It was either Andy Stanley or Tony Nolan who once tweeted something along the lines of, “teach from your own shortcomings and you will never run out of material”. How true this statement is! During Memorial weekend I said to my mother, “I feel if someone has read my devotionals through-out the years, then they know me. I can recall the exact feeling - the experience which was about when I reread past writings that led me to share such. I have never much been one for outright personal testimonies, but in their own right, the writings are such”.

To God be the glory.

Without the recollection of Paul’s testimonies and life changing experience, I feel in part I would be a different person. Commonly I speak and write of him as a leading example of God’s true forgiveness and grace, remarking to how if one can make a complete 180 from mass hunting and killing Christians to living on the run FOR God, who are we to say we cannot be used? Right? Even David, who was truly the apple of God’s eye, made a very bad choice one day and allowed lust to shatter his focus, yet God still loved him and did not just throw him out with the tide. Jesus befriended a prostitute and saved her from death, as it is here He remarked, “Ye without sin, cast the first stone”.

Through the Bible we are taught of God’s grace, love and sufficient nature for our lives. We see examples of people “like us”, who stumble and fall, yet are again redeemed or not, depending upon their ultimate choice (repentance or continuation).  We are given an example by the upmost High, who came in the form of a little baby boy, to how which we might live, love and honor God. Yet how many of us actually spend time reading the word of God? If you believe, like I know to be truth, the book is more than just stories and words upon a page; it is the handpicked and chosen collection, straight from God. We spend countless hours on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, G+, YouTube and various other sites, while reading one or two verses (or even a chapter) of the Bible before bed and count it a job well done.

WRONG.

Is God a different God from the time of David, Paul and Mary? No, but we are different “children”. Where as the one thing they cherished, spending time with God, meditating on His word, we seem to have traded it in for … well, an idol in the form of electronic entertainment and vapid information.

Of course you may be saying, “Well Hollie, aren’t you in fact on the majority of the sites listed and are you  not in fact posting on an online blog”? Yep, truth to be told and let me just say don’t think something I write isn’t applied back to me in some fashion (henceforth the start of this entry), nor did I say “burn all the computers, iPhones and PS3’s”, keep calm and read on.

So how do we become more like David – Paul – Mary and Jesus in our insta-age? It’s simple; literally allot more of your time to God. Sure, you may work a combined 9 hour day including getting grub … perhaps pop your headphones in and listen to some sermons, read the Bible on your lunch break … likewise to and from work put on some Godly tunes (might I suggest the new The Hurt & The Healer CD by MercyMe, it is amazing) and get your vocal praise on … turn off the computer, video game, etc for an hour at home and straight up read and meditate upon the word of God, keep a prayer journal or even wake up a few minutes early to start your day off by reading some of the “good book”. Do you know that there are people that read the entire Bible (yes, entire Bible) every year? Heck, I am twenty eight years old – have been reading the Bible since I was a tot and I don’t even know if I have read every verse there is in there. Of course, those are just some of my own starter suggestions, surely if you start with one God will begin to lead you with all He would have you to do. :)

Whatever you feed will grow, whatever you starve will die.

Dear Father,
Thank You for giving us Your word, that it might bring in us wisdom, contentment and peace. May You bring upon an awakening of Your people Lord. May we see where we are, where You have brought us from and where this world is headed. May we read and study Your word so that we might know Your promises and may we CLING to them. We are sorry Father God for putting things in front of You, filling our lives with things “of the world”, instead of giving due focus on Your will for our lives. We pray for the peace of Israel Father and for all those who are (and will be) persecuted because of Your name. In the name of Yeshua, ><>

SiC <3

So the stage has been set ….

One day long ago someone (or more than one someone) hurt you and while you have in your heart have sincerely forgive said people(s), to be around them is not your first idea of fun. Yet, a circumstance has presented itself where-as the aforementioned are linked to a happening of some significance and your presence is required. What perchance do you do? Well, if you are like me, initially you may have an emotional panic attack, retorting inwardly (or to a confidant) that your appearance should be requested, not demanded – that you are an adult now and don’t have to take orders from no [bleep] one except God, all the while you see-saw in your head-space about how unfair the whole situation is. Yet, then you realize exactly what thoughts are going through your head. Valid, very valid … no one can make you do anything you wish not to do, so what will you do?

 You, if like me, proceed to carry forth as with this crossroad as with all decisions in your life (or at least you try to) and you talk it over with God. It never will cease to amaze me how speaking to God eases one being, communing with the Father, the creator of all things truly does bring things into perspective.

So you ask yourself, not what would Jesus do, but what DID Jesus do …
Jesus, the Son of God, taught, traveled and ate with, even washed the feet of, the man who was set to betray Him and hand Him over to be crucified. Jesus never showed anything but love to Judas.  

Ouch, conviction eh?

So now you may be saying to yourself, He is the Son of God though, how can I even begin to do the same? (As this part was given to me after my own revelation of the above from wise counsel), by means just as Paul wrote about his when referring to his “thorn of the flesh” that God would not remove.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

So what does this mean? It means that the GRACE of the Almighty is ALL that is NEEDED for ANY and EVERYTHING we must encounter, that means sickness, broken hearts, imprisonment, showing compassion to those that have wronged us, etc … 

We have all read the verses, now we must just start living the word – we must have faith that what we read, speak and teach is true. We have been called to be a light unto a broken world (which is on a rapid spiral down into the uttermost pits of decay).

Do not lose heart though friend, family member in the kingdom of Jesus Christ – should there be a time (or times) in which you stumble; we are all works in progress in this lifetime!

Dear Heavenly Father – We thank You so very much for giving us Your word, for allowing us to hear and read the stories of the saints that have gone before us. For allowing us so much knowledge into who You are and who You want us to be. Allow us to grow stronger in You Lord. Allow us to rid ourselves of any malice we have toward other people and show everyone the same love in which You have shown us. In the name of the Perfect One, Jesus Christ, ><>

SiC <3

I live for Sunday’s, no lie! My favorite part of the week BY FAR is the time in which I get to be down at Little 5 Points, hanging with the crew – meeting new people, chatting with old and praising God for all He has done and will do! If one day this could be my FT lot in life, I’d be so up for it (in addition to writing, of course). 

Today, as a special once in a while treat, we had Starbuck’s traveler goodness to warm and hype us all up for the festivities. To be noted … one can NEVER have enough SUGAR (or cream on hand)! 

Two moments that stood out for me today were as follows. First, someone said to me, “Hollie I would love to thank you, but I must give thanks to God first”. “Of course, always”, I responded back, “Please never thank me before God, it is by Him alone you and I are here anyways”. My Spirit jumps at this because honestly I am just being a servant of God’s, acting on His behalf and I am no more than an imperfect person who has been saved by Faith and walk by Grace. Humbly, I thank God for allowing me to serve and calling me into this mission, may all the praise – glory and honor for anything I do, ALWAYS go to Him alone. Secondly, a few of us talked on a sermon heard Saturday @ Peachtree and Pine (homeless compound). It seems a very well received message was spoken on how sin is like a python; it will coil itself around your life until you cannot breathe any longer. Per a spectator an actual python, in addition with video images, was used to display this concept. How true the message is! All too often we allow something into our life in just droplets, but then realize sometime later it has taken us over. That is why it is important to examine ourselves as we are told to in Corinthians.

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgement on themselves. That is why many among you are weak ad sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgement. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. 1 Corinthians 11:28-34 (NIV)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 2 Corinthians 13:5-9 (NIV)

Praise report for an unnamed donation, which was VERY unexpected. Though it hasn't been applied yet, it is going to help furnish some blankets, rain gear (ponchos) and socks within the next few weeks.

Prayer request for attendant Little Jimmy please. Back in the fall he had surgery (colon cancer) and things have taken a turn. He is now in continuous care being monitored.

Prayer request for a friend of my mother’s (Bernadette), as she has had some health issues this past week and will now have to reside with her son because of those problems.

Prayer request on a personal vehicular level, as my little (though loved) Sentra will not suitable for purpose for that much longer (in regards to the ministry needs and to-n-fro items), so a potential trade in may be on the horizon (one day a la SUV type). My eye is on the Nissan Juke as I am a NISSAN LOVER FOR LIFE, but putting things in the Father’s hands.

Thank you as always & may you day, week, month, year and life be blessed!

SiC!