Hosanna Emily's Blog, page 21

Don't Put God in a Box

If you could spend a whole day with someone, who would you choose to spend your time with?
Think about the question before you continue reading.  I'm curious who you would choose.  If you're like me perhaps your first thought was your favorite music artist, a preacher or writer who inspires you, or a friend who lives far away.  It's easy to imagine the hours that would fly by as you sat together discussing life, sharing dreams, and asking questions.  You might continue long after the sun has set, savoring the limited time you have with that special person.  Wouldn't it be simply wonderful?!
What about this:  How many of us would quickly answer the question by saying "Jesus."  How many of us would enjoy spending a whole day with Him?  And horribly, how many of us could actually stand a day like that?

It's like we put God in a box.  We almost esteem Him to be something like a sci-fi character, a remote Being who has superpowers to do anything He likes.  We just have to stay on His good side, ask Him for things, and try to live decent lives.  Then His job is to shower us with blessings.  Right?
Maybe that's a little extreme, but I think a lot of us live our lives with that attitude.  We have a place for God - in Church, in our quiet times, etc - but we don't give Him control over our whole lives.  We don't actually love Him.  Maybe God is like the president.  He rules over us, but He is so distant and powerful that we just can't imagine having a relationship with Him.




The Bible says that we should fear, honor, and revere God.  (see Deuteronomy 6:24, 1 Samuel 2:30, Proverbs 19:23 and Hebrews 12:28)  He created the earth, set the stars in place, knows the number of hairs on your head, and the angels bow before Him.  He can move mountains, part seas, and knows your innermost secrets.  God is mighty beyond imagination.  It is so important not to take Him lightly or to esteem Him as something less than He is.
But we often fall short of what He truly wants.
Growing up as a Christian, I always knew that God loved me.  I knew that He was my Father and wanted me to give my life completely to Him.  Paul writes,

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will"- Ephesians 1:4-5

And Romans adds, 

"...you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" - Romans 8:15

We are adopted.  That means that God literally chose us to be His children!!  How mind blowing is that?!   That is amazing love.
But I failed to realize that Jesus wanted something more.  Yes, He was my Father, and He cared for me.  Yet more so - He wanted to be my best friend.
Remember the verse I shared last week?  The greatest command in the Bible?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30

In my opinion, that sounds like a lot of love.  If I loved God that much, is there any possible way that He wouldn't be my Best Friend?
As I've thought about it more I realized something.
It's great to have human friends.  God gave us relationships for a reason.  They encourage us, impact us, and bring us closer to Him.  Friends make you laugh when you're feeling discouraged.  They are gifts from God.
But friends fail.  If you wake up afraid in the middle of the night, will your best friend be there to talk to you?  Does she understand your deepest struggles?  Does she know what it's like to be you?  Of course not!
He does.
Christ knows everything - the fear you keep hiding from those around you, the struggles you face every day, and the doubts that plague your mind.  And guess what?  He. Still. Loves. You.

Did you catch that?  God (the great I AM, the Creator of the Universe, the One who is clothed in glory and power!) loves you.  He loves little, tiny, unimportant me. 
I read Song of Solomon last week.  The whole book is a beautiful dialogue between a Shulamite maiden and her beloved who are madly in love.  But as I read it, I imagined something deeper.  Perhaps God wrote the book as a love letter to us.  His bride.  His Church.
He sees us as beautiful, loves us despite our failures, and wants to be with us and hear our voice.  And doesn't He want us to cherish the relationship as well?  Should we be in love with Him as He is with us?
Think of an engaged couple.  Do they ever stop thinking about one another?  Don't they desperately want to be together and talk with one another?  Wouldn't they give up anything in their way just so their relationship could be stronger and more heart-felt?  Would anything be too much of a sacrifice?
But is that us?
This summer we are focusing on love, and the greatest command of all is to love the Lord our God with everything in our being.  I think that means something more than spending an hour every day reading the Bible.  It's more than praying whenever you remember to.  I believe that we are supposed to have a personal, intimate relationship with God.  He is our Best Friend.  We are madly in love with God, and we can't wait until the day we can see Him face to face.  But while we wait, we are remaining pure, set-apart, and holy for Him as His bride.
Is that what your relationship with God looks like?  Are you living your life for Him, looking forward to that day when He will bring us home to be together forever?
This is step #1 in Project Love.  Before we start focusing on relationships with others, let's make sure that we are seeking God and giving Him our whole heart.  Don't put God in a box.  Open the doors of your heart and embrace Him.  Love, thank, cherish your Savior.  Only then will we be able to truly make a difference in the world.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

What a beautiful romance story.  Christ died for us while we still hated and reviled Him.  He rescued and redeemed us - dirty, broken hearts.  What love.  ♥
Have you ever thought of God as your Best Friend?  Are you willing to give up anything for your relationship with Him?  How are you remaining pure for Christ as His bride?  Comment below!  

Introducing: Project Love

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Ever since the beginning of mankind, this question has been forefront on our minds.  We can only live so long here on earth; what's next?  What must we do to inherit life that never ends?
So often we present the question to those who have no answer.  We seek abundant, never-ending life from the wrong sources – pleasure, happiness, money, possessions.  Life becomes confusing as we seek joy apart from the joy Giver.
But two thousand years ago another man raised his voice in question.  And this man was asking the right Person.
In Luke 10, Jesus heard the inquiry and turned to study the man who asked.  Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus asked him a question in response.  "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"
The man didn't miss a beat.  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"
This was confirmed when Jesus responded, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Live.
The secret to true, everlasting life was summed up in one sentence:  
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'
Again in Matthew and Mark  Jesus says the same thing.  Summarizing the commandments from the Old Testament, He lists the first and second greatest commandments.
The most important:  

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  – Mark 12:29-30

The second most important:  

"Love your neighbor as yourself."  – Mark 12:31

Over the last few months, we've been talking about abiding in Christ – the first, greatest commandment.  This is vital.  It's a continual process that covers every aspect of the Christian life.  It represents every breath, every decision, every moment of life.  If we want to be passionate believers in Christ, this is simply something we must do.  We must love the Lord our God with everything in our being.
And once we have "mastered" that (although I'm not certain that it is possible to master such a wonderful thing in only one, short human life), I believe the second commandment will just be natural.  If we love God, won't we love the people God has made?
But we're human.  We haven't perfected the area of abiding in Christ.  Most of us struggle with loving Him our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Thus, we also fail in the second commandment.  We don't love others as much as ourselves.  We're selfish, prideful, lustful, and so much more.  We want to promote our good instead of others (or Christ's).

This is the reason for my new blog series, Project Love.  I want to focus on these two commands but with a direct emphasis on the latter one.  We've talked a lot about our relationship with Christ... but what about relationships with others?  Siblings, friends, family, strangers, blog readers, and others?
My desire for this relationship series is this:  I want to grow in Love.  I want to love Christ with my entire being.  But I also want to love and serve others more willingly.  As we examine many of the relationships around us, I want to see others differently – as unique individuals with dreams, hopes, and futures.  And I want to see them like God sees them – as beautiful masterpieces.
But before that, let's make sure our relationship with God is where it should be.  That's the greatest command after all, isn't it?
Last week my friend Ariel told me that she was starting a similar summer project.  She told me that it would be, "where anyone who wants to join (and myself ;)) make it a major goal during the summer to love waywayway more than we normally do and to spread the Gospel at the same time! We are going to write down our goals for the week about how we want to love, and keep each other accountable, pray for each other, and I'm gonna be having guest posts about love and related things on my blog."
I'm going to join Ariel in this:  Project Love.  Let's use our summer to make a difference!  Let's grow in love, share Christ, and live as His maidservants.  As we learn to abide in Christ, let's also live as He lived and love as He loves.
My goals and posts might not be the same as Ariel's... but together we (and anyone else who would like to join) want to grow in Love whatever that means for us individually!
So there you have it.  The inspiration behind my upcoming blog series.  I also hope to have some guest writers during this summer as well – women and young ladies who are inspiring in their faith and love for Christ and others.  I want to grow and love more.
I hope you'll join us.  =)

"Pendragon" movie review

"As the Barbarian fleets descend on the coast, the people of Britain are left to defend themselves...
The first independent Christian film of its kind, Burns Family Studios presents Pendragon: Sword of His Father, an epic adventure set in Britain’s Dark Ages.
With riveting action, stunning visuals, and a powerful score, Pendragon’s message of faith, courage, and vision is sure to inspire your family for generations to come."
"The One who gave the vision still calls..."

Details:
11o MinutesBy the Burns Family StudiosDirected by Chad BurnsRated:  GReleased 2008
Negative Elements:
This was the first film by the Burns Family Studios, a homeschooled, Christian family.  Because of that fact, the acting and some other details of the movie were not professional.  I watched this when it first came out, and, as a young viewer, I didn't mind any of those aspects...thus, if you're just wanting a clean, Christian film, this is a wonderful option.  I still enjoyed watching it despite the amateur elements.  =)
This movie has fighting and war, but none of it was gruesome.  Although enemies are fought and killed, there isn't a lot of blood or close-ups that make you squirm.  I didn't have a problem with any of this at all.  (but take it into consideration for your particular family and preferences)
I am glad to say that this movie didn't have any crude language.  References are made of "the gods", but it is spoken by characters already shown as less than admirable.
My Review:
As soon as I watched this movie back in 2008, it became my favorite.  I loved the historical details, the tight action, and the beautiful story of fighting for one's country, romance, etc.  Now that I'm older, I'm able to see some amateur acting and similar qualities.  Nevertheless, our family enjoys this Christian production that focus on themes of remaining courageous, keeping one's word, having faith, and focusing on what God has called you to do.  The plot was confusing for me when I was younger, but now that's not a problem.  I enjoy the historical accuracy, especially in the costumes and props.  (they have wonderful clothing... ;)  )  For a family's first film, this is amazing, and we greatly enjoy watching it!
Other Notes:
The Burns Family Studios released their second film in 2015 - Beyond the Mask .  Ahhhh!  It is so good and one of my favorite movies.  Think historical fiction, Christian themes of salvation and forgiveness, sweeping action, and a beautiful romance story.  =)  *happy sigh*

Have you seen Pendragon?  Do you have a hard time watching nonprofessional films if they have a good story-line and themes?  What is most important for you in a good movie?  Comment below!

An Update

Dear Reader,
You may not have noticed, but I've made a few changes to my blog.  For one, my profile photo was very overdue for a change.  As the week goes on, I might make some other slight changes...be forewarned.  ;)  But one of the biggest that I want to share here is that I no longer have an "about me" page.
Why?  Well, I've been thinking about this for a little while.  Do I really need a page talking all about myself?  I know you, as a new friend, might want to know more about me.  Don't fear, you can still read the important details on my sidebar. =)  But because of that change, I added a new page.  One that is very close to my heart.  It's a story of love.  An analogy that has been growing in my heart.  Instead of reading about me and my blog, I want to you read this story.  Read about redemption, His love, and our Ransom.
But here's a quick preview if you're interested.  =)

Once Upon a Time, there was a beautiful land ruled by the King and His Son.  The country was free from famine, doubt, and fear, although evil lurked in the mountains far to the west.  The King guarded his people wisely, caring for them as a father to his son.  He loved them.
When pestilence came to a distant land, the King opened his arms wide to accept the battered strangers.  They poured in by the thousands – torn, tired, and ragged.  One in particular, a shabby orphan girl, caught the Prince’s attention.  She was not beautiful; her clothes were mere rags.  But the Prince loved her and waited for the right time to show her His affection.  She was foreign without the typical light complexion and gentle smile of the Kingdom’s citizens.  Lines creased her forehead and her hair was matted down her back.  Despite her appearance, the Prince waited, yearning for her to return his warmth, his love.
But she didn’t.
The girl was brought into the village, fed, clothed, and cared for.  Without parents to guard her, she was vulnerable.  Thus, the King showed her special favor, watching out for her tenderly.  But the feelings were not mutual.
As enemies from the west stormed into the country, the maiden exchanged grace for treason.  She joined the enemy and gave them vital information to the castle’s security.  Her heart turned black and twisted.
Who could trust one like her?  As the King and his Son once again returned peace to the nation, the enemy carried her away to the west.  They mistreated her.  They beat her without mercy.  They tore her heart and trampled her soul.  And finally she was left in a dark dungeon as her life blood poured out onto the ground.  Her eyes closed, her breath became shallow.  But worse than that was the horror and scars.  She had betrayed a friend and received her due.
But as the sun set one last time on her horizon, her swollen lips opened with a final plea.
“Help me.”
It wasn’t a demand for justice.  As a babe reaching out to her father, her heart yearned for someone she could trust.  Someone who would love her.  Tears raced down her blood-stained cheeks.
“Help me.”
The words echoed through the dungeon, mocking her as she sank back against the cold stones.  Her strength was gone.  The color faded from her cheeks as the moon rose high above the defensive castle walls.  There were no stars to lighten the darkness of night.
But her words were not lost.  They traveled on the wind past the western mountains.  Still they carried on, until a Prince in a castle far away heard them.
He heard them.  And the plea touched His heart.

Read more here.


What else is coming up on Having a Heart Like His?

On Friday, I am posting a movie review before we jump into a new topic that is one that I struggle with at times... and I think many of you might as well.  I hope to see you next Tuesday for the first of that series.  =)

I love you all!  Keep living for our Savior and Prince.  ♥

Abiding in Christ, a Continual Story

Back in February we started talking about what it means to truly abide in Christ.  I shared how I wanted to know God intimately instead of know about God  (read here)  We explored many of the Names of God, talked about how idols can get in the way of our relationship with Christ,  and how we want our lives to make a difference in the world.  There were many other posts, intriguing comments, and interactions that made me think differently about the all-important topic of abiding in Christ.




One thing I realized was that abiding in Christ is a continual process.  It isn't something we can master in a day or even a year.  Abiding is a lifetime story.  Every single minute we must make the decision to either live for Christ or live for ourselves.
Thus, each post I write that touches on an area we struggle in, an aspect of the power of God, or anything else relating to having a heart like His will ultimately be about abiding - living every moment for Jesus Christ our Lord.

But over the next few weeks, I want to focus on a slightly different topic.  It's another area of life that we often struggle in... thus, it's also related to the journey of becoming more like Christ.  Yet before we move on I want to discuss what abiding is.  I also want to hear how you are building a personal, intimate relationship with Christ each and every day.
Here are some questions to get conversation started, but I want you to just share your heart.  Share what God has been showing you in this area.  And please comment on other reader's thoughts as well so we can share fellowship together. =)
How do you define "abiding in Christ"?  Do you believe it encompasses every aspect of life?
What is the hardest part of remaining focused on the eternal?  What distractions often arise that you need to fight with the Sword of the Spirit?  What "good" things do you need to replace with the "best" things?
Is it easier for you to make Godly decisions when they are big, life-changing decisions or small, every day decisions?  How can abiding in Christ influence the decisions we make?
Do you ever find yourself becoming burned out because you serve God too much instead of just focusing on Him and building a relationship?  Do you find yourself sometimes in a Saber (know of) relationship instead of a Conocer (know intimately) relationship with God?  What changes should we make?

Here's another side of the spectrum:   Because we want our lives to make a difference in the world how can we make that practical and start right now?  Today?  Does it help you to make goals, have accountability, etc.?

Let's share together before we move on to another subject.  =)  How are YOU striving to abide in Christ?

Catching Up | Jeremiah 29:11-14

Hello my friends!
This is my first week of summer break - no school!  Yippee!  =)
But I also have blog comments to respond to, emails to write, praying to do, and overall, just a lot of catching up as I adjust to this new "freedom".  Thus, I won't be posting a normal blog post this week.  I will be responding to all your far-too-long-ago comments that I haven't been able to answer over the last few weeks of finals and busyness.  =)  I also have some changes that I will be doing to Having a Heart Like His (nothing big...don't worry!).  Keep an eye out for those this week.  ;)
But I don't want to leave you without something to think about... so here's some verses I've been chewing on recently.  Perhaps you have thoughts to share on what they mean and how to apply it practically in our day-to-day life...?  I would appreciate insight.  =)

Jeremiah 29:11-14   "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive."

"...when you search for Me with all your heart..."
What does that look like practically?  How do we search for God with all our heart?
I've missed interacting with you recently!  Hopefully we can get back into the normal flow of things soon... ♥

Sunshine Blogger Award Vlog | 100th Post

Hello my friends!
This is my 100th post!  How crazy is that?!  This blog has been such a blessing, and I'm so thankful for every single one of you that God brought into my life. ♥
Emily tagged me for the Sunshine Blogger Award.  I haven't done a tagged post in a while, but, due to a busy week of finals, here it is...and I recorded my answers in a vlog!  Enjoy!
(I'm getting over a cold right now...hence, the coughing)  =)






Here are my favorite Christian Living posts that I've read/posted this last month...with easy-to-click links.  ;)
My Post: Blossoms and Thorns | the Love in EasterSeeing Everything Else: Don't Forget to Keep Your Sacred

(And that book I couldn't remember the name of by Beth Moore is called A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections on the Life of David...a wonderful devotional book, although I couldn't remember the title!)  =)

~ ♥ ~ My Questions ~ ♥ ~
What is a non-fiction book that changed your life?What are five of your favorite blogs and why?Who is someone you greatly respect and strive to live like?Is there a story behind your blog's name?What is your ultimate goal for your blog in three words?What is the last movie you saw, and how did you like it?What is one tip you would give bloggers who are trying to reflect Christ in all their posts?What is a childhood book that you still love?What is one of your best memories from 2017 so far?What is your favorite Christian Living post that you've read/posted in the last month?Tell us about one of your siblings.  ;)
Thanks for watching, and happy 100th post!   Thanks for sticking with me for so long.  ;) Feel free to answer some of the questions in the comments or do them on your own blog (I would love to hear your voice in a vlog...)!

~♥~
PS – My friend Jordy is soon to be releasing her very first book!!!!  I'm very excited for her, and I encourage you to hop over to her blog to see her newly-released cover, be a Beta reader, and even sign up for her future blog tour!!  =)  I already read it, and it's a wonderful book with an even better message!  What are you waiting for?

What I Learned From Three Days Without Internet

Monday started out as a typical morning.  I hugged Dad goodbye as he left for work, ate breakfast, and had my quiet time.  But sometimes God likes to give us “curve balls” in life.  As I turned on my computer ready to jump into the busyness of Mondays, the internet shut off.
Refresh.  Nothing.  Refresh five more times and still nothing.
Even my computer-savvy brother couldn’t fix the problem, and when we called the internet provider they said they would plan to fix it before Wednesday night.
Which means three days without internet.  No posting on my blog, no submitting assignments on online classes, no corresponding with friends, no searching online for quick questions.   Without computers, what is left in the world?  (Lol!  But really – it feels like that sometimes!)
We cancelled classes, contacted teachers and friends, and are now just waiting it out.  I’m typing this blog post on an offline document, not knowing when I’ll be able to actually post it.  But that’s not what I want to spend my time talking about here.  I want to share something I learned from three days without internet.





Earlier in the year we talked about what it means to abide in Christ.  1 John has a lot to say about what “abiding” truly means.  (see 1 John 2:6, 24, and 1 John 4:15-16)  Over these last few months, I’ve realized more and more that to abide means to base your life off of something or someone.  If we are abiding in Christ, our actions, thoughts, desires, and lifestyles will be honoring to Him.  We will have a passionate relationship with Him and humbly desire to give up our lives for Him.  Christ alone will provide our wisdom, fulfillment, and joy.
This week I realized that those three things – wisdom, fulfillment, and joy – are ones we often look for in the wrong place.
When you face a decision in life or don’t understand a concept, do you turn to Jesus and the Bible or do you switch on your computer and ask a friend or *cough* Google?
When you are restless or bored, do you spend time building a relationship with your Savior, seeking true fulfillment, or do pull up your email account, contact friends, or search through Pinterest, Goodreads, and other online website?
When you are sorrowful or depressed, do you bring your cause before the One who loves you most or do you again search for joy in the trivial, earthly things of life?
The internet quite often takes Jesus’ place in our lives.  It sits on the throne of our hearts, mocking our weak efforts to replace it with Christ.  I’m convinced that a lot of us (myself included) abide in our online pursuits (relationships, websites, activities) more than we abide in Christ.
I completely understand that computers are wonderful tools of ministry.  We can (and should, if God so leads) use them to bless others and build friendships.  We can correspond with our far-away friends and encourage one another in love.  We can take online classes, look up information, and even study the Bible online.  These are good things!
But tools need to remain as tools.  They cannot derive us of our best hours and free time.  We cannot use them to find wisdom, fulfillment, and joy!  Those things only come from seeking God through prayer, reading the Word, fellow-shipping with other believers, reading Christian biographies, etc.
It reminds me of what Father Christmas told the Penvensie children in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

"These are your presents and they are tools not toys. The time to use them is perhaps near at hand. Bear them well."

Are we using tools that God has given us in the wrong way or are we bearing them well?  Computers, books, movies, and relationships can all prove to be tools that God uses in our lives.  But have we turned them into toys?  Are we wasting our time?
The internet is dangerous.  Satan can use it to ensnare us in a pretend world that doesn’t exist.  We can waste hours of our lives scrolling through pages and making small talk with people we don’t even know.  It can even ruin real-life relationships by pulling us away from our families.  Is that what a servant of the Lord should look like?
I have a friend who realized that the internet was consuming too much of her time.  She majorly cut back on everything – blogs, conversations, social media – and now has free time that she desires to give to the Lord in ministry.  Her arms are open to God’s will in her life because she is ridding herself of earthly pursuits and seeking a heavenly mission.
Are computers pulling us away from Christ and our families?  Take a handful of days as a “computer fast”, and you’ll realize how important those online things truly are to you.
Perhaps to abide in Christ we need to close our laptops, power off our phones, and refocus on what truly matters.
And maybe you don’t struggle with this, but there are other areas in your life that try to pull you away from having an eternal mindset.  No matter what it is, we need to push it aside and fix our gaze on Jesus Christ, the only One who deserves our heart.

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created.” – Revelation 4:11

Is it Possible to Serve God Wrong?

The topic I am going to write about here is not one that I've mastered.  This is a fairly new idea for me – a struggle that maybe you've never faced.  Or perhaps it's something you're in right now and don't even realize it.  But please don't just accept my ideas.  Examine the Word of God and see if they apply to you in your own unique circumstances.  That's all I ask.  =)



One of the blessings of living in the 21st century is that it is so easy to do things for God.  Don't get me wrong – serving God can be one of the most difficult things you'll ever do.  There's a good chance that He might ask you to do something that's painful or difficult.  But think about it – we can share the Gospel without even leaving our homes.  With access to the internet, the world of blogs, and social media, we can have best friends we've never met.  That also means that we can pour out our lives into others in easier ways than ever before.
I love doing things at home.  Thus, I have found myself in an ever-increasing amount of "ministries" online.  I blog.  I write.  I email friends (saved and unsaved).  I take online college classes.  And I can serve in even more ways at home – being a good friend, sister, daughter. 
Is it possible that having the mentality of "give, give, give" can actually lead me away from Christ?
Oswald Chambers said,

"Christian work may be a means of evading the soul's concentration on Jesus Christ."

I think that sometimes we measure our level of faith by looking at the work we do for Christ.  We serve in this way...and that way...and even that other way.  We must be fantastic Christians!
Sorry to disappoint you: Our relationship with Christ is not measured by how much we do for Him.
My friend Jordy recently explained an aspect of life in this way.  Too often we do things for God.  We write blog posts...for God.  We join ministries and share the Gospel...for God.  These are good things!  But how often do we serve...with God?  With diligent prayer, seeking His face, and walking by His side?  Do we serve in that way?
All this serving, this "give, give, give" attitude, has overwhelmed me.  I serve God in so many ways.  Doesn't that mean that my relationship with Him should be at its finest, shining for all the world to see?
Instead I'm tired.  No, I'm exhausted.  I've been living life for God instead of with God.
It reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42.  Siblings were hosting an honored guest: Jesus Christ.  As Jesus entered the house and began conversing with them, one sister sat by His feet, listening intently.  Mary hung on to every word, treasuring them in her heart.  The other sister – Martha – rushed to and fro preparing supper.  Her serving made her lose sight of what was important.  Instead of building a relationship with the King of Kings, she busied herself serving Him.  In the end, it was Martha who was rebuked, not her "lazy" sister Mary.
But I've realized that so often we are like Martha.  We are serving God when we could be living life with Him.  
Serving is a wonderful privilege.  God wants us to be a blessing to others, share the Gospel, and bring hope to the hopeless!  Doing that should bring us joy and excitement.  But if you're burned out or feeling tired, perhaps it's because you've been serving God so much that you haven't taken the time to really get to know Who He is.
Sitting at Jesus' feet is more important than "making Him happy" by doing things for Him.
Remember what Samuel told Saul?

"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..."  - 1 Samuel 15:22

And what did Jesus say was the most important commandment to obey?

"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'" - Matthew 22:37

My question stands:  Is it possible to serve God wrong?  And my answer would be yes.  If we are serving God instead of loving and building a relationship with Him, we are serving Him in the wrong way.
Dear friend, this is my plea for you and for myself.  Don't let serving God overcome your desire to build a relationship with Him.  Let us serve God with Him instead of for Him.  Allow Christ to become your best Friend, the One you delight in.
How has God opened doors to serve Him and others?  Do you find yourself doing things for God or with Him?  How might one change their focus?  Comment below!

Blossoms and Thorns | the Love in Easter

I've always loved spring.  The warm breezes melt the snow, and tiny, green buds start to grow.  The world turns from dull shades of grey and brown to vibrant greens and pinks and whites.  I've watched spring showers fall on tender, newborn grass.  The air is pure.  Our animals begin to give birth - lambs, kids, chicks, calves.  The world is just so new, so fresh.
One thing always stood out to me.  I would walk down to the creek by our house that sang its merry song and sit among the flowers.  Always flowers.  Golden dandelions, wild daisies, violets - purple and white, maroon trillium flowers, and my favorite - pale, purple phlox.  The phlox has the most fragrant scents, and their violet colors cluster the forests.  I would pick bouquets and smell them over and over again.
But we moved.  We have different birds, plants, flowers.  I found daisies aplenty, budding trees, and thousands of dandelions.  But no phlox.
I visited out old home and found the flowers in full bloom.  There was a sense of love there, and I could almost feel God's arms wrapped around me.  Listening to the creek bubbling by my feet and watching the phlox's gentle colors...I took my New Testament and read the story of Jesus' crucifixion.  His love was so close to me.
I came home.  School started hard again on Monday, reading more than an hour of history about World War II.  Pages are lined with death, pain, and war.  I felt distracted during my time with Jesus.  Where had that Love gone?  That pure, beautiful presence?  And why would God allow something as horrible as war to exist?
Finally, history was finished, but I had other things to do.  I wanted to catch up on emailing, write a blog post, spend time with siblings...but instead I knew I needed to spend more time with Jesus to refocus.  Thus, I grudgingly grabbed that New Testament again and trudged down to our new, little creek.  Through the woods, the branches grabbed at me.  I brushed off bugs and looked for a place to sit down.
And there they were.  Waving in the wind happily at me.  I felt so far from God, and He was there all along.


Patches of violet-colored phlox lined the creek as if waiting for me.  I was so distracted by life that I almost missed them.  God's love shown in little, purple flowers.

I sat down to read 1 Corinthians 13, replacing the word "love" for "God".  And how true it is.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not God, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not God, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not God, it profits me nothing. 

God suffers long and is kind; God does not envy; God does not parade Himself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

God never fails.

 Did you read that?
God never fails.
When we are so distracted, and we wonder why bad things happen in life, God never fails.  When we can't feel His presence and think that maybe Christianity isn't what we thought it would be, God never fails.  When we are broken and hurting and the rain is pouring down on our lives, God never fails.
And then, sitting by the merry stream, I saw another sign of God's amazing love for us.


Remember?

And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. - John 19:2-3

Think about it.  God has given us so much.  He put the purple flowers there for our pleasure.  Everything around you - the beauty of nature, the song of the chipping sparrow, the friend who makes you smile when life is hardest, the emotion that pours out of your heart - everything is a gift.   Everything is love.
Do you know how amazing that is?!
The God of the universe love us and placed us here in a beautiful world to enjoy Him forever.  He allows us to have a relationship with Him.  He never abandons us; He never fails.
And what did we do to repay Him?
We scourged, mocked, spat on, struck, and crucified Him.  We weren't there when it happened, but every time we ignore His commands, isn't it the exact same thing?  Our Savior died for us, and we mock His sacrifice by living in sin!
Easter is a beautiful celebration of His love.  It's a time to remember that He cared for us enough to leave His palace in Heaven to come to a sin-stricken, disease-infected earth.  He took broken hearts and wove them into valiant warriors.
That is how much He loves us.
As Easter comes close, remember that love.  Remember the thorns, the pain, and the death.  Remember that God never fails.  He is our strong tower, our shelter, our Savior.
I have disabled comments for this post because I want you to focus on Him alone this week.  Please meditate on His love and realizing how awesome it is.  Read Isaiah 53, Matthew 27, John 19 or one of the other Gospels that explains His sacrifice.  Realize how perfect His love is by reading 1 Corinthians 13.
The only gift we can give back to Him is our undivided love, attention, and lives.  Are we willing to give that to the One who gave up His life for us?

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  -Isaiah 53:5