Free

Beheld from Marianne Bach on Vimeo.

Yeya Diaz

Yaya? Lala? 
No...YeYa!


YeYa! That is the name of my dear new friend, from none other than...Guatemala City!
In her short time here, 3 months to be exact, YeYa has impacted my life more than she may ever know. The Russell family accepted an offer last year to host a foreign exchange student and could not have been more hospitable if they tried. YeYa truly spent her time in the States in the best of hands. 
To my surprise, the first day I met this kindhearted 17-year old, she was speaking to me fluently in  my native tongue (right when I thought I was about to get some Spanish practice in). She communicates so very well and it has been such a blessing to hear her heart.
We have laughed together, cried together, grown together, and so much more during her time in America.
Something that Yeya taught me during her time here is that cultural differences aside, so many people struggle with the same things. As she poured out her heart to Ashley and I one day over a weekend trip to Virginia, we shared a knowing glance. The very thing the Lord was working on her heart about at the time was precisely what He was teaching Ashley and I both.
Minor language barriers and accents faded away as we realized the power of our God. The God who can fulfill any and all people, the God who for that matter created all people, and holds all things together.


YeYa has taught me so much about life, she has reminded me what it is like to be curious and to not take a moment for granted, and she has taken up a place in my heart!


The next time you are tempted, as I often am, to feel as if there is a vast difference between yourself and someone from another culture, be reminded that the Lord is sovereign over all people and we serve the same God, who has created us in His image. 


Yeya Diaz, thank you for not neglecting to bring an ample amount of joy with you on your American journey.

Addiction Today

How many people have known someone who has or has had an addiction, whether it be family, friends, co-workers, etc.?

I’m very interested in this subject, as I've been reading recent studies from Christian's perspective and studying the topic in Psychology class as well. I'm curious to analyze the causes and solutions of such issues.

Feel free to share as much or as little as possible, anything would be of value

Just Believe

Freedom.

Have you ever returned to seemingly basic concepts of the Christian faith and realized that either you missed the magnitude of it or God simply gave you a fresh dose of gratitude. 

That is, in a nutshell, what has happened in my life and walk with the Lord over the past month. 

Honestly, I can think of no other realization that has brought more radical change to my life than the understanding of just how in need of freedom I am and just how free, in Christ, I am.

I would go so far as to say that there is much about freedom in Christ I have yet to learn, but I feel as if a veil has been lifted and the initial point of realization and understanding has been crossed.

A couple things that brought me to this realization of the profound nature of freedom in Christ are:

1. I will not feel free all the time. In fact, there are some weeks where I might not 'feel' the magnitude of your freedom 9/10 of the time.

However, I am free.

2. Freedom does not come on my terms. 

3. There is not a "higher" level of freedom to be grasped.

So I need to stop trying to be "more free" and just...be free!

4. It is not enough to know that I am free, I have to believe that I am free.

5. Likewise, I have to believe that Christ can bring instantaneous healing to any life.

Just as the young women who had been victim of the same disease for 12 years touched the cloak of Jesus and was instantaneously healed, He wants to do the same for all of His children!

What's stopping us then?

A lack of faith.

Mark 5 holds, what I consider to be, the prescription for healing and freedom.

Christ told the young woman who touched His cloak and immediately received healing:

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace & be freed from your suffering."

Later in Mark 5, He instructs His followers:

"Do not be afraid, just believe." 

I'm not sure what you are suffering with today, it may be pride, jealousy, a lack of faith, adultery, alcoholism, self-image issues, drug addiction, gossip, prayerlessness, etc. etc. 

Christ does not rank sins, rest assured in that. He does however, offer freedom to all who have faith and believe.

He wants to free you today, on His terms, which are fairly simple:

Believe, Receive, Repent, Live

Christ died so that you may experience this freedom, my heart is burdened for people to embrace Christ's gift. It is worth whatever you must surrender, I know from experience. 

The Manhattan Declaration

I believe...
Christians should not shy away from intellectual pursuits, political debates, and other academic endeavors.
I know...
There is a place for Christians in every area of science, government, so on and so forth.
I have hope...
That if we band together as we are called to and unite as the body of Christ, not separated by denominations and other factors that seek to divide and destroy our witness, that there are still brighter days ahead for America. However, the opposite is true if we shrink back into the subculture  so many Christians feel most comfortable in.


What I'm coming to terms with is sometimes the right thing isn't the comfortable thing, it is not the easiest most nearly accessible, most palatable option. Typically, it will take every ounce of passion and fight within you and I am grateful there are Christian leaders standing up today on behalf of that reality.


Do you want a means by which to stand with them? 
Start here: by signing the Manhattan Declaration.


This movement speaks, shouts even, at three horrific issues in America today: The sanctity of life, the dignity of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and religious liberty. 
Divorce rate, abortion statistics, prevalence of homosexuality and its impeding legislation, as well as threatened religious freedom must be addressed! The Bible speaks to these issues and we must defend what is true, right, noble, honorable, etc. and this is one avenue which that can be done through. 


Nearly 500,000 already have, will you do the same?

Who Alone Can Number the Clouds by Wisdom?

Job 38

³¹"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades

   or loose the cords of Orion?

³³Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?

   Can you establish their rule on the earth?

 ³⁴"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

   that a flood of waters may cover you?

³⁵Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go

   and say to you, 'Here we are'?

³⁶Who has put wisdom in the inward parts

   or given understanding to the mind?

³⁷Who can number the clouds by wisdom?

   Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

³⁸when the dust runs into a mass

   and the clods stick fast together?

As Job needed a little reminder of the vastness and supremacy of the Lord, He got just that. Sometimes, when the pool of faith seems to be running short, we need the very same thing in our lives. Job 38 has provided the perfect reminder on countless occasions. My God is the God who numbers the clouds by wisdom and looses the cords of Orion (picture above). When I look up at the stars at night, this passage often comes to mind. When all else in the world does not seem right,"The Lord's Answer to Job" seems to put all things in perspective.

Will you trust in & be amazed by this God today?