Screwtape and Staying Strong - Day 12

    I hope all of you had a wonderful and joyous Christmas celebration! :) For Christmas this year, I received a couple of C. S. Lewis' most renowned works. Among them was the popular book The Screwtape Letters. Although I had heard of this book many times before, I had no idea what it was about. By just looking at the title, I thought it may have been an exciting adventure novel like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Prince Caspian. Even though it is written quite creatively, this book is far from mere fantasy. This particular work examines the mind and motives of Satan and his demonic servants. 

    Throughout the book, a demon called "Screwtape" is tutoring his nephew "Wormwood" in the art of temptation, and showing him crafty methods of pulling people away from "The Enemy" (God). Although this novel is just a story, it provides great insight into the habits of the dark spiritual world. In one of his letters to the trainee Wormwood, Screwtape shares a secret: how humans can challenge and overcome the efforts of demons.

"Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." - Screwtape

    In other words, the cause of the demonic world can be overthrown when a person continues to do God's will even when it seems God has forsaken Him. Even though the above quote does not come from the Bible, it promotes the very thing that God commands us to do in Galatians 6: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
    Sometimes, it feels as if God has left us. There are times when we feel all alone in this world; forsaken, ignored, and unloved. However, the Lord promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. What we feel does not determine what is true. Although we may feel that God is not with us, we can rely on the truth that adamantly promises He is near (Exodus 33:14, Hebrews 13:5). Although we may feel ignored, we know that if we only draw near to God, He will draw near to us in return (James 4:8, Psalm 73:28). He is only one prayer away. Although we may feel unloved, we know that God loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. He sacrified His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross so that we - unworthy and selfish people - may spend eternity with Him (John 3:16). 
    In order to resist the devil, we need to stay strong when our emotions tell us that God is not near. When we, as Screwtape said, "look round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys", we are overcoming those who are bringing us low. In times of severe emotion or sadness, remember that the best way to ward of these evils is to hold fast to the truths in God's Word. Pray for the strength to stay strong even in moments of hardship. God bless you, my dear reader!

Dissecting a Hymn - Day 11

    In a culture surrounded with technology and modern innovations, the ancient past can be easily forgotten. In fact, as America leads the modern age, it can be easy to glance at the early centuries as quaint, rudimentary, and unsophisticated. However, previous decades marked eras of tremendous revivals and reformations. Some of the most beautiful hymns were composed hundreds of years ago.
    Lately, I have been listening to a few of the old hymns. There is so much richness in the lyrics - almost like a sermon put to music. :) Since the culture has embraced the contemporary style of worship, several churches have classified hymns as "old fashioned" or "out dated." Although I personally prefer to sing the modern worship songs, I believe that hymns should not be ushered out of church. They deserve to be sung and meditated upon. Take the fourth verse of the classic hymn "In Christ Alone":

"No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry, to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand. 'Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Think about the meaning of these words for a moment.

No guilt in life: In Christ Jesus, we are forgiven all of our sins. Although we will daily fail Him, we can be assured that we have forgiveness when we truly ask for it. What a promise!

No fear in death: Death is not the end. We do not need to fear facing an early death (or death at all for that matter) because we can be assured of our salvation. Heaven and an everlasting relationship with God is in our future, so we have nothing to fear.

This is the power of Christ in me: Without Christ, neither of these things are relevant. Only the powerfulness and holiness of God makes these things possible. Only though Him can one face life without guilt or fear.

From life's first cry, to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny: We can praise the Lord for having our future under control. This particular line acknowledges God's sovereignty over our lives. We need to remember that He is One on the throne. He is master and commander of our lives, and decides our destiny. 

No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand: If we cling close to the Lord, He will never let us go. We can be assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No earthly or Satanic power can compare with the power of Jesus Christ.

'Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand: When our time has come to leave this world - whether through the rapture or through death - we can be assured that we will be in Heaven. For the time being, we need to stand strong in the Lord and not waver in our faith. As another hymn wonderfully put it, "Onward, Christian soldiers!"

Take the time and dissect a verse from a hymn on your own. Pray to the Lord and thank Him for the truths you discover. Have a wonderful day, my dear reader. :)

Trust - Day 10

    In one mere hour, 2013 will arrive. It is hard to believe that 2012 is nearly a year of the past. Several significant events occurred these twelve months: the world survived the Mayan doomsday prediction and Mr. Harold Camping's embarrassing rapture prophecy. Greece's economy, along with Spain's and Portugal's, is experiencing major financial, political, and social crisis. Surrounding Islamic countries have been increasingly battering Israel's small territory with detrimental missiles. Recently, twenty-six precious lives were claimed at the hand of a suicidal gunman.The United States re-elected President Obama and are teetering on the edge of a potentially devastating fiscal cliff. Even tonight, several homosexual couples will be joining in unholy matrimony because their corrupt marriage licenses officially become valid at midnight.

     We cannot help but ask, "Where does a Christian find himself through all of this?" How can we possibly survive - or at least maintain sanity - through all of this seemingly uncontrollable chaos? 

     Not many days ago, I found myself contemplating these questions. Although I regret my actions now, I remember experiencing terrible fear and mistrust of the future. From the articles we read in the newspaper, to the tragic events announced from the news anchor, it is very evident that this world is quickly spiraling downward. It is inevitable - as the United States and ultimately the entire world becomes further hardened towards Jesus Christ and the Gospel, Christianity and Christians will become despised and outlawed. This frightened me, and still continues to stir concern inside of me.

     However, fear is not of the Lord. 

    That day as I sat wallowing in disdain, I realized how little I trusted the Lord. Yes, my future may be uncertain, but does that give me an excuse to buckle? No. If anything, it should strengthen me and build up my faith in Christ. 

     No matter how bad or uncertain things are, there is One who never changes and promises to never leave me nor forsake me. There is One far greater than I who holds the future in His hand. There is nothing that does not slip His eye. He observes all. He sees all. He has all under total control. Through this sinful world's miserable plunge into wickedness, Jesus Christ remains our stronghold.

     Giving my fear up to the Lord means putting my trusting Him thoroughly and completely. Slowly, the Lord has been replacing my ungodly fear with blessed assurance in Him. Reader, times will get tough and our faith needs to be stronger, bolder, and braver than ever. I ask you, are you ready to trust Christ with 2013? Pray to Him now, and ask for the strength and courage to face this year. Ask for a renewed spirit, and a freedom from fear. God is good, and never forget: He will ultimately triumph. 

1 Peter 5:6-11

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Standing for Truth - Day 9

   I am safely back on American soil! Although I have quite a plethora of wonderful memories, it has never felt more wonderful to be home. :) 

   Europe was truly the experience of a lifetime, both mentally and spiritually. As I was telling a few of my friends, Europe has a unique history that the United States does not have. Because it was established long before the United States was founded, they have a far greater amount of forefathers, past heroes, legendary battles, and so on. When the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, they were leaving England, therefore leaving behind a continent absolutely rich with history. Although America does have historical buildings and landmarks, they cannot be compared with the ancient structures of Germany and Austria.

   The oldest church building in America was built around 1520 by the Spanish settlers. However, the oldest church building in Europe was constructed in Rome circa 221 A.D.! Europe has an extensive history unlike any other culture in the world. As a result, our group was able to tour cathedrals and old buildings that had been built thousands of years before America was established. That was incredible!

   Our performances were very enjoyable! At our second performance, the director of the Vienna Boys Choir was in the audience, which would be the equivalent of a Julliard professor attending a concert. It was such an honor when we discovered he listened to mere students from California!! Amazing! When I upload pictures, I will include more details about our performances. :)

   Out of all my wonderful experiences, the most profound moment of the whole trip was the opportunity to witness to my dear Mormon friends. Going into the trip, I knew that I would be spending large amounts of time with these ladies, and prayed for the courage and strength to share my faith with them. I felt so inadequate, but I knew that the Lord had purposely placed me with them. My "key" verse for the trip came from 2 Corinthians:


"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

   That was truly the cry of my heart! And believe me, I have never felt such blessed assurance than when I am fully trusting in Christ.
   Then, my opportunity came two nights before we left. By the grace of God, my four friends and I were able to talk seriously about the concepts of Christianity and Mormonism. For probably an hour, they stayed in my room, asking questions and debating numerous topics with me.

   As a people-pleaser, I detest stepping on other people's toes. At all costs, I avoid conflict and pursue peace. However, I am learning that when it comes to the things of the Lord, we cannot be afraid to stand alone. That is what I did that night - stood alone for the sake of the gospel. Although I was alone, I had never felt such confidence because I knew Jesus was right there beside me. All I had to do was speak truth, and He fought the battle for me. He is worthy to be praised!!
   I challenge you to ask yourself, "When push comes to shove, do I choose Christ or others? Am I a people-pleaser or a Christ-plesaser?" Ultimately, we will all fail in this area sometime or another. Pray and ask the Lord for strength, for He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. Choose Christ, and have the courage to stand alone.




"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6


"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." - Joshua 1:5

Off to Europe I Go!

   At 2:30 this afternoon, the plane carrying me and my rather large orchestra group will peel off the runway headed toward Frankfurt, Germany. After about 11.5 hours, we will land in Frankfurt then catch another plane to finish our journey in Munich. From there, will we drive to Salzburg, Vienna and crash for the night! Then, our concert tour begins!
   I am not sure when I will see a computer next, but when I do, I will try to squeeze a blog post in and share with you my experiences. In the mean time, I would covet your prayers for the safety of our group. Please pray that our performances would be delightful to those who hear it, and that all of the concerts will run smoothly.
   In the meantime, its off to Europe I go!

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. - Psalm 121:8

Pray for Your Siblings - Day 8

At last, final exams are complete and our internet is cured of all its troubles. It had been broken for a few days, and last week we got it fixed! Thank you for your patience! Let the challenge resume. :) 

My beautiful sister. Isn't she pretty??

14 Things About Caroline

1. My family often jokes that she is "our actress". Although she may not show it in public, she displays around five thousand different facial expressions a day. 

2. She is a very natural athlete - horseback riding, swimming, tennis, ballet, and many other sports come very naturally to her. 

3. She can put a smile on your face, even when in your dullest mood. Essentially, she could make watching paint dry hilarious. 

4. She is a dedicated Little House on the Prairie fan. 

5. She is definitely not a breakfast-food person. If she had to eat Mexican food for the rest of her life she would be one happy camper. 

6. She is a very faithful friend. 

7. She is one of those neat people who can have a great conversation about virtually anything.

8. She offers supportive encouragement when you need it. 

9. She has the strongest competitive streak in our family. 

10. One of her great loves, is horses. Not only is she completely natural in the saddle, but she continually seeks to improve her skill in this area. 

11. She has enormous energy and such a passion for life. 

12. She loves her family very deeply. 

13. She has a strong work ethic and isn't afraid of a challenge...in fact, she lives for challenges. :) 

14. The joy of the Lord radiates through her. She keeps our family going a million miles an hour, and makes every step of the way absolutely wonderful. 

I love you, Carey :) Happy 14th birthday! Thank you for being a great sister and making each day full of life and laughter! 

See if you can list at least five things about each of your siblings. As you list each thing, ask the Lord to fill you with love for your brothers and sisters. Ask Him to give you His love, patience, and wisdom when spending time with them. Siblings add such beauty to life. Cherish them, and never let them go! 

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." -1 John 4:20

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

Pray for Your America - Day 7

   

   I apologize for posting a couple days late; our internet has been very flaky and we have had very limited access to it since Wednesday. Thankfully, one of our good friends from church helped us regain access to the world of media once again.

  Instead of assigning you a topic to pray for, I would like you to please watch this video instead. After watching it, you won't need to be told what to ask the Lord for. The video speaks for itself...very clearly.

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”  - Deuteronomy 30: 15 - 20

Being Thankful - Day 6

   As I write this, I sit in a warm coffee shop, surrounded by delicious aromas and one of my favorite people. There is something wonderful about sipping a toffee nut latte while finishing academic reports. When someone grinds away at homework while at Starbucks, they are bound to be successful. :) 
   We are so fortunate to be citizens of the United States. We have so many luxuries available: warm clothing, wireless internet, delicious warm beverages, laptops, clean water, sports cars. The list could honestly go on forever. It make me wonder, how often do we count these blessings? 
   What if we woke up today, with only the things we thanked God for the day before? Would we still be comfortable, or would we find ourselves destitute? As Christians, exhibiting a spirit of thankfulness is crucial. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."As you go about your day, thank God for all He has graciously given you. Learn to be thankful and recognize His blessings - both the obvious and those that are hidden. 


"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" - Psalm 107:1


"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 5:20


"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" - Psalm 105:1


"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15

Be Strong! - Day 5

   In Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he commands them to "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong". Whenever I am told to picture something "strong", my mind tends to envision a valiant Spartan warrior. These courageous soldiers idolized strength, honor, and valor. They were taught to show no signs of pain whatsoever. If one did not possess these crucial traits, they were considered utterly worthless.
   When these fearless warriors would leave for battle, their wives exhortation, "come back with your shield, or on it", would be resounding in their souls. Death was far more respectable and desirable than surrender. Although these pagan peoples did not worship God, they possessed an immense amount of passion for their battles. As troops of the King of the universe, we should show huge enthusiasm for the cause of Christ. We should exhibit greater bravery and valiance than a mighty Spartan Warrior. With a Holy cause to pursue, should we not even be more ready to engage in battle when it is to come?
   It is not always easy to resist the pull of the world. Temptation, in all of its outward beauty blatantly parades itself before us, coaxing us to indulge in its "pleasures". Every day, Christians interact with people of the world. We form acquaintances, make friends, and move in the world's various social circles. Although there is nothing wrong with this, we need to constantly keep ourselves in check. We need to continuously undergo self-examinations to make sure that we are not conforming to the ways of this world. We should always be ready to draw our sword, and further the name of Christ.
   This is a lot more easily said than done. Sometimes we just want to be liked, we want to fit in, and we don't want to look dumb in front of others. Is that really too much to ask? Is it so very wrong to just want to be accepted?
   Since it concerns the eternal fate of our soul, yes, it really is too much to ask. As Christians, we cannot trade our identity for acceptance. In Revelation 3:16, the Lord declares "so then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." That is a pretty serious command! The Lord would rather us be against Him than serve Him with a mediocre attitude. Spartan Warriors were not allowed to be mediocre - they had to fight each battle with the utmost strength, courage, and dignity.  
   As followers of Christ, sitting on the sidelines is not an option. We have to choose. We cannot serve two masters. Are you for Christ or against Him? As you go about your day and come across your "prayer landmarks", remember who you are fighting for. Grab your weapon, and ask the Lord for renewed strength. Be strong! Ask Him to fill you with the courage to stand for Him. 


^"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 24:15


"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake oyu. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8

Our Command, His Delight - Day 4

   Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it." When I read that quote, it was 'amening' the thoughts of my heart! How often underestimate the love and grace that God has for us. People can often take His mercy and grace for granted, but that is a post for another day. ;) 
   Do you ever feel like your prayers just disappear in the wind? Or fade away with time? Sometimes we may assume that our prayers are insignificant, or that the Lord is far to occupied to hear them, or even care. 
   The truth is, the Lord not only commands us to pray, but He loves hearing our prayers! Prayer is a very intimate time of communication, and Jesus savors hearing our requests, thoughts, or thanksgiving. Bring every petition, request, heartache, question, thought, and feeling to Him. Make a habit of continually laying everything at the cross without restraint. We will never bore Him, tire Him, or get on His nerves if we constantly pray. Make a "prayer landmark". Every time you arrive at a stop sign, see your child, or touch your hair, decide at that moment to pray. Do not be afraid to seek the Lord about the things that may seem petty; come to Him knowing that His arms and ears are wide open. Continue to seek the Lord in every decision you make. Remember, our command to pray is His delight. Relish it. 



"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." - James 5:13-14


"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." - James 5:16


"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2