Have you ever listened to a song and lost yourself in the lyrics and chords? Can I just say that God is so good. Tonight I was visiting a new church with my brother and it simply exceeded my expectations ten fold. The worship portion started out normally, but as the band began to play there was something different. God's presence filled the room like another instrument, it reverberated throughout the building. Do you know those concerts you've been to where you accidentally stood in front of the speakers so during the whole concert you feel the bass drumming along inside of you? Yeah, it was like that. As the first song passed I became so immersed in God's presence, I was no longer consumed by trivial matters but surrounded by God's love. Goodness, I wish I had better words to explain, but God is so far above my limited word choice.
I'm not sure if anyone can really make sense of what I'm saying, but I guess I'm challenging you to step out of your comfort zone and just let go of this world and seek God. It is so incredible to know that the maker of the entire universe loves us, that he sent his own son to die for us. Re-read that and let it sink in, that is stunning! So just lose yourself in His melody.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, November 8, 2010
Life goes on.
So I thought I would just post something about what's going on in my life, because it's been forever since I've put anything up here. That's because life has been really crazy lately and I'm just now getting into the routine of things again.
Let's start with school shall we? Well, I'm in my junior year and I cannot wait to be out of high school - honestly I'm just ready to get past these years in a small town when I have big dreams that no one else can seem to see. Unfortunately, education in necessary to get into college. Though I am always looking for opportunities that God places in my daily path, because there is a reason that I'm in this school; I just don't know it yet, or maybe I never will. So that's been something God has really been teaching me, and it's something I'm definitely still learning.
Church? Yes!! Finally, I'm in a church that cares! Since I got back from my trip we have been visiting new churches and I love the one I'm at now. It wouldn't seem too hard to be friendly and inviting, but obviously it is. That just makes me sad, the church should be the place where anyone can go and feel accepted and loved - but so many times it's not. I have no idea why that is though, the greatest commandment is to love yet we cannot do that?
Basically my life has gone from one extreme to the other and back again while settling somewhere in the middle. It seems as though I'm always learning and growing and seeing new things that aren't right in my life - I'm so thankful though because if we stop growing what's the point? Honestly God has placed some incredible people in my life that have just helped me so much and I know that they will be there for me whenever I need them. I'm beyond ready for the next season in my life and I hope it continues bringing me closer to God because that is my heart's song. After all, if I'm not living for God what's the point in living?
Let's start with school shall we? Well, I'm in my junior year and I cannot wait to be out of high school - honestly I'm just ready to get past these years in a small town when I have big dreams that no one else can seem to see. Unfortunately, education in necessary to get into college. Though I am always looking for opportunities that God places in my daily path, because there is a reason that I'm in this school; I just don't know it yet, or maybe I never will. So that's been something God has really been teaching me, and it's something I'm definitely still learning.
Church? Yes!! Finally, I'm in a church that cares! Since I got back from my trip we have been visiting new churches and I love the one I'm at now. It wouldn't seem too hard to be friendly and inviting, but obviously it is. That just makes me sad, the church should be the place where anyone can go and feel accepted and loved - but so many times it's not. I have no idea why that is though, the greatest commandment is to love yet we cannot do that?
Basically my life has gone from one extreme to the other and back again while settling somewhere in the middle. It seems as though I'm always learning and growing and seeing new things that aren't right in my life - I'm so thankful though because if we stop growing what's the point? Honestly God has placed some incredible people in my life that have just helped me so much and I know that they will be there for me whenever I need them. I'm beyond ready for the next season in my life and I hope it continues bringing me closer to God because that is my heart's song. After all, if I'm not living for God what's the point in living?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
James 3
"Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way." James 3:2
"And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?" James 3:10-11
I really enjoy the book of James because it's so relevant, of course all of the Bible is but it seems as though James could be written to the church of today spot on! So many people do not allow themselves to filter what they say to the extent that they should - to the extent that we, as Christians, are instructed to. Of course we find it wrong to say curse words and extremely vulgar things, but so many of our words are overlooked because compared to "the world" they're not that bad, may I just say that if you are saying the phrase, "It's not that bad" you are probably in the wrong and simply trying to justify it. If we go around saying one thing and then the complete opposite what are we portraying? As it says, "No, you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring."(James 3:12) We can't live on both sides of the fence, it just doesn't cut it.
The majority of what we say, is what we see and hear. Therefore if you are constantly enveloping yourself in the ways of this world by watching the wrong TV shows, listening to the wrong music, reading the wrong books, or hanging around the wrong people you are not going to be spurting off scripture you heard once on Sunday morning. So along with watching our tongues, we have to take it back a step further to the root by weeding out what is controlling our speech.
"If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying." James 3:13-14
Again, I just love it! If we aren't living honorably and making wise choices, God doesn't want us to hide it. I feel like so many people think that either God wants them to conceal their sin by lying, or that they can just pretend their sin doesn't exist. That is the furthest thing from God's heart, sometimes we forget that our God is kind and loving, He is easy to forgive and always forgets. It's pretty hard to grasp at times because the human race is so far from that, but it's true.
"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." James 3:17
Someone once told me that many times in life we become so focused on all of the things we think that we need to be that we mess it all up because in that we forget the foundation of those things. Wisdom is pure, peace loving, gentle, etc. but we don't have to focus on becoming all of those things, we just have to have "wisdom from above" and the rest will follow. I know that's something that I have had to learn and learn and then re-learn it all over again. We don't have to seek after those traits, we just have to seek after the heart of God.
"And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?" James 3:10-11
I really enjoy the book of James because it's so relevant, of course all of the Bible is but it seems as though James could be written to the church of today spot on! So many people do not allow themselves to filter what they say to the extent that they should - to the extent that we, as Christians, are instructed to. Of course we find it wrong to say curse words and extremely vulgar things, but so many of our words are overlooked because compared to "the world" they're not that bad, may I just say that if you are saying the phrase, "It's not that bad" you are probably in the wrong and simply trying to justify it. If we go around saying one thing and then the complete opposite what are we portraying? As it says, "No, you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring."(James 3:12) We can't live on both sides of the fence, it just doesn't cut it.
The majority of what we say, is what we see and hear. Therefore if you are constantly enveloping yourself in the ways of this world by watching the wrong TV shows, listening to the wrong music, reading the wrong books, or hanging around the wrong people you are not going to be spurting off scripture you heard once on Sunday morning. So along with watching our tongues, we have to take it back a step further to the root by weeding out what is controlling our speech.
"If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying." James 3:13-14
Again, I just love it! If we aren't living honorably and making wise choices, God doesn't want us to hide it. I feel like so many people think that either God wants them to conceal their sin by lying, or that they can just pretend their sin doesn't exist. That is the furthest thing from God's heart, sometimes we forget that our God is kind and loving, He is easy to forgive and always forgets. It's pretty hard to grasp at times because the human race is so far from that, but it's true.
"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." James 3:17
Someone once told me that many times in life we become so focused on all of the things we think that we need to be that we mess it all up because in that we forget the foundation of those things. Wisdom is pure, peace loving, gentle, etc. but we don't have to focus on becoming all of those things, we just have to have "wisdom from above" and the rest will follow. I know that's something that I have had to learn and learn and then re-learn it all over again. We don't have to seek after those traits, we just have to seek after the heart of God.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Day 2 - Your Crush
Dear crush,
Well, actually I'm crush free at the moment, and I'm completely okay with that. Right now I don't see the point in dating, because honestly I'd much rather be completely focused on God.
-Amber.
Well, actually I'm crush free at the moment, and I'm completely okay with that. Right now I don't see the point in dating, because honestly I'd much rather be completely focused on God.
-Amber.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Day 1 - Your Best Friend
Dear Ollie,
Where to start? First off, I'm not quite sure this is the right day to write you a letter, since the sisters day is later. Because after all, you are way more than my best friend - we're sisters in all ways but biological. For some reason you love my dysfunctional family and want to be a part of it(well, you are a part.)
You are so amazing, through everything I've been through you've been there with me. Even after I moved and lost touch with so many friends we're Ollie and Ninja, sisters forever. You're the person who understands me through and through, we have our big dreams together. And that alone means a lot to me. You are so wise and mature in your faith, and I've always looked up to you so much for that. In fact when we were little I wanted to be just like you. Honestly, your faith in God is so inspiring to so many people - I'm sure you don't even know half of the impact you've made.
I wish I had a better way with words so I could really make it plain how much you mean to me, but alas I don't. So I just hope you know how much I do care, and love you. (:
-Ninja.
Where to start? First off, I'm not quite sure this is the right day to write you a letter, since the sisters day is later. Because after all, you are way more than my best friend - we're sisters in all ways but biological. For some reason you love my dysfunctional family and want to be a part of it(well, you are a part.)
You are so amazing, through everything I've been through you've been there with me. Even after I moved and lost touch with so many friends we're Ollie and Ninja, sisters forever. You're the person who understands me through and through, we have our big dreams together. And that alone means a lot to me. You are so wise and mature in your faith, and I've always looked up to you so much for that. In fact when we were little I wanted to be just like you. Honestly, your faith in God is so inspiring to so many people - I'm sure you don't even know half of the impact you've made.
I wish I had a better way with words so I could really make it plain how much you mean to me, but alas I don't. So I just hope you know how much I do care, and love you. (:
-Ninja.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
James 2.
2:1 "...How can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?"
So many times in society today we are so quick to judge by looks - which is exactly the opposite of what we as Christians should be doing. Just because someone comes into church "dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry" (vs. 2) doesn't mean that people should go out of their way to accommodate them. Think about it, would you honestly treat a person who walked in wearing tattered clothing the same way? God is so good. When we step into His presence He's not looking at what we're wearing, He's looking at our hearts. There's a song I really like called "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath, and it talks about asking God to allow us to see things the way he does. To truly look at people and see them the way God does - and newsflash! God isn't looking at your great new shoes or hair cut when you go to worship! But when we encounter people daily we shouldn't be fawning over one person because they look important - that is not by any means how Christ approached people.
"Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?" James 2:5
Though most of the time I do not see it as a blessing, or being chosen by God - being poor does mean being rich in faith. So many times in my life my family has had no clue how we were going to make it. In fact right now is probably one of the worst of those times. Rich in faith? You have to be. When you are literally fully depending on God to supply your needs it takes faith. And that is definitely something my family is learning. Honestly, right now I have no clue what I'll be eating next week. But you know what? I serve a God who is greater than any worldly/physical thing. My God is by no means limited by what I see, because he sees the greater picture. I don't need to worry, which is so easy to say but honestly living it isn't that rough. My faith in God has increased so much in these past months, and it wouldn't be if I wasn't going through what I am.
Then there's the promise of the Kingdom. Hallelujah! Something that popped out at me was "the poor in this world." I'm not sure if that gets you, but PTL, this world, my life, the time on this earth, is but a vapor! Who cares about our momentary discomfort?(Well, God does.) But I mean, once you look at the fourth quarter, with two minutes left on the clock, your behind by five points, on the 30 yard line, the fact that your QB is injured doesn't matter - you are going to finish that game. And my word, you're going to win! Even if you're tired, sweaty, and discouraged. In life we get so shook up by the physical problems that pop up, but man it's not going to put us down. We have eternity with Jesus. We have the promise of his Kingdom! Woah. I wish you could feel my excitement about that.
"...How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." James 2:18
"...His faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete." James 2:22
"Just as the body is dead without breath, so also is faith dead without good works." James 2:26
So you say that you are a Christian, big deal. I can say I'm a car all that I want, but goodness, when it comes down to it I have four limbs - not wheels. Actions speak louder than words, and most likely always will. If Jesus had come to earth and just sat and talked, sure some people would have listened, but not nearly as many people would have accepted the fact that he was Christ. With Christ as our example we cannot just sit around saying halfheartedly, "Jesus loves you. I'm a Christian." That's not going to fly. We have to be active in our faith! One of Jesus' first commands was to ... GO! So many people in the world have met "Christians" and truthfully, the association with that word is not the best any more. Which is why we really have to live out our faith. We have to stop staying in our comfort zone, we must go out and live to reflect God's glory.
Random verse that stuck out: "You say you have faith, for you believe there is one god. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and the tremble in terror." James 2:19
So many times in society today we are so quick to judge by looks - which is exactly the opposite of what we as Christians should be doing. Just because someone comes into church "dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry" (vs. 2) doesn't mean that people should go out of their way to accommodate them. Think about it, would you honestly treat a person who walked in wearing tattered clothing the same way? God is so good. When we step into His presence He's not looking at what we're wearing, He's looking at our hearts. There's a song I really like called "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath, and it talks about asking God to allow us to see things the way he does. To truly look at people and see them the way God does - and newsflash! God isn't looking at your great new shoes or hair cut when you go to worship! But when we encounter people daily we shouldn't be fawning over one person because they look important - that is not by any means how Christ approached people.
"Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?" James 2:5
Though most of the time I do not see it as a blessing, or being chosen by God - being poor does mean being rich in faith. So many times in my life my family has had no clue how we were going to make it. In fact right now is probably one of the worst of those times. Rich in faith? You have to be. When you are literally fully depending on God to supply your needs it takes faith. And that is definitely something my family is learning. Honestly, right now I have no clue what I'll be eating next week. But you know what? I serve a God who is greater than any worldly/physical thing. My God is by no means limited by what I see, because he sees the greater picture. I don't need to worry, which is so easy to say but honestly living it isn't that rough. My faith in God has increased so much in these past months, and it wouldn't be if I wasn't going through what I am.
Then there's the promise of the Kingdom. Hallelujah! Something that popped out at me was "the poor in this world." I'm not sure if that gets you, but PTL, this world, my life, the time on this earth, is but a vapor! Who cares about our momentary discomfort?(Well, God does.) But I mean, once you look at the fourth quarter, with two minutes left on the clock, your behind by five points, on the 30 yard line, the fact that your QB is injured doesn't matter - you are going to finish that game. And my word, you're going to win! Even if you're tired, sweaty, and discouraged. In life we get so shook up by the physical problems that pop up, but man it's not going to put us down. We have eternity with Jesus. We have the promise of his Kingdom! Woah. I wish you could feel my excitement about that.
"...How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." James 2:18
"...His faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete." James 2:22
"Just as the body is dead without breath, so also is faith dead without good works." James 2:26
So you say that you are a Christian, big deal. I can say I'm a car all that I want, but goodness, when it comes down to it I have four limbs - not wheels. Actions speak louder than words, and most likely always will. If Jesus had come to earth and just sat and talked, sure some people would have listened, but not nearly as many people would have accepted the fact that he was Christ. With Christ as our example we cannot just sit around saying halfheartedly, "Jesus loves you. I'm a Christian." That's not going to fly. We have to be active in our faith! One of Jesus' first commands was to ... GO! So many people in the world have met "Christians" and truthfully, the association with that word is not the best any more. Which is why we really have to live out our faith. We have to stop staying in our comfort zone, we must go out and live to reflect God's glory.
Random verse that stuck out: "You say you have faith, for you believe there is one god. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and the tremble in terror." James 2:19
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
30 Day Letter Challenge: Revamped!
Alright, so I started this before I left for Africa. And it's totally crazy, but I feel like I'm in a completely different part of life now than I was. So of course those letters, I feel, kind of don't apply to where I am. So the point is: I'm re-writing them. (:
The end.
The end.
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