A Cure for Death

My husband and I were watching one of the new shows we are into the other night.  A professor and his assistant were having a conversation that went like this.

"My mother died of cancer of the stomach."
"So you are looking to cure cancer."
"No.  I'm looking to cure death."

Though this show is set back in the 1800s, I feel like this statement is even more true today.  We are all looking for a way to cheat death.  When is comes to researching diseases, we aren't just looking for a cure for that disease; we are looking for a way to keep the person alive.  We believe everyone should live to be a hundred and then maybe pass on.
We also have a desire to stay young, even if it just means on the outside.  We have an infatuation with immortality.  We long to be invincible.  

What if I told you a cure for death has been found, just not in the way the world thinks would be a cure.  According to the dictionary, here is the definition of death:

: the end of life : the time when someone or something dies
: the ending of a particular person's life

: the permanent end of something that is not alive : the ruin or destruction of something

Death is permanent.  It is the end of life.  But over 2000 years ago, a cure was born in a small town, in a manager, to a girl and the man she was going to marry.  2000 years ago God sent his one and only Son to earth to pay for our sins.  

According to Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Because we are a sinful person, death is what we get.  There is no way around it.  No one is born sinless, so when we live sinfully we pay for it by death.  This is why Jesus was sent to earth.  With His death our sins were paid for.  All we have to do is accept the gift God gave us through his Son.  

We will of course have a physical death.  Our bodies were not made to last forever.  But we will not stay dead.  Through the gift of Christ we gain eternal life with him in heaven.  Whether we die in this life or are alive to see the second coming of Christ, those who have accepted Christ as their Savior will live one day in heaven forever.

Its amazing how the cure for death is here, and its free, yet so many won't accept it.  Maybe because it doesn't come in the way the world thinks it should.  It came to us in the form of a baby, who later grew into a man who showed us the right way to live, and then gave his life so that we may have life forever.  Thank you Jesus for your gift; the best Christmas gift anyone could receive.   

A Fairy Tale Love

My sweet husband just rolled his eyes at me as I set up my daughters Elf on the Shelf last night.  I placed Bell (the elf) on the girls couch with some friends to read a book.  Only a hardback book would stay open...and the only hardback book I had was...Twilight.  Honestly my husband as no right to roll his eyes; he bought me the book! LOL
I do love my Twilight books because it got me back into my love of reading.  I had lost it in high school and only regained it back in 2009.  I read new books, old classics that I loved, but all of them had some main theme.  Love.  
With all these books and movies out there, its no wonder we long for a fairy tale love.  Yet we are told that this kind of love does not exist.  I know I haven't been alive as long as some, and I've only been married for seven years, but I believe in the kind of love these books and movies tell us about.  I am 100% head over heels in love with my husband.  What I feel for him I have never felt for anyone else and sometimes the intensity of it takes my breath away.  I'm sure people are rolling their eyes at this...but please...hold that eye roll for a minute!
The reason I believe in a love that is portrayed by characters such as Belle and Edward, Darcy and Elizabeth, Tris and Four, is because there was an example of this love displayed over 2000 years ago.  A love that was all consuming, selfless, intense.  A sacrificial love that cost a man his life.  
God loved us so much, that He sent His son down here to earth, to so us the example of God's love, and to give His life over to death to pay the price for our sins.  He then rose three days later so that one day, when we die our physical death, we are able to rise from death and live with Him forever.  What a love.
This is why I believe I can have a love these books talk about.  Because I believe in Christ, my foundation is His love.  When I joined my husband in marriage, it was a covenant made between him and myself; a covenant that represents the covenant between God and us.  
God has called me to love others as He loved me.  God loved me so much He gave his son; He saved my life.  That love is the foundation of my marriage.  
Yes my husband and I have had arguments, yes we have gotten on each others nerves; we are still human.  But no matter what, my love for him is not shaken, because I remember how much God loves me, how much God loves him, and that we are to love each other the same.  Marriage is suppose to represent the relationship between God and us.  
This is why I think some marriages struggle; we try to love based on a worldly concept instead of a biblical concept.  We need to love at our spouse through God's eyes; we need to see them as someone worth dying for.  Believe me, it can make all the difference in a marriage.
You know...now that I think about it...my love story is better than any of those books I read.

Saying Yes Always Doesn't Mean You're in God's Will

I have been very guilty of always saying yes when asked to be involved in something.  Now granted, I love being busy.  I can enjoy sitting at home and being lazy sometimes, but I don't like doing nothing.

The joke with people I knew growing up was if the church doors were unlocked, I was there.  Every group I could be involved in at church I was.  Choir, early morning bible study, orchestra at one time, drama group, mission trips, camps, fun trips...you name it and I was helping or going in some way.  It's great to be involved in church activities.  We are called to spread the news and being apart of the foundation of the church, but sometimes I think we feel like we have to say yes to every opportunity brought our way.  Maybe its because of guilt, maybe because we feel that its what we are suppose to do. 

Even with activities outside of the church.  In school I was involved in so many clubs, the leaders of a lot of them, sports, drama, debate.  I was always go go go.  So needless to say, I believe some of this is what led to my burn out as I started college.  In college, I was in a couple of things but not totally dedicated to it.

I think its time that we realize it is ok to say no.  It doesn't mean that we are bad Christians.  If the reason we are saying no is because we listened to God first before giving the answer, then we are actually being obedient to God's will.  In Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest, he states "Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today and the saints who are 'bringing every thought [and project] into captivity' are criticized and told they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature."  

Saying yes to everything does not mean we have complete zeal and passion for God's will and work.  That zeal comes from being centered in God's will and following His direction for our life.  So don't feel guilty if you say no to something that is asked of you, or feel like you are not concerned about the lost.  We each have a calling and a talent to use.  When we use those talents for God's will, there is peace and God's will is perfected.

Jesus didn't chase after every opprounity or after His own will.  He listened to His Heavenly Father and followed God's will for his life rather than His own.  As Christians we are to be like Christ, and as Oswald states "We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvations, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ's views of God, the world and of sin and devil."  

Romans 12:2 states "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  When we renew our minds to be like Christ we will be able to see God's will for our life, and know when its time to say yes, and time to say no and not feel guilty about it.

Go and Sin No More

School is just around the corner for most.  This is the first year I'm sending a child to school.  She's been to preschool, but this is different!  And I'm so nervous.  It means my little girl is growing up.  She will go through new experiences and go through growing pains.  She will make good choices and probably some not so great ones.  One of my prayers for her is that when she does make a mistake, God will expose it to her and she will ask for forgiveness.  
But I also pray that she won't feel guilt for what she does.  I don't want her to hold on to her sins; I want her to feel the freedom the Christ has given us.  
There are times when we sin, we end up feeling condemnation.  We hear the accusations from the jury that we are guilty.  And so many times we think it is God.  Yet this does not add up to the character of God.  
God is love.  Condemnation is not apart of God.  When you hear the voice of condemnation, you need to realize its the voice of the enemy...not God.  God will convict us, allowing the sin we commited to come to life; not make us feel bad.  Priscilla Shirer says in her book 'Discerning the Voice of God' "When God speaks to us, He doesn't point out our sin sin to condemn us or burden us with guilt.  His desire is to lovingly reveal our sin and encourage us to confess it, so He can cleanse and change us."  God's voice is not one of guilt but of freedom.  
There are times our past sins haunt us, sneaking up on us, causing us to focus on guilt instead of the forgiver.  If you have already asked for forgivness of a sin, don't hang on to it.  Guess what, the One who is able to forgive has already forgotten it.  Isaiah 43:25 tells us so.
 “But I, yes I, am the one
    who takes care of your sins—that’s what I do.    I don’t keep a list of your sins."
If God doesn't keep a record of our sins, why should we?  
Only one person has the right to accuse us; Jesus.  He was perfect and blameless, yet He didn't condemn others.  With the woman accused of adultery, Jesus was the only one who would be able to cast a stone because He was without sin.  He didn't though.  He forgave her and sent her on her way saying  "Sin no more."  

As you start school, are you nervous?  Are the nerves due to wondering what others might try to remind you of?  Maybe you've had an encounter with God this past summer that has changed you, but you're worried about others bringing up the past...the old you.  Remember this though: it has been paid for and is forgotten.  The only One who has a right to judge has given you forgivness and freedom.   So don't allow the voice of the enemy pull you further away from God; allow the voice of love to press you further into Christ.

God Doesn't Call the Qualified...

He qualifies the willing.  Have you ever heard this saying before.  There are a few sayings people like to quote that I struggle with, like "God helps those who help themselves." (Not biblical)  But I love this quote because I think so many times the excuse we give to God when he calls us to something is that we are not qualified.  Yet all throughout the bible we see people that God used who had no training.  They weren't qualified for what God was calling them too, but God wanted to use them.  Lets look at a couple of people.

Moses: When God was calling Moses to go to Pharaoh and release the Jewish people, Moses had a list of excuses.  In Exodus 3:11, we see he has no confidence in himself.  In 4:1, he doubted that people would believe him.  His last excuse came in 4:10,13 when he expressed he was an eloquent speaker.  Yet besides all this, God wanted to use him and he did.  When Moses finally became willing, God did miraculous things through him.

Peter: Peter was just a fisherman.  He had a short temper, was impulsive, brash...not someone you would think Jesus would want as one of his disciples.  Yet not only was Peter one of the 12, he was one of three the was very close to Jesus.  His impulsiveness led to the beautiful story of him climbing out of the boat when no one else would, then doubted.  He was also one who started the Christian church.  Peter was far from qualified, but because he was willing, he was used.

Timothy:  Timothy dealt with a lot of doubt.  He was also self conscious because of his age.  Thankfully he had an amazing mentor, Paul, who helped him see that God doesn't look at the things man does, but at the heart.

There are so many other stories of people in the bible who to the worlds eye were not qualified; Joseph was the youngest, as was David.  Jeremiah felt he was too young for God to use; Esther was just a commoner, Ruth was a foreigner, Mary was just a girl.  To the world none of these people were qualified for the roles God had for them, yet since they were willing, God used them and qualified them through his blessings.

So what are some excuses that you say when you feel God is calling you to something you don't feel qualified for.  I thought of a couple, and of the verses that dispute them

"I'm a nobody." Oh how wrong you are sweet one.  You are a child of God!  Psalm 139 is a great chapter to read to show how precious you are to God, but here is a little part of it that I love
vs 13-18:  For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well. 
 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be. 
 How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them! 
 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

"I'm not smart enough."  I have to say this is my excuse a lot when it comes to evangelism.  James 1:5 and Proverbs 2:6-8 show us the when God calls us to something, its not our own knowledge we need to lean on.
James 1:5 " If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

"I'm not gifted."  Sweet one, we are all blessed with some gift.  Ask God to show you what your gift is and use it. 
Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
 1 Peter 4:10 " Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

"I'm too young."  God uses everyone no matter what age.  I remember when my oldest was four and her Sunday school class did a mission project at McDonald's.  It might have seemed little or silly, but her and another girl held the door open for people and said "Have a good lunch...Jesus loves you."  I can't tell you the number of people who came up to me to say how much those few words meant to them.  So if God can use a four year old at McDonald's, he can us you.
1 Timothy 4:12-14 "And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use."

So the next time you hear God calling you to something, instead of saying some excuse, say the words of Isaiah 6:8 "Here am I!  Send Me!" 

One Thing Remains

They say the only constant in life is change.  Well, to an extend I agree.  In life, things are changing constantly.  As a mom, I can say in that first year of each of my girls' life, things changed all the time, from emotions, to what they were able to do, what they ate.  My husband and mine relationship changes as well.  As we grow as individuals, and as one, how we react and what we say changes.  Personally for me, I have changed a lot since I was 18 years old.
Jobs change, friendships change (especially in junior high and high school) families change (divorce, death, trials) interest change, etc.  So it would seem that change is the only constant in our life.  Yet as Christians we know this is not the case.

In Hebrews 13:8 we are told that " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  The same?  He never changes?  Jesus is the same today as He was at the beginning of time, so we can count on Him being the same forever.  Even the Old Testament enforces the fact that God never changes.  “I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6a.

I debated about whether or not I would post all the verses I found about this, but I decided to because, as humans, we sometimes need the reassurance.

James 1:17 "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle."  God's has promised us blessings and gifts.  He's not going to take back the promise.

Numbers 23:19 "God is not human, that he should lie,
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise and not fulfill?"

God is not like man.  We make promises and we don't always follow through, but God always does.

Lamentations 3:22 " Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail."  God's love never fails.  It is always there.

Daniel 6:26b "For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end." God cannot be destroyed, His kingdom will not go away.  He is forever.

Why am I wanting to stress to you that God never changes?  Like I stated before we say change is the only constant in our life, but that is not true.  God is the ultimate constant.  He is always with us.  Everything we go through, every event in our life whether big or small, God is there.  Who God is always the same.  

There are a lot of people who don't like change and I can understand why.  Some people just like things in order.  Others don't like change because it represents something negative.  Change can happen when your parents divorce.  It can be devastating.  Friendships change over time.  I can't even begin to tell you friendship that I had for a long time that all of a sudden ended.  Changes happen to our body that we don't always get and don't always like.   Sometimes its a move.

Change can be tough, but if we only focus on the change, it can consume us and take us to a dark place.  But if we can focus on the one constant in our life that doesn't change, it can make the situation we are in better.  When we are going through change, no matter if its something good or something bad, if we rely of God through it it will be easier.  Now I'm not saying the change won't happen or it won't be hard, but if we can remember that God doesn't change, that He always delivers what He promises.

One of my favorite worship songs is called "One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture.  The lyrics state "Higher than the mountains that I face
            Stronger than the power of the grave
            Constant through the trial and the change
            One thing remains
            One thing remains
Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me." 

He is constant!  When everything is falling down around us this one thing remains: God.  

So change isn't the only constant in our life.  We just sometimes allow it to be, instead of relying on the absolute constant in our life.  If we can remember that the one who conquered the grave, who's kingdom will never fall, who's reign will never end, is on our side, we can do anything!

Here is the link for the song "One Thing Remains"

One Thing Remains

PS: I'm sorry my blogs tend to be rambles.  I sometimes have about ten minutes to write before two blond headed distractions that for some reason call me mommy come running in  :-)

Battle Buddy

After I get off the bus from beach retreat each year, I always ask how long it is till the next one.  Though I'm exhausted and ready for my bed, I always long for beach retreat!  But as I started thinking about the next one, I realized something: a couple of girls I have known since my first beach retreat are seniors this year and it will be their last beach retreat as students.  It made me sad because I not only see these girls as girls I mentor, but also friends and daughters.  I have seen them grow and mature in their Christianity over these past few years and it has been amazing.

One night we were all talking and a subject got brought up about college.  A lot of the girls were saying how they were excited, but also about how they weren't going to give into the temptations of the world.  Another lady and I warned them though to be cautious.  We both knew people, and I became one of them, that though they said no to lots of things in high school and said they wouldn't ever do them, did them.  Especially when it came to sex before marriage.  Now I could talk about that topic specifically but I am going to leave that for another post. 

I will admit, it is very hard to keep true to your convictions sometimes when you leave the comfort of your home, church, youth group, etc.  You are in a new place and you might not know anyone.   But I want to encourage you about taking steps this summer that can help any of you leaving for college in the fall.  Now of course it doesn't just apply to graduates; this applies to all.  Summer can be a great time to prepare yourself to be ready for battle when school starts.

The phrase "accountability partner" has always been used in Christian circles and I think it is such an important thing to have, but since in our church we have talked about the battle ground, I am going to use a phrase the army use: battle buddy.  A battle buddy is a partner assigned to a soldier in the army. A battle buddy to assist his or her partner both in and out of combat.  This person is to be a support system mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  So how can this work in a Christian sense?  Every day you face a battle with the world.  Now of course, God is always with us and He is our ultimate battle buddy, but it is vital to have a battle buddy (friend) to stand beside us in battle.  In Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10a, 12 shows the importance of friendship:

"Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor: 
 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broke"

When you have your battle buddy beside you, you can encourage each other, help one another when the other one is down, work together towards building the kingdom of heaven, ad hold each other accountable to living a life pleasing to God.  Now this may seem very obvious, but it is important that your battle buddy is another Christian.  And I don't mean one that just says "Hey I'm a Christian" but doesn't live that way.  You need to find someone who is wanting the same thing as you; to grow closer to God.  I love at the end of verse twelve where it says "A strand of three is not quickly broke."  This can be interpreted different ways but for friendship I love saying that you, you friend, and God make up those three strands.  When God is the center of your friendship, you can stand against anything.

So with that being said, what do I want to encourage you to do: find your battle buddy.  Make it a point to meet at least once a week for lunch, dinner, coffee, etc.  Something where you are able to talk.  If you start that now, and make it a habit to build one another up, it will continue into the school year.  And for those of you going off to college, and your battle buddy and you aren't going to the same school, make a phone date with each other; encourage one another to get plugged into a church, find other Christian friends to have as a battle buddy there.  I can tell you from my experience it is imperative to have a battle buddy that has God the center of their life to hold you accountable.  I had lost touch with those in my youth group that were my "battle buddies" and had other friendships that were focused on other things.  I started going to a church, was in a Christan sorority, but did not get plugged in the way I should have to stay on the path God wanted and I ended up straying far.  So I can not stress the importance of having a battle buddy as you get ready to start the school year, whether its high school or college.  So find that person you will be there with you on the battle ground, because remember, a strand of three is not quickly broken.