Healing

Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

I have heard people quote this verse many times and tell me that we are healed from all ailments and injuries. I have heard someone say that God healed us 2000 years ago when He died on that cross. I have seen people take that verse and and tell me that I am healed of scoliosis (curvature of the spine). That Isaiah 53:5 is a promise that God will heal sickness and disease.

But I think a lot of people miss the whole point of the verse. He was wounded because we sinned. We are healed from death, sin, and destruction. Our hearts are healed when He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. This healing is a lot more appealing to me.

Last year I spent a lot of time praying that God would straighten my spine. But He has chosen not to. I realized that my focus was off. I don't want to gain a straight spine yet lose much more. Instead of praying for my back I started to pray that God would change my heart. I asked God to heal my heart of all the hurt and sin. I found out that the more important thing was my soul and my relationship with Christ. I am only going to use this body for a few more decades, but I will have my soul for eternity. Christ is the only thing that matters.

My neck has been sore for the past couple of weeks. Sometimes it is quite painful and stiff. I know that God has created my body to heal itself and that He is helping me through the pain. But I would be willing to suffer this neck pain for the rest of my life if it would bring me closer to Christ.

My prayer is not that all sickness gets wiped from the face of this earth. My prayer is that all people might come to know Christ and experience His love. My prayer is that people would repent. My prayer is that people would forgive each other. My prayer is that my brothers and sisters in Christ would be free from sin. My prayer is that Christ's body would be united.

One thing that I have learned this year is that heartache is far worse than any pain that I have experienced.

May God bring healing to your heart, soul, and body.

I'm Done With Finals!

After a tough semester I'm finally done. It is amazing to see how God led me through this year so far. He deserves all the glory. I actually finished my classes this semester.

I have big plans for this summer. I just decided that I am going to call this the summer of worship. One of my goals is to read the Old Testament this summer. I don't want to waste this summer. I want to learn more about God and develop a deeper relationship with Him. I want to seek His will over some things in my life so I know that I will be praying this summer too!. I want my relationship with God to be based on Him and not on my church. What I mean by this is that I want to worship God this summer on my own. I want to develop a personal time spent with God only. I want to worship on the beach, in the park, walking the streets, and maybe up in the hills. I want to sing my own song and dance my own dance and pray my own prayer.

I ask that God will keep me from falling. Falling hurts.

I want to read Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.

I also want to spend time with my wonderful family. I want to spend time with my Daddy.

I have a few other goals that aren't as important like:

-Losing a few pounds of fat
-Gaining some more muscle
-Training kata (karate)
-Eating healthier than I have been
-Organizing my room

Most of the summer is going to be spent in the dojo. I'm looking forward to teaching and learning.

Do You Love Your Church More Than God?

I often get revelations during church service. One time I was thinking about how much my Daddy loves me. Even when I was bad and he spanked me as a child, he still loved me. He loves me despite knowing all my faults and failures. My Daddy loves me. Then I realized that if my Daddy (who is imperfect) could love me like that, then how much more my Heavenly Father (who is perfect) loves me. When I sin God is grieved but He still loves me. Maybe that is why He grieves so much. If you didn't love someone you wouldn't care about them or if they sinned or not.

Well last night during church this question came into my head. Do I love my church more than God? If I felt like my church was doing something irreverent would I leave? Or would I stay because I love the people. Do I love God more than the people? This is a easy question because I know the right one. I love God more. But this is a hard question because do I really love Him more?

The final question that I am asking myself is: Do I love God enough to leave my church? The answer is yes! A few months ago God had me surrendering my family to Him and I can definitely give my church up to Him. The only thing left to do is to pray. I need to pray that God will reveal His will to me and let me know what He wants me to do.

I can't believe that I am posting this...maybe so you can pray for me.

Zzyzx

I spent yesterday evening until after noon today at Zzyzx for a biology field trip. It was hot there. Really hot. The heat made some people really grumpy. Still others were upset that they had to go on this field trip. I enjoyed the field trip despite the hundred degree temperature. I found the desert to be a beautiful place full of life. I wondered why I found it enjoyable and so beautiful. Then I realized that I was in love with the Creator of the desert which made it beautiful in my eyes. It is my love for God that makes me appreciative for what He has made whether it be desert or ocean, puppy or bug, rocks or plants, cold or hot. I look at nature and say "wow my God is good!"

The Father's Song

This song makes me cry every time I sing it. It is so beautiful to know that God loves us so much. "The King of love has sent for me." Wow!

I have heard so many songs
Listened to a thousand tongues
But there is one
That sounds above them all

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart

Heaven's perfect melody
The Creator's symphony
You are singing over me
The Father's song
Heaven's perfect mystery
The king of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Father's song

I have heard so many songs
Listened to a thousand tongues
But there is one
That sounds above them all
[Sounds above them all]

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart

It's Heaven's perfect mystery
The king of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Father's song

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart
[It's written on my heart]

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart
It's written on my heart
You sing it over me
Father

"Go away and never come back!"

This year I have realized that it is so important to not let the devil get a foothold in your life. Too many people leave the doors of their heart wide open and the devil is able to wreak havoc in their lives. Once he gets his foot in the door it is hard to remove it.

This year I have purposed that I will remove the foot of the devil and then shut and bar the door. I encourage you to do the same. It is hard to give up habitual sins but God gives us the grace to do so. We must "spring clean" our hearts and ask God to remove anything that is unclean. God is holy and He has called us to be holy.

Once the devil's foothold is gone and the sin is gone from your life, you must guard your heart and close the door so he can't return.

Live a life set apart. Live a life of holiness. Live for Christ.

Those Who Hope in The Lord

This post is a follow up on My Hope Is In Christ Jesus.

My Daddy had his surgery last week. It went very well and he was recovering fast so they released him from the hospital on Saturday. My parents came straight home (the hospital was a three hour drive from home) and arrived in the early afternoon. I had arrived home on Friday and was happy that I could spend more time with my parents. We had a good Easter together with my younger brothers. We read through and talked about the book of Galatians and then had a wonderful dinner.

I've been a little more motivated to study. The end of the semester is in sight and so is the end of my formal learning. When I was home on spring break I decided not to go to chiropractic school. It was making me stress more and I wasn't even sure I wanted to be a chiropractor. Being home made me realize how wonderful it is to have a family and a home. It also made me realize how much I enjoy teaching karate. Karate is my passion. I could be a wonderful chiropractor but I could also do anything else that I set my mind to. This decision has taken a load off of me.

I've found new strength in God to resist the devil. I have been spending more time with God. Not formal sit down and read/pray time but informal walking around and talking time. I am happier spending more time dwelling on the goodness of God.

About all that stuff I can't talk about. I still can't talk about it. But I have brought it to God and given it up to Him. I have been calling on Him daily to help me through this time in my life. It is a hard time for me. But God is good.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

Daddy's Surgery

My Daddy had surgery today. He had a tumor on his pituitary gland which the surgeon removed this morning. The surgery went well and my Daddy is recovering quite nicely. Hopefully he will be released from the hospital on Saturday.

Old Fashioned

I describe myself as an old fashioned person. I sometimes find myself realizing that I am more old fashioned than I thought previously. A lot of people do not understand what this means so I'm going to make a list of my old fashioned beliefs.

1. I believe in God. I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow which means that the old testament is relevant today.

2. I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

3. I believe in saving sex for marriage and saving lots of other things for marriage also.

4. Dressing modestly is important. I think dressing modestly is another way to save more for my husband.

5. Purity is important. One of the greatest gifts that my mother gave me was sheltering me from evil things when I was a child.

6. Family is more important than anything else except for God.

7. Guys should do the pursuing in a relationship. They should be gentlemen and treat ladies with respect. I will not ask a guy out or ask him to marry me.

8. Women should act like ladies. No cussing or inappropriate talk. They should act decently and modestly. Women should honer their father and husband.

9. I think men should be the breadwinners and women the homemakers. This does not mean that I disagree with women getting jobs or men doing housework. But if a man is able to he should provide for his family.

10. Children should be conceived and born after marriage. It is wrong for single women to adopt. Children need both a mother and a father.

11. Women shouldn't ever fight in wars unless the war comes to them.

12. I think addressing people by title and last name is good. I look forward to going by Mrs._________ when I get married. I think children should address their elders as Mr. and Mrs./Ms.

There Is Hope

There is hope in every sunset
For it signals the end of the day
And all the pain in it

There is hope in every sunrise
For it signals the start of a new day
And a new beginning for me.

There is hope because He lives
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow
And I can face anything

There is hope because Jesus
Is coming soon to take away
All of the pain of this life

There is hope because Jesus
Will make all things new

There is always hope