Quick Recipe for Humble-Pie

Five steps towards walking in humility:

1. Forgive those who have hurt you.
2. Quickly apologize when you have done something wrong.
3. Loose the need to have the last word.
4. Make a commitment to do one random act of kindness each day.
5. Allow yourself to be vulnerable by saying what's on you heart.

Send me a sign!

The hardest part about being young Christians is realizing that God is not always going to give a sign about the areas of your life that concern you. There are times when He will, but there are times when He will speak through the people that are around you. As a result, it is important that we surround ourselves with people who will step out on faith and tell you the truth. Then there are other times when God will answer us but it is only through communion with Him. His instructions will not be revealed in a sign but will be revealed through conversation--constant prayer and talking-- where not only do we talk to God but even more importantly, we listen to Him.

The Holy Spirit lives in us. We know what God wants because He speaks to the spirit in us. We are looking for a sign from God yet He is not going to speak to our minds and to our emotions. He is also not going to take away our wants and our desires but He will speak to the spirit within us. We often ask people to pray that we "get strength" to deal with troubling situations. It is important to understand that we already have strength. It is just a matter of taping into it. You do not need strength because God has strength for you. Scripture reveals that God IS Strength. Since the Holy Spirit lives in us God has deposited this strength in us. You simply have to tap into it.

One of my favorite scriptures in times of weakness, despair or depression is "Those who hope (or wait) in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." I am a living witness that this promise is truth. I recall a time very recently when I was filled with complete sadness and hurt. . .you know the kind that weighs down in the depths of the soul yet as I meditated on this scripture, God continued to renew my strength. During times of despair, it is important that we bask in God's presence because by doing so you WILL (notice the scripture does not say "may") receive renewed strength.

When my friend Shani was baptized, the pastor said something like "We hope Shani comes back to Boston but I have no idea what Shani, God, the devil and Chris (her boyfriend at the time) have in store for her." This statement was interesting because it made me realize that in almost every area of your life there are a lot of competing forces going on around you. If you desire to be in God's perfect will, you have to submit what everyone else wants for what God wants. You have to pray and worship God in the midst of what is going on around you.

Scripture says, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and spiritual forces." The competing interests are the spiritual battles going on around us. Spiritual battles go on in our minds, in our hearts and with our flesh. So, you must fix your mind on God. Every time you attempt to replay what went on in a conversation, what was said, what you should have said (I have been there)-- STOP and worship God. The Bible says to focus your mind on whatever is pure, lovely and praiseworthy. The mind is where Satan is likely to attack and break us. However, God gives us authority over all the power the enemy possesses, we have to simply claim it.

A Biblical Cure for Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplicaton with thanksgiving let your request be known by God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6

In a world with so much uncertainty the first phrase of this scripture seems almost impossible to grasp. What am I going to do with my life? What are my dreams? Is it possible to reach my goals? Will I ever find love? Will I ever get married? What if I get fired? How am I going to pay my bills? These are all some of the many questions which run rampant in our minds thus causing us to feel anxiousness and apprehension. This phrase is impossible to grasp unless you hold onto the phrase, instruction and promise that follow in the scripture.

When feelings of anxiousness begin to rise inside immediately do the following things: 1. PRAY. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Some people turn off all of the lights when they pray, others get on their knees, some light candles but the reality is that it does not have to take all of this. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing when feelings of anxiousness occur stop and tell God all the things that are on your heart. Share the situations that are causing you to worry. After you have done this articulate the outcome that you would like to see manifest in these areas. 2. THANKSGIVING. In the Bible, God promises that "He would never leave us or forsake us." He promises that "All things will work towards our good." He says that "He will perfect those things that concern us." If you stand on the Word of God, immediately after praying about the concerns on your heart, you must thank Him for working out those things that have caused you to feel anxious. The ability to THANK God after PRAYING is a manifestation of faith. 3. PEACE. When thanksgiving follows prayer you will automatically feel peace. It's a calming peace. A keeping peace. A peace that guards your heart from being troubled and your mind from being anxious. The scripture describes this as a "peace which surpasses all understanding" because it allows you to feel peace in the midst of a storm. It causes you to know, that you know, that you KNOW that-- even when all things in your life may not appear good, all things seen and unseen are working for your good.

Resolutions for 2005: Out With the Old In With the New

The end of the old year and the beginning of the new year often marks a time when people declare their resolutions. If you are like me, you end up breaking most of them if not all of them within days. Whether you break your resolutions or keep them, it's important that we periodically take some time to reflect where we are, what we have learned and where we want to go. Resolutions provide vision for the future. It's better to make resolutions and break them rather than not make them at all. Resolutions set up a mark that you can at least work towards, they allow you to keep track of your strengths and weakness. My friends and I often go through a list of questions at the end of each year. The questions provide a loose framework to learn from the past and create a vision for the future. My answers are outlined below. When you have a few moments take some time out and answer the questions for yourself!


What was the title/theme of 2004 for you? "Where am I and how the heck did I get here?"

What will 2005’s theme to be? "Open Mind, Open Heart. Embrace all that is waiting for you."

What was the most memorable random act of kindness someone did for you in 2004? Random phone calls and cards letting me to know how much I am loved and appreciated.

What was the most memorable random act of kindness that you did for someone else in 2005? As a peace offering, I sent flowers to someone who was getting on my nerves. It took a ton of humility.

What was the most random thing that happened to you in 2004? I dated one of my best friends.

What were your greatest learning about yourself in 2004? I am human. I make mistakes. I will fall. Falling is not connected to how much I love God but my ability to get up and keep on keepin' on is a true reflection of how much I love and trust Him.

What were your greatest learnings about relationships in 2004?Male/Female/Family etc…? Follow your inner voice. It may not make sense however it will protect you and guide you. Surround yourself with people who are not afraid to tell you the truth about yourself. Humble yourself enough not to shut people out when you need them most.

What were your greatest learnings about God in 2004? The depth of God’s forgiveness and the width of His grace are beyond comprehension.