Waiting to turn

I was sitting in my car waiting to turn onto a street.  Cars kept coming both ways. I kept looking and they kept coming.  I realized that I could try to turn, but it would probably just end up creating an accident.  However, if I waited there would be a wide opening, in time.  I think that life is like this.  We may feel like God isn’t showing us what to do, so we try to forge ahead with our own plans.  But really it isn’t God’s timing.  So if we decide to move forward in our own timing we may just create a mess.  That’s why we need to lean into God and wait for His perfect timing. 

However, this is not an excuse for complacency.  Because while we’re waiting on God’s plans for us, He has already given us some very clear plans in Scripture.  There are things we are called to do and ways we are called to live laid out in the Bible.  If we aren’t doing these things, we aren’t living up to our calling.  By doing that, we are committing sins of omission, by failing to do what we’re supposed to do. 

It’s not okay to live your own life and say you’re living it for God.  For one, that’s just hypocritical, but also, we are only alive because Christ died for us.  So it’s not our lives we’re living, it is Christ’s life in us.  Live like it’s Christ life in you, live with an eternal perspective, and live with a missional mindset.  God has great plans for your life, He’s just waiting for you to turn the life He’s given you over to Him.   

Who's really working?

I can’t live in my own strength.  Sounds basic enough right? Well maybe it would be if I didn’t have quite the independent personality that I do.  I mean I trust God, deep down, I really do.  But I have this constant battle within me.  Sometimes I’ll say I trust God and then start doing everything in my own strength, accrediting it to Him, or allowing Him to work through me and then taking credit for it. Either way is wrong. I don’t know why I do that, but I guess it’s my flesh working against the Spirit.  Things don’t go well when I let myself get too busy and start neglecting my relationship with Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.  They may seem like they’re going okay, but it always ends in a crash.  Besides, I’m not okay with things seemingly going well.  That is not the way I’m called to live.  It’s not biblical, it’s not living out the Lord’s calling on my life.  And it’s also not going to bear fruit like John 15:5 says: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  God’s word clearly reveals our calling as Christians, to follow Christ, going and making disciples.  But this has to stem from a relationship with Christ and a life of complete dependence on Him.  I don’t even want to see what my life would look like without the Holy Spirit working through me.  I would definitely not be who I am today. 

Fundraising Update

God continues to prove to me His plans are always the best and He will be faithful to provide.  I have raised nearly $2500 in two weeks!! Praise the Lord! I have a little over $8000 left to go.  But, I believe that He will provide, for this opportunity which He has called me to. 

I set up an online fundraising page to make donating easier, and hopefully allow more people to know about it.

 http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=155&url=summitoxford

Thank you all for your prayers and support! May the Lord continue to bless you!

This is discipling

An excellent portrayel of what we're called to as the Church.  Please watch and be inspired to action in furthering the Kingdom of God.  We must be intentional with our lives.

Getting to this point.

Most of you only know bits and pieces of my background, so I wanted to share with you how this Summit Oxford opportunity all came about. It’s pretty neat because it’s been in my peripheral vision ever since I was a senior in high school, but I never expected it to become a reality. Summer 2008 I had planned to spend overseas in Poland doing missions work with the Navigators.  I went through the training in Colorado Springs and everything, but God ended up shutting that door.  So at the last minute I was looking for something fun and worthwhile to do during the summer.  The year before, a very good friend of mine had gone to a Summit summer conference in Colorado, and was going back this year to staff.  She had told me how incredible it was, and encouraged me to go.  I looked it up and thought it sounded like an interesting and cool opportunity.  I asked my parents about it and applied, still not knowing a ton about it (like the fact that a big portion of the day was spent in lectures, and there was a huge emphasis on reading, studying, researching in order to learn more about the world around me and understanding why I believe what I believe).  Well those two weeks absolutely rocked my world, seriously.  It completely changed the way I viewed the world by showing me the biblical worldview lense to look through.  It didn’t even take a day for me to realize how messed up our society is, how Christians aren’t playing an active role to uphold truth, and that it wasn’t just okay to sit on the sidelines (even in church ministry) doing nothing.  Those two weeks were spent primarily in lectures, small groups, and open forums.  I learned a ton of information, but I think the most important thing I recognized was how little I actually knew about my own faith. I grew up in church, so it was what I had known since I was a baby.  I couldn’t really tell you why I believed it, because it really wasn’t my faith…it was my parents.  Needless to say, I drew closer to the Lord during my time there, and began to see big pictures of His will for my life. 

While I was there one of my two favorite speakers was Kevin Bywater.  At some point towards the end of the conference he told us about Summit Oxford.  I thought it sounded like such an incredible opportunity.  I especially thought it was cool because it was in England, where I’ve always wanted to live, since I was born there.  Anyways, I saw how much it cost, and I knew it was an extremely rigorous program (academically).  So I basically counted it in the category of “that’s sounds cool, but it will never happen.”  I really didn’t think I was very smart when I was in high school, since I didn’t make a 35 on my ACT like some people I knew.  So I constantly doubted myself, and I was never an avid reader, so this seemed like it was something for those “genius” type kids.  Also, in order to attend Summit Oxford, you must be at least a junior in college, and back then that seemed like a long way off.  But over the years God slowly changed my heart in a lot of areas. He taught me things about Himself, about my calling, and bout my identity in Him… Through those years I was occasionally reminded of Summit Oxford, but mostly ignored it.  Then in January 2011, after going through an extremely rough, Spiritual desert of a year, He rekindles the fire in my heart.  He lit a passion in my heart that wanted nothing else than to reveal His glory and further His kingdom.  Through this time I was asking Him what He wanted me to do in the future (immediate and long-term).  I had several different options on the table for the next year, and I constantly came back to Summit Oxford.  I prayed about it and prayed about it, and got pretty clear direction that this was where I was supposed to go, and that it was going to be the beginning of a lifetime of Christian service.  So I began the application process.  7 months later I was accepted and began preparing to leave in January.  That’s where I stand now: getting ready mentally, financially, spiritually, etc.  Looking back, it seems so unreal that this has actually become a reality. It’s been quite a journey, and the Lord has been extremely faithful to me!

Stepping into God's calling

Dear Fellow Believer,

          The Lord has done many incredible things in my life over the past several years, and each of you has played some role in that.  I have been blessed with countless opportunities to serve, grow, and lead, and have been driven by the calling to spread truth and light amongst the nations.  I'd like to share with you a wonderful opportunity God has opened up for me through a program, known as Summit Oxford, dedicated to training Christian scholars to engage the battlefield of ideas currently at war in our culture.  Summit Oxford is a study abroad program at Oxford University available to a limited number of Christian college students across America.  The program leads students through a rigorous worldview analysis, leadership, and apologetics curriculum in addition to a world-class education from Oxford University.

          Summit Oxford's mission is to help raise a generation of young adults as Christian scholars and is particularly dedicated to training Christian leaders to be secure in a defensible faith before an increasingly secular culture.  This vision has never been more critical to the future of Christianity than in our present age where ideas and beliefs define the times.  Summit Oxford hopes to equip a generation of Christians as ambassadors of Christ and to promote God's truth throughout our culture.

 

          This program accepts a maximum of twenty five students, world-wide, per semester, and I have been chosen as one of the twenty five to attend Summit Oxford in the spring 2012 semester.  I am thrilled at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand my knowledge of God's truth, and am excited to use the knowledge and training that I acquire at Oxford to engage our culture once I return home, and as I embark on new adventures in the future.

          America’s education system increasingly yields generations of learners and followers rather than thinkers and leaders.  As Christians, we also far too often focus on only the heart while ignoring the mind.  In order to redeem our time, we must redeem our beliefs.  Beliefs are promoted by people of courage and conviction.  Christian scholars should be among the ranks of those with courage and conviction.  Now is the time to redeem our culture -- a vision that Summit Oxford will help come to fruition by equipping a new generation of leaders ready for this noble calling. Of course, this means not only learning but outreach.  We’ll also be engaging in ministry and evangelism while there.

          Naturally, the expenses of travel and education at a world-class university are more than most people can afford to pay out-of-pocket.  Even though those accepted to Summit Oxford have received a tuition scholarship to Oxford University and my parents have committed to covering travel expenses, the remaining costs for the Summit Oxford program will total nearly $20,000.  So far, I have about $8,500.  I have a long way to go financially, and I hope that you will consider contributing to help me engage in this important spiritual need in our society.  Since ideas and beliefs shape our culture, we must redeem truth based beliefs if we want to redeem our modern condition. 

          My financial need can be met if 200 people give $58.00 or if 100 people give $115.00.  However, any assistance you can afford will be deeply and humbly appreciated. Checks can be written out to me. I have an account set up where I will send the money, from which I will pay Summit Oxford.

          If you would like some more information on Summit Oxford, I would love to discuss it with you, or if you are interested, you can visit their website at www.summitoxford.org.  I would also very much like to ask for your prayer support from now through the completion of the program.  As excited as I am about this opportunity, I realize the immense difficulties that lie ahead and ask that you would pray for wisdom, understanding, and boldness.  Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you and greatly appreciate your prayers!

          May the Lord bless you mightily,

Catherine

      

The Lord is my strength

 My heart has been heavy lately, mourning the loss of a very dear cousin and friend.  She brought such joy to so many.  We all loved her so much.  It’s been heartbreaking, especially watching her husband and two little kids suffer through such pain.  The absolute most heartbreaking moment of the whole thing was when my little cousin found out that her mom had died.  She was wailing in absolute terror.  I had just gotten home from church right after she was told, and she came running out to me, grabbed on to me and screamed that “Daddy just said Mommy died.” All I could do was hold her and cry with her. 

I’ve never seen death so closely before.  It still seems unreal.  Something will come up that makes me think of her, and then I remember...  This came at the heels of the death of a close friend this summer, which I don’t know that I ever completely came to grips with.  But I was further from the situation.  All I can really do in these times is trust God, trust that He’s in control and has a purpose for everything.  Sitting in that hospital room was definitely a wakeup call for the fact that God is in control.  At that moment there was nothing anybody could do to make her better, no matter how much we wanted to.  All we can do is lean on Him for comfort and strength, and believe that He is going to bring good out of the pain.  

I thank God for the many dear friends He has placed in my life to bless and encourage me and my family during this difficult time.  I cannot express how grateful I am for all of the prayers and words of encouragement. 

Divided

"As you look on the church landscape, youth are leaving the faith in droves. The modern church, overall, is struggling to reach the next generation with the gospel. What has happened? Whether for good or bad, men, for many years, have been inventing solutions or brainstorming ideas without fully relying upon the foundation of God’s Word. God, however, is greater than man, and as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than ours and His thoughts than our thoughts (Is. 55:8-9). We have substituted the greater for the lesser – God’s wisdom for man’s ideas. Jesus said that he who hears His Word and does it, is like a man that built his house upon a rock, and when the storm came, it stood firm. On the other hand, he who rejects His Word, is like a man who built on the sand and when the storm came, the house fell (Matt. 7:24-25). Shouldn’t the church, as a whole, abandon the sandy ideas of man and shamelessly return to the firm rock of the Word of God? God’s Word sufficiently identifies how youth are to be reached. For more information on this issue, please see the film Divided, which is a documentary on age-segregated youth ministry in America. Watch it for free (for a limited time) at www.dividedthemovie.com. For an in-depth study, the book A Weed in the Church delves into the topic and more thoroughly handles the Scripture passages that address ministry to young people. For other details or to help spread the message, visit www.dividedthemovie.com."

Big News!

I have been blessed with many incredible opportunities, but I wanted to tell you about the most recent one.  I found out last week that I was accepted to Summit Oxford.  Summit Oxford is a study abroad program at Oxford University for a select number of Christian college students.  Although it involves studying at a world class university, the main focus is a rigorous worldview analysis, leadership, and apologetics training program.  In a world where fallacies permeate, it is critical to understand truth and stand firm in a defensible faith. 

I'm thrilled about this amazing opportunity to learn and grow as a Christian leader, and to kind of be thrown out into the world.  But alongside that I really need prayer, because I know that there is absolutely no way I can do this in my own strength. I ask that you would keep me in your prayers as I prepare to leave in January.  Aside from all the logistics of moving overseas, I will need to raise funds, as well as prepare mentally. I ask for prayers for provision, wisdom, guidance, and that I might be salt and light to the nations.   But I also ask for prayers for understanding, as I begin digesting the required reading materials. These are books that I will be analyzing and discussing in the worldview intensive, such as the Quran and “Life at the Bottom.”

I’ll be writing more about it later, and will also post updates leading up to and throughout my time in Oxford.  Thank you for your prayers, they are greatly appreciated!! 

10 years ago

I sat and watched the television in terror at what was unfolding on the news.  I was only 11 years old, and didn’t know the extent of what this would mean.  But I honestly don’t know that anyone else did either.  What I knew was that thousands of people were being killed.  I watched the news over and over, wishing it would go away, wishing it was only a movie, wishing those people could be saved somehow.  It was like some sort of horrible nightmare that just kept replaying on TV and in my head.  As much as I tried, I couldn’t get the tears to stop rolling down my face, and I was in a state of absolute shock.  I don’t know what scared me more, the fact that hundreds of innocent people were being killed, the fact that our country was under attack, or the fact that I had absolutely no idea of where in the world my dad was.  I knew this meant war was imminent, and I knew that my daddy had just been deployed.  What I wasn’t sure of is quite how much danger he was really in.  My ignorance protected me from even greater inner turmoil.  You see, If I didn’t know what my dad was actually doing, I didn’t know the danger he was really in.  All I really knew was that he was in a warzone working 18hr+ days, and would be gone for long periods of time with absolutely no contact.  Even when he did have contact, it would be a 5 minute phone call here, or a short email there.  In all honesty, I was scared to death.   I would cry and cry as I watched the horror on people’s faces on television, as they fell out of the trade centers or ran down the streets where I used to spend many happy moments.  But as much as I possibly could, I bottled it all up inside. I always felt like it was a sign of weakness to show emotion.  I also knew that I needed to try my best to be strong for my family.  I really wished I could go back to New York and do something, or even just see it, so that it could become reality in my mind.  I had a hard time believing that these buildings I used to see every week were just destroyed. 

As I prepared for Sunday’s preschool lesson, I realized that none of the preschool kids had even been born yet in 2001.  And I began to remember what life was like before 9/11.  It was easier. It was more comfortable.  There wasn’t nearly as much worry about foreign conflict, economy, national security, etc. I’ll never forget what it used to be like, and I’ll never forget how it changed our country forever.  One thing that was amazing was how Americans everywhere, regardless of political views, bonded and were filled with patriotism that day and for months to come.  When remembering 9/11 we should remember the incredibly valuable lessons our country learned that day: lessons that brought people together and reminded us of the important things in life. These were lessons that taught us to be strong, to love others, to trust, and to have faith in our God, who is always there.  We should also remember to pray for those who lost loved ones that day.  I’m sure the memories are as vivid as ever…and there are still emotional scars that will always be there.   

9/11 memories for the newspaper

I was 11 years old and sitting in the vet clinic on Maxwell Air Force base in Montgomery, Alabama.  With my mom and little sister by my side, I watched the TV in horror as an airplane crashed into one of the towers.  I had lived in New York a few years before and frequently saw the towers.  This didn’t seem real.  It was too much like a movie. Besides, why would something like this happen? I looked at the people around me and saw something I had never seen before.  What I saw that day were looks of pure fear.  Time stood still. I watched as tears rolled down shocked faces, and phones began ringing from the calls of loved ones.  Little did I know that this day would change our country, and change my life, forever.  The base was locked down. There was no way to get back home to my sisters and brother, which worried mom tremendously. About a week earlier my dad had deployed to Saudi Arabia, but we had no way of expecting something like this, that he would soon be so heavily involved in. There was much opportunity for worry.  We didn’t hear anything for weeks on end: no emails, no phone calls, nothing.  My life was wrapped around war, and could have been wrapped around fear.  Instead, through the horrific acts of terrorism, and knowing that my dad was in the middle of immense danger, I finally learned what it meant to trust God. 

Better plans than I could dream of...despite the difficult journey.

             It has been a roller coaster of a summer.  That’s the best way I can think of to describe it.  It’s had its extreme ups and downs.  But, I’ve seen God working through it ALL.  I cannot begin to explain to you how much He has revealed to me this summer about His faithfulness, love, and purpose/plans for my life. It’s been absolutely incredible, and if you knew the whole story, with all of the tiny details...you would see just what i'm talking about.  There has been sickness, death, and an enormous amount of fear.  But, there really is a peace that passes all understanding.  It’s always seemed like one of those stock Christian phrases.  But, it’s exactly what it says it is: a peace that can’t be understood, because it comes from God in the midst of complete worldly chaos and pain.

These past several months/years I have learned the incredible importance of listening to God and doing what He says.  It’s so easy to be used by God.  But when opportunities open up and it’s time to say “yes”, it suddenly gets difficult.  God has a plan and purpose for my life.  I’ve always “known” that, but I’ve never really understood it.  But now I can look back and see it.  I can see how certain circumstances led to opportunities, and how those opportunities led to blessings.  Everything just seems to tie together and make a lot of sense. The crazy thing is that it makes absolutely no sense when it’s happening, or yet to happen. But, it’s so awesome to know that trusting God each step of the way creates His master story for my life.   To be able to look back and recognize that, is incredibly rewarding!!  Every day is filled with SO MANY blessings.  We just don’t take enough time to recognize them.  It’s so much easier for worry and stress to invade our lives and flood our minds, than to allow God to guide our every step.  I am not at all saying that I’m perfect, because these are some of the very things I struggle with.  What I’m saying that is God has shown me what blessings come when I trust Him, and how everything has a purpose that’s part of a bigger story.  His plans are so much better than anything I could ever dream of, and I just feel full to overflowing with pure joy.  All of this may seem a bit cryptic or vague.  I just wish there was time to tell you details...because it really would point directly to the omnipotent, omniscient, awesome God we serve. 

It's about time to understand the times

"...and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14


We live in a broken world, where truth is no longer held to be absolute and morals don't seem to hold any weight.  I feel like I was born in the wrong century, and often wish I could time travel back to a place where people had similar beliefs and values that I hold today.  However, that's not possible, and I firmly believe that God has placed me here for a reason.  It's all good and well to talk about it, but I actually have to take action if I want to make a difference.  My two younger sisters are at Summit for the next two weeks.  Summit is a biblical worldview camp that I attended back in 2008.  It was an incredible experience that changed the way I look at the world. It opened my eyes to so much going on around me, and I was extremely blessed by my time there.  I've been meaning to read and research many things this summer, including law, politics, and history.  So, I thought what better time to start than now.  My goal is to listen to at least one Summit lecture everyday and read a few chapters of one of the 30+ books I've collected on my night stand (with every intention of reading).  That's that, we'll see how it goes! 


"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

Made Alive in Christ

I was reading through Ephesians this morning, and wanted to share this reminder of our identity in Christ, as believers.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:1-10

Living Eternally: Francis Chan

Happened to see this video soon after writing my last post.  I think this is a crucial message that everyone should hear.  It is certainly one He has laid on my heart today; and He is convicting me of not living eternally.

Press on toward the goal

           In all the chaos and confusion of life, it’s so easy to lose an eternal perspective.  It’s so easy to get caught up in day to day activities, becoming satisfied by temporary things and relationships, and losing track of a greater purpose.  Personally, I have become caught up in many things lately, which began to depress my passion for the Lord. It's amazing how easy it can be to slip, once you begin to compromise. 

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, should NEVER be put in a box.  There is a greater purpose that should never be forgotten, and that is a love and desire for Jesus Christ.  I’m reminded of Philippians 3:13-14 which says “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

       May we not lose sight of eternity.  The recent tornadoes reminded me of just how short life is, and the fact that we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.  Life can be snatched away in a second, with absolutely no warning.  So we need to live today, but live it for eternity. 

Heidelberg Catechism

One of my dear friends shared this with me today...definitely a timely encouragement. 


Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

{(a) Rom.14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Rom.14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. (b) 1 Cor.6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (c) 1 Cor.3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. Tit.2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (d) 1 Pet.1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1 Pet.1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (e) Heb.2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (f) John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 2 Thess.3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 1 Pet.1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (g) Matt.10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Matt.10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matt.10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (h) Rom.8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (i) 2 Cor.1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Cor.1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 2 Cor.1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor.5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Eph.1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph.1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Rom.8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (j) Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.}
http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/heidelberg.html