The countdown has begun, or I should say it has been going for some time. The summer is almost over, and I realize that I only have two full weeks here at home before returning to UMHB to do Cru Leader training and begin a new exciting semester of learning. In just several weeks, I will see friends who I have not seen since last year, I will become involved with the BSM (Baptist Student Ministries) once again, I will order new books, and get excited for all God has in store for me in the upcoming year.

As I have thought about all that this new school year has in store, and all the ways I will be involved socially, academically, and spiritually, I thought about the word complacency. With all the excitement, comes responsibility and occasionally stress, and not necessarily the bad kind of stress, but stress that nonetheless keeps you busy accomplishing goals. It’s no surprise, but being a college student does entail some level of stress, and balancing academic goals with extracurricular activities and leading ministries is important.

So back to the word complacency… The question that comes to mind is, “Will I become complacent with my spiritual journey? Will my faith become static?”

I don’t question whether or not I have faith, whether or not I love God, because I most certainly do. But growing in Him is something in which all believers should strive for. As I begin a semester filled with so many responsibilities, and as I start all the studying, homework, essays, projects, and exams, will I lay all my worries and cares at His feet? Will I surrender all and rely on Him? I would hope the answer to these questions is a definite YES!

My hope and prayer is that I wouldn’t become too overconfident in a way that I think I can manage all of these responsibilities on my own. I hope that my faith wouldn’t become stagnant, and that I continue to rely on Him, pray, study His Word and not think that I can do all of this myself.

Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (NIV). Rather than relying only on what I can do by myself, it is my desire to lean completely on the Lord and grow in Him.

There are times when I realize how much my faith in Christ has grown over the years, yet I want it to keep growing. I don’t want to become complacent and indirectly tell myself, “Well my faith has grown. I like it at this level.” I want it to keep growing. It’s hard to imagine (in fact it’s quite indescribable) what a closer relationship with Christ would be like when you feel that you’ve never been this close before. Yet I yearn for even a closer walk with Him.

I want to be drawn close to Him, to dwell in His presence. As Psalm 27:4 (NIV) states: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” I want a faith that grows, one in which I completely dwell with Him and seek Him.

And so I ask God, “Give me a spirit of brokenness. Break me, use me, mold me, and cause me to rely fully on you and not my own devices. Give me the desire to seek you daily and whatever trials life may throw at me, use them to bring me closer and closer to you. Never let me stray from you. Never allow me to think that I can handle all of the stresses of life on my own. I know I will face challenges, because challenges are a part of life. So use those challenges for your glory. As you use them to bring me closer to you as I rely more and more on you, use those same challenges to reach others and inspire others to also have a closer relationship with you.”

So what do I mean by having a spirit of brokenness? What I mean is that I don’t want to be too prideful and think that I can do everything on my own. I don’t want to take for granted the love God has for me to the point that I don’t grow in my walk with Him. I simply want my faith to grow and not become stagnant. I don’t want to be complacent with where I am and not grow.

Life is full of challenges and I never want those challenges to either weaken my faith or cause me to remain stagnant and not grow in my faith. The idea of having this sense of brokenness reminds me of a song sung by some friends, Paul and Vanessa Cherry, who travel to different churches to lead their revivals. One of my favorite songs they sing (I still have their CD), originally by Greater Vision, is “Spirit of Brokenness.”

Spirit of Brokenness

I remember the night so long ago,
The first time I called Your name;
Empty and broken, ashamed of my sin,
I asked if this sinner You’d save.
But the cares of life have darkened the light,
And I feel like I’m drifting away.
So break me, mold me, cleanse me, then hold me,
I want to be near You today.

Lord, give me a spirit of brokenness,
Like You gave when I first called Your name.
And replace all my pride with humility,
Lord, a broken, willing vessel I’ll be.

I never set out to drift into sin,
My intentions are never to stray;
But my flesh is weak, and I’m so prone to fall,
Like a child I go my own way;
‘Til I hear Your cry from deep down inside,
Saying, “Go back to Calvary again.
There you’ll see my flesh opened and my spirit broken,
Then surely your drifting will end.”
  
Lord, give me a spirit of brokenness,
Like You gave when I first called Your name.
And replace all my pride with humility,
Lord, a broken, willing vessel I’ll be.

I still remember when I was in middle school and was unsure of my faith. When I recommitted myself to Him and asked Him to be in my life and use me, I remember what a great feeling that was. I wasn’t this perfect little kid without problems when I called on Him. I was broken, hurt, worried about the weeks and months ahead. Yet I surrendered myself to Christ and asked Him to take away my pride and use this broken person for His glory.

As a believer in Christ, I still yearn to be drawn even closer to Him. So, my hope and prayer is that I never take my faith for granted. I want to have a sense of being broken down so that this wonderful Savior can use all these broken pieces and mold them into an instrument for His glory.

Lord, make me humble, erase my pride, break me, mold me, and use me. Let me continue to grow in you and rely fully on you. Never let me think that I can do any of this all by myself. My intentions aren’t to stray from my walk with you, but when I do, bring me back to your wonderful majesty.

Give me a spirit of brokenness!

Greater Vision. Spirit of Brokenness. By Rodney Griffin, 1996. Christiansongoftheday.blogspot.com. Web. 27 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 27 July. 2015.

Spirit of Brokenness by Greater Vision

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong Worship

As I pondered what to write in this week’s blog, my mind couldn’t help but think of all the pain and suffering we go through in our lives. The honest truth is that we all face hardship. We all face challenges and trials that try to knock us down. In the midst of life’s many challenges, we can choose either to remain defeated or to keep going, keep fighting, and keep trusting in the Lord.

Too often, however, we become discouraged, and at times this discouragement leads to frustration, a loss of hope, a level of anxiety, and fear of the unknown to the point that we stop trusting.

In my young 21 years on Earth, I will admit that I have battled anxiety, depression, and chronic illness. In some cases, my trust in God has abated as I have asked, “Why me Lord? Why?” In the middle of these various circumstances, I have turned to my mp3 player, turned on the radio, inserted a gospel album into my DVD player, and listened to any song to give me comfort.

Of course, I don’t always need a negative circumstance in order to listen. Last week, I was searching through YouTube listening to Kristian Stanfill, Hillsong, and the Gaither Vocal Band, among others, when I came across one of the many songs I would listen to when I was in middle school battling intense depression. I thought about the various times in life when trials have tried to knock me down, and each time a small voice would say to me, “Trust me. Just trust me. I haven’t left you yet and I never will.” It made me think of how beautiful and how majestic the name of Jesus truly is. In every single battle that we fight in life, no matter how big or small, we can call on His name, and He will guide us and bring us to Him.

I sat in my recliner listening to Vestal Goodman singing, “What a Lovely Name,” and afterwards, I looked up the lyrics to focus on the words (see video below).

There’s a name above all others,
Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer 
It’s the lovely name of Jesus, 
Evermore the same, what a lovely name 

(Chorus) 
What a lovely name, the name of Jesus 
Reaching higher far, than the brightest star 
Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven 
Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name 

He’ll return in clouds of glory, 
Saints of ev’ry race, shall behold His face 
With Him enter heaven’s city, 
Ever to proclaim, what a lovely name

I have come to realize that in any circumstance, we can call on the name of Jesus, and that is what He yearns from us, to turn to Him, to fix our eyes upon Him, and trust in Him even when the situation tells us to do otherwise. Sure, we can choose to turn to other things in life in an attempt to bring us comfort, but it is only the name of Jesus in which we can find true solace, true comfort, and true joy. So proclaim His name. Shout it from the mountaintops and sing it in the valleys. When life tries to knock you off balance, turn to Him and call on His name. The Lord goes before you and cares about everything you go through. So call on His name and place your cares at His feet.

As 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you” (HCSB).

And even in the best of times, continue to glorify and praise His name.

Psalm 105:1-4 (NIV) says to us:

¹ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
² Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
³ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

In every situation, both good and bad, praise His name, glorify His name, and sing His name. Let everyone know that Jesus is the greatest name.

As I thought about how awesome His name truly is, and how much meaning it has, I remembered one of my favorite performances of all time. For a while, earlier this year, the song Dad and I listened to every day was Revelation Song sung by Kari Jobe (see video below).

Filled with wonder, 
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah…

In the middle of the video, after singing, “At the mention of Your Name,” she repeats “Your Name. Your Name. Your Name. Your Name!” while jumping and dancing, and praising Jesus. I thought about all the names I could think of that we call our Savior: Abba, Father, Lamb of God, Healer, Redeemer, I AM, Yahweh, the Holy One, His Majesty, Emmanuel, The Way, Lord, Son of God, King of Kings, Light of the World, JESUS CHRIST!

How can I not get excited? How can I not jump up and down and proclaim His name? How can I not sing out His name with every breath in me? In every circumstance, in every good time, in every bad time, praise His name. His name is worthy of all our praise!

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) tells us:

⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How awesome will it be when that day comes and we are all gathered before the throne and every tongue will shout His name and confess that He is Lord. What a day that will be!

No matter where life takes you, never stop praising the name of Jesus.

WHAT A LOVELY NAME!!!

Goodman, Vestal. What a Lovely Name. By Charles B. Wycuff, 1967. Lyrics.com. Web. 20 July. 2015.

Holman Christian Standard Bible. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

Jobe, Kari. Revelation Song. By Jennie Lee Riddle, 2004. K-Love. Web. 20 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

New King James Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 20 July. 2015.

What a Lovely Name by Vestal Goodman

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

The past few days, I have had so many thoughts float in my mind, and at times it seems hard to sort it all out. So many emotions have occurred, both good and bad. When figuring out what to say this week, I decided to put it all out there, my exact thoughts and exact emotions. As the summer winds down, I realize that I only have four full weeks before returning to UMHB to do Cru Leader training. Which leads me to the question, “Why do I want to be a Cru Leader?”

For readers who don’t know what this is, a Cru Leader (CL) is a UMHB student who is not a freshman, and this student (along with another CL) leads a group of new students and mentors them during Welcome Week and their first semester during Freshman Seminar.

This is something I have wanted to do since my Welcome Week experience, and now as I begin my senior year, I finally get to be a CL. I still remember coming to UMHB my first year, and the first night away from my family, the first night into a whole new world, I was timid and shy and had no clue what to do. I felt lost at first, trying to find my way around this entirely new lifestyle, that of a college student.

I felt so many things as I experienced the “new.” These emotions included, excitement, fear, happiness, joy, anxiety, all wrapped up inside me as I transitioned from the life of a high-schooler to that of a college student. There were plenty of moments when I laughed with these new people around me, and there were moments when I went back to my dorm room and cried in solitude.

As someone who has been outspoken about my love for Christ, I turned to God in these moments, both in the moments of pure joy, and also in the moments when there was so much uncertainty. Throughout high school, I battled severe Crohn’s Disease (although I didn’t know what it was at the time) and the idea of living away from home while experiencing this pain brought so much anxiety for me the first few weeks.

I tried to keep a smile as if nothing was wrong. I wanted to keep all of these emotions inside of me, not let anyone see them, and pretend like I had it all together. Then one night, we all shared our testimonies, and I realized that no one has it all together. In some way, we are all broken, imperfect people. We all have struggles, and we all have obstacles that can sometimes distract us from God. Sharing my testimony that night was probably the turning point for me. Sure there would still be times of uncertainty, but I realized that God would help me through all the craziness of life.

Towards the end of my Welcome Week, there was a big worship service. I don’t remember what song it was, but as we all sang, I started weeping. I sat down to pray to God when I felt a hand reaching across my shoulder. It was my wonderful Cru Leader, Samantha Garza, who sat down next to me to pray with me. Although I couldn’t hear half of her prayer over the loud music, the fact that she took the time to join me in prayer meant the world to me. She truly became the first of many friends I would make during my time at UMHB.

So the answer to the question of why I want to be a Cru Leader stems from my own experiences. More than anything, as Sam Garza was my first friend during my transition, I want to be that “first friend” to someone who might also struggle during this new and uncharted chapter of life filled with uncertainty.

Last week, as I sent out my first summer email to the freshmen I will be mentoring, I felt excitement. I finally saw the names of people I would soon meet. I was overwhelmed with enthusiasm.

As the days went by, I still had that excitement, but I also experienced nervousness, and in all honesty, those feelings are still present. Any new experience can bring out nervousness and sometimes fear of the unknown. And when you’re tasked with being a mentor to new freshmen who will soon experience their own transition, this nervousness seems even greater.

So you could ask, “Why do you want to be a Cru Leader?” It brings this nervousness, plus you have to do it in the midst of all your health problems. The best way I can answer that is this: I don’t let any of these obstacles stop me. Each year as I have turned another year older, I have grown in my faith with God. Through many experiences, I have learned that through trials, through weakness, we can find strength in the Lord. So with God on my side, there is nothing I cannot do. If I feel called to do something, no matter how challenging, can anything stop me if God is on my side? Only if I let it stop me. Only if I turn my eyes away from God’s plan. But even then, He can guide me back with His grace.

These feelings of nervousness, among others, reminds me of a song I had not thought about for some time. If you know me or have read my blog, you know that I love quoting music. Recently, I listened to the song, “Speak to the Mountain” by Jeff and Sheri Easter (see video below). It reminds me to focus on God and not let any obstacle keep me from serving Him and serving others. The first verse and chorus go like this…

From strength to strength we sometimes go
Then again we’re sinking low
In the shadow of a mountain 
Looming high above our head
We need not fear what lies ahead 
For the Word has clearly said
That our faith could be sufficient 
To make the mountain disappear

Speak to the mountain
You’ll not triumph over me
Be thou removed from here to yonder
Disappear into the sea
Speak to the mountain
Speak with authority
And the mountain must move
And you shall claim victory

There are times when these mountains, when these obstacles, in our life seem so tall. Yet in the midst of all our worries and nervousness, God calls us by name and says, “Do not fear.” So why should we? Isn’t God more powerful and mightier than any of these mountains? With Him at my side, I know that I can tell these mountains to disappear into the sea, and if I trust in the Lord and speak with authority, these mountains will surely move.

Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message) tells us this:

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

There are plenty times in life when we will experience nervousness, or fear, or worrying. Yet, in these moments, God is telling us not to fear, not to worry. No matter the situation, it is Christ who goes before you, so why worry? Why fear? Instead, pray. All of this is sometimes easier said than done, but God is not calling us to do what is easy. What He is calling us to do is to cast away our fears, anxieties, and worries and rely on His grace, goodness, and sovereignty.

So, as I prepare to mentor new students this upcoming year, and as I engage in various other opportunities, I will strive to trust in Him, and when I feel worried, anxious, or fear, I will pray and praise Him for all of the blessings He has given me in life.

If ever you should fear or feel nervousness, speak to that mountain with authority, the authority that is God Almighty, and that mountain will move, and you shall claim victory!

SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN!

Jeff & Sheri Easter. Speak to the Mountain. By Marcia Henry, 1995. The Lyric Archive. Web. 13 July. 2015.

The Message. Bible Gateway. Web. 13 July. 2015.

Speak to the Mountain by Jeff & Sheri Easter

Cast My Cares by Tim Timmons

Saturday, as everyone celebrated the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I spent the day with my family by ending the day with a spectacular view of the Andice Fireworks Show in Andice, Texas. It is truly a blessing to live in a country where we can celebrate what makes this country great and then have the freedom to worship on Sunday.

As I thought about the joy I have to live in such a great country, I thought about all the brave men and women in uniform through the ages who have fought, and in some cases, have died for these freedoms. I remember some of the stories I have of my great-grandfathers who served in the Navy during WWII. I thought about the law enforcement and first responders who keep us safe at home. I thought about remarkable educators, like my dad, who spend so much time and their own money to ensure that every child receives a quality education.

And while I thought about these remarkable Americans, I was also reminded that so many in this world today do not get to enjoy these freedoms. When I think about the rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, I realize that many in our world, are deprived of Life, the young and the old, by violence and terror. So many people are deprived of Liberty when they are seen as objects to be enslaved and trafficked. So many do not have the luxury of Pursuing Happiness when they have to wonder where their next meal will come from. And the sad reality is that many of these things occur not only throughout our world, but in our “backyard” as well.

Today is July the 6th, but why should we only recognize freedom on just one or a few days each year? Every day should be a celebration of freedom.

As I write this blog, there are American servicemen and women in our Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, who are oversees fighting to protect our freedoms, to protect my right to even write this blog. But do I thank them enough? The honest truth is no, I don’t. But can we really ever thank them enough? The least we can do is thank them for their bravery. So I am going to challenge readers, and myself, to thank people more when they are seen in uniform.

But we cannot stop there. Too many of these brave men and women struggle to find work when they come home, too many struggle with the trauma and health problems that war can bring, too many are now homeless. As a country, can we not do better?

No one who serves in our military should have to worry, “Will I have a job when I return?” None of them should have to wait months to receive quality care, and no one who serves should have to live in homelessness. Because they have sacrificed so much, why can’t we advocate on their behalf and ensure that they have the best opportunities when they return? It’s the least we can do for people who have done so much for us.

As we advocate for those who have served in our military, let’s also remember to pray for those in our world who do not have the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The sad reality is that too many people, everyone from the youngest to the oldest, are deprived of Life when they are slaughtered by tyrannical governments and terrorist organizations. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they are sold into slavery for sex, labor, or used as child soldiers. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they cannot worship without fear of being beaten or killed. Too many are deprived of Liberty when they have to worry about being imprisoned for standing up for something or speaking out against a government. Too many are deprived of the Pursuit of Happiness when they must live under a $1 a day.

Last semester, I did a research paper on sweatshops in Bangladesh. I was shocked and saddened when I realized that so many workers are treated as objects for profit. Many of them are deprived of Life when they are killed in disasters because the sweatshop owners overlooked safety precautions. Many of them are deprived of Liberty as they fear of retaliation for demanding better working conditions. Many of them are deprived of the Pursuit of Happiness as they are essentially used as labor slaves in order to make cheap clothing.

But this is only one tragedy occurring in our world. As these workers are being worked to death, millions struggle to survive while living in poverty. Whether it’s India, Sierra Leonne, Haiti, or Waco, Texas, too many in our world have to go without food or water, and too many live in tin shacks and cardboard boxes while I get to live in a nice home. So, how can I not have compassion for these people? How can I not lift them up in prayer?

In Matthew 25, verse 40, Jesus tells us, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV). Praying for and standing up for those who live in poverty is just one way in which we can advocate for everyone to have the opportunity of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

And as I type this, millions of young girls and boys are being sold for labor and sex while others are used as child soldiers. Many of these sex and labor slaves are being sold right here at home, and not just in the big cities of Houston, New York, and Atlanta, but also in Belton and Waxahachie, Texas, Casper, Wyoming, and Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Many of these young kids are treated worse than animals, as disposable property. So many in the world are having their bodies mutilated in horrific ways. And whatever happened to the Kony 2012 movement, remember him? My heart breaks for all these precious kids, and that’s what they are… precious. They are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Too many are also denied an education. In many societies, girls are denied education and are threatened when they desire to learn. One young woman, Malala Yousafzai, who is now a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was shot in the head by the Taliban because she dared to pursue an education. Meanwhile, many kids in America are killed while walking to school and so many children with special needs are overlooked because they are seen as kids who can’t learn. How can my heart not break? How can I not pray that all these kids earn an education so that they can Pursue Happiness?

Others are denied the freedom to worship and are persecuted for wanting to worship freely. So many countries make it a crime to carry a bible or other religious text not approved by the government. The idea that you could be stoned, beheaded, dragged, or hung for worshipping sickens me. Yet people bravely worship anyways, risking their very lives for what they believe in.

As Christians, let us pray for those who are denied these sacred rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Let us work and advocate until freedom rings throughout this world.

One of my favorite songs emphasizes this perfectly. It’s “Let Freedom Ring” by the Gaither Vocal Band (see video below works cited). The lyrics go like this…

Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
There’s something that keeps reaching for the sky

Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom’s theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom’s dream

(Chorus)

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing – let freedom ring

God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul

I’ll sing it out with every breath, I’ll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing – let freedom ring – let freedom ring

Until all can sing this song with the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, let us pray and advocate for all who yearn for freedom. Let Freedom Ring!

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ended his famous “I Have A Dream” speech with these words:

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Until everyone can truly sing “free at last,” let us never forget those struggling for the freedom to worship, to learn, to live, and to strive for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. God meant for all of us to be free. When Christ shed His precious blood, He bought our freedom. We are all made in His image, and because He died so we can be free, it is our obligation to stand up for those whose freedoms are being challenged by man. So let us stand for others, care for our brothers and sisters, and advocate for freedom.

As we celebrate our freedom, let us work to help others gain those freedoms. Let every day be a celebration of freedom. Thank a veteran, someone in law enforcement, a first responder, a teacher. Pray for those who have no freedom.

AND LET FREEDOM RING!

Works Cited:

(Blog)

Gaither Vocal Band. Let Freedom Ring. By Bill and Gloria Gaither. Lyricsmode. Web. 6 July. 2015.

King Jr., Martin Luther. “I Have A Dream.” American Rhetoric. Web. 6 July. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 6 July. 2015.

(Thumbnail pictures)

Civil Rights Protestors: Moore, Charles. Birmingham, Alabama, Fire Department Aims High-pressure Water Hoses at Civil Rights Demonstrators. 1963.

Iwo Jima: Rosenthal, Joe. Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. 1945.

Kids in Poverty: Rudd, Paul. Kids on a Road near Rishikesh, India. 2009.

Tied Hands: Hands of a Kidnapped Woman via Shutterstock.com. Nazish, Kiran. “Women and Girls, A Commodity: Human Trafficking in Nepal.” The Diplomat., 22 Feb 2014. Web. 6 July. 2015.

Let Freedom Ring by the Gaither Vocal Band

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin

For a while, I had been thinking about what to blog about this week with so many thoughts floating around in my mind. As many of you know already, I absolutely love music. I can’t get enough of it. This past month I have blogged about different songs and the messages that God has revealed to me through the lyrics.

The past few weeks another song has been playing in my mind. A few weeks ago, my Dad was searching through YouTube to find a song we used to listen to when I was little. After some searching, he found it, played it, and I was moved by the message behind the lyrics. I hadn’t heard it in years, but now it won’t stop playing in my mind. It’s an old gospel tune called, “Champion of Love.”

I played it over and over, and each time, I focused on the lyrics which go like this:

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention
I want to introduce to you
In this corner of the good and the right
Stands a champion, robed in white
His height exceeds the heavens
His weight outweighs the world
His reach reaches everywhere
His age is evermore

(Chorus)
He is higher than the highest
Greater than the great
No one will ever take His crown away
He is more mighty than the mightiest
He reigns from above
He’s the all-time, undisputed, undefeated
Champion of Love

He left his hometown to enter this arena
To raise His hands in victory for all of you and me
But an angry crowd crucified this King who bore their crown
And they gladly watched the champion going down
But I will never count Him out
For I’m a witness of
The day He arose to retain the title,
“Champion of Love”

(Repeat Chorus)

I am beyond amazed and more than thankful, that no matter what, Christ loves me. When I think about how much He loves me, I know that the amount of which He loves is incomprehensible. And why He loves is a question that seems hard to answer. The simple fact is that He does love us and an explanation of why to me is not near as important as the simple truth that He does love, and He loves unconditionally.

Considering the first verse, I realize that Jesus is greater than anything we could possibly even imagine. He knows all, sees all, and “His reach reaches everywhere.” He is so powerful and mighty, and yet He loves us. As imperfect as we are, Christ loves us. I know that I am so unworthy of His love. I make mistakes, as we all do, every day. Yet, He gives His love anyways, and that is what is truly amazing to me.

No matter who you are, Christ loves you, and more than anything else, He wants a relationship with you. None of us are worthy of the love that this powerful and mighty Jesus gives, yet He gives it anyways. And He loves unconditionally. No matter how many times we fall short, we can always turn back to Him because He loves us, and no power in the universe could ever take that away.

If He can defeat death, don’t you realize that He can defeat anything? That’s how powerful He is, and He still continues to love us and advocate on our behalf.

My favorite scripture (Romans 8:37-39), which is where the title of this blog comes from says this:

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Truly, absolutely nothing can separate us from His unconditional love. And because His love conquered death, we can have hope in that no matter the circumstance, we can turn to Christ our Lord because He first loved us.

As I think about His unfailing and amazing love, I am reminded that we are called to love others. If His love is so magnificent, so powerful, and so amazing, how can we not share that love with others? How can we not be a voice for those who have no voice? How can we not have compassion for those who have not heard of His love? How can we not share His love with those less fortunate?

And part of loving others also entails forgiveness. This is probably one of the hardest aspects of love to accept at times. I know that in my own personal life, I have had a hard time in the past in forgiving others that have done me wrong. Yet, as believers, forgiveness is a part of loving others as Christ loves.

Christ loved us so much that He died for our mistakes and our wrongdoings. He forgave us, so shouldn’t we forgive others? If we are to look up to this Champion of Love and try to follow in His footsteps, shouldn’t we forgive?

I was absolutely moved when I heard the story of the families of the Charleston shooting victims forgive the person that took away their loved ones. Even in their grief and unbearable pain in the midst of tragic loss, they forgave the person responsible for taking away their loved ones. To me, that is one of the greatest representations of this Champion of Love we call Jesus. If they can forgive someone so filled with hate, someone who killed their loved ones, then why can’t I forgive those who have committed far less wrongdoings towards me?

So as we seek to follow Christ’s example of love, may we never forget to love others as He would love, and to forgive others, no matter the ways in which they have wronged us. Only then can we truly show others the love that Christ has for everyone.

Lord, thank you for loving me. I may not deserve it, but I am so glad you give your love anyways. You truly are the all-time, undisputed, undefeated CHAMPION OF LOVE!

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 30 June. 2015.

The Cathedrals. Champion of Love. By Phil and Carolyn Cross, 1987. Southern Gospel Journal. Web. 30 June. 2015.

Champion of Love by The Cathedrals

Forgiveness by Matthew West

Sunday was Father’s Day, and as millions of people spent time with their loving dads, so I did with mine. People sometimes ask where I get my strong compassion for others, my goofy sense of humor, and my charming good looks. Okay, perhaps they don’t ask the last one as often. At any rate, I would have to say from my wonderfully awesome father, Ronnie Stewart.

Throughout my life, as Dad has reared me into the man I am today, he has guided me with love and support, and has taught me so many life lessons along the way. I am blessed beyond measure to have such a wonderful Dad. I am equally blessed to learn so much from such a strong man of God.

First, Dad has taught me to love life and never be afraid to show your sense of humor, as goofy and absurd as it may be to others. People who know my Dad, knows that he loves to brighten the days of others with laughter, jokes, and sometimes pranks. Some of these pranks have been played on an unsuspecting son who by now should probably know when he’s pulling a joke, but occasionally I am still left clueless.

I still remember one joke he played on me when I was in high school. I was watching television when I heard my Dad calling out to me in a panicked tone of voice. When I rushed to the kitchen, I saw that he had a bandaged hand that was red all over. After seeing me freaked out for a few seconds asking him what I should do, he chuckled and told me that it was just red food coloring.

For as long as I’ve known him, my Dad loves to joke around and he will go out of his way to pull off an elaborate prank. That is one of the many things I love about my Dad, the fact that God gave him such a unique sense of humor. Sure, when a practical joke is played on me, I might not be all smiles at first, but later, looking back on a joke, I realize that I have a Dad who loves to have fun and loves to make people laugh.

Second, my Dad loves God, and he loves others. One of the many things Dad has instilled in me is the desire to be kind to others and treat people with respect, especially those whom society sometimes overlooks. My Dad has a heart for others, especially those with special needs. When Dad is not working with students with special needs at work, he is helping my grandparents care for some really awesome adopted kiddoes. He has shown me that everyone is unique, special, created by God, and deserves to be treated with love and dignity. Anyone with a disability may be different than you or me, but that does not make that person any less of a person. Every human being has been created in God’s likeness and can be used for His glory.

I am absolutely amazed by the love that my Dad has for others. The things he does day in and day out for kids gives me pride in my father. I’m not ashamed to say that I am proud of my Dad. He works with kids who just want to be loved, to be treated with respect, and sometimes they just need another voice to speak on their behalf, and my Dad takes joy in being that voice. He has shown me that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and if someone is being taken advantage of, we need to have the courage to stand up and be a voice for the voiceless.

Third, my Dad has instilled in me the value of loving God with all my heart, to lean on God’s understanding rather than my own, and to trust God’s plan even when times are difficult. We both have had our share of difficulties. He waited on me hand and foot when I was in the hospital my Senior year of high school, and I did the same for him several years later when he was in the hospital.

There have been times when my Dad could have thrown in the towel and say, “God, this is impossible.” But you see, that’s not how he’s wired. He has faced many challenges: going back to school to earn a degree, a difficult year of algebra, colon cancer, chemo, and another sickness not long afterwards. Yet every single time, he has chosen to give God all the glory and to praise Him in every circumstance. He has shown me that life will not always be easy, but when we trust in God, He will guide our every footstep. God has helped him overcome all those obstacles, meanwhile, He has given my Dad the continued endurance to run every race with determination. In every circumstance, we must trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and know that He can use us and every part of us.

Last October, I was having one of the worst days, health wise, that I have had in quite some time. I remember it being during Missions Emphasis Week, and after complaining to God about my situation, I felt my phone vibrate just before I attended a seminar on engaging those of other faiths. I looked down at my phone and realized that I got a text from Dad. At the time, my Dad was experiencing more pain than I could imagine. I still remember his text verbatim. It said, “It came to me in my weakness that God moves strong. He’s shaping me into something awesome for His glory alone. Show me this text in a month and we’ll praise Him together. Love you boy!”

As I got emotional, I thanked God for giving me such an amazing father. Sure life is rough at times, but we can always turn to our Lord and Savior. If I have learned anything from my Dad it’s that we will face challenges, but in those challenges we must put our hope and trust in the Lord. Only in Him can we find true strength. Plus, it is the challenges and trials we face that allow us to fully rely on Him, and He can use every circumstance for His glory.

Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God tells us that He will never leave or forsake us. So what do we have to fear? In whatever we face, God can use those challenges for His glory. In our weaknesses, God does move strong!

In my 21 1/2 years on this Earth, my Dad has taught me many things. One, have a sense of humor and be yourself. Two, love and speak up for others. Three, trust in God no matter the circumstance. Now, as I enjoy spending time with Dad watching Star Trek, and soon football season will be here, I am thankful for all the wisdom he has shown me. He has achieved so much such as getting a degree and has conquered so much such as cancer.

Another thing Dad has taught me is that I can share my past, my story, my testimony, but I don’t have to dwell on the past. So I share these things not to dwell on them, but to encourage others and to give a message of hope that no matter what, we can trust in Him. God has so much in store for my Dad and me, and we don’t know what that future will be, but as long as it’s with God, it will be a bright future. Therefore, with the same positivity my Dad has shown me, I share parts of our story, yet I look to the future because I know that God has a plan for us. Like Isaiah 43:18-19a tells me, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Dad, when you read this, know that I am incredibly proud of you. I love you and I thank God for giving me an example of what a true man of God really is. Someday, if I am half the man you are today, I know that my kids will understand what it means to truly live for Jesus.

Thank you for showing me that GOD MOVES STRONG!

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 24 June. 2015.

Stronger by Mandisa

Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin

Anyone who knows me knows that I love listening to music. Whether it’s rock musicians like Bon Jovi and U2, country stars like Garth Brooks and George Jones, the blues of B.B. King, gospel greats like the Gaithers or the Happy Goodman Family, or of course contemporary Christian artists like MercyMe and Kari Jobe, I love it all. I love music.

It seems that nearly every minute I’m awake, a song is playing in the back of my mind, and a few weeks ago it was MercyMe the song, “Word of God Speak.” (see my post from 2 weeks ago). A couple of days ago, one song started playing in my thoughts that I have not heard or thought of in a very long time. As soon as I started humming the song, I looked it up on YouTube so that I could enjoy it. The song… “Beautiful Things” by Gungor.

The chorus goes like this:

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

The more and more I listened to this song, the more I thought about the lyrics. Everything God creates, the stars in the sky, the rolling hills dotted with the most beautiful bluebonnets, the cardinals, hummingbirds, and squirrels I see when I enjoy the cool breeze; it’s all beautiful. And every human being that God ordained into existence is also beautiful. No matter what the world tells you, you are beautiful, because you were made by an artist far more talented than any worldly artist, and that artist is God. The idea that He can make anything out of dust, out of nothing, and make it so beautiful amazes me.

It reminded me of a study I heard about several years ago. People were asked in a poll of what they considered to be beauty. The study showed how opinions changed over the years as America became more ethnically and racially diverse. I also read a more recent article about a new fashion designer’s definition of beauty.

All of this made me think, who cares what these people think, and why do we devote so much time in learning “what makes beauty.” The fact is this: we are all created by God and He sees us as beautiful. Are those supermodels in those magazines beautiful? Absolutely. But so is every single human being not in those magazines or on those runways.

So for everyone out there who thinks they aren’t handsome or beautiful, stop it! Enough worrying about what others think of you. There is only one opinion that truly matters, and that is the opinion of Jesus Christ, and He thinks you are beautiful.

My favorite Psalm, Psalm 139 says this: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (verses 13-14).

Like the verse says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. When God looks at you, He sees beauty. You are His and you are loved. I am beautiful. You are beautiful. No matter what you look like or who you are, you are loved and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Just like the old children’s song says, “Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.”

No matter who you are or what you look like, God loves you and thinks you are beautiful. I am far from perfect and I’ll admit that. One thing I catch myself doing from time to time is judging others before I get to know them based on what they look like. In the past I have looked at someone and thought, “That person looks scary, weird, odd, creepy, or intimidating.” That person may be the nicest person on the planet, or maybe that person isn’t. But shouldn’t I get to know that person before making a snap judgement?

Thankfully, I serve a God who doesn’t judge based on appearance. He loves us all, every part of us, as we are. So it doesn’t matter what I think or what the world thinks, you are beautiful. So if you are in a magazine, you are beautiful. If you’re not, you are beautiful. No matter if you’re black, white, brown, or any other color, you are beautiful. If you wear any type of religious clothing or don’t, you’re beautiful. Tall, short, overweight, underweight, physically fit, you are beautiful. Tattoos and piercings all over your body, just a few, or none at all, you are beautiful. Young or old, you are beautiful!

Another song that I love is “Beautiful” by MercyMe.

Days will come when you don’t have the strength 
When all you hear is you’re not worth anything 
Wondering if you ever could be loved 
And if they truly saw your heart they’d see too much 

You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful 
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You’re beautiful 

And praying that you have the heart to find 
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight 
For all the lies you’ve held inside so long 
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross 

You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful 
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You’re beautiful 

Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You’re the one He madly loves enough to die

You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
In His eyes

You’re beautiful 
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You’re beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You’re beautiful 
You’re beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His

Never believe the lie that you are not beautiful, because that is simply not true. When God looks at you, He sees beauty. You are treasured. You are sacred. You are HIS! He loves you so much and thinks that you’re beautiful to the extent that He laid down His life for you. That’s how much He thinks your beautiful!

So don’t listen to what the magazines, “experts,” or anyone else says. There is only one opinion that counts, the opinion of God Most High, and He thinks you’re beautiful. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Thank you Lord for your artwork, your beauty, your creation. You truly make beautiful things!

Gungor. Beautiful Things. By Michael and Lisa Gungor, 2010. K-Love. Web. 15 June. 2015.

MercyMe. Beautiful. By Dan Muckala and Brown Bannister, 2010. K-Love. Web. 15 June. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 15 June. 2015.

Woolston, C. Herbert. “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Child Bible Songs. Web. 15 June. 2015.

Beautiful Things by Gungor

Beautiful by MercyMe

Last Friday was a proud day for me. I was proud of my grandparent’s oldest adopted child, Paige, who I have come to know and love as my sister. Friday night, she moved her tassel from one side to the other, ushering in a new chapter in her life, that of a high school graduate. I shouted as loud as I could as they called her name to receive her diploma. After years of hard work and determination, she did it. She graduated high school. I was overwhelmed with joy in witnessing such a proud moment.

Paige’s big night!

How could I not be overjoyed? How could I not be a proud big brother? Over the years, I have seen her grow physically, mentally, and spiritually in leaps and bounds. If this young woman of God has taught me anything, it’s that being different certainly doesn’t make you less. It wasn’t very many years ago that she was completely in special education classes as someone with Asperger’s Syndrome. To see her go from that to a young woman graduating high school with very high grades, being a member of the National Honors Society, and a handful of top-notch scholarships, speaks volumes of the determination she has to her continued success. I don’t tell her this enough, but I am beyond proud and inspired by all of her hard work.

I still remember hearing about her induction into NHS a couple of years ago, wishing I could be there. Her sophomore year marked the first time she wasn’t in any special ed or resource classes. At the time, she was making the highest grade in her algebra class, one of the highest in biology, and was tutoring other classmates in math.

Her story of success, one that I know will be of continued success, is one that should inspire us all. She could have used any reason to give up or give in. She could have tried to be like everyone else. Yet, that’s not the way Paige is wired. I have seen her accomplish so much over the years. The phrase “it can’t be done” simply is not in her vocabulary. If she isn’t sure how to do something, instead of giving up, she’ll find a way, and when she does, she will “knock everyone’s socks off” by accomplishing yet another achievement.

One thing about Paige is that she doesn’t care if you think she can’t do something, because she will try to prove you wrong, and she will most likely succeed. The past couple of weeks, when thinking of how far Paige has come and how much farther I know she will go, I started to think of a poem I learned about when I was in Mrs. Petty’s dual-credit English classes in high school.

We are all faced with choices in life, some great ones and some not so great. The choices we make and the roads we choose to travel can have a great impact on our success in life. I started thinking of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” Frost’s poem has probably become one of the most famous poems dealing with choices.

The last few lines stuck out to me when I was thinking of Paige.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–/ I took the one less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference (18-20).

We all have choices to make in life. Will we choose to conform to what the world wants us and tells us to be, or will we choose to walk the path that goes against the norm and be who God calls us to be?

While this may or may not be the message Frost had in mind when composing this poem, I think it speaks to how much impact choosing the right path can have on life. Choosing the right path can certainly make all the difference. Not only academically, but also spiritually.

One thing Paige has taught me through her accomplishments is that instead of conforming to everyone else’s image, we should try and break the mold, exceed expectations, and follow the path that God lead’s us. This is exactly what Paige has done so far in life. Instead of giving up, or instead of conforming to everyone else’s opinions of her, she has decided to take the road less traveled and conform only to God’s expectations.

In order to decide what path God wants us to follow, we must learn to listen to what He has to say. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” We must learn to go against conforming to the world and ask God to direct our paths. When we do so, there is absolutely nothing we cannot achieve when we pray and set our minds to it.

Paige has taught me a lot over the years. Most importantly, she has taught me that different is not less and that we must never try and conform to the expectations of others. We should be ourselves and seek God in directing our paths.

Paige, if you’re reading this, I am beyond proud of you! You took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference!

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th ed. New York: Longman, 2009.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 8 June. 2015.

Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Here With Me by MercyMe

Last week, I wasn’t sure what to write. I started writing on a topic that came to mind, but it seemed as if I was being redundant, as if I had to force words on a page. My intention of this blog is to write what is truly on my heart lately, not something just for the sake of me being able to say, “Well, there’s my post for the week. Mission accomplished.” So, last week I skipped writing a blog. If I can’t give my all into writing an encouraging post, I just won’t write one.

After much reflection this past week, I tried to figure out what this week’s blog was going to be about. As many of my readers may already know, I have Crohn’s Disease, which I highlighted when I first started this blog in February. Last week was one of the worst I have felt physically in quite some time. I felt I had every right to complain about my situation. I was in pain, and obviously, I wanted it to stop.

As I was ready to complain, God placed a song in my head, as if to say, “Hey! I haven’t left you yet, and I’m not going to. I’m right here. Trust in me.” I had tried to find the words to say. I tried to understand with my human mind the situation so that I could ask a precise prayer, but I just didn’t have the words to say and that’s when God reminded me of this song. The song was “Word of God Speak” by MercyMe. As this song played over and over in my head, I meditated on what God was showing me through the words.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s OK
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Chorus:
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Repeat Chorus twice

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s OK

As I sang this song in my mind, I realized that I don’t always need to have the exact words to say. God knows exactly what I’m going through. As my body felt pain, I began to smile. I smiled because I was reminded of God’s presence. I was overwhelmed with the joy of knowing that my Savior is always there with me. I smiled when I thought of the first two lines. “I’m finding myself at a loss for words and the funny thing is it’s OK.” I don’t need the words to say. God knows them.

Another thing revealed to me in that moment was emphasized by the next two lines, “The last thing I need is to be heard but to hear what you would say.” Sometimes, the best thing to do is to not try and search for the words to pray, but to just listen. Listen to what God has to say. Too often, it’s easy for me to do all the talking to God without listening to what He has to say. Our relationship with God should never be a one-way conversation. There are times when we must speak and times when we must listen.

There are several ways to listen. One, we can just be silent in the midst of God’s presence. Two, we can read His word. Three, we can seek spiritual advice from others. Four, we can listen to what He has to say through others.

Yesterday at church, Bro. Mark talked about going through tests and trials and how those tests help us grow in Christ and help us persevere. He made reference to James 1.

James tells us in verses 2 & 3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Later in verse 12, James tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Through Pastor Mark, God was telling me that it is the trials that we face that allow us to fully rely on Him, and when we stand firm in our faith and persevere, we can stand the test and conquer any situation.

In one of my first blogposts, I discussed why we should thank God for when we suffer, for when we face trials. We will face trials in our lives, but as Paul tells us “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). These tests that we face help us fully rely on Him and when we persevere through these trials, we build character, and that can give us hope that with God, we can face anything. God showed me these things when I finally decided to listen to what God had to say.

The point I’m trying to make is this: We don’t always need to have the words to say. We just need to be ready to listen to what God has to say to us. The simple fact is that we will never be able to completely grasp any test that is placed in our lives, and we may not have the right words to pray, but that’s okay. God knows exactly what we go through and He is always there with us.

I sometimes may be at a loss for words in any given situation, but the funny thing is, it’s OK!

MercyMe. Word of God Speak. By Pete Kipley and Bart Millard, 2003. K-Love. Web. 1 June. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 1 June. 2015.

Word of God Speak by MercyMe

Find You on My Knees by Kari Jobe