Verdict

    Indecision has been replaced with decision and uncertainty with certainty. Through a set of interesting circumstances and fleeces I have decided that my path isn’t going to be taking me away from my home this coming year. Rather then attending the fall session of AFCOE, I will be spending time with summer vacation and then returning to Spokane Falls Community College’s Institute for Extended Learning Colville Center. With thirty credits between me and my AA degree, this option seemed wise from a scholastic standpoint when a student doesn’t know what to do for further education.
    My parents are thrilled that I’m staying home. My sister is happy that I am going to be able to ride our horses together this summer and go to the fair. Faculty at my school are excited that I’m sticking around and already are suggesting I should speak for graduation next year. My science teacher is excited to have me be his fourth student to ever take all his classes. I am excited. Staying home alleviates the pain of separation from that which is familiar to me and and those that I love and like being around.
   The coming year will be a slow year in regards to school. I have two quarters of school in which I will spend three doing. I can’t wait for this experience! After taking an above average load for the course content I learned, I wore myself out this year. I pushed the upmost and suffered many colds because of it, but my grades shine bright as a token of hard work. God calls us to do our best, but we shouldn’t compromise health. I’m glad for this year's experiences, but I’m looking forward to what is ahead.
    A lot of my friends are disappointed that I choose to stay home. Some think it almost sinful that I stay at a public school. I’ll say one thing; I’m not in this world to please people. While I appreciate the counsel and wisdom of peers and adults, I’m not going to go to your school just because it’s where you are called to. God calls each of us to his own place, and I feel peace in knowing that God has given me the strength to stand in my amazing school and that He will continue to. I love my college dearly and am so thankful for the scholastic experiences, friendship-building experiences, and spiritual training I have gained from going here. For me it has been a precious time. I plan on using this coming year to make a difference in the lives of people I’ve come to respect and admire at school. I have a fire to make a difference for eternity. I feel compelled to not leave until I have shared the saving grace of Jesus with people I call friends that I want in Heaven.
    My photo for this post is of my best friend graduating! Although she has a bit to finish at the college too (she’s 5 credits ahead of me), she was able to walk up as a graduate this year. I’m so proud of her. She’s been a person of support in my journey through the community college and has become closer than ever because we have shared classes together, hard assignments together and prayed together. Having a friend like her has made a big difference in being able to stand firm to my convictions. Although our paths may take us different scholastic ways, I’ll ever be thankful for her at school.
    Thus, this is my choice for this coming year. Staying at home with my family, being at school as my sister continues to adjust and thrive, getting a job, tutoring in the subjects closest to my heart, cooking and cleaning, and enjoying my final year at home as never before. God doesn’t want us to be lazy and “comfortable”, but He also doesn’t want us kicked out into the world before we are adequately prepared for it. I’m glad to be staying home. How many near twenty-year-olds are lucky enough to be living at home still? :-)

June 17, 2011 Deborah Reeves' graduation at our college

Straddling the Fence with Indecision

I'm trying to decide on which option God would have me to do this coming year for school. I am very mixed in feeling, not knowing which choice is the right one. You see, I have these two options. One, I can go to AFCOE, which has many pros and really only a few cons, or I could stay at home and finish my AA degree at my local community college, which I dearly love. This option too has its strong points. I am unsure of the direction God is calling me for an occupation, so I don't have a driving factor telling me one way or the other. I'm on the fence right now. Yesterday I read some quotes that show me that I still must just trust in God to tell me which path to take.

"Many are unable to make definite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God’s children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8. – {Pr 226.2}

Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps. – {Pr 226.3}

Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will “keep the feet of His saints.” 1 Samuel 2:9. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.—(The Ministry of Healing, 478, 479.) – {Pr 226.4}

If you have given yourself to God, to do His work, you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow. He whose servant you are, knows the end from the beginning. The events of tomorrow, which are hidden from your view, are open to the eyes of Him who is omnipotent. – {Pr 226.5}

 

I don't want to make a large mistake. I know that my education is a serious thing. I want to pick the right option, since I have several very good ones to choice from. I'm trusting God to give me the wisdom I need to make this decision.

First the Friendship, Then the Seed

I’m a firm believer in personal evangelism. I’m not saying I’m trying to convert every person I meet. On the contrary, I’m not out to convert all my friends to being a Seventh-day Adventist. All I want to do is introduce each one to know my Jesus just a little more. But, I don’t think that the first thing I should say is “Hey, are you a Christian?”. Although I know this works very well for some acquaintances of mine who also do personal evangelism, my method is different.
First comes the friendship. How else do you expect someone to listen to you? How else will you get to know the needs of those around you? It’s through meeting the needs of the hungry, starving people in the world that trust is won. It’s through getting to know the kids at school, the adults, and the neighbors that you get to know humanity. To work as Christ worked is the way to reach souls for Him. He was a mingler, He was a helper, He was a servant of mankind. He worked with the people, they trusted Him and then He could share the truth about salvation.
In order for seeds to be sown, the ground must be prepared, and that comes by casting away the stones, taking out the weeds, and plowing the soil. So it is with hearts. First you must  get acquainted, find similarities, accept differences, respect what the other believes, and let them know you genuinely care. Then, spend time helping them, showing them you’re a friend. Pretty soon you’ll get to know this person, call each other friends. It’s friends that share with one another. You can help your friend in his weak areas and you’ll often be surprised to find that he helps you in yours.
The season has to be just right in order to plant. If it’s too early, a frost may freeze your seeds. The soil must be the right temperature. You, as the gardener, must carefully watch and take caution not to sow too soon. If you try to “evangelize” someone not prepared to open up and listen, you could do more harm than good. Although a seed, once planted, has the potential to germinate in the future, it is best to wait until the conditions are just right.
I don’t go door to door on a regular basis canvassing books or passing out tracts. I’ve done a bit of both. Both are tools that God uses. I don’t preach too many evangelistic series; in fact, I’ve only preached one, and that to children. God uses these, too, in mighty ways. I don’t sell my music or make CDs of scripture and religious songs to reach out to the emotions of those listening. It’s not too be doubted that God works through music; He does. I don’t do too much of these forms of evangelism. Instead, I believe in meeting people on their own ground. I would rather be a missionary than a preacher, I’d rather be a friend than a upfront musician. That’s why I feel that God can use me wherever I am. He has blessed me with many friends. Many don’t believe just like I do. I’m not out to convert them to my exact faith. I’m simply trying to be a tool that God can use to prepare for His soon coming harvest. How about you? Anyone can do personal evangelism. If you love Jesus, share Him when He says the time is right to plant the seed.

Friendships are to help each other grow

Set-Apart for My Prince

        A bookmark lies within the crisp pages of a book. Both objects hold special meaning to me, for they were gifts from one friend; the Korean bookmark a birthday present from one of my closest friends, and the book a gift of suggestion by the same friend. Both are tied together, both belong together; two items connected by warm memories of a friendship and the one a promotor a friendship with my Heavenly Price, the Lord Jesus.
       As I lay awake thinking last night, I pulled out my copy of Authentic Beauty and began to read. This book is about about how I can be a set-apart young women in a world where setting aside my heart and life for a mortal man is rare but where committing my life to the service, love and devotion of my heavenly Prince is rarer still. I have heard this call before, but I have been re-inspired to commit once again my life to the service and absolute surrender to my heavenly Prince. Our declining world does not know the transforming love of my Prince, I must share Him. I can represent Him by purity to Him, and Him alone. It’s like a call as in the days of old where men and women of faith and valor stood up for their faith despite the world around them. Last night God called me to stand up for representing Him to the world as a set-apart young woman. Through cultivating my relationship with Him, I will in turn be more like Him. A call to be set-apart from the world while living in the world is a call He extends to all that hear His voice. Come unto Him and He will give you rest. The promises of the Lord are sure and strong. He giveth peace to have complete faith and rest in His good judgments. He desires to make you the happiest young women, the happiest young man in the whole world. Set aside your life to complete lily-whiteness in Him. Although I know I have much more to learn, I have peace with the direction that my life may go. I know that He is there, leading me, wooing me to Him more and more.
        God grants earthly friendship so we can encourage one another. I praise the Lord with all my soul for the blessing of my friend Melissa. God placed this soft-spoken South African gem in my life to help me see my need of set-apartness for my God and He has blessed  me with a precious friendship with her. God inspired writers with messages for young people today. Melissa has been a catalyst for my new found love of the Ludys’ books and I thank her for the precious books that I now posses, because they have already impacted my life.

Every Stranger ... An Opportunity

You can judge a book by it's cover, but don't you dare judge a person by theirs. Under every face there rest feelings and a personality; it's your job to uncover them.

Each person you meet is a human just like you. Under every face is a potential friend, whether either of you recognize the fact. Every stranger is an opportunity. The quiet soul has a story to tell if you take the time to learn his language. Even the loud, out-going person truly longs to stop his hurried course and take the time to have someone listen who really cares. It's your responsibility to be stewards of the trusts of your brother. Each man and women you ever meet is part of your opportunity to make a difference. Be the friend that cares. Be the listening ear and the soft shoulder. Let your Jesus shine through you. Change the world, one soul at a time.

Trust It All?

Don't you know that feeling of "trust it all to you Lord?" It's an interesting place to be in, but very necessary in learning to acknowledge Christ's leading for all areas of our lives. I can bring this point home to my scholastic education (I know, the example is getting old, but it's very real in my life right now). I don't suffer from test anxiety too much because I try my best to learn the info before the day of the test. However, there's that feeling of "I don't know if I can do this!" that I always get. This Monday I took my first microbiology test of the spring quarter. Right before going in to take it, I walked the perimeter of my small college building and just prayed. By the time I got to the theatre, where I test, I'd finally let God take my concern about my test score.
I've grown accustomed having the highest scores in all of my classes, and I've been feeling like perhaps that status is getting to me. God was calling to my heart to surrender even my desire to do the best in class. Wasn't doing my best for Him enough? To a heart that loves doing things well, that was a hard call. To someone who has grown used to having something one way, to seeing hard work pay off with confirmation for a favorite teacher, it is hard to trust it all to the Lord. Yet, trusting it all to the Lord, leaning not upon my own understanding is a fact that I must remember and a point that God so graciously reminded me of. Why do I doubt His good intentions? After all, when I do my best for Him, He has never ever failed me. It's through Him that my good grades have always come, and it's through Him that I had victory over some pride I've been harboring. I want to recommit my works unto the Lord, to trust in Him with all my heart, for my understanding is only short-shortsightedly human. With His power I can do anything, not of myself, but through Him! Praise be to the Lord!

Poured Out Their Hearts

There’s one thing that is crucial to having a successful walk, and that is prayer. This past week I was able to attend a prayer vigil for a friend’s healing and church unity. Thirty-nine people sat together and poured their heartfelt prayer out to the Lord. By asking for God to take every sin away we prayed, and I know His Spirit was there with us. Knowing that all things work together for good as Romans 8:28 says we went forward in faith asking that it be the Lord’s will that He heal Ben. We have faith and trust that God will heal him- be it immediately, down the road, or in the future. One day he’ll have a brand new body and stand before the thrown of God praising His name. I love having the witness of many godly friends and adults to cheer me on my walk. The trials and afflictions of this world aren’t easy, but each one is a test to make us more like Christ, more like Him Whose love is so deep, so vast beyond what we can even begin to fathom. I want to move forward with a prayer in my heart all the time and believe without a doubt that God will take care of me.

1 John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."