Quick read

Well just wanted to share a quick read that really spoke and encouraged my heart, from my book "One Month to Live" so here it goes:

"I'm reminded of a little boy who found a chrysalis on a branch. He thought it was moving, then saw a butterfly, so he took out his pocketknife to help the butterfly avoid the struggle. He cut open the chrysalis, pulled out the butterfly, and held it in his hand, expecting it to fly away. But it didn't move, and within minutes the butterfly was dead. When the challenge to emerge from the chrysalis was removed, the butterfly's opportunity to strengthen its wings was denied. With only weak, wet wings, the butterfly was unable to survive. It needed to struggle in order to soar, and we also need struggles in order to soar. There is no way that we can be changed from the inside out without problems."

Are you selling your PURITY?

Hebrews 12:16

“Be careful that no one takes part in sexual sin or is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal.”

·      As I was at the hospital reading this, the Holy Spirit just spoke to my heart and said, “Are you selling your PURITY?” wow what a question. Never has the story of Esau become so real and so relevent. My generation has different voices speaking into their lives about purity. In church purity or sex is something that isn’t heard or spoken about because it’s BAD, But if the church aint going to speak about that stuff then the world will, and what the world is preaching is not what God intended Purity to be. Are we selling our purity for a simple morsel of pleasure?

·      I’ll always remember Kris Valottons message about purity and the main thing that stuck with me is that “we need to FIGHT for our purity.” Sometimes we overlook that, and think that purity just comes along. Trust me purity doesn’t come easy it’s a battle and sometimes we do let our guard down and that’s when we hurt the most. That question has really been bothering me, “are you selling your PURITY?” The enemy will always make that morsel of pleasure look better than it really is. I started to think about my future. My purity isn’t just for me, but it’s also for my future wife. I guess to explain my application I”ll let scripture speak for me, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” –Eph. 5:3 Not even a HINT!

·      My God help me to live out Ephesians 5:3, let there not be a hint of sexual immorality or any other impurity. God give me strength to say no to the quick and easy pleasures that the enemy lays out for me, so I can say yes to the grand feast that you have set before me. There is to much in stake, I don’t want to sell my purity.

Graduation

Wow my kids are graduating! haha, not really my kids but the kids i used to work with at Jumpstart. As soon as we came through the doors, their eyes widened, their smiles grew, they were just so excited to see us (jumpstart team) I guess that saying is true,"you never know how much you really miss someone until they're gone." It's been around 3 months since i haven't seen these little kids, they mean so much to me. I remember when i first started that job. There was a flyer in the class and it read: "want to change a life?" as i read that i knew i wanted to work there. I went in there not knowing nothing about dealing with kids but came out with alot. It's funny because i went in there thinking i was going to be the teacher, but they taught me so much about life. So to the Sojourner Truth graduating class of 2008 i want to say thank you all: Tarika Heinz, Ella Too, Hanyiah Hamilton, Lanyiah Richardson, Maria Westergen, Jeremiah Cross, Nicklas Sprivey, Tony James Harper, and Semaj Jefferson. I wonder what will become of these kids? and i hope that i could have impacted them in a small way.

Combo Conclusion Update

Santz is sleepy so he asked me to write on his blog - and I'm honored! :)

Well, today we carried out the combo conclusion - Troy, me & Santz closed up P Ant's sermon this morning. WOW. It was more than I expected. I was so scared and nervous to speak because I NEVER do it, but I knew God would tell me what to say approximately 5 minutes beforehand - and He did. The boys hecka tore it up - I love seeing Santz pumped up & doing what he is called to do. In the end, P Ant summed it up best - "I just feel like we did what we were supposed to do." Lives were changed, hearts were encouraged, and vision was reignited. We did what we were supposed to do. We're on the right track.

- Amanda (Santos' other half)