Tara's Thoughts...

love God. love people.

  • 31st October
    2011
  • 31
I found this photo while perusing the NYTimes Lens blog. It’s such a thought-provoking image and made me think of the people who think they aren’t good enough to enter the Kingdom of God. It’s our faith combined with God’s grace that saves us. Faith without works is dead, but “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, NIV)”. Perhaps it’s faith that creates the desire to produce good work: “14-17Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (James 2:14-17, Message)”

I found this photo while perusing the NYTimes Lens blog. It’s such a thought-provoking image and made me think of the people who think they aren’t good enough to enter the Kingdom of God. It’s our faith combined with God’s grace that saves us. Faith without works is dead, but “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, NIV)”. Perhaps it’s faith that creates the desire to produce good work: “14-17Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (James 2:14-17, Message)”

  • 4th October
    2011
  • 04
  • 30th September
    2011
  • 30
  • 26th September
    2011
  • 26

HE is faithful

After writing in my journal this evening, I decided to open a few of my old journals and read what I had written around this time in the past. I almost didn’t open up my childhood journal, but as I was about to close my drawer, something made me grab it.

I opened to September 26, 1997.

At 12 years old I wrote an entry about my friend Ricky’s wake that I had attended earlier that evening. Ricky was my middle school classmate that had committed suicide a week earlier.

He was the same age as me.  

His funeral was the first that I had attended, and to this day I can remember the sadness that loomed over the church during his homegoing celebration. In fact, it was no celebration. A 12-year-old child had just taken his own life, what could we celebrate?

In a split-second, the enemy stole his potential.

No one knows why Ricky took his life. There were rumors going around, but none will change the fact that he’s no longer here. 

We can’t imagine a 12-year-old facing issues that would push him to suicide, yet today this is still happening. This reminds me that we must pour into the youth and remind them that God loves them and has a plan for their life!

In another entry from September 21, 2009, I praised God for giving me a relevant word during my bible study that evening: Isaiah 43 & 44:1-5. 

The key verses that stood out to me  as I reread the above scriptures were Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV): 

 1 But now, this is what the LORD says— 
   he who created you, Jacob, 
   he who formed you, Israel: 
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 
2 When you pass through the waters, 
   I will be with you; 
and when you pass through the rivers, 
   they will not sweep over you. 
When you walk through the fire, 
   you will not be burned; 
   the flames will not set you ablaze.

God has redeemed us and called us by name! If only Ricky had known this when he sat alone in his room contemplating suicide. If only he had known that whatever fires were burning around him would not have set him ablaze!

Today, God has confirmed my decision to work with the two youth ministries at my church. He has shown me that I must serve him in a new way and remind these children that God who has formed them in their mother’s womb will help them in times of trouble (Isaiah 44:2). I pray I never have to sit through the funeral of another child lost to the world. I pray God does a new thing and gives me courage and boldness to serve him by sharing his truth with today’s youth. I pray others join me in this effort and look beyond their own problems and see that there is work to be done. I thank God for this appointment and praise him for his faithfulness. 

May Ricky rest in peace. 

  • 6th September
    2011
  • 06

a new heart

It’s amazing how being honest with God changes everything. A while ago while praying, I asked God to change me. I asked him to make me the person he wants me to be and to take away anything that hinders me from that goal.

And he did.

He’s put me in a place where I have no choice but to depend on him, and there’s no place that I’d rather be. His grace is enough, and I rest in his perfect peace. 

I know there will be struggles ahead, but I’m completely confident that he’s guiding my each and every step. He’s making me more like him and giving me a heart of service. So rather than worry about tomorrow, I choose to live for him today and let tomorrow worry about itself!

Scriptures that helped me get to this place: 

  • Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT - 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV - 9 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.
  • Isaiah 30:18 ESV -  18Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
    For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
  • Luke 10:19 NIV - 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
  • Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV -  7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
  • Matthew 6:34 NIV - 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.