Sunday, February 28, 2010

Christians should not be Switzerland.

Standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego proclaimed, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods" (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV).

Live or die, they would not deny their faith.

We may never have to face the decision of whether or not to die for our faith, but every day we face the decision of whether or not we will live for it.

Every day we must put our selfish ways to death and march to a different beat, so become different, strange, radical, weird even. Then the world will see Jesus. To be wholly devoted to Jesus means that at times we will have to walk alone. But in this society loneliness scares all of us in different ways. We hate being alone. But the truth is we are NEVER alone; Hebrew 12:1 talks about the cloud of witnesses around us, the angles and most of all our Lord, Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance that race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

Throughout the Word it gives us great examples of how to live our faith, to stay strong in God, why are we so afraid of these things? Why are we so focused on the world? On man? We are so afraid of the trails and the pain that we could face that we try so hard to stay as far away from it as possible, and when it's brought up it scares people, offends people. Even those who believe what we believe. Do not let this fear take hold of you, God wants us to overcome all to serve Him faithfully and lovingly, He must always come first. He is the only one that will not hurt us, will not abandon us. "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Sometimes I have to struggle to keep my eyes set on the things of God rather than the things of man. But no matter how much I stumble, God's love is constant and it's His love that gives me strength to stand up for Him, to always be faithful. In John 5:13 NIV Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." To give up everything for someone who has giving everything up for me. That is Jesus, why are we so hesitant?

Why? It's because we are worried about what people think and what they will say about is. I don't really care what they think or say, my life is God's. I've crossed the line from innocent bystander to hard-core participant in what Jesus has called me to do. And even though I do not know exactly what that might be I hope, whatever I do, it makes anyone who knows me or sees me think of Jesus.

We must decide what side we are on. There is a battle raging and we cannot be "Switzerland" we must choose. I know I will fight to keep it real fight for God's Kingdom. But here's the thing you must all swear to fight with me and not run off, because I know I don't fit this mold or that market or line up with some person's vision of what good and proper must look like. God knows I wasn't born to fit man's molds, we MUST die to self, lay everything on the altar before God, and enter the fray armed and ready to build the Kingdom of God.

"For me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better." -Paul the Apostle... beheaded in Rome, 65 AD

Continue to set your light-- Jesus Christ-- on High.


What are you living for?

the things of God, or the things of man?



Just think about it




His and yours



Cami

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A thing like... death.

It's been awhile since I sat back and just relished in the life God has given me. It upsets me that it takes a thing like death to make me realize the life I have. I've been struggling with a lot of things lately, trying to figure out where my life is leading and when learning where it is going I am learning of things I have to let go and people I may have to let go of and leave behind. And as I struggle to take the steps that God has asked me to take in all of His glory He continues to bless me. Though the enemy is never far behind trying to ruin the blessing, by attacking a family member to her death. And it's hard to fathom as I am still in shock, but as I seek God in a time of mourning I pray that He will show her family that even through this death, this life lost, God, He will prevail and His grace will overcome all evil, all strife, all sadness.

I've been looking into the Kingdom of God a lot and with this news I know now more than ever it is prevalent for me to seek His Kingdom and share the news of His Kingdom with friends and family. God's preparing this amazing Kingdom for us to live in and share with Him. It will be Heaven on Earth. When we become one in Christ we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people, and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19). He has begun to build His Kingdom up in us (An in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. [Ephesians 2:22]). and who are we to keep this glorious place to ourselves. God calls each and everyone of us to share His word, His heart, His Kingdom.

This is what the Lord says:
"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" (Isaiah 66:1-2) But God is creating and new heaven and a new earth. How awesome is that all NEW!!! "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will the come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17). He is creating a place where there will be no infant mortality, no abortion, no old man dying at 90 or 100 but living loner, no child will be doomed to misfortune, the people will be blessed by the Lord. A place where the wolf and the sheep will feed together and the lion with eat like the ox. (Isaiah) A place of beauty and of majesty. Joel also talks about the Kingdom of God and the Day of the Lord. But until that day comes, whenever it may be shouldn't we live on this earth as it is the Kingdom of God, building it up each and every day with God always with us.

Even as we struggle to take these very small steps in creating the Kingdom of God in the here and now, a huge battle and force is being built up beyond this earth in the heavens. And, at an unexpected moment in time, the trumpet will sound and Jesus will return, just as the Word says. He will return with a mighty army, his Holy Army and together they will overthrow the evils of this world. On that day we will join with Jesus and will be victorious. Justice will roll down like a mighty river and the things of the word will become the Kingdom of our God and God shall reign forever and ever.

Jesus is in everything of this world, in new people you meet, in new places you go. He will use them to show you what He wants to teach you. Don't take what you have for granted for someday it will all pass away. But don't find pleasure in only the earthly things because when it's all gone all that's left is our Jesus and He will be the judge of us. Don't let something like death make you stop and realize the life you have been given, instead rejoice daily in the life and live it each day for the Lord. Be thankful for every moment and every thing because it will all pass away.

Prepare your hearts for the Day of the Lord, whether we are in heaven or here on earth we will be witness to that beautiful day.


Are you prepared?


Just think about it.


I'm praying for you.



His and yours,

Cami

Sunday, February 21, 2010

We are the Rich Young Man...

"Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Though this man has kept all the commandments there is something else.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven Then, come follow me."
(Mark 10:17,21)

We have such a hard time letting go of things. Letting go of things like outward appearances, relationships, the comforts of home, electronics, clothes, friends, and even our own life.

God asks us daily to lay down all those things and to love Him more. He says that we will love Him so much that we will hate our own family in comparison. HATE our OWN FAMILY! I know I could never hate my family, I mean God gave them to me to love and cherish and love. So why would he want me to hate them? God isn't saying to hate them literally, but to love Him so so much more!

If we allow ourselves to become lost in this world we will never find that Love for Jesus, the only love that can save us, take care of us, and heal us. He wants to give us this love, He isn't hiding it from us. We just need to reach out with our hands held high and ask for it. We may not be able to see Him, but He is here, all around. So just talk and He will listen. "God, I'm tired of being alone, tired of being empty. I don't want to be empty anymore." Just ask for it, He will fill you up with love and warmth. And continue to ask and He will continue to fill us.

"But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:31)

We need to allow ourselves to become last in this world, because all these earthly things will pass away sooner than we think and there will be nothing left for us if we don't have Jesus. Though we may be spit on, called names, persecuted, and even killed, we need to be last in this world. Because if we are last in this world, and filled with God's love and word and spread His Gospel as much as we can and continue to be filled up with His Way and completely surrender our lives up to Him, we will be first in His eyes, in His Kingdom. And I would rather be spit on and killed, than be last in the Kingdom of God.

As God continues to prepare me to be a missionary each day I sometimes get scared because I don't know where I am going to go at certain times and if I am going to have anyone along with me. But I know that God will fill me whole and He will direct me all the way along my path. I just need to put all my trust in Him and Him alone. And yet I still get asked "how are you not lonely? You have no guy in your life and everywhere you want to go and everywhere your life is headed leads to a life of loneliness?" I don't want to laugh, but how can I not, I am never alone because God is always with me. I don't need anyone else when I have God, He completes me. But you see God isn't someone who will leave us out in the dust. He continues to surround me with people that love me and want me to follow His will. They help me in different ways, whether I just met them or have known them for my whole life. I look at a new person as a blessing from God and ask God what can you teach me through this person? And how can I show this person Your love? Can I be the one You use Lord? Use me.

As we look at the Rich Young Man, he followed every commandment and he had everything and yet he still was not happy. So he asked "Good Teacher, what must I do." and Jesus replied "Get rid of everything." And the Young Man had a hard time doing that, because if he got rid of everything he knew he would have nothing left, because he didn't have the love of Christ, he didn't have Faith. We are all in a way this Rich Young Man. We all have those things that we want to possess and hold on to. And All these things are what could be holding us back from what God has for us, and what He wants us to do.

We are the Rich Young Man and we continue to ask "What must I do." And when God tells us we are reluctant, we ignore Him, we do everything but what He says. and yet we ask again "What must I do." And God tells us. "Get rid of everything, everything that is holding you back from our relationship." and we continue to do everything else but that.

So this time ask again, "Lord, what must I do." And when He tell you "Get rid of everything." Do not ignore, do not hesitate, just do it. Because when you let go of everything and God fills you with His love and His treasure, you become the richest person, maybe not of this world, but in the Kingdom of God. He is waiting for us to ask and He will always answer.


"What must I do?"


Just think about it.




His and yours,


Cami

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Perfect Valentine...

Well it's that time of year again. The time of year where the flower and candy shops just start racking in the dough; money so to speak. It's the month of Love, more specifically it's Valentine's day, well tomorrow is, but whatever. I usually hate this time of year, it's when I see all these happy couples, falling in love, proposals and flowers and all the pink and red. It's been a huge prayer of mine for God to prepare a warrior-poet man for me. A man totally devoted to Him and yet I can't seem to find any man on earth that wants a full relationship with God rather than the world. There was a guy I thought wow this could be the guy, but being who I am I decided not to push it, and just let it go because there is someone better for him than me. I sit with my Word open and search for the answers, because I know they are there. So I pray.

I've been praying for a man committed to God. A man that would be a leader, and a servant. A man who would love others, even the outcast, the sinners. A man that would help me walk closer to God. And the answers just started pouring from my Bible. John 10:30, John 14:6, Philippians 2:7, Romans 5:8, Psalm 23, Matthew 6:33.

But most of all I've been praying for love, for someone who will love me, love me so much he will want me and only me, No one else!. That he will be willing to do whatever it takes to pursue me, guard my heart, and win me.
And Jesus answered my cry, my prayers for a man such as this. "I would lay down my life for you. He has set a seal of Love upon my heart. The banner He put over me was LOVE (Song of Sol. 2:4). I know that nothing can separate us (Romans 8:35-39). He has won my heart and will always have my heart forever.

Jesus is not just any man. He is the Son of Man. He is my True Love, my Bridegroom, My Perfect Valentine.

I am so completely captivated by this Man, my One True Love Jesus, that I want no earthly man until it will bring Him glory on earth. I know that as I spill my life out for the Gospel and for the Lord, one day it will be the greatest gift I can give my earthly husband. For him to know that his future wife is living each day lost in the Lord and not lost in the world. I know that when it is time God will bring such a wonderful wholly devoted to God man into my life and when He does we will both simply keep living fully for our Lord...together.


I know this life I lead will pass away
Along with every other earthly thing
So I will set my heart on a higher plain
Where my treasure lies with You

And in this marriage of our hearts
There is no death do us part
For You are eternal
And I am eternally Yours

And I could never lose Your love to sickness
Oh I could never lose You to divorce
And there's no concept of abandonment
For I am safe within Your arms

And in this marriage of our hearts
There is no death do us part
For You are eternal
And I am eternally Yours
Oh I am eternally Yours
I am eternally Yours
-Sanctus Real "Eternal"

He wants to be eternally yours, will you be eternally His?



Just think about it.



His and yours


Cami

Friday, February 5, 2010

Nervous.Content.ComfortZone.Jesus.

I've been waiting for something amazingly witty and bright and inspiring to pop into my head. And yet here I sit at almost 2 in the morning and my mind is an empty blank page. It looks a lot like the book I am writing right now. Blank. I am trying to type as quietly as possible so as to not wake my roommate, and yet I feel I need to write. to type. to do something rather than sleep.

I was quite nervous tonight. Not for any particular reason, no I just get nervous sometimes. I went to a movie with some of my friends, it was good and I enjoyed myself, it's easy to be my crazy self with them, to let my hair down so to speak. Then we went bowling, little did I know the MASS of people that were going to be there. I hate crowds. It's one thing that scares me, I get nervous and antsy around a lot of people. I sometimes become really tight and silent because loads and loads of people just scare me period. I bite my lip when I get nervous, so after the first 30 minutes or so my lip was cracked and about to bleed.

And then I realized this is it. This is where I am suppose to be right now in that moment and though I didn't let my hair down completely I was myself in a non crazy way and I did socialize. I was so consumed with my nervousness that I was no longer content, I forgot that I had amazing friends all around me and I had a chance to meet new people and impact them as well. "be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." In the midst of my "suffering" or my nervousness, I realized that Paul always said rejoice in your sufferings do not be nervous or afraid of them, but rejoice for the Lord is with you all of your days.

So I laughed, I bowled (a horrible game), I truly enjoyed myself. It's been awhile since I went out with people, I'm more of a one-on-one, quiet type of girl. But God's pushing me out of my comfort zone, and I can't say I like it when He is continually pushing, but once I am out and experience the wonderful things He wants me to experience, and do all the things He needs me to do. When I step back inside my bubble, my comfort zone it feels so good, that I am ready to step out again. Reluctant, but ready. My place of comfort is in the silence of my dorm room with my Bible, my Journal, and occasionally my Ipod. It is definitely not a crowded, music blaring, pins shaking, balls rolling bowling alley. But tonight it kind of was. And Jesus kept saying. "That's right Cami, scoot a little closer to the edge, I know you're not going to love the jump, but you will love the places where you land. The places I have chosen for you."

It's true, as I begin to jump more I ask myself why I never did before. Jesus as lead me to such a place in my life, that is scary but so rewarding. He is truly preparing me for my missions in Alaska this summer. I can't wait to see our next adventure. Tune in for the adventures of Jesus and His partner Cami, haha. ;) I know where ever it is I will ignore all the voices, all the negativity, everything and just jump. And where ever I land, I know I will be following Him. No matter what He is the only reason to jump.


"Follow Jesus into the desert. A thousand and one voices will scream telling you not to. Ignore them. Heed him. Quit your work. Contemplate his. Accept your Maker's invitation: 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile' (Mark 6:31)"
-Max Lucado


Are you ready to jump? Don't be afraid any longer, free fall into the beautiful Unknown that is our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jump :)


Just think about it.




His and yours

Cami