Wow…

Who Needs God Anymore?

November 13, 2008 at 9:32 pm � Filed under News Items

This appeared today on the news and my daughter’s reaction was very interesting. She said, “I guess they DO give Santa god-like qualities, I mean, think of the words, ‘he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.’ ”

That was very insightful I thought.

FoxNews Reported:

Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday….

Last month, the British Humanist Association caused a ruckus announcing a similar campaign on London buses with the message: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

If most of us really think about it… in the eyes of God we’d like to believe we are GOOD. An honest self evaluation would tell us different.

I like the way Neil puts it, have a read at his blog here, Christmas, Humanists, and Being Good

Warm Boots

Weeks ago I met/got to know a sweet little girl here at school. She’s in my campus family and her parents are missionaries to Cambodia (I think that’s where). I wore my Uggs to a campus kids activity we had and she was asking me where I got them and so on because she really needs a pair of boots. If you know anything about Uggs, they’re not really cheap. I think the pair I had on that night (like the ones seen above) cost about $125…a going to school gift my freshman year, if I remember right. I have another pair of Uggs that I just got I think a year ago and the ones I was wearing that night I only ever wear for like playing in the snow or stuff like that. I told her she could have them because she needed boots and I knew (on a missionary salary) she wouldn’t be able to afford really nice boots…and it gets cold up here!

Within the past couple of weeks I’ve managed to go broke. There was a huge error in my checkbook and I ended up with a lot less money than I thought I had and my cash is gone. I’ve been praying that God would provide…I have to survive until Christmas break. Last week God provided some food for me through a care package from my extension church (a church I serve at while here at school).

Today, I got back to my room after a meeting I had and there was an envelope under the door. On the front of the envelope was a sketched picture of boots. It read, “Thank you so much for the warm boots! Here’s a little something for you to like buy a hat for yourself…or maybe stuff to make cookies for Jared this Thanksgiving. Thanks for always being cheerful and singing while you work! Your campus sister, Anna” Inside the envelope was $20! I’m not sure what I’ll do with it yet, probably save it for ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES, but it is such a huge answer to prayer!!

"O Great God"

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

Election Day

Sigh…it’s election day and a lot of people are going crazy about it. Trust God. The end, and yes, I voted.

Am I Dead?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being dead to self. As a believer, I put off the old and put on the new…the old man dies. I’ve been reading through Romans and in chapters 5-6 Paul is talking about how “…by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification for life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (5:18-19). Romans 5:20-6:1 go on to tell us that “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? No.” In verse 2 of chapter 6 Paul asks the question, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” He explains his answer by asking another question, “Know he not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life…Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” It seems as though Paul wants to make sure that his readers know that “being dead with Christ” is not the end, because in verse 8 of chapter 6 he says, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:…For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ or Lord.”

So the question could be raised, “What exactly does it mean to be dead to self?” A friend of mine gave me the following:

DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any lack of punctuality or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility…and endure it as Jesus endured it, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy or question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstance, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Obviously, the above is not inspired, but I do think that it is a pretty accurate description of “dying to self”. I would even venture to say that there is much more entailed in dying to self. The above just scrapes the surface, giving us a few meager examples of true “self-death”.

“That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.”—Philippians 3:10

…

I’m just starting this blog…bear with me

Called to Suffer

I had been praying that I would know God more…”and the fellowship of His suffering”. He is answering my prayers and it is NOT fun. Life hasn’t exactly been fun lately. A number of things have been going on that are a little less than desirable, but today topped it all. Today at work I had to deal with WAY grouch people being all grumpy and THEN I was told that I had to leave a half hour early and that I had to come in three hours late tomorrow because…because I worked my butt off and got everything done to the best of my ability the way they wanted and now they have no work for me. I am “a poor college student” and I need the money that I make at my job in order to get back to school. Missing three hours is actually a BIG DEAL and what’s more…my sister and I carpool to work and she still has to be at work at 8:00 so I’m going to sit in the cafeteria for three hours before I can go up to work…I…cried. I went back and talked to the “big boss” on my floor and reminded him that he had promised me 40 hours a week and didn’t really get anywhere with him. The flesh of me is upset because I’ve been working and have been at this place since ‘04 and am doing all of the right things and getting…punished almost. Other people do nothing and thrive…NOT FAIR, huh?! Then I remember that life isn’t fair and that I just have to get up and keep going and TRUST GOD no matter what ’cause He’ll provide for me even if I lose hours at work…easy to say, hard to live. And I have to thank God for answering my prayers because I am growing closer to God and experiencing a slight degree of suffering…God is good. He loves me and will (and does) provide for my every need. I should be thankful for the “hard times” that come into my life…they draw me closer to Him.

It’s Not His Fault

I’ve been learning a lot lately…that I need to be content, that I need to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, that I need to learn to love…everybody, not just people who are easy to love, that God is in control and He knows what is going on, that you never realize exactly HOW MUCH a person means to you until you are separated from them, that I don’t HAVE to sin because God promises to never give me anything that He and I can’t handle together and if I do sin (and believe me I do and will) it is my own fault. The most vivid and recent thing that God has taught me is that if I do not truly know God it is not His fault, but mine. We are told in the book of James that if we draw near to God He will draw near to us…WE HAVE TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM! I long so much to know God…I realize that that entails a lot more than mere knowledge, but a true, deep love relationship…”That I may know Him and the fellowship of His suffering…” I struggle, daily…we all do, but I want to know God more and I want to please Him in all I do. God has really been growing me through many different circumstances and the time that I spend in His word and prayer. I’m excited about what He is teaching me and what He has in store for me.

Long Time… June 11, 2008

Filed under: What’s New? — Heather @ 12:52 am Edit This

So I basically haven’t posted anything on here in FOREVER! It’s so hard to keep up with this during school and almost harder when I’m home because the internet connection is so slow and it costs every time I dial up…

Anyway, God has blessed me so much! I now have a b/f…which is a blessing. Jared is such an encouragement to me…constantly pointing me toward God! This summer we don’t get to see each other like at all so it’s not exactly easy, but God is helping us and when we get to see each other again…BIG hugs!!

I came home unsure of the amount of hours I would have at work and was praying about it forever…I ended up getting 40 a week like I’ve always had a needed and was given an extra blessing of a 50 cent an hour raise!! God takes care of us!

I recently turned 21 and was given the opportunity to stand up for my beliefs quite a bit that day on the whole drinking issue. I bought myself a new Bible with birthday money from my

My huge prayer right now is for Jared. He needs money to get back to school this fall and it’s not looking too hot right now…I’m praying about that like crazy!! We know God is in control and everything will work out the way He wants, but we would like him back at school…

Well, I better wrap it up…Just wanted to update on what has been happening lately.

Random Learnings… March 8, 2008

Filed under: Everyday Life Learnings — Heather @ 10:06 pm Edit This
Tags: religion

Wow! So I’ve been incredibly busy at school and finally have an opportunity to post something! Spring break officially started Thursday after classes (a day early!), so Friday (yesterday) was my day of “chill” and today, so far, has been my day of sleep…and a little reading to come!

Just wanted to update on what God has been doing in my life.

I’ve been learning a lot about walking in Christ…it’s so exciting to see all the things that God teaches us through mundane, everyday happenings, through His Word (the Bible), and through prayer. Here are a few of the things I’ve been learning:

In Phil. 2:5 we are told, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” “When we only look at life from our limited perspective, I believe we are in great danger of being deceived by half-truths…God’s perspective IS truth. Chase the perspective of Christ with great passion.” –Gwen Smith

Ps. 84:10a says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” “Where is the house you could bild for me?-where is the place that I may rest?” (Is. 66:1-2) He is the God of the Universe, yet asking, “Can I abide with you today?” Unimaginable. Uncontainable. Unfathomable. Yet completely true.

In John 14:1 we are told, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” Troubles come when I give emotions free reign in my heart and mind…That’s when I lose sight of God.

In Hebrews 2:3, children of God are reminded that we could drift away. Don’t neglect and drift–TAKE HEED! Constantly flee to Christ and the Word of His grace…Constantly meaning, don’t stop! This is a lifetime of fleeing to Christ!

The question can be raised, “When God has made us holy, what do we look like?” Answer: We love God! But what does loving God look like?

1) If we’re going to love God, we must love God for Himself, not His gifts.

2) If we’re going to love God, we must love Him exclusively. God alone deserves to be valued as an end, not a means. When we value God like this, that is delighting in Him. We learn that a thing is a god to us by how we respond when God takes it away from us. It’s not enough for God that we love Him among other things…there are different kinds of love.

3) If we’re going to love God, we will love others for the sake of God.

We’re told in I Thess. 5:18 to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I realize that because of each struggle He revealed His Glory. When I think “because of” instead of “in spite of” I can truly thank God for the trial itself…and that’s just what the Scriptures teach us to do.

So, sorry this is so random and scattered about, but this is just a little bit of what God has been teaching me through His Word.