Monday, December 3, 2012
I came to Liberty four and a half years ago. That seems like a really long time. As I talk to some of the freshmen girls on my hall this year, I tell them everything that has changed since I was a freshman, and they are amazed. That's when I feel really old. But the time has flown by so fast. As I think back through the years I've been here and the people that I've met and the classes that I've sat through and the experiences that I've had, and I realize how incredibly blessed I am.
My freshmen year, I made some of the best friends of my life. I got to know a causal friend from back home through long car rides and weekly lunch Bible studies. I spent time with my roommates coloring and watching movies and ordering pizza and eating nutella sandwiches. I was challenged to grow in my faith not just in church but in my classes. I realized that I should wear more than just t-shirts, even though they're really comfortable. I had to become independent and learn things on my own, like scheduling time to do homework and not spending all of my money at the Drowsy Poet and dollar theater.
My sophomore year I learned what it means to serve in ministry. I learned that ministry is not just meeting certain administrative obligations or requirements, but it is intentionally taking the time to build purposeful relationships with people. I learned how to talk to other people on the hall besides my roommates. I got my first job. I learned how to listen to people when they are struggling without needing to have all of the answers. I learned how to study God's Word to teach it, and how difficult it is not to make it say what you want it to, but to search for what it really means. I also learned the importance of giving God my first and best. When I give Him the rotten leftovers, He is not glorified and I am not satisfied. I learned to wait on His timing and to plan my time wisely.
My junior year I learned that my personality isn't going to click with everyone, but that I cannot give up trying to serve them. I learned that I have no clue how to teach ESL and I don't understand linguistics, but that God called me to study it and the success I have will be to His glory. I learned that I am inadequate, but He is more than adequate. I experienced great friendship, and I made it through RA qualifying without crying.
My senior year I learned that I need to surrender my plans to Him and that, though things don't always turn out the way I expected them to, He knows what's going on. I learned how to forgive people. I dealt with more problems than I thought were possible to experience in one semester. I hated my job, but I was forced to remember the people of my ministry above my problems and to keep in mind why I committed myself to my job in the first place. I experienced loneliness and learned that I won't liked by everyone I know. I had to make quick judgments and uncomfortable confrontations, but I learned to be flexible.
This semester, I've learned a lot about trust, especially through change. I feel like my life is completely different now than it was in the spring. I'm attending grad school, my family lives in a new house, I'm living on a new hall with new people, I have new financial responsibilities and I don't have a job... I even got a haircut. Some changes were expected (like my haircut. I planned that one.), but some completely sideswiped me.
I spoke in a previous post about what God taught me this summer through my financial situation, and how blessed I have been by His provision. This semester, God has decided to provide for me in a completely unexpected way. My parents informed me several months ago that I could have the opportunity to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on scholarship. When my mom told me, I already had set in my mind that I was going to attend Liberty for two more years to get my graduate degree. I was so shocked and confused that I just cried about the decision that I would have to make. (Don't judge. I am a girl, and sometimes I cry.) Like a good Christian, I prayed about it. Should I make the practical decision and transfer to SEBTS for financial reasons, or should I stay at Liberty where I am comfortable and have already made commitments and friends? I went back and forth on the decision, and after searching for a job in Lynchburg with no success, I decided to fill out an application to Southeastern.I don't know if I was right in doing it, but I asked God that, if He wanted me to stay at Liberty, He would not allow me to be accepted into Southeastern, and decided that, if I was accepted, then I would make the decision to transfer.
What made my decision even harder was the awesome group of girls I've had the privilege to live with these past four months. I have never been so encouraged and blessed by so many girls, and it has been so much fun living with all of them. The thought of leaving them breaks my heart. But several weeks ago, I got word back from Southeastern that I was accepted. I still have no money to pay for school at Liberty next semester and the opportunity to study elsewhere and I have decided to take it.
I am terrified of what this means. This week is the last week of classes I will ever experience at Liberty. My last Convocation service, my last leadership team meeting, my last hall meeting, my last RA group. I'm freaking out! I have to learn now to make friends on my own now. I have to find an apartment and a job and learn how to grow up! What is this!? As scared and sad I am to leave what has been my life for the past four and a half years, I am also excited for this new experience. For the first time since freshman year, I get to just be a student. I don't have to worry about enforcing rules or confronting situations. I get to make choices for myself, like what I want to wear or what movies I want to watch. I get to find a local church and get involved. So, as painful as it is to leave the people I love and the school that has taught me so much, I am looking forward to the new friends and experiences and lessons I get to have in this new adventure. It is bitter sweet, but, for me, it is necessary, and just as God continues to remind me over and over this semester, I am learning to trust Him in all things. I don't know what my future may bring, but He's known since forever ago, so He's the One I'm going to look towards as I walk down this new path in this new chapter of the Adventures of Me!
My freshmen year, I made some of the best friends of my life. I got to know a causal friend from back home through long car rides and weekly lunch Bible studies. I spent time with my roommates coloring and watching movies and ordering pizza and eating nutella sandwiches. I was challenged to grow in my faith not just in church but in my classes. I realized that I should wear more than just t-shirts, even though they're really comfortable. I had to become independent and learn things on my own, like scheduling time to do homework and not spending all of my money at the Drowsy Poet and dollar theater.
My sophomore year I learned what it means to serve in ministry. I learned that ministry is not just meeting certain administrative obligations or requirements, but it is intentionally taking the time to build purposeful relationships with people. I learned how to talk to other people on the hall besides my roommates. I got my first job. I learned how to listen to people when they are struggling without needing to have all of the answers. I learned how to study God's Word to teach it, and how difficult it is not to make it say what you want it to, but to search for what it really means. I also learned the importance of giving God my first and best. When I give Him the rotten leftovers, He is not glorified and I am not satisfied. I learned to wait on His timing and to plan my time wisely.
My junior year I learned that my personality isn't going to click with everyone, but that I cannot give up trying to serve them. I learned that I have no clue how to teach ESL and I don't understand linguistics, but that God called me to study it and the success I have will be to His glory. I learned that I am inadequate, but He is more than adequate. I experienced great friendship, and I made it through RA qualifying without crying.
My senior year I learned that I need to surrender my plans to Him and that, though things don't always turn out the way I expected them to, He knows what's going on. I learned how to forgive people. I dealt with more problems than I thought were possible to experience in one semester. I hated my job, but I was forced to remember the people of my ministry above my problems and to keep in mind why I committed myself to my job in the first place. I experienced loneliness and learned that I won't liked by everyone I know. I had to make quick judgments and uncomfortable confrontations, but I learned to be flexible.
This semester, I've learned a lot about trust, especially through change. I feel like my life is completely different now than it was in the spring. I'm attending grad school, my family lives in a new house, I'm living on a new hall with new people, I have new financial responsibilities and I don't have a job... I even got a haircut. Some changes were expected (like my haircut. I planned that one.), but some completely sideswiped me.
I spoke in a previous post about what God taught me this summer through my financial situation, and how blessed I have been by His provision. This semester, God has decided to provide for me in a completely unexpected way. My parents informed me several months ago that I could have the opportunity to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on scholarship. When my mom told me, I already had set in my mind that I was going to attend Liberty for two more years to get my graduate degree. I was so shocked and confused that I just cried about the decision that I would have to make. (Don't judge. I am a girl, and sometimes I cry.) Like a good Christian, I prayed about it. Should I make the practical decision and transfer to SEBTS for financial reasons, or should I stay at Liberty where I am comfortable and have already made commitments and friends? I went back and forth on the decision, and after searching for a job in Lynchburg with no success, I decided to fill out an application to Southeastern.I don't know if I was right in doing it, but I asked God that, if He wanted me to stay at Liberty, He would not allow me to be accepted into Southeastern, and decided that, if I was accepted, then I would make the decision to transfer.
What made my decision even harder was the awesome group of girls I've had the privilege to live with these past four months. I have never been so encouraged and blessed by so many girls, and it has been so much fun living with all of them. The thought of leaving them breaks my heart. But several weeks ago, I got word back from Southeastern that I was accepted. I still have no money to pay for school at Liberty next semester and the opportunity to study elsewhere and I have decided to take it.
I am terrified of what this means. This week is the last week of classes I will ever experience at Liberty. My last Convocation service, my last leadership team meeting, my last hall meeting, my last RA group. I'm freaking out! I have to learn now to make friends on my own now. I have to find an apartment and a job and learn how to grow up! What is this!? As scared and sad I am to leave what has been my life for the past four and a half years, I am also excited for this new experience. For the first time since freshman year, I get to just be a student. I don't have to worry about enforcing rules or confronting situations. I get to make choices for myself, like what I want to wear or what movies I want to watch. I get to find a local church and get involved. So, as painful as it is to leave the people I love and the school that has taught me so much, I am looking forward to the new friends and experiences and lessons I get to have in this new adventure. It is bitter sweet, but, for me, it is necessary, and just as God continues to remind me over and over this semester, I am learning to trust Him in all things. I don't know what my future may bring, but He's known since forever ago, so He's the One I'm going to look towards as I walk down this new path in this new chapter of the Adventures of Me!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
You know that scene in the action movie where the side-kick/ best friend/ love interest somehow finds him/herself falling off the edge of the cliff, but at the last moment grabs a hold of something? Her feet still dangle on the edge, rocks slipping from underneath her, down into nothingness, and as her fingers struggle to clench tight around what ever is holding her up, she knows that if she fails to hold on, she will fall as well.
That's a pretty dramatic scene, and perhaps could have been described a little better, but if I were to choose a way to describe where I am right now, it would be at the edge of a cliff. There have been so many changes recently, and sometimes I feel like I'm barely holding on. My heart is beating so fast with anxiety over things that I do not understand and cannot control. I praise God that He has given me Truth to hang on to, but sometimes I feel like my knuckles are cramping and at any moment, I could lose my grasp and fall over the edge. I hear Him saying, "Trust Me. Hold on to Me," and I trying, but I see the rocks slipping beneath my feel, and I just want Him to pick me up and set me on solid ground where I can feel safe. Yet, I know that, if I got this wish, I could very well feel comfortable enough to let go of Him and start walking confidently on my own. But where I am now, I have no choice but to trust Him and continue to hold on to what I know is true.
I just finished reading through Job recently, and there are a couple of things that I'm still chewing on. I don't understand why God would allow Job's children to die. It just seems cruel and terrible, and I don't think I will ever understand why it had to happen that way. But I know God and I trust what I have read and seen of His character, so even when I don't understand, I still choose to trust Him. In her book, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, Beth Moore asks, "Do you realize Job endured the entire excruciating ordeal without ever knowing he was in the middle of a match between the God of the universe and the head dragon of hell? Even at the conclusion of the Old Testament book, Job still had no idea" (83). God never answered any of Job's questions. He never told Job why he had to endure such loss. But Job got to know God in such a new and incredible way! He experienced God's sovereignty, His omnipotence and omniscience. He knew that God's ways are so much higher than ours. Who was Job, a mere man, to even begin to understand why God works the way He does?
And this is where I am. I've talked about change and trust a lot recently. I feel like a broken record, but it is still something that God is drilling me in. I don't understand what is going on around me recently, nor do I understand sometimes how God can work through it. What I do know, however, is God. I have read of His sovereign goodness and His patient loving-kindness. I have experienced it. Now I must trust Him, even when I do not understand, because He is the only One keeping me from falling. If you would have told me six months ago that I would be where I am today, I would almost not believe you. These past several months have brought a lot of changes and challenges. I have never had to rely on the Lord like I am having to now, and I am experiencing Him, like Job, in a new way. I do not enjoy struggle. But I appreciate where God is leading me through my struggle.
"I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You." -Job 42:5
That's a pretty dramatic scene, and perhaps could have been described a little better, but if I were to choose a way to describe where I am right now, it would be at the edge of a cliff. There have been so many changes recently, and sometimes I feel like I'm barely holding on. My heart is beating so fast with anxiety over things that I do not understand and cannot control. I praise God that He has given me Truth to hang on to, but sometimes I feel like my knuckles are cramping and at any moment, I could lose my grasp and fall over the edge. I hear Him saying, "Trust Me. Hold on to Me," and I trying, but I see the rocks slipping beneath my feel, and I just want Him to pick me up and set me on solid ground where I can feel safe. Yet, I know that, if I got this wish, I could very well feel comfortable enough to let go of Him and start walking confidently on my own. But where I am now, I have no choice but to trust Him and continue to hold on to what I know is true.
I just finished reading through Job recently, and there are a couple of things that I'm still chewing on. I don't understand why God would allow Job's children to die. It just seems cruel and terrible, and I don't think I will ever understand why it had to happen that way. But I know God and I trust what I have read and seen of His character, so even when I don't understand, I still choose to trust Him. In her book, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, Beth Moore asks, "Do you realize Job endured the entire excruciating ordeal without ever knowing he was in the middle of a match between the God of the universe and the head dragon of hell? Even at the conclusion of the Old Testament book, Job still had no idea" (83). God never answered any of Job's questions. He never told Job why he had to endure such loss. But Job got to know God in such a new and incredible way! He experienced God's sovereignty, His omnipotence and omniscience. He knew that God's ways are so much higher than ours. Who was Job, a mere man, to even begin to understand why God works the way He does?
And this is where I am. I've talked about change and trust a lot recently. I feel like a broken record, but it is still something that God is drilling me in. I don't understand what is going on around me recently, nor do I understand sometimes how God can work through it. What I do know, however, is God. I have read of His sovereign goodness and His patient loving-kindness. I have experienced it. Now I must trust Him, even when I do not understand, because He is the only One keeping me from falling. If you would have told me six months ago that I would be where I am today, I would almost not believe you. These past several months have brought a lot of changes and challenges. I have never had to rely on the Lord like I am having to now, and I am experiencing Him, like Job, in a new way. I do not enjoy struggle. But I appreciate where God is leading me through my struggle.
"I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You." -Job 42:5
Monday, October 1, 2012
It's October! The leaves are changing from dark greens to orange-y hues, scarves and boots are seeing daylight after an extended respite in the back of the closet, watching football is once again a Sunday afternoon ritual, and everything tastes like pumpkin. Fall has arrived! As I sit here sipping apple cider, I am reminded once again how wonderful it is that, in the midst of change, our God is constant. He is a rock, an anchor, ever-present, and ever-faithful. What a mighty God we serve!
Speaking of change, there seems to be a lot of it recently and I am even more thankful for God's stable presence through it all. Let's just rewind a little bit to this summer. I've already mentioned in previous posts how different this past summer was from every other summer I've had, but the greatest change to my life this summer was also the greatest challenge. I am so grateful for parents who support me and help me out in any way that they can, and I do not take that for granted. Since graduating, I have become more financially independent than I have ever been. As bills came in every month, however, I had no source of income to pay them with. I have never had to put so much trust in God for anything before, and I'm not going to lie, it was really, really hard! Try as I might to find a job, nothing was working out. I was stressing. All I could do was pray that the Lord would provide, and provide He did. I received late graduation gifts in the mail. I found more money in my bank account than I had previously thought I had. My parents helped me out where they could. Still, I knew that by the end of July I would be completely broke and unable to pay for the rest of my semester of school let alone another year and a half. That was when my internship supervisor approached me to let me know that, though they had previously told me my internship would be unpaid, they had received approval to supply me with a small stipend at the beginning of August, when my internship was over. Praise the Lord! As I watched God provide over and over for my monetary needs, it was certainly enough to sustain, but never enough to allow me to think that I could take control and make it on my own. It is quite humbling being reduced to eating Ramen noodles and pieces of sliced bread every meal, but even that could not distract me from the joy I had in getting to know Jehovah Jireh as I never have before.
Entering into this semester, I've never felt so old and yet so young in my entire life. Coming into my fifth year here at school, I've become an expert on life at Liberty, or so it would seem to the many new students I live with. It is such a blessing to live with an amazing group of girls. They are so loving and so encouraging, and it has been a blast to do life with them these past six weeks. I love getting to watch their excitement about many of the things they are learning and experiencing and I am reminded of my similar excitement coming in as a freshman. Still, the fact that I am four or five years older than most of these girls has not escaped me. I feel old. Starting my first semester in seminary has been great, but it has also been quite intimidating. I am learning so much about the Bible and missions and the character of God. I love soaking up the wisdom that my professors share every class, but there is a certain intimidation that comes with being asked questions about topics I have never even though about, surrounded by classmates old enough to be my parents. I have fretted over my class readings and assignments like I haven't in a very long time. It is weird feeling like a freshman and an old maid at the same time. Such is my life right now. And still God remains the same.
I've talked a little bit before about our vision for our hall this year, paralleling the seasons to the cycle of brokenness, surrender, and restoration, and something that I've realized is that God often uses change in our lives to draw out those things that need to be given up to Him. I'm reading through Job right now in my time with the Lord. We are all at least a little familiar with the story of Job, how everything was taken away from Him- his family, his possessions, even his own health- and still he did not forsake the Lord. Job's friends gave him little comfort in their worthless speeches during his time of mourning. Job's life went through some drastic changes through which he experienced deeper sorrow than I could ever imagine. However, Job was also able to experience awe of God's grand omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience in a way that I could only hope to. (If you ever get a chance, you should definitely read the latter part of Job from The Message.) Something that I find interesting about the story of Job is that God never explained to Job why He allowed such a great trial to come to him. Though Job asked God plenty why He brought calamity to him (Job 7:20), and though he did not believe the answers his friends provided, Job never got an answer from God. Instead he got to experience God in a new way, in a life-changing way.
In his song, The Reason Why You Brought Me Here, Jason Gray poetically and honestly describes how, through changes and even sometimes through ruin, we can still trust that God knows what He is doing. So, as I finish the last sip of my cider and look out at the beautiful Virginia landscape before me, I am thankful that my God never changes. He has remained faithful through all of the changes and trials I have faced in the past and He is One that I can trust in as I look forward to all of the changes and challenges yet to come. I am still anxious about what the future holds, but I know that I do not have to be afraid.
And just because I love this season so much, here's a pretty fall picture. Happy Autumn, everybody!
Speaking of change, there seems to be a lot of it recently and I am even more thankful for God's stable presence through it all. Let's just rewind a little bit to this summer. I've already mentioned in previous posts how different this past summer was from every other summer I've had, but the greatest change to my life this summer was also the greatest challenge. I am so grateful for parents who support me and help me out in any way that they can, and I do not take that for granted. Since graduating, I have become more financially independent than I have ever been. As bills came in every month, however, I had no source of income to pay them with. I have never had to put so much trust in God for anything before, and I'm not going to lie, it was really, really hard! Try as I might to find a job, nothing was working out. I was stressing. All I could do was pray that the Lord would provide, and provide He did. I received late graduation gifts in the mail. I found more money in my bank account than I had previously thought I had. My parents helped me out where they could. Still, I knew that by the end of July I would be completely broke and unable to pay for the rest of my semester of school let alone another year and a half. That was when my internship supervisor approached me to let me know that, though they had previously told me my internship would be unpaid, they had received approval to supply me with a small stipend at the beginning of August, when my internship was over. Praise the Lord! As I watched God provide over and over for my monetary needs, it was certainly enough to sustain, but never enough to allow me to think that I could take control and make it on my own. It is quite humbling being reduced to eating Ramen noodles and pieces of sliced bread every meal, but even that could not distract me from the joy I had in getting to know Jehovah Jireh as I never have before.
Entering into this semester, I've never felt so old and yet so young in my entire life. Coming into my fifth year here at school, I've become an expert on life at Liberty, or so it would seem to the many new students I live with. It is such a blessing to live with an amazing group of girls. They are so loving and so encouraging, and it has been a blast to do life with them these past six weeks. I love getting to watch their excitement about many of the things they are learning and experiencing and I am reminded of my similar excitement coming in as a freshman. Still, the fact that I am four or five years older than most of these girls has not escaped me. I feel old. Starting my first semester in seminary has been great, but it has also been quite intimidating. I am learning so much about the Bible and missions and the character of God. I love soaking up the wisdom that my professors share every class, but there is a certain intimidation that comes with being asked questions about topics I have never even though about, surrounded by classmates old enough to be my parents. I have fretted over my class readings and assignments like I haven't in a very long time. It is weird feeling like a freshman and an old maid at the same time. Such is my life right now. And still God remains the same.
I've talked a little bit before about our vision for our hall this year, paralleling the seasons to the cycle of brokenness, surrender, and restoration, and something that I've realized is that God often uses change in our lives to draw out those things that need to be given up to Him. I'm reading through Job right now in my time with the Lord. We are all at least a little familiar with the story of Job, how everything was taken away from Him- his family, his possessions, even his own health- and still he did not forsake the Lord. Job's friends gave him little comfort in their worthless speeches during his time of mourning. Job's life went through some drastic changes through which he experienced deeper sorrow than I could ever imagine. However, Job was also able to experience awe of God's grand omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience in a way that I could only hope to. (If you ever get a chance, you should definitely read the latter part of Job from The Message.) Something that I find interesting about the story of Job is that God never explained to Job why He allowed such a great trial to come to him. Though Job asked God plenty why He brought calamity to him (Job 7:20), and though he did not believe the answers his friends provided, Job never got an answer from God. Instead he got to experience God in a new way, in a life-changing way.
In his song, The Reason Why You Brought Me Here, Jason Gray poetically and honestly describes how, through changes and even sometimes through ruin, we can still trust that God knows what He is doing. So, as I finish the last sip of my cider and look out at the beautiful Virginia landscape before me, I am thankful that my God never changes. He has remained faithful through all of the changes and trials I have faced in the past and He is One that I can trust in as I look forward to all of the changes and challenges yet to come. I am still anxious about what the future holds, but I know that I do not have to be afraid.
And just because I love this season so much, here's a pretty fall picture. Happy Autumn, everybody!
Monday, July 23, 2012
I hope this is normal to admit, but sometimes I talk to myself. I know that most people make a comment here or there to themselves. I do that, too, but sometimes, particularly when I'm driving alone, I just like to talk out loud. There's something about putting things into words that helps to process and solidify your thoughts. This past weekend, I went home for a couple of days, which gave me three hours of talk time both on the way there and back (you'd be surprised how much I have to say to myself), and it was actually really beneficial.
This summer has been totally different than any other before it. My previous summers have been filled with people: children, families, friends, and many, many others. This summer, though, has been quite the opposite. Perhaps that's why I've taken up talking to myself... Most of my time is spent by myself, and it's really, really quiet. At first, this was a little difficult to get used to. I've come to appreciate my summer, though, as a time to quietly commune with the Lord and reflect on how He has changed my life thus far. I've especially been thinking about this past school year, as busy as it was, and what I have learned from it. This is what I was talking about this weekend on my drive home: what have I learned this past year? How have my decisions effected me, and where am I now? It wasn't until I talked through all of it (with myself) that I realized what a valuable lesson I have learned, and in an effort to make this lesson stick, I've decided to share it with you.
I've come to realize that, in the role of leadership, you are not immune to temptation to sin. In fact, I would argue that many leaders are more susceptible to temptation. This, of course, isn't true for all leaders, but it has certainly been true for me. Last year, I read the book by Beth Moore, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. It was an eye-opening and valuable read, and it really exposed me to the seriousness of the battle between Spirit and flesh within a person. Without going into much detail, I myself struggled with sin this past year in a way that I have never struggled before, and I found myself losing often. I became very bitter and angry and hurt. I was so ashamed of the way I had let my sinful desires get the better of me, and I hated that I, as a spiritual leader, had become such a hypocrite. My guilt was great, and with so much guilt, how could I ever face a holy and righteous God? I couldn't. The humiliation was too much. So, instead, I tried something else. I thought that, if I could gain control of my actions and show conquest of my sin on my own, then I could return to the Lord. It would still be a humbling experience, but at least I could show the accomplishments of my own self-improvement. I knew that this wasn't the best or the right way to approach my sin, but my pride was too great to allow for another option. So, I tried cleaning up my own mess, but, try as I might, I just could not fix myself. Finally, I had to come to a point of such brokenness that I realized there was no way I could ever hope to succeed on my own.
Paul says in Romans 12:9 "Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." I realized that I had been focusing on not doing bad when I needed to be focusing on what is good and true. So, instead of trying to fixing my sin, I began to pursue the Lord. I began to spend serious time with Him that I had not done in awhile out of shame. It was humiliating to come before Him. There was no room for any pride. And still, with all of my screw-ups, He showed me healing and victory that I could not have experienced if I had kept trying on my own. My victory over sin did not come through any of my efforts. It never would. Victory comes in and through Christ alone. Victory over sin and death is His and I am able to experience that victory in my own life only by pursuing Him, by holding fast to Him, by clinging to Him.
This next year, our hall leadership has decided to focus on the process of brokenness, surrender, and restoration. The title of our theme is "Sweetly Broken, Wholly Surrendered." As we go through the seasons of the year, we hope to highlight how these reflect back to how God works in us as we go through changes (fall) and hardships (winter), which lead to brokenness and surrender. When we experience brokenness and surrender before God, He allows us to experience newness of life (spring) and restoration in Him, and when we are restored to the Lord, we experience new joy and strength (summer). I didn't know at the time that we put our theme together how relevant it would be to my own life experiences. I know that the battle is still being fought and I cannot give up yet, but I also know who holds the victory and I have chosen to ally myself with Him. In Him I have strength to fight on, because I know that there is nothing in this world more valuable than what I already have: a relationship with the eternal, sovereign King.
This summer has been totally different than any other before it. My previous summers have been filled with people: children, families, friends, and many, many others. This summer, though, has been quite the opposite. Perhaps that's why I've taken up talking to myself... Most of my time is spent by myself, and it's really, really quiet. At first, this was a little difficult to get used to. I've come to appreciate my summer, though, as a time to quietly commune with the Lord and reflect on how He has changed my life thus far. I've especially been thinking about this past school year, as busy as it was, and what I have learned from it. This is what I was talking about this weekend on my drive home: what have I learned this past year? How have my decisions effected me, and where am I now? It wasn't until I talked through all of it (with myself) that I realized what a valuable lesson I have learned, and in an effort to make this lesson stick, I've decided to share it with you.
I've come to realize that, in the role of leadership, you are not immune to temptation to sin. In fact, I would argue that many leaders are more susceptible to temptation. This, of course, isn't true for all leaders, but it has certainly been true for me. Last year, I read the book by Beth Moore, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. It was an eye-opening and valuable read, and it really exposed me to the seriousness of the battle between Spirit and flesh within a person. Without going into much detail, I myself struggled with sin this past year in a way that I have never struggled before, and I found myself losing often. I became very bitter and angry and hurt. I was so ashamed of the way I had let my sinful desires get the better of me, and I hated that I, as a spiritual leader, had become such a hypocrite. My guilt was great, and with so much guilt, how could I ever face a holy and righteous God? I couldn't. The humiliation was too much. So, instead, I tried something else. I thought that, if I could gain control of my actions and show conquest of my sin on my own, then I could return to the Lord. It would still be a humbling experience, but at least I could show the accomplishments of my own self-improvement. I knew that this wasn't the best or the right way to approach my sin, but my pride was too great to allow for another option. So, I tried cleaning up my own mess, but, try as I might, I just could not fix myself. Finally, I had to come to a point of such brokenness that I realized there was no way I could ever hope to succeed on my own.
Paul says in Romans 12:9 "Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." I realized that I had been focusing on not doing bad when I needed to be focusing on what is good and true. So, instead of trying to fixing my sin, I began to pursue the Lord. I began to spend serious time with Him that I had not done in awhile out of shame. It was humiliating to come before Him. There was no room for any pride. And still, with all of my screw-ups, He showed me healing and victory that I could not have experienced if I had kept trying on my own. My victory over sin did not come through any of my efforts. It never would. Victory comes in and through Christ alone. Victory over sin and death is His and I am able to experience that victory in my own life only by pursuing Him, by holding fast to Him, by clinging to Him.
This next year, our hall leadership has decided to focus on the process of brokenness, surrender, and restoration. The title of our theme is "Sweetly Broken, Wholly Surrendered." As we go through the seasons of the year, we hope to highlight how these reflect back to how God works in us as we go through changes (fall) and hardships (winter), which lead to brokenness and surrender. When we experience brokenness and surrender before God, He allows us to experience newness of life (spring) and restoration in Him, and when we are restored to the Lord, we experience new joy and strength (summer). I didn't know at the time that we put our theme together how relevant it would be to my own life experiences. I know that the battle is still being fought and I cannot give up yet, but I also know who holds the victory and I have chosen to ally myself with Him. In Him I have strength to fight on, because I know that there is nothing in this world more valuable than what I already have: a relationship with the eternal, sovereign King.
Monday, June 18, 2012
I've been desiring to write a new post for awhile, but it's been a struggle to know what to write about. I don't know how professional bloggers do it! How do you have so much to say on a regular basis? I was reading back through some of my older posts, and I must say that I feel completely inadequate to be sharing my thoughts on a public forum like this. And yet here I am writing again.
Currently, I'm reading through the gospels, which is something that, sadly, I haven't done in a long time. I marvel at the people who are able to digest so much of God's Word as they read. Sometimes I feel like there's just so much, I'm barely grasping at anything. It's like you're falling down a pit so quickly, that instead of grabbing hold of anything solid, you've just got a lot of dirt underneath your fingernails. Only, it's not so dark and hopeless as that. It's really more like I'm just so overwhelmed by the great vastness and depth of God and His revelation. Reading through stories that I've grown up with can be rather monotonous, but I am reminded as I read that these are actual accounts of real events! That's crazy! These things actually happened! My Savior actually walked this earth! And, like any good reader, I can't help but place myself in the story and wonder what my reaction would be like if I had the opportunity to sit and hear Jesus' teachings in the synagogue or on the hillside or in the house of a friend.
The Jewish leaders were so hardened toward Jesus and His message. They continued to test Him and nothing He ever did was good enough for them. No miracle that He performed or prophecy He quoted or parable He told was enough for them. They were determined to be unsatisfied. Jesus could not win. It's like when you get into an argument with someone. You both are so determined that you are right that no reasoning could make either of you change your mind to what you believe to be true. Only, what Jesus said was true. It's a shame that these religious rulers had lost focus on what they were supposed to be leading others in. They had become so wrapped up in themselves that they completely rejected God. Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy time and time again (which, of course, didn't settle well with them either). There's one story that sticks out to me in particular: Lazarus and the rich man. I'm not going to recount the whole story, but the rich ruler, who has died and is now in Hell, pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus (who has also died) to his living relatives to warn them so that they go to Hell when they die. Abraham's answer to the rich man is wrenching. He says that if they are not willing to listen to the prophecies of Moses and those after him, then they will not listen to someone who has raised from the dead. I wonder, if I had been alive 2000 years ago, if I would be like the Pharisees: beyond skeptical. I can see this trait in me, the same stubbornness that the religious leaders showed. It breaks my heart to think that I could respond to the Son of God in that way.
Then there were those who crowed Jesus to hear His teachings and to see Him perform miracles and maybe to ask Him for help or healing themselves. Sometimes I wonder if these crowds really desired to follow Jesus in the way that He taught, taking up their crosses and forsaking everything else- family, riches, status-or if they just followed Him simply because they were fans of His ministry. I think of superstars who are so cool and so popular that they gather a following, but who really cares to know them beyond what they give the public (music, movies, whatever)? Sure, we love them and we would love to meet them and even get a picture with them, but, if we're sensible, we're not going to drop everything to be groupies. We have our own lives that we're content living. I wonder if that's how the crowds followed Jesus. If so, would I be one in the crowd? Would I brag about being one of the five thousand that Jesus fed or seeing Him heal the lame man who was lowered through the roof for bragging's sake? Because I could see myself doing that as well.
Of course, there were Jesus' disciples, too, and not just the twelve. Luke accounts Jesus sending out seventy, in pairs, to teach and perform miracles in His name. I think that the disciples were so sincere in their commitment to Christ, as much as they could be, but their understanding was limited. Of course, when you place any group of people next to God Himself, they're going to fall short. Still, I wonder if they ever looked back to some of the time they had with Jesus and said, "Gosh, we were so foolish! What were we thinking!?" I know I do this often. And I will continue to do this until the end of my life.
I know that I really don't have much to really, truly base any of these characterizations on. But what kind of reader would I be if I didn't impose some of my human experience into what I am reading? I know that reading into Scripture is something to be very careful with, so I'm not equating it with the truth that we do find in God's Word, but if it was true, I wonder what category I would fall into.
I love where the writers of the gospels say that Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. I don't even have any commentary to add to that. Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. I'm not an overly emotional person. I tend to lean toward reason and logic any away from feelings and instinct. But what a wonderful feeling it is to think about the compassion of Christ. All of these people: the Pharisees, the crowds, the disciples, had personal interactions with Jesus, and He was moved with compassion towards them. I have not only read about His compassion, but I have experienced it. As I read about the compassion that Jesus showed many, many years ago, I am reminded of His present compassion that I am able to take part in and experience, and I cannot help but marvel and worship Him for His amazing goodness. We serve a wonderful God. How blessed we are to be called His children- and that is what we are!
God, I am sorry for those times my stubbornness and my pride and even my own ignorance get in the way of truly following you. Thank You for the compassion You showed thousands of years ago. It amazes me to think of how Your love continues even until now. You are not a dead God, but You are living and Your Word is active. God, may Your compassion draw me to repentance and to true discipleship. I may be naive and I may not understand much, but I desire to continue to grow in understanding. Lead me in these things, Lord. I desire to know You and to follow You, but I need You to show me how to do these things.
Currently, I'm reading through the gospels, which is something that, sadly, I haven't done in a long time. I marvel at the people who are able to digest so much of God's Word as they read. Sometimes I feel like there's just so much, I'm barely grasping at anything. It's like you're falling down a pit so quickly, that instead of grabbing hold of anything solid, you've just got a lot of dirt underneath your fingernails. Only, it's not so dark and hopeless as that. It's really more like I'm just so overwhelmed by the great vastness and depth of God and His revelation. Reading through stories that I've grown up with can be rather monotonous, but I am reminded as I read that these are actual accounts of real events! That's crazy! These things actually happened! My Savior actually walked this earth! And, like any good reader, I can't help but place myself in the story and wonder what my reaction would be like if I had the opportunity to sit and hear Jesus' teachings in the synagogue or on the hillside or in the house of a friend.
The Jewish leaders were so hardened toward Jesus and His message. They continued to test Him and nothing He ever did was good enough for them. No miracle that He performed or prophecy He quoted or parable He told was enough for them. They were determined to be unsatisfied. Jesus could not win. It's like when you get into an argument with someone. You both are so determined that you are right that no reasoning could make either of you change your mind to what you believe to be true. Only, what Jesus said was true. It's a shame that these religious rulers had lost focus on what they were supposed to be leading others in. They had become so wrapped up in themselves that they completely rejected God. Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy time and time again (which, of course, didn't settle well with them either). There's one story that sticks out to me in particular: Lazarus and the rich man. I'm not going to recount the whole story, but the rich ruler, who has died and is now in Hell, pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus (who has also died) to his living relatives to warn them so that they go to Hell when they die. Abraham's answer to the rich man is wrenching. He says that if they are not willing to listen to the prophecies of Moses and those after him, then they will not listen to someone who has raised from the dead. I wonder, if I had been alive 2000 years ago, if I would be like the Pharisees: beyond skeptical. I can see this trait in me, the same stubbornness that the religious leaders showed. It breaks my heart to think that I could respond to the Son of God in that way.
Then there were those who crowed Jesus to hear His teachings and to see Him perform miracles and maybe to ask Him for help or healing themselves. Sometimes I wonder if these crowds really desired to follow Jesus in the way that He taught, taking up their crosses and forsaking everything else- family, riches, status-or if they just followed Him simply because they were fans of His ministry. I think of superstars who are so cool and so popular that they gather a following, but who really cares to know them beyond what they give the public (music, movies, whatever)? Sure, we love them and we would love to meet them and even get a picture with them, but, if we're sensible, we're not going to drop everything to be groupies. We have our own lives that we're content living. I wonder if that's how the crowds followed Jesus. If so, would I be one in the crowd? Would I brag about being one of the five thousand that Jesus fed or seeing Him heal the lame man who was lowered through the roof for bragging's sake? Because I could see myself doing that as well.
Of course, there were Jesus' disciples, too, and not just the twelve. Luke accounts Jesus sending out seventy, in pairs, to teach and perform miracles in His name. I think that the disciples were so sincere in their commitment to Christ, as much as they could be, but their understanding was limited. Of course, when you place any group of people next to God Himself, they're going to fall short. Still, I wonder if they ever looked back to some of the time they had with Jesus and said, "Gosh, we were so foolish! What were we thinking!?" I know I do this often. And I will continue to do this until the end of my life.
I know that I really don't have much to really, truly base any of these characterizations on. But what kind of reader would I be if I didn't impose some of my human experience into what I am reading? I know that reading into Scripture is something to be very careful with, so I'm not equating it with the truth that we do find in God's Word, but if it was true, I wonder what category I would fall into.
I love where the writers of the gospels say that Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. I don't even have any commentary to add to that. Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. I'm not an overly emotional person. I tend to lean toward reason and logic any away from feelings and instinct. But what a wonderful feeling it is to think about the compassion of Christ. All of these people: the Pharisees, the crowds, the disciples, had personal interactions with Jesus, and He was moved with compassion towards them. I have not only read about His compassion, but I have experienced it. As I read about the compassion that Jesus showed many, many years ago, I am reminded of His present compassion that I am able to take part in and experience, and I cannot help but marvel and worship Him for His amazing goodness. We serve a wonderful God. How blessed we are to be called His children- and that is what we are!
God, I am sorry for those times my stubbornness and my pride and even my own ignorance get in the way of truly following you. Thank You for the compassion You showed thousands of years ago. It amazes me to think of how Your love continues even until now. You are not a dead God, but You are living and Your Word is active. God, may Your compassion draw me to repentance and to true discipleship. I may be naive and I may not understand much, but I desire to continue to grow in understanding. Lead me in these things, Lord. I desire to know You and to follow You, but I need You to show me how to do these things.
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