Becoming Ministries

Overcoming Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:48:00 +0000

Over the last several months, I have seen my fair share of darkness: watching people struggle with illness, conflict, job loss, death, and other “storms” that swell in life. When I was a kid, I used to always say, “that's not fair,” to which my dad would reply, “well, baby, life's not fair.”

The human response to pain and suffering comes in many forms. We can pacify our pain, deny it exists, distract the issue, or project our feelings on others, just to name a few. Some coping strategies can be healthy, (such as gardening or journaling) and others destructive (excessive alcohol consumption, lashing out at others).

When thinking on how to deal with dark times, I am reminded of the song, “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie. The child, being in what seems like a hopeless living situation, looks at her life from the perspective that no matter what problems she faces today, the sun will come out again tomorrow. Therefore, there is always hope. However, the promise of a better tomorrow for a believer is not an unreachable goal, but rather a promise of Scripture.

As believers, our hope rests in the knowledge of the risen Savior. Before His persecution and death, Jesus knew the darkness his disciples would face in near future. In His farewell discourse to the Twelve, recorded in John 14-16, Jesus tells His disciples of his death and the dark times they will face. Yet intermixed with this proclamation are messages of promise and hope. Below is a synopsis of the promises Jesus gives his disciples in the midst of pain.

1. Preparation and Provision for eternity (14:3)
2. Proclamation of His return (14:3, 16:22)
3. Presence of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) (14:16-25)
4. Peace amidst the pain (14:27)
5. Productivity for the kingdom (15:5)
6. Proximity to the Father (16:27)

Jesus sums up his address in John 16:33, giving the purpose of the discourse. The verse states, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” The peace we can have in the midst of pain comes by way of Jesus. Through faith in Him, believers can have a sense of wholeness and harmony in the midst of crisis. Our response to difficult situations is to have courage (take heart). The reason we can have courage in the midst of crisis is Jesus' victory over sin and death. Because of His triumph over the trials and circumstances of the world, we not only have hope, but are charged to stay the course and not lose heart when darkness comes.

As I look out the window right now, the grey sky engulfs the view. However, I know that above the clouds, there is blue sky and sun. When facing dark times, we can have hope today, knowing that the Risen Christ still reigns and His provisions for us to prevail remain true. While life might not "be fair," I find peace in my circumstances in the One who overcome the world. Therefore, I will continue to trust, continue to follow, and continue to serve no matter what.

Mismatched Values

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:46:00 +0000

James 1:22-27 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. ...

Before school, my son came up to me and began his morning soliloquy on the importance of living a debt-free life. I chuckled as I could see his father's influence overflow from his lips.

So often, we impart our values on our children without even knowing it. Some of these are what we want our children to learn from us, such as the importance of a debt-free life. However, sometimes, we send messages to our children that do not correspond to our true values. For instance, yesterday, a car almost ran into me and I called them, “stupid.” My daughter asked me, “Mommy, who is stupid?” I immediately retracted my statement and told her that the person was not stupid, but they simply made a mistake which almost caused us to be in an accident. However, had she not said anything, I would not have corrected my rhetoric. I was convicted that I had not acted in a way that tries teach my children to value all people.

What messages could someone's current actions be sending to a child? Each week, when a parent decides to skip church, they subtly are saying to their child, fellowship with the Body is not THAT important. When someone uses foul language, they are in essence saying that Colossians 3:8 doesn't matter. When one speaks words against someone, you are telling them that it is really okay to slander your brother.

What values do you want to instill into your children? If you don't have children, what values do you want others to see in you? How consistently do your actions match your values? For instance, if I truly valued living a healthy lifestyle, it would be logical that I would eat leafy greens, not eat my weight in Kit-Kats, and I would exercise in moderation. In the same way, if we hold true to our values, our actions will be consistent with what we believe. However, f they are not, we serve a God of grace, who wants nothing more than for you to turn from the wrong path, get back on track, and move forward.

I'm just me, but my God is AWESOME

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:16:00 +0000

Psalm 139:13-14 -

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

I sat at a conference today and as I was talking to a woman about my goal of being a writer, I told her, “I know it's a long shot though, because I'm just normal. I am not famous. I haven't done anything remarkable and I don't have an “amazing” story. Basically, I am unmarketable. We both laughed as we discussed how the publishing industry looks at the number of blog followers you have before they will even look at what you have to say.

As I was spending time in my prayer closet (shower) this evening, God reminded me how HE chose a murderer to free the Hebrew people, a shepherd boy to be king, and a Jewish girl to be queen. He chose fishermen, a tax collector, and a zealot to be apostles, a persecutor to become the greatest missionary, and a virgin girl to carry the Savior. There was not ONE THING that these people did to deserve their role in God's plan. They simply said, "yes" to His call. They didn't force their way into His will. They didn't try to alter His course.

For many believers, we think that we have to prove our worthiness to be a part of God's plan. We feel that we have to try out to “make the team.” However, by the grace of God, shown through the love and work of Christ on the cross, you are already on the team!!! So, there is no reason to be sitting on the bench while the most important game of all time is happening right now. God created you with your own unique gifts and talents for a specific role in His kingdom. He created you to leave an impact. How great an impact you leave is determined by how often you say yes to the opportunities He gives you each day to bear witness to Him.

Will I ever be famous? It doesn't matter. Because I am fulfilling my calling in writing the truth that comes from the Word of God. I am saying yes to the opportunity Christ has given me today.

Embracing Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:44:00 +0000

As I dropped my children off at school this morning, I started thinking about how with each new school year comes a time of transition. Parents whose youngsters started school for the first time must adjust to a new stage of independence. Recent graduates now face the reality that their time of formal training is complete. Transition can sometimes be overwhelming. We go from what was known to what is unknown; from what is seen to what is unseen. So how do we as Christians embrace these times of adjustment in our lives?

Deuteronomy 31:8 states, "it is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." This verse was written in the context of transition. The Israelites, having been redeemed from the land of Egypt, were about to enter into the Promised Land. Though they had been under the leadership of Moses, it was now time for them to enter into the new territory with Joshua. In his farewell address to Israel, Moses gives them a key command and encouragement on how to face what lay ahead.

The Command

Moses admonishes the nation to be strong and courageous. The adversaries they faced in the new land were formidable. The temptation of discouragement and retreat was immediate. However, the Israelites were encouraged to be strong. This meant that they were to walk in faith and not be afraid of what lay before them. The reason and means by which they were to have courage was through the promise and character of God.

The Encouragement

After exhorting the nation to stand strong through this time of transition, Moses reminds Israel that God is present with them in their circumstances and He will not fail them (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). The former leader recalls the promise God had made to the nation long ago in order to encourage Joshua to persevere . Not only will God be with them in battle, but He Himself will walk ahead of them (Deut. 31:8).

The Translation

So how does a nation preparing for battle encourage us today? The Israelites faced both a transition of leadership and location. Yet, they were encouraged to stay the course even through the unknown. No matter what change occurs in our lives, we must cling to the promise that God not only is present with us through it, but He has already gone before us and prepared the way. Our responsibility is to trust and follow Him, despite our uncertainties.

Father, Thank You for reminding us that you go before us and are present with us in all things. Help us to walk in faith as we encounter transitions in any areas of our lives.

The Plumb Line of a Believer

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:41:00 +0000

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.

Have you ever taken one of those self-assessment quizzes where you had to rate yourself? As I was killing time I didn't have the other day, I decided to take one of these such quizzes. Each of the questions asked me to rate myself according to how I thought I performed socially, emotionally, physically, etc. Similarly, my husband had to do a self-evaluation of his job performance today.

Self-evaluation is a part of life and should be a part of the Christian life; for it helps us continue to strive for godly living. However, it is important that we have a proper view of ourselves. Romans 12:3 tells us that we are not to think too highly of ourselves. My husband and I love watching "America's Got Talent." Inevitably, they have the contestants on the show who think they are the next headliner; yet when they begin to perform, they are in actuality TERRIBLE. When the judges tell them the truth of their fate, they are in disbelief! Somehow, in their minds, they had built up an over-inflated and unrealistic view of themselves. Their pride blinded them to the truth.

Unfortunately, the same thing happens in a spiritual context. Believers who once relied upon the grace of God somehow start to see themselves as the ones who are making things happen. They start to believe that it is by their talent and influence that opportunities open. Soon, their view of God and others becomes deflated because their view of self has become so grandiose.

The buffer to this puffed up way of thinking is to instead view ourselves with sober judgement. In other words, we should look at ourselves in light of who we are under God's grace. In Christ, we are redeemed, set free, complete, and sanctified. Without Him, we condemned, accused, and separated from God. The only thing that measures who we are in Him is our faith. Therefore, an honest self-evaluation for a believer should consist of looking at how much faith we are putting in Christ. That really is the only plumb line for a believer. The works we do, the money we give, and anything else should be a reflection of the faith we have in Jesus.

If you had to rate yourself on a scale 1-10, how much time, attention, and daily trust are you giving to Jesus?

Beware of the Snake

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:58:00 +0000

1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

This evening, as I was coming in from gathering a few items from my car, I almost stepped my bare feet directly upon a snake. To say that I hate snakes would be a drastic understatement. I loathe the very thought of snakes. When God placed a curse between the woman and the serpent, He meant it for direct enmity between snakes and me for life. (I digress.) It was still light out and the snake was directly in my path. However, there was a lot of activity going on in our neighborhood and yard (cars driving by, squirrels running up trees, etc.) and so I was distracted. It wasn't until I was directly upon the snake that I noticed it.

How often we do the same in our spiritual lives? We get distracted by harmless enough events. Yet, it keeps us from being watchful from things that warrant our attention. The difference between my example and Scripture is that this snake was not daring to come after me. He was simply minding his own business. It was I who almost interrupted his evening. However, John 10:10 says that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Therefore, he actively looks to harm those he seeks. Likewise, 1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Therefore, we are to be alert and sober minded.

The Christian community is called to wake up and keep watch because the adversary is actively prowling to consume. I think we often either deny the existence of a real enemy of God or we bury our heads in the sand, assuming a spiritual attack would never happen to us. We don't understand spiritual warfare and therefore, we simply ignore it. However, Scripture commands us to wake up and realize that there is more going on in the world than our own agenda. The easiest way for an enemy to defeat an opponent is to catch them off guard.

This evening was a wake up call for me. As much as I despise snakes, I know that there is a greater adversary out there who desires nothing more than for me to be distracted by "harmless" frivolities. However, I must stay the course, knowing that I am on this earth for a Kingdom purpose and continue to look to Christ as my source and my strength.

How Do You Smell To The World?

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 14:06:00 +0000

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 - 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

When my children come inside from playing, one of the first things I say to them is, "y'all smell like farm animals!" In other words, it was quite evident where they had been based on their aroma.

This morning as I was reflecting on God's Word, I chuckled as I read 2 Corinthians 2 and as I thought about my two stinky children. Their smell represented hours of fun to them, but to me, it was a sign of a much needed bath! I then began to dive into the meaning of 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. When a Roman army won a battle and defeated an enemy, they began a procession and celebration that could sometimes last three days. People burnt incense and filled the streets with the smell of perfume. The victors paraded the spoils and processed the warriors in victory. For the winning army, it was a time of celebration and life. The sights, sounds, and smells encompassed triumph. In the same way, when Christ returns, it will be a moment of triumph for those who believe. However, to those who never believed, it will be a time of judgment. Likewise, in during the Roman times, the same festival with the same sights, sounds, and smells, carried with it an entirely different meaning to the defeated army. The captives were paraded through the streets in cages. Their gold, silver, art, and jewels were stolen. The opposing king was often set out on display and then be publicly executed The same smell elicited two very different reactions depending on which side you belonged.

Second Corinthians 2:15 states that as Christians, we are the fragrance of Christ. To those who belong to Him, we elicit a sweet scent of life. Yet to those who do not, we give off the odor of death. We come off as offensive. Therefore, when we truly live out the Gospel, there will be people who are offended by our message. Unfortunately, that is the truth of God's Word. That does not mean we should change the substance of the message or try to make it "smell better" to the world. Instead, we should have compassion on the world, and love the world as Christ did, yet stand firm on the truth of God's Word, no matter what.

If no one is ever offended by your testimony of Christ, how much are you actually displaying Him?

How do you see your God?

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:02:00 +0000

Isaiah 40

For the last two days, Isaiah 40 has been impressed upon me. Literally, God has brought forth this passage of Scripture to my eyes. As I studied this passage, I wondered if it was because I was feeling tired in ministry. I am in the middle of summer, which for a children's minister is a very busy time. However, as I looked upon the passage further, He began to ask me a different question. That question was, "How are you currently seeing God?"

The passage is one of comfort of the people of Israel. Isaiah had predicted the destruction of Israel and its fall to Babylon and now he gives her a call of comfort. I feel that the main question being asked is, "Do you remember who your God is?" He is seen in this chapter as One with power, who rules with a mighty arm, yet also a faithful shepherd. He is powerful, yet gentle to those He loves. He has been ever present since creation. Nothing has escaped Him. The most formidable armies are like dust compared to our God. Yet, it seems that His people have forgotten His attributes. Their complaints stem out of lack of faith that comes from forgetfulness.

How often I am guilty of the same offenses as the Israelites? I complain about my circumstances and accuse God of not caring, when in fact He is the One who is my Creator and Sustainer. My responsibility is to hope in His character and to look faithfully to Him. It is then that He will allow me to do things that I would have never though possible.

How do you currently see God? Do you see Him as the Almighty God who lovingly cares for your every need? Or do you see Him as being far away and aloof to your problems? If you are going through a season of discouragement in your walk with the Lord, I would encourage you to reflect on Isaiah 40. Perhaps a shift in perspective is what you need to get you back on track.

What Are You Striving For?

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:54:00 +0000

Mark 8:36 - What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

If I asked you to list out your five year plan, what would it look like? It might include goals such as paying off debt, buying a car, getting a child to or through school, losing a pant size, running a marathon, changing a career, getting married, etc. These are not necessarily bad things in and of themselves. However, sometimes, we become so fixated on "our" plans, that we often forget about becoming the person God has designed us to be.

We live out our lives striving for the latest gadget or momentary fame that will fade away. In God's economy, He asks us to strive and labor in order to purse righteousness and build up the body of Christ. We should therefore examine how much time we are investing in our own spiritual growth and in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have never been to a funeral where in the eulogy they listed off all of the great "stuff" the person owned. Conversely, it is how that person gave their life away to others that is remembered. In the same way, at the end of our lives, we will be held accountable by not how much wealth we have accumulated, but by how faithful we were with the time we were given on earth.

In looking at your five year plan, make sure that there is a precedence of Christ in your life. If there needs to be some adjusting in priorities, adjust. If there needs to be a change in direction, begin that change. It is best to start today than to look back thirty years from now, realizing that your life was lived in vain.

Being Me...As God Intended

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:48:00 +0000

This afternoon, I am in my recliner reading the blogs of several fellow Christian authors and I have a disturbing feeling creep up inside of me.....jealousy. Here are these lovely, godly women who are sharing His Word and encouraging others. They are running the race and are running well. And I have to ask myself, "How?" How do they come up with the perfect recipe, the perfect family photos, the perfect words of encouragement? They have thousands of followers who adore everything about them. They are picture perfect. The real question I am asking is: why has God decided to use them in this way and not me?

I am sitting in my recliner with no make-up, hair unraveled, and my couch full of clothes that are yet to be folded. As of this morning, my blog has four followers (thank you to those four people). Yet, after my moment of confession, I am sitting here laughing at the lesson God is teaching me.

So often we try to measure success by the number of Facebook friends, Twitter followers, or other tangible evidences we can grasp. We crave attention and affirmation even when it comes to ministry. Jesus' disciples did this as well. Yet Scripture is abundantly clear as it relates to how Jesus sees discipleship. In Matthew 16:34. Jesus states that whoever wants to be His disciple must "deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." If ministry goals and objectives get in the way of God's purposes for us, we lose sight on what it truly means to be His disciple. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we might have a relationship with Him and that we might make Him known to others at His leading. The lesson that I am reminded of is that I must say, "yes" to what He is asking me to do today.

My "yes" to Jesus today was playing with my daughter and teaching her to be gentle. It will be putting up the clothes on the couch and making sure that my family has dinner on time. It is posting this authentic blog for whoever needs to read it at this time. It is answering the phone to someone who needs to talk.

God does not rate us by how many fans we have or what our approval rating is. He acknowledges us by how obedient we have been and by how intimate of a relationship we have had with Him. If my next task He asks of me is to scrub toilets for Him, my prayer is that I will be the best toilet scrubber I can be.

May we stop looking at how God is using others as discouragement, but rather encourage one another on and look for ways in which we can say "yes" to God every day for His kingdom and His glory.

Don't Scratch the Itch

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:35:00 +0000

Don't Scratch the Itch

2 Timothy 4:1-5

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

In the world of celebrity pastors, there is sometimes a temptation to draw a crowd and in doing so, try to make the "Good News" as appealing as possible. Some leaders have unfortunately turned from "preaching the Word." to marketing a brand of God that will fill seats to arenas. While they are tickling ears, placating emotions, and building churches, is this watered down approach to the Gospel doing anything to advance the Kingdom?

The method is as old as the New Testament itself. Paul spoke vehemeantly against this kind of teaching. In the life of the early church, there were false teachers who would draw followers based off of false doctrine that satisfied the crowds' curiosity. In response, Paul exhorted Timothy to "preach the word." Likewise, we are to proclaim truth and speak out against heresy. We are to live with a sense of preparedness and courage; not being afraid to speak up and out when it is inconvenient, or uncomforable. We are to build up the Body of Christ by helping one another address sin and inconsistencies. However, are are to to so with tenderness and commitment.

The world is not inclined to hear this type on instruction. Objective truth is no longer a reality to many. Rather, people want to hear what makes them feel good. Therefore, with a plethora of "teachers", they can simply turn on the television or pick up a book that affirms their current line of thought. Some leaders have sought to meet these "seekers" needs by appealing to their senses and offering simple "how to" sermons that give steps instead of Truth. They come inside a worship service that has been produced to be like that of a modern rock concert. Yet they are supposed to see the difference Christ has made?

Unfortunately, some pastors have offered the solution that "God" brings personal happiness, which is a theological falacy that will ultimately bring about disappointment. They do not deal with the problem of evil in the world. They do not adequately address the problem of sin out of fear of offending someone. Truth is whatever makes you happy. Jesus is one of many options rather than the only option. Scripture is roughly paraphrased rather than expounded. And as long as those who hear come away satisfied, all is well. After all, the parking lot is full.

The Church must stand up and fight against this way of solicitation. The message of Christ is not one of prosperity, self-fulfillment, and personal blessing. Rather, it is one of sacrifice, abandonment, and obedience. To think of Christ as a way to personal enlightenment, destiny, and power is to miss the entire message of the kingdom of God. As disciples, we are called to follow, to pick up our crosses daily, and to die to self. If we think of Jesus as OUR Savior, we reverse His Lordship over us.

The way to fight against the Celebrity Church mindset is by embracing 2 Timothy 4:5. We must stay focused on that which Christ has commissioned us to accomplish for His sake. As a result, there will be harship that we must endure. We will not be seen the same. We will be criticized. We will be mocked. We will be scrutinized. However, our goal must remain; reaching this world for Christ. We do this not by making Jesus attractive to them, but by helping them truly understand God's plan for them through Christ. When we do, we will fulfill the ministry God has called us to and be the Church God wants us to be.

I am so grateful to be a part of a church who takes 2 Timothy 4:1-5 seriously.

For Him Each Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:33:00 +0000

For Him, Each Moment

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Colossians 3. Paul recognizes the dramatic change in the person because of Christ and then encourages that they should live out that change in every aspect of how they live.

If it is true that we have been raised with Christ, i.e., that we have been transformed by his death and resurrection, then we are no longer the same person. Therefore, our wants and desires should be different from when we did not know Christ. In Colossians 3:1, Paul exhorts the believers to seek the things above, referring to that which builds the kingdom of God. This is a pursuit of the heart that is continuous and active. Our affections are to lie on what lies beyond the present and earthly. Our thoughts are to be actively and constantly set heavenward rather than to the things on earth.

The reason for this new pursuit is because we have died to our old ways and we are now hidden with Christ. No longer is the world to see us, but rather they are to see Christ through us. The result of us remaining hidden is that when Christ is glorified, we will be revealed in glory with him.

I think many times, people forget that a commitment to Christ is a change in identity. It is a dying to self and being united to Christ. We try to compartmentalize religion to make it fit into what makes us feel comfortable rather than allow Christ to transform who we are from the inside out. We feel good about ourselves if we give an hour to God on Sunday mornings. Yet, we miss the point. Christ wants every breath, every moment. He must become greater and we must become less.

However, when we begin pursuing the things of this world instead of the things of God, we are not allowing ourselves to remain hidden. We are not remaining united with Christ in his resurrection. Instead, we are walking in the way we used to live. Often, we think that this will lead to self-glorification, but that glory is futile and fades. It does not satisfy.

So how do we do CONTINUE to seek the things above, especially when our lives are so BUSY? Do we clear out the schedules? Do we incorporate Christ into them? How do we CONSTANTLY think about the things of heaven and not the things of earth when the demands of earth threaten to dictate our lives.

I want to dialogue about this issue. As women, how do we give each moment to Christ, while at the same time balancing the roles of career, girlfriend, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, etc.? Please comment. In the following weeks, my desire is to tackle the issue of being whole-hearted devoted followers of Christ, as women, in a world that conflicts with this idea. I ask that you join me in this endeavor of prayer, dialogue, and study as a woman, no matter where you are at relationally, spiritually, professionally, etc. Will you join the journey?

Seeking Him,

Cortney

Is the Message of Foolishness Gaining Influence over the Power of God?

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:59:00 +0000

Is the Message of Foolishness Gaining Influence over the Power of God?

First Corinthians 1:18 ¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

There is a side to Christian Scholarship that seeks to prove the inconsistencies and fallacies of the claims of Scripture. These scholars are professors of religion at some of the top institutions in the country. They have written New York Times Bestselling books. They lecture all over the world, giving “incite” about the “truth” of Jesus of Nazareth. Their claims use textual, historical, and contextual criticism of the New Testament. They list problem texts and give long arguments about why the manuscripts of the New Testament cannot be trusted. And many evangelicals have no idea they are out there.

For example, UNC Professor Bart Ehrman, graduated from Moody Bible Institute and then Wheaton College (two of the most conservative evangelical Bible Colleges in the country). He grew up a fundamentalist conservative. However, throughout his doctoral studies, he denounced the faith he had previously claimed. Now, as the head of the religion department at UNC, Ehrman seeks to enlighten young, impressionable students who simply want to learn more about the Bible. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothes, he leads the class through “reasons” why Jesus was never meant to be seen as God.

Ehrman is only one of many of these scholars around the country, proclaiming the foolishness of the message of the cross. Yet, they are making a lasting impact on today’s college students. The Church must be become proactive.

For those being saved, the message of the cross is the power of God. As Christians, we should not cower from hard discussions. Rather, we need to become educated and teach the next generation to truly understand what the message of the cross is. Television loves to promote the agenda of skeptics. However, when an evangelical has something of substance to say, they are willing to listen. I used to love to listen to my professors Darrell Bock, Daniel Wallace discuss these topics because they always noted that it was in the study of God’s Word that their faith was strengthened. I believe that sometimes, we want to simply look to Scripture as our “How to” guide instead of looking at it for what it is: the revelation of God. We therefore neglect to see it in its original context. Then, when critics come, we have no answers.

We cannot bury our heads in the sand any longer. We must study the text of Scripture, with the historical setting in mind. We must read the verses in their correct context. We must become familiar with what opposing views are surrounding us and then come to an understanding about what the truth is.

For an article about Bart Ehrman, please click the link below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/04/AR2006030401369.html

Encouraging Christ Confident Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:07:00 +0000

Tonight, I asked my son who his best friend at school was. He told me a name and then I proceeded to ask if they played together on the playground. He said, "no, he already has friends." I then began to pry a little farther and asked who he DID play with on the playground. My kindergartner nonchalantly responded, "well, everyone already has someone to play with, so I play by myself." In that moment, I felt a part of me wither inside. I immediately started going into action mode, thinking of the letter I would write to the teacher, making sure that my son was included in activities. I then stopped to pray. I asked myself, "Is this really the crisis you are making it out to be?" Your son is confident, happy, and feels secure in who he is. We have worked hard in our household to let our children be who they are and tell them to live as Christ wants them to live no matter what. Yet, I was tempted to make sure that my son was popular.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized we as parents WANT our kids to be popular. We want them to be accepted and on the in crowd. Mostly because, at some point in time, we experienced the pain of the outside. However, what we want for our children is completely contrary to Scripture. John 15:19 says, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

What we, as parents, need to learn to do is teach our children to find their confidence in their relationship with Christ. We need to help them find avenues where they can find like-minded friends. We must also encourage and love them through the lonely times, especially as they grow older. I remember one Saturday night as a teenager, hanging out with one of my friends and crying out to her saying that I simply wished to get drunk just so I could be like everyone else. The moment passed, but it left an impact.

As I pray for my children, my prayer is not that they will be accepted, but that they will find friends who will encourage them and will have the same beliefs they will have. I pray that they will be strong in faith and that they will use adversity to cling to the cross.

Christians and Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:44:00 +0000

Christians and Controversy

I was browsing some Christian blogs the other day and I noticed a trend among some of the blogs that receive high volume: many of their topics are controversial. I began pondering this coincidence. I have never considered myself a person who revels in controversy and I tend to minister with the same frame of mind. I then began thinking about how Jesus dealt with controversy while He was here on earth.

Jesus never directly confronted political or divisive issues. The Pharisees contently tried to trap Jesus by forcing Him to give an opinion on controversial topics (Matthew 17:24:-27; 19:1-12; 22:15-22). However, his responses were decisive, yet brief. Jesus did not come into the world to debate the world, but to save the world.

Regarding social issues, Jesus’ philosophy was love the sinner, hate the sin. He was notorious for dining with “sinners”, tax collectors, and other social misfits. He was not afraid to speak with a Samaritan woman, which was the ultimate social taboo for a Jewish man. Jesus was not afraid to get involved.

In Luke 5, Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector to be His disciple. At that time, a tax collector was one of the most hated people in Judea because they exploited their neighbors for personal gain. However, Jesus approached him, and told him to follow. The publican got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Later, Levi held a banquet for Jesus and His disciples at his home where other tax collectors and sinners were present. When the Pharisees and teachers of the law confronted Jesus about his selection of table fellowship, Jesus responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

³²I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32).
I think we can learn a lot from Jesus’ example in Luke 5. Rather than debating how “tax collecting” infringes upon the commands of Scripture, we should be reaching out to the tax collectors. Instead, we plaster our beliefs via a wall post on Facebook or a bumper sticker of a car as if a tag line will bring about repentance.
I personally would have loved to have witnessed the exchange between Jesus and Levi. The only words recorded in Levi’s calling are, “Follow Me.” It appears from the context that this is the first exchange that the two had ever had. However, I would conjecture that the publican had seen the miracles Jesus had been performing in Capernaum and he recognized that there was something different about him. The fact that Jesus approached him, spoke to him, and wanted him impacted him. And the tax collector was forever changed. If we could only think beyond ourselves and want to embrace the “un-embraceable,” we might actually have a chance to show them that there is such a thing as grace. Yet, our approach is often to “save them from their SIN”, rather than to show them the love and grace of God. Jesus confronted sin, but it was only AFTER He had shown love to the sinner.

We then immediately see Levi respond in hospitality. Not only does He host His new Teacher, but he begins to reach out to others who need Jesus. This is the first “evangelism meeting” recorded in Scripture. Levi understands Jesus’ approach and begins to embrace it as his own.

When the scoffers denounce Jesus’ interaction with the sinners, Jesus is quick to correct their wrong thinking. He had no intention of hanging out with the “religious elite.” Rather, He knew his mission was to lead people to repentance. In thinking about this story and asking myself how much time I spend in the “Christian bubble” verses in the field, leading people to repentance, I am a bit disproportioned. We often feel more comfortable being around people who are “like us” and simply talking about people who “do those other things.” Yet, this is not the Gospel. We will never reach the world for Christ if we are not in the world, being salt and light.

What the Church Can Learn from the Obama Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:54:00 +0000

This post is not political. However, after reading up on how the Obama campaign won the election, I realized that there were a couple of tips that we as the Church could take from their strategy.

1. They had the desire to convert. Obama wanted to win. He knew that every vote counted and he went after it.

2. They went to the people. I read in Time Magazine that Obama had a strategic ground formula that was unmatched by Romney. He utilized facebook in a way that will most likely change the game of politics from now on out. All this being said, is that, as a Church, we must go to the people. Isn't this what Jesus did? :)

3. They did not rely on the rally. Similar to point two, Obama did not rely on his rallies to get his message across. If we as the Church relied solely on Sunday morning services to get the gospel out (which we tend to do), we are going to lose this race of building the Kingdom.

4. They told people what they could offer. Again, this is not a political article, so I will not go into the details of whether they can do what is promised. However, as Christians, we know GOD CAN DELIVER. And people need to know that. We have the greatest news and the greatest deal, yet we don't seem to want to share it with anyone. However, if we communicated the life, joy, and hope Jesus brings, don't you think people would respond?

Whether you are an Obama fan or not, his strategy worked. Don't you think it might be time that Evangelicals re-evaluated their own strategies of the "seeker" friendly model and adopt a ground game that might be a little more time consuming, a little more dirty, and a little more relational. However, the effects could possibly be a little more eternal.

A Lesson from Starbucks

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:22:00 +0000

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

I went to a Starbucks the other day to find the slogan “Rekindle the Joy” emblazoned on their door. In July of this past year, their stocks fell due to a lowered projection in fourth quarter earnings. Before the recession, a Starbucks cup was somewhat of a status symbol and brought with it a sense of well-being. Now, the same cup seems to represent superfluous spending and a lack of priority. In response, the company hopes to re-brand themselves by reminding people of the togetherness that happens over a cup of coffee.

While this is a silly illustration, it makes me think of a much greater branding issue that we as Christians have. As I was driving down the road the other day, a church’s billboard read “you may think someone is sweet until you sit in their pew.” Somewhere, the church has gone from being the Body of Christ to a competitive bunch of social organizations. We love those who are like us and judge those who are not. The name Jesus Christ no longer brings a sense of peace, hope, and joy to those but rather dread, condescension, and distrust.

If we were to re-brand Christianity today perhaps a tag phrase could be: Truly Transformed. You see, Starbucks began to lose business because people realized that the company was capitalizing on really expensive coffee. The product did not live up to the hype. Unfortunately, for some cynics, they see Christianity the same way: a group of sugar-coated people on the outside that if you mess with them, watch out. Yet, these naysayers miss the ultimate picture of Christianity: Christ. When Jesus was alive, people were attracted to him. Today, the church constantly has to come up with catch slogans and programs to get people in the doors. Therefore, if we could re-brand ourselves, allowing Christ to truly transform us, the Church, and the way in which we relate to those around us, the world would have a completely different perception to Christianity. Not only would it be different, it would be magnetic.

What are some practical ways you can “re-brand” yourself to where others see Christ in you?

Breaking the Cycle of "Normalcy"

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Matthew 10:37-39 ³⁷“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

³⁸Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

When Jesus called each of His disciples, there was nothing special about the moment to the call. However, the events that transpired afterwards altered every moment for the rest of the follower’s life. Discipleship was an epic journey marked by sacrifice, learning, and dependency on the Master. Nothing about the disciple’s life was normal. His schedule was made by his Teacher.

We live in a world that loves schedules. There are calendars, day planners, IPads, phones, computers, etc., that all have apps or programs that support the use of a schedule. And most of us love to use these schedules. The devout even schedule in their religious activities. But what if we had the conviction and freedom to where there was no schedule but to do what God asked of us? What if we lived a life of such Epic proportion to where God’s Kingdom was so on the forefront of our mind that it dictated how our day was planned?

Take a moment to re-read Matthew 10:37-39. Now, insert what I like to call “Kingdom Wasters” (such as TV, Social Media, naps) into the blanks. How many of these Kingdom Wasters can you think of?

Matthew 10:37-39 ³⁷“Anyone who loves their ____________more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their _________ more than me is not worthy of me.

³⁸Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

When Jesus taught these verses in Matthew, he was showing through hyperbole that love for Him must come before all else. However, it seems that love for Jesus is no longer a close second to family if we used time to gauge our affections. Work, school, friends, sports, entertainment, vacations, etc. The list keeps growing and growing.

If we as Christians want to effectively impact the world for Christ, we are going to have to break the cycle of doing what’s “normal” in our culture. Some of these changes might seem drastic, but in case you haven’t noticed, we live in a desperate time. This world needs Jesus and they need to see Him through us. We need to step up and become the followers He has called us to be.

The Importance of Unity: Part One - Unity Amongst Believers

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +0000

John 17:20-26
²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17 consists of Jesus' prayer for himself, his disciples, and all future believers. It is Jesus' final prayer before he is arrested and later crucified. In his prayer for future believers, Jesus asks the Father specifically for unity. The first type of unity he prays for is amongst believers. The second type is between the believer and the Father and Son. When Jesus intercedes on behalf of future believers, he prays that believers will share the same type of unity that he has experienced with the Father. The purpose and result of this unity, given in verses 21 and 23, is that the world will believe that: 1. Jesus was truly sent from God and that 2. God loves them. In verse 22, Jesus states that he has given believers the glory needed to accomplish this unity.

So, if unity amongst believers was one of Jesus' primary concerns before facing the cross, should it not be one of our priorities today? However, settling discord and building oneness seems to be less than a precedence in many of our lives as well as in the lives of many churches. If someone has a problem with their brother or sister in Christ, often times, they complain to another or avoid the issue rather than mending the relationship. Or if someone has an issue with the body of believers, they simply find another one that suits them better. It seems that there is more competition and conflict between and within the Church than unity. Yet, we are surprised when unbelievers want nothing to do with us. Jesus stated that the result of unity would be that the world would know that he was sent from God and that God loves the world. However, if there is no within the body of Christ, how will that message be delivered to the world? Jesus' gift to us, according to verse 22, is that he has given us what is necessary to be one. Yet, we often stray from that glory in order to seek our own.

Jesus' work on the cross was the ultimate example of humility (Philippians 2). It was this act of humility that allows us to be united with God. I believe that it is Christ-like humility that allows us to be united with each other. As we prepare for Easter this year, let us look at our own lives and ask ourselves how we are doing at being united with our fellow believers. Our unity is a greater testimony to the world than we often realize.

Stopping the Pity Party Mindset

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:33:00 +0000

2 Timothy 1:8-12 - ⁸ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Today, as I began my Bible Study, I did so with a pity party mindset. I was tired, frustrated, and had simply had enough drama from all of the "messes" going on in my life. However, as I began to sit down and pray and read the beginning of Second Timothy, my Heavenly Father began to give me a slight attitude adjustment.

At the beginning of the letter, Paul is in prison and is writing to his beloved pupil, Timothy. Other supporters had deserted him and he has suffered a lot for the cause of Christ. However, Paul instructs Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel or of its messenger.

I began to meditate on verse 12. Paul suffered so much, yet complained none. The reason for this is because He knew WHY he was suffering. He realized that there was a purpose for it. His purpose was to share the gospel, no matter what. More importantly though, Paul was able to suffer well, because He knew the Lord well. He was not ashamed because he KNEW whom he believed. The Greek word used here that means "to know" can have two different meanings: the first is to have information about someone or something and the second is to be intimately acquainted with someone or something. The range of the word is as vast as our own use of the English equivalent. However, Paul KNEW Jesus. It is evident by his testimony he gives in verse nine.

In thinking about these verses, I have come to realize, how we handle suffering directly correlates with how well we know Jesus. If we simply know him to be the subject of children's songs, hard times will seem pressing. However, if we trust in Christ as the one who has the power of God, who has saved us and has called us to a holy life, not because of anything that we have done but because of his own purpose and grace, not only will we endure suffering, we will conquer it with JOY. Paul was such a great testimony to Christ because he was not ashamed in his suffering. Rather than blaming God for his perils, He praised Him for His purpose because he knew that in his suffering, others would see Christ.

Paul understood how difficult it was to have such fortitude in a harsh world. That is why he wrote Timothy such strong words of encouragement. I know I often cower in my own discomforts, but it is my prayer that I may have the MINDSET of Paul so that my actions may gravitate toward gratitude.

Get Over the Guilt

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:45:00 +0000

1 John 3:19-24
¹⁹ By this (Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and our response of love) we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; ²⁰ for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ²² and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴ Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

The power guilt has over a believer is often suffocating. It distracts us from our ultimate purpose of seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness. We often wallow in guilt, allowing our hearts to condemn us over and over again for either an isolated mistake or a habit we are trying to break. Yet, Scripture gives us comfort. First John 3:20 reminds us that when our hearts condemn us, we must remember that God is greater than our heart and He knows everything. This is not a verse of judgment, stating that God can make you feel worse because He is bigger and can remember more of your transgressions because He knows everything. Rather, it is a verse of comfort. The all-knowing, all-powerful God has extended mercy and love to us through His Son, with the only requirement that we believe and love (1 John 3:24). Therefore, we have no reason to allow our hearts to condemn us when the God of the universe no longer does.

No matter what has happened in the past, or perhaps even what is going on now, there is no reason to let guilt have a strong hold over you. It is not the life God wants for you. He has made it possible to become free of that guilt simply by believing in who He is. God does not want us to cower before Him, but rather to have confidence, because our confidence comes from knowing the Truth. When we are self-absorbed with guilt, we serve and love for the wrong reasons, and others do not see Christ in us. However, when we are confident before God, we are focused on Him and love like Him, which allows others to see Him in us.

Your Responsibility to Ask, Seek, and Knock

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Matthew 7:7-9 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Often times, in hardships I hear, "I just can't see God" and "I don't believe God hears my prayers." As I've pondered on these statements and surveyed Scripture, I've come to the realization that our ability to see God at work is based on how hard we are actually searching for Him. I've gone through some difficult times in my life, and 100% of the time, how much I saw God in the picture was dependant upon how hard I was seeking Him.

In Matthew 7:7, Jesus gives a conditional command. In essence, he is saying, "if you ask, it will be given, if you seek, you will find." These are not simply a one time event of asking, seeking, and knocking, but Greek grammar dictates that the command is continual. In essence, the person is to continue to ask, seek, and knock. There is no object to what is given. Many people think this verse implies that we may ask anything of God and He will give it, which makes God out to be our own personal genie. However, Jesus is speaking these words in Matthew 7 during the Sermon on the Mount, where the emphasis is the kingdom of God. Therefore, what is asked for, sought, and knocked upon should be seen in light of the kingdom of God.

One of the most striking examples of this is that of George Mueller. He began praying for five of his friends to come to faith. After many months, one of them became a Christian. Ten years later, two others were came to faith. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Mueller continued in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, totalling 52 years of fervent prayer. Mueller's faith was rewarded, for soon after Mueller’s funeral the last friend was saved.
in Matthew 7:7, it is interesting to see who makes the response happen with each of the corresponding actions a person does. God is the giver to the asker and the opener to the knocker. Yet, nestled between the two, the seeker is the one who will actively find. Therefore, the biblical principle is made: if someone continually and actively seeks, he will find."

Sometimes life doesn't make sense. It seems unfair and unjust. And if we get down to it, it isn't just, because sin has entered the world. However, sometimes, we place the blame of life's conditions on God. We think that God doesn't hear us and that He doesn't care. That belief is not biblical truth. The truth is that if we seek Him, we will find Him. The challenge for us is this: when we walk through trials, we continue to seek because the seeker is the one who finds. No one else can do it for us.

Even in the grimmest situations, God can be found. It might not be in the answer for which you were looking, but that does not negate His presence nor His purpose for you. Our emphasis should not be placed on the impending result, but rather on our continual plight to ask, seek, and knock. When we do, our hearts will be more in line with the heart of God and we will better understand the plan He has for us in light of whatever circumstance you are going through.

The Importance of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:06:00 +0000

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

As we approach the Valentine's Day season, we cannot help but be bombarded with one message: LOVE. For some, this day is dreaded (at one point I was one of those rebels, wearing black to show my denouncement of the holiday). For others, it is the most anticipated day of the year because it is the one day their significant other must show their love in a tangible way. No matter how you celebrate February 14th, it is hard to ignore.

While I was thinking about this upcoming holiday, I began to think about 1 Corinthians 13. Here, Paul tells the Corinthians about the importance of love. He tells them that they could have and use the greatest spiritual gifts, but it would fall on deaf ears if they did so without love. They could possess great faith in God, but it means nothing if they cannot love another person. They could be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Christ, yet if they do not love, the sacrifice is worthless.

How many of you have ever tried to listen to someone give a spiritual talk when they had scorned you in some way? Was their message engaging or did it sound like a broken record?

If someone knows the Word and is passionate about it, and has great faith, but does not care about others, how receptive will others be to the message? Jesus was the ultimate lover. He saw the "unlovable" and welcomed them. He saw the "untouchable" and healed them. It was His love that compelled people to listen.

We as the Church need to examine how we are doing at loving others. How are we loving those closest to us? How are we loving those with whom we worship? How are we loving strangers? How are we loving our enemies? So often we focus on our own spiritual lives and disciplines, that we forget that there is a hurting world around us who need Jesus. We are his disciples and his ambassadors representing him on earth. If we do not love, we give the wrong impression of him and every effort we make is in vain at best.

This Valentine's season, I want to challenge you to begin to pray that God will give you a heart for his people and will grow your love.

They Shall Know We Are Christians by Our Love.

A Personal Word on Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:05:00 +0000

For those of you who do not know...last week my daughter and I were involved in a fairly bad car accident. I had just taken my son to school. As we were turning out of our driveway, I noticed I was on empty. I made note of this to my son who pleaded with me to stop at the nearest station by our house. I told him that I would stop after I took him to school. On the way to the gas station, I was t-boned by another car going about 65 mph because I turned without seeing him coming. I then hit another truck which landed my vehicle on the ground. After it was all over and I had my daughter in my arms, I realized how bad it could have been. My SUV was in shambles, as was the other one. Yet all parties walked away with minor injuries.

In the next day or so, people began to tell me how on that morning, they had felt compelled to pray for me by name. They stopped what they were doing and prayed. One person was praying at the exact moment my son was trying to tell me to choose another gas station. I can pinpoint several people who had specifically prayed for my safety that morning. I am grateful and humbled to say the least.

Oftentimes, I dwell on the Sovereignty of God and I think that my prayers make no difference. However, that is an unbiblical view of prayer. In Luke 11, Jesus tells us to ask of God. Our God is not simply some unfeeling powerhouse. He is our loving Heavenly Father who hears us when we cry to Him. He wants us to ask of Him because when we ask and He gives, it is a testimony of who He is.

I know without a doubt that I walked away from that accident because my Heavenly Father listened to the prayers of His people. He compelled them to pray, they followed in obedience, and He heard their prayers. This example shows both God's Sovereignty as well as our responsibility.

I know I do not typically log about my own experiences, but this truly was a defining moment that will shape my priority and content of prayer.

Are you OK Being a Loser?

noreply@blogger.com (Cortney Whiting) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Let's face it, the first item on our goal list is not to be the most unpopular person within our social environment. I was watching a comedian one night, and he described himself as 15 degrees off from cool. He said that you could take the "cool kids" and compare him with them, and he would be slightly awkward. While the audience laughed, I think that at the same time, each one could relate to some degree. We all want to be liked and accepted. We want to have friends and be considered people of influence within the community. But when does that desire become too much?

1 John 2:15-17 says - ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

There is a disconnect between what the world wants and what God wants. Sometimes, we get a little confused and our minds start to drift from the things of God to the things of the world. We begin to think about how nice a newer car, a larger house, a more fashionable wardrobe, a more powerful job,or a fuller day planner would be. Yet, in the end, none of these things will last. However, the work that we do for the kingdom of God will make an eternal impact.

Think about the people who have made the biggest impact in your life. Was is because they were the most popular, had be best "stuff", or even had the charisma to impress you the most? What was it about those people? Chances are they were humble in nature, not given much credit for what they did, and you would not be able to pick them out in a crowd. Or at least, it was not their popularity that made the impact on you. Conversely, they most likely had the love of the Father in them and shared that love with you.

When we begin to focus more on how to increase what belongs to the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, or the pride of life rather than focusing on God, we are heading down the wrong path and need to turn our thinking quickly. God knows his plans for us and when we look to him and trust him, they will work out as long as we seek him. Then, wherever we are placed, it is God who is glorified.

The temptation is to have the world tell us how great we are, but when they do that, they do not see how great is our God. To God Be The Glory!

*Disclaimer - I am not saying that God does not place people in high positions, because we see that in Scripture (a great example is Joseph). However, our mindset should not be on getting to those position, but rather loving the Father.