S is for...

Scrabble. I've been struggling lately.

It's hard to make a decision and play when you just can't find the right word you're sure is out there.

Gosh, I wish I knew what it was. It's also pretty challenging to live life when you are searching for the perfect time to make a move with a bunch of Zs and Js on your tray.

Here's the parallel: S also stands for searching. If you continue to search for your vowels while you still have a full tray of Zs and Js, and try to have a seven-letter word before you make a move, you won't get very far.

You need a mix of consonants and vowels to come up with the perfect word. It is almost always necessary to purge the old consonants to get the 100pt word.

2 Corinthians says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

K, read it once more. (that helps it sink in a little better) 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. The OLD HAS PASSED away; behold, the new has come. All this is FROM GOD, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

So what we've learned is that the old and new do not coexist. In order to be in Christ, to be a new creation through Him, we must throw out what does not represent Him. This is what I'll be practicing this week. Purging the habits that do not honor the Lord and making room for the ones that bring Him glory. 

Therefore, that is my challenge to you this week: look for your habits that are useless, and replace it with something that brings glory to God. That way, any move you make will be a good one.

Much love, 

V

Food for Thought

Food. Have you ever been hungry? Like, feel like you are going to pass out and (due to a lack of nutrition) reach the point where you lost the hunger and decide that it must be because your stomach forgot what it even felt like to consume food? I can sometimes relate. Being hungry is a bummer. I hate to invoke guilt, but yes it's coming. Take about 25 steps back and contemplate those in the third world countries who go weeks with no substance, months, and years? Yes, they exist and sadly, these people often die. Whether or not we go without eating because we cannot afford the food, the point is that there are many people who cannot eat because they do not have real food. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to cut a meal out for the sake of others.

Now because God is generous, He expects us in the same way to be generous to other people. Paul teaches us this in 2 Corinthians 9 when he says, "6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9As it is written, his righteousness endures forever.”“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."

Now--

Go back to those hungry thoughts. Being generous doesn't necessarily involve giving money or food (even money for food). It can be as simple as spending time to pray with or for someone, offering services, or sharing skills. Generosity will lead us to a life of peace, joy, and love. Being generous softens our hearts, lessons our obsessions with material things, and ultimately strengthens our spiritual walk with God. If generosity is something that you struggle with, maybe it would be a good idea to ask for the Lord's help with something simple like sharing your gifts and talents with someone and then build up to more.

God's nature is generosity, kindness, love, and selflessness. Basically? He Cares.

Whether we know it or not, He is concerned with our well-being and wants to bless us.  The best part about this is that is exactly what He does. The Lord is constantly finding new and exciting ways to bless His children. In Luke 6:38 it says, "For if you give, you will get" Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you."

And that's that. Thanks for studying the Corinthians letters with me! We finished my little series, next week we'll talk about something fresh. For now, blessings and love on this sunny Sunday :)

Much love, 

V

The Way you Do the Things you Do

Max Lucado has a great commentary on 2 Corinthians called Remember What Matters. He brings up valuable questions that are worth considering and reflecting. I hope you'll be blessed by what he writes:

"Motives. We all have them. We all have reasons (conscious and subconscious) for why we do what we do. What would you say are your dominant motivations in life... those compelling urges that prompt you during the average day?

An unnamed group of smooth-talking, slick-operating troublemakers had infiltrated the church at Corinth, bashing Paul and encouraging a departure from his new covenant gospel of grace. To prevent this terrible possibility, Paul contrasted his ministry and motives with theirs. In a world that is obsessed with "image," it is always tempting to pretend always tough to be authentic. Why is absolute honesty essential for those who serve God?

Paul obviously lived a life full of trouble and hardship. Why would God allow such difficulty for one of his most faithful servants? What silver lining does Paul see in his troubles?

Moses asked to see it on Sinai,

It billowed through the temple, leaving priests too stunned to minister,

When Ezekiel saw it, he had to bow,

It encircled the angels and starstruck the shepherds in the Bethlehem pasture,

Jesus radiates it,

John beheld it,

Peter witnessed it on Transfiguration Hill,

Christ will return enthroned in it,

Heaven will be illuminated by it,

It gulf streams the Atlantic of Scripture, touching every person with the potential of changing every life... including yours.

One glimpse, one taste, one sampling, and your faith will never be the same...

Glory

God's glory.

People were created to live for God's glory, but in reality this is not most people's primary concern. What are they living for? What is the treasure we have from God and what are we supposed to do with it?

In this chapter, Paul makes a big deal about speaking for and about God. How much do you do this in your life? Other passages also speak of Christians "shining" for God. What does this look like in everyday, practical terms?

Soli Deo Gloria means "to the glory of God alone." What are some indications that a believer has embraced such a mind-set and lifestyle? What are some specific acts you can commit to that will shine the glory of Christ into your world?

You can get attention by being slick and flashy and by cultivating a certain "image," but you'll never have a deep impact on others that way. The most powerful and eternally significant lives are on those, like Paul, who realize they are mere vessels who have been filled with a heaven-sent treasure. They realized God is the point, not them. According to the Bible, we exist to bring God glory, to shine for him, to point others to him. Like John the Baptist, we need to say, "He must become greater, and I must become less important," John 3:30. Focus today on the substance of your life more so than on mere style. Spiritual depth, authenticity, faithfulness--these are the qualities that honor God and cause others to stop and stare."

Let's make it a point to embrace more God-honoring motives and abandon our less worthy ones this week.

Much love,
V

I'm Sure

The Orchid of the Holy Spirit

Okay, in 2 Corinthians chapter three, Paul spends the first eleven verses telling the Corinthians that he knows that the Lord has called him, chosen him really, to be doing exactly what he is doing. He doesn't need to be assured of it from friends or family. Paul says, "our competence comes from God" in 2 Cor 3:5. The Holy Spirit is all we have to confirm and sustain ourselves as Christians.

The two terms Paul uses in relation to standing firm in what the Lord has called us to are letter and Spirit  By letter, Paul is referring to the Law, aka the words in the Bible. In the book of Romans, Paul talks about the letter's old age. When he says Spirit, it appears as though he is referring to the Gospel Spirit, aka the Holy Spirit that enters a Christian's heart after they realize and then open the need they have for Jesus in order to live eternally in heaven. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving power of God that is often confused with a conscience.

One of the beautiful things about following Christ is that we are never alone. Prayer is a powerful thing, and when we pray we open up a place where we can be taught and molded to be more like Christ. We can be absolutely sure that the Lord has a part in our lives if we are submitting ourselves in prayer and being vulnerable to obeying what the Bible says. I want nothing more than to be completely in line with His will for my life, it is what brings God glory and makes the ministry of salvation so powerful.

Much love,
V

Loveee

Listen to Your Love by Brandon Heath and then we'll chat.  Or better yet, open it in another tab then come back.

This song is off Heath's new album entitled, Leaving Eden, from January.  I think Heath's description of what love is is something in which Paul would agree.  Love is the prelude to all of what Jesus did on earth, and it is what truly matters as our body of believers should be concerned.  His love should convict us of what to do in every situation we encounter.

Down to business, how would I define love. Ultimate selflessness.  It is the opposite of selfish.  The classic "love" chapter where I have collected this definition: 1 Corinthians 13 of course. Verse 13 summarizes the chapter when it says, "13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  His album is a witness of the world around him.  He says "a lot of these songs came with a little bit of struggle, with moments when I had no idea what God wanted me to say, but that said, my favorite songs on the album are not the ones I wrote at the last minute, and with the most effort.

Much love,
(the heavenly kind that is never-ending and only comes through Jesus, woop!)
V

Victory

"V.I.C.T.O.R.Y., THAT'S OUR CHRISTIAN BATTLE CRY!"  This is the Easter tune we sang in church choir once when I was little. The tune is entirely true. In the first chapters of the 2 Corinthian letter, the theme is that we ought not be sad or discouraged because our God does not want us to be sad or have sorrow! He wants gladness for us, which makes me glad already! Our heavenly father wants us to live in joy because he has made arrangements for us to be with him forever in heaven. In the end, JESUS WINS. Therefore, we have already won!

Paul stresses comfort. In Christ, we can have comfort that our God and savior are on our side.  He tells the Corinthians the truth of why he is not planning to visit them.  Although he knows they will be disappointed, he shares that it is for their good, continued joy, and for their comfort.

What can we take from this?

Dwell not in the temporary.

(Once more, for emphasis...) Dwell NOT in the temporary.
These pains and struggles are not eternal. On the flip side, Paul reminds us to forgive the sinner and anyone who has caused us grief.  Do not punish too harshly or fall to some bitter extreme. Display love and allow second chances if the situation fits.  Reestablish your love to him. Since the sinner needs correction, just like Corinth did, there comes a time after it for love and healing. This situation can also be similar to a family member who has done you wrong. Reaffirm them and remind them of your love. Don't you love to hear that you are loved and wanted? Especially after being in the wrong? Do this sometime this week. I challenge you to remind somebody that you love them and care for them.

Chapter 2:9-11 says "9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs."

What Paul is saying here is that we are familiar with Satan's schemes. We know his game plan and Jesus Christ is triumphant. He will establish His kingdom and we can be with Him in heaven. Celebrate!!

Much love,
V

I am broken

I read an incredible sermon once on the relationship with our Lord and brokenness. The message was based on 1 Corinthians when Paul talks about the Lord's supper and the order of communion. "24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this is remembrance of me.'" God is glorified through the broken things.

In one way or another, we are all broken. We break things that we own, we break bread at communion and we have broken hearts, broken dreams, broken visions, broken families, and even broken lives. But there is one thing that we forget: God can be glorified through this! God has instructed his people to break rocks for water, to break loaves of bread to feed thousands, to break pitchers, alabaster boxes, and even then; God was ultimately glorified.

God's people, therefore, can also be broken. We are weak and helpless. This is often perfect timing for when the Lord can take our hearts and do with us what he has been wanting. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12, "For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, perceptions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

I have recently started a book on how the Lord is glorified in the broken things. It is called Shattered Dreams: God's Unexpected Pathway to Joy by Larry Crabb. If you have experienced a shattered dream, or if you just watched My Girl last night (like I did :) ) and have questions regarding loss and grieving, please pick up this book and join with me to journey through why life can really hurt sometimes. In his book, he says that it is important to know that God does not have to give us perfect lives. When becoming a Christian, we will not have perfect weeks with a great family 24/7 and perfect homes with plenty of time to solve the world's problems. Crabb says "we can count on God to patiently remove all the obstacles to our enjoyment of Him. He is committed to our joy, and we can depend on Him to give us enough of a taste of that joy and enough hope that the best is still ahead to keep us going in spite of how much pain continues to plague our hearts."

I hope He does break us so that we can learn to draw hear to Him in this brokenness. We can break bread and reflect on how Jesus was broken for us, all to glorify our holy God.

Much love,
V

PROGRESS REPORT:

One more thing... Through this pain and suffering, blessings from the Lord are so abundant.  My daddy got married this weekend :) to a beautiful woman named Amanda. She and her two children are officially a part of our family and I truly cannot be more blessed.  She has come to know the Lord as her savior, and brings so much joy to our lives. If you creep on some of my past blogs, it might help to fill you in, but after five and a half years, I am so sincere in the fact that my dad deserves to be the happiest person in the world.  He is my hero in every way and I hope that as time passes, some of relatives on my mom's side will be able to appreciate and love him again the way they once did.  I know the truth of where my dad's heart is, how he feels about my mom, and this truth has and does set me free of any bitterness or anger. I pray that those who have judged him will take a glance back into his or her own heart. I look forward to the next season of life with hope and optimism, Jesus is so good!!

Mother Knows Best

Is this true? According to my newest favorite Disney movie, Tangled, mother claims to know best. She also claims to be the mother of the kidnapped princess. The story unfolds to prove that she really does not know best for the daughter, as she only cares enough for the daughter to use her magic hair. The daughter ventures out on her own and into the scary world to find it is really not so bad. She makes plenty of new friends and learns everything she had ever wanted to know about life and love.

It may be a cute story, but this is not how the world works. According to 1 Corinthians 10, we have freedom. Paul says that we are to do all to the glory of God, 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?”

Why would we choose to forsake the will of our creator and worship idols with our words or even with our actions? Our question should not be, what can I do to get as close to the line of right and wrong as possible, but what can I do to follow the Word and really reach the overarching message, how to do life well; how to put Christ on display; how to allow Him to have ownership of our hearts, minds, and bodies. If we are living life in these directions, then it makes something like sin a little harder to find a place for.

“31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”

I hope this blesses you today.

Much love,
V

Guardrails

Message at Redstone Church Here

Here is the video I would like you to watch today. It is called “Guardrails: Flee Baby Flee” Part 3 of a series by Andy Stanley at Redstone Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

The caption beneath the video reads: “If there is one area in your life that absolutely needs some guardrails, this is probably it. It's the area that is the most difficult to recover from. It's the most needed yet most resisted area of all. Fortunately, the Bible is pretty clear on how we should approach it: Flee.

Our culture invites us to flirt with sexual immorality. The Bible tells us to flee from sexual immorality. So you've got to decide -- flirt or flee? To flee is to honor God with your body. But in order to do that, you need guardrails. So what guardrails will you put up?

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people commit are outside their bodies, but those who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

A guardrail is something we need to have. It doesn’t exist to be obstructing life experiences or keeping you from going somewhere; it exists to save your life. I pray that you will take some time to think about where you need guardrails in your life, and I am thankful that we have a father who cares enough to provide us with Scripture to do so.

Have blessed night.
Much love,
V

Apostle Auditions

Let’s be honest, Paul was like, the best apostle ever. What did he do to deserve it? How did he learn to do it? God’s help is a pretty obvious answer here. But regardless, Paul had many characteristics that were extremely obedient to God. First of all, he would never agree to me writing that he was the best apostle ever. He was the one of the most humble of humble ever to walk the earth. He was also extremely patient. He addressed the same problems with the same churches time after time; mistake after mistake, and he still expressed his love for them and affirmed them as the body of Christ. Paul was obviously courageous as he was put in prison and obeyed the Lord with every command.

So what did Paul want from the when he wrote letters and visited the people in Corinth? He didn’t want to get paid, he didn’t ask for food or shelter, or credit for being a famous apostle. But he was still judged. So he depended on the Corinthians, just as they depended on him. He acts in the way that he does so that Corinthians “may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.” He wanted to edify and admonish them. His calling was to strengthen them and teach them how to live. In 1 Corinthians 4: 16 he says, “16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” Similar to a parent, Paul switches from compliment and encouragements to warnings of what may happen if they do not obey the will of God.

Paul says we should boast not in ourselves. The best boast is about being dependent on God and living according to the Spirit. In this way, the circumstances come together: the positive response of the community is important both to Paul and to the glory of God, as these two things are linked to one another. Even with his reputation at stake, he is not afraid to declare the truth to the Corinthians. The Holy Spirit can share with us His wisdom through us if we obey and open ourselves to be vessels. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul says “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Our role to know Christ crucified, is to know that Christ, in the words of C.S. Lewis, is “not safe, but good.” It is also to know that Christ loves us in our sin and weakness enough to go to the cross. This brings Paul, and should bring us to joy and a passion for expanding His kingdom. Lewis says, “to know Christ crucified is to enter the world and love it.”

Hope this helps you to reflect today!

Much Love,
V

A wise owl once told me...

Paul says that there are two different kinds of wisdom. One is of earthly men and one of God. We are told to pursue the latter. In 1 Corinthians, it says, “19 for it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

I think that the last two verses need to be broken down into more bite-size pieces. God has made foolish the wisdom of the world: basically flipping what the world views as wise and unwise completely upside-down. . For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom: The world, your unsaved family, some of my friends from home, and even the strangers we meet who do not have Jesus, do not know, and were not called yet by God through the Holy Spirit to enter the sweet spot of receiving his wisdom. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, was given wisdom after he was chosen by God. He asked for it from the Lord, and the Lord gave him wisdom and understanding: gifts more precious than gold and jewels.

So where can we find the right wisdom? Look in Scripture (literally). Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” It is right in His word for us to find. How would I define wisdom? Wisdom is when the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and guides our minds to reflect Him. 1 Corinthians 2 shares a bit of how our wisdom is to derive from the Holy Spirit. Today I pray that you will continue to seek what is wise, and may we have the mind of Christ.

Much love,
V

Lessons from Geese?

There are plenty of lessons to be learned from geese. They fly in large flocks and honk to encourage each other during flight. They all take their strength and build energy off of the goose in the front, and when that goose gets tired then it rotates to the back where a new goose takes the frontline. They also never leave one another behind. If a goose gets injured, it will fly out of the pack…but not alone. Two other geese accompany it, and continue to stay with it until it dies or recovers enough to return to a passing flock.

Geese know plenty about unity; it is the key to their survival. The amazing thing is that they do things out of instinct—God-given instinct. It is a valuable thing to see how the Lord made the geese this way so that they were not all trying to fly south on their own. If this were the case, there would be individual geese all over the place. Many too tired to carry on in their flights and not able to make it as far south as needed for winter. Many would die just on the journey, or get lost or confused of how to get where they’re going. The divisiveness would be fatal.

Maybe as the church, we need to get to know better what unity looks like. We work to conform ourselves by the Spirit of God more to the image of Christ every day as we get to glory, but we're still people, and unity does not come as naturally to us. In 1 Corinthians 1: 10-17, Paul says, “10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

We've got to ask: with these divisions and differentiations of doctrine and practice among those who follow Christ in the church, has our purpose of sharing Christ been confused and frustrated? Others need to see the unity we can have in Him. We need to visibly align in our formation so that outsiders can see our purpose and direction in Jesus Christ.

Much love,
V