They spoke of the Messiah

It is Christmas Eve.

I am sitting, cozy and comfortable under a blanket, by a fireplace (that isn't lit), while enjoying the feeling of a profitable day.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day.

The day that thousands of children wake to find piles of brightly colored packages laid under a heavily decorated tree.

They wake up too early from the anticipation; and "gently" wake the parents too!

Christmas is a day for family and friends and good food and games.

It is the day that we remember our Savior's birth.


I have been reading the Christmas narrative from Matthew and Luke's gospel for the last couple of days, and have been impressed over and over again of the wonderful miracle of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Three people in particular stood out to me, as I read the familiar account.  They are Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna.

Zechariah:

He spoke of the Messiah.  He was Mary's cousin by marriage and the father of John the Baptist.  Because of his unbelief after hearing about his wife's pregnancy, he was unable to speak.  Yet, when the birth came to pass as the Lord had foretold, his "...tongue was loosed..." and he began to prophecy concerning the soon-coming Messiah. (Luke 1:67-79) 
He spoke by the Holy Spirit, blessing God for His provision of salvation through the Messiah.  He was raising up a "horn of salvation" for Israel--God's chosen people--just as He had spoken in the ages past to the fathers and prophets.  God was fulfilling His promise.  Salvation was born.  The Messiah had come!  The Messiah came to save.  For Israel, they were looking for the physical salvation and the return to their land with a mighty political ruler, but God's plan, set from before the foundation of the world, was to redeem people from the power, presence, and penalty of sin and death so that man could live forever in heaven to the glory of God.
This Messiah has delivered us from our enemies, so that we might "...serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days..."  Server God, without fear, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ applied to our account through the cross.  This is Messiah.  Messiah has come!

Simeon:

He had waited and waited.  He was growing older.  His body was beginning to fail.  But he had a promise, a promise from God that he would not die until he saw the Promised Messiah.  At just the right time, Christ was born; and eight days later His earthly parents took Him to the temple for the customary rites of the Law.    And there was Simeon.  

Imagine the overwhelming delight to see God's promised Son.  Here was the One he had been waiting for all his life.  And it was a Child.  A small Baby, wrapped in rough cloth, held by a young woman who looked a little scared.  Here was the Messiah, God's chosen Lamb!  

This Child was salvation, promised by God, to be "...a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel..."  Jesus is the Messiah.  The Messiah has come!  

Anna:

Anna was a prophetess.  Having seen her share of sorrow, a widow of 84 years, she stayed in the Temple worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.  She too, was looking for the salvation of Israel.  And here it was!  Her response: "...she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem."  

She gave thanks to God for bringing salvation to earth, His Son in human form!  The Messiah has come!  

Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Christ, come for you and me!

16 days

16 days.

Two days past two weeks.  A normal amount of time for grass seed to sprout.  Sixteen days, plus five, is all the time it takes to break a habit.  Sixteen days from now it will be January 3, 2013.  Sixteen days ago, it was December 2, I was going to a Christmas Tea.

16 days.  Such a short time.  Not long enough, but that was all they had.

He stood out in the cold, tears streaming down his face.  His wife stood beside him, not crying, but overwhelmed.  His uniform looked official, but underneath, there was a man, grieving, hurting, touched by a song.  She was holding back the tears, but we knew that there had been many days when the flood hadn't ceased to run.
We were Christmas caroling.  You know that old-Christmas tradition, famed by well-bundled people singing carols in the cold on people's doorsteps.  There were about twelve of us who braved the cold that night.  It was a beautiful night, chilly and dry, but clear.  The stars were shining, and you could almost see most of them despite the city lights.  We were jolly and loud.  It had been a fun evening.  We had sang to many houses, and had blessed many people.
As we were coming to this house, we began to ask the same question: "Should we stop here?"  "There aren't any lights on, maybe no one's home."  Our fearless leader led the charge, saying that we would sing one song and see if anyone came to the door.  We started and the door opened.  At first, the man in the uniform looked a bit confused.  But soon, his expression changed and he called to his wife.  She rushed to the door with an exclamation.  As we started the second song, her camera came out and she took a couple of pictures and a video.  Needless to say, we were delighted to have made such an impact!  We could tell from the tears and their body language that they had been touched by the love of God.  When we finished the last chord of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas", they both thanked us deeply.  Then we heard why...

This was a hard time for them.  They were grieving.  16 days was all the time that they had with their newborn son.  Just a few months back, they had a son, but he only lived 16 days.  This Christmas was the first Christmas of many without him.  There had been months of preparing and planning for this new little life to change their lives, and then after 16 days, the dream was taken away.  What was supposed to be the first Christmas with their son, was instead the first Christmas with the memory of those few short days.  16 days.  

They told us that we would never know how much it meant to them for a handful of college students to come out in the cold to sing some Christmas carols to them.  We would never know!  We can't know.
But God used us.  We weren't even going to stop there, and that house alone would have made the whole evening worth the trip in the cold!  We got to pray with them, endeavoring to show God's love to them.

We'll never know the full impact that God allowed us to have in this couple's life.  We pray that it is a testimony to the gospel of Christ, and that they are surrounded by His love and see their need of a Savior from their sins.  But God used us!  He used selfish motives, cold fingers, noses, and toes, and froggy voices to glorify Himself!  Praise God!

We can never know how God is going to use us in other's lives.  Most often, it is during the oddest circumstances and situations that God's hand is most seen.  He works in mysterious ways.  But He knows, and He calls us to be faithful; faithful to proclaim His truth, His love, His grace to a dying, hurting world.

This Christmas season, may we not be too quick to overlook a person who may be hurting.  May we be vessels filled to overflowing with the grace and love of God, so that we can spill over onto others and God may be glorified!

Of kings and countries; elections and presidents.

Opening Thoughts: 

I will be the first to say that I am not a fan of politics!  Most of this, I admit, is my own fault for not putting the necessary time into studying and learning about them.  And for that matter, I don't enjoy politics because I don't understand them.  However, my opinion towards this subject does not make it any less important!  I fully believe that each person should exercise the rights that the government has given by voting and choosing the best candidate for the position.  Therefore, my own personal enjoyment of politics has nothing to do with this post, but I wanted to lay the foundation of my feelings toward the subject.

All of this aside, I have been thinking about our upcoming (which is tomorrow) election.  So many people have been making a big deal about this election for a long time.  It seems as if the media has been on "You Decide 2012" kick for a couple of years.  And this is not bad.  It's just a big deal.

So, what is my response as a believer in Jesus Christ?

Initial Questions:

I am not seeking to answer these questions completely.  However, I do want to stir some thinking in this direction.

• What does the Bible teach in relation to elections, officials, and rulers?  
• What is my responsibility toward these in authority?  
• Where does the Bible put the emphasis in relation to human authority? 
• How should I treat an ungodly leader?  
• What is the church's response to politics?  
• Are we seeking spiritual revival through a political leader?  Or more importantly, are we seeking for our "ideal-America" to come through a political leader?  
• What would happen if the "wrong" person gets elected and our freedoms begin to be compromised and persecution becomes more and more visible?  
• Is this wrong? (see previous question)  

The bigger goal, a bigger purpose:

Perhaps it is through politics that believers are made more aware of the fact of our sinful society, and the need for Christ's return!  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!!!   In this lies the greater, bigger purpose for our existence...the Glory of God.
In a recent sermon, given by a fellow student at Calvary, we were challenged in our thinking concerning the purpose of life.  We all know the "correct" answer, but when smacked in the face with the truth that we are called to live EVERYTHING in life for the Glory of God, we see where we lack.  Philippians 2, relates Christ's purpose in coming to earth as a Man, to suffer and die for our sins--the glory of God.  Verse 11 summarizes Christ's ministry and the end when all will bow before Him in worship for the purpose of glorifying God.

It is at this point that most get caught.  I know in my own life, I do not always live for the purpose of glorifying God, and I do not always see that everything that happens is for His glory.
Tying this back to the topic of politics, if everything happens for God's glory, then what?  What?!  Well, Scripture affirms that God causes All things to work according to the purpose of His will (Rom. 8:28).  Every realm.  Every country.  Every leader.  All things work according to God's sovereign plan for His glory and our good.  

This truth alone is enough to change the actions, words, and thoughts of every believer toward our present government and the status of our country and the world.  If we continue to look at things from our "evangelical" materialistic-idealistic mind, then our battle-cry will be to revive our government to go back to the foundational principles (not that this is necessarily wrong, just miss-lead and over-emphasized.).  Our battle-cry is Christ crucified, resurrected, ascended, and seated at the right hand of God.  It is the gospel.  It is the soon-coming return of Christ.  It is Christ's final conquering of sin and death.  It is God's glory!

This is the bigger purpose, the bigger goal.

Concerning the Election: 

Tomorrow is coming.  By the grace of God, the sun will come up and a new day will commence.  People are going to "go to the polls", cast their vote and new leaders will be elected to power.  Some have been saying that this is the "turning point", and that there is a lot at stake.  Maybe this is true, I don't know.  Does it matter?  Really matter?  

No.  

God is God.  All things happen according the purpose of His good and perfect will.  He is sovereign.  He raises up rulers, and casts down rulers.  He only acts to glorify Himself.  He is perfectly Good.  Just.  Righteous.  Holy.  Loving.  Gracious.  Merciful.  Free.  

The Right Response: 

In the end, it doesn't matter what the outcome of tomorrow is, because God has already gone before to plan and purpose all things according to His will (am I seeming redundant?  Good!).  God's purpose is SO much bigger than our "dream" of an ideal America.  It is so much bigger than going back to the constitutional principles.  It is bigger than a man and his plan for economic growth.  So much bigger!!!  

Scripture tells us to live godly lives in this present age for the glory of God.  In relation to our leaders as well. This means that whoever is elected tomorrow deserves our honor and respect.  Because we love God and trust Him to place the person that He wants in power, we will do what is right and honorable in relation to that man.  We will not slander him, or act in a hypocritical way.  [1) It's sin 2) It is a horrible testimony to the unbelieving world around us.  3) God has called us to honor and be submissive to every human authority, as an act of obedience to Him.]  We will place ourselves under the laws of the land in submission to our government, as long as it does not cause us to sin against God.  

And if persecution comes at the hand of an evil ruler?  It will.  Therefore, it shouldn't surprise us.  Christ promised us that in the world we would face persecution.  The church has and is facing persecution for the sake of Christ.  Will we be like the apostles who left prison rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ?  (Acts 5:40-42)

 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."  Romans 13:1-2

"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by Him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.  For this is the will of God that by doing good you should put silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."  1 Peter 2:13-16

To God Alone be the Glory, Honor, and Power!  

Come to the Fountain

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend you money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live..."  Isaiah 55:1-3a

Come, come to the fountain, the fountain of Living Water.  Come to the well that never runs dry, but overflows out of the fullness of the riches of the knowledge and grace of God.  With Him is an everlasting supply of wisdom and strength, which is promised to His children.  He supplies the Spirit--who is God--to guide, comfort, convict, and teach.  He gives grace for every need.  All that we need, He will supply and give abundantly!

Come to the fountain of Living Water!!!

In the Bible, the nation of Israel is a perfect example of a people who had all the resources for life, yet turned to something else to satisfy.  Over and over again there are stories which tell of a rebellious people who sought God only when things looked dour.  They did not come to the fountain of Living Water.  They spent all their resources in things which could never satisfy.

I think too often, we, who are servants of God, seek to minister to others from a source that will run dry.  We serve others because it is the right thing to do, yet are not being filled with the Spirit of God and the Word of God.  We seek the Lord, but are not relying on the strength that He supplies or the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus.  Instead of ministering out of the overflow of the Spirit, we dig into our feeble resources and are soon dry.  We are dry because we are not being filled with Living Water.

As I am in a position of leadership, personally and spiritually, I am coming to realize how much more I need to be seeking the Lord and growing in my relationship with Him.  I cannot effectively minister to others without first allowing the Word to minister to me.

Continue to drink from Christ, the fountain of Living Water!!!

It's the fear that gets us.

We all pray for God's will to be shown to us in the decisions of our life.  We want to know what God has for us to do.  Then, the time comes when He clearly reveals His plans for us.  We rejoice to see them, and go forward in His strength.
I have experienced this many times.  I have seen God's hand working in very different situations to provide for His children.  He has done this in my life!

Yet, too often I trip over a terrible reality.
I fear.  I fear that I am not doing what I should be doing.  I fear the opinions of others.  I fear making the wrong decision.  I fear wasting my life.  I fear.

Why do I fear so much?  Why am I doubting God's faithfulness?

The truth is that God will never lead me wrong.  If we are trusting in Him to provide the way, we can't fail.  He has promised His strength and grace for every step.
The feeling of fear is crippling.  When I choose to focus on my circumstances, present situation, people around us, etc., I fear the plan of God.

Do you fear God?  Or are you more afraid of people?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

 and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."  Proverbs. 9:10

We begin to be wise when God is our fear.  We seek to honor and glorify Him over everything.  

The fear of God stands against our other fears.  

We look to Christ!  

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.  He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By His wounds you have been healed."  1 Peter 2:21-24

He did not fear.  He trusted His Father's plan.  His was not the life of worry and fear, but of trust and obedience in God.  

Yes, He was God-incarnate, perfect in all things, but, as children of God, we are new creations, made alive in Christ, and filled with His Spirit!  Why should we fear? 

"The end of the matter; all has been heard.  

Fear God and keep His commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.  

For God will bring every deed into judgment, 

with every secret thing, whether good or evil."  

Ecc. 12:13-14 

The Gospel is Simple.

There is a story told of an evangelist who was doing tent meetings.  It was the end of the day, and he was at the train station waiting to head home for the night.  The evening was getting late, but as he was about to board the last home-bound train for the night, he heard someone shouting his name.  A man ran up to him, breathless and sweaty.  

"Please, sir, I have been at the meetings each night, but I don't understand what you are saying about Jesus.  Can you please stay and explain this to me?"  

The evangelist was torn, "I'm so sorry, but I am just about to board the train.  You see, this is the last one leaving for the night.  I am heading home because I do not have a place to stay here.  I'm sorry, but I have to go."  

As he started to turn away, the man grabbed his sleeve, "Please, please, I don't understand!  Can't you stay and tell me what it is you are saying?"  

The conductor was calling the last boarding of the train.  The evangelist needed to go home, but here was this man hungry for the gospel.  

"Here, take my Bible," he said, handing him the well-worn leather book, "read Isaiah 53:6.  At the first "all", bow down, humble yourself and enter in.  At the second "all", stand up and go forward because of Christ."  

"But, sir, what do you mean?" the man cautiously questioned.  The look of desperation was painted all over his face, as he reached out to take the gift from the evangelist.  

"Remember, at the first "all" bow down, humble yourself and enter in; at the second "all" stand up and go forward because of Christ!" with that the evangelist rushed off to make the train.  

As the train pulled out of the station, the evangelist saw the man gingerly hold his Bible and begin to weep.   

Some days later, in the same town, the evangelist was once again holding tent meetings.  At the end of one of these revival meetings, he recognized the same man who had met him at the train station was there and wishing to speak with him.  He gladly called him over.  The man had a smile on his face as he handed him back his Bible.  

"Thank you," he said, "before, I didn't understand the gospel, but I was making it too complicated.  You said to read Isaiah 53:6 and at the first "all" to bow down, humble yourself and enter in; at the second "all" stand up and go forward.  Now I know!  The first "all" says that, 'All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way...'  You see, I am a sinner.  There is no way for me to come to God!  We have turned astray.  So, we are to bow down, humble ourselves and enter into the salvation provided by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in payment for my sins.  My salvation is not through my worth, but found only in Jesus.  The second "all" says, '...but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.'  Christ is the only way for me to stand up and go forward.  I stand in the grace of God that was given for me.  I go forward knowing that I am safely in God's hands, no one can pluck me out of His hand.  I am His!"

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful!  It reaches through time to save people for God's own purpose and glory.  It isn't complicated, but it is rich and full of treasures untold!  

At the first "All" bow down, humble yourself and enter it; 

at the second "All" stand up and go forward because of Christ!  

May we keep being amazed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!  

21 reasons...pt. 3

The final installment of things that I loved about my year being 21!  

Christmas Break 

I think that I was looking forward to this Christmas break more than some of the others.  Part of the reason is that this would be the first time going home since August.  I was looking forward to a glorious 3 weeks at home!  To start the adventure off, I had to fly home by myself.  (Not being a frequent flier, this was a new adventure for Rebekah Parker J)  Because my break started earlier than CBI’s, I was able to make a trip up to the school and visit my friends there.  
The time with my family was really nice.  I have realized how much I have taken my family for granted, especially when I lived so close.  God knows our days, I don’t.  We should love and cherish the family that God has given to us, for we don’t know the future! 

January 21^st, 2012 – celebrating my ½ birthday!!! 

I have very sweet friends!  They love me very much.  I am so blessed!!!  For this outings occasion, we were celebrating my ½ birthday.  (It was actually a week past my ½ birthday, which would have been on the 13^th)  For this celebration, Celeste, Alisha, Valerie, Beth, and I went out for breakfast to Andre’s, a Swiss pastry shop!  We had a grand time, the food was yummy, the location was quaint; it was a great way to celebrate!!! 

Moving to the new dorm!!! 

Calvary Bible College had a momentous move across the street to a new property this past January.  At least the students got to move into the new dorms!  It was a great day of packing, loading, hauling, shoving, and going up and down lots and lots of stairs!

Skiing in Missouri???  Feb. 4^th, 2012

I’ve been skiing before in places in Colorado and South Dakota, but never in Missouri!  That is until February!  A group of friends from the school decided to take a Saturday trip to go skiing.  It was a fun group of people that descended upon the slopes (steep hills).  The day was really nice, and almost too warm!  And, no one broke any bones!  J

Ladies conference at MCC

The month of March got off to a great start with my churches Ladies conference.  We watched several speakers from a previous “Desiring God” conference.  The topic was the “Supremacy of Christ in a Post-modern World”.  It was a great weekend spent with other women, talking, praying, and listening to God’s Word being preached.   

Spring Break at Home

What do you do when you have 10 days off of school???  Go home!  My room-mate, Valerie, lives in the same area that I do, so we decided to car-pool and go home for Spring Break.  I got to see all of my family—which is getting harder since we are all spreading out!  I sewed a bridesmaid dress for my friend’s wedding in June.  I spent some much-needed time in the kitchen (Philip and I even made our “traditional” egg-rolls).  And then, Valerie and I traveled 12 hrs. back!  It was a great trip!    

Easter at Celeste’s (St. Matthew’s Passion and Handel’s Messiah)

Easter is Not about pretty pink bunnies, or egg-hunts, or candy!  It is a time that is set aside by our calendar to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!  Many times, Easter celebrations consist of Good Friday and Sunrise services.  This year was not so typical!  My friend Celeste, invited me to her house for the Easter weekend to spend time with her family.  In addition to that, she got tickets to go to the “St. Matthew’s Passion” by Bach, and “Handel’s Messiah”.  What made the performance better was that I had just sang the “Messiah” at Christmas.  The music was still fresh in my mind.  There were many times when I wanted to jump up and start singing with the choral!  (Don’t worry, I didn’t!) 

Banquet

Spring just wouldn’t be complete without a Senior banquet.  This year at Calvary, the juniors planned a beautiful masquerade banquet, complete with masks!  My date was the lovely Un Joo Christopher!  We had a good time!  Thanks, Junior class!!! 

Random Outings with friends (dates with the Colonel and the Pacifist)

Beth, Alisha, and I started a tradition of going on a date at least once per semester.  It all started out when we would go out with Beth’s car, lovingly named “the Colonel”.  We trooped off in December to IHOP, to enjoy a nice piping hot cup of Caramel Hot Chocolate!  Sometimes, we just drove around for a while.  Or drank iced tea while star-gazing.  By spring, Beth had a new car, this one was not quite as intimidating, so we named him “the Pacifist”.

And this doesn't include all of the trips to the Plaza, shopping trips, Starbucks runs, and many more adventures!   

God’s provision for the future

Now, you may be thinking why this is one of my reasons for loving being 21.  You see though, it was about this time of the year—Feb/Mar/April—that I was in limbo concerning the plans for the next months of my life.  Basically, I knew what I would be doing till June 1^st, and then the calendar stopped! 

“Silly Bekah, is that too hard for God?!” 

No, and this is why I loved this time of life.  It was hard.  Very hard.  But the lessons that I learned from trusting in God and taking steps of faith were needed!  God is so good to provide for His children!  Need I say any more?

Graduation

The long awaited day came with baited breath!  It was finally here.  All the months of studying and studying were over.  We were graduating!  All of those painful hours of figuring out transfer credits and such were finally paying off. 

I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biblical Studies. 

Trip to the zoo with my Family that came for Grad.  

Evidence tour

The month of May was booked solid with Evidence venues.  Our group was granted permission to live in the dorm till we were done in Kansas City.  It was really nice not to have to move All of our stuff out of the dorms right after graduation.  We had a few days to chill, and then hit the concerts hard!  It was a great time.  We did a lot of concerts in the KC area and also did a weekend in central Kansas and a week in Nebraska.  Aside from singing, the other great plus was traveling with Gracia Burnham, the missionary from the Philippines that was held hostage for over a year.  It was encouraging to hear the story of God’s mercy and grace in her life as she was trudging through the jungle. 

Rodeo Bible Camp 2012

After the Evidence tour, I had three days to get home and get ready for our churches Rodeo Bible Camp.  (talk about switching mental gears FAST, from singing to rodeo!  Whew!)  I was very excited to be able to be apart of the whole week of camp (last year I was only able to be there for a couple of days).  I was excited to get to minister to the kids.  And I was helping lead the music, which was a wonderful new experience for me!  God really worked in the hearts of the kids that week!  Many were saved, and all were challenged in their walk with God! 

The music part went well too!  God is gracious, even with my piano playing!!! J 

The Wedding Month 

 June shall now be dubbed “The Wedding Month”.  The first wedding was in Northern California, which precipitated another plane ride—actually, Becky’s dad picked me up from the airport in a small 4-seater airplane because he was giving a flying lesson, so it was two plane rides!  It was great to visit that area of the country again.  Wow, are those mountains gorgeous!!!  Becky had asked me to be one of her bridesmaids, and I was honored to be there for her.  We got to decorate and prep and do all of the pre-wedding things!  It was a beautiful wedding! 
Just two days after I returned from Cali, I jumped in my car to head two-and-a-half hours west of us for another wedding.  This was the wedding of a dear, childhood friend, Jackie.  She asked me to sing and be her personal attendant.  I was already in “wedding” mode, so the prep and decorating was a snap!  I was also so honored to be my friend’s personal “slave” for the day.  It was some much fun! (but only for a day!!!)    

    

21 things from being 21...pt. 2

So, last post's ramblings included a Detailed explanation of how I broke one of my phalanges.  This time, I shall strive to stay away from any more teeth-clenching, bone-smashing stories! 

September 10^th, 2011 (4)

There is really nothing like being in Nebraska on a Saturday during football season!  Some ignorant folks like to tease Nebraskans about their "idol", but we just smile and nod; knowing that they just don't understand!  I took my former room-mate and dear friend Aryn Sturgeon to her First NE game.  It was a great experience and loads of fun!  (I think that Aryn--a Kansas girl--might even be warming up to the Huskers!)  It was a great time of seeing her and some other friends (Andrew and Phil Johnson) and getting to see some NE Football!!!  The game was good, and we won!

Aryn's 1st NE game...:)

We Won!!! 

Evidence  (5)

After auditioning for a vocal ensemble from Calvary, I was accepted as one of the sopranos for the 2011-2012 tour.  I have been privileged to sing and spend time with some awesome musicians!  Not only have I learned A Lot music-wise, but I have also been stretched and challenged in many other ways personally!  I am so thankful for music and the way that God ministers it to my heart and through me to the hearts of others! 

Evidence with Gracia Burnham

 Thanksgiving 2011 (6)

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year to set aside to spend with family and friends, thanking God for all His blessings.  This Thanksgiving was a little different, but still a great time.  I was able to see Leah Herrick (it had been about two years since I had seen her) and Clara and Levi Williams (and my “honorary” niece Jemima) and Aryn Sturgeon.  These are all very dear peeps from my CBI days, so it was wonderful to get to spend time with them and catch up on all the things that have been going on in our lives.  You know a true, good friend when it has been years since you have seen one another, but you are able to immediately reconnect and enjoy one another again! 

Leah didn't like her Thanksgiving meals' cheese

Traveling on Thanksgiving Day ...this is my turkey!

Hooray for Friends!!! 

Handel’s Messiah  (7)

Celeste and I after singing in the Messiah

The music dept. at Calvary put on a production of Handel’s Messiah for Christmas.  As a member of Evidence, I was required to sing in it.  But what an experience!  There were several times during the performance that I was so blown away by the music that I almost forgot to sing.  It was a awesome experience!

Reflections on my 21st year of Life. Pt. 1

It is 6 days till my birthday!!! 

For some reason, I am more aware of being an adult now that I am turning 22!  The feeling in un-nerving.  But I am excited for what God has in the future.  So, in preparation for the 13th (my birthday), I thought that I would post about some of the fun things that I got to do this past year that I was 21!  It was a good year, God is good!!! 

July 13^th, 2011 

I started out my 21^st year with a birthday at Pinehouse Lake Saskatchewan.  I was with a group of about 20 people who were spending two weeks in a rural Canadian village to spread the Gospel of Christ.  This was my “first” mission trip to go out of the U.S. (even though it is just Canada!)  We were told, in preparation for this trip, to beware of having to high of an expectation.  In a way, we were all surprised by what we found.  It was only by God’s grace alone that we were able to reach out to 100+ kids, teens, and adults.  I was very thankful to be used of God in the lives of those people.

August 17^th, 2011 

I arrived at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, MO as a transfer student to complete my bachelor’s degree.  My car was Fully Loaded Down with just about everything that I possibly thought I could use at college.  This place was much farther from home (CBI was just 1 ½ hrs. away from home), so I had to be much better at packing/planning for what I was going to need.  Let’s just say that the packing was a challenge, But I got it all in!!!  (It was quite the personal accomplishment!

August 29^th, 2011 

 It was a beautiful day that marked the event that gave me my first broken bone and stitches!!!  No, I don’t even have a cool story to go alone with the slightly bent middle finger on my left hand.  But here’s the story.  It was just after lunch.  Some of the girls and I were hanging out in the dorm lounge on our floor.  We were laughing and having a great time.  Well, one of the things about this old dorm building was that there weren’t screens on the windows, and on the third floor there are many things that hyper minds can conjure up to do from an open window.  It started out very innocently.  We just decided to throw things out of the window, like hats and flip-flops (just stuff that had been left in the lounge).  After depleting our arsenal of things to throw out the window, I decided (as the gallant one!) to run downstairs and retrieve our tossed items.  Once outside, I quickly realized that just hauling it up the stairs wouldn’t be as fun as trying to throw it back through the window.  However, I missed and the flip-flop landed on the landing just outside the 2^nd floor windows.  I wanted to make good impressions, so I knew that I should get the lost flip-flop.  Therefore, all of us girls trooped down to the 2^nd floor lounge to get it.  The problem was that you had to climb out the window onto the ledge to get the shoe.  I was assured that the ledge was quite safe for a person to climb on, but I didn’t get that far.  In my attempted to open a window, I pulled a bar that was in the window (in my hurriedness, I didn’t realize that it was the bar that was holding the 8 ft. window open…).  It happened very fast, but I know that the moment the bar was removed, gravity took its hold and smashed my left hand!  I was so thankful that others were there with me to help me get the window up!  I was determined Not to make a big deal about this, I was going to be fine.  But as a looked at my finger, which had a big cut down to the bone from the lip of the window, I figured that it was probably more serious than I thought.  Long story short, it was bleeding A Lot, I was trying to stay calm while all of the other girls are frantically running all over the dorm looking for band-aids and other first aid materials.  I ended up getting a ride from Security with the dean of women and one of my friends to an Urgent Care.  A couple of hours later, I emerged with 5 stitches and a massive bandage on my hand.  I am very thankful because I never really felt a lot of pain.  I cut and broke my finger, yet the worst amounts of pain were only when they numbed my finger to put the stitches in and when they took the stitches out.  I am very thankful to the Lord for that!!!  Within a couple of days, I had to go to a hand specialist (the doctors were afraid of an infection in the bone, because the cut was on top of the broken bone).  The hand specialist gave me an upgraded cast (No, this was no small, un-noticeable wrap on my finger, but a massive cast that was hard on the outside and wrapped from my forearm to the tips of my fingers, leaving only my thumb exposed! J  It was always funny to have to explain that I hadn’t done anything to my hand/wrist, but I had only broken my finger…) 

• Lessons learned
• Typing one-handed is difficult, but possible; and with practice a person can be almost as efficient as with two hands
•  It is okay and necessary to ask for help.  Others want to show that they care for you, by helping you do things that you can’t do as easily because you only have one  hand.  Yes, it is humbling, but it is good!
• I can now sympathize with people a little better having gone through this experience.
• I am much more comfortable going/talking to doctors.  They are rather intimidating at times, but the main thing is just to Ask Questions…even if they seem inconsequential and stupid.

Massive cast thing
(pardon the bad hair day)

Almost Healed!!! 

My first stitches...

Sweet Scar

My Ebenezer's 100th post - thoughts from Valley of Vision

I have slowly been working my way through "The Valley of Vision", a compilation book of Puritan prayers.  I am always blessed and challenged as I read the thoughts that came from the hearts of these godly men.  Today has been no different.

Regeneration

O God of the highest heaven,

Occupy the throne of my heart,

take full possession and reign supreme,

lay low every rebel lust,

let no vile passion resist Thy holy war,

manifest Thy mighty power,

and make me Thine for ever.

Thou art worthy to be 

praised with my every breath,

loved with my every faculty of soul,

served with my every act of life.

Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,

purchased, washed, favored, clothed, adorned me,

when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.

I was dead in iniquities,

having no eyes to see Thee,

no ears to hear Thee,

no taste to relish Thy joys,

no intelligence to know Thee;

But Thy Spirit has quickened me,

has brought me into a new world as a new creature,

has given me spiritual perception,

has opened to me Thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy. 

Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace; 

no provocation can part me from Thy sympathy,

for Thou hast drawn me with cords of love,

and dost forgive me daily, hourly.

O help me then to walk worthy of Thy love,

of my hopes, and my vocation.

Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;

protect me that no evil befall me;

let me lay aside every sin admired of many;

help me to walk by Thy side, lean on Thy arm, 

holy converse with Thee,

that henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all. 

Here is a video of the Sovereign Grace rendition of this prayer.  The title is "O Great God".  May the music cement the great truths of the scriptural prayer into your heart, so that you may be filled with "...psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." (Eph. 5:19)