Worry. One of those things I do quite often. I worry over several different things. For instance today I worried over my two tests I had back to back in English and New Testament. Yes, I studied. Yes, I did my best in preparation, but I was still worried.
I once heard a convicting definition of worry. “Worry is assuming God’s responsibility on your life.” This statement can be backed with scripture in Philippians 4:6:
“Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
After the tests were complete I felt stupid for having spent all that time worrying over something that God had under control. I need to remember that God has everything under control and according to Philippians 4:6 worry is a sin. It is telling God that you don’t trust Him enough to take care of you in every situation. May we learn to trust Him more every day and conquer the sin of worry once and for all.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A hero with purpose
All through high school one of my favorite things to do was to read about Heros of the Faith. Some of my all time favorites are Jim Elliot, Amy Carmichael, and Hudson Taylor. But the one that sticks out the most in my mind when I think of purpose is Eric Liddell. If you’ve ever seen the movie chariots of fire you know his story.
Eric was a scot born in China as a missionary kid in the late 1800’s. He was called to be a missionary to china like his parents and sister before him but he also had another dream. Above anything else Eric loved to run. And he was good at it. His dream was to run for an Olympic medal. His sister Jenny thought he was getting is priorities mixed up and confronted him about it. She said he was drifting away from God. He said something to her in the movie in this amazing Scottish accent. Here’s the gist of it: “I know God made me for China, Jenny. But he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” Eric went on to win the Olympic medal and lived the rest of his life as a missionary to the Chinese people with which his parents had ministered.
But that one statement has stuck with me. What is it that I do that when I do it I feel God’s pleasure? Is God proud of what I am doing with my life now? When He sees the work I’m doing does it make Him smile? Not to see how good I am but to see that what He has given me I am using to the best of my ability. What is it in our lives that God has given us to bring Him pleasure while doing it? Maybe for you it’s running, or cooking, or writing or playing sports, or a myriad of other things. When we discover what it is let’s purpose to live to feel God’s pleasure.
Eric was a scot born in China as a missionary kid in the late 1800’s. He was called to be a missionary to china like his parents and sister before him but he also had another dream. Above anything else Eric loved to run. And he was good at it. His dream was to run for an Olympic medal. His sister Jenny thought he was getting is priorities mixed up and confronted him about it. She said he was drifting away from God. He said something to her in the movie in this amazing Scottish accent. Here’s the gist of it: “I know God made me for China, Jenny. But he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” Eric went on to win the Olympic medal and lived the rest of his life as a missionary to the Chinese people with which his parents had ministered.
But that one statement has stuck with me. What is it that I do that when I do it I feel God’s pleasure? Is God proud of what I am doing with my life now? When He sees the work I’m doing does it make Him smile? Not to see how good I am but to see that what He has given me I am using to the best of my ability. What is it in our lives that God has given us to bring Him pleasure while doing it? Maybe for you it’s running, or cooking, or writing or playing sports, or a myriad of other things. When we discover what it is let’s purpose to live to feel God’s pleasure.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Jehovah Jirah (my provider)
When I left home in mid August to come to North Greenville I was determined to get a job and provide for myself to some extent. I have relied on others to support me all of my life and I was ready for some personal responsibility. Freshmen weekend I heard of an opportunity to work in the cafeteria on campus. This sounded perfect. The best part was saving gas by walking to work instead of having to drive all the way into town. So I applied.
A few days later I placed my application at two Chick-fil-a fast food places in the Greenville area. Classes started and days turned to weeks and weeks into a month. I hadn’t received word from anywhere and was getting busier with classes. I began to lose hope and worry about where my money was going to come from and how I was going to support myself without a job.
I decided to take the advice I would give someone else in the same situation. I gave it to God. “Be anxious for nothing but in everything though prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6. I know looked at my “job problem” as His lack of a job and that I would follow Him wherever he leaded.
This past Monday I received a phone call from the dining services department at NGU and now I am an employee working in the cafeteria. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!
A few days later I placed my application at two Chick-fil-a fast food places in the Greenville area. Classes started and days turned to weeks and weeks into a month. I hadn’t received word from anywhere and was getting busier with classes. I began to lose hope and worry about where my money was going to come from and how I was going to support myself without a job.
I decided to take the advice I would give someone else in the same situation. I gave it to God. “Be anxious for nothing but in everything though prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6. I know looked at my “job problem” as His lack of a job and that I would follow Him wherever he leaded.
This past Monday I received a phone call from the dining services department at NGU and now I am an employee working in the cafeteria. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
First Essay experience
I love writing. There is nothing quite like taking words and putting them down on paper. It is a bit unnerving to realize that I am not the only one that will read my work. When I was given the assignment for my essay in my English 1310 class, I was nervous. I know there are things I struggle with in grammar and content in my formal writing, which hinders me in my confidence in writing. When I began writing my narrative essay on a Christmas memory I was taken back to that family Christmas in 2001 and simply wrote what happened as I remembered it. The critique and correction I received from my professor and fellow student was encouraging and motivating. I’m looking forward to what else I will learn in this class to build my confidence in writing well. To all of my future assignments and challenges to improve and become a better, more confident writer I say, BRING IT ON!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Always watching
My mom used to tell me all the time to mind my manners and to do right all the time because you never knew who was watching.
I experienced this today at Arby’s in Traveler’s Rest. My friend and I were preparing to enjoy our delicious selections from the dollar menu. Before we partook I prayed and thanked God for our friendship, driving adventure, delicious food and the money to purchase it. After the prayer we enjoyed our curly fries, roast beef and mozzarella sticks, uplifting conversation and background country music. An elderly couple was sitting in a booth near us. As the husband was standing to throw away the tray of trash (a very gentlemanly thing to do) he approached our table. He commented on how good it was to hear teenagers praying before a meal. We thanked him and praised God for allowing us to be a blessing to this couple.
This got me thinking again about what my mother had said all those years ago. It also reminded me of a children’s song I learned growing up:
“Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little mouth what you say.”
Today proved to me that oftentimes the Father is not the only one who is looking. So what are you going to be today? Are you going to let your life be a blessing to God and others by the things you do and say? Is your life going to be one that follows the example of Christ so when people see you they see Christ? Be careful. Because you never know who may be watching.
I experienced this today at Arby’s in Traveler’s Rest. My friend and I were preparing to enjoy our delicious selections from the dollar menu. Before we partook I prayed and thanked God for our friendship, driving adventure, delicious food and the money to purchase it. After the prayer we enjoyed our curly fries, roast beef and mozzarella sticks, uplifting conversation and background country music. An elderly couple was sitting in a booth near us. As the husband was standing to throw away the tray of trash (a very gentlemanly thing to do) he approached our table. He commented on how good it was to hear teenagers praying before a meal. We thanked him and praised God for allowing us to be a blessing to this couple.
This got me thinking again about what my mother had said all those years ago. It also reminded me of a children’s song I learned growing up:
“Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little mouth what you say.”
Today proved to me that oftentimes the Father is not the only one who is looking. So what are you going to be today? Are you going to let your life be a blessing to God and others by the things you do and say? Is your life going to be one that follows the example of Christ so when people see you they see Christ? Be careful. Because you never know who may be watching.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Are you thirsty?
This morning in chapel the pastor was talking about following the invitation Jesus gave in John 7:37-38:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink, ‘He who believes in Me’, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
The speaker’s main focus was on salvation, but he was also talking to those of us who are Christ followers who are no longer thirsty. In fact some of us have become dehydrated spiritually for not drinking from the fount of Living Water. Any one athlete who is dehydrated is no good to the team or to himself. We are no good in the spiritual race we are in or in our lives as Christians if we are not constantly taking in the Word of God and letting it penetrate our souls and change the way we live. The above verse says we are to flow rivers of living water from our lives. We are to create thirst for Christ in other people. This is not possible if we are dry ourselves. So I ask you the questions I’ve been asking myself:
1) Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
2) Is this walk with Christ evident in the way you live?
3) Does God’s Word affect the way you live today?
4) Do you know Him more intimately now than you did six months ago?
5) Are you thirsty?
I challenge you to follow Christ with reckless abandon and see what He can do to create a thirst in someone else through you.
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink, ‘He who believes in Me’, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
The speaker’s main focus was on salvation, but he was also talking to those of us who are Christ followers who are no longer thirsty. In fact some of us have become dehydrated spiritually for not drinking from the fount of Living Water. Any one athlete who is dehydrated is no good to the team or to himself. We are no good in the spiritual race we are in or in our lives as Christians if we are not constantly taking in the Word of God and letting it penetrate our souls and change the way we live. The above verse says we are to flow rivers of living water from our lives. We are to create thirst for Christ in other people. This is not possible if we are dry ourselves. So I ask you the questions I’ve been asking myself:
1) Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
2) Is this walk with Christ evident in the way you live?
3) Does God’s Word affect the way you live today?
4) Do you know Him more intimately now than you did six months ago?
5) Are you thirsty?
I challenge you to follow Christ with reckless abandon and see what He can do to create a thirst in someone else through you.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
We need each other
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25
Lately God has been showing me the importance of community. Life was not meant to be lived alone. This truth has been known since the beginning of time. In Genesis 2: 18 the Lord says, “it is not good for man to be alone…” This He was saying referring to Adam’s need for a helpmeet. But it is true for us today as well. Not only is it good for people to be together as husband and wife, but also as brother and sister, mother and daughter, friend and friend. God created us for relationships.
The other day I was in my room by myself. I was pretty lonely and didn’t know what to do. I gave into the temptation to watch too much television online (this may not be wrong for some people but I knew it was wrong or me). I realized the importance of having people in my life. I need others to hold me accountable for things I’m doing to become more like Christ. This life as a Christ follower was not supposed to be lived alone. This is the purpose for the church; a community of fellow believers meeting together to encourage each other to be more like their heavenly Father. Let’s step out get into each other live and follow Hebrews 10:23-25
Lately God has been showing me the importance of community. Life was not meant to be lived alone. This truth has been known since the beginning of time. In Genesis 2: 18 the Lord says, “it is not good for man to be alone…” This He was saying referring to Adam’s need for a helpmeet. But it is true for us today as well. Not only is it good for people to be together as husband and wife, but also as brother and sister, mother and daughter, friend and friend. God created us for relationships.
The other day I was in my room by myself. I was pretty lonely and didn’t know what to do. I gave into the temptation to watch too much television online (this may not be wrong for some people but I knew it was wrong or me). I realized the importance of having people in my life. I need others to hold me accountable for things I’m doing to become more like Christ. This life as a Christ follower was not supposed to be lived alone. This is the purpose for the church; a community of fellow believers meeting together to encourage each other to be more like their heavenly Father. Let’s step out get into each other live and follow Hebrews 10:23-25
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