Friday, March 27, 2009

Back to Jerusalem

My husband read a book for class a few semesters ago, I'm sure the title was Back to Jerusalem. Although, I may be getting that wrong. However, what he told me about it really stuck with me. I placed China as next on the country prayer concern, and I remembered this book.

Basically, Christ's Kingdom is expanding in China. (Praise God!) The movement among the believers in China is to go back to Jerusalem. To take the Gospel message back to where it began. These people - in their "basic training" as Christians - are learning to get out of very intense and dangerous situations. Their mission is so beautiful, and I find myself desiring to be more like them. New Christians are amazing in their faith; it seems like nothing can stop them. You would think that people who have known Christ their entire lives would live like these Chinese Christians.

I'm one of those people who grew up in a loving, Christian home, and accepted Christ as Savior at a very young age. Yet, there are so many times I deny His power in my life. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) My hope and prayer is that God will challenge my faith and get me to where I resemble people like the Chinese Christians, unwavering in my faith, devotion, loyalty, and bravery.

Please pray for me as I prepare to talk to four people I know about Jesus. All of them are high intellectuals that see their intelligence as the place for answers. I know for a fact that one of them does not believe in God, but in fact - in his words - "worships himself." One of them was brought up to believe that God exists, but does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came, lived, died, and raised Himself from the dead as a propitiation for our sins. She rejects the truth of the Gospel. The other two, I have no idea where they are. However, the fruit they produce in their lives is not good and holy.

I don't want to rely on my strength or my words. I need my Heavenly Father to overtake me as I talk with them, so that I may have the courage and ability to speak exactly what He desires them to hear. I don't want to ever deny, or not fully use His power again. Let this be the beginning of a revival in New Orleans. My God can not fail, and I believe He will answer my prayer. These four people may all reject Him (oh I hope they don't), but He is the one who brings them to Himself - not me, I'm just the vessel. And who knows what God will do with me and my hubby as we partake in a new evangelistic endeavor?! Exciting!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A new friend and a New Perspective

I have been so excited recently about a new friend and mentor, Diane. She is one of the most Godly women I know, and I am so glad that I get to know her. She's been a minister's wife for over 20 years, and she and her husband have been through it all. I won't tell her testimony for her; if you'd like to listen to it, go to her site - http://www.dianenix.com/.

She and I talked last week about some things going on in the church and how to face them as a minister's wife. If any of you know me, you've definitely heard me complain about the congregation. After I explained my frustration with the sheep, she very lovingly said, "You don't have a lot of grace for the body of Christ, do you?"

Ouch. She picks up quick. But I needed to hear it, and what's more, I needed to admit it. I am so gracious and loving to people who don't know the Lord, but for the church, I'm ready to point out where they are lacking spiritually. Well, I admitted that she was right, and we went on to talk about what it means to love. We also spoke about how I, as a young woman, can be a positive role model and spiritual leader for women more than twice my age.

She went on to remind me that God loves His bride, and He will protect His bride, giving her 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 500th chances! Another friend pointed out that this congregation, like the Israelites, may be getting towards the end of a 40 year stint in the desert. They're weary, and they're human.

After hearing Diane's testimony, I realized how much I have to be thankful for. Through the trials we face at this church, God is continually refining us to be like Him. He loves us that much. My assignments for this week (yep, she gave me homework) was to pray earnestly for the congregation and that God would give me His eyes and His heart for these people, and then I was to pray that God would reveal any sin in my heart that might be keeping me from loving God's people. Would you join me as I pray for these things? I could use the help!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Are you ever in need of a Broom Tree?

1Kings 19:2-8

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.


Elijah is one of those dudes I never thought would ask for his life to be taken. I think God inspired some stories like these to appear in Scripture to show us that even the prophets were - like us - human. They grew weary and frustrated. Some, like Jonah, didn't want to commit themselves to what God asked them to do because they didn't like the command.

This passage stuck out in my mind as I went over all the events of this year. I know, it's only March. However, it has been a tough year so far. The hardest part of this year, and last, has sadly been our congregation.

I won't go into great detail, but let's just say that God used this congregation to teach us perseverance and joy through trial and suffering. However, through the good, bad, and ugly times, we thought we reached a point of deliverance. We thought the congregation was moving forward and showing great promise for the work God set them apart to do.

We were mistaken.

Thomas came home from the church council meeting and told me what happened. In a nutshell, the group looked at him and said, "We shouldn't have to do anything to grow the church. The pastor is the one who does that."

This may not seem like a lot to some, but these people openly stated that the Great Commission does not apply to them, or any congregation, just the pastors.

That makes no sense. Jesus did not specify certain people of the church to fulfill the Great Commission. He looked at everyone and commanded them all to "go and make disciples of all nations." How is it that so many of our churches want to put off the work of God on those with a title? A church, in my husband's words, is a training place and a place of encouragement. It is a place where we go to get the tools we need to continue the good work Christ commands us to complete. How dare we look at Almighty God and say, "I'm not the pastor so that does not apply to me."

Pardon the expression, but that's a load of crap. I'm not always the best Christian, and I certainly am NOT perfect. I don't mean to demean anyone who honestly wants to physically serve God, but can't for one reason or another. There have been plenty of times when I have not wanted and refused to do what God called me to do for one reason or another, and those memories cause me grief and pain.

All that being said, my spirit has simply been down-trodden from their response and their hearts of stone. My husband and I need a broom tree. This is our first church, and we have made so many mistakes. But through it all, we have earnestly tried to remain true to God's calling and commands. We've now come to a point where we want to see God's hand pointing which way we should go. Stay or leave? We've received counsel on both sides, and now we wait. We wait and we pray for a broom tree to be provided in order for us to be refreshed and revived for the journey ahead.

Friday, March 13, 2009

20 pages


Yeah!! The first draft of the dreaded Thesis is finished!!!!

I now have 20 pages, and the finished version has to be at least 30. It's so short because they expect the majority of your sources to be primary, not secondary. I am so stoked. I had a minor kanip-shun this week when my advisor dropped a deadline bomb on me, but things are starting to look up!!

And by the way, he totally was not into the title. Can you believe that? I now have no title. All my hard work and creativity for nothing...

Thursday, March 5, 2009

BREAK-THROUGH!

A Court of Two Sisters: How Two Women Established the Christian Woman's Exchange as one of the Leading New Orleans Woman's Groups, 1881-1891

What do you think?

It's my THESIS title!!!!

I can't tell you how incredibly stoked I am. (Not that you can't already tell that.) Seriously, those of you that know me, completely know what forming a thesis statement and good title means to me - and to UNO since they won't let me graduate without these.

Okay, so here's the story.

The CWE began in 1881, modeled after the New York Exchange for Woman's Work. In a decade, two women - Mrs. Bartlett and Mrs. Walmsley - were able to establish the first free circulating library in New Orleans, a day nursery for working mothers, a consignment shop for women to earn an honest living, and a boardinghouse for women. The best part is...those are only the biggest things this group accomplished in just one decade. So I got to thinking about it, and I realized that this is my thesis - that getting through the first decade set the CWE up as THE standard for almost all other successful woman's organizations in New Orleans. Know what's even better? The CWE is still in existence - known now as The Woman's Exchange. Unfortunately they have changed their mission to historic preservation instead of charity, but the fact that they are still around is HUGE!

Okay, I want feedback. I can take criticism or compliments or anything at this point!

Monday, March 2, 2009

There's Something About Mary

Not the movie - Jesus' mom.

On the way home from school tonight, I have no idea why or how I began thinking about this, but I thought about women in the Bible. I suddenly realized that Mary, the woman who gave birth to our Lord and Savior, does not have her own book in the Bible.

There are not that many books in the Bible devoted to women. I think that Mary does not have her own book because God knew that humans might look to her with the same sort of reverence and worship that we look to God with. When I was serving as a missionary in Southeast Asia, a statue of Mary in front of the Catholic church began "crying". The people gathered around it with flowers, candles, singing, and fruit. They offered prayers to the statue of Jesus' mom instead of Him.

I think it would have been awesome (and horrible) to have been the woman chosen to be the Messiah's mother. However, I think it took a very humble and God-fearing woman to give birth and rear God. I don't know how Mary ever looked at herself - except from when Gabriel speaks to her about her being the one chosen as the virgin mother of God. When Gabriel speaks to her, she's like, "really? me? I haven't slept with anyone. But let it be done to me as you have said." She's totally willing to be in God's will, probably knowing what it would cost her in reputation and everything else.

Yet, being this great, wonderful woman did not set her apart as having her own book in the Bible! Why?

Because it was never, is not now, nor will it ever be about her.

History, as I always say, is His Story - not ours. Mary was an important part of the plan in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled, but she is not the focal point. Jesus the Christ is. And when Christ taught His disciples to pray, he never mentions praying to anyone but Him.

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) The Lord's Prayer:

"Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Need a laugh?

I can think of no better way to begin a new month than with a laugh. I wish I had a funny story to tell, but I don't.

I DO, however, have a two links you should go to that will get you rolling!! I was crying I was laughing so hard!

The first is a Youtube video from the Comedy Barn. It's totally clean and fantastically funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Y4keqTV6w

The second is a woman who jokes about everything relating to womanhood. She is a wonderful Christian woman, and it did my heart good to watch some of her clips.
http://www.anitarenfroe.com/

Enjoy!!