Recently, I finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read a chapter a day during my quiet time and I really enjoyed it. It was, at times, challenging to read because it made me question myself, but that's a good thing for an American Christian to do. Overall, it was a good read, well written, and I enjoyed the real-life examples.
One real-life example I enjoyed was about Grandma Clara, Chan's mother-in-law. She would spend hours in the morning with Jesus, and merely glancing at the place where she sat while doing it would bring her tears of joy in anticipation of the next morning's time with Him. How beautiful is that? Once, Chan, Grandma Clara, and some other family members were at a play. During the intermission, Chan asked Grandma Clara if she was enjoying the play. Her response? Something along the lines of, "It's okay, but I keep asking myself, 'Is this where I want to be when Jesus comes back? In a theatre? Or serving Him? Yes, I would want to be serving Him.'" Wow. That has caused me to ask myself that same question these past few days. Sometimes, the answer is "Yes, this is a good thing to be doing when Jesus comes back," or other times, "No. When the Lord comes down, I don't want Him to find me watching TV or yelling at my sister." Do I drop what I'm doing right then and start doing something to serve Him? Not always, I must admit. Sometimes, I justify it, saying, "Well, everyone needs a break." I've come to realize that there are better ways to take a break, but sometimes I find myself in front of the TV anyways. It's hard, and sometimes, I just don't want to. But I'm trying, and I hope my effort pleases Him.
This book really affected the way I think. It, in fact, is what prompted me to start this blog. While reading it one day, the phrase, "Take up your cross" came across my mind. The very next chapter used that same phrase. God is awesome, isn't He? The main takeaway I have from this book is how to really live a life following Jesus: spend time with Him, love Him, love people, and give generously. By doing those four things, I hope I can live a life pleasing to God.
I recomend this book for any Christian looking to be challenged in their faith. If, however, you're just looking for a read about how God loves us just the way we are, this book isn't for you. This book is for the commited, not the faint of heart. I hope that through this post, you will be encouraged to read Crazy Love, and take up your cross.
-Emily, crazy in love with Jesus
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
The Sweet Life
Right now I feel like I'm living the sweet life. It's Christmas, I've gotten presents and money to fuel my mission trips, I'm going on a mission trip soon, and I am totally, fully, madly in love with Jesus. That's the feeling I've gotten these past few days during my quiet time. A feeling of love for this big, loving, overwhelming, awesome God whom I serve! He blesses me so, showing me that I'm right where He wants me to be. Getting affirmation from you daddy? Best feeling ever. Maybe it's a "honeymoon" phase, or maybe it's that fact that I read the Bible and eat chocolate at the same time, or maybe it's the fact that God loves me and I want to serve Him. It's either the last one, or a combination of the three. And I hope that in the absence of the first two, the last will fuel me. Because, what fuels my passion for Jesus? The way Jesus fuels me.
-Emily, just a girl totally in love with Jesus.
-Emily, just a girl totally in love with Jesus.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Why I {Kind Of} Hate Christmas (But love Jesus)
This is going to be a controversial post, I know, just because of the title. But let me just say, I don't hate Christmas, I hate what it has become. I hate consumerism and materialism. So much. The fact that Christmas revolves around presents bothers me. It needs to revolve around Jesus, the reason for the season. (cliche, but appropriate) The problem is, I'm not sure many people know how to make it not revolve around presents. It's hard to celebrate the birth of someone who 1) In earthly body, is dead. (In Spirit, he is definitely not!) and 2) Because His earthly body, is, um, dead, He isn't here in body but in Spirit, and I think that's hard for some people to grasp. What are we gonna do? Have a birthday party for Him? Strange, right? Although, a cake inscribed with "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" would be totally cool. So instead, the average American Christian just gives presents galore to their kids, while sporting a "Jesus is the reason for the season" sticker on their car. What's wrong with that? It's like a moving billboard for Jesus! Well, it's not big enough. I think the best way to "give Christmas back to Jesus" is to spend it serving Him. Feeding the homeless, wrapping presents with Bible verses attached for the less fortunate, etc. A few days after this Christmas I'm going on a mission trip. The time before Christmas will be spent in preparation for that trip, which is a way of serving Him.
So how does my family's Christmas look? Well, our Christmas day doesn't look like most other people's Christmas day, because we generally open presents on Christmas Eve, or even sooner. We go to church on Christmas Eve, as well, and read Luke 2 somewhere in there. Then, on Christmas, we do something together. Last year it was taking a walk in a local park. This year it will likely be attaching candy canes to a print out sharing the meaning of the candy cane, for me to give out on my mission trip. Also, we just spend time as a family, because since my aunts/uncles have busy work schedules and my brother goes to college 3 hours away, we aren't all together that often. So our Christmas does include some presents, but also giving (we like to give in each other's names to World Vision, Kaya Children, etc) and family time. And this Christmas, I think I'll be too excited to make a difference for Jesus on my mission trip that the consumerism/materialism part of Christmas will escape me. And the less consumerism/materialism I see, the happier I am.
Now, since I have such distinct views of Christmas, what will Christmas look like when I'm on the giving, decision making end of it? Well, I want to say that I'll only give my kids three gifts, like how the Wise Men gave Jesus three, but I think the love I'll have for them will take over and I'll want to give them everything they want. Which isn't possible, but as I give them as much as I can, we'll also spend time serving: food drives, gift wrapping, etc. And maybe we'll have a birthday cake for Jesus, so my kids can know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, and we are celebrating because Jesus is the hope of the world. Ask me in 15 years when I have kids, and maybe my views will have changed.... We'll see.
I heard on the radio of a family who, on Christmas morning, makes a lot of pancakes and coffee and takes it all downtown to pass out to the homeless. I think that is just so neat, and I would love to do that with my own kids. In the city I currently live in, you're not allowed to pass out food to the homeless (silly, right?), but volunteering at the soup kitchen would be an awesome way to give Christmas away, and maybe if my family lives in a different city, we can serve pancakes and coffee too.
But anyways, the whole point of this post was for me to rant on how horrible consumerism/materialism is. NOT. The whole point of this post was to show people how we can keep Christ in Christmas, while still getting/giving presents: we can be thankful and serve. I hope that I'll be able to implement these things into my family's Christmas when I grow up, even with consumerism/materialism on the rise.
-Emily
So how does my family's Christmas look? Well, our Christmas day doesn't look like most other people's Christmas day, because we generally open presents on Christmas Eve, or even sooner. We go to church on Christmas Eve, as well, and read Luke 2 somewhere in there. Then, on Christmas, we do something together. Last year it was taking a walk in a local park. This year it will likely be attaching candy canes to a print out sharing the meaning of the candy cane, for me to give out on my mission trip. Also, we just spend time as a family, because since my aunts/uncles have busy work schedules and my brother goes to college 3 hours away, we aren't all together that often. So our Christmas does include some presents, but also giving (we like to give in each other's names to World Vision, Kaya Children, etc) and family time. And this Christmas, I think I'll be too excited to make a difference for Jesus on my mission trip that the consumerism/materialism part of Christmas will escape me. And the less consumerism/materialism I see, the happier I am.
Now, since I have such distinct views of Christmas, what will Christmas look like when I'm on the giving, decision making end of it? Well, I want to say that I'll only give my kids three gifts, like how the Wise Men gave Jesus three, but I think the love I'll have for them will take over and I'll want to give them everything they want. Which isn't possible, but as I give them as much as I can, we'll also spend time serving: food drives, gift wrapping, etc. And maybe we'll have a birthday cake for Jesus, so my kids can know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, and we are celebrating because Jesus is the hope of the world. Ask me in 15 years when I have kids, and maybe my views will have changed.... We'll see.
I heard on the radio of a family who, on Christmas morning, makes a lot of pancakes and coffee and takes it all downtown to pass out to the homeless. I think that is just so neat, and I would love to do that with my own kids. In the city I currently live in, you're not allowed to pass out food to the homeless (silly, right?), but volunteering at the soup kitchen would be an awesome way to give Christmas away, and maybe if my family lives in a different city, we can serve pancakes and coffee too.
But anyways, the whole point of this post was for me to rant on how horrible consumerism/materialism is. NOT. The whole point of this post was to show people how we can keep Christ in Christmas, while still getting/giving presents: we can be thankful and serve. I hope that I'll be able to implement these things into my family's Christmas when I grow up, even with consumerism/materialism on the rise.
-Emily
Friday, December 19, 2014
Daily Quiet Time
As an introductory post, I have decided to share what my daily quiet time looks like. Hopefully I'll post 1-2 times a week, on topics like modesty, Christmas, testimonies, etc. I hope you enjoy!
Having a daily quiet time has never really been that much of a struggle for me. Being homeschooled, there isn't much pressure to get ready in the morning to rush out the door, so fitting it in isn't difficult. I suppose the ease (most of the time) comes from a want to do what God says, and to know Him more. And His will. Pastors always say that you shouldn't force yourself to do it, that it shouldn't be a to-do list item. Personally, I disagree. It's like exercising. At first, you have to make yourself do it, but then it becomes a habit. After it's a habit, however, there shouldn't be anymore forcing. You need to want to, you need to need to, which is sometimes a struggle for me.
Now, let me just say that I'm not condemning those who don't have a daily quiet time. God doesn't tell us "every morning you must read 10 chapters in your Bible and then pray for an hour." God just wants time with you. My pastor said something about quiet time that got to me. It was something like, "A relationship with Christ is like a marriage. It is, in fact. We are the bride of Christ. Now, my wife doesn't care how many marriage books I read. She just wants me to spend time with her. That's like us with God. God likes it when we read the Bible, yes, but most importantly, He just wants time with us." I think sometimes we get so focused on reading the Bible, that we lose sight of other things we can do to spend time with Him.
So, the real question I wanted to answer in all of this was, "Why do we do quiet time?" Simply put, we do quiet time because we want to know God better. Like a marriage, we need to spend time with God to know Him. This can be done in many different ways, which leads me to how I do my quiet time....
Now, before I say anything else, let me just say that this routine I'm about to tell you about does not happen everyday, but usually 4 days a week. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, it doesn't really happen, to be honest. But on those other 4 days, this is what it looks like: My alarm goes off at 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45. I get up after that one at 6:45. I get my Bible, journal, and whichever book I'm reading (right now it's Crazy Love). Then I either sit at my desk or sit in bed, and I start reading the Bible. Generally, I focus on reading through the Bible, by reading 5 chapters a day. Right now I'm in Jeremiah, which has some pretty long chapters. After, I read whichever book I happen to be reading at that time. By this time it's 7, or 7:05. Then I journal, which I can talk about forever, I loooooovvvvvvveeeeee journaling. So much. It's my escape. Someone hurts me, offends me, or makes me happy, you can bet it's written in my blue journal. I also journal about what He showed me that day in my reading. But instead of writing, "Dear Journal," or "Dear Diary," I write, "Dear God," so it's, "Today You showed me....." I also have made a habit of listing 5 things I'm thankful for every time I write. Then after journaling, I check my email and Pinterest, and then I go eat breakfast and get a move on with my day. Also, while I'm getting dressed or cleaning my room, I listen to worship music, so it's like an extension of my quiet time. So there. I said it. That's my routine. It takes about 30 minutes. I've never really told anyone what I do during my quiet time, and I don't know why. I've listened to many a sermon on quiet time, but never have I heard a pastor actually tell the congregation what his quiet time looks like. I always wonder if it's because they don't have a routine, but usually they just say, "It looks different for everyone. Find your groove, and stick to it." How am I supposed to find my groove if I don't know where to look? I hope, dear readers, that this helps you.
Before closing, let me just say that this routine is new to me, and that it may not stick forever. Likely, depending on my stage of life, it might be different. But, right now, in this season, this I have just shared with you is how I'm pursuing God and taking up my cross and following Him.
- Emily
Happy quiet time-ing!
Having a daily quiet time has never really been that much of a struggle for me. Being homeschooled, there isn't much pressure to get ready in the morning to rush out the door, so fitting it in isn't difficult. I suppose the ease (most of the time) comes from a want to do what God says, and to know Him more. And His will. Pastors always say that you shouldn't force yourself to do it, that it shouldn't be a to-do list item. Personally, I disagree. It's like exercising. At first, you have to make yourself do it, but then it becomes a habit. After it's a habit, however, there shouldn't be anymore forcing. You need to want to, you need to need to, which is sometimes a struggle for me.
Now, let me just say that I'm not condemning those who don't have a daily quiet time. God doesn't tell us "every morning you must read 10 chapters in your Bible and then pray for an hour." God just wants time with you. My pastor said something about quiet time that got to me. It was something like, "A relationship with Christ is like a marriage. It is, in fact. We are the bride of Christ. Now, my wife doesn't care how many marriage books I read. She just wants me to spend time with her. That's like us with God. God likes it when we read the Bible, yes, but most importantly, He just wants time with us." I think sometimes we get so focused on reading the Bible, that we lose sight of other things we can do to spend time with Him.
So, the real question I wanted to answer in all of this was, "Why do we do quiet time?" Simply put, we do quiet time because we want to know God better. Like a marriage, we need to spend time with God to know Him. This can be done in many different ways, which leads me to how I do my quiet time....
Now, before I say anything else, let me just say that this routine I'm about to tell you about does not happen everyday, but usually 4 days a week. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, it doesn't really happen, to be honest. But on those other 4 days, this is what it looks like: My alarm goes off at 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45. I get up after that one at 6:45. I get my Bible, journal, and whichever book I'm reading (right now it's Crazy Love). Then I either sit at my desk or sit in bed, and I start reading the Bible. Generally, I focus on reading through the Bible, by reading 5 chapters a day. Right now I'm in Jeremiah, which has some pretty long chapters. After, I read whichever book I happen to be reading at that time. By this time it's 7, or 7:05. Then I journal, which I can talk about forever, I loooooovvvvvvveeeeee journaling. So much. It's my escape. Someone hurts me, offends me, or makes me happy, you can bet it's written in my blue journal. I also journal about what He showed me that day in my reading. But instead of writing, "Dear Journal," or "Dear Diary," I write, "Dear God," so it's, "Today You showed me....." I also have made a habit of listing 5 things I'm thankful for every time I write. Then after journaling, I check my email and Pinterest, and then I go eat breakfast and get a move on with my day. Also, while I'm getting dressed or cleaning my room, I listen to worship music, so it's like an extension of my quiet time. So there. I said it. That's my routine. It takes about 30 minutes. I've never really told anyone what I do during my quiet time, and I don't know why. I've listened to many a sermon on quiet time, but never have I heard a pastor actually tell the congregation what his quiet time looks like. I always wonder if it's because they don't have a routine, but usually they just say, "It looks different for everyone. Find your groove, and stick to it." How am I supposed to find my groove if I don't know where to look? I hope, dear readers, that this helps you.
Before closing, let me just say that this routine is new to me, and that it may not stick forever. Likely, depending on my stage of life, it might be different. But, right now, in this season, this I have just shared with you is how I'm pursuing God and taking up my cross and following Him.
- Emily
Happy quiet time-ing!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Salvation: The Hope of the Nations
This post has been on my heart ever since I started this blogging journey. I knew when I started a faith blog, that I would, of course, do a post on salvation. Salvation, I believe, is the hope of the nations. As Americans, we claim to be a Christian nation. And although "One Nation Under God" is still printed on dollar bills and is in our pledge, I question the Christian-ness of our nation. We need to be Jesus followers, because, in America, the definition of "Christian" has changed. I hope this post will change lives. If any post on this humble blog should go viral or even get (gasp) 100 page views (yeah, I'm small time), I would hope it would be this one. This post is so important, and my greatest fear is that I don't convey the message well. I want nothing more than for the world to come to Christ. And even if I write on this blog for 5 years and only one person is changed, it will be worth it.
Okay, so let's start with the basics. The very definition of salvation is "to be saved from sin and its consequences." What is sin? "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." Not the law of humans, but something divine. The only person fit to make those laws is someone who is perfect, or hasn't broken those laws. We don't let ex-cons make laws, do we? God is divine, God is perfect (Psalm 18:30), so therefore he hasn't broken those laws. God makes divine laws, and when we break them, we are sinning against Him. Now, if we made a list of all of these laws, it would be very long. However, they can be pretty well summed up in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3-17): 1) you shall not have any gods before Me 2) do not worship idols 3) do not misuse the name of the Lord your God 4) Keep the Sabbath holy 5) honor your father and mother 6) do not murder 7) do not commit adultery 8) do not steal 9) do not give false testimony 10) do not covet anything. Simple right? It's harder than you think. Now, when I was typing those out, I wondered, "If I was a person who didn't know God, how would I be convinced to follow these rules?" I mean, if my life is going fine already, why add a new set of rules? And honestly, I don't have a good reason, except that God created you and He demands your worship. You are His, and maybe when you're going through a bad time, you will realize your need of a savior. But for the hurting: listen up! God heals your wounds. God cleanses you of your sins, washes you clean, and makes you new. How? In the Old Testament, the Israelites made sacrifices to atone for their sins. But, in the opening of the New Testament, the ultimate sacrifice comes to save us all: Jesus. To quote the most popular Bible verse of all time, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Wow. So, if you give your life to Him, He will give you everlasting (eternal) life in a wonderful place called Heaven. (For great verses about Heaven, see Revelation 21:4, 22:1-5, and 1 Corinthians 2:9) Those going through difficult times can know that there is a greater place, where no tears will be shed but tears of joy. The Christians who had the greatest impact were the ones with their eyes on Heaven... (Francis Chan, not his exact words, but close, so I'll credit him) Okay, so you want Heaven. But that is only a benefit. Loving Him is the main thing. Believing in God just for Heaven, and not loving Him, is like you saying to your parents, "I don't love you, I didn't do my chores, but I want my allowance," and expecting to get an allowance. (Francis Chan combined with Emily Luken, everyone) So, let's say you want this. You want to be cleansed, to be new, and to have wonderful eternal life. What do you do? Say this prayer, "God, I know I've made mistakes. I am sorry and now I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Cleanse me, God, and make me new. Forgive me. Amen." There! Now you are a Christian, or, a Jesus-follower. What's next? Find a church that preaches the Bible, get connected, and spend time with God. (See my upcoming "Quiet Time" post for more on that) For access to the Bible, go to biblegateway.org. Now, go, and share the good news!
-Emily, for God
*Disclaimer: I am not an expert on salvation, nor do I claim to know everything about it. This is just God talking to me, and me trying to convey it in a simple, effective way.*
Okay, so let's start with the basics. The very definition of salvation is "to be saved from sin and its consequences." What is sin? "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." Not the law of humans, but something divine. The only person fit to make those laws is someone who is perfect, or hasn't broken those laws. We don't let ex-cons make laws, do we? God is divine, God is perfect (Psalm 18:30), so therefore he hasn't broken those laws. God makes divine laws, and when we break them, we are sinning against Him. Now, if we made a list of all of these laws, it would be very long. However, they can be pretty well summed up in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3-17): 1) you shall not have any gods before Me 2) do not worship idols 3) do not misuse the name of the Lord your God 4) Keep the Sabbath holy 5) honor your father and mother 6) do not murder 7) do not commit adultery 8) do not steal 9) do not give false testimony 10) do not covet anything. Simple right? It's harder than you think. Now, when I was typing those out, I wondered, "If I was a person who didn't know God, how would I be convinced to follow these rules?" I mean, if my life is going fine already, why add a new set of rules? And honestly, I don't have a good reason, except that God created you and He demands your worship. You are His, and maybe when you're going through a bad time, you will realize your need of a savior. But for the hurting: listen up! God heals your wounds. God cleanses you of your sins, washes you clean, and makes you new. How? In the Old Testament, the Israelites made sacrifices to atone for their sins. But, in the opening of the New Testament, the ultimate sacrifice comes to save us all: Jesus. To quote the most popular Bible verse of all time, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Wow. So, if you give your life to Him, He will give you everlasting (eternal) life in a wonderful place called Heaven. (For great verses about Heaven, see Revelation 21:4, 22:1-5, and 1 Corinthians 2:9) Those going through difficult times can know that there is a greater place, where no tears will be shed but tears of joy. The Christians who had the greatest impact were the ones with their eyes on Heaven... (Francis Chan, not his exact words, but close, so I'll credit him) Okay, so you want Heaven. But that is only a benefit. Loving Him is the main thing. Believing in God just for Heaven, and not loving Him, is like you saying to your parents, "I don't love you, I didn't do my chores, but I want my allowance," and expecting to get an allowance. (Francis Chan combined with Emily Luken, everyone) So, let's say you want this. You want to be cleansed, to be new, and to have wonderful eternal life. What do you do? Say this prayer, "God, I know I've made mistakes. I am sorry and now I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Cleanse me, God, and make me new. Forgive me. Amen." There! Now you are a Christian, or, a Jesus-follower. What's next? Find a church that preaches the Bible, get connected, and spend time with God. (See my upcoming "Quiet Time" post for more on that) For access to the Bible, go to biblegateway.org. Now, go, and share the good news!
-Emily, for God
*Disclaimer: I am not an expert on salvation, nor do I claim to know everything about it. This is just God talking to me, and me trying to convey it in a simple, effective way.*
Who I am
I am a Daughter of the One True King. I am a Sister in Christ to many. I am a Follower of Jesus. I'm just a 14-year-old trying to make a difference in this world and live for HIM. That's why I started Take Up Your Cross, because Matthew 16:24 rocked my world.
-Emily (Daughter, Sister, Follower)
-Emily (Daughter, Sister, Follower)
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