Not Always Easy

"I have heard the many rumors about me... But I am trusting in You, O Lord, saying, 'You are my God!' Let Your favor shine on Your servant... Your goodness is so great! You have stirred up great blessings for those who honor You... for the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him." ~Psalm 31:11-23

I read verses like that about God's goodness and His protection and blessings, and I often find myself thinking that this earthly life is destined to be pretty easy because I am committed to following God and He loves me. But the Bible makes it clear that that is not the case... or at least not a guarantee!! God's blessings and honor and protection will be there, but maybe not in the way I imagine... and perhaps the true reward will not come until I get to heaven.

• Joseph was placed in prison for 13 years for his choice to honor God and be a man of integrity.
• Job suffered tremendous loss and physical pain, yet refused to curse God's name when encouraged to do so.
• Daniel was taken captive and never saw his beloved home again, then he was thrown in a lion's den for his loyalty to God in daily prayer.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to dishonor Him.
• Jeremiah was thrown in dungeons, beaten, and starved at different times for saying what God told him to say.
• Paul, Peter, and John were beaten and put in jail for their passionate preaching of God's Word!

Yet these very men said:
"What you intended to harm me, God intended for good, for the saving of many lives." (Joseph to his brothers who sold him to slavery)

"...yet I know that my Redeemer lives!" (Job to his friends)

"Praise the name of God forever and ever, for He has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; He removes kings and sets up other kings." (Daniel to the king who took him captive)

"The God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to King Nebuchadnezzar)

"For I know the plans I have for You, plans for good and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope." (God said these awesome words to Jeremiah before all the suffering and beatings.)

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Paul to the Colossian church)

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (Peter)

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (John)

And in each case, God was faithful and He restored them or protected them. But some eventually died for His sake. I want a heart that is fully devoted. It helps to remember that nothing I face here compares at all to the eternal horror of hell (something I didn't want to face for even 2 short minutes at The Nightmare this weekend). I pray that I will remember this when things get rough, and that I will trust in God and be willing to suffer for Him... and echo the bold belief in His eternal goodness and loyalty, and choose to HONOR HIM.

Weekend Update!!

This should be a quick update since work was super light this week. No jury trials for us, meaning two weeks to read, blog, and practice for my upcoming court reporting test! =)

One thing I'm really focusing on lately is setting aside daily time for prayer. Not reading the Bible or reading Christian books or listening to tapes or sermons or going to Bible studies -- all of which I do regularly -- but simply talking to and listening to God, one on one, and getting real and intimate with Him, which is something I'd neglected for a while. It's only been a few days, but wow, it's already making a great difference! (I have a private "Letters to God" blog where I journal out my prayers, which really works for me, and it's nice to have a record of how God is working!) 

My desire is to pray more the way Paul prayed... focused on the heart and the things that truly matter, not the external and temporary... not praying for God to take away my problems or for material things, but for wisdom, endurance, compassion, understanding, to KNOW God and to know the full measure of His love!!  To simply "be still," taking the time to listen and hear from God, to quiet my heart and surrender enough to hear His voice.

...Anyway, last night, we had an awesome "mini-group" dinner at Cheddars.  Me, Mal-o-ri, Nathan, Michael, and Chet Lee... I'm so happy/blessed to have such awesome friends! It was so much fun, and the hardest I've laughed in a while!! Chet came over and watched The Proposal with us after dinner, which was also quite fun... we kinda talked through the entire movie, though.

Nathan: Yeah, I don't jump. I just bounce on my tippy-toes. :)

Chet: Did you know he has a son named Finnigan!? Ugh! ...it just reminds me of those cookies... what are they called??

......(long pause)....
Me: Fig Newtons???
Chet: YES!! lol
:-)


We studied the "For such a time as this" verse and Beth talked about destiny in our latest Esther session (a subject I intend to dedicate a blog to soon.) That's about it, I guess. Life is good; God is awesome!!

Dissecting God

(*Back to tributes tomorrow... I've gotten all caught up at work, so now all I've got going is practicing for my CR test, reading, and blogging! Ahhh, life is good!!)

So my LifeGroup started The Case for Christ yesterday... a book examining what we believe, why we believe it, and whether we can ever really prove it factually. I think it's always good to ask questions and to be prepared to defend our faith and explain why we believe. But for me (and maybe it's a woman thing - because Lee Strobel's wife seemed to feel the same way), it is something that can't be fully explained or proven -- that's where faith comes in -- and the main way we can KNOW that what we believe is true, in my opinion, is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I get it that saying "it's just a feeling and I know it in my spirit" will not convince most unbelievers to be saved. But in my opinion, giving them a fact sheet about the historical accuracy of my favorite book won't suddenly convince them either. The body of Christ walking in love, telling them what is on our heart, showing them by example how Jesus has transformed our lives, and making it clear that we believe Jesus loves them deeply and cares about every detail of every day of their lives -- that is what people need to see and hear. Sure, there are some arrogant, over-intellectual thinkers who would love nothing more than to debate a Christian and try to trip them up or prove the Bible false... but those people are not typically seeking the truth so much as they're seeking to discredit anyone "naiive enough" to live by faith. They are living by their mind and what they can fully prove, very detached from their heart, which is where the Holy Spirit speaks to us... which is tragic. But the best thing we can do there is to walk in love and pray that the eyes of their heart will be opened.

Okay, I'm jumping around, but I'm finally getting to my point here (and again, this dissection idea came from John Eldredge's Desire). We can learn all sorts of things about the anatomy of a cat when we put it on the table to dissect it. Anything we want to know about the cat's muscles, bones, heart, weight, how the internal organs all work and fit together, etc. What we won't know, what is obviously missing, is the LIFE -- the hilariously snobby but lovable little personality and the little quirks and funny stories that make it actually mean something to us.

That, SADLY, is what many people do with God - make Him a list of facts and rules and information, sucking the life and heart and passion right out of Christianity. Sure, I can tell you several facts about God -- God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and unchanging. There. Now don't you feel closer to Him??

OR, I can tell you from the depths of my heart that the God I know and love is loving and faithful. He created everything you see, and He loves every person with an undying passion! He desires for each of us to really KNOW Him and be close to Him, but the choice is ours to make. He is forgiving and patient, and He will not ever abandon or reject those who believe in Him. His love has changed my heart and transformed the way I live and what I consider valuable. He gives me peace and comfort when I'm going through hard times, and strength and power when I'm afraid to step out. Jesus was a very real person who lived a powerful life and then died and rose from the grave. I know this to be true because I've spoken with Him, and I can personally promise you that He is everything He claims to be. When you choose to trust Him and make Him your Lord, it will change your life in more ways than you can imagine. Some days, it will be hard, but knowing Him is worth any sacrifice! The greatest part is, because He already conquered death itself, when I die, I get to be with Him forever!!! He is preparing a place for me in heaven that is beyond anything in my wildest imagination. I do not always represent Him well, and I'm genuinely sorry for that. But His Spirit is with me and helping me to think and live the right way, leading me and showing me the truth. There is another spiritual force, the devil, who is working hard every day to kill and destroy everything that God loves, including me and you. He (Satan) is the source of all the evil and suffering in our world today, but please know that God takes it seriously when someone messes with His children. He is a holy and righteous judge, He WILL get the last word, and you can rest assured that He sees everything including our motives and thoughts, and He will bring full justice in eternity!!

Now, I can say without hesitation or doubt that I firmly believe "All Scripture is inspired by God" and "every word out of the mouth of God proves true," that there are NO "gray areas" in the Bible. For any number of reasons (the main one being that Christians don't represent Christ well), people can and do convince themselves that Christianity is a total fraud. But try as they might, God's Word has never been (and will never be) proven wrong. For those who are truly seeking with all their heart to find TRUTH, for those who are hurting and seeking unfailing love, they will certainly find it in the HEART and stories found in the Word of God -- not a boring book filled with historical facts and information -- but a powerful and life-changing book which is, indeed, "full of LIVING power!"

...Amen! =)

A to Z Scripture

(This is for my Scripture memory project w/Ruth's LifeGroup... we each chose a verse for every letter of the alphabet and are keeping each other accountable to memorize them.)

• A. “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." ~Colossians 3:14,15
• B. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” ~Psalm 37:7
• C. “Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear of God.” ~Proverbs 31:30
• D. "Don't lose sight of My words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." ~Proverbs 4:22,23
• E. “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” ~Proverbs 30:5
• F. “Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him. With them, He shares the secrets of His covenant.” ~Psalm 25:14
• G. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." ~Ephesians 4:31,32 
• H. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:6-9
• I. “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will inherit a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy. For I, the Lord, love justice.” ~Isaiah 61:7,8
• J. “Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" ~Matthew 14:31
• K. “Keep your eyes open to this Temple day and night, this place You promised to dignify with Your Name. And listen to the prayers that I pray in this place.” ~2 Chronicles 6:20
• L. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer.” ~Psalm 19:14
• M. “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." ~Psalm 40:5
• N. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves.” ~Romans 12:17-19
• O. “Oh Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” ~Isaiah 33:2
• P. “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.”  ~Ephesians 6:18
• Q. “Quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools." ~Ecclesiastes 9:17
• R. "Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury. God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine.” ~Job 22:24,25
• S. “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you. Listen to His instructions, and store them in your heart.” ~Job 22:21,22
• T. “The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” ~Psalm 37:23,24
• U. “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle, you will still be standing firm.” ~Ephesians 6:13
• V. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.” ~John 14:12
• W. “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory." ~2 Corinthians 3:18
• X. “Exactly as I planned, it will happen. Following My blueprints, it will take shape.” ~Isaiah 14:24
• Y. “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.” ~II Timothy 3:12-14
• Z. “Zeal for Your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult You fall on me.”  ~Psalm 69:9

Weekend Update

Hey! In an effort to make this update more interesting, here are the top 10 events (that I remember) in my life lately... (pictures coming soon). :)

10. My wonderful mom came last weekend and stayed w/me as Malori was in Chicago. We cleaned house, saw Fame, and finally shopped all the antique stores on Main Street! =)

9. Rachael had back surgery 3 weeks ago... her back is still improving and already WAY better. Yay!

8. Our lifegroup had a breakfast for dinner night, where Chet and Kimberlea made pancakes and we brought tons of toppings... fun!

7. My parents got a 2nd puppy, Reagan, (also a mini Australian Shepherd) so that's been fun!!

6. Billy Anderson passed away after being in the hospital almost 2 years with a mysterious disease (It's http://www.prayforbilly.com/ if you want to donate to the family). So sad. The Memorial Service was this morning at Destiny Church... I really liked Pastor Mike.

5. Natalie & Mark's wedding... Chet went w/me, which made it far more fun, then we met our group at the Greek Festival and danced w/them on stage!

4. Lunch at Rib Crib with Kristin on Monday... had a great conversation... always good to see her!

3. Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D with Malori... the 3D was fun, and it was more entertaining thanks to the kid who was a major Pixar fan!

2. Finding modeling pics of Levi on Facebook... yep, that's my personal trainer, ladies and gentlemen!! lol

1. Running w/Bobbi and Angie at Riverside... met a 63 year old woman named Marge who has run 25 marathons (WOW) and coaches runners... she pushed me to finish faster than normal, so that was awesome! =)