Receive What You Never Deserved

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him…So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” - 2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NLT

You deserve separation from God. We all do.

Yet--

Upon Christ’s birth, the world’s standards were turned upside down.

The weak became strong. The poor became rich. The wise became foolish. All because Jesus—the perfection of God--surrendered to His Father’s will, becoming totally human and serving mankind by His humble death on the cross.

Reality would never be the same.

While once we deserved death and separation from God, forevermore Jesus bridged the gap. We were eternally bestowed what we absolutely never deserved. And guess what? We will never be deserving of Christ.

I love Christmas—everything about it. We celebrate the humble birth of a once tiny Savior, who would grow up to receive every part of His Father’s plan—including death. We celebrate the incarnate Christ this season, especially from a human point of view. Christ’s birth, His divine entrance into this world, seems a bit easier to wrap our minds around than what He chose to finish on the cross.

But do we see the implications? Do we truly receive, through spiritual eyes and through the mind of Christ, what we never deserved? That Jesus has made us brand, spanking new creations, simply because He loves us that much?

Understanding this changes everything.

When we realize that this is all a gift from God—something we never deserved—we rejoice! We receive a new life. A new identity. A new mission. We outpour love. “And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him…So we are Christ’s ambassadors” (v. 18).

When we receive what we never once deserved, in light of our inadequacy to live up to Jesus’ perfection, our hearts change as well as our heart-cry.

We grow softened to other people, despite their faults.

We see the need all around us, and we step out in faith to give.

We take time to thank Jesus simply for Who He is.

What is your heart-cry this holiday season, and every day? Is Christ making His appeal through you?

Receive what you never deserved, and may the eternal beauty of Jesus’ gift transform your mind and heart this season.



by Kristen Leigh Evensen

Relationship Status: (Still) Single

Guest post by Lauren DeMoss

This has been a question that has been asked to me very often especially lately so I thought I would wear my heart on my sleeve here and address it so that everyone will know…. and maybe be reminded,  learn, or be encouraged.

Q: How do you handle being single so well?

There is no magical formula for making it easy “to be single,” and anyone who says that it is easy, is lying to you. God wants us to be content with all that He has given us, yes, however, God does not require us to achieve some super spiritual state of mind that is “content” with being single in order for Him to give us a significant other. For some people, that may very well happen, but for the vast majority, it is just not going to. If we are seeking Him, God has given us a desire for each other and a desire to be married. God has placed those desires in everyone so that a man will GO out and pursue a woman, and make her his wife, and a girl will be happily pursued. It is completely normal to want to be married. Marriage is a system that God set up and ordained. God wants us to be married, and raise good families for His glory.

For His glory.

Yup. I think that’s the key, people. You see, I have come to the realization that if I could serve God better and bring Him more glory married, then, I would be married right now at this very moment. So even though sometimes I don’t like to admit it, God knows better than I do. I could try to convince Him otherwise all I want, but He knows the perfect timing for everything in our lives. If we are living to serve Him, then He will take care of it! Right now, you have a job to do. A job that could not be done if you were married. A job that will bring God the MOST glory if you do it now, while you are single.

Figure out what you are supposed to be doing, and get busy doing it!

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:25-33

Get busy working toward things that really matter. Seek the kingdom FIRST, because even marriage is a temporary state that will eventually give way to the beautiful reality of what the picture points to- our relationship with Jesus Christ. {Click here to read more} He is enough, anyways. No one will truly complete you except Him.

“Jesus Christ – not guys [or girls]– must always remain the center of our existence. When we have a Christ-consumed heart, guys[or girls] no longer dominate our thinking, our actions, and our decisions. Rather, the Lover of our soul captivates us so completely that every guy we meet clearly sees that Jesus is, and always will be, the number one Prince of our heart. A truly godly man longs for a woman with a Christ-consumed heart.” -Leslie Ludy

I’d love to tell you that I am a spiritual giant who never struggles with loneliness or never looks up and says, “God, whatcha doin’??” Because, unfortunately, it’s not true, but the answer is simple.

Not easy, but simple.

Trust God.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you believe that? Then tell yourself this everyday. We may know what looks “good” for us, but God knows what is BEST. The reason we are not supposed to lean on our own understanding is that we don’t really know what we are doing. However, HIS way is perfect.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psalm 18:30-32

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. Psalm 145:19

Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

No one is bigger or better than God. Period. Claim His promises. Find them! There are SO many! Our times are in His hands. He knows the beginning from the end. We know his timing is perfect.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop looking. Do stop stressing. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are running out of time. Because when God, who is the very Author of time, deems it right for you to fall in love and be married, then you will, and it will be magnificent.

Lastly, don’t settle. I will be single forever before I settle for someone who will not raise my family in all the standards of my God. Go to the Bible and find out all the qualities a man and woman of God is supposed to have. Be those things, and then, look for those things in others. Pray for God to direct your steps in everything, and He will fulfill the desires He has placed in you. If you long for a spouse with a Christ-centered heart, that desire is straight from God, and He has promised to fulfill it.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

Stop worrying so much. Take heart, God knows what He is doing. He has a plan, and now is a part of that plan too. Don’t waste your time wishing things were different. Don’t settle for less than God’s best. Trust His timing. He is so so much bigger than you and your dreams, and His words are true. Don’t stop believing them. It will be worth it.




[photo source]

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Special thanks to Lauren, for sharing this post with our readers. This post was originally published on her site, TheFulltimeGirl.Com. We know our readers will be blessed by it. You can now read the full article here or there.

Lauren DeMoss is a 26 year old teacher at a Christian school in New England. Having grown up in a christian home, she knows the struggles of christian girls and the pull of the world on their hearts. By God’s grace, she also knows the peace and love of a life given completely to Jesus Christ. Through her writing, she desires to point people to Jesus, encourage, and inspire her generation and the next to be fully abandoned to their Savior. It is really all about Him. Check out her site at TheFulltimeGirl.Com.

Innocent Bystander

By Fadia Patterson

In the wake of the shooting that took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut. It makes you wonder why do bad things happen to good people? In this case it's fair to say why do bad things happen to innocent people. Young children were shot to death and for what reason. We may never know why? My heart aches for the parents that will have to bury their children in the coming week before christmas. Surely, they never anticipated putting their children in box to regift to their maker; our God and this is heartache that no parent should ever have to endure.

God gained 26 angels yesterday. May the souls of Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47; Mary Sherlach, 56;Lauren Rousseau, 30; Victoria Soto, 27;Emilie Parker, 6; Olivia Engel, 6; Rachel Davino, 29; Anne Marie Murphy, 25; Charlotte Bacon, 6; Daniel Barden, 7; Josephine Gay, 7; Ana Marquez-Greene, 6; Dylan Hockley, 6; Madeleine Hsu, 6; Catherine Hubbard, 6; Chase Kowalski, 7; Jesse Lewis, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Grace McDonnell, 7; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; Jack Pinto, 6; Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Richman, 6; Benjamin Wheeler, 6; and Allison Wyatt, 6 rest in peace.

In the midst of all of this, God will still show his power through Forgiveness!

He already has placed that in the hear of Emilie Parker's father; Robbie Parker who gave a touching speech in the memory of his daughter. He even extended his condolences to the family of the shooter.

In the conference he simply said; "As we move on from what happened here...what happened to so many people. Let it not turn into something that defines us. But, something that inspires us to be better,to be more compassionate and humble people. Please keep the sentiments of love that we feel for our families and the compassion we feel for others, even for complete strangers. And keep them with us as all times. Not just in times of sorrow and tragedy.....so that we can make everyone everywhere feel safe.

I am empathetic to the fact that in the moments that you have realized that your child will not come home due to a senseless death; it would be difficult to extend love. But this family did in remembrance of their daughter and giving all glory to God for who she was and how she treated others. They were grateful that the light of God shined through her.

Emilie was 6 years old and among 20 other children and 6 staffers that died as an innocent bystander. As her father mentioned she was a sweet young girl who had compassion for her sisters and others.  What a legacy to leave behind in such a short amount of time on this earth. There are so many questions still yet to be answered as to why this happened? Why did this happen to young innocent children or anyone for that matter? Where is God in this cruel circumstance? How is he working here? And why do bad things happen to good people?

The latter question is one that only God can truly answer.

He never said the road would be easy...but yet we must trust and have faith in him. Trust that he is working in our midst. All things are working for God's glory even in this horrific tragedy.  How? You ask: Emilie's death was not in vain! She is one of  the many faces that will impact the world as we live in it. There is no doubt that all of our lives were changed by this event. Her death symbolizes something far greater: that we as a people are in need of a Savior and perhaps her death and others at Sandy Hook Elementary could remind us all of that. Perhaps their deaths could highlight the shame of violence that exists in our society today. Perhaps this tragedy will remind us to check ourselves; to check our souls; to admit that we as a society carry so much spite, hate, and anger in our own hearts; so much so that it manifests itself in our children's lives as they  ultimately bear that burden. They bear the burden of not knowing if they are truly safe as they deserve to be. The events in Newtown; the Aurora theater shootings; the shooting of  Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and all of the slain that were in the "wrong place at the wrong time"; remind us of how we as humans can be so cruel to one another. Sadly,  events like this are not random. They are happening more often and our culture had almost become desensitized --until  we are introduced to and see the faces of 6 and 7 year olds who died from multiple bullets from a killer that they've never met and/or didn't even know they offended.  Then, we undoubtedly ask ourselves; is this the norm now? Is this our reality now? This event has truly crossed the line.

As we saw a grief stricken father describe the final morning he spent with his daughter; We can't deny him any anger that he may have towards the man that murdered his daughter in cold blood and yet he still showed grace and remorse by the will of his Heavenly Father to whom which he paid homage for sending him a daughter that was as compassionate as Emilie.  A trait and gift that "did not come from any parenting of their own" he said but, "from the Heavenly Father himself".

I cannot answer the very question that we ask time and time again: Why do bad things happen to good people?  I will not try to answer such a complicated question because we are all good in God's sight! And we are all innocent bystanders to have witnessed so many tragedies of this life; some personal and some shared with the world. One thing I know for sure is that God is near, and dear to the brokenhearted. Even in the midst of these horrific deaths--he will cause us to stand in awe of Him; ultimately turning this mess into an ultimate message that we can no longer deny.

Source: huffingtonpost.com : Robbie Parker quote and pics
See more updates on the Newtown Shootings via twitter @Fadia_Dame_Tele. Fadia also writes forBeautyFullyBlessed.Wordpress.com 

Defective Character Syndrome

I’m going to be a bit transparent here, so, if you’ve always thought I have it together, you might not want to read this one. Yesterday I was rudely reminded that I suffer from a not-so-rare disorder. Every human has it, the holiest of saints, and most vile of sinners. It’s known by many names, and the symptoms manifest and are displayed differently in each person, but, it can be summed up with simply three words: Defective Character Syndrome or DCS for short.

After a particular rough day yesterday, in which I reacted in an enormous emotional and hurtful tantrum, I found myself reeling with frustration. Why do I do these things? Why am I this way? More importantly, what is wrong with me?

I react in ways I shouldn’t. I have a sharp tongue. I’m quick to lash out, and slow to calm down. I don’t always think through decisions. I lack patience. I’m selfish. (these are just a few of my individual symptoms, but there are many many many more and you probably have your own list).

When conflicts arise, my defective character syndrome, and the ugly effects of such a disease– rise to the surface. In my head, I see the disease being unleashed and spewing contagious venom on those around me– yet, I can’t seem to control myself as well as I ought to. Have you ever been there? If you’re human, you probably have. Some of us just happen to have more frequent, or more severe outbreaks of DCS. (Perhaps I am one of the “some.”)

Last night, I wallowed in sleeplessness and regret.

I began to read my Bible, as I have learned from prior experience– outbreaks of DCS can be controlled and minimized with the medicated words of God’s truth! I found myself in Romans, reading the words of Paul, who obviously suffered from DCS as well, and was equally frustrated with his inability to control himself. Paul gives a description of his inner struggle with DCS and how rapidly the disease of sin takes charge in his spirit:

Romans 7:21-25 (message)

21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

Last night, I felt exasperated like Paul! Frustrated, irritated and a bit hopeless:

24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?

But then, then, the sweet medicine of truth spoke a ray of hope into my anguished and disease ridden soul:

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

I have hope, you have hope, because Jesus has already done the work! The price has been paid for our sin natures, and the victory has already been won! PRAISE GOD! We will spend our Christian lives continuously pressing forward, continuously moving towards the goal of being Christ-like, and as we do, the evidence of such growth is less meltdowns, shorter episodes, and better control of our sin nature.

But, the truth is, though the cure exists (Jesus), we will not be made completely well, completely disease free until we join Him in heaven made perfect and sinless in His sight. On earth, we will struggle, and are each in need of grace in abundance. If like me, you’ve found yourself having a pity party because of your struggle remember this– you’re human. God loves you, forgives you, and His word is the medicine that fosters self-control. Take heart,His grace, His grace is sufficient for you! (2 Corinthians 12:9)



by Christina Stolaas

Christmas with Natalie Villa

By Carmen Miller

"The best present we've ever had. Your gift will always last. No wrapping paper, came in a manger. . . You're the perfect gift." -Natalie Villa "The Perfect Gift"

It's that time of year again. The crunching of the snow, the hustle and bustle of all the Christmas shoppers as they rush through the shopping malls to snag, yet, another gift to mark off their list.

But let us not forget that the pretty icicle lights, and frosty the snowman are only, but a decorative piece to this festive holiday season.

The reason. . . JESUS CHRIST!

As we tear away at our gifts on Christmas morning, let us not do so before thanking God for His Son. The perfect Gift.

I am so excited to feature Natalie Villa here on WHOLE, again. She is not only a great artist, but a dear friend of mine and her gift of song is incredible.

This past fall we featured her in our WHOLE Spotlight section as our first interview of our launch month. In case you missed it, you can check it out here.

This month Natalie comes back to visit and share with us her new Christmas single, "The Perfect Gift."  We asked Natalie, "What message of Christmas did she want to share with her fans and our readers, as they rush through the aisles this holiday season searching for "the perfect gift" for their loved ones?"

Natalie: "Merry Christmas, guys! Well, as we are all in search for the "Perfect Gift" this season, I hope everyone will pause to remember that Christmas is a time for miracles. I think we so easily forget, and I have been guilty of this too; that the Christmas story we celebrate every year is full of life-changing, God-encountering miracles! Starting with John the Baptist being born to a barren woman, Angels being messengers, a virgin birth, our Savior coming to Earth, and so much more. That is the kind of God we serve! There are so many ways I believe God wants to speak to our hearts this season if we will slow down and let him. I think He wants to give us the "present" of His "presence" because He truly is the one and only "Perfect Gift". Have fun celebrating the miracle of Jesus, our Savior and cherish your loved ones. Love you all and hope you enjoy my music video and song "The Perfect Gift."

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Enjoy Natalie's new video. Just a warning: I tear up every time I watch it! Between The message and her beautiful, angelic voice I can't help, but cry as I think of Jesus Christ and what His birth means for us. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. -James 1:17

Download FULL song here.

To hear more songs visit www.natalievilla.com

Follow Natalie Villa on her social sites:
http://twitter.com/MsNatalieVilla
http://facebook.com/MsNatalieVilla

Beautiful Things Out of the Dust

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were Mary—just an average teenage girl living an ordinary life? What would your reaction be if an angel had come to you and told you that you had been chosen by God to bear His Son?

I personally would have been somewhat confused, thinking that perhaps the angel had the wrong person. There is absolutely nothing about me that should qualify to give birth to God’s only Son. However, God decided not to choose someone who was considered “important”. Sure, he could have. And he could've chosen a place other than the small town of Bethlehem to be the birth place of Jesus. God was perfectly capable of arranging for His Son to be delivered to earth in the most beautiful, extravagant way. Yet he didn't.

"We must remember that Mary wasn’t someone of particular significance or importance in Nazareth. She was no daughter of privilege, no sister of success, no cousin to royalty. She was just a kid—a young woman betrothed to a young man named Joseph. An ordinary woman expecting to live an ordinary life. But God had other plans."
~Ross Parsley

It's obvious that God doesn't call the qualified. He seems to pull more for the underdogs to do great things for His Kingdom.

“He used a virgin who was a nobody to give birth so a Somebody who could bring the Gospel to everybody.” ~Luke 1:26-28

That thought alone should be encouraging for anyone who has felt worthless, anyone who has felt as if they will never measure up to anything in life. Don’t listen to those who have bullied you. Don’t listen to what people have told you is necessary in order to “make it big” in life. God is with you, and He has created you unique. He promises that he has something beautiful in store for you. (Jer. 29:11).

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, I’ve always felt a bit different from others my age. However, the one thing that has encouraged me throughout the years is that the teenage years are very short compared to the rest of our lives. People tend to change—some a bit drastically, for that matter—after high school. There are still plenty years ahead of us that we can look forward to.

It’s kind of crazy, thinking how I will soon be traveling around to youth groups and schools to speak and promote my upcoming debut novel, Purple Moon. Any of my classmates from middle or high school would be completely stunned to hear this. I’ve always been known as a quiet girl. But despite that personality trait—which I have looked down upon plenty of times in my life—God has shown me that he can still use me. That’s because he doesn’t call us based on our personality, education, reputation, or even our past. Absolutely nothing can keep you from God’s promises.

"Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, 'It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.' Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, 'Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right' But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless."
~Romans 4:19-25

God seems to enjoy creating beautiful things out of the dust—out of the average, the ordinary, and the forgotten. That is, in fact, how the earth came into existence.

“The old is passing away; all things are being made new” (2 Corin. 517).  Allow God to transfer you into a new “you” to do the plans that he has called for you to do. When he calls you to do something that seems impossible, don’t question him. Remember the promise that He has given you. Have faith that He will bring it into fruition, despite your past and despite the way things may look right now. God makes beautiful things out of the dust, not out of what is already perfect and beautiful. 

Although your circumstances may not look so great right now, He can make something beautiful out of it. And yes, he is going to use you; he is going to use you just the way you are--including your flaws. What I’ve learned is that “in our weaknesses, God is made strong” (2 Corin. 12:9).

Don’t be afraid of releasing the old and receiving the new—receiving all that God has in store for you if you continue to follow Him. He can do beautiful things through you and for you, all in order to ultimately bring glory to Himself.

You'll find proof all throughout the Bible that God doesn't call the qualified. Think about it: Moses stuttered. David was just a teenage boy. Both Sarah and Elizabeth were too old to have a baby. Mary was a virgin. Gideon was cowardly. Jacob was a thief. David had an affair and was a murderer. Noah was a drunk. Zaccheus was too short. Joseph was abused. Rahab was a prostitute.

So when we go out and do the things He has called us to do, it won't be because of us or through our own strength. It'll be God's spirit working inside of us.

"The angel told Mary that she would conceive without knowing a man. In other words, God was saying it could happen through supernatural means. It can happen without the bank loaning you the money. It can happen without having the right education. It can happen in spite of your past. It can happen despite what the critics are telling you. With God, all things are possible."
~Joel Osteen

There is no sin you can commit that God considers unforgiveable. If you confess your sin, repent, and do everything you can not to fall back into your sinful life, God will “blot out your transgressions as far as the east is from the west” (Is. 44:22). His mercy never runs out. In fact, it’s “new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23). So when you ask for forgiveness and receive Jesus, he rids you from your sins. You are made clean, you are made new, you are made whole, and you are made perfectly capable of doing all that God has in store for you to do. Yes, he can even use your past mistakes for good use. God actually has quite a knack for turning brokenness into something beautiful.

So release your past and receive the new. Receive the plans that God has for you, receive the new you that he is forming which will bring glory to Him.

“All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain
are things of the past, to be forgotten.
Look ahead with joy.
Anticipate what I’m creating…”
~Isaiah 65:18-19

And rather than thinking that your life has been too dirty, or that things look too messed up right now, do as Abraham did; plunge into God's promise. Have faith, keeping in mind that God made you out of dust. Surely he can make something beautiful out of your life as well.

"Jesus came to Mary and Joseph as He comes to us. In seasons of great pain, despair, and disappointment, He comes. Just when you're at the end of yourself, He comes. He appears at just the right moment—never early, but always at the right time. And it is at this moment that you realize it's not the end. It's just the beginning." ~Ross Parsley

Tessa Hall is a 19-year-old coffeeholic and author of Purple Moon. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, as well as a contributing writer for Imagine Mag, More To Be, & Real Teen Faith. She loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Learning to Let Go

When receiving something new, have you ever had a hard time letting go of the old? I had a pair of moccasins that I wore all through college. I loved them. They were my “sole” mate. I wore them to the beach, I wore them hiking, I wore them places I probably shouldn’t have because unlike the moccasins Native Americans made, these were fake leather and not at all weather proof. They eventually started to smell like low-tide and somehow trapped sand under the sole. At random times this sand would leak out to form a trail or force its way in between my toes making me look like a beach bum, but in a really gross way.

Although I quit wearing them, I was so afraid that I would never find another pair of moccasins as good as these, that I kept the stinking things in my closet until this past summer. Although I eventually bought a new pair of moccasins it was still hard to throw away my old ones. We had history together. But I could actually WEAR the new pair. And they didn’t make my feet smell like seaweed.

Obviously this was a really lame analogy about letting go of the old, the familiar, in order to step (quite literally) into the new. The difficulty is, God often asks us to let go of things so much larger than shoes.

In Exodus, God sends His messenger Moses, to tell the Israelites it was time to leave Egypt (where they had been living for about 400 years) and follow Him to a new land (that they had never seen). I don’t know about you, but I would have a seriously difficult time leaving home to go someplace I had never even seen before. I would have to give up my routine, my life, all for the unknown. And okay, so the Israelites didn’t have the perfect life in Egypt (they were in fact slaves who were treated brutally) but it was at least familiar and it was theirs. And what evidence did they have that the next place would actually be better? Exodus 5 tells us that after making this grand announcement, things actually got worse for the Israelites and they rejected Moses and his ideas. But God had a plan beyond what they could even imagine and the amazing feats He performed convinced Israel to follow Him away from Egypt.

Exodus records the journey that the Israelites made with God to the land He had promised them. It was not a straight shot down Highway 109 to the vacation resort land of their dreams. He repeatedly presented them with challenges which forced them to decide, “Will you release your ideas about how to do things, follow Me in faith, and receive what I have planned for you?” Repeatedly Israel said, “Yes we will,” then promptly dropped the ball to do things their own way. The result was 40 years circling the Promised Land but never going in because they lacked the faith to follow.

Now fast forward to the book of Joshua. God has selected Joshua to actually lead Israel into the land He promised them when they left Egypt. And God gave three simple steps to receiving all He had planned:

Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1: 6, 9 and 18. God repeated this so I think He means it!!)
Study His word (Joshua 1:8)
Obey what He says to do (Joshua 1:8)


It’s funny how many of us hang onto our slavery even when God is promising us something new and beautiful if we would just let go. But the truth is, not knowing what lies ahead is frightening when we can so clearly see what lies behind. Many of us cannot hope to receive our futures when we are blatantly clinging to our pasts, or find it to be more comfortable in the familiar routine of the present.

My conversations with God sometimes go like this:

God: “Coleen I am calling you to………….”

Me: “But God, You know how it has been before. There have been so many things that have hurt me and I’m afraid to mess it up. I really don’t think I can do this.”

God: “I know you can’t but I can. I don’t ask you to do anything that I can’t help you to do.”

Me: “Yes but what if …….happens ? That just scares me to death. I really don’t want to do this. Can’t You just do a miracle and fix everything? ”

God may be calling you to change something in your life, to take a stand, to move forward on a plan, or to face a painful or frightening circumstance. He is calling each of us to release all that we are and hold onto to Him and receive all He has for us. Good is not great. Better is not best. God has promised His best, if we are willing to step out of what is familiar and trust Him totally to deliver and take care of us.

Sometimes the transition is scary as all get out. We don’t know how to get to where we are going and we don’t even know what it will look like once we get there. The path may be filled with challenges. For the Israelites they didn’t know how they were going to get across a giant sea with all of Pharaoh’s army chasing them. It wasn’t until the Israelites had reached the edge of the sea that God parted the waters. Sometimes you have to get up and GO before you get to see the path.

Are you willing to release your day-to-day, your usual, and take the next step into what God has for you? What God wants to do in your life doesn’t depend on how awesome your abilities are, it’s based on how awesome HE is and your ability to follow.

Lessons From the Sky

I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane today.

It. Was. Awesome.

For those that don’t know, I am casually afraid of heights. Looking down at high rides at theme parks always makes my palms sweat, heart race, and that familiar uneasy feeling appears in my stomach.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t overwhelmed with nerves or fear when preparing to dive. Perhaps the cause for which I was sky-diving overshadowed any tendency to be fearful! A wonderful friend, Tiffany Schwantes, is fighting for her life with cancer and was supposed to do the jump herself as a fundraiser. However, when she got on the transplant list, her doctors made it clear it wasn’t a wise idea. When she asked me to jump on her behalf I excitedly told her I would be honored to!

The night before our jump Tiffany became sick and ended up in the hospital so was unable to come watch the jump in person. Understandably, we were both really bummed out! As I put my gear on and awaited our departure I prayed for her and also prayed that God would teach me a lesson that I could bring back and share with others.

When it was time to board our plane I kissed my four kids and husband and bravely followed our jumping crew on to the plane. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but coincidentally, I was the last one to board the plane (closest to the exit) which meant, as you may have guessed.... I’d be the first to jump out! As we began our ascent it dawned on me... and I asked my instructor hesitantly, “Uhhh, are we the first ones to jump?” I think this is where my heart began to race a little!

My instructor and I exchanged names and some basic chitchat as the plane continued the climb. The view out the windows was gloriously gorgeous! What a beautiful day to be up in the sky! As the plane shifted/tilted I slid an inch or two on the bench toward the airplane jump exit and realized suddenly that I wasn’t actually strapped onto my instructor yet. Here I was-- up in the sky, with no seatbelt, with no parachute, and a plane window wide open. I leaned back into my instructor and confirmed my fears, “We aren’t strapped to each other yet, are we?”

“Nope. Soon.”

I scooted back quickly on the bench and searched for something to hang on to, but there were no handles or anything in sight. So, I grabbed the only thing I knew to keep my hands busy and hoped it would help steady my racing heart--- my own chest straps.

Within a minute or two, I distinctly felt my instructor attach my harnesses to his own. Immediately I felt relief. Immediately, I knew I was safe. Harnessed to the individual who had a parachute. Harnessed to an expert jumper. Harnessed to my only option for landing safely on the ground.

I realized at that moment it wasn’t the parachute I was trusting in to deliver me safely to the ground. (though I realize if the parachute malfunctioned things could get bad really fast.) But, my faith and security actually rested almost solely on the instructor! In jumping out of the plane I would be risking my life and placing my confidence in his experience. But more importantly, my safety depended on one very critical point: staying harnessed to him.

If, for any reason I unexpectedly became unattached I would tragically and immediately face sudden and certain death. A tandem skydive requires one to place absurd amounts of confidence in the equipment that bonds the jumper to the instructor. Honestly, as we fell freely through the air there were a few seconds where briefly I hardly noticed/remembered I was attached. The speed was intense and an overwhelming rush! But, when it was time to slow down and prepare to land-- when the chute shot out and immediately brought the blazing speed to a halt--- my heart screamed with joy in realizing I was still safely connected and the parachute worked! Hallelujah!

On the drive home I thought of what the beautiful parallel life is to a skydive. Whether we like it or not, essentially we are all on a plane free-falling through life. Each of us has a choice. We can choose to jump out of the plane and free fall solo, intensely flailing our arms and legs as gravity moves us closer and closer to our destination....until boom....slamming into the ground is inevitable! People who choose to jump solo have no access to a parachute so the result of their jump will end the same way every time. Absolute total destruction.

Or, we can make the choice to trust Jesus with our hearts, tether our life to His and jump. As a Christian we get the privilege of enjoying the ride and relaxing on the fall through the sky! Because we are successfully attached, and because our jumper has the experience necessary to operate the parachute-- we can savor the intense adventure with the confidence that Jesus is completely trustworthy and faithful to deliver a safe landing for us in this life.

Confidence doesn’t come from the parachute, confidence rests in the Man wearing the parachute! As a Christian, we can bravely face any circumstances in this life because we are assured that Jesus will hang on to us no matter how intense the ride down may be. Every single ones of us will have times where the speed, the fear, the adrenaline from circumstances will be so overwhelming that our emotions scream a crash is imminent. However, when we begin a relationship with Jesus as our Savior we can rejoice in the beautiful truth that it is He who hangs on to us, and not vice versa. Our faith allows us to truly live F E A R L E S S because our landing is guaranteed!

Serveahaulics

By Morgan Fisher

We've all heard it before, “Too much of anything is unhealthy.” However, when it comes to serving, can you serve too much? Well, we are Christians, right? We aim to be Christ like. It only seems right that we serve with all our hearts as much as possible. Let’s focus in on these key words: Christ like. Not Christ. He is all knowing, all powerful, and all loving.

 
Mark 10:44-45 “And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

That’s why we love Him so much. He has the capacity to love and serve unlike any of us will ever be able to. We can model our lives after His. We can be lights in the darkness. We can be that city on the hill, but if we try to be Christ, we will slowly see our lights dim. God has a plan and purpose for my life and yours.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you…”

He created us each uniquely and with a purpose. He has equipped us with certain skill sets and gifts. I've heard people say, “We are all created equal.” However, I see a flaw in this phrase. I do believe we are all equally valued. However, we were not created equally. What I mean by this is that God has given you gifts and talents that are different from your best friend, sibling, co-worker, etc. God loves and values us all equally for the unique beings that we are. With that being said, we need to identify our strengths and put them into action to serve with a purpose.

1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”

My advice to my fellow servahaulics is to identify your gifts and find a way to use them to bring a smile to God’s face. Saying yes to every serving opportunity puts you in a position of giving everything 20% with low impact, rather than serving with your gifts at 100% impact. Ask yourself, “Am I serving to serve or serving with my talents to advance the kingdom?”

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone

By Chelsie Johnson

I've always had a heart to serve others. I’m the type of person who is drawn towards people who are going through obstacles in life and I want to do everything in my power to help them out. However, going out of my comfort zone - meaning getting too close to someone I didn't know, was a no. I could volunteer at church without second-guessing it, or donate clothes for clothes drive easy. Sitting down and getting to know a stranger, which was something I would never do.

This all changed in October of this year. I was doing research for class when I came across the Big Brother, Big Sister (BBBS) website. I read through the mentoring programs they have and what it means to be a Big. A sudden heaviness overcame me along with the urge to volunteer. I told myself, no, while closing out of the site. Not even five minutes later I was back to the BBBS website filling out the application. I remember calling my friend and telling her I was going to volunteer…she laughed at me. Literally laughed. Her response was that I am far too busy to add anything else to the schedule. My reply, God laid this on my heart at this moment in time, I’m not sure where I will find the time, but I know I can spend at least 10 hours a month mentoring someone. She got quiet and we got off the phone. The following week I heard from an employee at BBBS, named Yvonne. She immediately wanted to set up an interview and within a couple weeks I was in her office answering questions about my past, present, and future. Talk about intimidating. My background check came back clear and I was in the process of being matched!

I met Diamond a couple weeks ago. She is 12 years old, in 6th grade, and has an amazing heart. Diamond has experienced things at such a young age, that I hope to never experience in my life. I have formed a bond with not only her, but also her older sister who takes care of her. They welcomed me into their family immediately. My automatic reaction is to want to spoil Diamond. However, I know reaching her through the gift of serving is going to give her a far greater reward. 

I went 100% out of my comfort zone when signing up for BBBS. Maybe you’re okay when it comes to strangers, perhaps you say no every time you’re asked to go on a mission’s trip. I challenge all of you to say ‘yes’ just one time. I guarantee God is going to bless you while receiving the glory of whatever He has called you to do. Going out of my comfort zone was the best thing I did that October day. I gained a little sister, a summer internship with BBBS (again, totally God) and a chance to minister to a complete stranger. We are called to make disciples of all nations. Get out and go!

Christmas Spirit

By Amanda Casanova

When I tell people my birth date, I get a variation of the same response: “You’re born on Christmas?! Double the gifts!”

“Christmas baby! Do you get twice as many presents?”

Twenty-five years ago on Christmas morning, my mom rushed to the hospital a month earlier than her due date. I became a Christmas baby and the nurses sent me home in a red and white stocking.

Christmas is a complicated time for me because growing up with a younger brother and sister, my birthday tended to get lost in between opening gifts and Santa Claus. I threw a number of fits on Christmas day as a result of this.

See, the things is, I’m really good at making things about me.

As I've grown up, I've stopped throwing fits, but I haven’t stopped making the season about me. I try to be a little nicer. I try not to get road rage. I dig through my purse for change for the Salvation Army. 

I work on finding the perfect gifts to make the best impression. I try to make myself look more Christian, more holy, and more generous.

That’s just part of the problem. I think we’re good at dropping money into charity buckets and helping our neighbors during the holidays, but I don’t want it to be just then.

A few weeks ago, I interviewed an executive director at a north Texas area food pantry for a story I was writing. We were talking about their needs and she said the pantry was stocked, but demand was high.

“We’re going into the holidays though,” she said. “That’s when people do a lot of giving.”

It’s true. This is the season when you and I are more likely to open our wallets to others and we call it “the Christmas spirit.” It changes hearts of grinches and Scrooges and for a moment, you and I are better stewards and better servants.

If you’re getting caught up in the Christmas spirit, enjoy it, but when we finally figure out how to put the tree back in its box and when we stop listening to variations of “Sleigh Ride,” let’s focus on a spirit that doesn't last for just a season. Let’s focus on a God that demands more of us all the time.

Not just for the 30 or so days after Thanksgiving.

Not just for the holidays.

Not just at Christmas.

The bible doesn't tell us to love others or show compassion for only one month. We’re called to do those things all the time, but even greater, we’re called to get caught in a grace that doesn't just show up for a season. Instead, it’s a love that prevails over presents, over these next few weeks, and overwhelmingly over me.

Preparing to Receive

By Nicole Wian

It’s December: the end of the year.  The holidays are in full swing and this season is full of fun and chaos.  But with the New Year just around the corner, it’s also a good time to reflect on the last twelve months.  To recall what God has done in and for you.  For those you love.  What has He blessed you with?  Maybe, taken from you?

2012 has been a strange, sad year for me.  In many ways, I can’t even begin to describe it. My relationship with God has been vital and strained, constant and nonexistent, depending on where in the spectrum of any given day I happened to be this past year.  I have begged to God and ignored Him.  Pushed Him aside and pleaded that He comes near. In many ways, it is much like the years I didn’t endure such enormous heartache and change.  And yet, the heartache and change did lead me to new understandings of His mercy.   I have had to learn to accept, even embrace the idea of God as my husband.  I have had to turn my will over to Him with abandon and trust like I never have been called to do before.

My most pertinent struggle has been with this trust: trusting that God has plans for me—plans for good and not to harm me.  I think that my biggest fear is that I may end up alone.  But I am not alone and when I look over the past year, I see evidence of God’s presence throughout.  He is much more constant than I at times, in the moment can see.  It’s interesting to note how often I feel alone, only to look back and see that He was there all along.

For as much as was taken from me this year, I must recognize that much was given.  God never left me empty handed.  He simply replaced one thing for another.  We, too easily, possess ideas that God’s gifts are tangible.  If he removes something in the material, we desire that He replace it in the material.  But I don’t think God works that way.  I think that God values the intangible over the substance we see as ‘real’.  God’s true heart for us is that we grow spiritually, that we come to know Him that we learn to love. Often, these desires which God has for us manifest in loss and then gain.  We may find strength, hope, wisdom, compassion, all far more valuable to God than bigger houses, nicer cars, and new husbands.

A friend pointed out recently to me that for as much as she argued with God when she was in the midst of her own heartache, begging Him to change the situation, when she looks back today, she finds that what God gave her instead far outweighed what may have been her gain had He simply given her what she asked for.  I see this in my own life, this past year especially.  I have been asked to release what I thought I knew, what I thought promised me security and joy.  Releasing reluctantly as I did, God still was faithful to give.  Daily in this journey, He has taught me that He is my truly safe place, He can more than provide, He is in love with me in a way that exceeds all human love.  These gifts I’ve slowly been working on first recognizing and then receiving.

Looking back on your own year, where have you been asked to release?  Can you find evidence of God calling you to receive in unexpected ways?