My family had our 1995 Buick Park Avenue since Abel was born. It's probably in some junkyard now, but it seems like for the same amount of time that I saw it sitting in our driveway, that car had the only bumper sticker my dad ever bought and actually stuck on any one of our cars... one that said in pretty aqua blue script, "Jesus lives!"
The bumper sticker made my car unique. All throughout my childhood, I could easily spot my car in the middle of all the vehicles at the school carpool line. But it's funny how although I could easily recognize that quote and relate it to some possession of mine -- even though I practically read those two words everyday, I went through my whole childhood and many of the recent years of my life never internalizing what "Jesus lives!" actually means.
It became most clear after my mom had her accident and testified in church a few Sundays later, on Easter Sunday. She cried as she said that the fact that Jesus lives has taken on new meaning to her, because his resurrection is the only reason that she stood standing on that stage that day. Because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven, He was able to stop that car from completely killing my mom. He was able to come between my mom's car and the other car and avoid a tragedy I could never survive with... because my Jesus is alive and because He isn't dead, in a grave, with a body that is deteriorating in the soil like just any mortal human being. That isn't the god that we dedicate our Eternity to...
You know how after someone passes away, a loved one will go to his or her grave and speak to them to find some comfort and be listened to? When we speak to Jesus, it isn't just about getting some emotional comfort. We have assurance that He is alive and waiting to hear from us, and rescue us, and hold our hand, and love us. You may not see your Savior with these human eyes God temporarily gave us, but take heart, because the tomb is empty and He is with you at this very moment. Isn't that something to be excited about? Isn't that worth every person driving behind your bumper to read and be reminded of? Let it be known: JESUS LIVES. And He lives for you.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
remembering the spoil of our victory
Remember the Saturday night meeting a couple of weeks ago, when we really prayed like we were in war, we fought and won the victory surprisingly quickly, and then we were told to gather the spoil from our battle, lift our hands and ask God for anything, fully believing He will give it to us? What did you ask from God? Post it in a comment and remind yourself of what God promised you that night - and keep reminding yourself in all your moments of weakness, because thats when God and His promises work best!
Deuteronomy 13:16
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city...it shall not be built again.
The walls you broke down that night cannot be built again. And what you claimed in Jesus's name is a sure promise that lasts forever. Move forward in Him!
Deuteronomy 13:16
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city...it shall not be built again.
The walls you broke down that night cannot be built again. And what you claimed in Jesus's name is a sure promise that lasts forever. Move forward in Him!
Friday, April 8, 2011
"No Backsies" EDIT
There are so many things that need further clarification but one that I'd like to point out particular is this part:
"..when our eyes are opened to things that seem impractical.."
What I was referring to was the state of mind of a person that made the decision to follow God without any firm foundation or reason, as Orpah did with Naomi. It amazed me how easily Orpah was persuaded that this journey would be meaningless for her based on one question Naomi asked. It was like she had not taken a moment to consider what this journey would mean for her future at all when she first said ok and because of that how easily she was able to turn back. I didn't mean to imply in any way that following God would prove to be impractical for us and that we just blindly accept that. On the contrary, we should be making the decision to follow God based on our eyes being enlightened and opened. We need to KNOW what we're signing up for because this is a lifetime commitment!! I hope I didn't convey the wrong message in that last post. Let me put it simply...if we don't know why we have decided to put our faith in Jesus Christ, it won't take a lot for us to turn back. Dig deep and find some answers! God bless, girls! <3
"..when our eyes are opened to things that seem impractical.."
What I was referring to was the state of mind of a person that made the decision to follow God without any firm foundation or reason, as Orpah did with Naomi. It amazed me how easily Orpah was persuaded that this journey would be meaningless for her based on one question Naomi asked. It was like she had not taken a moment to consider what this journey would mean for her future at all when she first said ok and because of that how easily she was able to turn back. I didn't mean to imply in any way that following God would prove to be impractical for us and that we just blindly accept that. On the contrary, we should be making the decision to follow God based on our eyes being enlightened and opened. We need to KNOW what we're signing up for because this is a lifetime commitment!! I hope I didn't convey the wrong message in that last post. Let me put it simply...if we don't know why we have decided to put our faith in Jesus Christ, it won't take a lot for us to turn back. Dig deep and find some answers! God bless, girls! <3
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Faith & Love
Hi girls! Hope you all are doing well :)
Someone sent me an email about the messages from the most recent YES retreat. A couple of them are random points but I liked them so much that I taped them to my mirror. I hope you all don't mind me sharing :)
*Faith is always followed by an action: obedience to God.
*Knowing God's character makes obedience easier (when we know what is really means that HE is GOD).
*God makes us wait so that the worst in us will come out. He doesn't give us things right away...He wants to see us for who we really are.
These next couple of bullets came from a message called Perfection in Love:
*Love is called the "bond of perfection"
Types of Love:
- Love of gratitude: Love Him because of everything He's done
- Love of excellence: Love God through everything (good & bad) and know Him as God.
- First love: Walking after His commandments
- True love: Selfless love for Jesus. It should also be a love that gives.
*How we speak reflects how much love we have
*Love the Word of God enough to live according to it
*Love is NOT a feeling...it's a choice.
*Marriage = when you're ready to love = when you're ready to give (a sacrificial love)
*God teaches us how to love the people around us & the people in our lives that are hard to love so that when the time comes, we know how to love.
Keep moving forward girls! Sending you ALL my love.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
No Backsies!
The time is now 11:30 PM and I have to be up bright and early at 4:30AM (!!) tomorrow so I'm going to quickly jot down some of my thoughts here for now and expound later.
Ruth 1: 7-11
7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
In verse 7, it says, "and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah." Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth all set out on this journey to go from Moab to Judah because the famine in Judah had come to an end. What we see in vs. 8-9 is Naomi giving the girls a way out and releasing them from their obligation to her. In vs. 10, Orpah and Ruth choose to stay with her anyway and then in vs. 11, Naomi asks the very reasonable and practical question, "Why do you want to go with me? What do you have to gain?"
They all set out on this journey together but why? What were their individual reasons for leaving Moab and going to Judah? We know that Naomi wanted to go back to her people after losing her husband and sons but why did Orpah and Ruth make the decision to go?
When we set out on this journey to follow Christ, why did we decide to do that? What was our individual decisions based on? Was it based on our desire to fit within our community and not stand out? Was it based on our desire to please our parents? Was it based on a deeper revelation that God gave us?
This question of why is important because as we see in this story, their individual reasons would determine the extent of their committment to the decision they made to go with Naomi.
Ruth 1:14- And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Orpah's decision was based on the desire to be a good, obedient daughter-in-law. She did not see the need to go to Judah, like Naomi did, but went along just to please and fulfill her obligation to Naomi. So what's wrong with that? Well, when Naomi first told her that she could go back home, Orpah turned down the offer and stayed with her. When Naomi then brought up the reasonable point that Orpah would not have a life in Judah and no husband there, suddenly the journey became impractical and Orpah said her goodbyes and left.
A Christian walk with God does not alway look practical. There will be so many times when people point out the impracticality of living a life that's pleasing to God. If we set out on this journey for the wrong reasons, then like Orpah, when our eyes are opened to things that seem impractical we will be swayed and turn back on the decision we made to wholeheartedly follow God.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
Let's make sure we know why we're here so, like Ruth, we never turn back!
Ruth 1: 7-11
7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
In verse 7, it says, "and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah." Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth all set out on this journey to go from Moab to Judah because the famine in Judah had come to an end. What we see in vs. 8-9 is Naomi giving the girls a way out and releasing them from their obligation to her. In vs. 10, Orpah and Ruth choose to stay with her anyway and then in vs. 11, Naomi asks the very reasonable and practical question, "Why do you want to go with me? What do you have to gain?"
They all set out on this journey together but why? What were their individual reasons for leaving Moab and going to Judah? We know that Naomi wanted to go back to her people after losing her husband and sons but why did Orpah and Ruth make the decision to go?
When we set out on this journey to follow Christ, why did we decide to do that? What was our individual decisions based on? Was it based on our desire to fit within our community and not stand out? Was it based on our desire to please our parents? Was it based on a deeper revelation that God gave us?
This question of why is important because as we see in this story, their individual reasons would determine the extent of their committment to the decision they made to go with Naomi.
Ruth 1:14- And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Orpah's decision was based on the desire to be a good, obedient daughter-in-law. She did not see the need to go to Judah, like Naomi did, but went along just to please and fulfill her obligation to Naomi. So what's wrong with that? Well, when Naomi first told her that she could go back home, Orpah turned down the offer and stayed with her. When Naomi then brought up the reasonable point that Orpah would not have a life in Judah and no husband there, suddenly the journey became impractical and Orpah said her goodbyes and left.
A Christian walk with God does not alway look practical. There will be so many times when people point out the impracticality of living a life that's pleasing to God. If we set out on this journey for the wrong reasons, then like Orpah, when our eyes are opened to things that seem impractical we will be swayed and turn back on the decision we made to wholeheartedly follow God.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
Let's make sure we know why we're here so, like Ruth, we never turn back!
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