The last few days, I've been reading the book Crazy Love and thinking about it a lot. It's an amazing book, really. Besides the Bible it's probably one of the most convicting books I've ever read. Probably the most convicting part is an area that talks about being luke-warm; whether or not there is such a thing as a luke warm Christian. This is such a powerful section because our American society has made Christianity into such a religion. We've convinced people and even ourselves that all we need to do is pray the 'sinner's prayer' and 'become Christians' and that's our ticket into Heaven. You know that children's song, "Acts 1, 2, and 3"? It goes something like this:
Act one: Seek Jesus,
Act two: Believe,
Act three: Live for Christ and serve Him faithfully...
But we've entirely left out the second and third steps. We tell people to 'ask Jesus into their hearts' without putting emphasis on the fact that it isn't just the prayer, it's the belief in your heart; and that faith, if real, will manifest itself out in a tangible way that results in godly living.
If you read the gospels, Christ says that we're to go make disciples. He says that anyone who won't take up their cross to follow Him cannot be His disciple. He says not to even waste time burying the dead, but to follow Him as soon as we seek Him and let the dead bury their own dead. He says anyone who is ashamed of Him will not be known by Him when the Father is judging. He says the ones who love Him will obey Him. He says that those who try to look good on the outside without caring what their hearts are truly like are like white-washed tombs that look beautiful but are filled with dead people's bones. He says that if you aren't willing to sell everything you have to follow Him, you can't follow Him at all. He says not to store up treasures on earth, but treasures in Heaven. He says that if you're burdened, you should give it all to Him. He says that when the world opposes you, to remember Him, because they opposed HIM first and HE has overcome the world! He says to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you. He says that anyone who didn't help the least of these didn't help Him. He says you can't serve money and Him.
How much more radical can you be?
Jesus was radical. He wasn't like anyone else in history. All other teachers and religions have taught that you need to be good enough; He taught that you can never be good enough-- and then He proved it by paying for the sins of those who would follow Him!
But look back over the section of 'He says.' He says all these things to us today. These weren't just things He told people in Scripture; these are commands for today. Yet we're content to just call ourselves Christians because 'that's our relgion' and we go to church for an hour on Sunday mornings. Jesus came to call sinners, of whom I am the worst, yet I'm content to do so little.
I don't want to admit it, but this is the plain honest truth: I often want to still be able to call myself a Christian and have assurance of my salvation without living super radically. I think something along the lines of, "If I don't talk to so and so about Jesus all the time, will He really be ashamed of me when judgment days comes?" When I think about that, I'm saddened because I realize just how bad my heart really is. I'm more concerned about still being a Christian than being totally sold-out for Jesus. I'm not concerned enough with having the same kind of crazy, all-consuming love that He had for me; I'd rather just stick with the comfortable, half-hearted love that I've indulged in for too long.
But we aren't called to be "Christians"; you know, those people who say they love Jesus but won't actually ever serve Him to a point where they have to sacrifice; we're called to let Christ rule our hearts and lives, being "little Christs" (the original meaning of the word "Christian," before it became so distorted by our materialistic, selfish culture).
It's that kind of love that demands my soul, my life, my all. It's a crazy kind of love.
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sold out for Jesus
A few months ago, I was thinking about Vacation Bible School. That's not so strange. You think to yourself. She's ALWAYS talking about VBS. Why shouldn't she think about it? But bear with me a moment. This was one of the rare times that I was thinking of VBS in a non-positive way. In fact, you might almost call it a negative way. Why? Well, because, I bought into this lie that you and I both have heard everywhere. I was thinking that the lie was truth. I was thinking one day, that if only someone else would lead this VBS, he or she could do such a better job than I could. For instance, if someone who was really musically talented led the VBS, the kids could sound like a professional choir! Or if someone who was really talented at crafts led the VBS, she could help us save a ton of money on crafts and they would look great! Or if someone who knew his neighbors well led the VBS, we could have more neighbor children join in. These thoughts went on in my mind, and as you can probably imagine, I thought of more and more scenarios in which people who had talents that I don't have led the VBS, which would help it be better.
This, my friends, is not only ridiculous considering I can't really help the fact that I don't live around here and know neighbors here or that I'm not very great with crafts, but it's also one of the worst lies that Christians could ever believe! Think about it. If we believe that God can only use us when we have certain talents or abilities, we'll think twice about volunteering both in the community and in the church body. You'll stop telling people about God if you don't think you're a great evangelist. You'll stop teaching Sunday School if you don't think you're a natural-born teacher. If you're not incredible with toddlers, you'll stop volunteering in the nursery. If you don't have a "passion" for cooking, you might stop setting up snacks after church or for Bible Study. You don't think you're great at traveling, so you stop going on mission trips. Imagine, even, if everyone who didn't think that he was a great listener stopped attending the Sabbath day service!
These may sound like extreme cases, but it's the truth. What if we waited for God to give us the full dose of talent that we would like before serving Him? Listen to the wise words of the apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:26, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised thing-- and the things that were not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." God has chosen those who are FOOLISH (me) and WEAK (me again) so that He can show His perfect power clearly, if I am only willing to be used by Him. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
If God can delight in using my insufficiency to show His aptitude and sovereignty-- then the least I could ever do is be willing to serve Him.
I don't just want to serve God-- I want to be sold out for Him. I want to be so sold out for the Lord that, no matter what else, my talent doesn't matter, my resources don't matter, my strength doesn't matter-- but that all these things pale in comparison to how great and awesome my God is!
I suppose I made it sound above as if I don't think it's important to have gifts. That's not it at all! God is the giver of all good gifts. He gives us all talents and abilities to SERVE HIM. But. If we're always concerned with waiting for someone with more talent to step up to the plate, we'll stop serving God where He wants us. One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I don't think the author is saying that being able to speak well is bad, but rather that it's not where our faith should be. Our faith shouldn't rest on the fact that someone says or does things well, or in our abilities, or even how well we think some ministry opportunity will go.
Where, then, shall we put our faith?
In Christ Alone.
This, my friends, is not only ridiculous considering I can't really help the fact that I don't live around here and know neighbors here or that I'm not very great with crafts, but it's also one of the worst lies that Christians could ever believe! Think about it. If we believe that God can only use us when we have certain talents or abilities, we'll think twice about volunteering both in the community and in the church body. You'll stop telling people about God if you don't think you're a great evangelist. You'll stop teaching Sunday School if you don't think you're a natural-born teacher. If you're not incredible with toddlers, you'll stop volunteering in the nursery. If you don't have a "passion" for cooking, you might stop setting up snacks after church or for Bible Study. You don't think you're great at traveling, so you stop going on mission trips. Imagine, even, if everyone who didn't think that he was a great listener stopped attending the Sabbath day service!
These may sound like extreme cases, but it's the truth. What if we waited for God to give us the full dose of talent that we would like before serving Him? Listen to the wise words of the apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:26, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised thing-- and the things that were not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." God has chosen those who are FOOLISH (me) and WEAK (me again) so that He can show His perfect power clearly, if I am only willing to be used by Him. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
If God can delight in using my insufficiency to show His aptitude and sovereignty-- then the least I could ever do is be willing to serve Him.
I don't just want to serve God-- I want to be sold out for Him. I want to be so sold out for the Lord that, no matter what else, my talent doesn't matter, my resources don't matter, my strength doesn't matter-- but that all these things pale in comparison to how great and awesome my God is!
I suppose I made it sound above as if I don't think it's important to have gifts. That's not it at all! God is the giver of all good gifts. He gives us all talents and abilities to SERVE HIM. But. If we're always concerned with waiting for someone with more talent to step up to the plate, we'll stop serving God where He wants us. One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I don't think the author is saying that being able to speak well is bad, but rather that it's not where our faith should be. Our faith shouldn't rest on the fact that someone says or does things well, or in our abilities, or even how well we think some ministry opportunity will go.
Where, then, shall we put our faith?
In Christ Alone.
Friday, August 20, 2010
VBS came and went-- already?
This week marks one of the greatest weeks of my entire life. Yes, I mean that literally and seriously. It was better than any vacation on the beach, any trip to somewhere fun, or almost any other period of 'relaxation.' This week I got to teach twenty children about the value of their lives to God. My best friend, Haley, and I spent the last twelve months planning for, praying for, practicing for, preparing for, ordering materials for, shopping for, and inviting people to Vacation Bible School. I honestly don't think you would believe just HOW MUCH God has provided for this VBS. First off, with the curriculum. I love the theme-- it was an Egyptian Mystery theme: Decoding the mystery of life. Every day there was a different lesson about life. Day 1: God made life. Day 2: God made life wonderfully! Day 3: God offers eternal life through Jesus. Day 4: We should value and protect life. And Day 5: God uses our lives. Each day we also memorized a verse that went with the theme, worked in some workbooks, had a snack and watched Veggie Tales, learned about a missionary, played a fun active game, played a review game, sang, did a craft, and one of my favorites-- had a drama! Before I say anything else about the drama, I have to thank my amazing cast: Keely Rendle (as Joe Johnson), Haley Kovach (as Mackenzie Ross), Raymond Dokupil (as Albert Peacock), Anne Rendle (as Percy Sedgwick), and Hannah Dokupil and Curtis Kovach (both as Carson Hughes). I played Claire Sedgwick, owner of the Sedgwick museum. It was a mystery set in a museum in Egypt. I. LOVED. the. drama. It was absolutely amazing-- an absolute must for next year! I also enjoyed the lesson time. Some kids might think learning the main lesson would be slow-paced or boring, but really the curriculum is super interactive! Some of the children even mentioned that was there favorite part!
Another amazing way God provided was through the families. He really, REALLY encouraged me through some people who came. How so? Well, most of the families said that they would only make it for two, maybe three days-- but by the end of the week they told me that they were so pleased with the VBS and their kids were learning so much and having such a good time that they rearranged their schedule to fit VBS in. And every single family came every day after the first. :) I was so happy! All right, I think that what I just wrote sounds like I'm bragging, like somehow MY VBS was so wonderful that people really wanted to come. This is NOT how I meant it, I meant rather that God was SO GOOD in encouraging me through these families. :)
The final way God provided for me, that I'll discuss here, is through the helpers. Every single one of the staff encouraged me and helped me, and the kids adored all the helpers. I could see God's light and love shining through the leaders! What an awesome God we serve!
I also have to thank one VERY special person, besides the LORD, for this VBS. Haley Kovach, my amazing Song leader, Mackenzie Ross in the skit, and assistant teacher. Thank you luv!
Here's one song we sang, in case you're interested. I think it's my favorite.
There Aren't Any Monkeys in Our Family Tree
If you're in the monkey business then you know you're gonna find 'em
Goin' rope to rope, swingin' vine to vine.
You'll find 'em in the jungle, You'll find 'em in the zoo,
You'll find 'em on safari goin' "ooh ooh ooh!"
But there's one place they'll never be--
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree!
We were created by the Lord above
We were created in His image of love.
We're not mutated from a chimpanzee!
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree.
If you're looking at the evidence, the truth is really plain
In the microscope, in the DNA.
Every kind is different, every one unique,
and none are linked together by the "missing link."
We're made by a Designer so it's clear to see--
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree!
Hey, hey, we're not the monkeys!
No no, ooh ooh, uh uh uh!
Hey, hey, we're not the monkeys!
They can't make a monkey out of me!
You can study every ology from A to Z,
But there aren't any monkeys in our family tree!!
All right, I can't put pictures or videos on this computer, but as soon as I can use my own computer again, I will post the videos of the drama (I have all but the first day on tape) and a BUNCH of pictures. So, instead of videos and pictures at the moment, I'll post funny/ cute quotes from the last week.
"Are you coming back next year?" ~Me
"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH yeah." ~Sam
"VBS is canceled this year." (Two parents were saying this to each other a couple months ago)
"What?!? The forest VBS IS CANCELED?" ~Sam and Annie, the twins.
"No, the VBS at first EPC." ~their parents
"Oh good, we want to go to the forest VBS." ~Annie
"Joe is a man of few words. I used to think he didn't like me!" ~Anne (playing Percy)
"I don't like you." ~Keely (playing Joe)
"I apologize for his lack of manners." ~Me, speaking of Percy, playing Claire
"Oh, that's all right. I'm sure he's a nice person." ~Haley, playing Mackenzie
"No comment." ~Me
"We want to be on YOUR team!" ~The twins, Mia and Abby
"Should one of you go on another team?" ~Me
"NO! We want to be on YOUR team!" ~Mia and Abby
"She's (Anne) like my new best friend!" ~Mariah
One day, all of the boys were being naughty. We use fake dollars as a motivation for them to behave, and at the end of the week, if they've memorized their verses and been good and participated, they can spend their dollars at a little "store." Haley said, "Okay, you're all about to lose a dollar!" Instant silence.
Oh, this week was amazinggggggggggggg. :) God is awesome!
Another amazing way God provided was through the families. He really, REALLY encouraged me through some people who came. How so? Well, most of the families said that they would only make it for two, maybe three days-- but by the end of the week they told me that they were so pleased with the VBS and their kids were learning so much and having such a good time that they rearranged their schedule to fit VBS in. And every single family came every day after the first. :) I was so happy! All right, I think that what I just wrote sounds like I'm bragging, like somehow MY VBS was so wonderful that people really wanted to come. This is NOT how I meant it, I meant rather that God was SO GOOD in encouraging me through these families. :)
The final way God provided for me, that I'll discuss here, is through the helpers. Every single one of the staff encouraged me and helped me, and the kids adored all the helpers. I could see God's light and love shining through the leaders! What an awesome God we serve!
I also have to thank one VERY special person, besides the LORD, for this VBS. Haley Kovach, my amazing Song leader, Mackenzie Ross in the skit, and assistant teacher. Thank you luv!
Here's one song we sang, in case you're interested. I think it's my favorite.
There Aren't Any Monkeys in Our Family Tree
If you're in the monkey business then you know you're gonna find 'em
Goin' rope to rope, swingin' vine to vine.
You'll find 'em in the jungle, You'll find 'em in the zoo,
You'll find 'em on safari goin' "ooh ooh ooh!"
But there's one place they'll never be--
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree!
We were created by the Lord above
We were created in His image of love.
We're not mutated from a chimpanzee!
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree.
If you're looking at the evidence, the truth is really plain
In the microscope, in the DNA.
Every kind is different, every one unique,
and none are linked together by the "missing link."
We're made by a Designer so it's clear to see--
There aren't any monkeys in our family tree!
Hey, hey, we're not the monkeys!
No no, ooh ooh, uh uh uh!
Hey, hey, we're not the monkeys!
They can't make a monkey out of me!
You can study every ology from A to Z,
But there aren't any monkeys in our family tree!!
All right, I can't put pictures or videos on this computer, but as soon as I can use my own computer again, I will post the videos of the drama (I have all but the first day on tape) and a BUNCH of pictures. So, instead of videos and pictures at the moment, I'll post funny/ cute quotes from the last week.
"Are you coming back next year?" ~Me
"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH yeah." ~Sam
"VBS is canceled this year." (Two parents were saying this to each other a couple months ago)
"What?!? The forest VBS IS CANCELED?" ~Sam and Annie, the twins.
"No, the VBS at first EPC." ~their parents
"Oh good, we want to go to the forest VBS." ~Annie
"Joe is a man of few words. I used to think he didn't like me!" ~Anne (playing Percy)
"I don't like you." ~Keely (playing Joe)
"I apologize for his lack of manners." ~Me, speaking of Percy, playing Claire
"Oh, that's all right. I'm sure he's a nice person." ~Haley, playing Mackenzie
"No comment." ~Me
"We want to be on YOUR team!" ~The twins, Mia and Abby
"Should one of you go on another team?" ~Me
"NO! We want to be on YOUR team!" ~Mia and Abby
"She's (Anne) like my new best friend!" ~Mariah
One day, all of the boys were being naughty. We use fake dollars as a motivation for them to behave, and at the end of the week, if they've memorized their verses and been good and participated, they can spend their dollars at a little "store." Haley said, "Okay, you're all about to lose a dollar!" Instant silence.
Oh, this week was amazinggggggggggggg. :) God is awesome!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Why Not Gold?
Today I was reading Gracie, Titus, and Matthew a Bible story about Joseph and his brothers-- how he was sold into slavery for pieces of silver, forced to leave his home, punished for something he didn't do, yet in the end God used all of this for something good: so that Joseph could forgive his brothers and give them food. At the end, we started talking about how another King was similar. He had to leave His Father and home, He was sold for pieces of silver, people wished Him dead, He was punished for something He didn't do-- yet in the end, God used it for good: so that He could forgive the sins of anyone who asked Him to. I explained that this King was Jesus. Then I asked Grace and Titus, "Do you remember that Jesus was sold for pieces of silver?" They shook their heads as I explained, "One of Jesus' disciples, Judas, decided to sell Jesus to some very bad people so that they would give him silver."
Titus then piped up, "Why not gold?"
Um... I think we're kind of missing the point here...
Titus then piped up, "Why not gold?"
Um... I think we're kind of missing the point here...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
He Is My Portion
Lately, I've been reading a lot in my devotions about how God is all we need.
Lamentations 3:24, "I say to myself, 'the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'"
Exodus 15:2, "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."
1 Chronicles 16:11, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek His face always.
Psalm 28:8, "The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one."
Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 105:4, "Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."
Isaiah 12:2, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation."
Is that true of you? I think of how often we, even as Christians, try to come before God bringing Jesus plus something else. But we cannot in any way be justifiable before our Lord with Jesus plus anything else. It is either Jesus that we depend on for everything, or it is not. Either God will be one's portion, or something else will have first priority in life. This is sometimes a very hard concept to grasp. We think that we understand that Jesus is all we need, yet sometimes we are not willing to make Jesus all that we have. As Corrie ten Boom once said, "You can never know that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have." It really is easy to think that we can approach God's throne bringing something of our own. But we cannot. It's either Jesus, or something else.
God is jealous for our affections...
Is He your portion?
Lamentations 3:24, "I say to myself, 'the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'"
Exodus 15:2, "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."
1 Chronicles 16:11, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek His face always.
Psalm 28:8, "The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one."
Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 105:4, "Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."
Isaiah 12:2, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation."
Is that true of you? I think of how often we, even as Christians, try to come before God bringing Jesus plus something else. But we cannot in any way be justifiable before our Lord with Jesus plus anything else. It is either Jesus that we depend on for everything, or it is not. Either God will be one's portion, or something else will have first priority in life. This is sometimes a very hard concept to grasp. We think that we understand that Jesus is all we need, yet sometimes we are not willing to make Jesus all that we have. As Corrie ten Boom once said, "You can never know that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have." It really is easy to think that we can approach God's throne bringing something of our own. But we cannot. It's either Jesus, or something else.
God is jealous for our affections...
Is He your portion?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Safe, at Last
Lately, I've been worrying a lot about the future. For those of you who don't know me very well, I'm sort of a planner. I like to be prepared for the future... I don't really like to just leave things up in the air until the last minute. I like to have a plan. A purpose. A direction.
This has proved a struggle for me over the last few years (actually, longer, but why push it? :) Because my family moves around quite a bit. So whenever I think about making plans for the future, the Lord gently shows me that those plans might not work out by-- how else?-- moving us somewhere different. Our most recent move has landed us in Nagoya, Japan, and while we were planning on going back to our home state after this move, there is a slight chance that we will move to a different state in a few weeks instead. Last night, I cried for a good while with my mom about it. However later that night, I was reading in my devotions about worry, trust, and trouble. I read Matthew 6:25-34,
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry a bout clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
It's so true. Even if I don't worry about what I'll be doing tomorrow or next week or next year, Jesus Christ has granted me today to live for Him! I have enough struggles, enough work, enough everything just for today, because that's all I'm guaranteed. I can live right now for God's glory, or not. The choice is mine. A little later on in my devotions, I read a beautiful promise, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken." - Psalm 37:25
God never forsakes those He calls! Jesus also promises us, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
I was also listening to Phil Wickham's song 'Safe' recently. I won't quote the whole song, but the chorus says,
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Even if everything falls apart in the world; even if there isn't anything else I can rely upon, I know this: I don't need to know where I'm going, as long as I know the One that I'm following and I'm willing to give everything up for Him.
This has proved a struggle for me over the last few years (actually, longer, but why push it? :) Because my family moves around quite a bit. So whenever I think about making plans for the future, the Lord gently shows me that those plans might not work out by-- how else?-- moving us somewhere different. Our most recent move has landed us in Nagoya, Japan, and while we were planning on going back to our home state after this move, there is a slight chance that we will move to a different state in a few weeks instead. Last night, I cried for a good while with my mom about it. However later that night, I was reading in my devotions about worry, trust, and trouble. I read Matthew 6:25-34,
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry a bout clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
It's so true. Even if I don't worry about what I'll be doing tomorrow or next week or next year, Jesus Christ has granted me today to live for Him! I have enough struggles, enough work, enough everything just for today, because that's all I'm guaranteed. I can live right now for God's glory, or not. The choice is mine. A little later on in my devotions, I read a beautiful promise, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken." - Psalm 37:25
God never forsakes those He calls! Jesus also promises us, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
I was also listening to Phil Wickham's song 'Safe' recently. I won't quote the whole song, but the chorus says,
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Even if everything falls apart in the world; even if there isn't anything else I can rely upon, I know this: I don't need to know where I'm going, as long as I know the One that I'm following and I'm willing to give everything up for Him.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
God's Word-- Our Light
I'm sorry I'm a little late on my '$15 or less' weekend post over here! But for most of you, it still is the weekend so I guess we're okay. :)
Did you know that there are more Christians imprisoned in China then in any other country in the world (Voice of the Martyrs Global Report, 2010)? Believers in China are in constant danger of losing their lives or going to prison and never seeing their families again. Chinese Christians present such a wonderful example of following Jesus, no matter the cost! Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church world-wide, has a program called "140,000 Bibles for China," in which they are trying to raise Bibles for the world's most populous country. For only five dollars, you can go here: https://www1.vombooks.com/qry/qe_sf_donatenow.taf?_id=A373551896&_function=donate and give one of the most precious gifts to a believer-- God's perfect word. How can we know the God that created us if we do not know the Word that He is written? Let's share God's perfect word!
Did you know that there are more Christians imprisoned in China then in any other country in the world (Voice of the Martyrs Global Report, 2010)? Believers in China are in constant danger of losing their lives or going to prison and never seeing their families again. Chinese Christians present such a wonderful example of following Jesus, no matter the cost! Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church world-wide, has a program called "140,000 Bibles for China," in which they are trying to raise Bibles for the world's most populous country. For only five dollars, you can go here: https://www1.vombooks.com/qry/qe_sf_donatenow.taf?_id=A373551896&_function=donate and give one of the most precious gifts to a believer-- God's perfect word. How can we know the God that created us if we do not know the Word that He is written? Let's share God's perfect word!
God bless you all,
Rachel
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tournament!
Saturday was our the first tournament I've been to this year for speech. I competed in Apologetics (questions about the Bible) and Impromptu (you have two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on one of three words/quotes that you draw). For my dear friend Haley, this was her first tournament. We had so much fun together, and hanging out in between rounds with Liana, Jessica, Grace, Sophia, Hannah, and others. It was a huge blessing to be able to pray together, encourage each other, watch other speeches, and catch up with others and see what God has been doing in their lives. And of course, competing in Impromptu for the first time (excluding speech camp :) was a real adventure, too!
To start off the day, Jessica, Liana, Haley, and I all practiced speeches for each other. Then it was time for impromptu. The first round of impromptu I spoke on the quote "Where there is room in the heart, there is always room in the house." That was very fun! Then I watched Haley give her impromptu on "Two people cannot long be friends who cannot forgive each other's faults." She did a great job and you wouldn't be able to believe this was her first year of speech. Then we had apologetics... Haley spoke first on "The meaning and significance of Jesus' claim that He is the 'Son of Man.'" Then I spoke on "The meaning and significance of Jesus' claim that He was the 'Son of God.'" That, too, was fun!
Then we had lunch, talked with Liana, Jess, Hannah, and Gracie, and just had fun! Then, back to speaking... more impromptu. I spoke on the word "trust." This was not nearly as good. I didn't do a very good job, but, God had a plan, of course. Then Haley spoke on "Risks" and then another friend, Catherine, spoke on "Reputation." It was fun to watch them, too! Then, finally, it was time for our last speeches for apologetics. I spoke on "The meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God." Then, Haley spoke on the same topic in a different room, and our friend Grace spoke on "Provide evidence for the historical existence of Jesus." It was wonderful to watch them both, I can learn a lot from them!
That was the end of our speaking day, so Haley and I headed upstairs to watch Grace and Sophia's second duo round!!!!!!! It was AMAZING, just to let you know. Probably the best duo I've ever seen. Ever. It was so funny. Haley and I were laughing soooooooo hard. It was on the piece "Drama on the High Seas," and it was so good.
Then, Haley and I went back to the sanctuary for the awards ceremony. I ended up getting third in apologetics-- To God be the glory!-- and I had a number of friends who placed in different events. Grace go 2nd in Individual interp., and Grace and Sophia got 1st in their duo (of course!) Also, Sophia got 2nd in Apologetics, and placed in her Persuasive and I think in Individual interp, too!! She's amazing! All in all, it was an amazing day!
If you would like to hear about the tourny from my friend Hannah's point of view (plus see an absolutely ridiculous picture of me) here's the link: http://xian-na.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament-pictures.html
If you want to hear Haley's experience, here's the link to her blog: http://bigsisteroffour.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament.html
And if you'd like to know Sophia's opinion on wearing hose to the tournament: http://lereticentdragon.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament-attire.html
Well, that's pretty much it! God gave everyone a wonderful day at the tournament, I think! And I'm so glad that there were so many people there desiring to share God's word with others.
Grace,
Rachel
To start off the day, Jessica, Liana, Haley, and I all practiced speeches for each other. Then it was time for impromptu. The first round of impromptu I spoke on the quote "Where there is room in the heart, there is always room in the house." That was very fun! Then I watched Haley give her impromptu on "Two people cannot long be friends who cannot forgive each other's faults." She did a great job and you wouldn't be able to believe this was her first year of speech. Then we had apologetics... Haley spoke first on "The meaning and significance of Jesus' claim that He is the 'Son of Man.'" Then I spoke on "The meaning and significance of Jesus' claim that He was the 'Son of God.'" That, too, was fun!
Then we had lunch, talked with Liana, Jess, Hannah, and Gracie, and just had fun! Then, back to speaking... more impromptu. I spoke on the word "trust." This was not nearly as good. I didn't do a very good job, but, God had a plan, of course. Then Haley spoke on "Risks" and then another friend, Catherine, spoke on "Reputation." It was fun to watch them, too! Then, finally, it was time for our last speeches for apologetics. I spoke on "The meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God." Then, Haley spoke on the same topic in a different room, and our friend Grace spoke on "Provide evidence for the historical existence of Jesus." It was wonderful to watch them both, I can learn a lot from them!
That was the end of our speaking day, so Haley and I headed upstairs to watch Grace and Sophia's second duo round!!!!!!! It was AMAZING, just to let you know. Probably the best duo I've ever seen. Ever. It was so funny. Haley and I were laughing soooooooo hard. It was on the piece "Drama on the High Seas," and it was so good.
Then, Haley and I went back to the sanctuary for the awards ceremony. I ended up getting third in apologetics-- To God be the glory!-- and I had a number of friends who placed in different events. Grace go 2nd in Individual interp., and Grace and Sophia got 1st in their duo (of course!) Also, Sophia got 2nd in Apologetics, and placed in her Persuasive and I think in Individual interp, too!! She's amazing! All in all, it was an amazing day!
If you would like to hear about the tourny from my friend Hannah's point of view (plus see an absolutely ridiculous picture of me) here's the link: http://xian-na.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament-pictures.html
If you want to hear Haley's experience, here's the link to her blog: http://bigsisteroffour.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament.html
And if you'd like to know Sophia's opinion on wearing hose to the tournament: http://lereticentdragon.blogspot.com/2009/11/tournament-attire.html
Well, that's pretty much it! God gave everyone a wonderful day at the tournament, I think! And I'm so glad that there were so many people there desiring to share God's word with others.
Grace,
Rachel
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tricked into Giving Bibles away
“One day the teacher told us that we would play a special game. She whispered to us about a special book that our parents may have hidden in our homes. We were to wait until our parents went to sleep, search for this book, and secretly bring it to school the following day for a special surprise. I went home and immediately began searching for the book.
“The next day I was one of fourteen children who brought the black book, a Bible, to class. We were awarded bright red scarves, and the other students clapped as the teacher paraded us around the room.
“I ran home that afternoon because I was so excited to tell my mother how I had won the red scarf. She wasn’t in the house or the barn. I waited, but neither she nor my father came home, and I began to get scared. I was hungry and it was becoming dark. I began to feel sick inside, and I fell asleep in a chair.
“The next day police officers came and informed me that I was now in the care of the government. I never saw my parents again.”
An elderly woman from North Korea relayed this story. She never heard from her parents and is still struggling to find forgiveness. She is only one of many who have gone through such trials.
Let us be in prayer for the people like this lady in North Korea. It's so easy to fall into the trap of just believing that these people are just names or figures. It's easier still just not to think about it. Not to think about the pain and suffering that goes on around the world; not to think about how those who try to preserve the faith are brutally and heartlessly murdered and imprisoned around the world. It's easy to try to ignore it, or push away thoughts of it that arise in our minds.
But the people of North Korea who are suffering right now under the iron fist of a Communist dictator are real people. They are real people who are being deprived of the gospel. And they are real people who need the Lord. Because the heart of the problem lies in their need for a Savior. North Korea has robbed so many people of their Bibles, like in this story; they have done so much to deter the spread of the gospel. Yet the people still need the Lord. Still, even though darkness has filled North Korea like a plague, still, the people are hungry for the Lord. Still.
And they will continue to need the Lord. Forever.
Tomorrow, they will still need the Lord.
Still.
Forever they will need the Lord.
Still.
These people-- real people-- need the Lord. So please, join me in prayer for them. Pray continuously for the people of North Korea who are persecuted and not allowed to read the Bible. Pray that God would work a miracle so that they can know Him personally and experience His love. Pray, pray, pray. I challenge you to pray for them constantly. Do something that will remind you of them often, and pray whenever you're reminded. Pray with me for these people. Ask others to pray. These people need the Lord.
Still.
“The next day I was one of fourteen children who brought the black book, a Bible, to class. We were awarded bright red scarves, and the other students clapped as the teacher paraded us around the room.
“I ran home that afternoon because I was so excited to tell my mother how I had won the red scarf. She wasn’t in the house or the barn. I waited, but neither she nor my father came home, and I began to get scared. I was hungry and it was becoming dark. I began to feel sick inside, and I fell asleep in a chair.
“The next day police officers came and informed me that I was now in the care of the government. I never saw my parents again.”
An elderly woman from North Korea relayed this story. She never heard from her parents and is still struggling to find forgiveness. She is only one of many who have gone through such trials.
Let us be in prayer for the people like this lady in North Korea. It's so easy to fall into the trap of just believing that these people are just names or figures. It's easier still just not to think about it. Not to think about the pain and suffering that goes on around the world; not to think about how those who try to preserve the faith are brutally and heartlessly murdered and imprisoned around the world. It's easy to try to ignore it, or push away thoughts of it that arise in our minds.
But the people of North Korea who are suffering right now under the iron fist of a Communist dictator are real people. They are real people who are being deprived of the gospel. And they are real people who need the Lord. Because the heart of the problem lies in their need for a Savior. North Korea has robbed so many people of their Bibles, like in this story; they have done so much to deter the spread of the gospel. Yet the people still need the Lord. Still, even though darkness has filled North Korea like a plague, still, the people are hungry for the Lord. Still.
And they will continue to need the Lord. Forever.
Tomorrow, they will still need the Lord.
Still.
Forever they will need the Lord.
Still.
These people-- real people-- need the Lord. So please, join me in prayer for them. Pray continuously for the people of North Korea who are persecuted and not allowed to read the Bible. Pray that God would work a miracle so that they can know Him personally and experience His love. Pray, pray, pray. I challenge you to pray for them constantly. Do something that will remind you of them often, and pray whenever you're reminded. Pray with me for these people. Ask others to pray. These people need the Lord.
Still.
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