One of my fellow workers sent me a link to this sermon, and it's safe to say I was either crying or in awe of Father throughout the whole thing.
This sermon is by David Platt. The audience is actually a room full of pastors, so any and all pastors take note, but in general these truths are for every believer to take hold of and live out. This is one of the most beautiful ways I have ever heard this preached. The title of it explains enough of what it is about.
Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions : Together for the Gospel
I know that it is long and you will more than likely need to give yourself some time to be able to listen, but please come back to this when you have time or make time. Save it for Sunday and listen to it on your "church" day, or save it for a not so busy evening and before you turn on the TV, listen to this instead. Podcasts may not be your thing, but with a little blunt love from me to you..... You need to make it your thing ;-)
Please grab your good book and your journal and talk some notes. Believe me, you won't regret it!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Easter Ponderings
For those of you that are a part of my crazy wonderful family please take a stroll down memory lane with me, and if your not please enjoy a blurb about my crazy wonderful family....
When I was growing up, every Easter we drove to Andrews, TX and celebrated with the crazy wonderful (sometimes half insane) Holman side of the family. My sister and I went through grueling hours of shopping to find that perfect Easter dress, matching handbag, gloves, socks, and sometimes if we were lucky, hats. (love you Mom!) We all crammed into 2 homes and we had a ball. Sometimes I wish I had adult eyes to be able to enjoy my family back then like I do now (if that makes sense) BUT, one good thing about being a kid on Easter was that we were the stars.
After church was the big photo shoot. The time when we got to shine in our cute little floral dresses and the boys in their cute little shirts and ties. Every individual family had their pictures taken, then we all knew the drill of taking pictures per "section" of family. All of Clyde's kids, all of Norman's kids, Herman, Darlene, Sue, so on and so forth. These were the pictures that are always carried with a kid. My parents will always have those pictures of me dressed up in those floral dresses all primped up, and there is nothing I can do about it....
We had the BEST Easter Egg Hunts. This is when we got to change out of our fancy attire and into running clothes. First we ate such a wonderful feast of casseroles and yummy desserts. It was a family potluck like no other. Then it was time for the parents to hide the eggs. I remember all the parents and older cousins putting on this big hoopla about not going into the backyard (it felt like hours) so they could hide the eggs. The anxiety building inside with all of the little cousins not so patiently waiting. We all marched outside with our baskets filled with that green grass stuff and waited for the countdown and then of course it was all out madness. When we were little my Mom and Dad took us around helping us put eggs in the basket, but when we grew older, it became much a competition. I vividly remember us all sitting down after "the hunt" to count out our eggs and to see who got the best prizes. Such fun and memorable bonding time with cousins.
Those traditions have faded out, but I always think back on those weekends and the fun we had as a family. I was young and I have a terrible memory, so I have fleeting memories of those times, but one thing I remember well over all of these things is there was always lots of singing. Lots and lots of singing.
This Easter was quite different from any I've had before. I spent my morning out in a very poor village with a community of very few brothers and sisters teaching their children about the cross, the tomb, and the 3rd day. A team of volunteers were with us this week and they brought lots of fun snacks to give away. We also acquired a few big bags full of children's clothing to give out as well.
We played games, sang songs, and told the story (with a little reenactment) of our King dying and raising again, then we handed out all of our gifts. I couldn't help but tear up as I sat at the back to take a quick picture during the story. These kids don't know much about the world, they don't know much about anything, but now they know this story. Now they know about the G*d who came down to earth and lived a perfect life all to die for us. To live perfectly so he could be our substitute. They know that this G*d is not dead! No! He is alive! He is not made of stone or wood or painted in gold like the gods of their culture. He is not buried somewhere like the gods of their culture. He is alive and well and loves us as his own children, and wants nothing more then for us to know Him and love Him.
After we left the village we went on to a waterfall for an Easter picnic. As I was sitting and reflecting on the morning and then thinking back on the Easters of my childhood, I was overwhelmed with praise, adoration, and awe of Father. Who woulda' thought that the little girl in the floral dress with matching everything would be in that village on this Easter. I began to be overwhelmed with gratitude for my own salvation. Overwhelmed with humbleness thinking about how I don't deserve more than these precious children do. My heart was flowing with pr's for the kids to know him and thankfulness that I know him.
As I was thinking on these things, I had a conversation with one of the volunteer girls that came. She is a new sister of faith and she was struggling with seeing the poverty of the village and understanding Fathers will for them to still be living that way. Her main 2 questions were, "Why are these children still living in such horrible conditions and why are they living in a place where the good news is prohibited?" I didn't pretend to have the answers. These are questions that I ask myself every time I walk into a village. You begin to have a new appreciation for your own faith when you spend time in places like this. Days like today when you reflect on your own life and the blessings you have had and didn't realize it until your face to face with reality. I use to think I lived in reality. That the majority of the people around the world lived like me, but as I've grown older, I have learned the exact opposite. I am a minority in this big world.
My childhood is a massive blessing from Father. To grow up with a family who worships our King, to live in a place where I'm not watched by the police because of my faith, to worship without fear of governmental persecution. All of these things I never ever thought about growing up, but I think of them daily now. When I look in these children's eyes, all I can think is to ask that they will one day live with true hope.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STINKIN TRUTH!!
And because this song was in my head, it is the only ounce of truth I could give the volunteer girl after she asked me such hard questions... This life is confusing, we don't know why we were given lives so different from these children, but we know our Father is sovereign and that the only reason we have hope at all is Because He Lives! We are given salvation for a reason. To love, adore, and worship Father. The overflow of these things is sharing his good news to the people of the world. Because He Lives I have hope and I pr that these children will too.
So as this Easter season comes to an end, please remember the kids of this village as you speak to Father. Ask that this story becomes life to them and that they will grow up with a thirst for this G*d and a yearning to know and follow him.
Ask that they one day will lift their hands in adoration of the King WHO LIVES!
When I was growing up, every Easter we drove to Andrews, TX and celebrated with the crazy wonderful (sometimes half insane) Holman side of the family. My sister and I went through grueling hours of shopping to find that perfect Easter dress, matching handbag, gloves, socks, and sometimes if we were lucky, hats. (love you Mom!) We all crammed into 2 homes and we had a ball. Sometimes I wish I had adult eyes to be able to enjoy my family back then like I do now (if that makes sense) BUT, one good thing about being a kid on Easter was that we were the stars.
After church was the big photo shoot. The time when we got to shine in our cute little floral dresses and the boys in their cute little shirts and ties. Every individual family had their pictures taken, then we all knew the drill of taking pictures per "section" of family. All of Clyde's kids, all of Norman's kids, Herman, Darlene, Sue, so on and so forth. These were the pictures that are always carried with a kid. My parents will always have those pictures of me dressed up in those floral dresses all primped up, and there is nothing I can do about it....
We had the BEST Easter Egg Hunts. This is when we got to change out of our fancy attire and into running clothes. First we ate such a wonderful feast of casseroles and yummy desserts. It was a family potluck like no other. Then it was time for the parents to hide the eggs. I remember all the parents and older cousins putting on this big hoopla about not going into the backyard (it felt like hours) so they could hide the eggs. The anxiety building inside with all of the little cousins not so patiently waiting. We all marched outside with our baskets filled with that green grass stuff and waited for the countdown and then of course it was all out madness. When we were little my Mom and Dad took us around helping us put eggs in the basket, but when we grew older, it became much a competition. I vividly remember us all sitting down after "the hunt" to count out our eggs and to see who got the best prizes. Such fun and memorable bonding time with cousins.
Those traditions have faded out, but I always think back on those weekends and the fun we had as a family. I was young and I have a terrible memory, so I have fleeting memories of those times, but one thing I remember well over all of these things is there was always lots of singing. Lots and lots of singing.
This Easter was quite different from any I've had before. I spent my morning out in a very poor village with a community of very few brothers and sisters teaching their children about the cross, the tomb, and the 3rd day. A team of volunteers were with us this week and they brought lots of fun snacks to give away. We also acquired a few big bags full of children's clothing to give out as well.
We played games, sang songs, and told the story (with a little reenactment) of our King dying and raising again, then we handed out all of our gifts. I couldn't help but tear up as I sat at the back to take a quick picture during the story. These kids don't know much about the world, they don't know much about anything, but now they know this story. Now they know about the G*d who came down to earth and lived a perfect life all to die for us. To live perfectly so he could be our substitute. They know that this G*d is not dead! No! He is alive! He is not made of stone or wood or painted in gold like the gods of their culture. He is not buried somewhere like the gods of their culture. He is alive and well and loves us as his own children, and wants nothing more then for us to know Him and love Him.
 |
| The reenactment. |
 |
| Funny little girl with her new clothes. |
 |
| Some more sweet kids. |
After we left the village we went on to a waterfall for an Easter picnic. As I was sitting and reflecting on the morning and then thinking back on the Easters of my childhood, I was overwhelmed with praise, adoration, and awe of Father. Who woulda' thought that the little girl in the floral dress with matching everything would be in that village on this Easter. I began to be overwhelmed with gratitude for my own salvation. Overwhelmed with humbleness thinking about how I don't deserve more than these precious children do. My heart was flowing with pr's for the kids to know him and thankfulness that I know him.
As I was thinking on these things, I had a conversation with one of the volunteer girls that came. She is a new sister of faith and she was struggling with seeing the poverty of the village and understanding Fathers will for them to still be living that way. Her main 2 questions were, "Why are these children still living in such horrible conditions and why are they living in a place where the good news is prohibited?" I didn't pretend to have the answers. These are questions that I ask myself every time I walk into a village. You begin to have a new appreciation for your own faith when you spend time in places like this. Days like today when you reflect on your own life and the blessings you have had and didn't realize it until your face to face with reality. I use to think I lived in reality. That the majority of the people around the world lived like me, but as I've grown older, I have learned the exact opposite. I am a minority in this big world.
My childhood is a massive blessing from Father. To grow up with a family who worships our King, to live in a place where I'm not watched by the police because of my faith, to worship without fear of governmental persecution. All of these things I never ever thought about growing up, but I think of them daily now. When I look in these children's eyes, all I can think is to ask that they will one day live with true hope.
I now understand this holiday. I understand the reason for all of the singing, for all of the praising, the amens, and the raised hands.
I began to sing (in my head) many of the songs I sang growing up on Easter with my crazy wonderful family. One that sticks out is Because He Lives. One of my most beloved songs from those days and one of my favorite hymns. Please listen right now to this beautiful beautiful hymn.WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STINKIN TRUTH!!
And because this song was in my head, it is the only ounce of truth I could give the volunteer girl after she asked me such hard questions... This life is confusing, we don't know why we were given lives so different from these children, but we know our Father is sovereign and that the only reason we have hope at all is Because He Lives! We are given salvation for a reason. To love, adore, and worship Father. The overflow of these things is sharing his good news to the people of the world. Because He Lives I have hope and I pr that these children will too.
So as this Easter season comes to an end, please remember the kids of this village as you speak to Father. Ask that this story becomes life to them and that they will grow up with a thirst for this G*d and a yearning to know and follow him.
Ask that they one day will lift their hands in adoration of the King WHO LIVES!
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Sunday, April 15, 2012
TRUTH
One of my fellow workers sent me a link to this sermon, and it's safe to say I was either crying or in awe of Father throughout the whole thing.
This sermon is by David Platt. The audience is actually a room full of pastors, so any and all pastors take note, but in general these truths are for every believer to take hold of and live out. This is one of the most beautiful ways I have ever heard this preached. The title of it explains enough of what it is about.
Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions : Together for the Gospel
I know that it is long and you will more than likely need to give yourself some time to be able to listen, but please come back to this when you have time or make time. Save it for Sunday and listen to it on your "church" day, or save it for a not so busy evening and before you turn on the TV, listen to this instead. Podcasts may not be your thing, but with a little blunt love from me to you..... You need to make it your thing ;-)
Please grab your good book and your journal and talk some notes. Believe me, you won't regret it!
This sermon is by David Platt. The audience is actually a room full of pastors, so any and all pastors take note, but in general these truths are for every believer to take hold of and live out. This is one of the most beautiful ways I have ever heard this preached. The title of it explains enough of what it is about.
Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions : Together for the Gospel
I know that it is long and you will more than likely need to give yourself some time to be able to listen, but please come back to this when you have time or make time. Save it for Sunday and listen to it on your "church" day, or save it for a not so busy evening and before you turn on the TV, listen to this instead. Podcasts may not be your thing, but with a little blunt love from me to you..... You need to make it your thing ;-)
Please grab your good book and your journal and talk some notes. Believe me, you won't regret it!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Easter Ponderings
For those of you that are a part of my crazy wonderful family please take a stroll down memory lane with me, and if your not please enjoy a blurb about my crazy wonderful family....
When I was growing up, every Easter we drove to Andrews, TX and celebrated with the crazy wonderful (sometimes half insane) Holman side of the family. My sister and I went through grueling hours of shopping to find that perfect Easter dress, matching handbag, gloves, socks, and sometimes if we were lucky, hats. (love you Mom!) We all crammed into 2 homes and we had a ball. Sometimes I wish I had adult eyes to be able to enjoy my family back then like I do now (if that makes sense) BUT, one good thing about being a kid on Easter was that we were the stars.
After church was the big photo shoot. The time when we got to shine in our cute little floral dresses and the boys in their cute little shirts and ties. Every individual family had their pictures taken, then we all knew the drill of taking pictures per "section" of family. All of Clyde's kids, all of Norman's kids, Herman, Darlene, Sue, so on and so forth. These were the pictures that are always carried with a kid. My parents will always have those pictures of me dressed up in those floral dresses all primped up, and there is nothing I can do about it....
We had the BEST Easter Egg Hunts. This is when we got to change out of our fancy attire and into running clothes. First we ate such a wonderful feast of casseroles and yummy desserts. It was a family potluck like no other. Then it was time for the parents to hide the eggs. I remember all the parents and older cousins putting on this big hoopla about not going into the backyard (it felt like hours) so they could hide the eggs. The anxiety building inside with all of the little cousins not so patiently waiting. We all marched outside with our baskets filled with that green grass stuff and waited for the countdown and then of course it was all out madness. When we were little my Mom and Dad took us around helping us put eggs in the basket, but when we grew older, it became much a competition. I vividly remember us all sitting down after "the hunt" to count out our eggs and to see who got the best prizes. Such fun and memorable bonding time with cousins.
Those traditions have faded out, but I always think back on those weekends and the fun we had as a family. I was young and I have a terrible memory, so I have fleeting memories of those times, but one thing I remember well over all of these things is there was always lots of singing. Lots and lots of singing.
This Easter was quite different from any I've had before. I spent my morning out in a very poor village with a community of very few brothers and sisters teaching their children about the cross, the tomb, and the 3rd day. A team of volunteers were with us this week and they brought lots of fun snacks to give away. We also acquired a few big bags full of children's clothing to give out as well.
We played games, sang songs, and told the story (with a little reenactment) of our King dying and raising again, then we handed out all of our gifts. I couldn't help but tear up as I sat at the back to take a quick picture during the story. These kids don't know much about the world, they don't know much about anything, but now they know this story. Now they know about the G*d who came down to earth and lived a perfect life all to die for us. To live perfectly so he could be our substitute. They know that this G*d is not dead! No! He is alive! He is not made of stone or wood or painted in gold like the gods of their culture. He is not buried somewhere like the gods of their culture. He is alive and well and loves us as his own children, and wants nothing more then for us to know Him and love Him.
After we left the village we went on to a waterfall for an Easter picnic. As I was sitting and reflecting on the morning and then thinking back on the Easters of my childhood, I was overwhelmed with praise, adoration, and awe of Father. Who woulda' thought that the little girl in the floral dress with matching everything would be in that village on this Easter. I began to be overwhelmed with gratitude for my own salvation. Overwhelmed with humbleness thinking about how I don't deserve more than these precious children do. My heart was flowing with pr's for the kids to know him and thankfulness that I know him.
As I was thinking on these things, I had a conversation with one of the volunteer girls that came. She is a new sister of faith and she was struggling with seeing the poverty of the village and understanding Fathers will for them to still be living that way. Her main 2 questions were, "Why are these children still living in such horrible conditions and why are they living in a place where the good news is prohibited?" I didn't pretend to have the answers. These are questions that I ask myself every time I walk into a village. You begin to have a new appreciation for your own faith when you spend time in places like this. Days like today when you reflect on your own life and the blessings you have had and didn't realize it until your face to face with reality. I use to think I lived in reality. That the majority of the people around the world lived like me, but as I've grown older, I have learned the exact opposite. I am a minority in this big world.
My childhood is a massive blessing from Father. To grow up with a family who worships our King, to live in a place where I'm not watched by the police because of my faith, to worship without fear of governmental persecution. All of these things I never ever thought about growing up, but I think of them daily now. When I look in these children's eyes, all I can think is to ask that they will one day live with true hope.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STINKIN TRUTH!!
And because this song was in my head, it is the only ounce of truth I could give the volunteer girl after she asked me such hard questions... This life is confusing, we don't know why we were given lives so different from these children, but we know our Father is sovereign and that the only reason we have hope at all is Because He Lives! We are given salvation for a reason. To love, adore, and worship Father. The overflow of these things is sharing his good news to the people of the world. Because He Lives I have hope and I pr that these children will too.
So as this Easter season comes to an end, please remember the kids of this village as you speak to Father. Ask that this story becomes life to them and that they will grow up with a thirst for this G*d and a yearning to know and follow him.
Ask that they one day will lift their hands in adoration of the King WHO LIVES!
When I was growing up, every Easter we drove to Andrews, TX and celebrated with the crazy wonderful (sometimes half insane) Holman side of the family. My sister and I went through grueling hours of shopping to find that perfect Easter dress, matching handbag, gloves, socks, and sometimes if we were lucky, hats. (love you Mom!) We all crammed into 2 homes and we had a ball. Sometimes I wish I had adult eyes to be able to enjoy my family back then like I do now (if that makes sense) BUT, one good thing about being a kid on Easter was that we were the stars.
After church was the big photo shoot. The time when we got to shine in our cute little floral dresses and the boys in their cute little shirts and ties. Every individual family had their pictures taken, then we all knew the drill of taking pictures per "section" of family. All of Clyde's kids, all of Norman's kids, Herman, Darlene, Sue, so on and so forth. These were the pictures that are always carried with a kid. My parents will always have those pictures of me dressed up in those floral dresses all primped up, and there is nothing I can do about it....
We had the BEST Easter Egg Hunts. This is when we got to change out of our fancy attire and into running clothes. First we ate such a wonderful feast of casseroles and yummy desserts. It was a family potluck like no other. Then it was time for the parents to hide the eggs. I remember all the parents and older cousins putting on this big hoopla about not going into the backyard (it felt like hours) so they could hide the eggs. The anxiety building inside with all of the little cousins not so patiently waiting. We all marched outside with our baskets filled with that green grass stuff and waited for the countdown and then of course it was all out madness. When we were little my Mom and Dad took us around helping us put eggs in the basket, but when we grew older, it became much a competition. I vividly remember us all sitting down after "the hunt" to count out our eggs and to see who got the best prizes. Such fun and memorable bonding time with cousins.
Those traditions have faded out, but I always think back on those weekends and the fun we had as a family. I was young and I have a terrible memory, so I have fleeting memories of those times, but one thing I remember well over all of these things is there was always lots of singing. Lots and lots of singing.
This Easter was quite different from any I've had before. I spent my morning out in a very poor village with a community of very few brothers and sisters teaching their children about the cross, the tomb, and the 3rd day. A team of volunteers were with us this week and they brought lots of fun snacks to give away. We also acquired a few big bags full of children's clothing to give out as well.
We played games, sang songs, and told the story (with a little reenactment) of our King dying and raising again, then we handed out all of our gifts. I couldn't help but tear up as I sat at the back to take a quick picture during the story. These kids don't know much about the world, they don't know much about anything, but now they know this story. Now they know about the G*d who came down to earth and lived a perfect life all to die for us. To live perfectly so he could be our substitute. They know that this G*d is not dead! No! He is alive! He is not made of stone or wood or painted in gold like the gods of their culture. He is not buried somewhere like the gods of their culture. He is alive and well and loves us as his own children, and wants nothing more then for us to know Him and love Him.
|
| The reenactment. |
|
| Funny little girl with her new clothes. |
|
| Some more sweet kids. |
After we left the village we went on to a waterfall for an Easter picnic. As I was sitting and reflecting on the morning and then thinking back on the Easters of my childhood, I was overwhelmed with praise, adoration, and awe of Father. Who woulda' thought that the little girl in the floral dress with matching everything would be in that village on this Easter. I began to be overwhelmed with gratitude for my own salvation. Overwhelmed with humbleness thinking about how I don't deserve more than these precious children do. My heart was flowing with pr's for the kids to know him and thankfulness that I know him.
As I was thinking on these things, I had a conversation with one of the volunteer girls that came. She is a new sister of faith and she was struggling with seeing the poverty of the village and understanding Fathers will for them to still be living that way. Her main 2 questions were, "Why are these children still living in such horrible conditions and why are they living in a place where the good news is prohibited?" I didn't pretend to have the answers. These are questions that I ask myself every time I walk into a village. You begin to have a new appreciation for your own faith when you spend time in places like this. Days like today when you reflect on your own life and the blessings you have had and didn't realize it until your face to face with reality. I use to think I lived in reality. That the majority of the people around the world lived like me, but as I've grown older, I have learned the exact opposite. I am a minority in this big world.
My childhood is a massive blessing from Father. To grow up with a family who worships our King, to live in a place where I'm not watched by the police because of my faith, to worship without fear of governmental persecution. All of these things I never ever thought about growing up, but I think of them daily now. When I look in these children's eyes, all I can think is to ask that they will one day live with true hope.
I now understand this holiday. I understand the reason for all of the singing, for all of the praising, the amens, and the raised hands.
I began to sing (in my head) many of the songs I sang growing up on Easter with my crazy wonderful family. One that sticks out is Because He Lives. One of my most beloved songs from those days and one of my favorite hymns. Please listen right now to this beautiful beautiful hymn.WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STINKIN TRUTH!!
And because this song was in my head, it is the only ounce of truth I could give the volunteer girl after she asked me such hard questions... This life is confusing, we don't know why we were given lives so different from these children, but we know our Father is sovereign and that the only reason we have hope at all is Because He Lives! We are given salvation for a reason. To love, adore, and worship Father. The overflow of these things is sharing his good news to the people of the world. Because He Lives I have hope and I pr that these children will too.
So as this Easter season comes to an end, please remember the kids of this village as you speak to Father. Ask that this story becomes life to them and that they will grow up with a thirst for this G*d and a yearning to know and follow him.
Ask that they one day will lift their hands in adoration of the King WHO LIVES!
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