Don't Look Down

I am so happy that the weather is finally warmer. My runner's high arrived a little early this year, so I have been looking forward to warmer weather since early March. It's been so nice to come home from a busy day, throw on some shorts and a tank, lace up my shoes, and bolt out the door in order to satisfy the thirst of my inner-runner.

I go to school in the city, so I run in some pretty crowded areas of the city at times as well. I absolutely love people, but I've always felt awkward running past strangers who run in the opposite direction as I do on the same sidewalk. I usually stare straight ahead or look down with each stranger in passing in order to avoid the so called awkwardness.

Half-way through my 7 mile run this past Thursday,  I randomly remembered something I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago. The spokesperson was talking about the opportunities that we all have each day to be Jesus to someone, even if that's just through a simple smile in passing. I smiled to myself and also reminded myself in those few moments that we aren't called to be comfortable. Rather, we're called to step out of our comfort zones (Or, in my case, run out of my comfort zone). What a beautiful, wonderful, marvelous piece of Truth. I am so thankful God placed it on my heart in the midst of that run. Instead of looking down or staring straight ahead with each stranger in passing, I gave each one a smile for the rest of that run. I'll continue to do that for my runs from this point on as well. Showing kindness through a simple expression of a smile truly works wonders.

It doesn't matter if you get acknowledgement in return or not. What matters is that you showed someone a smile-something they may not have seen or received that day- and that smile showed them a glimpse of Jesus-you gave them a godly touch. The only one who should be looking down is Jesus, because he smiles down on us everyday. We are called to look up. We miss out on so much when we look down. Next time you go to the store, the park, out for a run, or anywhere out in public, look around you! Look up. Admire the creation and the community that surrounds you, and don't take it for granted. Acknowledge it. Embrace it. All of this is here for you, and it was made by the Source of a godly touch indeed. Hold on to this Truth, and walk forward in His grace today, tomorrow, and always.

I want to challenge you to offer someone [or many someones] a godly touch each day from here on out. It won't only have an effect on the receiver, but the giver as well (hey, that's you). I promise.

"The power of a godly touch. Have you known it? The doctor who treated you, or the teacher who dried your tears?  Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral?

Haven’t we known the power of a godly touch? Can’t we offer the same?

Some of you use your hands to pray for the sick. If you aren’t touching them personally, you’re writing notes, calling, baking pies.  You’ve learned the power of a touch.

But others tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be.

We fear saying the wrong thing, or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.

Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?" -Max Lucado

Be blessed today and always, ladies.

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Author: Emily Townsend

 

Emily Townsend is a 20 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily is also a lover books, coffee, koalas, Pinterest, Pilates, and weddings. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can also find her blogging on her personal blog The Joy of My Joy.

Not Perfect But Easy to Love

Christon Gray's song Lady Gray (Easy to Love) is playing so loudly in my head today. His whole album School of Roses is amazing and I have listened to every song on repeat daily, but today it's a "Lady Gray (Easy to Love)" kind of day. The lyrics that stand out the most to me are, "I feel like I been looking for love you see on TV. I still feel like I'm trying to write a song I already made." This particular song, I believe, is speaking of his wife. I am not sure that my outlook is in the context of what he is sharing in the song, but I believe God is definitely speaking to me through these specific lyrics in a unique way.

Social media is such a huge part of our world today. It offers us an interesting place and space to learn, connect, share, develop friendships, collaborate, and more. It also truthfully has been a breeding ground for the development of romantic relationships. Social media has given us a window into the lives of others. It is as if a story or life is created through posts, comments, pictures, and videos that are shared. We see this as an outsource for us to communicate with others that may not be within our grasp. It can be enjoyable and entertaining and also a place where people have truly been blessed, and lives have been changed because of what has been shared. Though we believe that this forum gives us a better understanding of people, especially the ones, we want to get to know more, it does not give us an internal flashlight to look intricately and intimately into the heart and condition of a person's life. So then getting to know someone only through the Internet, but never really knowing the heart of a person becomes an endless and empty cycle, because your connection only goes but so far when lacking true intimacy.

Only getting to know someone on the surface of social media is such an emotionally unavailable place. For some, it is even a way to protect their hearts because they want to connect but not too intimately for fear of being hurt. It is just easier for this to happen. When you do not make the connection, you want, then you decide to move on to the next. Isolating yourself behind the walls of social media and the Internet is an incubator that deteriorates the heart. It is so funny that these grounds only take us further away from what our hearts truly desire. That is true interpersonal connection, companionship and love. We then at this point enter relationships and even a relationship with God based off of a counterfeit idea of what love is really about. We enter these relationships with the idea that Christon Gray says in his song, "I feel like I been looking for love you see on TV. I still feel like I'm trying to write a song I already made."

Sometimes our understanding of a genuine relationship is based upon what we bring to the table and try to force on others; we are likely to force our own ideas about love into a box of what we have seen through our experiences, the media, or other circumstances. It is even harder to approach God in this manner because He wants to teach and guide us, exemplifying what true love is. He wants to show us not only what is in our hearts but also in the hearts of others. He wants us to understand the condition of the heart because then we are able to connect intimately and actually have a relationship.

Another line in Christon Gray's song Lady Gray (Easy to love) says, "You're not perfect, but you're easy to love." I believe this how God sees us. We are not perfect, but God is the ultimate lover and for Him, we are easy to love. Even through our imperfections, He loves us unconditionally; and being in a relationship with God gives us a key to the heart.

We believe a lot of times that we really know a person based on what we see of them through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. Somebody types in their birth date, where they went last night for dinner, or their relationship status and this constitutes us holding the vitality of that person's life in our hands. Then we try to develop a relationship based on the persona of a particular individual. I will not pretend like I have not been guilty of this before....hahaha.....I had to pause and laugh at myself just thinking about it. I have done it several times, but I had to learn that people are not always who they portray themselves to be; and this is why we should lean upon the one who truly knows their hearts, as well as ours.

The bible says, "Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the lord and turn away from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT)

Seek true wisdom and understanding.

Also when you get a chance, check out Christon Gray's album School of Roses. It is truly awesome because he is a dope Christian artist speaking and sharing about the human experience.

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Author: Francine Ott

Francine is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

The Expectation Gap

When my husband and I got married, we had this whole timeline in our minds of when the big moments in our lives would happen. We would spend a year enjoying our time together as a couple and then we would start house shopping. We would then buy a house and start trying for a baby and the following year would be the "year of the baby." Then we would decide when we would start planning for the second and third child, because you don't want them too close together or too far apart in age.
Wow. We really thought we were in control.

After about a year of trying, we began to question if we would ever get pregnant. Not just us either, there were so many people in our lives who were wondering what we were waiting for or why it was "taking so long." I began to wonder if I was infertile, and if it was a good idea to start asking questions when I saw my doctor, but decided to hold off. After all, we weren't trying every tool available at that time; there was no temperature taking or calendar monitoring, we were just waiting for it to happen "in God's time."
The truth was, we didn't want it in God's time. We wanted it "right now" because we were ready! Didn't God see that?!

Days went by. Month after month, negative result after negative result. The hope that had anchored our plans was floating away in the distance. Pregnancy and babies became a very tender subject to approach. I cried all the time. When a friend or client inquired about when we were going to have a baby, the response had changed tremendously from the year prior.

"I'm not sure that we will," I would say, and a little piece of my heart would crumble away each time.
Then, one day, we released what wasn't ours to begin with. Control.

I remember talking with God and saying," Alright Lord, if I'm not meant to be pregnant, I trust that you will give me the strength to handle what that future looks like. I know that you will guide us with our steps and I know that I will be okay." The tears flowed like rain. But I meant every word of that prayer and God truly gave me His Peace for our circumstances.

A few months later, 2 1/2 years after the original 'plan' to have a baby, I took a pregnancy test because I had the weirdest wave of nausea wash over me. I didn't expect to see a plus sign, in fact I had to ask a friend if she saw it too because I couldn't allow myself to believe it at first. The rest is history and I have an incredible daughter who resides in my heart now.

I didn't know that the story would end up that way, and for a lot of us it doesn't. The Lord was waiting on me to truly trust in His plan before you gave me an answer. Sometimes, we are holding onto our plans and expectations so tightly that we forget who holds our future. It may not look the way we wanted it to, and it may not happen when and how we hoped it would, but it is always for our good.

Let go, and let God catch you.

Genesis 28:15: "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

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Author: Emilee Lowe

Emilee is a Christ following wife and mother who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a former hair stylist who is committed to being used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

I'm Not Sexy

Recently, a very popular gospel artist caused quite a stir among many, especially Christians, when she took promo pictures in a skin-tight dress that accentuated her very, curvaceous body. 

When asked about the backlash she received from wearing the dress, she made the following statement, “I think that young girls shouldn’t only get sexy images from people who are not proclaiming Jesus. But I am. And I’m cute too.”

Sexy has become a trendy word that so many casually throw around. We use it to describe hairstyles, outfits, music, etc. I've even heard it used to describe certain events and parties for adults.   Everything is about sex and/or being sexy. Scantily clad women are shown on fast food commercials seductively devouring quarter pound burgers. There's even a line of popular hair products called, "Big, Sexy Hair". 

I thought about the gospel artist's response. Yes, it is true our young girls are bombarded with sexy images from people who are not Christians. But, should they also see Christian women who should serve as positive role models, projecting sexy images as well? 

Let's look at the definition of the word sexy according to dictionary.com. 

Sexy: 1.concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué 2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality.

Now, I don't have daughters of my own.  But, I can assure you that I do not want the young girls and young women that I love and influence to see me projecting an image that is "sexually interesting" or risqué.  I do not want the young girls and women I influence to see me projecting an image that does not point them towards Christ.  

I want to remind older women of the awesome responsibility we have been given when it comes to the younger women. Let's go to the book of Titus. 

(Titus 2:3-5 NLT)

(3)Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. (4)These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, (5)to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 

It is our responsibility to live before the young women in a way that honors God. This means that we must teach them to also honor the bodies He gave them, by exercising discretion and by projecting a modest image.  We must teach younger women, especially in this oversexed society, that their body truly is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we must teach them to treat it with great respect. We must also teach them to value what's on the inside more.  To place great care and focus on becoming a woman who reflects the image of Christ.   Lets look at the following statistics:

"The United States cosmetic industry is the largest in the world estimating a total annual revenue of $54.89 billion.'  Compare that number with the annual bible sales in America. In the US, annual bible sales are worth between $425 million and $650 million."   

Interesting stats, huh?  This should speak volumes to us. What do we value more?  

Embrace the young women and girls you influence and love. Teach them the value of being a woman after God's heart, and that we have the responsibility of not projecting a sexy image to the world. 

Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! (Proverbs 31:30 AMP)

Remember, we are in this world, but not of this world. 

Prayer:  Father, help me to be mindful that I am Your daughter. May everything I do point others to you at all times. May I present my body to you as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to you. 

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Author: Pamela Bell

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.

Letting Go of the Past

We all mess up sometimes. We're only human, and we make a lot of mistakes. It is inevitable for us to do things we'll wish we hadn't. But as Rafiki says in the Lion King, "Oh, yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." So we have two choices here: dwelling on our pasts and beating ourselves up or learning from our mistakes and not repeating them. Which are you going to choose? Are you going to make your past the focus of your life either by holding on to it too tightly or by avoiding it altogether, or are you going to learn from your mistakes and allow God to change your perspective? Are your eyes on Jesus, or are they on your past?

In Philippians 3:13, the apostle Paul tells us one thing that he's learned to do: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead," (NIV). If there is anyone who had a past he was probably not proud of, it was Paul. Think for a moment about who he used to be before he became the man who wrote over half of the New Testament and brought the gospel to the Gentiles. Before he started following Jesus, Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians. Acts 9:1 says he "was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers" before he was saved (NLT). I am sure that after he became a Christian, he must have had some serious regrets about that time in his life. I bet he wished that he could go back in time and stop himself from doing all those things. I imagine that the things he did back when he was Saul haunted him. I can relate, can't you? There are definitely things I've done that I wish I could take back. Just like all of us, Paul had a past that he probably wished he could change. But he is saying here that the past is not what matters. It's the future goal of heaven that matters. Of course, we need to learn from our pasts, so we don't repeat our mistakes. But we can't hold on to them; we have to disregard our pasts and set our minds on our future destination.

It's important to note that when Paul says "forget" here, he is using the Greek word epilanthanomai, which means "to neglect or no longer care for." Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sin no more" (NIV). This is the same concept. When he forgives us, God doesn't literally forget our sins, but they don't matter to him anymore. He won't ever hold them against us. In the same way, we can't hold our pasts against ourselves. We have to forgive ourselves. We've all messed up, but we can't let that hold us back from doing the things God wants us to do now. God can use absolutely anybody, no matter how badly they've messed up in the past. That's so reassuring to me. No matter what things you've done that you wish you could erase, God still forgives, loves, and will use you to further his kingdom.

Just as we can't keep our eyes on our pasts and dwell on them, we can't repeat them. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Don't beat yourself up about it, and don't do it again! God has an unlimited amount of second chances, so if you do mess up again, it's not the end of the world. None of us can be perfect. We all struggle with different sins that it can be hard to break free from. God knows that, and he'll help you. He will still forgive and love you. However, those sins can still hinder your race. For every step you take backward, you have to make it up again. Doubling back on yourself makes your race so much harder than it needs to be.

On the other hand, we can't let the good things in our pasts hold us back, either. When we're going through a trial, we're often tempted to think about the way things used to be and how much better it was in the "good old days" when we're weren't having to put up with whatever it is we're having to deal with now. But looking back at how good things used to be can be just as harmful as beating ourselves up about the bad things we've done. Whether we're looking back at bad things or good things in our pasts, we're still looking back!

The Christian life is often compared to a race. When you're running a race, you can't look behind you. If you look backward, you'll slow down. You won't be able to run in a straight line. You can hurt yourself or run into other people if you're not paying attention to where you're going. And just as you can't look behind you, you certainly can't start running in the opposite direction! If you run the wrong way, you may reach the finish line first, but you sure didn't win the race! In Luke 9:62, Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (NIV). If your eyes are on your past, then they're not on Jesus. You have to have your focus and your attention set on heaven. There's nothing you can do to change your past, but you can think about your goals and what you need to do right now in order to achieve them. You can think about the work you can do right now to advance the kingdom. I can guarantee you that you were called to do something. I don't know what that something is, but I do know that it is not dwelling on your past! Be praying and seeking after what God has in store for you to do, then get out and do it!

Look toward the future, on both the things that you can accomplish here on earth and your future in heaven. God knows your faults and the sins that you struggle with. He hasn't given up on you, so don't give up on yourself, either. Learn from your past mistakes, but don't obsess over them. Forgive yourself as God has forgiven you. Set your eyes upon Jesus. Keep running with endurance.

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Author: Hannah Bryant

Hannah Bryant is a worship-leading, cat-loving, pizza-eating redhead who doesn't take much seriously apart from her relationship with Jesus. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education at Southern Oregon University. You can finder her blogging at Redwood Seed, her personal blog. redwoodseed.com.

Put It to Death

When a person dies we grieve, but we know they are never coming back and that death is final in this life. I believe we should look at certain situations the same way. Situations and/or people we have held onto, unable or unwilling to let go, we need to put those situations to death instead of obsessing, analyzing and trying to manipulate or change something we can no longer have or change. If we don't bury it and put it to death it leaves us in bondage.  

“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”- 2 Peter 2:19

Are you still being “mastered” by something in your life that is gone, but you are keeping alive?

It's done. It's final.  The only thing that could ever bring it back to life is Jesus. There are so many of us walking around dragging and holding onto things that are dead.  Can you imagine being around someone who carries around a dead carcass?  Not a pleasant thought, is it?  Yet, that’s what it’s like, and though you can’t see the dead carcasses we are carrying around, they do make our spirits stench.  They weigh us down because it’s dead weight and unnecessary to carry.  They weigh down our hearts, minds, life, relationships and futures.  A quote I love is, “I took it off.  I did not want to carry it with me anymore.” 

We tend to carry our former selves around as well and if we do not put our former selves to death, we end up going back to our former ways leading to sin that keeps us in bondage. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”- 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”- Colossians 3:2-4, 5-11

You have to put it to death, its final resting place to be able to move on.  You are the only one keeping it alive.  What in your life do you need to put to death?  A past relationship? Who you used to be? Allow God to shine His truth on your life to show you where and what in your life needs to put to death.  

As always, every one of you is important to the kingdom, so put your crowns back on, throw your shoulders back and act accordingly to what God says about you!

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Author: Leilani Glassmyer

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.