YAY GOD!
My sister is feeling better. My sister is home.
Everyone, thank you for praying.
MillieJo
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
My Sister
Hey could you all please pray for my sister? She is in the hospital, and I hate to see her sick.
Thank you so much.
MillieJo
Thank you so much.
MillieJo
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Something, Finally.
I've finally feel like I'm getting somewhere in this long missions project.
My passport has come.
My application is finished, and my references requested.
I've nearly picked out my jobs.
And I've taken my first round of vaccinations.
I know that God is still at work in the unseen things even when it seems like I am not getting anything done. I know He has been at work in my heart, changing it, preparing and renewing me.
But it sure is nice to see something happening.
My passport has come.
My application is finished, and my references requested.
I've nearly picked out my jobs.
And I've taken my first round of vaccinations.
I know that God is still at work in the unseen things even when it seems like I am not getting anything done. I know He has been at work in my heart, changing it, preparing and renewing me.
But it sure is nice to see something happening.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
YLCF/Fall
Young Ladies Christian Fellowship is one of my favorite places to go online. Wednesday's post was especially touching. It is about Autumn, change, and trusting our Heavenly Father with our brokenness. It is worth your time.
http://www.ylcf.org/
I'm working with my dad for a few days. Hopefully I'll be back to blogging with a little more thought soon.
MillieJo
http://www.ylcf.org/
I'm working with my dad for a few days. Hopefully I'll be back to blogging with a little more thought soon.
MillieJo
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
at home and away
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Painting with Leftovers
Look for some pics coming up! Cher and I are painting our upstairs bathroom with leftover paint. It is interesting, and fun.
Hopefully tonight we can get done!
milliejo
Hopefully tonight we can get done!
milliejo
On the edge
Today all I have is a perspective on what some would call "on the edge" Christian living.
I guess the first issue to address is the fact that "liberal" and "conservative" are relative terms. What is liberal/conservative to the Southern Baptist denomination is different from what is liberal/conservative to say, the Anglicans.
And then there is the issue of legalism. Legalism in the narrow sense simply means following the rules strictly. (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/legalism) However in Christian circles, legalism has come to mean the attitude that focuses on pleasing God through perfect obedience and good works, instead of working to obey Him out of love and thankfulness for His already finished work of redemption. It encompasses everything from whole lives built around this attitude, to small choices built on it.
There is an opposite extreme to legalism. It is not using our liberty in Christ as a cloke for vice (1 Pet 2:15-16) as the legalistic would possibly suppose. It is using our liberty to serve our King out of love; a liberty that desires to please Him in every way, whether easy or hard, popular or rejected. It is loving like Christ loved, with a meekness that will follow the will of the Father to death cheerfully.
Sometimes a heart genuinely desiring to please God out of love is mistaken as being legalistic because his or her understanding or standards are not the same as another's. Sometimes the opposite happens and believer is mistakenly thought to be using his liberty as a cloke for vice. The center of the issue is Christ. Do we know Him?
Colossians 2 is a wonderful place to turn with questions about this.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses...Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
An interesting topic to investigate, and profitable, if it turns me to Christ, and to my insufficiency and His all-sufficiency.
Jesus, teach me more.
I guess the first issue to address is the fact that "liberal" and "conservative" are relative terms. What is liberal/conservative to the Southern Baptist denomination is different from what is liberal/conservative to say, the Anglicans.
And then there is the issue of legalism. Legalism in the narrow sense simply means following the rules strictly. (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/legalism) However in Christian circles, legalism has come to mean the attitude that focuses on pleasing God through perfect obedience and good works, instead of working to obey Him out of love and thankfulness for His already finished work of redemption. It encompasses everything from whole lives built around this attitude, to small choices built on it.
There is an opposite extreme to legalism. It is not using our liberty in Christ as a cloke for vice (1 Pet 2:15-16) as the legalistic would possibly suppose. It is using our liberty to serve our King out of love; a liberty that desires to please Him in every way, whether easy or hard, popular or rejected. It is loving like Christ loved, with a meekness that will follow the will of the Father to death cheerfully.
Sometimes a heart genuinely desiring to please God out of love is mistaken as being legalistic because his or her understanding or standards are not the same as another's. Sometimes the opposite happens and believer is mistakenly thought to be using his liberty as a cloke for vice. The center of the issue is Christ. Do we know Him?
Colossians 2 is a wonderful place to turn with questions about this.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses...Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
An interesting topic to investigate, and profitable, if it turns me to Christ, and to my insufficiency and His all-sufficiency.
Jesus, teach me more.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
King-Papa
I was able to spend today with my close sister. It is always a blessing to be with her, especially when we get time to visit about life: about love. About God. God has provided for me in every way, giving me close relationship, friendship, love. He is so worthy!
But I couldn't face my life tomorrow
Without Your hope in my heart, I know.
I can't live a day without You.
Lord, there's no night and there's no morning
Without your loving arms to hold me
You're the heartbeat of all I do
...I can't live a day without You.
~Avalon
Jesus, it is so true. Why do I try to have good on my own? King-Papa! All I need is to come to you. I need so much. I need a redeemer. Thank you for giving your word of life to me.
Isaiah 54
But I couldn't face my life tomorrow
Without Your hope in my heart, I know.
I can't live a day without You.
Lord, there's no night and there's no morning
Without your loving arms to hold me
You're the heartbeat of all I do
...I can't live a day without You.
~Avalon
Jesus, it is so true. Why do I try to have good on my own? King-Papa! All I need is to come to you. I need so much. I need a redeemer. Thank you for giving your word of life to me.
Isaiah 54
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Death
Today it isn't a pretty post. To share only the good feels dishonest.
I come from a small community, with around 800 people living in town. It's an agricultural area, though, so there are more residents than 800. Everyone knows everyone else, and sometimes your problem becomes his, and hers and theirs. It is a true community, where people may talk about you one day, but if you are ever in trouble, there they all are with help, casseroles, comfort.
And my town is dead. I mean spiritually. It is dry, hard like dry mud on a well trodden road. Jesus just doesn't seem to sink in. Worship in the churches feels so alone. God isn't very welcome.
And everyone wonders why we have problems. Pain. Bad Results.
Another young man was killed driving drunk early this morning. More than once a year, it seems, my community loses one or more young people to alcohol. Instantly, the boy's soul was in eternity. No more chances. Another mother and father lost their little child. Pain.
Jesus, You bore our death because You love us. Bring Your life, please, to someone in my town. Let nothing be in vain. Let not death's pain be for naught.
And thank You, thank You, thank You, that for Your Body, for the Church, for ME, Death has lost it's sting.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
I come from a small community, with around 800 people living in town. It's an agricultural area, though, so there are more residents than 800. Everyone knows everyone else, and sometimes your problem becomes his, and hers and theirs. It is a true community, where people may talk about you one day, but if you are ever in trouble, there they all are with help, casseroles, comfort.
And my town is dead. I mean spiritually. It is dry, hard like dry mud on a well trodden road. Jesus just doesn't seem to sink in. Worship in the churches feels so alone. God isn't very welcome.
And everyone wonders why we have problems. Pain. Bad Results.
Another young man was killed driving drunk early this morning. More than once a year, it seems, my community loses one or more young people to alcohol. Instantly, the boy's soul was in eternity. No more chances. Another mother and father lost their little child. Pain.
Jesus, You bore our death because You love us. Bring Your life, please, to someone in my town. Let nothing be in vain. Let not death's pain be for naught.
And thank You, thank You, thank You, that for Your Body, for the Church, for ME, Death has lost it's sting.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Deny himself
Ok, today all I have is a question. Have I denied myself today?
And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
What does it mean to "take up [my] cross"? What is my cross? Things that come to mind are suffering, meekness (which means being willing to be exactly where God wants you no matter the cost), obedience, hmm...
Of course, the next verses bring only more questions:
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
"For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"
Just something to chew on. Meditate on. Dwell on. Luke seems to have a lot of that. This came from chapter nine, starting at verse twenty-three.
MillieJo
And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
What does it mean to "take up [my] cross"? What is my cross? Things that come to mind are suffering, meekness (which means being willing to be exactly where God wants you no matter the cost), obedience, hmm...
Of course, the next verses bring only more questions:
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
"For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"
Just something to chew on. Meditate on. Dwell on. Luke seems to have a lot of that. This came from chapter nine, starting at verse twenty-three.
MillieJo
Sunday, November 4, 2007
direction
I know, it has been forever since I made a post.
I had a bacterial thingy--a nasty thingy-- that made my body and mind struggle for breath. Really. Even my lungs. But let us be praising God for antibiotics! He is so good. There are so many people in the world without access to these wonders, these drugs. We in America ought to be counting our blessings.
So suddenly it is November, and my thoughts are turning toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, toward holidays and home. It has been a long time since I spent my fall at home, not caught up in a whirlwind of school activity. The silence has been good for me.
Yet it has not always been silent. I must remember that even when my life slips away from beneath me in spite of all my planning, Jesus is still at the helm. I have plenty of work yet to do. My job is to do it faithfully, while remembering that Jesus is the one who truly does the work.
That is the danger of direction. So I am called to Africa. So what do I do with that calling? I can't ignore it--God is too big. I could try to accomplish it myself--I am too little. Only I can follow God, seek Him, love Him.
And really, I don't want to spend a minute of my life not basking in His love, His presence. Yet, shamefully, I seem to spend almost every minute in forgetfulness, in the spell of "busy," ignoring the joyful, bountiful, delight of Jesus Himself.
Forgive me Jesus-King.
I had a bacterial thingy--a nasty thingy-- that made my body and mind struggle for breath. Really. Even my lungs. But let us be praising God for antibiotics! He is so good. There are so many people in the world without access to these wonders, these drugs. We in America ought to be counting our blessings.
So suddenly it is November, and my thoughts are turning toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, toward holidays and home. It has been a long time since I spent my fall at home, not caught up in a whirlwind of school activity. The silence has been good for me.
Yet it has not always been silent. I must remember that even when my life slips away from beneath me in spite of all my planning, Jesus is still at the helm. I have plenty of work yet to do. My job is to do it faithfully, while remembering that Jesus is the one who truly does the work.
That is the danger of direction. So I am called to Africa. So what do I do with that calling? I can't ignore it--God is too big. I could try to accomplish it myself--I am too little. Only I can follow God, seek Him, love Him.
And really, I don't want to spend a minute of my life not basking in His love, His presence. Yet, shamefully, I seem to spend almost every minute in forgetfulness, in the spell of "busy," ignoring the joyful, bountiful, delight of Jesus Himself.
Forgive me Jesus-King.
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