Big Story; little people

I've often thought about what it would be like if my whole like were written out into story, from beginning to end.  What would it look like?  Would it be a happy tale about a princess,  who was saved by a prince who came to slay the dragon to save her and the whole kingdom?  Would it be convicting or thought provoking?  Would it be a sad story with little glimpses of happiness sprinkled throughout?  How many characters would be in it?  Where would the conflict come from?  The plot?  Crisis?  Resolution?

We all love stories of any form.  Either happy or sad, we are story people.

Don't you just love sitting in a room to listen and talk about the stories in their lives?  It's so fun to see the road that each person travels.  How different, and yet similar they seem to be.  And yet, there is something missing; the big picture!  These stories are so small.  They involve people and situations that we know and are familiar with.  But they have a beginning and an ending.

I often think about stories at Christmas time.  It's not because I like reminiscing of the wonderful childhood years, or the excitement of the season as a child.  I think of stories at Christmas, because Christmas is all about a story.  A Big Story.

This story is about God the Father sending His own Son, Jesus, to earth by the power of God the Holy Spirit.  The world says that a story must have a beginning, but we know in Scripture that God has no beginning or end.  His story is no different!

It's a Big story because it points to a finale unlike anything ever imagined.  God wins!  It's a Big story because it involves the Creator of the universe choosing to become like the created things He made.  This is a story about hundreds of thousands of millions of people all specifically created and placed where they needed to be.  It's these people doing things every day, but doing them according to God's plan.  It's prophecy spoken and fulfilled.  It's the natural forces of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and volcanoes all coursing according to their determined time.  It's a story about disobedient, stubborn, and rebellious people choosing to act in sin, independently from God.  It's about God's holy foreknowledge to send His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for sins, so that these creatures could have communion with Him.

This Big Story is about the perfect time, place, and people who were waiting for their Messiah to come.  It was during that time that God orchestrated the nations of the world so that a young girl and her fiance would need to travel to Bethlehem.  It's about a group of dirty shepherds watching their flock of sheep in a specific fields so that when the angel announced to them the birth of the Messiah, they could go, find Him and worship Him.  It's about a star, created by God's hand, for the purpose of leading Gentile men to the place where Jesus was.  It's about a woman too old to have children, conceiving a son who would be the one to prepare the people's hearts for the Lamb of God.

Christmastime tells us about the coming of Christ to earth.  It's the Biblical account of God becoming man that is the greatest story ever told.  And it involves me.  Wait!  Me?

Yes, because the birth of Christ, His coming to earth as 100% God and 100% man to live a perfect life, dying as the complete satisfaction to God for our sins, and rising from the dead to prove that reality, is Christmas.  It's the Gospel!  But here's where we put these two truths together.  The Gospel is the only true story of Christ, and it is His grace that allows people, little people, to be made righteous by faith in the Son of God.  Christmas marks a time in history when God became man.  God became man, for His glory, to bring men into fellowship with God the Father.

The Gospel is the "big story" of Christmas!

Now, let's look at this perspective.  Christmas is about the Gospel.

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways,

God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 

but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, 

whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.  

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, 

and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.  

After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

- Hebrews 1:1-4

"In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.  

He was in the beginning with God.  

All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...

He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.  

But to all who did receive Him, who believe in His name, 

He gave the right to become children of God, 

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, 

glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."  

- John 1:1-4, 11-14

10 Days of Thankfulness: Life (6) & Insignificant Days (7)

Life: it's something that we all have in common.  

The lady in the check-out line with her cart of groceries; she's alive.
The man behind the wheel of the police car; he's alive.
The little kids thinking about what they want for Christmas; they're alive.
The doctor scrubbing up before performing open heart surgery; he's alive.
The woman sitting at the window of her apartment, watching the world go by; she's alive.
The little boy riding his bike down the street; he's alive.
The older man playing chess with his friends and remembering the "good 'ole" days; he's alive.
The little girl giddy with the anticipation of being "older" playing tea-party and dress up; she's alive.

We have life.  We're alive.

What is life if not more than a few breaths that we take while we walk the earth.  Life is short.  We're all aware of this grim reality, though some live with this reality in mind and others pretend that it doesn't exist.  Life is a vapor.  Scripture accords that man's days are nothing more than a breath, a vapor that floats on the wind.  There is nothing to it; one moment here and the next gone.

Life is more than breath, or the blood coursing through our veins.  It's more than a job.  It's more than family and friends.  It's more than a dash marking the time we entered the world and when we left.  It's more than a story.  It's more than a memory.  Life, true life, is something to be thankful for!

True life brings hope.  It is full of joy and wonder.  It's rich and blessed.
It's free.

How many times have you woken up in the morning, rubbed the sleep from your eyes, and let out a prodigious yawn, without thinking about where the air you just breathed came from?  Or what about just before you took that difficult test and you sighed with despair; did you think about where that air came from?  Life is as simple as breathing, yet we hesitate to stop and think who is the Giver of Life.  

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place..." (Acts 17:24-26)

Life is a gift from God.  He, being the Creator of the universe, has set into motion life and breath and everything.  He created the earth, set the stars in their place, made the laws of the universe so that it functions in order.  He set the times and the seasons in place.  He causes the rain to fall and the sun to shine.  He raised up the mountains by the word of His power.  Creation sings of the life that God has granted it.

And humans, people made in the image of God, are we thankful for every breath, every moment of life?
It's a gift!

What about when life is normal, like on the weekends when all time is taken up by Statistics homework, baking and cleaning?  What about when the days seem so long, and your hope for the future is waning fast?  What about when life is hard or the days hurt more because you are still breathing?  What about the prospect of living another day alone?

Is not God still here?

Yes, He is.  And He made these days just for you.  They may be hard and painful yet, but that is because He is still shaping and molding you into the image of His Son.  This process is hard.  It hurts.  It's like the Potter working with the clay; squeezing and conditioning it so that He can work with it.  Even these days are gifts from God.

Sometimes, I think, that we don't recognize that even the hard days are from God.  We make excuses for them to explain them away with our varying emotions or the weather.

Look for God's grace on the days that are "normal", "ordinary", or "insignificant".  God has given it to you to live; to love Him and others around you!

Life is a gift from God, yet it's more than just the air that we breathe.
It's found in Jesus Christ: the true Life.
This life is salvation, given to us through the grace of God by faith, to live eternally with God.
This life is the promise that what we have and are now is not the end.

This life is full of reasons to be thankful!   

10 Days of Thankfulness: Salvation, Amazing Grace, and Eternal Blessings (4-5)

When I think of being thankful for the things that God is doing in my life, I think of salvation.  

God's love for the world to provide a perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of the whole world.  

God who satisfied the His justice through the life and death of His own Son. 

God who gives this same salvation from sin and death by faith.  

I think of God's grace.  It's amazing. 

God's grace is what gives me what I don't deserve.  

As a finite creature, I do not deserve to receive gifts from the infinite God; but He has given them to us.  

He made the world for us to enjoy.  

He has set beautiful things in life, from the little spring buds and flowers to the brightly colored fall trees. 

He has "given us all things that pertain to life and godliness".  

He has given us His Son.  

It is God's grace that called me to salvation and is working in my life to make me more like Christ. 

It is God's grace that will take us to be with Him in heaven forever.  

I think of the eternal blessings in Jesus Christ because of salvation and God's grace.  I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1).  These blessings are given to us now and will be fully seen when we are finally in the presence of God.  

How often do we take these things for granted? 

How many times to do we go through life and talk about these things with others, and yet refuse to let them change us from the inside out? 

How many times have you complained about a certain situation, because you forgot that you have all you need in Christ Jesus?  

If I am honest in answering.  It is too many times.  

As I think of being thankful for the things that really matter, I need to be reminded of who God is and what He has done and is doing and will do in my life.  It's all because of His grace and the salvation that came through His Son that I even have hope to live another day.  

I am thankful!  God is good!  All is well! 

10 Days of Thankfulness: God the Spirit, my Hope (#3)

When we think of God the Holy Spirit, where does your mind go?  Do you think about forces or ghosts with white sheets or unseen spirits?  It's hard to wrap our thinking around the third person of the Godhead.  Yet, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the indwelling Holy Spirit.

 *not to be too technical, but this theology is important!*

About twelve years ago, I placed my trust in Jesus Christ.  This salvation through Him was by faith only, and not through anything that I had done.  Believe me!  I tried to be a "good" girl all the time, because I hated the thought of someone not liking me or being displeased with what I did.

At the moment of salvation, though, something changed.  I changed.  I wasn't the same little girl who was trying really hard to be "good".  I was made new.  For those, like me, who have placed their faith in Christ alone for salvation; at that moment they became "new creations in Christ".  As a new child of God, there are so many things that are now true of me because of who I am in Christ.

Redeemed.  Accepted.  Beloved.  

Loved.  

Righteous.  Holy.  

Worthy.  Pure.  Child of God.  Heirs with Christ.  

Blameless.  

Blessed.  Chosen.  Saved.  Forgiven. 

 Objects of Grace and Mercy.   

Sealed.  God's Work.  

Here's why I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit:

1. He teaches me about God the Father and God the Son.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper (John 16) who tells us the things of God.  With our finite minds, we cannot even begin to understand the works and ways of God.  Yet, each day as we are submitted to the Spirit, He fills us with more understanding and opens our minds to the truth of God's Word.

2. God has given each believer spiritual gifts that are manifested through the Spirit for the common good of the Body of Christ.  (1 Cor. 12)  I am thankful for the gifts that God has given me with which to minister to my brothers and sisters in Christ.  

3. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit inside of me doing the work of sanctification in my life.  He is daily changing me into the image of Christ.  In this, He convicts me of the sinful choices that I make, and provides the strength to live in God's forgiveness to not choose that sin again.  Though this is a very painful process, I know that it will yield a beautiful result that will glorify God!  

4.  The Holy Spirit is the promise that I am a child of God.  As it says in Ephesians 1, He is the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ.  I can have hope that this world is not all that there is to life, and one day, I will stand before the throne of God washed with the blood of the Lamb.  

Thank God for His Spirit's work in your life to conform you into the image of His Son.  

This is what it's all about.   

10 Days of Thankfulness: Christ my Redeemer

She had lived for years with the shame of her choices.  No one noticed her.  No one spoke to her.  Most sneered at her, quickly moving away from her unless they too would be polluted by her sin.  Some laughed.  Some looked with compassion, but they never offered to help.  

She was a sinner.  And she knew it too. 

There was a rumor of freedom.  Could it be true?  She had heard so many stories, wonderful things, and she hoped they could be true of her some day.  She longed to be free from her prison.  Every time her reflection caught her eye, she would cringe at the sight.  Sin was a cage that kept her locked up.  Could she ever be free?  Oh, how she wished to be free from her sin.  Was there not some way to get rid of it?  

As a child, she was told about God.  She knew that He accepted the blood of animals as a covering for sins.  How long must she offer animal blood, she didn't know; and neither did anyone else.  

"We will wait for the Messiah.  He will come and set us free."  

Free.  

She moved deftly through the crowd.  There were always crowds of people around Jesus, but no one noticed her slight frame moving closer to the house.  She walked with purpose, yet cautiously for fear of dropping the precious container in her hands.  She gingerly fingered the bottle.  Inside was a precious, expensive ointment.  She wanted to give it to Jesus.  

Maybe He would forgive her sins too.  

This was the home of Simon, one of the Pharisees.  It was a beautiful home, full of people, good smelling, food, and the Teacher.  He had been invited there to eat.  As she moved inside the house, she began to feel the judgement.  She was surprised that no one stopped her when she came into the main room of the house and stood behind Jesus.  

She began to weep.  Years of guilt and shame poured over her.  The sobs wracked her body.  She knelt down before the Teacher and began to wipe His feet with her hair.  The tears wet His feet; she kissed them and anointed them with the precious ointment.  

She heard behind her, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." said Simon the Pharisee.  

Jesus gently looked at the woman at His feet, and then to Simon.  "Simon, I have something to say to you."

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon looked confused, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt."

Jesus nodded, "You have judge rightly."  

He shifted His gaze to look at the woman kneeling before Him, and said, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 

And looking at her, He said, “Your sins are forgiven.”

She looked up into His eyes, and joy flooded her heart.  

Forgiven?  
Her sins, really forgiven?  

This is the promise of redemption.  Christ paid the debt for sin, yet not for mine or hers only-but for the world.  This Jesus is the Messiah.  He is the Son of God.  He came to earth, 100% God and 100% man.  He lived a perfect life to pay the penalty for sin.  Redemption and forgiveness are free for all who believe by faith in Christ.  

Here is something to be thankful for:  He bought us out of the slave-market of sin, never to be sold again!  He is our Redeemer.  He is my Savior.  

~ Adapted from Luke 7:36-50

10 Days of Thankfulness: God my Father

This Thanksgiving season, I am endeavoring to be thankful for more and speak more about the things that really matter.  I'm afraid that many times, the tendency is to make a list about things that we're thankful for like, family, friends, food, jobs, the weather, a warm house, and other things. And these are things to be thankful for!  But have you stopped to think about all the blessings that are found in God our Father?

We see God's hand every moment of the day.  From the minute we hop out of bed in the morning till our sleepy eyes shut at night, God's goodness is everywhere to behold.

Have you stopped to think about God's goodness lately?  

Have you taken a moment to examine all the beautiful changing colors of the season and see 

God's creative hand.  

Have you looked at the moon tonight?  (It's a full moon.)  

Have you wondered at the marvel of music and how it works and why it works?  (I had some music to practice and spent a couple of hours working on singing and playing the piano)  

Have you thought about how God has brought just the right people into your life for just the right time? 

We echo the Psalmist who declares the works of God and gives thanks.

"Come and see what God has done; He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man." Ps. 66:5

"Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You." Ps. 63:4

"Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.  Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death."  Ps. 68:19-20

"For You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth." Ps. 71:5

"Your way, O God, is holy.  What god is great like our God?  You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your might among the peoples."  Ps. 77:13-14

"For You, O Lord have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy.  How great are Your works, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep!"  Ps. 92:4-5

"The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; He has put on strength as His belt.  Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.  Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting."  Ps. 93:1-2

"If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.  When I thought, 'My foot slips,' Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.  When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul."  Ps. 94:17-19

Be thankful today for our heavenly Father!  Praise Him for all that He has done in creation, in the Word and through His Son.  Let this kind of thankfulness change your life and thoughts. 

God is good.  God is my Father.  I am thankful.

Really Thankful?

I am so blessed.  We all are, really.  Take a moment to look around you, if even for a minute, and see how many items comprise a portion of your earthly possessions.  Within in arms reach, I have my phone, wallet, coffee recently purchased from Starbucks and computer.  So much stuff to be thankful for if I couldn't think of anything else.  It's funny, actually, to think of being thankful for stuff when I have been given so much more!

I've had writer's block for a couple of weeks and I don't know why (please, don't judge the content of this blog post because of this statement!).  I've wanted to write about all the things that I am thankful for this year.  You know the normal list: family, friends, church family, my job, a warm house and food, etc.  But for some reason, this list wasn't coming out in an organized fashion.  

Why?  I'm thankful for these things...right?  So why not just make a grand ole' list and entitle it "Things Bekah is Thankful For"?  

Here's why.  Whenever I think about making a list of things I'm thankful for, most of the time it starts looking like the one I just composed, including the "normal" everyday things of life and the blessings of family and friends.  Yes, these are all mostly material things (which is not bad!).  But isn't there more?  I didn't want to write of list of "Things Bekah is Thankful For" because the list would be too small and I wouldn't be able to include all the things I should be thankful for.  

We think too small.  When all of these blessings become common-place, we do "thank" God for them, but our thankfulness is more of a "thank-you" in response to something we think we already deserve.  It's like telling the waitress "thank-you" for your food; I mean, she was going to bring it anyway!  

This year, I want to be thankful for the right things.  I want to have a godly perspective which looks at the material things and thanks God for them all.  I want to take each breath and move each step with a heart that is filled with thankfulness.  I want to speak with thankfulness and sing about it.  I'm not just going to write a list about things that I'm thankful for; if I'm truly honest, the list would go on and on. 

 

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow! 

Praise Him all creatures here below. 

Praise Him above the heavenly hosts. 

Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Amen, may it be so! 

 

My soul will sing...

"I will bless the Lord at all time; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.  

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together! 

 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to the Lord are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!  

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack."  - Psalm 34:1-9

It's rolling off my fingertips.

Sometimes it is hard to write down exactly what you are feeling and thinking.
Sometimes I wish that I could just make the words in my head come out onto the page.
Sometimes I think it would be nice if the screen could read my mind.
Sometimes...

Today, I am thankful.
Thankful for salvation in Jesus Christ.
Thankful for His faithfulness in my life.
Thankful that God is working all things in my life to bring about His ultimate glory.
Thankful that life is not about me.
Thankful that life does not change because of my choices.
Thankful that God is completely sovereign.
Thankful that my sin, all of it, is forgiven.
Thankful for time to spend in the Word.
Thankful for the Holy Spirit and His work to make me more like Christ.

And for the "little" things...

Thankful for life.
Thankful for Saturdays.
Thankful for family.
Thankful for friends.
Thankful for warm blankets and a cozy cup of coffee.
Thankful for creative ideas and projects to work on.
Thankful for books to read.
Thankful for sunshine.
Thankful for healthy bodies to run around with.
Thankful for...

God glorified in death...

Life is so short.  Of this truth, I've been sorely reminded more often than I should like.  I mean, we all know that death is “normal”.  Everyone is going to die at some point.  But it still hurts, and it's still hard.  And it's unexpected.  

My friend Dustin died, and it was unexpected.  

As has been said before, Dustin was a crazy guy!  He was the dictionary definition of goofy.  Some of my favorite memories include the time he was walking around our college campus with a gun belt and chaps.  Of course, he wasn’t just walking.  He was jumping over things, and lilting like a cowboy.  

Another time, my brother and his friends were making a music video of an original song about falling in love with a microwave.  Dustin wasn’t playing the guitar, although he did play, but rather he was in the background, dancing with the microwave!  Oh, and then there was that Spring Break skiing trip to Colorado.  Who could forget all the funny memories?!  Like everyone getting VERY sunburned and sore, and Dustin's bright blue snow pants.  

But I’m not writing only about Dustin.  Because he lived for something more, and through his death the gospel is being declared.  

I don't know how many people Dustin actually knew.  He was 24.  I don't know who he talked to.  But God is more glorified through His death.  And that was what Dustin was living for: the glory of God!     

The apostle Paul was thinking right when he said, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Everything in our lives revolves around our relationship with God.  If we live, we live to God.  If we die, we gain eternal life with Christ forever.  Whether we live or die, Christ wins!  

I know that we serve a sovereign God, which means that He is the Supreme Ruler of everything, and nothing happens outside of God's control.  I know that God is good.  He allowed Dustin and those other firefighters to die, because in His will and goodness He would be more glorified through their death. 

Dustin's death has reminded me that each day is a gift from God.  And not a gift for myself, but so that I can serve Him more and love others through the strength that He has supplied.  It has reminded me that I could die at any moment; or have a loved one die.  Yet, being reminded of this causes me to think about what I am doing.  Is is really of any eternal value?  Is it glorifying to God?  

Thank You, Lord, for using Dustin for Your glory!  Thank You for teaching me!

It's just life, now...

There are some days that feel like they shouldn't be.

No, this isn't a melancholy statement, because I know that many of you have thought the same thing.  

Today was Tuesday.  

But all day, I had to keep looking at my phone (because calendars have escaped me) to see what day it was.  And every time the screen lit up and announced the day, I promptly thought to myself how it didn't feel like a Tuesday.

You see, it's just life now.  Life, as living and breathing and moving and loving.  It's an alarm clock in the morning, ushering in a new day.  It's the groggy hello that comes from your mirror as you walk by.  It's a creative breakfast of whatever you find in the fridge, like scrambled egg sandwiches, or a bowl of cereal with strawberries and bananas. (Don't make fun...Simple can be creative too!)  It's the lovely walk to work, a time for some exercise, memorizing verses, and praying.

Life is starting a "new" job.  Or rather, the same job, just a full-time position.  It's talking to people, hearing each individual story of God's grace.  It's investing in lives that He loves.  It's living grace to those around me.  It's ministry.  It's people.  It's life.  

God's grace for "simple" life is amazing.  Because it's the same grace, mercy, peace, and love from God that is immense enough for difficult storms and "normal, boring" life!  The same God of Moses, who championed over the Egyptians through God's power and lead an entire nation thousands of miles, is STILL MY GOD.  The same God of Paul, loves Bekah thoroughly!  

Life.  It's fascinating, really!  

  

MoT: a Sunday inside #7

*Oops!  This was supposed to be posted a week ago...but at least it's still March...:)  

We got some snow over the weekend.  It started on Saturday, blew around for a while, and finally decided to accumulate over-night.  By this morning, we had about 10 inches of beautiful white all over the ground.  Needless to say, most everyone in the dorm was snowed in.

I really do like snow (even though it is officially Spring, and it normally rains here).  There is something so pure and clean about snow.  And it reminds me of home.  

Winter Wonderland?

As I come to the end of Spring Break, it is nice to spend a day inside, away from the hustle and bustle, without work, just to think, pray, read my Bible, fellowship with others, and journal.  This is often just the prescription for getting back into the "swing of things" after a time away (or not away...tehee).  

Doing/Being Church

This morning I wasn't able to go to church because of the aforementioned snow.  So I stayed inside and listened to my Daddy!  (Oh, the wonders of technology!!!)  

• 30-Second Commercial Break:  I love my Dad so much!  As I have gotten older and have been away from home for a while, I have come to see more and more of what a godly man he is.  It is so cool to see him ministering daily to everyone around him, and showing them the gospel of Christ.  He exemplifies a shepherd's heart and has a love and compassion for people that comes from God.  He does so much in the strength of the Lord for my family and our church family!  I am blessed to have him as my Dad!  Love you, Dad!   

Thanks to a podcast, I was able to listen to last weeks sermon from my home church.  In lieu of several conversations that I have had with different people, the message was very challenging and encouraging!

Here!  Check it out...:)  

http://www.harrisonbiblechurch.com/apps/podcast/podcast/293939

But the jist of the sermon was to encourage believers to get out of the rut of "playing church".  Where you go on Sunday to hear a good sermon, to see some of your friends, and to eat a great meal.  We are not called to be the Body of Christ to pretend that our fellowship is just another thing that we do each week.  

As God's children, bought with a price, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and set apart for His glory, we are called to more! 

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 says, 

"And we urge you, brothers, 

admonish the idle, 

encourage the fainthearted, 

help the weak,

be patient with them all.  

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, 

but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." 

We are exhorted (strong challenge) to do these things for one another.  Why?  Look at what we have through our Lord Jesus Christ!  Ephesians 1 shows us that we have been blessed with "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."  That's a lot!  Why should we not want to do for others as Christ has blessed us and loved us and done for us!?  

We are to admonish (warn) the idle.  Carefully, yet without fear.  Sin should make us sad, especially when our brothers and sisters in Christ are caught in it.  

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, 

you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."  

Galatians 6:1

"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth,

and someone brings him back, 

let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering

will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." 

James 5:19-20

We are to encourage (come alongside, support) the fainthearted.  One of the unique things about the church is that we are a group of individuals that are able to come together in the name of Christ for the mutual encouragement of everyone.  You don't find this is some kind of club or organization!  

"By this we know love,

that He laid down his life for us, 

and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers...

Little children, let us not love in word or talk,

but in deed and in truth."

1 John 3:16,18 

We are to help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

The point is that we can't do any of these things on our own.  We try.  And sometimes it "looks" like we are doing well, but really all we amount to is "...righteousness like filthy rags..."  Doing anything in our own strength is just that.

Christ calls us to rely on Him.  Completely.  Fully.

Because we need Him!  Our brothers and sisters in Christ need Him.  We have nothing good apart from Him.  We do nothing eternally good apart from Him.

Stop playing; just be!  

March of Things: the unexpected #6

I'll admit, today (Wednesday) was not "ordinary", which is fine.  It is nice to have a day, just a random day, that keeps you on your toes, so to speak!  For most people, randomness is okay; and for me a general attitude of spontaneity is great.  (Then there are times when we all just need Normal, Logical, Routine, Ordinary...)

When I went to youth group tonight, I was expecting just that, normal, routine and ordinary.  Funny how God changes your plans...:)  So what happened?  God gave me the opportunity to talk for a long time to a unbeliever, who has some different views about God, the Bible, and Christianity.  It was good.  To my shame, it has been too long since I've had a conversation like that!  It was a blessing to just listen, show the love of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through me!  Especially when we are not expecting such an experience...God is faithful.  And I must remember 1 Peter 3:15, to "...always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you with gentleness and respect."

Thursday:: Brother Sam's 21st Birthday...:)  It was so wonderful to get to talk to him on the phone for a while!  I am so thankful for my family, and can't wait to see them in a week!!!

Friday and Saturday:  The days are a blur....

folding brochures for work

                                                                    listening to my Pandora stations on shuffle

                 reading "Bondage of the Will" by Martin Luther for class

                                                                                                    practicing the piano and violin

    working on a little crafty/recycle project

                                                                                              loads and loads of laundry

                                         cooking yummy food

                    sleeping

Here are some random pictures of some of my favorite people...:)

The Parker family...(*tune "Adam's Family" theme music)

My hall (some of us...)  

       

MoT: Tuesday came with a flurry #5

Some days come and go without any fanfare.  They are the "normal" days.  Tuesday came today with the prediction of rain.  And it snowed instead!  It was a beautiful snow with huge fluffy flakes.  They didn't stick to the ground, but it certainly made the word moist and lovely!

Today at work, I had a special project to work on.  We are making a large sign and needed to trace the image on to the board.  After finding a antique projection machine (picture a grenade launcher/laser shooter), from the library, we set to work.  

Here's Bertha!  

It was a fun task!  I enjoy the change from the ordinary, and doing some kind of physical labor/art project are always enjoyable.  We completed the first few steps, like tracing the image and then outlining the words. Though going into professional sign-making is a tempting offer, I think I'll just stick with my job and do things like that at random times!  

Do you enjoy doing random or out of the ordinary things?   

MoT: Monday...#4

Monday dawned gray.  Like yesterday.  

The world felt like a Monday.  Don't ask me how to explain, but each day has it's own feel to it.  

Mondays seem to have a touch of expectation, like a new week is starting.  

There is also a lagging feeling that follows a busy weekend.  

On this Monday, I have been thinking about how God is working in my life.  

It is so incredible to contemplate!  

It has been a year since I was encouraged by my family and friends to apply for the RD position at Calvary.  We didn't know what God was going to do, but I was accepted.
That began one of the best and most challenging years of my life (so far!), and it's not over yet!

This is what brings hope for the future!  Because we serve a God who has shown His faithfulness in the past. There isn't a reason to doubt the future!

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."  ~ Romans 8:23-25

How often does the future look grim, and nothing seems to make sense?  

Yet, what does God continually say?

Trust Me!    

God is good!
How have you seen God's goodness in your life?  

March of Things: laughter with Rach!

Sunday's are great chill days.  It is so wonderful to get up in the morning, go to church, fellowship with believers, be challenged with the word and plan for a relaxing afternoon.  Today was particularly restful, in that it was a gray/rainy/cloudy/cold day!  All the better reason to stay inside!

Here is Rachel and I.  Last night/early this morning, we were manning the desk shifts in the dorm.  Let's just say that it got a little crazy between the iced coffee and Tim Hawkins you-tube videos!  Oh, so much fun!!!

Rach and I with Bob and Percival 

This is one of the videos that we watched last night!  We were laughing so hard...  This a country song written for people who are technically challenged.  I don't know what it was (it might have been the caffeine, or the combination of over 30 minutes of Tim Hawkins videos), but we were crying by the end of this song!

March of Things: Saturday

On this, the second day of break, I had the privilege to spend the morning with some of the ladies from my church for a ladies retreat.  What a blessing!  The best thing was just the time to spend in the word, quietly meditating on what God is doing in my life.

Seeking the Lord 

When we think about seeking the Lord, what do we do with the things that we can't do anything about?  What is our response?  How do we think?  Act?  Feel?  Who do we look for help?

The speaker shared from the passage in John 21, where the Lord is speaking to the apostle Peter.  It is after Christ's death and resurrection from the dead.  During these last 40 days our Lord was on earth, He taught the disciples many things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).  It was here that the Lord spoke to Peter and asked him, "Peter, do you love Me more than these?"  In His grace, Christ was giving Peter a chance to publicly announce his love for the Lord after previously denying Him three times.  As the people heard Peter's testimony, Christ then revealed to him the future--something Peter could do nothing about.  He showed him what sort of death he would die.  Now, we are thinking, "this is not the most encouraging message to hear, come on, Jesus; tell him something happy!"  But Jesus did command him to a great hope: following Him!

Peter's undesirable circumstance: dying a death like Christ's
What could he change?  Nothing
How did he respond?  He begins to compare himself with the apostle John.  He turned away from the Lord to point at John and ask what was going to happen to him.  He was probably wondering if John was also going to suffer the same pain that he was going to have to endure.  Instead of trusting in the Lord, he compared his circumstances to someone else's.

Jesus responds:  "What is that to you?  In other words, John's future is none of your business!  You follow Me!"

Christ showed Peter grace by only telling him his story.  He did not want Peter to wallow in self-pity, selfishness, and pride, but in love, He convicted him of his sin, and challenged him to a higher goal: following Jesus.
Following Jesus is the only thing that can provide strength to us when we are called to go through things that we have no control over.  In other words, they are unpleasant circumstances.  We are called to glorify God in all that we do!  In the good and the bad, the promise remains that God is good, and He only does things that are good.  He allows things in our lives for our good and His glory!

Luke 9:23, "And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'"  

1. Salvation: "deny yourself", in Christ by grace through faith, we are dead to sin and alive to God!
2. Service/Sacrifice/Surrender/Suffering: "take up your cross daily", we are called to joyfully take up the "thing/circumstance" God has called us to for our good and His glory!
3. Seeking: "follow Me", we come to know God through His word so that we can walk with Jesus daily!    Following Jesus starts with knowing God!  As you come to know Him through scripture, prayer, and fellowship, you begin to see more clearly how to walk in His paths.  His ways won't confuse you if you know Him!  He will might not be pleasant, but you trust Him because you know and have seen His faithfulness.  

Seek the Lord!  Follow Jesus!  He is good and forgiving, and abounds toward you with love.  All good things you receive are gifts off grace from His hand.  For, "...every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17)  Walk with Jesus!  Get to know Him better.  Preach the gospel to yourself daily to have perspective on who you are in and because of Christ!  

Do not let the cares of this world drag you down.  Don't give in to the temptation to complain or compare yourself with others.  Do not only seek pity for your burden, but listen to Truth!  Don't let you emotions control you mind, but follow God's truth alone!  

Follow Jesus!  

March of Things: spring break #1

So, I had great intentions of blogging everyday for the month of March.  However, the first of March came, went; I blinked and it was the 15th!  As a consolation, I am going to "try" to chronicle my adventures over spring break (which consequently, started today...) :) 
I don't know how interesting this will be (though I have high aspirations of doing fun and random things over break), I hope it's at least slightly entertaining! 

All of the important people say that a good day starts off with a good breakfast.  Well, mine did.  All of the Calvary dorm students (and even the president and first lady) were welcomed into the lobby with the wonderful aroma of freshly made waffles!  It's a Waffle-palooza!!!  There was quite the group of people lined up in the lobby for a chance at the fluffy waffles.  Even after the syrup ran out, the loyal breakfast fans stayed around.  It might have had something to do with it being the first day of Spring Break!

Stephen (the waffle maker), Jess, Fluffy Waffle, and me!  

It was a beautiful day!  The sun was super warm and there was a cool breeze!  It was a perfect day.  Some folks took advantage to do a little sun-tanning.  Later on in the afternoon, a group of us played a little softball.  Oh, the joys of having no school and a great day to be outside!  

All right, enough about waffles and sunny days...:)  

March 15 is also known as "True Confessions Day".  

So, here's Bekah's true confession...:)  

I can be very paranoid.  Or rather, I like to say that I am very observant of my surroundings, all the time, especially at night!  Don't get me wrong.  There is nothing wrong with being observant, but like everything else it should be kept in balance with reality!  No, I don't think that scary monsters will be jumping out of the bushes.  Oh, and one more thing...always keep your blinds closed at night...:)  

What is your "true confession"?  

(thus ends the super random first installment of my spring break blogging efforts...)