I was reading through a fellow blogger’s post the other day, when I saw this photo.
It gave me much hope, and much comfort. It makes me think of Philippians 1:6, which says, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Continue reading
I am horrified. As most of you know, thousands of men, women and children have recently reported that hundreds of priests and catholic clergy members have sexually abused them as children, leaving these victims of such heinous crimes reeling and forever scarred by their experiences.
I don’t need to expound upon why this makes me ashamed to be a Christian. While I am not a Catholic, I also know that it is not only Catholic priests who have traumatized those that they should have shepherded and protected. There have been stories of physical abuse in Christian camps for gay youth. Adultery and sexual abuse found with Christian men advocating for family values. Many stories of abuse have come up in many different denominations; in some denominations in the south, the practice of older men “courting” minors is accepted as perfectly fine. Over and over again, men (and women) who were held in positions of trust took advantage of their position, subjecting people whom Jesus Loves to unthinkable horrors.
This grieves my heart for obvious reasons. People get their impressions of who Jesus Christ is based upon His followers. It has been said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ,” and in this instance, it could not be more true. People have failed to show the watching world who Jesus Christ really is.
Humans have failed. But friends, readers, I want to remind us all of one thing: While humans have completely and utterly failed at loving others, Jesus Christ never has. Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ is our High Priest, coming to be the perfect mediator between us and God the Father. Jesus experienced the brokenness of this world and every temptation we have ever faced, while also providing His Sacrifice, “gaining eternal redemption for all who come to God through Him” (source).
Anyone who has put their faith and hope in a religion will be disappointed at some point. Anyone who puts their faith and hope in a priest, or a pastor, or a community leader, will come to realize that even those put in such high positions can fail miserably. It is faith and hope put in Jesus Christ alone that will never disappoint. As we view these diabolical stories of abuse unfold, I pray that it gives us all a reality check, reminding us to put our faith not in religiousness or even a man such as the Pope, but rather putting our trust in Jesus Christ alone.
These stories are evil. They anger us and make us feel ashamed. But may we re-look at where our Hope is at—and draw close to Jesus, not farther away from Him. He is the only High Priest who will never, ever disappoint—and He is has done all that is needed for us to be saved.
Do you know Jesus?
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”
(Hebrews 7:26-27, ESV)
Jesus Christ left the glory of heaven in order to save humankind from the sin they had committed themselves. We were helpless; Jesus came in and saved the day.
Learn more about Jesus Christ, what He did, and how He has saved those who believe in Him, here.
Please pray for…
Thank you for your prayers!
Claire Wineland, a young woman with cystic fibrosis, past September 2nd at the age of 21.
Claire was a cystic fibrosis activist who was very popular on social media, and I was a YouTube follower of hers. She lived life knowing that she would die “faster than everyone else,” yet did not let that stop her from living. While I don’t know about if she had a relationship with Christ, I pray that she did know Christ—and that her family and loved ones do come to know Him.
Rest in Peace, Claire. May we live life as daringly as you did.
“Death is inevitable, living a life you are proud of is something you can control.”
–Claire Wineland
It was 11:00 pm at night. I had gone to a friend’s bonfire… almost another state away. I had left at 9 pm, but as I was driving down the rocky road down to the main highway, I found that the highway had been completely closed off due to a fatal accident and I had to turn back around.
Driving back to my friend’s house, I was suddenly filled with fear and anxiety. I called my parents, telling them about the situation. I didn’t want to stay overnight at my friend’s house, but with so much distance between me and my home, I thought I didn’t have a choice.
As I texted my parents about my anxiety, my mother called me. Although they were a good 60 miles away from me, they decided—at 11:00 at night!—that they would come and get me. It took them a good hour and a half to get to my friend’s house, and we finally got home at 2 am. My feelings of anxiety in the face of an unsure situation were calmed by the love my parents showed me, coming to get me when it was more than out of their way. Continue reading
When I started this blog, I had one desire: I wanted the Chibok girls to be found and freed, as soon as possible. Now, more than 4 years later, my heart is stuck on the same desire. Continue reading
Sometimes it feels as if God has it out for you, like He’s about to “zap you” or something. I hear this a lot from even those who know Christ; they believe that they are still under God’s wrath, and feel the consequences of their actions, believing that it is God wanting to torture and hurt them for the things they have done (or neglected to do).
But for the Believer, God is a Good, Good Father… and when it comes to our sin, God the Father is not out to get us. Even when we do sin against Him, He disciplines those He loves and calls His own (Hebrews 12:6). This is crucial for the Christian to know: While our sin may have its consequences that we have to live through, God is not trying to zap you for your sin!
Friend, right now may hurt—but know this: There is a difference between violence and discipline— and God does not violently lash out in wrath. He is your Father, and He is always, always FOR—not against— you. Rest in that. ❤
Do you know Jesus?
Jesus Christ took on the wrath of God, that we deserved. Learn more about Christ—and His sacrifice for you—here.
Please pray…
Jesus Loves you!
Thank You for your prayers!!!
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths… kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.”
(Psalm 148:7, 11-12, NIV)
On August 27th, 2018, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, promised that he will “spare nothing” in trying to get the Chibok girls, and Leah Sharibu, back to safety and freedom. This was all done as Leah Sharibu was recorded begging President Buhari to bring her freedom from Boko Haram– with three women kidnapped by the other faction of Boko Haram, under Abu Musab Albarnawi, doing the same thing.
It is no big secret that President Muhammadu Buhari is, like other leaders, under a lot of pressure. At the core of it all, Muhammadu Buhari and his cohorts in the Nigerian government are mere men. And as I read Psalm 148 this morning, I came to realize how important it is to pray for our leaders, no matter how lofty– especially when concerning their salvation and belief in Jesus, in the case of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is my prayer that Buhari comes to know Jesus, and that he would be included in the throng of people who worship Christ, as Psalm 148 exhorts. Would you pray alongside me for his salvation?
Do you know Jesus?
“In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.” (Proverbs 21:1, NIV)
Whether or not it looks like it, Jesus Christ is in control– and He alone is God. Learn more about Jesus, His sovereignty, and what it has to do with you, here.
Please pray for…
Thank you for your prayers!!!
