Spiritual Economics

I recently began a couple online courses with UAF - still trying to finish up my Associate's degree. Should be completed by this summer, but I digress. One of the courses I am taking this spring is Macroeconomics. Last year I took Microecon and enjoyed it, so thought I would continue with it. Besides it doesn't require a lot of writing like my other course. To start off the semester, we are currently reviewing all the basics of economics. The entire basis of Economics is that every person makes choices and those choices interact and affect other people. My choices to buy, sell, trade, etc. in some way affect you. So everyone is in some way, big or small, affecting those around them. 

Mongolia 2007

So, this idea of how my life affects others has been on my mind.... Yesterday I was doing my devotions and I came across this verse - "For as by one man's disobedience many are made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19 The first man it is speaking of in the verse is Adam. Because of his disobedience, we all are born sinners. And the second half of the verse talks about Jesus, the Precious, Righteous Son of God who came to earth  to provide a way of salvation for us sinners! Praise His name! However, when I read this verse, the Lord impressed something upon my heart.... I am one. And if I as one person am obedient to the Lord's command of sharing the Truth of the Gospel, then through my life I too, can make a difference in others. Of course I can not save anyone from their sins, only God can do that. But remember in Romans 10:14 - "....and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?..."

If I don't share the Gospel, then how many people may not have the opportunity to trust the Lord for salvation? So my life does make a difference in other's lives. I pray that God will strengthen and embolden me to be a better witness for Him. And may you too, seek out those that God wants you to reach out to. 

God's Promises

This past weekend I heard from a friend that a young man I knew in California had gone to Glory Saturday night.  A few years back, he had had some heart problems, but all seemed be well for quite some time. Then Saturday night while he was out walking, he had a heart attack and died. He was just 22 years old. It was a little bit of a rough weekend to say the least. But I am comforted by the fact that I will see him again. For God's Word say that all those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal and only Saviour will live forever. Michael had done this, so I am confident that one day we will meet again up in heaven.

over the school building

God's promises are sure. I was reminded of that fact just this past Tuesday. I left the school building thinking of Michael, when I looked behind me, I saw the most vivid, vibrant rainbow I think I have ever seen. The rainbow is another of God's promises to mankind and it reminded me of all God's promises. Course I didn't have my camera with me that moment and be the time I walked to my house and got it, the rainbow wasn't as vivid. But here is a picture of it anyways. Within 15 minutes the rainbow had completely disappeared from the sky. But God's promises never fade!!! 

One Day at a Time!!!

The Lord has been impressing on my heart lately the fact that I only have today to live. I am such a planner. I love looking ahead in life and planning out what I want to do in a month or 6 months or even a year away. While there is nothing really wrong with that, sometimes it takes my focus off living today the way I should. 

I am not promised tomorrow, so I need to focus on living today in such a way that it brings glory to my Saviour's name. So many times, I think of things I want to accomplish in a new year, but big things are accomplished by doing little things first. For example, I am still working on a quilt that I started, oh about 6 years ago... That quilt as much as I'd like it to, is not completed all in one day. It takes many small steps to put it all together.

So, my verse for this month is Isaiah 28:10 - "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"

And my goal is to accomplish thing I've wanted to do for a long.... by simply LIVING TODAY!

some pics from last years trip to Lithuania

"as a tree planted by the river..."

Christmas break

Well in the past 24 days, I have traveled roughly 5 thousand miles through 16 states; visited numerous friends, made more friends, had all sorts of adventures, went to a wedding, ate way too much goodies [and chips (thanks Twyla)] :), took pictures and of course talked and talked. 

While I didn't get to go home this Christmas and be with my family, when you are part of God's family, it doesn't matter where you are. I was able to see old friends I hadn't see in years and spent Christmas day with some very amazing, close friends of mine, the Donleys. A few years back, I lived a winter with them, but wasn't able to be there for that Christmas, so we made up for it this year. :) Though I was a little disappointed that we didn't have a white holiday. I was all over the northeast and midwest and NO snow! what a shame. :) it is really weird for me to comprehend a December with no snow.