From Today's Upmost for His Highest

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as weovercome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13 ). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...

If I only knew where to place my faith...

God speak to me, show me Your ways...

Acts 20:22-24

For now the verse... later I will discuss more!

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there... I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace!" -Acts 20:22...24

abandon.

Nothing

So did you know that you can do nothing.
yeah, it sounds pretty pessimistic
I know, and I'm not normally that way
but- its true
it is so true that it is found in the Bible!

So, taking scripture out of context isn't right, so here it is:

I am the vine
You are the branches
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit
for without me
you can do nothing.


If anyone does not abide in Me
he is cast out as a branch and is withered
and they gather them and throw them into the fire
and they are burned


If you abide in Me
and My words abide in you
you ask what you desire
and it shall be done for you.

By this my Father is glorifies
that you bear fruit
So you will be My disciples.

John 15:5-9

So yeah, in case you were planning on doing something today
don't do it

Just abide in Him
then you will bear good fruit

everything else will just fail

URBANA

Wow, I am now back in my townhouse preparing to start student teaching... but the impact that Urbana 2006 had on my life is something I cannot explain. It was amazing! I have never seen the body of Christ so unified and beautiful as ever. I must go and prepare for the week now, but I will post more as I realize what exactly I learned from this past amazing week.

What is Urbana?
Over 20,000 students form over 140 countries
together
seeking God and seraching for what He wants for their future
diversity
love
talent
like never seen before

i wish everyone could have experienced it...

worship in more then 7 languages... wow... it was awesome

Holiday Survey

Here is a fun holiday survey, with my results and Jeni's (my roomate) both!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate- egg nog can't keep warm
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sets them under the tree
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Of Course- especially when the boys are around (jk)
5. When do you put your decorations up? The day after Thanksgiving When I go home
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Stuffing
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
My brothers and sister and I fell asleep in our new house down by the tree and in the morning we were surrounded with Christmas presents, I think I even got an Easy bake Oven.
One time I remember asking for a Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Bag and I was aooo amazed because somehoe Santa had put me inside the sleeping bag in the middle of the night.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
My parents told me when I was little, they said Santa is fake, but Jesus is real- just don't tell your cousins.
My Mom had always told me that Saint Nick was a real man, but Santa is more of an idea, like a giving Spirit.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No- it breaks the rules, unless are given by people outside the family.
Yes- one, its tradition. They are only specific gifts and usually "PJ's" to wear on Christmas day.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Family decorations, complete with childhood ornaments and lots of lights and garland.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it! I have an amazing urge to go skiing!
12. Can you ice skate? have you ever fallen on the ice? Yes, and yes- too many times
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
The Barbie Ice Cream Maker, Easy Bake Oven, and Wood Burner Kit
The Beauty and the Beast Sleeping Bag, Season Ski Pass, and coming home!
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
The Presents... Just Joking- the hot chocolate
Pranking people and buying anonymous gifts
Spending time with friends and family and ... celebrating the birth of Christ
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My Mom's T-ring My Mom's Monkey Bread
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Watching White Christmas- and since college started hanging out in my PJ's
Waking up from 4-6 in the morning to go and open stockings w/ the kids
17. What tops your tree? Angel
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
RECEIVING... Just kidding...Jeni and I specialize in "special giving"
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I won't forget the Christmas by Plus One
Any Christmas song my Michael Buble
We Three Kings
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
YUM- I love peppermint, I just wish they were soft sometimes

O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei

This is a hilarious Romanian video... very enjoyable! Not Christian... but hilarious!

proclamation

I am a bondslave of the most high God,
whose agenda is to redeem a lost world.

I recognize a battle for souls is raging and
that I have an important part to play in it.

I embrace my calling as a minister of reconcilition, an ambassador, and a warrior.

I recognize my call to be bold in spirit yet tender in manner.

I will not rest in building my Lord's Kingdom.

I will use the gifts He has given me.

I will remain in His service all of the days of my life.



and then words from the experienced came...

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”-Jim Elliot

Check out this amazing video!
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted church is next Sunday.
What are you doing to encourage your brothers and sisters in chains?
Will you pray?

The Martyrs - Jesus Freaks - Sermon on the Mount

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Last but not least this is the photo that sums up our amazing night... fake teeth... yarn... recycled candy... pirates... kimonos... and amazing people- wow who would have thought Halloween could be so fun!? 

We did such an amazing job at "yarning" them that we even trapped their housemates in the kitchen- this is Nate... he is our friend too! 

This is David with some of our "string job on him. We think he enjoyed it... so did Kip (you can see him in the background) 

Then we went to go pay a visit to our friends David and Joe- surprisingly Joe answered the door with a bat, which threw us off for a moment, but then we proceeded to string them and throw candy at them... this is my friens Joe... Joe Vitiello and he doesn't work in a button factory 

so we went to go get our friend Ruth, but she wasn't there, so we got her room instead... we "yarned" it and then took two rolls of her own toilet paper and stuffed her desk drawers, closet and bed! It was fun! 

Then we got inspiration to do more then just dress up... 

Then we went back to the Townhouse and who would come to the door but a chicken who hugged and danced with Jeni... luckily it was our friend and not a psycho killer!

Yes, we have a healthy relationship of 4 years as roomates now... don't worry it wasn't too sharp... oh wait

This is Heidi- the punk rock star, Kallie (me) the Gypsy Pirate, and Jeni the Japanese girl. This is still at Krista's house as we pose for the camera! 

On Halloween night our townhouse headed to Krista's home (about 20 mins) away to watch Sleepy Hallow and hand out candy to the cute kids. Well we also had a home meal with amazing trimmings... it was definitely a treat and not a trick! 

Party with Palestinians

So this last Monday was CRAZY (not today... last monday). First I had planned a surprise party for Jeni's Birthday and I got an email about a choir that was coming from Bethlehem Bible College (now most people thought this was a college fo singers form the US, but they were actually from the real BETHLEHEM- like where Jesus was born), and they did an amazing job. They first did worship songs in Arabic and then they told us about their country and what is going on there right now, then they showed us their "competitive cultural folklore dance." It was AWESOME! Well, afterwards as couple of the girls and I talked with one of the Christain Palestinians named Reina and they invited us to come to their hotel and hang out. Problem- I had planned Jeni's Bday party, so I wouldn't be able to go- bummer deal- right... well

At about 9:45 the girls I had gone to the concert with busted into our townhouse and tried to kidknap me to going to the hotel with them- it was a big scene, but don't worry I warded them off, and they had to expalin to everyone what was going on... then we thought about it and decided- when will er ever have another chance to hang out with Christian Palestinians in our life... so all 10 of us loaded up in two vehicles and headed to the hotel to have an amazing time learning about the people, their dances, their homes (we even saw some pictures), and what they do to have fun.

All in all- we had a blast and Jeni says her birthday could not have been cooler, well besides the fact that she received a pink "Cutie" hat from our long time friends Joe, David, and Jared.

arrrgh

sometimes i just get frustrated

why do all the little things roll off easy somedays and other days... they just don't

I honestly think that had anger earlier today at an unhealthy level

why

because I was being treated like a stupid child who doesn't know what responsibility is or how to email for that fact

i know who i am, so why does this type of thing anger me so?

Lord help me.

teach me.

I don't understand, but God please let me be the servant and the Lover that above all else shows and shines for you...