He Who Takes It Away

Pains from the past...pains happening in the present...we all wish that someone could take a magic wand and wave them all way. But we know that that can't happen. So many times we wish that everything could just be erased so that we wouldn't have to deal with it. But do we have to deal with it alone? Absolutely not! We have a God who is willing to take it for us. The thing is, is that we must hand it over to Him. That is easier said than done. I am personally still stuck on this, and am finally working on handing it over. Sometimes we try and take it back...and God wont stop us from doing that. We must want to give it all to Him...basically all or nothing! Anxiety is a big thing with pains. Remembering pains hurts us and we try to surpress them. We stress so much over trying to stuff them that we bring anxiety onto us. God can take that too! He will bring rest to us who are weary. But you know what matters the most? God cares about us so much. If He didn't care, He wouldn't be willing to take all of the bad things from us. If He didn't care, He wouldn't have sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for us. I believe that that shows caring to the highest level possible! We couldn't have been given anything more than what God offers us. It is all that we need! God tells us of these promises in His word!

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Psalm 9:10
"God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked."
Psalm 22:24
The Lord doesn't hate or despise the helpless in all of their troubles. When I cried out, he listened and did not turn away.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.

All of these verses bring hope! All of them are promises from God Himself! I know that hearing these things of what God can do for me is so encouraging. It doesn't say anything about God wanting to hurt us or if we go to God, we will get hurt. It says that God is a safe-house for us! Do you feel safe with God? He promises to never hurt us, but only has plans for us to prosper. It may be something scary to just try and give it all to God, but it takes away all of the anxieties. Not that it wont take the pains away, but sometimes we still have those feelings. That is when the joy of Christ comes alive inside of us and we perservere!

The Task That Lies Ahead

Tasks...I'm pretty sure that most students don't even want to hear that word anymore. Since the end of the school year is here...we think that our tasks are done for the summer. But is school really that task that should have our main focus? Of course it is important, and I'm not saying that it is something that we should blow off...but there is another important task that we have. Many people overlook this task as well. Some are afraid of it and believe that it is way beyond their comfort zone. To others, it is something that easily comes naturally! If God wants all of us to do it, then why is it so hard sometimes? My personal opinion is that it is not hard for everyone. I believe that it isn't hard for anyone actually. Many see sharing the gospel as something that you must go out and talk to others...but there are so many other ways. We each have talents given to us by God, some are outspoken and can share easily. Others are shy and find that more difficult. Of course..all who know me know that I definetely do not have a problem with speaking to others. There are so many ways to share the gospel though! Things such as writing and praying for others are ways to share. You don't have to share with thousands of people at at time...sometimes its easier to share with just one at a time! Paul states that he isn't done until the task is complete!

Acts 20:24
24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

I want to have that desire that Paul had. He had such a want to share the gospel and to just do what God wanted him to do. At times it is so hard because we don't feel like we are ready for what God has planned for us, and at times it can be scary. But God takes those fears away and replaces them with joy that we can only find in Him. And why must we fear? If it is in God's plan anyways, we should know that everything will be okay and that He will ultimately take care of us. I look at this verse and it makes me reflect on my life. How well have I been doing with completing the task? Its a question that we all should ask...

Coming Into Worship

Many think that worshipping God can be something easy...something that everyone can do. And its true, you can worship God easily, but are you doing it with a pure heart? I read a devotional today that really opened my eyes. I can go to church all I want, and praise God all I want, but am I really doing it with a pure heart? Have I really repented from my sins and in right terms with God? Can a someone who has not repented just go up to God and be with Him? Does the bible not say that we must repent? I truly thought about this. What is the purpose of worshipping when we know deep in our hearts that we are in wrong with God? Can we really get close to God when we are stuck in our sin? Its not just a feeling, its not just doing it. Of course God wants us to come to Him and everything, but He also wants us to come with pure hearts and searching for forgiveness. Humbling ourselves is sort of a sum up of what we need to do.

Psalms 24:3-4
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

These questions are amazing. I love the question of who may stand in His holy palce...we really don't even deserve to, but He wants us to! He who has clean hands and a pure heart! Those who have repented of course! We must remember that God wants us to come to Him, and only He can make us pure and clean! He is the only one who can forgive us and bring total cleansing to us! Nothing we can do on our own can bring us to this, only God! But when we worship Him with unpure hearts...we are basically telling Him, I will praise and worship you, but I don't want to give up the things that I do....so...are you telling God this? If so, ask Him to bring your heart to a want of repentance!

Its All About Love!

Ah...love...something that we all look for! But the question is...do we look for it in the right places? I saw a movie today where a girl was sexually abused by her step dad..and she looked for love in sex. She was so confused about what love really was and what the difference was between right and wrong. Sometimes things in our lives give us a warped view of what the truths are. Sometimes we think that love is found in sex, or in materialistic things, but in reality...thats not where it is found. Many people turn to drugs and alcohol because they cannot handle the things that are going on in their lives. They find "love" and support in these things and become addicted. But did you know that you can become addicted to Christ' love as well? And this is more in a postive way. A way that isn't harmful to your body. A way that wont give you a disease when you wake up the next morning. I know that I am going out on a limb in posting this, but I don't care. I know that there is someone out there that needs to hear this, and I promise that God's hand is in this and this person is going to be lead to reading this! I know that for me personally, sex was everything. I had such a confused view about it, that I didn't care. To me, that is where I found love. When I encountered Christ, I learned that this was not what love was. It wasn't even close. I'm not saying that all sex is bad, because in marriage (the way that God intended it to be) I have heard it isn't so bad! I came across a few verses a while back.

1 John 3:6
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 4:9-10
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

Hmm..didn't realize that there were three of them. Basically, all of them are saying the same thing. Christ showed love for us by dying on the cross for us. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. We were meant to die for our sins, not Jesus. Now, you can't tell me that that is not true love! That is such amazing love! Not many would be willing to sacrifice their child for the whole world's sins! Where did our love come from? CHRIST! We love because He first loved us! Oh wow...so amazing! There is nothing more that we could ask for than having the love that Christ had when He sacrificed Himself for us!

Jesus Prayed For Me?

Hard to believe, that someone that was here on this earth over 2000 years ago actually prayed for us who are here now. If thats not a true sign of love, then I don't know what is. Many think that Jesus only prayed for Himself and His Disciples and that is it. But aren't we all called to be disciples of Jesus Christ? It is true, that He did pray for Himself. He does this in the first part of John 17. Then, He continues to pray for His loving disciples. The truth behind this all is that Christ loves us so much. He loved us even before we were born. There is nothing more important than having the love of Christ in us. Here is what Jesus prayed for:

John 17:20-26
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

My favorite part is where He says that He wants us to be where He will be when He is with the Father. That means that Jesus wants us to be in Heaven with us. Sounds to me like a personal invitation. But do you notice the intimacy shared in the prayer between Jesus and His Father? He tells Him the deepest desires of His heart. One of those desires is that we may be in Heaven with Him someday. He also says that He wants to share the love of God with all. That we may have the love that God has for the Christ. That's a lot of love! We were so special that Christ even prayed for us while He was here on earth! Amazing!

Trials, But Do I Have To?

I am wishing that the answer to that question was a no, but none of us are exempted from trials. I really wish that we were, but we aren't. So, what should we do? Should we go around and cry and just give up all hope? I used to think that that was the only way to get through things. I could never really find that hope that was laying inside of me. Many think that trials are horrible things and that nothing good could ever come out of them. At the time, they may seem like they are horrible, but once you get through them, you look back and realize that it was nothing. Oh, I know what it is like to get caught up in the moment! When it seems like you are stuck in a horrible situation and thinking that it will never end. Thinking that the world is just going to end because of what you are going through. But we don't have to look at trials like that anymore. We can look at them as a growing experience. In James it says,

James 1:2-3
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Woah, considering a hard time pure joy? That is not something that we all find easy to accomplish. Have you ever looked at a situation and saw it as a testing of your faith? I know that after reading this verse, I've seen that it does really test your faith. In those hard times, that is when you need to turn to God and put all of your faith in Him. Even though its harder to do it then, that is who is really going to get you through things. I know seeing a trial as a joy may be hard, but once you see something as a positive even though its a negative, your perspective and attitude towards it changes. Are you ready to have Christ give you that hope so that you may be joyful about your trials?

Ahh..The Peace of Christ!

Nothing like peace...its something that all of us search for! Have you ever gone through a rough time where you felt like everything inside you was tense and you were just so worried? Imagine living like that everyday. I believe that is how most live because they never find the peace of Christ. I couldn't even imagine...last night I went to bed and I was sooo worried and upset. I kept crying out to God asking Him to fill me with His peace...I kept repeating a verse in my head as a prayer to God. To me, it felt like it didn't work. Rule number one, never rely on feelings! A half and hour later I woke up sick. Needless to say, worrying got me no where. I couldn't even imagine having to deal with that everyday. I pray that I never deal with that again! As I was thinking about things last night, I realized that Paul went through so much more and he still sent praises out to God. So I decided to find encouragement in his letters. And while doing this, I came across Colossians 3:15 which says,

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Hmmm...let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. We can let anything rule in our hearts. Some people let worry rule their hearts, some let lust rule their hearts, and others let sin rule their hearts. Wouldn't it be so much easier to let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts? I found it so hard to let His peace rule in me, but I believe that it is something that will take a while and not just happen in one night. I can already see the changes and am so excited for what will happen in the future! Don't worry...you can choose to have the peace of Christ rule in your lives!

He Will Never Leave Me? Then Why Do I Feel So Alone??

I admit...this is a question that I ask a lot. I actually am asking it a lot right now. Today was a tough, emotional day, and I have a feeling that it will be like this for a while. At first, I chose to cry and turn to people. Then someone asked me a tough question, "have you prayed yet?" And I honestly had to say no. Thats when I turned to God. I tried to fall asleep so maybe I could sleep through most of this, and while I was laying here I just kept saying "Please God, take control...please help me!" So far, I have full faith in Him that things will work out for His good. In a devotion that I read today, it was talking about worrying and just trusting in God. Sometimes we feel like no one is on our side. As if we were all alone and there was no one that was going to help us. The verse that they shared was Deuteronomy 31:8 which says:

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

I believe that that passage is what is truly going to get me through this. Isn't is awesome how our God promises us that He will never leave us! I cried when I read this, because it was the answer to what my heart wanted to hear. I admit, I still am kind of nervous and very tense, but I could be a lot worse! I also talked to someone who is very encouraging. I asked her if I needed to, would she back me up. And she said she would because she knew the truth. I love my church friends so much, and thank you Kris!

Submit to God!

Hmm...tough subject...I was at breakfast with a good friend this morning and we were just sort of reading through some verses and came upon James 4:7-10. I remember someone sharing that with me a while ago and I highlighted it but never really came back to it. My new goal is to not just read verses, but to apply them to my life. This is sort of my first experience doing this so I am anxious to see what happens. Here is what it says:

James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Ah...the first sentence...Submit yourselves to God. Sometimes I wonder what that exactly means. But I have come to the conclusion that is is nothing more than just giving your all to Him and holding nothing back. Basically, submitting your life into His hands. Resist the devil...sounds like something we are told but we never really listen to. Its not just good enough to walk along life without caring, Satan is going to try every way possible to attack you and to take your focus off of Christ. You must resist Satan! I love the part where it says humble yourselves before the Lord...wow...that is something that is really hard! First off...humble basically means not to he proud...and to be modest. That's what God wants from us. He wants us to just admit to Him that we are wrong and He is the only thing that is for us. He is the one and only who will get us through things...first, submit yourself to God, resist the devil, then humble yourself before Him! Prayers for all!

My Jesus, My Best Friend

Jesus...not someone most people associate as a best friend. Many associate Jesus as only the person who died for them. At first, this is what I thought as well. Then, I realized that I was living not for a relationship, but just for the fact that everyone was telling me that Jesus was my Savior. And He is my Savior! But He is also my best friend. I made a list of something that I like in a best friend. Here is what I came up with. Always there for me, someone that I can tell everything to, will never betray my trust, someone who loves me and I love them, someone who wont hurt me or talk about me behind my back, and someone who is willing to do anything for me. Isn't everything that I just listed characteristics of Christ? I believe so! I think that anything anybody would write down are things of Christ, unless of course someone wants a horrible friend! He is the most amazing friend that anyone can have. Is Jesus your friend? I know that for sure He is mine...just like a friend, we need to communicate with Him everyday. I often pray just as if I was telling my best friend everything that happened that day. Of course He already knows, but God wants you to come to Him and tell Him anyways! He always wants us to come to Him. Do you think that your best friend would be upset if you didn't tell them something important that happened that day? That is how God is. He is sad that we don't come to us and He wants us to feel comfortable in coming to Him! Remember, He is not only your Savior, but your best friend!

Secular lives or Spiritual lives?

This morning, as I was reading through Philippians, I came across a question in my devotions that really opened my eyes. The question was "Am I more likely to strive for excellence in my secular life or my spiritual life?" It took me a while to answer this question. I know that my spiritual life is growing and I want to just be everything God wants me to be, but I also have been struggling with trying to fit in. We went on a field trip on Thursday. The only girl that I sort of hang out with in that class is one who everyone thinks is perfect. She is...beautiful! She can be mean at times, but she is the perfect, ideal looking girl! It bothered me so much! I got home and was a total mess. I cried and cried. No matter how hard one of my friends tried, she couldn't get it through my head that it didn't matter what our outer beings looked like. That night, I also pushed away an amazing boyfriend. He also kept trying to tell me that it didn't matter. I went to bed crying that night...feeling like I had lost so much. Then, this morning, I found this passage.

Philippians 3:12-19
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

This is when I remembered the true goal that I am searching for. Its not finding outer beauty, its not finding acceptance in those who really don't care about me, its about running towards Christ and holding onto His truths. In the Message version, its says that many who are running the same race as you may choose to take other paths of destruction and also may try to get you to follow them. Nothing but pure truth! I thought of something as I read this. Instead of following them down this path, cut them off and bring them back to the right path. If I only accomplish one thing in life, may it be brining as many as I can to the right path, so that they also may receive the prize!

Trusting God, or Trusting People?

Lately on myspace, I have seen tons of posts from small bands begging people to go to Creation's website and vote for them to be able to play. Now...at first I thought hey cool thats something to pray about, but then I started to see that many of the bands were getting very competitive and it was becoming a thing that was all about them. It was like, they wanted to play at Creation for them and for them only. God wasn't even a part of these bulletins anymore...when I saw this...I thought of what Paul wrote in Philippians.

Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

What I was seeing, was not this. They were putting their trust in the people on myspace when truly they should have been praying to God and asking Him if this is what He wanted for them. Its okay to ask for support, but when you get to the point where you are begging and not even considering what God wants for you...thats when things get off track. I believe that this is when we lose everything, when we don't get what we really want because we are taking our eyes off of Christ. We are also not making Him the center of our life. I know that I struggle with this as well! Don't think that I am just pointing this out and judging them...this has taught me a huge lesson about taking everything to God and trusting in Him...and this is something that I am still working on. My prayer is for everyone to find this...to find where it is a natural thing to just go to God with everything...its also my prayer for me to accomplish!

Salvation

When I first received Christ into my heart, I thought that I was good to go. Up until recently, I have thought the same thing. Everyday, a new friend of mine has been asking me, are you sure that you are going to be in heaven with God? I took so much offense to this. To me, I thought that she was doubting me salvation. I was so confused, because I told her over and over again that Christ was my Savior. Today when I was doing my devotions, I came upon this question: "Some believers don't worry about their sin too much, because they know God will forgive them. What's wrong with their thinking?" I struggled with this question. Then, it came upon me. When we ask Christ into our hearts, He sort of gives us this nature. When we get this nature, its like you want to obey, but sometimes you dont. God wants us to walk a new walk when we become christians (Romans 6:4) He wants nothing more than for us to obey Him. God is serious when it comes to this. We don't just get an easy pass. So many people live thinking that God's grace is what is going to save them. Well yes, His grace will save you, but do you think God really is happy and pleased with you when you go out and deliberately sin? I think not! He is sad inside, but nonetheless, He still loves us! Here is one way that sort of shows us proof of our salvation!

Psalms 50:23
"Times up for playing fast and loose
with me.
I'm ready to pass sentence,
and there's no help in sight!
It's the praising life that honors me!
As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
I'll show you my salvation!"

I love that passage! As soon as we set foot on God's way, He will show us His salvation! Isn't that awesome! His way is His path...Once we start following God's path for our life, He will show us His salvation! My prayer is that everyone takes a good look at their life and begins to ask themselves "Am I certain that my eternity will be spent in heaven?"

Wow, God is Amazing!

Okay...for those of you who say shut up I don't want God...there is no God...ummm...get real! My life is full evidance of God. Lately I have just been going through so much...and I decided that I was going to give it all to God, and let Him have full control. I totally let go of it and just handed it over to Him. I'm not saying that I didn't worry about it or that I totally just forgot about it, but things were so much easier. I can't even explain how He has been working! The things that He have been doing have just been beyond what words can express. He is just so amazing! Now, I am sick. I didn't even realize it! I may have kidney stones...and I am scared because of some stories that others have told me...all of those stories involve a great amount of pain...pain that I dont want to deal with! But I know that God will work everything out for the good. He will take care of this and will protect. I pray that what I have shared may be used to bless someone elses life!

Why Worry?

I can't believe that I am posting something about this! But okay here it goes. This week has been probably the most stressful of the school year. Its just things with the school and its really bothering me. I believe that the way the office is going about things is totally wrong. Some of it I also believe is against the law according to their contrats but thats okay. Im not really worried about that. But from Wednesday until Friday I worried every single day. I didnt sleep well Wednesday night because I was so worried. Friday morning came and I cried because I didn't want Friday to come. Then, the school didn't even call home. I worried over nothing and Im sure I am probably going to worry Monday and the rest of the week. I extremely hate this. I worried so much Thursday morning that I threw up. The thing is...why worry? I don't get why I do it, or even why others do it. God is in control and already knows what is going to happen. By us worrying, things aren't going to change. I guess I felt in some control while I worried. It made me not be myself the whole week too. It was like I was down and when I tried to be up about things, it wouldn't happen. Sometimes I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. But on Wednesday night at youth group we talked about how we worry and how if we take everything to God in prayer...we don't need to worry. I guess I am going to try this....but I am not sure how well it is going to go.

Another thing is what some have been saying to me. The school thinks that I have some sort of multiple personality disorder. When they told me this, they said that unless I got help now I would never make it in life. They also had the nerve to ask me if I was crazy. All day I felt like I was extremely far away from God. They made me feel like God couldn't help me and that I was sort of hopeless and helpless. I hated that feeling, because for a while I seriously felt that God wasn't even there with me. And I began to feel like if people thought that I was crazy, maybe I really was? Then I talked to some of my close friends, and they told me that it wasn't true and that I was okay...Just one thing...remember that no matter what God is right there beside you...Even if people make you feel hopeless and helpless!