We Three Kings

   It is good to finally be back in the desert. I know that sounds odd but if you just dealt with what I dealt with you would know why I say that. It’s not that our journey didn’t have good things happen; actually the greatest thing happened in the world. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Who am I? I am one of the Magi.

   About two years ago I was looking up in the sky. You see, I enjoy watching the stars. I looked and I saw a new star had appeared. I conferred with my other Magi friends and we realized that this was the star of prophecy. The king of the Jews had been born. We set out immediately. We knew the journey would be long so we prepared our food and servants. We traveled at night and rested during the day. This helped us stay cool and helped us see where the star was.

   We arrived in Jerusalem. We decided to ask the ruler if he knew where the King of the Jews was. I thought that maybe the King would know where the child was. I was wrong. King Herod was a proud man. He talked like he actually cared about the child but my friends and I could see the greed and jealousy behind his eyes. But, who were we to judge this king? Herod asked us many questions and we answered him to the best of our ability. Then Herod told us that the child would be in Bethlehem. He asked us to come back to him after we found the child because he wanted to worship him too.

   We hastened our way to Bethlehem. The star went ahead of us. Finally, the star stopped. We were overjoyed. Then we saw the child. He looked about two years old now. We bowed down and worshiped him. This was the child of prophecy. This was the savior of the world. We were so amazed that we almost forgot our treasures for him. We opened the gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Then we left the family. Our journey was accomplished (Mat.2.1-12).

   We found a place to stay. While I was sleeping a dream came to me. I was told not to go back to Herod. I knew that my fears back in his palace were right. We returned to our country a different way.

   Looking back at it, people may have thought we were crazy to travel so far. We gave up our time, money, and treasures just for one glimpse of this savior. To me, it was worth it. This was the king of kings born and I got to see him face to face. For that, I would give up any treasure.

   So, would you give up time and money to see the savior? Will you go tell others about the gift God has given us?

   We Three Kings-Go Fish video

   Image from here.

Oh What a Glorious Night

   “Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God forever.” Oh, sorry I didn’t see you there. I was just singing praises to my Lord. I get to do that every day. Isn’t that amazing? That’s my purpose in life, to sing praises and glorify him. I’m an angel of the Lord.

   I had just finished singing praises to God. When I noticed Gabriel had just come back from his mission. God had us do our normal defending against demons but it had been a while since any of us had been called to show ourselves to humans. Gabriel told us he had gone to see a woman named Mary. She was going to have the son of God. Jesus was going to leave heaven to save the humans. We knew that God, in his infinite wisdom, was planning something from the beginning. He loved humans enough to save Adam and Eve from death right after they disobeyed Him. God is mysterious. We didn’t know what he was planning exactly but we knew it would be something great. One thing we did know was that God keeps his promises. Many prophesies would be brought about and soon (Dan.7.13-14, Ps.2.1-12. Is.7.14, 2 Sam.7.12-16, Genesis.3.15).

   The heavenly host were all amazed with God; then one day I received a mission. It turned out that the earthly father of the Son needed some encouragement. I visited Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. I could tell he was nervous about being the father of the son of God. If he wasn’t nervous I am sure God would not have chosen him. After the encouragement he was given, he married Mary.

   The day for Jesus to be born was getting closer. God had told us that we were going to have another special mission soon. We watched as Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for the census. We could not imagine the pain that Mary was in but we knew that God had Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem to bring about the word of the prophets (Micah.5.2). Then, the child was born in an area meant for animals. God was born in one of the lowliest places on earth. Then God told us to visit some shepherds and tell them the news that the savior had been born. Never questioning God we went. We told them that the baby would be found in a manger and praised God. The shepherds found the baby then sang praises to God all the way back to their flock.

   I began to see God’s purpose in all of this. God is love. He loves these humans and he wants each of them to know that he loves them. Maybe that’s why he sent us to the people that humans believe had a lowly job: shepherds. He wants all to be redeemed so that he can be with them. We know that the son of God has a hard road ahead of him. According to the prophecies he will die a painful death. It really does prove how much God loves humans. He sent his son in the most humble way and knew that he would die all for love. That’s what should be celebrated about this day: love.

   So, do you realize that God sent his son out of love for you? God brought all of these events for our good. Do you believe that he has a plan for your life?

   Oh What a Glorious Night-Sidewalk Prophets video

   Image from here. 

The Shepherd's Praise

   The day started out like any other day. I was out in the field watching my flock. Of course, I had to defend them from a wolf that day, which was a little odd. Also, many people were in town for the census that Caesar called for. I was just thankful that I didn’t have to go anywhere because my family was from Bethlehem. However, a change of scenery may have been nice. It gets a little boring when all you do is watch sheep all day. Hi, I’m a shepherd.

   Now, before you go running off because I smell so bad and because I have a very underappreciated job hear me out. As I said, the day started out like any other. My shepherd friends and I were out watching the sheep. The sun had gone down a while ago and I was about to lay down for a nap while the other shepherds watched the flock. I had just shut my eyes when a bright light flashed. I thought one of my friends was playing a joke. Then I saw their faces. They looked frightened.

   I looked up in the sky and I saw why they were frightened. There was an angel of the Lord there. I fell on my face and covered my eyes. We had no idea why the angel was there. I wasn’t sure if we did something wrong. It had been so long since anyone wanted to talk to us, let alone an angel of the Lord. Then the angel said “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke.2.10-12). I was a tad overwhelmed. The Savior was a baby? And, he was in Bethlehem? I didn’t have long to be overwhelmed by that because suddenly there was a great company of angels praising God. Needless to say my friends and I stood there for a while after the angels had left with our mouths open.

   More questions came to my head. Why was the savior here? Why hadn’t anyone heard about it? Why were we the ones to hear about it? I shook these thoughts from my head. Why did those questions matter? They didn’t, all that mattered was that we had to find this baby. We left our flock, which is a big no, no for shepherds if you didn’t guess. But, it’s not every day you are told by angels that the savior was born. We searched the busy streets of Bethlehem. We had a good idea that he would not be in an inn because the angels told us that he was in a manger.

   Finally, one of my friends found him. He was in a place meant for animals. His father stood to make sure we meant him no harm, I assume. His mother was leaning over the manger. But, once I saw the baby I couldn’t take my eyes off him. This was the savior? I looked at him and he seemed to smile at me. I wondered what that baby was thinking. What would his future hold? Then I suddenly got the urge to do something I never do. I knew I had to tell everyone about what happened here tonight. I was usually very quiet because I was a shepherd and no one wanted to hear what a shepherd had to say. However, we shepherds were told about this child for a reason. The savior was here. We ran through the streets praising God and telling others that the savior had come. After a while we went back to our flocks.

   That night was so magical. I knew that God had great plans for this child. And, maybe he told us about it because that baby came to save us too. I realized that night that God cares for me. I think that’s why I risked losing everything to gain so much more. And, I’m glad I did.

   So, if God asked you to drop everything and do something, would you do it? Do you believe that God sent Jesus to save you?

   The Shepherd Song-Hearts of Saint video

   Image from here. 

Such a Strange Way to Save the World

   I was so excited; my wedding day was coming up. Soon I would get to marry Mary. She was such a kind woman and she loved the Lord. I knew she would make a great wife. Then one day my thoughts about her changed. Who am I? I am a simple carpenter from Nazareth. I am Joseph.
   The day started out like most. I was working in my workshop. But, my thoughts were not on the project I was working on. They were on Mary. The next thing I knew Mary was walking through the door. I was so happy to see her. I dropped what I was doing and ran over to embrace her. But, this embrace was different. She was holding back; no, did she seem larger? How could she seem larger in such a short time? I looked down and saw that Mary was pregnant?! I had so many questions but none of them came out of my mouth. 

   Mary told me that the child came to her by the Holy Spirit and that he would be the son of God. I was speechless. I had so many thoughts running in my mind. Could Mary be lying? She was a godly woman. I never thought she would do something like this out of wedlock. But, if she was telling the truth then that meant that, if I married her, I would raise the son of God. Why would I be worthy enough to raise the son of God? I was just a simple carpenter. I knew nothing about raising a king, let alone the son of God. But, if I didn't marry Mary she would be ruined. I could divorce her quietly that way she wouldn't be punished. That seemed like the best option so I divorced her quietly then and there. She looked crushed but I couldn't raise God's son.
   I left and went into my home. The home I was to share with Mary. I couldn't stop thinking about her and what she said. Mary was definitely worthy to have the son of God. She loved God with all her heart. But, it was strange that God's son would be born to a common girl. I could not sleep I was thinking about this so much. Finally my body gave way and I fell asleep. While I was sleeping an angel came to me in a dream. He told me, "Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife...She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus" (Mat.1.20-21). I woke up and realized I must do what God called me to do. I still didn't understand why God chose me; but who was I to question the will of God? I went to Mary and married her.
   Months went by and it was very close to the time for Mary to have the baby. Then we got the news that Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census would be taken. I really didn't want to to take Mary to Bethlehem, my family's home town, because it would be a hard journey. But, we knew that this must be part of God's plan. We packed up and headed to Bethlehem. The journey was rough, especially on Mary. I tried to make it as easy as I could for her. 

   We finally made it to Bethlehem and it was so crowded. I kept Mary with me as we tried to find an inn. Mary looked at me and told me it was time for the baby to come. I panicked. We had to find a place for her to have the baby. I ran from inn to inn but each time we got the same answer. There wasn't any room. We came to a place for animals that wasn't very crowded. It smelled horrible. I couldn't let the son of God be born there. I told Mary I would keep looking. She grabbed my cloak before I could run off and said the baby was coming now. I didn't like it, but she laid down and gave birth to the son of God there.
   When I first saw the baby I was in awe. He was so tiny. How could the son of God come like this? Then I touched his finger and he looked at me. It felt like he was looking into my very soul. I gave Mary the baby and she held him so gently. Then she wrapped him in cloth and laid him in the manger. I heard a noise as Mary was looking at the baby and stood ready to defend us. Shepherds walked in. They said they were told by angels that the Lord would be laying in a manger tonight. They bowed to the child then left praising God (Luke.2.1-20).
   Mary was quiet for a long time after that. I knew she was thinking about everything that happened. I was thinking about that too. It was all so strange. I never would have expected God to come as a baby in a manger. I also promised myself that I would take care of this child as best I could. Little did I know how many dangers were to come.
   So, do you ever feel unworthy to do something God calls you to do? Do you ever feel like you don't deserve God's grace? What can you do to encourage others who may feel unworthy?
   Such a Strange Way to Save the World video.

   Image from here.

Mary Did You Know?

   Imagine you were minding your own business, you know doing your chores during the day, and then suddenly you see a man in white. Then you realize it's not a man it's an angel. What would you do? That's the question I asked myself because I was visited by an angel one day. My name is Mary.
   Of course, you can imagine I was so frightened. It's not every day you have an angel come to you and say, "Greetings, to you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you" (Luke.1.28). I had no idea what this angel wanted with me. But he said, "Do not be afraid...You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus" (Luke.1.30-31). Needless to say I was shocked because I wasn't married yet. The angel reassured me that the Holy Spirit would be upon me and the child would be the son of God. Well, who was I to get in the way of God's plan? I am his servant after all.
   Now, I knew that soon I would start to show that I was pregnant so I went to see my cousin, Elizabeth. She was also with child and when she saw me she exclaimed that I was blessed for believing that I would have God's son. I was reassured and filled with joy that I was carrying God's son. I sang a song of praise to my Lord because he was bringing about his perfect plan.
   A while later I went home and told Joseph, my betrothed, everything that happened. He was amazed and frightened. He knew that I was pregnant, it was hard to miss. Joseph said he wanted to call off the marriage quietly. I was heartbroken. I wondered how this could be part of God's plan. Would I need to raise this child on my own? Many questions ran through my mind but I knew God's plan would come about. This child would be born one way or another and he would save us all. Joseph came back to me one day and said he was visited by an angel too. He said he wanted to go through with the wedding (Mat.1.18-25). I was relieved; I wouldn't have to go through this alone. For a time, I thought that we had gotten over our biggest mountain so to say. Boy, was I wrong.

   Caesar Augustus was the ruler of our land. He called for a census. Joseph told me we would have to travel to Bethlehem for it. I could see the worry in his eyes. I was very pregnant at the time. I was also scared but I knew this was part of God's plan. We packed up and left. The road was hard, and painful, but I just kept saying to myself that God's plan would come about.
   We reached Bethlehem and the place was packed! I could hardly step anywhere without accidentally bumping into someone. Then I realized that the baby was coming. You should have seen Joseph's face. He went running about from inn to inn looking for a place for me and the baby. But, there was not any space left. Finally, we found a small space meant for animals. Joseph said this is not the place for the son of God to be born. But, I said, "this baby is coming now!" I can't remember ever being in so much pain.
   Then, in one moment the pain stopped. I saw the child, the son of God, look up at me. He was so precious. His eyes were so loving and I thought I could see power in this child. I carefully wrapped him in cloth and I laid the son of God in a manger, no less.
   I watch the child with wonder. Then I looked up and saw some shepherds come to us. They told me that angels had told them to find a baby in a manger. That baby is Christ, the Lord. They bowed down and worshiped Jesus. I could hardly speak, much less comprehend why these things happened this way. The shepherds left and I could hear them praising God all the way. It was an amazing journey, that was just beginning.
   Did I know what would happen next? No, but I knew this child would do great things. I was just honored to be a small part of his story.
   Do you trust in God's plan when the road is hard? Do you believe that Christ did great things and God is still doing great things?
   Mary Did You Know-Pentatonix song.

   Image from here. 

Is Jesus Safe?

   Today Christians have this mindset of I want to be safe. But we are promised we will not be safe (Blessings Blog). John 15:17-18 says "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
   We will be hated because we stand for good. We are sinful creatures and we want to follow our own desires. But, once we accept Christ, it is no longer alright for us to follow those desires. Because of that, people will not like us because we stand for a code of morals. That is why we will not be safe.
   In fact, even God is not safe. "'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver; 'don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you'" (Chronicles of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe). Of course that quote is from a book but it still applies. God has never changed; he's just changed the way he deals with us. He is still the God of wrath from the Old Testament. He still hates sin and cannot be with it, which is why he's not safe if you are a sinner. But, if you accept Christ, you are his child. He will love you no matter what you do.
   How can we stop trying to be safe? We need to get out of our comfort zones. In Matthew 5:10-12 we are told: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'" The prophets were persecuted, the disciples were persecuted, and even Jesus was persecuted. Why is it that we think we won't be persecuted?
   We are going to be persecuted. Every Christian needs to answer this question honestly: "If it was illegal to be a Christian, would you still profess to be a Christian?" If you said "no," I encourage you to get into the Word. Pray and deepen your relationship with God. Ask yourself, "why am I a Christian?"  When you answer that question remember that this life is temporary. God's kingdom is forever.
   So, when you are persecuted what will you say? Will you choose to cling to Christ?

   John 15:17-18 and Matthew 10:34-39

   Image from here.

It's Not How Good You Are

   Some of you know that I am a soccer coach. I have coached children from age 3-18. This past fall I was the JV coach for a high school girl's team. This was my second season working with this age group at this level.
   Coming into the season I knew I would have a young team. I began to prepare for the season with my team in mind. I found drills that would be better catered to the girls' needs. I created a meeting sheet so I could have individual meetings with the girls to help meet them where they are at. I also began preparing myself by spending time with God; so that when I was in season I would be reminded who to lean on. Each day during pre-season I would pass a sign that said: "It's not how good you are it's how good you want to be." I began thinking about that saying more and more...
   We split our teams, the season began, and it was a bit rough at first. Many of the girls had not played together. Some of them had not played for a long time, or ever. We had to go back to basics and had to do team building so that we knew our formation and could trust one another. That's when I told the girls our quote for the season would be: "it's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be" (Paul Arden).
   We got about 1/4 of the way through the season and we were still a bit rough around the edges. But, the girls began to improve. They came out each day and worked hard during practice. They began to understand my coaching style. They began to put that quote into practice. We didn't win many games but I think the girls had fun and learned a lot, about soccer and life.
   Why should this matter to you? It shouldn't unless you think about that quote and apply it to your life. Have you ever had a skill you've wanted to improve in? If you have, did you just sit around and hope you would get better? No, you did things so you would get better.
   How good do you want to be when it comes to walking like Christ? I hope that you said you want to try to become more and more like him each day. In order to do that you need to work at it. You can pray, spend time with him, read the Bible, etc. Yes, Jesus loves us even though we are sinners. But, we need to try to be like him and not live in our sin. Because... "It’s not how good you are, it's how good you want to be" (Paul Arden).
   So, are you working hard to be like Jesus? What can you do to become more like him today?

   1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 2:21, Ephesians 4:22-24

   Image from here. 

Thanksgiving: The Thankfulness Competition

   Picture that you are in a room with children. Children are great but sometimes children complain, a lot. In this room the children are complaining. They say things like: "I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty," "it's too hot," "why do we need to be here?" You parents out there have probably had a time where your kids were saying things like this. It is really draining to hear people complain like this. What can you do in these situations?
   Jud Wilhite has an answer in his book The God of Yes. His children were complaining like this during a car ride when all of the sudden he yelled, "thankfulness competition!" They would go in a circle and say things they were thankful for. The first person who could not think of something lost. Doing this got them focused on the things they had rather than what they did not have at the moment.
   This world is filled with people who complain when they have so much to be thankful for. As Christians we are called to be set apart, and yet many times it’s the Christians who do the most complaining. This Thanksgiving I encourage you to look at what you have rather than look at what you don't have. Maybe even have a thankfulness competition at your house this year.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:15-17, Psalm 107:1
   Image from here.

A Simple Act of Caring

   Have you ever heard or seen a story that makes you feel something? Maybe you heard a story of injustice that made you angry. Maybe you heard a story that was so sad you cried. I have found that the stories that touch people the most are ones they don't expect.

   In this day and age it is hard to find people who are generous and have integrity years ago a YouTube video came out called An act of caring creates an endless ripple. Check out the video down below.

   One act of kindness creates a difference. Many times we hesitate to give to others or do what we feel called to do because we think it will not make a major difference. However, it can make a big difference. It may only make a difference to the one person we help, or it could make a difference to many others. We never know who is watching or who will be told about what we do in kindness.
   I'm not saying we should do nice things to be recognized; I'm not saying we should do kind things to be recognized. We should do kind things because that's what we are called to do. Jesus did many kind things but he gave God all the glory (he is God).
   When we do kind things we should give God the glory. We should do what we are called to do because that is furthering the kingdom of God. That's why we are still on earth even after we accept Christ. You never know what one act of kindness will do.
   So, what kind things have you been called to do lately? Will you give God the glory if you are called to do something kind? What can you do today to create an endless ripple of kindness?

   Philippians 2:4 and John 13:34-35

The Spotlight of Recognition

   Have you ever done something really well? We are talking you poured your heart and soul into this thing. You spent time, sweat, tears, and money on this thing. You would think that you would get some recognition for all that you did, right? No, instead the person who is in charge of whatever you were doing gets the recognition. Or, people don't know you were involved. Or, worse yet, people knew you were involved but you never get thanked!
   What are we to do when we don't get thanked for what we do? Some people may say we should throw a fit, not help again, or leave whatever we were helping with.
   Let me tell you a story that may help you decide what we should do. Once there was a beautiful lighthouse. It was strong, served its purpose, and people said it was the most beautiful lighthouse they had ever seen. One day the light at the top of the lighthouse looked out at all it could see and said, "This is an amazing view." The brick at the bottom of the lighthouse said, "may I take a look?" The light said, "no you must stay in your place otherwise how will others be able to see my light shining in the darkness."
   Later on, in the night, the light shone brightly. The light said, "it is a good thing I am so bright otherwise the ships would crash on the rocks." The brick at the bottom replied, "may I see the ships?" The light laughed, “no you must stay in your place otherwise how will others be able to see my light shining in the darkness."
   The brick on the bottom sighed angrily, "I am tired of staying in my place while you get all of the glory." With those words the brick pulled himself from the lighthouse and went away. The light glanced down and thought, "only one brick is gone I shall still be the most beautiful lighthouse." Then the light felt shaking beneath her. She looked down and saw other bricks had begun to leave. Suddenly, the lighthouse tower began to crack and the light fell to the ground.
   When the dust settled the light realized that she was broken too. No longer was she beautiful and revered but instead she was a pile of rubble. Suddenly, the light heard a noise of a ship's horn. She realized that she could no longer guide those ships away from the sharp rocks that would destroy them. What would happen now that the lighthouse was destroyed?
   So, what is the meaning behind this story? Will you realize that it is vital to appreciate those under your charge? How can you lift up your boss? Will you choose to do your job in order to help others, no matter the personal cost to you?

   Colossians 3:23, Acts 20:35, Matthew 25:21

   Image from here. 

The Armor of God Series Conclusion

   How do we put on the armor of God then? Throughout this series I have told you ways that you can put on each individual piece of armor. But how do we put on the whole armor? It is no easy feat, especially since we have to do so much to put on each individual piece.
   We cannot put on the armor on our own. After all, it is called the armor of GOD. We are sinners and we fail, but through Jesus all things are possible. Jesus made it possible for us to be cleansed. He is the one who makes it possible for us to put on the armor. He is the truth. He is the righteous one. He is always ready. He is faithful, gives us salvation, and taught us how to pray.
   Without God we cannot do anything. With him we can do everything. That is how we put on the armor. We trust in Jesus as our Savior. We pray and follow him and then we will always be ready for battle.
   So, will you trust in Jesus as your personal savior? Will you follow him and put on the armor of God? Are you prepared for battle?

   Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here. 

Covering Your Armor in Prayer: The Armor of God Series

   “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing” (Martin Luther).

   Once upon a time when I was young I used to only go to God in prayer when I needed help. If I was being bullied, I would pray for the bullying to stop. If I wanted a dog, I would pray for a dog. If I was tired at soccer, I would pray for strength. But, during the good times, I didn't pray. I never really thanked God for all he had given me. I fell into the trap of treating God like a Genie.
   Prayer is one part of the armor that we don't talk about much. I think it is because the Roman soldiers did not have a metaphor connection to prayer. Paul puts prayer at the end like this: "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints" (Eph.6.18). 
   Prayer is like a protective coating of the armor. If the armor is not taken care of then it will not be able to do its job. We must pray to God. I'm not talking about praying to him like he is a Genie. I am saying we talk to him throughout the day. We thank him for our blessings, whether they are good or bad. We tell him about our day like a friend. We question him like a father.
   Prayer is our link. It is like the chain that keeps the armor together. It keeps us connected with God. That's why prayer is so important. We could pray just to talk to God. Or we can pray for something as major as healing from cancer. It just takes some faith and a little bit of time for us to talk with our maker. 
   So, will you stop treating God like a Genie? Will you choose to pray to God at all times and in all things?

   Philippians 4:6, Romans 8:26, Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here. 

Going on the Offense: The Armor of God Series

   “We need to encourage new believers to feed on God’s Word—it is nourishment for the soul” (Billy Graham).

   When I was in my sophomore year of college I decided to go to Homecoming with a few of my friends. We were getting ready and talking. One of the girls said that my friend was a rebel. They were talking about how my friend dresses (she wears leather jackets, jeans, and Nike shoes. That's a style you don't see too much at LBC. But, she pulled it off awesomely I must say).
   Anyhow, the other girls asked me if I thought this friend was a rebel. I said "She is a rebel, but in a good way. She doesn't always believe what people tell her about God. She does more digging to find the answers for herself. She does that to make sure that she finds the truth. That's how she is a rebel."
   Sometimes Christians accept what others say without question. We hear a pastor tell us about the word of God and just accept what he says. What if the pastor is wrong? We are told that there will be false prophets out there. The only way we can be sure not to fall into the trap of false prophets is by knowing the word.
   The sword is the only offensive weapon that Paul mentions in the armor of God. The sword is how a Roman soldier was able to take on the enemy. But, it was also for defense.
   In the same way a Christian uses the word to attack and defend. Who better to prove this than the one that we try to emulate: Jesus. In Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus is tempted by Satan. He uses the word to defend himself as well as attack the devil. Each time Satan uses scripture to tempt Jesus blocks the blow and comes back with scripture. The way Jesus was able to defeat Satan was because he knew the Word.
   As Christians it is vital for us to know the Word that way we can defend and attack when the devil comes. The way to do that is to get into the Word. We need to memorize scripture and read it every day.
   So, will you choose to question your teachers to make them accountable to the Word? Will you get into the Word and memorize it? Will you use the Word as defense and offense against the devil?
   2 Timothy 3:16-17, Joshua 1:8, Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here. 

Our Salvation is Protection: The Armor of God Series

   "No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief" (John Calvin).

   I grew up in the church my whole life. When I was in second grade my Sunday school teacher asked us if anyone wanted to pray "the prayer" to accept Christ. I thought I understood what that meant so I prayed the prayer, but I wasn't sure. When I was going into 4th grade I was at Camp YoliJwa and I prayed to redirect my life to Christ again.

   When I grew up in went to camp YoliJwa again the year before 11th grade. My counselor told me that she used to do drugs. She had other issues too. She got so low that she took pills to kill herself. But, the overdose didn't work. She sat in her room and saw a Bible. She was really mad at God so she threw the Bible. The Bible hit the wall and fell to the ground. My counselor went over and picked it up. A specific verse jumped off the page at her Romans 8:38-39 " For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." She had thought she would never be worthy of anyone, let alone God. She prayed the same prayer I did.

   The helmet was another vital piece of a soldiers armor because it protected the head. Many enemies would go for the head because it was a quick way to defeat the enemy, thus why the helmet was needed.

   In the life of a Christian the helmet of salvation is our knowledge of salvation. We know we are saved but our job isn't done. We are called to go save others by sharing our testimonies. Both my counselor and I prayed the prayer of salvation but our testimonies are not the same. Some people may relate to my testimony more than hers and vise versa. But we both share our testimonies to reach others nonetheless.

   Christians have our story as a tool to help us spread the Gospel. Our testimony is also a defense like the helmet. There are times when we all get really low. But if we know what we believe and why we believe it we can say "Jesus is my lord and he has saved me." That is the knowledge we can rest in and share with others.

   So, will you put on the helmet of salvation if you have not already? Do you find rest in the fact that Jesus has saved you? Will you spread that good news with others? 

   Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 19:25-26, Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here. 

Do You Trust me? The Armor of God Series

   "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase" (Martin Luther King Jr.).

   Do you trust me? That's the question I asked some children that I was teaching. I had only known these children for 3-4 days. The first child said, "yes I trust you." Children are very trusting, which can be good or bad depending on the situation. 

   I had this child sit down on a chair then explained my experiment to the rest of the children. I had a pack of Jellybelly Beans Boozled. In this pack of jellybeans there were beans that tasted good like juicy pear, peach, or chocolate pudding. But, there were also bad flavors that looked exactly the same as the good flavors. Some of these bad flavors tasted like booger, barf, or centipede. 

   Thus, after I asked "do you trust me?" The child would get a bean. I didn't know if it was good or bad. Therefore, the child actually couldn't trust me. This helped the children have fun while also realizing that people are going to let them down; no matter how much that person doesn't want to let them down. There is only one person who we can have faith in and know that he won't let us down: God.

   The shield was a vital tool to the Roman soldiers. It was their only defense from flaming arrows. The shield was so tall that the soldier could crouch behind it when he saw those arrows coming.

   For the Christian, we need to crouch behind our faith. We don't have arrows flying at us, but we do have other things thrown at us. We have lies, guilt, and many more things thrown at us by the devil. When these are thrown at us we must have faith. 

   Faith is the only thing that may keep us going at times. When many bad things happen at once we must cling to our faith. If we don't cling then we have a danger of losing the only thing that truly matters in life: our relationship with God. Sure, people also matter to us but, as stated in other blogs, we need to take care of our faith first before we can take care of others.

   How can we have faith? We need to dig deeper into our relationship with God. When you first accepted Christ you were on fire for God and you wanted to know more about him. Like in any relationship, that fire fades. In order to keep our faith we must dig deeper. We need to find out more about God. We need to pray and talk with God. That is what will help our shield of faith grow.

   So, will you dig deeper into your faith? Will you get to know God more as you grow? Will you continue to keep your shield of faith up?

   Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17, Ephesians 6:10-18

Be Prepared: The Armor of God Series

"To be prepared is half the victory" (Miguel de Cervantes).

   Those of you who know me know that I am a soccer player. I have played soccer for many years and used many cleats in that time. One time I was playing indoor soccer and I was warming up before the game. Suddenly one of the spikes on my cleat fell off. 
   If you ever played soccer you understand how much of a predicament this was. But, since I had been taught to push through whatever is going on, I played in the game. If you saw me during that game you might have thought I was drunk because when I ran I tipped to one side. I was not ready for the game.
   Roman soldiers wore comfortable shoes. If you've ever worn uncomfortable shoes you know how important it was for these soldiers to go into battle ready and comfortable.
   For the Christian, putting on the boots of readiness means that we are ready and willing to do whatever God calls us to do. Our equipment may be different depending on what we are called to do, but we still need to be ready.
   Does this mean that if God calls us to go preach the Gospel to cannibals in another country we won't be scared? No, it just means that if God calls us to do something then he has given us the proper equipment to do that job. We may be scared to do that job, but we will still do what he calls us to do because we trust in him. 
   The boots of readiness teach us that we need to be prepared to do what we are called to do. In order to be as prepared as possible we need to do what any solider does before battle-study and train. We must study the Bible so we know our enemy and how to combat him. We must train our minds and body to know what to do in whatever we are called to do (that may be different for each person).
   So, will you put on the boots of readiness and be prepared to do what God calls you to do? Will you study and train to be ready when God does call you? Will you trust in God's plan?

   1 Peter 3:15, Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 6:10-18

A Tale of Morals and Righteousness: The Armor of God Series

   “Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness” (Tullian Tchividjian).

   The next piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness. During battle, soldiers would normally use their sword and shield to block blows. However, sometimes an arrow or sword would sneak through and would hit the chest. Thus, the breastplate protected the most vital organ of all: the heart.

Human hearts are finicky. The heart needs protected because it is so important and because it can be turned easily.

   Righteousness is defined as “acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin” (Merriam-Webster). In other words one must have a good moral compass in order to be righteous. How do we get morals? When we are young we are told stories that have morals in them.

   In my K5 class the Bible curriculum always tried to pull out a moral of the story. As a writer and reader I love to pull morals out of stories, thus why our church once did a Moral of the Story is VBS. Morals are important in society. If no one had morals then society would crumble. And yet, it is the people who choose to lie, cheat, and steal who are glorified while those who have morals are stomped on. At least, that is what it seems like. That may be why the heart is so finicky. We want what we want when we want it.

   Is it possible to have morals all the time if we have sinful desires? No, it is not possible to have morals all the time. Those of you who are wondering why I am saying this listen to this story. Once there was a man and his wife who lived in a farm in the country. It was a fairly secluded area and they did not get visitors often. One day a man knocked on the door and asked for help. The man said he needed to be hid. The farmer agreed. It was just how he was. He would help anyone who needed it. The guest went into the bathroom. A few minutes later another man knocked at the door. He asked the farmer if anyone had come by. The farmer had a choice. He could either rat the man in the bathroom out and not know what this other man would do to him, or he could lie. Either way the farmer would be party to some form of wrong. The farmer said he had not seen anyone. The man at the door went away. In order to save someone the man lied. He was not free from sin.

   As stated before, no one is ever totally righteous. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to have good morals. It is just important for us to realize that the only one who walked the earth who was righteous was Jesus. Because he was righteous, he covered our sins with is blood. That is why we can have the breastplate of righteousness. It isn’t our righteousness that covers us, it is his.

   So, do you realize that you can never truly be righteous without the blood of Jesus? Do you still try to choose to do the right thing? How can you guard your heart from the Devil’s lies?

   1 John 3:7, Romans 5:1-5, Ephesians 6
   Image from here.

What is Your Truth?: The Armor of God Series

   “Honesty (truth) is the first chapter in the book of wisdom” (Thomas Jefferson).

   The belt of truth is the first piece of armor in the armor of God. Why is the belt of truth so important? Nowadays we don’t see too many people wearing belts unless it is for a fashion statement. However, belts are a vital piece of clothing for some because if you do not have a belt you will be stuck holding your outfit together.

   Just like belts are vital so is truth in the life of a Christian. Unfortunately we have a tendency to forget, ignore, or manipulate the truth.

   I once heard a story of a girl who went to a counselor. Her counselor had met with the girl for a while and then the counselor asked to meet with her and her mom at the next meeting. The girl had been talking with the counselor about her life. She had made decisions about her life that her mom did not agree with. Her mom was trying to talk it out with the girl when the counselor stopped the mom and said, “that may be your truth but it is not her truth.”

   When I heard this story I couldn’t believe my ears. Our view of the truth has become so distorted that we now all have our own truths?! I thought truth was truth. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines truth as “the property of being in accord with fact or reality.” Truth must be fact. It must be real.

   For years people accepted the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Many people considered themselves Christians. Now everyone has their own idea of what to believe in so we call that truth? No, we need to get back to what truth actually is. Truth is just what I said before: fact.

   In the case of a true Christian the truth is the gospel. We believe that it is true and we accept it. Not only do we believe in the Gospel of Christ, but we also dispense of the Devil’s lies. Without the gospel of truth the whole outfit falls apart. We must believe it and know that it is true.

   So, do you believe that the Gospel is true? Do you know that Jesus is the only way? Will you choose to put on the belt of truth?

   John 14:6, John 8:32, Ephesians 6
   Image from here.

The Armor of God Series

   One part of scripture that is talked about a lot when we are children is the armor of God. Children like to hear about it because it is a tangible example of something they can see. They know what a soldier or a knight looks like. They think that soldiers are cool people and they want to put that armor on.

   When we become adults, we know about the armor but I'm not sure any of us really think "am I putting the armor of God on today?" Yet, we are called, as Christians, to put on the armor of God every day. It keeps us defended and helps us attack the devil at the same time. 
   Thus, why I decided to do a series on The Armor of God. It is so important that we realize that Christians need to put this on for battle. We are in a battle whether we know it, or admit it, or not.
   Here is your assignment for this week: read the Armor of God passage found in Ephesians 6:10-18. And, check out this catchy song for kids (I had to do an attention getter somehow, after all I am a teacher ;) https://youtu.be/dITBAdCdOVU 

   Ephesians 6:10-18
   Image from here.

Day of Rest: Labor Day

   Labor day: a day we take a break from work. For some people, they welcome the break. For others, they think the day is just a waste of time.

   In America, especially, I think we have a problem. Children do not get to spend time with their parents because parents work too much. College students need to work and go to school at the same time because they cannot afford their tuition. Friends cannot get together with friends because they are too busy with their jobs. Is work a bad thing? No, but I think we have become too busy.
   God created everything in 6 days. On the 7th day he rested. Did he rest because he needed it? No, he rested because he wanted to be an example for us. God knew that we would need rest.
   But, in America, we work all the time. Sometimes, when people work too much, it becomes unhealthy. People may work a lot for different reasons. They may work too much because they need money for bills. They may work too much because it brings them joy and they are good at their job. They may work too much because it keeps them from focusing on their problems. Or, they may work too much because work/money has become their idol. Any of these answers can be detrimental to people's health, family, friends, and relationship with God.
   If God rested to be an example for us, why can't we rest? We could use all the excuses in the world. But at the end of your life do you want to be alone with all your money, or do you want to have those you love around you and know that you have a good relationship with God? It is vital that Christians have a relationship with God because all of this is temporary. The only thing that truly matters at the end of our lives is that we have accepted Christ. Christians are called to follow Jesus' example. Even Jesus rested, why can't we?
   So, do you work too much? What can you do to be sure you are resting and following God?

   Genesis 2:2-3, Mark 2:27, Psalm 127:2

   Image from here. 

Tangled up in the World

   "The kingdom rejoiced! For the lost princess had returned..." Disney movies are some of my favorite things to watch. I know that there are some not so good things in them, but we can learn lessons from them.
   In the movie Tangled there is a lost princess named Rapunzel. She was taken from her home and raised by a woman, named Mother Gothel, who just wanted Rapunzel for her power. Rapunzel wanted to leave the Tower but Mother Gothel would not let her leave. Rapunzel meets a man who helps her leave the Tower to complete her dream. Of course there are trials on the way, but in the end Rapunzel realizes that she needs a new dream. Her new dream includes the man who loved her, the kingdom, and her parents. There was a huge party because the lost princess had returned.
   This story reminds me a lot of another story from the Bible. The lost son wanted his share of the birthright before his father was dead. His father gave him the money and the son left. The son spent all of his money on frivolous things. Once he did not have any more money people did not like him anymore and he was not popular. He ended up getting a job feeding pigs. Then he decided to go back home. His father welcomed him and there was a huge party.
   Obviously there are some differences between the stories, but there are some major similarities. Though the son left on his own and Rapunzel did not have a choice, both realized that they needed something more. They both had a dream to leave where they were "trapped" and go back home, whether they knew it was their home or not. Both of them faced trials on their journey like soldiers and false friends. Finally, both ended up realizing that their dream needed to change. They both realized where they belonged. When they came home there was a huge party because what was once lost is now found.
   These stories relate to us too. We walk on this earth with a lot of different dreams. But, we realize that those dreams are only temporary fills. We realize we need something more. We need to go home to our father. I'm not talking about our earthly father, I'm talking about our heavenly father. We fail and sin on earth then we realize that doing that is wrong. That's when we repent. We turn around. We turn away from our wicked ways and go toward a new dream. We go towards our true home.
   So, what stage are you at in your life? Are you trying to fill your life with temporary fills? Have you repented and started to run toward your new dream of being with your heavenly Father? 

   Luke 15:11-32, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9

Kids These Days

   "Kids these days are so lazy." "Kids don't know how to do anything they will need for life." "Back in my day we went outside at sunrise and were not back till sunset. We fell down and were fine." "Millennials need to have their phones. It's like their phone is another appendage." These are just a few quotes I have heard people say about kids and Millennials today.

   I have heard it all I tell you. I've heard that Millennials are lazy, don't care about issues, don't know how to have human interactions, are addicted to tech, and the list goes on and on. You know why I have heard this? First off I am a teacher... it's kind of my job to listen and talk about kids. Second I am a Millennial. I get lumped into this group of "lazy, uncaring, tech teens." And, believe it or not, I do see some of what people are saying about Millennials. But, what bugs me is when people think this is true of all Millennials, or they don't look at the good Millennials do.
   Millennials have the power to be amazing. We can impact the world more than any generation before us (that's not a knock on past generations; we will get to why we have that impact).
   Here is a list of good I have found in Millennials:

   1. We work behind the scenes. Believe it or not, some Millennials have character. Some of us don't like to be in the spotlight. We know how to work hard for something we believe in. You just don't see it... or maybe you were not looking...
   2. We use tech to better the world. What are you reading right now? A blog. This blog is probably on a computer, tablet, or phone. This blog has been alive for 3 years now. This blog has had over 7,000 views. This blog has reached people in Russia, Africa, England, the Caribbean, India, and so many more places! If just this one blog can do that imagine all the other blogs, websites, Facebook pages, Instagrams, twitters, etc. That have the power to reach the lost! It's true that this can be used for bad reasons but good can be done by using technology!
   3. We stand up for what we believe in. This can seem bad if you know we are talking about things that are against God. But, there are Christian Millennials out there. We stand up in an oppressed world and use our voice for God. Meanwhile we have older generations saying we are lazy and don't do anything for others? How do you think this makes us feel? Please stop lumping all Millennials together!
   So what's the point of all this? First off it is to make you realize you cannot lump one generation into a little box. Not everyone is like the kids you think about when you heard about Millennials. Second it is to make you see the good that Millennials can do. Finally it is to make you realize that you can have an impact on this generation.

   This generation is so used to being ragged on. That is why we get so defensive to attacks. Well, what if instead of attacking us you came alongside us? What if you chose to listen to us? I will tell you that Millennials can be some of the smartest people you may ever talk to. We have ideas and we are willing to share our ideas as long as we don't feel attacked. If we feel attacked you will still hear our ideas but in a probably not nice way.
   Also, we are looking for something to stand up for. We look for causes and are very loyal to the causes we choose. But, when we don't have people to guide us and help us with those causes we turn to bad causes. Millennials need guides. We don't need drill Sergeants  who demand that we do things, there is a difference. Guides give suggestions and then help us in the path we choose. Sergeants tell us to do things... which, to Millennials, sounds a lot like an attack.
   Bottom line: you help us and we will help you. If you are loyal to us we will be loyal to you. Rather than attacking us why don't we band together and make a real impact on the world for Jesus like we are called to do?
   So, do you lump all Millennials together? How can you help Millennials now that you know how to? Will you choose to change how you deal with the younger generation? If you are a Millennial, will you choose a cause that will make a difference? Will you be the change you want to see in the world?

   Philippians 2:4, 1 John 3:17, John 16:33

   Image found here.

Break Down the Wall

   Have you ever been hurt by someone? I'm sure that we all have. When we get hurt we have a choice. Let me tell you a story that way you can see the choices.

   Once upon a time there was a fairy named Maleficent. She fell in love with a human. The human loved her for a while but one day he was told that anyone who killed this fairy would be king. He went to her and gave her a drink that made her fall asleep. He decided not to kill her but take her wings instead.
   The fairy became queen of the forest. She put up a thorny wall all around the forest because she did not want any human to ever get in the forest again.
   When we are hurt, we have a choice.  One choice we can make is to put walls up. If we put a wall around out heart then we will never be hurt again. It would be nice to never have hurt enter our hearts but there's a problem with this. If we have a wall hurt can't get in, but love also can't get out.
   We are called to love others and be a light to the world. If we have a wall up that means we will not get to know others. We will not spread God's love to others. He lets us be a part of his story by spreading the news of the Gospel. We cannot do that if we don't get to know others, care for them, and show God's love to them.
   The story doesn't end there. In time, the king had a child. The queen of the forest came to the kingdom to interrupt the celebration of the child's birth. She put a curse on the child. The child would prick her finger on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday and fall into a deep sleep, until true loves kiss woke her. The child was taken to the wild so that she would never see a spinning wheel.
   The fairy watched over the child to make sure that her curse would come to pass. But, as the fairy watched the child she began to love the child. She even took the child to the forest. The fairy broke her walls down to let the child in. 

   The story continues but I don't want to spoil the ending. If you didn't guess by now that is the story of Maleficent. Maleficent went from having walls up to tearing them down. She could have gotten hurt again by this child. But, it did not matter because she loved and cared for this child.
   We can choose, when we get hurt, to put walls up or to love others no matter what happens to us. We could possibly get hurt by that person again; but if we put walls up then we are not showing God's love to the world.
   Jesus never put walls up. He was hurt by many but he still showed love to those people. He died for the people who loved him AND for the people that hurt him. If we call ourselves Christians then we must follow Christ's example. We must show love to all, even to those who hurt us. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Maybe not in this lifetime; but in heaven it will be.
   So, what will you do when you get hurt? Will you choose to put walls up or to love others no matter what?

   Psalm 149:14-16, Philippians 2:4, 1 John 3:17-18
   Image found here.

I'm Fine

   When I was younger I fell into a trap. People would ask me, "how are you?" I would reply with, "I'm fine." It didn't matter if I had a fantastic day or if I had a horrible day. I always said, "I'm fine."

   When I was in college I met a friend who helped me change this answer. She asked me, "how are you?" I answered, "I'm fine." She could tell I wasn't fine and said, "you know what fine stands for? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional." I had never heard that before. She told me it was from a movie. It got me thinking about how many people actually feel that way when they say, "I'm fine."

   More than likely you don't always feel this way when you say, "I'm fine." But, many times, people are not honest with others about how they are feeling. I think we do this for a few reasons. 1. When most people ask "How are you doing?" People don't really care, they just know it is polite to ask. 2. We don't want to bring anyone down, seem like we are complaining, we cannot tell people how we are really feeling, or we don't trust that person. You may be asking, "why does it matter when I ask this question, or how I answer it?" Please stay with me.

   When we ask: "how are you doing?" We should care about the person enough to expect them to give an honest answer. Philippians 2:4 says: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We are to care about people. Over and over in the Bible we are told to love others. We can love others by caring about them enough to ask "how are you?" And actually expect an honest answer. We also have to actively listen to the answer then, if the person wants it, give advice. We must remember that if we give advice we cannot expect the person to take it. We must care about people enough to love and listen.

   When we respond to: "how are you doing?" We must remember to be real with others. Hebrews 10:23-25 says: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." It is important for us to encourage one another. How can we do that if we are not real with others? I'm not saying that every time someone asks, "how are you doing?" We should say mean things about others and go on and on about all of our woes. I've said it before and I'll say it again: there is a difference between venting and complaining. Venting is healthy because you are sharing with someone who can encourage you. Complaining is when you are trying to make someone look bad by saying horrible things about them to everyone, in essence you are gossiping even if what you are saying is true.

   Are we to use discretion when we answer, "how are you doing?" Yes, we should not tell a random stranger how we are doing and we should not tell someone who is directly involved with the situation. But, we can at least answer the person honestly. If we are not doing that we'll we say, "I'm struggling." And leave it at that. If we are doing great just say, "I'm feeling great." Then maybe you can share why you are feel great to glorify God.

   So, when you ask someone "how are you doing?" Will you care about their answer? When someone asks you that question will you be real with them? Will you encourage others by helping them feel better and telling them things in your life that glorify God?

   Image from here.

God of Wrath and Love

   I have learned a lot over my lifetime. I have learned that it is not a good idea to put your hand on the stove when it's hot, learned that one the hard way. I have learned that adulting is hard; enjoy childhood while you can, children/college students. I have also learned that I don't know everything, especially when it comes to God.
   I have asked a lot of questions about God. Some I have learned the answers to, others I have not. One question I have asked is: why does God seem different in the Old Testament? He is about love in the New Testament and death in the Old, why is that? Believe it or not, after struggling with that, and after study at LBC, I have an answer.
   It is important to note before we go on that many people ask this question because of the fact that the Bible says that God doesn't change (Heb.13.8). If God doesn't change then why is Jesus all about love and acceptance?
   I'm glad you asked ;) It is true that God does not change, no matter how different he seems in the Old Testament as compared to the New Testament. However, God does change the way he deals with us. That may seem close to changing, but God's personality is still the same.
   Think of it this way: at the beginning of the world, God gave Adam and Eve one commandment. They were not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If they ate, the consequence would be death (Gen.2.16-17). You know the rest of the story: Adam and Eve ate of the tree and they died immediately, right? Wrong! God could have killed Adam and Eve right away because they disobeyed. Not only that, but sin entered the world then. God cannot look upon sin; therefore, God could no longer walk with Adam and Eve. God showed love to Adam and Eve by not killing them immediately.
   One part of God that I think we don't emphasize enough is that God is a God of wrath. He cannot be with anything unholy. When sin entered the world, God could have left us all alone to die; but, because of his love, he did not. He had a chosen people who were to be a light to the world: the Israelites.
   The Israelites did an amazing job at spreading the good news and everyone was saved. Ha, just making sure you are still paying attention. The Israelites were given commandments. In the end, they did not follow those commandments, continued to sin, and fell away from God. But, before that happened, they had strong Godly leaders, like Moses and Joshua, that led them in God's ways. During that time, God told Joshua every time the Israelites defeated a city that everything was to be destroyed. That meant that the gold, animals, men, women, and children were to be killed. Hold up, isn't God a loving God? Why would he make the Israelites kill everything?
   God knew that if the Israelites would keep those people alive the Israelites would fall into sin. That's great that God is taking care of His people, but why doesn't he care about those other people, the ones who were killed? God did care about those people. Israel's job was to be a light to the world. Do you think that the people in the towns the Israelites destroyed never heard of the miracles and victories the Israelites had? They did, in fact many times the cities joined with other cities to defeat the Israelites; but they were no match for God. These people in these cities were sinners, could they have repented? Would God have accepted them?
   The Bible gives us a few examples of people who joined the Israelites because they repented. In Joshua 2, we read the story about how Rahab helped the spies. After she helped them, she asked to join them because she heard of the miracles that occurred and knew God was with them. Rahab did something that the other people in Jericho did not do: she repented. She did not run from God, but ran to him and, because of that, she and her family joined the Israelites. I could go on with examples of people like Samson who turned from God but at the end turned back, Ruth who stayed with Naomi though it meant hardship, and even the whole city of Nineveh who turned from their evil ways. All of them repented and followed God. God accepted them because he is a God of love and he doesn't want any to perish. But, God cannot look on sin which is why he is also a God of wrath.
   Now you may be saying, "didn't the Israelites sin too? How could God look upon them?" The Israelites presented sacrifices to God. The only way that God could be with them is by a sacrifice of atonement that happened once each year (Lev.16 [specifically verse 34 if you don't want to read about how the sacrifice was made]). The reason why the sacrifice had to be made is because God sacrificed a lamb to make clothes for Adam and Eve. The blood of the lamb covered their sin. Sound familiar? It should because, I don't know about you but, I am so thankful that I don't have to sacrifice animals today because Jesus died for my sins. The Old Testament pointed to Jesus. The law was made to prove that we cannot make it to heaven on our own. We need Jesus to take our sin away. That's why Jesus came in and talked about love; because that's what Jesus came to share: God's love.
   So, do you realize that God is a God of love and wrath? Do you see that God has never changed? Do you believe that Jesus died as atonement for your sins?

   For more information on God being a God of wrath and love check out this blog.

   Image from here.

Holding Grudges

   Have you ever made a promise you didn't keep? Did anyone ever break a promise to you? It doesn't matter if it is a small promise or a big one, when a promise is broken so is trust. Many times people remember when someone does not keep a promise. But as Christians what are we called to do?

   We are called to forgive those who wrong us. But many times we have a grudge against the person who broke the promise. Sometimes we try to forget those broken promises but we keep it in the back of our mind what that person did.
   When we hold grudges like that it is like a filing cabinet. Way back, at my church, a little skit was put on. An old lady came walking down the aisle with a huge filing cabinet. She interacted with the pastor and we found out that this lady had kept a record of everyone who ever wronged her. She kept holding grudges against those people because she didn't want to get burned.
   Imagine if you were to keep a record of all the wrongs anyone has committed against you. How big would your filing cabinet be? I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to carry that cabinet around. In fact, carrying that around doesn't do any good. It doesn't keep those who wronged us in chains, it just keeps us in chains. We are the one who carries around the anger, resentment, and hate. Meanwhile that person who wronged us may not even know what he did.
   Instead of having a huge filing cabinet what we need to have just one page in a file folder that says: Jesus' love paid it all. And has the words of Ephesians 4:31-31.
   So do you carry around a filing cabinet? What can you do to get rid of those grudges? Will you choose to remember that all is forgiven in Jesus?

   Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:21-22
   Image from here. 

Through Heaven's Eyes

   Have you ever wondered if everything you do is worth it? I know I have, because I do a lot for others and I enjoy doing it. However, it is sometimes hard to keep helping others when you feel like it doesn't make a difference.
   When I start to feel this way I think of a song from The Prince of Egypt called "Through Heaven's Eyes." Some lyrics are, "A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines, can never see its purpose, in the pattern of the grand design." Our story isn't a whole tapestry. Our story is only one part of the tapestry. We are part of His story. While we are here we have a choice: do we want to be part of God's story and shine brightly for him, or do we want to try to do things for ourselves?
   The song goes on to say: "So how do you measure the worth of a man, in wealth or strength or size, in how much he gained or how much he gave, the answer will come to him who tries, to look at his life through heaven's eyes." Many people try to measure their worth through possessions or success. However, those things are only temporary. We do not take any possessions with us after we die. Many times people compromise to gain success. That is not what we are called to do. We are called to love others and reflect God's glory.
   Finally, the song says: "No life can escape being blown about, by the winds of change and chance, and though you never know all the steps, you must learn to join the dance." This life is not going to go the way we planned. God has got better plans for us. We can step back from our lives and not do what God calls us to do. We can kick and scream all we want but God's plan comes about (Jonah). Or, we can walk with God and join the dance of our lives. We don't know what steps God will call us to do, but if he is with us guiding our steps we cannot lose.
   We are not on this earth for a very long time. It may seem like forever when we are here but it is only a short time. We can choose to live this life for ourselves and then rot in eternity. Or, we can choose to follow God and make a difference in the lives of others.
   So, do you believe that your life is part of His story? Will you live your life to reflect his glory? How can you take steps to follow God and help others today?

   1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 John 2:15-17, Proverbs 3:5-6

   Image from here.