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!

A Breath or Two

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God how to love each other.

-1 Thessalonians 4:9

Another monthly update!

I don't know about other colleges, but after Thanksgiving break Siena is drained.

Despite that, Siena College kids have a ton of Good stuff going on!

We recently partook in Campus Sustainability Day, a student-run event where environmental government branches and eco-friendly companies came to preach the idea of being sustainable! It was a huge hit. TOMS shoes set up a booth, and we had a good amount of kids (including those from Real Life Fellowship--thanks guys!) come to visit. Getting the word out there about TOMS, and about being ethical in general, was incredible.

We also recently indulged and went out to Buca di Beppos along with RPI students from Real Life Fellowship (Campus Crusade Bible studies).

Most importantly, Christ has been affecting our hearts. Through engaging in media and mediums such as "when God writes your love story," "Irresistible Revolution," "The Shack," as well as other Christian literature; through listening to Christian bands such as Switchfoot, Deas Vail, Relient K, Future of Forestry, and Jason Waller (if you couldn't tell from the titles of the blogs!); as well as studying the ethics of secular TV shows such as "glee;" Siena Christians have been changed. Christ recently has put it on our hearts to start to change our lives completely. We now ask ourselves the reason for us being at school. Some of us have found that maybe Christ does not want us here, but elsewhere in the world, making a difference in some other way. We have also taken the time to start evaluating our Bible study. More to come of that later....

What we took part in over Thanksgiving break!

-Prepared lunches at the Capital City Rescue Mission

-Gathered for fellowship around the capital district

-Regrouping in the Word

-Equinox Trips

-Feeding the hungry in Massachusetts

-Spending time with family (blood related, or Blood related)

-And of course...keeping one another in prayer!

Unto the upright, there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

-Psalm 112:4

Everyone Did What Was Right In Their Eyes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

-James 1:27

It is absolutely fascinating to see how different people are raised. One most definitely gets to see that in college.

Whether you were brought up in a Christian home or not, ethics, either the teaching of or the learning of, becomes a huge aspect of our childhood to early adulthood. It seems as if every family, Christian or not, seem to focus on a select group of ethics. The children, thus, become focused on those ethics for at least part of their lives if not all of their lives. It is important for us, as Christians, to realize that non-Christians or other groups of Christians may be living a more godly life than we are. Sometimes we get caught up in our society, and the Christian society that has formed in the US, and we stop getting caught up in how Christ tells us to live.

It's great to support Christian artists by buying a band's new CD, or a clothing company's new Christian t-shirt--there is no doubt about that. However, does Christ tell us to live a life keeping up with pop-Christian culture, or does He tell us to give all that we have to the poor? Why are we so quick to judge the non-Christian's motives for working a day in a soup kitchen, when we spend the whole day in our room bumming about and rocking out to the new Above the Golden State CD? Why do we speculate as to why the atheist student volunteers to wake up at seven on a Saturday morning to bring inner-city children to breakfast at the cafeteria, when we're sitting there eating waffles and watching ESPN? Let's face it, we may know the Truth, we may even speak the Truth, but do we live the Truth? To the fullest? At all?

Reading Christ's Word and understanding Christ's word is just part of it. Your faith truly develops when you love Christ with your whole heart by listening and doing whatever He leads you to do. It's time to readjust our mindsets, to be truly focused on Him.

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

-Luke 14:33

Light

God once said, "Let the light shine out of the darkness!" This is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.

-2 Corinthians 4:6

"I'll watch the glint in my eye

Shine off the spring in my step

And could be blinding depending on the amount of you that I reflect"

-Relient K, Forget and Not Slow Down

Wow. So powerful. Have you ever had Christ shine through you so brightly that It was blinding?

Something to pray about.

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

-Psalm 37:6

Gaze Into Your Eyes

When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord's angel had told him to do. Joseph took Mary as his wife, but he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to the son. And Joseph named him Jesus.

-Matthew 1:24-25

My new NCV devotional got me thinking.

So recently I've been against myself buying a devotional--why would we need one if Christ supplied us with the Bible?! It is just money we can give to someone who needs it. However, as I was going through Barnes and Noble today (Christmas shopping), I came across this devotional. Something about it was really attractive (hmm...Christ possibly?). So I bought it.

I started with the Monday devotional--my bad, but from tonight's prayer, it was God's Plan.

What if we (all of God's children) said yes to Christ for the whole day? Yes to Christ, no to Satan, for absolutely everything. Oh, how the world would differ! We would give up our riches, and all come together as a family. Once the day was over, we would all live our lives, "grow our roots," starting in a different location. That one change in our lives would change a lot of things afterwards, at least for a while.

Then I got praying about myself in that situation. What if I said yes to Christ about absolutely everything for one day? For the rest of my life? What if I got a group of friends together, and the whole day we said yes to Him in all ways, and no to any Distractions. What could that one day do? Where would your roots start to grow? How could that one change, change the whole world?

As obedient children,

we do not conform to the evil desires

you had when you lived in ignorance.

-1 Peter 1:14

and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey to Christ.

-2 Corinthians 10:5

Excuses

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults; and with my song I give thanks to him.

-Psalm 28:7

Yesterday I was looking for my keys at my house so that I may go to class. Not only did I lose my college keychain a couple of days ago,--with my keys to the house, my dorm, my mailbox, my car, and my CPR pack--I now lost the spare key for my car. Walking around looking for my spare key, I knew that God would help me find it, and whether or not I found it would be part of His plan. He knows where He wants me and when.

I finally realized that if I put all of my trust in Him, and don't doubt Him, He will greatly reward me. In the perfect moment, Christ lead me to my keys, not the spare one, however, but the full set (my college lanyard), those that I thought I possibly lost at school. What a blessing!

And now, O Lord GOD, you are God,

and your words are true,

and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

-2 Samuel 7:28

He is that Good. He will always be that Good, no matter what. Putting our trust in Him may seem like a difficult task in the beginning, because most people think of it as losing more control. However, giving Him the control , and fully trusting in Him is the only way to truly live! You want to be free and live a life of goodness and happiness? Live the life that Christ has blessed you with! True freedom and righteousness comes from Him alone. It is very liberating to give Him everything!

May we all trust in Him, and His beautifully scripted plans for our lives!

Many are the woe's of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds those who trust in him.

-Psalm 32:10

The Great Physician

For just as the sufferings of Christ over flow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

-2 Corinthians 1:5

For tomatoes, manure is the best fertilizer. Foul, decayed waste is the best way to produce the best fruits. So if you find yourself in a bad situation, where your atmosphere is seemingly “dead,” that means that God planted you there as the seed. The fruits of your labors will be plentiful in such a situation if you use God’s Word to quench your soul.

-paraphrase of Pastor Ed Marcelle’s Sermon from Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sometimes we get discouraged in life. We feel alone, abandoned, lost, or misguided. However, as Pastor Ed Marcelle has reminded us, sometimes the most "dead" atmosphere is where Christ wants you, as a seed--growing in Him and sharing in your faith daily. Christ has you where you are today, at this very moment for a reason. Not saying that He may want you to prepare to change location in the future, but you are where you are because it is His Idea. Instead of living in the future, we must live everyday in the present. We are called to bring Christ's Kingdom here. For Christ dwells in all of us! We must be the temple for Christ; loving Him in fellowship, ministry, missions, prayer, faith, mercy, love, kindness, gentleness, goodness, purity, etc.

Whatever Christ has called you to today, I pray that you seek after that--that His plan for you right now becomes how you life the life that He created!

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones to hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

-Mark 4:20

Over It

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

-Philippians 4:6

So funny story...

The RPI and Siena Bible studies went out the other night for some great Italian food at a local, family-style restaurant. On our way back, however, we realized that it was past 9 p.m.--the time where Campus Safety checks all the Siena IDs of every person in every car. As Miss Kymberly Grove (of Wheaton College, IL) was with us, sheer panic took over once we realized we had "outsiders" in the car. Dave, Joe, and I were trying to figure out how to hide Kym under the backseat (for she is quite tiny!). As we worked at this (while driving back to school, mind you) Joe asked me to pray for the situation. We took a couple moments to pray for God's guidance. One part of the prayer was that no matter what situation is thrown in our path, that we may follow Him, and Him alone.

After we finished praying, we decided to not deceive our Public Safety officers, and we decided to that we were just going to go register Kym as a guest instead (and thus not lie!!). Upon arriving at check in, Dave, Joe, and I whipped out our Saint Cards. The cop viewed them, and then told us to continue on in. We all got so excited! We chose to respect Christ, and the one time that Public Safety didn't check every single person's ID was when we prayed that we may never go against Him. It was incredible to see prayer really work, in one event, instantaneously.

After we all left the car, we went our separate ways, and Kym went home. Now, this may be just one example, but there has been several times this year, in my life alone, that Christ has rewarded His people for just having a pure heart and wanting to follow after Him. There have been events that looked overwhelming, with no way out, but Christ's grace has always been there. The power of His Love, and prayer in incredible. I encourage us all to change our hearts and mindset through prayer. He can truly work in all things.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

-Luke 22:39-43

If You Believe Me

I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 3:14

"Keep your head up...and by that I mean look to God."

-Matt MaLossi as messenger, Christ as Voice

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

-Colossians 3:1

Tell Me

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

-Romans 8:35

A Love Poem:

Stop trying to prove your love to me.

I love you anyway.

I called you when you were a sinner.

I call you now that you remain one.

Do not submit to Satan,

But to the Lord, God, who Loves you with all of His Being.

For I know your heart,

And I love you anyway.

Give Me your heart,

And I will give you the desires of My Heart.

Be still in Me,

and I will show you The Way.

No matter what you do,

I will love you anyway.

I weep for you,

And desire you.

My love knows no bounds.

My passion for you reaches farther than My hands that stretch from the east to the west.

I created your heart, knowing that you will deny me.

But I love you anyway.

I suffered for your loss.

I died for My beloved children.

I made you in My Image.

Understanding that you will reject Me, I crafted you perfectly, despite.

For I love you, every way.

And I will never stop loving you, in any way.

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

-Colossians 2:2

Beautiful

"Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

-Mark 1:17, 18

When Christ gives us direction, we must follow Him. Now when we feel like it, but when He calls us.

My challenge to you is to follow Him with your whole being. If He calls you, drop whatever you're doing, and follow Him. Just as the apostles were working in what they thought were to be their life long professions, Christ literally called them to follow Him and become fishers of another kind. They immediately dropped their nets, and followed Him.

It is about time that we surpass those plans that we have for ourselves. Those plans that our families, friends, co-workers, professors, etc. have for us, and we follow His Plan. Not that we plan to follow His Plan, but that we do so right now.

What He wants us to do might not be something we ever thought He would call us to. Just as fishermen, tax collectors, physicians, and tent collectors never thought that Christ would call them to be apostles and missionaries. We must be still, wait, listen, and obey to His most beautiful voice, His sweet ideals, and luscious plans.

Do not be discouraged. He will lead us in the right direction. All we need is faith.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

O Come Let Us Adore Him

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He may bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

-1 Peter 3:18

Christ died for Christians and non-Christians.

For women and for men.

For friends and for enemies.

For scholars and for athletes.

For dreamers and for thinkers.

For the wise and for the weak.

For the lost and the found.

For missionaries and musicians.

For the givers and the receivers.

For the listeners and the speakers.

He came for all of us to live together. As one.

Under Him, and Him alone.

For Him, and Him alone.

To love with no conditions.

To seek without ceasing.

To live without fear.

To be strong when we are weak.

We cannot do this without everyone.

It's easy when you're in a Christian community,

To remember to love one another in the community.

What about all of God's children?

All the believers, non-believers, women, men,

friends, enemies, scholars, athletes,

dreamers, thinkers, wise, weak,

lost, found, missionaries, musicians,

givers, receivers, listeners, and speakers?

What about everyone else?

Whom are you going to love today?

Whomever Christ calls you to?

Those who believe what you believe?

Those who love you?

How do you create your conditions in which to love someone?

Christ loves with no bounds.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all...

-2 Corinthians 5:14