Walking by Faith: September 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Use Me!

So my pastor at Nall spoke a few weeks ago about giving and how we need not let our right hand know what our left hand is doing. And then this past week he spoke about storing up treasures in Heaven and how while we are on this earth we can still invest our time and money into programs and stuff that are making a difference in for the Kingdom of God. I was looking on the internet today for a poem for a friend of mine to read at church on Sunday, since I will be at home this weekend for Faith Promise, and the theme for Sunday is how everyone can be a missionary, and that where we are is a mission field, it was pretty perfect that I found the poem called The Chosen Vessel. I read this poem and reread it and it seemed as if were talking and summing up all the things I have heard in the last few weeks and what is in store for this weekend. I have seen people think that because they arent the poster child for christianity that they cant serve God or that he wont use them. I have also heard people say that they dont have the schooling required or the knowledge or the life experiences, and yet again God will use them. And again people can say Im too old or too young and we can make up excuses and make up excuses but when it comes down to it, God will still use us. He takes our brokenness and makes something beautiful out of it. My favorite quote is that God doesnt call the qualified he qualifies the called, and that is a quote that I have come to take on as some sort of motto in my own life. I think that we have to have a mindset of humility when we go to serve. This poem The Chosen Vessle really lays out a good picture of how our Master can chose the broken pot and make it into something BEAUTIFUL to serve.

THE CHOSEN VESSEL

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine
And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. There's work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.

B. V. Cornwall

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Beautiful

So we are doing Girls Group at the Youth Center and we have talked about self image ad it made me think that if we want them to feel good about themselves then I probably should too... and I tell ya what this song by Bethany Dillon is so powerful and uplifting. Read it and tell me what ya think!

I was so unique
Now I feel skin deep
I count on the make-up to cover it all
Crying myself to sleep cause I cannot keep their attention
I thought I could be strong
But it's killing me

Does someone hear my cry?
I'm dying for new life

[Chorus]
I want to be beautiful
Make you stand in awe
Look inside my heart,
and be amazed
I want to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
Just want to be worthy of love
And beautiful

Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me
Fighting to make the mirror happy
Trying to find whatever is missing
Won't you help me back to glory

[Chorus]

You make me beautiful
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart, and I am amazed
I love to hear You say
Who I am is quite enough
You make me worthy of love and beautiful

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

This is the Time of my Life

Well the last two weeks have been pretty boring, meetings and such at the center in preparation for center starting back up, which it actually starts back TODAY!!! I am super excited. I have been doing a lot of meetings and poster making the last few days in order to get things ready for today and I tell ya what those 12 hours of early childhood education are really paying off!

The big even from this past week was my wonderful trip to American Idol Concert at the Sprint Center. NOw of course I am living in KC and the winner of AI is from KC so it was pretty cool to be at the concert and Mr. Cooks homecoming celebration! It was awesome! We bought our tickets the day before the concert and were 1 section over from the stage and 13 rows back from the floor... AMAZING! Ill be posting picture at the end of the post! My favorite of the night was my future husband Jason Castro... and of course Chikezie was awesome, Archuleta and COOK!!!! But anyways after the concert we say in the parking garage for a little over 30-40 minutes it was horrible the roomie and I decided to take pictures of ourselves and our posters we bought of David Cook and Jason Castro, and Michel Johns. But thats pretty much been my last few weeks.. so its picture time... YA READY????

Chikezie- He was such a performer.. it was great!

Michel Johns - Mr Rocker himself.. that is one HOTT AUSSIE

Yeah so she looked right at us.. isnt this pic AWESOME! (Kristy Lee Cook)

Carly Smithson- All I can say is I went to the bathroom during one of her songs and she was so rocking I could hear everything she was saying word for word in the bathroom.. She was awesome!