Living Above the Sun Ministries

Every time I hear this song I get chills and become so convicted. So many different emotions run through my mind and heart; feelings of sorrow, anger, hurt, confusion. I relate to this song because I've been the girl in the song, hidden under the shadow of the steeple fighting for my life...confused, lost, afraid. I wonder how many people we encounter at church Sunday morning who are crying out to us and we don't even realize it. Sometimes we get so involved in ourselves, though we hold the hope within us, and totally overlook the one who needs that very hope. We judge. But what we forget is we are just as filthy in our sin as the prostitute that comes to church. Yes, granted we have been cleansed with the blood of Christ. But when we judge we question that same blood of Jesus that covers us as to whether or not Jesus could truly love and save someone who doesn't look like us. Yes He can! So I guess my hearts cry in this post is don't let someone slip through ...

This past week leaders in the Student Worship group were able to share a time of devotion with the kids. It was a huge blessing to give it and also receive it from other leaders. One evening a devotion was given on our bodies being the Temple. It was such a timely message, and I gleaned a lot from it personally. I wonder if a lot of us realize that it's not just what you put into your body and destroy it, but it's also how you present yourself, how we make decisions, and staying sexually pure. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" If we realized the depth of this verse we would live a lot differently. The Spirit gives us power to do His work and achieve greatness, surely He can empower us to do what is right for the Temple. Further into 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it is repeated again that "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who live...

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." -Colossians 3:23 On the Mission Trip we find ourselves doing some things we wouldn't normally find ourselves doing such as cleaning up debris, sweeping a parking lot, washing a lot of cars, or cleaning a church if you do it unto the Lord it's like earning gold. As Christians we try to mirror God in our lives, in Matthew 20:26-28 Jesus says "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus' description of leadership is to serve people. Jesus served others and even gave His live away. A real leader appreciates others and realizes he's not above any job. We challenged the students to think about the upcoming service projects we...

I saw this in the sky on the way back to Charlotte from Tennessee. God was telling me He loved me. :) "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Many people ask the question, "How can a Sovereign God allow anyone to go to Hell, especially those who have never heard of Jesus?" Our culture today proclaims that it isn't fair, suggesting there should be more than one way to God such as through good works. However, there is only one way to God, and that way is through Jesus. If anything is unfair it's the fact that we who are Christians and believers and contain the truth, but don't share it with those around us! That's what is unfair! Some people who know the truth reject it, and don't want God to mess their life up. Well, they are right about that, God will...

Since posting here this morning about what I was thinking, I have thought some more today about everything. Maybe I'm asking myself all the wrong questions. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong part of the Bible. Here is where my thoughts have lead me. What does Jesus think of me? What is He saying of me? Who am I in Him? How do others see me? Does what I do affect other people? What is my testimony? Where is God leading me? How is God using me now? Jesus loved me enough to purchase me with His blood, and though I'm a sinner, he saved me and rescued me through his blood because I was worth it. I am His treasure, His masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus. He is the lifter and sustainer of my head, one who never sleeps and watches over me. I am a leader. A leader to students, and leader in Worship, and a leader to a lost world around me because I contain the Truth. I hold what the world seeks in my heart. Can I possibly think about drinking when who I...

So it's almost been a week since I posted. Sometimes God speaks a lot, sometimes He doesn't. June was definitely one of the months that He spoke a lot! Being 21 I'm still learning, and forming opinions about things. I guess you never quit forming opinions or learning. So lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about drinking alcohol, smoking, and getting a tattoo. All issues that some label sin, and that Christians shouldn't do it. So I'm just going to give my opinion and present some of the things I have read and heard. Feel free to comment and argue with me if you want to. I would love it. As long as you don't hate me forever because I hold these opinions, or say mean stuff to me, thats not cool. As far as the tattoo I want, I have thought in my mind that it would be an awesome conversation starter. People are attracted to tattoos, they just kinda stick out there. I want to get mine on my wrist, same wrist I cut myself on with the date Jesus s...

For the past 3 weeks I have been in Bible Study with my Student Worship group from First Baptist Church Indian Trail. As we prepare to go to Syracuse, New York in a few weeks we are learning what the backbone of Student Worship is, which is Worship, Discipleship, and Prayer. If we are going to lead anyone to Christ we need to have these 3 things firm in our hearts and lives. The main thing I want to hit on is prayer because that is what has spoken to me most. In the meantime, I would like to share with you what else we have been learning, because what we have learned is not just for Student Worship but for any believer. WORSHIP: Worship isn't about music, or how you do it, or what songs we sing. It is about our hearts. It's about what and who we love more than anything. If we were to question ourselves as to what we spend the most of our time and money on, or what we are most passionate about it will lead us to what gods are prominent in our lives. Isaac Watts said: ...

One night I had a wondrous dream, One set of footprints there was seen, The footprints of my precious Lord, But mine were not along the shore. But then some strange prints appeared, And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?" Those prints are large and round and neat, "But Lord, they are too big for feet." "My child," He said in somber tones, "For miles I carried you along. I challenged you to walk in faith, But you refused and made me wait." "You disobeyed, you would not grow, The walk of faith, you would not know, So I got tired, I got fed up, And there I dropped you on your butt." "Because in life, there comes a time, When one must fight, and one must climb, When one must rise and take a stand, Or leave their butt prints in the sand." -- author unknown WOW! Very inspirational. How true this is! You know it's true. There is nothing wrong with Jesus carrying you, but I do believe there comes a time when we do have to g...

Wouldn't you agree that it is good to know Jesus? There is nothing I enjoy more than having Him in my life. Without Him nothing would really be possible. He is my everything. He is the lifter of my head, my strong tower, my light, my lover, my sustainer, my hope. Is that the Jesus you know? For a long time I have been seeking Gods will for my life. I've read tons of books on how to find Gods will for your life, I've prayed about it, I have looked for advise in people I love and trust, and I have read my Bible. Do you know what I have come to find? God's will isn't going to be written in black and white for you to read exactly. You aren't going to find His will for your life in college books. You find His will for your life when your relationship with Him is where it should be. When you communicate to Him through prayer, when you are in His word daily, and allow it to speak to you. That's living in the will of God, He'll take the rest from the...

God has been good in my life. He has sent many people my way who have intervened in my life at the just the right time. People who reached their hand out to me and made a huge difference in my life. Not only do they reach their out to me, but I do the same for them, even when I don't have everything together I can still love. But I think that's how most normal relationships go. I love what Romans 1:12 says "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." I am grateful for the people I have had the privilege of knowing and loving. I'm thankful for the footprints they leave in my life. I don't know why God doesn't allow some of them to stay in my life for a long period of time. However, I know he sees the bigger picture, and I just enjoy the time I do have with them. I am reminded of the story of Saul and Ananias in Acts 9. Ananias made an intervention in Saul's life and as a result Saul...