This morning, I woke up, got ready, and drove to church with my younger sister. I didn't have any thoughts of making it out alive or getting raided or anything of the sort. And I took that for granted. As I was laying in bed tonight, scrolling through my feed on Twitter, I heard the news that 21 Christians had been martyred for their faith. That is a big deal. Those men, as Christians are my brothers in Christ. They're my family.
While I have walked into church basically every Sunday since I was born, I have never truly questioned my safety. I have taken that for granted. I have taken for granted the fact that I live in the United States, where I have freedom of religion. Where a church building can stand tall without questions. Where people can flood into and out of sanctuaries at multiple locations and not have to have a guard at the door watching to make sure nobody is coming to arrest them for worshiping their Creator. Their God.
So tonight as I type this, I think of all my Christian brothers and sisters. I think of my sisters who were able to praise the Lord today with their home church family. I think of the brothers who told their biological family that they no longer believed in the Muslim religion they had grown up in. My heart weeps for the daughter who was disowned because she made known that she believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that she believes in God. I pray for Pastor Saeed who is being held in Iran for his faith in Jesus Christ. The list goes on...
I don't want to forget that I am blessed to live in the United States and have the ability to practice my religion freely. I also don't want to stand idly by and forget that the freedom I have is just a dream to people all around the world. Time to speak up where I'm at to not abuse my blessings.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Saturday, February 7, 2015
An Every Day Challenge
Recently I have been learning more of what it takes to follow Christ in everything. I constantly have the verse running through my mind, "Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Sometimes that is the easiest thing to do. When I look at the people around me and see that they are miserable where they are in life, I realise I have a joy given to me by the Creator of Life and I am filled with such an excitement. My mind doesn't wander to the things of this world because I don't want to be anywhere but in line with Christ.
However sometimes, that is not an easy thing to do. Especially when what the world is throwing out there seems so attractive. When I struggle and see this opportunity that, if taken, would take away my struggle. Just giving in to this little lie will make everything okay.
But what about after that?
What about after that momentary high has faded- whether it's a chemical or emotional or hormonal high?
What about when I'm laying in bed the next day thinking about my choices and realise that I can't take that decision back? Will it be worth it then?
That is where the taking thoughts captive comes in. When I was in high school, I heard somewhere this quote from Stephen Covey, "Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; so a character, reap a destiny." Ever since, that has stuck with me. I ask myself often, where are my thoughts leading me? Am I going to regret this? Am I thinking on things that are going to lead me where I ultimately want to go?
So my constant challenge: "Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ."
Sometimes that is the easiest thing to do. When I look at the people around me and see that they are miserable where they are in life, I realise I have a joy given to me by the Creator of Life and I am filled with such an excitement. My mind doesn't wander to the things of this world because I don't want to be anywhere but in line with Christ.
However sometimes, that is not an easy thing to do. Especially when what the world is throwing out there seems so attractive. When I struggle and see this opportunity that, if taken, would take away my struggle. Just giving in to this little lie will make everything okay.
But what about after that?
What about after that momentary high has faded- whether it's a chemical or emotional or hormonal high?
What about when I'm laying in bed the next day thinking about my choices and realise that I can't take that decision back? Will it be worth it then?
That is where the taking thoughts captive comes in. When I was in high school, I heard somewhere this quote from Stephen Covey, "Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; so a character, reap a destiny." Ever since, that has stuck with me. I ask myself often, where are my thoughts leading me? Am I going to regret this? Am I thinking on things that are going to lead me where I ultimately want to go?
So my constant challenge: "Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ."
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Road Atlases and Airports
God is so faithful. A week and a half ago, I was admiring a road atlas in Walmart, bumming out that I couldn't go on a trip any time soon. Disappointed that my wistful plans for a one night trip San Francisco with a friend had been debunked by my parents for various reasons. The lady who had just helped me finish my purchase walked behind me and asked, "Got a big road trip planned?" I responded with a simple, "Oh, I wish." I bought the atalas anyway-if nothing else to dream with. Little did I know what was brewing.
The next day, I was talking with my mom about some things going on with her dad, who lives 1,500 miles away in Phoenix, Arizona. She was telling me about what was going on with him and his housing situation which has been going through a lot of changes and as he is aging, the location and amount of care available as well as the community and price are very important things. She was talking about possibly having to go down to Arizona to help him find a place which she, as a RN, would feel comfortable with the level of care and independence he had. She talked about driving down to Phoenix and I got excited, thinking this could be the opportunity I had been waiting for to travel.
Here I am, a week and a half later, having driven thorugh Oregon, California, and just crossed the Arizona border. I have a flight booked for two days from now out of Phoenix and with a layover in San Francisco. Suddenly the things that I have had on my heart to do are being provided for and God has made a way. I went into work the day after talking with my mom and asked coworkers if they would be willing to cover my shifts. Before I knew it, my four shifts were covered, my dad booked my flight home and I was getting in the car with my road atlas.
So again I say, God is so faithful. The dreams of my heart. The wishful thinking of going on a spontaneous road trip. My wanting to go to San Francisco. Even if it isn't exactly what I imagined or what I would have ideally wanted, I see God's fingerprints on the whole thing and I cannot help but give Him praise and my thankfulness for the way He has provided for this opportunity.
The next day, I was talking with my mom about some things going on with her dad, who lives 1,500 miles away in Phoenix, Arizona. She was telling me about what was going on with him and his housing situation which has been going through a lot of changes and as he is aging, the location and amount of care available as well as the community and price are very important things. She was talking about possibly having to go down to Arizona to help him find a place which she, as a RN, would feel comfortable with the level of care and independence he had. She talked about driving down to Phoenix and I got excited, thinking this could be the opportunity I had been waiting for to travel.
Here I am, a week and a half later, having driven thorugh Oregon, California, and just crossed the Arizona border. I have a flight booked for two days from now out of Phoenix and with a layover in San Francisco. Suddenly the things that I have had on my heart to do are being provided for and God has made a way. I went into work the day after talking with my mom and asked coworkers if they would be willing to cover my shifts. Before I knew it, my four shifts were covered, my dad booked my flight home and I was getting in the car with my road atlas.
So again I say, God is so faithful. The dreams of my heart. The wishful thinking of going on a spontaneous road trip. My wanting to go to San Francisco. Even if it isn't exactly what I imagined or what I would have ideally wanted, I see God's fingerprints on the whole thing and I cannot help but give Him praise and my thankfulness for the way He has provided for this opportunity.
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