Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit move so much that you just have to listen and I don't mean in the future. I mean now! Well, to be honest, I have not very much at all. However, Friday night it happened and it happened big. You see, for a few days before that I started feeling convicted that I needed to get rid of some things that were not glorifying to God. This was a weird thing because, I have never even remotely thought about any of these things as being bad. In fact, I have always been a huge movie and book lover. I could spend weekends just watching movies and reading books and enjoy every second of it.
So, Friday night I was hanging out with a good friend Jonathan. Every Friday night we have a Bible study. Well, this Friday, Darin couldn't make it. So, it was just Jonathan and me. He came down to my place and we were just talking about our lives and how things were going. We always talk about what we are learning and any struggles from the past week. During the course of the conversation I told him about how I was feeling that it might be time to get rid of some of my stuff.
Not too long after I started going to the Bible study with the guys they told me a story about how when they came to Christ they each built an altar to God and burned things that were not godly and that would be a distraction to them.
Well, these stories came to my mind and I told Jonathan that I was thinking that we should maybe do that next week with Darin. As I was saying this it was almost like I was physically pushed off of the couch and towards the shelf where my dvds and books are. I said, we can't wait, we need to do it tonight, these no longer need to be in my house. After stating this, I became really sick to my stomach, like I might throw up. But I knew what I had to do. So, I grabbed a box and started throwing dvds and books into the box. When it was full, I am ashamed to say, there was still more. Another box later, there was still more. So we loaded the boxes into Jonathan's truck and then I thought of a picture from a movie and another decoration item that needed to be dealt with. In the truck they went and we drove the 40 minutes to Jonathan's house.
On the way up there I was still feeling so sick and it was like this pressure on my chest. The only thing I could think to do was to pray and out loud. I started praying and at first at a whisper and then the next thing I know I am shouting out my prayers and thanking God for his moving and for victory over sin and the devil's foothold in my life. For the rest of the time it was just like the Spirit was filling my car and I just began to sing praises to him. It was so amazing. And the feeling lasted the rest of the night.
After stacking the boxes and other things together I doused it with gasoline. With a lighter, I started to light the corners of one of the boxes. I was a little nervous with it being doused in gasoline so Jonathan says, don't worry it's not going to just flame up like in the movies. As he said that, it did flame up, it was awesome! The things just caught and the fire was about 6 feet in the air and the heat was immense. We just kind of stood there for a few moments in awe, enjoying the amazing presense of God. After a few minutes a thought hit me that this was the most appropriate way to do this, by burning it. It made me think of the sacrifices that you read about in the Old Testament. I was sacrificing my selfish and sinful desires to the Lord. Also, I thought of how these desires are burned away from us through the Holy Spirit and meditation on the Word. It takes time of dedicating ourselves to that before it can really make a big difference. Well, the fire burned from the time we lit it, about 8:30 until the time I left, which was about midnight, and it was still going strong. We figured that the fire was in God's hands and trusted that he would not let it harm anything, so we let it burn after, so I am not sure how long it burned after that, but it was still going strong when I left.
This was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. To feel God's presense so prevalently and powerfully was just amazing! And to fully give over my things and my time to God. Some may say I am crazy and I that that was unneccesary and that is okay. But for me it was definitely the right thing to do and I am glad that I followed the Spirit's leading.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Nutrigrain and Fiber Plus Went on a Date
One day Strawberry Nutri-grain, decided he wanted to go to the beach. So he packs up his umbrella, sunscreen and volleyball and heads to the beach. When he gets there he decided that he is a little pale so he decided to lay on the beach and get some sun. After a few minutes he notices shadows passing over him. When he opens his eyes he realizes that there are seagulls flying overhead. At first he thinks this is weird, then he realizes that they are circling over him because, he is after all a nutri-grain bar. NG gets up and moves down the beach. Laying down to get some more sun, he falls asleep. When he awakes he realizes he has turned to wheat from being in the sun so long. This is not good because, who wants a wheat Nutri-Grain bar? Sulkily, he goes home.
The next day NG decides that it could'nt hurt to go back, seeing as he is already now a wheat Nutri-Grain bar, what more damage could he possibly do? So, he gets there and decides to even out his back with his front. After a few hours he realizes he is really hot. He jumps in the water to cool off. Then he realizes that he is now soggy. Who wants a Nutri-Grain bar that is wheat and soggy?
As he is about to leave and is gathering his stuff, he looks down the beach one last time thinking that he will never come here again, After NG and sun and water do not really get along. While peering down the beach, he notices the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. She is so gorgeous and walks with a swagger. She is FiberPlus. He finds that he can't take his eyes off of her. He has to meet her but is scared to death of her. How does he approach her? Can he approach her? What would such an amazing creature want in a Nutri-Grain bar, let alone one that is wheat now and soggy?
He catches her eye and she smiles at him. The smile only a FiberPlus woman can give. Could she possibly be interested in him? Could she like the soggy type? Is there even a soggy type? He stands frozen, not being able to move or speak.
She approaches him finally and says, "Well, are you going to ask me out or just keep staring at me?"
"Umm," he stutters. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, are you going to ask me out."
"Sure, ummm, can I take you to dinner and maybe a movie." NG stammers.
"Yes, pick me up at 8:00 on Saturday."
Saturday rolls around and NG is really nervous. How is this possible? he thinks. He goes to pick her up and when he gets close, he realizes that she lives in not only the nice neighborhood, but the very rich neighborhood. Oh, gosh, what have I gotten myself into? he ponders.
He pulls up into the driveway and looks at the clock. 7:55. Dang, I'm early, I better wait until right at 8:00. So, he waits nervously, and finally 8:00 comes and he heads to the door.
When FP opens the door, NG says, "You look beautiful," and hands her the dozen roses that he had brought with him.
So, they go on the first date and it goes well, and they go on a few more and on and on. NG starts to think it is getting serious and lavishes FP with extravagant gifts, like 24 carat chocalate chips and days at the spa, with 24 carat chocalate dips.
What NG doesn't know is that FB doesn't really love him. She likes his money and all the nice things that he buys her. You see, she was not loved by her father even though he gave her everyhitng that she wanted. So, she doesn't see real love when she has it. Tragically, this whole time FP has also been seing Blueberry Nutri-Grain. Now, BNG is a little younger, and much more attractive then ole NG. He is also dirt poor. But, he is a true Casanova and knows "all the right moves" and all the right words to say. So, she is torn between the steady and lavish NG and the exciting and young BNG.
This struggle goes on for awhile with NG having no idea. Then one sad day, he finds a not on his door that FP has gone away and not to expect to see her again. NG is crushed and he doesn't know what to do. He tries to contact her in every way he can, to no avail. He goes to her house and she is nowhere to be found.
If only poor NG know what happened, but he never knew. And we may never know what happened to FP.
The next day NG decides that it could'nt hurt to go back, seeing as he is already now a wheat Nutri-Grain bar, what more damage could he possibly do? So, he gets there and decides to even out his back with his front. After a few hours he realizes he is really hot. He jumps in the water to cool off. Then he realizes that he is now soggy. Who wants a Nutri-Grain bar that is wheat and soggy?
As he is about to leave and is gathering his stuff, he looks down the beach one last time thinking that he will never come here again, After NG and sun and water do not really get along. While peering down the beach, he notices the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. She is so gorgeous and walks with a swagger. She is FiberPlus. He finds that he can't take his eyes off of her. He has to meet her but is scared to death of her. How does he approach her? Can he approach her? What would such an amazing creature want in a Nutri-Grain bar, let alone one that is wheat now and soggy?
He catches her eye and she smiles at him. The smile only a FiberPlus woman can give. Could she possibly be interested in him? Could she like the soggy type? Is there even a soggy type? He stands frozen, not being able to move or speak.
She approaches him finally and says, "Well, are you going to ask me out or just keep staring at me?"
"Umm," he stutters. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, are you going to ask me out."
"Sure, ummm, can I take you to dinner and maybe a movie." NG stammers.
"Yes, pick me up at 8:00 on Saturday."
Saturday rolls around and NG is really nervous. How is this possible? he thinks. He goes to pick her up and when he gets close, he realizes that she lives in not only the nice neighborhood, but the very rich neighborhood. Oh, gosh, what have I gotten myself into? he ponders.
He pulls up into the driveway and looks at the clock. 7:55. Dang, I'm early, I better wait until right at 8:00. So, he waits nervously, and finally 8:00 comes and he heads to the door.
When FP opens the door, NG says, "You look beautiful," and hands her the dozen roses that he had brought with him.
So, they go on the first date and it goes well, and they go on a few more and on and on. NG starts to think it is getting serious and lavishes FP with extravagant gifts, like 24 carat chocalate chips and days at the spa, with 24 carat chocalate dips.
What NG doesn't know is that FB doesn't really love him. She likes his money and all the nice things that he buys her. You see, she was not loved by her father even though he gave her everyhitng that she wanted. So, she doesn't see real love when she has it. Tragically, this whole time FP has also been seing Blueberry Nutri-Grain. Now, BNG is a little younger, and much more attractive then ole NG. He is also dirt poor. But, he is a true Casanova and knows "all the right moves" and all the right words to say. So, she is torn between the steady and lavish NG and the exciting and young BNG.
This struggle goes on for awhile with NG having no idea. Then one sad day, he finds a not on his door that FP has gone away and not to expect to see her again. NG is crushed and he doesn't know what to do. He tries to contact her in every way he can, to no avail. He goes to her house and she is nowhere to be found.
If only poor NG know what happened, but he never knew. And we may never know what happened to FP.
Special Needs Kids
I have the privilege of working with special needs children on Wednesday evenings at a therapeutic riding center. Basically we give handicapped children horse riding lessons. And through that it helps them work through some of their issues. Whether it is physical or mental disabilities. Before I worked with these children, I never knew how to interact with children with special needs. I knew I needed to treat them "normal," but I still felt weird doing anything, because I thought that everything I would do would be wrong. I also thought when I first decided to volunteer that it would be awkward and I wouldn't want to do it each week but I knew for some reason that I needed to do it. The first time I worked with one of the children I was really nervous. I wasn't sure what to do. Then about half way through the lesson something happened and it was just natural and felt good to work with them. I noticed something that day. That is that if I just love these kids and invest in them that is the best thing I can do. So, that is what I am trying to do.
A funny thing happened after I worked with these children for a little bit of time. I started looking forward to every week. I was being ministered to by these kids. I thought I was there to help them and I was. But they do so much more for me than I can ever do for them.
If you have ever been around a special needs child at all, you see an unbeleivable spirit in each and everyone one of them. They have such joy in spite of their trials. And it just seems that none of them are ever beat. They will keep trying no matter how hard it is for them, and they will be smiling the whole way. What an inspiration they are! I am so thankful to be able to work with these kids and see the light and hope and joy of Christ in them. So, if you ever need some inspiration, spend a little time with some special needs children.
A funny thing happened after I worked with these children for a little bit of time. I started looking forward to every week. I was being ministered to by these kids. I thought I was there to help them and I was. But they do so much more for me than I can ever do for them.
If you have ever been around a special needs child at all, you see an unbeleivable spirit in each and everyone one of them. They have such joy in spite of their trials. And it just seems that none of them are ever beat. They will keep trying no matter how hard it is for them, and they will be smiling the whole way. What an inspiration they are! I am so thankful to be able to work with these kids and see the light and hope and joy of Christ in them. So, if you ever need some inspiration, spend a little time with some special needs children.
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