Blog posts

037 Michelle’s Journey – Maturing in Jesus

February 1, 2012

January was a month of great intensity for me. I began the year with a determination to read the bible through in 30 days. Now, I think it’ll take me another five days to finish up since I lost time attending to unforeseen circumstances. While committing to walk through this kind of a fast for [...]

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044 – Joshua’s Journal – Confront Before Comfort

February 1, 2012

**As I have been struggling in my personal and spiritual life, I have decided to take a 60 day sabbatical from journaling and from hosting events** I recently changed my Facebook profile picture to represent my stepping back from leadership roles. My previous photos have been with fellow hikers that I’ve led on Saturday outings; [...]

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036 Michelle’s Journey – Unusual Service and Life

January 26, 2012

I’m very exhausted, having collaborated on submitting a major proposal at work. I’m placing all my hope in Jesus to see our company receive the award of this contract. I’ve been praying and asking the Lord to show favor to my boss, not for my sake, but for my boss’, as He’s extended much kindness [...]

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043 – Joshua’s Journal – Enduring and Growing

January 25, 2012

A friend recommended I meditate on two verses of scripture as I endure my current circumstances: Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Romans8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [...]

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035 Michelle’s Journey – Standing

January 21, 2012

It’s almost 10pm and we’re here with mom at the hospital to check on some pains she felt earlier this afternoon. After my last post, it’s been beyond hectic at work and to face news of my mom being at the emergency was like so unbelievable. I was just on the verge of freaking out [...]

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042 – Joshua’s Journal – “In a Relationship”

January 20, 2012

I idolized having a partner. I wanted more than anything to have that person who would be symbolized by changing my Facebook status to “In a Relationship.” Because I had set “her” up as an object to obtain, that would make me feel whole, the LORD handed me over to the lusts of my flesh. [...]

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034 Michelle’s Journey – A Quiet Place in Jesus

January 20, 2012

It’s been very tough this week. Having encouraged a friend to keep trusting in Jesus and to not sin, little did I know that I too would be dealt with my share of oppressive circumstances. I would’ve never expected that I would so quickly be in a place where I would have to clutch the [...]

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041 Joshua’s Journal – Trial of my Life

January 17, 2012

I am going through possibly the greatest time of trial in my life. I am being severely tested: passing and failing on various points. My heart is broken from several failed attempts at courtship over the past couple years, and my heart has been hardened from choosing to sin after feeling broken repeatedly. Also, Mom [...]

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033 Michelle’s Journey – Reading through the Bible

January 16, 2012

It’s mid-January and I’m just about halfway through the bible. If I finish my required portion of reading today, I would have just started Proverbs but I’m still in the Psalms. It’s amazing what’s happened so far since I started reading through the bible again. Oh, boy! There’ve been so many lessons and warnings to [...]

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040 – Joshua’s Journal – Full Time Ministry

January 13, 2012

As a Christian, I am a servant. In fact, the Bible encourages me to view myself as everyone’s slave since the Creator of the Universe came down to Earth as a slave. Jesus also declares that as His faithful follower, I am now God’s friend, son, and bride, completely beloved by Him. But just as [...]

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032 Michelle’s Journey – Feeble Knees but Fighting

January 11, 2012

It seems like while I’m sifting through the things that have a direct bearing on me understanding and identifying what prompts my combativeness, there’s a cross-current from the enemy that wants to topple me. Some may recall me writing about how I felt as a single person and how I was unaffected by what the [...]

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039 – Joshua’s Journal – Appearances

January 11, 2012

I have alot of maturing to do. Though I’m not walking in any rebellion against my Savior, I know there is still much purifying work for him to do in my heart. I recently was confronted by my pastor out of his concern that I am communicating things that are not sin, but which can [...]

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031 Michelle’s Journey – Cleansing

January 8, 2012

It’s been eight days since I began reading the bible through from Genesis to Revelation for the month of January. With each day that passes, I’m very conscious of my time and what I do and how much time I’m saving up toward the reading of the word. I’m trusting Jesus that His word will cleanse [...]

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038 – Joshua’s Journal – What is the Gospel?

January 6, 2012

A friend posted a quote today on Facebook claiming that our obedience is not central to our salvation. The quote went on to say that what’s truly important is to recognize that we’ve been forgiven in the midst of our disobedience, and then our repentance/obendience will grow out of that. Another friend shared with me [...]

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037 – Joshua’s Journal – New Year’s Resolution

January 4, 2012

We toasted in the New Year Saturday/Sunday at Midnight, after having enjoyed a fun-filled evening with 40+ friends in our cozy little home. The couple dozen who were still present around 1AM took turns sharing our hopes and goals for 2012. Some were determined to change their eating habits; others committed themselves to coming out [...]

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030 Michelle’s Journey – Is Jesus Enough

January 3, 2012

Recently, I had asked one of my friends what kinds of events were experienced in 2011. The response was that it was, in part, a year of sadness, owing to the loss of a loved one. I read the messages and recognized that my friend’s heart was still aching over the loss. I couldn’t offer [...]

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029 Michelle’s Journey – Much Hope For Overcoming in 2012

December 31, 2011

As the New Year is about to dawn, I’m looking forward, with much eagerness, to more growth in Jesus and to overcome things that have kept Jesus at bay, during the past year. I’m encouraged by the gift of grace I received at the beginning of 2011 to break the stronghold of anger and vanity [...]

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036 – Joshua’s Journal – Loathing all Foods

December 30, 2011

A few entries ago, I was reviewing a sermon that dealt with Job 33. I’ve experienced quite a “bed of suffering” since then. The dreams stopped (or at least I don’t recall any more), and now I’m not having any more panic attacks at night, since I’ve been praying against them at bed time. But [...]

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035 – Joshua’s Journal – Called by Name

December 29, 2011

I am working on final details for hosting New Year’s Eve at my house, getting a head count, who’s bringing what dishes and drinks,etc. A few weeks back, a friend texted me 3 or 4 times in a row using my name, and I thought he was doing it on purpose to play a joke [...]

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028 – Michelle’s Journey – Combative Spirit

December 27, 2011

Last week the Holy Spirit convicted me and said that it was time to deal with my combative spirit, which would emerge at times when I felt I was right. Recently, we’ve been examining how we’re walking as Christians and what strides we were making in winning the intercession for our souls. We understood that [...]

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010 Deborah’s Walk – Forgiveness 70 Times 70

December 27, 2011

This is the time of the year when I begin to assess what the constant theme of the year has been. I must confess that it has been forgiveness. Today I am reflecting on the types of incidents that I have experienced over and over again. The repeat offenses are the most trying for me to [...]

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034 – Joshua’s Journal – Dear Journal

December 24, 2011

**Please note, this is not a typical entry ~ mostly a reflection on how God has used this exercise in online media in my life** Dear private journal/public blog, I began posting you on the church website 2 and 1/2 months ago and was typing in you on Facebook for about a month before that. [...]

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033 – Joshua’s Journal – Off the beaten path

December 21, 2011

I woke up this morning with the most intense stomach pain and cramping I’ve experienced in my life. Thinking that it might be a side effect from the antibiotic I took for the ear infection, I called out sick from work and went to the doctor. After pressing around on my stomach a little bit, [...]

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027 Michelle’s Journey – Being Real as Christians

December 20, 2011

The word false kept ringing in my ear, as I made my way home after having lunch with some friends. While it was wonderful catching up with them, the afternoon get together left me feeling a little troubled. As I recall, we were wrapping up our lunch meeting but I was very eager to squeeze [...]

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032 – Joshua’s Journal – a good guy

December 17, 2011

Thursday night I was asked to lead a large group of us in prayer who gathered to remember a friend who was shot and killed. I knew him as a young man: we played basketball together, got in fist fights against one another, laughed together…and at one another. Later in life, we discussed Jesus, Islam, and [...]

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026 Michelle’s Journey – Fighting Sin with Grace on My Side

December 16, 2011

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope….” (Titus 2:11-13). I praise Jesus for giving me yet another awesome demonstration [...]

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009 Deborah’s Walk – Renewing Word

December 16, 2011

God’s Word is my place of quiet retreat; this didn’t come easy. Prior to appropriating God’s Word properly, I endured much grief by mishandling the Word and from not allowing it to renew me. During that immature time, I sought for prosperity and material gain. I believed that I was entitled to gain while receiving [...]

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031 – Joshua’s Journal – Death to Self!

December 14, 2011

I had death on my mind as I went to bed last night. A friend from high school abruptly died, and I’m planning to attend his vigil tomorrow night. I didn’t sleep well, as my mind was turning and I was talking with God about my state before him and whether I would go to [...]

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030 – Joshua’s Journal – Victory and Warnings

December 14, 2011

**This entry makes perfect sense to me, but may not to some others who read it. Please feel free to write me with any questions. The weekend was a success, as I walked aware of God’s grace and kept pure in his Spirit. I was rewarded with sickness and warnings in a dream. Sunday at [...]

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025 Michelle’s Journey – Praying the Lord’s Prayer

December 12, 2011

Recently we’ve been encouraged to pay particular attention to the Lord’s Prayer in order to be more focused in our prayers. I found solace in this and began using the Lord’s Prayer as a model in my prayer life. I’m discovering that as I pray for either God’s kingdom to be established in my heart [...]

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