The Importance of Easter in the Christian Faith

For Christians, Easter is of the utmost importance. The true meaning of Easter is the truth of the Christian faith. What is the true meaning of Easter and how should Christians celebrate the holiday? Learn the importance of Easter in the Christian faith today. 

Jesus is Better (Than Everything Else)

Last year, I joined the blogging club and decided on a word of the year. Actually, I had two: Freedom and Discipline. These words were good choices and definitely things I needed to make some improvements in. But this year, I've decided to pick a phrase to live by for the year, instead of a word.

My pick: Jesus is Better

I've mentioned before (and will talk about it more on Friday) that I've been going to a Bible study for the past few months on the book of Hebrews. The study has been incredible, and there's so much goodness that I've gleaned, but so far, the main theme of Hebrews is that Jesus is better. Not only that, but that we are often far too easily pleased by things besides Jesus, when He is the best. This is a theme that I have been incredibly thankful for, because it's something I really struggle with.

But how is Jesus better, and why did I choose this phrase for 2018? Keep reading!

Jesus is Better Than...

Everything. Jesus is better than anything else. No matter who, what, or where you and I think of, Jesus is still better. He's better than our marriages, better than our kids, better than our moms, dads, and siblings. He's better than our dream home, dream job, or dream vacation. He's better than rest, relaxation, and self-care. He's just better.

But that can be really hard to wrap our minds around, right? How could Jesus be better than our marriages, when marriage is so awesome? How could Jesus be better than that precious little baby that has it's tiny hands wrapped around your finger?

The answer is that Jesus is the only perfect One. Jesus gives perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3), Jesus loves us forever (Jeremiah 31:3), Jesus gives joy (John 15:11), and Jesus provides for our needs (Philippians 4:19). While other things can be temporarily satisfying, and can be gifts from God, they aren't the ultimate gifts and they will never ultimately satisfy- because Jesus is always better.

Why I Chose This Phrase

I chose this phrase because I have such a hard time with it. Because I am so naturally inclined to be easily pleased. Because I so often treasure the gifts more than the Giver. Because sometimes I don't feel like Jesus is better.

He is better. And there's no reason I should be pleased with less than Him. But my sinful nature likes to fight against that. So I chose this phrase in hopes of being reminded to fight harder against my sinful nature. I chose this phrase to focus on cultivating a deeper longing for Jesus. And I chose this phrase to remind me that I should never be satisfied with anything less than the presence of God.

This isn't something that I can just fix completely in a year's time. Putting God first, and living out the knowledge that Jesus is better is a lifelong journey. But, I can improve. God can help me improve. God can mold my heart so that I am satisfied by him instead of by the things that typically grab at my time and heart.

And that, sweet friends, is why I chose this phrase as my "phrase of the year". Learning that Jesus is better than everything else, experiencing it, and living it out is incredibly important, and I'd rather learn it now than put it off for "some day".

If you want to join me in growing in the truth that Jesus is better, I'd love to have you jump on board. Whether you choose the same phrase of the year, watch the Bible study that I've been attending online, or read the book of Hebrews with a "Jesus is better" mindset, practicing this truth will be life-changing for all of us.

Who Is Jesus? A Deeper Look at His Character

Over the last month, I have been attending a women's Bible study on the book of Hebrews. It's taught by an amazing professor at Taylor's seminary and it is an extremely in-depth study. So much so that it will most likely take us a year and a half to finish the book (which only has 13 chapters)! When I first heard that it was going to take us more than a year to finish, I wondered if I might get bored. But I discovered very quickly that I wouldn't need to worry about that.

One of the themes we've discussed so far is Jesus' character and whether he is more like a lion or a lamb (a reference found in Revelation 5:5-6, but was brought up during our study of Hebrews). Growing up in a Christian home, I knew that the right answer was that Jesus is both lion and lamb. I've known that since I was young. But the downside to always "knowing it", is that sometimes you don't really stop and contemplate what that really means.

When talking about Jesus' character, it's important to learn as much as we can, which means taking a deeper look at both his lion-like and lamb-like qualities. And that's what I would like to explore with you today.

He Gives Mercy 

In Mark 6:34, Jesus sees a crowd from far away and sees that they are wandering aimlessly. It would have been easy for him to decide that he was too tired to deal with them, or maybe that he would rather have a bubble bath for a self-care night. But Jesus didn't retreat and he didn't opt for "me time". He went to the people, seeing they needed some help, and he "had compassion on them".

Jesus is the forgiver of sins. He gives us grace when we don't deserve it, and covers for us even when we fail over and over again. He sees how lost we are. He sees how confused we get. He sees how often we stumble. He understands our weakness and loves us anyway.

He Judges 

2 Corinthians 5:10 says that all of us will one day stand before the judgement seat of Jesus to give an account of our lives. Jesus is merciful, yes, but he also hates sin. He cannot coexist with sin. And he understands the entirety of how bad sin actually is, when we only understand pieces of it.

Jesus always loves us- so much so that he will not just shrug his shoulders and leave us the way we are, because he knows that sin is not a good place to call home. He offers his gift of salvation in mercy, but those who do not receive it will be judged by the same Jesus who loves them fiercely.

He is Fierce (He is Not Safe)

There is a quote from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis) where Susan asks whether or not Aslan the Lion is safe. And Mr. Beaver's response is as follows:

Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.

This quote really strikes me every time I hear it because it is so true of God. Though we are safe in God's arms, God himself is not safe (read: "tame"). God is the King of the universe. He isn't timid. He doesn't "wait his turn". He isn't politically correct. And he doesn't wait for permission to work in the world. Following him means that there is always a grand adventure ahead of us, and that things may get topsy-turvy while we are alive on this earth, but he is always, always good!

For more on Jesus' fierce side, see Matthew 21 and pay particular attention to verses 12-13.

He is Gentle

Despite the fact that Jesus is fierce, he doesn't use it against us. Instead, he is gentle with us when we need it most, just as he is a disciplinarian when we need it most.

The bible says that Jesus' calling on our lives is not a heavy burden, but rather that he is gentle and that his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). This doesn't mean that it's easy to follow God, but rather following God isn't harsh, burdensome, or heavy.

Jesus is gentle in that he puts other's first (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), is humble (John 13:12-15), and does what is necessary to help us (Matthew 14:13-21).

He is Blunt 

John 4:4-26 recounts Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In those days, a typical Jew and a typical Samaritan would not speak to each other. In fact, Jews would go out of their way (and on a much longer journey than necessary) just to avoid speaking with Samaritans. But Jesus didn't do what your typical person would do. Instead, he went straight to the well and not only talked to a Samaritan, but talked to a Samaritan woman who had been married five times, which made her a complete outcast in her community.

Jesus, however, showed her great kindness by speaking to her with gentleness, humility, and with genuine interest in what she had to say. And then, Jesus also called out her sin in looking for fulfillment in the husbands she had had over the years. He wasn't rude or crude. He didn't call her names or tell her she was horrible. But he did truthfully and bluntly call out her sin.

We don't like being called out. People who are blunt rub us the wrong way. And sometimes that's because of they way they do it, but if we are honest, it's often just because we don't like being confronted with our own sins. But friends, Jesus is the ultimate sin-confronter. He is that way because 1.) he is holy, and 2.) because he loves us. And if we truly want to experience the character of Jesus, we cannot leave that part out.

So Much More

There are so many other character traits that we can attribute to Jesus, but honestly, if I were to try to capture all of them in one blog post (or 20), we would be here for daysssss. So for now, this is my list. It is not all-encompassing, and it is a humble, feeble attempt on my part, but hopefully you will find it helpful nonetheless.

My hope is to grow in my understanding of Jesus' character and share that with you. We are on this journey together. Let's grow in God together!

The Art of Turning Men Into Doormats | Do You Disrespect the Men In Your Life?

Men are designed by God for His good, perfect plan. Men are made in the image of God, and God calls us to show respect to all image-bearers, male and female alike. Do you respect the men in your life, or do you treat them like your own personal doormat? Learn how to tell if you are treating men with disrespect and why that's a problem. 

What Are the Names of Jesus? | Exploring the Names of Jesus and Why They Matter

Jesus is called by so many different names in the Bible, but there is a purpose for each one of them. Learning about the names of Jesus helps us understand His character better, and can help us draw nearer to Him. Discover how the Names of Jesus can help you focus on Jesus during the Christmas season and year-round. Learn how the names of Jesus can help you grow in your faith and in your relationship with God today.

Fun & Simple Traditions to Celebrate During the Christmas Season

Do you love celebrating Christmas traditions with your friends and family? Try these fun and simple Christmas traditions to celebrate during the holiday season.

What is the True Meaning of Christmas? | Jesus Is More Than a Baby

Christmas is about more than traditions. Christmas is about Jesus coming down to earth, chasing after us, and providing us with exactly what we needed. Christmas is about more than just a baby - Christmas is about sacrifice, love, and joy. Though we do celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, we are also celebrating the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. Christmas is about all that Jesus has done, not just His birth.

I've been having so much fun lately with the Christmas lights, the happy overload of both Christmas cookies and Christmas music, and the wonderfully bad, low-budget Christmas movies. I am officially in Kristin-Christmas-Tradition-Heaven.

It's such a great feeling to truly enjoy all of the holiday scents, tastes, noises, and sights. I get warm-fuzzies every time I think about it. And even though I'm thankful for those things, at some point, the warm-fuzzies have to take a backseat, because at the core what we really need is a deep reflection on the true meaning of Christmas.

It is entirely possible to embrace tradition and reflect on the deeper things of life at the same time. In my pondering and celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, I will still be eating just as many cookies, singing just as many songs, and watching just as many Christmas movies. But while doing this, I will make sure that the more important things in life come first and are not replaced by the things that matter much less.

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season | What Does That Really Mean?

It's true that Jesus is the reason for the season. But I'm sure you've heard that phrase a million times and you may be thinking, "Yeah, but what does that really mean?"

The story of Jesus' birth is found in Luke 2 in the Bible. If you've never read it, or you need a refresher, you can read it here.

A lot of people "know" that Christmas is about Jesus - a little baby who was called the son of God, and born in a stable. Great. But many people don't go past that.

The thing is though, it's when you go past the basics that you truly begin to understand the meaning of Christmas. Go past the fact that Jesus was born to a young girl who had never had sex. Go past what you know about wise men, bright stars, and a feeding trough for a bed. Then you will start to see the point of this beautiful holiday season!

Guilt and Love | Why Jesus Came

From the very beginning of our lives, we are sinful people. We aren't innocent. We aren't good enough. We make mistakes every day that pull us further and further away from God.

But since God loves us, He wanted to bring us back to Him. However, He is a holy God and He couldn't just act like our sin was acceptable - because it's not. He needed a perfect person to take the punishment we deserved: death and eternal separation from God.

God knew that if He didn't step in, our sin would keep us from Him, from His love, and from experiencing his goodness and glory for all of eternity. But thankfully, our God isn't helpless. Our God wasn't scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. He already had a plan. He already had the perfect solution to our soul-devouring sin. He had His Son.

Complete Perfection | Jesus Is the Perfect Response to Sin

As baby Jesus grew up, He never sinned. He was human, and yet He was God at the very same time. He stood firm against the sins that we give into. He was the only perfect person.

So when the Jews decided to kill Jesus, they were killing a perfect, spotless man.

God planned the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for all sin. Jesus took our death sentence and He served it Himself. Since Jesus is God in the flesh, He was actually able to defeat the death sentence He was serving for us.

Death, which was meant to be an irreversible and final event, was defeated and conquered. It was for us. It was for me. And it was for you.

We no longer have to pay the penalty of sin - Jesus already did.

God did all of the work. The only thing He requires of us is that we believe and trust in Jesus as the savior - that His death paid the full penalty of our sins just like God said it did. All we have to do is trust in Jesus and His blood as the saving grace we desperately need.

That is the gospel in a nutshell, and the gospel is what Christmas is all about.

It's not about how many wise men went to see Jesus when He was born. It's not even about the fact that Jesus' mom was a virgin (though that is important). Christmas is about a Savior - the only Savior - who came to live, die, and defeat death for us. Christmas is about God's goodness, despite our utter and constant failure. Christmas is about the cross.

Check Your Response | Is Your Heart Focused on Christ?

Christmas is a humbling experience. I don't like being told that I am a sinner, but I know it's true.

I look out for myself instead of others. I care far too much about my weight, my curves, my personality, and other people's opinions. I try to appear better than I actually am. I complain about nearly everything that doesn't go my way.

And chances are, you do the same things, because you are a sinner too. You and I are imperfect people, in need of a Savior.

So check your response. Don't be mad that God confronts you and your sin. Instead, be thankful that you don't have to serve your death sentence. Accept Jesus as the Savior He is. Spend Christmas with new-found joy that you don't have to be handcuffed to your sin anymore.

Christmas is about praising God because He gave us what we needed. God is love. That is what Christmas is really about!

What Is Christmas Really About?

• Christmas is about sin
• Christmas is about death
• Christmas is about redemption and salvation
• Christmas is about God's love for us
• Christmas is about God's glory
• Christmas is about the sacrifice Jesus made for us
• Christmas is about God

Why I Start Celebrating Christmas Before Thanksgiving (and a FREE playlist)

It was 79 degrees outside and the leaves were all still bright green. Most people were in shorts and flip-flops- myself included. But it was October and I was craving the cold. I was craving warm sweaters, crunchy leaves, chilly evenings, and soup. Lots and lots of soup.

I also had a great desire for something to lift my spirits, brighten my day, and make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. And that's when I knew- it was time to crank up my A/C, wrap up in my snuggie, and play all my favorite Christmas tunes.

But every year when I start to feel that ache, I always know that people will act as if I had just murdered someone for listening to "Winter Wonderland" or "Mary Did You Know" before Black Friday. You'd think I had just told them I had kidnapped someone's child or something.

But there are two main reasons why I celebrate Christmas early, and I'd love to get the chance to explain myself. 😉

Why I Will Never Say "I'm Poor"

There's just no way around it, you guys- adulting is hard. There's always something left on the to-do list, always a goal or two that has remained unreached, and always a bill to pay.

Ask any marriage counselor and I bet they'll tell you that finances are really tough on a marriage, and being financially secure is important for that reason (along with others of course).

And financial responsibility is, of course, important. We need to be good stewards of our money. I struggle in that area and want to improve. But sometimes, financial hardship can become an obsession, which causes a completely different problem.

Why We Need to Be Fed By God in Order to Help Others

Have you ever met someone who sucks the life out of you? You know, the one who you keep trying to help but they never take your advice, only care what you have to say if it's exactly what they want to hear, and yet they keep coming back. They keep "needing you help".

If you're anything like me, there comes a point when you are torn between self-sanity and self-sacrifice. Do you keep pushing forward trying to help someone that seems like a lost casue? Or do you let yourself take a breather and not allow that person to burden you or take advantage of you any longer?

The Problem is Not Black and White

By the time this post goes live, I'll probably be one of 20 zillion bloggers who have chimed in about all that has been going on with police brutality and all that has followed. As bloggers, we sit behind our computer screens and write about things that we only see at surface level. Most of us are not experts, and can only see what the media lets us see. So before I dive into this topic, I'd like to say that I am only human. I have ideas, standards, and beliefs. I wouldn't believe what I believe if I didn't think it was true. But just because I type up some words about a very difficult subject, doesn't mean I have it all figured out.
I simply want to offer some food for thought.

Police Brutality and #Blacklivesmatter

I am so sorry to all the families who have lost someone dear because of police brutality. I wish I could tell you that everything will be ok- but your worlds are turned upside-down forever. I know that.

I'd like to say that you absolutely do matter. Black lives do matter. And yes, all lives matter. Those are both very true statements, and I believe them both with all my heart.

You do not deserve to be treated poorly because of the color of your skin. And when this happens, it disgusts me. I am so sorry!

But I do think that #blacklivesmatter is actually doing you injustice. When someone says "Black lives matter", it places you in a separate category, which only serves to re-segregate you. Equality comes when we don't see color. It comes when we stop putting ourselves in separate categories. You have fought for so long not to be segregated, but now a simple phrase is actually serving to re-segregate you in a sense.

The travesties going on right now are very much racial. And that is a terrible, disgusting thing. But I am not convinced that doing more talks about "those blacks" or "those whites" is doing anyone any good. Should we acknowledge racism? Absolutely. But some people are way past acknowledging it- they are cultivating a war of the races.

There are thousands of people- black and white alike- that are on your side when it comes to police brutality. We want to support you and help you.

Evil

The fact of the matter is, evil people are going to do evil things. Prejudice is evil. The shooting of men who don't deserve it is evil. It's evil whether it was done by a white cop, a black cop, a terrorist, etc. Just like the shooting in Orlando was evil. And equally evil was the attack of cops- especially since they had nothing to do with the other incidents.

Assuming all white cops are corrupt is just as evil as assuming all black people are criminals capable of violence.

But honestly, we can expect evil from a world filled with sadness, despair, and anger. We cannot change what other people do. We cannot protest the evil out of the world. We cannot shoot evil out of the world. We can't even get rid of evil through acts of kindness.

The Answer

I bet you weren't expecting that last one. Chances are, you might even be a little bit mad that I said that. But it's true.

No matter how many "good deeds" or "kind acts" you perform, you aren't going to change the world. Sure, you're doing more good than harm, but you still can't fix it.

The problem is not (and never will be) corrupt cops or violent "blacks". The problem is not racist whites OR racist blacks. The problem is not gay or straight, transgender bathrooms or "bigoted Christians". The problem is not Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump. The problem isn't an issue or cause. The problem is a lack of Jesus.

Jesus is always the answer, but most people never get that. Even people who claim to be Christians have no idea what that means. And I'm not just talking about the "flaming liberals" who want more gun control. I'm also not just talking about the "conservative bigots" who want the freedom to refuse a wedding cake to a homosexual couple.

I'm talking about about the little old lady who's been in church her whole life, but has no concept of her own sin. I'm talking about the 30-year-old man who donates his time to all the good causes and social justice organizations he can find, yet has no interest in what God's word says about his own life. If we are not for God- truly, deeply for Him- then we are against Him (Matthew 12:30).

Jesus is the only way for our salvation. And that is the crux of the whole thing. But Jesus is more than just our "ticket" to Heaven. He also instructs us on how to handle evil and injustice in the world:

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

(Romans 12:14-19)

Make the Choice

Again, you cannot control what someone else does. And even your feeble acts of kindness cannot change the world. But- and that's a big but- with God, you can make a world of difference.

You see, kindness done for the sake of kindness is futile. But kindness and love shown for the sake of Christ, and out of our gratitude to Christ is everything.
The world needs to see us bringing forth love. The world needs to see us loving black people, loving cops, loving homosexuals, loving drug-addicts, prostitutes, and yes, even Hilary, Bernie, Trump, and Obama. They need to see kindness towards everyone, a lack of hateful speech, and a consistency in the way we live our lives.

They need to see followers of Christ who don't take sides, but show love to all. They also need to see followers of Christ who know how to stand firm on God's word without acting like idiots towards those who oppose them.

If we commit to living like this, many of us will find ourselves ostracized, even by fellow Christians. There are plenty of Christians who think it's their job to change the world through their "loud" Facebook posts. Others who think it's their job to rid the world of "closed-minded", conservative Christians who "take the Bible too literally". And others will take it upon themselves to bible thump "the gay" out of the homosexuals they know. Those sound like great ministry tools, huh? *insert slow eye-roll*

You can be as loud as you want, as articulate as you want, and as rude as you want, but that isn't going to change the world. What will change the world is Jesus. What will change the world is people seeing love shown by the followers of Jesus.

So we can either keep failing with our methods for "bring peace", or we can do it God's way. Take your pick.

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What We Say On Facebook Matters

People often get very brave on social media. Since they aren't standing toe-to-toe with those with whom they are speaking, they feel much more compelled to share the bolder portions of their minds. And who am I kidding? That includes me too!

As a lover of words, I enjoy typing out how I feel and what I think. I love the idea that I can make a difference and speak boldly for the truth. And that is the beautiful thing about blogs and social media: I can make a positive difference.

But there is also such a thing as our words mattering in a very bad way. We always think of "what we say matters" in a way that makes us feel significant, but what about when what we say is hurtful to others, selfish or prideful? What happens when our words misconstrue someone's thoughts or ideas and or belittle them?

What Is Real Forgiveness

The other night, I went to a women's Bible study at my hubby's seminary. The speaker for the evening told us to think about our house. She said to pick the room we liked least in the house. I picked the kitchen. She said that the first time she did this exercise, she picked the kitchen too.

By why did she pick the kitchen? Why did I pick the kitchen.? She picked the kitchen, she explained, because that's where she cooks (which she enjoys doing) only to have at least one of her children complain that they don't want it, or don't like it. I picked the kitchen, because there are always dishes piled-high, and I get angry because I don't have any help with them.

Our Festering Wounds: Anger and Entitlement

During my last year of college, I realized how angry I had become. I was angry about my emotional disorders- anxiety, depression, and OCD. I was angry that I couldn't seem to shake them. I was angry at God for not taking them away instantly. And I was angry at myself for not doing the things that I knew would help me- spending time in God's word, eating healthy, going to a counselor, etc.

Since then, I have asked forgiveness for my anger and have tried to work on it. In some ways, it's better, in many ways, it has stayed the same, and in some ways, it's worse. I do think I am doing better than I was my senior year of college, but it is still a daily battle. Some days I have the upper-hand, and some days I sink like a mini-titanic.

Realizing Your Anger

Becoming aware of my own anger made me see something else, too: a lot, A LOT, of people are angry. And not just people who have spent their lives living wrongly either. No, Christians, God-loving and following Christians such as myself, are living their entire lives as an angry people.

Coming to this realization hurts. I see people in my own life struggling with anger too. They are angry about the their health, their finances, their marriage, their job, the political situation in the U.S.- you name it, someone, some Christian is angry about it. And you know what? I understand. Like I said, I struggle with anger too. But the more I take a look at my own anger, and the anger of those around me, I realize that the root of the problem is not anger, it is entitlement.

Entitlement

People aren't just angry because they are angry. People are angry, I am angry, because I feel like something is owed to me. I should have a better mental health situation. Why? Because God should want to heal me. Wow! Can you hear the arrogance jumping out of this blog post? I can!

That's the thing- if we are mad at God, or mad in general, because things aren't absolutely perfect in our lives, that is only because we expect perfection. And why? Hasn't the perfect gift already been wrapped up tightly in our hearts? Isn't salvation for all eternity enough? Or have we bought into some form of prosperity gospel that says God's purpose is for us to be happy?

Is God Selfish?

God loves us-yes. God wants the best for us- absolutely! But what we think is best and what God knows is best are two totally different things. Do they sometimes coincide? Sure! Many times in my life, God has blessed me with the things I desired most: my husband, my college, my family and I living closer to each other again, and quite a few other things too. The evidence seems clear that these are places where what I desired was also what God wanted for me- praise God! I am thankful! But as a general rule, when it comes down to it, God is after our holiness, our sanctification, and after His own glory. Whatever will bring about those things in our lives- that's what He will do. And to our human minds, that sounds selfish. Why does God get to go after His own glory, but we don't?

Well, did we create the earth? Nope.

Did we hang the stars in the sky? Negative.

Did we give our only, perfect son to hang on a cross for a people who's sins were infinite? Um, no.

And that, my friends, is why God gets to be after His own glory.
And as far as God being interested in our holiness and sanctification, that is Him having our best interest in mind. If God left us where we were at, for the sake of our own delight and happiness, He'd be a superficial God, only caring about the surface of our lives. Our hearts and spirits are eternal. They need much more attention than our immediate happiness does.

Does God want us to be happy? Yes, I think that within the realm of what is pleasing to Him, God definitely wants us to feel joy, pleasure, and have happiness in this life. But- and that is a huge, whopping but- God's interest in our holiness, in our hearts changing in godliness, is far superior to His desire for us to be happy.

So if those two things seem that they cannot co-exist in a given situation, guess which one God is going to put first. And honestly, I don't like it. But it is what is best. It is needed. It is beautiful in it's time. And it is filled with love and grace from a merciful God who truly does hold us caringly close to His heart.


Do you struggle with feelings of anger or entitlement? What steps can you take to overcome them?

*Originally Published in August 2015

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Only God Can Judge Me Part 3- Judging vs. Discerning

As a Christian, there are several things that play a major role in my walk with God. If I want to know Him better, I must read the Bible. If I want to share my heart with Him, I have to pray. And if I want to be upheld and kept on the right path, I need to surround myself with Godly friends. All of those things are incredibly important, but today I'd like to focus on the latter, and how judgement and discernment play into that. 

Seek Godly Friendships

Surrounding ourselves with other Christians is huge for our walk with Christ. We need encouragement. We grow through fellowship with other believers. And we need to be held accountable. However, finding godly friends can be very difficult. We often don't know where to look. But if we look hard and ask God to lead the way, Christian community is out there, and we need it desperately.

When we decide to look for godly friends, the goal should be to find friends who challenge us, and will be blunt with us if they see sin in our lives. Unfortunately, we tend to get angry when people call us out on our sins. We feel criticized and put down. And somehow, instead of being grateful for friends that steer us back to the right path, we end up going back to that original phrase: "only God can judge me". It's not comfortable to be told we are doing something wrong, and we don't like it. In fact, most of the time, we avoid it at all cost.

We Need to Be Called Out

But Scripture is clear that the fruit of our lives is proof that we belong to God, Apart from God, we can do nothing, and godly fruit produced in our lives is a witness that we know Him (John 15:4-5). Being discerning is necessary. God calls us to live a certain way. That's not because we have to earn salvation, but because He wants us to live the life He died for us to have. He wants us to embrace holiness and reject sin.

Likewise, Christians are called to lift each other up and encourage each other towards godliness. But how can we do that if we aren't willing to be corrected? If I am living a sinful life and my husband just says to himself "I shouldn't judge her", then I am not being held accountable for my actions. I am not being challenged to repent and change. As Christians, we should always want our brothers and sisters to be on the right path. We should (appropriately and lovingly) call them out and try to steer them back on the path of righteousness. But if all we are is a community that is focused on "loving" (a.k.a. avoiding confrontation), in order to stay away from "judging", we will fail miserably at our call.

You see, the bible never says not to deal with sin; it merely says to deal with it in an appropriate manner.

There is a Difference

Matthew 18:15-17 lays this out pretty clearly:

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

This passage is rarely quoted anymore. Instead, we commonly hear "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (Matthew 7:1). But the people quoting this scripture often fail to recognize that this scripture is speaking to someone who struggles with a sin, refuses to deal with it, yet judges, thinks unlovingly towards, and calls out someone else for the same sin. They also fail to mention that in verse 6 of the same passage, Jesus says that we should deal with our sins so that we are better able to help our fellow Christians with their sins.

So, if you have a drug problem and you are telling your friend that they need to stop doing drugs because it's a sin, you are judging and being very hypocritical. At that point, you need to get the plank out of your eye before trying to pull out a splinter from your friend's eye (Matt. 7:5). I am not condoning being judgmental or hypocritical towards anyone. But I am petitioning that we all use discernment and remember that calling out sins, and being aware of the fruit in our neighbor's life is not the same thing as judging. 

Likewise, if we are trying to find godly friends, we must discern whether or not the people we meet who are claiming to be Christians are actually solid in their faith. We may not be able to tell the first time we meet them, but through prayer, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and knowledge of how the bible says to live, we can usually tell if a person is living for God.

Yes, Judging is Bad

Judgmental attitudes are against God. Judging a person just because they are different from you is wrong. Judging someone based on gossip, or a one-time meeting is usually inaccurate and unfair. Do not judge. Do not assume things about a person that you barley know. But by all means, if someone is swinging naked on a wrecking ball for millions of people to watch, the bible says that we can pretty well discern by the way they are living that Jesus is not the Lord of their life. Maybe they believe in Him, but they have certainly not submitted to His Lordship in obedience. 

Technically, Miley Cyrus is right- only God can ultimately judge her. And he will judge her one day. He will judge all of us one day. The question is, will your judgement be covered in Christ's blood, and blessed with the fruit of the Spirit, or will it be tainted with sin that poisoned your life- your fruitless life?

Only God Can Judge Me- Part 2

Imagine you woke up this morning 15 minutes after you were supposed to leave for work, panicked and calling your boss as you throw on some clothes and attempt to look somewhat professional.
You arrive to work 40 minutes late, apologizing profusely as you walk through the door.
But as you sit down at your desk, your co-worker walks in, throwing tasks at you left and right before you've had a chance to catch your breath. That's when you lose it.
Yelling at your co-worker, you give them a few choice words and tell them to come back later.

****************

We aren't perfect. We fall and fail every day of our lives. Whether we steal, cheat, lie, think a lustful thought, snap at our spouse, or yell at our kids, we cannot escape the sinfulness of the flesh while we are here on this earth. That is why Jesus came, and that is why we need him so desperately.

As discussed in part 1 of this series, once we belong to Christ, we are called to live a different life. We are called to live in a way that shows the world what we have- to reject our dirty, rotten sin, and take up a life of purity. Complete perfection is not possible in this lifetime, but a changed heart and lifestyle is. God can take the worst of sinners and transform them into something clean and beautiful.

The thing is, friends, I know so many people who think that they can live however they want to. They think that the Bible is sometimes true and sometimes not. They invent their own God by picking and choosing what sins "their God" disapproves of.

We cannot be like this. We must reject sin if we follow Christ. Sin is real. Sin is something that grabs us like a vice grip and holds tightly until we are deep in our grave- unless we repent and give it to Jesus.

So if we shouldn't go on sinning, then how do we go about changing our ways? What does it take to go from living to please ourselves to living to please an invisible, yet very real God?

So How Can We Grow?

The Word
The Bible says that we are to renew our minds through God's word (Romans 12:1-2). The more time we spend in God's word, the more we recognize truth, the right way in each situation, and the more we are able to live out a godly life (Psalm 37:24). Reading the Bible doesn't make life easy, or give us the answer to every difficult decision, but it does give a guide of how to live, and it allows us to get to know the heart of our Savior much more deeply. It transforms our hearts.

Prayer
Holiness also comes as we pray and ask God for it. As we seek God's face, He will constantly be growing us (Psalm 145:18).  Just talk to Him. Ask Him for help. I can say from experience that it will not always feel like God is helping, and sometimes, even when we are not living a life of sin, He can feel far away, but He is always right there. So pray.

Godly Friends
God also calls us to chose our friends wisely, so that we aren't pulled away from our faith (Proverbs 12:26). If we are spending all of our time with people who don't believe in Jesus, they will rub off on us. This isn't to say that we shouldn't have friends that aren't Christians; it simply means we need to be wise about what we do and who we spend our time with.

Now, About Those Friends...

We need people who will build us up in truth, and people who aren't afraid to call us out on sin when we are going down the wrong path. A real friend shows us (lovingly) when we are living wrongly. Some people call that judging; I call that friendship. Be willing to develop friendships like this, but always discern whether or not these friends are actually building up and giving godly help to walk in the right way. There is a huge difference between being a good friend and helping others see their sin versus being critical and judgmental. The latter is not the kind of friend God is calling us to. We must recognize the difference.

So what is the difference? How do we tell the difference between a "friend" who judges and a friend who is pointing out our sin in love? Come back next Tuesday to find out!

Only God Can Judge Me: Part 1

Only God can judge me.  We here these words constantly. It's Miley Cyrus' catchphrase- it's a lot of people's catch phrase. This phrase is typically followed by something like "Don't judge, just love", or "What gives you the right to judge?". But I wonder, what is the reason for all these declarations? Why are people constantly feeling like they are being judged? Is it because people are cruel and rude? Sometimes. But if we are honest with ourselves, it is very easy to say those things when we know we aren't living rightly before God. The Bible says that people will know that we are Christians by our fruit. If we are living like hell, doing what we want, and saying "only God can judge me", we may need to re-examine our hearts and lives...

We are all pretty selfish when we take a bigger look. Why exactly do we say what we say and do the things that we do? 9.5 times out of 10, it's because it will benefit us. In fact, we are so self-centered, and so focused on ourselves, that we don't even realize how sinful we are.

The Bible says that we are broken. Our eyes are blinded to the path of life and peace. And as Jonathan Edwards famously said, without Christ, "we are all sinners in the hands of an angry God"! If we were left there- sinful, self-seeking, and always meandering our own way- we would be doomed. But praise God for his love and mercy upon us. He was once far away, because of our sins, but He desired so deeply to be close to us that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for us. He suffered a gruesome, horrendous death, with blood gushing from his side, pain rippling through his body, and nails piercing his hands and feet.

Would you die a slow, agonizing death, being suspended in the air by only nails piercing your flesh if you didn't love someone? I didn't think so...neither would I.
But that is what God did for us, through His Son, Jesus.

And then, all of a sudden, we didn't have to be sinners in the hands of a scary and angry God. Instead, we can be sinners who are saved, washed clean, and made beautiful. We can now call God our own Father, and we can now be with him always. This is the only thing that keeps us from being judged by God. Sure, He still technically judges us, but now when He looks at us, He sees Jesus' sacrifice, and that Jesus took our punishment. Now instead of being angry and disappointed with us, He smiles upon us; He sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17). And all of a sudden, we can be confident before God when He judges us.

So what is so bad about Miley Cyrus saying "only God can judge me"? Well, in a literal sense, nothing at all. But if we take a deeper look at scripture, we will learn that once we are saved through Jesus' sacrifices, we are called away from sin. We should never use our salvation as an excuse to live a life of sin....and if that is what we are doing, God is not pleased.

*This is a new series about God's wrath, God's salvation, and what it means to judge sin correctly and incorrectly. For more information on these topics, keep an eye out for my next post in this series.

Say No to Some Good Things to Make Room for the Best Things

During a normal week, I work 36 hours for my day job, and spend another 12-14 hours on my blog and coinciding social media. I have a husband and three dogs, and we have a house to take care of. I spend about 4 hours driving to and from work, and then on the weekends we go to church and sometimes drive another hour to visit my family. Life flies by and it feels like there is always something to do- and none of that includes having a social life!

Sometimes it feel like it is impossible to reach my dreams. Sometimes it feels like I never have enough time to work on the things I am passionate about. I want to be spending more like 20-30 hours working on my blog, but when I get home from work I am tired and the only thing I want to do is watch Netflix and eat Bon-Bons (Ok...more like pizza, but Bon-Bons work too).

But eating and watching T.V. isn't the solution to my problems. Those things are can be good things, but just because something is good, doesn't mean it's best, or that we should do it all the time.

I keep hearing the saying, "Give up what is good so that you can attain what is best", and honestly, I kept trying to figure out what that practically meant. I mean, I understood that some things are better than others, but I couldn't figure out how it applied to me.

But I am starting to realize that a lot of the time, I give up the best things in life in order to focus on the mediocre.

I mentioned before in my New Year's Goals and Resolutions post that I don't make Bible reading a priority like I should. I often choose to watch Netflix instead of spending time with God. I often choose to play video games instead of working on my blog. I would (if Taylor didn't keep me accountable- praise God for my husband!) choose sleep over church. I am so prone to choose the "good" (sometimes bad), over the very best. I often choose the mediocre over the spectacular.

And now I know what the saying means, and how it applies to me: I need to do the very best things with my time- not just the simple, mediocre, and (at best) good things.

In order to grow closer to God, I have to choose the best.

In order to improve and grow my blog, I have to choose the best.

In order to make God a priority (instead of sleep), I have to choose the best.

It's not always easy to choose the best. It is usually much easier to choose the mediocre. Good tends to be good enough if it requires less effort. But we need to start desiring more than just good- we need to seek after the best.

Now, before you cancel your Netflix subscription and toss your video games, choosing the best doesn't mean that every waking second of your life has to be given only to prayer, Bible reading, church, and whatever dreams you have for yourself. Much of it should be, but there is still something to be said for rest and relaxation. Enjoy the little things, but don't for a second start to believe that they are the best.

 Like nearly everything else in life, there is a balance to be found. Just make sure the balance is godly and...you guessed it: the best.

When They Need a Friend

Who's your best friend? How did you meet? What qualities do they have that you adore? Where would you be without them?
(Originally posted in August 2015)

I have about seven best friends, not including my husband. Some I am closer to than others, but they are all close enough and special enough to be called best friends. I am blessed beyond measure to have that many trusted, sweet, and fun friends to call mine. They are wonderful.

But every once in a while, the thought occurs to me that some people don't even have one best friend. They have acquaintances, they have people to hang out with, but no one that knows the deeper parts of their heart. They feel lonely, unloved, and like there is something wrong with them.

How sad!

Making friends is harder for some people than it is for others. Almost all of my best friends are introverts, making it tough for them to be thrown into busy, crowd-filled situations. I, on the other hand, am extremely extroverted. I love meeting knew people, making people laugh, and quite possibly enjoy pushing my friends out of their comfort zone ;)

For the people out there like me- the ones who aren't afraid to act on their impulses and talk to that random stranger in the corner- I think we have an obligation.

Not an obligation to be everyone's best friend, don't worry. But we do have an obligation to make others feel loved. We are the ones who aren't intimidated to go up and say hi. We are the ones who enjoy meeting a billion new people. So many people are shy and scared. Why would we make them make the first move? That's not cool, bro! :p

But seriously, we have the ability to make new friends. There are a lot of lonely people out there. People who are far too timid to speak up and be bold. Beautiful people with low self-esteem. So whether it's a smile, a "you look beautiful. I love your hair", or a "hey, let me buy that cup of coffee for you. How are you today?", we have the gift of boldness that could make someone feel like they matter.

And let's just be real...we all know of that one person that is hard to get along with. That person that has obviously needed a friend for years. We kept hoping they would find one. We kept hoping that it wouldn't be us... Shame on us! We saw a need. We ignored a need. We passed up a wonderful opportunity to love on someone. And again, they don't have to be our best friend. They just need to know they have someone. We don't have to be on call 24/7, and it isn't an all-access pass for someone to suck the life out of us. It just means that we kick our selfishness in the butt, push past our own desires, and offer a listening ear and a loving heart to someone who truly needs it.

And for my introverted Christ-lovers out there: try to step out in this way too. I definitely think that us extroverts have a duty, but maybe God is calling you to help the lonely as well. After all, Christ didn't say "Extroverts, love one another", He simply said "love one another".

We can all step up. Meet someone new. When you see that someone is hurting and needs a friend, be that friend.


Did someone come to mind that needs a friend? How can you show that person love?

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Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 22*

Happy Monday! Can I just say how happy I am that it is getting chilly?! I love that I can wear a long sleeve shirt without wanting to switch to a bathing suit by 1pm! It's December, so thank you, weather, for catching up!

I am also loving the ability to listen to Christmas music without being judged by the world! Three weeks ago, it was socially unacceptable to have "Jingle Bells" cranked up (that didn't stop me!), but now everyone is doing it. I'll take it. I'd rather not have to defend my habits ;)

I spent Saturday hanging out with my mom, dad, and brother at the farm. I also enjoyed playing with the puppy and the new piglet my mom just got. SO STINKIN' CUTE (and loud)!

Our internet is currently out (grrrrr!) so Taylor and I went to a coffee shop after church to use the wifi. We ended up at a place called Mugs, and it was really good. The walls were filled with local art, the coffee was good, and they had plenty of seating and outlets to use. I definitely plan to go back!

As far as today goes, I'm going to be perfectly honest and say I am grumpy and just not feeling like "lifing it" today. I just want to crawl under the covers in the fetal position and go back to sleep. Don't worry, I'm ok. I'm just having one of those days.

But as many times as I've told you guys to persevere, I really need to as well. I can be a blessing to the little girl I take care of, and I want to do that. My grumpiness should not stand in the way. I have the ability to love, to do a good job, to create, and to be a blessing each day that I am alive. So what if I feel like getting back in bed? I obviously cannot do that, so it's time to suck it up. I am important (no matter how small I feel), I am loved, and I can do it! And guess what!? The same is true for you!

Don't let feelings of grumpiness, sadness, frustration, anger, or inadequacy keep you from living well. Use today to live a full life, for the glory of God. You can do it! I can too!