Remember when you were a child, reading the story of David & Goliath, wide eyed. Remember when you first heard about Moses parting the red sea, or the fiery furnace? Remember when it seems so amazing that no matter how far Jonah tried to run God brought him back, even though it took a giant fish? Or how Jesus fed the multitude with five loaves and two fishes? Or how we read about how the angels stopped the mouth of the lions, and Daniel was safe in the pit?

  When we were children, it all seemed so amazing. We read those stories, and they seemed so real and so exciting. But somewhere along the line, we lost some of that. Sure, we still remembered them, but they became children's stories. Maybe we began to think those stories weren't important, or maybe our Bible were left to grow dusty on the shelf.

    So we began to forget.
    When a giant set itself in our path, we decided that wasn't the one we were meant to follow, even though God was whispering "go".
    When there was a sea dead in the middle of the way God was leading us, don't wait and we decided to try and find our own way.
    When we were faced the choice of either a fiery furnace, or compromising some of our morals, it seemed too risky to stand strong.
    When we were running away from our problems and everything just got worse, we didn't listen to the voice of God and face up to our mistakes, instead we kept running and tricking ourselves into thinking we're stronger than Him.
     When what we had was so little compared to what we needed, we forgot that God can make it work.
    When there were roaring lions with giant teeth, suddenly, standing for the truth didn't seem so important.

   But the God of David, Moses, Jonah, Daniel & his three friends is the same today.

  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8

   He has not suddenly become a weak and powerless God. He is not diminished to words on a page. If He could close the mouth of the lions then, He still can.  

   When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago were before Nebuchadnezzar, they didn't know what was going to happen. What they did know was that there was an idol, and that they could not bow down before it.
   I suppose they could have reasoned to bow down but "in their hearts" not really be worshipping it. How many hebrews did that? Surely there were more than just them in the crowd, yet seemingly none of the others caused problems. They could have softened their words so the king wouldn't be mad, or flattered him. They could have taken the easy route.
    Instead, they refused to bow down. They went up to the king, and said this:

    "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou    hast set up." Daniel 3:17-18

   They knew that God could save them. They also knew that they could be thrown into the fire and burnt to ashes if that's what God decided. Either way, they knew that to serve God means to follow Him no matter what it costs.
 
   I don't have to tell you how the story ends. They were obedient, and Jesus was there with them in the fire. They came out without a hair of their head burnt, and without the scent of smoke upon them.

    "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

   David went out to meet the giant, sling in his hand, but most importantly with God. He had to take a risk that the entire army of Israel would not take. Jonah had to stay in the belly of a fish until he finally decided to stop looking at himself, and look at God. Daniel had to defy the death decree of a king.
 
   But in all these cases God did something so completely amazing. He always does.

   When I was a child, one day there was such an angry storm outside. Pouring rain, booming thunder, flashing lightening. My grandmother was hiding in the house because she was afraid. Not me. My dad and I were sitting on the porch watching it. We started talking about when Jesus and His disciples were on a boat in the middle of the storm, and Jesus stood up and rebuked the storm. "Peace, peace, be still."
    Naturally, we decided to try it. It couldn't hurt, right? Nowadays it would seems silly to do that. What if God didn't decide to work a miracle, and then I was disappointed? God has better things to do than stop a storm. Besides, miracles are a thing of the past, He works in different ways now.

    But as a child, there's a sense of faith and belief that is rarely found in adults.

    "Except ye be converted, and become as a little child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-4

   So, we did it. "Peace, peace be still." The pelting rain which had not slowed for over an hour, suddenly stopped. It didn't slow down, or gradually stop, it immediately stopped. Not another drop  of rain fell, and not another bolt of lightening crossed the sky. I was so excited about it.
   God doesn't change. But we do. We look at ourselves instead of God, and our faith fades. Some of our plans are ruined, and we wonder if God is actually leading us.

  "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty..." Exodus 34:6-7

   The God of the old testament, who did so many miracles, is the same God of the new testament who did miracles, and is the same God today.

    Sometimes things don't go the way we plan. Although God chose to save Daniel from the mouth of the lions, He didn't choose to save Stephen from being stoned. If He had, Paul may never have been converted, and might not have had the epistles. Even when He doesn't work in the way we expect, He is still the same.
 
    My closing point is this - go read the Bible stories that you loved as a kid. You might see something new in them that you never realized before, you will be encouraged to grow in righteousness and in the Lord, and you will be refreshed and reminded of God's power and love. Don't underestimate God!

 

   What is Christianity about? There are so many answers out there, especially about what it is isn't. Here are some of the most popular ideas.

    It's not about rules.
    It's not about religion.
    It's about a relationship.
 
   That all sounds good. But, then it ends up not really being about a relationship... We are so focused on us, and how God feels about us. If we talked to our friends, or about them how we do about God, it would seem just a little strange.
   
    "This is my friend Alice, I love that she tells me that I'm great, and strong, and good."
    
    "Hey, Joey, remind me about how much you love me, and how strong I am."

    "I could listen to you telling me why you like me so much all day."

   We'd probably either have incredibly low self-esteem issues, or big ego issues if we constantly needed our relationship to be about us.
 
   When Jesus was on earth, He didn't go around, constantly telling people how they were good,  strong, and worthy. Instead he gave people hope, and something so much bigger than themselves to live for. Why do we now constantly focus on ourselves?

   Truth is, we're not strong, good or worthy. If we look at ourselves to fight depression, or low self esteem, or to find what's missing in our life - whatever we are fighting, it's never going to work.

   It might make us feel good for a while to hear flattery & good things about us, but at the end of the day we're still going to know a truth about us. We have sinful natures, we've all fallen and sinned, and we all deserve death. Hearing that we're good isn't going to change, only God can!

   Being a Christian doesn't mean finding out who we are. It means finding out who God is, and dying to self. 

   Paul says in Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. 

  Our lives aren't ours. It doesn't matter who we are, whether we're strong or weak. It doesn't matter what other people think about us. It matters who Christ is.
   It definitely can be hard to remember that in this world, where everything is about self-love, exalting self, and the power within ourselves. But the message of the Bible is so radically different than that. We have no special power within ourselves.

 For ye are dead, and you life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

  When Christ dwells in our hearts, we realize that everything we do, everything we are is because of Him. It isn't about us. The whole point of Christianity isn't that we are good, or the fact that we aren't good enough and we can't save ourselves. It isn't about pride, or false humility, loving ourselves, or hating ourselves. The point is that Jesus is good, and that's good news! He can give us His goodness, and make us like Him!

        But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14 

  Worship isn't about us. Who are we worshipping? God! What should we be seeking to glorify and show others with our lives? God!
 
  We have this amazing God, who created the entire universe, who is so loving, and powerful, and all knowing, and kind. Let's look above ourselves, and this dark world, to Him. By beholding, we become changed, and reflect His image.

  There's a beautiful hymn that sums it up perfectly. Here are just a few verses of the song - if you want to read the rest click here.

Not I, but Christ be honoured, loved, exalted.
Not I, but Christ be seen, be known and heard;
Not I, but Christ in every look and action.
Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.
Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord
Oh, to be lost in Thee.
Oh, that it may be no more I,
but Christ that lives in me.

Christ, only Christ, no idle word e'er falling.
Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound;
Christ, only Christ, no self-important bearing.
Christ, only Christ, no trace of I be found.
Not I, but Christ my every need supplying.
Not I, but Christ my strength and health to be;
Christ, only Christ, for spirit, soul, and body.
Christ, only Christ, live then Thy life in me.
 Ada B. Whiddington 

 

 

    This past weekend I went to a 'Music In the Mountains Camp'. As I was thinking about my time there, I realized a couple things. So, I decided to share my thoughts.
 
        There are so many Christians out there who don't focus on God. Yes, you read that right! Even in church they focus on conspiracy theories, theologies, gossip. Especially gossip.
 
   Conspiricy theories... What can I say? I mean we know that not everything that the news tells us is true, it's many times one sided. There are certainly lots of crooked things going on, and it's good to be aware of it. But focusing on it will taking you in a downward spiral. You'll get more and more paranoid, and fearful. It will become your religion.
    Jesus literally had the Jewish rulers following Him, and plotting His death! But His sermons weren't all about how He was being watched, and about how the rulers were 'out to get Him'. He did point out their corruptness, but He didn't focus on that. He taught truth, He contradicted them, and He showed love and an example of what should be.
     Why do so many times Christians spend their times together talking about conspiracies? Frankly, it's easier than trying to do something worthwhile. Instead of constantly talking about how the goverment is wrecking people's lives, go help those people! Instead of constantly talking about how the media is unfair, bring justice and light to someone near you who needs it. Instead of constantly talking about the goverment is cheating and stealing money from workers, check yourself and stop buying things made by slaves!
    Be aware of what's going on in the world around you, but instead of sitting around and being fearful and moping, go do something about it! Help those in your neighbourhood, bring love and truth to someone's life.

 
     Theology is most certainly important. Learning how to obey God is important. But God is still the focus of all of this. We learn all this for Him, so we can honour Him. If every sermon is going to repeat the same thing you've been doing for years, there's not really much of a point. That's like learning the alphabet, and everyday memorizing it again. Sure, you need to be reminded of it once in a while, and practice it so that you don't forget it, but you don't need to constantly be memorizing it once you have it down.
     When we start doing this, we tend to forget about God. That might seem to contradict the point, but it really doesn't. We are supposed to praise God, to worship Him. Learning the same thing over and over can easily become a routine which we do mindlessly. We don't really think about why we are doing it, or what the whole point of it is.
 
     Gossip, oh gossip. How many times in the Bible are we told not to gossip? However Christians so often seem to forget those verses, when they're so busy pointing out the sins in others lives.
"So and so did this. We heard that so and so was seen going here..."
    Often this is hid behind the reason that the person needs prayer. It is wonderful if you really want to help the person, and care about them, but most of the time this is not the case. You want to tell a juicy story, you want to show that you're the first to know it, you want drama. It's often the case is that you feel guilty about something, and you need to raise your self-esteem a bit. Putting someone else down, and slandering their name is a good way for you to do that.
     To clarify, gossip isn't just telling lies about others. No, it's telling stories that are true, but not yours to tell. This usually goes hand in hand with hypocrisy. You can turn from gasping over someone's mistakes, to doing the same thing the very next moment.
    I feel really sad for you if this is the best thing you can do with your time. Spending your fellowship talking about others and what you think they're doing wrong is such a waste! Instead you should go read Proverbs 6:16-19.
    If someone needs prayer, you should definitely ask for a prayer request, but make sure you have the right motives, and don't share the story if people don't need to know.
   
     So many times I've been to visited with others, and left feeling worse than when I went there. The things I talked about above, are very often the reason for this.
     We should worship God when we meet together! We should tell of the glorious things He has done. We should learn more about His wonderful plan for us! We should encourage each other, and strengthen each other in the faith.
     
      This weekend as I headed home, I felt happier and so much more peaceful when I arrived. Of course I was a bit sad that the weekend was over, but I was encouraged. Spending time worshiping God, and spending time without all the distractions and depressing things of the world refreshed me. I had drew closer to God, I'd been reminded of His goodness and how much He loves us. It was time of uplifting and not tearing down.
     Why? Because it was about God. It wasn't about me, it wasn't about the world. It was about the heavenly kingdom. It was't about fear, or others. It was about praising God, recognizing His grace, love, sacrifice. That's what being a Christian is about. It's about Christ.
   

• NUTRITION
• FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION
• FOOD SAFETY AND IMPORTANCE OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD THAN WESTERN TYPE OF FOODS
• LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE
• SECOND COMING OF JESUS AND THE END OF SUFFERING

     
    The past few days I've read a two books. They were both about women who endured gruelling hardships. The one book was 'The Girl With No Name', and the other was 'Evidence Not Seen'. I'll give you a short summary about what they're about.
    'The Girl With No Name' was about a girl who was kidnapped when she was five, and then abandoned in the jungles of Columbia. She lived with a family of monkeys until she was around ten, then was sold into slavery. She still has no idea who here parents were, or what her real name is, but she is now free and has a family of her own. It was a really interesting book, and it was crazy what the woman went through.
    'Evidence Not Seen' was about Darlene Diebler Rose, who was a missionary in New Guinea and a prisoner of war in WWII. She went through many things before she was placed in the Japanese prison camp, and then put on death row. She was miraculously saved, and released when the war was over. She returned to America, and then went back to Australia to work as a missionary again.
      Now these books were both really interesting, but I couldn't help but see the difference between these two women. There were many similarities, they both endured against all odds, and went through many hardships. But they also both came out completely different.
   Now before I tell you anything else about this, I want to clarify that I don't personally know Marina Chapman, so this is just what I gleaned from the book about her attitude.
      At one part in the book Marina asks a question, something like this. "What kind of God would do this to a girl?" She was living as a slave to a family of guerrillas. I can understand her anger, and I myself find it really sad that there are so many slave traffickers. But I of course have not gone through what she has.
    Still that question stricken me as a rather bitter one, and I know it is the attitude of so many today. They wonder why a kind and loving God would allow such things to happen. But as I read the book I saw the hand of God helping her all along. I did some research and my suspicions are confirmed of some very dangerous animals in the Columbia jungles. There are pumas, jaguars, and short eared dogs, bush dogs, as well as crocodiles and anacondas. These could all easily kill a five year old girl, who is all alone in the jungle for five years. In fact it would probably be very likely as at first she couldn't even climb trees. Does that seem a little miraculous that she wasn't killed that whole time? Like maybe someone was watching over her and protecting her?
    Next she was climbing up trees, 100-200 feet high. She didn't have a tail like the monkeys, and even though she fell a couple times she was always safe, slowed down by small bushes and such. In five years of climbing and running up trees, don't you think that it would be very likely that she'd fall and be killed? It sure does to me.
    I could list many other cases of things similar, but I'm only going to mention one more. When she was a slave, she got in a car accident, and they flew off a cliff, but were caught on a large tree. She was the sole survivor, as she had been hiding under the seat. This is just another amazing case of her being saved against all odds. I firmly believe that through all though years she was being watched by God, and He had His angels protecting her.
    Darlene on the other hand, always found something to be thankful for, even when she was on death row, locked in isolation, with some of her loved ones dead, sick with dysentry and vitamin deficiency. She always found something to be thankful for, even while being tortured and interrogated  for a crime she never committed. She forgave those who'd hurt her so much. She loved them, and chose not to be bitter.
     Now why did she end up having joy and being thankful, while Marina ended up being bitter towards others and God. They both endured hardships. They both were mistreated and unjustly judged. But Darlene had something different. She had the love of God.
     We have a choice. You can either let your pain make you bitter, or you can give it to God, and let Him use it to refine you. Like gold in a furnace that is burned till it is completely pure, so can we be made!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

     "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..." Genesis 20:50

     "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 2:28

  Sincerely,
Rachel R

Are you stressed out? With schoolwork, deadlines, and so many things do to around this time of year, it can get overwhelming. Also, while the weather gets colder, and the leaves fall from trees people begin to get sad, because they're missing the warm weather. For me, well, the cold never bothered me anyway. *ahem*sorry*not really*.
     Back to the topic! If you're worried, and stressed, and sick of feeling that way, this post is for you.

 We've all heard this question before. I'm going to call it 'The God Question'. It's the question that's very popular among atheists, and sometimes us Christians struggle with it too.

If God is real, why does he allow such suffering in this world? 

Why does He let children in Africa starve, and people be forced into slavery? 

Why does He allow soldiers and parents die?

       These are hard questions to answer, but one thing is sure. God isn't the 'evil' one, and death and sin certainly weren't part of His plan in the beginning.

      It's not His fault the children are starving. There's plenty enough food to go around on this planet, and plenty enough money too. Could God take the food and evenly distribute it, and make sure everyone had money? Yes. But God gives us free choice to do with it what we want.

     Think about it, if Bill Gates, the Kardashians or some other millionaire/billionaires had all their money taken away and an average living given to them, would they be happy? Of course not. They'd probably cry, and many people besides them would wonder why this would happen to them. What if that money was used to help the poor people? Would they still complain? Yes!

   Let's take a step back. Do you have a cellphone or computer? I do, and I certainly know that I use it more than I should. In fact, if the internet and technology were taken away from me, I would probably complain. Now, where are cell phones and computers made? Most are made in China, by slaves. Now if God took away your cell phone, would you be angry? If God took away all the products we used that are made by slavery would we be upset?

    If you couldn't ever eat chocolate or coffee again would you be upset? How about never being able to have diamonds or electronic devices? If any of these things was taken away from people today there would be an uproar, and probably many people would be upset at God. He would be blamed.

    So you see, it's not God's fault. He gave us free will to do as we please, and we've misused that power. The starving children in Africa could be fed and clothed, if only we'd not be so selfish. The 30,000,000 slaves around the world today could be freed if it weren't for us being so comfortable with the state of the world. If we actually cared and did something about it, maybe at the expense of our comfort, things would change.

     If there was no money made by wars, maybe there wouldn't be any more wars! If there hadn't been the original sin, there would be no death today. We are God's hands and feet on this world. He calls us to relieve suffering. We are supposed to bring peace and hope to this world. Unfortunately not all of us want to do this - thus through our free-will we bring more suffering to this world.

     No matter what God does for us here on earth, there will always be those who blame Him, and call Him an 'evil dictator'. If He freed the slaves, someone would complain about the loss of the products they'd made. If He gave food to the starving, someone would complain that we had less. If He took the money from those who are well-to-do, and gave it to those in need, someone would cry out against him. It's just easier to blame God, then to recognize that our sin has brought about ruin to this world. It's easier to blame God, then to do something about it.

   When we lose hope, we lose will. 

If we don't have hope, we won't move forward. 

We'll just sink deeper and deeper into suffering and darkness.

    
    But in the midst of all this suffering and pain - God offers us hope. He doesn't abandon us, He doesn't force us. He holds out His hand. He tells us it will be alright. He promises us eternal life, a home where there will be no pain, no death, no slavery, no starving children.

     His eyes are on the suffering, looking forward to the day when they can have answers, and He can wipe away their tears. One day the starving children will be in heaven. Their cries will be replaced by laughter. Their hunger will be replaced by fulfillment and health. There will be no slaves in heaven. They will be free, they will be at rest. Those who suffered in illness will no longer be weary. What God is offering us is hope.
   
     I'm looking forward to that day - but until then, I will be the feet and hands of God. I will bring hope, joy, and relief to those who need it here. Will you join me?

    Sincerely,
      Rachel

Yes, I know I haven't been keeping up with this, but I'm trying to get into it again.
    This weeks book review is... The Set Apart Woman by Leslie Ludy.


What can I say about 'The Set-Apart Woman' by Leslie Ludy? It is so inspiring and uplifting.
      I was expecting this book to be a little boring, and to drag on too long. I must say I was wrong in both cases. Leslie Ludy has written this book in a way that is fun, and interesting. She mixes personal experiences with Bible verses, and examples of women strong in their faith. It is easy to relate with her, and she seems like a human who makes mistakes just like us. But she shows us how we can raise above our mistakes and learn to do better.
       Some people have said the Leslie Ludy writes in such a way that she seems to be 'standing on a table yelling at me', but I find it quite the opposite. She seems to be standing before us gently guiding us, teaching us from her mistakes.
      This book inspired me and made me feel braver. One of my favorite chapters was the one about fear. I really felt like this was  good chapter for me on learning to trust God.
      I loved that she has adopted children, and as that is something I've always wished to do she really encouraged me to do it. I love her soft heart, and the story of her husbands call to help orphans.
   Overall I would rate this book 5/5 I can't really think of anything I would have changed. I 100% would recommend this book to a friend, and I am going to be sure to buy this book.
   Sincerely, Rachel