Sleep Tight

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
~Psalm 4:7-8

 Rest is vital. without we grow weary & tired, but thankfully for us, the Lord watches over us - even as we sleep.  We can rest knowing that He will provide us eternal comfort, care & love.

I forget to rest-- to take a Sabbath.  to stop & listen to the Lord.  How can we hear Him, if we do not listen.  How can we see His ways when we are so focused on our own.  Taking a day of rest or a Sabbath has always been a commandment that I have merely scuffed off-- overlooked... considered in over traditional-- or thing in the past .. like for Puritans or Little House on the Prairie, but we are COMMANDED to take a Sabbath.  Throughout the hustle and bustle of this world, how can we hear the Lord.  -- We pray for energy & renewal, but yet we don't leave room for it.  I find myself constantly driving myself further & further into oblivion, much like a rusty nail.  I keep going-- I don't take time to stop-- even pause-- BREATHE.  

And that's sin.  Flat out sin-- 

it separates me from the Lord and interferes with my intimate & personal relationship with Him.  Satan uses business to distract me from being still in the Lord. (Psalm 46:10).  At my worst, I let stressors and to-do lists pile up.. forgetting to take time to spend with the Lord and nurture my soul.  Much like an overstressed flower from poor weather conditions-- my soul begins to grow weary-- choked out.  As I become more physically, emotionally, & mentally drained-- my Spirit feels dry and my eyes waver from focusing on the Cross.

Psalm 46:10

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

My fellow college students-- the beginning of the school year (moving in, buying books, transitioning, football, syllabus, and classes) is all extremely overwhelming.  All great & positive things (mostly -- minus buying textbooks), but \it all seems to pile-up.  This past week felt like one of the LONGEST weeks of my life.  I moved out of one apartment, back home, then into a new one, all the while working full time and beginning to consider classes.  Add social activities to the mix and BATS (yes bats) -- we had bat issues the first few nights at my new place-- and WHAM... I was wiped out.--- drained--- and fixed my eyes everywhere besides the Cross.  I kept pushing not rest.  

Thus heaven and earth were completed with all their array. On the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating (Gen 2:1-3).

Thankfully I am finding rest and renewal in the Lord.  The last week has taught me how precious relaxation and stillness in the Lord.  Peace from the Spirit is definitely not the lack of chaos but a calm confidence amidst it.  If you're feeling run-down-- overwhelmed.  Take time to breathe and relax.  Take a Sabbath and be still in the Lord.  Let your mind, body & Spirit be renewed and recharged by its Creator.  He has the gas to keep you going-- He can fill you up.  He is the Lord your God.  He wants you to function at your full potential, so don't cheat yourself or Him, by running yourself down...... and I my friends.. need to take my own advice-- well the Lords and do the same.  Make a weekly Sabbath & REST!!!

"Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day" (Deut 5:12-15).

Isaiah 40:28- 31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Fear Nothing.

Matthew 8:26 He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.

 What are you afraid of?  What are your greatest fears?

FDR once said "The only thing to fear is fear itself." 

I have heard my dad use that quote over and over and over again throughout my childhood.  Do you remember being younger?  From the age of about 6-9 ish I went through a long period of worry and fear.  I would lay in bed at night and my imagination would get me.  I was terrified at night-- of serial killers, stories of Ed Gene, tornadoes, robbers... many things.  I would often go to my mom in the middle of the night for comfort.. and she did comfort me for a while, but it finally got to the point where I had to deal with it.  She finally said to me one night that Jesus loves me so much that there is nothing that He will let happen to me that would be so terrible that I would not be "O.K."  Then it clicked.  I began to sleep at night.  The Veggie Tales video entitled "God is Bigger than the Boogieman"  also helped.  God is bigger than anything on this earth and beyond.  He has conquered evil.  FDR and my dad were right.  There really is nothing to fear, but fear itself.  Fear is essentially in its purest form a lack of trust in Christ. 

Now that I am older, I still am afraid.  What I am afraid of has changed, but the foolishness of my fears has not.  I worry about things big and small.  I fear many things from getting a poor grade on an exam to losing someone I love. 

I think my biggest fear in life is being alone.... Alone &  unhappy-- with no family or anyone.  No children or a husband. and "losing" people I really love whether it be through death or growing apart.  Those may seem like more rational fears than those of a child-- more realistic, but they are no more justified.  We will always fear something-- its inevitable, but we definitely don't need to-- especially to the point of worry and anxiety, which is in fact sin.--  It stems from a lack of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to provide and protect us.  
The truth is: bad things will happen to us, but with an eternal perspective we have safety in the arms of our Savior.  Nothing can separate us from Him-- nothing can snatch us from His hand (Romans 8 & John 10).

Romans 8

"31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be [8] against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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. [9] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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."

In Matthew 14:22-33, Peter asks to join Jesus standing in middle of the sea, but as Peter steps off the boat and onto the water he begins to sink.  "he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord Save me'."  Much like Peter our faith disappears quickly and we fear.  but "Jesus IMMEDIATELY reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying "O you and little faith, why did you doubt."  I think Jesus almost pitied Peter and his fear, but He has compassion upon Him and immediately reached His hand to save him. 
There are a few things that we can get from this story, I believe:

1. As humans we are prone to fear.
2. Christ understands our fear and recognizes our vulnerability to it.
3. Fear is in fact a lack of faith
4. Although I believe Christ understands our fear, we must fight it.  Christ commands us to trust in Him and to not fear.  Fear is a hindrance-- it's unnecessary and really a stronghold of the enemy.  

Satan definitely uses fear to paralyze us-- to keep us from being brave and to keep us worrying.  Worrying leads to wasted time and idleness and a lack a fruit in our lives. 

FEAR ULTIMATELY KEEPS OF FROM TRULY LIVING.--- It is in fact a form of Bondage and a dangerous stronghold.  We really should only fear-- fear itself-- because fear can keep us from really LIVING.  Living for Christ as we are called to.  

One common stereotype or preconceived notions of Christians in our culture is that Christians  are passive and mild-- not very brave-- very conservative and maybe even timid-- many refer to this as "Luke-warm".... and maybe that stereotype is a little too accurate....?  

Are you pushing your limits for Christ?  What risks are you taking for God? Have you done anything "frightening" for the Gospel today? I don't think I have... I challenge us all to do so.  I DARE you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
(okay enough cheese... )

Christ does not call us into easy lives-- we are not to have spirits of timidity--
2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

 But we are called to live out our faith radically-- do you fear going overseas to share the Gospel?  Do you fear standing up for your faith at your work place?  Do you fear being criticized or "mocked" for being a radical Christian? .. get over it.  We are called to really LIVE for the Kingdom-- to take risks for the Gospel-- to step off that boat and walk with Christ on rough waters through storms.  So do it!!-- but you definitely do not have to do it alone.  Much like with Peter, Christ was there "immediately"-- right next to him.  Christ is right beside us and with us and at all times and as simple or cliche as that sounds I think we all need to be reminded of that.  No matter how big your fears or the kind-- death, disease, sharing the Gospel with your brother, spiders,..losing your boyfriend, even fighting in a war... Christ has conquered and He will follow through.  He will not leave you or forsake you and with Him all things are possible.  He loves you so very much. 

Break through the chains of fear. The time to LIVE is now--- radically, fully, whole-heatedly with a fervent passion!  You can do what you think you cannot (Philippians 4:13).  Stop saying "I can't" or "What if..." and start saying "with Christ I can."  There really is nothing to fear, but fear itself.

For Christ said:

Have No Fear

"26 “ 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [6] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [7] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Spiritual Virginity

What is Purity?

pu·ri·ty  (pyr-t)n.

1.  The quality or condition of being pure.
2. being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material
3. the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil
4. Freedom from sin or guilt; innocence; chastity a woman's virtue  pureness, honor, honour

 I don't care who you are... every woman (and man) has experience some sexual impurity or sin in some way... I know I have.  I openly confess to periods of sexual sin & immorality in my past.  In this world the gift of sexual fruitfulness and procreation is constantly disrespected and exploited.  Whether sexual sin has been a direct consequence of one's actions (ie: lust, sexual activity, adultery, masturbation, pornography, viewing explicit sexual content -- which is in most movies today, etc) or a indirect victimization.. every woman's purity has been trampled on by the evil of this world.--- the enemy that tries so desperately to hold women in the bondage of sexual sin and exploitation.  It's sickening.


There are many ways women's purity is taken, but I am referring to in a very generalized way and how it relates to pain, bondage, slavery, shame & guilt.   Impurity is clearly painful; that is why the Lord speaks so strongly against it.
 Ephesians 5 addresses the issue:

¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ³But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴for anything that becomes visible is light.

Sexual Purity is VERY important and related to our spiritual health as we are temple's for the Holy Spirit.

As I began chapter 23 in Beth Moore's Breaking Free titled "Ashes instead of Honor"  I was really struck by a new concept to me: Spiritual Purity or as Moore calls it: "being a Spiritual Virgin."
What a bold phrase.  Moore goes on to say that no matter our past relationships, temptations, struggles, or sexual sins we can be Spiritual Virgins through our re-birth in Christ. ... wow!

Ponder that a moment-- no matter what our pasts or the guilt/shame we may feel, we can really be born-again in Christ.-- in EVERY WAY!  The idea almost brings me to tears. Through Christ's amazing death on the Cross and Resurrection, we can be truly free from any past sexual sin and exploitation.  1 John 1:9 tells us: " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

He remembers our sins no more!  We no longer need to feel  guilt or shame.  

I really enjoy Websters' last definition of purity:

            "Freedom from sin or guilt"

Whether Webster knows this or not, they made such a profound statement; such a truth! We can be Spiritually Pure through Christ.  Through the Freedom He gives us.  We no longer have to be defined by our pasts.

Galatians 5:1

 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

John 8 offers a perfect illustration of sexual impurity and the freedom in Spiritual Purity.  It is one of my favorite stories in the New Testament and I encourage you to read it in full:

8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

 ..."If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36

 Christ truly is amazing!  We can be free from our pasts.  I challenge you (man or woman) to rid your life of sexual sin-- lust, pornography, an ungodly relationship.. whatever that binds you.  I pray that you will experience freedom and rebirth in Jesus Christ.  That you will agree with God and turn from such temptations and that you will heal from your past.   I pray that all of us, men and women, will be Spiritual Virgins.  That we walk in true freedom and righteousness.  Christ has the Power to heal, restore, and give us New Life... all we have to do is surrender.  It's a journey that I am on, please join me.  I believe in Him we will truly find healing & rebirth.  

 Psalm 45

10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father's house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people [2] of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people. [3]

13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.

16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Women: We are the King's princesses!!!!

Loss--He Will Rock... Your Faith.

When we hear the word loss, we usually think of death, grievance, sorrow etc.  

I am referring to loss today in a broad way-- loss of a relationship, loss of a piece if one's self, loss of a loved one, loss of a dream, really a loss of anything that we hold dear in our hearts.

Loss is extremely painful no matter what form.  We don't like "losing" anything as humans.  We tend to cling to things dear to us.  It's a good thing Christ understood loss-- literally --and that through loss God can be glorified and we can find Resurrection and New Life.  

In John 11, Jesus felt the devastating pain of a loss of his dear friend Lazarus whom He loved.  Jesus knowingly waited 2 days as Lazarus passed.  He knew that Mary & Martha would be heartbroken-- He loved them dearly and although He knew that the loss would hurt them, He knew how much more a loss of faith would.  --- Christ understands loss.  There is a purpose for the loss of anything in our lives.  It leads to New life-- Resurrection, Rebirth, change and Hope.  Without the contrast of death-- we cannot know Life.  According to Moore, in Breaking Free there are 3 reasons for loss:

1. Christ never allows are hearts to be shattered without an eternal and excellent purpose.-- in the case of Martha and Mary, their pain was so that their faith in Christ would be strengthened by Him raising Lazarus from the dead.  (John 11: 42-43)
2. Death is not the end for Christians-- we have eternal life in Christ-- those who know Christ never perish (v. 25)
3. Any kind of death=Resurrection of life for Christian---  after grieving our hearts must be mended.  When Christ mends our hearts we experience an abundance of Joy, Peace & Healing.  Sometimes we have to be broken to be healed better than before.  

I would like to offer a 4th reason:

      4. The more earthly loss we experience the more of Christ we Gain.  Christ clearly states that we must give  it ALL  for the Cross-- to follow Him.   we usually never want to, but Christ is our Life-- He is eternity and losing any dream or possession or relationship or even a loved one is a cost worth it in the end.  an increase of faith and the gain of ETERNAL LIFE & Christ Jesus!

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 6)

 Paul refers to anything that isn't Christ almost rubbish!

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" – Philippians 3:7-8

I do not intend to belittle any loss that you have experienced or  that anyone has.  I am only trying to (through Scripture) shred light on the necessity of loss at times and the blessings it can bring.

In my 21 years of life I have experienced some loss.  I've lost 2 grandparents to heart disease, many friendships, relationships, and dreams-- even pieces of myself.  All parts of growing-up and know many more losses lie ahead.  One of the most deep and devastating losses to me thus far was very much a "relative loss"-- a loss that in fact occurred but was very subjective-- the termination of a romantic relationship with my high school boyfriend of almost 6 years.  When he deployed to Iraq and then again to the Pacific, I felt great loss each time.  As if a part of me had died.  Although he physically lived, many parts of who he was died.  War changed him.  The Marines changed him.  Life changed him.  I struggled to keep who I knew "alive," but in fact that person I had loved had died.  He had changed, and so had I.  What I experienced was very similar to that of a grieving person.  I grieved the loss of our relationship-- clinging onto the past and to the pieces that remained.  I missed him so deeply-- and worst of all I missed him when he was physically back.  I missed him when he was right in front of me.  I felt I had lost him.I wept, I cried, I was angry, resentful/bitter... at times even in denial.  I questioned God-- doubted war/death/life.  All things beyond my humanly capabilities and comprehension.  I clung to the past.  I mourned.

I did in fact lose the old him., but I thank God that Nicholas is still in my life today.  He is my best friend and God has used that loss and those experiences to make both he and I into better people.  Without those events, I don't think either he nor I would really be following Christ.  That relationship was meant to end.  God willed it.  We both suffered deeply for the loss, but there is hope in the future and healing in the present.  I still hurt from that loss, but God has taught me so much about love and life and truth through the pain of wartime deployment.  God kept that relationship from being an idol in my life-- which in fact it was, and has wonderfully blessed Nicholas and I with a new and restored relationship.. a relationship that seeks to Glorify Him in everyway.  As of now we remain best friends, but the Lord is doing great things.  He has a perfect plan and I truly believe that through this loss and past losses, I have gained far more.  I have gained more Christ.  I have gained more life. The One and Only thing I truly need.

I truly, fearfully and boldly pray that the Lord will in fact bring more losses into my life so that I may find more of Him.  As scary as that sounds-- I trust in Him.  He will surely rock my faith.

What are you willing to lose for Christ's sake? 

Matthew 10:37-39

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their crossand follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. "-JESUS