Long Overdue Up-date

How do I describe life over the past two months? It's hard to find words that are good enough! I graduated from Ellerslie Advanced, along with these wonderful people.



(Photos by the lovely and wonderful Lauren Torres.)

My parents came to visit me in Colorado.

It snowed.

I saw lots of dear friends at our first-ever Ellerslie Alumni Reunion.

I celebrated several friends' weddings.

I acquired my first-ever official Colorado roommate... who happens to be a transplant from Alabama.

There's a lot of "y'all" and "yonder" and sweet taters hangin' 'round room 122!

I saw many, many prayers answered.

I fell very deep in love with four kiddos named Hudson, Harper Grace, Dubber-Doo, and Avy Rose.

I've learned more about my God who has broken the power of evil sin and opened my eyes to the realities of His kingdom. (For example: Has anyone else consistently felt like punching someone when you first wake up in the morning? I felt that way for a very long time. Today I had a revelation- I realized that I now have joy in the morning! Folks, that is straight from Jesus Christ Himself. Can I get an "AMEN"?)
And now? What am I doing with my life, you ask? Well, try not to laugh too hard (though I will allow a hearty giggle or two)... I'm going to be a teacher.

Yes, that's right- a teacher. Ellerslie is starting a sort-of school, and I'm an instructor in the start-up pilot program. Believe me, I thought it was a bit crazy when Eric and Leslie first asked me to join the team. Before Ellerslie Advanced, I hadn't even baby-sat in at least 10 years. I never would have thought I'd be a good teacher. In fact, I probably would have told you I'd be a terrible one!

Isn't it amazing how the Lord calls us and equips us based on His wisdom and plans, and not on our own? While considering this position, I freshly remembered that my life is not my own. I am a handmaiden, a servant, a bond-slave to the Most High God. Should I look at my ideas, my plans, my strengths, and my talents? Of course not! So, even though it's not at all what I would have expected, I accepted the position with SO MUCH JOY! I am truly ecstatic to be working here in this way. I don't think I've ever had so much peace in my whole life... though it's still hard to imagine myself as an elementary school teacher! : )

There are many more details that go with this adventure story, but it would take too much time and space to explain them here. It's not exactly a school I'll be working in, at least not in the technical sense of the word- more like a homeschool co-op. That's why I don't need to be specifically certified. It's also not open to the public, since it's only a pilot program. We'll be working with children from about 4 families, ages 3-16. I'm in training right now, and our first day is on Monday! You should really take a minute to visit these links and see some of the precious children I'll be working with.

The first is an incredible family of a single mom with seven adopted kids who will be in our program. She also has several more adopted children who live in Haiti, but will very soon obtain all the paperwork to come and live here! Heather's life is a bit complex to explain, so perhaps I'll let her blog speak for her. You might want to read from the beginning (it's not that long) and BE SURE to watch "Annelysia's YouTube" videos, on the right side of the blog. : )

The second is the Ludy family, whose four kids I mentioned above. The pictures here are about 2 years old, but they are still just as precious today as they were then! The other two families just have one child each in our program- a little boy adopted from Haiti, who is coming home next week, and a little girl who is Finnish-Australian with the most adorable 4-year-old accent on the planet, I'm sure.

Alright, now that you know what's going on here in this little corner of the universe, I'll leave you to your own wonderful, exciting life in Christ. As for me, I'm going to read some more of 2 Kings. (Raise your hand if you love Elisha and how he is a shadow of Jesus Christ!)

Goodnight, my friends!

(Ps- I did officially move my blog to Wordpress, but I thought I'd post here too this time. See the link in the post below this one.)

I'M MOVING!

I am moving my blog to wordpress. (Ok, I'm not actually moving anything. I'm just going to stop writing here and start writing there.)

So, go to www.suchamayzinglove.wordpress.com and read today's post! See ya there!

Sunday Means Sermons!

I actually promised this sermon to you a while ago, when I was writing about 1 Corinthians. The Scripture that it focuses on comes from that book- 1 Corinthians 1:27,
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

I've been thinking about this idea for a few days, weeks, months... I'm not really sure how long. It is such an incredible thing. God uses foolish, weak things. God uses foolish, weak things. Isn't that so true?

I've been reading a wonderful book written by my blogging sister Katie D. If you haven't read her blog or her new book (Kisses from Katie), then you're missing out. One part that I recently read has helped me understand this idea of God using the things that seem foolish and weak. Katie points out that all throughout Scripture, God called men to do things that seemed idiotic. Think about it:
-Abraham sacrificed the son that was supposed to be the father of all nations, including the Savior.
-Noah built an ark when no one knew what rain was.
-David, an insignificant little boy, ran to fight Goliath.
-Daniel actually defied a king who had the power to kill him.
-Mary carried a baby that pretty much only she knew wasn't illegitimate, but was the Savior.
-Paul actually asked the Romans to send him to Caesar, as a prisoner, when he could have just stayed behind and been released.
-Joshua told the Israelites to defeat Jericho by walking around it and then yelling really loudly.
-Ruth determined to move away from everything that was safe, away from her family and home, and into an unknown life.
-Mary of Bethany poured out her whole life's savings onto the feet of Jesus.

I can just hear the whole world groaning at these folks, saying, "Come on, guys! Really? That doesn't even make sense." I can hear the sweet old ladies and the loving parents and the loyal best friends all saying the same thing. But isn't it great to know that God uses the foolish things?
He uses weak things, in order to show Himself strong. He is a pretty bold God. He doesn't need my strength. He doesn't even want my strength. Instead, He uses my weakness.

I can only imagine what Jackie Pullinger's parents thought when she told them that God had ordered her not to go to college. What do you think her pastor advised her when she, at age 20, said she needed to get on a ship that was sailing around the world, and that she was supposed to wait for God to tell her when to get off? Imagine what her best friends advised. Hmmm. I don't know those details. Perhaps they encouraged her, perhaps they tried to stop her. I'm not sure. I do know that she obeyed the Lord, did something "foolish," and ended up living a difficult, completely unusual, and unbelievably joy-filled life.

You can read Ms. Pullinger's story in her book called Chasing the Dragon, and you can listen to her testimony at www.sermonindex.net. She has spent her adult life in Hong Kong, working with the destitute, the hopeless, the drug-addicted, the criminal, and the outcast people there. Does that sound like anyone else's life? How about Jesus? Didn't Jesus make Himself weak on our behalf? Hasn't He called us to be like Himself?

Here is the link to a great sermon, by a sweet, strong sister, Jackie Pullinger. Enjoy!

God Uses Foolish Things

“Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

This morning, the first nine chapters of 1 Corinthians have been sharper than a sword. In these nine chapters, I have been doused with cold water. It is a wake-up call. What am I doing here? Why am I on Earth? Why am I in this house, in this city, in this job, in this church? To preach the gospel.

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath God not made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence."

Why have I been entrusted with the mysteries of God? For some reason, it pleased God to save me. Because of this, I am made a steward of the most precious thing in the universe- the gospel of Christ. I must be found faithful!

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Oh, I am so convicted of my laziness, of my playing around, of my excuses.

I have been so unwilling to be seen as foolish. There has been so much filthy pride in me. Yes, I can talk about the gospel in church until my face is absolutely flushed with passion and excitement. I can type freely here on my little blog, knowing that it's a fairly safe place. And I can even claim to know Christ in public, to people whom I don't know as well. But to proclaim the gospel, to speak of the truth with such boldness that I care not how I appear to them? Well, that's not something I've been doing. I want people to think I'm wise. I want them to be proud to know me. I want to gain their approval and their friendship and their trust. And all the time, they are headed straight to death.

Oh, the wisdom of the world is foolishness! When will I see that? When will I live in that truth?

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And then again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours."

Paul did not care how he appeared to the world. He didn't care if he was rejected or despised. He only cared about this one thing- to please the Father!

'But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you…"

When I hear him pleading with the Corinthians to break out of their ease and comfort and to follow in his footsteps of suffering, I know he is pleading with me.

"Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we might also reign with you."

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labor, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we intreat; we are made as filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."

Those apostles did not give up. They didn't just talk to a person about Christ once and then let it when they didn't receive the message. They were relentless about saving the dying. They saw things as they really were.

I can't talk about these things without mentioning the power of the God who has commissioned me and who goes before me. He has promised that through the foolishness of my preaching, some shall be saved. So why do I give up on the preaching when that promised hasn't been fulfilled?! He has also promised to give me incredible power- the power of Himself in me.

"And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power."

I'm ready to change. I'm scared that I can't do it. But of course I can't! Greater is He that is in me. I go to work in two hours. Oh, please, may I be a minister of the gospel, the glorious gospel!

Also, I read this wonderful message this morning. I found it on NRJ's blog; it's by Catherine Booth. If you are feeling the ache from complacency like I am, read it and let a little fire into your soul: Aggressive Christianity.

Sunday Means Sermons!

Have you ever had one of those days when you are just so ready for Jesus to come back? Or for you to go be with Him? Today is one of those days when I really know what Paul meant when he said "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." To die is gain. That's a huge understatement.

Ok, that was just a sort of by-the-way comment. Here's what I'm really writing about- a sermon! Aren't you excited? (Probably not as excited as I am. Did you listen to any of the other ones? Hmmm. You better get on that.)

Last night, I met a new friend, and I had the opportunity to tell her about the wonderful story of an amazing couple. I had never heard of them until about a year ago, but their story has greatly impacted me.

Richard Wurmbrand was a pastor in Romania when the Communists overtook the country after World War II. The new government made life very difficult for this pastor and his wife, Sabina, and their young son. One day, Richard and Sabina were at a large meeting called for all clergymen, and during the meeting, the Communist officials forced each man to stand on stage one by one to verbally deny the existence of God and declare their loyalties to the government. As pastor after pastor publically denied the Lord, Richard and Sabina sat waiting for him to be called. Sabina turned to Richard and asked him, "Will you wipe the spit off the Lord Jesus' face?" Richard replied that if he refused to give in, then he would be imprisoned or killed. Sabina's reply to her husband? Gently, but firmly, she told him, "I would rather be married to a dead man than to a coward."

With that kind of support from his wife, Richard stood up and gave a great and powerful testimony of His God. He and Sabina were both imprisoned, leaving their 5-year-old son on his own. Richard then endured fourteen years of solitary confinement. Fourteen years. And that was not his only prison term.

What I've told are only the highlights from the beginning of their story. I read about it in Sabina Wurmbrand's book The Pastor's Wife. I would love to read Richard's book called Tortured for Christ, which, as I understand, is a collection of sermons he wrote in his head while in prison. Theirs is an absolutely incredible story of a family that was entirely committed to Christ, of people who knew that nothing in this world is worth more than the glory and the pleasure of our holy God. They lived that, and they have been richly rewarded by our King.

So, here is today's sermon, in which Richard Wurmbrand tells the story what happened between him and his Lord while he was in solitary confinement. It's a short one, compared to most that I listen to, but it stands alone as a treasure.

The Beauty of Nothing, by Richard Wurmbrand.

I've been reading in Hebrews this week, and one phrase in chapter 11 sticks out strongly. In my Bible, this phrase is actually in parentheses, as if it was just an afterthought, but to me, it is breath-taking. Here are the verses leading up to it, Hebrews 11:35-38, speaking of the heroes of the faith:

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they may obtain a better resurrection:

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy).

Of whom THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY.

Oh, the world was surely not worthy of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. How about me? You?

Love to you all.

No Longer "Pink"

"Of Pink Ribbons and a Bloody Cross."

http://www.ellerslie.com/Eric_Ludy_Sermons/Entries/2010/10/10_Of_Pink_Ribbons_%26_a_Bloody_Cross.html

This is a sermon preached by Eric Ludy last October, about a year ago. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month- and who would ever let us forget it?

I listened to this sermon with my heart pounding. I was shocked.

This sermon is not for the faint-of-heart.

It's also not for the Christian who wants to find a way to justify himself.

It is a sermon that shines a bright, piercing, blinding light of REALITY on a major issue in our Christian culture today. I can almost guarantee that if you haven't heard this sermon yet, you are probably caught up on the anti-Christian side of this battle without even realizing it. I know I was. (Paris Reidhead's "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" also addresses this same issue.) That's a bold statement for me to make, and I may be treading on thin ice here. It was just as "offensive" when I heard it. However, everything goes back to Scripture- is IT your guiding light, the end-all be-all, the final word on every issue in life? If you are a Christian, then the answer should be yes. And I cannot argue that Scripture does not support what is preached in this sermon. It does. And praise the Lord that it does, for it frees us from all our vain efforts and self-strivings. We lean upon HIM. HE is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, our Shelter. He is the Lord; there is none other who is able to save. AMEN!

Finally, before you listen, ask yourself this question: Are you a humanitarian? At least, do you try to be a good humanitarian? Most would answer, yes, of course!

Well, consider this definition from www.dictionary.com:
Humanitarianism:
1) the doctrine that humanity's obligations are concerned wholly with the welfare of the human race,
2) the doctrine that humankind may become perfect without divine aid.

I, friends, am most definitely NOT a humanitarian.

Please, listen to this sermon.

Sunday Means Sermons!

So, before I get started here, I think I ought to mention that my computer is making a fairly disturbing noise right now, as if it might blast off or blow up or something equally horrendous at any moment. Yep.

Carrying on...

I've been restraining myself all week from bombarding you with sermons, in the hopes that you might actually listen to the one I already introduced you to. I don't want to overwhelm you. But now it's Sunday again, and it's time!

Since probably many of you have already heard A Friday Night in the Promised Land, I've chosen one this week that you may not have heard yet. Well, that's not at all the primary reason why I've chosen it, but maybe it's a bonus. There are several sermons that I've been considering for this week, but I just keep coming back to this one. This is one that I should probably listen to at least once a week for the rest of my life. It deals with a truth that is so very obvious and basic that it's easy to sort of dismiss it sometimes. Well, this is true for me, although certainly many Christians have the opposite problem- they tend to sit right here on the fact of this title and never move any further.
As for me, I like the challenging sermons, the ones that cut me, that push me, that are perhaps shocking to my sense of comfort. I like sermons about martyrdom, white-knuckle faith, and counter-culture Christianity. I want sermons that make me squirm a little and dig deeper into discovering the radically holy nature of God. This is what leads to freedom. It's a breath of fresh air to realize both who God really is (which is NOT like us) and what He calls us to do (deny ourselves and live solely for Him). So, when I first saw this sermon, it was sort of strange that I was drawn to it. It seems too mushy for me. However, I was drawn to it, and I gave it a listen. I was not disappointed!

Ok, I hope you are curious now. : )

This sermon was preached by one of my new favorite preachers, Paul Washer. If you do a search of his top sermons, you'll see titles like "Shocking Youth," "Examine Yourself: A Sermon That Has Angered Many," "10 Indictments Against the Modern Church," and other such titles. (Does that make you excited? It makes me actually kind of giddy. I crave bold TRUTH.) Paul Washer is definitely NOT out to tear anyone down. He's not aiming to hurt. His manner is actually fairly gentle, but he does not compromise on the truth of Scripture. Why? Because, as I said last week, Christ says you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free! There is no other way to actual freedom except through the bold truth of the Word of God.

So, when I listen to Paul Washer, I hear a gentleness in his voice when he addresses the church of Jesus Christ, the true bride of the Holy Bridegroom. I hear a tenderness and patience towards sinners. However, I also hear a fierce growl against sin and against compromise- against wolves in sheep's clothing. Perhaps that is why some of his sermons have "shocked" or "angered many."

I've listened to many of his sermons, but this one stands a bit apart from the rest. It is preached solely to true Christians, to those who desire to please God above all else. It is encouraging and energizing, comforting and filling. But it is also convicting. It seems like only a man like Paul Washer could preach a sermon with this title and still manage to leave me challenged and unsatisfied with the level of how well I know Christ. So, as you listen, may you be refreshed and encouraged and also pressed on to know Him more.

Give it a listen, and then let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you.

Here it is:

Paul Washer- You Are Dearly Loved By God
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=62706235611

Happy listening, and happy Sunday!