“But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit is like the super power that God gives to us. We are given this power to tell people about Jesus. It seems like this superpower isn’t used nearly as much as it should be!
Come on, I’m pretty sure that we all dreamed about having super powers as children, and if we’re honest we probably still do. God has given us the ultimate power, no it’s not flying, or reading minds, or super speed- you have the power to do WHATEVER God calls you to do. And your calling definitely includes telling people about Jesus. Are you using your superpower?
My brothers are very in to superheros right now, and I’m becoming more and more familiar with them and I’ve dressed up as many of them. Something I’ve noticed is they don’t use their superpowers unless it is a desperate situation- it takes someone, or even an entire city, in need for them to use their powers. The way I see it, there are people in serious need all around us, so why aren’t we ALWAYS using the power God gave us to lead people to Christ??
God gave us the Holy Spirit not only for our own gain, but to BE WITNESSES! It’s time to suit-up and use the superpower He has given us!!
For whatever reason, I have not been able to make rice this year without it being mushing or completely burnt on the bottom. Yeahhh, I have seriously destroyed a pot with my less than awesome rice making skills. Things weren’t always this bad… believe it or not, I used to be able to make rice. I’d like to think that my inability to make rice can be blamed on the fact that we have a different rice than I’m used to, or maybe it’s just because I’m going crazy.
Read More
Keep Believing, Keep Praying
It is done! Yes, I actually began sponsoring a Compassion Child this week! It was such a difficult thing to pick one girl out of over 2,000 kids in need. However, after praying about it, I committed to sponsor a little girl from Ghana, Africa. Felicia is 8 years old and has been waiting for a sponsor for over 200 days. They say I will get my Compassion Packet within the next 15 days, and I early check the mail hoping it miraculously showed up already. I am so excited to get to know her, and also get to encourage her!
It brings me great joy to be able to provide some hope for Felicia. However I am still so overwhelmed by the amount of children all over the world that are in great need.
There are children right here in Detroit who, similarly to Felicia, are in great need. 67% of Detroit Kids live in high poverty areas. Yes, you read that correctly… OVER HALF of the kids in Detroit live in or near poverty. There are definitely great needs in countries like Ghana, I’m not trying to down play that. All I’m saying, is there is great need right here in America, that so often gets overlooked or downplayed.
There is such need in this City that I love, and I have great dreams to meet the needs of the people. Not only do they need proper shelter, clothing, and food- they need to know Jesus! Sometimes big dreams like getting more people/churches to sponsor Real Church/Hope Works so we can get the things we need to reach more people and more Bibles to pass out. I also dream of starting a dream center here in Detroit that can provide things like financial classes, assistance in finding jobs, cooking classes, counseling, and medical attention.
It will certainly take HUGE miracles to make see these things happen, but Jesus is WAY BIGGER! And He wants me to dream big, pray bigger, and never give up. I absolutely believe I will get to witness and be apart of some super amazing things happening here in Detroit in the years to come. Until these big things happen, I will remain faithful in the not-as-big things (there is still so much we can do now!) and hopeful for what’s next. I love this city so much, and God loves it even more!
What big dreams do you have? Don’t ever give up! Keep praying and believing!
“KEEP YOUR COURAGE”
This phrase is written in big letters in my notes from this week’s Love to Live it sermon series. But it has become so much more than something I just wrote in my Journal.
It seems that God keeps trusting me with more and more things, it’s crazy but really cool! However, there have already been a few times this week where I have started to get overwhelmed by what God is asking me to do, and God just keeps saying to me: “Keep Your Courage.” Now mind you, God isn’t telling me to find what I need inside of myself, He is telling me to find what I need in Him- who is my strength and courage. He is saying: “Be strong and COURAGEOUS. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)
Not only do I need to keep my courage in the big tasks that God has assigned me, I have to practice courage in daily life- wherever I go! Courage has to be a part of my DNA- when I keep Jesus’ courage everyday, I won’t be afraid to talk to strangers or take risks to share Jesus with anyone! Then the possibilites of what God can do in and through me are endless!
Courage isn’t just something I have to keep in order to do well with the “big things” God has trusted me with; it is something I need to have EVERYDAY (say in nacho voice, if you know what I’m talking about ha). I am clinging to Jesus- my COURAGE- through Him all things are possible!
I am on the biggest adventure of my life, and I know things are only going to get more exciting as the opening of Courage Coffee and Community is fast approaching!
It reminds me of the first time I rode Millennium Force. I was 8 years old, and the longer I stood in line for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world (at the time) the more nervous I became. I didn’t think I was brave enough to ride it, but fortunately for me, my Dad didn’t let me chicken out when it was our turn to ride, but made me sit down and buckle up. He put his arm across me, like a human seat belt, to help me feel brave. On the way up the first and tallest hill, he pointed out the beautiful view and reminded me to breathe and keep my eyes open. (:
My dad made me brave enough to ride the scary coaster. And it is to this day my favorite ride.
Jesus is right with me doing the same thing my Dad did for me, not in a literal way (I am not writing this blog on a roller coaster). As long as He is here, and the Bible says He will never leave me, I will be brave enough to enjoy this new ride I am on.
My hands are up! I’m excited for whatever comes next! This is the ride of a lifetime!
What ride are you on right now?
Are you trusting Jesus to give you what you need to survive and enjoy it?
Well, we are now a little over a month into Xmin, and I can say that I am finally starting to get in a groove (I was initially having trouble juggling ministry, school, and work). I am beginning to develop a little routine that helps me get everything done, and hopefully done well. Look out consistency, here I come!
I was recently talking to God about these things, saying something along the lines of, “These are the things I do, I am trying to do well. This is the time I set aside for you. Here is where I accomplish other things. Isn’t this good? I’m diligent, right?” And God’s response to me was this: “Diligence isn’t routine.” Ouch. There you have it, this routine that I was so proudly telling God about, isn’t what He’s looking for. Sure, He wants me to be productive and have a groove- but He doesn’t want me to have a routine. See, routines are so very dangerous. When you are doing things the same way all the time, you are at great risk of becoming lazy. “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically (Romans 12:11).” Laziness is a sin, and I must avoid it.
I escape laziness by moving away from consistent routine; and towards, consistent improvement. I must turn the “auto pilot” off, and focus on obeying God and serving Him with everything I have. Everyday should hold more growth, challenges, and love for Jesus.
As comfortable as routine can be, it can be in my life no more.
Are the leaves changing? Is the air crisp? Are you currently wearing a hoodie or jacket? Are you craving cider doughnuts? If you answered “yes” to 2 or more of these questions…chances are IT’S FALL!…unless you live in a warm climate (oh wait, you probably didn’t need a quiz to figure out it it’s fall).
I know it’s fall because I answered “yes” to all the questions above, and I am very excited that fall is here. Summer is wonderful, but I am definitely ready for a change. I came into this school year anticipating change, just like I’ve been anticipating fall. I am ready to transition out of my childish teenage season, into bigger, better, and more beautiful season. And in just a few weeks, I can already see the evidence of change. My “leaves” are changing colors, God is helping me mature into the person He has made me to be. Yeah, I’m experiencing some “growing pains,” but it’s the good kind of hurt. This is a beautiful season in my life, and I want to enjoy it, not just survive it.
I am grateful for the changing seasons. Whenever I see colorful trees, put on a hoodie, and/or eat a cider doughnut, I will be reminded to thank God for the change He is doing inside of me and all around me.
This is a picture of me “planking” at Comerica Park. What is planking? Well, Urban Dictionary described planking as: “a great pastime for people who get bored easily and have friends willing to take pictures of them looking ridiculous.” This is pretty accurate, but what the definition fails to mention is that it’s FUN.
The other day, Xmin had a Downtown Detroit Planking Adventure. It was a blast to come up with different funny, creative, adventurous, and/or straight up awesome planks (like mine). I think my planking picture is super awesome, but when it comes right down to it… its just documentation of me looking stupid in a public place.
Look what Jesus has to say about planking… “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that speak out of your eye,; when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speak from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).
I realize that, like planking, I often call the plank in my eye other things. Sometimes I call it, “no big deal,” “accidental,” “just the way that I am,” ETC. But no matter what I like to call it, it is actually SIN. I’ve been really convicted to call the plank in my eye what it actually is, gossip. Yep, that’s my plank, and it’s a sin. I tend to have no problem noticing it in other people’s lives, but then I justify it’s existence in my life.
Having planks in my eye hurts my vision and can keep me from seeing God’s plans. If I keep walking around with sin in my eyes, I’m gonna get off the path He has placed me on (because I can’t see it). God wants me to call the plank what it really is, repent of it, and let Him fix my vision. No more sugar-coating or justifying.
My name is Mariah, and gossip is my (current) plank. I’m so sorry if I have done it with you, around you, or (as much as I hate to say it) about you. “This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue” (James 3:7-8). I cannot tame my tongue and get rid of the plank, but Jesus can.
I’m off to let Jesus tame my tongue and fix my vision, but I will leave you with these questions…
Have you been sugar-coating your plank?
What have you been calling it?
What is it really?
You don’t have to comment the answers to these questions, but I encourage you to take some time and answer them with Jesus.
GO TIGERS
Wow, my summer is about halfway over. I can hardly believe it! I thought I would give you all a not-so-brief update!
Read More
Are you a liar? If asked this question, my initial answer would be “no.” Unfortunately, my answer would be incorrect. I would consider myself an honest person that can be trusted; but I am a still liar. A little confused? I think this verse will help you understand what I mean: “If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth” (1 John 2:4). Although I may not be lying with my words, I still sometimes lie with my actions.
When we disobey God, we are liars. Maybe you would just consider yourself a fibber because it’s just a little thing God told you to do that you’re not doing. - But the thing about a fib is if you keep it up, it’s gonna grow. And the fibber is going to turn into a liar. [Oh, and by the way, a fibber and a liar are the same… by calling ourselves fibbers, we’re just making ourselves feel better about our sin. ouch.] This is why it is so importance to obey everything God tells you to do, if you get in the habit of slacking off in any area, it’s going to spread. And it is NEVER okay to disobey God.
Don’t look for a “good” alternative for what God tells you to do and don’t delay… do whatever God tells you to do RIGHT AWAY! (oo that rhymed). “But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him” (1 John 2:5).
Don’t be a liar; be obedient!