"May We Live"

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." ~Nelson Mandela

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

It's difficult for us to face problems. We don't like to admit we have them, and we have an even harder time of making a decision regarding them. Easier for us to run away, ignore them, hope someone else will deal with them for us, or point the finger at something other than ourselves in order to justify our actions (or lack thereof). The problem isn't that we will have problems (because face it, we will!); it's how we deal with them. When we spend more time focusing directly on the problem/decision itself, we run the risk of falling into an abyss of self-pity and despair (to which we will occasionally fall). And this we know is not a healthy attitude, nor will it get us anywhere. All this advice we already know; it's almost always easier said than done, and we all know how much we love what is easier.

Encountering problems and/or making decisions often catches us comparing our lives to others--we look at how we could've done so many things if we only had the chance (or the chance again). We see others around us and wish we could be them; we are hard to please and harder to satisfy. In the last daily bread we discussed how people and various lifestyles can look so appealing to us. It seems that we want to be happy, but as soon as we achieve whatever it is we believe will make us happy, then we are not happy, all over again. "We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~Frederick Keonig

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ~Nelson Mandela This does NOT mean the life you might be living is not a notable life. It does not mean that someone else's life might be BETTER or more IMPORTANT than your own. Because stop right there. Our lives, our individual lives are individual for a reason. No one else can possibly fully understand us (except God) because no one else is YOU. You can tell me your problem for example, and while I may have had a similar experience, I can only empathize so far with you--even if I feel the same emotions as you, your EXPERIENCE is unique to you and to you alone.
 

Only YOU can ask yourself the question: what are YOU capable of? Don't be surprised if you can't answer it though. We can go our whole lives and still not be able to answer such a question. People can change throughout their life, and to say you know or want to know yourself so fully in every way would in reality take many lifetimes to study--not to mention the dedication it would also require. "Knowledge rests not upon truth alone, but upon error also." ~Carl Jung I for one couldn't tell you who I am, because this is something I will be studying on for the rest of my life.

   

No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it. Ecclesiastes 8:17 So why should we bother asking at all? Well, we will discuss more on that later, but think of it this way; we can still learn and grow...

 

 

This leads us to the topic at hand; I have heard many ask the infamous question, "what is God's plan for my life"? If you are one of those that struggles with the problems that often collaborate with such a question, keep reading. You might be someone who look at other people who have said that God called them to such and such, and wonder why God hasn't called you to a similar more noteworthy life. "Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own." ~Aslan, The Horse and His Boy Therefore, you are the author of your own story, and no one's is better than another. Keep in mind this thought; someone who seems to have accomplished much in the public eye may have accomplished little mentally or spiritually. So don't fall so quickly for the belief that a seemingly "noble and fantastical" life is not what you already have. Everyone's view of these things are different. But, on the other hand, if you don't like your life, then work on changing it yourself. God will present to us opportunities; we can choose to take them or not, but ultimately focusing on whether God orchestrates everything for us and we have no say at all seems rather childish. I believe that God's "plan" for all our lives deals with the mental/spiritual sides of life--what makes us a better person for example. Or does what I do strengthen my relationship with God? With others?"As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility." ~Nelson Mandela

So then, just WHO is this sort of God? I'm afraid I have no clear answer for this one. I can however, look around at the world, and see all that He has created, and I feel Him a part of it all. I can say that's who God is. I can say He is a part of the woman who gives a homeless man a hot meal. I can say He is a part of the family who loves and hurts together. I can say he is a part of the wind that whispers through the trees, the sun that helps the plants grow, a baby's laugh, or even in a young friend killed in a car crash. He is a part of everything, even that which we may view as sad or unfair or something we do not understand. I don't see how anyone can really explain Him outside of that; but just as we can see and understand to an extent the results of the work of an experiment, so also can we at least see what He has in this world--what makes up you and me. A reflection of Him if you will.

We are made in His image; Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27

This means we are NOT God, but rather a REFLECTION of Him. This means that our reflection should be a beautiful representation of who God is; ultimately this paints the picture of WHO WE ARE. (We've discussed this topic in past daily breads). God is so many things, and so much more that we will never comprehend, so our reflection of Him is rather complicated. I am sure that God is greatly interested in all that we do in our lives; but when we make decisions and stress whether God will be pleased or not with them, I believe we then begin to lose sight of the essence of God and what He's ultimately all about (love...). We are all different, so I believe we all then will show different reflections of God. The bottom line here I think, is that it is more about HOW we reflect God than the actual essence of what we do; what is your attitude like for example. I believe we should be humbly glorifying Him in all that we are. If we are His reflection, we should honor it and strive to be holy...

Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. John 8:54

"People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works." ~Meister Eckhart

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Why should we honor God? We honor Him because He is a part of us and gave us life; the least we could do is show our humble and appreciative respect. And as far as what He longs for our lives, well, I think that's just it. He longs for us to love Him, and to glorify Him in whatever we may do. Sometimes we may look at other peoples' lives and wonder why we didn't have a life like theirs; we might wonder why we seem so, well, incomplete. Is this showing God love, or selfish ambition? Is it fair for us to blame God for what our lives may be like? We will say we search for happiness, but I wonder if and when we might find it, will that truly make us happy? And will we be satisfied even then?"If our condition were truly happy, we would not seek diversion from it in order to make ourselves happy". ~Blaise Pascal

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility. Zephaniah 2:3a

God can and will use us in whatever we do in this life. So if you make a decision you aren't sure is the "right" one in line with God's "plans", take a moment to breathe. It's extremely hard to say if any one thing is "right"; most decisions are based off of what might seem like the "better" or more "beneficial" way to go. If your decision turns out not as well as you thought, reevaluate it. Don't settle yourself in your fabricated despair. Rather instead create new opportunities. Learn from mistakes. Learn for future ideas. Make new mistakes. Life will never be cut and dried simple. But we can still work with it. It's just going to take effort on our parts. "To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also." ~Igor Stravinsky We need to be willing to try my friends.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:4, 12

I think He is very interested in what we do, but isn't the kind of being idly spinning our lives on some perfect string as though we were a puppet. Life is too unpredictable; even though He may have a hand in our lives, what we make of it is ultimately up to us. I believe He has given us the freedom to decide; He is here to give us His strength, love, and guidance--the question is, are we willing to let Him in to help us? The Lord will guide you always;  He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

"You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy for you to believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose that you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief". ~C.S. Lewis

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6: 25-34

So, don't spend so much time worrying over the problems and decisions you will face in this life. Instead, let God in to help guide you and lend you strength. He does love us after all. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand". Isaiah 41:10

Whose life are you really choosing to live? Strive to make yours holy to God's rather than mans'.*

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." ~Oscar Wilde

Seeking to live,

Whitney 

"The Interruptible Life"

We are all different, so we each show love and appreciation to each other in various ways.

But when it comes to serving others, check your life. Sometimes when we think we are being "good people", we might not really be. For we can have other motives; we can be selfish even when it seems like we are not. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become "fools" so that you may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

I love being involved in the beautiful people in my life; but they aren't always so "available" for me. I know it isn't because they don't care about me; people usually tell me it is only because everyone is so busy with their lives, and I'm sure that is very true. I'm busy myself too after all.

But regardless, I'm not so convinced that is the full reason. Sure we are all busy; but are we so certain that we couldn't possibly be busy for just selfish reasons? How could we be so busy as to rarely have time for others? (We means a general we; you might happen to be the least selfish person in the world—I draw mainly from my own experiences and observations). Or perhaps it is simply everyone assuming we are all busy with things in our lives when we really aren't that busy. Whatever the case may be, people still often see a "do not disturb" sign on our lives, making it so they will be less likely to "bother" us. Do people see one on your life? I know people do with me.

Regardless where you stand, still be willing to be "interrupted" by others; Jesus was. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. Matthew 20:30-32

So what does it mean to be "interrupted"? You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15 

Whatever you think your purpose in this life may be, make sure you show love to others—in whatever form may fit who you are. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Loving God and loving others should be at the top of the list before us: Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39

Be careful though. Serving one another is not about competition. Don't make your motivation only to do it to show others how great a person or Christian you are. No one is greater or lesser than another, no matter who you might be nor what you may have done. [Jesus speaking] "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them". Matthew 6:1a Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philemon 2:3-4 Serve others humbly; love them because you want to! 

Serving others really is a blessing even if they do not show appreciation back; evaluate your motives--[Jesus praying to His Father] "I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do". John 17:4 Bring glory to God by loving those around you. Remember the greatest commandment?

Be thankful and serve with a loving heart without looking for praise. If that is your only motive, then you are missing the point of what it means to love. [Jesus speaking] "…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 

I know as well as anyone that doing literally anything in this life can be scary. Maybe serving others humbly is not generally your thing. But that to me is the beauty of life. If we didn't have problems, make mistakes, or take risks, then no one would ever learn nor grow. And learning and growth are two valuable and beautiful things... 

Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 

It's alright to be afraid of something new; you're not alone in that. But have faith; trust Him. Even when things seem like they will never be okay; for while it is true "You cannot control [everything that] happens to you, you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." ~Brian Tracy "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." ~C. S. Lewis "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10 

God loves us no matter what we do. But imagine just how vast His love and joy towards you can be when you truly surrender everything to Him and just love. We aren't perfect beings; but we can always strive to be. I believe that is something He longs for us to do: to strive to love Him. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" Matthew 25:21

I love this quote by C.S. Lewis:"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step". You don't have to agree with everything I say. In fact, I don't want you to! What I would hope is for you to sift through all that I have said and see what it might mean in your life. This is what life is all about; learning from one another and thus loving each other in order to love and honor our Father. Loving one another reflects what our relationship ought to be with God. So you might not have an idea what you should do with your life, but as C.S. Lewis said, take a step. Such an attitude won't make things all nice and shiny, but it will allow opportunities for growth and advancement. Opening ourselves up to love means to become vulnerable; but take heart, for it is in our most vulnerable moments that He draws close…

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

May we love as we are loved.*

Thank you God,

Whitney

"Reaching For the Unreachable"

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

One thing I have reflected upon lately, is the art of striving. Now, we all know that perfection will never be acquired by that of a human being. Only God is perfect. So why then would we work hard to become a better person? Why would we work to reach perfection, even when we know we will never reach it?

Let's look at a relatable example in an attempt to answer such a provacative question.

My mother loves to decorate (and she's extremely good at it!). She is constantly restoring furniture, painting walls, or finding little knicknacks in order to spruce up her home. Her home mind you was fine before such additions; did her house really need that restored footstool or that new bed coverlet she put together herself? Not really (although she would argue otherwise naturally =D). But that of course, isn't the point.

My mother does these things because she loves to. She strives to make her house more presentable because she likes how it looks that way, she has loads of fun doing it, and others also enjoy the benefits of her hard labor. Will she ever get it so perfect that she could honestly stop trying to make it better? No, because her perspective and attitude, the way of the world, and the things she finds to add to her home are constantly changing. And she has chosen to grow along with them. This reflects who she is as a person.

She has a self-rewarding experience at the completion of her projects--she herself is stronger, more confident, happy, (and no doubt many other emotions). When she strives to work hard at these projects of hers, she completes them to the best of her ability. Could she do more to them? No doubt, but for now at least, she can feel content, and satisfied at such striding lengths.

We all have our types of projects. We all strive to be better at something. But why do we do them? Is there a physical reward at the end if we finish? Sometimes. Though usually it is a self-reward, (an emotion), such as feeling proud you did your best to accomplish whatever it was.

So then, what about striving to be perfect in our spiritual lives? Just like with my mother's home, things are constantly changing in our lives. We can either accept that change, and grow with it, or attempt not to. (Bear in mind there is bad change as well as good change, and change that's well, neutral. Whatever change it is though, also realize it could be changed!) =)

Consider a constantly growing tree, or a stagnant swamp...Now look at the Church of the Laodiceans who were "lukewarm"; neither cold nor hot. We all have a choice in this life, and I pray that we choose wisely.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:15-20

God encourages us to grow, for He wants us to know truth and to be holy men and women of God. In fact,

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:1-9

God also encourages us to strive because He loves us, and hopes that we love Him in return. When you are in love with someone, you pursue them with everything you have in order to win them over right? God is wooing you in a way. He loves you even when you mess up, and as we saw in the previous daily bread, He is always there for you even when the going gets tough. He is offering us so much: love, truth, hope, comfort, encouragement... How could we not strive to know more of a God full of those things we long for everyday?

Wouldn't it be better then to stand before God and admit from your heart saying, "Yes God, I messed up a lot, but I strove to do the best that I could with every aspect of my life to glorify you".

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16

Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify the Son in Himself, and will glorify Him at once". John 13:31-32

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

So wherever you are in your life, know this. You already have a beautiful purpose, and that is to put forth your best effort at whatever you do in order to glorify our Father in Heaven. God loves you. And the more you strive with Him, the more beautiful you feel on the inside.*

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Matthew 23:38

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Striving to grow in all aspects of my life,

Whitney

"Leaving Footprints"

It's both amazing and frightening what's out there.

There are a lot of decent people in our world, who have done many good things. Our technology is constantly being upgraded; our medical advancement is always on the move. The things we humans can perceive are both amazing and frightening. For good intentions sometimes come with bad results…

The Internet for example, was an incredible accomplishment. My parents and their generation had never experienced anything like it when they were young—remember having to do all your research via the library? But with so much at our fingertips, we can also easily fall into temptation. With most things, there comes a price.

Google a word, any word, and on average hundreds if not more of related results will pop up. Type in a dirty word and guess what you'll get? Unfortunately making the World Wide Web accessible to the world comes with such potential risks.

We have so many great inventions and ideas around us, but they often get changed to something we didn't mean for them to be. In our daily walks we often encounter these new obstacles; we can either allow our curiosity to be satisfied, or choose not to give into our creations. So while we have so much that can easily bring us down, we don't have to let it be that way. This means we can choose to either follow in God's footsteps, or stick to just creating our own.

God is perfect. He created us in His image, and if that's true, shouldn't we try to be more like Him? Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26 You might be wondering, "Well Whitney, if we are made in God's likeness, shouldn't we be as spotless as God?" To answer that let's look at what the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has to say about "likeness": the quality or state of being like; resemblance; copy; portrait; appearance; semblance. We are like God, but we are not God Himself. After all, if we were so perfect we wouldn't mess up so much. So why then would He bother creating us with blemishes at all? I believe He was never planning for us to stray; but He did give us the freedom to choose our lives, and with this free will came potential "side effects", all of which we no doubt probably created ourselves. Sorry folks. But like the Internet, we often create things that has the potential to become corrupted. So, instead we 'Google' for sin, get the temptations associated with it and then take them for a test-drive. We often make the decision to go our own way without God.

God didn't want His creation to love Him because we HAD to. He wanted us to love Him because we chose to. And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 So in creating us He gave us the OPPORTUNITY to love Him. Just like with Adam and Eve with the tree in the garden, we can view that moment as an opportunity that God presented to them; an opportunity to trust in God and love Him or not. Adam and Eve were tempted and tested and they chose to follow in their own 'footsteps'.

To be realistic, we're all going to mess up at some point in our lives no matter how 'good' we try to be. But we have been given not only the opportunity to live Godly lives, but also the opportunity to fall before God and ask for His mercy and forgiveness with a sincere heart if we stray. And He will gladly help us to recover. Because no matter your decisions, He still loves you! You have the OPPORTUNITY to let go of your sin. So what are you waiting for?*

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8: 1-11

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8: 15-17

Following the Father's footsteps,
Whitney

"Jesus Freaks"

A message from the band dc Talk:

"You have heard it said unto you...but I say unto you..."

From the beginnings of His public ministry, Jesus set the record straight: "I have come to change the world." He had come to change people's thinking. He had come to revolutionize their paradigm–the way they saw the world and had comfortably settled into it, following their own desires, ignoring those around them who needed help, and figuring that was the way to do it because everyone else was doing pretty much the same thing, and they fit in with that.

Then came Jesus. "You have heard it said...but I say unto you..."

We often think we have arrived spiritually because we have memorized a bunch of rules and regulations, or a list of do's and don't's , and built them into our culture and lifestyle. If you just wear your Christian T-shirt once a week, make sure your radio is always tuned to the local Christian music station, don't do drugs or drink, go to church on Sundays and Bible study one night a week, take part in the summer missions trip, and don't have sex until you are married, then you are a real witness to those around you.

But Jesus came and shattered man's perception of the world. He taught about a kingdom that was more powerful than man could ever comprehend. This kingdom, however, didn't always make common sense. He taught that the kingdom of heaven is more than clothes music, Bible studies, and what you do on the outside. The kingdom of heaven is spiritual. The kingdom of heaven is peace. The kingdom of heaven is the narrow road of following Jesus day by day. You can't be like everyone else and follow Him. His sheep hear His voice and chase after Him; they don't just roam with the rest of the herd and think that is going to save them.

The path He has for you is very different, very special; it is unique in all of human kind. He came to change the world. How can those who truly follow Him have any less of a goal in life?

Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, but He also came to afflict the comfortable.

Throughout history true followers of Christ have been revolutionaries. As the trends of society have been dictated by the herd mentality, these men and women of God have stood up and said, "Hey wait a minute. That's not right!" They reached out their hands to people the rest of the world walked by without a glance, they spoke out when shutting up may have saved their lives, they distributed Bibles when others were passing out ammunition, they took God places others called "God-forsaken", they picked up their crosses and followed Christ when others cried "Lord, Lord" but did nothing. And for this they were called "Freaks".

People often look up to us because we are in the public eye, but the people in this book are the true heros. They are the ones people should look up to.

The freedoms we have today to own a bible, believe what seems right to us, go to the church we want, and follow God as completely as we want are all because to the Jesus Freaks who came before us. If only we had yet done enough to earn such an honored title among the rest of these "Freaks".

Proverbs 1:32 NIV tells us "the complacency of fools will destroy them." Are we too comfortable in our lifestyles to truly be following Christ?...

...We hear the word martyr a lot these days. People who feel sorry for themselves because others have been inconsiderate to them are said to be "playing the martyr" to get the attention of their friends. People are called "martyrs" on the evening news because they have suffered even slightly for some cause. People use the word as a political tool to try to spark a revolution and conform others to their way of thinking. They try to manipulate others with this word to get what they want.

All true martyrs are revolutionaries, but not all revolutionaries are true martyrs.

Those who rise up and kill themselves to kill others are not martyrs at all. They have lost sight of the truth and have been sucked into a lie. They have never experienced the true power of love. The kind of love God is. The love that cannot be defeated, though you beat it, you torture it, or you shoot it with guns or stab it with knives. They try to accomplish their goals through fear and intimidation. They do not understand that true martyrdom is being a witness for the Truth. It is not defined simply by dying for some cause; it is defined by living for the freedom of others. Freedom from fear. Freedom from prejudice and persecution. Freedom from hatred, bitterness, and jealousy. Freedom to be forgiven and to forgive.

Martyrs die because they refuse to deny the Truth, they are unwilling to force their ways upon others, and they are unwilling to fight back when fighting back would deny the Love they are trying to show those hurting them. This is how martyrdom changes things: It stands up as a witness of the One who is Truth and Love, and the One who is Truth and Love can do little else but stand up and stand with His presence. And His presence changes things.

These are the true revolutionaries that have existed throughout history, starting at the Cross. These are the great cloud of martyrs–witnesses–that are seated in heaven watching the revolution for true freedom–spiritual freedom–rage on the earth. It is a revolution of words and hearts and helping hands. It is a revolution that turns the world upside right and lets God touch the heart with His love wherever the revolutionaries go, whether it be across the street, across the ocean, into a prison cell, or to the grave. These are the revolutionaries who were not willing to set aside the Truth for the convenience of being accepted or the privilege of living only by their own desires. These are the revolutionaries who fight for the spiritual freedom that is only found in Jesus and unwilling to let that freedom go for anything.

We have much to learn from such revolutionaries. We also have much to carry on for them–much to carry on for Him.*

Excerpt from Jesus Freaks Volume 2 by dc Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs

What Would Jesus Do?
Whitney

"Purity: To Proclaim Liberty To The Captives" 4-1-08

Here let's dig deeper into Matthew 5:8 and talk about purity. Specifically, we're going to discuss the dangers of an impure life, and learn how to live purely in Christ.

But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. (Ezekiel 18:24-26 ESV)

And of course, this raises the age-old question: can we lose our salvation? And this is a very good question to ask (indeed, I would encourage you to seek God to find the answer to this); however, it is not the purpose of this message. Rather, the purpose of this message is to bring to light the impending doom of living an impure lifestyle, turning from our righteousness, doing injustice, and committing the same abominations of the wicked.

Remember that Christ is our righteousness - when we turn away from Him, as this verse makes clear, we shall surely die. Without Christ we are nothing! But I would like to pose the question: is not remaining in an impure lifestyle in itself turning from Christ? Is not seeking satisfaction from "broken cisterns" that cannot satisfy, rather than from the Lord who is the spring of living water, turning from Him? I am not talking about momentary turns or stumbles, either; I am talking about a steady pattern of sin, a kind of lifestyle. Habitual sin, you could say. This is a question to which I do not know the answer, for only God sees the heart of a person and is able to make that judgment (and He is the only one who should), but one thing we know for sure: sin, especially this "habitual sin", can separate us from Him and will leave us unsatisfied and longing for more.

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." (Jeremiah 3:2)

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Truly, why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? The deceitfulness of sin is indeed very tempting - just look at the story of the adulteress in Proverbs 7. She offers promises of satisfaction and joy - and the foolish youth follows her, "like an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know it will cost him his life." Sin is deceitful, and it is tempting, which is why many times people fall into this pattern of sin - and often times, they hide it away deep within themselves, and even those closest to them may not have any idea of the struggle within - but God knows. Nothing is hidden from His sight. We may be able to fool our church, our friends, even our family, but we cannot fool God. Or maybe, we aren't even aware that we've adopted a kind of sin lifestyle, and we need the Lord to reveal this to us.

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14 ESV)

Are you currently drinking from broken cisterns that cannot satisfy? Are you turning from the living waters of Christ to the deceitfulness of sin? Is there a portion of your heart that is hidden in the darkness? Ask yourself this. Indeed, sin takes many forms - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV) All of these can become idols in our lives, places that we turn to for momentary comfort which, of course, never lasts.

But in the Lord, there is hope. Are you currently struggling with sin in this manner, or is there some place other than Christ that you will turn to in times of trouble? If so, remember that there is hope in Him. Focus your eyes upon Him, and He will satisfy your soul. There is hope in none other. If you would like further study on this topic, I would recommend you to a ministry I know of called http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/, a Christ-centered web-ministry that offers Bible studies ranging from regular Christian living to freedom from living a lifestyle of sin. I can tell you from experience that they exalt Christ and His Word above all else.

"You have exalted above all things your name and your word." (Psalm 138:2)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:18-21 ESV)

Watch these chains fall from my hands Then you will understand, then you will understand. Watch me walk through these prison bars Then you will know my heart is free, Then you will know my heart is free.

~Watch, by Seven Places

Blessings,
Andrew

"The Pure In Heart" 3-31-08

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

This is a very interesting verse. There are really so many directions this message can go in. There are two things that I think of when I read this. First, I think of the day when we will literally see God with our very own eyes - a privilege only the pure-hearted sons and daughters of God will be able to experience. We will eventually enter into the kingdom of heaven and into the presence of the Lord, having had our hearts completely purified from all sin.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3 NKJV)

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5 NKJV)

And boy, what a hope we have in this, wouldn't you say? I can hardly wait for the day! But there is something else that comes to mind when I read Matthew 5:8 that has a little bit more to do with how we live our lives in the here-and-now.

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:17-8:1)

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. (Psalm 4:3)

Christ is truly the "Lamb of God that has come to take away the sin of the world" - His cleansing blood purifies us from all unrighteousness, which is the only way we could see God face-to-face as we talked about above. But there's more to this as well. Christ's death, which reconciles us to God, also enables us to live pure today. As we see from the two verses above, a pure life now, abstaining from things which defile us, will result in a closer relationship to God. This puts Matthew 5:8 in a totally different light: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." So now, let's ask the question:

How can a young man keep his way pure? (Psalm 119: 9a)

Well, here's the answer, in the second half of this verse:

By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 119: 9b-12)

Of course, this is referring to the Law given to Moses, in which we have a tremendous blessing. While we no longer live under Law but under grace, we can still use the Law - and indeed, the entire Word of God! - as a guideline of the things which build us up in purity, and the things which tear us down. Praise God for the revelation of His Word to us, without which we would be so pitifully lost in this world! I pray that we would all earnestly seek purity, so that we can grow closer to God today, and truly see God in the days to come.

See the Daily Bread "Purity: To Proclaim Liberty To The Captives" (4-1-08) for further examination of this topic.

Blessings,

Andrew

"A Lesson in Humility" 3-30-08

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

She lived out spiritual humility, yet she had much on a human level to be proud of. As an author of over 70 books and a translator of many others into Afrikaans, Annalou Marais had much cause to brag–but she was more concerned about honoring Christ than advancing herself. She worked behind the scenes of the Bible conference, doing a servants tasks with a smiling face and a joyful heart. It would have been natural for her to desire, and even deserve, the spotlight. Instead, she quietly served, joyfully weeping as God worked in people's hearts. It was an impressive humility because it was completely genuine.

I have heard it said, 'It is amazing what can be accomplished when we don't care who get's the credit.' This is certainly true of Christian service. Paul told the church at Corinth, 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then either he who plants is anything, or he who waters, but God who gives the increase' (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Paul had learned that great lesson of the servant's hear, as Annalou has learned–it's entirely about God. What we do is accomplished by His power and grace, and all the glory must go to Him.

It was a lesson in humility watching Annalou, and one that reminded me of the richness of serving God." (written by Bill Crowder)

'God often uses lowly things
His purpose to fulfill,
Because it takes a humble heart
To carry out His will.' (D. De Haan)

(Courtesy of Our Daily Bread, of RBC Ministries)

Pride and Grace cannot dwell in the same place.*

Praying for humility,
Whitney

ODB Blog Grand Opening!

Hello there, everyone!

To those of you who have stumbled upon this blog, Our Daily Bread is a web-ministry created to provide uplifting, positive, and practically-applicable guidance from the Word of God. We have a strictly Christ-centered approach to spirituality (and indeed, life in general), and seek to glorify Him in all that we do.

Our messages are generally sent daily, or every other day, depending on the circumstances. They are sent through a mailing list, which you can sign up for by sending a blank eMail to the address "our_daily_bread@live.com" (after adding us to your approved contacts list, that is!). Otherwise, we plan to use this blog as a place to archive our messages, so feel free to have a look around once we get everything uploaded. We welcome questions, comments, or advice of any kind, and will honor any prayer requests that may come our way, so feel free to drop us a note or spark up a conversation at any time!

It is my hope and prayer that you will find this a warm and welcoming place to investigate this "Jesus" person we so often hear of, and to learn what a relationship with Him is really all about - and if you are already acquainted with Him on a personal level, that you would be encouraged to take the next step in your faith, delve a little deeper into His Word, and grow closer to the Living God of the Universe!

Blessings in Christ,
Daily Bread Team

Giving Your All - 3/21/08

The Christian Band Flyleaf wrote a song inspired by the Columbine Shootings. In the song, the chorus goes

"Do you believe in God?
Written on the Bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger."

In other words, this girl Cassie was asked a simple, yet life-changing question: Do you believe in God? She said yes, and the gunman shot her.

In the Bible we read about Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. He was not afraid to proclaim his faith. He was willing to give up everything, including his life for Jesus. Cassie was too.

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. Acts 6:8-10

Read Acts 6:8-8:3

So think about this personal question for a moment: are you willing to give your all, even your life for Christ?

Many would not hesitate to say yes. But let me tell you, we here in America don't face the Christian persecution like so many other countries do. We take life for granted. So if we were asked the question knowing our life was on the line, what would we really say?

We are weak compared to those persecuted around the world. They are so Christ-focused they are willing to give their all, when we are afraid to share our faith openly with a non-Christian friend. We have no reason to be afraid. Yet we are.

So lets get back on track with Him, knowing in our hearts there's no need to be afraid, for we know where we are going once we die. Let me tell you, it's a much better place there than here! If you do not know where you are going, pray right now to Jesus.

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13

Will you pull that trigger?

"And I will pull the trigger." (Cassie, Flyleaf)

Giving it all up,
Whitney

We Will Be Changed - 3/15/08

Hello everyone. Today's passage comes from 1 Corinthians 15:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

This is what we have to look forward to, guys. If you have accepted the gift of grace and mercy offered in Jesus Christ, this is your future. No more struggling with the flesh, no more disappointing God and those around us, and no more sin, for we will be changed. My mind cannot even comprehend this it is so amazing! Even Paul cannot fathom this concept, though he knows it to be true - "Listen, I tell you a mystery..." How this will work we do not know - that's how mysteries are. But we can trust in our God and have faith.

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)

I could end here, but I feel I should mention something else, as well. Along with that one, glorious moment of change - "in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet" - there is another kind of change that we as Christians have been blessed with - continual growth.

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV)

As we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, there is a certain power that comes with this. It transforms us. As we seek to see His face - to "behold the glory of the Lord" - we are changed. We should never be the same people tomorrow as we are today. Do you see how this all ties together? Throughout this life, as we seek Him (through reading His Word, through prayer, through worship, through witnessing, through keeping Him the center of our lives), we are being transformed into His image. Notice the active tense here - this is an ongoing process. And then, at Christ's return, we will be changed as death is swallowed up in victory.

So I encourage us all to "Always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain." Let us remain steadfast in Christ and seek to always experience this change, this forward motion, as we await that glorious day when the battle will finally be over; when in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, we will be all changed for good.

Blessings,
Andrew

"Role Models"

Ruth impressed me by her love and faithfulness towards her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth was willing, after enduring the loss of her husband, to leave behind all that she knew to travel with Naomi to a foreign land. What courage! What faith! And after enduring all that she just went through.

Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Ruth 1:3-7 NIV

Just imagine how Naomi felt. She herself lost both her sons, as well as her husband. Orpah she tells to leave her, and that she does. Perhaps deep down inside she really wanted her two daughter-in-laws now widowed to remain with her, but knew what she said was the best thing for all of them.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband."

Then she kissed them and they wept aloud and said to her, "We will go back with you to your people."

But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!" At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." Ruth 1:8-13 (NIV)

It seems to me Ruth was searching, being guided by God to go in this direction, although she didn't know it. She wasn't content to stay with her people and to continue their ways, worshiping their gods. She needed change, and she was taking action.

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1:16-18

She loved her mother-in-law so much, she was willing to give up what would have been a good life back home. After all, the people she knew were familiar to her, but Naomi's world? Very different. But despite this, she was willing to make a change, a MAJOR one at that. She was stepping outside her comfort zone. She was ready to grow.

Many of us can relate to Ruth. Maybe some drastic event has happened in your life, taking away something from you. Or maybe you have a big decision in front of you. Whatever the case, most of us have been at this point at one time or another. When these things occur, we often default with fear. But we don't have to despair. Ruth sure didn't. She clung to a faith so strong, and she didn't even know God personally at first. But she wanted to. "...and your God my God." Ruth 1:16

Now Ruth probably didn't have the purest of lives, so why is she then such an amazing role model? For one thing, she was a brave woman. And for another, this was a woman who was willing (she chose) to go forward rather than stay the same. She trusted in others she barely knew. Can you say the same?

So have faith, and trust in Him to see you through.*

Are you a Role-Model Ruth?

Whitney