Look around at creation; how incredibly beautiful it is, how perfectly everything works together. And all things can only survive with the help of one item; the item that gives us light, warmth,and the coveted summer tans. Everything in creation depends on the sun.
Look around at everyone around you; how incredibly impeccable we are made, how different each and every one of us are. And all humanity, even all the world only survives because of the help of one being; the being that gave and gives us life, breath, and our ever-searched-for love. Everything, everyone depends on the Son.
Ever look at how the rays of the sun penetrate everything; how they pierce into every nook, every hidden spot. How it reaches out and chases the darkness away. Nothing can hide from the light. Nothing is faster than the light so as to flee it; nothing is smarter than the light so as to escape it. Nothing.
Ever thing of how Christ penetrates into every being; how He pierces into every hidden corner, exposing the darkness. How He reaches out and will chase our darkness away. Nothing, nobody can hide from the Light. Nothing, nobody is faster than the Light so as to flee it; nothing, nobody is smarter than the Light so as to escape Him. Nothing. Nobody.
Did you know that you can only see a rainbow when your back is turned to the sun? Even when you try to hide from that star, its promise and beauty still finds you, you still find it. No pair of glasses can block out the light, and nobody can deny the beauty of the hope belying the light, the rainbow.
And did you know that God still sends His rainbows when we turn our backs on Him? It rains upon the righteous and the unrighteous. His beauty and His power and majesty will ever be apparent in your life. God is not content with us putting on spiritual blinders- the only thing they are deceiving is our own selves. If you insist that nobody can see you when you close your own eyes, does that make it true?
He sends His rainbow out to everyone, everybody. Those who are turned to the Son sees the whole of His majesty and His glory- why be content with the rainbow being your only light?
I'm tired of living in the dark. I'm tired of putting on the shades when I don't feel like following the Light. Because the Light is painfully clear what is right and wrong. When you're walking in the center of the Light, there is no gray. It's either black or white, and that doesn't rub people the right way sometimes. It doesn't rub me the right way sometimes. I don't always want God's light beams exposing my heart, my house. So I pull down the shades, pull on the shades, and walk away.
But, I trip. When I can't see, I fall flat on my face. When I fall flat on my face, I get disoriented and can't tell up from down, I get spiritually stuck. Until I look up and see that rainbow; that God is still there. That He will still light me paths before me.
So I, for one, am gonna pull the shades of my life up. I'm gonna throw my blinders off, I'm gonna run in the Light. I'm letting the Son shine in.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45b
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Let Me See your Prayin' Knees!
"I guess the only thing I can do is pray..."
How many times have you or a friend used that line? As if praying was a last resort?
Why don't we make prayer our first response? I know that many times hitting the ground on your knees seems like an inaction to respond to certain areas, almost as if you're taking the easy way out, but why is that?
When you're stuck with a hard math problem, is it useless to ask a teacher or a parent to help?
When you need to cry something out, is it pointless to call a friend to talk?
When you got hurt on your bicycle, did you avoid running to your parents to fix you up?
So why do we poo-poo running to God, the All-Mighty Creator, the One who calls us friend and child by His grace only, when He is so much better than any earthly being? Why do we avoid Him when He has promised to always hear us, to never leave us, nor forsake us? As if sending Jesus wasn't enough to proove His love for us, He left the Holy Spirit down with us to comfort us and to continue to show God to us!
Prayer without ceasing. That's a command passed down from the Creator Himself; it's not a choice, not a recommendation- it's a command! When God commands us to do something, we had better listen.
And why? Because prayer has power! "Ask anything in My name and you shall recieve it". "Knock and the door will be opened unto you; seek and you shall find". "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". The list goes on and on! He put those promises in the Bible for a reason. If you believe God is not a liar, then you had better believe that God means these promises!
When brings this to another point: pray in faith! Take a look at Hebrews 11. It lists all these mighty works that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and so many others accomplished in Christ. But take a look at the beginning of all their deeds: By faith. By Faith Abel... By faith Enoch... By faith Noah....
By faith you...
Take this world in a storm. Don't be content to sit back and watch, but make a decision every day to battle for us. Not by prayer I guess, but by spiritual warfare. Hit the ground on those praying knees, and let them never wear out!
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Hebrews 11
How many times have you or a friend used that line? As if praying was a last resort?
Why don't we make prayer our first response? I know that many times hitting the ground on your knees seems like an inaction to respond to certain areas, almost as if you're taking the easy way out, but why is that?
When you're stuck with a hard math problem, is it useless to ask a teacher or a parent to help?
When you need to cry something out, is it pointless to call a friend to talk?
When you got hurt on your bicycle, did you avoid running to your parents to fix you up?
So why do we poo-poo running to God, the All-Mighty Creator, the One who calls us friend and child by His grace only, when He is so much better than any earthly being? Why do we avoid Him when He has promised to always hear us, to never leave us, nor forsake us? As if sending Jesus wasn't enough to proove His love for us, He left the Holy Spirit down with us to comfort us and to continue to show God to us!
Prayer without ceasing. That's a command passed down from the Creator Himself; it's not a choice, not a recommendation- it's a command! When God commands us to do something, we had better listen.
And why? Because prayer has power! "Ask anything in My name and you shall recieve it". "Knock and the door will be opened unto you; seek and you shall find". "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". The list goes on and on! He put those promises in the Bible for a reason. If you believe God is not a liar, then you had better believe that God means these promises!
When brings this to another point: pray in faith! Take a look at Hebrews 11. It lists all these mighty works that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and so many others accomplished in Christ. But take a look at the beginning of all their deeds: By faith. By Faith Abel... By faith Enoch... By faith Noah....
By faith you...
Take this world in a storm. Don't be content to sit back and watch, but make a decision every day to battle for us. Not by prayer I guess, but by spiritual warfare. Hit the ground on those praying knees, and let them never wear out!
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Hebrews 11
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Make-Over
You see the superstars strutting their stuff across the stage. And as the ooberly long, skinny legs prance around with their perfectly tones midriffs and sculpted arms, you can't help but look down at your "incomparable" body.
I used to think that self-image was just a thing that girls struggled with. Yet, after doing some research, I found out that 20-25% of all people with eating disorders are actually males. We are all hit with the "I'm not good enough" complex.
I was talking to my friend about this, how we get so bogged down in body image that it consumes us, drives us to do ridiculus things, and is the first priority in our lives. Even if you don't go "overboard" and start starving or purging yourself, it still constantly lingers at the back of your mind.
Why do we feel like this all the time? The scientific answer would be that as we start to get into our socializing stages, we take note of people around us; what they do, what they say. We learn these behaviors from those around us.
Yet God was dealing with this issue way back in the time of David! "Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart" is one of the most popular self-confidence boosting verses, and for good reason! Ecclesiastes was right when it said there is nothing new under the sun.
And do you know why we still cared way back then? Because this is one of Satan's best traps. If he can get us consumed in ourselves, if he can get us to lose our eternal viewpoint, we are done for! The moment we start to withdraw within ourselves, it gives the Devil a chance to step in and trip us. If you're not looking around you, not always aware, it's a whole lot easier to fall!
And oh so many times he is successful at this underhanded way to have us trip up! I have struggled with this issue so many times, and still do; I have yet to find a friend who is perfectly content with how they look.
But we don't have to be stuck like that, immoblized by ourselves. Praise God for the grace that breaks those chains that imprison our hearts and our minds! Praise God for His hope that covers up the mirrors! Praise God for making us exactly who we are!
Stop focusing on what others can see, and start working on what God can see; let the beauty that comes from a true relationship with God flow through you. It creates the most heavenly glow that no one, not even a supermodel, can compete with.
It's time to give yourself a Godly makeover!
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting: but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. 1 Timothy 4:8
I used to think that self-image was just a thing that girls struggled with. Yet, after doing some research, I found out that 20-25% of all people with eating disorders are actually males. We are all hit with the "I'm not good enough" complex.
I was talking to my friend about this, how we get so bogged down in body image that it consumes us, drives us to do ridiculus things, and is the first priority in our lives. Even if you don't go "overboard" and start starving or purging yourself, it still constantly lingers at the back of your mind.
Why do we feel like this all the time? The scientific answer would be that as we start to get into our socializing stages, we take note of people around us; what they do, what they say. We learn these behaviors from those around us.
Yet God was dealing with this issue way back in the time of David! "Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart" is one of the most popular self-confidence boosting verses, and for good reason! Ecclesiastes was right when it said there is nothing new under the sun.
And do you know why we still cared way back then? Because this is one of Satan's best traps. If he can get us consumed in ourselves, if he can get us to lose our eternal viewpoint, we are done for! The moment we start to withdraw within ourselves, it gives the Devil a chance to step in and trip us. If you're not looking around you, not always aware, it's a whole lot easier to fall!
And oh so many times he is successful at this underhanded way to have us trip up! I have struggled with this issue so many times, and still do; I have yet to find a friend who is perfectly content with how they look.
But we don't have to be stuck like that, immoblized by ourselves. Praise God for the grace that breaks those chains that imprison our hearts and our minds! Praise God for His hope that covers up the mirrors! Praise God for making us exactly who we are!
Stop focusing on what others can see, and start working on what God can see; let the beauty that comes from a true relationship with God flow through you. It creates the most heavenly glow that no one, not even a supermodel, can compete with.
It's time to give yourself a Godly makeover!
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting: but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. 1 Timothy 4:8
Monday, September 20, 2010
Funkily Grumpy
I get grumpy sometimes. I get those mornings where you tumble out of bed and have no desire to do anything but crawl back into that warm cocoon. I get those days where everyone and anyone grates on my nerves. I get those days where I just sulk around, mopey for nothing and everything all at once.
And, sometimes I even feel justified to have those days. “It’s been a long week”; “No one appreciates the work I do”; “I can’t believe she said that about me”; “I just don’t feel good” are among my top excuses.
So, you can imagine that when I crack open Good Ole’ Faithful (better known as my Bible), that I don’t always have a strong urge to do anything but scan the words on the page and be done.
But lately, I’ve been thinking. Somebody at work once told me that Old Testament stories are pointless and are placed just merely to amuse those who read them. And I, quite frankly, completely disagree with them. You can learn a lot by these stories.
Take David and Goliath. David had every reason in the world to be immobilized by a funk. He was the youngest in his family- not the spoiled selfish one, but the ignored and seemingly useless one. Everyone disregarded him, and laughed in his face when he stood up to face that giant. Yet he did! He faced that giant and even took it one step further; he defeated that giant in the victory of God, and gave all the glory to Him.
Take Joseph. Out of anybody, Joseph could have sat and sulked all day; if not in the corner of the pit his brothers so kindly threw him into, then in the slave caravan taking him away, and again in the dungeon of Potiphar. Yet he threw his head back, ignored his circumstances, and praised God in the midst of it all; he thanked God for everything he went through!
And take Jesus. Bearing the weight of the world, I can think of no better reason to go into a funk than the prospect of dying the most miserable death imaginable. Yet, He didn’t fight. He didn’t grump and slouch. He simply said, Lord, if you will, take this cup from me. And when that cup didn’t go away, He praised in the middle of it and pointed no fingers. He didn’t defend Himself. He held no malice.
Oh God, make me like Him! Let me surrender my will to Yours! Let my life not be mine; let it be transparent so that when people see me, they see right to You!
God puts the smile on my face every morning. He is the voice within my voice that sings Him praise. He is my inspiration; He is the author and the finisher of my faith.
What is He to you?
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
And, sometimes I even feel justified to have those days. “It’s been a long week”; “No one appreciates the work I do”; “I can’t believe she said that about me”; “I just don’t feel good” are among my top excuses.
So, you can imagine that when I crack open Good Ole’ Faithful (better known as my Bible), that I don’t always have a strong urge to do anything but scan the words on the page and be done.
But lately, I’ve been thinking. Somebody at work once told me that Old Testament stories are pointless and are placed just merely to amuse those who read them. And I, quite frankly, completely disagree with them. You can learn a lot by these stories.
Take David and Goliath. David had every reason in the world to be immobilized by a funk. He was the youngest in his family- not the spoiled selfish one, but the ignored and seemingly useless one. Everyone disregarded him, and laughed in his face when he stood up to face that giant. Yet he did! He faced that giant and even took it one step further; he defeated that giant in the victory of God, and gave all the glory to Him.
Take Joseph. Out of anybody, Joseph could have sat and sulked all day; if not in the corner of the pit his brothers so kindly threw him into, then in the slave caravan taking him away, and again in the dungeon of Potiphar. Yet he threw his head back, ignored his circumstances, and praised God in the midst of it all; he thanked God for everything he went through!
And take Jesus. Bearing the weight of the world, I can think of no better reason to go into a funk than the prospect of dying the most miserable death imaginable. Yet, He didn’t fight. He didn’t grump and slouch. He simply said, Lord, if you will, take this cup from me. And when that cup didn’t go away, He praised in the middle of it and pointed no fingers. He didn’t defend Himself. He held no malice.
Oh God, make me like Him! Let me surrender my will to Yours! Let my life not be mine; let it be transparent so that when people see me, they see right to You!
God puts the smile on my face every morning. He is the voice within my voice that sings Him praise. He is my inspiration; He is the author and the finisher of my faith.
What is He to you?
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Imperfect, yet Willing
It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. As always, my excuse will be, I'm so busy! I can honestly say I have been, but recently, I have decided that being busy isn't an acceptable excuse. For anything.
Before school started this year, I prayed to God every day that I would not lose my zeal for Him. I was and am still honestly scared about being so caught up in my life that I lose my eternal focus. And speaking from experience, it only goes downhill from there.
Well, something I have found out so far is that anything that you don't want to lose requires commitment. And that takes work, time, and patience. As I was street witnessing this weekend, one of the ladies we talked to said in regards to Christianity, "But that's so hard! It takes so much time." I would have to agree with her. Taking the time to be with God is hard. It does take time. But, in reality, any relationship does. What kind of friend would you be if you never talked with them?
But, that's not what I was going to write about today. Instead, I wanted to talk about being a witness for God.
We've all sung the song "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...". We've all read the verses in Matthew about being the light and the salt of the earth. But how many times have you taken the next step and acted on these statements of Christianity?
How many times have we shut up when we should have spoken up; sat down when we should have stood out?
I know I am a whimp at this every day. This week I've really been focused at witnessing to people; God has given me such an urgency to just tell everyone I can about the greatest thing that's happened to me, the very reason which I am still alive. It bubbles up inside of me, and I have to purposely suppress it sometimes. But that's the problem. I purposely surpress this need to tell everyone about Christ.
This weekend, like I said before, I went street witnessing with a bunch of friends. It was an awesome time, and God had so totally prepared my heart and my witness for the specific people I talked to. I felt like I had been in boot camp all week talking with my coworkers about the exact same things I discussed on the battle field. And at the end of the day, a very good friend of mine gave me a book to read. (It's called One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven- if you haven't read it, please do!)
Well, I dived into that book, and soon discovered it was stuff that I had to study and take notes on- it was all about witnessing to those around you. Well, I decided not to pull an all nighter, and tucked the book and my notes away and decided to continue it the next day while on break at work.
The break room was full of fellow employees, and I quietly took a spot in the far corner to coninue my reading. Soon enough, a dear coworker pulled up a chair and asked what I was reading. And I, to my regret, was too embarrassed to say the name of the book out loud. I instead held up the cover so she could read it. I knew I had just blown that opportunity, and immediately hated that fact; yet when she continued to ask questions, I answered them in round about ways so as to avoid any detection by the others. I am so ashamed at what I did! Here I was, reading a book about empowering us to be witnesses, and here I was too afraid to even tell people what I was reading!
God, please forgive our weaknesses- please let Your strength shine in them! I am praying that God will give me more opportunities with her that I won't blow.
So today, I want to challenge you to stand up for your faith. I want you to do the opposite of what I did- I want you to have the faith to tell those around you about your Saviour. What kind of friend are you if you let them continue on to their damnation?
I challenge you to ask God to give you a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel; I pray that you will continue to seek to know God and have your heart broken for you. Please, let God use you!
And, if you blow opportunities, God can and will still give you others. Not a half-hour after that break room incident, God provided another conversation between a coworker and I that lasted for at least a half-hour. God is faithful to use us; imperfect, but willing.
Let the promise of God become your prayer today: "My strength is made perfect in your weakness."
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corithians 12:9-10
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:15-16
Before school started this year, I prayed to God every day that I would not lose my zeal for Him. I was and am still honestly scared about being so caught up in my life that I lose my eternal focus. And speaking from experience, it only goes downhill from there.
Well, something I have found out so far is that anything that you don't want to lose requires commitment. And that takes work, time, and patience. As I was street witnessing this weekend, one of the ladies we talked to said in regards to Christianity, "But that's so hard! It takes so much time." I would have to agree with her. Taking the time to be with God is hard. It does take time. But, in reality, any relationship does. What kind of friend would you be if you never talked with them?
But, that's not what I was going to write about today. Instead, I wanted to talk about being a witness for God.
We've all sung the song "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...". We've all read the verses in Matthew about being the light and the salt of the earth. But how many times have you taken the next step and acted on these statements of Christianity?
How many times have we shut up when we should have spoken up; sat down when we should have stood out?
I know I am a whimp at this every day. This week I've really been focused at witnessing to people; God has given me such an urgency to just tell everyone I can about the greatest thing that's happened to me, the very reason which I am still alive. It bubbles up inside of me, and I have to purposely suppress it sometimes. But that's the problem. I purposely surpress this need to tell everyone about Christ.
This weekend, like I said before, I went street witnessing with a bunch of friends. It was an awesome time, and God had so totally prepared my heart and my witness for the specific people I talked to. I felt like I had been in boot camp all week talking with my coworkers about the exact same things I discussed on the battle field. And at the end of the day, a very good friend of mine gave me a book to read. (It's called One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven- if you haven't read it, please do!)
Well, I dived into that book, and soon discovered it was stuff that I had to study and take notes on- it was all about witnessing to those around you. Well, I decided not to pull an all nighter, and tucked the book and my notes away and decided to continue it the next day while on break at work.
The break room was full of fellow employees, and I quietly took a spot in the far corner to coninue my reading. Soon enough, a dear coworker pulled up a chair and asked what I was reading. And I, to my regret, was too embarrassed to say the name of the book out loud. I instead held up the cover so she could read it. I knew I had just blown that opportunity, and immediately hated that fact; yet when she continued to ask questions, I answered them in round about ways so as to avoid any detection by the others. I am so ashamed at what I did! Here I was, reading a book about empowering us to be witnesses, and here I was too afraid to even tell people what I was reading!
God, please forgive our weaknesses- please let Your strength shine in them! I am praying that God will give me more opportunities with her that I won't blow.
So today, I want to challenge you to stand up for your faith. I want you to do the opposite of what I did- I want you to have the faith to tell those around you about your Saviour. What kind of friend are you if you let them continue on to their damnation?
I challenge you to ask God to give you a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel; I pray that you will continue to seek to know God and have your heart broken for you. Please, let God use you!
And, if you blow opportunities, God can and will still give you others. Not a half-hour after that break room incident, God provided another conversation between a coworker and I that lasted for at least a half-hour. God is faithful to use us; imperfect, but willing.
Let the promise of God become your prayer today: "My strength is made perfect in your weakness."
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corithians 12:9-10
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:15-16
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Face to Face
I've been trying a new thing with my personal devotional time. For every verse I read, I look up all the crossreferences that come up in the margin beside it. It can take a long time sometimes, but you stumble across verses you never new existed before, and get whole different perspectives on the verse. Today, I came across a reference to Numbers 12:6-8:
He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
Moses is a personal favorite of mine. I get inspired everytime I read of his personal relationship with God in a time where it was unheard of to be on speaking terms with Him. When I read of his visit on Mt. Sinai and how the glory of the Lord shown so brightly on his face from his time spent with God that the people couldn't even bare to look at him, I want that. And yet, here again is another awesome story of him that just makes me so jealous of the faithfulness he had in God.
First of, the first verse talks of God meeting His prophets. Right then and there is a promise, because after we are redeemed in Him, we are all made sons and priests in Him! He has promised to (at the very least) reveal Himself to us: in visions and dreams.
But then, the passage changes tempos. Moses is set apart, called out, as one with whom God can speak to face to face; one who knows the heart of his Saviour so well that there was no need to speak in riddles to him, because Moses knew what God was saying. He truly knew God's heart.
Would that we all could have such a relationship, I cried at first. Then as I read that verse again, I realized that: we can have this relationship with our Father. Oh, so much more! We can ampliphy this to such greater levels! When Elijah was caught up into heaven, Elisha was not simply content with Elijah's mantel, or annointing, but asked for a double portion; and guess what? He got it, and so can we!
We were redeemed at Calvery with Jesus' blood that washed away our sins, and enabled us to come before our holy Father, spotless and pure in His sight. Moses and the Isrealites did not have that freedom; but rather, they had to make sacrifices daily to to the Lord to have their sins taken away. God may not be calling us to lay down a sacrifice like that every day, but He IS calling us to be living sacrifices to Him.
To be a living sacrifice means to:
Be willing to be different
Be willing to make time for Him
Be willing to give your all, and then some
And to be willing to be a leader
That's how we can come before God and have such a pure relationship as Moses did. If not more. Now that doesn't sound like much, but think about it.
When you're willing to be different, that means you're willing to stand out. It means when everyone decides to go to a party, you can say no. And in the little things, to stand up and do what's best. It means to do your best in everything, because we do all for the glory of God!
When you're willing to make time for Him, it means waking up an extra half hour (give or take) even when you don't feel like it. Even when you're in the busiest season of school, or work, or sports, or drama, or all 4, that you put Him first. That you give up what needs to be in order to grant you that precious time with Christ, even when it hurts. Moses didn't shine from the Son until he went away and met with the Lord. In private. Public settings (aka church, bible studies) can be great! But to truly get to know Him, make it personal.
To give your all. And then some. Make God your first priority, and He'll become your everything. Give your all to become all that you can be! To gain your life, you must lose it first.
And to be a leader? Think about it. God has called us to be servant's, with servant's hearts, hands, and feet. But, He also said that to be a leader, you must be a sevant of all. It goes right hand in hand. So, it means to serve Him and others; yet it also means to make an impact on those around you. To be an example others can exemplify. As Paul said so clearly, "Follow me as I follow Christ".
Learn from Moses' example; follow God whole-heartedly, never looking back. Ask God for a true desire to know Him, and a hunger for His word, and He will grant you that double portion!
God will meet you, face to face.
He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" Numbers 12:6-8
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. Matthew 6:25
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 10:31
He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
Moses is a personal favorite of mine. I get inspired everytime I read of his personal relationship with God in a time where it was unheard of to be on speaking terms with Him. When I read of his visit on Mt. Sinai and how the glory of the Lord shown so brightly on his face from his time spent with God that the people couldn't even bare to look at him, I want that. And yet, here again is another awesome story of him that just makes me so jealous of the faithfulness he had in God.
First of, the first verse talks of God meeting His prophets. Right then and there is a promise, because after we are redeemed in Him, we are all made sons and priests in Him! He has promised to (at the very least) reveal Himself to us: in visions and dreams.
But then, the passage changes tempos. Moses is set apart, called out, as one with whom God can speak to face to face; one who knows the heart of his Saviour so well that there was no need to speak in riddles to him, because Moses knew what God was saying. He truly knew God's heart.
Would that we all could have such a relationship, I cried at first. Then as I read that verse again, I realized that: we can have this relationship with our Father. Oh, so much more! We can ampliphy this to such greater levels! When Elijah was caught up into heaven, Elisha was not simply content with Elijah's mantel, or annointing, but asked for a double portion; and guess what? He got it, and so can we!
We were redeemed at Calvery with Jesus' blood that washed away our sins, and enabled us to come before our holy Father, spotless and pure in His sight. Moses and the Isrealites did not have that freedom; but rather, they had to make sacrifices daily to to the Lord to have their sins taken away. God may not be calling us to lay down a sacrifice like that every day, but He IS calling us to be living sacrifices to Him.
To be a living sacrifice means to:
Be willing to be different
Be willing to make time for Him
Be willing to give your all, and then some
And to be willing to be a leader
That's how we can come before God and have such a pure relationship as Moses did. If not more. Now that doesn't sound like much, but think about it.
When you're willing to be different, that means you're willing to stand out. It means when everyone decides to go to a party, you can say no. And in the little things, to stand up and do what's best. It means to do your best in everything, because we do all for the glory of God!
When you're willing to make time for Him, it means waking up an extra half hour (give or take) even when you don't feel like it. Even when you're in the busiest season of school, or work, or sports, or drama, or all 4, that you put Him first. That you give up what needs to be in order to grant you that precious time with Christ, even when it hurts. Moses didn't shine from the Son until he went away and met with the Lord. In private. Public settings (aka church, bible studies) can be great! But to truly get to know Him, make it personal.
To give your all. And then some. Make God your first priority, and He'll become your everything. Give your all to become all that you can be! To gain your life, you must lose it first.
And to be a leader? Think about it. God has called us to be servant's, with servant's hearts, hands, and feet. But, He also said that to be a leader, you must be a sevant of all. It goes right hand in hand. So, it means to serve Him and others; yet it also means to make an impact on those around you. To be an example others can exemplify. As Paul said so clearly, "Follow me as I follow Christ".
Learn from Moses' example; follow God whole-heartedly, never looking back. Ask God for a true desire to know Him, and a hunger for His word, and He will grant you that double portion!
God will meet you, face to face.
He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" Numbers 12:6-8
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. Matthew 6:25
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 10:31
Friday, September 3, 2010
Broken for Him
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.
This has been the cry of my heart for a long time. To be broken for Jesus.
And, He has. He has given me such a passion for others, I just can't describe. When I pray, I am compelled to fall on my knees and cry out for those who are hurting. I am by no means perfect, and too many times I place my needs above the needs of others. But, by God's grace, I will have the heart of my Saviour!
There are people everywhere who just seems so perfect, always happy and chipper; but dig a little deeper, and everyone has a sore spot in their lives.
This truly hit home as I was leading a Bible Study at my school. It was the first week, so most of the time we were chillaxin, and getting to know each other. Of course, there were the people who had a sort of "stigma" attatched to their names, people you associated with "good" or "bad". But at the end, we went around in a circle to pray. And each and every one of these people opened up in ways I had never known before. One girl's mom had cancer, another guy's dad was dying in the hospital. One had such a heart for his broken family, and it went on. No matter who these people were, they had this sense instilled in them that they could and should talk to God about it. And I had been so blind, to look at them by their social status, rather than as real people with real needs.
Being broken for Him implies digging past the surface of people you meet. Imagine a pot dropping to the ground. The little shards and fragments fly everywhere, embedde themselves in any surface that they can. That's how we should be! Everytime we get broken, don't sweep the shards up and put them in a big pile, hoping to get your "heart" back to how it was. Sure it hurts! But put yourself in every situation. Get deep into where you've fallen in God's hands! Because, I promise you, God will pull you out when and if the time comes.
To be broken for Him means to be selflessly faithful; to not let your fear of going to the point of no return overcome your faith in the sweet blessings of it. Because, it also means going past that point of no return. When you let God have ahold of your heart, things will never be the same. But they'll be oh-so much better!
To have your heart broken for God is no walk in the park. It requires a daily commitment to delve yourself into the depths of God. It means hard times mey still come and go, but your focus remains fixated on God. Here's a little logo to remember in those times: don't focus on the change, change the focus.
And to be broken for God means to be willing to be different. To be willing start a revival in your life, to be the match that starts a wildfire in the lives around you. Are you willing?
I want to have God's heart? How about you?
Lord, break our hearts for what breaks Yours!
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:12-14
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Psalm 64:8
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6
This has been the cry of my heart for a long time. To be broken for Jesus.
And, He has. He has given me such a passion for others, I just can't describe. When I pray, I am compelled to fall on my knees and cry out for those who are hurting. I am by no means perfect, and too many times I place my needs above the needs of others. But, by God's grace, I will have the heart of my Saviour!
There are people everywhere who just seems so perfect, always happy and chipper; but dig a little deeper, and everyone has a sore spot in their lives.
This truly hit home as I was leading a Bible Study at my school. It was the first week, so most of the time we were chillaxin, and getting to know each other. Of course, there were the people who had a sort of "stigma" attatched to their names, people you associated with "good" or "bad". But at the end, we went around in a circle to pray. And each and every one of these people opened up in ways I had never known before. One girl's mom had cancer, another guy's dad was dying in the hospital. One had such a heart for his broken family, and it went on. No matter who these people were, they had this sense instilled in them that they could and should talk to God about it. And I had been so blind, to look at them by their social status, rather than as real people with real needs.
Being broken for Him implies digging past the surface of people you meet. Imagine a pot dropping to the ground. The little shards and fragments fly everywhere, embedde themselves in any surface that they can. That's how we should be! Everytime we get broken, don't sweep the shards up and put them in a big pile, hoping to get your "heart" back to how it was. Sure it hurts! But put yourself in every situation. Get deep into where you've fallen in God's hands! Because, I promise you, God will pull you out when and if the time comes.
To be broken for Him means to be selflessly faithful; to not let your fear of going to the point of no return overcome your faith in the sweet blessings of it. Because, it also means going past that point of no return. When you let God have ahold of your heart, things will never be the same. But they'll be oh-so much better!
To have your heart broken for God is no walk in the park. It requires a daily commitment to delve yourself into the depths of God. It means hard times mey still come and go, but your focus remains fixated on God. Here's a little logo to remember in those times: don't focus on the change, change the focus.
And to be broken for God means to be willing to be different. To be willing start a revival in your life, to be the match that starts a wildfire in the lives around you. Are you willing?
I want to have God's heart? How about you?
Lord, break our hearts for what breaks Yours!
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:12-14
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Psalm 64:8
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
All in All?
What does it mean to truly give our all?
Here in America, we are so spoiled. Sure, we may work for our money, but never has there ever been a time where me, or my family, have ever gone lacking. Even with such a large family as mine, I can never recall us having to give up our needs. Our wants is another matter, but come on. Who of you doesn't own a computer? A phone? Or even more basic- a bed, a roof over our heads, and food on the table.
I was complaining so much lately because it seemed God wasn't providing the funds I needed for several different things in my life. Things I needed for my education, things my parents required me to get, and things for God's calling on my life. But, tonight as I complained about this again to God, He reminded me. I have more than enough in my bank account. Was I willing to give it all? Why did I need to have that sense of a buffer in my life? Is God enough?
And I pose that same question to you: is God enough in your life?
When that hit me, I was so ashamed of the little hissy fits I had thrown, mentally, and in prayer. Was I really conceited enough to assume that I could cover for any mistakes God might make with the funds I had now? God provides; He is our all in all! Why can't we trust Him?
Is God enough in your life? Do you seek His face every day? Do you cry for Him to break your heart for what breaks His? Have you lost your passion?
God will light a fire in your life again! Take Elijah when he was proving God's existence againt the armies and the prophets of Jezebel. He doused his altar with water, so much so that the water was running over and forming a pool at the side! If God can light an altar like that on fire, He can certainly rekindle the fire in your life!
So examine the priorities in your life; are you still holding onto your cushion in this life, or are you ready to give God your all?
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!" 1 Kings 18:30-19
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Here in America, we are so spoiled. Sure, we may work for our money, but never has there ever been a time where me, or my family, have ever gone lacking. Even with such a large family as mine, I can never recall us having to give up our needs. Our wants is another matter, but come on. Who of you doesn't own a computer? A phone? Or even more basic- a bed, a roof over our heads, and food on the table.
I was complaining so much lately because it seemed God wasn't providing the funds I needed for several different things in my life. Things I needed for my education, things my parents required me to get, and things for God's calling on my life. But, tonight as I complained about this again to God, He reminded me. I have more than enough in my bank account. Was I willing to give it all? Why did I need to have that sense of a buffer in my life? Is God enough?
And I pose that same question to you: is God enough in your life?
When that hit me, I was so ashamed of the little hissy fits I had thrown, mentally, and in prayer. Was I really conceited enough to assume that I could cover for any mistakes God might make with the funds I had now? God provides; He is our all in all! Why can't we trust Him?
Is God enough in your life? Do you seek His face every day? Do you cry for Him to break your heart for what breaks His? Have you lost your passion?
God will light a fire in your life again! Take Elijah when he was proving God's existence againt the armies and the prophets of Jezebel. He doused his altar with water, so much so that the water was running over and forming a pool at the side! If God can light an altar like that on fire, He can certainly rekindle the fire in your life!
So examine the priorities in your life; are you still holding onto your cushion in this life, or are you ready to give God your all?
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!" 1 Kings 18:30-19
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
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