GROUNDED... in Truth

Prove it

2011-09-09T14:45:00.002-05:00

Why are we always asking God to prove His love for us?

Is it not enough that He sent His ONLY Son to die for us!

The most quoted/used bible verse at every sword drill at your junior high youth group or middle school chapel, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” - -John 3:16

I remember the youth pastor saying that verse and the people up front with their bible above their heads ready to find the verse and read it… I was sitting in my seat, probably with my arms crossed across my chest, saying to myself “geeze people, cant you just say it, do you really have to look it up and read it. Its like the easiest verse ever”.

Oh the smartness/sassiness of a 13yr old.

Yes it would be easier to just say the verse than to look it up… but that is not the goal of sword drills
-Sword drills showed off who really knew the 66 books and knew them in order.

OK enough about junior high and those great years where I sported braces and passed notes in class that were in the shape of those paper footballs.

Back to the verse “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16
This verse is not just a simple verse that we learn when we are 3years old.
It is complex and really shows us the character of God.

I’ve been reading about God’s love for me a lot recently. And I stumbled across this statement:
Love- The deepest possible expression of God’s character. Though God loves all people, he is especially committed to sacrificial, loyal relationships with his people.

God’s love is eternal/everlasting! It is not going to fade away or disappear.

I love these verses’ in Jeremiah 31:1-6. He does not let us go…
but He doesn’t stop there -He provides for us!
1 "At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people."
2 Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,
3 the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit.
6 For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"

His LOVE is also a covenant love! Deuteronomy 7:6-11 Click here to read it.

We have become jaded and want everything to have proof.

Well here is my proof…
I know for a fact I am beyond loved by God!
I feel His love wash over me as I read His love letter to me.
I feel His arms of strength around me when I am tired and can not go on.
I feel His presence when I am singing at church or in my car by myself.
I get to see His love portrayed out in my friends’ lives as they love me well. (Let me expand on this. I am confident in my friends love for me and my love for them because it is all rooted deeply in our personal relationships with Christ. We love each other well because He first loved us.)
I see God’s love in my parents 35yrs of marriage and in my brother’s brand new marriage.
God’s LOVE is EVERYWHERE

Stop asking HIM to PROVE IT

1 test & 3 classes

2011-01-10T13:55:00.005-06:00

My church in SoFlo (Rio Vista Community Church) has created a test for the whole congregation to take.

WHY... because they are about to offer 3 classes to take and in order to know what class you should take, you need to take the test!

Whoever out there in the world wide web who reads this... I encourage you to take the test below! and here is why.

-We all need a lil' accountability when it comes to what we have learned about the Word of God

-It will help you know where you have some weak points that need attention! (I mean you don't just go run a marathon... you train for it! So shouldn't we as Christians train in our biblical skills area of life?!?!)

-And it will be fun to boast to your friends on how well you did :-)

So here's to all that Sunday School stuff you learned years ago when your parents made you go! Good Luck!

-the test The Biblical & Theological Aptitude Test (that's the test and answers... but don't look too far ahead)

Here are the 3 classes they are offering and books they are using in each one:

101: The Bible—Why it matter and how it works

ESV Reformation Study Bible

201: The Bible and Covenants—Seeing the Big Picture

The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson

301: The Bible and Doctrine—The Deeper Truths and How They Affect Your Life

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

The classes are going to be podcasted, so for those who are interested in diving in deeper check back to the churches website to see/hear the classes, etc.

If anyone wants to discuss any of the questions or have comments about them, hit me up via email slestler@gmail.com (I'm always up for a lil' discussion about the Word of God)

Have a BLESSED Day!

in HIM,
Stevie

It's Finally Here: Ponder 365 by Vickie (my Mom)

2010-12-11T15:07:00.002-06:00

If you have ever met my mom... well, you will never forget her!

She is hilarious, southern, BLONDE and beyond talented!

This past summer my mom worked hours upon hours almost EVERYDAY on a project that has been very dear to her heart! A Calendar for MOM's!!

If you are looking for a last minute gift for your mom or a friend who is a mom... well, this is PERFECT!!

They are flip calendars that can stand-up and sit pretty much anywhere you want to put them (next to bed, on the kitchen counter, next to a computer... where ever your heart desires)

They are $15 each ***

If you buy 1 then the shipping is $4.95

If you buy 2 or more the shipping is $10.70

If you are interested in one send me an email with how many and an address to mail them too!

slestler@gmail.com

*** By the way, NO MONEY IS GOING TO MY MOM! All money is going to the M.O.M. (mom's on a mission) a ministry for Young Mom's at Rio Vista Community Church (which is where my mom leads the ministry)

Building Blocks

2010-10-13T22:33:00.002-05:00

This picture is very elementary...
but I think that we have to start with the basics when it comes to building!

I googled how to build a house and I found a web page that gave 5 steps:

1. Plan your budget

2. Choose your lot

3. Line up your team

4. Pick a plan

5. Negotiate a contract

These five steps might seem easy, but there is a lot of work that must be done with each step!

Just like our faith... there are steps that need to be taken to build up our faith!

So often I hear "just confess your sins and let Jesus take the drivers seat in your life and you will be great and have an awesome life" HOLY JUNK!! If this life of being a christian was easy, than everyone would do it.
Matthew 7:13-14 talks about the wide and narrow gates and how they look

The process of building/maintaining a house doesn't stop the moment you tell the design team good-bye (like on Extreme Home Makeover). You are constantly having to take care of your house. You've got to mow the lawn, water your plants, take your trash out, vacuum the floors, wipe down the soap scum in the bathrooms!
If you don't do these things, your house will start to smell and fall apart.

Our faith is like a house that must be taken care of long after we accept Christ!

Here are some steps that I think we need to build up/maintain our faith:

Quiet times/daily devotions (this is a lot like planning out your budget of a house) You've got to plan out how your day is going to go and how you will make Christ the focal point of it! God gave you breathe each morning to live out your days... so don't you think we should maybe give Him the first few minutes of our day!? I personally don't have my long quiet times when I first wake-up, but what I do do is grab a little piece of the WORD of God first thing to start off my day! I have a book called "Jesus Calling" and I love it! It is short and simple and just a great way to start my day off! (you can buy it here)
Choose this day whom you will serve. In our lives we are engaged in a daily battle with satan. It sucks that we are tempted and that sin looks and tastes so good! So we need to make a conscious effort on choosing whom we are going to serve each day... God or the world! I love in Joshua 24, Joshua talks to the tribes of Israel and lets them know about their past and who their forefathers served (and it wasn't always God) and he tells them that then and now they will serve God (read here)
Line up your team (I'm just going to use the same phrase as the house building) We need to be sure we are hanging with the right people... people who ultimately point us to the Cross! Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we are not to be friends with non-Christians... they just can't be our only friends! "Bad company corrupts good morals" - 1 Cor 15:33 Find a church youth group or bible study... or K-Life (yepp, I just plugged them... they do pay my paycheck & I love my job and the people I hang out with) here is a great article on friends
PRAY!! I don't think I can ever pray enough! "Pray with out ceasing" 1 Thess 5:16-18 God wants us to talk to Him all the time... when we are happy, mad, angry, sad, WHENEVER!! I have index cards that are taped to my mirror for everyday of the week. Each day has different things to be praying for (ex. my students, my volunteer leaders, my family, friends, my job, etc). So every time I stand in front of my mirror I am reminded to pray! Sometimes I take a pen and write prayer requests on my hand! Do whatever it takes, just TALK TO GOD

Building a house takes work, so does maintaining our relationship with Christ!

Choose the Narrow Path... it's gonna be worth it in the end!

The Weeping Woman

2010-09-28T14:44:00.000-05:00

Jesus Anointed By ___________

fill in the blank above

(a sinner, a woman, a man, a Pharisee, a disciple and so on and so on)

If you have grown up in the church, you might be familiar with the story about a women pouring perfume over Jesus' feet and then using her tears and hair to wash them. Well that story is found in Luke 7:36-50.

Back then all they wore were sandals and their roads were not paved like ours are today. So their feet were dirty, dusty... pretty much disgusting. And when you invited someone over to your house back then, you usually had your servant wipe down their feet before you sat for dinner. But this guy Simon, he did not do that.

The thing I love most about this story is this women's courage!!

She walked into a room full of men who she knew were going to either mock her for her past or give her the cold shoulder and not even acknowledge her being there. BUT she still went into the house and then began to cry over Jesus' feet.

She humbled herself at HIS feet!

She knew her sin was holding her back and she wanted forgiveness, redemption and so much more!

AND HE/JESUS GAVE IT TO HER!!

When was the last time we were at the feet of Jesus with our sins?

When we actually humbled ourselves before Him and asked for forgiveness?

This women is called a "sinner" by the guy who is hosting this party...

the fact is, she was a sinner BUT aren't we all!

It's Been Awhile...But I Still LOVE GOD

2010-09-17T14:43:00.004-05:00

Love God
To Love Someone You Must 1st Get to Know Them

Before I go anywhere- I want you to think about who God is to you in your own life!

Here is Who God is to Me:

There is one God (Eph 4:4-6)

He is the Creator (Gen 1:1, 31)

He exists in three personalities (Gen 1:1): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

He is perfect (Matt 5:48, Deut 32:3-4), holy (Ex 15:11, 1 Pet 1:14-16, Isaiah 6:3), loving (1 John 4:16, John 3:16) and unchanging (Mal 3:6, Num 3:19) and since the beginning of time the whole world has known who He is (Rom 1:20).

Steps to know/love God (read the verses/links)

•Pray (Matt 6:5-13)

The part that really sticks out to me in this selection of verses is vs 6-8

Our relationship with God is an individual/personal relationship... I don't have to go to anyone else and pray through them to go to God. I can go directly to HIM!

Also... who am I pleasing/showing off too about my prayer life?!?

Just talk to HIM (you talk to your best friends about your life... so talk to the Ultimate Best Friend. He is waiting to hear from you)

•Read the WORD (Ps 119:105-106)

The lamp- It's on a table for a purpose... to give light to a room! I'm not gonna take that lamp and plug it in in my closet... it wouldn't light my room!

The WORD (aka the Bible) shines LIGHT into our lives and helps to get rid of the dark places that we like to keep secret! Sin likes to sit in those dark places. Let God, through His Word shine a light into your day to day life!

Also... about that day to day life we live- I notice, even my close friends notice when the Word is not being read and applied to my day to day life. I become more susceptible to sin/dark places! So DIVE INTO THE WORD- don't wait around!

•The Body/Church (1 Cor. 12:12-14)

The church does not just have to be that place we visit on Sundays and Wednesdays! We are the church as believers! We need to be in close fellowship with one another... loving each other and holding each other accountable! We need each other- God did not make us to live by ourselves in some cave up on a mountain. We have cities/communities to be apart of! Be apart of something... be apart of the Body of Christ!

•Witness (Matt 28:16-20)

Disciples making disciples- Looks like Jesus is making me a missionary! In Matt 5:14 it says we "are the light of the world. A city set up on a hill cannot be hidden" We need to share the good news of Christ with others! Why would we hide it from people! If you got a new gift (ie. a car, etc) would you just keep it in your garage and never let anyone see it?! HECK NO!! You would drive that thing all over town! The same goes with God... we need to let others know about HIM! Why... because that was the last thing He required of us as believers before He went back up to heaven! So get out of your house/comfort zone and spread the WORD!

These are just 4 things to do to really get to know God... which leads to loving God!

How can you apply these to your life this week

Healing Begins

2010-07-20T08:59:00.000-05:00

Many times when I am driving I hear a song that has amazing lyrics...
- sometimes they are packed deep with meaning
- or sometimes they are just fun
- and then there are times that I find myself tearing up b/c of how thankful I am to have God in my life!

Below is one of those songs... Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

As Christians we are constantly being healed... and most of the time I think that we dont even realize that we need healing.

Sometimes our sin is right there in front of our face and we see it on a daily basis,
but then we have sin that is so deeply rooted in our lives we dont see it... it has become a part of us

Anyways, the song below is just awesome and I love the message in it.
I highlighted my favorite parts

Healing Begins (click here to listen) it is the very first song
Tenth Avenue North (Mike Donehey/Jason Ingram/Jeff Owen)

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do so we think that you're good
And you can't believe it’s not enough
All the walls you built up are just glass on the outside
So let them fall down
There’s freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We’re here now

This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide could come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find that the shame won't disappear
Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight this coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

I hope today you start to find healing in your life

Let your walls fall to the ground

TORN IN TWO

2010-07-16T12:36:00.001-05:00

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;

and the earth shook and the rocks were split."

Matthew 27:50-51

I did a thing this week that I haven't done in awhile... I flipped open my bible and just read the page it opened up too.

Usually when I do a daily devo, I am doing a study of some sort. So I have certain passages of scripture that I read on certain days!

But as I laid in bed the other night I just wanted to read and I wasn't sure where to start... hence the flip open the bible and see where it opens too.

The verse above is a part of what I read and I it is a part that HOLDS a lot of history and meaning.

So here is a little break down:

The Purpose of the veil is found in Hebrews 9:1-9

The veil separated God from man/sin... this is why only the High Priest was permitted behind the veil at the alter.
The veil was sometimes as thick as 3 feet... that is one thick piece of fabric!
(have you ever seem some one try and tear a phonebook?! Just say the phone book is 3 inches thick... the veil would be 12 phonebooks thick)

The High Priest had very specific instructions on what to do... even what to wear Exodus 28-35

Aaron, brother of Moses was the first High Priest.

But when Jesus died the need for a high priest was no longer an issue:

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

How awesome for us that we dont have to go out backyard and kill our families goat to sacrifice to God because we told a white lie or cheated on a test... and the list can go on and on and on!!!
Now we get to talk to God directly!

Heb 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace

Have a great weekend!!

emotional hole

2010-07-08T14:14:00.000-05:00

"I believe everyone has a God shaped hole in their hearts"
Yes, that exact phrase came out of my mouth a couple of years ago when I was sitting in front of a board of people defending my belief statement.
I drew a blank when I was asked a question... and the above phrase is what I said.
For the next few weeks my friends would walk around holding up their hands in the shape of a hole over their hearts and say that phrase back to me. It was funny and it still is funny when it is brought up!

So about that hole...
I talked about "Emotional Porn" the other day and how we use TV and movies to fantasize about love, sex and relationships. We use the fake relationships we see and then desire them for ourselves.

We as humans have a desire to be loved and love back. Whether that is with family, friends, boy friends/girl friends, etc... we will do what ever we can to fill that hole of love in our lives.

When we do not find that love... we will do crazy things!
I speak from experience here- we will stir up drama to cause others to love us!

One of my favorite lines I hear people say is "I hate drama in my life" HILARIOUS!!!
Are you kidding me... we all love drama. And usually we like to be the center of it.

Attention! We all love attention!

So how much attention and drama do we actually need?
And how much of it is OK before someone (either me/you or the other person) gets hurt?
And does it fill the hole any better than anything else in this world?

So the verse below is a pretty cool verse with a lot of good insight. I highlighted the parts that I find really awesome and that pertain to what I am talking about as far the emotional hole, etc..

Galatians 5:16-25 (Life by the Spirit)
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Now I am not saying that drama and attention are a sin, but I do believe that they can turn into sinful desires when we let them get the best of us.
The last two verses 24 & 25- AWESOME!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

To answers the 3 questions I asked just before the verse:
So how much attention and drama do we actually need? I think that attention and drama are OK- in moderation and in the right time and place. Drama is fun to use when telling a story.
And how much of it is OK before someone (either me/you or the other person) gets hurt? When we use drama to seek out self gratification... we've taken it to far. Manipulation!!!
And does it fill the hole any better than anything else in this world? I honestly do not think that anything we do or any early relationship that we will ever have will fill the void/emotional hole in our lives.
Just like there is only one way to heaven... I believe there is only one person who will fill that "God shaped hole in our lives" God Himself!!

The Closer verse:
John 6:35-40
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

emotional porn

2010-07-06T10:26:00.003-05:00

Visual Porn:
its a addictive... you start with the small stuff, then you gradually get into the bigger stuff
it runs on a slippery slope... it is hard to get out of the mud hole once you get in

But what about Emotional Porn!?!
The emotional romances we see in movies and on TV.
Cole NeSmith a writer from RELEVANT Magazine says "We're taught to crave the moment of romantic ecstasy or to live for the wedding day. We're raised to think these are real stories of love and relationship, and we're confused when they are so few and far between that we aren't sustained. So we turn back to that which lead us to believe in this fantasy all along."

Emotional defined:
e·mo·tion·al
–adjective
1. pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions.
2. subject to or easily affected by emotion
3. appealing to the emotions: an emotional request for contributions.
4. showing or revealing very strong emotions: an emotional scene in a play.
5. actuated, effected, or determined by emotion rather than reason: An emotional decision is often a wrong decision.
6. governed by emotion: He is in a highly emotional state of mind.

Pornography defined:
por·nog·ra·phy
-noun
1. Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.
2. The presentation or production of this material.
3. Lurid or sensational material

To understand emotional porn... I want to dive into 1 John 2:16
1 John 2:16 (3 categories of sin)
"For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world."

desires of flesh- flesh, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, prone to sin and opposed to God
desires of the eyes- we see it and want it.
pride of possessions- the desire to be sustained by resources, wealth and other earthly possessions

So here's the break down:
We watch these movies and TV shows and we WANT WHAT THEY HAVE!
We long after the relationships we see them in.
example: Twilight
Now I like me some Twilight, it's entertaining for the most part. At first I wasn't on the bandwagon, but I saw the first movie and I was intrigued enough to read all 4 books to see what the big fuss was all about.
But this movie is FAKE. Real life does not look like this. Girls all across America are craving to meet their Edward. Girls are forcing relationships with guys and crushing every other relationship (w/ parents, best friends, etc.) in their path all to get a hold of their Edward.
another example: Gossip Girl
Holy Junk!!! This TV show has taken promiscuity to a whole other level.
Everyone sleeps with everyone in this show... and they are all OK with it!
Sex is serious... I have not really addressed it too much in my writings (I am waiting/praying for the right time). But sex has serious consequences when it is outside of marriage. Emotional, physical and spiritual.
People watch this show and think that this life is REAL
Girls/women are craving the things that happen on this show to happen in their own lives.

And when we aren't satisfied with the drama in one show, we look to others to fill up the voids in our lives! Our DVR's become filled with shows that "fake satisfy" us. We are addicted to TV and movies.

We crave drama... if it's not in our own lives, we look to others so that we can live vicariously through them.

We need to desire the Spirit... and in HIM we find freedom

Philippians 4:4-8 (Turn from your sin)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

In closing:

In what areas of your life do see Emotional Porn as an issue?

How do you go about seeking the LORD instead of earthly desires and cravings?

Emotional Porn does not just stop on the big screen though...

I will be discussing other areas of Emotional Porn this week!

Romans 6

2010-07-02T09:10:00.000-05:00

Slaves to sin... can no longer be an excuse

Romans 6

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now that you have read this chapter in Romans, how do you feel?!

I feel freedom... It is verses like these that remind me that I am free and should live like I am free in Christ.

vs. 22 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."
Click here to read more about sanctification

Take time out of your holiday weekend to thank God for who He is in your day-to-day life!!

Praise Him for what He has done so far and for what He will do in the future of your life!!

Its a GIFT

2010-06-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

I am a hypocrite. I am a liar. I am a cheat. I am a Pharisee.
I don't... we don't, deserve anything.

But we receive the ULTIMATE gift of ever lasting life with God!

As a believer we can break down 3 things that occur in our lives

1. We are Justified

2. We are Sanctified

3. We are Glorified

It is all part of the ULTIMATE gift... a gift we so often take for granted!

Justification: Jesus Christ’s death on the cross shows us God’s unconditional, unchangeable love for man.
Romans 5:6-11
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Sanctification: occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike. (this definition is from here)
1 Peter 1:13-16
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Glorification: the ultimate reward we will receive when Jesus returns. We are going to be like Christ.
1 John 3:1-3
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

I love the part of the verse above that says "who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure" It is crazy... we have done pretty much nothing right. I know that is harsh to hear, but we really do like to choose our own ways. And most of the times our ways fail and hurt us. Mostly because we do not lift up our decisions up to Christ when we are making them. We think about what would best benefit us. Here is what is cool though: putting our hope in HIM ... it brings purity!! Purity of heart, mind and body! Hope that He will guide and direct us! Making us more like Him!

In Closing... rejoice that we are heirs with Christ:

Romans 8: 12-17 - Heirs with Christ

"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

TRUTH

2010-06-14T10:36:00.002-05:00

Finding TRUTH in the scriptures

Psalm 25:4-6 (English Standard Version)
"Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old."

John 1:13-15 (English Standard Version)
"who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

John 8:31-33 (English Standard Version) The Truth Will Set You Free
'So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 The Way of Love
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Pray for the truth to be evident in your life on a day-to-day basis!

Through TRUTH... FREEDOM will be found!

the TRUTH Project

Tea/Sin: how do you like it?!

2010-06-10T13:02:00.000-05:00

Sitting at my work desk to the right of my computer screen there is a Calendar.

I see it everyday and for the most part I just look at it.

But today I read the verse at the top... "The Joy of the LORD is my strength" Nehemiah 8:10 and right under the verse are two glasses of tea and some lemons!

Now I am not a big tea drinker, unlike a few of my friends who brew on a regular basis "loose leaf", but I do love a good glass of tea!

I went to school in Tallahassee Florida where huge oak trees cover the roads and almost every street is a rolling hill... it is beautiful and southern. Right on the Alabama and Georgia boarder

And in Tally... sweet tea flows like honey!!! It is everywhere, at every restaurant!

And it's SWEET!!! Pretty much it is sugar water with a hint of tea color and flavoring!

I drank it like it was God's gift to me! I would drink around a gallon a week (at least)

Well, because of my love for sweet tea... I got cavities. A LOT OF THEM!!!!

My mouth went from white to metal!!!

The sugar did a number on my teeth

Now you are wondering where I am going with this...

Sweet tea was a downfall for me.

We all have downfalls... we all sin.

We all have things in our lives currently and from our pasts that have done "a number on our lives"

One of the crazy things about sin is we put it with a number!

here are some examples I've heard through my yrs hanging out with youth:

1 out of 10 - a white lie (who is it really hurting)

3 out of 10 - copied someone else's test (it was just one answer)

5 out of 10 - messed around with my boyfriend/girlfriend (we didn't have sex, so it's ok)

9 out of 10 - slept with my boyfriend/girlfriend (I mean, every one's doing it now)

10 out of 10 - killed someone (its a Ten Commandment, so it's gotta be the worst of worsts)

We make our sin out to be a number game.

We justify EVERYTHING

But how much justification can we actually give ourselves?!

God Himself is a LOVING, but also a JUST God

"Man was created in the image of God but Adam’s sin (the original sin) resulted in his descendants (that's us) living in depravity.

Salvation belongs to the Lord and it is God’s free gift to us through Jesus Christ , securing those who follow Christ Jesus." -an excerpt from my Belief Statement

Romans 5:12-14 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” James 1:15 “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

He is not going to let us get away from our sin.

He will call us into accountability with not only Him, but with one another!

Ultimately... we reserve DEATH for our sin
But God is LOVING and not just JUST

Maybe you get caught cheating and end up failing a class because you cheated.
You go to jail for stealing or have to do community service.
Your heart is now in pieces because of your sexual sin.

There are consequences for each and every sin.

So... How do you like your sin?!?

What sin in your life are you justifying?

Do you put a number on your sin?

Certain Song Lyrics

2010-06-04T13:28:00.001-05:00

I have posted before about how much I LOVE music!!
I wake-up to it.
I get ready in the morning to it.
I listen to it in my car.
When I workout...
and the list goes on and on.....

Well, a few weeks ago I was on a road trip to hang out with my new boss and his wife
(yes, I have a new job, which I will talk about in another post later down the road)

But anyways, I was in the car and I was listening to the new SHO BARAKA CD out "Lions and Liars"

He is a christian rapper with ReachRecords (Lecrae is one of their artists)
Which is great by the way!!

Well, song 6 comes up and all of a sudden I find myself in tears as I listen to the song!
The lyrics in the chorus... well they hit me right hard!

(here are the following lyrics are from the 6th song on the CD)
I.T.W.N.O.I (that's the name of the song)

Lord, Lord you know I tried
When I should have been strong I cried
When I should have helped I walked on by
When I should have told the truth I straight up lied

I know your love has set me free
But I keep on putting you up on that tree
Oh Lord, Have your mercy on me
Loving father put you grace on me, on me

Now I'm gonna dissect the words/lyrics a bit:

"Lord you know I tried"   all we can do is try our best to be the best we can be. God knows that we are not perfect, but He does call us to pursue Him in our daily walk Luke 14:26-28 its a tough and hard verse... but we have to try, we have to carry our own cross!
"When I should have been strong I cried"    I am a girl and I cry. I cry during a Publix commercial talking about family, I cry in bed sometimes at night when I think about my amazing family and my amazing friends who seem to get me better than I get myself sometimes. I am 27yrs old and sometimes I just don't seem to be as strong as I should be, BUT the LORD has not lost track of my tears. He knows each one and why they happened Psalm 56:8 talks about it!
"When I should have helped I walked on by"   oh man... where to even begin?!? there is hurt all around us AND we ignore it most of the time. the kid in class that is easy to poke fun of (we join in on it) the person begging for food on the corner (we put our sunglasses on and pretend to look at our cell phones, as not to make eye contact) the list can go on and on... Here is a good article on "entertaining/helping others"
"When I should have told the truth I straight up lied" how many times have we told a lie, a white fib, embellished a story for effect. lies sometimes come out easier than the truth. our tongues do so much damage to the heart, the soul. Jeremiah 9:4-6 (conviction, that's the only word that comes to mind)
"I know your love has set me free. But I keep on putting you up on that tree" we are free, free in Christ... But we continue down our road of sin (and we will do so until the End Times... we are sinful) we get bogged down by our sin, the sin that put Christ on the CROSS in the 1st place. those lyrics... they hurt, tears well up in my eyes as a listen to them, as a read them, as I write them!!! I, Stevie Lynn Estler, keep putting Christ back up on that tree!!! John Piper writes about Christ dying for our sins (read it, meditate on it)

Now that you have read all of this...
What do you feel?!?
How do you want to change?!?
What can you do to change?!?

STOP and thank the LORD for who HE is in your life!!!!

"Loving father put you grace on me"

L.O.G.B.

2010-06-02T10:48:00.003-05:00

The Personality Test

I think I first did this with my mom before I was 10yrs old!
She read a cute little book called the Treasure Tree to Matt and I.
At the end was a little test, that once filled out would tell which animal you were:
The Lion "Lets Do It Now!"
The Otter "Trust Me! It'll Work!"
The Golden Retriever "Let's Keep Things The Way They Are"
The Beaver "How Was It Done In The Past?"

After that first time, she then proceeded to re-do the test with us every few years to see how Matt and I had changed as we grew older!
I mainly stayed the same growing up... VERY, VERY, VERY Otter, with a high Lion!!
Matt was very much a Gold Retriever at first, but the older he got his Lion came out!
I attribute me to being a Lion since I was the first born, but Matt being a Lion makes sense as well!
He is the only boy! And he was as big (size wise) as me even though I was 3yrs older!
As we have gotten older, I feel as if we are more like twins then 3 yrs a part!

But anyways, I re-took this test almost 3yrs ago come September.
I was at the Kanakuk Institute and my scores were pretty close to what they were growing up!

BUT... I retook the test last month and they had changed!
I was now a higher Beaver!!
I attribute this to the fact that I have had very administrative jobs the last few years!
I am still a very high Otter--- I like to have fun! I would play all day if I could.
But then again in reality, I do like to get things done!
I like goals
I like the end result
And... I really do like to learn from my mistakes! (more growth, both spiritual and mental happens when you really become teachable)

So without further ado....

Here is the TEST!!!
http://disc.unitymg.com/temp.asp
click "take the DISC" at the top of the page and go from there!
It will take you around 15minutes!

Have fun learning about yourself!!

Oh and after your done... share your results (maybe with your family, your best friends)

somewhere...sometimes--->ASHAMED

2010-05-18T13:15:00.002-05:00

I've been a bad writer these days.

Maybe I have writers block. Which is crazy to me... I feel like I am full of ideas to write on!
-I sit with friends and hear a subject and immediately begin taking mental notes on how I will write on that subject.
-I sit in church or bible study and hear a passage that gets me excited to write on...

Yet I have just not been able to write it down.

But for now, I will give you something to think on...
I help out with the youth group IMPACT at my home church here in Fort Lauderdale
This past Sunday night was Senior Night! We had a Hawaiian themed shindig, along with Pina Colada (virgin of course)

Well, the youth Pastor, Carter (who is a good friend of mine and awesome teacher) gave the seniors a little nugget of info to take with them to college...
Dont Please Others... Serve God

I thought it was the perfect way to send them off!

So often in college we try and be someone else (well, I know I did this on occasion)
We think that we arent cool enough or pretty enough ... and the list can go on and on and on!!!
So we do whatever we can to try and change in image of ourselves!
In doing this... we sometimes push God out of our lives!
We become ashamed of Him

this passage is crazy
"For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:37-38 (ESV)
I dont know about you, but I want to be recognized by God when I get to those pearly gates!!
I want HIM to give me a HUGE HUG!! I want HIM to be proud of me!

A parting thought:
Who are you trying to please?
In pleasing others, do you put God on the back burner? Or do you completely take Him out of your life!

Trials (and Temptations)

2010-05-06T10:33:00.002-05:00

I have temptations... that turned into struggles!
Struggles that sometimes got/get the worst of me!
Struggles that in the past ---> put wedges in my relationships with people around me!

I would go through a trails in my life and turn to another struggle for what I thought would help!

The following passage out of James 1 is an awesome reminder about trials... and how they are used to better us for the kingdom!

James 1:2-18

"2. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3. for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8. he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10. and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
11. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
18. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

So here's the deal...
I have struggles
You have struggles

But how in the world do we turn from them and run?!?!?

GET IN THE WORD (aka pick up the Bible and dive in)
Almost every time I let sin get the best of me I have to take an inventory of my life!
And one of the first things that I check... is my personal quiet time!
If I am not in the Word, how in the world will I be able to fight off the things of this world! (this goes back to arming ourselves with the armor of God)

So I encourage you to face those trials in your life!
Face them with scripture! Start memorizing verses that encourage you!
Post them up EVERYWHERE... bathroom mirrors, next to your alarm clock, next to the light switch in your room, on your dashboard in your car (just don't take your eyes off the road while driving... look at it while at a stop light! By the way my friend ran into a sidebar that kept her from falling around a 100 feet off of a cliff... she was memorizing verses and took her eyes off the road)
If you are having problems finding verses to pray when you are going through a trial/temptation... checkout: Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds, it's an awesome book to help you pray specifically for yourself and others!
Grab a good friend and share with them about your struggles! (one of the same sex)
A friend can help you stay accountable---> This is HUGE!!!
(I have a friend that I text when something is up, that way someone else knows and that way she & I can talk later about the issue at hand)
If we keep things a secret, they will sometimes end up being BIGGER deals b/c we didn't deal with them accordingly!!

In closing I leave you with this verse:
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Pretty much every thing you will go through... someone else has gone through it as well!
Reread that verse OVER & OVER AGAIN!
Write it out and place it some where you will see!

(by the way, this post took me almost a week to write!!! B/c I myself was having a hard time dealing with some stuff and felt very convicted... and writing this post made it all the more "real")

She Sings, She Dances

2010-04-28T09:39:00.020-05:00

Today I am actually not going to write my usual stuff!!

Because I have a friend, no not just any friend... one of my best friends has a HUGE day today!!
Well, yesterday was big as well... she posted her link to everyone! She became vulnerable!
People are getting to see her talent & her passion for performing!

Yes her family and friends will support her no matter what, but now she is being passed around as a link via email, facebook, text messages & twitter ---> to hundreds, no thousands of people across the US and actually around the world as well!

TODAY is the HUGE DAY though... because we all get a chance to vote for her!
We get to give her the Gold Star!
***(this is not like the Gold Star you got in elementary school when you were well-behaved in class, that you then got to turn in at the end of the year for a gift- which happened to be a used book from your 1st grade teacher... oh sorry, that just must have happened to me back in the year 1990)

We get to give her the GOLD STAR that can then hopefully...

fingers crossed turn into an audition to be on GLEE!!!

That's right GLEE, the #1 show on TV right now!

So without further ado... here is Melissa Moen's Intro Video!!!!

NOW GO VOTE FOR HER

(the polls open at 12pm PST, 1pm MST, 2pm CST & 3pm EST)

http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions?link=532716007

when you go to the link above you will scroll down on the webpage

and see Mel and you will see a place to give her a GOLD STAR!

Then pass the link around to everyone you know!!

crutch, crutch'ing, crutch'ed onto

2010-04-27T12:58:00.002-05:00

This time 3yrs ago I was using crutches.
I had torn my ACL while snowing skiing with my family!

It was no fun... NO SERIOUSLY it was horrible at the time!

(and yes, I am wearing shorts out in Utah in spring)

I had to go to physical therapy for 2 weeks before they would even do surgery!
Then I went to PT 5 days a week for about 2 hours a day for the next 3 months after surgery!
I was determined to get back on the slopes by December 2007.
I had 8 months to rehab myself back into skiing shape!

But I did it!!! I was back on the slopes, tearing it up...

but I was only at 80% of what I had been!

But the more I skied the better my percentage got!

I had to uses crutches as part of my rehab.
If I had been stubborn and not used them, I would never have been able to rehab in a timely or correct manor!

Some of you are reading and wondering, "Stevie, you off on a tangent again, where is this story headed?"

Well, the title above reads "crutch, crutch'ing, crutch'ed onto" (yes those last 2 words are probably not really words) Many times in our lives we use crutches- and I am not talking about the ones you get after surgery.

We use people and things in our lives to help us stand up and/or walk!

When we are having a problem in our lives we...

Call a family member or a friend
We turn to a self-help book
Sometimes we shut down emotionally

WE USES CRUTCHES!! emotional, mental and physical crutches

Now I am not saying that these are bad things... but let's just be honest for a minute

Why is it whenever I talk to people and ask them what they do when they are having a rough day, week or month they never mention God/Prayer/Reading the Bible in the first few things?!?!

I will be the first to tell you that I to fall into this more often than not.

I have a struggle in my life and usually my first instinct is to call someone and talk.

Why is is so hard to rely on God in our struggles?! I mean He has said that He is always here for us!

Romans 8:34-39 " What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Nothing separates us from Him! So why do we NOT use Him as our crutch?!
Not all crutches we use are bad... but why use a crutch that is fit for a 6ft 9in man, when I am only 5'6...? Or why would we walk around with crutches if we are not even going to use them (ie.maybe the person who carries their bible in their purse or back pocket, but never actually opens it up for use)

So, I want to put in a plug about my friends... I have amazing friends!
And sometimes I use them as my crutch!
But one of the coolest things about my friends ---> They help point me to the cross!
When ever we talk about life and trials and all that stuff in life that just sucks...
they encourage me, they love me, they pray for/with me right there on the phone!
I have one friend who actually will stop me mid sentence and ask me if I have talked to God about what is going on!! (<--- that's a good friend)
*** I say this so that you know it is OK to go to friends and family about things that are going on in your life! But remember He has already told you that He is there for you for everything and anything!

(I wrote a few months ago about prayer... re-read it... We need to get back into the habit of talking to God about life!!)

Parting thought:
Who or what do you use as a crutch in your life?
-do you use that crutch in the right way?
What can you do to help you place God back at the top of your Crutch List?!?

Respond

2010-04-08T13:34:00.007-05:00

Responding...
We hit the respond button/or link to get back to people via texts & emails. With e-vites we hit the "yes" "no" or "maybe" button... and so on and so on
Then there is the RSVP- "Répondez s'il vous plaît", a French phrase that means "Please, answer".
This is how we stay connected with family, friends and random acquaintances!

But how do we respond to GOD?!?

He invites us everyday through letters-His Word to join Him throughout our day!
But many of times we don't respond at all (we pretend we never got the text, email or phone call or that the card has been misplaced or thrown away with the junk mail)
He hit the "maybe" button in our lives

I want to focus on one story about responding
Nehemiah 8 mainly focusing on vs. 5-7 (read it, just click on the verse)
***here is what is happening in this book and chapter...
the temple wall is being rebuilt, also the hearts of the Jews are in question
Ezra-the scribe, opens up the scrolls and starts reading "the law" which was the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given him.
Ezra reads out loud to the people gathered there.
The people respond to the reading of God's Word by worshiping God... they bowed down with their faces to the ground (this would be out of reverence)

Ok, so here is why this is a cool chapter about "responding"!
-the people (men and women were gathered there) they knew that the reading of "the law" was important for them. It provided guidance! And out of respect they bow down during the reading!

***Now I am not saying that we need to bow down every time the Word of God is read, but it is cool! these people got it~ they got how important the scriptures were/are to their/our lives!
bowing down, was their way to worship, but there are other ways to worship... sometimes we stand out of respect.

It is why a lot of churches have the congregation stand-up during the reading!
It why we stand-up when we worship! We are standing out of reverence!
The crowd stands-up when a bride walks down the aisle, when an important person walks in the room!
It's when my dad and brother stand-up from the table when my mom and I get up!
People show respect... it is a way of responding to someone!

So all in all... we need to respond to God!

You need to find a way to do it!

doing a quiet time in the morning before you start your day
listening to some uplifting music that you can sing along with to worship God
getting involved in a bible study with other believers

we NEED to do something... we have to respond!

How are you going to respond to God in your daily life?!?
What steps will help you respond quickly?!?

-here is a great song, by Robbie Seay Band

We Are Free -Video of the song on YouTube

You're the one who chased us
You're the one who started all of this
You're the one who dreams
You're the one who loves

So let us respond

Yours the voice that calls us
Yours the hands that hold us
When we have come undone
You're the one who loves

So let us respond

We are free...
We are free in You, God

music... it's what we listen too

2010-04-06T14:12:00.006-05:00

Music is the pathway to my soul...
well, that & a good convo with a friend, while snuggled in on a couch!

Both make me smile- like a BIG smile, the kind that takes over my whole face!

I have often told people that I would easily carry around a "boombox" (or an iPod speaker) around on my shoulder, playing music all through out my day!
All depending on the mood I was in and whatnot!

For example-the music through out my day looks like this:

in the AM when I first wake-up I play my playlist - My Fav's (I want to get started by worship God first & foremost in my day) -(which include primarily praise & worship music from Shane&Shane, Hillsong, DavidCrowderBand -just to mention a few)
at work when I first arrive I play a little soundtrack music with NO words... Just relaxing music! (a few soundtracks I love... Flicka (dont hate on me), both Narnia movies have great sound tracks, Braveheart)
then a little later on in my work day I start playing music from my iTunes Genius list (right now Dave Barnes, Keane, Coldplay, John Mayer, Emerson Hart, Matt Wertz are in this MIX)
when I get in my car... well, currently I am obsessed to say the least about OneRepublic's new CD Waking UP I LITERALLY PLAY THIS CD NON-STOP!!!! It has one of the best sounds I have heard in a long time... the WHOLE cd is GREAT!!

Music is what I love!!! I would be a band junkie if I could... I would go all over the US, maybe even the World following my favorite bands and finding new ones! Concerts would be my life! And I would be OK with that I think!

Music is a gift of God.. but a lot of times the "tunes" we play dont show or spread His love!

NOW- I am not saying that we have to only listen to Christian music... but I am asking you to be careful to what you are playing in your day to day life!

There is an old saying "What goes in... MUST come out"

This saying is soooooooo true!

I will find myself listening to a song that may be "Edited" but I still know the words that have been ~~bleeped out~~
I wish this wasnt always the case, but it is and I need to find away around that situation!

So how do we "be in the world but not of the world"?

Jesus has placed up here physically in the world...

but we not to be apart of the worlds standards or its values!

In John 17 Jesus is praying to God- He prays in verses 1 & 2. ""Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him."
and then in verse 14-19 "He prays "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."

Jesus lived here on this earth... Yes, it was 2000 yrs ago, but He was 100% man (& 100% God) and I will be honest, I am not quite sure how that works, but it did! But my point- he lived here too! He saw how hard it was to be different! But still He asks us to be holy and to try and live a life after His!

Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Ok so back to my music plug- something to think about in Ezekiel 28:13 (KJV) it points to satan possibly being involved in the music that was played in heaven...

So with that being said, I have a theory (this theory is mine... and it may or may not be right, but it is what I believe)

If satan was in charge of music in heaven, he must have been pretty musically talented! So dont you think it is crazy how music is the gateway into many peoples lives?!?! There is so much trash going around: MTV has spread the music vibe onto us! We listen to songs about drugs, sex, and so much other stuff! We listen to songs that degrade women. Songs that tell us WAY-TO-MUCH about artists sexual encounters!
satan, I think has his hand in music!!
just check out the music sales on iTunes, what are the top songs bought?!

Ok so I may have gotten on top of my soap box for a minute, but I just wanted to bring some stuff into the light!! One thing I promised... was the TRUTH!!! And I hope that I have lived up to that promise!!

So how do you separate yourselves from the things of this world?!

What is your "trick of the trade" to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk?!

The Empty Tomb

2010-04-04T15:21:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege of going to Israel 2 years ago!

It was the trip of the lifetime!

To walk where the history of the Bible took place!

To visit the mountain side where Jesus fed 5000 peeps!

But what had the most impact on me, was the spot where they believed Jesus was crucified!

And then to go into a tomb, that may have been where they laid Him!

That tomb is EMPTY! The story of Resurrection at its finest!

Death has been Defeated!!

Luke 24:1-9

¹But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

²And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

³but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

⁴While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

⁵And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

⁶He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,

⁷that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."

⁸And they remembered his words,

⁹and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Be Excited About The EMPTY TOMB!!!!

That empty tomb is everything to the faith of CHRISTIAN!

Hope & Freedom!

We are no longer held in the bondage of our sin!

2000+ yrs ago... HE died

2010-04-02T12:53:00.004-05:00

Thankful for the death of Christ!

Luke 23:26-49 (ESV)

The Crucifixion

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.
28 But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine
37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"
48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Another good read on Black Friday (check it out)

Man, Sin..... Salvation

2010-03-30T09:43:00.000-05:00

Sin... we do it all the time!

Sometimes we are so used to the sin in our lives, that we do it as part of our daily lives!!

We are born into sin...
Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—"
Sin is what seperatesus from God:
Isaiah 59:1-2 "Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

I myself have been a liar, a cheat... I have messed up on many occasions!
Sin has affected my relationships in the past... SIN HURTS!!
Sin has sucked the life out of me at times... but I have salvation!!
Salvation through the cross, through the blood, through the Perfect Lamb- THE SON!!

the Following is my statement on Man, Sin... Salvation:
Man was created in the image if God(1) but Adam’s sin(2) resulted in his descendants living in depravity.

Salvation belongs(3) to the Lord and it is God’s free gift to us through Jesus Christ(4), securing those who follow Christ Jesus(5).

Verses to back up the statement:

Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” 1 Corinthians 11:7a “For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God”
Romans 5:12-14 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” James 1:15 “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
Jonah 2:9 "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD" Psalm 35:3 “Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; say to my soul, "I am your salvation." Revelation 7:10 "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongs to the LORD”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 5:21 “so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ephesians 1:13 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” Romans 8:35-39 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 10:28-30 “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one."

What do you do about the sin in your life?!?!
How do you combat yourself against it?!?!
Is there sin in your life that has become a habit that you cant get rid of?!?!

GROUNDED... in Truth

Prove it

1 test & 3 classes

301: The Bible and Doctrine—The Deeper Truths and How They Affect Your Life

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

It's Finally Here: Ponder 365 by Vickie (my Mom)

Building Blocks

The Weeping Woman

It's Been Awhile...But I Still LOVE GOD

Healing Begins

TORN IN TWO

emotional hole

emotional porn

Romans 6

Its a GIFT

TRUTH

Tea/Sin: how do you like it?!

Certain Song Lyrics

L.O.G.B.

somewhere...sometimes--->ASHAMED

Trials (and Temptations)

She Sings, She Dances

crutch, crutch'ing, crutch'ed onto

Respond

music... it's what we listen too

The Empty Tomb

2000+ yrs ago... HE died

Man, Sin..... Salvation