What to do with your life??

Until recently in my older teenage years, I've always stressed out about how I was going to live my life and how my future was going to go. Namely, I wanted to make sure that I was doing God's will in my life, and I hoped, hoped, hoped that I would never make the mistake of going to the "wrong" college, getting the wrong career, marrying the wrong person, moving to the wrong city...I kind of waited for God to suddenly appear in a glowing figuration as I prayed and send me to a country as a missionary, or tell me to go to this college, or just give me some kind of mission for my future!

But what I never knew was that, although God certainly does choose to personally in a very direct way guide us on a specific path... most of the time, we should just focus on glorifying Him in our daily lives, loving others at least as much as ourselves, and doing what we desire.

Whoa... did I just say that?? Doing what we want in life?? Let me explain.

Something that changed my perspective on this concept was a book excerpt by John MacArthur called "Found: God's Will". I encourage you to find it and purchase the book - it's definitely worth it. But he described that if we simply find our delight in the Lord, He will shape the direct of our heart and we can simply go after what we want, whether that's being an artist, moving to California, or volunteering for something. This is not an unbiblical concept. You see Paul and the team of people he was doing missionary work with in Acts executing this philosophy. Check out how it turned out:

"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." Acts 16:6-10

Paul and his companions simply went from town to town, preaching the gospel everywhere, and where they want. They decided that they wanted to preach in a certain place of Asia - so they tried to get in. The Scripture doesn't say how the Spirit did it (perhaps it was by a closed door of opportunity?), but He kept them from going into the area. They kept trying, though! They didn't just give up and write it off as not God's will! In life, it's like we're all in a maze of walls, mirrors, and opened and closed doors, and we bump into these things and feel our way through until we find the right opening to continue on. And that's exactly what this missionary team did. They kept trying to get into Asia. Through that, it led them to other areas where they might not have gone otherwise to preach the gospel, but also they were led down a slightly different path - God wanted them to go to Europe! Christianity no longer would be an Asian cult, but spread throughout the globe through their missionary acts there.

This post is getting long, so I just want to encourage you girls about something I've learned and am learning. Abide in God, and prayerfully and intelligently go after what you want as long as it's holy, and don't give up. Pray, pray, pray, and worship Jesus, and live how He wants you to live - in kindness, in relationship, in strength, and in the Spirit, and don't worry about getting some grand vision from God about what to do with your future. If you are simply with Him, He is with you, and watching out for you - so go in life. Run. It's a short run until we reach eternity with our Father - let's live it to the fullest and to the glory of God.

Feminism or Femininity?

Recently in my high school English class, our teacher was reading from a book to us, when she read a line that said,

"...and the women stayed in their kitchens."

All of a sudden, the whole class erupted into gasps of horror and outrage.

"You can't say that!"

"That is so sexist!" several girls exclaimed.

Now the book was a children's picture story (long story, we aren't normally read picture books at school!) and was very innocent. I'm sure the author had no intention of "degrading" women at all, but through this incident I became aware of how much feminism had permiated our culture and thinking.

Women and girls today are buying into the lie that they are "liberated" from the restrictive confines of the home, that they are "freed" to from the misery of being a wife, mother and homemaker, and that essentially, they are no different from men.

But what does the Bible say? 

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." - Genesis 2:18

"Whose adorning...let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." - 1 Peter 3:3-4

"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." - Titus 2:4-5

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." - Ephesians 5:22-23

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." - Proverbs 31:27-29

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."- John 8:32

God made us as women to be different from men, which is a wonderful thing! We are designed to be "help mates", to be nurturers of strength, and we are given a special role: to be keepers at home. We are to pour ourselves out in glad service to those most near and dear to us. This is the essence of femininity -- to submit to our (future) husbands even as the Church-Bride to Christ.

Now it is true that not all of us will be married. God may intend for us to remains single our entire lives, but this doesn't change our femininity. While the culture tells us that such a life is dreary, dull and utterly depressing, God tells us "truth will make you free" -- the truth as revealed in His Word. Yes, it is a politicially incorrect truth, but it is a truth that will bring us abundant, immeasurable joy, peace and blessings.

Does that mean we are forbidden from working outside the home? No. The Proverbs 31 woman "seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands", "bringeth her food from afar", "considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard" and does many other jobs. However, her main priorities are centred around her home.

May we dare to trust our God and become wise women who build their houses (Proverbs 14:1)!

Flame of God

Amy Carmichael is one of my greatest spiritual heroes. She was an Irish missionary in the 19th century to Japan, China and India, where she rescued over a thousand children from slavery. Her life was truly one that was poured out without reserve at the feet of her Beloved Jesus. Not only was she a faithful missionary, but a talented writer and poet. I have been inspired again and again by her commitment expressed through her writing. In particular, I am continually challenged and uplifted by this prayer-poem, from her book Toward Jerusalem, which I hope will also encourage you today:

From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher

From silken self, O Captain, free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

(Not thus are spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified)

From all that dims Thy Calvary

O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay

The hope no disappointments tire,

The passion that will burn like fire;

Let me not sink to be a clod;

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

- Amy Carmichael

To read more about this amazing woman of God, I'd highly recommend A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot.

Take The First Step!

Hey girls! (:

Today I found this song called Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole and decided to share it with you. It's an awesome song so I would encourage you to check it out. I also want to encourage you girls. I know that sometimes we can be afraid to take that big step out in faith, even when we feel that God is calling us to something bigger and better then we ever even had planned. Sometimes though, we really just have to take that first step into the unknown and see what God has in store. Sure, it might be scary at first. But God tells us that he will never ever leave us or forsake you. If you feel like God is doing something in your life and calling you to something bigger and better... go for it. You will be glad you did. (:

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me." Psalms 139:7-10

"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13

In Him,
Angelica