It's almost over

I saw TaRanda Greene live this weekend at a Southern Gospel concert and let me tell you, her story spoke to me. Her husband died last year of kidney failure. They'd only been married 10 years and they have two girls who are 3 and 7. That hit me hard because of what I've been struggling with lately. TaRanda had a wonderful life. She was happy, had a husband who she loved, and they had two children. Then one day, her whole world changed when her husband passed away. It reminded me that life is so uncertain. We don't know what will happen to us in the course of a day. God is in control.

There was one central theme at this concert (although I think it is a theme in all Southern Gospel music) that God is all we need and that our time to meet Him is coming soon and we need to be ready!

I was so honored to be able to listen to this concert in the presence of older followers of Christ. They are the ones that the younger generation should look to for inspiration, priority, and purpose. They know what matters: knowing Christ and serving Him. They don't care what this world has to say about our faith. They just want to be with their Savior.

I took that as a challenge to my relationship with God. I have been struggling a lot lately in staying in touch with God. The whole gospel concert experience challenged me to set aside a specific amount of time every day for God. I schedule everything else, so I don't see why I can't schedule time with God too. So that's my challenge to you blog reader! :) Follow God, love Him, serve Him with all your heart. Because at the end of your life, He is all that is going to matter. He is all that will go with us out of this world into eternity. The Christians of today need to get our priorities straight. Set aside that time for God.

Daily Lessons: 1 Corinthians 1 & 2

As I read through 1 Corinthians 1 & 2 these past few days, a few things stuck out.

1. God is wiser and stronger than any man.
2. No man can boast because God is strongest and wisest.
3. We are God's children only because He chose us.
4. To know NOTHING but Christ crucified. He is the only reason we do anything. We have no ground for boasting because Jesus Christ is the reason that we are here.

These are wonderful reminders that I think I usually forget about. God is strongest, wisest, and greatest. He is in control and I am only here because of Him!

The end of a journey...

Over one year ago I started reading through the Bible with a friend. Tomorrow marks the end of this journey. It's been a great one with lots of lessons learned and lots of self-discipline practiced.

That said... I'm a little behind and getting caught up. I read through 1 Peter this afternoon and saw a lot of truths and lessons that I have never noticed before. First, in verse 17 of chapter 1 it says: "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth." That verse really struck me, maybe because of a speaker I heard. He was talking about the way Christians in China conduct themselves. Even though they live in fear of being killed all the time, they do not hesitate to worship God and serve Him. That verse is a call to us as Christians to take our walk with God seriously. We're not to just flit around living life, and claiming the name Christian. We're to live it every day with passion so that the world can see who God is.

Moving on, it seems to be a them in 1 Peter. In chapter 2:20-23, Peter is writing about how we are called to suffer for Christ because that finds favor with God. He says, "and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously." Basically it's the attitude of Christ that we should mimic. We are to live for Christ and, as Christ's followers, we are to be mirrors of Him.

In chapter 3: 3-4 there's a special message for women. It is a small description of what we, as God's children, should be doing. We should not be focusing on ourselves and our appearance, but on our character and heart for God.

Also, verse 15 of chapter 3 says that as followers of Christ we should be able to answer questions that people have about Jesus. We need to be strong enough in our faith to defend and inform people about Jesus.

Chapter 4:8-10 gives very practical advice as to how we should live as Christians.

1. Love one another, love covers a multitude of sins.

2. Be hospitable to one another and don't complain.

3. Serve one another with the gifts that you have and do it only in God's strength.

This is such a beautiful piece of Scripture that basically sums up the attitude that we should have as we live life. I looked at those three and it was just kind of like a slap in the face because they are so simple, so sweet, and yet I don't do them. I am the queen of complaining and I don't do much for others... and when I do I just think about what I deserve later on. I'm not doing things for God or in His strength, but for myself in my own strength.

That is the challenge that I take from 1 Peter--to follow those three commands with a heart giving glory to God.

Don't skip over "all"

I was reading Philippians chapter 2 today and came to verse 14 that says to do "all things without grumbling or disputing." How often do we read that verse and skip over the ALL? I take that verse as a personal challenge to curb my complaints and try to have a more positive attitude about things in life. Or instead of complaining, take my complaints and cares to God and rely on Him for strength. I think that is my biggest fault is that I resort to complaining about everything to try and gain some sense of control over a difficult situation when, in reality, God has all the control and I am just blowing Him off! So as I go into this week, I want to go in with a new perspective. I want to put God first and give Him control over my difficult situations. I am very stressed with all of the reading I have to do for my classes and all the practice I have to do on my instruments. I am running out of time and it is making me very nervous. I know that I can do all things in God's strength, so here I am casting all my cares upon Him for He cares for me. Take this verse as a personal challenge to stop complaining and lean on God for strength!

From Acts to Galatians... catching up

This is kind of how I have been feeling lately. College seems to be a HUGE self-discovery period for me. I learn something new about myself all the time it seems. Last year I learned I was very negative, pessimistic, and anti-social. This year I've learned (before classes have even started) that I stress out about EVERYTHING. I hate it because I feel like a burden to everyone I am around. So then that makes me even more stressed. It's a problem I can't figure out how to shake. So I have a lot of chocolate in my dorm... and if I'm not careful it's gonna be devoured quickly.

I've been reading through the Bible with a friend and finally got caught up today. That's one stress reliever. I am calm, cool, and relaxed when things are in order. But if things are out of order or I don't have a general idea of the plan... it stresses me out. I'm the kind of person I always said I never wanted to be.

Anyway... reading through Romans and 1 Corinthians to catch up on Bible reading has been awesome. Those books of the Bible really hit me with a lot of truth and encouragement about God. Romans is a very theologically challenging book, but it is full of practical advice. They struck me differently as I read them this time because it's something I've been challenged about this summer. Romans 2:1 says: "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." I saw a lot of hypocrisy in my life this past year and so reading this verse just kind of challenged me that even though I've changed my behavior especially during this summer, I need to continually be reminded of this truth. I can't demand something from someone that I am not doing myself. That's judgment, that's hypocrisy, and that's wrong.

Another verse that struck me as I read was Romans 2:11: "For there is no partiality with God." This is a simple verse but it's really something I ignore a lot, even if it's subconsciously. I show a lot of partiality based on my level of comfort... but that's not godly behavior. God shows NO partiality and I'm supposed to be imitiating Him.

It was also really cool just to familiarize myself with the "Romans Road" again--the verses in Romans that basically tell someone why they need Christ and how to make Him their LORD.

Romans 5:3-5 present a great challenge to Christians as well. Tribulations bring about perseverance. That's such a tough reminder because I hate tribulations. Ha! I don't like for things to be hard on me. I'm in the middle of a bunch of mini problems I guess and it's really miserable. I am happy and content in my relationship with God, but I'd be even happier if I didn't have this constant pressure. So I just have to remember what verse 4 says... that perseverance brings character, character brings hope and hope doesn't disappoint because God's love fills our heart through the Holy Spirit.

Then that's where Romans 6:14 comes in... sin is not my master! So even though during these times of pressure and stress and tribulation, I don't have to sin. I am freed from sin because I am God's child. So I don't have to cave under sin's pressure. It's so hard, and one of the most difficult challenges a Christian faces--that constant inner battle between flesh and Spirit--I think. But then Romans 6:18 brings a challenge: "And having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." I'm free from sin and now I am enslaved to righteousness! As a slave I must do that which is righteous. Friend, that is OH SO HARD. Romans 7:18 explains why: "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not." We want to do that what is good, but because of our sin nature we are unable to do it on our own! So even though it seems like we are doing all the work, Jesus is really the one who has fought for us by dying on the cross for our sin. He paid the penalty already and I am free from sin. I am not obligated to do what it wills anymore. I am free to do the good I want to do and because of Christ, I can.

And I think Paul sums up his life purpose in Romans 8:18. This verse, if you think about it for a while, really brings a lot of peace. I'm preaching to myself basically because when I really let this verse sink into the depths of my heart, it relieves all my stress and brings such peace. It says: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Anything I suffer in this life is NOTHING compared to how awesome the glory of eternal life in heaven with God will be. I lose sight of this so much in my walk with Christ. I get so caught up in the here and now. I want to be focused on what truly matters. That's what I hope I can work on during this year at school. Taking my focus off of me and my selfishness and focusing entirely on how awesome God is and His promise of eternal life. :)

Adventures in Cooking

Occasionally this summer I've been able to try my hand at cooking. This skill is one I want to improve before I enter a world of running my own house. ;) I cooked chicken yesterday, but no one was around, or hungry enough, to eat it... so I was stuck with a whole tupperware container full of chicken. I decided to make BBQ Shredded Chicken Sandwiches. I quickly Googled "how to shred chicken" and found a simple way to do it. I heated the chicken up in the microwave, used two forks to tear it in different directions, coated it in BBQ sauce and then heated it some more. The end result was a very tasty sandwich and satisfied stomachs! :) I love accomplishing something new in my cooking endeavors... more to come later. :)

A Call to Die

God has been showing me lately how much greater He is than the things I have in this world. The thing that consumes me most in the world is love. Romantic movies, songs about love, love stories, relationships... this stuff consumes me. More than half of both my movie and music collection has to do with romance and practically all of my books do. I notice too that when I need comfort or a "pick-me-up" I'll turn to a love story before I'll turn to God's love letter to me, His Word. There are so many truths in God's Word that if I really were to listen to and believe them, they'd satisfy me so much more than any romantic movie could.

Jeremiah 15:16 says: "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts." God's Word can and should be the delight of my heart. This is something I struggle with because I feel like I deserve a pity party. When I'm feeling sad, I think that I have every right to sit and drown my sorrows in a candy bar and a love story. That is so self-centered. I felt that way today and was even told what was true... that God has situations in our lives that are difficult to teach us and that someday it WILL work out for good... but I rejected that truth and instead felt vindicated in my attitude... I had a reason for my sorrow and negativity.

I don't.

Christ's cross is the reason I don't. He came and died on the cross for all of my sins and sorrows. He came and set me free. That brings joy that will last forever!

I've been reading through the Bible with a friend and we finally made it to the New Testament! We're in Matthew right now, and a passage that never seems to get old for me is in chapter 5. It's part of the Beatitudes and it says: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is something that God is continually trying to get me to grasp. I don't think that this translates only to our enemies--people that don't like us and want to see us fall--but I think it also translates to friends who hurt you, family members who anger you, and people who don't like you. When I'm faced with evil... I need to respond in the way Christ teaches here. I don't need to retaliate or say nasty things about them, but I need to respond in kindness. This is something that I constantly struggle with and see that God is constantly showing me what I need to be doing when I fail.

Part of dying to myself involves letting go of my selfish desires. My selfish desire is to retaliate or make myself feel better by saying something mean about that person behind their back... but God's desire is to say something kind to them or help them out.

As God is teaching me, He's filling my heart with a desire for Him stronger than I've had before. He's slowly working on my heart, and I'm trying as only a fallen person can to follow Him. I fail an awful lot... but God in His grace helps me get back up and keep going. I hope that one day I can be even slightly like the kind of person that God wants me to be.

"Your grace is amazing to me...
Your love is still such a wonder...
Your cross is still bringing me to my knees, Oh God...
You still amaze me."
- You Still Amaze Me; Rebecca St. James