The Fruit of the Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." ~Galatians 5:22-23

"An examination of the fruits of the Spirit can be intimidating. Working all nine of these traits into your life seems impossible, and indeed it is. But the moment you became a Christian, the Holy Spirit began a divine work to produce Christ's character in you. Regardless of who you are, the Spirit works from the same model, Jesus Christ. The Spirit will immediately begin helping you experience and practice the same love that Jesus had when He laid down His life for His friends. The same joy He experienced will now fill you. The identical peace that guarded the heart of Jesus, even as He was being beaten and mocked, will be the peace that the Spirit works to instill in you. The patience Jesus had for His most unteachable disciple will be the patience that the Spirit now develops in you. The kindness Jesus showed toward children and sinners will soften your heart toward others. There will be a goodness about you that is only explainable by the Presence of the Spirit of God. The Spirit will build the same faithfulness into you that led Jesus to be entirely obedient to His Father. The Spirit will teach you self-control so that you will have strength to do what is right and to resist temptation.

"All of this is as natural as the growth of fruit on a tree. You do not have to orchestrate it on your own. It automatically begins the moment you become a believer. How quickly it happens depends upon how completely you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit's activity."

~Experiencing GOD Day-By-Day devotional, written by: Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Persecution

Can I stand alone? Would I stand for Christ if it means I would be completely shunned by those around me? It’s the million dollar question when I think about persecution. I have little doubt that I would say ‘I believe’ if someone was holding a gun to my head and that answer meant the trigger would be pulled. The fear I have is that I couldn’t withstand ongoing persecution. Then again, that is the whole reason for the Holy Spirit as our comforter, right? Would you say the whole point is that we can’t do persecution alone and that is why we would develop a closer relationship with God and a close bond with the Holy Spirit?

This is on my mind this morning as I think about doing hard things in this world. It's easy to say I am going to do hard things for the Lord, but what are these things? Easy answers that first arise are "help at a charity" or "get into the Word with other Christians" or even "get involved in the Church." The harder answers are ones about persecution, because...who likes to be persecuted? I think about what Paul was talking about to the Corinthians, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." But then I think...what does this persecution even look like now? It's definitely not the same as during Paul's lifetime, although sometimes I wish that. But no, it's so different now. Of course it's around us when friends laugh at us for doing something with the Church, or even when we talk about God to unbelievers and they just kind of roll their eyes. How, then, can I be persecuted? Can I crave this painful thing so much as to, in my mind, dare people to persecute me for my love in a life with Christ? Could the response from my friends, or my persecutor drive the passion inside of me to keep on living in Christ and talking about Him to all?...even if they will try to make me look dumb for what I live in and for?

Do. Hard. Things.

Planting Flowers

On Saturday, the youth from APG Chapel had the opportunity to plant flowers for the Shipley's. Let me tell you how much this humbled them! It was so good to see the youth so eager to help the older members of our church! Mrs. Amy was so amazed at them, it brought tears to her eyes, and to mine.

The thing that amazes me the most is the unity that God has brought in and given to us, making us a family. The church = On Body in Christ! Our love for each other is/should be a mirror picture of God's love for us.

"How good and pleasant is it when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

Brothers and Sisters in Christ...

...stand FIRM. Let NOTHING Move you. Always give yourselves FULLY to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Psalm 73

I was reading in Psalm 73 this morning about the tragedy of the wicked, and the blessedness of trust in God. The Psalmist is a little envious of the wicked because of their prosperity. In a moment, he forgets his own blessings, only looking at all that the wicked have and the way of their hearts. Then, remembering his own life, he says, "When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me- until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end." (v. 16-17) The wicked and selfish at heart might have "riches" and "wealth" here on the earth, but what is that in all eternity? What satisfaction can worldly expenses have but temporal? Then the Psalmist does something else: he remembers how he came to The Lord. "Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You." (v. 21-22) We all have moments in our lives when we realize our own foolishness and sinfulness, but, thanks be to God, repentance is followed by a humbling forgiveness! "Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (v. 23-24) Not only a realized forgiveness, but a hope of eternity worshiping GOD and that knowing that He is all that we need because He is all that can satisfy our every longing in life and after." Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (v. 25-26) Of course, it doesn't stop with the joy that God has given us with completed satisfaction in Him. No. Now we have a life to live on the earth in relationship with God, trusting and following Him, and telling others about Him. "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works." (v. 28)

God is among us. He loved us first and from the beginning. He is the only satisfaction for our lives on earth and for eternity.

Godly Friendships

How are Christian friendships different from others?

David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 20)

Jonathan’s willingness to do whatever David wanted (Philippians 2:3-4)
Jonathan loved David as he loved himself (20:17) even when his father, Saul, hated David (Proverbs 17:17a)
David wept when he had to leave Jonathan (20:41)

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." [1 Thess. 5:11]

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." [Heb. 3:13]

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." [Heb. 10:25]

God calls us to be encouraging one another DAILY.

Sometimes encouragements from friends can be painful

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Paul and his “Church Friends”

"I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." [Col. 2:1]

"...He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." [Col. 4:12]

Paul loved his “church friends.” He loved them so much to spread the Good News about Jesus to people and really disciple them!! Paul also prayed for his “church friends.” As Christian brothers and sisters, we should be praying for one another DAILY.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." [John 15:13]

Directing Your Thoughts

The following is an e-mail from my mom to her daughters this morning. Mom is so wise! So in love with the Lord!

Philippians 4:8 encourages us to direct our thinking. It says, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Directing our thoughts is difficult at times. When we are surrounded by the negativity of this world, when our circumstances are effected by the frustrations of others, when we are fearful or angry or worried, directing our thoughts can be a challenge. Yet God knew we would have times like this and tells us to think about that which is admirable, honorable, and worthy of praise. This takes effort! Directing our thinking is not denying the challenge that is before us, we acknowledge it before God. We are simply choosing; however, to change our thoughts to that which is worthy.

In doing so we are reminded of His great and infinite love for us. His mercy and grace are ever-surrounding and enveloping. There are may be times when we feel that we do not have the energy to ask God to help us direct our thoughts. Let's trust Him that because He knows and sees all things that He will see our need and bring someone or something our way to remind us. Perhaps in His mercy, He will simply change our thoughts through the smile of another.

Monday Bible Study recap

Sibling Relationships
“How good and pleasant is it when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16)
· God did not look with favor on Cain’s offering
· God did look with favor on Abel’s offering
· Cain became jealous of Abel
· Cain allowed his jealousy to get so strong that he killed Abel
· Cain’s jealousy toward Abel caused him to be a “restless wonderer on the earth” (v. 12)

Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Numbers 12)
· God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10)
· God used Aaron’s voice to speak (Exodus 4:14-16)
· Moses was faithful to God
· Aaron and Miriam got together and talked about Moses behind his back
· Aaron and Miriam became jealous of Moses
· Their jealousy toward Moses caused Miriam to become leprous (v. 10)

Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
· The younger brother foolishly left home and spent all his money
· The older brother worked hard and obeyed his father
· The younger brother came home and repented
· The father forgave the younger son and threw him a great banquet
· The older brother became jealous of the younger brother
· The older brother became angry and didn’t go to the younger brothers banquet (v. 28)

Cain, Aaron, Miriam, and the older brother were all jealous of their siblings. They wanted something the other sibling had. When they let their jealousy turn into anger, God scolded and disciplined them.

The older brother had a hard time forgiving his younger brother. He didn’t see his younger brothers’ sins. We want to find fault in our siblings. We know our siblings’ weak spots, so it’s easy to make them angry. Sometimes we even try to correct them and tell them what to do or what they’re doing wrong.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

God wants us to live in unity with our brothers and sisters. (Psalm 133:1)

Living in unity
· Loving our siblings (Hebrews 13:1)
· Humility (Philippians 2:3-4)
· Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)
· Encourage your siblings to love God (Hebrews 10:24-25)
· Pray for your siblings (James 5:16)

Discussion Questions

How can you love your sibling(s) more? If you don’t have any brothers or sisters, how can you love your brothers and sisters in Christ more?

What are some ways that you can consider your sibling(s) better than you? What are your siblings’ interests? How can you love them by being interested in they want to do, even if you don’t like what they want to do?

Are there any grudges that you’re holding against your sibling(s)? If so, what do you need to do to forgive them?

How can you encourage your sibling(s) to love God more?

Acts 20:22-24

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.” ~Acts 20:22-24

Qualities that speak to my life in these verses:

1) trusting God vs. 22

2) perseverance vs. 23

3) strength vs. 23

4) humility vs. 24a

5) endurance vs. 24b

6) testify vs. 24c

Trusting God. “…compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” Being in a military family means we move all the time. Before every move, I have to remind myself that God knows what He’s doing. It’s hard to trust in God when we don’t know what will happen next. I never know what will happen to me and my family in each new place that we live, but that teaches me to trust God more and more each time. Trusting God is something that He teaches us in time.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Perseverance. Verse 23, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warn me that prison and hardships are facing me.” Wherever I go, there will be times of hardship and times that I will be persecuted for my faith. Lucus and Green said, “Perseverance is willingness to put up with bad things because of the promise of a better future.” What does this mean? Bad things WILL come our way, but God wants us to persevere through these hard times, even though it’s hard to do. Philippians 1:21 says, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” This means that when we live here on earth, we live in Jesus and for Jesus. When we physically die on this earth, we will eternally be in heaven with God. The Christian life is not easy for me to live – for any one of you to live – but how could we choose any other way to live, but for a Holy God?

Strength. Along with perseverance comes the ability to receive strength from the LORD. Each time I move to a new place, God never fails to give me the strength to get through. My family lived in Chicago for seven years. The last year there, my dad got a call to go overseas to Saudi Arabia. A year later, after he was home, the Army told us we were moving to Fort Hood, Texas the coming summer. Once we got there, my dad got another call to go overseas to Iraq – this time for 15 months. Those three years of my life were really hard to go through, but by God’s loving grace, His strength got me and my family through. God also used this to show me how to love Him more and how to trust Him more. Another way God makes us strong is through our weaknesses, like in 2 Corinthians 12:10.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~2 Corinthians 12:10

Humility. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me…” Humility is something that I am no pro at. It is something that I’m learning…and will always be working on. I can learn this by daily dying to myself and asking myself why I do what I do. What does it mean to die to one’s self? Does this mean literally dying? No, absolutely not. It means to try and live for God and give Him the glory instead of doing things for me and giving myself the glory. If I tell people I’m living for Jesus, but do things for my own selfish gain – which I do sometimes – then that is living proof that I should be in prayer and striving to uplift the Name of Jesus more in my daily life. Maybe it simply means that I shouldn’t talk as much as I do. Maybe it means I should humble myself and talk to someone about Jesus that might not understand what it means to love God. When someone is humble, they are able to love God more fully.

Endurance. Verse 24b, “…if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…” Wherever I go, or whatever trials come, the Lord calls me to “finish the race,” to endure those trials. He calls all of us to finish the race and to endure. What is endurance? Endurance is like strength that goes on and on and on. We can endure because the Lord gives us strength to persevere in order that we might trust Him more with humility. Where can we endure? Where can we have strength? Where can we persevere? Where can we trust? Where can we be humble? Everywhere that we go – school, work, hanging out with friends, eating dinner, playing sports, doing homework, telling someone about Jesus, reading God’s Word, praying. This gives us hope and confidence of that eternal life in heaven praising God forever!!

Testify. The last part of verse 24 reads, “…-the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.” As a follower of Christ, a Christian, that task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace is required. Sometimes we don’t know why we go through what we go through, but God puts us through everything for a reason. Maybe it is so that you can relate to what someone else is going through, and then tell them about Jesus!! Just like we have testimonies about our own lives and stuff that we go through, Jesus wants His testimony told to everyone in the world!! Jesus says in Matthew 28, we are to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus tells us to tell His testimony to everyone.

This is my prayer: that God will teach me how to endure because the strength He gives me to persevere in order that I might trust Him more with humility, and then tell everyone about His love – through my words, actions, and the way I live.

Weakness

This morning, I asked my dad a question that was on my mind. Do the gifts God's given us indicate what He has called us to do in life? His answer was very interesting to me. He said, "Yes, I'm sure they will have something to do with what we do with our lives. A lot of times God calls us to our weaknesses, and uses the gifts He has given us in those weaknesses. God makes us strong though them, and we can only rely on Him through it."

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:10

Growing

"Grace + Truth + Time = Spiritual Growth

"This is the spiritual equation for spiritual maturity in our lives. If we lack any one of those variables, spiritual growth is interrupted and prolonged.

"Each individual is at a different level in their Christian walk. We have to allow grace, truth, and time in their lives and our own lives for growth and maturity in the LORD to take place.

"I don't know about you, but I am impatient when it comes to giving others and myself the grace, truth, and time to grow, heal, and mature in Christ. In my impatience I stifle the very work our LORD is trying to accomplish.

"So what is the solution?: Grace + Truth + Time. We need to give ourselves and others grace, wrap ourselves and others in the truth of God's Word, and allow Godtime to work in our lives and the lives of others. When we do this, we allow God the time He needs to mature us, and we accept and love ourselves and others just where we are at."

Mom sent this devotion this morning written by Dr. Henry Cloud. How often am I impatient for the Lord's plan for my life? Wow. All the time. It breaks my heart to see that my own impatience blinds me from seeing and participating in what the Lord is doing right in front of me, for me, even through me. Time is something that is not in my control, only in God's. What, then, can I choose but to trust Him in my life.

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." ~2 Peter 2:17-18

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."~Proverbs 3:5-6

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time ti weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live...I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Snowed In

Through out these several snow days, some things have come to my mind:

• Reading through the Psalms, I have come to desire something. I want to wake every morning in the Lord. I want the first thing that my mind thinks of when it awakes to be of God's love.
• No one has any control over the snow, or, really, anything else. The snow keeps coming and coming whether we like it or not. What an awesome view of God's power! We cannot underestimate His power. The snow is full of His love too! He wants us to see HIM. We have so many "snowed-in" days. HE wants our attention NOW, and always. Don't know about anyone else, but this "blizzard" is a wake-up call to me to give God more of my time.
• There are many snow flakes that fill the trees. Each flake, by itself, does nothing. But God brings together many to break away the tree branch from the tree. There are many Christians that fill this world. Each one, by himself, does nothing. But the Holy Spirit brings together many to make one body, to break away from this world and live as God intends.

"My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one. I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." ~John 17:20-23

Relationships

As Veronika and I were planning Monday night Bible study and decided to do it on relationships, I remembered a study that I did at Lakeland Church in Illinois. Seth Fagerland, the youth pastor, did a series on relationships and what they look like in God's eyes. I remembered that I still had the papers, so I told Veronika about them and we ended up basing the first study last night off of Seth's. It was a small group last night, but the conversation was amazing. Here's what we discussed:

1 John 4:7-21

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made compete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

God is love. How beautiful. How amazing to define it in Him completely. God called us to love one another. If we "know" God we will love. Christ showed us the love of God in His relation to us on this earth. That is how we are to love. If we "know" God, we claim to have a relationship with Him. Our relationship with Christ should define all other relationships - not the other way around. Our personal relationship with Christ is the most important. It is Him who empowers us to love as He does.

"If I depend on anything or anyone other than God for my significance (trust, hope security...) I will be unfulfilled. Every human relationship will fail me, and you, at one point or another. God will never fail us!!!"

"Biblical 'love' is not so much a feeling, as it is a decision. Fundamentally it is the commitment to value and esteem a person through words and action. Though it is accompanied by emotion, the emotion is the fruit of it!"

I can't get over how important it is to love as Christ loved us- to love ALL people, not just those who are kind to us. Christ died for All people, not just those who loved Him in return. His love to give us that opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him, the Holy God, is so amazing and so humbling.

God wants us to have relationships with one another and keep each other accountable- to be helpful to each other. He wanted this even from the very beginning. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:15-18) He gave us relationship with Him, even in the beginning. (Genesis 2:7)

John 17:6-26 ~ Jesus prays for His disciples and all the people of the world ~

⁶"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. ¹²While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ¹³"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.²⁵"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

ROCK!!

This past weekend, I had the amazing privilege to chaperon for the ROCK conference with the chapel at A.P.G. The three days there are some that I will remember forever. Right off the bat, the unity was purely formed by the Spirit. The first night we had been there, all the kids and adults were getting to know each other. There were so many different faces and personalities going on this journey together. On the way there, the van I was in was not silent the whole way. Everyone was singing, rapping, talking, and playing GAMES. Yes. Most of these were mind games that were quite a challenge, but it bonded the group so well! After getting settled in at the hotel, we went to the first session. The speaker was Stephen Gallagher, and his talks were amazing. He, being a college professor, uses lots of big words. I was kind of afraid some of the teens wouldn't be able to follow his sermons. But I was most definitely wrong about that. They followed him so well, or should I say, their ears were open to hearing what God was telling them through Stephen.

The next morning, my sister, Imani, and I woke up and watched the sunrise. What a wonderful view of God's love first thing in the morning! Seeing the water tumble onto the shore and hearing it loudly crash. SO beautiful! Through out this second day, the group became more of a family. The cool thing was that, even though we had so many differences between us, there was no fighting going on, no drama between the girls or guys, no bad attitudes, and no laziness. Everyone used their gifts for God to express unity and bring encouragement to their fellow brothers and sisters.

"How good and pleasant is it when brothers live together in unity." (Psalm 133:1)

Our form of transportation was one of the most fun. Every time we went to a session, we had to take the bus. We would wait at the bus stop, sometimes longer than others. While we would wait, though, there would always be a song or a rap or a game going on. This helped there to be few complaints!

After some of the sessions, we would go back to the hotel and talk as a group about our thoughts. What an amazing time this was! The youngest girl, Cammy, said something in one of these times that astounded me. She was asked, "If someone asked you why you're a Christian, how would you respond?" 11-year-old Cammy said that she would say that Jesus loved her so much that He died for her, and that, now, she wants to live for God. Cammy said what many of us know, but not so many of us live out. Her words spoke to me so much.

One of the sessions we went to was all for girls. The speaker was Jenna Lucado, and, I tell ya, she spoke into ALL of us girls hearts. God used her so much! She spoke about how everyone has a "Life Dictionary." She asked questions like this:

How do you define yourself (dumb, smart, popular, lonely, not enough, overlooked, pretty, athletic, fat, "his girlfriend", loved, dirty, forgiven, victim...)?

Who has impacted the way you see yourself?

How would you define what a beautiful "you" should look like?

How do you define your relationships with others - relationships with girlsfriends, relationships with boys, and even relationships at home (full of drama, sarcastic, fun, awkward, loving, stressful...)?

Who has impacted the way you see your different relationships?

How would you define what beautiful relationships should look like?

How do you define your relationship with God (confusing, up and down depending on how I feel, strong, distant, boring, full of life, just okay...)?

Who has impacted the way you look at God?

How would you define what a beautiful relationship with God should look like?

These questions all ate away at us girls SO much. Then, Jenna brought up an interesting point that had never been fully considered in my mind before. She said that the main influencer in a girls life is her father. The light bulb went on...duh! Of course fathers are the main influencer in a girls life! Then she gave many different family life examples that could relate to so many girls in our group. It hit home for me and made me realize how truly thankful I am for my dad. He has helped me SO much. Then, Lucado brought it even farther. She reminded us that no matter what kind of dad we have, not one of them can compare to the love of our Heavenly Dad!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:1-3

That evening at ROCK, two of the girls came to know Christ! The rest of the group in some form or another recommitted themselves to the Lord! Salvation came and unity came! And this is still present among us! Praise God! Unity looked like this this weekend:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47

We all got back on Sunday not wanting to leave our new found unified family. What an Awesome God we serve!

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching!" Hebrews 10:25

Answered Prayer!

Wow! My words for this post are going to be few, but a longer, more detailed post will come in the next week. These last few weeks have been such a great blessing! Yesterday, my family found out that they are re-stationed at A.P.G.!!! They will be here in Maryland for another two years. This is a complete answer to prayer! It's truly amazing how God works. The next few years will be challenging, but knowing that my family is staying here brings so much comfort to me.

Thank you, God!

Heaven

What a glorious eternal day of Sabboth to look forward to! How I long for that day! The song, "I can Only Imagine" brings so many questions to my mind about what I will do in the presence of the Holy God. Silence? Dancing? Scream? Sing? Fall?

..........................................................................

But, then, do I even need to know what I will do in His Presence? The peaceful hope of that eternity is so much greater.

Don't even know what else to say or put on here.

The hope of heaven brings so much joy and an even greater longing to live life on earth as God teaches. "To live is Christ, to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21) And what a great gain that will be!

"Here the Christian is always unsettled; he feels that he has not yet attained. There all are at rest; they have attained the summit of the mountain; they have ascended to the bosom of their God. Higher they cannot go. Ah, toil-worn laborer, only think of when you shall rest forever! Can you conceive it? It is a rest eternal; a rest that remains." ~Charles H. Spurgeon; Morning and Evening devotional

Francis Chan's FORGOTTEN GOD

Reading through Francis Chan's book Forgotten God has brought many thoughts and convictions to me. Although I learned much through the first 6 chapters, the most tears were brought to my eyes by the last. Supernatural Church. Chan starts with an interesting quote by Augustine,

"What the soul is in our body, the Holy Spirit is in the body of Christ, which is the church."

What a great quote to start off with! What an amazing vision of who the Spirit of God is!...and what He should be to us. While going through this last chapter, there were a few points that were brought to my attention that I would like to share:

• "God is not interested in numbers. He cares most about the faithfulness, not the size, of His bride." How often are churches AND youth groups trying to just "reach out" and "bring in more kids" rather than making DISCIPLES (Matthew 28:19) of them? This concern of "size" is found more in youth groups because of the concern of the generation to come. But it kids/teenagers/young adults don't have a REAL and TRUE relationship with our Lord, then how are they going to influence the coming generation. Can I say these things since I am one of those youths? All the more! This generation and the next need the Holy Spirit desperately, not religious numbers!
• "Sometimes I leave Christian events wondering if we resemble the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 more than Elijah, the prophet of God...The prophets of Baal had a loud, passionate worship gathering that lasted from morning till evening. When they were done, they had a great time of fellowship." Does this not resemble some of the "worship services" or "conferences" that many churches/youth groups have or attend?
• "My favorite part of that story comes when it is all over and the prophets of Ball are saying, 'The LORD- He is God! The LORD- He is God!' They didn't say, 'Elijah is a great speaker' or 'Elijah sure knows how to connect with God!' They were stunned by GOD!" When someone preaches, leads worship, or seems like a humble Christian person, shouldn't we come away being amazed by God- not that person?
• "While it is true that we are humans like everyone else, it is also true that we are humans with the Spirit of God dwelling in us."
• (referring to the fruits of the Spirit; Galatians 5:22-23) "Do you exhibit more kindness and faithfulness than the Mormons you know? Do you have more self-control than your Muslim friends? More peace than Buddhists? More joy than atheists? If GOD truly lives in you, shouldn't you expect to be different from everyone else?" There are no excuses for us! We are transformed by a Holy God and made holy like Him! (Hebrews 10:9-11)
• We cannot have the fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit. We cannot do it on our own. If it were possible, it would not be written "fruit of the Spirit."
• The church should be a family. A place where anyone can come and be at home, not to be judged by those who think they are holier.

While all these things stuck out in this chapter, the passage that stuck out the most was Acts 2:42-47,

"⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Is this even possible? Never, in all the places I have so far lived, have I experienced or seen a church like this. What an amazing thing! Is this impossible? Brothers and sisters, this seems like a challenge to me. To pray more fervently, like Elijah. To devote ourselves to Loving GOD, not ourselves. To seek the Spirit for His fruit. It is not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 18:27)

WHY!

I am literally brought to tears today because of religion. How disgusting it is to me! Why do those who call themselves Christians judge others around them? THEN, when they/we are confronted about it, keep doing it? What part of "LOVE your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you" don't we understand?

Jesus came here to this earth to save sinners!! (1 Timothy 1:15)

Though we have been redeemed, we (us Christians) keep on sinning because we still live on this earth. (Romans 7:15) So why do we think we are SO much better than those who are not saved. Indeed, we have a promised gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. But when Jesus commanded us to "Go and make disciples of all nations" should that make us stick our head up high and live like we are so much better? Of course NOT! Christ Himself hung out with tax collectors and fishermen! Is that any different than the "skaters, goth, preppy, smart, nerdy, weird, emo kids" that there are today? Of course not. So why then, do some of them feel alone and judged by all? Is it their fault that we fail to minister to them and, simply, love them? Oh how my soul longs to just hold them and tell them that Jesus has a greater love for them than anyone or anything here on earth could even express!

Those of us who call ourselves Christians need to start living like it.

How much longer can we go on living our selfish lives with our money and our pride?

How much longer are we going to go on knowingly sinning?

How much longer are we going to watch these beloved creations from God feel unloved by the Children of God?

God IS love. We are supposed to love ALL. What does this love look like? Dear friends, you know like i do that love is Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Let us read, learn, and follow HIS most perfect example!

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." ~Matthew 25:31-46

To people that hate Christians,

i am so very sorry that i have failed to display Christ's love to you. i am grieved by your perception of God due to the way that i haven't lived. is it too late to ask you to reconsider your decision against the Spirit? i hope that you may be able to understand the Cross even though i stand in the way of it's view.

with love,

hannah

Philippians 1:20-21

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

What a wonderful HOPE! That living on this earth is for Christ alone, then when life on this earth is done, there is ETERNAL life. Wow.

This sounds great! But when it comes down to it, I don't live like this. As of late, living for Christ has become a second and living in my desires has come first. In the previous post, I wrote about how the past few weeks has been challenging, and God has been showing me how He wants me to deal with some thing. If only my human eyes would have seen it earlier, because I think as though I have hurt many people around me through my own mistakes this past year. Why oh why was I selfish enough to wait and put off the conviction. How my heart is full of pride.

In this conviction, the Lord has brought me to a place of mourning. He has also brought joy in the midst of my sin. God, how great Your grace is! How amazing Your love is! And though my feet will continually wonder off at different points in my life, how great, then, is His grace all the more.

Now, what can I do but press on and persevere toward a more personal, more intimate relationship with my Lord, my God?

"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." Hebrew 12:4-6

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 12:11

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a CONSUMING FIRE." 12:28-29