Reflection of Providence

No, not actual crap or snot…I’m not that gross. These are the adjectives that I use when I’m frustrated about having to do something that I know I have to do and just don’t want to do it. Back in February I signed back up to Netflix. When I worked at B&N I had had this WONDERFUL service for over a year and when I began making less and less money I soon had to drop it always intending to go back. Now, you know how much I love movies and always will I guess. However, I saw myself getting back into my old patterns of life. My old thought processes, my old escapes, my old desires, and I was rebelling against God. Oh, I was going through the motions…tithing, church, service, work. All in all on the outside I looked like a good little church going Christian. On the inside however I was crumbling. When I signed up for Netflix I had this strong feeling that God didn’t want me too, but I brushed it off and thrilled myself at the thought of this new venture. Ever since I have not had a peace...

It has been a long while since I have written just something about me on my blog, so I thought I would catch you up on what has been going on in my life. There is a lot of hope in the air and I’m anticipating greatness. The first thing is as of this Saturday I’m completely debt free. PRAISE GOD! I told God that I didn’t want to move unless I was out of debt, so the first step in the right direction. My heartbeat is still for Asheville, but I’m praying for what God wants. I’m no longer going to fight, in fact for awhile I’ve laid down and died…no more of that either. I want to live. We are to live fully until Jesus comes. I want to praise and serve while I’m waiting. I’m excited. I feel the trimmer in the air, and I’m anticipating the horizon. Whatever may come I will serve. I’m so blessed beyond measure to have people who get me and love me and support me. I know without friends, family, church family I would have long ago given up. This Sunday we had the Lord’s Supper at church. It tr...

I, Patrick, as sinner, am the most ignorant and of least account among the faithful, despised by many…It was not any grace in me, but God who is victorious in me and resisted them all, so that I came to the Irish people to preach the gospel and to bear insults from unbelievers, to hear the scandal of my travels, and to endure many persecutions even to the extent of prison; so that I surrender my liberty as a man of free condition for the profit of others, and if I should be found worthy, I am ready to give even my life for His name’s sake unfalteringly, gladly, and without hesitation; and there(in Ireland) I desire to spend it until I die, if our Lord should grant it to me. I owe it to God’s grace that so many people should through me be born again in God…But I implore those who believe in and fear God, whoever consents to examine or receive this document composed by the obviously unlearned sinner Patrick in Ireland, that no one shall ever credit to me even the smallest of things that ...

Psalm 84 For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. [a] 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah 9 Look upon our shield...

I LOVE a good story... I am drawn and captivated by a simplistic truth to storytelling. I ache to see the richness of human souls displayed, be it a painting, a song, a sculpture, or all too often,…a film. Penelope is such a film. I was undone by the simplistic beauty of this film. This is what a fairytale is meant to be, this is what a folktale is meant to evoke, a place where all hop-toads are prince charming and all chamber maids are princesses. The perception of physical beauty is never found without, but within. The character of a human being can be changed by seeing belief in another person’s eyes. You are always more capable of being so much more than what most believe you possess, even yourself. However, this movie is far from self-love. It is more about self-confidence and being the creation, while God is not mentioned, that you were intended to be. Why wallow with the pigs when you were meant to dine with the King. This film is short, tender, and precious. A movie that Mothe...

It’s found in a four-year old boy telling you that you are beautiful enough to marry a King. It is found in holding a new and precious life in your hands. It is found in snow sparkling against the sun’s sacred touch. It is found in a sister telling you that you are made for something more. It is found in a Mom and Dad driving you to and from work. It is found in a stranger’s smile or a child’s laughter. A lullaby sung sweetly, a prayer prayed quietly, a journey well lived… …There are miracles that abound each and every day in our lives. I will stop to smell the roses. I will stand still enough to let Him move. I will praise and serve while I wait. The adventure is coming. I’m dusting off my fear caked clothes and setting my eyes toward the horizon. Look and see the sun is coming up. It is a new day…let all of us rejoice in His miracles. 15-17Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man's sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separat...

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10: 38-42 Have you ever loved a piece of scripture for many years and sort of accepted the meaning of it from what others told you and what you yourself believed only to find that God wanted to reveal more…this is such a verse. I have known and do know many Martha’s. I can be a Martha. I so often get consumed in duty out of fear and belief that this is what is ...