The Battle

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devl and he will flee from you. I think that often times when we quote this verse we forget the first part: Submit therefore to God. Before we are even able to resist the devil we MUST submit to God, to His authority and to His will. If we try to resist the devil on our own and in our own weak authority - he'll just keep coming back. It is only by the power of God at work in our lives that we can defeat the enemy but until we truly submit to God's authority we cannot and will not operate in that power. So join me and decide TODAY, February 18, 2014 that we will SUBMIT therefore to God. And then, we will resist the devil and he will flee once and for all. There's a war that rises up and wages on and on. My enemy is all around strong and firm. The war rages on with no end in sight. It all seems hopeless and defeat is in front of me. I'm weak and cannot fight and the war seems all but lost. But then I call on Jesus to bring the victory. The one who holds my hand picks up my sword and stands. It is then I understand that I was never meant to fight. Who but God can go before me? Who but God can conquer my foes? He is my shield and defense. With His mighty hand He wins the victory.

Trusting God all the way

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the rock of our salvation. He has promised that He will never leave or forsake us. He is our great Shepherd. He will lead us until the end. What He starts in our lives He will finish in His time. His ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans. There is no one who loves us more unconditionally than He does. If only we could fathom His love for us then we would not work so hard to find acceptance elsewhere. We would not so often feel rejected. We would not know what it meant to feel lonely. We would not know what it meant to feel discouraged or hopeless. If we could just fathom all that He wants us to experience in Him and through Him as we walk His path for us, we would be the most happiest people on earth. Recently I heard some very exciting news. Faith School of Theology is on its way to becoming accredited. That means that they'll be offering Associate and Bachelor degrees in Theology. That also means that anyone who has graduated from Faith School can return and complete their Bachelor Degree. Two years ago if I had heard about this I probably would have shrugged it off and thought, "I've already done my time at Bible College." For the past few years I've been so caught up in getting caught up in something that would make me happy that I believe I veered off the path that God originally put me on. In this Season of my life God decided it was time to bring me back to where He wants me to be. If all goes according to plan and Faith School does become accredited I'm going to go back to get my degree in Theology. In the past few months I've been trying to figure out what it is I should be doing, where it is I should be going - but in trying to figure all of this out I left out one key question, "What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to go?" There have been so many things that I tried but failed at because I was doing it my way - I was trying to make MY own plans happen. God wants so much more for us. His ways are not our ways and His ways are actually BETTER and BIGGER and HIGHER than our ways. You see, I feel so good about this decision to go back to school. It feels as though I'm going to be on the right path for God to open the right doors so that I can fulfill HIS plan for my life. Sure, there are still questions about the future but I am resting in the fact that God has opened a door that no man can shut. I am resting in the fact that He is my Shepherd and He will not lead me astray. I am resting in the fact that what He started so many years ago He is about to finish. Finally I am feeling freedom. Before I felt like I was never at peace - always trying to figure out God's will. But we don't figure out God's will. We trust God. When we trust Him everything else falls into place. And it is step by step in faith that His will comes to pass. I am excited for what is to come. I'm following the Great Shepherd. He's got my back. He's my sure foundation and I don't have anything to fear. All is well and the best is yet to come!

Remembering Bulgaria

Today I was looking through my old photo albums and came upon pictures from a Missions trip I took to Bulgaria. I'm reminded of words of a friend of mine when I came back from that trip, "I went to Thailand where there is real danger when the Gospel is preached. You went on a vacation." It may not have been a roughing it Missions trip but what I saw there were people in need. I saw children who had very little but who wore such gigantic smiles when they saw a group of Americans who were interested in telling them about Jesus. I saw women who felt worth because we asked them to stand along side us as we taught the children about the wordless bracelet. I saw an elderly woman who wept as I spent several minutes praying with her as I held her in my arms. I saw people in need. And we had what they needed. I saw an opportunity to show love and acceptance to a people who otherwise are discriminated against and put down because of their bad habits. What some of them needed were just to feel like they were worth more - and that there was a future for them that wasn't pick pocketing and robbing

or mothering by the age of 12 and spending their teen years trying to feed their little ones. I saw the opportunity to show Jesus in every village we ministered in. "The sacrifices of God are a borken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

He's a better driver

I'm learning that I have to let go of some things in order for God to have complete control of my life. Should be a no brainer right? Not for me. I'm always trying to figure things out; asking questions like what if, how, why or when? Jesus is in control. No matter what the future holds I don't have to be afraid and I don't have to figure out how I'm going to get there. I only have to trust that God knows best and that doesn't mean He is going to subtract from my life...it means He's going to add to my life. It means that He has good plans for my life and the only way for those plans to be fulfilled is for me to let go of the steering wheel, get out of the driver's seat and let Him drive. He knows my desires...even before I speak them. He fashioned me and formed me. He knows my thoughts even before they are in my head. He's out for MY good not to harm me. He's not going to drive me down a dead end road and He's not going to steer me off course. He's going to take me where His plans will unfold. I may not understand why He's turning left when I think He ought to turn right. I may not understand why the light is not turning green after it's been on red forever and a day. All I know is that I'm safe in the hands of Jesus. He's got my life under control...as long as I let go and let Him take me where He wants me to go. I don't need to know how I'll get there. I just need to trust the man in the driver's seat. TRUST...that is the key. It doesn't mean subtraction...it's addition and multiplication. He may not take me down the same path everyone else is traveling down (not that their road is any better or worse than my own) but He may take me down the scenic route. I don't want to have control anymore...it's too much of a weight on my shoulder. Several years ago I wrote a song. The chorus was simple and went like this: It's in your hands Lord (3 times) to do what you will (2 times) with it. There truly is freedom in handing over the keys of our life to Jesus. He's a much better driver.

Beyond Feelings

Feelings come and go. Emotional roller coasters shifting to and fro, up and down. Feelings come and go but the facts remain. What is fact lasts. What is feeling is fleeting. Who said if it feels good do it? Not everything we feel is real and not everything real we feel. Let's hold on to the facts and what we know to be truth. Feelings are good when nurtured and grown by truthful facts. Understand the facts and lead your feelings, change your perspective. Feelings come and go but the facts remain. Go with the facts and lead your feelings.

Trust in God

Mark 11:22-24

Jesus: Trust in God. If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, "Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea." If you don't doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. SO listen to what I'm saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you'll receive it and you will. (The Voice)

Rainy Day

It's another rainy day in Belfast, Maine. I love sunny weather but every once and awhile I love rainy days just as much. It's like God is giving nature and everything in it a bath. I'm thankful that I don't live in a place where months and months can go by without seeing any rain. Rain brings a feeling of comfort...though it is accompanied by dark clouds it also brings a sense of hope that clear skies and sunlight are on the other side of those dark clouds.

Ligers, Zonkeys and Zorses...oh my!

I'm familiar with the mule hybrid of a female horse and a male donkey but recently learned about another popular hybrid, the Liger. The Liger is a mixture of a male lion and a female tiger. The largest known Liger in the world is called Hercules and can be found at Jungle Island, an interactive animal theme park in Miami. Checking out pictures of Hercules I was amazed by his enormity.

In the process of learning about Ligers I also learned about two other hybrids that exist: Zonkeys and Zorses.

By their names you can guess what mixtures they are. A Zonkey is the mixture of a Donkey and a Zebra. The Zorse, a Horse and a Zebra. There are ranches across the US that breed Zonkeys and Zorses and train them to perform what any Horse can do like, riding, jumping and racing.

Chasing luggage and catching buses

It's 1:36pm and I'm still trying to calm down from the recent adrenaline rush that ran through my body as I rushed through the South Station trying to buy my bus ticket.

As I mentioned earlier my flight to Augusta this morning was canceled so I was left to wait for the flight scheduled for 1:30. By 12 I hadn't heard anything so I patiently went up to the desk and inquired about the flight. It was several minutes before I was given a more clear answer...that was at about 12:15. The pilot, who was due to fly to Augusta today at 1:30, suggested that I take the bus because the weather didn't seem to be letting up. They sent my luggage to baggage claim but when I got down the stairs I didn't know where to go. It seemed like I ran all over that baggage claim area to try and find my luggage and finally someone directed me to the right place.

By the time I retrieved my luggage I was afraid that I had missed the bus because it was just turning 12:30. The guy who brought down my luggage pointed me in the direction I needed to go and I hurried over to the bus stop where several other people were waiting. I talked to one lady who works for an airline in Colorado and she said that if I pushed enough I might be able to get a refund on my plane ticket. She said she was in Maine to see family for thanksgiving and to attend her niece's baptism.

The bus was actually a few minutes late...but I was relieved to catch it. When I couldn't find my luggage earlier I was so confused, not really sure what I was going to do if I did miss the bus. To finally sit down in my seat after waiting so long for a flight to Maine was assuring.

Because we hadn't purchased our tickets yet we were supposed to get off at South Station, purchase them inside quickly and then come right back to the bus. Once we arrived I left my lap top and lap top bag on my seat and my luggage was safely stored under the bus. I followed the other passengers inside to the Concord ticket booth and we made it to the front of the line. When I reached the counter I turned over my only form of payment, my Discover card, and the guy says that they only accept VISA or Mastercard. I had to think really fast because if I can't pay for my ticket I'm stuck. All kinds of scenarios run through my head until I remember that I set my card up so that I could withdraw money. I ran over to the atm and when I return to the ticket booth the line is outrageously long.

By now I am restlessly frantic. What if the bus leaves without me? All of my stuff is on the bus...my luggage and my lap top. My heart was racing in my chest a million miles a minute. The wait through the line seemed like an eternity but really it didn't take that long. I grabbed my ticket and made a run for it to the bus. Passengers aren't permitted outside the station unless directed by staff and there was a HUGE line waiting to get on the bus. By God's grace one guy came around the corner and asked if anyone was going to Portland, Maine. I slipped through the door with a couple who was waiting to go to Portland. Everything was fine. I made it. The bus didn't leave without me. They didn't leave with all my belongings. I was safe.

This day has been one crazy one but I can rest assured that God has been with me...leading me every difficult step at a time. It's like Psalm 139:7-10 that says, "Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."

Though everything around me is going crazy...God is going steady with me!! He's along side me as I'm chasing luggage and catching buses!

Flight 1007 Canceled

I'm on my way home to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with family. This morning I was up at 3am to leave by 3:30 to arrive at the Newark airport for a flight to Boston where I was supposed to catch a connecting flight to Augusta, Maine. Here I am at the Logan airport having been here for a little over an hour or so. Due to stormy weather conditions my flight to Augusta, ME scheduled to leave 3 minutes ago (10:40) was canceled. Now the plan is that I wait for the 1:30 flight...if by 12:30 they think that it will also be canceled then I'll be taking a bus home.

Oh the joys of travel! The flight here was a bumpy one but I ended up sitting next to a lady who had lived in Sao Paolo, Brazil for over eight years. She was ecstatic to hear about my plans to visit at Christmas time and assured me that I would enjoy myself very much. I was also able to promote JET Incorporated. She works for a company that still has a hub office in Belo Horizonte and who are looking for someone to teach some of their staff members English. It was very exciting talking to her about it.

When things like that happen...I can see the hand of God. Things like that can't be just coincidence. In fact, we sat beside each other the whole ride and didn't really start talking till the flight was nearly over. We started talking because I was so nervous throughout the flight and she rejoiced with me when the plane finally landed. It was at that time that I told her that every time I fly I get nervous and that I was especially nervous to fly to Brazil. That's when she lit up and told me that she had lived there for eight years about nine years ago.

It will be so nice to go home and relax and be around people who love me unconditionally :) That's what home is...a safe haven. Thank God for the times that we can go there and be completely ourselves...

I love the people I've met since being in Vineland but I know, after only being there for a couple of months, that it's not the place for me. But I will continue on and keep my commitment there until June. I'm sure that God has plans that I can't even imagine. It's all part of trusting him to lead me and do with me what he wants to and where he wants to.

Where?

Where am I?

At this very moment I am sitting comfortably on my freshly made bed in my little attic bedroom in Vineland, NJ.

I'm in Vineland interning at the Chestnut Assembly of God church. I'm interning with the Young adult pastors and am involved in other various ministries including choir, young adult worship, homeless ministries, as well as mentoring at a boys and girls club once a week.

The mentoring experience is one I am super excited about. Although most weeks my assigned mentees never show, I've had the opportunity to mingle with other kids and make a difference here and there in small ways. One girl wants to be a writer when she grows up and I've encouraged her to write a short story and bring it in for me to check it out. Another little girl was discouraged one day when one of the staff yelled at her for making a paint gun with pipe cleaners in the craft activity...she didn't say anything but I knew that her feelings were hurt so I encouraged her and said, "It's okay...you did a great job!" That short and to the point comment made her day. And making her day made my day!

Thanksgiving is coming up soon and I'll be going back to Maine for a brief vacation. It will be great to be with family and friends for a little while. Each time I'm away now I miss everyone more and more. I'm especially excited to sleep in my big comfy bed in my bedroom at my parents' house :P So a lot is going on...things are happening. Times are not always easy...but I know who holds me securely. Thank God for his faithfulness through every season!

Meeting and Eating

For a couple of months now my sisters and I have been meeting once a week for Bible study. And as of late we've been adding members. Every week we decide on a place to meet and because both of my sisters have kids of their own and have to feed them, Food is often a requirement before our Bible study. Since this is the case every week I get a text message from both of my sisters...usually at different times...saying, "Where are we going to meet and what are we going to eat?" At first I was okay with the whole eating thing until I got a little annoyed by the weekly question, "What are we going to eat?" Frankly, I don't care. Seriously, I would rather not eat at all and just have coffee and cookies during the meeting. Sometimes I feel as though the eating part of the meeting actually distracts from the point of the meeting in the first place. Haha.



Anyway. Sunday rolls around and one of my sisters texts me and says, "Where are we going to meet tomorrow and what do you want to eat?" Because my frustration has come to a bit of a boiling point I text back hastily and say, "Do we have to eat?" :P She replies, "Well we don't have to but we do have to feed the kids." Rather than reply back I just leave it cause I really don't care whether we eat or not and what we eat.



The next day, the day we meet, my other sister sends me a text and says, "Where are we going to meet and what are we going to eat? And don't say that you don't care." This makes me even more frustrated. LOL. So...since I was planning to go to Rockland that day I replied with the following: I am going to Rockland from Searsport around 1. Not sure if I'll make it back by 4...What about meeting at Hollis...I can bring brownies I made Thursday. We all could eat separately and then meet after.



So we decided on 5:30 at Holli's house. Molli was going to bring some veggies and dip and I was bringing the brownies.



After we finished the Bible study I voiced my frustration about the whole food thing. LOL. So after a bit of discussion over the issue we came to the conclusion that if they wanted to eat before or during they would do so but without consulting me. :-) I know...this all must seem pretty silly! LOL For our next meeting we are going to meet at my Aunt's house and those who want to eat can come early...those who do not, can come just for the study. It works perfectly. :-)



That's not all! Haha. After the whole ordeal over eating at our meetings I was feeling a bit like a little brat. But today I was reading in Matthew 6 and was comforted by the words of Jesus himself:



Matthew 6:31, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?.....



hahahahahahaha!!! Of course, I HAD to send that verse to my sisters to plead my cause!



So now you all know NEVER to ask me, What shall we eat? LOL

Annie's Song

The room was crowded. People were scattered forming
groups around the room. The sound of silence was
unbearable. We all know the cliche, "it was so quiet
you could hear a pin drop". What was happening? What
was the matter? Was anyone going to stand up and be
courageous? They were waiting for someone to utter a
word.

One second....two seconds...three seconds pass by. No
sound. No word spoken. Four seconds...five, six,
seven...Wait, was that a word from someone in the
corner of the room?

One tiny little voice was heard. It was the voice of
little Annie. The room was crowded with cowardly
adults who dared not utter a word and the one to break
the silence was a stature of insignificance but one
with a spirit of courage.

"I believe in Jesus," she said as she aimed her words
at the man holding the gun in the middle of the
crowded room. Inch by inch she made her way to a
foot's distance away from him. People around her
tried to stop her in her path fearing for her life.

She pushed them aside and continued on.
"I believe in Jesus," she exclaimed one more time once
she was standing directing in front of the gunman.
Gasps were heard from those same speechless people
from moments before.

The gunman aimed the gun at Annie's head and then
ordered everyone to clear the room who did not share
her beliefs. Some hesitated not desiring to leave the
girl but eventually fear overcame them and one by one
the people hurried out of the room...not daring to
look behind. Cowardly they came in and cowardly they
went out. When the door shut behind them, it left the
gunman and Annie face to face in the middle of the
room.

When he heard the door shut the gunman prepared his
gun to fire and asked the girl one last time, "Will
you deny Christ or die?"

"I believe in Jesus," she began before singing this
song, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells
me so, little ones to him belong, they are weak but he
is strong..." Suddenly from behind the door where the
others had escaped to, they heard a gunshot that
abruptly ended Annie's song...

Moments later, Annie was safe in the arms of her
Heavenly Father singing a new song.

Jesus Loves Me this I know for my Father tells me so,
little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is
strong, yes Jesus Loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, yes
Jesus Loves me, my Father tells me so.

Just felt like writing

It's nearly 1am in the morning but I can't sleep.

Thanksgiving is coming quickly and it's going to be the first Thanksgiving I'll be home in two years. It's going to be different that's for sure. In fact, I'm not even sure how I'm supposed to feel anymore.

However, I am thankful this time of year. I have a lot to be thankful for: Family, food to eat, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, shoes on my feet but especially Christ's love. His love is something that I've taken for granted so many times over the years. And in the last week or so I've really been overwhelmed by his love. His love is unconditional for one thing. He loves us not because of who we are or what we will become but because of who he is. Jesus Christ was fully man but he was most definitely fully God. Because he was God he was love. He cannot help but love us. That is why he died in our place taking the punishment of our sins upon his back.

I am thankful for his love because without his love I cannot imagine where I would be right now. It is only by his righteousness that I am made right with God and it is only by his love that I have peace and fulfillment. His love is more than enough to keep me in the palm of God's hand.

For Christ's love toward me I am most thankful.

More literary inspirations from the past...

I am so thankful for my collection of journals that I have kept over the years. When I look back through the pages of yesterday so often I am inspired by past victories and testimonies of God's goodness. Also over the years now and then I would be inspired to write down bits of poetry; that is if you want to call them that. I haven't written much lately...mainly because it's something that I have to be inspired to do.

I'd like to share a few with you:

Let my words...

Let my words be few
Let my actions speak loudly
Let my words be true
Let my actions speak kindly

Let my words be action
Let my actions speak words


The Beach...

Birds in the air
Winds blow the sea
Water splashes the rocks
Children play on the sand


Nature's Masterpiece...

A piece of Heaven
Painted in the sky
Picturesque Beauty
Reds, pinks, colors of every kind.


God Bless!

Lots to write...

Today I took a visit to the Seashore again. It's been awhile. I think the last time was a couple of months ago before the weather started to turn cold. Even today the weather was gray and cloudy. The waves were choppy as they toppled one on over the other washing foam up on the rocky shore.

Being by the sea started me thinking about life. Mainly because the ocean draws me closer to God...I feel his presence so strongly while I stand and glance at the massive waters stretching out as far as my eyes can see. And when I think of God...I have no other option but to think of my life. For it is in Christ that I live, I move and I have my being.

Lately I have felt like a failure. So often I go through these times. Times when I seem to fail God over and over and then finally I come to the place where I run to him and lift up my hands in surrender once more. Being back in the States has caused me to question once again what my purpose is...what God's purpose and plan is for my life. Seemingly things don't seem to be happening in my world that would indicate that I serve any purpose at the moment. It is during these times of lack of a sense of purpose when I start to unnecessarily feel sorry for myself and slip into this "poor me" attitude which only causes me to drift farther from God and his purpose.

Thank God he is not finished with me yet. I'm not perfect. And when I visit the seashore God seems to drop something in my heart. Sometimes it doesn't come right away; sometimes it does. Today he used something I wrote a few years ago to illustrate what he wanted to drop in my heart.

It was a a story I started to write in 2007. Let me share it with you:

Cliff of Praise,

In the morning light she stood there on a hill. With an umbrella to shield the sun in her right hand and binoculars in the other she glanced down at the sight before her. Dressed in a black cotton dress, an orange scarf about her neck and matching gloves on her hands she hoped she wouldn't be spotted by one of her companions. Her black hat with an attached piece of red silk was another item of clothing she'd purposely put on that morning so that she would be inconspicuous. She never wore hats and nobody would give her a second glance when they saw the hat atop her head.

Solitude. That is what Miss Eliza Price had escaped from the Bed and Breakfast for that morning. Just a few moments to herself so that she could clear her mind of the thoughts that had tormented her of late. That was all that she desired. Surrounded by her dear old aunts who had accompanied her to Italy was no place a person could spend time heart searching.

Early that morning, when Jaimieson, Marilyn, Laura and Elizabeth were still sound asleep in their bedrooms, after a long day at the beach the day before, Eliza slipped from her own room on the second floor of the B&B. As quietly as possible she tip-toed past the doors of the two bedrooms occupied by her companions. At one point, as she neared the stairs, the floor creaked beneath her feet and then there was a sound of someone stirring from the first door along the hall. At that moment Eliza made a run for it down the stairs and through the foyer finally exiting the B&B before she could be discovered.

Pausing to smell the lovely roses planted outside the building, she quickly headed toward the worn path that wound around the corner to the right. As she followed the path it led her to the edge of a cliff. Below were colorful stone buildings built into the rocky hillside.

She stood there glancing down at the hillside that was so scattered with buildings and the incredible clear blue water at the bottom. She put her binoculars to her eyes and noticed boats of every shape and size coming and going. At this moment she felt as if she were on top of the world spying on the goings on of those below.

The time and place was perfect for her to reflect upon her recent thoughts and to search her heart for some answers. Being near the rocky cliffs below and the calm Ocean water spread out as far as her eyes could see gave her a sense of God's peace. God was here with her and she could now let go of all her fears and all of her...

Wait. What was that she heard? Eliza heard footsteps behind her coming from the path she'd just walked herself moments ago. She waited. Maybe the intruder would recognize a woman basking in the presence of God and respectfully walk on. No, that was not to be. The footsteps grew louder and she noted the very moment they stopped.

FOr a moment she closed her eyes imagining that she could somehow will the intruder to leave her side. She need only to turn her head and see the person who had stopped at the edge of the cliff next to her. Finally she opened her eyes and moved them from where they lay ahead to her left. A stranger. Indeed, she had never laid eyes on this person who stood closer than she had realized. As she stared at his profile she noticed that the stranger's eyes remained focused on the hillside below. Maybe the stranger was blind and knew this spot only by memory.

A few moments passed and the stranger still had not glanced once in Eliza's direction. Feeling that the perfect moment for reflection had long passed Eliza shuffled her feet about to turn and head back down the path toward the B&B. At that moment the stranger spoke.

"God delights in the praises of his people!"

This statement, although familiar, startled Eliza.

"You know I'm here?" she questioned out loud.

Not desiring to be rude and disrespectful, Eliza's hand flew to her mouth surprised at her own bluntness.

Smiling graciously at Eliza the stranger continued, "The Lord delights in the praises of His people, but sometimes in our ignorance we do not honor him with our praise. When we focus our attention on ourselves and not upon our creator we offer nothing for the Lord to delight in. Do you know what happens when His people do not praise Him, ma'am?"

It was at this moment, as she opened her mouth to respond, that Eliza saw not a stranger before her and certainly not an angel but a man of God carrying a message. In the midst of her new perception of this man, she could not find the words to answer his question. The question was directed to her, she knew that. There was nobody else around to answer and his eyes were fixed on her and her alone.

Once again he smiled at her holding her gaze only a moment before going on.

"The Rocks cry out." He watched Eliza's face as she glanced down at the rocks on the hillside. "Yes, even these rocks, ma'am. You see, even though the Lord delights most of all in the praises of his people he is such a great and mighty God that if we do not do so, something must proclaim the greatness of the Lord.

"Often times when I'm tempted to pine over my circumstances and have myself a pity-party I run to this here spot. When I look down at these rocks below I realize that even though they are so mighty and strong and the very appearance of them declares how great God is, it is my praise in which the Lord delights. The Lord is always worthy of praise even when I may not feel like praising him. But, do you want to know what happens when I praise God even when I'm not feeling up to it?"

His eyes were smiling now and Eliza couldn't help smiling herself as she nodded. There was a fascination about the man who stood before her speaking words of wisdom and knowledge. She only wished she knew where he came from.

Seeing her nod the man turned his face back to the sight before them. The sun brightened his expression as he spoke his next words, "The Lord lifts me up above my circumstances. There's times I'm praising God right here on this cliff and I feel I could jump off the ground and sore above the hillside below. He truly blesses our obedience to praise him even when our act of obedience is a sacrifice."

For a moment the two of them stood side by side in silence, each quietly praising the Lord in their hearts.



So today God dropped in my heart that I should praise him...even when I don't feel him...even when the circumstances of life are seemingly hopeless offering no signs of purpose. Our greatest purpose is to Praise God! Psalm 150:6, Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Sing unto the Lord!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 96:1-4

O Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

1 Chronicles 16:23-26

Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

It looks an awful lot like we are to sing unto the Lord and to declare his wonderful works to all people.

Today a friend was telling me about a verse he had been meditating on in 2 Chronicles 16. I flipped through my Bible to find the verse and was looking at verse 23 of 1 Chronicles 16 rather than 2 Chronicles. The funny thing is that I wasn't even in the right verse...even if it was 1 Chronicles. Later on this evening I wanted to turn to the scripture he really was referencing to 2 Chronicles 16:9. Again, my eyes were caught by this verse in 1 Chronicles 16.

A few minutes later I was reading from the passages in my One Year Bible. The reading from the Psalms today was Psalm 95 and 96. I couldn't believe it and I suddenly realized that God was trying to tell me something. :D

I really need to let these verses sink in before I know what God is trying to say to me. One thing I know is that I need to stop being so self-absorbed and look to my creator. After reading all these verses about singing unto the Lord and showing forth his wonderful works I was prompted to go to the ever familiar Psalm 100.

I love when the Psalmist says, "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

"it is he that hath made us, not we ourselves" There's so much to take from that one verse. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God knows our innermost being as much as our outer being. He knows every thought. He's aware of our every intention or motive. He is in control.

What I get from that tid bit is what is also said in Isaiah: His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. I spend too much time thinking about what I can do to change things; about what I can do to make God love me more; about what I want for my future. It is God who made me...he can change things with one word as he calmed the storm by saying, "Peace, be still!" No matter what I do, he could never love me any more than what was displayed on the cross. And he has the future all planned out and it is a good future. I get from that statement, "it is he that hath made us, not we ourselves", that I need to stop trusting in myself and start trusting in him ALONE.

I can testify of God moving after I decided to trust him alone for my life, for my future and well for everything. One day I am saying, "It's in your hands", and the next he's changing things in my life that I couldn't change on my own.

"we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture"...sheep have got quite the life. They are led by the shepherd into fields to graze and eat freely until the shepherd leads them to safety at the end of the night. They don't have to worry about their life, food, or shelter. That is how it is with our Great Shepherd. If we yield to his great care we have nothing to worry about. And again...that goes back to trusting God. Trust. It's easier than we think, I think. :D I'm working on it.

God Bless!

Update

I am home in Belmont. Funny; how you can make plans and then things change in a blink of an eye.

I'm working at Chase's Daily two days a week and am looking for a full time job for during the week; preferably an admin job. I'm praying for a good paying job that can help me earn enough to be able to get my own apartment. It would be nice if it was somewhere between Belfast and Bangor. I'm hoping to get involved in my home church in Bangor again and it would be nice to be closer so that I can do that.

Tomorrow morning I am going to the bank and will be getting a loan to buy my very first car of my own. My parents bought me a car several years ago and since then it was totaled but still because it was bought by my parents it really never felt like it was mine. This will be my very own car. God has been good. I don't deserve his favor...I'm far from perfect...yet he has given it freely. This car is a part of his plan for the moment...I know that.

I'll tell more later. It's late and I need to be going.

God Bless!

Update

Just a quick update while I'm on here. I've got a part time job at Chase's Daily in Belfast. I am working two days a week, Friday and Saturday. On Fridays I wait tables and on Saturday I work at the front counter. It's a good job that will stretch me and help me develop multi-tasking, time management, and prioritizing skills.

I am praying that I can get another job or two that I enjoy. I'm hoping to go to Brazil in January. If that is the plan then I really need to be making some money to travel there and to have some extra for the first few weeks or even months that I am there.

More than anything else, I want God's will. I want him to lead me in the direction that he wants me to go in.

Starbucks Wi-Fi

Right now I'm sitting down at the Starbucks on Bangor Mall Boulevard. This morning I went to my parents church in Winterport and was very blessed by the presence of God that was so strong in that place. My Gram went home with my sister and I drove here to Bangor. When I came I saw an old Starbucks co-worker of mine, Tanya G. We spoke briefly, she giving me all the updates on other co-workers and what they are doing now.

A few weeks ago I came in here and found out that Starbucks was now offering Free Wi-Fi. Today I knew that I was going to be in Bangor for the afternoon on my own with nothing to do so I brought my laptop to take advantage of that Starbucks customer perk. It just makes me love Starbucks even more. :D

Anyway. So I sat down first of all in a place where there were no electrical outlets. While I waited for someone to move I ate my Cinnamon swirl coffee cake and started drinking my Grande mocha. About fifteen minutes went by and two girls near an outlet on the wall left and I took their place. It was a table of four and at first I felt a little funny taking the whole table for myself...but it was my only option.

A few minutes later there was a man on a mission who came into the store with a laptop in under his arm ardently searching for a place to sit...I could tell that he was looking for a place next to an outlet. He came to where I was sitting and with an urgent thick foreign accent said, "I'm sorry, do you mind if I sit here. This is the only place with an outlet and I need it." And I said, "Sure".

He pulled out his cup of coffee and a big container of Nutella and began spooning the nutella. It was funny. He has the space around his laptop filled up with bags full of cds and an external hard drive.

Before he began digging into his nutella he got up to get a spoon. While he was away momentarily the guy at the table behind his chair looked at his stuff and then I caught his eye. He chuckled and said, "There was an outlet in that corner. I think he saw it. It's strange."

We were both minding our own business when all of a sudden he picked up his cell phone, dialed it and then my phone rang. haha. It was as if he was calling me. Obviously he wasn't but it was funny anyway. His phone call ended up being a conversation in another language. It sounded like a Slavic language similar to Bulgarian. My phone call was in English and it ended up being my best friend, Kristina.

Anyway...I think that this is hilarious. When I go to a cafe in Glasgow, Scotland or one in Bangor, Maine, USA I end up bumping into people from another country. They are drawn to me. Hahahahaha.

Well, I think that is all I'm going to write about right now. I'm going to go back to surfing the net.