Warriors in an Unforgiving World

As I sit at my computer staring at the hurtful message before me, I make myself take a deep breath. The message was a response to Facebook invites. For those of you who aren’t constantly bombarded by my invites to blog, I send these out weekly to my friends list. I have gotten positive feedback, as well as negative. Although mixed feedback should have seemed inevitable, I still didn’t expect the negatives.

As Christians, we need to be aware that we will receive negativity about our faith. When looking back, I believe freshman year of college was the first time I heard people openly speak negatively about God. During my second semester, I was in an Art Appreciation class where students were told to make a picture that poked fun of something well-known. As I looked at my peer’s work, I noticed at least three pictures poking fun at Jesus, Heaven, and/or God. I was so shocked that people felt so strongly about God, so undesirably.

As I look at the disregard for Christianity today, I see anger on both the Christians’ and the non-Christians’ sides. When someone says something against our faith, we feel hurt and anger. If we let this anger take over, we push non-Christians away, as well as let them get under our skin. Going back to the negative feedback I received from the blog, my first response was pain. But then I took a step back and tried to look at what these people must be feeling and going through. I started to pray and was led to the music video below.

After listening to this song, I knew God was telling me to love on those providing the negativity. As the song says, “Why do we think that our hate’s gonna change their heart… /Cause pride won’t let us lay our weapons on the ground.” God wants us to love those hurting us and turn to Him when we feel unable to. How do we expect those around us to experience God’s love, if we aren’t showing it ourselves? No one deserves forgiveness from God or anyone they’ve hurt, yet it is necessary.  

I think sometimes we think if someone hasn’t asked for forgiveness, then we have the right to hold onto our hate. Just as the song’s lyrics say, “Well truth be told it doesn’t matter if they’re sorry or not/ Cause freedom comes when we surrender to the sound/ Of Your mercy and Your grace, Father, send Your angels down.” How many times does God ask us to forgive others? Seventy times seven. Yet how many times are we so reluctant to do so?

Forgiveness requires courage. We must be willing to forget our pride and move towards loving the unlovable. As Ephesians 6: 11-17 says, we are called to be Christian warriors that defend ourselves against evil. Having the courage to let go of anger towards other relieves us and allows us to brightly reflect Christ’s light. Seek God when you lack the courage to overcome anger towards those around you, but He is the one that understands that weakness the best. Please end in the prayer below or your own.

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You are for me. I know that You are greater than any evil I will face. Lord, there are times that those around me harm me physically and emotionally, but Lord help me forgive them. In these times, help me to remember to look to You and to look to what Jesus did for me. Give me the courage to forgive and let go of my anger and be the Christian warrior You have called me to be. In Your Name, Amen.

Listen to the World, Listen to the King

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 ESV.

God calls us to speak to Him through prayer, providing a foundation for a closer relationship with our creator. Every Thursday I will post world and national events for you to pray for. By praying for others around us, not only do we acknowledge their need, but also acknowledge our need for Christ to come into our lives.

 

Continue pray for the presidential election in November.

Continue pray for the unrest in the Middle East.

On Tuesday, on a Minneapolis office, two people were killed and four wounded after a shooting.

Pray for the victim’s family and friends, as well as those injured by the shooting. Pray for peace in this hard time.

Thursday, three people were convicted of planning to murder Jewish school teachers in Azerbaijan.

Pray for the teachers and their safety. Pray that the convicted can recognize their racial violence as evil and seek forgiveness.

What If it's Love?

Honestly, last week was a battle. Sitting in a tiny room, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I listen as my American Labor and Unions’ professor brings up politics. I expect books to be thrown at someone’s head at any moment, but the class remains calm. Then, somehow religion became the focus and I’m suddenly awake. In the heat of the discussion, one girl remarks that Christianity is dying and when the older generation is gone, it won’t be important anymore. It broke my heart to hear my peer say this.

I don’t know that ‘dying’ is the correct word, but Christianity is in decline in America. A 2009 CNN poll showed that 75 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, compared to 1990 when the number was 86 percent. Statistics also reflect that as children grow older, they begin to leave the church. In one study by America’s Research Group, “95 percent of 20 to 29-year-old evangelicals attended church regularly during their elementary and middle school years… And by college, only 11 percent were still attending church.” This decline may be because children are brought to church by their parents, but once they reach college, young adults are independent and have the choice to participate in church. But the important question is why are they choosing not to participate?

Take a moment to think about any non-Christian friends or peers that you know. What are some reasons that they have decided against Christianity? What stereotypes about Christianity force these people away?

                After having this issue on my heart, I felt angry and uncertain about the Christian movement around me. I felt like the people around me viewed me as a foolish individual who was a part of a dying movement, a dying faith. In attempt to find some reassurance, I called my boyfriend and told him the story. He replied, “You aren’t stupid for having faith. You're the one that has the light, and those people don’t, so they don’t understand what you have. They just don’t understand.” And I knew he was right.

                As Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are like a light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven” (CEV). God wants us to bring His people closer to Him, but that starts with love. One of my favorite quotes by Anais Nin is, “You cannot save people. You can only love them.” God saves souls, but humans can't. We only have the power to love people and show them what Christ’s love truly is. Forcing religion down people’s throats isn’t what Christians are about, but instead reflecting Christ’s light onto those around us.

               Please prayerful consider who may need your love on campus, or even at home. God created you to reflect His love and grace, so why not love those around you? We need to consider what non-Christians are saying about Christianity and change those perceptions. And that can only start with us living like Christ and truly loving those around us.

Listen to the World, Listen to the King

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 ESV.

God calls us to speak to Him through prayer, providing a foundation for a closer relationship with our creator. Every Thursday I will post world and national events for you to pray for. By praying for others around us, not only do we acknowledge their need, but also acknowledge our need for Christ to come into our lives.

Continue pray for the presidential election in November.

Recently, 129 inmates from a Mexican prison escaped and have yet to be found.

Pray that these prisoners don’t harm others in the community surrounding the prison.

Outside of Georgia (Eurasian country), videos have surfaced, revealing prisoners being abused by their guards. The police reported that the guards involved in the abuse have been arrested.

Pray for the prisoners that were victims of this abuse and help them focus on repentance rather than cruel treatment.

Many were killed and wounded in an al-Shabaab jihadist suicide bombing in Somalia. Three of the dead were journalists, and Omas Faruk Osman, The Nation Union of Somali Journalists secretary-general believes that the bombing was an attack on the journalists specifically.

Pray for the Somali journalists, as well as the Somali people. Pray for their safety and for the loved ones of the deceased.

Screaming Praises Instead of Pretentiousness

Are your ears bleeding from all the screaming yet? My sister is in love with the new British band, One Direction, and she was watching a video concert of them over the summer. As I briefly stood in the room, I was mortified to watch thousands and thousands of girls screaming and crying when the band came on stage. Watching these girls freak out because of a boy band made me think about how we place specific people on pedestals above everyone else.

But why is that? This summer I had the pleasure of going to my favorite singer, Gavin Degraw’s concert. I was very excited to see him in concert because I had waited so long to. But when he entered the stage, it felt so unreal. It was like this was the proof that, yes, he really was a person. It sounds strange, but when we see people, specifically celebrities, on the television, it’s as if their fame makes them unreal. They’re behind a screen, not next to us, and this makes our connection with them different.

Media reflects celebrities with money, looks, style, and power, which for many of us is unattainable. And because we live in a world that glorifies these attributes, it can be hard to not look up to these figures. We become in awe of what these people hold, even though we should only be in awe of God.

However we are all equal in God’s eyes. “You say that God is your Father, but God does not have favorites! He judges all people by what they do. So you must honor God while you live as strangers here on earth. You were rescued from the useless way of life that you learned from your ancestors. But you know that you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don’t last forever. You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb” (1 Peter 1:17-19, CEV). We must never forget that we are not above one another and we must not boast what ourselves or others have. It is Christ that gave us life and it is Christ that deserves our praise.

Take a few moments to think about who you place on a pedestal. Is it certain peers? Singers? Actors/actresses? What characteristics do they have that make them appear above others?

Read Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 1:24, and Philippians 3: 18-19. Reflect on what worldly things you admire about those around you. How can you redirect your admirations towards more God-loving characteristics? Please end in the prayer below or your own prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You to refocus my heart on Your way instead of the world’s. I have admired those with fame, beauty, power, and money; however I want to only admire those of seeking Your light. You love all of Your people and I ask You to help me see people as equal instead of below or above me. Let only Your light guide me. Amen.

Envying the Faces of Facebook

             A group of eight girls stood in front of a gray-stoned building, smiling and making funny faces at the camera, but I only knew one of them in the picture. Shania* went to my high school, graduated the same year as me, yet I never really knew her. She had beautiful brown hair that she usually kept the same way, and wore stylish clothes. The honors student excelled not only in school, but in sports, choir and theater. She modeled, sang beautifully, and had lots of friends. Even though I haven’t seen her in person for two years, I feel as though I still kn0w part of her life because of her Facebook profile.

             Facebook does provide new social connections between you and whomever you befriend on the site, but how effective are those connections? Many times we’re able to keep up with how people are doing because, in just a few clicks, we can read what they’ve recently posted. However this can create distorted images about the people around us.

These distortions are a result of people posting only what they want the world to view them as. We usually post our best pictures, ones from good angles or lighting. We want the world to see the good sides of us. I don’t think posting decent pictures of ourselves is necessarily a problem; however when we scroll through someone else’s wall and began to feel envy about the where they've gone, what they’re wearing, or how many friends they have, it’s then that we have to take a step back.

            I’ve heard several of my friends remark that if they’re having a bad day and they get on Facebook, it makes them feel worse. One friend admitted that she went through an acquaintance’s wall, looking at the girl’s pictures, and then compared them to what she looked like and to what places she’d never been to. She said that it made her feel like she was inadequate to this other girl because she was making such harsh comparisons.

                 We must use Facebook as a way of connecting and interacting, but not allow ourselves fall into the temptation to wish for what we don’t have. As Exodus 20:7 says, “Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don’t want anyone’s house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else.” Our jealousy can get in the way of experiencing the blessings we already have in our lives.

                God desires our full attention and a relationship with His children. Exodus 20:5 says, “… I am the Lord your God and I demand all of your love.” If the creator of the universe demands our love, should we focus our time around being thankful for our blessings or envying others’ blessings? Think about the extent of God’s love for you as you listen to the video below.

           Please read James 4:2-4 and mediate on how loving worldly things relates to you. Take the time to thank God for all He has provided for you and ask for guidance in the face of jealousy.

          I challenge you this week to put a post-it near or on your computer to remind you to fight envy, whether it is on Facebook or any other internet outlet. On the note write, “He is jealous for me.” The God of the universe demands your love so why not give it to Him?

Don't forget to comment below!

*Shania’s name was changed for confidentiality.

Listening To the World, Listening To the King

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 ESV.

     
              God calls us to speak to Him through prayer, providing a foundation for a closer relationship with our creator. Every Thursday I will post world and national events for you to pray for. By praying for others around us, not only do we acknowledge their need, but also acknowledge our need for Christ to come into our lives.

            Members of Texan Bennett Chapel Baptist Church adopted 76 foster children after the pastor’s wife adopted four children. She inspired the other members to taken in abused and neglected children and give them a new home.

            Pray that the foster children are able to experience God’s love through their foster families. Also, thank God for giving these children a chance at a better life

           Hollywood actress, Amanda Bynes, has recently gotten herself in a lot of trouble. She was caught driving on a suspended driver’s license and possibly smoking marijuana.

           Pray that she can learn from her mistakes and that she finds support to help her get through her issues.

          Currently riots in Yemen, Egypt and Tunisia have become deadly, and have begun to attack U.S. embassies in these nations.

         Pray that these nations can stop the violence that is harming so many people. Also, pray for the U.S. embassies under attack.

Worshipping God and Macs: How to Rid Faith of 21st Century Clutter

Once before you go to class, once after class, another before going to the café, maybe again before your late class, and then again before bedtime. The average American, aged 8 to 18, spends more than seven and a half hours a day on computers, television, smart phones and other electronic devices.[1] These devices clearly have a hold on our lives, creating a new stressor for ourselves.

 If someone asked the reasons for getting on the internet so many times in a day, what would you say? That you had to update that Facebook status, or needed to check that email to make sure class wasn’t cancelled (even though it is a hopeless cause because that class is never cancelled)? Maybe you needed to do some online shopping or check out Maroon 5’s latest hit? Now I couldn’t find any statistic about the number of times Christians click that mouse on Internet Explorer, but what would your number be?

It doesn’t seem that being on the internet would have anything to do with our relationship with God; however what’s our priority? I think when most of us think of the Ten Commandments, we imagine these stone hedges of rules about what to do and what not to do. As a sixth grader, I can remember in my confirmation class my pastor was going over the Ten Commandments. He listed them off and a checklist formed in my head. As he went through each commandment, I thought, okay, I’m guilty of that one, guilty of that one, that one too. But when he said, “You shall have no other gods,” I thought, alright, finally one I’m not guilty of. I was assuming that because I didn’t worship a false statue god that I was innocent of that sin.

However as my pastor began to explain the first commandment, he said that idols can be anything that we put before God, including but not limited to, television, clothes, and even the internet. We are called to live our lives with Jesus that the forefront and worldly things behind us. When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees with what the most important commandment was, “Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind” (Matthew 22:37, CEV).

When we allow these worldly fascinations come before our relationship with our Savior, we are cluttering our lives and not loving Him to the fullest extent. “A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.”[2] Today we have so many different things pulling us in all directions, whether it’s from our schoolwork, relationships, or jobs. Those things are necessarily bad, but we need to manage our time.

Have you ever had assignments pilling up in every class, work to go to, as well as dealing with friendship drama, and by the time you were about to close your eyes to sleep, you realized you hadn’t talked to God all day? We all manage our time around our work schedules,  school schedules and fun activities, but how many times have we said, “Okay God, today is all for you” and when anything came up it wouldn’t interrupt those plans?

Please watch the following music video. TobyMac’s song discusses the difference between worldly things and being of God. Reflect on this as you watch.

Open your Bibles and read 1 John 2:15-17, Colossians 3:2, and Deuteronomy 4:15-20. What in your life is keeping you from falling deeper in love with Christ? What can you do to rid yourself of worldly desires? Ask God for His strength and guidance to get past those things.  

Please read: “So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them” (Deut. 6:5-8, CEV). This week I challenge you to write “His Love Above All” on your wrist or hand. When you see the message, reflect on how you’re managing your time around God and take a moment to pray for guidance. If someone sees the message and asks, tell them what God has taught you about His love. Who knows, this could be a chance for you to talk about your faith with someone that needs it.

Please take the time to pray about how you can increase your love for Christ this week and reach out to new people.

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[1] Kaiser Family Foundation. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Retrieved from The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/mh012010pkg.cfm

[2] Chan, F. (2008). Crazy Love. Colorado Springs: David Cook.

Saving Love, Hope, and A Child

Roger, a short and squat boy, rides his bike around his sun-dried brick house as he awaits his mother. His brown narrow eyes stare at the ground as he pedals. He is alone, the only child in his family, yet he still likes riding his bike by himself. The faster he pedals, the faster the air moves, giving him some relief from the midday heat. The six-year-old just finished watering the plants around the house, his daily chore, and his aunt told him he could ride for a while. His stomach grumbles, like most in his Honduras village, but he keeps pedaling forward.  This is how I like to imagine Roger, my sponsored child.

Last August I was looking at the World Vision site, just flipping through the pages and pages of children who were yet to be sponsored. I had heard that World Vision donated money to foreign countries to provide for basic needs, such as nutrition, education, and safety, but didn’t know much about it, except that I wanted to sponsor a child.

With a college student’s budget, I felt very limited when it came to giving financially. All the money in my account was from years of saved birthday and summer job money. I knew that saving that money could mean getting a car, paying off loans, or just starting a future, yet I felt like God was calling me towards other objectives.

As I looked through the pages of children, I began to pray about whether I was truly being called to sponsor. I flipped through my Bible and began to read Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 and Isaiah 41: 13. Even as I found different passages that gave me confidence, I still gave myself another day to think and pray. The next day, I was even more convinced that God was calling me to sponsor. As soon as I clicked, “Sponsor Roger today,” I felt instantly transformed.

Giving didn’t solely impact Roger but also impacted me. I began to pray for Roger daily, hoping that his living situation increased, and as a result, I deepened my love for people. Before I sponsored Roger, I wasn’t always inclined to speak with God daily, but Roger gave me motivation to care about prayer. Just as God placed me in Roger’s life to help him, Roger was placed in my life to help me with my faith.

Loving others means giving to those in need, whether financial, emotional or physical need. We are called to lead a life of servitude to God, as well as those around us. God created all of us uniquely; therefore we have unique gifts to offer the world, allowing us to reach as many people as possible. It can be as small as smiling at someone that looks upset, or giving a compliment. But as Christians, we should actively look out for those who need Christ’s love. Please watch the video below.

There are people around us just like Hannah. People that need someone to care, someone to love them. They need Christ and people that care enough to pray about them.

Please read 2 Corinthians 9: 7-15, Matthew 20:26-28 and 25:35-36; 40. Think about those around you, at school, work, or in passing. Who is in need? How can you fulfill that need? Pray about what you can do to help that person/group of people. Please end in a personal prayer or the one below.

Dear God, I thank You for all You provide for me. I ask you to break my heart with what breaks Your heart. Open my eyes to those who need help, who need You. Give me the courage to reach out to them. Lord, give me a servant’s heart so that I reflect Your love and grace. In Your heavenly name. Amen. 

*Don’t forget to comment about the devotion, any personal experiences you’d like to share, prayer requests, or updates about how you reached out to someone this week. Thanks!

Listening to the World, Listening to the King

           “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 (ESV)

          God calls us to speak to Him through prayer, providing a foundation for a closer relationship with our creator. Every Thursday I will post world and national events for you to pray for. By praying for others around us, not only do we acknowledge their need, but also acknowledge our need for Christ to come into our lives.

      Beginning in August, Hurricane Isaac pushed its way through the north Gulf Coast, affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. After houses were flooded and destroyed, many were left homeless and distraught. It was forecasted a 40 percent chance Hurricane Isaac’s remnants could form a tropical cyclone.  

     Pray for those affected by Hurricane Isaac, for those who lost their homes and for less disastrous results from Hurricane Isaac’s remnants.

     As the 2012 Presidential election progresses nearer, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama fight to earn votes.

    Pray that whoever is chosen for president, that God leads him to serve our country in the best way possible and that he makes all choices with the America’s best interest in mind.

     Yesterday, an unknown shooter fired at and killed four people in the French Alps. Two of the deceased were the parents of two young girls. The girls were with their parents during the shooting, but were only injured.

     Pray for the two young girls that have lost their parents. Pray that these girls are able to find relatives or someone that will take care of them in this time of crisis. Also, pray for the others killed in the shooting and for their loved ones mourning their deaths. Pray that the killer is found so that he/she doesn't harm anyone else.

Cracked Windshields and Rusted Faith

         Welcome to this first blog devotion of the Fall 2012 semester! I will be discussing a variety of different topics that I would love for you to consider and discuss at the bottom of the page. After reading the devotion, you can post any comments below. This blog is intended to inspire stronger faith through an online media outlet, as well as provide another way of communicating with other Christians.

Quotes To Consider:

 “Things changed, people changed, and the world went rolling along right outside the window.”  -Nicholas Sparks (Message in a Bottle)

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.”- Libba Bray (The Sweet Far Thing)

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answers has been ‘no’ for too many days in arrow, I know I need to change something.” -Steve Jobs

                God awakened me on top of a mountain. It was the beginning of my sophomore year, as well as my second year participating in United Campus Ministry (UCM). Every year UCM goes to Knobby Mountain for their Twilight Retreat and this was my second time tagging along. As the van bumped up the gravel road, I could feel the anticipation rising as I wondered what this retreat would be like.

The mountain looked the same, yet the church group members were different, the time different, even the weather felt warmer than the year before. At the mountain’s peak, the tiny pavilion still overlooked the multi-colored trees and tiny cities below. I could still see the long green field that stretched towards areas of forest. The sun peered over the mountaintops; its heat so intense that I could feel perspiration on my face.

                As the group dispersed across the field to explore, I walked towards the familiar stone path hidden behind high grass and hay bales. I hoped it would still be there, that no one had decided to move it. When I turned the corner, I could see that the pale blue bus still standing alone on the mountain and I felt myself smile. It looked pretty much the same. There were still cracks in the windshield that reminded me of water ripples, and the dashboard still held an old, plastic milk container. Grass had begun to grow in thick clumps around the bus’ swollen wheels, and rust, like scabs, surrounded the bus’ exterior. Chipped blue paint left the hood exposed and bare, and one of the headlights was missing. As I walked to the back of the bus, I noticed the brake lights were smashed in.

                During my freshman year encounter of the mountain, the group was told to wonder around the mountain, to look for something in nature that related to God, and it was then that I wandered down the unnoticeable path with a few other group members. At the time, I kept asking them if we were supposed to be down there, only to get shrugs, and then I reluctantly followed the group.

I’m still not sure what it was about that abandoned bus, but it always intrigued me. It was so old and beaten down, even two years ago, yet I always imagined that there was some great story about how it got there.  However as I stood in front of the bus the second time, I reflected upon how much I had changed since the first time I had come there. As a freshman, I had been timid, uninvolved, and easy to follow everyone else, therefore, my faith held similar characteristics. However, as I stared at the bus, I knew that I wasn’t the same person I was a year ago. I had become a more involved member and leader in United Campus Ministry, and my love for Christ had deepened. I had become more confident and trusting in others, as well as myself. Instead of being someone that strayed away from conversation, I found myself more eager to be a part of it.

Change has a way of sneaking up on us, altering parts of us that we didn’t think could be transformed, and sometimes this creates fear. This school year is a new beginning, yet worrying about new classes, professors, and assignments can wear us down if we expect the worse. This year is also a new opportunity to transform your faith and grow upon the love you already have for Christ. Although our lives are constantly changing, God will never change and will always remain constant.

Please open your Bible and read Numbers 23: 19, Hebrews 12: 18-29 and James 1:17. Take the time to mediate and pray about what God is revealing about Himself to You. Then, listen to Chris Tomlin’s “Unchanging” song below and think about what the lyrics mean (click the link or play).

"Unchanging" By:Chris Tomlin 

                Think about the changes this year may bring. Do you have any anxieties about what those changes may bring or mean for your life? If so, bring those fears to God and speak to Him. You can trust in God because He is unchanging and He will always accept you for who are you, changed or not. Please end in the prayer below, or in your own personal prayer.

Dear God, I thank You for always being my fortress and shelter when I need You. I pray for the changes that are happening now and in my future, and that through those times I remember to lean on You. Lord, You know my anxieties and my failures, yet You love me anyways. I pray that You change my heart so that I can better follow Your ways. Transform me so I can walk in Your light. In Your Heavenly name. Amen.

*Don’t forget to leave any comments about the devotion, change, or any experiences you would like to share with the group. Thank you!