I am a recovering Army brat who loves to travel and start new adventures. My handsome husband and I met at Oklahoma Christian University and he whisked me away to Kansas. So, I bought some ruby red high heels and made Topeka my home. I have a rough and rowdy Princess 4-year-old girl, amazing twin boys (almost 3) and a newborn baby girl who all make every day an adventure. We are grateful to be part of an amazing church in Topeka who regularly challenges and encourages our whole family. I have been both a full-time working mom and a stay-at-home-mom and/or both at the same time at one point or another. I am constantly seeking God’s wisdom on “balancing it all” and following His plan for my life, not mine.
Disclaimer: We did receive a copy of this book to review but all opinions are 100% are own.
It happens every election cycle. The nation seems to be in a desperate place and voters are full of fear at what might come.
Fear. It permeates our world, it seems to inform our desperate actions and somehow it has begun to permeate our faith.
In a time when it seems like a default for us to fear what is going on in our county, Onward by Dr. Russell Moore was a great reminder of our real purpose for our time here: to further the kingdom of God.
Don’t get me wrong, elections ARE important, they are extremely significant. They do effect our daily lives and they do play a part in setting the trajectory of our nation and society. To be completely candid, I work in politics and I genuinely feel a call on my life in this area. At the same time, God has shown me repeatedly that at the end of it all, he knows what is written on the scrolls and He alone can open them as Revelation 5 assures.
It is refreshing to read a book describing how in reality, we ARE losing the culture battle between our secular society and the values of our faith. Christians ARE becoming the radical ones who hold strongly to the love of Christ and His sacrifice. Living our lives for God in an uncompromising fashion…is well, out of fashion.
Moore postures that the loss of the Midwestern “Bible belt” or “Moral Majority” might actually be a positive catalyst for a fervent movement for Christ to and the church to actually increase. It is easy to grieve this and not understand why our country seems to be rejecting what is true in such a ferocious way, but it really is all about our perspective.
We must have an eternal perspective in all things and be focused on the simple truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and He died for our sins. Dr. Moore describes the false gospels and half-truths Western Christianity has embraced, and affirms that we shouldn’t cling to those partial, or twisted versions of Christ and Scripture in order to maintain our comfort level with the status quo in our culture.
In fact, as believers, our hope is greater than fear of what our culture thinks Scripture “should” say or fear of our culture removing truth from their lives. Our culture, government and society does not actually have that power over us. We have power to influence our culture and engage it by speaking the truth about the Gospel of Christ without isolating ourselves AND without watering down God’s word.
Electoral politics seems like a highlighted opportunity to ensure “we are headed in the right direction”. While I strongly believe that Christian’s should be informed about our current events and advocating for Truth, and I do work to elect people who love God and share my values, our hope does not rest in them. Our hope rests in God, in His plan, and His truth in our lives.
One of my favorite hymns begins, ” My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and Righteousness” and Psalm 62:5-12 (ESV) says:
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
For anyone who is feeling fearful about the elections this November, or even about the loss of our culture or the unstable state of our world, I encourage you to read this book. We can be relevant and speak truth in our world with confidence no matter what happens. Let us continue to work and advocate for what we believe and let us not panic, surrender or live in anger, let us live and act like Jesus is alive and He has rescued us from all of it in the end.
Thank you, Dr. Moore for reminding us all to have an eternal perspective on our world, sharing our faith and living for Christ.
Toni was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma.She graduated from East Central University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics.After college, she returned to her hometown to marry her best friend, Charles.Toni is a stay at home mom to their three teens, two boys and a girl, whom God led them to homeschool.Her goal is to raise her children to love and serve the Lord.They live on a farm where they grow produce to sell at several farmers markets.She also plays the piano at church and teaches piano.
As the new year arrived, most of us started thinking of our New Year’s resolutions. As I was thinking of mine, this song came to mind. Have you read the words to this old hymn? Really, read the words.
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight;
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
Refrain
I will hasten to Him, Hasten so glad and free,
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior, Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true one, He is the just one,
He hath the the words of life.
Refrain
I am resolved to follow the Savior, Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living way.
Refrain
I am resolved to enter the kingdom, Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Refrain
I am resolved, and who will go with me? Come, friends, without delay;
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
Refrain
We all have made a resolution before. Some resolve to lose weight, be healthy, go back to school…the list goes on. How many of us resolve to make changes in our relationship with God? Do we hasten to Him? Do we take everything to God first or do we wait until we are at the end of our rope?
I know I do not always take things to God first. I am a sinner and I sin (probably every day). Our goal as Christians is to be like Christ. To run from sin. This will not always make us popular with “friends”. I do things without praying for guidance all the time.
Of course, when something happens, I turn to God. My family has been through so much this past year, from my son’s horrific car wreck to my husband’s heart attack to my own health scare to my oldest son going off to college. Through all those things, I turned to God first. I remember not being able to pray when my husband had his heart attack, but I asked everyone to pray. I could feel God’s presence the entire time. I knew that even if I couldn’t pray, others could pray for me.
We usually pray about the “big” things, but what about the “small” things ? God cares about everything that we do. I remember when my children were little and I had two in a stroller and a five year old. Going to the mall was a nightmare. I had a lady tell me that she always prayed for a good parking space at the mall. I then started praying about that and God answered those prayers. That may sound trivial, but for me it was huge. (I no longer pray for parking because I figure another mom with small children needs it more. Besides, I could use the exercise.) Remember, if it is important to us, it is important to God.
Prayer is not the only way to put God first. A quiet time in the morning helps to set the tone for the day for me. I like to spend time in His Word in the morning. I can tell when I don’t have my time with the Lord. Quiet time does not always have to be quiet. I feel such a deep feeling of worship when I play the old hymns on my piano. There are times that I play and tears just stream down my face. The words and music just touch me so deeply. Sometimes, I sing in the car (when I’m by myself because nobody wants to hear that.) There are so many ways to spend time with God throughout the day.
We should also be sharing the gospel. This can be scary. It is easy to talk about Christmas with fellow Christians but sometimes it’s difficult to share Christmas with non-believers. If we remember that salvation is a gift that God gave us, then we should share that gift with others. All they have to do is accept His gift of salvation. We should want to share it.
So this year, I am resolved to focus more on God and take everything to Him first and share His gift of salvation.
What is your New Year’s resolution for this year?
What are some things you do to stay close to God?
Do you find it difficult to share Christmas with others?
What are some ways that you use to share the gospel?
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