By Your Side

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

-John 3:17

A Letter From Caroline Castano:

Christ has been filling my heart with so much happiness. I was able to talk about Christ for 2 hours with two of my friends from high school when we got together. All we talked about was God. It was such a blessing to be able to witness to how each other acted. To see how God prepared my words, heart and confidence for that one moment.

This was completely unexpected. One friend wants to learn more and believes in God. The other declares herself as an atheist but does listen. Although she did make jokes about Christ to, lighten the topic, which I could have acted better about. God did such great work! To see God touch others and to be able to disprove all of their "strong" arguments, with love and kindess, of course. Although, I must say God has constantly been teaching in the Gospel (The sword of Scripture, if you will).

My family has also shown a suprising interest toward learning more about God. My mom went read/skimmed, "When God writes your love story.". She is always asking me questions and I´m so proud on how she does not push me away or get irritated by my love for God. Once when I was upset she wanted to talk more about what was upsetting me and my response was that "I had God" and that "I´ll be alright". She asked me, "what about the family?". In that moment I showed my mom that I love God more. That was a strong moment when we both realized how powerful God is.

I realized how, even though I love my family, he really means more to me and my mom.

I believe she was able to see how personal God can be.

My sister has been asking me questions about religion and God. She is at a very rebellious stage, she´s 16, and says that I am pushing Jesus into her life. This is a dangerous but important statment. This means that she is hearing about Jesus and she is not comfortable with it. Which means she notices the changes of the dynamics of the family. A Christian is now her sister and I know she feels divided from me but she is not as hateful towards "Jesus things" if taken in small steps. Patience is so important and I´m so glad that God supplies us with all we need in order to do His work and to live in Him. Now I am not always living in Him but that is what I, and every Christian truly strives for. My dad and grandma are more difficult. My grandmother does not see the difference between a faith in Jesus and between the Church or religion. I think my dad is in the same boat.

So that is where we are at. Together I´m hoping I can help share the difference to them by action and words. Pray that God unblinds the blinded especially our loved ones. God is in every breath, in love and in kindness. Pray to Him, He waits for your relationship! He loves you and wants you to filled in the Holy Spirit where you will be safe from the evil in the world. This is not a cleared path paved for you mostly because life isn´t easy for anyone. Life is a mountain that you can climb either with the Lord or alone. He will harnest you, and will recycle your weights for ballons. Thank you God for Jesus Christ!

In Christ,
Caroline

For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother in law, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

-Matthew 10:35-37

How Deep is That River

"Is not my house right with God? Has He not made me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

-2 Samuel 23:5

Inspired by my NCV devo (which is inspired by Jesus!):

Many of us acknowledge the fact that anyone can choose the free gift of salvation.

But after we are saved, how do we limit God's grace in our life?

Why when we have chosen to receive the best gift, do we reject other parts of it later?

How will you pray about accepting all of God's wonderful treasures for you?

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!"

-Psalm 70:4

Go Together

What does being Blood related mean?

We love one another, no matter what.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth

for a sincere brotherly love,

love one another earnestly, from a pure heart,

1 Peter 1:22

We would die for one another.

Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

We encourage one another in everything we do.

And let us consider how to stir up one another

to love and good works

Hebrews 10:24

We give up whatever we have,

so that our brothers may have the same.

All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own,

but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32

We suffer for Him together.

If one part suffers,

every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored,

every part rejoices with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26

We always have each other's back.

and all ate the same spiritual food,

and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them,

and the Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:3-4

We always go out of our way to support one another.

But encourage one another daily...

Hebrews 3:13

We guide one another in His Light.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness,

and walks in darkness,

and does not know where he is going because

the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:11

This perfect kind of love creates an unbreakable bond.

One that lasts for eternity, created by an eternal Being.

And all over these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14

Through the Blood of Love Himself.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

Romas 5:8

My Favorite Things

nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring'

-Acts 17:25-28

Where do we find our home?

In our country? In our ancestors' country? In our town? In our school?

We should find our home in Christ, and Christ alone.

He is where our pride, our hope, our joy should lie. We tend to keep track of "our country's" scores, news updates, etc. How often do we keep track of all the wins for Christ? How often do we run to our computers to check "the score" of how many people heard the Word today? How many people send others text messages of the talents and skills of the person serving in the soup kitchen? So many students have flags of their "home country" in their dorms, but how many have crosses just as big and prominent in their rooms?

Where is our focus?

If someone were to ask you where your true home is, what would you say?

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

-John 14:23

Fireflies

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.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Something to ponder:

What are the dangers of saying "No" to Christ?

This is something that I have most recently been stuck on. I feel that I haven't been saying "Yes!" to Christ enough. There's a lack of service, kindness, and direction, even at the very beginning of my Christmas break (which started Dec 23 [today]). Satan got to me and made me feel as if Christ was so far away. I then remembered that sweet poem, Footprints in the Sand. Christ will never be far from us. In fact, He is always right by our side.

For you, what are the dangers of saying "No"? How can we encourage one another to get closer to Christ, and say "Yes!" to Him with absolutely everything we have?

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8

After The Music Stops

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

-Psalm 145:7

Zaas After Party!

//Sparkling Cider//

As finals may stress us out, we must remind ourselves to find the joy in everything. Hard times are opportunities for all of us to come together and worship Him through the journey, and not to just rejoice and be anxious about the Goodness and glory to come.

How will you celebrate Christ today?

I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.

-Jeremiah 31:4

My Righteous Deeds

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

-1 John 1:7

We do not have what it takes without our brothers and sisters; without Christ, Who dwells in each and every one of us.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness,

and walks in darkness,

and does not know where he is going,

because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

-1 John 2:11

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

Lost at Sea

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

-Proverbs 31:25-29

"Joyce, I want to get married. Why am I taking chemistry?"

The above thought-treasure revealed itself the other night at about 2:30 am, while I was working on a very tedious chemistry lab. Now, there is no connection between chemistry and marriage, nor do I not like chemistry because I think that I'm supposed to be wed by now. Fact is, that God has me here for a very specific reason. The point to my statement is that I'm starting to catch glimpses of all these beautiful things God has for my future. Why am I where I am right now?

This can only be answered in bits and pieces. God has this situation under control, and as much as I try and seek out the answers, I will never understand fully as to why I am where I am. All that I know is that my focus has become skewed.

Just as the Thessalonians started to become idle, for they knew of the coming of Christ in the future, I started to become idle (distracted and disgruntled) with my studies here at Siena. With seminary, marriage, and missions to come, my excitement about the future has put this haze in front of me, in which I cannot see anything that's before me. Right now I need to focus on the task at hand. For God gives only beautiful gifts. As amazing as missions, marriage, or seminary might be, whatever He has planned for me right now is just as beautiful.

Brothers and sisters, I challenge all of us to not get distracted by the good things to come, but to focus on the good things that are in the present. May we never forget to live in the now, as Christ has provided us more than enough blessings for right now. We must live out His Plan, wherever we are.

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

-1 Thessalonians 4:14

When I Think About the Lord

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Romans 15:13

“Guess who was up til 3:53 writing my paper?

I just cranked it out…

I was running on Mountain Dew and the Holy Spirit.”

-Dave C

How many of us can actually say that we rely on the Holy Spirit on the daily? How many of us can actually say that we use Him to help us with the small things, such as a paper? How many of us actually fully understand what it means to rely on His Spirit?

I encourage us all to start "running on...the Holy Spirit," rather than just relying on Him for little things here and there. He needs to be our sole means for every action and thought that we may have.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

-Jude 1:20

All My Heart

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

-Deuteronomy 6:5

So recently, a couple of my friends and I have been talking about "physical boundaries" in romantic relationships. Through various discussions I've come to a conclusion. God is a God of yes, not of no. God is not a God of boundaries, in fact He's a God of no bounds.

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome,

-1 John 5:3

These "boundaries" that we have fabricated (i.e. We can kiss, but no making out. Or, we can do anything, as long as it's not "sex") through reading the gospels and Leviticus, so on and so forth, are created so that as Christians, we can approach them without any guilt. Going as far as we can before we "fall off the cliff," so to speak.

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD

your God ask of you but to fear

the LORD your God,

to walk in all his ways,

to love him, to serve the LORD your God

with all your heart and with all your soul,

-Deuteronomy 10:12

I say let there be no boundaries. Have no boundaries in loving Christ, and serving Him through your partner. Have Christ be the complete focus of your relationship. You are in this relationship with the only person on Earth that you have found to be the most Christ-like. If you create these boundaries that make you want to approach them more and more, as you get closer spiritually and emotionally to your partner, what kind of respect and love are you using towards Christ---who dwells in your partner?

This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son

into the world that we might live through him.

-1 John 4:9

This is what I'm not saying: to be physical and ignore Christ's commands. No one should be doing this. I'm saying, that if you must set a physical boundary in the relationship, you might be going into the relationship at the wrong angle. Your goal should be to glorify Christ with your purity. To love Him through your partner, by not tainting or destroying the temple that holds His Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that your body is a temple

of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,

whom you have received from God?

You are not your own;

-1 Corinthians 6:19

Everyone is convicted about certain things they will or will not be partaking in during the relationship, but where's the focus? What things should you be doing in the relationship? You should be serving and loving Christ, with no bounds. No boundaries. Zero. Get rid of anything in the relationship if they cause you to create boundaries on how much you can be loving Christ during the relationship. If putting a boundary on/around what you should be doing physically in a relationship is causing you to create boundaries on how much you can love Him, then get rid of being physical in a relationship. Glorify Him with everything that you have. That should be our focus.

I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

-2 Corinthians 7:4

Silent Night

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

-1 Peter 4:10-11

I recently went for coffee with my friend from "back home," and he spoke to me about how music effects him so much. Within this conversation we discussed different convictions Christians have with music. The conversation was quite lovely.

He then started talking about different Christian bands that have truly touched his heart. The band O Sleeper wrote a song that has been pretty powerful in his life due to one line that gets repeated in the chorus of the song:

"If you could see me,

you'd see it's by my grace

that you're still breathing."

Now, this is a song written in such a way that in the main verses Satan is talking about what the purpose of his existence is, and how he whispers sweet nothings to our innocent ears. He talks about how much hate he has for the Son, so on and so forth. The chorus is Christ talking to Satan about what he is saying. Christ reminds Satan that it is only by His grace, His power, that Satan even exists.

For my friend, this is so powerful. We have to be reminded that sin, and Satan himself, is nothing in comparison to Christ. Christ is so powerful, that He can literally get rid of Satan any time He so desires. He controls Satan's life (breath). Satan may choose to refuse Christ, but Christ has given Satan life, so that he may love one another, and honor Him.

It is a good reminder that with Christ, all things can be done. He can even diminish Satan's soft spoken words in our lives, if we ask Him to. He is that powerful. Don't let Satan try and confuse you, convincing you that he has all the power, all the strength. With Christ in our lives, Satan is far weaker than we might have imagined.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

-Romans 16:20

Satisfy

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

-Luke 5:5-11

God does more than satisfy us. There is no reason to doubt Him, especially when you know that He wants something done. Not only will He provide the minimum, but He will go above and beyond our needs. He's Greater than anything or anyone that we could ever imagine.

Thank God!