Sunday, November 3, 2013
Cliques. Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.
That statement is so true. We are told by Paul in his letters to have those that we confess to and that hold us accountable in our Christian walks. We need to be with these people everyday to share our lives with, cheer us up when we need it, and just fill the basic human need for company. But when is it too much?
The author of Hebrews tells us that we should "see to it that no one misses the grace of God" (Heb. 12:15). So we automatically think, "Well, I'm going on a mission trip to Mexico next summer so check that off the To-Do list."
Seriously? Totally taken out of context. It clearly says no one.
We think (without even knowing we think it) that the Christian people that surround us every day don't need to see the grace of God from us.
Girl's have the innate need to feel accepted and wanted by their peers. Also, we have this way of over-analyzing every single detail about every single situation that happens with every single conversation and event that involves others. These two characteristics combined can be detrimental to a woman's self-esteem something "goes wrong." One forgotten invite, one accidental mean look, (even though you don't even remember seeing them), or one text without punctuation can make a girl think she is not accepted by you for the rest of eternity.
We have got to be aware of the feelings of the girls around us. It doesn't matter how annoying they are to you! God's grace is to be missed by no one. Paul also tells us as Christians to "be completely humble and gentle," to "be patient, bearing with one another in love" because God, the "Father of all...is over all, through all, and in all." (Ephesians 4)
Being humble. Such a forgotten concept. (The opposite of posting a "selfie" on Instagram -- UGH.)
It's "valu[ing] others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" rather than doing everything out of "selfish ambition or vain conceit." (Philippians 2)
Leaving people out is born out of our own selfishness and pride -- which, of course, only comes from the evil one. God calls us to place others before ourselves in order to truly live like His one and only Son.
Doing that one simple thing will lead to the elimination of vanity, more emphasis on others, and eyes will be open to those around us who don't have a "clique" and desperately need close relationships in their lives.
Impossible to do? I completely understand. You can't just turn a 180 and be nice to the "outsiders" of your clique. Your clique-y friends won't like that.
You plant the seed. God does the rest.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Psalm 23
As I was reading through Psalms the other night, I came to what is probably the most well-known chapter of the book -- Psalm 23. My mind immediately goes back to my preschool days when we were to recite this in chapel every morning before school. From then on, I could say it for memory...only in a kid-ish, monotone voice. So when I had happened upon it again, I thought that there must be more to these verses since I have found that to be true for all of the "cliche" scriptures I learned as a child.
So I decided to translate it into what it means to me now that I have a better understanding of the way God speaks to us through His word.
Ahem...
v. 1 - The Lord presides over me, so He is going to provide absolutely everything I could ever want or need.
v. 2 - Amidst the troubled world we live in, He will put us in peaceful, quiet times in order to focus on Him.
v. 3 - He guides us down the right path, placing the certain people and places in our lives so that we might share His name with others and bring glory to Him.
v. 4 - We are daily thrown into the darkness of sin and worldly pleasures that ultimately lead to eternal death, but we have nothing to fear -- God's already won this battle for us.
His guidance and control over our lives is comforting because we do not have to do it ourselves.
v. 5 - When we are faced with trials and temptations, He places the truth, different blessings, and eternal life right before us to remind us what we have in Him.
We are heirs to the kingdom. Our riches are overly abundant.
v. 6 - Goodness will surround us throughout our entire lives if we follow Him until we reach our ultimate goal of Heaven.
Of course, who knows what those beautiful lyrics of David's actually meant, but I'd like to think that's pretty close. It's comforting to me at least. :)
So I decided to translate it into what it means to me now that I have a better understanding of the way God speaks to us through His word.
Ahem...
v. 1 - The Lord presides over me, so He is going to provide absolutely everything I could ever want or need.
v. 2 - Amidst the troubled world we live in, He will put us in peaceful, quiet times in order to focus on Him.
v. 3 - He guides us down the right path, placing the certain people and places in our lives so that we might share His name with others and bring glory to Him.
v. 4 - We are daily thrown into the darkness of sin and worldly pleasures that ultimately lead to eternal death, but we have nothing to fear -- God's already won this battle for us.
His guidance and control over our lives is comforting because we do not have to do it ourselves.
v. 5 - When we are faced with trials and temptations, He places the truth, different blessings, and eternal life right before us to remind us what we have in Him.
We are heirs to the kingdom. Our riches are overly abundant.
v. 6 - Goodness will surround us throughout our entire lives if we follow Him until we reach our ultimate goal of Heaven.
Of course, who knows what those beautiful lyrics of David's actually meant, but I'd like to think that's pretty close. It's comforting to me at least. :)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Burdensome Happiness
Life is good.
Well, sometimes...
For me, it's been kind of difficult lately.
Auburn University is seriously, in my mind, one of if not the greatest place on Earth. I love everything about it. But school is t-o-u-g-h. The hardest thing I've ever had to go through. If I do not study my rear off all of the time, I won't succeed. That's a lot of pressure for a measly freshman to handle.
Not only are grades and academic success so consuming, making new relationships has become an enjoyable burden, (if that makes sense). I love all of the new friends I've made since coming to Auburn, and I honestly don't know what I would do without some of them now. But yet, even all the fun times and memory making and hanging out is quite a heavy schedule in itself.
A lot of people would say, "What has this girl got to complain about? Sounds like the good life to me!"
And they would be so right!...except for one HUGE detail...
Where's God in all of that?
Don't get me wrong, God is so evidently here it's crazy.
It's just a matter of seeing Him. Or, I guess, shoving everything else out of the way to have a clear view of Him would be a better way to put it.
I've been so easily distracted lately with everything. Something so simple as opening your eyes to see Him working is turned into this arduous task when put on top of all of life's demands.
As I was looking through my prayer journal last night, I noticed a reoccurring theme in every single prayer -- "God, guide my thoughts to focus on you, because I know when I put You first, everything else will fall into place."
That last part has seriously almost become cliche to me, but it is so so true! So much joy and a sense of ease comes into life when you do this! You would think that it wouldn't be that hard to forget...
Or that you would do absolutely anything to keep it up...
Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians to "let our lives be built on Him" -- a little more extreme than just reading those couple of verses before bedtime.
Our entire lives. I mean, He did make them...and, He did give up His for us...so it only makes sense!
He has given me so much, it's INSANE. So much that I don't even deserve...
And I can't even find the time in my "busy" day to focus on Him.
"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2
Well, sometimes...
For me, it's been kind of difficult lately.
Auburn University is seriously, in my mind, one of if not the greatest place on Earth. I love everything about it. But school is t-o-u-g-h. The hardest thing I've ever had to go through. If I do not study my rear off all of the time, I won't succeed. That's a lot of pressure for a measly freshman to handle.
Not only are grades and academic success so consuming, making new relationships has become an enjoyable burden, (if that makes sense). I love all of the new friends I've made since coming to Auburn, and I honestly don't know what I would do without some of them now. But yet, even all the fun times and memory making and hanging out is quite a heavy schedule in itself.
A lot of people would say, "What has this girl got to complain about? Sounds like the good life to me!"
And they would be so right!...except for one HUGE detail...
Where's God in all of that?
Don't get me wrong, God is so evidently here it's crazy.
It's just a matter of seeing Him. Or, I guess, shoving everything else out of the way to have a clear view of Him would be a better way to put it.
I've been so easily distracted lately with everything. Something so simple as opening your eyes to see Him working is turned into this arduous task when put on top of all of life's demands.
As I was looking through my prayer journal last night, I noticed a reoccurring theme in every single prayer -- "God, guide my thoughts to focus on you, because I know when I put You first, everything else will fall into place."
That last part has seriously almost become cliche to me, but it is so so true! So much joy and a sense of ease comes into life when you do this! You would think that it wouldn't be that hard to forget...
Or that you would do absolutely anything to keep it up...
Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians to "let our lives be built on Him" -- a little more extreme than just reading those couple of verses before bedtime.
Our entire lives. I mean, He did make them...and, He did give up His for us...so it only makes sense!
He has given me so much, it's INSANE. So much that I don't even deserve...
And I can't even find the time in my "busy" day to focus on Him.
"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Breakdown of James 1
James is such a good book. It's just...so...good! A friend and I are taking this book and thoroughly going through it verse by verse while stopping to talk about and look deeper into every detail. So, tonight I started my journey through James and spent about an hour on the first 18 verses...
...longer than I thought.
But my eyes were opened to so much more when I actually sat down, read each verse, and wrote what they meant to me. Here's some of what I came up with:
v. 2 & 3 - When we come into hard times, we can ultimately be joyful, because with that test, our faith can become so much greater and we will grow in the Lord through enduring our hardships. It will develop perseverance which helps to develop spiritual maturity.
perseverance - (n.) steady persistance in the face of difficulties...
...difficulties such as temptation, fear, grief, anxiety, worry and persecution - all big parts of this world.
If we persevere towards God, ("don't give up" - Gal. 6:9), we will "receive the crown of life that God has promised" (v. 12) once we have "stood the test" (NIV) and "patiently endured...temptation" (NLT).
v. 5 - All we have to do is ask God for wisdom, earnestly seeking it, and He will grant us with it. If we ask for spiritual gifts - and mean it - He is so generous and will give it to us. But, we have to genuinely believe it will be granted to us, or He won't give it. We must have "faith in God alone" (NLT) - complete and total dependency and trust.
James even says don't even think your request will be granted if you doubt at all, for you are unstable and do not know what you want.
vs. 9-11 - Humility is what is honored by God. Riches will fade away and people will fade with them.
James...my dawg...why did you just talk all about trials and asking God for wisdom with those, and then throw in some random talk about humility?
What better way to answer this question than to ask the daddy/preacher-man himself?
Here's Cliff's take:
Connection: v. 2-11 - We will face trials and we will have to come to God for wisdom and strength. But when we do, we must come with humility, realizing we are utterly dependent on God and Him alone, or nothing will be granted to us, for we don't deserve it, due to our pride developing doubt that drives us to fade away.
Makes sense to me!
And the hope for those fading people is...
v. 12 - The one who has stood the test, persevered under trial, with God's help, will receive eternal life, because they truly love (are dependent upon and completely trust) Him.
And that is some good news if you ask me. But the goodness doesn't stop there!
v. 13-14 - God does not tempt us. Any sin we fall into is not a trial - there's a difference. (Common misconception, I've found.) Sin comes from our own selfish desires. They "drag us away." Desires lead to sin and sin leads to eternal death.
v. 16 - So watch out!
That's not the good part. Promise.
v. 17 - Only good and perfection come from our heavenly Father - never temptation. Trials will come because there is sin and corruption in this world.
God brings you through it - He doesn't put you in it!
Why would He do that when only goodness and perfection come from above? Not only why - how? Not possible. He is waiting for you to humbly and earnestly ask Him for help.
(Did I mention I love this book?)
v. 18 - We are God's "prized possession" (NLT). We are the "first fruits of all He created." So, "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11)
That really brought it home for me. God's always there for you. You just have to put yourself aside and let Him in.
You do that, and everything else will fall into place.
Do as I say, not as I do. :)
...longer than I thought.
But my eyes were opened to so much more when I actually sat down, read each verse, and wrote what they meant to me. Here's some of what I came up with:
v. 2 & 3 - When we come into hard times, we can ultimately be joyful, because with that test, our faith can become so much greater and we will grow in the Lord through enduring our hardships. It will develop perseverance which helps to develop spiritual maturity.
perseverance - (n.) steady persistance in the face of difficulties...
...difficulties such as temptation, fear, grief, anxiety, worry and persecution - all big parts of this world.
If we persevere towards God, ("don't give up" - Gal. 6:9), we will "receive the crown of life that God has promised" (v. 12) once we have "stood the test" (NIV) and "patiently endured...temptation" (NLT).
v. 5 - All we have to do is ask God for wisdom, earnestly seeking it, and He will grant us with it. If we ask for spiritual gifts - and mean it - He is so generous and will give it to us. But, we have to genuinely believe it will be granted to us, or He won't give it. We must have "faith in God alone" (NLT) - complete and total dependency and trust.
James even says don't even think your request will be granted if you doubt at all, for you are unstable and do not know what you want.
vs. 9-11 - Humility is what is honored by God. Riches will fade away and people will fade with them.
James...my dawg...why did you just talk all about trials and asking God for wisdom with those, and then throw in some random talk about humility?
What better way to answer this question than to ask the daddy/preacher-man himself?
Here's Cliff's take:
Connection: v. 2-11 - We will face trials and we will have to come to God for wisdom and strength. But when we do, we must come with humility, realizing we are utterly dependent on God and Him alone, or nothing will be granted to us, for we don't deserve it, due to our pride developing doubt that drives us to fade away.
Makes sense to me!
And the hope for those fading people is...
v. 12 - The one who has stood the test, persevered under trial, with God's help, will receive eternal life, because they truly love (are dependent upon and completely trust) Him.
And that is some good news if you ask me. But the goodness doesn't stop there!
v. 13-14 - God does not tempt us. Any sin we fall into is not a trial - there's a difference. (Common misconception, I've found.) Sin comes from our own selfish desires. They "drag us away." Desires lead to sin and sin leads to eternal death.
v. 16 - So watch out!
That's not the good part. Promise.
v. 17 - Only good and perfection come from our heavenly Father - never temptation. Trials will come because there is sin and corruption in this world.
God brings you through it - He doesn't put you in it!
Why would He do that when only goodness and perfection come from above? Not only why - how? Not possible. He is waiting for you to humbly and earnestly ask Him for help.
(Did I mention I love this book?)
v. 18 - We are God's "prized possession" (NLT). We are the "first fruits of all He created." So, "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11)
That really brought it home for me. God's always there for you. You just have to put yourself aside and let Him in.
You do that, and everything else will fall into place.
Do as I say, not as I do. :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
My Prayer
God, I am so blessed, yet so very undeserving. I am literally blown away every day by all that you do for me. I am so rich! I really am! Monetarily, with everything I have, my family and friends...it's seriously unreal.
You amaze me. I crave you, Lord. I want to see you working in every second of my life. Please make me observant and able to see you. Thank you for bringing me through any hardships lately. Thank you for not putting me through any situation I can't handle! I know that if I put you first, everything else will fall into place.
You will never let me down; you will never let me go.
Your mercy is unreal, Father. I can't and won't ever understand.
Your grace is enough.
It's all I need.
God, I want to share you. I want everyone to know! Yes, I want Christians to see you through me, but I especially want to have an impact for you on non-believers. Use me in that way, Lord. Give me the wisdom to know what to say in those moments.
Use me.
I love you, Lord. I crave to be in your Presence.
Rule my life. Reign in me.
I can do your will here on earth. I know what I'm called to do, just show me how, where and when.
Thank you for loving me.
You amaze me. I crave you, Lord. I want to see you working in every second of my life. Please make me observant and able to see you. Thank you for bringing me through any hardships lately. Thank you for not putting me through any situation I can't handle! I know that if I put you first, everything else will fall into place.
You will never let me down; you will never let me go.
Your mercy is unreal, Father. I can't and won't ever understand.
Your grace is enough.
It's all I need.
God, I want to share you. I want everyone to know! Yes, I want Christians to see you through me, but I especially want to have an impact for you on non-believers. Use me in that way, Lord. Give me the wisdom to know what to say in those moments.
Use me.
I love you, Lord. I crave to be in your Presence.
Rule my life. Reign in me.
I can do your will here on earth. I know what I'm called to do, just show me how, where and when.
Thank you for loving me.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Night Light
My entire life I have been privileged to attend a private Christian school. It took me 12 years to really realize that much of who and how I am today has been shaped by this school. I don't know where or how I would be if I had gone to the public school I am "zoned" for.
Yet, in all of this goodness I've experienced and grown up in, Satan is there - prevalently working within these walls. Just like at a public school where prayer and worship aren't allowed, kids here have never even come close to experiencing God's love, grace, and mercy.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages the church there to "not preach [them]selves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" to unbelievers. He tells them "our gospel. . .is veiled to those who are perishing." Verse 4 states "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan swallows the weak in spirit in his darkness so that they cannot become aware of any hope they have. But our God eliminates this darkness. He shatters all fears and doubts with His never-ending love and faithfulness.
My friend, Mallory today in chapel mentioned that it is scary to walk down these halls looking at fellow students and know that you won't be seeing a lot of these people in heaven. Close friends, even! How scary is that?? We can't just go on letting them live their lives without knowing the awesome power of our God. We are called as God's children to share the good news with others around us. Never underestimate your ability to be a light. Ask God for the strength to stand up for Him and be a shining light in this dark world.
Yet, in all of this goodness I've experienced and grown up in, Satan is there - prevalently working within these walls. Just like at a public school where prayer and worship aren't allowed, kids here have never even come close to experiencing God's love, grace, and mercy.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages the church there to "not preach [them]selves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" to unbelievers. He tells them "our gospel. . .is veiled to those who are perishing." Verse 4 states "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan swallows the weak in spirit in his darkness so that they cannot become aware of any hope they have. But our God eliminates this darkness. He shatters all fears and doubts with His never-ending love and faithfulness.
My friend, Mallory today in chapel mentioned that it is scary to walk down these halls looking at fellow students and know that you won't be seeing a lot of these people in heaven. Close friends, even! How scary is that?? We can't just go on letting them live their lives without knowing the awesome power of our God. We are called as God's children to share the good news with others around us. Never underestimate your ability to be a light. Ask God for the strength to stand up for Him and be a shining light in this dark world.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)