So, I'm a little behind on my blogging. Ever since I moved out of the dorms last Thursday, I've just been going, going, going (in a good way). I never knew a girl could have so many appointments in one week...I'm trying to squeeze everything in before I leave. So far, it's working : )
You are probably not going to believe this when I tell you, but God has raised $3,850 already! To think that all the details of my trip are coming together in less than 27 days still blows me away. It's funny when I reflect on the day I got my acceptance letter. They emphasized in the letter to make quick preparations, because the trip begins in 27 days. For the next few days, that's all I focused on- 27 days, 27 days, 27 days! I got so stinkin' stressed out and anxious that I was a nervous wreck. Then I started focusing on God. That's when everything began to fall together. Have you ever heard that quote "Don't focus on the size of your waves, focus on the size of your God."? I love that! It's so true. When you realize just how big and awesome and powerful God is, the circumstances in your life certainly start to shrink in both size and intensity. Soon, those stressful situations get turned into adventures where you get to see God move in ways you could have never imagined. That's what's been happening to me. Now, I think it's kind of fun when something seems impossible to do. Then, I wait in anticipation and say, "Okay, God, I can't wait to see how you're gonna pull this one off!" He sure is a lot more creative than I : ) This isn't to say I don't still have my moments of doubt- that strikes us all- I just think God has taught me a lot over these past few weeks about resting in His perfect provision and timing.
We studied Deuteronomy 8 at Eikon last week...not my typical book of study, but it was perfect for what I was going through! I felt like I had taken this big step to go to Patmos (and like I mentioned earlier) started freaking out. I was confused and didn't know if I had made the right decision- I was reluctant to tell some people because it felt like it wasn't really going to happen. Looking back, it was a whole bunch of the Devil clouding up my vision and causing me to doubt God's ability. So, basically, I felt like I was just wandering around, in what I like to call "the funk." You know those times when God seems so far away, but you know for a fact that He's right there? You know those times when you try your very hardest to pray and study the Bible, but it's just not "happening"? That's where I was. I was doing everything I thought was right, but something was missing. Sounds a lot like the Israelites, now doesn't it?
Deuteronomy 8:2-5
2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
As soon as the pastor read this, I went "That's why!" That's why I'm feeling this way. God hasn't abandoned me- He's LED ME IN THE DESERT. HE LED ME THERE! God wanted to see how I would survive on the bare minimum- no warm, fuzzy feelings during worship time- no scenes with His overwhelming presence. How will she react when it seems like everything she "needs" is gone...except for Me? I think a lot of times we get so fixated on the "perfect worship set" or the lighting effects or the pastor who uses crazy illustrations or the people who go to church with us. We forget that it has nothing to do with us or the people around us. Forget all that junk- I just want Jesus! I realized that no matter how put together everything is around me, it all felt like chaos without my eyes fixed in the right place. I remember saying, "God, you feel so far away!" And, then I thought- my relationship with Christ shouldn't be based on feelings, but on truth. Feelings come and go- blaze and wane- but, truth...that's here to stay! Clinging to the truth of God's promises and holding fast to His Word is what gets us though the desert.
3 He humbled you...
He also humbled me. That's for sure. You know those times when you think, "Finally! I'm doing something right- yes!" Well, God likes to remind us real quick that it's not us doing the good, but Him. As soon as I tried with my strength, I once again realized that I was incapable. I bet God's up there going, "I wonder just how many times we'll have to go over this with her." Praise the Lord for His loving patience with this kid : )
...causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.
To say that He caused me to hunger might be an understatement! I had been on this spiritual high for a few weeks and was so used to everything going my way. I bet most of you know this- it's no secret: it's so much easier to praise God when everything is good and dandy than when the going gets tough. Isn't it? So, God did prepare me for the wilderness. He showed me time and time again answered prayers, open doors for opportunities, and friendships that propelled me further into His arms. But when all the cushion around your relationship with Christ is no longer there, how do you react? For me, it was a whole lotta drama queen and not a lot of clinging to the Word. But, that's what the wilderness is for. To teach us, to humble us, to remind us that He is all we need.
And, I don't know if you caught verse 4, but the Israelites wandered for FORTY YEARS with clothes that didn't wear out, with feet that didn't swell. In the desert. That's just amazing. So God. He tests us, but He doesn't stop caring for us. He supernaturally provides for our wilderness experiences, no matter how long they might drag on.
So, a spiritual battle was alive in my heart, and I remember saying on Wednesday afternoon (before Eikon), "Okay, I give up. I'm defeated. I'm sick and tired of trying." Christian- don't ever say that! I might as well have said, "Devil, you win. You are victorious over Christ." Ouch- how that must have broken my Savior' heart! Jesus died so that I wouldn't be defeated, yet there I was declaring my defeat. The same lips that sing "Your Grace is Enough" and "Mighty to Save" were saying, "God, you can't do it." It's seriously like an arrow to the heart when I remember my attitude then, but praise God for new mercies and faithfulness each morning!
5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
After hearing this message on Wednesday, I was reminded of purpose in the wild. God didn't lead me there to punish or to torture me, but to refine me and develop my character. He's a God of love, a God whose discipline we should enjoy because it ultimately makes us more like Him. Too bad I was busy throwing a temper tantrum (boy, do I have a lot of growing up to do!).
But, all in all, lesson learned. Thank You, Dad, for seeing the big picture, even if I seem miserable and disappointed in the process! His wisdom never ceases to amaze me, especially when I look back and see His hand guiding me.
So, one last little tid bit...you should read the next part in Deuteronomy 8, especially if you're "in the wild" right now.
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.
With great obedience comes great reward. God doesn't ignore your hard work. When I read this passage, the word that keeps coming to mind is "lush." God is doing all this to bring us to a lush land, to a promised place where our needs are met and our expectations are widly exceeded!
My wilderness period didn't last for forty years, because God knew I wouldn't survive. Each and every day, He's using life's situations and trials to develop my character and reveal His character to me. There's no doubt, I'll have more wilderness experiences to come, but I should be better prepared. For now, I've arrived at the last verse. Praising the Lord for the good He has given me. May I never forget it. Ever.
Showing posts with label Comfort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comfort. Show all posts
May 12, 2010
Apr 24, 2010
It's Not Okay.
It's time for revival. The church is dead. The American church is dying in its own buildings without even knowing it.
Yet, there are some who see the sad reality. Christians are going through the motions, living comfortable lives of sin, thinking that everything is ok. IT'S NOT OKAY! Mediocre is not okay. Lukewarm is not okay. Compromise does not cut it.
What happened to black and white? Right and wrong? What happened to following the Bible instead of "interpretations" of the Bible that we select as our favorite because they justify sinful actions? What happened to living as Christ demands?
My heart is broken and torn up today. This past week, I have come to realize the state of modern church. I'm sick of political correctness, and making people "feel good." That's not what it's about.
The reality is that there is a heaven and there is a hell. And everyone here on earth is destined to one of those places. If it's not heaven, it's hell. And, we walk around with the audacity to think that it's okay to live in sin and keep the Gospel to ourselves. One more time...IT'S NOT OKAY.
Only a few months ago, I was living in this mediocre, lukewarm existence. The worst part about being lukewarm is that you don't know it. Billy (Eikon pastor) talked about this on Wednesday. In Revelation 3, Christ tells the Laodicean church, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were on or the other!" One or the other? Why would Christ want someone to be cold? Because at least they know they're cold! They know something needs to be done. If you're hot, you know you're hot. But if you're lukewarm, you think everything's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Christ demands radical obedience to His message. Yes, we are all sinners, but we can't keep using that as a crutch. With Christ comes victory over sin. With prayer comes a shield of protection. Christians aren't supposed to look the same as the world, with a little of God's grace sprinkled on us. Just because we're forgiven doesn't mean we have permission to do whatever we want. Our lives are not our own. Our bodies are not our own. Our dreams are not ours. Do you see the pattern here? It's not about us, but everything in today's church tells us that it is.
We've gotta get past us. That's where Satan has us trapped. If our Christianity revolves around us, we never get anywhere because yeah- we will always have problems. We can't wait until the conditions are "perfect" before we decide to help someone out. Christ went out of His way to help others when His conditions were the worst. He ministered on the cross!!! Why, then, are we caught up in (insert sin here) when Christ has given us authority and power to overcome such sin and focus on others?
If we push past ourselves, that's when we experience Christ, because it was never about us in the first place. Christ didn't die so that we could hear the Gospel, be saved, and feel comfortable in lives of mediocrity. Christ died so that our lives would be so radically transformed that the world wouldn't recognize them as normal. They would see something completely different and passionate and intriguing that would make them wonder why in the world we would act so absurd.
The church needs revival. The world needs God. And I need to get off my butt and do something about it.
"14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?"
I think what we have is an entire generation that has been fooled into believing that the sinner's prayer is good enough. Believing that God saves and that Jesus died for you isn't good enough. Our lives must reflect the fact that we have come into contact with that reality.
As a result of this false doctrine, we have a world full of people who believe that they are okay. Faith without works is dead. I have a classroom full of peers who raised their hands and said they were "Christians" (while their language alone is enough to have Paul roll over in his grave). Faith without works is dead.
Being lukewarm is much worse than being either hot or cold. My heart is burdened for the lukewarm of the world. I was one of them. I was content in false Christianity, believing that it was okay to do whatever I wanted. That's not following Jesus.
Praise God He saved me from that state, from that trickery of the Devil! But I cannot be content with just getting over it. God saved me for a reason. I have to reach others with this message, not with a "high and mighty" I'm-better-than-you-and-can't-relate-to-how-you're-living attitude. No! It has to come from a heart that says- yeah, I was right where you were. And it's not a safe place to be. We don't know how much time we have left. Today is the day for change. No more mediocrity. No more fake Christians. It's unacceptable. The church is doing society a dishonor by turning its head and ignoring this state of existence, even accepting this state of existence. It needs to be called out. We cannot stay silent and pretend it's okay. People are dying and going to hell. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Yet, there are some who see the sad reality. Christians are going through the motions, living comfortable lives of sin, thinking that everything is ok. IT'S NOT OKAY! Mediocre is not okay. Lukewarm is not okay. Compromise does not cut it.
What happened to black and white? Right and wrong? What happened to following the Bible instead of "interpretations" of the Bible that we select as our favorite because they justify sinful actions? What happened to living as Christ demands?
My heart is broken and torn up today. This past week, I have come to realize the state of modern church. I'm sick of political correctness, and making people "feel good." That's not what it's about.
The reality is that there is a heaven and there is a hell. And everyone here on earth is destined to one of those places. If it's not heaven, it's hell. And, we walk around with the audacity to think that it's okay to live in sin and keep the Gospel to ourselves. One more time...IT'S NOT OKAY.
Only a few months ago, I was living in this mediocre, lukewarm existence. The worst part about being lukewarm is that you don't know it. Billy (Eikon pastor) talked about this on Wednesday. In Revelation 3, Christ tells the Laodicean church, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were on or the other!" One or the other? Why would Christ want someone to be cold? Because at least they know they're cold! They know something needs to be done. If you're hot, you know you're hot. But if you're lukewarm, you think everything's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Christ demands radical obedience to His message. Yes, we are all sinners, but we can't keep using that as a crutch. With Christ comes victory over sin. With prayer comes a shield of protection. Christians aren't supposed to look the same as the world, with a little of God's grace sprinkled on us. Just because we're forgiven doesn't mean we have permission to do whatever we want. Our lives are not our own. Our bodies are not our own. Our dreams are not ours. Do you see the pattern here? It's not about us, but everything in today's church tells us that it is.
We've gotta get past us. That's where Satan has us trapped. If our Christianity revolves around us, we never get anywhere because yeah- we will always have problems. We can't wait until the conditions are "perfect" before we decide to help someone out. Christ went out of His way to help others when His conditions were the worst. He ministered on the cross!!! Why, then, are we caught up in (insert sin here) when Christ has given us authority and power to overcome such sin and focus on others?
If we push past ourselves, that's when we experience Christ, because it was never about us in the first place. Christ didn't die so that we could hear the Gospel, be saved, and feel comfortable in lives of mediocrity. Christ died so that our lives would be so radically transformed that the world wouldn't recognize them as normal. They would see something completely different and passionate and intriguing that would make them wonder why in the world we would act so absurd.
The church needs revival. The world needs God. And I need to get off my butt and do something about it.
"14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?"
I think what we have is an entire generation that has been fooled into believing that the sinner's prayer is good enough. Believing that God saves and that Jesus died for you isn't good enough. Our lives must reflect the fact that we have come into contact with that reality.
As a result of this false doctrine, we have a world full of people who believe that they are okay. Faith without works is dead. I have a classroom full of peers who raised their hands and said they were "Christians" (while their language alone is enough to have Paul roll over in his grave). Faith without works is dead.
Being lukewarm is much worse than being either hot or cold. My heart is burdened for the lukewarm of the world. I was one of them. I was content in false Christianity, believing that it was okay to do whatever I wanted. That's not following Jesus.
Praise God He saved me from that state, from that trickery of the Devil! But I cannot be content with just getting over it. God saved me for a reason. I have to reach others with this message, not with a "high and mighty" I'm-better-than-you-and-can't-relate-to-how-you're-living attitude. No! It has to come from a heart that says- yeah, I was right where you were. And it's not a safe place to be. We don't know how much time we have left. Today is the day for change. No more mediocrity. No more fake Christians. It's unacceptable. The church is doing society a dishonor by turning its head and ignoring this state of existence, even accepting this state of existence. It needs to be called out. We cannot stay silent and pretend it's okay. People are dying and going to hell. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Mar 10, 2010
Secondhand Faith
We have all the self-help books we could possibly read. We have all the collective sermons preached over the years. We have Christian music, Christian concerts, Christian conferences, Christian retreats, Christian coffee shops. We have Christian schools and Christian skate parks. We have it all, as far as Christianity goes. Or so it seems.
The question that has been burdening me-and I mean really bothering me lately- is this: Why do Christians today-with more resources available than ever before- feel so hollow, empty, alone, and unfulfilled...so confused and frustrated with the very faith that's supposed to bring "life abundance"? Let's face it. How many Christian people do you run into in a day that make you feel better by being around them? How often do you see that spark and go, "Wow-there's something different there"? When the world looks at us, do we give them a good reason to want what we have or do we turn them away with actions that contradict our very doctrine?
You would think that with so much knowledge built up, and so many Christians having gone before us, we would have it all figured out by now. But it seems that our generation of Christians is more dependent on the latest anti-depressant or a good day of shopping to pull them out of a slump. We would rather entertain ourselves with trash on television than seek God's word for rest and renewal. Since when did it become so much about us?
When I think about the lives of the twelve disciples, I am amazed at their faith. You might be thinking- well, they had Jesus with them. And you're right- but, only for 33 short years. After that, the Holy Spirit was their helper, and the same Spirit that was in the disciples (yes- those guys who healed the sick, helped the blind see, and essentially revolutionze history) is in US! We are told in the Bible that God never changes. That very same Spirit dwells within us. Would you have guessed by the way we live?
Christians today rely on conferences and books and music to encourage them throughout their day. I'm not saying that any of this is bad, but when it is more satisfying than Christ Himself, we have surely lost our way. I haven't read any stories of Paul attending Promise Keepers or Mary going to Women of Faith. Not to mention, these people only had the Old Testament- they were the ones being inspired to write the New Testament!! Yet, their faith was the most authentic, impactful, Christ-oriented faith you could find. They weren't relying on others to reveal what only Christ can. They weren't looking around, they were looking up.
Do you realize how much of an impact these people had? To think that the letters we read in the Bible today were words that came from the very heart of God- delivered through Paul. These concepts are the framework for our faith. Paul wasn't interpreting Christ from someone else's point of view. He wasn't recording something from the latest song released by the choir. Paul was connected to the very real, very personal and intimate person of Jesus. We've missed that. We can look around all we want. We can pursue every avenue labeled as "Christian" and hope that it will change us for the better, and it might help. But only Jesus can fuel our fire and keep us going. Only Christ can be that Encourager- reminding us of His return as we run with every ounce of energy we have towards Him.
It's time. Time for this generation to step out of other people's faith and into their own. It's time for Christians to stop living in the "idea" of Christianity and start living with faith that can move mountains. The promises in God's word, we have to claim them. We have to stake our lives on them. We have to push for change, not compromise. It's gonna be hard, and the world won't agree, but that means we're doing something right. I don't want to fit in, because according to God's word, that means I'm not doing something right. We are supposed to step up and stand out. Today is the day. It starts now. If not now, when? How many more "tomorrows" will it take for you and me to live, really live as Christ calls us to?
The question that has been burdening me-and I mean really bothering me lately- is this: Why do Christians today-with more resources available than ever before- feel so hollow, empty, alone, and unfulfilled...so confused and frustrated with the very faith that's supposed to bring "life abundance"? Let's face it. How many Christian people do you run into in a day that make you feel better by being around them? How often do you see that spark and go, "Wow-there's something different there"? When the world looks at us, do we give them a good reason to want what we have or do we turn them away with actions that contradict our very doctrine?
You would think that with so much knowledge built up, and so many Christians having gone before us, we would have it all figured out by now. But it seems that our generation of Christians is more dependent on the latest anti-depressant or a good day of shopping to pull them out of a slump. We would rather entertain ourselves with trash on television than seek God's word for rest and renewal. Since when did it become so much about us?
When I think about the lives of the twelve disciples, I am amazed at their faith. You might be thinking- well, they had Jesus with them. And you're right- but, only for 33 short years. After that, the Holy Spirit was their helper, and the same Spirit that was in the disciples (yes- those guys who healed the sick, helped the blind see, and essentially revolutionze history) is in US! We are told in the Bible that God never changes. That very same Spirit dwells within us. Would you have guessed by the way we live?
Christians today rely on conferences and books and music to encourage them throughout their day. I'm not saying that any of this is bad, but when it is more satisfying than Christ Himself, we have surely lost our way. I haven't read any stories of Paul attending Promise Keepers or Mary going to Women of Faith. Not to mention, these people only had the Old Testament- they were the ones being inspired to write the New Testament!! Yet, their faith was the most authentic, impactful, Christ-oriented faith you could find. They weren't relying on others to reveal what only Christ can. They weren't looking around, they were looking up.
Do you realize how much of an impact these people had? To think that the letters we read in the Bible today were words that came from the very heart of God- delivered through Paul. These concepts are the framework for our faith. Paul wasn't interpreting Christ from someone else's point of view. He wasn't recording something from the latest song released by the choir. Paul was connected to the very real, very personal and intimate person of Jesus. We've missed that. We can look around all we want. We can pursue every avenue labeled as "Christian" and hope that it will change us for the better, and it might help. But only Jesus can fuel our fire and keep us going. Only Christ can be that Encourager- reminding us of His return as we run with every ounce of energy we have towards Him.
It's time. Time for this generation to step out of other people's faith and into their own. It's time for Christians to stop living in the "idea" of Christianity and start living with faith that can move mountains. The promises in God's word, we have to claim them. We have to stake our lives on them. We have to push for change, not compromise. It's gonna be hard, and the world won't agree, but that means we're doing something right. I don't want to fit in, because according to God's word, that means I'm not doing something right. We are supposed to step up and stand out. Today is the day. It starts now. If not now, when? How many more "tomorrows" will it take for you and me to live, really live as Christ calls us to?
Oct 1, 2009
Not Your Average 5K
The reason I bring up all this chatter about comfort is because I believe God is calling me to 11 months without it. I heard about a mission trip, or should I say mission adventure called The World Race about half a year ago. Since I was first introduced to the idea, I was truly intrigued. 11 months, 11 different countries. Mission work 24/7, never knowing what to expect or where you might sleep at night. While part of me says “Ahh!,” the other part says, “Perfect! That’s what I need to do.” It’s weird how many times this “little” adventure pops into my head throughout the week, and I’m beginning to think Someone is putting it there on purpose, if you know what I mean.
I don’t want to go where God is not leading, and I know He will do everything in His perfect timing. All I’m asking is that you partner with me in prayer, beginning when you read this post, for The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results (James 5:16). It will come together if that’s what needs to happen- I trust Him.
Sep 22, 2009
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