Love of You

Junior high girls can be a pain. Now, I love each one of them, and I know some awesome ones. As I have two sisters who went through that stage pretty recently (and thus, all their friends at the same time), I do have a bit of knowledge on the subject. Each girl is great, but when you have a bunch of junior high girls together...things can get ugly. Often they take every overlook, slight, or even friendly comment to heart as a personal insult. Girls of this age are usually insecure about who they are and are completely hung up on their perceived flaws. So every comment, look and action is taken to be someone purposely rubbing salt in their wounds. It breaks my heart what some of these girls put themselves through. They buy into lies about what they should look like, act like and be. They're battered by the world and often don't let anyone in. They hurt, and are convinced that they are alone and let their wounds fester. It seems that nothing you say to them can assure them that they are beautiful the way they are and that you, and God, truly care.

That is just an example of something I've seen a lot. Each one of us buys into some of Satan's lies. Whether it's you're not good enough, you can't do it, or you've messed up too much; he manipulates your fears and faults to paralyze you. It breaks my heart when people I care about go through tough times... But the worst to me is when they don't see the beauty God's created them with. Each and every one of you is an amazing person worth more than life to our great Jesus. Yes, we each have flaws. There are parts of me I hate, but I also know that God considers me precious and valuable. Everyone in this world is someone special whom God loves, and each one can become more beautiful as they grow in Christ. You have potential, to be perfect and do something amazing. This song describes in better words than I can what God can do with every aspect of you.

God can take your deepest fear and biggest flaw and turn them into something beautiful. God is in the business of changes lives by changing you. His love is unconditional. Think about it, there is nothing about you that God doesn't know about. He still loves you, he always will. Please, dwell on that and let it sink in.

"What then shall we say to these things?" If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:31-39

Have you ever thought about how God loves you? Take every love song you've ever heard, and multiply it by ten. You're not there yet. And God's love is perfect. He'll never let you down. He'll never let you go. He's not hiding any part of himself. He's not going to change. If you let yourself really muse about this...well, it's amazingly comforting and uplifting. You are so important to God! You don't have to do anything to earn his love, you had it even before you were born! Listen to this song and imagine it's God singing to you.

Isn't that amazing? The tip of the iceberg is breathtaking. And there is so much more for us to discover. Please, take some time today to remember God's love for you and let it change your life.

By God's grace,
Ericka

Pure Joy?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you met trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." -James 1:2-3

James must have been one godly man. I mean...even just in reading that verse I'm in awe of his attitude, perspective, and boldness to even tell believers do do that. Pure joy in trials. Even though I've heard the idea many times before, my brain just turned on the brakes and screeched to a halt. What? Joy in suffering? Who would say such a thing? How can you even do that?
I mean, come on... Nobody likes real pain. Emotional or physical. I recently had a surgery, and trust me, it's been no joy. But, read the verse again. I don't think James is saying we have to find joy in pain. He's just giving you perspective. A look beyond the suffering. Not joy in pain, but joy because we have reason to withstand it. Joy because we have hope to grow and be strengthened, and an assurance of a better future. We can bear pain with a joyful spirit because we know there is more and we know God will use it. A mindset based upon the expectation of an amazing eternity cuts the trials of now down in size. It's hard to remember to look at things that way, but when you can, it's absolutely worth it.

A Month of Writing

I've been working on my novel lately. Total shocker, right? It's working title is Assassin. I absolutely love it, and writing, but I have a problem. I'm not even half-way through the rough draft yet, and the OYAN Summer Workshop (a writing workshop for anyone who doesn't know) is a month away. I've set a goal to finish the story by then. It'll be the most I've ever written in that sort of time frame and I'll honestly be pretty shocked if I do it. But I'm going to try, and I will appreciate any encouragement, pestering, or the like to help me get through it.

Not Alone

"Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." -1 Peter 5:9

We all struggle. We all fail. We all suffer. One of the many lies that I've seen, and experienced, is that when you're deeply struggling with something, that you are alone in it. I tend to think that I'm the only one with my particular problem so I dig in and try to fight it out alone. But, I've discovered that there are often people around me who have been through the same thing, or are even going through the same thing. What a relief. Let that comfort you. You're not the only one; I'm not the only one. God can work through the people around me to encourage and strengthen me. I've been built up and helped along by dear friends who understand what I'm going through. Don't listen to the Devil's lie that you're alone. Turn to God, and then his people, for strength, love and grace.

Do It Yourself

"Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith?" -Galatians 3:3-5 ESV

I have a love-hate relationship with this verse. I am an independent person. I like to do things by myself, figure things out by myself, and stand on my own two feet. I have a hard time relying on other people and I like to be in charge. Every time God brings this verse to my attention, which is more often than I like, it's like a slap over the head. I think I can do everything myself. Some of it is our culture's emphasis on independence and self-reliance, but most of it is me and my need to do things myself. Often times I approach my need to grow in Christ with the same attitude that I face life with. I want to fix things myself. I want to change myself. And I've tried it, I keep trying it. It doesn't work.

"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" -Galatians 3:3-5 NIV

It doesn't work because it's not meant to work. We can't pound out our lives. We can't become like Christ on our own. Not by our own strength anyway. This is a real battle for me, one that I constantly have to consciously fight. Part of surrendering my life to God is to trust him. To let go of my white-knuckled grip on the reigns of my life and to allow God to redirect it. He wants to reshape me, and he'll be with me the entire way. I have to lean on him and let him get me through it. Every day, every hour and more I have to remind myself to give God control and stop trying to fix myself. I can't do it alone. I don't have to do it alone. Thank goodness. What a relief. God is at my side, ready to take the stress of life and show me the way if I'd just let him. He surrounds me with godly people to uplift, encourage and straighten me out. Praise be to him! I'm ending this post by sharing a song I discovered a week ago that speaks to my heart on this subject.

By God's grace,
Ericka

Beyond Great

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." -1 Corinthians 1:25

You don't normally think of God as foolish or weak, that's why this verse popped out at me. Even at God's worst, which I don't think really exists, he is infinitely stronger and wiser than us. The bigness of God is beyond me. This last year I took Calculus I and II, to be honest, it was a tough course, and the hardest parts dealt with infinity. It was mind blowing the rules and things that went with infinity. My brain would hurt after class and homework. But really... The mathematical concept of infinity is nothing compared to God's unending strength, love, wisdom and grace.

Also, I took a class called 'Christian Life and Thought' last semester. It was sort of a slightly more in-depth than a Sunday school class overview of the Bible. At one point we talked about God's foreknowledge and the problem of evil. We concluded that God knew every single world he could have created (there are infinite possibilities) and since he is beyond wise, he knows the best way to achieve the best possible world. Since he wants what is best, and knows what is best, our world must be apart of the best possible way to reach the best possible world.
I find that amazing, and so comforting. As a writer I like to imagine other possible worlds, both better and worse than ours. But God, he knows them all, and he has a plan that will end with the most perfect world of all. Something I can't even conceive.

Loving the Family

I am going to be posting my thoughts on a verse or passage either ever day, or every other day, for awhile. Maybe most of the summer. A friend of mine gave me the idea, and I think it's a great way to really meditate on scripture. So, it's mostly for me, but by posting my thoughts on a verse I'm reading, I'm setting up an accountability factor that I need. Here's the first one: 

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." -1 Peter 3:8-9

I haven't been home from college very long, one week today, but I already find myself falling back into my bad habits of treating my siblings in a way that isn't God-honoring. Most the time it is small things, little snarky comments, or snapping back when someone snaps at me. My patience and tolerance is pretty long with most people, but for some reason very short with my family. This verse speaks to me about my actions with my siblings. I find myself forgetting to look at them through God's love and instead expecting them to live up to what I know they're capable of, and know they should do, and that tends to irritate me. But instead, I should love them. I need to humble myself, set a good example (being the eldest, this is my lot in life), and encourage them to do better. It won't be easy, to break old habits, but with Yahweh's strength and the Holy Spirit's guidance, I can create new and more godly ones. I was called to love and bless everyone, especially my family, it's an important aspect of my life that I'm trying to get right with God. 

Triumphant

Well, I did it. I survived my first year of college.

And I can't believe it's already been a year. It seems like just yesterday I showed up on campus, so clueless in the face of so many unknowns, and now I'm leaving a veteran, a sophomore. I've learned a lot. And not only academically, but also about life and my relationship with God and others. I'm not the same person I was this time last year.

What a bittersweet moment. The stress and pressure are gone, evaporated as things are completed. And now, I have a few days to rest and recuperate before throwing myself into my many summer plans and goals. But I'll miss the people who I've spent the past nine months with.

It's scary how fast time passes. Even when the days seem long and somewhat monotonous, time is racing by. Treasure your moments. Live in the now, with a perspective set on eternity. Don't let your past control you or your future monopolize your energy. Live for others, by God's strength, to make a difference and let the almighty Lord take care of everything else.

Use your time wisely, cause it's gone in the blink of an eye.