I was walking back to my dorm room and I saw this in the sky. To be honest, the first thing I thought of was how high the pollution level must be today. But as I looked at it some more, I thought how cool it was that so many people were traveling in so many different directions each with their own destination in mind. Of course, then it turned into a spiritual thought, which is why I am now posting in my blog. :] God has a plan for each of us. Each of those plans lead us in different directions: some to a life of solitude, some to a life of multitude; some to a medical field, some to a law field; some to being an artist, some to being a musician; some to being a stay-at-home mom, some to traveling the world. Whatever He has planned for us, the reality is that those plans gives us hope and a future. His Word says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). At some points along the way, however, we may veer off course a little. If you notice in the picture, not all of the lines are perfectly straight. However, God also gives us yet another promise: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Even if we cannot see how we will get to the end result (spending eternity in Heaven with Him), He does promise that if we trust Him regardless of what our eyes tell us, then He will straighten our paths for us. He will provide a straight-shot between us and being with Him forever. I don't know about you, but... That sounds like a promise worth trusting. :]

United We Stand

There's a power I feel when I hold someone's hand. It's a different kind of power for each person's hand I hold. For example, I feel something different when I hold my mom's hand, when I hold my boyfriend's hand, when I hold my best friend's hand, or when I hold my three-year-old nephew's hand. Regardless of who's hand I have the pleasure of holding, I feel a power. It's a power that cannot be contained nor can it fully be explained. But it's power that, for a moment, that person and I cannot be stopped; we are invincible. 

There's a power I feel during worshipping God through music. It's a different kind of power for each song that gets played. For example, I feel something different when a slower worship song is played or when an upbeat, beat-on-the-instruments song is played. Regardless of the song, I feel a power. It's a power that cannot be contained within the four walls of a sanctuary nor can the presence of God be fully explained outside of that room. But it's a power that, for a moment, no matter what else is occurring in life outside of those walls, it's just God and me together. 

There's a power I feel when I hold someone's hand during worship. There's an even greater power I feel when the person on the microphone stops singing in the mic, and it's just the group of people singing together before God. There's an EVEN GREATER power I feel when both of those are combined. It's an absolutely breathtaking power. It's a power that, just for a moment, the body of Christ is finally united once again. 

John 17:23 in the New Living Translation says this: "I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." Jesus is speaking to our Father, asking that because the Father is in Him, may Jesus also be in us, so that we can experience unity and so that we can know that the Father loves us. 

There was a moment I had during a worship service where I completely relinquished everything I had weighing me down to my Father. The worship team was worshipping straight from the heart, and so was I... And so was everyone in the room, including my best friend beside me. We were on the floor, bowing before the King, and pouring our hearts to Him. A few moments later, she reaches over, grabs my hand, and we raise our arms up high in worship. We were declaring our submission to the King. We were declaring that we are experiencing the power that He has placed over and throughout the room. In that moment, we were experiencing unity. It was a moment I will never forget, because, in that moment, I experienced God and His love and His unity in a way that was truly remarkable. 

Imagine if we took that same power outside of the four walls of a sanctuary. Imagine if we lived metaphorically holding someone's hand. Imagine if we lived holding God's hand! Imagine if we, instead of keeping His power contained, we, as Jesus says, "experience such perfect unity that THE WORLD will know" of God's love. Imagine if, just for a moment, we decided to trust God, grab His hand, and walk beside Him throughout life. Just imagine... 

The Taxi Driver and I

When I was a little girl, my mom and I would play a game she invented called, "Taxi Driver." My mom's car would become a taxi, she would be the taxi driver, and I would be the passenger telling her how to get to my house from wherever we were at the time. I used to love playing this game! My mom obviously knew how to get to our house, but I, at such a young age, was clueless. At first, I would tell her to turn down crazy streets that aren't even near our house. But, she was patient and would ask me to try again. I would point to a street and she would nod yes or no. It was up to me to pay attention to her head nods and shakes to get us home. Because of this game, I now know how to get home from wherever I am. 

This is the story I thought of when I read this verse yesterday: 

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?"

--Proverbs 20:24 NIV84

Let's take this verse piece by piece. 

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord." Each step that we take in life is shown to us by God. Let that just sink in for a minute. God, the one, true God, the Almighty God, the eternal God, directs our steps. He shows us, mere humans, where to go. He leads us along a path that He has preordained for each one of us. No path is the same, but they all lead to God. How beautiful is that?! When I played that game as a child, my mom was driving the car; she was directing where to go and how to get home.

This verse, however, is contingent upon something else: our loyalty to God. You see, God has a plan for each of our lives. He places us on a path that will eventually lead to Him in eternal glory. We must choose to stay on that path by listening to His calls and allowing Him to direct our paths. The unfortunate problem is...life gets in the way sometimes. We decide earthly things are more appealing than His grace and mercy. When that happens, we stray from His directed path and follow our own path. Watch what the MSG version of the same verse says about this: "The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?" The important word here is otherwise, meaning we choose something else besides allowing God to direct our steps. That word means that we take on God's position for ourselves, because something else looks better than God's plan. The next part of the MSG says, "How would we know where we're going?" Now I don't know about you...but when I decide my own ways are better than God directing my steps, I get lost and confused. I become so caught up with the world and so far off the path God already mapped out for me, that I find myself wandering aimlessly. Again, playing that game as a child, while my mom knew where we were supposed to go, I would sometimes choose the wrong streets to turn down. I had to pay attention to what she was telling me so we could get home safely. 

Well, I have to be even more honest. Along with mostly choosing my own ways instead of God's, I even question His ways. In the NLT version, it says this: "The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" This version hits me over the head with such truth! If God truly is the one and only God, if He truly is sovereign and knows all, and if He truly loves me and wants the best for me, then who am I to question Him? Who am I to demand Him to explain His plan to me? Who am I to follow Him but then doubt the journey He has me on? Who am I to try to understand everything along the way? God has shown me bits and pieces of what He has planned for me but never the whole picture. And you know what, I may not like that sometimes, but if He is directing my steps, then I will follow Him no matter what! As a child, while I may have thought a certain street looked like our street, my mom knew better. She knew how to get home and would tell me how. I may have thought differently, but I had to trust that because she was driving the car, she knew where to go. 

Even if I choose another path besides the one God directs for me, His Word offers hope. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV84). I could not have said it better myself. If I am honest with Him and tell Him that I have strayed, He is a merciful God who will forgive me and place me back on His path. No matter where you are in life or how far you may have strayed from Him, He is ready to bring you back home. :]

Life Lessons with Ronald Weasley

For all you Harry Potter fanatics like myself... In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Professor Trelawney asks Ron Weasley to read Harry's tealeaves. [Excuse the slightly sacrilegious Harry Potter reference]. Ron says this about what he sees in Harry's cup: "Oh yeah... well, Harry's got a sort of wonky cross... that's trials and suffering. And, uh, that there could be the sun, and that's happiness, so... you're gonna suffer... but you're gonna be happy about it..."

Beside that fact that Ron is most definitely not a fortune teller, I was reminded of his interpretation while reading my Bible tonight. [Ha!] I read Jesus Calling and lately God has been speaking to me about being joyful despite life circumstances. A line from what I read today (July 23) says, "Hold My hand in joyful trust for I never leave your side." It doesn't just say, "Hold My hand in trust..." It says, "Hold My hand in joyful trust...," meaning that I should trust God and be joyful in all things no matter what. 

A Biblical example would be Paul, who had quite a rough life once he decided to follow Jesus. He, of all people, should be able to just say, "Forget it," and quit the whole "Jesus thing." But nope. In the midst of everything he was going through, he said, "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 AMP). He suffered, yet, was still happy about it, so he reminded the Philippians twice to rejoice. He didn't want them to forget that God is present and that they must gladden themselves in God's grace. 

We, too, must rejoice. Life, for me, has been pretty crazy lately. However, I have no reason why I shouldn't give thanks to God and rejoice in Him. After all, He gives me breath each moment. No matter what I go through, I can joyfully trust that He is in control, that He will never leave me or forsake me, and that He is at work in all things! What an amazing Father!

Huh. Who woulda thunk that THE Ronald Weasley would give me a life lesson... :]

"Hail"elujah

So long story short... My nephew was kidnapped by his mother back in December. So it has now been over two months. After long processes through court and blah blah, he still isn't home. However, my family and I are trusting God. We know that in His perfect timing, He'll bring my nephew home. 

Well, this past Friday, we received some bad news: the detective has stopped looking for my nephew. As you can imagine, my mom was quite upset. 

Also this past Friday, a terrible storm passed through middle Tennessee. My mom and I were on our way to Clarksville to volunteer at a tobyMac ... :] ... concert. We drove right. Through. The. Middle.

As we were driving, I could feel a theological moment coming on. I looked at my mom and said, "Ya know, no matter the size of the storm, we always come out on the other side much stronger than we went in."

Then... The hail started coming down and banging all over my car. After looking at pictures of some of the hail in other parts of middle Tennessee, I was thankful the hail was as small as it was. But as it kept hitting my car, I immediately thought of the picture that has been circulating Facebook. 

If my mom and I were not in my car during the storm, we would have gotten hit by huge impacts of rain, wind, and hail. But we were protected by car. Now imagine my car as Jesus. Through every storm, things come at us from every direction. But when we have Jesus on our side, He will protect us from every stone and challenge.

I then looked at my mom and said, "You watch. There'll be a rainbow once this storm is all over." I later got on Facebook and look at this picture I saw taken at my campus. 

We serve a great God, one who remembers His promises:

"And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

--Genesis 9:12-15

No matter what you are going through, remember that God has a plan for all things. Just like He brought my mom and I through a physical storm, He will also bring us through our spiritual storm. God is holding you and will take every hit in your life, because He has overcome. :]

"The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we're going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm."

--Luke 8:24

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

--John 16:33

Nothing but the Blood

So today... I gave blood for the first time, and I have no idea why I was so nervous beforehand. It could be because I've heard horror stories of people passing out and I was so afraid that I'd be that kid, too. But, I didn't. In fact, I feel absolutely fine. :]

But as I was giving blood, I realized something. ... The blood I'm giving is going to someone in need of it. Of course I knew that, but it just hit me. My blood... My healthy blood... Is going to heal someone... My blood is going to save a life... 

Sound familiar???

Jesus willingly gave His blood to save lives. He poured it out to cover a multitude, so we can be healed of our sinful diseases. What amazing love!

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

--Matthew 26:28

"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

--1 Timothy 1:14

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."

--Psalm 107:8

"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

--Psalm 106:1

:]

If Jesus Had a Resume...

NOTE: I didn't write this. It was sent to me in an email. But I think it's quite wonderful, so I hope you enjoy! :]

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address:     Ephesians 1:20
Phone:        Romans 10:13
Website:     The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
_____________________________________________________

Objective

My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume
because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please
consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Qualifications 

I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me,
(See Galatians 3:14)
_____________________________________________________________________

Occupational Background

I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ).
I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Skills and Work Experiences 

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be
poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing
the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are
bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall
dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33 ).
Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of
your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Educational Background 

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and
understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians
2:3).
My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet
and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Major Accomplishments 

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times,
(See Genesis 1:26 ).
I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15 ).
I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly,
(See Colossians 2:15 ).
I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can
read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't
need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

References 

Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing,
salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

In Summation 

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate
uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation,
I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into
everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the
essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

Send this resume to everyone you know, 
You never know who may have an opening!
Thanks for your help. 

...

Isn't this awesome?! I'd totally hire Jesus!!!