Prayers for Kenyan Tragedy

I don't even know where to begin.

I received an email from my mom this morning mentioning a terrorist attack in Nairobi. I checked CNN immediately, and there was a reported 30 dead, 60 injured, and 36 held hostage after a shooting in a mall.

The attack was lead by Al-Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked militant group based in Somalia. Sources say all Muslims were escorted from the mall before the attack began, so they were unharmed. The final reports count 39 dead and 293 flown to hospitals. Check out CNN and Reuters articles for more information.

God has always granted me the gift of sympathy, or feeling what others feel. At times it's a blessing - there's nothing better than sharing joys and triumphs with my friends. This time, it's a burden. I see the photos posted online, and I feel the pain. I see the bodies and scared faces of children, and all I can picture are my friends who live only a few hours away from the attack.

I know the pain I'm feeling is only a small fraction of what our Father feels for his children who must join his kingdom too soon.

My heart goes out to the families affected by this tragedy.

I pray for healing for the injured. I pray for strength and wisdom for the doctors.

I pray for the gunmen. I pray that God reveals himself to them and they turn to Christ.

I pray that the faith of the survivors and families remains strong. I pray they grow closwer to Christ. I pray that their stories bring others to Christ.

I still have tales to tell from my own trip this summer, but I feel this takes priority. I thank God that non of my Kenyan friends were in Nairobi yesterday, and that no more than 39 were taken from their families.

Even in the darkness, we musten't forget to give thanks and praise.

Miracles Still Happen

Oh golly. It's been almost a month since my last post. Yikes!

But of course, I'm still missing Africa every single day. And I still have so many stories to tell.

So one of the main lessons I learned in Kenya this summer was about prayer. I've always been a huge believer and supporter of prayer. My family prayed before meals and bedtime growing up. I still pray with friends and roommates before most meals. My mom has always called me her "prayer partner," and she'll call me up every once in a while and ask me to pray for someone in the family.

But prayer didn't become real to me until Kenya. We visited a nearby village, Turkana. The people there were so eager to talk about faith and God. It was refreshing. Our team leader told us about a man, James, who had quite a dilemma. For several weeks, every time James would enter his home, he was overcome by great pain. He had to sleep outside because of it, which was extremely dangerous. His family was so scared for him.

When we met James, he took us into his home. Even though we spoke different languages, it was obvious the pain was real. He could barely lift his arms. His eyes were cloudy and almost in tears. We had to physically help him walk across the tiny room. It was the most bizarre, heartbreaking thing I had ever witnessed.

So, we helped James to the middle of the room. And we prayed. And we prayed.

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Matthew 18:19-20

Finally, we stopped. We looked up at James, and he was sitting deathly still. My initial thought was, "Oh God, we killed him!" But then he lifted his head, and his eyes sparkled. He stood up and shook out both his feet. He marched around the room. He raised his arms above his head. We all praised God.

I can't even begin to tell you what kind of influence that had on my prayer life. Miracles like that happened every day while we were in Kenya, and I know they happen here. God even healed me from a terrible headache during band camp after a few minutes of prayer.

Miracles still happen. Every day. God didn't stop working after the New Testament. He's still alive, and he's still working in our world every day. We just need to call on him, and to believe.

Hope and Mercy in Kijabe Hospital

Our large group of 30-ish was split up into 4 smaller groups and rotated ministry sites throughout the week. I grew amazingly close to everyone on my team, and I miss them so much! Each day was a new adventure, and I can't wait to share every story.

The first day of main ministry was spent at Kijabe Hospital, one of the main hospitals in Kenya. We were greeted by a wonderful woman by the name of Mercy. She is the chaplain of the children's ward, and she shared with us her testimony and passion for Christ.

This woman radiates God's light more than anyone I have ever met. She knows every child and mother in the hospital by name, and she cares deeply for each and every one of them. She takes the time to write each child's name and "Jesus loves you" on a sign above their beds.

We spent the entire morning in the children's ward, going into rooms and praying over mothers and children. It was one of the biggest ministry challenges I've had (up to that point). I pray with friends and family here at home, but I had never prayed in front of strangers before. 

Not only was the stage fright a challenge, but also just witnessing so much illness and pain. These kids were sick. Not just strep throat, go home in an hour, sick. One mother I talked to was sitting with her two-month-old son. They had been in the hospital for one month. Half of his life. I didn't visit with anyone who had been there less than two weeks. The mothers rarely leave their baby's side.

It's hard to describe exactly what we saw there. I didn't take pictures of patients, of course. I'm a missionary - not a tourist. There were children with enlarged heads, deformed limbs, terrifying coughs. Mothers who had lost almost all hope. They begged me to pray for their kids. I got over my stage fright pretty fast. These families needed prayer more than I needed to stay comfortable.

A new team visited the hospital every day that week. By the end of it, Mercy was overjoyed to report that no children had died - usually they had three or four deaths each week. Miraculous healings had occurred. Enlarged heads shrunk back to normal size, a woman who came in the morning unable to use her legs walked home that night, the blind saw. God moved.

This was just the first step in the amazing journey of Kenya. Each day, God would prepare us for what was to come in the next. I would have never imagined anything we saw that week. I went on this trip with no expectations - and God still blew me out of the water.

Typical, Atypical Life

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin.

So much more happened in one week in Kenya than a year in the States, yet it's almost impossible to write about.

I guess I'll start with what our "everyday" lives were like. We stayed in a motel in Maai Mahiu - a place rampant with alcoholism, drug abuse, prostitution, and fear.

  

We were blessed enough to have running water, though the shower was less than ideal. Freezing one minute, boiling the next. The motel staff was amazing, ready to serve whatever we needed. We ate several variations of rice and beans, accompanied by chicken or beef or fish. Chapati was everyone's favorite. It's a kind of flat bread that's absolutely delicious.

 

The best part (aside from our ministry, of course) was worship and teachings every night. We had church in the motel bar every evening. One person brought a guitar, and we learned the songs as we went along. There was a mosque located right across the street, and we could hear their prayers happening at the same time as ours.

God was very real in this place, and he showed himself multiple times. Sins were forgiven, souls were remade, truth was revealed. On the last night, even miraculous healings occurred right before our eyes. Who knew such amazing things could happen in a bar in the the worst place in Kenya?

You don't need a million dollar establishment to worship. You don't need fancy projectors or speakers or even instruments.

All you need is a group of believers. And one bold voice to get started.

James 5, The Prayer of Faith

James 5:13-20

The Prayer of Faith

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgive. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

My brothers, if one of you should ever wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

I'm still working on my prayer skills. I grew up praying constantly, especially with my mother. She still calls me her "prayer partner," and calls me when there something or someone we need to pray for. A lot of those prayers weren't so full of faith on my end, though. They became redundant and almost meaningless. I've gotten better at it, though. I don't pray as often now, but I know my prayers are full of faith and that I'm talking to God.

There are other ways I communicate with him too - through my music especially. I see that as a form of prayer as well. I hear his voice and see his glory. There are so many ways I connect my music to my faith, and I will have to make another post about that later.

James 5, Patience in Suffering

James 5:7-12

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

Honestly, I think I only worry about the Lord's coming when I read verses like these. Otherwise, I don't think about it much. I do what the Bible tells me, and I try to love and respect everyone equally. I know he is coming, though, and I know I will go to join him. I don't obey God's commandments only to get to Heaven, but because it's the right thing to do. 

The verses about grumbling against each other sometimes hit home, too. I am definitely getting better about that, but there are days I still slip up. I'm working on taking more responsibility for my words and actions, and having a more positive attitude towards others.

James 5, Warning to Rich Oppressors

James 5:1-6

Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Though I am not a particularly rich woman, I take passages like these to heart, because I know I am so rich compared to others, and that sometimes bothers me. I can get so wrapped up in money because I can't buy as much food or I have trouble paying bills some months. But I still have so much more than the poor.

If there's one thing I learned from Swaziland, it's how to be grateful for everything I have. The Swazis never complained. They had the basic needs, and they didn't want any more than that. I am so thankful to live in this country and to be raised in a family that could provide for me. I am thankful I get to study at an amazing school so I can do what I love for a living. I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food in my belly, and I try to give as much as I can back to society and to the poor.

James 4, Boasting About Tomorrow

James 4:13-17

Boasting About Tomorrow

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

This is so incredibly humbling. My life is so small and so short compared to the big picture. We must consider God as the center for all our plans, so that it is always his will to be done, and not ours.

I know I must be conscious of God's will and how that must control my life. I am learning to be flexible and go where the Holy Spirit leads me.

As I prepare to leave for Kenya in less than 48 hours, so many emotions come over me. Anxiety, nerves, excitement. I pray it is God's will that I travel safely and, more importantly, effectively minister to the people there. It is going to be an amazing journey, and definitely not the one I had planned to take this summer, but I know it's where he wants me right now. It's hard not to boast about it, because it's so exciting, and I love serving our Lord overseas. 

I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but I pray it is God's will, and not mine.

James 4, Submit Yourselves to God

James 4:1-12
Submit Yourselves to God

4:1-3 Quarrels
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

I tend to have trouble asking God for help. It's not usually a pride issue, like some people have - it's more not feeling like I deserve his help. But I do. I'm always afraid that my motives are wrong, like what James writes about here. But I can't be afraid to ask God for help, even when I think my motives are wrong.

4:4-6 Friendship with the World
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

It makes me nervous thinking about being friends with the world, because it's so hard to tell with today's society if you're obeying the world, or obeying God. I always try to make glorifying God the main priority in everything I do. As long as I want to please him, I know I'm on the right track.

4:7-10 Purify Your Hearts
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to god and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

I read this as a "pep talk," though it's not very peppy. Change our joy to sorrow? What?! But it's just a reality check. We're ALL sinners. We can't change that. We should be filled with sorrow at our sinful ways. But God saves us from sin and forgives us, and we should be grateful.

4:11-13 Judging
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?

I know I need to watch my words towards others - not only to their faces, but also behind backs. We all struggle with this. We want to rant and vent about that person who makes our day miserable...but that's not what we should do. We don't know what kind of day they were having, or what's going on in their lives. We should focus more on bringing positive attitudes to others and brightening their days, instead of bringing them down with hurtful words.

James 3, Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18
Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes fro wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Here is this passage in a nutshell...

Wisdom from the devil:

• Bitter envy
• Selfish ambition

Wisdom from heaven:

• Pure
• Peace-loving
• Considerate
• Submissive
• Full of mercy and good fruit
• Impartial
• Sincere

Obviously, it's much easier to be full of unspiritual wisdom than wisdom from heaven, especially in our society. We must be constantly checking ourselves and our intentions. Do we want to please the world, or do we want to please God?

James 3, Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12
Taming the Tongue

3:1-2 Teachers
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

Today, I finished my last test in my Block 1 of education courses. For the past six weeks, I've been going to school 8am-4pm every day to take Core Teaching Skills, Exceptional Students in Secondary Education, and Educational Psychology. It has been an intense, enlightening, enriching experience. Of course, one of the main topics of discussion was how teachers should act with students, colleagues, parents, and administrators, as well as what qualities an effective teacher possesses. Of course, an effective teacher should be professional at all times, knowing the difference between colleague and friend, as well as student and friend. A teacher is kind, caring, has a serving attitude, can discipline, fun, and loving. Not everyone is made to be a teacher, which is why we're held to such high standards, as we should be. We are often the only positive model in a child's life. These two verses are also very true for anyone who teaches the Bible. We must watch our words and what we teach, because often one negative comment will stick much more firmly than a thousand positive comments.

3:3-8 Tongue as Fire
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

This passage is extremely harsh, yet so true. I've experienced hurt from words and I know I've hurt others with my words. I've posted before about my struggle with gossip and negatively. Not only is it a problem in the music field, but I've also found that teachers can be guilty of it, too. Sometimes, it's just best to leave the circle and not get involved. Other times, though, you have to be the one to shut it down and tell them to stop. Neither is easy, but both must be done.

3:9-12 Fresh Water and Salt
With the tongue we praise our Lord and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring fresh water.

As difficult as it is, I think it's possible for someone to only speak positively, along with constructive criticism. It's a challenging task. Can you go a whole day without saying anything bad about anyone or anything?

James 2, Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26
Faith and Deeds

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But some will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me  your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one god. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that this faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed god, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

It is very important to me to show my faith through what I do and say, even when I am not directly speaking about God. I try my best to show his light at school, when I teach, in band, at work, and in everything else I do.

One thing our team leader in Swaziland told us was that we were being Jesus to these kids for the week. I was shocked when I first heard the words leave his mouth. That's really bold, isn't it? To claim to be the Messiah? But as the time went on and I interacted with the kids, I began to see what Scott meant. We were being the physical hands and feet of Jesus - serving and loving the Swazis the way he would have if he were on earth right now. We were showing them ultimate respect and love by obeying what God was telling us to do.

When people see me, I don't want them to see Rachel. I want them to see God's light shown through me. They may not remember me or my name or maybe even what I did, but I want them to remember Christ and what he did for us.

James 2, Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13
Favoritism Forbidden

2:1-7 Rich vs. Poor
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

I was once told that God shows favoritism and bias towards the poor. That completely blew my mind. We tend to think (or, at least in the environment I grew up) that God loves everyone equally and unconditionally. But it's very evident throughout Scripture that God does show at least some level of preference towards the poor. I think part of that is because they are so grateful for everything they have, and they take very little for granted, especially God's love and blessings. This passage says we aren't to show favoritism towards the rich - but are we to show favoritism towards the poor?

I was blessed to witness the paradox of poor in material, yet rich in faith, in person when I went to Swaziland last year. That whole experience was completely life-changing, and of course I could talk about it for days, but I'll save you from boredom. Anyway, it was amazing to spend time with the Swazis, who have virtually nothing compared to a great majority of our western society, but yet have the greatest, deepest, purest faith of anyone I have ever met. With their simple lives, they don't have the distractions we have every day here (television, media, extravagant shops, even school and work to an extent) to keep them from thinking about and acting out their faith. It was a beautiful paradox to witness, and I wish everyone could spend time in a culture like that.

2:8-11 Whole Scripture
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Can you imagine if our society was like this? "If you steal a candy bar, or jaywalk, you will be considered the same as a murder!" There would definitely be an improvement in pedestrian behavior! This passage does bother me a little, because there are certain parts of Scripture I don't necessarily agree with - does that make me a bad Christian? Am I holding the values of man above God? All I know is that I am trying to glorify God with everything I do, and he is always at the forefront of my intentions - even when I don't always agree with what is said in Paul's letters.

2:12-13 Judgement
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!

It's interesting thinking about "the law that gives freedom." Doesn't law take away freedoms? The freedom Paul writes about is eternal life with Christ. That is the ultimate freedom - freedom from death. We are free and forgiven of our sins through Christ's death. That doesn't mean we can run around acting like heathens - we still have to keep a close watch on our words an actions so we can obey God fully. "The law is no longer an external set of rules, but it is a 'law that gives freedom' - one we joyfully and willingly carry out, because we love God and because we have the power of his Holy Spirit to carry it out." I am joyful and willing to carry out the law!

James 1, Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27
Listening and Doing

1:19-21 Anger
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

One thing I have been struggling with (over the past year, but particularly in the last few weeks) is the competitiveness and negativity within my field of music education. There are so many tight, harmful gossip circles and it's so easy to get sucked into the negative atmosphere. I try to be a light for God's love in the darkness, but it's often easier (and ever so tempting) to just join the gossip. I've been starting to pray more for guidance through this. Should I leave those social circles altogether (which is hard, because I spend so many hours with these people ever day, and I consider many of them to be my close friends), or do I stay with them in an effort to shut down the hate groups and show God's love?

1:22-25 Don't Just Listen - Do
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

I know so many who are guilty of this, including myself. I think that's something Christians often get in trouble for, too. We have this great Holy Book that shows us how to live and gives us great life with Christ, but it doesn't do any good if we just ignore it, or forget what it says after Sunday morning. I do my devotions every morning when I get up for school (around 6:30). Sometimes, I'm only half awake, even with the coffee, and I barely remember what I read after hours of lectures and tests and avoiding gossip. I want to know the Word better and be able to accurately recite passages and wisdom from its depth of Truth. I don't want to just read every day - I want to be a walking visual of what's inside.

1:26-27 Basic Religion
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Wow. Just wow. These two verses really sum up everything I want to stand for in my faith, my teaching, and my everyday life (which usually involves faith and teaching). Keeping a "tight rein" on the tongue goes back to the gossip theme for the day/month/year. According to my Bible's footnotes, "To keep ourselves from being polluted by the world, we must commit ourselves to Christ's ethical and moral system, not the world's. We are not to adapt to the world's value system, which is based on money, power, and pleasure. True faith means nothing if we are contaminated with such values." Couldn't have said it better myself.

James 1, Trials and Temptation

I've been reading through the book of James lately, and there's so much happening in the Scripture and in my life related to this. I hope this book provides as much enlightenment for you as it does for me.

I've broken the book down into 11 sections according to subheadings in my Bible, and I've broken several of those down into subsections with my own titles. I read a NIV Life Application Bible, which is what the excerpts will come from. I will often refer to the footnotes in my Bible, as well.

James 1:1-18
Trials and Temptations

1:2-8 Persevere Through Trials
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault,and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We are supposed to take joy in our trials and suffering, because it builds perseverance. It also helps us grow in faith, if we let it. I struggle with this. I know it's true, because the hardest times in my life are when I've grown the most. But there are times I get mad at God for letting bad things happen, especially to my friends. I was once told that it's okay to get mad at God - God can handle it. He can handle your anger, and he'll forgive you no matter what when you ask for it.

1:9-11 Humble Circumstances
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

There are parts of this I struggled with, particularly about the rich taking "pride in his low position." I understand how the rich have a "low position" in the eyes of God - God is biased towards the poor. It was once explained to me that he has the attitude of, "Well, if you don't take care of them, I will." God loves the humble. However, why are the rich told to take pride in their low position? Shouldn't they strive to make God proud by humbling themselves like the poor?

What I try to gather from this passage is this - be grateful for what you have, and help those who are less fortunate than you. Humble yourself before God. Though I am far from wealthy in our western society (poor college kid, sometimes struggling to pay bills), I know I am extremely well off compared to the genuinely impoverished, and sometimes this really bothers me. I can't afford to tithe on a regular basis, or give much funds to charity. Yet I am so fortunate. I finally came to realize that there are other ways to take care of the poor and honor God than just financially. Time is very valuable to me. As a student and future educator, I have a very intense school and work schedule that demands so much energy. There are times when there simply aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I need to. However, I still spend a designated amount (though sometimes small) completely devoted to God - whether it's in prayer, Bible devotions, this blog, or leading a small Bible study. There are more ways to serve God than with just our money.

1:12-18 Temptation
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, or does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

It says in the footnotes of my Bible that God tests us; he does not tempt us. This is a very valuable piece of information that we must remember. I know I sometimes pray to God to take a temptation away from me. Instead, I should pray that he help me fight the temptation. "God allows Satan to tempt people...in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey his Word." I wish there wasn't temptation in my life - that would make everything so much easier. Yet, it's still there, and I must fight it on a regular basis.

More than Conquerors

I suppose I should actually explain what the title of this blog is all about. For that, we turn to the book of Romans.

Romans 8:28-39, NIV

      And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
     What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Though it's lengthy, this is a very powerful passage to me. Nothing can separate us from God. The torn veil at Christ's crucifixion eliminated the barrier between Heaven and earth, between God and man, making the personal relationship with God possible. And that personal relationship is nearly impossible to break.

Then again, though the relationship can be broken (I know of a man who used to be a minister, and is now a self-proclaimed "Pagan" who practices witchcraft), God's love for us is never broken, which is so reassuring. I know I mess up. I know I am a sinner. I know I wander - sometimes frequently. But he still loves me and is ready and willing to forgive me the second I run back into his open arms. Nothing can separate me from his love.

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

An Introduction

Greetings, world!

My name is Rachel. I'm a junior in music education with an instrumental focus. I love God, music, and my friends - all of which will likely be featured in this blog at points.

This will just be a place where I dump thoughts and stories and enlightenment from my life. I keep a regular devotion journal, the contents of which will probably pop up here from time to time.

But yeah, I don't really have much to say right now. I'm not very good at introductions and such. I guess I'll leave you with some things you should know about me:

1. I am very passionate about my faith and God. I love talking about my faith, but I don't find a lot of opportunities to do so. Which is why I'm here.
2. I am very passionate about music and music education. I love to perform, and I would have been a performance major, but I feel the calling to fight to keep music education in our public schools to continue to enrich students' lives.
3. I want to teach in inner city schools, because I believe every child can and deserves to be taught, and it is up to us teachers to provide that quality education.
4. I have a deep love and passion for Africa. I've always been infatuated by their culture, and I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Swaziland last summer, and I've been blessed yet again to travel to Kenya this July. Just a warning: I never shut up about Africa. I love it and I miss it every single day. So, I'll be talking a lot about it here as well.

But yeah. That's me in a nutshell. Get excited.

Or don't. It's whatever.

Peace.