When I think of the color pure white, I usually think of a white linen cloth, a cloth that has no spots, no stains, and no discoloration. It's just....well, it's white.
Here lately it seems like everyone in Togo feels the need to tell me I am "Pure white." One man in the market described me like this, "You are not yellow. You are pure white." He also said that being "Pure white" was beautiful. So, I decided to take it as a compliment instead of an insult. :) Then, the other day a lady told me I was "Pure white" again. This time though I don't think she meant it as a compliment. So, I thought well, maybe I do need to get a little sun. lol I wasn't really upset or hurt that she was telling me I was too white. I was more or less amused. lol When you really thing about it, it is funny.
But, the more I thought about it the more I realized. Yes, I am "Pure white,” not only physically, but spiritually. You see, I have had the opportunity to grow up in an Apostolic home my whole life. I have never had to experience the real evils of the world. My past is "Pure white."
One year I was at youth camp, and a lady gave her awesome testimony about how she was in the world, but Jesus forgave her and brought her back into church. As I sat and listened to her I began to think, "WOW! What an awesome testimony she has. She did all of these things, and then came back to church and found forgiveness. Her testimony will really touch someone's life." But, I have never done anything like that. How can my testimony touch someone when I've never done anything?
(Please note: I am not saying that I want to go out into the world! :))
But, I realized that is the beauty of it. I have a clean slate that is just waiting to be used for the glory of God. I have a whole "Pure white" life to give to Jesus! That my friend is just as powerful as someone who has found forgiveness! My testimony although different can still touch someone's life. I can still tell other teens who have grown up in church and are wondering the same thing I was (do I have a testimony) that you DO have a testimony for Jesus.
Our testimony is of His amazing grace. It's of his anointing on our lives. It's of his blessings, of his keeping us from the things of the world! Our testimony is of being "Pure white!" It's a testimony of Jesus giving us the strength to stand strong for Him! "Pure white" is still an awesome testimony for out King!!!
Maybe you are sitting here reading this blog thinking, "I don't have a "Pure white" testimony. I wasn't privileged to grow up in this truth." Please let me tell you that when you asked Jesus Christ to forgive you, you were baptized in Jesus name and you received the gift of the Holy Ghost.....HE WIPED YOUR PAST CLEAN! He gave you a clean slate and a "Pure white" past. Jesus paid the price for your guilt and shame!
Rejoice because you have a "Pure white" testimony! Be glad that Jesus has given you a life to give to Him!!! I sure am! :)
I am trying to figure out a way to give the pastor telling me I have a "Squeaky voice" a spiritual twist for my next blog! lol ;)
3/31/2010
2/21/2010
Mark 14:37-38
"And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."
We know that when Jesus asked His disciples who men said He was, that Peter stood up and declared He was Lord. Jesus then gave Peter a promise and a warning. "Apon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail." The promise....but, He also gave Peter a warning, "Before the cock crows 3 time you shall denie me 3 times."
In the scripture we read that Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane his disciples were with Him. Jesus had gone off by himself to pray. He had left his disciples to pray. When Jesus came back to check on the disciples they were asleep. He then spoke to them..But, I find it very interesting that when He first came back, Jesus did not speak to all of the disciples. He first spoke to Peter. The same one He had warned earlier.
Could it have been that this was Peter's chance to be strengthened in the Lord. What would have happened if Peter had chose to pray instead of sleep? Would He still have denied Christ? Maybe just maybe Jesus was giving Peter a chance to strengthen his flesh. But, instead Peter slept through it.
Don't miss your chance to be strengthened! Jesus is waiting there to pour out some strength to you. Go get it!
"And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."
We know that when Jesus asked His disciples who men said He was, that Peter stood up and declared He was Lord. Jesus then gave Peter a promise and a warning. "Apon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail." The promise....but, He also gave Peter a warning, "Before the cock crows 3 time you shall denie me 3 times."
In the scripture we read that Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane his disciples were with Him. Jesus had gone off by himself to pray. He had left his disciples to pray. When Jesus came back to check on the disciples they were asleep. He then spoke to them..But, I find it very interesting that when He first came back, Jesus did not speak to all of the disciples. He first spoke to Peter. The same one He had warned earlier.
Could it have been that this was Peter's chance to be strengthened in the Lord. What would have happened if Peter had chose to pray instead of sleep? Would He still have denied Christ? Maybe just maybe Jesus was giving Peter a chance to strengthen his flesh. But, instead Peter slept through it.
Don't miss your chance to be strengthened! Jesus is waiting there to pour out some strength to you. Go get it!
10/11/2009
Noises can't hurt!
Isaiah 9:5
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but, this shall be with burning and fuel of fire."
Pay special attention to the first part of that verse. "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise."
Isaiah 37:5-7
"5: So the servant of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6: And Isaiah said unto them, thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid OF THE WORDS THAT THOU HAST HEARD where with the servants of King Assyria have blasphemed me. 7: Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and HE SHALL HEAR A RUMOUR, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."
Have you ever wondered why in a football just as the player is trying to make a hard decision fast the fans of the other team start going nuts? When LSU is playing and this happens I get mad. Because you know that the NOISE is most likely distracting the player. Why is that? Something as simple as a noise scares the mess out of us? Can a noise hurt us? Can they come over and physically injure us in any way? So why then are we so scared of them?
As I was reading in Isaiah tonight, the story of King Hezekiah stood out to me. I had read Isaiah 9:5 a few weeks earlier and that spoke volumes to me. When I read this story of the King, the two kind of clicked in my head. Hezekiah was being scared by the noises of Sennacherib. If you read the whole story you see that he kept going before the throne of God. (Another blog for another day.) Finally, the Lord basically told him "Don't be scared by all these noises. I am going to scare Sennacherib with a noise and he will be killed on his own land."
Okay, if this is making no sense to you......I am about to try to bring it all together. Hang in there! :D
So many times the devil comes in and whispers words of defeat in our ear, and we just go plain chicken! I know because I am so guilty!!! He'll come in and tell me something and right then and there I have heart failure. Then, when my parents try to calm me down and get to the bottom of it, they are like, "Hannah what is your problem? You know the devil lies. So, why do you believe him?" Then, a light comes on in my head and it all makes sense! HB, it's just a NOISE! Here is the thing I have learned about noises....are you ready? This is powerful. LOL THEY CAN"T HURT YOU! WOW! So, are you telling me that the very thing that I am losing sleep over can't even hurt me? THAT'S RIGHT! Maybe I am the only one that got hit in the head with this realization, but to me this is powerful. The noise is a distraction. That's all it can do is distract!
So, quit worrying about the noise. Go get some rest! God is on your side!!!
Love yas.....HB
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but, this shall be with burning and fuel of fire."
Pay special attention to the first part of that verse. "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise."
Isaiah 37:5-7
"5: So the servant of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6: And Isaiah said unto them, thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid OF THE WORDS THAT THOU HAST HEARD where with the servants of King Assyria have blasphemed me. 7: Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and HE SHALL HEAR A RUMOUR, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."
Have you ever wondered why in a football just as the player is trying to make a hard decision fast the fans of the other team start going nuts? When LSU is playing and this happens I get mad. Because you know that the NOISE is most likely distracting the player. Why is that? Something as simple as a noise scares the mess out of us? Can a noise hurt us? Can they come over and physically injure us in any way? So why then are we so scared of them?
As I was reading in Isaiah tonight, the story of King Hezekiah stood out to me. I had read Isaiah 9:5 a few weeks earlier and that spoke volumes to me. When I read this story of the King, the two kind of clicked in my head. Hezekiah was being scared by the noises of Sennacherib. If you read the whole story you see that he kept going before the throne of God. (Another blog for another day.) Finally, the Lord basically told him "Don't be scared by all these noises. I am going to scare Sennacherib with a noise and he will be killed on his own land."
Okay, if this is making no sense to you......I am about to try to bring it all together. Hang in there! :D
So many times the devil comes in and whispers words of defeat in our ear, and we just go plain chicken! I know because I am so guilty!!! He'll come in and tell me something and right then and there I have heart failure. Then, when my parents try to calm me down and get to the bottom of it, they are like, "Hannah what is your problem? You know the devil lies. So, why do you believe him?" Then, a light comes on in my head and it all makes sense! HB, it's just a NOISE! Here is the thing I have learned about noises....are you ready? This is powerful. LOL THEY CAN"T HURT YOU! WOW! So, are you telling me that the very thing that I am losing sleep over can't even hurt me? THAT'S RIGHT! Maybe I am the only one that got hit in the head with this realization, but to me this is powerful. The noise is a distraction. That's all it can do is distract!
So, quit worrying about the noise. Go get some rest! God is on your side!!!
Love yas.....HB
9/21/2009
Joy in the Morning....
I have never really realized the connection to "The morning" until now. Mom and I are doing a non-denominational Bible study entitled "A Women's Heart" with some of the missionary wives here in Togo. Beth Moore is the writer of this study. It is absolutely wonderful! In these last few lessons she has brought some things into focus that I would like to share with you all.
The Manna was rained down with the dew in the morning. The Israelites had to RISE EARLY to get it because, it melted away with the day. When the Lord gave the Israelites a chance to bless Him, (when they brought their gifts for the Tabernacle) they brought their gifts in the morning! OKAY Here's the coolest part.......Jesus died in the evening right?!?!!?!?! BUT, HE ROSE IN THE MORNING! WOW! What a connection....There's just something about the morning! It brings refreshing, newness......What am I missing by not getting up and COLLECTING my Manna every morning? Just thought I would share this inspiration with you!
Love to all.....HB
The Manna was rained down with the dew in the morning. The Israelites had to RISE EARLY to get it because, it melted away with the day. When the Lord gave the Israelites a chance to bless Him, (when they brought their gifts for the Tabernacle) they brought their gifts in the morning! OKAY Here's the coolest part.......Jesus died in the evening right?!?!!?!?! BUT, HE ROSE IN THE MORNING! WOW! What a connection....There's just something about the morning! It brings refreshing, newness......What am I missing by not getting up and COLLECTING my Manna every morning? Just thought I would share this inspiration with you!
Love to all.....HB
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