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Loving My Coworkers

I am making it my personal mission to show my coworkers the love of Christ, and one way in particular that I hope to accomplish this is through small acts of kindness... starting with halloween s'mores! Even little treats can brighten someone's day! How are you loving those around you? 

Before the Throne

Last night I attended the Shane & Shane CD release concert in Wake Forest.  It was an amazing show saturated in Gospel truth and made for a wonderful end to an amazing weekend spent in the mountains at the Summit Students fall retreat.  There were many great songs played, but “Before the Throne” really touched my heart.  I’ve copied the lyrics below.  It is my hope that these words help you draw closer to God this morning!

Before the Throne

By:  Shane & Shane

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great high Priest whose name is Love

Whoever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hand

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

and tells me of the guilt within

upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin

Because a sinless Savior died

my sinful soul is counted free

For God the just is satisfied

to look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah

Praise the One Risen Son of God.

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect spotless righteousness

The great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of grace

One in Himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

 "Before the Throne" on Youtube

October

I wrote this poem on October 1, 2009, inspired by the autumn season.  I hope you enjoy it!

October

Autumn leaves—

goldenrod, copper, pumpkin.

Cool, crisp air—

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Sweater sleeves.

And so comes October.

Harvest wind—

ushers in the changing season.

Cello strings.

Warm, radiant sunshine

clings to the trees,

not yet ready for hibernation.

Blushing summer leaves—

rustle, tremble, hold tight,

relinquish, let go, fall—

tumble in the twilight.

And so comes October.

What Does the Bible Have to Say About Food?

Preface:  The text below represents my opinions and understandings of the issues at hand.  I do not claim to be a Biblical scholar or expert on the subject, I am merely providing my personal understandings and opinions for consideration.  It is also important to note that this issue is something that each person must decide based on their personal convictions.  I believe we are all held to the same standard, but that the actualization of God’s truth in our lives might look different from person to person. 

Philippians 3:18-19

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and

their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you

have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a

price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”

Colossians 2:20-23

“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

PART I:  Defining the major issues

A.    Food – nourishment for the body

a.      1 Corinthians 10:31 (eating to bring glory to God)

b.      1 Corinthians 6:20 (glorify God with our bodies)

c.      Genesis 1:29-30 (God gave us food from the earth to eat)

d.      1 Corinthians 8:8 (certain foods are not sin in themselves, but the manner or intent can make them sinful)

e.      Ecclesiastes 8:15 (God gave us food and drink to enjoy)

f.       1 Samuel 30:12 (food provides nourishment for our bodies)

g.      Luke 12:23 (life is more than food)

h.      Genesis 25:29-31, 33-34 (just as Easu easily gave up his birthright for hunger, we often sacrifice things that are important for easy/quick/instant/etc. food)

B.    What should we eat?

a.      1 Corinthians 10:23 (everything is permissible; everything is not beneficial)

b.      Genesis 9:3 (God gave us all food from the earth to eat, animals and plants)

c.      Proverbs 30:8-9 (a. eat food that is beneficial for our bodies, b. being too full with the things of this world, such as food, decreases our need for God)

d.      Romans 14:1-23 (God gives us each convictions about what is right to eat)

e.      1 Timothy 4:3-5 (the food God made is good)

f.       Psalm 104:14 (food comes from the earth and is grown by God)

g.      Hebrews 6:7 (crops cultivated in the land)

h.      Isaiah 55:2 (food that nourishes our bodies)

i.       Psalm 104:15 (food that strengthens our bodies)

j.       2 Corinthians 7:1 (we should keep contaminants out of our body and spirit)

C.    Sin – separates man from God

a.      Genesis 3:17-19 (sin entered the world; man must grow food through hard work)

b.      Ephesians 2:1-10 (the story of sin and salvation)

c.      Romans 3:23 (everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God)

D.   Gluttony – the sin of excess eating or drinking; over-indulging in food or beverage

a.      Proverbs 23:20-21 (warning against gluttony)

b.      Proverbs 28:7 (gluttony as shame)

E.    Idolatry – worshipping something other than God; holding something in higher regard than God

a.      Ezekiel 6:9-10 (God hates our idolatry)

b.      Philippians 3:18-19 (our stomachs are our gods; idolizing the things of the world leads to shame and destruction; idolatry makes us an enemy of the cross)

c.      Haggai 1:2-8 (we spend too much time investing in and worrying over the things of the world, food is used as an example)

F.     Self-control – having the ability to lay down our desires in favor of godliness

a.      Hebrews 12:1 (sin entangles and hinders us from God’s work; we must get rid of it)

b.      2 Peter 1:5-7 (self-control as a virtue)

c.      2 Timothy 3:1-9 (desire for pleasure vs. self-control)

d.      2 Corinthians 10:5 (holding our thoughts and desires captive)

e.      Galatians 2:22-23 (self-control is a fruit of the Spirit)

f.       Galatians 2:24 (we crucify our flesh, our desires)

g.      Luke 9:23 (we deny ourselves and follow Christ)

h.      Ephesians 4:22-24 (we are to put off our old desires for a new life in Christ)

G.    The Spirit and our bodies

a.      1 Corinthians 6:19 (our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit)

b.      Galatians 5:16 (live by the Spirit, not our sinful desires)

c.      Philippians 3:20-21 (our bodies should be under God’s control)

d.      Romans 12:1-2 (our bodies are living sacrifices)

e.      2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (when we are weak, we receive the power of Christ)

f.       1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (God does not let us be tempted beyond what we can handle and provides a way out for us; flee from idolatry)

H.   Hunger as an analogy - Hunger for food used as an analogy for our desire for God.  Looking at our physical cravings makes us better understand our spiritual cravings.

a.      1 John 2:15-16 (Our cravings for the things of the world are not of God)

b.      Psalm 42:1-2 (just as we crave water, we thirst for God)

c.      1 Peter 2:2-3 (we crave God just as babies crave milk)

d.      Psalm 143:6 (thirst for water is analogous to thirst for God)

e.      Exodus 16:2-4, Deuteronomy 8:3 (the Israelites received manna from heaven as their portion, creating a reliance on God’s provision)

f.       Psalm 34:8 (taste is used as an analogy for experiencing God’s goodness)

g.      Psalm 84:1-2 (we are faint without God, our flesh desires God)

h.      Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus was tempted by Satan to eat in the desert, but responded that we live on spiritual bread not physical bread)

i.       Luke 8:15 (growing a crop is an analogy for spiritual growth)

j.       Galatians 2:22-23 (spiritual disciplines are seen as the fruit of the Spirit)

k.      John 4:34 (our “food” is to do the work of God)

l.       Psalm 73:26 (our bodies fail, but God is our portion)

m.    Isaiah 55:8-12 (just as crops are grown and eaten, God Word takes root in our lives and produces “crops” to his glory)

n.      Psalm 107:9 (just as we physically hunger and thirst, we spiritually hunger and thirst)

o.      Psalm 106:14 (the Israelites gave into their cravings in the desert – desert can be an analogy for spiritual emptiness)

PART II:  Analysis of the issues, making sense of it all

We eat food because we have a physical hunger, a biological need for nourishment that can only be derived from ingesting nutrients (Genesis 1:29-30).  To exist, we must eat (1 Samuel 30:12, Isaiah 55:2).  God made food for our enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 8:15).  We often see the disciples breaking bread with Jesus and enjoying both the food and each other’s company.  Eating food is not a sin, but the manner and intent of the consumption can be a sin.  As Romans 3:23 tells us, all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; therefore, our actions, thoughts, and the creations of our hands are tainted with imperfection.  Speaking specifically about food, we have turned something that God made to be good into something that can be bad if misused. 

Unhealthy foods (for example, candy and fast food) are human creations, and therefore they are tainted by our sinful desire for pleasure or convenience, among other things.  God gave us animals and vegetation to eat to His glory and the nourishment of our bodies (Genesis 9:3).  In the Bible, we are instructed to eat food that nourishes and strengthens our bodies, all the while keeping contaminates out of our bodies (Isaiah 55:2, Psalm 104:15, 2 Corinthians 7:1).  Just as Easu willingly gave up his birthright for food, we often sacrifice important things such as nutrition for easy, quick, instant meals (Genesis 25:29-31, 33-34).  We all like to indulge in a treat every once-in-a-while, but how often are unhealthy foods a part of your diet?  Does the food you choose to eat build you up or hold you back?  It is crucial to note that foods are not sinful; they are inanimate objects incapable of sinning against God.  Rather, it is the way in which we use them or the intent to which we use them that causes us to sin.  God gives each of us convictions about what is right to eat, but those decisions must be made prayerfully and in consultation with God’s Word (Romans 14:1-23).  Does the food you eat nourish and strengthen your body for God’s glory? 

So what does the gospel have to do with food?  The gospel  is not that God saved us for ourselves and the pursuit of our own desires, but rather as His “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,” that God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:1-10).  We are given a new life that does not belong to us (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6:19).  Our desires for the things of this world must be submitted to Christ so that we can be free to follow him with abandon (2 Timothy 3:1-9, Galatians 2:24).  Our worldly, sinful desires hinder us from accomplishing God’s work and we need to get rid ourselves of anything that can hold us back (Hebrews 12:1).  For example, we may be are addicted to certain foods that consume our minds or dictate how we live our lives; use food as an idol and seek to comfort, award, or self-medicate ourselves by eating in times of anger, sadness, despair, joy, happiness, or celebration; or we may eat too much unhealthy foods that cause our bodies to function improperly, gain weight, become sluggish, tire easily, or experience changes in mood or behavior.  Each of these things can and will hold us back from doing God’s work if we let our lives be ruled by food. 

Overindulgence in food, gluttony, always has consequences – it compromises our health, diminishes energy to pursue our calling, and affects the way we feel about ourselves, just to name a few.  In reality, there is a more serious issue at the root of gluttony.  Overstuffing ourselves with food or drinking until we get drunk or getting wrapped up in the affections of an adulterous relationship are all desperate attempts to silence the cries of a hungry soul.  Whether we are talking about food, wine, sex, shopping, or anything else with which we try to fill ourselves, nothing in this world can ever fill us like God’s portion.  Nothing else can truly satisfy.  It is also important to note that not all gluttony is caused by emotional responses; sometimes we overindulge because we lack the self-control to say enough is enough.  (Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst)

We all know what it is like to be physically hungry.  In the Bible, hunger is often used as a tool to help us better understand spiritual hunger.  Just as we use food to fill the void in our stomach and provide nourishment for our bodies, so God’s Word fulfills our hearts and nourishes our souls.  The Bible is replete with examples of physical hunger illustrating the power, dynamics, and force of spiritual hunger.  We are to crave God like babies crave their mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2-3).  Do you consume the Word and time with God with the same voracity that you consume your food?  When we are hungry, it’s all we can think about.  Do you hunger for God in this way?

God made us capable of craving so we’d have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone.  Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only one capable of satisfying them.  You have to ask yourself, “is my craving for food stronger than my craving for God?”  Through our sinful cravings, we attempt to get our physical needs met outside the will of God.  We, in essence, take control of our lives and pursue our desires rather than His.  Our flesh buys into Satan’s lie that it’s not fair for things to be withheld from us, so we give into our temptation and Satan writes “shame” across our heart.  When we feel consumed by our unhealthy desires, we can rely on God’s power to break the temptation (Matthew 4:1-11).  We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us; no temptation, no desire, no craving is too strong for God’s power or too small for His attention.  God loves us from the inside out, every bit of us, so why would he not care about our every problem?  Rely on his promises and his provision. 

In the end, pursuing self-control knits our hearts closer to God’s and enables us to receive what He wants for us each day (2 Peter 1:5-7).  We yield control of our desires and trust in His promises; we turn from the things of the world and place our full faith in His power to heal and redeem us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).  No matter the craving or desire, we have to deny it’s control on our lives and yield to God’s power (Philippians 3:20-21).  God wants us to rest in Him and rely on Him alone, not on the things of this world that try to captivate our hearts and minds.  Letting go of our ties to the world only increases our desire for and faith in God.  

Happiness?

"So I've been thinking about this whole being happy thing... and I feel like people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. Someday we'll be happy, when I get that car or that job or that person in our life that will fix anything.  But happiness is a mood.  It's a condition, not a destination.  It's like being tired or hungry; it's not permanent.  It comes and goes and that's ok.  I feel like if people thought about it that way, we'd find happiness more often." --Julian, One Tree Hill

I was watching TV tonight and heard one of the characters on One Tree Hill say this quote about happiness.  At first, I thought how beautiful of a sentiment it was, but as I stopped to examine his words, I realized that there is a deep sadness that accompanies this outlook.  Julian started out on the right track when he voiced that happiness is not a destination.  Truth.  Because of Christ, we have happiness that flows from inside.  It is not something we aspire to achieve, but rather something that we are given and a response to the love that we have been shown.  I understand that things happen and it is natural to be sad, but thinking about happiness as something that "comes and goes" seems so depressing.  I agree that happiness is not found in possessions or achievements, but if happiness, as defined by Julian, is transient, then what then is depriving us of the emotion? What is the source of our happiness if we can so easily lose it?  Are we putting our hopes upon something that is temporary or something that is eternal? Something empty of fulfilling? Something imperfect or something perfect? You see, when you move from the temporary to the eternal, the empty to the fulfilling, the imperfect to the perfect, you find a never ending source of happiness, comfort, love, tenderness, and joy.  Life is not perfect, and God made us to experience all range of emotions, but think about that next time you catch yourself slipping into a sour mood.... what defines your happiness?  What has the right to deprive you of the joy God created you to experience?  Happiness is a destination.  It is not achieving the American dream.  Happiness, true joy, is found in Jesus Christ. Knowing how deep and wide his love is for me, his unfailing provision, his enduring promises, his grace and mercy that know no bounds... my happy place is in God.

I'd love to know your thoughts.

A Modge Podge of Thoughts

Sorry for the absence of blogging...  After I finished grad school, I spent a month traveling (most of which was spent in SE Asia! - more to come about this later), and then came back to a brand new job.  Well, things are under way and I'm adjusting to a non-student life again.  I'm loving all of this new free time! It's fantastic! I'm looking at an exciting move around the corner (which means many chances to decorate!), free time, no school, new volunteer opportunities, and just generally catching up on all of the things I have neglected this past year while I was slaving away (maybe not slaving away) in grad school.  It's crazy because yet again things in my life have fallen perfectly into place. There are still some decisions I need to make, but the great thing is that I have the time and peace in my life to think through them. I love the possibilities that accompany free time.  I'm excited for what God is going to do in my life this year.  I'm always amazed at his perfect timing and the way his blessings provide more than enough.

Today at work I learned about a community partnership Duke has with the city of Durham... needless to say I am quite excited about new opportunities to volunteer! Anyone else out there work for Duke and want to be a part of this with me??? https://community.duke.edu/ddnp/volunteer/index.php Let me know!

Also, I'm looking for a book of the Bible to take my ninth grade girls through this fall. Think New Testament.... they're still at the age where the OT puts them to sleep. I'd love feedback and opinions! I have a few ideas, but there is so much good stuff in each book that it is hard for me to choose.  Last year we focused a lot on foundational elements, things that would help them really begin to put down deep roots in the gospel.  This year, we are going to focus on learning to really dig into the Word: how to understand scripture, pray through a passage, draw out the meaning, place the events within Biblical history, and so forth. Basically, it is my hope to help my girls learn how to abide with Christ, and reading his living, breathing Word is one way to do that!

You Need a Fur Ball in Your Life. Trust Me.

So I took Darcy to get his nails done this morning (yes, he gets manicures), and noticed a sign promoting adoption specials at Safe Haven Animal Rescue in Raleigh, NC.  For the month of June you can adopt a kitten for $50, an adult cat for $25, or a mature cat for $5.  Read my post below on how I adopted my little fur ball and think about bringing home one of your own!

Employed!

Yep, that's right. I've got a job! I finished grad school on Thursday around 3:30 pm and then a little after 5:00, I got the phone call offering me the job. Can you believe it?!? I started the interview process for this position a month ago, so it is really exciting to finally hear good news! I feel so blessed that God has continued to provide opportunities for me.  The timing is absolutely perfect because I got the call almost immediately after grad school.  I'll then go on a trip overseas for a while and start working shortly after that! Everything is falling into place! Not to mention that the location is a mere 15 minutes from my house and in one of my favorite places in the Triangle! I'm really excited about this and can't get over how lucky I am to be in this position!

Now it's time to go shopping for new work clothes.... :)

Mr. Darcy and Me

Here is the blog post that I wrote for Independent Animal Rescue out of Durham, NC, which is the adoption agency that I adopted Darcy from almost a year ago.  If you haven't ever considered adopting a pet, now's a good time to do it! 

Growing up, I was always a dog person.  We had a wonderful yellow lab named Sandy who was a beloved member of our family, and to me, cats were just those other pets crazy old ladies had.  After graduating from college, I wanted a pet, but was not ready to be tied down by a dog.  My Mom suggested adopting a cat, and after doing copious amounts of research, I decided on a Russian Blue because of their temperament and hypoallergenic qualities (which turned out to all be true!). I can tell you, without a doubt, that I'm in love with my cat. Yep, I'm one of those crazy cat ladies.  I never saw it coming, but it happened.  From the first time I saw Darcy (formerly "Hutch") at his foster home, I loved him.  I sat on the floor of the foster mom's living room and he crawled in my lap and purred and purred.  I knew from that moment that I wanted to bring him home.  Darcy quickly became my "fur baby" and a favorite among my friends and family.  He is tirelessly playful, extremely curious, and sweet as can be.  He runs to greet me at the door when I get home and immediately begins talking to me in a series of meow's as he leads me to play with his favorite toys.  He loves to watch the birds and hunt for bugs on the front porch.  That's how he got his nickname "Bug", because any bug that gets anywhere near Darcy meets an unfortunate end (which is great for his Mama who hates bugs). Named after Jane Austen's brooding Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, Darcy fits the personality of Austen's character perfectly: refined, intelligent, loyal, and extremely affectionate. I picked the name long before I met Darcy, but it suits him like a glove. I wasn't sure what to expect when I adopted Darcy from IAR, having heard horror stories of adopted pets gone wild.  However, I could not be happier (ecstatic, really) with this new addition to my family.  I spoil him rotten and he loves me unconditionally.  It's a perfect match: Mr. Darcy and me. 


And, just for fun, here's Darcy eating/attacking water this past Christmas:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=927632953988

Stuck in My Head

This morning I have a thought stuck in my head that is a reminder of a wonderful weekend with the Summit Students at Nexus Project!

Clayton King made a wonderful comment during his message on Saturday.  He said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that if God cannot trust you with the small things that he places before you, how will he ever be able to trust you with the big things?  This is really sticking out in my mind today because it is a great reminder how even the ordinary things in our lives are ordained by God to grow us, stretch us, teach us, and prepare us for what is to come.  Often times, it is easy to focus on the future, the "one day" thoughts, and forget about the present minute that we are living in.  Francesca Battistelli's song, "This is the Stuff," is coming to mind as I write this and think about all of the "teachable moments" God gives me each day.  This also goes back to the idea of un-compartmentalizing our lives, giving God every minute, every second, every breath, and making it all for his glory.  How easy it is to forget this in the midst of life's craziness!  It is my prayer this week that we move into a deeper relationship with God and meditate on the truth of his goodness and mercy... in all of life's situations.  Let's not wait for tomorrow to come!

Apparently I Love Free Stuff

Apparently I really like free stuff... and I like passing it along to you all! I found this FREE SONG download this morning on K-Love's website! Click here to download Matt Maher's song, "Christ is Risen."

Happy Valentine's Day folks!
<3

More Free Stuff!

If you read my earlier post, you know that www.christianaudio.com offers a free audiobook download each month.  Well, this month they are offering Adopted for Life by Russell D. Moore.  If you are around The Summit, you have definitely heard about this book (and maybe even seen it for sale over at the Info Table).  I am currently listening to it and have found it to be quite enjoyable and thought-provoking! I'm not married or even thinking about children of my own yet, but it is a great reminder of the existing need for orphan care.  Even beyond that, it is an incredible reminder of our relationship with God! Look for a book review and discussion about adoption on my blog one day down the road! 

I also want to take this opportunity to point you to Trevor Atwood's sermon on adoption entitled "Adoption: Identity and Inheritance". Trevor is one of the pastors on staff at The Summit.  This sermon is an incredibly powerful picture of the Gospel! 

An Absent Blogger...

I promise I haven't forgotten about you, dear blog readers. Once student teaching is over, I'll be back in action!

Coupon Convert

So, I've always been pretty skeptical of couponing.  Fifty cents off of peanut butter? One dollar off detergent? It seems like a trivial amount, doesn't it? So maybe you buy three things on your shopping trip that have coupons and you save a whopping two dollars... oh how wrong I was.

Thanks to some great advice from an awesome friend from church, I learned what this couponing business is all about.  I clipped, sorted, and organized my coupons, toting them along to Harris Teeter today for my first attempt at being a savvy shopper. It took me an hour in the grocery store, but at the end of my little adventure, I saved $47.60 (40% total savings)!!!

I was absolutely shocked (and so was the man in line behind me). And now, I'm a believer! Couponing works. Not only did I save a TON of money, but I was also able to purchase many things that I would have gone without because I could get them for a great deal. It took planning, organization, and more thinking than I'm used to doing in a grocery store, but it was well worth it!

Here are the tips that were given to me by my friend. She also pointed me to The Intentional Home, a great blog with tons of resources about couponing and other domestic endeavors (she also offers local classes on couponing that I'd LOVE to check out if anyone is interested). Try these tips out and let me know how it goes!

1.)  Get the Sunday paper.
[I bought the News and Observer] -There are tons of coupons in the middle of the Sunday paper. Cut them out!

2.) Look for other coupons. 
You know that annoying paper thing that comes to your mailbox every week? I always thought it was junk mail, so I trashed it without looking. Wrong. It's not junk mail. It's a coupon treasure trove. Look through it! You'll start to see coupons other places as well... keep an eye out and you'll accumulate quite a few!

3.) Only cut the coupons that you actually need. 
Less paper to deal with, less temptation to buy things "just because I can save money".

4.) Sort and organize the coupons. 
You don't want to be "that girl" in the grocery store who has coupons trailing behind her shopping cart. The more you organize on the front end, the easier it is to find what you are looking for in the store.

5.) Check out Southern Savers. 
They have great tips, specials, and information about the weekly specials and applicable coupons for each major grocery store, drug store, and big box store (like Wal-Mart).  They also have links to websites with printable coupons so you can find even more than you collected from your Sunday paper!

6.) Pick a grocery store to focus on. 
I like Harris Teeter because they DOUBLE your manufacturer's coupons (up to face value of $0.99) every day! Here is their coupon policy. They also offer e-Vic discounts and e-coupons that you load straight onto your Vic card. [Story: I bought yogurt today. It was originally $2.00. I had a $1.00 manufacturer's coupon in addition to a $0.50 e-coupon from e-Vic... so I paid $0.50 for my four-pack of yogurt. And we're talking fancy-shmancy-not-store-brand yogurt!].

Pay attention to the weekly specials (I found their website super helpful!).  This week happens to be a big "buy one get one free" week, so those things were already half off ("buy one get one" at Harris Teeter is the equivalent of "one for half price"!).  Then, I used a coupon on top of that price. Or, if something was on sale for "2 for $5.00" and I had a $1.00 coupon, that means I payed $2.00 for each item! Especially for your coupons that are less than $0.99, you can really save a good bit of money because they double (So, if you have a $.75 coupon, you are actually going to save $1.25!)! I didn't buy much that wasn't on a special of some sort or that I didn't have a coupon for, and if I did, it was one of my items deemed "necessity". I was also willing to try new brands in order to get the best deal.

7. Get a plan of attack! 
Do your research ahead of time. Know what is on special, what coupons you have, and what you need to buy. Make a game plan!

I'm a coupon convert.

Yes, it takes time.  Yes, it takes work. Yes, you have to be super organized. Yes, it's easier if you are Type A. Yes, I was the girl with the stack of coupons at the check out.

But, I saved 40% off my grocery bill on my first try.  That's a big deal! And, it was a fun challenge. It was a game to see how much I could save versus how much I spent. And I like to shop. Ok, that's an understatement. I LOVE to shop. It's a gift. And, I love to save money. (Who doesn't!?!)

Three great things: fun, shopping, and saving money. That's a win, win, win in my book.

Happy shopping!

Job Offer

"There are certain phrases I'd like to see permanently banned from our Christian vocabulary.  The one that sets me off the most is full-time ministry.  I know what it's supposed to mean, but I vehemently disagree with its implications.  To say that someone is called to full-time ministry suggests that others are permitted to do part-time ministry.  But Jesus didn't die on a part-time cross.  He doesn't love us with a part-time love.  He doesn't cover us with a part-time pardon for sins.  There's no such thing as a part-time Christian, and there's no such thin as a part-time ministry.  The day you gave your life to Christ, you signed a full-time ministry employee agreement... you're a full-time employee of the kingdom of God."
--Steven Furtick, Sun Stand Still, pp. 50-51

You have a job offer on the table.  Did you know that?

God is calling you in to full-time ministry right now.  No matter where you are in your life, you walk into a mission field each day.  Whether you are in school, in a career, a stay-at-home Mom, or in another stage in life, God is calling you to live for him each day and actively work to advance his kingdom.  Don't wait!  Don't waste valuable years of your Christian life waiting for the chance "to go into the mission field".  You are already there!  Don't get me wrong here, I fully believe that overseas missions are vital and that God is calling us to go to the ends of the Earth proclaiming his name. My point here is that you shouldn't wait until that day comes and you board the airplane to fly to another country. There are people who desperately need to hear about Jesus' love at work, in school, in your neighborhood, at the grocery store, and everywhere you might go.  Nothing is accidental.  God puts people in our lives for a reason.  You have a unique opportunity to reach people in the specific places God has placed you. Do not compartmentalize your life into "God's" and "mine". Everything you have belongs to God: your time, your resources, your talents, your life. Don't waste the opportunities God has given you that are right in front of your face!

What are you waiting for? You have a job to do! Get out there and do work!

What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

Tonight I had my music on shuffle as I was working on lesson plans when Nichole Nordeman's "Legacy" (Woven and Spun, 2002) came on.  It's been years since I have heard this song, but the lyrics really struck me.  She sings about her desire to make a mark on the world, not by winning awards or gaining status, but by living a life completely sold out for Jesus. I love the line from the song that says, "I want to leave an offering / A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically / And leave that kind of legacy". Take a few minutes to read through the lyrics and think about this:

What kind of legacy do you want to leave? 

Here is the music video so you can listen along as you read the lyrics.

"Legacy" by Nichole Nordeman

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such 'n such...it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world

Chorus:
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon destroy

Chorus

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well done" good and faithful one

Chorus 

Like Free Stuff?

Each month Christian Audio gives away a free audiobook download. That's right, completely free!

This month's book is Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness:

"From the Back Cover: What does holiness look like? For starters, it doesn't look anything like perfection. And it doesn't necessarily look like victory. Mostly, it consists of effort, prayer, grace, and obedience. "Scripture speaks of both a holiness we have in Christ before God, and a holiness we are to strive after," writes the author. We can ignore neither Christ's role nor our own if we are to successfully pursue holiness. It is as simple as refusing to smudge the truth on a tax return or as complicated as forgiving the person who has most viciously hurt us. Jerry takes holiness out of the realm of the impossible and brings it into the real world of our daily lives and decisions."
(From Amazon.com's listing of the book). 

From the website you can download the audiobook onto your computer and either listen to it there or transfer it onto your mp3 player or a CD.

Click here to download your free book! And remember to check back each month to get your new (free!) audiobook.

Happy listening!

God's Plan for Your Life and Figuring Out Your "Calling"

Today, I want to talk about Pastor JD's "Ask Anything Friday" video from January 14, 2011 called "How do I know God's Will?" If you haven't seen it yet, go watch the video and then come back and keep reading.

It can be really overwhelming to try to figure out God's will. We all do that don't we? We try to figure out what God is thinking, where He might have us go, what He might have us do. We ask God what his plans for our lives are and then when we don't get a step-by-step itinerary: we start to get anxious; we start to ask questions; we start to take things in to our own hands... You can fill in the second half of that sentence however you want to, but isn't that the truth? When we don't hear an immediate word from God as to the next move we should make and when we don't get that "feeling", we start to worry. 

We all desire to live within God's will, but how do we know what God's will is for our lives? Pastor JD gives some really good advice. It's simple, yes, but simple is just the kind of advice we need in this situation because it is so easy to over-think this issue. Here are my notes from his video: 

When figuring out what God wants you to do...

Step 1: Look to the Scriptures. Is there a verse on this issue? 

Step 2: Look to your own reason (which should be saturated with Scripture) 

Step 3: Look to the church. Ask Christian friends if they see things about you, the situation, and Scripture that you are missing. 

Step 4: Look to the Holy Spirit for direction.  Which doors are open? Which doors are closed? 

I think this is great advice. I want to speak to Step 2 for a second because I want to emphasize the "saturated with Scripture" component. This is absolutely crucial! If you are not actively seeking God and handing over the reins to each and every area of your life, then there is a good chance that "your flesh" (aka - your desires, your wants, your selfish heart) is going to take over. That will most assuredly lead to decisions that are out of line with God's purposes. Without the presence of God, your heart craves sin and the things of this world (see my post here for more discussion about this). 

Here is my "to do list" that will keep you close to God as you actively pursue his will for your life:

- Saturate yourself with the Scripture. Read God's Word daily. 

- Bathe your heart in prayer. Paul says to "pray without ceasing".

- Remind yourself of the Gospel every single day. Drive it down deep in your heart and let it take root!

- Have a trusted Christian friend act as an accountability partner and meet often. 

- Live in community with others. Get in a small group! 

- Attend church regularly. Reflect on and apply the teachings. And don't just attend, be active in your church and its mission. 

- Serve in the community.  This not only brings glory to God and advances His Kingdom, but it also redirects our hearts dramatically away from selfishness and places the focus on others. 

Pastor JD speaks to the word "calling" as it is used today: a "reasonable analysis of your gifts and the opportunity and how best to use those gifts for the purposes of the Kingdom" (video). Here are the three things he says you need to consider when you figure out what God's "calling" for your life is:

1. What you are passionate about.  This is what you really just love to do.  

2. What you are good at.  This is not the same as what you are passionate about! Look to other people to affirm that you are in fact skilled at this passion. 

3. What there is market for.  Look to what the church affirms, what they see as valuable and start to practice your passions and skills in ministry opportunities. 

It boils down to this... Know what you are good at, what there is an opportunity for, and go after it! (Charles Spurgeon)

Rest in the fact that God has an amazing plan for your life. He knows each and every step you will take before you take it. He has made you special and unique. You have a purpose ordained by the Most High God, the creator of the universe, who loves you like a treasured child. Trust him with everything you have, with everything he has given you, with every part of your life. God's love for you is as vast as an ocean and his plan for your life is more wonderful than you could ever imagine or dream.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV)

"Almost" Isn't Good Enough

Tonight at The Summit Church, Pastor Raudel gave an awesome sermon chock-full of fuego latino while Pastor JD was away with family mourning the loss of his Grandmother and celebrating her life. I want to have a little think-out-loud time with you all as I reflect on Pastor Raudel's thought-provoking message. However, I first want to tell you that if you haven't tried the Brier Creek PM campus, you should. It's amazing. I can't always attend the Saturday night service because of scheduling, but I never leave without truly encountering God, without feeling overwhelmed by His grace and his amazing love for me.  Also, it's kind of awesome that my stuff and I occupied three whole seats... you just can't do that on a Sunday morning! And as a side note, I think it is a good possibility that Pastor Raudel could give Pastor JD a run for his money in a "who spits more while preaching?" contest!

The title of the sermon was "Casi Cielo", yes like the Starbucks coffee.  Translated into English, Casi Cielo means "Almost Heaven", and this served as an appropriate theme for the message.  Pastor Raudel used 2 Peter 3 as his main text in which Peter is talking about living our days on earth with an eternal mindset.  He said we get so stuck on thinking about "the things of this world" that we forget about Heaven.  Pastor Raudel said "why would you get attached to something that is going to burn up anyway? It is not worth it to live for false saviors of this earth that will perish anyway" (2 Peter 3:7, Matthew 24:35).  We all reject God daily, but God is infinitely patient, lavishing grace upon us (2 Peter 3:9).  Live each day mindfully, remembering the sacrifice of Christ and God's unfailing love.

What consumes your thoughts? When our daily meditation centers on "me" we have lost our eternal perspective. We have to die daily to ourselves. We must ask the Holy Spirit to align our daily activities with God's purpose.  Who is the captain of your ship? You or God? We are to be living life on mission for Christ because that is what we were created for... that is the best life we can live!

I'm reminded of the Switchfoot song, "Meant to Live." The song says, "We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?" Is this true? Have we lost ourselves in "the things of this world" when in fact we have a much bigger, much grander purpose? Does your life center around Jesus or around yourself? Are you dedicating your life to the advancement of His Kingdom or your own? I hope you find this question as challenging as I do.

We often think about judgment day and wonder "will I be ready?" (2 Peter 3:10). But Pastor Raudel reminded us that we must remember that those who have not heard the gospel will also be held accountable. This isn't all about us! Live each day mindful of that fact and live on mission for God! Is your mindset on "the things of this world"or on the salvation of the world?

Don't almost love God. Don't almost love the world. Because almost isn't good enough.

Somewhere during the sermon, my mind took a right turn and began to apply this idea of "almost" to lukewarm Christians.  Revelation 3:15-16 says "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you our of my mouth." You don't want to stand before Jesus and hear him say "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23).

Don't almost get into Heaven.

Think about that. I want to challenge you: do you really know Jesus or just know about Jesus? Are you living a half-way Christian life in name only? Does your life reflect the things you say you believe? Can someone look at your life and know that you are a Christian?

I want to end with the following passage from Matthew 25, not as a scare tactic, but because I believe it really drives home this point. I urge you to consider Jesus' words and pray about how your life might be centered around His mission for the world.

Matthew 25:31-46

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.


Want to hear this or any other Summit sermon? Click here for the online sermon media. You can listen online, watch the video, or download it to your computer or mp3 player. 

Audacious Faith

I am currently reading Steven Furtick's book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible.  I read a lot and I can honestly tell you that this is one of the best books I have read in a long time! If you don't own the book yet, stop reading and go order it now.  I promise it will be the best $9.77 you have spent today! The book is all about having audacious faith, "faith that opens your eyes to see the potential to serve a God who is already at work on your behalf" (Furtick 61).  Pastor Furtick says that "this kind of faith doesn't just change you, it also enables you to be a part of changing the world" (33).

Here are a few of my favorite quotes (so far):

"But when you really understand God's work in you, your natural desire will be to surrender your life to him.  To obey him unconditionally.  That posture of surrender will result in radical steps of faith -- and a confidence that flows from a heart that's fully devoted to God's plans.  And in that place, past the edge of your comfort and convenience, God can raise your life to new heights."  (p. 80)

"Before God can do an impossible work in your world, you need to let him do a deep work in your heart." (p. 80)

"Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you're a connector to the current of the power of Christ.  You are a servant of the Most High God." (p. 54)

"But audacious vision never cowers in the darkness.  The darker it gets, the brighter our faith can shine.  Audacious faith takes Jesus at his word.  We are the light of the world: we cannot be hidden -- and we have no reason to hide (Matthew 5:14)" (p. 30).

"It's also about becoming intimately acquainted with who Jesus is.  It's about mining the depths of who you are in him.  And out of that revelation, you will fulfill the purpose that he put you on earth to fulfill" (26).

"If you're not daring to believe God for the impossible, you're sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life... if the vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God" (p. 7)

Seriously, go buy this book. And if you're in the Charlotte area, go check out Pastor Furtick's church, Elevation.

Prayer for the Nations

Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."  (NIV) 

If you are looking for a really great prayer resource, Operation World provides tons of information of how you can pray for the nations.  It can be overwhelming to wrap your head around praying for specific nations, but Operation World has specific prayer points, videos, and all kinds of tools to guide you.  You can even sign up here to become a part of the 60 Day Prayer Experience and receive daily emails that focus on a specific country.  For example, this is what you will see for Day 1.  I highly recommend Operation World!