter dove in after me and pulled me to safety.

Have you ever felt like you are drowning? We use the expression most often when we are overwhelmed, overworked or simply in over our heads.

Drowning. Eyes wide open, lacking air, watching the surface disappear as we sink deeper and deeper down. Drowning. Unable to even tread water.

Job, more so than any other human in history, must have felt this way to a degree I shudder to imagine.

In Job 3: 20- 26, he laments

^“20 Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,

²¹ to those who long for death that does not come,
who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

²² who are filled with gladness
and rejoice when they reach the grave?

²³ Why is life given to a man
whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?

²⁴ For sighing has become my daily food;
my groans pour out like water.

²⁵ What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me.

²⁶ I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil.”

Job's life was thrown into utter turmoil. He lost everything to the point he longs to die. He curses the day he was born, he says his anguish and misery would out weigh the sands of the seas. He cries out to God over and over. Still through all the calamity that is brought upon him he never stops fearing the Lord. In the end of Job we find that God blesses Job with even more than he had before.

It's when I can't swim, when there's no emotional, mental, physical energy to pull my own head above water that I realize an important fact. I need a Savior.

We were created to walk in the garden with God. We weren't created to work like crazy, take on a million commitments, run ourselves ragged and into exhaustion. Our toil and turmoil is a result of the fall and sin in the world. Which again points to our need for a Savior.

Matthew 11:28-30, says "²⁸ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Psalm 46: 1-7

^“1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 121

^“1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 
² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 
³ He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; 
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
⁵ The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 
⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; 
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Look up. We have a Savior who will pull us safely to the surface.

He's Coming

As I've been thinking about the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection this past weekend I've been looking out the window watching the sun try to peak through the cloudy Washington sky and I am reminded of Jesus coming again. My mind wanders to the classic picture of Jesus coming in the clouds with the sun blazing behind Him to take us, those of us who have known Him, to be with Him forever. I don't how accurately the picture paints how the events of that day and age will actually pan out, but it serves to bring me to ponder those days to come. I look forward to them, I long for them from time to time. It makes me want to live a life in God's presence, seeking Him in prayer and being with Him though out the day; to be about His business and not my own; to love those whom He has allowed me to be in the presence of to love; to be obedient to the Spirit and to His Word and He guides me along.

I often think about this quote by two Moravians who sold themselves into slavery to share the Gospel with natives on St. Thomas Island in the 1700's. As they were leaving the dock on their ship bound for who knows what they yelled to those they were leaving this now famous quote. "Is not the Lamb worthy to receive the reward of His suffering?" To us all the same question is raised. Is not Jesus worthy of giving our lives to fully and unequivocally? "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it," is what Jesus once said. I want to lose my life for Jesus sake. One day soon He will return; may our lives have been ones that were lost for His sake.

Solemnity and Joy

As both the Maundy Thursday service and Good Friday service come to a close at Prince of Peace in Beulah, North Dakota, the church congregation is asked to leave in silence. Silent and somber, remembering the agony that Jesus experienced the night of His arrest and dwelling on the horrific events of His death.

However, Resurrection Sunday morning is a completely different matter. There is abundant joy, boisterous laughter, and victorious singing. What a celebration! -- And what an incredible reason to celebrate: we have a RISEN Savior, One who conquered over death.

I spent some time this weekend pondering the stark contrast of the solemnity of the Thursday night and Friday night services with the exuberant joy of the Sunday morning service. Isn't it fantastic that, although we remember the pain, sin, agony, and death that Jesus experienced in our place each year, He doesn't experience it year after year? We leave in silence, reflecting on the events that occurred over 2,000 years ago but we do not leave in horrific silence that they have happened again.

"For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." - Hebrews 9:24-25

"He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time sat down at the right hand of God . . . For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." - Hebrews 10:12,14

May we realize the grotesqueness and severity of our sin; may that be the reason of our silence and solemnity. But -- praise the LORD that we may also rejoice in the glorious truth that Jesus Christ conquered death and that He "lives to make intercession for [us]" (Hebrews 7:25)!

"'Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen" (Luke 24:5-6)!

Easter

In keeping with the Easter season, I'd like to pass along a couple things my pastor pointed out at our Good Friday service last night (subject to my fallible memory):

Mark 15:37 reads "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." My pastor used this verse to make a couple important points. The first is that we know Jesus was in control. A defeated man would not make a loud cry, the volume here is indicative of strength. This leads to the next point, which is that Jesus willingly gave up his life. If the cry shows his strength, we know that he could have lived longer, had he chosen. The fact that he had strength remaining when he "breathed his last" is a good reminder that, even though he could have saved himself, he gave it up, taking the next step in his mission on earth, saving us.

Just a couple things to think about as we remember the meaning of the holiday. Have a blessed Easter tomorrow.

last words

Something to think about today...

Jesus died praying. His last words were words of prayer. The habit of life was strong in death. It may seem far off; but this event will come to us also. What will our last words be? Who can tell? But would it not be beautiful if our spirit were so steeped in the habit of prayer that the language of prayer came naturally to us at the last?

-James Stalker

Paper Maps

Call me a laggard, old-school, or stubborn but I believe paper maps are where it's at.

Sure, a GPS is easier to use.

You tell the little electronic box where you want to go. In return, it will give you step-by-step, turn-by-turn, mile-by-mile instructions on how to reach your destination. When you've gone too far, the voice quickly tells you to turn around. We place high expectations on the person in the box and get mightily upset if the directions are incorrect. Because of this high tech invention, navigation has gotten significantly easier.

But is using a GPS better?

Unfolding a map and looking at the big picture to see both the beginning and end is critically important to figuring out where I'm going. By taking the time to find the best route, most beautiful scenery, and undiscovered treasures I enjoy the adventure much more. Some trails are more difficult, climbing high mountain passes, and descending deep into canyons. Others meander along serene rivers, through quiet forests, and into small towns. It takes time to pour over maps, running your finger along the lines, and considering all the options offered.

I think following Christ is similar.

It's not very often that God shares His will in a GPS kind of way.

When was the last time you told God you wanted to go on an adventure with Him? When was the last time He then told you exactly where to turn and when to turn? Did He announce ahead of time what the next turn will be? Did you get to choose what His voice sounded like?

It's more often that God shares His will in a paper map kind of way.

When was the last time you saw the big picture God gives us in the Bible? Are you anticipating the final destination? What do you do when there are distinctly different paths you can take? Is your map sitting in the glove box because new technology is up on the dashboard?

God has given each of us the choice to follow Him. One day we will leave this Earth to enjoy eternity with Him in heaven. This is only by His putting our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This path is clearly given in the Bible, the timeless, unchangeable, perfect, paper map.

Pass It On: Prayer for Spiritual Awakening

Hello Grounded 3.17 friends,

I wanted to share about an upcoming Prayer Gathering in Minneapolis, May 5th.

If you are in the area please consider being a part of Unite.

For those of you like me who are too far away to attend I would encourage you to be in prayer for this event.

Blessings on your week!

Naomi

A Unique Prayer Gathering at the University of Minnesota

Prayer for Spiritual Awakening on Our Campuses

www.unitetwincities.com

www.unitetwincities.com

Dear Friends of Global Day of Prayer:
 

History has been changed through great moves of God in revival and spiritual awakening, especially on college and university campuses. As students pray with radical faith, God answers by empowering with passion for holiness and the salvation of the lost. Historically, these moves of God have fueled missions and extended to the ends of the earth!

Global Day of Prayer is partnering with Pulse, Praise FM, and Christian colleges, universities and campus ministries to host a prayer gathering on the National Day of Prayer at the Mariucci hockey arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

Leeland

We have invited Leeland to lead us in worship, along with the 

UNITE Twin Cities worship band.

Nick Hall

 I will help co-host the evening with Nick Hall (Pulse) and Fern Nichols (Moms in Touch International). Already the 10,000 Moms In Touch prayer groups around this nation are being mobilized to pray for us on May 5. This is an event with extraordinary support!

This student-led gathering of prayer and worship will be targeted specifically toward college students. But all generations are welcome to come, and in fact, the students have requested that we all be 

present with them.

Fern Nichols

To get an idea of the excitement being generated around this historic event, please look at our website. You can download bulletin inserts, posters, handouts, and video clips. You can also stay current on prayer requests. 

The Lord has brought spiritual awakening to our campuses in past years - and it has changed the course of history. May He do it again!

Bob Bakke

Director of Global Day of Prayer MN

Other opportunities to join with UNITE: 

April 15 - May 5: 21-Day Daniel Fast (see Daniel 10:2-3). Join us in fasting and praying for the 21 days leading up to May 5.

Wednesday, May 4: Prayer walk around Mariucci Arena, 7:30 p.m. If possible, we will also pray inside the arena over the 10,000 seats.

April's Winter Weather

It's April 18th, and there's another Winter Weather Advisory for the western and central sections of North Dakota. Just last week, there was a system that dumped 5 inches of snow in Beulah, and nearly 10 inches about 30 miles south of us. Needless to say, there are many complaints throughout the state regarding this winter-like spring.

In situations like this, I can't help but think of Job 38-41. The LORD is speaking to Job, who's had his share of complaining and questioning to do. I encourage you to pull out your Bible and read these chapters in their entirety. They're humbling reminders of who we are and who God is. Here's a brief passage to wet your appetite for the Word of God:

"'Gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you will instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line in it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth . . . Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix their rule over the earth?'" (Job 38:3-7, 12, 18, 29, 33)

That's just a small portion of the LORD putting us in our place. Although we may have a desire for warmer days, greener grass, and more sunshine - before you complain about the weather, remember who sent it. And as you reflect on Him and who He is as a holy, omnipotent God - remember who you are in comparison. The fact that such a God loves us each so passionately that He gave the life of His Son for us should drop us to our knees in awe and worship.

Take the words of Paul literally - because I think that's how he intended us to understand them - and "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

Soaking up the Son

I love California. I don't know how I've lived this long in Minnesota, and I don't think I can ever go back for good. The sun here just does something to you. One thing in specific that it has done to me these last few days in southern California is turn my skin a nice rosy shade of red. While sun burns usually don't do much else than hurt, this one has meant a lot to me. My choir from AFLBS (Association Free Lutheran Bible School) is on tour at the moment and our songs at tonight's concert really convicted me. The first song to speak to me was "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" and the chorus goes as follows, "In Him there is no darkness at all, the night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart Lord Jesus". After we sang those words I completely lost it. To follow this was another song entitled "Prayer", composed with lyrics such as "Shine through me and be all in me that every soul I know will feel Your presence in my soul", as well as others that speak of Christ in us. Now you may be wondering why I was such a cry baby at tonight's concert because of sun burnt cheeks and singing a few songs. I couldn't help but think that absolutely everyone that I come into personal contact with at the moment knows that I have been effected by the sun, but how many of those know that I have also been effected by the SON? Do I live my life in such a way that lets Christ shine through me? In my attitudes, in my actions, in my words, in absolutely everything that I do? Many times in Scripture Christ spoke of Himself as the a Light. Take for example John 8:12, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". There is also John 1:9 and 9:5 where Jesus declares that He is the true light. So if Christ is the light, then if I am living and walking with Him, my life should reflect that light. It should be so evident to all that I have been exposed to the Son! But is it? The song that we sang inbetween these two songs mentioned above was "Give Me Jesus". If we truly want the light of Christ to shine through our lives, He has to become our lives. "In Him there is no darkness at all"--lyrics to "I Want to Walk" again. The lyrics to "Give Me Jesus" declare that you may have all this world, just give me Jesus. Is that our prayer today? Would we be honest in proclaiming that to the world? Would Jesus really be enough? How silly of a question! But one we sinners easily ask nonetheless. I encourage you to dig into the Word today. Soak up the Son! Let Him flood your soul with His presence and light, and let Him shine through you so that every soul you come into contact with will know that He is there.

One Day at a Time

Healing is a process.

We've all got a disease that is killing us. We were born with it. We feel it's damaging effects day after day. It's a disease called sin which equates to separation from God.

God came to the earth as a man, lived a sinless life, then died on a cross to pay the debt of every human's sin. Three days later, Jesus got up out of the grave and lived again. Believing this truth solves the problem, we are no longer separated from God! If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

But, sin still sticks close to us.

The spiritual healing that Christ provides is once and for all. The reality of sin is always present though too. In order to experience the continual, once for all healing of Christ, we've got to take life one day at a time.

To God, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day. (2 Peter 3:8-9) No wonder the battle against sin in my daily life can seem so endless. From one moment to the next I can go from feeling close to God to far away. I may feel holy and blameless at noon, but filthy and rotten to the core at midnight. While I struggle to live one day in a way that is pleasing to God, He is there walking alongside me every step of the way.

Part of this daily healing process is reading. Reading God's word, thinking about what the words truly mean, and spending the time to figure out how the meaning will change your life. Getting to the root of the problem is important. In Psalm 51:6, 8-9 as well as 139:23-24, David does some deep digging to let God look at his heart. This is something we all should do each and every day.

By living life one day at a time, we can allow God to continually shape us into His image. This process isn't easy to start and Satan will constantly (maybe more than ever before) tempt us to sin. The battle may seem endless, but Christ is right there with you.

1 John 1:9 says "If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Remember to this verse, one day at a time.

Name Brand

I heard an interesting story on the radio from Luis Palau. Take a listen to the podcast.
This line stuck out to me. "People are craving the Name Brand... they want absolute truth." I make the mistake, far too often, of thinking that people don't want absolute truth when in reality they are craving it. People hunger for truth. And when it comes to God, He is the only Way, Truth and Life that leads to life everlasting. There is no other god than the one true God.
Nothing lives up to the real thing and we have the REAL "thing" in Christ. Consider this week how you can be an instrument of God in the lives around you.
Be blessed,
Naomi 

Permeating

I love spending time at Caribou Coffee. Nowadays, I've found myself frequenting Starbucks Coffee on a more regular basis due to the fact that the nearest Caribou is a mere 4 hour drive east. But when I was a student at AFLBS, and even when I lived in Fargo, it wasn't uncommon for me to spend three to four (or more!) hours at Caribou working on homework. On such occasions, when I would return to my dorm room or apartment, I would notice that the wonderful smell of coffee came with me. The intensity of the coffee smell was so strong in Caribou that it permeated my backpack, my Bible and other textbooks, and even my clothes!

The other day when I was reading through the book of Ezekiel, I was struck my the reality of a permeation of an entirely different nature. The Lord is instructing Ezekiel in regards to the temple and the ordinances for the Levites. He says, "'When they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chamber; then they shall put on other garments so that they will not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.'" (Ezekiel 44:19)

Woah! Does that floor anybody else? The priests were to take off the garments that they wore in the presence of the LORD in the holy chambers and put on another set of clothes so that they wouldn't transmit holiness to the people. That is absolutely astounding to me. That God's holiness is so incredible, so powerful, so potent, so real that it could be transmitted.

Remember Moses? When he came down from Mt. Sinai, after being in the presence of the LORD, his face shone. (Exodus 34:29-35)

And what do we do with the LORD's holiness? What do we do in His presence? We bring our coffee mugs into the sanctuary to sip during the service because we woke up late. We let our minds wander to all the homework we have to do after church or the Super Bowl party we're going to attend later that night. We clean the dirt out from under our fingernails. Oh man.

I may have linked this song once before on a blog. Even if I did, listen to it again. I think it's a convicting song about the holiness of the LORD and our treatment of Him as a holy God: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8fSjtPLuBQ&feature=related

Lord, forgive us for not regarding You as holy because that is what You are . . .that is who You are. Give us a fear of You, an understanding of You are as a holy God. Bring us to our knees before you!

in or out?

Sometimes I wonder why it is so hard for me to see the need of others, or to encourage them, or maybe even get a long with them. I want to make a difference in other peoples lives, but I can't seem to connect or do anything. Then I start worrying about how I am failing at relating to them or developing a relationship with them. So where then is my focus?

I just saw the movie "Soul Surfer" which is about Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Her story is tremendously inspirational and moving. But what really stuck out to me was her outward focus, and positive attitude. Through her whole accident and transition, her focus was on others rather than herself most of the time. God used this to point out to me where my focus has been. Even though I am in ministry, and I want to make an impact in these kids and youths lives, my focus has been on myself. "How I can make a difference. How I can be liked by them. How I know so much. I....I....I." Even being rejected is because of my pride. What a waste of my life!

God wants us, His children, to keep our eyes on Christ. Only by Him can we do anything. All through the Bible it teaches us to have an upward and outward focus, never inward. In Philippians 2 it tells of the attitude we should have, which is to be like Christ. When we keep our eyes on Christ, He is able to work in our hearts and lives. But when we focus on ourselves, and let Christ in around what is going on in our lives, nothing works, and He can't change our hearts and lives or use us as effectively in His work and will. To love Him is to never want to take our eyes off of Him.

Rather than worrying about myself, maybe I need to focus completely on Christ and how I can be Him to others, and spill His love into their lives, rather than trying to soak it up from them. Then look to the needs of others and their interests before I even think about mine. Lord, help me to be selfless, and have complete JOY in putting YOU first, others second, and myself last.

Marvel Like A Child

Fond memories of cobble stone streets, sand castles, cables car rides and giant bubbles fill my mind as I reflect on my childhood. As a child I marveled at all the things I saw and experienced for the first time.

I can still remember the first time I saw a giant bubble. I'm not even sure where we were or how old I was, all I remember is that HUGE bubble and how it made me feel. Even now that awe floods my senses. It was one of the most amazing things my little eyes had ever beheld. To this day when I see bubbles I remember that moment.

Everything seems larger than life when your little. You have fresh eyes and an unmitigated excitement as you discover, learn and grow. Sadly, as we become older we are not as quick to be awed, amazed or to marvel.

Psalm 71: 15-18 "My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come."

I have a friend who has marvel in her voice when we talk about God. As she talks about what she is learning and how she is growing in her faith I can hear the excitement and amazement at the thing the Lord is revealing to her. She is a testimony to me that we can still be awed by bubbles, even if we aren't children anymore.

This week I'm reminded to Marvel.

Be Blessed
Naomi

Speed Limits

For the past few weeks as I have been driving to and fro from different places I have noticed one thing to be very common about my daily life in the car. My conscience has been blasted every time that I have gone over the speed limit. Now, to be honest, I really try not to speed in the first place because I think that as believers we ought to follow all of the rules and laws set up by society unless they are against the Word of God; so that being my conviction I strive to honor that as best I can by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is why it surprised me when this began happening. I mean it has been very unusual to the point that when I am praying or thinking of something else and just kind of coasting along, going down a hill, or something like that and not really paying too close of attention to the speedometer when I go over the speed limit my conscience will go crazy, I'll feel like my prayers are being hindered and my thoughts are blocked from flowing with the Holy Spirit, and I'd be afraid of getting a ticket. As soon as I would slow down back to the speed limit or below though, my conscience would clear, my prayers and thoughts would be be flowing with the Holy Spirit again and I'd have no fear of getting a ticket. Now this may seem odd to you, as it did to me, and to be honest again, it has been kind of annoying and troublesome as I wondered and prayed about what is going on, and I kind of knew where God was headed with it but I wasn't sure and I had no clarity into things...until today. I finally understand what God has been trying to teach me.

As I was driving up the hill close to where I'm living today after work I was going up a hill which is posted at 25mph and I was going about 6 or 7 and when I realized it and my conscience was going crazy and I asked the Lord what was going on, because I knew it just wasn't that I was speeding, and He finally revealed it to me. It has to do with something that has been a theme of my life for a long, long time, but I think this is one of the more significant times that I came to understand what this aspect of the Christian life means. Galatians 5:16-24 says this (which is the major part of what God has been trying to get through to me these past few weeks), "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Here's the connection, when we walk by the Spirit, which in essence is walking in obedience to God, the Spirit produces the fruits righteousness within us, but when we walk according to the flesh we walk in disobedience toward God. The results of obedience also produce a clear conscience, an unhindered prayer life and thoughts that flow with the Spirit of God, as well as no fear of punishment, for against the fruit of the Spirit there is no law. When we walk according to the deeds of the flesh though we have a guilty conscience, a hindered prayer and thought life, and we walk around with the fear of punishment. The lesson for me was greatly this: If I walk by the Spirit I will produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness, but if I walk outside of the Spirit, in disobedience, outside of the ways and boundaries that God has set for me, then I will produce the disparities of walking by the flesh. I pray that I may find myself more and more walking by the Spirit and not by the flesh, and may you find it to be the same thing too.

Giving Back

Last week I wrote about how Christians need to be careful that works don't take the place of faith in God as a route to salvation. The natural progression, then, is to write this week about why Christians need to do works. The importance of service is found in numerous places throughout the Bible, starting way back in the beginning of the Old Testament and continuing through Jesus' time. In the Old Testament, a lot of the service is directed towards taking care of widows and orphans. In the New Testament, we find Jesus saying "whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). He was speaking in response to a question asked about serving the poor, hungry, and strangers.

For a more modern (and abstract - Luther is tough to read) take, Martin Luther says that these works serve the purpose of disciplining the body and purifying it of evil desires. In a broader sense, Luther also says that these works should be done out of service to your neighbors, in a spirit of love, so that we may yield to God in our service.

But what sort of service should one be doing? This can vary greatly from person to person, and the determining factor is really what you're good at. I wrote a couple weeks ago about spiritual gifts - this is where they come into play. Discover what you do best, then go out and do it as a service to your neighbors, but most of all as a service of love to God.

At our Woman's Bible study, we talked about the significance of music, and the great influence it has in our walk with God. This song came to mind, and the words say it so plainly, that I will just let you read them. And really, it is all about Jesus.

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

Its all about you
Jesus

(The Heart of Worship, by Matt Redman)