Category: Scripture

Extravagant Love

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Current Events, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk

Mark 14:3-9

3And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

While she was pouring out her extravagant, costly love on Jesus’ feet, Mary received criticism. “This fragrant oil was wasted.” “She should have sold it and given it to the poor.” These sharp words were spoken by Judas; but Mark adds the detail that “they” criticized her sharply, which indicates that others around the table, potentially even other disciples, also thought ill of her action. But Mary did not care what they thought–believers or unbelievers. She knew she was pleasing her Lord by pouring out her love on Him.

Sometimes Jesus calls us to do what may be “unpopular” or “unacceptable,” even among Christian circles. Professing believers may lift their chins and criticize us.

“How could he talk about hell? No one is going to come to Christ that way.” But “he” knows that Jesus spoke about hell, and that speaking the sometimes-hard truth, in love, is the only way to gain true converts. So “he” seeks to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

“Why is he preaching against abortion? These types of issues are too ‘politicized’ and divisive these days. Christians must stay out of all that. Doesn’t he know that converting the unsaved is more important?” But “he” knows that Christ calls us to stand against injustice and to speak out for the voiceless. (Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 31:8-9) “He” knows that preaching the gospel to the unsaved alone without discipling and exhorting both new believers and the faithful in Christ is pretty much useless, for it will result in too many shallow professions of belief that shortly wither away. “He” knows that merely professing belief without living it out in both deed and action results in a dead faith. (James 2:20, 26) And “he” knows that biblical figures such as Elijah and John the Baptist, even Jesus Himself, spoke out against evil and immorality. The criticism does not bother “him” because “he” knows that what “he” is doing is right in Jesus’ eyes. So “he” seeks to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

“Why should they be spending money on _____ when there are homeless people who need assistance and heathens who need to hear the gospel?” Yet, “they” spend their money in whatever way God calls them to. “They” do not care what others think, as long as they know they are obeying God’s will and purpose as revealed in Scripture for their lives/ministries. So “they” seek to follow and obey Jesus alone, only caring what HE thinks. And HE is well pleased.

It does not matter what people say. What matters is that we seek GOD and HIS WILL for our personal situations. Do not listen to other people’s criticism! Go to your Savior. Listen to Him alone!

Obey Him in WHATEVER He calls you to do. You can find His standards clearly laid out in His Word. It does not matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does. Pour out your love extravagantly and abundantly on HIM, no matter the cost. Follow HIM without doubt, without reservation.

What will it matter on the last day, what others thought, said, or even did to us? When we see our Savior face-to-face, it will only matter what HE thought of our actions. And if we disobeyed Him–if we kept silent when He asked us to speak, and if we did not act when He asked us to act, or rather, acted in the manner He despises, there will be sorrow and loss of rewards.

And, on the other hand, let us not be quick to judge fellow believers (unless, of course, the matter involves a direct violation of the Word of God). But let us rather seek His will for our own lives!

Our Savior has poured out His EVERYTHING for us. How can we not do the same for Him? Let us pour our whole lives at His feet, a costly, living sacrifice for Him, ready to obey Him in all things, whatever He says, for His glory. Let us love Him far more than anything on earth.

Acts 5:29 (NKJV)
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Happy 4th of July!

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Current Events, Holidays, Scripture, The Christian Walk

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

“Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.” –attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Happy 4th of July!! Today, may we thank God for His amazing blessing of freedom in this country! It is truly such a privilege that God has blessed us with, living in such a wonderful country, and I pray we do not take this gift for granted. Many in other nations do not have freedom of religion, the press, or any other freedoms. God has granted our country many freedoms!

But the question is, will we use that freedom for His glory? I received an email update this morning from the president of a prominent pro-life ministry, where he remarked, “independence from tyrants presumes a right to one’s own life.” He went on to explain that the Constitution is clearly against abortion and that Christians must fight for the unborn and stand up for life. Will we speak for those who have no voices, when the Lord has given us a free country in which we may do so? Or will our silence display our agreement with those who take life?

As we celebrate the freedom God has so graciously granted to our nation, may we pray that He continues to guide it on the right paths–that all Christians and government leaders will stand for life, Israel, marriage, and other Biblical values. God bless America! 🎆🎇

Storms

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Praise and Worship, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk

A comparison and a poem.

Psalm 107:23-32 and Mark 4:35-41

Psalm 107:23-32

23Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters,

24They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. 25For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble.

27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. 28Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses. 29He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 30Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.

31Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 32Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders.

Here is a poem I wrote based on Matthew 14:22-33, which also talks about the storm, and in which Peter walks on the water.

Storms

The winds are howling, the waves arise

The clouds are dark and black

Why did You place me in this boat?

And when will You be back?

I struggle with the oars alone

Against the rising tide.

Despair grips my heart and soul

As I long to reach the other side.

The winds whip as I struggle

I perish; where are You, Lord?

My boat is about to capsize;

I need Your commanding word.

Then, I see a Figure

Walking on the raging sea;

I behold Your holy form

On the very thing that terrifies me.

“Come forth,” You say, and I obey,

Reaching for Your hand.

I look to You and then step out,

Longing to be taken to land.

But the storm is raging, oh, so hard,

And I don’t know what to do.

In absolute terror and fright,

I take my eyes off You.

The icy, dark waters engulf me

As I prepare for the end.

But then, Your hand delivers me

And praise to You I send.

You enter my struggling, tossing boat

And take me to my desired place.

You used the storm to bring me here–

Now I long only for Your face.

Mark 4:35-41

35On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 

37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 

38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

The Contrast–A Poem

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Poetry, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk

Mark 10:35-37

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

The Contrast

I.

“Do for us whatever we ask,” the arrogant brothers cry,

Facing their humble Teacher, looking Him in the eye.

Their anthem resounds throughout history,

A self-loving motive of power and greed,

Approaching God as a genie for them;

“My carnal wish is what I want of Him.”

God grants their desire and leaves them in their sin.

II.

“I will do whatever You ask,” the humble believer cries,

Kneeling before his Master; unwilling to lift his eyes.

His anthem resounds throughout history,

Sounded by the gentle, the humble, the meek.

Seeking, serving, trusting, obeying,

They submit to their Master’s perfect ways.

“Thy will, not mine, for all of my days.”

God grants their desire, bringing glory to His name.

The Menial, Ordinary, and Mundane

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Scripture, The Christian Walk

2 Kings 5:13

And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

This verse struck me in my Bible reading the other day. How aptly it describes human nature! How often we long to do great things and ignore the simple tasks God has placed right in front of us. This verse especially stood out to me because recently, I read this quote in a novel and was amazed by it: “All of us would like to believe that we could accomplish one brave, selfless act for God and for His kingdom. But it takes greater courage to faithfully accomplish the daily, thankless tasks for Him.”

In all actuality, that statement could not be truer! We live in a world that magnifies courageous exploits and often passes over the “daily grind” of everyday life. But God works differently from the world. He sees and honors all the little tasks done for Him–sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, playing a board game with a pleading child, and changing a baby’s diaper. Sometimes, that is even more precious to Him than doing something the world would consider a great deed.

“It takes greater courage to faithfully accomplish the daily, thankless tasks for Him.” Indeed, because magnificent achievements often get rewarded, and there is satisfaction in completing them. But the mundane chores of home life are not always noticed or appreciated; therefore, it is sometimes harder to do them consistently.

The verse from 2 Kings that I posted above is a great summary of this. Naaman came to Elisha the prophet, longing for healing from the deadly disease of leprosy. But when Elisha commanded him to wash in the Jordan, Naaman balked. This is when his servants told him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

Naaman would rather have done something great for his healing. At the very least, he wanted to wash in one of the great rivers of his homeland, not the dirty Jordan River. We often feel the same way–we think that great things are the things that matter the most, the things that are most important, and we would usually rather do those things than menial everyday tasks.

But often, God calls us to the everyday; to the menial; to the ordinary; to the mundane. And these things are extremely important to God! Let us not overlook or shun the everyday tasks, longing for “greatness.” Instead, let us value them and do them as unto the Lord, knowing that true greatness in God’s eyes is obedience–whether He calls one to receive a gold medal for Him or clean the bathroom for Him. If He called us to do something amazing, would we not do it? How much more then, when He calls us to clean the house?

He sees every sparrow that falls; surely, He cares about every small task we do as well!

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

Be Still

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Here is something I wrote in my journal a few days ago–a reflection on several Scriptures that revolve around the same theme.

Be still…

You say, yet how can I be still?

When I am caught in my turbulent seas?

One moment–trusting, calm, content,

Filled with faith in Your promises

And hope for the future.

Next moment–doubting, anxious, discontent,

Filled with fear and discouragement for the future.

Yet You say, “Be still.”

You alone can calm the winds and waves,

Give this heavy-laden soul peace and rest in You.

Speak these two words to my raging storm.

Quiet me with Your love.

Command these tempests to cease…

Silence me to know

YOU ARE GOD

And You are perfectly,

Continuously,

Always

FAITHFUL.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Mark 4:39 (NKJV)
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The True Meaning of Trust

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Scripture, The Christian Walk

Job 13:15 (NKJV)

15Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

“Trust” is such a common word in Christian lingo that it almost becomes a type of cliche. When we go through hardships, often we are told to “trust God.” When others experience difficulties, we advise them to do the same. Sometimes I wonder how often we add those words onto our sentences, and on the other hand, how often we actually practice them. What does it mean to truly, wholeheartedly trust God?

  • “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…” (1 Peter 5:7) Trusting God means that we humble ourselves before Him and accept His perfect plan and will in all things. It means that instead of questioning Him and His wisdom in our lives, we submit in faith that all His promises are true and that His ways are higher and best for us. It is acknowledging that He is GOD, and we are not–and admitting that we have absolutely no right to question His ways. Trust says “You know what is best, and I don’t. Even though I can’t see Your plan, I submit to Your will, and I trust You.” Isaiah 45:9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?“

  • Trusting God is faith. When we trust God, we display faith and confidence in His character, His Word, His will, and His promises. Trust says “God, I can’t see You right now, but I know You are here. I can’t see Your hand, but I know that You love me and care about me, even if I don’t feel it. I know that You will fulfill all your promises to me.”

  • Trusting God involves dependence. When we trust God, we demonstrate our reliance on Him for everything, even our next breath. We place our lives and futures in His hands, and we acknowledge that without Him, we are nothing.

  • Full surrender always follows total trust. When we completely trust God, we place our lives on the altar before Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). We empty ourselves before Him, pouring our everything over His feet, as a precious sacrifice. We acknowledge that we are the clay and He is our Potter; and we give Him free reign to do whatever He wills in us–to mold us according to His perfect will. We give Him everything–our dreams, desires, pain, and disappointments. We give up the false sense of control we have held on to, giving all to Him. We surrender our wills to Him.

Recently, the Lord has been speaking to my heart through the latter chapters of the book of Job. In these verses, the LORD Himself audibly speaks to the troubled soul of Job–tearing away all his doubts and replacing them with a fresh sense of God’s greatness, majesty, and sovereignty. “Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” (Job 40:8)

The only response to God’s awesome grandeur as revealed in Job is Job’s statement after listening to the Lord: “Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” When we truly have a sense of God’s power, might, glory, and majesty as revealed in His Word and His creation, we have no other proper response than to worship Him and submit in trust and faith. And even if all is stripped away, may we humbly declare with Job, “The Lord gives and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD…Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 1:21, 13:15)

And how amazing that the God we trust is not only so great, but is also good. And He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:10-11); He knows us intimately and cares about us affectionately (Psalm 139); He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28); and so much more. How terrible it would be if He were great but not good or vice versa. What a God we serve! How can we not trust Him?

Next time you hear the phrase “trust God,” take a moment to think about what it really means to trust God. Thank Him for all He is, and ask Him to help you trust Him wholeheartedly. He is worthy of all our trust!

Why Christians MUST Vote!

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Current Events, Prayer, Scripture, The Christian Walk

As you know, this is a critical time for the United States in view of the election. No matter what happens, let us be reminded that OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL! He removes kings and raises up kings (Daniel 2:21). He has a plan, and He is still on the throne. We can rest assured knowing that He is perfectly sovereign.

As we pray and seek God’s face, we must be prepared to speak against evil, as Daniel did. There are at least two things we as Americans can do in this regard during this season:

  1. Pray! 🙏Pray that the Lord’s will be done, that the darkness will be exposed, and that the truth will prevail. Pray for each of our leaders (and potential leaders). Pray that we, as a nation, elect a candidate who will protect us and our freedoms, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
  2. Vote! 🗳️ Voting is the way that we, as the people of God, take a stand against evil. If you are unsure about voting, I would strongly encourage you to prayerfully reconsider. I firmly believe that voting is essential for Christians. Although the political right is not perfect, it is a million times better than the outright evil of the political left. If we do not vote, we are, in essence, actually casting our votes for all the unhidden evil represented by the left. If, by not voting, we believe we are “washing our hands” of the matter, we are, in reality, not attempting to stop evil and allowing it to go unhindered. Voting is a simple way to stand up against wickedness! No, neither candidate is perfect. But would you rather vote for someone who openly declared her contempt for Christians and full support of abortion, immorality, open borders, and more, or someone who clearly supports Christians and is not propagating (but rather is limiting) the sinful, wicked agenda? I included a video in which Dr. John MacArthur speaks on this topic, and he reminds us that we are not voting for a pastor, but we are voting to stop the spread of evil as much as possible. Please watch the video here if you have a chance: https://notthebee.com/article/john-macarthur-says-the-choice-for-christians-this-election-is-very-clear In other countries, people do not have any say in who is leading them. God has given us a gift–a vote, a chance to stop the spread of evil. Every vote counts, and this simple act could make a huge difference in the history of the world.
    Isaiah 1:17 NKJV
    Learn to do good;
    Seek justice,
    Rebuke the oppressor;
    Defend the fatherless,
    Plead for the widow.

Thank you so much for reading and for praying about these issues. May the Lord bless you, and may His will be done!

Prayer points for the election:

Prayer Points for the ElectionDownload

Red Sea Road

by Anastasia Irene, posted in Art, Poetry, Scripture, The Christian Walk, Theology

Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)

13And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

A group of thousands of tired, fearful people huddle around an elderly man. Perhaps some of the women are weeping softly. Not far behind the people, one sees the dust of hundreds of speedily moving enemy chariots. Close in front of the people lies a huge body of water. Suddenly, the elderly man–the leader of this group–lifts his hand, holding his staff. “The Lord will fight for you!” His triumphant words ring across the water. Instantly, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind, the water rises up and parts. The people cry out in thankfulness and hurry toward the water–a dry path has been made between the walls of water.

The image of the Red Sea parting for the Israelites is so astounding and meaningful to me. A while back, I wrote a poem about that amazing event.

Part the Sea

Standing at the edge

Of the Red Sea.

Foaming, placid waters

Lapping at my feet.

How to cross this mighty sea

Stretching beyond my sight?

How to pass through it?

My heart is filled with fright.

Then, turning around, what horror!

With my own eyes I see

The massive thousands of thousands

Of Egypt’s great army.

Trapped behind, trapped ahead,

With no place to go,

I lift my eyes heavenward,

To the One Whose power I know.

“Lord, there’s nothing I can do,

Nothing in my might.

Please work a miracle;

Help me walk by faith, not sight.”

Powerful, yet gentle,

His answer returns:

“Don’t be afraid, child,

You will not be hurt.

Stand still and watch

My salvation–here–today!

I will fight for you;

I will make a way!

The only thing for you to do

Is to stand still and trust.

Wait quietly in My presence;

Your enemies will be crushed.”

I obey in awestruck silence

Waiting on the Lord.

The Egyptians push ever closer;

But I hope in His Word.

At the moment when I thought

It was much too late,

When I thought my heart

Could no longer wait,

The sea split in two,

Rising on each side.

The path in between

Was smooth and dry.

Words cannot describe

The parting of the sea;

Its majestic splendor

Was God’s path for me.

Rushing, gushing, foaming,

The depths broke in two.

Walls of raging water

Split the fathomless blue.

Monstrous floods of liquid

Held back by God’s hand,

Torrents of bottomless water,

Restrained by His command.

I step onto the path,

Firm and dry and sure,

Glancing timidly at the Sea

Parted by the Lord.

Raging water on right and left,

As if in the eye of the storm,

I’m on the miracle path given

By the Almighty Lord.

He did this wonder for me–

A simple, wretched fool!

He defied gravity

For me, His simple tool.

I doubted His power, discouraged

And even lost heart in prayer.

But now–looking at the water–

Is this how much He cares?

Tears fill my eyes as I walk

Carefully through the sea.

This marvelous wonder was worked

For doubtful, sinful me.

I cross to the other side

And watch the miracle reverse.

The sea rages back into place,

Drowning the Egyptians first.

I sing to my Lord!

He has done marvelous things!

He is Almighty and powerful–

The King above all kings!

The Creator is forever mighty–

Gravity can’t get in His way!

No matter how deep our seas,

His might will make a way.

No matter how wide the ocean,

His love is wider still.

No matter how tall the mountains,

He created those hills!

Our God is greater–He still parts seas!

Precious Lord, we pray,

Please part the sea for us.

Please fight for us today!

Isaiah 50:2 (NKJV)
2Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink because there is no water,
And die of thirst.