Waiting

I was tagged in a note on Facebook this weekend. Inside the note was this poem. I wanted to share it with everyone because it has such a great meaning. It describes where I am in life, and what my attitude often is. It is so comforting and true.
~Dani

WAITING

Fear says"get in there and fix it."
Genuine love say, "wait on God. Wait on His timing." ~ Linda Dillow

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept fpr a clue to my fate.
And the Master so gently said, "Child you must wait!"

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your Word."

"My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a yes, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a no to which I can resign."

"And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but ask and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run."

"All you seek, I could give you and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want- but you wouldn't know ME."

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save...(for a start).
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart.

The glow of my comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give you when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond fetting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight woud come true,
But, oh the loss! if I lost what I'm doing in you!

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of andwers is still but to WAIT."

Author unknown

Debt

Debt. It's a scary word. To owe more than you have the means to pay off. Although the word is terrifying to many people it seems that more and more individuals are finding themselves in this less-than-pleasant situation. Debt can leave people bitter, overwhelmed, and hopeless. While monetary debt is the most commonly recognized idea of debt in today's world, there is also another kind of debt, blacker, darker, and more deadly than anything that could be caused by a credit card. This form of debt is sin, and it is a debt that no earthly creditor can help us get out of.

I sat in my religion class Monday night: Death and Dying-- not the most pleasant way to spend 2.75 hours of my life each week. I was looking around at my classmates when I noticed something peculiar about the girl sitting in front of me. The chairs in this classroom are set on tiers which allowed me to have a nice, clear view of the back of her head. On the little piece of skin directly behind her right ear she had tattoo. In the common "tattoo-black," and in all lowercase letters, her tattoo consisted of one word: debt. Her tattoo astounded me! Why would anyone want to be constantly reminded of such a dark and dreary concept? Why would someone as pretty as the girl in front of me want to be permanently branded with this terrible idea?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized a very pertinent spiritual truth. We are all, every one of us, marked with a big, black, dark tattoo mark of spiritual debt which we have received from "Satan's Tattoo Parlor". Using the ink of sin, the tricky tattoo artist has made our mark permanent. There is nothing we can do to remove the scar. No scrubbing with good deeds will make it come off. No scraping with the act of being a good person. No earthly creditor or "get out of debt fast" self-help method can help us. Our situation may seem permanently hopeless.

But it is not.

Although we are all tattooed with the debt that comes from the sin we have committed against God, there is a way to break free from our scar. Christ's blood is the ultimate "get out of debt" solution. His death on the cross paid our debt, allowing us to become debt-free. In the process of taking our debts upon Himself, he poured His blood out for us, washing us clean and removing our tattoo of debt in the process.

The more I thought about this truth the more grateful to God I became. I am so thankful that I do not have to walk around marked with something as black and terrible as the brand of debt. I also felt sorrow for the girl in front of me, a girl I know to be skeptical of Christianity. I hope that one day she will find the ultimate form of debt-removal in Jesus Christ. Will you join me in praying for her?

While the girl in my class might be stuck with her tattoo for life, we, as Christians, can have our debt paid for, in-full, once and for all! And the best thing about Jesus' tattoo removal business? Unlike most laser removal options, it doesn't even leave a scar.

As a matter of fact, it doesn't leave a single trace!

Creation Speaker

I was so blessed over the course of Spring Break to attend the creation science speaker from The Institute for Creation Research who spoke at First Baptist Church. Dr. Randy Giuliuzza, or Dr. G as many called him, was an excellent speaker and further affirmed my belief in the truth behind Genesis 1:1 and the 6 day creation account. Dr. G held a session on how we can see God through the workings of the human eye. It was amazing to see just how complex the eye really is. I am convinced that nothing that complex and intricate could ever have evolved from some random parts of the primordial slime. Dr. G also did a seminar on the age of the earth, and how just by looking at the different rock layers around Wyoming it should be obvious that the earth is not millions and billions of years old, but rather only thousands. His main speaking point in this seminar was that rock layers, such as those found in the Grand Canyon, were not put down one layer at a time over a long period of time, but instead were put down quickly in a mass flood. This would be supportive of the account of Noah's flood. Dr. G also gave a talk on the supposed "missing link" fossils. These included Lucy, Ida, and Aida. He proceeded to discuss how these remains are built up to be much more than they truly are and, although they have been disproved, they are still not removed from textbooks or museums. Finally, Dr. G did a session on how to approach and talk to an evolutionist. On Sunday morning, Dr. G did a Sunday school on how dinosaurs lived with people, and he followed up by a sermon on how creation should cause us to praise God and recognize his power. I have attended many events like this in the past and I was blessed to be a part of this very interesting seminar in my very own home town Church. God truly blessed the sessions.

Creation Science Speaker to Speak in Douglas

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." While this appears to be a verse that many Christians feel it is ok to skimp on a little bit, the creation story must be accepted as fact or else the entire Bible will crumble underneath it. Devoting scientific study along with Biblical theology has been the job of many scientists and individuals involved in many different organizations. This coming weekend March 13-14 one of these scientists is going to enlighten the community of Douglas, Wyoming with some knowledge about how the creation account really does line up with modern science and how Darwin's theory of evolution does not.

Here is the schedule for the event, compliments of the First Baptist Church Website: http://www.fbcdouglas.org/

Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design

**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**Free Admission**

Featuring Dr. Randy Guliuzza
First Baptist Church
Corner of 4th and Oak • Douglas, WY 82633
For more information call 307.358.3724 or go to www.fbcdouglas.org

About Dr. Randy Guliuzza:

Dr. Randy Guliuzza is a captivating speaker who presents well-docu­mented and often humorous scientific and biblical talks to audiences of all ages. He has represented ICR in several scientific debates at secular universities and in other forums. Dr. Guliuzza has a B.S. in Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technol­ogy, a B.A. in theology from Moody Bible Institute, an M.D. from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Guliuzza served nine years in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and is a registered Professional Engineer. In 2008, he retired as Lt. Col. from the U.S. Air Force, where he served as Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. He is the author of the recently released book Made in His Image.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Morning Sessions:
9:00 a.m. The Human Visual System
10:30 a.m. Mount St. Helens

Afternoon Sessions:
1:30 p.m. The Importance of Creation to Both Science and Christians
3:00 p.m. 5 Minutes with a Darwinist: Exposing the Fluff of Evolution


Sunday, March 14, 2010

8:30 a.m. (Worship Service) Importance of the Doctrine of Creation
9:45-10:45 a.m. (Sunday School) Dinosaurs: Facts and Myths
11:15 a.m. (Worship Service) Importance of the Doctrine of Creation

Above It All

Hey Everyone,
Thanks to the lovely amount of homework I have to accomplish before Spring Break, I once again need to keep this short and sweet. The lyrics I am posting is to a song by Christian Rock group Building 429. The song is called Above It All, a song which has been very encouraging to me over the past couple of weeks. It deals with the attitude we have vs. the attitude we should have during difficult situations. Interesting Tidbit: Building 429 took their name from the verse Ephesians 4:29 (hence 429). The verse reads: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Hence the "Building". I cannot find a location to listen to the song, but if you have Rhapsody you should be able to hear it for free. I would strongly suggest taking a few minutes to listen to it. It is so encouraging.

Oh I'm waiting for the answer to the question in my soul
Lord why did You lead me here?
Because I, I take a look around and a desperate world surrounds me
And I know I'm not of this place, but it's here and in my face

And all that I am wants to run
Well God I feel helpless and undone

Lift me up above it all
I'm feeling broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift my heart above it all
Because I've lost my hope tonight
And I'm praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift me up above it all
Above it all

Now I'm waiting for a glimpse of hope in an eye
But a flash of sunlight shows a faded gray
Because these streets are hard and cold
And the alleys burn like coal with a stench of helplessness
And all the life that's been misspent

And all that I am wants to run
God I feel helpless and undone

Lift me up above it all
I'm feeling broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift my heart above it all
Because I've lost my hope tonight
And I'm praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift me up above it all
Well above it all

*Bridge*
Maybe I'm not supposed to fly
Cause Maybe You want me here tonight

To lift them up above it all
When they're broken and alone
Don't let me turn to stone
Lift them up above it all
Because they cannot stand alone
And they're praying for the strength to carry on

Lift us up above it all
When we're broken and alone
Don't let us turn to stone
Lift us up above it all
Because we cannot stand alone
And we're praying for the strength to carry on
Lord will You lift us up above it all

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Short blog this week because of my crazy busy schedule. I found this cool link to a rendition of 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. I love old hymns (at least the ones I know), and I always think it is so neat when they can be remade to the popular music of today. This is Hawk Nelson's version of 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6HWIZAd1A

Monster

The secret side of me I never let you see / I keep it caged, but I can't control it / So, stay away from me, the beast is ugly / I feel the rage and I just can't hold it. --Monster by Skillet

Sin nature. It looms deep within the dark and hidden chasms of each of us, causing us to do things we will later regret, say things we really don't mean, and in the long run, hurt others and embarrass ourselves. We all have an "ugly side" to us. The one, as the song lyrics state, that we rarely let others see. The side that we try to control and keep locked away. Unfortunately, due to a lack of self-control, self-discipline, or sometimes just a flat-out lack of common sense, this monster gets released and proceeds to wreak havoc on our lives and the lives of those around us. I was faced with a scenario much like this over the past week. Somehow some part of me with the "selfishness" key slipped in and unlocked the cage of the temper monster. While I have a lot of little pet monsters, the ones you might see in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, furry little guys with great big eyes and rather small fangs (such as the worry monster), the temper monster is the horror-film ready creature that is worthy of the steel-barred cage. It is by far one of my strongest monsters and, therefore, the most difficult to subdue once it is out on rampage. After an extremely strenuous struggle with this monster I was able, with some help from God, to throw it back into its cage and lock the door. Unfortunately, during the struggle some damage was done. I not only embarrassed myself, but I hurt the feelings of others. Through this experience God really showed me how much control my monster has over my life. I was utterly ashamed at the way I had reacted, and wondered if I could ever forgive myself for allowing myself to get so out of control. It was as if I was not even me anymore. I was reminded of the passage in Romans where Paul states, "I do not understand what I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it" Romans 7:15-20 NIV.

The Skillet song continues: It's scratching on the walls / In the closet, in the halls / It comes awake and I can't control it/ Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head / Why won't somebody come and save me from this? / Make it end / I feel it deep within, / It's just beneath the skin / I must confess that I feel like a monster / I hate what I've become / The nightmare's just begun / I must confess that I feel like a monster/ I feel like a monster

Thankfully, as I was pouting around the pit of feeling like I could never forgive myself for this terrible side of me, God opened my eyes to two very significant truths:

1.) If it seems impossible to change myself, it is. However it is not impossible for me to change. But, it is not me that does the work, it is God and His almighty power coupled with my willing heart and spirit.

2.) Although change seems so hopeless and far away, it's not. I read a quote on a friend's Facebook page which read, "A part of God's plan is bringing you to a point of desperation where you get so sick of yourself and your inability to change that you throw up your hands in surrender. When this happens, you are closer than you think to knowing the joy of the Spirit-filled life." Charles Stanley

Thankfully, through all this embarrassment, shame, and self-disgust, God has shown me that it is through the times when our ugly side is revealed that He sparks in us the desire for change and the hatred of our sin-nature "monster". The next time your monster, or my monster, escapes let's pray that God will beat it down to size and help us to take it on and ultimately defeat it! God is the ultimate monster slayer.