Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel." - 1 Samuel 7:12-13From time to time I often wonder why I write. Why do I keep a journal? Why do I blog? There's a whole plethora of reason people may start a blog Some people may do it for the attention and fame, or perhaps to simply fulfill that innate desire to know and be know. For me, it was political season and I needed a place to vent. :) What kept me posting after the elections were over, though? Some of it was probably simply having a place where I could share different things with my friends. All in all, what has kept me going - especially recently - is having a place to record how Yahweh is working in my life. I can look back in my journals, or read posts from last year, and be encouraged with how Yahweh has worked in me and through me. I can see how He used different situations that I struggled with at the time and worked them together for good. Without these records of God's faithfulness, it would be easy for me to forget how faithful, loving, and merciful He has been in the past. Whenever I feel depressed or down, by looking over these Ebenezer stones I am reminded of how He has worked in the past and most certain will work out the present circumstances. Sure, there are 200,000 other blogs out there already. So what if no one reads my posts or comments? I don't blog to put myself out there or promote myself, but to record how Yahweh is working in my life and to set up Ebenezer stones as memorials of His faithfulness. So there, in a nutshell, is why I blog. :)
25 August 2010
Ebenezer Stones
24 August 2010
The Name Game
I have finally decided to pick a suitable name for my blog. ::gasp:: When I started this blog oh-so-long ago, Divine Deposits was the only name I could think of that was actually available. It's not a bad name, but I'd like to have something that's a little more descriptive of what you can expect me to post here. For ease of use, I won't be changing the url (at least not yet ;). So if you are wondering why the title keeps changing, now you know! :)
17 August 2010
Fandango 2010
If you're in the Atlanta, GA area be sure to check out the Fandango dance weekend! You can come for a single workshop or the entire weekend, but either way if you enjoy ECD I can guarantee it'll be a blast. :)
16 August 2010
Improving Ourselves
"Become the kind of person the kind of person you would like to marry would like to marry."
The above quote is something I've been thinking on recently. Am I that person? Probably not. But by thinking through it, I've been able to pin-point specific areas in my life that I ought to improve in, both spiritually and mentally. However, it's not just about improving ourselves so that a certain type of person would be attracted to us, but about evaluating areas in which we need to improve. I think everyone, married and single alike, should be regularly evaluate themselves. Am I improving in the area of a particular besetting sin? Am I moving forward in my sanctification by the help of the Holy Spirit? Sure, we won't be perfect until we are with our Saviour, but like an athlete in training, we should be constantly checking our progress and seeing in what areas we need to improve. As we mature in Christ, moving from milk to meat, there we be different struggles at different times but we should always be continuing forward with the help of Jesus. In the words of Paul, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Let us look for those sins that cling so closely and fling them off with the help of our Saviour as we seek to become more and more like Him.
05 August 2010
Remember Jamestown
Here's a little piece I wrote back in 2007 that I recently found. Enjoy! :)
* * *
Do you know what happened at Jamestown? According to Kevin Crossett, spokesman for the official Jamestown 2007 commemoration,"Few people remember their history about Jamestown. They know about Plymouth, which was founded 13 years later. But people are just beginning to realize that Jamestown is a place, that it's connected with John Smith and Pocahontas." This, the year 2007, is Jamestown's 400th birthday. Unlike years past, there will be no official celebration for Jamestown's anniversary, for how can we celebrate an invasion? Go no further than the primary source documents, written by and for these “ruthless” men of Jamestown – not the writings of the 21th revisionist mindset – and uncover much to rejoice over, celebrate, and remember through God's providential acts at Jamestown, how he used the settlers at Jamestown, and teaching these things to our children.
A modern misconception about Jamestown is that the settlers came to Virginia for their own profit. However, the first charter dispels all doubts for evidence of the real reason they came – the inspiration that drove these men to cross a vast ocean to an unknown, lonely land and settle there. “... by the providence of Almightie God, hereafter tende to the glorie of His Divine Majestie in propagating of Christian religion to suche people as yet live in darkenesse...” The men that came to Jamestown knew there were people in America living in darkness, with no way to learn of Jesus Christ, no way to be saved. They were willing to come to America and sacrifice their lives for the propagation of the Christian religion. These were visionary men, who laid the foundation for our nation at Jamestown. As soldiers who have died serving this country, hundreds of these men died for America. Keeping in mind that these men were also sinners, and not incorruptible, they still should be honored and remembered for their memorable acts at Jamestown. They did not come simply for their own profit, but for the furtherance of the gospel.
We need to remember and celebrate God's providential acts at Jamestown. In the words of the London Council for Virginia “For every plantation which our heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted out.” Our heavenly Father led Jamestown through starving times and long, cold winters. He raised up John Smith at a time when the settlement needed him most, and sent Pocahontas, who in the words of John Smith “she next under God, was still the instrument to preserve this colony from death, famine and utter confusion; which if in those times, had once been dissolved, Virginia might have lain as it was at our first arrival to this day.” The soil is rich with the forgotten stories of old, tales of the awesome power of God. If we do not preserve these memories, they will be gone, lost forever.
What the settlers did at Jamestown, and the remembrance thereof, is extremely important and vital for the future of our country. When we read through the history of the nation of Israel, there are countless times when they fell into sin simply because they forgot their fathers and their father's deeds. If Americans refuse to remember their founding fathers and God's providential hand mercifully displayed throughout the history of our nation, what will become of America? Our children are the future leaders of our country. They need to grow up listening and learning about the heroic deeds of old. Not only those of such great men as George Washington and John Smith, but also of the young Indian girl who played a major part in saving Jamestown when she was only twelve years old. Let them hear of the Indian youth who saved so many lives by forewarning Jamestown of the impending massacre. Or tell them about the brave men and women who went behind enemy lines during the Revolutionary War, risking their lives, their fortunes, their homes for the freedom we now enjoy. Hearing of such heroic deeds as those interwoven throughout America's providential history will not only strengthen your faith and their faith in God, but will inspire our offspring to perform heroic deeds of their own. They will not only learn from past victories, but from past mistakes as well, and they will be better prepared for the future. Pillars of remembrance for such heroic deeds should be raised, so that God's hand interwoven throughout all of America's history will never be forgotten.
What happened at Jamestown is a significant part of America's history. If we forget what happened there, we will lose much of our rich history. Jamestown is not something to be ignored or covered up, but to be remembered and celebrated. Remember Jamestown. Remember what the settlers did there. Most importantly, remember to teach these things to your children.
* * *
Do you know what happened at Jamestown? According to Kevin Crossett, spokesman for the official Jamestown 2007 commemoration,"Few people remember their history about Jamestown. They know about Plymouth, which was founded 13 years later. But people are just beginning to realize that Jamestown is a place, that it's connected with John Smith and Pocahontas." This, the year 2007, is Jamestown's 400th birthday. Unlike years past, there will be no official celebration for Jamestown's anniversary, for how can we celebrate an invasion? Go no further than the primary source documents, written by and for these “ruthless” men of Jamestown – not the writings of the 21th revisionist mindset – and uncover much to rejoice over, celebrate, and remember through God's providential acts at Jamestown, how he used the settlers at Jamestown, and teaching these things to our children.
A modern misconception about Jamestown is that the settlers came to Virginia for their own profit. However, the first charter dispels all doubts for evidence of the real reason they came – the inspiration that drove these men to cross a vast ocean to an unknown, lonely land and settle there. “... by the providence of Almightie God, hereafter tende to the glorie of His Divine Majestie in propagating of Christian religion to suche people as yet live in darkenesse...” The men that came to Jamestown knew there were people in America living in darkness, with no way to learn of Jesus Christ, no way to be saved. They were willing to come to America and sacrifice their lives for the propagation of the Christian religion. These were visionary men, who laid the foundation for our nation at Jamestown. As soldiers who have died serving this country, hundreds of these men died for America. Keeping in mind that these men were also sinners, and not incorruptible, they still should be honored and remembered for their memorable acts at Jamestown. They did not come simply for their own profit, but for the furtherance of the gospel.
We need to remember and celebrate God's providential acts at Jamestown. In the words of the London Council for Virginia “For every plantation which our heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted out.” Our heavenly Father led Jamestown through starving times and long, cold winters. He raised up John Smith at a time when the settlement needed him most, and sent Pocahontas, who in the words of John Smith “she next under God, was still the instrument to preserve this colony from death, famine and utter confusion; which if in those times, had once been dissolved, Virginia might have lain as it was at our first arrival to this day.” The soil is rich with the forgotten stories of old, tales of the awesome power of God. If we do not preserve these memories, they will be gone, lost forever.
What the settlers did at Jamestown, and the remembrance thereof, is extremely important and vital for the future of our country. When we read through the history of the nation of Israel, there are countless times when they fell into sin simply because they forgot their fathers and their father's deeds. If Americans refuse to remember their founding fathers and God's providential hand mercifully displayed throughout the history of our nation, what will become of America? Our children are the future leaders of our country. They need to grow up listening and learning about the heroic deeds of old. Not only those of such great men as George Washington and John Smith, but also of the young Indian girl who played a major part in saving Jamestown when she was only twelve years old. Let them hear of the Indian youth who saved so many lives by forewarning Jamestown of the impending massacre. Or tell them about the brave men and women who went behind enemy lines during the Revolutionary War, risking their lives, their fortunes, their homes for the freedom we now enjoy. Hearing of such heroic deeds as those interwoven throughout America's providential history will not only strengthen your faith and their faith in God, but will inspire our offspring to perform heroic deeds of their own. They will not only learn from past victories, but from past mistakes as well, and they will be better prepared for the future. Pillars of remembrance for such heroic deeds should be raised, so that God's hand interwoven throughout all of America's history will never be forgotten.
What happened at Jamestown is a significant part of America's history. If we forget what happened there, we will lose much of our rich history. Jamestown is not something to be ignored or covered up, but to be remembered and celebrated. Remember Jamestown. Remember what the settlers did there. Most importantly, remember to teach these things to your children.
Boundless Summer Challenge, Task Twenty
For today, the focous is on celebration. As opposed to the previous task, celebration is popular. Who doesn't want to celebrate? Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, a new job, a new baby, moving...it isn't hard to find something to celebrate. As Christians, we have something even greater to celebrate - our freedom from the bondage of sin. It can be easy to get caught up in the monotony of everyday life, to complain about the circumstances we have to constantly deal with. Instead, let us focous on the good in life, the blessings that Yahweh bestows on us each and every day. You don't have to take a lot of time or spend a lot of money to celebrate. For me, it was as simple as taking a break from my work and enjoying a delicious bowl of my family's unique banana pudding. Maybe it is just the refreshment you need to make it through the day. But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. Take a break and go celebrate your freedom in Christ!
03 August 2010
Boundless Summer Challenge, Task Nineteen
The spiritual discipline for today is confession. It is easy to conviently forget about confession. However, it is not until we recognize we have a problem that we can work on it. In order to confess my sins to Yahweh, I had to realize where I was sinning and to admit that I needed His help in this area. It helps me turn my focous from myself toward God, realizing my constant dependence on and need for Him in my life.
02 August 2010
Boundless Summer Challenge, Task Eighteen
Today's task is on another section of Romans, this time Romans 12:14-21.
This passage is quite full of things that we are and aren't supposed to do. We are to bless those who persecute us. We can't just ignore them, or tolerate them, or not repay what they've done to us...we're supposed to not curse them but bless them. We should be trying to live peaceable with those around us, not seeking to stir up trouble or trying to make people angry. We are to go against our sinful nature and instead of return evil for evil, we are to return good for evil. It's not going to be easy. We will want to seek revenge, to payback evil for evil, hurt for hurt. But that is not what we are commanded to do. We are to love and bless in return. We can only do this by Yahweh's grace. May He give us strength to obey His commands!
This passage is quite full of things that we are and aren't supposed to do. We are to bless those who persecute us. We can't just ignore them, or tolerate them, or not repay what they've done to us...we're supposed to not curse them but bless them. We should be trying to live peaceable with those around us, not seeking to stir up trouble or trying to make people angry. We are to go against our sinful nature and instead of return evil for evil, we are to return good for evil. It's not going to be easy. We will want to seek revenge, to payback evil for evil, hurt for hurt. But that is not what we are commanded to do. We are to love and bless in return. We can only do this by Yahweh's grace. May He give us strength to obey His commands!
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