"But for the Grace of God"

“But God.”

            It’s hard for me to think of a more powerful combination of two words in all of scripture. These two sum up the whole gospel, the whole truth to why we live and breathe and find our being. Chapter two of Ephesians begins by spelling out our sinful nature, our filthy inclinations to fill “the lusts of our flesh” and to please our own selves as “children of wrath.” It is fitting that in my Bible this first paragraph ends at the end of one page, and it is only when I turn the page that I can continue on with verse 4, the “But God”:

            “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9

This passage is humbling and also encouraging for the very awesome reality of its truth: there is nothing we can ever do to receive the gift of His grace, our salvation. Our sinful nature will forever keep us from attaining the type of perfection we glorify in the life of Jesus Christ. While we can rejoice in the power of this truth, it is not to convey that we are free to deliberately sin and please our own earthly desires, knowing that we will ultimately receive forgiveness because of the cross. Though our sins, once confessed, are always forgiven, we are called to something greater: we are called to make Jesus known, and to be Him to those on earth who do not know Him. We have each been created “to declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

So while it is unnatural- to say the least- since our spirit and flesh will always be in conflict with one another, we are called to be like Him; and this must start with grace, since the story of Christ’s death is one of grace, one where we get something (eternal salvation!) of which we are so terribly unworthy.

But despite our shortcomings and weaknesses, God can and does use us to further his kingdom (2 Cor. 12:8-9). Just as we are forgiven in our own sins, we are called to forgive others and reveal a supernatural type of grace that can only come from Him, even when (especially when) it makes no sense (Col. 3:12-14). To forgive someone does not mean you must be happy, it means rather to accept what has happened as a part of God’s permissible will. God will stretch and grow you, and He will call you to do more than you could ever think of or imagine, even if it is something as small as forgiving when you are hurt (Eph. 3:20):

“And then there is the love for the enemy--love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world.” ― Frederick Buechner

This gift of grace applies also to forgiving ourselves. If God forgives us of our sin, we have no choice but to forgive ourselves as well and to be free of the guilt and shame we all too often subject ourselves to. God’s love “covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) and by offering this to both ourselves and to those around us, we reveal His goodness and are living proof of His grace which He freely offers to us all.

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            “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5: 1-5

Written by Caroline Crabbe of Alpha Delta Pi 

Peace That Surpasses Understanding

Amongst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it is easy to not have peace of mind, thought, and definitely not peace in the Lord. It appears at the very moment that we should have the most peace with God, it is the hardest to find peace, or if not to find it, then to maintain it. Why is that so? Why has everything of this world convinced us that peace at this time is unattainable? God promises us Peace through Him. It is the very birth of Jesus that allows us to have peace and overwhelming victory forever.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns happens to be Hark the Harold Angels Sing, in which we proclaim: “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”

We are RECONCILED from our sins.

What does that even mean?

Merriam Webster defines reconcile as:

>> Transitive Verb:  to restore friendship or harmony. <<

Well we do know that God is our friend, and that the BIRTH of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ causes a friendship to exist between us and God, but there is HARMONY. There is no longer a barrier between us and God. Christ has bridged the gap, he was born, he paid for our sins and now we the sinners have a connection to God through his son. When God sees us, he sees his son and this is a representation of the greatest unconditional love imaginable. To know that when God looks at me, he sees Jesus, well that gives me peace of mind and spirit. And when he sees YOU he sees his Son standing in front of you, paying the price of your sin. That is reason for GREAT PEACE.

My favorite verse of scripture as of late has come from the book of John, and while at Christmas we celebrate Jesus’ birth and the miracle of his life, we also look ahead to the price he will pay and the sacrifice he made.Throughout exams, the simple trials of everyday life, the great joys and everything and anything in between I continue to reiterate this to myself:

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I get chills… yes CHILLS… every time I read this verse. It is simply empowering and I just want to bow down at the Majesty that is Jesus.

“TAKE HEART, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. “

My mind cannot fully process this statement in all of its entirety and magnitude. Jesus has OVERCOME the world. The whole entire world. “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” In him we have peace, and hope and the gift of life. He does not promise us that our lives will be easy, or without tribulation, but the world does not matter. The things of this world do not define us, they do not have power over us because he is in control and he has OVERCOME the world.

In the upcoming New Year I encourage you to write this verse on a notecard. Keep it in your Bible, on your mirror, in your car, in your purse, or for you men your frocket. ANYWHERE. Maybe you’ll look at it every day. Maybe you will see it just when you need it most. Maybe it will remind you that YOU ARE HIS! You should have great peace and courage of heart because he has conquered all for YOU.

A few little things that bring me peace right now:
1. The word peace is mentioned in the Bible over 230 times (NIV) and 429 (KJV)!! WOW.
2. We have a month away from school to spend time with friends, family and in His word.
3. There are people smiling and sharing His love everywhere you go at this time of year.
4. And I always remember “Sins curse has lost its grip on me.”  (Listen to “In Christ Alone”) 
5. There is a NEW YEAR ahead and EVERY DAY Jesus offers us a new beginning!

If you are struggling with peace here are a few verses to use to increase your peace.

 PRAYER. LOVE.  SERVING CHRIST. FAITH.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Romans 14:17-19 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Written by the lovely Kathryn Kingsmore of Phi Mu

Choosing Jesus Daily

So every day, we all make choices. They can be simple, like deciding what’s for lunch, or life changing, like choosing a major.  So often, I know I make choices without thinking about what I’m really doing. As a believer, I know I made a conscious choice to follow the Lord, but sometimes I don’t realize what that means. Lately, the Lord has been showing me what it looks like to actively choose Him.

It’s so easy for me to go about my life, be involved in my chapter, enjoy my friends and family and not have God as the center of my life because I’m too busy focusing on other things. Fail on my part. The good thing is, He is greater than my sin.

I love Joshua 24:15. It says: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” I’d heard it before, but that is something I definitely needed to be reminded of. A choice is a daily, conscious decision. I was super convicted when I realized that when I am putting off spending time with the Lord or not fully resting and relying on His grace, that is also an active choice that I make. Yeah, kind of a reality check, I know. He’s faithful and forgiving though and wants to redeem us.

As sinners, we are going to mess up. It’s a fact. Joshua tells the people in verse 19, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God.” How about a pride check on that one, wow. As we choose to serve the Lord, He humbles us. I’m thankful to serve a God that is greater than me and wants my whole heart. We have to recognize our need for the Lord to make us His. We can aim to serve all we want. We can try our hardest to be successful at serving, but if we don’t see that we can’t do it alone, it’s all worthless. We are not able to serve the Lord on our own. The goodness is that He equips us to do His work as we work together for the Kingdom. We can’t do it, but with Christ in us, we can do all things.

So how? How do we make this active choice thing a reality? After the people in Joshua insist that they want to serve the Lord, Joshua tells them in verse 23: “Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” The Lord calls us to choose Him, humble ourselves, and then be willing to throw away our idols and the things in life that push us away from Him. This requires sacrifice on our part, but in the end, it’s a much better trade. He is better and works for our good. Think about what the Lord might want you to get rid of in your life that is holding you back from choosing Him.

He then calls us to yield our hearts to Him. He asks us to surrender ourselves completely to Him. This can be so hard. I’m a planner. I have lots of goals, dreams, etc. I like being in control.  Ask yourself: What areas of my life am I holding on to? Where am I not letting the Lord lead me? This is such a struggle for me. Yet, I have to remember that the Lord is for me, and He will never forsake me. Surrendering to Him is so worth it. He has my best in mind, and He loves me more than I can understand.

As we choose to serve the Lord, He humbles us to recognize that we can’t do it alone. He enables us to throw away and fight our idols and yield our lives to Him. In Joshua 24, the passage ends with a covenant, symbolized by a rock, to remind the people what they had committed to. I encourage y’all to make sure you have community established in your life. We cannot choose the Lord and serve Him alone. This is a journey that we are meant to walk together.

Walking with the Lord is a decision. Together, let’s actively choose the Lord by allowing him to humble us and shape us by throwing away our idols and yielding our hearts to him. It’s a choice I know we won’t regret.

Written by Sarah Haile of Phi Mu

Choosing Gratitude

I am reading a book called Choosing Gratitude and it has me thinking and evaluating my ungrateful heart. The bible instructs us over and over to give praise to God and to be grateful in all things, but I am just beginning to wrap my head around how crucial this is.

God has brought eternal life through Jesus; this alone should make our hearts joyful, grateful, shocked, etc…but He goes on to offer JOY in the midst of our worldly life…one that isn’t dependent on our circumstances. As if the gift of eternal life isn’t enough, we are quick to think that we deserve more. By doing this, our hearts are not grateful toward our Savior and we rob ourselves of the joy that He wants for us.

“…gratitude truly is my life preserver. Even in the most turbulent waters, choosing gratitude rescues me from myself and my runaway emotions. It buoys me on the grace of God and keeps me from drowning...” –Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Choosing Gratitude)

Can I get an amen on the “runaway emotions” part? I know that I’m a girl, but human emotions in general can take us on a rollercoaster of a ride if we let them steer. A grateful heart helps us focus on how amazing God is, then our faith is increased, and nothing in this world can stomp the eternal security that He offers.

Things I’m grateful for

• God isn’t a far-away King instructing me from a throne; He is my living Savior that deeply cares for me and promises to never forsake me. (Hebrews 4:15)

• God’s love for me isn’t dependent on how well I stick to the rules. He has given me the desire to obey Him as a response to how awesome He is. (Romans 6:11-14)  

• Jesus is bigger/greater than __________ (insert your worst fear/circumstance) (John 16:33)

• Cancer stinks, but God used it to bring my family closer to Him. God uses suffering and He works through it. (Romans 5)

• If I wake up tomorrow and everything in my life goes terribly until I die-I still get Jesus….BAM! (Hebrews 13:15)

Writing this is so good for me because I truly stink at resting in the truth that God is enough. God is more than enough.

“Choosing gratitude is a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God’s Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace-until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life.” 

–Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Choosing Gratitude)

Written by Margaret Curtis of Alpha Delta Pi 

Additional Resources 

***Sharing your faith can be an incredibly joyous, freeing, amazing experience but it can also be a little awkward, scary, and unnerving experience as well, especially if we are talking to our family.  Crossway Books has provided a free version of Bringing The Gospel Home by Randy Newman and has some great points and insights that can help us along our journey of sharing Jesus with the people we love most. (Follow the link and check it out!)   

RIVER OF HOPE.

Like the river's rushing water,

my hope flows from You. 

You've always loved Your daughter, 

from Your love, my love grew. 

Thirsty, my soul cried out to You.

Searching, I drank from posion cups.

This perfect joy I never knew,

til' Your water of life filled me up. 

River of hope, You spur on new life, 

my once broken heart was dark as night. 

Now I no longer live in blinding strife, 

Your gift of grace ushered in the Light.

As Your love beckons me deeper, 

my heart responds to Your call.

The rapids seem to get steeper, 

but You carry me through it all.

River of hope, giving purpose, freedom;

rushing water of life in my veins.

Now my passion is Your Kingdom,

You've washed away all of my stains. 

Written by Kelsey McKinney of Alpha Chi Omega 

Heismakingmenew.blogspot.com 

HOPE

 You know when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales, that fantasy of what your life would be, white dress, prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill. You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close, you could taste them, but eventually you grow up, one day you open your eyes and the fairy tale disappears. Most people turn to the things and people they can trust. But the thing is it’s hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely ‘cause almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope, of faith, that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true.

-Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy

During the Christmas season, many things become the object of our hope. Things that we believe will improve our circumstances, give us completion, or change our reality... for the better. Regardless of our “young adult” age, I know we all still make our “Christmas wish list” (in our head at least) filled with things that we want, desire, and believe will make us happy. Is it bad that we make a list: no. Is it bad to put hope in our list: yes. Our list can distract us from the meaning of Christmas and of life: Jesus.

Hope is defined as: “a feeling of expectation and desire.” Hope is a wish, a dream, a longing; and the possibilities fill us with joy. Sadly, we are all guilty of putting our hope in the Christmas list (or our life “lists” for that matter).  Wherever hope is misplaced, disappointment soon follows. These things on our list have no certainty, no security, and no confidence.

Before Jesus was born, the Jewish people hoped for the Messiah—the One who would shoulder their sin and intercede with God on their behalf (Isa. 53:12). They expected the Messiah to arrive through a virgin who would bear a son in Bethlehem and would name Him Immanuel, “God with us” (7:14). The night Jesus was born, their hope was fulfilled (Luke 2:1-14).

Although we’re no longer waiting for Jesus, our Messiah, to be born, He is still the source of our hope. As Christians we know this, yet everyday I seem to put my hope in something else- Hope that I will get to do a certain thing, go to that certain place, buy some certain product, only to hope that it will make me feel or look a certain way, and so the story goes- day in and day out. In every season of my life, I hope for something always looking for the next thing. Whether it’s for a certain grade in a class, to graduate, to get a job, to get married, to have children, or to eventually retire and have grandchildren... like really? Is that the list most of us hope in? So predictable! Year after year people have done the same thing- and it all ends the same way. Disappointments and letdowns.

It’s true in any situation that when we place our hope in something other than Jesus (our family, our friends, our things and our self), they will always let us down. These things are things. They are futile and finite. It makes perfect sense for them not to deliver the sense of hope that we long for, yet it’s our human nature to consume our self with these wants and desires. (Explains why we spend a majority of our time on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.)

So y’all obviously know where I am going with this: Jesus is our only hope.

- He is a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).

- He will never fail us.

- He will always comfort us.

- He is faithful to us and will be there when the seasons, people and trends change.

- He is constant.

- He is the only hope in a hopeless world.

With Christmas just around the corner, it is so easy to get distracted by all the hustle & bustle, lose sight of the meaning of the Christmas, and the joy we all share: Jesus.

The gospel is a message of hope: God became man, entered this dark and desperate world, died in our place to pay for our sins, and defeated death, in order to give us HOPE.

If we have received the gift of Jesus, we have received life. Don’t live in bondage to the desires of this world. Receive a new portion of the Holy Spirit, remember your salvation, what he has brought you out of, your forgiveness, acceptance, fullness, righteousness, love and every other good gift under the sun that Our Father lavishes on His children.

Things are okay, but when we place our hope in them other than Christ, they battle for the seat of “ultimate” in our life and will leave us broken and empty every time. Let Christmas this year be different. Pray. God has the power to change the object of your desire (Psalm 37:4). Pray that you wouldn’t desire things on this earth, but of things above (Colossians 3:2).

What are you putting your hope in?

(A convicting question to ask yourself as you take inventory at the end of the day or to have your accountability partner ask you)

“Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation, and my God.”

-Psalm 12:12

Written by Austin Boatwright of Zeta Tau Alpha

A Generous Heart: Clothed in Hope.

In light of our last post on generosity, The Season of Giving, we wanted to give you an opportunity to be generous. A dear friend and fellow Greek Impact leader, Amy Woodell, is the Founder and CEO of a non profit organization called, Clothed in Hope. Clothed in Hope's goal is to empower widowed Zambian women by enabling them to provide for their families through learning the craft of sewing. The three step program: Teach. Sew. Create. will not only teach Zambians how to sew, but will also teach about preventable diseases and financial responsibility. The program will allow Zambian's to create clothing to be sold in America and the first clothing line is  called "Restyled". As Clothed in Hope's website says: 
         
      "Through our teach.sew.create cycle, Zambian women are able to enjoy a greatly increased quality of life and share a hope that echoes throughout future generations. Zambian women experience not only the hope of change but also the reality of a better life. We are dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty, one stitch at a time."


Check out CLOTHEDINHOPE.ORG for more information and watch the awesome video below. There are many ways to be generous. You can make a one time donation or sign up to donate monthly. You can also buy an awesome Clothed in Hope Africa t-shirt. To donate just click here: Give. 




The generous heart behind Clothed in Hope:


"I love because Christ loves me. 
My move to Zambia in June isn't terrifying because the Lord will never leave me. 
I will serve Zambian women because Christ has shown me how to serve through His life.
I'm obedient to His call because He loves me. 
I understand hope because God has given me hope through the death & life of Jesus. 
I choose to volunteer my life because God has shown me that my riches can only be found in Him. 
I am, not for myself, but because I am His. 
I'm not great. I'm sinful yet God has chosen me and lavished me with grace from the cross of Christ. 
I choose Christ, but He chose me first. 
I live for an audience of one.
I am not Clothed in Hope. I am Christ's. And Clothed in Hope is His. 
He is everything.
He is love.
He is the ultimate servant.
He is hope.
He has chosen us. 
He has died for us.
He pours out grace.
He equips and speaks.
He is life, abundant life."

The above was taken from Amy's blog, allthisforhisglory.blogspot.com.


For the whole story on how God gave Amy the vision for Clothed in Hope, check out her blogpost "Storms". 

The Season of Giving

With Christmas around the corner and “The Season of Giving” upon us, innate generosity would seem inevitable. However, in the affluent society we live in we are typically bombarded by gifts that overindulge each one of us. With that being said, it’s not a sin to ask or receive presents for Christmas, but your reaction to these blessings should be to praise God! And don’t just praise God, but open your heart and give generously.

Luke 12:33-34 simply says, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 

This verse is fairly straightforward and commands us to sell what we have in order to better help those in need. This doesn't necessarily mean we should go out and sell everything we own, but rather to use our resources to give in light of the gospel. When we reach out to others and give, it reaffirms what Jesus did for us on the cross and should further His kingdom, not our own.

If you’re asking yourself why you aren’t more generous it is most likely due to worry; you do not believe that God is powerful enough and loving enough to take care of your needs. This is not intended to guilt-trip you into being more generous, but to open your eyes to objectively discern whether or not you are trusting God with your finances. If we trust Him to take care of our needs we are more likely to give generously to people who need it the most. Also, be reassured that you will be satisfied in Christ and that He knows our needs and is fully able to meet them. 

Luke 12:29 and 31 says, “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried… Instead seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.”

This should be invigorating! Jesus tells us that we don’t need to worry, and that He will take care of us in our generosity. If you are unsure of how or where to use your resources, pray about it and ask around and doors will be opened. We have been given such an incredible opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, we just have to realize it. Jesus gave His life for us, if our hearts are truly His, then we will love and care for His people too. Some people even make seemingly radical decisions to not accept gifts on Christmas. 

A friend of mine decided that the Lord and the people around her had already overly blessed her. After praying, she came across a worthy organization and chose to ask her friends and family to sponsor an orphan in India in her name rather than giving her a gift for Christmas. Use this example as encouragement to take action this Christmas season to bless others and focus on how God’s gifts are so incredible. 

I challenge you to ask yourself two questions: “How am I giving generously this year?” and, “Am I giving with the intentions of furthering God’s Kingdom?”

     Written by Kevin Walker of Pi Kappa Alpha 

God's Chisel

If any of you have experienced God chiseling away the dead weight of your life, you know it can be a very painful process but with incredible results making you more and more like Christ.  I encourage you all to watch this video below and reflect on the times in your life when you have experienced God chiseling away something in your life.

Exposing the Idols of our Hearts.

So, I was reading in Habakkuk the other day (cruisin’ for a bruisin’… Habakkuk can get real intense…) when I stumbled upon this little gem of a verse:

18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?

   Or an image that teaches lies?

For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;

   he makes idols that cannot speak.

19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’

   Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’

Can it give guidance?

   It is covered with gold and silver;

   there is no breath in it.” (Habakkuk 2:18-19)

And I thought to myself… 1) What kind of Cray-Cray is running around telling inanimate objects to “wake-the-heck-up”? 2) Why is said, Cray-Cray making these idols in the first place? and 3) Gold and silver don’t breathe, obviously. Thanks for the update, God, but I think I got this one figured…why even include this stuff in the first place?

And then I read the next verse:

20 The LORD is in his holy temple;

   let all the earth be silent before him.

It made me pause and wonder how much this verse actually has to do with inanimate objects walking and talking... maybe it has more to do with my heart and my inclination to put my trust in those objects. Maybe it has more to do with me putting my trust in God, my Creator, rather than in created things. An idol is anything or anyone that we put in place of God. An idol can be your significant other, your dog, your wardrobe, your best friend, your academics, anything really. The dangerous thing about idols is that creation was not made to be worshipped. 

Okay, friends, it’s time for a confession. Last night, I spent 2 full hours on Pinterest. 

Two. Hours.

What was I doing? Perfecting my wardrobe? Looking up sweet, but totally-not-as-easy-as-it-looks crafts? Planning my sister’s wedding? Putting together a virtual cookbook?

Um. No….

I was making a Christmas list and daydreaming about who I would be if I had all those pretty things. The clothes, the jewelry, and the hammock bed with DIY twinkle lights built in. I would be cute and wonderful, and everyone would want to be my friend and re-pin my life as their own! (Don't judge... you know you've been there too...) It was like I wasn’t satisfied with what I have now. I wanted my life covered in gold and silver. I wanted this virtual life to be alive- to be real.

Question: What’s the difference between the way I was treating my self-created, fake, inanimate dream life and the way the people worshipped the idols described in Habakkuk?

Answer: There isn’t one.

Here I was, trying to turn this virtual life into reality. Into something that can move and breathe and live. I wanted it to “wake-the-heck-up” and embrace me. Why? Because I put it together. I created it. That’s the nasty part about idolizing things, you make them and you get this great feeling because it’s your creation. Then it fails you. Like the verse above says, this perfect version of myself won’t give me guidance or wisdom. It can’t even breathe. This idol image of myself I’ve been serving isn’t real. It’s a false hope, a lie. 

But here’s the super cool part, God is real. And what’s more, He’s alive and at work in me. Pinterest isn’t the least bit deserving of my worship. Only Jesus is.

God gives us every breath and Christ has given us the free gift of eternal life through faith in Him. He actually takes away all that we were and transforms us as we walk with Him and learn from His Word. He re-creates us. Those verses actually have way more meaning for my life than I thought. Now, I’m not saying Pinterest is evil or that I will stop pinning altogether. Because this post is not about that. It’s about how I idolized myself. It’s about the state of my heart. King David says in Psalm 51:17 “¹⁷My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

A broken Spirit. A contrite Heart. God wants us to realize our deep need for Him.

Jesus wiped my slate clean and continues to do so every day.  He died for my sins. Because He wanted to have a relationship with me. Because He loves me. The Lord doesn’t want this perfect version of myself. He wants me, and you, broken. Because when we’re in shambles, He is the only One able to put us back together. Perfectly. One little piece at a time. Created in His image and for His glory. We were created in the image of our Creator, thats why He is the only One who can sustain us!

Can I get an Amen?

It’s time for me to stop idolizing something fake and worthless. It’s time to start worshipping Christ for His constant forgiveness, His unconditional love. It’s time to be silent so I can listen to what is real- the Lord.

Here’s the thing, friends. I can say all these fancy words, but if I don’t actively stop idolizing this “fake-me” and experience a change of heart, it’s all useless. A great theologian, John Calvin, once said, "From this we may gather that man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols." Our sinful hearts naturally create idols, so we must actively fight back. We have to smash every idol that is fighting for first place in our hearts, the place only Jesus deserves. I don’t know where you are spiritually or what your past has been, but I do know what kind of future you can have. I ask that you try this Jesus-thing. Take some time to pray to God, listen, and read the Bible for what God is actually saying. Look at the things or people in your life that you might be idolizing, and ask yourself a few questions:

What am I worshipping? Often our idols are exposed by where we spend our time and money.

What person or things are you placing your identity in? Remember, only our Creator can name us. Our identity is secure only when it is found in Him.

What are you giving your life to? Does it have eternal purpose? 

Where are you placing your hope? What makes you happy? What makes you angry or depressed? Idoloatry is misplaced hope and will always dissapoint. 

Can your idol give you wisdom, guidance, and eternal life? Is it alive? Is it real? 

Does it, he, or she love you as much as the God who created you does? 

The good news is that the solution to idolatry is repentance. Repentance means to turn away from something sinful, and to turn towards Jesus for forgiveness. Let’s repent of our idols by confessing them to God and asking Him to help us tear them down. Do it now if you need to. This blog will be here when you get back! 

Written by Karly Eaton of Chi Omega. 

Prayer: What is it? and Why is it important?

What is prayer? 

Prayer is simply talking and communicating with God. As His son or daughter you have the special privilege of coming to your Father and Friend with all of your praise, confessions, needs, and desires. 

Why is prayer important? 

All relationships need communication to grow. A relationship with God can be compared to a friendship; when two people meet and want to become friends they invest in the relationship by calling, texting, and spending time together. The more you talk to your new friend, the better you know his character, and the more you will trust him. If you met someone once and never spoke again, there would be no relationship! Your relationship with God works the same way; the more you talk to Him and spend time with Him, the better you will get to know His character, and  trust Him. Like any relationship, if you neglect your time and communication with God, the relationship will suffer. 

Below are some helpful tips on how to pray: 

1.            Make time for prayer. Prayer should be a priority.

2.            Find a place for prayer. You can pray anywhere, any time, but it helps to have a designated spot where you can come into God’s presence.

3.            Get some privacy for your prayer time. Go somewhere peaceful where you won’t be interrupted. 

4.            Listen. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God”. Ask God to speak to your heart. God always hears and answers prayer. God may say, “No”, because He has a better plan for you. He might say “Wait” because it is not the right timing in your life, or He might say, “Yes”, and bless you!

The P.R.A.Y. method is a simple and practical way to pray although there is no "right" or "wrong" way to pray.

 (Praise. Repent. Ask. Yield.)

P= Praise: Spend time praising the Lord by thanking Him for what He’s done and is doing in your life and the lives of others. Thank Him for saving You. Pray the Psalms back to Him, sing worship songs, and simply praise Him for who he is, God. 

R= Repent: To repent means to turn away from our sin and turn towards God. Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23,24) Confess any sin that the Holy Spirit reveals to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you turn away from that sin. 

A= Ask: Ask God to provide for any emotional and physical needs that you’re experiencing. Ask Him for the desire of your heart, or for Him to change the desires of your heart. Intercede on behalf of friends and family to ask God for their protection, provision, and healing. 

Y= Yield: Give God your plans for the future. Yield in obedience to His will for your life.  Surrender to His calling for your life. Have the attitude of , “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). 

d family to ask God for their protection, provision, and healing. 

For a more high-tech way to pray, check out Echo Prayer. Echo is a "prayer manager" that will remind you when to pray for specific people or things. Echoprayer.com

For more information on why Prayer is important, read this awesome article by Campus Crusade: How to Pray with Power. 

You can also pray very intentionally for your friends and family by praying through the scriptures. Check out Redeemed Girl's resource, specifically for sorority girl's (guys you can use it too): A Sorority Girl's Guide to Leaving a Legacy. Just download the PDF and find prayer on pages 10, 11, and 12. 

*Prayer tips taken from Redeemed Girl Ministries at redeemedgirl.org 

*P.R.A.Y acronym taken from http://www.southridgeworship.com/PRAY.htm

Good music: