Under Fire

I danced today. I was there for six hours. Six. I was pushed beyond my limits, and felt overwhelmed more than a couple times. At moments, it felt like what was being demanded of me was impossible. By the tenth correction of the same small movement, I wanted to shout in frustration, "What more do you want me to do?"

I was so exhausted. My feet hurt terribly- my laces were tied so tight, I could feel them creating indents in my skin. It stung. I had blisters that were rubbing, bruises that were pounding, muscles that were aching, and I was slick with sweat. I was trying so hard. I was pushing myself so far, but I was being pushed even further. "Try it again." "Try it again." "Not good enough, do it again." "Again." It was agonizing, it was embarrassing, it was tiring. It felt degrading. To begin with such high hopes, and feel for six hours straight that my best was not enough. I was challenged more than I've ever been challenged before.

At moments, I was close to giving up. At moments, I just wanted to stop, and move on to something easier.

And right at those moments... I improved.

It didn't happen on the first try, not the second, not the third... but on try 100, I saw... I felt... progress. It was always just when I thought there was no more I could give. The moments where I felt so discouraged, and felt that my goal was unattainable, it was always the next try that I heard my instructor say, "YES. Now THAT is how it's done."

Discouragement gave way to joy so quickly. My disheartened frame of mind gave way to a passionate, eager one, as I tried it again. And again. And again. But this time, perfectly, and of my own accord. If Try 100 was again a failure, try 101 was the moment of victory. Suddenly, the move didn't seem so small. The proper technique didn't seem pointless. The demands I had been given didn't seem so impossible, or frustrating. I finally understood what was expected. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. I had finally made it. And within a minute, I had gone from not wanting to try the move ever again... to not wanting to stop.

It's interesting the way that works. It's strange. It's actually weird how God designed everything in such a way that progress takes time. Success takes work. Triumph takes perseverance. Nothing comes immediately. Nobody is born a star- nobody is born at the top. Nobody is born, already having accomplished great things. Nobody can simply snap their fingers, and be a master at their trade. Nobody can make it to the top by sheer will. Talent is developed. Good work takes effort. And everything. Takes. Time.

James 1:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for 

great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be 

perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Nothing pays off without work and effort being put in. It's a balanced equation. Nothing can be produced by nothing. It's just the way things work, and it works that way because that is how we develop character.

There have been a few times where I've thought to myself, after a long, hard day, I've told myself, "Tomorrow I will write another blog. It's been so long, but tomorrow will be the day." I can't tell you the number of times 'tomorrow' stayed just that. Tomorrow. I can't tell you the number of times I've forced myself to sit down at my desk and just write. I've had to MAKE myself come up with something; anything. I've had to look through my journal, grasping at straws, trying to make sense of the jumble of thoughts in my head.

A few times, I've been tempted to delete those blogs after writing them. I think to myself, "Now that was a load of garbage. It was poorly written. I'm just too tired. It probably doesn't even make sense- what am I even thinking?" I've hovered my cursor over the 'Delete' button thinking, "This is a waste of internet space. It'll do nobody any good- I just shouldn't bother.

And... I can't tell you the number of times my friends message me saying, "Thank you so much for writing that post- it spoke to me," or "That post you wrote was very powerful and perfect for what I am going through," or "I felt so blessed after reading your post, it was just what I needed to hear after feeling so dejected today."

...Wow. More often than not, it has been the blogs that I felt were weak, stupid, or poorly written, that have gotten the most positive feedback. I'm not exaggerating. God always seems to work His wonders through my weakest posts. Things like that don't happen in the world. That doesn't happen in the Olympics, it doesn't happen for businesses and companies, but it happens in the Kingdom of God.

Why? Because we don't work on our own strength. We don't rely on ourselves. If we do, then we reap the mediocre, satisfactory rewards. But when we rely on our Lord, He magnifies our efforts, and turns them into something beautiful. He takes all our weaknesses, and shows us how HE has the power to turn them into power.

Galatians 6:9 ~

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time

we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.

It's exactly what happened for me at dance, and it's exactly how God works in the lives of His servants. He shows Himself to mankind through the most unexpected people, in the most  baffling ways, but always with the perfect result. He is glorified when we obey him despite our weakness. He is honoured when we let go of ourselves, when we forget our flaws and take a leap of faith. It is proven in Jonah, Moses, Gideon, Peter, Paul, David, Mary... why did He choose the weak? Why did he choose the inadequate, and troubled?

Because it is their stories that are so bewildering, and amaze us the most. That's why they are still read today! Those people from ancient times are still bringing glory to God's name, because they, in one way or another, ended up letting God use them, mold them, change them, and perfect them for His purpose. There may have been more well-equipped individuals for the job, but then they would have received the credit, and God would have been ignored. His way of working is perfect. Genius. So let's go along with it! We can prove that God is alive and as powerful by the fact that we are weak, sick, sinful, failures, that are pressing onward and accomplishing wondrous things!

1 Corinthians 1:26~

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who thing they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

We are being refined in God's Holy fire. Constantly. We can let it break us. We can give up because of the heat, we can step out and cool down because we think we can't take it. But the truth is, He never gives us more than we can handle. And when we stick with it, even just past  the moment when we think that nothing is happening... we will reap a blessing bigger than any other. It will always be worth it. Would God be spending so much time refining you, molding you, and forming you, to have you turn out as a disappointment? It's impossible, because God never makes disappointing things. And He never fails. You will grow, and you will be stronger. Sharpening a sword is never relaxing. The scrapes and the cuts leave you never the same. It screeches. It's difficult. But without the sharpening process, the sword is useless. And afterwards, it is a valuable product, polished to perfection, a dazzling sight to behold.

Our Refiner knows what He's doing. He knows better than you. Our potter has us safe in His hand, and He already has seen what you will look like when you are done. So why despair?

2 Corinthians 12:8-10~

...He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ... 

...For when I am weak, then I am strong.

D.E.A.R.

And Peter said to them, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

--Acts 2:38

Here is the reason why we must stop depicting the gift of salvation as nothing more than fire insurance. When I was very little, I "became a Christian," for the sole reason of escaping Hell. Truth be told, I was terrified of being sent to a place of torture and torment for eternity. The ABC's of becoming a Christian, to me, was a fire escape. That was it.

But there is so much more! This is the part of the Good News that is often skipped over when telling others about Jesus. We're sure to include "He died for your sins!" "If you receive Him, you can live with Him in paradise when you die!" "He loves you so much, He paid the price!" All of that is true. It's beautiful, convicting, and wonderful truth. But there is more. If we make conversion a momentary agreement with benefits to receive after death, if we make it sound like a prize that will be bestowed after this life, we are missing something sooo important.

When we repent and are baptized, we are given a gift; He is the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us His Spirit. This world can be a dangerous place for believers, but we have been given someone who guides us through life! He is someone who sees God's plans, because He is God. Why do we overlook the opportunity of living with the Spirit of God within us? He is the part of the trinity that remains so mysterious, because He is seldom talked about. But when Jesus left, He sent the Holy Spirit to guard us, protect us, and teach us until Christ's return.

So who is He?

And when [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of its sin, 

and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. When the Spirit of truth comes, 

he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

--John 16:8, 13-14

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative- that is, the Holy Spirit- he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

--John 14:16-17, 26

We are called Christians because we strive to be imitators of Christ. The only way we can truly be like Him is if we listen to the Spirit that He has put inside of us, right? We already know that the Fruit of the Spirit, (the fruit we produce when we let the Holy Spirit take control) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, faithfulness, and gentleness. It is the Holy Spirit living inside of us that transforms us into the image of Christ! Though many people don't truly understand what it means to "accept Jesus into our hearts," that is what it means! He gives us the amazing gift of His own Spirit, to direct our lives into God's Will.

Sounds ideal, does it not? We get so worried over what we should do with our lives- where we should go, who we should marry, what job we should apply for... we stress over figuring out God's Will for our lives. But we have someone inside of us who knows those plans. He directs us towards that great blueprint for our lives.

So there's no need to worry, right? We can leave it up to God's Spirit, who has made his home inside our very hearts. It's the perfect gift- indescribable, really. However... many of us have become deaf over time. Many of us rarely listen to Him.

When was the last time you felt convicted? When was the last time you felt your heart tugging you to go help someone, say something, or do something difficult? When was the last time you listened? 

God has given me plenty of opportunities to shed His light to those around me. Those chances have come up in the most random places at the most unexpected times... at the pool, at a theatre, at a track meet, in a food court, on the street, in a line-up, at the gas station, and countless other places. Some of those opportunities I took. Some I ignored. But I can tell you this for a FACT: the ones that I took, I never regretted... but the ones I ignored haunt me to this very day.

The Holy Spirit is what sets us apart, as believers. Therefore, the more we listen to Him, the clearer His instruction becomes to us, the more evident our Walk with Christ will be. He is the way to live an abundant, fulfilling life- He is always there to guide us, if we would just take the time to listen and obey.

Romans 8:14~

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Before we believed, we couldn't understand. We couldn't see the sin in our lives. We couldn't see the truth. It was like we had a veil over our eyes, and we did not see the need to try to live holy lives. But look at the drastic difference the gift of the Holy Spirit gives us:

2 Corinthians 3:16-18~

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord- who is the Spirit- makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

So often we hear the Holy Spirit's guiding us, but we don't realize how truly and infinitely perfect His instruction is. We can't see beyond our own ideas and goals, so when we feel convicted for some work or deed, we sometimes back away because it interferes with our own plans. It's stupid! We have the power that holds the universe, and the wisdom that surpasses all understanding living in our hearts, and we STILL think we know better.

We make excuses. I'm too tired. Too busy. Too young. Too old. Too scared. Too ________. When Jesus returns and receives all of us who have His Spirit... I don't think those excuses will mean anything to Him. With the Spirit of God living inside of us, there are NO limits on what we can do. Therefore, there should be no excuses. The Holy Spirit's calling, wherever and whenever we feel it, should ALWAYS override our schedules. It is priority. We are Christ's agents of Love, and we have a pager that is active 24/7. It's our choice and our responsibility to obey, abandoning our own skepticism.

It is my personal belief that we please God, giving glory to His Name, when we obey His instruction despite our flaws. It is time to grasp that in our weakness, He is stronger! The commands He gives us that we think we are unable to do are the ones that He can display His amazing power through! 

Don't back away from the scary opportunities, run towards them! When the Spirit gives you a challenge, dive in saying, "God, I can't wait to see the miracle you're about to perform!"

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. --Henry T. Blackaby

Next time you feel the "nudge," D.E.A.R.       

Drop. Everything. And. Respond.

Mr. Nobody

Why are people so opposed to believing in God? It's the same reason they have for sass-mouthing the Starbucks barista who messed up their order. It's the same reason they have for flipping off the driver who neglected to signal before lane-changing. It's the same reason they have for stealing, cheating, and lying... for demanding a full refund for any inconvenience... and for filing a lawsuit when the coffee is too hot.

We think we are gods.

In advanced economies and modernized countries, we believe this more than we admit. Look around you at all the things in your house you've complained about, at one point. Think about everything you've wanted to change; everything that is not quite to your satisfaction. Think of the last time you went to a restaurant with a group. Is it not insane how often we hear things like, "Goodness, this chicken is a little bit dry," "I can't believe they gave me olives. Didn't I specifically tell them, 'no olives'?" "How long does it take to fry a burger, honestly?" "I am not impressed. There were plenty of empty booths- why did they have to seat us by the door?!"

Think about all the issues with the car. Think of how much you wish the weather was nicer. Think about your aches and pains. Think about how terrible your sleep was last night. Think about how old and ragged your clothes are getting. Think about how you deserve a raise. Doesn't it make you mad? Don't you deserve everything to be nice and comfortable?

No. Never, in a million years, will any of us deserve even one nice thing. However, we will continue to receive countless luxuries, every day for the rest of most of our lives, most likely. We will have more than enough food. We will have a dynamic choice for clothes and shoes. We will have transportation and spare change whenever we need it. We will have everything we could ever need, and most of the things we want. And yet, we still find the nerve to complain. Every day. About everything, and everyone.

Have some sense, people! Believe me, I am saying this to myself, as well. We are human beings! We are little walking nobodies who can't survive more than a few days without food and water. We die of heat. We die of cold. We die of hunger and thirst. We die of pain and injury. We can't even protect ourselves from disease. We can't protect ourselves from violence. Heck, we get sick if we eat a bit of raw meat. How pathetic are we?!

...and yet we still have the nerve to think we are better than God.

We need to have everything provided for us. Food, water, clothing, shelter, education, entertainment, recreation, money- we can't do anything by ourselves. We are helpless individuals who, for some reason, have the idea that we are powerful royalty. Despite our obvious weaknesses, the human race is still the only species who considers itself a) valuable, b) important, c) entitled, and d) worthy. Reality is, we are none of those things.

Most of the world is going about its business claiming to be somebody, but living like a nobody. The measures they are taking to secure their place in this world are both impressive, and depressing. The years of education, the years of working and toiling to earn enough, the years of preparation, hoping to someday arrive at their dream are worthless. It means nothing. Everything we do is as pointless as a fish trying to grow legs and walk, or a snake trying to grow wings and fly. No matter how much effort they put in, no matter how much they want it... it will never pay off. They are what they are, and that is just the way it is.

But there is a way for people to make something of themselves. There is a way to do something worthwhile.

Acts 20:22-24~

"And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

That was Paul talking. He knew what lay in store for Him in Jerusalem, but He also understood His place. He understood who He was, and that was the foundation of everything that He did as a follower of Christ.

To live a life of meaning and purpose, we need divine intervention. The only way we will ever accomplish anything of worth, is if we are living according to the One who is worthy of all praise. It's logical, is it not? We are so small. Weak. Futile. Insignificant. A life of service to the Most Holy God, the King of Kings, is the only thing we can do that will be worth anything. Otherwise, we simply wait around with the rest of mankind, trying to do something of value, (a hopeless task) and postponing inevitable death.

It is the ones who accept their position as humble servants that have a hope of seeing glory, and pleasing Christ. For He is worthy of it all, and still decided that we were worth dying for. He gives us our worth- a worth that is proven by our worship and sacrifice.

We need to recognize who we are. We need to start looking at everything we have as undeserved gifts, and fading treasures. We are here temporarily, on a mission with a deadline. The time that we spend acting like we are kings of the world will produce nothing but anger and frustration. It just doesn't make sense. 

But the time that we spend in our rightful place, in the service of the King of Kings... that will be something worth remembering for eternity.

Warming Up Alberta

It has occurred to me that Alberta is a cold place. A very cold place. So cold that I hesitate to go downtown. I'd rather wash my hair with hand soap than leave my house to buy some shampoo. I'd much rather stay in my house, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, and read a book all day. Outside is so uninviting this time of year.

But if I really think about it... I'm not all over going around town by myself in the spring or summer, either. I'd much rather stay at home, or hang out with friends. Just friends. When it comes right down to it- public places here are just a bother. I clam up completely when I go places by myself. If I'm not with my friends, then I'm not social at all. I'm just a shy little girl looking at the floor, only speaking when spoken to. It doesn't matter  how warm it is outside... I'm always cold.

I stay out of people's way. I pretend I'm not there. I get what I need, I do what needs to be done, and then I'm outta there. It works pretty well, because most people around here aren't much different. When it comes to strangers and being alone in public places, most of us turn into efficient task-oriented robots. There's nothing more to us than our mission. There's no personality, there's no character.

Don't believe me? Just think of the last time you walked somewhere. How did you interact with the people you passed? Did you smile? Did you mumble a 'hello'? Or did you brush past them, keeping your gaze fixed on your feet? Think about the last time you stood in line at the grocery store. Did you attempt to strike up a conversation with the people around you? Or did you pretend to be engrossed in the display magazine titles? Or did you take out your phone and text furiously?

Two years ago, I went to the poverty-stricken, dirty, dangerous third-world country of Guatemala. There, I learned what warmth was. Yes, it was humid and hot and our clothes stuck to our skin at all times. But I learned what it meant to show love to anyone and everyone. Never have I met people so open, so cheerful, so excited to greet you. They were all strangers to me, but they did not walk with their eyes cast on the ground. They did not mumble an 'Hola,' nor did they ignore the people that crossed their paths. They treated every individual as a priority. They placed people over projects. They had an agenda, they had schedules. But the importance of their daily errands was never placed above their interactions with others. When talking to others, their attention was undivided. They understood the value of every individual. They understood how to love. They were self-sacrificing.

That's How You Change the World by the Newsboys is a compelling song, especially for folks here in Canada and America. Here up North where it's cold- in more ways than just one. It outlines how the way God would arrange our priorities is different than how we naturally do.

"It's the prayer in an empty room, Little things we do when nobody's around

A hand reaching out to a heart in doubt, It's the smallest spark that can light the dark.

That's how you change the world.

... A million little drops of rain Can be enough to cause a tidal wave

A flood of your love that no one can contain.

... It's the kind words, a simple smile, more than showing up- going the extra mile.

It's giving everything when you've got nothin' left, sharin' a little hope with a single breath..

That's how you change the world."

This week I've been learning that my dreams and passions to change the world won't get anywhere without love. Consistent. Blind. Wholeheartedly. Crazy. Love visited this place called earth once upon a time, and the world hasn't stopped talking about it since. That's how you change the world.

That song has been playing in my head for the past few days. It popped into my mind as I stood in line at the checkout counter, among other strangers. It started playing as I was teaching a dance class, and as I coached young swimmers. I have goals for the future- for when I'm graduated and ready to do something in this world. But I'm missing all the opportunities God is giving me RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW to start fulfilling those dreams!!

Whether I'm in the mall, at the bank, walking down the street, or speaking to thousands, there are always chances to spread Jesus. This world is filled with so much darkness. No way could we ever give enough love. People are desperate. There is no such thing as 'big' or 'small' acts of love in the Kingdom. And that's the beauty of it!

Matthew 10:42~

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, 

you will surely be rewarded.

Matthew 25:34-39~

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you have me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see the hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?

And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

We are going to have to do better than mumbling a 'hello' to the lost and forgotten.

Let's warm up Alberta.

Work it.

Allow me to illustrate for you a brilliant analogy that I heard from a speaker some time last year:

When one visits any farm or ranch, there are certain recognizable characteristics that most people would notice right off the bat. Perhaps the image of a big red barn... maybe the rolling, striped fields alive with crops.... and most certainly, they will notice the smell of fertilizer, animals, and hay.

Let's take a walk through that farm. We we saunter along the dirt tractor trail towards the big red barn, the musty, thick smell of hay and animals surrounds us. We can begin to hear the baying, the lowing, and the faint clucking of the farm animals just inside. The ranch is a big place- we can see the cows a ways away... some are grazing in the pastures, but some are coming back towards their pens. Hens and roosters are contentedly strutting around the farmyard, pecking at seeds scattered over the earth. There's even your typical farm cat- a beautiful orange tabby- taking a nap while balanced perfectly on the wooden gate. Everyone and everything is where it should be. Everything is just right. Except...

We hear a 'baaaa,' the sound only a sheep would make. We look around, trying to find the source of the bleating. We look to the green fields, where the flocks of lambs and sheep are normally seen grazing, but the noisemaker isn't there. No, as we turn around towards the barn, we see the little woolly fellow. He's bathing in the mud. We had seen the spot earlier, and had assumed it was the pigsty. It is nothing but a pit of deep, oozing muck, and a few troughs of rotting leftovers. The stench is nearly unbearable, but there we see the little lamb frolicking in the filth, alongside the swine.

If you came across such a bizarre scenario, what would you do? You would obviously realize that something was wrong. You might laugh, take a picture, or try to coax the lamb out of the mud, and back into the fields. You may try to contact the farmer, let him know he has a sheep living with the pigs. In any case, something would need to be done.  Why?

Because sheep do not belong in the mud....

                                                         ....just like Christians do not belong in sin.

We are walking around claiming to be Christians. That means we are claiming to have been completely transformed from our old selves. And that means we are claiming to have DIED to our old self. We have been transformed into completely new beings- as drastic as a filthy pig transforming into a pure, spotless lamb. Something is wrong if we are continuously returning to the sin that we have been forgiven for. Something is wrong if we continue to live like we did in our old life, and if we try to fit back into our old skin. It doesn't match up. We don't belong there anymore.

1 John 1:6-7~

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son cleanses us from all sin.

We have all been adopted into a holy family- God's family. We were adopted when His own son died for us. So what are we doing, going back and back and back again to the habits of our old nature?

Often times, people do not realize what it means to "become a Christian." It's a term that is used frequently, but it is so often misinterpreted. Becoming a Christian is not a snap of the fingers, and it is not a magical process. Perhaps a better term would be "Committing to Christ." When we confess our sins, and believe in Jesus, we are literally committing our lives to Him. We are signing on to an agreement to be His slave, and His child. We are promising to strive, in every aspect, to live our lives like He did. (1 John 2:6) 

1 John 3:9~

Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

John the apostle made it very clear the black and white equation. Nowadays, we can fall into portraying forgiveness and Christianity as fire insurance. We sometimes talk about it as though it is a last-minute resort- it's just good coverage. It's there if we need it, or in case of accidental death. Many people have forgotten that it is not just a 'Get Out of Hell Free' card- it's a call to a mission. A mission to live holy, pure, and blameless lives- and to be the image of LOVE in this world. We have made it sound like Christianity has nothing to do with works- that what we do does not mean anything. We are starting to make it sound like once you have "become a Christian," you are free to go on living in whatever way suits you, because you are guaranteed paradise for eternity. But here's a little piece of information that might scare you just a little. What you DO matters. I know in my case, I have been taught quite the opposite. Let these verses prove this fact to you.

1 John 3:10~

So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. 

Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other 

believers does not belong to God.

1 John 3:18-19~

Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; 

let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, 

so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Ephesians 2:10~

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God has prepared in advance for us to do.

James 2:17~

So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. 

Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

James 2:26~

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Look these verses up in your Bible and see the examples the writers gave about Abraham and Rahab, read them in context. These are just summaries of the writers' main ideas: Faith without deeds is NOTHING.

To end off, here is a quote I read not too long ago- and boy does it ever hit home. Hopefully it convicts you, as well.

"I refuse to entertain myself with the things my God went to the cross for."

Wow. Read that again. Pin it up by your computer. Put it somewhere in your phone. Put it by your bed, on your desk, by your TV, wherever you need it. We take God's gift of salvation and grace SO lightly... after all that He has done for us, we are no doubt indebted to Him. We owe it all to Him. Our souls, or works, our loves, our dreams, our lives.

We've been called to be his sheep. We've been baptized, following His example of dying to the sinful nature. Does your internet history reflect that of a sheep, or a pig? Does the way you speak indicate that you live in the mud, or the grass? Does your attitude and lifestyle match your claims to being a believer? If the skin of your old nature still fits, it's time to take a gooood look at yourself and figure out where you stand.

So let's jump out of the mud, because that's not where our shepherd is. He has called us to bigger, and greater things. Let's be a holy people. Let's live in the Bible, and RUN from sin so that we can have fellowship with God.

Just to shake things up, let's actually do what we claim to believe in.

It's time to transform.