Gospel of John, Part 4

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Should the resurrection of Jesus be considered one of the "signs" of the Gospel? Why or why not? (This is not asking you if the resurrection is important to Christianity.)

John’s Gospel records seven of Jesus signs before His resurrection and one sign after His resurrection. These signs were displayed by Christ to manifest His glory, turn unbelief to belief,[1]  test faith,[2] and proclaim His deity.[3] John’s eight signs, however, were not the only ones Jesus performed. Surpassing even these miraculous signs was Christ’s resurrection: a miracle demonstrating His power over His own physical body and over the sting of death.[4] The resurrection should be considered one of the signs of the Gospels because it also accomplished the same results as the other signs.

In the resurrection, Christ manifested His glory by demonstrating that He had power over death.[5] Satan thought He had conquered Christ by slaying His human body, but just as God had promised hundreds of years before, Christ would crush the Serpent’s head by His resurrection.[6] After His resurrection, Christ’s glory was displayed even more fully in His ascension to the right hand of the Father.[7]

The resurrection was one of Christ’s signs to turn unbelief to belief. Though Jesus had often spoken of His death and resurrection to His disciples, they didn’t not understand it nor grasp the full meaning until His ascension. The resurrection was meant to bring about ultimate saving faith in those who would believe.[8] The disciples did eventually believe. The women who followed Jesus believed. The centurion at the cross believed. The thief crucified with Christ believed. Countless others also followed the Savior and many gave their lives because of this one sign. The other eight signs recorded by John were meant to bring about faith in a Person. The resurrection was a sign of that Person meant to confirm faith.

The resurrection tested the faith of Christ’s followers. Mary, blinded by her emotions, had her faith tested when the “gardener” spoke to her. Peter’s faith was tested through his denial. The disciples were tested in the Garden of Gethsemane and during the three days and nights after the crucifixion. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were tested by Jesus Himself when He scolded them for not remembering the words of the Old Testament Prophets. Thomas faith was tested when he saw the Lord’s pierced hands and side. The resurrection was the one great sign that tested faith to the utmost, determining whether a person’s faith would stand or fall. Many had believed in Jesus previous signs and wonders, but the sign of the resurrection laid the foundation for saving faith. Without saving faith, there is no salvation, forgiveness from sins, or eternity with Christ.[9]

The resurrection, like Jesus previous signs, also proclaimed Jesus’ deity. Only the Giver of Life could break the chains of death and work a physical and spiritual miracle in raising Himself from the grave. No other had done this, and no others would. In raising Himself from the dead, Christ demonstrated His equality with the Father, for God is the Author of Life.[10]

The resurrection was Christ’s greatest sign to believers and unbelievers alike, that Jesus is the Christ.[11] Those who believe today don’t have the blessing of seeing Christ’s physical miracles. Though John and the other Gospel authors recorded the miracles of Christ, our faith today rests completely on what Christ has already done and in our faith in the miracles that others witnessed. Thomas had the advantage of seeing in order that he might believe, but we are blessed because we haven’t seen, yet we believe.[12] The resurrection was also written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing we might have life through His name.[13] The resurrection stands in the past, present, and future as the greatest sign of the Bible.[14]

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[1] Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 208.

[2] Merill Chapin Tenney, Topics from the Gospel of John, 157.

[3] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, John 1-11, 83.

[4] 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.

[5] 1 Corinthians 15:26-27.

[6] Genesis 3:15.

[7] Philippians 2:9-11.

[8] Merill Chapin Tenney, Topics from the Gospel of John, 158.

[9] Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, 186.

[10] John 2:18-22.

[11] John MacArthur,  The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, John 12-21, 386

[12] John 20:24-29.

[13] John 20:31.

[14] 1 Corinthians 15:1-20.

Gospel of John, Part 2

Last month I posted my first assignment from the course I'm taking on the Gospel of John. Here is my second writing assignment.

Writing Prompt:
In what ways does Jesus fulfill the symbolism underlying the Feast of Tabernacles?

~~~

First recorded in Exodus 23:16 as the Feast of Ingathering, The Feast of Booths—or Feast of Tabernacles as it’s called in John’s Gospel—was perhaps the greatest feast for the Israelites as a nation.[1] The first seven days of this feast included booths or “tabernacles” made from trees and branches from the surrounding area. They would also offer specific sacrifices for each day.[2] The eighth feast day was to be a day of rest in which the people also presented offerings to the Lord[3] and prayed for rain.[4] All Jewish men were required to attend the annual Feast of Booths[5] which started during the month of Tishri (September/October) during harvest season.[6] This feast time and festival served as thanksgiving to God for current firstfruits of the harvest, as well a time of remembrance for the forty years in which God cared for them in the wilderness.[7] Jesus would have been well aware of the customs and culture of His day regarding this feast, and in many ways, Christ fulfills the symbolism of the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles).

The temporary “tabernacles” made out of branches and trees[8] were used during the seven feast days as dwelling places for a reminder of God’s provision in spite of their sin.[9] In Jesus, God provided protection and eternal life when “the Word became flesh and ‘tabernacled’ among us”. [10] Christ didn’t leave them with the image of a temporary shelter for a feast day, but instead lived in human form and provided rescue from sin and an eternal home with God. [11]

In John 6, Jesus describes Himself as the Bread of Life. Perhaps the Jews would have remembered the bread that came from heaven while their ancestors wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Now standing before their very eyes was the One who was the sustaining and satisfying eternal Bread of Life.[12] The crowd demonstrated previously that they remembered the manna in the wilderness,[13] but yet the hearts of the religious leaders grumbled and disputed against Christ because of the emptiness of their outward religion.[14]

One of the specific ceremonies during the Feast of Booths was a water ritual. This was not a commandment given by God, but rather an important tradition of the religious leaders, and again it was a reminder to the Jews of God’s provision of water during the wilderness wanderings of their ancestors.[15] The priest drew water out of the pool of Siloam for each day of the feast, and then, along with a procession of others, the sounds of the trumpet, and the Hallel chorus, the high priest poured out the water as an offering to the Lord.[16] With this in mind and likely in the minds of the Jews, Jesus spoke these words: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”[17] Jesus was not merely a temporary quench of thirst to parched throats, as the waters in the wilderness were; rather, He was the eternal water from which no one would ever thirst again, if they would only come to Him and drink.

Jesus second “I AM” statement occurs in John 8, and it also held much rich symbolism for the Jewish[18] Perhaps as high as 75 feet high, these lamps were a visible reminder of the fire that led the Israelites by night through the wilderness and also of Yahweh’s promise to send the Messiah and redeem Israel’s glory among the nations.[19] It was likely that after this ceremony, in the physical darkness of Jerusalem, Jesus spoke these words to the people:[20] “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”[21] Once again, using the symbolism and ceremonies of the Feast of Booths, Jesus points out the spiritual darkness of the Jews and calls them to repent and “walk in the light, as he is in the light.”[22]

culture. Another ceremony practiced during the Feast of Booths was the Illumination of the Temple. Four huge golden candelabras or oil-filled lamps were lit in the Court of the Women.

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[1] Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 69

[2] Numbers 29

[3] Leviticus 23:33-43

[4] Joel Wilbush, Three midwinter celebrations: an exploration, 235-6

[5] Deuteronomy 16:16

[6] Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 69

[7]  Ibid.

[8] Nehemiah 8:15-16

[9] Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 76

[10] John 1:14

[11] http://www.jewishroots.net/holidays/feast-of-tabernacles/feast-of-tabernacles-holiday-page.html#Messiah (accessed February 4, 2016).

[12] Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 64

[13] John 6:31

[14] John 6:4152

[15] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: John 1-11, 312

[16] Ibid.

[17] John 7:37-38, ESV

[18] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: John 1-11, 334

[19] http://www.jewishroots.net/holidays/feast-of-tabernacles/feast-of-tabernacles-holiday-page.html#Messiah (accessed February 4, 2016).

[20] Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, 112

[21] John 8:12, ESV

[22] 1 John 1:7, ESV

Coaching Goals and Obstacles

The single best way to develop leaders 

is to take people out of their safe environments 

and away from the people they know, 

and throw them into a new arena they know little about. 

Way over their head, preferably.

In fact, the more demanding their challenges,

the more pressure and risk they face,

the more likely a dynamic leader will emerge.

-Bruce Wilkinson

My Introduction to Life Coaching course finishes tomorrow. It was a good course, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am taking a break from regular studying now until I prepare for and take my grade nine harp exam in January, but I will post my other two assignments here in the future. I think my biggest takeaway was the lecture and readings I did about trust. Establishing trust in a coach-client relationship is absolutely vital, but so is it also in the rest of life's relationships. Trust affects every area of life. It takes a long time to build, but a short time to lose. Trust must be at a higher level than the relationship itself: that's when the relationship will grow. If the relationship is above the level of trust, then there will be serious consequences; either it will not grow or one person will let the other down and disappointment and mistrust will set in. Trust is the oxygen of relationships. It has no cost (except for living a disciplined lifestyle), but if you don't have it, it will cost you everything. Trust begins with you, and it never ends. Either it grows or it does not. Trust is so valuable that you must guard it with your life. It's the most valuable thing you'll have (in terms of character qualities): A good name is to be desired more than great riches. 

But this particular writing assignment wasn't about trust. :) It was about obstacles--something that we all face, and something that is sure to occur in a coaching setting. And it was about goals--guidelines that must be in place if we're to overcome the obstacles. 

The writing prompt given me was this: Explain the importance of goal setting in Life Coaching. Describe how a life coach works with a person to implementing a plan to achieve goals. What are some obstacles that the life coach and the client could run in to, and what are some ways to overcome these obstacles? 

*****

Goals are vital in taking a client from where he is to where he wants to be. Sometimes people need accountability and guidance from another person in order for the change to last (Collins, 2009). A Christian coach will be able to provide godly advice and direction, so that a person can set long-term and short-term goals that enable a person to glorify God in his life choices (Collins, 2009).

A coach will help his client implement goals by asking questions that define the client’s passion, vision, and mission, helping the client clarify the end results and create a plan for moving forward (Collins, 2009). Together the coach and client will brainstorm ideas and ensure the goals are SMART goals: specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and within a certain time frame (Collins, 2009). SMART goals create motivation and action toward the client’s desired end by providing either short-term or long-term goals. Short-term goals are goals that are to be met within a few months’ or weeks’ time. Numerous short-term goals could be created in order to reach the ultimate goal. Long-term goals usually span a year or several years, are much more detailed, and take longer to achieve.

By asking questions and providing food for thought, the coach directs the client to define where he is right now, where he wants to go, and how he needs to get there (Collins, 2009). Goals provide motivation and action, and SMART goals provide specific direction and inner peace with a step-by-step plan (Collins, 2009).

A coach and his client will most certainly face obstacles; therefore, it is important for the client to have the accountability of and trust in a coach who will walk alongside him and direct him through the obstacles. (Collins, 2009) Accountability comes through writing out SMART goals and discussing how the coach will hold the client responsible for his actions—whether it’s by the coach emailing a reminder or waiting for a follow up phone call from the client. A client who knows that a coach is holding him accountable will be much more likely to work toward his own goals since they have previously discussed how to face obstacles. Obstacles can be external or internal. 

External barriers could include distracting life events, criticism from others, or energy drainers, whereas internal obstacles include fears, insecurity, negative mind-sets, impatience, and resistance to change. A coach should direct his client to use these barriers to motivate him closer toward the end goal, by showing him how to face his fears or remove distracting events from his daily schedule. 

Goals are vital to establish a path and routine, but they should also be flexible, in order to allow time to work through obstacles (Collins, 2009). In addition, careful thought and prayer should be given to the way God is leading the client. Sometimes the Lord’s will is not the way a coach and client may have planned their goals. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, KJV).

Collins, G.R. (2009) Christian coaching: Helping others turn potential into reality. (2nd ed.). Colorado Springs, CO: NAV Press. 

*****

Coaches quickly discover that their efforts will not succeed until self-sabotaging mind-sets are recognized, challenged repeatedly, and replaced with healthier perspectives.

~Gary Collins

Coaching Defined

Christian coaching is the art and practice 

of enabling individuals and groups to 

move from where they are 

to where God wants them to be.

~Gary R. Collins

August 18th marked the beginning of my first online college course through Liberty University. As my passion for coaching, counseling, mentoring, and discipling other believers increased during the past three years, I traded out a few of my free elective credit tests for coaching and counseling courses. This course is entitled "Introduction to Life Coaching". It is eight weeks long, and during the course, I will be sharing four of my assignments here, Lord willing. These assignments (500 words maximum) are based on the textbook and lectures that I listen to, as well as answering the given questions for the assignment. 

The conversations that have resulted with friends or with my CP coach have been wonderful. This is a topic that daily catches my interest (whether or not I'm studying it), and I believe it's a ministry that the Lord has called me to in the near future. What that will look like, I'm not sure, yet, but gaining this knowledge and wisdom from my studies and others around me will be invaluable for whatever He has in store later. 

I'd love to hear thoughts or comments about the assignments I share here. I'm always seeking to learn a bit more. ;) Because of the specific word count, I'm not able to detail many terms in each assignment, as it is assumed the student is pulling from the text and lectures. Feel free to ask questions, as I would be happy to clarify, if needed. :) 

Week One's assignment prompt was this: Describe the difference between coaching and counseling, mentoring, and discipleship? What makes Christian Life Coaching distinctive from secular life coaching? 

*****                         

Coaching is a fairly new term used to describe a method of ministering to people. It differs from counseling in that it is proactive--looking ahead to the future, setting goals, determining outcomes, and walking a person through the needed steps to fulfill specific goals. It is referred to as positive psychology because it focuses on the present and future, in order to turn ideals into tangible outcomes. (Collins, 2009)

Counseling typically refers to helping a person heal and move on from difficult life situations that have affected their everyday living. Counseling deals with emotional trauma, addictions, or mental instability. It’s known as negative psychology because it focuses on the past, and works through it, in order to bring healing to the present and future. (Collins, 2009)

Mentoring is defined as dealing “mostly with succession training and seeks to help someone do what the mentor does”. (Collins, 2009, p. 20) Mentoring is focused on supervising a person, in order to each him something the mentor already knows. Often the older will teach the younger. Titus 2 mentions the older women teaching the younger women how to care for a home and love her husband and children. Mentoring doesn’t work on healing past experiences like counseling, nor does it focus on having a person “draw from his or her own resources and experiences” (Collins, 2009) like coaching does. Mentoring is teaching people to learn.

Discipleship is a spiritual endeavor; one that Jesus specifically demonstrated and used on His own disciples. Making disciples was also one of the commands He left to His followers in the Great Commission. (Collins, 2009, p. 25) It differs from coaching, in that it is spiritual by Divine design, but coaching can definitely demonstrate discipleship aspects, such as giving “instruction and guidance that will enable individuals to grow in Christlikeness and in the knowledge and favor of Jesus Christ”. (Collins, 2009, p. 21)

Secular coaching often directs its mission toward helping people achieve their own personal goals and get from where they are now to where they want to be in the future. (Collins, 2009) Christian coaching takes this basis and raises the standard even higher. Christian coaching is distinctive from secular coaching, in that its focus is directed toward Christ. Secular coaching may include spirituality such as New Age or Eastern spiritual themes, but Christian coaching has an eternal purpose, vision, mission, and reward. (Collins, 2009) A Christian coach will direct others to pursue God’s vision and fulfill His unique calling for their lives. A Christian coach will create an awareness of God’s work in a person’s life, and strive to help him set goals and accomplish missions that will further that person’s spiritual growth and lead to the advancement of God’s kingdom. (Collins, 2009)

References:

Collins, G. R. (2009). Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

*****

You don't need lots of techniques or years of experience to be an effective life coach. What contriubtes to people most is your level of commitment to them. That commitment doesn't come from technique or experience. It comes from the depths of your being.

~Dave Ellis

Devotional

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, even if I haven't posted anything for over a month now. But I'm now a college sophomore (as of March 7th), so that may tell you something about where I've been.

A "regular" post will be coming eventually, but I will share with you a devotional from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, for now. I have been reading through this book semi-regularly over the past several months, and it has been incredible how applicable these readings have been. I pray this one will encourage you as well.

Have You Felt the Hurt of the Lord? (March 2nd)

"Jesus said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me?" John 21:17

     Have you felt the hurt of the Lord to the uncovered quick, the place where the real sensitiveness of your life is lodged? The devil never hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there, nothing goes through to that place but the word of God. "Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time...." He was awakening to the fact that in the real true centre of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus, and he began to see what the patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest strand of delusion left in Peter's mind, he never could be deluded again. There was no room for passionate utterance, no room for exhilaration or sentiment. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he said--"Lord, Thou knowest all things." Peter began to see how much he did love Jesus; but he did not say--"Look at this or that to confirm it." Peter was beginning to discover to himself how much he did love the Lord, that there was no one in heaven above or upon earth beneath beside Jesus Christ; but he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord came. The Lord's questions always reveal me to myself. 
     The patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the right time. Rarely, but probably once, He will get us into a corner where He will hurt us with His undeviating questions, and we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than any profession can ever show. 



God bless you all!

In Christ,
Kaleigh

Be Ready

Well, I’m sure everyone’s wondering where the next blog post is; so I thought I’d better get going on it tonight. Instead of the regular blog post that I tend to write, I thought that I might take this time to let you all know what I’ve been up to lately and what God’s been doing in my life. Well, here it goes.

First of all, I have news that is even shocking myself at the moment.  I am selling my truck.  Why is that?  Well, I need something a bit more “heavy duty”.  I found exactly what I need: a dual exhaust Chevy Silverado.  Only problem is is that I need to sell my current vehicle in order to pay for this one. With this, one lesson that I’m trying to put into practice is: patience.  I tend to get “ahead of God” and “leave Him in the dust” with the decisions I make.  “I have to make it now”.  Well, this time, I wanted things to be different.  I’m completely leaving the details in His hands and forgetting that “this is exactly what I need!”.  I’m definitely trying to put Philippians 3:14 to good use here: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.  Even patience.

Work has been less of a burden lately and I’m understanding some of the guidelines better.  I’ve had some issues that I won’t go into here, but God has been faithful and again-been patient with me.  What a patient God! And though I may have my “up and down”, merry-go-round days, He’s there to take me by the hand and simply tells me to just “chill”.  Through my job with QualityTrack, I’ve been learning that whatever I do-whether I want to or not-I need to do it for Him and forget about how miserable I am.  It’s the right thing to do and in the end, it was the only way I could go.  Does that mean that I have learned my lesson well and am not in need of practice anymore? Certainly not.  I’m here as a prime example of how great God’s patience is.  But if I can overcome my feelings of despair and get over those “mole hills” that I’ve made into mountains, I finally can do my work with a cheerful heart and do it all for His glory, and not my own.

School has been going fairly well.  As this was the second part as to why I went on my social networking break, I’ve been trying to concentrate heavily upon it.  Problems have arisen with a few of the sites that I have been working on, but both my coach and I are happy to see that I’m making steady progress.  At the moment, I’m working on the section in the LearningNetwork that I consider to be “repulsive”; but it’s a part of Psychology that will be on the actual test, so I must endure the terms and ideology of those early, secular theorists from the past.  As I continue, I would just like to ask for prayer that I will not sink into these thoughts and ponder on them.  God has blessed us Christians with a conscience and we are to use it.  And studying those sections puts nothing positive in our minds.  This is why we learn from our parents at an early age to guard our hearts, our minds, and our ears as to what the world has to say about such things.  We must use discretion and compare what we cannot avoid hearing or watching with what God says in His Word.  

Last week, a friend of mine wrote me an e-mail to tell me that I had been elected as a Board of Directors (BOD) member of the River Valley Welsh Pony Association (RVWPA).  There are only three seats available, so I felt honored to have been chosen to fill one.  With this honor though, there comes more responsibility with decision making, financial advising, and so on.  I was also volunteered to help co-write a monthly newsletter for the group and to help start a webpage.  This is a totally exciting new step for me and will also be an excellent addition to my resume. :)  I have committed myself and will do my best to represent the club well.  As ideas rush through my head and the thought of extra work does flip flops inside my brain, I realize that God has a plan through all of this and will help me make the right decisions.

Just like He does with my future.  I have no idea what lies ahead, except my dreams and a plethora of anticipations.  But only God determines what happens a couple miles down the road.  I can’t see that far.  Just like I can’t see over that next hill.  I have two choices as to what I can do about it; which makes it easier to decide. I can either A. run and hide; or B. continue to pursue God’s will for my life and better myself, so that I can be ready for hard times and trials.  I hate to say it, but there will be those times ahead.  And not just for certain people.  But for all of us.  Whether we have faced many in our past, are facing them in the present, or haven’t faced them yet but will in the future,  we need to be prepared to take on the challenge.  To put on the full armor of God.  Not just the helmet.  Not just the breastplate.  Not just the boots.  For if we are without one, the enemy will point his arrows there and wound us, as we were not prepared.

As a closing thought, I’d like to challenge you today.  But not just today, but instead, for your entire lifetime.  Be ready.  Be on guard.  Never let it down; no matter if it’s only for a minute.  For Satan doesn’t need an hour to wound you.  He only needs a second.

God bless you as you continue to walk with Him.

Blessings,
Anna

Give Thanks!

Last Monday was Thanksgiving Day for Canadians. Many people envision turkey, pumpkin pie and whipped cream, family and friends, a table loaded with food, or maybe certain colors and smells. Regardless of what traditions or practices people hold during that holiday, thanksgiving is a Biblical command. It is a command Jesus, Paul, David, Daniel, and so many others have modeled for us.

Matthew 15:36
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks...

Ephesians 1:15-16
Wherefore I also...Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. 

1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

But...

This isn't a conditional command, though. Many people have no problem being grateful when life is great, but this is a command that is to apply to all circumstances. To the good and the bad; the happy and the sad; the easy and the difficult; the simple and confusing.

Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks will not be always be an voluntary action for each wonderful occurrence in our lives. Certainly, we will praise God for those joyful times as well (Easy for me to say, right? After passing three tests in two days... :P;), but sometimes thankfulness will be a choice--not just a feeling. It will require an act of your will to give thanks for everything.

Thanksgiving is not an option. God didn't say...
"Give thanks when...
...your bills are all paid."
...you're passing all your tests."
...relationships are perfect."
...the sun is shining."
...friends are all in agreement."

But He did say...
"Giv[e] thanks always for all things."

I think praise and thanksgiving are related in many ways. Yes, we may praise God and not necessarily thank Him, and we can express thanksgiving without praise, but I think when we are truly thankful, our hearts will automatically praise God as well. Praise will naturally flow from a heart that realizes Who God really is and what He has done for us, and when we realize that, why would we not praise Him? 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane thanking God for His disciples--some of whom who would shortly betray and deny Him. Paul (and Silas) sang praises to God in the middle of a dungeon--their backs torn from the beatings they received. David continually praised God in the Psalms, even through some of the most difficult circumstances in his life. Daniel--the man committed to prayer even in the face of adversity--praised God when He revealed the king's dream to him. These men chose to praise God through the easy and the hard times.

Think about it: how could we not praise Him? Even in the most hopeless and stressful situations, He was always there: He never left us. Let's praise Him for His faithfulness. In the lonely stages of life, when friends have gone, He always stayed close. Let's praise Him for His love. When uncertainty and worry fills our minds, He is waiting on the other side--watching us walk by faith through the path He has created. Let's praise Him for never-ending care.

Fanny Crosby's second verse of "Praise Him! Praise Him" says it well:

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled and died;
He, our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified!
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows;
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong;
Praise Him! Praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!

How will you show your gratefulness to Him today? What will you praise Him for this week?

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Blessings,
Kaleigh

FROG

Well, as I’m writing this blog post, I’m just starting my third social networking break; only this time, I don’t know when I’ll really come back.  I stayed up the night before and thought of all of the schoolwork that I needed to get in.  I really had no idea just how far I was behind until my 22nd coaching call; then my eyes were opened.  Looking at everything in my schedule, I knew I couldn’t take out work, piano practice, or eating.  I couldn’t even really take off sleep either, though some days it already feels like I’ve taken sleep off my schedule.  In the middle of this mess that was going through my mind, I knew only one thing kept me from accomplishing my goals: and that was social networking.  I hated the thought of it, but I knew I had to find a schedule that I could get both schoolwork and work in.  Skype, Google+, and Gmail was staring me straight in the face; and that's what was hindering my view from my college courses.
In the midst of this though, the Lord touched my heart.  I had to trust in Him to help me make this decision.  It wasn’t one I could make on my own, though I could have tried. I was left with one choice: trust Jesus.  He knew what I wanted. He knew what I needed to do for awhile.  And I felt Him leading me to go on this break.  
As 2 Samuel 22:3 says: “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.”
I was not sure what to do, but He led me.  I may not like what I had to do, but in trusting God, I knew I had made the right decision.
Is it always easy to trust God? No, definitely not.  Like this example, we know what we want, but God knows what’s best for us.  David had to trust God when he confronted both Goliath and Saul. Noah trusted that God would really send the worldwide flood.  Mary trusted God to give her the strength to carry the Son of Man in her womb.  Everyone has to deal with putting trust in someone at some point.  But as Christians, we know better than to put our trust in things or other people to meet all of our needs.  God is our sole Provider, Protector, and Guide.  We aren’t lost like the thousands of others who rely on their money, friends, cars and trucks, or even food and tv to give them everything that they need.  Putting our trust in material things will only give us more grief and will never result in true happiness nor will it result in what God’s perfect plans are for us.
Is it even possible to, as Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” all of the time?  No, as fallible humans, we will always stumble and forget.  But God’s always there to pick up the pieces and put us back on the path that He knows will be the best for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)  
Will God fail us if we put our trust in Him?  Never.  We may feel that way when He prompts us to make a decision that we would rather forget; but in the end, He proves to us that the choice He wanted us to make, was for our own good.  
If you’ve ever heard of F.R.O.G., you’ll know it stands for Fully Rely On God.  An easy reminder of what we should always do: tough or easy.  Food, cars, or computers may seem like great things to lean on for when we are going through difficult times, but God will always be there to see us through and will never let go. (Psalm 118:8-9)
I know this may seem like a simple message, but it really spoke to me this week and my hope is that it’s something that will bless you in the coming weeks as you “Fully Rely On God”.


Blessings,
Anna

CollegePlus! Scholarship

Wow, can't believe how fast this last week went and how fast this Monday has been going.
Well, I'm not going to write my regular blog post this week as I have something, actually, a big favor to ask of you as you read this.  As you've probably heard, CollegePlus! is offering a $25,000 scholarship to the person who has the best essay, 12 months of free college, and iPads to the two people (one with an essay and one with a video) who has the most votes. I'm not good at asking for things, but if you feel led to, please feel free to read the following essay and vote for it at the link below.  And if you also entered this contest, I'd love to know so that I may vote for you, too!  Thank you all so much for your support.

God bless,
Anna

"I have been with CollegePlus! for almost a year now and I definitely feel that I made the right choice in choosing it as my college. For a little background on myself, I’m a nineteen year old who’s going for a Bachelor’s in Journalism. I was homeschooled all my life and grew up with a passion to write everything from stories to poems to plays. I knew finding a great, Christian college was going to be a challenge, but that was until I found out about CollegePlus! through Vision Forum in Texas. God has just really opened doors for me and given me great, inspirational memories throughout this last school year. 
I admit, doing CLEPs is a bit of a challenge, but that’s why I’m so glad for coaches. My CollegePlus! coach has walked me through step by step on how to complete my goals while making sure that I have enough time in my busy life to complete those goals. She’s very flexible with me and is an awesome encourager. My coach, Brittany Barden, sends me what’s called “coaching notes” with everything that we’ve covered on our every-other-week coaching calls. She also attaches a verse and a blessing for my next study week. 
I find that not only are the coaches a great part of the CollegePlus! experience, but so are the staff members. The coaches have very busy schedules and sometimes, we students need to get a hold of the CollegePlus! office. They’re friendly team members who try to serve both new students and old ones, to the best of their ability. 
Now, to the heart of why I am writing this. 
CollegePlus! has given me a hope to earn my degree in a shorter time, for not as much money as you would have to pay for at even a regular technical college. That’s one of the many reasons that I wanted to be a part of CollegePlus!. 
Throughout my time so far, I’ve made some of the best friends that I could have ever asked for. Friends who pray for me when I test and friends who have some of the best study tips that I need to complete an exam and score well on. The experience has been beyond belief and God has mightily used it to bless my life. 
I first started out by writing a Life Purpose Statement, which I’ll share with you at the end of this essay. It’s a way to find God’s real plan for your life and gives you an idea where to start in this new way of learning. 
Through my experience so far with CollegePlus!, I’ve had the ability to build on the knowledge that I received in high school and transfer it to the next level and work towards a degree for a future job. Learning not only how to be a better, Christian adult in this society, but also learning how to be successful in communicating with people and with how to effectively reach those around me where I work. CollegePlus! is doing just that. Preparing me for the real world and getting me to the point where I can say, “I feel ready for this”. 
Traditional colleges have one thing and one thing only in mind. No, it isn’t the students. No, it isn’t the education that the future generation is receiving. It’s the money. Colleges over-charge at these schools. That’s one of the reasons why CollegePlus! is so wonderful. It’s much more affordable. It also gives me the “space” I need to complete my studies at my own pace. 
After my time with CollegePlus! is up, my next step would be to get my degree through Thomas Edison State College. Not only would this be a dream come true, but it would be an answer from God, as I’ve been seeking His direction in my whole college choice process. I know, it will not be easy, but if God’s will for me is to follow His plan for my life, then I know I can do it as my Life Purpose Statement explains: 

“I am resolved to first of all, be an inspiring witness for Christ by sharing what He has done in my life through writing and talking with others. Then to help those, both younger and older than myself, with their spiritual needs; whether they need someone to get advice from or simply someone who will listen to them share what God has been doing in their lives. In every situation, I can only be an effective witness with Christ guiding me on my life's journey. Working with the press-which has a lot of power over the people who read their material-I can write and communicate with people on "their" level. Not only the highly educated in important positions, but those who do not have as much of an education. Only with God's help, can my Christian witness and writing, influence the general public and my co-workers, by the way that I act and respond to problems at my job and in my personal life.” 

I guess to sum everything up in one paragraph, I’d like to say that my experience with CollegePlus! has made me see how blessed I was to be able to find it and also, how much I would have been missing out on. The benefits of my learning process, Godly staff and CP! friends guiding me, my Mom who is standing beside me all the way, is just a blessing beyond words. And now as I continue my schooling through CollegePlus!, I have confidence that God will lead the way and will give me the ability to help those who come behind me. To be part of CollegePlus!’s past and to be an example to the future."

Here is the direct link to my essay: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays/88-why-i-chose-collegeplus

These are the links to anyone else's essays/videos that you would like to vote for: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays

http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays?sorting=most_votes&type=video

Thank you all for your help in this effort and just to end this blog post on a Biblical note, I'd like to quote a passage from Psalm 86:12, as the topic of praising God whenever has been on my mind a lot lately.

Psalm 86:12 "I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever."