Twelve

Day 12

When I was little, I was always confused why God had a Chosen People: the Israelites.  Did He not love everyone the same? Why does the Bible single them as His special children?

I don't really know all, or even most, of the answers.  But I do know that God is good. And Great.  And that this weeks devos answered some of what I used to wonder.

First, the Old Testament

• Isaiah 56: 6 "I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do no desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my commandments." (NLT)

Then the New Testament

• Acts 15:8-9 8 God knows the people's hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles [non-Jews] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. (NLT with added explanation)
• Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. (NLT)

The Lord never intended to not save the Gentiles, to not love them.  He's called all of us.  Even in the old testament, throughout the prophets, he extends His grace to the "not chosen" people.  In the New Testament Paul argues the Gentiles case.  God has chosen us to be His people.
1 Peter 2:8-9  ⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (NLT)

We're His!

Eleven

Day 11

It's hard to trust God when you don't see Him.  It's hard to trust His plan when you see "nothing" being accomplished.  It's rough sharing your faith when all you receive in return is rejection. It's next to impossible to take the next step when you don't trust where your foot will land.

It's a good thing that none of it is in our own hands.  Even when we don't understand or comprehend, the Lord has good in store for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Isaiah 55 8-9 "8 My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.  "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (NLT)

As children of God, we can have full confidence in the Lord's plan for our lives.  For the last month I've been struggling with finding solid fellowship.  I have amazing friends! Don't get me wrong.  But finding those who share my faith and want to grow as badly as I do has been rough.  I feel like I'm not doing enough, not sharing enough, not searching hard enough.  When I do share, I feel like my words are rejected.  Even shunned and laughed at.  But His ways are far beyond my ways.  I know He has good planned for me.

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." (NLT)

It's not up to me who accepts or declines God's Word.  But it is up to me whether I live a lifestyle that screams Jesus.  God's Will will be done, with or without my help.  I only need to trust and give my all to Him.

Thank goodness it's not up to me! ;)

Ten

Feeling so much better today. Yay good sleep.
Proud of you all!!! We're a third of the way through this 30 Day Challenge. Keep it up!

S Acts 13: 38-39 38 "Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God--something the law of Moses could never do. (NLT)

O Paul had been preaching to the Jewish people in the synagogue, telling them that the law could not save them. Works were not enough.  Following all 600+ laws of the Torah could not bring salvation. Only belief in Christ can make one right with God.

A Do I live by the law? Or by Christ? Many times I "do things" just so I can feel accomplished. I try to earn my way to Christ. But the Bible is very clear that only belief and God's grace will bring salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us vcan boast about it. (NLT)

P Thank you Jesus that it is all you and none of me!

Nine

Today I'm pretty sick with a head cold. So I'm just going to post the passage I got this morning and let the Word do the talking. :)


Isaiah 54:4-6 4 "Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.  Don't be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.  You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.  5 For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven's Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.  6 For the Lord has called you back from your grief--as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband," says your God. " (NLT)

Eight

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day here in North West Washington.  Too bad I'm in school and at work for most of the day. Oh the irony. Here's day 8! Keep it up all you 30 Day Challengers! And if you haven't started, it's alright, you can finish the challenge with me. :) You can be 22 Day Challengers. Still just as cool!

Day 8

S Isaiah 53:4-5 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)

O Isaiah is talking about deliverance for Jerusalem (or Israel) through God's servant (the Messiah).  He prophecies what the Servant will endure for God's people.  That every sin of God's people (and ultimately the world) are placed on the Servant's shoulders.  

A  Do you really understand how great and important the Cross is?  We take it for granted so so often. God's Grace for us is incredible!!! If we could just wrap our minds around even a part of the Cross, our perspective would change drastically.  "He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed." Jesus Christ died and took your sins so you can have relationship with Christ.  Grace and Christ's sacrifice is at the center of Christianity (what Christianity should be.)! No other religion can claim that.  No other religion requires nothing but acceptance of God's gift: the Cross. His Son.

P  Lord, so often we take for granted what you did on that Cross.  Remind me daily of your incredible love and sacrifice.  Remind me that you have made me clean, pure, holy, but that cleanliness did come at a very high price.  You alone are good Lord. Thank you for accepting me just as I am.

Seven

This one hit home for me. So it might be a little rough, but it definitely spoke to me and was needed. If you're to read any of my 30 Day Challenge entries I'd check out this one. 

P.s. Still loving hearing about your devos! God's rocking some of you and I love seeing it. Keep it up! So proud of you.

Day 7

Isaiah 52:1-2 ¹ Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will enter your gates no longer. ² Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. (NLT)

I mess up all the time.  I fail. It frustrates me! I give into sin like I give in to the desire to eat chocolate chip cookies.  I flirt with temptation.  I enter the kitchen where I know the smell will haunt me.  I look at the cookies and don't stop myself when I know I'm beginning to give in.  I then pick up that cookie jar, telling myself that I can resist, but knowing full well that I'll give in eventually.  Finally I take that cookie...my sin...and I indulge.  To the point where I feel like I'm going to throw up. Sometimes physically sick.

And yet...every time I mess up God's there to pick me back up.  It's ridiculous to me! My finite mind can't wrap  around the fact that my Father sees me as clean.  Does that give me permission to sin? No.  But it does give me permission to accept grace and the Cross. I can take Christ's sacrifice and "Remove the chains of slavery from your [my] neck..." and continue in His grace for His purpose.

So Church.  Put on your beautiful clothes.  Clothe yourself with strength.  Forget your shame.  Remove your chains.  Sit in a place of honor where Christ has put you.  You are forgiven.  You are holy through the Cross.  

Five & Six

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Sorry I haven't been posting journal entries...I have a litany of excuses but I'll save you the time and just post the entries...

Day 5

Acts 10:15 ¹⁵ But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (NLT)

Up to this point Peter, a disciple of Jesus, had not eaten anything forbidden in the law.  But God called him to eat all these "unclean" animals (snakes, birds, other animals).  Peter then goes on to Cornelius' (a Roman) house and brings them the Good News and Cornelius and his household are saved and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

So who am I to say someone isn't "clean enough" to be saved?  Who am I to deny Christ to anyone? No matter their sins, they're not greater than my own.  They're not greater than yours.  Anyone can and will be cleaned by Christ's grace if they accept Him.  Who am I to stand in the way?

Day 6

Isaiah 51:12-13 12 I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.  So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear.  13 Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth.  Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone! (NLT)

It says it right there: "I, yes I am the one who comforts you." I have nothing to fear from anybody.  The Lord protects and gives me strength.  So when I feel alone up here in Bellingham (because trust me, I do), I can trust and know that He is here with me.  There is nothing anyone can do to me. 

God rocks.

Four

Day 4

Woah woah woah. Posted this sooo late! My bad! I had work....and running...and napping.

Acts 9: 15-16 15But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." (NLT)

While devos didn't "feel as deep" today, these couple verses really stuck out. Scared me actually, "And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." ...scary.  And yet in reading Paul's letters (Ephesians, the Corinthian letters, Romans!) Paul gladly takes the hardships and lets the Lord turn it into joy. Rather than being afraid of God's purpose for him, he embraced and let God work in amazing ways. Makes me love this passage incredibly more!!! :
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Each time he said, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NLT)

My thoughts are jumbled. God's way sweet.  Paul is the man.  Hope it makes some sense. :) But! Loving all the responses hearing people's devos!!!! Keep it up! 4 days down, 26 to go!

Three

Day 3

Hope your devos have been going swell the past three days!

Acts 8:29-31  29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah.  Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 21 The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. (NLT)

When is the last time you felt the Holy Spirit prompt you to do something? Say something? Read? Pray? Did you do it?  Or perhaps you thought it was your mind just talking to yourself.  I know I struggle with listening and following the Holy Spirit.

What stuck out to me today was "Philip ran..." Crazy! He heard the Holy Spirit and didn't even hesitate.  He didn't walk over.  He didn't stroll over.  He booked it! "The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go..."Philip ran..."!!!! That my faith would be like Philip's. That I would run when I hear God's voice.

Two

Day 2

Devos=Legit

Isaiah 49:3-5 3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory." 4 I replied, "But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.  Yet I leave it all in the Lord's hand; I will trust God for my reward." 5 And now the Lord speaks-the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. (NLT)

How often do we feel like the "work" we do for the Lord is "useless" or has no affect on His Kingdom?  We try and try to do good, to please God, but in the end we feel as if we accomplished nothing.
It's really not our doing in the first place, yet God chooses to honor us. With the little that "we accomplish" (really it's Him working through us) He acknowledges us anyways.  He gives us strength to continue to live for Him.

What's more!!! He's picked each and every one of us while we were still in our mother's womb.  He laid out a plan, a "commission" for our lives.  All we have to do is say yes and watch as the Lord is glorified through us. It's ridiculous that He chooses to glorify Himself through us: broken, imperfect people.  But through Christ we are made new, we are made perfect.  Through Christ and His grace we are able to honor the Lord with our lives.

Too legit to quit.

***Still would love to hear some of what God is speaking to you!! Shoot me an e-mail/facebook/comment/text.  Love seeing God working in your life!!! :) ***

One

Day 1

So if you're unsure as to what "Day 1" means, "Day 1" is the first day of the 30 day devos challenge! Starting today, and for the next 29 days, I'm going to put up what I got each morning for my devos.

I WOULD LOVE if you also shared with me what you got for your devotions. Whether it be a summary of what you got, just posting the verses, maybe getting some S.O.A.P on (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) I want to hear about it!  So comment, send me a link to your blog showing your daily devos, shoot me an email. There's something about sharing God's Word with your brothers and sisters that's incredibly encouraging. Plus I just love hearing what God is speaking into your lives!

S Isaiah 48:17 This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. (NLT)

O The Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah has been berating Israel on and off for the last 47 chapters, and yet God still chooses to forgive and gently lead Israel in the right direction.  Despite Israel's rebelliousness, God continues to teach them and lead them. Crazy!

A  If the Lord does that for Israel, will He not do the same for me? Heck yes He will and does! Grace through Jesus Christ makes me clean and the Lord continues to lead me onto His path.  Even when I stray.  He continues to teach me even when I wander. I can have faith in His promise and know His ways are the best for me.

P  Lord, thank you for Your grace. Thank you for always teaching and guiding me without fail.  Even when I disregard You, You still want and patiently wait for me. Help me to stay on your path and follow your teachings rather than rebel.  You are my God and I will follow you.

Devos Whaa?

Relationships.

Why do relationships seem to be so hard all of the time?  Not just romantic relationships (Which is hard! Such a noob to this dating thing.) but relationships with our families, our friends, co-workers, classmates.  The list goes on and on.  We as people tend to fail at them. Well at least I do so I'm assuming others do too.

Growing up I kind of failed at relationships, or friendships. I had 2 friends growing up with whom I spent all my time. Then they moved when I was 8. After that I had short, shallow friendships, but mostly I enjoyed sticking to myself.  Middle school proved to be very difficult, and I found myself more alone then ever.  High school freshman year was hard but I was beginning to come out of my shell.  By my junior year I had 3 amazing lady friends who have been closer than any other friends before! Now I have a few close friends (and you know who you are my homies) whom I love dearly! And a bunch of people who are pretty much my family. Shout out to the LW and 4square peeps. ...okay done trying to be G...

As I look back on the increase of my ability to make real relationships with people I realize there's a strong, defining element that affected ALL of my relationships.  My personal relationship with Christ.  Specifically through my daily devos (or devotions. 'Devos' just sounds more "cool".)

Relationships take constant work.  Notice that it takes hanging out with someone at least once a week to really develop a strong, resounding connection? But even once a week isn't really enough.  The Fantastic Four (Britt D, Megan H, Liz V and myself) met almost everyday in school or after school. We were constantly in communication and relation with each other.  You probably see or talk or chat via Facebook or text your best friends almost every day? Am I right? The moment you stop constant communication you start feeling out of touch.  The same is with the G-Man.

Daily relationship with God is a must.  If you want to grow, if you want confidence in your relationships with others, you have to have relationship with God first! His relationship with us is the ultimate model of love.  If we can understand just a glimpse of His love for us, then we can return that love onto others. Which will in turn strengthen all of our relationships.  I have not only witnessed this amongst friends and mentors but I've experienced it myself.
1 John 4:19 ¹⁹ We love each other because he loved us first. (NLT)  

I challenge you to a 30 day read with me.  Pick up your Bible and read every day for 30 days.  Doesn't have to be a billion chapters, just a couple verses even.  I dare you to see the change in your relationships with others as you strengthen your relationship with God.
As devos became a constant in my life my relationship with my brother was healed in amazing ways, my relationships with others became stronger, and my ability to love through anything became rock solid. 

Doing daily devos isn't going to solve all your relationship problems, but I promise it will influence every aspect of your life: including those you love most.  Getting close to God changes our perspective and enables us to love more freely and openly in a way that only through Christ is possible. 

So deepen your relationship with Christ.  Talk to Him every day.  Learn from Him every morning.  Watch as your relationship with Jesus grows your relationships with people will too.

So!! If you plan on reading the Bible every day for 30 days please comment and let me know! I'm going to put my devos up here every day starting tomorrow and I'd love to see what God's showing you too!!
Psalm 42:1-2 1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (NLT)

Challenging Clay

It's been almost a month since my last blog post. Summer school!!!!!!! ....ugh.  Cramming 12 weeks of work into 6 weeks means lots of homework all the time. Good news though, only 2 weeks left!!!! I'm ready to be done.

Sometimes...a lot of times...as you have read in my other posts, I don't understand why God has placed me where I'm at.  I want to be doing organized ministry! Pastoring. But here I am at a very secular and liberal university finishing my degree in Communications. Not theology.  But in my process of following God's will and not my own I've learned so much! I've learned obedience.
When's the last time you questioned God?  "Why am I here?" "Why am I like this?"  "Why did he have to leave me?" "Where am I supposed to go?" "This isn't fair! This isn't right."  Here's a thought for you:

What sorrow waits those who argue with Creator.  Does a clay pot argue with its maker?  Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, "Stop, you're doing it wrong!" Does the pot exclaim, "How clumsy can you be?" How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, "Why was I born?" or if it said to its mother, "Why did you make me this way?"

Do you argue with God about the way you were created? Do you challenge Him saying that He has directed your life in the wrong direction? Do you believe that He knows best for you?

"This is what the Lord says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: "Do you question what I do for my children?  Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?  I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it.  With my hands I stretched out the heavens.  All the stars are at my command."
Instead of arguing with God about where you're at, ask Him what you're supposed to be learning, what you're supposed to be doing.  In Isaiah 45 God reminds us that we don't need to question Him.  

I know that I've been struggling with questioning His will over the past year.  But through His grace I've come to realize who am I to question the Lord? He is my Creator, I can trust my entirety to His plan.  Rather than question, I will follow.  Rather than argue, I will obey. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 . ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.