Stranded but Still Good

    We were victorious! After a hard-fought battle, we beat Penn State Abington 1-0. We watched the men's soccer team play their game, which they won, then went to feast at Chick-fil-A. Getting on the bus at 7:40 pm, we expected to be home in about an hour and 30 minutes. 

   People were doing many things on the way back: homework, games, talking, quizzes, etc. Suddenly, the bus driver stopped and pulled over. The door to the bus had opened abruptly. Our bus driver got out to fix the problem and we were on our way again, but at a bit of a slower pace. 

   The bus had just gotten off the turnpike when the bus driver pulled over again. As soon as he did, we smelled something at the back of the bus. The driver and coaches got out because the check engine light was on. Low and behold we had lost a band we needed for the bus to go. The engine had turned off and we were left in darkness other than the lights of cell phones and streetlights.

   Now, being 20 minutes from home with no way of getting back on that bus could have caused us to panic or complain. Instead, people continued having conversations and playing games. We were able to turn a bad situation to good because we chose to be positive about it. We knew it happened for a reason. And we used that time to build bonds with one another and have a good time.

   Eventually, we were picked up by two LBC coaches and returned home unscathed. It was not an ideal situation but in life we will face those. When they happen, we have a choice. We can choose to complain about it or use it for good.

   So, when inconveniences happen what do you do? Will you choose to use it for God and good? 

 

I Can't Do It All

    Sometimes God brings about reminders that I am not a superhero. One time in particular was when one of my co-teachers was out for a week. Because of that, I had to work multiple days in a row from 7-5. Luckily, I talked with her over that next weekend, and she was feeling better. 

   Unluckily my other co-teacher got sick. On top of that another teacher got sick and it was spring break for the college students who usually fill in. And many of them went on vacation somewhere for break. Thus, I went through another three days of working almost every day 7-5. 

   It was that Wednesday that I reached my breaking point. I had worked many hours, interacted with children and others for most of my day when I'm an introvert, had other things to do outside work, and I was burnt out! I looked at my boss that day and I told her so. She understood and did what she could to make the week a bit smoother on me as my co-teacher was not in in the mornings the rest of the week due to her illness.

   Now, that week I had a choice. I could have continued to act like everything was okay. I could have done that and been cranky and emotional the rest of the week. But I didn't do that. I chose to be honest, real, and authentic with others. I chose to say, "God, I need your strength. Please help me shine your light during this week though I am tired." I chose to listen to Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

   God came alongside me, and I finished the week not on my own strength but His. Whatever you are going through, God will be there with you. He will carry you through if you trust in him.

   So, are you relying on God? How can you be authentic with others each day? What can you trust God with more in your life?

 

Thanksgiving Positivity

   Have you ever been in a place where you are surrounded by people who are being negative? I'll tell you what; I have been to many places and met many people who will never be content. These people who just find something to complain about whenever they get the chance. I'll give you some examples: "it is too rainy out to get anything done today." "These customers are so annoying." "I wish I could have gotten the red jacket instead of the blue one." And the list goes on and on.
   When I walk into a room where everyone is complaining I just feel drained. I get sick and tired of people who just say negative things. When I walk into that room and someone is complaining I normally try to put a positive spin on it. For example: if someone says "these customers are so annoying." I say "at least you have a job where you earn money." See, anything negative can be spun in a positive way.
   You may be saying "what if a friend or family member is sick?" I would say "I don't know why that is happening but I do know that God has a plan." It may seem like a cop out but everything does happen for a reason. You never know what might happen because you can't see the future. You staying home because you are sick may have saved you from getting into an accident.
   On Thanksgiving we try to be thankful for all of our blessings. Well, blessings can also come though bad things. We may not think of bad events as blessings but it is true (listen to the song "Blessings" by Laura Story if you don't believe me). 
   We have a choice. We can choose to be negative about everything, or we can choose to be positive no matter what is going on. We can choose our attitude. It may be raining but we can say, "thank you God for keeping the earth green." We may have wanted a different colored jacket but we can say, "thank you God for the jacket that I have to keep me warm." We may be sick but we can choose to say, "thank you God for this time I have with my family and that I am still alive."
   So, will you choose to be negative about everything? Will you be positive even when bad things happen? Will you thank God in all circumstances?

   Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 4:29

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

Mountains of Bloomsburg Part 2: Clakes and Fear

   You walk through the village searching for the man you just met. Suddenly you see Ron and you run up to him. Ron smiles at you, "How are you doing today?" You smile back and say, "I'm doing well but I have a problem. Can you help me navigate my way through the dark side of the mountain? I need to get home." Ron's smile turns into a frown, "no one ever goes into that part of the mountains, it is forbidden." 
   A man who was walking by comes over to you, "hello my name is Ahda. I couldn't help but overhear, I have never been in that part of the mountains but I've studied it. I could help you." You agree to have Ahda help you and some other men, Kaine and Abek, agree to come.
   You walk through the mountains. You turn around and take one last look at the village. Suddenly it gets really dark. Ahda turns around, "it normally is dark in this part of the mountains." He hands you a torch. Kaine and Abek take out torches as well. You take the time to light the torches and continue on. You wonder if you will ever reach Ubel's part of the mountain. 
   Ahda stops, "it is night, we should stop to rest." You look at the sky. It looks the same as it did an hour ago, dark. Ahda smiles, "I kept an eye on the few shadows you can see in the mountains. That's how you know what time it is. Kaine will take the first watch. You should get some rest while you can." 
   You lay down and close your eyes. No sooner do you do that than you hear someone scream. You wake up and see Kaine grabbing his leg. Ahda turns to you, "he was bitten by a Clake." "What is a Clake?" You ask. "It is a creature that crawls on its belly, has 2 legs along each of its sides, has leathery wings, and sharp fangs. When it bites you it makes you see your greatest fears. The only cure is sap from one of the trees on this side of the forest." 
   Ahda put some cloth over Kaine's wound. "I need you and Abek to go look for a tree and bring back a stick with sap in it when you find one."
   You and Abek run off. You hope that Kaine will be alright. All you can think about is the fact that if he dies it will be your fault.
   Would you have agreed to go on a hard journey with strangers? Who do you go through the journey of life with? If the Clake bit you, what would you see? How can you stop having that fear?

   Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 41:10

He Doesn't Make Mistakes

    The movie Mom’s Night Out is one of my mom’s favorite movies. It does a nice job balancing comedy, family fun, and Christian messages. One of the most impactful scenes is when a biker named Bones is talking with Allyson, the main character, and a mom. You can find the clip at the end of this blog post.

   In this clip, Allyson is beating herself up. She does this for much of the movie. She seems to be a bit of a perfectionist. She thinks she isn’t enough. That she isn’t doing enough. I am sure some of you mothers may have felt that way before.

   Bones starts talking about his mother and the impact she made on him. He reminds Allyson about an undeniable fact: God loves you. God loves you no matter what you have done, what you think, what you say, etc. He loves you. It is amazing to think about.

   Then Bones goes on to remind Allyson of another fact: God doesn’t make mistakes. He says: “Let me tell you something, girl. I doubt the Good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mama He did. So you just be you. He'll take care of the rest.” God put you in this place, in this time, in this moment for a reason. We may not always know what that reason is, but we cannot doubt that God is with us and that he doesn’t make mistakes.

   So, do you believe that God is with you and loves you? How can you remind yourself of those facts each day?

Clip: https://youtu.be/K_aY2M5hxyw 

Fear in My Heart

    One day I was going about my morning, and I began to wonder why my head felt like it was swimming. I shook my head and continued with my day. Then, a bit later, my heart felt like it was beating fast. I used my watch to see what my pulse was, and it was normal. So why did my heart feel like it was beating fast? That's when I remembered, I hadn't taken my anxiety medication that morning.

   Suddenly, it all made sense! I had felt off all morning. I hadn't been smiling or feeling like myself. Then I wondered if I should go home and take my meds or if I should try to tough it out. Was I showing distrust in the lord if I didn't finish my day without my meds? 

   I was going to try to tough it out. But it wasn't easy. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest, I was almost frowning the whole day, and I felt like I needed to punch something and cry at the same time. 

   I stopped what I was doing and sat. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. I asked God to help me find his peace. Feeling a bit better I went back to what I was doing. Then the anxiety began to come back. I didn't understand why it was happening, but it wasn't my job to understand why it was happening. It was my job to trust God.

   I had time to sit down, and I began to write how I was feeling. What did I write? What you are reading now. As I began to write I felt God's peace. I wasn't focused on my fear or problems. I was focused on the Lord and the talents he has given me. 

   Philippians 4:6-7 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." In this situation, I did what God asked me to do. I went to him. I trusted in him. Because of that, this blog was written.

   I don't know why God wanted this written. I don't know who this was written for. I don't know why God hasn't taken my anxiety away even though I've asked. What I do know is that God loves me. He cares for me and has a plan for me. Because of that I don't have to fear, even when anxiety comes into my heart. I know God is with me no matter what happens on this earth. Do you believe that? What battles are you facing right now? How can you grow closer in your walk with God?

Alone

   One day my co-teachers were mocking about how my definition of fun is different from theirs. I was okay with that because I do have fun but it's not the kind of fun they like to have. Then one said, "oh but remember, she's a different person now because she has a boyfriend." I was like, "I'm not different, I'm the same person." She replied, "yeah you are, I'd never thought I would see you with a boyfriend."

   To be honest I was a bit shocked. I asked, "why." She said because I never seemed interested in anyone. That's when I realized that my coworkers didn't know me as well as I thought they did.

   Now, I am a very open person. If someone asks me a question, I answer honestly. But I realized that I didn't share about how alone I felt at times. See, as Christians, we are to love others, reflect God's glory, and spread the good news. But it's not always easy to share your weaknesses. Especially when those weaknesses make others possibly question God.

   I know that I'm never alone. I know Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I know that. But it's not always easy to feel that God is with you when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

   Usually I have found in those moments that I need to stop focusing on my worries or fear. Instead I need to focus on God. I read the Bible, pray, and change how I think. That made me not feel so alone.

   So, when you feel alone, what do you do? How often do you spend time with God?

Broken

   Have you ever gone through a time where you just don't think things can get any worse? Maybe multiple things happened to you in the period of a few days that just weren't what you were expecting. Maybe you wondered how God could allow those things to happen to you. That's when you get the typical answer from a Christian friend, "everything happens for a reason." You may not like to hear that answer, I believe it is true and even I don't like hearing it sometimes.

   God does do everything for a reason. To illustrate this let me tell you a story I once heard. Once there was a pastor. The pastor was mentoring a young man who decided he wanted to be a pastor. By meeting together, the pastor had discovered some items that had to be dispelled from this young man if he was going to be a successful pastor. Apparently, the young man was very prideful. He thought he could do it all on his own and that he knew everything. One day the young man got some bad news. His father had just died suddenly of a heart attack. The young man was upset and began to call friends to let them know what happened. When he called his first friend, his friend was already crying. The young man asked if his friend had already heard about his father. His friend said "no." The friend then told him that apparently some of their friends had just gotten into an accident and died. The young man broke down. He wondered why God would let this happen. Then he turned his back on God. He began to drink and separate himself from friends and family. Eventually the young man saw the error of his ways and went back to church. The young man spoke with the pastor and said he realized that he had to be broken in order to grow closer to God. He saw that he was prideful and changed his ways (The Bait of Satan).

   This man could be likened to Peter. Peter was almost always one of the first disciples to speak, and sometimes he spoke without thinking. Peter was one of the disciples who argued about who would be greatest. He thought he could control things that just were not in his control. Peter too, was broken. He denied Jesus 3 times when Jesus needed him most. But, after Peter was broken, he turned to Jesus and was a very influential leader in the beginning of the church. Peter gave up his pride and shined brighter than ever. If Peter hadn't gone through that experience he never would have had that influence on others for Christ.

   As Christians I think we forget that sometimes God brings about bad things for our good, even if Satan caused it to happen. We may not like the things that happen to us but they can help us grow in God, if we let them. Being broken hurts but if we are never broken we cannot grow into something more beautiful. Just think about it, even a glow stick needs to be broken before it can shine (otherwise it is useless).

   So, when bad things happen how will you view them? Will you trust that God can use everything for good? Will you let your light shine no matter what happens?

   Psalm 51:8, Psalm 147:3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

   Image from here. 

Looking through Your Worldview Lense

   I attended Lancaster Bible College for 4 and 1/2 years. While there, there was one topic that was always talked about. During Freshman year I don't think that I was in a single class that did not mention at least one part of this idea of a Worldview.
   Every person has their own Worldview whether they know it or not. Your Worldview is based off of people you know, your life experience, and so much more. You may not know all of the parts of your Worldview but let me give you an example of a situation where your Worldview would come into play.
   Imagine you just had a long day at work/school and you knew you had another meeting where you had to go back to work/school. You knew you needed a break before your meeting so you went out to grab a bite to eat and your favorite beverage. You come back to work/school fairly refreshed from your food but you had some of your beverage left over. You go down the stairs and open the door to work/school and pick up your beverage but your drink falls and spills all over the floor. One of your fellow employees/school chums sees that there is a mess. The employee/school chum helps you clean up the mess.
Now, you may be asking how in the world that situation has to do with your worldview. I'm glad you asked. There are different parts of your Worldview that would impact how you view this situation.
   1. Your view of God-in this situation you could be thinking God hates me because this happened even though I'm in a hurry to get to my meeting. Or, you could be thinking thank you God for sending my fellow employee/school chum to help me clean up my mess. Who knows, maybe because of that spill something good happened. You could have impacted that person, you could have made a new friend, you could influence that person to come to Christ, or you could have avoided another disaster that would happen in the future.
   2. Your view of the world-you could be thinking the world is a horrible place because you lost your drink, you have this meeting, and it just isn't fair that everything happens to you. Or, you could be thinking the world is such a great place because it could have been much worse. I could have fallen down the steps with this drink and gotten hurt, the drink could have gotten all over me, etc.
   3. Your view of people-you could think that you wish another person would come to help. You could also think that you can handle cleaning this up yourself because you don't want to owe this person. Or, you could think that person was so nice to help me clean this up. You could say thank you to that person and strike up a conversation in order to make a new friend.
   How you view God, the world, and people impacts how you act every day. Thus this also goes as far as to say that how people treat you says what their Worldview is like.
   This is what I want you to think about: there is power in perspective. Getting to know others and their Worldview helps you to walk in their shoes. It helps you see who they are and why they do what they do. P.S. worldviews are always changing because we change with experience.
   So, do you know what your Worldview is? Are you trying to understand others through their Worldview?
   John 13:34 and Ecclesiastes 3

Are You a Victim or a Victor?

   Have you ever met a person who seems to complain about everything? I am talking about a person who could've won a new car but instead of being thankful all he thinks about is the gas and insurance he has to pay for. Okay so maybe not that extreme but you get what I'm saying.
   I have seen this on the soccer field, and I'm sure you have as well if you've ever played a sport. In soccer we typically played each team twice. If we lost badly to a team we knew we would get another chance to play them. The problem was if a team crushed us, swore at us, or hurt many of us we looked back at that first game and thought "there is no way we can beat them."
   We were thinking like victims instead of victors. Victims look back at what happened to them. Victors look ahead at what they are going to do.
   It is a mental choice to decide if you want to be a victim or a victor. As I grew I began to realize that I decided what my attitude was. I could look back at how bad we played and say "we are going to get crushed again." Or, I could say "it doesn't matter how we played last time. We can do better this time."
   The time in between games was a time of growth. Our team always grew, we just had to decide if we would push past what happened last time or not.
   It is the same way with life. You decide if you will look back at what happened to you and sulk or maybe not even try. You also decide if you will press on, grow, and keep trying no matter what.
   I don't know about you, but I would want to be a victor rather than a victim. But, that means we must be prepared. We need to be in the word and spend time with God. That way, when situations come up, we are ready for victory.
   So, will you choose to look back at what happened to you or will you look ahead to the victories? Will you be prepared for challenges that come your way?

   1 Corinthians 9:24 and Hebrews 12:1

The Epic Battles Going on Around Us

   Picture this: there is a man named Al in an elevator waiting to reach the ground floor. What he doesn't know is that up above him there is an epic battle going on. Buzz Lightyear is facing off against his father, Zurg. Buzz aims his laser gun at Zurg and misses. Zurg takes a shot back at Buzz, but Buzz does a kick flip to miss the shot. Finally Zurg gets Buzz to fall on his back. Zurg tells Buzz to give up. Buzz says, "I'll never give up you killed my father." Zurg replies "No, Buzz, I am your father." Buzz cries out, "Noooooo!" Thus ends the epic battle (Toy Story 2).
   What I find interesting about that story is that Al did not know that this epic battle was going on above him. You may laugh at that but let me give you another story.
   You and a friend are walking down the street. You have known this friend for a long time and you know that he/she is not a Christian. You have been trying to help this friend out because you know that he/she has gone through some hard times. Suddenly your friend tells you that he/she does not know why life is worth living. Stunned, you are not sure what to say.
   What you don't know is that above you there is an epic battle going on. An angel is locked in battle with a demon. The demon is so close to getting to your friend but the angel swoops in and blocks the demon's blow with a sword. They continue to battle against one another. Suddenly another angel and demon appear above you. Then more angels and demons come locked in heated battle. There are epic battles going on all around you.
   Many times we talk a lot about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Devil; but we don't talk a lot about the angels and demons. If we believe in the Trinity and Satan then we need to believe in the angels and demons as well. Biblically we see both angels and demons. We know that that Bible is true therefore we must believe in both.
   Am I saying that each of us have a guardian angel? No that cannot be proven biblically. But do we have angels looking out for us? One only has to look at Hebrews 1:14 to find the answer: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" We may not have a guardian angel but we definitely have angels looking out for us. This should bring us comfort because we know that no matter what happens God is looking out for us and he has a plan. We just need to trust him.
   So, do you believe there are epic battles going on around you even if you cannot see them? Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? Will you trust him no matter what happens? 

   Hebrews 1:14, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Ephesians 6:11

Facing Failure

   I am a failure. Do not misunderstand that sentence. I am not in a low place right now, but I was. For a long period of time I felt like an idiot, misunderstood, not needed, and just not good enough. Have you ever felt that way?

   The funny thing was, before I failed, things were going fantastic (I love that word; people just don’t use it enough). I had gotten a job that I was a great fit for, I had just had a relaxing summer, and I felt God was with me. Then it all came down in an instant.

   Sometimes when we fail it is of our own doing. Other times we fail and it’s just because of circumstances outside our control. Either way you fail it is not fun (unless you are into feeling like a ton of bricks conked you over the head, but most people aren’t that I know of). Now, if you’ve ever failed and I am sure you have, then you know it’s not easy to get over. It’s especially hard when it’s not your fault or not part of your plan. If this is how you are feeling I have good news, you’re not the only one that this has happened to.

   In Joshua 6 we hear about the story of how Joshua defeated the city of Jericho. They defeated Jericho in a really unconventional way, and it was a great victory. After the battle Joshua and the Israelites were to destroy everything in the city, except for Rahab and her family. That is exactly what the Israelites did, or so they thought.

   Joshua sent men to another city called Ai (Joshua 7). They said to send 3,000 men to defeat the city. Those 3,000 men came back defeated. The Israelites had just defeated this huge city of Jericho and they could not beat this small city? Joshua and the elders were crushed and they cried out to God because their reputation as a nation/army was ruined. God told them the reason they were defeated was because someone took something from Jericho and did not destroy it. Long story short they find out who took all the plunder and kill him. Then God tells Joshua to go to Ai again and they crush Ai.

   Joshua was on top of the world, then brought to the deepest valley, and then brought up the hill again. It wasn’t Joshua’s fault someone disobeyed God, yet he paid the price because he was the leader. He failed, but he did not wallow in grief. Joshua cried out to God, obeyed God’s instruction, and made a huge comeback.

   When we fail we can choose to wallow in grief because something bad happened to us; or we can get up and trust in God. Joshua chose to seek God for instruction because he knew God would never leave him. God won’t leave you either.

   So, when you fail will you wallow or walk with God? What can you do to further you’re your walk with God so when hard times come you are ready?

   Joshua 6-7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 4:4-7

   Image from here.

The Character of God

   We all have them: problems. Maybe someone you knew for a long time betrayed you. Maybe there was a mix up with important papers at work or in your life. Maybe you lost a source of income. There are many problems that we have and will have in our lives. Typically, when we have problems, we focus on ourselves. We focus on our feelings, what we need, what we want, and so on. Is that really what we should be focusing on?
   The problems that we have may seem big, but we have a bigger God. With that in mind, when we have problems, we should focus God's power and character. Let me show you what I mean. Let's say you just lost your job. You are probably feeling worried, hurt, betrayed, etc. What can God's character do to help you with that? We know that God is good, thus He works all things for our good (Rom.8.28). We know that God supplies our every need and that he cares for us, therefore we do not need to worry (1 Pet.5.7). We know the Lord loves us and nothing on this earth can take that away (Rom.8.35-39).
   Will the problem still hurt even if we focus on God's character? It may, but instead of focusing on us and what we can do we are focused on the Lord and what He can do. If you have trouble remembering God's character traits a good part of the Bible to memorize is Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." You may be thinking that those are things we are to have in the spirit. That is true, but if God wants us to have it, he already has it as a character trait. This one verse tells us 9 traits that God has. Focusing on these traits of the Lord can help us see that God can handle any problem that comes our way. The Lord can help us through our problems. We just need to be willing to ask for His help and trust in Him.
   So, will you choose to trust in the Lord and his character when you face trials? Will you ask God to help you with your problems?
   Image from here.

You Know Better Than I

   Have you ever gone through a situation that you didn't understand why it was happening? I am sure you have. You know, those times when you question God. "God why is this happening?" "I tried to follow your lead, and this still happened." "Lord, where are you in this?"
   Many people in the Bible have gone through a time like this as well. Joseph is one example that comes to mind. Joseph did his best to obey his parents and follow the Lord. He did not make the sinful choices his brothers did. Did Joseph have a bit of a pride problem? Maybe, but he still loved his brothers and parents. Did he deserve to be sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown in prison? No, by all accounts he did his best to follow after the Lord. Why did all those bad things happen to Joseph then?
   DreamWorks Studios came out with a movie called Joseph King of Dreams many years ago. There is a song in that movie called You Know Better Than I. It is a great song that emphasizes what Joseph may have been thinking about while in prison. He talks about how he thought he did what was right. He told God how to help him through his problems. And that if this is a test, he cannot see the reason for it. 
   It sounds familiar to me and maybe to you. We as Christians know we are not perfect. We make mistakes but many times we do our best to follow after God and grow in him. Yet, bad things happen, problems come, and we do not understand why. That is probably because we are in the middle of the problem. We do not know the future. Only God knows the future and he has plans for each of us.
   The end of the song says, "You know better than I, you know the way, I've let go the need to know why, I'll take what answers You supply, For You know better than I." Joseph had a lot of time to think in prison. He probably was unhappy with how he was treated. But rather than pouting about it, he chose to bring glory to God where he was at. Joseph chose to trust that God had a plan for his life. He took the answers that the Lord gave him. Then he trusted in God. He is such a good example for us when we are walking through problems and we do not understand why they are happening.
   So, when you go through problems do you choose to trust in the Lord? How can you remember to trust in God each day?
   Image from here.

 

Would God Really Have Only Saved the Israelites?

   Way, way back in Bible times God made the first man and woman. They were given one rule, which they broke. Thus, sin entered the world. Years passed, the world sinned more, there was a flood, and eventually God chose one man through whom he would bless the world. We know that man as Abraham. He is the one whom the nation of Israel would come from. And, through Israel, the world was to be blessed.
   God had Israel as his favorite nation. I once heard someone say that he believed that if Israel would have followed God, and the Jews would have accepted Jesus as savior, God would not have offered salvation to Gentiles. I'm not sure I entirely agree with that idea. God is a God of wrath, because he is holy and cannot be with sin. But, God is also a God of love. He loves all of us (it's in the Bible, look it up in John.3.16). Why then, would a God of love want any to perish, including Gentiles?
   The answer is he doesn't want any to perish. We can see this in God's word. In the Old Testament, during the time that God's love and blessing was to be seen through Israel, there are the true stories of two people who lived at different times and were Gentiles. These Gentiles were accepted into the family of Israel.
   One of the women was Rahab. She lived in the time of Joshua's leadership of Israel. She lived in Jericho, a Gentile nation who worshipped other gods. Rahab was an unmarried prostitute. She had heard of the Israelites and what their God had done for them. Thus, she chose to hid two Israelite spies from her people's guards. Because she chose to follow God and help his people, she was invited into the family of God. She was saved even in her sin.
   The other person was Ruth. Ruth lived in the time of the judges in Israel. She married into an Israelite family while they were in Moab. The father of the family died. Then Ruth's husband died. Her mother in law, Naomi who was an Israelite, said she was going back to her home country. Ruth decided to go with Naomi even though she could have stayed, gone home to her family, and been remarried in her home town. When they got to Israel, Ruth went out to gather grain. There she met Boaz. Boaz was related to Naomi. Eventually, Ruth married Boaz. She was accepted into God's family as well.
   Now, lest you say the events of both those women don't prove anything; or, you say that women didn't count in Bible times tell me why BOTH of these women are in the lineage of Jesus Christ, savior of the world? God accepted these women into his nation, he loved them, he blessed them, and he saved them even though they were Gentiles. These women chose to follow God. They chose to leave their sinful ways and their homes just to follow God. Because of those choices, these women are forever a part of history.
   These women are examples for us today. No one is too far gone to be saved by God. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth probably worshipped false gods. We are to spread the Gospel to everyone. It doesn't matter where the person comes from or what they have done. God loves them and wants to save them. Who are we to stand in the way?
   So, do you believe God wants to save all people? How can you spread the Gospel today? 

   Image from here.

How Much Can You Handle?

   In my Kindergarten classroom we are talking about habitats and life cycles. To do that we have gotten an ant habitat so we can observe ant and talk about what they need.
   Through this experience I have learned more about ants. Ants can lift 20 times their own weight. But what would happen if that ant would try to lift something heavier than that? It would get squashed.
   Many times people are like ants. We all live together in the habitat called earth. We all work in different ways but we work for the greater good. And, we get dealt more than we think we can handle. Maybe you messed up at work, a coworker yelled at you, your friend blamed you for something you didn't do, a family member died, and you are having health problems. All of that may be happening at the same time and you begin to crumple under the weight of all of that.
   I've heard many people say "God's will never give you more than you can handle." Well, no disrespect to those people but I disagree with that. I've been through a lot in my life and I've had times where a lot of bad things happen at once. And, in those times, I break down. I feel like I can't go on and I crumble under the weight of all of it, if I try to get through it on my own.
   I want to change this saying. I have started to say that "God will never give you more than you can handle with him." God is always on our side but we need to learn to lean on him. When we start to crumble under the weight of our problems we can either keep trying to handle all of the weight on our own. Or, we can call on God and say "I need you! I cannot do this on my own. Please help me be strong in you."
   I don't know about you but I've already got a pretty bad back. I cannot carry the weight of all of my problems. So I have given all of my problems to God. He comes in, grabs the rock of all of our problems, and takes it off of us. Will all of our problems be fixed the exact way we want them to? No, but God has a perfect plan for our lives. He will be with us every step of the way if we choose to walk with him.
   So, will you continue to try and keep the weight of all of your problems up on your own? Will you choose to lean on God when you are not strong? Will you trust that God has a perfect plan for your life?

   Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:13

During Tests of Life...

   How can you worship something/someone you can't see? That's a question that Christians get sometimes. The argument being that we don't actually know what God looks like and we never actually hear anything from him. Why should we believe in someone we cannot see, hear, or touch?
   I don't know about you but even though I cannot physically see, hear, or touch God I know he is there. I know because I see God in the little things. When I need something like water and suddenly someone brings water to me, by coincidence, I know that is God touching me. When I'm struggling with something and someone comes to talk to me and see how I'm doing I know that's God speaking to me.
   But, sometimes I cannot see, hear, or touch God. I just cannot seem to find him. And, normally, when I cannot see him I feel that I really need him. I feel like I cannot go any longer without him and his help because I've just been beaten down by everything in life. I try to find the positive but it's hard to see the light when you are drowning in the sea of problems.
   In those times, I remember that God never gives us more than we can handle through him. Also I remember this quote from God's Not Dead 2: "the teacher's always quiet during the test." In life we will have times of trial and times of testing. Trials come from Satan. He wants to bring us down and separate us from God. Tests come from God. God wants to see if we will follow him no matter what, which is why he gives us tests (think of Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac).
   God is our teacher. He gives us everything we need to know in the Bible. He also walks with us in life. However, there are times he wants to see how much we have grown, just like any other teacher wants to. Teachers do not talk during tests. They want to see how much the student has learned; and what the student can do on his own.
   After the test is over, the teacher lets the student know how well he did. I don't know about you, but I always worked my hardest to pass tests. I wanted to become better, learn more, and grow. Therefore, I needed to know certain topics before I could learn other, harder, topics. Tests during life seem to be the hardest ones because sometimes you don't know you are in a test. But, whenever something happens in my life I try to look at it through different lenses. I look at it from my perspective, other people's perspective, and God's perspective. I do my best to pass these tests and trials in a godly way.
   So, do you ever have problems finding God? Do you see God in the little things? Do you work your hardest to pass tests given to you?

   Joshua 1:9, James 2:1-4

Time Machine

    Way, way back my church used to do Vacation Bible Schools. When we had VBS we would take the children in a "time machine" and go back to Bible times to hear from someone from that time. Doing this got me thinking: "what if we would actually have a time machine? Would any of the people from Bible times want to change something they did? Would we want to change anything we have done?"
   What about you? If you had a time machine and you could go back and change any one moment in your life would you do it? Why would you want to change that event? Do you regret a decision you made? Well, I cannot speak to your answer because I don't know what your answer is; so, I will speak to my answer. I would not go back and change anything in my life.
   Some of you may have a hard time believing my answer. I have made choices in my life that were not the greatest choice. I could have done things differently and gotten a different result. However, if I would have made different choices, I would not be the person I am today. If I would have made different choices I would not be where I am at today. If I would have made different choices, I may not have been able to reach as many people for Christ.
   I am a firm believe that everything happens for a reason. It is difficult to hold onto that at times. However, over and over in the Bible we see God's perfect plan coming about. God also has a plan for our lives as well.
   In Genesis we find the story of Joseph. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown in prison, and forgotten. I'm sure Joseph wondered if there was something he did wrong. He may have wanted a time machine to go back and try to get along with his brothers more. In the end of Joseph's story, he saved not only his family but also all of Egypt and more. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph says to his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." Joseph had to go through all of those difficult things as a test to see if he was ready to rule and save so many people.
   If you need more convincing check out Romans 8:28 which says: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." It may be hard to go through difficult times, but they happen for a reason. We just need to trust in God and his perfect plan for our lives.
   So, would you go back and change an event in your life if you could? Why or why not? How can you choose to trust in God's prefect plan each day?
Image from here.

The Power of Perspective: Happy New Year!

   Some of you know that each year I give myself a spiritual resolution. I challenge myself to come up with one area in my spiritual walk that I need to grow in. This year I challenged myself to be more thankful. I did this though my prayer time with God. Each time I would pray I would start by praising God. Then I would thank him for five things, people, or events that happened that day or something reminded me of them that day.
   The interesting part of my choice is that I chose it before I even knew COVID existed. The year before this year I realized that even with all the problems that come in my life I have a lot to be thankful for. Many times we forget that simple fact: we have much to be thankful for.
   It isn't always easy to be thankful. This year I got the flu for the first time, got strep throat, was in quarantine for three months, did not get to go on my official vacation, did not get to coach for three teams I usually coach for, had to go through a lot of changes at work, and so on.
   Perhaps you had some of these things happen to you as well. 2020 was not an easy year for many of us. However, this journey of trying to be thankful has taught me that it is all about perspective. Let me show you what I mean: I got the flu this year, which was not fun, but I had a warm place to stay and a family who took care of me. I had strep throat this year, which was not fun, but my sister stayed home with me to take care of me. I was in quarantine for three months, which was not fun, but I got to spend more time with my family. I did not go on my official vacation this year, which was not fun, but it made me more thankful of the time I got to spend at Camp YoliJwa later when I counseled. I did not get to coach three teams I usually coach, which was not fun, but I was thankful for the time I got to spend with the teams I worked with in the fall. I had to go through a lot of changes at work, which was not fun, but it made me realize how lucky and thankful I am for a job.
   Do you see my point? Yes, 2020 has brought a lot of problems. We have a choice when those problems come up: we can focus on the bad things or we can focus on the good things that we have or that come out of those bad things. I am very thankful that God led me to have thankfulness as my spiritual resolution this year. It helped me get through the year, be thankful even when it was hard, and to trust in God through it all.
I hope that as you look back at 2020 you try to see the things, places, people, and events that you have to be thankful for. I pray that as we move into 2021 we all remember that we have much to be thankful for.
   So, are you choosing to try to be thankful in all things? How can you remember to be thankful each day? Will you choose to trust in God and his plan?

   Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

   Image from here.