Happy February!
As everyone is celebrating love and everything is covered in pink and red, we wanted to take this month to talk all things singleness.
We have a short story, poem, book review, and a bunch more waiting for you. Not to mention an interview with the debut author Sarah Grace Grzy, which you don’t want to miss.
Enjoy!
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
From the moment we are born we are taught to fear. Fear heights, fear strangers, fear failure… the list goes on. Is this wrong? Surely it is good for us to be cautious and aware about height, strangers, etc.? In the movie Chasing Mavericks the mentor character has a quote. It goes something along the lines of this: ‘Fear is healthy, panic is not’. You see, in the movie, the main character had just come upon a shark when swimming… and he panicked. (Which in my opinion is understandable). Now, I don’t agree… exactly with the mentor’s statement, but maybe that is because there are two main definitions of fear. There is the crippling, destructive fear… and then there is maybe a form of ‘fear’ that is a good thing, a God-given healthy ‘fear’ of things. In that case, I think maybe it should be called something else. The difference is that this kind of ‘fear’ is not controlling. We were not meant to live in fear, but in freedom. In God’s care, love, and light. Sin came into the world and gave birth to fear. Anyway, back to the real theme of this article: battling that crippling fear, that wrong fear, that one that keep us from God’s best, and particularly the fears of the mind.
I’m going to split this verse’s dissection into three parts: power, love, and self-discipline. However, let’s do it out of order, why not?
Self-Discipline
Okay, so self-discipline is the word that the NIV version of the Bible uses, and I really like that! However, a few other versions instead use the word ‘sound mind’. I think that each are equally important in defeating the fears of the mind. For fear, I think, is often very much stuff our mind comes up with without it actually being a reality. Satan takes things that are true and twists them and magnifies them until they appear to be these huge monsters that we can never escape and that overshadow everything. But that is wrong! God is the only One who truly covers everything, ses everything, knows everything, and controls everything. He is the only One we should fear. The truth is that in God and in His power, we can choose to overcome the fear, whatever it is. We can choose to defeat the fear. God has given us a sound mind and self-discipline! We have the authority and power to defeat the fear. Whatever it is.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Power
In God, and only in Him, we have the power over fear. Fear looks miniscule in view of God’s almighty power and authority! His power doesn’t depend on us either, even when we are utterly weak and stuck in the grip of fear. If we turn to God, He will free us from those chains and from the fear. In Him.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
Love
In God we are free and forgiven. We don’t have to fear evil, we don’t have to fear punishment, we don’t have to fear death because we are His and will go to Heaven! (1 Cor 15:5) If God is in us and for us, there should be no room for fear in our minds and hearts! And God, who is in us, is love. (1 John 4:8).
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1
Let’s look at the first part, as a proper dissection should go. ‘In view of God’s mercy’. The first admonishment Paul gives us when instructing us in worship is this: in view of God’s mercy. In view of God’s mercy, His favor, His grace, His compassion, and His forgiveness in the face of our multitudes of disgusting sin. Did you know that the actual definition of the word ‘mercy’ is ‘unmerited’ or unearned ‘favor’? When you worship, do you go into it thinking of God’s mercy, or of what you ate for lunch, what you want from God, and how horrible you are? None of those are right! As Paul says, we must go into worship in view of God’s mercy. This is especially apparent if you go back and read the last few verses of chapter 11, where Paul speaks of his wonder at God’s power and mercy.
Alright, in view of God’s mercy. Got that. What’s next? ‘To offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God’. A living sacrifice. In the Old Testament when an animal was chosen to be a sacrifice to God- whether is was a sin offering or a thank offering or some other offering- they would have to be the best of the best of the animals, not blemished in the slightest. Just as er should be a living offerings. Scripture says that we should be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Set-apart for God. I was recently reading in Numbers and it was listing all the sacrifices and what was required for each individual one. It was interesting to see that the sin offering wasn’t the most demanding one- rather that of the thank offerings and praise offerings. How important they are! So, how can we be a living sacrifice? Well, first of all, we must be set apart for God, the best that we can be for Him. That is an act of worship to God. The true and proper act of worship.You don’t have to only be singing to worship God and give Him the glory and thanks that he deserves, but you can worship Him even more by loving others, and honoring Him with all that you are! Whether it is through art, or sports, or singing, or dance, or writing, or serving! That is what is being a living sacrifice: being completely and totally God’s. That is what our whole purpose is anyway! To bring Him praise and delight (Philippians 3). That is what our spiritual act of worship is. Do you love your savoir enough to do this? To truly offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? And to not just talk about it, but to actually do it? It isn’t easy, and this decision is a dangerous one that you can’t make once, but that you have to renew daily. Are you ready? Are you willing?
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| Reasons to Witness
Here are 8 reasons I think you should witness. If you are considering witnessing here are some points I hope you will think about.
After reading this I suggest that you talk to God and ask Him what His will is for you and if He’s calling you to witness to someone. Is there a certain person in your life who you feel like you could witness to? A friend? A neighbor? A classmate? A co-worker?
*if you want to read the whole magazine monthly, subscribe for free by emailing thinkauthors@gmail.com |
| Compassion VS Indifference or Fear Consciously sharing in someone’s hurts out of love; and gently doing whatever is necessary to heal those hurts, remembering God’s compassion for you both, without thought of personal gain.
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In your own words
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| Life’s Application
Silently, Lauren hugged a sobbing Cindy as she contemplated what to say. Now that was the question: what to say? Cindy had just poured out her heart to her. All the hurts, struggles, hopes, and ugliness that had accumulated and chose this moment to burst. It was a mess. And that was okay, Lauren totally got messes (maybe because she’s been in a few herself), but as usual is was confusing. A confusing mess. Who had heard of such a thing?! Lauren smiled. But, back to the question. Lauren could definitely relate to most of it. Should she tell Cindy about her own experience in these things? Lauren didn’t want to only talk about herself though, she wanted Cindy to know that she cared about her and yet at the same time let her know that she really did understand Cindy and her struggles. But then there was the fact that she couldn’t quite relate to all of it. She honestly had not been in some of Cindy’s situations before. Lauren thought she could give sounds advice perhaps, but did she have the right since she hadn’t experienced those things personally before? And did Cindy even want ‘advice or did she just need a shoulder to cry into? Aggh! |
Apply it…
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Photo by adamr and freedidgitalphotos.net
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis is both a happy and sad book. Katie Davis sacrifices much, but gains more in the end. Her last year of high school Katie goes on a mission trip to Uganda over Christmas break… and falls in love with it. School finishes and she decides to postpone college for a year and returns to Uganda. During that one year she adopts eight girls. When the year is up Katie is faced with a tough decision… should she continue the work she thinks God has called her to? Or stop for school, leaving her girls behind, and then return?
Th!nk Magazine 