Is it Okay to Question God?

          I normally go on mission trips to Mexico twice a year, but because I went three times last year, I wasn't able to go on two this year, and so I didn't go this month. The trip is over, it went on without me, and I'm still sorting out my feelings. I questioned God a bit, asking "Why? Why don't you want me as a part of this?" Good question, Emily. The thing about Christianity is that the harvest is many, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37) So when something (time, money, resources) keeps us from serving abroad, what are we supposed to do? First of all, when it comes to questioning God, you have to trust. Trust that He knows, because He does. He has His reasons. Try to see it from all views, not just the selfish human one we are so prone to. Ask friends to pray for you and study the Bible harder than ever. But, back to the original question, "Is it okay to question God?" Short answer, yes. Rick Warren talks about it in his book The Purpose Driven Life.  (I really like that book if you can't tell) Warren explains that God likes it when we doubt, question, or argue with Him. Crazy right? He likes it because it requires communication, drawing us nearer to Him. After every exchange with God, I feel closer to Him and filled, even if I'm asking Him "Why?" In conclusion, questioning God is simply a part of being a Christian, and God even created it so that when we do, it draws us closer to Him. The best thing is to remember that no communication will not help or draw you closer to Him, so communication is key. Push through in the hard times. You have to go down in order to go up.

-Emily

Baptism: Why

       In my testimony I talked about how I had been mislead in my beliefs about baptism. I don't think there was a problem with my church, just that there was too much emphasis on the fact that baptism doesn't get you your salvation. This is true, however it is something that all the believers in the New Testament did. It's no secret that I love the book The Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren talks about baptism in one section. No, it doesn't change the way your name is written in the Book of Life, but it is the first step to a life lived out loud. It's the profession of your faith, saying publicly "Yes! I am a Christian!" Being a Christian doesn't do much good if you're too embarrassed to say it, especially when Jesus commands us to "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Also, isn't it interesting that that verse says to not only proclaim Christ to them, but to baptize them? Accepting Him and baptism go hand in hand, often in the same day in the New Testament, points out Warren. Baptism is not how you get your salvation, but it is the very best way of showing everyone what happened on the inside and it is a great symbol of new life.

-Emily

Friday Night Thoughts

     Sometimes I get overwhelmed. We see pictures of starving children in Africa, dying babies in India, and orphans in China. We think, "Oh, I wish I could just rush into that picture and scoop up that precious child of God and never let go." That's what we think. That's wishful thinking. We, as Americans, tend to wish too much. We have our wishes. When we wish, we tend to wish for things that probably won't happen: marrying Ryan Gosling, living in the White House, or being famous. And then we have our want lists: the latest iPhone, that college, that nice purse you want. Honestly, as Americans, we can get that iPhone, go to that college, or buy that purse. Can we marry Ryan Gosling, live in the White House, or be famous? Not everyone can. So when we say, "Oh I wish I could go on that mission trip to orphanages in Haiti..." we assume it won't happen. Wishes don't always come true. But wants? A lot of my wants, from that cute shirt at Target to even a little sister, have been given to me. We need to change our thinking from "wishing to feed the starving children" to "wanting to feed the starving children, raising the money to feed the starving the children, feeding the starving children." We don't work towards our wishes, we just hope they come true. We work towards our wants, saving money for *that thing* When God called me to Paraguay, the call of blessing people with the word of the Lord wasn't what I heard. I heard adventure with Jesus, wherever He would call me. At church, we often sing a song that goes, "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than me feet would ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior." People sing that thinking "Yes! Call me God!" But when a mission trip or service opportunity is presented, they don't go. "Oh, God isn't calling me to Africa. I want to go to Asia when I'm older." What about now? God is calling you everywhere. Jesus didn't tell us to find one nation that we like and tell those people about Jesus, He told us to go to all nations. I'm not saying you have to go on every mission trip, but if you keep on saying "next year" it's never going to come. Live in the now, viewing each day as your last. What if the upcoming mission trip was your last opportunity to serve? It only takes one trip before you get addicted. You have to start somewhere. Wherever you go, it will be because God wants you to be there and He will work there.

-Emily

What God Has Been Teaching Me (James 4:8)

       God has been teaching me a lot lately. I haven't ever felt so spiritually alive as I have now. Why? Two reasons: 1) I'm spending much more time with Him and 2) I said yes to Him (more on that later). How much time? An hour a day, sometimes more. It's amazing. I recently finished reading through the entire Bible for the third time. This time it took me seven months. Not too shabby. (What am I saying? I'm really proud of myself!) Also, I've read my Bible and journaled everyday since December 13th. Consistency and time combined with reading The Purpose Driven Life has caused me to grow leaps and bounds spiritually. What specifically? Several times the past month or so He has lead me to James 4:8. I love the book of James. At one point in my short life, I had the first chapter memorized. I want to memorize the second chapter, as well as refresh the first one. Some day... Anyways, James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." This verse shows that you have to act in order to be changed, you can't just wait for Him to do something. Part of His nature is that He doesn't force Himself on us (as evidenced by the fact that He doesn't force us to love Him). In order to accomplish real spiritual growth, we first must draw near to Him by changing our thinking, as The Purpose Driven Life states. How? Behind every action we need to think, "Is this bringing glory to God? How can I make it bring glory to God?" Whether it be simply listening to more Christian music or saying "yes" to a mission trip, changing our thinking will change the way we live. Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything. -Qi. 

What has He been pressing on your heart lately?
-Emily

My Testimony

        Awhile ago I did a post about testimonies, promising mine soon. Soon has come! This is my testimony. It may not look super powerful on the outside, but I think a lot of people can relate and be encouraged.

        I was born and raised in a Christian home, along with two older brothers. I saw them accept Christ, get baptized, and go on their way. They didn't seem that different to me, and I wondered about all of this stuff. After seeing a friend of mine get baptized when I was about seven, I myself decided to ask Jesus into my heart. Things felt the same. My parents tried to talk me into baptism, but I was very shy and didn't see it as a necessary thing, because I had been told that it doesn't change your heart, salvation, or the fact that you're going to heaven. Boy was I wrong! I finally got baptized when I was ten, and around age eleven I started reading my Bible more consistently. There hasn't, however, been one place in my life where it really clicked or things turned around. That's the wonderful thing about Christianity: God is infinite and so is your journey with Him. Between the ages of eleven and thirteen, things really started moving along. I read the entire Bible (twice), journaled A LOT, studied the Bible, and discipled with my friends. Also, when I was twelve, God called me to missions. Now I have been to Mexico seven times, and I have one more trip planned this year. I am such a small part of the work God is doing in Mexico, but I am a part of it. I love that God allows us humans to be a part of His greater scheme. Now I'm fourteen and my spiritual walk is flourishing. God has protected me from a lot, and I hope He will continue to. Through being consistent and following Him, I have fallen completely in love with Him. He is leading me to crazy places (see upcoming post) and I love it. I honestly can not express how I feel about God. I love Him. He's good, crazy (a little known aspect of His character), loving, and my best friend. I could go on and on! But instead, I want to hear YOUR story. Are you following Him? Curious about this Jesus thing? What's your story?

-Emily

Falling in Love with God

        I went through a super poetic stage a while ago. I wrote it all down in my journal, and I enjoy reading over it. What prompted it? A boy. There is, at this point, pretty much only one boy I would ever consider marrying. I'm young, but for now that is it. And that's good, I suppose. Better one than twelve, right? Anyways, as I was writing about him, I thought about love. And how I just can't wait to fall in love. Love is a beautiful thing. And I want to save it for the one. For now, the only man I truly love is God. I'm already His bride, and it's a beautiful thing. Falling in love with Him is the best thing you could ever do. Why? Three reasons: 1) It teaches you how to truly love 2) It teaches you unconditional love 3) it ensures that when a special person comes around, it will be the one, (really the two), the only other one.

It teaches you how to truly love

How to truly love: loving a person for them, not their looks or "benefits." I can't believe I'm going here, but it's such a big thing. God created sex as a good thing, but not before you know the person. When you fall in love with God, you can't fall in love with Him to please your want for sex, only after your in love with Him will He free you from that bondage. Falling in love with God teaches you how to fall in love with a person: for them. I fell in love with God because He loves me for me. Loving someone for who they are, all of their little quirks and flaws included, is the love I want to both give and receive.

It teaches you unconditional love

God is perfect. You aren't. So when you fail in loving Him, He will always forgive you. Falling in love with Him first doesn't ensure that you won't mess up with the one comes along, but when the one comes along and messes up, you will be reminded of how to respond according to the ways of God, Love, and the same for the one you love. The number one thing I'm looking for in a man is a man who not only loves God, but falls in love with Him every day. After that, all he has to be is taller than me and a godly man. 

It ensures true love with the one

There was a quote going around Pinterest a while back that said, "Dance with God and He will let the right man cut in." It's true. Falling in love with God means having a relationship with Him, and so when someone comes around, He will guide your steps. Love is a beautiful thing, and I want to save it for the one special man God has for me, so I want Him to guide my steps as I get older. 

        So, there you have it. Me on love. I can't wait to fall in love. Again tomorrow when I wake up and when a special boy comes around. (whether or not it's the one I like now) When I think about "that" boy, I always try to curb my feelings. It doesn't work. It works much better if you direct them somewhere else. For me, that was right back at God. God is Love. I love Love. 

-Emily

Testimonies

        Lots of things were on my to-do list yesterday. Writing a blog post was one of them. Lots of things got done. Writing a blog post was not one of them. *sigh* Consistency in my writing around here has been... spotty at best. But I'm trying. I hope my effort pleases Him. It's all I have: this worn, body with a tired brain but full soul. It's what He gave me, and I'm going to use it to the best of my ability to please Him. So what are we talking about today? Testimonies. Testimonies are powerful. A lot of Christians think that theirs isn't because they were born and raised in Christian home, never broke the law outside of a speeding ticket, etc etc etc. Maybe you can relate. All I can say is that God gave you your testimony, and so He will use it to impact someone, somewhere. In Acts 22 Paul shares his testimony in a simple way: he shares who he was before Christ, how he came to Christ, and who he is now. This is an easy way to share your testimony, because it's three things that every Christian can speak on, even if they don't think there's much of a "before and after" difference. If you think that, maybe you should make one! I'm not saying that you should go out, do drugs and alcohol, and then come back to Jesus, I'm just saying if there's no difference in your life since you've accepted Christ, isn't there something wrong? Live radically for Him and that's all the difference you need. Next week I'll share my testimony as an example.

-Emily (saved by Him)