I have really been enjoying the last week or so of my "Believing God" homework, because it has involved writing down my spiritual journey. One of the things that I've seen is as I can look back on events in my life, I can see how God was at work even when I didn't realize it at the time. At first when I saw that we were going to write down our journeys, I didn't think much about it, but it has really had a profound impact on me, and I've only gotten to age 18! After that is when I really started to let God have control of my life. I am amazed at the provision and protection that He provided during those years when I wasn't allowing Him to have complete control. I would encourage each of you to write down your story. Take it in bite-size portions (I'm doing 1/5 of my life at a time), and make note of your family situation, major events, spiritual events, and any "God-stops" (instances & seasons where you know God was at work). After I get through this homework, I think I'll actually compile my thoughts in a journal to keep. Part of truly believing God is knowing that He has been at work all along and that His ways are so much higher than mine. His track record speaks for itself. . .HE CAN BE TRUSTED!!
Someone who I have grown to care deeply about who doesn't have a relationship with Christ recently posed the question, "How can you pray to a God that lets bad things into your life?" While I can completely understand this concern from someone who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ, my answer has to be "How can I not?" When this broken world we live in leaves me at rock bottom, I have no where to turn but to the One Who I know has always been faithful. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
Have a great week trusting the One Who can always be trusted!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
"When the Saints"
I blogged a while back about my new favorite song, "When the Saints," by Sara Groves. I've been listening to it a lot because I'm going to sing it at church in a couple of weeks. As I was listening to it on the way to work tonight, I was overcome with emotion as the song really drove home some of the things God has been teaching me in the last few weeks. The first verse says: "Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know; It's more than I can handle; But Your Word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones; and I cannot let it go." My mind has been focused on the utter poverty and injustice that occurs in our world today. I've been thinking about Africa and our upcoming trip; and India as I followed the Compassion bloggers; and the sickening reality of human trafficking that even occurs in America. You can't be aware of those things and not be compelled to do something about it, but at the same time, it can be so overwhelming, you don't know where to start. What is so amazing, and the point Sara Groves makes in this song, is that God has always used broken down, ordinary people who don't have it all together and who are completely overwhelmed by their circumstances to completely change the world around them. The second verse of the song says, "Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind; it all can overwhelm me; but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life their courage compels me." As we look at others who have served God in their lives, we are encouraged. This Scripture verse has really stood out to me this week: "He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is able to do things in and through us that we never imagined were possible. The song goes on to list heroes of the faith from biblical times to the present. I'm working on a video that goes with the song, and in talking with several people about it, we thought it would be good to put pictures of people that have gone on to heaven who have touched our lives and our spiritual journeys; people who simply allowed God to use them. So many people have come to mind, and I'd like to share a few of them. . .
Billy Snell Bennett: Mr. Bennett and his wife Aleta (who I still get to see twice a week at church), served faithfully in the 2 year old Sunday School class for 30+ years. Some of my very first memories of church were in the nursery in their class. I also cherish memories of working alongside them on numerous mission trips throughout the years.
Doug Adams (my Paw Paw): He was my "adopted" grandfather and served the Lord faithfully throughout the years. He loved unconditionally, and I loved that about Him.
Hannah Harpster: Hannah was a little girl who entered our lives when she had cancer and as a church, we prayed fervently for God's healing. He decided to go ahead with her ultimate healing and took her home to heaven. She always said she wanted to be a missionary when she grew up, and she was! She spent her time in and out of the hospital and told people about Jesus everywhere she went!
Mr. & Mrs. Salters: The thing I remember most about both of them was their hearts for missions. Glen actually died of a heart attack suffered while on a mission trip. Their lives truly exemplified utter faith and dependence on the Lord.
This list could go on and on. But, my point is, these people, along with Abraham, Moses, David, the disciples, Paul, and many others were ordinary people who simply submitted their lives to Christ and His will for them. God wants to use each of us to move mountains. We must first set aside all our "rights" and cling to the One who can do amazing things in and through us. We need to get over our insecurities and thinking we're not good enough, because the fact of the matter is, we're not good enough, but He is!!! And we can boast in the fact that His power is made perfect in our weakness!
Billy Snell Bennett: Mr. Bennett and his wife Aleta (who I still get to see twice a week at church), served faithfully in the 2 year old Sunday School class for 30+ years. Some of my very first memories of church were in the nursery in their class. I also cherish memories of working alongside them on numerous mission trips throughout the years.
Doug Adams (my Paw Paw): He was my "adopted" grandfather and served the Lord faithfully throughout the years. He loved unconditionally, and I loved that about Him.
Hannah Harpster: Hannah was a little girl who entered our lives when she had cancer and as a church, we prayed fervently for God's healing. He decided to go ahead with her ultimate healing and took her home to heaven. She always said she wanted to be a missionary when she grew up, and she was! She spent her time in and out of the hospital and told people about Jesus everywhere she went!
Mr. & Mrs. Salters: The thing I remember most about both of them was their hearts for missions. Glen actually died of a heart attack suffered while on a mission trip. Their lives truly exemplified utter faith and dependence on the Lord.
This list could go on and on. But, my point is, these people, along with Abraham, Moses, David, the disciples, Paul, and many others were ordinary people who simply submitted their lives to Christ and His will for them. God wants to use each of us to move mountains. We must first set aside all our "rights" and cling to the One who can do amazing things in and through us. We need to get over our insecurities and thinking we're not good enough, because the fact of the matter is, we're not good enough, but He is!!! And we can boast in the fact that His power is made perfect in our weakness!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Check this out!
Check out Beth Moore's daughter, Meilssa's blog about her Compassion International Mission trip to Calcutta, India. I was especially moved by her commentary on the scripture from Isaiah.
And, this blog brought me to tears! It's from Angie Smith, who is also on the trip with Melissa. Her story of unbelievable sorrow has captured me as I've followed her blog the past year.
It's so inspiring to see regular, vulnerable people allowing God to use them!
And, this blog brought me to tears! It's from Angie Smith, who is also on the trip with Melissa. Her story of unbelievable sorrow has captured me as I've followed her blog the past year.
It's so inspiring to see regular, vulnerable people allowing God to use them!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Catching up on "Believing God"
I have been so behind on my homework for the "Believing God" study, so I brought my book to work Thursday night and last night to try to catch up if I had some free time. Thursday proved to be a busy night in the unit, but tonight has been fairly calm. So, I just finished the last week of homework and I'm officially caught up. I love how God's timing is perfect! Everything I read tonight was exactly what I needed to hear, and I've been beating myself up over slacking off on the homework. Anyways. . .Just wanted to share a couple of things that stuck out to me. All of this week's homework continued to look at the "Hall of Faith" listed in Hebrews. We can learn so much from these ordinary, flawed individuals who God used simply because they believed Him and were obedient!
Beth pointed out that some of the people mentioned were called to action in their obedience, while some were called to do nothing at all and let God's plan unfold. Oh, how messy things can get when we get ahead of God and start trying to take matters into our own hands (like Rebekah did in regard to Isaac's blessing on his sons). God might have already revealed to us what His plan is, but we sometimes run ahead of Him and try to "help Him out." In relating this story, Beth points out that at this point in our study we have seen God calling people to action, but in some cases "we see a different and oftentimes harder dimension of faith: when faith requires us to do nothing at all, while our human nature screams to interfere. In these cases we believe; therefore, we do not act. Wisdom is knowing the difference between the two." This point couldn't have been more timely for me. This is my journal entry: "Over the last several months, God has asked me to do alot of waiting instead of acting. It is so hard for me to sit on my hands and not take matters into my own hands. He has continued to prove Himself faithful, and just when I think He's done using a situation to teach me, He says, 'Think again!' While it can be scary, it's actually kind of fun and adventurous to completely trust His plan!"
In one of the day's studies, we looked at the faith of Jacob. Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." The interesting thing was that, like his father, he blessed the younger grandson with the blessing of the firstborn. This time, however, deceit wasn't involved. He openly did exactly what he knew God had told him to do. This caused his son to be displeased. This is Beth's commentary: "Misunderstandings can initially result as we exercise enough faith to do what we're convinced is God's will. Sometimes, those misunderstandings can involve people whose opinions are very important to us. If we are convinced that God has willed the action, let's go the extra faith mile and believe that God will handle the consequences. . . Though his son was displeased and his grandsons were sure to experience friction, Jacob knew his God was faithful. Time would tell." Most of the time, truly believing God and being obedient requires us to step into uncomfortable situations. Remember that God knows exactly what He's doing, and if we are living in the Spirit and doing as He has called, we can leave the results up to Him! He's always faithful and can always be trusted!!!
The last person we looked at in the homework for this week was Rahab, the prostitute. I've always loved that God included her in "Hall of Faith." She not only was commended for her faith in hiding the spies, she was included in the lineage of Christ. While I knew all of this, this was the first time I'd really looked at the fact that Scripture indicates that Rahab lived among the Israelites after the fall of Jericho. She even married an Israelite and gave birth to Boaz, the man who became Ruth's kinsman redeemer. What a beautiful story. Beth's commentary is: "She didn't just have the faith to be delivered. She had the faith to be redeemed. Then accepted. Then made a bride. Then she exercised the faith to rear one of the finest men captured in the annals of Bible history. Generations later, drops of her spiritual blood could be found in the veins of the holy Son of God. Oh, the infinite implications of believing God!" God is in the business of using broken-down, messed-up people who are in the midst of sin. We just have to believe He is Who He says He is and allow Him to use us and transform us!
Beth pointed out that some of the people mentioned were called to action in their obedience, while some were called to do nothing at all and let God's plan unfold. Oh, how messy things can get when we get ahead of God and start trying to take matters into our own hands (like Rebekah did in regard to Isaac's blessing on his sons). God might have already revealed to us what His plan is, but we sometimes run ahead of Him and try to "help Him out." In relating this story, Beth points out that at this point in our study we have seen God calling people to action, but in some cases "we see a different and oftentimes harder dimension of faith: when faith requires us to do nothing at all, while our human nature screams to interfere. In these cases we believe; therefore, we do not act. Wisdom is knowing the difference between the two." This point couldn't have been more timely for me. This is my journal entry: "Over the last several months, God has asked me to do alot of waiting instead of acting. It is so hard for me to sit on my hands and not take matters into my own hands. He has continued to prove Himself faithful, and just when I think He's done using a situation to teach me, He says, 'Think again!' While it can be scary, it's actually kind of fun and adventurous to completely trust His plan!"
In one of the day's studies, we looked at the faith of Jacob. Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." The interesting thing was that, like his father, he blessed the younger grandson with the blessing of the firstborn. This time, however, deceit wasn't involved. He openly did exactly what he knew God had told him to do. This caused his son to be displeased. This is Beth's commentary: "Misunderstandings can initially result as we exercise enough faith to do what we're convinced is God's will. Sometimes, those misunderstandings can involve people whose opinions are very important to us. If we are convinced that God has willed the action, let's go the extra faith mile and believe that God will handle the consequences. . . Though his son was displeased and his grandsons were sure to experience friction, Jacob knew his God was faithful. Time would tell." Most of the time, truly believing God and being obedient requires us to step into uncomfortable situations. Remember that God knows exactly what He's doing, and if we are living in the Spirit and doing as He has called, we can leave the results up to Him! He's always faithful and can always be trusted!!!
The last person we looked at in the homework for this week was Rahab, the prostitute. I've always loved that God included her in "Hall of Faith." She not only was commended for her faith in hiding the spies, she was included in the lineage of Christ. While I knew all of this, this was the first time I'd really looked at the fact that Scripture indicates that Rahab lived among the Israelites after the fall of Jericho. She even married an Israelite and gave birth to Boaz, the man who became Ruth's kinsman redeemer. What a beautiful story. Beth's commentary is: "She didn't just have the faith to be delivered. She had the faith to be redeemed. Then accepted. Then made a bride. Then she exercised the faith to rear one of the finest men captured in the annals of Bible history. Generations later, drops of her spiritual blood could be found in the veins of the holy Son of God. Oh, the infinite implications of believing God!" God is in the business of using broken-down, messed-up people who are in the midst of sin. We just have to believe He is Who He says He is and allow Him to use us and transform us!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Our family might need counseling :)! Ha ha ha!
Don't mean to alarm anyone by that title, but my mom literally sat and taught Isabella "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" line by line until she could sing it on her own! Of course all of the Simmons clan(and our extended, Astros-loving family) is absolutely excited and thinks it's precious, but it just totally proves the point that we're a bit obsessed with baseball! I'm taking Isabella to the game tonight, so hopefully she'll do a great rendition of the song during the 7th inning stretch for her Aunt Kristi. This is a link to my sister's blog with a video of her singing it (minus a line or two) yesterday!
Friday, April 17, 2009
His Blood Speaks a Better Word!
So, I'm trying to catch up on my "Believing God" homework, and I am on the day that is talking about the faith chapter in Hebrews. We are looking at several men in the Bible who truly believed God. Today was the story of Cain and Abel, and how Abel's offering was acceptable to God, but Cain's wasn't. When Cain became jealous of Abel, he killed him and God came to Cain and said "your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground." In the Bible study today, Beth asked what Abel's blood was crying out for. She said that it was probably crying out for justice and vengeance. She went on to point out the following scripture in Hebrews, "to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (12:24). Wow! Aren't you glad that Christ's blood speaks a better word? I'm so thankful that His blood doesn't cry out for justice or vengeance. I don't want justice or fairness, because that would mean eternity separated from my Creator! Thank you, Jesus, that Your blood cries out forgiveness and grace and mercy and redemption! Thank You for bearing the cross that meant taking on my sin (along with the sin of the entire world). Thank you that it didn't end with the cross. Thank you that on that Easter Sunday morning 2000 years ago, You overcame death and the grave when You rose from the dead! Now, that's a better Word! That's something to get excited about!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Hodge Podge
Well, I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd post a blog today. It might be kind of random because I'm not sure what to blog about!
First, if you haven't read Rebecca's blog this week, you should! It cracked me up!
I guess I'll just fill you in on what's been going on since the last blog.
Shahla and I went to the Youth Ministry Lab at Southwestern Seminary this past weekend, and it was really good! David Platt was the main speaker, and his messages were challenging to say the least! Aaron Ivey led worship. He is now the worship leader at Austin Stone since Chris moved to Atlanta. There were also several breakout sessions that were both challenging and encouraging. I realized how old I was when one of the conference leaders asked how many years we had been doing student ministry and I had to keep my hand raised a little too long!! Shahla mentioned after the conference that all of the speakers really had the same underlying message: "We can do all the events we want with these kids, but if we're not showing them how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus by just walking alongside them through this crazy life, then we have failed." AMEN! I'm so grateful that God has given me the privilege to hang out and minister to students!
Sunday, we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt/Picnic at church, and that was fun watching all the kids (young and old) hunt eggs and enjoy fellowship. I got my first sunburn of the year, that will hopefully turn into a tan! We had hot dogs and Kathie James even brought her famous cookies! Yummy!
Monday and Tuesday I spent time at Barbers Hill High School watching Amy and Kaitlyn play in the District Tennis Tournament. I got a little more sun! I love Springtime!
Oh, and we can't forget the big event that took place Monday night. . . Opening Day!! Baseball season is finally here! I think everyone in Houston must've been there, because the only time I've had to park this far away from the stadium was during the World Series! So, we finally got to our seats in the 3rd inning and enjoyed the game with about 20 friends! Too bad the Astros didn't pull off a win, but at least Isabella was there to entertain us! She was cheering everytime someone got a hit or caught a ball! It was hilarious!
Hope everyone is having a good week! It's back to work for me tonight after 6 nights off. Here are some pics from Monday night:
Singing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" with Philip and Lacey
Eating Laurie's (actually Michelle's) popcorn!
Isabella and Aunt Kristi
First, if you haven't read Rebecca's blog this week, you should! It cracked me up!
I guess I'll just fill you in on what's been going on since the last blog.
Shahla and I went to the Youth Ministry Lab at Southwestern Seminary this past weekend, and it was really good! David Platt was the main speaker, and his messages were challenging to say the least! Aaron Ivey led worship. He is now the worship leader at Austin Stone since Chris moved to Atlanta. There were also several breakout sessions that were both challenging and encouraging. I realized how old I was when one of the conference leaders asked how many years we had been doing student ministry and I had to keep my hand raised a little too long!! Shahla mentioned after the conference that all of the speakers really had the same underlying message: "We can do all the events we want with these kids, but if we're not showing them how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus by just walking alongside them through this crazy life, then we have failed." AMEN! I'm so grateful that God has given me the privilege to hang out and minister to students!
Sunday, we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt/Picnic at church, and that was fun watching all the kids (young and old) hunt eggs and enjoy fellowship. I got my first sunburn of the year, that will hopefully turn into a tan! We had hot dogs and Kathie James even brought her famous cookies! Yummy!
Monday and Tuesday I spent time at Barbers Hill High School watching Amy and Kaitlyn play in the District Tennis Tournament. I got a little more sun! I love Springtime!
Oh, and we can't forget the big event that took place Monday night. . . Opening Day!! Baseball season is finally here! I think everyone in Houston must've been there, because the only time I've had to park this far away from the stadium was during the World Series! So, we finally got to our seats in the 3rd inning and enjoyed the game with about 20 friends! Too bad the Astros didn't pull off a win, but at least Isabella was there to entertain us! She was cheering everytime someone got a hit or caught a ball! It was hilarious!
Hope everyone is having a good week! It's back to work for me tonight after 6 nights off. Here are some pics from Monday night:
Singing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" with Philip and Lacey
Eating Laurie's (actually Michelle's) popcorn!
Isabella and Aunt Kristi
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