A Woman's Significance

I used to feel that I needed to present myself to others in a way that would make them like me. I'm sure its a natural condition of most of the world, especially women. I mean, you turn on the television, look at a magazine, and it only takes about a minute to realize that women in this world are valued for how they present themselves. There is media that depicts women as beautiful. There is media that depicts women as intellectual and powerful. And, there is media that depicts women as the queens of multitasking. However, over the course of several months, I have realized that these depictions are slightly, if not extremely, skewed from the truth.

Women are not meant to feel a compelling desire to be presentable to others. Women are meant to feel a unquenchable desire to present herself to God. Now, you could be reading this with little or no belief in God whatsoever, but please hear me out. There is some way we, as women, try to make others like us. For you, it may be racking up an extensive list of friends on facebook. For others, it may be hosting expensive parties in your home. Who knows? There are many ways we try to make ourselves significant to others. We can see it in our friends too. How many conversations have you had with another female chatting about accomplishments? Now, I do not mean to put down these things and state that they are entirely wrong. But, I do think they get in the way of realizing how God sees us as women.

In the Bible, there is passage in Isaiah that displays the truth about how God sees us. He says to a barren woman who has been unable to please her culture by giving birth to a child,
" For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name is God
Your Redeemer is The Holy One
It's with lasting love that I'm tenderly caring for you." (Isaiah 54)

You see, the truth is not that we should place value on how others see us, but that we should value the truth about how God sees us. His love is everlasting unlike the things we try to find for our significance. He has made us to be joined in a deep relationship with Him that involves tenderness. God wants to hear the things that we struggle with so that he can tenderly free us from them. So, if you struggle with being significant to others, please invite God to listen to your battle. He does not want us to be subject to the opinions of others. He wants us to know the truth. He has made us for a relationship with Him. Only He can tell us that we are significant.

Jesus is God's Son

As I sit and type today, I want you to know how much I have been thinking about Jesus. Who is Jesus? And, why is he important to me? These questions may involve lengthy answers if you were to ask some Christians that say that have a "relationship" with Jesus. However, the more I ponder these questions with regards to my own life experience with Jesus the answers seem quite simple.

Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is important to me because He is God's Son. If you were to read and research the Bible, you would discover that stating the Jesus is God's Son is no trivial fact. But, rather, it is the most either truthful or absolutely ridiculous statement I could make. I am sure of it that those reading this have opinions of both. And, for that I am grateful. You see, today I came to the realization that because I believe in Jesus as being the Son of God, I have two purposes in my life. The first purpose is to encourage those that believe that Jesus is the Son of God to love Him more wholeheartedly. The second purpose is to display to those that believe the idea is ridiculous that it is actually true.

Many people in today's society recognize that Jesus was alive. Some say He was a great prophet. Some say he was a great teacher. Some even say that he may have been the most righteous man to ever live on earth. My question to these statements is then why is it so hard to believe that God sent Him here to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life. Seems like a pretty simple thing to believe to me and my Christian friends. So, why is it so hard for some people to except this truth. My contemplation has lead me to the thought that those that believe the idea is ridiculous have not seen those that believe the idea is true acting in the righteous ways of God. For that, I apologize and I say please give us a second chance.

Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is important to me because He is God's Son. So to encourage both those that agree with me and those that disagree with me I have this to say: Jesus does not ask for anything from us except faith. He expects that if we testify that He is God's Son, we walk with a sense of faith in everything we do. If we walk around with our heads hung low, refusing to speak His name, we do not achieve the purpose of believing in Him. Just saying Jesus' name, brings praise to God. Praising God and having faith that He exists is why I stand to believe in Him. There are no strings attached to following Jesus except declaring who He really is. If we hide behind His true identity (God's Son), then we fail to carry out the purpose of being a Christian. So, I encourage my fellow believers to speak His name in as many situations and on as many occasions as possible. I encourage those that do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God that simply He is. In doing this, I believe I am being faithful to my purpose as a Christian. Jesus is God's Son and he is important to me because I believe this to be true and will tell as many people as I encounter that this is so.

Running The Race of Life

I've been training for my first marathon. This experience has proved more than just an exercise of my body, and my mind, but mostly of my spirit. I firmly believe that God has gifted me with the ability to be an endurance athlete. I have been running for a little less than 2 years and have raced well. However, only in training for this marathon, have I discovered that racing well only comes when I relay on God. Many runners relay on training programs, nutrition schedules, hydration, and mantras that they speak to themselves throughout a run. What I have discovered is that I begin to hear from God more clearly when I am struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Now, do not misunderstand the fact that I do have a training schedule. I do try to follow a specific diet. I do try to drink fluids regularly. But, what separates me from other runners is that, I relay on God, to push me to the finish line. I have discovered that I love to run because it brings me closer to God. When its just you and the pavement, you begin to realize what you are made of. The sweat pours down your back and you hear your heart beating and there is no one else who can motivate you to cross the finish line but God. Some people would say that I overspiritualize the experience. However, there are many references in the Bible that talk about disciplining the body to become a able part of God's ministry. I can testify that that is what running does in my life. Every day I set out with my sneakers tied and my head held high, I recognize that God will meet with me. What I love most about training for a marathon, is that you run for a very long time. I enjoy this because it means I will be meeting with God for a very long time. For these reasons, I believe that I will be a marathon runner for quite some time. Running is not just exercise for me. It's not just so I can say, hey I've ran a marathon. But, when I run, I know I am running the life God has given to me. Each time I step out onto the pavement, I know that God is going to speak miracles in my life. When I hear his soft, still voice, amidst the pounding of my heartbeat, I know my life is made complete. I pray each day that God will keep me in good health so that I can continue to step outside and run this race of life. I know that someday I will be seated in heaven and God will say, "You ran a good race. Well, done." And, this my friends, is why I choose to run, simply for the approval of God and no one else.

Love One Another

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. "

1 John 3:18-20

At times, with all honesty and genuine humanity, it becomes obvious in today's society that truly loving those around us can be a difficult challenge. My heart struggles to find the right words to comfort those in need. My arms often lay limp when they need to wrap around someone experiencing the grim reality of life on earth. Today, I began asking myself, "how do I love those around me? how do I love the way Jesus loved?" I began my daily reading of God's word and stumbled upon 1 John. I have always loved this letter for many reasons. However, today, staring me in the face, was the verse above. The words that pop out to me are:

Not with words
But with actions
In Truth

How freeing! Loving those around me does not mean that I am a fountain of impressive speech given in proper timing and delivery. Rather God reads my heart, knows my motives, and enables me through his Holy Spirit to ACT in the truth of his gospel. What is this truth you may ask, this truth is that God sent Jesus, his one and only son, for EVERYONE, to save them from the grasp of sin on their lives. If Jesus can suffer on a cross, for sins he did not commit, I can love those around me that may have offended me.

The way we can truly love others is to open our hearts to God in the difficult moment of finding it hard to love them. If we let God read and purify our hearts, it is then possible for us to act with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to show God's genuine love for them. I find it so freeing to know that God can read my heart. As vulnerable as that makes me, I am so thankful that he knows where I need his help, and when I say the word, he is willing to provide the help in order to show his love to others. Please do not let another moment pass by, where you feel you are unable to love the way Jesus does. Open your heart and say, God I need your help, and I know he will provide the Holy Spirit to provide all you need for that request.

Dear children, do not be concerned with your tongue or saying the right words to let someone know you love them. Offer them the only truth you know; that Jesus Christ has died for you and for them and wants you to love accordingly. We are missing God's purpose if we do not face our human desires to be selfish and self-seeking when it comes to our relationships with others. God does not want us to sit back passively and miss opportunities to act out of his love for us towards others. We need to abandon our hearts to God in the moments when we least desire to and turn our hearts away from ourselves and onto those around us. God intended that we Love Him first and others second. There was no line in the Bible that says, Oh Love God, Love yourselves, and then yeah love others. No, first Love God, then Love Others. It is a task some days but it is obedience to God's purpose for our lives; Love one another as I have loved you. Reflect on the love Jesus has for you and be thankful for this love. When you do this, I promise that your love for others will grow by the minute.

Blessed Be Your Name

Today was a wonderful day in sunny Florida. I was sailing across the open seas in a delightful boat when I had a revelation of sorts from God. As I was basking in the sun, with the wind blowing in my hair, I realized how glorious this experience was to me. I began reflecting on why sitting on a boat, gliding across the ocean, with the occasional glance of dolphins and sting rays made me joyful. It was then that I began to thank God for this wonderful experience that He began to speak directly to me. As I sat with my eyes closed, I realized how much God loves me. His love is more glorious than the sun on my face and more wonderful than the feeling of wind in my hair. God's love is a simple and joyful thing that is far greater than a nice day on the open sea. However, the simple experience of riding on a boat in the ocean spurred me on to thank God (because of the Holy Spirit living in me), which in turn brought me to a point of the realization of God's precious love for me. Because of this experience, it is my belief that thankfulness and blessing the name of God is the beginning of knowing God more deeply.

Today, I was enjoying the day with my family and friends in a beautiful spot. I could have just stopped there. I could have just been content with how happy I was in my current situation. Yet, because Jesus has claimed my life, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. It was the Holy Spirit that spurred me on to thankfulness to God for allowing me to have such a joyful experience in God's creation. Sitting on this boat, I realized that God is in control of my day to day experiences. He is the sovereign hand that has control of the circumstances surrounding me life. Today was a day that reminded me of a line from the "Blessed Be Your Name" song;

"Blessed be your name, when the sun is shining down on you
when the world is all as it should be, Blessed be your name"

This afternoon was a time to bless God's name for the sun, sea, and wind that He has created for us to enjoy. And by blessing His name, which is the sole purpose that I exist, I was brought closer to Him. My heart was leaping for joy because I sensed His love for me. I sat peacefully with my eyes closed knowing that God was with me and even if a raging storm cloud came and changed the circumstance, the love that God has for me would not change.

Today, I learned that God's love for me is always present. Sometimes, He uses the sun and the joyful experiences to show us how great He is and always is. Sometimes, he uses the difficult circumstances to do the same. However, what always remains, no matter the circumstance, is that He deeply loves us. God's love transcends all experiences and it is our duty to be thankful and always bless his name. When we choose to do so, it is then that He shines through and reminds us of His love that overcomes all circumstance. God is always with us. When we open the door with thankfulness and blessings, He will gladly remind us of His love for us.

Complacency Breeds Danger

I began reflecting on the fact that I have not posted on this blog in quite some time. I thought to myself, "have I become complacent with my life?" Suddenly, I began to pray and ask God, "have I become complacent with my life?" It was then that I decided to look the word complacent up in Webster's Dictionary.

Complacent: pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied

What strikes me when reading this description are the words: pleased with oneself and without awareness of danger. These words strike me or shall I say cut to my heart because of what I believe as a conviction from the Holy Spirit of God. It is God's intent that we, His lovely children, do not become complacent with our lives.

It is a shocking thought in today's world to believe that our efforts, our motivations, and our successes do not truly belong to us. We are subject to thoughts that "we are in charge of our destiny." The simple truth, my friends, is that we are not. As hard as it may be to believe, we are subject to only one truth. God sent Jesus to die on a wretched cross to open an invitation to us for a life of peace and joy that would someday lead to eternity in heaven. Therefore, a complacent life and God's plan for us are in stark contrast. We are in danger of forgetting the most important and only truth to life. We are at the mercy of Jesus in heaven. If we begin to get trapped in the notions of vacations, promotions, and obtaining material possessions, we are missing the mark entirely and are in danger of missing God.

When we become complacent in life, we throw our passion for God out the window. We are ok with reading our Bible on the bus home from work, singing an occasional worship song in our heads, and attending church on Sunday mornings. Suddenly, our knowledge of Jesus' power, love, and grace becomes a rout idea. However, when Jesus is the forefront of our lives, when he is everything we concentrate on, our passion for collecting treasures in heaven comes into focus.

In saying this, I confess, that I have become complacent with my life. I have begun to believe that everything I know about Jesus is sufficient and there is nothing more I could learn from him. And, because this fact is simply untrue, I have the testimony of the Holy Spirit, that I am no longer going to live in this complacency. Jesus paid the price of death for me. Not many of us can say this of anyone else we know. Because of his death, I live for eternity. And, I am going to fix my eyes on this marvelous reward. Nothing that can be given to me on earth stands in the shadow of knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for me in heaven. Therefore, I write this to testify that I am no longer living to be content with life but rather to please my Father in heaven for giving me a life that will someday lead to the glorious riches of heaven that pales in comparison to any human understanding of blessings on earth.

Why did I Become a CHRISTIAN?!

Sometimes I find myself asking, "Why did I become a Christian?" It seems as though the memories of my journey to faith often blur together into a mass of emotions and thoughts. However, as the years have passed and I have become a member of a church devoting myself to service to God, I begin to question, what was it that made me turn my life over to Jesus.

I think that this is an important question for all Christians to ask themselves. When reflecting on it, it becomes obvious to me that I did not become a Christian because I wanted to be a right-wing conservative, or a more moral person, or even because I knew Jesus could solve all of my problems. I became a Christian because I knew in my heart that I was living a life that needed some saving.

Like probably many of you, I grew up in a loving home with two parents and a sibling. We were raised with morals, weekly attendance at church, and a general sense of well-being. Never did I question that I was loved and never did I doubt that there was a God in heaven. However, I sensed that I wasn't content with my life as it stood. I knew there was something God wanted from me. As I went to college, I discovered people that had what I believed I was looking for; a relationship with God in heaven. It was through many experiences and conversations with these people that I began to know how they obtained this relationship. For me, it seemed too simple. You ask Jesus to save your from your sins, you are forgiven, and you are able to share eternity with him in heaven. I wanted to believe that I had something to do with salvation. I believed that I needed to do something in order to have this amazing relationship with God. It was not until the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a dream that I realized, becoming a Christian has nothing to do with what I could do for God. It has everything to do with what he could do for me.

It is through this realization that I am aware that I became a Christian not out of my own efforts but out of the love of Jesus. Therefore, as I sit and write this today, I reflect on my life as it currently stands. Am I truly living out of the knowledge that Jesus is the reason I live a life of peace, joy, and knowledge of my treasures in heaven? Or am I still believing that out of my own efforts I can please God?

I did not become a Christian so that I can live a moral, satisfying, and upright life. Now, don't get me wrong, when we follow Jesus wholeheartedly those things are a result. However, I am a Christian because I recognized that I am not moral or upright, rather I am a wretched sinner in much need of a Savior. Although I have been able to grow and experience more of Jesus over the past years, I am still bound to this idea. On earth, I continue to sin and fall short of the glory of God. It is by Jesus putting himself to shame that I am able to have my sins forgiven. If I continue to go on in my life and forget this, how unfortunate?!

You may be reading and think to yourself, she is not telling me anything I do not already know. And, that my friend is my point. Recognize that Jesus is the reason your find yourself in a church. Jesus is the reason you can make sense of the Bible when you read it. Jesus is the reason that someday you will be able to see the glory of heaven. It is not you. You are not a Christian because you want to be. And, if you are, I ask you to strongly reconsider your testimony. Think seriously about the love of Jesus. Remember his sacrifice for you. Relish in it. Being a Christian is not a quick fix to peace, but rather it is the selfless testimony that God is greater than you and has chosen to love you despite your failings.

Jesus I am thankful to you. So, thankful for the sacrifice you gave for me. I am proud to say that I am a Christian because I have recognized that there is no one else worth following than you.