A Drink Offering Called Desire

These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, 10 but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"

So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

--- 2 Samuel 23:8-17 (NIV) ---

In my quiet time this morning, God revealed a great lesson to me.

King David was sitting in a cave, while his enemies held his birth city captive. The most dear place in the world, his home town was under the control of the Philistine army. David wished for something comforting and familiar, a drink of water from the well. Water that tasted right, and made him feel like he was at home again.

David's mighty men heard this and were motivated to do something courageous - to take on the forces of the Philistine army, simply to bring this encouragement to their lord. They fought, and in the end they succeeded to bring the water to David. But David's reaction was not what valiant warriors expected. Rather than drinking the water, he poured it out as a drink offering before the Lord.

There are many times in our lives when we feel such a strong desire for something, that we begin to feel as though we need it. We beg and worry and talk to our friends about whatever it is we feel like we need, only to find once we got it that is not really what we need. David did not really need that water that his men fought so hard for; he only wanted it with a strong passion. But he found that once it had been obtained, it came at far too high a price.

Sometimes, the things we want the most, and long after with our heart of hearts, are the things that God wants us to give back to Him as an offering.

What desires, hopes, and longings do you hold on to? Are you holding onto them too tight? Have they taken too high a place in your heart, the place where only God should be?

I know how easy it is to take the popular advice and 'listen to your heart' but let me challenge you this: before you run away with desire for anything, give your desires to God. Pour them out as a drink offering, letting Him have control over whatever your situation may be. It isn't easy, but the reward is peace that surpasses all understanding, clarity and purpose.

Food For Thought

These are some interesting quotes that are thought provoking, beautiful, or ask essential questions of ourselves. I thought it ws a nice follow-up from my last post.

• Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage.-- Lao Tzu
• Falling in love with someone isn't always going to be easy... Anger... tears... laughter.. It's when you want to be together despite it all. That's when you truly love another. I'm sure of it.-- Author Unknown
• If you judge people, you have no time to love them.-- Mother Teresa
  In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.-- Mignon McLaughlin
• Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and a richness to life that nothing else can bring.-- Oscar Wilde
• Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.-- Dr. Joyce Brothers
• Love doesn't sit there like a stone. It has to be made like bread; remade all the time,...made new. -- Le Guin
• Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.-- Elbert Hubbard

Christina Rose

Broken Hearts - Advice and Thoughts

Broken hearts are everywhere. My heart has been broken before, and I am seeing it over and over throughout my studies of the human race: we are all broken; we all experience the pain of heartbreak. I have made a few observations that might be helpful for those who are hurting and those who want to take steps to preventing heartache.

1. Friendship First I cannot stress enough how important it is to really get to know someone as a friend before you get romantically involved with them. Get to know their likes and dislikes, what gets on their nerves and what makes them feel special. A friend of mine said recently, "You need to become a girl's best friend before you can be her boyfriend." and that is so true, and not only for guys who are seeking girls. You need to be a true friend who is trustworthy and they know well enough to have open communication with you at all times.
2. Get to Know Their Friends Don't ask your potential boyfriend/girlfriend to isolate themselves from their friends. Get to know the people they hang out with and what they all do for fun. What kind of things to they talk about? If you know what kind of people they choose to associate themselves with, you will get to know them on a much deeper level. Have you ever heard the saying, "bad company corrupts good character." This is so true! By the same token, if they are hanging out with people who are godly and who are the kinds of friends you want, then you will be more likely to have picked the right person for a potential relationship.
3. Getting Together Try to find a happy medium between always being near your friend and never being around. If you are always together, then you will be sick of each other. On the flip side of that, if you never spend time together, then you aren't really in a relationship. (Or course, I must clarify here: I am not saying anything about long-distance relationships here. That is a post for another day.)
4. Be Real If you have dreams about what you want your future spouse to be like, then stick to those standards. For guys: this means don't settle for a exotic dancer if you feel lead to eventually marry a modest, godly woman. Girls: this means that if you are looking for a guy who is a gentleman, don't settle for someone who doesn't treat you the way you like you are a princess. Make a list of realistic goals you want for a future spouse, and stick to that list. Not everything has to be spiritual or conventional or serious. Some of the things on my list include not smoking, not cussing, opens doors, puts God before everything, and is willing to play games with my family. I have met guys that I thought I might be interested in, but if there were areas where they did not met the standard, I prayed for them. I pray all the time for my friends to be godly, because bad company corrupts good morals, but good company strengthens them.
5. Be Fair At the same time, don't expect the other person top be perfect. You are not perfect, either, so don't hold them to a standard that they cannot ever reach. That is not fair and it will destroy the relationship.
6. Not Always Romance Love is not any of the following things: sex, romance, crushing, holding hands, whispering in each other's ear, chatting or texting for hours, or even dating. None of those things are love. As 1 Corinthians says:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

In short, love does not equal romance. I love many of my guy friends, but I have no romantic feelings for them. Remember that next time you tell someone you love them, it should be a commitment to treat them with patience, kindness, trust, honesty, real forgiveness and a commitment to having their best interest at heart.

I could go on and on about tips and more advice, but you ultimately have to decide how to handle your relationships. Besides, all of the advice I just gave you will only help if you have followed the advice I am about to give you. Get right with God, because if you are consistently studying the Bible, applying it to your life, and living as God leads you, then everything else will fall into place. That doesn't mean that whatever you want will just magically happen, but it does mean that when you are setting yourself up for heartbreak, God has an easy window of communication with you to warn you.

I hope this helps,
Christina

Real Christina

I wish that I could say that I have not posted on this blog because my quiet times have simply been so inspiring that I can't put them down, and therefore have no time to blog about them. I wish I could say that, but I can't. I hate it when people are fake with me, so let me be a person who isn't fake and I will (as a youth leader I know says) really level with you.

I have considered myself 'too busy' to do a quiet time since I started college on August 25th. Not a not a single day of spending time with God. But it struck me recently that I am stressed to the point of illness and worried constantly not because I have too many things to do. Not because I have too little income to pay off my tuition. Not for any reason why people would legitimately thinmk I am stressed. I am stressed out because I have but school, work, money, and even sleep ahead of God. Oops!

God has a wonderful way of giving us just what we need right when we need it. God has shown me this time and time again, but I still have a HUGE trust issue, a lesson that I have to keep relearning and relearning. Music has always been a big part of my life. Tonight, I was driving to a Freshman Bible Study and I popped in a cd I had not listened to in a while, Casting Crown's Lifesong. Two of the songs were very impactful.

The first song, called Praise You In This Storm meant a lot to me because I still think that if I pray about something, God should just take me problems away. I know that things don't work that way, God isn't a genie in a bottle. He will do what's best for us, whether we like it or not. He will work it out in His timing. (His being the operative word) This song convicted me that I need to praise Him, even when the rain is still falling, because I know He is in control of the storm.

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
--
My first thought after hearing this song was, "Well, that's not going on the blog!" but then, came this next song, which also convicted me. I am sure (at least I hope) I am not the only one who pretends they are really close with God when in reality, you haven't had a real conversation with Him in a week (or two!). This song is called Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

So there is my real life. The real Christina who hasn't done a quiet time in two weeks. Sorry I'm not a better role model... but at least now there are no false pretenses. The invitation is open her, to everyone who isn't perfectly consistent, join the club!

Mountain Top Temptation

I have recently had a really amazing worship experience, where I was recharged and renewed with a fresh sense of grace and purpose. I noticed that the next day after this amazing experience, I was being tempted more than ever.

At first,I was frustrated with myself for allowing myself to be tempted and fall in so easily. But then I realized that if I am being tempted more heavily, then that means I have become stronger under His protection. He would not let me be tempted more if I couldn't handle it. So, while it's still very frustrating being under constant temptation, I am also encouraged by it.

I hope that if you are in a time of temptation with me, this post encourages you, too. Here are some scriptures that are good when you're facingthat's bigger then your ability to withstand alone.

1 Corinthians 10:13
James 1:12
James 1:1-3
Matthew 26:41

One Hundred Fold Harvest

I went to the Beth Moore Living Proof Live conference in my hometown of Louisville, KY a few days ago. Something Beth said in her discussion struck me and seemed to stick with me.



She read from Luke 8: 1-15



"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."



She talked about how the average yield in Palestine was 7-15 times what was planted. So, while we have heard the phrase 'one hundred fold' many times and it is not very shocking to us, the original audience would have been astounded!



Imagine that you planted a garden, with a few spots for tomatoes. You expected there to be anywhere between 5-10 tomato plants. Afterall, multiple seeds could have been planted in the same hole. You leave to go on family vacation for a few weeks, and ask a neighborhood teenager to take care of the plants for you. When you come home, your yard had been taken over with 700 tomato plants!



We can have a spiritual harvest like that in our lives! That same power that is talked about in Luke 8 is available to us! If we are maakign sure that what is being planted in our vineyards is God's Word, than our lives will be filled with God's blessings! Now, I'm not talking about health and wealth Gospel type of blessings, but the blessings that some from having a heart that longs for and seeks after God.

Christina

I Am Not Too Young!

Sometimes I feel like I am to young to be really influential. People who are remembered throughout history are not generally remembered for their childhood, but for what they did as an adult. It makes me think that what I do now won't be remembered, so why bother trying to make a difference?

At church this Sunday, we read 2 Chronicles 34 that inspired me and renewed my sense of importance.

"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
WOW! He was ruling a country at eight years old!

"In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images. Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles, the idols and the images. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the LORD his God.

They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the doorkeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the LORD's temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin."

Not only did this child rule a kingdom, but look at all of the good he did! He used his position of influence to completely change his country from one full of idols to one filled with the one true God.

As I thought more and more about this passage, I thought how God has given us all circles of influence. We may not be royalty, but we are all given areas where we can make the love of God known to others, to clean up the idols of our lives and help others to change as well.


Christina