Humor, Haiti, Africa, Sin, Idols

My title is about all the major thoughts and lessons that the Lord has shown me today. 

First I want to tell you about Humor.  I went to Covenant Life Church this morning to just get away from some distractions. It was kind of nice not to be known and just sit and worship the Lord, in a way, by myself. C.J. Mahaney spoke today which was an extra special treat. He is one of my favorite pastor's. He spoke on "Don't Waste Your Humor". It was really great and practical. The thing that I got most from it was that we, as Christians, should have an everlasting humor/joy because of what Christ has done for us. We can have Gospel centered, Christ honoring humor and laughter because we have been set free!! Why shouldn't we have that kind of humor. I mean, it's rightfully ours. I called my family on my way home from church and it was another thing to praise the Lord for. My sister got a job!!! I think I'm more excited about this than she is. She got a job at Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg. LCA is from Liberty University which is my current online school. She is going to be the new high school counselor. So that was great news! And...my brother is moving out of the house too!! He got an apartment in Charrolttsville (I can't spell that one for the life of me). He and Mandi are moving out at the end of July. I'm just so excited for them both! And I'm excited for my parents. They can finally have the house to themselves! And I'm excited that I'll have family not that far away from me. It'll be nice to have them kind of close. So that was my Sunday.

Haiti, Africa, Sin:

Tonight was great to be with my regular church family again! I did miss them this morning, but really felt like I needed to get away. Some of our elders, Jonathan Leeman and Matt Schmukar went on a trip for 9 Marks to South Africa and they were giving a report about it tonight. I was reminissing on my time that I spent in Haiti for a week in 2004. The picture above is from my trip in 04 at one of the vacation bible schools we did in the mountains.  I really began to miss Haiti and wish so badly that I could go back again someday soon. I absolutely LOVED it there! and I loved being with the kids. I really want to go on a missions trip again soon, but then I go back to the road block of my school work and how I really have to focus on that and get that done first. Going on a missions trip after I'm done with school...after a long awaited trip to the beach first to relax. ;o)

My church goes regularly to East Asia for missions trip and I would love to go with them someday, but I can't until school is done. YUCK! I would love to visit Africa someday though. 

I would give up all this facade and shallow, materialistic America to go to a country like Haiti. I was convicted tonight as I was getting ready for church. (ps. I'm about to let you into my shallow life for a few minutes...this is scarey...but this is the reason for my blog) I was getting ready for church and trying on different outfits because I wanted to look nice so that I would look nice on the outside and like I have it all together. AH!!! Jenny!! Church is not there for ME! I am going to church to glorify the Lord and to edify the body of Christ. What foolishness was I thinking!! Does every girl do that? Are we all like that, that we are so concerned about how we are dressing to impress people, but not willing to prepare our hearts for our King? So I wanted to wear a really nice shirt I had gotten from Banana Republic (ps. I NEVER shop there and I feel guilt that I got something from there) and my white shorts...and it looked really cute. But then I was convicted about making it all about my appearance and not the Lord. So I quickly changed my shirt and put on a plain old polo and my glasses. Don't get me wrong. It's totally fine to wear nice clothes, but my heart attitude was completely wrong about it. I wanted to wear them so I would be recognized and so I would look good. I didn't want to glorify the Lord with it. I was selfish. Praise God that he has saved me from my sinfulness!! I am reminded that God is not surprised by my sinfulness either. He knows that I'm selfish. That's why he died for me. Phew! 

Idols:

Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Ouch. Yes, ouch. I was thinking about this verse tonight in church (I promise, I was also paying attention to the message), but my mind wandered to a conversation that I had with a friend the other night at our block party. I was explaining to him why I was going to Covenant Life for church on Sunday and was said that I had an idol in my heart. Ouch. Yeah, he was right. The Lord was kind and reminded me of this verse tonight so I began to ask myself what do I talk about? What is the main subject of my conversations? Are they God honoring? Well, no. Most of the time I am talking about a certain guy or myself. I am asking the other person about how they are doing. I am not thinking about how I can best care for them. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." What's in my heart? Is the Lord taking first priority in it? Am I cultivating eternal thoughts? Am I hiding God's Word in my heart? THAT should be what is in my heart because that will overflow out of my mouth. I have noticed that I have not been myself lately. I can blame it on school work and stress that is going on and worrying alot about things. I could really justify it. But really, it's all sin. It's my idols that are keeping me from the Lord, but it's not just my idols...it's ME that is keeping the idols around. Does that make sense? I have made a committment to the Lord that before I start on any school work I will get into the Word for a little bit. Those of you who know me and are reading this...keep me accountable to this. I really need more time with the Lord. This will make my idols diminish and the rightful owner of my heart will take his rightful spot. 

I just want to leave you with this verse that I came across tonight. You know, I absolutely LOVE the Psalms. David was such an emotional guy and you can definitely see it in the Psalms. He often wondered where the Lord was in his trials, but always praised God for something at the end of his chapters. This one passage is a good example of that: 

Psalm 13:5-6

5- BUT I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6- I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. 

♥