Star Struck

My family and I have been crazy about music ever since I can remember. We've been to many concerts and festivals. It's really interesting to meet some of my favorite musicians. Most of them that I have met have been very kind to me. I have some fond memories from my cool experiences with them. After meeting some of my favorites, I'm usually so happy that I have to tell my friends what happened and make sure I write all of the details in my diary.

I know it might sound silly to you, but be honest, most of you reading this article have felt the same way I've felt. It's natural. I think sometimes the Lord gives us good experiences with people we like to make us happy. He doesn't have to, but He does; and I thank Him for it.

It's great when important people are nice to us, but think about the most important One, Jesus. All power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth (see Matthew 28:18). By reading some passages in the book of Revelation we see that He is the star of Heaven.

"And the four beasts* had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is to come. And when those beasts* give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:8-11). (*beasts: Greek - living creatures.)

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts* and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts* said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:11-14).

Isn't it something?! The Lord is all powerful, holy, and eternal. He is the most important. One of the best things about Him is that He loves you...no matter what you've done, what you may do, His love remains and His willingness to forgive you never fades.

Others may be good to us but God is the best to all of us! He has and continues to do more for us than anybody ever could...more than we even realize. Thank Him and love Him in return. In the end, He's the One who deserves our praise the most.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank You that You are so awesome. Thank You that You still love me. I love You, too. But I'm sorry if I don't show it as much as I should. Please forgive me. Set me on fire for You. Help me to show my love for You by obeying You. Help my love to grow strong and be faithful. May we grow closer and may I always hold You as number one in my heart. I thank You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Nahum 1:7

Nahum 1:7 says that "the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." When I read this verse, I thought of all the times in the Bible God had been those things to His children.

One of the stories I recalled was about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In Daniel 3, I read of King Nebuchadnezzar's commandment given to all of the people of the land that they must worship his idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't worship this idol...even when given a second chance by the king. They confidently declared their faith in God. They were bound and thrown into the middle of a fiery furnace. They seemed doomed...even the men who threw them into the furnace had died from the heat and flames.

But God knew that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted in Him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were living in a day of trouble but God was their strong hold, their refuge. God was good to them; He sent His Son to be there with them in the furnace. They weren't bound anymore; they were protected...even from the smell of smoke! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fiery furnace. More of God's goodness was poured out upon them when King Nebuchadnezzar blessed their God, commanded the people of the land to worship the One True God, and promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the providence of Babylon.

God is what Nahum 1:7 says He is: good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust in Him. This Scripture was a reality for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and It's a reality for us today!

PRAYER: Dear God, Help me to remember that You are a stronghold in the day of trouble and You are good. I thank You for that! I trust in You, God. Thank You that You know the ones who do trust in You. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

His Passion

The movie, "The Passion Of The Christ," has sparked a lot of interest and questions concerning Jesus and Christianity. I have seen this movie and it truly is awesome, life changing, and anointed by God. If you haven't already, I encourage you to go see it.

The first scene of "The Passion Of The Christ" shows Jesus praying to His Father, God, in the garden of Gethsemane. In this section of the movie, I see how Jesus was truly God and man. He was all powerful and infinite yet He still felt emotions that we mere humans experience today. I'm glad that I serve a God who knows what I feel like and truly understands what I go through because of His experience!

After the closing of His prayer He crushes a snake's head. Sounds kind of weird, huh? Actually, that was a symbol of a prophecy that He was about to fulfill. Remember early in the book of Genesis how Adam and Eve committed the first sin and God knew about it? After this God told Adam, Eve, and the serpent (who tempted Eve because he was possessed by Satan) the consequences of their sin. God said unto the serpent (Satan), "I will put my enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15). God's enmity was His active, mutual hatred toward Satan and the One who was going to crush Satan's head and defeat him was God's Son, Jesus Christ. This was this first prophecy ever given concerning Jesus and after hundreds of years, He was about to fulfill it.

As the movie goes on we see the physical suffering of Jesus. Stripes were on Him and blood poured from His body because of the beatings he had taken. I'm thankful that He willingly took the suffering upon Him for the good of everybody, every soul. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 - a prophecy of Jesus given hundreds of years before He came to earth). "The blood of Jesus Christ [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Since the days of old it took an innocent and perfect sacrifice to cover over sin. God finally sent His perfect, holy, innocent Son, Jesus, to be the ultimate, final sacrifice for everybody's sin. When Jesus went to the cross, He took our sin upon Him. He also suffered spiritually because God, His Father, had forsaken Him (see Matthew 27:46). (A holy God can not dwell with one who has sin.) Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. 1 Peter 2:24 says that Jesus' "own self [bore] our sins in His own body on the tree..."

Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin because "the wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23). When we should have died, He died for us. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) but Jesus and God loved us so much that they redeemed us! But the story doesn't end with Jesus dying on the cross. Out of His infinite power He defeated Satan, death, hell, and the grave; He rose from the dead three days later. Jesus is alive forevermore and because He lives we can live...spiritually and eternally. In this life, Jesus and God will be our faithful friends who will help us, guide us, and forgive us if we sin. The Holy Spirit (God - God's Spirit - The third person of the Trinity*) will also befriend us, live in us, and help us in every way while we're here on earth. When we die, we'll be safely and immediately carried home to Heaven, where Jesus has a place prepared for us (see John 14:2-3) and we'll live with Him forever and ever! Praise God!

Christianity may be classified as a religion, but it isn't religion...it's a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It's the same with the Bible...it isn't just a rule book; it's God personal words of love written straight to us.

God loves you and the only way you can have His richest blessings and forgiveness of sins is by accepting His Son, Jesus, into your heart.

Let them in your life right now -- right where you're at. They truly want you and your fellowship. If you feel like you have to clean yourself up, please don't. Just come as you are and let Jesus' blood cleanse you. Come now and experience the greatest love.

All you have to do to start walking with God is say this prayer:

Dear Jesus, I'm ready to truly start living. I'm ready to experience Your love. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me. But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later. I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father. So come into my heart. I know I'm a sinner but I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me. Help me to live for You from now on. I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You. Thank You, Lord, for what You've done and what You are going to do for me! In Your Name, Amen.

Good Scriptures To Remember:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17).

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

* The Trinity: The Father (God), The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit. They are three people yet they are one and they are the same God.

Love, Valentines, & God

Since it's that time of year again, I've had some people ask me, "So, Eryn, what are you doing for Valentine's Day?" I always say, "Nothing. Valentine's Day is a holiday for sweethearts." I've always viewed it as a day for boyfriends/girlfriends and husbands/wives. Today, though, my thoughts on Valentine's Day changed, thanks to the Lord and "Brio & Beyond Magazine" (Focus On The Family's magazine for teenage girls).

As I read a few articles from "Brio & Beyond," it dawned on me that Valentine's Day is a holiday for all of us. Now I'm looking forward to a fun and exciting time participating in the holiday. This year, Valentine's Day is going to be a time of thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for my family and friends who love me so much. I've decided to show them my appreciation by painting them a Valentine's card and telling them how I'm thankful for them and all that they do for me. They are always there for me and love me unconditionally.

But even if I didn't have anybody on this earth that loved me, I could still celebrate this holiday with thanksgiving and joy. Here is the reason why: "In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). Jesus is the One who loves me the most no matter what, who is always there for me, who helps me, who protects me, who stays true to His promises, who always forgives me, who gives me eternal life, who saved me from sin, who has and will continue to do for me what no man can do! This is the greatest love and the love that I'm most thankful for. This love isn't just for me but for everybody.

I hope that this Valentine's Day you will join with me in praising God for His love and showing your love and appreciation for others. But let's not do this just on Valentine's Day...let's make it an everyday thing!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your love and those who love me. Help me to show my appreciation by bearing the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love...the love that is patient, kind, humble, pure, the kind that rejoices in truth, the kind that believes, hopes, and endures. I love You, Lord. May I remain Yours forever. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

A Gift That Makes You New

This holiday season was a wonderful time for my family and me. I hope the same for you. A new year is here and I hope to do better in everything. I want to play more music, write more, and paint more. Most of all I want to draw nearer to God and love others more. Deep down, I think we all long to do better.

So what are your goals for this new year? How are you going to accomplish what you want to do? What is going to make this year wonderful for you?

In the end, there's only One who will make your year - your life - wonderful. Do you know Him or did you forget to receive the best Christmas gift ever? If you've forgotten, it's not too late.

God wants to exchange gifts with you. Let me describe His gift to you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to set you free from sin and give you eternal life (see John 3:16-17). See how much Jesus loves you, too? Jesus wants to be your faithful friend (see Hebrews 13:5), He wants to carry your burdens for you (see 1 Peter 5:7), and He wants to fill your life with peace and joy. All you have to do to receive His gift is give Him the gift that delights Him the most...give Him your heart and life...just give Him yourself.

When you do this, your life will be better. No matter what happens you'll know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). It is also calming to realize that all you have to do is "trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As I write this devotional, 2004 is still new, but it won't be that way much longer. But no matter what time it is, it never ever is too late to begin life anew! Jesus' love covers over a multitude of sins. Right now, He's standing at your heart's door and His hand is gently knocking upon it. Do you hear Him calling you? He said that if You will hear His voice and open the door, He will come in (see Revelation 3:20). Open your heart to Him and let Him make you and your life new.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, come into my heart. I'm sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. Take me and my life, Lord, and make it new and beautiful. Walk with me as You said you would and help me to serve You from now on. Thanks You, Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come! I love You and I thank You for loving me, too. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

- Eryn Eubanks (January 2004)

Forgiveness

Forgiveness...a wonderful quality of God that can be so hard for humans to possess.

All of us have been wronged by other people. When such pain and anger is caused, it can be rather sickening to even think about forgiving the person who hurt us. But we must.

It says in God's Word to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is not saying that the horrible actions someone did toward us were right. Forgiveness is showing our obedience and love for God and our love for others; and if we don't love others, then we don't really love God. (See 1 John 4:20.)

Forgiveness is not one of those "it takes two to tango" deals. There have been some occasions where people have wronged me and they never came to me and said, "I'm sorry." But I forgave them anyway because I knew that's what God wanted me to do.

Forgiveness is not just a one time thing, either. The disciple Peter once came to Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" Jesus answered him saying, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22) Seventy times seven is a lot of times (490 to be exact) but when Jesus said, "Until seventy times seven," he didn't mean to stop forgiving after that number. When Jesus told Peter, "Until seventy times seven," he meant for him to forgive his brother (or anyone) however many times they needed to be forgiven. We then should do likewise.

Forgiveness is required of us if we are to be forgiven by God. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Forgiveness is not having amnesia and totally forgetting about the wrong that was done to you. The saying "forgive and forget" is not in the Bible. But when you forgive, you don't dwell on the past wrongs...you don't "dig them up again."

Finally forgiveness is not human. As I said before, it's of God, and when your forgive, you're trusting in Him to take care of you and work things out. When you do forgive, though, it sets you free...makes you feel clean...makes you feel new. It can be hard for us to forgive and it can take time for it to truly replace the pain and anger. But thank God that we don't have to forgive by ourselves. The Lord will help us, by His Holy Spirit, if we only ask Him to. And with His help, forgiveness will come to pass.

One thing that makes it easier for me to forgive others is thinking about how God forgave us. God is so good to us, so loving to us, yet everyday we sin against Him. We break His heart on a regular basis...sometimes by mistake...sometimes on purpose (knowing what's right but still doing what's wrong). But thanks be unto God, He still loves us, He still blesses us, and He still forgives us everytime we ask Him to. (See 1 John 1:9.) If He can forgive us sinners after the pain we've caused Him, if He wants us to forgive others, and if He wants to help us forgive them, then by all means I want to forgive others and please God. Don't you?

Prayer: Dear Father God, I'm sorry for all of the pain I've caused You. I'm sorry for not forgiving others. Please forgive me. Thank You. Lord, I don't understand how, but right now I forgive the ones who've wronged me. Help me by Thy Spirit to let them stay forgiven. Help me to love others. I love You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Enjoy!

Last Sunday night I enjoyed a wonderful bluegrass concert at the Imperial Theatre. My family, band, and I had been looking forward to it for over a month. That night, the theater was filled with people waiting to see the band walk on stage and fill the place with music. As I sat there, knowing that the show would begin any second, my guitar player said to me, "I wish they would go ahead and start." "Yeah," I replied, "but you should enjoy this moment. We've been waiting for a month to come to this concert. Pretty soon they'll start, the time will fly by, and it will all be over before you know it. Enjoy the moment before everything happens. You'll never live another moment exactly like this again."

After the concert, as I thought about the day's events, I recalled these words that I said. Then I realized that we, as Christians, should "enjoy the moment" all of the time. Of course I know that not every moment of our lives will be as exciting or as pleasing as being at a fantastic concert, but there is Somebody who can make even the dullest and toughest times of our lives better.

That Somebody is Jesus. You can enjoy life when you have His love in your heart. Being rich, famous, traveling the world, having tons of elite friends...I'm sure that it's probably fun, but having just that does not mean that you truly have a life of enjoyment. A life full of joy is found in Jesus. When you've given your heart and life to Him, you can experience true happiness because you realize that God - the God that created everything - loves you! (Just think about that for a moment and you'll find yourself in awe.) Another thing about having Him is that you can have peace because you know that He is with you always, wherever you go (see Matthew 28:20); He's going to make sure that things turn out good for you (see Romans 8:28). When you die He will take you safely to Heaven where He has a mansion prepared for you, where you will be with Him forever (see John 14:2-3)!

Although life at times isn't what we wish it could be, we have to remember this: many people in this world have it worse than we do. If you don't think so, go visit a hospital or a homeless shelter.

The Apostle Paul, a man who was horribly persecuted because of his faith, wrote a letter to the church in Philippi while he was in a Roman prison. In that letter he said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11) This man could have been angry and depressed because he was thrown in prison for being a Christian, but instead, he turned the problem over to God. He remembered what Jesus had done for him and he focused on the good things that Jesus was going to do for him. Doing this made his situation easier to bear and he was still able to enjoy his life.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain," isn't it? (1 Timothy 6:6) Well, I have good news for you...you can gain that. Whether life for you right now is exciting or dull, good or bad; draw near to God. Tell Him how you feel. Turn the problem over to Him. Trust in Him. Remember the great things that He has done for you, remember the wonderful things that He promises to do for you, and praise Him for that. Once you do these things, it's easier to enjoy life...anytime.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are always there for me. Whether things are wonderful or not, help me to enjoy the life that You have given me. May I always remember that I can enjoy my life because of Your love and blessings that are given to me everyday. Thank You for caring about me. Knowing that You do cheers me up even on the darkest days. When times are hard, help me to turn the problem over to You, help me to remember Your goodness, and help me to praise You for that. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (October 16th, 2003)

Royalty

This month I have discovered a life changing book for young girls called "For Such A Time As This." It's about applying Esther's godly character to our lives. This devotional book was written by Lisa Ryan, a former host of The 700 Club.

As I read from this book last week, a quote from chapter one grabbed me. It said, "You are a princess in God's court." Wow! This one sentence is an amazing truth for anyone who has Jesus in their life.

So how did this great thing come to be? It happened because of Jesus' love for us. He proved that love for us when He died for our sins on that cruel cross. But because He's God, He was raised from the dead and He defeated death, hell, and, the grave. He is the Lord of all lords, the King of all kings, and to all who believe in Him, He gives them the right to become children of God (see John 1:12).

We have the Bible to show us what to do to please God. It tells us our "duties" that we must fulfill as "princes/princesses of God." Here are four verses on the subject that I have found among the many:

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Jesus in Mark 12:30)

"If you love me, keep my commandments." (Jesus in John 14:15)

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (Jesus in John 15:12)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father [God] which is in Heaven." (Jesus in Matthew 5:16) (This verse means to show the love of God to everyone.)

So now that we know that we are royalty in God's court, let us walk as a person of His royalty...as an obedient child of God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love me so much that You have made me Your child. It's so awesome to know that I am a princess/prince in Your court...in Your kingdom that is eternal and the one that's the greatest! Lord, help me to show my love for You by obeying You always. When I do this, then I truly am royalty of God. Thank You for Your love that has caused this. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Your Gift

Whether we realize it or not, all of us have gifts that God gave us. He has given all of us a unique thing that we can do, something that others may not be able to do. He has chosen us to be here on this earth at this time to use that gift.

Maybe you have the gift of writing eloquent compositions or playing music. You might be a talented athlete or an anointed preacher. Then again, you might have a gift that can easily get unnoticed at times. You might have the gift of speaking encouraging words to a friend who feels awful. You might be a good cook or landscaper. Whatever your gift or talent is, God sees it and it is just as important as anyone else's.

Jesus said in John 15:5, "Without Me, you can do nothing." This is true whether you are a Christian or not. Without God, you wouldn't be here on this earth - nothing would be here. So anything that you have was given to you by God because He loves you. That also includes your talent, big or small.

God's Word says to "stir up the gift of God, which is in thee" (2 Timothy 1:6). To stir up your gift means to fan it into flames, practice it, use it.

There is a way to use it, and in the end, it is the only successful and satisfying way: use it for God's glory. "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17) When you use your gift for Him, you'll do better by far.

So find out what your gift or talent is. Take it seriously and use it for the Lord. He has a purpose for your life unlike anyone else's. For He has said, "I know the plans I have for you...They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 - New Living Translation)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for my life. Show me the gift that You have given me and help me to use it to glorify You always and minister to others. Thank You for that gift and the plans that You have for me. Thanks most of all for Your love. I love You, too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Looking Through The Peephole

One afternoon, several years ago when I was a little girl, I was expecting my grandmother to come over to our house. Seeing that it was about time for her to arrive, I went to the living room and decided to look outside so I could see when she pulled up in the driveway. So I stood at the door...and gazed out the peephole. Not a great view! When I looked through that peephole, things looked quite different and far away and I didn't have a full, clear view of everything. When I finally opened the front door, it was a lot easier to see everything.

As I think back on this incident, I realize that we all are looking through a peephole during certain periods of our lives. Tough circumstances arise while we are here on earth that we can't understand. But just as my front yard isn't complete without the trees and the monkey grass, God's good plans for our lives aren't complete without certain situations occurring. When things happen that aren't so pleasant, it's hard to see the full view of God working out something good in our lives. It's just like the old verse says, "Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now." (1 Corinthians 13:12 - New Living Translation)

One day, we won't be looking through a peephole trying to see the full view of God's perfect and wonderful plans that were carried out in our lives. Whether it happens here on earth or in Heaven, one day the front door's going to swing open and we'll see things for what they fully were and we'll understand how the tough situations helped make our life better...how they helped make us better for the Lord.

But what do we do while we are still looking through the peephole? We keep loving God, obeying God, and believing God. We stay confident in His promises that He gives us. We hope in Him when He says to us, " For I will work a work in your days, which ye would not believe, though it be told to you." (Habakkuk 1:5 - King James Version)

Prayer: Dear Father God, I thank You that You have plans for my life that are for my good. I thank You that You have plans for me that show that You care about me and love me. Help me to allow Your perfect will to be done in my life. Even though it's hard to say this, thank You for the tough situations that make me stronger and better in my life and walk with You. Help me, though, to stay confident in You when bad circumstances arise. Help me to remember that You have a purpose for all things and for me and Your purposes are wonderful. Remind me that I will understand it all one day. Strengthen me to always serve You. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Lot From A Little

"...Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for Him. Turning to Philip, He asked, 'Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all of these people?' He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, 'It would take a full day's wages to feed them!' Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?' 'Tell everyone to sit down,' said Jesus. So all of them - the men alone numbered five thousand - sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward, He did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 'Now gather the leftovers,' Jesus told His disciples, 'so that nothing is wasted.' There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people didn't eat!"

(John 6:5-13, New Living Translation)

Though this boy had only a little bit of food to offer, Jesus used it and made it into a lot of food. So how does this apply to our lives?

Sometimes our lives can seem as though they are useless. Sometimes it seems like we aren't smart enough or strong enough to make our life meaningful.

But, "remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish...and He chose those who are powerless...God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all." (1 Corinthians 1:26-28, NLT)

God doesn't require us to be famous, a genius, a millionaire, a person that many people adore, or a person that has lived a "life of a saint." No, He only requires one thing: willingness. Willingness to give our lives, ourselves, and everything of us to Him...that's all that God wants! Once we do this, He can transform our lives. For it's not by our power, but by His mighty power.

So our lives may have little to offer, but when we give ourselves to Jesus, He works with us and within us and He makes our little life into a meaningful life. Walking with Him is the greatest and biggest thing we could ever do in our lives!

Prayer: Dear God, I know that I cannot make my life into a blessed one full of meaning by myself. But You can, Lord, and that is why I come to You. I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and I accept Him into my heart and life. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness, I pray, for I am sorry for it. I give myself to You and ask You to help me to live the life that You would want me to live - one full of Your Peace, Joy, Strength, Purpose, and Holy Spirit. Thank You that I don't have to be a "brilliant person" in order for You to love me. I love You, too, Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (June 17th, 2003)

Thoughts On Communicating With God

Although I may not explain it to you the way a great theologian would, I can tell you from my heart and from my own experiences what prayer means to me. Prayer opens the door to the Kingdom of God -- it's the thing that allows us to "stand boldly before His Throne of Grace." (Hebrews 4:16) It sounds like a gigantic action, doesn't it? Well, it is a powerful thing, but it's not all that hard to do.

Prayer is a conversation with God. It's simply talking to Him like you would talk to a close friend. Unlike most people, though, you can tell God what you really feel and think, and he won't get mad at you or think you're stupid. He delights in you bearing your heart and soul to Him.

Anytime is a good time to pray. The Bible says in First Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing." Imagine that you had a friend who was spending the day with you. No matter where you went or what you did, you would communicate with that person because it would hurt their feelings if you didn't. Well, if you have accepted Jesus into your heart, then you have a friend who spends the days with you. His Name is The Holy Spirit. He is God, the third person of the Trinity, and He loves for us to talk with Him.

Of course, we can't always verbally talk to God, but there are other ways to pray. You can pray in your mind, you can pray through praise and worship songs, or you can pray by writing letters or diary entries to God. But no matter how you may pray, pray in Jesus' Name. For He is the way to the Father. (John 14:6)

There are many great promises in the Bible about prayer. Here are a few of them:

"The Lord is near unto all that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth." (Psalms 145:18)
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (God in Jeremiah 33:3)

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made unto this place." (God in Second Chronicles 7:14-15)

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him [God], that if we ask anything according to His Will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we've desired of Him."  (First John 5:14-15)

"Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you...If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?" (Jesus in Matthew 7:7, 11 - King James Version and New Living Translation)

"...For your Father [God] knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." (Matthew 6:6)

Some people think that there is no point in praying because of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:6. But the Lord wants us to pray. Jesus prayed (see Mark 6:46) and many times in His Word He tells us to pray, to ask, to seek, and to knock. Imagine if you had a child that you loved dearly. Let's say that child had some desires and needs that you knew about, yet that child wouldn't tell you. You would feel hurt, wouldn't you? In the same way, God is a loving parent and is hurt when we withhold things from Him.

Well, I hope that these things I have said to you will encourage you to communicate with God. Remember, prayer is a conversation, so God will respond to you. He may not speak with an audible voice, but His Spirit can speak to you through the Bible, your conscious, your feelings, an opportunity, a circumstance, a song, a testimony, a sermon, or a friend. So be alert and listen. God will always listen to you when you pray.

So go ahead...talk to Him. He's longing to hear from you. He's only a prayer away.

(Now it's time for you to pray. I've included parts of a suggested prayer. Wherever you see "...", that's where you say your own personal prayer to the Lord.)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come into my heart and take my sins away... Help me to make prayer a major part of my life... May I always find You when I pray... I thank You for... I ask You to help these people and situations... Help me in these areas of my life... In Jesus' Holy Name I pray. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (May 12th, 2003)

Butterfly Syndrome

Spring has sprung! I'm very happy that it has come. I love spring because, to me, nature is at its prime and it brings me closer to God. Whenever I step outside and feel the warmth of the sun, I feel His Love. When the flowers bloom, I smell the fragrance of Heaven. When the trees are boldly green and the sky is a deep blue, I catch a glimpse of that promised land where the Lord's children will spend eternity. When the wind blows, I feel as though my Heavenly Father has whispered, "I love you and have made this beauty for our enjoyment."

But the greatest thing of spring is to see the lovely monarch and lime colored butterflies flutter happily through the air. It reminds me of the power of God that transforms lives. A child of God has something I like to call "butterfly syndrome." Butterfly syndrome happens when 2 Corinthians 5:17 has come into effect in our lives. That verse says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Before we ever knew Christ, our life was like a bleak, cold, harsh winter. We were like a caterpillar - not pretty. Inside there was a void, and until it was filled, a beautiful life couldn't be attained.

But then, one day, we met Jesus Christ. We accepted His Love and Forgiveness and we were transformed into something wonderful. "...The new had come!" Just as the caterpillar turned into a glorious butterfly, we had become a "new creation." This came through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. And unlike our physical bodies, as we get some age on our faith, it just gets better and better because "as the clay is in the potter's hands, we are in God's Hands." (Jeremiah 18:6) God works with us like a potter works with clay. The Lord will mold us and make us after His good will, if we only ask Him to. If we get a flaw in us, He'll work with us to get it out and make us better.

So I encourage you this day, if you don't have "butterfly syndrome," catch it, keep it, and pass it on to someone else. Remember, Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (see John 10:10).

Prayer: Dear God, fill me with Your Love and sweet Holy Spirit. Forgive me of the sins of the old life without You and give me a new blessed life through Your Son, Jesus. Let me be in Your Hands as clay is in a potter's hands. Make me into something beautiful for You and others. Thank You for everything. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (April 19th, 2003)

Time, Life, & Change

On the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2003, I experienced a drastic change in my life. On that date, my grandfather, Billy Mack Eubanks, died at the age of 69. I would have never expected anything like this to happen while I was still a child - it always seemed way down the road of my life.

The passing of my grandfather has shown me a profound truth that I have known for a long time. Time is a gift from God but change can come unexpectedly. Life is short. The Bible says, "Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been there." (Psalms 103:15-16 NLT) God's Word also says, "Whereas ye know not what shall be of tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) No matter how old or young we are, we don't have the promise of tomorrow. That's why we need to be ready when the Lord calls us, when it's our time to go.

Jesus came so death didn't have to be a horrible thing for us. He wants to take us to Heaven when we die because He loves us. All you have to do is accept Him into your heart and life. Don't put off accepting Him because you might not be here tomorrow to do it then. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to born, and a time to die..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) Pa (that's what I called my grandfather) had his season here on earth. While he was here, he accepted Jesus Christ. He didn't have to worry about dying because Jesus gave him eternal life in Heaven. And he didn't have to worry about life because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) and Jesus said, "Don't worry about tomorrow." (Matthew 6:34 NLT) When you trust in Jesus, you are in the palm of God's Hand and no one can take you out of His Hand. He'll give His angels charge over you, to keep you. (See Psalm 91:11)

Of course it hurts not having my grandfather here. I miss Pa and it makes you feel different when a loved one isn't here. But I thank God for all the good memories; I loved Pa and he loved me. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) I know that it's easy to think, "How could anything good come from this?" but let me tell you some of the good things that has come from this experience. My grandfather is now in Heaven; he's in a land where there is no pain or sickness, no sorrow, no more parting, no dying, no growing old - a place where joy is in every second of eternal life! And this experience has caused my family and I to come closer to God. It has also encouraged us to stay Heaven bound.

And I encourage you to stay ready for God's call into the life after death. You don't know when that call will come, but if you trust in Jesus, you don't have to worry about time, life, and it's changes or about death.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I accept Your Son, Jesus, into my heart. Take my sins away and help me to live by Your Word. Help me to not be afraid of living, the changes life may bring, or death. Help me to just trust in You and not waste my time here on earth. Keep me ready for Your Call. Thank You for my life, Your Love, and Your Promise of Heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Battle

Sin, doing wrong...it's something we all have to deal with. No matter who we are or how long we'll live, we'll have to fight a battle with sin and temptations.

The battle of sin and temptations has been going on since God created the earth and man. We're all familiar with the story of Genesis 3, the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Since that day, sin has been a problem for every person.

But there is hope...the love of God. Even though God despises sin, even though He knows everything about us (see Psalm 139:1), He loved us so much that He made a way for us to have fellowship with Him again. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

God loved you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for your sins and give you eternal life. He doesn't want to condemn you, He wants to forgive you and help you live right for Him. Just as Jesus said to the woman whom He saved from her stoning for her transgressions, He says this to you, "Neither, do I condemn thee: go and sin no more." (John 8:11)

As long as we're on this earth, we will have to fight this battle of sin, but we don't have to fight it alone. Jesus Christ walks by our side and the Holy Spirit fills us with His strength to do what is right. There will be times when we slip and fall, "for he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust" (Psalms 103: 14 - God knows that we are only human), but "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

God loves you just the way you are and He can make your life beautiful and new. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I know that sin is what separates me from You. Thank You, though, that You loved me so much that You sent Jesus to die for my sins. I accept Him into my heart. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness and help me to live for You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Press On

Life, at times, can be confusing. Troubling situations can come that make us wonder what God is doing. Maybe you're longing to know the answer to a question that life has thrown at you. At times you may feel that you want to stop in your walk with Jesus because you don't know how to go on. But remember this verse:

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: Then He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in spring." (Hosea 6:3 - King James Version & New Living Translation)

Talk to God, read His Word, seek His face, praise Him for his blessings, just don't stop walking with Him. Like Hosea 6:3 says, we shall know if we follow on to know the Lord.

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye search for me with all your heart...Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 29:12-13, 33:3)

The key is to press on, and I encourage you to do this. I've seen God's promises fulfilled and when I kept following Jesus, life's confusion started to fade away and His Peace came. So, my friend...

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your unplowed ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help us in life's confusion, in the times when we can't see clearly. Guide us and help us to continue to seek You. And when we seek You, let Your Peace fill our lives. Thank you for your love for us and be with us in the name of Jesus. Amen.