Monday, December 13, 2010

Fill Me Up

Pastors often use the analogy of a pitcher of water representing God's Spirit and cups representing us, God's vessels. They will pour the water into the smaller cups while quoting several scriptures concerning the overflow of God's Holy Spirit. These object lessons hold several valid points and clarify this entire spirit realm; however, these preachers frequently overlook a very important scenario.

Have you ever given numerous gifts to someone, simply expecting a gift in return? During December, many people give gifts, but they often bless someone with a present because of the expected benefits. This physical scenario translates directly into our spiritual journey with our Creator. When our best friends need help, we readily give it to them. Eventually, we realize the enormous amount of time we have invested in them, and we begin to expect something in return. We adorn the mindset, "Surely after all I have done for them, they will give back to me, right?" Unfortunately, the reality of their oblivion to our expectations leaves us second-guessing the past contributions to their well-being. We wonder why, after so much effort, we receive nothing in return.

God pours His Spirit into us just as a restaurant server pours water into a cup. Frequently, we pour out this gift into the cups around us. Pretty soon, surrounding cups fill with water while we stand empty. Thinking about the water we recently poured out, we wait and wait for the other cups to return our gift. This is where we go wrong. We can't expect these cups/friends to do anything for us; they are not the source of life and truth. The pitcher where our water originally came from, God, will administer the true gifts that we may need. James 1:17 tells us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (NKJV)

Throughout this season of giving, ask God to show you your motives behind your generosity, and make the necessary changes in order to seek out His presence versus the gifts of others.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Jesus Loves the Little Children

"Mom, do I have to go to Sunday School? I don't wanna!" As a younger girl, Sunday school never appealed to me. The teachers contantly changed. When I walked in the door, the adult standing at the front of the room often surprised me. Sometimes I didn't even know the person.


It seemed as though adults taught after seeing the ad in the bulletin rather than excitedly volunteering. Yes, some adults cared, but as a young child, I expected to understand this affection through fun classroom environments. Plus, the Bible stories seemed to run together. I promise you I learned the stories of Jonah, Moses and Daniel every year from the ages of 2 to 13. Don't get me wrong, these stories are important in our faith, but no teacher ever made learning fun. We sat in a desk, just like school, and learned the Bible. Other than one 5th grade Sunday School teacher, we played no games -- nothing.


Now, obviously Sunday School was not as bad as I make it sound, but this was what I saw as a little kid. Everything was magnified. What one word describes my childhood feelings towards Sunday School? Disappointment.


Now, as a 15-year-old high school student, I teach a 3rd- and 4th-grade Sunday School class. The kids make me laugh, and I enjoy every moment with them. I remember what it feels like as an 8-year-old kid whose parents force her to attend Sunday school; I'll never forget it, either. All children deserve a fun, loving environment where worries leave as Jesus takes over. God has called all members of the church to love these kids as our own for "such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14, NKJV).


Godly lifestyle begins to form during childhood. According to Barna Research, 43 percent of believers accept Jesus as their Saviour before the age of 13. This time of a child's life is critical to his/her spiritual health. The values established now will often last forever. As you live your everyday life, allow God to give you the eyes of a child. Let Him work through you as you impact the children around you.


"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever recieves one little child like this in My name recieves me" (Matthew 18:4-5, NKJV).

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Wheels on the Bus

As I sit here on the school bus, several types of people surround me. The avid book lovers and academic scholars read books and finish homework (myself included). Others sit quitely, patiently awaiting the moment they can run home, kick off their schoes and watch a good T.V. show. Starkly contrasted with these quiet bus riders, many loud teenagers blast innapropriate music, attempting to prove their popularity through cussing and not-so-nice jokes. I listen to cat fights, threats and unending gossip as I wonder about these people.

Every single person has a story, many of which I will never know. Because my parents have raised me with a strong sense of right from wrong, this behaviour puzzles me; I do not understand it. Nevertheless, I dare not judge them. Only God knows who they truly are, and only God can judge their lifestyle.

Paul explains in Romans 2:16 that God will judge the secrets of men. God has not given us the responsibility to determine the motives of other peoples' actions. They may not have a background full of church services and Sunday school lessons. When we take this responsiblity into our own hands, we eliminate God from our lives, telling Him that we posses the ablity to handle everything without Him. Matthew 7:2 tells us, "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you " (NKJV). That does not sound pleasant, considering my condescending tendancies. I guess everything boils down to love. When we love others with the same love God shows us, we will never judge, look down upon or talk hurtfully about our peers without knowing that the same measure we use will be passed right back to us. Rather, we will compassionately reach out, showing the world the true meaning of Christianity.

Who will you love?

Saturday, September 11, 2010

A Day for Remembering

How do we react when something unexpected occurs? Nine years ago, our nation received a wakeup call. Unexpectedly, two hijacked planes flew into the Twin Towers in New York City, one plane flew into The Pentagon in Washington D.C., and one plane crashed near Pittsburgh. The passengers on these planes never expected that their flights would end in unimaginable tragedy. They simply boarded the planes according to plans. Regretfully, so did the hijackers. Obviously, these people did not wake up knowing that September 11, 2001, would be the last day they would hug their children, their sisters and their parents. Nonetheless, many families still face the grief of losing loved ones nine years ago from today.

God calls us to live holy and godly lives in the last days of this earth. No ones knows when the last days are, "not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows," but we do know God's love (Matthew 24:36b NLT). We know how He calls us to live in peaceful accordance with our neighbors, both kind and aggravating. He calls us to forgive. Matthew 6:15 tell us that, "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (NKJV). Wow. You mean God won't forgive me if I don't forgive the people who hurt me? No. When we refuse to forgive, we surround our love for others and for God with impenetrable walls. We show no mercy, we show no love; we only want revenge. How can God forgive someone who shows no desire to be forgiven?

If today was your last day, how would your friends, family and neighbors react? Would they grieve the loss of a dearly beloved friend, or would they scoff at the sight of a bitter enemy who never once asked for forgiveness? Would they tell the world the legacy you left behind, or would they ashamedly claim they never knew you? I encourage you: forgive every grievance and live every day as if it was your last.

"But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live" (1 Peter 3:8-11, NLT).
Were you affected by 9/11? Post comments and/or questions below.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Live from Detroit 2010: More than Skills

After hours of navigating through thousands of anxious teenagers, I sit in the hotel room pondering Fine Arts as a whole. Why are we here? What is it about FAF that brings a nation of AG teenagers together?

I will never forget my first year of Fine Arts. While observing others perform their talents, I witnessed many participants heart-broken by the seemingly fruitless results of their efforts. It struck me as odd that people increasingly intertwine success with ratings and judges' approval. 

News flash: God didn't give you talent solely for the purpose of pleasing judges. While competition helps to strengthen these abilities, your certificate does not dictate who you are, how God will use you, where He will send you, or if you could ever be what God has called you to be. No matter what others may say, God is pleased when you humbly offer back to Him the talents that He has given you, and He will honor your selfless desire to draw near to Him through your gifts. 

As we continue to glorify God in Detroit, just remember to keep God first. Perform for Him so He can live through you. 

Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men " (NIV).

Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed"(NIV). 

Monday, July 5, 2010

Let Your Guard Down

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” How many times have I heard this verse? It seems like every pastor at every youth convention you will ever attend includes this in his message. It’s a given when thinking of our faith’s foundations. If this is so, why do we turn every direction looking for love and acceptance? Despite the fact that our “solutions” never mend our broken hearts, we continue placing ourselves in situations that are destined for failure.


God is a very real being. When we take His love and acceptance for granted, we grieve Him. He made us with a plan and purpose, and when we accept this, we will know God. I know we hear this all the time, but when will it sink in? No, God will not strike you down with a lightning bolt because you sinned. You say that I don’t know what you have done? You’re right. I don’t, but God does, and your sins can never change the way He thinks of you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. I don’t care if you rob a bank, take advantage of someone or commit murder. When you ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you. He’ll take your willingness to accept responsibility for your wrong-doings, and He will help you work through your past. So no matter what your life has been like, give God and His compassion a chance. Let Him show you who He really is. Ask Him to take away the perception you already have of Him and replace it with the reality of His faithfulness. I promise He won’t disappoint you.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Just Drive

“Don’t get too close -- WOA! Watch the mailbox! OK, that’s it -- easy now. You got it. Please, God, don’t let me die. OK. Woa, too slow. The people behind us are getting impatient. Go a little faster. Not that much! It’s OK. It’s going to be OK.”

I got my permit last Wednesday, and life has definitely been an adventure since then. After a week of driving in the neighborhood, my dad decided to make me drive on the highway. I did not think I was ready for that. Turns out, I was. Who knew? Granted, I’m not the greatest driver in the world, but I’m alive, right?

Lately I have been thinking about my new turn in the road of life (pun intended). During our hour-long drive I told my dad, “This is like placing a two-month old in the middle of the ocean and telling him to swim.” His answer: “Exactly.”

In real life, God knows what is best for us. Sometimes He even throws us where He desires us despite the fact that we feel incapable. You see, no matter what happens, God is ready to guide-even when we feel like giving up. Honestly, I would rather not drive down Highway 54 at 55 mph, but somewhere down the road, my willingness to step out of my comfort zone will benefit me. The simple fact that I continually trust God to keep me alive will help me when I don’t know what else to do in life. He patiently awaits the day when we look to Him for direction, for that will be the day when we learn how to trust.

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass” (Psalms 37:5, NKJV).

Friday, June 4, 2010

The Drive of a Lifetime

“Don’t get too close… WOA! Watch the mailbox!!! Ok, that’s it… easy now. You got it. Please, God, don’t let me die. Ok. Woa, too slow. The people behind us are getting impatient. Go a little faster. Not that much! It’s ok. It’s going to be ok.”

I got my permit last Wednesday, and life has definitely been an adventure since then. After a week of driving in the neighborhood, my dad decided to make me drive on the highway. I did not think I was ready for that. Turns out, I was. Who knew? Granted, I’m not the greatest driver in the world, but I’m alive, right?

Lately I have been thinking about my new turn in the road of life. (Pun intended) During our hour-long drive I told my dad, “This is like placing a two-month old in the middle of the ocean and telling him to swim.” His answer: “Exactly.”

In real life, God knows what is best for us. Sometimes He even throws us where He desires us despite the fact that we feel incapable. You see, no matter what happens, God is ready to guide-even when we feel like giving up. Honestly, I would rather not drive down Highway 54 at 55mph, but somewhere down the road, my willingness to step out of my comfort zone will benefit me. The simple fact that I continually trust God to keep me alive will help me when I don’t know what else to do in life. He patiently awaits the day when we look to Him for direction, for that will be the day when we learn how to trust.


“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass.” Psalms 37:5

Monday, May 3, 2010

Do I have to?

Mother’s Day is coming up, and let’s face it: We all have conflict with our mothers at one time or another. But there’s something about motherhood that we as teenagers cannot understand.

You know how our moms always answer our questions with, “Because I said so?” I don’t know about you, but this really frustrates me. I want to know why. As a parent, our mothers realize that we will not understand their explanations. Even if they try to tell us why, we still will not want to do the task at hand. This is part of being a mother: wisely guiding your child even when they think their way trumps your own.

Now, being a teenager is obviously different. When my mom asks me to clean the dishes, I usually grumble and complain. Why do I need to do this? I think to myself. But there’s one thing we always need to remember:

Mom is right.

Even if she messes up, she wisely messes up. It’s not easy to raise kids. Of course the road is going have a few potholes along the way. That being said, she is in authority. She drives us, the passenger, to the places she feels are best. She may even get lost along the way, but we submit to her. We trust that she loves us and only wants what will benefit us. A mother’s heart is not to hurt her children, even though that may happen in the process of the drive.

Don’t let your hurt or anger get in the way of showing your mother the love you have for her. Get creative. Make her something that she can treasure forever. No matter what you do, don’t forget that God has placed us under our mothers. Things will work out under her authority.

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you” (Romans 13:1-3, NLT)

Friday, April 9, 2010

What Ulterior Motives?

Why do we do what we do? Do we really want what's best for others, or do we want the glory?

I struggle with this. Jesus has clearly shown me what actions I should take. Many times, I complete these actions, but not for His reasons. Sure, I'll pray over you. But am I praying because I care for your deliverance, or am I praying because I want you to see my deep spirituality?

In Matthew, Jesus tells people to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. In many situations, the wolf may have started out with a bushy lamb tail. This one dishonest motive snowballs into a sense of pride, leading this wolf or teacher to teach for his own benefit. One by one, these motives add the sheep's ears, eyes, legs, and body until the costume completely covers the wolf. At first glance, you would never know that this "sheep" is not who he claims to be.

Recently God started bringing this issue to my attention. I went to an event with a discreet "wolf" teaching. Later on, I realized that I too struggle with pride and ulterior motives, even if I do not stuggle to the extent that this teacher struggles. But I do not have to let this disturbance take me over. I don't have to become the wolf in sheep's clothing just because I started with a little problem. I know what this problem is, and I know the deliverer. Now I have to trust Him. Once I give my entire life to Him, other people's views of my spirituality will no longer matter. They will no longer control my motives. I have the complete ability to live freely for Jesus. I can live out true and pure motives.

"People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16: 2-3, NLT)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Frazzled Until the End

What happens inside of you when you walk into a job interview? What about when you step on stage to display your talents? People react in different ways. Sometimes people flip out. Everything they have worked at and rehearsed flushes down the drain because of extreme nervousness. Occasionally, they may be flustered but won’t let the nervousness affect his or her performance. However, on occasions, the person performs better because of the anxiety. But what makes the difference between the frazzled interviewee and the person who has everything under control?

Experience plays a key role in how a person deals with nerves. Let’s say that I have never applied for a job, and I decide to inquire about a position with a pizza parlor. When I walk into that office for my first interview, I do not know what to expect. Will the employer be nice? Mean? Harsh? On top of my worries about the employer, I may not be able to anticipate the questions that the boss will ask me. I could simply let the worry from all of these “unknowns” cause me to mess up.

However, if I have already worked three jobs, I have a better idea of what will happen in my interview. I may not know exactly what to expect, but I know that I can handle the situation.

Similarly, when your science teacher mentions faith, how do you feel? Do you feel awkward or like you cannot handle the situation? When someone confronts you about your beliefs, do you answer them, or does your anxiety get in the way? God gave us an amazing gift. If you read the Bible or any Christian magazine, you are bound to hear about it. He sent his only Son — the only one He ever had — just to die for the countless sins that we commit every single day. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. I know you’ve heard it a million times, but think about it.

This incredible gift needs to be shared with those around us. You may get nervous at times. So do I. But we can't let it stop us from sharing the love of Christ. They need to hear what you know— and after a few times, I promise you, it will get easier.

“Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us … let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:18-20,22-24, NKJV)

The next time you get an opportunity to share what Jesus has done in your life, push the anxiety to the side. Just remember that the Holy Spirit will guide you and your words and you'll find yourself growing more and more as you get out there.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Just Let It Go

"This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go..."

—"Letting Go" from Francesca Battistelli's My Paper Heart album. Check it out at www.francescamusic.com.

Francesca Battistelli sings on letting go of her plans—the plans that she's made for herself in order to tune into God's direction. So often, we try to fix things and people the way we think they should be fixed. But what happens every time? The problem ends up bigger than when we started. Instead of taking matters into our own hands, perhaps we need to let it go. Maybe we even need to get past our fear of the unknown and trust God with all of the things, people and places that occupy our time. But how do we do that?

We get a great picture of how to "let go" from the prophet Ezekiel. His ability to release the day-in-day-out details was directly tied to his relationship with God—it was very tight-knit. He was so close to God that he saw a very descriptive vision of how he was to be led on his path. (See Ezekiel 1.) After the vision, God told Ezekiel, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you." (Ezekiel 2:1,NIV ) Although this doesn’t describe Ezekiel’s problems, it does paint a picture of what happens when we draw close to God.

When we share a deep relationship with our Creator, we can fulfill Mark 8:34, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and pick up his cross, and follow Me.” Even though we may still have junk in our lives, we follow God. We no longer strive to fix things by our own power; we will totally rely on God to carry everything (ourselves included). We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, because we have the daily renewal of confidence. We will know that no matter what's going down, God has got it covered. Peace and assurance will cover our lives. Through everything we will rest in God’s perfect will. What better place is there to be?

Friday, January 15, 2010

Seeing Red?

"Hey Sam, you look good today."
"What are you sayin'? You trying to dis me, punk?"
"No, I was ..."
"I won’t take this. You wanna fight?"
"No!"
"Oh I see. You think you’re better than me."


You can't escape them when you walk through the halls in school or out on the lawn during free period. You may hear them during drive time or while watching TV — those fighting words. It seems like everywhere you look there's always somebody angry - sometimes for no apparent reason whatsoever. Sometimes, I stop to think, What could possibly be going on in that person’s life that they would constantly throw out irritability and frustration? What is at the source?


You see, anger is never the root of the problem; it is the symptom of another issue. It can be a deep down illness — a build up from the stress of both internal and external sources — maybe a divorce, self-failure, broken friendship or simply from a lack of sleep. Whatever the case may be, the anger clouds over a person’s view of his or her environment and everyone around. It shows up as general frustration towards things and people and gradually can escalate to bully syndrome - cussing people out, beating people up, and generally having a bad attitude when dealing with relationships in general.


And it’s no surprise that Christians struggle with it, too. But what does the Bible say about anger?


“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still,” — Psalms 4:4, NKJV.


At first glance, this verse makes no sense whatsoever. God tells us to be angry? Impossible. If you dig into the roots of this verse, you may become even more confused. In the King James (KJV), Psalms 4:4 reads, “Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” The significance about this is that KJV uses “awe” instead of “anger.” Are they not opposites? The root says that one meaning of awe is “1) tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed.” To “rage” and be “excited” are definitely two different words.


The verse says that we can be angry, agitated or stirred by a circumstance but we should not sin in our anger — we should “be still.” This phrase, “be still,” means:
1. To be silent
2. To be still, die
3. To be struck dumb
4. “Niphal”— to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed … among other definitions.

In our anger we should be “struck dumb” — so we don’t do anything about the circumstances until we’ve had time to regain our sensibilities. Perhaps this is God’s way of calming us down. By being still, silent, and “struck dumb,” we calm down and “meditate within our hearts.”


If we stop long enough and meditate simply on God, our anger will “Niphal” — be destroyed. Why? We can’t be calm and angry at the same time.


There will always be something coming at as in life that has potential to ignite anger. But in the process, we have control over the choices that we make — to react or be still. When you feel anger rising, be still. Be totally reliant on the Holy Spirit. God will bring calmness to the situation and our spirits and show us the way to respond when we submit to Him.