Every Area

Being a Christian as a teenager in high school is a lot easier than being a Christian as a young adult in college.

I remember back in high school I had little to no doubt about my faith.. I wasn't hassled or constantly questioned about my drinking habits (which actually have little to do with my faith).

Being a "good kid" wasn't such a weird thing because it was expected of everybody. Unless one did it in private, no one really drank or slept around or any of that stuff.

College is such a trial to your faith. From what we learn in our classes, to experiencing freedom from our parents control, and especially spending most of our time with people who aren't in our youth group. There are attacks coming in from every side and sometimes even from yourself.

People used to be so sensitive about my faith to the fact where it was some times annoying. I got tired of hearing "No we better not do that because Bri is a Christian and she won't go for it" and the like. But now you walk into a science class and the teacher basically teaches the class that everything you hold to be fundamentally true isn't even considered.

I know that this world is not catered to us as Christians because this is where the Enemy runs free. He runs free over the lives of the people who don't even believe in him, and some times even manages to affect us Christ-followers.

It's rough.

The point I'm getting at is that as I am getting older, I'm struggling with these internal things that pastors always warned us about. The types of things that, as a young person, we hoped would be the type of things we struggled with and not things like addiction or loss.

A friend of mine came out of Christianity and he explained that he sat down and gave God one last chance to give him a sign before he walked away. He sat for a couple hours waiting for God to do anything but alas, He did not and this left my friend with no faith.

A year or so ago I found myself doing things like this quite often. I used to cry out "God speak to me!! I need SOMETHING Jesus, send me a sign!" Of which, I had always hoped a truck carrying a bunch of signs would drive by, like in the film Bruce Almighty. Unfortunately, my response was much like my friend's... silent.

In fact, I don't think God has ever spoken to me in those situations, despite how much I wanted him to. I can't be sure if this correlates, but I'm reminded of Satan tempting Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Surely, we are not Satan and I don't think we are tempting Jesus but something about sitting and demanding God to show you a sign seems wrong.

In my travels, I have found that God speaks what he wants, when he wants. Not according to our agenda. Some times he'll actually speak when you hoped he would stay quiet. I'm sure we can all vividly remember God tugging on us to do something, and we just suppressed it and tried to convince ourselves that it wasn't actually God speaking.

Isn't it funny how he works?

But there is something in this thought (the thought that when we are desperate for His voice he seems quiet, and when He does speak we are scared to do what he asks so we tell ourselves it's not Him talking) and that is what this whole crazy long post has been about.

We need to give God every area of our lives. We need to submit when he requests us to do something.

How many times have you heard this? I'm gonna guess somewhere around 10,000 times.

"Give God each area of your life"

-Joel Olsteen

-C.S. Lewis

-Joyce Myer

-C.S. Lewis

-Billy Grahm

-Pastor Tom

-Your Mother

Okay, you get the point.

But as I was sitting in bed last night after some worship, I was feeling upset that God wasn't really speaking to me. I told him that I want faith that'll move a mountain and I don't want to have this doubt.

And then it hit me.

God gives me chances to prove me faith, like, a hundred times a day but I never take them.

Just this week:

He called me to honor my mother by doing the things she asked.

I didn't.

He called me to show kindness a person I don't like.

I didn't.

He called me to be Christlike to a group of friends.

I didn't.

He called me to not be slothful and get up and go to sleep at a decent hour.

I didn't.

I mean, the list go on!

This whole time I was waiting to be able to save a bunch of kids from a burning bus, or to jump off a cliff to save a drowning baby, to grow my faith, when God has been calling me this whole time and I didn't listen.

I heard but I didn't listen.

God has called us to follow him all in. In the bible, Peter and Andrew and John and James, literally stopped in the middle of what they were doing, dropped everything, and followed Jesus. (Matthew 4:19)

What's the big idea (Veggietales reference):

• As we get older, Christian life presents new and deeper challenges that we did not expect. Whenever you are feeling challenged, remember that this is part of the Christian experience. As we get older, the social standards we learned growing up start to really weigh heavy on us and this could cause us to put what God wants for us second.
• Don't put God on trial. I don't think that has ever worked for anyone. Be patient and he will talk when it's time to talk.
• "Every area of your life" means every area. Not just the gritty, deep-seated stuff in your little closet of secrets, but the average every day stuff. In the long run, these are the types of things that are going to affect us the most, anyways.

What little things in your life are you ignoring?

Speak Love, Not War

This is not about "us and them" it never has been. We were promised that we would be persecuted. We always have, and we always will be persecuted. That's what we were promised!

These ridiculous arguments don't mean a thing. WE DO NOT NEED TO STICK UP FOR GOD. He is God. He can stick up for himself.

People create this war that they believe we have to fight. Christians vs Atheists. Christians vs Scientists. Christians vs Homosexuals. Christians vs Muslims. Christians vs The World. WHY?

Is this what you think our mission was supposed to look like? Debating whether someone broke this law or that law, on Facebook? Do you think our mission was to win an argument and belittle a social group?

We all know what the answer to that is. I don't even have to tell you.

But I am reminding you.

Jesus told us to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that he commanded.

God cares about the laws he sent us. They are important to keep us safe and keep us from falling away. But you know what is most important? You do. It's LOVE. Love the Lord and love others as you do yourself.

You believe these people are our enemies but right now you are your own worst enemy. Christians continue to shoot themselves in the foot with the things they say and do.

Are we baited with loaded questions?

Yes.

Are we the victims of judgement and ridicule on each and every one of our mistake?

Yes.

Let me tell you, the outside world doesn't understand that we all sin. That you and I sin. They don't understand the concept that there is nothing we can do to be perfect, and that claiming the title of Christian doesn't magically give us powers to never mess up, break rules, or sin.

They truly believe that by being Christian, we claim to never ever sin again; so when we do we're seen as hypocrites.

Which is why pointing fingers at the other people in the world is the biggest mistake we could probably make. When we tell the world they are sinning, we are expected not to sin ourselves. Doesn't that sound familiar? It almost sounds like we're trying to pick the speck of dust out of our brothers eye while we have a plank in our own.

I am SO TIRED of the "hate the sin not the sinner" schpeel. Why? BECAUSE THE OUTSIDE WORLD CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE. To them it is one in the same. And although you feel like you have your phrasing and your vernacular down to a perfectly harmless politically correctness, it doesn't make a difference to non believers. It just doesn't. 

The Bible calls us to judge our Christian neighbors. In the sense that if they are sinning, you're supposed to approach them and tell them their fault. And if they don't listen you're supposed to have an intervention with him with a few people, and if he still doesn't listen, you bring it up to the church leaders. Like, this is real. This is really, really real and in the Bible. (Matthew 18:15-17)

When is the last time you have done this? When have you EVER brought up faults to your brother or sister in Christ? Probably never. I know I haven't. Why? "because it's impolite". You know what else is impolite? Telling a gay person that you hate their sin and not the sinner. What in the world would you do if someone said to you "I don't hate you, I just hate that you're a Christian."

Could you even be friends with someone who said that to you? I most likely couldn't.

You say we are called to honesty and not to water down or dilute The Word. But refraining from saying offensive things is not doing that. In fact, we do it all the time!

When we are spreading the Gospel we start with the basics, which I'm sure you all know. Sin, repentance, forgiveness, revival, love, Jesus, resurrection, prayer, mercy, grace, etc. We don't just jump into theological talks about nephilim, demon possession, Calvinism, old earth vs new earth, submissive wives, or Revelations. Are all these things holy matters? Yes, but they are not really making disciples.

We must take the same care and discretion with choosing our words and what we share with non believers.

There was a time when people could say to a random stranger: "You are a sinner. If you do not repent an ill fate awaits you. But Jesus has already taken your deserved punishment, all you must do is have faith in Him and call him your Lord" and people would totally just go for it. But times have changed, and as Christians we must be aware of that.

As the culture and society shift, so must we to make disciples and spread the Word.

But isn't that going against the fact that God and his Word are never changing? That He and His Word are the same yesterday, today, and forever? No. We are not changing our beliefs. We are shifting our approach to the world.

Here's the big idea (as Bob and Larry would say):

-We need to take a serious look at what our objectives as Christians are.

-We really need to think about what we say and how it's going to be understood.

-We need to pay attention to society and see how the people need to be fed.

-We need to be very serious about loving others as we do ourselves.

-We need to stop fighting a war, and start loving the lost and the broken.

Although this term is used a lot (and usually as a the Christian catch-phrase), I think we should accept it with sincerity..

What would Jesus do?

Choosing God

I've had so many ideas and epiphanies lately. Let's see if I can stay focused and coherent enough for it to make sense. 

Seasoned Christians are extremely familiar with the idea that being in a relationship with Christ isn't always about a physical feeling. After a series of unpredicted events (including reading my bible, reading a section in a bible study guide, watching a cartoon that mocked Christians, responding to controversial facebook statuses, and meeting with a mormon missionary today), I have felt the idea of "choice" being super duper heavy on my heart.

From the beginning with Adam and Eve we have always been able to choose God. That is what love is! Love isn't a feeling or something we can't control! Love is a choice!

Love is sacrificing your career so you can stay at home and raise your children. Love is giving a hefty amount of money to someone in need, even if it might set you back a bit. Love is choosing to stay with someone and provide for them, even when you don't currently feel a romantic feeling for them. Love is so many things, but the number one thing it is is a choice.

Jesus chose to die for our sins. He didn't do it because he was forced to.

ANYWAYS.

Some times God will step back from your life and be distant. Some Christians call this a "dry season". You don't feel a whole lot of emotions and you might even feel disconnected. But can I say that it is impossible to be disconnected when you are in a real relationship with Jesus Christ? The Holy Spirit LIVES INSIDE OF YOU. The Holy Spirit doesn't leave you because you feel distant!

God makes himself distant so you can learn to have faith and CHOOSE him. Otherwise, your faith could just be given to the highest bidder that can make you feel the most.

There aren't just good spirits in this world that can affect your emotions. Satan (our Enemy) can also affect us in certain ways. And we have all probably experienced temporary fixes for our hard times. Alcohol, drugs, sex. Maybe not even something that hardcore: cuddling, exercise, partying, dancing, reading. These things are not bad!! They are all great in moderation and at the correct time. But some times they can be our quick fixes for joy or happiness, but God is the only thing that can give us that everlasting joy. Even when life is down and terrible things are happening to us.

During dry seasons, things like changing religions, changing relationships, quitting your jobs or other drastic things can seem so appealing because they will make you FEEL something.

But these times are so important to our Farther. Because these are the times that we have to make a conscious effort to choose him. To say to him "God I feel far away. Doubt is surfacing and my faith is starting to sound confusing and foolish, but I will wait patiently for you. I choose YOU Lord. This is hard but I know that you are there and you are waiting patiently for me too. Thank you."

And out of situations like this is our faith grown. Our love for him can blossom He will show us new things through our perseverance. 

I hope this makes sense.

The moral of the story is that being in relationship with Christ is ALWAYS a choice. You don't make the choice once and then your set for life. It's constantly having to choose him over life and mostly over yourself. 

Happy Babble

Praise you! Praise you God! Praise the Spirit that is upon me and within me! Overcome me Lord. Show me a new world. This love that you have taught me... have SHOWN me. Indescribable. I love someone I cannot see! But I do see you. I see you in the eyes of my nephew. In the breathtaking stars in the sky. Gosh, I love the stars. I adore them. Surely the greatest and most romantic invention of all time.

But now I'm trying too hard to sound poetic. I just want to be able to love you in the best way possible. I'm constantly praying for your Will because I've realized all the things that I want are trivial.

I am happy... so incredibly happy. Each day is a new adventure with you. It's funny how my saddest days are what lead me to you who have given me my happiest day in my life!

Purpose... purpose is one of the best gifts you've given me. Purpose is what moves me. What gives me air in my lungs. Your Great Purpose, Lord.

It's times like these that I'm surprised I've ever doubted you. Gosh! I feel like there is a river flowing right through my heart right now. The emotion is so strong, it's physical!

Lord you're just so GOOD. SO GREAT. I WORSHIP YOU OH LORD. ALL BLESSINGS AND GLORY TO YOU OH LORD.

Joy! Wondrous Joy!

It's funny how the closer you feel, the closer I want you to be.

You Can't Win if You Don't Play

The other day I went to go get gas. When I went to pay there was a line. The guy in front of me bought a lottery ticket. His girlfriend asked him why he bought the ticket and he replied that powerball was up to some ridiculously high number. He thanked the guy next to him for also buy a ticket, reminding him to get one as well.

"You can't win if you don't play!" He said and the two men shared a laugh.

When this happened I knew that God had a message, but I didn't know what it was until I was worshiping this morning.

I recalled a conversation that I had with a friend once. He thought it was ridiculous that one could live a terrible, non-Christian life of sin, and then in their last breath give their heart to Christ and receive eternal life.

As we worshiped this morning, my thoughts started to wander off and I started contemplating the ease of salvation. I imagined lips asking God to reveal Truth.

The simplicity of the phrase. It seemed almost too bold of God to promise us that if we really wanted to know Him and we really wanted to know the Truth, all we would have to do is ask Him in honesty. "Ask and you will receive," it says, "seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Surely there must be more to it than a heavy amount of curiosity and a few mumbled words!

Then I thought back to the lotto ticket. You can't win if you don't play. Perhaps this would be a better slogan for the Christian church?

People will give their money just for a mere chance of winning; the odds heavily against them. But here we see that God asks nothing of us, but to ask. What is money compared to eternal life? People would sacrifice far more for the former than what is needed for the latter.

If a friend told you that they went to the casino and played a slot machine and won without having to pay, would you go try it yourself? Even if you weren't positive it was true. Would what you lost in the efforts it took to do it, be worth what the actual prize was?

When considering your own soul and life, you could ask yourself the same question. Would the promises Jesus made (supplying everything we need, everything will work out for our good, giving us a gift and a passion, victory over death, and of course eternal life with him) worth the few moments and breath it would take to ask Him for it?

When I think of all that Jesus went through. The torture. The trials. All the men and women of the bible who lived lives of sin and mistakes so that we could learn from. It seems a travesty that there is only one single thing that must be done to receive it all.

So you may say that people in churches are brainwashed; that when we say we "feel the Holy Spirt" that it's something we've tricked ourselves into believing. Prove us wrong.

Tonight, right this very second, we can try it. There isn't much to it. But before you do, you must allow the bitterness and bias to fade for just a moment while you pray. Close the door to allow privacy and perhaps embarrassment. Get on your knees. Close your eyes. Before you speak, really allow yourself to believe for a moment that this may true, and say "Dear Lord. Right now I speak to you, not even knowing if your real. But God I pray that you will reveal yourself to me. I pray that the Holy Spirit will come now and reveal the truth to me. I pray that my eyes would be opened and my heart would be softened. Lord you said if I seek, then I will find, so I seek you now..."

If you wish to take it a step further, "Lord, if you are real, and what you promise is true, then I would like to give my life to you now. I ask Jesus to come into my heart right now and wash me clean. Forgive me of my sin and make my heart new. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask these things. Amen."

When you pray, be very hopeful. And I know God will move in you. If you don't understand some of these things, feel free to say it in your own words or research what everything means. But most importantly: Be honest. Praying for you.