Alone, but Never Alone

This is as generic and simple as I could elaborate upon any of what God has taught me in the last 48 hours. Christmas eve represents the anniversary of the last night the world was without a savior. Can you imagine? All of the people who lived in the old testament had no Savior and they had not the Holy Spirit. For Gods timing is perfect and His son came and died at the perfect time. His birth was perfect, and had every intention of Gods fingerprints and His hand was over it. Yesterday was Christmas eve, and I read Isaiah, a prophecy of Christ made 700 years before Christ came. I couldn't help but focus on the way God made Himself known before His son had come into the world. My mind cannot fathom, yet there are people all over the world that are without the knowledge of Christ, and are without the Spirit. 

          "For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
           and every garment rolled in blood
          will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"}

         And then sitting in awe of God and wonder of how His timing is beautiful and perfect, always. Correlating that with the birth of His Son as the clock was suddenly telling me it was 12:00 am and it was Christmas morning. The fact that I was dancing through my kitchen singing along to worship music practically shouting the Gospel at the top of my lungs because I am free to worship God, when I realized I was physically alone in my kitchen. Sweet melodies embodied the spirit of Christmas but I was alone. At first, I was afraid of this and then I got it!! It has never been a more clear outline of my life, in direct correspondence to the Gospel and to what God has clearly called me into. So let us back up about 2,000 years to the birth of Jesus.{Mathew 1-2} The night Jesus was born in Bethlehem was a miraculous night. Within the History of the story Herod  was an Arab who was practicing Jewish Culture and He was reigning as King in Judea in the years of the birth of Jesus. Magi who originated in areas of Egypt traveled to Jerusalem and sought answers from King Herod as to where the king of the Jews was to be born. They saw His star in the sky and had followed it. However, Herod had no answers and in fact had to seek them from scribes and priests who knew it was in Bethlehem that Jesus was to be born. Herod directed the magi to go diligently search for the child and to inform him of where He could be found so that he to could worship this child. Leaving Jerusalem and following the star until it fell rest upon the house the child was in (at this point Jesus was now a toddler) and the magi brought gifts, including Myrrh (used for embalming dead bodies). That night an angel appeared to Joseph telling him to flee to Egypt in fear of Herod. Selling the magi's gifts for money he was able to flee to Egypt until the death of Herod. In the midst of all of this Herod had commanded a slaughter of all male boys of 2 years old or younger. A lot was being risked to keep the Son of God alive. Jesus Christ was never alone but while He was in the world, he knew the world was not his home. He was away from His Father and He became man. He was alone, but never alone.
I sat in my kitchen and I began to pray and analyze the Holy Spirit in the circumstance, that my family had left me, and I was alone on Christmas Eve, by my choice I was alone in my Kitchen baking. This is what then became clear to me: Christ came to the earth as man leaving His Father as a choice to die on the cross for my sins, my imperfection, and the depravity of God in the world. I couldn't imagine a life before Christ as Savior, Mighty Counselor, Everlasting God. I don't have to but even 2,000 years after the birth, death and resurrection of Christ people are still living in darkness without ever hearing at all of the savior, or even their creator!
I realized how much I truly have to risk to gain such a life to glorify Christ. Revival is happening. Spreading the Gospel is happening! We as Christians are all called to this no matter where we are at. But how would you react to doing it alone? Good thing we don't have to be spiritually alone in anything anymore, physically alone is another contemplation, but I realized that I was fine being alone. I enjoyed going to Christmas Eve service and sitting by myself, and I enjoyed celebrating the birth of my savior alone baking cookies, reading my Bible and blasting worship music. I am not living to satisfy my desires, but I am living to promote the Gospel in attempt to allow the Holy Spirit to use me. This is the purpose of all life; glorifying God. His perfect timing is all around us, and I found that more than a lofty blessing to boast about. Jesus Christ was born at the perfect moment! What does that even mean!? God is perfect, and his will is perfect.
Isaiah 55:8-9

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Christmas never gets old.

Yesterday revival happened, today revival happened, and tomorrow revival will happen. {"For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'"}Romans 14:11. // Just an encouraging verse.

I am currently reading one of the most amazing books I have ever read called "Kisses from Katie." In Uganda right now there is a 22 year old woman who is single and raising 14 adopted Ugandan children. Her name is Katie Davis and my new found hero. She was in her 12th grade year attending school in Tennessee when she asked her mom if she could have a trip to Uganda to volunteer in an orphanage over Christmas break. Her parents weren't to keen on the thought of going to be a missionary in another country. They wanted what was best for her; in their minds this was college. I am currently attending Bible School in a state away from my family and I can feel the bitterness they have toward me for not going to a secular university or even an accredited school. My internal response was always sarcastic and bitter in return, "It could be farther away, I wouldn't mind. It could be a different passion." The funny thing is for me it will be farther, and even though my passion never changed for long term missions I have grown in my desire towards shepherding young women, and possibly adopting children. For Katie her passion led her farther and deeper as well. 

I have wanted to be in the missions aviation field for a while now (still trying to figure out how, where, WHY?). I know that God wouldn't give me a desire unless there was growing to be a blessing that leads from it though. As I continued to read my book and meditate on the statistics of children who are gowning out in pain, the ones who have never heard the gospel, the ones who have gone farther and deeper away from their families and any kind of hope for their future. I think of the parents who have to struggle with knowing they don't have the means to raise their families, the parents who would be good parents, and all the disease that they are prone to even in and among them while they are already dying from just lack of resources. I hate knowing that while I sit here in the laundry room at school someone else is sitting in filth. I hate knowing that while I have gotten the opportunity to attend Bible school for a year 2.5 billion people have never heard the Gospel, ever. This is absurd.  I can't control my attraction to "Kisses from Katie" except that I for now, can live vicariously through her. Not really though, I can only pray that God continues to build my passion for souls. 

A week ago I was reading this book and finally found myself at chapter 5, "Can I call you mommy?" is what it is titled. I cried knowing the title. as my eyes followed the words, I broke. I felt the love she had for just one child named Scovia who was 5 years old. Baby Scovia was Katie's first child and an inspiring start to a family that only God could weave together.  I felt the burden that Katie felt as she continued to be blessed with children through the years as she writes. One of her Journal entry's said this, "I would like to proclaim that I always trust God's perfect plan for my life and I always turn everything over to God, knowing that His peace surpasses all understanding, but here's the truth of it: I freaked out. I said, "God if you ask me to be their mom, I wont do it. No." and then that didnt feel appreciative of someone who died for me, so I said, "Okay.".... then, I got into the word, and God said to me: ' It's okay to be human, I created you, I understand. Do not be afraid; do not be terrified. I am the Lord your God, and I will go with you where you go. (Deut. 31:6)" I meditated on her entry because it is truth. God calls us to "Go" and he promises us that he will never leave or forsake us. Her life is real. Maybe it's not politically correct in America, but whoever said we were right? our society proclaims a personal gratification Gospel and it's difficult to not get swept into the grinder. Through reading the Word, and growing in communion with the Lord we should be on fire giving up everything, settling for nothing less than glory for God, and crucifying ourselves daily. Yeah, we are also called to have a love for God that makes our love towards friends and family look like hate. Imagine that. Pray about our body of Christ and it's expansion, and pray for the souls of people you don't know yet, because they matter.

Convicted yet? I am. 

Go read this book!!!

 

Hope and love in Him,

Krysta Hoskins

God's sovereign Plan

Yesterday started out as an exciting adventure that God has has been directing since the beginning of time. I was headed back to Ecola Bible School. This is the season in my life where I am learning of God's sovereign control and power He has shown us, and how always, always, always, His deciding factor is one that is for the best possible outcome. Yesterday when I arrived at school I was informed by my sister in Christ, Taylor Grant, that our dear friend Joscelyn had been in a car accident. Of course we prayed afterwards with the mindset being that if we prayed God would solve all of our problems, and Jos would be healed of all pain and the world would be set back into motion as we were all comfortable with and desiring. However God's plan was set in motion when the words "in the beginning" came to fruition and He had a different plan. We as the body of Christ didn't "lose" a sister, but the Kingdom gained one. I have been meditating on this the last day and feeling at a loss for words, but asking myself what good could come by such a young women losing her life to something as stupid as a car accident. I am not God and I do not know His plans, but I am assured that Joscelyn is in a place I long to be. She's probably basking in the light of God with her coconut oil and Aloe, doing nothing but worshiping God with her beautiful melodic voice. I pray over her, and her family. The people that she effected in this world is a great number and she isn't finished. She is moving in hearts and I know she is on my mind so much that I feel so blessed to have been able to work with her for 2 summers at camp. I would have loved to know her so much more than I did, but I will continue to talk to Jesus and Jos, because I believe she can hear us. 

I am realizing that Joscelyn is so blessed to have heard the Good News of God from her family and friends, that this is something God desires us to do; Go share the Good News with others, raise families that glorify Him, and after they accept Christ be sure to have them move in other peoples hearts. Joscelyn was a disciple of God in all aspects of her life, I can ponder all the good things about her for hours, days, months, years; and I will! Rest in worship, peace, and an unfailing God, Jos! I will see you when I arrive at the gates. 

I have learned so much about reliance upon our father just in the last day of being back at Ecola that I cannot comprehend how much more I will consume in the next month. Please be keeping Taylor Grant, and Michael Zdenek, who are here at Ecola away from their families and friends, in your prayers as well as the cook family and other friends.

Joy and Peace in Him,

Krysta Hoskins