What Has Happened?

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!"
                                              ~Galations 5:14-15

So the discussion has come up recently about how times have changed. Yes, some of us don't like change, and sometimes it's not for the better--which was the main opinion during the discussion. Perhaps Tales of Avonlea strikes a familiar chord in our memory banks as we remember the simplicity of life, when we enjoyed the one room school houses. Perhaps we remember more fondly through Little House on the Prairie, as we watch the town work together for the betterment of their neighbors (Nellie excluded ;)). Perhaps you weren't around during the Great Depression, but I bet you watched a large family named The Waltons suffer through the economic trials with little money, but yet so much love amongst themselves and neighbors.

So what has happened to these model examples of peaceful tranquility in society? Where did the care, the love, the concern go? We now see a world filled with selfish "me firsts" and not enough "others firsts". We see a world filled with hustle and bustle like a bunch of ants hurrying to and from their homes. We see individuals filled with hate and loneliness and pride and turning their backs on people who desperately reach out for help. Where has God gone in all this craziness?
      
But maybe let's first focus not on where God is, but on what has happened to society. What has happened to this generation of people? Let's take a quick look at the problems and then, let's look at the possible solutions.

So....what's wrong with society?

People have become selfish. It's always been one of mankind's tragic faults, but in recent decades, the problem has become more noticeable. People would rather text their friends in waiting rooms than strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to them. And it's a "who can get to the check out first" at the supermarket. But this is not only a problem among the rich with the rich and middle class citizen with his equal. When many people see others with needs, they would rather wear blinders, focusing on their own needs instead of reaching out by saying a word of encouragment or providing help by some other means. They find it easier to look away and focus on their own problems, instead of reaching out a helping hand to someone less fortunate than themselves.

Solution: Unfortunately, this is also a concern in the Christian realm. Perhaps it is more of a concern as we are representing the Lord every time we get out of bed, walk out the door, walk into the office at work. So instead of texting, perhaps we could try to talk about the Lord to the person sitting next to us in the waiting room. And instead of rushing to be first in line at the check out, we can invite someone to go ahead of us (and especially if they have fewer items than we do). God gives us opportunities to help people. Will we choose to put others' needs ahead of our own as Christ did?


People have become greedy. This is of course, another downfall of man's nature, and it runs pretty close to being selfish. But greed has taken mankind to great lengths to achieve personal possessions, power, and wealth; and just like selfishness in some cases, no matter who gets hurt in the process. They say that money is the root of all evil and it certainly goes without saying that greenbacks speak very loudly to some individuals. People have been willing steal for it, and in some cases, kill for it. But perhaps, it's not just money that people are being greedy over. Perhaps, it involves slandering a colleague to get a certain job position. Being "at the top" sounds good though, doesn't it? We love to be at the center of attention, "on top of the world" as the old, familiar adage goes. But at what extent are we willing to go to get there?

Solution: God gives us everything we need, period. We do our best and if we happen to achieve success or fame, we are to give God the glory. I believe this is a concern in our communities: we want, we want, and we want. If we are generous, compassionate individuals, following in the footsteps of Christ, we will give without asking anything in return. And I honestly believe that a little kindness will breed more and more of the same. If we continue to think only of ourselves and what we can gain, we will never fulfill our mission to be giving and compassionate vessels for Christ.
      

Bigotry is alive and well. Throughout history, since the time of Babylon, people have been putting other people into classes based on race, sex, age, gender, and religion. People are still people, no matter what level of melanin they have in their genes, no matter what language they speak, and not matter what age they are. This is one reason I don't agree with putting kids in public schools, as it segregates children by their age from kindergarten through high school. I believe this is why many of today's youth only "hang out" with kids their own age. They can call it the "generation gap" or "old people aren't fun to be around", but the wisdom the generations before us have forgathered is far more valuable than any one teenager or young adult thinks he or she has obtained.

Solution: As Christians, we are called to "love the sinner and hate the sin". God loved us even though He knew how we'd hurt Him before we were even born. He loves the Christian, the homosexual, the prostitute, the beggar, the unwed mother, the thief, the murderer, the gambler, the abortion doctor. He hates the sin, but He loves the people. We should no less follow His example of displaying love for those who seem unlovable. That is one tall order, isn't it! But people, all around us, are still looking for real love, searching without even realizing it perhaps, for God. Because only He can give that kind of unconditional love and they will never find a love so satisfying as the love He gives. And when (and if) they repent of their sins, by the grace of God through the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross, He will forgive them of their sins. But are they getting the message of love from our churches? or are we sending them a message of shame and hopelessness?

But why stop there? What others ways can you think of to help society?     

But most importantly, people have forgotten God. Or has God forgotten us? Where can we find Him in society? We don't find Him in the public schools. But oh, that's right...in 1962, in the case of Engle vs. Vitale, prayer was removed from the public schools. And in fact, the Bible was taken out of schools the following year in 1963. Guess the court system removed God from being in schools...Well, what about holidays? Well, it's easy to see that some secular stores only promote Santa Claus and reindeer and being of good cheer. Guess we have some companies to thank for promoting secular images and taking Christ out of Christmas... But what about the churches? Why don't we see God working in His own house?

But my question is: Why aren't God's people working in His house? Have Christians become a metaphorical possum playing dead, afraid to answer the calling of being the salt and the light in a darkened world? Perhaps many Christians have made a contribution to the downfall of society; because after all, we are all a part of 'society', are we not? If we do not do the Lord's work, as He left us to do until the day He returns, we are doing society an injustice by keeping the light of truth hid under a bushel, away from the ears of those who need to hear it most.

Bright Lights And Schuyler

So I had a wonderful chance to "email interview" one of my dear friends from Michigan about Bright Lights. Some of you have probably heard of the program, but here's some insight from one of the lovely ladies who leads her own group. Please take a look at her responses and support her by following her links posted on the bottom of this page. Thank you!  

What is Bright Lights and how does it impact people? 

Bright Lights is a ministry that seeks to help teen girls to build solid character commitments. We call ourselves a discipleship ministry, and BRIGHT stands for Being Radiant in Godliness, Holiness, and Testimony. The goal of our ministry is to encourage girls in building good habits such as spending time in God's Word and cultivating biblical relationships with family and friends. Bright Lights helps girls navigate their teen years so they have a strong foundation for adulthood. Teen years don't have to be a pain, although they certainly are challenging. They can be a rich time of growing in and fellowship with Jesus.

Bright Lights was founded in 1996 by Sarah Mally. It has grown to include groups all around the US, as well as Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and elsewhere. I lead one of the Midwest chapters. :) We meet twice a month for a time of teaching, singing, memorizing, and tea in real teacups!

How did you get interested in Bright Lights?

I was familiar with the Mally family through their book Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends.(We read that a lot when we were little.*smile*) Then, the summer I turned 12 we received a brochure in the mail for a Bright Lights girls' conference in the state where I lived. I loved it. Not only was it a special one-on-one trip with my mom, but I caught the vision for being a good influence on girls younger than me. The whole weekend was a time of conviction, encouragement, and making dear friends that I still know to this day. I loved the older girls on staff running the conference--they seemed so grown-up and wise to me. :) And I hoped that someday I could be a Bright Lights leader myself. Four years later that dream came true--and to date, I myself have helped out at Bright Lights conferences just like those other young ladies so long ago!

What topics/lessons do you teach on and which one is your favorite? If you have a favorite lesson/application, why?

There are so many topics we've covered--sets on fruits of the Spirit, basic Christian commitments, and removing polluting influences from your life. But I think my favorite topics were the last two we covered. We did a several-lesson set on wisdom, and I learned so much about how to gain wisdom--primarily by spending time in God's Word. Wisdom helps us receive rebukes from others, make wise comments, and grow in our knowledge of the Lord. Also, this latest set we just finished covered modesty and inner beauty. I was amazed by studying the Greek of 1 Peter 3:3-4 and learning just how much I've missed over the years with a superficial reading of that passage.

How long have you been teaching Bright Lights? And is this something that you would like to continue doing for many years to come? 

I have taught Bright Lights for 2 and 1/2 years, since June of 2012. It has been a blessing to impact the various girls that have come and gone, and I am committed for as long as the Lord wants us to keep going! I don't know how long that will be, but would imagine another couple of years at least. :)

Is Bright Lights for any certain age group or for girls from healthy homes?

Bright Lights is advertised as a group for girls from ages 10-14, but we have open hearts and willing homes for girls on both ends of that age spectrum. In my group I have invited even younger girls (especially if they have older sisters attending) and I have girls who have stayed long after they've left 14 behind. :)

While Bright Lights is primarily designed for discipleship (Christian growth) rather than evangelism (non-Christians) we certainly welcome girls from broken homes. If they are struggling at home, all the more reason that they should come here for some safe, loving fellowship! God doesn't require a perfect home to grow in Christ, and neither does Bright Lights. :) Especially if they are Christians, we would want them to get some biblical encouragement that they might not get otherwise. And if they are non-Christians and interested in coming, we would not turn them away! We want each girl to see the truth and mercy of Christ in each meeting. In fact, in the last few months I have made it a goal to tie every lesson in some way back to the basic gospel, so that the girls know why they should seek to build good character in the first place.

How have you, personally, been impacted in teaching the lessons? 

Well, as a leader my desire would be that I am a clean vessel, able to genuinely share what God has entrusted me with. Though I am not always perfect, nor do I embody each lesson, I learn a LOT with the girls. I have learned the importance of perseverance and discipline in planning lessons and keeping in touch with the group. I have been encouraged by the joy I see in the girl's faces, and the conviction, and the fact that the Holy Spirit is using the lessons to teach them about their relationship with Christ. I have seen the Lord provide inspiration and confidence for me time and time again when I was worried I didn't have everything together. And he has always blessed the meetings mightily.

I look forward to seeing what he will do in future, and pray that I will be found a faithful servant.

Schuyler McConkey is a novelist and Bright Lights ministry leader living with her parents and two siblings. She keeps busy with the last edits of a WW1 espionage novel, and critiquing various manuscripts for friends and writing partners. Schuyler also authors a blog, My Lady Bibliophile, where she writes book reviews and articles evaluating classic literature. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to Irish love songs, learning Gaelic, and reading too many Dickens novels.

You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Twitter.

"Thank You"

As my piece for offeretory in church this morning, I chose Ray Boltz's song: "Thank You", which speaks of a Christian who touched lives with their testimonies. I hope that this tear jerking song not only makes us remember those who have touched our lives, but that it would make us take our witness more seriously,    

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.

And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.

You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.

Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.

As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Commitment: What It Was and What It's Become

"If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." 

~Numbers 30:2

God has and always will take His promises very seriously. He promised Noah that He would never flood the earth again with a worldwide flood, and sealed that oath with what we know as the rainbow. He promised Abraham that he would be the father of great and mighty nation. [Though we know there are actually two lines, the Israelites through Isaac and the Arabs through Ishmael.] "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" Genesis 12:2. And we see in Hebrews 6:13, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself," Again, God never takes His promises to us lightly.

But not only did He make promises to those in Biblical times, but His promises for love and blessings and hope live on for us today. When God makes a promise, it's for keeps. But what about us...? We see promises being broken every day. Commitments are forgotten, like children's toys that are stuffed away somewhere in a closet. Vows are made but set aside so easily like unwanted food on our plates. In our time, words mean very little. Lawyers have become more necessary in designing contracts to keep the agreement binding, as the good old "handshake" is nothing more than skin touching skin. Who can trust anyone outside of their signature on a contract nowadays?

I remember my Grandpa telling me stories about the farming days when your neighbor would come over to help plow the fields and plant crops and then you'd go help your neighbor do the same with his land. And if your neighbor said he was going to help you out, he stuck to his word. You could trust him to keep to his promise and he would in turn trust you to keep yours to help him out. Neighbors are much different nowadays, aren't they. Our society certainly has come to the thinking that this is a "dog eat dog" and you might have to break a few promises to get to the top. In the "old days", a man's word was his reputation. If he broke it, he become well known as a very untrustworthy guy and you'd stay away from him.

People will of course fail us, but God expects His children to keep our word. We desire to trust our fellow humans to do what they said they would and perhaps we build our expectations up too high, but in exchange for all that trust, we are crushed to find so many individuals fool-heartedly committing to do things, but not actually taking responsibility. What's that? Yes, responsibility. 

If we as Christians see God taking His promises, His commitments so seriously, perhaps we should remember our own and follow through with them. Nobody can force us to commit to something; so it is only by choice that we choose to take on responsibility. Let us then reverse the direction that commitment has become and commit like how it used to be.    

THANKSgiving

Well, Happy Thanksgiving all you Insight readers!! I know this post is at the end of your Thanksgiving dinner, but hey! Thanksgiving is just one day of the year, but being thankful for the blessings God gives us should be a 365 day remembrance.

And for a little Thanksgiving fun, I'm doing the T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G challenge. So for each letter in the word "Thanksgiving", I'm going to tell you what I'm thankful for. Here goes!


Time. I'm finding out how precious time is and how fast it comes and goes. Time is our worst enemy, but it's what gives us the opportunity to work, spend quality time with family, and do all the fun stuff we enjoy doing in our lives.

Horses. Horses have been my therapists. They always lift my depressed spirits and they bring me joy. God knew exactly what I needed to get through this life somewhat sanely. Haha.

America. I'm grateful for this country we live in. It certainly has its problems, but I'm keeping the Old American pride.

Naps. Some days are so busy and I'm definitely tired by mid-afternoon, so it's really nice to just close my eyes and relax. With that, I hope you all take this four day weekend a little easier, too. :)

K. Yup, I'm thankful for the 11th letter in the alphabet. Haha, no. That's just to throw you off. I'm thankful for my little collie, Keara! I'm thankful for all of our animals, but you know, "K" isn't a really easy letter either. ;-)

Sweet potates. Okay, I'm crazy about sweet potatoes! That is my favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table and I'm most thankful for yams and marshmallows.

Grace. God's grace is sufficient for all and without His mercy, we would be lost forever. Thank God for His love for us!
.

Interests. (aka hobbies) Those nice little activities that keep a person out of trouble. I love writing, working with horses, doing all the other stuff I like to do when I'm home. It's amazing that God gives us individual interests and passions. So basically, I'm thankful for individuality as well.

Violets. This is a hard letter! Okay, though I am not a big fan of flowers, violets are probably my favorite flowers. They bring a beautiful purple flavor to nature and I'm thankful that God creates beautiful things for us to look at.

Internet. Yeah, that's a given, right? Without it, I wouldn't have written this post and you wouldn't be reading it! It's what connects us when we're in different parts of the state, nation, and world.

Nachos. Yes, no county fair is complete without chips and cheese dips! But basically, I'm thankful that God gives us a variety of foods to enjoy. Healthy or yeah, unhealthy. :-P

God. He is the most important part of my life and I wouldn't be here without Him. He's why I exist and I'm thankful to Him for giving me life.

Mmm....sweet potatoes!

I did it! Now it's your turn. Tell your friends how God has blessed you this year and on your hardest days, write down all those blessings and I guarantee you won't think life is quite as bad as it may have felt. :-)

Yours blogever,
Julianna

The Hardened Heart

                    "But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his
                            heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said." 
                                                        ~Genesis 8:15


It's been an exciting journey for me to once again read through the Bible and have been reading through the book of Exodus at this time. Of course, in the earlier chapters of Exodus, we read through the story of Moses, Pharaoh, the ten plagues, the freeing for the children of Israel, and the parting of the Red Sea. But this time, I'd like to discuss Pharaoh's hardened heart and the hardened hearts in today's world.

First, Pharaoh would see the plague and then plead for Moses to take away plague. He'd promise to free the Israelite children; but each time, he would change his mind to keep them enslaved. Plague after plague terrorized the nation of Egypt, and each time there was relief from the plague, Pharaoh's heart became hardened. When we read the story, we may be amazed at Pharaoh's stubbornness. I mean, to see things from rivers turning into blood to locust destroying the crops from the land being covered with frogs to witnessing the first born of every Egyptian and beast killed. If we had been the Egyptian people, we might have tried to overthrow the crazy Pharaoh and let God's people go to worship Him before the rest of us were literally destroyed. Instead, in this time and now, we can learn from Pharaoh's mistake and avoid the tragic consequences.      

So what lesson can we learn from Pharaoh's mistake?


How often are we like Pharaoh? We promise God that we will serve Him if only He would take our pain and difficulties away, just to turn back to doing the things we had been involved in before the struggles started. We are no better than Pharaoh if we are "Foxhole Christians", we see that the problems we're facing aren't going away so we promise to obey Him...that is until the problem is gone. Then we have the tendency to turn back to the activities that are not God-focused.


The first plague, the water turning into blood, should have been enough to convince Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, right? The water was literally undrinkable, the source that keeps the living alive is now contaminated and stinks throughout the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh promises to free the people if Moses will intercede. The second plague brings frogs into the land and they can be found in the entire land of Egypt. They are jumping into the houses, in the "kneading bowls" (Exodus 8:3), into the beds, into the kitchens... they're everywhere! Pharaoh calls for Moses and pleads him to intercede and then the children of Israel may go worship God. Well, we know he didn't keep his word. So God sent lice, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness. Each time Pharaoh made a promise and later broke it. It became a vicious cycle! And then the ultimate plague struck the land. You could say it was the 'one that did it'. Not only was Pharaoh's son killed, but the firstborn child of every Egyptian servant and animal died that night as well. Only were the children of Israel saved from the deaths and plagues.

It's a clear sign that God protects His people as He promised He would. God is with you, too, in whatever you're going through. He heard the cries of the Israelites and He rescued them from their great oppression. God also hears your cries and He listens. But get this: He knows that you need to experience difficulties. Not because He doesn't care about you. But if you never went through trials, you wouldn't grow Spiritually and you wouldn't grow closer to Him. It's in the pains of this life that make us rely more and more on our dear Savior.


"But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses". (Exodus 9:12)


Until the sixth plague--the boils--Pharaoh was hardening his own heart. As a documentary by Dr. Charles Stanley sums it up this way: "To this point in the story, Pharaoh had hardened his own heart. But now, God hardens his heart. Willful disobedience can reach a point of no return." If we continually harden our hearts, it becomes a habit we can't break on our own strength. Pharaoh hardened his heart so many times that it finally resulted in his death and the death of his armies. It certainly does have serious consequences, friends. Ask the Lord to remove the stubborn stone around your tender heart to break off and completely trust in God's plan.  


"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." (Exodus 9:16)

We don't always understand the circumstances that God lets us go through or why He allows adversaries to stand in our way to give us grief like Pharaoh did to Moses and the people of Israel. But God is our powerful God and He sometimes raises up even our enemies in order to show the world His power. But He doesn't always just demonstrate His might to the unsaved, but He does so to remind His people that He is still in control. Sometimes because we can't see God, we can forget He is there and that He is still mighty. God gives us those reminders and we can give thanks to Him by remaining loyal to Him and having a "healthy heart".

In conclusion, we may come across many politicians, parents, friends, co-workers, and even preachers who have hardened their hearts to God and His Word. We need hearts that remain tender to the nudging God gives us when He is trying to tell us to listen. God listens to us, let's listen to Him.


Anna

Everlasting Arms

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

“Oh how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?  
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

“Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

In 1887, this simple yet powerful hymn was published by Elisha A. Hoffman and Anthony J. Showalter. Songs so old can still be sung today, because the meaning of their words are still relevant. 

I remember last April, I was looking up hymns that I could play for the prelude part of my church’s morning service. I stumbled upon a hymn that my church hadn't sung for awhile and thought it would be a great choice since it is a familiar song. I have to admit that I had developed a bad habit of picking out pieces for the service on Saturday night, or even Sunday morning. This never gives me a chance to practice, for one thing; but maybe more importantly, it doesn't give me any time to actually read the lyrics of the song I'm playing. But I want the congregation to not only hear the melody, but to listen to the words as well.  

We all have fears. Fears of losing someone, fears of heights, fears of failure, and maybe fears of not making it financially. One question every Christian needs to ask themselves is: "Am I leaning on Christ’s everlasting arms?" To be honest, I've always felt that I've handled all of my problems, all of my concerns, all of my burdens correctly by giving them to Christ.  But "do I leave those problems at the alter? or do I take them back?" Did I tell Jesus that I wouldn't worry about my problems and five minutes later find myself thinking about those same things again? These questions make us reflect on on how we've handled trials in the past and might make us wonder how we can handle them in the future.   

The third verse of this particular hymn really got to me the most: "What have I to dread, what have I to fear..?" When we think about how great our God is compared to not only our day-to-day problems but those unexpected difficulties that come around once in awhile, we see that God is much more powerful than all of the disastrous problems in the world combined!  If God determines who wins wars, if God cares for even the smallest sparrow, He certainly cares about our problems, our needs, and we should never be afraid when He is on our side. Because when we rely on His wisdom, then comes that “blessed peace” when we take our fears to Christ and rest in His arms.

As we read in the last few chapters in Genesis, we see Joseph's conflict of being sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of a crime, and thrown into a prison. But after Pharaoh's disturbing dreams, Joseph was given a position over all the land of Egypt that equaled the power of Pharaoh himself. When Joseph was reunited with his brothers, he had compassion on them; realizing that without the trials, he wouldn't have been there in Egypt to save their lives. He said to them: 

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it this day, to save many people." ~Genesis 50:20


Though our trials don't look like they will have an incredible outcome, God wants us to remain positive and "lean in His everlasting arms"; because there is no difficulty that we experience in this life that God doesn't have a perfect ending for. 

“I have blessedness with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Blessings,
Anna

Determination

                       "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;

                         for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,
                         in the grave, whither thou goest." ~Ecclesiastes 9:10


I actually wrote this blog post in 2013 on the other blog that I once co-authored. But I thought it was worth a re-share for everyone who needs an encouragement to keep doing what they're doing.


"Charles F. Kettering, a noted scientist and inventor, believed that the easiest way to overcome defeat was simply to ignore completely the possibility of failure and to keep forging ahead. He once gave an address to Denison University on this theme. He told how he had once given a tough project assignment to a young research worker in a laboratory at General Motors. He wanted to see how the man would react to a difficult problem so he kept from him notes about the project that had been filed in the lab's library. These notes, written by expert researchers, included various sets of statistics and formulas that proved the assignment the young man had been given was impossible to do.

The young research worker set his mind to the project, and worked virtually night and day for weeks. He refused to give up or think the project impossible. One day he came confidently to Kettering to show his work. He had succeeded in doing the impossible!

A little extra time...a little extra effort...a little extra care...a little extra attention sometimes makes all the difference between success and failure, and not only that, but the difference between good and great."

                                                         ~~~

"There once was a Louisville University quarterback who dreamed of playing pro football. Upon graduation, however, no pro team drafted him. So, he wrote to several teams and finally got an opportunity to try out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He gave his best effort, but wasn't chosen. His friends said, 'You got a raw deal...it wasn't meant to be...I guess it's time to hang up your cleats'. But the young athlete didn't give up. He continued to knock on doors and write letters. Finally, he received another invitation. But again, he didn't make the team.

Most people would have given up long before this point, but not Johnny. He was fanatic about his personal dream. From his early days of playing sandlot football, he had been obsessed with this goal. So, patiently and persistently, he continued to pursue try out opportunities. Finally, he was invited to try out for the Baltimore team...and he made the third string! Through training and many long hours of drills and fitness building, he worked his way up to be starting quarterback. Indeed, he became one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL. The dreamer's name? Johnny Unitas.

Keep driving until you arrive at your goal line!"

                                                        ~~~

History is filled with determined people. The 1984 USA All-Around champion, Mary Lou Retton, is another example. She was in therapy constantly for five weeks leading up to the '84 Olympics after a much needed knee surgery had been preformed. That year, she came home with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. With her determination and positive attitude, she not only succeeded what seemed "impossible", she also became the first American to receive an All-Around gold medal. I admire Mary Lou for that determination. Not only for her fighting spirit, but because she was also born with hip dysplasia and still went on to perform amazing acts of agility and balance.

Can you maybe think of some people in history who, though the thought of success seemed impossible, achieved it? Those are the kind of people who are not willing to give up their dreams. They have a vision and chase after it instead of expecting it to just be laid on their doorstep.

"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to."

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

In Christ,
Anna

The Listening Servant

As I was thinking what I should write about this week, the Lord led me to turn the page in my Mom's devotional book and the title was "Your Servant Is Listening". I thought to myself, Yeah, but where could I go with that for a post? Everyone knows that we should listen to the Lord.  And then I opened up my Mom's NKJV Bible and it turned to Jeremiah 22:21, which says the following, "I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, 'I will not hear.' This has been your manner from your youth". So to make this short, I believe God led me to these references to not only encourage you in your walk, but as a reminder to me personally.

So many times (and especially lately), I feel I know what's best for me. I get so independent in my thinking and I don't want to listen to the Lord. He might want me to go in a direction (or away from the one I'm going), and I'd rather resist His counsel and keep doing what I think is best for me. I think every Christian deals with this at some point in their relationship with the Lord. We think our own decisions will turn out alright or we leave God behind most of the time, forgetting to ask Him for an answer. Or we might ask the Lord, but with our own "clocks" ticking away, demanding immediate answers, we jump ahead instead of waiting on the Lord for His answer. And it certainly doesn't help when we live in a secular world where everything is rushed and if you don't grab the chance now, it'll be too late tomorrow. As humans, we feel the decisions we need to make have to be "today or never"; however, we easily forget that the Lord has perfect timing. His time schedule is never "behind" or "runs fast". Yes, my discussion so far has dealt a lot with waiting on the Lord, rather than listening to Him. But you know, they both go hand in hand.

"The realization of our need to listen to the Lord means we are willing to wait for His answer."

So when does God speak to us? When we submit to Him and say "Lord, okay, You know I really want to do this, but I'm not going to move until I hear from You". And how does God speak to us? He speaks to us through His Word. Like I mentioned earlier, God led me to the Jeremiah reference where He gently reminded me to "not move until He speaks". For example, I'm really looking to buy a handheld gun for protection. Though I really think this is the smart thing to do, I need to wait on the Lord. Whether the decision is as small as this or something bigger like marriage, God wants us to "consult" with Him and wait on Him to provide us with His perfect answer. So, we see that He speaks to us through His Word. He also speaks to us through other people, those who counsel us. People like our pastors, youth leaders, parents, other family members, and Christian friends. Those around us who God is speaking through to advise us. He also speaks to us through His Spirit, our "Conscience". You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. That Voice inside of you that says it's wrong to go and do something you will later regret. And quite frankly, He's right every time. In short, God has many modes of communication that He uses to reach us.

But God gives a warning to people who stray away and listen to the counsel of fools. In Proverbs 1:28-32.....

"Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

And then in Proverbs 1:33, God gently tells us what will happen when His children come to Him and listen to His voice. "But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."

How intelligent it is to listen to the Lord! He knows what is best for you. He cares for your life. He has created you. And when we take the time to listen to the Creator of the earth, there is nothing that will stop Him from talking to you. When you listen for Him to answer you, nothing in heaven or earth can keep Him away.

Proverbs 1:5: "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."

Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."


"So when God speaks to you, listen attentively and prepare to submit to whatever He tells you. Obedience pleases your heavenly Father and He desires to bless you for listening well." ~Charles Stanley, life lessons NKJV, pg. 886)


Blessings,
Anna

Hymns..A Church Formality?

"Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing: My God and King! The church with psalms must shout, No door can keep them out, But more than all, the heart must bear the longest part. Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing: My God and King!" ~from "Let All the World in Every Corner Sing" by George Herbert and Robert G. McCutchan

"The church with psalms must shout..."

Much discussion and confusion has come through the choice of music brought into the churches with the youth bringing forth their tastes of newer praise music that we call "Contemporary Choruses". It is what they are growing up with from concerts to iTunes from Christian Book stores and radio stations; just as the older people in our communities grew up with hearing the traditional songs on Sunday mornings. Psalm 98:4 tells us to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise". Whether we sing praise with the modern songs or with the hymns, God can be glorified when we lift our voices to praise His name.

However, some youth are as receptive to the hymns as older adults are to choruses. I have grown up mostly playing older songs myself, but there are some choruses that I feel I'm truly expressing worship to the Lord. What I have a problem with are the arguments like: "hymns just don't speak to me like the choruses". In other words, people are trying to nicely say "out with the old and in with the new". I think we should look through this argument.

"Hymns just don't speak to me like the choruses"...

This opinion can also be translated as "The words are Greek to me!" I assure you that they aren't. Please note that I am not condemning the choruses of today; rather, I am condemning the opinion that hymns are outdated and have lost their meaning. Now let's take a look at one of the hymns I chose for yesterday's service and compare its lyrics to that of a modern contemporary worship chorus:

"There is Power in the Blood" by Lewis E. Jones

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain:
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working power.
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

And now a chorus that Hillsong sings called "Redeeming Love"

(chorus)
"I come boldly, trusting only your redeeming love
Flowing freely from your side now your atoning blood
Like a river, like a fountain, like a cleansing flood
I pour out my worship to you for your redeeming love

"My glory in your cross of shame and suffering
My glory what the world disdains as nothing
I will glory in such foolishness
I will glory for its nothing less
Than your wisdom and your awesome power my God."

You see, when we strip the lyrics of the different music styles, the words amount to the same thing: "The blood at Calvary saves and redeems us. What love!" Some people are inclined to think that hymns are slow and boring. Well the music may be slow, but the words are still as praiseworthy to sing today as they were in the 19th century!

Let's look at another example:

"I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters [He] lifted me--now safe am I"
~from Love Lifted Me

"I know He rescued my soul,
His blood, He covered my sin, I believe, I believe.
My shame, He's taken away,
My pain is healed in His name, I believe, I believe.
~from My Redeemer Lives by Reuben Morgan

I'm not writing this blog post to contradict your stand on either style in churches; but to ask you to remember that worship is worship and to not neglect the hymns that are as real as any chorus you'll sing today. God is as real as ever and it should be our delight to sing songs of praise to Him. I encourage you to ignore the music if you need to and simply focus on the words you are saying. Listen to the words as you sing them in church. I believe you'll find that hymns are not a "thing of the past" or that the "church needs to update its music to 'fit' the new, young Christians". Any Christian song, whether contemporary or traditional, is to be sung to the Lord on high and to give Him the praise for which He so richly deserves!

End of the Church?

As I was outside helping my Mom burn some brush tonight, I couldn't help but think about the church and the responsibilities that lay inside and outside her walls. She stands tall with her steeple reaching high to the heavens. Her bells used to be tolled to invite all those listening to come and walk through her white doors with stained glass windows. Those bells toll no longer. The white paint on her doors are chipped and her windows now dusty with cobwebs. Few people walk through the doors and sit in the once packed pews. Fewer and fewer people join in singing praises to God. The church used to rattle with a thunderous boom of voices singing song; now, an echo maybe fills a few cracks on an Easter or Christmas Sunday morning.

The church is not as majestic as she used to be and she certainly is not our town's most important building any longer. The members from past decades were on fire for the Lord and would bring their family and friends each and every Sunday. Family vacations never took the place of church, so everyone's shadows would rest on her doors each and every Sunday morning. Now time has past, and those members have passed on; leaving a new generation of "Christians". Vacations and get-aways come first in this new society, so church is usually passed up on. People are living a dead faith and children going to Sunday School is as optional as joining a sports team.

What has happened? Has the church age come to an end?

Perhaps the church age is coming to an end; but people's faith or lack thereof is causing the Spiritual decline in our nation and in the rest of the world. If Christ's people are not on fire, who will testify? We have mouths, but will we let the rocks cry out instead? It has nothing to do with the church or a "church age". It's all about God, Who is ageless! He is present, past, and future. The church building will pass away, be destroyed. It is God's temple here until He says 'No more'. For many Christians, the church is something we go to on Sunday and forget about for six days. The church is not to be worshiped or adorned; but it is God's house. A place to worship in and adorn Him in! We are to take care of it, to grow in numbers. And we can only grow in numbers if we are willing to take the torch that has been handed down to us by our predecessors: Jesus' disciples. They were the light in a dark world and preached anywhere and everywhere. It's not about a pastor preaching for an hour on Sunday; it's about our responsibility to reach the lost. Where they are.

"If the dog doesn't come home on its own, go out and search for him". We must do the same for the lost "sheep". We cannot expect the sheep to come to us, the church. They have no ear for the Master's beckoning. The Master has asked us to find those lost sheep and to tell them the good news. We have to meet them where they are in order to bring them in.

So in conclusion, does it matter if this is the end of the church age? No. What does matter is that any age, right now, last spring, 2,000 years ago....it was and still is the "God Age". And that age will last forever!

Intro to Health pt. 2

Last time, we discussed why we should care what we eat, that eating well along with exercise is essential, health concerns, and what the next step is. So.....what is the next step?

Again, the next step is to take action! Unless we take the first step in anything that we want to achieve, we will never finish. So if our goal is to live a healthy lifestyle, we need to focus on achieving the "result". I think a good look at an excellent source of vitamins is a great place to make our first step.

Vitamins are "an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts." (Wikipedia).  So, we're going to look at a few of the vitamins and look over just some of the fruits and veggies to put on your next grocery list! Where's the best place to start? Let's go with Vitamin B12.


Vitamin B12: 


Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin, and is not only a notable source to aid in the formation of blood, but also plays a key role in our nervous systems and brain functions. The lack of B12 in our systems may result in depression, poor memory, and fatigue. It can also be linked to symptoms such as mania and psychosis. So what are some good sources of B12? Not in food or animals, which are both incapable of producing the vitamin. Instead, B12 is taken from archaea and bacteria, which are then made into tablet form. Local stores carry this product in pill form and I feel that this vitamin is a necessity.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C? Oh yeah, everyone's heard of that one. Isn't another name for that an orange? Well, though the orange is an excellent source to get your C's from, it is only ranked at #7, according to Health Alicious Ness website. There are ten sources of Vitamin C you need to consider. And I never would have guessed the first! 

 1. Yellow Bell Peppers
 2. Guavas
 3. Dark Green Leafy Veggies (like Kale)              
 4. Kiwi
 5. Broccoli
 6. Berries (like strawberries)
 7. Citrus (like oranges)
 8. Tomatoes
 9. Peas
10. Papaya    


Vitamin A:

This vitamin "is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication. Vitamin A is critical for vision as an essential component of rhodopsin, a protein that absorbs light in the retinal receptors, and because it supports the normal differentiation and functioning of the conjunctival membranes and cornea. Vitamin A also supports cell growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the normal formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs." (according to http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/)

Foods that are rich in Vitamin A are found in:

1. Sweet Potatoes--213.5%

2. Carrots --113.2%

3. Spinach--104.8%

4. Kale--98.3%

5. Mustard Greens--96.2%

6. Collard Greens--80.2%

7. Turnip Greens--61%

8. Swiss Chard--59.5%

9. Winter Squash--59.4%

10. Romaine Lettuce--45.4% 

Vitamin E:

Deficiency with this vitamin is rare, but is known to cause conditions such as: neurological, neuromuscular, anemia, retinopathy, and impairment to immune response problems. Though a poor diet can never cause a deficiency in Vitamin E, this substance benefits your body in five ways: helps to prevent sunstroke and coronary artery disorder or heart disease; alleviates fatigue and aids in getting blood to the scalp; can help heal sunburn and just in general, protect your skin from the sun; has an anti-aging effect on your skin; and lastly, makes your skin and cuticles healthy and fresh.

You can find this vitamin in the following ten food items:

1. Tofu
2. Spinach
3. Nuts
4. Sunflower Seeds
5. Avocados
6. Shellfish
7. Fish (like rainbow trout)
8. Plant oils (like olive oil)
9. Broccoli
10. Squash, pumpkin, and butternut squash

(according to Health Aliciousness)

There you have it! A place to start on a healthy diet of fruits and veggies. I do recommend, however, that you continue to eat your lean meats. People who only eat plants (vegetarians) are at risk for problems down the road such as low cholesterol levels (may lead to early death), colorectal cancer, and "lower bone mineral density" (according to Mother Nature Network).

I again urge you to do research for yourself to find a multitude of other healthy treats that God has provided for us. He knew what He was doing when He packed them with so many nutritious goodies! I hope this helps you know what to start looking for at the grocery store and I pray that God blesses you if you decide to take a healthier view on food.

God bless,
Julianna

   

God's Not Dead!

         "How do you hate someone you say doesn't exist?"                         ~Josh Wheaton, God's Not Dead


I had the privilege--a few weeks ago--of going to the theater to see one of the most talked about Christian movies of the year. Actually, it was my first experience in a theater and it was very exciting with all the loud speakers, the smell of popcorn in buckets worth $19.50, and the largest screen I had ever sat in front of! But this was just the beginning.

I had not even watched the trailer of the movie, and in fact, I hate watching trailers to anything unless I question it. But I wanted every scene to be a complete surprise. Not only was I surprised....

                             ....I was amazed!


                         Anna's Movie Review on....God's Not Dead

The story revolves around a young college freshman, Josh Wheaton, who needs to attend a Philosophy class to put credits towards his pre-law degree. His faith is then challenged by Professor Radisson who not only personally hates God, but makes it his mission to make all the students in his class write "God is dead" or they will fail the class. Josh and the professor are at odds with each other from the beginning and Josh must prove God's existence in the classroom. He tells the class that Professor Radisson is the prosecutor, Josh himself is the defense attorney, and the class is the jury who gets to decide if God is really dead or....not.

Though Josh endures many hardships when he takes on the professor's challenge, the story also encompasses other people who are somehow "connected" to each other. These people's faith are also tested and that makes this show so real, as their trials are similar to ours. Some actually came to know the Lord personally at the end of the movie; unfortunately, as in our lives, many will turn away after hearing the truth. Josh was given two Scripture verses to read to help him make his decision. I will not expose them, as I implore you, the readers, to watch the movie for yourselves and see how Josh's Pastor's advice will help us in our individual missions to reach the lost.

The show as a whole is moving and demonstrates the power of our witness to the world. Pastor Dave told Josh that he should not be "clever", but to let the power of God's Word be proof enough. I remembered Moses in the Old Testament who thought his words were not eloquent enough to come before Pharaoh. But God still used Moses and God will use us in a powerful way to complete His plan. We just have to believe that we can still be instruments that God uses. He will give us the strength we need to reach out and stand boldly for Him.

As I watched Professor Radisson tell the class to write "God Is Dead", I kept thinking, 'You must believe in God, because to say that He's dead, must mean that He was alive at one point'. But we know that God is still alive, well, and working in this dark world. Man may say that God is non-existent, but without Him, life would not be worth living. Indeed, God is alive!


Final thought:

My encouragement to you would be to find, if you have not already, a movie theater near you and see this powerful film. I guarantee you that this film that I give 5 stars to, will not disappoint you. It's certainly not a waste of money to see it and even buy it when it comes out in DVD format in August, possibly.


For more information, go to: God's Not Dead Official Movie Link

Change Ahead

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 have always been very dear verses to my heart and I'm so thankful that God knows what my future holds, and that He takes me by the hand and leads me.  And again, my life takes another turn that I honestly didn't think it would.

A new year can mean changes for individuals and this year, it will change for me, too. On March 8th of this year, my coaching hold ends.  This will also be the day that my coaching ends for a long time.  I am terminating my enrollment with CollegePlus.  I've been in CP since September of 2011 and it's been quite an eventful one.  But I haven't really been satisfied with the results these last couple years, and I believe that it's because this chapter in my life is closing; I'm not meant to continue this educational journey.  Especially in these last two years, I've been feeling led to get out and I believe I know why.  Since my Grandpa's death, I feel like God is telling me to lay college aside and get more involved with helping my family take care of my Grandma.  She is not 100% capable of leaving alone, so my Mom has devoted a lot of her time to taking care of her.

What will I be spending my time on now?

I will continue to work for both QualityTrack Int. and on the farm.  Because CollegePlus have raised their rates again, this also plays into my decision.  And at the moment, I need to earn money for a more reliable truck.  This past winter has proven to me that winter tires help, but a 2wd will never be as dependable as a 4wd. :P  I'm also hoping to advertise my services as a horse trainer and maybe go through some training and achieve a license to be a horse judge for shows.

I also want to spend extra time that I have preparing to take care of a house and a family of my own some day.  I haven't taken as much initiative as I should have in taking care of the house, but with Mom busy at Grandma's almost every day of the week, it gives me some time to help her with the housework and read the Christian books that I haven't indulged myself in. I'm looking forward to this! :)

But mainly, I've decided to return to my original idea of publishing books.  I've written many rough drafts of different book ideas over the years, but because college and investigative reporting seemed like that was the only way to earn a living, I laid those dreams aside.  Unfortunately, at local newspapers and even with a degree in Journalism, I would most likely end up setting type--as my Mom's friend's daughter ended up doing after four years to achieve her BA.  I started to edit a chapter last fall, but with this course through Brigham Young and the changes that accompanied Grandpa's death, I was barely able to get one chapter done.  My plan is to continue editing one book at a time, perhaps attend some writing conferences in Wisconsin, and start the publishing process by late this year or early 2015.

Being able to lay college aside has lifted a burden off my shoulders.  Though CollegePlus offers so much and I've learned a lot with CP friends, this chapter in my life is being closed.  Perhaps in the future, I will return to studying for CLEPs and earning three credits here and there; but I feel God is leading me to put my time and energy into more important things.  I believe that it was God's will for me to be a part of CP for these last few years, because I've learned some valuable lessons that I would not have learned had I not enrolled.

But we trust God and have assurance that he knows what is best for us.  We lean on His understanding and follow Him wherever He leads us.  For we will find rest only when we trust in His wisdom and not our own.

Blessings,
Anna

Letter From God

When the waves crash in around you.................
                                                            ......................look to Me.


When you don't know where or who to turn to..................
                                                                         ......................turn to Me.


When you've fallen and you can't get up......................
                                                                .................reach up to Me.


When you get lost and can't find your way home....................
                                                                            .......................read My Word.


When you need comfort, but everyone deserts you...................
                                                             .......................fall into My arms.


When you loose sight of what's most important......................
                                                              ..........................remember Who I am.


When you are swallowed up by your fears.....................
                                                        ................................cry out to Me.


When you feel alone or unimportant.......................
                                                         .........................think of Me.


When you are restless......................
                                       ............................rest in Me.


(Julianna 12/16/2013)