Made to Worship

I stole the title from Chris Tomlin's song. I haven't written in a while. I didn't know what to write about. And I haven't had much time to write. Busy-ness with work and other stuff has kept me from blogging lately. I've mostly been working on my book, so the thought of writing in addition to that seems undesirable. But last night was different.

I went to a worship night at the NW campus. There was no sermon, just worship time. It was a small crowd. I sensed that this was a room of people hungry for something. For some, it was acceptance. Others needed to release fears or unforgiveness. Many had burdens to lay down at the altar. I was there to worship. To spend time with God. To offer him my imperfect voice. Regardless of the reasons why people came, I felt a sense of unity. We all needed something.

I recalled reading about Gideon. He brought his offering and set it before the Lord. The angel of the Lord touched the offering with his staff, and fire consumed it. As we offered up songs of praise, I imagined God soaking up our worship in a brilliant fire. The words "God is a consuming fire" never seemed more real. I couldn't help but smile. God loves it when his children cry out to Him. Sometimes it's in desperate and painful situations. Other times it's when we're rejoicing or thankful. But He always wants to hear from us.

I heard a pastor say that God never listened to one of his sermons and said, "Wow! I never thought of that before." We can't present any new wisdom to Him. Our good deeds are like filthy rags. But worship is one of the few things we have to offer.

A few months ago, I picked up my guitar and started to play a worship song. Quietly, He whispered, "Are you just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal?" Ouch. I was more worried about the chords and the strum pattern than actually worshiping the Creator. He doesn't want lip service. He wants a relationship. We were made to be in fellowship with Him. We were created for His glory.

Worship is not just singing or playing music. It is an act of love or devotion, to give something worth. Often, I've had to ask myself this question: what does my life reflect? That I worship God or the things of this world? Our time on this earth is fleeting, and I want to live to make every second count.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

As a child, hearing about the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost) was always something that freaked me out. I used the movies Ghostbusters and Casper to try to process what the Sunday School teachers were telling me. But I had no real concept of this third person in the trinity.

When Christ died, he didn't just save us from our sins. But he unleashed the power of the Holy Spirit on every believer. Sadly, many believers don't understand what that means nor care to understand it. We're cool with God and Jesus, but this Holy Ghost weirds us out. So, with most things we don't understand, we push it towards the back and try not to think about it.

I didn't start caring until recently. So I began digging into the Word to learn more. Through scripture we see that the Holy Spirit acts as a Counselor who guides you into all truth, helps us in our weakness, and intercedes for us. It testifies that we are God's children. We are "marked in Christ with a seal (the Holy Spirit) ... a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession."

When Adam and Eve sinned, God covered them with garments of skin. When the prodigal son returned home, his father covered him with a robe. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the crucifixion, he said that soon they would be "clothed with power from on high." The Holy Spirit covers us. It covers our sinfulness and brokenness. God now sees us as his children, as co-heirs with Christ. But many of us walk around like we're naked. We try to cover ourselves with good deeds rather than allowing the Spirit to fully envelope us.

Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. But why don't we see those things happening anymore? Maybe it's because we don't ask for it.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
~Luke 11:11-13

Kicking Anthills

What happens when you kick over an anthill? The ants usually have it rebuilt the next day. They don't relocate or give up. They choose to rebuild in the same spot. Every time. In order to get rid of the ants completely, you don't just squash the worker ants. You have to take out the source.

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
~Luke 11:24-26

I've had problems with ants coming in near the kitchen sink. I sprayed the windowsill which took out some of the workers, but other ants continued to invade my home. So I bought these ant baits at the grocery store. Here's how it works. The ants take the bait back to the nest where it then kills all of the ants. Last month I set one in the windowsill and haven't seen any live ants in weeks. It worked!

The same scenario is played out in our lives. We kick over anthills. For example, we make New Year's resolutions that maybe last a week. We go on diets or exercise programs, buying all this equipment, only to give up after a few attempts. We have good intentions to help someone, but get overwhelmed with our own agendas.Or we decide to stop a certain sin, but we can't seem to cut it off completely. Sometimes our failure discourages us from even trying again. And the ants march on.

The problem is that we fail to take out the source. God has equipped us with everything that we need to succeed. But many times we don't know how to use it. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

The question is, do you really believe Him? In the next few days we'll look at how to use the gifts God has given us. Thanks for reading.

The Unmerciful Servant

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells this story about a forgiving king who canceled the debts of a servant who owed him millions of dollars. But the servant then went to a fellow servant who owed him a few bucks. He choked the guy and then had him thrown into prison. When the king found out what his servant had done to the other man, he had him thrown in jail and tortured until he paid back all of his own debts.

I've always viewed this as a story about forgiveness (and it is!), but last week God showed me a new take on it. I was recently blessed financially. When this unexpected blessing came, I was so excited because I knew it was from God. I had lots of ideas about how I wanted to spend the money. The next day I was planning on buying a swimming pool. I had hunted down (via Internet) the perfect one, stalked it on the shelves of Walmart, and was almost ready to purchase. But I decided to have my brother come with me to get it, so he could help load it in the car and unload it when we got to my house. While I was waiting on my brother, I checked the mail. Bills, junk, and an organization asking for money. I've already given enough to them, I thought. But it seemed like a thorn stuck in my side. I have my own mission trip that I need to pay for, I reasoned. The thorn dug a little deeper. "What God?" I asked aloud. But I already knew the answer. "But I really want a pool!" I whined. So I decided to compromise. I would give to the organization later, but I would get the pool now. I picked up my brother, and we headed to Walmart. He started asking all these questions about the pool. "Where are you going to put it? Is it level? Can you store it?" Umm, I guess I hadn't really thought it through. "I'll figure it out later," I quickly answered. A sagging feeling hit me. The pool would not be there. Sure enough, we arrived at the store and every box was gone.

Most of my life I have been money-hungry. I remember counting my coins repeatedly as a child. Too often I put my trust in money and security rather than God. I always think back to the movie Ghost, when Whoopi Goldberg has to hand a check over to the nun. I can relate completely! God hands me money that wasn't even mine to begin with, then He asks me to do something, and I throw a mini-tantrum. One thing I'm learning (and relearning) is that you probably won't lose something when you have a tight grip on it, but you cannot receive anything more when you have a closed fist. God, help me to have open hands to receive what you have for me, but also to give what you want me to give.

Can You Relate?

I've been reading through some Old Testament stuff, looking to dig in rather than glaze over. Here's one story that stood out. King David had a son named Adonijah. I like to call him Donny. Or maybe Don. Anyway, his dad is getting really old. So Donny decides that he will be king. He ignored the fact that David had many sons and he wasn't really next on the list to be king. Donny organizes a parade and invites only the people he knows will support him. He sacrifices animals and throws a party so everyone will see that he is going to be the next king. However, his pride catches up with him, David names Solomon to be king, and Donny is put to death because of his deception and arrogance.

Unfortunately, I can relate to Donny. There are many times when I try to work things into my favor, even in times when I know I shouldn't. I don't want to listen to others who disagree with me. My selfishness takes over. I don't want to wait on God's timing. Sometimes, it seems He takes too long. Other times, He prompts me to do something, and I have to "pray about it" (when actually I'm stalling because it's an inconvenient task). I get ahead of God or wander off the path into trouble. No wonder we're compared to dumb sheep in some verses. I want to learn how to live in step with God. Not in front or behind. But right beside the loving shepherd.

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified its sinful nature. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Galatians 5:24-25

Jesus Ain't No Doormat

Growing up, I always pictured a gentle and meek Jesus. A man who turns the other cheek, heals the sick, and loves children. But that's only one part of who he is. The more I get to know him, I now see another facet of Christ- as a strong and powerful warrior. In Matthew he said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." One of my favorite pictures of Christ is him walking through a crowd that was ready to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:30).

There are many examples in the Bible where Jesus seems a bit harsh, much different from the usual depiction. A man wanted to say goodbye to his family before he left to follow Jesus and was told, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Another time, Jesus said to his friend Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." When Jesus saw the temple being misused, he drove the money changers away by making a whip and overturning tables.

I begin to picture Jesus more like the Incredible Hulk or a UFC fighter. He has high standards, and rightly so. After all, he died a painful and horrible death so that we could be saved. Not so we could have a nice house, lots of money, and no worries. Too often we are more concerned about this life, when we should be concentrating on the next one. Sometimes, I need a good confrontation when I'm screwing up or not doing the right thing. Here are some Jesus quotes that really hit home:

Anyone who loves _fill_in_the_blank_ more than me is not worthy of me.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (FYI-If you are reading this, you are rich. If you are reading it from your iPhone...)

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

It's interesting that Jesus mostly taught through parables. The first one, Parable of the Sower, is a great read. Check it out in Matthew 13. I believe he does it to see who is truly seeking him. There are a lot of pretenders who say they believe in God, but live like he doesn't exist. (If this sounds like you, please read The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel. And no, I don't get any commission from supporting the book.)

There are so many times when I take my eyes off of Christ. Trouble or persecution comes, and I lose my focus. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." He doesn't promise us a smooth ride during this lifetime. But he does promise a safe landing.

I watched a UFC fight a while back. One of my favorite fighters beat his opponent. It wasn't an easy fight. He was bruised and banged up. But afterwards this tough man walks over, picks up his daughter, and hugs her. This is how I picture Christ. He could've quit. Had angels take him down from the cross. But he didn't. Jesus didn't tap. He is reaching out to those who would call on his name. Have you responded? Have you put your trust in him? Have you given him your whole life? There's no better time.

Happy Easter!

The F Word (Part 5)

The Ultimate Forgiveness

The man who stole my debit card is guilty. There has to be a punishment for his crime. He should be in jail. But what if I stepped in? What if I took his place in a jail cell? What if I was the one separated from my friends and family as he walked around a free man? Do you think it would change him? Or would he continue on in his ways?

Jesus did this for us when he went to the cross. We are guilty of our sin. We broke (and continue to break) God's laws. Because He is a holy God, there has to be a sacrifice. But Jesus stepped in and took the punishment instead. He was beaten and whipped while we walk around free. He died so that we could live forever with Him. Having knowledge of this, do you allow it to change you? Or do you continue on in your ways?

God's mercies are new every morning. He gives us chance after chance. "But don't be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." ~Galatians 6:7-8

God is the ultimate judge. He knows the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Unfortunately, there are many who have deceived themselves. If your life looks like the rest of the world, you should be nervous. God didn't call us to conform, but to transform the world. His kindness should us to repentance and to action. My prayer for you is that during this Easter season, you look at all God has done for you. And your only response is to fully surrender your life to Him.

The F Word (Part 4)

There are consequences to your actions. Some are harsh while others may be very mild, depending on the behavior. I like justice. When I was younger, I wanted to be a judge or supreme court justice. (They get summers off too.) But God made me a teacher instead. So here I am.

The man who stole my debit card is still running around. He hasn't had to call and change card numbers. He doesn't know all the effects of his actions. Admittedly, when someone wrongs me or my family, I want them to pay. I want them to know and feel the pain or emotional damage they have caused. But the offender cannot always repay you. Sometimes, they appear to get away with it. Or they only suffer mild punishment. It just doesn't seem fair.

Yesterday I ended with a verse. The part that spoke to me the most was to "get rid of all bitterness." Bitterness is like a weed in your garden. If you don't uproot it, it can keep growing and choke out other healthy plants. Ignoring it won't work. Cutting away only the top part (the part others can see) does not take care of the problem either. It's in the roots. It's the part that no one else sees but you. You may appear like everything is fine, but is it really? Get rid of all bitterness.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." ~Proverbs 25:21-22

When I first came across this scripture, it made me laugh. Literally, dumping burning coals on my enemy sounded like a good idea. But after studying it more, I discovered other meanings behind it. The Message Bible translates it as, "Your generosity will surprise him with goodness." My translation--You will help him to see a godly response rather than a worldly reaction.

Tomorrow, we'll finish by looking at the ultimate forgiveness. Thanks for reading!

The F Word (Part 3)

So we've talked about the first step to forgiveness--praying for the person. Now what?! Sometimes people ask, "Am I supposed to be best friends with them now, do I just forget what they've done, do I let them continue to hurt me?" And my answer is "No." There's a big difference between forgiving someone and condoning the behavior. You were called to be a disciple, not a doormat. You also were called to love, not loathe. In 1 Corinthians 13:6, it says love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

There are various levels of love depending on how deep the hurt is. Some relationships can be fixed just with simple communication. But with others it can be a long and difficult journey of getting through the pain (emotional or physical) that was inflicted upon them. Love comes in different forms. I don't know your situation, but hopefully you can relate to these. Maybe for you, you need to talk to the person face to face. Talk to them about how they've hurt you, but also let them know you forgive them. Maybe loving someone means not giving them the evil eye whenever you see them. It could be that you don't take your frustrations out on friends who are close to that person. Maybe it means walking away from another conflict with them. Or not bashing them over the head with a golf club (not that I've ever had that thought before). Maybe it's praying for them to turn their lives around.

It's not always an easy road. But if you take one step at a time, you'll be farther ahead and better off than if you just sit in the dirt and feel sorry for yourself.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:31-32

The F Word (Part 2)

Many times over the Bible talks about forgiving others because God forgave us. It's a lot easier said than done though. It's not just saying the words, "I forgive you." There has to be a change in the heart. We forgive others because we need it. It's not really about our relationship with the offender. It's about our relationship with the Creator.

As I was thinking about the person who stole my debit card, I started getting self-righteous. I mean, in the midst of serving others, and he had the nerve to steal from me. The nerve! And then I thought of the many times I have robbed God. Robbed Him of glory that I took for myself. Robbed Him of money that belonged to Him in the first place. Worshipped idols of comfort and popularity rather than Him. Repeatedly disobeyed and denied Him.

Jesus said that no one is good except God. No one. What if God had said, "Ok Kim, you blew it. That was the last straw. I'm done with you." Luckily, that's not who God is though. He's not waiting for you to mess up so He can inflict punishment on you. His mercies are new each morning. In Isaiah 43:25, He promises to remember our sins no more and says that He does this for His own sake. Again, this shows us that it's not about the offender. It's about our relationship with Him. How do you want God to treat you?

As we talk about forgiveness, I'm sure that you are picturing someone or a maybe a few someones. Who is it that you need to forgive today? And where do you start? From my experiences, I've found that prayer is a good beginning. Praying for the offender does something for my own heart. You probably won't feel like it, but do it anyway. It's like taking your garbage out. It needs to be done even though you may not feel like it. And if you don't, then bad odors start to arise. It's time to take out the trash.

The F Word

Last week, I got my debit card stolen right out of my purse. So I've had to renew my mind more than usual this week. Like every time I had to retell the story. While I was fuming and thinking about all the ways to hurt this person, I kept thinking about the F word. Not that one! I'm talkin bout Forgiveness. It's the F word you hear at church every once in a while, but what does that really mean? Miles Paludan just gave an awesome message on the subject. He said everything I was going to say, but so much better than I could articulate. Go check it out. Seriously. I'm not joking. Do it now!

http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/watch/red-letter-day/2

This week I'll be blogging about some other stuff that Miles didn't cover in the message. So stay tuned.

Ukraine, You Crazy

So I'm going to Ukraine this summer. I'm not sure how it happened. I'm not sure where the money will come from. But I know it's supposed to happen.

I finished reading the book Crazy Love. (I'll be starting a book study over it soon.) The last chapter is about taking the info you learned and applying it to your life. So I had this convo with God.

Me: Ok God, what do you want me to do with this stuff?
God: You already know.
Me: Umm, I do??
God: You remember doing the Chazown study (your life vision)?
Me: Yeah, but I dunno. That was like 4 years ago. Is it even still relevant? I mean, helping kids in orphanages seems like a far-off idea.
God: (silence)

The next day I go to the Union (Worship night at Lifechurch). There's was a guy Paul who works with international missions. And he just happened to be in town this week. Paul was there to talk about a mission they are taking in the summer to Ukraine. During the trip they spend time with orphaned kids, loving on them and teaching them about Christ. So I have another convo with God while Paul was speaking.

Me: God, is this what you want me to do?
God: What do you think?
Me: The trip is on July 21st, isn't it?
Paul: ...So we're leaving on July 21st and coming back on August 4.
Me: Ok God. I hear ya.

(Note: My grandma's birthday is on the 21st. I was already planning on taking a trip in remembrance of her. It's the first birthday she'll be celebrating in Heaven.)

I like that God can be blunt sometimes. I don't always have to guess or pray for God's direction. It's right there in my face. The hard part is in the obedience.

Me: If you want me to go, then you'll take care of the money issue, right?
God: Have I ever let failed you when I've led you to do something?
Me: Good point.

I Need Some New Clothes!

Last week was rough. I was more tired, cranky, and worn out than I've been in a while. Then God interrupted my pity party.

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ~Colossians 3:12-14

Notice it says Put On Love. God is the essence of love. He doesn't wake up in the morning, eat his cereal, and put on a shirt, pants, and love. He already is. We, however, have to put on love daily. Some days it's easy to forget though. If you wake up late, get cut off in traffic, or have to deal with difficult people, it's normal to do what everyone else is doing. Complain and blame. But God calls us to a higher standard. Put on love. Forgive. Turn the other cheek. Your reward is in Heaven, not on earth. It's like flossing your teeth. You might not feel like doing it, but you know it's the right thing to do.

Love is NOT a feeling. It's an action. It's something you choose. What would the world look like if we started to radically show love. Not as a conditional, worldly, whats-in-it-for-me love. (Note: I'm not talking about being a doormat and continuously letting someone abuse you while you keep turning the other cheek. We'll discuss that later.) But an unconditional, I'm-free-to-love-because-God-loved-me-first, crazy love.

So this week I'm purposefully putting on love each morning. Lemme tell you it was not easy today. I think God was testing me out a little. But that's how I get stronger. It's like lifting weights. Small resistance develops the muscle, and over time you can lift much more than you could in the beginning. I'm probably starting out with some 2lb weights, but they feel like 20lbs at the moment. Hopefully, by the end of the month, they will seem weightless because I'm growing stronger each day.

So my question is this? What are you putting on each morning: bitterness, unforgiveness, depression, pride, apathy, impatience? Sometimes, even as Christians, we try to fake it by putting on the Jesus is my Homeboy T-shirt. But are you really living like it? Jesus said that people will know my disciples if they love one another. Maybe it's time for some new clothes.

Romans 14-16

I think the devil created demon-inations, I mean denominations. What a great way to get Christians off the subject of Christ and fighting amongst themselves. Which Bible version did Jesus read, are guitars and drums kosher, is it ok to sing only the first and third verses of the hymns? I'm not saying that denominations are bad. Each one has a purpose and brings in a certain group that others could not reach. But rather than bringing in new people, many churches are in competition with one another. Most things that Christians fight over are insignificant, disputable matters. Things that don't have a clear boundary. Instead of leading people to Christ, we're too busy bickering over the type of wafer to use in communion.

Some individuals, some groups, and some churches have certain ways of doing things. That's perfectly fine. But don't start judging others. As long as we are in agreement about the same God and the same Jesus, I think we'll be ok. Jesus said to love God and love others. And you can't be very loving when you're looking down your nose at someone.

"Weak in faith" doesn't mean that someone is a lesser Christian. They are just more sensitive to their convictions. And we should respect their values. Also, they should not judge or condemn others who might not feel the same way about certain issues.

I've heard countless arguments over issues like gambling, drinking, observing the Sabbath, speaking in tongues, etc. Everyone has their own conscience and set of experiences. If a former alcoholic is coming to my home, I would put the bottles away. If a new Christian is coming to my lifegroup, I wouldn't speak in tongues around them (not that it's one of my gifts anyway). We don't need to be a stumbling block to someone else just because we have freedom in Christ. Jesus wasn't worried about Pharisees and teachers of the law. His focus was on pleasing God and preaching the good news. We should be leading people to the kingdom, not driving them away or dividing ourselves. Paul said it beautifully in these verses:

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
~1 Cor. 9:19-23 (The Message)

Romans 13

Submission. We don't really like that word because it opposes our fleshly desires. It opposes our pride. Satan was kicked out of Heaven because he wouldn't submit. His pride caused him to lose his place and settle for a lesser kingdom (until the time God ultimately knocks him out). Many times I have to battle my own pride. But Paul says we are to submit to the authorities because they were established by God. We do this in order to avoid punishment but also because our conscience confirms it.

Back in Romans 12, it talks about love. Being joyful, living in peace with everyone, and not repaying evil. It's not talking about being a doormat. There are a few occasions when people are called to disobey the government in order to submit to God. Very few. Because of men like Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington, we live in a different world today.

We are called to love one another. But sometimes love is misunderstood. It's not a feeling. Love is an action. It's something we have to put on daily. (Sometimes I have to remind myself hourly.) There is a difference between being nice and being loving. For example, if your friend comes out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, the nice thing would be to not say anything at all. You don't want to hurt their feelings. However, the loving thing would be to tell them. It might be slightly embarrassing hearing it from you. But you save them the added embarrassment of hearing it from a stranger. When a friend sins, you love them into repentance. You don't just ignore it, but you don't condemn them either. Often we hear, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But the next verse clarifies what that means, "Love does no harm to its neighbor."

We are to understand the present time and need. Our lives will be over in the blink of an eye. And at the end of this life we will stand before a holy and mighty God, and give an account of everything we've done. This should motivate us to think of the long-term benefits of following Christ. However, there are many who are entangled with sins that have only short-term effects. The Bible doesn't give a list of all the individual sins that people have created for themselves. And because there are vague lines of some sin, often we get as close to the line as we can without stepping over. My personal measuring stick is this question, "Am I hurting the heart of God?" If the answer is yes, then I need to change my actions.

"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." ~Romans 13:14

Romans 11-12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~Romans 12:2


The more I read in Romans, the more closely I see how Christians relate to Jews. Both groups see themselves as part of a remnant that will be saved. And we can only be saved by grace. So what is grace? It's not something we can earn. It is something that is given. But (in my opinion) grace is not one-sided. It is a gift that calls for a response. The response is faith and obedience. Paul devoted the entire chapter 4 of Romans to talk about Abraham. Abe became the "father of many nations" not by his works, but through his faith. His actions were just a reflection of his heart. It's not as though we are trying to repay God. It's more like a thank you card from Hallmark (not Dollar Tree) because God deserves the very best.


Paul tells us to consider the kindness and sternness of God. He compares Jews to the natural branches of tree, and Christians to the ingrafted branches. Neither group can boast because we are both supported by the root (God). Anyone who doesn't believe is broken off. That's the scary part. There are many Jews and Christians alike who claim to believe in God, but they don't have any real evidence. Their lives don't look much different from a nonbeliever. And I'm afraid that they will realize it too late. Jesus said that many who claim to know Him will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Some readers have asked about my opinion of "once saved, always saved." I'll share my full view on that topic in the near future, but let's continue on for now.

What do you think of when you hear the word worship? Admittedly, I think of the band playing at church or Air1 music on the radio. But Paul says, "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices for this is your spiritual act of worship." Worship is not just music. Yes, music is a part of it. But it's not the only thing. Worship, for me, means being inspired. Knowing who God is, what He's done for me, and what He asks of me. It's not just an emotion that comes and goes. It's a lifestyle change. If we are going to be transformed (different from the rest of this world), it starts in our mind. It's changing bad habits into good ones. It's a slow process, but it becomes easier the more we do it. When we take captive our thoughts, it influences everything.

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions, Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." ~Unknown

Romans 9-10

Is God fair? It's a question I've struggled with for a long time. How is it that I was adopted into a loving family while others grew up in orphanages or broken homes? Why was I chosen to live in this great country? Meanwhile, there are children in other nations going hungry, without proper medical care, and being exploited. It just doesn't seem fair.


Does God have a system behind who He chooses? I believe He chooses whomever He wants. It's not based on our desire or effort, but on His mercy. That doesn't mean we are mindless machines bending to His will though. We have a choice as well. To make the most out of our situations or to sit down in the dirt and feel sorry for ourselves. Don't blame God because you're sitting in the dirt. Get up and do something! You have a choice. God said that He will answer those who call on Him. So what do you have to lose by trying it? If it doesn't work, you can always sit back down in the dirt again.


So what was Israel's problem? They were hand-picked by God and yet some still didn't get it. They were pursuing their own righteousness (based on works) instead of God's righteousness (faith). They were completely missing the point. God said only a remnant {of Israelites} will be saved. But I believe many Christians are missing it too. We base our salvation around attending church once in a while, throwing a few bucks in the offering bucket now and then, and being basically good as long as it doesn't interfere with our wants and desires. But Christ said, "Narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."


If we really put our trust in God, then we shouldn't look like the rest of the world. We are called to a higher standard, but many of us don't want to let go of this life. We want both. However, it is impossible to have two different masters. Again, God gives us the choice.


Some might think God is unfair because there are people who have never heard the gospel. But Christ reassures us that the end will not come until after the gospel is preached to all nations. Still, there are others who were raised in different religions. I believe that God can speak to anyone, even those who aren't seeking Him. I've known atheists who have turned their lives to Christ because He revealed Himself to them. God is God, and with Him all things are possible.

Romans 8 (Part 3/3)

How many times have you heard someone quote Romans 8:28? "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I love the message of this verse. But sometimes I think we use this scripture too narrowly. We put it in our own materialistic view. Other times we use it in the right context but at the wrong time. We might blurt it out when we don't know what else to say to a friend who is hurting. Many times they just need a listening ear. It's not your advice. It's not your cliches. It's your love. They need your love. They need to know that someone is there who loves them. Don't get me wrong. I wholeheartedly believe in the truth of that verse. But quoting it at the wrong time is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Show them love through your actions, not just in your words.

God loves us. That doesn't mean we won't endure hardships. Paul certainly faced his share of sufferings. But if God is for us, then who can be against us? God's love saves us from our sins, from fear, from guilt and condemnation, from worry, and from anything else that is not of Him. God not only loves, He is the essence of love.

Do you love Him back? I mean, do you truly love God? Or do you only love the things He gives you? Satan challenged God on this issue in the Book of Job. Even though Job lost everything, he refused to curse or blame God. If you were put in Job's position, would you still be able to love God despite your circumstances?

Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ. I pray that today you feel that love, no matter what you're going through. That it gives you peace and strength in the midst of chaos. That it gives you freedom in letting go of past hurts or struggles. And in return, love your Father with everything you have.

Romans 8 (Part 2/3)

What is the difference between lukewarm people and fully devoted followers of Christ? It's a mindset. When you submit to Christ, you are no longer controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. You can't have both. Paul says that sinful nature equals death, while the Spirit equals life and peace.


I grew up in a church that preached grace more than truth. We learned that God saved us by sending Jesus, we accept Him in our hearts, and we are forgiven so that one day we can go to Heaven. Well that's good stuff and all, but (in my opinion) grace is not a one-way street.


By accepting God's grace, that should lead us to changes in our old behavior. Verse 12 says that we have an obligation to live according to the Spirit. But unfortunately, there are many who believe they can receive grace yet continue living according to their own selfish desires. Paul says that those who are led by the Spirit are sons and daughters of God. It's says led. Are you allowing the Spirit to lead you? To guide and direct your path? Have you truly surrendered your life over to Christ or are you holding some back? The Spirit works like a GPS system. It was a gift from Jesus when He left the earth. But you have to activate it, keep it charged, and plug in a destination in order for it to work. Sadly, many are driving through life with their GPS thrown in the glovebox. It's there as a comfort, but they are not utilizing the device at all.

There's a song by Kenny Chesney that irritates me. It says, "Everybody want to go to heaven, but nobody want to go now." However, the whole creation has been groaning. What does that mean? The Bible compares it to a woman in labor. Creation is waiting to be redeemed. As true believers and followers, we should be eagerly awaiting the day when we receive new bodies. The day when Christ, the hope of glory, returns to make us co-heirs with Him.

But if you're living like the rest of the world, maybe you're not ready to go. My hope for you is that you're not ready to go yet, because you realize there is so much more work left to do.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." ~Jesus

Romans 8 (Part 1/3)

This chapter brings back so many memories. I'll be blogging on Romans 8 for a few days since there's too much to share in one run-on blog. This chapter is the main reason I decided to look into my lukewarm-ness. Or aka Practical Atheism (btw Craig Groeschel's new book is coming out soon!).

Everyone (from OK at least) remembers the April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It was a sad tragic day that took the lives of 168 people. One of those people was Victoria Texter.

My family knew Victoria pretty well. She was in my parents' Sunday school class. She had "bought" me in an auction to clean her windows. Her son went to school with my brother. We had even seen Vicky the night before at a junior high awards assembly. It was my dad's birthday, and (like most days) I was ready to go eat. They were talking with Vicky and her husband. Impatiently, I hurried them along to the car. They said their goodbyes, not knowing it would be the last time.

Fast forward to the next day. I was on a school bus when the bombing happened. It wasn't until later that day I found out Vicky worked at the Murrah building. And she was missing. That night, I got down on my knees in my bedroom, and prayed with everything I had in me. I fully believed God would save her. Several days went by and her body was one of the last to be found.

My heart sank. Why hadn't God answered my prayer?? I was a good Christian girl. I went to church, memorized scripture, and tried not to cuss. What more could He ask of me? Then I came across Romans 8:5-11. The words on the page pierced my heart, and I had to ask myself this tough question. Do I really belong to Christ? Yes I had made a decision at the age of 7, but did I really belong to Christ? If I examined my life, I wasn't controlled by the Spirit, but by my sinful nature. Therefore, I could not please God. In fact I wasn't even sure if God lived in me.

It was the first time I had ever questioned my relationship with God. I began digging through scriptures, and found myself very lacking. I put on a good Christian front, but was really living by the world's standards rather than God's.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ~2 Corinthians 13:5

Too often I don't think anyone can tell the difference between nonbeliever and believers. Collectively, we've become a society of cultural Christians. We go to church and do our thing, but we don't wanna be considered "radical." Preaching and leading others to Christ is left to the pastors. After all, they're getting paid for it. Meanwhile, I picture God shaking His head, knowing He has created us for so much more than this.

Romans Ch.7

In this chapter, Paul continues to talk about the struggle with sin. But didn't we just cover that in the previous chapter? Why does he feel the need to address it again? Because so many of us Christians can easily identify with his words. We have a desire to do good but can't carry it out. Or we try to stay away from sin but get hooked by it repeatedly.

When you gave your life to Christ, your former self died. But some of us are still carrying around our old, lifeless selves. Whenever I am tempted by my former sins, I imagine myself being handcuffed to a dead body. Forced to drag it around. Carry it to work and to church. It serves as a morbid, but sobering reminder of what sin is. It's simply dead weight that God wants us to leave behind.

Here's another illustration I found while at school. We have a lizard named Larry who lives in the library. (Love the alliteration there!) One day Larry (accepted Christ and) shed his old skin. However, there was a problem. Not all of the skin came off. On the top of Larry's head was the final piece, but it was stuck on his little lizard horns. He did his best to get it off by himself, but eventually the librarian had to come to his rescue. She removed the dead skin, and Larry was a happy lizard again.

In verse 4 Paul talks about dying to the law through Christ so that we might bear fruit to God. It doesn't say we die to the law so that we can do whatever we feel like. But how can we bear fruit if we have something stuck to us? It becomes our focus. And it becomes our discouragement if we can't get rid of it. I said it yesterday. I'll say it today. Find someone who will help you. Larry would still be miserable if the librarian hadn't been there to help him.

Many people have come to this roadblock in their walk with Christ and unfortunately have given up. Please press on. I relate it to playing guitar. When I first started learning guitar, it was so much fun. Then I met the F chord. (And I know why it's called that.) No matter what I did, I could not get the strings to play properly. It was frustrating, but I practiced each day (sometimes only for 10 minutes or so). With each day, my fingers grew stronger. One day I was playing the chord and a glorious sound returned to my ears. I'd finally gotten the result I was looking for.

Your sin struggle is not about winning the war. It's about the little battles you face everyday. Taking captive your thoughts. Avoiding certain places. Opening up to your accountability partner. Spending time in the Word. And eventually you'll be strumming along and this glorious sound of God's freedom will resonate within your heart.

Romans Ch.6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
When you accept Christ as the Lord of your life, Paul says that your old self is crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with. Notice it says crucified. It doesn't say vanished, died immediately, or removed quickly. It's very often a painful process when you've been living a certain way and are called to change. Just ask a gossip, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or someone addicted to porn.

In verse 18 Paul states, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." So we're set free, only to become slaves again? Some people have a problem with this because they don't want to be ruled by anything. However, this time we have a much better master. A master who loves us deeply. A master who only wants the best for us.

So how do we free ourselves from the sin that has us entangled? In order to break a habit, you have to replace it. When I gave up drinking 6-8 Dr. Peppers every day, I had to replace it. The answer: Diet Coke. Praise be to God for that stuff! I lost 15lbs immediately. Sometimes habits take longer to break though. Imagine a soldier returning from the front lines of enemy combat. He has to retrain himself. When the cat jumps up unexpectedly, his mentality will likely take him back into survival mode. He has to keep reminding himself daily that he's home now, in a place of peace. In order to battle sin, we must do the same. We remind ourselves that we belong to Christ. We do this through reading the Word, prayer, and worship.

Sounds a lot easier than it is though. Often, Christians will struggle but try to work it out on their own. After all, we are supposed to be dead to sin when we accept Christ, right? We don't want anyone to see our boogers. And that's exactly where the enemy wants us. Alone and defenseless. How do we oppose that? Find an accountability partner. Today!! Find someone who knows you have boogers and is willing to bring you the box of tissues.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

It might be a difficult walk to the cross, but you'll have a friend to help you up if you stumble. Imagine the day when we place our sins at the foot of the cross, and we pick up righteousness.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
~2 Timothy 4:8

Romans Ch.5

Chapter 5 speaks of the peace we receive when we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Peace doesn't mean that you will no longer have problems or stress. Rather it is a security in knowing that God is there for you, and an assurance that one day you will spend eternity with Him. Paul says to rejoice in hope and also in suffering. He claims, "...suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." And if anyone had a right to complain about circumstances, it would be Paul. (Well, Job had a rough time too.) Too often we question God when bad things happen. Our suffering should not lead us to doubt, but instead to hope. I love this quote from my study guide on Romans, "Just as a resistance to a muscle strengthens it, so challenges to our hope can strengthen it."

When you accept Christ, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, God dwelling inside you! He set it up long before you even thought about loving Him. While I might not understand all of His ways, I know that He loves me. That I can get through anything because I have His power to rely on. Many times I've heard people misquote this verse, "God will not give me more than I can handle." Wrong!! Often He gives you more than you can take on, so that you have to lean on Him. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Just look at the rag-tag group of disciples Jesus gathered. They were just ordinary people who said yes. And when they received the Holy Spirit (the same one that resides in you and me), then they were able to do extraordinary things.

Romans Ch.3 & 4

Who is better, the Jews or the Gentiles? Answer: We are all under sin and fall short of the glory of God. Whether we are under the law or not, we will all be held accountable to Him. No Jew or Gentile can become righteous from obeying the law. Rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

What does that mean? I'll put it in 3rd grade terms. When students come at the beginning of the year, many are still nose-pickers. They don't know that they shouldn't do it until someone tells them (either me or a rude peer). When they are aware that it's wrong, they will begin to hide it better. Some pickers cover their noses with their other hand, or the smarter ones will even put a book in front of their faces.

Because we were all nose-pickers (or sinners), we had to be made right somehow. This righteous from God (that is, Jesus) was sent as the ultimate sacrifice for our wrongs. There is no boasting. Some might say, "Well, I don't pick my nose anymore." But your nosepicking in the past has to be made right. Still others use the argument, "Well, I'm forgiven so I can continue picking my nose because my wrongs enhance God's righteousness." To which I would say, Stop picking your nose!

In Chapter 4 Paul spends the whole chapter describing Abraham. Abe wasn't considered righteous based on his actions, but only because of his strong faith.

For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. But where there is no law there is no transgression. ~Romans 4:14-15

Because Jesus died for our sins, we're are no longer bound under the law. Our sins are wiped clean and there is no wrath. We are now called to live by faith in a God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. And if we are truly living by faith, why would we ever want to continue messing around with our former sins?

Romans Ch.1 & 2

Throughout Romans we see the word righteousness. Paul tells us that a righteousness from God is revealed by faith. He is referring to Christ. He also states that the righteous will live by their faith, not through obedience. However, let's not forget that faith without works is dead. We can't work our way into Heaven. It's a free gift. But God also reminds us that it's not a license to do as we please.

Next Paul discusses the wrath of God and the actions of those deserving of it. It's interesting that gossipers are included in the same boat as murderers and God-haters. As Christians we sometimes look down on others because their sins are "worse" than ours. But God cannot tolerate any sin. None. It's not that He's waiting to punish evil sinners. He wants all of us to return to Him. In fact it's God's kindness, not a fear of punishment, that leads us to repentance.

The law is also a common theme in Romans. The law is inherent. Jesus summed it up with 2 commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. When a person (even an unbeliever) follows one of these out of instinct, it confirms God's truth. As Christians, we are not judged based on the law. Rather, our salvation comes only from the Righteousness of God that we talked about earlier.

Paul talks about the Jews and the Gentiles regarding the law. To the Jews who were bragging about their relationship to God, Paul gave them a sobering reminder which came straight from the OT, "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." And as I read it, the word Gentiles just didn't quite seem right. We could easily replace it with the word outsiders. Like the Jews, we can get caught up in our oh-so-fake image meanwhile we are dying on the inside. Paul compares it to the act of circumcision. It means nothing if is only done outwardly. There has to be a circumcision of the heart.

Waking Up to Romans

Last Sunday a group people from my lifegroup made the decision to get up an hour early and spend time in the Word. Let me tell you, it was not an easy choice to make when the alarm is buzzing and I'm wrapped up in my soft, warm sheets. Nevertheless, I rolled out of bed each day.

A few weeks ago I had bought a study guide on the book of Romans. As I've been reading each morning, God is showing me verses I has previously skimmed over. So for the next week or so, I'm gonna share some things that He is revealing to me through scriptures.

For readers who are participating, I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment about one thing you learned through the Word, a question that you had, or something God has been doing through your obedience. Can't wait to hear the stories!

The Awe Factor

Love this video. Really makes you think.

A Foggy Morning

A haze
Covering the land
Dim lights
Traveling along a familiar road.

Our eyes
Cannot see before or behind
A veil
Hides the truth.

God, remove the curtain
Give us eyes that we may see
Show us the way
The way that leads to life.