You Are Worth Everything

What is value? Worth?

According to the dictionary, the word value means "a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged."

One thing that has been highlighted to me while being home, is how women today see themselves as so low in value, or worthless. You see it everywhere. Magazines, movies, conversations.....

Why is this?

Us women have such a desire to love, be loved (as do men...but that is a totally different subject), be beautiful, feel accepted etc etc.

But we are so hard on ourselves. We need the "sexy body". We need the latest style clothes. We need the boyfriend. But why?

Why do we rate our self-worth in what the world says? 

Our worth shouldn't be baised on what people say about us.

Beauty. What is beauty? The media tells us beauty is a size 2 with the latest Gucci purse and Dolce and Gabona shoes.

But God is beauty. If you study what the scriptures say about His beauty and the beauty of His throne room in Heaven, I promise you, you will be blown away.

God made us in His image, so how dare we say that we are anything less than beautiful.

But I know what that's like. I used to be a captive to self-hatred. I would look at myself in the mirror everyday and utterly despise what I saw. But not anymore. I might not be the "beautiful" everyone else strives to be, but I am radiating with true beauty, both inside and out, because that is how God sees me.

Beauty isn't a size, a number on a scale...beauty is you. Because that is who God created you to be.

Song of Solomon 4:7

You are altogether lovely, my darling. There is no blemish on you.

"If you got it, flaunt it"

I hate that.

Have you ever noticed that you never see commercials on TV for the expensive cars, like BMWs, Corvetts, Mustangs, etc.? You see commercials for the cheap cars.

I am an expensive BMW, worth being sought out by a man. I am not a cheap car, ready to advertise myself to the world.

I am worth so much more than throwing myself at men. I am a jewel, worth being worked hard for. And I'm not saying this in a "I'm better than you" sort of way.

I'm saying this because God said I was worth the blood of His Son, Christ; and the Bible says a husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church.

Today girls give themselves to such low standards. They settle into compromise. I know, I did it for a year and a half. It tore me apart. I thought I was feeling better about myself, but really it was just feeding my self-hatred.

Why do we value ourselves so low? Because we don't think we are worth anything. Why is that? I honestly don't know. I don't have words to describe how valuable we are to God. And the fact that people don't see that...it breaks my heart, it really does.

I don't agree with the dictonary's description of value. We don't need to give God anything in return for His value. He sees us as worth it, just because He loves us. I know I am valuable because the Creator created me with His own two hands. That, to me, speaks in volumes.

Our worth, should come from how God sees us.

Guess what?

He says we are worth everything.

Once Upon a Time

....Snow White fell for the first man who climbed over her wall

....Ariel fell for the first man who drowned in her ocean

....Jasmine fell for the first street rat that lied to her about who he was

....Aurora fell for the first man she saw when she woke up

....Pocahontas fell for the first handsome guy who explored her land

....Cinderella fell for the first man she danced with

It seems to me that the only two sensible princess Disney has given us are Belle and Tiana. And what do these fabulous animated women have in common? Their princes.

Their princes had to become either an ugly beast or a slimy frog before they could win their princess' hearts. 

I think that this could apply to a lot of girls today. I know that for me, I don't just want a knight in shining armor. I want a guy who would do anything, including becoming an "ugly beast" or a "slimy frog" to show to me that he is worthy of my love. 

I'm not saying that I'm the most important thing ever, but I do know that I deserve to be treated, and loved like a princess; because all girls are princesses! We are the daughters of Christ, who is the King of Kings.

And men, do you want to be that flimsy guy that can sweep any girl off her feet just with your looks or charm? Or you do want to be the actual hero who can be strong for your woman? You have to make that choice yourself.

I'm not gonna settle for the handsome charming prince. I want the one who isn't perfect. The one that is strong enough to carry us through hard times. I want the beast.

My Eschatology

My passion for learning about the End Times began back when I was home-schooled and I spent almost 50% of my time reading. My mom had read the series Left Behind  by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. After a while, they started coming out with books called Left Behind: The Kids. I remember I started reading them, oh, when I was probably about 9 or 10. The characters in the books were ages 12,13,15, and 16 when the series began so it was fairly easy to relate with them.

Now, I am using this blog to write about and share what I believe about the End Times and the book of Revelation (and other books dealing with the prophecy of Jesus' second coming) but what I say here, is just my opinion. It is a mixture of what I believe the Bible is saying,  and what I have heard other people teach on (which, by the way, I always take back to the Bible to make sure it matches up with the Word of God). So, if you disagree with some, or all, or none of what I am saying, it's not gonna hurt my feelings. Go ahead and believe whatever...this is just my opinion. But beware, I am not good with confrontation (because at the same time, I can also be very stubborn), so if you start arguing with me, please be nice... :-p

Ok. There is so much to say, I don't really know where to start...but I will start with a rough timeline...I will elaborate each point more later on...

1. The "birth pangs" or "sorrows"

2. Antichrist signs a seven year peace treaty with Isreal, and the nations. 

3. 3 1/2 years of peace between nations. 

4. The abomination of desolation

5. 3 1/2 years of war 

6. Jesus physically returns to the earth to start His 1,000 year reign on the earth. 

7. New Jerusalem and New Earth combine to make what we will live in for eternity.

Before I go any further, I want to state another personal conviction of mine. In the Left Behind books, the Christians disappear into thin air, leaving behind their clothes, and even things like contacts or teeth fillings. They called this "the disappearings". Today, this theory is called the "Dispensationalism" or a "secret rapture" where God take His believers in a split second. I personally do not believe this theory is biblical. But, I do believe we will be "Raptured". 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 says "Now this I say, brethren, that (1)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at (2)the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and(3)the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

(1) If flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, then were did all the bodies go when they disappeared in that "secret rapture"?

(2) What is the last trumpet? During the Great Tribulations, God will release judgments on the Antichrist, and his followers. These judgments are known as the 7 bowls,  7 seals and  7 trumpets.  Revelation 11:15 says "Then the seventh angel (or trumpet) sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever."

So basically, this 7th trumpet starts Jesus' descent onto earth and the end of the 7 year Tribulation. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 then says "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (meaning, those who are physically dead and buried). Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (or raptured) in the clouds to meet Him in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord."

(3) But wait! (1) said that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God... and yet 1 Thessalonians is saying that the "alive Christians" will be "caught up in the clouds". Won't we still be flesh and blood then? Aren't these two verses contradicting themselves? 

No, they are not. Because firstly, (3) states "...and we shall be changed." Now, I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it very well could mean that our physical bodies will somehow change into our spiritual beings. But, that's just my thought. I have no idea if it's right. But also, when we are "caught up in the clouds" we will be with Jesus. Jesus is flesh and blood. He was living on earth around flesh and blood and corruption for 33 years before He died on the cross. So being "caught up in the clouds" is different than "inheriting the kingdom of God". 

Does that make sense?   

So, these verses are the reason why I do not believe that the "dispensationalism" is biblical.

Now back to the timeline.

1. The "birth pangs" or "sorrows"

Matthew 24: 4-8

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.(The Greek word for birth pangs is translated into sorrow in this NKJV translation)

Why "birth pangs"? Because it is the beginning of  birthing a new order for the earth. A new order in which Jesus comes to reign on the earth. What happens when a woman is in labor? When the contractions start, the get worse and worse until eventually the baby comes.

Ok then...what are the birth pangs? When will we know they are happening? 

The scripture above lists, wars and ethnic conflict ("nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom"), famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. 

Luke 21:7-11 says

So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”  And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the endwill not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 

I personally, believe that we are in the first stages of the birth pangs now. I believe that these birth pangs started either in 1948 when Isreal became a nation again, or in 1967 when Jerusalem came under Jewish rule. This article (by Mike Bickle,  International House of Prayer) explains why better than I can:

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The New Testament has apostles functioning with prophetic revelation. When you study the prophets in

Scripture, what God does in Israel is the reference point or litmus test for the end times. As Gentiles—most of

us in this room are Gentiles—God causes the timing of His redemptive plan to be related to the city and nation

that He is coming back to and from which He will rule the nations. The city and nation that Jesus is coming

back to where He is going to rule the world from is Jerusalem. It is the reference point on the timing of His

return. All the timing in the Scripture related prophetic events to the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.

The most dramatic thing in history happened in Israel. After 2,000 years, Israel became a nation. This is

unprecedented in world history. It stands in a category of its own—way out there, all by itself.

It said in the Old Testament in many places directly or by implication, Israel had to be a nation in the generation

in which the Messiah returns. We are going to look at some of these passages, so you can become more aware

of them. The prophets of the Old Testament 2,500 to 3,000 years ago prophesied that Israel would become a

nation, and they will occupy the city of Jerusalem before the Messiah returns.

That was all fine and easy back in the Old Testament when Israel was in the land and controlled the city of

Jerusalem, so those seemed like pretty normal prophecies. Then, the Roman armies came in 70AD. They

scattered the Jewish nation to the four winds, took over the city of Jerusalem, and disbanded the nation. All of a

sudden, many of the Old Testament prophets were asking, “How is Israel going to become a nation again? How

will Israel be reinstated in their statehood—their nationhood?” That was OK for maybe fifty years, or maybe

even a hundred years. But then, the people of God began to say, “Huh? This is getting a little more difficult to

happen. For 6,000 years since Adam, no nation in the history of the world has ever been without a homeland for

one generation, and then they recovered the land.”

Two thousand years later, it looks impossible. There is not by chance. It has never been done. Even after forty

years, it had never been done. Suddenly in May 1948, Israel becomes a nation and the prophetic time clock

starts up again. For those who are unfamiliar with Bible prophecy, this might seem like a small thing; but it is a

gigantic shout from heaven that the end-time clock began on May 14, 1948.

Yeah, it hurts your brain doesn't it? Here's one more reason why I think we are in the birth pangs now. And this, is just something I have thought up in my head...not really anything I've heard. All those verses list famines and earthquakes etc. as signs of the times. But what about just plain disobedince to God? I mean think about it. Can you list somethings that our society is accepting now that they weren't accepting 50, 60 years ago? I can.

Abortion.

Homosexuality.

Witchcraft.

Pornography.

Maybe I'm wrong...but were there as many Pride parades 50 years ago as there are now? Do you think that Harry Potter would have been an acceptable book to read?

Luke 12:2-3 says

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

I don't know if that pertains to my theory, but to me it fits. I feel like it's saying, those sins that you hid before, will no longer be hidden, but will be proclaimed with loud, and proud voices.

Ok, I'm gonna have to finish this up some other time and finish the remaining 6 points of the timeline...for those who are interested. But I will say one last thing.

I truely believe that Jesus is coming back soon. If not my generation, then my kids. I have a desire to be there and see Jesus come back after the 7 years with the Antichrist. Yeah, it's scary to think that 20, 30 years from now, life as we know it could be over. But you know what? I'm either gonna die and be with Jesus in Heaven, or be with Him at the end of this world. So really, the end result is the same; it's just the getting there that's different. And in Heaven, our past pains and hardships won't matter anymore...so what's the difference?

:)

P.S. Eschatology is the study of the end times. 

To Save a Life

We watched To Save a Life tonight at youth group. Now, lately I've been saying different movies, like Inception, Salt, Avatar etc are my new favorite movies, but this one was different. All those movies, were cool. They were suspenseful, action filled, very well made visually wise...but To Save a Life was different. It opened my eyes to problems that I always new existed, but I never really took to heart.
Teen suicide.
Teen pregnancy.
Teen alcoholism.
Teen drug abuse.
Teen, teen, teen.
Why is it that the teens of our generation are like magnets to these issues? Is it the fact that we like to rebel? We want attention? We want acceptance from our friends? We have a part of us that isn't satisfied? 
I think it's a combination of all of those. 
God has given me a heart for my generation. I don't even know how to put into words how I feel but it breaks my heart to see kids my age chase after things that are only fulfilling in the moment. I'll be honest, I am guilty as well. I too have ran after things that will only hurt me more in the end, and I times I still do. But I always come back to the realization that there is only One thing who can make me happy. 
I don't want to sound like that youth pastor you heard a few years ago when you tried the whole "church thing", or your parents, or some religious freak, but quiet frankly, it's true. 
I was never truly happy until I found the love of Jesus. 
In 8th grade I was depressed; wanted to commit suicide. In this movie, Roger is the senior in high school who killed himself. And he says something to his former friend Jake right before he pulls the trigger. "It's too late to care Jake; it's not like you ever did before." 
I don't want to be a Jake, or a Roger for that matter, but I don't want to be the one who was never there; who never cared. 
For the past two years, I went to a school that laughed at Jesus. They laughed at the demeaning Jesus pencil toppers or Jesus toasters. And again, I'll admit, I laughed along with them. 
But the love of Jesus Christ is nothing to laugh at. That act of kindness and grace He gave Himself for, is what can save us, the only thing that can save us. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Him. It wasn't my own choice, it wasn't my own strength, it was God. Like I said before, I can't put into words how I feel, how much this means to me and how much it breaks my heart. 
Kari Jobe has a song that I love, and I think it shows how I feel better than I can write

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming 

That, right there, is available to us, if we only ask for it. 
Jesus Christ's love, is the only thing able To Save a Life. 

Minnesota 2010

Deuteronomy 8:3

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

When I found out that I was going to be working with kids at a homeless shelter for my 5 days in Minneapolis, I'll be honest, my heart sank a little bit. Seeing as my summer job is part time at a day camp, I was kind of looking forward to the time away from the little ones. As I was complaining to one of my friends about my predicament, she simply looked at me and said, "Maybe God has something He wants to show you." And she was right. 
As you have seen, the theme for our week in Minnesota was "More or Less" and I think the children I worked with for a week were perfect examples.
There were two groups; the 10am -12pm group, and the 12pm-2pm group. They were picked up by school buses, and chapel was first. 30 minutes of almost 100% worship. Then came gym; another 30 minutes of dodge ball chaos in a gym no bigger than the size of a large bedroom. Then it was lunch. These kids didn't bring a lunch like the kids at my work. No, the shelter fed all of them. They then finished up the day with a lesson and were driven back home on the same bus they came on. 
The first day was uneventful. I really didn't know what to do so I stood in the back hoping someone would ask me to do them a favor so I wasn't just standing around. I remember thinking that where I worked was so much more professional and organized and that I was glad I worked at a church, and not a homeless shelter. 

The week went on, and I began to notice subtle differences in the kids, and my surroundings. Two little brothers, came the second day with the same wrinkled clothes on they had worn the day before, obviously having slept in them the previous night. When the kids asked what was for lunch, or saw the food on their plate and wrinkled up their noses, they ate it without complaining, because they were hungry. When a teacher asked for prayer requests, one little boy asked for his family's safety, because his dad and sister had recently been shot. Then there is one girl I won't forget. Her name was Destiny. On the third day, during gym, she sat on the floor, tears rolling down her face. I sat by her and asked what was wrong. She would not speak, she would not look at me, she would not receive a hug. After sitting with her for at least 10 minutes, she wiped the tears from her eyes, stood up and promptly began to laugh and play with all the other children as if nothing was wrong. I can only imagine what type of things Destiny has seen, or experienced within her household and neighborhood. 
But in the midst of all that brokenness, I saw something else. These kids weren't just physically hungry. They were hungry for the Word of God. During the daily lesson, I watched them as they quietly listened to their teacher, quietly being the key word. I can hardly keep my kids at work quiet long enough to explain a simple activity. These kids had a desire to learn about Jesus, such a desire that I have never seen before. By the end of the week, my heart was completely changed. I found myself wishing I worked at that homeless shelter, where the

focus was not just entertaining them for a day, but to feed them with something more than physical food. It made me realize once again that nobody can ever be satisfied with the things the world offers, but only with the things of God. There is more to this life than money, the best house in the neighborhood, a job to be proud of, because in the end, none of that will matter anymore. I may have a roof over my head, plenty of food, a car, and even a trip to New York City with my drama department, but I don't see myself as more privileged than those kids. I see them as more privileged than me, because they understand the love of Christ. Which, to me, that understanding is the most important possession we can ever have. Less world, more understanding; that's what I saw this week. I challenge myself and all of you to look around in our lives and see what we may be valuing more than our relationship with God. I think that if we allow God to open our eyes, we might be surprised at what we will find.  

Becoming Me

When I was about 6 or 7, one my neighbors in my cul-de-sac in Plymouth MN had a garage sale. I went over with my mom like we always did when there was a local garage sale.When we were there, I found some sort of lego type thing (I don't remember exactly what type of toy it was) where you made your own shopping mall. Let's just say it was love at first sight. After begging mom to buy it for the small price of 5 bucks, I proudly brought it home. I remember seeing the stickers on the wall of the mini mall. There was an electronics store, a food court, and various hair and clothing stores. On one of the stickers was a cartoon picture of a lady with flowing blonde curly hair; kind of resembling the image of a Barbie. And because I had wavy, blondish hair, I remember thinking, "That's probably what I'm going look like when I'm all grown up." 

I looked at myself today in the mirror and that far away memory flooded my mind. I look nothing like that measly little cartoon woman on a sticker and I realized that who I am today, is who I have become. To this day, I still imagine what I'm going to act like, or look like in the future. But I have to remember that I'm not changing anymore; at least in the physical sense. I have become who I am.

Up to 3 years ago...even 2 years ago I remember thinking, "Wow. Alisha was a junior in high school when she was pregnant with me. That's old." And I kept thinking that until the year I was a junior and it struck me. Wait, this is how old she was, and I am that age. Weird. I am now graduated. What?! 

I'm old. I'm grown up. I'll be 18 in two months. I move away this fall. No longer fully depending on my parents. It's just so weird because this day always seemed so far off, but now it's here and I can't seem to grasp that thought. 

Of course I will learn new things, I will probably develop opinions I never had, or improve my opinions I have now. But I have become who I am. I know what I believe, I have my morals and I have me. Who God created me to be. 



I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
A great warm welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

Christian Response to the Day of Silence

"The God of the Bible could never love someone like me..."

Have you ever felt this way? I'm sure more people can relate to this statement than you can possibly imagine. I believe that many homosexuals, in particular, are taunted by this idea. Somewhere along the way, someone has ingrained the idea in their head that God hates gay people...and I for one believe that it's way past time that we as Christians help change that perception.

How? Well, there is a great opportunity to begin conversations left and right, because this past week there was an event that included over 8000 schools across the country called "Day of Silence." The purpose of the event is to "call attention to the serious problem of anti‐lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender bullying, harassment, name‐calling and discrimination in schools." Why a day of silence? Because LGBT students are often forced into silence and isolation by bullying and out of fear of discrimination.

Whether or not your school participated, pretty much everyone on the planet knows about this event, and the question is...

What will you do with this great opportunity?

Option one: ignore, ridicule, or criticize the event with a judgmental, superior attitude.

Of course the problem with this option is the fact that it's not Biblically justified. In fact, check out the example of Paul:

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law...To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1 Corinthians 9:19-20; 22-23).

Do you see what's going on here? There is no doubt in my mind that he would urge us to stand against bullying and the persecution of anyone for any reason.

So to ignore, ridicule or criticize would in many ways reinforce the idea that "God hates gays"-

Which He doesn't.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Remember this verse? The original word for "world" here does not mean the big blue ball that's spinning around the sun. The word is actually kosmos - which specifically refers to the mass of humanity inhabiting the Earth.

So...

God loves you and me, and also the people across the planet.

God loves the priests and the pastors, and also the criminals and the convicts.

God loves the Christians and the atheists, and also the Muslims and the Buddhists.

God loves the straight, and yes, He loves gays and lesbians.

That's why option two is really the only one available to those who claim the name of Jesus Christ - and that is to break the silence by acknowledging the bullying and harassment, and engage in authentic conversations about the Biblical perspective on homosexuality. Understand that this is not preaching or finger pointing, rather a humble attempt to let God open up a mutual dialogue about your differences and similarities.

So what's it going to be? I am totally convinced that if Jesus walked the halls of your school after the Day of Silence, He would engage in conversation and share God's perspective with the participants, just like He did with a prostitute in John 4. He would listen to them, show compassion, and then challenge them with the God's truth.

And most importantly, remember that our job is simply willingness to be used by God and model Christ-likeness. You are not out to win a debate or change anything, rather you are a representative of Jesus called to share not only His love, but the life-changing message of the gospel. Wherever the conversation goes, make sure you take the opportunity to relate how you broke the silence with God when you trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.