Be strengthened and encouraged

Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 3, "We sent [Timothy] to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through." [NLT] I read this tonight and it was followed by the realization that we all will need to be strengthened and encouraged in our faith and to stay strong in the troubles we go through. Not might need or may need, but we all will need to be strengthened and encouraged. It's not a sign of being a "bad Christian" or "not having strong enough faith" or in some other way not doing this whole Christian walk right; it is simply the reality of being human. So, here is a verse I find strengthens and encourages me:

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 [NLT]

~Becca

Prayer and Action?

“Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3: 6-7



Over the last week I cannot tell you how many times I have read the above verses. As I read the story of how Peter heals the cripple I have become fascinated with how the story plays out. As many of us already know prayer is a very powerful resource that we have and is something that we should spend as much time as possible doing. The part of this story that I have come to enjoy and be so convicted over though is the part after Peter prays for the beggar. It is in verse seven that I have become so lit up about. Peter takes him by the right hand and helps him up. I do believe that we can pray for a person in some far of land and it will be effective, however I believe that if that is the only thing we are doing we have missed out on seeing that very thing Peter sees here. Besides the blessing of seeing the man healed before his very eyes Peter puts action to his faith in Jesus. How may times have you prayed for a friend, family member or member of Hillside and the Lord has pressed this person on your heart to more than to silently pray for them? Have you taken the time to call them up and see how things are going? Or have you taken the time to set up the time to meet with them to check in on them? Maybe you should have made a meal for them? Maybe they needed some help on something around the house or yard, yet were simply too stubborn to ask (I am guilty of being stubborn)?

I realize that there are times that you will simply prayer for your brothers and sisters and that is all that will be needed. They may not even know that you are praying for them, I believe this happens more than we will ever know. It is truly a blessing to know that there is another with a like mind set praying for me and that I am able to return the favor, even though neither of us knows that we are praying for one another. However, He did not give us the ability to work and move about to spend all of our time in our homes praying alone for one another. We are able to do these things so we are able to put action to our words, as Peter did with the beggar. I will tell you now that I have been guilty of this on more than one occasion. There have been times when praying for someone that there has been the urge to more than simply pray. However, with my great wisdom I mess things up and try to convince myself that I am praying for them and that should be enough.

Now I am going to beat up on myself a little. I have this friend that has asked me to pray specifically for certain things in their life and I do. However, awhile back as I prayed I felt this urge to call and check in on how these things were going in their life. However, I got busy and did not get around to calling them. That weekend they stumbled. We talked about it in great length after all this went down and I had to ask this friend for forgiveness since I let them down and was disobedient to God in what He had placed on my heart even though I was doing a good thing and praying for them. I pray tonight that this never happens to either of us again. I also pray that none of you ever have to carry this burden.

Is it possible that the beggar could have been healed if Peter was in another country while he prayed? I think it is possible, but we may have missed seeing the glory of God at work. Awhile back I was talking with a friend that I only see a couple of times a year and he had explained to me that he had been having a terrible time with his temper and then all of a sudden it stopped. He was not sure what happened, but it came to an end. Later on in the day we were talking about a friend of his and he told me how he had been explaining to his friend the problems with his temper. His friend replied, “Well that is not good, something needs to be done about that.” When I heard this, I knew with out a doubt that the other friend had been praying for him and told him I thought prayer had been involved with the temper going away. I saw this friend the next day and he told me he had called the other guy and asked if he had been praying for him and the answer was yes. See through this whole thing Jesus was at work and we almost missed out on knowing what had happened. The guy that had been praying was hundreds of miles away praying and the friend was healed.

I pray tonight that as we pray for one another that we will have discernment on when all we need to do is pray and when the times are that some action needs to take place with our prayers. At times it may seem outside of your comfort zone to lend your right hand to the beggar and help him up. However, it is such a wonderful thing when we are able to see the hand of God work before our very eyes.

God Bless,

Rick

The Gift

Have you ever listened to Blink 182 and thought "these guys must be Christians!"??? Me either.... But Blink 182 is broken up, maybe just on hiatus, either way, that sad turn of events has brought us Angels & Airwaves (same lead singer as Blink).

Angels and Airwaves probably has Christian and non-christian fans, but there's no denying that God is sending me a message through this song. Kind of a "Hey dummy, I'm always in the same place, you don't even have to look for me" message.... In my life I've hidden from Him, but one way or another, He always finds you. In songs, poems, people, he will find you. Lets just not hide anymore.



I wanna have the same last dream again
The one where I wake up and I'm alive
Just as the four walls close me within
My eyes are open up with pure sunlight
I'm the first to know
My dearest friends
Even if your hope has burned with time
Anything that is dead shall be re-grown
And your vicious pain, your warning sign
You will be fine

Hey oh here I am
And here we go
Life’s waiting to begin

Any type of love it will be showed
Like every single tree reach for the sky
If you're gonna fall
I'll let you know
That I will pick you up
Like you for I
I felt this thing
I can't replace
When everyone was working for this goal
Where all the children left without a trace
Only to come back as pure as gold
To recite this all

Hey oh here I am
And here we go
Life’s waiting to begin
Tonight
Hey oh here I am
And here we go
Life’s waiting to begin
Tonight
Hey oh here I am
And here we go
Life’s waiting to begin

I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me
I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me
I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me
I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me
I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me
I can not live, I can't breathe
Unless you do this with me

Hey oh, here I am (do this with me)
Here we go
Life's waiting to begin (do this with me)
Hey oh, here I am (do this with me)
Here we go
Life's waiting to begin
Life's waiting to begin -McPike

Leaving Stephanie’s World

Zach’s email about leaving your island got me thinking about my world, “Stephanie’s world.” I am not sure if I have ever talked about my world or not. Rick is always saying that I am in “Stephanie’s world.” It is easy to be in. I work and live on our family dairy and it is easy to be isolated from the real world. In my world there is no evil people even though bad things happen just the same. A little over a week ago, I had a dream that in the face of evil I had no fear. And I stood up which is so unlike me. I felt the power of our Lord and it gave me a whole new look on the world.

While milking this afternoon and thinking about all of this I wrote this poem.

Do I want to leave my place?
Do I want to open my eyes and see?
I have been there before.
I didn’t like it.
I remember the eyes.
Those eyes are still haunting.
And I know they are still there.
My place is better…safer…brighter.
It’s darker where the eyes are.
The eyes don’t stare directly at me from my place.
They still creep in to bring sad and bad things.
But I can’t see the coldness in their stare.
Why are the eyes there?
I don’t understand.
The evil is so piercing from them.
How could such evil exist?

Why haven’t YOU come to take us away from them?
For YOU have no fear.
For YOU the eyes are nothing.
For YOU break the darkness.
For YOU are true power.
YOU give us YOU.
YOU give us power…YOUR power.

The fear is gone.
This isn’t like me.
YOU are here with me.
I can take that step.
Darkness is broken.
And with YOU the eyes are gone.

Love Steph

Tell someone something good God has done...

...in your life today. This sentence was in my daily devotional this morning, so I am going to share. Years ago I was married and divorced. What I had heard about God's stance on divorce is that He does not like it, but I hadn't dug into the Bible for myself. I have asked God to forgive me for my divorce, but it never sat well with me. The guilt lingered. Sunday, I was reading 1 Corinthians when I came across this verse:

(But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) 1 Corinthians 7:15

I was stunned. There is no question that my first husband was not a believer. I had no idea this verse existed. I reread and reread it, pondered it, reread it some more. It's there in black and white and I have nothing to feel guilty about. God couldn't have freed me of this guilt if I hadn't dug in His Word.

That's how He is working in my life. How is He working in Yours?

Oh How He Loves Us!

Wow...is all I have to say! I am deeply touched by this today. I hope you are too. The Lord loves each of us, he hears our prayers and in his perfect timing, he will answer!

IHS,
Cammie

Re: Bleeding Love

Steph's blog on the song "Bleeding Love" made me think of this gorgeous flower that is called a bleeding heart. I found this one in my parent's back yard behind some overgrown grass and a small pile of lumber. It makes me think that pain produces great beauty..."I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us..." (Romans 8:18)...
Love, Lisa

‘Intelligent design’ is manifested everywhere, everywhen

‘Intelligent design’ is manifested everywhere, everywhen

An article in the Woodburn Independent, Molalla Pioneer, and the Canby Herald.

Guest Column by Chuck Dye, Pastor, Canby Chapel Church of the Nazarene

I recently saw a documentary that was out in theaters: “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.”

In it, the author makes the point that higher education institutions and even our public school system have disallowed the teaching of intelligent design.

They would rather teach a godless, Darwinian system of evolution than to even consider the possibilities of an intelligent creator.

I could say much on this subject, but it is not my purpose for writing at this time. But suffice to say, “A fool says in his heart there is no God” --- Psalm 14:1.

It is my great pleasure to declare without shame that almighty God created everything and placed His sign in all of it. We call it His glory.

One would have to be blind and deaf to miss all of this beauty and credit it to chance.

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth His handiwork” --- Psalm 19:1.

This great and awesome God spoke the worlds into existence and breathed the stars (Psalm 33:6).

If this were all a mistake or the result of a huge uncontrolled explosion there should be chaos in the heavens but there is beauty and order.

And with the latest advances in tools to study the stars, like NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, we see His sign in the furthest reaches of the galaxy.

Even when we look into the smallest elements of His creation we see His sign.

Scientists are now even able to study the molecules of our cells.

They have isolated a certain molecular protein called Laminin that is the glue that holds our cells together.

Many, many “Indian moons” ago I remember in grade school seeing a science film in which the narrator made the statement, “The closer we get to understanding creation, the closer we get to the Creator.”

How far we have fallen as a society and a culture!

I agree with the psalmist who said. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.” --- Psalm 139:14,15.

Beloved, you are a masterpiece made in the image of God. His signature is not just in one place, but in every cell of your body.

You give glory to God simply by your existence, because He is glorified by His creation, and “God don’t make no junk.”

The Lion in You!

I came across this picture in an email today and I just love it. Since becoming a police officer, the Lord has really been speaking to Nathan about being a warrior and a lion. One of the verses that has spoken to him is, "The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name." Ex. 15:3 This picture is amazing to me. I feel it really portrays how we sometimes feel like small kittens that are helpless. We simply need to remember who lives inside of us is the Lord, King of the Universe. He is a warrior, a mighty roaring lion. We can be bold and strong because of He who is in us. If we simply believe. We too, may feel like kittens at times, but Jesus the Lion is within us to help us fight the battles of this life. Believe and go forth and "ROOOOAAAARRRR". :0) All for His Glory!

Live through the Life

Okay Steph and Cammie, you guys kinda stole my thunder. I hear a song that makes me think about God and his people, and Hillside, and you already have a song theme going... I guess I'll just continue the trend, I'm typically a little late on those anyway right?




For anyone who doesn't know me that well, the "Christianity thing" is relatively new to me (maybe a few years? maybe an honest 1?). This song by Coldplay makes me think of my life with Christ. People familiar with a certain Steve Carell film know how hard it can be for a guy to admit he likes Coldplay. You can rule the world that you live in, but that doesn't matter in the end. Because you can't rule the world that HE rules.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Thank you for listening, Sean M.

Bleeding Love

This is the name of a song I have heard by Leona Lewis. I actually listened to the words of this song the other day and was kind of blown away. I know that it probably wasn’t written in respect of Jesus but He is whom I first thought of when I heard the song. The first words that hit me were the words “bleeding love” and my thoughts were that is what Jesus’ love is for us. He loves us so much that he died for us and bled his love for us. That is so powerful and now we have that power with us when we accept it. It is so much more amazing to me everyday and more so than I can ever imagine. Thank you Jesus for your bleeding love!

As I listened to the rest of the song it also made me think of our relationship with Jesus. On how we are in life before we find Jesus and then once we find Him how society and life puts pressure on it. But like the song we need to not care what other say because we know the truth. Thank you again Jesus for what you have given us and the new life we have with you.

Here are the words to the song:

Bleeding Love

Closed off from love
I didn't need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you're frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melted into the ground
Found something true
And everyone's looking round
Thinking I'm going crazy

But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing's greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I'm going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it's draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I'll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

Love Steph

Have to do it, just for fun!

On Sunday, Steph Sherman, Mandy and I were talking about different songs. This song came up because Jack Perrin really likes it. I just had the chance to listen to the lyrics and it's a fun thought. Hope you enjoy and I hope it puts a smile on your Tuesday!



When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best

IHS,
Cammie