Isaac's Prayer

While we were sitting in church tonight, the preacher began talking about the classical story of Abraham and Isaac, and the sacrifice that it took for Abraham to give up his "miracle" child. As he was explaining this no-doubt miraculous show of faith that Abraham definitely had, I began to think of Isaac's side. What was he thinking as his father tied him up? What would his prayer have had to have been in order to submit and allow your father to do that? I implore you to let his prayer become yours.

This is the end of me
     This is the beginning of You
I'm bound, I'm tied to this tree
     Lord I'm trusting you

This is where my heart stops
     This is where Yours begins to beat
When all my plans seem like flops
     You have written my story

I'm Your sacrifice
     Consume me with Your fire
You paid the greatest price
     I am forever Yours.

Genesis 22:1-13
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
Let my prayer be set before You as incense; and  the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Longing for You

Where is the light

Down this corridor of turns and tumbles?

Where is the ground

Beneath my prodding foot?

Lord show me the way;
  Show me the way.

     Where is the help

     To those who are crying?

     Where are the tools

     To fix what is broken?

     Lord give me the means;       
        Give me the means.

          Where is the calling for action

          From the spoon-fed Christians?

          Where is the echoing response

          Replying from passionate followers?

          Lord give us Your heart;
            Give us Your heart.

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:11
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8
In your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 11:19
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

R & R

     Two words that I find are very difficult are the words “respect” and “responsible”. I’ve had them integrated into my vocabulary since I was 2 years old, listening to my mother when I ran away from her in the grocery store. I always like to sound and look smart, so I used these words whenever my brothers seemed out of line, and in order to complete second grade, I passed the spelling unit with these words. So why do I find these words so difficult when I know them so well?

     Maybe because actions speak louder than words.
     Respect is defined as “a feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem” by the American Heritage College Dictionary. The denotation of this word is not hard to grasp, yet when we see the contextual definition in the Bible, things can get a little bit more challenging. The way I see it, the Biblical definition of the word in part is “Showing humility by placing others higher than oneself; giving up your selfish desire to meet the requirements of gratitude; honoring one regardless of what they have earned, but for what they deserve.” And that is a lot harder than what it seems.
     Take the big picture. We have people complaining all the time, myself included, about high taxes, stupid government proposals, and government interference with our lives. Is that giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s?
     Take your job. Everyone has a supervisor or a manager who we just can’t believe got their by being as lazy or as stupid as they are. We think they need to earn our respect, and they never seem to be doing the right thing at the right time. Is that giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s?
     Now take your life, your time at home. How do you treat your parents, your grandparents, aunts or uncles? Do you write them off as senile, people living in the past; or do you constantly grudge about “unreasonable” expectations they have placed on you? Are you giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s?
     So what does this have to do with responsibility? As defined by thefreedictionary.com, responsibility is defined as “The obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion”. The difficulty with this phrase is found in it’s definition: the obligation to carry forward an assigned task. What is our assigned task?
     Respect is a responsibility that we have towards those around us. As ambassadors to this world, we are obligated to be representatives of the One who sent us. We have an obligation to do many things, but one of the first things people will notice is our respect for others. Because you cannot have respect for someone unless you first have a love for them. Not a weird, creepy kind of love, but the love of Christ that compels you to look past one’s faults and do the impossible. The love that Christ had for us when he died for us, the most unworthy things to be respected. When we have God’s vision, we have a whole new-found respect for all those things around us. And we regain respect of the responsibility that Christ has commissioned us on. And with this realization comes action.
     I think it’s time for a little R&R.


Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.  Matthew 22:21b-22Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 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. But who has this world's good, and sees his brother has need, and shuts up his bowels {of compassion} from him, how dwells the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Jesus Commands Us to Go!

     Then through the hymn came another sound like the pain of a million broken hearts wrung out in one full drop, one sob. And a horror of great darkness was upon me, for I knew what it was-the Cry of the Blood. Then thundered a voice, the voice of the Lord. "And He said, 'What hast thou done, The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.'" Amy Carmichael
     Can we go too fast in saving souls? If anyone still wants a reply, let him ask the lost souls in Hell. William Booth
     I'd rather have people hate me with the knowledge that I tried to save them. Keith Green
     While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end! William Booth
     For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
     If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one GO there UNWARNED and UNPRAYED for. Charles Spurgeon
     Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. Acts 18:9
     Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord", You know it's all I ever hear. No one aches, no one hurts, No one even sheds one tear. But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, And He cares for your needs. And you just lay back And keep soaking it in- Oh, can't you see it's such a sin? Cause He brings people to your door, And you turn them away, As you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace". And all heaven just weeps; Cause Jesus came to your door. You've left him out on the streets. Keith Green, Asleep in the Light.
     God save us from living in comfort while sinners are sinking into hell! Charles Spurgeon
     “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Matthew 25:44-46
      It is my hearts desire that I must be NO more, that He be KNOWN more. Saheed Olalekan
     He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
     Oh, to realize that souls, precious, never dying souls, are perishing all around us, going out into the blackness of darkness and despair, eternally lost, and yet to feel no anguish, shed no tears, know no travail!How little we know of the compassion of Jesus! Oswald Smith
     Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
     Oh, how God grieves and believes that the world can't be saved, Unless the ones He's appointed obeys His command and His stand for the world, That He loved more than life. Oh He died, and he cries out tonight.Jesus commands us to go- It should be the exception if we stay. Keith Green, Jesus Commands Us To Go
     Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. Matthew 8:20
     He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15
     Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Matthew 9:37-38

Full Bellies with Starved Hearts

     I was reading an article in World magazine and came across a quote that really stuck with me. It simply said, "Their bellies are full but their hearts are empty".

     What does it mean to have a full belly? Well, we might not exactly be stuffed every minute of every day, although in this country it is quite possible to be like that. We might not be living in the lap of luxury, but when was the last time one of your needs was not met? When was the last time you had no house, no money, no clothing, or any food? I would say in general, we are physically well nourished.
     That is, until you become stuffed. What happens when one's eyes begin to grow too large for their stomach? We've all heard the saying, and have probably experienced it recently, with Thanksgiving come and gone. When someone becomes too full, they become apathetic, lethargic, and quite often, they become a bit larger.
     So how do we become too full of this world?
     Being too full of this world involves one's wants to overpower their needs; where their wants become such a driving force that they seem a necessity. When we place careers, school, music, or sports as an idol in our hearts; when the spotlight in our hearts are focused on me-me-me, and God gets the shadows all to Himself.
     Spiritual apathy is directly correlated to self-satisfaction. When we get bloated with this world, our spiritual lives become malnourished and sluggish.

     What does a starved heart look like?
     It looks suffocated by the things around it, the pounds of the flesh. It looks dead to Christ and un-empathetic towards others. It looks self-centered and inward seeking. It looks uncontent.
     Just as the body requires the right kind of nutrition to keep it running on all cylinders, the heart of Christ requires food of Fire. It requires food of Passion, of Life; it requires food of Sacrifice. It requires time spent in the Word of God, and time spent giving when it can't. It requires the Widow's Mite, and it requires your all.
     But the benefits of a heart that is fitting, not two sizes too small, are immense! It gives you spiritual endurance: the ability to never give up the Hope of God. It grants you a place of leadership: the opportunity to say, "Follow me as I follow Christ". It gives you the peace that passes all understanding: the calm in the middle of the storms of life. But most of all, it gives you the Heart of God.

     What has your diet been looking like lately? It's time for a change.

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matthew 4:4
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
They all ate the same spiritual food  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:3-4
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 1 Peter 2:2

Thanksgiving

     With this time of year coming around, everyone takes a little bit of time to think about what they are thankful for. Among the generic lists that you find from among family members, church members, and friends, there are certain things that people will always list. Some big ones that I find are: family, friends, God, and my job. These are all such blessings, and God is certainly so amazing to bless us with these.
     But, I always want to be different than those generic things. I always think about what I'm thankful for that nobody seems to remember. This year, it's been striking me hard about what I should be thankful for- I can only think of a few people who have thanked God for this. And I'm praying every day that God would truly make me thankful for this; and I thought I would share what exactly "it" is.
     I thank God for my trials. I thank God for allowing me to go through hard times, dry spells, and confusion. I thank my God for these because I know that He will always see me through; and I know that trials allow me to grow in ways I never knew were possible.
     I am a very emotional person in general; when things don't go my way, I generally cry to the person closest to me. I blame myself for mistakes I've made, and I get so caught up in my feelings that I don't motivate myself to do anything about it until I've hit absolute rock bottom. But, when I've hit rock bottom, that's when I remember that the only place to look from there is up. And when I look up, and up, and up, I see my Father. And when I cry to the One who is ever present, I find a queer thing happen. My tears slowly begin to dry up; and although I cannot see my Father, I feel His presence so strongly. It's when this happens that I begin to dust off the best book that exists; it's when I look up that I seek Him for the answers.
     When I am questioning my faith in God; when it seems like people look down on me for faith, I know of only one answer. I seek His face to show me the answers to my questions. When I am questioned, I seek the answers; when I begin to seek the answers, I grow ever so much stronger in my faith.
     When I am inhibited by physical trials, it's so easy to get mad at God for allowing me to struggle like that. I have to admit that half of the tears I cry when I am down are truly tears of bitterness, because it seems like I cannot have the faith for God to heal me. Yet, I will praise my God through the pain, because when I am sick, I realize He is my healer. And it's just another opportunity to exercise the faith that God grants me anew every day. Because I have learned so clearly, that when you can't have the faith it seems you need, God's grace is sufficient for you. And His grace brings along the faith. It always seems like grace and faith follow each other; we are saved by grace, through faith.
     So I am learning to be as Paul was. When he was beaten down, persecuted, and couldn't seem to get rid of the "thorn in his side", he lifted his hands up in praise. He sang in the prison cell; he preached at his trial. He loved the ones who sought to kill him. It seems an awful lot like our Saviour at His trial.
     So, when it comes to our trials, will you lift up your hands in thanks, or will you run for the tissue box?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:6-10

the Music in my Head

To the One who wrote the greatest love song; the One who composes my life:  

  twinkling notes on repeat played
          beating my rhythm day to day
     i sing along yet ne'er aloud
          lest i hit but one note stray

but You,
      You make me sing along
       but You,
             You make me forget the metronome
              and You,
                     You harmonize my melody

     heaphones shoved inside my head
          turned down to conceal the noise
     fingers tap atop my desk
          i follow the music- pianisimo

but You,
      You ampliphy my hidden voice
       but You,
             You give me drums to play
              but You,
                    You sing along forte

You are the music
                            inside my head


Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalms 42:8

The Blackout Bible

This is a different kind of format than I've used before, but it's something that's been on my mind since my Pastor used the phrase "Blackout Bible" in church on day. This entire work, except for the real verses, is entirely facetious; however, there is a meaning behing the satire.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Romans 1:22


Mr. and Mrs. Smith stood back and admired their average house. There was nothing in their living room that stood out from another- everything was a non-offensive monotone gray. Never black and white- some people didn't believe those should exist, and they wanted to make everyone comfortable here. Pastor Brown was coming to dinner tonight, so they made a traditional thanksgiving meal; a little turkey, a little corn, a little stuffing, and a little dessert. He would be pleased.
After supper Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Pastor Brown retired into the living room, with a soft fire blazing in the back. The Pastor walked around, admiring this and that, until he got to a book. He picked it up approvingly, and brushed the dust off the untarnished cover, and gave his hosts a knowing look. "You guys do an amazing job at keeping up with the trends. I'm so glad I can see how much use you all have for this book- as we all know how fashionable it is to keep one of these, it is a complete waste of time to spend even a moment reading this. You have your heads screwed on right."
His finger brushed down to the edition neatly scrolled onto the cover- Blackout Bible, 21st edition. "Again, I don't know how you guys do it, but this is the newest version that all the churches base their religion on. I'm so glad that they narrowed down what was in this book to the easiest way to live, and I completely agree with the word they kept in here- love. After all, who are we to tell others how to live? I mean, it's not like anybody reads this thing anyways."
Mr. and Mrs. Smith nodded in agreement. "We go around and do our best to dispel the belief that there is anything called sin. Such and ugly word, such an archaic belief! We have found a long time ago that people just don't want anything to do with hearing that they are wrong, so it would simply be offensive to rub their "wrongdoings" in their face. The old saying 'All roads lead to Rome' must have started from some truth, I would assume!"
"Ah yes, but now you're implying that there is such a thing as truth. We all know that saying something is true, implies that the opposite is false, and that is potentially upsetting. For instance, if I tell you that shooting someone is wrong, and you want to believe the opposite, who am I to tell you you're wrong? After all, the newest version of the Bible eliminated all the potentially offensive words and phrases; we all just need to follow the remaining word. Love." Pastor Brown shook is head, deep in thought.
Mr. Smith jumped in. "Exactly. Telling people that your belief is the only right way is like the pot calling the kettle black- I mean, did even Jesus say to take the speck out of your eye before you take the mote out of your brother's? And then He turns around and says 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.' Not that I have actually read that or anything- we prefer our own versions- but to me, that sounds pretty narrow. I think parts of the "Bible" must have been miss-interpreted along the way. A loving God would never do that. He would never allow people to get hurt. Somebody must have missed it along the way, dropped the ball or so to speak."
"Some people would say 'dropped the fruit'." laughed the Pastor. "I mean, they claim that out great-great-great-great-so on and so forth grandparents messed everything up- again, talk about narrow! That's how they explain that whole "sin" word. Not like I paid much attention- it has no bearing on today's society. I think that the best way to go is the path of least resistance. I know last year's version of the Bible included a verse like "Wide is the gate, and easy is the way that leads to God", or something like that. Now they think it's offensive to us the word God, but if it's so easy, why couldn't He just forgive us? I've heard my grandparents say that the answer was in the rest of the Bible, but obviously that wasn't important, or our society wouldn't have gotten offended."
In the end, Pastor Brown and Mr. and Mrs. Smith all came to the same conclusion- "I'm so glad we live in such a highly sophisticated intellectual society. One would think we were gods."


Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- Romans 5:12
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:14

When you can't...

I see people. I hear people. And I know hurt exists all around. And these people, that I care about, that I love so so much have so much pain in their lives. And all I want to do is to forget all my problems and just hurt for them. I want to just fix their lives and kiss their owies and send them on their way to a life full of padded walls and sterile cleanliness. But as try as I might, I can’t. And I get to feeling so helpless for them because I know wishing them better won’t change a thing.
But then I realize, I don’t have to take their hurt. I don’t even have to clutch onto my own pain, because somebody has already taken it. The proof lies in His scarred hands, His bloodied head, and His loving heart. He has done the impossible- He has conquered the grave, He has healed our disease, and He has bottled up all our hurt!
And when it seems like you’re lonely, that you have to face the world by yourself; when it feels like you have to put your brave face on and be your own hero; when it seems like you can only live by one second at a time- He has conquered that too. I know my Redeemer lives if it’s only through this fact alone- because He gives me strength every day. He gives me the grace to smile when I can’t, He gives me the courage to conquer the world day by day.
He has delivered me out of the bonds of depression, out of an anorexic spirit, out of condemnation and has put me in the light. And when I get caught up in the feelings of this world, I need not look any farther than my own before-and-after pictures to know that He is there. That my God does amazing things, and that He has conquered it all!
So when this world seems too heavy for you, remember that it is. When it seems like you can’t even take your next breath, remember that you can’t. Because it’s Christ who took the weight of this world on His shoulders; it’s Christ who gave you the Breath of Life. And it’s Christ who carries you.

LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31:24Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Flaming for Him

Campfires are the perfect place to sing songs, tell jokes, and warm up on a crispy fall eve. They give enough light to see and enough warmth to brown your marshmallow.
An ember snaps away from the fire and glows brightly amidst the dark, flaring for a second or two until it fades to a darker black than coal. We swat them away as minor trifles to a fire, but in reality, join enough of those embers together and you start a forest fire.
Smoke wafts toward your face with smoldering heat. We cough and move away, but, in reality, enough smoke can choke out life.
So what does this have to do with our standing with God? We all know the dangers and the benefits from a fire; but do we realize the potential and fire from God’s people?
The most traditional form of getting light was starting a fire. And, since we are the Lights of the World, I thought it fitting to study fire a bit more in depth. So, take a church, or a family dedicated to God. “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” is the promise that God’s presence burns brightly in us as we gather for His glory. We’re like that bright campfire that stands out on a chilly October night. People can see the glow from it for miles away, although they might not be able to appreciate the warmth.
But, for a fire to continue burning, it needs to be continually growing. Forest fires start from embers breaking away and lighting up a nearby dried leaf, and the flames joining in to engulf the pit fire emerging. But if an ember breaks away and is not joined by its flames, it simply fades away like the pesky campfire pricks we carelessly swat away.
And, for a church to continue growing in the Lord, for the church of God to continue being set afire for Him, we need to be constantly setting others on fire. We need to have those embers breaking away to find that leaf just waiting to be found. But most importantly, the flames of the church need to follow and engulf the new addition. One person alone can only do so much, but when reaching becomes a church ministry, so many new flames can develop! To keep stressing this point would never be enough, because too often we are guilty of instead being the smoke that develops when a church begins to smolder. Instead of bringing new life, we choke out the surrounds, choking our own feeds, our own growth in Christ to nada.
Where are the flames of our passion for Christ? Where are the flames of His love for the lost?
Every fire requires one spark to ignite it. Let’s be His spark.

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:22
His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9b
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Now, look at Me

My little brother learned how to do a tripod, or the base of a headstand. He was so proud that he could do such a thing, he would beg and plead and cajole each family member to watch him at least 5 times a day. He would show all his friends, and eventually the “Hey, look at me!” just became background music to our family.
However, we went up to a wedding a couple of weeks later. There was an open dance floor, and all my little cousins ran out and started showing off their dance moves. Asher ran out there, and his head went down and he stayed there, doing solid tripods in the middle of the dance floor. And with everyone he begged to look at him, their eyes would glaze over, or would scold him from doing his move in the middle of the floor for fear of him being hurt.
And, like so many other things, this got me thinking as to how that applied to our spiritual life. I didn’t have to think too hard.
With school and work and family and Bible Studies and Bible Clubs and church and drama and so much more piled up in my life, it’s so tempting to run ahead and let everyone know “Look at me! I’ve got my life together, I can balance everything, I can handle everything all on my own!” Except for one problem. Everytime I reach that point in my life, where I think I can finally be able to say that, a curveball gets thrown my way. And everytime I toot my own horn, the looks and the reactions I get from people spell a clear message: Now is not the time and the place for this; don’t hurt yourself.
I was thinking that I had finally gotten everything caught up a couple weeks ago. And then that proverbial curveball came along- I had to not only sing for chapel, but I was going to talk, give a little message to my entire school! Public speaking is not my forte- I can do it, but I get so nervous, I think I shake the entire earth off its axis. But I still went ahead. I wrote my entire thing out weeks ahead of time, I got everything planned to a T. And the day of, I went to school, ready to just get this thing over with. I found out nothing was set for the music powerpoints- none of my singers were there to practice together, and then to make things worse, I had assigned another student to do part of the message. Except that very moment, I discovered he would no longer be doing that! Now I had an extra ten minutes to fill! And on the verge of a breakdown, I just felt God saying, “Now, look at Me.”
This was His chapel. I had dedicated my day to do everything for the glory of Him, not for what people would think of me. This was His time, for nothing surprises my God. There is a time and a season for everything, and I wish I had discovered earlier that the time and the season for seeking God and doing things for His glory is all the time! I didn’t have to wait until last minute for God’s peace, I could have had that all along!
To make a long story short, my teacher miraculously found all the powerpoints. My singers showed up 5 minutes before chapel, enough time to quickly run through all the songs. And when I went up to speak, God worked everything out to last exactly to the time that we needed for chapel. Praise God, my Saviour is worthy to be sought first!
Now, I encourage you. What are you crying for attention for? What is your claim to fame? I challenge you to look at God instead. After all, who gave you those abilities, those talents, those opportunities? Who made you?
Take time to step back. Take to time seek God. Take time to hear Him say, “Now, look at Me.”

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Psalm 27:7-8
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

You are my Sonshine, my only Sonshine....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Neutral Solution

For chemistry one day, we had the option to do something different. We could write about certain aspects in chemistry, and relate it somehow to some aspect in christianity (all for points of course :) And since this was right in my sweetspot, unlike most of chemistry, I decided to take the teacher up on this offer. I found it again just recently, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.

Acid is dangerous. In all the old video games, you never want to fall into the acid pit. And everyone knows why. It eats away at things. It can destroy metals; and, as some people have discovered the hard way, it can eat away at your body as well.
Most people think of bases as the opposite of an acid. In many ways, this definition can work. However, what most people aren't aware of, is that bases can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than an acid. And, surprisingly, an acid can save a life.
For instance, my dad grew up in a huge family, where he was the youngest. As you can imagine, he looked up to his older brothers, and copied all their ways, just like good little brothers do. Well, one time, his brothers were goofing around. They had a bottle of ammonia, which is a very strong base. They were passing it around, pretending to take swigs of it, and generally being goofy teenagers. This was fine, except for the fact that my dad had no idea that they were simply pretending. He wanted to be just like them, so when the bottle got to him, he opened it up and took a swig. More than a swig- he gulped down a decent sized portion. WHen his brothers realized this, they whisked him off to their mother. Fortunately, she had just read in a newspaper about how grapefruit juice, an acid, can be used to neutralize ammonia. Well, she pumped my daddy up with that grapefruit juice till it was just about coming out of his ears. I'm here to tell you this story for one reason only; my daddy was saved by an acid. It neutralized the base that was destroying him.
This got me to thinking. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect garden. They had everything they would ever want; a perfect and pure love for each other and God. A neutral solution, if you would. Soon enough though, along came that bottle 'o base- the temptation to sin, to go against God. The base that could and would ruin their lives forever. But, not wanting to be different than those around them, or the serpent, they took a swig of that seemingly harmless bottle. It ate away at their lives, their conscience, their homes, and their relationship with each other and God. Their perfect solution had gone basic.
They tried finding all the acids they could for years. Their children and their children's children and their children's children's children (and so on) searched for that acid to get rid of such an aweful base of sin. But none of the acids they found were strong enough. Sacrifices only went so far. We needed help. Badly.
And then Jesus came. His acid was much stronger than anything they had ever experienced. The thought of an acid that strong was frightening; what would it do to them? The chemical reaction taking place between the base of sin in their lives and the acid of Christ's saving grace was explosive, and they nailed their only chance of becoming neutral again to a tree. Very few reached out into the saving acid that could eat away their sin.
Those who did were rejected. They were different. Their heart was once again like it should have been; like the Garden of Eden. They were happy. They were peaceful. They were neutral.
That blood is still flowing. Every day we reject that acid for fear of it burning us, for fear of it changing us, we are pounding another nail into that cross, into our own coffin. An acid saved my daddy's life. Now my Father is offering an acid to you. What will you do with it?

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.Colossians 2:13-14