12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:12-14
This was part of the letter that Paul wrote while he was in jail. What God is trying to tell us through Paul is that we as humans will make mistakes. When these mistakes happen we tend to think God will no longer have us and we stray away from Him. However, God wants us to know that we should put all of our wrongdoings in the past and renew our lives in Christ.
Going into high school my faith wasn’t very strong and I did many showed it. However, after I went on my first mission trip I came back changed and wanting to live a life for Christ. One thing I was worried about though was the fact that I did so many bad things before and I was afraid I blew my chance at being a Christian. I talked to my youth pastor about his and he shared this verse with me. It comforted me to know that what I’ve done I’m not supposed to worry about anymore and I should focus on what is ahead.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Our New Name
Devotional: By Zach Chudy
1 John 4:15 (if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.)
What a thought, an incredible truth and victory we have in Him. Yet it is so easily forgotten, the second we fail, feel left out, or hear something about ourselves that we don’t like. The list of things that throws us off from the truth goes on and on, it can be the simplest thing, even just not feeling like the Lord is with you can send you into a whole whirlwind of lies and doubts.
Just yesterday I was playing basketball with some of my friends and someone made a comment saying I shoot too much (he was joking) but I still let it sink in and thought “he’s right maybe I really am selfish I do feel like that sometimes” and it affected me. Then later on I was making dinner and my roommate said to me “you don’t eat healthy at all”. Again something really simple that really wasn’t that big of a deal but because my focus was on how I felt at that time instead of the truth it sent me into a spiral of lies: I am a bad friend, I don’t eat right, I don’t take care of myself, something is wrong with me and I just can’t fix it. Now, I know this sounds like a big stretch and really dumb now that I see it in writing, but it was really quite convincing at the time.
The point I am trying to make is this: God made you in his image, we are a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are no longer useless, lonely, afraid, unworthy, unrighteous, or a failure. Our new name is holy, accepted, worthy, righteous, forgiven, and valued. So whatever it is that tries to convince you otherwise is a lie, no matter how good it sounds or feels it is not true, stand firm and declare who you are and who lives inside of you weather or not you feel like it at that time……because it is the truth!
1 John 4:15 (if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.)
What a thought, an incredible truth and victory we have in Him. Yet it is so easily forgotten, the second we fail, feel left out, or hear something about ourselves that we don’t like. The list of things that throws us off from the truth goes on and on, it can be the simplest thing, even just not feeling like the Lord is with you can send you into a whole whirlwind of lies and doubts.
Just yesterday I was playing basketball with some of my friends and someone made a comment saying I shoot too much (he was joking) but I still let it sink in and thought “he’s right maybe I really am selfish I do feel like that sometimes” and it affected me. Then later on I was making dinner and my roommate said to me “you don’t eat healthy at all”. Again something really simple that really wasn’t that big of a deal but because my focus was on how I felt at that time instead of the truth it sent me into a spiral of lies: I am a bad friend, I don’t eat right, I don’t take care of myself, something is wrong with me and I just can’t fix it. Now, I know this sounds like a big stretch and really dumb now that I see it in writing, but it was really quite convincing at the time.
The point I am trying to make is this: God made you in his image, we are a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are no longer useless, lonely, afraid, unworthy, unrighteous, or a failure. Our new name is holy, accepted, worthy, righteous, forgiven, and valued. So whatever it is that tries to convince you otherwise is a lie, no matter how good it sounds or feels it is not true, stand firm and declare who you are and who lives inside of you weather or not you feel like it at that time……because it is the truth!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jehovah Nissi
Exodus 17:8-15
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner
Jehovah Nissi means “The Lord is My Banner”. Exodus 17:8-15 is the story of God destroying the Amalekites and as Joshua fought them, Moses lifted up his staff, and as long as his arms were raised the Israelites were winning and if his arms lowered they would start losing. God fought for the Israelites and defeated the Amalekites as He promised to do.
A banner, or flag, or standard was used to identify the army and family you fought for and represented. Each tribe had their own banner so you would be identified as being from a tribe if you fought under the family banner. The banners or flags would also represent the values of the nation you were fighting for. It would be like here in the US. Our flag represents our values; the values established at the writing of the constitution, perhaps not the values we exhibit as a nation today. The flag also represents protections that we have “under the constitution”, or “under the flag”.
So, banners were very important in biblical times and they would go out first in a battle to inspire and rally the soldiers. Scripture says the Lord is our banner. Moses built an altar to commemorate the victory and named it Jehovah Nissi. Jesus is our banner. We identify who we are in Him. We are part of God’s family because of Jesus Christ. He also fights our battles for us, just like He did for the Israelites. Our victory is already won. We are “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). What are the battles you are facing today? You don’t have to face them alone. You have the power and authority of Jesus Christ to overcome. We are now overcomers because of Jesus.
Spend some time this week worshipping and reflecting on Jehovah NIssi. Worship Him and thank Him for being our banner. Song of Solomon 2:4 says, “His banner over me is love.” Ask God to reveal Himself to you as Jehovah Nissi.
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner
Jehovah Nissi means “The Lord is My Banner”. Exodus 17:8-15 is the story of God destroying the Amalekites and as Joshua fought them, Moses lifted up his staff, and as long as his arms were raised the Israelites were winning and if his arms lowered they would start losing. God fought for the Israelites and defeated the Amalekites as He promised to do.
A banner, or flag, or standard was used to identify the army and family you fought for and represented. Each tribe had their own banner so you would be identified as being from a tribe if you fought under the family banner. The banners or flags would also represent the values of the nation you were fighting for. It would be like here in the US. Our flag represents our values; the values established at the writing of the constitution, perhaps not the values we exhibit as a nation today. The flag also represents protections that we have “under the constitution”, or “under the flag”.
So, banners were very important in biblical times and they would go out first in a battle to inspire and rally the soldiers. Scripture says the Lord is our banner. Moses built an altar to commemorate the victory and named it Jehovah Nissi. Jesus is our banner. We identify who we are in Him. We are part of God’s family because of Jesus Christ. He also fights our battles for us, just like He did for the Israelites. Our victory is already won. We are “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). What are the battles you are facing today? You don’t have to face them alone. You have the power and authority of Jesus Christ to overcome. We are now overcomers because of Jesus.
Spend some time this week worshipping and reflecting on Jehovah NIssi. Worship Him and thank Him for being our banner. Song of Solomon 2:4 says, “His banner over me is love.” Ask God to reveal Himself to you as Jehovah Nissi.
Forgiven Sin by Alyssa Bocanegra
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
When I was about 8 years old I was walking home with my older sister, when I realized I had lost the house key, and my mom wasn't home. When we got there, I was in a panic. We searched the garage to find something we could stand on to break into one of the windows. We found my mom's shop vac vacuum cleaner. It was the middle of winter, but we managed to drag it out and stand on top of it and break in. Success! We got in. But in the midst of the excitement we forgot the shop vac outside. The next day there was a snow storm and the vacuum was destroyed. The neighbor had seen the whole thing and ratted us out.
Now if we just would of called my mom and confessed to losing the keys, she would of helped us- no harm done. But instead we wanted to fix the problem, before we faced our mom. I think many times when we go to God we have that same attitude. We want to try to “fix” our sin and then go to God for forgiveness. We want to be sanctified (be made holy) before we are justified (forgiven). I once heard someone say, “The only sins we can have any headway in overcoming are forgiven sins.” It is God who works in us to forgive and help us overcome our sins.
Philippians 2:13
When I was about 8 years old I was walking home with my older sister, when I realized I had lost the house key, and my mom wasn't home. When we got there, I was in a panic. We searched the garage to find something we could stand on to break into one of the windows. We found my mom's shop vac vacuum cleaner. It was the middle of winter, but we managed to drag it out and stand on top of it and break in. Success! We got in. But in the midst of the excitement we forgot the shop vac outside. The next day there was a snow storm and the vacuum was destroyed. The neighbor had seen the whole thing and ratted us out.
Now if we just would of called my mom and confessed to losing the keys, she would of helped us- no harm done. But instead we wanted to fix the problem, before we faced our mom. I think many times when we go to God we have that same attitude. We want to try to “fix” our sin and then go to God for forgiveness. We want to be sanctified (be made holy) before we are justified (forgiven). I once heard someone say, “The only sins we can have any headway in overcoming are forgiven sins.” It is God who works in us to forgive and help us overcome our sins.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Loss by Katelyn DeVoe
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die.....Ecclesiastes 3
There comes time in everyone's life when they experience a significant loss of a friend or family member. I myself lost my grandfather last week. For a moment in time I lost my hope in God and his greater plans. I was overwhelmed with sadness and a deep sense of emptiness. When I stopped to think about the meaning of life and the new beginning we receive after our death here on earth I found this scripture that reassured me that death is indeed a part of life. At my grandpa's funeral the pastor talked about the differences between human death and the way God perceives death. God doesn't want us to feel as though this is an ending; he wants us to embrace a joyous homecoming. My grandpa had given his life to God a long time ago and I know now that someday I will meet me grandpa again in heaven. When you experience a loss remember God allows us a chance to weep for those we have lost but wants us to ultimately find comfort and joy in the homecoming of all his children
There comes time in everyone's life when they experience a significant loss of a friend or family member. I myself lost my grandfather last week. For a moment in time I lost my hope in God and his greater plans. I was overwhelmed with sadness and a deep sense of emptiness. When I stopped to think about the meaning of life and the new beginning we receive after our death here on earth I found this scripture that reassured me that death is indeed a part of life. At my grandpa's funeral the pastor talked about the differences between human death and the way God perceives death. God doesn't want us to feel as though this is an ending; he wants us to embrace a joyous homecoming. My grandpa had given his life to God a long time ago and I know now that someday I will meet me grandpa again in heaven. When you experience a loss remember God allows us a chance to weep for those we have lost but wants us to ultimately find comfort and joy in the homecoming of all his children
Overflow by Dan Miller
This devotional is taken from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers from October 19th. Found at http://utmost.org/. At the bottom is my interpretation of this devotion. I have highlighted important parts that I took away from this devotional. My interpretation is at the bottom. I encourage you to pick out your own message from this and let God speak to you as you read this.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world - John 18:36
"The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens."
_________________________________________________
My interpretation of this is not meant to scare you away from service, but to refocus your purpose of service. The service you are involved in should not be simply to show others you are a Christian. I am too often guilty of this without even knowing it. (If you truly live a Christian life like Jesus, then people will notice without effort from you). The service should be an extra thing. The service should come because you love God so much that you can't contain it yourself. That it overflows to others. I have spent a lot of time lately figuring out the purpose of my service. If it's truly something I am doing out of the relationship I have with God, then there is no question I will engage in that action. But if the purpose is to impress other people and prove my worth to them, I must learn to say no to those things and focus on my relationship with God.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world - John 18:36
"The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens."
_________________________________________________
My interpretation of this is not meant to scare you away from service, but to refocus your purpose of service. The service you are involved in should not be simply to show others you are a Christian. I am too often guilty of this without even knowing it. (If you truly live a Christian life like Jesus, then people will notice without effort from you). The service should be an extra thing. The service should come because you love God so much that you can't contain it yourself. That it overflows to others. I have spent a lot of time lately figuring out the purpose of my service. If it's truly something I am doing out of the relationship I have with God, then there is no question I will engage in that action. But if the purpose is to impress other people and prove my worth to them, I must learn to say no to those things and focus on my relationship with God.
In Quietness and Confidence by Ben Prather
Isaiah 30:15The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, “Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
One distinct memory I have as a child is my first crime. When I was 5 years old I stole a Micro-machine race car model from Walgreens. I remember I was so happy that I could walk out of the store with that prized possession, so happy in fact I felt I needed to tell my mother about it! When she realized what I had done she told me I needed to apologize and return the toy. I felt I needed to explain the situation, that if she only understood how much I wanted this one and that the store had millions of toy cars so they couldn’t miss having this one. To no avail I walked slowly into the Walgreens, warm tears rushing down my face and placed the toy car on the check out counter.I think this example might illustrate our relationship with God. Instead of relying on our faith in God we choose to take care of the situation ourselves (as if we knew what is best for us).
Isaiah 30:15The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, “Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
In this passage, God warned Judah that turning to Egypt and other nations for military might could not save them. Only God could do that. They must wait for him in “quietness and confidence.” No amount of fast talking or hasty activity could speed up God’s grand design. We have nothing to say to God but thank you. Salvation comes from God alone. Because he has saved us, we can trust him and be peacefully confident that he will give us strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our well-laid plans and allow him to act. When was the last time you returned to God and patiently waited for His direction? How has your faith been your confidence through trials?
One distinct memory I have as a child is my first crime. When I was 5 years old I stole a Micro-machine race car model from Walgreens. I remember I was so happy that I could walk out of the store with that prized possession, so happy in fact I felt I needed to tell my mother about it! When she realized what I had done she told me I needed to apologize and return the toy. I felt I needed to explain the situation, that if she only understood how much I wanted this one and that the store had millions of toy cars so they couldn’t miss having this one. To no avail I walked slowly into the Walgreens, warm tears rushing down my face and placed the toy car on the check out counter.I think this example might illustrate our relationship with God. Instead of relying on our faith in God we choose to take care of the situation ourselves (as if we knew what is best for us).
Isaiah 30:15The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, “Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
In this passage, God warned Judah that turning to Egypt and other nations for military might could not save them. Only God could do that. They must wait for him in “quietness and confidence.” No amount of fast talking or hasty activity could speed up God’s grand design. We have nothing to say to God but thank you. Salvation comes from God alone. Because he has saved us, we can trust him and be peacefully confident that he will give us strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our well-laid plans and allow him to act. When was the last time you returned to God and patiently waited for His direction? How has your faith been your confidence through trials?
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