GAH! I'm so tired of people saying they want their own Edward or Jacob or Harry or whatever other popular fictional character is out there. I saw a flair a few minutes ago on Facebook that did, however, make me smile. "I don't need an Edward... I have a Jesus."
How true is this, people? I know how bad I am about wanting these things I don't have, and this brings this home for me. Why do I want anything else when I can have Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe! It just hits me sometimes how worried and worldly I can be.
My other thing is this... A few flairs down from this, I saw one of those "Team Jacob" flairs. If you know me, you know I'm a twi-hard. BUT it frustrates me when I see those, "Edward ruined real men for me" flairs and things of that effect. Yes, I think Meyer is a wonderful author, but she's not God! I'll never understand how anyone can say that a fictional character ruined real people for him or her, when really, nothing can be better than the real thing. Edward Cullen is a fictional character, created by (wo)man. Real people, with their strengths and weaknesses, are GOD'S creation! Nothing created by man will ever trump something God has made... Look at flowers. Sure, plastic ones can be pretty, but they are never as wonderful as the fragrant, fading, soft real ones... There's no comparison. God wins, ever time.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Please, please, please, please, PLEASE pray!
Ok, so I have three friends/brothers in the military, and I'm begging you guys to pray for them! One, a youth pastor from a church I went to St. Louis with, is to be shipped to Iraq on October 4 of this year. Another is scheduled to leave for Iraq sometime in 2010. The third is scheduled to leave for Afghanistan sometime between March and June.
I care a lot about these guys, and I'm worried about all of them. I'm begging you guys to lift these guys up in prayer and just ask God to keep His hand on them during their time they're over there and to bring all three home safely, preferably to the United States.
Thank you guys! Love you and God bless.
I care a lot about these guys, and I'm worried about all of them. I'm begging you guys to lift these guys up in prayer and just ask God to keep His hand on them during their time they're over there and to bring all three home safely, preferably to the United States.
Thank you guys! Love you and God bless.
Monday, September 14, 2009
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Does your life ever just feel... Loud?
'Cause I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I feel like everything is happening at once, and there's no calm; it's just chaos. Between work, school, friends, guys, trials, and our own selves, there's no quiet. Even in the silence of a room, your mind is still shouting, pointing out things you need to do or shouldn't do or have done but shouldn't have... It fills with tomorrow or yesterday or sometimes even right now. No matter what it is (and I'm not saying it's not important, don't get me wrong. Sometimes we have to think about that stuff), it's still there, and it's still screaming for your thoughts and attention.
I don't know if anyone else ever feels this, but I often feel that God's voice and Jesus himself get lost in the mess of other sounds cluttering our minds. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow dig themselves in there, and they fill our heads with noise.
The Bible tells us that the Father's voice is found in the quiet whisper. Check out 1 Kings 19:11...
This is one of those 'three fingers pointing back at me' things... Because as I say this, it probably applies more to me than anyone else. Because that is SO us. We let life be loud, and we don't take the time to quiet our minds. With our own earthquakes- whether they be trials, boyfriends, school, work, sin- drown out the quiet voice, the gentle whisper in which God will change our hearts!
This is just as much a reminder to me as it is to you... Quiet your mind and your heart, and listen for that gentle, loving whisper, for it brings the presence of the Lord and He will change your life.
(P.S. To make sense of the title, the word God is mixed into the clutter, basically unnoticeable, just like when we let our minds get cluttered... We drown Him out.)
'Cause I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I feel like everything is happening at once, and there's no calm; it's just chaos. Between work, school, friends, guys, trials, and our own selves, there's no quiet. Even in the silence of a room, your mind is still shouting, pointing out things you need to do or shouldn't do or have done but shouldn't have... It fills with tomorrow or yesterday or sometimes even right now. No matter what it is (and I'm not saying it's not important, don't get me wrong. Sometimes we have to think about that stuff), it's still there, and it's still screaming for your thoughts and attention.
I don't know if anyone else ever feels this, but I often feel that God's voice and Jesus himself get lost in the mess of other sounds cluttering our minds. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow dig themselves in there, and they fill our heads with noise.
The Bible tells us that the Father's voice is found in the quiet whisper. Check out 1 Kings 19:11...
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."Amazing, terrifying, earth-shattering things happened, and even though we know God was there because He is omnipresent, He didn't speak through the loud, flashy things. Christ spoke in the gentle whisper. And if the powerful wind and shattering rocks and the earthquake and the fire had all been happening at the same time, God's whisper would have been drowned out.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
This is one of those 'three fingers pointing back at me' things... Because as I say this, it probably applies more to me than anyone else. Because that is SO us. We let life be loud, and we don't take the time to quiet our minds. With our own earthquakes- whether they be trials, boyfriends, school, work, sin- drown out the quiet voice, the gentle whisper in which God will change our hearts!
This is just as much a reminder to me as it is to you... Quiet your mind and your heart, and listen for that gentle, loving whisper, for it brings the presence of the Lord and He will change your life.
(P.S. To make sense of the title, the word God is mixed into the clutter, basically unnoticeable, just like when we let our minds get cluttered... We drown Him out.)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
True Beauty
Psalms 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
“Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl”
- “More Beautiful You” by Johnny Diaz
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXSkd8apbWM&feature=related)
Ok, so it’s kind of a girlie blog today, but guys, a lot of this can and does apply to you too!
I very rarely feel pretty or beautiful. And all honesty, by the world’s standards, I’m not. I’m overweight, often pimply, and I tend to wear baggy t-shirts a bit too often. But y’know, most of the time I’m ok with that.
Because according to God’s word, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I am who God created me to be. So I am beautiful, not because of what I look like, but because the Creator of the universe made me!
Above, in Psalms 139, David is talking about how God knows you and is with you wherever you go. He created everything about you. He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs… And He loves us.
So what I want everyone reading this to know one thing: YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY, BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL!
As my friend Oz would say, “Would God, the Creator of the universe, have created you without a purpose? No! So don’t shame God’s creation by putting yourself down, ok?” (Can you tell I’ve heard this more than once?)
You know, I feel really hypocritical writing this… Because I can honestly say that I don’t generally think of myself as beautiful, especially when I’m looking in a mirror. So even me saying I am beautiful feels… off. But when I look at those around me, I see beautiful people inside and out, no matter what they look like because GOD created them, and they were made by HIS hands.
Slowly, He’s teaching me how to see the beauty in those around me, and He’s used a few of my friends to show me that even if I don’t fit the stereotypical beauty, that I might be beautiful anyway. Not because of who I am or what I look like but because I am God’s creation and Christ is in me.
The same goes for personality, guys. When we come to know Christ, we are a new creation… GOD’S creation. Yes, we still sin no matter how hard we try not to, but we are His creation. And the qualities He has given to you make you who you are, so don’t put down your goofiness or your stubbornness. They are how God made you, and why should you ask to change that? (Unless they cause you to sin, in which you need to ask God to mold you into the you he made you to be. Don’t try to change yourself to be someone else, because no creation of man can better God’s creation.)
So, to sum up, BE THE YOU GOD MADE YOU TO BE, in personality and in physicality. Don’t try to change yourself to conform to the world’s standards. Be the you God is calling you to be, and you will never be more beautiful… And remember. You are beautiful! And you are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made.
That’s all for now… Oh! And check out that song at the top. It’s awesome.
And last thing... Thank you to the people in my life that God is using to teach me... I love you guys so much and I thank God for you all daily.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
“Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl”
- “More Beautiful You” by Johnny Diaz
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXSkd8apbWM&feature=related)
Ok, so it’s kind of a girlie blog today, but guys, a lot of this can and does apply to you too!
I very rarely feel pretty or beautiful. And all honesty, by the world’s standards, I’m not. I’m overweight, often pimply, and I tend to wear baggy t-shirts a bit too often. But y’know, most of the time I’m ok with that.
Because according to God’s word, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I am who God created me to be. So I am beautiful, not because of what I look like, but because the Creator of the universe made me!
Above, in Psalms 139, David is talking about how God knows you and is with you wherever you go. He created everything about you. He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs… And He loves us.
So what I want everyone reading this to know one thing: YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY, BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL!
As my friend Oz would say, “Would God, the Creator of the universe, have created you without a purpose? No! So don’t shame God’s creation by putting yourself down, ok?” (Can you tell I’ve heard this more than once?)
You know, I feel really hypocritical writing this… Because I can honestly say that I don’t generally think of myself as beautiful, especially when I’m looking in a mirror. So even me saying I am beautiful feels… off. But when I look at those around me, I see beautiful people inside and out, no matter what they look like because GOD created them, and they were made by HIS hands.
Slowly, He’s teaching me how to see the beauty in those around me, and He’s used a few of my friends to show me that even if I don’t fit the stereotypical beauty, that I might be beautiful anyway. Not because of who I am or what I look like but because I am God’s creation and Christ is in me.
The same goes for personality, guys. When we come to know Christ, we are a new creation… GOD’S creation. Yes, we still sin no matter how hard we try not to, but we are His creation. And the qualities He has given to you make you who you are, so don’t put down your goofiness or your stubbornness. They are how God made you, and why should you ask to change that? (Unless they cause you to sin, in which you need to ask God to mold you into the you he made you to be. Don’t try to change yourself to be someone else, because no creation of man can better God’s creation.)
So, to sum up, BE THE YOU GOD MADE YOU TO BE, in personality and in physicality. Don’t try to change yourself to conform to the world’s standards. Be the you God is calling you to be, and you will never be more beautiful… And remember. You are beautiful! And you are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made.
That’s all for now… Oh! And check out that song at the top. It’s awesome.
And last thing... Thank you to the people in my life that God is using to teach me... I love you guys so much and I thank God for you all daily.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thanksgiving… In July.
Ok, so one of my blood siblings, Meghan, gave me an idea from her blog. At a camp she has worked at for two summers now, they have told the kids to make a list of ten things they’re thankful for, and Meghan also did it, and she challenged everyone who read to “try it some time.” Well, I decided to. I know God has given me so much, and I also know I don’t take the time to realize it and spend time thanking Him. This is kind of my way of bringing things back into focus, also… Here goes.
Ten Things I’m Thankful For:
- Jesus Christ. My Savior loved me while I turned my back on Him and did nothing but dishonor him and continues to love me as I try (and often mess up) to live the way He calls me to live. I screw up over and over again, yet His mercy never ceases. He died so that I could be forgiven, but He rose again, proving who He is! He changed my life (in a good way, of course). I am so thankful for His love for me and for his dying on the cross for me because I do not deserve it.
- My family (Biological, Blood, and Lost). I have three sets of family, and I thank God for all of them. My biological family, who has been there for me since the day I was born. They’ve done nothing but support me, and I am so incredibly thankful for their love. My Blood family is entirely made up of Christians, and they have impacted my life more than they’ll ever realize. They’re the ones I count on for everything, and I don’t know what I’d do without them. So- Lindz, Kay, Pordie, Megaddin, Zak, and Oz- you've gotta know: you six mean the freaking WORLD to me; I don't know what I'd do without each of you in my life. I love you guys. And my Lost family, who is also (almost) entirely made up of Christians. They’re all such amazing people, and they’ve opened my eyes to so many things about God; He’s used them in my life to teach me for sure, and I thank God for letting me be part of their family.
- My other friends. Most of my friends are a part of one of my families, but I have other friends that aren’t like siblings, but they still mean so much to me. They’re the people I actually trust, and they’re awesome people in general. I thank God for letting me get to know them.
- My body. I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve always been fascinated with the human body, and after reading about all of the things that can go wrong with it, I am so insanely thankful to have two working legs and arms and eyes and ears. I am so insanely blessed.
- Little Kids. I know this one sounds nuts, but ever since God has shown me the joy of working with kids, I have found a place I feel… Right, I guess. I am so thankful for that and for the joy being around those kids gives me. I’m thankful for their wide-eyed curiosity and their interest and for the fact that the world hasn’t hit them as hard yet, so they get to live in a simpler place, for this short time, in which you can call people “Mr. Armpit” and still get away with it.
- Life. I’m so thankful to be alive! But I’m not only thankful for my life. I’m thankful that God has preserved the lives of my friends and family up to this point, and I’m thankful for the life all around me. The grass, the trees, the flowers, even the bugs.
- God’s plan/purpose for me. I used to feel like I had no real reason to be here… I lived, I went to college and lived my life, and someday I retired… That’s all. That was what was going to happen. Then I met Jesus, and I found out that God has a plan for me! I’m here for a reason, not just to piddle away my time until I could quit working. Even when I do get old and get to retire, if I’m meant to live that long, then God will still have something for me to do, because every day I’m alive is a day that is for Him.
- Technology. I’m thankful because it gives us a faster, easier way to communicate. I mean, in the last two months, I have learned the art of snail mail, and it has made me infinitely more thankful for fast communication through Facebook and texting. We’re one a few key-taps away from a conversation anywhere in the world, and it allows me to stay close to all those I care about. I’m so thankful to get to keep relationships going even when we’re not near each other.
- I’m thankful for the community I live in. We’re all so blessed. We have enough to eat and supplies for school, and our area has a rather low crime rate. We have a quality school in which we get a good education… And the church I attend has so many devoted followers of Christ, and so many people who truly care. I’m so thankful for the blessings here God has given us, because there are so many people who don’t have that…
- My home. It’s not perfect, but it’s air conditioned, and it has hot showers and we can wash our clothes here. I know that at the end of the day, I’m going to have some type of dinner waiting. I know those things seem really basic, but coming out of ESL, I realize how blessed I am to have those things, because so many kids don’t.
I thank God for all of these things. We are so incredibly blessed.
Amen.
We're Sayin' "Yes, Lord! Yes, Lord! Yes! Yes, Lord!"
Ok, so last week was an AWESOME week. I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and I wanna post one of the things God taught me this week. He showed me so many things; this is just something that stood out to me a lot.
One night, a man spoke on saying, “Yes,” to whatever Jesus asks us to do… Before we know what it is. Honestly, at first, that scared the crud out of me. Saying yes to something before it’s asked of me? Yikes! To anyone else, that would probably have been an automatic no, but he wasn’t asking us to say yes to anyone else. He was asking us to say yes to God: the ruler of the universe who spoke each one of us into being, who knows us and has plans to prosper us and not to harm us and to give us hope and a future, and who promises that in all things He works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Why wouldn’t I say yes to Him? Jesus Christ loves me enough to die for me, and He is with me. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” He’s with us! So I said yes.
But, that’s not all there is to that one, I guess. Two or three nights later, Bob Caldwell was speaking, and he asked, “Is there someone back home that God has put on your heart to share the Gospel with?” And as I thought about the people at school, one face came to me and stuck, and I felt Jesus telling me to share with this person. And immediately, I found myself saying, “Huh? Wait, how do you expect me to do that? I don’t even know this person!”
The answer kinda smacked me upside the head in a way. God wasn’t expecting ME to do anything, because in everything I do, I need to operate by HIS strength, not my own, because anything I do on my own means NOTHING! And no, truth is, I don’t know this person very well, but Jesus Christ does. Jesus knows every hair on his head, every desire of his heart, and every intricate detail of his being, because Jesus created him!
Besides, I had already said yes, remember? And suddenly, Jesus was asking me to do something completely out of my comfort zone and plan. And honestly, I’m still pretty nervous about it, but I’m not afraid, because I know my God is with me, and I plan to try to share Christ with this person once school starts.
So, I’m going to start praying and ask God to begin opening this guy’s heart and to give me an opportunity and the words to speak when that opportunity comes.
Anyway, I think that’s all I’m going to write for now… Ttyl.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Finding my Water
Ok... It's been a while. More than a month, I guess. God's shown me what feels like so many things, but I just haven't been writing. All honesty, I haven't been doing a good job of having my quiet time, so lately I haven't been as close to God as I should be. I thank Him for having so much patience with me. I don't deserve it in any way, yet he still loves me, which I'll never really understand.
Luminate was in town last weekend, which was really amazing. I love listening to them play and worship; you can feel their passion for God and for truly putting themselves 100% into the calling He has given them. Every member has this amazing, God-given talent, and they're truly using it to bring Him the honor and glory. Before the concert, though, a man from Texas spoke about a passage in 1 Kings 18:
16 So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
18 “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. 19 Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. 23 Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. 24 Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. 29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!”
They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, 32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. 33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the
same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, 35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, "The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
40 Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah look them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, fosr I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”
The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”
Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”
45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. 46 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
Ok, so I know the passage is long, but I could never summarize it properly. There are two key points I need to talk about. Maybe three.
The first is the water. Israel was in a famine, meaning an extreme shortage of food and water, so water was the most important thing they had, the one thing they believed they couldn't live without. Elijah asked them to give him all of their water to put as their sacrifice to prove that the Lord is the real God. And they did.
What the speaker talked about was that we are called to do the same thing. For so many of us, we have 'water', this one thing that we try to hold onto, that we believe we can't live without, and ultimately, that keeps us from living fully for God because we let it get in the way.
When he said this, I started thinking, because I knew I had water, but I wasn't entirely sure what my water is. And over the last two days, with a lot of prayer and a few discussions that made it painfully obvious, it was revealed to me. My water is making other people happy/trying to be accepted. I spend so much time trying to make people happy or have them accept me that I let it get in the way of doing what God wants me to do, which sometimes won't make other people happy. I hold on to this need and it keeps me from living fully for him because I won't give it up.
But what really struck me about the passage was this: when the people gave up their water, the Lord revealed himself fully to them in a miraculous way. How badly I want to see Jesus' plan! But if I keep my water, then I'll be keeping part of me from him and not trusting Him enough to give it up.
The thing that most hit me, though, was that after the people gave up their water and surrendered it to God, the drought broke and it rained. What they had been holding onto, they didn't need because once they gave it up, the Lord provided for them what they needed and more. If we surrender to his will, Jesus will sustain us more than any little bit we think we need, because He is what we truly need!
God really spoke to me through this message, and I'm asking him to help me give up my water, because truth is, I don't need it. I need Him.
Lord, I know I've been screwing up lately; I'm a messed up person. We all are, Lord. We do what we shouldn't and don't do what we should and we let so many things come between ourselves and you, Lord. I confess to doing this, Father, and I know it's entirely my fault. I let my pride and worries and selfishness get in the way, and I ask you to forgive me, Jesus, and I pray that you will give me the strength to walk away from these sins, Lord, and focus entirely on you. I am amazed by you, Jesus. At your power and love, which I will never fully comprehend. You are the Creator, you are omnipotent and omnipresent, you are everything we need, Father! I thank you for your love, Lord, and for Jesus, and I thank you for today, because it belongs to You alone. I thank you for family and for friends, and I thank you for bringing me life, Lord, when my spirit was dead and for giving me a purpose and a reason to be here. Lord, I ask that you show me anything and everything that can interfere with our fellowship, and I ask that you will give me the strength to stay away from it. I ask that you will open the hearts of myself and my friends and will reveal to us your will; I pray that we will see where you want us to go and that we will follow you and rely on you in everything, moment by moment. I pray for Ozzy and Eddie, Lord, as they face basic training. Please give them your strength and lead them to you. Put your arms around them please, Lord, and guard them physically, mentally, and spiritually against the enemy. I pray for the Lost Boys and Girls, Lord. We have prayed together, and I know they have a want and need to follow you, Lord; you have shown them their water, Lord, and I ask that you will continue to strengthen their faith as they give it to you. I pray for my friends struggling at home, Lord, and that they will find your strength and never give up. I pray for Jami, Hawk, Dakotah, Kassie, Cady, and Kayla, because they all have struggles they are facing or are taking a new step in following you. I give you myself entirely, Father, though I am broken and messed up, for I need you; I give you my inequities and my insecurities, Lord, and I ask that you will use them along with my strengths to bring You honor and glory, for everything about me belongs to you, for you created me and made me who I am meant to be. I am not my own, Father, and I am Yours. And I pray that my life will reflect that and bring you glory through it. I beg you to open the hearts of my lost friends, Father, and I pray that they will notice your presence, Lord, and I pray for the people of Wyoming and St.Louis and that any people sent there will do your will. I love you, Lord, and it is in your son's name I pray, amen.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Raging Storms (3/9/09)
I love rain storms. Love them.
When I was little, they terrified me like no other. Like bawling, hiding, waking my parents up at 1 a.m. fear. Now I find amazing amounts of comfort in them. Humans can't ontrol the weather. There's absolutely no way. So when I look out and see the rain pattering on the sidewalk and watch the lightning flash across teh sky and hear the thunder roaring in the heavens, I feel God's control and power, and He reminds me that He can do anything.
My question to myself is this: why can't I do this with the storms in life? I cannot control them. I see the problems flying and the judgments flashing and the fears shouting louder than almost any other sound. But instead of seeing God's power, I find myself hiding, terrified. Why can't I learn to dance in this version of teh rain? Why, instead, do I allow myself to start sinking in it?
My God does not change. He is constant, never failing; He never lets go. It is not his power that changes in each storm. It's how I see things. And I'm done. Today, Pastor Rick started talking about worrying and fretting and about how it can get to a sinful level. And I think that there are times when I get there. I dwell on things and turn them over and over in my mind and keep going. I try to let go; my heart wants to but my head won't listen. Especially lately, and I really don't know why. But every time I reach that point, the verse from a blog a while ago comes back to my mind. "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's troubles are enough for today."
Today especially this has been hitting me. In Sunday school, we talked about being tuned into our own issues instead of the needs of others, and I confess to doing that too often. I turn these silly problems that I can't fix over and over in my head and I miss out on the needs of others that I can do something about. Then Pastor Rick reinforced everything in the sermon.
I know my God is bigger than any problem this world can throw at me. "In this world you will have troubles, but take heart! I have overcome the world," Jesus told us. How amazing is He! He has it all under control, so why worry about what I will never control? I know I said almost the exact same thing in my last blog, but He's been reinforcing and showing me in new ways, and I'm learning, slowly.
The tough part comes next: I know it, now I have to live it. (Like Michelle says. =D)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Congratz to the Class of '09!
Ok, so this is a bit off subject from my usual blogs, but I want to say congratz to all of the graduates. I’ve been to three graduations in the last nine days, and every time I find myself so incredibly happy for them.
Today in church, for some reason, it hit me as Hannah went up to sing her song, exactly how proud I am of them, all of them. The made it through their thirteen years of spelling words, nap times, lost library books, and final exams to reach this point.
Most of all, though, I was amazed at how many trials and tribulations outside of class work they went through to get to that point. And I’ve spoken to a couple of them, and hearing them talk about what God has done in their lives amazes me.
So, that’s just kind of a quick update. I’ll be praying for all of ‘em, and I’m excited to see what God will continue to do in their lives.
Way to go, guys! Ya made it!
Today in church, for some reason, it hit me as Hannah went up to sing her song, exactly how proud I am of them, all of them. The made it through their thirteen years of spelling words, nap times, lost library books, and final exams to reach this point.
Most of all, though, I was amazed at how many trials and tribulations outside of class work they went through to get to that point. And I’ve spoken to a couple of them, and hearing them talk about what God has done in their lives amazes me.
So, that’s just kind of a quick update. I’ll be praying for all of ‘em, and I’m excited to see what God will continue to do in their lives.
Way to go, guys! Ya made it!
Praise
He is Lord, He is Lord,
He is risen from the dead,
And He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord!
I've been talking all about how God has been teaching me, but today, I just want to praise him for all he is and all he will always be.
My god is not hate. He is love.
My god is not lenient. He is just.
He is the Lord, the ruler of all things.
He is all powerful, and He holds the whole world in his hands.
He is the Creator, the maker of all things.
He created each star and knows them by name.
He created the storms.
He controls each and every lightning bolt.
He made the mountains, and He made the depths of the seas.
He overcame all temptation.
He is both God and Son of God.
He conquered death and all of this world.
He created all people, people like Meghan and Ozzy and Caleb and Sarah, who are all so different yet bringing Him glory in their own way.
He knows the needs of each and every person and loves them.
He sees all of our bad yet still loves us and wants a relationship with us.
He has the power to wash all sins away; He loves us enough to be willing to do it.
He is my Jesus, my savior and lord and He reigns forever more.
Amen.
He is risen from the dead,
And He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord!
I've been talking all about how God has been teaching me, but today, I just want to praise him for all he is and all he will always be.
My god is not hate. He is love.
My god is not lenient. He is just.
He is the Lord, the ruler of all things.
He is all powerful, and He holds the whole world in his hands.
He is the Creator, the maker of all things.
He created each star and knows them by name.
He created the storms.
He controls each and every lightning bolt.
He made the mountains, and He made the depths of the seas.
He overcame all temptation.
He is both God and Son of God.
He conquered death and all of this world.
He created all people, people like Meghan and Ozzy and Caleb and Sarah, who are all so different yet bringing Him glory in their own way.
He knows the needs of each and every person and loves them.
He sees all of our bad yet still loves us and wants a relationship with us.
He has the power to wash all sins away; He loves us enough to be willing to do it.
He is my Jesus, my savior and lord and He reigns forever more.
Amen.
Matthew 6:34... Out of Control
"Jesus said, 'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's troubles are enough for today." - Matthew 6:34
This is my life verse. Honestly, I'm a constant worrier. I try to latch onto tomorrow, and I try to figure out exactly how things will work out. And I fail at both, every single time.
Lately, I've been asking God to show me how to not worry, how to give Him control. And God doesn't do things like most teachers; instead of just talking about it or showing you how, he puts you in situations and forces you to learn. And lately he has been doing that like never before in my life.
One of my good friends, Ozzy, is going into the military, as I have said before. But today, I found out something. He is not leaving in September, like we had thought. He is leaving in May. Our time with him was cut back by four months, and he will probably go to Iraq, where he could be killed at any time. And there is absolutely nothing I can do to change it.
Another one of my friends, and I cannot go into details, is being pulled right and left, demons attacking on all sides, and she can't fix what's happening. She has no power to change it.
In my own life, my family is completely changing. My brothers hate each other, my grandmother is missing my grandpa and getting so afraid at night that we are over there more than at home, and my parents' marriage is in a rough place, to say the least. And every attempt I make at making things better is completely shot down. There is nothing I can do to change it.
God has been showing me that I cannot do it, and He is teaching me that worrying about it will not help anything, because I don't know what tomorrow will bring in any of these situations. In everything, I have to give it to Him, because without Him, I am powerless. He's also teaching me to be thankful for what He is doing rather than worrying about what might happen next.
Ozzy is following God's plan for his life; he is being given a chance to go like we are commanded and spread the Gospel in all nations, with our troops and possibly even the people of Iraq. And we still have three months with him, God willing. Because we can never know when this life will end. We cannot worry about tomorrow, because we do not know if tomorrow will come. God has given us today, and we need to be thankful for that and live life today at its fullest.
My friend is struggling. But she still trusts God, and she isn't pushing him away like some people do in crisis, and He is with her always. He'll never let her go, no matter what she goes through. And I know she has a couple of people she really trusts to be there for her, and God has given her that.
And look at how blessed we are! My family lives within an hour drive of every other close relative. We get to spend time together. And we were given so many years with my grandfather and we still have time to be with my grandma. And God has given my mom, my grandma, and me a chance to be a light to my non-Christian family members.
And He gave us his son, Jesus, so that in this life, we would true life that would last forever. We have His love. And I am more thankful for that than I will ever be able to express, even with eternity ahead of me.
So why should we worry? As humans, we are not promised another day on this earth, but as Christians, we are promised an eternity with our Lord and Savior. What happens today and what might happen tomorrow aren't even a speck on the timeline of forever. So why live life wondering what might happen tomorrow instead of living in today for Him, our Creator, the one who gives us the promise of forever?
And even when things feel out of control, know this: they are out of our control, not God's, and he triumphed over death and called the world into being just by speaking. His control is absolute, and He works for the good of those who love and serve him.
en teaching me this over and over, and I'm learning to let go, to give everything to Him, because He is the ONLY one who can change things. He may use me as a tool, but anything good or perfect done is done by Him alone.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord,
Today, Lord, I've had these things on my heart and mind, and Lord, I'm giving them to you today. God, I can't do it, but you can. Father, you are the Creator, the one who put us on this earth, Lord. And you know each one of us by name. You are bigger and greater than we will ever understand, Lord, and I praise you for your creation.
Lord, today, I lift up Ozzy, lord. We've all had a hard time letting him go, Father, but I can't ask you to keep him here for us. Lord, he is carrying out your will, and I pray that the time we do have with him, Lord, will be a time where we all grow in closeness, not letting the upcoming goodbye put a strain on everything. I pray for Meghan, and Zak, and Sef, Lord, three of the people closest to him, Lord, because I know how hard it is to let go. I pray that they'll see you working in this situation, and that Oz will lean on you for always.
God, I pray for my friend. You know who she is. Everything in her life is chaos right now, Lord. She's dealing with things I could never understand. But you know her heart, and you know exactly how she feels, Lord. I pray that you'll be with her, and that she'll know that you're there, even if she can't always feel you.
I pray for my family, Lord. We're all so far apart. I pray for my grandma; she misses Papa so much, and I can understand, sort of, but I don't know how she feels exactly. I pray for my brothers. They both need you so much, God, and I don't know how to tell them about you. Jason just doesn't want to hear. I pray that you'll open their hearts to your word, Lord, even when they don't think they want to know. I pray that my mom will see what she loved about my dad, Lord, and that maybe she will change her mind.
Most of all, Lord, I pray that we'll all live to bring you honor and share your grace with all of those around us, and I pray that tomorrow will not be something we panic about, but something we wait patiently for. I pray you'll give us our needs daily, and that we won't ask for more than that. And I pray for your perfect will, and that it be done, for you know the bigger picture in life, God.
I thank you for all you have given us, Father, and I pray that we will be joyful and thankful even when things seem out of control, because they are out of our control, not yours, and you are the only one who can change everything, make something out of nothing, and you are the only one we need.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
This is my life verse. Honestly, I'm a constant worrier. I try to latch onto tomorrow, and I try to figure out exactly how things will work out. And I fail at both, every single time.
Lately, I've been asking God to show me how to not worry, how to give Him control. And God doesn't do things like most teachers; instead of just talking about it or showing you how, he puts you in situations and forces you to learn. And lately he has been doing that like never before in my life.
One of my good friends, Ozzy, is going into the military, as I have said before. But today, I found out something. He is not leaving in September, like we had thought. He is leaving in May. Our time with him was cut back by four months, and he will probably go to Iraq, where he could be killed at any time. And there is absolutely nothing I can do to change it.
Another one of my friends, and I cannot go into details, is being pulled right and left, demons attacking on all sides, and she can't fix what's happening. She has no power to change it.
In my own life, my family is completely changing. My brothers hate each other, my grandmother is missing my grandpa and getting so afraid at night that we are over there more than at home, and my parents' marriage is in a rough place, to say the least. And every attempt I make at making things better is completely shot down. There is nothing I can do to change it.
God has been showing me that I cannot do it, and He is teaching me that worrying about it will not help anything, because I don't know what tomorrow will bring in any of these situations. In everything, I have to give it to Him, because without Him, I am powerless. He's also teaching me to be thankful for what He is doing rather than worrying about what might happen next.
Ozzy is following God's plan for his life; he is being given a chance to go like we are commanded and spread the Gospel in all nations, with our troops and possibly even the people of Iraq. And we still have three months with him, God willing. Because we can never know when this life will end. We cannot worry about tomorrow, because we do not know if tomorrow will come. God has given us today, and we need to be thankful for that and live life today at its fullest.
My friend is struggling. But she still trusts God, and she isn't pushing him away like some people do in crisis, and He is with her always. He'll never let her go, no matter what she goes through. And I know she has a couple of people she really trusts to be there for her, and God has given her that.
And look at how blessed we are! My family lives within an hour drive of every other close relative. We get to spend time together. And we were given so many years with my grandfather and we still have time to be with my grandma. And God has given my mom, my grandma, and me a chance to be a light to my non-Christian family members.
And He gave us his son, Jesus, so that in this life, we would true life that would last forever. We have His love. And I am more thankful for that than I will ever be able to express, even with eternity ahead of me.
So why should we worry? As humans, we are not promised another day on this earth, but as Christians, we are promised an eternity with our Lord and Savior. What happens today and what might happen tomorrow aren't even a speck on the timeline of forever. So why live life wondering what might happen tomorrow instead of living in today for Him, our Creator, the one who gives us the promise of forever?
And even when things feel out of control, know this: they are out of our control, not God's, and he triumphed over death and called the world into being just by speaking. His control is absolute, and He works for the good of those who love and serve him.
en teaching me this over and over, and I'm learning to let go, to give everything to Him, because He is the ONLY one who can change things. He may use me as a tool, but anything good or perfect done is done by Him alone.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord,
Today, Lord, I've had these things on my heart and mind, and Lord, I'm giving them to you today. God, I can't do it, but you can. Father, you are the Creator, the one who put us on this earth, Lord. And you know each one of us by name. You are bigger and greater than we will ever understand, Lord, and I praise you for your creation.
Lord, today, I lift up Ozzy, lord. We've all had a hard time letting him go, Father, but I can't ask you to keep him here for us. Lord, he is carrying out your will, and I pray that the time we do have with him, Lord, will be a time where we all grow in closeness, not letting the upcoming goodbye put a strain on everything. I pray for Meghan, and Zak, and Sef, Lord, three of the people closest to him, Lord, because I know how hard it is to let go. I pray that they'll see you working in this situation, and that Oz will lean on you for always.
God, I pray for my friend. You know who she is. Everything in her life is chaos right now, Lord. She's dealing with things I could never understand. But you know her heart, and you know exactly how she feels, Lord. I pray that you'll be with her, and that she'll know that you're there, even if she can't always feel you.
I pray for my family, Lord. We're all so far apart. I pray for my grandma; she misses Papa so much, and I can understand, sort of, but I don't know how she feels exactly. I pray for my brothers. They both need you so much, God, and I don't know how to tell them about you. Jason just doesn't want to hear. I pray that you'll open their hearts to your word, Lord, even when they don't think they want to know. I pray that my mom will see what she loved about my dad, Lord, and that maybe she will change her mind.
Most of all, Lord, I pray that we'll all live to bring you honor and share your grace with all of those around us, and I pray that tomorrow will not be something we panic about, but something we wait patiently for. I pray you'll give us our needs daily, and that we won't ask for more than that. And I pray for your perfect will, and that it be done, for you know the bigger picture in life, God.
I thank you for all you have given us, Father, and I pray that we will be joyful and thankful even when things seem out of control, because they are out of our control, not yours, and you are the only one who can change everything, make something out of nothing, and you are the only one we need.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Shreddin' the Gnar (1)... Josh
Josh (Written during 3rd block English)
The Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples of all the nations.
Well, I have a good friend named Josh; I've known him since first grade. And as far as I know, he is not a Christian. Instead of being up front with him, I have been dancing around the Gospel. Instead of going, I've been saying "come." "Come to church with me," or "Our church is starting volleyball, you should come." I've been trying to get him to come to the Gospel rather than going to bring it to him. There's nothing wrong with inviting him to church. But that cannot be my only way of sharing.
So today, I plan to shred the gnar (share the Gospel with no inhibitions) with Josh, and truly take the Gospel to him. Hopefully, if I follow through, the results will be below...
Results (Written day after sharing):
I was completely terrified; as I headed to the bus, I just freaked out. But I ended up getting to sit next to him, which was incredibly lucky. We started talking about this and that, like his shop project and the movie Gladiator (I've never seen it; he was shocked). Then he noticed the D2S band still stuck around my wrist. And he asked me about it. And what did I say? "It's from Dare to Share, a conference I went to this weekend that equips students to share the Gospel." Then I let it drop.
As we kept talking, I knew that I could not just let it go, but I had no idea how to bring it back up again. Then he started talking about how he got his phone back, and I told him about the cell phone challenge and about how he was the first person I thought of calling, even though I didn't have my phone. And he gave me this weird look. But I kept going, and I asked him if he knew where he would go when he died. He said Heaven. And when I asked why, he said because he believed that Jesus died on the cross to save him. When I asked if he had trusted in Him, he answered yes.
So the person I planned to share with ended up being a Christian, for which I praise God! I also thank Him for giving me the opportunity and the courage to try, because had it been just me, I would have let it go; God's power and strength is the only thing that kept me going.
And I pray that I will wear His armor every day, and that I will always have the boots of readiness on and will be going with a determination to Honor my Father and Creator.
Amen.
The Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples of all the nations.
Well, I have a good friend named Josh; I've known him since first grade. And as far as I know, he is not a Christian. Instead of being up front with him, I have been dancing around the Gospel. Instead of going, I've been saying "come." "Come to church with me," or "Our church is starting volleyball, you should come." I've been trying to get him to come to the Gospel rather than going to bring it to him. There's nothing wrong with inviting him to church. But that cannot be my only way of sharing.
So today, I plan to shred the gnar (share the Gospel with no inhibitions) with Josh, and truly take the Gospel to him. Hopefully, if I follow through, the results will be below...
Results (Written day after sharing):
I was completely terrified; as I headed to the bus, I just freaked out. But I ended up getting to sit next to him, which was incredibly lucky. We started talking about this and that, like his shop project and the movie Gladiator (I've never seen it; he was shocked). Then he noticed the D2S band still stuck around my wrist. And he asked me about it. And what did I say? "It's from Dare to Share, a conference I went to this weekend that equips students to share the Gospel." Then I let it drop.
As we kept talking, I knew that I could not just let it go, but I had no idea how to bring it back up again. Then he started talking about how he got his phone back, and I told him about the cell phone challenge and about how he was the first person I thought of calling, even though I didn't have my phone. And he gave me this weird look. But I kept going, and I asked him if he knew where he would go when he died. He said Heaven. And when I asked why, he said because he believed that Jesus died on the cross to save him. When I asked if he had trusted in Him, he answered yes.
So the person I planned to share with ended up being a Christian, for which I praise God! I also thank Him for giving me the opportunity and the courage to try, because had it been just me, I would have let it go; God's power and strength is the only thing that kept me going.
And I pray that I will wear His armor every day, and that I will always have the boots of readiness on and will be going with a determination to Honor my Father and Creator.
Amen.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
"She Said Yes"
Wow. I just finished reading, "She Said Yes," the story of Cassie, a girl killed in the Columbine shooting nearly ten years ago. And what it talked about really spoke to me.
A lot of it had to do with the freedom to be yourself and how Cassie's life changed so much through Christ. But what hit me the most, I think, was how her family spoke of their regrets and how she didn't talk about God a lot, but after she became a Christian, she really lived the Gospel.
Talking about regrets really hit me hard. I look back to when I lost my grandpa, and there are regrets there, and I don't want to have any more. I need to live to be myself. As strange, perhaps morbid, as this sounds, I want to live each day in death. Not like, I want to die today death. But along the thought process of 'if I were to die today, would I have been a good and faithful servant for Him or would I regret how I spent my time?' I also want to do as the Bible commands and die to myself daily so that I might live for Christ. And if I were put in that situation, I would want to be ready to sacrifice it all for Jesus. But physically dying for him, though it would be hard and absolutely terrifying, isn't the hardest part, I guess. The hard part is dying daily to live for him. And I struggle with that so often, but
In the book, Cassie's mom questions whether she would have had enough courage to do what Cassie did that day and say, "Yes," to believing in God even though she knew it could end her life right there. And honestly, I question whether I would. Do I have that courage and passion for Him? Do you?
My prayers are that over time (because God does things one step at a time, not all at once), I will have enough faith and courage not only to die for him physically if the day comes, but that I will have enough faith and courage to do so in my daily life. Thinking about it, both seem like a scary undertaking, but Phillippeans says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and I believe it. I know I'll mess up, I know I won't ever get it perfect, but I know He'll forgive me when I mess up, and I pray that he'll give me to strength to live in that mind frame and get out of my comfort zone.
I think that's all, though. Hopefully posting more later.
A lot of it had to do with the freedom to be yourself and how Cassie's life changed so much through Christ. But what hit me the most, I think, was how her family spoke of their regrets and how she didn't talk about God a lot, but after she became a Christian, she really lived the Gospel.
Talking about regrets really hit me hard. I look back to when I lost my grandpa, and there are regrets there, and I don't want to have any more. I need to live to be myself. As strange, perhaps morbid, as this sounds, I want to live each day in death. Not like, I want to die today death. But along the thought process of 'if I were to die today, would I have been a good and faithful servant for Him or would I regret how I spent my time?' I also want to do as the Bible commands and die to myself daily so that I might live for Christ. And if I were put in that situation, I would want to be ready to sacrifice it all for Jesus. But physically dying for him, though it would be hard and absolutely terrifying, isn't the hardest part, I guess. The hard part is dying daily to live for him. And I struggle with that so often, but
In the book, Cassie's mom questions whether she would have had enough courage to do what Cassie did that day and say, "Yes," to believing in God even though she knew it could end her life right there. And honestly, I question whether I would. Do I have that courage and passion for Him? Do you?
My prayers are that over time (because God does things one step at a time, not all at once), I will have enough faith and courage not only to die for him physically if the day comes, but that I will have enough faith and courage to do so in my daily life. Thinking about it, both seem like a scary undertaking, but Phillippeans says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and I believe it. I know I'll mess up, I know I won't ever get it perfect, but I know He'll forgive me when I mess up, and I pray that he'll give me to strength to live in that mind frame and get out of my comfort zone.
I think that's all, though. Hopefully posting more later.
Galatians 5:1
"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." - Galatians 5:1 NLT
In this passage, Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments. The people of Galatia had gone away from trusting in Christ alone for their salvatian and were falling into trying to be made right by the law (at least, this is how I understood it, but I may be mistaken. Read Galatians and you'll understand it a lot better than I can make so).
To me, this verse hit on a personal level, and I may be taking it slightly out of context, but as far as the verse itself goes, this is what God said to me. I feel as though in my life, the law is society, specifically high school expectations and peer pressure. As I read this verse, it was God's way of reminding me that Jesus freed me to be who he meant me to be, and if I keep focusing on peers and what they want from me, our own little high school law of sorts, then I just get tied up and weighted down. And in being tied up, I become ineffective, and if I try to fight with those who tie me, I only get further tangled. Because they're not the ones who freed me, and they never will be. Jesus has that power. And if I'm living and working for him, it will be a lot harder for me to get tied and tangled. I may trip on the strings every now and again, but I won't be held in place, keeping me from walking with him. And if I'm truly walking with him, maybe others will see what it's like not to be tied up and ask him to untie them and begin their own walk with the Lord. So I can only hope and pray to fight against my attackers knowing he is with me and to love them and try to make them see what he's done in me. Because it's not a group of free people tying me down. Those who tie me down are bound themselves, and they need to be freed by Jesus.
I'm honestly amazed. In the Bible it talks about God giving you the words to speak when your sharing his message, or something along those lines, and as I typed this message, there were things I hadn't thought of saying that just came and flowed while I wrote them. A lot of the things towards the end of this message were things he was teaching me as I reread the verse and typed this. (My blogging isn't only to get a message out but to think about what I've read and what God's saying to me through it. Sometimes it's my form of meditation.)
I think that's all for this one... Thanks for reading, and God bless! He is so amazing!
In this passage, Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments. The people of Galatia had gone away from trusting in Christ alone for their salvatian and were falling into trying to be made right by the law (at least, this is how I understood it, but I may be mistaken. Read Galatians and you'll understand it a lot better than I can make so).
To me, this verse hit on a personal level, and I may be taking it slightly out of context, but as far as the verse itself goes, this is what God said to me. I feel as though in my life, the law is society, specifically high school expectations and peer pressure. As I read this verse, it was God's way of reminding me that Jesus freed me to be who he meant me to be, and if I keep focusing on peers and what they want from me, our own little high school law of sorts, then I just get tied up and weighted down. And in being tied up, I become ineffective, and if I try to fight with those who tie me, I only get further tangled. Because they're not the ones who freed me, and they never will be. Jesus has that power. And if I'm living and working for him, it will be a lot harder for me to get tied and tangled. I may trip on the strings every now and again, but I won't be held in place, keeping me from walking with him. And if I'm truly walking with him, maybe others will see what it's like not to be tied up and ask him to untie them and begin their own walk with the Lord. So I can only hope and pray to fight against my attackers knowing he is with me and to love them and try to make them see what he's done in me. Because it's not a group of free people tying me down. Those who tie me down are bound themselves, and they need to be freed by Jesus.
I'm honestly amazed. In the Bible it talks about God giving you the words to speak when your sharing his message, or something along those lines, and as I typed this message, there were things I hadn't thought of saying that just came and flowed while I wrote them. A lot of the things towards the end of this message were things he was teaching me as I reread the verse and typed this. (My blogging isn't only to get a message out but to think about what I've read and what God's saying to me through it. Sometimes it's my form of meditation.)
I think that's all for this one... Thanks for reading, and God bless! He is so amazing!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I'm starting to get it... James 1:2
I finally am beginning to understand something that God has been trying to teach me. So, two blogs in one day, but I'm posting it anyway. Partially to maybe teach others, and partially so I can sort through and organize my thoughts.
In a way, it reminds me of James 1:2, a verse I have read many, many times. The verse talks about being thankful for trials, for trials lead to perseverence, which leads to wisdom. I'm finally finding the heart knowledge to go along with the head knowledge.
I've had an interesting history, especially with my family. The main thing I'm talking about is my older brother (middle brother, that is). He's been in and out of juvi, jail, and prison since I was born. And I've finally quit letting it get to me, in a way. But for a long time, I wished there was someone who actually understood, who I could talk to and they could talk back and know what it's like to have family in prison and such.
Then last night some and even more during Sunday School this morning, I realized something. Maybe God gave me these situations so that I can be that someone for another person and use that experience to help someone else through a hard time.
And as I realized that, I learned what it mean to be thankful for your trials. Because I truly am. Don't get me wrong; if I could do it all again, I would not want these things to have happened, but since they did, I'm thankful, because God used them to change who I am, and I hope that he will use them so that I might be a tool, his tool, in reaching others for him, for his glory.
So now I'm finally starting to understand, and I'm praying that learning to be thankful for those struggles he's given me will lead me to perseverence and wisdom.
And I am so thankful for all he's done, even with the trials that come, because God gives me my strength, my every breath, and no matter what life throws at me, for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
In a way, it reminds me of James 1:2, a verse I have read many, many times. The verse talks about being thankful for trials, for trials lead to perseverence, which leads to wisdom. I'm finally finding the heart knowledge to go along with the head knowledge.
I've had an interesting history, especially with my family. The main thing I'm talking about is my older brother (middle brother, that is). He's been in and out of juvi, jail, and prison since I was born. And I've finally quit letting it get to me, in a way. But for a long time, I wished there was someone who actually understood, who I could talk to and they could talk back and know what it's like to have family in prison and such.
Then last night some and even more during Sunday School this morning, I realized something. Maybe God gave me these situations so that I can be that someone for another person and use that experience to help someone else through a hard time.
And as I realized that, I learned what it mean to be thankful for your trials. Because I truly am. Don't get me wrong; if I could do it all again, I would not want these things to have happened, but since they did, I'm thankful, because God used them to change who I am, and I hope that he will use them so that I might be a tool, his tool, in reaching others for him, for his glory.
So now I'm finally starting to understand, and I'm praying that learning to be thankful for those struggles he's given me will lead me to perseverence and wisdom.
And I am so thankful for all he's done, even with the trials that come, because God gives me my strength, my every breath, and no matter what life throws at me, for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Mission Trip Moment #1
I'm probably going to post more of these, hence the number, but I just feel the need to tell what God did in me when I was in St. Louis three weeks ago. I'll also post other things about what God's doing- and some random stuff- in between.
Anyway, here goes:
On mission trip, I think it was Sunday night, and one of the speakers talked about pride.
I never realized a prideful person. It didn't feel like it, and I wasn't one of those people who went, "The whole world revolves around me." My pride was me saying, "I can handle it. No, really. I got it," when someone offered to help. I considered it independence, which it was, to a point. But at the same time, I was refusing help and a lot of the time I really did need it.
When he told a story of how he would refuse help, because he was trying to be independent, and he didn't want to accept help because he didn't want to have to take anything out of someone else's hands.
Finally, someone told him exactly what he told us. That it was pride. That he was too prideful, to sure of his own abilities, to accept help from others. And that's EXACTLY how it was for me.
God really spoke to my heart that night. But I have more to say, and please don't be too hard on me for this, because I really am ashamed of it.
I was praying, begging God to take my pride and wash it all away, and I could feel him telling me to get on my knees, to humble myself like I was asking him to do.
And I couldn't do it. We stood up to worship, the alter was open, and I refused to get on my knees, even in my seat, to do what he was asking, because I didn't want to try to draw attention to myself (I'm a wallflower and happy to be). So I tried to sing, to worship him, but I felt unclean, like I couldn't go in his presence knowing that I was disobeying him as I stood there. So I sat down, still praying and near tears. I tried to ease myself forward on to the floor, but my knees stopped three inches before hitting the ground. I did this several times, and then pulled myself back up in the seat. I still just couldn't do it.
So I stood back up, silently, still praying, telling him I was sorry. And my knees were shaking, almost so badly that I couldn't stand up. And I was asking myself, "What am I doing? I'm asking him to humble me, to show me what he wants with my life, and then I can't even do the one simple thing he's asking me to do, because I'm embarassed of drawing attention to myself. How can I ask him to do it and say I am willing, but refuse to listen when he tells me what to do?"
So finally, I hit the ground, my head bowed, and I begged him, telling him how sorry I was for not listening, and that I wanted to listen and that I had humbled myself and was ready to hear where he wanted me to do. And when I got back up and began worshipping, I knew that it was true and that I was going to do everything I could to stay close to him and to listen.
I still struggle, every day with this, and sometimes it's hard to find the line between the two (independence and pride). So sometimes, probably often, it gets the better of me, but when I catch it, I find myself begging God to wash it away, to keep humbling me with every step I take.
My point in this was not only to add a memory, but to hopefully allow God to speak through me and maybe reach other Christians with my testimony.
So I ask you:
^Are you telling God, "I've got it. No, really, I can manage, but thanks for offering. I'll let you know next time I need help"?
^Are you listening to what God wants you to do or letting your own plans in the way?
^Are you willing to humble yourself and do his will over your own?
That's all. Hopefully, you're thinking now.
Anyway, here goes:
On mission trip, I think it was Sunday night, and one of the speakers talked about pride.
I never realized a prideful person. It didn't feel like it, and I wasn't one of those people who went, "The whole world revolves around me." My pride was me saying, "I can handle it. No, really. I got it," when someone offered to help. I considered it independence, which it was, to a point. But at the same time, I was refusing help and a lot of the time I really did need it.
When he told a story of how he would refuse help, because he was trying to be independent, and he didn't want to accept help because he didn't want to have to take anything out of someone else's hands.
Finally, someone told him exactly what he told us. That it was pride. That he was too prideful, to sure of his own abilities, to accept help from others. And that's EXACTLY how it was for me.
God really spoke to my heart that night. But I have more to say, and please don't be too hard on me for this, because I really am ashamed of it.
I was praying, begging God to take my pride and wash it all away, and I could feel him telling me to get on my knees, to humble myself like I was asking him to do.
And I couldn't do it. We stood up to worship, the alter was open, and I refused to get on my knees, even in my seat, to do what he was asking, because I didn't want to try to draw attention to myself (I'm a wallflower and happy to be). So I tried to sing, to worship him, but I felt unclean, like I couldn't go in his presence knowing that I was disobeying him as I stood there. So I sat down, still praying and near tears. I tried to ease myself forward on to the floor, but my knees stopped three inches before hitting the ground. I did this several times, and then pulled myself back up in the seat. I still just couldn't do it.
So I stood back up, silently, still praying, telling him I was sorry. And my knees were shaking, almost so badly that I couldn't stand up. And I was asking myself, "What am I doing? I'm asking him to humble me, to show me what he wants with my life, and then I can't even do the one simple thing he's asking me to do, because I'm embarassed of drawing attention to myself. How can I ask him to do it and say I am willing, but refuse to listen when he tells me what to do?"
So finally, I hit the ground, my head bowed, and I begged him, telling him how sorry I was for not listening, and that I wanted to listen and that I had humbled myself and was ready to hear where he wanted me to do. And when I got back up and began worshipping, I knew that it was true and that I was going to do everything I could to stay close to him and to listen.
I still struggle, every day with this, and sometimes it's hard to find the line between the two (independence and pride). So sometimes, probably often, it gets the better of me, but when I catch it, I find myself begging God to wash it away, to keep humbling me with every step I take.
My point in this was not only to add a memory, but to hopefully allow God to speak through me and maybe reach other Christians with my testimony.
So I ask you:
^Are you telling God, "I've got it. No, really, I can manage, but thanks for offering. I'll let you know next time I need help"?
^Are you listening to what God wants you to do or letting your own plans in the way?
^Are you willing to humble yourself and do his will over your own?
That's all. Hopefully, you're thinking now.
G.O.S.P.E.L.
The Gospel Message
G.od created us to be with Him.
O.ur sin separates us from God.
S.in cannot be removed by good deeds.
P.aying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again!
E.veryone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.
L.ife that's eternal means that we'll be with Jesus forever.
God created us to be with him. In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to be in a relationship with Him. That's why we're here! He's our creator, and He loves us.
Our sin separates us from God. Adam and Eve started out perfect. They had everything. They were spiritually close to God, literally walking and talking with him, they were physically in shape (even after being told he was going to die, Adam lived over a hundred years), they had nothing to fear (death didn't exist at first), and life was perfect. Then Satan came into the picture and tempted Eve, making her doubt God and eat the forbidden fruit and persuade Adam to do the same. This started sin, and since then, it has been passed down to every human to ever walk this earth aside from Jesus Himself. And God can't be around imperfection, so we were separated...
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. We can't do anything to correct what we've done wrong. It's already there. And doing something good, no matter what it is, will never be good enough! Imagine it like a cake. When you bake it, you burn it beyone recognition. It could be mistaken for a tire. But, in an attempt to fix it, you put icing all over it, hiding the awful interior. When you cut into the cake, the bad parts are still there and the icing didn't change that. It's the same with you and sin. Your good deeds are like the icing. They try to hide your mistakes, but in the end, the bad things you've done aren't gone.
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again! Jesus, God's one and only son, came down to earth for us! He came, and durning His life on earth, He was perfect; He committed no sins physically or in his heart. But He died. He was punished, beaten nearly to death, and then nailed to a cross, where he hung for hours. And He did this for us! For a moment, He felt the fullness of God's hatred of sin as God turned his back and Jesus absorbed all of that sin and died for it.
Why'd he have to do that? Well, when you do something wrong, it has to be punished, right? In the Bible, it says, "For the wages of sin is death." That means that the price for doing something wrong is death, but not only physical death here on earth, but spiritual death in Hell. Jesus died so that those who trust in Him will not face God's wrath.
What's even more amazing? He didn't stay dead! Three days after dying on the cross, He rose from the grave. And He didn't die again! He ascended to heaven and He's coming back again!
Imagine this. There's a truck coming at you, and you, absorbed by everything else in life, don't notice. Just as it nears you, a total stranger pushes you out of the way and takes the full impact of the hit, dying for you. That's what Jesus did!!
Everyone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.That's all Jesus asks: that we trust and believe in Him alone for salvation. And He wants us to serve him, and tell people about him. When you accept what He did for you, the Holy Spirit enters into you, and your wishes change. You'll be tempted to do earthly things, but you'll WANT to do what is right. Is that to say that you'll always want to do what He wants you to or that it'll be fun or easy? No! Anyway, I digress. All He wants is for us to honor and come to Him. If we do, then we'll get to spend eternity, as in FOREVER, with Him, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Can you say amazing?
Life that's eternal means we'll be with Jesus forever. Life that's eternal means just that. And it doesn't start when we die. Our new life begins the moment you trust in Christ as your savior and lord.
Guys, being saved happens in the heart, and no one can tell you whether you're saved or not. It's between you and God. I just want you to know. And guys, there's no other way to get to Heaven. Jesus says in the Bible (John 14:6) that he is "the way, the truth, and the light." Not A way, but THE way. He wants you to come to him so badly; He LOVES you!
Last thing. Christ is coming back! And no one knows when. He promises that it is soon. To God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. He's not being slow, though. He's being PATIENT! He's giving us a chance to know him, because He loves us! You never know when that will be, and you don't know how long you have left! You could die tomorrow, and then it could be too late, if you don't know him. I hope you will come to know Christ today, before it's too late!
That's all. Bye!
G.od created us to be with Him.
O.ur sin separates us from God.
S.in cannot be removed by good deeds.
P.aying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again!
E.veryone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.
L.ife that's eternal means that we'll be with Jesus forever.
God created us to be with him. In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to be in a relationship with Him. That's why we're here! He's our creator, and He loves us.
Our sin separates us from God. Adam and Eve started out perfect. They had everything. They were spiritually close to God, literally walking and talking with him, they were physically in shape (even after being told he was going to die, Adam lived over a hundred years), they had nothing to fear (death didn't exist at first), and life was perfect. Then Satan came into the picture and tempted Eve, making her doubt God and eat the forbidden fruit and persuade Adam to do the same. This started sin, and since then, it has been passed down to every human to ever walk this earth aside from Jesus Himself. And God can't be around imperfection, so we were separated...
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. We can't do anything to correct what we've done wrong. It's already there. And doing something good, no matter what it is, will never be good enough! Imagine it like a cake. When you bake it, you burn it beyone recognition. It could be mistaken for a tire. But, in an attempt to fix it, you put icing all over it, hiding the awful interior. When you cut into the cake, the bad parts are still there and the icing didn't change that. It's the same with you and sin. Your good deeds are like the icing. They try to hide your mistakes, but in the end, the bad things you've done aren't gone.
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again! Jesus, God's one and only son, came down to earth for us! He came, and durning His life on earth, He was perfect; He committed no sins physically or in his heart. But He died. He was punished, beaten nearly to death, and then nailed to a cross, where he hung for hours. And He did this for us! For a moment, He felt the fullness of God's hatred of sin as God turned his back and Jesus absorbed all of that sin and died for it.
Why'd he have to do that? Well, when you do something wrong, it has to be punished, right? In the Bible, it says, "For the wages of sin is death." That means that the price for doing something wrong is death, but not only physical death here on earth, but spiritual death in Hell. Jesus died so that those who trust in Him will not face God's wrath.
What's even more amazing? He didn't stay dead! Three days after dying on the cross, He rose from the grave. And He didn't die again! He ascended to heaven and He's coming back again!
Imagine this. There's a truck coming at you, and you, absorbed by everything else in life, don't notice. Just as it nears you, a total stranger pushes you out of the way and takes the full impact of the hit, dying for you. That's what Jesus did!!
Everyone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.That's all Jesus asks: that we trust and believe in Him alone for salvation. And He wants us to serve him, and tell people about him. When you accept what He did for you, the Holy Spirit enters into you, and your wishes change. You'll be tempted to do earthly things, but you'll WANT to do what is right. Is that to say that you'll always want to do what He wants you to or that it'll be fun or easy? No! Anyway, I digress. All He wants is for us to honor and come to Him. If we do, then we'll get to spend eternity, as in FOREVER, with Him, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Can you say amazing?
Life that's eternal means we'll be with Jesus forever. Life that's eternal means just that. And it doesn't start when we die. Our new life begins the moment you trust in Christ as your savior and lord.
Guys, being saved happens in the heart, and no one can tell you whether you're saved or not. It's between you and God. I just want you to know. And guys, there's no other way to get to Heaven. Jesus says in the Bible (John 14:6) that he is "the way, the truth, and the light." Not A way, but THE way. He wants you to come to him so badly; He LOVES you!
Last thing. Christ is coming back! And no one knows when. He promises that it is soon. To God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. He's not being slow, though. He's being PATIENT! He's giving us a chance to know him, because He loves us! You never know when that will be, and you don't know how long you have left! You could die tomorrow, and then it could be too late, if you don't know him. I hope you will come to know Christ today, before it's too late!
That's all. Bye!
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