This week as has been so long and I'm glad its over. Truthfully, I've been going through some deep stuff and I am glad that God has promised that he will always be there for us. Tonight, on this sabbath I am extremely grateful for what he as done in my life. I can't stop thinking about Haiti and other parts of the world where they NEED to hear some GOOD NEWS. They need some refuge, some peace, some REST. I'm reminded of Mark 4. This is where the Disciples are in terrible peril and Jesus is sleeping in the boat. Its funny, how even when we are close to the Master, we think that He is sleeping and doesn't care. Truth is, he knows, but won't budge till we call out His name. He's that serious about us YEARNING for him.
Lord thank you for your peace, patience, and your Deliverance.
Mark 4:35-41 (New International Version)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
### WHO DAT!??? ### :)
JW
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Father's Love
Today I received a letter from my Father that touched me so much I cried. And I'm still actually crying because my dad gave me the encouragement that I So needed for so long. Things for me have been so rough for so long I can't even explain how much I hurt inside. He sent me this card pictured below and when I read it, it was exactly what I needed. We actually fought on the phone yesterday and he didn't even mention he had sent the card and money. We were both hurt so I guess we didn't get to it. Today, when i received the card I was speechless and tears flowed from my eyes like they never have before in years. Word can't express how Grateful I am for my Father's love.
Thank you Dad. I love you. You have made things so much better. I so need to rest in somebody's arms. I'm so tired.
Jerrick
Thank you Dad. I love you. You have made things so much better. I so need to rest in somebody's arms. I'm so tired.
Jerrick
Being Honest
Today I wrote a pretty detailed letter to my parents. It seems that they want me to understand that I can talk to them. I already knew that I could talk to them, I just didn't. I wanted to keep things to myself and handle them my way. I'm interested how this will pan out. Its something new. Maybe this will be the beginning of a wonderful open dialogue between parent and child. Maybe they will be scared of how honest i am. Whatever happens, its time for a BRAND NEW DAY!
:)
God bless
:)
God bless
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Letter from a Friend
Morning,
Yesterday in Sabbath School we talked about taking the yoke of Christ upon us and how He will give us rest. I believe there's so much in that concept that we don't understand, but little by little the Lord is allowing us to garner a deeper knowledge from the Bible and through an experience with Him.
The passage talks about things reaching the world's standards, but I extend it to involving ourselves in ministry that seems right (you'll see what I mean below). Even service that is not ordained by God can be a burden and a galling yoke.
There's so much truth in these sentences I praise God for his love toward us to give us this additional wisdom through the Spirit of Prophecy. I also praise God that he does not want us to be under the stresses of the world and kill ourselves trying to reach for something that will pass away.
“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28, 29. GWV.
Your work is not to gather up burdens of your own. As you take the burdens that Christ would have you, then you can realize what burdens he carried. Let us study the Bible, and find out what kind of yoke he bore. He was a help to those around him. He says: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." You see there is a yoke to bear. Now this is the very faith that we want,--a faith that will grasp the promises of God, one that will take the yoke of Christ and bear the burdens that he would have us. We often think we are having a hard time in bearing burdens, and it is too often the case, because God has not made any provision for us to carry these burdens; but when we bear his yoke and carry his burdens, we can testify that the yoke of Christ is easy and his burdens are light, because he has made provision for these. But when you feel depressed and discouraged, do not give up the battle; you have a living Saviour that will help you, and you will have rest in him. You must not put your neck under the yoke of fashion, and yokes that God has never designed that you should bear. It is not our work to study how to meet the world's standard, but the great question with each one should be, How can I meet God's standard. Then it is that you will find rest to the soul; for Christ has said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
When you have a yoke that is galling to the neck, you may know it is not Christ's yoke; for he says his yoke is easy. What God wants of us is to be learning every day of our lives how to build our characters for time and for eternity. He does not want us to get into one channel and never turn out of that; to have fixed ideas, and hold them fast, whether they are right or wrong. He will place us amid trials and difficulties, and when we have learned to overcome obstacles in a right spirit, with high and holy purpose, he will give us another lesson. And if we have not the meekness of Christ to be constantly learning of Jesus in his school, then we must know that we have not the yoke of Christ. {RH, May 10, 1887 par. 14, 15}
Have a witness-filled week.
Stephen
Yesterday in Sabbath School we talked about taking the yoke of Christ upon us and how He will give us rest. I believe there's so much in that concept that we don't understand, but little by little the Lord is allowing us to garner a deeper knowledge from the Bible and through an experience with Him.
The passage talks about things reaching the world's standards, but I extend it to involving ourselves in ministry that seems right (you'll see what I mean below). Even service that is not ordained by God can be a burden and a galling yoke.
There's so much truth in these sentences I praise God for his love toward us to give us this additional wisdom through the Spirit of Prophecy. I also praise God that he does not want us to be under the stresses of the world and kill ourselves trying to reach for something that will pass away.
“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28, 29. GWV.
Your work is not to gather up burdens of your own. As you take the burdens that Christ would have you, then you can realize what burdens he carried. Let us study the Bible, and find out what kind of yoke he bore. He was a help to those around him. He says: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." You see there is a yoke to bear. Now this is the very faith that we want,--a faith that will grasp the promises of God, one that will take the yoke of Christ and bear the burdens that he would have us. We often think we are having a hard time in bearing burdens, and it is too often the case, because God has not made any provision for us to carry these burdens; but when we bear his yoke and carry his burdens, we can testify that the yoke of Christ is easy and his burdens are light, because he has made provision for these. But when you feel depressed and discouraged, do not give up the battle; you have a living Saviour that will help you, and you will have rest in him. You must not put your neck under the yoke of fashion, and yokes that God has never designed that you should bear. It is not our work to study how to meet the world's standard, but the great question with each one should be, How can I meet God's standard. Then it is that you will find rest to the soul; for Christ has said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
When you have a yoke that is galling to the neck, you may know it is not Christ's yoke; for he says his yoke is easy. What God wants of us is to be learning every day of our lives how to build our characters for time and for eternity. He does not want us to get into one channel and never turn out of that; to have fixed ideas, and hold them fast, whether they are right or wrong. He will place us amid trials and difficulties, and when we have learned to overcome obstacles in a right spirit, with high and holy purpose, he will give us another lesson. And if we have not the meekness of Christ to be constantly learning of Jesus in his school, then we must know that we have not the yoke of Christ. {RH, May 10, 1887 par. 14, 15}
Have a witness-filled week.
Stephen
