Easter Isn't Easy

    Have you ever thought about how Jesus came to earth? It was in a very unexpected way. Most people assumed the Messiah would come like a powerful king or a mighty military man. But that’s not what happened. And, when you think about it, Jesus came in a way that wasn’t easy.

   Wouldn’t it have been a lot easier to come in the way people expected him to come? To swoop down like a hero, wipe out the enemies of Israel, and rule? But if he did that, he would not be true to one of his characteristics. He came down as a baby, as a human, to show his love for us. He chose the hard path.

   Why do I say that? He could’ve taken the easy path and showed his power to all. He could have taken the easy path and just destroyed all of us when we sinned. He could have taken the easy path and just chose to ignore us because we chose to disobey him. But he chose to become one of us so he could know what it was like to be one of us.

   He chose the hard path of growing up, hitting puberty, learning a trade, facing temptations, and having hard emotions. He chose the hard path of not truly revealing who he was till he was 30. He chose the hard path of explaining hard topics to others, he went against the religious leaders of that day, and walking away from his family to show love to all. He chose the hard path of submitting to the Father, being falsely accused, being beaten, and dying on a cross for all our sins.

   Yes friends, Easter was far from easy. But, because Jesus chose the hard path, he made a way for us. Jesus took the hard part from us. He took our sins and became the perfect sacrifice for us. Then he made it easy for us to choose him. We just need to accept him as our savior, believe he is God, and confess our sins to him. Now, that’s not to say our life suddenly gets easier. But we do get to walk through life with the one who loves us. With the one who knows our pain. With the one who loved us enough to die for us.

   So, have you thanked God lately for what he has done for you? When life gets hard, how can you remember to lean on God?

https://youtu.be/jEbLTSCDN1E

Who Are You Exalting?

   Have you ever thought about the gifts that God has given you? Everything you have from where you live to your talents was given to you by God. God is such a good father that he gives us these things. We have a choice in what we do with these things. We can choose to use them for ourselves or for God.

   We can choose to use our humor to be vulgar and crass, or we can make others laugh and share the gospel (God created laughter and has a sense of humor, look at the platypus). We can choose to use the car we have to transport only ourselves, or we can serve others by giving them a ride if they need it. We can use our gift of cooking to exalt ourselves and flaunt our talent, or we can make food for others less fortunate than us. We can use our bodies to be provocative and serve our desires, or we can glorify God with them by using them to serve others.

   1 Peter 4:10 says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." He says WHATEVER gift. That doesn't just mean we use what we have as extra. It means we sacrifice. We show the love of Christ who gave the greatest gift through his sacrifice by sacrificing as well. We take action to praise God for what he's given us and not ourselves. We take pride in who our God is by pointing to him through our actions.

   So, who are you exalting? Are you showing God's love daily by using the gifts he's given you to reflect his glory?

https://youtu.be/SZTIZmH-3lw?si=qRHiycbtFOgyo5jC

A Distorted View

   Have you ever looked through a camera, window, telescope, glasses, or binoculars and the view wasn't what you were expecting? Maybe it was dirty, foggy, or maybe you couldn't see at all. You think it would be better if you just didn't use the thing that was supposed to help you see better or capture that memory. Well, unfortunately, some people's views of the world is distorted anyhow even without using that dirty enhancer.

PEACE

   The world's definition: calm, quiet, no war, no arguing, etc.

   God's definition: John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

   Peace isn't no war or problems. Peace is being in the middle of those problems, battles, storms, etc. And knowing you will be okay. You are okay because God is with you in those problems. He's already won the war so what can those problems do to you?

HAPPINESS

   The world's definition: anything that gives you pleasure. (Food, sex, drugs, movies, etc.)

   God's definition: James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

   Joy, or happiness, isn't found in the things of this world. We can try to fill the hole in our hearts with the things of this world, but they only bring temporary happiness. True joy is found in God. When we choose him and follow him, we will still have problems, but we will know that our joy doesn't need to change because God is with us.

SUCCESS

   The world's definition: having lots of money, cars, a big house, a high paying job, lots of material things, being famous/popular, knowing you are the GOAT, etc.

   God's definition: Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

   What is the point of being successful according to the world? The point is that you have a good job, a lot of money, you have things that are thought of as bringing happiness. It is thought to bring you comfort. That definition of success brings happiness for a time. But not eternal joy. The point of us being on earth is for us to know Christ, to show his love to others, and to lead others to him. All of which, is reflecting his glory. That's not saying that if we lead someone to Christ, we should have pride and think we are the best. No! Rather, we should rejoice that another soul was saved. Another person was brought into the kingdom.

LOVE

   The world's definition: something that gives you butterflies. When that feeling of butterflies leaves, you fall out of love. Something that can be used to make you have happiness, success, or peace. 

   God's definition: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

   Love isn't a tool to be used to get what you want. Love isn't just a feeling. Love is action. Love is respect. Love is sacrifice. It takes sacrifice to do all these things in 1 Corinthians 13. We sacrifice time when we are patient. We sacrifice our needs/desires when we don't envy, don't boast, and are not proud. We sacrifice our feelings/rights when we hold back anger and forgive when we are wronged. God is love. And we are to follow Jesus' example and love God and others.

   So, is your view distorted of any of these things? How can you remember the true definitions of these things and put them into action?

https://youtu.be/Xshp12GQegw

Study for Your Retest

   One day I was talking with my boyfriend about teaching and how much of it relates to our relationship with God. It was a bit of a rough week with the kids. They were having trouble listening and following the rules. My boyfriend asked me how I handle when that happens. I related it to something I talked about at Lancaster Bible College.

   A large area of discussion in education is whether teachers should give retests. If I was not Christian, I would probably say, "no, retests should not be given. You should have studied the first time." But God gives retests. When we fail and sin, God forgives us and lets us try again. Thank goodness in his grace, he does, or no one would be with him in heaven. 

   That's why I told my boyfriend that I give my students another chance. I forgive them and pray that they grow and learn their lesson. At that point, my boyfriend looked at me and said, "I'm glad God gives retests, I'm in one right now."

   See, my boyfriend had been in one other serious relationship before. That relationship did not work out because he wasn't focused on growing in God as much at that point in his life. After he said he was in a retest, I replied, "well at least you have studied for this retest." My boyfriend was seeking God at that point. He was growing in God and learning more about him. He was following Colossians 2:6-7 which says, "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

   As Christians, we aren't meant to stay stagnant in our walk with God. We are to be rooted in him. We should have deep roots going down searching for spiritual water to grow in God. Each day, we should be spending time with God, so we are growing in him. Then when tests or trials come, and they will, we will have the answers to that test. We will be able to refute Satan with scripture because we are rooted in God.

   So, are you studying for your tests and retests? How will you spend time with God each day?

https://youtu.be/vsPR6Tcq4Wg

A Battle

   I've talked about feeling suckerpunched before. I've found that it happens when things seem to be going well but suddenly you are attacked. That happened to me one time and it was a struggle.

   Things were going well; I was on a God high. Then I felt taken for granted, I was tired, and changes were happening all around me. I suddenly felt weak, alone, upset, and angry. I faced a battle within myself. Knowing that God was with me was on one side. The other side was it was unfair, I should just leave, and I wanted to punch something.

   I prayed. God, why? Why is this happening? You know how hard this was for me the last time. Why would you let this happen again?

   He wasn't afraid of my question, my tears, or my anger. He was glad I came to him. God answered me. My devotion reminded me to step away from the victim mentality because in him I'm more than a conqueror.

   The next morning, I was doing my other devos. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminded me to trust in God. In his plan because he has one for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 told me that I am to share my weaknesses. Also reminded me that God works through coincidences. He is with me.

   Then my heart began to sing "Confidence" by Sanctus Real. I can face my giants with God. He's on my side. I'm his daughter. He loves me and is with me.

   So what battle are you facing? How can you rely on God and remember he is with you?

https://youtu.be/OyhCMeYf6IA?si=5xrRvW_eEYcU_ta9

Let It Go, It Holds No Power Over You

    I enjoy reading books. Melanie Dickenson is an author who writes books based off fairy tales and adds Christian messages to them. One book is called The Merchants Daughter based off of Beauty and the Beast.

   In the book Beast is the way he is because his wife hated him after he was maimed. She no longer loved him because of the way he looked. Eventually the wife leaves but Beast cannot let go of the power she holds over him. He thinks no one can ever love him because of how he looks so he pushes everyone away.

   While reading this book, I said "Beast just needs to let go of the hold the past has on him." As I said it, I realized that I also hold on the past. Philippians 3:3-4 says, "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." This verse tells us that we need to forget about what's behind us. Yes, those experiences shaped us into who we are today, but they no longer have a hold on us because God changed us. 

   No matter what you have done in your past, God has wiped it clean. He loves you and walks with you. Nothing man has said or done to you matters in the long run. In eternity none of it will matter. That doesn't mean God doesn't care about what we are going through. It just means that in eternity it won't feel like a log has hit us like it may now. It won't even feel like a toothpick hitting us because there will be no sorrow or pain in heaven. Won't that be amazing?

   So, does the past have a hold on you? How can you trust God with your past and your future? 

 https://youtu.be/IE6mrzaZbP0?si=nsPh-8lsgW13CGyU