Steadfast in the Storm

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." - James 1:2-3

When I think about this verse, it reminds me of the many "little trials" that I personally have gone through, and how I thought that I would never gain anything from such a bad experience whether it be physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. Compared to most people, the trials I have faced have been fairly minuscule, but i believe that any trial we face, God has placed in our lives to do only good. Just as James put it, "produces steadfastness".

This past Friday, September 11th, my Grandfather passed away. I had been down to visit him about a week before his death, and even then his death was fairly eminent. While I was helping go through his massive amounts of paperwork and files, I came across a small piece of paper on which was scribbled this:

"Youth and Age are not dates in time, but states of Mind.
Our duty is not to add years to our lives, but add life to our years.
Time may wrinkle the skin, but worry, doubt, hate, and loss of ideals wrinkle the soul.
Fears, not Years, bow the head. . . whether we are seventy or seventeen, a sense of the wonder of life keeps us young.
It's not where you've been, but where you're going that counts."

This small collection of quotes/saying that I assumed he had either come up with himself or ones he had heard, proved very touching having looked back on the life that he had lived, and the kind of man he was. He lived with dignity, and I pray that those who were influenced by him will remember him for who he was, and where he is now.

From what I have been told, and from what he told me himself, my Grandfather had been on many a stormy bank in his life. My only hope is that we will learn to look at trials as opportunities, and not get so caught up in everything, as it is so easy to be won-over in self pity. We can't die with dignity, as many people think, we live with it; a dignity that is dignified in the blood Christ shed for us, the same blood that redeemed us from our ever present sin, and the blood that keeps on cleansing, encouraging us to chase after the truth.

(next time - check back for an official update on my new music project)

Leaning On God's Promises

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."- 2 Peter 1:3-4

As I grew up, my family used to have a small treasure chest on our coffee table. In it was a stack of little cards, and on each card, there were promises/verses from the Bible. Sometimes before I would go to bed my parents would pray and then say, “Let's read a promise,” and I would take a card out and read it. I grew up reading and hearing these promises, but I never really understood how they worked.

I didn't get the fact that it's in God's nature to promise and that God's whole relationship with us is carried out in His promises. God gives us His promises to get through the painful circumstances of life. When we're in a crucible of pain, suddenly we learn the truth about God's promises. His commitment to us becomes what Peter talks about in 2 Peter 1:4 as “exceedingly great and precious” (NKJV). God's promises aren't great until we need them. They're not precious until they're proven. But, until we put all of our weight on them and they hold us up, we won't get it. We test them and they always prove true. God's promises become personal when we activate them by faith.

Do you want to experience more of God's promises in your life than what is just printed on little scripture cards? Then we must activate the promises of God by faith. Faith is what moves God's promises from our head to our heart. It's not enough to know something; you've got to put it into real life. For example, you can know a diet. You can list the rules and even write them out for someone else, but you're not going to lose weight unless you follow the plan yourself. You can also be familiar with a piece of music, but it's not yours until you play it. A doctor's prescription can match your need perfectly, but until you swallow it, it's not going to make any difference. Even so, God's promises can only be taken by faith. Only then will you see for yourself why they've satisfied generations of faithful men and women who've trusted God's Word.

Take care, Dive Deep, and remember whom you serve.

(Next time I will relate on a more personal level what is going on currently in my life and what I have learned in these very busy & hectic weeks.)

Living as 'Fire Ants'

A couple days ago I participated in a mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico where I served on the medical team. This was quite an experience for me and a great opportunity to see God's hand at work outside the borders of the US. God really spoke to me about how we in America are caught up in all the 'hussle and bussle' of our daily lives. We are extremely busy on the outside, but stagnant on the inside. Our spiritual health seems to deteriorate when we get so caught up in the things of the world, the things that you and I consider will bring us true happiness. Our minds are always focused on our next purchase, what we are going to wear, or when we will get our next pay check. But while I was down in Mexico, God spoke through our trip Pastor and made me think about a solution to this very problem in my own life.

In one of his sermons, our trip Pastor mentioned that we should be more like fire ants. When we think of fire ants, not too many pleasant impressions come to mind. In the South anyways, where fire ants are abundant, I grew up fearing them due to their speed and the harshness of their bite/sting which after being bit, felt like "fire". But our pastor encouraged us to look at them in a different way. Ants in general build massive mounds that I, as a child of course, would always destroy/stomp/light on fire. haha. But even if you destroy their mound, the next day they have built two or three more. So how exactly do we live as "fire ants"? Good question. haha.

In our spiritual walk with Christ, many times we become stagnant (as I stated above) and we lose sight of the real meaning we were created for. Even Jesus says in the Bible to consider the ants, and how they go about doing the work of the queen ant, without distraction, without complaining. This is how I think we should attempt to live our lives. Living with our focus on Christ and Him alone. So where does the 'fire' come in? You have probably heard of the common phrase of being "on fire" for God. Well, if we apply this spiritual state of mind to living for Christ continuously, without grumbling or demanding explanation, then our eyes will be opened to God's will, and what His plan is for our lives.

Keep the faith, and dive deep IN Christ,

Reflection: More than Conquerors

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." - Romans 8:31-37

As I am right in the heart of examination week here at MC, I definitely feel as though my exams are winning the battle over me due to the extent of studying plus having to pack at the same time to make the 6 hour drive home. As the semester has come to a close, completing my first year here at college, I look back and see where I've come and what I've been through. It's been hectic, fun, hard, intriguing, and interesting as I have embarked upon the very beginnings of the journey to fulfill God's calling in my life. Although it is always a bitter-sweet feeling to leave those close friendships I've made here behind, this summer I believe God will prove Himself to me once again through my summer schooling and the Mexico medical mission trip I'm participating in this summer.

Throughout my first year here, the thing that has been most prevalent in my life, and the thing that I see in other people is the overwhelming confusion that most freshman fall into during their first year at college. They want to get involved in so many organizations, make a lot of friends, and they end up getting too involved. Too busy, too caught up in everything that they drown out God's voice and what He's trying to teach them. I'm not saying getting involved is unwise, but to a certain extent I feel that we are too easily entangled in what the world has to offer, and we end up in a superficial state of confusion which often leads to spiritual dormancy and a luke-warm desire for Christ.

Confusion results when we can't connect our perception with reality. It hits us physically, emotionally, and mentally. Worst of course is spiritual confusion—when we can't connect what is happening with our sense of who we know God to be: the God that I know would never let this happen. It's an awful thing to let this kind of confusion go on for a long time.

Here are four truths that I found in a devotion from John Piper that I beleive can act like a spiritual compass, to help you find us find our way back to God when we feel "lost" or "caught-up" in the world:

First of all, God always has a plan for you. He is not surprised about anything. He has never paced the floor. He is in complete control, with His feet up.

Second, God's timing is always perfect in your life. He has never been late—or early; He is always right on time. It's difficult to see God's perfect timing when you are in the midst of a trial, but think about your life. Rehearse a situation when God's timing was right and let that memory encourage you in the situation you face today.

Third, you have nothing to fear. That doesn't mean you automatically avoid all that's painful in life. But I guarantee you that every person in heaven reflects on his or her life and agrees that even the tragic events turned out for God's glory.

Fourth, you've got a lot to learn. Too often I want to handle situations myself; I think I know better. But if you humble yourself in the midst of painful circumstances, you will realize that God uses everything to accomplish His good in your life.

So if you feel like you are lost, confused, or wherever you are in your spiritual walk with Christ, it's not too late to turn the car around. Just follow God's directions, and I promise you will find Him. Because with Christ, we are MORE than conquerors. We ARE the bride of Christ.

Washed Clean

"What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor erers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean, but you have been sanctified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Washed clean. I think we all have heard this phrase over and over again in Church or Sunday School as a clear reference to our salvation and redemption, of having our sins "washed away" or "washed white as snow". But do we understand that once we have been "washed", that isn't the end of the line? Life only gets harder after we have been washed clean. Christ expects us to live for Him, and Him alone even after we have repented and been forgiven. We shouldn't just keep on living the way we want to every time we are forgiven. Being washed free of our sins isn't like a pit stop or weekly tune-up. It serves as a reminder to strive for better living. Living that reflects a life dedicated to Christ.

The apostle Paul laid it out clearly in Romans 12:1-2: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world [don't mix in anything worldly], but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." I believe our personal habits settle down very quickly into how we live. And believe it, God knows. If your life pleases Him, then you're like a fragrant offering rising up to His nose. He breathes in your sacrifice. He receives your life as pure worship. So where do you stand on this issue of purity? "Well, I'm kind of new in the Lord, and I have some habits." Well, great! Now you know, and you can break them and continue to get free in Christ. You say, "Well, I used to be there, but I've kind of lowered my guard a little bit." Okay - raise it again! Let's be done with anything not fitting God's called-out ones. Holiness and Righteousness means no more games.

Nothing tastes as sweet or smells as fragrant to God as a pure life. If you are willing for God to change yourself and your lifestyle, then get ready to taste and see His goodness as He directs your life to pure living. Life mixed with any of the world's ingredients will never satisfy again. No matter where you are, start today. Start living a life that extends beyond being washed clean.

The Ultimate Good

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:26-28

If anybody has been through a deep valley and rested on the promises of God, they've likely been to Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Why is this passage so powerful? It begins with confidence, "And we know." We don't merely think, we don't wonder, we know. The word know communicates experiential knowledge - the kind that comes from life. You didn't go to church or to college to have this explained to you. You didn't Google the answer. You know only because you've been through it. Over time you've come to know something that only those who love God can know. Only God's children - those who have turned from their sin and embraced Christ by faith, those who are increasingly learning how to love God more and more - understand the great promise of this verse. Only those who have tested the promises of God and proven once again His faithful love can know this.

I have heard many people say that the more you go through in life, the more you love the Lord. Can you identify with this? I know that I still have a long way to go concerning cultivating a constant relationship with Christ. But the way we build our relationship with God not only depends on how much time we spend with Him, but every time we test His promises we find Him to be awesomely good and always faithful. He knows what He is doing. He is worthy of every moment of our trust.

Have life's difficulties caught you off guard? Do you wonder today if God is good? If He wasn't going to use that hard thing or devastating time in your life for your good, it would have never happened. Sometimes I feel He has to address every single thing that touches my life. If He let it happen, He's going to use it for good. That's not to say He wanted it; He's not the cause of evil, but He is the solution. He's the master chess player who takes every move we make or uses someone else to make the next move to ensure His purposes are accomplished.

I have come to realize over time that the ultimate good of Romans 8:28 is not "my little blueprint for my life". The ultimate good is God's blueprint for the universe and my place in it. I'm committed to God's purposes. I want His will to be fulfilled and His kingdom to advance. I want to be a part of that. It just takes courage to step out, experience, and be ignited by His passion for serving Him. I believe God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him; for the good of those who are the called according to His purpose.

One Love. One Spirit. One Mind. One Purpose. [pt 2]

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to —even on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2 is one of the greatest and most studied chapters in the Bible. Volumes of books have been written about verses 5-11 alone. Here the Scripture points to Christ and on'es relationship to Him as foundational for both thinking and behavior. Christ is everything and your relationship to Him has undeniable and essential implications. Here are 4 simple yet vital applications to cultivate our life with Christ, a life of one love, one spirit, one mind, and one purpose.

I will now continue what was started in part 1, starting with "one mind".

[One Mind]
Recognize the necessity of humility. Think about how many times a day you talk about yourself. Are you truly displaying a greater sense of humility everyday in everything? It's a hard thing to do, trust me. As a unified body of Christ, which I referred to in part 1, God has called us to live a different life than those around us. He called us to live a life of humility. His example? Yet again we return to the cross. Interesting isn't it? For God to become man, He to humble himself so low to become man, lower than the worms of the earth I heard someone once say. Because it was Jesus, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to —even on a cross! " Humility as described here, is essentially the bedrock of our spiritual lives. We can't live a God-honoring life without it. It is yet another vital necessity for life with Christ.

[One Purpose]
Recognize that the whole world is watching. Yes, even though you think nobody notices you do this or that, the whole world will be able to tell who you are by your actions and your words. We are called to be a "light in a dark world". Why? Because "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." That is the ultimate goal. What are we doing to allow His light shine through us? This is where the relationship comes in yet again. If we don't have a steadfast connection with Christ, how are we able to receive a good enough signal from Christ to shine through every moment of our lives? As you can see, it's all about the relationship. Not just every now and then, but a continual relationship. A relationship similar to the one with your boyfriend/girlfriend, or your father/mother, or simply your closest friends. 2 Peter 1:3-4 explains that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Use these truths to help eachother grow closer to Christ. For if there is someone you know who is not very good at keeping steady relationships, I'm probably worse than they are. God has taught me a lot about Him and what he expects of each and everyone of us who are bound by the "unbreakable contract of grace". Praise Him for His love and mercy! He sacrificed Himself for us, so let's live for Him.

One Love. One Spirit. One Mind. One Purpose. [pt 1]

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2 is one of the greatest and most studied chapters in the Bible. Volumes of books have been written about verses 5-11 alone. Here the Scripture points to Christ and on'es relationship to Him as foundational for both thinking and behavior. Christ is everything and your relationship to Him has undeniable and essential implications. Here are 4 simple yet vital applications to cultivate our life with Christ, a life of one love, one spirit, one mind, and one purpose.

[One Love]
Recognize the power of salvation. Ever thought about how powerful God is? How he himself created the world? Now apply that power to the act he performed on the cross through His Son Jesus Christ. How great, how awesome, and how marvelous it is to think of such power in the cleansing of our sins; that He died so we might live IN Him. I struggle everyday to make time to spend with my maker. If I would only think about how much Christ sacrificed me, would I be more inspired and motivated to spend time everyday in the Word? The answer lies in the above verse. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." If we truly have been saved by this awe-inspiring display of power, how much more is it going to take for us to "make our joy complete" by spending time with Christ every day?

[One Spirit]
Recognize the importance of unity. We are all joined together, bound in the fact that we have all been washed in the blood of Christ. So why do we let the things of the world define us? Why do we go around living our lives as one big attempt to "fit in" or "go with the flow" or be "accepted"? Shouldn't we be more concerned with what God's plan for our lives are, not simply what we want to do? I've heard many people say that they just "wanna have fun". Of course, there's nothing wrong with "having fun", for there is a time and place to "just have fun". It's when "having fun" gets in the way of our overall purpose - to glorify God and seek His will for our lives. When I hear this specific phrase, most people interpret it as, "ahh, I just want to live life to the fullest!". But how can we live life to the fullest if we are not living IN Christ? Anyone can "live life to the fullest" by engulfing themselves in the things of this world (i.e. boyfriends, girlfriends, material substances, etc.) and truly miss living life not pursing the world, but pursuing Christ. Jim Elliot once wrote, "God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee . . . for I seek not a long life but a full one like yours, Lord Jesus." Remember that we as Christians are bound together in one spirit.

In the next post, I will address the next half, being of one mind and one purpose. Stay strong, keep the faith, and encourage others in devotion, perseverance, and excellence pursing God's will and not our own.

Keeping the Faith

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or ness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:29-39

Sometimes you doubt your faith. Sometimes just finding five minutes for God seems like just another chore. God knows that sometimes Christians struggle in their faith. Sometimes devotions do not really seem like devotion, but work. Sometimes Christians wonder if God is even there. Here are some ways I found to keep your faith strong even when you feel a bit weak.

Remember that God is Always There. Even in the driest times, when you just don’t feel God’s presence, you need to remember that God is always there. He does not forget you. True faith is developed even when you don’t feel God.

Start a Daily Devotional, Prayer, and Relationship Time. Developing long-term habits is extremely important to maintaining your faith. Any kind of relationship won't last if it's just cultivated every once in awhile. Just like friend or boyfriend relationships, a relationship with Christ requires time and effort, except this relationship can only get better and better. A daily devotional will also keep you in the Word and enhance your prayer life. It will keep you closer to God even when you're stuggling.When the hard choices come up in your life, you'll know how to approach them, because you know the Word of God.

Get involved. Many people become apathetic over time, because they do not feel connected to a church body. Some churches may not offer ways to connect that you are interested in. Yet, there are plenty of activities on campuses and in the community. You can even look into other ministries. The more connected you are to the body of Christ, the more likely it is that you will grow and maintain your faith.

Talk to someone. If you feel separated from God or you find yourself backsliding, talk to someone. Try anyone, a pastor, a friend, or even your parents. Talk through your issues and pray with them about your struggles. They can offer great insight into how they have worked through their own struggles, even if you think they might not be interested in talking, take the chance because truly, you have nothing to lose by simply talking.

I hope these truths help to aid those who are truly struggling in their faith. All we have to do is have the faith that God is present inside us and He wants us to love Him with all our being. It simply takes initiative on our part to live as He wants us to live. No matter how bad the consequences are, no matter how bad things in our life seem to be, God always has a plan, which tends to work on our behalf, fulfilling His present and perfect will for our lives.

Here's a link to a good resource when you find yourself backsliding: http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/ht/avoidbackslide.htm

Live for Christ.

Keep the Faith.

Dive Deep.

Conquering Hardship

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. - Hebrews 7:25-27

When you're going through hardship, or when you're heavyhearted and burdened, God rolls up His sleeves and moves toward you like at no other time. When you are His child, He is with you in a way that is different from what an unbeliever experiences. The harder the days get, the closer He moves in. Sometimes it feels like God backs away from you when you hit hard times, but that's not true. It doesn't matter if you see Him working. It doesn't matter if you feel any differently. It's the truth—God is right there with you.

Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Is your heart breaking today? God is rushing toward you. He stands with you in the fire. Scripture assures us that Jesus Himself is praying for you. This minute. Hebrews 7:25 makes this amazing statement: "Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." Jesus lives to intercede for you. Amazing! Before you ever kneel down to pour out your heart to God, Jesus Christ has already called out to His Father on your behalf. Even before you ask, He knows from firsthand contact what you need—because He's with you. I will always remember this anonymous quote; "If you could hear the Lord praying for you in the next room, you would not fear a thousand enemies."

Right where you are this moment, think of the Lord Jesus as in the next room, on His knees in front of the couch or a chair. His nail-pierced hands are held out and He's lifting you and your need to His Father. He knows your exact situation. He's asking His Father to "Give her strength, Lord." "Give him wisdom, God." "Give them patience. They're going to wreck it on their own, Lord. Give them faith that will overcome their fear!" It's an incredible assertion throughout Scripture that Jesus Christ is not only with you, He's actually interceding for you. With even more assurance, you can be certain that God listens when His Son is praying!

The Real Light of Christmas

"In [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men." - John 1:4

One of my favorite traditions of the Christmas season is to light up the night in lights. Before we even turn the calendar to December, neighborhoods and businesses, homes and churches all burst in patterns of red, green, and white. Who doesn't love decorating the Christmas tree, then turning out all the other lights in the room to enjoy the twinkling lights? Even a single candle burns brightly against the backdrop of the darkness.

This tradition is well suited to the real celebration of the season. The Bible says that when Jesus Christ was born, the light came into the world (John 3:19). In fact, more than 200 times in the Bible, God is described as light. Figuratively and literally, whenever God appears, light appears. It happened in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, all the way until the end of time when the book of Revelation tells us that in hell there will only be darkness and in heaven there will only be light. When we celebrate Christmas, we remember the day in history when Jesus stepped from heaven to earth, bringing with Him the light that drives out the darkness in man's heart. This is amazing news! You may be wondering, what does this have to do with me? Or, what does it mean to have the light of life? Those are the right questions to ask. There are many ways to describe the gift that God wants to give you, but let's start here. Ask yourself, What should I do with the light of the world?

Have you ever been in some pitch-black place when you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face? That's what life is like without Jesus. You can't fully appreciate the light until you feel the weight of the darkness. If you feel alone and trapped, searching but not finding--Jesus Christ is the light. If you feel cruelly crushed under the wrongs done to you--Jesus Christ is the light. If you feel perplexed by an issue or circumstance that you can't figure out--Jesus Christ is the light. Maybe that describes you. If you want to know the way out, you first have to admit that you're in darkness. You don't understand the purpose of life. You're not ready to die but you're also not fully living. You don't see any hope worth trusting. But it all can change right now.

Before any of us turned to Jesus, nothing made sense to us either. We couldn't sort out anything in this mixed up world. But since receiving Jesus as our Savior, we understand what's going on. Although life still isn't perfect we realize what sin does to our lives and we take hold of the provision of forgiveness. Suddenly Christmas is so much more than a stale exchange of gifts and some silly guy in a red suit. At Christmas we celebrate the forgiveness of sin that can only be found in Jesus.

16. Looking Back: Where I've Been & Why I Blog

Even as things are comming to an end in my first semester here at Mississippi College, it seems as though life is only getting busier and busier. Make-up tests, studying for final exams, end of the semester parties, and to add on to that, my roomate is moving out next semester. Amidst this time of congested work and "busy-ness", I have developed a new interest and talent in blogging over the past few months.

Blogging has helped me to not only focus on reflection, but it allows me to focus on what is going on in my life, and how God is working through every single circumstance to provide for my life, my spirit, and my future. I blog not only to refelect about myself, but to offer an encouragement to those who have the same feelings, or who need an uplifting word in thier own troubled experiences. I have gained a lot from blogging, and blogging has required a lot from me. I find that the more I put into blogging, the better focus I have on my personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It provides a chance for personal insight, and a vista into what I'm trying to accomplish as I pursue the Lord's calling for my life.

At times in this semester, and especially now, I have felt very stressed and anxious about certain exams, circumstances, and events. But by blogging about my feelings, it sort of acts as a slight "stress-reliever". This is how journaling has been used for. Blogging is simply an online way to share your thoughts, ideas, and feelings with millions of other people over the internet. Therefore, I strive to use every chance I get in writing these blogs to share not only my life experiences with others, but how Christ first saved me, and how He is shaping me into the person He desires me to be. I hope that anyone reading or that has read this blog will only benefit from what I have reflected upon, and the feelings and truths I have expressed. I intend to continue this blog in the future, and also develop my new blog project, http://thechristianbrotherhood.blogspot.com. I always greatly appreciate those who have taken the time to comment and read my blog. God Bless, and I look forward to continuing my journey in Christ, and walking in His "footsteps".

15. Hope for This Christmas

The Christmas season has just started, yet for me it feels like such a long wait. The transition between winter and fall is my most favorite season, especially the temperature change, the beautiful colors, my birthday, my mom's birthday, my parent's anniversary, and of course the advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of whom we celebrate the day on which He was born. As I begin to think about the season this year and what it means to me, I realized how fortunate we are as God's children. As many of us take for-granted this phenomenal truth, there are many "orphans" out there, unbelievers wallowing in the filth of their own lives of which they have no idea how deep a hole they have dug for themselves. This analogy of "orphans" reminds me of a song written a few years ago for the Christmas season by a Christian artist, Toby McKeehan. 

"This Christmas"

Now Johny never got his wish on December 25

That's what he said when he left the orphanage

9 years old, but Johny was an old soul

Gonna spend his first Christmas in a real home

Showed me a picture that he drew the night before

Was a picture of a man standin' outside a door

I asked him who it was and he said someone I only see in dreams

Comforts me when I cry myself to sleep

Believe in angels?

Johny asked me starin' at the sky

I said I do and saw a sparkle in his eye

Big brother for the weekend respondin' to the season

Took the chance that givin's better than recievin'

Two nights, a new family, some holiday cheer

We laughed and sang

Came on a midnight clear

We gave, recieved, and as we headed to close

We looked to the heavens and it started to snow

Down blessings

[Chorus]

Father of the fatherless

Be with your sons and daughters this Christmas

Father let us not forget

The children who are all alone this Christmas

This illustration of adoption is a good lesson for the beauty of God's work of claiming us as His own. The Apostle Paul tells us we have been adopted by God and are now heirs of His divine promises (see Romans 8, Galatians 4). But what are we to make of our lives when it seems that, despite our faith, we are alone in the world? If you have ever felt isolated, cut off, or singled out, then you know what it is to feel hopelessly alone, as if God Himself has turned His back on you. In times like these, we can remember one of the Christ-child's names: "Emmanuel"-God with us. And indeed, only once has God ever turned His back on His own, as the grown Christ exclaimed from the cross, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Thus, the Father rejected His Son for our sake. Jesus died alone so we would never be alone. Since we have been adopted into God's family with Christ our brother, and led by the Holy Spirit, "by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Rom. 8:15), we have hope. So as we try to not get caught up in all the "hustle and bustle" of the season, let's try to remember the true reason for the season. For this time of year should remind us that because of Christ, we will never be alone, and neither should the lost. Focus not on getting and receiving, but on giving the gift that Christ first gave to us, spreading the hope, planting the seed, displaying the light of Christ to those who are "orphaned" in their own spiritual lives. What better way to show the true spirit of Christmas: the birth of Hope.

14. Will You Be 'Giving Thanks' on Thanksgiving?

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:15-17

Fall semester has been a trying semester, and since it has been a semester spent getting acclimated to the college atmosphere, I have been swamped with new ideas, new forms of study habits, and the fact that this isn't high school with a test every week. I'm sure everyone one has only one thing on their minds right now. I'm ready for a break. Ever since our 2 days of fall break I have been anticipating getting to spend time with family over the Thanksgiving holidays. I've spent a little time trying to shift my focus to what Thanksgiving really is and how we should view it. 

I came upon the verse above when I was sitting in NT Bible class attempting to follow the lesson, but this verse caught my attention. It really encouraged me at that moment, and inspired me to write a few thoughts down about what I thought Thanksgiving really meant, and what it meant to me. If I were to take one theme from this verse, it would be, no matter what situation or struggles you may come by, always give thanks to God. Giving thanks to the Lord is one of the best ways to express our appreciation to God for His blessings and yet how many of us do it on a regular basis? Yes, we normally go through our routines of casually thanking God for our food before we eat, we  seldom even thank Him for the clothes we wear and praise Him for the sunshine. Around the Thanksgiving holiday we may even list out our blessings and reflect on what God has done, but to do we really "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually"? Hebrews 13:15 states: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." 

Continually doesn't just mean once a year or even once a day for that matter. It implies that it is repeated without interruption. David said in Psalm 34:1, "...His praise shall continually be in my mouth." He also said, "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." (Psalm 119:62) When's the last time we found ourselves up at midnight thanking the Lord? Later on in that same psalm David says, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." Do we stop seven times a day to thank God? Do we even stop once or twice to praise Him?

Now that we know that we need to thank God continually, how do we do it? If you think that all thanking God involves is sitting in a small group in a quiet place, whispering quiet praise songs--think again! Thanking/Praising God is an active thing. We are not to keep praising God to ourselves. We are to "...make known his deeds among the people." (Psalm 105:1) In other words if you receive a blessing--tell someone about it. If we are going to develop a lifestyle of praise to God continually, we need to put things in perspective. Realize who God is and who we are not. "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100:3,4) We need to recognize that all of the blessings that come in our lives come not from ourselves, our hard work, or worldly coincidence/"luck", but from above.

If we can simply remember these truths when we fellowship with our family over the Thanksgiving meal and holidays, then we can truly bring the spirit of gratitude, thankfulness, and praise back to where it should be: "in the center of the table". I only hope that these ideas and truths will help to bring the true spirit of Thanksgiving back into your heart and that it will only help to make your Thanksgiving holiday the more enjoyable. May God be praised and may your spirit be lifted as we thank Him for all He has done in our lives. Remember to praise Him even in the storm, even when the rain falls, and even when you're life just couldn't get any better. God Bless, Dive Deep, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a fun cartoon I found. Happy Thanksgiving!

13. A Ransom For Many

"Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:25-28

As I have been struggling with getting back to reading God's Word daily, I have ended up doing a lot more thinking than actually reading. As I came across these verses in Matthew, the word "ransom" struck me as one of the more powerful words in these few verses. What exactly is a ransom? According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, it is defined as "the price or payment made for our redemption, a debt that has not been cancelled, but fully paid. The slave or captive is not liberated by a mere gratuitous favor, but a ransom price has been paid, in consideration of which he is set free. The original owner receives back his lost possession because he has bought it back 'with a price'." 

This price or ransom always said to be Christ, his blood, his death. He secures our redemption by the payment of a ransom. This payment is what intrigued me the most. This means of payment, a means of horrible , to set us free from the burdens and of sin. Are we also finding comfort in the reality of the love God has for us that compelled Him to provide for our greatest need -- the ransom for the forgiveness of our sins -- and to offer a hope that will not disappoint us?

In spite of disappointing events and fearful situations of this life, we can still find comfort and hope because of the assurance God's grace provides for an eternity with Him. By knowing this simple fact and demonstration of grace, we can humbly acknowledge these blessings as undeserved, while at the same time experience a confidence that will powerfully motivate us to press on in life knowing the blessings are most assuredly ours in Christ. Praise God for His amazing grace that provided us with Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, and our Ransom.

12. Belief in the Unseen

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 

This past week concluded the Shawreth Rush that I was apart of. It has been a long, tiring journey. One filled with stress, fatigue, and anxiety. It was physically taxing, mentally demanding, and emotionally stressful. But, I have realized that all of those "momentary troubles" have built upon one another to contribute to my overall personal strength and courage. It has taught me that the troubles we go through in life are placed there by God, only to make us stronger. Even if we see no good in them, no "light at the end of the tunnel", we can always know that God is that light, and He can turn those bad situations into ones that glorify Him. 

At the end of this verse in 2 Corinthians, we see this statement that encourages us to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen". This is the ultimate statement of what faith is all about. We read in Hebrews 11:1-6,  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." That's what I find hard to do most of the time. Believing in the unseen. Why? Well the answer lies in verse 18 of 2 Corinthians 4. We are to believe in the unseen because all that we can see here on earth is temporary, for it's the unseen that lasts forever. I think most of us have a hard time letting go of the things of this world, and focusing on the things that are really something. In order to not "be of the World" we have to let go of those things that are "seen". 

Believing in the unseen, the true essence of what faith exactly is, will bring not only pleasure to God, but will invigorate our lives, our hearts, and our minds, no matter what, when, or where troubles come into our lives. If we believe in God, who can be against us? That question is one of the many things that helped me get through those tough times I've been through lately. It helped me, and I hope that these words may help encourage you as you further your walk with Christ.  

11. Life. Liberty. The Pursuit of Happiness.

All of us have been talking about the election. The election that has shook the very foundation of what the United States of America has been built upon. It has been a historic election. One filled with breaking trends and promoting "change". It has incited unfavorable responses from some, yet produced great accomplishment in others. No matter who was elected, this election was bound to make history either way. But after reflecting on how important this decision was for America, and how it really does affect the citizens of this great nation, I am left to think about the future, and what lies ahead. 

Unfortunately, I have heard many degrading remarks concerning Barack Obama and the outcome of this election. I myself voted for John McCain. I am proud to have supported him in his challenge for the White House. But even though the opposing party has won, I do not think of it as total failure. God has obviously intended for Barack Obama to become the Nation's 44th President, and with that assurance, we should not condemn him. Although I do not share the same morals and ideals that he has presented, it doesn't mean that I should withhold my respect and loyalty towards him. God commands us all to respect all authority over us, for it has been placed over us only by God himself. Even if we don't agree, we should still give our future President the honor and respect he deserves. For 1 Thessalonians 5:12 says; "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you."

Here's some of what Mike Huckabee had to say concerning the outcome of the election:

"I'm very proud to have supported Senator McCain and the only regret is that more Americans didn't share my conviction that he would have made an outstanding President.  I not only recognize, but respect that we are a nation in which the people choose and tonight they have chosen Senator Obama.  He was not my choice, but he will be my President and I will pray for him to lead this great nation with God's help and grace.  He will face serious challenges to lead our country and he will need all Americans to give him a chance. As disappointed as I am that we have lost the election, I can't help but feel that many courageous leaders of the civil rights movement look down from heaven tonight with a smile that the day has come when a man is elected without regard to his color.  I salute President-elect Obama for his discipline and tenacity that has given our country the opportunity to witness this significant event."

This year has been indeed a whirlwind of political strife. We can only look forward to the beginning of a new year. We should not be anxious. We should not be worried. We should not be overly-critical and question our next President's every move. We should remember who is really in control, and without Him, we can do nothing. I only hope that the soon to be President Obama will come to recognize this simple fact. But in the end, it's not about who wins, it's about who brought glory to God. I believe God can use this situation to His glory. Now, it's up to us to support our faith. 

I conclude with this final quote from Mike Huckabee; 

"Politics is not an event but a process. We sometimes lose events, but it never gives us the right to stop being faithful to our principles that enlisted us in the process. In the end, we shall live to fight another day."

10. Prayer : A Comfort, A Connection

"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." - 1 John 5:14-15

What is prayer? Prayer is our direct line to heaven. Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God. He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call. Cell phones and other devices have become a necessity to most people in today’s society. We have bluetooth, blackberries, iPhones, and etc! These are all means of communication that allow two or more people to interact, discuss, and respond to one another. To many people, prayer seems complicated, but it is simply talking to God. 

Right now, I am struggling with how to cope with all of my stress and anxiety about this new "balancing" act that I have to maintain right now in my life. I've sought comfort from many sources, finding it to be only temporary. I have been reminded through those experiences that nothing of this world can provide strength and comfort as only God can. And the only way we can ever achieve that joy in comfort is through devout, sincere prayer to God, not for the things we want, but praising Him for blessing us with the things we have. Its been very hard for me to come to that understanding, and yet I am still trying to reconcile my spiritual life with Christ. Here's an excerpt from a source I found on Gospel.com that offers an illustration that helped me understand more about how God works through prayer. - 

"I once heard an illustration about how God strengthens us during trials. It went like this: “Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

That illustration really gave an important vista for me to be able to grasp how God can truly lift us up and above our "storms", while at the same time using those "storms" in the process. We simply have to dedicate our time to Christ, Let go, and Let God do His work in our lives. Once we do that we will know with confidence that God can hear us when we pray. So, let's open that line of communication! Pray, knowing that no matter how far you roam, your connection with Him can never be lost!