Unconditional Love

Tonight, I want to tell you a story of  unconditional love.
One of the most beautiful love stories that I have ever read comes from the book of Hosea. And the story unfolds a little something like this:

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. So, Hosea did as God commanded him, and he married Gomer (We can't be sure that Gomer was actually a prostitute when she married Hosea, or if that came later on in the marriage. But he knew that one day, she would be unfaithful to him). He loved Gomer with his whole heart. He wasn't rich, and couldn't give her all of the fancy jewelry or beautiful clothes, but he gave her everything that she needed. He took care of her, and loved her. But Gomer wanted more. She wanted not what Hosea could give her, but rather, what he couldn't give her. She wanted the riches. So, she left. Just like that. She was gone. Could you imagine how Hosea must have felt? His wife... The woman he loved with his whole being.... The woman that God told him to marry... Has left him for another man. I don't know about you, but if I were Hosea, I would have questioned God. Why? Why would a faithful God ask him to marry an unfaithful harlot?
Anyways, back to the story, Gomer became enslaved in prostitution. She was no longer her own, but sold as property. Oh, the shame and regret that Gomer must have felt when she was being "auctioned off" before all of these people. She had a wonderful husband and three children that loved her very much, and she had given it all up for this life, that wasn't even her own anymore. But it's too late for all of that.... Right?

Wrong.

So, in walks her prince charming (Hosea, of course). And he buys her freedom back for 15 pieces of silver, and one and a half homers of barley. He makes her his wife once again. He doesn't call her names, or tell her what a failure she is. Instead, he tells her that she will be faithful to him, and he will be faithful to her. Now that, is unconditional love.

So, why would God tell Hosea to marry her if he knew what was going to happen? Because God wanted Hosea to understand how He felt about His children. But let's take this a little bit farther. God wanted somebody to understand how He feels about YOU. He loves us with this unconditional love that makes absolutely no sense at all! We have committed great whoredom, and departed from the Lord (Hosea 1:2). Every time that we turn away from God, or mess up, or become complacent, we give His love away for the love of the world. We are ALL guilty of it. I am Gomer. You are Gomer. But knowing that we would be unfaithful, God saw that one day, we would need someone to save us, even though we don't deserve it. So He paid the greatest price... He gave His Son. There is no greater love.

So I challenge you. The price has been paid and we no longer have to be slaves to this life of whoredom. Will you accept this love? Or will you allow sin to enslave you? The choice is yours.

"I am married unto you." -Jeremiah 3:14
"Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." -Jeremiah 3:22

I'd Like to Indroduce You To... Me.

I want to take just a moment to be real with you all. I am a firm believer that you have never seen a person as they truly are until you see them at their point of brokenness. When stress is built up, and life just plain hurts.
At this moment, I am broken. I hurt. And I am struggling. But I want all of you to see this side of me. Because when the good times pass, and the lights go down, and everyone is gone, this is who I am. And yet through all of it, through the hard times, through the pain, and everything that's wrong, I still want you to know, that at your darkest point in life, there is One on whom you can depend. And I promise you that He won't let you down. I know this, because on those dark days, like today, He wraps me in His arms.
Now, this is just one bad day. My life is not horrible. I am not depressed. But I know how it feels to be broken. And I have come to this surreal place, where, even when the world is crazy, and I feel like people have let me down, and everything that could go wrong, does, I can't be persuaded to give up. Because even through it all, I feel Him. And I want you to understand that no matter what you go through, He's there. When you smile, He's there. When you cry, He's there. When you feel like giving up, He's there. Even when you turn your back on Him, He's there.
So this is me... This is who I am. My name is Heather. And I am here to admit to you, that I do not live a perfect life. I do not have it all together. And I fail (and fall) almost daily. But despite all of my imperfections, I have a perfect God. And that's ALL that I need.

Trifecta!

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long since I have posted anything. I want to share something with you! The reason that Generation_31 exists today, is because of 3 amazing women that God placed in my life this past summer. Each woman taught me something so valuable about myself, and my ministry. Lucy Reyes is one of those women. I have asked her to write something for all of you, and this is what she sent me. I absolutely love what she had to say here, and I know that she spent much time seeking God for what to write. I am so excited to share this with you, so check it out, and let me know what you think! -Heather

 

 

Trifecta!
By: Lucy Reyes

God is not into playing games like 'hide and seek,' 'catch me if you can,' or even 'phone tag' but His principles are similar to sport games that require teamwork, trust, and discipline.

In this case, it's an eternal prize that is up for grabs, where the trophies come in form of jeweled crowns.

He is not your opponent and He is not your adversary. He is your friend and your Coach.

He is on your team and is actively scouting for the new season in your life.

He has pre-appointed and anointed, new talent on your behalf and is drafting the best available, most valuable players that would fight earnestly along your side.

Teammates who can play their hearts out on the next level and are worthy of playing on Sundays! A team that can reach the Promised Land together! Future Hall of Famers for Jesus Christ!

It's going to be a battle of epic proportions and He has hand picked those who are suited up with The Full Armor of God.

The season is a marathon and not a sprint, therefore it calls for runners who can endure the race of Faith till the very end, not halfway, not until the last quarter but in and out of season until the Final Call is made.

He's pitching not only one gem but many gems. Although, he's been quiet so far, when He throws, He throws rainbow jumpers right before the whistle blows!

You must know, I am only the announcer coming to announce The Year of the Lord's Favor.

Gear up, submit your best game plan to Him, and remember that you fight from a standpoint where victory is already won.

Whether playing at home or away, you are predestined for greatness and only love will lead you to the end zone with The Sword in your hand. In Jesus Name.

Follow Your Dreams

I was the little girl in school who had absolutely no idea what she wanted to be, or do when she grew up. Even through high school, my biggest struggle was how I wanted to spend my life. That is a pretty big commitment afterall. A life sentence, so to speak. How could I possibly limit myself to an occupation?

I remember one day in specific when my 5th grade teacher went around the room and asked each of my classmates what they wanted to be when we grew up. I heard some pretty great answers from my friends. Police officers, nurses, lawyers, fire-fighters, the list could go on and on. When the teacher stood in front of me, my answer was quick, and false. "I want to be a teacher." (Okay, so this statement was not at all correct. But hey, it earned me some brownie points.) The truth was, I had no idea what I wanted to be.

It wasn't until the 10th grade that I finally decided that I had to choose. I had a dream, and I needed to give it a voice. I didn't want to be average (Don't get me wrong here, teachers, nurses, police officers, lawyers, and every other occupation out there is very important. God calls everyone to a specific job. But not everyone is capable of those things. I guess that's where I come in).

Truth is, I had always had a dream. A dream that I didn't dare to tell anyone. It's like when a mother tells her child that he can be anything he wants; even the President of the United States. She probably doesn't actually believe her own statement. And those around the child will eventually fill his head with statements such as, "You need to choose something more realistic."or "Well, that's a great dream and all, but you should definitely make sure you have a backup plan for when that one falls through."

You see, I have one of those unrealistic dreams. And it is simply this: I want to change the world. I want to leave this place better than it was when I entered it. Pretty unrealistic dream, huh? Well, I don't know about you, but I would say that people called Martin Luther King Jr. crazy when he told the world about his dream. Or what about the Wright brothers, when they were building their first "flying machine?" How many times had they been ridiculed for their dreams? How many times had someone told them it simply could not be done? These men impacted the world.

　

　

With that being said, I have 12 reasons that you too, should follow your God-given dreams:
1.) If you don't follow your dreams, you'll crush them... And eventually, you'll stop dreaming altogether.
2.) There are few things that are worse than regret. What will you regret tomorrow that you didn’t do today?
3.) Dreamers who took action have created everything around you.
4.) Following your dreams doesn’t always turn out as planned, but hey, it makes for some great memories.
5.) Personal growth happens only when you stretch yourself. If you don’t follow your dreams you’re not stretching.
6.) You want to be remembered. Everybody does. We remember those who follow their dreams.
7.) Your dreams and your actions define who you are. If you do what others tell you to do then you’re letting them define you.
8.) When people who look up to you see you following your dreams it will inspire some of them to follow their dreams as well.
9.) Following your dreams makes you interesting.
10.) You learn a lot from failure. Not everybody will get everything right 100% of the time. Since you will probably fail at times, you’ll learn a lot too.
11.) There are no rules in life so why limit yourself to what everybody else is doing?
12.) You might live to be 100 years old, but tomorrow is never promised. Take a chance.




So, here's to the crazy ones. The misfits

"The people who are crazy enough to believe that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Message to Women: The Power of Your Life

When the history of the world is finally told rightly-- one of the great joys when we reach the Wedding Feast of the Lamb-- it will be as clear as day that women have been essential to every great move of God upon this Earth.

I wanted to say, "nearly every great move," not wanting to over-state a crucial point and recognizing that there are moments when men have led the way. But Stasi chimed in and said, "Those men had mothers, didn't they?!" I was thinking of Moses who seemed to lead the Exodus, but it quickly dawned on me that it was his mother who saved his life as a baby (at the risk of her own life, and the lives of her entire family). It was his sister who stayed with the babe and suggested a nursemaid when Pharaoh's daughter took him for her own (That nurse would be, of course, his mother). Okay. I concede. Women have been essential to every great move of God.

Certainly there are those amazing moments in the Old Testament like the story of Rahab, who secured the Hebrews' successful military launch into the Promised Land. And Esther, who saved her people from genocide and secured the future of Israel... and of the world. It's clear that women supported the ministry of Jesus, financially and emotionally, and women were the ones who stayed with him when nearly all the men hightailed it and ran. As we read the story of the spreading gospel and the birth of the church in the New Testament, we encounter women like Lydia, whose home became the staging point for the evangelism of Thyatira and Philippi; women like Nympha and Apphia, who hosted the emerging church in their homes--again, at great risk to themselves and their loved ones. There is Priscilla, who risked her life to help Paul spread the gospel, and Junias, who was with Paul when he was in prison and whom he called, "outstanding among the apostles" (Romans 16:7).

And of course, the salvation of mankind rested on the courage of a woman, a teenage girl. What if she had said no? What if any of them had said no?

To try and give honor to women in the sweep of history is impossible here. It would be easier to think of any of the great or small turning point's in God's rescue of mankind and try to find one where women were not irreplaceable. From the beginning, Eve was God's gift to the world-- His ezer kenegdo (help mate) for us. History is still unfolding, and your existence on this Earth as a woman is proof that you have an irreplaceable role to play. You are a woman, are you not? An ezer kenegdo to your core. Your lingering disbelief (may it be fading away) that anything important hangs on your life is only evidence of the long assault on your heart by the one who knows who you could be, and fears you.

There is much life saving that needs to be done yet, and someone needs to do it. Not in a pressure filled, You'd better get to it kind of way. Rather, an invitation. Your feminine heart is an invitation by your Creator. To what? To play an irreplaceable role in his Story. Isn't that what your Lover wrote there? Some dream, some desire, something so core to who you are, it almost hurts to think of it. The very longing is such a part of your being it's scary to even give it a voice. You may not know the dream itself yet. But you know the longing to play an irreplaceable part. That is a good beginning.

Ezer is woven into the fabric of your feminine heart. You must live this out. What lives, what destinies are hanging on your yes to God?

Excerpt taken from "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge.

The Master Potter

A couple went into an antique shop and saw a beautiful, magnificant teacup sitting high on a shelf, and they just fell in love with it. They said, "We have got to have that teacup." They began to admire the teacup, and all of the sudden, it began to talk to them. It said, "You know, I've not always been like this. There was a time when nobody would have wanted me. There was a time when I was not attractive at all. There was a time in my life when I was just an old, hard, gray lump of clay. The master potter came and picked me up one day, and began to pat me, and shape me, and I said, "Leave me alone! What are you doing? That hurts! Just leave me alone!" And he simply looked at me and said, "Not yet."

And then he put me on this wheel, and began to spin me around, and around, and around, and I just got so dizzy that I couldn't even see where I was going anymore. I just felt like I was losing it. Everything was spinning, and I felt sick to my stomach, and I said, "Let me off of here!" And he just said, "Not yet."

Finally, the day had come where I took another shape. All that patting, and molding, and pinching gave me another shape. And I thought, "Ah, finally!" But then, he put me in this furnace. It was called the 'First Firing.' And it was so hot in there. I couldn't believe how hot it was, and I thought, "I can't stand this. I'm going to die. Just get me out of here! Don't you love me? Why are you leaving me here?" The oven door had a little glass piece in it, and the master would look through the glass, and just smile. He had a certain look in his eyes, but he would not let me out! He was watching over me. He never took his eyes off of me, but just wouldn't let me out. He would just smile at me and say, "Not yet."

Finally, the oven door opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf. And I thought, "Man, thank God that is over!" But then he began to paint me all over with this stinky paint, changing my color from gray to this pretty blue that I am now. And I said, "This stuff stinks. It's choking me. I do not like this smell. Just stop it!" And he would just look at me with that look, and say, "Not yet."

Then he put me back in the oven a second time, and it was twice as hot as the first time. I sure didn't expect to be in there again. I thought, "I know for sure that I am going to die in here! This is the end of me! This will finish me off! Get me out of here, God, I can't stand it!" But he would just look through the glass, and say, "Not yet."

Then once the door finally opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf and let me cool off. And after I cooled off, he came by and let me look in a mirror. I looked at myself and I just could not believe how beautiful I was. I could not believe how I had changed. Why I didn't look anything like that old, gray, lump of clay that I started out being so long ago. Back then, nobody wanted me, nobody liked me, nobody paid any attention to me. They just kicked me around and walked all over me like I was a piece of trash. But now, I'm special! But I wasn't always this way.



You may be in any of those stages, but God will NEVER take His eyes off of you. Let Him make you into the person He wants you to be... Even if it means going through the fire. You will never be the same.

Amanda's Testimony

Hey, everyone. I want to share a beautiful testimony from a dear friend of mine. Amanda is 24 years old, and truly understands the love of God, because she, like so many others, has a story of forgiveness and healing. I pray that you find healing for yourself also through her testimony. You are not alone. No matter what situation you may be facing.
(If you would like to share your testimony of hope and God's love, or any other message that you feel God has laid on your heart to share, feel free to email me at heathermountjoy@yahoo.com)

Amanda Lowery:

Age. 24

 

My Testimony ...

I grew up in church, my parents were Sunday school teachers and i accepted Christ when I was 10 years old. My parents sheltered me growing and i was a very active member in the youth group through out middle and high school. I was in leadership classes 8th grade thru my senior year of high school. I always got the most christ-like award every time my youth group went on a retreat. I was a girl after God's own heart and always eager and excited to share God with everyone I met. My senior year is when it started go down hill. I had started dating this guy that had graduated a year before me. I had the idea to save myself for marriage and only three months into the relationship he started to pressure me for sex. He threw out all the classic lines and back then I was the type who thought I always had to have some sort of male companionship to satisfy me. i got comfortable in the relationship and told myself I couldn't find anyone better and gave in for the fear of having him leave me. Come to find out being in that relationship and given in to his desire didn't satisfy me, it only added to my emptiness. My life just continued to get worse. Being shelter for most of life i decided to do it all on my own when I turned 21. I got involved in the wrong crowds, partied, did drugs, and gave in to more guys. At the time I believed that was the only a guy would ever accept me, because having them accept for who I was never worked out too well. After all that I'd always end up single and broken hearted with a little more added to my emptiness. In the midst of this journey I would always run back to God then always run away. I wish I could tell you after all that had happened previously that it got better but it didnt. My freshman year of community college I got a job working at Bi-Lo and met a guy there that I was working with. We started dating and Like all the times before a red flag would go up giving me the que to leave but I didnt. I was this guys first girl friend and telling him my past and then that I gave it all up to Christ I thought he'd be understanding but the only thing he was was just anothe rdesriring guy. I tried and tried to bring him closer to God and every time Id grow closer to the Lord he grew more angry. This I just could not understand. Well he also started preasuring me and what I should've done was run but I stayed and ended up giving in all over again. I wrestled with that regret for the whole three years we dated. wish I could tell you that our relationship got better but it didnt. The whole three years of that realtionship I prayed and prayed That God would change him and that he would see the light I had with in me and be drawn to that. Only to realize the light I had wasnt so bright anymore because he had dimmed it so much. Finally I had enough and just prayed to God that he would move or move me and thats exactly what he did. Jacob ended up breaking up with me and in was one the roughest and toughest breakups ever. I literally went crazy and drove myself insane thinking about it constantly. I turned against God and told him That Id much rather have jacob back than follow Him again becasue the pain of being without jacob was more than I could handle. I told God I didnt need his help and I didnt want his help because i have messed up so bad and disappointed him so much and it would be unfair for me to ask for his help. I ended up going into a deep and dark depression for half a yr. I had reached the lowest I would ever go, I even thought of harming myself so I could leave this world and be in pain no more. Until one day, I had enough of feeling so awful I fell to my face and told God I give up, I couldnt do this alone any more and couldn't handle the pain on my own. that was the day i told myself from that point on I was never going to let any man, any one or anything ever bring me down that low agian. if anything bothered me I was just going laugh about it, shrug it off, keep my heead up, keep smiling and keep moving foward. Today I can tell you that God reveals to me every day how much he loves me and that he is always here. I dont worry about finding a guy to satisfy the whole in my heart and my loneliness. because that spot has been filled by a pretty important guy already ... God! God has called me into the ministry of missions and working with the youth. I tell everyone i still get lonely but now IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL! I am perfectly fine if God doesnt have a special someone for me and if its not in his plans for me to get married and have a fmaily because the joy I'd would get from witnessing to others and helping orphans would be infinately greater than the joy of having a family! I look back on that day when I thought I couldn't make anymore and just look up, smile and thank God for making stronger than I could ever have imagined! Because of the pain, disappointments and emptiness I went through. After overcoming that, God laid on my heart to start a mentoring group for young teenage girls, called "STILL THAT GIRL" based on Britt Nicole's song. Its for girls like me who have and had that passions to change the world but got lost along the way. You're still that girl! Dont let your trials and pain hinder, hide and ever take away that passion. Its still in you, Remember God doesn't hate you, he'll ALWAYS love you just the same as he did before you fell! He may hate where you're at, so listen to his voice, he's calling you by name, speaking to your heart to pull you out of the darkness and tell you of better things to come! AND BELIEVE ME THERE ARE BETTER THINGS TO COME! Our God is not a God of comdemnation! He's a God of love with a sweet voice!

If you are wanting to share your story please don't hold back of the fear of judgement! We are here to help and never to judge. Your story is a story of mircale given to you by God, its a gift. Don't let what others think stop you from reaching out!

Psalm 51:17
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, broken heart and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise!"