Pages

Saturday, January 30, 2010

JOHN 15:1-4

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit
[that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away);
and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch
that continues to bear fruit, to make it
bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the
word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me,
and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear
fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to)
the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

HOPE for Hope.


This is Hope. She came into this world fighting a fight she didn’t chose. Born with HIV AIDS in remote Ethiopia, Hope wasn’t cared for the way she needed to be; that’s when God moved in the hearts of a loving family, in hopes that they could adopt. Their hopes came true and Hope was adopted. Now she is able to get the medicine and upbringing needed to live as normal and healthy of a life as she can.

I met Hope two summers ago while ministering at Camp Barnabas. As ignorant as it sounds, I was a tad apprehensive the day I found out that I would be working with a child with HIV AIDS. Growing up unfamiliar with the disease and only exposed to the media’s hyped up awareness, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I couldn’t “catch it” or anything, but for some reason I still felt hesitant to work with a child with this disease.

The day came after all of the training and prepping when the campers made it to camp and I finally got to meet Hope. From the moment Hope walked into the cabin, there was something radiant about this 8-year-old girl. From the get-go all she seemed to know how to do was bring a smile to everyone’s face, forgetting she was even sick.

This radiance about her was HOPE. You could tell that Hope had HOPE. Though she was sick, the HOPE she had made her even her forget–for a moment–that she was sick. For one week, Hope showed me what HOPE looks like.

HOPE is… taking your (what seems endless) medicine without complaining.
HOPE is… smiling & laughing.
HOPE is… living life to our fullest potential & receiving Jesus’ LOVE & MERCY.
HOPE is… real & lasts.

Hope has HOPE… in spite of her earthly circumstance. Do you find true HOPE in the midst of your trials and pain? Do you see HOPE in your daily life? Hope has HOPE in her life; I hope you do to.

Monday, January 11, 2010

You make all things work together for my good.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
::romans 8:28


new horizons + beginnings + different people&places + fresh perspective.

2010has already proven to be eventful...and it's still January!

Story-time. Two weeks ago my sister and I reached the point and it was confirmed that "it was time"...time to move out! Not that we don't LOVE our family, we just NEED to move out, move on. With a quick few email back and forth between some friends of ours from church and meeting with a landlord, we're moving [at the beginning of Feb] into an apartment in a downtown area which we love! GOD IS SO GOOD to us. Right now everything is just working out! For now anyway....still trying to do life one moment&step at a time.