Health Bible Study: Rest

Rest : Being at Peace

These days, everyone is running around? Pressure in work, family, school – Where is there time to rest?

Well, one should ask ”Why is rest so important?”

• The word REST is found 300X in the Bible,  and means to be still or be at peace
• Matthew 11:28-30   If it wasn’t that important, Jesus would have never mentioned it

• Physical and Spiritual Rest
• Psalms 23
• Physical Aspect with a spiritual application
• Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrew 4:2-11
• Spiritual Aspect – Resting with God
• Illustration: Imagine this couple with a great number of friends and they hang out with these friends every time that they are together. Well, eventually that couple is going to need some alone time to get to no one another more and strengthen the relationship right? God only asks us to be with Him always, but only singles out one day where He really wants that one-on-one time with us.

• Wait Priscilla, I can’t just take a day off? I need money, I need to do homework!
• Joshua 21:44    God’s Promise
• Enemies could be anything! Your mind, worries, bills, bosses, our habits…
• Daniel 2:1-19  Element of Trust
• Note: when Daniel went into vision, he fell asleep – the brother knocked out!
• If I was going to die because of a crazy King like Nebuchadnezzar, I would have ran, begged, cried,  gone into fetal position… but Daniel goes to bed…. Why? Because he knew God would keep him safe!
• Your physical and spiritual variables are intertwined. We trust in God to sleep, to rest in Him, and in turn, our bodies show more rest in how we are…. Its very sad when you see exhausted people with black under their eyes, they have worry wrinkles, and they’re like “Yeah, I’m Christian…” Are you sure?
• And it goes deeper: Sabbath is a physical manifestation of spiritual trust! Where we thank God that we don’t have to worries about the cares of this life.
• Studies have even shown that those that take a Sabbath rest, actually do better at work, at school, and better daily living performance.
• During the time that you sleep, the body starts to detox and creates hormones that help you to look/feel younger. Ladies, say goodbye to makeup and hello to sleep. 
• In fact, your heart actually beats slower on Saturday… Really think about it

• This is definitely something to pray over (myself included), because we get so involved in exams, in drama, in work that we forget how fragile we are
• If the Devil doesn’t make you bad, he makes you busy! Too busy to rest, pray, to build relationships....
• As you get older, sleep quantity is not as affected as sleep quality.
• TIPS – Go to bed early, wake early, don’t eat heavy foods at night, don’t eat late, don’t have ambient noise as you’re sleeping, pray, pray, pray…
• So if you start making healthy habits now, that better rest you will get later

• So, can we allow God to help us trust Him and rest – sleep and to give God His Sabbath as well?

Great Resources

Hey everyone! I know that it can get very frustrating sometimes having a Bible question and no one around to give an answer, or even putting a study/speech together but wanting more information. So here is a list of all the many resources that help me get to know more about the Bible and about the world around us. Enjoy!  ;)

Audioverse
https://www.audioverse.org/english/
Free sermons from some of your favorite speakers on dozens of topics. An amazing resource for any learning Christian. Can download for free as well!

Amazing Discoveries
http://amazingdiscoveries.org/media
Led by Wallter Vieth and Victor Gill, Amazing Discoveries is one of the most detailed resource sites on sermons, articles, and videos on today's society, Christianity, and archaeology. AD focuses much of its media on health reform, secret societies, and occult worship that is actually found in much of the church today.

Amazing Facts
http://www.amazingfacts.org/free-stuff.aspx
Amazing Facts. led by Doug Batchelor, has put together a free resource center full of Bible Studies, videos, questions and answers, and even a free Bible School! Its incredible! Check it out.

LightBearers/ARISE - An Evangelism, Discipleship and Training Ministry.
http://www.lightbearers.org/
A site featuring works from David Assherick, Nathan Renner, Ty Gibson, and Jeffrey Rosario to name a few. It is a great school with a ton of detailed materials on how to know and defend one's faith.

ARME Bible Camp
http://www.armebiblecamp.com/resources.html
Come see how an ARME of young adults are striving to spread the Gospel throughout the world! Great resources! Check out their Prayer Room resource as well.

GYC- Generation of Youth for Christ
http://gycweb.org/
Some of the most amazing and honest sermons I have ever heard pertaining to faith, creationism, Ellen G. White, and prophecy.

It Is Written
http://studies.itiswritten.com/
One of my all time favorite sites led by Mark Finley and Shawn Boonstra. It contains a load of answers to so many questions concerning God, Jesus, the Bible, all of it. Enjoy!!!

Experience at 8:55 PM

This experience happened my 2nd year of canvassing, first/second week I believe.

It was nearing 9 oclock and so we were running trying to finish the streets we were at. As I was nearing my last house, I noticed that the garage was open, and it was very dark inside. Suddenly, out of the blackness comes two dogs (a pit and a shepherd) running towards me. I thought they were going to attack, so I prepared to defend myself with my books (I know "don't damage the books"). I then noticed that they were wagging their tails and they actually turned out to be really sweet dogs and they followed me to the front door of the house I was at.When they woman answered, she shooed away the dogs and went on this mini rant about how her neighbors were gone and these were their dogs and she was fed up with everything. 

So I made quick friends talking to her about the dogs and her troubles then quickly handed her our book Peace Above the Storm, and her whole demeanor changed. She looked at the book and began to tell me how she had just finished a phone call where her family had told her that her father has Alzheimer. I then shared with her how Alzheimers runs in my family as well, and how when my grandfather died from Parkinsons, my mother and grandmother really had to pull together and that this book truly helped them. I remember she went inside with the book (always let them take the books with them - assuming their coming back of course), and she came back with the book and her checkbook. She sat down on her small bench and started to cry. I can't remember word for word what she said, but she was saying how God had answered her prayer and knew that she would need peace right now. She was clutching the book to her and kept saying "This is my book. This is for me." I held her hand and started crying with her and was able to pray for her. 

God was and is so good, and many times the circumstances may not seem divine, like those dogs. God's hand, however, moved so mightily and that was a beautiful experience for me that day. Bare in mind, these are not rare occasions, so many people have similar experiences. If you have experience where it didn't seem like God was there but then at the end everything made sense, feel free to share.  =)  GB!

An Important Principle to Bear In Mind In Ministry

Here are some beautiful words from Auntie Ellen. Before any of us enter into ministry and as we go about our daily lives, it is more than essential to keep this in mind. PFY.

                                    The Spirit of Self-Sacrifice
     The great work now to be accomplished is to bring up the people of God to engage in the work, and exert a holy influence. They should act the part of laborers. With wisdom, caution, and love, they should labor for the salvation of neighbors and friends. There is too distant a feeling manifested. The cross is not laid right hold of, and borne as it should be. All should feel that they are their brother's keeper, that they are in a great degree responsible for the souls of those around them. The brethren err when they leave this work all to the ministers. The harvest is great, and the laborers are few. Those who are of good repute, whose lives are in accordance with their faith, can be workmen. They can converse with others, and urge upon them the importance of the truth. They must not wait for the ministers, and neglect a plain duty which God has left for them to perform.  

Some of our ministers feel but little disposition to take upon them the burden of the work of God, and labor with that disinterested benevolence which characterized the life of our divine Lord. The churches, as a general rule, are farther advanced than some of the ministers. They have had faith in the testimonies which God has been pleased to give, and have acted upon them, while some of the preachers are far behind. They profess to believe the testimonies borne, and some do harm by making them an iron rule for those who have had no experience in reference to them, but they fail to carry them out themselves. They have had repeated testimonies, which they have utterly disregarded. The course of such is not consistent. 

The people of God generally feel a united interest in the spread of the truth. They cheerfully contribute toward a liberal support of those who labor in word and doctrine. And I saw that it is the duty of those who have the responsibility of distributing means, to see that the liberalities of the church are not squandered. Some of these liberal brethren have been laboring for years with shattered nerves and broken-down constitutions, caused by excessive labor in the past to obtain possessions here, and now as they freely give a portion of the substance which has cost them so much, it is the duty of those who labor in word and doctrine to manifest a zeal and self-sacrifice, at least equal to that shown by these brethren.  

God's servants must go out free. They must know in whom they trust. There is power in Christ and his salvation to make them free men; and unless they are free in him, they cannot build up his church and gather in souls. Will God send out a man to rescue souls from the snare of Satan, when his own feet are entangled in the net? God's servants must not be wavering. If their feet are sliding, how can they say to those of a fearful heart, “Be strong”? God would have his servants hold up the feeble hands and strengthen the wavering. Those who are not prepared to do this, would better first labor for themselves, and pray until they are endowed with power from on high.  {GW92 54.1 - 55.2}

5 Rules to Canvassing

Now before you get started with canvassing, there are five core rules that you have to know. Remember also, this is for those who want spread the word on their off time, this isn't for those who want to build their own companies outside the conference. This is for those who are serious about God's work and want to do it selflessly for Him. With that said, lets get started.

1. Pray
1. This is essential. You should never enter into any work without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God's blessings. Seriously, this is extremely vital. Before you go out, pray, as you walk from door to door, pray, as you canvas, pray. Its that essential. I have seen people change their decisions for the better on whether to buy a book or not just by praying in my mind, or even praying with them. If you can pray with someone at the door, do it, don't miss out on that amazing opportunity. We all need prayer, so offer prayer  =)
2. Smile
1. If you're not a happy canvasser you will not be an effective canvasser. Even when you're not feeling too great, send a prayer and remind yourself on how great God is. You smile not because of sales, though those are always nice, but you smile because you know God and you know that He loves you and has great plans for you. I understand that some days its just hard to be that chipper so to say, believe me, been there. During that times, ask God to help you be happy so that it can be sincere at the doors. People do know when you're faking it, so try to be as sincere as humanly possible. 
3. Know Canvas
1. If you don't know this then I have no idea what you're saying at the doors, and lets be honest, neither do you. So knowing this better than the back of your hand is a must. Next post will be the canvas so be excited. Also, this is essential too because say they offer you objections, which most will, if you know the canvas, you will know how to bypass those objections and have them see with more giving eyes so to say.
4. Work Hard
1. Or as we say "Fast on the grass, Slow at the door." Isn't that cute? Ok, don't walk between doors, you won't get anywhere and there'll still be like five houses that don't get witnessed to because you actually did stop to smell the roses. Don't do it. Choose life don't do drugs. And don't walk between doors. If you have to, walk fast then. Don't over exert yourself though, because it looks super bad if you just ran and (like me) have asthma and you're wheezing through your canvass. Not cool.... So, just be working hard. Also, good for health and exercise. Also, drink water--thats like the sister rule to this rule. Ask for water at the doors, more often then not people will give you some nice bottles of water. Sometimes they give you juice  ;)  sometimes food.... I'll expand on that later.
5. Never ever ever ever ever never ever Canvas Anyone without the Book in Their Hands
1. This is a sales technique. 99% of the time, people will not buy a book that is not in their hands. If you want a sale, then put the book in the hand and then canvas on that book. This way, they can flip through it, peruse so to say, and check out how awesome all these books are for themselves. There have only been a few times in my two years of doing this work that people have actually bought a book without me putting it in their hands. So just as a sales rule, don't do it laddie, just don't do it. 

If there is anything else that anyone wants to add or if you have questions, just let me know  ;)  PFY!

True/False about Literature Evangelists

So, I heard about literature evangelism through my cousins and was told about it, interviewed but never really understood what I was doing till I was there. As far as I knew, LE's (literature evangelists) were just crazy Jesus lovers who dressed very modestly and sold books I hadn't read before. But anyways, once joined I had found that they are so much more. They are truly a family dedicated to serving God and sharing Him with others. So before I get started on all my LE stories and training tips, let me first give you a list of misconceptions and truths about LE's (and I'm more than sure that there are more...):

Misconceptions:

• They're crazy
• They just want money
• They were forced to go
• They are Mormon/Jehovah's Witness (don't get me wrong, I love Mormons and JW's, they are great people, I don't agree with a lot of what they see but they are still nice people)
• You have to be Vegan
• This is the worst job ever
• You're isolated from the rest of the world
• You're shoving literature down people's throats and misrepresenting God

Now I sympathize because many of these misconceptions were some that I truly had. Now, once I actually gave this work a chance I realized that the opposite of these misconceptions were true:::

The Truth

• They are some of the most level minded people I have ever met
• Its not about the money, but about showing the world the love of God
• Everyone went on their own accord, including myself (read testimony)
• They implement a vegeterian diet because eating meat and canvassing is not a good mix
• one, it makes you feel heavier so running.walking fast between doors is harder
• two, want to keep self  healthy(Check out Daniel)
•  You're not AT ALL isolated. You met hundreds of different people everyday, at the doors, at lunch you always go out to eat, and your coworkers literally become your second family
• You do not shove literature anywhere, you present it and if people want it, awesome, if they don't then that's their right to say no and next time they'll get a book. But its a very passive work, and you do your best to meet people at their needs.
• Its one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had.

 In all retrospect, literature evangelism is a very uncomfortable work for many people. However, it most closely resembles the walk that Jesus had when He was here on Earth. Did He have a message for the world? Yes. Did He get rejected a lot? Yes. Did people make up things about them? Yes. Were their scoffers constantly insulting their progress? Yes. Was He kicked out of certain places? Yes.....

 "One of the very best ways in which young men can obtain a fitness for the ministry is by entering the canvassing field. Let them go into towns and cities to canvass for the books which contain the truth for this time. In this work they will find opportunity to speak the words of life, and the seeds of truth they sow will spring up to bear fruit. By meeting the people and presenting to them our publications, they will gain an experience that they could not gain by preaching"  GW 96.1.

This work is humbling, but so amazing and incredibly worth it..... Enter it with prayer knowing that Jesus already experienced all the rejection out there, and He will be faithful to help you through.

If anymore come to mind, comment and let me know  ;)

"Unmasked" By Sarah Draget

This song is beautiful and amazing, and even better, has Bible awesomeness all over it. Hope everyone likes it and is blessed.... and if you know the chords, be a friend and share please  =)  

This song really inspired me to start writing songs on different doctrine. Seriously, it sparked a creative fire. I'll be posting some of my stuff up soon!

Welcome

My name is Priscilla and I welcome you to my blog. Here I want to share my journey through nursing school as well as my spiritual journey and what God is doing. I hope you find it inspiring and are encouraged to grow in your own relationship with Christ. I'll be also sharing some Bible Studies. 

I'll start by sharing a few thoughts on how I see God:

He is the Father I always wanted

The sweetest being in the universe

He gets excited to have me wake up

Just so we can talk again

He will never leave my side

Because, despite my flaws, I am precious to Him

He sent His Son to die

So He could call me His daughter

He never grows tired or weary

And it is His desire to be my best friend