It's not just salvation.

   This thought has been going through my heart the last few days... Being a Christian is not about just asking Christ to forgive your sins. Yes, that makes you saved, but you cannot be an example of Christ like we are called to be if you do not follow what the Bible says (Matthew 5:14-16; Psalm 1; James 4:17; Romans 12:1,2). Matthew 6:24 says it like this: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. (Amplified translation)

   Living for Christ should be the first priority in your life, over anything and everything else. Sometimes, we have to give everything up and we don't want to. We like where we live, what we do and say, how we act, who our friends are, our comfortable habits and activities. But that's not what living for God is. It's not just "Well I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 5 so I can do whatever now." Living for Christ is you living as an example of Him to others. Jesus met a young man who wanted to know what he should do to enter into heaven. Here's the story:

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22)

   We have to make sacrifices. We cannot hold onto the things of this world and still serve the Lord completely. Does this mean that we have to sell everything, live in a shack, and be a missionary in a third-world country? Maybe. Maybe that's what He calls you to do. Maybe He wants you to give up a habit you have, or an activity that takes away your time. Maybe He wants you to stop having certain friends or watching or listening to certain things. Maybe all the free time you spend on your electronics could be sacrificed for something greater. Maybe you need to give more of your time, money, and effort to Christ. Belonging to Him requires an actual sacrifice on our part. We cannot live the way our selfish flesh wants to and still serve Him the way He wants us to. So what's more important to you?

   Sometimes, I feel like this is a topic that is discussed too much and people get tired of hearing it so they tune it out. But listen. If you want to truly, I mean honestly and seriously, live for the Lord and bring glory to His name and be a better witness, try giving something up that you really love. I mean really enjoy doing or saying or whatever. Think about it like this - Jesus gave up everything, the entire universe, Who He was, so that He could come down to this sin-filled, nasty, greedy world and save a bunch of rotten-to-the-core people who abandoned Him and treated Him like the dirt under their feet. Think about that and then look around you - what are you holding on to that you don't want to give up?

...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me... (Luke 9:23)

   Following Christ isn't easy. People will not like you. They'll wonder why you don't do this or say that, or watch this movie or tv show, or listen to this music. They'll wonder why you're not dating this person or dressing this way or etc., etc., etc. That's the point. In the world but not of it (John 17:14-17). We're not supposed to be like everyone else and that requires something on our part. The Lord isn't going to change you if you don't want to change. 

   Maybe this is something you know God wants you to work on - if so, seek Him more. Maybe this is not something you struggle with but I know I do. My prayer in connection with this thought for myself is this: Lord, help me understand this better in my heart and mind. Strengthen my soul in Yourself and Your Word. Help me to know what I need to give up so all the glory goes to You alone. Through Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 

Blessings, 

Abby

Life update...

   I have not posted for a while and school isn't even the reason. I don't have a real reason either... lack of inspiration probably. But let me give a two little updates on life...

   Thesis is done! Praise the Lord, hallelujah, and amen!!! Now I'm just waiting for my degree to be approved. All the praise hands 🙌

   Slightly bigger news... Starting November 1st, I will be working full time (at my current job no less!). My job is staying relatively the same, but with some added responsibilities in connection with accounting... it is an accounting firm... I know. I was an English major. But the Lord works in weird, awesome ways and opens doors you didn’t know you were looking for... even if that door has more possible school and lots of numbers behind it.

   Anyway, the plan is to continue writing on here as time allows. If you want consistent updates on my life, you can follow me on Instagram (here) and Pinterest (here)!

~Abby

Verse that has been on my heart lately:
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?  - Psalm 27:1

Happy birthday Dad!

Dad.

     You're not perfect, but you know that. You're not always right, but you know that too. You are a human, full of flaws. But you're still my hero.

     Whenever I think of what to say to you on days like this, I start to cry because I realize there is no way to put into words how thankful I am for you. You constantly show me the importance of God in life; you place family before yourself continually; you are an honest witness, showing Christ's love to everyone; you have the ability to make a situation okay, even if it is not; you are encouraging and supportive, but tough; you are strong, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and considerate.

"Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

{Joshua 24:14,15}

Dad, thank you.
Happy birthday!
I love you.
Abby

When you're down.

   The enemy knows how to get at you when you're down, when you're already struggling. He's right there to keep pushing you down and away from the Lord. He see you having a tough time and decides to keep shoving until you break.

   This is when you have to get up and push forward. God is not going to give us more than we can handle: "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Get up and start refocusing your attention onto the Lord and away from the circumstances you find yourself in.

   In case anyone needs some ideas, here is a short list of a couple of the things I do to help in these types of situations:

• Read my Bible and write out Bible verses. 
• Walk around with my Bible in my hand and pray Bible verses over people and/or situations.
• (Joshua 1:5-9, Nehemiah 8: 9-10, Psalm 25, 34, 66, 91, 123, 124, 141, John 16:25-33, Ephesians 6:10-20, James 1:12-18, 1 John 4:1-6 are some of my favorites.)
• Put on some hymns or praise music.
• Get on my knees and pray.
• Talk to the Lord wherever I am.

   The point is for you to connect with God; this is not the time to sit back and let the devil win. Don't give up the fight because it feels too hard. The Lord will be on your side. He does not change. Lean on Him every step of the way.

Abby

My heart is so full!

I made it up to camp for 18 hours. Within 26(ish) hours, Mom and I drove up there, surprised a bunch of people including my Dad and sister Elizabeth, sat in a wonderful meeting, ate camp food, celebrated the 4th of July, and drove home. But it is amazing what 18 hours on those grounds can do.

Panoramic view of the lake from Watch Rock
Brant Lake, NY

I was reminded of how much God loves me. Insignificant, full of doubts, usually stressed, freaking out, loud and sometimes obnoxious, small me. 

Let me share some context here... I try to only show the "good stuff" about me. I try to always be positive. I try to always put other people first. I try to always be praying and encouraging other people. I try to stay happy and upbeat, sharing smiley faces and Bible verses. 

But that's not me probably 70% of the time if I'm being really honest.

Sometimes, I am mean and selfish. Sometimes, I ignore people. Sometimes, I say terrible things. Sometimes, I am impatient and nasty. Sometimes, I am jealous and inconsiderate. Sometimes, I am lazy and stubborn. Sometimes, I am thoughtless and gullible.

I doubt myself. I doubt other people. I stress over things I cannot change. I stress over things I can change. I am overemotional. I am critical, mostly of myself. I am often negative. I am often discouraged. I am often angry. I am often feeling lost or abandoned. I often let the bad thoughts take over.

But God loves me.

In spite of all of those awful things about myself, God loves me. God loves me because of who He is. God loves me because He wants me. 

The Maker of the universe, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Mighty Savior of the entire world, the Alpha and Omega, the Sovereign King, the Living Truth, the Three-In-One, the gracious Provider, the Holy Comforter, the eternal, loving, just, glorious, merciful, patient, righteous, forgiving, amazing, powerful, understanding, good, wise, faithful, infinite, unchanging, Lord of all, 

loves me. 

WHAT?!

I can doubt it. I can question it. I can wrestle with it. I can fight it. It's not going to change. No matter my reaction, He is not going to change and He is going to love little me.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16 & 17

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent

His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent

His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

1 John 4:9 & 10

Many Christians already know this and have already come to understand how wonderful this is and I don't want people to think that I didn't know God loves me or that I have not accepted Him into my heart and life, but for me... this was a moment. Adonai, Elohim, Jehovah loves me and I cannot ignore it. He stands there with wide-open arms, waiting for me to accept this gift of love. 

So now I have three choices: I can walk away from all of this completely; I can accept it and go on with my life like nothing has changed; or... I can allow this knowledge to change me.

Walking away is not an option. Leaving my Christian walk, no matter how hard it gets, it not a choice. Accepting God's love and not allowing it to change me doesn't seem to make much sense. But that third option? Do I want my life to be changed? Absolutely. I want this undeniable, unchanging fact of God's love to permeate my heart and completely transform me, mind, body, and soul.

Will it solve all my problems? Will it make all my decisions easy? Will it make me happy and positive all the time? Nope. 

But it will make me different because I cannot ignore the unwavering fact that He loves me. My Father sees a woman seeking after Him and His will no matter what the cost. I'm not perfect, but I know He is making me into His perfection. I'm a work in progress. I'm getting there and by His grace, mercy, and love, I will continue to reach for that in my life.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; 

but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which 

Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Philippians 3:12

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

My challenge to you is this: accept God's love for you. He sent His Son to die because of little you. Don't ignore that gift because you're scared or you don't understand it.