~Called to serve~

Lately I've been thinking and praying a lot about what I'm going to do after high school, this being my junior year, I suppose I should start giving it a little thought :) I've recently had a great desire to go on a mission trip, or more of a desire to do something "big" for God. I was telling Mama about these thoughts, explaining that I felt like I needed to go somewhere far away in order to be serving God. Mama didn't discourage these idea's, but instead she told me that right now I'm where God's put me. Maybe he doesn't need me to go halfway around the world to serve him, or even to do "big" things for him, I can do it right now, here in my home! EVERYWHERE we go we are called to shine the light of Jesus, not only in far away countries, but here, in our communities, in our churches, in our homes. If I can't serve Jesus where he's placed me for the time being, then I certainly can't serve Him anywhere else. Right now, at age 16, I'm under my parents, so one of the best ways I can serve God and bring glory to His name is by honoring my parents and being a help to them right now where he's put me, and if I get a chance to go out in serve well then praise Him! And I'm not saying that going to a far away country is a bad idea, I think spreading the gospel in foreign places is WONDERFUL, but, if that's not where God wants you at the time, don't feel discouraged like there's nothing you can do for Him, look around you, there are opportunities everywhere :)

::My Life for Thee::

I (Bekah) have always had a strong love for poetry, constantly writing my feelings down in the beautiful language of poetic form! Lately I've been thinking about how nothing in this life I do is right. I'm constantly failing, and I'm so full of pride. But Jesus says come, my yoke is easy, my burdens light. I turned some of these thoughts into poetry:

\                      "How oft my heart turns from thee God
                        And looks for worldly goods abroad!
                        My eyes, they wonder from they face
                        To look on things in this worlds space.
                        My tongue, instead of singing praise,
                        Speaks haughtily throughout the day!
                        My feet, instead of walking THY ways,
                        Walk in my paths, and i do stray!
                        In seeing my life, so full of dross,
                        I fear i do forget the cross!
                        How you, the Lamb of Calvary,
                        Suffered, bled and died for me!
                        How can a mortal repay this debt,
                        Being a liar, a sinner, a hypocrite?!
                        And you're response is come to me,
                       My yoke is easy, my grace is free!
                       Lord, use my life for other to see
                       The wonderful things you've done for me!
                       And let my light in this world shine
                       Til' i stand in Thy light devine."

Can we thank Him enough? We cannot. Can we repay Him? We cannot. Can we live for Him? Always.

       

It's called Grace

Grace. It’s one thing that’s harder to comprehend then the trinity.  Grace means this ‘unmerited favor’. So God gives us unconditional love – despite all we do to him and each other” (bible basics). Grace is also defined to be the power from God to do his will.   Grace it’s something that God gives to us, it’s something that God showed us by sending Jesus.  I don’t understand or get why God showed me Grace, I guess that’s why its grace because we don’t understand it.  I can’t grasp my mind around the fact that a perfect complete, without blemish God would want to extend Grace to me, a poor wretched sinner who spits in his face and who nailed him to the cross.  He showed Grace to, me, you, us. My Question is WHY. Why God? Why do you do the things you do? Why do you care about me? Why do you constantly love me? Why do you show me compassion, why?  Is it because you’re my father? Because you made me in your image? Because you love me more than anything?  Is that why you show me such Ultimate Grace. I don’t know the reason you show me grace but I thank you Jesus for your extraordinary grace.  I trust and believe you love me and are with me every day. 

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10

Jesus Help me be Crazy in Love with You

Recently, as of last week I(Laney) picked up the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I would encourage all of you to pick up a copy of this spectatualr amazing book! This book isn't one you'll pick up read through and say well that's nice for other "Christians" to do. NO This book will make you fall on your hands and knees and will make you experience your christian walk like never before.  One big thing i struggle with is being IN LOVE with Jesus, in love as in always thinking about him, talking or being in his presence. I struggle with being a "lukewarm" christian sometimes probably more then i realize. I get busy with this that and everything else and God kind of falls on my back burner. Over the last few months God has been working in me to focus more on him and less on material things in this world. One example is my phone/facebook, I'm a normal teenager what can i say i love to keep up my friends, but God has taken that desire to always be on facebook or always be on my phone away. I still adore texting my beloved friends but now i just don't do it as much. Anyway back to my back burner, God isn't there anymore and I'm working on him never being there again. I know I'll fail, but at least I'm getting off my bottom and doing something about it. Crazy Love has taught me to Pray more, be in Gods word more and seek him more. It's overwhelming how much God loves and and wants me to be in his presence, and yes i do believe God wants us to want to seek him. Being Crazy in Love with God might mean spending an extra 10 minutes on your knees, it might mean instead of sleeping 15 extra minutes getting up and reading his word .  Maybe it's loving that person in your life who is anything but easy. Out of all the things Ive just said the getting out of bed is probably the hardest for me, but let me tell you its totally worth it. I don't really know what else God wants me to do to become more crazy in love with him but i pray when the time comes  i'll know and I'll be able to do whatever he asks of me. Each day Im seeking to love Jesus more and more!