Mutant and Proud... Day 14

The Bible tells us that we are aliens in this world... that we are to be in and not of the world... well, sitting at work today, I was struck with the simplicity of this thought... or rather... the idea. The hard part is actually living it out.
In the movie, X-men first class, we meet Xavier, Raven (mystique) and Eric (Magneto) as children... we see their life story and how they become involved in with the CIA. There are several scenes that focus on Mystique and how she hides... she complains to Xavier that he looks normal and she has to hide... this is after Xavier hits on a girl with heterochromia (a genetic "mutation"). The girl then states mutant and proud and they toast to it.
The point that I am trying to make, is that, like Xavier and the other "X-men" as they are soon named... we should be proud to stand up for what we believe in. We shouldn't want to be like Mystique, blending into the background. We are called to be bold, winning people for Christ.
When we choose to be bold, we can be bold in our lives, in our walk with Christ and in our worship... throwing off our insecurities and proclaiming "Mutant and Proud"... or "I'm a Christian and I am proud of that fact".
I Corinthians 16:13-14 reads: Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
I think Xavier had it right... he wasn't afraid to be who he was, he knew that he was different and he didn't hide that fact... he knew that there were people who were afraid of them, and yet he chose to fight for them... fight with them against Magneto. As you listen to this piece from X-men first class score by Henry Jackman, remember... Mutant and Proud!
Worship with boldness this morning!

Sanctuary from Snow White and the Huntsman- Day 13

I decided to finally rent the movie, Snow White and the Huntsman last night and while watching it, I heard one of the pieces that I had first bought the album for. The scene that went with it was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking scenes... The dwarves have just met Snow White and are helping her, by taking her to the land of the fairies... or sanctuary. It is here that we begin to see a twinkling of Snow's true self... Although we've seen her inner beauty through the length of the movie, it is in this moment that you truly see her.
The idea of a sanctuary is not foreign, but still unheard of. We go to church in a sanctuary... usually. It is where we worship each Sunday morning.
Another way to think of it is this, the worship chorus Sanctuary... we are a sanctuary... Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary. Pure and Holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving I'll be a living Sanctuary for you.
In order to maintain our sanctuaries, we need time with God, prayer and worship... daily... I feel a little like I am preaching to the choir here, in that sometimes I forget, don't have time, or really feel like being in God's word. I'm certainly not perfect, but the piece of music has given me a lightbulb moment.... find time to spend with God, listen to positive music (I enjoy film scores, like this one from Snow White...) and dig deep into the word. Take time to worship, even if it's in your car. I hope that you enjoy this beautiful piece from Snow White and the Huntsman.

Amazing Grace (My chains are gone)- Chris Tomlin... Day 12

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wrech like me... I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see...
The movie Amazing grace tells you the story of William Wilberforce... during the movie he has several conversations with the author of the song, John Newton. He wrote the song after years of being a part of the slave trade. When he found Christ again (he'd been raised in a Christian family), he remained in the slave trade for a while... but they were treated humanely. In 1780, he became rector of a church in London. He was a friend and parishoner to Wilberforce. Newton was a great encouragement to Wilberforce during his fight against the slave trade in England.
Not only was Newton prolific in his writing, his hymns are powerful... an echo of the mercy he recieved and the worship he willingly gave to God. Both men have amazing legacies that shine with the mercy and grace of God... Newton left behind many beautiful hymns that are still sung in the church today and Wilberforce finally saw his dream become a reality... the slave trade was abolished, after years of fighting.
Do we truly know what it means to be free? To be able to worship when we want, to have the rights that we have... Do we truly know what that means? Sure we see people being martyred for their faith and say we'd have the guts to stand up for our beliefs the way that they did... most of us have never had to face that situation...
Chris Tomlin added the chorus: My chains are gone, I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace... Our chains are gone... we are no longer slaves to sin... God sent his Son to pay the price for us...so that we could truly be free.... Let His Amazing grace be the reason that you sing this morning! Have a wonderful and blessed Friday!



The earth shall soon dissolve like snow. The sun forbear to shine... but God who called me here below, will be forever mine... You are forever mine.

Refine Me- Travis Cottrell Day 11

When gold is refined, it's melted down and purified... and when the process is complete, the gold is pure and beautiful. The same is true for us as Christians... As we live our lives according to the word of God, our lives are refined. We go through a fire, if you will. Our hearts, lives and attitudes are changed day by day.
I was fortunate enough to catch a video by the skit guys called: God's Chisel. The skit covers the premise of being shaped into the person that God wants you to be. As the characters are talking, they discuss the changes... how some of them will hurt, but that he will be better for it. As we are refined, there will be pain... as we give over to God the things that we have been holding onto.
In my life, it was high school and college. I was tall and felt awkward in my own skin... I overcompensated by being sarcastic. Over ten years later, and I still face these hurts as I let God work in my life.
Psalm 139 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that we are not a mistake... we are God's workmanship. So now, in context of the song... God created you to be just who you are right now... but... as God refines our lives, he rids our hearts, attitudes and self of the negative influences and reinforces the positives ones.
It's like this... have you ever been around a very positive person? They're attitude and joy is infectious isn't it? It's the exact same way when yoy are influenced by a very negative person... you begin to fall in line with their negativity and bad attitude. Which person would you rather be?
As God refines us, we begin to have a joy in our lives that is present even in the hard times... We won't always be happy... but His joy will always be in our hearts.
Let God refine your lives... allow him into the "hidden" parts of your life... let him enhance your already amazing self!!! Have a blessed Thursday!!!

Your presence is heaven to me- Isreal Houghton... Day 10

Today is a day just to revel in the presence of God... we should want to be in His presence. I heard this song on the radio when I was on my way to work... and the words hit me. I often go to church bogged down with the worries of the week that I forget to worship... I get so caught up in being selfish, and I lose a special moment with God. He should be our treasure, our light and our redeemer.
Enjoy the beautiful fall day!

The Call- Celtic Woman Day 9

Sometimes in this life we hear, Calling from somewhere... Sometimes it is loud and clear... Sometimes it's so softly there...
Each of us is different... our callings are different as well... there are those of us who are called to be the Beth Moore's and the Billy Graham's. There are people who will be the Travis Cottrell's and Chris Tomlin's... our jobs are usually not our calling, they are a way to pay the bills... our calling will be our mission that will stay with us as we go through life until we reach heaven.
Romans 12:6-8 reads: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Our calling is not something that we find overnight... instead, it is gradual through the years. I laugh as I write this... you could ask any of my friends in college and they would tell you that I swore I would NEVER (and I stressed never), ever marry or be a a part of any ministry... and now, here I am over ten years later, co-founder of a non-profit ministry. God can do anything, including calling a girl who would NEVER be a part of an active ministry into a writer of a Bible study... It's scary, but God will use you if you are willing... Open your heart I am calling you... Right from the very start, Your wounded heart was calling, too. Open your arms, You will find the answer When you answer to the Call.
As we live our lives, we have a choice, to answer the call, or to ignore it... which will you choose?

Monster- Skillet... hindering your worship

I want to take a day to pause and pull out a song that is very close to my heart. I know what your thinking... how is this related to worship... the name of the song is monster... but if you're honest with yourself, there have been times that we have tried to hide who we are from others or from God...
When this song first came out, I wasn't a big fan... now don't get me wrong, I love Skillet and I've always been a fan of their music, but this song didn't sit so well with me... and as I listened to the song, I began to really take in the words, and I began to understood why I didn't like... I had an inner monster... or she hulk as I call her... and we are in constant battle with that monster of the old self...
In Colossians 3 we are told to shed the old self and become the new creation in Christ. Yesterday at church, our pastor gave a really good illustration... he called it cheesy, but it clicked with me... he said that he was going to come in wearing a huge coat with the word Old written on it, and then pull it off to reveal the new person underneath... as much as we want to be super Christian, we aren't... we're more like Bruce Banner with a monster hidden away....that comes out when we let ourselves fall back into our old lifestyles...
I have never been a huge fan of the hulk until Mark Ruffalo portrayed him in The Avengers... Bruce Banner was in hiding to keep from becoming the Hulk... but when he was angered he transformed into the massive Hulk. I think that sometimes, we all come face to face with our own "Hulk" or monster.... and when the old self comes creeping back in, we lose focus of God and worshipping him.
When I get frustrated, I immediately begin journaling and listening to music that only increases my bad mood. I begin to focus on how angry I am, or how silly people can be, or why driving in Nashville is just so darn frustrating... but I digress... instead of turning on some positive music and burying myself in the Word... I let out my inner monster. My brain becomes a bottle neck and I am useless...
In Romans 12:2 we are told that we are not to conform to this world... that we are to to be transformed by the renewing of our mind... in other words, the monster needs to be turned out on its ear...
Don't let the beast rule you, remember that we are being changed day by day... that's not to say that the monster will not make appearances from time to time... but God is working in your life to change you from the inside out... trust in Him to take control of the monster in your life and rise up to defeat it.
I've always loved the Lord of the Rings and the scene in Moria where Gandalf defeats the Balrok... we can equate that to the monster in our own lives... will we allow God to help us defeat them?
When Gandalf stands up to the monster and gives his life for the fellowship, I always cry... I know Tolkien never meant for this novel to be allegorical, however... Gandalf gives his life for the fellowship, defeats the Balrok and returns to the fellowship as Gandalf the white. It's a very powerful scene...
So, will you let the monster in your life control you, or will you let God come in and help you to defeat it? The choice is yours... have a blessed Monday!