Go the Second Mile!

"And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." (Matt 5:41)

I remember the first time I learned about this verse in school. I was probably seven or eight, and I thought to myself, "Who would go a second mile if they only had to go one? That's crazy!" That's exactly what those who Jesus was speaking to probably thought. The Jews were under Roman oppression. In those days, a Roman soldier who had to travel could compel a Jewish boy to walk a mile with him and carry his heavy pack. When Jesus told the Jewish people gathered around him to go a second mile, they probably thought He was nuts! When we look at the surrounding verses, we can see that this command was given in the context of teaching on retaliation:

People have always told you to take what is taken from you, but I tell you, don't retaliate! If someone hits you, let him hit you again! If someone tries to take your coat, give him your cloak too! If one of those Romans wants you to carry his pack for a mile, take it a second mile! Give to everyone who asks of you, and as for the person who wants to borrow, don't turn him and away. (Paraphrase of Matt 5:38-42)

I think the point that Jesus was trying to make is summed up with honoring one's authority! Honor does not mean doing what you absolutely have to, but rather, what you think would delight, and please the person who is in charge! Something interesting that I discovered recently in Mr. Gothard's book (49 Secrets of Power for Living) really caught my attention as I was studying this command:

He writes "...there are two types of power when it comes to authority: first...the positional power of those who hold offices of leadership...second...the influential power of those who have close ties with leaders and can influence their decisions. The more powerful of these two is the position of influence - and this is the secret of going the second mile!"

I thought this was profound. Think about how a baby influences his parents with his adorable faces, and the things he does to make people laugh! As believers, our testimony when we go the second mile can influence our authorities...even those over us who may not be believers, or are even opposed to Christianity! Can you imagine the shock of a Roman soldier if a young Jewish boy offered to carry his heavy pack for another whole mile? A mile is a long time with a heavy backpack!!! However, the times I have applied this principal in my life, I have found that there is a new genuine love for my authority...even if I originally began with resentment and irritation! The conscience decision to go a second mile brings joy to the one who chooses to deny himself!

Recently, one of my homework assignments involved studying the Commands of Christ in chronological order! As I did so, I decided to find out which character qualities are linked to which commands. Mr. Gothard laid out the character qualities and the commands some time ago when he published his seven study guides which covered all 49 commands and it turns out that Deference is the character quality that closely relates to "Going the Second Mile."

"Deference is putting the welfare of others ahead of our own personal pleasures"
(taken from "The Power for True Success" published by IBLP)

As we think about the welfare of our authorities, and put them before ourselves, the concept of "Go the Second Mile" begins to come alive! For example, lets say you have an uncle that's unsaved. You're visiting him for the weekend, and you want to be a good testimony. He's working on some odd jobs around the house, and he asks if you want to help him for an hour or so. Your cousin is also there, but he is off doing his own thing, and unwilling to help his father. You help your uncle for an hour, and then someone comes along and says "Hey, we're going fishing...do you want to come?" You love to fish, but because your uncle is working alone, and you want to be a good testimony, you put his potential welfare (the fact that you might be able to witness to him) ahead of your desires, and decide to stay. Your uncle is surprised, and you now have the opportunity to share with him why you stayed to help.

Something I struggle with a lot is complaining about having to do jobs that seem menial, or pointless to me! I wish I had the outlook more often that a menial task, that may seem unimportant, could very possibly lead to a conversation, or even a decision for Christ on the part of those around me. If I refuse to show deference, I am saying, "The things that I am interested in are more important than your eternal welfare." That is certainly not the message I desire to communicate to others. When I think about the person I want to be, it is often very different than the person I usually am. This seems to be a problem for more than one person (me)! When I think I can do it...I really can't! So, what are some practical ways to apply the command to "Go the Second Mile"? After all...it's a command, not a choice!

• If you offend someone, don't just apologize, but if possible, make restitution!
• If you're asked to fold one basket of laundry, get all the laundry through (a personal favorite of mine :-D)!
• If you see a mother juggling way too much for one person, don't just pick up what she dropped, see if you can help her to her destination!
• Don't just hand out a tract...ask the person if they want to hear about it!
• When you find out about a prayer need, don't just write it down...pray about it!
• You listen to a sermon every Sunday...don't just listen...make life application!
• If you're asked to do something, try doing it for double the time that was requested!
• Defer your right to do something exciting so someone else can go who might have had to stay back.

A few months ago, our family was going to go rafting. I have a two-year-old brother, and he wasn't old enough to go yet. My mom had never been, and she really wanted to try it, but she was worried about the baby. There was only one solution. I would have to be the one to stay back, because none of the other older kids could be alone that long, and my dad was the only one who knew how to steer the raft! My mom didn't ask me to stay back, but I knew she really wanted to go. I also knew I really, really wanted to go! The morning after we discussed the dilemma as a family, I was reading in my quiet time, and I felt God prompting me to deny myself...to defer to my authority, and put her welfare, and enjoyment before my own. I went to my mom, and I told her I'd take Timmy so she could go rafting. She was grateful...but...the trip ended up falling through, and we never even went. I have to say though, that for days after that decision (before we decided not to go), I had an extreme joy, and anticipationation as I looked forward to the opportunity to "Go the Second Mile." Sometimes it doesn't mean doing something for twice as long. Sometimes it means doing something you weren't going to have to do at all, and deciding to take the leap, just because you know it's the right thing to do!

It's hard to trust God to make it worthwhile to "Go the Second Mile", but He does. The influence God can give us as we demonstrate the power of the "Second Mile" is illustrated by the rudder of a large ship. Though tiny and not even visible, it has the power to control the direction of the entire vessel. May God give us the ability, though we are often unseen, to influence those who rule over us for the Lord, giving HIM the glory, as we exercise the power of the command, "Go the Second Mile."

-Hannah
Phil 2:13

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Seek God's Kingdom First

We've all seen the Hollywood kingdoms portrayed in Bible-time movies, read chapters of Revelation about what Heaven looks like, and colored pictures in junior Bible coloring books that portray the throne room in a palace. Disney has put marble floors, gem-filled crowns, and castle spires into little children's minds with the Cinderella story, and picture books have helped us imagine what it would be like. We tour Biltmore houses, and other splendid structures across America, and overseas, trying to get a glimpse of the awesomeness of a kingdom. So, what did Jesus mean when half way through the greatest sermon ever preached, he says "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God."? Lets put it into perspective:

(Paraphrase) Don't worry about what you'll eat, or what you'll drink. Don't worry about where you'll get clothes, or what they look like. Your life, and your body consist of more than food and clothing. Look! My Father takes care of the fowls of the air. He clothes the lilies of the field! Even Solomon was not arrayed as beautifully as one of them! Can you add stature to yourself? Stop worrying about your needs. My Father in heaven knows them all! Therefore, do this:

"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself! Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Actually, there are two kinds of kingdoms. The one that you and I think of when we think "Kingdom" is the future kingdom:

"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev 11:15)

Then we have the kingdom Jesus refers to in Matthew 6:33. God's present kingdom is within us! Jesus said:

"Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

Mr. Gothard in his book "49 Secrets of Power for Living" notes that the disciples often talked about who would be greatest in the kingdom of God. However, they failed to recognize that "The Kingdom" was within their hearts where the Holy Spirit dwells. This is why the first two things required to enter the kingdom are (1) repentance, and (2) new birth. We repent, and then we are saved. This results in the kingdom of God within us which is where the Holy Spirit takes up residency in our lives. Once this happens, we now have a new struggle:

Jesus was speaking to the multitudes when he gave this command. The word "seek" is a present, active verb. Jesus wasn't telling them to seek later, or that they already had sought, or to seek for a time, and then stop. Jesus was commanding them to seek continually, never to stop seeking, and to make seeking a way of life! Once we are born again, this seeking doesn't come to a sudden halt. Instead, we must take the initiative to keep seeking the kingdom of God, and thus, experience spiritual growth.

Initiative is acting on the rhemas that God gives to us in his Word. Initiative is also carrying out the will of God by being in tune with the heart of God

Idleness is the ground in which every form of evil takes root. The hour of idleness is the hour of temptation. This is why we are commanded by Jesus in Matthew 6:33 to be continually seeking God with a kingdom focus! Amy Carmichael thoughtfully said "Satan is much more in earnest than we are. He buys up the opportunity while we are wondering how much it will cost." How true! While we worry about what we will lose when we seek only God, Satan snatches the opportunity and leads us into temptation.

In tying all of this together, we have a kingdom within us that we are commanded to continually seek. We have initiative which is acting on the rhemas God gives us (those rhemas direct us and are both the motivation to seek, and the reward of seeking), and we have the warning that idleness breeds only temptation. So, what exactly are we seeking when we say "the kingdom within us"? There are eight things that a kingdom consists of:

1. A King - Jesus Christ
2. A Jurisdiction - Our Hearts
3. A Law - Christ's Commands
4. An Enemy - Satan
5. A Treasury - Sowing
6. A Citizenry - Disciples
7. A Flag - Banner of Love
   
8. An Army - Disciple Makers

Mr. Gothard lists these eight points in his book (49 Secrets of Power for Living) and here I have summarized it: we seek the kingdom by studying our King, Jesus Christ, in the Bible (God's instruction manual/love-letter to his children). As we learn about his Lordship, we surrender our hearts willingly to his jurisdiction. Now that we have surrendered to him, we seek to obey His commands, and in keeping with obeying them, seek to conquer the enemy that is ever present, wanting to devour. As others see our witness for Christ, we sow seeds in their lives. We then seek to build the number of citizens in God's Kingdom by making disciples. As we show our banner of love to them, they eventually mature, and thus, go out and make more disciples. Although there are many aspects to seeking the kingdom of God, this is one way we can "Seek God's Kingdom."

Now, why does it say "Seek ye FIRST"? Why not do other things first? I have to stick in an element from my Journey to the Heart binder, as usual, so this time, I am taking out "The Pure Heart." What is a pure heart? One with a pure heart is one who matches the standards of Christ (definition taken from "A Pure Heart" in the journey to the heart binder). Will any of us ever be perfectly pure during our life here on earth? No, but Jesus still calls us to live lives of purity...lives that don't see how close to the line they can get, or lives that sit on the fence, but lives that go the extra mile, make extra sacrifices, and show their love for their King liberally. We are promised by a God who does not break his promises, if you seek the kingdom first, ALL these things WILL be added unto you (i.e. you will never lack anything that Jesus Christ thinks you need.) A pure heart will enable us to throw away our worldly values and desire Jesus more!

I love this verse which directly follows Luke's documentation of this same passage in Matthew where Jesus says:

"Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

i.e. It's not a drudge for God to fulfill our needs, or to dwell within our imperfect selves. He delights in it. He loves it! It is His joy! Why should we worry about our physical needs when God not only fills them, but it is his GOOD PLEASURE to fill them??? This passage serves only to reiterate the beautiful words pf the prophet Zephaniah in Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Summarization II: the kingdom of God is within you! You know the eight things that you are seeking in that kingdom. You understand that initiative, and a pure heart are required as you seek the Lord, and you know that you don't need to worry about your needs, because God delights to fulfill them as a demonstration of His love and compassion. I want to tie this off with a story:

A young man is walking down the streets of Judea. Everyone can tell by his appearance that he has many worldly goods. As he walks, he meets a man named Jesus with his disciples. He asks Jesus, "What must I do to have eternal life?" As Jesus tells him to obey the commands of Christ, and lists a few of them, the young man looks hopeful. He has done these well. Then Jesus stops. "But, I have done all of that! I am still empty inside!" I can almost see his face, so empty, yet so hopeful that Jesus will have an answer for him he has not already heard. "Go, sell what you have and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven, and you can follow me." There is silence. The young man's head falls, and he turns slowly and walks away. What is wrong with him? He is worried about his earthly possessions. He is too attached to temporal things to lay up eternal treasure. If only he had sought first the kingdom of God, He would have found eternal life, free, and abundant. But so often, I think we are like this young man. We may be saved, but we hold onto our rights, our expectations, and when someone comes along and says, "Throw them away, and seek God," we turn away, sorrowful. We want the answers in life to go our way, and fulfill our desires! Notice Jesus' response: (paraphrase) It is hard for a rich man to enter heaven. Actually, it is easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle. His disciples were shocked! They responded by saying "Who then can enter the kingdom of God???" I can picture their amazement! Jesus replies, "With God, all things are possible." Why? Because when we stop worrying about ourselves, and let God handle the details, He carries the load for us.

Are you seeking Jesus Christ? Or have you hung your head, and walked away, too scared to let go of the very things that make you feel so empty?

Be Blessed in Jesus! Live only for HIM!~
Hannah-

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The Good Home-school Girl: A Follow-up on Honoring Parents

We all know her. She is the person we often see ourselves to be. When her parents tell her not to do something, she doesn’t do it. She helps with the clean-up after every meal. She goes to church every Sunday, sometimes even twice a week! She keeps her room cleaned up. She checks with her mom before she goes out with friends. She turns in her homework assignments on time. She is involved in ministry opportunities. If someone asked her if she was rebellious, she could honestly say no…most of the time.

But what about the little things? What about when her parents tell her “You can make the choice, but we’d rather you choose this option.” What about when her friend calls and she knows if her mom were there, she’d want her to finish her school first. What about when she’s shopping with friends, and isn’t sure if her mom would like a certain purchase? What does the Good Home-school girl do then?

Most of us fit into the Good Home-school girl category. We are generally obedient to our parent’s stated commands, we don’t gossip, or even excessively complain, and generally, we try to be respectful, even though we fail much of the time. So I began to think about this concept. Is “The Good Home-school Girl” someone I want to be?

Two weeks ago I went shopping with my younger sister. It was just the two of us and naturally, we were having fun. We like thrift-store shopping (who wouldn’t?) and we were finding good deals everywhere we looked! I decided it was time for a new pair of pants. The church camping trip was just two weeks away, and I didn’t have anything to wear, so I looked around, found a practically new pair for three dollars, and bought it. The whole way home, my conscience condemned me. Why? Because I knew without a doubt that my mom would have preferred I not buy them without her there. I knew she had a certain way she wanted things to fit. Did she tell me before I left the house “Don’t buy any pants!” ? No! Of course not…but I knew her preference.

So, it blew over. They fit fine, she was disappointed at my ignorance to her preference, but hey, it was my choice, it turned out okay, and that was that. But then there was another thing: “You know I really want you to wear a skirt camping this time.” My mom told me. “But, I am going to let you make the choice.” Okay…I’m 18 years old, I’m not in rebellion, I dress modestly every day of my life, and my mom has told me that I can make the choice. Is there a choice to make? So, I looked it up:

Submission: an attitude of reverence in which a person voluntarily places himself under God-given authority as an act of faith in the sovereignty of God.

You know that verse that says “Submit yourselves to them that have rule over you.” I wondered if making a deliberate choice that was just not my authorities’ preference would be a violation of submission. Do we always have to do what our authorities prefer? So I chose to ask three questions. Ask yourself these three questions!

• If I dress the way I do because I am afraid that those at the camp-out will think I’m weird for camping in a skirt, I need to re-evaluate what is more important: is my relationship to my authorities, or my relationship to my friends more important?

• If people think I’m weird for camping in a skirt and make fun of me, are they really making fun of me? Or are they making fun of God…because I am under the authority that He has placed over me! (I had to come to the conclusion, that they are not rejecting me, but God and the authorities HE put over me).

• Lastly, if I am given a choice by my authorities, and I know their wishes, is it right to do my own thing anyways?

So this may seem like a really silly, not very important example, and it is! Isn’t that what always gets us? The music we listen to, the people we hang out with, the clothes we wear, the things we buy when we go shopping, the words we say when our parents aren’t there…all of that is what stops the “Good Home-school Girl” from being a “Submissive Home-school Girl.”

This leads me to ask one final question: God says that iniquity is “doing our own will” What we do that is defined as “iniquity” may not be inherently wrong at another time, or in another circumstance, but because it is done outside of God’s timing, it is wrong! Therefore, are we committing iniquity every time we make a choice that we know is against the preferences of our parents? I think we are, and here are the results of that iniquity:

• The Lord will not hear us (Ps 66:18)

• God will set our iniquities before His face (Ps 90:8)

• We will reap vanity which is translated sorrow (Prov 22:8)

• We will be separated from God (Is 59:2)

• We will not get good things from God (Jer 5:25)

• Our iniquity will be bondage to us (Acts 8:23)

• When we name the name of Christ, we will destroy God’s reputation (II Tim 2:19b)

All of us have different ways that we commit iniquity, but iniquity in this way is dishonoring our parents, and Ex 20:13 says to “Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long…” Am I stretching this too far? I don’t think so. I would encourage each of you to search your life and heart for ways that you are regarding iniquity in your heart, dishonoring your parents, and thus, grieving the Holy Spirit. Then, check out the rewards of having a submissive spirit!

Eph 6:1-3, Col 3:20, Rom 13:3&5, Heb 13:17, Col 3:23-24, I Tim 6:1, Prov 6:20-24, Prov 15:5, I Pet 2:13-14, I Thess 5:12-13, and I Tim 6:2-4. The rewards outweigh the pleasure of a season of iniquity!...and…yes, I am wearing a skirt camping ;-)

Be Blessed!

~Hannah

PS: This does NOT only apply to Home-school girls :-)

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Living For Jesus

Lord prepare me,
to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy,
tried and true!
With thanksgiving,
I'll be a living,
Sanctuary for you!

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Knowing the Heart of God

"...When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Two weeks ago, I came home from my fourth Journey to the Heart, a program put on by the Advanced Training Institute in Chicago. Most of you are probably familiar with it. Why we continue to go back seems to puzzle everyone we run into, but the reason is simple: we will never be perfect. The opportunity to get away for ten days and just seek God, and allow him to peel back yet another layer of our own selfishness and pride is an opportunity rarely experienced by the youth of our day, and one we want to have as long as we can. We also have been taking girls back with us as a ministry and have found it a blessing beyond what we could ever imagine.
Back in September of 2009, when we were on our second one, Madison, one of the team leaders who was there, gave a message that stuck with me and really hit home hard on this last journey. I have always struggled with making lasting changes for the good in my life. Most of us do. I think the reason for this is because Satan is out to steal, to kill, and to destroy. When a seed of truth that could impact us eternally is planted in the garden of our hearts, he does all he can to snatch up that seed and take it away before it can take root. Madison shared three steps to find the heart of God, and to continue "living the journey" at home:

1. Pursue God - run after him, search for him in the scriptures, pursue him until you find yourself surrounded by his greatness and his love!
2. Believe God - when you find him in the scriptures, believe what he says. Those rhemas are promises...not to be easily forgotten, but applied to life! It amazes me how difficult it is to believe those passages for what they are. Taking scripture at face value is not as simple as we think.
3. Praise God - I am not talking about thanking God. Thanking God is acknowledging what he has DONE. Praising him is acknowledging who he IS.

These foundational steps have prompted me many times to step back into God's will, and to realize how real Satan is and how much he wants to steal away my heart! I have started writing down a promise from God every day in my journal and hanging onto it. It has helped me to believe God when he says he will do something. All the promises he made to David are still applicable to you and me for today! Here are some of the ones the Lord has given me in my quiet times the past few weeks:

"And now shall my head be lifted up above my [spiritual] enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord!" (Psalm 27:6)

"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth." (Psalm 89:34)

"I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

"Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Savior...since thou was precious in my sight, thou has been honorable and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life. Fear not. I am with thee..." (Isaiah 43:1b-5a)

"...everlasting joy shall be upon your head; you shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away." (Isaiah 51:11b)

"Blessed be... the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (II Corinthians 1:3-4)

I have also started turning a psalm or other passage of scripture into a prayer of praise to God. This reminds me to praise God, not just thank him. I find it immensely difficult to live out the Christian life the same way at home that I do at the Journey. There is a definite difference of atmosphere, and so many ways that Satan loves to trip me up. The other day, I was driven to the point of despairing life itself. Satan had brought so many lies and so much irritation and frustration into my life at that moment that all I wanted was relief! Thinking back on a sermon I heard recently, I jotted down what the pastor had said in my notebook, clinging to the reality of the fact that his words were so true!

"We need more than just relief. We need repentance towards our self-centered lusts. Our greatest need is to submit unconditionally and surrender to God."

How true! In my life, I often find myself running from tests I never studied for...tests that Jesus warned would come! He told his disciples not to be surprised if the world hated them, because it hated him first! I often expect life to go my way when in fact, Jesus has already announced that it won't! In the midst of all my anger and doubt, I even felt irritated at God. "Why are you letting this happen? Don't you know how much I want to be faithful to you? Don't you care about me at all? You certainly aren't showing it!" In the midst of my self-pity and hypocrisy, God seemed to prompt me to look at Him for help. "You are not representing me the right way." That still small voice seemed to prompt in a way that frustrated my stubbornness even more! I reached for Charles Spurgeon's book "Morning and Evening" and flipped open to the correct day. What I read was really convicting. Conviction had not been exactly what I had in mind. My problems were everyone else' fault...or so I assured myself...

"They lay their own foundation and hew out the pillars of their own house, refusing to be debtors to the sovereign grace of God."

Certainly it was not working out my way! My mind flew back to Madison's talk about pursuing God. I had been sitting there giving ground to Satan - what he wanted most - and letting Jesus Christ down! For a moment I was well assured that I was the only Christian in the world stubborn enough to dig herself into such a mess! I realized later on that so many of us are prone to fall into the same entrapment's of the enemy. I was encouraged to lean on the verse I put at the top of this post. God will lift up a standard against the enemy when he comes flooding in. That standard is you and me! Will we be strong enough to withstand that flood? Will we represent our Lord and Savior and stand strong amidst all the pressures of life? Or will we allow Satan to break down the barriers of our Lord, and come in and steal, kill, and destroy? Think on these things this week and may you be encouraged...you are not alone in the battle!

~Hannah

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Do Not Covet

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)

We don't like to think of ourselves as covetous people!!! It's not a pleasant thought, but the fact of the matter is, that we walk around every day saying "If so n' so has this thing, why can't I have it too?" At least I do! I find myself wrapped up in material things so much that I forget the glory of God...I forget to see him for who he is! Is his glory and his presence really worth trading in for material things? I think one of our greatest downfallings is that we put ourselves in boxes and beg God for earthly treasure. God wants us to rise above our selfishness to his brilliance so that he can give us eternal treasure which will last for eternity! The world tells us that our life purpose relies on what we own. The real truth however is that the kingdom of God is within us. Our purpose lies in furthering that kingdom and in doing everything we possibly can for our Savior...to keep that Kingdom pure, clean, spotless, for the Master's use! It was only a few weeks ago that God was showing me all of this...

"Lord, I know I've been here three times. I'm grateful for all you've done so far. Now I want you to show me the little things...the blind spots in my life...that are holding me back from your greatness." God must have laughed at my obliviousness. "Hannah, you are still holding onto some BIG things. How can I deal with the little ones?" I protested for several days. Clothes, music, email, cell phones, friends, all of it had to go on God's alter. Sure, I had said I had "surrendered all" but God knew the bigger picture. I was not living a life totally sold out for him. I was placing my desire for the things of the world above my hunger and thirst for Jesus Christ.
It is often painful to deal with things that we hold onto for so long. It is hard to say "Lord, you were right, I was wrong." Most of all, it is hard to go home and tell your mom and dad that you were wrong and they were right!!!!! However, it is necessary. What is more worth it...The presence of God, or the presence of earthly things? What is more important? Getting your way, or leaving the choice up to God? My story is not the only one. America's teenagers live off of this method of thinking. "How much can I get to fit into society???" It is the big world-wide question. Think on it. It's silly!

In the clip below by Eric Ludy, he explains how Jesus Christ has set out a banquet for us...but we hesitate to partake in that...why? Because we are afraid to leave behind the things that we'll have to give up for Jesus Christ. Take a few minuets and watch this and realize that God's glory, his presence, his banquet, is worth more than any earthly possession ever will be to us!



Think on these things.
Love you all!

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Hear God's Voice

This seems perhaps like a funny command. "Hear God's voice? He doesn't talk out loud!", some of you might say. True, we often don't have the privilege of hearing God's voice in the same way Isaiah did:

"Also, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (Is 6:8)

Actually, we have the priviledge of hearing God's voice through our spirits. Through Christ's death on the cross, we have free and unlimited access to the holy of holies...God's dwelling place. Unlike Isaiah who had to experience the voice of the Lord FOR the people, each one of us can individually experience the voice of God and hear his message for our lives. How???

Not too long ago, I was praying and I suddenly remembered hearing someone say, "Prayer is not talking to God or at God. Prayer is talking WITH God." My mind reeled. "Oh dear...will he really say something to little insignificant me?" I wondered. I was half afraid...no, I was completely afraid that he would not say anything if I were silent before him. Isn't that just like us a believers? We want to take the step of faith and yet we are too faithless to do it?! Somehow I missed that verse in James 4:8

"Draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you."

Faith is throwing both arms up and saying "God, I believe you. Take me. I am yours...faith is in essence, a very important aspect of surrender. One does not give themselves fully to something or someone unless they have faith...TRUST in that thing! God has been demanding trust from me lately in a very real and sometimes uncomfortable way. It is causing me to hear him clearly though. We will not hear the voice of the Lord for the little things we want answers for until we trust him in the big things he demands we know.

Anyways, back to my faith experience...I got down on my knees and I decided to just be quiet. Don't you laugh when you think of God telling you to just shut up a second so he can get a word in edge wise? I do...I think God has a sense of humor, but I also think it disappoints him when we're so wrapped up in our struggles that we won't let him take a moment to give us the answers. We want to hear God's opinion, but we're too busy talking to let him tell us what it is.

"Bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge." (Proverbs 22:17)

God gets tired of our whining. He wants to help us get over it fully and completely!!! As I quieted myself before the Lord, he did speak. At first, it was soft, not so audible to my soul, but then it came quickly like a rushing wind. "You were created for greater works! You must trust me to know what is best for you!" I was shocked. Why? I should expect this of the God who wants a relationship with me...yet my faithlessness had made that impossible. Girls...you will never know the power of the voice of God until you stop to listen to it. It is not loud or glamorous...it is instead filled with a glory that steals in and fills all the cracks, and then takes over your life if you let it. I would challenge you. Get alone with God...let his glory cover you and overflow you. Be silent and watch the fireworks as the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart and soul. He is greater than you know...if you just take the time to get to know him!!!

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Watch and Pray II - What I Learned

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Have you ever told yourself "Tomorrow, I will do better!" I have. It seems that it is the story of my life. It seems to be an ever present shadow that makes someone feel like an utter failure...mostly because it rarely and maybe never works! Jesus tells his disciples on his last night with them, "The spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak!" Our spirits want to do the right thing. Trouble is, our flesh is too weak to carry it out. That is the reason we try so hard to "do better" and end up making a bigger mess of our day than the previous one was.

There has to be something bigger to worshiping God, than vowing in our flesh to do better in the days to come. There has to be a bigger purpose, a larger life calling, a more meaningful theme to life!!! It took me a long time to get this. It took me a long time to realize, "I can't do it on my own." Maybe we have turned back to God, and are living a life that we think is pleasing him, and yet, if we are the pilot of our plane, if we are the captain of our ship, the driver of our car, wreckage is just around the corner. So what does all of this have to do with Watching and Praying?

We are a people of common sense. What makes sense to us is often what we do. Rather, Jesus tells his disciples to seek the wisdom of God for their lives. He tells them that man looks on the outside but God sees the heart. Common sense breeds drug addicts, alcoholics, and broken marriages. It leads people to choose the only human fix to life's problems. A drunkard cannot say to God, "Well Lord, you have to understand, I was depressed and I didn't know what else to do to drown out my troubles!" Human shortcuts rarely match God's best in blessings. They are rather, a direct result of a lack of prayer, the absence of watching for where God is working and what he is doing in our life. In the context of this passage, Jesus is preparing to be crucified. His disciples are tired. What is the logical thing to do? You can't prevent the death of Christ. Why not sleep so you don't have to think about what is about to happen? It will de-stress you, refresh you, and help you avoid thinking about the problems that will arise in the morning. Jesus urged them to use that tiring time to get to know the heart of God the Father. To get acquainted with the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, so that when his physical body no longer walked the earth, they would have someone to turn to. Someone who they knew was there.

We are the new generation ladies. We have the opportunity to show a watching world what it looks like to watch and pray, and wait for the answers which come from God. When a loved one dies, we have the opportunity to show them that God's grace is sufficient. We can show them that there is joy because our loved one is with Jesus. When our parents have rules we think are too hard to bear, we have the opportunity to show the world that submission is the key to true freedom. We have the choice to obey, or suffer the consequences. It all goes back to waiting on the Lord. As we wait for him to speak, we wait on him as a waiter waits on a table. As we wait for our purpose and our calling, we busy ourselves glorifying God. We busy ourselves watching and praying, all the time knowing that God has a perfect plan and a perfect time to reveal that plan to us.

Right now, I am only hours away from flying to Chicago for another Journey. I already know what I WANT to do. I already know what I WANT to happen. I know what I think is best. But am I watching and praying for God's best? Am I fully yielded so that if my way is not his way, I can cheerfully respond? My heart wants to impact other girls for Christ. But what if God wants me to be the student and allow other girls to impact me? My heart wants God to deal with precise issues. But what if he wants to reveal something I don't want revealed? I want to be able to spend time with certain people, but what if God wants me to minister to a total stranger? Life is full of the choice to do things our way or God's way. Prayer is a key issue here. You WANT to bite back at someone who has hurt you. You WANT to send an argumentative email. You WANT to tell your parents how unreasonable you think they're being...yet, in the midst of the biggest storms, Jesus is there, calling us in almost a whisper, and asking us to obey. What is that calling? That calling in essence is an invitation to enter into the joy of the Lord. Obedience brings joy that never would have been revealed. It is like a flower that suddenly blooms when given the proper sunlight, but never would have opened without it.

Remember today as you go about your daily tasks, that you are being watched by God, by your younger siblings, by the world! You have a message. A precious story that has not yet been completed, but which has started to take glorious form. A story to tell to the nations! With God on your side, with a yielded heart and an obedient mind, you have the power to turn hearts, to free prisoners, to loose captives. Isaiah 61:1-3 sums it up beautifully.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable ear of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified!"

How little we have to give, but how much the Lord can give us if we share with others! Ladies, remember that your family is your first mission field. Love them, pour your heart into them, however difficult that may be. Strive to make your goals God-honoring, authority honoring, and honest. Strive to make your siblings your best friends. It is the little things that show them you care. If you knew how bad your little brother wanted to take a walk with you...or how badly your sister wants to share a cup of tea with you...you would be surprised. it is sometimes shocking how small of a thing can mean SO much in their lives. Use that to begin your journey, to seek, to watch, and to pray. Prepare, because you do not know when the day or the hour comes when the Son of God will again come to earth!

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Render Unto Caesar

I thought...and thought...and though...and then I thought some more. WHAT does it mean to "render unto Caesar"? I felt like I was spiritually illiterate as I contemplated this phrase. Maybe you feel the same way sometimes. However, when I looked at the verse which was given in the Commands of Christ booklet, it shed new light on the meaning of this phrase, which I believe is often mistaken for something else.

"Show me thy tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto the, render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God, the things that are God's." Matthew 22:19-21

This command is about more than money. It calls us to respect those in leadership over us. If you read the context of this passage, the holy men which Jesus was speaking to, were complaining about having to pay such a godless and heathenish man. Jesus gently showed them that although their ruler was not a godly man, they still needed to respect his wishes. Speaking of respecting our leaders, I have a story about that!

Several months ago, a friend and I were harmlessly chatting over the internet on Picasa Web where we had posted our photographs. We were on her page, and the whole thing had started with us admiring each others pictures. A little while later, she had to go, so I finished my commenting, and logged out. I had written some indirectly disrespectful things about the President which I hadn't really thought about as being dishonoring, but several hours later, my phone rang. It was the same friend I had been chatting with earlier. "You know Hannah, I know that we were just having fun, but we need to remember when we're out on the internet that people are looking for dishonoring things about our leaders. As Christians, we need to respect our government. The man in office is the man God placed there." I was not in the least offended by her words, but they struck deep in my heart, because I knew they were true. I thanked her for telling me and told her that I was grateful that she felt like she could call me about such things. We parted better friends than before, and have shared a genuine fellowship ever since. Since that time, I have not spoken dishonorably about our President because I realize now that he did not get himself to office. God did. Our nation is worthy of instant death. If God wants to judge us through one man, that is his will.

Ladies, lets remember that all the authorities in our lives are there for a reason and a purpose. They were placed there by God himself. From Mr. Obama all the way down to your older sister or brother who tells you what to do, each instance in which you choose to obey is a time when you choose to be a testimony to a dark world about the love of Jesus...a man who demonstrated the ultimate picture of submission when he gave up glory for the cross.

The character quality for this command is very fitting. It's gratefulness!

Expressing sincere appreciation to God and to others for the ways that they have benefited my life.

Not too long ago, I found that my daily life revolved around complaining about my circumstances, my authorities, and my lack of privileges. I though it was unjust that I could not have simple things like email, texting, face-book, and skype. I felt that I was being deprived from healthy communication with my close friends...all of whom live in Alabama (and I am in North Carolina!). One of my friends told me recently, "Do not complain about where you are, or what life's lot is for you. Just realize that wherever you are and whatever you're doing, divine love has placed you there." When we finally had to say goodbye, her last words were "I'm counting on you." Oh that we could seize our daily opportunities to honor those to whom honor is due, and to realize that the divine love of God had placed us in the trials and difficulties we find ourselves "drowning" in. Oh that we could remember all the people that are "counting on us" and I think we could get so much more accomplished.
Ladies, you mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and friends are counting on you. Those who are lost in a dark and dying world are counting on you...because you have the answers for eternal life! I would encourage you to go forth today, putting aside the things that so easily beset you, and run with patience, the race that is set before you! Don't look back and count mistakes or troubles. Look forward and remember the words of the Lord to Isaiah in chapter 43, verses 18-19.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Go back to those who have given you the strength to keep fighting and thank them. Realize that often, when man means something for evil, God means it for good. Cling to the Rock of your Salvation and remember that though life may seem unjust...divine love has placed you there.
I love you all and hope that the Lord will encourage you this week as you continue pressing on for him!

Hannah~

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Me? Forgive?

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times; but, until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)

"Put on therefore as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:12-13)

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." (I Peter 3: 8-9)

She felt small and lost, running through the woods as fast as she could. It was dark and it was raining. Water stung her face and mixed with the tears on her cheeks. The path beneath her pounded with each leap that she took. She was all alone. There was no one to help her...no one who cared. Why, oh why, was life so incredibly hard? It was hardly worth it anymore at all! Hurts had led to one thing, then another, until she had found herself, disillusioned with living and unable to get herself out of the pit of bitterness she had dug herself into. With each painful act, each hurtful word, she had clung to the sting and allowed herself to root herself in pride and anger. There was no place left to go besides utter humility. Humiliation for her! How could she do that?

How little life has to offer to those who refuse to forgive! How much greater joy we could have is we chose to take the hand that reaches out and extends the grace to forgive! Someone once said, "forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." Girls, this is what we are called to do...to forgive those who crush us. There is no greater joy than to enfold in the arms of your heart, the person who has broken your it, and to be able to say, I surrender all to God...all the hurt...all the pain, that I cannot hold alone! It takes so long to uproot that bitter tree within your heart when you do not root up the tiny weed to begin with.

I think that as young ladies growing up in godly homes, we tend to grow angry towards our parents especially when they make mistakes. A very wise friend once told me "give your parents grace. They aren't perfect." This is so true. Our parents aren't perfect. They are human. Ladies, lets try not to get bitter at our authorities who sometimes stumble just like we do. For years, I expected my father to run his life perfectly. I required blamelessness in order to allow him to give me guidance. I told myself that if he could not successfully run his life, that he would have no part in mine. I chose not to forgive. I held onto things that were small as well as the things that were big.
Bitterness does terrible things to a person. It rips away from them all the love they have. They have no love left after a very short period time. Instead, it is replaced with emotionless, hardened, anger. It makes your heart like concrete towards those who most love you and most want to help you. Your parents may not be running life exactly as you would, but give them the chance to show you that they are the people God has chosen to direct your life. Any mistakes on their part will be avenged by the Lord.

When I was able to step back and let God work on them, great things happened. But while I tried to change them, our family went downhill. Before we can be in full fellowship with God, we must forgive those who have hurt us. You may ask the question, "how can I forgive when it hurt so much?" I am asking that same question as I deal with something that needs forgiveness at the core. As timely as this post is for me...I struggle deeply with it.The longer you wait...the more it will hurt. The more it hurts, the more reluctant you will be to release it. Let me paint for you a picture that will allow you to see what true forgiveness is:

On Calvary Hill in a barren land,
Stands a wooden cross,
With a tortured man.

A soldiers curse,
The jeering horde,
a rattle of dice,
parts the robes of our Lord.

Tried three times before the Jew,
Three times tried by the Romans too.

The only words to pass His lips,
were Jesus' claims to Messiah-ship.

The shouts arose to crucify;
for blasphemy, this man shall die.

The numbing drink refused by the Son,
The nails were driven,
the deed was done.

Father forgive them,
they do not know;
These words fell deaf
on the crowd below.

One thief railed with anger cried;
The believing thief granted paradise.

These words to the mother,
"Behold thy son!"
Her life commended to Christ's loved one.

His words speak not of physical cost,
But of the terrible anguish of innocence lost.

For you and me He died that day,
For God's wrath to satisfy.

Our debt He came to pay in full,
This is forgiveness...to the full.

As we continue on in our week, our daily hurts driving deep within us, allow the heel that crushes you to be turned into the sweet joy of forgiveness. Let God make all things new...He's good at that...and we aren't. Let us ALWAYS remember the man who hung on Calvary for a sin he didn't commit...and for the debt that was paid in full for us...for you and me...a debt far greater than the one our offender owes us. His love was at a far greater cost. Can we afford the lesser cost? At least for his sake!

Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free...and to find that that prisoner was you.Our sense of fairness may tell us that the person should pay for what they have done wrong...but forgiveness is love's power to break nature's rule.

Hannah~

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Ladies...Slay the Dragon Lust!

'Oh wow' I thought when I saw that I was assigned to this command...this will be really good for me! How many of you think of this command and allow your mind to tell you "This command was for the guys. I don't have to worry about it!"? I think all of us can say that at some point, we have been guilty of writing this off as something that only our male friends and brothers struggle with. I have found that despite the fact that it is usually referred to as something men struggle with, us girls can have quite the difficult time with this command! The original command went like this:

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

The first time I glanced over this command, I thought, 'Well, that won't be a problem. I'm not married, and I've certainly not committed adultery!' Then...I read Jesus' convicting words in Matthew 5:27-28!

"Ye have heart that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman (or man) to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her ALREADY IN HIS (her) HEART!"

I began to think about all the times I looked at some guy in the grocery store check-out line, or walking through the mall and had the words "he's so cute" run through my head. What would my future husband think of that? Worse, what about the times I had dwelt on such thoughts for long periods of time and allowed myself to be carried away with thoughts of "Does he like me..." or "is he watching me...?"! Many of us, myself included, even wake up on certain days and dress differently because we are going to see someone we "like." Girls, I think one of our biggest downfalls in this command is fantasizing. Being the emotional creatures that we are, we allow ourselves to throw caution (and reason) to the wind and we set out on an imaginary adventure, seeking a life that will never come to pass, but that we would just love to think about. This is the greatest reason that I refrain from reading romance novels. They wake up a desire in a girl that is not godly, and that will never be reality. As dear Janny shared with us on the Journey..."never imagine what cannot be." I think it was her Grandmother who said, "No relationship with a guy is ever 'ordinary.'" This is SO incredibly true.

Girls, someday our knight will come. He will slay the dragon and stand before us having given everything. Will we have EVERYTHING to give back? Thousands of girls will not. Are you one of them? We cannot allow ourselves to go into marriage with a thousand expectations that sprouted from one tiny deadly seed called lust. This tiny seed can poison thousands of people with the most potent poison, and yet, it remains disguised until the damage is already done. Over 50% of all marriages will end in divorce simply because couples are not able to get along. Do you ever wonder why? I do. Part of that huge percentage lies in the fact that girls waste their teen years pursuing trashy love stories, romantic movies, and detailed articles that set fire to every girl's heart. they then marry "Prince Charming" who promises what she demands before marriage, but what he is not able to fulfill after marriage. Despite the old wives tale that men slayed dragons for princesses in locked castles, we ourselves have a dragon to slay. That dragon is one that must be slain before our prince ever starts fighting his way through the briers to awaken sleeping beauty.

I have to say that many of the old Disney movies are probably not the best tool to use to "save your heart." However, I was thinking...will you still be "Sleeping Beauty..." or will you be awake to the world and have used every last petal on your rose except for one? I don't know about you, but I want to hand a whole rose to my prince...not just one wilted petal! Keep yourself oblivious to the obvious. Allow God to fill the gap that every girl wants to fill on her own strength before it is time. Believe me...it IS worth it. Love is SO worth the wait.

Now...boys, drama, and romance are not all that us girls lust after right? We look around and see things that other girls our age have that we want...and that ugly monster called "lust" rears it's awful head again! Something that has really struck me lately is that so few young ladies desire God over all else. We are called to be different. I don't know if any of you have read Brett and Alex Harris' blog, but they are two incredible young men who have written a book called "Do Hard Things." They are calling our generation to rebel against low expectations and to take a stand and be different (www.therebelution.com). We are not about the ordinary ladies. We are about the extraordinary. Now is the time to be different and to show the world that we can make a difference. Every other girl might be wrapped up in lust and want, but we don't have to be. Every other girl might have boyfriends, an Italian sports car, and a touch-screen ipod, be we don't have to. The whole world might live on facebook, writing nothing edifying, but we don't have to. Are all of these things inherently wrong? Of course not, but our calling is to glorify God, and to be content with what he has chosen to give us. What a testimony we could be if we did as Jesus did in Philippians 2:5-8!

Something that I often struggle with is lusting after the privileges that other girls have that I don't have. I see them as privileges at least...but I think in the long run, I will come to see them as detrimental to my welfare. There are times when I simply cannot understand why my parents are asking me not to do something. I know that all of you can think of one. It is often difficult to cheerfully accept these things without questioning God. It is even more difficult not to talk to others that are not part of the problem. That is called murmuring! I would encourage you to check out the following verses and to seek to diligently apply them to your life. It will be so worth it in the long run!

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away and lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." I John 2:16-17

"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

May God bless you and encourage you in the coming weeks! I miss you all!
~Hannah

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Lay Up Treasures!!!

What do you think of most often you when you are told a story about a person who laid up treasures? I think about medieval castles, foreign lands, evil kings, and powerful armies...well, maybe not all the time, but most of the time! Jesus came to give us a new meaning to the word treasure. he manifested real wealth in this world by giving his life as an atonement for sin. While he taught daily in the temples, mountains, and streets, he commanded us to lay up treasure, and not just any treasure...eternal treasure!

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

There are many aspects I could expound on from this verse, but to save you all from having to read a textbook, I will focus on the last, but for me the most convicting, part of this verse: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

First, let me define "treasure." The online dictionary defines "treasure" in two ways which I found fascinating! The first is the use as a noun; something valuable, a possession or thing that we own that is worth a lot of money to us. The second definition is a verb; something we treasure in our hearts, or hold dear. I think a lot of times we view 'treasure' as something earthly. It is human inclination. We need, rather, to see the word as an attitude of the heart. We need to treasure our relationships, our walk with God, the still moments of the morning when we can hear God's voice, the little miracles that happen in our walk each day, and perhaps the most of all, the people we are able to influence for Christ! These are the treasures that Jesus spoke of while he taught. Not something that could be taken away or stolen or spoiled, but something that would last for eternity.

Secondly, Jesus warns us that where we lay our treasure is where we will choose to place our heart. We must ask ourselves where our heart is! I must ask myself where my heart is. Is it with a person my parents don't agree with? Is it with earthly possessions? OR...is my heart with those I am discipling for Christ, and with those I am receiving Godly counsel from? I would encourage you to take a morning and get up early and just seek God in the stillness while everyone else is still asleep or occupied. There is something about being completely alone with God that forces me to come to grips with who he is and what he expects from me...his child! Laying up eternal treasures impacts our direct relationship with God. We are called to throw aside every weight that besets us and run towards Christ, our master. Would you run with a briefcase? This is what we agree to do when we embrace competing affections, treasures, that are not of the Lord!

The Bible as well as our History books boast many people who laid up eternal rather than earthly treasure. George Mueller is a man who sacrificed all for himself in order to eternally impact God's kingdom. During his ministry, he fed and clothed millions of orphans simply by asking God for the provisions needed. He never asked once for money, yet great wealth passed through his hands, a little at a time, just enough for God to show his amazing power. Through it all, Mr. Mueller saw the hand of God in everything. He amassed no earthly wealth, but the souls of orphans were his chief concern. Mr. Mueller did not just feed and clothe children. He taught them about Jesus and about the undying love of our Savior. His eternal treasures made him a very wealthy man. Mr. Mueller had faith that God would provide. He recognized the worthlessness of earthly treasures and the great riches that resulted from eternal ones. He once said, "If the Lord fails me at this time, it will be the first time." Oh that we could all see the Lord that way! If we could, I think we would then be able to destroy the affections and treasures that tear us from our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Something that has been really convicting to me lately is the level of complaining that I seem to accomplish! I'm not sure how you all feel about complaining, but as I have looked back on the murmuring heart in my binder from Journey to the Heart, I have felt the need to put myself in the place of those I complain to and about! It is a spiritual sapper! I realize now how detrimental complaining is for the relationships we have and especially the relationship we have with God. I think it's a very appropriate time to say...Contentment is something that could certainly be helpful in applying this command to our lives. This command we so often brush aside and take for granted.

Contentment is realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions. Contentment realizes that God has given me everything I need for my present welfare and happiness! The secret to contentment is enjoying the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). The alternative to contentment is boredom with worldly possessions (Luke 12:15). The more we release our worldly possessions, the more we will be able to grasp at eternal treasures. "Discontentment makes rich men poor while contentment makes poor men rich." (Ben Franklin)

Ask yourself how content you are. Refuse to believe that it is too hard to try. Be content with what God has given you, but discontent with allowing your spiritual life to dry out. Jesus Christ came to lay up treasures in heaven. We see a pure example in his life. Truly, there was nothing worth giving up his glory in heaven, here on earth. Yet, because of the love he had for us, he came anyway. He was content to die. To be made a servant of mankind... to bow lower than a slave...to heal those who had no gratitude...and to give up the greatest gift...life itself! His reward? We are his inheritance! Each child of God adds to the inheritance which rewards the sacrificial gift of Jesus.

I have chosen two verses which tie into contentment and treasures to share with you all:

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
I Timothy 6:7

"For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phil 4:11 "My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19

Let me leave you with a challenge: How many treasures can you find in the next week? How many rhemas? How many disciples? How many can you share the love of Jesus with? How often can you catch yourself before you complain or utter a murmuring word? How often can you make Jesus first priority? I encourage you to leave behind that which doesn't matter in order to reach farther for that which will matter for eternity. Each one of your are a treasure. Look around you and see all the other treasures. Perhaps the hardest thing will be to view little siblings as a treasure when they seem to get on your nerves, or parents when you don't see eye to eye with them...but they are! Every last one. Hold on to that and cherish it...and most of all, believe it! You've only to leave your bedroom to find many treasures in all sizes and places! Keep living the journey...don't just "know" it.

~Hannah
Phil 4:13

I am posting this a little early so I don't have to worry about remembering on New Years Day...

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