Moving Mountains

The Bible often talks about faith strong enough to move mountains. Brian Houston expands on this idea as he expresses how depression, sickness, financial struggles and rough patches in marriages can all serve as a mountain in someone's life (198). Sometimes, it can seem like there's no break from being busy with tasks or heartbreaking hardships. It's easy to wonder if there will ever be a break from the chaos life brings. Houston gives some reassurance as he says, "The Bible frequently talks about this fight of faith. It's when you have no resources or opportunities, no solutions of your own, nowhere else to turn when you're in a battle, that you're forced to trust in God's ability to provide and meet you in your need" (195). I forget how temporary and small this life is, and how God has an all-encompassing power that transcends all understanding. His plan holds so much greatness, he's just waiting to give it to his children. Houston influences me to remember how God asks his children to bring their pain, their doubts and their worries. God wants me to bring my troubles to him because he truly has the power to solve them. With ease, he can move these mountains from my life. I just need to have faith and allow him to work miracles in my life.

Houston says that people who strengthen their faith need to have the right focus on Jesus as they grow in their trust and love (199). People can't grow if there's nothing to grow from. The obstacles that seem impossible to overcome are the reasons people turn to God and increase their faith. Houston has definitely made me ask myself where my hope is laying. With every mountain I encounter, I need to go to the one who is willing to help me move the mountains. I can't turn to materialistic comforts which can lead me astray from God's plan. God will forever beckon his children to walk past the boundaries of fear, and to find faith within his power and loving embrace. Houston's Live Love Lead has helped my passion grow to seek a faith that moves mountains, and to always choose God's comfort when encountering a time of pain or confusion.

Where do you find your comfort in rough times?

Houston, Brian. Live, Love, Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! New York: FaithWords, 2015. Print

Unconditional Love

"We say we want to love others just as God loves us, but too often we end up choosing comfort and convenience over compassion" (Houston 146). Brian Houston's words hit me pretty hard while I was reading his book. It seems like I'm always trying to improve on judging others less and showing unconditional love, but I tend to stray from my motives. A few harsh words or unfair situations can make me forget how I've been called to show the love God gives every single day. Jesus specifically helped the ones who were considered to be sinners. An adulterous woman, a tax collector, a Samaritan woman. Jesus didn't come to reside with the ones with power or authority, Jesus came to save the ones who were considered to be the lowest of lows (Houston 147). Jesus never failed to show unconditional love, regardless of the reputation it gave him. God is ready to give love to anyone. He doesn't consider the past sins someone has committed, their race, their sexual orientation, or their religious views. Houston evoked me to do the same; to love as Jesus has loved me.

It can be hard to muster up the courage to sit by someone sitting alone at lunch. It's even harder to love on the people I get into arguments with. However, I'll never be able to choose to come across certain people or situations, but the way I react will always be my choice. Houston further justifies this by stating, "Our world is full of disagreement. But thank God that our loving acceptance of people doesn't have to be built on agreeing with them. Our loving acceptance of them is built on the cross" (149). The cross proves the inexpiable love God gives. God knew that people would mock Jesus' name, and that this hate would grow to the point where they would crucify the very person that came to save them. Houston encourages the reader as he suggests that we align ourselves with God's mission and to love people with unconditional love (150). By way of Houston's words, I shouldn't allow myself to become comfortable. I need to continue to radiate the love God gives, every chance I get. This can be through choosing to pray for someone I'm annoyed with, or being the company someone needs when they're alone.

Where do you find the chances to give love?

Houston, Brian. Live, Love, Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! New York: FaithWords, 2015. Print

Family Filled with Fellowship

I go to my church in Federal Way about three times a week. As often as that may seem, the days are usual filled with scheduled routines or hectic chatter. It's not enough time to go one-on-one with a person and see how they're actually doing. It can be easy to talk for a few minutes without getting to know their current struggles. Brian Houston reminds me that, "Going through a trial, a temptation, or turmoil makes you feel quite vulnerable, so it's natural to want to put up your walls and hide behind them...When you least feel like having fellowship with others is often when you need it the most. God understands the value of relationship, the value of team" (107). If I'm struggling with something, I tend to seek help from other people often because of how easily I open up. Houston reminded me that not everyone exposes their problems so easily. Since others are there for me when I'm in need, I should be seeking to help others as well. Houston says that it's best to find a positive, faith-filled environment when you're struggling at a difficult part in your path (107). This motivated me to want to help make that kind of environment for those who are hurting. Especially since church isn't a place for the holiest of people, or people who can stick to the morals the best. Although our youth is filled with laughter and games, church is where you find people who are broken, people who are lost, or people who are searching for answers. I can't ignore people's pain, especially if we're called to have fellowship within our church. We should all be helping each other heal and improve our faith. "Look for the people in your life who love you and love God and clearly want the best for you, with no agendas or strings attached" (Houston 109). Houston words helped me seek for more fellowship within our youth group. Outside of the typical three days I go to church, we used the day we had off on Monday to go on a hiking trip. As we hiked up to Franklin Falls, it really helped me reconnect within my church members and spend genuine time with them. Plus, I loved watching them slip around and fall on the snow. "The name of Jesus gives us access. The way to life is Jesus. Only Jesus. But for those in Christ, this doesn't equate to a small life. Instead, in Christ, life becomes larger, wider, more full of potential and blessing than any other way will ever allow us" (Houston 134). Truly, without Jesus, He couldn't have brought such wonderful people into my life. He brings me to make bonds with people that wouldn't have been able to form without His grace and love. Every time I drive into the parking lot of my church, I can't help but breathe a sigh of joy because it's the second home I can laugh and cry in with complete vulnerability. Houston has really made me get back into the motivation to work to create joy within this family I have, and to continue to create these bonds and memories that can only be made possible with the joy He brings.

Where do you find the people that bring you the most comfort?
Houston, Brian. Live, Love, Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! New York: FaithWords, 2015. Print

A Celebration beyond the Routine

It can be really cheesy to talk about the “True meaning of Christmas” or ask “What does Christmas mean to you?” I didn’t feel super festive about this Christmas season until I finally took up the initiative to read my book after procrastinating on it this month. Brain Houston helped me remove myself from unenthusiastically buying gifts and laying around the house after reading Live Love Lead. Christmas can easily be considered to just be another holiday next to Thanksgiving and Halloween. Another date on the calendar while you plan for all the other upcoming dates. But Houston drew me back to why this holiday marks our calendars in the first place. “We have a Savior who not only knows what it means to suffer but who willingly gave himself as a sacrifice in our place. He loved us enough to take more than a bullet for us—he took the cross. And he defeated sin and death so that we can have grace, joy and hope.” (Houston 81) This was the day where the King of Kings voluntarily came down from His throne to be among us, knowing that the people he was saving would turn against him. This was the day where the baby that would deliver grace through the ultimate sacrifice, was born. As God sent His son to die for our sins, it held no benefit for him. It was solely for us. And I had allowed myself to be passive about this day. I wasn’t truly appreciating the moves God was making to plan for His children to be accepted into the kingdom of heaven. Houston definitely gave me a huge wake-up call and made me see how I’ve strayed from knowing God’s love and grace. Houston also reminded me that God’s grace was a gift that He gave us, although we were undeserving. The Lord made it be so that His grace isn’t something we have to earn or buy and can be gained by simply asking. (Houston 96) And that in itself is such a beautiful thing.
Through Jesus’ birth on Christmas day, He would bring the gift of grace while bearing the pain and suffering that came with it. A king laid down His only son to deliver his children from sin and death. I think Houston says it perfectly when he states, “Your Father wanted to give you the freedom of a full and vibrant life; he wanted you to experience salvation and life in abundance. So he sent Jesus.” (Houston 99) The “true meaning of Christmas” had made itself known and I shouldn’t allow myself to restrict the celebration of His grace to a season.

How did you spend your Christmas?

Houston, Brian. Live, Love, Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! New York: FaithWords, 2015. Print

Perspective on Purpose

Like most religious individuals, I was born into a family that already practiced certain beliefs. Growing up a Christian was like learning to walk, it was just integrated into my life naturally. As I grew older, Christianity taught me rules and morals that I needed to live by. It spoke of people who fiercely carried out their purpose through God's will, regardless of the trials and tests they were given. As I've grown older, I've learned that there's love behind these firm rules and how I need to learn from the leaders that exalted God's plan through their lives. But how can I best carry out my purpose while following these leaders and rules during both the ups and downs of life? The book Live Love Lead written by Brain Houston helped me reflect on my purpose as a Christian this month. Houston testifies that it's easy to feel overwhelmed in the cycle of tasks that need to be done, along with the occurrence of emotionally overpowering moments (Houston 24). I often let myself become overly stressed and worried about failures and high expectations which can come from school, friends, or family circumstances. Stress and worry can seem inevitable and gaining motivation and confidence can be a difficult task. Yet, questioning how God will use my purpose for His plan seems to be easiest in the midst of hardship.
 As Houston talks about important figures in the bible he testifies, "Time and time again, no matter who it is, they were all overwhelmed. And yet God gave them sufficient grace to fulfill their unique purpose and calling. I have to trust that He does the same for you and me today" (Houston 25). Houston has made me realize that even the leaders with the strongest of faith were prone to falling. But their stumbling assisted with affirming their purpose even more, as it brought them closer to Christ. This can also be applied to my life. As I worry over the tribulations that cause my sense of purpose to waver, I fail to realize that His grace needs to be trusted in order for my purpose to be readily used and exposed. I can't continue to try and find purpose in difficult times if I'm not looking for it through God. This urged me to spend more time with God this past month as I was reminded of the grace that gives me purpose.

 Houston makes it clear that purpose should be found in living a full, abundant life with passion, perspective, and peace. Every morning of each day should be something to get excited about as the Lord sets it out before you. Unexpected obstacles and hardship shouldn't be seen as a frustration when you know you're doing what you were made to do by living an authentic life through the liberating grace of God (Houston 28). Houston has reminded me that living with purpose involves a change in perspective. I need to trust that His grace abounds through every situation. This should be enough to give me motivation to live a life filled with purpose.
What gives you purpose? How is that purpose justified in your life?

 Houston, Brian. Live, Love, Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! New York: FaithWords, 2015. Print.