FEAR GOD

Alright, I'll admit it. Arkansas isn't the most...open minded...state. It's an adjustment even for me, to get used to all the overwhelming religious bumper stickers, billboards, advertisements, etc. down here. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Bible verse, a good religious message, but sometimes I feel like Christians get a bad rap from over the top, extremists, who condemn everyone around them, not unlike the practices of Westboro Baptist Church, but I won't get into that.

The first time I went to Kanakuk in middle school, my counselor gave me a cup with a Bible verse to remember my experience by. I loved that cup. It was orange with silver writing on it with the verse Proverbs 31:30 on it. That passage states, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." As a 12 or 13 year old I didn't really understand it. I was supposed to fear God?

After that summer I continued to research the verse and this whole idea of 'fearing' God. I thought He was an all loving God. As I continued into high school, and last year while taking part in a Bible study, I grew to really understand it. It is saying fear in the sense of being in awe. God's work is beyond our knowledge and all we can do is be in awe of His great deeds.

Every once in a while here in Arkansas, or anywhere I guess, I am driving with a few girls in the car and we see bumper stickers that say "Fear God." Neither of the girls are practicing Christians, and view this phrase as an extreme thought, which I could agree with to an extent. Who knows if that driver means it in the way of Westboro Baptist Church does, thinking that most people are doomed to Hell, or if that driver is in agreement with Proverbs 31:30? Psalm 139:13-14 speaks of being "fearfully and wonderfully made." Anytime I think about the blessing a child is to their mother and father, you can't help but think of God's work, how does He do it? That's the fear God is looking for, being so in awe, so shocked by His ability. I just hope I can explain that to people who are against using the term "Fear God" or haven't ever heard it other than when the WBC uses it.

Gut feeling, or God calling?

Ok, I have to admit something. I don't have a cup of coffee next to me, not yet anyway...I have a feeling I won't finish this entry in one sitting, so I promise to have a cup next to me at some point. Pheww, glad I got that off my chest.

On to the good stuff..

The other day I got the opportunity to travel to Mizzou for the weekend, and I almost took it. I got off work, I rearranged my schedule for classes so I could go, the only thing between me and visiting friends at Mizzou was a couple days. So the other night, I was at work-where I do my best thinking-and I was thinking about this trip to Mizzou...something didn't feel right. Other than the fact that I vowed never to step foot on Mizzou's campus, being a KU fan and all, I just didn't have a good feeling about it. I reached out to a couple friends, wondering if they thought I was crazy for feeling it and the more I talked with them, the more this gut feeling felt like God's voice, telling me to stay in Fayetteville. I didn't know why, and honestly, I still don't, but I knew that He was telling me to stay back.

It's funny because there have been times where I felt like I was pouring out my soul to God, begging for Him to speak to me, to send me some sort of message confirming what I was doing was right. But it was just so strange that when it all seemed to fit, I had a place to stay, a ride there and home, friends to see, God was telling me, "don't do it." I know I would have fun this weekend if I were to go, but the more I thought about it, the more I want to listen to what He had to tell me. The next day, I come to find that Margaret, my good friend here who was going to go to Mizzou as well, had that same gut feeling. I don't know if she thought it was God, because to be honest, I don't know if she believes in Him the same way I do, but it was just the confirmation that I was doing the right thing.

I think it's a great lesson that God is in complete control of my life. He knows what is best for me, even when I don't see why what I could be doing is wrong. Like I said, I know I would have fun if I had gone this weekend, but He has something else in mind. I have to take the opportunity to listen to Him in simple situations like this, where it is obvious that He is saying something, so when it isn't so obvious, I can have faith He is there.

(Well, the weekend went by and I didn't get to finish this post. Now that I have coffee in hand I can tell you that it was a great weekend for me to stay in Fayetteville! Not only did KU lose to Mizzou...good thing I wasn't on Mizzou's campus for that one...but I had an incredible weekend bonding with people here. I got a lot closer to my good friends here, and celebrated with my sister being finished with the hardest test of her life! I also played ultimate frisbee on one of the colder days we've had this winter and really learned a lot about how to be a better player!)

The Rapture-kinda intimidating, huh?

So if you've ever met me, you know I love my sleep. "Late" to me on a weekday, is about 11:30, when a normal college kid would just start their homework(partying?) I'm getting ready for bed!

"Late" one night last week, I got a text from a friend. This is a girl I have known my whole life, and every once in a while we text each other a random question. This time her question was, "What are your thoughts on the rapture?" This woke me up. First, since it was 12:15 I had to gather my thoughts...I had already been asleep for an hour probably, and my mind was completely blank. For the life of me I couldn't think of what "rapture" meant. So I googled it on my phone and then it all came back to me. 'Of course! The second coming of Christ!' My next step was to answer her question, which was pretty difficult. Growing up the second coming was never taught in PSR or spoken about in Young Life talks, so I never really developed an opinion/dedicated much time to the topic. So I did some research, exchanged ideas with her, and am now am fascinated with this idea.

I know this sounds like I'm going on a tangent, but bare with me, it will all make sense. I love my new job. I am the card swiper here at Arkansas' fitness center so I get to see a ton of people, hopefully brighten up their day a little bit. I also love my job for the fact that I have a lot of time to read during down times. Last week, I brought my Bible with me and conducted my research on the topic there. (See, there was a reason for the tangent!) Anyway, I came across the book of Matthew. Specifically, Matthew 24. As I was reading this passage a couple parts of it stuck out. The first, verse 27, "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Love it. Earlier in the passage it speaks of people that will try and fool believers into thinking Christ has already come, or that they themselves are Christ. Matt 24:27 reassures believers like me that it will be evident when He returns. Just as we can see lightning with our eyes, we will know in our hearts that Christ has come, we won't have to rely on others to tell us.

Another part of Matt. 24 that I really love is Matthew 24:43, "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into." Such a simple message. If we were to know when Christ was going to return we would tidy up our souls, look to fix any of our mistakes, simply: try and save our asses. Which is why the Lord doesn't tell us. We should be living Christ-like no matter what. If He were to come tonight, would my soul be ready? Would I be in a place proud to be found in? Just a thought...

The rapture...kinda scary sounding for such a wonderful thought! Think, for our souls to live endlessly with Christ. Isn't that what we Christians aim for anyway when we die? It shouldn't be this terrifying word, thought, or lesson. The second coming of Christ should be celebrated in anticipation for its occurrence. We should be ready at any moment to depart from our worldly behaviors and forever with those who believe in Him.

Those are most of my thoughts on the topic for now, maybe I'll have some more after I work tonight!

Intro

So the current name of this blog is NOT my first choice. I wanted to name it "Heart Soul Strength"(coming from my favorite Bible verse), but...someone had already taken it... You can only imagine my disappointment when I went to heartsoulstrength.blogspot.com to find that the person had only written ONE post since starting it in 2010! I'm trying not to be rude, but I really think I could have done the blog more justice than they have.

Anyway, since I brought up Heart, Soul, Strength I'll go ahead and talk about it! It comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is actually an extremely popular prayer for the Jewish religion, in Hebrew it is known as the Shema. The section reads,

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

I first came across this verse when I did work crew at the Young Life camp, Timber Wolf Lake. As a group, we memorized it in Hebrew (I don't know if I could still do it!) and it really made an impact on my faith. I realized while reciting it that month, serving campers their meals and helping with different programs, my faith doesn't need to be kept to myself. I don't need to hide it when I'm in the company of those who don't share my faith. It was really refreshing to know that His commandment is to go out, shared it with whoever I meet. My love for Christ should be known to whoever I meet!

Working at Timber Wolf Lake, both in high school and last summer, I have been blessed to meet people who have taken their love for Christ to all ends of the world, hoping I can do the same. It is my hope that I continue to know Christ and learn of His love as I continue down the road.

I love that this speaks of loving the Lord with all my strength. Sometimes it's hard to love what Christ is doing for us in the moment. But to love Him with all that I have, in my heart, my soul and with all my strength, means trusting that the hard stuff will pass and He had his reasons. I know this past semester was a true test of trusting God's plans and tested my strength in faith but now, I am celebrating the gifts He has given me. He has given me a new found appreciation for my parents and family, a confirmation that I can live on my own, and a great love for friends back home and new ones here, who have supported me more than they will ever know.

I can't wait to see what God has written in His plans for me this semester, it has only been 3 weeks back here in Fayetteville and I am already loving life! The beautiful weather, easy class schedule, and a better outlook on life have contributed to a happy Abby lately!

Oh, and today I was was accepted into the Ghana study abroad program for this summer, an answer to my prayers!