My last post discussed how we can accurately view and teach Scripture. If you didn't read it, you can read it here. There is a second part to my thoughts tonight. I'd also like your thoughts on this one.
One
classmate responded to the question with a decent answer on how it is
dangerous to add our own thoughts to Scripture, which is good. However
she then stated, "As bible teachers we are under a divine mandate to
teach the Word of God in spirit and in truth and the best way to do
that is to teach from the tool itself. Many today use the iPad, cell
phones and other technological ways to read God's Word which is ok, but I
still believe that as believers we should never replace the hard copy
of the bible for anything else."
Ummm What?!
So this is how I responded.. Too harsh??
I
feel that I must disagree with the full statement that "as believers we
should never replace the hard copy of the bible for anything else."
I
do agree that there is something sentimental and nostalgic about
holding a Bible in our hands. It is good for us to hold books and to
underline and flip pages; to touch the Words of God. I personally prefer
this over technology. However, at the end of the day, the Gospel is the
Gospel and whether it's being read on a computer, iPad, ancient scroll,
or hard bound book, God's Word is still alive and active in people's
lives. The same is said of reading Scripture in different languages. One
cannot make the jump to say that if scripture isn't read in the
original Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, then it has been replaced. Sure
sometimes the weight of each word might change, but God is still
speaking through and to His people. We cannot confine God to English,
when there are thousands of other languages in the world. God is a God
above language and above paper and pen, screen and typed letters. This
makes our relationship with God so personal and unique - He longs to
know us where we are at.
I feel like the "technology war" for
Scripture is the same way. I think that God is still pleased that His
children are reading His letters if it's on a tablet or if it is from
pieces of paper bound together. He is not bound by little boxes in our
minds or to pages or scrolling websites. Each person is different, and
some find it more personal to read from their phones. This could be a
benefit when people are on the go. There are also useful tools coming
out all the time that help in studying, teaching, and learning the
Scriptures.
I still prefer my paper Bible, but I'm not comfortable
confining God to a statement saying that God cannot speak to people in
different forms, when the Words are the same, and God is still moving in
our lives.
_______________________
Thoughts??
Showing posts with label AllThingsLearned. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AllThingsLearned. Show all posts
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Viewing Scripture, Part 1
Working on my Master's courses tonight, I was faced with an
interesting question, and wanted to post the question for your opinions
and wanted to post my response, also for your reactions. It's a
question that church leaders often are faced with and wrestle with.
Hopefully it does not strike you as too difficult, but if it does, maybe
you can use this as an opportunity to learn.
The topic was giving the Bible the prominence that it deserves as teachers of the Word. The exact wording was:
What can we do in our churches to give the Bible the prominence it deserves and how can we ensure that our Bible teachers use the Bible as the text and not just the curriculum guide?
Here's my opinion:
In our churches, there are a few ways that we could give the Bible prominence as we teach people. For starters, we can believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. God spoke the words and they do not contradict each other and are completely true. As leaders, if we do not hold this key truth then what we are teaching will reflect that. As we believe this and teach this to our congregations, we put more emphasis on Scripture and its importance in speaking to us. We allow Scripture to speak through us in what is taught and in how we act. It does not need to be added to and it is not appropriate to take bits of scripture to fit our own agendas.
Secondly, we can teach from the Bible. There are several good books in Christian circles, but the Gospel can stand on its own. Scripture speaks for itself enough that it does not need to be choked out by human thoughts. Emphasizing Scripture as the curriculum instead of a topic would allow for teachers to use the Bible as text instead just the curriculum guide. It isn't bad to do book studies every now and then, but if that is the only thing being taught, it is time to get back to Scripture.
I also think that if we allow Bible teachers, such as Sunday school teachers or small group leaders, the freedom to pace their class, Scripture could be relied on more. Some groups need to camp out two verses at a time while others prefer the entire chapter. Each group has different dynamics and when church leadership constricts every group to the same method, despite differences that may work better for a group, teachers are more apt to see the curriculum guide as more important instead of using Scripture as text.
Finally, if we instill in our churches the weight of the gospel and the importance of a personal relationship with God through His word, Scripture will take the prominent place it deserves. If the people of the church place the Bible as a lifeline, priority in their personal lives, and the teachers allow for Scripture to penetrate every aspect of their lives, then the standard of prominence for the Bible will rise.
_____________________________________________
Thoughts?
The topic was giving the Bible the prominence that it deserves as teachers of the Word. The exact wording was:
What can we do in our churches to give the Bible the prominence it deserves and how can we ensure that our Bible teachers use the Bible as the text and not just the curriculum guide?
Here's my opinion:
In our churches, there are a few ways that we could give the Bible prominence as we teach people. For starters, we can believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. God spoke the words and they do not contradict each other and are completely true. As leaders, if we do not hold this key truth then what we are teaching will reflect that. As we believe this and teach this to our congregations, we put more emphasis on Scripture and its importance in speaking to us. We allow Scripture to speak through us in what is taught and in how we act. It does not need to be added to and it is not appropriate to take bits of scripture to fit our own agendas.
Secondly, we can teach from the Bible. There are several good books in Christian circles, but the Gospel can stand on its own. Scripture speaks for itself enough that it does not need to be choked out by human thoughts. Emphasizing Scripture as the curriculum instead of a topic would allow for teachers to use the Bible as text instead just the curriculum guide. It isn't bad to do book studies every now and then, but if that is the only thing being taught, it is time to get back to Scripture.
I also think that if we allow Bible teachers, such as Sunday school teachers or small group leaders, the freedom to pace their class, Scripture could be relied on more. Some groups need to camp out two verses at a time while others prefer the entire chapter. Each group has different dynamics and when church leadership constricts every group to the same method, despite differences that may work better for a group, teachers are more apt to see the curriculum guide as more important instead of using Scripture as text.
Finally, if we instill in our churches the weight of the gospel and the importance of a personal relationship with God through His word, Scripture will take the prominent place it deserves. If the people of the church place the Bible as a lifeline, priority in their personal lives, and the teachers allow for Scripture to penetrate every aspect of their lives, then the standard of prominence for the Bible will rise.
_____________________________________________
Thoughts?
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Lessons From The Oscars
I’m currently watching the Oscars. This happens every year about
this time. Award nights come around and I typically don’t care. But
then I catch a glimpse of one award or one actress and I’m hooked. For
the next three hours I’m cheering for these people as if I’m obsessed
with their music or movies and talking to them like their my best
friends. To a TV!! They can’t even hear me. They won’t see my tweets. The only other person hearing me is a family member if they happen to be in the room. What is this?!
I’m not one of those people who read tabloids and follow celebrities in the news. I typically don’t care. I follow their movies and occasionally hear about their lives from friends and am mildly interested. I don’t try to know them, but when award nights come around suddenly I’m all about their lives. When the Grammy’s were on a few weeks ago, Fun. and I were best friends, as if I’ve been following their band for years. I haven’t. I sort of jumped on that band wagon this past Fall. So why do I get so invested in these people in one night?
Movie stars seem to be a bit different because they play a person we can relate to or we can see small clips of their lives and in our minds we relate. We pretend we know these people. George Clooney and I have been tight ever since I watched him every Thursday night on ER when I was five, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been a favorite couple since Ben was in Voyage of the Mimi which we watched in 6th grade science class. But to say that I know them or anything about their lives is dumb.
Does anyone else find themselves starstruck with awards? A few thoughts on why we do this and what I learned from the Oscar’s tonight:
1. We all have a huge desire to be known. We view these stars as people to strive to be like, and somehow think that if we know about these stars we will be known too. We want to be like them because everyone “knows” them, and we long to be known as well. Is that so bad? Well, no. God created us with a desire to be fully known by Him and that was broken with sin. There’s a pit there. So we fill our lives, our pits, with things that will make us known. We chase stars, boy bands, even the star football player at school. We surround ourselves with people who will know us and we put ourselves out there. This isn’t necessarily bad, but only if we are filling our pit completely with God first. We talk to Him, listen to Him, read what He tells us. And then we can relate to other people and be known by them. We know God and we know people. Real people; not those who we pretend to know through a TV screen.
2. Be in the moment. One reason I want to know Ben Affleck was the contagiousness of his full presence. As he was accepting his Oscar for Argo winning best film, he was all there. Through that TV screen, I could tell he was absorbing being there, with those people, in that place, experiencing those emotions. He was fully present. How many times do I go through my day so busy that I miss out on the moment I’m in because I’m planning or thinking about the moments to come? And then when those moments come, I’m not fully there either because I’ve already moved on to the next. God gives us an exact amount of time, and what we choose to do with it defines our lives. We collect the moments so that our lives have meaning and are full. If we pass through each of our moments without absorbing them, they are not collected and they scatter – missed.
3. Life is not about me. Seth MacFarlane, who hosted the Oscars may have made some crude comments, but I felt that he did a fabulous job hosting. He made the evening flow, was brief yet funny, and most importantly made the night about the films. Most hosts/hostesses make the evenings about how great they are or all about how great their lives are; their jokes are at the expense of someone else. But Seth did not do that. He made jokes, but they were turned on him or the moment happening. No one left embarrassed. He wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t see the entire show, but from the majority of what I saw I was impressed. This just reminds me not to make situations about me. There is a time and place, but we don’t need to butt in to conversations or turn situations into “The Brittany Show.” No one wants that. In conversation, make sure you’re not monopolizing. James tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak… Life is not about us. It’s about bringing glory to the Kingdom of God.
4. Embrace the lessons of the character whose story we’re telling. We’re all telling a story. By the words we say, the actions we do, even our thoughts. Each moment collects and tells a story, making up the whole of our lives. According to the previous point, life isn’t about me, therefore I’m not telling my own personal story. I’m telling the story of God working in my life; it’s His story not mine. Anne Hathaway taught me this lesson tonight. She gracefully accepted the well-deserved award for her performance in Les Mis. She gave a lovely speech and ended it with “Here’s hoping someday in the not-too-distant future the misfortunes of Fantine will be only found in fiction and not in real life.” #Classy! Listening to that really made me think of the story I’m telling and learning from. Anne told the story of Fantine’s misfortunes, but we get to tell a happier story. One of life and hope. Unlike Fantine, in the end Christ wins! This is what shapes us and what molds how we live so that we’re telling it. We’re telling of His work in our lives. We also get to learn from the stories of others and allow that to shape us a little bit. We can allow the story that we’re telling to become bitter and callous or open to compassion and love. What story am I telling? Let’s embrace the story of hope, of holiness, and joy. And may our lives tell His story and not ours.
I’m not one of those people who read tabloids and follow celebrities in the news. I typically don’t care. I follow their movies and occasionally hear about their lives from friends and am mildly interested. I don’t try to know them, but when award nights come around suddenly I’m all about their lives. When the Grammy’s were on a few weeks ago, Fun. and I were best friends, as if I’ve been following their band for years. I haven’t. I sort of jumped on that band wagon this past Fall. So why do I get so invested in these people in one night?
Movie stars seem to be a bit different because they play a person we can relate to or we can see small clips of their lives and in our minds we relate. We pretend we know these people. George Clooney and I have been tight ever since I watched him every Thursday night on ER when I was five, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been a favorite couple since Ben was in Voyage of the Mimi which we watched in 6th grade science class. But to say that I know them or anything about their lives is dumb.
Does anyone else find themselves starstruck with awards? A few thoughts on why we do this and what I learned from the Oscar’s tonight:
1. We all have a huge desire to be known. We view these stars as people to strive to be like, and somehow think that if we know about these stars we will be known too. We want to be like them because everyone “knows” them, and we long to be known as well. Is that so bad? Well, no. God created us with a desire to be fully known by Him and that was broken with sin. There’s a pit there. So we fill our lives, our pits, with things that will make us known. We chase stars, boy bands, even the star football player at school. We surround ourselves with people who will know us and we put ourselves out there. This isn’t necessarily bad, but only if we are filling our pit completely with God first. We talk to Him, listen to Him, read what He tells us. And then we can relate to other people and be known by them. We know God and we know people. Real people; not those who we pretend to know through a TV screen.
2. Be in the moment. One reason I want to know Ben Affleck was the contagiousness of his full presence. As he was accepting his Oscar for Argo winning best film, he was all there. Through that TV screen, I could tell he was absorbing being there, with those people, in that place, experiencing those emotions. He was fully present. How many times do I go through my day so busy that I miss out on the moment I’m in because I’m planning or thinking about the moments to come? And then when those moments come, I’m not fully there either because I’ve already moved on to the next. God gives us an exact amount of time, and what we choose to do with it defines our lives. We collect the moments so that our lives have meaning and are full. If we pass through each of our moments without absorbing them, they are not collected and they scatter – missed.
3. Life is not about me. Seth MacFarlane, who hosted the Oscars may have made some crude comments, but I felt that he did a fabulous job hosting. He made the evening flow, was brief yet funny, and most importantly made the night about the films. Most hosts/hostesses make the evenings about how great they are or all about how great their lives are; their jokes are at the expense of someone else. But Seth did not do that. He made jokes, but they were turned on him or the moment happening. No one left embarrassed. He wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t see the entire show, but from the majority of what I saw I was impressed. This just reminds me not to make situations about me. There is a time and place, but we don’t need to butt in to conversations or turn situations into “The Brittany Show.” No one wants that. In conversation, make sure you’re not monopolizing. James tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak… Life is not about us. It’s about bringing glory to the Kingdom of God.
4. Embrace the lessons of the character whose story we’re telling. We’re all telling a story. By the words we say, the actions we do, even our thoughts. Each moment collects and tells a story, making up the whole of our lives. According to the previous point, life isn’t about me, therefore I’m not telling my own personal story. I’m telling the story of God working in my life; it’s His story not mine. Anne Hathaway taught me this lesson tonight. She gracefully accepted the well-deserved award for her performance in Les Mis. She gave a lovely speech and ended it with “Here’s hoping someday in the not-too-distant future the misfortunes of Fantine will be only found in fiction and not in real life.” #Classy! Listening to that really made me think of the story I’m telling and learning from. Anne told the story of Fantine’s misfortunes, but we get to tell a happier story. One of life and hope. Unlike Fantine, in the end Christ wins! This is what shapes us and what molds how we live so that we’re telling it. We’re telling of His work in our lives. We also get to learn from the stories of others and allow that to shape us a little bit. We can allow the story that we’re telling to become bitter and callous or open to compassion and love. What story am I telling? Let’s embrace the story of hope, of holiness, and joy. And may our lives tell His story and not ours.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
"A Dare to an Emptier, Fuller Life" | An Arguement and A Challenge
I’ve been rereading this book by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand
Gifts. This book changed my perspective
on life the first time I read it, and now that I’m rereading it, I feel
refreshed all over again. In this book, she
talks of how the way to a full life is gratitude. God says that we are to live a full life, in
Him, and Ann’s argument is that the way to do that is with a heart of
gratitude. I think this is true. However,
I also think that there are other ways to live a full life, completely for Christ. I find that knowing Him, and His Word, and
serving Him are doorways to a full life as well.
[I hope you read the book so that what I’m going to say has
context. It’s really a very good book.]
As I’m reading this book, her idea of counting gifts is
healing to her and brings her into a deeper understanding of eucharisteo. What I’ve noticed in her counting is that she
counts things. She counts the gifts of “mail in mailbox,” “sun-rays
spread across hardwood floors,” and others.
Sometimes she counts things about her family, but most of her gifts are
tangible things. I understand that in
order to be grateful for all things, putting a name to it brings about
gratitude. And in noticing the details
of life, she is able to have a joyous attitude.
I’ve learned that people have a happier, fuller life if they
invest in experiences instead of stuff. For
example, typically there are two ways for people to budget out their
money. There are those who place value
on vacations and doing things, and those who place value on having nice homes,
cars, and stuff. Now, the tricky thing
is that sometimes things play a role
in experiences, but overall those who invest more in experiences are more
content in life. Stuff always
changes. There will always be a new smart-phone
to buy, a bigger TV, and a newer, faster car.
But experiences can be constant. They
happen, and they can’t be outdone, because they are ours.
As I’m reading through this book and on a quest to live
fully as God intends, I think that counting experiences and relationships has
more value. God calls us to live in
relationship with Him and His creation, not with the things He’s placed around
us. It is important to appreciate nature,
and I think that it brings us to an attitude of contentment, but I think there’s
also more.
I also find it difficult to read this book because Ann lives
on a large farm in Canada. She’s in nature
every day. She home schools her
children, and has the opportunity to be in her home, in the outdoors, and be
grateful for that. The majority of Americans
live in metropolitan areas, such as myself (hence the name of this blog…life in
the city). Is it possible to be grateful
in Dallas? Amidst all the concrete,
money, attitude, and people? Ann has
time for solitude, reflection, and gratitude…but do I? When my weeks are full of youth, and school,
and rushing, and I feel that my life is full already, is gratitude like Ann
talks about really the ticket? Is it how
God fully wants us to live? Maybe in
gratitude, we turn our attention of what is in front of us to Him, Creator, and
in doing so He is glorified. Do I need
to name them in the city? Can I just be
thankful that today I’m breathing and that He is reigning?
“This pen: this is nothing less than the driving of nails. Nails driving out my habits of discontent and
driving in my habit of eucharisteo. I’m
hammering in nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced
through the world, my heart. It starts
to unfold, light in the dark, a door opening up, how all these years it’s been
utterly pointless to try to wrench out the spikes of discontent. Because that habit of discontentment can only
be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper.
The sleek pin of gratitude.”
So here I am. At a
place where I must do something,
change something. I know that if I ignore
God’s teaching in my life, I’ll perish with discontentment. So I’m going to start, for the next three
weeks, naming gifts in the city. I’m
shooting for a few a day, no set number, just for the next three weeks. And I’ll see what happens from there. But my gifts must be experiences. They are of the people I come in contact
with, the lessons God teaches me, the small things that make a meaningful,
lasting difference.
Join me? In this
discussion of gratitude and fullness, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
"To The Girl…Who's Life Is Changing"
From bluegirlsministry.wordpress.com
Can I just say that I love new things! New places, new cultures, new foods, new ideas, new people - I love it!
But man, oh man, change is SO hard! It is a weird contradiction, is it not?
Do you ever feel like I do right now? Like you're so content and happy to be where you are, but also long to be somewhere else? That's what I'm feeling right now. I love my new job in Frisco, and I love you girls that I get to hang out with and minister to. But at the same time, some nights my heart longs to be in Arkadelphia. I long for the clear, star-filled skies, the girls of my first youth ministry, and the comfort.
But then God reminds me that there lies the problem. Comfort. He told me a long time ago that my life is never to be comfortable. Content, yes, but not comfortable. And so I told Him that whenever I get too comfortable that He should move me. So He did. And I am so content, and life is full of joy.
God designed us to grow in change. Have you ever been through a season of change, and came out a better person for it? It happens all the time. We change from being elementary school kids to middle schoolers. And when we leave 6th, 7th, 8th grades, we are better people. Hopefully.
Let me encourage you that as life changes, embrace the growth that can happen. Let God guide you through these changes so that each choice you make is one that pleases Him, and is guided by Him. Change is hard, but without God at our side, it will be so much harder. And we cannot stay stagnant, living without changing. We must always change because time moves forward. We grow older, times change. And if we don't change with it, our lives become lost. Allow God to change you into the person He wants you to be. Allow Him to change you into a holy, righteous person, living for Him.
So do new things, ponder new ideas, go to so many new places, make a new friend, and eat a new food. You might find that you like it. And you will find that God has a plan.
Shall we change together?
Can I just say that I love new things! New places, new cultures, new foods, new ideas, new people - I love it!
But man, oh man, change is SO hard! It is a weird contradiction, is it not?
Do you ever feel like I do right now? Like you're so content and happy to be where you are, but also long to be somewhere else? That's what I'm feeling right now. I love my new job in Frisco, and I love you girls that I get to hang out with and minister to. But at the same time, some nights my heart longs to be in Arkadelphia. I long for the clear, star-filled skies, the girls of my first youth ministry, and the comfort.
But then God reminds me that there lies the problem. Comfort. He told me a long time ago that my life is never to be comfortable. Content, yes, but not comfortable. And so I told Him that whenever I get too comfortable that He should move me. So He did. And I am so content, and life is full of joy.
God designed us to grow in change. Have you ever been through a season of change, and came out a better person for it? It happens all the time. We change from being elementary school kids to middle schoolers. And when we leave 6th, 7th, 8th grades, we are better people. Hopefully.
Let me encourage you that as life changes, embrace the growth that can happen. Let God guide you through these changes so that each choice you make is one that pleases Him, and is guided by Him. Change is hard, but without God at our side, it will be so much harder. And we cannot stay stagnant, living without changing. We must always change because time moves forward. We grow older, times change. And if we don't change with it, our lives become lost. Allow God to change you into the person He wants you to be. Allow Him to change you into a holy, righteous person, living for Him.
So do new things, ponder new ideas, go to so many new places, make a new friend, and eat a new food. You might find that you like it. And you will find that God has a plan.
Shall we change together?
Saturday, September 1, 2012
"To The Girl…Who Needs Encouragement
From bluegirlsministry.wordpress.com
Social Media is becoming so ingrained in today's culture. It's almost impossible to have a discussion with someone without either mentioning something found out on facebook or twitter, or without first knowing some fact from the web. This is why we at Blue try to be up-to-date on the social networks. This may seem to have nothing to do with the title, but hang with me.
I had a phone call today from one of the moms of our youth. She was calling to tell me that another girl's mom was in the hospital because of surgery and experiencing some difficulty with the surgery. It seems pretty serious. I knew that this mom was having surgery, but had thought it was going well (because I saw posts on social media, of course). With this sad news, I was concerned for both our girls and the mom.
I checked Instagram earlier this evening, and was so encouraged to see what kinds of conversation (if it can be called that on instagram) were occurring between our eighth grade girls. This girl had posted that her mom was not doing well, and as I read the comments my heart was happy. All the posts were from girls in our youth group, her small group, and were discussions of how they had been praying for this girl's mom.
Just when I think that sometimes we're not getting through to some girls, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work. I know that we are surrounded by peers from church that are willing to pray for our hurts and encourage one another.
Life is hard. There are so many good things that happen in life, but often sad things happen. Our mom's get sick; dad's work late and sometimes leave; friends are flaky and change plans for better options; people are mean at school; life seems overwhelming when we try to balance school and sports; expectations sometimes put too much pressure on us; we don't fit in with the people we're around; we are forced to move and change our world; life happens.
But be encouraged. God is good; He is overly gracious; He puts people in our life in His timing that will walk with us; the flowers still bloom each spring; the sun still rises in the East every morning; God is faithful and saves; laughter heals heart-wounds; and sometimes people really are nice.
So as I sit here in Starbucks and enjoy a warm latte, waiting for fall to fully arrive, I want to encourage you. You can get up each morning; you can enjoy a full life; you can find little things to be thankful for. God will carry you through the tough times. Know that there are people praying for you, and are here for you through physical hurts, and emotional hurts.
You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;
You stripped off my dark clothing and covered me with joyful light.
You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!
It’s impossible to keep quiet!
Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.
Psalm 30.11-12
Social Media is becoming so ingrained in today's culture. It's almost impossible to have a discussion with someone without either mentioning something found out on facebook or twitter, or without first knowing some fact from the web. This is why we at Blue try to be up-to-date on the social networks. This may seem to have nothing to do with the title, but hang with me.
I had a phone call today from one of the moms of our youth. She was calling to tell me that another girl's mom was in the hospital because of surgery and experiencing some difficulty with the surgery. It seems pretty serious. I knew that this mom was having surgery, but had thought it was going well (because I saw posts on social media, of course). With this sad news, I was concerned for both our girls and the mom.
I checked Instagram earlier this evening, and was so encouraged to see what kinds of conversation (if it can be called that on instagram) were occurring between our eighth grade girls. This girl had posted that her mom was not doing well, and as I read the comments my heart was happy. All the posts were from girls in our youth group, her small group, and were discussions of how they had been praying for this girl's mom.
Just when I think that sometimes we're not getting through to some girls, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work. I know that we are surrounded by peers from church that are willing to pray for our hurts and encourage one another.
Life is hard. There are so many good things that happen in life, but often sad things happen. Our mom's get sick; dad's work late and sometimes leave; friends are flaky and change plans for better options; people are mean at school; life seems overwhelming when we try to balance school and sports; expectations sometimes put too much pressure on us; we don't fit in with the people we're around; we are forced to move and change our world; life happens.
But be encouraged. God is good; He is overly gracious; He puts people in our life in His timing that will walk with us; the flowers still bloom each spring; the sun still rises in the East every morning; God is faithful and saves; laughter heals heart-wounds; and sometimes people really are nice.
So as I sit here in Starbucks and enjoy a warm latte, waiting for fall to fully arrive, I want to encourage you. You can get up each morning; you can enjoy a full life; you can find little things to be thankful for. God will carry you through the tough times. Know that there are people praying for you, and are here for you through physical hurts, and emotional hurts.
You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;
You stripped off my dark clothing and covered me with joyful light.
You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!
It’s impossible to keep quiet!
Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.
Psalm 30.11-12
Sunday, July 15, 2012
"The Question of Why"
From bluegirlsministry.wordpress.com
In May, I stepped into the role of ‘girls minister’ at FBC Frisco. So many times I’ve been asked why it is that I do what I do.
Simple, Jesus told me to.
I grew up going to church, and came to accept Christ at an early age. While in the youth group, walking with the Lord became really personal and real to me. One of the most defining moments in my faith came the summer after my freshman year of high school at church camp. Every Thursday at camp we would spend the morning in what was called a “concert of prayer.” The entire camp would gather and pray over the government, schools, families, churches, missionaries, and so on. This one year, as we were praying over our youth ministers, my youth minister came up and put his hand on my shoulder, and we stood praying for each other for a while. It was a very special moment. When we were done praying, Adam gave me a hug and asked me if I had ever considered being a missionary. I said yes, my grandparents were missionaries in Africa, so going on missions was always an option. I had been on a few mission trips prior to that, and loved serving God that way. Adam told me that when he placed his hand on my shoulder, he had the most vivid image of me on the mission field surrounded by little black children. We talked more about it, and we really felt that God had shown Adam a clear direction for my life. God had called me to foreign missions. The call was as real and as clear as my mom’s call to dinner each night. The emotions of that day were so contrasting. What peace and excitement I felt that God would call me, but what fear there was also in living a life completely different from everything the world expects.
I continued to serve God and the church in various ways through high school. I was very involved in our youth group, and we experienced several youth pastor changes throughout my time in high school. I went out of the country on several trips, but found that serving God and being “on mission” did not strictly mean leaving Frisco.
In 11th grade, two faith-impacting things happened: I made a best friend, and my youth group was without a youth pastor for a very long time. I had friends all through school, but never ones that I felt were true friends. I especially struggled in the youth group fitting in with the girls in my Sunday school classes. They were much “cooler” and more popular than me, and had been friends for so long that I just did not fit in. Amy moved to our church and we hit it off immediately. We were at a similar point spiritually, and we are so alike in many ways. Looking back, I feel that this was a changing point in my life - I had friends!
Losing Adam as a youth pastor was not as devastating as we thought it would be. It was a good move for him, and their family has done great, impactful things for the Church. What happened when he left, however, was nothing. For a good amount of time there were no Bible studies happening, no outside events. Nothing. As I saw my youth group slow down, Amy and a few other close friends and I decided that we needed to do something. What could we do? We were only 17. It was intimidating to teach our peers, so we decided to do what we could manage. We started a middle school girls Bible study. When I tell people of this, they look at me like I’m crazy for willingly hanging out with middle schoolers. It was one of the most rewarding times. To teach girls the Word, to pour into them and build relationships, to laugh and have fun in a godly way; that time taught me so much.
When I went off to college, I began visiting churches with my roommate. The second church we went to immediately felt like home. The church reminded me of FBC Frisco, and the people were so welcoming. Before the service was even over I had made up my mind to make it my church home in Arkadelphia. During the Sunday school class, a lady made an announcement asking for helpers with the youth group. Somehow, my introverted self found her at the end of the service and volunteered to help. What started as a small step, turned into what I think defines my time at college. For the first few years, I served with about ten other college students as an intern team under Jason and Sarah, the husband-and-wife youth ministers. It was such a blessing to be able to learn from Jason, and to do ministry and life with the team. We really became so close, and lived with a desire to impact students’ lives. The last two years, Jason asked me to fill the associate’s position as associate youth minister and girls minister. I willingly agreed and spent the summer with the Park Hill Youth. These kids became family. Jason and Sarah are more like parents than bosses, and God moved in such big ways through my time there. I’m struggling to even put words to my experiences in Arkansas, but overall God put a passion in me to reach teenagers for the Kingdom.
Throughout this time, there was always the 9th grade call to foreign missions in the back of my mind. I had spent the summer after 10th grade in Uruguay with missionaries, and a few other summer weeks in Jamaica since then with missions, but once college hit, my mission field was Arkansas. At times this was confusing. Hadn’t God called me to little children surrounding me in Africa? Why did my passport expire, keeping me in the States? I was loving where I was at, and God was teaching me so much, but what about that call? Last summer, my younger brother and I decided to go out of the country. We both love adventure, foreign missions and Spanish. Therefore we contacted some missionary friends and asked if they needed help for the summer. They needed some summer interns, and they willingly let us stay with them in Santiago, Chile. What a blast! We had the opportunity to teach in schools, share Jesus, and learn to ski in the Andes. (And so much more.) However, the entire time we were there Brandon and I would have conversations about why we were there. Not us specifically, but American missionaries in general. We did not feel that our trip was contrary to God’s will, but we did wonder why the IMB had so many missionaries in Chile when most of the churches in Santiago were run by Chileans and functioned on their own. What right did we as Americans have to impose our ideals on them? There was an uneasy feeling. As I was praying about it one day, God told me that the reason I felt so uneasy about the missions was because He wanted me in the States for a while. Maybe someday, for a time, I’ll live overseas. But for now I’m in the country.
A few weeks after Chile, I was having lunch with Chris and he asked me what I learned while in Chile and I told him about being in the country and not overseas. He thought for a moment and said that there’s an opening for a girls minister with the FBC youth group, and that we should pray about it if I’m interested. We were both pretty excited about it and hesitant at the same time. This would be so new for both of us. We knew we could work together because we had in the past, but is this the right position? For about six months we just prayed about it. No talking about it, no planning, just praying. The more I prayed, the more excited I became. Ideas kept coming in my head. My dad was even very excited about girls ministry, and has brainstormed so many helpful ideas with me. Almost a year after those initial conversations, the idea came to fruition.
So here I am. Why Frisco, why Teal, why girls ministry? Because God has placed me here to build relationships, to walk with others as we walk with Christ. It’s simple really. I just tell God’s story and love much because I have been loved much.
In May, I stepped into the role of ‘girls minister’ at FBC Frisco. So many times I’ve been asked why it is that I do what I do.
Simple, Jesus told me to.
I grew up going to church, and came to accept Christ at an early age. While in the youth group, walking with the Lord became really personal and real to me. One of the most defining moments in my faith came the summer after my freshman year of high school at church camp. Every Thursday at camp we would spend the morning in what was called a “concert of prayer.” The entire camp would gather and pray over the government, schools, families, churches, missionaries, and so on. This one year, as we were praying over our youth ministers, my youth minister came up and put his hand on my shoulder, and we stood praying for each other for a while. It was a very special moment. When we were done praying, Adam gave me a hug and asked me if I had ever considered being a missionary. I said yes, my grandparents were missionaries in Africa, so going on missions was always an option. I had been on a few mission trips prior to that, and loved serving God that way. Adam told me that when he placed his hand on my shoulder, he had the most vivid image of me on the mission field surrounded by little black children. We talked more about it, and we really felt that God had shown Adam a clear direction for my life. God had called me to foreign missions. The call was as real and as clear as my mom’s call to dinner each night. The emotions of that day were so contrasting. What peace and excitement I felt that God would call me, but what fear there was also in living a life completely different from everything the world expects.
I continued to serve God and the church in various ways through high school. I was very involved in our youth group, and we experienced several youth pastor changes throughout my time in high school. I went out of the country on several trips, but found that serving God and being “on mission” did not strictly mean leaving Frisco.
In 11th grade, two faith-impacting things happened: I made a best friend, and my youth group was without a youth pastor for a very long time. I had friends all through school, but never ones that I felt were true friends. I especially struggled in the youth group fitting in with the girls in my Sunday school classes. They were much “cooler” and more popular than me, and had been friends for so long that I just did not fit in. Amy moved to our church and we hit it off immediately. We were at a similar point spiritually, and we are so alike in many ways. Looking back, I feel that this was a changing point in my life - I had friends!
Losing Adam as a youth pastor was not as devastating as we thought it would be. It was a good move for him, and their family has done great, impactful things for the Church. What happened when he left, however, was nothing. For a good amount of time there were no Bible studies happening, no outside events. Nothing. As I saw my youth group slow down, Amy and a few other close friends and I decided that we needed to do something. What could we do? We were only 17. It was intimidating to teach our peers, so we decided to do what we could manage. We started a middle school girls Bible study. When I tell people of this, they look at me like I’m crazy for willingly hanging out with middle schoolers. It was one of the most rewarding times. To teach girls the Word, to pour into them and build relationships, to laugh and have fun in a godly way; that time taught me so much.
When I went off to college, I began visiting churches with my roommate. The second church we went to immediately felt like home. The church reminded me of FBC Frisco, and the people were so welcoming. Before the service was even over I had made up my mind to make it my church home in Arkadelphia. During the Sunday school class, a lady made an announcement asking for helpers with the youth group. Somehow, my introverted self found her at the end of the service and volunteered to help. What started as a small step, turned into what I think defines my time at college. For the first few years, I served with about ten other college students as an intern team under Jason and Sarah, the husband-and-wife youth ministers. It was such a blessing to be able to learn from Jason, and to do ministry and life with the team. We really became so close, and lived with a desire to impact students’ lives. The last two years, Jason asked me to fill the associate’s position as associate youth minister and girls minister. I willingly agreed and spent the summer with the Park Hill Youth. These kids became family. Jason and Sarah are more like parents than bosses, and God moved in such big ways through my time there. I’m struggling to even put words to my experiences in Arkansas, but overall God put a passion in me to reach teenagers for the Kingdom.
Throughout this time, there was always the 9th grade call to foreign missions in the back of my mind. I had spent the summer after 10th grade in Uruguay with missionaries, and a few other summer weeks in Jamaica since then with missions, but once college hit, my mission field was Arkansas. At times this was confusing. Hadn’t God called me to little children surrounding me in Africa? Why did my passport expire, keeping me in the States? I was loving where I was at, and God was teaching me so much, but what about that call? Last summer, my younger brother and I decided to go out of the country. We both love adventure, foreign missions and Spanish. Therefore we contacted some missionary friends and asked if they needed help for the summer. They needed some summer interns, and they willingly let us stay with them in Santiago, Chile. What a blast! We had the opportunity to teach in schools, share Jesus, and learn to ski in the Andes. (And so much more.) However, the entire time we were there Brandon and I would have conversations about why we were there. Not us specifically, but American missionaries in general. We did not feel that our trip was contrary to God’s will, but we did wonder why the IMB had so many missionaries in Chile when most of the churches in Santiago were run by Chileans and functioned on their own. What right did we as Americans have to impose our ideals on them? There was an uneasy feeling. As I was praying about it one day, God told me that the reason I felt so uneasy about the missions was because He wanted me in the States for a while. Maybe someday, for a time, I’ll live overseas. But for now I’m in the country.
A few weeks after Chile, I was having lunch with Chris and he asked me what I learned while in Chile and I told him about being in the country and not overseas. He thought for a moment and said that there’s an opening for a girls minister with the FBC youth group, and that we should pray about it if I’m interested. We were both pretty excited about it and hesitant at the same time. This would be so new for both of us. We knew we could work together because we had in the past, but is this the right position? For about six months we just prayed about it. No talking about it, no planning, just praying. The more I prayed, the more excited I became. Ideas kept coming in my head. My dad was even very excited about girls ministry, and has brainstormed so many helpful ideas with me. Almost a year after those initial conversations, the idea came to fruition.
So here I am. Why Frisco, why Teal, why girls ministry? Because God has placed me here to build relationships, to walk with others as we walk with Christ. It’s simple really. I just tell God’s story and love much because I have been loved much.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Give Us Rest...In the Presence of God (or DavidCrowder*Band's Last.)
I just returned from #Passion2012 Friday at 4 a.m. It was phenomenal. God did so much and His presence was so tangible. I hope to fill in about the time there and some of what I've learned in the days following.
The DavidCrowder*Band played their last concert on Monday night, and it was amazing! (Hillsong was in concert the following night and was awesome, as well.) I wrote a few thoughts that God was speaking to me down in my journal at a moment in the DC*B concert. I decided I should share it with you all.
"Sitting, Standing, Being at the last David Crowder*Band concert. "How He loves" is playing, and what a warm, beautiful picture of what it will be like when the Kingdom of Heaven comes. The love of God is felt like a warm embrace. Purifying, satisfying, and holy.
God is with us always. We will be in His presence fully in the "forever," but He is still with us presently.
Do we live like that? Do we live as if we are in the presence of the Almighty, Holy God every minute? In all situations?
Do we live like we are completely saved and set free; alive; now? Here?
Why not..........?"
Each situation puts us in the presence of God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether we are in a musical worship service, writing a book, reading a book, being with friends, or sleeping. Oh, Lord, make us holy, wholly in your presence.
The DavidCrowder*Band played their last concert on Monday night, and it was amazing! (Hillsong was in concert the following night and was awesome, as well.) I wrote a few thoughts that God was speaking to me down in my journal at a moment in the DC*B concert. I decided I should share it with you all.
"
God is with us always. We will be in His presence fully in the "forever," but He is still with us presently.
Do we live like that? Do we live as if we are in the presence of the Almighty, Holy God every minute? In all situations?
Do we live like we are completely saved and set free; alive; now? Here?
Why not..........?"
Each situation puts us in the presence of God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether we are in a musical worship service, writing a book, reading a book, being with friends, or sleeping. Oh, Lord, make us holy, wholly in your presence.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Lessons From "The Lark"
The winsome song of the ascending lark
Hails the gentle soul and loving heart
Ever heard in silence sweet
Soul and heart in grace do meet.
-Rose Marie Raccioppi
This afternoon I had the privilege and opportunity to sit in the office of my dean, professor, advisor, and respected mentor, Dr. Wight. Sitting in his new office filled with art, skulls, jars of brains, and books lining the walls, I learned some very valuable lessons today. Besides talk of future possibilities, we got to talk about life in general. And I learned SO much. I've been so blessed recently to have the opportunity to be surrounded by godly wisdom.
The above painting is called "The Song of The Lark," and the lesson that I learned from Dr. Wight regarding this painting really sums up some things that I've been reading and learning from other places the past few weeks.
In this painting, the poor young woman has been working hard all day with her sickle; and as the sun sets she stops amidst the toil to appreciate the moment. She finds joy even after a long hard day. Dr. Wight told me that he has this painting in his office to remind him that there is joy in every moment and any place to live is as good as any, depending on the perspective you bring to the place. Life is not made up of how much stuff we have or whether or not we live in a "cool" city; it is made up of the relationships and perspectives you bring to it. Christ calls us to a life of joy. With Him as the center, we can see joy in the sunrise of a long, hard day of cutting wheat. Sunsets can signify so many things: the ending of seasons, the sadness in life, the dusky-in-between of light and dark, the peaceful end of work, and the reminder that each day has a start and beginning and God is faithful to return the day with the morning.
-Thank you Dr. Wight, for your wisdom and willingness to share with me.
-Thank you Dr. Wight, for your wisdom and willingness to share with me.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Things Spoken Lately
"Lamb says somewhere that if, of three friends (A, B, and C), A should die, then B loses not only A but “A’s part in C,” while C loses not only A but “A’s part in B.” In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s reaction to a specifically Caroline joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald. Hence true Friendship is the least jealous of loves. Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend. They can then say, as the blessed souls say in Dante, “Here comes one who will augment our loves.” For in this love “to divide is not to take away.” Of course the scarcity of kindred souls – not to mention practical considerations about the size of rooms and the audibility of voices – set limits to the enlargement of the circle; but within those limits we possess each friend not less but more as the number of those with whom we share him increases. In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to Heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah VI, 3) The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall all have.” - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
This was read at Refuge tonight, and it really spoke to me. I think that it was exactly what I needed to hear in my life right now. I wish I could share all with you, but there simply aren't words and this isn't really the place. I haven't fully comprehended what God wants me to do with it now, but I definitely am pondering how this applies to my life and my friendships.
This was read at Refuge tonight, and it really spoke to me. I think that it was exactly what I needed to hear in my life right now. I wish I could share all with you, but there simply aren't words and this isn't really the place. I haven't fully comprehended what God wants me to do with it now, but I definitely am pondering how this applies to my life and my friendships.
Happy weekend to all! I'm now on Spring Break! Castle Bluff, here we come!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day After Day
“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you had everything to do, and you've done it.” –Margaret Thatcher
I found this quote somewhere the other day and felt that it adequately sums up my past few weeks. It has been a wonderful few weeks, but it's also been crazy! I've never had so many tests and projects and quizzes and papers in such a short time. At least that what it seems like. However, if I had to trade it with three weeks of doing nothing, I'd probably opt not to. ...Ok, so I'd really just rather have a happy balance of both.
I think that Margaret Thatcher's quote is pretty true. It's a much better feeling to have accomplished everything and conquered the day while being busy instead of doing nothing. There will be those days that seem to conquer us, but hopefully we'll survive and continue with the next day.
Today's Verse: 2 Corinthians 12.9-10
"But He [Jesus] said to me [Paul], 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am confident with weaknesses insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Oh, and here's the song of the day:
Happy weekend!!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
All Things Learned | Isaiah and Yahweh
Things read today that are just too amazing not to share:
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."
8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
Isaiah 6:1-8
"God doesn't need to exaggerate His abilities. He never makes a promise he cannot keep. If you live in a way that respects God's commands you will find that the name of the Lord [Yahweh] can always be relied upon, no matter what threatens you." -Ann Spangler, Praying the Names of God
The Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. -Proverbs 3.26
The name of the Lord [Yahweh] is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. -Proverbs 18:10
Happy weekend, everyone!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Christian Focus Week
I have never fully understood why we have a week devoted to "focusing on Christianity" on a Christian campus until today. Every year at Ouachita, we have a week devoted to Christian focus. What the week consists of are worship services in the mornings, speakers, worship bands, breakout sessions, Q&A, etc. Well, I have always loved this week because it is a nice way to center my days around Jesus. But as each CFW (Christian Focus Week) comes along, I always wonder why, at a Baptist campus, do we need to focus on Christ this one week. Shouldn't we be doing that every week? Everyday?
Today, it was made clear to me that, while we do center daily Ouachita life around Christ, CFW serves as a revival of sorts. It is for a new perspective, a breather, a re-focusing if you will. It's a beautiful thing. This year, we have with us Brian Loritts as a speaker and Lindsay McCaul leading worship. They are amazing!
We read tonight in the Bible study, which we hold weekly with my friends, about Paul being overwhelmingly encouraged by the Thessalonians' faith and all that they were doing. How cool is it that Paul was refreshed and refueled simply by hearing what other Christians were doing in their faith?? It was as if Paul were sharing in the Thessalonians' work and sharing of the Gospel. He was moved by hearing of their actions. Why are we not more like that?
This verse came to life to me as I was encouraged by the testamony, singing, and sharing of Lindsay McCaul's heart tonight. I wanted to share in her ministry, and know her more. It was a wonderful reminder of why CFW is so important and good for us Ouachitonians. We tend to live in a bubble here and get in a rut. Whether or not that's good is not really for me to say. I see both sides. However, this week is so that we can hear new perspectives on the same thing that we know and hear often. It is to refuel us so that we can know the bigger, eternal, Kingdom picture.
I am so overwhelmingly blessed to be part of such a special place where not only is our education valued, but our spiritual health is cherished and encouraged. It is put at top priority. It is strengthened, at a time that is so critical to the development of people, Jesus is constantly placed at the center and we are encouraged to "grow up in our salvation."
A few highlights from sermons the past few days:
Monday, Brian Loritts: Compassion: Seeing a need, feeling for that need, doing something about that need. We cannot be compassionate people if we do not expose ourselves to the suffering of this world!
Tuesday, Brian Loritts: 1 Corinthians 9.24-27. Finish Well. "The Bible doesn't say that God will say at the end of your life, 'Well Start, my servant.' He says, 'Well Done.'" God is not finished with you yet! Despite bad starts or bad middles, God is still working in you so that you may finish well. Run the race: Give it your all. Be people marked by excellence, endurance, and integrity.
"There is a misnomer about Salvation that it's cheap. No. It's free. But it cost someone something so that it could be free for you. but it was not cheap. God is saying to us, "Because I've paid, you stay in this race. Don't come talking to me halfway through. Quit is not in the Christian's dictionary."
Those who finish the race are those who push through the pain. It's not a sprint, but a marathon. There will be pain and suffering (i.e. Job, the teachings of Jesus). Take up your cross: identifying with Jesus and sharing in His death.
Tonight: Charlie Hall Band came in concert with Lindsay McCaul opening for him. It was such a great night!!
Here are my pictures for the week and a little video to let you semi-experience what my night looked like. [they're taken from my phone, so they may be a bit rough..]
Today, it was made clear to me that, while we do center daily Ouachita life around Christ, CFW serves as a revival of sorts. It is for a new perspective, a breather, a re-focusing if you will. It's a beautiful thing. This year, we have with us Brian Loritts as a speaker and Lindsay McCaul leading worship. They are amazing!
We read tonight in the Bible study, which we hold weekly with my friends, about Paul being overwhelmingly encouraged by the Thessalonians' faith and all that they were doing. How cool is it that Paul was refreshed and refueled simply by hearing what other Christians were doing in their faith?? It was as if Paul were sharing in the Thessalonians' work and sharing of the Gospel. He was moved by hearing of their actions. Why are we not more like that?
This verse came to life to me as I was encouraged by the testamony, singing, and sharing of Lindsay McCaul's heart tonight. I wanted to share in her ministry, and know her more. It was a wonderful reminder of why CFW is so important and good for us Ouachitonians. We tend to live in a bubble here and get in a rut. Whether or not that's good is not really for me to say. I see both sides. However, this week is so that we can hear new perspectives on the same thing that we know and hear often. It is to refuel us so that we can know the bigger, eternal, Kingdom picture.
I am so overwhelmingly blessed to be part of such a special place where not only is our education valued, but our spiritual health is cherished and encouraged. It is put at top priority. It is strengthened, at a time that is so critical to the development of people, Jesus is constantly placed at the center and we are encouraged to "grow up in our salvation."
A few highlights from sermons the past few days:
Monday, Brian Loritts: Compassion: Seeing a need, feeling for that need, doing something about that need. We cannot be compassionate people if we do not expose ourselves to the suffering of this world!
Tuesday, Brian Loritts: 1 Corinthians 9.24-27. Finish Well. "The Bible doesn't say that God will say at the end of your life, 'Well Start, my servant.' He says, 'Well Done.'" God is not finished with you yet! Despite bad starts or bad middles, God is still working in you so that you may finish well. Run the race: Give it your all. Be people marked by excellence, endurance, and integrity.
"There is a misnomer about Salvation that it's cheap. No. It's free. But it cost someone something so that it could be free for you. but it was not cheap. God is saying to us, "Because I've paid, you stay in this race. Don't come talking to me halfway through. Quit is not in the Christian's dictionary."
Those who finish the race are those who push through the pain. It's not a sprint, but a marathon. There will be pain and suffering (i.e. Job, the teachings of Jesus). Take up your cross: identifying with Jesus and sharing in His death.
Tonight: Charlie Hall Band came in concert with Lindsay McCaul opening for him. It was such a great night!!
Here are my pictures for the week and a little video to let you semi-experience what my night looked like. [they're taken from my phone, so they may be a bit rough..]
Saturday, February 5, 2011
I've made a new resolution.
I was enjoying a relaxing Saturday morning, catching up on some blogs that I used to read regularly, and it made me wish that my blog was as neat as some of theirs. I was reading about friends that have graduated from Ouachita recently and are having big adventures sharing the Gospel in Korea and teaching precious kids English or some that were loving on orphans around the globe. That old familiar thought came back to me that seems to haunt me from time to time. It reminds me of the longing to do big things for God, and shows me of the amazing things that others are doing, while here in little Arkadelphia. I know it's silly, and not true, but sometimes it seems that I'm not really doing enough for Jesus, or loving on people...that it would be different and better if I were overseas or something. But then I have to have a reality check and remind myself that none of that is true. While, yes, God does want to use me in huge ways, He already is. He has put me here for specific reasons, and whether that is learning all I can or ministering to youth, He uses each of us where we are. I am reassured in the fact that God has put me at Ouachita for this time, and He doesn't want me anywhere else, even when I sometimes have the desire to be elsewhere. He wants me to be content in what He is doing here and actively take part in that. What an amazing thing it is that He wants to use me and you! His plans are so much bigger than we can imagine, and it's a waste for me to wish away those plans for plans that God has for someone else. So back to my resolution. I realized today how much I enjoy blogging and am reminded of the reason for it: to delight in God's little pleasures throughout my days. At one point in time, I had said that this blog was to document how, "[God] is constantly forming me to the holy person He wants me to be. This blog serves as mere commentary (serious and silly and anything in between) on how He guides, directs, forms and loves me according to His perfect, wonderful plan."
So my resolution, for now (for there may be many to come in the near future), is to be sure and not belittle the amazing plan that God has for me right now, in Arkadelphia, and to attempt to blog weekly. I'm thinking that for now, Saturdays are a good time to do that. I hope to help the incentive by taking at least a photo a week. This may be tricky since I'm without a camera at the moment, but I think it can be done. I also think that it will be good to reflect back over the week. Reflection is good for the soul.
So here's to noting the small things in life and for enjoying every precious moment that God has given us!
So my resolution, for now (for there may be many to come in the near future), is to be sure and not belittle the amazing plan that God has for me right now, in Arkadelphia, and to attempt to blog weekly. I'm thinking that for now, Saturdays are a good time to do that. I hope to help the incentive by taking at least a photo a week. This may be tricky since I'm without a camera at the moment, but I think it can be done. I also think that it will be good to reflect back over the week. Reflection is good for the soul.
So here's to noting the small things in life and for enjoying every precious moment that God has given us!
Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Friday, January 28, 2011
Things on My Heart.
My heart has been broken a lot lately. Maybe not completely broken...more like an aching that has deepened over time.
I just got off the phone with a mom of a sixth grader. And let me tell you how my heart aches for this mom and her daughter. It is not aching because they are starving-they're not. It's not because they don't know Jesus-they definitely do. And it's not because they're in danger-because they aren't. It is because I see myself in that beautiful sixth grade girl. I think I caught a small glimpse of what my mother went through, and how she felt, when I was in middle school. (Mom might disagree, and that's totally fine.) This mother's story is one of longing to see her daughter have friends and be content in the person she is. She sees that her daughter is tall and beautiful, but her daughter sees only herself as a person who towers over the other girls and that creates differences among her friends-as if they can't relate. She sees a girl who isn't a cheerleader, like all of her old friends from elementary school, and that makes her left out. This mother watches as her daughter tries to fit in with everyone around her, while still trying to cling to the person she is deep down. This daughter has played with dolls just yesterday, and now she walks into school and other girls are wearing this paint stuff on their faces and holding the hands of boys. "What is this?" she asks. She finds "youth" group settings overwhelming and intimidating instead of a safe place, a heaven. Why is sixth grade so hard? Or all of middle school, for that fact. I don't even remember my seventh grade year. Yeah, I guess it was that bad. I remember praying repeatedly for God to send me a new friend. Every time a new person moved onto our street, or when a new school year began, or a new visitor to our Sunday school class, I would hope for that person to be a new friend that would be as close as Lucy and Ethel or Anne Shirley and Diana Barry. For years. I finally learned that God had me where I was for a purpose and I had to love the people He had placed in my life, and cling to Him. He finally did send me a new friend in 10th grade, and my life has been so blessed by her, but I had to wait on Him for a while. God has placed wonderful people in my life over the years for a purpose. I know that the hard times come and we get through awkward stages, but how does that help us when we're in that situation? How does an eleven-year-old get convinced that she is special and not too young to be used by God? I wish that I could just tell every girl that they are loved and beautiful. I wish I could tell them that other people's opinions don't matter because in the end we are daughters of a King and He says we are His. I wish I could lay it out to girls so simply and they would grasp it. I wish I could reassure them that Jesus' love really is enough. How do I teach them those lessons that I had to learn by simply giving them words? Some lessons just have to be lived out; they have to grasp it for themselves. (Not to say that I shouldn't try to tell them things, but I can't force anyone to know something.)
My heart was broken many times last weekend, as well. I worked a Disciple Now at my home church. Let me just say that God showed up in unimaginable ways and did things that can't even be described! I had the opportunity to lead the senior girls with Amy, my best friend. We have known these girls for a very long time. Amy and I and two of our other friends lead a middle school girls Bible study our 11th grade year when these girls were in 8th grade. We've sort of had a special bond with the girls, so for us to be leading their last D'Now was wonderful. We did have a bunch of new girls that we hadn't met before, which was really good. I had been praying for the weekend since I was asked to lead a group. I brought about twelve of my college friends to help out, as well. The few weeks before D'Now, I was in the high school worship service, and watched the apathy that the kids had about worship. It was quite sad and a bit frustrating, watching the band and youth pastor work hard to share God's love and Good News with students that weren't receptive. The week right before D'Now, there seemed to be a few glimpses of excitement for worship. It was as if they had begun to catch onto the purpose of worship. My prayer, as I went back to school for a week, was that the upcoming weekend would be an overflow of that glimpse of excitement, that God would do big things and move in a mighty way. As the weekend approached, my week of school was very stressful week between studying and getting 12 people to Frisco. But here’s the thing: God is faithful. He answered every one of my prayers, tenfold. For example, I was constantly making a to-do list throughout the week. The moment I would start feeling overwhelmed by the list and would give it to God; He would cross things off my list. Things worked out in ways that I would have never thought for them to. As we get to Frisco, the excitement of the weekend rises and the craziness of all first night retreats begin! The theme of the weekend was How to Read the Bible. Here's where the heartbreak kicks in: We were discussing in our small group how often we read the Bible and why don't we read it more often. Well, most of the girls were saying how they were busy and there's TV to watch, people to see, and homework to do. Typical responses. One of our precious girls pipes up and tells us, nonchalantly, that it is inconvenient for her to read the Bible. Wait, what?? I think I almost cried. Lord, please may I never say that reading your Word is inconvenient! There were other such responses, and drama, and p.d.a. (public displays of affection) that we had to put up with throughout the weekend. God moved in mighty ways. Through much prayer, I believe we made it through. I haven't felt God's presence as close as I did that weekend. It was a beautiful, beautiful thing. My heart was broken for this youth group to grow to love God’s Word as I have, and more. I wish that I could make them love it like I have, but it is one of those things that they have to learn for themselves. They have to open it and read of its richness to truly understand. My prayer is that they youth of FBC Frisco will be so overwhelmed with God’s love and grace that they will be unified and spread Jesus to their community.
Three quick highlights, and then I'll stop rambling:
1. Saturday night, our speaker gave the challenge to read the Bible more, or to accept Christ, etc. and all of the leaders stepped out so the students could find us if they needed to. As us leaders were praying over the students and the music was playing, I look out over the sanctuary and can just feel and taste and see the Spirit of God there. This verse was so visible and kept playing in my head at that moment: Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Needless to say, it was a glorious moment!
2. During that invitation time, two of our girls who had been absolute best friends had a huge fight back in August. Well, I sat in between them during the sermon, and felt quite awkward, but as the invitation came, I walked out of our seats, and looked back and the girls were talking! Like pouring-your-heart-out, talking. It may seem insignificant, but I know how miserable I would be if I didn't have my best friend around senior year because it is such a huge transition time, and to lose that friendship for these girls would have been tragic.
3. My brother's Sunday school class has been lacking in the depth area, and they boys don't learn anything. They aren't being challenged to grow spiritually from their Sunday school teachers. This has been a problem for a few years. This weekend their leader was my good friend, Alex. I saw Brandon after our first home-small group, and he asked me what we did when we went back to the house. I said we did some ice breakers and talked about why we don't read the Bible, and just had a small group. I asked him what they did, expecting him to say that they just goofed off and were typical 11th graders, but he didn't. He said they talked for two hours about various topics. He basically said that Alex preached at them, but that it was really good stuff! He later told me that they were challenged a lot this weekend. It is so amazing to see God answer prayer!
As I close, I apologize for the delay in posts. Maybe this blog will once again become a fun part of my weeks. :-)
I would love to challenge you to watch what is said to people. You never know what 6th grade, insecure girl is listening and being hurt by telling her that she is so tall for her age... I pray that I can be an encouragement more than a hindrance in every situation. I encourage you to dare to live your life boldly and to look for God's faithfulness. It's everywhere, and so very sweet!
A part of me wishes we could discuss these things over coffee and so then I could hear what God is doing in your lives, but dear reader, I suppose that day will come. He's doing big things in mine, and it's exciting. I hope that's true for you as well.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
-Jude 24-25
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