Looks pretty good huh? I finally watched it yesterday after wanting to see if for a while (mostly because it has Gerard Butler in it). You know those stories that put your heart on fire for the Lord? This is one of those. I was blown away for two hours watching this film. I cried, a lot. If you haven't seen this film I want you to. It's amazing ... and it's based on the true story of Sam Childers. Hollywood makes a lot of crap movies but every once in a while it makes a film like this.
This movie is a story, a testimony and it will move you.
Granted there are scenes and actions which you will question, I encourage you to watch it through. I think everyone can relate to Sam Childers in that a walk with God is not an easy task.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake.Even though I walkthrough the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,
God has created us with a need for approval. We look from it anywhere and everywhere—society, parents, friends, etc. Most of the time we want to hear what we want to hear. We want to be reassured that our feelings and actions are right, even if they aren't. It's easy to let shallow opinions guide and shape us but the Bible tells us it's futile. Our desire for acceptance will only grow deeper.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In lovehepredestined us for adoption to sonshipthrough Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
-Ephesians 1:3-6
Our desire for acceptance is a craving that no one but God Himself can fill. And He did this by sending His son to die for us. Who could we trust more than the One who paid for our forgiveness?
Tonight I did a talk on how God made us all unique for one of our youth groups. Our theme this term is Narnia and there is a scene where the youngest Lucy casts a spell to be like her older sister Susan. Lucy wants to be like her because she wants to be beautiful. When she changes she realizes that she loses her identity and there no longer is any Lucy and no Narnia (she discovered it and told her siblings). Aslan (representing God) tells here "You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are."
I linked this with what the Bible says about our creation.
For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
-Psalm 139:13
God took time to make each and every one of us. He knows every little detail because of it:
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
-Luke 12:7
I challenged the kids to think about what the world would be like if we were all the same and asked them to reflect on how being a creation of God made them feel. I think it's a pretty awesome. Think of how different and valuable we all are!
Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
-1 Peter 2:17
God loves everyone and he calls us to do the same. I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say this is hard. There are always certain people that get under your skin or others who we chose to brush off because we don't deem them as acceptable.
As people of God we should live with respect and honor. Christ calls us to live like He did and I don't remember any stories of him turning people away. He accepted everyone. When we label and judge people we are letting Satan into our hearts. We are rebelling against the call God has put on our lives.
We should see every person as an opportunity to show Christ's love. How are you going to show God's love to everyone this Lent?
Yesterday afternoon was my weekly bible study with my girls. We had been looking at Proverbs, but decided to move on to another book. They are really interested in the Old Testament and we finally decided on the book of Job, which to my amusement they pronounced j-o-b (like an occupation). I have never read the entire book before, but I know the story. Needless to say I am excited to study this with them. Especially when it has such a great message!
For those of you who don't know, Job is a wealthy man who has thousands of animals, a big family and many other blessings. Job 1:1 says "This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." Satan comes to God and challenges him saying: “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” (Job 1:9-12) Satan then attacks Job by having people steal his donkeys and oxen, burning his sheep and their servants, sending a raiding party to steal his camels and slay their servants and finally killing all his children. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:20-22)
The last lines of this chapter are just so moving and inspiring. The girls and I talked about how likely our response would be like that of Job's (not very likely at all). How many of us can truly say our faith and belief in God is that wonderful? That he could strip us or everything and we would still cry out worshiping him?
I pray that we remain humble as His people. Realizing all we have is His doing. We can never stop thanking Him. And the best way we can do that is to love him with everything we have, even when we have nothing.
I tweeted this verse a couple days ago because I couldn't help but share it. I haven't read a lot of Samuel, but my Mom gave me a devotional a while back that slowly takes you through each book in the Bible. I'm reading new things all the time, which is awesome!
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
-1 Samuel 16:7
It seems so easy in this world to get caught up in appearances. We all are guilty of it. People always tell us what's inside matters most but I know I sometimes blow that off. I think yeah right, looks count for something. And they do, but so does inward appearance. The whole "inward appearance" is an awkward term, so I like to think of it as the inward spirit that is shown through your outward appearance and actions. If we have a good heart it should be just as noticeable as what brand of jeans we have on.
I love this:
"Focus your attention on being authentic, on being real.
Don't just put on a good face, put on goodness."
My devotional suggests putting on godly attributes as we get ready for the day. Just like we put on our make-up, shoes, clothes—put on gentleness, self-control, kindness, etc.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
Really great thing to think about...hope it challenges it you like it has me.
I've just started Crazy Love by Francis Chan with my Thursday morning bible study. One word describes what I've read so far: convicting, but in a good way. So I'm going to dare you, yes, I said dare like a 10 year-old. I dare you to read this post, watch the videos and hopefully want to read this book.
................................................
Amazing huh?
Makes you think:
How awesome and great is God?
And who do I think I am?
Really puts things in perspective. How great and mighty He is and how small and insignificant we are.
We always say God is the creator, but what does that really mean? I like to think of Him as an artist. Frankly, the best artist. Who else has the imagination, skills and abilities to create what He did? Chan asks people to ponder the diversity of his creations. For instance laughs, He could have made one laugh, but He didn't. There are wheezes, snorts (love you Courtney!), silent, loud and obnoxious laughs.
It's amazing really. His attention to detail is unparalleled. Like any piece of artwork, God's creations reflect who He is.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voicegoes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
-Psalm 19:1-4
(Love, love, love what he says around minute 3-4.)
If you are like me you are thinking wow. This stuff is awesome. And awesome sounds so corny.... but Chan makes a heartbreaking point in the next part of the chapter — we forget. He calls it an epidemic of spiritual amnesia. We need to be reminded.
We know He is holy — Perfection. He is unfathomable.
He is eternal — He exists outside of time.
But you O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures
through all generations ... But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
-Psalm 102:12, 27
He is all-knowing — We can't fool him. He chooses to know every little detail about us. He doesn't have to, He wants to.
He is all-powerful —Everything was created forGod, yet we act like God created everything for us. "As much as we want God to explain himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us."God doesn't owe us an explanation for things. Reverse the situation. What would happen if God started asking us for explanations?
He is fair and just —None of us are good, only God is. He hates sin. He will punish and he will be fair in it.
Read Revelation 4. It's an interesting and challenging chapter.
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby.
A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
-Revelation 4:3
Chan's challenge — How would you react upon seeing this God described? What would your first words be? And does prayer/talk with Him change when you think of Him this way (as God Almighty and as a person)?
I've decided I'm not going to give up something per se, but instead committing to something. I had the idea to blog every day and my housemate suggested I blog about scripture, (which is perfect because I have been trying to be more diligent in reading) so I've decided to call my entries Lent with Lozza (my British nickname in case you didn't know).
Most people who know me know that I am obsessed with Jane Austen. A while back I bought a Jane Austen devotional for my Kindle. Some of you might think this is a little extreme, but the content is actually quite good. The reading was called Evaluating your Focus and talks about pride and vanity.
The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thought.
-Psalm 10:4
Pride has been around since, well, forever and is the root of sin itself. Pride caused Lucifer to rebel against God, Adam and Eve to sin, King David to lust and Judas to betray Jesus. Pride causes us to turn away from God. And society is good at promoting this. With success comes great riches and pride can easily take over a person's life. It can become easy to forget who has given us our blessings.
Where is our focus? How do we make sure pride doesn't take over? Are we living to make God happy or ourselves?
Now this isn't to say we won't struggle as we seek and grow with God. It's our human nature, but we can be certain that the richest and greatest life we can have is with Him. He is the only certain thing we have in this life.
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Welp it's been six months since I officially moved to British soil. Crazy how time flies because I feel like I just got here (guess the couple trips back to the states have probably helped). Still feels so strange to say I live here, so I am in constant amazement and awe that I do. It's been a fun, rewarding, stressful and sometimes homesick experience thus far. I never realized how much I valued my family and friends until I moved here. And I can't tell those who have constantly talked with me, prayed for me and supported me how much they have meant to me. I couldn't do this without you guys. I thought I would share a little of what I've learned/discovered and experienced here so far whether it's cultural, religious or just for fun. So here goes...
1. British people say there language is better than us but they speak improper English and have some crazy weird expressions. Case and point:
What are you like? (When you see someone doing something crazy/funny.)
Oh yeah it was weird as.
What do you fancy? (What do you like?)
He's always taking the mick out of me? (Making fun of/picking on)
They are so fit. (They are good-looking.)
I can't be bothered. (I don't care. Not interested.)
You alright? (How are you?)
Pulled (picked up a girl or guy)
2. English people LOVE potatoes. Roasties, mashed, chips (french fries) and crisps (chips). You name it and they eat it at a meal.
3. People in the southern states of the U.S. always talk about how hospitable we are. Wrong. The British people are some of the most hospitable people I have ever met. They always ask if you want something to eat/drink and constantly invite you into their homes.
4. The British eat with both a knife and fork. Except they hold the fork upside down and hold it constantly in their left hand. Seems weird, but I taught myself to do it and I feel so much more proper and civilized.
5. I had a kid call me the 'religious one' for a whole youth group session after I shared my testimony. A lot of the kids can't seem to fathom a relationship with God. They are hung up on why things happen to us that are bad, creation and other things that they have been taught in school or brought up to believe.
6. Everything closes early here between 5-6pm. The only thing open late is some restaurants, cinemas and pubs.
7. My nickname here is Lozza or Loz. It's how they shorten Lauren.
8. No one says chap, spiffing, tally-ho or hello in crazy accents.
9. People drink really young over here. The drinking age is 18 but I have encountered 12-14 year olds who drink regularly.
10. The youth workers here that I've met are driving themselves into the ground in a lot of instances. They are working so hard and just burning out. They need more help.
11. I've had a two year old correct me on the way I say my A's. According to my housemate it sounds like someone trying to start a lawnmower when I say ranch.
12. French toast is called eggy bread.
13. Washing machines are usually in the kitchen. Not a lot of people have dryers so you use the radiators.
14. TV here is mostly awful game shows.
15. People dress in all different ways here. Fashion, or sometimes lack there of, is big here. Americans could easily stick out like a sore thumb.
16. After being here six months the guy who works at the local grocery store (who I see frequently) asked me if I am American.
17. Instead of a church on every corner there is a pub on every corner.
18. The British are crazy drivers. In America we drive crazy and fast, but in a straight line. Here they have roundabouts...
19. I thought it would be freezing here and snowy all winter. It has only snowed once. And I now think 50 degrees is warm.
20. I had a lad on a bus show me some naked playing cards and ask me if my boobs looked like that.
21. Full English breakfasts are the best things ever! Sans the beans of course.
22. I have picked up drinking coffee. I've never drank regular coffee (before it had to be camouflaged by carmel and such) in my life and now that I am in the land of tea I start...not to mention it's instant coffee.
23. I spell everything wrong. It's colour not color and favourite not favorite.
24. I can sleep with my window open and it's glorious.
25. People think my accent is "gorgeous".
26. The British have a holiday where they make scarecrows and burn them on bonfires. It's called Guy Fawkes night. Look it up.
27. A lad in a electronics shop found out I was American and responded:
"Wow I'm surprised I can understand you."
My response: "Well I am speaking English..."
That was me being cheeky (mischievous).
Alright I can't think of anything else right now so that's it for now...Enjoy!
For the last, oh I don't know, three months I have been praying for snow. And what have I gotten? Zip, zilch, nada. Today is the day though according to the weather forecast. Tonight there is an 80% chance off snow. I've kind of lost all faith in the weathermen in Britain so we shall see how this goes...
Last May I graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. After graduation I went to England for a two week mission trip, fell in love with the place and now I am spending the next year working as a youth worker in a small church in Nunthorpe.
