2005 Car For Sale

Hi everyone!
I am selling my car and need to sell it before July 8.  I need your help promoting it please!  If you or someone you know is interested, please have them email me at acorinnechristian@gmail.com.

2005 Silver VW New Beetle
95,000 miles
$6500.00
Great Condition!

Glimpses of Heaven

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

"Live by the Spirit..." Galatians 5:16

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22

"Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

The pastors at my church right now are preaching on the book of Galatians. It's quite interesting really, as Paul talks to the church of Galatia and "scolds" them for basically missing the point of the Gospel.  He reminds them that living a life of freedom is living a life in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  He reminds them, that because of Christ, they are no longer bound by the laws that are found today in the Old Testament.

It's interesting really.  So many times, there are traditions that are passed down... in this case circumcision... that are considered to be the "thing" that justifies us towards salvation, when in reality, our belief in Him justifies us.  And, how is our faith in Christ evident? Through how we love one another.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control are present if we are seeking the Spirit and not the flesh.

And, thanks be to God that while our flesh does not look like that at all, God allows us to be filled with the Spirit and see glimpses of those heavenly attributes in people around us and every once in a while in ourselves.  It's not our nature to express love and joy and patience and self control.  It's more our fleshly nature to be hateful and seek conflict and be in a hurry and fear and be harsh, and yet, God through His Spirit, gives us fruit if we only seek Him.

This past week has been a hard one for me.  I have been overwhelmed, fearful of the unknown, and sad for my family, and yet I have recognized God's presence and His love as He reminds me of the need for daily faith in His plan.

And, in this difficult few days, I've seen glimpses of heaven in how God brought family together to comfort one another in a hard time.  I imagine that Heaven is just like the funeral was: full of hope and all of the people that love you .. full of faces that you recognize... and full of great soul food and gospel music....

and I imagine that heaven is like my time with friends: full of people who I have loved during different stages of my life...  surrounded by really good hugs and beautiful smiles... and full of people who know just the right gestures and words to serve and love you well...

and I imagine that heaven is void of the things that tend to be a big part of our lives: drama, selfishness, pride, discord, drunkenness and jealousy.

For that, I am thankful.

If you haven't read Galatians recently, you should read it.  It's the perfect picture of what life looks like when we forget the Gospel and let our flesh take control and it's a beautiful explanation of what life could look life if we embraced freedom, allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit.

Today, I am thankful for the glimpses of heaven that God shows us here in this broken world.  I'm thankful for freedom in knowing that through faith we are made right.  I am thankful that I don't have to do the right things in order to be justified.  I praise God for His Word.

May He continue to show me glimpses...

The Power of Prayer

Throughout the process of building a team of support, one of the biggest lessons that I have learned first-hand is that prayer is so powerful!  I appreciate all of the people who have told me that they are praying for me & the people who are praying and I don't even know it.  Please know that your prayers are felt.  These last few weeks before I leave have been and will continue to be crammed with figuring out details that I didn't have time to figure out when I was working, along with packing everything that I need in my three suitcases, seeing people for the last time, and trying to enjoy time with friends before I leave.

And yet, the world keeps revolving.  I am reminded over and over again that life continues to go on.  Yesterday, my grandmother passed away.  She was in her eighties and not doing well over the last two months.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit her last week as I made rounds throughout Florida and Georgia to visit family for the last time before leaving.  I truly believe in God's timing that I was able to visit her on Wednesday -- the last day that she truly was alert. God is Good!

Please pray for all who were close to my grandmother.  Specifically, please pray for my father and his sister.  I cannot imagine what it is like to watch your mother pass away.  I am so thankful for scripture and pray that even during this time, somehow, all of us would draw closer to Him, find comfort from Him and desire more and more to be in His will.

We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, 

who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Thanks be to God!

Grandmama at her 80th birthday party

Some other specific prayer needs that I have for all those praying for me are listed below.  Thank you, praying people!

Grateful for: my prayer team and my financial support team; time to relax and have fun with friends; community here in Atlanta; all of those who understand God's call on my life and who are supportive of it; growth in my spiritual life; my family; God's increasing grace in allowing me to experience what it looks like to have faith...

Prayer Requests: my house which still has not been closed on.  Please pray for wisdom on my part and an open mind from the bank; the month of July (I move on July 8) and a smooth transition as I move to the DR... especially pray transportation, communication and picking up the responsibility of organizing the Child Sponsorship program; the ability to trust in the Lord with the details and not become overwhelmed before I leave nor when I get there; wisdom when choosing insurance...

His will be done.

Thankful for Tears & Truth

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." Philippians 4:4-8.

These are some of Paul's last words to the church at Philippi.  As a church planter, Paul had travelled and planted churches all around and then the epistles in the new testament are his letters keeping up with them, giving them advice, and encouraging them.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to sit and read Philippians in its entirety.  It's quite a short book -- only 4 chapters -- and much of it is familiar and encouraging to anyone who grew up in church.  But, read in context, it's even better.  For instance, after reading all of Philippians in one setting, it seems that there was some conflict between the people in the church... it's as if they had forgotten that they had one thing in common - Jesus.  And Paul reminds them that their purpose was to love Him and show His love to others.  In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul writes to them: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God."

He then goes on in Chapter 2 to encourage the believers to be like-minded, to remember their love for Jesus, to be one in spirit and in purpose, and to be humble like God who had become human, died, and risen again just to save us.  I bet the conflict between the Philippians seemed petty after they read that part of his letter. Who were they to bicker, to not show love, to not be encouraging -- especially if they claimed to be Christ-filled?  And who are we to do the same? Just think: God humbled himself and died on the cross. We, just like the Philippians, should find such comfort from His love and such fellowship with His spirit to honor Him by how we love others. And ultimately, we should live our lives rejoicing in what He has done for us and in who He is.

Yesterday was my last day at Wesleyan.  I drove off of campus crying  after having said many goodbyes to people who have guided me, cared for me, and done life with me over the last seven years. And last night, I spent a few hours over dinner and at worship and prayer night at church with a former student... and I cried again.  (I cannot imagine what those goodbyes will be like when I see my dearest friends for the last time until Christmas -- but I won't think about that now...)  My tears reflected the sadness that I feel because of my soon to be inability to see some of my favorite people everyday, because I have a deep love for the people and the purpose of my church community and won't get to physically worship with them in just a month now, and because of fear of the unknown.

Yet, I find myself rejoicing about where God has brought me over these last few years.  I find comfort in knowing that without my experiences at Wesleyan, I would not be connected with the ministries in the Dominican Republic that I now love.  I feel encouraged to know that God can surround me and has surrounded me with other believers who love me enough to pray with me, learn with me, and enjoy life with me.  I am grateful for growth in my relationship with Christ, grateful for the friendships and relationships that have grown from church and from school, and grateful to the Holy Spirit for helping me understand His Word more and more each day.

And thus, even in the midst of closing a special chapter in my life, I am comforted by the sweet gifts God has given me and I am reminded to be grateful for them. Those very familiar verses that are found in the fourth chapter of Philippians come to life for me today.  In the midst of my fears, my anxieties, and my goodbyes, I will cling to the words of Paul:

Rejoice!
Be gentle!
Don't be anxious!
Pray!
Give thanks!
Think about all that is pure
and lovely
and praiseworthy
and admirable
and noble
and true!

Thanks be to God for your Word!