{Fervently on Fire}

Fervent: having or displaying a passionate intensity for something or someone

Fire: to give or fill with passion or enthusiasm

A passionate intensity. Sounds pretty deep, right? I'm sure everyone has a passion for at least a handful of interests, hobbies, and/or people. It could be a social media, a sport, a significant other, a musical instrument, a phone, a team, or any materialistic object that you find of high value and worth. These passions are not wrong by themselves. However, you may need to ask yourself if they are interfering with your relationship with Jesus.

If these insignificant passions are becoming or have been higher on your list of priorities than your daily walk with God, then you might need to reconsider and better balance what or who you give most of your time to.

Matthew 6:19: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Where will these materialistic items get us? That 50-inch flat-screen, brand new car, or luxurious and spacious house is not important in God's eyes. The things we had on earth will not matter to anyone after we die. More importantly, they will not matter to God. What will matter?  "But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:20). Treasure in Heaven can never be stolen, burned down, or taken by the bank. That is just one of the many reasons that it is so much more valuable than any other treasure we could obtain here on earth.

What are you on fire for? What do you spend most of your time, energy, and money on? Have you spent as much time submerged in God's Word as you have engrossed in Twitter or Instagram? Have you talked to God more than you have your best-friend? These are questions we need to ask ourselves to keep accountable and in-check. If you answered no, then you might need to take a step-back and take inventory of your time. 

More importantly, I ask the question: What should we be on fire for? Luke 24:32: "And they said one to another, 'Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?'" Have you ever listened to an inspiring speaker or attended a Christian conference where you left feeling rejuvenated, pure, and ready to live an on-fire life for God? However, as the days went by, you felt as if nothing really changed and you were the same person you were before. If so, I can honestly relate. We can talk about getting our lives right and adjusting our priorities all day long, but if we do not make a significant effort, nothing will change. Nothing. God is more important than anything, so why do we not treat Him like it sometimes? Your friends and family will all fail you at one point, but God never will.

We are called to grow more mature and closer in our relationship with God each passing day. How can we do that if He is on the bottom of our huge stack of concerns? Or just a check mark to achieve each day, purely to make ourselves feel and look better? I know that life is busy. School, church, practices, lessons, performances, trips, family gatherings, more school. But if we really desire to grow closer to the LORD, we will contain an unquenchable thirst that can only be fulfilled by time spent with Him. Why, you ask? "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." God drawing nearer to you is one of the best things that can ever happen to you, hands-down. Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." 


In addition to growing closer to God, we are called to strive to exhibit the likeliness of Jesus. Would your acquaintances or friends know that you are a Christian just by the way you talk or act? Would they say you act different than you used to or different than their other friends? That's what they should say if you are truly on fire for God. Colossians 2: 6, 7: "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

Rev 3: 15-18a: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich." These words in red lettering are important and attention-worthy. He is saying that he would rather us be completely cold than be half-there. It's all in or all out. It is so undesirable to Him for one to be "stuck in the middle," that He says he will spit them out. Do you watch television shows, listen to music, or have friends that please God? Don't be lukewarm. Be all the way in.

Follow your heart. Follow your instincts. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, do whatever you want. Common, wordly quotes that give the right-of-way for our emotions and feelings to affect or even dictate our actions. Well, in my opinion, DON'T FOLLOW YOUR HEART. Don't follow your instincts or whatever pops into your head. Do whatever would make God happy. Ask yourself what your fellow Christians would think if you pursued what you are contemplating. Most importantly, what does God think? As humans, we have been born with sinful natures. Wonderful, I know. On the contrary, we should overcome them by not spending our time chasing worldly desires with reckless abandon. Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." 

What should we be chasing after? Christ, first and foremost. Some wish that they had earlier in life and regret many past mistakes that they made. Don't think that you have to wait until you're older, wiser, more experienced, or smarter to start living for the LORD. You can start today. Proverbs 1:5: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance."

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   M
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P.S. Speaking of fire, I really like this song. http://www.metrolyrics.com/set-a-fire-lyrics-jesus-culture-with-martin-smith.html

{Mission-Minded}

Some preach that you should go on a missions trip just to be able to say that you went on one. Others think that it is a feeble and useless attempt to help the less fortunate, in another country, whom are beyond help. A social statement. A cry into the darkness. A waste of money and supplies. A trip for the "fun" of it. An attempt to buy salvation through winning others. A situation too far out of your comfort zone to experience. However, after going on a missions trip myself, I find none of these to be true in the least.

Some say you can't be a Christian if you never go on a missions trip. They say that you are being selfish and God wouldn't like it. False. You do not have to leave your country or even city to have a heart for missions. There are people in your own city that need the loving compassion and gentle help just as much as someone around the world does. True. To see these opportunities, we must stay missions-minded and watchful. Proverbs 31:20 says, "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy." It does not say that she had to go across the country to do it. She simply went about her daily routine, looking for opportunities such as these to lend a helping hand to those who need it.

Yalí, Nicaragua. A small city I will never forget. Filled with people I will always remember. Containing sites that I will never unsee. Where I spent one of the best and eye-opening weeks of my entire life. The minute we pulled up in the bus and I saw masses of children jumping and waving excitedly to people they'd never seen before, I recognized their innocence and openness. They rushed to welcome and greet us despite the language barrier and the unfamiliarity of it all. Here they were, standing outside meager homes with but a curtain for a door, eagerly awaiting the simple company and fellowship of strangers who looked or sounded nothing like themselves. Knowing that a large portion were probably not already saved, my heart broke. Thus, a mission for the week: showing God's love to others in hopes that they will accept and cherish his love and gift of salvation.

A large part of a missions trip is getting out of your comfort zone. As quite an introvert sometimes, I loathe public speaking in front of an audience from anywhere to two or six-hundred. As I was asked to share the Gospel with a large group of high-school students, I was ready to decline and go about my way. However, I knew that I could not. I would have never been able to get up and speak like I did without God's help. I believe that they did not hear me, but God speaking through me. An amazing part is when you share the Gospel with a child and get to pray with him or her to accept Jesus one-on-one. The clear acceptance and readiness of the humble Nicaraguans was refreshing in a sense. Thus, when it was time to load the bus for the last time and head for home, we left with optimistic but heavy hearts.

I can say that my life was forever changed by this trip. When seeing their lack of necessities, you catch yourself thanking God for the little things more often. Like air conditioning, running water, a bed, a plethora of different clothes and outfits, and a filled to the brim grocery store on every other street corner. It is a different mindset to think that many people around the world do not and will not ever experience such luxuries that we are blessed with everyday.

To anyone whom is considering going on a missions trip, I say, go. But, go for the right reasons. Don't go because your friends are or you want to have a good summer. Don't go because you want others to think higher of you and your relationship with God. Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven." Go because you want to share the Gospel and change people's lives for the better. Go because you want to tell someone who has never heard God's name that there is a loving Creator who indeed wants to be his or her Savior. Go because of the fact that you might change a child or adult's eternal destiny in a way that can never be repaid. Even if you do not go with the right intentions, I guarantee that when you come back, you will indeed see what I am talking about. Most of all, I urge you to pray about it. God has somewhere to use you whether it be a couple of minutes, states, or countries away.

So what does missions-minded mean to you? To me, it involves awareness and action on the fact that God has given me an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone. To share, you must be aggressive, consistent, concise, and truthful. It also includes follow-up and discipleship. Mentoring, having a mentor, or even praying for others are all great starts.

When preparing for a missions trip, people constantly say things to you like,  "Oh my, you will change their lives!" or "What a difference you'll make in their lives!" After spending a week in Yalí, Nicaragua, I have come to realize that it is not only their lives that were changed, but mine too. Perhaps, they changed my life more than anyone could ever fathom. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

~[Nostalgic] M
Coming Soon: Fervently on Fire

{Power of Prayer}

Constant riots. Robberies. Shootings. Kidnappings. Murders. Assaults. Abortions. Homosexuality. Every time I turn on the news, which is not very often, I feel like our country is plunging deeper and deeper into despair and destruction.

As I am sure we all know, our world today is in pretty severe trouble. However, positives like the almost unanimous "yes" vote on Amendment 1 give me hope for our country's future. Despite the good that will hopefully come from things such as that, sin and chaos still lie all around us.

You might be saying, "I can't do anything. I am just one person." Or you might be telling yourself, "I can't even vote. How am I supposed to help an entire country?" or "The United States is already in trouble. We're not going to get out of it anytime soon."

The answer is quite the opposite of what most might think. Even if you are unable to vote, you are not unable to make a difference or constitute change. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 the Bible says, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way, This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 

Regardless of whether you disagree or agree with the views or beliefs of the government, they are in authority over us. As believers, we are called to pray for those in authority over us, because it is pleasing to God. Our main desire should be to please Him and stay humble, free from our earthly desires and entanglements.

Not only are we called to pray for those in authority, but anyone and everyone we may encounter. I once had someone explain it to me like this:  

How much do you have to hate someone to not pray for them or even try to witness to them, resulting in their eternal suffering in Hell? We should be responsible for our enemy's salvation--not his or her demise involving eternal separation from our Creator.  

Romans 10:14b, often laid on my heart, says: "How can they believe in God if they've never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?" It is like telling an uninformed chef to make a specific gourmet meal for you, but not giving him the recipe. Or trying to open your house without the key. It just doesn't work. How do we make it work?

When it is laid on your heart to pray for someone, you should proceed fervently. James 4:17 states, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." If you know you should hold the door open for that older lady whom is in a wheelchair and you simply do not because you are in a rush, would that please God? I don't possibly see how. We are called to glorify God and exemplify Him in our actions and words. Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." On account of this, we should live the lives that God has given us to glorify Him instead of avoiding Him, ignoring Him, or constantly pushing Him from our thoughts.

Lastly, we can pray about anything. You can pray for a good parking spot at church, a raise, a better relationship with a family member, or even that random guy you just saw on the street who looks heavy hearted and weary. And if you are that burdened person, then remember that things will get better. Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." No situation or request is too petty or hard to present to God. In fact, God wants to carry all of our burdens. The key? We must let Him. A constant state of prayer is beneficial when going around everyday life. Simply put, no prayer is ever a waste.

On that note of thanksgiving and such, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Feel free to leave comments or thought below. Thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

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    M
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Coming soon: Missions Minded

 

{Starting Stuff}

Writing: something enforced daily by those all around you. Write the alphabet. Write your name. Write a paragraph. Write a 5-page argumentative essay on why The Crucible makes you want to scream. Although we sometimes might find such things trivial, it is actually to our benefit to complete such burdensome tasks.

Additionally, I find writing useful. Enjoyable. Relaxing. An outlet to which I can go to when I prefer being alone to the onerous task of interacting with high-maintenance humans. Okay, maybe I'm joking. Maybe I'm not. But really, I do find writing to be a pleasurable diversion to entertain myself with when I am not working, going to school and church, playing the piano, doing homework, and doing more homework.

So as I self-consciously ask myself the question of why I started this blog, I am writing this to remind me. Although the reason mostly being for myself, if you happen to be reading this, then I hope it is not a gigantic waste of your precious time. A real post is coming soon, I promise.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm, my friends!

~~~~~
    M
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