Ultimate Purpose

As I think about the beginning of this Christmas season, I remember my prayer being that I wanted my eyes FIXED on Christ (as I should pray that each day), but especially during this season. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of crowds, gift buying, baking goodies, school being out, time with family, etc. But is that all the reason for the season, as cliche as it sounds? 

I was recently reminded of how significant the Savior's birth is...

In Isaiah 9:6-7, you see that Jesus was brought to the earth so that we might be reconciled to God the Father. We are reconciled through his mercy, because he humbled himself as a substitute. He didn't have to give me what I deserved, which was death/eternal separation from God/God's wrath. Once we are reconciled he brings us great stability- the government of Jesus is not in a downward spiral, like the government of the US. The government of the universe rests on his shoulders! Can he not then be Lord and handle every area of my life? His stability provides clarity, because he is the Wonderful Counselor. He gives advice from a heavenly perspective, He sees my days ahead and has them numbered. He is the Mighty God, therefore, if we start listening clearly then we start responding to His authority. Under His authority, we have great security- he is the Everlasting Father. He has a tender way of dealing with His children, He will walk with me through the valley. He never worries or is anxious. He always provides and is safe for His children. He chose me, purchased me, adopted me, and loved me. I never have to worry about him leaving or giving up on me despite my failures. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Chief Prince of Peace. 

Many people also question the birth of Jesus. 

Virgin Mary? Really? Fully man?  Fully God? What?!

The virgin birth is a miracle!

 We must affirm it, due to the veracity of Scripture. Salvation can't ever come from human effort, neither did the virgin birth. The virgin birth made the unity of full humanity and full deity possible. If Jesus was born "normally" then there wouldn't be anything different about him. He was human, yet without sin. This all goes back to the concept of "original sin" from our bloodline of Adam. Jesus didn't have a human father, so he didn't inherit a sin nature. 

In Luke 1:35 scripture says  that he will be called holy- well the only way he could be called holy is if he was perfect and didn't have a sin nature. 

Christ was fully human.

He ate, drank, bled, had feelings, etc.

 Before the fall, humans we were created without a sin nature. Christ is what we were intended to be like before sin entered the world. 

He had to be fully man , so that he could be credible to us. He came through incarnation of a human, because he had to go through the same growth as us. He had to be fully man to be our mediator, to return worship to God. He was fully man to be our example. That which he didn't take on he couldn't save- mind, heart, flesh,etc. 

He was fully God. 

John 1:1 - "In the beginning..." confirms eternal existence. 

"the Word was WITH God"- no created being can be face to face with God. 

Whatever God is, so to, is the Word.

John 1:14- " ...dwelt among us..."

dwelt: pitched his tent

He came and lived among us in our junk! 

Too many people, throw around the famous verse John 3:16.

There is one word in that verse that stands out and confirms the deity of Christ. 

The word "begotten"- you can only begot that of which you are.

 Kind of a weird statement, but stay with me. 

Christ is the only begotten Son of God. 

Essence is what makes something, well, SOMETHING. 

Christ is the essence of God- meaning that they were the same thing. 

Why is His deity necessary?

Good question. Well, He has to be fully God to bear the penalty of our sins. No created being could save creation.

You see, there is so much to the meaning of Christmas. Much more than just a babe lying in a manger. Much more than honking horns in traffic trying to get the closest parking spot at the mall, much more than gift wrap, pretty bows, ornaments on a tree, time with family, Christmas songs, etc. Although some of those things are good,  I wanted my focus this Christmas not to be on those things. But rather the Creator and to fall down and Worship The One who reached down and picked me to be His. The Son of God who humbled himself and gave His perfect life for my filthy, gross, disgusting sinful one. There was nothing good in me, that made Him choose me. There is nothing I did or can do to earn His love or favor. He gave me the free gift of salvation. Through repentance (turn in the opposite direction from my sin) and Belief ( through faith) in Jesus Christ, I became of  Daughter of the King. Secure forever. Only wishing to boast in Him. My one desire is to be more like Him. To live with a purpose such as His- to die to myself so that others may LIVE. 

Fifteen Fall Favorites

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
-Elizabeth Lawrence

Fall is by my favorite season for several reasons...

1. October is my Birthday Month!

I enjoy celebrating birthdays more than anyone else that I know!! I get so excited that I spend all of October preparing for October 30th! Unfortunately, my friends and family are not big fans of this "birthday month" idea. 

2. Colors of the Leaves

There's nothing like watching the colors of the leaves change;

 It is evident that there is something new and refreshing right around the corner.  

3. The Leaves on the Ground

Jumping in leave piles brings joy to my little child-at-heart soul!

4.Pumpkin Coffee

Coffee shops, in general, are my favorite hangout spots; 

during autumn I find it extremely refreshing to grab a good book or study Scripture in a cozy coffee shop with a pumpkin coffee or latte in hand. 

5. Hiking Trails

Recently, a bunch of my friends and I went on a retreat to the Mountains of North Carolina. The leaves had not completely started to change yet, but it was evident that the process would soon begin. I enjoy taking walks on trails during the fall; the ability to hear the crunch of the leaves with every step I take and the fact that God has blessed me with the ability to see His beautiful creation fills my heart with thankfulness. 

6. Pumpkin Pickin'

Whether it's with family or friends, I always look forward to this time of the year when we all load up and head to our local pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. This year I am going to Carrigan Farms in Mooresville, NC with a bunch of friends and I am probably more excited than a 5 year old about this event!

 I always look for the punkin that is the biggest, orangest,

 and the least beat up! Ha! 

7. Pumpkin Carving

This is an example of what I hope to be able to carve this year and enter into the "Carving Contest!" Chyyeeahhh!

 8. The Scent of Fall

The brisk air outdoors makes it a pleasure to come indoors to different fall aromas such as homemade apple pie, pumpkin spice, firewood, candy apples, autumn potpourri, etc.

9. BONFIRES

Bonfires no matter how big or small are always a great way to get the gang together for s'more s'mores! 

10. Arts & Crafts

 Arts and Crafts are my "go to" and knitting just happens to be one of my favorite things to do. You will most likely see me actively trying to pursue this activity during the cooler months. One of my goals is to finish a blanket that I have been working on for the past year...

11. Apples-to-Apples 

Apple Cider and Apple Pie are also another top favorite! 

My grandma makes an amazing apple pie that will melt in mouth!

 If my family and I get the chance we usually stop at one of the produce stands in the mountains and stock up on apples and apple cider for the fall and winter months.

12. Camping 

I'm not a big fan of the buggies but I will allow them to be my friend for a night or two out in the middle of nowhere when it comes to pitchin' a tent! 

13. College Football

Ok, ok, ok... so UNCC doesn't have a football team YET, but I long for the day 08-31-13 when they hit the turf for our first game! My roomie, Holli, is obsessed with football! I have learned a lot more than I ever knew was possible by living with her! Let's just say things get pretty heated when Clemson or Florida plays! As far as NFL is concerned... the Panther's will continue to suck. :( GO BRONCO's! Tim Tebow will be Holli's future husband. Just sayin'....

14. Scarves 

There's nothing like a little fall fashion! 

Scarves add a great accent to any outfit and serve the second purpose of keeping oneself warm and bundled up on those cold mornings walking to class. 

15. Fall Decor

Last, but definitely not least, one of my favorite things about fall is the fabulous decor! 

With just a touch of a few neutral tones any home (even a dorm room) can experience its own "harvest time" feel. I enjoy getting creative and using different elements from the outdoors to create table pieces or door wreathes such as Indian corn, acorns, mini pumpkins, leaves, or pine cones. 

Quick Fix

To all of my fellow good-cheap-food-I'm-a college-student junkies:

I found an awesome Asian Cuisine...

Annie Chun's Chicken & Garlic Mini Wontons
Only 60 Calories for 4 Wontons!
A very inexpensive & yummy delight!! 

Gifts

"Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them."

Psalm 139:16

WOW! I am just amazed at the fact that God knew everything about me before I was even in my mother's womb! BTW, He knitted me there! (Ps. 139:13)

I am astonished that He knew exactly what I would do each day of my life before I was even conceived. He knew that I would reject Him and that I would be His enemy, He knew that I would fail Him time and time again, yet He chose me to be His daughter! He has secured and approved me through His Son Jesus Christ. I am so undeserving of His mercy and grace that He freely GAVE for me to receive, it was a GIFT.

Tonight, Kristin talked a little about Evangelism, something she is extremely gifted in! We talked about different evangelism styles and how not one way was better than another, but that God has created us each uniquely to share THE GOSPEL. This is the purpose that we were created for- To GLORIFY God and to make Him known to ALL of the Nations!! (Matthew 28:18-20)

I realize that I definitely don't share my faith enough! Deep down, I really do have a desire for others to come to know Christ and have a personal relationship with HIM. However, I often allow sin, lies, and "self" to get in the way and therefore, I am not glorifying God. I want so badly for humility to invade my life and to write all over my heart that it is a privilege to share with others, The Gospel.

God has given us the GIFT of His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and bore the FULL and complete wrath that we deserved. If we repent and trust in Jesus we will be able to stand before God, righteous and redeemed and have the gift of eternal LIFE! Jesus was thinking of you and me....

Who am I?

This is a word scramble I did on Wordle.

These are words that describe who I am in Christ!

I got this idea from my friend Rachel! :)

Washed By The Water

Tonight something really awesome happened...

I was Baptized!

This was an awesome celebration and public profession of what God has done in my life!

Baptism is a way for believers to identify themselves with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is not a means of my salvation, but rather a representation and picture of an inward reality that I am identified with Christ through repentance and faith.

We are given the gift of faith (Eph 2:8) to believe and then are baptized. Baptism is not necessary for salvation and it is NOT salvation but it is commanded by God in Matthew 28:20. Tonight was a profession of my faith through baptism, signifying my death to sin and resurrection of a new nature in life through Christ.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4

Ripple Effect

Here's a song that my friend Daniel Orren wrote called, Ripple.

It's one of my favorite worship songs and actually...it's probably my life song.

I want to be used by God so badly, especially on UNCC's campus in the Nursing Program. I don't want people to see me, but I want them to see Jesus and have their own personal relationship with him.

Ripple-Daniel Orren

Let my life ripple to the edge of this world
I don't care how long it takes
Jesus, you never said it would be easy
But you said you are with me always

Transcend time, rise above my weaknesses
Transcend time, rise above my weaknesses

Transcend time, rise above my weaknesses

Start a ripple with me that will end up
As a wave eventually
Start a ripple with me that floods this earth
With glory to Your Name

Let your love freely flow thru me
To someone who doesn't know you as Lord
Do not stop at my comfort zone
Make me go wherever you want

Bring revival to this nation (start with me)
Bring revival to this nation
Bring revival to this nation