Getting Hungry

After three to four days of failed fasting, I succeeded.  But, Emily, how can you possibly succeed after failing? Well, let me explain.

So I initially started my fast on Sunday morning.  I was ready to go and pumped about it.  That entire day, I was successful in abstaining from food.  "No problem, God. I got this," was my thought.  Then dinner came along and I caved.  I compromised my fast just because I didn't want my parents to feel bad about cooking such a great meal and have me not eat.  Hm . . . Monday morning, oh boy did I fail. I nibbled on a strawberry, spitting it out after realizing that I was supposed to continue my fast.  Tuesday I was successful the entire day.  And I am proud to say that today I was successful until (obviously) I ended my fast.

So what did I get out of that?  How am I concluding that I succeeded after obviously failing in my attempts to deprive myself of food?  

Simple.  In my attempts to deprive myself of food and search for spiritual dependency, I noticed that I was leaning on my own confidence and strength thinking that I could handle an easy fast by myself when I should have had total dependence on Christ.  In other words, I had more worldly dependency than spiritual dependency. 

Silly me.  

I need(ed) to depend 100% on God and go to him when I felt hungry.  I did for a majority of the fast . . . but in those few times that I didn't, I compromised myself.  

And that makes me think: Am I going to compromise myself and what I believe when something real (outside of a fast) comes my way?  

Am I going to lean on my own understanding and be confident in my flesh when I should be leaning on the Holy Spirit's guidance?  

When I'm so hungry for (spiritual) nourishment, who or what am I going to dive after?  Is my first resort worldly nourishment or the only satisfying nourishment my body can get (that being God, the sustainer of life)?

See, in my vulnerability (hunger and wanting to taste something), I caved and went after food without first seeking the Father.  What does that make me think of myself?  Oo-wee, I need a spiritual bath and to stop being so confident in myself.  "I got this, God," is an attitude that doesn't reflect a heart totally relying upon Christ.  See, I don't always "got this".  I can't; I'm limited.  

For spiritual dependency, one needs to rely on the power of God, not the worldly "wisdom" of the world.  One should not rely on what they hear or see (even if it's your own words and "logical" train of thought as to how valid it is to eat that strawberry during your fast or not), but on God alone.

And it seems that when you get spiritual dependency- or perhaps actually depend on God- He reveals wisdom through the Holy Spirit.  And get this: it's free!  Oh, guess what!  There's more.  The Holy Spirit will also teach truth, reveal spiritual value vs. the values of the world, and help give you the mind of God.  Spiritual dependency directs your christian living.  When you just shut up and stop thinking so highly of yourself, you will develop a spiritual dependency on God and not on man.

Where are you getting this from, Emily? Oh you know . . . just the good ol' Word of God.  *cough* 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 *cough* 

Also, I just want to emphasize this verse, as it had a lot of impact on me:

". . . I relied on God's Spirit to demonstrate God's power.  If this were not so, your faith would be based on human wisdom and not the power of God." (My bible is "The Voice" version, and I happen to be a huge fan of it.)

A Key to the Kingdom

Friends:

I'm going to Alaska, and as I prepare myself mentally, physically, spiritually . . . I decided to take on a fast. And today, I was revealed some things:

Fasting is a key that can bring us into kingdom living; it's a means of suffering for the Lord.  I mean, really, what's a few days without food when Jesus was beaten almost to the point of death for us? Fasting for a few days is like getting something in your eye and having it irritate you in comparison to what He went through.

So why fast? Well, some of the main points for fasting are to cleanse ourselves spiritually and to open up our spiritual eyes.  Fasting is basically telling your earthly body, "Hey . . . Christ Jesus is much stronger than you and your worldly desires and needs, so I'm going to rely on Him . . . not you."  We must put our flesh and worldly "strength" into submission/subjection to the Spirit (Matt. 4:4).  Fasting builds our Faith and makes it easier to hear God's voice.  When we fast, we should be seeking Him only and focusing on Him.  The more you do that and rely on Him for sustainability (He is the Rock after all . . why not build your foundation on that?) the more in tune you are going to get with Him.

Now, Matthew 6:16-18 tells us to fast secretly.  So y'all suppose I'm telling the blog-world a secret . . . and that's a no-no! Tsk tsk! Emily is not doing it right!  Well, I don't think that's really the point here.  I think in saying that we should fast in secret means that we should fast for the Lord and for Him only.  That's right.  You heard me.  Not for us- although we want to receive things from it- but completely for the Lord.  We should not boast around and make it a huge show for all of mankind that we are fasting.  We shouldn't go around struttin' our stuff saying, "Oh, woe me! I'm starving since I'm fasting. Look at me! I'm suffering!"  That sort of takes away from that intimate time between you and God and makes it a prideful act.  That isn't a pure motive.  That isn't a pure anything.  That would be you wanting to glorify yourself- a gain for yourself and not Christ.  Our heart attitudes must be right and pure in order to produce spiritual results!  You can't possibly have the right motives while continuing in your pride and expect to gain spiritual results (Jeremiah 14:10;12)!

People, how can a show all about you possibly be about God?

So that, my friends, is what it means (in my opinion) to fast in secret.  Sure, you can fast and not tell anyone.  There's really nothing wrong in that.  But again, I think the point is to not flaunt this intimate and spiritual time with the whole world.

And that's what I was shown today.  That is all my friends.

Many blessings and much love,

Emily

Facade

I'm inhaling but I can't breathe
You've sucked the life from my lungs
Can you taste it?
Now I'm shriveled up and in heaves
I'm swept away by the blasts you throw at me
And im shattered but I still see
Have my bones pierced your words yet?
I'm scattered on the floor but my corneas still remain at the height of deception
But your deception has not deceived me
So when I search for some light
But all they see is your smile beaming at me
I see
The filth and grime that has built up but it won't build up on me
I can see
The facade and I will brush you away
By the skin of my teeth
I will untangle you from my very being
You will see. . .

part 3

my pulse waits for you

holds in anticipation

my lungs fail to work

you’ve snatched up my words

that wait to reverberate

exhale of relief

superfluous arent

meaningless words that linger

leave no mark to trace

lacking in over-

used sayings that hold no truth  

no words say it all

part 2

the tide drew her in
you rowed out to sea
to see if you could
grasp on to your dream

waves push her closer
currents keep you far
push through the whitecaps
drawing in her heart

send out the lifeboat
with you in its core
throw her your life ring
she'll join you on board

row back together
to sand covered shore
grasp onto her heart
join into accord

snowflake

intricate design
you write your will as you stride
to my hand-- your grave

part 1

waiting at the shore
its waters erode the grains
rolling o'er again

currents bring her near
but each tide draws her away
she sits on the boat

helpless like a child
whose mother has yet to wean
waters fight for her

alas, still you sit
as you still wait on the shore
winds will win the war

sails trap air to guide
gently she will make her way
to your open shore

but you, build an oar
so that you might reach her to
help her to your shore

Action: Normal is Not Enough

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:1-2

We see in John 21 that Peter, after following Jesus for three years, had seen all the miracles and heard all the parables. He was there when Jesus, died, he was the first to discover that He rose from the dead, and he was front and center as Jesus ascended into heaven. After seeing all this, Peter pondered what he was going to do with his life. His resolve to his friends was, “I’m going fishing”. So in spite of all the miracles and life-changing encounters that Peter had experienced, he still had this lingering thought of what a “normal life” was…fishing. He was going to go back to what he knew; back to the comfort of the known.

We look at the ordinary as the way things are supposed to be. Our equilibrium as humans is constantly geared toward, “Let's go back to what we know lets go back to the way it used to be; lets go back to what’s familiar.” So, if we become familiar or used to this culture that constantly criticizes Christian values, that constantly portrays purity and virtue as something to be scoffed at, then we might just start to think it’s normal.

Instead of accepting life how it is and allowing it to hypnotize us into mediocrity, we must set our hearts and minds on things above as it says in Colossians 3:1-2. Ask yourself, what do I really want to be influenced by? What a tragedy it would have been if Peter never changed his perception of normal and never became a “fisher of men."

~ Written by Bryn, an Honor Academy Intern

Action: No One Else But You

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:13-14

Have you ever thought that you were worthless and that God could never use you? If you are willing, I want you to think deeply about anyone who is exactly like you in every single way. If we could search the entire world of people who are alive right now and even all the people who are dead, we would not find anyone like you.

Jeremiah 1:5 says that "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." He knew you and consecrated you for His good purposes. If we really begin to think about God’s love for us, we would find that He trusted you to complete His plans and His purposes. Only you have the talents and abilities that God can use to impact this world to advance His Kingdom. There is no one else who can do what you can do. There is no one else who can minister to the heart of God like you can, because you were made uniquely in His eyes. No one else can complete the plans He has for you; not Ron Luce, not Billy Graham, not your pastor, not your parents, not your friends or your siblings. God has unique and awesome plans for you, and only you can complete them.

Take hold of that plan and seek after God.

~ Written by Angel, an Honor Academy Alumni

How would act differently if you were continually confident in the fact that what you were made for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill? Walk out today in that confidence!

Action: Qualified

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

What’s your response when people ask great things of you? I’m not smart enough for that, I’m not athletic enough to do this; you should find someone more qualified. No matter how unqualified you are, God often uses the most unlikely people to do His greatest works.

That’s exactly what he did with Gideon in Judges 6. It was a desperate time for the Israelites, who had been captured by the Midianites. God came to Gideon and said “Go and save Israel from the Midianites, I am with you!” (Judges 6:14, TLB). But Gideon had a whole list of reasons why God couldn’t use him. “My family is the poorest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least thought of in the entire family!” (verse 15). Gideon was saying, “You couldn’t possibly use someone like me!” But the Angel of the Lord looked at Gideon and said, “But I…will be with you! And you shall quickly destroy the Midianite hordes!” (verse 16).

God was saying, “You’ve got courage, and I have the power. Now stand up and let me use you to make a difference in your world.”

God still needs people to do His work. So forget all those reasons why He can’t use you. If you have the courage, He has the power! Stand strong today and let Him use you to change the world.

~ Written by Bryn, an Honor Academy Intern

Do you ever hold yourself back because you believe that you are not qualified? God does not call the equipped, He equips the called! Simply obey His calling and He will provide everything that you need for success.

Action: A Heart Alive

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6

A.W. Tozer once said, "There is a God-sized hole in everyone's heart that only God can fill." Often times we look to all kinds of 'other' things to meet our needs. We go that boy, girl, party, sport, TV show, drug, style, music or whatever the world may offer so that we can have an instant "aliveness" and instant purpose. Whenever you start to feel like you need something to feel alive, stop and realize that our desires are God-given. God created us to feel alive and meaningful so that we would go to Him to fill our needs. You are free, so go to Him and know that He will fill you to the brim and overflowing (Psalm 23:5).

So, next time you're in a rush to go hang out with that guy or go to that party, ask yourself where those desires are coming from, so that you can channel them into going after Him. Only He will satisfy your soul. Only with Him can you dream big. Only with Him will you be able to channel your passions in freedom for the purpose of His glory. GOD gives you the ultimate alive heart and He is the true fulfillment of our desires!

~ Written by Briana, an Honor Academy Alumni

Pause and think about the desires in your heart. Psalm 37:4 says to "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." So, go delight yourself in the Lord today and allow Him to meet every desire of your heart.

Unfinished essay...

Time alone stands still for some.

I watch the clock; to its torture I succumb.

I hear its click; it never fades!

It’s an everlasting echo; it plays and plays.

I sit in fear, watching, waiting.

When will this nightmare start deteriorating?

I am trapped in time. I wish for tomorrow.

I am mocked by the hands that point and my sorrow.

Two hours and counting.  I still haven’t finished compiling all of the possible outcomes, ideas, combinations. Two hours and counting. I am still calculating to find the best approach for starting this essay.  Several lists later- all of which have mini lists within them- and I still haven’t come up with the best option.  And now I am sitting here, watching the clock strike three.  Nothing.  None of it is good enough.

I don’t suffer from writer’s block.  I don’t.  Rather, I tend to have too much to say, but I cannot seem to formulate the best way to spiel information into coherent sentences.  Instead, I sit for hours at a time, much like now, trying to design the most logical and effective list I can in order to accomplish that task in the most time-efficient manner.  But, as a result of this compulsory need to find the best approach, I end up wasting more time.  My effort to eliminate wasted time, therefore, ends up wasting more time.  I can’t win.

As I was preparing for college, I wrote dozens of different potential schedules to ensure myself that I could find the most logical way to complete all of my courses.  Needless to say, I found the best one and am following suit according to that list.  I’m in my second semester currently, and I have devised such a perfect schedule that if the school doesn’t offer that particular course for that certain semester, I have an alternative route that will accomplish all of the courses needed just as required.

A simple grocery list will turn into multiple paths in which I can navigate my way through a store in the least amount of time.  These mentally devised routes are planned to strategically obtain each grocery item in the fastest time, all while cutting out unnecessary aisles.  The store is the maze, and I am the lab rat.  Check-out lines are subconsciously calculated in my mind.  I observe each line, number of persons, amount of contents each person has, as well as the speed of the cashier.  Through process of elimination, I find the quickest line.

It’s almost an obsession.  Or perhaps it already is an obsession. 

Action: Obedience vs. Comfort

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice." - 1 Samuel 15:22

Sometimes your courage in standing up for the Lord will cause you to do things that might seem illogical to other people. In those moments we must remember that no matter what the cost, no matter how hard it might seem, it is more important to be obedient to God than to be “comfortable”.

An inspiring example of someone who gave up all comfort in their obedience to God is Paul in the book of Acts. After traveling all over the known world, preaching and enduring much persecution, Paul was headed back to Jerusalem. On the way back he stopped to fellowship with some of the people he had won to the Lord. In many places the people warned him, “Don’t go back to Jerusalem because you will be put in prison” (Acts 20 and 21)

But Paul answered them, “I am going to Jerusalem…not knowing what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love” (Acts 20:22-24, TLB). It’s as though Paul said, “you know it just doesn’t matter what happens to me. I have got to obey God and do what I know is right. I believe that my faith, my life and my future are in God’s hands.”

~ Written by Bryn, an Honor Academy Intern

Are you willing to live in this kind of radical obedience to the Lord? Or does comfort keep you from giving your entirety? Sometimes people prefer to sacrifice something in their life rather than do the hard work of being obedient to God. Is that you? Seek to be obedient to God above all else!

Action: Relentlessly Pursue His Love

"'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:31

If you’ve stepped outside lately, which I hope you have, you are aware of the hurt, pain, and rejection our world is drowning in. Because we are hurt and hurting, we tend to hurt those around us because we don’t know what else to do. Do you know that God loves you? When we felt rejected, hurt, and alone, consider this: He pursues us with a relentless love. No matter what we did against Him, He continues to love us, regardless of our past or present sin. He will continue to love us regardless of what we do. He loves us because He created you and me and we are crazy valuable to Him! Don’t forget that.

Think about the people you interact with everyday. Do they know how special they are to their Creator? Do they know how highly He values them? Have they been shown the love of Christ? If not, what can you do about it? Before you start to question how you can help or become intimidated by the thought of sharing God with your friends (gasp!), think back to a time when you were really feeling alone and unloved. Maybe you’re feeling that way now. Sometimes we need to be reminded of our value and importance to others through unconditional love from those around us. During those hard times, it would’ve helped to have someone who you know loves you to be with you. We all long to be loved. Mark 12:31 tells us to love others as we love ourselves. Show love to the hurting. Just as Christ relentlessly pursued you with love, relentlessly pursue those around you.

Go out of your way to show God’s love to them in little ways. Trust me, they’ll notice. I’m sure you’ve been challenged to do something like sit with the lonely girl at lunch, but I’m also almost as sure that you haven’t done it. This small task is small enough for you to ignore without your conscious getting upset, but big enough to make all the difference in the world when that girl holds a razor to her wrist and wonders if anyone sees her. No, this isn’t overly dramatic, this is real. Don’t underestimate how much those around you are hurt and how much of a difference you could make. Don’t just love those who are hurting, but also those who appear to be doing just fine. So fine, in fact, that they have enough vigor to pick on those around them. We are told to love those who hate us and pray for those who persecute us in Matthew 5:44. Why? Because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Believe it or not, the anger and bitterness these people are showing outwardly stems from a deep rooted hurt that has never been dealt with. When they are alone at night, I promise they don’t feel rough and tough then, but small. They need to be shown the Love of Christ just as much as anyone else.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Sit with the girl who is sitting alone. (Really. It’s a good one.)
2. Write an encouraging note to someone who struggles with self esteem.
3. Be approachable for others; listen and respond with kindness and love.
4. Invest in and keep up a relationship with the friendless.
5. Ask, “How are you” and care what the answer is.
6. Invite your quiet and seemingly upset classmate to get coffee or go bowling.

Invest in one another, share an encouraging word, take action with a kind gesture, write notes, spend time listening and watch for opportunities to share God's Love to another!

~ Written by Hannah, an Honor Academy Alumni

I challenge you not to just read over these words and think, “Yeah, that’s a good idea,” but to make a point to show someone that they are valued and loved. Please don’t underestimate the influence you can have on a life

Essay

The sunlight seeping through the mini-blinds pry open my eyes to the start of a new day.  I slowly saunter my way through the house, still disorientated from sleep.  I grab my cup of tea and prepare for what lies ahead.
In the car, I recite all that I know; I repeat potential dialects verbally to myself as if I were communicating with another human.  I crack open a window and let the cold winter air sting my cheeks.  The wind squeezes itself into my vehicle, filling the voids with its chill.
My feet hit the pavement.  The soles of my shoes form to the rubble with each impact I make with the ground.  I tune into the sound of people's footsteps of perhaps rush, eagerness, or anxiety due to maybe hitting the snooze button one too many times.
When I step into the building, warmth encompasses my entire being.  When I arrive at my workplace, I crack open my mind; I am ready to engage in the work that consumes my life.
I open the book and begin the grueling process of translating each word and idea into languages that are in danger of being forgotten.  It's time consuming and repetitious, but gratification in knowing I made text accessible to someone who didn't think it was possible overwhelms the negative aspects of my career.  Preserving languages and keeping communication alive is my passion.  My love of languages overpowers the dread of work and turns it into a hobby, or perhaps a way of life.  This is where I am, and it is where I have always wanted to be.  So this is where I will stay.

Action: The Diligent Shall Not Be Enslaved

"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor." - Proverbs 12:24

Solomon, in all his wisdom, makes a very bold statement here. Those who are not diligent will not rule, but will become slaves. Let us unpack this and see what it means in our lives.

What is diligence? The definition of diligence acording to Webster is "assiduous application; meticulous care or application." So, if you were to be called diligent, you would be one who takes meticulous care in the things you do. When Solomon wrote this, he wrote it to you and me. He is saying that if you are meticulous in the things you do, then you will rule and you will not become slaves. If we are to lead the body of Christ then we must be diligent in our Christian walk. We must be diligent in the searching of our hearts or we will not rule, we will fall, and we will become enslaved to sin which so easily entangles.

Let's take a look at King David, the man after God's own heart. The King of Israel one day decided to take a stroll on his porch and he saw a lady bathing herself. Rather than turning away and diligently ridding himself of small, toxic thoughts, he sent for her and felt the sting of this sin for the rest of his life.

Think back to the people of Israel, God's Chosen People. Do you remember each time Israel became enslaved? How did this keep happening? It began with neglecting to take care of one little thing and then it got worse and worse, eventually leading to their full rebellion and eventual enlsavement to another nation.

Galatians 5:9 says that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough." I don't know about you, but after reading this verse I don't want to be slacking off or tolerating the little sins in my life. I want to be diligent so that I don't have to be handed off to my enemy to be destroyed. I would rather be cured of my sin by Jesus's grace by coming to Him in repentance. I would rather be diligent than be slack and be torn to pieces by my enemies.

So, what does this mean? How can we become people who are diligent? What was Paul's key to success? Read the verse below:

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." - 2 Corinthians 10:5-6

This was Paul's key to success. His focus was to demolish every pretention, everything that went against the knowledge of God. He took every evil thought and made it obey and submit under Christ's glorious authority. This verse is full of success! Paul woke up every day considering his ways and testing them to that of Christ. He would test every thought, every action and whatever ones were in rebellion against the very nature of God, he rebuked, nailed to the cross and left them for Christ to trample under his feet.

We must be diligent in our faith. We must be meticulous in seeking out the blemishes inside us. We must be focused on aligning ourselves to Christ ,and ridding ourselves of the blemishes. We must be people who are meticulous and serious about the things of God. We must be people who do as Colossians 3 says and set our minds and hearts on things above. We must be people who practice diligence. We must make our obedience complete.

~ Written by Otis, an Honor Academy Alumni

Are you diligent in searching your heart and bringing the sin in it to Christ to destroy? A small leak will sink a big ship. Don't get sunk! May you be challenged and encouraged today to evaluate your actions and thoughts according to Christ, knowing that He is the power that will cleanse us as white as snow.

Vision: Calling to Action

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

In looking at Ephesians 2:10, we learn that the gifts and callings of God have been prepared for us to do. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. In other words, there is an important, unchanging aspect of your life’s assignment for which God has both gifted and called you. He doesn’t change it or revoke it along the way of your life. The way in which you fulfill your calling or the circumstances or vehicle through which you express it may change several times, but the calling itself remains constant.

So what does this mean as we ponder what sphere of influence we are called to? How do we know this “calling”? As we look at the various areas of society in which culture has influenced (family, business, education, religion, media, government and entertainment), we become more aware that the world needs believers in each of the cultural areas who know why they are there and what God has called them to do.

When you consider the issues in the world, what burdens your heart? Is it laws, economics, hurting families, education, media, etc? Most certainly, there is a spark of interest or concern you have. Through prayer, our calling is made clear to us. Once we find ourselves thinking about and interested in an issue or subject, we explore this area more deeply and often, it is revealed to our hearts that we need to take action in that area.

Let’s consider a person directed by God to a career in business. Perhaps this person is not pastoral, yet he/she is gifted to create wealth, to build the kingdom of God. Of course he/she seeks to honor God and advance in business, but his/her primary emphasis is different. With proper clarity of calling he/she can be successful in his/her sphere and gifting while taking action in a purposeful life for Christ.

An insightful example is the life of William Wilberforce. He carried a burden for the issue of slavery in his heart and mind. He struggled for a time on how to live out this calling; to go into full time ministry or to enter the sphere of government and politics. One thing was certain; he knew he was stirred by God to plead the case of those oppressed by this injustice. As we know, Wilberforce chose government to pursue the fulfillment of his calling, which served as the tool through which he lived his life calling. He first had a burden in his soul for the injustice of slavery, and then he understood God’s assignment for his life and headed in the direction in which he could fulfill his calling. Without Wilberforce’s relentless pursuit and dedication to outlaw the injustice of slavery, the end of the slave trade in England might never have been established.

It is those who identify and understand their gifts and callings who have a spirit of persistence to run their divine race that influence and shape the world!

So for each of us, understanding the matter of God’s call upon our lives is paramount. As we follow Jesus in obedience to the Word and listen in prayer, the direction will become evident. Often, others will see how the Lord uses our lives and encourages us.

No matter what sphere of influence we are in, we have the assurance that by operating in our God-given gifts, the fruit of our lives will yield a harvest. Living our calling will most assuredly enlarge the Kingdom and bring satisfaction to our souls.

~ Written by Tonjua Shepherd, an Honor Academy Staff Member

What stirs your heart? What draws you that others are not particularly interested in? Bring this to the Lord and ask Him if He would use this in your life to make His Name great!

Vision: You Have a Callling

"They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city." - Acts 14:19-20

What better calling could you have on your life than to have the calling of God? God does not call the equipped, He equips the called! And let this be known, YOU have been called. God has designed you specifically to impact the lives of many.

The moment God revealed Himself to you, a clear calling has been placed on your life. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Not only this, but Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28 to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

With this great calling, to love God and His people with all that we are as well as make disciples of all the nations, we cannot simply sit idly by! Ask God to keep this vision for His Kingdom white hot in your heart so that you will not perish (Proverbs 29:18). As the fire of our calling to know God and make Him known consumes our heart, we will become men and women who are steadfast in our pursuit of Him.

Like Paul in Acts 14:19-23, who was stoned, left for dead and then got back up and went back into the city, let us, as people who have encountered God, pursue God with the same tenacity!

~ Written by Matt, an Honor Academy Alumni

Perhaps God has yet to reveal a specific vision for your life. That’s ok! Continue to pursue this grand vision, to know God and make Him known, and He will guide your steps towards the practical, specific path that He wants you to take.

Vision: Don't be Afraid to be Different

"Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2

I’m here to tell you its okay to be different! You were not designed to fit in with the world. This was an issue throughout my high school.

I was tired of being the “good girl” and wanted to be the “fun girl”. I let myself go and I became just that. I wore the right clothes, said the right things, and had the cool boyfriend, but I was crying myself to sleep. I wasn’t created to be that! It wasn’t until I lost it all that I realized the Lord had called me out; He had chosen me to be a daughter of the Most High God. I was in the world, but not designed to be of it.

So, my fellow generation, do not be afraid to live out loud! You were created with a purpose. He has divinely set you apart! You and you alone can fulfill the calling He has placed on your life. Renew your mind daily, speak the truth over yourself, and remember His promises.

Now go for it! Live out what He has called you to do, and rejoice in your differences!

~ Written by Courtney, an Honor Academy Alumni

When you put a jagged rock in a river it eventually becomes smooth because it is being washed over by a continual stream of water. In the same way, read the Word of God daily and allow your thoughts, words and actions to become smooth as His Living Water daily washes over you.

Vision: Building Friendships with the Future in Mind

"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." - Proverbs 14:15

I am no expert on the subject, but I do know a thing or two when it comes to being a girl and having many guy friends. I grew up very rural and come from a community where everyone knows everyone’s families. With only 24 classmates, my class was like a big family. I lived on a farm/ranch and learned how to be rough and tough – a tomboy. My mom was a tomboy growing up, and I had a younger brother and a dad. All of the ingredients were there. Because of this I got along great with guys and had many male friendships.

When I came to the Honor Academy, I still found it easier to relate to guys and I would tend to lean toward their friendships. I’ve always had many close friends that are girls as well, but my primary preference was playing with the boys. During my first year as an intern at the Honor Academy, I got the privilege to have a wisdom lunch with the co-founder and wife of the President of Teen Mania, Katie Luce. I got to ask her questions and one of them was about guy friendships. Since I had been at the ministry, we were encouraged to find accountability within the same gender. Same gender this, same gender that… I was inquiring if there was something wrong with being close friends with guys. I was never inappropriate with them nor did I ever lead them. I never let them think that I was desirable and I wanted all the attention. I just enjoyed the activities and the mannerisms associated with the male gender.

Mrs. Katie Luce said something I’ll never forget. She said that when you get married, your guy friends fade into the distance. It is important to find and invest in those friendships that will last and are appropriate for the rest of your life. She gave me a relatable advice, since she grew up with a similar mindset and had many male friends previous to her marriage. She spoke of one example where she and Ron had just recently been married, and Ron was out of town at an event or conference. She had not gone with him for some reason and was tending to things at home. One of her guy friends in the area stopped by and asked if he could visit for a bit. As he was a good friend, she thought nothing harmful of it. It was after he left that she realized how the situation appeared. If anybody would have seen this there could have been rumors and assumptions. I just wasn’t worth it. From that point forward, unless one of her guy friends was acquainted with her husband, she could not spend time and invest in that friendship.

We are made for relationship, but we need to give thought to the friendships we invest in.
~ Written by Ranee, an Honor Academy Alumni

It has been said that if you want to know who you'll be in 6 months, just look at your friends. Who are your close friends? Would you want to look like them in 6 months? The wise gives thought to their ways..