Seven Months Later

I think it's been that long since I last posted but it seems like 3 years worth of stuff happened in that time and now that things have settled down, it's due time to give Someone the credit.

I think this verse accurately sums up the time lapse since my last post.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Three years ago, I thought I had my life planned out year by year.  Yeah yeah go ahead and laugh because I'm laughing now along with you.  Go to vet tech school, move to somewhere in the Midwest and get a vet tech job, get a house in 5-7 years, have kids.....perfect plan.  Yep.  

Living in Western Nebraska in cowboy country was harder for me than I anticipated and not because of the rattlesnakes or tumbleweeds that occasionally rolled down main street.  The nearest town over 1000 people was 45 minutes away and since my husband did the grocery shopping after work there, there were a few times where I didn't leave our town for 1-2 whole months. Ugh.  And being a second year tech student with surgery class and exit exams, my life revolved around labs, papers, and LOTS and LOTS of tests. Even more ugh. And although there were some good aspects about living there, I was depressed a lot of the time and felt isolated from the family and community I loved back home.  Many times, I would let these frustrations roll into my marriage and arguments and hurt feelings pulled me down even further. I didn't fit in with the student body and their lifestyles that didn't agree with my morals.  I had some friends, but I didn't feel super connected with anyone like I did with friends back home.

                               But God knew what he was doing. 

He always has and always will.

A few months before school ended, my husband got a job offer back in our hometown area -  a job he had been hoping and (I'm assuming) praying for.  So come summer we moved back to where both our families live and I got an internship that wasn't too far away.  The apartment was bigger (double YAY) and we got to come back to our home church.

Two years of hard work were hopefully going to pay off.  My last semester in school was the hardest and most emotionally draining semester of school I have ever faced.  But I thought I was ready for my internship at a nearby veterinary clinic.  As the weeks went on though, I didn't find myself enjoying it nearly as much as I had hoped, but I put it off as "You're new and scared, it will get better as you learn more skills."  But even at it's end, I didn't feel as passionate about the job as the other technicians and I began to really re-evaluate my career choice.  I was scared to get into it further, and ended up working at a local market for 4 months which I didn't care for either. I felt like the scum of the earth to be honest.  All the money and time I put into tech school and being near the top of the class and dragging us out to cowboy country for 2 years for nothing. My family had supported me and my love for animals for so many years, and now I'm crawling back into a hole and hoping I didn't disappoint them.  Ugh.  My friends from grade school and high school all got jobs in the field the went to school for and were making good money and now I was making minimum wage at a grocery store.

                               But God knew what he was doing.

By living in that small western Nebraska town, we were able to live on Matthews salary alone because rent was so cheap and (fortunately and unfortunately) there weren't many places to shop or go out to eat so we were able to pay off about half of our student loans!  We helped lead a church youth group and give teens advice for life.  I learned a ton about animals that will really help me out in ANY animal career and by sharing my knowledge I can help people and their pets in amy capacities.  At the local market, I gained leadership experience by being a supervisor and performed basic bookkeeping skills that I'm sure pretty every business does in some capacity :)

After taking my board exam, I decided to leave the store in hopes of really finding a job I was passionate about, thinking still that it would be vet tech.  I applied at a few clinics and some other businesses in the area.  This went on for 5 LOOONNNGGG months. 5 months of either getting interviews and being turned down or getting rejection letters in the mail or sadly MOST of the time, not even hearing back at all and having to call back multiple times just to get a straight "No" from people.  Here I have 2 college degrees and it felt like I was being turned down at EVERY corner I came to.  I prayed, and prayed some more, and asked people to pray for me.  It felt like God wasn't listening at all.

                              But God knew what he was doing.

A few weeks after I quit my job, my husband and I went to look at a FSBO house that happened to be close to his work.  I hadn't done any research on home buying and we weren't really serious about buying anything.  Just browsing.

Ha. Ha.  That's what women say when they go shopping.  And yet we still bring home pretty bags filled with clothes and tied with bows.

It was perfect.  I spent the next 3 weeks buying and borrowing every book I could find on mortgages and home buying.  Since I didn't have a job, I had all the time in the world to make sure we knew what we were doing here.  We got pre-approved. We juggled budget ideas.  I needed to get a job so I can help pay off this mortgage and the remainder or student loans. And a few months later, we are the proud new owners of a 3 bedroom brick house on a shady quiet street near our families in my favorite town in Nebraska.  And it didn't stop there.

Besides cleaning up the house and having a blast redecorating, I applied for and got TWO new part time jobs.  One helping the local dog groomer and one at our public library.  I love getting to work with dogs every day and giving owners some tips about living with their pets. My boss is great and we have become like friends.  Our local library, a BEAUTIFUL one at that, has the coolest staff ever and we are like a big family.  I get to spend my evenings surrounded by books and learning about all of the cool programs the library has for children and adults- scrabble tournament anyone? I often think that this would also be the perfect part time job I can have when we have young children.  No I don't work 40 hours and week and no I don't get paid nearly as much as I would be making as a technician. But God saw what was in my heart and what would really make me happy and these part time jobs are what keep me excited to do what I do each day.  Would I be able to support myself alone with these two jobs? No, but thanks be to God that my husband has a very steady job with a salary that allows me to pursue these jobs without worrying if I will make enough to pay the bills.

God speaks to us in so many ways!  Not just through people and written words, but through our struggles and triumphs, our horrible days and wonderful days as well.  This fall, Matthew and I felt lead to be leaders of our incoming freshman youth group at church.  I'll admit I'm not always the best leader and I'm a little bit scared, but THIS I don't want to back down from.  Young people today need to hear of God's love and promises and I will do whatever it takes to bring them to that joy.  Yes, I'm checking out books and buying books from Amazon.com all about youth ministry.  Hey, books are valuable resources when you have no idea where to start.  Plus, this will make me clean the entire house each week with no excuses.

I still often wonder if having a job as a veterinary technician is where I should be.  Sometimes it feels like I didn't live up to my own or my friends and family's expectations.  But career paths change even for people who have been working at the same job for 40 years.  Whose to say it won't be right for me someday?  Or maybe I will be a librarian for life....who knows!  I feel so blessed and happier than I have been for so long before.  I LOVE my jobs and the people I work with.   I've learned that trust may seem hard at first but trusting in God's plan and that he has your best interest at heart is the only way to go.  Trying your best is important but sometimes that personal best isn't in the time or space that you thought it would be.

God knows what he is doing. Trust me on this.

Managing God's Money: Part 2

Perspectives that Impede Faithful Money Management

   Last week we talked about getting into the right mindset about using God's money and being his stewards.  Along with a sinful love of money, there are many "myths" out there about  money and how it is used.  In this section, Randy wants to shine some truth on these false ideas.

Myth #1:  Money is Bad a.k.a Money is the root of all evil.

    We discussed this a little bit last week.  Things cannot be evil - things are inanimate objects that have no feelings or sense of good and bad.  It is the sinful nature of people that makes money SEEM evil.  1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.   Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  In reality, money is simply a piece of paper that only has value because we say it does.  It is a tool that can be used for the right and wrong reasons. So instead of condemning money, rejoice that God has given us a tool that we can use wisely and generously for building his kingdom.

   Some people take the idea of money being bad so far that they completely get rid of everything they do not need and live as simply as possible.  They see money and objects as evil and distracting our eyes from God.  While this is partially true, we cannot be more spiritual simply by getting rid of things.  God blesses us with gifts so that we can use them ourselves and to bless others.

Myth #2:  It's All About Money (and stuff)

  "God created us to love people and use things, but materialists love things and use people."

        The wanting of things can make us do some pretty stupid things.  Stealing. Cheating. Bribing.  I can think of many times in my past where I hurt someone's feelings because I just had to have something, and it hurts both people involved.  There are many examples of people in the Bible who used people for monetary gain.  Delilah betrayed Samson to the Philistines for a fee, Solomon gained large amounts of gold, silver, and wives against God's commands, and Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. We cannot simply assume that we are immune to temptation of misuse of money.  It's hard to realize that our greatest resources are not material, but spiritual. Are the richest people in the world the happiest?  Many studies on this topic say no, in fact, the opposite!  Contentment is not from the riches of this world, but in the riches of Christ.

       I think one of the biggest areas where we need to promote wise use of money is in children.  We don't have any kids yet, but Matthew and I have already discussed how we want to instill some of these values in our children.  It is one thing to provide for a child, but it's another thing to smother them with things.  Christmas in particular seems to be a time when financial perspectives are skewed.  What's the first thing kids think of when you say the word "Christmas?"  Most likely, they think of all the awesome toys they are going to unwrap and play with, not so much the story of Jesus' birth and time with family.  I admit, that's how I thought of the holiday for a long time growing up.  It is a holiday of EXPECTED gifts, or DESERVED gifts.
 
    So parents work overtime to make enough money to buy the $150 toy set of some kind that isn't exactly in the budget but it would be so worth it to see their child's face light up on Christmas morning.  So the day comes, presents are unwrapped faster than lightning, and played with for a few days until it ends up in the mountain of toys they have acquired over the years.

      Although it is fun to give gifts, the lessons we are unconsciously teaching them don't follow God's idea of good money management.  If we grow up getting whatever we want, there is a good chance that we'll buy whatever we want when we have our own bank accounts.  Things like the misuse of credit cards or using all of their paychecks on wants would be far too common.  And the world doesn't help with the situation much either.  We are bombarded with commercials that say "You need this to be beautiful" or "You will feel powerful if you buy this car."  But sadly the satisfaction will never come if we keep buying these things.  Things that appeal to use in small amounts are unappealing in excess.  We need to be good examples not only for our families, but everyone else too.  "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

      Myth #3 If I Obey God, He Will Give Me More Earthly Things  

          This kind of reminds me of the whole Santa thing where if you are good for the year, Santa will bring you more toys.  Makes sense, right?  Not so much in the Christian sense.  Just because you follow God's will does not mean you will never run out of money or have tragedies happen.  However, if we show God that we wish to follow His commands and care for the possessions we have been given, he is likely to trust us with more since we have shown responsibility.  We should not be obedient to get more things, but because God tells us to.

          Sometimes it seems like the exact opposite of the myth is occurring.  People who do not love the Lord end up with really nice things and lots of money and those who love God, suffer greatly.  "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?" Job 21:7  Job was obedient to God, yet he lost all of his earthly possessions, family, and his health.  Yet even in all of his sadness and devastation, he trusted in God and His plan."I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world," John 16:33

This Weeks Question:  There are plenty more myths out there concerning money that are "busted" by God's Word.  What are some other myths about money that you know of?

Managing God's Money Part 1

Starting Right: A Biblical Mind-Set About Money

     Money can be a touchy subject for some people to talk about.  Perhaps you have a shopping addiction and don't have money to pay bills on time or your paycheck just got cut at work.  It could even be an opposite problem - there's plenty of money in the bank, but you never really feel fulfilled or happy.  Therefore one would conclude that the saying "Money is the root of all evil" would be correct."  This is far from the truth; in fact, God WANTS us to use money but not necessarily for the things we think we need.  It is to be used strategically.  So, how does God want us to use our money strategically?  First, we have to get into the Christian mindset concerning money.

   I think the absolute backbone of this book and God's message about money is that He owns ALL of it.  He owns everything that ever was and ever will be.

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it"

Psalm 24:1 NIV

"The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants"

Leviticus 25:23

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.  Wealth and honor come from you, you are the ruler of all things"

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

     I think some people gather so many possessions because they are afraid of losing them.  "Things" can become our comfort and reassurance of our success in life and we don't want to let go of that.  But if you look an object and know that God can take that item away from you whenever He wants to, how does that change it's value?

     No matter how much money or possessions we have, none of it is our own, but God's.  So why have we been entrusted with so many wonderful things?  Not only are we entrusted with money, but also our time, talents, the earth, it's creatures, AND it's people.  We have been called to be stewards of God's creation.  What exactly does a steward do?  By definition, it is someone who is entrusted with another's assets.  They are expected to keep the owner's things safe and to make good decisions with them by investing and allowing the assets to grow.

If Christ is not our Lord over our money and possessions, He is not our Lord." -Managing God's Money

Randy includes two great lists in his book that describe the roles of the Owner and the steward:

The Owner shows                                                             

Ownership- has the right to do anything he wants                      
                   with his assets                                                                          

Authority- His will is the final decision                                    
                                                                                                                         
Trust - He trusts us with the ability to manage what            
           he gives us                                                                  

Generosity - he promises us things in return for                      
                    taking care of His things

Expectations - we need to be aware of his high standards


The steward shows

Stewardship: know that we are to care 

                     for things that are not ours

Accountability - we cannot blame others for

                            the mistakes we make

            

 Faithfulness  - stewardship is a lifelong calling

 Industriousness - we must work hard

                 

 Wisdom - to invest in God's kingdom

                                                                 

Respect - doing as the master wishes

  Focus - having our life revolve around the 

                 idea of managing God's money 

                wisely

     In the list it was mentioned that we should be wise so that we can invest in God's kingdom.  How on earth (literally) can we invest in The Kingdom?  A good place to start is to look at where you are spending your money right now.  Mostly in food? Clothes? Cars? Charity? Vacations?  Most of the time, it can be said that where you spend the most money is what you value most.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also - Matthew 6:21

    Material things we buy will not come with us when we die, so what can we buy that makes an eternal difference?  Things like feeding the hungry, funding the building of churches, bible translation, disaster relief, child sponsorship programs....the list goes on and on.  And we don't just need to invest money; invest your time in people who need Jesus.  Invest your talents to create music or art for God's purposes.  Luke 16:10-11 says, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?"  This verse invalidates the saying we often hear, "If I only had more (money, time, talent), I would help out more." Forget later - the time is NOW.  God is trusting us to make good decisions with what we have been given and not waste them on our own pleasure.   

So this week I want to ask you this question.  

As of right now, how am I using the money God has given me to build His kingdom?

Next week we will be exploring "Perspectives that Impede Faithful Money Management." 

Click here for Week 2! 

     

New Design and New Series

     Its been a month or so in the works, but I've finally redesigned my blog the way I like.  I applaud the graphic designers and web designers in the world, who have the patience to work with photo editing software day after day.  It gets frustrating when you can't get an image to look just right or fit into the right place! Hats off to you all :)  I've also added some new features here such as the new daily email subscribing list - you can get all the posts from LIFS sent right to your inbox!  I also included an easier to navigate "Blogs I Love" section sorted by category so you can easily find blogs about topics you are interested in.

   Starting this week I will also be launching a new series called "Managing God's Money."  The series will be a summary of highlights from Randy Alcorn's book that helps people understand exactly what Christian financial stewardship means.  When it comes to a Christian perspective on handling money, most people think that as long as they give their 10%, God is satisfied.  But there is SO much more than simply giving a percentage of our income to further the ministry.  Along with the check in the offering plate, our hearts and minds need to be as well.  By understanding the concept of people being stewards and not owner's of God's money, we can better use it to make a difference for the eternal kingdom.

To read some excerpts from the book, check out his book here!

The Guilt That Doesn't Belong to You

It's been one of those days- when you think about all of the things you have said, thought, done, or DIDN'T say, think, or do that hurt other people or yourself.  The sins of years past come out from the shadows into the open and won't leave you alone.  The guilt weighs your heart down and prevents you from moving on with the day and even though you have asked God for forgiveness, you still worry about the feelings of others or if people will see or treat you the same way.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

So are you living with feelings of guilt, or in God's truth?

Guilt is a very powerful tool used by both God and the devil, but it is used in very different ways.

God uses guilt to remind us of our unconfessed sin.  It's like a flashing sign saying "Hey! There's something weighing you down, so bring it to me and repent of your sing."  God wants us to have a peaceful heart - he doesn't want us to live in guilt forever.  By confessing our sin to Him, that true guilt is no longer from God.

But what if I still feel guilty after repenting of my sin?

Satan doesn't want you to feel the peace that God gives. He gives us a false sense of guilt.  How do you know which guilt you are feeling?  Ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Have I confessed and repented of this sin?
2.When did I confess it?
3. Was I sincere?

If you answer yes to all these questions then you are forgiven and the guilt you feel is a false guilt from Satan.  If you had a no, you can ask God right now for forgiveness and have peace in your heart.  And when memories of your sin and guilt come up in your head again, tell Satan that he has no power over you but that you have been reminded of God's mercy.

Of course, if your sin has also hurt someone else it is important to ask for their forgiveness too.  Anyone and everyone can be hurt by another's sin and it is important to let both God and others know how we feel.

Guilt hurts more than a splinter, more than a bee sting, more than steeping on legos....gasp.  But that doesn't mean you have to let it fester inside of you.  There is a way to free yourself from the guilt and know that God has forgiven your sin.

(If you'd like to read the full article "Living with Guilt" click here.)

"Crazy Love" - Part 1

I guess I'm a little behind - this book came out in 2008 along with all the hype surrounding it.  Honestly it's been on my bookshelf for a few years and I wish I hadn't waited this long to read it.  I'm working on chapter 6 right now, but there was so much content already covered so I decided to split my discussion into at least 2 posts.

"Crazy Love" is by Pastor Francis Chan.  The main idea of his book is that people are missing the mark of what God wants his followers to do and how to live for him.  At the beginning of the book, Chan asks the reader to watch this video in order to prepare your heart and mind for what he has to talk about.

Certainly the most interesting chapter so far is chapter 4, where he talks about "lukewarm Christians" or halfhearted love for God.  When I first started reading the chapter I was like "Of course I'm committed to God- what is he talking about?"  But after reading the chapter, I knew I was guilty of more than one of these statements.  (These are directly from the book)

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians do, so they go. (Isaiah 29:13)

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church…as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? (1 Chronicles 21:24; Luke 21:1-4)

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives (Luke 6:26; Rev. 3:1; Matthew 23:5-7).

4. Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one (John 10:10; Romans 6:1-2).

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers (James 1:22; James 4:17; Matthew 21:28-31).

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion (Matthew 10:32-33).

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street (Luke 18:11-12).
I think I commit this sin every day.  "At least I'm not like THAT person" goes through my mind often.

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives (Luke 9:57-62).

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; it’s only for pastors and missionaries and radicals (Matthew 22:37-38).
I have to disagree with the 2nd half of this statement.  Only pastors, missionaries, and radicals can be completely devoted to God?  If that was the case, people with any other career than these 3 things would be considered "less Christian." 1 Corinthians 10:31 says "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  God wants all people to come to Him, not a select few.

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached (Matthew 5:43-47; Luke 14:12-14).

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money and energy they are willing to give (Luke 18:21-25).

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come. Regarding this, C.S. Lewis wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this” (Philippians 3:18-20; Colossians 3:2).

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. They are quick to point out, “Jesus never said money is the root of all evil, only that the love of money is.” Untold numbers of lukewarm people feel “Called” to minister to the rich; very few feel “called” to minister to the poor (Matthew 25:34, 40; Isaiah 58:6-7).

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without it requiring too much of them. They ask, “How far can I go before it’s considered a sin?” instead of “How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?” They ask, “How much do I have to give?” instead of “How much can I give?” They ask, “How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible? Instead of “I wish I didn’t have to go to work, so I could sit here and read longer!” (1 Chronicles 29:14; Matthew 13:44-46).

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God (1 Timothy 6:17-18; Matthew 10:28).

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation” (Matthew 7:21; Amos 6:1)

17. Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them – they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live – they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis – their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God (Luke 12:16-21; Hebrews 11).
This one got me thinking too.  I live a comfortable life- I don't go hungry, I have a place to live, I have nice clothes, and nice things.  If I lost it all, would I be mad at God and still thank Him or would I feel insecure and lose trust?  "Prosperity hardens the heart." - William Wilberforce

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong (Matthew 23:25-28).

Alright, how many can you relate to?  Kind of shakes you up a bit, right?

Of course, no one is perfect.  Certainly God's grace covers us - but we need to strive to break away from these habits and WANT to turn away from them.

In chapter 5, Chan makes a statement that many who have read the book find controversial.  He says that lukewarm Christians will not go to heaven.  I don't really know where to stand on this one...God says in John 3:16 that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  It depends how you define lukewarm I guess. Is there such a thing?

  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and book in general :)

E(x)ponential Living

A found an interesting sermom series that I think is worth listening to.  You can either watch the 3 videos or just listen to them.  It kind of gives you a new way to look at living and why you should live it to the extent God intended.  The part about investing in other people is especially important.  Here is a link to the series : http://cplace.org/sermons/exponential-living-invest-invite/

Unashamed: Starfield

One more song for you guys during the A to Z Blogging Challenge!

"Unashamed" by Starfield is one of my favorite songs ever and it has outstanding lyrics.  I'm not talking about perfect writing and all that jazz, I mean an outstanding message.  I suggest reading the lyrics first somewhere then watching the video.  If you ever get a chance to hear these guys in person, GO!  They came to my first college a couple of years ago and had an awesome concert.

Unashamed - Starfield

Quotes about Prayer

"You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed." A.J. Gordon

"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." Oswald Chambers

"Prayer wonderfully clears the vision; steadies the nerves; defines duty; stiffens the purpose; sweetens and strengthens the spirit." S.D. Gordon

“The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says ‘Amen’ and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him our ideas.” Frank Laubach

"Seven days without prayer makes one weak." Allen E. Vartlett

"Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is its most essential part." Andrew Murray

"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things 'above all that we ask or think.'" Andrew Murray

Prayer Ideas

Practicals and finals week are getting so close I literally cannot think about anything else.  I'm not used to having finals where you actually have to do something rather than just write answers.  So I'm beyond nervous right now and it seems like I have a broken record of continous prayer in my head asking God for help during this time.  I found a cool website called prayerideas.org that has fill in the blank prayer ideas for many life situations- yes even for final exams!  If your having finals soon, you should check it out.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Thought I'd share a bit more upbeat song tonight arranged by David Crowder Band.  It's sad that these guys aren't making albums anymore, but the CD's they do have out are outstanding! Their songs are all very unique and what I love about them most is that they are great for use in church, but they don't follow the normal chord progressions or use cliche wording.  Different, but catchy and easy to follow. Luckily we got to see them in Kansas City a few years back.  Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWekq9bHtKU

Keep Your Eyes Open

A short thought for tonight before heading to bed...

By our sinful nature, our eyes are focused on ourselves most of the time.  Our problems come first, then family's, friends, and maybe strangers.  It is a first thought to look after ourselves first.  But if you slow down and really take the time to observe other people - their actions and words and emotions - they struggle too.  And people can't get through their trials alone.

Perhaps if we are more willing to keep our eyes open for others, a chain reaction could occur where one person helps another in any way they can - money, provisions, time, prayer - and the goodness of God's grace and love is shown through us.  And maybe its not that we don't see the need, it's just scary to reach out.  But if you never take that chance, then you'll never know what wonderful things could have happened.

Don't close your eyes or look away.  Keep them wide open!

If I Were a Butterfly...and the Cricket Choir

Remember that one song from grade school/ sunday school that starts out "If I were a butterfly..."?

If you haven't heard of it or don't remember the lyrics, here they are :)

Photo by Christian Meyn at freedigitalphotos.net



If I were a butterfly, I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree, I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea, I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were an elephant, I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo, You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus, I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were a wiggly worm, I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear, I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile, I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

Of course what made this song totally awesome were the hand motions that went along with it.  The alligator part was especiallly fun (who can make the loudest SLAP noise with their hands and scare the teacher?) So not that it wouldn't be cool to be an animal for the day but what is the message behind this song? 

Here's what I think.

It's easy for us to get caught into the trap of looking at all of the things we think are going wrong in life, but we often overlook all of the wonderful things that are going RIGHT for us as well.  Really, all things work for the glory of God so even out of our hardships comes wonderful things.  There is always something to be thankful for.  So say for instance you were a butterfly.  No you can't go bowling or drive a car or do taxes....?  But you can thank God for being able to fly high in the sky and get to see a beautiful view of His creation.  No matter where you are, who you are with, what you are doing, etc. there is always something to be thankful for.

So, you don't think that animals praise God like we do?

Check out this link for a cool surprise!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFguHRdUlk8

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Matthew 6:26

Hold Me Jesus

You may have heard other versions of the song "Hold Me Jesus" but this version by Rich Mullins is my favorite so far.  The first line mimicks my feelings on those days that I feel worried or saddened by something.

 "Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all..." 

That's a good way to put it.  But I also see this song as a prayer asking for God to hold us in his arms and calm our fears.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9T3tL5U67w

Glory in the Storm

Sorry about not getting this posted for the A - Z blogging challenge yesterday.  We had a pretty good storm last night (lightning included) so we unplugged all electronics and I wanted to save  my computer battery in case we needed to check the weather!

So about 7:00 last night it started to rain at a fairly steady pace - it was relaxing to listen to while I worked on some scrapbooking.  But while calling my parents, it started to sound like millions of marbles were hitting our roof (tin roofs are VERY loud).  Great -hail.  The wind was picking up and sounded pretty mean even from inside the house.  The thunder and lightning kept me from sleeping for quite a while and I was pretty tired this morning.

But I loved every minute of it (eh, minus the hail.  But the car didn't take any damage)

There is SOMETHING about storms that I just can't get over.  I love listening to them while I read and if I could sit ouside and watch the storm without worrying about getting struck by lightning, I totally would.  I think maybe the reason I find them so fascinating and beautiful is because a storm shows just how awesome and powerful God is.  He can take blinding light, roaring thunder, and rain to make something that both shows his power and helps refresh the earth at the same time.  Plus, don't you love the shine of everything after it rains? It's almost like painting a coat of gloss over everything for a few hours to make it shine.  Plus, I'm sure the farmers around here were excited for the good amount of moisture we received :)

Figure it Out

No, I'm not talking about that guessing game show that used to be on Nickalodeon...

Problems and decisions are challenging things, especially for me.  If there is something I'm worried about or a problem that needs to be fixed, it's VERY difficult for me to sleep or even think about anything else until I find a solution that will work.  Unfortunately, there aren't always situations that we can control or solve ourselves and it can be frustrating to not be able to do anything about that problem.  It can make you feel helpless not being able to control a situation.

Right now I struggle with schoolwork, missing friends from home, worrying about the future, etc.  And I haven't been able figure out what I, myself, can do about it.  But I have figured out a few things:

1.  Prayer is important in times of worry

2.  Worrying doesn't really help.  It just wears you down like tire treads (only 100x faster)

3.  Years from now I can look back and say "I overcame that hurdle" and even though we are always being presented with more, God doesn't give us more than we can handle.

So if the Maker of the universe thinks I can handle it, why worry so much?