A little encouragment

This was not just encouragement for me, but I think it will be for you too.

Here the Prophet Samuel goes to seek for whom God would have anointed, who should be exalted.

Prayerfully read this too.

"When the sacrifice was ended, and before partaking of the offering feast, Samuel began his prophetic inspection of the noble-appearing sons of Jesse. Eliab was the eldest, and more nearly resembled Saul for stature and beauty than the others. His comely features and finely developed form attracted the attention of the prophet. As Samuel looked upon his princely bearing, he thought, “This is indeed the man whom God has chosen as successor to Saul,” and he waited for the divine sanction that he might anoint him. But Jehovah did not look upon the outward appearance. Eliab did not fear the Lord. Had he been called to the throne, he would have been a proud, exacting ruler. The Lord’s word to Samuel was, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” No outward beauty can recommend the soul to God. The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it is the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts. How deeply should we feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others. We may learn from the mistake of Samuel how vain is the estimation that rests on beauty of face or nobility of stature. We may see how incapable is man’s wisdom of understanding the secrets of the heart or of comprehending the counsels of God without special enlightenment from heaven. The thoughts and ways of God in relation to His creatures are above our finite minds; but we may be assured that His children will be brought to fill the very place for which they are qualified, and will be enabled to accomplish the very work committed to their hands, if they will but submit their will to God, that His beneficent plans may not be frustrated by the perversity of man."

 Even Samuel judged by looks.

God doesn't care about the "beauty of face" or "stature". This stuck out to me because I am guilty of being attracted to outward appearance.

But the Lord has been giving me a new heart. And I strive to look at what God looks at. The Heart.

If you are discouraged, its because of your "finite mind".

Be assured, As a child of his, you will be brought to be where you are qualified, and if you think you cannot do a work you are currently committed to, be also assured you will be enabled to accomplish it.

With the tool of submission, we can accomplish what we feel we can't do or don't want to do.

A little heat

Among many many many other things troubling me this year, one I am hoping to get somewhat resolved is money.

I have had debt looming over me, my car, the military payment for my bonus, school.

A little update on my situation.

I have been hoping I would be able to sort thing out a little with money for the school by canvassing.

But it didnt happen and I made far less money than I was ment to for the summer and I am practically the most in debt person to the school. Got to be first in something I suppose.

On top of that I have to pay back my military bonus, They gave me about 7K but so i thought I would have to pay that back.

Then I have my car payment, with insurence.

And I don't really have a Job....

Why am I here?

Most people are pretty skeptical of my sanity for volunarily putting myself in this position.

Rarely do I do anything with money without prospecting every option. But here I am, subject to debt.

Why? Because God

I am follow the plan the best I know it, God has called me to this school, provided for me thus far and brought me back here though circumstances were far from favorable for my return...

So after discussing my situation with some people, I have stepped out in faith.

Here is my situation...

To get my car payment from wasting away at my money, I used my military bonus to pay it off. Now I am waiting for the title because I need that for the next part, which is selling the car.

The thing is, I plan to use the money from my car to pay off the military and the school.

The school is willing to work with me to get the money in a reasonable time, giving me room. But the military, not so much.

If they want the money back, they don't work off my schedule.

Thing is, right now, I have no money for them. If they ask for it, I am toast...

So, this is where God comes in, doing for me what I can't seem to do for myself.

Am I not seeking righteousness and the kingdom of God? I am, so I do claim the promise. All things will be ADDED unto me.

God will do uphold his end. But Pray, pray for me, Ive failed enough on behalf of my covenants with God to know that I have high probablity to be unfaithful if he doesnt give me assisstance.

Claim promises for me.

I look forward to what God will work, his will be done. Amen

Duluth 2014

Had a ton of interesting experiences this past program.

Wish I had pictures of everything, but this is what I have on my phone.

Ill post more if I get some. A few other people have some that were there.

 The trip to Duluth, pretty sunrise out the window.

 First day canvassing, got stung by a wasp right above my eye.... Hurt a lot, still canvassed a guy and he got a GC.

 Went to the rose gardens in downtown Duluth. Beautiful lake superior. We spent Sabbath afternoon there.

 Railroad tracks are cool, good for pics.

 Part of the crew. Steven is the middle guy, I like how he wore his Vibram 5 fingers everywhere, Im glad I just bought some 5 fingers too.... Im curious to how some people will react to my new footwear.

 We skipped rocks, Eugene delightfully threw massive rocks trying to get them to skip.

 Some spiffy graffiti, that tunnel in the back goes through the mountains straight for three miles, Steven and another church member James went all the way through... I really want to try that too.

 After closing Sabbath we got some awesome vegan pizza.... I could eat myself into a coma with this stuff.

 First full canvassing week I went into a walgreens and came out and there was a car wreck right outside the door. Ended up in an amazing divine appointment afterwards.

 Friday and Sabbath we went to Aminicon falls in Wisconsin. I recommended it because I had been here before since I been in this area a bit when I was younger. Its water looks like root beer.

 We got a little late start. But had a pretty sunset starting.

 Sarah and Amanda and I became better friends this program. They are much more entertaining to watch than I expected. Especially when they slip and fall into the water.

 My favorite falls... Mostly cause the name.

 Random pic, but I like how it turned out.

 On Sabbath we went back.... But I had sort of like a panic attack trying to get everyone to get there, a flurry of frustrating circumstances spurred me to run off by myself into the forest.

 I ran and ran as far as the trail would go until I let out all my anxiety and pent up frustration.

 I ended up all alone, in with this beautiful scenery and me. It was so so so peaceful, I'm thankful God made such soothing nature for us in time like this.

 The next Friday we visited another falls at Lester park, This was a lot of fun.

 We ran around a lot, I constantly had to back track to wait for the group.

 Had some great views.

 I was so far ahead I ran and crossed the river to take a picture of them.

 Majestic walkway.... I wanted a huge old castle to be at the top. But it was just apartments... Maybe one day ill go and build one at the top just so others aren't disappointed.

Ended out walk with a goofy picture. Took us a couple tries to get no cars passing by in the picture.

 after our walk we went to the mall, Had to take a picture of this super true statement.

 After we had awesome noodles at the mall it was off the Enger tower, which is the highest point in the city, you could see the entire bay and beyond.

 Near the tower was an awesome Japanese garden... I freaked out, I loved it so much...

 Obviously I rang the bell... a few times.

 last sunday of the program... Biggest house Ive canvassed. the got a Christ Object Lessons and let me inside. :D

 Last day, canvassed a Shriners club (part of freemasons). Nicest lady ever worked here. I  love these places, the secretary was already reading the Great Controversy and said she really enjoyed it too, and decided to get a Desire of Ages to help at her womans Bible study she leads.

On our way home we stayed the night at David Pano's parents motel... They had a bed the would vibrate.... Me and Brody took full advantage and had a fun time just laying there.


Great trip. Fun times. Helped souls. Praise God.

Mumbles

"My names Tina, but people call me Mumbles"

That was the first words I heard as I looked into the face of someone I had assumed was a young guy down the street.

But it was a girl, she looks like and dresses like a teenage boy, rides around on a bmx bike, her pants sag,  she has on a big baggy shirt, a snapback cap which covers her shaved head, and all over you can see tattoos and piercings. She has some tattoos on her fingers, some behind her ear, on her neck, all over, and piercings and marks of piercings all over.

She proceed to look at my books and makes crude jokes about pictures and proceeds to let me know she is a lesbian. Then she asks me what I am doing around this area I tell her how I'm a student, and raising money for school.

She has deep eyes. You can tell her life isn't a easy one, she has burdens. Still weighing on her as we spoke.

Nonetheless she tells me she wants to help. She speaks in ghetto language, making sure to skip the niceties and roughly tells me what she is thinking.

After affirming she wants to help she pulls out a lottery ticket and tells me to meet her down at the gas station, she wants to go cash it and give me a few dollars.

So she takes off and I meet her down there since she is much faster than me on her bike. I canvass a guy outside the gas station and she comes out, then the person I was talking to, who was being really aloof, started making jokes with her.

Turns out she knows everyone, and she has an idea to help.

She decides to bring me down to a couple of bars, of which i know have both already been canvassed. I go with her down a couple of blocks.

Along the way we talk, and I learn she has three kids. She lives with another woman who helps her and they are currently fighting, somewhat about the kids.

She also decided to tell me a funny story, not so funny to me, of how she used to live in LA and she got bit by a shark. She even showed me the massive scar on her side. (it looked like it bit off half of her almost.)

She told me she punched that shark in the face and cussed it out. She apparently really didn't appreciate the attack. She said she felt bad about the kids on the beach that had to see her yelling and bleeding everywhere.

We got to the bars through a few alleys. We went into the first bar, we soon found out they already got a book, and no one in there would give a donation. Mumbles tried hard to explain what I was doing, going ahead of me to each person and asking them to help me and look at the books. She was very sweet actually, you could tell she got a little discouraged after the guys at the bar wouldn't listen.

She changed out some of her cash and exclaimed to everyone there very abruptly.

" if ain't none of you gonna give, **** Im gonna give to help"

She gave me a dollar as we walked out.

She tried to act like everything was OK, but it wasn't.

We walked outside and I gave her a Happiness. She looked at me very thankfully, she wanted to read it with her partner.

But she wasn't done yet with me, she still wanted to do the other bar. On the way a guy was in his car leaving the lot. She walked up to his window and kind knocked onto it, he waved her off, she went right around in front of the guys car gave him a look and he gave her a look.

He wouldn't roll down the window, she then threw her bike on the ground and started cussing at the guy and said she would fight him.
She proceeded charge his car but I grabbed her and told her she shouldn't do that.

She cooled down and the guy drove off, it turns out she didn't like that guy from previous stuff before. So thankfully it wasn't because of me which crossed my mind.

At the next bar it was really crowded, guys going all around, smoke and bad air pressing on me as soon as we entered.

She brings to the owner and introduces me a little, though again she lives up to her name and mumbles out everything she wants to say. He asks me a couple questions about the project and gets a book.

Wow.

Then she brings me through the crowd telling everyone in proximity about me, the bar tender stops by and asks about the book, and says he wants one too, he pulls some money too.

Its lunchtime, I ask her if there is anyone who wants spiritual books.

"People don't like to hear much about that stuff" she says quietly.

I tell her that thank you, and that I appreciated her help and I pulled out health and peace (ministry of healing) and tell her I want her to have it. Is show her some of the chapters and what its about and I look up at her and she looked at me and said

"Man, you got me all cryin and stuff... thank you"

She gave me a hug and thanked me and hugged me again.

I talked a little more with her and left, she signed up for bible studies too.

That is an experience I won't forget. Mumbles made a deep impression on me, but its much more amazing too, I know in my heart God wanted to meet her and just show her some Love.

I won't forget her, I pray now though I will meet her again. Not here on this earth, somewhere better, so I can see her eyes again, but this time filled with joy peace and not sorrow and suffering.