These past 2 weeks have been just unbelievably confusing and difficult, yet so sweet and eye-opening at the same time.
A couple of my friends have been struggling with the all-too-popular dilemma of "How can I follow a God who is inherently 'unloving' enough to send people to Hell?" That's a great question. One that many people are unable to answer, and even more people have a hard time grasping. If God was an all-around "nice guy" that just let everyone into Heaven maybe more people would follow Him...
But what kind of God would you be serving if that were the case?
See the thing is, you have to imagine what life would be like if God were to just let everyone into Heaven. You would be a robot, unable to make your own decisions or control your own thoughts because God would have to force you to choose Jesus. He would have to force you to believe in Him, love Him, and serve Him. What kind of Creator would that be? An unfair and unloving one.
God is a just God. There are two good definitions for the word "just". One is "deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward." The first truth we have to grasp is that we are sinners, Every single stinkin' one of us. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. You know what our deserved sentence or punishment should be? You got it! DING DING DING... hell. We deserve hell. Yet, Jesus first of all came to Earth for us. Earth is GROSS. We live in a messed up, crazy, dirty, rotten world that is full of destruction, pain, and despair. Jesus was doin' just fine up in Heaven chillin with God. But He came DOWN HERE to save us. Then He died one of the most painful deaths you could ever die, and He didn't even deserve it because He did absolutely nothing wrong.
So God is also "guided by truth, justice, and fairness" (second definition for just). Contrary to what many people believe, God is fair. We deserve hell, but He made a way so we could be saved from that. If we choose to believe in Him and accept Jesus as our Savior, then we no longer are given the penalty of going to hell. We now receive the reward of Heaven and living eternally with our loving Creator.
I know it's a hard truth to grasp. I have been a Christ-follower for almost 8 years now and I still get upset with God sometimes. That is why I've had a rough time these past 2 weeks. It's so hard to grasp that the God who is so loving and full of grace and mercy is also the God who allows people to go to hell, especially people who we are closest to.
But the thing is, hell is a reality. And the first thing you need to worry about is yourself. You can go to God and ask Him the hard questions, like this issue I've brought up. You can yell at Him and question Him. He can take it. But running away from Him because you think He's mean and unloving is so stupid. You need to get to know Jesus first, then you won't have to worry about hell. Then you can pray for your friends to know Jesus so they don't have to worry about hell either.
Think about it.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
WORK.
My friend challenged me about a week ago with choosing one verse from Proverbs 31 that will "define my semester" of growth. I will pray this verse constantly so by the end of this semester this verse will describe me more as a woman of God.
The verse I chose is verse 17.. "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."
I always like to look up verses in the Message version. This is what it says for this verse... "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, and is in no hurry to call it quits for the day."
I can only imagine all the work I would get done if this was my attitude in life. Most of the time I want to sleep in until at least 10. Then I lolly gag around and maybe get some work done if I really feel like it. I definitely want to "call it quits for the day" about 10 minutes into my work.
God calls us to be hard workers. In Proverbs 13:4 it says "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied." (NLT)
It's so true when you look at people in your life. Those that are lazy who sit around on the couch and watch T.V., what do they constantly complain about? That they don't have what they want. That they are bored. They want a lot of things but they don't get much because they don't work for it. Yet those who are working hard, they actually receive the benefits of their hard work and they are satisfied in life because there's more adventure and fun in actually working hard and receiving the benefits of what you sow.
The second part of the verse is about strength. She is strong enough to conquer the tasks that are set before her for the day. This also is what I need to work on. I am so WEAK right now, physically and mentally. I hardly ever work out and I don't eat very healthy, which makes my body weak so I can't work for very long without getting tired out. I am also mentally tired. I don't study the Word enough and I haven't been filling my mind with truth from scripture. I just let lies come in and defeat me about myself, which tires me out because I'm worrying all day long about what I look like, how people perceive me, and if I'm doing the right things all the time.
I want to be stronger and I want FREEDOM from all that wears me out.
The verse I chose is verse 17.. "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."
I always like to look up verses in the Message version. This is what it says for this verse... "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, and is in no hurry to call it quits for the day."
I can only imagine all the work I would get done if this was my attitude in life. Most of the time I want to sleep in until at least 10. Then I lolly gag around and maybe get some work done if I really feel like it. I definitely want to "call it quits for the day" about 10 minutes into my work.
God calls us to be hard workers. In Proverbs 13:4 it says "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied." (NLT)
It's so true when you look at people in your life. Those that are lazy who sit around on the couch and watch T.V., what do they constantly complain about? That they don't have what they want. That they are bored. They want a lot of things but they don't get much because they don't work for it. Yet those who are working hard, they actually receive the benefits of their hard work and they are satisfied in life because there's more adventure and fun in actually working hard and receiving the benefits of what you sow.
The second part of the verse is about strength. She is strong enough to conquer the tasks that are set before her for the day. This also is what I need to work on. I am so WEAK right now, physically and mentally. I hardly ever work out and I don't eat very healthy, which makes my body weak so I can't work for very long without getting tired out. I am also mentally tired. I don't study the Word enough and I haven't been filling my mind with truth from scripture. I just let lies come in and defeat me about myself, which tires me out because I'm worrying all day long about what I look like, how people perceive me, and if I'm doing the right things all the time.
I want to be stronger and I want FREEDOM from all that wears me out.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
After a week...
Well it's been a week and all I can say is WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS BEFORE!?
All my life, wise adults have told me "Jesus.Bible.Pray."... this is the conconction you need to live out the Christian life. "Well that just seems too simple," I would tell myself so I have tried to make my life with Christ something more complicated, TRYING hard to DO things for the Lord ON MY OWN and make the Christian walk something difficult and strenuous.
The crazy thing is that I've learned this week... living the Christian life IS SIMPLE. Let me explain...
1. Jesus- Our relationship with the Father all boils down to Jesus. He died on the cross to erase our sins so when God looks at us, He sees a pure and clean child whom He is able to have a personal relationship with. When we sin, we rely on the fact that Jesus already died to pay for ALL of our sins, in the past, present, and future. Everything we have done and will do is already erased. When we sin our connection with God is affected. This means when we try to interact with Him, our relationship is damaged and it's harder to hear from God. But once we accept Christ into our lives our relationship with Him isn't damaged. We are and always will be His child. It's kind of like if you were to go slap your father in the face. He would be very upset with you and he might ground you and your connection/interaction would be messed up for a while, but he is still your father and you are still his child. The relationship never changes.
ANYWAYS, when we mess up we just have to look to Jesus to forgive us. We are covered by God's surmounting grace so all we need to do is ask for forgiveness and know we are forgiven. We do need to turn away from that sin and remain close to God so we don't desire to do that sin again.
*IMPORTANT* But the thing is we are ALL messed up people. We sin EVERY DAY, even after we become believers. After we accept Christ, it's not about us trying to tidy up our lives so we are able to make a checklist and check off the "good things" we do. It's actually about being REAL, talking about our sin and struggles, and acknowledging Jesus is the only way we are able to reach God.
RELYING ON JESUS AND NOT OUR OWN EFFORTS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
2. Bible- God wrote us a book so we would know His desire for our lives! It's His love story to us. All we need to know about Him and His will for our lives is in the Bible. Have you ever wondered "Hmm.. I don't really know what God's will is for my life." IT'S IN HIS WORD! Of course it won't specifically say "Well you're supposed to be a nurse. Go for it!" but God will speak to you when you're seeking Him earnestly through His word. We are to learn from the stories and advice in His word so we grow closer to Him.
Just in these past few weeks there have been 2 times specifically I can think of where I sat down and asked God to show me verses He wanted me to read to speak into a situation I was going through. A book and chapter in the Bible came to my mind, I opened the Word, and it was INCREDIBLE because both times I read verses that related exactly to the situations I was questioning God about. It was mind-blowingly awesome.
Picking up the Word and reading God's letter to you is the best way to learn from Him.
3. Pray- Question: if you want to get to know someone better and keep up with the relationship what does consist of? Communication! You have to talk to them to keep up with the friendship. It's the same with God. God wants to hear from you... what you're thinking, what you're stressed about, what you're excited about, why you're worried about this situation you're going through. He wants you to talk to Him about everything in your life. He also wants you to LISTEN. Sometimes it's the best thing to just sit in silence and asking God to speak to you. It's hard. It requires discipline, especially in our crazy, fast-paced world. Deuteronomy 4:29 says "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." If you are truly SEEKING the Lord, He will show himself to you, whether that's through your prayers, revealing a passage in the Bible, or someone giving you Godly wisdom.
When you keep up communication with someone, the relationship stays strong. Once you start cutting back on communication, the relationship slowly starts to deteriorate. This will happen when you try to remain close to God without talking and listening to Him.
Just try waking up a few minutes earlier to get on your knees and pray over your day, asking God to work in you that day, guiding your thoughts and actions to glorify Him. It will change your life!
So even though I always thought that Jesus, Bible, Pray was way too simple and keeping up my walk with God required so much more than that, honestly it starts with the basics. If you are relying on Jesus and knowing you can't do anything apart from relying on His love and grace, reading the Word, and praying constantly then you will have a strong connection/interaction with God.
I'm starting to rely on Jesus and not getting down when I mess up, but accepting His grace. I'm starting to read the Word more. And I've been praying every morning when I wake up and at night before I go to bed (and throughout the day) and it's been amazing how much closer I've been to God and how much easier it is for me to hear Him.
TRY IT.
KISS- Keep It Simple, Stupid.
All my life, wise adults have told me "Jesus.Bible.Pray."... this is the conconction you need to live out the Christian life. "Well that just seems too simple," I would tell myself so I have tried to make my life with Christ something more complicated, TRYING hard to DO things for the Lord ON MY OWN and make the Christian walk something difficult and strenuous.
The crazy thing is that I've learned this week... living the Christian life IS SIMPLE. Let me explain...
1. Jesus- Our relationship with the Father all boils down to Jesus. He died on the cross to erase our sins so when God looks at us, He sees a pure and clean child whom He is able to have a personal relationship with. When we sin, we rely on the fact that Jesus already died to pay for ALL of our sins, in the past, present, and future. Everything we have done and will do is already erased. When we sin our connection with God is affected. This means when we try to interact with Him, our relationship is damaged and it's harder to hear from God. But once we accept Christ into our lives our relationship with Him isn't damaged. We are and always will be His child. It's kind of like if you were to go slap your father in the face. He would be very upset with you and he might ground you and your connection/interaction would be messed up for a while, but he is still your father and you are still his child. The relationship never changes.
ANYWAYS, when we mess up we just have to look to Jesus to forgive us. We are covered by God's surmounting grace so all we need to do is ask for forgiveness and know we are forgiven. We do need to turn away from that sin and remain close to God so we don't desire to do that sin again.
*IMPORTANT* But the thing is we are ALL messed up people. We sin EVERY DAY, even after we become believers. After we accept Christ, it's not about us trying to tidy up our lives so we are able to make a checklist and check off the "good things" we do. It's actually about being REAL, talking about our sin and struggles, and acknowledging Jesus is the only way we are able to reach God.
RELYING ON JESUS AND NOT OUR OWN EFFORTS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
2. Bible- God wrote us a book so we would know His desire for our lives! It's His love story to us. All we need to know about Him and His will for our lives is in the Bible. Have you ever wondered "Hmm.. I don't really know what God's will is for my life." IT'S IN HIS WORD! Of course it won't specifically say "Well you're supposed to be a nurse. Go for it!" but God will speak to you when you're seeking Him earnestly through His word. We are to learn from the stories and advice in His word so we grow closer to Him.
Just in these past few weeks there have been 2 times specifically I can think of where I sat down and asked God to show me verses He wanted me to read to speak into a situation I was going through. A book and chapter in the Bible came to my mind, I opened the Word, and it was INCREDIBLE because both times I read verses that related exactly to the situations I was questioning God about. It was mind-blowingly awesome.
Picking up the Word and reading God's letter to you is the best way to learn from Him.
3. Pray- Question: if you want to get to know someone better and keep up with the relationship what does consist of? Communication! You have to talk to them to keep up with the friendship. It's the same with God. God wants to hear from you... what you're thinking, what you're stressed about, what you're excited about, why you're worried about this situation you're going through. He wants you to talk to Him about everything in your life. He also wants you to LISTEN. Sometimes it's the best thing to just sit in silence and asking God to speak to you. It's hard. It requires discipline, especially in our crazy, fast-paced world. Deuteronomy 4:29 says "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." If you are truly SEEKING the Lord, He will show himself to you, whether that's through your prayers, revealing a passage in the Bible, or someone giving you Godly wisdom.
When you keep up communication with someone, the relationship stays strong. Once you start cutting back on communication, the relationship slowly starts to deteriorate. This will happen when you try to remain close to God without talking and listening to Him.
Just try waking up a few minutes earlier to get on your knees and pray over your day, asking God to work in you that day, guiding your thoughts and actions to glorify Him. It will change your life!
So even though I always thought that Jesus, Bible, Pray was way too simple and keeping up my walk with God required so much more than that, honestly it starts with the basics. If you are relying on Jesus and knowing you can't do anything apart from relying on His love and grace, reading the Word, and praying constantly then you will have a strong connection/interaction with God.
I'm starting to rely on Jesus and not getting down when I mess up, but accepting His grace. I'm starting to read the Word more. And I've been praying every morning when I wake up and at night before I go to bed (and throughout the day) and it's been amazing how much closer I've been to God and how much easier it is for me to hear Him.
TRY IT.
KISS- Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
HUMBLE.
With my heart pounding I write my first post of the new year, 2012. I am so excited for this new year and all that it has in store.
I can already tell that this is going to be a great year. I was at a conference with Cru called Encounter the past 5 days and it was absolutely mind-blowing how God just let me rest in Him. I was able to look back over 2011 and praise Him for all that He has done in my life. Then I was able to learn some cool stuff about Him and pray over this upcoming year. He has showed me so much that He wants me to work on for this year and we'll get to those in time.
The first goal of this year is to be more HUMBLE. To be completely honest and transparent I have become someone I don't like. I'm very cocky and selfish. I don't treat others the way they should be treated and even the way I really want to treat them. I just don't respect them or truly care about them even though I really desire it more than anything (weird concept I know). I have gained confidence in myself, which I need but now I need to learn the difference between cockiness and confidence.
Therefore, by attempting to become more humble I am going to get on my knees in prayer every morning after I wake up and every night before I go to bed. I feel that this will help me to start seeing God as the King of my life, not myself. I think if I start showing the Lord more respect and honor then I will start doing the same for those around me.
There are a lot of changes I hope to make this new year, but this is the first practical way I can change my actions in order to become someone I actually like. I want to truly love others and humble myself so others can see Christ in me and not some cocky know-it-all. Let's hope and pray I can keep this up every day until January 1, 2013.
I can already tell that this is going to be a great year. I was at a conference with Cru called Encounter the past 5 days and it was absolutely mind-blowing how God just let me rest in Him. I was able to look back over 2011 and praise Him for all that He has done in my life. Then I was able to learn some cool stuff about Him and pray over this upcoming year. He has showed me so much that He wants me to work on for this year and we'll get to those in time.
The first goal of this year is to be more HUMBLE. To be completely honest and transparent I have become someone I don't like. I'm very cocky and selfish. I don't treat others the way they should be treated and even the way I really want to treat them. I just don't respect them or truly care about them even though I really desire it more than anything (weird concept I know). I have gained confidence in myself, which I need but now I need to learn the difference between cockiness and confidence.
Therefore, by attempting to become more humble I am going to get on my knees in prayer every morning after I wake up and every night before I go to bed. I feel that this will help me to start seeing God as the King of my life, not myself. I think if I start showing the Lord more respect and honor then I will start doing the same for those around me.
There are a lot of changes I hope to make this new year, but this is the first practical way I can change my actions in order to become someone I actually like. I want to truly love others and humble myself so others can see Christ in me and not some cocky know-it-all. Let's hope and pray I can keep this up every day until January 1, 2013.
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