Faith Inspired.

Fourteenth Cafe: Sprocket Roasters on Hunter Street in...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:53:00 -0500

Fourteenth Cafe: Sprocket Roasters on Hunter Street in Newcastle.

Ambiance: One of the main reasons that I like Sprocket is it’s location. It’s next to a lot of cool buildings and only a short walk from the beach. It’s the perfect place to grab a coffee and then walk around, one of my favorite things to do. However, if you are looking for a place to sit in, this place is great for that too. The interior design is a vintage retro style with accents of burlap and coffee beans. High windows make up one of the walls, making a perfect place to sit and people watch, another one of my favorite things to do. The only negative thing I have to say about the ambiance is the outside of the building. It’s a cool looking building but with all the chipping paint it gives the impression that the inside is dirty. I think there’s a better way to antique the place up without it looking grungy. Rating: 8

Coffee: Sprocket’s award winning coffee is roasted in house and is environment-friendly. I know a few people who don’t care for it saying it has ‘a weird aftertaste’ but I personally think it’s delicious. It’s strong yet smooth and any coffee that I can drink without adding sugar is a winner to me. I ordered a flat white and the other’s ordered latte’s, and we all agreed that it was really good. Rating: 9

Shout out: I had the pleasure of going out to coffee with some of my favorite people in Newcastle. Jess, one of my bests, is fun and pretty with a huge heart for people, especially those in the sex industry. Her sister, Emily, is also beautiful and outgoing. She came out several weeks ago to visit Jess and mission build, but is now going to be doing the Sports DTS with me!! Last but not least, Susanna is a lovely, creative girl from Queensland, Australia. Her photography is amazing..check her out www.susannaapril.com.

This concludes my opinion summary of this cafe’. Please note that this was only my personal first impression and I have only been there once

Thirteenth Cafe’: The Hub in Bathurst, Australia I am a...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:30:54 -0400

Thirteenth Cafe’: The Hub in Bathurst, Australia

I am a city girl through in through. Give me fast paced crowded streets, art galleries, overflowing cafe’s and late night take-out over a mellow countryside any day. I recently lead a discipleship training school promo team to a country town in Australia called Bathurst. I was stoked on the opportunities but was pretty apathetic on the location. Some of it was what I expected: brown-green grass, sheep, animal droppings and small town hours. However, I was also pleasantly surprised by some of the trendy boutiques, old gorgeous church’s, beautiful trees and you guessed it, cafe’s.

Ambiance: The Hub particularly stood out from it’s shabby surroundings with it’s vibrant reds, big windows and outdoor seating. We chose to sit indoors due to the chilly weather but the courtyard was beautiful, with hanging lights and a covering that looked as if it was made of branches. The inside was clean and spacious with beautiful art on the walls, full of color and creativity. The menu’s were brought out on small, thick wooden clipboards that were painted red. The tables, chairs and a few other small things were a bit lacking in character but overall I thought that the cafe’ brought a lot of color to a somewhat drab surrounding. Rating: 8

Coffee: This is hard to judge since we all ordered different things and most of them didn’t have coffee. I ordered a mocha and it was delicious and the shot was very strong- exactly what I wanted. The others ordered a hot chocolate, tea and iced coffee drinks and from what I remember they were all tasty. I do have to give them presentation points, the art on my mocha was stellar and the other’s drinks looked extremely appetizing as well. Rating: 7

Shout out to the beautiful people that went to the cafe’ with me. The stunning and encouraging twins Ruth and Esther, the lovely Larissa, and always stellar Cookie. They made those few days so enjoyable as I pined like a baby for my Zachary :)

This concludes my opinion summary of this cafe’. Please note that this was only my personal first impression and I have only been there once.

I have a spesh little treat for everyone. I met my dear friend...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:55:00 -0400

I have a spesh little treat for everyone. I met my dear friend Christy in Australia when she did her Discipleship Training School and then came back to staff in our Youth ministry department. She is fun, cute, loves music and coffee, and is now dating my brother-in-law which is simply fantastic! She is a barista in Boise, Idaho and has agreed to answer some random and frequently asked coffee questions. Enjoy!

1. What is your favorite coffee drink and why?

Oh, goodness. My favorite drink is always switching up, depending on the weather, my mood, how much time I have..! My favorite iced drink this summer has been a soy, triple shot, 2 pump raspberry, 1/4 white chocolate mocha—sounds high-maintenance, but it’s worth it, cos the amounts are perfectly proportioned! I spent a couple of days perfecting it(; But in general? I am a huuuuge lover of a good old traditional cappuccino. I don’t think you’ve lived til you’ve experienced a truly authentic capp. I could go on + on about the different ways you can make it + methods for drinking it, but I’ll just keep it as is for the time being.

2.What is the most popular drink at Java Hyde Park?

Our most popular drink at Java is definitely our Bowl of Soul. It’s our signature mocha made with Mexican chocolate + some other special ingredients…..I’d tell ya, but I can’t..mwaaahaha, the mystery.

3. What are the differences and benefits of drip coffee, french press and espresso?

This is hardly an exhaustive list here, but these are my general thoughts. Espresso is gonna pack the most punch for you; if you like your caffeine to smack you across the face pretty instantaneously, this is the stuff for you. It’s also going to have the greatest tendency to taste bitter or strong. French Press is a really nice happy medium between drip + espresso, I’d say. The nice thing about it is is that it has a bit more of a personal feel to it—you decide what you want your coffee-to-water ratio to be, you decide when you think it’s ready to drink, + it can just hang out on the table with you. I would also say it has a really nice + smooth taste to it, generally. And drip coffee is always a splendid choice! Contrary to what most people believe (+ this can vary, based on what type of roast you’re using) drip coffee actually tends to have more caffeine than espresso would. So even though you won’t feel it as shockingly as you do with shots, you’ll get a nice healthy jolt from a good ol’ cuppa joe. Plus it’s quick + easy—no need to explain why thats a benefit!

4. What’s the difference between robusta and aribica coffee?

When it comes to the best specialty coffees you’re almost always going to find that they will be Arabica. That’s just sort of been fact for as long as anyone can remember. People are starting to experiment more with Robusta coffee, though. It’s known for being more resistant to diseases + pests + can be grown in bigger quantities, so it’s easier (not to mention MUCH cheaper) to produce. All that being said, even though Arabica is usually the more preferred coffee, even some Arabica isn’t good enough to make the cut for even a really cheap roast. It’s just a matter of tasting + experimenting, if you ask me. Most probably won’t be able to taste a difference. I can’t always, that’s for sure!

5. What’s the best way to store coffee?

It’s super simple—WHOLE BEAN. Always, always, always. Seal it off + keep it whole bean. Don’t grind it, + certainly don’t feel the need to pop it in the fridge, cos that’s really not going to do anything in the long-run. Grind up what you need as you need it, + that’ll last you for at least a month’s worth of freshness. Ta-daaaa!

6. How long does coffee remain fresh?

Oops, I kind of just answered that one! I’d say you could really keep coffee around for prrrrrobably somewhere around, mm, eternity? Haha, but seriously; cowboys started toting coffee around with them everywhere because it would add flavor to water for ages without going bad, right? However, if you feel you’re a bit more discerning in your tastes than a cowboy on the open range 200-some years ago, I’d say a month is definitely the longest I keep my coffee around. But your coffee by the pound, not in bulk! It’ll save you a lot of heart-ache. (;

7. How do you make the perfect espresso shot?

The perfect espresso shot needs these three things: water heated to about 200 degrees fahrenheit, a clean shot glass, + an even, steady pour that lasts somewhere within the 18-22 second window. And of course a great espresso machine. (:

8. Does water quality matter?

Well, it depends on what you mean by quality. It needs to be hothothothothot! And preferably not disease-laden. But those are my only really strict + binding prerequisites.

9. What’s the best milk product for lattes, cappuccinos, and your standard coffee or doesn’t it matter?

Again, I’d say this is something that is up to taste. But in my experience, the truer the dairy, the better the drinking experience. So I’m talking like 2% as a minimum, if not whole milk or 1/2 + 1/2. I know that’s rich stuff, but if you’re treating yourself already, why not do it right, hey? On the other hand, I know a lot of people who really enjoy their drinks with soy, almond, coconut, rice, or skim milk. These are definitely health options, though, + the foam they make just really doesn’t cut it for me most of the time

10. Why is some coffee bitter?

Good question! A lot of people assume that the stronger, bolder, or more acidic the coffee, the more caffeine content present in the blend. But that’s actually false! (I get some good laughs at work, cos you can tell when people are just trying to look tough by ordering a “bold roast, black, no room”, haha). The truth is, there are two reasons for bold or bitter tasting coffee (two different things, by the way): the longer the coffee bean is roasted, the stronger + bolder the taste will be. On a really extremely long roast, the coffee might start transitioning over into a more acidic or bitter taste, which is no good, in my opinion. Another simple reason? If you leave the brew hanging out in your carafe for too long, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve given it a good scrub, coffee will start tasting bitter. No bueno! Dark roast/bold blends are going to have less caffeine because more of the caffeine content has been roasted out of the bean! So actually the lighter the roast, the higher the caffeine content! (:

11. What are the benefits of grinding your own beans vs. buying a bag of ground coffee?

This kind of goes back to what I was saying earlier. Buying your coffee whole-bean helps it to stay more fresh + you can grind it at your leisure + pleasure. (;

12. What should people look for when buying a good bag of coffee?

Always smell the coffee before you buy it! Almost every bag should have that little whole so you can squeeze + get a whiff of the goodness hiding out inside. Check for any staleness, thats the main thing. Other than that, I like to look for fair trade, organic coffees, but the options are really endless! Be adventurous! Also like I said in an earlier question, Dark roast/bold blends are going to have less caffeine because more of the caffeine content has been roasted out of the bean! So actually the lighter the roast, the higher the caffeine content! (:

13. Last but not least, if you were a coffee drink what would you be and why?

Hmm, I seriously sat here for like 10 minutes just trying to think of an answer for this one! I’d say I would be a Thai Cubano Americano (let’s see how many more nationalities I can stuff in there, right??). A Thai coffee is basically just a latte made with a teensy bit of sweetened condensed milk at the bottom. The Cubano part usually means that you add Sugar in the Raw to your shot before pulling it (but I like adding cinnamon as well!). And then I would just make a good old fashioned Americano with steamed milk on top, instead of the full latte action. That’s me cos it’s sweet, soft, + comfy/warm, but strong under the surface. (; And if anyone can think of a flavor that would imply sarcasm, I definitely wouldn’t add that to the drink at all, because sarcastic is the very last thing I am.

Well folks that’s it! Can you see how much she loves coffee?

Twelfth Cafe: Square one Square One is located on Duke Street in...

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 03:09:00 -0400

Twelfth Cafe: Square one

Square One is located on Duke Street in a cute, refurbished old fashioned house in Lancaster City. It’s cute on the outside, trendy and clean on the inside and they have their own bean roaster in the back. Their coffee is absolutely delicious. I tried an Ethiopian bean and roast that was roasted on the premises and it definitely did the trick. On the walls are pictures of Kenyan women that the cafe supports. There was a corner in the cafe with info on Kenya and bagged coffee beans for sale to support the women of Kenya. I love this cafe for the ambiance and the coffee but most of all I love the heart. So many women in Kenya have to support their families and often resort to prostitution or other harsh, heart-braking jobs. This cafe is doing something productive to help them and I love it.

The workers are nice, coffee delicious, set-up ideal and motivation honorable.

This is my thankful holiday/vacation post! How amazing is...

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:23:00 -0400

This is my thankful holiday/vacation post!

How amazing is God…?

We raised all the money that we needed to come home.

Zack and I were able to go to Ohio for two days for our good friend Jenna’s wedding. There we hung out five friends from our Discipleship Training School in ‘09 that we haven’t seen in years. One of those friends paid for our hotel the whole time we were there. They are so so beautiful <3

We had amazing quality time with Zack’s family, my in-laws.

Zack, his brothers, his brother’s girlfriend Christy and I went on a road trip to New England where God provided free high quality lodging and sweet memories.

The whole Yoder fam went to West Virginia. We swam, ate, watched movies and played golf, basketball, board games and a lot of tennis.

Zack and I were given free iPads.

I went to a lot of cafe’s in cities which is one of my favorite things to do in the world.

I got my new passport in my married name which will help with getting marriage visas in the future.

I spent a lot of fun, quality time with friends that I wasn’t able to do last year because of the wedding planning.

I spent quality time with every one of my siblings one on one and in groups.

I got to know my beautiful now sister-in-law Jess better.

We raised over $4,500 at our fundraiser in Lancaster.

We spoke at several churches about our ministries in Australia.

We were able to help with my brother John’s house and prepare for his wedding which was beautiful.

I was able to eat really healthy, exercise, and feel heaps better after being sick for so long with dengue fever and other random illness’s.

We were given free hall of fame tickets to the Phillies baseball game.

I got a root canal so now the pain is gone, praise God.

We were able to watch the Olympics with both families.

We were given some money to buy some new clothes.

Zack and I were able to finally relax from the stressful, packed out months and enjoy each other’s company.

There are hundreds of other things that I could write! We had wonderful time with friends, family, supporters, churches and each other. God provided for our needs while we were here through people’s generosity as well as providing for the future through relationships and our fundraiser. God is ALWAYS good and will supply ALL of our needs. He cares for you.

Chestnut Hill Cafe

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:40:36 -0400

Chestnut Hill Cafe

lovemylittle: Totes trying these out!

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 04:20:34 -0400

lovemylittle:

Totes trying these out!

Tenth cafe: Frankies Place. Frankies is a cute, Indie...

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 07:56:00 -0400

Tenth cafe: Frankies Place. Frankies is a cute, Indie cafe’ on Darby Street run by cool, urban workers, primarily chicks with tattoos, piercings and parts of their heads shaved. My good friend Sez introduced me to this place so it’s only fair that I documented this hangout and cafe’ evaluation with her. She is a stunning, classy, Aussie skater girl full of wisdom, love and humor. She is one of our executive leaders at YWAM Newcastle. She leads our Youth department and is also leading the School of Innovative Youth Ministry in July. Books, tea, Vogue and beach hangouts are a few of her favs..bottom line is she’s insanely cool.

Coffee/Menu: I ordered a latte on skim and to be honest it wasn’t that great. The coffee has been a little bitter every time I’ve had it but the ‘latte art’ in the foam is always pretty. Sez had green tea that they brought out in a small white tea pot with a Sesame Street book as a tray. We only got drinks this time but the other times that I went with people we all ordered food and every time it’s been delish. Their french toast is seriously probably the best I’ve ever had and my husband was in love with their eggs benedict. Rating: 5 for coffee and 9 for food.

Ambiance: I am the queen of the run on sentence because I am a lazy writer and like to do things as quickly as possible, so I am going to make this next descriptive sentence the longest one ever. Frankies is unique, cute and cool, filled with lots of colors, tea pots, latte art, plants, stools, mismatched but still cute vintage furniture, simple menu’s with a cute and clean font, plushy pillows and a wall covered in colorful record covers. All of this combined with the urban staff and outdoor seating equals a really sweet place. Rating: 9

This concludes my opinion summary of this cafe’. Please note that this was only my personal first impression and I have only been there a few times.

These are a few of my fav things...

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 06:29:00 -0400

I am passionate about a lot of things but here is a list of my top 50 favorite light and fluffy things. They are comforting and make me smile :)

Books. Especially ones by Khaled Hosseini, Jodi Picoult, Bill Johnson, Francis Chan, Jane Austen, Emily Giffen, Victor Hugo, Bronte sisters and Marian Keyes. The Bible’s pretty good too ;)
Coffee.
Baseball stadiums.
Cafe’ hangouts with friends
Walking in the rain.
Baking something easy that I know will taste good, like brownies or apple crumble.
Gilmore Girls.
Hearing God’s voice.
Taking and looking at pictures.
Planning trips. Travel. Culture.
Eating at local diners with my family.
Listening to music like Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Ian McIntosh, Ingrid Michaelson, The White Stripes, Belle and Sebastian, CCR, Billy Idol, John Mark McMillan, Bon Iver, Wilco…
Taco’s..mmm. Comida. Mexico. Delicioso. loco.
Running.
Philadelphia sports.
Cuddles with the man.
The Netherlands. soccer, windmills, bicycles, canals, ministry, and flowers.
TV show ‘The Office’
Rocky beaches.
Independence Day, July 4th, my birthday.
Les Miserables. (both book and musical)
Classic style clothing. Nike too.
Train tracks.
Singing.
Creating things- making things pretty and unique.
Cheesy workout music.
Burlap.
Starbucks Mugs.
Notes and Cards.
People watching. Getting to know people. People.
Shopping and eating Dairy Queen and Froz Yog with my mom and sisters. Also hanging out with my mom as she bakes and I do nothing but talk to her and eat.
Miracles.
Passionate, prophetic prayers.
Back scratches.
Movies: Chocolat, (mmm chocolate), Braveheart, Bend it like Beckham, Fever Pitch, Blue Crush, Sherlock Holmes, Batman movies (with Christian Bale), Whip It (I want to be on a roller derby team), Sherlock Holmes, The Avengers, Center Stage, Pretty in Pink, Beauty and the Beast, Ace Ventura, Pride and Prejudice, The Little Princes (old version).
Autumn leaves and winter holidays. Snow.
Playing sports. Basketball, soccer, ult friz…
Diet Ginger Beer. Waffles.
Playing soccer with Philip and our dog Ivy. She’s better than us.
Playing the piano.
Coffee scented candles.
Watching sports with my brothers.
Photo shoot road trips.
Fashion magazines.
Karaoke.
New Jersey/York accent.
Walk and talks with my Dad.
Dreaming with God.
Cool alleyways.
Kisses on my forehead and dancing outside to ‘Stand by me’ with Zachary. Oh and making random lists of favorite things just for my enjoyment

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The..."

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:33:19 -0400

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

- James 5:16

…faith…

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:31:57 -0400

…faith…

5 of our Youth Street crew (teens) were baptized a few weekends...

Wed, 30 May 2012 02:20:07 -0400

5 of our Youth Street crew (teens) were baptized a few weekends ago! Such a joy to watch them take this step for God!

New guuurrrllll ;)

Sun, 27 May 2012 20:45:15 -0400

New guuurrrllll ;)

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every..."

Sun, 27 May 2012 08:39:47 -0400

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”

- Lamentations 3:22-23

Bought a cheap pillow, frame, burlap (hessian), stencils and...

Sat, 26 May 2012 03:26:05 -0400

Bought a cheap pillow, frame, burlap (hessian), stencils and fabric paint and this is what you got :) One of my fav verses (Psalm 16:11) and a quote about coffee. Ahhhhh…

New Guurlll..Ahhh I love this! This pictcha makes me happy :)

Thu, 24 May 2012 03:31:37 -0400

New Guurlll..Ahhh I love this! This pictcha makes me happy :)

Ninth Cafe’: Rolladoor near Hamilton train station. A few...

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:45:00 -0400

Ninth Cafe’: Rolladoor near Hamilton train station. A few of these pictures are from a few months ago when the staff of the Compassion Discipleship Training School, Jeremy Barry Randall, Dieuwke, Tessa and I, went there for a meeting (aka hangout. The rest of the pictures are from a few days ago when the beautiful and talented Tessa Fuiava and I went out for a goodbye breakfast. Tessa and her husband Sanerive were married in July and are moving to Tahiti to pioneer a YWAM base. They are the ones who led my DTS in January ‘09 and lead the way for Zack and I to come back on staff. Tessa is a pretty, talented, organized, loyal friend and leader with an eye for beauty.

Coffee: Tessa and I ordered a latte and flat white on skim. This was my first coffee in two weeks so it probably would have tasted good no matter what but this flat white was particularly delicious. Rolladoor is one of Tessa’s favorite cafe’s so she always likes the coffee there. She ordered porridge and I ordered a bagel with cream cheese which are two delicious things to have on a cold morning. Rating:7

Ambiance: I’m pretty sure this cafe’ is called ‘Rolladoor’ because there is a charming window with a rolling door that makes for easy ordering and take away. The outside wall is painted creatively and there are cute tables with umbrellas outside right near the train station. This is the perfect place for coffee and people watching. The inside is filled with mismatched furniture and glassware. Some people consider the atmosphere crowded and a little dingy but I thought that it had an artistic air to it. The menus were laminated paper which I am always not a fan of but other than this I thought the place was unique and cute. Rating: 7

This article is dedicated to the lovely, chic Tessa Fuiava <3

This concludes my opinion summary of this cafe’. Please note that this was only my personal first impression and I have only been there once.

Eighth cafe’: Miss Marmalade in Bondi Junction. Our...

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:33:04 -0400

Eighth cafe’: Miss Marmalade in Bondi Junction. Our outreach team spent a week in Sydney before heading off to Indonesia. I noticed this cafe’ right away when walking to our apartment from the train station the first time and couldn’t wait for time off ministry to go. My first accomplice was the debonair Zachary David and the rest of the outreach team joined me for the second.

Coffee: The first time Zack and I went into this cafe’ Zack asked if they had any flavors. A mexican man who spoke perfect English replied in a friendly way that he knows we are Americans not just by our accent but because we like flavored coffee, just like at Starbucks. He began to explain that this cafe’ was run by an American guy who believes that they serve the best coffee because it’s ‘organic, fairtrade coffee with strong notes of cocoa and a rich taste.’ He wasn’t joking. Zack and I both ordered flat whites and they were seriously the best flat white’s we’ve ever had. It was strong and smooth and I understood what the worker was saying, I would never ruin that coffee with flavors. Ronnie, Cassey, Bo and Oddvar all got hot chocolates and most were very pleased with the taste. Ronnie makes delicious hot chocolate so she wasn’t too impressed, but it was agreeable all the same. Rating:9

Ambiance: The overall look of the place is what drove me to this cafe’ over all of the others in Bondi. It had a cute name and a welcoming opening front which I liked. Some of the tables were actually old wire spools which I thought was creative and cute. Some of the stairs were milk crates with pillows on top which I can’t decide if I think it’s clever or cheap. The walls were painted with chalkboard paint and had several drawings and sayings about coffee. Some might say it was tacky but I thought it was fun and made me feel less stupid about being so obsessed with coffee. There are others like me! ;) The overall look was pretty nice but what I loved most was the workers. The mexican guy was friendly, helpful and personable. The American owner was also very down to earth and relational. The other two workers there were Swedish and Australian which gave the place a very international feel. This is a place I could see myself going to everyday and building relationships with the workers and regulars. It’s a pity I live so far but whenever I am in Bondi I will be sure to go to Miss Marmalade. Rating: 6 for decor and 9 for the people.

This concludes my opinion summary of this cafe’. Please note that this was only my personal first impression and I have only been there once.

Release from the Fear of Man

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:19:23 -0400

Highlights from chapter three in “Intimate Friendship with God” by Joy Dawson

The fear of the Lord is the only way to be released from the fear of man.

If you are honest you have been plagued by this at some stage in our life.

The fear of man is being more impressed with man’s reaction to our actions than with God’s reaction. That is bondage.

The fear of the Lord brings freedom.

God will often test us in this area of the fear of people versus the fear of the Lord. He will test us in small circumstances first and won’t test us beyond what we are capable because God is just and merciful.

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?” Isaiah 50:10

“O how abundant is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee, and wrought for those who take refuge in thee, in the sight of the sons of men!”

-Psalm 31:19

It can cost us many things to fear God and not men- being misunderstood, the loss of friendships, closed doors in ministry, rejection of many kinds, persecution and even life itself.

Luke 12:4-5 “I tell you my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more than they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him!”

It costs us so much more when we fear men and not God. It costs us the privilege and joy of intimacy of friendship with God. What a price!

“We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts” I Thessalonians 2:4

Every time we choose to fear God and not men, we can be assured that we have brought God pleasure, and that He will bring us into closer fellowship with Himself, and that He will reveal the secrets from His Word to us. - Dang these are some amazing rewards!

Psalm 25:14 “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”

It is worth the time, pain, commitment, and sacrifices to fear the Lord above fearing men. It results in a friendship with God. -my conclusion in my own words

Chapter 2: Obedience Because of Who God Is The fear of God is...

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:59:00 -0400

Chapter 2: Obedience Because of Who God Is

The fear of God is directly connected with obedience.

ex. Abraham and Isaac “Now I know that you fear God..” Gen. 22:12

Jonah’s lack of fear of the Lord was clearly evident in his attitudes and disobedience. “He had to learn through a series of horrifying experiences that the consequences of disobedience are always far harder than the act of obedience, no matter how hard! We always have God’s grace given us to enable us to obey. We come under His judgment when we disobey.” Amen.

“If thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou may be feared.” Psalm 130:3,4

The more we take time to study to character of God from His Word the more He will reveal Himself to us.

The fear of God is evidenced in our lives by instant, joyful and whole obedience to God. Anything else is disobedience. Delayed obedience in disobedience. Partial obedience is disobedience. Doing what God has asked with murmuring is disobedience.

Two greatest incentives we have to obey God: the knowledge of what He is really like and the fear of the Lord. Moses spent so much time with God while he was on earth that I’m sure he wasn’t 100% shocked when he saw God. Do we know Him?

“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” Hebrews 11:6

Do we read the Bible to get messages for people or do we read to truly get to know the Author of the Book?

Many times God tests us by telling us to do things without us knowing why we are doing them. We do not need to understand why. Just know Jesus.

Underlining theme of this chapter: If you fear God and know God other things will follow.