Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

  This weekend Patrick and I drove to Hilton Head for our last Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  And thus began the process of saying goodbye to many a Marine Corps tradition.  I must say, I'll miss the dress blues when Patrick is no longer a marine.  I'll miss the ceremony and all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with it.  But rather than get all bleary-eyed, I'll just say that the night was a lot of fun.  We got to spend some time with some new friends and get to know them a little better.

It was fun to get out of Beaufort for a night and stay in a nice hotel right on the water in Hilton Head.  Too bad it was too cold to go to the beach.  We actually stayed in the hotel where the ball was held, so my hair wasn't completely wind blown by the time we got there.  Bonus!

Us with Sarah and Mike 

For those of you that aren't familiar with the traditions of the Marine Corps, here's the scoop.  The USMC was created on November 10, 1775 and every year around that date marines all over the world get together to celebrate.  There is a ceremony that commemorates the heritage of the corps, a big dinner, and dancing.  This was our 9th ball (13th if you count the ones in college), and also the biggest. All of the Recruit Training Regiment was there and that was a couple thousand people.  Crazy!

It's a little hard to believe that we won't be going to another birthday ball since Patrick will be getting out of the marine corps next June.  Hopefully this time next year we'll be on the mission field in Zambia!  Quite a change from formal gowns and dress blues, but we're looking forward to it!

Alpha Company Marines

Alpha Company wives

Adventures in Teaching

Second graders excited to perform their readers' theater!

This past week I had a wonderful opportunity to teach during the Extended Learning Time our school offers to students who are below grade level.  I taught 2nd grade ELA (English and Language Arts), and we had a blast!  I had two classes of 12 students each and team taught with another second grade teacher who taught math.  It was quite challenging simply because the majority of the students who are below grade level tend to be behavior problems as well.  Thankfully there were only two students who were really difficult.  The rest of the students worked hard, and for the most part were able to focus well.

I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy every moment of last week.  There were some days when I came home exhausted and frustrated, feeling like I wasn't making a difference at all with these kids.  There were moments where I felt like maybe I'm just not cracked up to be a teacher at all.  All those feelings vanished by Friday though!  All week I'd been working on a readers' theater with the kids, and they performed it on Friday for the other class.  They did such a fantastic job in that five-minute performance that I suddenly felt like all the headaches and frustrations of the week had been worth it.  Last week was a chance to reaffirm my desire to teach and have my own classroom someday.

It's going to be difficult to go back to work tomorrow as just a teaching assistant.  It's always hard to let go once you've had a taste of what you really love!  I've been praying for a teaching position of my own and yesterday I felt God telling me that I'm exactly where he wants me right now.  The word "strategic" kept coming back to me.  As a teaching assistant I'm in a unique position to get to know the students on a different level since I'm not in responsible for all the duties of the full-time teachers.  While talking to God I also felt him saying that he is preparing me for future teaching opportunities, they just might not be what I expect.  I have a wonderful peace about where I am right now, but I look forward to the future with hopeful anticipation to see where God leads me!

Sidestepping the Cafeteria Line

I have been called many things for being a christian, but one that stands out is being called closed minded because I believe that scripture truly is the word of God.  I've been called an idiot for believing that everything in the Bible is actually real and is actually inspired by God.  Upon reflecting on this conversation I realized that what many people do is tease apart scripture into bite sized chunks, and believe only those chunks which are easy to digest.  The rest, they leave on their plate.  I call them cafeteria christians.  They take only what they want from the Bible, what makes them feel good, and claim that the rest isn't worth believing.  This is a dangerous path to tread.  The problem with claiming that portions of scripture are true while others are not is who is to say which is which?  Who has the authority to claim that one verse was actually inspired by God but another wasn't?  When we start to doubt the authority of scriptural truths, the foundation for faith quickly crumbles.  When you start doubting the word of God what basis for your faith are you left with?

We are living in what RC Sproul calls an anti-intellectual age.  Too many christians aren't taking the time to study and think through what the Bible says, and contemplate what they believe and why.  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  We need to dig deep into God's Word and unearth His truths there.  But we have to start with the authority of scripture itself.  Why do we believe what this book says?

There is vast amounts of evidence to prove the authority of scripture.  External evidence such as archaeology shows the historical accuracy of biblical accounts.  One noted archaeologist Nelson Glueck said, "No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference."  I've read of countless instances where the Bible has been held up under historical and archaeological evidence.

There is also plenty of internal evidence in scripture where we see that the Bible really is God's inspired word to his children.  2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  Hebrews reminds us that, "the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  The Bible is more than just a book of stories.  The word of God is living and transformative.

Another aspect of scriptural authority that I find interesting is the unity of the scriptures.  The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years by 40 different authors on 3 continents, yet they all tell the same story!  Think about that for a minute.  If you asked 40 different people living in America today to write about one theme, you'd get 40 completely different viewpoints.  The Bible is not that way.  We can read the whole book and see God's theme of redemption for man on every page.

I absolutely love the word of God, and the more I read it the more I realize I can't go a day without it.  Scripture breathes life into me each day, and in its pages I am reminded of God's intense love for me, and what He was willing to sacrifice that I might be saved.  When you really start to see the Bible as God's words to you you won't be able to put it down.   And though there are some hard truths found within scripture, we know that it is all from God.  He had a purpose in speaking each word that we read, so we cannot discount it as irrelevant or obsolete.  I would rather have the whole truth of God than a lie, and anything less that then whole truth of God is a lie!

So instead of taking the cafeteria approach, approach all of scripture as God's inspired word.  See the Bible for what it is: a love story between God and his people.  Work through the difficult passages to find the truth of God within them rather than writing them off.  You will have a deeper understanding of who God is and his plan for salvation.  Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God.

While everyone else is running around in Halloween costumes trick-or-treating, or being scared out of their wits at haunted houses, I am reminded of a truly world-changing event that took place on October 31 in 1517.  It started with a young monk, a hammer, and an idea that would change the face of Christianity forever.

Martin Luther was born into a wealthy family in Germany.  His parents expected him to follow in their footsteps of pursuing wealth and prestige, but God had a different plan for his life.  When caught in a terrifying electrical storm, Luther pleaded with God to save his life promising to give his life to God if he were to survive.  That's a pretty bold thing to do, bargaining with God and all, but the Lord honored his vow, and shortly thereafter Luther entered a monastery.

For much of Luther's life as a Catholic monk he struggled with the realization that the corrupt church could not offer him salvation.  He had witnessed the degradation of the church, especially in the selling of indulgences to the poor.  The people were told that indulgences would save them from the torment of hell, or would save a deceased loved-one from purgatory.  After coming face to face with this kind of evil corruption, Luther lost hope in the church and turned to the pages of scripture for guidance.  It was in Paul's letter to the Romans that he found hope of redemption.  Romans 1:16-17 says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"  These words resonated with Martin Luther, and his eyes were open to the beauty and grace of God.  By faith alone are we saved, not through legalistic moralism or corrupt rituals.

Having been renewed in God's love and grace, the actions of the clergy were that much more appalling, and something had to be done.  Reform was the only answer.  Luther set about writing his grievances against the church, and thus was born his 95 Theses.  He nailed the pages to the cathedral door in the small German town of Wittenberg, a moment that would alter the path of the church forever.

The corrupt Catholic officials were not about to take Luther's defiance lightly, and he was brought before the clergy at the Diet of Worms during which he was asked to recant his writing.  It was during this hearing that Luther spoke his famous words,

“Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear and distinct grounds and reasoning—and my conscience is captive to the Word of God—then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other.  So help me God.”

Luther's reliance on the grace of God brought on a reformation whose effects have lasted for centuries.  Not only did Luther spur on the reformation, but he also translated the Bible from Latin into German, the common language of the people.  For the first time, the Word of God was in the hands of people who were desperate to hear the story of redemption.  

Though the work Luther did was revolutionary, the church is far from being completely aligned with God's will.  There is still false teaching in the church, and there are still people who are led astray by false doctrine; people who sit in pews week after week thinking they are saved.  In some churches, reform is still needed, and it will be the Christians who hold fast to the Word of God who will make it happen. 

Heavier Things

In a book I read recently by John Piper titled Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose for the Glory of Christ, Piper discusses how coddled Americans are, especially Christian Americans.  Many people sit in pews Sunday after Sunday, but they still don't truly understand the implications of their own faith.  They like to think that God is pocket-sized; someone they can turn to when times are tough.  But they don't believe that God really is or that he will actually call us to account for how we live our lives.  Many pastors are afraid to preach about the difficult truths of the Bible, because they want to maintain a healthy-sized congregation and a full offering plate.  No one wants to hear a sermon on hell fire and brimstone.  But maybe it's time we think about the heavier things.  As Piper said, "Wimpy worldviews make wimpy Christians."

I recently listened to a talk given by David Platt at the Desiring God conference (which Patrick was fortunate enough to attend.)  His talk was titled "The Glory of God, the Lostness of Man, and the Gospel of Christ."  It was a stirring talk that I've listened to several times now.  I have included a link to the video at the end of this post, and I encourage you to listen to it.  Though he's not exactly preaching hellfire and brimstone, Platt reveals the depth of scripture that points to the sinfulness of man and our utter need for a savior.  The Bible paints a vivid picture of the reality of hell, one that we would be wise not to ignore.

Have you ever thought about the reality of hell?  I mean really pondered it in your heart?  If you are a Christ follower who has put your whole trust in Jesus for the redemption of your sins, the thought of what you have been saved from should bring you crashing to your knees in humble gratitude every day.  Like it or not, hell is a reality, and one that thousands of people face anew every day.  This idea isn't popular; the idea of suffering for all eternity for the choices one has made on this earth.  Most people are much more comfortable saying that everyone will go to heaven, they just have to find their own way to God.  The Truth of God and His Word contradicts this view point.  If God created man in His image and wants us to choose to love and obey Him above all else, why would he allow someone who hates Him into heaven?  If someone chooses a life apart from God now, they will experience eternal separation from God.  That's what hell really is; the total abandonment of the presence of God.  In a weird way, God is giving that person exactly what they want: no God.

As Isaiah says in Isaiah 6:5 after coming face to face with God, "Woe to me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips."  We are a sinful people who desperately need the grace of God to save us from the eternal suffering of hell.  It's clear from scripture as well as a look around us that we are lost.  What does it mean to be "lost?"  It means that we are cut off from God and cast away from his presence.  Romans 3:11 says, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."  Romans 1:21 says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God no gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."  In John 8:34 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."  John 3:20 says, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."  The scriptures go on and on regarding the sinfulness of man and our need for a savior.

I think it's all too easy to focus only on the aspects of God that make us feel good.  God is love.  God forgives.  God reconciles all things to Himself.  This is all very true, and I'm thankful that I serve this God, but there is another side to Him that we often forget.  While we might not like to think about it, God displays wrath as well as love.  In a talk I watched recently by David Platt, he discusses the fact that God hates sinners.  Psalm 5:5 says, "The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong."  God also loves sinners.  We can look to the cross of Christ as proof of this holy hatred and holy love.  The torture, pain, death, and separation from God that Christ endured was meant for us.  We deserve it because in our sin, we chose to ignore God's commands.  There is a hatred of sin and sinners that cannot be denied.  We like to think that our sin is something outside of ourselves, when really, we are sinful to the very core of our nature.  Our pride, lust, greed, etc. is part of who we are, and God will judge that sin.  The flip side of this is God's incredible love for sinners.  Again, look to the cross.  While we deserved God's wrath, Jesus Christ endured it for us.  God poured out his wrath on his only Son, not us, so we could be made righteous.  Romans 5:8 says, " But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  That's the purest kind of love there is!  Not only are we forgiven of our sins against God, but Hebrews 8:17 tells us, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."  Psalm 103:11-12 we read, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."  That is pretty incredible news! 

While the reality of hell is terrifying, as a Christian I have great peace and joy in knowing that God loves me so much that He would step down from His throne in heaven to save me from an eternity apart from Him.  My sins have been atoned for and have been replaced with the righteousness of Christ.  So while God's wrath toward sinners is great, His love is just as far reaching!

David Platt's talk titled "The Glory of God, the Lostness of Man, and the Gospel of Christ

Book Review: The Missionary Call by David Sills

Patrick brought home a huge stack of books from the Finish the Mission conference, and I'm slowly making my way through them.  This week I read "The Missionary Call" by David Sills.  Sills is currently a missions professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.  I appreciated Sills' academic approach to missions because he does so in such a way that developing the idea of a missionary call remains personal and Christ-centered.

The big question of the book was "what is the missionary call?".  This can be a gray area for many missionary candidates who feel that God is leading them in a specific direction but haven't had a vision or lightning bolt from heaven.  God's calling isn't always as dramatic as we might think, and actually often comes in the still small voice.  A call to missions might begin with an interest in a specific people group, language, or country.  Psalm 37:4 tells us, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."  God places in us certain interests and desires, which he will ultimately use for his glory.  In the case of the missions-minded Christian, these interests often lead to spreading the gospel among the unreached people of the world.

One quote from the book that does a good job of summing up the idea of what exactly a missionary call is says, "The missionary calls includes the profound sense of a God-stirred ought, a burden for lost souls in a dying world, a burning desire to see every people group in the world prostrate in worship before the throne of God.  It is a recognition of the gifts and abilities that God has given you mixed with the desire to go where your life can be best spent "to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you (Philippians 3:12.)"  We must remember that every tongue, tribe, and nation will be represented around the throne of God, and we have been given the Great Commission which calls us to go to them and bring them to Christ!

I appreciated Sills' wisdom in finding the call to missions, especially since in the past few years Patrick and I have felt God calling our hearts to the nations.  This interest began small, but the more we gaze upon the face of God and delve into deeper relationship with Him, the more undeniable his heart is for the nations.  How can we love God without heeding his call to GO?

While this book doesn't give specific stories from the mission field, it gives practical advice for possible hindrances to getting to the field, and living there.  Sills is upfront in the realities and dangers that missionaries face on a daily basis, and he wants his readers to be prepared for life on the mission field.  Whether you are interested in going as a missionary or sending others to the field, I would recommend checking out this book!

A Heart of Stone

This week I have been reading through the book of Hebrews.  Tucked within this book are some of my favorite passages of scripture.  The writer delves into issues of deep theology that are important for Christians to grapple with and make sense of.  Sometimes the Word of God is difficult to understand, and I'll admit that many times while reading Hebrews I've had to reach for various commentaries to shed light on the topics at hand.  However, one issue that is clearly stated is that of hearing God's voice.

Hebrews 3:15 says, "As it has been said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'"  How often do we hear the voice of God speaking, whether audibly or in our hearts, and yet we  turn away?  With every instance of turning from the voice of God, our hearts become a little more numb to his love.  Imagine a lifetime of turning, avoiding, or rejecting God's Word.  Imagine the state of one's heart after such rebellion.  Eventually the hardened heart becomes like stone and is no longer able to glorify God at all.

A Biblical example of turning away from God is the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years after the exodus from Egypt.  God had freed them from oppressive slavery and was leading them to the Promised Land.  Even with visible, tangible evidence of His presence and sovereign grace, the people turned away.  They begged Aaron to give them a golden calf to worship even as Moses was atop the mountain receiving God's commandments.  Not surprisingly, God did not allow this generation to enter the Promised Land.  Their hearts were not in tune with God's and were therefore unworthy of His blessings.  Hebrews 3:18-19 says, "And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."

Likewise, those who call themselves Christians, yet refuse to heed God's voice will not enter God's rest.  Hebrews 4:1-2 warns, "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.  For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."  These verses really hit home with me, because I know too many people who sit in church every Sunday but who have no faith in the Living God.  Church attendance doesn't equal admittance into heaven.  Simply hearing the gospel doesn't mean we will spend eternity with God.  One might even read the Bible everyday or do every good deed conceivable to man, but without faith, they are still lost.  Without active faith, our efforts are in vain.

Perhaps it's time you examined your own heart.  Are you simply going through the motions or do you have a real relationship with the Living God?  Are you receptive to the voice of God, or has your heart become calloused and unyielding?  Do you have a passion for the Word of God and for His commands?  Psalm 119:10-11 says, "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."  I pray that you will know God intimately and know Him more fully through reading and obeying His Word.  There is no greater delight that this!  It is only through faith and a relationship with God that we will enter his rest at the end of our lives.  May it be so in your own life!

A Long-Awaited Answer to Prayer

Ever since we moved to Beaufort I've been praying that God would lead us to a group of believers we could fellowship and study God's Word with.  Bible studies and small groups were such a huge part of our lives in Okinawa, and it was difficult to leave such a wonderful group of friends behind.  The verses that have been on my heart lately come from Hebrews 10:23-25 which says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  God intends for us to be in community with other believers; people who can encourage and inspire our faith.  Without this crucial element of fellowship it would be easy to fall away from God altogether.  We were created with a need for community, and I have felt this need keenly, especially during a four-month lull where we knew very few people in South Carolina.

We have joined a new church called Seaside Vineyard Fellowship, and it has been a joy getting to know the people there.  The pastor stresses small groups, but all the ones currently going were made up of people our parents' age.  While there is much wisdom to be gained from studying God's Word with people further along in their faith walk, we wanted to be in community with our peers as well.  This led us to start our own group for married couples without children.

We are now hosting a group of four couples each week, and so far it has been a great experience.  We have started The Truth Project, and this will be our third time leading this study.  It's always amazing to see how God works in people's lives through this in-depth study of Biblical Truth.  The series is a Christian Worldview Studies course, and it really gets you thinking about what you believe, and if you believe that it's really real.  How different the world would be if Christians really believed that what they believed was real.  Each time I've gone through this study God has shown me different aspects of who He is, and I grown deeper in my relationship with Him.  I'm excited to see what kind of transformations will take place this time within our group.

God has been so good to provide other believers here for us to share life with.  It can be really lonely when you don't know anyone around who shares your faith and passion for Jesus Christ.  I praise God everyday for his faithfulness in answering this prayer!

Pumpkins, Pirates, and Parrots

Pumpkin loot

Patrick and I have had a wonderful weekend exploring more of what Beaufort has to offer.  We started out on Saturday heading out to a pumpkin patch.  The literacy specialist for my first graders owns a farm and invited us out.  In our four years overseas I missed the fall season so much, so I was really looking forward to picking some pumpkins.  We got a hay ride out to the patch, and found four fabulous pumpkins to bring home.

Super friendly parrot

I'd been wanting to check out the town of Port Royal for awhile now, so on Saturday we did that too.  We happened to go there on the day of the Pirates of Port Royal festival.  Nothing like seeing a bunch of locals dressed up as pirates in the middle of October.  There were numerous booths set up with art work for sale, and they even had a small menagerie of animals where you could hold birds, hedgehogs, hamsters, and even pet a couple of baby goats.  One parrot was hanging out on a park bench nearby and let me hold him. When I set him down he started bobbing his head back and forth like he was dancing.  Quite amusing.  We walked along the boardwalk and up a lookout where we could see across the water to Parris Island.  It was a beautiful day, and I got some great pictures.

View of the marsh

I'm always thankful when we have a whole Saturday to spend together.  Usually Patrick has to work until the afternoon, but this past weekend he was home by 9:30.  It's not often that we actually get out to explore Beaufort, so this weekend was a lot of fun!

Book Review: Reckless Abandon by David Sitton

David Sitton entered the mission field as a 21 year old surfer from California who was head over heels in love with Jesus.  He started out in Papua New Guinea, and through this book he details much of the work he did there with indigenous tribes.  By completely abandoning The American Dream, and giving his life fully to the work of God in the nations, he was able to bring the Gospel to thousands of people who would have otherwise never heard the name of Jesus.

Christians have to have a mindset of reckless abandon for Christ if we are to overcome the typical fear of reaching out in the name of God.  We need an eternal perspective in order to see the lostness of man, and our desperate need for a savior.  Following Jesus is not without suffering and persecution, and David illustrates many instances where he and his teammates were beaten, and threatened.  But, he says, Jesus is worth it!

The book begins with a challenge to comfortable Christian American.  Sitton writes, "Whey is it presumed that American missionaries have the "right" to require safe living conditions?  By the way, this is almost completely a Western concept.  Believers in the rest of the world assume that following Christ is naturally hazardous to their health!  They live as lambs among wolves, expecting to be mistreated, because wolves eat lambs!  Why do we think we should be exempt from what Jesus said would be the normal experience of His followers?"  Wow, talk about a convicting statement!  It's true that Americans tend to have this sense of self-entitlement to comfort and safety, but this isn't the message that Jesus brought.  Philippians 1:20 says, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him."  Christ followers are guaranteed suffering, so shouldn't we make the most of it and give everything we have to bring as many unsaved souls to Christ as we can?  When you stop trying to save your own life, but are willing to lose everything you have for Jesus, that is a life lived in reckless abandon for the only one who is worth it!

This book has been a wonderful encouragement to me as Patrick and I plan for our future work in the mission field.  Whether or not you are considering full time missions, I would recommend checking out this book!  

Rebel Without a Cause

 I often write about scriptural truths, and spiritual disciplines, but lest you think I have it all together, I feel I need to include moments where I fall short.  It's one thing to think on and write about the Christian life; it's another thing altogether to live it out.  We meet God in the toughest situations in life, and though my life for the most part is sweet, I've had some bitter moments recently.

I had a challenging week at school last week dealing with unruly students who just didn't want to focus or get their work done. Typical days in 1st grade include plenty of behavior issues with students who would rather sport an attitude than learn anything.  Many students tend to take education for granted, and would rather be at home playing their Playstations and watching TV than at school learning.  For a teacher this can be extremely frustrating and disheartening.  At one point this week I honestly felt like giving up.  There's only so much you can do for students who just don't care.

I had a long talk with God on the car ride home that afternoon, and I could hear Him speaking clearly to my heart.  They are just children.  They need someone to love them and guide them, and if they have no one who cares enough to teach them, they won't have a chance in the world.  Yes, they can be frustrating, but they are sinners, just like you.  They need a savior the same as you, and until they meet Him, their sin nature is what predominates in their life.  

Seeing children in rebellion is a reminder of the fact that we are sinners and are in rebellion against God.  As a teacher I understand how frustrating it is to watch my students act out, when what I want for them is for their good!  How much more so must God look upon us as we turn our faces away from His goodness?  He wants to give us life, yet we still seek the meaningless pleasures of the world.  We would rather waste our life with things that will not satisfy than experience life as He meant for us to live it.  How this must grieve Him!  James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  Let us put aside our rebellion against Him, and turn to the Lord in submission and receive the blessing he intends for us!  I pray that rather than hide our faces from Him, we would freely give our lives to the Lord to use for His glory!

Book Review: Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ by John Piper

Don't be fooled by the small size of this book; it packs a powerful punch.  In Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ  John Piper tackles some tough questions about why God allows evil to enter the world and how the sins of man do in fact glorify God.  Though we can't always understand why God plans or allows certain things, we do know that God alone is sovereign over everything even that which is evil.  When we see sin at work in the lives of men and women throughout history and today, we know that not only is God in control, but he is able to bring glory to himself through it.  Everything that happens is part of God's plan for His creation.  Too often we try to look through a microscope, zoomed in on one little piece of history, but if we were to zoom out to see the whole picture, we would understand that God orchestrates everything according to his plan.  Everything comes together for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Piper lays the foundation for the need for Christians to have a solid, Biblical worldview.  He says, "Christians in the West are weakened by wimpy worldviews.  And wimpy worldviews make wimpy Christians."  Though we might live in relative peace right now, the tide will eventually turn.  Second Timothy 3:12 says, "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."  Acts 13:22 promises that, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."  Worldviews that put our comfort and safety as the headline will not sustain us when we face real trials for our faith.  Piper puts it this way, "Coddled people will not be good listeners when their world collapses."

The book goes through six "spectacular sins" from the fall of man to the horrific murder of Christ on the cross.  Piper explains and gives Biblical evidence for the sovereignty of God in each of these examples, and shows how, through sin, God's glory is achieved and his global purposes realized.

Piper is an excellent author and is able to communicate clearly and with wisdom.  The ideas presented in this book are ones that aren't often preached in today's churches, but are Biblical truths that must be studied and understood.  God's people must be prepared to face the great evils of this world and stand ready to defend their faith, because in the end, God alone will be standing in victory over sin!   

Book Review: Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

I'm a little ashamed that I'm 27 and just now getting around to reading this incredible book.  John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is second only to the Bible as a Christian publication as far as how widely published and read it is.  The book is an allegory for the Christian life and follows Christian (the main character) as he embarks on his pilgrimage.  Along the  way he encounters a host of characters, some who encourage him in his walk with the Lord, others who try to distract him from the Way.  Bunyan has a knack for symbolism and uses it abundantly throughout the book.  For example, shortly after setting out along the Way, Christian comes to the Swamp of Despondence, in which he becomes mired and nearly loses hope of ever getting out.  Christians experience this kind of despondency in real life as well when we become too focused on the things of this world and lose sight of Jesus.  The people and problems that Christian encounters along the Way are easy for us to relate to, since we have all had similar experiences.

What I love most about the book was the way it is steeped in scripture.  Bunyan uses over 200 direct quotations from scripture, making this book the most scripturally-based book ever written.  Within the text are footnotes for each reference, which is written out at the end of the chapter.  I often found myself reaching for my Bible as I read the book in order to look up the specific reference.

There have been many editions of Pilgrim's Progress printed since it's original publication in 1678.  I read the version in modern English, since I found the original language a bit tedious.  My version was updated and revised by L.Edward Hazelbaker, and he took great care to preserve the original intent of the language while still making the text readable.  This is an incredible book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone! 

Kept in Perfect Peace

I recently attended the Women of Faith Conference in Charlotte, NC, and it was quite an experience.  One thing that struck me about the weekend was how so many of the speakers focused on the busyness of women's lives, and the fact that life can be so draining to the point where women are frazzled practically to death.  Women are pulled in so many directions whether it be their children, husband, work, friends, etc.  I came to the conclusion that I don't want my life to ever look like that.  I'm not one for stress.  Not that I can't handle it, but life is just too short to be stressed out by things that really don't matter in the long run.  Instead, I want my life to be characterized by peace.  I want to be so wrapped up in Christ that everything else just pales in comparison.  I want Him to be my focus and for all my trust to lie in His grace.  I love this verse in Isaiah 26:3 that says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Everyone wants peace.  I don't just mean the peace that comes from finally having a minute of quiet to yourself after a busy day.  I mean the kind of peace that rejuvenates your soul and gives you the strength to face each new day.  There's a big difference between the kind of peace offered by the world and the peace offered by Christ.  The peace of the world requires a change in circumstances.  A bubble bath might bring momentary peace, but only because your outward situation changed.  The peace of God is internal and changes you.  Lasting peace is not the absence of trouble, but is the presence of Christ in your life.  Believers can still have peace even when surrounded by difficulties.  In John 14:27 Jesus promises, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid."  I'm thankful that Christ doesn't give peace in the same way as the world, because then it wouldn't be real peace at all.  My peace comes from Christ's presence in my life.

Consider this story about the disciples just a few days after Jesus was crucified.  They had followed Jesus for three years and had devoted their lives to him.  They had put their hope in the fact that he was the Messiah and would lead the revolution to free the Jews from Roman persecution.  Then he was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, endured a mockery of a trial, was hung on a cross, and left to die.  Where did that leave the disciples?  Alone, and scared to death.  They hid behind locked doors for fear of what the Jews would do to them.  They were, after all, considered rebels and blasphemers in the eyes of righteous Jews.  In John 20:19-20 we read, "On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace by with you!'  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."  Prior to Jesus coming into their midst they experienced great fear, but His sudden presence among them brought joy and peace.  Their situation hadn't changed.  Nothing outside the doors of that room was different, but Christ's presence changed them, and brought peace.  Suddenly they were able to face their worst fears because Christ was with them.

We can have this same peace when we give our lives to Christ.  Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  We can have this fellowship with Christ that leads to everlasting peace, if only we would answer the knock on the door of our hearts.  I praise God that he pursues us.  He loves us  enough to stand at the door waiting for us to open our lives to Him.  So, will you answer the door?

Pursuing the Author of Joy

What brings you joy?  Some might say that their loved ones bring them joy; some might say their jobs; others might say having a nice house, and a nice car will do the trick. We are always searching for happiness, for joy, but are the things of this world really able to satisfy that longing?  Material things rust or break.  Jobs can be lost.  Friends and family will inevitably disappoint us.  When we seek joy among the things of this world we realize what a fruitless search it is.

The English translation of the word joy is found 218 times in scripture.  One of the Greek translations of the word is chara, which means "rejoicing, gladness, delight."  This word gives the picture of a celebration!  People sometimes have this wacky idea that if something brings you happiness, laughter, or enjoyment, it's wrong.  They view God as someone standing in Heaven with his arms crossed ready to smush you if you so much as crack a smile.  This couldn't be farther from the truth.  God created joy!  He is the creator of laughter and humor.  God created us to glorify Him by enjoying Him forever!  We are joyful when we have the Truth of God and experience a relationship with Him.  Joy comes from knowing that all the things in this life are temporary, but we are destined for a heavenly place for eternity with the King of Kings.

It dawned on me that so many people pursue joy, when what they should be pursuing is the author of joy.   In John 15: 8-11 Jesus says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."  We enjoy God by loving him, worshipping him, and obeying him.  Notice that this verse doesn't encourage us to seek things in life to have joy.  Jesus tells us to seek God.  Only then will we find the kind of joy we were created to have in Christ.  Notice too what the source of joy is: Christ himself.  When we sincerely follow Jesus and submit our lives to him, he gives us such great joy that nothing on earth can even come close! "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.  I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God." (Psalm 43:3-4)

He Who Has Ears to Hear...

How often do our prayers consist of nothing more than requests of God?  I have become more aware of this in my own prayer life recently.  "God I ask..."  "God give me..."  "God bless..."  Interceding for others, and asking God to bless us is not a bad thing.  In fact, it's scriptural.  1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."  I believe God loves to bless his children, and wants us to ask him for his blessing, but there is more to prayer than just petition.

How much time do you spend listening for God to speak?  How often do you stop asking, stop talking, and just be still before the Lord?  After all, he doesn't always speak through a strong wind, or an earthquake, or fire.  Sometimes his voice is a gentle whisper (1Kings 19:11.)  How can we hear if we don't stop talking long enough to listen?  Malachi 2:2 says, "'If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,' says the Lord, "I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings.  Yes I will curse them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.'"  Clearly God desires for us to listen to him, because what he has to say is immeasurably important.

I came to a rather humbling conclusion this week.  There are two reasons I think it is hard to listen for God's voice.  One is simply that silence feels awkward.  No one likes a gap in conversation, and I always long to fill it with my own voice (no matter who I'm talking to!)  The second reason is fear.  That's right.  Fear.  I realized that I get nervous when I wait to hear God speaking to me, because more often than not, he calls me to do something outside my comfort zone.  Over my years of following the Lord I have learned that he rarely calls us to do what is easy, or even what we feel like doing.  Instead He he calls us to that what will bring him the most glory.  Keep in mind the fact that God doesn't call us to be comfortable; he calls us to be obedient.

There are a few ways we can listen to God.  One is through prayer, and having a still heart before him.  When you quiet yourself before God and seek him with an open heart, you will hear him speaking.  You might not always like what he has to say, but you can bet that if you are open to his will, he will speak to you.  A second way to hear God is through scripture.  It's called the Living Word for a reason!  The Bible isn't a book to be simply read, but is a way for God to communicate directly with his people.  When you read God's Word with an eager heart, you will often find that he is speaking to you through the written word.  Amazing isn't it?  Often as I read scripture I get the feeling that the particular passage I'm reading was written just for me.

Our approach to the Lord should never be one-sided.  When we come before God in prayer it should be with a humble heart and open ears.  We must remember that we're praying to the Creator of all things!  He is the one that has given you life and breath!  Our first response to God should be worship and praise.  Our humility before him will lead us into an attitude of listening.  When we listen for his will then he will make us doers!  


"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."  (James 1:22-25)

Shadowless

Have you ever thought about what it means that Jesus is the light of the world?  John 1:4-5 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."  Jesus came into a world of sin and death; of darkness; of shadows.  We are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God, and in our fallen state we try to hide ourselves from God Almighty.  We don't want him to see the mess we've made of our lives so we make feeble attempts at covering ourselves and our shame, though little good it does us.

Enter Christ.  The light of the world.  Where the light shines, darkness cannot hide.  There are no shadows where Christ dwells.  The beauty of God is that he knows your sin and he still wants a relationship with you.  There is no use hiding from God.  He is everywhere and is all-knowing.  He is, as Hagar said in Genesis, "The God who sees me."

It's a little disconcerting at first, the idea that my sin is laid bare before a holy God.  But then I rest in his love knowing that, through Christ, I am made righteous, and all my sins have been atoned for through his death on the cross.  How glorious a truth this is!  When we confess that Christ is our savior, his righteousness (or rightness before God) is imputed to us as well.  Nothing we do can earn this kind of gift, but God bestows it upon us freely when we are willing to confess that we are in dire need of a savior, and Jesus is the only one who can do it.

"If I say, 'Surely darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." (Psalm 139:11-12.)  It's is nothing short of miraculous that I serve a God who sees all my sin and shame, yet loves me anyway.  And with an extravagant love at that!  

Book Review: A Voice in the Wind

Up until this point I have generally avoided reading much Christian fiction.  Most of the books I'd seen depicted amish-looking girls in bonnets.  Not exactly my thing.  But Mrs. Mom recommended A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers, and I thought I'd give it a shot.  I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story.  The plot centers on Hadassah, a young Jewish-Christian girl who survived the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  She winds up as a house slave in Rome and strives to reflect the love of Christ to the family she serves.  Her selfless, pure faith is contrasted starkly with the lives of the family members, who embrace the Roman ideal of pursuing pleasure no matter what the cost.  In a time when Christians were killed for their faith in Jesus Christ, Hadassah's faith never wavers.  When opportunities come for her to talk about God, she embraces them and prays for the courage each day to speak the name of Jesus.

The more I read the more I realized that the Roman times were not so unlike our own.  American culture idolizes the pursuit of pleasure and the destruction of morality.  Our world is centered on you, and doing what you want.  This is antithetical to scripture which says that rather than life being about finding pleasure on earth, we are to glorify our God in heaven.

Another thing that tugged on my heart is the fact that persecution of Christians still happens today.  It's easy to think that the times of believers being fed to the lions are long gone, but this is just not the case.  In many countries today Christians are tortured and killed for their faith.  This reminder has made me much more aware of the freedom I have as a Christian, and I'm so thankful to God for his mercy in my life.

A Voice in the Wind is the first in a series of three books, and is definitely one worth checking out.

Book Review: Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs

Liz Curtis Higgs has written an excellent series on the "bad girls" of the Bible, and this one was just as enjoyable as the others I've read.  It's easy for us to assume that all men and women of the Bible were perfect, always faithful followers of God.  We couldn't be more wrong!  Many of the women in the Bible were flawed, but despite their imperfections God used them to bring about his good purposes.

Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible tells the stories of Sarah, Hagar, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.  To keep us from thinking that the issues these women faced were unique to their time period, Liz writes a modern day version of each story.  She then dissects the scripture where we find these women, and the insight she offers is well researched and Biblically-based.  After reading this book these five women seem more real to me; they seem like women I know.

This book is an excellent reminder of the fact that God uses even the broken things of this world to bring him glory.  He uses the imperfect to honor his perfection.  While each of the women in these pages struggled in her relationship to God, ultimately their hearts were turned to Him, and their desires were for his goodness.  At some point we all need the encouragement that their stories offer.  We have all fallen short of the glory of God, but we can praise Him for he desires to redeem us and bring us to righteousness through Christ!

Evidence of Grace

I will admit, the last few months have been rather trying for me.  I'm not as in love with South Carolina as I'd hoped I would be by this time.  It still feels like we're in a holding pen for the next year till we move on to the next phase of our lives.  Still without a church to call home, and a group of believers to call friends, life in Beaufort is rather lonely.  It would be easy to feel sorry for myself were it not for the grace of God.  Rather than looking to outside sources or people to sustain me, I can always turn to my heavenly Father for strength.  When Paul writes of the thorn in his flesh he pleaded with God to remove it.  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  Relying on the Lord in all circumstances allows his power to be made all the more evident in my life.  So though there are areas of life that look bleak from where I'm sitting, I still put my whole trust in the grace of God.

So what is grace?  Grace, simply put, is the unearned favor or blessing of God.  I've always thought of grace as getting something we don't deserve.  And it is true that we do not deserve any of the good gifts God bestows upon us.  God withholding judgement and condemnation (what we do deserve) is evidence of his mercy.

The beauty of God's grace is that it is evident all over the place.  When you are on the lookout for grace you will start to see it everywhere you turn.  He is gracious to provide us everything we need from food, to clothing, to a warm bed to sleep in.  How easily we take these things for granted.  Scripture itself is evidence of grace, because through it God allows us to see a glimpse of who he is!  God's Word, "is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)  Through his grace God shows us the path to righteousness and peace.  He also shows his grace by intervening in our lives when we cannot go a step further without him.  (Not that he ever left us in the first place.)

An example of this leapt to mind just this afternoon.  As I said, I've been homesick for Okinawa and missing the fellowship of dear friends there.  Walking through the commissary today I ran across a friend I'd met in Japan.  I was overjoyed at seeing a familiar face in a place that has been void of familiarity for me until now.  In that moment it was as if God was reaching out to me through this woman telling me that he sees my heart and will provide for my needs.

Small instances of grace such as this all point to God's love for his people, which culminates in the demonstration of grace: that of Christ's death on the cross.  Remember how grace means getting something we haven't earned?  This principle is never more true than when considering salvation.  God's grace is extended to us through faith alone in his Son, not by works or good deeds.  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I thank God daily for his grace shown to me through the sacrifice of Christ.  His truly is a love without equal.  I'm thankful that no matter what pain or hardship I go through in this life, his grace will always be sufficient.  In what ways do you see God's grace in your life?

The View Through the Telescope

One thing I miss so much about Okinawa is going to church at the Harbor and hearing Mark Oshman teach.  A couple of years ago he went through a sermon series on the Five Solas of the Reformation (Sola Scriptura, Sola Christus, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Soli Deo Gloria.)  Today I listened to the podcast of the last of those sermons, and it really resonated with me.  Soli deo gloria, to God the glory alone.

Two of Mark's visual aides were a microscope and a telescope.  The microscope takes what is small and makes it seem bigger.  It is an illustration of the way we tend to magnify our lives, and we want to be what it's all about.  The telescope on the other hand takes what is unfathomable and tries to bring it somewhat into focus.  Looking through the "telescope" means taking our focus off our teeny tiny selves and putting it on the Creator of the universe.  Not a bad trade eh?

One thing is clear about humans: we were created to worship.  We all worship something, but the problem is our worship is often misguided and misdirected.  Mark talked about how no one has to teach us how to worship, all you have to do is turn on your TV and watch any sporting event.  Fans shouting and acting crazy in the stands?  They are, in a sense, worshipping the sports teams.  Maybe sports aren't your thing, but how about music stars, money, or even your free time?  Something, whether God or otherwise, is the focus of your worship.

Check out Romans 11:33-36.  It says, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen."  Amen indeed!  The God of the universe is worthy of all praise.  Nothing created could ever deserve the worship that God does.

Much of scripture is dedicated to expressing the fact that everything God does is for his glory.  Even creation of the world and people was meant to be a means of expressing his splendor and majesty!  Too often we get the idea that the world was created for us, and everything revolves around us.   We couldn't be more wrong.  Isaiah 43:6 says, "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."  We were created for God's glory!  To worship, praise, and enjoy him forever!  This, my friends, the the purpose and meaning to life on this earth!

One place people stumble is to think that because God is all about his own glory, that somehow makes him egotistical.  But think of it this way: God is above everything.  He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving.  If he were to direct his (or our) praise at anything else, he would be cheating us of worshipping the only thing worthy of our praise (himself.)  It would be a lie.  So no, God is not some kind of megalomaniac, he is a loving God who wants nothing but the best for his children.  And the best is himself!  Isaiah 42:8 teaches, "I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."

God will not share his glory with anything he has created.  There is room in your heart to worship and glorify only one thing.  Is it God?  Or is it something else?  Are you looking through the microscope, trying to be your own big picture?  Or are you peering through the telescope at something much, MUCH greater?

Submission: The Word We Love to Hate

My Beth Moore book has taken me into the study of gentleness this week, and day 1 focused on one aspect of gentleness- submission.  Why is it we tend to run for the hills when we hear that word?  I think it's interesting that we're so obsessed with being our own boss that, even when it's in our best interest, we don't want to give over the reins to anyone else.  The Lord is the perfect portrait of submission as seen in the essence of the Trinity.  Now I'm by no means an expert on Trinitarian theology, but it is clear from scripture that God (the son) is in submission to the God (the Father's) will.

The kind of submission I've studied today isn't focused on the earthly submission of, say, a wife to her husband, but rather our submission to God's will for our lives.  For a lesson in submission we can always turn to Paul.  He was a persecutor of Christians to the nth degree.  Acts 9:1 describes him as "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples."  Yikes.  No one would have thought that this man would be the one to bring the Gospel to the far reaches of the globe (or at least far reaching for those days.)  But as usual, God had a bigger plan that people couldn't comprehend.

Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus and asked, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)  Reading this verse, I also appreciate the fact that Jesus is so intimately connected with his followers that persecuting them is the same as persecuting the person of Christ himself.  Now here is where I think it gets interesting.  Jesus, in a vision to Ananias says, "This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:15-16)  Paul knew that he would face hardship and ultimately death for his faith and proclamation of the gospel.  And yet, upon his conversion he "at once began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." (Acts 9:20)  Paul knew that there is nothing greater in the world than serving the Living God, and that's why he was able to approach his calling with such passion.  His was a life truly surrendered to God's will.

Now we might all say that's well and good for Paul, but what about us?  God calls every one of us to submit to his authority in our lives.  Only then will he be able to transform us into the image of his Son.  Only then will he be able to use us for his glory.  True, sometimes submitting is painful, because often God leads us to places we'd just as soon not go.  But in light of eternity, the things of God are infinitely better than anything we could imagine for ourselves. In John 16:33 Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  We aren't promised an easy life.  If anything, Christians are pretty much guaranteed suffering at some point.  But our faith is in Him who has overcome!   It's time to let go, and let God reign in his sovereign place in your life.

Stranger in a Strange Land

Do you ever get the feeling that you were born in the wrong era?  This is an almost daily realization for me.  Since coming back to the United States I've felt bombarded by and overwhelmed with the rampant materialism of our country.  I'm surrounded by technology that I don't always think is actually bettering our culture, and when I see people walking around texting on their cell phones it makes me long for the days of eye contact and true engagement with other people.  No one looks you in the face anymore.  They're too preoccupied with the glowing rectangle in their hands.  What a sad commentary on the state of our society. I'm not anti-technology or anything, but I think we are missing vital opportunities to engage with our culture and develop meaningful relationships.  Don't you get the idea that most of your "friends" on facebook aren't really your true friends at all?  I think there is something to be said for using technology to enhance communications and the like, but our culture has taken it too far.

In recent conversations with Mrs. Mom she has said she thinks I was born in the wrong century; that I belong in a simpler time.  I must say I agree with her.  The more I thought about this the more I realized that it's not just a matter of feeling like I don't belong in my time period, but that I don't belong here at all.  I (and all believers) were created for a place much different than this earth.

I've been reading a lot of Hebrews lately and right in the middle of chapter 11 it explains this longing to be elsewhere.  This chapter describes the faithfulness of many men and women of the faith.  Then verses 13-16 say, "All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

Do you see?  We were created for better things than this world has to offer.  We were created for a heavenly country where we will dwell with Jesus Christ for eternity.  This verse gives me hope that it's not wrong to feel out of place in this world, because I was created with a longing for heaven.  God is faithful, and he has prepared a place for us.  A place where we will feel that sense of belonging that we long for on earth.  A place where we will be in his presence for all time.  Praise God!

Sure of What We Hope For

I'm currently going through a Beth Moore study on the fruit of the spirit, and this week's focus was on faith.  Faith is not so much an action as it is a response to God's faithfulness.  Beth Moore describes God's faithfulness as his believability.  In his Word he proves himself faithful again and again, as he does in our lives today.  I reflected for awhile on ways that God shows himself as believable to me.  One thing I thought of was how when I pray according to God's will, my prayers are always answered, though not always in ways I expect.  Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait.  Learning to wait on the Lord has shown me his incredible faithfulness, because no matter what the circumstances, he always comes through.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Sometimes it's difficult to put our whole trust in the Lord since there is so much about him that we do not (and cannot) understand.  Being a Christian requires a huge leap of faith, but I have found that after that initial plunge, God is gracious to increase our faith.  There is a story in Mark 9 where a man brings his son to Jesus to be healed of demon possession.  The man cries out to Jesus, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"  I find myself crying out to Jesus in a similar fashion almost everyday.  "Strengthen my faith so that everyday I will depend on you more."

So why does walking with the Lord require faith at all?  I think the answer lies in Isaiah 55:8 which says, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"  There is no way we could ever comprehend the magnitude and majesty of God Almighty.  Our puny little brains cannot begin to fathom all that he is.  We can, however, rest in the promise of Romans 8:28 that, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Our God is faithful to fulfill his promises, because he loves us.  We can count on that no matter what.  

So here's my next question: do you base your faith on what God does or who he is?  A faith that is based solely on tangible evidence will be a roller coaster ride with the peaks being at times when God is most visible and quickly descending at times God seems more distant.  Again, remember Isaiah 55, God's ways are not our ways and we cannot understand everything about the way he works in our lives.  On the flip side, faith based on who God is will never waiver because God doesn't change.  Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  I'm so thankful that I serve a God who is steadfast and solid.  When everything else about this life on earth is like sinking sand, my Lord is a firm foundation.  I pray that you would know the faithfulness of God in your own life today!