"Little" Sins

Over the years I have learned that all truth comes from God, even if it's not from an overtly Christian perspective. I have found this to be so true having worked in the field of addiction and learning about 12 Step Recovery programs. Just about everything that is taught in the 12 Steps about how to get sober can be related back to the Christian faith. We teach individuals about the importance of accepting our helpless condition (lost and sinful beings), surrendering our lives to a "Higher Power" (God), and learning to rebuild our lives in the pursuit of letting go of self and pursuing the will of something greater than ourselves. 

One lie that Satan tries to convince us of is that some sins are worse than others. It becomes easy to judge, rationalize, and dismiss our sin when we take our eyes off of Christ and begin comparing ourselves with others but Romans 6:26 says, "For the wages of sin is death..." Tonight I had to remind myself that my "little" sins will lead to death just as easily as someone else's "big" sin. 

When Christians mature in the faith many times we make radical changes that are obvious to others on the outside but over time it is not uncommon to compromise on our values and allow the world's ways to creep into our lives. Please be aware of how Satan uses those seemingly insignificant things (such as TV, music, movies, books, social media, etc.) as a way to get you to lower your standards and become accepting of or dismissive to things that are unholy and competing for God's position as first in your life. 

Relating this back to addiction, the next time you question why someone cannot simply stop using drugs or drinking alcohol ask yourself why you choose to continue watching that television show that you know you shouldn't watch (sin of idolatry) or why you keep eating those sweets when the doctor told you to start watching your weight (sin of gluttony). Those things are killing you just like the drugs and alcohol are killing them. 

In order to overcome the sin in our lives we have to recognize and confess our sinful condition, surrender to Him, and dedicate our lives to being holy and pursuing Christ. The second half of Romans 6:23 says "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." As a result of choosing obedience to God and forsaking the things of this world we get to experience the gift of everlasting life.

We do not have time to waste while we are here on this earth. Time is fleeting and there is much to be done. One day we will let our guard down and rest, but until then we must remain vigilant and alert to Satan's schemes. Keep your eyes on the cross, my brothers and sisters, and I will try to do the same!

They Hated Jesus Too

Hello Brothers and Sisters! I wanted to take some time to share with you some things that I have learned during my study time as well as provide some encouragement for the sometimes very difficult life of a believer. As Christians we are called to love while also speaking truth into a world that operates very heavily on lies. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and discouragement for those who are trying to live a life pleasing to God while balancing relationships with loved ones and peers who may not have accepted Christ's gift of salvation.   

Where I work I come into contact with people who drink and use drugs in an effort to escape from their problems and find some semblance of peace or joy that they cannot seem to find otherwise. Though I cannot come out and say that Jesus is the solution to their problems, I can begin sharing truth with them and through this process many of them come to know Christ on their own. While I hope this is encouraging to hear, this is not the encouraging part of my blog. 

I am sure we have all heard the saying, "The truth hurts" and this is a very true statement. The unfortunate thing about human nature is that when we get hurt, especially if we do not have an intimate relationship with Christ (and sometimes even if we do), we hurt others. So in essence, when we speak truth to others it often hurts and then they try to hurt us back. Clearly this is still not the encouraging part. 

The encouraging part is written in Luke Chapter 4 verses 22-30: 

22 All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, "Isn't this Joseph's son, the one we've known since he was a youngster?"
23 He answered, "I suppose you're going to quote the proverb, 'Doctor, go heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we heard you did in Capernaum.'
24 Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown...
28 That set everyone in the meeting place seething with anger.
29 They threw him out, banishing him from the village, then took him to a mountain cliff at the edge of the village to throw him to his doom,
30 but he gave them the slip and was on his way.

In this passage Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth and He was speaking truth and fulfilling prophecies in the synagogue. At first everyone was in awe of how well He was speaking but they still paid no attention to the true meaning of His words. It was then that Jesus began confronting them with the truth about their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Immediately their mood towards Him shifted from awe to anger and hatred. They wanted to literally kill Jesus for pointing out that they were wrong. 

Let me explain why this can be encouraging to believers. Jesus shows us the importance of speaking and living the truth regardless of how angry it makes others. Though Jesus left Nazareth with an angry mob, who knows how many people reflected on Jesus' words after the heat of the moment and began living changed lives? 

I cannot tell you how many addicts I have worked with that sang my praises one minute and then cursed me down the hallway the next after being confronted about a behavior or attitude that would lead them back to drug or alcohol use. Human nature and the Devil work hand in hand to keep us stuck in states of denial and wrong thinking when it comes to our sin. We are thus lulled into a dream land full of lies and false reality until someone jolts us awake with words of truth and reminders of our true reality. 

With a similar reaction to pouring cold water on someone passed out on a couch many people jump up kicking and screaming when confronted with the truth. However, if the house was on fire the person would most likely come around eventually and thank you for saving their life. A moment of temporary discomfort is well worth an eternity of peace and communion with God.       

At this time that I would like to clarify that truth is to be shared at the appropriate time and with the appropriate motivations. Just as it is not nice to pour cold water on a sleeping person for no reason, speaking truth in order to hurt or bring shame or guilt onto someone is an inappropriate use of God's Word. We are to remember that Christ came to save and forgive us of our sins, not to load us down with shame or mock our inability to maintain perfect righteousness. In remembering to speak the truth in love ask yourself what shows more love: to allow someone to live a comfortable life temporarily or to share with someone how to live in paradise for eternity?

I pray that as you go about your day-to-day lives that you are encouraged even if someone reacts harshly to the truth. Remember, it is not you that they are truly reacting to. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts them of their sin and it will be their choice to repent and accept Christ or turn away and deny Him. At that point you have done your job and just like Jesus all you have left to do is calmly move on to your next mission field. 

   

Introducing The 5 P's - A Bible Study Tool That Has Changed My Life

A couple of weekends ago (has it been that long already?!) my sweet mother-in-law gave me a gift that cost her $10 + some gas money. Considering the lasting impact that gift has made on my life she got a deal because the true worth simply cannot be measured. I will forever be grateful that she followed God's prompting(s) to invite me to a Priscilla Shirer simulcast as well as to let me spend the night at her house the night before knowing how much I struggle with early mornings. Had that not been part of the package the trip probably would have been a no-go. Fortunately, God, in His infinite wisdom, made the stars align and we made it to the church on time that morning to enjoy what would be a life changing experience.  

I am not going to go into detail here about everything that God revealed to me that weekend because we would both be here a while. What I am going to share with you is a tool for studying the Bible that Priscilla shared with us. This tool has changed the way I read and study my Bible. It has freed me from being completely dependent on a written Bible study and has enabled me to read through God's Word for myself so that the Holy Spirit can speak to me where I am at in my own journey. I am not saying that Beth Moore Bible studies will become obsolete if you choose to use this method of study, however, they will become mere compliments to God's word instead of substitutes for it.

Instead of doing double work and paraphrasing what Priscilla has already written, I am going to simply insert an excerpt of her explaining it to you herself. This is from the leaders guide in her "Can We Talk?" study:

"AS YOU BEGIN YOUR TIME WITH THE LORD EACH DAY" 

1. Position yourself to hear from God. 
Encourage your group members to find a place where hearing God can be made more simple each day. Engaging in the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude always assists in hearing God through the Scriptures. 

"AS YOU LOOK INTO THE PASSAGE YOU ARE STUDYING" 

2. Pore over the passage and Paraphrase the major points. 
Take time to fully engage in each verse you read. Don’t just skim over it; meditate on it. Then paraphrase what you’ve read from each verse either in your workbook or a separate journal. 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles. 
Close your Bible and look at the paraphrases you’ve written down. For each one, record the spiritual principle that it is designed to convey. Is there a command to follow? Is there a promise to heed? Is there an attribute of God revealed? 

4. Pose the question. 
For each of the spiritual principles you’ve pulled out, form a personally directed question. In your daily living, are you following the command, heeding the promise, depending on that attribute of God? As you ask yourself questions from the text, you will find a divine dialogue begin to develop as the Holy Spirit brings answers, conviction, and challenge. 

5. Plan obedience and Pin down a date. 
Consider what God would have you do as a result of the conversation you’ve had with Him and then plan to obey Him. If possible, pin down a date so that you can remain accountable.


I hope that you find this tool as helpful as I have in my own study. It has given me direction and structure as I read through full books of the Bible and begin pulling out meaning that I never saw through a simple reading of the passage. I am currently reading through the book of Haggai and hope to post what I've learned through this method when I complete the book. I would love to see what you guys are learning as well. Use the comments section and let me know how your Bible study has been changed using the 5 P's!

My Holy Land Experience

As I type I am sitting in the Lobby of the La Quinta Inn at the Orlando Airport with sore, red eyes. Just prior to perching here I spent about an hour sitting outside journaling, reading my Bible, and breaking intermittently to watch airplanes fly overhead. When Vic and I made the decision to visit the Holy Land Experience today I had no idea that it would take all afternoon and evening to process what happened while we were there.

I must admit that my first impression of the "Holy Land" was that it was a bit cheesy and over-the-top flashy. In one word, gaudy. We walked around and I couldn't help to be somewhat turned off by the "fake-ness" of everything. I knew going into the experience that it was not going to be just like being in the real Holy Land but I guess I was expecting something that felt a little more authentic. Probably one of the best features of the park itself were the bricks that have been hewn and brought in from Israel. However, despite how much I appreciated the bricks they only aided in exaggerating the contrast of genuine vs artificial in the world that surrounded me. I wanted it to feel more real. God must have been eavesdropping on my internal conversation with myself because before we left He gave me what I yearned for and more.  

Now would be a good time to make a confession about something. Prior to our trip to the Holy Land I had been very quiet in my personal prayer life with God. Sure, the purpose of our trip to Orlando was for me to participate in a class facilitated by a Christian University. We did a lot of praying and praising God during the week as a class but when I got back to the hotel I failed to interact with my Savior. When I think about it, I almost feel like I left God back in Georgia. In my heart I know He has been with us the whole time but practically I failed to make him a priority.

As we walked into the theater at the Church of All Nations where the Passion of Jesus production would take place I had no idea what to expect. We were seated by the cast member who would later portray Simon of Cyrene, the man who helped Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha. Les Cheveldayoff, the man who plays the role of Jesus, started the show off by singing "I Bowed on My Knees" by the Gaithers. Finally, something I could relate to. During his performance I couldn't help but think of how mightily God blessed Les. Not only does he look like Jesus but he could also be Guy Penrod's twin in appearance and vocal ability. Now that's favor.     

I don't want to give away the entire performance for those who hope to one day experience it for yourself, but I would like to share just one of the scenes that really moved me. It was just after Christ commended His soul to the Father when the Centurion admitted, "Surely this was the Son of God." This was a part of Christ's story that I had never given much attention to but I really appreciated how they played this part out. Seeing the Centurion truly repentant for what he did and how his heart changed when he realized Jesus forgive him while He still hung on the cross was overwhelming.
I bawled from that point on until we were halfway back to the hotel.

Though the Centurion triggered the tears, the scenes that came after that depicted Christ's resurrection and His reign in Heaven were even more moving. Again the costumes and props were over-the-top but so was Christ's love for us. With this in mind I was able to overlook the sparkle and just embrace the depiction of His reign in Heaven as He called out familiar names from The Book of Life. One by one Mary of Bethany, Simon the Cyrene, the Centurion and many others were brought up and given crowns which they in turn humbly laid at Jesus' feet in worship. I found myself wanting one just so I could lay it at His feet too. Indeed, what a glorious day that will be.

At the very end Les lead us in a time of worship where the audience was invited to come up front and kneel at the steps of the stage as an alter. Despite being in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers I felt so comfortable and safe. At that time I literally found myself thinking, "I'm surrounded by a bunch of strangers, completely vulnerable, and I don't even care because Jesus loves me." I drenched the floor in my tears and snot and praised God for His goodness and faithfulness in my life. I thanked Him for many things including beauty, peace, joy, family, and love.

People began filing out of the auditorium while Vic and I just sat in the seats and watched Les wrap his arms around visitors and pray with them. I wanted so bad to hug him but I didn't for fear that I would collapse in tears on the floor. He did such an incredible job depicting Jesus and demonstrating His love and concern for others. That was genuine. As we left the theater we were checked on by multiple cast members and asked if we needed prayer. All I could get out was, "It was beautiful."

The glitter and gold could have turned to dust and copper and I wouldn't have noticed as long as those smiling faces remained. The love of the people make the Holy Land Experience. Not the bricks from Israel, not the scenery, and definitely not the glitz and the glamor.

The presence of Jesus in believers is what makes this world bearable and dare I say beautiful. I am so grateful that we chose to spend our rainy day at the Holy Land instead of at Disney World. I've had enough of this world, what I really needed was more of Jesus.

What's Your Price?

Matthew Chapter Four begins with the telling of how Satan, the tempter, attempted to woo Jesus into turning His back on God. Satan spun many tales of how he would make sure that Jesus’ basic needs were met, that people would recognize Him as the Son of God, and that He would be granted the world and its riches if only Jesus would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:9). Fortunately for us, Jesus could not be fooled into trading His relationship with the true, authentic God for a counterfeit. Jesus’ affection could not be bought with worldly things. Besides, Satan failed to offer Jesus anything that he didn’t already have.

Salvation may be free but it is not cheap. The Devil takes advantage of this fact and attempts to market his counterfeit items to those who are weak and vulnerable. Let’s browse Satan’s store of lies and see what he claims to offer, but be sure to read the "fine print":

• Acceptance by all (Voided when speaking out in favor of Biblical truths.)
• Popularity (Must be willing to compromise values and morals that might offend.)
• Wealth (Only of the material kind that is unfulfilling and fleeting.)       
• Safety (Safety features only available with purchase of gang membership.)
• Family (If you don’t like them you can always divorce or abandon them.)
• Success (Only available to the wealthy, attractive, and/or manipulative.)
• Freedom (Subject to limitations.)

In some ways the battle for the soul is similar to competition for customers in a free market economy. Unlike God, however, Satan is not above false advertising or poor service and he has a no-return policy.  When you buy into what Satan has to offer you are going to find yourself feeling disappointed at the end product. Much like “As Seen On TV” items clutter the home, Satan clutters your mind and life with ideas and objects that seem to be pretty nifty at first but further inspection reveals them to be of poor quality and unable to live up to expectations.

Like I stated before, salvation is free but it is not cheap. Jesus did what only He could do when He willingly paid the price for our sins as He died on the cross. In return for this act of pure love and selflessness God asks that we follow His commandments and love no other God before Him (Exodus 20:3). If we have bought into anything that Satan has offered us then we have made the decision to turn our backs on our Father in Heaven and settle for the Devil’s cheap knock offs.

Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (NIV) This verse should serve as a wake up call to believers. If you have accepted Jesus as your savior you have been renewed and you are to live a life in accordance with God’s will and his commandments. If you still think, act, and live the same way that you did before you declared Jesus Christ as your savior then you must question if you have truly surrendered your life to Him.

Revelation 3:15-17 says, “15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (NIV)

Being faithful and uncompromising when it comes to abiding by God’s Word is detrimental to maintaining a strong relationship with God. The climate of our culture today is making it more and more difficult to straddle the fence. No longer can Christians dwell in our bubbles and cling to neutrality. Every day we hear of new laws being proposed and passed that creep and infringe on our ability to be law abiding citizens while still holding fast to our convictions.

The era of civil disobedience is very likely at our doorstep. My question is are you going to let Satan buy you out? Are you going to let him sell you his temporary and limited version of freedom that only allows you to stay out of jail as long as you turn your back to the God who grants you true and eternal freedom? Are you going to let him convince you that vain and shallow popularity is more important than speaking the truth in love? Are you going to continue pursuing material wealth at the expense of your Christian values?

I despise persecution but I cannot help but notice that Christians in other countries that experience great consequences and difficulties because of their beliefs are stronger and more bold in their faith. Christians in America balk at the thought of hurting someone’s feelings when speaking out against sin while our brothers and sisters in other countries are facing imprisonment, starvation, and even death as a result of their belief in Christ Jesus.

It is time to stop compromising. It is time to stand out. It is time to take inventory of what God has promised to His believers in the scriptures and it is time to remember what He has already fulfilled through His Son. Pray up, read the Bible, allow the Holy Spirit to empower you, and when Satan asks you your price remind him that Jesus has already paid it.

Discovering the Superhero Inside of YOU!

Time to Reflect

Recently I have been so blown away with a new understanding of old concepts as if I had never heard them before. I have also been humbled by God’s willingness to work through me, and just put in utter awe and shock of God’s amazing goodness. When I look back over the happenings of the past week I cannot help but see God at work in every second of every day.

A Quiet Place

It all starts at the beginning of the week with God putting the desire in my heart to go somewhere quiet where I could read His Word and reflect on His teachings and truths. I have learned that when God moves the Holy Spirit inside of you to find a quiet place to hear his voice, you better do it! It doesn’t have to be anywhere special. My desire was to go to the beach or somewhere serene and beautiful but I ended up having to settle with the serene beauty of my single-wide trailer. The good news is that God doesn’t care where you are as long as He’s getting your full attention.

For two whole days I had the house to myself being as the Christmas break was over and my sweet husband had to go back to work. During this time I read my Bible, drank coffee, and read some literature written by very wise individuals including Beth Moore and Billy Graham. Both of these beautiful people of God, in conjunction with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, have aided in removing a fog from my eyes and mind and opened me up to experiencing so much more of God in my day to day life.

My first day off I enjoyed the reading and studying and felt very at peace with myself. I was happy that I had the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate for two days back to back. God gave me one on one time with Him and He also gave me an unexpected opportunity to worship with fellow believers when I had to take Vic an item he needed for class at the Guido Bible Institute. It was a beautiful experience and a wonderful way to close out the day.

The next day I ended up sleeping in a little longer but still getting in some time reading and reflecting. I enjoyed an opportunity to cook for Vic and myself and then dug back into reading Billy Graham’s book about the Holy Spirit. God has truly spoken through Billy Graham to shed light on a subject that is often misunderstood and misrepresented.

Night Terrors

That evening I began to experience a phenomenon that has come at night like clockwork for the past month or so. The sensation of fear and anxiety over the increasing persecution of the Church has been a burden on my soul lately. With those fears and anxieties come worries of persecution aimed towards me and my family specifically. I have yet to determine if this is something that God wants me to be burdened for or if Satan is using it as a way to deter me from getting closer to God. It may be a mixture of both and it’s up to me whether I will allow God or Satan to claim the victory.

That night I chose to rest in the victory that Christ Jesus claimed for me. After an unsuccessful attempt to cajole Vic to come to bed so that I could feel safer (he definitely is not an enabler of my co-dependent tendencies) I resigned myself to my “last resort” which should have been my first resort. Isn’t it funny how we always get this part backwards? As if Vic could do something that God couldn’t. I finally prayed to God for His peace and comfort and began humming my go-to hymn for peace, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” As I hummed and prayed I heard these words in my head, “Go to sleep child, I am here.” I could almost feel God’s hand resting on my back and sense his presence sitting right there with me as I drifted off to sleep. What a good Father He is!  

Blatantly Honest

Let me take a step back and talk about what happened in between reading about the Holy Spirit and my drifting off to sleep with the Father by my side. I took some time to journal about the day’s happenings and also to express my feelings about returning to work the following day. I had heard there was some drama at work and I needed to take some time to surrender that to Him, so I did.

In the process, I also admitted to God that I knew what I NEEDED to do was get up and spend some time with Him in the morning, but what I WANTED to do would be to sleep until the last possible second and deal with the consequences of not getting up when I needed to later. If I was being honest that’s exactly how I felt and I told Him that right there on the page. I’m sure He smiled and clapped His hands giddily because that was also when I asked Him to allow the Holy Spirit to work on my heart while I slept and to change my desire to be in line with His will for my life. I woke up the next morning and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I had 45 full minutes of coffee drinking, Bible-reading, and journaling with my God and didn’t regret one minute of it.

Putting It All Together

Though I learned several concepts individually during my break, God helped me to pull them all together as I drove to work the next morning. Please allow me to share my lightbulb moment with you:

Authors Beth Moore and the Apostle Paul reminded me of this fact: most people know what we NEED to do, but that is rarely what we WANT/TEND to do. We cannot live the life that God wants us to live in our own power alone. If we are left to our own devices we will more than likely choose to do the opposite of what we NEED to do. Being reminded of our fallen human nature, what do we do to overcome the fleshly desire to do what feels good for the moment regardless of the consequences that follow? Billy Graham knew the next step and now I do too thanks to his book, turn to the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit Is A He

The Holy Spirit is a person. I think many of us have the tendency to think of Him as an “it.” If that were the case then this verse in Genesis 1:26 would not make any sense:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Emphasis mine).

According to Billy Graham (1978), “The Holy Spirit has intellect, emotions, and will” (p. 23). He can speak (Rev. 2:7), intercede for us (Rom. 8:26), testify (John 15:26), lead (Acts 8:29, Rom. 8:14), command (Acts 16:6), guide (John 16:13 RSV), appoint (Acts 20:28), be lied to (Acts 5:3-4), be insulted (Heb. 10:29), be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31-32), and be grieved (Eph. 4:30). Each of those characteristics describe a person, not a force. The Holy Spirit is not unfeeling or impersonal like gravity, He lives within us and is here to help us navigate through life in a way that would please our Father in Heaven (Graham, 1978, p. 22-25). Recognizing the Holy Spirit as a person and not an “it” has changed the way I look at a lot of things and maybe it will for you too.

Putting It All Together Again

Back to tying it all together. When we are trying to do GOD’s will over OUR will, it is important to admit to God that your sinful, fleshly desires are in conflict with the Holy Spirit’s will within you. When we come to terms and are honest with ourselves about the fact that we are wretched human beings and need help to be holy, we can finally humble ourselves enough to receive help from the Holy Spirit. We must ask God to help us back out of the equation in order to let the Holy Spirit overpower our flesh. This is the supernatural step that takes some faith and trust. It is completely and utterly up to God to do the rearranging in our hearts at this point. We cannot do anything but sit back and let God do His thing.

Why is it so important to depend on God’s power (The Holy Spirit) to help us with overcoming our tendencies to do the opposite of what we need to do? Because sin is a supernatural concept. Sin comes from doing anything that is outside God’s will for our lives. Sin is Satan’s tool to ruin our lives and to pull us away from living a life full of God’s love as He intended for us. Because sin is a tool of the Devil, a supernatural being, we need God’s supernatural power to help us overcome it.

Trying to overcome sin (Satan) with human strength would be like a Jedi trying to fight a Sith Lord without using “The Force.” It’s laughable. Our faith in the supernatural is what saves us and sanctifies us. If you cannot swallow the fact that there is a spiritual (supernatural) world around us and spiritual powers working within us then it is going to be impossible for you to live the Christian life. Continuing on with the Star Wars analogy: Before you are saved you are essentially working for the “Dark side”, when you are saved God kicks the devil out and you come to the "Light Side”. I’m not enough of a Star Wars fanatic to know if one force is ultimately stronger than the other, but when it comes to God vs Satan, I do know that God is the ultimate victor.

Other Thoughts

God showed up and showed out in so many different ways last week as a result of my desire to experience more of Him. When you ask God to reveal Himself to you and actually take the time to pursue Him, He is more than happy to make Himself known. I am grateful for the everlasting love of the Father, for the sacrifice that His Son made for us, and for the power of the Holy Spirit that is living within me. I pray that though what I have said may sound like old hat to some (as parts of it did to me) that the Holy Spirit reveals truth in these words like you have never heard them before. I love you and pray that God makes Himself known in your life just as He has in mine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

References

Graham, B. (1978). The Holy Spirit: Activating God's power in your life. Waco. Tex.: Word Books.

Moore, E. (n.d.). Audacious. Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing.

Letting Our Light Shine and The Peace That Defies Reason

Tonight I would like to share two of my most favorite verses with y'all. They both remind me of the peace and joy that, as Christans, we are to reflect to the world. One tells us what to do and the other tells us how we can do it in the midst of troubles and storms in life. 

Matthew 5:16 tells us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This command is so significant because it reminds us that we are to set ourselves apart by performing good works - not so that we should be lifted up ourselves, but so that God receives the praise and the credit for all that is good in our lives. If we call ourselves Christians but fail to perform good deeds in Jesus' name, then we are missing out on one of the most effective tools for witnessing to others. We all know that old cliche: "Actions speak louder than words." Christian, you are being watched very carefully, let your light shine any chance you get so that you may lead one more soul out of the darkness. 

As believers we know we need to reflect a spirit of peace and calmness, but how can we do that when the world seems to be angry and chaotic? This is where my second favorite verse comes into play. God tells us in Phillipians 4:6-7 that "...the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I love this because God basically tells us that He has given us the ability to experience a peace even when it makes no sense for us to be able to. He says just to trust Him and He can make the unbearable bearable. This means that when we are having the worst day of our lives, we can still find peace if we seek out our Lord and remember these words. 

I encourage you to practice letting your light shine and to tap into the unquenchable peace that God has given us through His son Jesus Christ. You, as well as the people you come in contact with, will be happier and less stressed as a result. 

So I got dunked, now what?

Like many individuals who have had the pleasure to be raised in the Bible Belt, I was brought up in a loving home by Christian parents who were also raised by Christian parents. You could almost say I was born a Christian, but that is where a lot of people get turned around...  

Because I was baptized at a young age I grew up knowing that Jesus loved me and that I loved him. Now if you're a 5 year old that's a great start, but my problem became apparent many years later when I realized I was in my 20's and that's still where my relationship with Jesus stood. I knew He existed, I knew He loved me, and I knew I loved Him, but up to that point I did not do much else in regards to my faith. When I finally came to terms with the fact that being a Christian was more than just receiving God's gift of salvation for myself, I began to question why I had held back from sharing this gift with others for such a long time. 

Upon reflection, the answer to my question became painfully obvious: I had not set myself apart from the world. In Romans 12:12 God tells us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing, and perfect will." (NIV) By conforming to the world I had voided much of my witness and became afraid to talk about my faith because I didn't want to be "just another Christian hypocrite." 

This is where God's awesome love and redemption came into play in my life. Despite all I had done (or not done), God forgave me for my many failures and gave me a renewed passion to seek Him. Armed with the Truth, God pushed me to start making up for lost time. The first person I could think of that I wanted to make sure I shared Jesus with was my best friend. Maybe this was for selfish reasons because I wanted to make sure I have a best friend in Heaven, but regardless God gave me the opportunity to share with her what He had done for me and likewise what He could do for her. She came to accept Jesus into her heart shortly thereafter and on Valentine's Day of 2010 I had the honor of being able to re-dedicate myself to God on the same day she publicly announced her newfound faith through Baptism.  

Having learned my lesson, I wanted to make this second go-round with God count. I wanted to be more than someone who said they loved Jesus; I wanted to be someone who didn't have to say anything about Jesus for others to know that He was in my heart. With the help of awesome Christian mentors and Vic's brutal honesty (we had just started dating at the time), I became aware of changes I needed to make in my lifestyle as well as simple ways that I could incorporate Jesus into my life on a daily basis. 

The following is a list of practical changes and behaviors that have become an integral part of who I am as a Christian. I pray that they can help you move forward in your spiritual journey as well:

• Monitor all media content: I burned books, cleaned out itunes, and gave away movies once I realized the incredible influence that media had on my thought process. One of the biggest lies that the Devil wants us to believe is that we can watch violence, listen to filth, and read about sex without being tempted to partake in these activities ourselves. This was probably one of the most difficult and radical changes that I made to my lifestyle, but I noticed an immediate difference in my mindset and attitude once I took the plunge. It has been well worth the sacrifice. 
• Listen to Christian talk shows/music on the radio: I have learned more about my faith in the past 4 years than I have in a lifetime simply by using my travel time to listen to preaching, marriage and family talk shows, and Christian music. I find that I am no longer satisfied with listening to secular music on the radio when I could be learning about or worshiping my Lord on the way to my next destination. 
• Keep a prayer journal: I have notebooks laying all over the house and at work where I write out many of my petitions and praises to God. Not only does this allow me to slow down and really consider what I am asking for but it also serves as a reminder that God does answer prayers and that He is more than deserving of my praise. 
• Assess friendships/significant relationships: While some people naturally faded out of my life, I had to make conscious decisions to part ways with others. I lost many friends and even ended a four-year dating relationship as a result of putting God first in my life.  Though those decisions were difficult to make, I have never regretted it because God quickly revealed to me that He had something better waiting for me, i.e. Vic.
• Go to church!: During my middle and high school years my family took a hiatus from church due to my grandparents moving into our home and needing constant care. When I think back, it was also during this time that I became the most depressed and fell the farthest from God than I have ever been in my life. I do not believe this was a coincidence and therefore do not advise staying out of church for an extended period of time. 
• Study your Bible: If you're a Christian, the Bible is your handbook for life - read it. It also doesn't hurt to sign up for some Bible classes or small discipleship groups that can guide you in reading God's Word.  When you begin to consider context, style of literature, intended audience, and authorship, a whole new world opens up and you're no longer just reading words on a page. The Guido Bible Institute in Metter, Ga. is where Vic and I began to practice and develop our Bible study skills. Their classes are affordable and completely worth the investment if you're looking to dig deeper into scripture.  
• Talk about your faith: I used to shy away from conversations about God, but since I re-dedicated myself I have become more and more comfortable with talking to others about my faith. I attribute this to an increasing knowledge and assurance of what I believe, as well as a boldness and fearlessness that God gives His children. Remaining open, available, and willing to heed to His nudges are important factors in this part of the Christian journey. We walk past lost souls every day that God would have asked us reach out to if we had only taken the time to listen.

God promises us in Psalm 119:2, "Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart..." (NIV) He has proven this over and over in my life, especially since making these deliberate changes to my lifestyle. I am most certainly not perfect, but as Christians we are called to become more like Christ, for 1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (NIV) 

What are some lifestyle changes that you made when you surrendered to God? Do you have any strategies for consistent spiritual growth? Let me know what has helped you develop your relationship with Jesus in the comments below! 

Connect: Jesus Welcomes Hannah Fordham

Connect: Jesus is pleased to add Hannah Fordham to our list of contributing Bloggers. Hannah is an aspiring marriage and family therapist who is currently studying for her graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Liberty University. She recently graduated with her BA in Psychology from Brewton-Parker College and is working as a substance abuse counselor at a state community service board. She is the wife of Vic Fordham and considers it a blessing to have the opportunity to work with him in the ministry field. Hannah will be blogging and adding other content to our website. She can be reached at hb00357@gmail.com