What is God asking you to do? Do you trust Him fully in the situation you are in? Is there something in your life that God is asking you to give up and to step up to become more like Him? These questions, and many others, have been swimming in my head lately. Why? Because I do have situations in my life where God is testing me. God has been gently pealing away securities so that He can expose me for who I really am and humble me.

When God takes things away that I cling to, is that because He doesn’t love me? No, in fact He takes those things because He loves me and is making me more like His Son. He is perfecting me! God promises in Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” What a wonderful promise! However, I, in my sinful and wicked state, am not satisfied. I want what 1 Peter calls as corruptible things. I want things that are perishable. I do not want God and His precious Word. In Proverbs God calls those who do not want understanding or wisdom (His Word), fools.

Thankfully, God has been working in my heart and using His Word to show me that I need Him and that those corruptible things that I love actually do not satisfy as much as a relationship with Him. I can so easily be satisfied with material things, with comfort, with relationships that seem okay, even my devotions, but yet God is calling me to a higher calling. He wants to give more than I am settling for. He loves His children and has given us a perfect and loving gift. This gift is Christ. This gift is becoming more like His Son who is perfect and has taken our sin away and replaced it with His own righteousness. I need to step up and live a life “sold out” for Christ! That is what Christ’s disciples had to do. They had to take up their cross, die to themselves and follow Christ. The awesome part of that is that Christ already died for them, for me, for the world. What God is telling and compelling us to do as Christians is to live worthy, holy, set apart. It may be a hard road to travel, but God never promised ease. He promises grace. Paul describes this perfectly in II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

So, daily I have to ask myself, am I satisfied in becoming like Christ? Is His grace enough? And the answer is yes! No matter my failures, my untruthful thoughts, my sinful and wicked heart, deep down I am a child of God and I want to become more like Christ! I may have to step it up, I may have to die to myself, but my result is heavenly.

In conclusion, the verse that actually showed me my true heart was in Psalms when David is running from Saul and pleading to God for his safety. At the end of the passage his prayer actually brought me to tears. Psalm 17:13-15 states “Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: from men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with they hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” David, a man of God, an imperfect man, loved the Lord and was a man after God’s own heart! The step may be steep, but I want to be satisfied with the likeness of Christ!

-Sarah Roe

It is interesting what our self-perceptions can be and how we can think one area in our life is strength only to find out that it is one of our greatest weaknesses. As God has brought kind trials into my life, He has been gracious enough to bring godly men to help me see through God’s word how my perceived strengths can actually be big weaknesses, points of self-righteousness, and down-right poor character. Recently God has been pointing out that I am a lot less teachable than I thought, and because of my hardness in teachability and communication I find conflict in my other relationships as well. What a surprise! My sin actually affects those around me! Hmm... not quite a surprise but the point is well taken.

In the past as areas of needed growth have been pointed out I responded in one of two ways. 1) Attempt to muster up enough will power to make those needed changes in my life, or 2) set up a list of tasks that if I manage to keep them I was sure change would happen. Often times one of these solutions would lead me right into the other, sending me in a cycle of attempting to control my own sanctification apart from the Spirit of God in me (Romans 15:16 ) and apart from the Grace that God offers to a submitted heart (James 4:6 ) and apart from Christ Himself (Colossians 2:6 ).

One of my Goals for this year has been to in faith connect a scripture passage to what God is changing in my life as a means of “drawing nigh unto God” (James 4:8 ) who in return “draws nigh” unto me.

In regards to what God has been changing in me lately, God has connected me to Ephesians 1:15-23 . The Apostle Paul gives four resources that each believer has in Christ that God has used in my life over and over again as He is working Christ-likeness in me.
Resource 1: Hope (1:18a)– Christ offers hope that change can and will happen to one who walks in faith. Hope in Christ however is not like hope in a person. It is “confident expectation of a guaranteed result” We can grow in Christ-likeness because it is the author and finisher of our faith that can make it so.
Resource 2: Riches (1:18b) – Hudson Taylor was known for his faith in the Lord’s provision. He was quoted as admitting that he could not believe that God was “poor” and couldn’t provide. The riches in Christ however span farther than earthly and material provision. 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that he has “given unto us all things that pertaining unto life and godliness.” Christ has riches of Godliness for the giving as well!
Resource 3: Power (1:19-20) – In Christ we find both inability and complete ability. On our own we are completely unable to submit to God. We are completely unable to love Him. We are completely unable to change ourselves into His likeness. However God has given us the same power with which he raised Jesus from the dead. His power is working within us!
Resource 4: Headship of Christ (1:22-23) Christ is sovereignly ruling over all things at this very moment. I have often been encouraged to “rest under authority.” This means rest in their decision and instruction because the weight is on them. We can rest under the authority of God’s will as Christ reigns. We can trust the Lord as He tests and spiritually filets us in order to show us who we are, and how we need Him! God’s word promises blessing, offers hope, and is how our kind creator chose to communicate with us. His word is alive and it will change our lives. Connect Scripture to your life and situations and experience the deep satisfaction of our Savior. Make the connection!

-John Ford Moon

Since our team is on a Christmas break, we are able to have some down-time at home to rest, relax, and refresh. I wanted this break to be full of time to refresh in the Word and to read theological books that deal with tough issues. I chose to read Rob Bell’s latest book entitled, Love Wins (a New York Times bestseller and a frighteningly watered-down gospel theory that all people will eventually get to Heaven one day) and Francis Chan's rebuttal to Bell's book entitled, Erasing Hell.

I was introduced to Rob Bell in college, when his Nooma videos were becoming popular. I was amazed at his brilliantly creative videos! He seemed to pack heavy theological thoughts surrounded by beautiful cinematography. I even watched some of his videos my first year on the road for inspiration on how to edit our digital shorts. Although he creates spectacular videos, there are a few issues with some of his theology. He would hate to be called one, but according to his latest book, he is indeed a Universalist.

----Universalism – noun \ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-ˌli-zəm\ – a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved.----

In Love Wins, Bell attempts to explain from Scripture that there is no literal Hell because God is too loving to send His creation to such a place. He believes there are Hells on earth, i.e. – the global debt crisis, when you or a loved one gets diagnosed with cancer, a husband abusing his wife. . . So what we interpret as the torments of Hell are only here on earth. He says there is, however, a place or a state of being that people travel to after death where they are refined and given the chance (multiple chances) to confess their need of Christ. This is not a place of punishment, torment, and fire, rather the place you inhabit until you become enlightened to God’s truth (much like a type of pergatory). So no matter what your religion is, no matter how much you despise and hate God and the gospel truth, you still get your 2nd chance after death.

As I mentioned before, Bell claims that God is so loving that there is no way He would send His created beings to a place of torment. Yes, God is loving. He is the very definition of love! But we must bring His other attributes into view, and not misinterpret this one. God is also Holy, Just, and a Righteous Judge. His Holiness demands an opposition to human sinfulness. He is just in His actions against sin because He has every right to be. Because He is God! We must let God be God in our minds! He has free reign to punish all of us and not let anyone into Heaven, BUT He loves His creation and sent Christ to redeem us. Our response to this truth is necessary - repenting of sin, turning completely away from it, and putting our faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Truth – There is a real Hell. A place of eternal torment for those who do not confess their sins and put their faith in Christ. Truth – God is Love. God sent Christ to redeem His creation from the torments of sin and Hell and into a personal relationship with Himself.

So, Love does win in the end.

Rob Bell brings up many other concepts and Bible verses to "defend" his stance on Hell and God's love. I only brought up these thoughts because I believe that Christians can be blindly swept away by such doctrine. Even as I was reading, I was asking questions and being challenged to really know Biblical reasons why I believe in the gospel and a literal Hell. Francis Chan gives a great rebutal to Love Wins (Erasing Hell). He brings up excellent Biblical texts and logic to prove Hell's existence and God's pure love.

-Laura Kennedy

I’m writing this article as the New York Giants take on the Dallas Cowboys (hopefully ending in a win for the Giants). If I asked you to define who Eli Manning is, you may respond with, “He’s a football player,” “He’s the quarterback for the New York Giants,” or “He’s a seasoned eight year quarterback who has over 26,000 passing yards in the record books.” Without knowing him personally, these are the immediate things that define who he is in our culture.

This semester I was challenged with the question of what defines me. What am I living for? What am I really on this earth for? I don’t think these thoughts came from one particular wake-up-call moment. These thoughts have been in process for quite awhile, and this semester they have caused me to define my life purpose.

Author Francis Chan helped me realize that I don’t want an “American-Dream Christianity;” author Michael Emlet challenged me to go after Bible knowledge and theology; editing 5 Questions About Eternity (an in-process gospel tract video series) made me answer what the most important questions in life are, because our postmodern culture interprets life to be all about what makes them happy; and the Lord put it all together through the reading of His Word and the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Because I am a wicked sinner saved by God’s grace, my response is to live my life in light of my justification, reconciliation, and sanctification. So, I live my life and exist for the Glory of God. But that’s the surface life purpose statement that I grew up learning. At some point this purpose statement had to be matured and unpacked or I would coast through life with no grounded purpose to why I live. So in year twenty-four of my life, I’ve unpacked my purpose to be glorifying God through worship, evangelism to the lost, and the discipleship of other believers. These things give me a reason to live each day. I desire my life to be defined by these things. So whether I’m spending time in prayer and reading God’s word, editing a video, hanging out with a friend, or just living life in any area I can have a purpose statement to back up my actions; to back up my existence! So when people are asked to define Laura Kennedy, by the abundant grace of God, they can communicate the very things that I live for.

So what is your purpose statement? What things define you as a person? How will you live out this new life you have in Christ?

-Laura Kennedy

P.S. In case you were curious, the Giants beat the Cowboys, 37 to 34 with an unbelievable field goal block in the last few seconds by Giants #90, Jason Pierre Paul. :)

Psalm 36:5-10 “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

More often than not I meditate on New Testament passages, but recently I’ve been going through the Psalms and writing down all the verses pertaining directly to worship. I’m doing it for my own personal walk with God while also working towards using more Scripture in our worship services. So far I’m loving it! The Psalms are great for reminding us of the grandeur of our God and His loving condescension. His steadfast love, His faithfulness, His righteousness, etc. These are such paramount, life-changing truths!

I love the metaphors the psalmists use in helping communicate truth. David, in Psalm 18 talks about how in his distress he cried for help and his cry reached the very ear of God. The whole earth quakes as God then flies on the wings of the wind, consumed with a glowing-hot fury as He swoops down to rescue His child. God did all that because of one desperate cry. What a passionate, fervent love our God has for His own!

So let me encourage you to go to the Psalms. If all of life is worship, why not go to the inspired songbook as a God-given resource for life helps? God definitely uses it to straighten out my thinking and I think He’ll do the same with you.

-Jonathan Jarret

This past summer, while studying James at Northland Camp, the Lord starting working in my heart about what trials are used for in our lives. It starts in James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God has been teaching me about how He uses trials to change me, but recently He has been showing me even more of how the trials He sends my way are really for my good and His glory.

As we studied James, I was also going through the New Testament in my devotions. When I came to I Peter, that’s when my view of trials began to change. It was amazing to see the parallels in James and 1 Peter. The verse that really caught my attention was I Peter 1:7 which says, “That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus.” So God was showing me through James and Peter that my trials are not just times where I get joy from coming out of a situation, but that the trial itself is actually for my good. I need to treasure those times because of the end goal: the glory of Christ in me. For example, I hate running, and when I run it’s not just to get it over with, it’s to see the end result. God is still working in my heart to teach me this.

I began to understand the fact that my trials are joyous and that they work patience in me, but also, that they are for the praise, honor, and glory of Christ in me. That is not the end though. With excitement I went on in I Peter only to be stopped in my tracks again. I Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, ‘Be ye holy: for I am holy.’” Automatic shut down–I was convicted. I started thinking about all the times I have responded in my trials with an unholy view. I started thinking about my sins: my selfishness, pride, and many others. I was starting to get discouraged, but God was using this in my life to point me to Christ, who is holy, and who lives in me. Christ suffered just like us and went through trials, yet He was holy. “So,” I thought, “how can I be holy?” God immediately brought to mind that I can be holy because Christ is in me. I can trust that He will do whatever it takes to make me more like His Son, Jesus Christ who is holy.

The last few verses of I Peter 1 have been constantly on my mind. I Peter 1:23-25 says “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” My inheritance is imperishable because of a holy God. It is well worth the run.

-Sarah Roe