Love the Unlovable

     Lately, I have been thinking about some of the things I don't like.  Number one on the list: when people take the Lord's name in vain.  Not only does this drive me insane, but the fact that you say something like "Holy cow!" in front of a Hindu and they glare at you like you just cursed at them.  I personally hate it when they misuse God's name, but I do not stare at them like the death plague.  I mean if you were to say "Oh my Allah" or something like that, you would get in serious trouble, but saying "omg" has no meaning to a person?
     Number two: when people think they know you, but they don't.  I'm not talking about good friends, but like people who you hardly know think that you are one person, but you are actually another.
     Number three: when atheists say that there is absolutely no proof of a god or the Bible, and that there is no way that creation could have happened.  Proof of God is everywhere, from the beach, to the trees, to the peace that He gives that passes all understanding.  Proof of God through the Bible is even stronger.  Jesus' own birth was prophesized hundreds of years prior to it actually happened.  Paul warned us of prosecution, and today we are one of the most prosecuted groups in the world.  The Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Evolution doesn't seem any more believable than creation.  I mean they think the universe was created out of nothing, and that we evolved from single-celled organisms.
     I don't mean to sound like a person who hates everyone, but these are just some of the things that irritate me the most.  John 13:34-35 says that our greatest commandment is to love others as Christ loves us and that doing that will show others that we are His disciples.  So remember to love others as Christ loves them, and use it to set the world on fire!

Sooooo......

With Christmas gone and New Years right around the corner, because I probably won't have time to write on New Years Eve, (my best friend is arriving and I will be very distracted), I wanted to talk about 3 things: materialism, resolutions, and patience. 
Stuff, that's a word that is constantly being used in my vocabulary.  I mean that is what all physical things are, stuff.  Lots of things have no purpose and ultimately, those that do, we can't take to heaven anyway.  I'm not saying having "stuff" is bad, but having "stuff" just to have it, or to take the place of God IS bad.  We are told not to have idols, or anything that we worship more than Christ.
Another popular thing is New Years resolutions.  A lot of times we like to "make changes" to ourselves, but we don't stay changed.  This year, I want to be closer to God, more stylish, and (of course) to set the world on fire.  I hope and pray that God will use me this upcoming year in ways I never dreamed possible. 
Last, we need to be patient.  As I mentioned my very best friend is coming next Monday, and I can't wait, however, I need to be patient or I will never make it.  I am learning that everything requires some waiting, so practicing that waiting now, isn't a bad thing.  Anyway, I hope you have a happy New Year, and you will use 2013 to set the world on fire!

Praying for those at Sandy Hook

As this nation is struck by a tragedy, we all mourn.  We mourn the deaths of the innocent, the young, the priceless, the children.  We mourn the deaths of the courageous women who gave their lives to a shower of bullets to protect their students, and we pray for the ones left behind.
I want to be like this, brave, courageous, honorable, glorifying to God.  I want to have that much confidence in eternity that I could throw myself in front of a gunman to protect children I had only known since August.  Most of all, I would want to do it to bring glory to God, to give my life up for Him.  I don't mean to sound like I want to die, but rather that I would give my life if I had to.   
Romans 12:15
 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
 
John 15:13  
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
I want to be a living sacrifice, not afraid to further the kingdom.  And to let you in on a little secret, you don't have to die to spread the Word.  All you have to do is open your mouth and tell people.  Losing a friendship might seem like the end of the world, but if you never tell others, they won't be in heaven anyway.
So take the chance, "die to the world", live for Christ, and set the world on fire.

 

We are just hanging on for the ride

This Sunday, we had a guest speaker giving a message at church and the one thing that he said that stuck with me was that we are just here for the ride.  As children of God, we are promised that God will care for us.  He loves us and will guide us as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  We just need to hang on and let Christ do the work.  He will take you and do amazing things with you, so just surrender yourself and let Him use you, because His plan is so much better than yours.  And even though this is short, I want to leave you with this...

Deuteronomy 31:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Let Him have control, give Him the wheel, stop trying to do it yourself, because you will ultimately fail, and let Him work in you to set the world on fire.
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Dear Mr. President ~ An Essay on Abortion

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Dear Mr. President

I am writing this to you to address you on the issue of human life.  This issue is very dear to me, for I believe that ALL human life is valuable, no matter what stage it is.  I believe that God loves us all, and that no person, no matter the age, especially the innocent, should have to suffer.  Abortion is threatening a person’s right to live; a value that I believe America takes pride in.  Abortions take the life of around 1.5 million unborn children a year (http://www.cirtl.org/abfacts.htm).

How does this affect society?  Well, since 1973, about 50 million babies who would have a chance at a wonderful life have been stripped of the right to live (http://www.cirtl.org/abfacts.htm).  That means that 50 million doctors, nurses, researchers, authors, singers, politicians, and even presidents have been denied passage into this world.  Everyday, we are losing more and more people who could be influential to society.  Not only that, but a woman’s decision to abort will follow her throughout the rest of her life.  A growing number of women are seeking counsel for their past abortions.

Many people will say that unborn children are just fetuses and that they aren’t fully developed, can’t feel pain, or even could live a horrible life.  We, as humans though, are not fully developed until our 20s, so the fact that unborn babies are not developed is not a suitable reason because babies outside of the womb aren’t murdered out of convenience.  A baby in the womb can also feel pain after 9 weeks, so abortions after 9 weeks are actually inflicting pain on the baby (http://www.cirtl.org/abfacts.htm).  Last, would you kill a person with Down syndrome because they have the possibility of living a horrible life even though some Down syndrome patients can learn to function in society?  By having an abortion because the baby might have a horrible life is like taking a Down syndrome baby and murdering it because it might live an awful life. 

So I ask you Mr. President, are abortions really helping people, or are they taking away a right that we Americans treasure, the right to life?   I ask you to think about it.  Think about your daughters; would you force them to make a decision that will haunt them for the rest of their lives?  Think about if it was your mother, trying to decide whether or not to keep you.  Think about it for all of the pregnant mothers and their unborn children.  Think about it for America, for her future, because what if our future leader is relying on their mothers to make the right decisions.  I ask you to think about it for the sake of your country.

Sincerely,

Abby Murray

(This was an essay that I wrote for a writing contest)

Light in the Dark

Light - something that makes things visible.  Us as Christians are the light of the world.  God calls us to be light, He wants us to help make things visible.  We live in a really messed up, crazy, dark world.  When we accept Christ, we are turning on that light.  The light that everyone needs.  This light, or us, is used to help show others Christ.  Satan is the dark, and by turning on the light, we are helping this insane world to see and to put there feet on the right path that leads to Christ.
I think that us as humans have a problem with sharing this light.  We are too afraid of what others will think of us, when we should be concerned with what God thinks.   I would rather risk an earthly friendship then turn down an eternal one.  One thousand years from now, it won't matter who liked you, it will matter who's life you turned around and brought to Christ.

But in order to be that light, you first need to accept it.  If you do not know Christ, there is no way you can share Him.  God sent Jesus to us as a baby.  Jesus lived a perfect life and glorified God.  Eventually, Jesus was hung on a cross to die.  His blood was shed to pay for your sins.  After three days, He rose and conquered death.  Now He is seated in heaven waiting to come and take all who believe in Him home.  If you do not believe, you will spend eternity in hell.  In order to take this gift, you need to pray and admit your sins to God, believe that He is Gods son, and confess that you need Him because you are not good on your own.  Once you do this, you are a Christian and will be spending eternity with Him.  Now you need to spread the good news and be a light for everyone to see.

It is time we flipped up the light switch and made a difference in people's lives because we stopped hiding our light under a basket.  God has called us to so much more, so don't be afraid to share your light and to help set the world on fire.

Peace in the Cherith Ravine

This Sunday, Pastor Ross gave an awesome message on how God will provide, like He did for Elijah in the Cherith Ravine.  This really spoke to me because of the song, Have Your Way, talks about the same thing.  Just let God take over your life.  Give it to Him.  He knows the master plan, and even when you have no idea what He is doing, remember that sometimes, we are wrong and as much as you hate to hear it, it is true. 
We also need to have peace.  Peace that passes understanding; the Holy Spirit moving in us.  God gives us peace that really is like none other.  Honestly, when you don't know what God is doing, just ask Him for peace. 

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Give God your life, He will give you peace, and He will use you to set the world on fire.

And I was wondering if you all would pray for my friend at school who has brain tumors and that God would give his family peace.