Filed under: Uncategorized — beyondtheoutside @ 8:30 AM
14Since then we have(Q) a great high priest(R) who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,(S) let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest(T) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been(U) tempted as we are,(V) yet without sin. 16(W) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This is the passage one of my pastors preached on this past Sunday. Good message, good application. After thinking about this and discussing it with my small group, I discovered what God was teaching me through this message. It’s simple, really. 1) Jesus died rather than giving into temptation. That motivates me so much more to fight sin. I wont even fight sin to the point of dying to myself. I wont fight sin past when it gets hard or I get tired of it. Jsus, Jesus fought that temptation, even to the point of death! That is so inspiring and motivating. 2) Because Jesus didn’t give into temptation, but was tempted in every way, what does that mean to me? How does that keep my from sinning? How does that motivate me, that truth? Well, what wouldn’t leave my mind is how, because Jesus was tempted, He knows what we need. Jesus knows the amount of grace, comfort, hope, etc. that I need! That’s so comforting! I often find myself with no more grace and mercy to give to others. I assume that Jesus doesn’t know what I need. He doesn’t know I need more grace and more grace. So it’s extremely comforting and encouraging to me to know that Jesus was tempted in every way. He knows what I’m feeling. He knows the amount of love and grace and help I need. The Bible is my help–And God knew what to put in that book. He knows the ways I am tempted. He knows the ways that I need help. He put the specific words in the Bible. He put them there to be my guide. The words in that book are living, they are helping me daily. He put them in there because He knows how we’re tempted and He knows the truths that we need to fight sin–and they’re in that book. Anyway, that’s all. I have to head out to meet with one of the lovely ladies from my care group. Keep fighting sin. Don’t give up. We’re actively, now, in a battle. Don’t give in. He has given us all we need for life and godliness. He knows what we need and He is ALWAYS faithful to give those things to us because He will NOT withhold anything good from us!
ADDED LATER: I just wanted to add that with the song ‘Always Enough’ that I posted a couple days ago. . . it makes me think of how these things connect. Like, He knows what the widow needs, He knows what the orphan needs, He knows that those who are weak need, He knows what I need. He is always enough to meet that need too. He knows what we need in the times of storms. His love is enough and always what we need. I always love the song “Enough” especially when done by Barlowgirl. It’s the same idea. He knows what we need. NOt only does He know, but He can provide it. Not only can he provide, but He WILL provide.
You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependent on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is
[chorus]
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone
You’re the only God
Whose power none can contend
You’re the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God
Whose worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that’s just the way it is
[chorus]
[bridge]
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That’s what You are
I promised this song as well.
Hear our cry, Lord we pray,
Our faces down, our hands are raised,
You called us out, we turned away, we’ve turned away.
With ship wrecked faith, idols rise,
We do what is right, in our own eyes,
Our children now, will pay the price,
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light.
If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out.
All our hearts, all our strength,
With all our minds, we’re at Your fate,
May Your Kingdom come, in our hearts and lives,
Let Your Church arise, let Your Church arise!
If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out
If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We’re are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out,
If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out
I’ve been doing two things a lot lately. The first is thinking about China. The second is listening to music, particularly Casting Crowns. Particularly the “Until the Whole World Hears” album. Particularly “always enough.” The two things seem to go hand in hand. I just love music. For India, we had a team “theme song” which was “let your kingdom come.” For the China trip, we’re also hoping to have a team/theme song. We haven’t come up with one yet, but “always enough” has become my personal “theme” song. I have the song posted below. I encourage you to listen to it. The whole album is actually extremely excellent and totally worth the couple bucks to buy it on Itunes. Anyway, here are the lyrics and my personal commentary of the lyrics 🙂
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
In the sea of shattered ones (<–shattered families, shattered parents, shattered widows, orphans, and weak persons)
Your love comes rushing in
You hold the world within Your hands (<— China, orphans, widows, hurting people, me)
And see each tear that falls
Through every fire and every storm
You’re Always Enough
Always Enough (<—for everything. for everyone. For the widow, for the orphan, for the weak, for leaders, for missionaries, for churches, for ME)
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan (<—what my trip is about. This reminds me so much that this is what we’re coming to bring. God’s love is hope for the orphan. We get to go and bring that awesome truth of God’s love, and therefore His hope, to these hurting children who are in dire need of hope. God’s love is enough.)
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations (<—I like that it says this. I’ve been thinking about nations a lot kinda of lately. Nations means people groups. God’s love is for all people groups. For groups of Chinese. For orphans. For me. It’s never failing and its always there. It’s always enough)
Ring out through the ages (<— I’m carrying a message with me. It’s not a fading message. It wont go away. It will always be true. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. God’s love has always been there. Back in the days when the Bible was written, God’s love was their anthem. God’s love was enough. It’s eternal. It’s never failing. It’s enough. If I’m carrying a message, I want it to be strong. I want it to be real. I want it to be enough for the widow, for the orphan, for the weak, for the hurting, for the nations, for all ages, for the sinner, for me. God’s love is the only message I would want to carry. His gospel is so powerful, it’s amazing. I have been touched by it and I want to tell everyone. I want people to experience the one thing that goes throughout all ages. What other truth applies to all nations (people groups) and has always been true? What else is enough? Nothing. God’s love. That’s the message I will forever carry.)
And You’re Always Enough for me
In the watches of the night
LORD You are my song
Hope is in the morning light
Your love shines like the dawn (<— I love this verse. God’s my song. God is the only thing that is enough in the hard nights. God’s love is the only thing that will always shine. God’s love is hope and eternal and so I can always declare it as my song. It’s not always easy, but it’s truth. It’s enough.)
You keep my heart in perfect peace
My life is in Your hands
When confusion hides my way
You’re Always Enough
Always Enough (<—- trips like this are hard. Preparation is hard. Flying is hard. Teamwork/unity is hard. Loving is hard. Being bold about my faith is hard. The upcoming trip can potentially cause a huge amount of anxiety. I mean, I still have $1500 to raise, I have to get along with about 20 other people, I have to face one of my biggest fears of flying, so it all could be intimidating. God’s love and faithfulness is the only reason I can have peace. My life is in His hands. I don’t understand how He works. I just know that He is enough of everything I need and for every part of my life. He is love. He is enough.)
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Rings out through the ages
And You’re Always Enough for me
I rejoice for my for my Savior reigns
I rejoice for He lives in me
God on high He set me free and
Worthy is the LORD (<—– BECAUSE this is all so true, I can go to China and declare it the orphans and the workers. I can rejoice. Some people would look at their lives, or my life, and say there is nothing to rejoice about. God lives in me! God is on His throne, keeping my life in perfect peace and working my life for good and His glory–at the same time! God has set me free. I have reason to rejoice. I just want others, whether in China or at home or wherever, to have the opportunity to be set free. It’s so selfish to keep it to myself. It’s not fair. God has set me free. God is worthy. I can’t wait to be a blessing and used by God in China. What a blessing!)
I rejoice for my Savior reigns
I rejoice for He lives in me
God on high He set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Rings out through the ages
And You’re Always Enough for me
Your love is peace to the broken
Faith for the widow
Hope for the orphan
Strength for the weak
Your love is the anthem of nations
Rings out through the ages
And You’re Always Enough
I rejoice for my Savior reigns
I rejoice for he lives in me
God on high He set me free and
Worthy is the LORD
In the drying weary land
LORD You are the rain
I guess I had more thoughts when I was listening to this earlier. I’m not good with words which, if you my read my blog, you already know. I wish I could my thoughts into words, but oh well. This will do. Those are some of the reasons I love this song. Those are some of the reasons this is my personal “theme song” for my trip this Summer. I would also encourage you to listen to some of the other tracks on the CD. I will post “if we’ve ever needed You” which is another song from their album. I’ll also post “God Alone” which is another one of my favorites. I just love music. Please, again, be praying for my upcoming trip. It’s coming up quickly and more than anything I ask for prayers. Anyway, that’s all 🙂
Here is my support letter I said I would post so you all can know more about the trip!!
Dear friends and family,
As most of you know, in 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to go on a mission’s trip to India with Grace Community Church. On that trip I saw and experienced things that changed my life dramatically.
This summer I have another chance to change my life while blessing others!! I am planning on going to China this summer with International CARE, Inc. to visit and volunteer at the Philip Hayden Foundation (PHF). PFH cares for orphans that have special physical or mental need that require special care or surgeries. During the trip my team will be helping at the PHF doing various things including holding and playing with the 100+ children and helping to do and projects or helpful things they could use our help with. We may also be able to visit other orphanages or foster homes. I know God will use our team in big ways, not only to help the PHF while we’re there, but also to leave life-long affects in the children’s hearts as well as ours.
Our trip is planned to be from July 9th to July 21st, and your prayers are coveted before and during our trip. The cost of this trip is $2,500. I would ask you to prayerfully consider donating towards this trip. While our cost per person is $2,500, any extra money raised will be donated to the PHF to help relieve the financial burden of the cost of surgeries from them. Please think and pray about sending a financial donation towards this trip. If you choose to write a check, please make it out to International CARE, Inc. but do not put anything in the memo line please, and mail it to me at 804 Bengies Rd Baltimore, MD 21220. If you do not feel that a financial contribution is what the Lord is leading you to do, please contribute your prayers for this trip.
Thank you in advance for any financial or prayer support.
Maggie
P.S. If you would like to learn more about International CARE, Inc., please visit their website at www.intlcare.org . Likewise, if you would like to learn more about the Philip Hayden Foundation, please go to http://www.chinaorphans.org
Sorry. I often forget I have a blog. Oops. Here is a small update and catch up of the current things going on in my life.
No news about the college acceptance letter. Actually, there is news. Although I was told, and the online application status told me that my application was completed, sent, and confirmed, this was false. I called because I had a weird feeling it wasn’t right, and my feeling was accurate. I knew it seemed strange they didn’t want my high school transcript/SAT scores (since at the moment I have less than 30 credits. I will have 38 by the time I’m done this semester, but not when I applied). Turns out the didn’t look at my application because they don’t even have my college transcript with it (which I sent a while ago) and they need my high school stuff. The girl was nice enough though and said they should still look at my application before the spring semester is over, even though I really missed priority deadline. Oh well. At least I’m not so worried about not getting a letter yet, haha. Anyway, I’m just waiting now and making sure they receive ALL of my stuff!
Spring break is starting tomorrow (after midterms. boo). That’s partially exciting. I have my entire week and a half planned out with school plans. My classes are going well except for my addiction counseling teacher (which is an online class) who is royally screwing me over. I could potentially not get an A when I deserve every one of those 100 points for each assignment. It’s awful. I finished one of my classes already though! It’s math and it’s online and it’s self paced, so that’s awesome. Besides that, I am okay with school. I still love learning, I’m ready for sophomore year, and I still hate my current school. School recently has been making my anxiety go to a peak and that’s never good. I’m so anxiety prone that all the extra stress of school is putting me over the edge. I love school so much though that if anything was gonna stress/worry me, I’d want it to be school. I know, I’m a dork/geek/nerd, or whatever the kids say now.
Besides that, nothing too exciting to report. I have a 6K coming up that I’ve been trying to train for. My body is really hating me for all the running I’m doing, but I try to push on with or without pain. I’m excited because my sister and a family friend are going to run it with me. It’s lonely running alone all the time, although it can be great thinking time!
I’m still waiting and trying to figure out what to do this summer besides to go to China, which I’m pumped about, by the way. If you live in the area or know someone who does that needs a babysitter, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. My ideal summer would be to have a few regular babysitting gigs. I love kids more than working any other job, so I’d much rather do that. Plus, it’s fun. Plus, it typically pays better. Plus, it’s a flexible schedule. Plus, my “bosses” are MUCH nicer! So we’ll see. I’m hoping I can just be available and get some people who want me regularly!
Speaking of China, I’m getting ready! We’re about 107 days away! We’re getting shot and visa and fund-raising things figured out. It’s all kind of nerve racking, kind of exciting. I’m ready to go! I was just thinking back to India–it’s been THREE years already! I can’t believe it! Weird. China is so exciting though. It will be SO different. There is only like one other person from the India trip that is going. I’m excited since I’ve already traveled, but still a little nervous. I’m ready to be a blessing. Please be praying for me and my team. Specific things: 1) At this time, funds are a big thing for most of us. I’m not even half way. I’m not really nervous, but God will provide eventually. I am asking for big things from God. We need to raise $2500 each. That’s a lot of money to a person like me. I’ve sent out letters and God has been faithful to put it on people’s hearts to respond generously. My family has been supportive as well. Having a job this time around (as opposed to India) helps a little because I really can help contribute towards my fund-raising this year. I don’t make a ton of money, however, and gas is expensive. Anyway, fund-raising is a big issue we talk about often. We’re not only trying to raise as much as each of us needs, but we would like to raise about $12,000 extra to take to the foundation so they can help with surgeries. You know, I should post my letter on here so that people know more about my trip. I’ll get on that. Anyway, so that’s another prayer request: that we would raise the extra to take with us. Also, there are a good amount of young people on this trip, and I would probably include myself in that category. There are at least 3 middle schoolers I can think of as well as 4 high schoolers. I know that my first trip was hard, so I really want to be praying, and having others pray as well, for these young people. I’m so glad that God has put on their heart to go and everything, and so I pray that I can be a blessing. I also know, because it wasn’t that long ago that I was IN middle school, that I’m probably being watched by the middle school girls. They might not even be thinking about it, but I know that I have to be careful about what I say and do, and about every move I make. So that’s another prayer request: that I would be able to be a good, godly example to those girls. Another prayer request is for cheap plane tickets. The price is rising. We have a budget. God’s in control. But we are to be faithful and pray! So I would ask that you pray specifically that we could maybe get tickets for less than $1,200 I think is the price we’re shooting for. Those are our major prayer requests at the moment! Thanks for praying!
Alright, my study break is over. Back to studying for my two huge tests that are tomorrow!
I’m sorry I am SOO inconsistent! Well, what’s been up with my life? Let’s see.
End of February was great. It went by too fast and I’m so surprised that March is here and half way over already! Life been good. I have been keeping very busy with school and work, much less having any part in a social life. A couple weekends ago I helped out at Youth Advance, my churches youth (middle and high school) retreat. It was lots of fun with little sleep. It was a blessing to serve. It was hard though because I wasn’t able to get any homework done that weekend. I got to reconnect with some awesome friends and I loved that. I don’t know if you know, but I won tickets, via Twitter, to a Casting Crowns concert. It was AMAZING!! I loved it. Summer plans are coming along well. China is getting me more excited by the day. I still have about $1500 to raise, so that is definitely a faith challenge. I’m working on more fundraisers though, so that should be good. I’m still hoping to find a summer job, though it’s hard. I’m half hoping I just get a sweet, regular babysitting job. I love it, it’s flexible, and it’s not working in the food or retail departments (which I hope to never work with). I’m still looking though. If anyone needs me, let me know 😉 I’m also HOPING I can visit my awesome cousins in GA who I miss dearly. I don’t get to see them often so that would be fun. I’d have to find a cheap plane ticket or something though, especially if I’m not working regularly in the summer. Uhm, what else? Oh, I’m waiting for UMBC to send me a letter saying I got in. I’ll be pretty upset if I don’t get in. We’ll see though. School has been crazy. I’m finally all done my math course I was taking online. I just need to go into school to take a test, then I’m done. Hopefully that will end well! I also go inducted to Phi Theta Kappa, an honors society. That’s awesome and looks great on my transcript. I’ve also taken up running a lot more. I ran a race in December, another one just two days ago, and I’m signed up for yet another in April. It’s fun and keeps me motivated. My April race is a 6k, as opposed to a 5k, which I normally run. A 6k will push me just a little further so that should be cool too. I’m on spring break for work which is nice. I really love my job, but breaks are nice. My school spring break isn’t for two weeks. I’m looking forward to it though because I have so much school work I plan to get done.
Well, that’s my life in a nutshell. I don’t have too much else to report. Life’s busy and crazy and awesome 🙂
OnlyGrace 