What A Morning

On Saturday mornings, I try to make it down to the abortion clinic in town. From 7-8:30 girls arrive for their appointments and that's when brothers and sisters from local churches are there doing sidewalk counseling. It's not fun. And can be really disheartening. And you get yelled at and pushed and cussed at. But I love seeing my fellow brothers and sisters fighting for the unborn and trying to love on these girls and women who come in for abortions! And I love defending the weak and the innocent. The unborn are the most defenseless of all people-groups. They have no voice.

I haven't been to the clinic in about a month and a half due to holidays and travel, but I decided to start getting into the early routine again this Saturday. But today was a first for me. I witnessed a fellow brother arrested because he was speaking out for the unborn. He was arrested for the sake of Christ. I praise the Lord for this brother!

I'll have to say though, that this has given me a new perspective and understanding for the reality of what goes on, down at the abortion clinic. This friend of mine was arrested, because he was trying to love some women and children. He was trying to prevent murders. But HE was the one arrested. Because he is 'intolerant of others choices' and 'insensitive to a woman's rights'. In reality, what my friend is guilty of doing is being intolerant of murder and trying to save the lives of 27 men and women who were killed today. This should cause society to grieve.

But they do not.

They rejoice.

Today I heard an escort remark, "Yeah! We could just eat them! They are just protein after all!" in regards to an unborn child. Pray for the escorts. They need Christ.

Today we experienced a couple pregnant girls laughing and mocking us as we tried to tell them of the life inside of them and of our love for them because of Christ, as we plead with them not to kill their baby. Pray for these girls. They need Christ.

Today I saw a woman walking in, by herself, who looked broken. Desperate. And desiring of someone to love her and just talk with her. She looked my friend and I straight in the eyes the whole time we were talking to her as she was walking in. She took my friends pro-life literature. Pray for this woman. She needs Christ.

Today was one of those days that just makes you want Jesus to come back really bad.

But God is so merciful and loving; He is forbearing with men, because He desires that all people "be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." But soon, He will come to judge. And justice will be had. But, as Believers we can know that "Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love."

If You Will Only Let God Guide You

During service yesterday, we sang this hymn. I've never heard it before, but in about 10 minutes, it became one of my all-time favorites. Pastor Ryan said, "This is a hymn that Job could sing." True, true.

Read on and enjoy. Let the words sink in.

If You Will Only Let God Guide You

If you will only let God guide you,
And hope in Him through all your ways,
Whatever comes, He’ll stand beside you,
To bear you through the evil days;
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that cannot move.

Only be still, and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whatever the Father’s pleasure
And all discerning love have sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him Who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways,
But do your part in conscience true;
Trust His rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in you;
God hears the call of those in need,
The souls that trust in Him indeed.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/f/ifyouwil.htm

Morning and Evening - Spurgeon

January 25

Morning

“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us.”
- Isaiah 63:7

And canst thou not do this? Are there no mercies which thou hast experienced? What though thou art gloomy now, canst thou forget that blessed hour when Jesus met thee, and said, “Come unto me”? Canst thou not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped thy fetters, dashed thy chains to the earth, and said, “I came to break thy bonds and set thee free”? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of his mercy towards thee? What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which thou art suffering now, and did he not restore thee? Wert thou never poor before, and did he not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before, and did he not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience, and pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine infant- faith may float safely on the stream. Forget not what thy God has done for thee; turn over the book of thy remembrance, and consider the days of old. Canst thou not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with thee at Hermon? Hast thou never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Hast thou never been helped in time of need? Nay, I know thou hast. Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away. “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever of old.”

Perfection.

If He had faltered even once,
In flames of hell would men abide.
Then ponder Christ, and praise at length
The strength of Him there crucified.

Classes

Well, my first week of 'Spring 2010' is done.

Here's what it's looking like by the numbers:

-9 hours of actual counseling/observing/being counseled
-11 papers to write
-18 books to read (already have 1.8 finished)
-84 class periods

Oh snap.

I shouldn't have done that.
I wasn't feeling overwhelmed until about 20 seconds ago.
But I am thinking that this is shaping up to be the best semester yet. How in the world do they keep getting better?

Favorite quote from today by Dr. Kerns (Whom is one crazy cool man. He is a Trekkie just like me!): "Unfortunately, there is no class offered here at Boyce that helps you to stay a Christian while in Bible college. So I'm taking it upon myself to do so." -Before explaining our required once-a-day reading from Spurgeon's daily devo, Morning and Evening. I've always wanted to go through that devotional. How cool is it that it's required for a class?! Stinkin' awesome. ;)

Last semester, Tuesday was my killer day. I hit the ground running at 8AM for class, and didn't hit the sack at home until at least 11PM that night. This semester, that's what my Thursday will be. Class at 9AM, and then on campus all day until 5PM. Tutoring after that and then discussion/study group with care group girls at Quills until whenever-we-feel-like-ending. :)

Michigan

This past weekend, I made a trip up to the mitten state. It was quite the drive (6 1/2 hours) and a boring one at that (flat Indiana highway for the most part), but so worth the trip. :) Had a really wonderful time seeing friends that I hadn't seen in awhile. God has blessed me with such wonderful ones! Here are some photos from the trip.

All Things

“We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“All the afflictions, and all the temptations, and all the oppressions, and all the oppositions, and all the persecutions which befall a godly man, shall work for his good. Every cross, and every loss, and every disease which befall the holy man, shall work for his good. Every device, every snare, every deceit, every stratagem, and every enterprise of Satan against the holy man, shall work for his good. Every prosperity and every adversity; every storm and every calm; every bitter and every sweet; every cross and every comfort—shall work for the holy man’s good.

When God gives a mercy—that shall work for his good. When God takes away a mercy—that shall work for his good....

—Thomas Brooks

Spring Semester

So, these are my books for the upcoming semester. Or at least some of them. Still have about six more to get. Really looking forward to diving into these. I think this semester is going to be pure gold. :)

The lineup: Advanced Issues in Counseling 1, Counseling Skills Development 1, Hermeneutics, Worldview Analysis (Philosophy/Christian perspectives)

"...the gospel is for Christians just as much as it is for non-Christians..."

Every morning I receive an e-mail from a blog called, "Of First Importance". The whole point of this blog is to give a small encouragement or observation concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. So many times I have awoken in the morning, only to have a message to me in my in-box perfectly fitting for the trial or struggle that I am battling that day.

Here is this morning's message.

“From start to finish, the whole Christian life is by grace through faith. A new life in Christ commences with faith, continues by faith, and will be completed through faith. To put this another way, the Gospel is for Christians just as much as it is for non-Christians.

We never advance beyond the good news of the cross and the empty tomb… Therefore, the Christian always looks back to the Gospel and never to the law as the basis for his righteousness before God… There is no such thing as performance-based Christianity… Justification is a doctrine for the whole Christian life from start to finish. It is not simply a doctrine for coming to Christ in the first place… Justification is a doctrine to live by each and every moment.”

- Philip Ryken, Commentary on Galatians, p90-92

I love this: "We never advance beyond the good news of the cross and the empty tomb…" How true this is! What gives comfort in any trial, small or seemingly life-encompassing? It's Christ. His gospel. His sufficiency, His love, His grace. Everything. He is the reason we can have true joy and hope in everyday.

In one sense, this is just the tip of the iceberg; in another sense, it is the foundation of everything I as a Believer rest on.

A New Year, A New Endeavor

Hello friends and family.

This is my first post.
Exciting, eh?
Not very.
But, I'm going to attempt to keep this blog updated over the next few months. I often receive e-mails from many of you, and as you also know, I'm quite terrible at responding. So I figure this would be a great way to keep my friends and family up to date on what's going on. Facebook is good for some things, but not everyone has been converted yet. ;) Someday. (Hopefully not...)
Anyways, stay tuned y'all! (Yes. My vocabulary is slowly becoming Southernized.)

Amber