Use the GPS

It’s time for college students to return to school which stirs memories of my years as a student. My first year of college, I lived in New York City. One evening, a friend and I planned to meet some people at a music store on the other side of the city. Of course, we were poor college students, so paying for a cab was out of the question. We took the subway.

Being 18 and thinking we knew it all, we didn’t take time to look at the maps posted clearly around the station. How hard could it be? Just a few stops, and we’ll be there. Of course, this was before cell phones and GPS apps, so over three hours later, the music store was closed, the people we were meeting were long gone, and we were still riding the train trying to find our way back to school. That was a long night! And it could have all been avoided if we had simply looked at the map before leaving the station.

Graduating and going out into the world can be daunting. Wouldn’t it be great if life had a mapping app? Imagine the trouble we could avoid. “Make a u-turn before you talk to that guy. He’s trouble.” “Turn right at the hallway, so you will avoid buying that candy bar in the vending machine. You don’t need it.” “Stop and study instead of going to the coffee shop with friends.” The benefits would be endless.

Unfortunately life doesn’t come with a mapping app for on-the-spot instant guidance, but we do have something even better: the Bible. I know it sounds basic, but the Bible is like a GPS from God, a map to set the coordinates of our lives.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (ESV) tells us

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

In these two verses, we see life-guiding characteristics of God’s Word: teaching, reproof, correction, training, and equipping. In other words, Scripture is the instruction manual for our lives. If we measure our choices or deeds by the Word of God, we have a clear route.

Since God created us, He knows us best, and His path for us will never deviate from His Word. It only makes sense that God’s way is the best way. His ways are higher, and His wisdom far surpasses our understanding. 

Comprehending the Bible is not always simple, but there are ways to determine if we are living our lives inside the will of God versus outside of it. If a choice or action doesn’t line up with God’s Word, then it’s not in God’s will. That part is simple. God’s will for your life will never contradict His Word. Keeping that in mind, here are

steps for using the Bible to navigate your life:

• Pray!

  Go directly to the author, and ask God to reveal scriptures that speak to your circumstances. Pray fervently but also take time to listen for His response.

• Read the Bible.

  Yes, actually picking it up or listening to an audible version regularly will help you know God’s will for your life. Don’t take anyone else’s word about what the Bible says. Read it for yourself!

• Attend a Bible-teaching church and Bible study group.

  Bouncing ideas off of others who are also familiar with God’s Word is a great way to know the direction God would have you go.

• Seek wise counsel.

  Find someone with more knowledge of the Bible than you. Ask for prayer, advice, and guidance.

God wants the best for each of us. He desires for you to live in His will in order for you to have an abundant life. God sees the “big picture,” and He knows exactly how and where you fit in it. He provided the Bible as our instruction manual, so use the GPS!

Build Your Biblical Vocabulary

Have you ever listened to a sermon or Bible study and the speaker used a word that just flew over your head? I have! Sometimes big “church” words can be intimidating. It’s easy to just nod your head and act like it makes perfect sense, but some of these words pop up repeatedly around the church in messages, studies, or even songs. I think it’s important to understand their meanings. If you don’t, you risk not fully grasping what the scripture or lesson is teaching.

I have a confession. I love words. I know it sounds nerdy, but I’m an English teacher’s dream when it comes to definitions, pronunciation, and context. I get frustrated when I read or hear words, and I don’t understand their meanings. This is especially true when it comes to the Bible and theological (study of religion) terms.

It’s easy to look up definitions quickly now that we all carry smart phones or tablets with us wherever we go. However, I’ve compiled a short list of commonly used theological words with basic definitions and sentences. You may want to study more to find deeper meaning.

5 Theological Terms to Know

1. Atonement - compensation or payment for sin

When Jesus died on the cross, he made atonement for our sins.

2. Inerrant - incapable of being wrong

The Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

3. Reconciliation - the restoration of relationship; repair of a broken relationship 

We are reconciled with God through the death of His Son, Jesus.

4. Redemption - saved from sin, error, or evil; to buy out as if purchasing a slave’s freedom

Because of Christ’s redemption, we are free from the bondage of sin. 

5. Sovereign - possessing supreme or ultimate power

Our sovereign God has authority over all things, and nothing is impossible for Him.

For deeper understanding, don’t be afraid to ask a pastor or leader to explain confusing words or concepts. God wants us to study and learn more about Him and His Word. The more we know, the stronger our faith grows.​

Examining Yourself Through God's Word

How do you see the Bible? For many years I saw it as a book filled with great stories, lists of names and lots of rules. I would hear my pastor talk about it being God’s love letter to us, and just kind of shake my head in confusion. I just couldn’t see it. I really wanted to grow, so each night I would pull out my Bible when I went to bed. Needless to say, most nights I would wake up a couple hours later with my Bible still open, waiting for me to dive in, only to find myself too tired to try.  

It wasn’t until I got into my first Bible study that the Bible really began to come alive for me. Each week as I met with a small group to discuss what we’d been reading and how God was working in our lives, I began to see past the surface and really discover the goodness of God’s words. I dug a little deeper and discovered so much that I’d never seen. 

It was incredible! I even began to understand what my pastor meant when he referred to the Bible as God’s love letter to us. It was so much more than a book filled with rule; it was a gift written to help me. There was so much wisdom, truth and practical advice for navigating my life. 

Many people see the book of James as a hard book to read. I know I did early on. I avoided it. It seemed to talk so much about works, and I just saw judgement. Now I realize that my thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth. James' desire was to see men and women have genuine faith. The central truth of James is that genuine faith will inevitably produce good deeds. It’s important to note that it doesn’t work both ways…good deeds don’t inevitably produce genuine faith. The good deeds are the product of genuine faith in God. 

I love James 1:22-25...

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only      fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

I love this whole thought that reading God’s word and not putting it into practice is like looking in the mirror and forgetting what you look like when you walk away. When we stare intently into God’s Word we begin to see the truth about our lives. Attitudes, thoughts and actions are revealed, and we can clearly see changes we need to make. The key to not just hear the word is opening our hearts as we stare intently into it allowing the truth to sink in. James is saying, “Don’t just hear it…do it…be transformed by it…be a reflection of Christ.”

You’ve probably heard the phrase - “Be in the world and not of it.” God has called us to take the message of Christ to the world. To do that, we must be in the world. If we aren’t careful, we allow the world to rub off on us. In time, instead of growing more like Christ, we begin to grow more like the world. What testimony do we have when we are a reflection of the world instead of being a reflection of our Lord and Savior? James knew that our behavior will either reflect the character of God or it won’t. We will either draw people toward God, or we will push them away. His desire was to see men and women live out of genuine faith in Christ.

How do we live in the world and not let it rub off on us? Romans 12:2 has the answer.

"Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

How do we renew our minds? We stare intently into the mirror of God’s Word. We do this by being intentional when we read the Bible. I use the ACTS acrostic I learned through Impact when reading the Bible.

I ask God to show me:

• Attitude I need to change
• Command I need to obey
• Truth I need to believe 
• Sin I need to confess

Psalm 139:23-24 is my daily prayer.  

"Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

I hope you will make this your daily prayer, as well, and open your heart to the truth of God’s Word. May you dive deeper into His Word and be transformed.

10 Verses for Finding Joy

Let’s face it. It’s hard to find joy these days. Looking at the news can be devastating. We live in a society where every other day the flags are at half mast. People immediately choose sides, and emotions rule our actions rather than reason. It’s easy to feel like the junk of this world is constantly swirling around us like an vicious tornado.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. -John 16:33b

So, what exactly does “take heart” mean? I believe it means we focus on the fact that nothing surprises God. God is always in control even when our surroundings and circumstances feel like chaos.

Christians have a hope beyond this temporary world. Focusing on eternity allows us to find joy in the midst of the insanity. If we have joy ourselves, we can use it to encourage others. If the people around us are overwhelmed and beat down, demonstrating joy in our lives may open a door to share our ultimate reason for joy: salvation through Jesus.

How do we get there? How do we find joy? Reflecting on and memorizing scripture is a great place to begin.

10 Verses on Joy

1. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. -Psalm 30:5

2. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24

3. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. -Psalm 119:111

4. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. -Proverbs 17:22

5. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. -Isaiah 12:3

6. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and a delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. -Jeremiah 15:16

7. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. -Matthew 2:10

8. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. -John 15:11

9. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. -Acts 71:23

10. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -Romans 15:13

The Bible speaks of joy in many other verses. Use this list as a starting point for building a foundation of joy in your life.

Hungry for God's Word

Do you have a certain food that you absolutely hate? We all have that one thing that it doesn’t matter who brings it to us or what the circumstances are, we are not touching that food. For me, it's most things green. I know what you are thinking, but yes, just about anything green is the worst food ever to me. But no matter how much I hate green foods, once I reach a certain hunger level I'm grabbing whatever I can find. We have all experienced this; the moment when you never would have eaten at that restaurant because of its reputation, or the food you swore you wouldn’t eat because you're trying to be healthier, but because you were hungry, you settled.

The same principal is true for your spiritual life. When you are hungry, you will settle for almost anything. Think about it. When we look back at past regrets, most of them were not made over night. No one wakes up one day and decides to make a decision that will ruin their lives. No, it starts small. Small compromises to go to that place but not partake. Small steps towards settling to just go on a date with that guy, despite his reputation, because after all, it's just a date.

How can we tell though when these moments are coming? Because if it starts small, that means we need to be able to see the small things heading our way. I believe it all begins and ends with God’s word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

This means that when we are focused on what God has to say, it's easier to see when our thoughts and the words from others don’t line up with His truth. All of God’s word is here for us. Not to be a book on our shelf, but a word that we store in our hearts. It helps us realize what is wrong, and it teaches us to do what is right. This isn’t condemnation; this is loving correction from a loving Father who wants us to have a John 10:10 life.

John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

That rich and satisfying life that we are all searching for, and that we so easily fill with other things, is available. We just have to stay full on God’s word.