Life Cycles

It is strange and wonderful how life runs in cycles. We are born helpless naked and needing help for every basic task, and then strangely, after a lifetime of self sufficiency, we often end up right back where we started from.

In autumn, we witness the end of the warm season and the death or hibernation of nature. Plants go dormant or die. Animals crawl into their burrows to wait for spring. And then, after winter has done its worst...everything wakes up again! It is an ordinary miracle - just like many others- that we take for granted.

We were made in the image of God, perfect and whole. Humans are His crowning creation. And then we fell. Adam and Eve rebelled, deciding they knew better than God. But they didn't, and we don't still.

Which is the reason why Jesus had to come, to show us the way back to God and to return us to what God had in mind all along: saints perfectly loving and serving a perfect, loving God.
So now, even though our outward shells are dying slowly day by day, inwardly we are being renewed by the grace of God.*

 And there is nothing more pleasing or satisfying than coming full circle, back to where you need to be.

*"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
" 2Cor. 4:15

{These are Blessings Indeed!}

I must say, I've been blessed. Truly, truly blessed. You all have blessed me! God has smiled on me.
And I don't say that in a cliche "ohymgoodness" sort of way....I really mean it.

The fact that I'm even alive today is a miracle.
The fact that I have a supporting circle of loving people is a true, real gift.
That fact that I have a loving family, and a beautiful, safe home to live in is worth celebrating too!

But today, what I'm thinking of the most is the hearts of the those.....my friends and family....who decided that the dream God gave me of going to Romania, and loving on those lovely, needy people was worth sponsoring.
Worth praying for.
Worth believing in me for.

It's amazing to me!
Because, really, even if I told everything I know and feel about Romania, and what God has said so far to me about it....and even if I admitted that I don't know exactly why I'm going or what will come of it.....it doesn't seem matter to you all!

I'm not talking just about monetary giving for my trip here. (No, but in that respect, I've been extremely blessed as well! Everything has been provided for! Many, many thanks...) I'm thinking of the love, the kind words, the prayers that these folks have given me....each was special!

And I think I'm just standing in awe of God right now.
How He works things out and, how he worked this out for me.
I feel so special! and yet so little, and unworthy of this trip, at the same time!
I promise I will try not to worry about my abilities because "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and I promise to carry myself well in Romania, and serve with all my heart, soul, mind & strength! As would befit someone who has been so, so blessed....

I must thank you, my friends, my family & my church.
Love in Jesus,
~Hannah

On Trial {God's Refining Fire For Our Faith}

    I love the "Aha!" moments. Those times when something just clicks and things get 'brighter' inside. :-) That happened to me this morning, while talking with Mom, and I thought the subject was important enough to share.

Have you ever heard those verses from the Bible that talk about trials and temptations?
You know: the "hold fast to the faith", "stand strong", and "whenever you face trials" verses?
Well, James 1:2-18 contains a good many things to be said on the subject of trials and temptations.
And where they come from and how to handle them. (Mom was studying James in her personal time this morning, and then she read James 1 aloud to me.) Here are two special verses that caught my attention, but their very juxtaposition:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (vs. 2-3)


When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (vs. 13&14)

 The first thing I noticed as Mom was reading through it aloud (sometimes hearing a passage brings it out to our ears more than reading silently would) was that trials and temptations are not the same. Not at all. I suppose I 'knew' this, but I did not realize it! But yes, it is true. Think of Job. God was not tempting him, He was trial-ing him, if you will. Job was on trial! Why? For his faith. It's like God was saying, Job, "How much faith do you have in Me? Through how much will you 'stick' to Me?"  Because,

"In this you [should] greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 1:6&7)

This chapter in James talks about trials and how whenever I face them, I need to remember with joy that they will produce perseverance, because they are testing my faith! To my normal human thinking, this does hardly seem something to be happy or joyful about. :( Trials always puts me in mind of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. He has these bad things happen to him over and over again, often right at a time that would have been otherwise joyful! His act of looking to the heavens with a sort of, "Really, God? Was that necessary?" attitude is something we all feel like doing once in a while at least...
And yet. And yet, I am to welcome trials! Why? Why is that, and, how could I?
I can do just that, and rise above the temptations and make it through the trials because I know that:

• Trials from God are refining me & my faith in Him! He is making my faith stronger and stronger; He is refining my trust & hope in Him until it is a beautiful and true as gold!
• Temptations never come from God, always from the Devil and I am tempted only because my flesh wants to be. My spirit is God's and in communion with Him, so temptations can't touch that! But I must resist the temptings, and stay on the narrow path.
• The greatest (i.e. the most faithful) of Christians from history and time were able to be and do what they did because they knew that through the trials and even in the temptations, God was with them. He never ever left them, and  still promises this to us: 

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

So there you have it. I really learned something today. Something about God (He is so merciful, and thoughtful!) and something about myself (if I trust God, I can overcome!)  :-)

Happy St. Lucias Day, Everyone!
~Hannah

- - - - - - - - - - - - - * Merry Christmas! *

Today Is A Rainy Day

~~~~~
Today is a rainy day and,
I believe that calls for celebration as,
a) it hasn't rained in a good while
b) I love rainy days
c) I need something to celebrate
d) school work is not as exciting as rain
and there's too much schoolwork around here.
^_^

Join me, won't you?
We'll make up a poem:

pitter patter rain
running down my face
washing away my woes
carpeting the hills in glisten
pitter patter rain

And we'll....
look and see if there aren't any Scriptures on rain:

Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As the droplets on the fresh grass
And as the showers on the herb.
(Deuteronomy 32.2)

Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.
He gives rain on the earth
And sends water on the fields,
So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech dropped on them.
They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.
I smiled on them when they did not believe,
And the light of my face they did not cast down.

Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
For He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from the mist,
Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
(from the book of Job)

As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day,
so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD
And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking...
(Ezekiel 1.28)

~~~~~

What beautiful passages. God, beautiful, strong and life-giving, like rain.
Waiting for Him like for him to come down
like it is waiting for a rain after years of drought...

When I first heard Selena Gomez's new song A Year Without Rain,
I kept thinking about Jesus as who she was talking about (rather than a human):
"A day without you is like a year without rain..."

Is one day without Jesus in my life like a year without rain?

"But do not let this one fact escape your notice,
beloved, that with the Lord
one day is like a thousand years,
and a thousand years like one day."
(2 Peter 3.8)

It Will Be Worth It

You say: It’s impossible
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody really loves me
...God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: I can’t go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms.91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: I can’t do it
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I’m not able
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)
You say: I can’t forgive myself
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: I can’t manage
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: I don’t have enough faith
God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
You say: I’m not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

~~~

It's easy to feel like giving up. I admit I wondered halfway through the day why I even got out of bed! But then I remember, I'm living now because I'm meant to be, and I live in Christ now & as long as I do stay here on this earth to be a light. To bring some joy, some kindess and love as I can to others.

I'm going to keep doing just that. Especially on the days when I need it most myself...
What resonated with you today, or this week? Was there a truth, or a thought that lifted you up out of the ordinary into the bigger picture of things? I'd love to hear it. :)