Never give up, never surrender.

Live like that!

Somewhere in time, last month actually, I attended a concert.  It was the Rock-N-Worship Road Show.  This is a great concert, if you ever have the opportunity to attend, you should.  There were several bands.  Some played music geared towards an audience younger than me.  I could tell because I couldn’t understand a word they said, but I still enjoyed the music. 

My mother used to complain that she couldn’t understand my music, now I know what she is talking about.  Besides being completely impressed with LeCrea,  Mercy Me was also there and I am a big fan, but a song by Sidewalk Prophets totally captured my attention. I love the song, it is called – Live Like That.

Have you ever heard someone’s story and you say, wow, I want to live like that. I want to be courageous, smart, and compassionate.  I want to touch my world in a positive way, just like someone you heard about. I want Jesus to be made real to those around me. That is the essence of the song. 

It caused me to think back over people that I have written about in my blog.  William Wilberforce believed God called him to politics and he chose to show Gods love to others by standing up for those who had no voice.  He had perseverance.  He never gave up the fight.  He was intelligent and he used this to end slavery in Great Britain.  They never went to war, they legislated the practice away.  I want to live like that. I want to find my cause and fight for it.  Never wavering and never giving up. 

What about Amy Carmichael.  She was considered sickly and she was a woman. In her time, being a woman was a bigger handicap than being in ill health. She should have been confined to a house and waited on. Instead, she led services to reach out to underprivileged women.  She became a missionary and touched the lives of many children in India.  She trained other missionaries, sometimes writing books while lying sick in bed. She proved that God is not limited in who He can use. In our weakness, He can be stronger.  I want to live like that.  I want to do what others tell me I can’t do. Things I’m not strong enough for, rich enough for, or smart enough for. I want to display God’s strength in the midst of my weakness.

George Mueller, as a minister, saw a need in the street children of London.  He decided to do something about it. He knew that God calls us to take care of widows and orphans. He put his faith into practice and was able to feed, clothe and shelter thousands of kids. Yet he never asked for money and God always provided.  I want to live like that.  I want to have the faith to move mountains.  I want to have faith enough to trust God to feed thousands. 

I am not like the people listed above, but God still has a plan for me and God always knows best. God doesn’t make clone children, He makes individuals.  He calls each of us to stand strong in our faith and to serve God with reckless abandon. Holding nothing back, but giving our all to our Lord and Savior.   

Hebrews 12:1(NIV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Have you ever heard the term, never give up, never surrender? That it was we need to do.  We need to serve God without reservation and see what path He has carved out for us.

Heaven

I want to go there!

Somewhere in time, or better yet, sometime in the future, I’m going to heaven.  No, I haven’t gotten any bad news that tells me my life is about to end, but I know it will end someday.  When that day comes, I will be ready to go.

I was driving home from work, listening to the radio and I heard a song.  The lyrics were sung in a myriad of different dialects.  The thought hit me as I was driving down the road.  Heaven will be like that.  Every tribe, every tongue, every people will be there.  Imagine that.  Won’t it be amazing to look out over the throngs of people and see every skin tone, every eye color, and every hair color represented?  In people alone, heaven will be a colorful place, but it does not stop there.

Revelation 21:18-21 (The Message Bible) “The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the city was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City wall were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.  The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.”

Think about it.  With all the jewels making up the foundation and streets of translucent gold, all lit by the light of God’s glory, how can it be anything but amazing? 

If you haven’t read the book, titled “Heaven is for real” by Todd Burpo, I suggest you do.  In this book, the author’s young son dies and spends time in heaven and then comes back.  The parents don’t know this, the medical team never tells them.  Then one day, little Colton starts telling them about heaven.  Having heaven described through the eyes of a four year old boy is fun and interesting.  In his brief time in heaven, he saw some of the splendor of God.  He also saw the Jesus on a rainbow colored horse. That is something that would impress a little boy. 

It is hard for us to imagine heaven.  We really don’t have anything to base it on. I don’t know of a city with streets of gold, do you? There is nothing as peaceful in our world. In our world we have death, pain, sorrow, in the midst of our love and joy, but heaven will be different.  In heaven there is no pain, no suffering.  Every tear we ever cried will be wiped away.  Even if we thought of the most amazing place, we could rest assured that heaven will be better than anything we can think of.

I Can Only Imagine [Official Music Video] from goodnewstv on GodTube.

Another note about the book “Heaven is for Real.”  When young Colton was in heaven, the angels would sing songs to him.  When Colton asked for his favorite song, heard at most sporting events today, “We will Rock you.”  The angels would not sing that song to him.  Isn’t it nice to know that angels have good taste in music?   

John 14:1-3 (NIV) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.

St. Patrick

Who is that guy?

Somewhere in time, about the third century, a young man was out for a walk.  He lived on the isle of Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire at the time and he lived in relative peace.  This particular day, his peace was shattered and his world turned upside down.  He was out by the ocean.  We don’t know if he was fishing or just out admiring the view when he was captured by slave traders from a neighboring island.  They captured him and took him to Ireland where he was sold as a slave.

Alone on an island, he didn’t speak the language.  He had no money, no friends and no relatives.  He was no longer free, but a slave to whoever purchased him.  He was sent to tend the livestock out in the fields. I’m sure he had moments when despair threatened to overtake him, but he never completely lost hope. He used this time, to pray and cry out to God.  God always hears when we cry out to him, we may just not realize it right away.

I’m sure it seemed like a long time, but one night, while praying, he sensed God telling him how to escape.  If it wasn’t God’s voice, then it would be a fool hardy endeavor.  To help an escaped slave was punishable by death.  God told him to follow a certain road to the coast and there a boat would be loading that would give him passage back to Britain.  He did as instructed and followed the road, found the boat and was offered passage back to his home.

Finally, he was home, hallelujah!  He decided to enter the Priesthood, God had rescued him from slavery, so he would serve God, wholeheartedly, the rest of his life. 

While in seminary, he felt a burden for the people that had kept him in captivity.  He knew the people lived in spiritual darkness, he had seen it with his own eyes. They needed to hear about the love of Christ.  He told the church leaders of his plan and they tried to dissuade him.  Ireland was a rough land, the people would not listen, or so they thought.  The young man wouldn’t take no for answer.  Finally the church gave permission and with his new name, Patrick set out again, this time for Ireland by his own choosing.

Patrick brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to the sin darkened island of Ireland. Patrick loved the people and chose to demonstrate God’s love in many ways.  The people responded and turned to Christ.

It really is a wonderful story.  Patrick had to endure capture and slavery before he was free to demonstrate love.  Sometimes God brings us through things so that on the other side we can reach out for him in a new way, one we would have never thought of otherwise.  Be patient and trust, God always has a plan.

I would wonder what St. Patrick would think about the way we celebrate a holiday to commemorate his life.  I’m not sure he would be able to recognize some of the celebrations we have now. It might be more accurate to go to church, feed the poor or reach out in some way to those around us.  That would be more of a demonstration of the life of Patrick.

I started to think, if Patrick were here, what would he tell us.

2 Thessalonians 3:15-17 (NIV) “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

Patrick’s work is still evident on the island, as people are still turning to the Lord, even today.  Below is a video from a group of Irish young people that are choosing to serve the Lord through music.  I think Patrick would approve.

Rend Collective Experiment - Second Chance (Official Music Video) from emimusic on GodTube.

Grace

It’s Amazing

Somewhere in time, July 24, 1725, John Newton was born.  If you never heard of John Newton, he wrote the hymn, Amazing Grace.  I have been thinking about Grace a lot lately.  I have a plaque, which says in big letters, Grace, and below that in smaller letters, it’s amazing.  It was given to me as a gift by a former student, and it has moved with me to every new work place.  I have also been reading a book about Grace.  All of this made me think about grace and the song, Amazing Grace.

John Newton was born into the family of a merchant sailor.  His mother filled his young life with spiritual instruction, but she died and he went on board ship with his father.  In 1744 he was impressed into service on another ship. This was not quite the same as working with his Dad. He was treated terrible and he deserted.  They found him, beat him and put him to work on a slave ship.   This wasn’t much better, but he was able to find a way to captain his own ship, but it was another slave ship. 

He did this for a few years, but one night, May 10^th 1748, his ship was caught in a violent storm and he feared all would be lost.  Not sure what else to do he cried out to God for mercy and his ship survived.  He credits this as the day of his conversion.  His life changed at that moment.

John Newton left the sea faring life and went on to become a minister.  He wrote many hymns, but Amazing Grace has lasted the test of time.  I think all of us understand the benefits of Grace.   We know there is nothing we can do to make us good enough for heaven, but we don’t have to worry. Christ took our punishment on the cross.  He paid the price we couldn’t pay and gave it to us as a free gift if we only believe.  That’s grace.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (The Message Bible) “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living; tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus our Messiah

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play a major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing. No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”

There is a dispute over the melody of Amazing Grace, some say it was the melody of a folk song.  Others say it was the melody of a song the slaves sung in the hold of the ship while they were being transported.  I choose to believe this version.  It would be just like God to stamp redemption on the sound of captivity.

The words to the song have been changed over the years, new versus added and slight changes made, but the words below are believed to be original to the song.  I found this on www.anointedlinks.com/amazing-grace

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John Newton cried out to God in the storm of his life and God heard him.  The change made in John’s life has been evidenced for over two hundred years. 

I was not saved from running a slave ship, but I was saved none the less from my sins and transgressions against God.  It doesn’t matter what God has brought you out of, Grace still brought you out and grace will always be amazing.

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace from wowonline on GodTube.

The video is from the movie, Amazing Grace.  One of my all-time favorite movies. 

A Father's Love

To Protect and Provide

Somewhere in time, a few months ago, we preordered the new Casting Crowns CD.  We ordered it mainly because my husband likes the song “Courageous”.  On the disc is a song that I wouldn’t normally attribute to Casting Crowns. Instead of being sung by Mark Hall as most of their songs are, the song is sung in a beautiful and very feminine voice.  The song is called, “Just Another Birthday.”

When I first heard the song it broke my heart. I think it’s hard for a girl to grow up in this day and age.  What they are shown on television and movies as the ideal female is fantasy.  Most magazine covers are touched up, so young ladies starve themselves to look like something that only exists in photo shop.  We trade timeless beauty for sex appeal.  We change gentleness for a smart mouth and quick wit.  But then I listened to a video where Mark Hall told why they wrote the song.  It was a wakeup call to fathers. 

Sixteen finds me

Blowing out candles and making wishes

And all around me

Is everyone but the one I’m wishing for

And he sent me flowers

And gift-wrapped excuses

From a daddy whose daughter

Wants to see him again

And I know, I know

It’s just another birthday

But I guess I thought

This would be the one

When he would call me, see me

Hold me and free me

But it’s just another birthday

And I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine

The story starts with an absentee father.  You know it is so difficult today.  Many girls are growing up fatherless.  Even the ones with fathers have trouble, because no father is perfect.  I started thinking, what is the role of a father.  There are many, but two of the things they are supposed to do are protect and provide. 

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Even when our earthly Father’s fail us, God is still there.  He is there to fill in the gap and he protects and provides for us. 

We know God provides.  He promises to supply all our needs according to his riches and glory.  What could be better than that?  I don’t think we realize that he protects.  I know we pray for God’s protection every time we leave the house, but do we really believe that God watches over us?  What about all the bad things that happen. 

In the Bible, God gives us guidelines for living.  He tells us to live moral lives.  In this He is trying to protect us.  He does not want us pregnant and alone or dying from some sexually transmitted disease or heartbroken over giving so much to someone that was using us for his or her own pleasure. Telling us to stay away from that pain, is not a rule, but it’s love.

God also tells us to forgive.  We may have a perfect right to be angry, but the anger just eats us up inside.  The anger does not hurt the one who wronged us, but it does hurt us.  God tells us to forgive because He loves us and he does not want us to be hurt and bitter.  He wants us to trust him.

God also says other things in his word about not bearing false witness, not lying or stealing.  Put yourself on the other end of one of these actions.  How would you feel if someone were to tell a false story about you or steal from you?  I had my house broken into once, it felt terrible.  God tells us not to do these things because He loves us and He knows we can’t hurt others and leave ourselves unhurt, He wants to protect us.

We have a habit, of living how we want to live, but when things fall apart, we question God.  If we had followed him all along, maybe things wouldn’t have fallen apart.

People, who don’t know Christ, think He is a hard task master, demanding perfection from his followers.  They couldn’t be more wrong.  He is a loving father, trying to protect his children.

I think that puts a whole new perspective on the Ten Commandments.  They are not orders from on authoritarian God, but directions from a loving father.  Just like the ones we might have received from our earthly fathers telling us to look both ways before crossing the street or not to stick your finger in the light socket.  He was trying to protect us, just like God does.

God is the father we always wanted and we don’t always realize it. 

At the end of the song, it says God is a father to the fatherless. Isn’t that is an amazing thought.

Psalm 68:5 (NIV) “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”

The next time you feel you really need a loving Father, just remember He left us a love letter (the Bible) and He is just a prayer away.   

  

Casting Crowns - Just Another Birthday from providentlabelgroup on GodTube.