Merry Christmas...and a 'Mediocre' New Year

Have you ever noticed how jolly people are around Christmas? It seems that everyone has an additional measure of grace, a sort of supernatural happiness, that is not easily defeated or lost ... until the Christmas season is over.

The Christmas holidays are officially ended, and the emotional high of the season is beginning to decline. Of course, we all have the New Year to look forward to, but the general hype of the commercialized Christmas season is coming to a close.

Why is it that the joy is so temporary? Is it merely a false high, perpetuated by glowing lights, merry tunes, and gift-giving? Is it true that people are just left with a house full of ripped wrapping paper and a few new items to prolong the seemingly short hype until next Christmas?

 Christmas is the only day when everyone gets gifts on someone else's birthday. 

Rather than saying, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" do we really mean happy birthday to ourselves?

Now, I don't have a problem with exchanging gifts and I'm not even arguing that I haven't fallen into this same trap. But it really feels like the euphoric happiness around Christmas has more to do with ourselves, than it has to do with our Lord and Savior.

And in this sense, it feels like we're saying

"Merry Christmas and a Mediocre New Year."


As if happiness and joy are only characteristic of the Christmas season. But if we are truly Christians, living a life characterized by a love of the Lord, then we should know that His blessings don't just last for a season! They last for eternity!

The joy that we experience everyday is tantamount to that which we experience as we give and receive gifts on Christmas. Our unique joy on Christmas, is that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior.

But we aren't just celebrating his birth, we're celebrating His death, and His resurrection, too! His promises of everlasting life, His life that sets a perfect example of servant leadership, and His love which is superior to every gift of this world!

What we celebrate; Jesus' life, death and resurrection, should set an example for how we are to live out our lives in the New Year. Drawn to a higher calling after the Christmas season, than we were in the midst of it!

So today, on the day after Christmas, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a New Year that is filled with the fulfilling and all consuming love of Jesus. Living lives characterized by His grace, His mercy, and His peace!

God Loves the Brokenhearted?

Who would have thought that defining the heart would be so difficult? 

From scientific definitions, to definitions referring to the emotions a heart possesses --- the options are endless. It seems that no dictionary definition can get it quite right.

What is it that makes the heart so complex? So difficult to pin down?

Matters of the heart are numerous, and in fact, I would argue that there are few matters that don't require the involvement of the human heart. 

The duties of the heart, its emotions, its vital importance to everyday human existence goes beyond words. And yet, somehow, the Bible gets it just right.

The Enlightened Eyes of the Heart. In Ephesians, Paul prays that the people of Ephesus would have "enlightened eyes of the heart".  Enlightened to "know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His uncomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:17) These verses do not just require us to have alert hearts, with eyes to see what is before us, but it insists that we be submissive to the will of God. For our hearts must first be enlightened before we may see and even begin to understand God in all His glory. 

Setting our Hearts on Things Above. Colossians 3 instructs us to set both our hearts and minds on things above, not on things of this earth. Why? Because Christ is seated in heaven above at the right hand of God. Our desire should be that the meditations of our hearts are on our Lord, rather than consumed by things of this earth. The more we meditate on Christ with our whole hearts, the more we will become like Him, and the more we become obedient to His will.

Hearts that Leap for Joy. Psalms 28:7 notes that, "My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." The heart is an instrument for a variety of emotions. From sadness and sorrow, to joy and thanksgiving, the heart experiences a wide variety of emotion. But what does it actually mean to have a heart that leaps for joy? Could you imagine seeing a person whose heart is leaping out of their chest with joy for the Lord? That precise emotion was what David experienced in the Psalms! And a healthy enlightened heart that is set on things above does precisely that. 

The Brokenhearted. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) God observes the state of each and every individual person's heart, and it is in those times of suffering that God's presence is most noticeable. The Lord loves a broken and contrite spirit, and He draws near those who come to Him in their time of need. God loves the brokenhearted just as much as He loves those hearts that burst with joy. Regardless, God is near.

Love the Lord with All of Your Heart. The greatest commandment of all is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all of your mind. God requests that we trust Him with our hearts. That we give our hearts over to Him in full submission to His will. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) The Lord asks for our hearts and requests our devotion to Him, promising that the desires of our hearts will come true if our hearts are truly aligned with His will for us.

This is far from an exhaustive definition of the heart. The Bible talks of a trusting heart, a caring heart, one that consistently seeks the will of God, and a heart that is broken. We cannot be detached from our hearts physically, but it is so easy to become emotionally distant from the state of your heart.

If you haven't already, I would encourage you, whether you possess a joyful heart, or are presently brokenhearted, to ask the Lord to come into your heart. He understands matters of the heart far better than you or I. He is the Great Physician, capable of doctoring any heart if only we would place our own squarely in His hands.

"Bearing-the-Cost...also known as Forgiveness..."

Forgiveness is both the easiest and the most difficult thing a human being is called to do. It requires, empathy, understanding, and a willingness to put past hurt behind you. It insists on moving forward with an ever-present desire to love and serve others.

"My name is Bearing-the-Cost, but some call me Forgiveness."

Forgiveness calls for a love that transcends rationality. As 2 Corinthians would say, it requires a love that is not quick to anger, nor rude, neither self-serving, nor impatient... but rather this sort of love keeps no record of wrongs. And the fact of that matter is, in our world today, love rarely exists without these negative traits present.

Those whom we love the most are often the people who hurts us most frequently. And most of the time, the ways that we are hurt feel unforgettable at the time. To put that hurt behind us is like asking us to do the impossible.

The endless list of wrongs against us sting. The record of wrongs could go on for pages, in some cases, for days, or even years. As those wrongs are continually remembered, they dig within us an empty hole only to be filled with deep-seated resentment and bitterness for those whom we are called to love.

Forgiveness is perhaps the hardest thing a human being is ever called to do.

But forgiveness can also be very simple. Saying those three words [I Forgive You] can be as easy as saying hello. Those three words roll off your tongue as easy as a blue bird sings. But really meaning it, truly forgetting what's behind and persevering forward, is a lot easier said than done.

But what is it about genuine forgiveness that is so difficult? To start, it requires humility, and a recognition of our place in the world.

How prideful it is if we cannot forgive our neighbor for their wrongs against us, when the Lord of heaven and earth forgave us for every transgression we will commit, have committed, and are presently committing. How can we expect perfection from our brother or sister in Christ, when we come nowhere near perfection ourselves?

Christ commands us in 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 "... to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore to reaffirm your love for him."

Why is forgiveness so vital to the Christian walk? I believe that Hannah Hurnard answers it best through an excerpt from her book Hinds Feet on High Places:


"At that moment the sun touched the blood-red petals [of the flower] so that they shone more vividly than ever, and a little whisper rustled from the leaves.


"My name is Bearing-the-Cost, but some call me Forgiveness."


 Then Much-Afraid recalled the words of the Shepherd, "On the way up the precipice you will discover the next letter in the alphabet of Love. Begin to practice it at once."


She gazed at the little flower and said again, "Why call you that?"


Once more, a little whispering laugh passed through the leaves, and she thought she heard the [flower say], 


"I was separated from all my companions, exiled from home, carried here and imprisoned in this rock. It was not my choice, but the work of others who, when they had dropped me here, went away and left me to bear the results of what they had done. I have borne and have not fainted: I have not ceased to love, and Love helped me push through the crack in the rock until I could look right out onto my Love the sun himself. See now! There is nothing whatever between my Love and my heart, nothing around me to distract me from him. He shines upon me and makes me to rejoice and has atoned to me for all that was taken from me and done against me. There is no flower in all the world more blessed and more satisfied than I, for I look up to him as a weaned child, and say, 'Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire but thee."

Because Christ died for us, we are called, just like the blood-red flower, to be filled with joy by nothing other than our Savior. The desires of our heart should be to diligently serve Him, because He bore the cost, because He exemplifies forgiveness, we as image-bearers are called to do the same!

Completed by Him and obedient to His will for us we will love. We will Bear-the Cost, we will Forgive!

The Last Ditch Effort

"Dear God, Please help me to do well on this exam."

"Dear Lord, I hope that you will heal Sally's grandmother from her sickness."

"Dear God...if there is a god..."

These three scenarios are common occurrences that arise in the prayer life of Christians and non-Christians alike. They are the fleeting quips, uttered as a last ditch effort and as a last resort in that great time of need.

Most often, prayer is the last thing that comes to mind.

The thought: If I can't do it...then maybe God can.

This thought demonstrates an incorrect prioritization of the things in our lives. It says, I am stronger, and I can do it on my own. And if perchance, I simply can't do it on my own, then...and only then, will I go to God.

But why is it that prayer is so frequently the last thing on our to-do list?

It's simple. The thought is wrong.

The new thought: God can do all things.

If God can do all things, He doesn't need my permission to do them. If we all genuinely believed that "every good and perfect gift is from above," our prayer lives would be transformed.

Rather than a last minute quip, thought would go into the prayer that we produce. Beyond that, we would change our habits from "the last ditch effort prayer" to the "prayer of expectancy".

What is this "prayer of expectancy"? And how does it differ from "the last ditch effort prayer"?

Quite honestly, "the last ditch effort prayer" offers little hope. And, while sometimes necessary, does not build a strong foundation for a wholesome prayer life.

On the contrary, thought is given to the "prayer of expectancy". It is a function of a heart that earnestly expects God to answer. Not expecting the Lord to answer in the way that we specifically want, but one that expects an answer. It accompanies a person who genuinely prays expectantly. It offers true hope.

Wouldn't you want to spend more time with God if you truly believed that He loved and cared for you? That He wants to answer your prayers? That He wants you to want Him to know all the intricacies of your life?

So pray expecting God to answer. Pray with a spirit of genuine faithfulness, not as a last ditch effort, but as a matter of first priority. Pray expectantly.

Satan is Alive ... And Well

Sometimes, I think I forget that both God AND Satan exist. That there really is a heaven AND a hell. That there really are angels AND demons.

Sometimes, I focus so much on God, and His perfection, and His strength, that I forget that their is even an opposer.

In C.S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape, the devil, feeds his "project" the following lie: 

Satan, evil spirits, and hell don't really exist. 

This is the first step to denying God. For why would anyone need God if there was no one to oppose, no one to defend against, no one vying for the attention of your soul?

How easy it is to ignore the very thing that is right in front of our faces. The reality that man is depraved, that sin exists, and that Satan is very much alive and at work should be so clear and obvious to us.

But, Satan is the ultimate deceiver. For he discovered that if he can get us to believe that he doesn't exist, then evil doesn't exist, and it is much easier to deny the very real reality that we ourselves are sinners in need of a Savior.

Daily this is the lie that many of us are fed. Dangerous as it may be...it is not the only tool that Satan has in his toolbox. His second tool is to cause us to believe that God isn't capable of saving us, that we don't have the tools to fight and defeat him and his minions.

In Ephesians 5, God doesn't just tell us that Satan exists. 

God gives us all the tools we need to defeat him: 

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."


As Christians, we are given the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. We are given the Word of God. God equips and prepares us for battle, not to fight an invisible enemy, but to fight an enemy that is very much alive and well.

May we be men and women of faith who are willing to openly rebuke Satan; not in our own strength, but rather through the magnificent strength and glory of Jesus Christ!

The Strength of the Blesser

I've always been a joyful person. The sort of person who gets so hyper that they are literally rolling on the floor laughing. A single witty comment can send me into a writhing fit of uncontrollable laughter, propelling me headlong into a state vaguely reminiscent of euphoria. 

On many an occasion (perhaps even daily?), I scare my friends with one of these occurrences which are frightfully alarming and cause many to wonder if I just might not be insane.

Being happy, hyper, crazy, you-name-it, I've been it. Joy has never been a problem for me. 

Nothing wrong with this, right?

Well, the simple answer is no. But the more complicated, longer answer is a yes-no. 

One day, someone who is very special to me said something that I will never forget. He said, 

"I know you're a joyful person, Olivia, but what is it that you take joy in?" 

He praised me for being joyful and recognized that joy is something that we, as Christians, are called to. But he promptly told me that he wanted me to find joy in things that were much bigger than the things of this world. He reminded me that the joy of the Lord is my strength!!!

Was I really taking joy in the Lord? Or was it stemming from something else? I mean, God created me to be a joyful person, and I'm glad for that, but I couldn't only find joy in life because that was my natural disposition. The object and the cause of my joy should be dedicated solely to the Lord.

A few weeks later, I was reading a book on prayer. As I read it out loud, this sentiment struck me: 

Joy places emphasis on the blessed, thanksgiving places emphasis on the Blesser!

I realized that if the joy of the Lord really was my strength, I would not merely be joyful, but I would be in a state of constant thanksgiving. In fact, I would joyfully be praising Him for His strength. 

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with being joyful, but there is something wrong if I place more emphasis on my joy, and too little emphasis on the Giver of that joy! 

I Love Who?

What are the two greatest commands given to Christians?


1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and;

2) Love your neighbor as yourself.


Now, until today, I thought I had those down pat. I mean, they're pretty simple commands. Easy to understand, but not quite as easy to apply.

As I began to meditate on these two truths, I realized something I had never realized before.

When I thought about loving my neighbor, I never thought about the second part of the command, namely, that I am commanded to love my neighbor as I love myself. At this moment it clicked, I could not love my neighbor if I did not first love myself.

My first response was to think that this was rather conceited, but then I understood. What I must love about myself, is not my sinful nature, but rather those unique characteristics that I possess as a born again Christian. I am called to bear Christ's image and therefore, must love me, not because of any thing I have done, but instead I must love myself because of the redemptive work that Christ has done in me.

After concluding this, I realized that not loving myself meant that I was not loving the image of God which I was called to bear. And not esteeming myself, as the image-bearer, meant that I did not value the image Himself. In rejecting who God created me to be, I am in essence rejecting those qualities which I am to represent for the sake of Christ.

These conclusions are not intended to cause any person, especially myself, to think too highly of themselves, but rather it is intended to shed light on an integral lesson to the Christian walk:

One cannot truly obey God if they are not grateful for who He created them to be.

Without recognizing my inherent worth in Christ's eyes, I can neither love me, love my neighbor, nor love my God above all things.

Run to Jesus

I never realized how important it was to simply be comforted. But it is a vital need from the moment life begins.


The care and comfort of a mother or father is simply immeasurable. When a baby cries, or a young child scrapes their knee, Mom or Dad are there to rescue the poor dear from their distress. When that child gets older, the problems grow, but when put in perspective, the trials of youth seem just as insurmountable as the perplexity of minor problems as a baby or young child. 

In both situations, regardless of age, people fall down.

Here's the difference: When we're young, we expect Mom or Dad to pick us up. But as we get older, we think that we don't need to be picked up. We fall, and we think that we are perfectly capable of picking ourselves up on our own.

The problem: Regardless of our age, we still need someone to pick us up.

In youth, the models of comfort are Mom and Dad, but as we get older, we realize that Mom or Dad always needed someone to pick them up, too. And in fact, the strength that our parents had to take care of us came from Someone far greater than ourselves.

This past week, I was overwhelmed with the complexities of life. After everyone had gone to sleep, I fled to a remote corner with only me, my tears, and my Bible. I couldn't figure out my future. In fact, I didn't even know all the details of the coming week, but I do know Someone who understands the ins and outs of the whole world.

My Bible fell open to a passage in Isaiah 66 which discussed the Lord's relationship with Israel. It read:

"For this is what the Lord says: I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you..."

Peace like a river

and

Comfort like a mother.

This is what the Lord promised the nation of Israel. And this was what He was promising me. Why? Because He, as my Creator, loves me as my mother loves me. He is my heavenly Father who will never leave me nor forsake me. 

So next time you are feeling lost, unsure, or overwhelmed, run to Jesus. 

Our earthly mothers and fathers are only mere reflections of our Heavenly Father. Our parents are far from perfect, but their role, to love, comfort and care for their children, are earthly symbols of the love the Lord has for us. 

See how much your parents love you, 

and imagine how much more 

a perfect, unchanging and loving 

 Father in Heaven 

loves 

you!

Miss Independent

Almost every girl wants to be independent. Motivated. Self-sufficient. Accomplished.

At the very least, this is the epitome of the modern woman. The ideal.

Since I was very young I have struggled with this ideal. Particularly since I have always been a dreamer; in possession of a mind that has a hard time limiting itself to small projects. Little side deals had very little appeal. Big dreams seemed like the life for me.

If I am totally honest with myself, I'd love to be the active, business-running, political campaigning, self-motivated woman walking down the streets of NYC, briefcase in hand, and the world at her feet.

We see the picture of this strutting woman in every magazine, she is the female protagonist in almost every story, she helps the male protagonist to save the day.

Yes. She is Miss Independent.

But this question remains: Is this ideal, city-slicker, world-conquering woman really the woman that we all identify with? Is she who we, if we as women really asked ourselves, the woman that we want to be?

I would contend that despite the idyllic peek we get of her in all the latest movies and T.V. shows, Miss Independent isn't all that she is made out to be.

In fact, I would argue that Miss Independent doesn't feel as in control, happy, or world-conquering as the media might portray her. Quite on the contrary, this character clings to her independence because it is the only thing that keeps her company when she is up late at night. When every day comes to a close, that very independence that has propelled her headlong into the world of business, law, or politics, is the very thing that keeps her lying awake at night.

My question is this: How many of us would actually want to be the modern woman if we knew her whole story? If we understood that her life isn't perfect? 

This question is not posed to discourage women from working. It's not intended to rebuke ambition or to cause women to question whether it is right for them to have a career. (I have strong career goals and aspirations myself.)

 But I simply ask it because I can't help but wonder if we have idolized this modern woman, Miss Independent.

I am asking for responses. What do you define as the modern woman? And how does this square with Biblical womanhood? 

Those are my questions. They are very simple...and I want to hear your story. So please write. I want to know what kind of woman you are. 

The Green Monster

He didn't used to be big. That green monster. He started out awfully small, in fact. Barely perceptible. But then, he grew, and grew, and grew. Until he was the big elephant in the room.

This green monster seemed to infiltrate every area of life. Putting up barriers and obstacles to greater emotional depth and understanding.

This green monster was jealousy.

Unfortunately, he had become all too familiar and had become a regular attender at meetings with those who were most important to me. Since I had not recognized his presence, he was neither welcomed nor shunned. And so, in our company he stayed.

It was not until about a week ago that he was banished from the room.

The conversation began, and tension rose as he and I began to have a chat.

"Why don't you have what he has?" said the green monster.

I couldn't answer. My typical response was to throw a pity party; an act that not only accepted the green monster as a guest, but actually celebrated his presence. But this could not go on. The party must come to an end.

I confronted the green monster for what he was. That green monster was not the root of the problem. In fact, he was only an unwelcomed side-effect of a deeper rooted issue: a lack of contentment.

Wishing for the talents of one friend, the grades of another, and the blessings of yet another, demonstrate that I am not comfortable with myself.

Essentially, I am saying: I don't want to be me. The me that God created me to be is not good enough.

This is both ungrateful and fails to recognize the special and unique gifts and talents that the Lord has given me.

The green monster is surreptitious. He creeps in unawares. But he is not more powerful than our God.

Surrendering our lives fully, embracing the talents that we have, and even recognizing that the Lord can use us despite our inadequacies should help us to be comfortable with the person that God created us to be.

Musings on Cookies and Creation

It is not every day that a girl is surrounded by the perfect ingredients for a beautiful day: Wonderful friends, beautiful sunshine, and an incredible God.

Yes, this was the day that I was blessed with. Not only this, but I had the opportunity to bake cookies.

Despite my age, this was one of the first times that I had ever baked from scratch. As I gazed at the seemingly endless list of ingredients, I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the recipe and the variety of ingredients required to go into the supposedly simple and easy chocolate chip butterscotch cookies.

After I had finished combining the ingredients, I put them in the oven.

To my surprise, I determined that I was perfectly capable of wrecking a perfectly good batch of cookies. 

The first batch: burnt. 

The second batch: semi-burnt.

But finally, on the third try: almost perfect.

Now, my less-than-perfect first attempt at baking was probably entirely normal. I am sure that plenty of girls before me have completely ruined their first batch of cookies. Plenty. But I was frustrated... my perfectionist tendencies arising in side of me.

And then I realized what my little baking endeavor was supposed to teach me:

When left up to humans,

 Creation goes horribly wrong,

 but when left up to God, it ran perfectly... 

THE FIRST TIME. 

My little baking creation took several tries and even on my final attempt, I could not attain perfection. But God created the whole earth in seven days and created it perfectly on His first try.

Amazing.

So those are a few thoughts from the aspiring, less-than-perfect little baker, who is very thankful that the Lord still calls her His daughter despite the fact that she might not be the perfect apron-wearing baker yet. Maybe some day.

But for now, the less-than-perfect baker is content with worshipping her more-than-perfect God.

Who Are You?

How many people do you "know"?

I mean... how many people do you really know?

As I began to reflect on this question, I realized just how few people I really, truly knew. Sure, I have many wonderful, amazing friends. I have a family who cares deeply for me. And many of the people whom I love the most I have known for quite a great length of time. But I had to ask myself: Do I really know them?

As I sit here in my room, my roommate on her bed, the other one fast asleep, I can't help but think how little I know of them. Don't get me wrong, our friendships are deep, but I cannot say that I know what thoughts run through their mind daily, or what struggles they are affected by right now. For some of my friends, I barely know their hopes and dreams for the future, much less every thought that crosses their mind as each new day passes.

I was utterly struck by my lack of depth and knowledge of the very beings who are around me most.

Soon, I began to reflect on my relationship with my family. The differences and the similarities in how we think are striking. And while my parents and I have a wonderful relationship, I am not in their being, experiencing their day-to-day feelings.

The best I can do is try to empathize from afar, using only my experiences and observances to guide my interactions with them.

Pretty soon, I began to think about myself. How much do I know of me? And while I ought to know an awfully lot about myself, for I am, after all, me, I was struck with the realization that not even I knew myself best!

It was after this series of reflections that I began to realize that there is one person in the whole universe who knows me, who knows the deepest thoughts of my friends, and the deepest feelings of my parents. That being knows the most about every single person on the face of this earth:

He is God.

He alone knows the depth of my thinking, the longings of my heart, and the plans for my future. He alone knows my motives for my actions. He alone knows me better than I know myself.

But God doesn't just know me, or my friends, or my family. He knows and interacts with over 6,966,774,759 people...all the people presently on earth...on a day-to-day basis! And knows them better than they know themselves.

What a mighty and powerful God we worship! He seeks to know me better and wants a relationship with me! This led me to conclude, that while it was certainly a valuable pursuit to seek understanding of those around me. And that it was important to know who I am. My identity, who I truly am, can only be found in Christ.

A relationship with Christ is a two-way street. The fact that He knows me so well, is not to be taken for granted. But I must seek His face even more eagerly than He desires to see mine. For He molded and shaped me before I was born. He knows my every shape, contour, and passion. But do I know His?

Children of God, how may we claim to have our identity in Christ if we do not truly know Him? We can only find our own identity if we know the One whom our own identity is rooted in!

Shedding Light on Burma

Burma’s Continued Deception

Zachary Enos

October 5, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Imagine a world where you constantly fear for your family’s survival. Yesterday, your 14-year-old son was kidnapped and forced into the army. Your 17-year-old daughter vanished last month, and you know she’s been raped, sold, and possibly killed. A knock hammers the front door, and you cringe as officers call out for your spouse, who’s guilty of criticizing the ruling regime. Welcome to Burma.

Stories like these are not isolated incidents. Burma’s oppressive military regime systematically prevents democratic reform, commits “severe human rights abuses,” and was again designated one of the State Department’s 2010 Countries of Particular Concern for its suppression of religious expression. Burma is an international hotspot for human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling. In fact, in a September 15 memo to the State Department, President Barack Obama threatened to slap Burma with additional sanctions for its “demonstrable” failure to fight drugs.

The terror does not end there. The military government’s historic repression of democratic alternatives has led to a violent 20-year civil war, displaced hundreds of thousands of impoverished civilians, and effectually silenced all opposition. In short, Burma’s government is run by thugs “responsible for extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths, disappearances, rape, and torture.”

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Special Representative to Burma, Derek Mitchell, stepped into this quagmire. Ambassador Mitchell’s stated objectives were to engage, cultivate useful friendships, and consider “what would be required to change the parameters of the [Burmese–U.S.] relationship to date.” Fine-sounding goals, but the evidence is in: This is not the right time to change the nature of the relationship.

The U.S. must stand strong. Obama’s strategic emphasis on a very limited dialogue is reasonable. However, as Heritage has recently stated, sanctions should remain in place until the government takes more substantive action on human rights, releases all of its political prisoners, and actively fights internal corruption. Burma’s recent superficial reforms may fuel hope of progress, but the track record shows these are more likely the sort of calculated deceptions that have occurred before.

In recent months, the Burmese government has garnered much international attention for several token gestures. For example, the government supposedly created a human rights commission, released Noble Prize winner and iconic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, and allowed her to meet briefly with President Thein Sein. These and other actions are the bare minimum. It is not the first time she has been released in the last 20 years and not even the first time she has met with the junta’s (now in civilian dress) highest officials.

Credible observes of last year’s national elections note that the elections were a sham and that Senior General Than Shwe, who directed the junta for the past two decades, still has considerable influence over the president of this democratically elected monstrosity.
Policymakers must remember that this Burmese regime is personally responsible for kidnapping hundreds of child soldiers, imprisoning countless reporters, encouraging the sex trade, and killing or displacing hundreds of thousands of citizens along its borders.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rightly identified Burma as one of six key “Outposts of Tyranny.” That has not changed. Is it wise to tell the world’s dictators that the United States relents without genuine change? Until Burma has genuinely changed, it is not wise to tell the world’s dictators that the United States relents simply because it is fatigued from a lack of progress.

Zachary Enos is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm

The Gift of Peace

"The Lord giveth and He taketh away. 

While He may take away, He will always give you something that you can give back to the world."

These words were said by a friend of mine. In their simplicity, these two sentences sent a resounding message tearing through my heart and soul. 

Not only were these sentences humbling, but they also reminded me of several unbelievable truths. Perhaps the most important message communicated was one of contentment.

Thoughts of my own discontented spirit flooded my mind as I contemplated the deeper meaning of my friend's words. He reminded me that despite my inadequacies, the Lord could still use me for something greater. 

 

The Lord wants to use His children, if only we are willing to share those gifts that He has given us. 

Suddenly I began to realize how often I focus on my inadequacies. Those things that I struggle with, or that don't come naturally are there to teach me patience. To help me to understand the hardships of others and to encourage me to reach out to those in need. Rather than dwelling on my frustrations, I should be thanking God for my inadequacies. 

Instead of complaining about my failures, I should thank Him that He is willing to teach me--a sinner-- how to love, to care, and to feel for those, just like me, who are genuinely struggling.

Beyond this, I fail to thank God for the specific gifts that He has given me. My friend reminded me that God always gives people gifts that they can share with those around them. Whether it is intelligence, the gift of hospitality, or the gift of joy, we are to use them for His glory--offering our lives as a sacrifice to Him who knows all things.

But this is not all. The main takeaway here is not just that "every good and perfect gift is from the Lord." No, the main message is that regardless of our inadequacies, and regardless of our gifts and talents, we are called to a few important things:

Philippians 4 calls us to "Rejoice in the Lord always."  The joy that the Lord gives us is abounding and this joy is to be shared with those around us.

Beyond this, we are called to "Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to the Lord." If we constantly fear our inadequacies, our anxiety paralyzes us, making us closed to the will of the Lord as He works in us to fulfill the plans He has for us. 

However, if we are thankful for God's goodness in giving us a specific calling---to consider our life worth nothing to us unless we share the Gospel of God's grace with those around us--- we will be given, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding." This alone will guide our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!

Philippians 4 continues as Paul tells us that He is content in all situations. Whether in trials or times of good cheer, Paul finds contentment. But this peace does not come from Paul himself. He says, " I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

This truth is not just for Paul, it is for all of us. We can do everything through 

Christ alone. 

When we submit to His will and are content that the gifts He blesses us with are for a purpose much greater than ourselves, 

we find

peace. 

It's a Small World After All ~ Yemen

The second part in a series of posts encouraging prayer for the nations. 

Yemen

After living through 33 years of an oppressive regime, Yemen is finally speaking out. But their voices are not the only form of action being taken against their longstanding President, Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

While the people's frustration with their government became clear only about eight months ago, Yemen has long been in a state of disarray. Child malnutrition combined with a decrease in the supply of water and oil have only exacerbated the situation. 

Accusations that Saleh has long manipulated oil revenues for his own profit continue to haunt his administration. This week, the President's refusal to step down has angered the people even more, resulting in greater levels of violence and frustration amongst the Yemeni peoples. 

The Yemenis want an end to their current government's corruption and they don't want to resort to violence to achieve freedom, but so far, violence has ensued. Clashes between militaries, protesters and the government continue. 

The death toll continues to rise as violence continues to escalate. An estimated 100 people have died during what many are classifying as a revolution. Protesters of all ages unite in "Change Square", where cries for revolution are heard and seen all around the streets. 

The situation only continues to spiral downward, and the UN claims that the situation may turn into a humanitarian crisis. An estimated 10,000 families are unable to find adequate food to eat and if the situation is prolonged it will only get worse.

Pray for the safety and security of the Yemeni people. For food, for a decrease in violence, and for resolution to this longstanding conflict. Many suggest that even if President Saleh stepped down, the transition would not be easy. 

Pray that God would use this time to cultivate a love for Him in the nation of Yemen. Pray that in Christ alone their hope might be found. 

Hope does not come through the freedom of this world, but through freedom in Christ. May this sentiment be cultivated in the hearts and minds of people all over the globe. 

It's a Small World After All ~ Prayer for the Nations

Today marks the first post in a series of seven that will encourage prayer for nations and regions of the world. Each day, I will write a new informative post that describes a current situation that is demanding the prayer of the body of Christ.

Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Each decade seems to have its famines, its natural disasters, or its genocide. Tragedies seem almost a dime a dozen that so often we forget the horrifying reality of each individual situation. The latest famine is taking place in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

Terrifying pictures of starving children flash across our computers and television screens. Worldwide, people react in shock and awe, but can we really relate to their daily trials?

 29,000 children have likely died in the Somalian famine thus far. And it seems that things are taking a turn, not for the better, but for the worse. The U.N. has projected that 750,000 people could face death in the next month should conditions continue to decline. 

While the cause of the famine is debatable, it is likely caused in part by drought conditions, as well as ineffective government policies. If drought is the root of the issue, rains are predicted to be on their way. But this is no promise of resolution. Instead, some sources predict that the rains will bring on diseases such as cholera, malaria and measles, which will only threaten the lives of many more Africans.

Food aid and humanitarian projects can help to quell the dangerous food shortages, but they cannot cure everything. The nation and the people are in need of prayer. May we rise up as the unified body of Christ to lift them up in prayer during these trying times.

Dreams of Reality

I've always believed that it was okay to dream. 

Daydreaming is, in fact, one of my most favorite pastimes.

The very process of dreaming is a fascinating thing that is both indescribable, intangible, but very real at the same time. Through dreams, one can live out their wildest adventures. They can climb the highest of heights, dance the most beautiful of dances, and sing the most beautiful of songs. They can achieve the career of a lifetime, marry the perfect person, or have the idyllic house with the white picket fence. 

Anything is possible in a dream.

It is a most fascinating thing when dreams turn into reality. But this question occurred to me: If dreams become reality, they are no longer dreams. And if they are no longer dreams, what are they?

As I began to reflect on the musings of my childhood, I began to realize that many of my dreams had become reality. And those that had not, had worked out into a far more exciting reality than I could have ever dreamed up. 

I recalled that in first grade, I was destined to be a veterinarian. After that, I was positive that I'd be an English Literature professor. That phase quickly faded into the next. Now, I was sure I'd be an ER doctor. And as time progressed, I just knew that I'd be a prima ballerina. All these dreams had so much meaning, felt so real, so possible.

At that young age, they were possible; for my imagination had very few limits. 

Unhampered by reality, I was sure that I could do anything if I simply put my mind to it. My idealistic visions of life were my daily pleasures that transported me to unknown worlds. One day, I was little orphan Annie, the next I was fleeing the oppressions of WWII, and the day after that I was a pilgrim just landed a Plymouth. 

Yes, my dreams and my imagination held me captivated by their wealth of experience and possession of such vast knowledge. 

In many ways, I am the same today. I have great hopes and dreams, and while I am consumed as a college student in my studies, my books transport me to a variety of locations. One day, I'm fighting Communism, the next I'm in Africa helping those with AIDs. 

Not much has changed. I still have an overactive imagination that runs away with itself when I sit down to write a paper or discuss a new topic. Difficult to tame, my hearts desires run away with me.

But today, my dreams are tempered by reality. A reality far greater than my dreams could ever imagine.

Today, I recognize that when dreams become reality, they are called blessings.

Blessings from my Lord God Almighty who has shaped and molded me for the plans that He has for me. He has given me those dreams and that overactive imagination, not to let me down, but to help me to  fathom the great things that He has for me that are far beyond this world.

Without my dreams, without my imagination, I could not even begin to grasp the magnitude of His greatness, much less the promises of Heaven. 

But He has given each and every one one of us hopes and dreams to give us a foretaste of the future. 

So keep on dreaming world. Because those dreams just might come true!

Come One, Come All!!!

Come to the concert  at Patrick Henry College to fight modern day slavery and support International Justice Mission. It will feature great bands such as Reilly!!! For more tickets and more information, go to:

 www.abolitionconcert.org.

Taking Jesus for Granted

How often do we do just that? Take Jesus for granted?


A group of girls were sitting down together meditating on the verses that say "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 


As we meditated on this truth, we began to realize that the way that we pictured the Lord deeply affected the way that we approach Him in prayer.


While it is true that the Lord is both our Father and our friend, we realized that perhaps we were taking being a child of God, or a friend of Jesus for granted. So freely did we approach His throne.


One girl mentioned that in order to help her connect with the Lord, she needed a mental image of the some great and admirable person. Her example: A strong, warrior King.


As we thought about this more, we began to realize that we did not approach the Lord as the King of Kings that He is! 


If we were to have a meeting with the President, a celebrity, or a foreign dignitary, would we approach them boldly? Unafraid of saying something wrong, not having our hair just right, or the perfect outfit on for the occasion? 


We all agreed that we would approach them with fear and trepidation. What if we said or did something wrong?


Suddenly, we all realized that we should approach the throne of the Lord in this same way. Fear His might, the just judge that the Lord is. The Almighty King. Our Saviour!!!


This does not mean that we should not boldly approach the throne of God. He welcomes us with open arms. But perhaps we should think more about the words that we say, the requests that we make, and the fashion that we make them in.


We are blessed to be called children of God, but we are His servants and He is our King! May we approach His throne with the reverence, respect, and love that He alone deserves!

Plan in Pencil

Plan in Pencil. 

What does it mean?

As soon as I heard this phrase, I was struck at once by its simplicity and its strength. 

A friend explained to me that God instructs us to plan in pencil and that we must "let Him have the eraser". 

Wow! What trust it takes. No, what faith it takes to simply plan in pencil. Open to the smudges it might create on the pages of life. Willing to allow someone else, someone greater, to plan the small intricacies of our days.

My  friend said it rather off-handedly, but nonetheless with such conviction. 

I was instantly reminded of what a teacher had told me in middle school. My teacher said, "I don't allow any of my students to write in pencil. I require that every assignment be written in pen. That means that all my students will have to confidently plan what they write in advance. No second guessing."

It was interesting that both of these statements had such a profound impact on me. Both seemed to convey certain truths about the different ways one may live their life.

There is certainly nothing wrong with literally writing in pen, but next time you sit down to write down your goals, or plans for your life, consider what you're writing them with. 

Are your plans set in stone?  Written in pen, both unalterable, and unable to be shaped and molded by the Creator of this earth.

Or instead are you writing in pencil, allowing God to guide the words you are writing, open to changes that conform to His will rather than yours?

As I sat there next to my friend who urged me with conviction to "plan in pencil", I was sure that God was urging me to set down my pen, and pick up my pencil. 

Oh, and God ... I'm handing the eraser to you!

A Flower of Happiness

There are some things in God's creation that are so beautiful that they automatically require an outburst of joy. 

Sunflowers must be one of those things:

This New Day

Today is just another day. Average, typical, but far from boring.

Today struck. And the hand of God moved in every part of the world. 

Today, a brilliant idea emerged, a thought occurred, and actions were taken. 

Today, was a new day.

Today, people are laughing, people are singing, and people are dancing.

But that is not all that happened today.

As today becomes tonight, and tonight becomes tomorrow, I am struck by the utter essence and the utter importance of a single day. 

I am struck by what was forgotten, who was forgotten, but most importantly, why I had forgotten it. 

Stuck in my large western country, with the comforts of the western world, the joys of friendly faces, and magnificence of knowing the Creator of the universe, I remain in awe of all that I do not know.

I have not experienced life in China, India, or the Philippines. I cannot relate to the experience of fearing an oppressive regime in Cuba, or the dangers of living during the Communist era. I have never been forced into a prostitution ring, been faced with great danger, or had a life or death experience.

Today and every day, people mourn the loss of a loved one, have their own lives threatened, are thrown in prison, were persecuted for their beliefs, and die for the sake of a worthy cause.

Yet I barely batted an eye... until now.

As I sat here, thinking about the vast differences between my life and the lives of so many others both in America and all across the world, I was struck by two distinct thoughts:

First, my Savior, the one that I know so well, sees ALL that happens in the world. He can relate to all those who daily suffer under persecution. He sees all those people who are stuck in sex slavery and forced labor. He sees the impoverished, the hungry, and the faces of all those who have suffered great trials. 

But my Savior, doesn't just see and understand all that happens in this world. He extends His hand to those that I am utterly unable to help. He alone gives them a hope and a future. 

And Jesus has already done it all. 

He's died for every single person, in every single country. Already.

He is their Comforter.

Beyond this, my Savior has given all people something in common; something that allows all people to relate to everyone, everywhere, at every time!

He has planted in the hearts of people in Cambodia, the people of the Ukraine, the people of Venezuela and the people of every nation a desire for eternity. A knowledge that their is a Savior! 

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart..." ~Ecclesiastes 3:11


Today, I realized that what I had so easily forgotten, the plight of those around the world, the ordinary lives of those in foreign nations, was not forgotten by God. 


He alone sees all the happenings of the world. And the Bible reminds us, that He is never changing, always constant, and always dependable. 


People all over the world: God has not forgotten. He has already died for your sins. And God will never forget. 


Today, is a new day. 


And tonight is a new night. 


But God is the same, today, forever and always. And He wants your heart on this new today!