During this season of my life I have so much to be thankful for. Even though I should probably show my appreciate for these things more than around the holidays, here are just a few things that I am beyond grateful for.
-First and foremost, I am so thankful to be a daughter of the King Most High. I am thankful that, no matter what I do, I will never be plucked from His hand. I am undeserving of that kind of love!
-I am thankful for a precious family that I enjoy spending time with; a momma I can always depend on, a daddy who always provides and loves, and 3 great siblings who I can call my very best friends.
-I am thankful for my sweet little friends both in Cleveland and from home, both new and old, and for those friends who have become family.
-I am thankful to have the opportunity for a higher education... even though sometimes it makes me want to rip my hair out!
-I am thankful to be somebody's Bella, and for the joy that new relationships bring.
-I am thankful for my job. Helping women change their lives for the better every single day is truly a blessing.
-I am so thankful to be able to say that I have everything I need in a world of constant dissatisfaction.
What are you thankful for this holiday season?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
ALL to Him I owe...
Taken from Radical by David Platt
"Picture Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he kneels before his Father, drops of sweat and blood fall together from his head. Why is he in such agony and pain? The answer is not because he is afraid of crucifixion. He is not trembling because of what the Roman soldiers are about to do to him.
Since that day countless men and women in history of Christianity have died for their faith. Some of them were not just hung on crosses; they were burned there. Many of them went to their crosses singing.
Did these men and women in Christian history have more courage than Christ himself? Why was he trembling in that garden, weeping full of anguish? We can rest assured that he was not a coward about to face Roman soldiers. Instead he was a savior about to endure divine wrath.
Listen to his words: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." The "cup" is not a reference to a wooden cross; it is a reference to divine judgment. It is the cup of God's wrath.
This is what Jesus is recoiling from in the garden. All God's holy wrath and hatred toward sin and sinners, stored up since the beginning of the world, is about to be poured out on him, and he is sweating blood at the thought of it.
What happened at the Cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ himself. Some say, "God looked down and could not bear to see the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting in Jesus, so he turned away." But this is not true. God turned away because he could not bear to see your sin and my sin on his son.
This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever.
So how do we respond to this gospel? Suddenly contemporary Christianity sales pitches don't seem adequate anymore. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. Pray this prayer, sign this card, walk down this aisle, and accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Our attempt to reduce this gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that persuades someone to say or pray the right things back to us no longer seems appropriate.
That is why none of these man-made catch phrases are in the Bible. You will not find a verse in Scripture where people are told to "bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me." You will not find a place where a superstitious sinner's prayer is even mentioned. And you will not find an emphasis on accepting Jesus. We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him.
Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need him?
I invite you to consider with me a proper response to this gospel. Surely more than praying a prayer is involved. Surely more than religious attendance is warranted. Surely this gospel evokes unconditional surrender of all that we are and all that we have to all that he is."
"Picture Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he kneels before his Father, drops of sweat and blood fall together from his head. Why is he in such agony and pain? The answer is not because he is afraid of crucifixion. He is not trembling because of what the Roman soldiers are about to do to him.
Since that day countless men and women in history of Christianity have died for their faith. Some of them were not just hung on crosses; they were burned there. Many of them went to their crosses singing.
Did these men and women in Christian history have more courage than Christ himself? Why was he trembling in that garden, weeping full of anguish? We can rest assured that he was not a coward about to face Roman soldiers. Instead he was a savior about to endure divine wrath.
Listen to his words: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." The "cup" is not a reference to a wooden cross; it is a reference to divine judgment. It is the cup of God's wrath.
This is what Jesus is recoiling from in the garden. All God's holy wrath and hatred toward sin and sinners, stored up since the beginning of the world, is about to be poured out on him, and he is sweating blood at the thought of it.
What happened at the Cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ himself. Some say, "God looked down and could not bear to see the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting in Jesus, so he turned away." But this is not true. God turned away because he could not bear to see your sin and my sin on his son.
This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever.
So how do we respond to this gospel? Suddenly contemporary Christianity sales pitches don't seem adequate anymore. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. Pray this prayer, sign this card, walk down this aisle, and accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Our attempt to reduce this gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that persuades someone to say or pray the right things back to us no longer seems appropriate.
That is why none of these man-made catch phrases are in the Bible. You will not find a verse in Scripture where people are told to "bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me." You will not find a place where a superstitious sinner's prayer is even mentioned. And you will not find an emphasis on accepting Jesus. We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him.
Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need him?
I invite you to consider with me a proper response to this gospel. Surely more than praying a prayer is involved. Surely more than religious attendance is warranted. Surely this gospel evokes unconditional surrender of all that we are and all that we have to all that he is."
Friday, November 4, 2011
Changes...
Are you finding yourself living with a critical spirit today? How frequently are you passing judgment on others, without legitimate knowledge of their situation? Even further, how likely are you to discuss another persons predicaments without their direct permission? I am willing to bet that a good majority of us Christians are as guilty as anyone else when it comes to being critical of others.
“Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”
Romans 14:10-13
I pray that these words bring your mind to a screeching halt the next time you begin to judge or criticize others. You will never fully know the content of another persons heart, therefore hold no right to criticize their decisions. Furthermore, I pray that you think before you pass judgment, and remember that scripture warns us to not be a hindrance to His followers.
Have you ever noticed how we do not judge ourselves in the same context as we judge others? When we judge ourselves we tend to look at our intentions, yet when we look at others, we judge immediately by their actions. Judgment is not yours to pass. I pray that from today forward you will let your actions reflect your good intentions and be content with only judging yourself in order to align your walk with His Word. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; Do unto others as YOU would do unto YOU.
Have you ever noticed how we do not judge ourselves in the same context as we judge others? When we judge ourselves we tend to look at our intentions, yet when we look at others, we judge immediately by their actions. Judgment is not yours to pass. I pray that from today forward you will let your actions reflect your good intentions and be content with only judging yourself in order to align your walk with His Word. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; Do unto others as YOU would do unto YOU.
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