A Radiant Face

Encouraging Words

2012-02-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

We hold the power of life and death in our tongues. Therefore, we are responsible to speak life to others rather than tear them down with useless words.

I am so thankful for the reminder my pastor gave in church yesterday to speak encouragingly. Too often people justify the use of obscene language because it's cool, sarcastic humor because we don't really mean it, and foolish talk because we don't feel like making the effort to really talk about something important.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

The best way to build others up is to give thanks.

"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4)

When we express our thankfulness to God and others for how they have blessed our lives, we bless them. It is encouraging, and it builds a bridge of love. It binds our hearts together. Let us encourage each other with thanksgiving.

Practice

2012-02-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Snowstorm in the Light

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law,the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:22-25)

God wants me to practice what I preach. I wrote the post, "Walls and Waters", a week or so ago, about choosing whether to stare at the wall ahead of me and complain about disappointments in life or enjoy the life-giving stream beside me. After writing this, God gave me many opportunities to do just that.

I wanted to whine so many times about how I can't afford to study abroad, travel, or buy new clothes whenever I want. I wanted to cry at how pitiful my lecture in the communication class I'm the teaching assistant in was. I wanted to smash something whenever I thought about how far I have to go with wedding plans and job applications.

But these are minor things, passing situations that don't have bearing on my identity in Christ, my eternity in God's presence, or my joy in His love. I didn't do a very good job practicing what I preached in "Walls and Waters", but things are getting better. I have to regularly lay my requests at His feet and submit my will to His. Only when I do will I find real joy and hope in spite of disappointment.

What We Deserve and What We Need

2012-02-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light." (Psalm 36:7-9)

Ever feel like you deserve a vacation? I do. Seriously, I put in 60+ hours between work and school every week, and I haven't been on a real vacation (as in, outside of my own house) in years. Sometimes I just want to retreat to Montana or tour Europe, or at least cross the border into Canada.

In the U.S. (and I'm sure in many other countries), we're fed a mentality of deserving. We deserve a vacation. We deserve a gorgeous house, designer clothes, eating out every week. The problem is, this mentality is wrong. None of those things are wrong, but the idea that we deserve them is contrary to Scripture. And Christians buy into this confusion of wants and needs.

If we deserved anything, Christ wouldn't have had to suffer and die on our behalf. We would have just deserved God's mercy. But we didn't, so He sacrificed Himself to meet our need. Because of this, everything we have we owe to God. Nothing we have comes from our own doing; God is the giver of every good gift.

When we get weary with the demands of life, when we just want a vacation, we need to realize we don't deserve it. That doesn't mean we shouldn't ever take one or that when we do we have to feel guilty. It does mean we need to give all the glory and praise to God for His extra blessings. All we need is Christ, and we are nothing without Him. For God to give us even more is extra.

No matter what earthly blessings we have or have not, our eternal blessings are rich indeed. We feast on the abundance of His house. We drink from the river of His delights. These are good and perfect gifts, and they sustain the children of God. Let us revel in the fountain of life and take joy in His goodness.

Bigger

2012-01-31T04:44:00.000-08:00

The other day I was blessed with a new perspective on this Psalm. It gives a wonderful description of God's power and majesty, but it also shows us how we are to respond.

Psalm 29
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

May the LORD give strength to his people!

May the LORD bless his people with peace!

What we should do for God: Praise the Lord with all our might because He is worthy!

Why He deserves this: He is mighty! His voice controls the universe, and He has power over all things.

What this means for us: He can give us strength and peace! We must trust Him to do so. If He is powerful enough to control the waters, animals, and all of creation, He can bless our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

God is bigger than we can imagine, and He is mighty to save!

...even in a snowstorm!

Walls and Waters

2012-01-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

We don't always get what we want. Sometimes it seems like there is an impenetrable wall between us and our desires. This is discouraging, but we have a choice.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." (Psalm 23:4a)

There's no denying that barriers like these are disappointing, sometimes devastating to our lives. Yet, we can say, "even though such and such is happening" or "even though nothing seems to be going my way" or "even though I can't have what I want most"...

"...I will fear no evil..." (Psalm 23:4b)

We can choose to not fear the future, to not fear the outcomes of what has happened in the past, to not live with a mindset of disappointment. We can shift our focus from the wall ahead of us to the calming river of life beside us.

"...for you are with me..." (Psalm 23:4c)

The reason we have the option to choose between negativity and true joy is because God is with us. When Jesus came in human form, He fulfilled the promise of Emmanuel--God with us. Even though He has ascended to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit dwells within those who place their trust in Him.

Christians have the amazing privilege of unlimited access to Almighty God. We can choose joy and hope because He is with us. Praise the Lord!

About Nothing

2012-01-21T06:08:00.000-08:00

This post is about nothing because there is nothing. No, I'm not a postmodern, but there really is nothing. Everything is ultimately on God's shoulders. That means there is nothing left for us to bear. Or be anxious about.

"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

I just listened to a sermon by John Piper (http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/dont-eat-the-bread-of-anxious-toil). In it, he said something that really turned the light bulb on for me. I've heard a multitude of sermons and read a host of books and devotionals about the subject of not being anxious, and they have all been great reminders in some way. But what really struck in this sermon me is the idea that God is responsible for how things turn out.

"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1a)

It's not that we aren't responsible for what we do; we are, and very much so. We will reap what we sow. The truth is, however, that no matter how hard we work to make things go well, how much we prepare, how much we study or think or pray or practice, the end result is still in the Lord's hands. He is the one who changes hearts, who decides outcomes.

If I go in for a hundred job interviews in the coming months, and am still without a job when I graduate, the outcome is not on my shoulders. If I practice a hundred times for my vocal jury at the end of the semester and mess up horribly when I go to perform, I am not responsible. If I pray and weep thousands of times over the lost souls among my extended family, yet they never come to a saving knowledge of Christ, that is not on my plate. God is responsible.

I will keep interviewing, keep practicing, and keep crying out to the Lord. This honors Him. Yet I will not be anxious about the future because it is on God's shoulders. He will decide whether I find a job and where I find one, He will decide whether I give a stellar performance at jury, and He will decide whether my family members' hearts are softened to Him.

There is nothing I need to be anxious about, especially because I have such a good God!

The Responsibility of Friendship

2012-01-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

Mallard duck friends in the creek by my house.

Does anybody else want to be a good friend? And not just be a good friend, but be thought of as one as well? It's too hard.

For one thing, I have to be trustworthy. If friends are going to be open with me about their lives, they have to feel like they can trust me with what they say.

Next, I have to actually spend time with them to develop our relationship. This requires scheduling somewhat frequent dates and get-togethers. Some should probably be spontaneous.

Finally, I have to be open about myself. I have always had a hard time sharing deep things about myself with most people. I just don't feel comfortable opening up that much. Partly, I'm afraid people will think I'm boring, meaning I'm thinking too much about myself. Rather ironic, isn't it?

Remember how I said being a good friend is too hard? It is, unless one has a good role model to follow. Jesus modeled these things for me, so I know I can do it.

Jesus was ultimately trustworthy. Being all-knowing, He was certainly aware of His disciples' shortcomings and backgrounds, yet He didn't gossip.

Jesus spent a lot of time with His disciples. Aside from His retreats to be in His Father's presence, He was with the twelve disciples 24/7.

Jesus did reveal many things about His mission and His nature to His disciples. This helped them feel closer and clued in to what was going on.

Even though it seems out of reach, I'm not giving up. This is one of my heart's desires, and I know it is a godly one.

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

Satisfying

2012-01-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

"Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
from men by your hand, O LORD,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."

~ Psalm 17:13-15

Rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous, and calamity certainly comes to both. Sometimes it seems like we get more than our fair share of disappointments when we're trying to follow God, though.

I don't think there is such a thing as a "fair share" of anything. God is the ultimate judge of what blessings we receive and what sufferings He allows to come our way. It doesn't seem fair, but I don't seem to recall God ever promising to be fair. He did promise to be just and good, and His ways are higher than our ways.

Still, it's hard to grin and bear it when life just seems lifeless. It may be boring because we haven't seen the fulfillment of our dreams, or it may be nearly unbearable because of some physical ailment, spiritual battle, or emotional turmoil.

In the midst of these times, God promises satisfaction. Not just happiness, ease, or freedom from pain and mundane reality, but real satisfaction. "When I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."

For those who put their trust in Him, there is a great fulfillment to dreams, a great satisfaction, a great joy awaiting us when we awake from this slumber on earth. We shall be satisfied with the glory of God's face. That doesn't mean life on earth is easy or that we will always be perfectly content waiting for heaven, but it does mean there is something to look forward to.

I encourage you to seek God's face and dwell in His presence. Don't pine away, dwelling on that which you have not and cannot have, no matter how big and important it seems. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) Because someday, we will see His face, and He will wipe away every tear from ours.

A Different Year

2012-01-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is the year the world is supposed to end, but that's not what makes it different. This year I graduate from college. And get married.

But that isn't what I'm focusing on right now. I am simply contrasting this year with last year in that I will have actually posted something on my blog.

I apologize if you thought I was going to write something epic or life-changing in this post.

Happy New Year!

Peace

2010-09-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am listening to God

I am silent

I breathe

I wait

Here is peace

Nothing Else

2010-08-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I’m Your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
‘Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You’re all I want
You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want
Help me know You are near

~ “Draw Me Close” by Kelly Carpenter

This evening I spent a good 45 minutes at the piano, playing and singing some of my favorite worship songs. The common theme among them was that of Christ’s centrality and necessity in my life. It seems like when I take extra time to praise God through music, I have something specific on my heart that I want to thank Him for or ask Him about, or a truth I’ve been struggling with that I need to confess. This time the truth was that I take my Savior for granted. It is much too rare of an occasion that I am so moved by the power of His love that I burst out in worship like tonight.

It is true that I cannot live without Him. It is true that I am nothing without Him. It is true that I am lonely, lost, miserable, and dead in my selfishness and sins without Him. How can I take such amazing love as He offers me for granted? I have put other people and things in my life before Him far too often. It is such a struggle to truly put Him first in my heart when I cannot see or hear or touch Him, but singing these songs tonight, which are based on truths found in Scripture, reminded me that He is near. The last line of “Draw Me Close” says, “Help me know You are near.” The author of the song knows unbelief. She herself must have struggled to know He was near in times of loneliness and trouble. Thus she asks Him to give her the grace to know He is there with her.

Right now I am struggling to know He is near. I’m working through some big decisions and major changes in my life, and I am seeking His guidance, but it feels like He is far away. In my mind I know He is near, that He is leading me down the straight path He has set out for me. But in my heart I doubt Him. I’m struggling to seek Him first, to lay down my own wants and desires for His wonderful plan because I can’t see Him or hear Him or touch Him right now.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

Sometime

2010-08-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Sometime, when all life's lessons have been learned,
And sun and stars forevermore have set,
The things which our weak judgments here have spurned,
The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet,
Will flash before us out of life's dark night,
As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;
And we shall see how all God's plans are right,
And how what seemed reproof was love most true.

Then be content poor heart;
God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold;
we must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,--
Time will reveal the chalices of gold.
And if, through patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,
When we shall clearly see and understand,
I think that we will say, "God knew the best!"

~ May Riley Smith

An "Innocent" Danger

2010-07-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I have not read any of the books or watched any of the movies in the Twilight series, although I have read several reviews of the movies and books and watched the trailers for each of the films. If you think I am ignorant because of this, please don’t read any further.

I first heard about the Twilight series when some coworkers at the ice cream shop I worked at a couple summers ago discussed the books. One of them said she loved it because it was wholesome, her definition of wholesome being that the main characters, Edward and Bella, did not have premarital sex. That’s great! I’ve heard the same praise for Twilight from other sources.

However, lack of premarital sex does not a wholesome story make. Passionate, intimate romance between two young people before marriage, whether it involves actual sexual intercourse or not, is jumping the gun. This content in media sends the message that it’s okay to test the boundaries, to push the limits. That is an unhealthy attitude. Instead of wondering how close to the line they can get, Christian young people should ask how close to God’s pure and holy way of life they can get.

In addition to portraying an unholy, flawed view of premarital romance, Twilight’s theme of human-creature romance is sickening. I have a similar distaste for the fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. I wonder sometimes why it is okay for Belle to fall in love with a hairy monster, even though he’s really just a human under a spell. This takes place in a fantasy world of course, but if we saw a human kissing all over and acting romantically toward an animal or anything other than a human in our world (which is the real world—REAL LIFE), I hope we would all be extremely disturbed and concerned for that person.

Sure enough, Edward (the vampire) and Jacob (the werewolf) look like normal human beings during the day, but they are not human. Why then, do we think it’s okay that Bella has romantic feelings toward them? Because it’s fantasy, right? Because it doesn’t take place in the real world. Hmmm… When I watched the trailer for Twilight, I noticed how “real” this fantasy world looks. It looks just like the world I see around me when I walk outside each day—plus the vampires, of course.

Readers may wonder whether there is any difference between the fantasy in Twilight and the fantasy in Lord of the Rings. I personally believe there is a significant difference. Whereas in the Lord of the Rings, everything and everyone is set in an obviously “unreal” world, Twilight is set in a world that appears like it could be real. The real and unreal are mixed, which can easily lead to confusion for those who do not have the discernment to, well, discern between the two. I don’t actually know whether author Stephanie Meyer intended to set Twilight in the real world, but that is what it looks like.

Finally, the creatures in Twilight are often associated with the occult, which is evil—satanic. I hope every Christian agrees with me on that point. Although mythical creatures such as elves and wizards (which are also sometimes associated with the occult) are portrayed in Lord of the Rings, there is a clear difference between good and evil. Gandalf and Saruman are both wizards in Tolkien’s series, but it is made clear that Gandalf is a good wizard and Saruman is a bad wizard. This is magnified by the fact that everything in the Lord of the Rings is obviously fantasy and not mixed with things familiar to us in the real world. In Twilight, on the other hand, werewolves and vampires are mixed with real, live, regular humans in a real, live, regular world.

This is not a light matter. The media we choose to expose ourselves to have great power over our thoughts and emotions. My family has always been very selective in the movies we watch and books we read. Since I’ve become an adult, I’ve chosen on my own to abstain from watching many movies my peers find acceptable because I want to keep such images and ideas out of my mind. I am not trying to judge anyone who has already read the Twilight books or watched the movies, although I’m sure it sounds like it from the way I’m writing. I’ll try to work on that. What I am trying to do is ask you to consider the messages you take in through the media.

Please don’t just read a book or watch a movie because some friends—even Christian friends—say it’s good. Educate yourself about the content, pray about it, and search out what God has to say in His Word about it. Don’t fall prey to Satan’s attempts to seduce you. He is crafty, and he knows what makes us tick. Christ offers us abundant life in the radiance of His holiness, so we don’t have to grope about in the darkness. Keep running toward the light.

~ Faith

Please feel free to comment on this post. I want this to be a discussion, not a one-way sermon. If you find flaws in my reasoning here, please break it to me gently, but please do tell me. If you disagree, please say so and help me understand your viewpoint.

Note: Here is a link to an interesting article about vampire fascination in teens. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/twilight-movie-effect-teens-biting-vampire-fascination/story?id=11122324

Pruning Hurts...

2010-07-27T07:29:00.001-07:00

I love the book of John! It is probably my favorite of the Gospels because it is so rich with lessons on grace and love. It’s also the most challenging Gospel for me. On every page I find something that convicts me or challenges me to change how I think.

The other day I read the passage in Psalm 15 about “abiding in Christ.” I have heard numerous sermons and read many devotionals on this passage, but its message is always fresh and new. I never tire of reading these verses, partly because they are so convicting about how I do not strive to abide in Christ, but mostly because they are encouraging.

Let me explain.

Pruning hurts. Every person who is truly seeking to follow Christ has experienced this, I am sure. Whenever I am convicted of sin, whenever God brings to my attention an area of my life that needs to be transformed into the image of Christ, whenever I try to do what is good and true and lovely—that is when God is pruning me.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2)

God (the vinedresser) is pruning me because I am bearing fruit so that I can bear more fruit. The reason I am bearing fruit in the first place is not because I am such a wonderful person (trust me, I’m not!); it is because God has grafted me into the vine of Christ (Romans 11:17-24). So then, by God’s grace He has chosen me to be a part of this life-giving vine, and I have born fruit because I am connected to the life-source—Jesus Christ.

Life on the vine is hard because pruning must take place in order for the branches to grow to be healthy and fruitful. The process is never complete.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

As Christians, our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (at least, that’s how some church fathers put it). FOREVER. That is the key word. God’s glory and our joy is a never-ending pursuit. We cannot glorify God and enjoy Him without being pruned. We are incapable of pleasing Him if we are left to our devices, sprawling wildly in any direction our sinful little hearts desire.

It seems that God has been doing a lot of pruning to my branch lately. I have some open wounds from His shears that will take time to heal. Once they do, though, I know that my branch will be more fruitful and lovely than ever before. The reason these wounds can heal is because I remain attached to the life-source; I am abiding in Christ.

The healing process requires regularly dressing the wounds by coming back to the life-source. For me, this means poring over Scripture for encouragement and correction and talking to my Savior about His experience of humanity and brokenness and how He arose victorious from the battle. I am not alone during surgery, and His hand is always holding mine as I recover.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:9-10)

It is quite discouraging when I look at all the times God has taken pruning shears to my rebellious branch. I wonder if I will ever learn, if my branch will ever be trained into the lovely work of art God intends the vine (the Body of Christ) to be. When I am discouraged, I draw encouragement from the truth that He loves me and that He will carry me through these periods of pruning.

In the end, there is joy.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)

God doesn’t do things without reason. That is not like Him, and He never acts out of character (Psalm 33:4). The reason He keeps pruning me as I abide in Christ is so that His joy may be in me, and that my joy may be full. This is the best promise ever! How awesome is it that we are given such a guarantee? As we seek to obey Him, though we falter and He finds it necessary to prune us, we have this blessed reward waiting for us at the end of the journey! And although the joy will not be complete until we see His face, we find the fullest joy on earth by abiding in Him because He is the source of joy!

As God has pruned me throughout my walk with Him, and especially in these recent "surgeries," I have learned that joy is not found in doing what I want. What I want is only what the sinful nature in me desires: immediate satisfaction, momentary pleasure, temporary gratification. When God bends my branch back toward the vine, I see the things that bring true joy: sacrifice, true love, service, obedience, humility.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Abiding in Christ is a never-ending story of joy through selflessness. The goal of abiding in Christ is to bear fruit, to become like Him. The struggles along the way are all a part of dying to self (Galatians 2:20). The result is the fulfillment of every desire, the ultimate dream come true.

My dream is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In the meantime, pruning hurts.

A Listening Friend

2010-07-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

This morning during my devotions I was reflecting on how I’ve interacted with some friends and my family over the past few weeks. I read the passage in John about when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, and I was convicted about how I have not been a servant to the people I love. It’s easy enough to offer help with some task, to say, “I love you,” or to ask how I can pray for them, but it’s much more difficult for me to hold my tongue and listen.

Thinking about what qualities I appreciate in my friends, the primary thing that stuck out to me was that they are good listeners. Whenever I need to talk, whether it’s helpful to them to listen to me or not, they will give me their full attention. I feel loved and cared for that way.

I am not a good listener, however. As much as I want to be a good friend, I can’t really bless anyone deeply without putting aside my own desire to talk and be listened to. Instead of always wanting to be heard, I need to desire to hear. My friends need someone to hear their troubles and life stories, too.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

Although I took this passage slightly out of context, I believe it is still applicable to the matter of friendship. Good friends—godly friends—will display the qualities of love listed in these verses. If I want to be a good friend (which often leads to the blessing of having good friends in return), I will be patient; I will wait for God’s timing for the relationship to develop. I will not boast; I will display humility by placing them first. I will not insist on my own way; I will listen to them with an open heart and confront them if the Holy Spirit tells me to because they are not going down the path of life.

As a good friend, I will bear my friends’ burdens with them, and I will hope with them that God will restore life and health to their brokenness.

As the best friend, Jesus bore the burdens of the world on the cross, and He conquered sin and death to restore a right relationship with God for those who call on His name. There is no greater love than this.

My Favorite Hymns

2010-07-03T05:54:00.001-07:00

These are three of my top favorite hymns. I wanted to post them because I just love the words, and I think they're a great message for everyone to hear. After trying to find a common theme among them that makes them such treasures, I've decided it's because they all talk about giving one's heart to God, something I strive for (and fail at) everyday. I'm gonna keep trying...

Come, Thou Fount
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount--I'm fixed upon it--mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise mine Ebenezer--hither by Thy help I'm come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander--Lord, I feel it--prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart--O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Be Thou my shield and my sword for the fight
Be Thou my dignity, be Thou my might
Thou my soul's shelter and Thou my high tower
Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power

Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only be first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, when victory is won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all

Take My Life and Let It Be
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments and my days--let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee
Swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee
Filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold--not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose
Every power as Thou shalt choose

Take my will and make it Thin--it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart--it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love--my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself--and I will be ever, only, all for Thee
Ever, only, all for Thee

All in Vain

2010-06-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Integrity

2010-06-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Below I have copied the transcript of a speech I gave to my introductory speech class a couple years ago. We were supposed to present on a value that was important to us, and after some thought and discussion, I decided to talk about integrity. This was a message for me just as much as it was for my professor and classmates. It is just as applicable (and convicting) to me today as it was when I wrote it in September of 2008.

What would you think about seeing a bumper sticker that said, “If you can read this, you’re too close,” on the back of a car that was driven by the person responsible for a rear-end collision? What would you think of a girl who said she detested gossiping, but talked negatively about people with her friends? Or how about someone who swore to be faithful to a political office, but wasn’t faithful to his own wife? Today I’ll be talking to you about integrity, and more specifically, what it is and why it’s important to me.

So what is integrity? Well, according to Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Encyclopedic dictionary, integrity is honesty and uprightness of character. Wikipedia says that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

This brings me to my personal definition of integrity. That is: making sure that my actions, both in public and private, are consistent with my beliefs. Unfortunately, I haven’t always followed this principle. You know the girl I talked about who gossiped even though she said she detested gossiping? That’s me. I hate gossip, but I have caught myself speaking negatively about others in the past! In many cases I can identify with the Apostle Paul when he said in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” This was one area in my life where my actions were not consistent with my beliefs, but I have worked very hard to stop gossiping because integrity is important to me.

So now you know how I view integrity, but why do I think it’s important?

One of the reasons that I think integrity is so important is because I desire and even expect integrity from others. Everybody wants people to act with integrity towards them. The Universal Law of Attraction says that you attract people into your life that match what you believe and how you act. I think integrity is important because I want others to show it to me.

Another reason I want to practice integrity is for my conscience’s sake. Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who was put in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany during WWII, said, “Whoever doesn’t know it must learn and find by experience that a quiet conscience makes one strong.” I am strong when my conscience is not reminding me of how I have failed to show integrity in the past. Proverbs 10:9 says that, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

The biggest reason why I think integrity is so important is because unbelievers are watching me. I’m sure you’ve all heard things about how many unbelievers think that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites. I don’t want someone who knows I’m a Christian to label me as a hypocrite. There’s a Twila Paris song called Could You Believe. In the song, she’s talking to a skeptical person about Jesus and how good He is. She asks, “Could you believe if I really was like Him, if I lived all the words that I said, if it was clear that I held in my heart what I know in my head?”

Integrity to me is being honest and upright, making sure that my actions are consistent with my beliefs. Integrity is important to me because I expect it from others, because my conscience demands it of me, and because unbelievers are watching me. I believe that the more I, as a Christian, practice integrity in every area of my life, the more people will be attracted to the Gospel of Christ. And what an awesome thing that would be!

May we live with integrity!

Taking Care of Your Salvation

2010-06-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

Do you have a special childhood toy or something you own that you treasure more than anything else you have? This is probably something like an expensive or antique china doll, or the first car you bought with your own long-saved money, or an instrument you’ve played for many years. You take especially good care of it because it’s so precious to you, and you don’t want it to be ruined.

I had an American Girl doll—Kit Kittredge. I was so excited when I got her for Christmas one year. I literally jumped up and down when I opened the package she came in. From that day on I was so careful to take care of her hair and clothes. She came with a special brush just for her kind of hair, and I gently brushed through her hair each time I played with her. My American Girl doll was precious to me—a favorite toy. I didn’t want to abuse her or neglect her because she was so special.

It is much the same with salvation. God gave me a gift when I was about three years old. He showed me my sin (even at that young age) and the cross where Jesus paid my debt. He lavished His grace upon me, and I am not the same. Who knows what sort of mess I’d be in today had not God rescued me at the seemingly innocent age of three?

Because the gift He has given me is precious and beloved to me, I strive to “take care of it.”

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2:12-18, emphasis mine)

I believe what Paul means when he says, “work out your own salvation,” is that we are to live like we are saved. I don’t believe it is possible to receive the gift of salvation and not be changed—salvation at its very core implies a change in the sinner who humbly receives it. However, it seems that some Christians are taking care to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, to become more like Him, whereas others are simply attending church on Sunday and pulling out their Bibles a couple times a week. One set of Christians desires holiness, whereas the other set desires comfort.

Holiness isn’t comfortable. Holiness requires work. When I say work I do not mean that we are to earn our salvation; I don’t believe that at all. Salvation is a gift bestowed by and entirely dependent on the grace of God (Romans 3:21-31). Yet when we strive to become holy, we put forth effort. Through God’s strength, we lay aside all hindrances to run the race He has called us to. We desire to become shining lights in this dark world so that those who are dying in their sin, who think they have no hope, can see the beauty of God’s grace and how desirable salvation in Christ is.

Thus we, in a sense, “take care” of our salvation. We “work out” our salvation with fear and trembling. We strive for lives of holiness because we are so grateful and indebted to Christ for paying the tremendous debt of our sin in our stead.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder

2010-06-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've seen days melt into nights in circles of lights;

I've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flow'rs.

I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh

And a story form within.

Don't let me lose my wonder,

Don't let me lose my wonder.

I saw her broken dreams inside, but helping others fly;

I saw his eyes without a doubt, though other lights faded out.

And though her calling roared, such graciousness poured

From the vision of her soul.

Don't let me lose my wonder,

Don't let me lose my wonder.

A baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark;

I knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still.

I found my home in the light where wrong was made right

And You rose as the morning star.

Don't let me lose my wonder,

Don't let me lose my wonder.

~ Keith & Kristyn Getty

Tell Everyone You Know

2010-06-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

What if we all woke up every morning with this song on our lips?

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High... And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!"
(Psalm 9:1,2,10,11)

Perhaps we would testify to our friends, family, and neighbors about God's greatness more often. Perhaps more people would come to know the living, saving, loving God.

Shall we try it? Shall we be joyful and tell of his wonderful deeds?

A Waste of Time

2010-06-11T13:34:00.001-07:00

Time is viewed as a commodity in many cultures, the United States included. I get stressed out when I don’t have enough time (whereas some would if they don’t have enough money or food, etc…). I can spend time, use time, buy time, save time, and waste time.
No matter what culture you’re from, time is precious. Some may not be as uptight about every moment of every day (as I am and many others from similar cultures are), which is good, but everyone understands that we have only one life to live. We can choose to use it for the glory of God, or we can waste it.
Instead of wasting time doing things here and there of no significance, I want to spend more time with my family, reading God’s Word, praying, learning, and working. I also want to be at peace enough to notice the precious little things in God’s creation, like the unique characteristics of my dog,

or interesting times of the day,

or tiny flowers that are seemingly hidden from the bigger landscape.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)

My Favorite Passage of Scripture

2010-06-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

The other night I read straight through Colossians before bed. I pulled out my Bible to get a little encouragement and get my mind focused on God before falling asleep, and I turned to Colossians because I love that book. Then I couldn't put it down. There is so much food for thought. It is brimming with theology and instruction for living, whether that instruction is directly or indirectly stated in the passage.

One of the indirect instructions for living happens to be my favorite passage in the entire Bible (at this point in time, anyway). Writing about the preeminence of Christ, Paul says that even though Christ is ruler over all, he stooped to earth to save us. This is our great hope.

I have reprinted the passage below. There are so many implications for life in this passage: how we should submit to the almighty, ultimately important and precious God; how we should be thankful for His great sacrifice for us; how we should hold on to this hope steadfastly; and so much more. I pray that you will be blessed as you read it.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

~ Colossians 1:15-23

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

2010-06-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe--
His craft and pow'r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He--
Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And tho this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him--
His rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure:
One little Word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly pow'rs--no thanks to them--abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also--
The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still:
HIS KINGDOM IS FOREVER!

~ Martin Luther
Translation by Frederick H. Hedge

Meditating Day and Night

2010-06-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

I don't spend enough time in God's Word. Period. I'm making a special effort to get back into some good devotional habits this summer that I lost over the school year. I'm not going to blame it on school, either. There is no excuse for not putting God first. He is my life, and if I am not abiding in Him, I'm not getting the nourishment I need to thrive as His child.

Currently I'm reading "Desiring God" by John Piper. It is an incredibly insightful and challenging book, and I will most likely post a review of it once I'm through. Last night before bed I read a chapter about God's Word, which Piper calls the "kindling of Christian Hedonism." (I don't have time or brain power to explain Christian Hedonism at this point, but I promise you it is a good thing, so please bear with me.) The last part of the chapter included an excerpt from George Muller's autobiography. Muller was a missionary in the 19th century who founded orphanages in England and was known for his faith and dependence on God. In this excerpt he talks about how he realized that beginning his day in God's Word was essential.

I've had my "devotions" regularly every morning for as long as I can remember. And by "devotions" I mean reading a (usually short) passage out of The Bible and praying a little bit for my family, a little bit for my church, and a little bit for God to save some people I know and love. It's pitiful, but that's another point for another day. George Muller, though, wanted to meditate on God's Word day and night--and he did just that. He began to read a bit every morning as soon as he awoke and to pray over what God was teaching him through His Word.

I decided to try it.

I just started today, so I don't have any definitive results, but I know God honors those who seek Him. I pray that He will help me keep it up. My goal is to read some every morning when I first wake up and a little every night right before I turn out the lights. I believe this will help my mind be filled with God's thoughts, rather than the thoughts of the world that cloud my focus. If my focus is stayed on Him, it seems that I will be better able to overcome temptation to sin. My desire is to be holy as He is holy. I pray this will help me come closer to the goal.

"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" (Psalm 119:10)

Dreams Come True

2010-06-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

Guys, please bear with me for this illustration.

I have a tube of lip-gloss made by a company whose marketing tagline is, “Dreams Come True.” This motto is printed across the front of my lip-gloss tube, I suppose for the purpose of connecting my dream of shiny lips with the company’s claim of that dream’s fulfillment. So far, they have been right. I do get shiny lips from wearing the lip-gloss.

I believe the company’s interpretation of the phrase, “Dream come true,” is an entirely positive one. They’re thinking of daydreams, the aspirations of young girls (and women) who desire to be beautiful. They don’t want to link their product with the bad dreams people have because, quite honestly, that would be poor marketing.

But we all have bad dreams. Sometimes they take the form of nightmares; sometimes they’re just our daily ponderings of, “What if…” We fill in the blank with all manner of horrible possibilities. This is anxiety, and if a person is not on the right track, this dream will come true as well.

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)

The fear of God is healthy. It keeps us wary of sin. If you do not fear God, I beg you to consider this. Bad dreams—dreams of hell and loneliness and darkness—do come true.

But God has not left us without a way of escape from this punishment we all deserve.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died: and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:13-15)

If we put our faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sin, we are free from the stuff of bad dreams. We are free to live out our good dreams—the dreams the lip-gloss company was talking about, yes, but even better dreams:

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5)

Dreams come true, and this is the dream I believe will come true with all my heart. It is the dream I place my faith in, and the dream that I live by. I pray that this dream will come true for you.

There is a higher throne than all this world has known
Where faithful ones from every tongue will one day come
Before the Son we’ll stand, made faultless through the Lamb
Believing hearts find promised grace; Salvation comes
Hear heaven’s voices sing; their thunderous anthem rings
Through emerald courts and sapphire skies; their praises rise
All glory, wisdom, power, strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, Who reigns on high forevermore
And there we’ll find our home; our life before the throne
We’ll honor Him in perfect song where we belong
He’ll wipe each tear-stained eye as thirst and hunger die
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King; we’ll reign with Him
Hear heaven’s voices sing; their thunderous anthem rings
Through emerald courts and sapphire skies; their praises rise
All glory, wisdom, power, strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, Who reigns on high forevermore
~ Keith & Kristyn Getty

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28)

What Makes a Great Friend?

2010-05-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a bad friend, a fair-weather friend, a fun friend, a casual friend, and a good friend. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been a best friend or a great friend, though. There’s a big difference between a friend and an acquaintance, and so far I think I’ve figured out what it takes to bridge that gap. But I have yet to understand what makes a genuine, long-lasting, kindred-spirit kind of friendship.

And I want to be that kind of friend. I’ve been mulling over what sort of qualities I see in my Mom (who is my best friend at this point in my life), and I believe these are the sort of things I desire in any friendship to make it go from good to great:

· God—I can’t have a really close friend who isn’t a believer because Christ is the all-encompassing theme of my life. I am nothing and I do nothing apart from Him.

· Love—a true, real concern for my well-being that frames our relationship.

· Truth—the desire to tell me what is really going on, not just what I want to hear.

· Intelligence—someone who can talk about deep issues that pertain to life, not just movies, music, and clothes.

· Fun—we can laugh until we cry because we share a sense of humor.

What are some qualities you desire in a best friend?

Book Reviews No. 3

2010-05-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

If you have ever desired to do something for God—something great, something that uses your passions and gifts—you should absolutely read this book. Written by Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, “Me, Myself, and Bob” is the story of what God taught an introverted innovator about dreams, pride, and waiting on God that will make you laugh at just about every page. Vischer recounts his journey as a creative visionary from his beginnings with a Super8 home video camera to the height of his “success” with Big Idea, Inc., the company he started that launched VeggieTales. Regardless of your feelings about VeggieTales, this story of broken dreams and reliance on God will convict you, challenge you, and inspire you to remain in the center of God’s will, no matter where you are in life’s journey.

What does God hate?

2010-05-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

Life is Too Short to Not Look Back

2010-04-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

Don’t live for tomorrow. It’s a waste of time. Think about what you’re doing right now. How does this moment impact your life? How has your past influenced what is happening in your life now? How will the way you live today affect your future?

There are too many important things to do in life to worry about the future. And no, I’m not that smart. I just read the Bible. God tells me everything I need to know. He says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

It’s an entirely different matter to look at the past, though. To remind you of the oft-quoted proverb of George Santayana, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I know from experience that this is very true. We must look back on our lives to understand how we got here and where we’re going. It’s a healthy practice.

Looking back on my freshman year at Cornerstone, I see some major mistakes I made that I need to learn from and correct in preparation for next year. For one thing, Facebook (although I do not believe it is inherently evil) can somehow become very addicting and detract from both social and study time. I began the year without a Facebook account and moved to checking it maybe once every couple of weeks, but lately I’ve been checking it several times a day. This isn’t good. I resolve to look at Facebook only one day a week from here forward. It is an unnecessary and distracting toy, and it shall not get the best of me.

Another unhealthy habit I’ve developed is negativity. When I’m loaded with papers, projects, work, and extracurricular activities, I have a hard time looking on the bright side. I’ve lost my Pollyanna disposition. There is no good excuse for this. My God loves me enough to have died for me, to give me His Holy Spirit to comfort me and guide me through every situation in life and to speak to me through His Word. I have no reason to complain. Yes, I run short on time. Yes, there are stressful situations. But my Father in heaven knows what I need! My future is bright! I must live like I believe this, starting today.

The habit I’ve developed this school year that I regret the most is not spending enough time with the Lord. This is not to say there is a specific amount of time I need to spend with my Father in order to be righteous or do my duty. But I know when I haven’t been in His presence long enough because I get cranky, or I say things I shouldn’t, or I feel depressed. No amount of homework should get in the way of my relationship with my Savior. This is changing as I write this.

It isn’t helpful to look at the future and say, “This will change when…” We know we’ll just run into another wall to keep us from being faithful to God and to our professors, family and friends. But it is helpful—even crucial—to look back and examine what has gone wrong in our lives that we need to change. And the beautiful thing is, not everything in the past is bad. That is the other reason why remembering the past is so important. We can find encouragement and joy in the ways we’ve seen God’s hand in our lives—from something as seemingly insignificant as a fun birthday party to something as incredible as a changed life resulting from our faithfulness to God’s call.

Life is too short to not learn from the past. Your life matters. To borrow a wonderful motto from John Piper, “don’t waste your life.”

At the Cross

2010-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here are the lyrics to a song we sang at a worship night last night:

At the Cross
Hillsongs

Verse 1
Oh Lord You've searched me
You know my ways
Even when I fail You
I know You love me

Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season
I know You love me
I know You love me

Chorus
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?

Verse 2
You go before me
You shield my way
Your hand upholds me
I know You love me

Chorus
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?

Bridge
You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done
You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done

Verse 3
And when the earth fades
Falls from my eyes
You stand before me
I know You love me
I know You love me

Chorus
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?

Bridge
You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done
You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done

Beneath the Cross

2010-01-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Beneath the cross of Jesus I find a place to stand,
and wonder at such mercy that calls me as I am.
For hands that should discard me hold wounds which tell me come.
Beneath the cross of Jesus my unworthy soul is won.

Beneath the cross of Jesus, His family is my own.
Once strangers chasing selfish dreams; now, one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor the ones that You have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus, see the children called by God.

Beneath the cross of Jesus, the path before the crown,
We follow in His footsteps where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us to be His perfect bride.
Beneath the cross of Jesus, we will gladly live our lives.

~ Keith & Kristyn Getty

Jesus, My Treasure

2010-01-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Currently I am reading “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence and “Desiring God” by John Piper. The central theme of these books is finding our deepest desires fulfilled in God, longing for Him, and making Him our treasure. The more I read these books, and the more I read The Good Book, the more I see how caught up I am in the things of this world rather than in God’s glory and love.

Since I began reading Brother Lawrence’s book, I’ve tried to “practice the presence of God” by spending time with Him throughout the day, praying and talking to Him rather than letting my thoughts wander to whatever I want to think about at the moment. I’ve attempted this before. It isn’t easy. I’m not doing very well. But when I actually do focus my attention on God, I realize how satisfying He really is. He doesn’t disappoint; He doesn’t break His promises.

One of my unofficial New Year’s Resolutions is to practice God’s presence by spending more time in prayer. I’m trying to pray while I clean, while I eat, and as I fall asleep. I usually devote those times (most of my time, in fact) to thinking about the first thing that pops into my head or the thing I most want to think about. It will be a hard task to break myself of that habit.

Here are a few quotes from each of the books that I’ll leave you with:

“Because we have such a short time to live, we should spend our remaining time with God.” –Brother Lawrence

“The pursuit of joy in God is not optional.” –John Piper

“[Brother Lawrence] believed that God is much greater than any of the simple gifts He gives us. Rather than desiring them from Him, he chose to look beyond the gifts, hoping to learn more about God Himself.” –Brother Lawrence

“Would you want to go to heaven if God were not there, only His gifts?” –John Piper

“I conclude from this parable [Piper is speaking of the parable of the treasure hidden in a field in Matthew 13] that we must be deeply converted in order to enter the kingdom of heaven and that we are converted when Christ becomes for us a Treasure Chest of holy joy—a crucified and risen Savior who pardons all our sins, provides all our righteousness, and becomes in His own fellowship our greatest pleasure.” –John Piper

Farewell, 2009!

2009-12-31T05:54:00.000-08:00

Two thousand nine has been the most significant year of my life by far. The year I accepted Christ as my Savior was the most important, but I don’t remember it (I was only three), and this year I have experienced Christ in a deeper way than I have in years past.

Earlier this year I overcame some sin I had been struggling with for a long time. Victory is sweet, but sweeter still is my heightened sense of God’s presence in my life since that point. He has done great things for me! Holy is His Name!

This is also the year that I graduated from high school, chose the college I would attend, and began full-time classes at Cornerstone University. Although making that choice was filled with much anxiety and a lot of uncertainty, I know that God drew me closer to Him through the process. I was forced to lean on Him and trust Him for guidance because I knew I couldn’t make the right decision on my own.

I celebrated my eighteenth birthday this year as well. I can now vote, and I am so excited to exercise that right in the future. I have already participated somewhat in the American political discourse by calling representatives and voicing my opinion on a couple of key issues that have come up recently. It is a good feeling.

My grandpa died in the fall. My family knew he was frail, and he had been “dying” for several years, but it still came rather suddenly. My grandma was in Ireland when he died, and didn’t find out until she came home from her trip. It was quite a shock.

I had the privilege of speaking at his funeral. In my eulogy, I mentioned how he had given the opening prayer at my graduation ceremony and shared some of the verses he read from Psalm 139 that day. Afterward, several people told me how emotional they were during the funeral. They had been to many funerals, but none had made them feel the way this one did. I know it is because of the Holy Spirit. There is blessed assurance in knowing that my grandpa is in the arms of Jesus now, and there is great joy in knowing that God was working in the hearts of those who attended his funeral.

I grieve my grandpa’s death, but I know that the death of his body only freed his soul to experience life in the presence of God.

This year I have made many good friends, had many fun and trying experiences, learned many new things, and grown closer to my Savior and Best Friend.

I will always look back on 2009 as a wonderful year in my life, and I thank God for what He has done in me.

I pray His blessing over you as you cross over into the New Year. May you sense His presence and know His love. God bless you.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
(Psalm 34)

What Has Christ Done for You?

2009-12-30T06:43:00.000-08:00

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." (Colossians 2:13-15)

ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way

The sin that promised joy and life

Had led me to the grave

I had no hope that You would own

A rebel to Your will

And if You had not loved me first

I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race

Indifferent to the cost

You looked upon my helpless state

And led me to the cross

And I beheld God’s love displayed

You suffered in my place

You bore the wrath reserved for me

Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!

Hallelujah! Jesus is my Life!

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

Oh Father, use my ransomed life

In any way You choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!

Hallelujah! Jesus is my Life!

A Magnificent Season

2009-12-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

This is the most beautiful and encouraging sermon I have heard about God's calling on a person's life in a very long time.

Click here to listen to the 35-minute sermon.

Christmas Reflections

2009-12-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

At Christmastime we focus a lot on giving. We talk about how God gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son. We give each other Christmas presents. We talk about “giving of ourselves” and being self-less.

It’s nice to talk about giving. It makes us (or at least it makes me) feel a little bit more holy at the moment. Somehow “giving up” my time to help get things ready to have people over for dinner or “giving up” my money to buy someone a Christmas present makes me more like Christ. Certainly it does if I’m doing it with the right attitude.

The question is: Do I ever do it with the right attitude? Does any human ever do it with the right attitude?

Christmas is not, ultimately, about baby Jesus in a manger, with shepherds and angels and bright stars all around. Yes, it is a magnificent—and true—story, and that is how God chose to send His Son into the world, so we should not belittle it. But Christmas is really about what Jesus came to do. He was sent with a mission.

Jesus’ mission was to give. This is how He gave:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14)

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ …And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1,2,11)

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 4:23-25)

“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.”’” (Luke 4:5-8)

“And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mark 11:7-10)

“’O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’” (John 17: 25,26)

“While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’

“…Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house…

“…Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him…

“…Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.’

“…But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas’—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’

“…Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’”

(Luke 22:47,48,54,63; 23:1,2,18-21,32-35)

For some reason, Jesus did not save himself. Only a few verses later we read that Jesus died and was buried.

This gives new meaning to not only the idea of selflessness, but also the idea of giving. When I look at what Jesus gave, I know that I have never truly given of myself. No act of selflessness on my part, however great, compares to the God of the Universe, the King of all kings, becoming incarnate, being worshiped by wise men, raising the dead, being tempted by the devil, healing the sick, being betrayed by one of His closest followers, and being beaten by soldiers, mocked by His countrymen, and crucified with criminals. I have never come close.

Nor ever will.

But do not despair. For Jesus did not give up. He kept giving. He gave His life to give us life everlasting. And He lives! He conquered death, sin, and selfishness and rose victorious from the grave!

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus has given us a Great Commission to show our gratitude for His selflessness. Go, therefore, and give of yourselves by sharing this Good News! Jesus is with us! This is how we can give of ourselves, at Christmastime and always!

Mary, Did You Know?

2009-12-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mary did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water
Mary did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to the blind man
Mary did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hand
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
Oh Mary did you know

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation
Mary did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations
Did you know that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect Lamb
And the sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I AM

(Mark Lowry and Buddy Green)

"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have
ETERNAL LIFE."
- John 3:16

I am Here!

2009-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't posted on my blog in a dreadfully long time. The reason is that I am very busy with school, work, and other important aspects of my life. Although I hope to keep up A Radiant Face in the future, I simply do not have time for it at this point.

Truly yours,
Faith

Book Reviews No. 2

2009-08-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Don’t waste your life! God created you for a purpose – to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. One of the interesting observations John Piper makes in this book is that those two objectives should be one in the same. That is, while glorifying God we enjoy Him, and by enjoying Him we glorify Him.

God gave you special gifts and a unique personality to be used for His kingdom. They are best used when all your energy is directed to glorifying God. “The people that make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great thing,” Piper says.

The overwhelming theme of the book is that the people of God, having been bought with a very great price, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, ought to be willing and ready to give our lives for the Gospel. Our purpose is to make God look great. Piper writes of his desire for his readers: “…I pray for you, the reader, May the one thing that you cherish, the one thing that you rejoice in and exult over, be the cross of Jesus Christ.”

The Glory of You

2009-08-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

This year I’ve been blessed to have an abundance of beautiful flowers in my mini-garden behind the house. It’s so pleasant to walk outside and see the burst of color clustered there. Sometimes when I just sit and look at the flowers I think about this verse:

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)

Creation gives us a glimpse of God’s beauty, holiness, and majesty. If you’re able to, go outside and find a place where you can sit for a few minutes, just soaking in the beauty of God’s creation – even if it’s just one flower or leaf. Let yourself get carried away with the glory of God.

Fairest Lord Jesus! Ruler of all nature!
O Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
Now and forevermore be Thine!

- Munster Gesangbuch

Longing for Heaven

2009-07-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

How often do you think about heaven in a day? How often do you long to go there? I must admit that my thoughts are usually on earthly things rather than focused on what is to come. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and I believe that with all my heart.

I have been placing too much stock (laying up treasures) in this world. This is all I know. It’s quite often a fun, interesting, and enjoyable place. Why should I not let my mind dwell on the pleasures of this earth?

But my real treasure (your real treasure, too, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ) is in heaven. That is where the treasure of eternal life in the presence of God the Father dwells. That is where my heart should be.

I encourage you to start thinking with an eternal perspective. Don’t neglect the duties you have on earth or forgo all fun and pleasure that this world affords, but place your hopes, dreams, and ambitions in a place that will not disappoint you – heaven.

Now, you might have the idea that heaven will get boring after a couple hundred years of eternity or that you’ll miss your loved ones when you go and that sort of thing. I’ve had those same thoughts myself. But there is so much depth to God and His glory that it will take an eternity to just begin to understand how awesome and wonderful He is. And we will never run out of praises for our King. Our perception of what is fun will probably change once we are in God’s presence, too. Watching T.V. shows, reading books, and playing sports won’t have the same strong appeal as they do here on earth. The beauty of the Lamb That Was Slain will consume our thoughts and emotions.

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5)

The Gospel

2009-07-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Please stop the playlist at the bottom of the page so you can hear the video better.

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23) That means you and me - we have all sinned.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) God loves you and doesn't want you to spend eternity apart from Him. Because of our sin, breaking God's holy commandments, we deserve death and hell. But God provided the perfect sacrifice to make up for our sin - Jesus Christ.

"...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus if Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) The message of salvation is this simple. God didn't want it to be hard to understand because He wants everyone to be saved - including you. He loves you. Don't break His heart by rejecting Him. Don't choose to spend eternity in hell. Believe. Take that leap of faith necessary to believe in such a wonderful promise - everlasting life.

God bless you.

Friendships

2009-06-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been feeling a little lonely. I haven’t had a really close friend my age in a long time. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I think that best friends should only be in my age group; my Mom has been my best friend for the past few years. I am so thankful to God for her companionship. But I also think it’s important to have a good, close friendship with someone my own age, something like David and Jonathon in the Bible, or Anne and Diana in Anne of Green Gables: a real kindred spirit.

The other day when I was feeling especially down in the mully-grubs about this, I decided to take a day off my regular Bible reading schedule and just read something that would encourage me at that time. I opened my Bible, and the first page I came to started with Psalm 86. I can’t tell you how much that Psalm blessed me.

“Gladden the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” (v. 4)

“I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your steadfast love toward me; You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (v. 12,13)

“Show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” (v. 17)

I encourage all of you who feel let down about friendships to read the entire Psalm. It shows just how great of a Friend our God is. He will always be there, ready and willing to talk to us, love us, and bless us. Know that God is the Best Friend that you could ever have.

Book Reviews No. 1

2009-06-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here are two books on apologetics and epistemology I’ve read recently and enjoyed immensely. The first deals with the belief involved in knowing God, while the second deals with the scientific/tangible evidence for knowing God.

Longing to Know by Esther Lightcap Meek

Meek shows how knowing God is an active process. We come to know God by participating in “acts of knowing”. She refutes the postmodern idea that we can’t know anything about God, but also argues with the Modernist notion that we can know everything absolutely (scientifically). We are finite, situated, imperfect beings, and therefore we cannot know absolutely. The beautiful thing is that we can live by faith, not by sight. This is the relationship God desires with us.

Know Why You Believe by Paul Little

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in apologetics. Little gives a clear, comprehensive explanation of the evidence there is, not only for the existence of God, but also for the validity of the Christian faith in particular. This is a very interesting, convincing, and encouraging book.

The Disciple's Prayer of Love

2009-06-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

I bless You, O heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for having condescended to remember me, a poor creature. Thanks to You, O Father of mercies, God of all consolation, Who with Your comfort sometimes refresh me, who am not worthy of it. I bless You always and glorify You with Your only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, forever and ever.

Ah, Lord God, my holy Lover, when You come into my heart, all that is within me will rejoice. You are my glory and the exultation of my heart. You are my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation. But because my love is as yet weak and my virtue imperfect, I must be strengthened and comforted by You. Visit me often, therefore, and teach me Your holy discipline. Free me from evil passions and cleanse my heart of all disorderly affection so that, healed and purified within, I may be fit to love, strong to suffer, and firm to persevere.

Love is an excellent thing, a very great blessing, indeed. It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity. For it bears a burden without being weighted and renders sweet all that is bitter. The noble love of Jesus spurs to great deeds and excites longing for that which is more perfect. Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low. Love wishes to be free and estranged from all worldly affections, lest its inward sight be obstructed, lest it be entangled in any temporal interest and overcome by adversity.

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things.

One who is in love flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free, not bound. He gives all for all and possesses all in all, because he rests in the one sovereign Good, Who is above all things, and from Whom every good flows and proceeds. He does not look to the gift but turns himself above all gifts to the Giver.

Love often knows no limits but overflows all bounds. Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of troubles, attempts more than it is able, and does not plead impossibility, because it believes that it may and can do all things. For this reason, it is able to do all, performing and effecting much where he who does not love fails and falls.

Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but like a living flame, a burning torch, it forces its way upward and passes unharmed through every obstacle.

If a man loves, he will know the sound of this voice. For this warm affection of soul is a loud voice crying in the ears of God, and it says: "My God, my love, You are all mine and I am all Yours. Give me an increase of love, that I may learn to taste with the inward lips of my heart how sweet it is to love, how sweet to be dissolved in love and bathe in it. Let me be rapt in love. Let me rise above self in great fervor and wonder. Let me sing the hymn of love, and let me follow You, my Love, to the heights. Let my soul exhaust itself in praising You, rejoicing out of love. Let me love You more than myself, and let me not love myself except for Your sake. In You let me love all those who truly love You, as the law of love, which shines forth from You, commands."

Love is swift, sincere, kind, pleasant, and delightful. Love is strong, patient and faithful, prudent, long-suffering, and manly. Love is never self-seeking, for in whatever a person seeks himself there he falls from love. Love is circumspect, humble, and upright. It is neither soft nor light, nor intent upon vain things. It is sober and chaste, firm and quiet, guarded in all the senses. Love is subject and obedient to superiors. It is mean and contemptible in its own eyes, devoted and thankful to God; always trusting and hoping in Him even when He is distasteful to it, for there is no living in love without sorrow. He who is not ready to suffer all things and to stand resigned to the will of the Beloved is not worthy to be called a lover. A lover must embrace willingly all that is difficult and bitter for the sake of the Beloved, and he should not turn away from Him because of adversities.

- From The Imitation of Christ

He is Sufficient

2009-05-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Quite often I find myself daydreaming about things I wish I had, relationships I desire, and activities I wish I could be involved in. Now, probably all of these things are very good and honorable. However, being consumed with something that God has not given me at this time is covetousness.

I’ve been going through a Bible study about doing God’s will. Most of my time is spent looking for verses that talk about how much God wants to bless my life. Some of them show that even though hardships and trials may come to me, I must know that God loves me and desires the very best for me.

My favorite little passage from this study has been Psalm 36:7-9:
“How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.”

I have noticed something about these verses. Much of what is said here is about pleasure, delight, joy, and fulfillment. We take refuge in God. He is our security. We feast in His house and drink from the river of His delights. He satisfies our hunger and thirst with the best He has to offer. He is the fountain of life and light.

Many people think God is a harsh taskmaster, an unloving father, a cruel master. Certainly He punishes those who blatantly go against His will and disobey His commands. But for those who are His children, when they are longing for Him, He fulfills their every desire with His abundant love.

God is sufficient for every need, want, and desire we may have. He loves us. Trust in Him to give you abundant life.

God is Holy... and Gracious

2009-05-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

One day as I was driving to my philosophy class, I prayed out loud. I often pray out loud when I am alone. It helps keep my mind focused on God and I love being able to just pour out my heart to Him without the constraint of others nearby to hear me.

I started out praying for safety as I traveled, moved on to thanking Him for and asking Him to bless my family, and then I just got caught up with thanking Him for all my blessings. I have so many things to be thankful for; I know I can never thank God enough, or praise Him enough, or honor Him enough.

As I was thanking Him for my blessings, I came to my salvation. I don’t deserve eternal life. I didn’t somehow “deserve” to be chosen by God to be saved. I have absolutely nothing good on my track record, that is, nothing good that doesn’t come from Him. Anything good that’s in me is because of God’s grace in my life.

My prayer morphed into singing praises to this God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Thank You for the cross, Lord
Thank You for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame, in love You came
And gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank You for the nail-pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow, now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb, seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up, Jesus, Son of God
The Darling of heaven, crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
(Hillsongs Australia)

I started to cry while singing this song. The words are so powerful. They convey the amazing and undeserved love of God, my gratefulness for what Jesus did for me on the cross, and His holiness. As I sung praises to my King, I thought about the passage in Revelation where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb… And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…’ Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5, select verses)

This is the awesome Savior to whom I was singing that day! This is the Lamb who was crucified for my disobedience and sinfulness! This is the King who, though I was dead in my trespasses and sins, loved me and died for me! He is holy, yet He forgave me for Jesus’ sake! He is glorious, yet He knows my name! He is all-knowing and wise beyond compare, yet He listens to my prayers!

Sometimes I get so caught up in the wonder of it all that I lose myself. I forget everything else that has been on my mind for a moment and just revel in the beauty of Salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!

Hosanna!

2009-04-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

As we embark on Holy Week, keep these words in your mind:

“And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matthew 21:9)

God is Faithful

2009-03-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago (I’m sorry it has been so long) I posted about my journey of learning to trust in God. Not too long after I wrote that post, I got an answer to a few questions I had been asking God for a long time. For about a year and a half now, I have been pleading with God to tell me what He wants me to do about college and my future. These questions have been burning in my heart for quite some time now, so you can probably understand why I felt some anxiety. As my senior year draws to a close, I have felt more impatience and less reliance on God to show me the path of life.

In my searching for an answer to this question, the attributes of God is a topic that continually presents itself. One attribute that has especially caught my attention during this time is the faithfulness of God. If He is faithful, we can trust Him, right? Dwelling on God’s faithfulness has helped me time after time to rest in Him and trust in Him. I am so thankful for a God who is faithful!

The story that first comes to my mind when I think about God’s faithfulness is that of Abraham in the Old Testament. I’m sure most of you have heard the story. Abraham and his wife were very old, they had no children because Sarah was barren, yet God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants. “And He brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) Even under these seemingly impossible circumstances, God allowed Sarah to get pregnant. She gave birth to Isaac, whose wife later gave birth to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. So God was faithful to His promise, and out of this promise came our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It’s not like Abraham saw the fulfillment of God’s promise right away either. He was tired of waiting and trying to figure out how God could accomplish such a thing, so he took matters into his own hands. Ishmael, Isaac’s older half-brother, is a result of Abraham’s impatience. Trust in God; He will work all things out for the good of those who love Him. That doesn’t always mean He’ll do what we think is good for us, but it always means that He’ll do what He knows is for our best.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:3-7)

This is such an encouraging passage to me. It reminds me 1) That God wants me to trust Him, 2) That He is faithful to act on His promises, 3) That I might not always get an answer right away, but I will get one in God’s perfect timing, and 4) That waiting on God is so much better than trying to do things my own way without consulting Him for guidance. God wants to answer me. He loves it when His children come to Him in prayer.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
- Thomas O. Chisholm

Christ is the Answer

2009-03-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

I just read this devotional on Elizabeth Elliot's website, and I thought I'd share it with you:

"Christ is the Answer" has been a wall motto, and, more recently, a bumper sticker. Somebody added, in small print, "What was the question?"
In the final analysis, it does not matter what question we are asking. All questions come under one of three headings:
1. Way--we need guidance
2. Truth--we need a norm
3. Life--we need sustenance.
Jesus said, "I am" all of these things. Let us bring everything that baffles us into his presence, holding it up before Him by faith. In that Light, the look of things will slowly begin to change, and as we humble ourselves to receive the true answer, our eyes will be opened. We learn to know Christ, then, as we walk in his way, obey his truth, and live his life. He Himself, a living, loving Person, is our answer.

Just a note: I recently enabled comments on my blog, so if you ever want to share something that is lovely, pure, encouraging, and honorable, please do so.

Trusting...

2009-03-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am learning to trust in God. It’s not easy; I want to control my own life sometimes. It just seems like it would be easier that way. I know in my heart that God has a plan for my life, but it’s so hard to see when I’m blinded by my humanness.

Psalm 37 blessed me the other day during my devotional time. Here are some verses from that Psalm:

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”

“Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.”

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.”

Trusting Him is a very, very long learning process. It doesn’t help being an impatient person, either. But I’ve been seeing Him work, in His perfect timing, while I wait on Him. He has given me some answers. He knows just which ones I need and when I need them so much better than I do. I must learn to submit my will to His. He loves me perfectly, doesn’t He? After all, didn’t He die for me?

Let's Try This Again

2009-03-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, I’m sure I’ll get this right eventually…
Here are the rules for the blog awards:

Lemonade Blog Award: Pass on to ten people (I’ll get my other eight with time – I’m trying) who show good attitude and gratitude in their blogs.

Excellence in Blogcasting Award: Pass on to however many people you want who have great blogs!

From Anxiety to Thanksgiving

2009-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

I had the exciting opportunity to play my cello during the worship time for a chapel service at Cornerstone the other day. Normally I don’t attend chapels, partly because I’m not required to, but mostly because they’re early in the morning before my first class starts. Nevertheless, I was there for this service.

After playing through our songs, the worship team sat down, and the speaker, Dr. Crawford Loritts, commenced with his sermon. He began by asking how many of us worry. I raised my hand. I don’t think anyone in the room didn’t. Probably every human being worries at some time or another, at different times and for different reasons.

Dr. Loritts quoted Philippians 4:6-7 (“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”) He explained that there are two actions we must take: 1) Stop being anxious and 2) Replace anxiety with thankfulness. Neither of these is easy. It’s a daily struggle to choose the way of joy and thankfulness instead of the path of worry and stress. I don’t do it very well.

God never leaves us to ourselves in figuring out how to live in a way that pleases Him, however. He always meets us halfway. In this case, He provides a wonderful alternative to our human burdens: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) Dr. Loritts explained the method of breaking a young ox. The trainer places the young ox in the same yoke with an older animal, and eventually the younger ox will quit struggling and just follow the older ox’s lead. They learn by example. In the same way, when we take on Jesus’ yoke, the things that are important to Him will become important to us. We will learn to go about kingdom business, rather than worry about what lies ahead (or even what has already happened) in our lives.

Abraham learned to completely surrender his faith and trust to God when he was told to sacrifice his son, Isaac. What in the world was he thinking, going to kill his only son, the son of his old age, the son of the Promise? Surely he could have reasoned that God was simply joking. But he took God at His word. He was anxious, for sure, but he was obedient. He put his faith in the only One who could save his son. And, sure enough, God provided the ram for the sacrifice. Abraham’s anxiety was turned into rejoicing and thanksgiving. He called the place after the God who provides, Jehovah Jireh.

God is still God no matter what we’re going through. Our difficulties, anxieties, and sorrows – He sees them all and cares about all our problems. We have to choose to not be anxious. We have to choose to be thankful for God’s faithfulness and deliverance. He will work, perhaps not in the way we want Him to, but in the way that’s best for us. He knows what we need even better than we do. He loves us perfectly. Who is there more qualified to trust in than Jehovah Jireh?

Dr. Loritts’ sermon was an incredible reminder for me to take that step of faith and believe that God will work. I think, talk, and write about this subject often, and I know I can sound like a broken record, but this is so important to me. I struggle so much with stress and worry; it eats away at me. I need as many reminders as I can get to put my anxiety in God’s hands.If you are struggling with worry right now, or have ever struggled with it before (as I’m sure everyone has), I encourage you to listen to the message. Dr. Crawford Loritts says it so much better than I can. You can listen to it here: https://www3.cornerstone.edu/departments/spiritual_formation/chapel/2008-2009/2-18-09%20Crawford%20Loritz.mp3

No One Else

2009-02-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday our pastor preached about the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not have any other Gods before Me.” He explained that we have all sorts of other gods in our lives besides the One, True God. Sometimes we place them higher in our affections than God.

This should not be. Here is a very small list of reasons why God deserves to have first place in our lives:

He is
· Almighty
· Creator
· Savior
· Lover
· Friend
· Omniscient
· Holy
· Awesome
· Loving

However, we still have other gods, other idols. We still put other things in first place, even when we think God is our only god. My pastor mentioned things like money, marriage, jobs, and children. I thought of a few more: romance, knowledge, security, friends, and politics. We think that if we just get married, or elect the right person to office, or get a high-paying job, that all will go well. That’s not how it works. God is god alone. No one and nothing else can do the things He does for us. Nothing else can save us, protect us, love us perfectly, give us true wisdom, or be the perfect friend.

I realized last week that I have several other gods in my life. I admit that they consume my thoughts and my time more than God does. That has got to change. God deserves first place. He must have first place in my life.

Think about what other gods you have in your life besides the One, True God, the only One Who deserves all praise and affection. Let me leave you with this song:

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long and find
There is none like You

Marks of the True Christian, Part Four

2009-02-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

What is one of the best ways to experience the peace of God during difficult times? What does the Bible tell us to do “without ceasing?” What is it that so many of us struggle with because we have a hard time focusing on it? Prayer. It is essential to our walk with God. It is prayer that keeps us in close communion with Him.

Romans 12:12 says to, “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” I think there’s a reason that Paul put these three actions together in this verse. Think of it this way: when we’re going through hard times (I’ll use America’s economic crisis as an example), we look for hope. We rejoice that there is hope. We must also be patient during the tribulation and allow God to work out His plan for our lives through it. In the midst of our hoping and waiting on God, we must pray.

I need these three qualities in abundance. I tend to be moody and gloomy about the unemployment and debt that’s rampant these days. I am very impatient about, well, just about everything. Most of us are raised with a selfish, “I-get-what-I-want-when-I-want-it” attitude, whether our parents intended it to be that way or not. It’s just the culture. Because of my impatience, I don’t spend much time in prayer. Sure, I pray over my list of things in the morning during devotions. I pray before meals. And I pray for people who are sick. But rarely do I remember to add in the A, C, and T of ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication).

It seems like prayer has become a sort of tool for me to use when I want God to do something for me. Of course He wants us to come to Him with our needs and the needs of others (John 16:23-24). Prayer is so much more than a list of wants, though. Prayer is a means by which we praise God, confess our sin to Him and ask for forgiveness, and thank Him for all the wonderful things He has done for us.

During this time of economic crisis, or family strain, or persecution, or insecurity, whatever you’re going through right now, remember that God is still God. Make a list of His promises to us. Make a list of His attributes. Make a list of the things He has done for you personally. He is good, no matter what we’re going through.

This is pretty easy for me to say right now. I’m living in a comfortable home, with good family relationships, and plenty of good food and water. My Dad still has a job. I’m sure it would be much more difficult for me to write these things if all that (or even some of that) was taken away. One thing would still be the same: there is hope.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Marks of the True Christian, Part Three

2009-01-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

Because this passage (Romans 12:9-21) is so long (if taken one fraction of a verse at a time), I have decided to only write about my favorite verses. This will cut down on postings about the same passage and move me through more quickly so I can write about other things.

I chose to write about this passage not because I wanted to preach 500 sermons. That’s not my aim with A Radiant Face (it isn’t my aim anywhere else, for that matter). I just love how much good character- and faith-building stuff there is in it.

I only plan to write two more posts about this, but later on I might come back to some of my favorite verses and write about them. There are, “so many verses, so little time.”

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Romans 12:14) This is one of the hardest things for me to do. It’s probably hard for you, too. How can you possibly bless someone who is cruel or unjust to you, calls you names because you’re a Christian, makes fun of your faith, and even tries to hurt you? It just doesn’t seem possible.

But think about the kind of “persecution” that American Christians endure. Christian teens are treated as outcasts at public high schools. Christians in the workplace are taunted by coworkers to sin. Christian professors at secular institutions are considered less intellectual and scholarly because they believe in the spiritual realm of this world, rather than putting their faith solely in “scientific facts.” Yes, it’s bad, but it’s not that bad.

You may think, “Well, of course you can do that. But what about Christians in China and Central Asia and other places around the world who are tortured and persecuted for their faith? It wouldn’t be so easy for them.” I realize this. I hate to think about what they’re going through.

But think about Jesus. He was persecuted. He was sinless. He had never done anything to deserve people’s wrath and hatred. Yet they crucified Him. It was an excruciating death. And on the cross, as He hung there, dying, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”

Although most of us have never gone through (and, most likely, will never go through) this kind of pain and humiliation, we must look to Jesus’ example on how to bless our enemies. We must show grace and humility when dealing with others who are rude to us. We must plead with God to take away our pride and pain and give us hearts to love them. Then we can truly bless them. And, in the process, we will bless the God who died for them.

Marks of the True Christian, Part Two

2009-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

“Abhor what is evil…” (Romans 12:9b) God is holy. He can’t stand evil and sin. We are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Therefore we must not ignore sin. Read through God’s Word and you will find what He considers sin.

Abhor evil. Don’t allow that to make you sin in your anger, however. Hate sin. Avoid it in your own life at all costs. Don’t fill your mind with sinful thoughts. Don’t support sinners in their work. Don’t make sinful people your closest friends. Now that doesn’t mean that you have to completely stay away from sinners (i.e. unbelievers and those living in sin). We are called to interact with the lost in order to share the Gospel with them. Just don’t associate so closely with sinful people that you are drawn in to sin (e.g. Solomon, King of Israel).

Marks of the True Christian, Part One

2009-01-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite passages in Romans is chapter 12, verses 9-21. In my Bible, this section is entitled Marks of the True Christian. In the next several posts, I would like to share my thoughts on some of these “marks” of a true Christian. I am working on these areas in my life, and I hope that these traces of Christ will show up more often in my daily interactions with people.

The first phrase in this section is “Let love be genuine.” (Romans 12:9a) My love must be genuine. My thesaurus gives these synonyms for genuine: true, authentic, pure, real, and faithful. If Paul was alluding to these ideas when he wrote this verse, then it means that I must show real love to people. My love must not be surface, made up to look good in front of others. It must be sincere, right from my heart.

Jesus’ love was genuine. He proved how faithful and true His love was when He died on the cross for our sins. As Christians, our love should be modeled after His. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)

Bad Attitude

2009-01-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

I am a selfish person. I like to have things my way, when I want them, exactly how I like them. I don’t want other people to mess up my plans.

So, now you know a little bit more about me. But I’m really trying to stop. I want to be a sharing, kind, unselfish person. It’s a witness to unbelievers when I give of myself.

I learned a little bit about selflessness this Christmas. What a great time of the year to learn a lesson in character! Anyway, I like to have things to myself at Christmastime. I have my own little plans of things I want to do with my family. You can’t always have it your way.

God convicted me. I read Psalm 102 in a rather half-hearted effort to get out of my funk. The Psalm talked about God deserving all the glory, and about how someday the nations will bow down before Him. “My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But You, O Lord, are enthroned forever; You are remembered throughout all generations… Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.” (Psalm 102:11-12, 15)

God, if You can use me to be a blessing here, please do that. I’m sorry about my selfishness.

Somehow, God used a Psalm read out of a bad attitude to change my heart and make me think less about myself and more about the condition of someone else’s soul. Jesus was the epitome of selfless love. I want to be more like Him.

What Would Jesus Do?

2009-01-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

“Love one another with brotherly affection.” (Romans 12:10a) Christians fall into the same problems with disagreement, dislike, and even hatred that non-believers do. This is shameful and very sad. Jesus came to earth to free us from our sins and show us what ultimate love is. Yet we still act shamefully toward those who are His children. I have acted wrongly toward other believers in the past, especially my own family. I am sorry about this. Of all people, Christians should be able to show the love of Christ by example.

If Christians make an effort to love other believers with the same kind of forgiving, understanding, sharing affection that we show to… say, our best friends, I believe the world will notice. The other night we were at my brother’s Japanese tutor’s house. She is a native Japanese woman in her eighties, very busy doing lots of volunteer work, and she lives less than a mile from our house. She leads a Bible study for Japanese ladies in our area. One woman in her group told her that she would believe the Bible if Christians started acting out what they say they believe.

I was ashamed. I know that my actions are not always consistent with my words. I want that to change, however. I want people to see that Christians really are different, that we live out what we believe, and most of all, that we show Christ’s love to each other. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

It’s not just being amiable, though. Integrity covers all our actions. When we say we are Christians – followers of Christ – we are signing up for a huge responsibility. Don’t think that it’s just praying for Jesus to come into your life so you’ll go to heaven someday. Yes, that’s how God’s grace works, and I believe that even those who wander away from God after Salvation are still held by Him, and He won’t let them go (eternal security). The thing is, once the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, He begins to whisper truth to us. He tells us what’s right and wrong. He shows us how much better it is to follow Jesus than to follow the world.

Because of all that God has done for us, we should desire to serve Him. I must confess that I don’t always want to do what’s right (what is the verse… sin seems pleasurable for the moment…). It’s often easier to just do what everybody else is doing, to give in to my sin nature. But my overriding desire is to glorify God. Just like everything else that’s good in my life, it’s only by God’s grace that I want to honor Him.

Anyway, I’m sorry about going off on a tangent. I just felt that it was important to say that at the moment. Integrity demands we live out what we believe in all areas of our lives, not just in our relationships with other Christians. If we believe the Bible is true, we will follow what it says. It says to have compassion on the poor. It says to have pure thoughts. It says to speak the truth.

Please pray that God will shine through you to the unbelievers in your life. I’m trying to witness through my actions to unsaved people I know. I believe that integrity is a HUGE testimony to the power of God in a Christian’s life. We must not be the cause of someone scorning the Christian faith because we don’t act with integrity.

God bless you as you walk uprightly with Him!

Shine Your Light

2009-01-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

These kids have such radiant faces! I want to be this passionate about letting my light shine!

Growing in Grace

2009-01-01T04:18:00.000-08:00

My Dad and I had a discussion about God’s grace yesterday. I know I’ve learned a whole lot about grace this past year. I told my Dad that the older I the more I realize my sin. And the more I realize my sin, the more I see my need of God’s grace. For some reason, the more I need His grace, the more He lavishes it upon me. It’s amazing.

There is nothing good about sin. But I know one good thing I’ve learned as a result of my sin is that I need God’s grace just as much as anybody else. I can be a very judgmental person. It’s so easy for me to look at people and say, “well, I don’t do that!” It makes me feel better about myself somehow. The problem is that even though I may not commit that particular sin, I have plenty of others to make up for it.

Because God opened my eyes to see my desperate need of Him, I want to live so that others see their need of Him, too. Because He has shown me His grace, I want to show that grace to others. My New Year’s Resolutions this year (this is a special occasion – I hardly ever make them) revolve around this desire to exude grace.

1. I resolve to have a radiant face. I want my face to radiate the joy that is inside my heart. I want people to see, just by looking at me, that I have something (or Someone) they need – Jesus.

2. I resolve to put down judgmental, critical thoughts that come into my mind. I want my thought life to be filled with grace for others.

3. I resolve to show grace in my daily interactions with my family, friends, and strangers. I want to speak words of love to them, to do kind things for them, and to be ready to lend my time if they need to talk about something.

There are so many wonderful hymns about grace, but the one that comes to my mind right now is Rock of Ages:

In my hand no price I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:23-24)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Christmas is About Christ

2008-12-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Every year after Christmas my family makes plans for the next holiday to be simpler. We’ll make fewer cookies and treats, get a simpler (but thoughtful) gift for relatives, and not spend so much time standing in the kitchen making elaborate Christmas meals. The problem is, every year it’s the same. We get worked up trying to figure out what to give people. We make menus a mile long. We work a couple days in the kitchen trying to make fifty different cookies. It’s not that we don’t want to give nice gifts to people; we do. It’s just that cookies and gifts aren’t what Christmas is all about.

The angels, while announcing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, proclaimed “good news of great joy.” Christmas is about joy. They glorified God and blessed the shepherds, saying, “On earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Christmas is about peace. And finally, when the shepherds reached the stable, they found the baby. Christmas is about Christ.

Our Savior came to bring us forgiveness from sins, fullness of joy, and peace with God. If we remember why He came, I think our Christmases will mean a whole lot more with a lot less stress.

I Just Can't Hear You

2008-12-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

God wants us to know His will. He wants us to do what’s right. He wants us to succeed in doing what He wants us to do. I know that.

I just don’t feel it. For some time now I’ve been seeking God’s will about some decisions I must make about my future. The desire of my heart is to honor Him by doing His will. I want to do what’s right. My prayers day after day cry out to God, “please let me know Your will. Show me what I should do.”

Now I know that God wants me to do His will. Why then is it so hard to figure out what it is? Shouldn’t it just be written across the sky in big, bold letters so I can see it clearly? I ask God to tell me what He wants for my life, but it doesn’t seem like He answers. I think my ears are stopped up.

“I just can’t hear You,” is a phrase from Sara Groves’ song, Hello Lord. On her website, it says that she wrote that song when she was “faced with a difficult decision.” That’s me right now. It might be your situation, too.

Jesus says to us, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34) Some things require preparation ahead of time, but I realize that I still don’t have to worry. Philippians 4:6-7 says that I shouldn’t worry; I should pray. If I do, God’s perfect peace will guard my heart.

I believe all these things in my head, but I just don’t feel them in my heart. I don’t have peace while waiting on God to answer me. Is it that I’m doing something wrong? Must I pray more often? Must I force myself to not think about the decision at hand?

“God, are You telling me to wait? Have You answered me? Did I miss Your answer? Could You speak up? I just can’t hear You…”

Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is the Lord

2008-11-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

The elections did not turn out as I hoped they would. I wanted conservatives to govern our nation, to bring about laws to end abortion and other evils in our country, to submit themselves to God and honor Him with every decision. God did not make a mistake, however. He sets every ruler in place for a reason. Now we need to honor His ultimate authority by submitting to the authorities that He has placed over us. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God…for he is God’s servant for your good.” Romans 13:1+4a

This does not mean that we are not to still fight for what is right. America has turned away from God, and it is going to take a lot of prayer and hard work on the part of God’s ambassadors to lead our nation back to its Founder. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14+15

Prayer is the best starting place. Please pray for our nation. Even if the elections had turned out differently, even if every government position across the nation was filled by a God-fearing man or woman, we would still need to pray. Prayer is not only important for turning back to God, it also brings incredible peace. I found peace this week as I prayed for our elected officials. There is no turning back, but we can move forward in the power of the Lord. “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!” Psalm 33:10-12

God Is in Control

2008-11-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

Elections are today. For some time I have been worried about what will happen to our country, my family, and my faith if what I consider the worst happens. What if my freedom to worship God is taken away? What if abortion of any form is legalized and it becomes more widespread than it is now? What if gay marriage is legalized and our society falls apart?

Pray. That is the only thing I can do right now. I feel helpless.

God is in control. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) So why worry? God loves me. He is all-powerful. Satan will be defeated in the end. And even if it seems that everything is going wrong, I know that God is working it out for my good.

Nothing has ever happened or ever will happen without passing through God’s hands first. He has planned out every election for every year in every country since the beginning of time.

The Twila Paris song, God Is in Control, starts out with the phrase, “This is no time for fear; this is a time for faith and determination.” That is so true today. It is so true in the days that come, no matter what happens.

I encourage you to read Job 38:1-42:6. It blessed me this morning, and it was a fresh reminder of God’s awesome power and majesty.

Please pray for our country today. And, if you can, get out and vote for men and women who support principles laid out in God’s Word. God bless America!

Worship, Part Two: Here I Am to Worship

2008-10-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

This series on worship has been inspired by a few different praise songs that I’ve heard on the radio or sung in church. They have blessed my heart, and my desire is that they will bless yours. The song that this post is based on is Here I Am to Worship by Tim Hughes.

When I sing this song, I am reminded of how much God deserves my worship. His worthiness goes without question. The wonder of it is that I don’t deserve to worship Him. I am nothing. I am a sinner. Yet He is blessed by my worship. I don’t understand how a holy God is blessed by my imperfect worship. It’s just another example of His grace to me.

His grace is amazing, so here I am to worship.

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for Love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

And I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
And I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
Copyright Tim Hughes

When We Need Him Most

2008-10-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

My numerous responsibilities this semester have caused me a lot of stress. I’ve allowed this stress to rob me of my peace in Christ. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” After a couple weeks of my crazy schedule, I realized that I was not letting my requests be made known to God. The passage in Philippians continues in verse 7, which says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I desire this peace more than anything else these days. In order to have peace that passes all understanding, I must not be anxious. Instead, I must pray. This is the way that God has ordained for me to be rid of my stress and worries: prayer. I must cast all my cares upon Him because He cares for me.

A few weeks ago, the senior pastor of my church, Dr. Jim Samra, gave a sermon on Exodus 3 entitled, “What’s In a Name?” He described Moses’ meeting with God on Mount Horeb. There God made His name known to Moses, His real name. That is YHWH, which means I AM.

Pastor Samra concluded the sermon by saying that God is what we need Him to be when we need Him. He is our comforter, friend, redeemer, judge, and shepherd, whatever we need Him to be because His name says, “I AM!” I have cried out to Him and let my requests be made known to Him. Now He is my comforter, and He gives me peace.

I encourage you to click on the link below to listen to the entire sermon. I have no doubt that you will be uplifted and blessed.
http://real.cc.mi.org/ramgen/sunam/09-21-08A2.rm

Worship, Part One: Made to Worship

2008-09-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

There’s a Chris Tomlin song that says, “You and I were made to worship…” That is so true. I believe every human is created to worship God. What a great purpose in life.

Not only were we made to worship, we must worship. It’s in our very nature. As humans, we have to worship something or someone. Some people choose to worship idols, animals, money, or even themselves. They may not claim that they do, but I believe every human being worships something.

There are so many people in the world who are deceived. They think they’re okay if they bow to their idols, live a good life, make lots of money, etc… We, as Christians, know the Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The Truth has set us free, and we have an obligation to go spread the truth so that others can be set free as well.

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4)

My Crazy Life

2008-09-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

For the past three weeks, my life has consisted of eating, sleeping, practicing cello, and homework. I haven’t had time to write; I haven’t even had time to think about writing (except writing speeches). For your information, I’m taking two classes at Cornerstone University: World Civilizations I and Communication in Culture. Both are fascinating, but they both require a lot of study time.

This routine (eating, sleeping, practicing, and homework) has not been especially helpful to my nerves. I’ve been stressed and cranky. I have seen God’s grace, though. He’s helped me through somehow. I’m starting to climb out of the “depths of despair” as Anne of Green Gables would say. The mountain of responsibility still looks too big for me to handle on my own, though.

That’s where He comes in again! Thank God that He’s with me, so I don’t have to do it alone. There’s a little card that my Mom taped to my desk that says, “Do your best… God will do the rest.” And He certainly has.

A Glimpse of Glory

2008-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

“When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Often I enjoy just sitting and looking out the window at the tall, stately trees in our neighborhood. They are a testament to God’s awesome power. I enjoy gazing across the street at our neighbor’s nicely tended landscaping. My favorite flowers are the black-eyed susans, their bright yellow faces soaking in the sun. They seem to speak of God’s radiant brightness and the joy He gives. The glorious vista of fall-colored trees viewed from a fast-moving vehicle is in striking contrast to the dull gray cement highway. I can’t help but think of the way God infuses His grace into every day of my life.

These things that we take for granted every day are glimpses of God’s glory. The breathtaking sunset, the tiny rose bud, the colorful butterfly—they were all intricately designed by The Creator to give us a taste of His beauty. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1) We derive pleasure from such simple things here on earth. Just think what it will be like to behold God’s glory in heaven. I can only imagine…

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

2008-07-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Are you joyful right now? Most likely you are to some extent. There are many things on this earth to be joyful about. But do you have real joy? Do you have joy deep down, rooted in your faith in Christ? Is it the kind of joy that can’t be shaken by the storms of life?

This joy is mentioned repeatedly in God’s Word. God wants us to be joyful. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 we read His command, “Rejoice always.” It is not an option to not be joyful. Unfortunately, though, sometimes it isn’t all that easy to be joyful.

The troubles of this world—death, broken hearts, disappointment, embarrassment, failure—can all rob us of joy. We must stand fast in God and not let these trials take hold of our lives, though. In Scripture, I’ve seen three ways of getting past worldly sorrows in order to be joyful.

The first one is worshiping God. I have found no better way to refocus my heart than to worship at the feet of my Savior. The Psalms are full of examples of how King David’s heart was lifted up by worshiping the Lord. Psalm 69 starts out with David saying, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up over my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” Then verse 30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

The second is recounting blessings from God. God is so good to me. Health, family, freedom, material possessions, food, shelter, clothing… all these are blessings I take for granted every day. A lot of people don’t have all the food they need, they are unhealthy, or their family may persecute them for their faith. Even if we find ourselves in a situation like that, all of us can thank God for His amazing grace and faithfulness. It is true that He is faithful, loving, and gracious. He will never let us down, and that should always cause us to be joyful. Habakkuk 3 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. Habakkuk recalls the power and justice of God. At the end of the chapter, he lifts up a beautiful song of praise. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

The third is dwelling on God’s attributes. There are too many to write down here, but I will give a few examples from Scripture. The love of God—“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9) The wisdom of God—“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” (Romans 11:33) The holiness of God—“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4) The grace of God—“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)

This last example, God’s grace, makes me fall to my knees for joy. How could a holy God ever stoop to die an excruciating, humbling death for a sinner like me? All I can give Him in return is praise. And even that is flawed. The grace of God alone is enough to make me joyful when everything else around me is crumbling. And though I am not always faithful in striving after the joy of the Lord, He is always faithful in giving me joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I pray it will be yours.

The Thoughts of My Heart

2008-06-21T09:15:00.001-07:00

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

I have this verse printed on the front page of my Bible folder. It’s a good reminder every morning when I have my devotions. Usually part of every morning prayer includes a sentence like this: “Lord, keep my mind focused on You today.” Or: “Lord, please let my thoughts be pure.”

For some reason, however, I forget those words throughout the day. It seems like the only time that verse comes back to me is right after I’ve been thinking or doing something I know isn’t acceptable to God. And if I’m in the middle of a thought that seems pleasurable, that little voice inside can be quite irritating.

How can I be so fickle, to be one moment praying earnestly that God would remind me to keep my thoughts pure and the next complaining to Him that I want to go on with my selfish, sinful thoughts? I have heard it said many times that no one would sin if sin were not pleasurable. It’s true.

Sin in my thought life is the hardest sin to conquer. Because no one can read my thoughts except God, it’s easy to let my thoughts pass by without restraint. After all, no one will ever know what I was thinking--except God. I don’t have to feel ashamed because no one can see that sin--except God.

Somehow, sin in my thought life seems less serious than other sins. How untrue that is. The Bible speaks so much about the meditations and motives of our hearts that it’s obviously not something God takes lightly.

I must be constantly fighting to keep my thoughts pure. The battle is more than just me vs. sin, though. The author of Ephesians says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) So is there no hope? Absolutely not! Though I fall, God will raise me up. Though I fail, He will give me victory. Though I am unfaithful, He will always be faithful. “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13) Truly, God is with me all the way.

My hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me. Jesus gave His life so I could have hope. Through Christ who gives me strength I can conquer anything that Satan throws in my path. He cannot defeat me, even my thought life, because the King of all kings and Highest Power is living inside of me.

I can never make it on my own. The requirements of God’s law are too much for me. God knew that. That’s why He sent His Beloved Son to this sinful world to die in my place. Now I can be free from the chains of sin and be looked upon as righteous because He is righteous. Thank God!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)

A Reason for Blogging

2008-06-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

At the age of three I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. I have grown up in a loving, Christian home where I have learned to love the Lord with all my heart. Through the years, I have had a strong desire to reach my generation for Christ. I was unsure in what way God wanted me to minister to them. I knew I wanted to write or speak or sing, but I didn’t know what medium I could use at this time in my life with the skills I have right now.

The idea of blogging for the Gospel struck me after reading several excellent blogs written by Christian young people. I enjoy writing, so blogging seemed like a great idea. After much prayer, my parents and I felt that I should start a blog. Thus came about the creation of A Radiant Face.

I am very picky about names and words, so I labored over the name of my blog a while before I chose “A Radiant Face”. I was reading through the Psalms last year when I came across this verse: “Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5) The thought of having a radiant face was immediately appealing. I want to shine, to glow, for the Gospel. If my eyes are focused on Jesus, my face and my whole being should reflect some of His glory. When other youth see such an example of His radiance, they will want to know this wonderful God more.

I want to encourage you in your walk with Christ. It is my desire that you will follow hard after Christ, and let Him lead you down the perfect path He has carved for your life.

To all my readers: I pray that your faces will be radiant with the light of Christ just as Moses’ was. “…his face shone because he had been talking with God.” (Exodus 34:29) God bless you.

Dedication

2008-05-26T16:21:00.001-07:00

This blog is dedicated to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that He will use the words I write to encourage and empower those who read them. The purpose of this blog is to communicate the truth of God's word and His amazing grace to a fallen world. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14