He IS.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth.
He is the One who sees. He is the One who knows.
He is the One who acts on behalf of His children.
He is the Mighty Warrior. He is the compassionate Father.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
He is the coming King.
He is love. He is light.
He is good. He is right.
He is your soul's delight.
He is...whatever you need.
He alone is wise.
In Him alone life makes sense, and apart from Him all is chaos.

--Beth Moore

Are You Sick?

I'm very sensitive to smells. My parents think its hilarious that I can pick up on any scent when I come home to visit. So you can imagine how horrible it is to have a stuffy nose right now.

I just hate being sick. I wanna lay around and sulk in self-pity. But this morning was different than times before. It is my second day of being sick, and I can tell that I haven't even hit the worst stages of the common cold. My dad tried to wake me up three different times. I whined, complained and told him to leave me alone. I wanted to sleep away my sorrows. I didn't care if I was being mean because I wanted to feel sorry for myself being sick. And even though I hated feeling gross, it was as if I was okay with it.

I then realized this is what we do this with God. We are sick. Here Daddy comes in to help us and we don't want it.

"Can I get you any medicine hunny?"
Us: "NO!"
"Well what can I do for you?"
Us: "Leave me alone! I can be sick on my own!"
"Okay. Well I'm leaving this medicine right here. Oh, and a glass of water. Take it immediately."

So we lay there. We roll around. We moan and groan. It is just too much work to take that medicine, isn't it? Of course not! We are just being stubborn.

God gives us prayer to get through times we can't handle on our own. He gives us His Word. Christian friends and others who can help.

Stop being stubborn and take your medicine! You need it to get better!

Umbrellas

We are always looking for security. We buy the most reliable products. We are told to wear our seat belts (some follow this rule more than others). We invest in life, car and medical insurance. And of course, when it rains, we find it most logical to bring an umbrella.

What is the purpose of an umbrella? According to Dictionary.com, it is something that covers or protects from above. So what's the significance? Take a second and imagine God as an umbrella.


Our umbrella.
Our cover.
And our protection.
Pretty cool, eh?
In what ways is God our umbrella?



He shields us:
It says in 2 Samuel 22:31-33, "As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, besides the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God? God is my strong fortress; and He sets the blameless in His way."

He gives us shelter:
In Psalm 61:3-4, David cries out, "For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings." During this time, tents were their homes. To dwell in God's tent forever meant to live in His house forever. God gives us shelter by allowing us to hide in Him.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" - Psalm 91:1-2
Ever seen an umbrella used at the beach? Its purpose is to provide shade. The shadow protects from the heat of the sun, especially in the desert. So to abide in the "shadow of the Almighty," meant that the Lord protected His people.

He protects us:
2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." Not only does he strengthen and protect us, but he provides a safe-keeping.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

God makes a pretty sweet umbrella, doesn't He? When we carry around this "God Umbrella," we feel safe and secure. But I think we count too much on umbrellas to keep us dry.

We expect that all we have to do is hold up that piece of fabric, and we will be fine. Well if you are going to go out into a thunderstorm, I promise that you'll get a lot more wet than you wanted. Isn't that how we treat God? We stick ourselves in situations that we aren't supposed to be in, and expect to come out dry. That's not how it's supposed to work. God wants to be our umbrella, not our safety net.

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:13

Use your "God Umbrella" as a shield, shelter and protection. God might be our home security system, but that doesn't mean you can invite the thieves in.

Serving Others. Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

Most of us are familiar with serving others in love. But, we have to admit... most of us serve others with a motive in mind. "Do I get recognition for this?" "Can I get a pat-on-the-back?" "What will I get in return?" "Will others look up to me?"

When we are honest with ourselves, we begin to realize we aren't the servants God calls us to be. So how can we develop a servant's heart? Let's look at Philippians 2:3-8: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard quality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

God did it for us. Why not do it for Him?

John 13 gives us the perfect picture of a servant. During the Last Supper, before Jesus was crucified on the cross, He got up from the meal to wash His disciples feet. I don't know about you, but I have had many friends who are completely grossed out by feet. I mean mortified at the sight of them. So imagine the disciplines dirty, grimy feet. These men walked miles and miles a day proclaiming Jesus' name! But, Jesus didn't care. He washed them anyways. And after, He made Himself a servant to these men, he returned to the table and said, "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him." (John 13:14-16)

Now, I'm not telling you that you have to go and wash each others' feet. Because honestly, that's not my cup of tea. But what I am saying is that Christ Jesus humbled Himself so much as to do the dirtiest task. So why are we so afraid to get a little dirt on our hands?

As Christians, if we model ourselves like Christ, we should reach out to others just as Jesus did. Maybe you have someone special in mind. Maybe your challenge will be to find someone in need. Either way, serve others to serve the One who created all things. Now THAT deserves some recognition.

We All Go Through Tough Times

It's a hard thought to grasp that we are not the only ones who have problems in our lives. We may have issues with our friends or our family, and sometimes with our classmates or people we work with. In any circumstance, it is so easy to forget that we are not alone in this.

Psalm 34:18 says "The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Take a piece of paper and write all the dilemmas you are facing in your life. Now listen to some struggles the rest of the world faces:
Did you know that 4,138 American soldiers have died in War on Iraq? And that 15 million children die each year from hunger? But did you know that 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation? (This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day.) And that since the start of the AIDS epidemic, 1.5 million Americans have been infected with HIV and more than 524,000 have died of AIDS in the US?

We think our issues with parents, jobs and school work are the end of the world. I hate to break it to ya, but compared to the rest of the suffering in the world, it just doesn't cut it. Why are we so quick to forget the blessing in our lives? Add things you are thankful for to that "note" that you made just a bit ago. Dig deep. You will be amazed by the things God has put into your life for a reason.

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Let's get through our struggles. Call upon the Lord with all your fears and all your troubles. Lay everything at His feet. We all need a true Friend who won't share with others our secret problems or struggles.

James 1:12 tells us that "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

One day we will look back at our troubles and say "I got so upset over that?" Whatever you are dealing today is only a pebble in the road. We will face many more, trust me. Maybe even huge rocks and boulders that cause us to stumble in our lives. But we'll get through it. God wants us to get through it by trusting in Him.

"And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Seek His face today!

Express Yourself

It's so difficult to express our sinful nature to others without sometimes feeling ashamed or embarassed. No one likes to be humilitated. In the midst of this crisis, we need not to be afraid. Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus." If you feel like no one in the world will understand your struggles, go to God, He's always listening. In fact, He's the one tugging at your heart. He is waiting for you to confess all your worries to Him. So what are you waiting for?

Let's face it - we all sin. Now that we are exposed to that truth, take a sigh of relief. (Ahhhhhh.) "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

If you want to read a true testimony of God's gift of forgiveness, read Psalm 32!

My favorite is verse seven: "You (God) are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance."

Whatever wrongs you have done, things you have said or thoughts you have had, know that you are forgiven. Jesus Christ took all of our sins to the cross with Him. Remind yourself this everyday. Just because you're forgiven doesn't mean you have a liscense to continue sinning. But this means that God is there for you. You can confess your sins to Him, and He will comfort you and welcome you with open arms.

My challenge to you is this: find a Christian friend that you trust. Share your thoughts and your feelings with them. You don't have to share your entire life story or get super personal, but open up! We all need someone we can depend on. Remember to go to God first for everything, but don't be afraid to be vulnerable. (Remember that I am here for you too!)

P.S. - I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break! Sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple days, but I have been without phone or Internet in the area I was visiting.

When We Need Discipline in Our Lives

If I could only be obedient in everything I say and do. But I can't because I'm flawed. I'm not perfect, and I'm allowed to be not perfect.

The hard part is that we strive to be perfect all the time. When we fall, we are disappointed and our world comes crashing down on us. Sometimes its a downward spiral towards defeat and we feel that we will never shake it off. However, there is a solution. Pick yourself up out of the dirt, wipe off your hands and start over again. So what? You failed. Big deal. But this time you know what to do and how to fix it. And if you fall again, repeat step number one.

Do me a favor. Make a mental note of something you have dealt with in your past and have failed. Have you overcome that obstacle? If you did, than how? If you haven't yet, what can you do different next time something like that comes your way? It is so important to make note of the mistakes you have made and to fix them. If you don't do this now, you will eventually come head-to-head with the dilemma in the future. (Whether the same temptation or conflict comes your way, or whether you are reminded of the way you dealt with the situtation.)

We must discipline ourselves to do what is right and fair, and fix those mistakes we have made.

Hebrews 12:11-13 says, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."

My study bible calls the "lame" those who waver in their Christian faith. It killed me to read that because I knew it was true. If I am ever struggling with being obedient, I am being lame. That stinks to tell yourself that, but its a reality we have to face.

My prayer today is that I can overcome those weak knees that are preventing us from being obedient. But just like a cripple, I need to lean on a crutch. The Crutch. I think that is my new favorite name to call Christ. The cross is the perfect crutch to lean on today - so let's do it! Now, and every day from now on!! Discipline yourself to go to the cross every time you are wavering.

Ironically, after I wrote this, I looked up the "12:28" challenge in The Domino Effect study for community groups. It says "Dive in. Find a physical deception or an artistic representation of the cross to reflect on.. As you do, take some time to mediate on the work that Christ did on the cross. Remember that on the cross, He died for all the sin and evil you have chosen. Dive into the abyss with Him and face your barracuda, trusting that His arms are spread wide for you."

Lead me to the Cross...

Dearly Loved...

If you haven't heard this song, listen Jimmy Needham's "Dearly Loved" while you read these lyrics:

Please lay down your arrows
For they're sure to pierce the skin
And water from a broken well
Will make you thirst again
When all things you've acquired
Are tested by the flames
And you can see them melting
Then will you call his name

It's worth it brothers
It's worth it friends
To know your maker
To lose your sin
Did you know that you are dearly loved

To the slaughters you are being led
Being told that it's a party
That this God is in your head
And every single lie
Sounds just like the greatest truth
But the one truth you're not hearing
Is that He died for you

No greater joy
No greater peace
No greater love than this

It's worth it brothers
It's worth it friends
To know your maker
To lose your sin
Did you know that you are dearly loved


Concert is January 24, 2009 @ Splitsville. Who's coming with me?

How Can We Produce Fruit?

Both church services this morning were wonderful. I had to take a step back and analyze my life. I asked myself: Can others look at me and know for sure that I am a Christian? I mean, I don't cuss. I'm nice to others. I read my Bible. But there is so much more than that. I can't say that I always treat my parents like I should, and although I'm nice to my friends, I don't share the gospel with them every chance I get. There are times when my actions don't match up with my beliefs either. Ultimately, this is something I need to fix. So where do I start? Well, first let's look at what we are called to do.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, He called the apostles to be witnesses. Let's take a look at Acts 1:8 (NIV),

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

I don't think Jesus intended this command to stop with the apostles. We are all disciples of Jesus Christ once we accept Him into our hearts. We need to be telling others of His name to the "ends of the earth." A.K.A - The ends of our schools. The ends of our lunch rooms. At the movies with our friends. In our halls when others are gossiping about others. I'm pretty sure that if other kids knew how cool Jesus really is, they would want to know Him too. But they just don't know! So tell them!

In our community groups we have been discussing the differences between good and evil in "The Domino Effect" series. Ever since I can remember, I knew the difference between the two. Mostly because my parents would say "Don't say this. Don't touch that. Don't go here. Stay away from there." And there was always a punishment if I disobeyed. But I have a question: Why do we think that with God, we can get away with so many things? If He is our Father God, He loves us unconditionally, but He still expects us to do the right thing if we are living for Him. And while our parents see many things that we do, He sees everything. This should not be a scary thought, but instead it should be a comforting one because He watches over us through every obstacle we face. He is our Father who protects.

Today, we looked at Mark 11:12-14. (Take a peak if you didn't get the chance.) After arriving in Jerusalem on a colt, the next day Jesus left Bethany and became hungry. He saw a fig tree in the distance, but when He went to eat from it, He found the tree had nothing but leaves. In verse 14 He says, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" Why is this important to us? Because we are the tree. At this very moment, ask yourself: "Am I bearing fruit?"

Ms. Jean had us open up to James 3:11-12. "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

What kind of fruit our we producing? Let our lives be an example to our friends, family and perfect strangers. My goal is that others can look at my life and know for sure that I carry the cross every day. Students, go to ends of the earth.

The challenge today is to share the message of John 8:31-32. To be truly disciples of Christ, you must know the truth and that it will make you free!

Freedom in Our Lives

Ever feel like you can't surrender, or that you just can't be free?



On Nov. 18, I read an exerpt from My Utmost for His Highest. This day was titled "Winning into Freedom." If anything, God always has me open this little book to find the very thing I am struggling with every time. It baffles me how God times things. Really. It taught be to never say "I can't." (Which is hard because I am so quick to give up on many things in my life.)

So read it today! You need it! www.myutmost.org/11/1118.html

Something I pulled from this passage was, "God will not discipline us, we must discipline ourselves." We have the power to order discipline into our lives. And God is there to help us out because we cannot do it on our own.


It also says not to pray "Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts," because we simply shouldn't suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to your doubts and win freedom by running after God!

I wanted to share some scripture I found on freedom. Wouldn't it be awesome to rejoice in being free from sin and showing an example to others?

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1

"For you were called to freedom, brethern; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13. We are free to serve in the name of the Lord.

John 8: 31-32 -"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"
Ladies, let's get in His Word and know the truth today!

Everyday I will try and give myself a challenge, and I hope that you can join in this with me. Today's is simply this: Memorize a Bible verse. Maybe you want to learn a new one, or you can memorize John 8:31-32 with me. Either way, recite one today!

Opening Credits

This is a blog for you and I.

I have spent much of my time wondering how I can blog about my thoughts without being shallow, and on the other hand, super personal. But I want others to share in my spiritual growth. So here it is - an account of my quiet times, prayers and life in general. It is so awesome that I can experience this with you!

I would love comments if you have any. If not, that's okay too. But just know that I am here for you: prayer, talks, whatever!

So, sit back and enjoy this ride to uncover God's Word with me!