Only A Milestone

2013       Typhoon hit the Philippines. Pope Benedict XVI resigned. Calgary flooded just before the Stampede. Boston Marathon bombings. Obama was re-elected. Brutal mall attack in Kenya. Huge tornado in Oklahoma. US Government Shutdown. iPhone 5S and 5C. Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. Blackberry went down the drain. The royal baby, Prince George, was born. I started a blog.

There's been approximately 139,000,000 births, and 58,000,000 deaths. Despite all the suicides, murders, and natural disasters, the world population grew by approximately 82,000,000.

So here we are, just hours away from a metaphorically clean slate. Looking back, people are seeing the depths of despond that they thought they would never get through, but here they are. Some are now gone that, if they had been helped, would have been doing that very same thing.

It has been a mere 365 days, and look at all that has been accomplished. Look at all that has been destroyed. Look at how much more you know now. Evaluate the success of your 2013 New Year's Resolutions.

Milestones have been reached. I will reach mine in seven hours. My sixteenth birthday.

But what is a milestone? Isn't it simply the imaginary summit we make for ourselves? Or rather, it is the imaginary checkpoints we place along the path of life, and we assume that only after achieving them all will we finish the race well. We don't take into account that the accomplishing of some of those milestones may lead us off the path God intended.

New Year's Day is an annual internationally recognized milestone... but it's only a day. We celebrate the changing of a single digit. We are going from a 3 to a 4. A milestone? Who knows what 2014 will have in store for us? Who knows if we will even live through it? Who knows whether the world will last until this time next year? Who knows how many more births, deaths, bombings, inventions, wins, and losses will occur during the next 365 days? Just God.

Those of us who remain have been granted another 'milestone.' We are calling it 2014. The history of the Bible has now been pushed back yet another year, and the belief in that history will be pushed further back as well, if it is not defended.

Many people saw their previous New Year's Resolutions fail. That's where depression reaches a peak. People think "Well, it's too late to try now- I'll wait until next year." Forgetting that the imaginary milestone they label as "Next Year" might not be on God's timeline.

Starting at midnight, the clock begins ticking. For this next trip around the sun, we will all be given 525,949 minutes at our disposal. Of course- God isn't subject to the physics of this solar system that He created.

There are lives that are expected to see 2015, who won't even live til midnight tonight. There are lives that are dangerously close to being self-extinguished, that are needing the Power of God to bring them out of the darkness, so that they can live to see their entire life of God's intended length for them.

There are souls being lost, but there are so many more waiting to be saved!

This is the purpose for which I am, Lord-willing, entering into 2014. This is my resolution.

God, I'm giving this year to You.

Proverbs 16:3 ~

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, 

and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 19:21 ~

Many are the plans in a man's heart, 

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Priorities.

See, I'm kind of determined to reach 42 blog posts before this year is out. 42 just seems like a rather... iconic number. Seeing as I will need two more including this one, and I have one more day... aw, shucks. Why not?

Today I went shopping with the gift card that I was given for Christmas. The stores were crowded, but it wasn't exactly Boxing Day Ballistic. Nonetheless, just as every other time I go shopping, I was filled with... frustration. I feel embarrassed, and annoyed with myself, and everyone around me.

I almost try to hide the things I am purchasing, because I am embarrassed to have the money to purchase them. I know we are so rich here in Canada. Even those who think they are poor on a First-World Country's standard are kings compared to the billions of people in the world that will never see more money in their lives than we see in a day.

I've been especially self-conscious of every spoiled word and phrase and action I see around me, or those I make. "Can I have seconds?" "That's not fair... I already did more than my share of chores today." Big deal. We are so wimpy! We are so ungrateful. Every prayer we murmur contains a "Thank you," or two, or even an acknowledgment of our "many blessings," but we don't really realize it. Sometimes I wonder if all these... things, are really a blessing at all.

Consumerism. Wants are disguised as needs, which leads to debt, depression, and destruction. Why are the richest countries in the world also the saddest? We have some of the largest percentages of suicides. This is where our greediness has brought us, and we fail to attribute our issues to our incurable disease called WANT.

At every checkout counter, there are dozens of scandalous magazines shooting out headlines. The thing I notice most... they're all the same. There's nothing new. Nothing original. "30 New Fat-Burning Excercises!" "Greatest Health Recipies!" "Life Hacks 101!" It's been that way for years, why are we still so gullible? People continue to purchase these magazines with these claims, even though these are the exact same claims magazines have been making for years. Nothing exciting. If it didn't work before, why do people still fall into the trap and try again and again? Can't they see that it isn't making them happy?

There is the problem. Happiness. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." It's a well-known phrase, but is more often than not, gone about all the wrong way. People are always pursuing happiness. People are almost always pursuing happiness in the completely wrong places, unfortunately.

Don't forget that Christian fall into that same trap as well. I was reminded of that today. To humans, God is not a tangible, visible thing that we can grasp. That is one of the reasons that many refuse to believe. Their belief is that if you cannot see, hear, feel, taste, or smell something... it doesn't exist.

I fail so often to remember that God is more than enough for me. I lie to myself and think I 'need' all these new products or clothing items or electronics... but I don't need any of it. Only God can ever satisfy. Trying to fill emptiness with anything of the world is so pointless- it only makes the gaping gap bigger. There is only one way it can be filled, and that is Jesus.

I sometimes wonder if it pains God when we want worldly things so badly. We pray, "God, please give me that car. That phone. That relationship. That house. That pet." I can just imagine Him wanting to shake us and bring us to our senses! A car may be of great value to us, but to a God who created and owns everything, and has never had a beginning and will never have an end... it's lower than dust.

Matthew 6:19-21~

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

We may plead, "Please Lord, help me earn the money to buy that car!" I can just picture Him telling us, "Yes, I could give you that car. But I am wanting to give you so much more! I just wish you would ask for joy. I wish you would ask for peace. I can give you patience. I love to give good gifts to you, my child, but you keep asking for worthless trinkets. That car will fade away like grass. But these things I can give to you, a relationship with Myself, will never fade away."

We know these truths, but we continuously forget. We constantly put a relationship with God at the bottom of the list, and those top slots change as often as the wind. It's proof of how fickle we are.

A lot of people want a stable life. Imagine how solid one's life could be if God occupied that #1 spot. If everything else on that list, everything that was desirable, reflected what God would have them desire. Everything they desire would be for good, it would all be according to God's plan.

We do have that opportunity- each one of us! When we put God first and give Him the role of Lord in our lives, He will lead us down the right path.

It may be a little late to make a new Christmas list, but what about a New Year's Resolution?

Matthew 6:33~

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

To Be Genuine.

Am I the only one that feels super fake during church? In most worship services, I get so frustrated that I just want to leave. Sometimes, I stop singing and stand there, because I hate the vile taste of hypocrisy that the lyrics leave in my mouth.

Songs that claim the determination and loyalty of our sinful human selves make me sick. I can't bring myself to sing them- not yet. "You are my King, You are my King." That should be true. I know that. I want that. But is it that way? Not completely. I don't want to lie to myself, or to God by singing that.

I've been wrestling with this for quite some time now. The words I sing are as meaningless as if I wasn't singing them at all. "Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God." How I wish I could sing that with 100% honesty... but as I sin those words I'm standing in the crowd either with my arms crossed, yawning during the choruses, glancing at the clock, wanting to leave.

"And I'll stand with arms high, and heart abandoned." Yeah, right. So far, I've been clinging on to my heart with all my strength. Though I sing the words, they couldn't be more false.

"Where You go, I'll go, Where You stay, I'll stay, When You move, I'll move, I will follow You, Who You love, I'll love, How You serve I'll serve, If this life I lose, I will follow You" I despise myself for singing those words, because I fail so often to actually do that. I wish it was true, but it isn't. Not yet.

The truth is, I try. I can't help but feel that the songs that make such claims... are dangerous, perhaps. I'm tentatively saying that, as this is a personal issue. This is why I would rather sing songs that talk all about Christ and what He's done, rather than our meager attempt to imitate Him. We are finite and fallible. He is infinite, and perfect. So, in my best opinion, we should be spending more time praising His name, instead of our own.

Someday, I want to take a trip all by myself out to a cabin in the wilderness. For a few days, I just want to reach a point where I can sing those words truthfully. I want to reach a point where I can be totally engulfed in the realm of worship, and fall to my knees before the Throne of Grace. I want it to be real. I want to really worship.

I don't want to sing these songs if my heart isn't right. I don't want to lie anymore. If my heart isn't right with God, then I won't sing. I will get myself right with God before I start making all those claims that I am destined to break.

And I hope I'm not lying.

Breaking Habits

It's a bleak day. You're sitting on a bench by the road. You can hear the chitchat all around. Someone's at the payphone, it sounds urgent... but it's not your business. The two teenagers walking by seem full of energy- but you have no idea what they're talking about. You watch as the bus stops by, releasing a diverse handful of people- they're all on their phones.

That top-notch shop across the street selling purses and scarves at triple-digit prices has had high-heeled, tuxedo-clad customers opening and closing the shiny doors off and on all day. You sigh. You see the business man or woman strutting by- engaged in a very important sounding phone call. Their shoes click briskly on the sidewalk, giving everyone reason to believe that they are, at that moment, the most important. Their task at hand, though unknown to all observers, is given the highest respect because of the air of importance the individual presents.

They're gone. You look down at your fading jeans, and zip your jacket up a little more. Slouching, you close your eyes- not even caring anymore what the people around you think. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters. Everything you've been draining yourself for, everything you've been giving to others, it doesn't seem to matter. No one's grateful. No one cares. No one even notices. You thought you had talents. You thought you had purpose. You thought. Not anymore- if there's nothing to live for, why bother living?

It may have been five minutes or fifty. You slouch there, your legs are numb from the cold metal bench. Your eyes are still closed, and you feel yourself nodding. Wouldn't it be great to just... slip into peaceful oblivion- forever? 

Firm hands grasp your shoulders. You try to jump off the bench and wheel on whoever is behind you, but they don't let you. They begin to shake you violently, but only for a moment. As you jump to your feet and spin on a dime, prepared to shout at your harasser, something stops you. Isn't it the homeless man from the other block? Something about the look in his eyes- it isn't threatening, it isn't angry... in fact, it looks desirable. The furious words that had just been formulating on your tongue, pause. Something about his character makes you want to listen.

It sounds like complete gibberish, but you can't stop listening. Are you really believing this? What is wrong with this guy? He is fanatical- waving his hands, pointing, jumping, literally shaking, and shouting, "Praise God! Praise God! Glory to God, oh, glory to God! You must go, you must go see- there's been a baby born! He is finally here, hallelujah!"

He runs off, babbling as he goes. You stand in shock, and in wonder. Every once of logic inside of you tells you to sit back down, and forget about the crazy homeless man. However, there is something in you- can it be a hunger?- it beckons you to go. With a shrug, you begin in the direction the man had pointed in, shaking your head all the way. What has gotten into you? Since when did you take orders from crazy homeless people?

There it is. So ordinary. You don't understand, but you want to. It's just a mother and a father, and their firstborn child. What is so incredible about that? This should be sort of awkward- the couple just had a baby, for goodness' sake! You really should leave, let them have some privacy. The mother looks relieved, the father is beaming, but they're both exhausted. You try to summon the willpower to leave, but they beckon you over. Slowly, apprehensively, you approach the newborn. He is wriggling, and making little anxious noises- you fear that he will burst into screeches. There is a hush. The awe that overcomes you is enough to melt out the entire world surrounding, but you don't let it.

You think of the homeless man, of his exuberance and the intense joy that overflowed from him. That was what you had seen. In that man, you saw the fulfillment to the hunger inside yourself. You vaguely remember hearing him shouting out his praises and exclamations to every person on the streets, and you see why it was so appealing. He found a purpose. He found a hope. He found a life. He found everything that you so desperately needed.

It lay in the arms of this young woman. You've never seen this couple in your life. You don't even know the baby's name... but it's your responsibility to surrender your life to Him.

Alright- hold up.

It's just a baby. Not even born in a hospital- but in a cave. Into a poor family. And that very baby demands your life. 

We can sing all the cutesy Christmas carols we want, but as long as we hold our lives from Jesus, the One who can take our lives and mold them into something beautiful, then we might as well be Chimpanzees singing, 'O Canada, we stand on guard for thee,' or turtles saying America's Pledge of Allegiance. It's pointless. It's meaningless. It's a waste of breath.

"O, come let us adore Him." Really? We sing it every day during this Christmas season, but we sing it like a bore. Just imagine if, at a wedding, while the couple are exchanging their vows, one of them says their vows as if they can't wait for it to be over. They roll their eyes, yawn in the middle, cross their arms, shift their weight- what kind of wedding would that be? Imagine the hurt the partner would feel as their spouse-to-be talks of intimate love and long-term commitment as though they were running through an attendance list. Now, imagine that amount of hurt ten times worse, afflicted on Jesus every time we sing these carols in that way. Our minds are thinking about anything but Jesus, as our lips sing the routine words. That's not commitment to Christ, it's commitment to tradition.

Does that seemingly insignificant baby have your all? Do you depend on Him? Is the reality that the fate of the world rests on that baby real to you? 

It's the reason for the season. My advice would be to get that figured out.

Unconsciously Alive

            I remember, last year at the Junior High Track and Field Divisionals at Linden, I was signed up for long jump, triple jump, hurdles, 400m sprint, and 100m relay. My very first event of the day was my hurdles. Basically . . . it was my most intimidating event. Oh, I have tripped and I have fallen on those hurdles many a time- but it is no less scary. Jumping right next to complete strangers in competition, a full-speed race with numerous leaps over seemingly mile-high barricades . . . let’s just say I would have been happy to call in sick. Nonetheless, the integrity I was able to scrounge up prevented me from abandoning what I had been working for.

            The gun fired, and my legs began to carry me. Sports put me in a trance, as I’m sure many people would agree with. It is as if my legs just follow the rhythm, carrying me where I need to go, but my mind is detached. Come the finish line, and I cannot remember what transpired between the start and end- it is as if I time-traveled to the end of the race, with a couple foggy memories in between.

            It was a race just like that. I was bounding over the hurdles, all sound around me was muted, my surroundings were blurred. My eyes wouldn’t blink, they could only stare at the oncoming obstacles. Somewhere in the middle of the race, the girl running beside me tripped on a hurdle. At least, I am assuming that she tripped, because all of a sudden she was sprawled across my lane- directly in my path. As I mentioned before, my mind was not functioning properly- it was in the zone. In fact, I hardly even realized what had happened. My body simply made the adjustment: I paused abruptly, stepped around her, and continued. Of course, there was no hope- the delay had cost me, and the two other girls were now far ahead. I still ran, and I still finished, and by the end, when I looked back to see a supervisor helping a bloody, crying girl off the track, I remembered.

            I had been wondering where the comforting cheers of my teammates had been- at the end of the race they are usually the loudest of the bunch. No, they had been watching in concern for the girl that had fallen. 

Instantly, once I had realized what had happened, I just wanted to rewind time. It was maybe one of the most frustrating and depressing moments I can remember, and it came on so suddenly. I wished so hard that I literally ached inside, I was wishing that I could rewind the race, and help that girl to her feet. What was wrong with me? I call myself a Christian- but that’s how I treat people in need?!

It’s been more than half a year since that happened, and I am probably the only one who remembers it. It still sometimes keeps me up at nights, and I get into a cold sweat. I start to think what could have happened. If I had just abandoned my competitive spirit and given up my chance at winning- I could have been a testimony for Christ. I could have shown all the non-Christian schools there what it means to be a Christian, but no. I didn’t. I hardly acknowledged her. I stepped around her, and finished the race.

It even brought me to tears once. I pray so often for a chance to testify for Christ. I pray a lot that, even in a Christian school, there will be a chance to stand out; to go against the flow . . . to pick up my cross. Well, there was my chance. It literally fell at my feet. 

Thinking harder about that, I notice something else. Yes, it may have been my choice to ignore the girl and keep running . . . but it was almost a subconscious decision. When I’m in the midst of a physically strenuous activity, (especially a competitive one,) things blur. I am in a dream-like state, barely noticing any feeling, any sensation at all. It terrifies me to think that my sinful nature shone through. It proved to me that, on the inside, I still haven’t let myself go completely. When faced with a decision that requires immediate response- I instinctively denied Christ. My mind wasn’t thinking, “No, Jesus, I am not going to obey you.” I don’t know what my mind was thinking at all. All I know is my automatic response was to deny my Christian life. 

I still fret quite often about this, wondering who, in the crowd, who was not a Christian, saw what I did. I almost hope that they did not think I was a Christian- because what is the point of being known as a Christian if you do not give a pleasing and accurate representation of Christ? I want my obedience to God to be so instantaneous, so . . . second-nature, that there is no need for long thought. Often, when faced with a really difficult decision, it takes a long time to figure out what to do. I want to get to a point where I am so lost in Christ, so engulfed by his will and purpose, that I just know. I just know what Jesus would do, and the second part of that equation is my response time. Do I know what Jesus would do, but still hem and haw over it? My desire is that Jesus’ decision would be my first decision. I wouldn’t want to live my life any other way than how He wants me to live it.

Watching Expelled for the third time recently, I thought about that event. I thought about why it should bother me. Why, seven months later, am I still freaking out about it? It’s really such a small, insignificant little thing- anybody could have done it. What’s the point of worrying? Technically- it was her fault. I had no obligation to help her up, she fell into my lane, therefore, she was disqualified. If I had requested, I would have been able to race again, seeing as her fall would be labeled as an interference, preventing me from doing my best. It’s her fault, not mine! See, this is man’s very first response. Even the most pronounced atheist and evolutionist, when blamed for something small, will often resort to ‘It’s not my fault!’ 

The question I am turning over in my head is . . . why is it anybody’s fault? If there is supposedly no good or bad- there really was no fault at all.

I was talking to some atheists one time, (only later did I find out that they had been high on drugs for the whole conversation,) and I tried to explain my thoughts to them. They were trying to convince me of evolution. Their arguments were not sound. At all. As is the way of many beliefs that are based off rebellion and emotions. On that respect, what are emotions? Are they a figment of our imagination? And in regards to imagination- what is it?

Someday I want to challenge a prestigious evolutionist and confront him/her with that question. Where did morals come from? Is it actually possible to explain imagination with The Big Bang? How can nothing but matter and energy create the human mind? Why do we feel? Why do we think? Why do we make judgment calls? If evolution were true, we should all be trying to kill each other. Life should be the non-stop Hunger Games, but not for entertainment’s sake. Why bother making all these entertainment devices? Isn’t entertainment just made up? Aren’t feelings just illusions? Because if there is no God, then survival of the fittest should be applicable to every species, including humans. That is obviously not the case because, when that principle was attempted to be implemented, (WWII,) it failed. It did not succeed, as evolution says it ought to. Why is there such a distinction between humans, and every other life form? Lions, bears, birds, fish, they all live for themselves, and only themselves. They all speak one language. They do not have minds that conjure up religions. They do not have imaginations to create artwork. They survive. Nothing more. 

This is why it is so silly to me for people to neglect the Bible. It really is the only thing that makes sense. It declares that humans are God’s special possessions. Humans are set apart from the wild animals, which is obvious. We have invented, and we have created. How can evolution create religion? There can only be one truth and if it is evolution, then where did all these religions and different belief systems come from? Why should anyone care? Why in the world would there be Christians dying for their faith, if humans fall into the evolutionary concept of survival of the fittest? If that were the case, there would be no martyrs, because everyone would believe that simple survival was more important than any 'belief.'

If I had a handicapped child of my own, I would definitely want to try this. I would want to go to an atheist/evolutionist for a conversation, and bring along my disabled child. Let’s say they’re two years old. Immediately after exchanging formalities, I hand over my child to the person. I proceed to ask, “Will you please dispose of that child?” I am sure they would be caught off guard. “You’re asking me to dispose of your child?” To which I would respond, “Yes, by any means that are most efficient. Shoot it in the head if you must, then we can begin our debate.” 

I am convinced that they would not follow my directions, but perhaps they would ‘catch my drift,’ as it were. They made the judgment call for themselves. They decided for themselves that no, they would not kill a handicapped child. I ask them, “Why would you hesitate to kill her? She will most likely be of minimal benefit to society, your tax dollars are going toward feeding her and those like her- it’s pointless!” Their answers would be most interesting, I do believe. It’s foolproof.

“I won’t do it because it’s wrong.” Oh? It’s wrong, you say? Who told you that? Was it perhaps, a higher moral standard? Or are you lying to yourself, because according to your theory, you should be living out survival of the fittest, and not paying attention to good vs. evil?

“But this is an innocent child, regardless of health.” Innocent? By stating that she is innocent, you are declaring that there must be some form of good/bad in people. Are you admitting that sin is real? Are you admitting that crime is evil? Because according to evolution, crime should not be punished. Crime should not even exist. Crime: murder, stealing, raping . . . it’s survival of the fittest. If you’re weak, you lose. Tough luck. 

By admitting to any of those reasons, there is no way they can, with good conscience, keep their evolutionary argument. They have simply proved themselves wrong, in my opinion. Without God, it’s anarchy. No good, no bad, everyone does what they need to survive and prosper.

            

Back to my hurdle story. It sounds harsh, but I am, in a sense, glad I didn’t stop. I believe I was wrong, but I believe that I witnessed to myself, because of that. I, without knowing, uncovered yet another heart-issue. That is the issue of my moral standard- right deep inside. It’s the good vs. bad system that I revert to automatically. Without thinking, I revealed to myself that my inner moral standard is in need of some Godly cleaning.

Because, now that we've established that God and the Bible are obviously true, it is up to us to follow. I pray that my unconscious decisions will shape up, in time . . . .

Jeremiah 17:9 ~ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

1 John 1:9 ~ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

His Praise Goes On

A friend of mine was talking about this the other day, and there was one thing specifically that she said that I won't ever forget.

I've written posts about hope. I've written posts about heaven. Go, and look for yourself! I wrote those a long time ago, but the full meaning of the hope we have in eternity has not yet sunk in, as my wonder and revelation from my friend's powerful words has revealed. We hear it all the time: "God, thanks for the hope you've given us through Your Son." I almost always skim over that phrase in prayer, ignoring the amazing weight it really holds.

Jesus has given us hope- that's the truth. For those of us who believe, we no longer have to fear death, darkness, evil, or sin. None of those things hold any power of us. That is our hope. We have a guarantee of heaven- an eternity filled with life in paradise. That is our hope. Hope should be something we rest on, and firmly believe will always hold us- not something we are worried will expire over time, or run out because of our actions. If God's salvation for us relied on our own works- we'd all be screwed.

Ephesians 2:8-9~

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- 

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 

not by works so that no one can boast.

But... what if we are not excited about that hope? The truth is, if we understood what lies in store for us as believers, our lives would be different- we would live as those who are anticipating the day when they will finally return home. Unfortunately, there is no way that our puny, finite minds could ever grasp more a sliver of the gift we have been given. I'll admit, sometimes when I think over the fact of the coming eternity, I dread it. Yes, I know we will be in paradise. Yes, I know we will be in God's presence. But somehow, the idea of never ever dying seems awfully tiresome and... hopeless. Can anyone relate? 

I feel guilty for admitting that fear, and I know that I will not feel that way once I get to heaven. But sometimes, the sheer hugeness of eternity, a hugeness that each one of us will experience, is overwhelming. It would seem that simply fading from existence would be a much more pleasant destiny.

My thinking has finally been shattered, thanks to my good friend. Think of the most amazing worship service you have ever participated in. For me, I'd have to say it was at YC Alberta, 2013- This Is Love. For three days I was overpowered by the deafening music, the tear-jerking, hand-raising worship, and the vast number of youth and leaders all gathered together as one body of believers. It was incredible. I was terribly sad to leave- I just wished every church service, every chapel, every devotion-time would be... that great. Looking back, the reason it was so intensely powerful was because I literally felt the presence of God. With at least twelve-thousand people all singing the same words of praise, "Let it be known: that our God saves! Our God reigns! We lift you up! Let it be known: that Love has come! Love has WON! We lift you up!" It never got old. I can't count the number of times we sang that chorus, but it was like with every repeated word, I cried harder, I lifted my hands higher, and I praised louder. The Truth of what God has done for me came crashing down like a tidal wave, and I just wished I could stand there and sing forever. I didn't want to go back to my hometown. I didn't want to go back to school. I didn't want things to return to normal- I wanted to experience that moment for eternity.

Hmmm.... something's clicking.

I said that the reason those moments were so powerful, was because I felt like I was in the presence of God, singing for Him personally. I loved it. I didn't ever want to leave. So think about it just for a moment- think about that 'aha!' moment in worship or in prayer or in discussion or in devotions, where you felt the Holy Spirit coursing through your veins, and the revelation that God was giving you was enough to make you burst. Think of the incredible love you felt. Think of the joy that flooded you, and the encouraging strength that motivated you to become who God has created you to be. That moment, whether you have had one or many- that moment is something we all crave. It is better and more fulfilling than any worldly desire could ever give. We are blinded to the fact that we need God so badly, and even after those moments, we forget how truly fulfilling they were, and we look for the same fulfillment in money, items, status, relationships, and other unsatisfying things. 

But those moments of perfect worship, where I feel like I am singled out- the only person in a giant ballroom in front of the Holiest King of Kings, those moments where every worry, stress, failure, mistake, and judging pair of eyes around me simply melts away... it is the most intense pleasure I have and will experience. I was shaking, I was crying, I was simply covered in goosebumps, and I couldn't stop smiling. The presence of God. I can hardly put my thoughts into words.

Being in the presence of God is the proof that our Christian struggles are not being fought in vain. Being in the presence of God is proof against every critic and against every persecutor that we stand for something greater than any punishment and any amount of human scorn. Being in the presence of God is the best, and that is not said flippantly, in any way. And thinking of how amazing those few, precious moments were to me, I just wish I could be transported back to that place and back to that moment and relive it again. 

The sad thing about those moments is... they end. Routine life kicks back in, and it is more of a downer than ever. After being in the presence of the Lord of Lords, regular every-day life just seems so pointless. It's depressing, and numbing. Which is why, the realization that heaven will be a continual worship session just blew my mind!

That very moment, standing at YC with my arms to the sky and my sobs louder than my words and the love of God simply engulfing my small being, I will get to relive that- and it won't EVER end! It will simply grow and grow and grow, and be the absolute best thing ever. Not only will I be shouting and screaming along with the full body of believers, but also with the angels! There will be nothing to hold me back from simply throwing every little bit of my into worship. Everything on earth that holds me back from dancing down the aisles, from screaming with joy, from kneeling, from raising my hands- those will vanish. I will be FREE FROM FEAR

When I was little, I thought heaven would be free roller-coaster rides, all-you-can-eat-buffets, no going to bed, friendly lions and tigers, flying through clouds... and maybe it will be. But, if it isn't, I won't care one bit. I will be in the presence of God, and it will be a zillion times better than the most intense worship service that I'll ever experience on earth. 

And it will never end.

1 Peter 1:9~

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of 

Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

To Ask, or Not To Ask?

I tend to give sarcastic answers whenever someone asks me a stupid question. My siblings are especially good at this. No matter how insignificant the question is, if it has an obvious answer, I have to give a sarcastic remark.

My siblings ask questions like that all the time, and nearly every time I can’t bite back a cynical reply. However, there are other questions that I find myself even more annoyed at. Today, my sister and brother were arguing, because they couldn’t find the movie we had rented from the Video Hut, and both were convinced that the other had moved it somewhere. One was yelling, “I just put it there, on the counter! You moved it! Yes, you did!” The other was yelling, “No, I didn’t even touch it! Why are you blaming me?” My mum found it by the TV, where neither had put it. The first sibling’s immediate question was, “Who moved it?” You could tell, she was going to be angry with whoever had moved it there. The only thing I could think of, was, “Why does it matter?” We had found the movie, was that not good enough? Was it really that important to know who had moved it in the first place?

            Again, that’s just a straightforward example of a meaningless question- in my opinion, a waste of breath. But there are other questions being asked, I see them all over the internet, and they make me want to rip out my hair in frustration! (Figuratively speaking, of course.) 

I hear people at my church asking, “How many people do we have altogether attending, now?” But I don’t hear people asking, “How effective is our Prayer Room?” or, “Has there been any attempt from our church leaders to go out into the homes in the community and meet people one-on-one?” or, “Are we reaching the lost teenagers in our youth groups?” Instead, people are concerned with numbers.

I hear people asking, “How much money do we have in our funds?” I don’t hear them asking, “Is that missionary family in Southeast Asia getting enough support?” or, “Is there a way we could donate more?” or, “Is anyone in our church needy, but not asking for help?” or, “Are we giving all we can?” Instead, they’re concerned with how much money we have.

At school I hear people asking, “When are we going to get a new school?” It’s not often that I hear people asking, “How can we raise money and excitement for our school’s sponsor child?” Or, “How can we inspire a school-wide revival?” Instead, we want a building.

Please understand, that those are all important things… but there are more important things that we need to start focusing on. Why be concerned with congregation numbers, when there will always be more people in the world that aren’t coming to our church? It’s a lost cause- will there ever be a satisfactory number? Let’s stop worrying about it, because strength doesn’t come from numbers in God’s kingdom. Gideon’s army of 300 men conquered the Midianites and Amalekites, whose armies were described as being as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. (Judges 7) It’s God who gives us strength, not size.

            Why worry about the money in our funds? Yes, it is important, and yes, we need money. Or do we? Have we come to so heavily rely on money that we forget that God is sovereign through it all? Jesus told the rich young ruler to give everything he had to the poor, for then He would store up treasures in Heaven. God doesn’t want to harm us and make us die of starvation, but He does want us to sacrifice what He has given us for Him, who sacrificed Himself for us. I think that new sound system at our church can wait. It is NOT important! Would it be nice? Yes. Would it make life easier? Yes. Is it necessary? No . . . .

            How about the question of a new school? It’s exciting stuff, for sure! My concern is that we have no guarantee that we will ever see a new school. It may happen, it may not. Nobody knows. Nobody knows the day or the hour when Christ will return. Why spend our time thinking about a mere building that may or may not come into place in approximately two years? The earth might not even live until then! But I know who will be living then… everyone in our school. They are all eternal beings, but not all of them will be spending eternity in Heaven, at this rate. Don’t you think the redemption of their souls is more important than a new building? I do.

            So what questions are we asking that maybe we should stop worrying about? Let’s start attacking the questions that matter. The questions that will make a dent in history, the ones that will matter for eternity. I can tell you this for a fact: whether we had 75 or 300 people in our church will not matter in 50 years. Whether we had $100,000 or $100,000,000 will not have any worth in God’s eyes, but what we do with that money, will. Whether we had the nicest building ever, or the dingiest, dirtiest shack as a school… someday, they both will be nonexistent. But what we did to change someone’s life around for the better, the love we showed toward those who were hurting, the sacrifice we made for Jesus, who we claim to love more than our possessions… those will matter. Those will count. 

Are we storing up treasure in heaven? That, my friend, is the question.

My Friend, the Sinner

So, let's say one of your friends comes up to you, accompanied by a complete stranger. Your friend is chipper and jolly, and basically wants to introduce you to this new person. I'll illustrate the conversation to you . . . .

"Hey! I'd like you to meet my new friend . . . Guy. I was thinking he could hang out with us sometimes- he's a pretty neat man. He told me he's very fluent in sneakiness, and he's great at deceiving people. He's dishonest, and he's usually very lazy. 

He lies, he gossips, and he's probably prejudiced against you right now. He's gets jealous of people easily, and he often entertains unwholesome thoughts. He has a short temper, he's impatient, hateful, selfish, proud, and rebellious. He always thinks bad thoughts about others. He gets annoyed easily, and is exclusive to those he doesn't like. 

He enjoys seeing others' pain, and is unforgiving. He's a greedy, lying hypocrite, and lives to seek revenge. He searches for sin in other people, and cheats all the time. He's uncommitted, rude to everyone, judgmental, a show-off, forgetful, fake, and a procrastinating quitter. 

He's a failure, a put-down, and definitely unworthy of any form of goodness. He steals, and often, he compares himself with others. He's rude, an idolater, and can be a people-pleaser. 

He's definitely a coward, but boasts about himself anyways. He teases, he's mean, he wastes time, he's lustful, he's bitter, he's unloving, he's dirty, he's abusive.

He's not really into helping people, and he tends to stay away from defending the defenceless and weak. He generally avoids reading his Bible, and doesn't often pray. He doesn't compliment people, because he's afraid it might lower his own self-esteem, but he may occasionally put someone down instead. He neglects to love people properly, and sometimes resorts to fighting instead of keeping peace. His hobbies include: holding grudges, avoiding people, and denying God.

I asked him about his future, and he told me that he is definitely a potential murderer, drug addict, and adulterer- but he's not too sure about those yet, they're only possibilities."

                                            . . . . What would you say if someone introduced a person like that to you? I'm not sure if I'd be able to stand and listen to the whole thing- I'd suddenly become very paranoid of his every movement, every word, every act. I wouldn't feel safe anywhere near him, and would probably think my friend insane to go near him! 

Plot twist: that person is actually me.

Now, before you call the police and ditch me as a friend, maybe take time to go through all those descriptions of... "Me." Perhaps you'll realize... it describes you, too. Though I used all those adjectives in a present-tense form, that doesn't mean I am abusive all the time, for example. I literally have a paper in front of me, on which I wrote down every single sin I could think of, that I had done. I've been proud. I've lied. I've been jealous. I've been exclusive. I've been judgmental. I've been selfish. I've done all of those things in my life, and there are things that I haven't done that I should have. Also, I included some potential sins that I have no intention of doing- but still possible.

When I meet someone new, and they ask me to tell them about themselves, my introduction is nowhere close to that! It'll probably look more like, "Hi, my name is Karis. I'm in tenth grade, and I go to a Christian school. I dance a LOT, and I love participating in children ministry at my church, and ministry through drama. I love music- I play the piano and the trombone." Obviously, that sounds a little cheesy- but you get the point. I would definitely not list for them any sins that I am guilty of, even though, chances are, they are guilty of the very same ones.

Generally, we don't like people to see our bad side- it offends people, and can certainly push them away. I've just sort of been grappling with this issue lately. Is it prideful to cover up our sins in front of others, and only let them see our 'flawless' side? I know it's expected behaviour- it's definitely frowned upon to go flaunting your sins to everyone you meet. Something I've been reminded of, though- that's what we do to God.

Think about it. We know full well that he's watching. We can't just introduce our good side to Him, he sees right through our flimsy shield of good works, to the blackness inside. Even though we may be fully conscious of that, we continue to parade around, turning back to the very same sins that are holding us from a relationship with Him, and consider it okay. Nobody else can see us, just God . . . and for some reason we don't find that frightening.

We should, though. We find it so embarrassing if another sinful human being finds out we've been doing something wrong, even though they are no more righteous than us. But when God sees every little thing wrong with us, and He is perfect, we're okay with that. We know He is all-loving, forgiving, and full of mercy. He's full of the stuff we desperately need, but take for granted, anyways.

I believe we have it totally backwards! Instead of being ashamed to show our bad side to our fellow human friends, we should be open about it. We should be making ourselves vulnerable, so that we don't 'think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.' (Romans 12:3) We could be keeping each other accountable. We could be fighting the battle against sin together, rather than single-handed! Does that not sound comforting? We know that we are in a sinful world, filled with sinful people just like us. Why are we pretending that we're perfect? It's a.) a lie, and b.) making everything harder.

Before I leave this topic for the moment and allow you to go think about it, I have just one more thing to add. Remember that introduction at the beginning? Let's imagine that you are that person so full of sin, and the person that is introducing you is Jesus. Jesus is introducing you to God, the Ultimate Judge. He runs through the list of every sin you've ever committed, much like what was written at the beginning. In fact, maybe it's almost word for word, except for one thing is added. Right at the end. He says, "__________ is also officially clean." You stagger in disbelief. What was Jesus saying? He continues. "__________ is my friend, and I have paid for all his sin."

1 Peter 1:13-16 ~

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

So, instead of being introduced as, "___________, liar, cheater, murderer, adulterer, idolater, and lazy thief," you are introduced as, "___________, holy friend of Jesus, child of the Almighty God."

Taking one last look at that list at the beginning that describes me, and replacing it with "Holy friend of Jesus, child of the Almighty God . . . ." That's amazing. Completely amazing. 

So, instead of the automatic human response of backing away from that totally sinful person, the perfect, blameless God who has every right to reject me, is the only One who actually begs for my friendship. And loves me just the same.

Yes, we may have been united by our sin, which helps us identify and help each other out of it. However, we are now united IN Christ, who has freed those of us who believe! We can't keep this to ourselves, guys. He changed me from that huge list of grossness into one of purity, and perfection. It's the best gift anyone could ever be given.

To be known as a friend of God.

Romans 5:7-8 ~

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Honestly!

          Scene 1 –    Mother: Alright. Who broke my best China plate?

                             Child 1: It wasn’t me!

                             Mother: (squints eyes with skepticism) *sigh* Alright, if you say so….

          Scene 2 –    Mother: Alright. Who broke my best China plate?

                             Child 2: I did.

                             Mother: Thank you for being honest!

          I don’t think I’m exaggerating. Ever since the thought first occurred to me, I’ve been… somewhat… searching for instances like that one. It seems so unfair, doesn’t it?

Sometimes it feels like those who admit their wrongdoing are looked upon more favourably than those who admitted their innocence! Is dishonesty so frequent now, that we can’t trust anybody? The one who admitted their wrongdoing could be lying, too….

I have never heard the phrase, “Thank you, for being honest,” bestowed upon someone who denied the crime. “I didn’t hit him!” “Okay, thank you for being honest!” No. It just doesn’t go that way.

Why? I guess it’s because of today’s culture. The sin rate is so high, it’s disgusting! We don’t trust people anymore. Deceit is so normal, so common, that we look upon everything doubtfully. We don’t believe the pleas for innocence.

However, honesty is so rare, that it is valued much higher than if it was natural. When people confess their faults, we are surprised. Is it that we don’t expect people to tell the truth? So, when they tell the truth, even when it isn’t in their favour, we congratulate them.

I am confused as to which one is better. I suppose the first scenario is a difficult one to judge. For one, we have to have a healthy cynicism of things of this world. To err is human. We are just so used to people lying, that we can’t believe those who deny any wrongdoing. The thing is, what about those who truly are innocent? Do they get congratulated for staying clean? No. Do they get congratulated for not committing the crime? Not usually. Only the bad guys, when they finally declare their offense we call it integrity. We call it honesty. I call it warped.

Of course it’s good when people are honest and ‘fess up to their mistakes. It just saddens me that our world has fallen so far, honest people are so few and far between, and lying has become the expected way of living, that it’s a ‘big deal’ when someone tells the truth.

In the beginning, it was a BIG deal when someone sinned. No more.

We overlook everything, now. I find myself lying a lot! Not big, bad lies, but small little white lies. In the moment, they don’t even feel like lies! When I look back, though, there have been countless times, when I walk in my door after school, that my mum asked me, “How was your day?” Even though the tears stung the back of my eyes, even though my head screamed “TERRIBLE!” my mouth muttered, “Good.” That, my friend, was a lie. And where does it stop? Gross food, we label it ‘delicious’ in front of our cook. Ugly clothing we compliment. Is it lying? Or is it pretending… to be nice? I’m not so sure anymore.

Situations that call upon these thoughts have been bombarding me left, right, and center. I just don’t know anymore. When is it okay, and when is it not? What’s more important… telling the truth, or showing mercy and gentleness? Is there a way to do both?

Sometimes I can be honourable, but ‘sometimes’ is not often enough. Jesus is truth. Satan is the Father of Lies. Guess whose daughter I am?

I wonder, for someone who had never met me before, ever, whose daughter would they assume I was, after watching how I live my life?

Silent Solidarity

Today I participated (or, attempted to, at least,) in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity. Mouth closed, my eyes were opened. I didn't make it past 2:00- it was so very difficult.

At least four times, even though I was pursing my lips tightly together to refrain from speaking, a word or two slipped past my lips without me even noticing. It was as natural as breathing. I couldn't contain it. It was basically common phrases such as "Hi!" or "Thanks." or "oops!" or even just miscellaneous comments as the day goes by.

Though I gave up halfway through, (and I still feel pretty guilty about that,) I learned a lot through that experiment. I don't think about a lot of things that I'm saying. So many times did I have to bite my tongue at instinctive remarks that just wanted to fly out of my mouth. I had no thought to them at first, which is why I slipped up quite a few times- and usually it was other people that caught me. Later on, the slip-ups were less and less frequent, because I began to think about what I was going to say.

I learned that I talk way too much. Thoughts buzzed around in my head so much and I felt like I was going to explode for not being able to speak them out loud. Since when did my thoughts become so important? Nah, they never were. It's all in my head. Everyone survived just fine without hearing them. Humbling, ay?

It was also one of the most helpless feelings I've ever had. I felt so... useless, but so isolated from everyone else. Although I could still respond to some extent, by nodding 'yes' or shaking 'no,' I couldn't engage in regular conversation. I'm so used to, whenever a thought crosses my mind that I want to share with my closest friend, I just tell them right there, right on the spot. Oftentimes something funny or interesting or confusing would come up, and I would want to discuss it with my friends, and share my thoughts. I couldn't. My ponderings were trapped inside my head- and it was quite scary to be honest. I felt alone in my head, like I had so much to share with people but there was no way that I could.

I wonder if the founders of the nation-wide event, Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity understood these feelings. It really did cause me to think a lot about what we were protesting. It's the American Holocaust. We once called African-American people a different species. We said they weren't human, and we were wrong. We called disabled people non-human. We were wrong. And now, we've degraded the unborn child to nothing. Legal to be killed by seemingly virtuous doctors. Since when has an individual had the right to take life from another human being as they seem fit? Never. That's God's job, and we're missing that!

Today, many opportunities came up where I could have helped another student. They were confused, had a question, and I knew the answer! I wanted to have a voice, and to share my opinion. Who knew it was so important? I had to let things go unsaid, and it was a terrifying feeling. I had to leave encouragements go unsaid- but what if that person really needed to hear some love? And I couldn't give it to them that way.

Solidarity - community of feelings, purposes, etc.

Over 800 schools officially registered to participate in this cause. That means thousands of students just like me shared in the feeling of utter hopelessness and final understanding of what is going on in our world. We were silenced for a day, not forever like millions of children are. My feelings toward this cause grew even stronger, as I'm sure many others' did as well. It was a day of silent solidarity. We shared in a community of feelings for one purpose, all without saying anything. It's truly amazing what happens when we just shut our mouths, and reflect. So humbling.

All day I felt in a daze, just thinking over all the frightening possibilities. What if someone grows up, but the one that could have been their closest friend, their kindred spirit, had been aborted when they both were that age? What if that someone who was aborted would have been the one to find a cure for cancer? Out of the fifty million people that have lost their lives legally since January 22nd, 1973, how many potential doctors have we lost? How many great Christian speakers have been ignored? How many world leaders have been extinguished? How many people will be left without the perfect spouse that was first intended?

It's a cause I'm growing more and more passionate about every day. I never realized the depth of the horror that's going on in our world, but I'm becoming more and more familiar with it every day. Babies are being brutally murdered every day, and we are doing nothing! We act like everything's fine, that there's nothing really wrong with it. I acted like that once, too. I realize now, with growing dread, this is the worst it's ever been. Strangling, poisoning, ripping to shreds babies who will never get to see the light of day, babies who had a God-given plan, people like you and me, that were not allowed to live. All this is sugar-coated in the lie that it's the mother's choice. "Why should she have to endure such pain if she doesn't even want to?" Our nation is becoming less and less chivalrous every day. Heroes used to sacrifice certain things to save lives. Not anymore. "If it hurts you, don't do it." That's society's thinking. The part that's left out is that the baby doesn't get a choice, just the mum. No one remembers that the baby is going to go through torture to fulfill the mum's excuse to not have a child. Innocence sacrifices its life for idiocy.

Psalm 127:3

 Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward

If you have any doubts or concerns or questions, or just to find some really great points, watch the 180 Movie. It's so great- I learned so much by watching it. Stick through till the end, it will all make sense in a truly amazing way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI

We've had our silent solidarity. Time to make it NOT so silent, perhaps. We've fought for land, countries, freedom, religions, and other people groups who were horribly discriminated against. This is by far the worst it's gotten. Either we fight to end this, and follow God's cry, or we let it grow worse. A random fear that faded in and out of my mind as I thought of how popular abortion is growing and what it could potentially become... was The Hunger Games. Hmmm.....

Gee, Thanks

It's Thanksgiving, couldn't you just feel a new post coming?

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. 

-- Oprah Winfrey

I was sitting in the front row in church today, just taking in the pretty sight of the stage all decorated to look like autumn. Bouquets of orange, yellow, and fire-truck red flowers clustered beneath the pulpit. Vast displays of garden produce filled up every spare spot: perfect pumpkins, striped gourds, creamy canned soup, the works! I was observing it all with joyful eyes, thinking of how much I love this time of year, especially Thanksgiving.

I suddenly realized something. Thanksgiving isn't just a name of a holiday, it's not just a proper noun... it's a real word. Actually, it's a noun. Thanksgiving. It means 'the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favours, especially to God.'

It sort of seems to me that we've turned "Thanksgiving Day" into "Thankful Day," or even, "Appreciation Day." Instead of trying to make it a day full of worship and singing and praising and thanking God, which is what thanksgiving literally means, it's more of a feel-good day for everything we have. We get by by just feeling grateful.

There's nothing wrong with feeling grateful- it's a good thing! But why do we stop there? Even non-Christians who celebrate Thanksgiving do that. They feel grateful. They acknowledge everything they have. What they don't do is acknowledge who is responsible for everything they have. That's what we're supposed to be doing, but we do that less and less each year!

I began to feel guilty as I pondered all this. Not only do we so often forget to express our thanks to God, but sometimes we don't do it, even when we remember to! We find it a drag. With that delicious aroma turkey stuffing, potatoes and gravy filling the room, it seems a huge bother to have to pray before eating. As we sit or stand while one person leads out a simple prayer, we are fidgety, just eagerly waiting to dig in. What is wrong with our minds? Do we not realize that the same One who provided us with such a feast, is the same one who provided us with salvation from eternal suffering?

The more you let that statement sink in, the more it hits home. If we were standing in the courthouse, about to be sentenced to death for a crime, and someone stepped in and said "I'll take their place." A completely perfect person. I'm sure we wouldn't fidget around, say a hurried 'Thanks,' and then run away to do other things! We would feel entirely in debt to this person, for saving our lives! In fact, we'd feel SO overwhelmingly in awe of such a sacrifice- a perfect person paying the sentence of a death-bound criminal, that we would probably want to do anything that He said!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~

Give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Sounds simplistic, until you start to think about that. Give thanks in all circumstances. Wait... ALL circumstances? Even for finally killing my first spider? That seemed pretty insignificant compared to what other people are experiencing.... I should even give thanks when I happen to discover an awesome song on Youtube? That's not even a big deal! Do I really need to give thanks after the blister on my toe from my dance shoes heals? That's not a desperate situation whatsoever, how do I know God had anything to do with it? It could easily have healed on it's own!

I wrestled with that idea for a long time. When is it God's doing, and when is it just natural? When is it man made, and when is it Divine Intervention? After many confusing ponderings, I came to a conclusion, thanks to this verse, in particular:

James 1:17 ~

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

No doubt you've heard the song "Father of Lights," and the part that goes "Every good and perfect gift comes from You, Father of lights." That one line bounced around in my head for so long while I tried so hard to figure this one out. What finally helped my wrap my brain around this concept was when I tried putting my emphasis on the word 'every.' EVERY good and perfect gift comes from God! No matter how insignificant- it's from God. Time to give credit where credit's due!

What other options would there be, anyways? We could thank people sometimes, for making a meal for us, or for doing us a favour. But without God, people would be nothing. He is the One fueling their very steps, the One who gives them breath! He is the ultimate example of true goodness and righteousness, all man can do is cheap mimicry attempts. 

Why give credit to anybody else? I take credit all the time for things that I "do," when really, it's all because of God. So many times people have said "Oh, you're good at that!" to which I reply with, "Thank you." It's a strange term come to think of it. A more truthful response would be, "Thank God!" If someone says "You did a great job on that painting!" the artist will most likely say, "Thank you!" Why is the artist thanking them? They did nothing. They should say, "Thank God for giving me the talent!" Haha, just random speculations buzzing around in my head, is that not what a blog post is primarily made up of? 

Basically, all this to say, that every single good thing we experience comes from God. That excludes all momentary 'pleasures' that sinning brings- it means literally, every good thing. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. 

Let's not forget to give thanks in all circumstances. That also includes the times when we least want to give thanks. It seems bizarre to be thankful to God when a pet dies, or when we are feeling excluded by our friends. God is still in the situation, He is still present. He is still alive, which is, in itself, a HUGE reason to give thanks!

In short, there is always something to praise Him for. ALWAYS. It seems that searching for reasons to be thankful would prove to be a most radical, and enjoyable way of living!

1 Timothy 4:4-5

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.