Losing My Life

     About a year ago, God gave me a dream with a poignant message that I believe is important to share. My dream is as follows: I was in my apartment getting ready for work. Suddenly, I had an urge to pray for my safety and protection. As I was leaving to go to work, I opened the door and a large man was standing there. I recognized him and remembered seeing him around the apartment complex and knew he was a resident. We had even exchanged friendly hellos at one point. Hanging outside my door I had some pictures of myself and some friends. I watched him looking at the pictures before he turned to go. He did not see me. As I watched him walk away down the stairs, I thought to myself how foolish it was to have left my picture outside my door for anyone to know where I live. I realized that the urgency I had felt to pray was over this. This man had been stalking me and was literally about to break in, but my prayers kept him out.      This dream was...

     Typically on Easter, my focus is on celebrating Jesus' victory over death and our salvation that resulted from it. This year, however, I have been struck by the darkness before the resurrection. Now more than ever I identify with what the disciples experienced in the wake of Jesus' death. Although Jesus had prophesied many times about His resurrection, when the time finally came for His death on a cross the disciples had forgotten all about what He said.      I can imagine exactly how His followers felt. The waves of fear, sadness, confusion, and hopelessness hitting their hearts all at once like a tsunami. I'm sure they were doubting their faith and wondering if the last three years of their lives had been a waste. Asking each other, how could we have gotten it so wrong? What will happen to us? How can we go back to our lives as they were?        With the difficulties I personally am facing in this season of life, I too find my...

     Through this most recent season in life, God has been teaching me what it truly means to follow His plans for my life. Over the last year or so,  I have had to make some of the most ''adult" decisions in my life so far. Through that process, I have had to rely heavily on faith and the leading of the Holy Spirit to discern which is the right way to go. It has been a challenge for me, a planner to the core, to put my trust fully in God's plans and leading even when I am unable to see what's ahead and I am glad to say I have come out having learned a few things.      The main takeaway I would like to share is this: the right way is not the easiest way . That probably sounds very obvious if you have spent any time in church, but I never thought about that principle carrying over into walking out God's plans for my life. You see, there have been decisions that I have made over the last year that I was certain were what God was leading me to do. An...

     It's amazing to me how God so often uses moments in our daily lives to teach us something instead of the moments we might expect (in church, through Christian friends, etc.). I'm a big believer that God can use anything and anyone to teach us something (See Numbers 22:28 where God actually used a donkey to speak to Balaam). This last week, something a coworker said to me in casual conversation really struck my heart and has had me thinking since then. She told me that she quit smoking by buying herself cigarettes and keeping them with her and telling herself, "you can have one if you want. But do you really want it?"      I found this passing statement proved a brilliant point about human nature. I don't think anyone would disagree with me when I say that we as humans want what we are told we can't have. Tell a kid he can't have the cookies in the cookie jar and all he's going to want is those cookies. But I believe this concept is particularly...

     For a couple weeks now the Lord has been pressing this message on my heart. He revealed a flaw in my thinking I hadn't noticed. You see, when hard times come it's in my nature to duck and cover. I go into "survival mode" and I get tunnel vision. I only focus on getting through what's in front of me alive. But in doing so, not only do I miss a lot of opportunities, but I give in to the voice of fear in my life.     I know I don't speak only for myself when I say that God wants to us in our "every day lives." Not only at church or on a special mission trip, but in the trenches of the grocery store, the gym, work, etc. It is His will that every soul is saved and He wants us to go out into the world and win those hearts for Him. But when I put myself in survival mode, I block out all the opportunities God lays before me. When I numb myself with the routine of each passing day, week, and month, I miss out on sharing the one thing of eternal importa...

Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against th...

    In a few short hours, 2014 will be over and gone. That means that this is my final post for my year-long devotional "series." As many of you know, I committed to writing a devotion each day of this last year. I am happy to say that I have succeeded in doing so! Instead of writing like I usually do today, I have decided to reflect on what I've learned through this experience.     The biggest challenge of writing was not staying committed to such a daunting task nor was it finding the time every day, but rather, coming up with the topics. It really challenged my faith. I had to rely on Jesus to lay a topic on my heart and have the faith to believe that He would continue to do it again and again. And on top of that, I had to be focused on Him enough to hear the Holy Spirit's whispering. It may not sound like it would be that difficult, but it proved to be really testing of my relationship with Jesus and in the end it exponentially strengthened it. Hebrews 11:1 ...

    As we are ending another year and looking ahead to the next one, it is important to keep things in perspective. Although I've written about this topic many times before, I will repeat myself again to get the point across. Where are you in your commitment to Jesus Christ? You may like to think you are 100% for Jesus, but here's a good acid test: are you telling people about Him?     If you are in a place right now where church is just a kind of hobby and you go as a spectator and aren't spending your time telling new people about Jesus, you aren't as committed as you'd think. When our lives have truly been touched by God, we cannot help but tell everyone. We want the world to know of His goodness in our lives! Also, to tell others about Christ is to fulfill the great commission and the point of our life here on earth.     If you aren't out there actively searching for hearts to win for the King, then you may want to search your own heart to see where...

    Being born again doesn't just admit you into the family of God, but also into the army of the Lord. Being "all in" for Jesus is very comparable to enlisting in the armed forces. We are all joined together as one unit with a common purpose-- to bring the world into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Once the whole world has heard His name, He will return to earth in His glory and finish off Satan once and for all.     That means that in the mean time we have an enemy who we fight daily. Satan and his followers are actively trying to bring down those who are truly living to make a difference for Jesus in the world. As a member of Christ's army, you have to be willing to lay down your life for His cause. We give everything we want up in order that His will can be accomplished. That may even include giving our lives.     It is my prayer that we all come to a place in our relationship with Jesus where martyrdom is not a thing to be feared. To be willing to f...

    When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are filled with love and compassion for God's people just like Jesus was when He walked the earth. He saw people and was moved by the Holy Spirit to help them. So how do we know if we really are filled with the love of God as we should be? Love results in action. Love isn't just telling others how much you care-- it is actively being involved in people's lives and helping out where you see an opportunity. When you see a need in someone's life who you care about, you cannot help but get involved because of the love in your heart for them. That is the attitude we should always have with the community of Christ. When we are in step with the Holy Spirit He will not only fill us with love and compassion for people, but will prompt action to back that up. 1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has mate...

    In the world people are used to being judged by others. In fact, they even brace ourselves for that and prepare to judge others for judging them! People are so used to being judged and condemned they have this wall that they put up immediately in defense. I have found that this wall is especially high if someone knows that you are a Christian, because they are seen as the most judgmental group of all.      But what if it weren't that way? The model for Jesus' church isn't based in judgement. With Him He brought love and grace. Jesus even chose His disciples through the eyes of grace. If we could have the same mindset of Jesus when interacting with people on a daily basis, maybe the stigma of "judgmental Christians" could be abolished and more people would actually have an interest in knowing this "Jesus."      If you have been living your life in judgement of others, I have to tell you you're wrong. Jesus did not walk in judgment, but i...

   I know a lot of people who live in the past. Either they continue to reminisce on "better days" or they focus on how terrible their past was. In both circumstances you are forgetting to live in the present. How do we expect to be able to move forward in life when we are still focused on what's behind us? We cannot be fully devoted disciples of Jesus when we are so fixated on what's happened in the past. We must be a forward focused body of Christ. When we spend our time looking forward and upward, we are keeping in step with Jesus' will for our lives and His church in the present moment. I urge you to look forward and lock your eyes onto Jesus, allowing Him to dictate where you go-- not your past. Philippians 3:13-14 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in ...

    On Christmas day, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we remember also the significance of His birth. With His coming, Jesus beckoned in a new era for Christianity. Instead of the law-based, Jewish faith we now have the grace-based, gentile faith, so-to-speak. Because of Jesus' coming, Christianity was now available to everyone, regardless of heritage. Chances are good that most people reading this have no Jewish heritage. Without Jesus' coming, you couldn't have been a child of the One True God. And let's be honest, without grace we never would've made it either. Praise Him and thank Him today as we celebrate His first coming to earth to usher in a new era of love and grace. Luke 2:8-12 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you ...

   Exchanging gifts is usually a focal point of the Christmas season. Whether you like to get gifts, or give them, it is this season when we honor the biggest gift of all. We give gifts to one another to symbolize the great gift of Jesus Christ. God the Father sent His only son to earth to be tortured and killed for our sins and there is no greater love that that. Think about sending your own flesh and blood son to earth knowing He will be unappreciated, harassed, and eventually killed gruesomely. Because of God's love for you individually, He allowed His son to die on behalf of your sins. As far as gifts go, the gift of Jesus Christ is the most important one you can ever receive. If you don't know Him today, receive His free gift of salvation from the consequences of your sins. It is the best gift you could ever receive. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) Roma...

    As we celebrate the birth of Jesus in this season, it is important to put some things into perspective. Jesus was born by the virgin Mary and God the Father, making Him all man and all God. However, sometimes we forget what that really means. God loved us so much that He decided to become one of us and save us. To do so, He set aside all of His godly powers and become part of the human race He created. Philippians says He "made Himself nothing" and another version reads He "emptied Himself." Having done so, He not only saved our souls, but demonstrated the right way to live while on earth. He lived as a human and dealt with the same temptations we do, and He overcame, setting the perfect example. As you celebrate this year, don't forget the price He paid for you. Philippians 2:5-11   In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to h...

    Why did Jesus come to the earth in the first place? Sadly, many people in this world still do not recognize the reason. The world was in total darkness before Jesus came to light the way. The Jewish people were His only followers and they couldn't keep the law of the old covenant, and they were suffering for it. God and man had a rough relationship. Then, Jesus came. As the meaning of His name indicated, He came to save.     Nowadays, many people think they aren't in need of saving. "I don't need God because I am a good person." That simply isn't true. If you aren't committed to Christ, you are going to suffer the same punishment of the one who poisoned our world in the first place-- eternity in the lake of fire. Hell was meant only for Satan and his followers, but when man sinned against God we became worthy of that same punishment. In order to escape that death, we needed to be rescued. We needed to be saved . So Jesus came to live the life we were...

    When we become disciples of Jesus Christ it changes the make-up of our person. We become more like Christ and less like the world and it is a beautiful transformation. One characteristic stands out to me as an enormous indicator of the genuine transformation into Jesus' image: selflessness. When Jesus, the King of kings, came to earth He came not to force us into submission, but to save us from our sins. If that isn't selfless I don't know what is.     So what does that mean for us? I believe that you can test how developed your relationship with Christ is based on how selfless or selfish you are. The flesh thinks about how to gratify its own desires, but the Spirit thinks about how to love and serve others and bring glory to Jesus Christ. Where are you at on your journey today? Is your selfishness preventing you from having an effective ministry for God? 2 Corinthians 3:18   So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of th...

    In politics, we are always trying to solve the world's problems through laws and regulations and it never works. Likewise, all the violence that I have seen on the news lately is alarming. People are trying to fight violence with more violence and it makes no sense. I'm not taking any sides on the issues at hand, but one thing I am sure of: only Jesus can solve the world's problems. If we use laws and protests to fight, we are using worldly weapons. Not to say we shouldn't have laws, but that we should keep in mind that it doesn't solve the root of the issue.     If you want to be a world changer, you have to be different than the world. The Bible tells us to use Spiritual weapons to fight because we are, in fact, fighting a spiritual battle. We are up against Satan-- the ruler of darkness-- who is the cause of evil in the world. You can't win that battle with violence and other methods of darkness. Only light can drive out darkness. Dare to be different...

    People who are living out a life with Jesus have many things the world does not. One trait that is particularly recognizable is joy. Happiness comes and goes, but joy remains no matter the circumstances when you truly know Jesus. In fact, it is that joy that helps us get through the tough times! The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. When you go out there into the world today, let your joy shine through your life for all the world to see! Nehemiah 8:10 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (ESV) Galatians 5:17   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV) Proverbs 17:22   A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (ESV)

    In a world filled with evil, I have found that many people blame God for their problems. They question, "Why would you do this to me, God?," as if He were inflicting pain and hardship on them as punishment. This is not the case. Satan coexists with man on earth, and spends his time here trying to sabotage what God intended for good. Yes, there are consequences for our sins, but Satan is the ultimate author of despair and darkness. However, Jesus is responsible for everything good and perfect in the world. God is good all the time and all the blessings and joy in our lives come from Him. His goodness never fails even though we are undeserving. Focus not on evil, but on His Heavenly gifts, and always remain thankful for what you've been given. Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV) James 1:17   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down fr...