Who Are You?

I'm reading the book of Acts right now. I thought it was somewhat appropriate since I'm beginning my missionary journey. I do have to wonder though, who will I be?
Will I be Paul, whose zeal for Christ was immeasurable? Will I be like Barnabas, showing compassion and making a difference, or will I be like John Mark and leave when the situation gets to rough for comfort?
I believe that every man and every woman is faced with this same question. Just as I must answer, so must you. Who are you?

Finally!

All that brilliant waiting and watching has paid off. We may not be on the airplane, but it is now in sight. I've enjoyed the flights, but next time I fly, I am going to carry a greatly reduced amount of luggage. I dread landing because each time we do, I'm afraid they're going to tell me that I can't take all of my stuff. I have a purse, a laptop, and a very, very heavy carry on. It's like a nightmare come true! However, God has been gracious and I haven't been stopped yet. Time to board!

Feb. 6th, 09
I have felt a myriad of emotions all throughout this trip. I've felt excitement, sorrow, peace, uneasiness... but never have I doubted whether I'm headed where Christ wants me. I do wonder what He'll be able to do through me. My prayer is that I will fulfill the purpose that Christ has for me. I don't want to come on my own strength, for truly I have nothing to give these children that anyone else could not give them. May I be here only to do the will of him that sent me!

Feb 7th, 09
We arrived in Uganda at about 3:00 in the afternoon. We waited at the airport for another man and then picked up the whole Keith Stensaas family. We ate at a very nice Chinese restaurant in Kampala city. It was beautiful, but I was so exhausted.
We dropped the Stensaas family back off at the Willis' house and drove to the hotel hat Bryan, Cheri, Dad, and I will be staying in for a few days. All I wanted to do was sleep, but both Dad and I hadn't bathed since we left home. So I laid down to wait as dad bathed... and fell asleep.

It is incredibly beautiful in this country. the people are incredibly poor. You can look at pictures and watch videos all you want, but you won't understand until you've been here. I'm not sure I even understand yet.

Feb 4th, 09

And so, we're off! Actually we left home at 5:15 this morning. we flew out of Washington at 7:00. We are now at the airport in New Jersey. When we let Washington the sun was just rising. That was only 8 hours ago. It's dark in New Jersey and it does feel like we've been travelling all day!
It has been hard to sleep these past few days. It hurts to leave everyone I love, but I am excited to see what the days and weeks ahead of me have in store.

Ah! We are now in London. We got here at 6:00am and it is now 6:30pm. They must really like us, because we got the longest layover we could possibly get without spending the night. Dad and I are both exhausted. We weren't able to check our bags in until 12:00, which meant we had two carts full of luggage and we couldn't go anywhere. Not only that, but London won the contest for fewest and most uncomfortable chairs. It must be a health program. I have heard that's it's better for you to stand than to sit. You burn more calories faster when standing.
We did manage to sleep for a few hours, checked our bags in, found a place to eat, and then slept for a few more hours in the restaurant. You can' imagine how embarrassing i is to wake up and find hat they've cleared your table without you noticing. They could have taken our bags and we would have slept right through it.
Not only was this a nice restaurant, but it was THE restaurant that pioneered natural food! And they've only been doing it since 1980-something. I was wondering how anyone survived before "Something A Manger" began pioneering natural food. Pretty ridiculous, but it was fun to joke about. I had sushi; Dad made fun of me. Dad ate a flavorless bacon sandwich (That's what happens when it's natural); I made fun of him! Then we fell back asleep.
We are now waiting for the screen to tell us which gate we'll be at, so I have to sign off.
Watching the screen,
Rebekah

Behind the Storm

Oh Lord my God, You are my guide.

When hope seems gone and storms arise

I'll turn to You and grasp Your hand.

I'll let You work Your master plan.

Though others turn their backs toward me,

Though heartaches come and friends may flee,

I've found Your grace to be enough,

Your loving hand, Your gentle touch.

My heart has hurt beyond all thought,

But You my God, for me have fought.

Through every storm You are my guide.

On You I'll lean, in You I'll hide.

I've found Your footprints in the storm.

You want my heart to Yours conformed.

These troubles come that I may see,

You hear my cry and broken plea.

There is a cause worth fighting for:

To know your heart - to love you more.
So when the storms obscure Your grace,

I'll see past it - into Your face.

Is Revival Possible in the 21st Century?

2 Chronicles 7:14

This is a question that I have asked myself many times. I have heard scores of preachers preach from this text. And yet through it all Christians act as though revival is impossible in this dark period of our nation. If we decide it is impossible, than it is. Our country is not at the point it is today because of the lost and unsaved. Our nation is in the mess it is today because Christians have been apathetic for too long. We have been living with a video game mind set. If anything happens we’ll just start over. Friends, we do not have a reset button on our country. If we do not stand up now we will lose our country. I believe with all my heart that revival is possible in our day! But how? The word “revival” mean to be reawakened. To be reawakened or revived one must first have been alive. This lost world can not know a revival or reawakening because they have never been made alive. We should not be surprised at the wickedness of a nation that is dead spiritually! We should not be surprised at how lightly they view great wickedness. We should be astounded and disgusted at how lightly God’s people treat sin! We should be revolted at what Christians are condoning! If we want to know the cause of America’s problems we needn’t go any further than the mirror! Revival will never be possible unless every man decides that it will begin first in him. On his deathbed the great preacher and servant of Christ D.L. Moody is reported to have said, “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through a man who is fully and wholly committed to Him.” What is the problem with our country today? Christians have decided that revival is impossible. And yet it isn’t! It will take a person fully devoted to God. It will take a person that will give up the pleasures of this sinful world and boldly proclaim God. His identity will be found in God. He will be nothing on his own, and he will have no goal but to speak, and sing, and shout the story of his Savior and his salvation. Why have we not seen revival in our generation? Because we have not found that man. We have not found that woman.

Could it be that America is waiting for you to answer God’s call?

Mark 9:23
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Matthew 19:26
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
2 Chron. 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Tim. 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Isaiah 59:19
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Press Toward the Mark

About a week and a half ago, due to a little bit of insanity and peer pressure, I decided to start running again. The last time I ran was about six months ago, so I knew it was not going to be easy. The first time I ran about 2 miles of a 3 mile loop. It wasn’t bad for someone who hadn’t run for quite some time. I was not going to guilt myself for it.
The next time I ran I was a little bit more prepared. However, as I hit the two mile mark, where I had started walking the previous time, my mind began to get weak. Beginning to walk again here would not make me a failure.
It then hit me…I had forgotten how to run! I was running based on feeling. I was not pressing toward a goal. I was running like so many Christians run their Christian race. Why are so many of us weak and anemic spiritually? Why are we not the Christian warriors that Paul and John were? Why are we not like the great men and women of the faith that we read about and hear stories about?
Perhaps we fail to view this race as it is. I know that I have looked ahead at the future as a long stretch that seems to go on endlessly. We are running. So what’s the sin in taking a couple of detours? Maybe stop by a neighbor’s house…buy some water at the gas station… inspect the wildlife…take a quick nap…
The Christian was not meant to be a drudgery, but any runner with a goal will find that running eventually becomes a pleasant task. The thing about having a goal is that you are far less likely to be snared by the shiny things this world presents to you. If you stopped every time you saw something shiny, you’d be amazed at the number of aluminum cans on the side of the road. The world’s treasures are a lot like these cans. Shiny…but utterly worthless.
In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” There is a goal and there is a high calling. As important as the things of this world are painted to be, they are rubbish and filth when compared to the prize that lies ahead. Hebrews 12:1-3 charges us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” There is a goal!

I refuse to be discouraged.

I refuse to mope and cry.

I'm a child of the King of Kings;

what worries now have I?

I'm covered by His precious blood.

My sins are washed away!

So many reasons to rejoice.

Why - I can even pray!

The clouds of doubt and jealousy

Have no place within my skies.
I gave my heart to Jesus Christ.

Great peace within me lies.

The world may flash its gems,

its jewels,Its artificial love.

but my hope comes from one who lives

And loves me from above.