Boldness, the Forgotten Prayer Request

One of my favorite messages from TLC was a sermon on boldness, given by David Whiting. A few things really stuck out to me as being very essential in the boldness that we should exhibit as we live our lives.   He started with a criticism of the prayer of American Christians.  A lot of times, we pray for safety and health, which is kind of ironic considering the fact that America is one of the safest countries with some of the best medical advancements.  Imagine the kind of message that we are sending to nonbelievers when we pray for these things.  It would seem that the worst thing that could happen would be to die and go to heaven.  We need to start prioritizing our prayer.
In Ephesians 6, Paul is writing from prison.  Even though he was put there for proclaiming the name of Jesus, look at what he prays for: boldness.  He was imprisoned for being bold, but instead of praying for safety or that he would be released, he prays for even more boldness.
Being bold means deciding to say something when it would be easier to say nothing. Speaking up when your science teacher talks about the earth being millions of years old or when your friend mocks Christians.  Being bold means taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us on a day to day basis.  Not only that, but being bold means creating opportunities instead of sitting on our hands, waiting for something to happen.
Being bold also means staying calm.  It means not getting frustrated, or angry, or rude when presenting the Gospel.  It means giving God the ability to change people's hearts instead of trying to change them ourselves.  It means living so that we look like a walking example of Christ's love.
Imagine the impact that we could make if we started risking a grade, a job, or friend for Jesus' name.  Imagine the generation of Christ followers we would bring up if we started to speak out, but stay calm, and to practically live it out.  What if we started to create opportunities for ourselves, while we also took every opportunity that God gave to us.  What if we stopped thinking about the worst that could happen to us, and instead, remember what will happen to the lost people of this world if we are not bold; if we do not share the love that God has given us.  Imagine the impact that we could make if we started “praying for boldness instead of seeking acceptance".  Imagine that impact right now, and started living BOLD so that He could use us to set the world on fire.

My Other Struggle

As we were driving to the BBC campus for Teen Leadership Conference a few Monday's ago, I was praying a lot.  I prayed that for a week, God would let me lay aside everything in my life that would distract me and to show me what He wants me to see.  I didn't really expect to be shown a big area of my life that needed improvement, but it's funny how God works where you least expect Him too.
I certainly didn't think that I had any other major problems other than my doubt (see last blog post), but I guess that is a perfect example of my other struggle, pride. (Isn't it ironic that I was too prideful to didn't realize that pride was an issue?)
I first realized my struggle with pride when I walked into the first session on Monday night and I saw all of these other teens that were Christians.  I guess that for so long, I have lived in an area where I don't know very many Christians outside of church.  I have been used to being the only Christian among my friends at school.  I have embraced the "good girl" status and while I might not literally, metaphorically, I hold my head high.  I have developed the mindset that I am better than other people.  (Now that doesn't mean that I don't witness to people, I still do)
Anyway, this trip was a very humbling trip for me because it helped me to realize that I'm not the only "good Christian" in the world, that there are lots of teens who are on fire for God.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble there is wisdom.
I challenge you guys to open your hearts and ask God to show you where you might need work.  It may be obvious, my doubt, or not so obvious, like my pride.  Pray that He can help you to realize your "improvement area" and help you through it so that you can set the world on fire.

The Struggle is Real!!!!!

So I know that it has been FOREVER, but after a pretty awesome youth group lesson tonight (thanks Alex), I realized two things.  Thing one, that I miss writing.  I was listening to him read what he wrote and I was thinking the whole time "Wow, I cannot believe that I went 4 months without writing just to write".  Thing two that I realized was why I haven't written.  You see, I don't really struggle with anger too much.  I am the kind of person that gets over things very quickly.  I am not able to hold a grudge. (The only thing is that every so often I explode if I'm tired and angry.)  Anyway, at the end of the lesson, I started thinking about what the sin that I struggled the most was and after about two seconds of thinking, I came to the conclusion that my struggle is also why I haven't written in forever.

I struggle with doubt.  I know that might seem strange and you might be thinking that that isn't that big of a deal, but it is.  I have always doubted.  My brain needs concrete evidence and so having faith has always been a challenge for me.  Proverbs 3:5-8 says this though,

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh

 and refreshment to your bones.

Humans like being right.  We like being in charge and we tend to get very self confident.  I know personally that not knowing where God is going to take me honestly scares me and it is so much easier to doubt Him than to accept Him.  However, verse 6 says that if we turn everything over to Him, He will provide and guide us.  I am learning to just trust Him instead of doubt His presence.  I am learning to believe with child-like faith and give EVERYTHING to God, and by doing this, I'm praying that He will use me to set the world on fire.

Well Guess Who's Back!

I cannot believe that it was a month ago that I gave up social media!  It really flew by.  I have got to say that what I hoped to happen during this past month happened!
During the first two weeks, it was very hard to break the habit of just getting on Facebook whenever I was bored, but somehow I pulled through. Then in these last two weeks, God has really brought me closer to Him.  I have gotten an awesome opportunity to witness to a girl at my school and I can't remember the last day that I didn't read my Bible!  I am really praying that I don't slip back into my old habits, but I know that God is enough to sustain me.
I am really excited to see how God will be able to keep this renewed passion going in the days to come!  Anyway, I am praying that God will continue to use me and that He would help me set the world on fire.

Update on Facebook Fast

This ditching Facebook stuff is HARD!!  I have done it twice before, but never for a month.  It's really hard not to just jump on Facebook when I'm bored.  It also doesn't help that it comes preloaded on my phone so I can't delete the app.  So I am cramming my time with music (lots of music) instead of Facebook.  I think that the hardest part for me is that I didn't deactivate the account like my good friend Julie, so now I get weekly emails from Facebook telling me that I have 16 notifications, 2 messages, 2 friend requests, and that more than 6 friends have updated their status.  It is extremely tempting!  But, I am really getting work done quicker, I am posting on my blog again, and I am reading my Bible regularly so it is worth it.  Oh, and I beg you to join me, not because I am lonely (I'm not), but because it is really a good thing to do to grow closer to God and to set your priorities.

Walk On the Water

The message at church yesterday was JUST what I needed to hear.
I have really thought lately about why I just couldn't feel God working. I knew that He's there, but nothing was changing.  Of course, my questioning mind needed a reason why.  After thinking about it for a while, I think that I found the reason.  I was crashing after a major spiritual high, the missions trip this past summer.  I had experienced some extremely life-altering things and feelings and when I got back home, I kind of crashed.  I slipped back into a routine.  I didn't really want to, but when you are as close to God as you have ever been for a week, and then you fall back to where you were, it's a pretty steep fall.  I just went back to the way things were and then I got comfortable there, and God couldn't use me.
I think that a lot of times, we get this way.  We come to a point in our lives where the storm is raging around us, and the boat feels like the safest place.  But where would the adventure be if we just stayed inside and never braved the world.  I mean, are roller coasters comfortable, no, but they are sooooo much fun.  Is tubing comfortable, oh no, but we love to do it.  Was Nicaragua comfortable, no way, but I had the time of my life!  My point is that some of the best experiences in life aren't comfortable, and since God is so much better than the things of this world, than shouldn't being uncomfortable serving God be the best?
How much could we be missing out on from just being afraid to step out of the boat?  And even if you do fall, you will fall right in Jesus' arms.  So what are we waiting for?  Join me this week as I step out of the boat and with my eyes set on God, I can set the world on fire!


(BTW: Still Facebook FREE!!!!!)

Stepping Away From Social Media

Honestly, since this school year started, I haven't been as on fire for God as I was.  I also realized that the last time I gave up social media was on my trip to Nicaragua.  So in order to hopefully gain some inspiration for my blog and my writing, and draw closer to God, I am giving up social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for a month.  Starting this Sunday, February 9th, I am going to be off all social media, until March 9th.

The reason why I posted this is to challenge you to give up social media also.  It doesn't have to be for a month.  It doesn't even have to be for a week, it could be for a day or two.  It just has to be a time for you to be close to God.  

So, I hope that you will join me in stepping away from social media and use the time you save to set the world on fire!

(By the way, thanks Julie for the inspiration to do this!)

My Creative Writing Final

The mountains rose on either side of me.  A warm breeze blew over the barren field I was standing on.  The sand wove its way through my toes.  I sidestepped to avoid the cactus.  The little girl in my arms grew heavier every second.  Her hair stung my face and I wished I could put my sunglasses on but she wouldn’t let me.  I wanted to put her down, but she clung tight to my neck.  A smoking volcano in the distance set a backdrop for her tiny village.  Her house, the size of my bedroom, stood among 200 others, painted with pride.  I couldn’t talk to her, she spoke Spanish, but I could tell that she needed hope.  Her eyes told me it all.  Her hug told me it all.  I could already feel the tears that I would cry later that night in the group at the hotel.  How could I just have overlooked an entire portion of the world?  How could I have not seen how much poverty really affects people?

            I heard someone say that we had 10 minutes left, an inevitable fact that ripped my mind into the harsh reality that I would have to leave.  The girl in my arms, Medina I believe her name was, slipped down from my arms and took off running.  The kids sitting on top of the bus scrambled down from their perch.  Our group gathered around for a photo, fitting in as many extra kids as possible.  Then we climbed on the bus for the long 45-minute ride back to the hotel. 

            Later I found out that I was right.  I did cry, a lot.  I think that the cause of this culture shock, as the group leader told us was how wrong and right I was.  You see, I thought that poverty and helplessness wouldn’t get the best of me.  Somewhere in me, possibly subconsciously, I had thought that it wouldn’t be as bad as they say.  That only in Africa is there malnourishment and severe hunger.  One of the hardest things was that you could visibly see it.  When you saw a blonde streak on someone’s hair, it didn’t mean that they got their hair highlighted, it meant that they didn’t get enough protein in their diet.  They only ate rice and beans after all.  The shacks that they called home wasn’t staged for a commercial, it is reality for so many people.  The jeans that they wore didn’t come ripped.  The shirts didn’t come splattered with paint and stained from endless hours on a dirt floor.  They didn’t just decide to not wear shoes, they didn’t have any.

            I can still remember the feeling of sweat pouring down my back and tons of eyes looking at my white skin.  If I close my eyes long enough, I am blown back, and I can feel the gentle warm breeze on my skin.  I can still picture the mountains that I only saw twice.  Those mountains were my solidity, a constant reminder that even in a crazy country nothing like my own, God still reigned.  I can still hear the Switchfoot song playing in my head: “This is home, now I am finally where I belong”.  Yeah, that was home.  Maybe not that village, or city, or even that country, but I was at home because I was where God wanted me.

          No matter what your dreams are, don't forget your Jerusalem and spread His love now to set the world on fire.