Redeem the day ...

The intensity of redeeming our days while living them whole heartedly for our God stirs with in my soul. My eyes well up with tears as I ask myself, do I really live completely for YOU Father? Do I reflect YOU to others? Am I allowing Your Spirit to lead and direct my life and in every area? Have I honored YOU in this very day, You gave me to live? Redeeming the time… As I type this…I am longing for the Lord to draw me close to His heart….as I dig deep within myself to express my thoughts and emotions for this post…I long and desire to truly rest in Jesus, within this new day, and possible new journey He has me on… Recently, my world has been shakin. I have been brought to a place that is very uncertain. Although I have peace that my Savior is absolutely in control, the reality of today for me is, “how I going to live within this”? Am I going to walk out my faith? Can I? Will I be able to point others to Christ during this time? Can I really say that this life, this body is a sacrifice unto God and God alone? Father, Abba, I cry out! Take this cup…..use this for Your glory, and Your glory alone. I can only move ahead in faith with Your strength, I can only smile and trust if You will fill me, I can only bask in Your mercy and goodness If You will take my eyes off of this uncertainty, and completely fix them upon Your grace and love shown to me at the cross. We have all heard of the importance and value of redeeming our days…Making the most of those whom the Lord allows us to enjoy fellowship with and minister too, because honestly, none of has the promise of tomorrow…But we do have right now. My heart in this post is to encourage each of you and myself to embrace the day in which the Lord has given, look to those around you and tell them you love them, or show them kindness by serving them. Most importantly, forgive those who have hurt you and ask for forgiveness from those who you have hurt or offended. In all situations and circumstances I believe the Lord is after our heart, our true intentions are at the core…..how will we live, how will we love, how will forgive, and how will serve, how will we trust? Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.. Do not be anxious about your life.. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?... But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you… Matt. 6: 19,25,27,33 ESV In Him we are given life, life anew, and life forevermore…amen! Recognize this, and decide today whom you will serve…. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. ~Learning to Rest in Him

Guest Post~ A Lily among Thorns...

Every girl dreams of a prince charming, right? Someone who will heroically win your heart with acts of tender kindness. We all figuratively in a way sit the window in our tower gazing at the skies. Dreaming of when a knight valiant enough to slay the evil dragon, who we were a slave of, would come and rescue us from our distress and take us to far off land where we can be free and live happily ever after… *sigh* Presently, a wish like that seems so far away… In reality it seems like godly warriors don’t exist anymore or if they do, they are quite rare. It appears that men today are alright with women taking the lead all around them. They sit back and just go with the flow, as if they don’t care that their God-given manliness is being drained by strong willed women. I am confident it goes all the way back to the fall. Adam and Eve were the glorious creation of God. Everything was perfect. Adam came first, and he was lonely. God knew his heart and made Eve out of Adam’s flesh to be his helper and closest friend. Man first, woman second. “For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 But then the scheming and treacherous serpent (dragon) questioned God’s instruction toward them which was only to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge and good and evil. Eve wanted more than what God had given them. They had all the other lush trees to eat of, but why was she drawn to the forbidden tree? Because God had strictly commanded them not to eat of it. I believe we are naturally drawn to things which are against our Savior’s teachings. Simply put, it’s our flesh. And that was the curse of the fall. Because of it, there will always be constant friction toward woman wanting more… more power…. and more authority …which rightfully belongs to the man. Because of the effect that women taking the lead has had on man, it’s most likely why men don’t want to be men. Honestly, look around. What do you see? Sin is everywhere…More specifically, the God~given roles of women and men are blurred…..Where did all of the beautiful maidens go? Longing to love their homes and families? And the gallant knights? Are you not leading in the ways of the Lord, preparing yourself to be a man of valor? Is there no virtue left in this world? Even though it may seem as if maidens and knights are floating away in the distance, I know that there is still hope for this lost world today. And that it is in Christ Jesus. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places” Habakkuk 3:17-19 Christ is the perfect Prince Charming there will ever be. His love never fails.He is faithful to us and loves us with his overwhelming grace. He is the one who will show you true leadership, and He is the one who will help you be that sweet submissive woman. So I ask you. Where are you men of courage? Are you going to stand up for you sisters in Christ in this world full of evil? And where are you maidens of virtue? Are you going to strive to be the kind of gentle~spirited princess a knight desires to rescue? Or are you going to blend into the world to look like them? Where will you stand? Fluttering4Him, A~C~G 2 Corinthians 5:17

Guest Post ~Five Smooth Stones

Wednesday, April 25, 2012Total Surrender As I head into my speech and debate tournament, which is Thursday to Saturday, I always pray the same prayer, “Lord I surrender this tournament to You, whether I win or lose, whether I break or get last, I surrender it to you” I pray this prayer especially with my favorite category Apologetics, which is defending the faith. In Apologetics there are 121 questions, three of which you will be asked, and you will pick one to do, it could be anywhere from Define and Defend the significance of the Immutability of God, to, How could Jesus be both God and man? People prepare 6 minute speeches on these topics, on 4 by 6 index cards. My personal opinion is that this event is the one that will last a lifetime. But one question I have to ask myself is, “Am I absolutely surrendered in and out of these tournaments?” I believe this is a question all Christians should ask themselves. The Bible over and over tells us to live for God and God alone, as Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We are called to be living sacrifices for God, totally surrendered to God, it is our reasonable service, because it was God who gave us new life. We are also called not to be conformed to the sinful world. As Matthew 16:24-25 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘ if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up His cross and follow Me. For whosoever desires to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” We are called to deny ourselves of our flesh and follow with all our heart after Him. In the Jewish culture, a rabbi’s disciple followed so close to their rabbi that they would want to be covered with the dust of the rabbi’s feet. Are we following so close to our Lord that His dust covers our face? But know that we will suffer persecution, as 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” We will suffer persecution in this life, because we are living for Christ, but remember Jesus’ words in John 15: 18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” But also remember the words of James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” In trials we are sanctified to be more like Christ. Luke 14:33 says, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.” We have to be in absolute surrender to God in all of our lives. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We live by faith and not by sight for Christ, because our old self was crucified with Christ when we accepted Him as savior in our lives. If we trust in the Lord with all our heart, He will direct our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) but not only will he direct our steps, but He will bless us (Psalm 34:8) and we need to commit our works to the Lord and our thoughts will be established (Proverbs 16:3) When we surrender, we may plan out things, but the Lord directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9) We are called to glorify God in Everything we do. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods.” To think that God literally dwells in us is so awesome (awe-inspiring) But knowing this, we are to glorify God in everything we do. Colossians 2:6 says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” We are to walk and abide in Him, but what happens when you abide in Him, John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” We will bear fruit for Christ. But what happens to a branch that bears fruit, God prune it to bear more fruit (John 15:2b) We will go through tribulations so we may bear more fruit for Christ. One of my favorite songs is In Christ Alone, sung by Brian Littrell, the words say, “I can stop and count successes, like diamonds in my hand, but those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand…In every victory let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone” May we truly surrender our lives to Christ and to give all glory where it is due. Five Smooth Stones Romans 12:1-2

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."
(Romans 12:9)

In the midst of pressures and influences dictated by popularity and emotions, the Christian identity has been compromised under the flag of cultural assimilation and personal subjectivity. Religious syncretism is rife. "Toleration" and "love" have been made excuses for defying absolutes and accountability.
Paul here in Romans admonishes believers to love without hypocrisy, a real genuine affection and action of godly sacrifice. But he then further writes to "abhor what is evil" and "cling to what is good." That statement defies most banners we have flown over our lifestyles and decisions as a nation, as individuals, and sadly at times as the church.
Gray has blinded the lines of what is right and wrong too often. We take things from the world and slap a Christian label on it. We rationalize. We justify. We excuse ourselves from truly rejecting darkness, and we have our list of reasons. But can we honestly look God in the eyes and say what we have allowed to be "ok" is acceptable according to Him and His Word?
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 grows a bit on the same thought in Romans, "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
"From every form of evil? Test all things? Well if my church is doing it, it must be ok, right?" "Oh come on; it can't be that bad!" We have all heard that little voice trying to sanitize and Christianize what we know is not right.
When it comes to popular media, we desperately need a fresh look at God's Word. If God has so called us to love Him with all of our mind, we need to know what that looks like. Therefore, we need to know how to discern popular media so that we are not sucked into compromising our Christian identity of solely living for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This topic is touchy, I know. But I believe we are only so sensitive because we have compromised the standard we are called to live by in God's Word so much to fit what we want and hunger.
Let's dive into a couple passages of Scripture.
1 Peter 1, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Here believers are to hold fast to their calling. They are to gird, prepare or guard, their minds resting fully upon the grace that God has been blessed upon them. Then, Peter continues that we are to do so "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"
"In all our conduct?" Yes. In all our conduct, we are to be not conforming to our former lusts but be pursuing holiness. Not for us, however. We live holy by and for the only Holy One as we live in Christ Jesus.
Deuteronomy 23 also talks about this, "When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing...For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you."
Although God was commanding the Israelites to be clean in a physical aspect, the command can also be seen with a dual instruction of also being spiritually clean as He taught them in previous texts. God's people are to live under the Lordship of God, for is He imminently involved in our lives. Do we as believers view popular media as if He is watching and reading it with us? Would He find it pleasing? Does He find it glorifying Him and having us all the more focus on Him?
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Here Paul lays out the ultimate criteria. Does what we view display all of these traits? What we watch at home and in theaters, what we read printed on pages, will be meditated in our minds. What our we meditating on?
Paul continues in verse 9,"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." God shows here an organic relationship between what we think and what we do. What we fill our minds with will inevitably influence how we choose to live. Therefore, what content and images we open into our minds will bear great significance.
For example, although popular opinion says Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games are all great movies to watch, can we honestly admit that these movies line up to the above criteria? I challenge you, as I am challenging myself, to refine what we mean by loving God with all our mind. He views every thought. Would He be pleased and glorified? Or is there something else stealing the attention and adoration He so deserves?
In the mentioned movies, there is blatant murder, gore, sorcery, false romance, nudity, sensuality, and the glorification of what is darkness in the eyes of our Lord.
"Oh, but there is a good side and bad side, and the good guys always win!" Good and evil is defined by who in this work? The secular author with no biblical standards or convictions?
"Oh, but it's real. This really happens in the world around us!" Well, sex slaves, abuse, homosexuality, lewdness, satanic activity and worship with many more forms of evil are real and rampant in our world, so is that an excuse to go view it and fill our minds with it?
"Oh, well I'll just close my eyes on that part." Why would you watch a movie that you have to close your eyes on? You are still going to get a glimpse of that image.
A great analogy I once heard was brownie baking. If the cook decided to cook the brownie with a little feces, would you eat it? You can try to spit out the junk, but guess what, the poop is mixed into all the brownie as these secular authors mix all their junk throughout their stories.
Here is another example. A friend of mine went to go watch a Marvel movie with his youth group when it first hit the cinema. The film was based off on one of his favorite old superhero, kid comic strips. The comics were innocent; how bad could the movie be? Plus, if the youth group is going, hey, it must be ok, right? During the movie, he stood up and walked out. Why? That large screen displayed a naked woman, and as the Word of God commands, that is not an image he is to allow into his mind. What would his wife think if he allowed his eyes to stare at this bare actress? What would our future spouses think of similar images we accept into our minds? Purity of mind is of utmost priority.
Isaiah wisely warns, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20) Whose standards are we living by? Ours? Or Jesus'?
1 John 2:6, 28-29, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked… And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” Is this us?
After telling the Thessalonians to test all things, abstain from every form of evil, hold to what is good, Paul begins to close off with the following words and so will I as I pray you will open your heart and surrender to God. He will lead you to live as He wishes for you to live, a life that wholly worships Him.
Life is not about us. Life is all about Him. We are to have the mind of Christ. Is that what we are holding to? Are we walking and thinking in the Spirit or in the flesh?
Remember, ultimately what we think will lead to what we do. The mind has such an influence into how we live. We need to follow the words of Scripture as it shows that if we are to think biblically we will live biblically. We need to love our God and Savior without hypocrisy. God should get the glory as He so deserves it. Is that our goal in how we live? Is that our goal in how we intake cultural media?
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
~LJG

My portion...

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:2-4, 6-10, 17, 18 KJV)

Confessions....

Not a day goes by that I am not enthralled by Your faithfulness...Your beauty, and the declaration of Your Glory all around me....I see You in my trials, and struggles....I feel You when I rest in Your loving arms...I know You hear my prayers and heart felt pleadings...You have declared to me, that You will fight for me....That You sing over me...and that You will come again for me.

Am I ready? Am I without spot or blemish? Is my lamp full?

My eyes fill with tears ....Lord, You tell us to examine ourselves....to confess, to repent, and to turn to You with all our heart, mind and soul.

Father, Here I am.....stopping the world around me to be still before You...I see my great need for Your cleansing and washing of my ways....I desire Your hand of mercy....grace...and forgiveness.....search my heart, oh Lord, and reveal any unconfessed sin within me...Be before You and You alone ...laying down my life, my cares, my frustrations, my joys and my most of all my will.....I want be at the end of myself, completely empty....

Then, like the rain that pours forth from the heavens, Your Spirit rushes over me...Bathing me in Your truth, Your way, and Your life....

Filling me with YOU.