Carpe Diem- Seize The Day!

Good morning! Yesterday, my office closed early because of the snow. While normally I would use this free time to lounge around, talk on g-chat, or watch TV, I decided to something a little more productive with my time and listened to a few sermons from the series "The Life of Moses" The particular sermon I listened to was titled "Seeing Life As a Pilgrimage". Pilgrimage basically means in transit.

What really stuck out to me was the point Lon made about how short our time is on Earth...we (believers) are simply just in transit waiting to get to our eternal destination (heaven). So I thought I'd share some bible verses to remind you how little time we have on this earth and to make the most of this day.

"Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain." Job 14: 2

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity" Ephesians 5:15-16

And finally, I encourage you to make the most of your time, cherish every moment, pursue what you are passionate about, and don’t' let any obstacles get in your way. Mother Teresa certainly didn’t at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 3, 1994. She was sitting next to Bill Clinton and Al Gore, but this didn’t stop her from saying what's on her mind and speaking the TRUTH. It’s apparent that Mother Teresa only fears God. Below is a portion of the prayer she delivered. I hope it encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and not fear men.

“But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.”

Wow.

This is a change you can believe in ! YES WE CAN

This is a change you can believe in! YES WE CAN. Apparently most of America bought into that slogan so I figured most of you would be okay with the fact that my blog is taking a slight change today and not talking about how God has worked in my life as originally promised.

Only minutes ago Barak Obama was sworn in as the 44th president. While I personally might not be jumping up and down, it was reported that there were approximately 2 million people on the national mall. WOW. I just finished watching some people on national television pray for 15 minutes for this country and Barak as a leader.

This morning my friend Jordan actually sent me a prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. I think the prayer given in Kansas is 100 times better than the prayer given on TV minutes ago. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.'

Cause I Gotta Have Faith.. Mmm I Gotta Have Faith

Good morning! As a follow up to my previous entry where I talked about how faith was necessary for salvation (getting into heaven). The most common objection people have to this is "Why does God require faith? Why doesn't God "prove" Himself to us so there is no need for faith?" .

I know this is a common struggle for BOTH believers and non believers so I wanted to make sure I addressed this fully, so I am going to cheat a little bit today (is cheating even possible on a blog? IDK ) because I have work, have to pack for LA, and also coach basketball.

So today is not my writing... the answer is actually from my favorite website!!! www.gotquestions.org. It has answers to over 300,000 questions about religion and it's pretty much amazing. So here it is. It's a long read.. READ UNTIL THE END! I promise, it will be worth it because the most powerful examples/arguments are there. Think of it like a big box of cereal that has a toy at the bottom and you have to eat your way through the cereal before you find it. AND NO, dumping out the cereal in a bowl and just getting the prize... i.e. fast forwarding to the very end of this article is not the way to do it! You'll be missing out . Trust me.

Our relationship with God is similar to our relationship with others in that all relationships require faith, and I can never and will never fully know any other person. Proverbs 14:10 says, "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy." We are even incapable of knowing our own heart fully. Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is wicked and deceptive, and this verse asks concerning the human heart.

Because we are incapable of fully knowing fellow humans, to some degree faith (trust) is an integral ingredient in all relationships. If we cannot know our fellow finite human beings fully, how can we expect to fully know an infinite God? Even if He should desire to fully reveal Himself, it is impossible for us to fully know Him. It is like trying to pour the ocean (seemingly infinite in quantity) into a quart-measuring jar (finite)... impossible! But nonetheless, even as we can have meaningful relationships with those around us that we have grown to trust because of our knowledge of them and of their character, so God has revealed enough about Himself through His creation (Romans 1:18-21), through His written word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21), and through His Son (John 14:9) that we can enter into a meaningful relationship with Him.

There have been times in the past that God has revealed Himself more "visibly" to people. (Exodus) God revealed His care for the Israelites by sending the miraculous plagues upon the Egyptians until they were willing to release the Israelites from their slavery. God then opened up the Red Sea, enabling the approximately two million Israelites to cross over on dry ground. Then, as the Egyptian army sought to pursue them through the same opening, He defeated this enemy by bringing the waters upon them. Later, in the wilderness, God fed them miraculously with manna, guided them in the day by a pillar of cloud and by night by a pillar of fire, visible representations of His presence with them. He also obtained water for this great number of people in the wilderness through miraculous means, including causing water to flow from a rock as Moses struck it with his rod.

Yet, in spite of these repeated demonstrations of His love, guidance, and power, they still refused to trust Him when He wanted them to enter into the Promised Land. They chose instead to trust the word of ten men who frightened them with their stories of the walled cities and the giant stature of some of the people of the land, and to ignore the counsel of two godly men who encouraged them to trust God who had always been faithful. These events, found in the books of Exodus and Numbers, show that God's further revealing Himself to us would have no greater effect on our ability to trust Him. For were God to interact in a similar fashion with all of the people living today, we would respond no differently than did those Israelites...our sinful hearts are the same as theirs. But even as a few of the Israelites chose to trust God based on what He had revealed of Himself in the past and were willing to trust Him for the future, (going into the Promised Land - Numbers 13:1-14:9), so we can choose to trust Him for our future based upon what He has already revealed about Himself and His character.

God has revealed enough of His nature for us to be able to trust Him. He has declared and shown through the events of history, in the workings of nature, and through the life of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, all-holy, unchanging, and eternal. And in that revelation, He has shown that He is worthy to be trusted. But as with the Israelites in the wilderness, the choice is ours as to whether or not we will trust Him. Often, one is inclined to make this choice based on what he/she thinks he knows about God rather than what He has revealed about Himself and can be understood about Him through a careful study of His inerrant word, the Bible.

Dats My Quataback ! (in the voice of T.O)

I'm sure most of you watched or at least have heard by now the outcome of last nights BCS Championship game between Oklahoma and Florida. But did you happen to take a close look at Tim Tebow, Florida's star quarterback's face?

If you did, you may have noticed that his eye black sported the message John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life). Normally, Tebow sports Philippians 4:13, (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me) but decided to mix it up a little bit for the championship game. BTW, immediately following the game "John 3:16 " was the most searched term!!! (Thank you Brad for giving me the link to verify)

John 3:16 that is probably the most well known Bible verse. Basically it's saying that the only way to get to heaven is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and your personal savior. Note! It nowhere mentions that simply being a good person will get you into heaven.

And yes, I've often heard many people's own personal philosophy with regards to how to get to heaven. It goes something like this "Well, I am a good person, I feel like I've done more good than bad, so I would presume a loving God would just be cool with that and not make me have to acknowledge or worship Him". Okay, I would like to offer up some TRUTH. (Don’t listen to Jack Nicholson when he say's you can't handle the truth, because I think you can!) Okay here goes... It is a lie to believe that God doesn't care about small sins or that hell is reserved for "bad people." All sin separates us from God, even a “little white lie.” Everyone has sinned, and no one is good enough to get to heaven on his or her own (Romans 3:23). Getting into heaven is not based on whether our good outweighs our bad; we will all lose out if that is the case. "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6). We can do nothing good to earn our way to heaven (Titus 3:5).

So, back to Tebow. I didn't really know much about Tebow prior to last night. Sure I knew he won the Heisman last year as a sophomore (which is just incredible), but I didn't really know much else about him. Well apparently after he won the Heisman last year he went to some local prisons and was witnessing to inmates and telling them about the good news of Jesus! Also his parents are missionaries, which explains his background.

Wow. I am just very impressed with Tebow right now... I mean what a great role model and source of encouragement for fellow believers!!!... Here is a guy that is living out what the bible says a Christian out to do

1.) Give all the glory to God. (in numerous interviews after games and even after he won the Heisman trophy award, the first person he thanked was God.)
2.) Share the gospel.

I heart Tim Tebow.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Have you ever had one of those days when you are being a total Debbie Downer?? You know the one where you just complain about anything and everything... it's too hard... i'm not capable enough... no one really likes me.... i'm never going to get into Stanford and i' m SO CONFUSED! ?

Or maybe you are just disappointed with yourself because it's 8 days into the new year and you have already broken your new years resolution.

Well the good news is that God has a positive response to any sort of thought that Satan puts in our head that makes us doubt our self worth or our self capabilities.

My mom, whose birthday is today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!, sent me this handy little chart a while ago and it's awesome. I hope this finds you well.

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'	God says: All things are possible	(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'	God says: I will give you rest	(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'	God says: I love you	(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'	God says: My grace is sufficient	(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'	God says: You can do all things	(Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'	God says: I am able	(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'	God says: I will supply all your needs	(Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'	God says: I give you wisdom	(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5

I'm so excited.. I'm so excited... I'm so SCARED!

Hello everyone! (Is there anyone that is reading this? haha I sure hope so)

I am not a writer. And I like rules and structure and because a blog has no rules or structure, this is very hard for me to do. So bear with me people!

So I had the idea for this blog after the past week when I had a total God experience. (I'll write about that eventually) You know the kind when you are like "Hot dang! God totally exists and this instance/situation/conversation/exclamation, etc proves it!" . And then suddenly you have chills and your faith is just kicked up a notch and you are all excited because it is one more of countless examples you can use to tell people about where your hope rests.

So the purpose of this blog is multi-fold (is that a word?)
1.) provide hope by telling stories about how God has worked and continues to work in my life and my family's life
2.) provide encouragement (yes, me my brother and my father all came to Christ after the age of 21. and yes statistics say there is a less than 5% chance someone will come to Christ after the age of 21. )
3.) provide wisdom or just other cool things I learn from the bible or about God and decide to share with you all.

Okay, I am going to sign off now. But I needed to get this started so that I wouldn't forget about it.

You know you love me, xoxo
-Gospel Girl
(yes that is my pen name, no I’m not going to change it, and yes you can make fun of me for it! haha)