Judah & Us . . . Are we that different?

$221,112,520,000

This is the average amount of money the United States spends on Christmas gifts every year!

THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PRESENTS THAT BUYS!

If you ask me, that's a pretty unfathomable amount!

Christmas is just around the corner!

My mom and I went out to the mall looking for a dress for homecoming just the other day and let me tell you ...

WOW! WOW! WOW!

It was BUSY!!!!

It was CRAZY!!!

You couldn't help but run into people because it was so crowded! 

Finding a parking spot ...

I think we both know how that goes!

INSANITY! 

So what's the point, Hannah?

Well, I'm glad you asked!:)

My point is ...

The idea of the season of Christmas is GIVING.
Right? Right.

God gave us Jesus ...

We give gifts to others ...

Etc. 

BUT

Some people are buying all these gifts to get something in return.

The scenarios are endless ...

Are they trying to get someone's attention?

Are they trying to get gifts?

Are they wanting attention drawn to themselves? 

It may look like they're giving for the right reasons, but their heart might not be in the right place. 

We can all get sucked into this kind of mentality. I know I have.

If you really think about this, this kind of mindset is a lot like the people of Judah.

They are fasting. 
This religious practice is good in the eyes of the Lord.
BUT
They have the wrong motives.
On the surface, it looks like they are doing it the right way and doing the right thing, but they aren’t doing it for the right reasons.
They want people to look at them, instead of humbling themselves and pointing to God. 

The Pharisees are a good example of this in the New Testament.

In the passage of Matthew 6, it says, 

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." ... "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."


We see in this passage that they use their 'acts of righteousness' to glorify themselves.
They ignore the fact that they need to be selfless & do it for God's glory & not their own.

Fast forward to the present ...

Today at church, I saw a great example of selflessness & selfless giving.

I go to Blackhawk Ministries & each year during Christmas time they choose a organization to partner with and give donations to.
This year they partnered with As Our Own.

As Our Own describes themselves as, "A Christ-based, community-driven movement in India that rescues vulnerable children from certain enslavement and exploitation, caring for them as our own."

The church's goal for the amount of money they want to raise is $200,000. 

This much money would care for about 45 girls for a whole year. 

This goal is more than twice the amount they wanted to raise last year.

So far, there has been about $94,000 raised. 

People have been so generous. 

Helping people they'll never meet ...

Asking for nothing in return except for the hope of having them accept Christ as their Savior. 

It's like looking in a mirror ...

If you think about those movies with the popular girls in it, they have their little mirrors in their purses, so they can look at themselves throughout the day, because according to them, it's all about them.

Judah & us ... 

We're a lot alike. 

We both can start to begin to point the mirror at ourselves & fixate the focus and glory on ourselves. 

We want it to be all about us & strive to look good in the eyes of others. We forget that it is most important to worry about how we look in God's eyes.

Now think about this ...

If we subtly turn the mirror, the focus changes. 

If we point the mirror away from ourselves, then someone else is in the reflection.

If you're in my Bible class, you will be receiving a little mirror with a cross on the back of it.

Put it in a place where you know you'll see it.

Let it be a reminder to you to take the focus off yourself & instead, point it at others & most of all, point it at God. 

This is what God desired of the people of Judah & that's what He desires for us, too. 

To point to Him & others.

That's the complete humbleness he asked of Judah & what he loves to see from us!

† Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself & coming as a baby to save us. Help us to change the focus off ourselves and onto You & others. Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me with this Bible project! You are amazing, God! I LOVE YOU! Amen.

Acceptance

Accepted [ak-sep-tid]

adjective

generally approved; usually regarded as normal, right, etc.

We all want to be accepted.

I mean, really, let's be honest with each other, who doesn't?

But ...

There's a point where it can become something we worry about WAY too much!

It can become something that consumes us.

Something that consumes us and makes us do things for ourselves, so people notice us or think we're cool ...
or pretty
or nice
or sporty ...
You get the picture. 

We begin to seek our own glory to be accepted.
But really,
I mean think about this ...
Shouldn't we feel accepted?
I mean seriously people, we are sons & daughters of the One who created the whole world! 
The One who gave us our first breath!
The One who made the stars and the planets!
The One who sits in heaven right now being praised by angels!
The One who has a perfect plan for each and every one of us ... a plan for HIS GLORY! 
Hallelujah!
Is that not enough to make you feel like you have meaning?
Is that not enough to make you feel like you have worth?
Is that not enough to make you feel accepted?

I wish I could answer those questions with a whole-hearted "yes" myself, but I'll be honest with you, I know I care way too much about how others see me. 

I'm a cheerleader ...



















I've been cheering since 7th grade
I can do a round-off back-handspring & a back tuck
I can fly stunts pretty well
& my jumps are pretty good ...

But the point is ... 
I begin to use these things for self-glorification ...
I want to be accepted ...
Sadly, I want people to notice my abilities & not for the right reasons ...
I sin & don't give full glory to God for the talents he has given me!

It's a fine balance ...

You can use the talents God gave you to live in community & unity with others & enjoy them because God has blessed you with this talent.

However,

Your motives are key.

A subtle sway from maximizing your talents to bringing glory to yourself can occur really easily. Satan is crafty and cunning. Our views can be manipulated on what is bringing glory to God and what is bringing glory to ourselves. 

Jesus is an example of not being swayed.

JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, CAME TO EARTH & ONLY GAVE GLORY TO HIS FATHER! EVEN WHEN HE DID HIS AMAZING MIRACLES!

For example, look at Jesus when He fed the 5,000!

"After performing a great miracle like the feeding of the five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish, the Lord Jesus did not "linger in His success" neither did He try to emphasize some things about this success -- He went up to the mountain privately to pray to the Father (Matt. 14:23; Luke 6:12). He sought the glory from the Father and He did everything one with the Father. 

We need to learn from Him and deny ourselves, our purpose, and our ambition, seeking only God's will and God's glory. "
Article from: http://www.agodman.com/blog/not-seeking-our-own-glory-but-gods-glory-by-spending-time-privately-with-him/  

Jesus didn't need acceptance from others.
He found His worth in pleasing & giving glory to His Father. 

We should not have our own purpose; instead, we should have only the Lord’s will. We all have to learn of these three things: no self, no purpose, and no ambition. We should only know to labor, to work for Him, by denying our self, rejecting our purpose, and giving up our ambition. Self, purpose, and ambition are like three snakes or scorpions in us. We must learn to hate them.                                                                                                       (The God-Man Living, by brother Lee).

Self, purpose, and ambition really are like three snakes or scorpions. 
These things can become things we want to use for ourselves. 
They can be so deadly ... 
Deadly in our relationships with our family,
With our friends,
And most importantly, they can be deadly in our relationship with Christ.

This is a good metaphor to keep in mind. We need to remind ourselves that we are here for serving God & His glory, and for His glory ONLY.

We have to deny ourselves, our ambitions, and what we believe is our purpose. 

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

† Jesus, help us to remember to do everything for you. Please help us to remember that our worth & meaning is found in you. Remind us to live out Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Amen.


COMMENT: WHAT HIT HOME WITH YOU? LET ME KNOW!:)

Glory to God Forever

Everyone is different in the way they worship God or spend time with God.
Some people like writing or journaling to express worship.
Some people like reading devotionals.
And others are like me & like to worship God through singing.

So ...

I wanted to give those like me the chance to worship in their way! :)

This song is a really amazing song!
I remember I was in 7th grade at a youth group retreat called Fall Mania when I first heard it.
The lyrics really got to me & God really moved in my heart. 
It was the first time I had ever realized what it meant to be a follower of Christ.
I had to live out my faith. 
I had to be a light to others through my actions.
I remember bursting into tears when the bridge of the song played.
The bridge talks about total surrender. 
I had been living life "Hannah's way" for too long & I was focusing on myself & not shining for God's glory
But God, in his INCREDIBLE love, showed me that I needed to give up all of me to Him & He changed me!



While Glory to God Forever by Fee plays, really meditate on the lyrics & open your heart to what God wants to tell you through this song. 

Before the world was madeBefore You spoke it to beYou were the King of kingsYeah, You were, yeah, You were
And now You're reigning stillEnthroned above all thingsAngels and saints cry outWe join them as we sing
Glory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, foreverGlory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, forever, yeah
Creator God, You gaveMe breath so I could praiseYour great and matchless nameAll my days, all my days
So let my whole life beA blazing offeringA life that shouts and singsThe greatness of our King
Glory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, foreverGlory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, forever
Take my life and let it beAll for You and for Your gloryTake my life and let it be Yours
Take my life and let it beAll for You and for Your gloryTake my life and let it be YoursWe sing
Glory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, foreverGlory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, foreverWe sing
Glory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, foreverGlory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, forever
Take my life and let it beAll for You and for Your gloryTake my life and let it be Yours
Take my life and let it beAll for You and for Your gloryTake my life and let it be YoursWe sing
Glory to God, glory to GodGlory to God, forever

Comment & tell me what you think!
Tell me how God spoke to you!:)

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

† Jesus, take my life and let it be all for You and for Your glory, take my life and let it be Yours! Amen.

To HIM Be the Glory!

Have you ever been really good at something?

Maybe you're blessed with being academic

or being starting quarterback for your football team

or the head cheerleader 

or the best singer

or a talented basketball player

or a good writer

or an amazing dancer

or a good leader ...

The list goes on and on and on and on ...

Now let me ask you this ... 

Whose glory do you do it for?

There's only two choices you can chose from to answer that question.

1. You do it for THE GLORY OF THE LORD

                       OR

2. You do it for your OWN GLORY

It's that simple! 

In Isaiah 58, we see the act of doing things for our own glory going on. God has just delivered the people of Judah from exile in Babylon, and they were fasting and having the Sabbath feast.

If you're not familiar with fasting and the Sabbath here's a little bit of background ... 

~The Sabbath was to be considered as a time of delighting in the Lord and in all his blessings. 

  In a verse following the passage of Isaiah 58:1-12, it says, 

"...And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable..." -Isaiah 58:13

~Fasting was what people did back then to humble themselves to God by abstaining from eating food. 

But here's the problem with their religious practices ...

They were being EMPTY in them.

They were doing it for their OWN GLORY.

Isaiah 58:3a in the New Living Translation (NLT) says,

     'We have fasted before you!' they say.

       'Why aren't you impressed?

      We have been very hard on ourselves,

        and you don't even notice it!'

     "I will tell you why!" I respond. 

       "It's because you are fasting to please yourselves."

God speaks through Isaiah, the prophet, to the people of Judah about being self-glorifying. Even back in 539 B.C. they were struggling with the issue of doing things for their own glory.

So what's a person to do about this issue?

My response would be to take the things that you use for self-glorification and give it to God.

Surrender it!

Give Him back the talents He has given you!

I encourage you to write down everything that you tend to use for your own glory on a piece of paper.

Put it on a mirror,

In your car, 

Wherever you know you'll see it daily.

And every time you see it, just stop, 

Stop & shoot a little prayer up to God.

Ask Him ...

Pray to Him ...

to take your life and all your talents & ask Him to use them ONLY for His glory.

     † God, help me to always remember who gave me the talents I have. Remind me whose I am & and who my life should reflect. I surrender all that I am to you, Lord. Use me for YOUR GLORY & not my own! Amen. 

Don't forget to comment!:)

Introduction to My Blog!

Hi everyone!
I'm really excited about starting this blog & seeing how God will use it! 
In my Bible class, I've been assigned to chose an Old Testament passage, observe it, interpret it, and make it applicable to life today. 
We were able to chose to do a group project & make a video, but...
I decided to go on my own and make a blog!
The passage God laid on my heart to do for this project is Isaiah 58:1-12.
Here it is for ya! ...

Isaiah 58:1-12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Observances of Fasts

1 “Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.

 2 “Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done righteousness
And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight in the nearness of God.

 3 ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,

And drive hard all your workers.

 4 “Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

 5 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?

 6 “Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
 7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

 8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 
9 “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
 11 “And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 
12 “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

This passage has so many amazing things that we can take away from it! 

Can't wait to see God work through this!

HE IS SO GOOD!!!

Think about this passage ... meditate on it. 

Ask God to speak to you through this passage.

We'll dive into some background on it very soon!

For now ... 

Pray that God would show himself and what he wants us to hear through his perfect Word!

† Dear Heavenly Father,

          I pray that you would have your way in this project and in our lives. God, help me with this project and help me to do it to the very best of my ability. Give me the strength to work hard, and most of all, help me to do this ALL for YOUR GLORY! I love you Abba Daddy! Amen.