Receiving The Abundant Life!

Dear Friends, I recently heard a sermon on receiving eternal life and inheriting a full life as it was meant to be lived on earth that I want to share with you!

The scripture I want to talk about is Matthew 19:16-22:

¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?” ¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The question that the man is asking here is quite simple, he asks Jesus how he will get eternal life. And what he means by eternal life is a full life that starts now on earth! I think we can all relate to this question, at least I know I can.  Because in some way or another, each one of us has already answered this question for ourselves, in fact, our own answer is most likely driving a significant portion of our lives. Because we are all seeking a significant and full life, one that will last beyond our years, one that is eternal.  And so fellow greek sisters and brothers, I challenge you to ask yourself, what does your life say is the answer to how you get eternal life?

Now, if you’re like me than you are probably feeling a little convicted at this point, I realize so often in my own life that I tend to take the bible as good advice, instead of seeing it as it is—the Word of God who is our only source of life! Even the rich man in the passage does this, notice how in verse 17 he calls Jesus, “teacher.” And while yes, Jesus was a teacher, he certainly spent a lot of time speaking and teaching to people about God, but it is important that we don’t limit Jesus to simply a teacher, because Jesus is soooooo much more than just a good teacher.

If we simply limit Jesus to being a good teacher, we as sinful and selfish humans are not likely to take his advice to heart. How often do we as college students tend to question what our professors say, or the advice that they give.  Jesus is not just a teacher, he is the source of life, eternal life! We know this because in John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Notice in this passage Jesus doesn’t say I have come to teach them how to have life, no He, God in the flesh, has come so that we might receive the undeserved gift of eternal life through His death and resurrection on the Cross! Wow!!!!

If we read on in the passage you may say, wait a minute, why does Jesus list off a whole set of commandments that this man must follow to receive eternal life? While I dont really know what Jesus was thinking, the most likely answer is that Jesus knew this man’s heart, he knew that the rich man did not regard Jesus as King.  Jesus also knew that there was one thing this man loved more than anything else…. Money!  And so when Jesus says, “go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” I think he actually means it! Now, this is not to say that we all should go and do this. But what Jesus is saying here is that he wants all of us! Jesus, our King, wants us to submit EVERYTHING we have to Him, to the one who is good, as it says in verse 17. You see dear friends; the God we serve is a jealous God who wants all of our hearts to be captivated by Him. And for the rich man, money was the one thing that he was unwilling to let go of in order to follow Jesus.  The irony in all of this is that the rich man would experience a true richness of life if he really would just let go of his money and learn to regard Jesus as far more precious.

Friends, we really can experience Christ and the abundant life here and now if we are willing to submit our lives to the King. The best part...... is that God is not a stingy God who is holding out on us, no rather when we submit our earthy possessions and treasures to Him, we receive much more in fullness of joy from our Creator, who knows exactly what we need to be satisfied!

Some questions to ask yourself in reflection are:

1)      What is keeping me from submitting my life to God?

2)      What areas of my life is Jesus calling me to submit to Him?

3)      In what ways has Jesus been generous to me?

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. -Colossians 1:15-17

Written by Michelle Faucett

A Note for the Doldrums

Hello friends!

I hope that your summer is off to a great start! I wanted to share some stuff that's been on my mind the past week as I've been working through the transition from USC to home this summer. Enjoy--

I was reading in the Bible (Numbers 11, Joel 3 and 1 Corinthians 15) this morning, thinking about how insanely powerful the Lord is...

How God provided bread from heaven (manna) for the Israelites as they lived in the desert after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. 

How Jesus rose from the dead and defeated sin, once and for all people who trust in Him.

How Paul killed Christians for telling others about this until God  called him from a destructive life that leads to death to a new life, redeemed and forgiven by the Lord. 

How I, you, we can and do experience this grace daily through Jesus Christ.

It hurts sometimes to think about it, and I don’t always fully grasp it- this grace, this love, this eternal redemption.

Or that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The God that parted the Red Sea or created land is exactly the same God I get to know today.

I think, did I make the right choice? Will God still provide for me? Am I listening to lies? Is God truly making me new? What does it mean that I don’t always comprehend?

It’s easy for me to turn off my emotions, to curl up inside myself and recount my sins, my fears, my insecurities. Over and over and over again.

 

I learned the hard way just how estranging that can be. So, when I start to feel overwhelmed, I turn to the Bible and specifically look at the promises God gives his children before, during and after Jesus returned to heaven.

Fear	God’s Promises
Did I make the right choice?	1 Corinthians 15:58
Will God provide for me?	Numbers 11:23
Am I listening to lies?	1 Corinthians 15:3-8 and Numbers 11:17
Is God truly making me new?	1 Corinthians 15:10, 50-56
Grace, love and eternal redemption	Joel 3:21

What I want to tell you is this-

Summer is challenging. I travel back home, surround myself with family, friends, and no routine, and it’s easy for me to become complacent in my faith. It’s easy to choose not to spend time learning about God or reading His promises. I’ve been there and learned that the more distance I put between myself and God’s truth, the more I stumble through the exhausting emptiness of my fears.

I don't have the perfect answer on how to escape from past pains or present doldrums, but I do know this- it's when I return to God’s Word and just read it to learn what’s there, that I find assurance for that day.

If you aren’t like this, then please, praise God! You have been surely blessed!

But if you are, try it. You don’t have to be a theologian or know all of the books of the Bible or do an in-depth study on every verse you find. Just read God’s Word. Read it to know about Him.

Because, truly, who knows us better than the Lord?

Your sister in Christ,

-Karly

& We're BACK for SUMMER:2012

I'm excited to announce that the Greek Impact blog will be back in action over summer break! At least once a week student leaders will be posting about what the Lord is doing in their hearts, sharing summer experiences, and answering any questions you might have about growing in your faith!

Summer can be a relaxing but tricky time, whether you're living it up at the beach or enjoying being at home with the family or working an internship. We would LOVE to hear any questions you have about how to grow in your relationship with Jesus. We have some great resources available and will be posting them on this blog. Please feel free to post comments with questions or email them to scgreekimpact@gmail.com. 

Just for fun here's my newest favorite song! Happy Summer! 

2012. A New Year to Live for Jesus

My 2012 New Years Resolution is this: to love Jesus more deeply, to follow Him with surrender in every area of life, and to let His unfathomable love change my heart from the inside out. Everything else in my life will flow from His power inside me and will produce supernatural results, rather than my own self efforts that yield exhaustion and frustration.


I'm joining The Fellowship of the Unashamed and living for Jesus wholeheartedly in 2012. The Fellowship of the Unashamed was written by Dr. Bob Moorehead and is a powerful declaration of faith and commitment to Christ. 

The Fellowship of the Unashamed 

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

What will your resolution be? Will you join The Fellowship of the Unashamed? Will you become a follower of Jesus or be just another person in the crowd? It's a time for new beginnings. Jesus offers a clean slate for every moment of every day. Enter into relationship with Him and all of your sin is wiped clean. Surrender everything to the One who loves you unconditionally. Live for Him. He will take your plans for 2012 and replace them with HIS plans. Scary, I know, but I promise His plans are better, because He loves you more than You can imagine. So let's join together to start off 2012 right by following Jesus daily. He is the only way, truth, hope and life!

Written by Kelsey McKinney of Alpha Chi Omega

"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.

.

            “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