Imitator

Since school has once again come to an end, I have seemed to have a lot of down time to think and reflect on things. Lately I have been thinking about my family and more importantly my brother. He is about to graduate high school and start a whole new chapter in his life. The one thing looking back that I wish I would have done differently was had a better and closer relationship with God before entering college.

When I got ready to leave for college, I was not only leaving my family, but I was also leaving my town (which I knew everyone), all of my friends, and the town itself (which I knew my way around with my eyes closed). I was scared out of my mind and being four hours from home seemed so far away! During those first few weeks of school while trying to adjust to a new area, classes, and work on making friends I had to rely on the help of God so much, more than I have ever had to before! But looking back on the transition and where it has led me to today I wouldn’t have changed a thing! My hope for my brother is that he will get involved and have the same kind of experience I have had.

I want him to become a Man of God; someone who is so intentional with God before interacting with anyone else. I hope he is so strong in his faith that nothing can pry him from the rock he stands firm on. I hope that he uses Gods words when he speaks to others and begins makes new relationships. I want him to be the kind of guy a girl wants and is proud to date, as well as be the guy a true Woman of God needs in her life. I have seen and watched so many great relationships grow while in college and I love watching how the guy treats the girl; that’s what I hope for in my brother.

While thinking about what I wanted to see out of my brother, my conscious came over me and said “Well, are you the “Woman of God” that you should be? You keep wanting all of these things for your brother, but are you being the example he needs and applying this to your own life?” That was a big eye opener for me! “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” ~ 1 Peter 2:21 This verse is so great! We are to follow in Christ footsteps. He is the one we should want to be like, live like, and serve like. He has given us all so many great qualities and equipped us in a way that we can accomplish his plan for us!

So as for me, I look at my life differently now. I look at each moment in a special way, I look at each person I meet as someone so unique and different, and I look at each opportunity to serve as a pleasure and a delight! This has given me such a boost of encouragement and a challenge to work on every day! I hope that you take time to look down into your everyday life. See who you come in contact with that you may regularly try to avoid and what opportunities you let pass you up. Think about the relationships you are building with others are they just between you and the other person or is God the center and helping them grow? I encourage you to be the Man or Woman of God that God wants you to be! “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” ~ 1 Corinthians 11:1

How Life Formed on Earth

This morning I was trying to think of a topic to write about, so I as I was checking my email I ran across the yahoo news highlights. There was an article titled “How Life Formed on Earth”, so being curious I wanted to see what this author had to say. And just as I thought all that it mentioned was scientific things. They said a compound known as, pyrophosphate, could have been a source of energy that allowed the first life on Earth to form.

Now as Christians, we know how life was formed. It says in Genesis1:24-28 “And God said “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kinds.” And it was so….Then God said “Let us make men in our image…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it”

All God had to do was speak and the things of this earth were created. Now this article online is up 4,235 comments and is still growing. As I read comments there were some that said:
• “It literally terrifies me that so many people choose fairy tale over science. I realize that fairy tales are easy to understand and always end in happily ever after but that’s not how life works.”
• “There is no God”
• “So the next time you think science is useless, I want you to pray your way through every illness, infection and don’t ever take a Tylenol again. Just pray. The next time you want to take a trip, either walk or pray God transports you there.”
These comments just fired me up! To sit there and read all of these crazy comments about how God doesn’t exists and had nothing to do with the creation of all living things on Earth is just crazy! Hebrews 11:1 ~ “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Yes, it is faith we are relying on, but reading God’s word and relying on him will expand that faith and make us stronger in believing what He has told us.

Some of the Christian’s responses to these comments from unbelievers were harsh, and would never be of any encouragement to any hard-headed unbeliever. Titus 1:9 ~ “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sounds doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Sure these Christian comments were accurate but they had no way of backing up what they said, it was primarily just screaming, saying “YOU’RE WRONG”.

When God gives you these opportunities to stand up for him remember how he tells us to teach others, with encouragement. Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for these blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

The Ark

Just the other day, I was watching TV and movie came on called Evan Almighty. If you have never seen this movie, it is based on the story of Noah’s Ark. I had only seen this movie once before, and I guess I wasn’t thinking deeper into it when I first saw it as I did today. As I watched it for the second time I began to see the exact resemblance to this story. I have heard the story of Noah’s Ark since I was a little kid, but I never related to it as much as I did now.

As most of you know the story of Noah’s Ark is based on God’s observation of the corrupted Earth. He saw that the Earth was filled with violence and in result decided to destroy all life. He knew that Noah was a righteous man and walked with God, so God gave him instructions to build an ark, in which he was to bring two of every kind of animal and his family. Once the flood came and left, God commanded Noah to leave the ark. Noah offered a sacrifice to God, and God resolved to never again destroy the Earth. God established his covenant with Noah, his sons, and with all living things and placed a rainbow in the clouds.

Now this sounds like a simple story, all the guy had to do was build a boat, gather some animals, and hang out on a boat until God told him to get off. Sure Noah was a believer and follower of God, so this process and willingness to do as He commanded should have been easy. But if you think about it today, God commands us to do little things for His glory and we so often just push it aside and say we will get to it later. If Noah would have said “Hey God, I’m kind of busy this week. Let me get my personal things done first and then I will see if I can get to it next week.” Noah, his family, and the animals would have been wiped out in the flood as well. God was ready to destroy the Earth and He will do what he commands when He commands it.

I challenge you, as well as myself, to look and listen for those things, both little and big, that God needs you to do for Him and not push them to the side. We are living here for Him and to bring glory to His name. Be like Noah, a righteous follower of God who will never think of himself higher than others, but willing to serve anywhere that is needed. And as the movie says "The way to change is world is by doing one Act of Random Kindness (Ark) at a time"

Expectations

Expectations can be defined as the end result that a person demands or has a strong request for. If not met, it can lead to great disappointment and if it’s achieved beyond measures it results in a huge surprise and happy endings. I have been told all my life what my expectations are in school by my parents. They wanted the best for me, and if I didn’t reach those expectations they wanted, there were definite changes that had to be made. When I started working my bosses demanded certain expectations, and if these were not met it could have great consequences to follow.

Now relating expectations to religion, it seems as Christians, that we expect a lot out of God. We know he is capable of the impossible, so we tend to fall back and hope he takes care of it. But we have to realize, we don’t always get what we expect. We have turned the word expect into a demand of things we want. It is not the things we would like to see happen, but the things we have to see happen. This is where things get so messed up and people get let down and disappointed the worse! We also go into church expecting the preacher to say the exact thing we need to hear to solve all of our problems that week. But the things we are expecting are not always the things we need, but the things we want. God has such great plans for our lives and most of the time the things we want sound great to us, and we will do whatever it takes to get them. But when we step back and quit expecting the things we want to appear, something even better will arrive at our front door.

We are not promised anything except for everlasting life, if we believe in God. Proverbs 27:1 ~ “Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day may bring forth” You never know when the last day will come or what things God has in store for you tomorrow. But be patient and know that all things work for good for those that love God. Romans 8:24-25 ~ “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

What I hope you get out of this message is not to completely quit expecting things, but to quit expecting the things you want to happen. God is great and powerful and can make anything he wants to happen, but those good things that happen, happen in His perfect timing! Don’t expect just the possible with God, expect the impossible!

Light

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” ~ John 1:5

How crazy is this verse!! God does so many miraculous things in and around our lives and when we stop and try to comprehend what and how He does the things He does we just can’t seem to wrap our mind around it!

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend an amazing prayer night in the NTS building. This building is the tallest building in the city and I was right there at the top! Being able to look out over the city and see people down below walking, driving, and living out their normal day lives was a big eye opener. It got me to thinking, how often do we really stop and think about what is going on around us and how we can use those moments to share with others God’s great plan for us all. As the sun was setting, the street lights and car headlights began to come on one by one. The drivers and people on the streets began to rely on those lights to guide them where they needed to be. These lights that guided them all to their final destination of the evening is just like the light God is spiritually providing us, we just have to be willing and open to follow where it leads us.

As people are traveling in new and unfamiliar places they rely on a map to get them to where they need to be. God’s word is exactly what we should rely on to get us where we need to be throughout everyday! “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105 Being out of the word and not in constant contact with God will really mess up your life and the plans He has for you. His word is what will guide you and provide you with the light of life.

Standing at the highest point of the city and looking out at all of God’s creation really puts things in perspective. It makes you realize how small you are and how equal everyone is! God loves everyone and everything so much. He has blessed everyone with that special unique light to guide your life. And what is so amazing is that not even one is the same!

I challenge you to dig into God’s word this week and pray to him for his light for you to shine so bright that you will be able to be on the path he has prepared just for you. He has great plans for you, better than anything you could imagine or wish for!

Faith

There are so many things going on right now! The school year is coming to an end which means finals are starting, summer plans are being made, and preparation for next fall is beginning to start up! This past week, after a lot of prayer, I have decided to run for President of my sorority. I have no idea where God wants me next year but I don’t want to close any door too soon. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~ Matthew 6:33 I have total faith in Gods’ plan for my life and he will place me where He needs me!

Being an officer this year has been a challenge and a wonderful experience. I have been stretched so far from my comfort zone and have met so many wonderful people along the way! Being President and being a leader among the group next year would be an awesome opportunity to share Gods’ word with all the girls in Phi Lamb. As I have watched the girls this past year and how they work with each other, I have began planning ways to become one as a group and use the strength God has equipped each of us with to move mountains across Tech campus! “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” ~ Philippians 4:13 This verse has been a challenge and a boost of power for me each time I read it! Whether this is the position for me next year or not, I know that where God puts me great things will happen!

I encourage you to have faith in Gods’ plan for your life! It doesn’t matter what stage you are in life He is still with you and in total control! The main thing to remember is that when things don’t turn out as planned; don’t let it get you down. There is obviously something much better for you that you haven’t even thought of and God is right by your side the whole time! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” ~ Proverb 3:5-6. Remember to take time to listen to God, He has so much to tell us and there are so many times we forget to stop and listen. You don’t want to miss out on something great he has in store for you!

The Cherry on Top

Do you ever feel like things are just going down the drain, you go from having a wonderful uplifting week and one little things makes it come to crash and everything falls to pieces? Sure, we all have those times in our lives, and if those bad things never happened, we would never have anything exciting to look forward or build up to. A lot of times these events seem unfair and completely out of the blue, but after the storm is over and you look back starting when things were good and now see how much stronger and closer you are with God it makes all the bad things worth the pain.

There are so many ingredients to a cake and when they are mixed together and cooked, it turns out to be so delicious! But if you were craving a cake, and have been craving one for several weeks now so you ordered a cake, and the cook brings out a cup of cooking oil, 2 cups of flour, a couple of raw eggs and dumped them all in one bowl and handed it to you…would you eat it? I hope your answer to this is no!! You would think that this was the most disgusting cake ever and you would be so upset because that craving you have been longing for still has not been fulfilled.

But this totally represents our life! God gives us this big baking pan to fill with great things that glorify him. And what do we do with it? We begin filling it ingredients like: TV, Facebook, gossip, social time, anything that takes our time away from God. So He begins filling it with things that will test your faith in Him, things that will make you feel like your world has come to an end. So you begin emptying that pan of evil ingredients of the world and filling with ingredients God. All of a sudden God begins mixing those challenges he has placed in your pan, and as you continue to walk with God he warms those ingredients, puts a dab of icing on it and a cherry on top and shows you that He is here to help you, and show you that all of these challenges work for the best of each of us.

God wants us to continue to grow with him. He knows that if you are not walking, talking, and listening to what He has to say, you will never be prepared for the things He has planned for you in the future. Romans 8:28 ~ “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”