Are You Making A Difference?

So tonight I was reading my devotion for the day, and it was about counting your blessings. The passage was Psalm 34:1- "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (ESV). And I was like, "oh that's all well and good. I can definitely try to do that. As a matter of fact, I'm getting better at it." But then I switched to my usual translation of the Bible, God's Word Translation (GW), and it stopped me in my tracks. "I will thank the Lord at all times. My mouth will always praise him."

"My mouth will always praise him."

Wait....what? That's not what I read before!

Yep, totally stopped me in my tracks. It's all well and good to count my blessings, but is what I say pleasing to God? See, we're not here on this earth for us. We're here for God's glory. If all I do is count my blessings and not speak love, then what good are my blessings? Why should God give me blessings if I'm not going to praise Him with what I say and do? Being a Christian does not mean just living differently inward and reading the Bible. It also means that we shine a light to the world around us. This morning I read Matthew 5:14, and it's been on my mind since I had to read it for one of my classes. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." For some reason, this verse has just been going through my mind over and over since Monday.

It makes me think of a scene from the movie To Save A Life. If you haven't seen it, you should really consider seeing it. It's a Christian movie that deals with teens and suicide. But in this scene, Jake is at youth group listening to the pastor speak. He just came back from watching his girlfriend leave because she felt judged by the other youth. The pastor told the youth to take a few minutes in silence to think about who they've wronged, and the youth start whispering among themselves. Jake gets upset and tells them that his girlfriend just left because she felt judged. And he gets right to the point with this line, "What's the point of all of this if you're not going to let it change you?"

He's exactly right. What's the point of Christianity if we're not going to be a change in the world? What's the point if we're not going to be a light that people can look to? What's the point if our words aren't pleasing to God? What's the point if we aren't living for God instead of ourselves? We're the only beings who can celebrate and praise God's Magnificence and Power.

I have two song suggestions for you if this really spoke to you: "City on a Hill" by Casting Crowns and "My Own Little World" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

"I will thank the Lord at all times. My mouth will always praise Him." Psalm 34:1
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Winter Wonderland

I felt like a little kid yesterday. Nothing excites me more than the prospect of snow. As the hours dragged on and the snow came closer and closer, I got more and more impatient. When it came, I almost cried I was so happy (almost screamed from excitement too)! I was just like a little kid on Christmas.

To me, there is nothing more absolutely breath-taking than watching snow fall. It's so quiet and peaceful. It's like a hush just falls over the city while the flakes turn the landscape into white dust. I sat by my window watching the snow fall for 2 hours. It was like watching a movie scene the way the snow was falling. It was an absolute dream come true for me.

Isn't our God amazing? Watching the snow fall in Middle GA made me realize once again how big my God is. People know we rarely get snow down here. And to get the inch that we did is a miracle. I'm sure most of us have heard that no two snowflakes are just alike. But have you ever really stopped and thought about that? Imagine how many snowflakes fell last night. Probably trillions! And yet none of them are the same. How incredible is that! I cannot fathom designing trillions snowflakes. I cannot even imagine designing all the stars, galaxies, and people that exist! God is so awesome! It reminds me of the song "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin. I have loved that song for years. I normally equate it with outer space, but honestly it could go for snowflakes too.

"The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world."
(Psalm 19:1-4 NLT)

Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
    Israel my chosen one!
I alone am God,
    the First and the Last.
It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,
    my right hand that spread out the heavens above.
When I call out the stars,
    they all appear in order.”
(Isaiah 48:12-13)

“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—
    glorious in holiness,
awesome in splendor,
    performing great wonders?"
(Exodus 15:11)

"O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?"
(Psalm 8:1,3,4)

I praise my Maker for showing me His majesty once again! How anyone could look at the world and believe evolution, I'll never understand! Creation screams out God's name. Thank You, Lord, for this winter wonderland!

Personal Blog: Mind-Blowing Day

So today started out like any other Sunday. Woke up at 7, got ready for church, headed out at 8:20. I work as a greeter for the 9am service so I have to be there at 8:30. After that, I actually go to the 10:30. So I'm at Harvest from 8:30-11:30. When it was about 10 o'clock, I got super tired. It didn't make any sense to me either because I hadn't gone to bed later than normal and technically I was sleeping in half an hour. I almost went home to sleep- after all, I had already heard the service. But I persevered and made it through the service. It helped that they played Not Ashamed which is one of my favorite songs.

After church, I went to Stevie B's to eat with my sis. I don't know if you know anything about Stevie B's, but it's a pizza buffet (with the BEST cheeseburger pizza) and a game room. Besides cheeseburger pizza, the game room is the best part. So I'm in there using my tokens, just playing the games, you know the usual. Trying to get a lot of tickets. Out of nowhere, I hit the jackpot on one of the games and won 1,155 tickets. No lie. Okay it actually gave me 1,105 because it ran out of tickets at the 50 mark (shame on it), but hey I was still amazed. Never done that in my life. On another game I got the 500 ticket bonus. I end up with 2,000 tickets and hadn't even used all my tokens. I was utterly speechless. Mind = blown.

When I got home, I took a nap. But it was not just any nap- I actually dreamed (or is it dreamt?). I NEVER dream when I nap; I only dream at night. It meant that I was sleeping deeply. Very usual for a nap. For that reason, it just struck me as amazing. Naps rarely help me that much. Mind = blown again.

Then it came time for homework. Yippee right? I was doing my Biblical Texts & American History assignment which was to identify different statements as academic history, religious studies, devotional, or hearsay. It wasn't that bad, but a couple of them I was just like I have no idea. I started thinking to myself that I needed to find someone to get there opinion on it when Justin messaged me. Literally the moment after I was thinking that. He wanted to compare answers! Mind = blown once again.

It really was just a mind-blowing day. After the jackpot and bonus I thought to myself, "What did I do to deserve this?" After my nap I thought, "This has been a mind-blowing day. What good did I do to deserve this?" And it was in that moment that God spoke to me. It has nothing to do with the good I've done. I was blessed. See, that's the point of blessings. We don't deserve them. We don't even deserve God's love. But He bestows all those things on us because of His love and mercy.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

I am so thankful for God's blessings. I don't deserve even half of what He's given me, and all that He gives me is truly mind-blowing. Wanna know how I know this semester is going to be amazing? Because in the first week of school, I have become so much closer to two girls I practically consider family, started gaining more friends, found out how awesome BCM is, and had my mind blown three times today. My God is an Awesome God and I know He has big things planned for me!!!

"For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

"For you have rescued me from death;
    you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
    in your life-giving light." (Psalm 56:13)

A Look into 2014- Psalm 56:13

As I mentioned on Facebook and Twitter, my verse for 2014 is Psalm 56:13. My verse for 2013 was Psalm 86:11, "Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You." As I look back over the year, He did exactly that. He chastised me when I needed it, and over the past several months, He brought me closer to Him more than I've ever been. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a purpose. I can see what He wants me to do with my life. But He had to break me to do it. Why do we think we can live our lives on our own? Why do we think God is just an option, something we can use when we are in desperate need? He is the source of life. He created us to have a relationship with Him; we'll never feel fulfilled without Him.

I've been saved since I was 5 years old. I grew up going to church, so God was not a foreign concept to me. I could tell you every story in the Bible, front to back. I knew Scriptures. I considered myself a good kid because I went to church and even used a Christian curriculum at home. Oh, I tried to follow God. I really did. But I'd get close and then get pulled away by something else. But I considered myself good because I didn't drink, cuss, smoke, do drugs, etc etc. I didn't do any of the really bad stuff. Through the years of being on the same rollercoaster, I was slowly going farther and farther away from Him. So He did what He always does, He took away my distractions. He broke my stone-coldness and started warming my heart with His love. This last semester of college was my biggest spiritual growth period. Finally, I started yearning and hungering to read the Word. I read through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians- I was reading more than I'd done in years. Then, a knew feeling came to me, something that I'd never felt before- I wanted to go into ministry. I wanted to use what I'd learn to teach others and point them to Christ. I am sadly disappointed by churches in America. They preach one way but act completely different. Everything Christianity stands for is being torn down because Christians no longer act like "little Christs" but like the world. Christians no longer stand for the truth but are calloused of things in the world. We're not going to change the world with judgment and condemning; we're going to change by loving others and following Christ's example. I have a passion in my life to bring revival in America. I want to make an impact in this world and nation like George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards. I don't know how God is going to use me. But I'm hoping this blog is a start. I'm hoping one day this blog will impact hundreds.

God's love amazes me. How can He love me so much? Why would an Almighty God send His only Son to take on all of the sins of the world and die to save us? We don't deserve it. No matter how "good" you are, we don't deserve God's free gift. Psalm 56:13 is a reminder to me of what God has brought me through and that it is only by Him that I live. I don't want to forget last year. I don't want to forget anything of my life. He used it all to mold me a certain way. He made me special, unique, so that I could make an impact in someone's life with His love. "And yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We all are formed by Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8) Being molded and shaped isn't easy. Sometimes it hurts, but I'm thankful. I can be a light for Him now. "You are the light of the world- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise Your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16) I want others to see Christ in me, not for my glory but for His. It reminds me of part of a song- a song which happens to be my song for 2014:
"Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession,
Give me one glorious ambition for my life-
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To live as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You, my Lord;
Lead me on, and I will run after You."
(One Pure and Holy Passion)

It's not going to be easy. Satan is going to throw everything he can my way. But I hope that I can be like the Apostle Paul and run the race with everything I have. I hope that when I get to the end God will say to me, "Well done, my Good and Faithful Servant!" Wouldn't that be so amazing to hear that after everything you've done in your life? Who's with me?!

Psalm 56:13, "For You have rescued me from death; You have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in Your presence, O God, in Your life-giving light."

Christmas: What It Means for You and Me

We all know the two main themes of Christmas seen today: Jesus's birth and Santa Claus. While Santa Claus comes from years of folklore and stories of Saint Nicholas from the 4th-century (all something to do with Christianity), only Jesus's story never changes. Nativity scenes are always the same. Santa Claus decorations change every year. As a matter of fact, I saw a racing Santa this year. Who would've thought?

It's always great to receive Christmas presents. I mean let's be real, who doesn't know of things they want for Christmas? I know there's always at least one thing in particular I ask my parents for each Christmas. But the world has made Christmas all about receiving. I'm here to tell you, it's not. And if you already knew that, well, then maybe some deeper meaning of Christmas will come to you through this blog post.

Have you ever just stopped and really thought about the Christmas story? I mean we all know about the shepherds and the wise men and the angels and how Jesus was born in a manger etc etc. I'm sure at least most of us could give a general idea about what happened in Bethlehem so long ago. But what I think we don't fully understand is how significant Jesus's birth really was.

It all started back in the Garden of Eden in the early days of the Creation when everything was perfect. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin upon all of humanity. Now you can get into a big argument on who's fault it really was, but that's not the point of this. After they sinned, the Lord told them all his plan for redemption:
"I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other. I will make your descendants and her descendant hostile toward each other. He will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 GW)
Already God told them that one of their descendants would crush Satan. Although Adam and Eve did not know exactly what that meant, I'm sure the knowledge was very comforting.

Throughout the Old Testament, scripture after scripture said something about the coming Messiah. Can you imagine how long the Israelites were waiting? Can you imagine hearing from your parents and grandparents the stories of the coming Messiah and hearing how long the tribe had been waiting? Can you imagine being one of them and just hoping and hoping the Messiah would come during your lifetime? The wait must have been excruciating. Just think how many generations of people the Old Testament spans. It makes me think of the song "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus."

But Jesus finally came. Thousands of years after Adam and Eve, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. But why would He be born as a baby? Why come humbly instead of as a king should? I heard one good reason the other day about Him being born as a baby. People aren't scared of babies. I mean can you imagine Him coming down with all His glory? People would follow Him just because they were afraid. But coming as a baby, people had to have faith that He was the Messiah. Only people who really believed Him could truly follow Him. And yes, also He was coming to build the Heavenly kingdom not an earthly kingdom. I'm sure if it were an earthly kingdom, He would've come more kingly. But that wasn't His purpose. He came as Immanuel- God with Us.

How significant that name is! It isn't "God was with Us." It's the present tense with an understood "is": "God with Us." No longer do we have to be separated from God spiritually. Because Jesus became Immanuel, we now can have a relationship with God. We now can become His followers and have eternal life. God gave the ultimate gift and love:
"God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
When Jesus was on that cross, he literally took all of humanity's past and future sins on His shoulders and took them to the grave and Hell. He paid for all of them with His own life. What a gift! What love! The God Almighty would love humanity so deeply that He would give His own Son for us. Because of Him, we now can have love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control. Because of the love that He showed us, we now can bestow to others and be an example.

Did you know the word Christian actually means "little Christ"? God called us to like Christ, to walk as He did and love as He did. But we don't have to do it alone. Jesus became Immanuel. No longer are we alone: Immanuel. No longer must we worry about our future: Immanuel. No longer must we live in shame and sadness: Immanuel. No longer must we do things with our own strength: Immanuel. No longer must we go to Hell: Immanuel. No longer must we fear temptation: Immanuel! No longer must sin separate us from God: Immanuel! God's Son came to this earth to be Immanuel! Oh, what joy, what gift, what prize could ever top that! Humanity now can be restored if they just come to Immanuel for help.

God gave the ultimate gift. Christmas is a celebration, it's about salvation, it's about generosity. Don't let this world trap you in it's hustle and bustle and negativity in this Christmas season. Immanuel, God with Us. Live in joy, celebration, and victory because of the Savior who loved you so much to be born humbly to this world and die on the cross to pay for your sins.

This is one of the most powerful videos I've ever seen. I've shared it on Facebook and Twitter already but after reading this blog, watch it again and let it's meaning soak deep into your mind and heart.
"God With Us- A Young Charles Spurgeon Christmas Sermon"
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=W77KW7NX&fb_action_ids=248981978597703&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B461929930510412%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Short Blog: Churches in America

I never thought I'd be blogging on this, but I felt a need for it today. You know, one of the biggest problems with churches in America today is comparison. No longer do churches compare themselves to God's Word. It is now to other churches. "But this church does this." "Oh, look at how bad that church is!" "They have this equipment, we should get it too!"

I'm here to tell you- NO! Shall I say it again? NO! N-O-! The church is not the pastor's, it is the Lord's! God owns the church!

"God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church. The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way." (Ephesians 1:22-23 GW)

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church. I try to please everyone in every way. I don’t think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved." (1 Corinthians 10: 31-33)

"However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

"The opposite is true. The parts of the body that we think are weaker are the ones we really need.  The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we give special honor. So our unpresentable parts are made more presentable. However, our presentable parts don’t need this kind of treatment. God has put the body together and given special honor to the part that doesn’t have it.  God’s purpose was that the body should not be divided but rather that all of its parts should feel the same concern for each other. If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts share its suffering. If one part is praised, all the others share in its happiness." (1 Corinthians 12:22-26)

We live in a culture where comparison is the name of the game. If you don't look a certain way, act a certain way, do a certain thing, then you aren't worthy or good enough. Well I'm here to tell you today, that is a lie straight from the Devil! That goes for people and the church as a whole! Don't compare yourselves to worldly standards but to godly standards. God's way is the only thing that will stand sure forever. Besides, doesn't comparison bring a lot of envy and discontent? I mean who wants that? People look down on Christians today because we compare just like the world does. We try to be better or just as good as one another. What kind of example is that setting? Why should people go to church or follow God if its just comparing one another? You wanna make a change in the world and turn America around? Stand up and use God's Word as the standard. It is a much more content lifestyle because you're only trying to please God and not the whole world. Shall I get off my soap box now? ;)

 

Encouragement for Exams Week

So I don't know about you, but on Friday just thinking about this week made me stressed. So much studying to do and even a paper to write. Last night I decided if I need encouragement, then ya'll definitely need encouragement as well!

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]."
Philippians 4:6-8 AMP

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." Philippians 4:13 AMP (LOVE the way this version words it!!)

“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 GW

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

"Yet I still belong to you;
    you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
    I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish,
    for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

Psalm 73:23-28

 

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2

 

"I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!"

Psalm 121:1-2

 

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying." Romans 12:12

 

"For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.'"

Isaiah 41:13

 

"Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely."

Psalm 63:7-8

"So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8

And my favorite verse-
"For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Zephaniah 3:17

I hope these verses help! Study hard, my friends!