1 Year

I began this blog a year ago. In one year, my life has changed in more ways than I could imagine and the blessings I have had are unimaginable. Here are my biggest changes/accomplishments in 2011.

1. I got an awesome roommates and a wonderful apartment 

2. I have challenged my faith a lot more. Learning to question traditional Christianity, not taking things at face value, finding the truth in what we've created to be just another "religion" and strengthening my faith in the process. 

3. I have cut ties with people who were not a good influence 

4. I spent another wonderful summer with some of the best kids on this earth and I feel as if I have a better grasp on my influence on other people.

5. I have found myself in a mature relationship.
6. I have learned that sometimes you have to trust people to do things for you. It may not be done exactly the way you want, but you can't do it all yourself.
7. I have strengthened the friendships that really matter (even if I don't see those people very often).
8. I have learned to trust God with more aspects of my life. My trusting Him is still not perfect, but He has prevailed in being faithful every time, so my goal for 2012 is to fully trust Him.
9. I have learned more scripture in the past year that I ever have in past years.
10. I have maintained a blog that I have been told it is an encouragement. If it isn't to anyone else, it surely is a way for me to release my feelings and ideas and put them into words. Also, my blog is currently being read by people in 15 countries! Exciting! 

Not a Fan

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." -Galatians 2:20

I am not a fan of Jesus...yes...you read that right. I. am. not. a. fan.

While stumbling around in Books-A-Million today I came across an interesting title in the Christian literature section. It was simply titled, "Not a Fan." I read the back of the book, and was going to buy it until I cracked it open and read a few different spots of it. While reading I realized that I already had all the knowledge that this book had to offer, so I set it back on the shelf. However, the book got me thinking. It got me thinking about how we (both Christians and those raised-in-a-Christian-nation/home-and-claim-to-be-Christians) have become fans of Jesus.

A fan is defined as "a person who has a strong interest or admiration for something." Having strong interest in Jesus is good, admiring Him is better, but a fan is not what Jesus is looking for. He doesn't want your admiration, He doesn't want your curiosity...He wants your life. He doesn't want fans; He wants disciples. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says to His disciples "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself take up his cross and follow me." If you are willing to make the same sacrifice for Him that He made for you, then you will have what He wants from you. You must pursue Him, you must leave your selfishness out of the picture, and you must follow. Follow Him into the unknowns, follow Him into the valleys, follow Him wherever He may lead. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

Challenge:  Be a follower, not a fan.

Facebook Prayers

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." -Matthew 6:6

So I have had a lot of mixed feelings on my mind this morning. For those of you who did not hear, a City of Aiken police officer was shot last night and died in the hospital. The situation is extremely unfortunate especially around this time of year; however, that is not what I am addressing in this blog. Here's what this blog is about...it is about why we wait until the bad things happen to pray, it is about using Facebook as the new "prayer request board" (aka gossip column), it is about making intimate prayer a public action.

First subject of discussion. It is short and simple. Why do we wait until the atrocities happen to start praying? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to "pray without ceasing." I am just as guilty as the next person on this one. I cannot do not try hard enough to have a continuously prayerful mindset. Anyways, that's the end of that. Challenge #1-Don't just pray when things get hard. Pray continuously.

This may be a bit controversial, but I have a problem with seeing "praying" or "thoughts and prayers," etc. on Facebook over a certain subject. For example, my news feed this morning was crammed with notifications about the police officer in Aiken. Every single one (no exaggeration) had the word "pray" in it somewhere. Do I have a problem with prayer? Of course not! It is the strongest tool we have a Christians. Here's what I do have a problem with...how many of those people considered that Facebook status their "prayer" for that family? Just for clarification, Facebook statuses do not equal prayer and a news feed is not a prayer request board. I have a feeling that God could really care less about Facebook. He knows what we post, but He doesn't sit around reading it all day like we do. If the point of prayer is talking to God, Facebook is taking the wrong route anyways. We didn't have it 10 years ago, and we got along just fine in our prayers. Lastly, I have a feeling that if people were actually praying every time they put that "praying" as their status, this world would be a very different place. Prayer can produce results, and the results speak for themselves. If you ever notice, very few "prayer warriors" go around flaunting the fact that they are praying. They may tell the person they are praying for but that's about it. The results of their prayers are enough for people to know that they were, in fact, praying.

Third is the idea of prayer is a very personal thing that can be done in groups, but is often much more intimate if the talking is just between you and God. There is no need to let the whole world to know what  you are doing. Just do it. The verse at the top is in contrast to the religious leaders of Jesus's day. They would pray out on the street corners so all could hear. Facebook has become our street corner. Instead Jesus said "go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Prayer is between you and God and needs no intermediate of Facebook. Does this mean that if something happens to me that I do not want people writing "praying for you" on my wall??? Yes...yes it does mean that. No need to tell me, if prayer is actually being done, the results will be apparent.

Now for a gutsy challenge that many of you will not do simply because you want the world to know your every move...I challenge you to not post on Facebook that you are praying, instead, go do it!

*Sorry if I sound very anti-prayer (or anti-Facebook). By no means is that the case, and I do understand that social networks can be a tool of information and can be used for good. Just consider everything you write before you hit post. In addition, this is not just brought on by the cop being shot in Aiken, it has been on my mind for a while. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall...

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, it is then that I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Yep, that's right, I'm talking about haughtiness, pride, and boasting. Where do these things get you in life. Nowhere. I can be a very confident person. I usually know what I want, I will do what needed to get it, and I will do it in the most efficient manner; however, when the fine line between confidence and pride and conceit is crossed, destruction follows. Proverbs 16:18 attests to the same thing saying, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before the fall." The most disastrous thing a person can do is to rely on their own strengths, their own thoughts, and their own works. For it is often found that a life of self-reliance soon crumbles leaving nothing but hopelessness and sorrow. 

Now on to a touchy subject...weaknesses. We all have them; we all try to cover them up. But imagine a world where we all owned up to our weaknesses. Yes, we would be vulnerable, but so would everyone else. Although others may beg to differ, I find that weaknesses and difficulties can be a wonderful thing. It is in our vulnerable spots that we find His strength, it is in our weaknesses that we see His greatness shining through. So why wouldn't we want to see this side of God everyday? We beef ourselves up and put on the "I can handle anything" mask only to cowardly hide behind a facade everyday. Why not own up to those weaknesses and watch God show His mighty power? Why not stand up and say "My name is ________, and I struggle with ________"? I have come to find that great burdens are lifted, tensions are released, and true strength is found when you let God take on the hardest parts of life with you. That is why we should "delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when we are weak, it is then that we are strong." If you are already on your knees worshiping the one and only God, then you have a very little distance to fall when the times get hard. He will stand to protect you, and it will be in His strength that your life prospers in even the darkest of times. 

I challenge you to own up to your weaknesses. Trust that God will give you more strength than you will ever need if you only humble yourself and welcome the hard times with God by your side. 

Changes

♪Everything it changed overnight. This dying world You brought it back to life and, deep inside, I felt things shifting, everything was melting away. And You gave us the most beautiful of days♫ -Relient K "In Like A Lion (Always Winter)"

Changes. They are inevitable. Eventually, almost everything changes. Schools change, people change, preferences change, life changes. However, there is always an exception to the rule. Hebrews 13:8 has the exception to this certain rule. It reads "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love never changes, His standards never change, He never changes. Thank goodness! Can you imagine serving a wishy-washy God?? One of the best things about God is that He is a solid rock, firm in all He does. Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock in whom I take refuge."

Now this blog entry was not originally to write about how God never changes, but rather what He changed.  Around 2000 years ago, He changed everything. He sent us the greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for, a savior. Jesus Christ came as a man to save mankind. We have made a horrible world out of the perfection that God initially gave us, and everyday we choose to sin, we choose to disobey God, we choose to separate ourselves from Him. We need Him to save us from ourselves. Just like the lyrics above read, "This dying world You brought it back to life and deep inside I felt things shifting, everything was melting away." There is good news! Just like the angel said to the shepherds so many nights ago "I bring you glad tidings of great joy!!!" We too have glad tidings of great joy from God. He can make all things new. He restores each season, and breathes life into all living things, so what makes you think that He cannot change your heart? Anyone who has had an experience with God can relate to the feeling of things shifting, feeling renewed and transformed, and feeling their old self melting away. Ephesians 2:5 says, "Even though we were dead in our sins, together with Christ we are made alive-it is by grace that we have been saved." 

The last part of these lyrics is my favorite part. He bring us the most beautiful of days. We have future hope because of the choice that God made to send His son for us. It is in Christ that we find eternal joy, eternal beauty, and eternal life. He is the wind at our backs and the sun on our face, promising that the best days are ahead if we walk with Him by our side. I challenge you to stay focused on how God changes things in your life, and to testify how He works in your life. 

*I apologize if this blog seems a bit scatterbrained...its late, but I felt like writing. Merry Christmas!! 

Intellectual Christianity

"That this ignores most of the rest of Scripture, and also makes a fine distorted case for tearing all the wisdom books out of the Bible, eludes far too many people. In the end, Christianity never calls anyone to turn off his mind. To insist it does, only results in the kind of brain-dead emotionalism that leads to error. Hoisting godly wisdom by its own petard makes the Church look vacant in the cranium." -Dan Edelen

Intellectual Christianity...is it an oxymoron? No.

Not much makes me feel more embarrassed than when a Christian sounds ignorant trying to defend the faith and can only repeat what they have been told.  In this, there is no satiation, there are no personal feelings. It is a recorded message played over and over again, and when innocent theological questions arise, the Christian defenses automatically go up and they can get snappy.  To accurately handle the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15), you must study it. You must know it, and you must be able to defend it without sounding foolish. 

I once heard a pastor say that it is okay to be narrow and closed-minded, although I have a lot of respect for this man, I must humbly decline this idea. The Bible says, "narrow is the way that leads to life, and only few will find it" (Matt. 7:14).  Matthew is trying to explain that the road is narrow, not the mind. Unless you are able to see all the roads from an open-minded point of view, you have nothing to compare it to to know that the narrow way is in fact, narrow.  I am not saying that you should test out every road, but what I am saying is that you need to know your surroundings in order to be able to defend why you choose the narrow path.  To do this, you cannot be narrow-minded.  You must act and think intellectually.  Narrow-mindedness says "I chose this path because it's the right path, because it's the one I was told to take, it's the one that leads to life."  You must have your reasoning for it though. Intellectual Christianity and open-mindedness says, "I considered my options, I looked at what each road had to offer, this one does not look easy, but I choose the narrow path because I choose Jesus."

Okay so here's a 180 on the topic of intellectual Christianity, don't get dizzy...different subject, same topic.

God is the only one that can really change people's hearts, but He uses us as a vessel. To do this, you must get on their level. I find this to be ever so true when I work at Camp Longridge.  While talking to a third grader, you cannot condemn them to hell, you can't expect them to comprehend the Trinity, you have to speak in terms of things that they understand. What can they understand? They can understand right and wrong; they can understand love; they can understand hope and peace. Now the same is true with an atheist college professor. When you speak Christianity strictly in the terms of right, wrong, love, hope, and peace, they hear "love, peace, flowers, and rainbows" (...not meant to sound blasphemous, that's just what a lot of them are thinking). You have to take it up a notch. You have to know your Bible, you have to be able to defend the faith. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed. Accurately telling the Word of Truth."  They are more likely to hear you out if you are on their level, if they feel like they are having an educated conversation and just not hearing a repetitive tape.  For example, if it comes to evolution, there are scientific explanations out there for almost everything that jives with the Bible in some way or another.  Know these things. They may not be in the Bible, but what good is only using Bible verses to someone who doesn't believe it?  You have to be on their level and speak in their terminology.  Know what other people believe and know why they believe it.  To understand their point of view is to understand their misconceptions; to understand their misconceptions is to better understand how to minister to them.  Don't let other religions or people who have different ideas scare you off, rather view them as a chance to change their world and possibly the world.  There are some mysteries of God that we will never understand or be able to explain (see 1 Cor. 2:6-8, 10-15), but for heaven's sake do not let that be your cop out on everything.  He leaves so many questions unanswered, but He gives us so much about His love, character, and plan.  Know what He gives us, and search for more. You never know what He might reveal to you. 

I challenge you to be open-minded when choosing the narrow path.  I am guilty of doing all these things and being closed/narrow-minded at one time or another, but it is something I am working on. I challenge you to do the same.  Know what you are talking about and then find the faith to stand up for it. 

Restless

♪I'll be waiting, anticipating; All that I aim for, what I was made for, with every heartbeat all of my blood bleeds running inside me, looking for You♫

Picture this, you're in an empty space, you can see nothing except vast desolation. No color, no vibrancy, no evidence of life, no meaning to anything. You begin walking, you wander and wander, never finding anything or anyone, getting tired and thirsty as you go. You search and search, but find nothing. Then in the distance you see a figure. He is standing there as you approach him. You get closer and closer only to find that he is holding out his arms, a glass of water in one hand. You rejoice as you run to the man, hugging him, taking the water, and thanking him just for being there so that what little bit of hope you had left was not lost. This is my picture of the song above. 

I think that, whether we know it or not, we are all restlessly wandering and searching for God. We all long for meaning and for love.  In fact, one of the first people on the earth, Cain, was a restless wanderer. In Genesis 4:14a, Cain has killed Abel and has been banished to be without God for the rest of his life. It reads, "Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth." I can only imagine the regret, pain, and solitude that Cain must have felt at this moment in his life. To be banished from the very presence of God. And despite this, he probably spent his entire life trying to find favor with God again. He was never able to find the peace that comes with serving, loving, and obeying the Lord.


So the next thing that I considered as I thought about being restless was the question, is it bad to be restless? Is it bad to be longing and searching for God? Is it bad if you can't find peace without Him? Is it bad to be thirsty for Him? Although others may care to differ, I think the answer is no. If you realize that you are in need of God, that is wonderful. Admitting that you are a sinner and that you need Him as your Savior is the first step and is what I was trying to paint in the first paragraph.  If you are searching deep enough inside yourself, you find a void and needs that only God can fill, and when you give it all up to find Him, You find the peace and assurance that you were looking for. 


After we have become Christians, I think restlessness is a substantial part of our Christian walk. We should never be satisfied with what we have and what we know about Jesus Christ. We should always be searching and thirsting for more. We should yearn to understand and know God more even though we ultimately know that we are only scratching the surface. However, in opposition to that, we should also be satisfied and enjoy the peace that comes with knowing God. It may sound confusing if you do not know what I am talking about, but I promise you that it makes perfect sense to those who have had both of these feelings. 


I challenge you to be restless in your search for God and getting to know Him. Thirst for Him, hunger for His word, and satisfy yourself (...maybe even indulge yourself) in it all. 

Reality Check

"The empty-headed treat life foolishly, the perceptive and sensible grasp its meaning and stay on a straight path." -Proverbs 15:21

Reality-"Something that exists independently of ideas concerning it"-urbandictionary.com

Reality check-"Something that clarifies or serves as a reminder of reality often by correcting a misconception"-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Okay, so this blog is a bit of a ranting blog, but promise me that you will read it nonetheless.

Not much makes me roll my eyes and face-palm myself more than those people who are not in touch with reality. I'm not talking about people who have legit mental problems or children who do not understand the concept of reality versus imagination; I am talking about people who are purposefully living beyond the realms of reality and, despite what people tell them or try to hint at, they live in their own little world. Reality is a necessity to be a productive person. To be in touch with the world, to be a sociable person, to have people take you seriously, you must live in reality.  "Reality" meaning that you take things how they are despite your feelings or ideas about it. 

So what may make you lose touch with reality? Well let me make a (short and noninclusive) list for you...

1. Unrealistic relationships or expectations for relationships

2. Thinking that you are God's gift to the world

3. Insulting yourself for attention

4. Obsessive fantasizing about how things could be but never taking action

5. Dwelling on almost anything for too long

6. Acting childish despite that fact that you are no longer a child.

7. Comparing yourself to other people

8. Convincing yourself that you could never be wrong

9. Excessive self-centeredness

10. You think you are entitled to things just because you are you

Here's the tough part, most people will not tell people to their face. People will try to hint at it in the hopes that they may pick up it on their own. They will try to spare feelings and friendships by letting them come to the conclusion by themselves, but they live in their own little world and are too oblivious to reality and the people that seriously want them to get a grasp on it. Some people will tell you straight up, and promise me that if someone ever tells you that you just don't grasp reality that you will do a reality check on yourself because there is a good chance that they are right. 

I cannot even completely put into words my frustration, feelings, and thoughts about people who live in their own worlds, and as you read this, I would be willing to bet that at least one person was on your mind. I challenge you to give yourself a reality check and make sure you are not this person. You are probably not, but a reality check never hurts. It is not all about you and the rest of the world would appreciate it if you would not waste any more time having everyone rolling their eyes at your foolishness. Do whatever is needed and get into reality. If you don't know what you need to do, just ask around. Someone will be happy to point it out to you.

Morning Light

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" -Lamentations 3:22-23

How have I never stumbled upon these verses before?!?!?! Between a mix of someone posting this verse online and working That Girl Thing at Camp Longridge this weekend, I have come across this verse more than once recently, and man is it a soul churner of a verse. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed." Jesus loves us enough to save us from everything that can hold us back from being a powerful and worshipful member of both His earthly and heavenly kingdoms. We can avoid being consumed by the devil, ourselves, and  death because He takes care of it all for us! The best part of this love is that it never ever ever ever ever fails. Like the old hymn says "Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me!"

Now my favorite part of this verse. "[His compassions] are new every morning." There have been times where I have found myself in huge weak spots in my life. Literally, I have laid in bed at night and cried myself to sleep over things. But praise God that although there may be pain in the darkness of night, that joy is renewed every morning. That He can bring us out of the darkest times of our lives and, if we are willing to bring our weaknesses into the light, He will shower us with the unfailing compassion that only He can give. Great is His faithfulness!!

I challenge you to own up to your weaknesses and your shortcomings. The best way to get rid of them is to let Jesus take them for you. Bring them into the light, and He will bring you into the light. <3

Give Thanks

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." -Job 37:14

10 things/people I am thankful for
1. My parents/family-I could not have asked for better parents and I am very blessed with the way they raised me.
2. Brittany Serago and Lisa Thornsberry- The best friends a girl could ask for.
3. Jason Hadden-one of the more recent blessings in my life. He shows me God's love in ways that no one else ever has.
4. Town Creek Baptist Church-I consider my church family to be my strongest backbone.
5. Camp Longridge
6. Winthrop University-love hate relationship
7. The Kings, Ridgeways, Haddens, and Hissners (...and Abby)...love you guys
8. Erin Shealy, Katrina Waters, Brittany Serago-roomies <3
9. America and all those who have helped to protect it.
10. Jesus dying on the cross for me...saved the best for last.

Satisfied

♪The brightness of Your glory has arrived. In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied♫ -Phil Wickman "Divine Romance"

Complete satisfaction. Hard to attain? You bet it is. I have found satisfaction in many things in my life, such as friends, relationships, academic achievements, athletic achievements, diet coke...haha. However,  complete satisfaction  can only be found in the midst of our Savior Jesus Christ.  


The best way for me to explain the feeling of this is to use lyrics from yet another song...this time by Kari Jobe. The lyrics to her song "The More I Seek You" read, "I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat. This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand, I melt in Your peace, its overwhelming." This feeling of peace, tranquility, and satisfaction found in the midst of a loving savior is incomparable. For me, the idea of melting in peace is amazing, almost to the point that it sends a chill up my spine. If you are looking for something materialistic to fill a void in your life, good luck finding it, but you won't. He is our safe house when the trials of life are pounding down all around us and beating us to our knees. 


If you are longing for satisfaction in your life and have never experienced this complete satisfaction that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I challenge you to give it a chance...to give Him  a chance. He will not disappoint. 


*If you need some temporary satisfaction, listen to Kari Jobe's song "The More I Seek You." :)

Take It Away

"What if you wake up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?"

I saw this quote the other day on a friend of mine's status. I hope that when you read it, that it hit you like a ton of bricks just like it did me. Honestly, I do not think I need to write a whole blog on this. It is pretty self explanatory and it is powerful. Actually, powerful is probably an understatement. But let me ask you a question...if everyday we only woke up to the things we thanked God for the previous day, would you have anything today? Would you have anything tomorrow? Rest assured that God is mighty enough to do just that. In a single instant, He is capable of taking anything and everything we have. Now I think He chooses not to do this because we serve a loving and sovereign God; however, I have no doubt that He can.

Other days, I really feel like I need Him to strip me bare of everything I own...all my possessions, my fears, my friends, my insecurities, my passions, my time-fillers...and leave me with nothing but Him. It would be radical, but maybe it's just the wake-up call I need to see what all He really provides for me. I challenge you to simply thank God for anything, everything, and everyone in your life. But remember if He is gracious enough to give it to you, He can surely take it away (Job 1:21).

Persona

♪Where is God in the city life? Where is God in the city light? Where is God in the earthquake? Where is God in the genocide? Where are You in my broken heart? Everything seems to fall apart. Everything feels rusted over, tell me that You're there.♫ -Switchfoot "Vice Verses"

                                     
Common questions that Christians get from non-believers (and Christians sometimes have themselves) often challenge the sovereignty and grace of God. We question God in our arrogance asking things like "Why would God let people in the world starve?" "Why does God allow thousands of people to be killed in genocides?" "How can God put people through situations like ______?" All good questions right? Wrong. Many people have trouble putting their faith in a God that seems to not care about His people. But do you ever stop and think that maybe God has more of a right to ask us why they're starving, why there are genocides, why there is crime? We are sitting around just wondering all these things, and we expect God to take care of them as if He is a genie in a bottle. Now although He is fully capable of doing such things, I feel that if He were to just answer every single prayer right off the bat, there would be no doubt of His existence, but that we would selfishly focus on what He can do for me, what He can give me. But here's the other thing, we were made in God's image (Gen 1:27), so why can't we, as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20), take on the role that Christ would on Earth. Now yes, this may sound like a cliche "What Would Jesus Do?" statement, but it is so much more than that. It is taking on the persona, the thoughts, and the actions of God himself and pursuing a lost world with the faith and love that only comes from having a personal relationship with the one true God. ...Just to recap...Yes, God could end world hunger, genocides, and crime, but He has told us numerous times to love one another (1 Jn 4:7, Rom 12:10, Heb 13:1, Jn 13:34, etc). It is our job to end these things. He has provided the means to do such things, all we have to do is take the step of faith and get it done. 


Challenge...take on the persona of Jesus Christ. Speak, act, and think as He would and love people because He first loved you. 

10 Best Hymns

Okay so ever since I went to Elevation Church, I have been on a hymn kick. Here's my favorites :)
1. Come Thou Fount..."Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."
2. Victory in Jesus..."Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood! He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him!"
3. Amazing Grace..."Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! 
4. How Great Thou Art..."When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"
5. I Stand Amazed..."How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be! How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior's love for me!"
6. Jesus Paid it All..."I hear the Savior say, 'Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all.'"
7. Everyday With Jesus..."Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Everyday with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me and He's the one I'm waiting for. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (2010 camp people understand why this is one of my favorites
8. Blessed Assurance..."Blessed assurance Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His spirit washed in His blood!"
9. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross...Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
10. As The Deer...You're my friend and You are my brother even though You are a king. I love You more than any other so much more than anything

Beware of Christians...Take II

"So much of it is just what is put into your mind as you're growing up" -Michael Allen

Okay, so this is the 4th or 5th time I've seen this documentary, and, this time, I got something very different out of it than I ever did the previous times. This time I was slapped in the face by the idea of American Christianity and believing what we believe only because it is what we are told to believe.

Yes, I was raised in a Christian home, I was brought up in church, I was pretty much told what to believe...but that is not why I believe what I believe. I believe what I believe about Christianity because I have seen God work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and His presence is undeniable. Even though I have basically been told what to believe my entire life, I have been personally challenged numerous times by my studies, by this film, and by other people (professors, preachers, peers) to know what I believe and not to just take it at face value. My belief and faith is just that...mine. It doesn't belong to my parents, my church, or the things I associate myself with; it is purely mine.

Currently, I am in three science classes, Population Biology, Anatomy, and Historical Geology. I can tell you right now, that the population biology and geology classes both challenge my faith in ways that no other class ever has. I have had to question my beliefs, ponder the thoughts of "what if I'm wrong?", and struggle with keeping the strong faith that comes with being a Christian. Luckily, I knew this was coming, James 1:3-4 says "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The challenging and testing of one's faith is necessary to have a strong faith and to soundly know what you believe and why you believe it. This testing and perseverance has all been a part of how the faith I was taught has become a faith that I can call my own.

Now my third science class, Anatomy, is also unlike any other that I have had to take in my two and a half years at Winthrop. Anatomy opened a whole new side of Christianity for me (...if you're confused, just stick with me for now). Anatomy has allowed me to see the human body from a point of view that most scientists and people in general don't see it from. It is not just a living organism, it is a masterpiece. A masterpiece in which God has intricately designed every body system, bone, and organ to function for His people. If you study even just one organ of the human body, I believe that the existence of a Creator in undeniable. Call me ignorant, tell me that I am overlooking the evolutionary evidence, but I will tell you that I refuse to believe that such a intrinsic organism with such a complex and fascinating makeup happened by chance. In fact, one professor told me that "if something makes sense to you, it's probably right." Although she was making a reference to the earth being billions of years old and rock formations, I'm gonna have to agree with her on the statement and add to it that Christianity makes sense to me. A Creator makes much more sense than chance, and it is this that has strengthened and sculpted a large portion of my faith.

I challenge you to do what the film Beware of Christians did for me. Question your faith, a weak faith is possibly worth less than no faith at all, and you should question it to search for what you really believe. This may take some sorting through everything you've been told over the years and filing through the rubbish that many of us just take at face value, but it is worth it to own your faith and to be able to stand firm on what you believe and to be able to know why you believe it.

*"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1

Stereotype #2

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" -Matthew 28:19-20


So this is a continuation of my blog from yesterday and my stereotype affirmations or pulverizations (is that a real word??? idk) that I had occur yesterday by Elevation Church.


My last few stereotypes were these:
4. Contemporary worship is sometimes used only because it is what is popular despite whether it is theologically sound or not, or has any meaning at all for that matter. 
5. Worship is too organized
6. Satellite churches often put a lot of time and effort and money into winning the lost do not put enough into developing the saved. 


Now my reaction after Sunday...
4. I absolutely love contemporary music in worship, but there is some great theology and moving words in those great old hymn that we know and love. I think a mixture is needed to get the most out of a worship service. Elevation and many satellite Churches are lacking in this area. The music is great, but it is often just loud enough that you can't hear yourself praising your Lord and Savior. I prefer a more intimate type of worship; one where I don't feel like I'm at a Christian concert every Sunday.
5. Again with the worship...now don't get me wrong, I know everyone has their own taste of worship, but this is my blog so I'm giving you my view and opinion. Again, when worship is too organized I feel as if the intimacy between an individual, a congregation, and the Savior can easily be lost. The passion is often present, but the motive is often missing. When endless hours are spent  practicing just so you sound good and the way you sound becomes more important than the God and creator you are worshiping, something is wrong. Now I'm not judging anyone's intentions, I'm just saying that I believe that digging-deep, soul-filled, awe-inspiring worship is much less likely to come by with highly organized worship. Feel free to object to this, but it is just my  opinion. 
6. Lastly, I feel as if satellite churches do not put enough effort into enriching the lives of the Christians that are making decisions for Christ. They are masters at getting the unsaved into their doors, holding the lures of free t-shirts and free cds (both of which I received yesterday as a first-time visitor) out in front of people and leading them right into the front doors of their church, but lack in the spiritual nourishment that we as Christians need. Again, don't get me wrong, whatever it takes to get a lost person to come to church is worth it because everyone needs to hear of the loving, saving power of Jesus Christ and everyone deserves a chance to make that decision of knowing Him; however, what about when that person becomes a Christian? What else is there for them to do? They can...serve on the welcoming team...come to every Sunday morning service...hand out free t-shirts at the "tent out front". But where's the nourishment? Where is the communal involvement that comes with being a God-fearing church? No where to be found. I know it is hard to minister to individual when attendance is so high, but that is where individuals needs to be ministering to individuals, and I saw little evidence of that at Elevation. If the sole focus of a church is bringing in the lost, Elevation is on pointe! But I believe that there is a delicate balance of winning the lost and developing the saved that is necessary. 


I feel like I'm a church critic, and I understand that a church that is making any sort of advancement for His kingdom is doing well, and I support Elevation Church in everything that they do! I also challenge all churches and people of churches to follow through with the great commission "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:19)...but don't forget the latter part!!! "And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" Go and get but then make sure to guide and enrich. 

Stereotype #1

"But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out." -Acts 5:19


This morning I went to Elevation Church with my roommate. I have to be honest, I went with a bad taste in my mouth because I have never been fond of mega churches. I have a couple of stereotypes, and I will cover them in a matter of two blogs (one today and one tomorrow) because it really is too long for just one blog. Here's half of my reasons behind not like satellite churches:
1. To me they seem very impersonal 
2. Often they are focused on "feel good" messages (never on hell, tithing, you're-in-sin-so-fix-it type messages that may be a little unsettling but need to be preached nonetheless) 
3. Often the pastor reads a passage of scripture and then never returns to it or any other scripture during his message.


Now here's what I learned today about each stereotype, what I learned about God, and what I learned about the vision of His coming kingdom. Please note that I have my stereotypes for a reason, I have been to other satellite churches that have formed these ideas, and Elevation strengthened some stereotypes, and demolished others.
1. I still think that satelitte churches are very impersonal, but can do their best to form a united body of believer and welcoming atmosphere for unbelievers at each location. I was raised in an average sized baptist church for my whole life, and I have to admit that I find it weird when people are clapping and giving a standing ovation for someone who is miles away or praying with someone on a television. These personal aspects of a relationship within a church body and between a pastor and his congregation are lacking. However, Elevation staff, volunteers and dedicated members are welcoming, not judgmental and loving of everyone who walked in the doors.
2. I was pleasantly surprised with the message this morning. Given that the lead pastor, Steven Furtick, did not preach, it was a wonderful message. The passage used was Acts 5:17-29 which is about Peter and other apostles being freed from prison and the main focus was on having bold obedience. The message was focused on the fact that obedience triggers opposition, releases miracles, and requires faith. It was made clear that upon doing God's work is not easy and that ridicule and persecution may happen but that the faith we have in God will carry us through the rough times if we are willing to sacrifice our lives for the advancement of His kingdom. The part about obedience releasing God's miracles hit me pretty hard. The verse used was Acts 5:19 which says "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out." The point being made here was that Luke wasn't making a big deal out of this miracle. An angel opened the jail door for heavens sake!!!!!!! This is a great representation of Luke's faith. For his point of view it was probably something more like, "Yeh an angel of the Lord opened the jail door, but what do you expect? This is God were talking about after all." Basically, no big deal. Miracles shouldn't surprise us because we are serving the creator of the whole universe and he is mighty and powerful to do ANY and ALL things! It meant a lot to me because I am often surprised about how God works things out in my life, but I really shouldn't be if I have enough faith to truly believe that He is in control. 
3. I have heard some criticism of Steven Furtick about this third stereotype, but I will not comment on him because I did not hear him speak. Craig Groeschel (Steven Furtick's pastor) spoke, and he did a magnificent job of making scripture the basis of his message. Props goes out to all those pastors who manage to keep the most important thing at the top of their agenda, that being that the Bible is the foundation and cornerstone of all Christianity.


I challenge you to not just believe stereotypes about churches. Go make your own ideas about churches (and not just satellite churches). And if it is a Jesus believing, Bible teaching, theologically sound church, then the form of delivery is not an issue. You can have a preference, but there is nothing wrong with it. Like I said, I still have some of the same beliefs about satellite churches, but many of them were transformed today. 

10 Things That I Just Don't Understand

1. Why people name their cars

2. Why people factor in pressing the snooze button x amount of times when they set their alarms...why not 15 extra minutes of sleep instead of pressing snooze 3 times?

3. Why people set themselves up for failure

4. Why people curse...expand your vocabulary

5. Why people listen to screamo "music"

6. Why people drive below the speed limit
7. I don't understand "high fashion" magazines...the models and their clothing look ridiculous.

8. Why would someone dress up his or her dog?!?!

9. Why kids/teens date before they can drive

10. Spray tans...if everyone knows its fake, what's the point of it?

Artistic

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." -Genesis 1:1

So in church this morning, my pastor took a firm stance against evolution. As a science major, I know evolution backwards and forwards, I have been taught it more times than I can count, and I do not believe it. But this blog is not really to combat evolution....in this post I am just going to point out one thing about God's creation that has stood out to me.

I truly believe that one attribute of God is that He is an artist. He designs intrinsic masterpieces that function at the highest level of intellectualism that the human brain can grasp, and He creates us all (male, female, human, monkey, dog, bacteria, etc.) beautiful and worth standing in awe over.

I had one course my first semester of college called "Human Experience" (HMXP for short). In this course we were supposed to be finding out who we really were since most of us were on our own now and just starting college. Apparently a liberal arts college thinks that the best way to find out who you are is to sit down with a bunch of other people and listen to their problems and views. Who woulda thought that finding out who I am would involve so many opinions of other people thrust upon me? Anyways, overall the class was crap, but it got me one step closer to my degree; however, I specifically remember one awesome thing that I got out of that class. One day, a discussion we were having involved evolution versus creation. One very intelligently designed guy said, "I don't see why people couldn't believe in evolution. Our DNA is 98% the same as chimpanzees, if that's not proof of a common ancestor, I don't know what is." Silence filled the room until the girl next to me did what I wish I had the guts to do at the time, she spoke up. She said, "Maybe its not proof of a common ancestor, but rather a common creator. Just like Picasso or van Gogh has common themes and brushstrokes in all of their paintings, maybe God leaves similar marks on all of His masterpieces." I was blown away and that statement has been with me ever since. Maybe God is using the world around us, the familiar, to create the variety and beauty that we see today among His creation. All I know is that I praise God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

I challenge you to view God as an artist and enjoy His creations to the fullest. Go star gazing, watch some animals, or enjoy being around people. And most importantly, praise Him for His beauty and the beauty of His creation.

Oh boy!

"God gives us guys to complement us, not complete us." -Rachel Herrin

Let's be honest, if you put 2+ girls together and get them talking, one topic is always guaranteed to surface, boys. In the fall of 2010 almost a year ago to the day, I went on a retreat with the girls from Winthrop's Baptist Collegiate Ministry. We were in small groups with girls from other schools with no more than two of us per school in each group. I knew absolutely no one in my group, yet I loved these girls so much. We were just supposed to get together and talk about things in our lives and share each others burdens (Gal. 6:2) and offer godly words of wisdom to each other. It took about five minutes before my group was on the topic of boys and relationships. We threw around ideas about relationships, hardships, temptations, and our views on them. As one girl went to offer her view, the sentence above slipped out of her mouth, and it has forever changed my view on friendships/dating/ marriage and everything in between.


"God gives us guys to complement us, not complete us." Such a powerful statement in my opinion. A reminder that God has made us to be unique and to be able to survive a powerful and worshipful life with or without a mate. Now this is not to make guys sound like arm candy and this statement was shared in the midst of having the utmost respect for men. This statement was just to make the point that marriage is not our ultimate goal in life, that finding "Mr. Right" isn't all its cracked up to be, and that if we are destined to be single, God will bless us just as he blesses marital relationships if we are using our lives for His glory.


I once heard it put that while you are single, you have opportunities to serve God that someone in a relationship does not have. You need to take advantage of these opportunities because you never know when God will bring someone into your life, you begin a relationship and those opportunities are gone (Col. 4:5). Also, a popular song among Christians is the song "While I'm Waiting." This is the poster child of how we should approach singleness. "I will move ahead, bold and confident. Taking every step in obedience. While I'm waiting, I will serve you while I'm waiting, I will worship. While I'm waiting, I will not faint, I'll be running the race even while I wait." The whole song is posted above. Remember that love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4).


If we are one that is chosen to share our life with another person, we need to get everything we can out of that relationship, if we are one of the ones chosen to be single, ditto, get everything you can out of that opportunity. Now for those who will be/are married, remember that you serve as a support system for your spouse. You are their biggest fan, hardest critic, and partner in ministry of Jesus Christ, and all this is to be done with the love of Christ in mind. 


I challenge you to sit back and take all of this in...maybe read this whole blog again. Then, I challenge you to act on it. Serve God while you are single, become a better wife, change your view of relationships...whatever the step you need to take is, take it.


*I felt a little weird writing that last part since I'm not married, so feel free to add some wisdom if you are! :)

10 Things You Shouldn't Post on Facebook Because No One Else Cares About Seeing/Reading It

It's been a while since I've done a top ten list, so I figured it was time for one...the title says it all.

1. How much you hate something/someone
2. A picture of you taking a picture of yourself in a mirror
3. 10 relationship changes withing a 24 hour time span
4. A status update saying "I'm bored"...everyone else was also bored while they wasted a second of their lives reading your status
5. A status update every 30 min...I am not above hiding anyone...just saying
6. Every picture you post shouldn't be a picture of you and a significant other making out. Stop for a second, take a breather, and smile for a picture for a change
7. 400 updates while you watch a football/baseball/lacrosse/etc game...everyone else is probably watching it too
8. Stuff about politics...even in cyberspace, it starts arguments and they never end pretty
9. Sentences such as "wth idk wat 2 even say bout dis" ...you sound like a fool
10. Don't complain about facebook changing on facebook. Everyone knows it changed. It changed 2 weeks ago and it will change again. If you don't like the changes, no one's forcing you to use the network.

Sorry if I stepped on any toes. Also, this list could have probably gone to like 50.

Ami Amour

"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words...well if that's the case, this one is worth a million. This picture is a summary of one of the best things that has come out of working as a counselor at Camp Longridge...friendship. The people in this picture, along with others, have made a stamp on my life that I hope never fades or gets covered up. At times, I have been frustrated with all of them, and yet, the love that I have for them stands tall over the frustration. I was reading through John last night (even though I am currently doing my reading no where near the book of John), and I came across a passage that we did a skit on this past summer. This passage can be found in John 15.  As I approached verse 13, I read it and immediately stopped reading and reflected on the friends that I have had my entire life. In middle school and high school, my friends changed on a seasonal basis. I had trouble finding people that I could connect with, talk to about anything with, and people that I could trust to always have my back...eventually, I found two of my very best friends (this is where I give a shoutout to Lisa Thornsberry and Brittany Serago). Their presence taught me the true meaning of friendship and they saved me from drowning in the ocean of thousands of teens in high school. Thanks guys!

As I continued to think about the friends I've had over my entire life, the zenith of all my friendships began in May of 2010. I was never so blessed to have found so many people that were so much like me in one place. To say that my fellow staffers are blessings is a huge understatement. I cannot thank most of these guys enough for helping me through some hard times, and I would trust them with my life.

Go reread that last sentence because you probably just skimmed right over it. "I would trust them with my life"...kinda a gutsy statement don't you think? Think about that, I would put my life in their hands. But here's the other thing, check out verse 13 above. I love them enough that I would risk my life for them. Now a lot of people would be critical and say that I do not know if I would risk my life for them until I am in that situation, and this criticism is true. And I hope I never have to find out if I would do it or not; however, I can confidently say that I love them, I know they love me, and I would be willing to do anything for them. So the greatest of my love goes out to these wonderful people. I love you all and I hope that our friendship lasts a lifetime. <3

I challenge you to thank that person (or people) that are your backbone and friends in life. I don't know how people make it in life without a friend by their side.

Routine Checkup

♪Pardon me while I throw up, I guess some people grow up. What happened to the salvation you claimed? It breaks my heart to see how much you've changed♫ -Relient K "What Have You Been Doing Lately?"

Facebook is a great tool nowadays. You can keep up with people that you never get a chance to actually see and talk to in person, and, most importantly, you can stalk those people that you don't really care anything about but you just want to know about their lives and how they are doing.

I have been out of high school for almost three years now, and I often find myself checking up on people to see what and how they are doing. Many times, I find myself reminiscing about great times I had with these people, and I silently wish them the best in life. Other times, I come across people whose lives are a complete disappointment to me. I find that they have completely changed and that there is no way that I would have been friends with them if they began as the person they are today. Anytime I find myself in this mindset, I think about the Relient K song above. These once claimed 'Jesus Freaks' are now sucked into a world that promises rebellious freedom, and yet only delivers them bondage into a certain lifestyle. It makes me sick to say the least. 

So I ask you, why did you change? Was Christianity not good enough? Was Jesus not all you expected Him to be? Was church not meeting your standards? Whatever the case may be, something has changed, and it is not for the better. James 1:27 reads, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this...to keep oneself unstained from the world." If you are one of these people, I challenge you to get back to where you started. It may be a gradual process, but I know that your faith and salvation is something that you once believed, and  it is never too late to regain it and to get back to where you were in your walk.

If you are not one of these people that has lost your footing, I challenge you to help others that have. I can almost guarantee that as you read this, one or two specific people came to your mind. Be an encouragement, help them keep the faith, and, most importantly, pray for them. I also challenge you to not be one of those people that loses the faith.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

"Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world. I wanna be the one to walk in the Son, oh girls, they wanna have fun. Oh girls just wanna have fun!" -Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"



Here's a special blog for all the girls out there anywhere between the ages of 10-30ish. Hmm...maybe even a wider range than that. This song has probably been covered by more bands than any other song out there...and it has every right to be covered because it's a great song. I was listening to a cover of this the other day and I suddenly had a Biblical epiphany about this song; it relates to all of ours' favorite subject...relationships. Above is the lyric that hit me. "Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world", I've seen it over and over again in relationships and even had it happen to me where you start dating a guy and the first thing to go is your friends, then the things you love to do, and then God. When it all ends, you're left with no one to turn to because you have spent all your time and energy focusing on one person, and it was all wasted. If you are in a relationship and it is stopping you from doing the things you love and that is pushing you away from God and the people that matter the most in your life, that needs to be fixed.

Now if you continue to read the lyrics above, you will see that I have misquoted it, and for a legitimate reason. "I wanna be the one to walk in the Son..." When God is pushed out of relationships, it never ends well. If you make sure that you are that girl that is walking in the Son and following the footsteps of Jesus and shining His light, you are sure to be right where He wants you to be in your relationship with Him and with others.

I challenge you to make sure that all of your relationships involve three people and that God is the superior of the three. I honestly believe that this is the key to a successful, godly relationship. But then again, I am only 20 and in my second relationship...so I know there are women out there who are much more wise than I claim to be or will ever be.

*As I wrote this blog, I realized a fault of my own. I haven't been spending as much time with my family as I should. I aspire to fix this dilemma. :)

Hakuna Matata

♪It means no worries, for the rest of your days. It's our problem-free philosophy. Hakuna Matata♫-The Lion King "Hakuna Matata"

Here we go with some more Disney...great words of wisdom that the producers at Disney probably meant to just be a catchy song (which I will not deny that it is such a song...) or just to get a simple life lesson across to young viewers. This message being, "Don't worry." Now I can almost guarantee that when this wonderful song was being composed that a Biblical message was the last thing to cross the minds of those who wrote it, and yet, it reflects a common message that can be found in the Bible. Matthew 6:34 reads, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Plain and simple, don't worry about tomorrow.

Now if you've been in a baptist church for more than 20 minutes you may have heard the trite phrase "any time you see the word 'therefore', you need to figure out what it's there for." ...yes, I know very clever right?...anyways, verse 34 starts off with a 'therefore', and the best way to determine why it is present is to go back to previous verses...so let's go back to verse 33 which reads, "your heavenly Father knows that you need [food and drink]. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Basically, we are in the hands of the Father, and we can count on the fact that He will take care of us. He will provide our needs (and possibly some wants) and there's no need for us to worry about it at all. As long as we do our part, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, He will keep His promises. 

I challenge you to have an "Hakuna Matata" attitude. Worry about nothing because every minute you spend worrying is 60 seconds wasted. God's got it under control and He's got it all planned out.

Recycling 101

♪You redeem and You transform, You renew, You restore. You make all things new!...You turn winter into spring, You take every living thing and You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again!...Now and forever You are making all things new!♫ -Steven Curtis Chapman "All Things New"

You know what sucks?...Not being good enough. Thinking that we are not good enough and never will be gets to even the best of us. No matter how good we are, there is always some one who is better and is ready and willing to prove it. Those times when you think you are never good enough, always affirm that and remind yourself that you aren't...that's right, you are not good enough. None of us are, and yes, it sucks. But you know what's amazing? Even though we are not good enough, we can become good enough. No, not by doing all the right and good things, Titus 3:5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us." We can become good enough when we are covered by the blood of Jesus. 

Above is a song that I have known and loved for years, and I really thought that it, and the message it conveys, deserved a blog. So what does all of this have to do with the song above? One of the images in this video says that God is the Ultimate Recycler; I like that, so let's start from there. God takes us as trash and instead of giving up on us and throwing us away as if we were useless junk, He recycles us. He is continually reshaping us into a new mold of the person He wants us to be. He not only recycles us, but, like the song says, He redeems, transforms, renews, and restores. The main verse that this song comes from is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which reads, "Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!" If you have ever read the Bible to any extent you may notice something strange about this verse. Also, you may have never noticed it...there are very few verses in the Bible that have an exclamation point at the end of them. I believe this small punctuation mark at the end, makes this verse so much more powerful than if it were not there. Paul is exclaiming the joy that can be found in becoming a new creation in Christ. Having all of the old things taken away from you and given a new take on life is the ultimate reward for making a life-changing decision!

Now what if you think you're really not good enough to be recycled, not worth anything, and not even God can save you? We have all done those things that we would never want anyone else to find out about, but these is always hope. Like the song says, God is in control of the seasons, He gives us life, He allows the sun to rise every morning...so why wouldn't the creator and controller of the universe be able to handle our problems and forgive us. Nothing and no one is beyond forgiveness. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is enough for us. 

I challenge you to beg God to recycle you like Asaph (Samuel's nephew who wrote a handful of psalms) did in Psalm 80:3. He says, "Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved." The first time around for recycling within Christ is accepting Him and allowing Him to do such a thing in your life (Romans 10:9). He has made everything beautiful in its time (Eccl 3:11), and the time to start recycling is now.