"Hachi's Love"

Well, another year has come and gone. While most of us try our luck at New Year's resolutions, we should know by now that keeping those resolutions is easier said than done. Most resolutions are lost within the first month. So why do we bother making them at all? Well, I suppose it makes us feel better about ourselves, seeing the New Year as a good excuse to begin afresh.

If you must make any resolution, then why not make one on a recommitment to God? That never hurts for us to do, no matter how strong your faith might already be. We should be on fire for Him not just for a month though; He should be foremost in our lives 365 days every year.

This is the story of Hachi, (full name of Hachiko). He had a beautiful relationship with his best friend, a Japanese Professor in Tokoyo, Japan. He lived a life worth living; honoring, loving, and completely dedicating himself to his family from the day he was born until his death in 1935.

Hachi's a dog.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale, is the 2008 American movie based on this true story of a dog with a unique bond of loyalty. Hachiko is an akita; in the original story he was found and raised by a professor in Japan in the early 1920's. (The American version simply uses an American setting, but kept the story.) This professor traveled to work every day via train; one time, he happened upon Hachi as a puppy wandering around the station. No one claimed him, so he took him home. At once the two developed a bond so strong, that once Hachi became older, he went to the train station every day, at the same time, to wait for his master to return from work. They would walk to and from the station together this way.

One day however, the Japanese professor died unexpectedly. But the amazing part of this story is what Hachi continued to do.

For the next nine years, Hachi would keep his vigil at the train station, every day, at the same time. Faithfully, until the end of his life, even though his master's had already ended....

Eventually Hachi died at the age of 11, though not in vain. The community there raised Hachi as though he were their own. They fed and looked after him. Hachi soon became well known, with stories done cataloguing his beautiful faithfulness. He died in 1935; his heart was infected with worms, but by then hundreds upon thousands knew his name and his story. To remember him, a statue was erected in his honor, so that generations upon generations could visit him. The statue was placed, none other, than at the spot where he waited faithfully for over a decade at the train station.

So, what will you leave behind when you are gone? How will others remember you? How do you want to live your life? Hachi chose to be faithful until his own death, even when he probably figured out at some point that his old friend wasn't coming.

Did you know that God is loyal? He waits for us every day, even when it seems apparent that we aren't coming to see Him, and yet still He will remain vigilant forever that we will come. God is always there for us, even when no one else might be. He's the most loyal friend anyone could have.

Hachi could have given up at anytime. He could have gone home with someone from the community or of the Professor's family. Instead he chose to stay near the train station. In the American film, we see his story told through his eyes. We see the temptations he faced, the hardships he endured, and the love that drove him to sit in his spot every day. Such undying loyalty…Can any of us boast as much?

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on Your faithfulness. Psalm 26:2-3

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

But I am like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. For what You have done I will always praise You in the presence of Your faithful people. And I will hope in Your name, for Your name is good. Psalm 52:8-9

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9

If God loves us so much to be there for us, should we not show the same, if not more, in return?

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

He hears you, knows you, and loves you. He is waiting for you to come.*

Running to Him,

Whitney

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

Faith - 3/18/08

Hello everyone,

The passage I'd like to share with you today is very well known - it is the account of Jesus calming the storm.

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.. Matthew 8:23-26

Another account of this incident, found in Mark chapter 4, has a bit more elaboration on the words of Jesus:

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"Mark 4:40

What intrigues me about this verse is how Jesus asks the question: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" You would think that after having spent time with Jesus Christ and witnessing some of his miracles (for this was still early in His ministry), His disciples would by this point have faith in both Christ, and the Father who sent Him - surely enough faith to trust Him through this simple storm. Walking with God Almighty - whether aware of it or not - has this effect on people.

This is what I would like to focus on, the aspect of faith that Jesus gives us a glimpse into here. Faith is more than simply a blind trusting (though this is what we must do sometimes, trust in the Lord when we ourselves are blind to what the outcome may be). Imagine a relationship with a close friend or family member of yours. If it's a true friend or loved one, you know that if you're ever in need, you can run to this person for whatever you may need. You can trust them to be there for you, because over the course of time, your trust and faith in each other has grown.

Let's say, for example, that I'm out on my own and my identity is stolen, along with all the money in my bank account. After this, I need some money to live on, so I think of who I can call for help. So I call up my family back home, and they say of course they'll send some money right away. As Hebrews 11:1 states, because I trust them, "I am sure of what I hope for" - my hope being that that they will pull through for me - and "certain of what I do not see" - that they have promised to help me through my hard times. I cannot physically see this promise, but I am sure and confident that it will be fulfilled. While this may be an example of misplaced faith - faith in man to pull me through rather than faith in God to sustain me - I hope you understand the principle I'm trying to get across.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Our relationship with God is the same way. As we walk with Him, we learn to trust Him, even when we cannot see Him moving with our own eyes, as with any relationship with a trustworthy person (and who is more trustworthy than God Himself?). So do you want more faith? Walk with God. Get to know Him, and listen to His Word and His voice - the more you do, the easier it will be to endure the storms of life when they come our way. The easier it will be to have faith; to have trust; and this simply comes with time.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

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

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord - 3/1/08

Hello everyone! Today I'd like to share with you a beautiful story of faith and trust, and it is the story of Job. As a little background information, Job is a man who was "blameless and upright" in the eyes of the Lord. However, Satan speaks to God and accuses Job of simply being a surface follower. Satan says (summarized) "Job is only upright because You have blessed him! If you take all he has away, he will surely curse Your name!" But God, knowing the faithfulness of His servant and seeking to silence Satan's accusations, allows Job to be tested by Satan. We see Job's first test below.

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away-indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground...

Can you imagine? In an instant, for no apparent reason whatsoever, all Job has is taken away: his herds are taken from him, his possessions are seized and pillaged, his servants are murdered by the raiding parties, and his very own sons and daughters are killed. All that was once his is now gone. So what does Job do? Read on and you will see.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground...

...and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:13-22 NKJV)

Again I ask, can you imagine? Everything Job has is taken from him; yet not once does he denounce his God. Whenever I read this passage, these words constantly reverberate in my mind: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Such faith - such trust. We see later on in the book of Job that he is tested again (and this time his friends accuse him of unrighteousness and corruption as well), yet still he refuses to denounce God. Rather, in faith, Job cries out to the Lord, knowing that he is upright and blameless, having been sanctified by God.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! (Job 19:25-27 ESV)

I hope that you will all join with me in prayer for this kind of faith.

Lord, I pray that you would grow us all into people with faith and trust like this, that when all we have is taken from us, when all we hold dear is snatched out of our hands, we will look to You and trust in Your goodness, Your sovereignty, and Your love to lead us. Let us trust you and have faith that You are with us at all times, and that no matter what happens, we will still have You right alongside us, knowing that you died to save our souls and will never leave our sides. In Jesus' name, amen.

Blessings,
Andrew

Gentleness; 2/21/08

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)

The reason I quote this verse twice here (once in the NIV, once in the KJV) is because I feel that they both show a different side of this particular fruit: meekness (humility), and gentleness. This is sort of a humble gentleness I suppose one could say. Have you ever had a friend go astray? Perhaps they were beginning to get involved in things they should not, perhaps they were falling away from the Lord, or perhaps you were just concerned for their well-being. Isn't it so very hard to reach these people? On one hand, you value their friendship and fear the worst; but on the other, you know that if you kept silent, you would not be a true, loving friend. So what's the key here? Gentleness and meekness. Our Lord Jesus Christ paints a perfect picture of this:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)

Isn't this amazing? What can I really say to this? I sit here, trying to come up with something to say, and it just speaks for itself so clearly. When we come to Jesus, He puts his arm around us, helps us up, and carries us along as only a true friend would. He gently tells us when we are in the wrong and holds His arms open to receive us once again. One example of this is when Peter denies Jesus thrice on the night He was taken.

Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times..."

And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:33-34; 75 ESV)

I can just see the gentleness in Jesus' eyes after that third rooster crows and they look one another in the eyes; spoken with a single look, everything is laid out. Perhaps there was disappointment, or maybe there was even some pain; I do not know. But I do know that when Peter looks into Jesus' eyes, he sees gentleness, forgiveness, and welcomeness. This is my story as well. I came to Jesus having disappointed Him, having caused Him pain, undeserving of anything more than to be punished for my evil ways; but rather than condemnation, I looked into His eyes and I saw gentleness. I saw love. He told me, "Yes Andrew, you've sinned. You've disappointed me, you've caused me pain. But it doesn't have to be this way - come, take my hand, and let us start over again - please." And from that moment on, my life has been changed.

So when we see those we care for turning onto the path of darkness, how are we to treat them? With love, care, and gentleness, warning them of the impending doom that lies ahead, genuinely concerned for their future. But we must always remember to pray for this gentleness at all times. When we must correct those we care for, do they see this gentle, humble spirit within us? And when they return, do they feel welcome as we hold our arms open to take them in? Let us pray together that yes, they do; for this gentleness comes from God alone.

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4 ESV)

Blessings,
Andrew

Faithfulness; 2/20/08

Today we shall focus on Faithfulness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

When a person gets married, both make a pledge to remain faithful to each other until they die. Now compare this happy couple to Christ and ourselves. Christ is our bridegroom, (Matthew 9:14-16) and when we give our lives to Him, we are in a sense, 'marrying' Him (thus we are His bride). When we pledge our lives to Him, telling Him we will follow Him all the days of our lives, this vow shows our faithfulness to Him.

I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. (Hosea 2:20)

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5b)

One of Jesus's followers asked to go and "bury his father" before he was to go and follow Christ. Jesus replied, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead". (Matthew 8:21-22 or Luke 9:58-60) Therefore, is Jesus number one in our lives? How are we to remain faithful to Him if we don't even have Him first in our lives?

Think for a moment on how many times you may have stumbled down the straight and narrow road, and God grabbed you by the hand to steady you? How many times when you repented, He took you joyfully back into His arms? If this awesome God decided to do that for us so many different times when we are so undeserving as it is, don't you see how much never-ending faithfulness He has in us?

He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah. God sends His love and His faithfulness. (Psalms 57:3>

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (Psalms 117:2)

Think of it this way. How many people do you know who would take you back and help you out with a loving and caring attitude, every time you needed help?

Now in Hebrews we learn that Faith is "the evidence of things unseen". Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.(Hebrews 11:1) Faith a lot of the time can be thought of as closely linked with Trust. For example, we can't physically see God, even though there is evidence He's all around us. If we saw Him with our own eyes, why would we need faith? (Have you ever seen the wind? We've seen the effects of the wind, but never the wind itself.) When you put faith in someone, you trust them to do something. You may not physically see them do it. So because of God's promise (the Bible contains 66 love letters (books) to us; check them out,) we know that we can put our trust, or have "faith" in Him to do His will, to cloak us in His love, to pick us up when we fall down.

We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Therefore, as God is faithful to us, so must we reflect Him. This as a fruit is an important one - if we are not faithful in our relationship with Jesus, that would be like the bride being unfaithful to her new husband. So don't be tempted by things that may give you short-term pleasure, but will leave you dry and unsatisfied. Instead put your faith in Jesus ,and He will give you LIFE.

Thankful for His faithful promise,
Whitney