“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” Psalm 32:1-2Happy Easter everyone! I hope y’all are enjoying this extra-long weekend; hanging out with family and friends, eating lots of food and candy, and binging on whatever you gave up for Lent ☺ Today really is a day to celebrate! Think about it, the significance of this very day is the reason why we no longer receive the consequences for our sins that we deserve. This day represents the gift of eternal life that God has given to us! But I know for many people this day also brings up a lot of questions about the basics of Christian faith. So, for anyone who hasn’t heard before, hear is just the basics of the gospel and what it means to serve a risen King.
Why do we even need a savior? Because as Romans 3:23 says “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No one on this Earth is free of sin. I know that some sins seem bigger than other, but this does not mean that because we only commit “little”” sins we deserve eternal life. None of us deserve this gift. All sins make us sinners and cut us off from our holy God therefore, leading us to death.
“Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:24) This truth right here is the reason for celebration today. Do y’all realize what we’re worth to God? One-third of the angels (Satan and his followers) fell away from God and yet God did nothing. But when the ENTIRE mankind rebelled against Him through sin, God pulled out all the stops to get us back.
“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (Romans 3:25). When Jesus died on the cross for us, he experienced something that none of us will ever have to go through. The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God, his Father. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God.
But the story doesn’t stop there; On the third day Jesus ROSE from the dead! His resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. Why? Because in rising from the dead, he kept his promise to us that he would do just that. Therefore, we can be confident that he will accomplish all he has promised. His bodily resurrection shows us that the living Christ, not a false prophet or imposter, is ruler of God’s eternal Kingdom. We can be certain of our own resurrection because Jesus was resurrected first. He conquered death for us!
So how do we receive this eternal gift? “If you declare with you mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). It’s more than just good works, it’s more than just believing that God exists, it’s more than celebrating a holiday. We can not hear the message of the gospel and not be left with a decision to make; we can not act indifferent to these facts. The gospel is NOT relative. It doesn’t just pertain to Christians because we base our lives on it’s truth; it pertains to everyone whether or not they follow it. The truth is that Christ’s sacrifice was for ALL OF HUMANITY. God sent his son so that all who believe in him will have eternal life (John 3:16). He has laid this gift in front of us and it is in our hands whether or not we accept it. We have to make a conscious choice to either follow Christ or reject him.
God genuinely wants us all to come to him. That’s why he went to such great lengths to save us! If any of y’all have any questions about what this means or looks like or why it all even matters in the first place, please feel free to ask me. If anyone hasn’t accepted Christ in their hearts and wants to, I will always be willing to talk to you about it! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday : )
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” John 14:6
Currently Listening to: Death in His Grave by John Mark McMillan https://mail.ttu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=fffc862cd0884dc5abc8a799b2197b7b&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dUJDguHJ34SE
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Week Thirteen: Our faithful God
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6
I know we’ve all heard this verse a lot, but I think it’s important to realize what trusting in the Lord really means. It’s easy to trust Him when things are going right, when we’re in a good mood, or when we’re on track with the plan we’ve made for our lives. But what about when circumstances around us don’t make sense? What about when God has promised us something, but we don’t see how on earth He can make it happen? One of my friends who is going to Senegal this summer was talking to me about how this verse applies directly to her life right now. She has 3 weeks left to raise $2,220 for her mission or else she can’t go. Now I know a lot of us would be a little worried at this point as to what to do, but she has such faith and trust in the Lord that she isn’t at all bothered by this number. She has said that God has confirmed in many ways that she is supposed to be going this summer so she has chosen to trust completely in the promise He made her and not be worried about how He’s going to provide. In a message she wrote she said “Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of the promises God has made to us. Don't focus on the situation that you are currently in but know what ever God has promised you He will fulfill it. He is not going to lead you on to think He is going to do something, then not provide. That is not His nature, that's the devil.”
Her strong faith is such an inspiration to me! I’ll be honest, there are lots of times when it is so hard for me to have blind faith about things. I can be a very practical person, so when I can’t plan for things, I like to reflect on what’s already happened to see what I can learn from that. So this got me thinking, what other promises has God already fulfilled in my life that I can reflect on when I’m feeling anxious or worried about a current situation?
1. He has promised to supply for every need we have. “And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Keep in mind these are needs, not wants or luxuries. Sometimes, if he’s not providing it means you don’t really need it. It also includes financial needs, too!
2. God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) I also love the beginning of this verse because I think it shows how important it is to be in a community of believers who you can confide in and lean on when you feel really tempted by something.
3. Our God promises to never leave us. “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’” (Hebrew 13:5-6) Doesn’t this verse just give you so much strength and courage and trust, despite any situation you are in? Love it!
4. God has promised for all things to work together for good to those who love and serve him faithfully. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I know this may be difficult for us to see and understand at times, but God has promised it so He WILL deliver.
5. God has promised us victory over death by eternal life through Him! “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) What an awesome, life-changing promise that the Lord has made and kept!
Why can we trust in God? Because He has already kept so many promises that He has made to us. Even if you don’t understand what is going on in your life right now, you can find comfort and joy in looking at all that He has done for you already. I am so thankful to serve such a good and faithful God!
Currently Listening to: Forever Reign by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc
I know we’ve all heard this verse a lot, but I think it’s important to realize what trusting in the Lord really means. It’s easy to trust Him when things are going right, when we’re in a good mood, or when we’re on track with the plan we’ve made for our lives. But what about when circumstances around us don’t make sense? What about when God has promised us something, but we don’t see how on earth He can make it happen? One of my friends who is going to Senegal this summer was talking to me about how this verse applies directly to her life right now. She has 3 weeks left to raise $2,220 for her mission or else she can’t go. Now I know a lot of us would be a little worried at this point as to what to do, but she has such faith and trust in the Lord that she isn’t at all bothered by this number. She has said that God has confirmed in many ways that she is supposed to be going this summer so she has chosen to trust completely in the promise He made her and not be worried about how He’s going to provide. In a message she wrote she said “Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of the promises God has made to us. Don't focus on the situation that you are currently in but know what ever God has promised you He will fulfill it. He is not going to lead you on to think He is going to do something, then not provide. That is not His nature, that's the devil.”
Her strong faith is such an inspiration to me! I’ll be honest, there are lots of times when it is so hard for me to have blind faith about things. I can be a very practical person, so when I can’t plan for things, I like to reflect on what’s already happened to see what I can learn from that. So this got me thinking, what other promises has God already fulfilled in my life that I can reflect on when I’m feeling anxious or worried about a current situation?
1. He has promised to supply for every need we have. “And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Keep in mind these are needs, not wants or luxuries. Sometimes, if he’s not providing it means you don’t really need it. It also includes financial needs, too!
2. God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) I also love the beginning of this verse because I think it shows how important it is to be in a community of believers who you can confide in and lean on when you feel really tempted by something.
3. Our God promises to never leave us. “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’” (Hebrew 13:5-6) Doesn’t this verse just give you so much strength and courage and trust, despite any situation you are in? Love it!
4. God has promised for all things to work together for good to those who love and serve him faithfully. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I know this may be difficult for us to see and understand at times, but God has promised it so He WILL deliver.
5. God has promised us victory over death by eternal life through Him! “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) What an awesome, life-changing promise that the Lord has made and kept!
Why can we trust in God? Because He has already kept so many promises that He has made to us. Even if you don’t understand what is going on in your life right now, you can find comfort and joy in looking at all that He has done for you already. I am so thankful to serve such a good and faithful God!
Currently Listening to: Forever Reign by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Week Twelve: Wonder
“As civilization advances, the sense of wonder declines” - Rabbi Heschel
Sorry this is so late!! This devotional is going to be pretty short and sweet but I just wanted to give a little word of encouragement for the upcoming weeks that are busy with tests, stress, worry, and hectic schedules. I think many times we get caught up in our busy lives and we miss the gifts that God offers us on a daily basis. As bad as this sounds, we grow used to seeing him work small miracles in our lives; therefore, we start to overlook the ways that he’s showing his love for us. Y’all, God is showing each of us daily how much he loves and appreciates us individually. Our God is a living, moving, working God who desires to be a part of our entire lives, not just when we ‘have time’ for Him. This devotional is simply a reminder to live in the presence of the living God by living in wonder, amazed by traces of God all around us. Whether this be in a beautiful sunrise on your way to an 8 am class, grabbing a coffee break with your best friend, or listening to your favorite band (unless your favorite band is Keisha… no offense), our God is all around us. James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” All good things come from God, therefore do not take for granted what brings you joy daily! He is wooing each of us, drawing us closer to Him by showing us His love in ways He knows we’ll appreciate. Don’t miss out on His presence because you are too caught up in your busy schedule. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” Sometimes we just have to stop and give glory where it’s deserved. Take a breather in your busy day to enjoy and be thankful for what God gives you! It's noticing the little things in life that can make a big difference in how your day goes.
The spirituality of wonder knows the world is charged with grace, that while sin and war, disease and death, are terribly real, God’s loving presence and power in our midst are even more real. (Ragamuffin Gospel 99)
Currently Listening To: Beautiful by Phil Wickham
Sorry this is so late!! This devotional is going to be pretty short and sweet but I just wanted to give a little word of encouragement for the upcoming weeks that are busy with tests, stress, worry, and hectic schedules. I think many times we get caught up in our busy lives and we miss the gifts that God offers us on a daily basis. As bad as this sounds, we grow used to seeing him work small miracles in our lives; therefore, we start to overlook the ways that he’s showing his love for us. Y’all, God is showing each of us daily how much he loves and appreciates us individually. Our God is a living, moving, working God who desires to be a part of our entire lives, not just when we ‘have time’ for Him. This devotional is simply a reminder to live in the presence of the living God by living in wonder, amazed by traces of God all around us. Whether this be in a beautiful sunrise on your way to an 8 am class, grabbing a coffee break with your best friend, or listening to your favorite band (unless your favorite band is Keisha… no offense), our God is all around us. James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” All good things come from God, therefore do not take for granted what brings you joy daily! He is wooing each of us, drawing us closer to Him by showing us His love in ways He knows we’ll appreciate. Don’t miss out on His presence because you are too caught up in your busy schedule. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” Sometimes we just have to stop and give glory where it’s deserved. Take a breather in your busy day to enjoy and be thankful for what God gives you! It's noticing the little things in life that can make a big difference in how your day goes.
The spirituality of wonder knows the world is charged with grace, that while sin and war, disease and death, are terribly real, God’s loving presence and power in our midst are even more real. (Ragamuffin Gospel 99)
Currently Listening To: Beautiful by Phil Wickham
Monday, April 4, 2011
Week Eleven: Fasting
“I humbled myself with fasting” Psalm 35:13
Hello ladies! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful warm weather! Alright, since I know a lot of us gave up things for Lent, the devotional this week is about fasting. About two days ago, I was working at Spoonful and had kind of a rude awakening from God as to what he intended the purpose of fasting to be. See, I gave up sweets/desserts for Lent so that day at work I was doing 2 things: a) throwing a huge pity party for myself because I really wanted some candy but couldn’t eat it, and b) kind of praising myself for having such great self-control that I didn’t even eat a single gummy worm. I mean, how annoying is that! No one wants to be around someone who willingly gives something up, complains about it, and then wants praise from others for abstaining from it. So I decided I better take a deeper look in to what God says about fasting.
First of all, why fast? Fasting in itself is of no spiritual value, but it’s the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with blessing. Fasting signifies humility, demonstrates repentance, appeals to God for protection, is a form of worship, empowers us for spiritual warfare, and makes us stronger in Him when we feel weak. Fasting and prayer does not change God. It changes us. It is not twisting God’s arm to get him to do our bidding but rather positioning ourselves to receive the grace He freely gives and to do His bidding. Fasting and prayer combined removes the hindrances to our peace. It ensures the sincerity of our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon so that we no longer feel estranged from God. It helps us humble ourselves and lift up others who are oppressed so that we remove tensions from our relationships.
On the sermon on the mount, Jesus said “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father , who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18) Notice that it says “when you fast”. Jesus is already assuming that we are going to fast, so right away it’s clear that I shouldn’t think I deserve praise from others for doing something that we’re all called to do. It also says not to make it obvious when you fast. Why? Because fasting isn’t about gaining the approval of others or showing them how ‘good’ of a Christian you are. Romans 14:10 says “Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” It doesn’t matter if other people know what you’re doing (or not doing) or visa versa. In the end, we will all answer to God and God alone. He knows about all the sacrifices you are making to follow Him so don’t worry about if everyone else does (side note: it’s still SO important to have other Christians to confide in who will comfort, encourage, guide you, and disciple you in your walk with Christ)
The void left by whatever you have given up should be filled by Christ. “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.” (Isaiah 58:11) You don’t give something worldly up to replace it by a different worldly thing. I don’t give up sweets just to replace them with bread or coffee or diet dr. pepper. Fasting is an expression of the heart’s longing for a greater intimacy in our walk with Him. It is to set aside our physical appetites and the time required to prepare meals (or the time you would normally spend doing whatever you’ve given up) in order to focus more of our time and attention upon the Lord.
Ok, last verse! I read this verse for the first time today and kind of laughed out loud at how blunt God is. I mean, He is of course a God of love, but He’s is so not afraid to call you out if you’re going against his will.
“They [the people of Israel] act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God.. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!” ‘I will tell you why!’ I respond. ‘It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?” Isaiah 58:2-5
I think this speaks directly to what so many Christians get in the habit of doing now. We have a checklist of ’godly’ things to do each day, and once we do them all we wonder why we aren‘t seeing God move in our lives. Well, maybe it’s time for us to check our motives behind why we’re doing those things. Does are motivation for doing certain things come from wanting to show God how much we love him? Because if you’re doing certain things just out of habit or tradition or to look good, then there really is no reason to do it. Fasting can be just another way we put on the front of being a Christian, or we can really use it to grow in our relationship with Christ and affect others through it.
Currently Listening To: Where I Belong by Cory Asbury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUsZ9LHNM40
Hello ladies! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful warm weather! Alright, since I know a lot of us gave up things for Lent, the devotional this week is about fasting. About two days ago, I was working at Spoonful and had kind of a rude awakening from God as to what he intended the purpose of fasting to be. See, I gave up sweets/desserts for Lent so that day at work I was doing 2 things: a) throwing a huge pity party for myself because I really wanted some candy but couldn’t eat it, and b) kind of praising myself for having such great self-control that I didn’t even eat a single gummy worm. I mean, how annoying is that! No one wants to be around someone who willingly gives something up, complains about it, and then wants praise from others for abstaining from it. So I decided I better take a deeper look in to what God says about fasting.
First of all, why fast? Fasting in itself is of no spiritual value, but it’s the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with blessing. Fasting signifies humility, demonstrates repentance, appeals to God for protection, is a form of worship, empowers us for spiritual warfare, and makes us stronger in Him when we feel weak. Fasting and prayer does not change God. It changes us. It is not twisting God’s arm to get him to do our bidding but rather positioning ourselves to receive the grace He freely gives and to do His bidding. Fasting and prayer combined removes the hindrances to our peace. It ensures the sincerity of our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon so that we no longer feel estranged from God. It helps us humble ourselves and lift up others who are oppressed so that we remove tensions from our relationships.
On the sermon on the mount, Jesus said “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father , who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18) Notice that it says “when you fast”. Jesus is already assuming that we are going to fast, so right away it’s clear that I shouldn’t think I deserve praise from others for doing something that we’re all called to do. It also says not to make it obvious when you fast. Why? Because fasting isn’t about gaining the approval of others or showing them how ‘good’ of a Christian you are. Romans 14:10 says “Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” It doesn’t matter if other people know what you’re doing (or not doing) or visa versa. In the end, we will all answer to God and God alone. He knows about all the sacrifices you are making to follow Him so don’t worry about if everyone else does (side note: it’s still SO important to have other Christians to confide in who will comfort, encourage, guide you, and disciple you in your walk with Christ)
The void left by whatever you have given up should be filled by Christ. “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.” (Isaiah 58:11) You don’t give something worldly up to replace it by a different worldly thing. I don’t give up sweets just to replace them with bread or coffee or diet dr. pepper. Fasting is an expression of the heart’s longing for a greater intimacy in our walk with Him. It is to set aside our physical appetites and the time required to prepare meals (or the time you would normally spend doing whatever you’ve given up) in order to focus more of our time and attention upon the Lord.
Ok, last verse! I read this verse for the first time today and kind of laughed out loud at how blunt God is. I mean, He is of course a God of love, but He’s is so not afraid to call you out if you’re going against his will.
“They [the people of Israel] act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God.. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!” ‘I will tell you why!’ I respond. ‘It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?” Isaiah 58:2-5
I think this speaks directly to what so many Christians get in the habit of doing now. We have a checklist of ’godly’ things to do each day, and once we do them all we wonder why we aren‘t seeing God move in our lives. Well, maybe it’s time for us to check our motives behind why we’re doing those things. Does are motivation for doing certain things come from wanting to show God how much we love him? Because if you’re doing certain things just out of habit or tradition or to look good, then there really is no reason to do it. Fasting can be just another way we put on the front of being a Christian, or we can really use it to grow in our relationship with Christ and affect others through it.
Currently Listening To: Where I Belong by Cory Asbury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUsZ9LHNM40
Week Ten: We are the salt
Hello! I hope everyone had a good first week back and was able to get in the swing of things again after spring break! This week, I wanted to focus on one verse, Matthew 5:13. It says
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
First, let’s look at the importance of salt in our regular lives. It performs two important functions. It is the commonest of all preservatives and keeps things from going bad. Salt also gives taste and flavor to food. Food without salt is insipid. In both cases, salt is used to improve the food whether it be by taste or by making it last longer. You should also be able to notice when salt is on your food because if the salt isn’t affecting it, then the salt really has no value or purpose.
So how are Christians the salt of the earth? We are meant to affect others positively. We are called to let our “good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly father.” (Mat 5:16). If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, then they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Why claim to be a Christian if you‘re not going to lie for Christ? I’m not talking about being perfect or never sinning, that’s impossible. But as Christians, when we claim Jesus as our Savior we make the choice to be decidedly different than the rest of the world. Our entire life focus shifts from worldly things to things of God. This shift should be so evident in our lives that we simply can’t help but to ‘season’ our surroundings with the love and joy that is in us. People should be able to smell and taste and see our flavor when we interact with them because the positive affect Christ has in our lives is so apparent.
So ask yourselves, have you lost your flavor? Are you a Christian yet you still blend in with the rest of your surroundings? How are you using the love of Christ in you to bring out the best in others and in your every day circumstances? This verse was our theme for Beach Reach this year and it really was a wake up call to me so I hope it gives y’all something to think about too. See ya tomorrow! (Remember, come early or stay after for the fundraising bake sale :] )
Currently Listening to: Poison Tree by Ghost Ship Recording (just go here, it’s so good if you like acoustic stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htYtKr2PLjQ )
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
First, let’s look at the importance of salt in our regular lives. It performs two important functions. It is the commonest of all preservatives and keeps things from going bad. Salt also gives taste and flavor to food. Food without salt is insipid. In both cases, salt is used to improve the food whether it be by taste or by making it last longer. You should also be able to notice when salt is on your food because if the salt isn’t affecting it, then the salt really has no value or purpose.
So how are Christians the salt of the earth? We are meant to affect others positively. We are called to let our “good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly father.” (Mat 5:16). If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, then they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Why claim to be a Christian if you‘re not going to lie for Christ? I’m not talking about being perfect or never sinning, that’s impossible. But as Christians, when we claim Jesus as our Savior we make the choice to be decidedly different than the rest of the world. Our entire life focus shifts from worldly things to things of God. This shift should be so evident in our lives that we simply can’t help but to ‘season’ our surroundings with the love and joy that is in us. People should be able to smell and taste and see our flavor when we interact with them because the positive affect Christ has in our lives is so apparent.
So ask yourselves, have you lost your flavor? Are you a Christian yet you still blend in with the rest of your surroundings? How are you using the love of Christ in you to bring out the best in others and in your every day circumstances? This verse was our theme for Beach Reach this year and it really was a wake up call to me so I hope it gives y’all something to think about too. See ya tomorrow! (Remember, come early or stay after for the fundraising bake sale :] )
Currently Listening to: Poison Tree by Ghost Ship Recording (just go here, it’s so good if you like acoustic stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htYtKr2PLjQ )
Monday, March 21, 2011
Week Nine: Trusting Him to lead us
“Do not be afraid of them.” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.” Joshua 10:8
Hey y’all!! I hope everyone’s spring break was great : ) A sermon I got to hear over the break really changed my perspective on how I carry out the tasks Jesus has called me to do. I think a lot of us feel a tension in our hearts when we step out of our comfort zone while following God. We want so badly to obey Him, but it’s hard when we deal with anxiety, worry, or fear of what we’re getting ourselves in to. What I realized this past week though is that the main reason we get that tension is because we’re trying to do it all ourselves instead of letting Jesus take over. The pastor I listened to said it perfectly: when following Jesus, you do what you know how to do and trust that He will take care of the rest. A lot of times we have such anxiety because Jesus calls us to an unknown place and, for some reason, we think that we’re supposed to handle it on our own. But, thankfully, that’s not at all the case!
In the book of Joshua, God calls Joshua to “lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” (1:6) Now, that’s a pretty big calling to answer to. Lucky for Joshua, the Lord also said, “This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (1:9) So let’s think about this.. Joshua has this huge task he has to accomplish, but he also has the Lord’s promise that He will be with him. So Joshua can either freak out and worry about all the details of how he’s going to conquer all the nations, or he can simply do what he knows how to do (fight, organize troops, listen to God) and trust that God will do the rest. The book is filled with stories of battles, all ending in victory for Joshua. It says, “Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign, for the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for His people.” (10:42) God will really fight our battles for us if we let him! All we have to do is trust, obey, and sometimes just plain get out of the way and let God work.
Another story in the Bible that shows this kind of trust is in Matthew 14. It’s the well-known story of when Jesus feeds over 5,000 people with just some fish and a few loaves of bread. I’d read this story a hundred times, but I’d never really understood the importance of it until this week. Just for a second, I want you to put yourself in the disciples shoes on that day. Thousands of people had come a long way to hear Jesus speak. They had all been outside in the heat all day with no food, and now the sun was setting. The disciples’ idea was for Jesus to send the crowd away to nearby villages to buy food for themselves. Instead, Jesus told them to bring the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish that they had to him, He blessed the food, and then simply told the disciples to start feeding the crowd. I don’t know about you, but I would be pretty apprehensive about carrying out Jesus’ plan. 10,000 hot and hungry people would probably be a little annoyed and angry at me when they saw I was trying to feed them all with that little amount of food.
Despite any doubts they might have had, the disciples obeyed Jesus and did what they knew how to do: they walked and they handed out food, letting Jesus take care of the rest. If they had tried to figure out a way to feed those people on their own, they never would have succeeded but, because they did only what they could and let Jesus take over for the rest, everyone was fed!
When you’re in a new situation it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the circumstances or surroundings and take your focus off of God. It’s so easy to focus on what you can’t do rather than what you can. This week, I encourage you to follow Jesus fearlessly, knowing that He will never give you more than you can handle, never ask you to do something that you can’t. If you are obeying Him already, but it’s just been so hard and tiring lately, maybe it’s time you take a step back and re-evaluate how much control your letting God have over your life. I really think you’ll find that the more you give to Him, the more peaceful and worry-free your walk will be.
Currently Listening to: Please Be My Strength by Gungor
Monday, March 7, 2011
Week Eight: Persecution
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 4: 12
Hey y’all! I hope everyone’s weekend at see-saw went well! So I guess I’ll just jump right in to what this devotional is about: persecution for sharing our faith. I know the word “persecution” sounds pretty intense, but it really just means the mistreatment of a people or group by another group. So to me this includes things like hearing people talk bad about you behind your back or having friends purposefully not include you in hanging out. Just keep that in mind when you read the rest of this that persecution is definitely not always something super extreme.
Honestly, what I wrote about last week is scripture that I have heard pretty frequently in sermons, church camps, etc. I’ve always had people pushing me to go and share God’s good news with others. I get why we‘re supposed to do that. I hear that message and am all pumped up to go tell everyone I know about God’s love. But then I walk out of the church doors, or leave the church camp, or even leave my apartment and that burning inside of me to go and tell people somehow fades away. I can’t seem to make the connection between wanting to tell people and actually telling them. And you know why? Because I’m scared. I’m scared that my close friends won’t like me anymore, I’m scared that people will think I’m too “extreme” of a Christian, I’m scared that people will think I’m weird because they don’t get why I do some of the things I do, I’m scared of being persecuted for my faith.
I’m sure a lot of y’all have the same or similar fears about being bold about your faith. Well what I’ve learned this week is that all of my fears are totally valid. In fact, many of them will not only come true but, when they do, I’m supposed to rejoice in them. 1 Peter 4: 12- 14 says, “ Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering… So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.” So when I read this verse I get two main things out of it. First, that I’m supposed to actually expect persecution and second, that enduring it makes me more like Christ. Are you starting to feel a little better about sharing your faith despite possible rejection? Because this definitely encourages me knowing that I’m not sacrificing for nothing, but I’m sacrificing to get closer to Jesus Christ. Now I think that’s something worth celebrating!
So why does suffering bring us closer to God? Because He suffered immensely while here on earth. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it’s own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15: 18-19. Y’all, Jesus has been through it all. He suffered rejection from his community and even his close friends, he went completely against the norms of his society, and in the end He paid the ultimate price of death. If my King and Savior had to go through all of that while on earth, how can I expect not to experience some hardships for sharing my faith? And the incredibly awesome thing about Jesus is that he really does know what we’re going through. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 69:20 “Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.” Ok, this might sound depressing when you first read it, but I think it highlights how personal our relationship with God is! We don’t have to hide our struggles or our true feelings from Him. When we are persecuted we have the freedom to tell Him exactly what we’re going through and really lean on Him for comfort.
This week I pray that we face our fears of persecution, discomfort, and rejection for sharing our faith, that we are so focused on Christ that all other opinions fade away, and that if we are going through a hard time because of our faith, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has been in the exact same situation so He can truly relate to what we’re going through. You will never be alone in your struggles. Jesus went through it before and will go through it again with you. What an awesome God!
Currently Listening To: Lowest Place by Laura Hackett
Hey y’all! I hope everyone’s weekend at see-saw went well! So I guess I’ll just jump right in to what this devotional is about: persecution for sharing our faith. I know the word “persecution” sounds pretty intense, but it really just means the mistreatment of a people or group by another group. So to me this includes things like hearing people talk bad about you behind your back or having friends purposefully not include you in hanging out. Just keep that in mind when you read the rest of this that persecution is definitely not always something super extreme.
Honestly, what I wrote about last week is scripture that I have heard pretty frequently in sermons, church camps, etc. I’ve always had people pushing me to go and share God’s good news with others. I get why we‘re supposed to do that. I hear that message and am all pumped up to go tell everyone I know about God’s love. But then I walk out of the church doors, or leave the church camp, or even leave my apartment and that burning inside of me to go and tell people somehow fades away. I can’t seem to make the connection between wanting to tell people and actually telling them. And you know why? Because I’m scared. I’m scared that my close friends won’t like me anymore, I’m scared that people will think I’m too “extreme” of a Christian, I’m scared that people will think I’m weird because they don’t get why I do some of the things I do, I’m scared of being persecuted for my faith.
I’m sure a lot of y’all have the same or similar fears about being bold about your faith. Well what I’ve learned this week is that all of my fears are totally valid. In fact, many of them will not only come true but, when they do, I’m supposed to rejoice in them. 1 Peter 4: 12- 14 says, “ Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering… So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.” So when I read this verse I get two main things out of it. First, that I’m supposed to actually expect persecution and second, that enduring it makes me more like Christ. Are you starting to feel a little better about sharing your faith despite possible rejection? Because this definitely encourages me knowing that I’m not sacrificing for nothing, but I’m sacrificing to get closer to Jesus Christ. Now I think that’s something worth celebrating!
So why does suffering bring us closer to God? Because He suffered immensely while here on earth. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it’s own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15: 18-19. Y’all, Jesus has been through it all. He suffered rejection from his community and even his close friends, he went completely against the norms of his society, and in the end He paid the ultimate price of death. If my King and Savior had to go through all of that while on earth, how can I expect not to experience some hardships for sharing my faith? And the incredibly awesome thing about Jesus is that he really does know what we’re going through. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 69:20 “Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.” Ok, this might sound depressing when you first read it, but I think it highlights how personal our relationship with God is! We don’t have to hide our struggles or our true feelings from Him. When we are persecuted we have the freedom to tell Him exactly what we’re going through and really lean on Him for comfort.
This week I pray that we face our fears of persecution, discomfort, and rejection for sharing our faith, that we are so focused on Christ that all other opinions fade away, and that if we are going through a hard time because of our faith, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has been in the exact same situation so He can truly relate to what we’re going through. You will never be alone in your struggles. Jesus went through it before and will go through it again with you. What an awesome God!
Currently Listening To: Lowest Place by Laura Hackett
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