By Help From On High

Desire Marriage? That's Okay!

2012-02-19T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today while listening to a sermon by Pastor John MacArthur, I realized something liberating...it's okay to want to be married.

What's never okay is to let our desires become idols and take over our lives. We all must realize that at the end of the day, God holds the trump card. He can and will decide what to do with us--whether we have certain desires or not. And the fact is that we need to be okay with whatever He chooses for us, because He is God and we are not, but also because He is supremely trustworthy and He loves us so much as to choose what is best for us.

But I never have to deny the fact that I want to be married. And I don't have to pretend like I'd rather be single, when in fact that isn't true. I don't have to pretend to not desire a husband in order to seem strong and self-sufficient. I don't have to put on airs. I can admit that I want to be married. I can even admit it to God and pray toward that end.

It's okay, friend, to want to be married.

Just don't let it come between you and God. Be sure to do as John Piper says, and cultivate a strong relationship with God, so that He is your focus and He is the centre of your world. Let Him be your prize! Let Him be your treasure! Let Him be the greatest desire of your heart! Not because then He'll give you everything else you want, but because then you'll be most satisfied in Him and He'll be most glorified in you!

The Problem of Evil

2012-02-18T23:25:00.000-08:00

Theodicy is an old term. It means the problem of evil: If God is so powerful and so loving, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Why is there so much evil?

This is a question that has been around since the Fall of man, and which I do not have an "easy" answer to, but it is an important question that must be answered (to some degree) in the mind and heart of every believer: If I am to trust God, how should I think about the problem of evil?

Here are some, I hope, helpful principles:

#1 - God is good. - God is morally perfect. He cannot sin. Nor can He tempt anyone to sin.

Luke 18:19 -

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

James 1:13 -

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

#2 - God's ways are not our ways. - He is much wiser than we are. No one can search out His plans and decisions to fully understand them.

Isaiah 55:8 -

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

1 Samuel 16:7c -

For the LORD sees not as man sees

Romans 11:33 -

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

#3 - God brings good out of evil. - It is His way. That's what redemption means; all of biblical history is a story of redemption.

Isaiah 47:4 -

Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:34 -

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

Romans 8:28 -

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The sum of these principles gives us an idea of God's character: God is absolutely perfect. He does not and cannot sin because He cannot be tempted (this is also why Christ took the form of a man so that He could have a nature that could experience temptation).

God's ways are not our own, so we cannot expect to completely comprehend the ways of God by our own wisdom. There will be many things about God's character that remain a mystery to us which we will have to take on faith, but we can still trust Him because of all that He has revealed about Himself.

Observing the history of mankind, God has always been about the redemption of people (and Creation). He was and is Israel's Redeemer; He is the Redeemer of the Church; He is the Redeemer of Creation and History itself. He makes miracles out of messes and heals what is broken.

Finally, questions of how God could ever have used godless societies to chasten Israel--societies that had no mercy on the helpless and defenceless like women and children (Isaiah 13:17-18)--and how God could use a sinner such as Satan to bring about His purposes (see Job) should always be viewed in light of the singularly darkest and most evil day in the history of the universe: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

On that day, the greatest evil ever committed took place. The Son of God--God in the flesh--who was absolutely and altogether blameless...was betrayed into the hands of sinners who put Him to death, though He was deserving of no such thing.

If you want to ask how? Ask how God could possibly crush His only begotten Son for the sake of sinners like you and me (John 3:16). Ask how God could possibly say it "was His will to crush Him" (Isaiah 53:10). Ask how He could make Christ to be sin, that we might be made His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The greatest evil ever committed...against the most innocent of persons who ever existed...became the single greatest and most blessed event in all eternity past or present! For, through Christ's stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5), that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29) and bring MANY sons to GLORY (Hebrews 2:10)!

Praise be to God, who even uses our evil for His good ends (Genesis 50:20)! And that it all exalts Your most Holy Name (Psalm 106:8)!

Delayed: An Allegory

2012-01-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday,it snowed before we headed out to the Women to Women Coffee House atStoneRidge Fellowship. Poor Mr M was driving a car full of women. The road out toBedford was backed up with traffic. So there was a long delay gettingto the church. It took us about 2.5 hours on the road. We got therejust as they were finishing up, practically.

Buton the way, I found myself becoming rather impatient and wanting toget to the church because of all that I expected and anticipated thecoffee house to be. However, as I found myself growing impatient, Ialso wondered why...because even the delay was ordained by God. And Iwas confident that it would work something greater in the end than Icould have anticipated or hoped.

Andit did.

We got there and we sang three beautifulworship songs. Mighty to Save. Blessed be Your Name.And another that I don't recall the name of. Then the night ended. But I was able to talk with Rickcola who attends The Rock Church andwho didn't really know a lot of people at StoneRidge. I spoke with herfor a little while before she had to leave. I also met Sheila.[Rickcola and Sheila were the ladies who performed for us]. Sheila's from StoneRidge and I was incredibly blessed when she invited me to sing while she played. I was honoured to be able tosing In Christ Alone as well as Amazing Grace.

InChrist Alone is always a humbling experience...as it stretches my vocalrange and I usually mix up at least one line. But I love it! It's one of my favourites! It is such an honour and a privilege to sing it! My voice shook terribly, but it was still a blessing to be allowed to sing!

Altogether,it was a beautiful time, even though it must have onlylasted about a half hour to 45 minutes. It was gorgeous and very special to me!

Andin it, I see an allegory. The road is my life. And I'm on the roadnow. I don't know how long it will take me to reach my destination.I'm not really sure what awaits me when I do. I know what I expectand anticipate, but what actually awaits me will be far richer andmore beautiful and blessed than anything I could have thought of. Andthough I may become impatient, wondering when I'll arrive...I mustremind myself that even the delays are ordained by God. And they willwork to bring about something far better than I could have asked for ordreamed.

Hallelujah!

For my Sisters: Called to Celibacy

2012-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

This post comes after listening to a video from Desiring God on Biblical manhood, in which Doug Wilson explains that if a man is like the Apostle Paul and has the gift of celibacy, that's great, but most men in the church don't have that gift. If they did, they wouldn't struggle with sexual addictions--the remedy for which ought to be marriage. Mr. Wilson explains that he would counsel young men to find the right girl quickly and ask her to marry him.

I want to say, "Amen!" But this naturally got me thinking--what about women? We aren't called to seek a mate, so how do we deal with our desires?

I thought of several things, which seem to logically follow from Scripture:

1. God calls unmarried women to be celibate.

1 Corinthians 7:2, KJV - "Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

"Fornication" here is the Greek word "porneia" which means illicit sexual activity, and includes any and every forbidden sexual act: homosexuality, adultery, sex before marriage, etc. To avoid all of these things, Paul called for men and women to marry.

In Paul's day, marriages were arranged. And still are in many parts of the world. A woman knew in many cases who she was betrothed to. She just had to wait until he came for her.

In our society, marriages are not arranged (by parents) but they are arranged by our Father who is in Heaven. Therefore, it is right for a young woman, though she might not know her betrothed as she did in the old days, to wait for him to come for her. This demonstrates trust in God and submission to His will. Also, it is an early demonstration of a willingness to submit to the authority of the man to allow him to pursue her.

While she waits for her "betrothed" to come for her, she is called to remain celibate for as long as she is unmarried.

"How long might that be?" you want to ask. I do not know. For as long as God sees fit. This leads us to the next consideration...

2. There are some questions we don't need to ask ourselves.

I don't believe as unmarried women we need ask ourselves: "Do I have the gift of celibacy?" If we are not married at the moment, then we are expected to be celibate. Plain and simple. Only God determines when your call to celibacy ends. It is not something that only some women are given the gift of...it is an expectation for women in the season of not being married...no matter how long it lasts.

3. Unmarried women need to cultivate celibacy.

This is so important! It is so difficult to be sexually pure in our sex-addicted culture! But we are called to this, and with the help of the Helper--God's Holy Spirit--we can do this!

It will take great strength and fortitude, but God has not left us powerless, He has given us some great weapons in our fight against sin:

Weapon #1: The Gospel - Our single greatest weapon against temptation is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! When the Tempter comes, tell him what Jesus gave to save you (Galatians 2:20)! Tell him how much you are already loved (Romans 5:8)! Tell him that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-38)! Tell him that you are satisfied and have every blessing in Jesus (Romans 8:32)!

Weapon #2: The Bible and The Holy Spirit - It is the Spirit who sanctifies us and makes us more like Christ (1 Peter 1:2) and He uses the Word to do that (John 17:17). Being consistent in Bible reading and responding to what you read will keep sin at bay and grow you in Christ-likeness (Psalm 119:9).

Weapon #3: Prayer - Prayer is direct communion with God. It's where sin is dealt with--confessed and forgiven (1 John 1:9) and it is where the Christian receives supernatural strengthening (Matthew 7:7). By recognizing that we cannot do it alone, we humble ourselves under God's mighty hand so He can lift us up (1 Peter 5:6).

Weapon #4: Fellow Sisters-in-Christ - We don't have to go alone! We have each other for accountability and love. We ought to help carry each other's burdens and learn from one another (Galatians 6:2).

Weapon #5: Separation from the world - Separating yourself from the world will cut off avenues of temptation. Being careful of what movies or television you watch, what songs you listen to, what books you read, and what websites you frequent, can do a lot to helping you avoid temptation.

4. Find your purpose and your fulfillment not in one day being married, but in God.

This is the conclusion I hope this post was driving to. As unmarried women, we don't find our fulfillment or purpose or satisfaction in one day being married, we find it in God. And since it is not in our hands to provide ourselves with spouses--God places it in a man's responsibility to pursue his bride--we are not to make this our focus. We are to make God our focus.

Do not misunderstand me--it is not wrong to desire marriage! And it is even wise and good to pray for your future husband and prepare to one day be married. But, just like any desire of our hearts that competes with God, it is not to be an idol--a thing that we worship in place of God by finding our ultimate joy and fulfillment in it. We are to delight ourselves in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). That is the right and prerogative of God. Only He has power to give or to withhold. Seek Him! Find your satisfaction in Him! And you will indeed be satisfied!

I pray this post is an encouragement to my Christian sisters who happen to be unmarried at the moment--live for Christ!

Lessons from Matthew 4:19

2011-12-21T16:07:00.000-08:00

Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19, NKJV

I don't know how many times I've read this verse, but it struck me differently today than it normally does.

I don't consider myself to be an evangelist, but I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, and every follower of Christ has received a Commission to go forth into all the world and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations.

To Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, who were fishermen, Jesus said, "Follow Me! And I will make you into a different kind of fishermen--fishers of men, that is, soul-winners."

Although this call was specific to Peter and Andrew where it appears in the Gospel of Matthew, I believe there are several principles that can be applied to the lives of every follower of Jesus Christ:

#1 A follower's first concern is to follow.
Jesus told them to follow Him first, and then He would make them fishers of men. The order is very important. Our primary concern is not soul-winning, although he who wins souls is wise (Prov. 11:30). Our primary concern is to follow Jesus. If we are faithful to follow, He will provide the fish, He will make us into the fishermen He wants us to be, and He will use our lives to save people.

#2 God--and Christ as God incarnate--makes His followers into what He desires them to be.
God is making us--making you, dear Christian--into what He wants us to be. He is sovereign even over the process of our sanctification, and He will complete it. True, He uses means, but He has ordained the means. He knows exactly what He will use to make you everything He wants you to be for His glory. Surrender yourself to His plan, and trust in Him to complete the good work He began in you (Phil. 1:6).

#3 Jesus gives His disciples a vocation: soul-winning.
The first point was that soul-winning is not our primary concern, but following Jesus is. The last point I want to make is that Jesus identifies the vocation of His disciples as soul-winning. We are to be soul-winners. And I think every follower of the Lord Jesus ought to think of him or herself as a soul-winner. We win people to Christ by the testimony of our lives of faithfulness to follow Christ. We win people to Christ by being different from the world and being humble when we fall and sin. We win people to Christ by putting the Gospel on display in our lives. We win people to Christ by preaching and teaching and sharing the Good News that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This is the calling of every Christian! And it is a high calling indeed: to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in the world!

This one verse is such an encouragement to me! I feel so unequal to the task which has been appointed to me, but I know--with renewed confidence--that if I am faithful to follow Him, He is making me into the soul-winner He wishes me to be.

Do what you can, with all your might: Our strength is in God

2011-11-26T08:46:00.001-08:00

From Charles H. Spurgeon:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out "whatsoever our hand findeth to do." One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we "find to do" day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do--"do it with thy might." Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do to-morrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of today. No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do today. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength.

But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek his help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our "hand findeth to do," let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect.

(emphasis mine)

Strength made perfect in weakness

2011-11-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

From Charles H. Spurgeon:

"For my strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.

"When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song."

"Renew a Right Spirit": A Plea for God's Help

2011-10-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

From Charles H. Spurgeon:

"Renew a right spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10

A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with "renew a right spirit within me." Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel's strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life--"Lord, renew a right spirit within me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, "Renew a right spirit within me."

Only with Your help, Lord. Renew a right spirit in me.

Proud to Stand with Them!

2011-07-16T16:05:00.001-07:00

I have many fears:
A fear of drowning.
A fear of falling.
A fear of heights.

I also have a fear of sharing the Gospel with people one-on-one and handing out Gospel tracts!

There's something about not knowing what the person's reaction will be that makes sharing the Gospel a frightening thing.

And what makes this fear worse than any other fear is that it is spiritual in nature, and Satan and his demons exploit it to the utmost! If they can discourage someone from sharing about Christ, they will!

It's important to pray and not go out in our own strength, but rely on the strength of God!

Something else I hope will help you when you think to share the Gospel with someone and feel afraid: think of the persecuted Church!

Think of all that they give up for the privilege of sharing the Gospel with their neighbors:
- safety
- freedom
- family
- friends
- livelihood
- life...

Determine that it is an honor to stand with these faithful ones, even if you do not face the same hardships they do. Determine in your heart to take a stand for Jesus Christ, because many will stand for him even in the face of imprisonment and death!

Be proud to stand with them!

A Simple Lesson with BIG Implications

2011-07-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

God's provision does not give occasion for my selfishness!

This week I've had the privilege of teaching Missions in the Vacation Bible School program at Arbor Christian Fellowship in Lake Forest, CA.

Every day I would try to give the children a treat so they'd have something to look forward to at the end of their time in my class. I brought a bag of Starburst candies with me. There are a lot of candies in one bag, but forgetting that it isn't a limitless supply, I couldn't resist twice dipping into the bag and eating a candy.

But on the last day, today, a sad thing happened. I was short two candies! I didn't have enough for everyone!

Which got me thinking: if I hadn't been selfish and taken candy for myself, I would have had enough candy at the end of the week for my students!

Which also got me thinking: though we trust in God to provide, His provision is not an occasion for us to be selfish!

Just because God graciously provided enough candy for my students, that did not mean He provided it for me to satisfy my own sweet tooth.

The things God provides are to be used for His purposes, not ours! Don't forget Who it is that provides for you! He is God! We are not!

Our Almighty Omnipotent God

2011-07-15T01:22:00.000-07:00

There's nothing our All-powerful God cannot do!

Except sin.

But is that a limit to omnipotence? No.

Consider this... If something is perfect it can't be not-perfect, but that doesn't limit its perfection; indeed, it magnifies it!

The same is true of God. He is perfect and all-powerful! He cannot taint His own goodness, but that is no limit to His power; indeed, it magnifies His power!

Sin is born out of moral weakness and a corrupt nature. The fact that God cannot sin is a testimony to His perfection and His power, that He is incapable of anything base or evil.

Our God is Holy! Absolutely perfect!

Let us worship Him as the perfect, all-powerful God He is!

The Book of Job & The Persecuted Church

2011-07-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Book of Job is a moving account of a man who loses everything he has and yet remains faithful to God. You can read the book HERE.

While praying for the persecuted Church, I started thinking of Job and the commonalities he and the persecuted share.

1. They both (Job and the persecuted Church) suffer--not as the result of unrighteousness, but as the result of their righteousness.
- Job suffered because Satan told God that the reason Job loved and trusted God was because of God's blessings--and God gave permission for Satan to test him. Job was a righteous man. There was no one like him who feared God and walked with an upright heart (Job 1:1).
- The persecuted Church suffers because Satan desires to destroy their faith. It is because the Church lives by faith and in obedience and love for God that it is persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

2. Both Job and the persecuted Church demonstrate: Satan's evil fulfills God's purposes; Satan is a slave of God.
- God permitted Satan to torment Job--ultimately God used it for His own good purposes; He stopped the mouth of Satan, vindicated Job, and blessed him more after his trials than before.
- God permitted Satan to kill His Son--that God's perfect purpose of salvation might be fulfilled (Genesis 3:15).
- God permitted Satan to torment Paul--by sending a thorn in the flesh to humble him (2 Corinthians 12:7).
- God permits Satan to try and torment the Church--because trial and affliction refines our faith like gold and because God is working everything to our good; we also have sweet fellowship with Christ through sharing in His sufferings (Revelation 12:13-17; Zechariah 13:9; Romans 8:5; 1 Peter 4:13).

3. Job and the persecuted Church long for Christ's personal vindication.
- Job cried for a Mediator between God and man, not knowing that the One he was crying for was the God-Man Jesus Christ! Job desires a Mediator to represent his case to God, that his righteousness might be vindicated (Job 9:33).
- The persecuted Church longs for the day when they stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and hear "well done, good and faithful servant"! The martyrs around God's throne cry "how long until our blood is avenged"? (Matthew 25:23; Revelation 6:10)

The book of Job gives me a better appreciation for the trials of the persecuted Church.

Strong to Help

2011-07-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

"With God's help!"

How have you heard this phrase used before?

Perhaps you've heard a high school graduate use it when talking about getting into the college they want: "With God's help! I'll get in!"

Perhaps you've heard a mother use it when discussing the disciplining of her children: "With God's help! They'll turn out alright!"

But in these instances, you could substitute the word "hopefully" and it would work just as well...by which I mean that we aren't always seriously putting our trust in God to help us as people in Scripture did when we use the phrase "with God's help"!

If we were putting our trust in God we wouldn't be hopeful in the sense of "I sure hope this turns out alright, because I'm not certain that it will" but we'd be hopeful in the sense of "I am certain this will turn out alright, because God is with me, and He's promised that all things will work together for my good (Romans 8:29)".

When people from Scripture spoke of God as their "help", they spoke this way:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1b, ESV (emphasis mine)

And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” - 2 Chronicles 14:11, ESV (emphasis mine)

Surely the people in these passages were hoping the best for the future, but they were really trusting in God to help them! They knew that if God helped them, they would surely be helped! Our God does not fail!

I think the difference between them and us is that we speak of God so casually that we forget that He is the Living God - the One True God! He really does help His people, and by thinking small thoughts of the quality of help He offers, we forget just how strong to help He is!

Think BIG thoughts of God! I assure you that when you've thought the highest and the greatest you can of Him, He is higher and greater still!

Hallelujah!

Sleepless Nights

2011-06-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

What disturbs your sleep?

Sleeplessness can have a number of causes... Drinking too much coffee... Staying in bed too late that morning... Being on the computer right before bed...

Strong emotion can also disturb sleep.

Often I can't sleep if I'm excited.
Or if I'm upset.
Or if I'm scared.

Our emotions can keep us from sleeping.

What are the things that affect us emotionally?

Are we affected by the thought of lost people going to Hell?
Are we affected by the lukewarmness in our churches?

How about the thought of being with Jesus in Heaven one day?
Are we excited about seeing Him?

Does God wake you in the night to spend time with you?
Are you excited to spend time with God?

The next time you set your head to the pillow and can't sleep, don't worry too much friend - go to God in prayer and spend some time with Him!

A Prayer for My Readers

2011-06-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Dear God, how gracious You are! To give us time and talents for use for Your kingdom, Lord! To grant us life and breath with which to seek and serve You, Lord!

It is my prayer that we will use what You have given us for the purposes for which You gave them! May we not hide our talent in the sand, but use it to Your glory, Lord! May we do everything for the sake of Christ - to see the lost saved and Your Kingdom grow; to help our brothers and sisters live lives set apart and useful for Your service, Lord! May all we do bring You glory!

It is my prayer that we will set aside worthless pursuits and pursue that which is most worthy, namely Jesus Christ! May He be pleased with our work, Lord, though we remember it is not by works but only by grace we are saved! Yet, we long to work - to spend and be spent - for His sake! Because He spent Himself for us!

If what we do is not for His sake, it is worthless and offensive to You, and we want no part of it, Lord! Show us where we need to examine our motives - our hearts - and make us even more in love with Jesus Christ!

Granting us grace where we fail!

Amen!

"Baby"

2011-06-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Due to the huge response this received when I re-posted it to my Facebook profile, I want to share this story again via my blog. I am not sure of its origins; the author is anonymous.

Baby
Author Unknown

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime is the same!

If you agree, please SHARE. Together we can help save precious lives!

"Love says I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself..."

Jesus sacrificed Himself for the good of sinners! That's perfect love!

Disclaimer: I do not point fingers to condemn women who have had abortions. I have no idea what these women have gone through! It is my intention to share with the world the plain truth that abortion is murder of the unborn, and to share with those affected by the pro-abortion culture that there is HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST!

Comfort, Praise and Worship

2011-06-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello friend. I woke up today feeling very overwhelmed and anxious. I knew I ought to pray, but didn't know really how...there was so much to pray for.

Finally, as I started washing the dishes and talking to God, I got an idea to listen to worship music.

So I turned on an album by Sovereign Grace called Eight Songs That Teach, and it brought me such comfort and joy! :)

What made the difference?

1) praising God even in the hard times reminds the soul Who is in control

2) worship reminds us of how much God has given us in Christ: He's all we have and need

3) listening to songs based on Scripture reminds us of the Scripture from which the song is taken, and the surrounding Scriptures: for example, one of the songs I listened to had a line taken from Romans 8, which reminded me of that beautiful chapter of Paul's epistle

Let's praise Him for His goodness, and remember He is able though we are not!

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:37-39, ESV

Morning Prayer: A Poem

2011-06-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

I wake
I rise
I praise my God
For granting me this breath

To love
And praise
And honor Him
In my life or death

I rise
I fall
I bend my knee
To humble my proud heart

To think
To thank
To praise Him for
The grace that He imparts

Sadie Daniels
June 16, 2011

Prayer Humbles: Confession

2011-06-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

This is the second post in a two-part series on how prayer humbles us. You may view the first post HERE.

An important part of prayer is confession of sin.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray "forgive us our trespasses" even though He knew He was going to the cross to pay for their sins (Matthew 6:12).

The Apostle John exhorts his audience not to sin, and yet promises that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Certainly confession of sin is a humbling experience.

We must 1) admit our fault, and 2) admit it to the God of Heaven and Earth! We must admit that our sin has wronged Him and seek His forgiveness, even though the debt of our sin has been "paid in full".

In the end we'll find it to our benefit to humble ourselves in this way.

Confession frees us from the guilt of sin!

And when we experience God's cleansing forgiveness, we are free to draw near to Him once more.

Prayer Humbles

2011-06-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

God in His grace has shown me a lot of my pride. He has shown me also that it is because of my pride that I don't like to pray.

Prayer in any significant sense means bowing to God and acknowledging Him as Maker of the Universe and my Lord and Master...my Sustainer and my Provider.

And it's recognizing that He is all those things, even though I can't see Him or hear an audible reply to my prayers.

That's very humbling.

But we need to be humbled before God, and prayer is a beautiful way of accomplishing this.

I even have found I need an extra push to get me to humble myself in prayer, so I have taken to speaking my prayers out loud as if I were talking to a person. It focuses my mind and keeps my heart from being lifted up and thinking that it's a silly thing to pray at all...which I sadly find myself thinking all too often.

Let us humble ourselves in prayer and draw near to God, and He will draw near to us.

10 Motives for Prayer

2011-06-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

John MacArthur, in a sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing" identified 10 motives for prayer which will help us obey this command:

#1 A desire for the Lord's glory.
#2 A desire for fellowship with God.
#3 A desire for needs to be met.
#4 A desire for wisdom.
#5 A desire for deliverance from trouble.
#6 A desire for relief from fear and worry.
#7 A desire to offer thanks for God's past blessings.
#8 A desire to be freed from the guilt of sin.
#9 A desire for the salvation of the lost.
#10 A desire for the spiritual growth of believers.

There's enough there to keep us praying every moment of our lives, in a spirit of fellowship with God, thankful for all that He has done and is doing, and eager to see Him continue to work in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Do you not have these desires? Cultivate them through time spent in God's Word!

True Contentment

2011-06-12T09:43:00.001-07:00

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. - Philippians 4:11, ESV

When you think of contentment, what comes to mind?

Is your idea of contentment getting by with what you have, though it's not exactly what you would choose for yourself?

Or is it convincing yourself that what you want probably isn't all it's cracked up to be?

Neither of these are true contentment.

The Apostle Paul had it right when he said "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

Contentment is realizing that you are already blessed in all that you have been given. It's being grateful for what you have.

As Christians, we've been given the greatest treasure of all: Jesus Christ.

Shall I not be content in every circumstance, knowing that whatever I have or could have in this life is not to be compared with the riches of knowing Christ, my Savior?

In Him, shall God freely give us all things.

They Said It: John Trapp

2011-06-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

One Son God hath without sin, but none without sorrow. - John Trapp

Source: A Puritan Golden Treasury, compiled by I.D.E. Thomas, 1989 reprint

Good Reminders

2011-06-07T14:25:00.001-07:00

Sticky notes are great. They help me remember things.

I'm always telling people I have a poor memory, so things like sticky notes are my friend. They function as my external brain, storing information that I don't want to forget and want to be reminded of later.

There are certain things you don't want to forget... An anniversary... An appointment... A kindness received...

You may even want to remind yourself of these things repeatedly.

Why?

There are many reasons. Thinking about them brings you joy (perhaps not in the case of the appointment). Or... Missing the date will mean problems later.

In any case, you don't want to forget.

There are many things in our Christian walk that we never want to forget. Things that it's good to remind ourselves of over and over again.

The Gospel is one of those things.

As Christians, we never move on from the Gospel. The Gospel is everything to us. Indeed, it's only because of the Gospel we can talk of anything else (like prayer, or tithing, or serving, etc.).

As Christians, we never want to forget... that it was only by the blood of Christ shed for me on Calvary's cross that I am justified in the eyes of God.

We never want to forget... I was a sinner, but through Christ's death and resurrection, He purchased with His blood my salvation. I have boldness before God, because Christ's righteousness is imputed to me.

Not of works, lest I should boast.

A Song "For the Weary"

2011-06-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

"For the Weary"

Video Blog

This is a song I wrote. I pray it edifies and encourages!

To Serve (Not Be Served)

2011-06-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

I want you to know something about me: I find social situations a bit challenging.

I don't always know how to address someone... Or where to sit... Or what to say... Or who to talk to... Or for how long... Etc.

But as a Christian, I've been called beyond my own comfort. I've been called to step out in faith, and think of others rather than myself, and trust my needs to God.

I have my example: Jesus. Now I'm responsible to follow Him.

Mark Chapter 10 verse 45 says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (ESV).

Jesus was all about meeting the needs of others, no matter what it cost Him. I've been called to follow after Him. That is, to "consider others better than myself" (Philippians 2:3).

Want to know a secret? Thinking of how I can best serve others in any given situation takes away the social tension! When I'm no longer thinking of myself, that's when I'm able to actually relax and function in a social setting.

Isn't it a beautiful truth that as we learn to obey, God is working for our good and meeting our needs?

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

Easy Burdens

2011-06-02T00:28:00.000-07:00

[Jesus said], "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30, KJV

Have you ever had a heavy box you had to lift on your own and carry somewhere? The first couple steps were fine, but the farther you went, your burden became a greater and greater trial.

The burden of the Law was like that to Jewish people of Jesus' day. They could take a few steps... Offer sacrifices for sins, but if they sought like Job to keep the Law in full, they soon found they couldn't and the burden they carried became a greater and greater trial.

What happened when you gave that burden to someone stronger than you? When you asked for help? The burden became easier... Lighter depending on the strength of the other person.

Jesus offers to carry the burden of the Law for His people, and for us. We cannot keep the Law on our own. We will only find it an impossible burden. But if we let Him carry it for us, it will be as He says, His "burden is easy" and His "yoke is light."

This applies to other burdens we need help carrying also. Why don't we ask the one who is "strong to help" to carry our burdens for us?

Jesus is My Paradise: A Poem

2011-06-01T00:43:00.000-07:00

Lately life has left me longing
Looking for my journey's end
When I ah! At last, belonging,
Wake in that fair and happy land

Oh distant shores of this soul's Dreaming
I yearn for rest from weary life
And await with joys ever increasing
My entrance into Paradise

Yet, what of these sweet fruits of rest
What would the best of all these be?
The glories of Heaven--I would attest--
Are not to be compared to Thee

For Thou art that Joy of my desire
And were it not for my faith's hope
To walk with Thee--in plain and pasture--
That shore for me should not be home

Sadie Daniels
June 1, 2011

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:2-3, ESV

VOM: A Precious Gift

2011-04-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

This continues the series on The Voice of the Martyrs Regional Conference in Los Alamitos, CA on Saturday, March 26, 2011. To see the first post in the series, click HERE.

I love Christmas! Do you remember how excited you were as a child to get a present you had been waiting a long time for? a new bicycle? a puppy? That doll that really giggled when you hugged her?

How were you feeling the night before, anticipating its arrival? Did you sleep? Did you get up and take a peak downstairs? Did you wake up your little sister, just to have someone to talk to about the beloved object?

And how did you feel that morning? Did you run downstairs? Did you pick it out from among all the other packages? Did you hug it close, almost afraid to unwrap it... maybe it wasn't there after all? Did you tear into the paper, and yell when you saw that it... it was really there? Did you jump? Did you cry? Did you hug it close to you, afraid it might be taken away?

Maybe. I think most of us have been excited at least once in our lives about getting something we wanted very badly.

But have we ever felt that way about our Bibles?

You heard me... your Bible... that book that sits on the shelf collecting dust.

Or that book... you have so many of... your own personal copy is nothing special. You read it diligently, but you wouldn't be heartbroken without it. You have others.

Well, Bibles are not as plenteous in other countries as they are here. There are different reasons for this. Governments limit the printing and distribution of Bibles. The Bibles that people do have are often confiscated or destroyed or left behind when families are forced from their homes (just because they're Christians). Or there is no available translation of the Bible in the people's language.

At the Conference, one of the speakers shared a video of a church receiving a shipment of Bibles provided by The Voice of the Martyrs. I don't have a copy of this video, but you should have seen these dear Christians run to the box, pull it open, and start grabbing the Bibles. Just like kids at Christmas!

The Bibles were individually wrapped in cellophane for protection. Most of the people wouldn't open the cellophane. They just held the Bible in their hands, looking at it with eyes that said they couldn't believe they were actually getting a Bible of their own. Some of the people held the Bible close and kissed it. It was that dear to them!

My question is: Shouldn't it be that dear to us?

Do we not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God? Why is it not our most prized possession? Treasured above all things?

It should be.

Here is a video to get you thinking: What if my BIBLE was as important to me as my CELL PHONE?

If you would like to know more about The Voice of the Martyrs' work in distributing Bibles around the world, please visit Bibles Unbound.

To Save a Life? Give them CHRIST!

2011-04-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

I will go back to posting about the VOM Conference, but this is something I wanted to get out to those who read this blog:

I just recently watched To Save a Life, a movie produced in 2009 by New Song Pictures, a church-based production company. You can read New Song Community Church's statement of faith HERE [I find it interesting, if not somewhat disturbing that there is no mention of Hell or the wrath of God in the explanation of their beliefs about Salvation and even final judgment]. You can also read more about the movie To Save a Life HERE.

The synopsis given by imdb.com says: "Jake Taylor has everything. He has a beautiful girl, he's the champion in basketball and beer pong, and everyone loves him. Then, an old childhood friend, whom Jake used to be friends with, commits suicide. Jake begins to think. He wonders what he could've done to save his friend's life. A youth minister tells him that Jake needs God. So Jake becomes a Christian. However, things begin to spin out of control. His dad is cheating on his mom, his girlfriend is pregnant, and his former friends ridicule and mock him. During all this, Jake is going to realize just what it means to be a Christian and how, to save a life. Written by J. Montgomery "

There are many things that I could say about this movie--both good and bad. I could talk about the content--what a grim picture it portrays of the lives of the young people in our culture. I could talk about the theology--how it didn't mention the name of CHRIST except when the main character's so-called friends were making fun of him (HUGE disappointment), yet the movie made it plain that there is a BIG difference between SAYING you're a Christian and actually LIVING like a Christian (almost redeems the movie theologically, I think).

I could say a lot of things, but they'd be pointless if you haven't seen the movie, and if you haven't seen it I'm not too keen on arousing your curiosity to go and see it.

However, there is one thing I want to say, and I thought was important enough to blog about. That is, that this movie, although completely made up (as far as I know), depicts what is happening to real people... even at this very moment.

Do you know that there are countless numbers of teens who engage in a behavior called "cutting" in which they mutilate themselves with razor blades?

Did you know that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of teen deaths? And that young women are more likely than men to attempt suicide, but men are more likely to be successful at taking their own life? (from teensuicide.us)

From www.teendepression.org - "Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, the third leading cause of death among teenagers. 90 percent of suicide victims suffer from a mental illness, and suffering from depression can make a teenager as much as 12 times more likely to attempt suicide."

***
Dear friend, these things should not be. Our youth should not be so disturbed in mind and spirit. It is a beautiful thing to be young! Why do the young not feel that way? What is it that we have been teaching them? That they aren't worth our time or attention? Do we pass by young people without giving them a serious thought or even a 'hello'? They are easily overlooked, because we think they can't possibly have any problems worth noting at such a young age. I tell you, their problems loom like a guillotine above their heads... will no one save their neck from its terrible fall?

Friend, our youth need CHRIST! He alone can rescue! He alone can save! THAT is what makes this movie so sad. It is called To Save a Life, but in the end it doesn't offer the very ONE that saves: JESUS CHRIST.

There is salvation in no other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12, ESV ...ONLY THE NAME OF JESUS!

***
Friends, it has been my desire for some years to have an impact on hurting youth; those who feel forgotten and neglected; those facing terrible psychological problems; those who feel alone and abandoned.

Would you help me, friend? I don't know how God will do this thing or where He will take me with it, but will you pray?

Lord, I am honored to be used by You in any way. Yet, You have placed within me a desire to be used in the lives of young people. Give me opportunity, Father. Open doors. And make me faithful to walk through them. In Christ's name. Amen.

***
If you or anyone you know has thoughts of suicide, please call 1-800-SUICIDE.

Other teen help hotlines are listed HERE.

VOM: Bound With Them

2011-03-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 26, 2011 - It was an honor and a privilege to go to The Voice of the Martyrs Southwest USA Regional Conference "Bound With Them" 2011 held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, California.

I know we say it a lot about things like this without really meaning it, but this really was a life-changing experience. The things I saw and heard, I pray, will stay with me forever.

The entire conference was one blessing after another, but seeing as it was 4-5 hours long, I can't relay all that occurred here. I can, however, share a few highlights, and over the course of the next few days, this will be the theme of my blog posts.

...............................................................................................................................

The first speaker, Robert Broch (long-time staff member with The Voice of the Martyrs), shared with us this acronym: T.W.A.

The Body of Christ (the Church) still suffers today.
We are to remember them, as it says in Hebrews 13:3!
As we serve them, they serve us even more.

It was to help us remember the theme and purpose of the conference: Bound With Them.

Hebrews 13:3 says "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." [KJV]

NOTE: Some translations say "those in prison" and this has been mistakenly interpreted to mean anyone who is a prisoner, when the verse specifically means Christians imprisoned for their faith; the mention of the audience being themselves "in the body" tells us that the context is within the body of believers.

The first two points are rather self-explanatory. But what does Mr. Broch mean when he says "As we serve them, they serve us even more"?

Have you ever heard someone who came back from a missions trip overseas say something like: I went thinking that I would save them, but they saved me? Or I went expecting to bless them, but I was the one who was blessed?

Often times it's those who are "empty" and "broken" who teach those who are "full" how to have joy even in adversity. Those who thought they were "full" realize they were "full" with all the wrong things. They lacked the joy that comes out of deep poverty--the poor soul treasures Christ because it realizes He's all it has.

Perhaps that's what Jesus meant when He called the "poor in spirit" "blessed (happy)".

It's the same way with the persecuted Church!

They teach us what true devotion to Christ looks like! They teach us the true worth and the beauty of our God and Savior!

L.A.W. - 1 John - “Knowing” brings Joy

2011-03-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. - 1 John 1:4, NKJV

If you've ever missed a friend's birthday or anniversary (or if you're like my dad and can't remember your own birthday—lol) then you will appreciate that you don't have the same joy as other people, because you didn't remember that the day was special—you missed out on something because of incomplete or bad information.

John the Apostle didn't want his disciples to miss out on something because of bad information; he didn't want them to miss the opportunity for joy because they didn't know the things he was writing to tell them.

This was a precedent set by Christ Jesus Himself:

In John 15:11, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Jesus taught His disciples, because He didn't want them to lose the joy they had in Him and He didn't want their joy to be incomplete.

Only the right information can bring the right joy.

Point to ponder:

How does Satan use bad information to try and steal your joy in Christ?

One Word: Devoted

2011-03-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Some years ago I was asked to sum up what I wanted people to say about me in one word. The word I chose was "devoted".

Why did I choose that word?

The word "devoted" means, according to Dictionary.com, "zealous or ardent in attachment, loyalty, or affection."

I chose that word because I wanted whatever I did to be characterized by an attitude of devotion: zealous and ardent in attachment, loyalty, and affection.

One who is devoted believes in what she does and that her task is not wasteful or pointless.
One who is devoted holds fast and floats even in the gales; she's a safe-haven, a buoy to those who are sinking.
One who is devoted will sacrifice and give of herself for the sake of others.
One who is devoted will run the race to the finish, so she may receive the prize.
One who is devoted loves much and has exceedingly great joy in others.
One who is devoted is entirely sold out; she holds nothing back.

One who is devoted looks like Christ... if, indeed, she devotes herself to Christ.

At the time I chose the word, though, I didn't think about what naturally goes at the end of the adjective: "to".

I didn't think about what I was devoting myself "to"... I just thought whatever it was, I wanted to be sold out to it. Which can be a dangerous attitude, because many people spend their lives devoted to things that don't really matter in the end.

So I ask it now: What is my "to" to which I'm devoted, and why does it matter?

It matters because I truly want my life to count.

The only meaning and purpose in life is found in the Giver of meaning and purpose, God. He's the One who makes lives matter. He's the One we need to be devoted to if we want our lives to count.

Points to ponder:

What word would you want people to use to describe your life?
What word best describes your life right now?

L.A.W.: "Knowing" - a series in 1 John

2011-03-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

L.A.W. or "Living According to the Word" is a Facebook group I started based on verse 9 of Psalm 119: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word." You can view this discussion in the group, HERE. Prayerfully, a new L.A.W. will be posted every Monday.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:1-3, NKJV

“...Gnosticism taught that salvation is achieved through special knowledge (gnosis). This knowledge usually dealt with the individual's relationship to the transcendent Being. … The unknowable God was far too pure and perfect to have anything to do with the material universe which was considered evil. … Since, according to the Gnostics, matter is evil, deliverance from material form was attainable only through special knowledge revealed by special Gnostic teachers. Christ was the divine redeemer who descended from the spiritual realm to reveal the knowledge necessary for this redemption. In conclusion, Gnosticism is dualistic. That is, it teaches there is a good and evil, spirit and matter, light and dark, etc. dualism in the universe. … The danger of gnosticism is easily apparent. It denies the incarnation of God as the Son. In so doing, it denies the true efficacy of the atonement since, if Jesus is not God, He could not atone for all of mankind and we would still be lost in our sins.” - carm.org, “Gnosticism”

In 1 John, the Apostle gives the positive apology (defense) against heretical Gnostic teachings, although it is difficult to say whether the epistle was written specifically to answer the Gnostic heresy.

John begins his letter by affirming and confirming Christ's deity and humanity. “That which was from the beginning,” he says—clearly indicating that Christ, as God, is eternal—“which we have heard...seen with our eyes...looked upon, and our hands have handled.” What is heard, seen, and handled? A physical body. The Gnostics denied the physical humanity of Christ. Here, John affirms it. Without Christ's humanity, He could not die for sinners.

“[C]oncerning the Word of life...” Here, “Word” is the Greek word logos, which John uses in his gospel to mean Christ Jesus, the living Word of God. “Life” is the Greek word zoe, meaning God's quality of life—eternal life (which Christ says in John 17:3 is to “know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”). Here, again, John affirms Christ's deity.

Christ was both fully God and fully man. Anything less could not atone for the sins of mankind. As God, He lived the perfect life I couldn't live on my own, and the atonement (covering of sins) He offers was made once and for all sinners who come unto Him for salvation. As a man, He was able to suffer and die on our behalf—God can pardon us, because Christ suffered our fate in our place.

Any “gospel” which does not teach that Christ was both fully God and fully man is dangerous because it cannot save.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. - Galatians 1:8-9, NKJV

What is the purpose of correcting heresies? So that people are saved from the just punishment of their sins into “fellowship...with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”.

Points to ponder:

1. What is the appeal of Gnosticism? What part of sinful human nature does it aim to please? Can you think of another false teaching and how it appeals to the sinful nature?

2. What is the value of knowing what you believe? How does it help to be able to defend your faith against false teachings?

Relationship Status: Betrothed

2011-03-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

betrothal: a mutual promise to marry.

- courtesy of Dictionary.com

A friend you know has just changed their relationship status on facebook. "Engaged" it says. You congratulate them, and wish them the best in their future marriage covenant.

Then, dear Christian sister (or brother), perhaps you start thinking: When will my time come? When will I get to change my relationship status to "engaged" and then "married"?

You aren't alone.

I think about marriage a lot. Which means I have to pray about it a lot, which means God is always teaching me new things.

I want to share with you something He's been teaching me recently, and I pray it is a blessing to you as it has been to me.

If I put my relationship status on my facebook profile, it would say "single".

But that isn't correct.

It should say "betrothed" or "promised".

Even if I never marry in this life, I am betrothed, or promised, as the Bride of Christ Jesus, Himself, and that is nothing to sniff at.

What is more, this is a definite betrothal; it is sure to take place. Therefore, I must prepare myself to meet my Husband when I die.

Here is something else, God may plan for me to marry one of His beloved sons-in-Christ on this side of Heaven, in which case I am still betrothed.

Let me explain.

If He intends for me to marry, God is choosing who it is He wants me to be with, in which case I am betrothed or promised to the one God has chosen (if indeed I am faithful to follow His perfect plan for my life).

Plus, a perfect Heavenly Father who loves me is doing the choosing for me. What cause then do I have to be anxious for marriage?

Yet, I want to remember that this second betrothal is an uncertain one, while my betrothal to Christ is certain.

May I live a life of beautiful devotion to Him!

God’s sovereign will is always meant for your good and His glory. If and when God decides you can best serve Him as a team member with a life partner, you won’t need to change Sunday school classes, search the singles ads, or join a dating service. He will work out the circumstances. “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22). This favor of the Lord is what God extends to His children in arranging the circumstances for them to meet their life partners. - Don Raunikar

$$ The Million Dollar Question $$

2010-07-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION?

It is: will you go to heaven when you die?

Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks on a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart". Have you ever looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgement Day?

If you have done these things, the Bible sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell.

God is not willing that any perish. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for sinners. We broke God's Law, but Jesus paid our fine. That means God can legally dismiss our case. He can commute our death sentence: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please repent (turn from sin) today and God will grant everlasting life to all who trust in Jesus. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.

www.LivingWaters.com
http://NeedGod.com

Turning Away Do-Gooders

2010-03-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

An ethical & practical consideration of blood clinics

DISCLAIMER: Adult themes discussed.

I gave blood today, and the entire donation process made me consider recent worries of some people about possible discrimination against certain people groups based on lifestyle choice in the decision to disallow them to donate blood.

It is my personal opinion that Blood Services makes an entirely practical decision when they ban people in high-risk lifestyles from donating blood. If they didn't, they would be placing patients in an even greater danger than they face even now of receiving diseases from donors' blood.

Of course the real issue revolves around whether or not certain behaviors (such as homosexual activity) truly place people at greater risk of contracting diseases such as the HIV virus. Yet, where peoples' health is concerned is it not best and most pragmatic to assume the worst until it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be otherwise?

Is there enough evidence now to support the conclusion that homosexual behaviors do not place people at greater risk of contracting HIV?

What are your opinions on this issue?

February in Fredericton

2010-02-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

February Break at University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick

It is the weekend. February Break is now over. We had a week off, and now we're all playing catch-up on the work that we were supposed to be diligently doing during the break.

But thanks to a girl in the Campus for Christ ministry at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, not everyone's Break was spent sleeping in and vegging (which is a good thing).

This girl (not myself for those who were wondering) decided to see about finding a way to better-use the time she'd been given, and so she worked with Campus for Christ staff to start a missions trip to the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Thanks to her, five students and four staff members decided to spend three days ministering to and evangelizing students at the University of New Brunswick (and St. Thomas, which is so close, they share the same Student Union Building) and connecting people to the Campus for Christ ministry that is just getting started there.

I was part of this team.

It was a great experience, and I am glad that I went. God used this time to explain to me a number of different things that I didn't understand half as well beforehand, including grace to allow that "whoever is not against us is for us" as Jesus said in Mark 9:40 (NIV).

I get caught up in methodology at times, without realizing that at the heart of it, if people's real desire is to make Jesus Christ known, then methodology is secondary; and I shouldn't wish to inhibit people from sharing about Christ, even if I disagree with the methods they use.

I do believe, however, that some times we can get the method wrong, even if our heart is in the right place. Remember that the disciples were unable to cast out a demon because the particular type could only be cast out with prayer and fasting and they had neglected these two very important things (see Mark 9:29). If we neglect Christ's teachings and our 'duties' as His followers, then this will result in spiritual impotence (as He said to remain in Him and only then would we produce fruit in our lives; see John 15:4).

These are some of the things I have been considering since the missions trip.

It is good to wrestle with these things, as each answer hopefully spurs me on to growth in Christ.

Lent

2010-02-18T14:59:00.000-08:00

Lent is a part of the Christian liturgy, or "set form of ceremony or pattern of worship" [wikipedia.org]. It is the part of the Christian calendar leading up to Easter, and consists of 40 days and 40 nights of self-denial, such that the believer partakes in and sympathizes with the trials and sufferings of Christ.

I am a Protestant, and a Southern Baptist, specifically. We generally believe that we do not need liturgy, as it is not something prescribed by Scripture, but by tradition. My church does not observe Lent, and I have never had a reason to observe it before.

As a tradition, I think it too often becomes something that "Everyone does" (as I heard a girl say in the cafeteria). But I bet if you asked those people why they did it, they wouldn't be able to tell you. They'd say "Everyone does it" and that explanation would have to suffice.

I never want to worship God out of empty tradition, when my heart is not in it.

In Isaiah 29:13, God says "These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (NIV)

I do not want God to say this of me, so I think it is good that I have never observed Lent until now, as it would have been empty and meaningless. While I had no heart for God or His Word my sacrifices could not have pleased Him, but now that my heart is growing, and I better understand God's love and sacrifice, I believe that my sacrifices, as a ways of worshiping God, are indeed pleasing to Him, if I give them out of pure motives and a cheerful heart.

Therefore, I am observing Lent this year. It began Wednesday, February 17th. My sacrifice is taking variable forms throughout the next 40 days, as I identify different things I can give up for the sake of denying myself and better-understanding the gift of Christ's death for the remission of sins.

Some of the things I have already identified (to remind myself):
1. Food purchased with my DalCard (hot chocolate, coffee, pizza, etc.)
2. Novels (I tend to obsess over them to the point of neglecting my school work and Bible study)
3. Elevators
4. FarmVille (and other online games)
5. Puzzles in the Newspaper (I tend to obsess over these until I finish them)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LENT UPDATE [March 18, 2010]

I was doing well until a week or two ago, when I somewhat gave up the task. Even now, though, it is good for me, for I realize how weak-willed I am on my own without full reliance on the Spirit of God within to direct me.

To God alone be the glory.

Rock Climbing and Life Lessons

2010-01-31T11:57:00.001-08:00

So, I went rock climbing for the very first time in a climbing gym the other day. I was quite surprised that when the opportunity presented itself I didn't run and hide like I usually do. You see, I am terrified of heights and falling, so much so that just going up the stairs in the Health Library at my univeristy is enough to give me vertigo.

So, what is a girl like me doing going rock climbing? I might have asked myself the same question, but the strange thing is that I wasn't afraid. That is, not until I got off the ground.

From the floor, it all looked simple and I convinced myself there was nothing to it. I could make it to the top. No sweat.

But it's different when you're in a harness, and the only thing that seems to be holding you up is a rope and your own arms and legs. And let me tell you how much faith I place in my own arms and legs = 0. None whatever. When I got on the wall and started to climb, I'd barely get three feet off the ground when my arms would start shaking from the strain or the terror or both. Nope. The only thing I could trust was the rope to hold me up and my friend to catch me if I were indeed to fall.

Not much help to a scaredy cat like me.

Trust a rope. Right.

My mind would scream at me in protest! Hellooo! A rope?! Ropes are made by men and subject to error. How can I trust in a rope to hold me? Besides, didn't I just sign a waiver releasing the gym from liability in the case of my injury... and even death?! No way! No how! I can't trust something that's so uncertain.

But mind you, these things went through my head as I was climbing. Not when I had my feet firmly planted. Was there a difference in the rope? Or a difference in my relation to it?

There's no difference in the rope, that's certain. The difference was I wasn't hanging from it. I didn't have to trust very firmly in it, because my safety wasn't on the line.

The point? Danger and uncertainty test our trust and our faith.

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, You don't know how much you trust a rope until you have to swing from it.

Mr. Lewis was talking about our faith in God and how we don't know exactly how much faith we have until that faith is tested--that is, until the situation becomes dire, and God is the only thread to which we are holding as we dangle over the great precipice of life.

But there is hope for the scared ones like myself: as we exercise faith, we become braver.

And the same thing is true for rock climbing and the like: the farther I am able to push myself, the farther I'll be able to go, because I will become braver, and able to take more risks because my trust in the rope has been tested and proven true.

May it be the same with our faith in God.

Reading List

2010-01-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Reading
- The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer

Re-Reading

FINISHED [Current TOTAL: 10/101]

Books

- The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard

- Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand

- Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (4/23/10)
- So What's the Difference? by Fritz Ridenour (2/28/10)
- I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris (2/21/10)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (2/16/10)
- I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek
- Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (finished 12/26/09)
Audiobooks
- Desiring God by John Piper (3/6/10)

To-Read
- Clairvaux Manifesto by Kirk Bartha
- The Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening by Dan Hayes
- The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
- Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
- by this Name by John R. Cross
- The Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul
- Poems by George MacDonald
- Fairy Stories by George MacDonald

My 101 Goals in 1001 Days

2010-01-06T06:52:00.001-08:00

Day begun: Friday, January 1, 2010
To end: Friday, September 28, 2012

Education
- graduate university
- apply to medical schools; that is, fill out the AMCAS application and a separate app for Texas schools
- take a cooking class
- learn basic Latin
- learn to drive and get license
- make a well-educated vote
- learn how to properly shoot a gun
- learn how to change a tire
- take a photography class
- be able to label maps of the US and Canada
- check air pressure in a tire
- take a swimming class
- learn to properly keep house
- do research in a lab
- learn to knit
- learn to sew well enough to mend own clothes
- make homemade kite and fly it

For Others
- give blood (gave blood for Canadian Blood Services at school donor clinic - 3/9/10)
- pay for someone behind me in line
- buy someone flowers
- plant a tree
- volunteer in a hospital
- cook for someone
- put change in an expired meter
- hand write and mail one letter for every month in 2011 (0/12)
- send 5 'just because' gifts (0/5)
- volunteer every two months
- commit a random act of kindness that costs me more than $100
- sign up as an organ donor
- get a job and give one paycheck to charity

For Myself
- grow my hair out for the 1001 days; cut only to trim (this might change as I contemplate donating my hair)
- go to a prayer room for an hour

Health
- drink only water and milk for 2 months
- go on a 20 minute walk every day for a week
- wear retainer every day for 3 months
- lift weights 30 minutes twice a week for a month
- go to bed at 9pm and wake at 5am 7 days in a row

Organization
- make a list of the "vital items" in my life; donate the rest to charity; repeat 3 months later
- make an emergency evacuation box

Really Stretch Myself / New Experiences
- do something that really scares me (went rock climbing - 1/30/10)
- go horseback riding
- make 10 new friends (4/10)
- give up electronics for a week (not including cell phone for emergencies)

Reading & Writing
- read 101 books (2/101)
- participate in NaNoWriMo
- spend an afternoon reading in the park
- join/create a book club
- visit the library once a month for the year of 2011 (0/12)
- donate books to the library
- write reviews for 10 books I read (0/10)
- complete 3 stories of 1001 words or more (0/3)
- complete a poem a week for the year of 2010 (0/52)
- stay up to watch the sunset, write all night, watch the sunrise
- write a letter to my mother, father, and brother (0/3)
- write a letter to 5 favourite living authors saying how they have impacted my life (0/5)
- write a letter to 10 people saying how they are important to me (0/10)
- participate in SSIW every week for a year
- get a pen-pal and keep in touch once a month for a year
- send work to 5 publishers or enter 5 different contests (0/5)
- write a book
- keep a journal for 4 months; include everything from happenings to dreams to answered prayers (0/4)
- read The Fountainhead / Atlas Shrugged and enter Ayn Rand essay contest
- read through the Bible

Music
- learn to read music for piano
- learn chords for piano
- memorize a song on the violin
- memorize major scales on the flute
- learn 10 new chords on the guitar (0/10)
- learn 10 new songs on the guitar (0/10)

Misc. Creative Stuff
- find and try 10 recipes; including a cake, Turkish Delight, and apple butter (0/10)
- take one photo every day of 2011 and make an album (0/365)
- memorize 10 poems (0/10)
- make my own Christmas cards and send them to at least 10 people (0/10)
- learn how to make jewelry from Amanda; make earrings for her
- crochet a blanket
- sew and embroider a cushion
- learn how and cook a meal for 4 people

Travel / Nature / Sports
- go on a real picnic
- go to 8 museums (0/8)
- watch a meteor shower
- visit 2 family grave sites (0/2)
- visit Aunts and Uncles
- play geocache for the first time (with Chels W and Steph K at Point Pleasant - 4/12/10)
- go skiing
- go camping or backpacking
- plan a trip and carry it out
- go on a missions trip (UNB with Campus for Christ - 2/21 thru 2/25/10)

Finances
- open a savings account and save $1,001 by Day 1001
- make a budget and follow it for 6 months (0/6)
- learn how to pay taxes
- have one credit card for emergencies
- take a class or read a book on finance (took a class offered at church - 2/6/10 & 2/13/10)

Random
- write a will and a living will
- lead worship
- make a list of 10 people to share with and share with them (0/10)
- learn to pray, fast, and tithe on a regular basis
- practice spiritual breathing
- retake the MCAT
- change a dirty diaper
- get First Aide and CPR training
- build resume
- keep a prayer journal / record of prayers to pray, prayers prayed, and prayers answered

Campus for Christ & Winter Conference '09

2009-11-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

Winter Conference is an annual event with Campus for Christ, where students from all across Canada gather in one place to hear speakers, attend seminars, make friends, and worship and experience God in new and exciting ways. It takes place during the last week of December in Toronto, Ontario. I have never gone before, but I was asked to give a testimony to my Campus for Christ group as to why I want to go this year. What follows is generally what I said:

I am going to Winter Conference this year. I've never been before, but I wanted to tell you why I wanted to go this year.

It all started at the Summit retreat in October. I've never been to Summit before either, and this is my third year in university and involved in Campus for Christ. But during Summit, I learned a lot about where God wants me to be and what He wants me to do with my life, and I felt that God was compelling me to take action. One of those actions was attending Winter Conference for the first time.

So I registered for Winter Conference, and I asked God that if He wanted me to go that He would show me, and He did. There was a drawing for a free plane ticket and $100 off of the registration fee for those who had signed up for Winter Conference at Summit.

I won the $100.

I feel very strongly that this was God's affirmation. I am sure now that God wants me to attend Winter Conference. For what reason, I'm not sure, but I know it is for something great.

At Summit, we watched a video that described the beginnings of revival movements and the people that God used to bring those about. Watching that video and seeing the people who had given their lives for Christ moved me to ask what I can give, and what I can do for Christ.

It is my hope that Winter Conference will be a step towards beginning a ministry that will last a lifetime of service to God. This is my hope. This is my desire. This is why I am excited to go.

I am trusting God for great things. He has brought me safe thus far, and He will bring me the rest of the way.

<3

YJNK - You Just Never Know

2009-11-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

This is to explain why I'm always wearing an orange bracelet that says YJNK.

YJNK stands for You Just Never Know.

The bracelet was given to me by Mike Woodard, the Canadian National Director for Campus for Christ, at the end of Campus for Christ's Summit retreat in October. A bracelet was given to everyone who identified faith barriers in their lives that they would like to see God help them overcome.

You Just Never Know means that we do not know how God will use us.

We cannot predict what sort of far-reaching effects the simplest step of obedience will have on the lives of those around us. The power and grace of God are far more than any of us can comprehend, so it makes sense that we would not be able to guess the outcomes of that power and that grace. We can, however, trust that they are and will be good.

So, I wear my YJNK bracelet always to remind me that You Just Never Know what God will do, and because I never know what He will do, I can be confident in taking small steps in obedience, trusting that He will bring something out of it that is truly glorifying to Him.

~

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" - Romans 11:33, NIV

<3

When God talks

2009-11-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

I have heard it said that 'A miracle is when God chooses to be obvious, and a coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous,' but I would argue a third category of occurrences: not as grand as a miracle, but not as subtle as a coincidence. You could perhaps call it a help, a hint, a poke, a prod.

It is definitely when you can feel or you know the hand of God to be working in your life. He speaks to you, and you can almost hear His voice.

I think this is a purpose of the Holy Spirit--to give us access to the voice of God--for I have not heard of nonbelievers ever experiencing this; if they do experience it, they aren't aware of it until after they become believers. I have heard stories of times when something happened to someone when they were an unbeliever that they could not explain at the time, but which makes so much sense to them now that they believe. This is a purpose of the Holy Spirit--to make sense of spiritual things.

Recently, there have been many of these occurrences--these nudges from God--in my life, as well as in the lives of those around me. I cannot call them coincidences. I cannot call them miracles--at least, not as I define them: being visible to all, believer and nonbeliever alike. These occurrences are visible to believers alone. They are the every-day proddings of the Spirit. He is keeping in constant conversation with me; showing me that He is here with me.

It is a conversation. Except that when God talks, it is never idle chatter.

The LORD is here

2009-11-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Jehovah-Shammah. The LORD is here.

This morning in church, my pastor said something that stuck with me all day--"You will find what you look for. If you look for the negative, you will find it. If you look for hypocrisy, you will find people to be hypocritical. If you look for God, you will find Him."

Indeed, God promises: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13, NIV

It is amazing just how present God is... it got me thinking... He is always with us; and that in itself is an amazing thing--that He should choose to be present among sinful creatures such as we are.

Remember the name of Jesus, given in Matthew 1:23: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, 'God with us.'"--God present among men... isn't that amazing?

We are not alone on this earth... we are not alone in this life... we are not alone in this moment... for we have Jehovah-Shammah! The LORD is here!