Constrained by His Love

ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY

2008-07-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, decieved, serving divers lust and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kidness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of re generation and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs accorind to the hope of eternal life." -Titus 3:3-7

Today I have been reminded, it is according to HIS mercy he saved me! Not by any works or merits I have done or will do, but according to his mercy, love and grace towards me! PRAISE HIS NAME FOREVER!!!!

Constrained by His Love Towards Me,
Rebecca Lucille

Break Up The Fallow Ground

2008-07-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

"Sow yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." -Hosea 10:12

"The news came to Jesus,

Please come fast,

Lazarus is sick, and without your help

he will not last.

Mary and Martha watched their brother die,

they waited for Jesus, but he did not come

and they wondered why.

The deathwatch was over,

Buried four days,

Somebody said, He'll soon be here,

The Lord's On His Way.

Martha ran to him,

and then she cried,

Lord if you had been here you could have healed him

he'd still be alive!

But you're four days late,

and all hope is gone.

Lord we dont understand why you've waited so long

But his way is God's way

its not yours or mine

and isnt it great

when he's four days late-he's still on time!

Jesus said Martha, Show me the grave.

But she said, Lord, you don't understand, he's been there four days...

The gravestone was rolled back,

Then Jesus cried, LAZARUS come forth,

then somebody said, HE'S ALIVE...

He's alive!

You may be fighting,

a battle of fear...

you've cried to the Lord I Need You Now

but he has not appeared.

Don't be discouraged

Because he's still the same

He'll soon be here,

He'll roll back the stone,

and call out your name!

When he's four days late,

and all hope is gone,

Lord we dont understand

why you've waited so long!

But His way is God's way,

its not yours or mine

And isn't it great, when he's four days late

he's still on time!"

-"He's Still on Time", by Winess (a tour group from Heartland Bible Baptist College)

The Lord has been teaching me so much lately. This summer has been incredibly busy with work, preperations for college, and just life in general! Today is friday, my one day off of work- PRAISE THE LORD! But as I sit here, listening to the song I have shared with you, and meditating on Hosea 10:12, I keep thinking about school and how the devil keeps trying to fight against the Lord's will in my life.

I have signed a contract with the Lord, willing to surrender to his will- but on that contract there is nothing written, merely my name written in Christ's blood...a contract to follow Him wherever he leads. That means going to Bible college, and surrendering to the Mission field. That means the devil will fight hard. And he IS fighting hard! The accursed, terrible Satan has been fighting me so hard by telling me things that make me doubt my decisions to follow and please the Lord. A few weeks pass, Satan had fought me, telling me my salvation was not real. However, the Lord has continually been there, comforting me and guiding me still.

A verse came to mind yesterday while I was talking to Jesus- 2 Timothhy 1:7, which says:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

The Lord does not want me to fear. He will cast Satan far from me. He has allowed tribulation to come unto me to strengthen my faith and to get my attention and focus back on HIM! Through it all, I choose to serve the Saviour! When I draw nigh unto God, he will draw nigh unto me! Through it all, I have been reminded of how wonderful Christ is, and why I am doing what I am doing for him. At first I was planning on getting a degree in education and teaching at a christian school here- but the Lord has shown me it is against his will for me to do that- HE HAS CALLED ME TO THE FIELD OF LOST SOULS, I must not abandon his calling for a mediocre job.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his porpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also Justified: and whom he justified, them also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:28-30- 35

The Lord is faithful! Who shall seperate us from his love?! He has called, justified, and glorified!

PRAISE HIS NAME FOREVER!!!

In Grace Alone

2008-06-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

"God's word changes lives,

His power cannot be denied,

The lost find salvation,

the foolish become wise,

God's word changes lives!"

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the jew first, and also to the greek:" -Romans 1:16

Dearest Friends,

Christ is so wonderful. Today, I was in a car accident, it was scary and frightening. My car was completely destroyed, but PRAISE THE LORD nobody was seriously hurt. My back hurts and my neck, but other than that, everyone was all right.

God is soooooo gracious.

He has taught me so much today.

Today he has helped me to re-surrender many parts of my life to Him.

He has taught me that HE ALONE Is sufficient for me.

Wow, it helps to write these things down, because it is then that he teaches me more and more about what I really learned. By GRACE ALONE will I live my life surrendered to Christ. By Grace alone will I live through the day and through the night as I lay my head to sleep. By God's grace alone have I been saved from the firy flames of hell.

By God's grace alone has my life been changed.

Thank you LORD!

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God.

Your Sister Through His Beautiful Blood,

Rebecca Lucille

PS, Psalms 90. :)

Count Your Blessings! :D

2008-05-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the reality of everything I was leaving behind hit me over my head, just like a big 2x4. I realized, wow....I'm leaving my job, and all my friends there?!?!! My last day at work will be May 24th! It's funny how God works everything out, because that is the week I officially graduate and summer officially begins- so I can start my new job the next week! God really DID work it out, but it came to me as a suprise when I realized I really am leaving my job, and going all the way to California for school! Ah, well, God has not ceased to be good to me! Praise His name, forever!

The devil has truly been attacking me yesterday and today, and mocking my decisions. He wants me to think they are not real- that what I have decided to do is merely a decision made upon emotions- not faith. When in reality, it was faith in Almighty God that helped me make these decisions in my life! PRAISE HIM!

God has delivered my soul from death, why shall I not trust him to help me make decisions in my life, and trust the decisions he leads me to make? This reminds me of some verses in PSalms 56 which say:

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death": wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
-Psalms 56:11-13

God is so good, and gracious. And yes, I really got hit in the face yesterday to make me realize everything I'm leaving behind- I know realize, I am leaving it behind because God has called me to a NEW life, a NEW song! One in which praises and offerings to HIM is chiefest of priority! Of course, all my friends I'll stay in contact with, and my dear, dear, family, but I'll stay in contact with them while doing the will of God. PRAISE HIS NAME!

I also wanted to share some pictures with ya'll, my family is so cute, eh? I dont know if I have pics of everyone, but here's a few! These two are some kids my who were added to my family by God last December! What a great Christmas present! :) I'll post pics of the rest of my family soon! :D

(Me and my sister, Evie! Awh, she's so cute! She looks sorta suprised here!)

(Me and my brother Alex, awhh, he's so cute too....after I told him to go wash his face. Haha! =D )

PRAISE GOD For all the blessings in my life, especially Evie and Alex, and all my other brothers and sisters. I dont have pictures of them on this computer, our computer crashed a while back so we have to get the memory cards onto this one. :)

A Sinner, SAVED!,

Rebecca Lucille

What Shall Seperate Me From the Love Of God?

2008-05-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

As I sit here at my computer this morning, it is hard for me to think of the right words to write. First of all, Jesus is SO, SO, SO Good! I can scarcely comprehend his goodness and love towards me! Secondly, if He is so extremely great to me, why should I not serve him?

I'm very ecstatic because I thought I would have to wait until June 1 for my internship at my church- but by the grace of God I will get to start next monday!!!! PRAISE THE LORD! I'm so excited! It is truly an answer to many prayers!

I was thinking today of some things....like....

What can seperate me from the love of God?
Nothing...

What can seperate me from God's will in my life?
Only myself.

What can seperate me from God's wonderful grace?
Only my sin.

What can seperate me from God's power to answer prayer?
Only My iniquity.

And to think, Jehovah God is greater than me, my sin, and all my iniquity! So, if I let God work, NOTHING Can seperate me from God!

God is so gracious and kind. To think that God almighty- the one who created me, who created the stars in the sky and the birds that sing outside my windeow every morning, and who created and planned Redemption through Jesus Christ, oh, to think HE WOULD LOVE ME?!?!

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
-Luke 22:31-32

Satan has desired to have me, but Almighty God loves me, and he loves me enough to say he prays my faith will not fail- just like for Simon Peter. What a great blessing this is to my heart!!!!!!!

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
-Col. 3:1-3

Agape,
Rebecca Lucille

The Lord is My Keeper

2008-05-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and coming in from this time forth, and forever more."
-Psalms 121:7-8

AMAZING LOVE! How can it be? That thou, my God should'st die for me!!!

....I am really so speachless right now, God is so GREAT! All glory and honour to HIM!

"My chains fell off, my heart was free! I rose, went forth, and followed Thee!! Amazing love, how can it be, that thou my God, should'st die for me!"

If I Cherish Him

2008-05-05T08:30:00.001-07:00

If Christ, in me, is all that lives...
My life is not my own.

If Christ, in me, Bids me, "Child, go and tell, as I would do",
and if He is my all in all,
My life is not my own.

If I truly love the One who saved me from death in hell eternally,
and the One who laid a place up for me in heaven,
then I willingly will say,
My life is not my own.

If the Lord, who created me and holds me together with his very fingers, bids me to love my neighbor as myself,
My love is not my own.

If Creator God, who alone is perfect, lives in me,
then my "goodness" is of Christ, not of my own works.

If the world stands in awe of my ability to change the world,
I must reply,
"It is by the grace of God, not of my own ability."

If I love Jesus Christ,
The one who suffered men spitting in his face,
ripping out his beard,
placing a crown of thorns on his brow,
and being beaten with the cat of nine tails,
having his hands and feet pierced with rusty nails,
and the One who died on the Cross of calvary,
and defeated death by rising again on the 3rd day,
Oh, if I love him at all,
If I cherish Him at all,
My life, love, being, hope, and works are not my own...
If I hope to serve Christ at all,
I am merely a vessel for Him to work through,
and my life is not my own.

THE PRICE IT COSTS TO FOLLOW

2008-05-02T21:28:00.001-07:00

Today, I meditated upon a simple thought- I was considering what it was costing me to serve Jesus Christ. It was costing me many things: my comfort, my earthly passions, my silent hopes and my large dreams for success and wealth. It was costing me my family, my job, and even some of my friends. Following Christ is costing me a lot.

But, as I thought about these foolish, carnal things...I realized something.

I realized, it cost Jesus Christ so much more for me to follow Him and to have intimacy with Him. It cost Jesus Christ His life, His Blood, Pain... Nails pounded into his wrists and feet! He suffered and sacrified everything just so I could make the choice to follow Him, and yet we complain at times about what it costs US to follow Him.

Yes, the price to follow the Lord in this world is a large price, but Jesus paid the ultimate price with his blood.

And alas, oh, blessed day! I now realize my carnal joys, my family, friends, job, foolish dreams and hopes, and even my own life is not to high a price for me to pay for the Glory of Christ!

He died for me....

I must live for Him.

This video was shown at West Coast Baptist College during their Youth Conference with the theme of "Consider Christ." It's only about 5 minutes long, I hope you will take the time to watch this video. It's heart wrenching, and challenging.

He considered You...
Will you consider Him?

For They Shall be Filled...

2008-04-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

“Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after
righteousness: forthey shall be filled.” –Mathew 5:6

Tonight my youth pastor preached from this passage of scripture. He went through each part of this verse and dissected it. The Lord really spoke to my heart about desiring God.

In this passage Christ is instructing his followers to hunger and thirst after- desire- God, and they shall be filled, not “satisfied” but FILLED- like after thanksgiving dinner. He also instructs them by saying that when a man hungers and thirsts after being right with God, they will be blessed. So basically, Christ tells them:

Approved by God are they which fervently desire to be right with God: for they shall be FILLED.

Wow. That’s powerful. Being righteous is, in fact, being right with God. Most people think of being righteous as doing good things but that is not what righteousness means- it merely means to be right with God. The natural man, once saved, has a desire instilled within them to be right with God- to be close to him.

My question is, have we, as young Christians, lost that zeal? Do we desire to be close to Christ- do we FERVENTLY DESIRE to be right with God? Do we seek him when we wake in the morning, while we are at work in the afternoons, and before we lay our head to sleep at night? Do we? Or do we forget? Do we merely read a proverbs in the morning and then continue through the day not even thinking about our dearest friend and savior?

The best part of this passage of scripture (Mathew 5:6) is the last part- it is a promise from God, a vow he made to us that when we desire him, we shall be filled with him.

Do we desire God passionately? What is Christ to us? Is he our friend? Our Lord? Our Savior? Our Creator? God should be all of these titles to us- and more. He should be our everything, without him- we should be nothing. HE should literally consume every part of our lives.

Because, “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” – Jesus Christ said those words, and they are as true today as they were when he said them. PRAISE THE LORD!

"I Love You"

2008-03-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

“Trust Me, My child,” He says. “Trust Me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell me your deepest cares, your every trouble, Trust Me to keep my hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, Oh child of My love, do not fear. I love you”
-Amy Carmichael

“Am I Sufficient For Thee?”
by Rebecca L. S.

The sun glistens on my face, and the breeze flutters through my shoulder length hair. I saunter down the familiar street I am walking on. As I come to the end of Familiar Street, I turn down another street; I know where I’m going. My mentors told me the way; they wrote the directions on a sheet of paper just for me.

“Down a familiar street,
Turn left on Find Your Dream lane,
Walk for two miles,
Take a right onto Success and Wealth,
And another right onto Career Drive.
Once you’re on that road,
It’s quite a long walk,
Four miles to be exact.
When you hit the end of Career drive,
There’s a fork in the road,
This fork is different, because
Usually forks have two different options
But this one has more. When you get there,
You’ll know what I mean.
Decide which road you want to get on,
And go from there!”

Easy instructions, I decided, as I look over the crinkled paper. I had meditated on these instructions. Folded and unfolded the paper many times, it had been stuffed into my jean pockets and ruthlessly thrown into my backpack on busy days. Now, I cherish the paper, and if I loose my directions I will get lost too easily.

As I turn down Find Your Dream lane, I see lots of options. Big fancy stores line the street- little candy shops full of Pleasure, and big libraries full of the Worlds Knowledge. A printing press is advertising their publishing deals, and those in need of lawyers, doctors, nurses, and teachers line the street, pleading for me to help them.

My mind is overwhelmed.

And then, after I’ve been walking for a mile and a half, I notice someone different. He is tall, his countenance is resigned and meek, and his eyes gentle. I stop walking (which is distinctly against the directions I had been given), and I gaze into His eyes. I see something amazing…Mercy, Grace, Truth, Love, Joy, Peace…

Love…Dreams… I can see it all in His eyes.

And then, He calls my name. How does He know me? I blink a few times, trying to make sure I’m not dreaming. He calls my name again, “My child,” He whispers. I take a step towards Him, “My beloved child, you have come back to Me.”

“This isn’t possible, Oh, my Savior…” I gasp, it is Him. How could he remember me?

“I created you, remember? I saved your soul, do you remember? Calvary…my blood, I shed for you, my child, my love.” He takes a step towards me. “I love you, will you come back into my arms, let me protect you and let me guide you.”

I stop again; I want to take another step forward- but what about my directions! What about them? I close my eyes and shake my head, fighting back the tears.

Gulping nervously, I take one more step closer to Him, and I see Him taking another step towards me. With each step I take, he takes another one too. After five or six steps, I am right beside my Savior who had died for me so many years ago. And then, I can feel His tender embrace.

The directions my mentors had given me are still in my fist, crinkled in the palm of my left hand. As I embrace my Savior, I can scarcely breathe. How could He still love me? I hadn’t spoken to Him for days- weeks perhaps, and here He was, taking me back as if I had only spoken to Him yesterday.

“My Child, you have come home. Have you Found Your Dream yet?” His voice smiles at me.

“Oh, no, not yet…” I stutter through the words, “See, there’s so many things. Candy shops, I mean, you created me, God, you know I like candy and pleasure…and then there’s wealth, and that just amazes me as well…really alluring, but then I see all the sick people, and those in need of knowledge…and my heart aches for them. I don’t know what my true desire is…and these directions here tell me I am only allowed to walk on this road for two miles, and then I have to take a right turn onto success and wealth.” I hold up the old directions.

“Where did you get these directions?” My Savior tenderly caresses me.

“Oh, from my mentors of course. They say this path works, and I am confident it will.” I hold my head high.

“I’m sure it will too,” My Savior paused, “That is, if your dream is a dream of success and wealth…and if you desire pleasure in this world…but what about me? Have you forgotten me? You once pledged your life to me, I bought you- remember?” His words cut into my heart, He did buy me…I had begged Him to, and He did…with His own blood. “What about me? I love you.”

I am uncomfortable at first. But as I think, as I meditate on his words, it becomes more real to me.

“I love you too, I do. But…do you have directions for me? Where will we go? What will we do with my life with you? What will all of my friends and mentors think? What will they say?” I sound silly and childish as I speak, even to myself.

“My Child,” He chuckles, “I love you, I died for you, have you forgotten the promises I have given You in My Word?”

I draw in a deep breath, “No,” I whisper, I remembered them all.

“Trust me. Follow Me. Abandon these foolish directions, these selfish desires and glass dreams. I have greater plans for you than this. There is a world of people who do not know me, and I want you to take me to them. I love you, remember? If you trust me, I will protect your breakable heart. I created you, I breathed life into you…I love you. Will you love me? Will you follow me?” His eyes plead with me.

The promises of His word, His love, His death, His life; all of Him suddenly becomes real and alive to me.

As I gaze up to my Savior, the crinkled paper I had been clinging to so foolishly fall to my feet. My Lord smiles, and I, with tears in my eyes reach out, and take His hand as He offers it to me.

“Am I sufficient for thee?” He asks.

“Yes.” I whisper, tears flowing uncontrollably down my face, “Yes, You are more than sufficient.”

Holding my hand in His, I followed Him, and He is now lead me down a different path, not the path of Find Your Dream, or Success and Wealth, or even Career Drive, no, this one He calls The Way.

"Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good"

2007-06-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
Evil, cleave to that which is good."
-Romans 12:9

What makes staying on the alter so difficult? Obviously, it is the evil that surrounds us daily. Selfishness, hatred, unforgiving spirit, anger, frustration with the Lord...all of these sins make living for Christ difficult. But as Paul wrote to the Romans, we are to abhor that which is evil.

Webster's dictionary says "Abhor" means to LOATHE, HATE, SHUDDER AT, BE HORRIFIED BY.

Wait...we are supposed to hate evil. At the sight, sound, or touch of evil we are to shudder....be horrified by! When we turn on a movie, do we shudder when they use the Lord's name in vain? Or maybe the inappropriate "for children's eyes" scene you fast-forward... do we truly hate it?

Our culture has seemingly numbed our generation to sin. No longer do we shudder at the evil which surrounds us daily. And...why? Because the twenty-first century puts little bits of evil in a movie and we think "oh, it's just a little bit, it's okay." So the next time a hot new movie comes out, it has just a little bit more...and a little more...and...oh look! A little more!

Suddenly, it seems as though all the movies, music, and activities of our generation are overflowing with evil. How did it happen? Slowly..... cautiously...... and boom! Evil crept in.

As Christians we must not be conformed to this evil! We must abhor it, hate it...loathe it! The other day my dad and I argued about whether or not I should go to see Pirates 3. Everyone says its SO good! I saw the first two movies and loved them. However, I could not see the evil in it. Now, after a long discussion, prayer, and studying God's word I have realized slowly the evil is creeping into the Pirate movies. (From number one!) and the media was numbing me to it!

Thank goodness, I discovered this before I became to "used" to it!

So now, I challenge us all as Christian young ladies and young men, to abhor that which is evil, and cling to everything good! "Pray without ceasing," and "rejoice evermore." Study God's word. I heard someone say that the average christian only reads their bible for 8 minutes per day. Oh, and did I mention that only 38% of Christians read the bible during the week at all?

We need a revival. This will never happen until we fall entirely in love with Christ, lay ourselves on the alter, and:

"Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil."
-1 Thess. 5:21-22

In Christ Alone,
Rebecca L. S.

Staying on the Alter...a Living Sacrifice.

2007-06-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

"But I bought that gum! Why should I have to share it, it's mine I bought it!!!" My little sister wailed. Now, as any adult or teenager could configure, if someone buys something, they now own it and every bit of that item belongs to them.

The dark haired five year old smacked her gum furiously as she glared at her older brother. I laughed at both of them and told my sister to share her gum.

"But it's mine! I bought it with my very own dollar!" She yelled.
"Alright," I sighed. Finally realizing that I could no longer have influence on this situation. After all, she had bought it. Of course it was hers!

Without even realizing it at the moment, Evangalina (my sister) taught me a valuable lesson in life. If I profess to be saved, and to have been bought by Christ's blood and have my name written in the book of life, is it not then, reasonable to understand that because I have been bought by His blood, I now belong to Christ?

Is it not perfectly logical to assume that if the Lord has bought me, and I have sold myself, that I am no longer to live unto myself, but unto Christ's perfect will for my life?

Now, I am sure every christian has heard the term "Live for God," but my question is, have we, as Christians, fully surrendered our very lives to God? Sure we may admit that we try to Live for Christ, but have we truly offered ourselves to him?

Romans 12:1-2 says:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

A living sacrifice. Eh, thats not to hard! just climb on the alter and you're good to go!

Wait...did the Lord say...Living....sacrifice? No way! A living sacrifice can climb off the alter! What was he thinking?

Exactly.

So my question to you is...are you on the alter? Perhaps you need to climb onto the alter for the first time, or maybe you just need to get back on, after being off for a very long time.

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die."
-Bonhoeffer, Dietrich

Can you hear Him?

In Christ Alone,
Rebecca L. S.