Merry Christmas

Well, I know it’s a few days late, but Merry Christmas! I’ve been wanting to write this post for the past few days but I convinced myself that since family was it town, paintball wars were to be won, movies were to be seen, food was to be feasted upon, it could wait. I don’t know why, but this Christmas has been the best one yet.(for me anyway) No, I wasn’t loaded up with tons of gifs or taken anywhere too spectacular, I was simply more in touch with the TRUE meaning of Christmas on a personal level. I will give partial credit to the song by Relient K called I celebrate the day. This song pretty much says it all, it encompasses Christmas in the last s lines of the song.(well, the entire song is great, but the last 3 words really hit home for me.)

With this Christmas wish is missed.
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Just read those last few lines again. We celebrate the day that HE was born to die so we could one day, PRAY for Him to SAVE our lives. I remember when I was younger hearing people say that Jesus was born to die, but it NEVER really hit home until I heard this song. I know it’s hard to get wrapped up in festivities and “stuff,” not only at Christmas time, any time. If we would live each day, waking up and praying, singing, dancing to, doing whatever you want to do to those last 3 lines, I cannot help but wonder how different our lives would be. I pray that you had a Merry Christmas and I hope that you can look at life with a different perspective. Think of Jesus, think of His sacrifice and love Him more.

Let it be

God’s word amazes me. I was just talked into buying this book on learning how to STUDY God’s word. ( It didn’t take too much convincing, by the way.) I have been reading the book sort of “in place of” my normal devotional book. Living By The Book, by Howard G. and William D. Hendricks isn’t just a reading book. It teaches you how to study the God inspired words that make up His holy book. It has scripture for you to read and is really a “learning” book. Any way, my point is that I found myself longing for Gods precious word. The other night I decided to skip the book and just pray and read my bible. Well, I’m really glad I did because the passage God lead me to was definitely something I needed to hear. As I drug myself into my bed, I grabbed my glasses and my bible. Since Christmas is right around the corner, I though it appropriate to read a portion of the infamous and never dwindling Christmas story. Luke 1 is where my fingers flipped to. This Christmas, (well, almost Christmas. I guess when I say “this Christmas,” I’m really intending to refer to the time of the year…well, the several weeks leading up to Christmas…yeah, yeah, you get the point.) , I have really mediated and understood the true meaning of Christmas more that I ever have before. I guess I’ve really been inspired by the realization of Jesus, and what He did for me…and the entire existence of humanity. The portion of the story that I read was when the angel appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen her to bare His son. After Gabriel had told Mary the news, in verse 37 he said, “ For with God, nothing will be impossible.” Vs. 38, “ Then Mary said, ‘Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” I have read this story a million times. But one thing immediately jumped out at me as soon as I had finished processing Mary’s words. “Let it be.” A young girl, who I believe was around the age of 15, was just told by an Angel of God that she was going to have a baby. Not just any baby, God’s only Son. Hello!? Marry accepted God’s will for her life without hesitation. Sure she was scared, but she said, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Not that she really had a choice in the matter, but she accepted Gods plan for her life. I am as guilty as the next person, and I know of so many people who know that God has a plan for their lives, yet they run as far away as possible from it. Without fail, we make plans for our life and what we want to do and where we want to go, but we don’t even bring the matter before God. Sometimes God asks us to do things that we don’t necessarily want to do, but just like Marry, if we accept Gods will and HIS plan, wonderful and marvelous things will happen. I’m sure there are many a people who have chosen to slap God in the face and deny His plan for them as they chase their shallow hopes and dreams which in essence lead to emptiness. Consider Mary’s words, and consider God’s leading on your heart…and let it be.

One foot in, one foot out.

One foot in, one foot out; we see it every day. I was recently reminded of this simple truth through one of my friend’s facebook status. James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Christians…true Christians don’t have a choice. If you choose to be a friend of God, you cannot live with one foot in the world and one foot out. It doesn’t work like that. Jesus Christ went and hung Himself on a cross and DIED so that we might have a relationship with Him. He didn’t hang half of Himself; He gave us all of Himself. Why should we expect anything less of ourselves? Some people may call me a stick in the mud and I suppose part of the time they are right. When I was younger, I used to get mad at my sister for listening to 89.5 instead of 88.1 because 89.5 had rockier music. (Air 1 rather than the Promise radio station.) Super legalistic, I know. I now listen to 89.5 all the time. It’s a great station with a great message. The reason I would get upset would be because I couldn’t tell that the music she was listening to honored God.( I was 10 so I didn’t really listen to the words) This seems kind of ridiculous but I believe it proves my point. So many Christians live their lives both ways. We live in the world and of the world. Our radio stations are programmed from Christian radio station, to Christian radio station, to country music, to crappy music. Our pockets are full of movie ticket stubs that range from Facing the Giants, to Blind Side, to filthy Will Ferrell movies.( excluding Elf, of course) We sing songs of worship on Sunday mornings yet we find ourselves leaking slang and curse words throughout the week. We aim and focus our lives on fitting into this world that we aren’t even supposed to be apart of. We are not offended by sin and it doesn’t break our hearts every time the guy sitting next us in math class uses Jesus’ name in vain every 5 minuets. Christians have become numb to the effects of sin and our hearts don’t long for purity and cleanliness like they should. We are adulterers! We are enemies of God and so often we choose to be friends of the world rather than with the One who longs to be with us. Thankfully, it doesn’t end here. God continues to love us; He continues to forgive our shortcomings and failures. He offers us hope and eternal life, love and peace. He offers us peace! How amazing. For a world that is desperately searching for peace…He freely offers, no strings attatched. Please, don’t get me wrong, and don’t think me to be some legalistic, finger pointing Christian. I’m not saying country music is bad or that we shouldn’t go to the movies. What I am saying is this: Let your sin, and the sin around you burden your heart. May it well up a desire within you to beg of God’s forgiveness and long for the returning of our King. Make an effort to love others with the love of Christ as you see the sin in our world. Remember that others are watching and remember that if you claim Christ, you bare His name…so don’t drag it through the mud.

Scars

“Scars are there to remind us where we’ve been but they don’t have to dictate our future.” If that’s not a true statement, I don’t know what it. (figure of speech…calm down.) Scars can hurt, especially when you vividly remember how you obtained the little devil. This goes for physical scars and even emotional ones. I suppose this can all tie together with what I said in my previous post about how God takes us through the fire to make us stronger and more pure. Majority of the time, people, including myself, look at their scars as reminders of the bad; how they wish it would have been different and how they wish they didn’t have to have the scar. Sometimes, I guess people look at their scars and remember the bad but know it had to happen in order to accomplish a certain goal. A military vet. or an athlete come to mind. I was watching one of my favorite shows the other night, Criminal minds,(best show ever) and one of the characters made that statement concerning a team member who had just been through a traumatic experience. There is a lot of truth behind that quote even more to be learned from it. There will always be situations and circumstances that we have to pass through in life that will leave us with scars. But every time we look at the fused together skin or remember that terrible experience… regret, spite and hatred don’t have to pass through our minds or even consume our thoughts. You may have messed up in the past, but one failure, or even 1,000 failures don’t dictate who you are or what you can be. God has a marvelous plan for each one of His children who choose to surrender their hearts to Him! Don’t look at the past and let it dictate your future because it doesn’t have to. The ball’s in YOUR court…you make the move.

God, Gold, and Radio?

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year. Cold weather, Christmas music, school break, family, friends, lots and lots of food, Jesus’ birthday, (which is the MOST important part) ABC family’s 25 Days of Christmas….oh, and don’t forget the Hallmark movies!  96.1 plays Christmas music beginning on Thanksgiving Day, and I am definitely one of those people who listen to it non stop until they take it off the radio station. The Delilah show, which is the radio show at night, is my favorite. Sure, they do all the “love stuff” but Delilah always finds ways to encourage and inspire her listeners. I was driving home from some recreational volleyball the other night (highlight of my week, by the way) and as I jumped in the car, trying to make sure I didn’t arrive home too late, I caught the tale end of a conversation between a man who had called in to talk to Delilah. (Don’t quote me on this, because I know I don’t have all the facts.) Delilah asked the man if he knew how white gold was made. He said he didn’t and she began to describe the process. The minerals, or whatever is taken from the ground to make the gold, are taken out of the ground. The “gold maker” then takes the minerals and applies it to an intense heat. This process allows all the impurities and the darkish, brown color to fade from the gold while a shiny, platinum color takes its place. This is what God does to our hearts; He subjects us to intense heat and He takes us through trials. We don’t understand at the time why we have to endure such pain and hardships but it is not done in vain. You can see where this is all going can’t you….amazing right? God allows us to go through the hard times, the intense heat – just like the gold, all to purify us and to make us into something better, something stronger. I can tell you from experience, and any honest person will tell you that you learn more about God and who He is when He takes you through the valley than you ever do when you’re on the mountain top. Just like the “gold maker” never takes his eye off of the gold as it goes through the heat, God NEVER takes His eyes off of us when He allows us to go through the battles. He takes us through those times to make us stronger. There will always be fires and moments of intense heat in our lives, but NEVER forget that God has you in the Palm of His hand and He is clinching His fist and has NO intention of letting you go. What a thought….it gives me chills and makes my heart skip a beat. I hope it does the same for you.

Decisons, Decisions, Decisions; God's will?

Decisions; everyone makes them. A lot of the time we make conscious decisions and a lot more of the time we make unconscious ones. Lately, I have been doing a lot of thinking in the “decision” area and have even sought wiser council on a certain subject matter. One of the ‘givers of the wisdom’ started talking about Gods will. He reminded me that Gods will isn’t something we have to go find. So many people, especially young adults in high school, get to that point in life where it begins to kick into high gear and they attempt to chase after Gods will for their lives. Well, as exciting as that sounds, it’s not how it works. God’s will is not something that you have to find, it’s something that you have to do. You have to decide that “you” are not what’s important. Instead of asking God, “Tell me Your will for my life,” you should be asking God, “What decision do I need to make to better accomplish your will for me.” If you think they’re the same…read them again and really think about it. This is where the decision factor comes into play. You can either decide to swallow your selfish pride and truly listen to God’s direction, or you can sit and soak in your complacency as you acquire that God send you a detailed letter with a step-by-step process of what you are supposed to do. A very wise man, (….Oh, it’s Dr. Brunson, who are we kidding here….everyone can see how God has blessed him) said that “Wisdom is putting into action what you already know.” That statement speaks VOLUMES. God doesn’t always give straight answers; surprise, surprise, surprise. Sometimes he expects is to live our faith and desire Him more. Switchfoot’s new CD, Hello Hurricane, has a song that says, “If it doesn’t break your heart it’s not love.” This could go in many different directions but the point I am trying to make with it is this: we should so YEARN for God, long to be with Him, long to serve Him, that it would break our heart to even think about being in a state of complacency or place where our hearts did not long to make a difference in His name. Seeking God’s will for your life isn’t as hard as you may think; the remedy is quite simple in fact: die to yourself, and ask the right questions. (So, maybe it is difficult to do. We are humans and our flesh can sometimes consume us, but I am reminded of a phrase I learned in good ole’ Sunday School in third grade, “With GOD on my side, I can face ANY challenge.”)

Get in the WORD

If you’ve been there, it’s easy to understand how people fall in this world. As a Christian, having been there myself, it’s easy to see and understand when other Christians are on the brink of a major pitfall and it is easier to understand what happened and why it happened. Satan has so many tricks up his sleeve and once he finds that “soft spot,” with a grin on his face he comes back for more. I believe that for a Christian to have a growing, joy filled, personal relationship with God they MUST be in His word. God’s word is the guideline, the map, the foundation to a relationship with Jesus Christ! It is pivotal. When I was in the 8th grade, I was really inspired to begin doing a personal devotion time. I’m not trying to brag on myself, and I don’t claim to be any where near perfect in any way; far from it. (And anyone who digs into Gods word on a regular basis will tell you the same thing.) It has become a very consequential and momentous “event,” I guess you could say, in my life. Searching Gods word and seeking out His wisdom and knowledge will lead you to a completely different level in your relationship with Him. Too many proclaimed Christians settle and are satisfied with getting their “weeks worth” of Gods word at church once a week. Sorry, that’s WRONG. Great, go to church…even attend Sunday school, but if you are not longing to know your Savior on a personal more intimate level, something isn’t right. The whole reason I’m bringing this up is because Satan has really been fighting me on this lately. When the holidays come around, I find myself caught up in the business of: staying up late, sleeping in, and moving out of my room so relatives can have a place to sleep…and I “get out of my routine” and I just don’t do my devotions. This is completely wrong, by the way. Every time I fail to spend time in Gods word…Satan attacks. It doesn’t have to be a big catastrophe but I find him squeezing through the cracks in my life, attempting to shatter me to pieces. And every time, without fail, I find myself saying, “Emily, if you had just been in Gods word.” Satan is a smart dude. No, he isn’t omnipotent or omniscient, but he watches us and knows exactly when to strike; and if your not filled with the spirit and the abundance of Gods word, he’s a coming and you wont be ready. When you are buried in Gods word, seeking Him there is a difference in your life. When you’re not, you can tell and so can others. I challenge you, if you are not reading your Bible…do it for a week. If it doesn’t change your life and give you a direction and inspiration for your life, well, it will…so don’t worry about if it doesn’t. Keep on fighting, keep on striving. Continue to seek God and ask for His grace in your life! It will change your life.

Prayer

Daniel chapter 9 deals a lot with Daniel’s petitioning of the throne of God for forgiveness for Jerusalem. I’m not going to sum up the chapter or really give any verses related to it; I encourage you to go read it for yourself…it wont take 10 minutes. Prayer is an important factor in any professing Christian. Hey – prayer is even important to people of other religions. How many times a day do we pray? When we do pray, what do our prayers sound like? I guess this kind of goes back to the whole, “you really learn to understand when God teaches you on a personal level,” thing. Verses 4 through 19 are Daniels prayer. When he prays he is not only sincere but he is really burdened about his sin and the sin of Jerusalem. He acknowledges that the reason they are in the predicament they are facing is solely because of their sin. I’ll get to the point. In verse 20, Daniel says, “Now why I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of God…” Do you see it yet?? No? Read it again. If someone summed up your prayers, would it sound like that? Mine wouldn’t! I have really been convicted lately about my prayer life and the sincerity and time I spend in prayer. I spend a lot of time simply talking to God, and even confessing and seeking His heart, but I don’t spend enough time praising Him in the midst of it. And I sure don’t do a whole lot of praying for my country or the sinners I encounter every day. We expect God to use us to change the people around us and lead them to Him, but how can we when we don’t even give Him sufficient time in praying for them? We don’t even give Him ample “space” in our prayer lives where we just praise Him for what He has done and what He is doing in our lives. Sure, we thank Him for the day…and the food…and that He has kept everyone we love safe, but where is the petition for change in our world? Where is the fraction of praise and blessing that He so greatly deserves?! It’s stuck between our throats and selfish heart. Daniels prayer was 15 verses of truly petitioning God for change and mercy. In the midst of it He glorified God. What’s hindering your prayer life from truly being a time of worship rather than just something you do? Think about it…

Reliance: Survival at it's Best

God has a way of teaching us things in very unusual and unique ways. It’s kind of humorous and I suppose, a but refreshing how you can grow up knowing a certain concept about God, but never really understanding it until He allows you to learn it on a personal level; God’s reliance: that’s where I am at the current moment. The past year and a half, two years, God has really tried and tested my commitment to Him. There have been many downfalls, disasters, and rock bottom moments, but there have also been times of faith and faithfulness, love, strength, and a will to just keep on fighting. All of this being said, learning to rely fully on God is a concept that many Christians know but they do not put into action. I’m not talking about learning to rely on Him when it’s the typical time to call upon the throne of the Father, or in those times where you really do hit rock bottom. All of those are desperately important, but I’m thinking about the sole reliance of survival. The type of grip that says “I cannot live, breathe, move, drive to work, pass this anatomy test, without YOU God,” type of reliance. (I know it may sound kind of absurd, but just hear me out.) When we begin to learn, really learn…not just know, that full reliance on God is pivotal for a genuine, joy-filled, relationship with the one, true, God, life begins to look a whole lot greener…and I’m not talking about just one side of the grass here. Think about it. If there is one thing, which there are many, that can truly set us apart from the unbelievers in this world, it’s the fact that we can call upon our God and know that He truly wants what is best for us. There is no selfishness in His decisions, no pride in His choices. He desires for us to be the best we can be. ( This isn’t possible apart from Him) He desires to bless us beyond our wildest imaginations! Most of the time He does; but we are so caught up in the traffic that we miss the beautiful sun rise, or too busy concentrating on the absurd people in the library to realize a young man reading his bible. Little encounters of every day life, to me, are blessings from God; tiny reminders of His love and his faithfulness. So next time you are running late for class, stressed out from studying, annoyed, or tired, take a look around; stop making yourself so important, and not only hear God’s voice, but look around…He is constantly waiting for you to receive the blessings He showers all day long. [all day every day :]

Just what you need....right when you need it.

It’s amazing to me how God always gives you just what you need, right when you need it. Okay, I know this is GOD we are talking about, and everything about Him is amazing…but the fact that He loves us so much still astounds and humbles me. There have been some concerns and issues that have really been burdening my heart recently and I have found myself consumed in attempting to figure out how to make the right decision and choose the “correct path” to venture out on. By the time I realized I needed to stop trying to figure it out and let God work it out, my heart was overwhelmed and let’s just say my emotions were running rampant. (Since I’m a girl I’m allowed a few of those in my lifetime.) I remember driving in my car and just asking God to tell me what to do! We were having a nice little chat and I’m sure the people driving by me made an extra effort to hurry themselves along because a crazy person was on the loose. (So it’s a good thing it was dark and no one could see me.) I simply poured my heart out to Him. I told Him why I was scared and that more than anything I just longed to be in His will. I didn’t want my emotions to get in the way of one of the critical decisions I had to make, (…still have to make) and I didn’t want my own selfish desires or motives to get in the way of my thinking. I had been asking God to give me peace, and as soon as I realized why I had been worrying, and sincerely gave it to Him, peace is what He gave me. Right at the moment of defeat, He will give you everything you need to pick your head up and look straight to Him. Right after this little incident, He so graciously allowed me to run into someone whom I have great respect and love for and really used them to encourage me and lift me up in prayer. I know that was God. So be encouraged and never allow your pride to keep you from pouring out your heart before the Father who longs to hear your voice!

What are others seeing in your life?

Daniel 6 is a very popular story that many people have heard; Daniel and the Lions Den. As i was reading over it, a few things really stuck out to me. vs. 9-14 says,"Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
"So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him." In verse 10 it talks about Daniel's prayer life and says how praying, with his window open, 3 times a day was his basic routine. Odds are, everyone knew Daniel was a man of prayer. So when King Darius realized that Daniel had "broken" his newly established law, his heart broke! he knew Daniel prayed 3 times a day and in the midst of his haughtiness and pride, he "sealed" Daniels fate. Verse 16 says, "So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” vs. 18 " Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him."

The main thing i want to point out is Daniels testimony. As i have studied and read this, i am amazed and inspired. Darius was not a follower of Daniels God...yet he KNEW that Daniel's God would deliver him. The king noted Daniel to be a man who "continually served his God." What do unbelievers know you to be? Are you just some other person they work with, or attend classes with? Or do they see something different in you? Have you made conscious efforts to shine the light of Christ and show His love to them? If not, why not? Is your pride causing you to take a back seat and just ride through life? Darius spent the entire night fasting, and i assume this consisted of hoping and praying to Daniels God to protect him and deliver him from the mouth of the lions. Have you left that kind of impact on the people you are around every day? The point to where an they would petition the God that they declared non-existent? God had huge plans for Daniel, and because of his obedience we get to see the blessings that God wishes to bestow on each of his children who are continually seeking Him, even in the lion's den.

No matter where life has you right now, don't give up. Join me in modeling Daniel's example and living a life of obedience to God. He will do great things with a willing heart. Are you willing to trust Him with it?

Pride - a bitter bite to swallow

I have been doing my devotions in Daniel the past few weeks. John MacArthur has these bible commentaries, I guess you could call them, that go through the scriptures and provide detailed meaning to specific words and phrases throughout the passages. ( greatest quiet time books i have ever had) MacArthur brought up a great point about pride and caused me to look at it in a whole new light" Pride is the supreme temptation from Satan because pride is at the heart of his own evil nature...We will always be in a battle with pride until the Lord takes us to be with Himself. Our only protection against pride, and our only source of humility, is a proper view of God. Pride is the sin of competing with God, and humility is the virtue of submitting to His supreme glory..." . Chapter 4 is talking about King Nebuchadnezzar and how he was humiliated, to the point of becoming like the beasts of the earth, because of his pride and lack of humility. I know so many people who, if you dug down to the root of it, struggle so badly with pride because they are competing with God for supremacy over their lives. We all have issues with pride; it can be over the smallest issues, for example, admitting your wrong or even onto a bigger problem of remaining in your sin because you will not admit that you are a sinner in desperate need of a perfect Savior. In order for us to be effective witness for Christ, we must be meek and swallow our prideful arrogance. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." Join me in making a conscious effort to swallow your pride...when you're driving, before you pass judgement onto someone when simply passing them on campus, and when we are talking to our Perfect, Savior.