I like to read. In fact, I like to re-read books, because I always find things I missed the first time. I recently re-read a book called "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. This isn't the first time I've re-read the book. I often read it whenever I need to find a little hope. In the book, Miller details his experience of finding a tangible Christ in the midst of a sinful world. Many of you know about the turmoil in our church, and know how hard it has been on everyone involved. So, upon hiring a new preacher, I wanted to read the book and find some of the encouragement it always seems to offer. You know what I mean, make myself feel better because I was right and everyone else was wrong, but I'm going to move forward and take the high road, because that's what I'm supposed to do! Right? Off I go. Reading frantically, waiting for that "aha" moment of inspiration, secretly feeding my own agenda, and patting myself of the back, telling myself how I'm going to forgive those people who hurt me. Not just forgive them, but love them! Looking back it's no surprise that my moment of edification didn't come. After I read the book, I actually felt depressed instead of inspired. What the heck? Instead of God using this book to speak to me of all the things I've done right, I felt called out. Here's the quote that kept nagging at my soul:
"If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus."
Ruminate on that for a moment. I've been stuck on it for days, and I don't imagine it's going away any time soon. What if my motives have been self serving all along. I clothe myself in Jesus, but my focus is on how it looks on me. It's not always comfortable, so I cover it with a jacket. When I go out, I know it's there, but no one else can see it. What do you do when something fundamental like this is eating at you? Well, I start looking for answers. The story of the rich young ruler (Luke 8) immediately comes to my mind. He's willing to follow all the rules to follow Jesus. But, when it came down to truly giving up his own desires, to giving up himself, the love of his possessions proved to be greater than the love of his Father. Here are a few of my other favorite verses on Jesus' desire for us to die to ourselves.
Matthew 16:24-25 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Philippians 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
As much as I try to make it, and want it to be sometimes, it's just not about me! I got so annoyed when Travis was playing mariachi music on the computer the other night. He loves it! Me, not so much. Why won't he listen to what "I" like?! I'm spoiled rotten. Just like the Burger King Commercial says, "Have it your way". I think our society revolves around that motto. I know I do! And that's the problem. As Christians the point shouldn't be having it "our" way, but rather "His" way. I've talked about giving things up before, but this is so much more than that. In order for Christ to manifest in our lives, we have to move out so He can move in. I don't mean just clean out the guest room so He'll have a place to visit. I mean give Him your house! Give Him yourself. I know it's easier said than done. It means letting go of the anger you may have inside. It means letting go of that false sense of control that we all cling to. It means, that I have to stop focusing on how I've been wronged and start thinking about how I can repair the wrongs I've done to others. The goal is to look in the mirror and see the face of God instead of our own. To see Him, because we no longer exist! It's a difficult concept/tasks, and it will take us a lifetime to get it. But, when we do, the Kingdom of Heaven, of our Father awaits.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Storm Season
I love the spring! Hands down, it is my favorite time of year. Not for the typical reasons like blooming flowers, green grass, rebirth of life, etcetera, etcetera. Not even for the possibility of improving my golf game (although that ranks pretty high!). Nope, the reason I love spring so much is because it brings storms. If it weren't for my family and need for a steady income, I'd hit the road and chase storms year round! I can think of few things that are a greater display of God's power, love, and grace all at the same time. Maybe that last statement seems like a stretch to you, but allow me to explain. Please forgive the short science lesson. I'll try to keep it short, but you all know how I tend to ramble, so I make no promises!
Thunderstorms start when warm humid spring air gets forced upwards by incoming cold air. As the air rises, it cools and condenses forming clouds. This proces off updraft can happen over and over within the cloud creating large raindrops and hail. Those clouds may look soft and fluffy, but actually they're far from it! Their interiors are full of turmoil! Water particles violenty collide with ice particles and become charged particles called hydrometeors. The larger negative particles go to the bottom of the cloud and small positive charges go to the top. This separation of charges is the fuel behind lighting. The more the charges separate, the greater the potential release of energy is. So, the cloud is building and building and building until....BANG!!!! Lightning strikes. Finally, all of those charges that were separated come back together restoring the natural balance. Rain falls, lightning strikes, and temperatures mix until the atmosphere is once again in balance. Okay, I know that was kind of long, but stick with me.
Lately, my life has felt like one giant thunderstorm. As a teacher, spring time is pure insanity! Something is going on every night of the week. Students are bouncing off the walls impatiently awating the end of school. They're no more interested in school than in having a root canal! It's also a busy time of year for my jewelry business. Trying to get enough pieces made for art shows throughout the summer is time consuming to say the least. Not to mention trying to keep up with our new website. Then there's church. It's been a roller coster of emotions. Lots of differing OPINIONS (mine included) have caused a great disturbance in the church. I feel like we've been one giant thundercloud. Everone in a different place, with nothing but tension and anger in the middle.
Romans 8:18-25
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Just like the Earth cries out to it's creator to bring it peace and restoration, I have cried out and prayed for the same in my life and His church. Here's the thing about storms. They're powerful! We've all seen images of tornado damage. Homes made of brick and mortar ripped to shreds by an invisible power. The storms in our life can leave the same kind of damage. They might not be caused by physical conditions, but they do stem from our inability to accept our differences. Instead of embracing them, and using them for His Kingdom, we allow them to separate us leaving a wake of destruction behind. But, the storm itself, in all of its awesome power, isn't really the point. Although it can be breathtaking, the true beauty is what comes after the storm. Calm. Peace. Restoration. Healing. We see it on television all the time. Every time they interview storm vicitms, we find people coming together for a common good. Loving one another. It's been a tough year for our church. Lines were drawn in the sand, and people were hurt. There were casualties, that may never be repaired. But, God's grace is most evident after the storm. I believe these trials, as difficult as they are, should be treasured as opportunities to witness the love and peace of Christ. I have high hopes. Hopes for my personal life, for my family, for His church. But mostly I have hope, that whatever changes, whatever storms we meet along the way, we don't face them in fear. But rather we embrace the opportunity to see the power, beauty, love, and grace of our Father who longs to bring us peace in Him, just as he does for all of his creation. Thanks to the storm, I see a brighter day ahead.
Thunderstorms start when warm humid spring air gets forced upwards by incoming cold air. As the air rises, it cools and condenses forming clouds. This proces off updraft can happen over and over within the cloud creating large raindrops and hail. Those clouds may look soft and fluffy, but actually they're far from it! Their interiors are full of turmoil! Water particles violenty collide with ice particles and become charged particles called hydrometeors. The larger negative particles go to the bottom of the cloud and small positive charges go to the top. This separation of charges is the fuel behind lighting. The more the charges separate, the greater the potential release of energy is. So, the cloud is building and building and building until....BANG!!!! Lightning strikes. Finally, all of those charges that were separated come back together restoring the natural balance. Rain falls, lightning strikes, and temperatures mix until the atmosphere is once again in balance. Okay, I know that was kind of long, but stick with me.
Lately, my life has felt like one giant thunderstorm. As a teacher, spring time is pure insanity! Something is going on every night of the week. Students are bouncing off the walls impatiently awating the end of school. They're no more interested in school than in having a root canal! It's also a busy time of year for my jewelry business. Trying to get enough pieces made for art shows throughout the summer is time consuming to say the least. Not to mention trying to keep up with our new website. Then there's church. It's been a roller coster of emotions. Lots of differing OPINIONS (mine included) have caused a great disturbance in the church. I feel like we've been one giant thundercloud. Everone in a different place, with nothing but tension and anger in the middle.
Romans 8:18-25
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Just like the Earth cries out to it's creator to bring it peace and restoration, I have cried out and prayed for the same in my life and His church. Here's the thing about storms. They're powerful! We've all seen images of tornado damage. Homes made of brick and mortar ripped to shreds by an invisible power. The storms in our life can leave the same kind of damage. They might not be caused by physical conditions, but they do stem from our inability to accept our differences. Instead of embracing them, and using them for His Kingdom, we allow them to separate us leaving a wake of destruction behind. But, the storm itself, in all of its awesome power, isn't really the point. Although it can be breathtaking, the true beauty is what comes after the storm. Calm. Peace. Restoration. Healing. We see it on television all the time. Every time they interview storm vicitms, we find people coming together for a common good. Loving one another. It's been a tough year for our church. Lines were drawn in the sand, and people were hurt. There were casualties, that may never be repaired. But, God's grace is most evident after the storm. I believe these trials, as difficult as they are, should be treasured as opportunities to witness the love and peace of Christ. I have high hopes. Hopes for my personal life, for my family, for His church. But mostly I have hope, that whatever changes, whatever storms we meet along the way, we don't face them in fear. But rather we embrace the opportunity to see the power, beauty, love, and grace of our Father who longs to bring us peace in Him, just as he does for all of his creation. Thanks to the storm, I see a brighter day ahead.
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