I love nature, and I've discovered there's nature everywhere, (you just have to look for it sometimes)! As I went for a little walk this morning, I found a path that lead back into a little wooded area where there was a pond. (Well, at least that's what I will call it). "How neat there's a pond back here! I wonder if I can walk around it", I thought to myself. I tried, but discovered it was more like a muddy dirty swamp than a pond. I looked down at my pants, inevitably they were dirty already. I could continue and get really wet and dirty, but I decided I didn't have the time, nor did I want to get that dirty today. As I finished exercising, I thought of the swampy pond. It has so much potential! A backhoe and some hard work and it could be a beautiful pond with nice trails around it. It's not my job to transform that section of nature though, I don't have the tools, or the skill for a job like that.
My mind couldn't help but turn to my Creator, my Jesus. He too sees the beauty in things. Just as I looked at the swampy pond as the beautiful pond it could become, so Jesus sees my potential and the potential of every fallen child on this mess of a planet we call earth. Jesus could have walked away from the mess, but instead He inserted himself into it, and risked Himself for us. He didn't just get a little dirty, He gave His life because He sees us not as dirty ugly sinners, but as the beautiful children we can become through Him! Unlike my inability to fix the pond, Jesus is God, all powerful, Creator; He has all the resources to do the work that needs to be done! He doesn't just see what needs to be done, He does it! I'm so thankful He never gives up on me, but instead continues to see me for who I can become, and gives me the tools and the life experiences to develop my character. He doesn't leave me to work alone, He does it for me, as long as I'm just as moldable as mud.
I too have a mission. I think of the people I'm here in Mississippi to reach. Some of them look messy in a way. It's not their fault it's due to the hurt, and pain and sufferings caused by sin. There are the ladies on disability who seem to have "no life". There's the boy who spends part of his life with one grandparent, and part of his life with another parent - so different than the family environment I was raised in. There's the older man we met going door-to-door, who when we asked if he enjoyed reading the Bible, he told us he doesn't read very well. It was like culture shock! I mean, we're in America! He's retired and said he'd be happy for us to come back and read the Bible with him. The there's the lady who says she doesn't want to fill out the Bible study guide because her hand shakes when she writes. There's the people who smoke, those with health issues, those who have loved ones who are in the hospital recently diagnosed with cancer, or loved ones who have just passed away. The world is a mess. Is my heart moved with compassion? Do I see people as God sees them? As His children who need the Gospel and who are precious and loved in His sight? It's too easy for me to walk away emotionally from the hurting people, rather than giving my all to the work. It's easy to let people slip who don't look like the "perfect" Bible study contacts - while I'm focused on trying to find or prepare the best Bible studies for each situation. I am reminded, all of these people have some things in common: They are beautiful people created in God's image, they are loved by God, they are open to God's Word.
"Lord give me a heart of compassion to reach people. Give me the vision to see people as You see them! Give me the heart of Jesus that works hard for people whoever they are and where ever they are. Amen."
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Learning to Listen
One of the lessons I'm learning this summer is the lesson of listening. All people have problems, they really do. So many people just need someone to be a listening ear for them, and I just happen to be that "ear" at times. It can be hard for me at times it's like, "I just want to talk! I need someone to listen to me!" But I've learned listening is such an important, essential aspect of ministry! I now look at it as a privilege - a privilege to be that person who others are not afraid to open up to. It's amazing that people trust me, see me as a safe person, or whatever it is! As I think of listening I remember, God listens to me - He listens to people period! He listens a lot! He listens to many prayers we have, and He listens to us praise Him - even when the music isn't perfect or beautiful or heavenly! He is my example!
Beyond learning to listen to people, I'm learning to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Being a girl with lots of emotion, I'll admit, I've struggled with this. I've wondered, "How do I know if this is just me thinking or if it is really an impression of the Holy Spirit?" I don't have it all figured out yet, but it seems at the times when I question, or fight back, that it is usually the Holy Spirit! The natural heart is selfish and stubborn! And beyond that, my natural heart is doubtful! I want to be told every detail, and I want to understand things, not follow a simple impression that doesn't make sense. Learning not to doubt, not to try to figure everything out, not to wonder if I'm able, but just to say "Yes", to that impression of the Holy Spirit, is an important lesson God is patiently growing me in.
Sunday I had the opportunity to learn to listen and obey the Holy Spirit. Saturday the pastor's daughter and I had passed out flyers inviting people to the meetings in an area not from the church. We hadn't finished the neighborhood, so I decided to go back Sunday. As I drove there I was strongly impressed I should also invite people on a neighboring street. I decided to work the other neighborhood first though. After finishing it, the impression again came that I needed to do that one road. "But do I have to do it now? I'm hungry and getting tired, I can always come back to it later." But then the Holy Spirit spoke back through my thoughts, "There may be a person there NOW who needs to be invited." And with that I couldn't say no, and leave the street for later.
In just a few houses down the street I came to a house with a big sign that said "Beware of Dog". Now, honestly, I'm not afraid of dogs. But with a big fence and gate up, I wouldn't break through to get to the house. The gentleman who lived there just happened to be outside of his house, and when He saw me, he walked to the gate and we started talking. After inviting him to the meeting and drawing his attention to the fact that we all have problems, and emphasizing how the meetings show that we all have hope in Jesus, He opened up and started sharing with me some of the things he had gone through. He had been a foster child, abused, unloved, went through many different homes. He had been shot at and yet the bullets never hit him, he had almost died at another time as well. He recognized that there must have been a reason his life had been spared, and He saw God as that reason. "I'm not the most religious person, churches are so hypocritical", he told me. I mostly just listened, but as we spoke, some of his Bible questions came up, so I couldn't help but ask "Could I get your contact info and we could get together and go over some Bible studies that answer your questions?" He said he would like that. When I left he told me to keep in touch and to call him. He also asked what church I was with and when I said Seventh-day Adventist and told him it was the one near him, he said "I helped put a beams in that church! I have a relative who is a Seventh-day Adventist." I couldn't help but tell the man that God had sent me to his house today, and that this was no coincidence! I left very thankful that I had listened, and realized that only God could get the glory for that Divine appointment!
What if I had said no to the Holy Spirit? I wonder how many times I have missed an opportunity because my thoughts were focused on self or going in some other wrong direction, instead of being in tune with the Holy Spirit! Pray for me, this is spiritual warfare! And I appeal to you, bring every thought into captivity, and obedience to God (see 2 Cor. 10:5). God is willing to use us ALL as we learn to just listen to the promptings of His Spirit!
Beyond learning to listen to people, I'm learning to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Being a girl with lots of emotion, I'll admit, I've struggled with this. I've wondered, "How do I know if this is just me thinking or if it is really an impression of the Holy Spirit?" I don't have it all figured out yet, but it seems at the times when I question, or fight back, that it is usually the Holy Spirit! The natural heart is selfish and stubborn! And beyond that, my natural heart is doubtful! I want to be told every detail, and I want to understand things, not follow a simple impression that doesn't make sense. Learning not to doubt, not to try to figure everything out, not to wonder if I'm able, but just to say "Yes", to that impression of the Holy Spirit, is an important lesson God is patiently growing me in.
Sunday I had the opportunity to learn to listen and obey the Holy Spirit. Saturday the pastor's daughter and I had passed out flyers inviting people to the meetings in an area not from the church. We hadn't finished the neighborhood, so I decided to go back Sunday. As I drove there I was strongly impressed I should also invite people on a neighboring street. I decided to work the other neighborhood first though. After finishing it, the impression again came that I needed to do that one road. "But do I have to do it now? I'm hungry and getting tired, I can always come back to it later." But then the Holy Spirit spoke back through my thoughts, "There may be a person there NOW who needs to be invited." And with that I couldn't say no, and leave the street for later.
In just a few houses down the street I came to a house with a big sign that said "Beware of Dog". Now, honestly, I'm not afraid of dogs. But with a big fence and gate up, I wouldn't break through to get to the house. The gentleman who lived there just happened to be outside of his house, and when He saw me, he walked to the gate and we started talking. After inviting him to the meeting and drawing his attention to the fact that we all have problems, and emphasizing how the meetings show that we all have hope in Jesus, He opened up and started sharing with me some of the things he had gone through. He had been a foster child, abused, unloved, went through many different homes. He had been shot at and yet the bullets never hit him, he had almost died at another time as well. He recognized that there must have been a reason his life had been spared, and He saw God as that reason. "I'm not the most religious person, churches are so hypocritical", he told me. I mostly just listened, but as we spoke, some of his Bible questions came up, so I couldn't help but ask "Could I get your contact info and we could get together and go over some Bible studies that answer your questions?" He said he would like that. When I left he told me to keep in touch and to call him. He also asked what church I was with and when I said Seventh-day Adventist and told him it was the one near him, he said "I helped put a beams in that church! I have a relative who is a Seventh-day Adventist." I couldn't help but tell the man that God had sent me to his house today, and that this was no coincidence! I left very thankful that I had listened, and realized that only God could get the glory for that Divine appointment!
What if I had said no to the Holy Spirit? I wonder how many times I have missed an opportunity because my thoughts were focused on self or going in some other wrong direction, instead of being in tune with the Holy Spirit! Pray for me, this is spiritual warfare! And I appeal to you, bring every thought into captivity, and obedience to God (see 2 Cor. 10:5). God is willing to use us ALL as we learn to just listen to the promptings of His Spirit!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Prayer
This morning I realized I needed to take more time to pray. There were a lot of little things that had been bothering me that I just needed to work through with the Lord. I knew they weren't big issues, and yet, I had never took time to pray through each one and put them into perspective. Yes, I had been praying, but not enough. I needed over an hour to really pray through everything that was on my mind.
As I brought every little thing before the Lord, wrote in my prayer journal, and thought of Bible verses that applied to things I was dealing with, peace came. God was answering my prayer by helping me put the little things in perspective, and really focus on what was the big issue - I hadn't been focusing on Jesus enough, I had been focusing on self!
As I concluded my time in prayer, I had to bring up one more little thing. I admit, I'm not the most organized person. It bothers me greatly when I get unorganized, I strive for perfect organization, and yet, it's not something that comes naturally for me. I had lost a little pink pad of sticky notes. On the pad of paper I had written a name of someone I needed to call to invite to the evangelistic meetings coming up. As I prayed that God would help me find the sticky note, I thought to myself, "This will take more than just praying! How naïve to think I can just pray about something. I need to stop praying and search everywhere for the paper I've lost!" No sooner had this thought slipped through my mind, my eyes glanced away from my prayer journal, an my hand picked up the little pad of paper I had been missing! The paper had been right in front of me on my desk the whole time I had been praying, I just hadn't thought seen it until I prayed for it! The moment I prayed I would find it, God showed me it was right there in front of me!
Yes, God asks us to work, God asks us to be diligent, and yet, how often is the answer to our prayer so much easier than we think it is! Our problems are nothing to God! In my prayer time, I was also praying for some "big" things too, some things I probably won't get answers to for years, and yet, those things are easy for God to answer too! Just like God knew where my pad of paper was, He also has a plan for my future! He is already working out an answer to all my prayers! God knows the end from the beginning, and at the moment we pray, He is already answering our prayers and working out all things in our future according to His purpose! Praise His name!
As I brought every little thing before the Lord, wrote in my prayer journal, and thought of Bible verses that applied to things I was dealing with, peace came. God was answering my prayer by helping me put the little things in perspective, and really focus on what was the big issue - I hadn't been focusing on Jesus enough, I had been focusing on self!
As I concluded my time in prayer, I had to bring up one more little thing. I admit, I'm not the most organized person. It bothers me greatly when I get unorganized, I strive for perfect organization, and yet, it's not something that comes naturally for me. I had lost a little pink pad of sticky notes. On the pad of paper I had written a name of someone I needed to call to invite to the evangelistic meetings coming up. As I prayed that God would help me find the sticky note, I thought to myself, "This will take more than just praying! How naïve to think I can just pray about something. I need to stop praying and search everywhere for the paper I've lost!" No sooner had this thought slipped through my mind, my eyes glanced away from my prayer journal, an my hand picked up the little pad of paper I had been missing! The paper had been right in front of me on my desk the whole time I had been praying, I just hadn't thought seen it until I prayed for it! The moment I prayed I would find it, God showed me it was right there in front of me!
Yes, God asks us to work, God asks us to be diligent, and yet, how often is the answer to our prayer so much easier than we think it is! Our problems are nothing to God! In my prayer time, I was also praying for some "big" things too, some things I probably won't get answers to for years, and yet, those things are easy for God to answer too! Just like God knew where my pad of paper was, He also has a plan for my future! He is already working out an answer to all my prayers! God knows the end from the beginning, and at the moment we pray, He is already answering our prayers and working out all things in our future according to His purpose! Praise His name!
Saturday, August 30, 2014
His Truth - My Shield and Buckler
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty, I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress my God in Him will I trust....He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Psalm 91:1-2,4
As I spent time this evening going over those verses, the phrase "His truth shall be thy shield and buckler" jumped out at me. Wow! Just ponder that! HIS truth is a shield and buckler. A buckler is someone who protects. So God's is the One who protects us. One definition for a shield is "a large piece of metal, carried by someone." A shield is something that we carry to protect us. It's something we can hide behind. Not only is God our refuge and fortress, He is also a strong tower we can hide in! He is the One who shields us. So what does this principle look like practically? Let me illustrate with what I was going through today.
I crashed on a bed in a dear church members house who lived walking distance from church. Sometimes you just need a break. I don't like to admit my limitations. The realization of my human weaknesses had really caught up with me. My brain and body said "rest"! And yet I didn't like the reality of having to crash in someone else's house. As I lay there I took time to reciting Bible memory verses from memory. I imagined my Father in Heaven being right there with me saying, "I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10). "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3). I'm thank that God loves me the same when I'm not performing as well as I'd like to, when I'm laying down resting, and when I'm feeling exhausted, as He does when I'm busy working. God is my Father who sees Jesus in my heart, rather than just seeing my faults. Just as He said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased", to Jesus, He looks at me as His daughter, who He is pleased in! Those truth's were what comforted me. They were the shield that shielded my mind from becoming discouraged this afternoon when I was at the breaking point.
When I thought, "I can't keep going, I'm pushing too hard...." I knew such thoughts were not truthful. "Lord," I prayed, "I'll give you my all, you are going to have to use me, you are going to have to be the One to do this, and to strengthen me, because I don't have the strength to give anymore!"
God's truth is what gives me the strength to keep going, even when I'm tired, even when I see all my faults and am amazed at how God is still working through me. Rather than getting overwhelmed by feelings of exhaustion, or looking at my weaknesses and saying "I can't"; I look to the promise of God that says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13). "Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-30). This is how God's truth becomes my shield and buckler! It's the battle of the mind, it's the mind being able to accept the truth that God's says, even when I feel the opposite! It's realizing that God will carry me through!
Nothing anyone else can do for me - not even the prayers, support, love, or encouragement of my church family, my family, or friends - can be my "safe place", shield, or buckler! My accomplishments, my understanding of things can't be my shield! I'm a young person who covets knowledge. I love learning and I want to understand everything! I've always wanted to be an intellectual person. In my human reasonsing, educaiton would be a great shield to "hide behind"! And yet I'm in a place where I can't trust my education, I don't have enough! And even if I had more, it wouldn't tell me how to reach the hearts of my Bible study contacts! Only God's truth can be my shield, and buckler! As the hymn syas, "Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior". That is where we each need to be! May God's truth be your shield and buckler! In a world that is falling a part, in a world of problems, in a world that has no safe place other than God, may He be our hiding place!
Why God Doesn't Let Us "Have it all Together"
I'll admit it, I've always wanted to be one of those people who "has it all together", and yet, I've failed miserably, every place I go! So here's why I believe God doesn't let us "have it all together". (Oh, and by the way, if you think you have your life all together, or know someone who does I'd like to meet them!)
"Someday maybe I'll "have it all together", I thought to myself. And then the untruthfulness of that statement hit me! As I grow, and learn, God will keep giving me bigger responsibilities and challenges, thus, I will not reach the point where I can say, "I've arrived, I've got this all under control!" As I think of the adults who I look up to - the ones who are serving God with their whole hearts - I realize they have challenges too. I've come to know pastors, teachers, and professors, as friends, and they've helped me realize that they are people too. People who all have their own struggles. (Having said this, I respect them more not less). Some may still have those feelings of being overwhelmed at times, or health challenges, or other trials. We all have problems! The adults I look up to, still can't say "We've arrived". They are having to depend upon God for their strength too. As I grow and learn more, there will still be that desire in me to be a better person.
The lesson is focus. Our focus must be on Jesus, not on ourselves. My focus can't be on me doing things perfect, or even on doing things well. It can't be on me having the strength to keep going, or on my failures. It's not about me, it's about relying on Jesus!
I believe that Satan is doing everything he can to try to distract, and to discourage His workers. But why does God allow it? God allows trials to come upon us, He allows us to fail, He allows us to see our weaknesses, so that we will turn to Him, and learn to depend upon His strength. It is then that God can say to us, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9). And we can say as Paul said, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10). Then we will be able to say, "That was GOD working - NOT me!"
People are watching us. They are watching to see if we can still hang onto our faith and our Christianity, even when we are going through difficult things. For example, I have a dear friend who is going through a divorce. She didn't deserve it. She was faithful, she did all he could, he was unfaithful. She holds no resentment for the abuse she has experienced. When I see all the work she does in the church, and as a church school teacher; I see her kindness and thoughtfulness, and I realize, "That is Christianity!" That is what I want to have! That is how the Gospel works, it enables us to keep giving to others, keep encouraging others, even when we have a lot of our own difficulties to deal with! It's a Gospel that forgives, and doesn't grow bitter. It's not a Gospel of prosperity that says, "You do this and everything will work out". It's a Gospel that reaches us in our issues, not a Gospel prevents issues from coming upon us!
God can use our challenges to help us reach others. You see, it's not us reaching down to others. Our failures and weaknesses and the trials we go through enable us to reach out to others in a way that we never could have if we "had it all together". Those who haven't experienced hardships are too far removed from the reality of the toughness of life to really help people who are hurting. If you've never hurt, you can't empathize with those who are hurting. Herein I believe is the reason God allows us to suffer. That way when we reach out to others we can say "I've struggled with that sin too, I've been through a similar difficult experience, but here is what Jesus has done for me, He can do the same for you!" In this way, we give Jesus ALL the glory, because we don't have a perfect life to pride ourselves in! We are no better than those we are reaching out to!
I believe that is what Paul meant when He wrote the following words:
"Someday maybe I'll "have it all together", I thought to myself. And then the untruthfulness of that statement hit me! As I grow, and learn, God will keep giving me bigger responsibilities and challenges, thus, I will not reach the point where I can say, "I've arrived, I've got this all under control!" As I think of the adults who I look up to - the ones who are serving God with their whole hearts - I realize they have challenges too. I've come to know pastors, teachers, and professors, as friends, and they've helped me realize that they are people too. People who all have their own struggles. (Having said this, I respect them more not less). Some may still have those feelings of being overwhelmed at times, or health challenges, or other trials. We all have problems! The adults I look up to, still can't say "We've arrived". They are having to depend upon God for their strength too. As I grow and learn more, there will still be that desire in me to be a better person.
The lesson is focus. Our focus must be on Jesus, not on ourselves. My focus can't be on me doing things perfect, or even on doing things well. It can't be on me having the strength to keep going, or on my failures. It's not about me, it's about relying on Jesus!
I believe that Satan is doing everything he can to try to distract, and to discourage His workers. But why does God allow it? God allows trials to come upon us, He allows us to fail, He allows us to see our weaknesses, so that we will turn to Him, and learn to depend upon His strength. It is then that God can say to us, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9). And we can say as Paul said, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10). Then we will be able to say, "That was GOD working - NOT me!"
People are watching us. They are watching to see if we can still hang onto our faith and our Christianity, even when we are going through difficult things. For example, I have a dear friend who is going through a divorce. She didn't deserve it. She was faithful, she did all he could, he was unfaithful. She holds no resentment for the abuse she has experienced. When I see all the work she does in the church, and as a church school teacher; I see her kindness and thoughtfulness, and I realize, "That is Christianity!" That is what I want to have! That is how the Gospel works, it enables us to keep giving to others, keep encouraging others, even when we have a lot of our own difficulties to deal with! It's a Gospel that forgives, and doesn't grow bitter. It's not a Gospel of prosperity that says, "You do this and everything will work out". It's a Gospel that reaches us in our issues, not a Gospel prevents issues from coming upon us!
God can use our challenges to help us reach others. You see, it's not us reaching down to others. Our failures and weaknesses and the trials we go through enable us to reach out to others in a way that we never could have if we "had it all together". Those who haven't experienced hardships are too far removed from the reality of the toughness of life to really help people who are hurting. If you've never hurt, you can't empathize with those who are hurting. Herein I believe is the reason God allows us to suffer. That way when we reach out to others we can say "I've struggled with that sin too, I've been through a similar difficult experience, but here is what Jesus has done for me, He can do the same for you!" In this way, we give Jesus ALL the glory, because we don't have a perfect life to pride ourselves in! We are no better than those we are reaching out to!
I believe that is what Paul meant when He wrote the following words:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power, may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed..." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Thursday, August 21, 2014
True Love
There's a paradox I've come to think of recently on the topic of love. It is this: That many people with so called "loving relationships", such as friends, and family, can still be unhappy. The deepest most wonderful relationships they have with one another can still leave them feeling unloved and un-fulfilled. The other paradox, is that one who has been hurt and treated unlovingly and unfairly, can forgive, and still live a happy fulfilled life without necessarily having the advantage of being loved by other people.
The simple, and yet profound truth is that, no matter how perfect a human's love for you is - no matter how close you are - their love is not what fulfills you. Human love is imperfect. The closest human relationships - the most loving - are not truly loving apart from God's love. Human love will disappoint. Your best friends, your family, your spouse, those you love to spend your time with and those who have shown you love in the most tangible ways, will all disappoint you at one time or another. Their love is imperfect. Only God's love can truly fulfill us.
There is one relationship that will make all other relationships work, without which, every relationship will fall into mediocrity. In our world today we see many examples of broken relationships, hurt, arguments, you name it. Why? Because of sin. Yes, simply from sin. Sin separates loved ones. Selfishness is sin. Selfishness leads to unhappy relationships. The extent that you can experience healthy, loving relationships with others, is the extent that you are willing to be broken, and give up your selfishness. The one relationship that makes relationships work, is having a deep relationship with God. Every relationship has the potential for deeper love and fulfilment, by Christ becoming the center of that relationship.
Having said this, the simple truth is, no matter how close, how fulfilling a relationship is, it is imperfect. Even a person who loves God cannot love you perfectly. Their love for you only comes from God, if it comes from anything else, it is not true love, but infatuation. Human love fails. People make mistakes. People fail. People say unkind things. Christians fall short of the glory of God, they don't always show us love. So how do we love them? The key is that when we are fulfilled in God's love for us, we won't be looking for the fulfillment of being loved by someone else. God's love is the basis for how we can love others, even when they fail us. So, what if the other person has treated you in very unloving way? That is okay! Because you are loved by Someone who is infinitely more loving than the person who is hurting you right now! You are a child of God!
The beauty of God's love is that it is not based on our love for Him. "Only by love is love awakened." In our relationships with people, we can question, "Does that person really love me? Will we still be friends, or was it just something that lasted temporarily?" or "Was that love or infatuation?" With God, we will never have to question His love for us!
Too often in my life and my relationships, I'm looking for the end result. Where is this headed, are these relationships worth investing in? In our walk with God, we know the end result! If we accept His love, and live according to His law of love, we will live eternally with Him and rest in His love! "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life....no height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39. The only thing that can separate us from God's love is our choice to reject him.
In our relationships with others, we don't know the end result. The only security we can have in our relationships with others, is as those relationships are Christ-centered, and draw us closer to Him! So, here's how it works with our relationships with others, we don't wait to love the other person until we see if they love and care for us. We give, and give, and share God's love, not because they love us, but because we love them. We can only receive this type of love from God. The natural heart only loves those who will love in return. But Jesus said, "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? For sinners also love those that love them." (Matthew 5:46, Luke 6:32). In a small group Bible study, one of the church members shared how they were discussing the same topic in church. The question had come up, "How far do you go with this principle of loving your enemies?" Is God asking us to love even those who have wronged us? Would God go so far as to ask us to even love a murder?" Truly only God can give us a love that is that forgiving, was the conclusion! My mind went to a story of a woman who had been imprisoned for her faith in God. Years later she went back and told him that she forgave him. Only God could give that type of forgiveness!
Love isn't just a happy feeling. Love is a principle that compels you to treat people in a way that God would have you treat them. It spurs you to action. You can't sit around saying oh I love this person I love this person, that gets you no where in any type of scenario! Love expresses itself by deeds of kindness that you show to others. If you wait for the perfect person to show kindness to, then your love is conditional. What if I don't feel totally loving, do I still show love? Yes. Here is where I often struggle, I want my heart to be in something, I don't want to do it if my heart isn't in it. But, even when you don't feel loving, still do it. Show the act of kindness. And as we do this we can pray that God will change our hearts, to truly love the person we are showing kindness to. And God is totally able to do this! He is in the business of changing hearts! As you do right, and pray, God will change your heart. Don't wait to feel that your heart is changed, go forward in faith that God is changing your attitude towards that unloving person!
True love loves because God loves. True love doesn't love because it wants to be loved. True love doesn't love because it is loved by another person. True love loves because it is love. God is love. That is how God loves. It is who He is, and when Christ is in our hearts, he will change us that we can love too. True love can only love because it is loved by God. We don't love others because they treat us nicely. We love them because our hearts are overflowing with the love of God, and we just have to share it with someone else. We love even the people who have hurt us the most, because that is what the One who gives us love would do! Jesus, the source of love, said to those who hated him to the point of murdering him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He is our example.
So my challenge to anyone who may read this, (and a challenge to myself as well), is simply to grow in God's love. Grow in God's love to the point where others can't hurt you. Yes, they may disappoint you, yes it may hurt that they did something unkind, but it doesn't have to get you down because your fulfillment comes in Someone's love that is so much deeper! That Someone is Christ; Who gave Himself for sinners - sinners that didn't show love to Him! That love enables, compels, and transforms. It enables us to live our lives in a Christ-like way; It compels us to share it with those who don't understand His love; and it's this love that transforms our characters and fits us for Heaven! Let God's love enable, compel and transform you today!
Friday, August 15, 2014
Identity
Identity. Where does our identity come from? My identity is not found in my family. My identity is not found in being in a group of friends. My identity is not found in a college I attend. My identity cannot be found in my credentials, my college degree or lack thereof. My identity is not found in the grades I get in school. My identity is not found in the work I do. My identity is not found in my accomplishments. My identity is not even found in ministry or service. My identity can only be found in Christ. My identity is found in the fact that I am a child of the king! I am a daughter of God - the God of the universe! It is as this truth really sinks into my mind that I can be secure and confident even if everything else in my life was to be stripped from me; because as a child of God, I am royalty.
I remember the journey of finding my identity in Christ starting when I was seventeen and eighteen. I was struggling with health challenges, that seemed to set me back in life. I remember how frustrating it was to have to make myself lay down and take a nap, because I didn't have the energy to keep going. As a result of my health issues, I couldn't leave home to go to college when I wanted to. Then later, I couldn't stay at college when I wanted to. It was a quiet time - a wilderness experience - learning to be still, when I'd rather be busy working. Learning to lean on Jesus as my Best Friend, when I'd rather be with my group of friends back in school!
Change has been a of a pattern of my life. Every time I went through a changing circumstances, I felt like I was going through an identity crisis! It was like, "God who am I now? What am I doing here? Why am I here?" I really felt that way when I came back home from my first summer of canvassing. I drove into Karlstad, Minnesota where my family had moved to, but I didn't want to be there! I was pulled away from everything and everyone I knew and loved, except my immediate family. But it was there that I had the opportunity which I had always dreamed of - I was able to be a teacher. No it wasn't the easiest year, I missed my friends, the long cold winter could be depressing at times, but there was nothing more fulfilling to me than seeing the smiles on my students' faces! I made three little girls happy! I loved my work teaching, and I spent more time in God's word then ever before because I was teaching children about Jesus!
This past week I had the opportunity to visit my family and then go to ASI with them. It was awesome to reconnect with old friends who were in High School when I first started college, and other good friends from school. It is so neat to see how God has been leading in their lives. It also made me realize that each person's life is different. No two people are the exactly the same. We all have a unique path of life to walk that Jesus is taking us on. Our identity can't come from trying to be like someone else, or from trying to fit a certain box for what young people "should" be doing with their life.
As I flew back home to Tennessee where my church family to do Bible work with, I was impressed to just embrace the fact that I am called to do Bible work and be excited for the opportunity. Having said that though, I also realized that working for God isn't where I can find my identity either. Identity can only be found in God! It's easy for me to try to make a savior out of the work I'm doing. What happens then when Bible studies cancel? What when people are not home? What if not as many baptisms result from my work as I would like? Can I still be thankful? My joy must come from serving God faithfully, not in seeing the results of my work. When my identity is in Christ, I can be thankful in every change, and every new situation.
I have come to realize that change is something that everyone goes through in life, no matter who you are or how old you are. Everyone struggles with their identity to some degree or anther, at some point in their life. The woman who's lost her husband...the man's who's wife left him...the person who's friend or family member just died...the college graduate....They all have something in common. They are either going through a changing circumstance, or facing a loss, that challenges them to find their identity in something deeper than anything on this earth!
No matter who we are, what age, or station in life we are at, God is challenging us to find our total fulfillment in Him. He says, "I have created you, I have called you by my name You are my mine." (Isaiah 43:1). He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love," (Jeremiah 31:3), and He is pleading to us saying, "My love for You is enough to give you complete security, your identity can be totally rooted in Me!" I love the way Paul states this fact in Colossians 2:10: "And ye are complete in Him." In Christ we have the opportunity for our identity to be rooted securely! Not rooted in ourselves, but rooted deeply in being who God intends for us to be. We were created in God's image, and it is through a relationship with Christ that God's image is restored in us, only then can we reach our true fulfillment. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." (1 John 1:3). "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Romans 8:15-16. Here we find our true identity - in the fact that we are children of God. We can be secure in our identity, for we are Christ's, and we have an identity that will never change throughout eternity!
I remember the journey of finding my identity in Christ starting when I was seventeen and eighteen. I was struggling with health challenges, that seemed to set me back in life. I remember how frustrating it was to have to make myself lay down and take a nap, because I didn't have the energy to keep going. As a result of my health issues, I couldn't leave home to go to college when I wanted to. Then later, I couldn't stay at college when I wanted to. It was a quiet time - a wilderness experience - learning to be still, when I'd rather be busy working. Learning to lean on Jesus as my Best Friend, when I'd rather be with my group of friends back in school!
Change has been a of a pattern of my life. Every time I went through a changing circumstances, I felt like I was going through an identity crisis! It was like, "God who am I now? What am I doing here? Why am I here?" I really felt that way when I came back home from my first summer of canvassing. I drove into Karlstad, Minnesota where my family had moved to, but I didn't want to be there! I was pulled away from everything and everyone I knew and loved, except my immediate family. But it was there that I had the opportunity which I had always dreamed of - I was able to be a teacher. No it wasn't the easiest year, I missed my friends, the long cold winter could be depressing at times, but there was nothing more fulfilling to me than seeing the smiles on my students' faces! I made three little girls happy! I loved my work teaching, and I spent more time in God's word then ever before because I was teaching children about Jesus!
This past week I had the opportunity to visit my family and then go to ASI with them. It was awesome to reconnect with old friends who were in High School when I first started college, and other good friends from school. It is so neat to see how God has been leading in their lives. It also made me realize that each person's life is different. No two people are the exactly the same. We all have a unique path of life to walk that Jesus is taking us on. Our identity can't come from trying to be like someone else, or from trying to fit a certain box for what young people "should" be doing with their life.
As I flew back home to Tennessee where my church family to do Bible work with, I was impressed to just embrace the fact that I am called to do Bible work and be excited for the opportunity. Having said that though, I also realized that working for God isn't where I can find my identity either. Identity can only be found in God! It's easy for me to try to make a savior out of the work I'm doing. What happens then when Bible studies cancel? What when people are not home? What if not as many baptisms result from my work as I would like? Can I still be thankful? My joy must come from serving God faithfully, not in seeing the results of my work. When my identity is in Christ, I can be thankful in every change, and every new situation.
I have come to realize that change is something that everyone goes through in life, no matter who you are or how old you are. Everyone struggles with their identity to some degree or anther, at some point in their life. The woman who's lost her husband...the man's who's wife left him...the person who's friend or family member just died...the college graduate....They all have something in common. They are either going through a changing circumstance, or facing a loss, that challenges them to find their identity in something deeper than anything on this earth!
No matter who we are, what age, or station in life we are at, God is challenging us to find our total fulfillment in Him. He says, "I have created you, I have called you by my name You are my mine." (Isaiah 43:1). He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love," (Jeremiah 31:3), and He is pleading to us saying, "My love for You is enough to give you complete security, your identity can be totally rooted in Me!" I love the way Paul states this fact in Colossians 2:10: "And ye are complete in Him." In Christ we have the opportunity for our identity to be rooted securely! Not rooted in ourselves, but rooted deeply in being who God intends for us to be. We were created in God's image, and it is through a relationship with Christ that God's image is restored in us, only then can we reach our true fulfillment. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." (1 John 1:3). "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Romans 8:15-16. Here we find our true identity - in the fact that we are children of God. We can be secure in our identity, for we are Christ's, and we have an identity that will never change throughout eternity!
"Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."
-Isaiah 41:9
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Honesty
Of the lessons God has been teaching me this summer, one of the biggest lessons is the importance of honesty. I've always wanted to be an honest person. But there has always been a fight in me....I want to be honest, I like to be honest, and yet, at the same time, I'm afraid to be honest.
The first thing I have had to do is ask myself the question, "What has made it difficult for me to truly be honest with people?" One of the biggest reasons is because I tend to care more about peoples feelings than I do about the truth or honesty I am sharing with them. I don't want to tell someone something that they don't want to hear. I don't want to take the risk of hurting someone's feelings! I don't like conflict, and I'll do almost anything to avoid it!
Through many various experiences this summer, God has showed me that it is ok to be honest when we are in tune with Him. In one instance, God was leading in another persons life, and they were open to the truth I was about to share with them. They asked me a question, and it wasn't a big deal, I could share what the truth was in the Bible, and they accepted it right off.
Another time this summer I was talking to one of my friends, and I was a little afraid to tell them something, but I told them anyways. To my amazement, they weren't upset at what I had just said! My honesty didn't create a conflict. They understood what I had said. They understood, because God had been working in their lives. I learned that God is the One ultimately in control.
Here are some things that I have been learning about honesty:
Honesty doesn't mean telling everything that's on your heart. Honesty doesn't mean telling people all the truth you know.
We are not called to the share at the same level of honesty with everyone. Not everyone is ready to hear the honest truth. I am not in control of how the other person reacts to the honesty or truths I share. I am only responsible to God to have integrity and to know that when I'm asked, I can answer in an honest humble way.
Honesty doesn't hurt relationships, honesty isn't what creates conflict. Honesty gives God the opportunity to work in your life. God wants us to be honest with him about our sinful condition. God wants us to be honest with others. Honesty doesn't hurt people when the Holy Spirit is working in their lives as well.
So whatever you are going through right now, don't be afraid be because the truth is that honesty isn't about you, it's about God. It's about being who God wants you to be. It's about sharing the honest truth as it is in Jesus!
The first thing I have had to do is ask myself the question, "What has made it difficult for me to truly be honest with people?" One of the biggest reasons is because I tend to care more about peoples feelings than I do about the truth or honesty I am sharing with them. I don't want to tell someone something that they don't want to hear. I don't want to take the risk of hurting someone's feelings! I don't like conflict, and I'll do almost anything to avoid it!
Through many various experiences this summer, God has showed me that it is ok to be honest when we are in tune with Him. In one instance, God was leading in another persons life, and they were open to the truth I was about to share with them. They asked me a question, and it wasn't a big deal, I could share what the truth was in the Bible, and they accepted it right off.
Another time this summer I was talking to one of my friends, and I was a little afraid to tell them something, but I told them anyways. To my amazement, they weren't upset at what I had just said! My honesty didn't create a conflict. They understood what I had said. They understood, because God had been working in their lives. I learned that God is the One ultimately in control.
Here are some things that I have been learning about honesty:
Honesty doesn't mean telling everything that's on your heart. Honesty doesn't mean telling people all the truth you know.
We are not called to the share at the same level of honesty with everyone. Not everyone is ready to hear the honest truth. I am not in control of how the other person reacts to the honesty or truths I share. I am only responsible to God to have integrity and to know that when I'm asked, I can answer in an honest humble way.
Honesty doesn't hurt relationships, honesty isn't what creates conflict. Honesty gives God the opportunity to work in your life. God wants us to be honest with him about our sinful condition. God wants us to be honest with others. Honesty doesn't hurt people when the Holy Spirit is working in their lives as well.
So whatever you are going through right now, don't be afraid be because the truth is that honesty isn't about you, it's about God. It's about being who God wants you to be. It's about sharing the honest truth as it is in Jesus!
Monday, July 7, 2014
"Let the Little Children Come"
I had been knocking on doors all afternoon, and was about to go home for the evening, when I saw a group of little girls sitting together in a circle. "Will you read the Bible to us?" they asked, as I walked toward them. "Of course!" I replied. I ran to grab the Bible out of my car and give and make a quick decision of what Bible study to use for little kids.
The Bible study was a simple one on God's Word, and how to have a relationship with Him. As we began the study one of the little girls said, "I love true and false questions!" I breathed a silent prayer of thanksgiving that I had had this study guide with me! As we continued the Bible study, the children had lots of questions. "Is the Holy Spirit that little tingling you get sometimes when you are about to do something wrong your mom told you not to? The eleven year old little boy asks me during the study. "Why do people worship other gods? Didn't God create the world?" As I answered their questions, I told them how the Holy Spirit leads in our life. "He brought me to share the Bible with you," I said to them. "Wow that's so cool!" They answered. One young girl particularly stood out to me, her questions were a little deeper. What if you read the Bible but it doesn't seem to work for you? As we talked more I realized that she was working through hurts and fears. It was such a privilege to share with her how she is beautiful to Jesus, and she can trust Him, as well as forgive the person who has bullied her.
Several of the children in the Bible study came from broken families. For once, instead of just hurting for them, I was actually able to do something that brought joy to my heart, and light to their lives. Oh how I love those children, as I write this I can't help but keep back the tears. I want each of those children in Heaven! I want them to find in Jesus the One Who can heal their big hurts, their little hurts, and their insecurities. I want them to see that they are valuable to Jesus! I want them to hear Him calling at the door of His heart.
As I left that first Bible study with the children I thought of the promise which says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your hearts." Psalm 37:4. I love children and I love teaching them about Jesus and the Bible. This experience was an object lesson about God's leading. When I let God lead in my life, and my desires are in line with God's heart, He will give me what I will love most in my life! He knows ultimately what gives me the greatest joy and what fills my heart! He knows what I really need! What I needed yesterday was children to share God's love with, because when your heart is full of God's love you won't help but want to share it with others!
The Bible study was a simple one on God's Word, and how to have a relationship with Him. As we began the study one of the little girls said, "I love true and false questions!" I breathed a silent prayer of thanksgiving that I had had this study guide with me! As we continued the Bible study, the children had lots of questions. "Is the Holy Spirit that little tingling you get sometimes when you are about to do something wrong your mom told you not to? The eleven year old little boy asks me during the study. "Why do people worship other gods? Didn't God create the world?" As I answered their questions, I told them how the Holy Spirit leads in our life. "He brought me to share the Bible with you," I said to them. "Wow that's so cool!" They answered. One young girl particularly stood out to me, her questions were a little deeper. What if you read the Bible but it doesn't seem to work for you? As we talked more I realized that she was working through hurts and fears. It was such a privilege to share with her how she is beautiful to Jesus, and she can trust Him, as well as forgive the person who has bullied her.
Several of the children in the Bible study came from broken families. For once, instead of just hurting for them, I was actually able to do something that brought joy to my heart, and light to their lives. Oh how I love those children, as I write this I can't help but keep back the tears. I want each of those children in Heaven! I want them to find in Jesus the One Who can heal their big hurts, their little hurts, and their insecurities. I want them to see that they are valuable to Jesus! I want them to hear Him calling at the door of His heart.
As I left that first Bible study with the children I thought of the promise which says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your hearts." Psalm 37:4. I love children and I love teaching them about Jesus and the Bible. This experience was an object lesson about God's leading. When I let God lead in my life, and my desires are in line with God's heart, He will give me what I will love most in my life! He knows ultimately what gives me the greatest joy and what fills my heart! He knows what I really need! What I needed yesterday was children to share God's love with, because when your heart is full of God's love you won't help but want to share it with others!
The Last Few Hours
Another evening out in the field. I had been visiting people all Sunday afternoon. Even though not many people were home and I didn't have Bible studies scheduled, I still could see how God had blessed; but I want more blessings!
As I drive around the road leading up to the little dead end, I see there's not many houses. I had planned to start going door-to-door on that street, but with no houses, I began to wonder how this would work out! Then I see the little dead end. "Oh! It's apartments! God knew what He was doing! How exciting! I'll get to meet lots of people here!"
I left that door so happy!!! So overflowing with joy and smiles, that I could hardly talk calmly at the next door I was doing a survey at! I was so looking forward to coming back and studying the Bible with the new friend I had just met and I was sure she was the person God had brought me to this street to meet!
"Ok, it's time to go door-to-door and find more people to study the Bible with!" I thought to myself. I stop my car and I prayed - more earnestly this time - as there were only a few more hours of daylight left for me to work. "I need to work some neighborhoods close to the church and invite any children I see to Vacation Bible school!" I say to myself. Before I pull out the map my prayer is that God will guide me to those who will want to study the Bible - because I needed His Spirit to direct me where to go! As I look at the roads on the map nearest to the church, my eyes fall on a little street - a dead end. I feel drawn to go to that street. For a moment I question, thinking "It's only a little street." But then I remember, I had prayed. "There must be someone there who God wants me to reach. I will follow through with that plan."
As I drive around the road leading up to the little dead end, I see there's not many houses. I had planned to start going door-to-door on that street, but with no houses, I began to wonder how this would work out! Then I see the little dead end. "Oh! It's apartments! God knew what He was doing! How exciting! I'll get to meet lots of people here!"
After knocking several doors with no one home or no one interested, I meet a lady whose initial response to me is, "I'm not interested in what most churches offer, because I've been through a divorce, and most churches are totally against divorce, but in my situation I had to because I was abused." I affirm her in the fact that Jesus doesn't condemn for that, and neither does church, I say I understand why she would have had to get the divorce. She opens up to me and shares her story. As we connect, we speak of the beauty of how Jesus heals broken hearts. I am inspired as I see how Jesus has carried her through! She is so open, I can actually understand what she is telling me, we are both positive, and I realize I have just met a sister in Christ! "I always knew that God has been the one to carry me through this", she tells me.
I invite her to start exercising with a friend and I, and she said she would enjoy that. I continue to throw in questions from the survey, and she answers, "Yes, I would like that!" to every question. When I get to Bible studies, she says, "I love studying the Bible," and asks "What else do you have?" I invite her to come to church on Saturday. "Oh, I could do that", she says, "That would give me something to do to get out of the house and not just sit here lonely on Saturday mornings." I pray a heartfelt prayer with her and set up a time to come back and study the Bible, before I leave. She gives me a hug and I say, "I can't to come study with you Tuesday!"
I left that door so happy!!! So overflowing with joy and smiles, that I could hardly talk calmly at the next door I was doing a survey at! I was so looking forward to coming back and studying the Bible with the new friend I had just met and I was sure she was the person God had brought me to this street to meet!
We are in the last hours of earth's history, though we don't know the day or the hour of Jesus' return, we know that time is short. Oh how we must pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit to lead us to those who are open to God's Word! And oh how we must work earnestly, giving our all. Whether that means sacrificing our plans, giving of our time, or giving of our money, or giving of our talents, we must do it, we must give the message for Jesus!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Woman at the Well
The story of the woman at the well never ceases to speak to my heart every time I read it.
It's the story of a woman who was thristy...thirsty for something that nothing on this earth can fill. It is the story of a woman who was longing for love. It's a story of a woman who was searching for fulfillment in her earthly relationships rather than a relationship with the One true Husband, Jesus Christ.
It's a story of Jesus caring for someone who others looked down upon. It's a story that shows how Jesus reaches the heart. It's a story of salvation. It's a story of a woman being filled with the greatest fulfillment and joy ever possible...a joy that is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And it's more than that, it's the story of how the influence of one woman who's life is changed can be used to reach an ENTIRE town for Jesus!
Never underestimate the power that your own personal testimony can have!
God rewards those who leave all for Him. God knows that each one of us is thirsty for a fulfillment, a love, a peace, that ONLY He can satisfy! He says come unto me let him drink the water of life freely. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)
The story reminds me of my own experience. How many times I have tried to fill the desire of my heart with things that don't satisfy....good grades, or my friendships, or my "accomplishments". It's so easy to be deceived by your own heart and think getting good grades is important, and God meant for friendships to bring us happiness".... and yet there is no ultimate fulfillment in the things of earth! The only One who can truly make us fulfilled and joyful is Jesus Christ!
Another beautiful lesson is how God chooses people to work for Him. It wasn't the disciples who reached the city of Samaria. It didn't take many people to reach the city either. All it took was one woman who was COMPLETELY dedicated, and consecrated to Jesus! This shows me the beauty of how Jesus chooses people to be his messangers! No mistakes from the past disqualify me from working for Jesus! Because He offers new life! And a total transformation! God can take the sins, hurts, and mistakes of our past, and still make us more effective workers for Him! God evidently used her love of people, God evidently used her ability to love people-though in the past her relationships were used for her selfish reasons-now to draw people into a relationship with Him!
As I look at the town I'm working in this summer and think of the story of the woman at the well, I'm overjoyed that Jesus still calls women, like He called the woman at the well, to share the joy that they have found in Jesus! The people I have meant all have one thing in common, they haven't had a perfect past, they have had hurts, and pains and difficult experiences, and they are finding, and seeking to find a deeper relationship with the One who can satisfy the need of every soul! My prayer is, "Lord, make me like the woman at the well who reached an entire city for you!"
It's the story of a woman who was thristy...thirsty for something that nothing on this earth can fill. It is the story of a woman who was longing for love. It's a story of a woman who was searching for fulfillment in her earthly relationships rather than a relationship with the One true Husband, Jesus Christ.
It's a story of Jesus caring for someone who others looked down upon. It's a story that shows how Jesus reaches the heart. It's a story of salvation. It's a story of a woman being filled with the greatest fulfillment and joy ever possible...a joy that is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And it's more than that, it's the story of how the influence of one woman who's life is changed can be used to reach an ENTIRE town for Jesus!
"The woman at the well had been filled with joy as she listened to Christ's words. The wonderful revelation was almost overpowering. Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city, to carry the message to others. Jesus knew what why she had gone. Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably as to the effect of His words. It was the earnest desire of her soul to obtain the living water; and she forgot her errand to the well, she forgot the Savior's thirst, which she had promised to supply. With heart overflowing with gladness, she hastened on her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received."
-Desire of Ages 191
Never underestimate the power that your own personal testimony can have!
God rewards those who leave all for Him. God knows that each one of us is thirsty for a fulfillment, a love, a peace, that ONLY He can satisfy! He says come unto me let him drink the water of life freely. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)
The story reminds me of my own experience. How many times I have tried to fill the desire of my heart with things that don't satisfy....good grades, or my friendships, or my "accomplishments". It's so easy to be deceived by your own heart and think getting good grades is important, and God meant for friendships to bring us happiness".... and yet there is no ultimate fulfillment in the things of earth! The only One who can truly make us fulfilled and joyful is Jesus Christ!
Another beautiful lesson is how God chooses people to work for Him. It wasn't the disciples who reached the city of Samaria. It didn't take many people to reach the city either. All it took was one woman who was COMPLETELY dedicated, and consecrated to Jesus! This shows me the beauty of how Jesus chooses people to be his messangers! No mistakes from the past disqualify me from working for Jesus! Because He offers new life! And a total transformation! God can take the sins, hurts, and mistakes of our past, and still make us more effective workers for Him! God evidently used her love of people, God evidently used her ability to love people-though in the past her relationships were used for her selfish reasons-now to draw people into a relationship with Him!
As I look at the town I'm working in this summer and think of the story of the woman at the well, I'm overjoyed that Jesus still calls women, like He called the woman at the well, to share the joy that they have found in Jesus! The people I have meant all have one thing in common, they haven't had a perfect past, they have had hurts, and pains and difficult experiences, and they are finding, and seeking to find a deeper relationship with the One who can satisfy the need of every soul! My prayer is, "Lord, make me like the woman at the well who reached an entire city for you!"
Monday, June 30, 2014
Get Out! Reached by Reaching
This morning was a morning I was in need of affirmation. After contemplating the beauties of Jesus in my devotions, I was praying He would give me something very special today, something that would really make me happy...and He did.
The first Bible study I had scheduled was with a lady and a church member. I started by going to the church member's house and going over the lesson with her, to decide which questions she would lead out in, and which ones I would lead out in. We prayed, and then went to the lady's house. The study was about salvation, and the lesson went really well. As we were talking about Jesus, my friend from church said "you know one thing that I heard in a sermon that always stuck with me was that Jesus is giddy about us. He really loves us! He is a personal God." As she spoke tears welled up in her eyes. As we continued the study we came to 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." At this point in the lesson I like to discuss things in our lives that God has made new for us, or areas in our lives where we need to be made new. In this study though, I didn't have to ask the question! The two dear ladies just started sharing what God has done and is doing in their lives! It was so beautiful to see my new friend from church, who originally told me she was nervous about giving a Bible study, now connecting with and sharing Jesus with someone else! I didn't have to talk very much!
The first Bible study I had scheduled was with a lady and a church member. I started by going to the church member's house and going over the lesson with her, to decide which questions she would lead out in, and which ones I would lead out in. We prayed, and then went to the lady's house. The study was about salvation, and the lesson went really well. As we were talking about Jesus, my friend from church said "you know one thing that I heard in a sermon that always stuck with me was that Jesus is giddy about us. He really loves us! He is a personal God." As she spoke tears welled up in her eyes. As we continued the study we came to 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." At this point in the lesson I like to discuss things in our lives that God has made new for us, or areas in our lives where we need to be made new. In this study though, I didn't have to ask the question! The two dear ladies just started sharing what God has done and is doing in their lives! It was so beautiful to see my new friend from church, who originally told me she was nervous about giving a Bible study, now connecting with and sharing Jesus with someone else! I didn't have to talk very much!
One of my evening Bible studies cancelled, so I had time to go door-to-door doing surveys. Before I got out of my car I prayed, "Father, I know it's your will that people study the Bible, I need more people to study with, so I ask in faith, believing that you will lead me to people on this street who will want to study the Bible. Amen."
I met a lady who tells me she was going to attend a Prophecy seminar that the church had, but she didn't make it. She said, "I enjoy that type of stuff, because I see that the end of the world is soon." We had a wonderful conversation on how she sees that the end of the world is coming soon. She was one of the people on the street who said I could come back and study the Bible with her.
At another door, I meet a dear lady who hasn't really turned to the Bible much. When I ask what her prayer request are, she asks me to pray for her elderly mother and she opens up to me about the depression her mother has faced after watching two of her children pass away. As we bow our heads for prayer, her husband comes to the door and says "Your mother is on the phone, she needs you." "I'll be there in just a moment, we are praying", she replies. I wrap my arms around her and lift up her and her mother in prayer. When we open our eyes, I see tears coming down her cheeks. "It looks like you came at just the right time", she says. I left that door overjoyed!
A few doors down I meet a lady who talks with me about how she can see that the end of the world is near. After we pray together, she tells me "You are so precious! Each of us is precious to Jesus!"
I share these stories, not because I am such a beautiful person, but because my Jesus is!!!! This morning I was singing the song, "Jesus You're Beautiful to Me", because I wasn't feeling beautiful! I was struggling with some doubts, fears, and problems I saw in my own life, so I was seeking Jesus to fill my heart! It finally hit me right before I left for Bible studies that at the root of what I was going through was simply Satan trying to get my eyes on myself, so he could get me down and hinder the work I am doing reaching out to others! But the power of Jesus is greater than anything we face that holds us back!
For years I wanted to do more for Jesus, but often fear always held me back. This summer I've got out of myself more than ever before. At times it's felt weird praying with a stranger. There are times I'm like, "Lord, I don't know what to pray for these people!" Then there's the outside of the box ideas that I couldn't help but do, like giving a music CD to a cashier at a grocery store who I've seen a few times. Last Friday, I was reminded that even little things can make a difference. I did a little shopping, after the lady checked me out, I said "Thank you" and then added, "and God bless you!" She thanked me and said "I needed that!"
As I see the needs of those around me, my world view has been expanded. It has made me more grounded in the fact that my only hope is Heaven, because I see that the world has nothing to offer. It can be easy to get stuck in a fake reality...in our bubble of Christianity, our church, our school, our career, our family...stuck in self, the business of life, so caught up that we don't get out. And yet, when you get out and see the needs around you, it does something for you-it is where LIFE and JOY really exist! It is what Jesus did when He was on this earth - he was out mingling with and reaching the people!
It's always been God's plan for us to reach out to others. It is an integral part of how we are saved! Paul, when writing to Timothy, said it like this: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (1 Timothy 4:16). So get out! Get out of yourself, get out of your bubble, and reach out and share Jesus with someone today!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
A Beauty of Jesus
"Dear God, I'm frustrated!" I prayed. "I want to serve you better! I love you and I want to do more for you, but I don't know what to do! I see your leading in my life, but I don't know where it is pointing. Please reveal to me Your plan for me and I will follow it! I am ready to know what you want me to do!"
After praying that prayer, I read the following:
Those words spoke to my inner heart. Yes, love will compel us to work for God, and yes, faith without works is dead, but I needed to be reminded of the fact that God's grace alone saves me! If God clearly wrote down on a piece of paper exactly what he wanted me to do with my life, it would make it easier for me! My attitude has often been in my Christian experience "Lord, tell me what to do, and I will do it!" But God wants something deeper - He wants me to be still and know that He is God! He wants me to trust Him! The hardest lesson for me to learn is this lesson! My desire expressed in this prayer was what God wants me to do. Yes, I want to know God better, but at that moment my focus was more on what He wants me to do, rather than on knowing Him as my Savior, the Lord of my life, and my Best Friend!
I continued reading:
As I read those words it dawned on me that Jesus just wants me to be with Him! What a beautiful picture of Jesus!!! He is a personal God! Sometimes in my friendships I will worry about what I am doing, and if I am really being the friend I should be. I tend to carry this same attitude over to my relationship with God as well, and yet, Jesus just wants me to rest in Him! He is actually longing for me to enjoy His presence! He wants me to admire Him and appreciate Him as I would do to a friend! Just as a friend enjoys being with you, God wants that friendship with us! He actually loves for me to just be there with Him and abide in Him! I can actually make Jesus happy and do His will just by praising Him, loving Him, appreciating Him, and giving Him my heart! I realized that God wants me to trust Him, and abide with Him moment by moment and just enjoy the present rather than worrying about the future. The most important work I can ever "do for God" is to trust Him fully!
No, it's not a completely new thought, it's not profound, or maybe it is, but it's actually very simple: Jesus wants my heart! Jesus wants your heart! He wants to be our very Best Friend! He longs for us to love Him with our whole heart! Will you choose Him today?
After praying that prayer, I read the following:
"There are thousands today who need to learn the same truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favor. When they are bidden to look to Jesus, and believe that He saves them solely through His grace, they exclaim, "How can these things be?"
-Desire of Ages pg. 175
Those words spoke to my inner heart. Yes, love will compel us to work for God, and yes, faith without works is dead, but I needed to be reminded of the fact that God's grace alone saves me! If God clearly wrote down on a piece of paper exactly what he wanted me to do with my life, it would make it easier for me! My attitude has often been in my Christian experience "Lord, tell me what to do, and I will do it!" But God wants something deeper - He wants me to be still and know that He is God! He wants me to trust Him! The hardest lesson for me to learn is this lesson! My desire expressed in this prayer was what God wants me to do. Yes, I want to know God better, but at that moment my focus was more on what He wants me to do, rather than on knowing Him as my Savior, the Lord of my life, and my Best Friend!
I continued reading:
"Our Redeemer thirsts for recognition. He hungers for the sympathy and love of those whom He has purchased with His own blood. He longs with inexpressible desire that they should come to Him and have life. As a mother watches for a smile of recognition from her little child, which tells of the dawning of intelligence, so does Christ watch for the expression of grateful love, which shows that spiritual life is begun in the soul."
-Desire of Ages pg. 191
As I read those words it dawned on me that Jesus just wants me to be with Him! What a beautiful picture of Jesus!!! He is a personal God! Sometimes in my friendships I will worry about what I am doing, and if I am really being the friend I should be. I tend to carry this same attitude over to my relationship with God as well, and yet, Jesus just wants me to rest in Him! He is actually longing for me to enjoy His presence! He wants me to admire Him and appreciate Him as I would do to a friend! Just as a friend enjoys being with you, God wants that friendship with us! He actually loves for me to just be there with Him and abide in Him! I can actually make Jesus happy and do His will just by praising Him, loving Him, appreciating Him, and giving Him my heart! I realized that God wants me to trust Him, and abide with Him moment by moment and just enjoy the present rather than worrying about the future. The most important work I can ever "do for God" is to trust Him fully!
No, it's not a completely new thought, it's not profound, or maybe it is, but it's actually very simple: Jesus wants my heart! Jesus wants your heart! He wants to be our very Best Friend! He longs for us to love Him with our whole heart! Will you choose Him today?
Saturday, June 28, 2014
A Journey of Love
"How would you define love", a friend asked me. Me define love? My definition? I have to admit, it wasn't something I had thought much about. Oh yes, I think about love...I love my friends, I love my family, I love my "job" this summer, I love mountains, I love Jesus, I know Jesus loves me very much...and yet, what really is love? I felt very inadequate to properly define it and to do it justice. I mean, love is the most powerful force ever...it is something deep...it is something that really many people lack...and many other people misinterpret.
Love is something that I have always wanted more of. I've wanted to be loved more, and I've prayed that I would be able to love others more. A couple of weeks ago I read a Bible verse that really spoke to my heart, speaking of Jesus it said "having loved His own which were in the world, he loved them to the end." (John 13:1). "Wow!" I thought, when I read it, "That means he even loved Judas who was as about to betray Him, and Peter who was about to deny Him. I want that kind of love for people, but that's a high standard of love!"
As I thought about the question of how to define love, I thought of 1 Corinthians 13, which tells us that love is kind, etc., etc. I thought of 1 John 4:7 "God is love", and I thought of 1 John 3:16 which says "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." "I guess the simplest definition I can think of for love is Love gives", I replied to my friend. "You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving."
Nothing says "I love you" more than the way you treat people! You may have heard of the five love languages, if not they are: physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and gifts. What do these all have in common? They are all giving something! Whether you give someone a hug, sacrifice of your time to spend it with someone, write them a note, give them a compliment, or give them a gift, either way you are giving, because you care about the other person.
This past week I experienced love in a deeper way than I ever have before. It was Wednesday and the Bible study I was about to give was on the sacrifice of Christ (how he suffered on the cross). Before my friend from church and I got out to give the Bible study I prayed, "Lord, melt our hearts, and help us to see your love in a fresh way. Please help the lady we are about to study with to really see and understand how much you love us, Amen". After reading the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane I started explaining how Jesus was being weighed down with guilt, the sins of the whole world. I explained how difficult it was for him to decide to go through with the cross, because it meant separation from His Father. As I explained the story in my mind I imagined Jesus falling helplessly in prayer to the Father in the garden that dark, lonely evening. As I explained Jesus' love I spoke with more conviction than I have ever spoken. Then I said Jesus looked in the future and could see that if He didn't follow through with the cross we wouldn't be saved. He made the choice to save us because he loved us, no matter what it cost Him. And then I broke....I've never cried in a Bible study before, but I couldn't keep back the tears! In that moment of silence with tears in our eyes, I realized my prayer had been answered, each one of us saw how much God loved us! Yesterday I gave the same Bible study to another lady. Her comment after was "If that's not love, I don't know what is!"
As I thought about the question of how to define love, I thought of 1 Corinthians 13, which tells us that love is kind, etc., etc. I thought of 1 John 4:7 "God is love", and I thought of 1 John 3:16 which says "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." "I guess the simplest definition I can think of for love is Love gives", I replied to my friend. "You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving."
Nothing says "I love you" more than the way you treat people! You may have heard of the five love languages, if not they are: physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and gifts. What do these all have in common? They are all giving something! Whether you give someone a hug, sacrifice of your time to spend it with someone, write them a note, give them a compliment, or give them a gift, either way you are giving, because you care about the other person.
This past week I experienced love in a deeper way than I ever have before. It was Wednesday and the Bible study I was about to give was on the sacrifice of Christ (how he suffered on the cross). Before my friend from church and I got out to give the Bible study I prayed, "Lord, melt our hearts, and help us to see your love in a fresh way. Please help the lady we are about to study with to really see and understand how much you love us, Amen". After reading the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane I started explaining how Jesus was being weighed down with guilt, the sins of the whole world. I explained how difficult it was for him to decide to go through with the cross, because it meant separation from His Father. As I explained the story in my mind I imagined Jesus falling helplessly in prayer to the Father in the garden that dark, lonely evening. As I explained Jesus' love I spoke with more conviction than I have ever spoken. Then I said Jesus looked in the future and could see that if He didn't follow through with the cross we wouldn't be saved. He made the choice to save us because he loved us, no matter what it cost Him. And then I broke....I've never cried in a Bible study before, but I couldn't keep back the tears! In that moment of silence with tears in our eyes, I realized my prayer had been answered, each one of us saw how much God loved us! Yesterday I gave the same Bible study to another lady. Her comment after was "If that's not love, I don't know what is!"
This summer has been something a little different than I expected, it has been and will continue to be a journey of love. A journey to find more depth of God's love than I have before...a journey to learn to be completely fulfilled by God's love and not other people's...A journey where I learn to give and give, more than I thought possible, and not feel empty at the end...not come back at the end of the day and miss those I'm miles away from, because I'm full....because when you give of God's love you truly are filled more and more! Yes, there's times I'm tired, and times I miss friends and family, but that doesn't happen very often, because I have so many people here who I've grown to love! And by God's grace I am getting closer to the point where I don't care how I feel or what mistakes I made, I just care how other people see Jesus through me!
And, it's a growing experience. Sometimes growth hurts! Because the first step of growth is to admit that I have a problem, I must admit that I haven't loved like Jesus loves! It hurts to admit I've been selfish in my relationships! It's humbling to see that there are some people who are so much easier for me to love than others. It hurts to admit I don't always turn completely to Jesus every moment of the day for help, and that sometimes I turn to people who don't have all the answers. It hurts to admit the fact that I make mistakes - I don't have all the right Bible answers to people's questions, and I don't know what I'm doing a lot at times. It also really hurts to see other hurting people and realize I can't solve everyone else's problems! I can't fill their needs, all I can do is direct them to the source of love, joy and fulfillment - the One who offers them the water of life freely!
Growth in God's love is a journey. A journey of love that will continue through eternity, where we can each say that we have met the One "Who loved me, and gave Himself for me!" (Galatians 2:20)
Saturday, May 31, 2014
My First Weekend
May 30
I knock on the door of the family I will be living with over
the summer. The daughter answers the
door. The family has three girls! I tell the girls, “I have two younger sisters.”
I immediately connect with the youngest
daughter, she is close to my little sisters age, and she plays violin too. “We’ll have to play our violins together
sometime”, I say.
I move in and get settled.
I meet the Pastor, and I am excited.
He is going to be a great person to work with, evangelistic minded. I visit with the Pastors wife, she is a sweet
lady. They are both very warm and welcoming.
The area is beautiful.
From outside the windows of the house there are mountains. Behind those mountains are the Smoky Mountains. I go to bed with a full heart, I’m so
thankful, I feel at home already. And I
wonder how God blessed me with such a wonderful opportunity to serve Him!
May 31
The next morning is my first Sabbath at the church I’m going
to be working with over the summer. The road
to the church is a little windy road, going under shady trees, up rolling
slopes. I drive past a slope that has
fresh hay bales, and behind them I see the mountains in the distance. Then there are cornfields, and countryside,
which reminds me of where I grew up - only this is so much better because it’s
not all flat there’s mountains! I arrive
at the church, and the church is so cute!
It’s a little brown wooden church outside of town. Behind it sits a log cabin type building which
is their school. The people are so
sweet. I try to remember everyone’s name,
but it’s hard! One of the sweet older
members says, “Just remember, we only have one name to remember-yours-but you
have all of our names to remember!”
It’s during the morning church service that my joy and appreciation
really came over me. The man praying
prays for their church that they can be a light to the community, he prays for
the Holy Spirit. The sincerity of the
prayer, and the way he worded it really touched my heart, and at that moment I
realize how truly blessed I am to be here!
As I reflected upon my gratitude, the words of two different
women’s prayers in the Bible, seemed to be the only words I could use to fully
express the depth of my emotions, my gratitude to God:
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth
in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine
enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
There is none holy as the Lord:
for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:1-2)
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The Little Girl
There's some things in life I never want to grow out of....Running outside barefoot in the rain, collecting pretty rocks, taking pictures of flowers, baking cookies for friends, making games out of cleaning the house with little kids, fixing my hair and trying to look pretty, or giggling with my girlfriends, gazing up at the starry skies, wading in rocky streams without worrying about staying on the rocks and keeping dry, climbing trees, running down hills. Deep inside - and sometimes I can't help but let it out - there's a little girl in me. Someone who needs friends and family to be loved by and to love, someone who just has to be real - even when it means showing my ignorance sometimes, and admitting that I'm blonde. The little girl who prays that God will help her find the little things she's lost, (only now it's bigger things, like my phone, ID card, or more often my reading glasses). The little girl who just wants to make other people feel happy, loved, and appreciated. The little girl who admires her Daddy who can do everything - you can never grow out of wanting someone to look up to. The little girl who just wants to talk through her struggles with someone a bit more logical and level headed than herself. The little girl who needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes, but knows she's not on her own in making her big decisions, there are others there with wisdom to share. The little girl who just loves the freedom of the outdoors, the fun times with friends, the energy she finds from spending time with little children....Because life is made up of the simple joys, the carefree spirit, the enthusiasm about life, the thankful spirit, the contented heart. Because life is really very beautiful when you just take time to enjoy it, and see it through the eyes of a little child. "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." How thankful I am that the hand Who is there to guide me, the ultimate Daddy, the One I will always be able to look up to - even when miles separate me from friends or family - is Jesus! The one who blessed the little children hundreds of years ago!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Be Not Afraid
"But He saith unto them, it is I be not afraid."
John 6:20
I have always loved the story of Jesus calming the storm, and of Jesus and Peter walking on water. The object lesson of Jesus calming the storms in my heart has always comforted me.
This morning as I was doing my devotions this verse really jumped out of me. I tend to be a worrier. It is interesting to note how many times angels, or Jesus have said to different Bible characters "Fear not", or "Be not afraid".
What is interesting about this verse is that the disciples were actually afraid of Jesus! Of all things to be afraid of! But why were they afraid of Him? Because they didn't see Him for Who He really was. How many times in my life to my fears boil down to looking at myself, and my problems, instead of looking to Jesus and seeing Him for who He really is?
For example, one of my biggest fears is the fear of failure. But Jesus says "Fear thou not for I am with thee...I will strengthen thee, I will help thee...." Isaiah 41:10. He also says, "I have not given you the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7. To me that means that God has given me a brain that can think and reason and learn; when I pray, seeking God, and apply myself to do my studies to the best of my ability, He will help me and strengthen my mind as I study to pass the class, or test etc. Philippians 4:13 says: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
At times I can be afraid of not being able to please people, or of not meeting people's faces. "Be not afraid of their faces...." Jeremiah 1:8. "There shall not a man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life...I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage...." Joshua 1:5-6
The same principle applies to any problem I am facing. "I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4 "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:15. "Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3
To put it as simply as I can: When we know God for who He really is, we will love Him - we cannot help but love him! And then that love will cast out our fears! Fear is caused by looking to our self, our lack of ability to face something that looks bigger and scarier than it actually is. But as we look to Jesus He can give us power to overcome every obstacle! If Peter can walk on water than we can do the impossible through Jesus' strength!
It's simple but powerful: In seeing Jesus for Who He really is, recognizing He is always there with us, and surrendering our lives to Him moment by moment, we can overcome the fears in our lives!
“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (verse 14). Praise God for this wonderful statement. The possibilities that it presents seem almost too great for us to grasp, and put to shame our weakness and our unbelief. I praise God that I can see my Saviour by faith. My soul grasps the great gift. Our only hope in this life is to reach forth the hand of faith, and grasp the hand outstretched to save. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (verse 29). If we would look away from self to Jesus, making Him our Guide, the world would see in our churches a power that it does not now see." -OFC 252.4
Sunday, January 26, 2014
iWitness
Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to go out in the community to do surveys to see what people are interested in and to generate Bible study interests. We also took a little "Steps to Christ" with us to give to those we met who were interested in spiritual things. It was a great witnessing opportunity, a nice way to spend a good portion of Sabbath afternoon! Because I am evolved with iWitness (a Bible worker's club on campus), I took the left over Steps to Christ with me to keep in my room till the next outreach, or so I thought....
"Do you want to go to China Kitchen with me for lunch?" I asked my roommate. "I would like to get a hot lunch with some vegetables." "Sure", she replied, "but what about 4 Corners Cafe?" "We can go there if you would like, I might still go to China Kitchen though, it's right next door," I said.
As I got ready to go I decided to take a different purse (don't ask me why) that had more room in it. As I put my wallet into the other purse, I was impressed to put in a Steps to Christ (it fit nicely but wouldn't have fit in my other little purse). I didn't know exactly why I was taking it, but I was just impressed that perhaps someone at China Kitchen might need it.
As we looked at the menu at 4 Corners, I decided I didn't want to get any food there, so I went to China Kitchen. As I was waiting for my order, I overheard a spiritual conversation, I couldn't tell if the three men had just come back from church or not. I decided I would go and sit in.
There were two "older" men as well as one man probably in his mid-twenties. One of the men pulled up a chair for me, and we began to talk. One man was an Adventist, the other was apparently his friend a non-Adventist, but a nice christian man. The young man was visiting from New York! The friend said "he's my nephew, we are trying to straighten him out." We had a nice conversation together, my room mate joined as well. I left the younger man a Steps to Christ, his Uncle said, "He needs to get saved!"
I hope that he will read the book see Jesus in a way that He has never seen him before and becomes converted!
This afternoon was a needed reminder to me that witnessing is not just to be something we talk about in church, not just an outreach activity to plan for, not a club or an event....but, the way we live our lives!
"Do you want to go to China Kitchen with me for lunch?" I asked my roommate. "I would like to get a hot lunch with some vegetables." "Sure", she replied, "but what about 4 Corners Cafe?" "We can go there if you would like, I might still go to China Kitchen though, it's right next door," I said.
As I got ready to go I decided to take a different purse (don't ask me why) that had more room in it. As I put my wallet into the other purse, I was impressed to put in a Steps to Christ (it fit nicely but wouldn't have fit in my other little purse). I didn't know exactly why I was taking it, but I was just impressed that perhaps someone at China Kitchen might need it.
As we looked at the menu at 4 Corners, I decided I didn't want to get any food there, so I went to China Kitchen. As I was waiting for my order, I overheard a spiritual conversation, I couldn't tell if the three men had just come back from church or not. I decided I would go and sit in.
There were two "older" men as well as one man probably in his mid-twenties. One of the men pulled up a chair for me, and we began to talk. One man was an Adventist, the other was apparently his friend a non-Adventist, but a nice christian man. The young man was visiting from New York! The friend said "he's my nephew, we are trying to straighten him out." We had a nice conversation together, my room mate joined as well. I left the younger man a Steps to Christ, his Uncle said, "He needs to get saved!"
I hope that he will read the book see Jesus in a way that He has never seen him before and becomes converted!
This afternoon was a needed reminder to me that witnessing is not just to be something we talk about in church, not just an outreach activity to plan for, not a club or an event....but, the way we live our lives!
"Ye are my witnesses; saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." - Isaiah 43:10
Friday, January 24, 2014
"Behold!"
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God....Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as He is pure."
- 1 John 2:1-3
"Behold" - Dictionary definition: "To perceive through sight or apprehension: to see, or to gaze upon: observe."
As I meditated on these verses this morning in my devotions, something hit me - not a new thought necessarily - we become what we look at! Why does the apostle John say we will be like God when He appears? Because we will see Him as He is - we will see him face to face! Looking is what transforms us! We don't know yet what type of people exactly we are going to be, we only know that we are going to be like Jesus. Do we wait till we are going to be changed at Christ second coming? No! We start now to behold Christ, and to purify our hearts by "obeying the truth" (1 Peter 1:22).
One of my favorite examples of beholding Christ face to face is Moses. "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto His friend...." Exodus 33:11. The Bible also says that "The man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3.
Another example we have is that of King David. He was called a man after God's own heart. In the Psalms he writes "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,..." Yes, of course all of us are looking forward to Heaven, to wearing robes, and crowns, to being there with all our loved ones, and most importantly to be with Jesus. But why was David so anxious to be in the house of the Lord? "To behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4). Seeing Jesus was so important to David! Could this be one of the reasons that He was called a man after God's own heart? Because He focused on Jesus? He behold Him, and meditated in His Word?
One of the biggest challenges I face is that of being tempted to compare myself with others. As a teenager I remember trying to make a "model" for myself - the ideal me - based on things I found in different people that I admired. From peers who had high academic scores, those who were very musical, to strong spiritual leaders, and soft-spoken compassionate ladies. I am reminded of the hall of fame in Hebrews chapter eleven. After speaking of all those who had great faith, the author of Hebrews admonishes us to look "Unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...." Hebrews 12:2 No matter how good our role models may (or may not) have been, our example is Jesus! Jesus endured all things - even the death of the cross. What are we willing to endure for His sake?
Our vision is something that Heaven has always been focused on healing. We are in desperate need of seeing as God sees! And seeing the Spiritual realities that are all around us! "For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. When appearances look surmounting or difficult, do we look up to Jesus who says, "Your redemption draweth nigh"? I am reminded of one of my favorite stories in the Bible. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the chariots and horses of the enemy, Elisha told his servant: " 'Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' And Elisha prayed, and said, 'Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2 Kings 6:16-17
Oh how I long for my eyes to be open! May we each see our need of vision for "Where there is no vision the people perish..." Proverbs 20:18. May we each recognize our need and follow Christ's admonishment to the Laodiceans "and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Revelation 3:18. And may our ardent desire truly to be to behold Christ!
"As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
- Psalm 17:15
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory , even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Change
Change. One thing in life that you can always count on, that is change.
The longer life goes on the more change I seem to notice. Moves, graduations, etc., life is always changing!
The last few years have been a whirl wind of changes for me. Almost two years ago my family moved to Minnesota, I say my family because I went to Ohio to canvass for the summer (This was after my first time away from home at college 2011 - a big change!). When I came back "home" to Minnesota what a change! They didn't have a house that was livable yet, and so we were living in the church! The year found me teaching, my first "full time job"! Summer I led canvassing in Minnesota and then fall 2013 found me at Southern.
Even here, at Southern, there's lots of changes. Some of the friends I made last semester haven't stayed this semester, some are graduating this May or December. I have a new roommate this semester. I have made more new friends, I have new Professors, and new classes with different students.
Change. It can be scary. It can be exciting. It can be hard, even close to heart-breaking at times. It can also be a blessing, and can bring joy - change can be an adventure!
Starting off this semester was difficult for me, I was worried, not sure if I could stay and I started the semester feeling more self-conscious than last semester. Change. It isn't always easy, and knowing that it won't be long till things will change again doesn't help either. But I am very thankful that I don't have to trust my feelings. Thee more time I spend reaching out to others, counting blessings and claiming promises, the happier I am. I am truly grateful for the changes in life, and I am even more grateful for the opportunity to stay at Southern (less change).
I am thankful that changes in life bring out weaknesses, that draw me closer to Jesus and give me the opportunity to lean on Him, so that my weaknesses can become strong through His strength! What a blessing that change can be an opportunity to grow!
In a world of change I am thankful that I can count on a God who "is the same yesterday, today, and for ever"! (Hebrews 13:8) He will never change, He promises "I will never leave or forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
The longer life goes on the more change I seem to notice. Moves, graduations, etc., life is always changing!
The last few years have been a whirl wind of changes for me. Almost two years ago my family moved to Minnesota, I say my family because I went to Ohio to canvass for the summer (This was after my first time away from home at college 2011 - a big change!). When I came back "home" to Minnesota what a change! They didn't have a house that was livable yet, and so we were living in the church! The year found me teaching, my first "full time job"! Summer I led canvassing in Minnesota and then fall 2013 found me at Southern.
Even here, at Southern, there's lots of changes. Some of the friends I made last semester haven't stayed this semester, some are graduating this May or December. I have a new roommate this semester. I have made more new friends, I have new Professors, and new classes with different students.
Change. It can be scary. It can be exciting. It can be hard, even close to heart-breaking at times. It can also be a blessing, and can bring joy - change can be an adventure!
Starting off this semester was difficult for me, I was worried, not sure if I could stay and I started the semester feeling more self-conscious than last semester. Change. It isn't always easy, and knowing that it won't be long till things will change again doesn't help either. But I am very thankful that I don't have to trust my feelings. Thee more time I spend reaching out to others, counting blessings and claiming promises, the happier I am. I am truly grateful for the changes in life, and I am even more grateful for the opportunity to stay at Southern (less change).
I am thankful that changes in life bring out weaknesses, that draw me closer to Jesus and give me the opportunity to lean on Him, so that my weaknesses can become strong through His strength! What a blessing that change can be an opportunity to grow!
In a world of change I am thankful that I can count on a God who "is the same yesterday, today, and for ever"! (Hebrews 13:8) He will never change, He promises "I will never leave or forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!"
-Henry F. Lyte
Monday, January 20, 2014
Life
The sheet of paper is blank, and so is my life. A page waiting to be filled, a story waiting
to be written, where will I go, what will the story look like? A new life was born today my sweet little cousin, Emily. A life begins, someone else’s
life ends. “Whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. For what is your
life? It is even a vapor that appears
for a little time and then vanishes away.” - James 4:14. The wise man said it
well when he penned the words: “Vanity, vanity, saith the preacher, all is vanity.” - Ecclesiastes 12:8
Why am I awake? I
should be sleeping soundly in preparation for tomorrow…a day of school, and
work: classes, homework, canvassing, exercise…the normal life, not busy
enough for my liking, nothing overly exciting, and yet not all predictable, nor
all known successes.
My mind whirls, looks ahead at my life…the possible options
ahead. The realization strikes me, I really
need Jesus! The urge to be in control
leaves me feeling frustrated, with the realization that I can’t control my
life!
Who are the friends who I can pour my heart out to? What is going to keep me busy this
semester? What are the jobs God has for
me? What am I going to do with my
time? Who are the people that God wants
me to reach out to on this campus? Wait,
Am I trying to find my fulfillment in people?
In my accomplishments or successes? Am I looking for security in a well
laid predictable plan for my life?
As I look into the future, I can’t see myself doing ultimately
what my dream is for my life any time soon…it would take a miracle, it would
have to be something that God worked out for me. So I ask myself, do I lack faith? Am I just not seeing how God is preparing me
for the future, and how He is leading me right now? Or is it just not close at all to the time
for those dreams to blossom? And are they really God’s dreams for me or just my own?
I see a common thread in my contemplation this evening, it’s
all about me. What can I do to fill my
time, what can I do to help other people, what would make me happy, what do I
want for my future?
But I don’t like the self who I am…I see my flaws, I see
how self-centered, and self-reliant I have been. I don’t want to be this way, I pray! The beauty of it is that Jesus does not see me
for who I am, He sees me for who I can become.
In light of my current thoughts, the responsibility I have to bear as
His child, the work of being His ambassador to the world, it seems to good to
be true that God would trust me with that! God does not compare me to my
classmates, my best friends, or to my parents.
He looks at me as an individual. He has a path for my feet. I am thankful for the beautiful promise that God is there for me whenever I call Him, where ever I am! "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am." - Isaiah 58:9, and "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:" "Have not I commanded thee be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." - Joshua 1:5, 9
A definition of life floods into my mind…"And this is life eternal that they may know
Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” - John 17:3 “I am come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." - John 10:10. I like those definitions of life! God’s Word is my comfort, knowing God is true life, and
peace – heaven can begin here on this earth, right where I am at, even when I
don’t know the future! I can trust the
One Who came to give me life more abundantly!
"Thank you God that You are the source of true life! Thank You that You have a plan for my
life! May I be in tune with You that I
may know where You are leading me, and most importantly, transform my selfish heart into Your likeness, and make me the person you want me to be! Amen."
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Knit Together
Some things take time to build....they don't just develop overnight. Building a house for example takes time, but building anything of substantial value takes time.
Over Thanksgiving break I picked up a new "hobby", not knitting, but crocheting. I really love it! I decided to make scarves for my family and a best friend to give them as Christmas gifts. As I kept crocheting, and began getting faster at it, the list of people I wanted to make scarves for grew and grew! I also decided to do some experimenting by taking two different colors of yarn and putting them together in the same scarf, the result was beautiful! As I thought of the time I have spent crocheting over breaks, spare minutes, and even during finals weeks, I thought of how well it really illustrates friendship.
What is it that makes you feel close to someone, maybe even the first time you meet them? You have a mutual understanding and connection somehow? What makes you do something kind for someone else? What makes you think of them, instead of yourself? What makes you send a text message to a friend? What makes you send a letter to a friend? What makes you say I love you? How did you get close enough to them to even call them your friend?
It's something that makes you feel close together even when you are miles apart...it's the commitment to keep in touch - even if it's not convenient....it's that feeling that you have a lot in common with someone even when you just meant them, because your love is founded in the same place - Jesus Christ. Something deeper than a feeling, something deeper than what you enjoy....a principle....a decision....a lifestyle.....It's living by Jesus' commandment. It's adding to your faith, "virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (2 Peter 1:6-7)
As I was going over 1 Corinthians 13, I was impressed by something in the first verse. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." (Verse 1) Being a musician, I have often wondered the significance of this illustration. What is it about Charity, that, without it, all the lovely words I could say are just like a tinkling cymbal? It finally hit me...there is not flow, no rhythm, nothing to hold the piece together and make it musical. That's what love is - it holds things together, it makes a beautiful melody.
Love, brotherly kindness, it's all apart of the knitting together process...it's the bond of Christian, it's the glue that holds us together, the blessed tie that binds.
Over Thanksgiving break I picked up a new "hobby", not knitting, but crocheting. I really love it! I decided to make scarves for my family and a best friend to give them as Christmas gifts. As I kept crocheting, and began getting faster at it, the list of people I wanted to make scarves for grew and grew! I also decided to do some experimenting by taking two different colors of yarn and putting them together in the same scarf, the result was beautiful! As I thought of the time I have spent crocheting over breaks, spare minutes, and even during finals weeks, I thought of how well it really illustrates friendship.
What is it that makes you feel close to someone, maybe even the first time you meet them? You have a mutual understanding and connection somehow? What makes you do something kind for someone else? What makes you think of them, instead of yourself? What makes you send a text message to a friend? What makes you send a letter to a friend? What makes you say I love you? How did you get close enough to them to even call them your friend?
It's something that makes you feel close together even when you are miles apart...it's the commitment to keep in touch - even if it's not convenient....it's that feeling that you have a lot in common with someone even when you just meant them, because your love is founded in the same place - Jesus Christ. Something deeper than a feeling, something deeper than what you enjoy....a principle....a decision....a lifestyle.....It's living by Jesus' commandment. It's adding to your faith, "virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (2 Peter 1:6-7)
As I was going over 1 Corinthians 13, I was impressed by something in the first verse. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." (Verse 1) Being a musician, I have often wondered the significance of this illustration. What is it about Charity, that, without it, all the lovely words I could say are just like a tinkling cymbal? It finally hit me...there is not flow, no rhythm, nothing to hold the piece together and make it musical. That's what love is - it holds things together, it makes a beautiful melody.
Love, brotherly kindness, it's all apart of the knitting together process...it's the bond of Christian, it's the glue that holds us together, the blessed tie that binds.
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ....That He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge...."
-Ephesians 3:14, 16-19
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another."
-John 13:35
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