Blessed By Beatrice

Today my roommate and I had the honor of having lunch with Beatrice. Beatrice is a wonderful four-foot eight-inch 94 year old church lady. Last Sunday she invited my roommates and I to Sunday dinner after church. Today we had the pleasure of following her to her home for lunch. It was quite comical to follow her in my car as she sped almost recklessly through the curvy small town streets. I almost lost her trail as I was restrained by the stop sign. Thankfully we were able to catch up to her and thankfully we didn't have much farther to go. 

When we arrived we stepped into her little kitchen and began helping her prepare for lunch. As we got up to walk outside and see the yard, I caught the dining room table in the corner of my eye. I was surprised and delighted to see the table set fully with china and crystal glasses. I felt honored that she would invite me to be apart of her special dinner. I was completely unaware of the glorious lunch we were about to have together.

When we came back inside we helped Beatrice set the table. She pulled a glazed ham roast out of the oven and a few other dinner salads from the kitchen and dish by dish we placed them on the decorated table linen.

As we sat down at the table Beatrice proceeded to say grace, thanking God for our meal and praying over us in the sweetest most loving way. Her words and presence blessed my heart.

Lunch was delicious and was the most unexpected occasion I never imagined. I had no idea that we would end up spending four hours getting to know one another over fine china and apple pie.

Today I am thankful for new friends and for wise women like Beatrice.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Today's sermon was on the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 and 16. You can watch the sermon here. I know its a bit long for blogger, but I've posted the chapters because I want you to have the complete picture. I hope that you will read it. If you would rather listen to it you can find the audio here.

Luke 15

The Voice (VOICE)

15 Jesus became increasingly popular among notorious sinners—tax collectors and other social outcasts. ² The Pharisees and religious scholars noticed this.

Pharisees and Religious Scholars: This man welcomes immoral people and enjoys their company over a meal!

Jesus (with another parable): ^3-4 Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? ⁵ When you find the lost sheep, wouldn’t you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? ⁶ And when you go home, wouldn’t you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn’t you say, “Come over and celebrate with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep”? ⁷ This is how it is in heaven. They’re happier over one sinner who changes his way of life than they are over 99 good and just people who don’t need to change their ways of life.

⁸ Or imagine a woman who has 10 silver coins. She loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the whole house, and search diligently until that coin is found? ⁹ And when she finds it, doesn’t she invite her friends and neighbors and say, “Celebrate with me! I’ve found that silver coin that I lost”? ¹⁰ Can’t you understand? There is joy in the presence of all God’s messengers over even one sinner who changes his way of life.

¹¹ Once there was this man who had two sons. ¹² One day the younger son came to his father and said, “Father, eventually I’m going to inherit my share of your estate. Rather than waiting until you die, I want you to give me my share now.” And so the father liquidated assets and divided them. ¹³ A few days passed and this younger son gathered all his wealth and set off on a journey to a distant land. Once there he wasted everything he owned on wild living. ¹⁴ He was broke, a terrible famine struck that land, and he felt desperately hungry and in need. ¹⁵ He got a job with one of the locals, who sent him into the fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The young man felt so miserably hungry that he wished he could eat the slop the pigs were eating. Nobody gave him anything.

¹⁷ So he had this moment of self-reflection: “What am I doing here? Back home, my father’s hired servants have plenty of food. Why am I here starving to death? ¹⁸ I’ll get up and return to my father, and I’ll say, ‘Father, I have done wrong—wrong against God and against you. ¹⁹ I have forfeited any right to be treated like your son, but I’m wondering if you’d treat me as one of your hired servants?’” ²⁰ So he got up and returned to his father. The father looked off in the distance and saw the young man returning. He felt compassion for his son and ran out to him, enfolded him in an embrace, and kissed him.

²¹ The son said, “Father, I have done a terrible wrong in God’s sight and in your sight too. I have forfeited any right to be treated as your son.”

²² But the father turned to his servants and said, “Quick! Bring the best robe we have and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. ²³ Go get the fattest calf and butcher it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate ²⁴ because my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and has been found.” So they had this huge party.

²⁵ Now the man’s older son was still out in the fields working. He came home at the end of the day and heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. ²⁷ The servant said, “Your brother has returned, and your father has butchered the fattest calf to celebrate his safe return.”

²⁸ The older brother got really angry and refused to come inside, so his father came out and pleaded with him to join the celebration. ²⁹ But he argued back, “Listen, all these years I’ve worked hard for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your orders. But how many times have you even given me a little goat to roast for a party with my friends? Not once! This is not fair! ³⁰ So this son of yours comes, this wasteful delinquent who has spent your hard-earned wealth on loose women, and what do you do? You butcher the fattest calf from our herd!”

³¹ The father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. ³² Isn’t it right to join in the celebration and be happy? This is your brother we’re talking about. He was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found again!”

16 Here’s a parable He told the disciples:

Jesus: Once there was a rich and powerful man who had an asset manager. One day, the man received word that his asset manager was squandering his assets.

² The rich man brought in the asset manager and said, “You’ve been accused of wrongdoing. I want a full and accurate accounting of all your financial transactions because you are really close to being fired.”

³ The manager said to himself, “Oh, no! Now what am I going to do? I’m going to lose my job here, and I’m too weak to dig ditches and too proud to beg. ⁴ I have an idea. This plan will mean that I have a lot of hospitable friends when I get fired.”

⁵ So the asset manager set up appointments with each person who owed his master money. He said to the first debtor, “How much do you owe my boss?” ⁶ The debtor replied, “A hundred barrels^[a] of oil.” The manager said, “I’m discounting your bill by half. Just write 50 on this contract.” ⁷ Then he said to the second debtor, “How much do you owe?” This fellow said, “A hundred bales^[b] of wheat.” The manager said, “I’m discounting your debt by 20 percent. Just write down 80 bales on this contract.”

⁸ When the manager’s boss realized what he had done, he congratulated him for at least being clever. That’s how it is: those attuned to this evil age are more clever in dealing with their affairs than the enlightened are in dealing with their affairs!

⁹ Learn some lessons from this crooked but clever asset manager. Realize that the purpose of money is to strengthen friendships, to provide opportunities for being generous and kind. Eventually money will be useless to you—but if you use it generously to serve others, you will be welcomed joyfully into your eternal destination.

¹⁰ If you’re faithful in small-scale matters, you’ll be faithful with far bigger responsibilities. If you’re crooked in small responsibilities, you’ll be no different in bigger things. ¹¹ If you can’t even handle a small thing like money, who’s going to entrust you with spiritual riches that really matter? ¹² If you don’t manage well someone else’s assets that are entrusted to you, who’s going to give over to you important spiritual and personal relationships to manage?

¹³ Imagine you’re a servant and you have two masters giving you orders. What are you going to do when they have conflicting demands? You can’t serve both, so you’ll either hate the first and love the second, or you’ll faithfully serve the first and despise the second. One master is God and the other is money. You can’t serve them both.

¹⁴ The Pharisees overheard all this, and they started mocking Jesus because they really loved money.

Jesus (to the Pharisees): ¹⁵ You’ve made your choice. Your ambition is to look good in front of other people, not God. But God sees through to your hearts. He values things differently from you. The goals you and your peers are reaching for God detests.

¹⁶ The law and the prophets had their role until the coming of John the Baptist. Since John’s arrival, the good news of the kingdom of God has been taught while people are clamoring to enter it. ¹⁷ That’s not to say that God’s rules for living are useless. The stars in the sky and the earth beneath your feet will pass away before one letter of God’s rules for living become worthless.

Budgeting

"Budgeting" is probably not a title you expected to see on a blog about Jesus. But today's church sermon has made it clear to me that God needs to be at the center of our budgeting. Today's sermon was so good that I encourage you to check it out yourself. I could write about it here, but nothing that I can write here is as good as what God can say to you through the sermon itself. It is available Here today and hopefully at the link below tomorrow. I strongly encourage you to watch today's sermon because it has practical implications for Godly living.

You can click the link to go to the "We Give" Sermon Series  page. There you will find sermons on giving. Today's sermon is not yet posted but I am hoping that will be updated in the next couple of days because it spoke to my heart and I hope that it will also speak to yours.

Breaking Bondage

Today the church sermon was about breaking Bondage. Bondage is the "state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control." Therefore, if someone is in a spiritual bondage, they are subjected to their sinful nature. In Romans 8 it says, "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God... Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." To break bondage, Christ must be allowed to set the sinner free. John 8:34-36 says, " Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

First, know that your focus will become your reality. Wherever you let your mind wander, that will be your destination and your reality. Whatever you long for that is where you will end up. "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;" In addition, be aware that you are not immune to your friend's bondage. Don't be fooled your friends bondage will pull you down. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame."

Second, Do Not Forget where God has brought you from. Remember where you once were and where God has lead you to and Don't Go Back. Exodus 13:17 says, "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Surround yourself with people who are not going back.

Third, Renew your Mind. Get into the living word of God because it cleanses the toxic things within us. Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Take time to talk to God in silence and solitude. John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

God is Faithful. He will give you the desires of your heart. (Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4) When the Israelites finally reached the land God had promised them they were not disappointed. Numbers 13:23 - "When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs." The cluster was so large it took two men to carry it! God keeps his promises, he is faithful.

James 4:7-10

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Don't live in fear of what could overtake you. Be silent and watch the deliverance of God.

The Father's House

Today I visited a new church called "The Father's House". The sermon was on 1 Kings 18:16-46 which is the passage where God consumes the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. I love this passage because God comes down and displays his glory in a consuming fire. The pastor focused on two words for today's sermon, "Sacrifice" and "Fire". In Matthew 3:11 John the baptist says, "“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Sacrifice hurts because it costs us something. Even though it may be painful to give God whatever it is we hold closest to our heart, it is necessary to make that sacrifice in order to receive the fire (Holy Spirit). After all, if Elijah hadn't prepare the alter with a sacrifice, there wouldn't  have been anything for God to consume (with fire). In Luke 9, Jesus made it clear that following him requires sacrifice."Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24

Something of the Like

It seems that the theme for this week is loving out loud or real Christianity or something of the like. At church on Sunday, the preacher challenged the congregation to think about how God has made their life different. He asked us to reflect on the question "what difference does God make in my life?" Since Sunday, I have been pondering this question. Then the other night I found myself standing in front of the bathroom mirror giving myself a speech on how God has made a difference in my life. It makes me laugh that I did that, but it really helped me to give myself specific examples of what God has done in my life. It made me realize that if God had not been apart of my life I would be in a very different place and a significantly different person. God has leaded me in the right direction and been faithful to me in things I did not even know about at the time. Without his intervention, my choice for college would have been much different; I would never have been a worship arts major which means that I would have never started this blog. I would not have the same friends, or figured out that I should be a social worker. Without God high school would have been even more challenging, I would not be active in Church or have the amazing opportunity to work with the youth group. God is an essential part of my life and has proved himself repeatedly even in my 22 years. I am thankful for his intercession even when I am unaware of it. I am glad that there is a God who is in control, who holds me in the palm of his hand and will never leave me or forsake me. He is always there when things get hard and he remains constant. God also celebrates with my life successes and rejoices in growth. He loves with an everlasting love and embraces his children with a wholeness that is incomparable. So there you have it, God changes everything. His involvement in our lives makes a difference.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Getting Involved

Since I have a bit of spare time on my hands while I look for a job I have decided to get more involved with church. I have recently committed to working with the middle school boys at youth group, and helping out with a new church ministry called "Cross Culture". While I have yet to meet the youth group boys, I am excited to work with them. I look forward to being a mentor and sharing what I have learned with them. On another note, this week I volunteered to help with the logo for Cross Culture. I didn't realize that helping with the logo meant that I was going to create the logo. Since I have plenty of time these days I decided to try it out. It was a little bit of a challenge figuring out how to use adobe illustrator and photoshop to create what I had in mind. In the end, I am happy with what I have come up with and I hope that they really like it. I still may edit it a bit - but considering I am not a graphic designer like my friend, I think I did pretty well. I may post a pic later.

Jonathan and David

Today in church we discussed the relationship of David and Jonathan. We talked about how special there relationship was and how much of a rarity it is to have that kind of friendship. After talking in church today I immediately felt blessed to have such good friends. Especially a friend like Jonathan who I am able to tell anything to. If you explore the chapters of 1 Samuel you will discover exactly what I mean. Jonathan was a faithful, honest, righteous, man of God who would have given his life for David. In fact, he kind of did. Jonathan accepted the fact that God chose David as king and instead of being angry he chose to become David's closest heart. In the end Jonathan dies in battle with his father Saul and David goes on to be king.

All of this to share that tonight I received one of the highest compliments of my life. One of my dearest friends thanked me for being her Jonathan. I feel so blessed to be able to share in such a special friendship. At the same time I feel so humbled because I don't feel that I am anywhere close to being as good a friend as Jonathan although one day I hope I can be. David and Jonathan

Compassion

In church today we learned about Psalm 103. Verses 13-17 stuck out to me.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
   he remembers that we are dust.
¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass,
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone,
   and its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children—  (Psalm 103:13-17, New International Version)

God has compassion on those who fear him. He doesn't forget that we are fragile beings, he made us from the dust, he knows. These verses comfort me because they are an expression of God's love that represents my faith and gives me hope.

To gain a better understanding check out this commentary on Psalm 103 - Ps 103

Psalm 51

In church last Sunday our pastor preached on Psalm 51 as a prayer. He discussed four different aspects including guilt v. 1-6, cleanse v. 7-10, confession v. 16-17, and redemption v. 11-14. As you read through the Psalm I encourage you to think about each section of David's writing.

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 ¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.
 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
   you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
   you who are God my Savior,
   and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart
   you, God, will not despise.
 ¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
   to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
   in burnt offerings offered whole;
   then bulls will be offered on your altar.  (Psalm 51, New International Version)

What should you do after you experience God's grace?

For a better understanding of Psalm 51 check out this commentary - Christ Notes

Report Cards

Growing up as American students, we are used to being graded. Every year since I was 5 I received a report card. Sometimes, especially if I did well, it was exciting. However, when a class was difficult getting a grade was scary. You wonder if you might have to take that horrible class again or what your parents will say when they see the grade. In Church today my pastor said something that caught my ear, he said, "God doesn't keep a report card". 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. " This was a great reminder to me of God's forgiveness and patience. We're sinners and we screw up every single day. Yet God is faithful, full of grace and mercy. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
                                                                                               Thanks God

Faith

Hebrews Chapter Eleven goes over people who had faith in God. I read the chapter aloud to myself and as I did it helped me to realize these are all real people who trusted in a real God. People who believed yet didn't see.

This ties in well with the love of  money sermon from church today. He was saying that we here in
America compared to the rest of the world are very rich. It is a huge danger for us to put our trust in money. Think about it - we pay for food, medical care, homes, entertainment, education, insurance... We trust that the money we spend on all these items will be there when we need them. Really? If you think about it that sounds like a dumb choice (Which it is). Getting to the point > When all is said and done money isn't going to pull through because it's finite. But if you place your faith and trust in the Lord you know that he is always there to help you through and that He has your best interest in mind.

Freedom

Today in Church we talked about sin and freedom. We all make mistakes - we're not perfect. I know I don't really have to tell you that. Whether you've lied, stole, or murdered no sin is greater than another they are all the same level of wrong. Nevertheless, Jesus died on the cross for them all, and when we acknowledge that we are sinners and change our actions so that they reflect Christ we are set free from sin and are no longer ruled by it. Some verses I wanted to share with you are,

"You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean" - Lev. 10:10

Once we are Christ's, we are set apart, therefore we must be set apart.

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

In Leviticus, when the priests had to wash every morning before entering God's presence, they washed in a bronze (I think) bath. Back then the polished bronze was used by women as a mirror. So every time the priests went to wash in it they saw themselves and were reminded that they were priests of the most high God. That they were to carry out their duty as that, and not forget. So this means for us that we are to look in the mirror and know who we are, that we are Christ's and thus we need to carry out the actions and duties as His and not forget.

^" Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."  - Lev. 9:23-24

Because Jesus on the cross was the sacrifice once for all we no longer have to carry out animal sacrifices. However, I think this picture is a great reminder for when we feel awful about our sin, and we should, but that when we sacrifice our lives to God it will be accepted and we can rejoice for the LORD has rescued us.

^"1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,^{[a] 2}because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,^{[d] 4}in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1-4

The following is Hebrews 12:1-12

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 ⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
   "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 ⁶because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."^[a]

 ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 ¹²Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³"Make level paths for your feet,"^[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Col. 2:13-15

^"13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,^[b] God made you^[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴¹⁵And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.^[d]"

Because of God's sacrifice of His only son for us, today we can live knowing that we are not condemned to Hell and that we are not bound by sin in this world, it doesn't rule over us. Therefore we can rejoice! knowing that God forgives with grace and mercy and now we can live a life of freedom that honors our mighty God! :) Whether we feel this or not we can know that it's true!

Happy March!

I love the month of March! Soon I will be 20 and even better Spring will be here!!! So Happy March Everyone :) Anyways what I really want to share with you is this. I have recently begun reading Jeremiah. Tonight I read Chapter 7 and verse 23 stuck out to me. It says,

"²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

The next thing that I noticed was the word all, not some or a couple, but everything. Which reminds me of a drama from church on Sunday from that we learned that we need to obey God in all things even when it doesn't make sense to us or we don't know why because He is God - nuff said. In my study Bible the footnote for verse 23 reads "sacrifices are valid only when accompanied by sincere repentance and joyful obedience." We have to keep it real - God knows when we're fake, he sees everything. 

The other night I was reading in Jer. Ch 6 and I wanted to share verse 16 with you...

This is what the LORD says:
       "Stand at the crossroads and look;
       ask for the ancient paths,
       ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
       and you will find rest for your souls.
       But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

The attitude of the heart is far more important than ritual. Jerusalem was filled with sin and had no shame - one verse said they didn't even know how to blush. Therefore God was going to punish them. He had already given them a chance to fix it but they chose not to change.

So tonight I encourage you to change for God, do everything He has commanded you, like it says in Romans 12:1-2

"¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God teach me to be Obedient.

Catching up again

Okay, so I was in the bathroom yesterday and read this beautiful note on the building posters.

"A Love Prayer of Surrender"

Jesus,
I am humble, lowly servant. Take me... all of me. Add anything. Take anything away. At any cost. Make me yours completely... wholly. May I not be remembered for the way I wear my hair, or the shape of my face, or the people I know, or the crowds I've addressed. May I be known for loving you... For carrying a dream... For building bridges to the hurt and broken and lost in the world. Make me what you would be if you lived in person where I do. May everything accomplished through my simple life bring honor and glory to you. Take my human flaws and failures and use them to remind those who know me that only you are God and I will always just be... (Your name). Amen.

In Logos Sunday morning, we learned about the Passover in exodus. From that we learn that God keeps His word, Judges sin, and that Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb. We also talked about how tradition is important to keep, such as remembering the resurrection on Easter and God coming in Human form at Christmas. Here to remember that God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians in keeping with his promise. Although, the Israelites did have to suffer and the release wasn’t immediate it took several plagues until Pharaoh gave in. Thus even when we suffer and wait a long time upon the Lord to deliver us He is there working in the situation and always come through.

Then at Church, Pastor Mark Vanvalin asked what do you really know? He told a story of a man who had an ongoing nightmare for 1yr and 4 months. He dreamed that he was going down a very long tunnel and they wanted to kill him. One day he had went to a church and stole the cross that was behind the podium and slept with it that night. Thus, that night in his dream he was carrying a cross with him. Then at a service he came on the alter call. He fell on his knees weeping then he hears a voice that he thought was the pastor saying, "not your tears, but my blood" but when he looked up it wasn't the pastor who said it. - How cool is that! He said, "I know whom I believe" The Pastor Mark went on ... "Do you possess an unshakable hope? Does it show? Do you choose to suffer for what is right? Has anyone asked you lately what is different about you? Could you give a thoughtful and genuine answer? When is hope most apparent? (In suffering) sometimes life just happens - Hope is brightest when things are most difficult.

Next, last night in my devos was John 15:12-14 "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friend. You are my friends if you do what I command." The last part really stood out to me, the concept of obedience. God knows best, so why wouldn't we follow what he wants us to do? Well, there are many reason we don't none valid. No matter what excuse, the hindrance is often fear. More specifically, fear of pain, of suffering, of having to sacrifice something in order to do what God is asking of us. That is where we must surrender all. Lay everything down at His feet withholding nothing.

Lastly, in Chapel this morning Carlos Garcia spoke on suffering. He shared with us how it was hard for him to watch his daughter suffer and he wanted God to fix it Now! but he never took into account that God could have been doing somthing in her life. he asked "what are we doing with God while we are waiting" in the midst of suffering circumstances. Are you using your experience of life to improve your experience with God? or have you been using God to improve your experience with life? He listed three things that all humans need. 1 physical comfort 2 Good relationships 3 Joys only coming from God. *note 2 cannot fulfill 3 C.S. Lewis said "If i find in myself a desire which no experience in the world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that i was made for another world" In the Lord's prayer, God's will is listed before daily bread. Thus it is more important. It's okay to hurt, and be upset. but it is important to fix our eyes on Jesus. After all did he not suffer in one day more than we will ever will in one lifetime. What prevents you from inticing Christ? My last note from this chapel says, we need to realize sin and then bury daily. Meaning put it behind, don't let it hold you back it's in your past. Repent confess and move on. God has greater things and he will still use you.