Paul writes this to open the fourth chapter of Ephesians:
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
When I was a camper attending Quest, where I now serve as a counselor, the theme one summer was 24/7. It was about focusing on and living out your calling in Christ constantly - all day, every day, in all that you do. As a high school student I remember how intense I thought that was. At camp that week I would be in a Christ-centered community, surrounded by other believers and our time and energy would be focused on growing our relationships with Christ. I could do it there. But when I was done with camp for the year, how would that work? As the years have passed Paul's words and the idea of living a Christ-like existence 24/7 have stuck with me, and have begun to take a new shape in my life.
The Carpenter Who Cleared the Temple
The passage in the gospels where Jesus turns over tables in the temple has long been one of my favorites. I saw Jesus getting upset with people for their bad behavior. There is a sense of comfort in the idea that your savior can experience the same emotions that you do. I thought Jesus was angry because the buys and the sellers had defiled God's temple - a place of worship. A meeting at my college church group a few weeks ago shed new light on this story. Jesus isn't mad at the buyers and sellers in the temple for the buying and the selling. They are there to do what they need to do so that travelers can exchange currency and animals can be bought for sacrifice. He's frustrated because when those people leave the temple their actions and behaviors are are anything but Christ-like. They only bear good fruit within the temple, and forsake it all outside the walls.
The Whole World In His Hands
Sometimes when we step off the grounds of our summer camps, outside of our churches, away from our Bible studies, away from our friends and family who hold our faith lives accountable, we become just like the buyers and the sellers in the temple. The truth is, when you step outside of those places, you are stepping into a bigger sanctuary and a bigger mission field. We have not stepped outside of God's protection or His will for us to live in a Christ-like way. Jesus tells the woman at the well that worshiping God only in the temple is a thing of yesterday. He tells her that we will be called beyond that. Scripture also tells us that our body is a temple. If the body is a temple where our soul dwells, there is no place where we are not called to bring glory to God, and to live out a Christ-like existence.
Disonance
Brennan Manning, the author of the Ragamuffin Gospel and several other books, once said this: "The temptation of the age is to look good without being good." Our foot is snared by this trap often. If we are Christ-like in places where it is likely to be acknowledged and even praised or rewarded, but struggle to be that way in places where it is often passed over, then the first striving is in vain. My campers only see me one week out of the year. My church family only sees me one day out of the week. But God sees me always. It matters how I treat my classmates, people I ride the bus with. It matters what activities I choose to fill my weekend with. It matters what I post on Facebook and any other social media. It's about bringing glory to God. That isn't a 9 to 5 job and it isn't just a summer or a Sunday job. It is truly 24/7.
It is hard. It doesn't come without struggle. The temptation in this world to forsake Paul's urge for us and cave into pressures is great. However, God equips us for those struggles by giving us community, the opportunity for prayer and conversation with Him, as well as renewal and redemption. God wants us to push each other every day to live a life worthy of His calling for us - that is the purpose of a Christ-centered community and a Christ-centered life.
~SP
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Book Worth Reading
Here are two bold statements that I hold as truths:
1. There is only one man that has ever truly changed my life, and that is Jesus.
2. There is only one book that has radically changed the way I see and live life, and that is the Bible.
If you ever find yourself hinging huge life changes on or crediting them to a human being, you will be let down. If you ever find yourself radically changing the way you live because of a book - be careful. In the wise words of one of the pastor's at my church in Bloomington: read through the lens of Jesus.
Those are a few things I just wanted to throw out there before I talk about about a book I've recently read. Although I have not restructured my life around it, I do believe that it offers some worthwhile ideas. The author wrote it with Godly guidance and intentions, and with evident love and care for others.
The title of the book? I Kissed Dating Goodbye. When I heard the title for the first time, my eyes narrowed, and I was prepared to just say no, altogether. I would have missed out. The author, Joshua Harris, writes about the way our generation often pursues relationships - in a way that pushes God to the side and seeks immediate gratification, and desires intimacy without responsibility and commitment. The book focuses on relationships and what God desires from us in our relationships with others, but it also speaks about our relationship with Him.
Harris' book has a lot of good points. One that struck me was this: every relationship (be it friendship or beyond) is an opportunity to model Christ's love. That is true. To honestly and truly center a relationship on God means that each person is living out a Christ-like existence and sharing Christ-like love (and not only together, but individually too). It doesn't sound easy, and it isn't easy. Relationships are something we have to work hard to maintain. We have to put an effort into practicing and living out that Christ-like love.
I would recommend this book to anyone in my life. I would recommend it to a young single friend, I would recommend it to an engaged friend, I would recommend it to my parents or any married couples, and especially those raising children. When reading the book, I had to remember that I was a different person than the author, and I have a different and unique relationship with God. Not everything that is right for Joshua Harris is right for me. It has not radically changed the way I approach dating, but it has opened my eyes to how I focus all of my relationships. I want to pursue all relationships, with all people in my life in a way that emanates Christ's love.
~SP
1. There is only one man that has ever truly changed my life, and that is Jesus.
2. There is only one book that has radically changed the way I see and live life, and that is the Bible.
If you ever find yourself hinging huge life changes on or crediting them to a human being, you will be let down. If you ever find yourself radically changing the way you live because of a book - be careful. In the wise words of one of the pastor's at my church in Bloomington: read through the lens of Jesus.
Those are a few things I just wanted to throw out there before I talk about about a book I've recently read. Although I have not restructured my life around it, I do believe that it offers some worthwhile ideas. The author wrote it with Godly guidance and intentions, and with evident love and care for others.
The title of the book? I Kissed Dating Goodbye. When I heard the title for the first time, my eyes narrowed, and I was prepared to just say no, altogether. I would have missed out. The author, Joshua Harris, writes about the way our generation often pursues relationships - in a way that pushes God to the side and seeks immediate gratification, and desires intimacy without responsibility and commitment. The book focuses on relationships and what God desires from us in our relationships with others, but it also speaks about our relationship with Him.
Harris' book has a lot of good points. One that struck me was this: every relationship (be it friendship or beyond) is an opportunity to model Christ's love. That is true. To honestly and truly center a relationship on God means that each person is living out a Christ-like existence and sharing Christ-like love (and not only together, but individually too). It doesn't sound easy, and it isn't easy. Relationships are something we have to work hard to maintain. We have to put an effort into practicing and living out that Christ-like love.
I would recommend this book to anyone in my life. I would recommend it to a young single friend, I would recommend it to an engaged friend, I would recommend it to my parents or any married couples, and especially those raising children. When reading the book, I had to remember that I was a different person than the author, and I have a different and unique relationship with God. Not everything that is right for Joshua Harris is right for me. It has not radically changed the way I approach dating, but it has opened my eyes to how I focus all of my relationships. I want to pursue all relationships, with all people in my life in a way that emanates Christ's love.
~SP
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
God Wants What's Better for Us
It is not selfish to want good things for yourself - to want to experience joy and fulfillment. However, it is important to know where to seek those things.
I want to fall in love, with a handsome, kind and considerate man that is living out a Christ-like existence - who loves God above all else, including me. I want to enjoy the career and job that I work at - I want to enjoy my co-workers company and I want to be able to help others through my work. I want friends that I can enjoy the company of, rely on and create memories with - friends that challenge me to be a better person too.
Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
God wants good things for His children.
There are times where frustrations abound. You have found a job that is amazing - but you don't get it, the position is already filled... You've met someone you really like - they don't feel the same way, the timing is never right, you just can't seem to make it work out... You have a great friend - they are making poor choices, they're shutting you out, you're both busy and you lose touch...
We often see things, and we think this is so right for me, this feels so right for me. We often have blinders on that we don't even know we are wearing. We are only able to see so far ahead into the decisions we make. But God can see it all. God knows when something is not right for us. He has given us the free will to make our own choices, but He has also taken the responsibility of guarding our hearts if we freely entrust them to Him. And if we do, God may take us out of situations or turn us in another direction when we don't expect or necessarily desire it.
God wants the best things for His children.
That is something I have been learning: what God wants for me is better than what I could ever want for myself. It is not selfish to want good things, but it is selfish to neglect God's will and His graces when we have given Him our hearts.
There are a few times already that I am able to look back on in my life, where I can see that God was protecting me. Although I may have endured some hurt and pain, God shielded me from greater devastation. He had my best interests in mind. My better interests. And when I look back, I know that I could not have made a better plan than God did for my life.
If we trust that God wants the best things for us, He will take our hand and lead us past happiness into joy. Happiness is pleasant, but joy is everlasting. That is what God wants for us - a heavenly fulfillment - joy. Sometimes we have to endure the frustration, and the inability to understand circumstances, in order to open our lives up for the joy ahead.
~SP
I want to fall in love, with a handsome, kind and considerate man that is living out a Christ-like existence - who loves God above all else, including me. I want to enjoy the career and job that I work at - I want to enjoy my co-workers company and I want to be able to help others through my work. I want friends that I can enjoy the company of, rely on and create memories with - friends that challenge me to be a better person too.
Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
God wants good things for His children.
There are times where frustrations abound. You have found a job that is amazing - but you don't get it, the position is already filled... You've met someone you really like - they don't feel the same way, the timing is never right, you just can't seem to make it work out... You have a great friend - they are making poor choices, they're shutting you out, you're both busy and you lose touch...
We often see things, and we think this is so right for me, this feels so right for me. We often have blinders on that we don't even know we are wearing. We are only able to see so far ahead into the decisions we make. But God can see it all. God knows when something is not right for us. He has given us the free will to make our own choices, but He has also taken the responsibility of guarding our hearts if we freely entrust them to Him. And if we do, God may take us out of situations or turn us in another direction when we don't expect or necessarily desire it.
God wants the best things for His children.
That is something I have been learning: what God wants for me is better than what I could ever want for myself. It is not selfish to want good things, but it is selfish to neglect God's will and His graces when we have given Him our hearts.
There are a few times already that I am able to look back on in my life, where I can see that God was protecting me. Although I may have endured some hurt and pain, God shielded me from greater devastation. He had my best interests in mind. My better interests. And when I look back, I know that I could not have made a better plan than God did for my life.
If we trust that God wants the best things for us, He will take our hand and lead us past happiness into joy. Happiness is pleasant, but joy is everlasting. That is what God wants for us - a heavenly fulfillment - joy. Sometimes we have to endure the frustration, and the inability to understand circumstances, in order to open our lives up for the joy ahead.
~SP
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Comfort in the Loss of Control
One of the things I struggle with most in my life is the desire to have control. I find comfort in having control over a situation. Even when I know I am not the most capable person for a task or for a need, I have a hard time asking for help. I know that this gets in the way of my relationship with God. There are things that burden my heart, and I hold out a long time before I life them up to God.
I strive to pray and talk to God often. I don't really have a scheduled time during the day, and there are weeks, months, etc. where I am in conversation with Him more frequently than other times. I like to walk and talk to God in His outdoor sanctuary - I'm a walking prayer. I often tell Him the things that burden my heart, but still hesitate to let Him take control of them. I say here they are, but not take them Lord. I hold James' faith without works scripture close to my heart. I think faith has to be an active thing. But it is important to step back and make sure I am not acting on my own desires and will.
At church a few weeks ago we talked about a few passages in the Bible and put them into a historical context. On the same day that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, and was greeted by the laying of palms (the day which we appropriately celebrate as Palm Sunday), Pontius Pilate also entered Jerusalem. The juxtaposition of these events is astounding. Pontius Pilate entered town, commanded attention with a brilliant army. He was mostly likely surrounded and protected by this army. He wanted to be seen by the people, but ensured safety. Jesus simply rode in on a small donkey - borrowed from its owner. His friends and disciples were with Him, but not serving as his body guards. Jesus commanded attention with an unimaginable peace.
Pilate offered comfort through a means of military protection. Jesus offered comfort through an openness and a vulnerability. Pilate was protected by an army that would probably protect him first before protecting the citizens. Jesus opened Himself to the possibility of someone bringing harm to Him, but at the same time, He gave the people comfort through His openness.
When we pray, we come to a God with open arms. There is nothing between Him an us. No army, no barrier. He has opened Himself up to us. He wants us to take down the walls from around our heart and do the same. He wants us to trust Him. Sometimes we are not the most capable person for the task, but God is always capable.
When we pray, it is about the God on the other end of the line. We are powerless in prayer if we don't truly surrender to God. And still, we are truly powerless, because it is Christ who gives the strength, the answers, the comfort.
I also have to remember this when I pray for others. Sometimes it is easier to lift of prayers for others, because they are not my own burdens to let go of. I also find myself praying for what I think should be done in their lives, and I know that is wrong. I have to surrender prayers for myself, prayers for my friends and family, and prayers for those who are against me, completely to God. God knows my opinions, He knows what I think - and He wants to listen to them. We have to remember that God wants better for us than we could ever want for ourselves. And we have to allow Him to do those better things for us.
~SP
I strive to pray and talk to God often. I don't really have a scheduled time during the day, and there are weeks, months, etc. where I am in conversation with Him more frequently than other times. I like to walk and talk to God in His outdoor sanctuary - I'm a walking prayer. I often tell Him the things that burden my heart, but still hesitate to let Him take control of them. I say here they are, but not take them Lord. I hold James' faith without works scripture close to my heart. I think faith has to be an active thing. But it is important to step back and make sure I am not acting on my own desires and will.
At church a few weeks ago we talked about a few passages in the Bible and put them into a historical context. On the same day that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, and was greeted by the laying of palms (the day which we appropriately celebrate as Palm Sunday), Pontius Pilate also entered Jerusalem. The juxtaposition of these events is astounding. Pontius Pilate entered town, commanded attention with a brilliant army. He was mostly likely surrounded and protected by this army. He wanted to be seen by the people, but ensured safety. Jesus simply rode in on a small donkey - borrowed from its owner. His friends and disciples were with Him, but not serving as his body guards. Jesus commanded attention with an unimaginable peace.
Pilate offered comfort through a means of military protection. Jesus offered comfort through an openness and a vulnerability. Pilate was protected by an army that would probably protect him first before protecting the citizens. Jesus opened Himself to the possibility of someone bringing harm to Him, but at the same time, He gave the people comfort through His openness.
When we pray, we come to a God with open arms. There is nothing between Him an us. No army, no barrier. He has opened Himself up to us. He wants us to take down the walls from around our heart and do the same. He wants us to trust Him. Sometimes we are not the most capable person for the task, but God is always capable.
When we pray, it is about the God on the other end of the line. We are powerless in prayer if we don't truly surrender to God. And still, we are truly powerless, because it is Christ who gives the strength, the answers, the comfort.
I also have to remember this when I pray for others. Sometimes it is easier to lift of prayers for others, because they are not my own burdens to let go of. I also find myself praying for what I think should be done in their lives, and I know that is wrong. I have to surrender prayers for myself, prayers for my friends and family, and prayers for those who are against me, completely to God. God knows my opinions, He knows what I think - and He wants to listen to them. We have to remember that God wants better for us than we could ever want for ourselves. And we have to allow Him to do those better things for us.
~SP
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Free Will: A Hard Gift to Unwrap
In class a few days ago, a professor of mine was acknowledging how the month of April has been filled with some fairly significant tragic events (this was in light of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday). She listed a few events - I recalled that the shooting at Columbine high school had also happened this month. Looking back on this year, even, there have been innumerable and unbearable tragedies - the shootings in Newtown, the shootings at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and many others.
When these things have happened in the past year, or past few years, our fingers are quick to fly to the keypads/keyboards of our phones and computers and share with the world our sorrows for the tragedies and to let others know that we are praying for the victims and the entire situation. I sincerely think that is great that we are sharing in that way. I hope that we are all matching our Facebook statuses and tweets with conversations with God through prayer. It doesn't matter who we tell that we are praying, it matters that we are active prayers to the God who can answer them.
I don't know a lot about the events in Boston yesterday, besides the few details I've gleaned from the news. I do know this: God's heart broke. He is hurting for us and with us.
I'm going to step aside from Boston for a moment, but I will come back later.
I think along with grace, love, mercy, and the many other things that God gives us, free will is equally as astounding and amazing. God giving us free will was an amazing act of love. An existence without free will is to live as a machine, to be a captive. We would not love God and have a relationship with Him because we chose to submit our hearts to that, we would have those things because it was our only choice. And that is not love.
Free will was first exercised in Eden. Eve took the apple from the tree she was not supposed to touch. Although she is separated from us by thousands of years, I think men and women both can resonate with Eve. We see something immediately gratifying, extremely attractive and we grab it. I believe that is when our flesh became finite and ephemeral - when Eve took the apple. In that moment Eve made a decision,while God's love remained unchanged.
When tragic things like Newtown and the Boston Marathon happen, we focus on the bad aspects of free will. It makes sense to do so. Free will was something given to us that we can do terrible things with. As the giver of free will, we are quick to blame God for these events. We get frustrated with Him...He foresaw this, He knew this would happen. We get angry and ask why God would let this happen.
God gave us the free will. He knew we would be capable of doing both good, glorifying things with it as well as terrible, hateful things. God truly does make all things work together for the good of His people. It is not God taking the terrible and troublesome things that He has ordained to happen, He takes the things we destroy and builds them into new life.
Although I believe these things to be true, I would never present these words to a person who has just lost their loved one in a tragedy, or has fallen victim to a tragic even themselves. That is the last thing you want to hear - that God will do something good with this destruction. We have to be allowed to grieve. To let the hurt pour out of a broken heart. To be angry and frustrated. If we are told to deny these feelings that is like the same robotic existence as being without free will and God's love. If we are angry and frustrated with God, He can handle it.
What do you tell someone who is a victim or has lost someone to a tragic event? Sometimes words can't offer much. Let them yell. Let them cry. Yell and cry with them. The comfort we can offer each other is a blessing from God, even if we don't know it or acknowledge it. Being His hands and feet is not just an active, on the move kind of task. We can be His arms to hold someone in need as well.
Free will is still far beyond my grasp. And that is good, because it would be way to much for any human being to handle. I think an important thing to do in these times is to give love to others and to be honest and sincere with our feelings. And to match all of our promised prayers with actual prayers.
~SP
When these things have happened in the past year, or past few years, our fingers are quick to fly to the keypads/keyboards of our phones and computers and share with the world our sorrows for the tragedies and to let others know that we are praying for the victims and the entire situation. I sincerely think that is great that we are sharing in that way. I hope that we are all matching our Facebook statuses and tweets with conversations with God through prayer. It doesn't matter who we tell that we are praying, it matters that we are active prayers to the God who can answer them.
I don't know a lot about the events in Boston yesterday, besides the few details I've gleaned from the news. I do know this: God's heart broke. He is hurting for us and with us.
I'm going to step aside from Boston for a moment, but I will come back later.
I think along with grace, love, mercy, and the many other things that God gives us, free will is equally as astounding and amazing. God giving us free will was an amazing act of love. An existence without free will is to live as a machine, to be a captive. We would not love God and have a relationship with Him because we chose to submit our hearts to that, we would have those things because it was our only choice. And that is not love.
Free will was first exercised in Eden. Eve took the apple from the tree she was not supposed to touch. Although she is separated from us by thousands of years, I think men and women both can resonate with Eve. We see something immediately gratifying, extremely attractive and we grab it. I believe that is when our flesh became finite and ephemeral - when Eve took the apple. In that moment Eve made a decision,while God's love remained unchanged.
When tragic things like Newtown and the Boston Marathon happen, we focus on the bad aspects of free will. It makes sense to do so. Free will was something given to us that we can do terrible things with. As the giver of free will, we are quick to blame God for these events. We get frustrated with Him...He foresaw this, He knew this would happen. We get angry and ask why God would let this happen.
God gave us the free will. He knew we would be capable of doing both good, glorifying things with it as well as terrible, hateful things. God truly does make all things work together for the good of His people. It is not God taking the terrible and troublesome things that He has ordained to happen, He takes the things we destroy and builds them into new life.
Although I believe these things to be true, I would never present these words to a person who has just lost their loved one in a tragedy, or has fallen victim to a tragic even themselves. That is the last thing you want to hear - that God will do something good with this destruction. We have to be allowed to grieve. To let the hurt pour out of a broken heart. To be angry and frustrated. If we are told to deny these feelings that is like the same robotic existence as being without free will and God's love. If we are angry and frustrated with God, He can handle it.
What do you tell someone who is a victim or has lost someone to a tragic event? Sometimes words can't offer much. Let them yell. Let them cry. Yell and cry with them. The comfort we can offer each other is a blessing from God, even if we don't know it or acknowledge it. Being His hands and feet is not just an active, on the move kind of task. We can be His arms to hold someone in need as well.
Free will is still far beyond my grasp. And that is good, because it would be way to much for any human being to handle. I think an important thing to do in these times is to give love to others and to be honest and sincere with our feelings. And to match all of our promised prayers with actual prayers.
~SP
Words and Meditations
After a brief hiatus from my lenten writings, I am returning to writing, and sharing my writing. I am thankful for everyone who read my writings during Lent and I am thankful for the kind words that you shared of your own. God has blessed me with a love for writing and an ability to do so. It has helped me grow in my relationship with Him and has also been very healing at times. Sharing love and hope and God's truth is a powerful thing and I want to continue to do so.
I will be spending my summer as a camp counselor serving God in the beautiful Green Lake, WI. Christ's love was modeled for me as a camper at Quest, and now I am returning to model Christ's love for others and learn from them as well. Although wifi is sparse, I will be sharing some words and meditations this summer.
Psalm 19:14 says "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
I absolutely do not know it all. And I will never claim to. God is working with me where I am at, and bringing me beyond that. My hope and my striving is that God's words and truth can be found in the words I publish here. My identity is in Him and I long for that to shape all that I do. I also long to be honest, because I believe God calls me to be. Honest in my frustrations and honest and sincere in my love for Him and others.
I chose to call this blog How Great Thou Art, because God is great. He is first and He is the center. This is about Him. This is His truth. I don't own it, but I want to share it.
~SP
I will be spending my summer as a camp counselor serving God in the beautiful Green Lake, WI. Christ's love was modeled for me as a camper at Quest, and now I am returning to model Christ's love for others and learn from them as well. Although wifi is sparse, I will be sharing some words and meditations this summer.
Psalm 19:14 says "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
I absolutely do not know it all. And I will never claim to. God is working with me where I am at, and bringing me beyond that. My hope and my striving is that God's words and truth can be found in the words I publish here. My identity is in Him and I long for that to shape all that I do. I also long to be honest, because I believe God calls me to be. Honest in my frustrations and honest and sincere in my love for Him and others.
I chose to call this blog How Great Thou Art, because God is great. He is first and He is the center. This is about Him. This is His truth. I don't own it, but I want to share it.
~SP
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)