Good Anger?

In the midst of the homework sitting at my desk, college decisions on my mind, and phone calls buzzing every five minutes, there is no question that today is a Monday. It seems that each Monday brings with it new revelations or in my case, new lessons to be learned. I got a call from my mom this afternoon. Once again another to-do list for my afternoon among my own list piled high in front of me. The countless chores and small tasks never seem to end. But being the transparent person I am, I will admit that I was short with my mom on the phone and... she was upset. For that reason, she took away privileges. Now I left the conversation very angry. Not angry by what my mom said, but with myself, with my sin. 


Check out Romans 7:14-25
This scripture is exactly how I feel. I will mess up plenty of times because I am not perfect. Even in the bible we see sin in the lives of those chosen by God. Joseph flaunts about his dream to his brothers, Jacob lied to his father so he could receive a blessing, Isaac favored Esau over Jacob, Abraham had his wife Sarah lie to the pharaoh, and so on. However, the beautiful thing is these men might have messed up at times, but they continued to follow after God and strive for holiness. They had a genuine fear of the Lord. I may have messed up today, but tomorrow is a new day to strive for holiness. If you can relate to me or Paul in these verses, and you feel angered by the sin in your life, then know you are not alone. You are on the road of sanctification (being saved from the power of sin on a daily basis). Take heart, the journey is not long before you will one day be set apart from sin forever!

What Is Your Cup of Stew?

       My sweet girl's minister, Amy Peirson, shared a message with me and a couple other students. Though I cannot recall the message in her finest words, I wish to share the scripture she interpreted for us. It is found in Genesis chapter 25 verses 29-34:


"Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob (his younger sibling), 'Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!' Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.'... so Esau swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright."


       This story teaches a lesson that I seemed to overlook as I read over it in my quiet time. Yet Amy reminded me that we each have something in our lives that is our cup of stew. Whether this is acceptance, money, success, time, image, etc, we each have something in our lives that we would put before the person God made us to be. If your called to ministry or just trying to walk close to God, you have to be strong and capable of not giving up what God has set before you ( In Esau's case, his own birthright!), because just one moment can hinder your entire life.

A Beautiful Distraction

       God has seemed to convict me recently of how I spend my time. I don't know about you, but I have never been good with time management. I'm the kind of person that tries to say yes to everything and then I quickly get burnt out real fast; being a Senior does not seem to help with this. It's not that being busy is bad. In fact it can keep you very productive, but it is how you're busy that is key. You have to be careful, because a lot of what you say yes to can be only another distraction to what is most important. For instance when you get on facebook, TV, the computer, etc, you are saying yes to them. Yes, I am going to watch my favorite show [Glee] tonight and while watching that show you are sacrificing time you could be doing homework, cleaning the kitchen, doing taxes... whatever it is that is more important. In another case, you could be multitasking, trying to watch TV and do homework at the same time. It may seem like it works, but your homework will likely suffer. When you put something before what is of most importance, it is a distraction. 
       I have a desire to be still before the Lord, but I can never seem to be still. I  get constantly distracted by the computer in front of me, facebook chats, text messages, music in the background, even church itself. We always need to be doing, doing, and doing instead of being still and appreciating what is around you. Honestly, when you are doing more I believe you are experiencing less. Ever had such a busy week and look back and think, wow that was crazy, what did I even do that week?... What about trying to accomplish many tasks at one time that after two hours pass you stare at half a page of an essay and wonder where the time went?  Most likely you remember moments like the time you built a snowman larger than yourself, or cooked your first meal for your family, watched that amazing movie, or maybe a time when God spoke to you. In these times we remember, we are not filled with distractions, but engaged in what we are doing one task at a time.  That is how our quiet time should be. Alone with God. No distractions except the distraction of How awesome our King is in the middle of our prayer or the thought we have in the middle of our devotion. 
       I am guilty just as much as anyone else for putting God in the midst of my distractions. Our King is so much more worthy of our time! So my goal is to remove any distractions in my life that take me from my quiet time with God. My first step was deactivating my facebook last night as I prepare for a mission trip this Spring. Do you have any distractions that might need to go? Are you ready to have the greatest relationship with your King you've ever had? If so, put your distractions on the alter and let God have them. Even if for a little while. I am sure that you will begin to be amazed by what God will do in your life. I am excited for anyone who wants to follow me along this journey of removing harmful distractions for the most beautiful distraction, our King. :)

God Is With Us

You say: “It’s impossible.” God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired.” God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me.” God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: “I can’t go on.” God says: My grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out.” God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it.” God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able.” God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it.” God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself.” God says: I forgive you. (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage.” God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid.” God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.” God says: Cast all your cares on Me. 

(1 Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith.” God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone.” God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

A Joyous Ending

I finally finished the book of Job! 1 book down and 65 more to go. :) Being in the chronological plan, it was funny jumping from Genesis 11 to Job 1. Well, I say this is funny not just because it is random, but because God knew I needed to read through the book of Job these past couple weeks. While reading through Job, it can be somewhat sad and depressing, but once you make it to the end, you can't help but smile for how God truly blesses Job for his faithfulness. As many know, the book of Job teaches a lesson of suffering. We see that Job suffered because God knew he could be an example of what true faith looks like. God had a plan that in the end, Job would be blessed for his suffering. "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before"(Job 42: 10-11). God had a wonderful inheritance in store for Job that he could have never imagined through his time of pain and suffering. 

       As I finished my reading, I visioned a glimpse of what heaven will one day be like. As we constantly face our own trials, if we remain faithful, God will have a great inheritance stored up for us in heaven and treasures beyond our imagination. Just like Job, it is so easy to get caught up in our trials and question God's promise. It is fine to question and feel that aching pain of just wanting to give up. God never promised  us a life without struggles. But He does promise us an eternity with Him if we can remain faithful like Job. If you are going through any trial in your own life, I encourage you to look up. Remember God is there for you and one day you will receive a wonderful blessing for your faithfulness. God may even be using you as an example of what a faithful servant looks like. What a blessing! And if you happen to be going through a trail of any sort, I encourage you to read through Job, or for a shorter reference, read Philippians, an encouraging account of joy and thanksgiving written by Paul in his own time of suffering. To all who are facing joyous times, what a blessing as well! I rejoice with you all. One day when we reach the gates of heaven, we will all reach our joyous ending. 

Have a blessed day!

Everything Falls by Fee:

Awaken My Heart

This is a song I wrote last summer; A cry to live a life fully for God. Hopefully (when I learn how to work technology) I can record myself playing the music along to these lyrics. In the meantime, I'm almost finished with reading through Job! Hope to tell you all about what God has taught me! 

Your Love, It saved me

Gave me freedom, when you died for me

My heart is opening

Lord let your spirit Awaken me

I don't want to live 

If not for you, oh God

May everything I do 

Be a light of love burning for you

Awaken my heart oh God

Oh Awaken my heart oh God

May the love that was nailed to the cross

be the love that we share to the lost

Awaken my heart oh God

Oh awaken my heart oh God

May the power of your great name

Be forever proclaimed

Your love, It healed me

took away my scars, and broken dreams

I have been redeemed 

And now forever will I sing

I don't want to live

If not for you, oh God

May everything I do

Be a light of love burning for you. 

Awake and Alive!

Living By The Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7 

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of Power, Love, and Self-control."

God's love is endless and reaches beyond every sunrise and sunset. His love abounds. When voices try to tell you otherwise, remember the voice of the Spirit living within you, reminding you it is with you in power and strength till the coming of our Lord.

A picture I shot of my brother at the end of the sunset. :)

Daily Devotional

       As I continue reading in Job, I am enlightened even more. Job's friends come to comfort him in his time of affliction, but what they think is godly advice, is none other than wrong accusations. Some of us have been on the side of Job where we feel our friends or family don't understand our situation. Also, many of us have been on the side of Job's friends, maybe not with a prideful heart, but with a heart hoping to help a friend. We may want to help, but we may not always have the best advice. I've been on the side of the friend. I want to help a friend through a trial, and point out the wrong and lead her to what I think is right, but it is really my place? No... I can be a light of encouragement, but I can't pull my friend through her trial, only God can. That is what makes prayer so powerful. We can be helping our friends without the chance of saying something wrong.
       Before the new year began, I had a group of friends over to pray for what they wanted God to do in their lives this year. I left encouraged knowing that God is in control of everything. Hearing the prayers of my friends helped me realize I'm not alone. If not ourselves, there is someone who's going through a hard time and prayer helps us realize God is in control. The King who sits on His throne in heaven has it all under control. 
    
       "Where were you when I "laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined it's measurements- surely you know!..." Job 38: 4-5

Job Moment

       My reading took me to Job this morning, an amazing passage for all who are in their own storm or desert.  In just one chapter, Job's life is stripped from him and then to make matters worse, his health is threatened. Many of us have our bad days where everything seems to fall apart yet to say Job was having a bad day is an extreme understatement. What surprises me even more is verses 20-22.
       "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped... In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."
       One of my prayers on my list was to know God's character. When I have my own Job moments, I tend to question God and his power. Never do I think to fall on the ground and worship. But God was the one who allowed satan to test Job and strip him away of his family, possessions, and health. I realize, God not only had a purpose in this for Job, but was using him as an example to satan of what true faith looks like. Amazing! What examples are we to others when we are going through a hard trial. Do we respond like anyone else and doubt God's power, or do we worship him and rejoice in our suffering?


Here's a wonderful song to rejoice to :)

Prayer

My prayer list this year:

1. Actions reflecting what I believe
2. God not granting my desires, but what I should desire
3. Caring more for God's grief than my own
4. God would continue to show me His character
5. Consistency in my walk with God
6. Not my will, but His be done
7. Encouragement to empower others in their walk
8. That this year would not be easy
9. I would find Joy far greater than momentary happiness
10. Fear of the Lord
11. Never settling for enough
12. Boldness 

"Let There Be Light"

       Today I start my journey through the Bible. There are so many reading plans to choose from, so as I began looking through each, I needed to decide what was best for me. I would recommend looking through the different versions before you pick up a One Year Bible off the shelf and begin reading. That is what I did last year, and I found the plan I was following wasn't the best for my scatter-brained self. 
       Check out this link below for a website that is great in helping you select the best version for you and helping you stay on track through each day. And if you just happen to miss a few days of reading, this little website can get you caught up. It's called YouVersion.
       I begin my reading in Genesis as most seem to do. I always love reading the story of creation. It is never hard for me to believe God created this world. I look outside at the sunrise and sunset and know that's my God. I look at the earth we live in and see His footprint everywhere. Maybe it's just easy for me to see, but I know my God created all of this. He is so amazing. But as I read the beginning passage in Genesis 1, I note the first words spoken by God, "Let there be light." God saw that the light was good and separated light and darkness. And God still seeks out the same thing. That we would be light instead of darkness and He will one day separate those who are light and those who are dark. A passage written thousands of years ago is relevant for today. This New Year my hopes are that my light would shine brighter than it ever has and that I would stay consistent through my time in the Word. What are some of your hopes of what God might do in your life? 

By: Vincent Khoury Tylor