Incredible Inspiration

I read this book a few years back (and I want to purchase my own copy and read it again). It’s called “I would Die For You”. It is about a boy named BJ Higgins. When he was 15, he felt God calling him. He decided to go on a missions trip to Peru. There, he caught a disease that took his life. His story really inspired me. His life amazed me. His devotion to God left me wanting to be like him. He is a huge reason I began blogging about my life and Christ. He used things like the internet and his way with words to reach out to his friends and help them in their walk with Christ and win them to the Lord. His life made me want to change mine. He made me want to be like that. As soon as I read that book, I opened up Facebook and began posting. A few days later, I opened up a blog. I now have two blogs. One of them is read by people all over the world-I have at least one person in every continent reading it. The other has 117 followers. I went on my own mission trip to India. I now feel like God is drawing me to the missions feild. The life of BJ Higgins inspired me to live mine totally for God. He would’ve been a great person to know on this earth, and when I get to heaven, I would be honored for him to be one of the first people I meet.

Just to let ya know...

I've gotten a few comments in the past few weeks on my blogs. Thank you guys so much! It is so encouraging for me to hear that my blog helps or encourages someone else. I've tried to respond to them, but for some reason, Google won't let me. :( But I wanted you guys to know I did get them and read them and they make me very happy everytime I see them. Thank you so much for your feedback and encouragement. You guys are incredible! :)
-A Christian Teenage Girl

Thank you Jesus for GRACE!

So this week I was shown true grace in an incredible way. I got something that I did NOT deserve. Here's the story.
I have a favorite band. My favorite band is Anberlin. I LOVE Anberlin. And I looked at Anberlin's schedule and found out they were going to be in my town. The part of town they were going to be in was in that scary part of town that I would NEVER go to by myself, and my dad ALWAYS goes to concerts with me. I said "DAD. DAD. ANBERLIN IS GOING TO BE HERE IN A FEW WEEKS. CAN WE GO?!" I told him the dates, and his face fell. "Well, Rachel," he said "I'll be out of town that day. I don't think it will work." (See, my dad has been going to see his pastor/mentor every weekend. His mentor is 5 hours away.) "Well can't you change your flight?" "No. It will cost me $150. I can't." I tried and tried to work it out for us to go see Anberlin, and every date had SOME sort of complication with it. I begged and begged my dad to make something work. I treated him coldly when he finally said, "NO!" I complained and was short with him, and made it clear that I was upset that he would NOT take me to the concert. When I saw that I was really hurting his feelings, I thought about it. I realized I wasn't mad at my dad for not taking me-I was upset at OTHER things that had gone on that day, and was taking it out on him. I apologized. I said "Dad, I know what you're doing every weekend is from God, and so I'm really sorry I treated you badly for not taking me to that concert. I understand. And I'm not really upset about the concert. Other stuff has upsetted me today, and I was just mad about that. Can you please forgive me?" he said yes. The next day, he sat me down and told me to relook at the tickets. When we found them, he said "Get me my credit card." He bought the tickets right in front of me. He then looked at me and said "Now, Rachel, I want you to know, I'm not doing this because you acted badly yesterday or because you had a bad day. I'm buying these tickets because you asked me to forgive you for treating me like that." We talked some more, and I said "But dad, what about your plane ticket? How did you fix that?" He just said "I haven't yet." I realized what a chance he was taking. He bought the tickets, confirming that he WAS taking me-whether he had to pay the $150 for the plane or not. I was incredibly grateful that I have such a good dad.
Later, he called the airport and talked to them. It turns out, when he called the airport the first time, the woman said "You can't change-it will be $150." But actually, you had 24 hours after you booked the flight to change your flight for free. My dad explained this to the person he was talking to that the woman was mistaken and that he should have been able to change his flight. He also kindly asked if he could change it now with out paying $150, because he would be flying the same airline consistently for the next year. The person said "Hold on sir." When they came back, they told my father he was right-he could change the flight, but he would have to pay $50 for the difference in first ticket and the second ticket. Understanding, my dad agreed. He excitedly told me "I worked it out! We're going to that concert!"
I sat and thought even more about that. With the way I had treated my father before, I did NOT deserve those tickets. I didn't deserve ANYTHING. I treated him terribly! But with grace, my dad bought the tickets-giving me something I did NOT deserve. And the God, in HIS grace, made it able for my dad to not pay $150 to change his ticket. God showed me grace also. I didn't deserve any of that. But grace made it available to me. And that is the beauty of the love of God. He gives us things (like salvation) when we DON'T deserve them-showing us grace-and doesn't give us things (like death and hell) when we DO deserve them-showing us mercy. God's love-his grace and mercy-always leaves me speechless and grateful for Jesus and his love for us. Thank you, Lord, for that!

Radical, Dude

So I've been reading a book called "Radical" by David Platt. I'm almost done with it. I would definitely suggest all Christians read that book. It's really eye-opening, mind-blowing, and convicting. I wanted to blog a little about what I've gathered from it so far.
First of all, he talks about the pursuit of "The American Dream". The "American Dream" is the idea of building ourselves up, becoming rich and comfortable, and loving ourselves. It's all about material prosperity. But the author brings out something that is amazing to me: The American dream and Jesus Christ contradict each other. Where as the American dream is all about selfishness-"me" and all I can do and have-Jesus lived a life of selflessness. He gave up all he had. He served. You cannot chase something that is rooted in selfishness and pride while also chasing God-which calls us to live a life of selflessness and humility.
Secondly, David Platt talks about how when we begin to twist Christianity into something we like. He talks about how we tend to take away traits of God we don't like and put in a bunch we do. For example, we might say "Oh, I don't really like that God is a wrathful judge who condemns my sins. I think I'll take that away and put some love and mercy into God where I want it." Yes, God is loving and merciful and full of grace, but he is also the wrathful judge who judges our sins. And when we begin to do that, we begin to paint a picture of Jesus that looks alot less like him and alot more like us. The danger of that is this: when we think we're worshipping Jesus Christ and the God of the Bible, we're really worshipping ourselves. We might not say that we do that, but I found even in myself, I subconsciously have painted a picture of Jesus that looks alot less like him and alot more like me.
Third, he asks the question "Why are we saved?" And the author says we are saved and created to "enjoy God's grace and spread his glory." As crazy and as hard to understand as it may seem, he says God didn't save us simply out of his love (although MUCH love was involved). He says God saved us so that we could spread his glory and his love to others, and then THEY can spread his glory and love, and everyone they spread the gospel to can spread it again, and it just becomes a huge chain reaction.
Fourthly, he talks about how Christ called us ALL to go into the WORLD and makes disciples of ALL nations (Matthew 28:19). He talks about how some people say "Oh, it's not 'God's will' for my life for me to go out to another country and spread the gospel," so we just send money for others to go out and do that-but not us. No. Not us. But according to the bible, Christ HAS called us ALL to do this! That doesn't mean everyone is called to go live in another country forever and permanently "be a missionary", but it DOES mean that we are called to spread the gospel to ALL nations! It's not hard to go on a mission trip or tell someone about Christ. This is what God has called us to do! This IS God's will for our lives.
The fifth thing he talks about is true, but terrified me. He talks about this: what if we DON'T follow Christ's command to spread the gospel? Do we really realize how selfish it is? And do we realize that because of our selfishness, many won't hear the gospel? And as a result of that, many will die unsaved, never hearing of Christ, and go to hell? Some people say, "Oh it's not fair of God to send people to hell if they haven't heard of Jesus!" But David Platt says "There is no injustice with God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it known among those who haven't heard. THAT is unfair."
Think of it this way: Imagine this-everyone around you is contracting a disease. Everyone around you is dying. And you hold in your hand a huge bag, full of syringes. Syringes full of the antidote to this disease. And you have enough syringes in your bag to save EVERYONE. Would you hide your bag, and not give the antidote to anyone but yourself? Would you sit and watch everyone die a slow, painful death, and you knew that you were going to live? NO! Of course not! Many would begin passing out syringes, rushing everywhere, all over the WORLD to save lives.
Can't we see? WE have the antidote. WE have the syringe. WE can save EVERYONE. SO WHY DON'T WE SHARE IT? Why do we hide it away, knowing we are safe, and watch everyone around us travel on the road to hell? WHY?
So many people have not heard the gospel. How can we say it is NOT God's will for them to hear? How can we sit back and say "Nah-God hasn't called me to do that. Not me"? WE HAVE THE KEY. David Platt explains it like this: "God sends his servants. His servants preach. People hear. Hearers believe. Believers call [on God]. Everyone who calls in saved...We are the plan of God, and there IS NO PLAN B." WE HAVE THE KEY to SAVE LIVES. Not just lives-ETERNITIES. WE HAVE THE ANTIDOTE. WHY DON'T WE SHARE IT?
After reading the book, I feel like I could passionately go on for hours about this. I now know this IS God's will for my life. There is so much deep stuff in that book that is mind blowing. It is eye opening. I really do suggest all Christians read that book. "Radical" by David Platt.

Peace of God

So I went to church camp this week, and I had something I was specifically praying about. See, I graduate this school year (2012), and I knew God was calling me to go to a bible institute, but I wasn’t sure which one. I had two I was looking at, and both were with in a 40 minute drive of each other, so I was having a tough time. I had information on one (called PTC) and was beginning to gather information about the other (called TBI). Well I was a bit stressed out, I’m not gonna lie. I know I had like a few months to still make that choice, but I was kinda scared. I prayed and told God, “God, I really need you to give me direction. I need to know where to go.” Well, the church camp I go to is hosted by TBI. So I began to gather information and ask questions about TBI. I kept praying the whole time.
Finally, on the 3rd day of camp, I was in a meeting, and the founder of TBI came in the room. You could just feel God’s annointing on him as soon as he walked in. And as he was speaking, I felt as though he was speaking directly to me and my life. And all of the sudden, I just felt at peace. It was like every question and doubt in my heart was gone, and I knew-this is where I need to go. This is where I am suppossed to be.
The moral of the story is this, kids-ask God to speak to you, and consistently ask him to guide you, and he will. He hears you. And he will answer in his perfect timing. He'll give you peace when you need it. Just trust him.

Idolatry Today

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who
suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have
seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his
invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse
for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was
like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise,
they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious,
ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people... (Romans 1:18-23, NLT)

So I read this last night, and I connected it to a book I've been reading called "Radical". In "Radical", the author says almost the same thing, but in different words. He says,:

...We are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving into the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus WE are more comfortable with. A nice, middle class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake out closest relationships so that he receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, he loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who want us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity and we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream. But do you and I realize what we are doing at this point? We are molding Jesus into OUR image. He is beginning to look alot like us because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in out church building to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshipping Jesus. We may be worshipping OURSELVES. (David Platt, "Radical", pg. 13)

I connected those two statements. And felt a bit convicted. Both of them are talking about idolatry. In Romans, it says bluntly "They KNOW God, but wouldn't worship him AS God", and instead, they began to "think up foolish ideas of what God was like". And in Radical, he's talking about how we change the image of Jesus. I'll explain this more.

A few paragraphs before, David Platt was talking about all the things costs of following Jesus that Jesus himself said in Luke 9:57-62. One man said "I'll follow you Jesus!" And Jesus said "Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay his head." In other words, shelter isn't garunteed. You might be left out in the cold or have no where to go because you follow Jesus. Yikes. Then another guy says "hey, Jesus-I'll follow you. But let me bury my dad who just passed away." And Jesus says, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You rjob is to preach the Kingdom of God." In other words, put me first, and don't even let the burial of your own father get in the way of your relationship with me. Whoa. Then another guy says "Jesus! I'll follow you-gimme a second, though. I'm gonna go say bye to my family." And Jesus says "Anyone who put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom." In other words, forget your family and closest relationships. FOLLOW ME. I'm all you need. Dang. And what about the rich man in Luke 18:18-23? He came up and was like "Jesus, how to I get eternal life?" And Jesus is like "Well, you know, the commandments." And the rich man says "But I already do that." Jesus then says "Oh yeah, one more thing-sell everything you have and give it to the poor. Come follow me." There is not "in other words" to that. Blunt, straight, and to the point. Give up everything you have. Follow me. Wow.

What David Platt is saying is that we don't WANT to accept the possibility that God might call us to do something like that. We don't like the thought that Jesus might say "Give up all your material things. Follow me." or "Forget your family and friends. Follow me." or "Leave your home. Follow me." or even possibily "Don't attend your own father's burial. Follow me." We're uncomfortable with that. So we say "No, Jesus wouldn't want me to give up those things. He loves me." But in reality, we're conforming to idolatry when we do that. Because we're NOT truly following Jesus and worshipping him for who he is. We're doing exactly what Romans was talking about. "thinking up foolish ideas of what God is like". Our OWN foolish ideas.

I read these two things and was a bit convicted. I had to look at myself and say "Have I done that? Have I worshipped my OWN idea of Jesus? Would I give up those things to follow Jesus?" It takes a heart re-arrange to change the way you look at Jesus. I know I'll be working on mine.

What about you?

When you Hold on to stuff, and that stuff holds you back, it makes it hard to get to Jesus.

A little boy in my kids church, when asked to share about the church-camp trip he had just attended, stood up infront of the entire adult congregation and boldly said this. He’s probably less that 12 years old. I could not believe it. Believe his age. Hid boldness. And the amount of truth in that statement.
“When you hold on to stuff, and that stuff holds you back, it makes it hard to get to Jesus.”
I later approached that little boy and hugged him and said ‘Bill! I’m so proud of you-everything that you said up there!” His response shocked me.
“I wanted to say more, but my mind just went blank. I wanted to talk about when we went on that hike, and they told us when we got to the top of the mountain, to tell something that holds us back-something we never told anybody. I wanted to talk about how we were so high up there, you could just feel the presence of God. And when all these men shared secrets nobody knew,-man, the wind picked up, and you could just feel…God.”
The same day, we took up offering in kids church, and as usual, I asked if anyone wanted to pray over it. All the kids were quiet (as usual). I looked at little Bill and said, “Bill, would you like to pray?” (Just two weeks before, I asked him the same question, and he said “Nah, I don’t like praying.”) This time, he looked in my eyes, and with a genuine look said,
“I don’t know how to pray over offering, but I will.”
I said, “Well, just tell God thank you for the offering, and pray that He will bless it. And just say thanks for letting us learn about Him. Just pray whatever you feel, Bill.” He said "Okay." I bowed my head, prepared to pray, when I noticed something that amazed me.
Little Bill had knelt down on his knees in front of everyone and said "Uhh...God...thank you for this offering. Please bless it. Thank you for the kids church and that we can come to learn. Thank you for the camping trip we just went on. Thanks for everything. Love you. Amen."
Little Bill got up off of his knees, and went back to his seat. I sat in awe at this child. In jusst two days, his life had changed completely. And God spoke something to me.
"This is what I mean when I tell you-Have child-like faith."