What About Noticing Divine Moments of Opportunity?

Prayer Garden.

Humid.
Grey.
Leaves.
Changing Colors.
Red. Orange. Brown. Green.
Wind Rustling.
Train Bustling.
Perfume Scent.
Patches of Grass Gone.
Dirt.
Little Ant Piles.
Gravel Path.
Hard Bench.
Tall Cross Three in a Row.
Bushes. Full.
Bird Chirps.
Buzzing Past My Ear.
Cars Drive By.
Student's Coming and Going.

Life is always happening. The world doesn't stop spinning. But God touched my heart with the encouragement that He never stops either. He is with us in the still moments. But He is still there in our movements. I can go all day with out stopping, and it never occurs to me that He is there too. We don't have to slow down to see Him around us. It just helps to stop everyone in a while and from the outside looking in, see the world around us.

I always get upset in the cafeteria because it never fails that someone runs into me because they were not watching where they were going. Once, someone ran into my plate and spilled corn juice down my pants and all over my hands holding the plate. I was so upset because it's like... Hello?? Can't you just watch where you are going?! This is what I was convicted of this morning. Can't I just really watch where I am going?

What About Evangelism?

I grew up in a private Christian school. In the gym, alongside championship banners, hung the many "Souls Saved" banners of seniors who came before me. They not just encouraged me, but also haunted me. Seeing all my predecessors who were so successful at evangelizing, yet I could not get up the guts to tell someone else about Jesus...

I still can't. The last time I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ was with a youth in my youth group. It was easy and comfortable. I knew her. She knew me. I was not telling her anything new, and at Youth Camp, everyone gets the picture. I just helped her along in the prayer.

The biggest fear I have with evangelism is being turned down, or rejection. I am so passionate about my love for my Savior, when others do not feel the same way, I get my feelings hurt. It is part of the fear of rejection, not just of what I have to say, but also rejection of my Jesus. Secondly, I don't put myself in evangelism opportunities. I do not seek people who do not know Jesus. Placing myself in situations of evangelism requires people who do not know Jesus. Here at ETBU, its hard to tell.

I can be more faithful by stepping off campus and work in lives who really need Jesus, no matter what their attitude towards the Gospel may be. I should be comforted with the idea that Jesus loves us ALL, no matter what. Even those who reject him...

The writings of Francis of Assisi really challenged me in the fact that he had 2 choices: live his life in prayer, or live his life in evangelism. There were no grey area choices for him. It was not both... To him, it was either or. He sincerely sought out his friends and confidants to pray for him. That is the next thing that really challenged me: Brother Masso "quickly had God's answer". How did he know? That is so hard for me! And then when he told Francis that God told him He wanted Francis to go and preach, Francis believed him and went and did it! Now that is faith in not only God, but a true and genuine friend.

My favorite part of Watchman Nee's writing is how beautifully he puts reaching out to "touch God". He gives the examples of not only the sick woman who reached to touch Jesus's feet in a large crowd and was healed, but also the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him in heaven. It is so encouraging to know that yes, evangelism is hard, but it is not really up to us to change someone's heart. That someone has to want to reach out. Like a drug addict, stuck in the addiction of his sin, but the addict has to WANT to quit, to ever really quit. Just as the sinner has to WANT to repent, to ever really be saved. It is usually said as just a joke but...

The first step is just admitting it.

You can get help from there. 

What About Easy And Hard?

For me, Jeremy Taylor's fourth rule comes most easy to me. I love to do good things in secret. I am through and through a lover, so I love to maintain the relationships with those I love by doing good deeds that go with out excessive notice. I have focused very hard on nurturing my need for being praised and now I find more joy in my good deeds than in the praises that come with them!

Conversely, Taylor's fourteenth rule comes to be the most hard for me to adhere to. It is so difficult to see what others have and not want that as well. I see so many fortunate people all around me, and I often think, "gee, why can't my life be more like theirs? They easily have no worries..." I know I should not do that, but that is my greatest habit to kick. 

What About Where I Came From?

Cold, rainy day.
Quiet car ride from Dallas to Houston.
Not much more than a chicken coop.
Crying baby.
No dad in sight.

That is my Granddad's recounts of when he came and rescued me from a terrible situation when I was less than a year old. He always tears up, and I always tear up knowing I was ever in such a poor situation. But my Granddad loved me so much, he came down there with his truck, loaded me and my birth mother up, and took us back to Dallas.

From there I was adopted, given back, adopted, been through a divorce, one parent lives out of state now. But my attitude towards life has never changed. Sure bad things have happened to me, but it only makes my testimony stronger.

Most people would think I would be ashamed and uneasy to talk about these things to, but no, I have a full open door policy, because I never know whose life I could impact by telling them where I have been and how God has brought me up out of it! Amen!

Though being financially poor for a while was hard, I was never left wanting again. I will admit that my adolescence was plagued with peers around me in designer clothes and brand new cars. That is difficult for any young person who can not readily afford it.

But amidst all this angst, I have learned to save and spend wisely. Financially I am better off today than I was a few years ago, all because of the lessons my past has taught me! 

What About Self-Denial

Last night I was watching coverage on E-News of Kim K's divorce. It is all over Twitter. It is in the news. It is in printed newspapers and magazines. All with-in hours after the divorce papers were served. I think this is a perfect example of what the world is telling us is acceptable and cool.

It is ok to spend your youth squandering money.
Money gives you happiness.
Moral values are a thing of the past.
A "cool" lifestyle is one of clubbing, parties, drugs, and sex.
Marriage is superficial and does not last very long any ways.

My list could go on, but these are the things that come to mind.

What this event is teaching us is that all those things I listed are ok to do! They want us to conform to the lifestyles and ignorant ways they follow. What is the purpose in their lives?! What are their goals?! Do they live for nothing but to spend money, make more money, and then spend it again? Fame and fortune are nothing.

This is where our humility is lacking. The media tells us "more...more...", but Christ tells us "Me... Me..."

“If we are not our own, but the Lord’s, it is clear to what purpose all our deeds must be directed… We are God’s own; to him, therefore, let us live and die," says John Calvin. 

Philippians 2:5 tells us, "in your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."

We are called to a Christ life style. Not to be influenced by the media. Or especially Kim K. 

Die to self. Live in Christ.

What About Conversion?

Conversion, as we think of it, is merely saying a prayer and vowing to live a life new in Jesus, with Him as our Lord. E. Stanley Jones sees it as receptivity and then and action. It is something we accept, and then we live it out daily.

He argues that conversion is a daily activity that requires the disciplines, but discipline is not conversion. He says that Jesus was the perfect example of this (and who can argue), in that he had 3 major habits: daily Bible reading, daily prayer, and daily teaching and talking to others. He refers to these as simple habits, but that is easy when the God of our universe is doing them and we should follow suit!

When in reality, he is right. We are sinning on a daily basis, and on a daily basis we are in need of more saving than the day before. I really believe that his basis for conversion is very much a more fully, biblical understanding based solely on the fact that he uses Jesus as his model. Because conversion is not a one time only deal and we are done with it.

Next we are to pass on our conversion. "Supply seeds to sowers", Jones writes! What an insightful thought! share our good news, and in sharing, we are reminding ourselves of the good.

Lastly, I am reminded of the virtues; those I do not display often enough...

Virtue, Knowledge, Self-Control, Steadfastness, Godliness, Brotherly Affection, and Love. 

What About Spirituality?

Genuine internal spirituality.

How do we obtain that authentic, genuine, personal, inward relationship with the God who created the entire universe?

I love how Thomas Kelly writes about devotion. He uses these amazing words to really show the nature of obtaining this true, internal spirituality.

Inner.

Secret.

Subterranean.

Unceasing Habits.

Rooted.

All these words stand out to me in a very strong way. They are deep and meaningful. Very powerful when you apply them to your spiritual life.

It is IN us, HIDDEN, UNDER where no one can get to it, CONSTANTLY pulling at us, to the very DEPTHS of our souls.

I feel like after looking spirituality in this way, I am not even close. But it takes time and discipline. So the external disciplines we talk about are what help lead us to this internal, genuine, relationship with our God. 

What About Faith In Our Lives?

Our faith should be lived out in our actions.

In James it says, "Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead."

I consider myself a person of very strong faith in my God. I seek things in my life very prayerfully, and I always feel sure of what I know God is calling me to do. A very dear mentor of mine once said, "do not pray for God to show you what you are supposed to do. You already know. You are just resisting and wasting God's time. Rather, pray for God to give you the strength, courage, and ability to do what He calls of you." I took this to heart very deeply. When I pray, I know God is telling me something. But it does not fit in my plan, so I choose to ignore it. But I always know what I am ignoring.

The hard part is living out the faith.

It is so easy to say, ok, I definitely have faith in God. I have a faith picture frame in my room. I have a ring that says faith. But like James says, faith with out works, it is dead. My life is influenced by my faith in school right now. I went out on a limb to be a religion major. At first my parents were livid with me. How can anyone with a religion degree make any money to support a lifestyle? But I knew with out a doubt that is where God wanted me to be. And now, here I am, standing on the brink of an incredibly wide variety of ways God can move in me, work in me, and lead me to where I can be best utilized for the kingdom of God.

Faith. It takes action.

What About Being Financially Responsible?

This blog is hitting home for me today, because as of right this very moment, I am free of all credit card debts I have been holding for the past 2 years. My debt totaled in over $4,000 all together, adding up all the payments, interest, and late fees I have accrued. I you want a prime example of worst steward of God's money ever, I am your girl.

I sold my car to pay off this debt and try to get back on my feet. That was a huge leap of faith for me because I am constantly having to rely on others to take me places, and I am unable to have a job off campus. But I am trusting that now that I am trying to be a better steward of God's money, He will be good to me as well.

In looking over my bank statement for this past month, there is really not much activity. I have tried to work off of only spending a cash budget and hiding my debit card from myself to prevent me from spending more than I have. I have paid my phone bill, and used $100.00 approximately for food/groceries.

I have not gone shopping in over 2 months. <<Can I please get an Amen!?

Most importantly, I have learned that giving to God's church is the most important thing I can do for myself. I have begun tithing at Central. I know that even just my $10-$12 every 2 weeks is helping our church help God's kingdom work. I have felt so convicted by this reading. Especially the quote here:

"We will not be able to advance in the Christian faith until we have dealt at another level with the material."

I want to be released of these monetary bonds, and sent into totally submission and faith in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior who will raise me up out of any situation.

And I am waiting and saving in faith for a new car now! 

What About Going The Distance?

Too often we see missionaries videos or testimonies and think, "I will remember to pray for them..." 

The importance of working together is far more than we comprehend... It is not just about what denomination we are! It is about how we call ALL further the kingdom of God on this earth. 

I can put a penny in a jar every day for the next year; I would have 365 pennies. 

But if 10 people put a penny in a jar every day for the next year, we would have 3650 pennies. 

What if every Baptist, every church, every person did the same thing?! Working together is so imperative to our mission from Christ. To go out! That doesn't specify to be separate or together. 

Alone you can do some. Together we can do it all. 

What About Education And Discipleship?

After scouring the Texas Baptists website and reading all of the different resources they offered, I ended up being most interested in the Education and Discipleship, where I found many different links to ways Baptists educate and disciple of course.

There were links to Bible Drills, different universities and institutions of education, where women and have places in ministry, a variety of music and worship ministries, and how to grow your churches administration - just to name a few. I am amazed at how many different outlets the BGCT has to offer churches. It is encouraging to know that there is a whole organization out there that goes to many different lengths to help make disciples. The Discipleship portion of the website impressed me the most. I feel like this my holy discontent, to make disciples of all believers. It was what Jesus calls us to do in the Bible. It means so much to me to see my fellow Christians being trained in the footsteps of Jesus. All of the resources listed on the website that are available to purchase are so convenient. I love that they are able to help! 

What About Doing Away With Sunday School?

This article immediately caught my attention upon scanning the dozens of articles on the Baptist Standard website.

This is incredibly interesting to me to see how other churches are trying new approaches to connecting their children in the church beyond the point of high school graduation. I read a book this summer, "The Slow Fade", and it discussed how many of our churches focus so intently on a students childhood through high school years that they totally drop the ball in connecting them to a successful transition to college. Though I do believe that cutting out Sunday School is very extreme. It would be like saying that schools are not teaching students the valuable lessons they need to survive in life, so parents need to man up and homeschool so as to ensure proper upbringing and training. I think the elimination of a proper youth minister or children's minister would hurt a ministry's purpose.

The Baptist Standard is a very convenient means to see what is happening in the Baptist world and how to stay connected with what is happening and changing. With the paper posted on the web, it makes it relevant to our culture by making it available to many different audiences. 

What About Needing Each Other?

Individual, but also interdependent.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that we need other Christians because "of Jesus Christ". It is when we realize that Jesus is the only way to salvation that we are all connected in this family of Christ. As Christians, we need to realize that our hope and salvation are in the Word of God. When we read the Word of God, we get excited! How can we not share the news that God has laid on our hearts? We need each other to "speak God's Word" to each other. We are all "bringers of the message of salvation". Our "fellowship is founded solely upon Jesus Christ". When we gather together in the name of Jesus, we are fulfilling our purpose as Christians to live in community with one another, bringing the Word of God to the world.

We talk in class a lot about the idea of individual, but also interdependent. I think it is so important to realize that we do have a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but we all depend on each other to hold us up and keep us accountable to the Word of God and walk in encouragement with each other.

We are a family. Brothers and Sisters in Christ. And as old fashioned as that is, it is a precious ideal that has been lost.

Would you do anything for your siblings?

Would you do anything for your church?

What About Religious Persecution?

This is a heart breaking story about an evangelist and his wife in Worabe, Ethiopia. He was killed by a group of Muslims, and his pregnant wife was beaten. Their threats were that "Christians were growing in number in the area, and they will destroy them."

What surprises me most is the blatant hatred from the Muslims. It is so heart breaking that other believers can not fully express their love and faith in Jesus as openly as we do here in the United States.

I think that here in Texas, we can be more focused on the persecution of overseas missionaries and stand in solidarity of the situation by "persecution simulations". I can always pray, but will never know what it feels like to not be free to practice the religion I want. We could meet in "underground homes" and have secret missions in the community to help share the Word of God and raise awareness on overseas Christian persecution. 

What About Pointing Fingers?

It is so easy to see blame in the church. When things are not as religious as we think they should be, people look to the church for cause and reason. But aren't we ALL the church? Don't we all make up the body of the church? So should we not all be held responsible for the the decline in piety?

Charles Spurgeon says, "look at the conduct and conversation of too many of us who profess to be children of God." We are the ones at fault for our lack of discipline to live a "piteous" life we demand from the church. And in reality, we are the church. We can not continue to point fingers at "the church" when we are the ones to blame.

Personally, I can not contribute to the church because of the bitterness I hold towards the church. I see so many injustices among this group of believers and wonder how we can breathe out the fowl words from our same mouths we sing praises to Jesus in. I look to my mentors who are supposed to be setting a good example for me and am constantly let down. I know that even I am a hypocrite, solely based on what I just said, but past experiences have wounded farther than I choose to be hurt again. I know that if I finally let go of the bitterness I am harboring in my heart, I can use my relationship with the Lord to actually make a positive contribution to the health of the church.

Easier said than done thought, right? 

What About Faking It?

A smart pastor always has their t's crossed and their i's dotted perfectly. If not, it is grounds for disgrace, shame, and could result in the loss of their job.

But what happens when a pastor loses that "fire" or desire or maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ?

I believe it is possible for a pastor to struggle with their personal relationship, under the pressures of a vocational ministry. It is dangerous on many grounds for this to happen to not only the minister, but their family, and church congregation.

The minister could lose all desire or hope, trying to hold together the church's problems and successes. And once the feeling of hopelessness sets in, it could effect family life. The minister could become distant from their family and pull away from social events. Once the family begins to feel distant from the minister, a long series of events could cause the family serious problems. At the same time, if the minister is feeling a sense of struggling himself, how could they possibly hold together the congregation as well? Sermons could begin to lose their luster. Counseling sessions could become unavailable. Openness and transparency of the minister may begin to become more of a stone wall.

I think one way of helping to stand in the opposition of this could be to have a close mentor to talk to, no matter what situation. Also I believe ministers should never stop learning too. There is never a point in anyone's life where they become too good or too knowledgable to participate in a small group as a learner, or a Sunday school class. This way the learning keeps the minister accountable.

Never stop learning. 

What About Division and Politics In The Church?

Division... Politics... Church...

ooo... Taboo right? I said Politics and Church in the same sentence.

But why is that taboo? Where has the church gone too far? And where has the church not gone far enough?

Lately, in studying about the SBC, I have learned the importance of "disagreeing agreeably". But over such trivial topics that make me nervous to even talk about honestly. And it is silly to feel nervous to talk about issues among our church and conventions. But I feel nervous because I know how much others get upset over differences of opinion; thus so many different national and state conventions.

The first of many issues we can talk about is where we can draw the line between cooperating and division in order to protect and preserve important doctrines and ministry practices. To break this down, I believe that the Word of God is the Law. And the only Law. There is earthly law, but all law stems from the One, True Law. To follow God's Word in the Bible is right. Now doctrines and ministry practices vary, and I believe to each his own, as long as they are according to God's Word. This is the point where most people get lost in translation. Literally. "What exactly does the Bible say about Baptism?" "What exactly does the Bible say about taking communion?" "What exactly does the Bible say about homosexuals, abortion, women pastors, contemporary worship, using instruments, allotting tithe and budget money, what picture should the stained glass windows be, how should the bulletin look," and so on and so on and so on... Now some of these are very trivial, and others seem so petty, yet why have all these concerns above been a cause for a church to split? I believe that every church should have a mission statement of the ideals they stand by. If they are disagreed with, find a new church home. Do not stir up trouble.

Also, there is the issue of using politics in order to further agenda that is believed to be biblically important. This is so sticky... As are politics these days... Why do churches and conventions stand so firm behind conservative law? Because it backs up their beliefs and confirms their ideals. I believe the proper role of politics in a convention or church is non existent. As did our founding Baptists fathers believe in a separation of church and state. As the church we are a body of baptized believers, both locally and globally, working together under the Holy Spirit to inaugurate the mission of God for the glory of God. We are called to be disciples of Jesus and follow his example. He did not sit around political debates and argue his stance of Christian doctrine. Jesus went all over, loving on others and spreading his good news to ALL who could hear. And if we are constantly bickering and arguing over proper doctrine, how can other people see that we love them? We are not working together for the glory of God.

I will end with this, which is my biblical opinion on how politics should be handled:

Proverbs 17:14, 19, 24, 27
"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." 

What About Being Baptist?

We live in a society today that looks down on denominations. I have been harassed and made fun of for being a Baptist for years now. Honestly, I am a Baptist because that is where my great-grandparents went to church. I can say on my own now, I am a Baptist because I actually know what being a Baptist is all about.

We need to stand for something.

I think it is important to remember your heritage in any part of your life. Knowing where you came from can help you see where you can go in the future.

Baptists are not just 402 year old, hymn singing, eccentric, pot-luck eating, conservatives. What a Baptists believes is what a Baptists stands by. A founding and important belief that makes Baptists so wonderful to me is their ever-ancient, but ever-true stance on baptism as a key to true belief in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." We are called to follow Christ and his example for us, therefore we are called to be baptized, totally submerged, publicly professing our faith to the world. Romans 6:4 confirms this by saying, "we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Another principle upon which the Baptist denomination stands firm to is mission support. It is no hidden fact that we Baptists can evangelize. But it was our founding conventions, the faith of our fellow Baptists, that brought us to over 100 million members in over 100 countries across the globe. In 1609, the first Baptist church was formed in a bakery in Amsterdam. 402 years later, Baptist is the largest Protestant denomination in the world. Why you may ask? Because we go. We send. And we will continue to go and send until the end of time. The first Baptist association formed in Philadelphia, in 1707, to help support Adoniram and Ann Judson in their missions work to Burma. The associations today still hold together for the cause of missions.

Johann Gerhard Oncken once said "every Baptist is a missionary".

I believe that can be true, as long as we remember our past, and how our forefathers held each other together through support of baptism and missions.

I am a proud Baptists believer!

What About Prayer Life?

I have already confessed my failure in prayer.

But I will say it again, I am not good at praying. Not good at praying with out ceasing. Not good at praying before meals. But I do always pray as I am falling asleep, and when needed aloud in social settings.

The problem with all that praying (or lack there of) is it is totally formless. Now, you could say, "there is no wrong way to talk to God Brittany..." But George A. Buttrick disagrees in his writings from "Prayer".

To add a bit more depth and meaning to my prayers, I have noted his guidelines for prayer, and want to apply them to my bit of formlessness.

First, I am just getting out there and saying words. Half the time, nothing is premeditated. I want to begin by pausing, to soak in God's great glory, before I even speak to Him.

Second, I am an over-generalizer. I just say broad blanket prayers so as not to leave anyone or anything out. "Thank You for everything, God" usually just covers it. But why can I not just say what I am truly thankful for? I want to start getting specific with God, not just in prayers of thanks, but also prayers of need.

Lastly, I am a selfish person. Mostly, I just say what I need or what is bothering me. In class we have begun discussing the idea of "adjusting ourselves to God, instead of trying to adjust God to us." I have been working on this, and will constantly continue to be focusing my prayers outward.

In Richard Foster's book, "Celebration of Discipline", he discusses meditation as well. My favorite thing he said that has stuck with me since I read it was the "palms up, palms down" method, but I have tried over and over to apply it to my prayer discipline. Palms down - releasing all the conflictual issues and concerns in my life. Then Palms up - receiving strength and guidance to leave those problems in the hands of God and to be renewed to walk strong in faith.

I have a lot to work on.

Amen. 

What About Time Management?

Time Management.

The thorn in every soccer mom/business man/college student/heck...everyone's side.

Personally, I find it incredibly difficult to focus on one thing at a time. I like to say I am a multi-tasker, but really, I am a multi-time waster. Studying for World Civ, checking Facebook, and texting my friends back all at the same time spreads out my thought process to 3 different activities, than the over all studying I am trying to accomplish.

I really want to start using my time more effectively studying. And this is not just for my school work, but for my daily walk with God as well.

We are called to be good stewards of what God has given each of us. He has not just provided money in your life, but 365 (or 366) days a year with 24 hours in each day with 60 minutes within each hour to use yourself for His glory. And how can we do that with out checking our phones every 5 minutes and looking on Facebook for no other reason than to not focus on what task we really have before us?

The strategy I would like to try is Batching.

Batching is simply a form of time management that allows a person to maximize concentration and decrease distraction. As a result, it increases your productivity, creativity, and mental sharpness, while decreasing fatigue, procrastination, and stress. Batch processing is the grouping of similar tasks that require similar resources in order to streamline their completion.

Studies have shown that "every time we become distracted, it takes an average of 15 minutes to regain complete focus." Some of us get distracted again while trying to regain focus, thus never really regaining that complete focus.

The Pomodoro Technique. - This technique was featured in one of Michael Hyatt's blogs about maximizing time management.

1. Plan and prioritize the tasks that need to be completed, by writing them down.

2. Set a timer for for 25 minutes and devote that time to a task, or to a group of similar tasks. Larger tasks can be broken into multiple blocks or “pomodoro’s,” and smaller tasks (responding to email, returning phone calls, etc) can be grouped into a single block. After completing each Pomodoro, you put an “X” next to it and mark the number of times that you were distracted.

3. Take a 5 minute break.

4. Begin another block of time or “pomodoro.”  

5. After completing 4 pomodoro’s, take an extended 20 minute break.

I plan on giving this a try in all my studies this week in hopes to begin using my time more effectively.

What About Passionate Learning and Living?

Here at ETBU, I am constantly challenged in my daily walk with God to slack off. Studying Greek, being in Survey of Civilizations, having a job, writing this blog! All these things are taking up time that I could be spending with God, if I did not participate in completing them.

But my attitude towards school is much like that of Jonathan Edwards. I believe that the environment of being at ETBU is only aiding me in my walk with God. I am always tempted to not read my Bible in the morning, but just the thought of not reading drives me nuts and encourages me to not walk out the door in the morning before spending a few cherished moments with the Almighty Creator of the universe.

Being a religion major is a huge driving force in my passionate chase for a closer walk with God. My classes supplement my own understanding of the Bible, and listening to my professors only excites my heart to yearn for more understanding and knowledge of my Great God. Even if I was not a religion major, I truly believe that ETBU is holding me to more standards than any other educator has ever challenged me to uphold before.

I believe that right now, I am called to be a student. And in being called to a certain ministry, we are commanded to bring God glory through everything we do. So why do some of us slack off in schooling, knowing that we are not giving our best to the glory of God?

I am a student at ETBU. I am also a student of Jesus. I am determined to use both of my continuing educations together to strengthen my relationship with Christ and further my abilities to continue to inaugurate God's kingdom here on Earth. 

What About Defensive Driving?

Kelsey's blog, "Defensive Driving" (http://bit.ly/nbMzbt), she discusses her struggles with giving up control of her life.

"Reluctant to give God control" is a feeling I know almost everyone can relate to. It is so deeply related to the issues discussed by C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity". It reminds me of his writings on "Harder and Easier", how God does not want us to just prune parts of out life, or just give Him control over a few little portions of our lives, but to cut down the whole tree, give God control of everything in our lives to become successfully reliant on God's will for our life. She related her spiritual life to her addiction for driving, never letting anyone else drive, but constantly needing to be in control of the situation.

It is refreshing to know that I am not the only control freak out there.

Thanks Kelsey.

What About Solitude?

Today, I participated in a self experiment of solitude.

An hour before church, I went into the sanctuary and prayed alone for an hour.

An hour.

The longest hour of my life.

I would not say that I am a diligently prayerful person. This is something I struggle with in my daily walk with Christ. But it starts somewhere. Right?

Initially, I would say that my attitude toward this activity was negative. Not that I did not want to pray, but that I did not want to talk to God for that long.

I sat in the first pew, I looked around for a while, then I decided I would really put all my effort into making this activity really meaningful. I began walking up and down every single aisle, touching the back of every single pew. I prayed aloud for every person that would sit in that seat. I then went up to the balcony and prayed over those pews. I laid my hands on the sound board and prayed for its successful longevity in service to the church. I touched every single offering plate, praying for the adequate funds for the church. I sat in every seat in the choir loft and lifted up their voices to God's hands. I prayed that everything in the building would work together for the glory of God. I prayed over the pulpit. I prayed over the piano, organ, and microphones. I was feeling good. I stepped off the stage and sat back in my initial first pew. Looking down at my watch, (which I really tried not to do at all the whole exercise) I saw it had only been 25 minutes.

25 minutes.

To say the least, I was really frustrated. I had a wonderful struggle with God at that moment! It was like all of the sudden I truly realized the importance of solitude. That I was in no hurry. That I could just sit with God for the remainder of my time in the sanctuary. So I proceeded to just listen. To be still and calm in the presence of the Almighty God. I begged God to just show Himself to me and let me know that this experiment was not in vain.

Once I surrendered to His awesome presence, I felt relief. The worship service was the best yet! The songs spoke so closely to my heart. The message was so relevant. The people were responsive. The Holy Spirit made Himself ever present. It was just the incredible God moment I had asked for.

"God is so good. He answers prayers. God is so good. He is so good to me." 

What About Simplicity?

Simplicity.

The quality or condition of being plain or natural.

Uncomplicated.

I really struggle with upholding this virtue. I could really use some simplicity in my life.

Everything must be lavish and over the top; the best of the best. When I feel I can not meet expectations of exceeding the bottom line, I just do not do it.

In Matthew 6:22, Jesus says, "the eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light."

In my spiritual walk, if I can not say a perfectly eloquent prayer, I simply do not pray at all. If I do not have the time to fully complete my prayer journal, I just do not do it at all. My eyes are not clear of what the true purpose of these daily disciplines are, thus causing a dark spot over my relationship with Christ.

To just meet God at the bare minimum, the natural or plain setting of functioning, it is so hard; probably because I love to overcomplicate my life.

Baseline simplicity.

That is what I am in need of. 

What About The Enemy?

The enemy.

Different in each person's own life, the enemy seeks to destroy God's plan for our life. He plots to tempt us, trick us, and lead us down the wrong way, opposite of where God is trying to lead us.

The enemy is not God though. He is not perfect, omnipotent, or omnipresent. He has fear.

He fears God! When we come to God with the problems, struggles and temptations in our life, the enemy does not stand a chance at winning! When we ask God to help us through a trial, He is ever present.

James 4:7-8a in The Message says, "So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud NO to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time."

In my own life, when ever I come across something I feel is a spiritual attack from the enemy, I just talk to God. I tell Him what is going on, and I beg Him to come near to me and protect me from the enemy.

At Vacation Bible School we say: "OOO! AHH! Sock It To The Devil!!!"

God never let's me down.

God always wins. 

What About My Desires From God?

There are three things I absolutely desire from God, not with personal intent, but with a hope that I may better live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to God.

1. I desire to be free from all the bitterness and hurt in my heart. - I often use the events that have happened over the course of my life to harbor hatred and bitterness and resentment. Sometimes I feel, when I finally let one hurt go, another wound comes along.

2. I desire to only serve the will of God, with no desire to myself at all. - In this life, I am far too concerned with my here and there. I am a planner by nature, but I want to be rid of my plans and let the plans of God be the true governance of my life.

3. I desire to be in fellowship with God in everything I do, without ceasing. - Day to day life can be so similar; routine. Constantly, I find myself in the midst of selfish thoughts, desires, and conversations. I yearn for, desire, even hurt for a fellowship with God that is with no end. To be in sync with the heart of God is my deepest longing.

What About Love?

Love. 

It is an amazing feeling, is it not? 

To be embraced by your mother or father, and know that they love you, not because you have anything to offer them, but they love you because you are from them, part of them, theirs.

The love that God has for me allows me to love myself on the mere fact that God thought I was worth it to let His one and only Son die for me. In my wicked, awful place. If I am worth that much to God, I should feel like I am loved by my self as well. 

The love that God has for me allows me to love others because I am a Christ Follower. I am traveling the journey of my life in Christ's footsteps, and therefore am called to a life that imitates Christ's life. And He loved anyone and everyone. 1 John says, "But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love becomes complete in us - perfect love!" 

The love that God has for me allows me to love Him. God is love, and in Him everything is love. He loves me, not because I have done anything to earn that love or deserve it or that I have anything to offer Him in return, but because I am from Him, part of Him, His. 

This is connected to what Bernard of Clairvaux believes in his Four Degrees of Love through the development of my own love for Him, which then extends to the love I have for myself and reaches out to loving my neighbors. Which then, reminds me of His love and makes me love Him even more.

Love - "does not seek its own interests".

What About Obeying Those Commands?

Two of the commands of Jesus that I felt were especially relevant were Matthew 5:37 and Matthew 5:44.

Matthew 5:37 says, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

This verse is incredibly hard for me, because I can be talked into changing my mind about almost anything. And I am sure I am not the only one. It is so easy in this day and age to change your mind. Christ calls us to be sure of our answers. When I was in driving school, my instructor would always get upset with me for doing a double take to the right, before I turned left. He would tell me, to only look once and be sure of my left turn, because when I was looking right, I was not seeing what was happening in the direction of my turn. I just need to answer once and know that it is a final decision.

Matthew 5:44 says, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

This verse is more relevant than any to me, and speaks to my every day life. I have many people who have hurt me. I do not use the word enemy. Most of our society has forgotten that word. Christ is telling us to LOVE people we do not like. People we do not get a long with. People who have hurt us in the past. People who have turned their backs on us. People who we have cried over. We are commanded to love them. Wow. I do not know about you reader, but I am terrible above terrible at this command. I can not get over my hurt and selfish desires to even pray for those who have truly hurt me and let me down.

In Dallas Williard's book, "The Spirit of the Disciplines", he discusses the purpose of a true disciple - to "go with [Jesus] in an attitude of study, obedience, and imitation." I can not say then, by that definition, that I am a very good disciple. I can not even obey His command to love my enemies or make up my mind. He says the cost of not following Christ - the cost of not obeying His commands - is not obtaining the "abundant life; life to the full" Jesus promises to all of His disciples in John 10:10.

Obedience. That one is Tough. But not taking the abundant life Jesus wants to give me is even more tough.

What About What Christ Commands Of Us?

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives many commands. These are 10 I have selected to highlight.

1. Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

2. Matthew 5:24 - "leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

3. Matthew 5:25 - "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison."

4. Matthew 5:30 - "if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

5. Matthew 5:34-35 - "But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King."

6. Matthew 5:37 - "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

7. Matthew 5:39 - "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."

8. Matthew 5:41 - "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles."

9. Matthew 5:44 - "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

10. Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

What About Hope Springs Water?

Hope Springs Water is a company that uses 100% of it's profits to building water wells in third world countries such as Nicaragua and Uganda.

Watch this commercial and find out why you should drink Hope Springs Water as well.

You can buy this water at your local Broookshire's Grocery Store. 

What About Making Little Christs?

C.S. Lewis (yes, him again) also notes that "the church exists for nothing else but to draw men (and women, and youth, and children, and college students, and... you get the idea) into Christ, to make them little Christs."

Being involved in First Baptist Church Athens has shown me a wonderful area where they are holding to this idea of "little Christs" developers.

ParentLink Classes.

This unique Sunday School experience gives parents an opportunity to experience an introduction to the lesson the child will learn. Then the children go to small groups and parents of the children go to a small group, ParentLink, where they discuss the lesson in depth and how they can better implement the lesson into their children's weekly schedule.

This ministry is remarkable because it gives a parents a better handle on how to fully live out Psalms 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

ParentLink helps turn parents into "little Christs" which in turn helps them turn their children into "little Christs". 

What About Giving All To God?

C.S. Lewis speaks to the need of giving all to God.

Sure. 

But this idea is very foreign to me personally. 

I have been raised in a situation where it is very important to take care of yourself, and I, and only I, have the ability to feed, hydrate, and provide for me.

Provide.

It is crazy to be a religion major because that will not get me the big bucks in the end. 

Yet C.S Lewis addresses it perfectly when he says, "we are like eggs... you can not go indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." 

I feel like it is most difficult for me to give my day to day needs to God. 

To totally surrender to the idea that if I am moving in God's will for my life, I will be better than trying to control my future myself, that is most difficult for me.

I do not want to go bad. 

What About This Blog?

So this is THE blog of Brittany Westmoreland.

I will be posting responses to my Ministry Formations Class.

I am incredibly excited about this class. - No really. I am!

So stay tuned to what ever I have to say!

What ever it may be.

Isaiah 12:2