(A poem I wrote a couple years ago regarding trials)

Once upon a time I dreamed a strange but wonderful dream. In my dream I found myself surrounded by a dark forest; sharp branches pokes me causing me to cry. I was scared and all alone, or so I thought.

Not one drop of sunlight could be detected streaming down from the heavens because of the mass of thick trees. The dark forest not only sent shivers of fear down my spine, but it also disturbed my heart causing my once strong confidence in my Lord and Savior to waver with doubts. As I stood there in the darkness, I did recall to mind that God's Word alone is a lamp to my feet and a light to path---His Word is my life and my daily bread, which the Holy Spirit uses to transform my heart to be like Christ, and that He gives me strength and power to carry out His will as I am immersed in His Word.

I trembled because of my fear as discouragement clouded my thoughts and pushed aside any desire I had to read the Scriptures. I cried and cried but no one answered. I began wondering why God did not help me. I had so easily forgotten that He had supplied me with help through His Word and that I had ceased to draw upon it.

So I remained in the darkness, but not long for God is merciful. Although I was floundering in my faith He remained ever faithful.

God brought to my finger tips word of past Christians written in books rich with Biblical truths. By His grace He awakened my cold heart as I listened to His Word being taught.

All at once, He worked in me, and I opened His Word, which was sweet as honey to my soul. How could I have remained in darkness so long when His light streamed bright and strong through His Word.

The trees still surrounded me, but my eyes were fixed on God; He would protect and care for me. I was in good hands---my Creator's hands.

Christ's School

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also pedestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, He might be the first-born among many brethren; and who He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

--

Romans 8:28-30

Today in chapel, I was reminded once again that God uses everything in our lives to conform us into the image of His Son. God has placed us on the earth to glorify Him with our lives. He prepares us for the service and ministry He has already planned for us.

I am attending Baptist Bible College to prepare for the mission field. I am being challenged by my professors and I am learning so much in my classes. However, what I am learning in the classroom is only one of the ways God is preparing me for future service. I so easily forget that everything He brings into my life is a way He is getting me ready to serve Him. Even though I struggle when God brings negative experiences into my life, it is for my good and the way God is making me like His Son and preparing me to serve Him.

The Bible is full of real life examples of people who poured out their lives in service to the Lord. However, when you take a closer look you see the struggles, suffering, hardships, and trials that God placed into these peoples lives to prepare them for the work He had planned for them.

Joseph of the Old Testament was hated by his brothers who sold him into slavery and then he was sent to prison under false accusations. God broke Joseph and striped him of every earthly comfort to prepare him to be second in command of Egypt.

King David also underwent many hardships and experienced great afflictions before God made Him king. God used hard things to prepare David for the job He had in mind.

God also prepares us in ways we do not even realize. He sends heartache and hurt into our lives for His purpose and for our good. We must embrace the pain because it is from God and it is good. We need to rejoice in the struggles---in the hardships and trials. Suffering is Christ's school to train to be His soldiers---His followers traveling heavenward.

More Like Christ

I want to share an excerpt from Elizabeth Prentiss' book Aunt Jane's Hero. Her words have been a source of encouragement as well as a challenge to me in my walk with the Lord. Enjoy!

"They were living to themselves: self, with its hopes, and promises, and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and He had sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, siting by 'as a refiner of silver,' till they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them, it lacerated their hands. They had asked they knew not what, nor how; but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow on so far, or to draw so nigh to Him . . . . They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awefulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer---to do than to give up---to bear the cross than to hang upon it: but they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced to deeply within them. . . .

"Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams the mystery of His cross shines upon them. They behold Him lifted up---they gaze on the glory which rays forth from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze, thay advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own, and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.

"Such are they in all ages who follow the lamb whithersoever He goeth. Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His kingdom. They would have had lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere---if He had taken off His hand, and let them stray back---what would they not have lost? What forefiets in the morning of the resurrection? But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well-nigh slipped; but He, in mercy, held them up; now , even in this life, they know all He did was done well. It was good for them to suffer here, for they shall reign hereafter---to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them" (Elizabeth Prentiss, Aunt Jane's Hero)

Upon Our Knees

"Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."

--

Psalm 27:14

Let us draw near to God upon our knees; let us wait tirelessly for our God to work in us and transform our souls to be ever more like Christ. We must realize that it will not be easy: Heart work is hard work.

I cannot help but wonder and agonize over the fact that I am so passionless in my faith, lazy in my spiritual disciplines, and unamazed by the mercy and grace of God in providing salvation for sinners. Why? I try so hard at times, but always seem to lose heart and give up. The Christian life seems too hard to live and all I ever seem to obtain is failure.

I read wonderful, inspiring stories about Christians who lived their lives for the Lord--- drinking delightfully from a hidden spring, finding joy that I only dream about, and living as it were in the shadow of heaven. Yes, men and women like Jonathan & Sarah Edwards, George Whitfield, George Muller, Hudson Taylor, A.W. Tozar, John Bunyan, J. C. Ryle, etc. who found sweet delight in the Almighty One and learned the secret of abiding in Christ.

What was their secret? How did they live such godly lives? What did they all have in common that impacted them so tremendously so that their lives still inspire Christians to follow hard after God? All of these Believers lived in different places, had their own unique life circumstances, and had completely different struggles and strengths, but all of them had Christ as their base of commonality. And what is more, they relied upon Christ to work in their hearts and keep their eyes fixed upon Him.

Oh, how they hungered after God deeply---and what did they do? Did they bustle around searching for a way to satisfy their deepest longings in a quick fix sort of way? No, they waited. They waited long agonizing hours for the Lord to meet them---to satisfy their hearts with Himself. They didn't settle for earth's empty pleasures; but, they poured over God's Word by searching intently and digging tirelessly. They prayed, they cried, and of course they waited.

I think we should also note where these Believers labored over God's Word, prayed, and waited. Was it upon their beds as they dozed? In front of the TV or computer? A second before jumping in or out of bed? Once a week at church? No, they were on their knees. However, is the position of kneeling so important, we may wonder. My own conclusion is that kneeling for kneeling sake is no better than not kneeling at all; but, when we kneel before the Lord for Him what sort of attitude are we conveying? Is it not one of total helplessness and submission? Yes, it is. And think for a moment, do we not drop immediately to our knees when hardship and tragedy surround us? This is certainly true, and we should also fall upon our knees when we are going through sun filled valleys to thank the Lord of our souls.

Yes, we should be upon our knees waiting upon our Almighty God everyday that we have the ability to do so. Yes, it may seem hard, but does God not give us breath every day? Blood pumping through our veins? His grace to sustain us every moment? Yes, we should come to meet the Lord daily upon our knees. Not until we do so will we be passionate about God, joyful in God, amazed by God, living for God, waiting upon God, faithful to God, and transformed to be like Him by Him.

Wait upon the Lord upon your knees. Hunger intensely for Him, thirst for Him, and surely He will not leave you empty handed. He will indeed fill your minds, warm your souls, and delight your hearts with Himself.

But remember that it is the heart attitude by which you come to prayer that is most essential. As I said before, kneeling for kneeling sake alone is no better than not kneeling at all. Come to God with complete submission acknowledging Him as the Master and Savior of your souls.

"Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer."

--

J. C. Ryle

What We Did & And What We Saw: Mission to New Orleans Part Two

There are still so many houses in ruins like this house in the picture above.

This is the house we worked on during the week.

This is one of the heaps of ruble that we cleaned out of the house.

This is our team leader working on some framing

This is a picture of my brother and me, along with another guy on our team, after we finished frame a window.

On my mission trip to New Orleans, my team and I did electrical and framing work on a house. It was such a joy to see the Home Owner's face light up as we helped in the rebuilding of her home.



Three other woman and I framed two closets and replaced some ceiling beams in one room. We also cleaned out the house so that it would be all ready for sheet rock.



It was fun having my brother Luke go on the trip with me. He was busy doing electrical work along with the other guys on our team.



Continue to pray with me for Erlean, the Home Owner, that she would come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The Mission Field Around Us: Mission to New Orleans Part One

I just arrived home yesterday from a week-long mission trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. My church mission team and I spent the week working with an organization called Operation NOAH Rebuild. We worked on one house doing electrical work, framing, and preparation work for putting up sheet rock.

In the past I have gone on several mission trips to Mexico, but I have never gone to New Orleans. Even though three years have almost passed since Hurricane Katrina, the devastation is still more than apparent. The great hopelessness that I witnessed in the lives of the people I came in contact with was overwhelming. But amidst the rubble and broken pieces these people hold in their hands and the hopelessness they face daily, God's grace, mercy, and hope shine brighter. My mission team's goal was not only to help rebuild a home, but to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the people we came face to face with.

Even though Katrina is considered a great tragedy, I also recognize that God's hand was in it. As one lady in my mission team concluded, before Katrina New Orleans would hardly have been an attractive location for Christians to visit. But God used the devastation of Katrina to send hundreds of faith based teams into New Orleans to help rebuild the city and to share Jesus Christ with the lost.

God has placed each of His children into the mission field of His choosing. But we must go out and put our hand to the plow if we are to obey and glorify Him. There are people all around us who live in utter hopelessness, and God has called us who believe and trust in Him to share our hope in Christ with those who are lost.

My own prayer to God is that He would awaken in my heart a compassion for the lost fueled by my passion for Him. God has given us so much in Christ, let us not keep the riches of His mercy to ourselves, but let us share the Hope of Christ with those around us. Whether it is a co-worker or a neighbor, whether you go on a mission trip to New Orleans or witness to a cashier at the grocery store, wherever you are share the hope of Christ that is within you.

A Passion to Make Much of Christ

Ever since I was twelve years old, I have wanted to serve the Lord as a missionary. I have read countless books about missionaries who spent their entire lives serving the Lord in foreign countries, enduring great hardships, and sharing the Gospel with lost people.

These men and women who have already gone before me as Soldiers of the Cross have inspired me to live for something so much better than myself. They have challenged me to live for God alone and to spend my life making much of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My passion in life is to make much of Christ and I want to do this by serving the Lord as a missionary to the unreached. I want to go and share the Good News of Salvation with people who have never heard and I want to translate the Bible into their language.

However, I can not do this on my own. Only by God's grace and strength will this great passion that the Lord has given me come to pass. I can do nothing, but through Christ who strengthens me I can do everything (Philippians 4:13). I also need the prayers of faithful Christians to uphold my endeavor. God uses His children to bring about His plans and one of the ways He uses them is in prayer.

I beseach all of you who are Christians to prayer for the unreached people groups around the world. Join in my passion and pray that the unreached would be reached with the Gospel.

I think it is so easy for Christians in the twenty-first century to become consumed with "self" and to forget that God is not a part of our lives, but that He is our life. All of us only have a short time to live in this world, let us make the most of our time by making much of Christ with the time we have left.