System of a PRAISE!

I can't help but spread this and I just want this person to know that I thank them soo much. This person did something ridiculously out of the norm and provided something that they may not have known how much it affected me.

I've been struggling with finances quite a bit lately. It's no mystery that I was out of a job for around a month. As long as I kept track of things, I could get by with my parents sending me money now and again. I know it's difficult for them and I don't like asking for money at all. It isn't a sense of pride at all but a sense of humility in that I don't think I should ask someone for some help when I don't deserve it. Just recently my bank accounts started to have problems. With my Bank of America account, a gas purchase that I did one month ago FINALLY went through. This put me below what I had in my account and I accrued a 35 dollar fine. So my account there sat at -44.79 or something like that. My Regions account had a fraudulent charge from an online company and I got it canceled only to find out I couldn't get a refund. My account there sat at -11.00 for one day. If I didn't find a way to get something over that amount in there, I would accrue another 33.00 dollar fine.

Now I have my truck payment coming up soon and I will only get around 17 hours this week plus tip sharing. That would average out to be enough for my truck payment but not enough to do anything more with it. Next month I have a Sallie Mae student loan payment due and I didn't think I'd get all my financial stuff sorted out in time for that payment. Not only that, but when we had our missions conference, God laid it on my heart to promise 10 bucks every week. I signed the card and turned it in at that time with no hope of a job but personally knowing that if our God is as big as we say He is; as faithful, then He'll provide.

Over Alumni Days a guy named Jeremy sat across the table from me and we started talking. He started talking about how I needed to see a movie and then handed me 10 bucks. I found it more profitable to instead use it as my Faith Promise (I know, but I wanted to stay committed to God's goal for me). This next week, I had no clue how I was going to put that amount in the offering. A couple of nights ago I laid in my bed after I called the company to cancel my subscription to whatever was filled out with my info. That inner voice that always taunted me began talking about the situation I was in, offering all the facts and problems that were mounting up. I then just audibly spoke up and said, "Shut up! Just shut up! God will provide! I have faith!" That thing shut up and I fell right to sleep.

The next morning I woke up and went to my mailbox and got some assignments I turned in. One of which was a Missions Conference project. I got an "A" on it and the professor wrote that he'd like to keep it (I also designed a shirt to go with it). I was pretty thrilled about that. After my first class I went back to my box to check to see if my Book of Mormon or Boy Meets Girl came in. I found a paper with the list of graduation requirements and went to my second class. Graduation is soooo close and it's frightening yet awesome all at once. Before chapel I went to my box again (Yeah, I check it all the time if I'm expecting something). Someone put an envelop in my box and I took it out and it simply just had my name on it.

I went to chapel and opened the envelope... let's just say that someone graciously decided to follow the will of God and put quite a few 20's in it. I said to myself, "You're kidding me, right?" I looked in it again... the same amount... no card or anything that would let me know who it was from. I clinched my teeth together and then I started silently crying right there in that auditorium. I walked out and went to the bathroom and started balling my head off and praising God. All throughout our songs, I couldn't concentrate on singing them at all... I just stood there with tears streaming down my face.

The debt from my Regions account was paid before the fine went through. The Bank of America debt was paid off. And I had enough left over to just keep in my account except for 10-- my Faith Promise Missions. That inner voice hasn't said anything since. Even while writing this I still gather tears.

Today, I woke up with strep throat. I needed some medicine bad, so after I saw the nurse I went and got some. That person gave me enough to cover the medication too and a bottle of orange juice. I still have enough for gas to get to church on Sunday.

I recall that little card that someone gave me with my now life verses on them-- Proverbs 3:5-6. They said they simply prayed for me that day. Little did they know that I was struggling with my faith in God at that time period. I don't know if this person knew what I was going through... but there was no way they'd possibly know it would be enough to cover medication and gas and my Faith Promise Missions. Whoever these people are, they follow the guiding of the Spirit when it may seem unreasonable at times. What they will find though, is that God knows what He's doing.

I wrote this to give praise and glorify God, I wrote this to thank whoever did this, and I wrote this to encourage you... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Thank you, and God bless.

The Neglectfulness of a Man and the Fall of the Woman

Genesis 3:1- "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

2- "And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:"

3- "But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."

4- "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"

5- "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

6- "And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

When anyone approaches this passage for maybe the first few times, they will see the first initial sin of disobedience. Disobedience was key in the decision Eve and Adam made; however, there arrives a bigger picture and more to the story. The sins we can find just in this portion refer to deception, lying, pride, lust of the eyes, and rebellion against God's word.

I would like to focus on one very key important aspect that not too many people have realized. Take a look back at verse 6 and see if you can figure out what I'm talking about in relation to the title of this blog. It is apparent that Adam was "with" her during the process of Satan's misleading. However, a disgusting portrayal without any holding back to details needs to be explained here. I hope that you can take my explicit language and use it to figure out what the caliber of the situation is that is occurring in this passage.

Satan shows up to mislead (evidentially) and destroy the personal relationship between God and His most cherished creations. Satan has been at it for some time; trying to put himself above God and destroy everything He desires and love. What is about to occur in this scene is grotesque to the sight of God. Note that we can only serve one of two masters and that is either Satan, or God who created and loves us. When we serve Satan it is the biggest slap in the face to God and an act equivalent to that of adultery. God describes this idea in a metaphor of the Children of Israel becoming a whore to other nations and gods.

What Satan intended on doing was to spiritually rape what God had between Adam and Eve and destroy the relationship. Satan is best described as similar to that of a child molester who uses the treat of a candy to entice an unknowing victim into his clutches so he can destroy them. Now picture this, the molester comes to entice the woman away from God and her husband is standing right there. What is wrong with this picture in concern with what is about to happen? The man doesn't step up and protect his wife!

Of course now you must be asking me, 'How would you give advice on marriage even though you aren't even close to the event yourself.' True, I don't have first-hand experience in the practice of marriage. However, I have two things that I believe help qualify what I have to say. First and foremost, when the Holy Spirit speaks through one, then it is God who has the wisdom and authority, not me. Secondly, I've spent my whole life watching my dad and mother together. From obvious observation, I'm able to conclude common sense and godly disciplines.

Good godly men will step up to help their wife in this kind of situation. Now Adam did not have experience with the idea before, life was perfect. But if a man is walking that close to God, he should know a thing or two about stepping in to take care of business. Of course this was a different time, and they were both responsible for their choices; however, if it wasn't for the fact that Satan sought them out particularly for the commencing of this despicable act then the events afterward would have never taken place. With this idea though, a million what-if's can come to mind.

We can learn from this as men, though. If you are married, about to, or eventually will; take into account what happened in the garden. The primary focus of a man should be first on God, then on his wife. He should focus on the spiritual development of his wife and help her when she needs lifting up in various areas. The wonderful relationship of husband and wife is a unification under God to help keep each other accountable consistently, build each other up, and protect each other from temptation.

Men, love your wives. Help them become the godliest woman she can possibly become. Men, constantly yearn for and fight for your wife. Help her get through the struggles of trials and temptations. The man who is trusting in the Lord with all his heart will find the paths that He directs him on. These paths will include being a strong male figure for your wife. I say this as an outsider, you are blessed to have who you have. Constantly pursue her and God and you will find that the relationship that will continue on from that point will be greater then anything this world can throw at you,