GodMoment247's Xanga

Never Ever

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:17:29 GMT

Never thought I'd be talking to my best friends over IM because that was the best we could do

Never thought I'd live so far from family so soon

Never thought I'd actually make it to apply to Med School

Never thought I'd be the first Vince in at least 3 generations to get a college degree [never thought 4.0 could be so unattainable]

Never thought I'd be allowed to help lead a Christian movement on a state campus

Never thought I'd find a mission field I loved so much stateside

Never thought I'd turn around and lead the youth group that I loved so much

Never thought I'd be led and discipled by such a godly woman

Never thought I'd give up all forms of deep bonds to live within safe walls

Never thought I'd be here

Never thought I'd miss everyone so much and never find any relationships quite like the ones I've been blessed with all my life

To all my friends and family - I love you!

Turn On The Light

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:14:30 GMT

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Eph 5:13-14a But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.

Some time ago it was noted among the Crusade movement women at Wright State that there was an air of shallowness among relationships. When I was talking with one of my friends about why we realized that the women are very guarded and intimidated by the thought of sharing their true selves, especially their struggles, with other women in the movement. We chalked it up to a lack of a sense of acceptance, of which I have found myself to be a perpetrator. What does the acceptance of Christ look like? It is full of grace, but also truth. I find that a lot of churches have no sense of the acceptance of Christ and probably, like me, mean well but cannot find or understand the balance of grace and truth in God's love. But when you come across Christ-like acceptance, even just coming to terms with the unconditional acceptance we have in Christ can change your whole perspective and how you relate.

Acceptance is only one side of the problem. The other side in genuineness and vulnerability. One of the leaders told me, it takes one person to lead that kind of depth, one person to open up and lead the way for others to do the same. That is so much easier said than done! For one thing, even "openning up" and sharing a struggle can be done in a guarded manner (I think I may have perfected that tecnique, just as many Christians have) if it is not done in the right motives. God has been teaching me a lot about that lately. He's been teaching me the value of being vulnerable and weak. It's not just so people can relate or feel like they're not alone in a struggle, its much more than that. I've learned how to guard my weaknesses because I'm so afraid that someone will see that I'm not strong like they think - that I'm not this amazing leader like they expect me to be. It is definitely not for my gain that I would open up, and it is not just to show God that I would step out in my deepest fear in obedience to Him. No, God has been teaching me about much better reason - much more hopeful for me, much more encouraging for others, much more pleasing to Him. It is for God's glory and His name - the revealing of His character - that I should reveal my weakness (Micah 7:9). If He can be shown for who He is through my failings, then why wouldn't I let them show? (It's not directly in my failings, but in His dealing with my failings really.) If God can receive glory, though I am shamed, then turn on the light (Eph 3:13-14). (And yet, in Christ, where is the shame? - Rom 5:1-5)

I heard this song and I thought it was really a good description of what I was learning about Eph 5:13-14.

Martyrs and Thieves

Jennifer Knapp

There’s a place in the darkness that I used to cling to

That presses harsh hope against time

In the absence of martyrs there’s a presence of thieves

Who only want to rob you blind.

They steal away any sense of peace

Though I’m a king, I’m a king on my knees

And I know they are wrong when they say I am strong

As the darkness covers me.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory

I am not afraid

To bear all my weakness

Knowing in meekness I have a kingdom to gain

Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light

I am not afraid

To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life

There are ghosts in my past who’ve owned more of my soul

Than I thought I had given away

They linger in closets and under my bed

And in pictures less proudly displayed

A great fool in my life I have been,

Have squandered ‘til pallid and thin,

Hung my head in shame, and refused to take blame

From the darkness I know I’ve let win.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory

I am not afraid

To bear all my weakness

Knowing in meekness I have a kingdom to gain

Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light

I am not afraid

To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life

I’ve never been much for the bearing of soul

In the presence of any man

I’d rather keep to myself all safe and secure

In the arms of a sinner I am

Could it be that my worth should depend

By the crimson-stained grace on a hand?

And like a lamp on a hill, Lord, I pray in Your will

To reveal all of You that I can.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory

I am not afraid

To bear all my weakness

Knowing in meekness I have a kingdom to gain

Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light

I am not afraid

To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 02:31:35 GMT

1. One book that changed your life:
(or had a big impact on me in recent years)
Gold Chord (Amy Carmichael)

2. One book you've read more than once:
Like Gold Refined (Janette Oke) (sadly I haven't reread a book since perhaps 9th grade)

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
I'd have to agree with the Bible idea - it'd never get old

4. One book that made you laugh:
Knowing God (J. I. Packer) no joke 'cause he just made some comments that were just like "he did not just say that :) not to say anything about the seriousness or depth of the book 'cause it is quite good

5. One book that made you cry:
A Chance to Die (Elisabeth Elliot)

6. One book that you wish had been written:
The Autobiography of several missionaries (what were they actually thinking during thier lives?)

7. One book you wish had never been written:
I'm not good at this game

8. One book you're currently reading:
just one of them? Shadow of the Almighty (Elisabeth Elliot)

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
The Master Plan of Evangelism (Robert E. Coleman)

10. Now tag five people:

Gwen R.
BAT
Danielle
David
Sofia

Coming and Going

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:00:55 GMT

I feel like commenting on the comings and goings of loved ones. Sadly my newfound friend Natasha (who I just had the overwhelming urge to call Grace) has moved on to the next spot: Boyce College in Louisville (btw does anyone know a good reformed church down there?) I was growing very attached to her! She just had an amazing heart and such a humble spirit about her. She's one of those people who you go away from and you just want to love Jesus more. I'm not the only one who misses her. All the girls in the youth group are probably missing her right now 'cause she went out of her way to teach and love them.

And who has come?? Wouldn't you all like to know :) Just kidding BRITTANY IS HOME!!! She has been in Mexico growing like crazy and telling people about Jesus for the last two months. ...talk about people who make you want to love Jesus more... yeah that is gurl. I feel like she has very much outrun me this summer, but it is so encouraging! I'm hoping not to hold her back too much now that she's so far ahead.

Oh yeah and a glad going. I mean, very glad for her, a lil sad for me. Miss Abbie Jelley has become Mrs. Gabe Gibbitz. Words cannot even describe, but it has finally happened!!

And that is the summary of comings and goings in my life.

(ok I've only read the preface or intro or some beginning part of the book, but I'm on it!)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:18:48 GMT

ok here's an updated pic of aaron... I didn't get many of him, but he's a good lookin lil kid, isn't he? :) (I suppose you should see all my cousins, my family is pretty good-lookin :) )

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:37:23 GMT

So I've been meaning to post some form of update, and perhaps this will get edited later when I'm more into posting something :)

Let me tell you about grace. God's grace is evident in the ways He takes care of me, even when I'm afraid or forget that He will. Grace is a Holy God saving an unworthy me. Grace is the Gospel! And grace is the little thing and the every day things that God uses to draw us closer to Him. Grace is the amazing people God has put in my life to encourage me and inspire me and make me want to love my Savior so much more. Let me highlight a couple of those people...

Misz B. Thorn-MOO :) Her heart for the Gospel has encouraged me so much lately and her refusal to settle for that "a-little-better-than-just-getting-by" faith that seems so prevalent, especially in my own life. I see what God is doing in her and I am reminded that I serve an extravagant God! What really touched my life recently was when I was just coming back to the awe of saving grace and she sparked this exciting conversation about how awesome the Gospel is and how amazing God's love and grace are (I'll bet she doesn't even remember that because conversation llike that is just part of her lifestyle). And I don't really know what else to say, its just what God is doing in her life, its just how she doesn't settle, its just how she still gets so excited and I love it! and I love you BAT!!!

Then there's Abbie. I wish I had more friends like her, but I think its really just God's grace that He's let us grow together and that is what has really made the difference in our friendship. I love her heart... I love the woman God is making her. Somehow among all my friends she is one of so very very few with whom I have no fear of being completely me (faults, mistakes, victories, strengths and all). I may dread and hate disappointing her at times, but in her I see the love of God and God has shown me His love through her on many, many occasions ~ times when I couldn't grasp that God would still love me, but Abbie did and it made God's faithful love more real to me. And she is still there encouraging me, even when I can't believe myself, she still listens and loves. That's how my God loves me and so so much more. wow...

Then there's my family. How'd I get such an amazing family? My parents, my brother, my grandparents, my cousins, aunts, uncles - people who love Jesus, people full of godly wisdom and people who take good care of me. I've had a lot of people tell me "your grandparents sound so awesome" (or cute) or "your mom is so great" etc etc etc and I know its true. God perfectly planned out and orchistrated everything and chose the things that would be a part of each of our lives so that we would reach out for Him (Acts 17). Amazing grace... amazing!

I could write so much more, but I've got homework to do! :) so leave me some love or leave a testamony about God's grace in your life... that'd be pretty sweet to have a lil collection here of comments testifying to God's grace!

Oh yeah, so as promised, updated pics :) I'll have to get Aaron up here as soon as I have one of him. So here is Caleb, Amy (his mom) and I at our 4th of July fam reun. He's gotten big! but he's still such a friendly entertainer! Then the second is me and my fav brother :) Doesn't he look good in that suit?

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 22:47:16 GMT

Fundamentalist

86%

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

79%

Reformed Evangelical

71%

Neo orthodox

57%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

50%

Emergent/Postmodern

50%

Classical Liberal

25%

Roman Catholic

18%

Modern Liberal

11%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

I'm sure you're all disappointed that I didn't come out closer to reformed hehe... um... what does fundamentalist mean anyway? (The results may be skewed because I don't know what they meant by some of their questions, but you try it hehe)

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 16:34:29 GMT

I wish you could add like fav websites to the side or something fun like that, but since you can't, here are a couple blogspots of cool people :)

http://caldronpool.blogspot.com/ -my cuzn

http://robinsong432.blogspot.com- one of my fav people ever

http://brittanyenye.blogspot.com/ - way cool woman of God

http://www.imperishableinheritance.com/ - a man of deapth w/great knowledge and understanding of theology

http://lsheffy.blogspot.com/ (do I even have words to describe him? hehe)

ok I'm done, if you feel left out 'cause you're not on my xanga list and I didn't put u here, tough! I mean... hehe let me know :)

Monday, March 27, 2006

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 02:11:41 GMT

Ok, as promised... the story :)

This story starts I don't really know when, but I'll pick it up sometime last fall. God was pursuing a girl. It seems to me that not very many people saw or understood how amazingly valuable this girl was, but God did. God put a huge price on her life. Someone invited her to Real Life (weekly outreach of Capus Crusade for Christ) and, oddly enough, she came. It wasn't too bad so she actually returned for another week or more. She even decided to go to Fall Retreat with Crusade (a bold act) and highly enjoyed it. It was there that God's calling was heard. You'd have to ask her for better specifics, but she finally yielded to God's pursuit that first weekend in October. This is where I met Brandi. She was bubbly and fun and it seemed like everyone enjoyed her. A couple of weeks later people actually found out what God has done in her life and her contact info fell on me! I have no clue what posessed this girl to so eagerly meet with me in those last couple weeks of fall quarter, but it was hugely encouraging! God's light was all over her. I had no clue at the time what her life had been like before she gave it to Christ, but God's changing work was very evident in her life - she oozed (and still often does) Jesus. We decided to keep this up- meet regularly - talk about the Bible, learn together - you know all the good stuff :).

Around this time God's pursuit of another girl totally unrelated was coming to a head. He was relentless. This girl had been given opportunity after opportunity. Had also been in some of this world's most hopeless and hurtful situations. Prompted by both God and man, I began to pursue her as well. At this point I was sure I was gonna go crazy for winter quarter - with 12 credit hours of 400 level courses plus a couple extra to bring me up to a grand total of 18 hours, already meeting with 2 girls having ministry responsibility all over the board, I comitted to her as prompted. I was almost surprised she agreed to the relationship as well! Before we had anything worked out, God did, though. He knew exactly what was gonna work out. The first week back at school I surprisingly ran into April on my campus (this is unique because I'm in college, girl is in high school) it just so happened that she would be on campus several days a week with her mom and also needed a ride to church (fabulously worked out - God knew what He was doing). We started to meet and it became clear that April doubted that God did/could have power in her life. We talked about her fear of surrendering to God.

One day, by God's devine hand (much sooner than any of the 3 of us could plan) Brandi and April met. April instantly loved Brandi. (Hooray) but they only had about 5 min before we had to rush off. We soon found out that that same day, church had been canceled due to snow. I talked to the pastor - he didn't want to do it, but the decision was made above him. (know one really knew yet just how high above him that decision was made).

There was a slight dilemma here, however, because I still had April and she still wanted to go to church. (God was calling us to church) We chose Apex spur of the moment. It might seem that it was a bad idea when we got there and they announced that there wouldn't be a message, just a Q&A time about their house churches, but God speaks in more ways than we know! During worship, the Pastor ushered us in by having everyone imagine the image of coming before God alone - nothing but person and God. April willingly stepped into God's presence and imediately saw what God had been speaking to her. This scared her - she was not ready for Him or heaven - He gave up everything for her and she could not give up the things she had a death grip on. Several people prayed for April. She went up for "Center Aisle" (where everyone prays for the people in the middle). After worship, we went out and talked about what she was scared of. We read her Scriptures and asked her questions. We prayed for her and finally we asked for her response. She wasn't ready still - still unsure and resistent to the Spirit. I told her how Brandi had been through some of the stuff that she had so, God brought them together again. - Aprils final response: "I want to talk to Brandi." So we caught brandi just before she was going to leave and Brandi and April talked for a chunk of time while we enlisted as many as we could to pray. Brandi told her the amazing things God had done in her life and how powerful He was to redeem. 45 min later God got her - April gave her life to Jesus!

And this is the story of the pursuit of 2 girls by Almighty God. (later part two?)

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 04:28:29 GMT

i promise its coming!