Has Your Faith Reached Mustard Seed Size?

In the Gospel of Matthew, there is a story about a boy with a demon that the disciples weren't able to cast out. When the disciples questioned about why they weren't able to do this, he responded in Matthew 17:20 by saying, "'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'" I believe this verse holds two teaching points; first, that our faith can move mountains, and second, the amount of faith necessary is miniscule, but some of us don't even possess that miniscule amount. I believe we all yearn to have immense amounts of faith, but when faced with struggles and questionable circumstances in our own lives, I think we have a tendency to allow doubt to creep in. As Christians, we believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and that God parted the Red Sea, but we don't seem to possess faith enough to trust that God will answer our prayers about finances, employment, health issues, or any other daily struggle we might face.

If I'm to be upfront and honest with you, I've been full of plenty of doubts myself lately. I'm still unsure of my career path and not sure if I should go for a certification and if so, which certification to even go for. I trust God to bless me with a job, but after my phone interview the other day, my brain became full of more questions and doubt than faith that it'll work out. When friends asked me how I thought it went, I told them I wasn't sure because I was honest and told the interviewer that I really haven't been keeping up with my EKG skills lately. My worldly self began questioning whether or not someone would still want to hire me even though my skills are rusty when I really should have been more focused on the fact that I was willing to be honest and maintain my integrity. Also, I need to trust the fact that God is in control and already knows the outcome.

Three things got me to snap out of the doubt that was slowly beginning to creep in and take over my brain. The first came from a text a friend sent to me after I told her I wasn't sure about how my interview went. Her response was brief but served as an excellent wake up call. She said, "I know it went good K I was praying for you." Her assuredness and faith about the situation caught me by surprise, but also put a smile on my face. I'm very happy and blessed to have someone in my life who is confident about the outcome of her prayers for others. The second was remembering the faith I had had just one week before while at work. I was expecting an order of firewood that would cost $240, but at the start of my day, I only had about $40-$50. I knew only God would be able to help me in this situation so I prayed for His provision for the money and to possibly delay the arrival of the firewood. Low and behold in the early afternoon I had a wave of customers check in for their campsites and pay for their camping and a bunch of supplies. Although it was a bit chaotic, I was thankful for the business and God answered my prayer by providing me with more than enough money to pay the guy who brought the firewood, who happened to arrive right after all of my customers. The third thing that got my attention came from the book Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. The biggest slap in the face came from the following sentence: "Quit assuming and start believing." I need to stop assuming that I may not get hired based on my performance during an interview and instead have faith that God is monitoring the situation and knows what will happen. God has the power to open doors to places I've never been before, for positions I never would have considered. He knows exactly where I need to end up and I need to trust God to get me there because I can't get there on my own.

In the long run, God may not want me to get the position I just interviewed for and only He knows the reasoning behind the final outcome. But until I get an answer, I must maintain my faith and belief that God can come through for me. My faith must grow to the size of a mustard seed if I'm ever going to move mountains in my life. Regardless, I must remember what is written in Matthew 19:26, which states, "'With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.'"

Beautiful Letdown

It was a beautiful let down
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone unknown and hurt

Switchfoot

Simply put, this week has not been what I was hoping it would be for numerous reasons that I'd rather not dive into at the moment. In the words of Switchfoot, it's seemed like a beautiful letdown. There have been some situations that have caused me to feel utter frustration and despair, but my goal is to try and not make hasty decisions as I process my current reality and grapple with what could be my future reality. Ephesians 4:26, "In your anger do not sin..." seems to be in the forefront of my mind in the hopes of not lashing out at an unassuming passerby.
I've started running again in the hopes that I can get some endorphines running through my body in to try and lift my mood. The only issue with that is the fact that after so much time off, it's really hard to build that base again. Every runner wants to be able to jump right back into the sport with ease and be able to feel like they are in tip top shape, but that just isn't the case. Starting to run again after taking around 9 months off can almost be demoralizing, which isn't exactly a feeling I need to have coupled with my other frustrations. Thankfully I'm determined to get back in shape and am refusing to let those defeatists thoughts win.
In a way, it brings me back to how I felt during mile 17 of my marathon back in Delaware. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and questioning whether or not I could complete the race, but God was there to help me to the finish line. A song I listened to on the way to the race was "Unbreakable" by Fireflight, which is something that I listened to on my way to work today. The lyrics that really spoke to me were the following: "Sometimes it's hard to just keep going. But faith is moving without knowing. Can I trust what I can't see? To reach my destiny. I want to take control but I know better." Back during the marathon, it helped me to keep working towards that finish line. Now, it's my motivation to not give up, even when the world seems against me.
At this point in time, I'm very thankful for the blessing of music. There are numerous songs which seem to speak to how I feel in my current predicament. Along with "Unbreakable," two other songs that have helped keep my head above water this week are "Monster" by Paramore, and "Blinding Light" by Switchfoot. "Monster" speaks about how someone's opinion of, and occasional accusations against you, can make it seem like the whole world is attacking constantly. I especially like the part of the chorus, which says, "I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world. From turning into a monster and eating us alive. Don't you ever wonder how we survive?" In my opinion, if you trust in God, you can have a more positive outlook even when the world seems to be trying to devour you so that you lose hope. "Blinding Light" has a very blunt opinion on how America functions. In the first verse it says, "We're the nation that eats our youth." I couldn't agree more because it seems like there is such a push for everyone to go to college, but once you graduate, employers won't hire you and you are left to drown in student loans.
All of this has brought me back to my faith in God. I've been trying to remember that He has a plan for all of us and we must be patient in order to discover the answer. I don't want to just be another human floating through society not knowing what to do. I want to have a purpose, but I cannot try to control my life. God is in control and I must give everything to Him so I don't dissolve in despair or spiral into a pit of anxiety and depression. To avoid this, I'll continue to meditate on Philippians 4:6, which says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." My hope is that you all will do the same when you run into roadblocks in life because they're inevitable.

W.A.I.T. Part 3: Desiring Your Timing, Not God's Timing

As a recent graduate from a Master's program, I have had to meet many frustrations head on that involve the timing of circumstances in my life. Back in August, I was immensely frustrated that everybody else seemed to have direction in their lives while I was floundering. I kept wondering why others had become successfully employed while I remained on the sidelines. What I seemed to be forgetting was that God has a purpose behind every situation and circumstance in our lives. Also, I was forgetting that God is outside of the function of time, which is clearly outlined in 2 Peter 3:8-9 ~ "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
In hindsight, I can understand why I had to struggle through unemployment. If I had become employed right out of school, I probably would not have given God the credit. Instead, I had to wait until December to find any sort of employment, and that still is not full-time or in my field, but I think I am more thankful for that than I would have ever been with a full-time position in exercise science back in August. The waiting period taught me how to rely on God and not on myself. I had lost the ability to enjoy the blessings I had in my life, and had become too distanced from God, so He stripped me down so that I would humble myself and come back to Him. God wanted to use His timing in order to teach me a lesson, and I'm forever grateful.
We all need to remember to be patient in life. Instead of immediately assuming that God has forgotten about us, we should instead remember that He is just preparing something greater in order to glorify Himself. In my young adults group, there are some single individuals who I'm sure wish they could find the right person to marry. It is hard to trust that all will work out in the end, but that is why we need to be close to God to build up our faith. This is true for all situations in life, whether it be deciding where to go to school, where to get a job, or what car to purchase. These are decisions that require prayerful consideration, and we must trust that God will answer when it is most appropriate.
On top of that, we all yearn to once again be with Jesus, but we have to be patient for that as well. To please God and glorify Him, we must live pure lives, assuming that each day could be our last. I believe 2 Peter 3:10-14 outlines this warning quite well because it states, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."
Partnered with this, we must refute all of those people that we know who claim that the world is coming to an end in December. It would be ridiculous to assume that we mere humans would be privy to such information. If people continually insist that the end of the world is coming, I suggest that you refresh their memories about how Y2K was supposed to destroy all technology, but surprise, surprise, that New Year went off without a hitch or computer glitch. An even more reliable source that you should turn people towards is the Bible. It flat out states that nobody but God is aware of when the Second Coming will occur, along with the end of the world. All one needs to do is turn to Matthew 24:36-37, which states, "'But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.'"
Again, we must all remember to be patient in life. Not everything will happen when we want it to, and some situations will arise that we wish never did. What is important is that we all remember that God has a plan and a purpose behind every action and situation in our lives. He will bless you when He sees fit. Holding this concept close to your heart will help you to thrive in your current circumstances.

Evangelism

Mark 16:15-16 "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'"

Matthew 28:19-20 "'Therefore 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.'"   
The original disciples were commanded by Jesus to go out and preach the Gospel. This was the first call for evangelism, and it continues for every generation of Christians. As believers, were are to go out into the world and share the Good News with all, in the hope of planting seeds so that God can call more of His people back and bless them with saving grace. This takes much courage because we will face much mocking from those around us, or worse, depending on the area in which you choose to share the Gospel. There are countries in which Christianity is considered illegal, with death being the punishment. But we must remember that fear of man should never be something to stand in our way. Instead, our focus needs to be on the lost and broken people on Earth who are in desperate need of a redeeming Savior. Matthew 9:37-38 should be the driving force behind everybody's desire to enter the mission field, whether at home, work, or in a foreign land: "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" There are so many people who still know hardly anything about Jesus or have yet to accept Him into their hearts, and it is every Christian's job to bring the message of hope to all. It'll probably be much easier to reach those who have never heard the Gospel because they are eager to learn more and soak up the Son. But sharing with these people typically involves the most danger because people who know little about the Gospel tend to be those who live in countries where it is forbidden.
Evangelism is definitely no easy task. I have already mentioned some of the issues that people might face. In my opinion, though, the hardest people to reach are the rich, who love possessions, and those who were either raised in the church and claim to still be Christians, or those who go through the motions of being Christian, but do not have Jesus in their hearts. They are not open to rebuke. As C.S. Lewis stated, ‎"A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world - and might even be more difficult to save." These people feel that they are doing well by their own standards, and thus refuse to compare themselves to God's standards. They are much like the Pharisees who lived in the time of Jesus, who were merely hypocrites. This is why Jesus reminds us to not continuously butt heads with such individuals in Matthew 10:16 ~ "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Know when to walk away and move onto others in need of the Gospel. Remember that only God can open people's hearts to Jesus, so don't get discouraged or feel unworthy. You are merely following through with Jesus' command in the hopes that God will draw others close to Him and fill them with the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, allow God to guide your steps into the mission field. Use His Word as a means of discernment to help determine your direction. Some might be called to evangelize at home, while others the jungle, desert, or arctic. One thing to remember, though, is to walk the narrow path of Jesus in order to be an example of a true believer to those around you each and everyday. Others should look to you and wonder what you have that they don't. Do not end up living like the people C.S. Lewis mentioned in this passage: "When Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world...Our careless lives set the outer world talking; and we give them grounds for talking in a way that throws doubt on the truth of Christianity itself."

The Lord's Provision

Some of you might know that I've been unemployed since July. For those who didn't, you are now caught up to speed. I graduated with my Master's of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology in August and have been applying to jobs ever since to no avail. There were few jobs in my field that had openings, so for the past month I have applying to anything from the UPS warehouse, to snowshoveling jobs, to medical assistant positions, to a website design gig. Still nothing. Back in September, I was frustrated that my life had no direction, but eventually I ended up letting that frustration go and decided it was best to be thankful for what I do have.
A few weeks ago, I decided to apply at a temp agency after a friend of mine suggested I give that a shot. I filled out all of the necessary paperwork and hoped for the best. Tonight I got a phone call from the temp agency offering me a part-time position as a data-entry clerk for a plastics company, which I greatly accepted. I was just so thankful to have God provide me with a job with Christmas coming up. I was praying that things would all work out in His time and I know I had plenty of people from church and Bible study praying for me as well. I feel very blessed to have God's faithfulness come to light in my life. As Paul says in Philippians 4:19-20, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Communication is Necessary in Any Relationship

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate." ~Cool Hand Luke

I think it is human nature to long to have one person in your life that you can always count on. It is natural to want to have that kind of close relationship with another person to the point that you don't even hesitate to call them when something good or bad happens in life. But that kind of relationship takes time and effort to build. One cannot expect a friend they met yesterday to drop everything to help in a crisis. It takes months or even years to build a solid relationship with anybody, and steady communication is the glue that holds the foundation of that relationship together. It would be ridiculous to assume a close bond existed with someone you only talked to once every couple months. You would be mere acquaintances at best. No, a close relationship requires communication at least once per week to remain strong. That doesn't necessarily have to be face to face, but nor can it be superficial. There must be genuine interest on both ends to set aside time for certain people who are important in our lives.

The same goes for your relationship with God. It is God's will for us to pray to Him in order to maintain a relationship, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." In order for it to be successful, you must make time for Him on a daily basis, at the very least. Only praying to God out of necessity due to a crisis will not lay the bricks for a solid foundation on which to build a relationship. This only breeds a very inconsistent relationship with God, which lacks any true desire on your part to get to know Him and give well-deserved praise in the good times and bad. 

It is important to be open with the Lord and trust Him. Philippians 4:6-7 states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." We seem to forget that God knows all and can help us through each and every situation if only we just communicated with Him. By neglecting your relationship with God, you are hindering your spiritual life and impeding any potential growth. Some feel that God simply won't hear their prayers. Again, this neglects the fact that God is ever present in our lives. When you begin to doubt that God doesn't hear your prayers, refer to Jonah 2:1-2, which states, "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: 'In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep inside the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry." If God heard Jonah from inside the belly of a fish, I believe that God will hear you no matter where you are in this world. Psalm 145:18-19 can also build your confidence in the fact that the Lord hears your prayers because it says, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." He is never far away from His creation and those He loves unconditionally. So we must remain steadfast and earnest in our prayer life in order to get to know Him.
What some seem to forget is that selfishness builds walls in any relationship. If you require your friends to always do what you want without ever considering their feelings or opinions, they probably won't remain your friends very long. This relates to your prayer life as well. Selfish prayers most likely will not be answered, unless God has a specific purpose behind it. The best way to pray is to mirror Jesus, whose walk was blameless and in line with the Father. As stated in 1 John 5:14-15, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." All prayers and prayer requests must be made in accordance to God's will. God desires to be glorified and should be glorified, and all prayers should express that. Selfish desires with ulterior motives will not be answered and promoted. So the next time you find yourself wondering why your prayer has seemingly gone unanswered, instead of blaming God, look back at how you prayed because you are the flaw in the system. Patience is also key because God has a plan for everything and your prayers will be answered according to His time schedule, and not yours. So go and pray and build your relationship with your Father in heaven. 

Seek God's Wisdom in Times of Turmoil: Gaining Discernment and Guarding Your Heart After or From Betrayal

Betrayal is always hard to swallow. Anger and panic tend to ensue when we choose to live in our flesh, as opposed to turning to God. And even when we pray for understanding and forgiveness, it can be hard to get rid of the bitter taste left behind in our mouths. King David speaks of the pain endured when facing betrayal. Some believe that Psalm 55:12-14 mirrors the betrayal Jesus felt when Judas turned him over to the authorities. This passage states, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God."
Our first instinct might be to harden our hearts towards whoever has betrayed us. This never solves anything and only harms your peace of mind in the long run. Immediate forgiveness also is not a smart route because it does not allow for complete healing internally. One can claim to have forgiven someone, but if anger and bitterness are still anchored in their heart, true forgiveness and healing have not taken place.
I found some intriguing words from Reverend Douglas Showalter on this topic. In an article entitled Forgiveness: Through Gritted Teeth or a Journey of the Heart?, he speaks about how many feel it is their "Christian duty" to forgive others quickly. The following is his response to this misconception:
"I ask you: aren't there times when you and I have the intense heat of coals burning within us? Someone deeply wrongs us or betrays us, and suddenly a coal fire is ignited within us. Our chests burn with pain, with anger, and sometimes even with the desire to get revenge: to hurt the one who has hurt us--or our loved ones--so wrongly. Fiery red coals burn within us. But then we are told, by a well-meaning friend--or our own guilty conscience--that to be a good Christian, we must always forgive quickly and completely. We Christians often assume it's a law of our faith--virtually carved in stone--that we should always forgive quickly. But let me ask you, have you ever tried to put out a coal fire quickly? It usually can't be done. Oh yes, one can dump buckets of water in a hot cast-iron stove, and likely see the stove itself break up. But short of that, it takes time for burning coals to be extinguished. And so I think it is after a serious injury: I think it usually takes time for our pain, anger, and any ill will we may feel, to be extinguished. For like fiery red coals, our deeply negative feelings rarely go out in an instant--just because we want them to. Usually, it takes time to be rid of these things. In fact, it takes a process of inner healing--and such healing cannot be rushed."
We are called to maintain unity with fellow Christians, so reconciliation after forgiveness is the best policy in the long run. That does not mean that a relationship will be normalized overnight. It takes time to mend from betrayal and this process must not be forced or expedited. In my opinion, one should never rush into forgiveness. It'll take patience to move past the awkward stages when you first encounter those who have hurt you in the past, but with some conscious effort, one day things will be okay again. Much like a crumpled piece of paper, it takes time to iron out all of the creases.
During these times, it is best to seek discernment from God's Word in order to protect oneself from future betrayal, and also to determine how to respond to one who has betrayed you. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." This bit of wisdom suggests that we should not rush into matters of the heart, whether it is an intimate relationship with the opposite sex or a new friendship. Other advice on this matter can be found within Proverbs 12:26 ~ "A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." I believe these proverbs can also be applied to friendships that one already holds. You might be called to re-evaluate the impact that certain individuals have on your life and how they shape you. God has a purpose for each person He brings into your life, but you must pray for discernment in order for that purpose to be revealed to you.
God also warns us to be discerning when we encounter the following types of individuals: false friends and those of poor character. In order to protect our hearts, we must become acutely aware of these two types of individuals. The first that I am going to address is the false friend. These individuals feign interest in your life and put on a really good act of compassion, but it is only for their own gain. These individuals believe that they can use you at their own convenience and see no harm in doing so because they are unaware of anybody else's happiness or well-being. They prey on people to meet their own needs and then move on once they are satisfied. In the long run, the whole friendship is just a fallacy. The Book of Psalms warns us to be on the lookout for such individuals. Psalm 28:3 states, "Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts" while Psalm 55:21 puts it this way: "His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords."

Individuals of poor character can also impact our lives in a negative fashion if we don't protect ourselves. We can easily be lead astray by those individuals that we strive to be friends with because they appear to be popular in society. Little do we realize that these people travel the wide path to destruction, rather than the narrow path that leads to life. That is why Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." I'm not saying that you should avoid certain people in society, but I am suggesting that you maintain your morals and judgement when difficult situations arise with these people. They will most likely pressure you into trying things that make you uncomfortable. Anybody who does that really does not have your best interests in mind. If they make it seem like you won't be cool or won't be accepted by them, it might be best to just walk away. Try not to fall for these traps because, as 1 Corinthians 15:33 states, "Do not be misled:'Bad company corrupts good character." The longer you remain in the company of these individuals, the more you will turn into them if you are not discerning, for we all try to emulate our friends or supposed friends. In the end, be sure to pray to the Lord to seek His wisdom and guidance in all situations in order to protect your heart and determine what people should be a part of your life.

Shine Brilliantly

I am not sure who wrote the following article, other than it being a woman from Sullivan County, NY. It was in the local newspaper and my mother was kind enough to pass it along to me in the mail.

"I have read that the most precious and expensive jewels are displayed against a backdrop of black material so that when light shines upon them they appear to shine most brilliantly. They are best showcased in darkness.
Many times we may feel plunged into darkness as we experience the trials and tribulations, the sorrows and suffering and pain of life. I'm sure that's how Job must have felt. He was a very wealthy man who was God-fearing, upright and blameless. He suddenly lost everything he had - his ten children, his numerous herds, and finally his health. His wealth was reduced to nothing, and as he sat in the ash heap nursing his wounds, the darkness was closing in.
But Job knew God would never forsake him, and he continued to talk to Him about what was happening. He says in Job 23:17, 'Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.'
He came to the conclusion that, 'when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.' (Job 23:10).
When precious jewels are displayed in darkness, a light shines above them, causing them to shine and sparkle more brightly. When we find ourselves enveloped in darkness, we must keep our focus on the Lord, our source of light. If we look away, all will remain dark. But as we look to the light, we shine more brightly as God's light is reflected in us.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts...we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:6-9).
The darkness that God allows in our lives to showcase us in not an evil that will ultimately destroy us, but a darkness in which we may draw attention to the light within and let God shine through us. When the darkness has finished its work, we will come forth as gold. If we do not fight against the darkness, but learn from it and let God work in and through us, it will be removed when it has completed its purpose.
Job remained faithful to the Lord during this time of great darkness, even defending God to others. When the time was complete, Job had a better understanding of who God was and God removed the darkness.
All was restored to Job, and even multiplied. He had ten more children, and his herds and wealth were doubled. 'The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first' (Job 42:12). Never give up on God, no matter how dark things look. He is faithful to see us through."

Perspective to be Grateful

In this era of the Occupy Wall Street campaign, I feel that many people have lost perspective on what they do have. Instead, they tend to focus on what they don't have and then decide to use the world as their sounding board. They forget to listen to the words found in Philippians 4:6, which says, "Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Whatever happened to enjoying the little things in life? Why must we constantly belittle people with our rants that are self-focused? When did you need the best of everything in order to be happy? Our happiness should be within us because we have the Holy Spirit, not found in some material object or in having the most friends. Popularity never works and tends to backfire. As Aristotle once said, "A friend to all is a friend to none."
So instead of dwelling on what you don't have, focus on what you do have. I am thankful for loving parents, my generous brother, a great friendship with my roommate, the cutest kitty ever, an apartment to live in, a car to drive, electronic devices to help me communicate in this digital age, food to eat, clean water for a shower, clothing to wear, the ability to read, my health, blankets to keep me warm, the opportunity to gain a Masters degree in exercise science, the ability to exercise, etc. I'm sure I could go on and on, but then this blog post would turn into a novel. So I challenge you to make note of the blessings in your life instead of the shortcomings and either right them down on a piece of paper for yourself, or feel free to live a list in the comments of this post. I guarantee you will be able to come up with more to be thankful for than things to complain about.

Overlooking an Offense

"A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel." ~Proverbs 18:19
"A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense." ~Proverbs 19:11

It is a natural part of life to endure disputes with your fellow man. It's what happens within society, more so than not, these days. I'm sure many of you have realized, either with close friends or family, that once somebody gets offended, it takes quite a bit of time to overlook such an incident, much like the one in the first above proverb. Man can turn into an unyielding fortress if he gets attacked in a manner that goes against his viewpoints or beliefs. The important lesson in the situation, though, is to not remain stone-cold, but to be patient and try to overlook an offense, like in the second proverb found above.

It is in our best interests to try and soften our hearts in order to get past an offense, great or small. You might ask, "Why?" and the answer is to bring glory to God. By overlooking an offense, it does not necessarily mean that you were wrong in the situation, or that how you were treated was right. It just puts you on the path towards forgiveness so that you can walk in a more Christ-like fashion. For many, this is hard because our sinful human nature always yearns for revenge. Many times we just want the other person to suffer the same pain and anguish that we felt, but that's not how we are meant to function. Instead, listen to the words found in Romans 12:17-21, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." A similar version can be found within 1 Peter 3:8-9, which states, "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." Not only are we called to overlook an offense. We are also called to heap blessings onto the people who have wronged us. Again, this goes against our very human nature and the sinful thoughts in our mind. Too often we feel that kind gestures should only be reserved for those times when friends have been kind to us, not when they have sinned against us. The knee-jerk reaction we lean towards involves anger and revenge, but Ephesians 4:26 proclaims, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." The problem with getting angry is that anger festers and only makes problems worse. The best solution is to pray and demonstrate your true colors, utilizing the stalwart character that God blessed you with, by deciding to be compassionate and blessing those who have caused you pain. This essentially helps you live out the words found within Luke 6:27-28: “'But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.'"
In my experience, emotional and verbal wounds take the most time to heal. Many seem to forget that words, whether spoken or written, can pack a punch. Other times, words morph into empty promises and hang limp like dead leaves on a tree limb because they aren't coupled with actions, or they lack follow-through. Too many times our own words get thrown back in our faces and used against us. It is times like these that are hardest for me to remember to be compassionate and loving, especially because I feel like my heart has been seared with a cattle prod. All I really want to do is rant and rave and let others know the pain I've had to endure. Deep down, I know that this won't solve anything. I know that the best solution is to try and move past the hurt in an attempt to make amends and salvage the relationship I have with the person who hurt me. But the key to overlooking an offense and putting an incident in the past is to make sure it stays there. Digging up old wounds defeats the original purpose of overlooking the offense. Proverbs 17:9 states, "Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." In order to avoid separating close friends, bury your old wounds and throw away the key.
While reading my book Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills yesterday, I came across the following quote: "Love involves sacrifice." This of course got me thinking about the word "love" and the scant few people I claim to care enough about to use this word to express how much I care about them. It made me question whether I have sacrificed anything for them, and vice versa. I think it made me realize that without the sacrifice, great or small, the word "love" should not be used. Now sacrifice does not mean some monumental task, like Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross to demonstrate His immense love for us. Instead, it is that moment where you analyze a situation and decide to do what is best for the other person involved, even if it is not what you want in your heart, and even if it causes great anguish in your heart and mind. In my mind, that is the demonstration of true love. It also embodies the message of this post about why it is best to overlook an offense: In order to demonstrate your love for the other person. All the more reason to take to heart this following verse:

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." ~Ephesians 4:32

Discovering Your Divine Purpose

Life is uncertain. Walt Whitman said, "The future is no more uncertain than the present." This is a unique way of thinking because plenty of people assume they have a grasp on their present circumstances, leaving only the future as an unknown entity. Unbeknownst to most, though, is that many are typically on a constant search for their life's meaning. Instead of getting in a panic and relying on your own devices, you need to relax, pray, and turn to God's Word in order to discover what you are supposed to do with your life.
Skeptics often doubt that there is a reason for them on this earth, but this is just not true. All one has to do is open the Bible to Ephesians 2:10 to discover, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This is all the proof anybody needs to know that God has a specific plan for their life; the problem is discovering that divine purpose. Too many rely on their own knowledge to search for their purpose and place in life. They know God puts them in certain situations or in the path of certain people for a reason, but instead of praying to God to become enlightened about that reason, our human nature formulates assumptions that our brain accepts as fact. This creates a roadblock on the way to discovering what God really means to do with your life because you refuse to move forward and accept your true role in His plan. Instead, most are content with the plan fabricated within their minds. I will admit I have fallen victim to my own mind's deceit. I have felt like I was placed in a situation or in close proximity to certain people for a reason, but instead of relinquishing that role when it had run its course, I held onto it, refusing to let it go because my mind convinced my heart that I was meant to remain on that path as opposed to discovering something bigger and better in life.
There is a song by Rob Thomas called "Someday," which really outlines this issue, I feel. The following is an excerpt from that song: "Cause maybe someday, we'll figure all this out. We'll put an end to all our doubt. Try to find a way to just feel better now and maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud. We'll be better off somehow, someday. Cause sometimes we don't really notice just how good it can get. So maybe we should start all over, start all over again." As these lyrics state, the hardest part is always knowing when to start over. Too many times we get caught up in our circumstances and refuse to accept the fact that we are no longer needed in a situation or by people, which leads to pain, depression, and heartache. God knows that following His path for your life isn't easy, which is why he makes clear statements to us in His Word about what we are supposed to do. Isaiah 43:18 calls for us to, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." Then within Philippians 3:13, Paul says, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." God makes it pretty clear that the only way to truly discover, what Craig Groeschel has termed, our divine purpose, requires us to forget our past and focus on His plan for our future.
Now that you are all slowly digesting this very difficult concept, some might still be wondering how exactly to unleash the knowledge behind your divine purpose. The answer again can be found within your Bible, but this time in Matthew 7:7-8. This states, "'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks find; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.'" Everybody needs to stop relying on their own insight and assumptions about their purpose and role in life and instead turn to God, relinquishing control, and fervently praying for answers. They may not come overnight, but if you continually seek God's guidance, He will answer when you are in the proper situation. Never forget the words of the author, Craig Groeschel, who stated in his book Weird, "He put us here to make an eternal difference."

Resist the Urge to Please People

"To follow me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your desire to please other people."
"Find freedom through seeking to please Me above all else. You can only have one Master. When you let others' expectations drive you, you scatter your energy to the winds." -Sarah Young from Jesus Calling

Capitalism is what drives American society in this day and age, and unfortunately, this mentality is how we approach many relationships in life. We go around wondering what people can do for us instead of what we can do for them. Or we end up trying to keep people happy because we feel that is the only way to maintain our friendships. Let me tell you now that this way of thinking is dead wrong. Life should not be lived based on other people's opinions, nor should we go about trying to use people for our own gain.
I'm going to be completely honest with you here. I have spent the majority of my life trying to be a people-pleaser, but to no avail. In the recent months, though, I have come to the conclusion that I would much rather have few friends who truly like me for me, than to have a boatload of friends who only like me for who I am related to or associated with. I am well aware of the fact that I have numerous acquaintances who have been friendly towards me only for these reasons or tried to achieve personal gain from their association with me. I'm not stupid, but in certain instances, I allowed it since it gave me an avenue to discuss Jesus with them. But I have also been brave and stepped out of situations where I did not feel welcomed for being who I am. I have left churches, not just because I felt it wasn't completely Bible centered teaching, but also because people who had known me for awhile still called me by someone else's name or asked me more about how my friends and family were than how I was.
The clearest slap in the face that God gave me, though, was on my current trip to Germany. In order to convey that I liked dinner, I ate 3.5 pieces of pork and had two heaping servings of potatoes and green beans. But, alas, my Oma still wasn't convinced that I liked her cooking and all I was left with was an extremely full stomach.
That was the point I was determined to change. Instead of putting so much energy into being people focused, I was bound and determined to become more Jesus focused. I am currently reading Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman, which is all about how many people are fans of Jesus, but not true followers. They like what He stands for, but they are not willing to make Him number one in their hearts and put complete trust in Jesus. Instead, they still play by their own rules, making constant justifications to the decisions they have made in life. Instead of listening to the words in Luke 9:23 where Jesus commands, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow." Unfortunately, many are determined to not let Jesus change their lives in such a radical fashion. They prefer their earthly comforts because they don't know any better and don't know how else to find joy. But Jesus is the only path to true joy, so we must choose to follow Him wholeheartedly. It won't be easy at first, but with practice, it will be second nature.
I know that I am at a crossroads in life being as I just finished school and I have no job lined up. My human nature tells me I have to search for a new role to fill in order to accomplish something in life. The two problems with this way of thinking is that it completely eliminates God's plan for me, which is why I have found Galatians 3:3 and 1 Corinthians 7:20 to be so useful and important. These verses state, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" and "Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him." In essence, I should not insult God by trying to find my place in life, nor should I radically change who I am or where I am unless it is in His will. I cannot see into the future and where I will end up in life. I must, instead, trust in God wholeheartedly that I am where I am supposed to be and that He will guide me into my proper situation when He feels I am ready. I will ask in prayer what His plans are, but I refuse to jump the gun without truly believing it is what He wants and not what I want.
I think this is truly the purpose behind my trip to Europe: to reestablish my relationship with Jesus. I had always thought that it would be to get closer to members of my family, but that was not the case and I am grateful I have come to the realization of God's plan so that I would not remain frustrated over the fact that my plan was not to be. I have finally accepted that things are the way they are and that has allowed me to release pent up resentment in my heart. I finally feel content in life and have no desire to try and make excess efforts to have more than a superficial relationship with certain people. A line from Not a Fan says it best: "One of the basic truths about love is that is can't be forced." This is something I have always known and been aware of, but it is helpful to have the reminder. Instead of being bitter over the friends I have lost, I have become ever more grateful for those who have chosen to remain by my side in the good times and the bad.
So from here on out, I plan on trying to follow Jesus with all of my heart and to not force situations or relationships that He does not desire me to have. He has placed certain people in my life to help me along my journey and it is up to Him how long they remain there. It might be an hour. day, week, month, year, or a lifetime. I will never know, but I will no longer try so hard to please people in a weak attempt to get them to like me. If they don't like me for who I am, then that is their choice and I would much prefer being able to count my true friends on one hand than have a fake posse.