The moment you have all been waiting for....

The title of my blog is My Life Is SDA, as you all know. By now, you may have been wondering, how my life and Christian walk differs from any other walk. I mean, I specifically put SDA in the title. Here it is! A post you've all long awaited!

In 9 days, I take my second mini (exam) of medical school. The day following, we have our lab practical, the infamous lab practical. My goal is to become an anatomy TA next semester, and to do that, I have to have one of the top 10 or 15 anatomy grades in my class. So, naturally, I really hope to do well not only for now, but for the future for my patients. There's this super helpful mock exam that is hosted by the anatomy TAs before the actually practical, but it's on a Saturday. Not only is it Saturday, but it the review that is the day before begins that Friday 6pm-8pm. The bulk of help for the anatomy practical spans the entire Sabbath. I really need to figure out how I will be getting that extra help. One thing God has taught me is that I don't need to defy his law to accomplish anything. I will be praying about this and would love for everyone to pray as well. There's a selfish reason as well as a spiritual for my unwillingness to break the Sabbath, especially not to such an extent.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

Until next time people of God! :D

Grace and the Obedience of Faith

Good afternoon all!

So, I posted a picture about obedience on my facebook today which, I admit, only depicted a part of grace. It was so relevant to my spiritual experience though I just had to share! We had been discussing at vesper the parable of the sower. That is honestly a parable that I've read through numerous times and have been  blessed differently each time. I digress. It was over 2 hours of discussion and reading and I don't have it all word for word, but below are some questions that were brought up:

How many times have you heard a sermon or been apart of a Bible study and became so motivated to study the Word of God and so moved by His love? How long did that feeling last? It went away didn't it. What did you do to maintain the feeling? Or did you just simmer in joy until it faded away? 

How many times have you learned something new but maybe you didn't write it down or didn't study it a little more and....well, you forgot what it was about? It was so interesting! But ....what was it again? Well, next time. Or even you're going down this journey with God and won't you look at that? Temptation. Well, God loves me at the end of the day, I'm just going to take a pit stop. 

How many times have you ever been too busy/tired to study the Word of God? Your day was crazy! I mean, I' m in medical school, my life is studying, eating, sleeping, and trying to fit in exercise. It feels like there's barely time to even do those 4 things most days. Between your job, kids, spouse/SO, family commitments, classes....etc. You know the list. Maybe you're just so involved in the church, you don't get the chance to spend time with God, I mean it feels as though you spent all day working for Him. How many friendships/relationships/habits have made you question and/or almost end your relationship with God? Did you hold on to them for one reason or another?

I've only listed a few scenarios, the list goes on an on . I'm not judging if you've related to any of these. I too can relate. There are some more that directly apply to me, but for the sake of keeping this short and sweet, I haven't included. You can make your own list in your free time, but I want to help you get to the root of the problem (or at least one root). 

(Below is partially taken from my facebook) 

Grace has two parts, acceptance and faith, which can be shown by our obedience. Romans talks a LOT about grace, maybe in an attempt to further explain it to us (not sure why). Grace is given to us; it ours! We have to have faith that when we ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven and have faith that God really died for our sins......etc. I mean, we weren’t present when it happened. Works alone means nothing and that is emphasized. You can't take God out of the picture. That's now saying you have what it takes to get to Heaven without Him. If that were so, He wouldn't have made such a sacrifice for us. At the same time, the idea that we are saved by grace without showing our obedience is also emphasized. Showing our obedience to God is listening to Him and having that faith to follow Him even when we aren’t sure where we are going. Yes, we are saved by grace, but intentionally not living according to God’s word can compromise our relationship with God. Grace was given because we are not perfect, and as we get to know Christ more and develop a deeper relationship with Him, our character will become transformed. We will want to be more like Christ and do more for Him simply because of the love we feel in our hearts. Grace and the obedience of faith work together. One cannot work without the other.

²⁰ For by works of the law no human being^[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 3:20-24

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

Romans1:4-5

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8,9

More verses are out there, but I'll let you guys study for yourselves. ;D

What's my point? We need to study God's Word so we can get to know Him better. Thus, strengthening our relationship with Him and transforming ourselves to be more like Him. We will fall into problems along this journey simply because of our sinful nature, but grace is there to help us along. It's ok, I've got grace, I'm going to keep on moving forward towards my Jesus. Don't just stand there visiting each temptation just because you've got grace. You see the difference? "I'm stumbling to my Lord, but I've got grace." "I sin, but I've got grace" Both are true, but which statement sounds like that of a person who is heavenly bound? I purposely made the answer obvious. Grace is there for WHEN we fall (we're not professionals), not for us to jump off the rope because we know there's a trampoline down there. Keep moving forward, saints!! Don't beat yourself up when you stumble, just stay close to God so that He can help you. From where comest my strength? My strength cometh from the Lord!

Isn't a wonderful to know we are not alone? :D God bless!

My brother's keeper?

Yello! So, I've been praying a lot for God to reveal my sins to me and give me the strength to overcome them (along with other things of course). I've also been praying separately about this seed of darkness I hold inside me concerning my family ; I've never understood why it exists. These two prayers were overlapping, as I found in the end. Why? Where did this come from God? Then came my answer: I had never fully coped with being an older sibling. I'm only just now in the process of asking for forgiveness, but to be completely honest, I don't know what else to pray for. I'm not sure who reads this but please take the time out to pray for me in this new journey. And for anyone else out there who feel the same, please take this time out to pray for yourself as well.

Being an older sibling is a huge responsibility. They told you that when they decided to have another child. Not knowing what that meant, you nodded your head as if you understood. As soon as that baby came, like it or not, you became the adult (without any adult benefits). The only thing that really kept you is the "Thank you for being so ____" from your parents. That affirmation made all the frustration from the mischief your younger sibling's actions go away. We always would seek our parents approval. And face it, your younger sibling may never have as close a relationship with your parents as you do, so that unspoken connection made (and always will make) you feel special.

Like it or not, all of us Christians are like the older sibling. We are all God's children, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. In Genesis 4, we see how an older sibling that did not rise to the occasion was cursed. Have you ever felt that as the oldest, nothing you did was good enough? You brought home a B just one time and you were disciplined, your little sister brings home many Bs and gets praise.  Well, Cain felt this sort of frustration and let it control him. He did what he thought was best but did not meet the standards of God. Instead of correcting himself, he killed his brother (because obviously the little brother is the problem). No, friends. We are to be an example to our younger siblings in the same manner we are to be an example to nonbelievers, our younger siblings in Christ.

Am I my brother's keeper? Let's see what the Bible has to say.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬


We are called to open our hearts to one another, bear one another's burdens, help those that are not as strong as us, be an example to those around us, need I continue? Older siblings, seeing some similarities? It feels like the job is never done with watching our younger siblings, and it's true. Our job here on Earth and older siblings will not be done until we hear that affirmation from our Father.

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:6-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So carry on in love, older siblings, this isn't a punishment but rather extra practice for winning souls for the Heavenly Kingdom!! Your younger sibling(s) and the world is watching you closely, looking for a light to guide their way. Yes, you'll make mistakes, but continue to abide in Christ, continue to grow in Him daily, allow your character to meld into His.

God bless you, beautiful people❤️❤️

"Come"

Many people grapple with the fact that they are chosen of God. We hear it and read it, but it seems almost as though someone with thoughts like ours couldn't have been chosen yet. Have you ever felt that you just need fix this or that to truly receive God's favor? You see God working in the lives of those around you, and you see their relationship with God growing stronger but for whatever reason, you feel stagnant in yours. Notice: Many of these reasons (listed and not listed) that cause us to feel that we are not [insert struggle hear] enough is because we've seen someone else reach the point we feel we should be. Your faith is your journey. Focus on God and not the spirituality of others. Here's an excerpt taken from my devotional this morning.

" We are to accept of Christ as our personal Saviour, or we shall fail in our attempt to be overcomers. It will not answer for us to hold ourselves aloof from Him, to believe that our friend or our neighbor may have Him for a personal Saviour, but that we may not experience His pardoning love. We are to believe that we are chosen of God, to be saved by the exercise of faith, through the grace of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit; and we are to praise and glorify God for such a marvelous manifestation of His unmerited favor. It is the love of God that draws the soul to Christ, to be graciously received, and presented to the Father. Through the work of the Spirit the divine relationship between God and the sinner is renewed"

-Chosen of God, March 12 from Our High Calling

Please excuse my improper citing. 

You see, we are told to focus on God and to accept that we are chosen. That's where faith comes in. We have faith that God will provide or that He exists, but need to make sure we have the same amount of faith that He has saved us and chosen us to be His people. "Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away." Isaiah 41:9. He doesn't apply a condition for choosing you. He called us, and then said we're His servant. Remember when Jesus said to two strangers "Come let me make you fishers of men"?

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. -Matthew 4:18,19

These men were chosen of God. He said "Come". Their job was to go to Him.  We see in verse 21 and 22 that this may mean you have to leave people behind. James and John left their father behind to follow Jesus. This decision won't sit well with everyone. There are people and lives and habits you may leave behind  in order to follow God, but what's before you is so much greater! Looking back will eventually kill you. Remember Lot's wife? Lot, his wife and two daughters were spared and allowed to leave Sodom before the city was taken down. They were given the warning not to look back or they will be turned to stone. Lot's wife looked back and God kept his promise. How can you focus on a future when your so caught up in your past? "God, I want to follow you, but I've done so much bad" Does this sound familiar? Don't forget that if you are baptized, you've already agreed that you believe Jesus died at the cross the blot out your sin.

In summary, yes. You are chosen. God isn't focused on whtat you've done, He's waiting with grace for you to leave it behind and go to Him. Whether or not you follow that command is up to you. Focus on Christ and don't let the events in other people's lives hinder your walk with and /or to Christ. Today, don't forget to pray an earnest prayer asking God to strengthen your faith in Him. Don't be embarrassed, only through Him can we answer His call. Are you ready to put your faith in Jesus Christ whole heartedly?

Do this, not that. Be this, not that. Present day Women

I just read an article about how due to some sort of sport illustrated photoshoot, women are now feeling pressured to have vaginal reconstructive surgery to pull back the skin. I know there are many debates on women and our image. So, I suppose in adding this article to the debate. Women are constantly accused of being overly self conscious and/or overly sensitive about our looks. We admire those who seem to have effortless beauty and near perfection, not knowing what they go through themselves. She points out in this article that there's always a new body part that society picks at for us women Ladies, Do you remember a time when you didn't want to wave to people due to your arm flab? I remember in school, if get picked on for my thick eyebrows. So, I had an obsession in college with paying to get the hairs ripped out of my face with hot wax. In college, I learned as a women, I shouldn't have hair down there, although years ago it was a symbol of my maturity. I've obsessed over my triceps to reduce my "flab", squatted like crazy to grow my butt, done crazy daily sit ups because my stomach should be flat, lowered the weights on my curls to avoid "looking masculine", straightened my hair because that's the most acceptable, dropped carbs so I don't seems fat, reunited with carbs so I don't seem too worried about my body image, and the list goes on. These are honestly some unnecessary changes that I've felt needed to happen in order to be accepted and beautiful. We as women are targeted by the society in all aspects. The way we speak, walk, act, dress....how we wear our hair, how much skin we show, how much confidence we exhibit. There's no aspect of us that has not been brought to the spotlight! They make shorts so short that suffocate our lady parts (want them longer? You've got to pay more), yet when something bad happens, it's because we were dressed in the same shorts that were forced upon us. I'm sorry this is long, but it's just so frustrating to know that the spotlight is now on such a personal area! 

This isn't limited to secular society either. In the church, there is a movement towards modesty. We have to help our men remain pure.  So we must conver up everything so not to tempt them. I understand and support dressing as modestly as possible, but if a button comes undone or if a skirt rides up in the back, I also don't think that as ladies we should feel ashamed. One of my biggest struggle when getting dressed has been my larger cup size and my not so large mid section.  Most dresses are either long but with a low cleavage cut, covers up but dips in the back or covers up, but I feel myself stuff my twins inside the dress. I absolutely love buttons; unfortunately, buttons sometimes fail at the task of containing curves.  It his dressing modestly gets more difficult eith more curves and honestly can get expensive. Older ladies in the church should really be helping other women in this movement. I've been scoffed at for showing my calves in church, and given looks when  cleavage was unknowingly showing. Instead of giving looks, bring your fellow ladies a new shirt that you think they would love and would look cute. Use positive statements like, "This dress is very flattering on you, but it tends to  [insertt problem here]. " Then include a solution. "Let's go shopping" " I can alter that if you'd like". Many women in the church who are showing are not doing it to show off to the men. Some may not realize it, others  honestly want to change but are struggling, others may be too offended by prior attacks they don't want to be bothered.  The trick is to approach your sisters in love, but do remember that she can choose  whichever path she feels most comfortable with. God works on our  hearts in different ways and timelines.

Finally, ladies, please don't continue to fall victim to these industries! Keeping us feeling inferior, ugly, fat, etc is just a business. You're all beautiful in your own way! Let your health be the measure of physical changes, anything beyond that is just a personal goal. Let the strong women of the Bible and Jesus Himself be a reference for any character changes. God has a plan for each and every one of us. Just follow his example and walk in love and don't worry about what the world has to say, that will drive you crazy and make you bitter. True change in character will result in an outward change. Let's pray each day to let self die so that Christ can live within us. 

Deep seated sin

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. -Ezekial 36:26

I've been finding myself praying for this for a long time now. "Lord, please, give me a new heart." What is my new realization? I've been praying for this in reference to my character. I've wanted the Lord to change my character to be more like Him, but stumbling upon this verse that I never knew existed made me think. What does it mean by "stony heart"? How can my character be stony? The heart symbolizes one's ability and capacity to love and forgive. A stony one is no longer able to do that. I really needed this verse because while I do care deeply about people, I don't have this deep love for them. I can't and honestly, I don't think I know how to anymore. I will confess to a hardened heart. There are people that have been in my life from all aspects that have caused me to give up. I have been depending on God and praying and seeking Him, but it seems as if my efforts have gone so far. The Bible says that if you knock, the door shall be opened; seek and you shall find.
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8 KJV Is that not what I have been doing? Why was nothing happening? Why was nothing getting better? Why is it that I did not even get to feel the same closeness that I had felt before? Not saying that I've been right there with God, but there was a period where I would feel so strongly such a joy and peace that only the Holy Spirit could have provided. I just want that back and more. I just want to crave God the way I did before. Have I not been seeking you God? , have been my recent thoughts.
My heart has been hardened; where was I expecting Christ to come in? So, now, I have a new prayer.

Dear Lord,
Please remove this stony heart. Please give me the strength to forgive those who constantly bring me pain.While I would much rather be out of these situations, if your plan is to use me to glorify you, then please mold me into a tool of your love. I want to do your will. I want to be closer to you, but just as you constantly forgive me, I need to be able to do the same to those who work against me. Take this pain and hardness out of my heart so I can be a true disciple for you. In your most Holy name. Amen.

It's crazy how easy it is to forgive people who have wronged you once or twice is big ways. The ones I am struggling with are the deeper cuts. I don't mean to, but I know I carry these scars deep inside my heart. I honestly don't know how to even reach them on my own.

We all struggle with sins, some of which we don't even notice we have. This is not the time to have sin engrained in our hearts and mind. During this time of spiritual warfare, the enemy can easily use them to manipulate us. We need to be strong soldiers for Christ!! The world is always watching and waiting for Christians to fall to laugh and say our God is not real. If nothing else holds true, He is real. He is alive. He is coming soon.

If you truly want God to work in your lives and reveal to you and help you with these sins, here is my recommended method.
Step one: Pray.
Step two: Ask people that are close to you to pray for you. (It's not necessary that you tell them exactly why. Those who care will pray their heart out without 'needing' to know your details.)
Step three: Wait for God.

Remember,  you have to earnestly want it and mean it. 

"When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" - John 5:6

Doubt

It's crazy how much I doubt myself and doubt God. UGH!!! Must I shout it out to believe it?!?! " I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!" How is it possible to know that and to know that we are vines attached to the God of the universe and to know that if we seek we shall find, yet still, not understand?? I feel like the Lord has been revealing to me that His words are in my mind and not my heart. I spend so much time doubting myself and my abilities, just to find in the end, that my prayer to the Lord was long answered; I just turned my back to the blessing. There's a bible story about this, I just don't remember it. Lord, please plant your words in my heart. Please allow my character to be reflective of yours.