February 8, 2006
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I traveled from Cincinnati to Dayton, Ohio this morning. Visiting two large cities in one day. I don’t know what it is, but everywhere I look I see people striving for something. Something that is temporary, something that does not satisfy. I look around and see people striving to achieve the “American Dream.” Better cars, better looks, better homes…Is this all there is in life? People are literally working their lives out just to achieve a better lifestyle.
If we are fixed on ourselves and our selfishness, we will never reach out. The poor, the deprived, the ones who simply need love…
…oh, that we might be an example of Christ I remember sometime last year I was talking to a guy a few years older than me in class. Each day I talked to him about everyday things, the things of life. Some days he would talk to me about which car or motorcycle he would be getting or how much he drank the night before. Some days this young man would ask me questions about my faith and sounded really interested in what I was saying…but one day was a little different than the rest. He was talking to me about going into the Marines and asked me what I thought about it. Then he asked me what I wanted to do with my own life. I told him that I want to be a missionary and he said that he had never heard such a strange thing before. He couldn’t understand why someone would want to devote their life to such a cause. I mean, shouldn’t we be living and getting paid to buy better cars, better things? He knew that I was a Christian, but he told me, none the less, that he had never heard of someone wanting to travel for God. I tried to explain it to him, but he sort of just sat there and looked at me. I simply smiled.
I ran across this young man a few months ago once again and told me that he was about to leave for the Marines service. I have to wonder if he ever remembers the conversation that we once had and if he still thinks I’m the strangest person alive :o)
All I know is that this life is short.
It makes what we are living for all the more precious.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”
{ II Corinthians 4:18 }
Lord, fix my eyes on what is not seen…on You and You alone.
Reach out, today…and show someone His l o v e .
Comments (20)
you’re such an encouragment to me! thanks for the post. ive gotten that look before too, haha…it happens i guess. but its exciting to think about the plans God has for that man, and the fruit you will one day get to see from what he saw in your heart. thats such an amazing gift. you’re awesome sister…
I am blessed by your devotion to Christ–your ever-growing love for HIM! I know what you mean about those “looks” by others who think you are strange. When I was in high school, there were these lapel pins that were shaped like a fish and Christians often wore them. As a teenager I wore one. In my high school, there weren’t any strong believers. I was quite lonely. I recall one day walking to my locker and noticing that a crowd was gathered around…They were waiting for me to open my locker (we didn’t lock them). As I opened it up, a huge welded and open fish fell out and laughter erupted. They had wanted to humiliate me. Those days were tough at times, but I am so thankful I knew Jesus and had HIS hope. I pray, and I believe now, that they saw that. I shared this to encourage you to go ahead and be different! We often speak about the prayer of Jabez, but , Arielle, you know the part of that short story I like best? It is the verse that says Jabez was more honorable than his brethren! Anyway, I have rambled on for a long time. I realize we have never met and may never meet here, but I love you, my dear one. With much love and mnay prayers, Paula
I used to own a Christian used book store. There was a missionary from India who came to buy books periodically. I once asked him if he ever feared for his children’s life while living in India. He said that he had feared for their physical life in India but feared much more for their spiritual life in America due to the materialism. I’ve never forgotten that.
Excellent focus…
The Lord is being High and Lifted Up!
hey! yeah this is Sarina! how are you doing? i havent talked to you in a long time..i think the last time i talked to you is when we all went to haleys halloween party that long night ago! lol anyway do you have a myspace?? cause i have one of those too and i get on that more i think anyway got to go get ready for school so talk to you later!! love ya
*Sarina*
Thanks for the encouraging post.
Thank you for your heart that you have for Jesus. He makes us new creatures and he makes us beautiful. God has been teaching me (over again) about not looking at the temporary and realizing that every moment is either advancing Jesus’s kingdom or satan’s and there is never a time to live for ourselves. And Jesus said that he came into the world not to be ministered to, but to minister and he’s been teaching me more about serving and how when he would try to get by himself in the mornings after a while people found him, but he had compassion on them and spent time with them and loved them. And it’s been amazing because I am leaving to Honduras in 5 days and so everybody wants to spend time with me and I was hoping to have time just alone with God for days and rest, but there is work to be done with the people here that God wants to do for these five days and he still provides the time for me to be with him all day even though other things are going on. Sorry it’s a long comment, it was just on my heart. I love to hear about what God is doing in the lives of his people. Thank you for listening.
God bless you — the Lord is using you in such a mighty way — and the surface is just being scratched. Look out Asia
PG
you.are.just.so.beautiful.
what a pretty pink site. lol. =)
Keep your vision and never let that up. Keep striving for His holiness and direction in your life and He will always guide you in His perfect way.
Have an awesome weekend in Jesus! With much love and many prayers, Paula
i think mine is http://www.myspace.com/therealweener yeah i know thats weird but its a nickname that everyone calls me lol
Thanks! Yours looks mighty perty too! So warm and inviting :0) I love your post, by the way. Dad took your ‘post’ to work and is going to hang it up in his office :0) Love you, M
I liked your post. I would definitely agree. I am going on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. My parents don’t understand why I would do such a thing with my life. They want me to make loads of money and buy my happiness, lol. Funny thing is, I’m not my own. Thank you Jesus for that. “Less of me, more of Him.”
it’s awesome to see God stir in our hearts… may He crush us that we might bring forth the sweet aroma of Christ…
God’s laid these verses on my heart the last two days…
Isaiah 62:1-4
1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
Dear Arielle! Thank you for your willingness to be transparent, baring your heart, for all to see. It is such a blessing to many to see the simplicity of one who truly desires all that He is, not for gain or any other thing, but desires Him for Himself. May He continue to grow you up, plant His Truths in your heart, preparing the tree by working in the soil of your heart, that He may produce much fruit for His glory, through your lovingly surrendered life. I am reminded of this Scripture:
Funny, how when you go looking for one Scripture you find another.
so I’ll share both! 
2 Cor. 4:6 ~ “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Cor. 2:15-17 ~ “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many,[a] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”
May the Lord continue to draw your willing heart, ever closer to His, revealing Himself more and more as the day approaches.
One more Scripture
Song of Solomon 2:3 ~ “Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.”
Much love to you! Lois
Can you check your email and email me back the answer to those questions please?!
–Aimee
I love your blog and the way your heart shines through it.
We feel called to missions as well, but in a different way. We are planning to help foreign students who are attending college in the U.S.
“All I know is that this life is short. It makes what we are living for all the more precious.”
Yes thanks for that post arielle, its amazing that every moment we have is a new one and is never the same, how precious is that. May we speak and live in the “NOW” as the Lord allows us to be life giving spirits as our Lord Jesus Christ is.
This life is so short and we will have to face God with all our lifes may we be found in Christ and away from all ungodliness and inpurity. “FLEE youthful lusts and PURSUE righteous with those who call on the Lord.”