Channelling the Challenge

I've put this task off long enough, and to be honest I haven't got an excuse. Ok so here's the thing, In all my years of living (which is a day short of 21) I haven't been able to finish a read through of the Bible. I've always had an excuse for it. I would read certain passages over and over and just stop, or a book or two and feel accomplished which would result in me not picking it up again for awhile. This past year I haven't read much at all. I've learned a lot from other things and people, but not directly from His word. Like I said, I have not 1 good excuse for not doing it.

God put me to the test and moved me with His Spirit, as He often does. This time I'm taking on the challenge full on. This past month or so I've heard Him say "You are making our relationship difficult, I keep working in your life and helping you out. I know everything about you and your heart. You say you're working for Me and that you love Me but I've written you a letter and you haven't read it yet. Don't you want to know Me better?" It's been rubbing me the wrong way. Tonight I've decided to let it rub me the right way. I had decided a week ago I was going to start a 90 day read through of the Bible on Aug. 1st, which is this Sunday. I'm doing daily readings until then. Tonight I've added fasting. I've never really made it through a full on fast, but this time I will! By the time I finish this post it'll probably be 1am Thurs morning, that leaves 71 hours of fasting time before Sunday. 71 hours of meditation on God. 71 hours of God preparing my heart, soul, spirit, and flesh for what's about to happen.

90 days. I will be blogging everyday to document where God takes me on this journey. Things that I learn, emotions I feel, perspectives I'll take on things, everything will be documented on here all in search for the TRUTH. I'm hoping that this read-through will clear a few things up in my life.

Talking with other people I've gotten the same response: "That's a fast read through, and It'll be hard to get a lot out of it." But really if you think about it, it's not that bad. There are 736 pages average in an NIV Bible, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is in average 784 pages, Eclipse is roughly 692 pages, and I could keep going but I think my point is reached. The most popular book or should is say "books" on the market right now are the Twilight saga, each book is 500 to 800 and some pages. Most teenagers read through and finish the books within a matter of days to weeks. Yet, when it comes to the Bible (which oddly enough is the most published book of all times) it usually takes people years to finish and I just don't know why? I think it's because we know the basic story line and we've become satisfied with the idea that that's enough, that essentially we don't need more. We should know by now that ideas aren't sufficient, but God is! So I'm going to step out of my "convenience zone" and step into the challenge by channeling God's word. By truly living for Him and making my everyday, every thought, my everything about Him, and to do that first I must build my relationship with Him stronger by digging into His word, and His word entirely.

I'd lie to you all if I said that it won't be difficult, but I am ready to do this. I'll be finished with the entire thing on October 29th. It's about 13 or so chapters a day depending on the day. I'm following the schedule on www.youversion.com and you can customize your own or choose the 90 day program.

I urge everyone to try this out for themselves. I cannot create a personal relationship with God for you. So here goes nothing, if you have any questions just hit me up on here or Facebook.

Fruits,

Amber

Do you see the family resemblance?

Gosh... Here we go,

So I (or rather my mind) was on the topic of being made in the image of Christ. What does that even mean? Being made in His image? Well I've come to the conclusion that I'm not the grade A scholar that can answer this question by using philosophical reasoning that causes you more confusion than the question alone caused and then leaves you to feel like you have the correct answer. Nope not me. Instead, my answer to this question is simple. When God looked down at man He simply smiled and called them His own. Think about it.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus and asked Him in John 3 the way to heaven, the response puzzled the grade A scholar. His entire life he believed that doing good works, and studying the scriptures was the price one had to pay to reach heaven's gates. Imagine being a surgeon and right before a surgery you ask the professor who wrote your books in med school what you really need to perform your first surgery. To your surprise he says "Ok, you know how to talk like a surgeon but that book isn't going to save this person's life." Then he hands you a glass of water and an oxygen mask, two basic necessities "This is all you need."

How confused Nicodemus was. He had the med school books, and thought he knew what it took to be a doctor of religion. But something inside him said that that wasn't enough. The answer was simple.

"You must be born again." Jesus told him. Never even hearing of this before I can imagine Nicodemus laughing then trying to joke with Jesus when he replies,

"How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again..."

When God created the world the finishing touch were man and woman. He created them in 'His image'. I believe that that simply means we have features like God. When a couple have a baby, that child grows up to posses similarities of his parents such as physical features, laughs, smiles, personality traits, and emotional characteristics. The same with goes with God and those who call Him Father. Unless you are adopted into his family and are willing to surrender everything you are to Him, you wont be like Him though. It's a scary thought, and it weirds a lot of people out.

Let's be honest though... There are two options when it comes to life. You can grow up in and of the world or in and of God. With everything there are pros and cons.

Growing up in the WORLD:

pros

• You can do whatever you want
• You get to create yourself
• There are no restrictions other than avoiding what kills you
• You're not accountable to anyone but yourself
• It's not possible to hurt someone else, because everyone decides there own emotional response.
• It's easy

cons

• Love is really hard to explain let alone find
• Emotionally you have no connections or ties because emotions are just things made up by the brain to help balance the hormones in your body.
• Hope is just a word people use to describe anticipation or lack thereof
• When you die it's over
• Reasons for living are few and far between other than self. In the end, your alone anyways might as well party up like it.

Growing up in GOD

pros

• Love not only has a definition it has many definitions. One of which is an emotional response triggered by a feeling that causes you to realize what it is. (most people call it a conscious)
• You're never alone. There's always someone there guiding you to safety giving you hope.
• There's a reason to live, and after that even more reasons
• You have a connection that draws you closer to people.
• Your earthly life is not the end its just the first step into becoming more beautiful

cons

• Living with God is a choice that some people don't make, therefor not everyone will be in heaven
• You can't just be a good person, it's not enough
• Responsibility takes effect

Now that we have the pros and cons really take a look at them. What most people who don't believe in God would do is say that the world sounds so much better. Why? Because it doesn't involve work. You're not responsible for anything... who you become, what you do, how much your life is worth. Nothing. There's no point to life in the end so you might as well do what other people do to enjoy it. But what if the cons listed under 'Growing up in God' weren't really cons? Would it change your mind?

The first bullet point under that section states that not everyone will make that choice and that not everyone goes to heaven. This seems like a negative thing because we all know someone we never want to say goodbye to. When the end of the world comes and the gates to heaven close, no one is going to be taking attendance to see who didn't make it, because, that's not the point. The point of heaven/God's will all along was for His creation to know and live in love. Not only that, but He didn't want robots walking around because they were programed to love Him. He wanted genuine love. He knew it would require a sacrifice. People think it's selfish that some would go to Hell to prove that the others that got into heaven knew what was right. But that's not looking at it the right way. One of the most quoted scripture verses is John 3:16 and I went through verse 18.

^16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

(The Message)

So that ANYONE could have a whole and lasting life. It's doesn't say just some. It's a choice though that everyone individually is given. The price is just accepting that what's been done is true. Once you believe in God's example of unselfish love through Christ, that's it, and everything you've ever done wrong is forgiven. You learn to reach out to ANYONE so that they might live in that same freedom. The freedom from hopelessness, not knowing what love is, and all of the cons that 'Growing up in the WORLD' binds you to.

The second con says that doing good works isn't enough. I kind of already covered this. You have to accept that what you're doing is for the right reasons before its actually doing something good. When you believe in God doing good things becomes easier. You have a reason to and the urge is stronger than ever. Why? Because the world bind to self-righteous living no longer has a hold on you.

The last con covers and says a lot in itself. Responsibility takes effect. When you believe in God and everything about Him you realize you're accountable to Him. Everything your conscience pushes you to do and not do keeps you in check. There's a reason to live and with that reason comes the responsibility of fulfilling your destiny as a person/human being here on earth. You see worth in your life and it's suddenly more worth than you could ever imagine. You desire that everyone you know finds that same worth and value you've found. The definition of that worth is the knowledge that the one who designed you and created you desired that you know love. That desire lead Him to send His son, which was God in man's flesh, a form of God that man could touch and feel, proof of His existence to earth where it was mocked and abused. Instead of calling His son back to heaven He asked Him to stay knowing He'd be murdered. His reasoning behind this transaction? So that man would see perfection paying the price for neglect. Sin is ultimately neglecting the fact that God's love is real. It's better than self.

Cons are all taken care of. There are no more excuses. Being born again simply means wanting to be made in His image. His image is that of sacrifice. Sacrifice brings about the meaning of love. Love is God. Being born again is knowing Love. When your first born it's hard, you start out taking little steps, walking in faith as you do when you're a child. You trust your Father to take care of you and help you grow to be the best you can be. Does the world offer any of that?

If you don't sacrifice the self that you've become through the world, you won't have any of the characteristics of your Father, and that means you weren't born again. If that's the case, God wont know you or be able to call you his own. Other believers should be able to see the family resemblance and if you're walking in the light that God has provided you'll see it too. If you don't see anything... you still have a choice to make.

Desperate

Oh, how many times I've heard the word "Desperate" and cringed. Most of the time it's used to describe a situation where girl meets boy, boy doesn't know girl exists, girl meets another boy, another boy doesn't care... and the story goes on and on. Ok so what does it mean to be really desperate? I could give you a ton of different scenarios and stories where someone say's they were desperate... but in the end you would feel sorry for someone, or think they were lame, and that would be missing the point.

When I looked up desperate in Miriam Webster's Dictionary I found this:

1 a : having lost hope b : giving no ground for hope
2 a : moved by despair b : involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration
3 : suffering extreme need or anxiety money>
4 : involving extreme danger or possible disaster
5 : of extreme intensity

It's not any different than I expected... In fact I think almost everyone thinks of all that. The thing we don't think about is the fact that without faith in God we are always going to be desperate. That longing feel for something else, something more, something. What if we replaced that longing with God? Would the feeling go away or would it just become greater?

There are so many people who claim to be "Christians" or "saved". They live their lives going to church on Sundays, saying their prayers, and owning their Bibles. Even a pagan goes to church, says prayers, and even owns a Bible. The difference is that a true saved person is desperate to fall more and more into love with the one who saved them.

I loved these little guys in Toy Story! In the second one Mr. & Mrs. Potato save them and their response is "You have saved our lives! We are eternally Grateful!" Why is it that we are saved from despair and yet our response is "Ok God so what is the bare minimum?" Instead shouldn't we be desperate to know our Savior more, and fall in love with him as much as we possibly can?

The next question I have is this: Do we even realize what we've been saved from? Most people just think that when you're saved its a matter just not going to hell (which is part of it). Heaven's terrific and all, but I don't want to go there just for the housing arrangements, I want to go there to be with the one who invited me in. I want him to know how grateful I am for Him saving me. From what you might ask? From loneliness, hopelessness, being incapable to feel and know what real love is, and yes from eternal damnation from everything that is good and perfect... God.

Now is the time to wake up, and become desperate to know God, nothing in our lives should trump that. Sadly instead, we replace the new life that God gives us with the one we already had and then try to make it work. That way we don't have to do anything to extreme and we blend in with the rest of the world.

Ok so back to Miriam. Her definition was right on, but lets see how it really ties into all of this.

Definition #1

a) having lost hope

Most people hope in the wrong things. They put faith and hope in their finances, or worse, just

self. That type of hope is lost immediately when we realize what true hope is made of.

b) giving no ground for hope

How much ground do you think there is in hell for hope? I think Hell's kinda like the mafia, once you're in you're in.

Definition #2

a) moved by despair

God can use despair to move us toward's Him through real hope.

b) involving or employing extreme measures in attempt to escape defeat or frustration

I love how it say's extreme measures because when you are desperate for something

you do anything to get it. Shouldn't it be that way with knowing God?

Definition #3

a) suffering extreme need or anxiety

There it is again people extreme, If you're really saved you realize how much you need God, and you become anxious to know everything about Him.

Definition #4

a) involving extreme danger or possible disaster

And again extreme. You don't need a Savior if there is nothing you need saved from, but we know that there is extreme danger and disaster.

Definition #5

a) of extreme intensity

You go to the extreme, pushing all the limits, holding nothing back, giving all you've got to thank Him for all He's done, and get to know Him more.

It seems to me like being saved should throw us into this new mindset where nothing else matter's except Christ. Insert 2 Corinthians 5:17. When you've been saved from extreme danger, you tell everyone you know about it!

We live in such an extreme world where everything is acceptable. Since everything is acceptable people don't know right from wrong. The only thing that's wrong is hurting someone else, and most of the time that's only wrong when it's done physically. Since the only thing that's accepted as wrong is hurting, people despise Christians because they speak against other things. They "hurt" people with their words, and because of what they say it causes people to commit suicide. They are horrible people. Christians have this horrible reputation they cant avoid because they have a different definition of wrong.

Accepting things doesn't make them right. A true Christian should know that. Instead accepting triggers a change in people's lives. How do we insure that is a good change? By living out what we believe. Staying strong in our faith. Consistently growing and pursing God in desperation to know Him. That's what will catch on. Strong faith is contagious and has no cure... pass it on!

The People Default

Well, there has been a lot on my mind lately. A lot has happened since I last got on here, sat down, and actually typed an entire sum of thoughts out. I don't want to bore you all with things that don't really matter instead, I would like to know that after reading this, somebody stays in pensive thought.

I changed the name of the blog to "The Transparency of Truth". I did this because I felt that it really explains where I am in life right now. My goal in life is to reach people. How do I do that though? It's not like that's a new goal for me. Remember the McDonald's playgrounds? There was so much fun in them! Some kids would run up to the top of the slide and just sit there. Others would run around and just go wild, and some would sit with there parents and just watch. Not me! I was the first to pull of my shoes, run to the first kid nearby, and strike up a whole long conversation! And believe me, I got to know the works! I also told whoever it was my entire life story (because I'd lived so long!). By the time I was done, they knew everything about me and we were best friends until one of our parents yelled "Come down the slide and get your shoes on! It's time go home, I mean it!". It was heart wrenching saying goodbyes. Lots of times there were tears, it was if the whole world were coming to an end.

I still live like that. The whole world is a McDonald's Play Place, and the first person I see I want to talk to. I want to know them, who they are inside and out, and I want them to know me. Relationships are crucial in my life without them I feel so lost! God has been teaching me lately why they are so important. Continually pressing me forward and encouraging me to create new ones. Lately, I've had question after question rise up about the topic of relationships. The one that keeps rolling around in my mind is "Why would anyone want to build a relationship with anyone else?"

Now before you all start to think this is going to be a, for lack of better words, "emo" blog, really think about it. Loneliness is one thing that everyone is afraid to get on or out of. Its the thing that drives us into or out of relationships. How many people do you know are in a relationship because they want to be lonely? Inevitably, people are lonely in relationships, but thats not what drives people together. What does it even mean to be lonely? How do you become lonely? Grasping the fact that there are millions upon billions of people in the world we live in and people are still claiming to be lonely. Now, it's taken a lot of thought on my part and a lot of conversing with The Big Guy, and I know for a fact that we are not created to be lonely. No instead, we as humans have created loneliness through various ways. The biggest one I've noticed is that people LOVE to put themselves first, think that they know best. Do you know what the worst part about it is? Most often than not people don't even know they are doing it. Society, being the people around you in every day life, has come up with a definition of self and self worth. That definition has caused people to think that they have the right to 'control' how much they are worth, and who they share that worth with.

I've heard the statement "You can't fully help other's until you help yourself" a lot lately. To say that it rubs me the wrong way would be an understatement. One thing that I've learned to do is to question things, and the question that arises here is: What about the golden rule? Treat other's as you would treat yourself. in other words: Other's first. If you allow yourself to think that you 'control' how much you are worth, then it takes this statement to a whole different level. I mean honestly which sounds better?: I am worthless, nothing, and imperfect or I am powerful, everything, perfect... If you heard someone say either of these which one would you feel sorry for? To be honest, I would cry if I heard someone say the later without following it up with "In Christ!" In reality, most people won't even think of that though. Instead, it's easier and makes them feel better to think that by themselves they are powerful, everything, and perfect.

The world is constantly giving us ways to 'control' how much we are worth. There are things you can buy, things can people say, and experiences you can live that somehow define our worth. As a believer I know that no one on earth can define me. No one needs to. To them my name is and should be simply Amber. My life is a different story. It needs no definition other than 'Christ-like'. Me striving to build new relationships and strong relationships with others is a chance for God to use me and mold me into who I am meant to be. I have nothing to do with who I am and that's the way it should be; however, neither do people. This is where you may have to pay close attention. I have nothing to do with who I am and neither do You and/or Others but through You and/or Others God has everything to do with Me. This is why it is important why you know who you are hanging around with.

The easiest and thing most people default to when picking out friends is to take anyone who can stand who you are. Sure, sometimes there may be drama, and sometimes you might not even really like them, but they're accepting and that's all that matters. Right? What if the people you hung around were on the same page as you were, and instead of just getting together to tell the lasted drama, you were getting together to live an extravagant life knowing that it's only going to get better? Oh but that's just a gimmick! No way is that ever going to be reality! Well if that can't be reality then somebody better redefine reality quick, because it can happen. I didn't say that bad things wouldn't happen to you while you were here living life on this planet called earth. Duh, that would have been stupid. I just said it would be extravagant! Bad things happen because this isn't heaven. There is so much to learn here on earth and that's why were here. It's not a place where our souls were formed then just told to live by pushing our bodies to the limit of them getting old and deceasing. Let me tell you something! This earth is not my souls grave! Instead my soul finds rest in one place only, and that is in Christ.

Ok now it's time to sum all of this up! Are you ready folks? Cause here we go:

a) From a young age we realize we are supposed to reach out to people. This later translates into forming relationships.

b) Without relationships people are lonely.

c) Loneliness is life without God present.

d) God uses relationships to reach us, because people are something we can see, and for some reason we as humans need proof.

e) I have nothing to do with who I am and neither do You and/or Others but through You and/or Others God has everything to do with Me

f) People aren't important really, but with God they are. God created man with the intent of creating relationships. He created us to create love which is the key to any relationship.

g) Love can't exist with just one person which brings us back to why people are lonely. Because we think that people by themselves will make us complete.

h) People try to take short cuts and tricks to living and that complicates things. This isn't Rachel Ray's 30 min Meals... This is real life!!!

i) God's not really that complicated, people are.

With all that being said I conclude with this passage of Scripture:

Psalm 40

A David Psalm

^1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.

^4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
ignore what the world worships;
The world's a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.

⁶ Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that's not what you're after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that's not what you're asking for.
You've opened my ears
so I can listen.

^7-8 So I answered, "I'm coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I'm coming to the party
you're throwing for me."
That's when God's Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.

^9-10 I've preached you to the whole congregation,
I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn't keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn't keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.

^11-12 Now God, don't hold out on me,
don't hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn't see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

^13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.

^16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you're all about
tell the world you're great and not quitting.
And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you've got what it takes—
but God, don't put it off.

I'm ready

Ok, new post! Lol I'm doing good for 2 in a row.

So I was thinking more on the Spiritual side today. Not that I don't think about my faith in God everyday, but I feel like I was just dwelling more on Spiritual battle topics today. I think so many people feel like its a boring topic. Ya know? It's one of those things were you've either heard about the little devil and angel on the shoulder or you've heard the the devil made me do it. But in either case you are the understood person with a battle raging around every thought, every word spoken, and every action.

So what brought this topic to my mind?

Well, today we were talking about harmony in theory class today for hair. Now the word Harmony, seems to always cause people to think of balance. But, that's not the correct definition. It's not merely ignoring the fact that somethings wrong, or that you just need to deal with things alone, or even that you need to live with those things. No all of that is balancing or allowing all of that to be in your life. No harmony is really unity. A peace. I'll explain it this way, if you listen to two people sing a line from a song, but one of them is singing it really wrong, then that would be disgusting; however, if you hear two people sing a line from a song and they are singing the same tune or tunes that fit together, then that is harmony.

It's a beautiful thing that our world lacks. HARMONY.

If you life lacks harmony with God, then people will notice. To them it will be like two wrong notes playing over and over again.

As a musician I have learned how to sing and work with harmonies musically. I love to find them in songs and sing along because, it allows for everyone to have a part in the song. It gives everyone their 'own song' in a way. We all have our own song to live. Whether or not you are a beautiful song is up to you.

In Moderation

Ok so it's that time. Time to write an amazing blog.

So lately I've been planning my upcoming wedding. Luke and I are so excited, but with all of the cake planning, music picking, invitation sending and my all-time-favorite well, so far I don't have a favorite. To be honest, I love all of the excitement but it is wearing me down and I find myself exhausted at the end of each day. We're trying to save money with this wedding, but it's so darn expensive. And doing that is exremely bothersome to do. I'm ready for this to come and go.

With the exhaustion and mentality of moderation my body has physically gone into lazy mode. It's not good. I always end up not doing one thing. You know that feeling? The "I'll wait until last for this one." and "Well that isn't as important as this." I always think like that now.

I'm LAZY! I'm wondering if after all of this bride stuff wears off, the tired feeling will too.

What Do We Know?

It's been a while, and I'm feeling the desperation to let my thoughts fall from my head to the place where I see them on the screen. You know... the urge to break from the chaos of everyday life and just enjoy typing to you the blogging world.

Right now I am excited because my wedding is now only 7 months away. Today I'm going dress shopping!!! Yay!!! I cant wait to see all of the beautiful dresses! I am taking one of my best friends with me who's one of my brides maids.

I can't wait to be a married woman. Crazy I know. Some people dread the day that they would get "tied down", but that's a stupid phrase anyways! I want to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams. A guy that knows me sometimes better than I know myself, continues to help me grow in my spiritual journey, and his ambitions are the same as my own. We'll become one family and push on in life together.

Some people (aka many people) have said that this is a huge undertaking in life and that We are extremely young. But you see, if I didn't take this step of marriage and went on living my life without this man, I would be living half heartily. I know that God has us together for a reason and I love him! And I love God and trust Him as much as I possibly can!

There are days when Luke and I are excited to death, and other days where there are challenges, and we are continuing to pursue this relationship. And what do we know? We know that love has been perverted by the world, and that God has been constantly trying to show the world what true love is. We know that we can't portray the perfect love that God has the best, but we'll try our best to show it. We want to have a relationship that other people will know is real. And that's all we know.

Well I'm gonna mingle with the family.

Peace!

Amber