Faith…Finding Enduring Boldness in Times of Suffering

By Kyrsten N. and Rebekah T. 

“And now, compelled by the spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.”

~ Acts 20:22-24

Paul's situation was inevitable – prison and hardships had faced him before, and he knew the pain of suffering (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29). But instead of shrinking from this trial, Paul charged into it with faith and complete sacrifice of his own will. How can we display this same confidence that is from the Holy Spirit? Romans 8:17 says,

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

If there is a time of suffering, then there is always going to be a time of renewal – when everything is new again and the glory of Christ rewards us for our endurance. If we hold onto our faith in the midst of the struggle, then we will come out with an even stronger, bolder faith.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8

So this faith must not be a faith in ourselves, but in God, for we can do nothing without his strength.

In the seasons of good times, we must also build each other up and be strengthened by the Word. This takes commitment.

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.” ~ John 12:25-26

Service is important. When a trial comes and you feel flustered and bogged down by the weight of the world, try serving others. It will take the focus off of you and put it on God, which is the only way we can endure through the struggles we face. (See John 13:14-17.)

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in great conflict, full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” 

~ Hebrews 10:32-35

“Love eases pain, and when one loves God, one suffers for Him with joy and with courage...My pains and sufferings would be a paradise to me if I suffered them with God, and the greatest pleasures would be a hell if I enjoyed them without him. All my solace is to suffer something for him.” ~ Brother Lawrence

Thank you for sharing, Kyrsten and Rebekah! Blessings, Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

He's Alive! And He's Perfect!

"He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay." 

~ Matthew 28:6

Jesus is alive! He died and rose again, conquering sin and death forever and ever! We don't have to live in sin or in fear or in bondage. We can have victory through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord! Jesus died on the cross and rose again, cleansing us from sin and clothing us with His perfect righteousness forever.

During our Good Friday service, we took communion and had a time of reflection. As I prayed, it stuck me to the heart that, "He was perfect so that I don't have to be. He was perfect because He could be and I couldn't be."

I spend so much time trying to be perfect. I want to be a perfect daughter, perfect employee, perfect friend, perfect sister, and ultimately, a perfect Christian. But that's not what God wants me to focus on. He wants me to focus more on who He is and how perfect He is than on how perfect I am trying to be. Perfection is unattainable outside of Christ.

In Christ, I am made perfect. I am crucified to myself and I live in Him: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). My identity isn't wrapped up in my efforts of striving for perfection, but in His perfectly glorious holiness.

Because of His gift of life, I am going to put on the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:14), clothing myself in His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) instead dressing up in my dirty rags of trying to be good (Isaiah 64:6). I don't claim to know exactly what this will look like in my daily life, but I do know that turning my focus away from myself and trying to be perfect and instead fixing my eyes on Jesus and His perfection will change the way that I live. For when I am in Christ, His love controls me and I'm not living for myself, but for Him.

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." 

~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Jesus is alive and Jesus is perfect! He died on the cross and rose again, conquering sin, conquering death, and giving us abundant life. His perfection is perfection. And He is alive, perfectly reigning forever and ever. Amen. 

Rejoicing,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory

Let Me Feel What You Feel, Lord

Emotions can be like a roller coaster. Sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're sad, sometimes we're worried, sometimes we're excited, and sometimes we're just "blah". While some of us are more emotional than others, we all have feelings.

I'm the kind of person who tends to deeply feel my emotions as well the emotions of others. As I thought about my tendancy to ride the roller coasters of my own and other people's emotions, I started to wonder, "Do I also feel what God feels?"

It's good to be aware of our own emotions and understand why we feel the way we do. It is also a good thing to be in tune to the emotions of others because it helps us to be sensitive to their needs. At the same time, how often are our feelings swayed by God instead of the feelings of others? How often are we caught up with how God feels about something rather than letting our own feelings lead us?

Our God is a God with vast, strong emotions. He feels love (John 11:36), He feels anger (Deuteronomy 4:21), He feels joy (Zephaniah 3:17), He feels jealousy (Exodus 34:14), He feels sorrow (Isaiah 53:3), He feels peace (Romans 15:33), and so much more! God's emotions are absolutely perfect in every way.

If we focus on His feelings, we are able to feel deeply ourselves and for others in healthy ways. As I've prayed that God would allow me to be in tune to how He feels more than I'm in tune to the emotions of other people or myself, I have realized that there I have many opportunities to put this into practice.

When I see a friend in a deep conversation with someone else and I want to talk with her, I can easily feel jealous or selfish. But instead of letting my emotions dictate how I feel, I can think about how God feels. My friend is investing in the life of another person and this is pleasing to God. Like Him, I want to feel pleased instead of jealous or selfish.

When things don't happen the way we want them to, feelings of frustration often arise. It is easy to become impatient, as some friends of mine did when we were stuck behind a train on the way to a concert. Instead of letting their frustration frustrate me, I decided to be thankful. I knew God would be pleased by us having more time to cultivate our relationships with each other, so I felt His joy, and sought to share it with my friends.

When I'm stressed because school deadlines are pressing (but not this week, since I'm on Spring Break! YAY!), I can quickly give in to those anxious feelings that knot up my stomach. But I don't have to, and instead I can think about how God takes pleasure in my hard work and in me surrending my time to Him, so I can feel pleasure in His grace.

When I'm making a decision, I don't have to base it on how I feel about the situation or how other people feel about the decision, but rather on how God feels. I can discern His feelings about my decision by the truth of His Word, seeking Him in prayer, and listening to the wisdom of people who will share the truth with me - not just their feelings.

When someone is excited about something, I can rejoice in their joy, as God rejoices with them and when a someone is sad about something, I can sorrow with them, as God sorrows with them. If my emotions are in tune to God's emotions, I can care for others with the care of Jesus Christ. The care of Christina can only go so far without running out, but God's care and concern will never run out.

What opportunities in your life do you have to focus on the emotions of God more than you focus on the emotions of other people or the emotions of your own heart? His feelings are perfect, because all His ways are perfect.

"This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength

and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights."

~ Psalm 18:30-33

When our feelings are based on His feelings, which are an overflow of His character, we have a rock solid foundation from which to feel our own emotions and to be sensitive to the feelings of others. 

Lord, help us to be like you. Give us your peace. Show us how to love with your love. Grant us your graciousness. Let us help those who are hurting with your help. Put your song into your hearts. Teach us to be angry at what angers you. Fill our lives with your joy. Guide us to feel what you feel. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Seeking to feel what He feels,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

He Thinks of Me

Standing on the choir risers, I tossed back my curls and opened my choir book, looking out over the sanctuary. As the music started, I took a breath and began to sing. We sang a medley that I was familiar with, so I was able to sing my heart out, praising the Lord to the words of "Above All" and the hymn "My Savior's Love". When we reached the end of the arrangement, we sang the words, "You took the fall, and thought of me, above all." Instantly, I remembered something I had read in my devotions the day before.

I had been reading Psalm 40 and when I reached the end, I came to this incredible verse: As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:11). When I read that yesterday, I was amazed. God thinks of me!

Isn't it incredible that we are on God's mind? As I realize what an amazing gift it is to be thought of by God, I am especially in awe that He thinks of someone like me, who is poor and needy, like the verse says. I am poor. He's rich. I am weak. He's strong. I am needy. He has everything. I am empty. He is full.

Despite my littleness, He takes thought for me. This knowledge makes me worship Him more. My awesome God reaches down into my life and cares about little me. I don't deserve His care or His thoughts. But He thinks of me. 

King David felt the same way! In Psalm 8, He wrote, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! He continued in the following verses to praise God for His mighty works. Then he said, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" Who are we that the Lord should be mindful of us? Who are we that the God of the universe should think of us?

We are His children (1 John 3:1), so He thinks of us as a good father thinks of his children. We are His bride (Isaiah 54:5), so He thinks of us as a good husband thinks of his bride. We are His sheep (Psalm 100:3), so He thinks of us as a good shepherd thinks of his sheep.

In His love, God takes thought for us. He is mindful of us. That's pretty amazing. We are loved and thought of by our awesome God. He is so good to us. 

Blessings,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, y'all! I hope today is full of love and laughter, food and presents, family and friends, lights and music, and the presence of the Lord. Our lives are so wonderful because of Jesus!

He's the reason we have love in our hearts and can laugh!
He's the reason we have food on the table and gifts to give.
He's the reason we have family and friends to share our lives with.
He's the reason we have lights (to remind us of His light) and music (to praise Him).
He's the reason that God is always with us!

Every good and perfect gift is from Him. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." ~ James 1:17

But you know what's even more amazing? The most good and perfect gift was Christ Himself. "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." ~ 1 John 4:9-10

Let's delight in this Christmas because of our amazing Lord Jesus Christ! 

Christmas Blessings,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Believe!

Believe. It's a word we often see around us throughout the Christmas season. I have to admit, I get a little excited when I see it. After all, Christmas is all about believing in Christ, our great Savior, right? So, I'm thinking, "Yay! They believe in the reason for Christmas! They believe in Jesus!" But is that what people mean when they use the word "believe" at Christmastime? Maybe. Maybe not.

When some people talk about "believing" at Christmastime, they may be thinking about Santa. One of my coworkers told me that believing in Santa was such a magical part of Christmas for her as a child. So many parents try hard keep their kids believing in the jolly, fat man in the red suit as long as they can.

Others believe in people. They believe in family and friends, hoping people who won't let them down at Christmastime. It's during this time of year that people try to come together and put aside the conflict. They seek to make memories together.

Still others believe in "the spirit of Christmas", which makes everyone "say hello to friends you know, and anyone you meet". It's the time when people are extra nice and often happy. People give gifts and tell each other "Merry Christmas".

Yet these things sure are weak for believing in. They aren't trustworthy, because Santa isn't real, people aren't perfect, and the "spirit of Christmas" is often merely an emotion. True belief at Christmastime (and all year round) is in something so much more secure. So much more promising. So much more real. True belief is in Jesus! He came as a baby, sent by God, to save a people who were utterly lost. He grew up and died on a cross, then rose again, and ascended to heaven. That's what we can believe in.

But you know what the best part is? This hope and belief doesn't end when December 25th goes by! It lasts throughout the whole year. 2015 has been an incredible year for me. God has been so faithful and in Him, there is so much hope.

There were times this year when I was exhausted and crying. God was there. There were times when I was thoroughly enjoying the exciting things God had brought into my life, from people, to school projects, to music. He was there. There were times when I wondered if I would be able to complete the tasks before me. God was always right there. There were times I was laughing so hard that my ribs hurt. God was still with me. 

Whatever this year held for you, I hope it was full of belief and faith in our incredible God. Because He was there with you through the good times and bad.

Believe! But don't just "believe". Believe in Jesus Christ. He is God. This Christmas, and always, my friend, believe. Believe in our wonderful Lord Jesus. He is incredible. He is our hope and our belief. He is absolutely awesome!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

~ Isaiah 9:6

Believing,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! I pray that your day is blessed as you enjoy the many gifts of God in your life. Whatever today holds for you, I hope that you will be able to take a moment to thank Him for His gifts and praise Him for His goodness in your life.

There is so much I have to be thankful for today, but I am especially thankful for the wonderful presence of God in my life. I am also thankful for you, my readers, who are serving the Lord and loving Him along with me!

Let's enjoy today, a day full of food, people, love and more! And let's give thanks to the Lord with all our hearts. He is so good to us!

"I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever." ~ Psalm 86:12

Blessings, 

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Transformation

It felt like an instant transformation. I went to bed last night with the world outside looking like a typical Fall night. But this morning it was another story. Waking up, I saw a sign taped to my bookshelf, put there by my youngest sister. It said, "Happy Snow Day!" When I got out of bed, I opened the blinds and peered out the window. Everything was covered with snow. It was beautiful.

Later in the morning my siblings were out playing in the snow. I couldn't help but want to join them, so I put on my coat and gloves and boots and tread out into the beautiful snow, sneaking up behind my brother and chucking snowballs at him. Missing him many times, since my aim isn't very good, it was a few minutes before he realized I was trying to hit him with a snowball. When he turned around and saw me, a friendly battle ensued. It wasn't long before I got cold, so after trying to sled a bit, I made my way back inside.

All day today, I have enjoyed thinking about the snow outside. I love the feeling of being enclosed by the snow that surrounds our house. And when I walk past a window, I can't help but think how beautiful the world looks all covered with the glorious, pure, soft whiteness of the snow.

Snow transforms the world. And Christ transforms our lives. Do you ever think about how amazing it is that when we are saved, we are covered with the righteousness of Christ? I've been studying righteousness in one of my classes this semester and was so encouraged by thinking about how I am clothed with Christ's purity. When God looks at me, He sees the righteousness of Christ on my behalf. My sin is covered by the blood! Look at these marvelous words from the book of Romans:

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—
though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, 
much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 
much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through whom we have now received reconciliation."
 ~ Romans 5:6-11

Because I am saved, I am covered. Jesus' blood satisfied God's requirement for my sin. So I am transformed. My life is not my own. It is Christ's. When I think of how the snow transforms the world, I think about how God transforms my life. He is so good to me. I did nothing to gain His love and covering. But He called me out. I am forever His.

Are you transformed? Does Jesus' righteousness and cover you like the snow covers the world outside? May we together be forever grateful for this miraculous transformation of God in our lives!  

Transformed in Him,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Peace Isn't An Emotion, But It Is

I don't know about you, but I often think of peace as an emotion; a feeling of restfulness and quietness of heart. But you know what? Peace is not an emotion. I think we get way too caught up with wanting to feel peaceful that we forget what peace really is.

Peace is knowing that God is in control of our lives no matter what (Romans 8:28). Peace is trusting that God is with us always (Isaiah 41:10). Peace is laying down our concerns at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 11:28). Peace is believing that we are forever secured in our salvation (John 10:29). Peace is resting in God's promises, knowing that He will keep His Word (Psalm 18:30). Peace is found in the Prince of Peace: Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6).

When we are truly resting in the peace of God, the emotions of rest and quietness will often follow. So in a sense, peace is an emotion. We can feel at peace. But there will be times when we don't feel at peace, but are still at peace in God.

Things in our lives will not be always peaceful and our emotions at times will be up and down. But in the midst of it all, we can find peace, if we seek it. Turning our focus back to what is important in those moments, we can rest in the truth about God. We need to turn our eyes back to Christ. Peace is a choice, by God's grace, to focus on the Lord, not an emotion based on what's going on in our lives. But the emotion of peacefulness often follows our focus on true peace, the peace of God.

When we stop trying to feel peaceful, and rather, focus on the things of peace that I mentioned above from God's Word, feelings of peacefulness will often result. While, on the other hand, if we try to feel peaceful by just trying to feel peaceful, there isn't really anywhere to go with that. If anything, we will only have a fleeting, unreal, fluffy peace that is dependant wholly on what's going on in our lives. But in Christ, our peace is secure, even in the most turbulent of times because it isn't built on an emotion. It is built on Him. This peace is real, steadfast, and strong. We can cling to Jesus Christ. He is our Peace.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 

The Lord be with all of you." ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16

In His Peace,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory! 

Perfect Peace

I have a friend who is flying out of the country today. Another friend is finishing preparations for a work project due tomorrow. Yet another friend is hurting. And another friend is struggling in their faith. Still another friend is very busy. So many things. So much going on. Lots to pray about. Yet in the midst of it all, I can't help but be reminded of this beautiful verse in Isaiah, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).

Yesterday my mom and I were talking about doubts and she said,"We just need to trust God. Where else is there to go?" There is no other place where we will find peace but in Him. Only here will our hearts find the rest we truly long for and need.

God has given me His perfect peace today. I start another eight week semester of school tomorrow. I really don't want to. This past week with no homework has been so nice. But there is a quietness in my heart today that comes only from God, as I enjoy this evening and look toward the rest of the week, knowing that He will be with me. Resting in His hands, I can have perfect peace, because He is holding me.

When I think about this verse and the words "whose mind is stayed on you", I think of looking at God with an undivided gaze. Did you ever play the staring game as a kid? You know, where you stare at the other person and try keep your eyes open the longest? It hurts and burns and doesn't usually last very long! Well, you know what? We need to be staring at God every moment. We will at times break our gaze from His, because we are weak, and life is so distracting. And yet, by His grace, we need to come back again and again, turning our eyes back to His, focusing on the Lord.

There are so many things I could be worried about right now. So many things. But the Lord wants my mind to be fixed on Him. My eyes to be turned toward His. And as His grace leads me to Him, my heart relaxes and I know the sweet peace that can only come from trusting Him.

Friends, we need to trust God. "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:4). For it is only in Him that we can truly find perfect peace.

Resting,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory! 

Like a Child….

Children are precious. Their outlook on life is so trusting and sweet. Working with kids each day, I am amazed by these beautiful little people God has made. From their innate sense of their safety and comfort to their trusting hearts toward people who love and accept them, there is something special about kiddos. They delight in the present moment with all the energy and emotion their little hearts can stand. It's the littlest things that they remember and care about. And they love deeply and fiercely.

As I think about these precious little people, I can't help but remember how much Jesus loved children. When the disciples tried to keep the children from coming to see Jesus, He said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14). Jesus welcomed children and considered them important. It was only shortly before this incident that Jesus had explained the connection between children and the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest or most important. When they came and asked Jesus to answer the question "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus called for a child to come near. He said, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Childlike humility is the key to heaven (Matthew 18:1-4).

Are you like a child before God? Do you trust Him? Do you reach up your arms to Him as your Daddy? Do you rest in His protection and care? Do you realize your insignificance and smallness and marvel at the greatness of His love for you? I know I need to be more like a child before the Lord. Childlike faith isn't simplistic. It is gentle. It is trusting. It is sweet. It is loving. It is humble.

I have had to say goodbye to so many children. Each month at work a new group of kids come and a new group leaves. It is so hard to say goodbye. The kids take part of my heart with them when they go away. But one day, when we reach heaven's gates, it will be amazing to be all together with our Lord, reuinited forever. We will then all get to be like children before God, with trusting, humble, childlike faith. For heaven is for those who will humble themselves like children before God.

Until then, to all my precious kiddos: I love you.

~ Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Photo Credit: Alyssa H.

I'm Smiling Today

I'm smiling today because God is here.

I'm smiling today because the sun shining behind the clouds made them look like they were rimmed in gold.

I'm smiling today because most of my school will be done before the weekend.

I'm smiling today because I celebrated my dad's birthday with him, my mom, and my sibs.

I'm smiling today because God hears my prayers and brings peace to my busy heart.

I'm smiling today because I cleaned up my room.

I'm smiling today because I had ice cream for dessert.

I'm smiling today because my little sister and I went for a "barefoot walk".

I'm smiling today because I'm writing.

I'm smiling today because God is good.

Are you smiling today? There is always something to smile about. Just look for it!

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

~ Numbers 6:24-26

Smiling,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

The Tears and the Smiles

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5

Weddings are so much fun. I was blessed to attend another family wedding last weekend with my family. During the best man's toast, my cousin talked about the joy and the pain of life ahead for the newlyweds and how their family would stick together and stand by each other through it all. As I listened I couldn't help but think how often we romanticize life (not to mention marriage), unlike my cousin's loving perception of reality.

We wish people well and that they would have all happiness in their lives. We don't often talk about the tears. Earlier this summer I was looking for a wedding card for a friend who was getting married and found too many that wished the "happy couple" all the best and, literally, a painless ride. But that's not reality. Of course I want my cousins and friends to be happy in their marriages and lives and to have all the best. But tears are part of life. They enrich our lives.

Have you ever thought about what life would be like without tears? What if it was always happy and painless and pleasant? Wouldn't that grow dull? There are certainly times when we wish that the more painful things could be avoided, but they make the happy times all the sweeter. While heaven will be bliss without tears, life here on earth would be unbearable without them! My friend Amanda wrote in a Heart-to-Heart column back in December 2013: "I'm also grateful for feelings - emotions, expressions of love, forgiveness, surprise, joy, sadness... it makes life so colorful! The hard days only make the happy days sweeter, even though I may not see that in the moment. I'm thankful for it all!"

God didn't promises that life would be all smiles. We haven't made it to heaven yet, where He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). For now, there will be tears. But what is truly beautiful is that He is there through it all.

In the times when we can't stop smiling, He is right there, giving us the blessings that make us smile: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17) and rejoicing with us and over us: The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

At the same time, when He allows the pain and the tears just keep rolling down our cheeks or our hearts feel numb, He is there and He sees: You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8). In our pain, He comforts us and blesses us with His peace and joy: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Think of it this way. God is the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48). He lavishes gifts on us (spiritual as well as physical) and when we smile, He smiles on us. Like any good father, He knows that the hard things in life grow and mold us, so He allows pain and suffering. But as a father comforts and cares for a hurting child, so God reaches down and comforts and cares for us. Imagine a child on his or her birthday, rejoicing over the attention and gifts and looking up at daddy with thanks and happiness. The father looks down with love, joy, and affection on his face. Then when a child cries over a skinned knee the daddy tends to it and hugs the child to his heart. So God, the perfect Daddy, reaches into our lives, through the smiles and the tears and graces our lives with His love and presence.

Life isn't all smiles. And it isn't all tears. It's both. God has molded our lives so beautifully as the Potter, working a pot of pain and happiness, laughter and crying, smiles and tears: But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8). He is with us every step of the way. Are you crying today? He is with you. Are you laughing today? He is still with you. Keep smiling and crying. Smiles and tears are some of God's greatest blessings.

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ~ Isaiah 35:10

In Him,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Leftovers

Everything had been perfect, from the shiny silverware to the golden-brown turkey. Guests had enjoyed the perfectly cooked potatoes with a square lump of butter on top alongside their bright green beans. Scoops of ice cream ladled with caramel syrup and chocolate shavings had been set by each place for dessert. But now the guests were gone. I sighed at the sweet memory of the evening. My family walked into the room, and I turned to them. “Okay, now you guys can eat,” I said. They sat down to partake of the leftovers off of smudged silverware, chewing the bones and scraping the bottom of the bowls. 

I promise, I have never literally done this to my family. But I have often done it figuratively. Here’s how. It’s been a long day. I’m walking to my car after work, ready to get home and crash (even though I know that a pile of homework is waiting for me….) I’m almost to my car when a co-worker walks up and says hello. A smile instantly floods my face and I chat happily for a few minutes before I climb into the car. Alone again, my face melts into an emotionless expression. When I reach home, I pull the van up the driveway, climb out of the car, and walk in the door. Cheerful voices greet me, excited that I’ve returned home. I smile, but not as wide as I smiled at my co-worker. I chat, but it’s disinterested instead of engaged and I go upstairs to my room.

Sadly, I find that it’s a lot easier to give my family the leftovers instead of my best. Everyone else in my life gets my best efforts. My family? Well, they get whatever is left. What do I mean? Well, I’ll spend over an hour on the phone with a friend, but do I take the time to talk with my sister? I make a lot of effort to listen to friends and co-workers, but do I try just as hard to listen to my brother? I smile brightly at friends, co-workers, clients, and customers, but is my family greeted by only a small grin? I have a lot of grace for the shortcomings of others, but if a family member steps out of line…it’s another story.

These little things betray my priorities and they reveal who I really am. “You are only as holy as you are at home,” Eric Ludy wrote, in a book he penned with his wife, Leslie. This phrase has been ringing through my mind in recent weeks. I may seem holier to the people that aren’t my family, but who I really am is who I am each day with my family.

God has called us to love each other. There are so many verses in the Bible in which we are called to show honor, respect, service, and so much more toward the people in our lives. How often we overlook our families. But they deserve as much love, honor, respect, service, etc. as anyone else. Here are some areas that God has been impressing on my heart in which I can seek to show love and my best toward my family.

Show your family “perfect courtesy” with grace, good manners, and respect: “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2)

Extend grace and forgiveness to your parents and siblings: “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4).

Be humble and meek toward your family members instead of always defending yourself, vying for your rights, and focusing on yourself: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Seek to be unified and not at conflict with your family members: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

Encourage your family in their individual lives and walk with the Lord; don’t tear them down or discourage them: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Show your parents and siblings the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Seek to love your family with true, sacrificial love, not wishy-washy, only-when-you-feel-like-it love: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

Be honest and keep your word to your family members: “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy” (Proverbs 12:20).

Spend time with your family, enjoying them and nurturing your relationships with your parents and siblings: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39b).

Perhaps this all sounds rather impossible. Let that impossibility and discouragement drive you to the cross, where Jesus has the answers. Jesus was the only one who was perfectly holy no matter where He went. And He will give us grace in our weakness to pursue holiness at home and in every area of our lives. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Our families are the most important people in our lives. They deserve our best efforts and love. And, let me tell you, it’s pretty amazing to give your family your best instead of your worst. It makes home life so very sweet. I’m grateful to be so close to my family and able to consider them my best friends. I want them to clearly see and know just how much I love them. God is working in me as I seek to give my family my best. Will you join me? Let us seek to give our families the lavish feast of our love, not our leftovers.

Learning to give my best to my family,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

This post was originally published on levipierpont.wordpress.com.

Photo Credit: Joe B.

Modesty is Beautiful

A few weekends ago I was at a park with my family. It was a lovely, warm, summer day as we were walking on the sidewalk around a peaceful duck pond. The bright blue sky and radiant sunshine were beaming overhead. I had stopped to take pictures of my little sister and we were catching up to the rest of my family when two girls in their early teens walked by. They both wore very short shorts and cut off tee shirts with their midriffs showing. I smiled at them as they passed and one of the girls met my eye and insecurely tossed her hair behind her shoulder. Her face looked strained. I couldn't help but feel sorry for both of these girls who are so young, yet so hungry for love and value.

Immodesty isn't really beautiful. Yes, I'll admit, some people who dress immodestly can look great - in a worldly way. But that's not beauty in the way that God envisions and defines beauty. His ways are different than the world's. The world puts value on "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—[which] is not from the Father but is from the world" (1 John 2:16). God's values are very different.

We were all at a family wedding two weekends ago, enjoying the celebration of my cousin’s marriage. A woman walked up to my mom and asked which kids were hers. Mom pointed us out and the lady said, "I thought so, and I told my sons, 'there's a mother who knows how to dress her girls'". My mom smiled, and replied, "Their dad knows how to dress them." We stood out to this woman because she saw the beauty and value of modesty.

God puts a very high value modesty. Modesty reflects true beauty (Proverbs 31:30). It reflects the significance of the heart (1 Peter 3:4). It reflects purity (Ephesians 3:5). It reflects the value we find in God (Isaiah 43:4). It reflects God's light within us (Matthew 5:16). And so much more! Modesty captures everything good about womanhood in the form of clothing. It is so very beautiful and reveals God’s vision for beauty.

Pursuing modesty is just one way in which we can follow the greatest commandment:

"Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

~ Matthew 12:29-31

When we love God with all our heart, we pursue modesty in Him because we want to honor Him with every area of our lives, including our bodies and appearance. And when we love others as ourselves, we honor them by dressing modestly (just as we honor ourselves by having the dignity to be modest). It will be hard sometimes, but this modest living is such a beautiful pursuit, as we seek God's guidance and grace.

If you are seeking modesty with me, my friends, keep up the good work. Don't grow weary in this beautiful effort. If you aren't yet walking in modesty, please join us. This is such a beautiful journey of faith as we take each step with God (in His strength, by His grace!) and seek to display His beauty through the clothes that we wear. Is modesty beautiful? Yes. God says it is!

Modestly :),
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Encouraging Modesty

Just the other day I was chatting with a friend on the phone while eating my breakfast, putting on my make up, brushing my teeth, and packing my lunch (but, don’t worry, not all at once…). At one point in our conversation, she started telling me about a sweet, wise girl she had recently enjoyed getting to know. I had already met the girl she was referring to and thought to myself, "She dresses immodestly". I struggled to think highly of this young lady (though my friend, who I think highly of, was encouraged by her) because of my perception of how this young woman dressed.

When we see immodesty in others, it’s easy to judge them or jump to conclusions about them based on their clothing. But Jesus said that we are never to judge, but rather check our own heart motives before helping each other (Matthew 7:1-5). If we aren’t to judge or devalue others because of how they dress, what are we to do? We see the answer in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, where it says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” God doesn’t want us to “tear each other down” in any way, but rather, build each other up in every way that we can.

Think about it as if we are each building the sand castle of our lives. We will make mistakes along the way and will need to do some rebuilding. But we should never tear down each others' castles (or lives). Rather, we should help with the building and rebuilding as we work together. What might this look like in the area of modesty? Here are some ideas:

• Seek to comment on modest outfits instead of immodest ones. 
• Go shopping with friends who share your modesty convictions, or if they don't, be willing to express your convictions with grace.  
• Share modesty style tips and even outfits!
• Talk about modesty without looking down on or comparing to others. 
• Study God's perspective of modesty from Scripture together.
• If you have a close relationship, gently and lovingly express cautions or concerns regarding certain outfits. 
• Talk about your personal life lessons or stories that you've experienced in regards to modesty (I love to do this!). 
• Focus on heart issues of modesty instead of hemlines (or necklines, or sleeve lengths, or whatever!), remembering that what is on the outside is a reflection of the heart.

We all need encouragement. It’s not easy to pursue modesty alone (though we may need to at times!). Whenever we can, we should seek opportunities to build each other up in this area and help each other. Just as Paul urged the Thessalonians to walk in God, pursuing sanctification and fleeing sexual immorality (and remember, immodesty can lead to this, in ourselves and others), so I urge you to do the same and also to urge each other to do so.

“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” 

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3

We're in this together! Modesty is such a beautiful pursuit. Let's pursue it side by side, building into each other's lives with love, grace, and encouragement.

I hope that by God's grace I have been able to encourage you in modesty these past couple months. This is such a huge topic and I’ve only scratched the surface. But I pray God has been working in your heart as we've look at what His Word says about how we dress. We are nearing the end of the modesty series! Be watching for a couple more posts on the blog as well as the August email on modesty!

Blessings,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory! 

Photo Credit: Leanna B.

The Beauty of Older Women

We've been looking at lot at the topic of modesty in recent weeks. One of the sweetest aspects of modesty is that it showcases the inner beauty of the heart, which is most precious to God (1 Peter 3:4). I asked my friend Levi to reflect on why he thinks older women are beautiful and his answer reveals the significance of inner beauty. I hope you enjoy reading his thoughts!

Ever since I can remember, I have not seen beauty in clear skin, height, eye color, or hair color. Those things are nice, of course, but I have seen beauty in something else entirely. And I have seen that something in one broad group of women in particular: older Christian women. When I look at one of these dear sisters in the faith, I don’t see their wrinkles. I don’t see their scars from past surgeries. I don’t see their gray hair. And I definitely don’t notice the minute details of their nails or veins. I don’t even consider whether their clothes are beautiful. All I notice is that smile, and the matching twinkling eyes, and I see beauty. True, pure, godly beauty. Then my eyes start to notice the gray hair, the wrinkles, the clothes... And it all blends into the smile... to be beautiful. And that is why wrinkles and gray hair are endearing to me. Because of the smile that often follows.

Bio: My name is Levi. I'm a writer, musician, reader, teen, talker, and a doodling artist. I blog about living the Christian Faith and some things you could call self-improvement at levipierpont.wordpress.com.

You are God's Temple

Have you ever thought about how beautiful and ordered (or organized) the tabernacle and temple of God would have been? They would have been more perfect than the most perfect interior or exterior design we see today. Check out these passages for some of the descriptions and commands Scripture gives us about God's earthly home: Exodus 25-21, 2 Chronicles 3-5, and 1 Kings 6-7. From the perfect measurements to materials like gold, silver, bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, fine linen, oil, spices, incense, onyx stones, we see God's care and concern for order and beauty in His temple and tabernacle.

You are God's Temple

There is no longer a temple today. So do you know what the temple is now? It is the people of God. We are God's temple and He lives within us. If God cared so much about beautifying and ordering His temple, wouldn't He also care about the temple of His people? In fact, we know the answer! Paul wrote this to the Corinthians:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, 
whom you have from God? You are not your own, 
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We are to honor God with our bodies because our bodies are His house! He is living within us and thus cares about our bodies. Just as God's temple was beautiful and ordered, so should our dress be beautiful and ordered.

Dress for Beauty

When we get dressed each morning, we should dress for beauty. God cares about beauty and He desires that we make ourselves beautiful. After all, He is the creator and originator of beauty (Psalm 27:4, Psalm 50:2)! But notice that this pursuit of beauty isn't all-consuming or to the extreme.

If you look at God's temple, you see good taste and valuable materials, not an overdone, cheap appearance. A truly beautiful young lady has good taste in her colors, hair, make-up, etc. and doesn't flaunt herself or her body, but shows her value in her appearance. We shouldn't cheapen ourselves. God is living in us and we are valuable to Him:

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, 

I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

~ Isaiah 43:3-4

Dress for Order

Also like the temple of God, we need to dress with order and "that which is proper":

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel…

with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 

~ 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Respectable and proper…that sounds rather archaic and old-fashioned, doesn't it? (For the record, there's nothing wrong with old-fashioned things!) Think about it as dressing appropriately. You wouldn't wear dirty jeans to a wedding or your swim suit to a funeral. You would wear things appropriate to the occasion. Each day when we get dressed, we should think about what would be appropriate for what we are going to be doing that day.

Another aspect of this order is modesty. To be respectable and proper is to be decent or presentable, according to the dictionary. There was nothing in or around God's temple that was indecent or unpresentable. Everything was pure, lovely, and honorable. It should be the same with us! We should dress with order and dignity, remembering that we are representing our God, who is inside of us.

Closing Thoughts

God's temple and tabernacle must have been glorious to behold, because they reflected His glory, beauty, and order. As God's temples ourselves, let's reflect His beauty and order in our own lives by the way we dress. We have such a gift to be called to be God's temple. Let's delight in it and take it seriously.

Blessings,
Christina

P.S. The picture above is of a replica of the tabernacle that my family and I were privileged to visit a few years ago. I share it just to give a glimpse of what the tabernacle might have looked like. But, my friends, the real thing would have been so far more beautiful and glorious that this!

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

True Beauty

Enjoy this never before released video from one of the first Matters of Her Heart meetings about true beauty! https://vimeo.com/131562868

Your Smile

There is one thing that makes every single one of you beautiful. It’s your smile! Even if you don’t think you have a perfect smile, it really is the prettiest feature of your face because it makes you light up! It transforms you and radiates your joy and happiness from within.

I’ve met many people over the years (including many of you!) and realized that a smile makes an incredible difference in a person's face. People who don’t smile or have their face in a constant sour expression are…well….ugly. I remember watching a movie with a bitter, feministic woman as the main character. She always had a sour, proud expression on her face and I didn't think she was very pretty. But when she was interviewed in the special features of the movie, she was smiling as she talked and she looked so beautiful. What a change! She looked like a different woman! 

When we smile, there is a beauty that shines out from within, for our joy comes from the Lord and we get to share it in our faces. As daughters of the King, our faces shine with His radiance and it is no more obvious than in our smiles: “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:5). We have no shame in Christ, but only the radiance of lives that reflect the beauty of God. As we are looking to Him and His face is shining upon us (Numbers 6:24-26) and His light is shining in us (2 Corinthians 4:6), our physical faces and smiles can radiate His light and beauty.

I think a smile is one of the most beautiful things God created! I love it when I see someone's eyes light up and crinkle in the corners, dimples or smile lines pop out of their cheeks, lips turn upward, teeth burst through, and delight spread across their face. It's a wonderful thing to be able to smile and express the joy of the Lord! And it's contagious!

Did you know that dressing modestly draws attention to our smiles? When we are dressed in a way that takes the focus off of our bodies and points upward, toward our faces, people will be drawn to our smiles. Let's draw attention to our faces by the way we dress, revealing the light which is inside of us. Then we can smile with the joy of the Lord and let Jesus’ light shine through us onto everyone we meet!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Blessings,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory