I wanna be the girl on fire!

I love "The Hunger Games" series as you all know, mostly because Katniss is such a strong character.  She is consumed with taking care of her family, that she will do anything to return to them. She has to work with what she can come across in the forest, not what is so readily available in the Capitol. So, I got to thinking over the last few weeks what being a "girl on fire" would be like, and it turns out a little like this. 

Have you ever been so jealous of some one that the thought of what they have consumes you? Well, God's just like that. He wants our full attention at all times. Yes we have families, jobs, book clubs, etc., but we should keep our focus on Him and not let the little things get in the way of Him and what He wants for us. 

Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV) says,

 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

and Hebrews 12:29 (ESV) further states, 

 "for our God is a consuming fire."

He is so jealous, for us, that He can consume us whole. If I want to be a girl on fire, I need to let God consume everything within me that is unworthy to Him. I also need to be purified with that same fire so that I am living for Him in everything I do. 

Fire also helps certain seeds germinate and give new life to forests after forest fires. It gives the land a clean start. 

Deuteronomy 32:22
“For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.”

This passage tells us that fire is born of God’s anger. If it has the power to devour the earth, everything in it and the foundations of the mountains, image the cleansing power it can have on your soul. 

Letting God have control and allowing Him to burn everything bad away certainly gives the term “girl on fire” a new meaning doesn’t it?

Weird Wednesday: The Zombie Apocalypse

Zombies are the grossest things ever (in my own humble opinion). They’re falling apart, oozing, and all around disgusting. For whatever reason a zombie is reanimated after their original death. Many reasons exist as to why this is so; radioactive slim, black magic (voo-doo), a man made virus, and obviously a zombie bite its self. Did I miss any?

But the worst part is that they don’t even realize they’re dead. They walk around being all gross and never realize the horror they’re in. They may be “alive” but they are far from living. 

Romans 6:14 (ESV) is a great passage about viewing being dead versus being alive. It says: 

“1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

When we accept Christ and are baptized, we are dead to our sin and buried with Him. We then arise to a new life. Once we have ‘died’ we cannot continue to sin because we remain dead and rob ourselves of life. Not only that, but Christ died and was raised so the we have the opportunity of a new life.

Romans 6:7 (ESV) re-iterates this point:

“For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

Zombies are total slaves to the one thing they desire: human brains. The only way to take them down is to destroy their brains. (Don’t even get me started on the horror of that. I really hate zombies!)

Sin is the same way. Once we have died with Christ and taken on Hid life, we have to ‘destroy’ that part of the brain and change the way we think and act so we won’t be a slave to sin or our human brains. Christ freed me from slavery with His death on the cross and I don’t ever intend to give up that gift (Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God) or ever look back.

Don’t be a part of the Zombie Uprising! If you are, break the chains and declare your freedom! I guarantee you won’t took back either!

Movie Monday: Robin Good

I know what you’re thinking. “Shouldn’t that say Robin Hood?” But yes, you are reading that correctly. This is the newest title in the Veggie Tale family. Your next thought is: “the goth lady watches Veggies Tales?!” And yes, I watch one about every other day. They are a favorite in my household. 

This veggie gives a ‘Lesson in Handling Hurt.” Robin Good is a sweet cucumber who fundraises from the rich to give to the poor only to have his donations taken by the Sheriff for Prince John. When de doesn’t agree with his merry men that it’s better to rob the rich, he is left alone with no one. Two little peas teach him that there is no hurt too big for God. After hearing this lesson, his outlook become a little brighter. He will talk with Prince John and every thing will get better.

Only it doesn’t. Robin is blamed when the merry men steal the prince’s hams and the sheriff is arrested and placed in ‘the Dungeon of Despair’ for helping Robin escape. The sheriff is so sad when Robin comes to save him, that he doesn’t want to leave. Robin teaches him the same lesson: there is no hurt too big for God. 

The sheriff and Robin save the castle from a giant with the help of his merry men (once they have repented of the wrong they have committed). And Sheriff Bob is made guardian until King Richard returns. “Oh that’s nice, but what does that mean for me?”

Isaiah 61:1-3  tells us

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
     and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;

3 

to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
     to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah was sent sent by the Lord to help the sad, the poor, the brokenhearted, and those in prison. Can you imagine the hurt caused by others that causes your heart to break or having to sit in captivity for any extended time? 

No matter how sad we are or broken hearted, God is always going to take care of us. And we need to do the same for those around us. When we pray for help or for a way to help those that hurt “There is no hurt too big for God!”

Media Monday: Sanctus Real

I love music, and I do mean love. When my Mac crashed and died on me, all I was worried about was my music collection. Nine days of 24 hours of straight music. Luckily, my awesome husband was able to Jerry-rig my Mac long enough for me to back up my collection on DVD. (Don't even get me started on the atrocities of owning a Mac book). Anyway...

One of my favorite groups happens to be Sanctus Real. (www.sanctusreal.com) Their music is great, their lyrics even better, and if you ever get the chance to see them in person, do it. It's one of the best experiences ever! (Thank you Winter Jam 2012!) If you pass it up, all I have to say is "What's wrong with you?! It's Sanctus Real!!"

My favorite song by them is "Forgiven." The first time I heard this song, it made me cry, and it continues to every time I hear it. This song is like a great big comfy blanket that I can wrap around my heart. When the devil is after me, whether tempting or making me relive things I don't want to remember, I simply think of this song. Some days when I feel like an absolute outsider (which is most of the time) the bridge in this song gets me through. If you haven't hear it, I'll quote them below:

"When I don't fit in and I don't feel like I belong anywhere
When I don't measure up to much in this life
Oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ"

It doesn't matter whether I fit in with a crowd or not. Half of the time I don't feel like I belong anywhere because I am different from most of the christians I'm around. We may have the same moral values and attend church together, but because I choose to dress differently, I'm seen differently, so I'm normally not included in many activities like others would be. 

James 1:12 (ESV) tells me

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

So not fitting in doesn't matter, because no matter how left out I feel at times, I know that I am a treasure to my heavenly Father and that feels better than anything else in the world. (And I love that Sanctus Real had a creative way of sharing that message with everyone that hears that song!)

In closing, I would love to give a shout out to all my peeps that do love me for me and encourage me to keep on keeping on. You all are such a blessing in my life whether you know it or not. :)