I read the first chapter this morning of a book by Gary Moon called “Falling for God: Saying Yes to His Extravagent Proposal.” The Author pointed out the story of Jesus’ first miracle. At the wedding banquet, he requested earthen vessels, and miraculously changed the contents inside from water to wine. After thousands of years with God, and thirty years here on earth, why did he chose this as his first miracle? To be honest, I never asked this question or even entertained the thought. Until this morning.
“Transformation. Jesus’ first miracle foreshadows all that will follow. It’s about radical changes to the contents of earthen vessels. Water to wine. Saul to Paul. You to Jesus.” Christ chose to show the power he has to transform one thing into something extraordinary. And he continues to show that power today. Amen.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Busyness vs. Fruitfulness
“Christians that have no sense of calling exchange busyness for fruitfulness” –Mark Driscoll
God has been drilling in me lately the importance of His call on my life. I have found my identity in being the go-to person who will serve in any and every way. I have taken pride in my ability to manage a never-ending “To Do” list without burning out. But God has been revealing to me lately that burning out isn’t the only sign you are taking on too much.
The staff where I work has been reading a book together called “Leaders Who Last.” Chapter after chapter, this book gets more and more convicting for me. The last two chapters we read addressed Pacing and Calling.
Pacing stressed the importance of resting, by not only observing a Sabbath day of no work, but also by taking sabbatical times where you study God’s word, spend time in prayer and just take time to rest in God’s presence. This is a discipline in which I have severely dropped the ball. I have taken so much pride in my ability to work and work without needing physical rest that I have completely ignored my spiritual need to rest.
I was especially challenged by a sermon I heard from Mark Driscoll on pursuing your calling, the one from which my opening quote is drawn. Amazing how a few words can pierce your soul with conviction from the Holy Spirit. One line from his sermon summed up the biggest struggle in my spiritual walk: “If Satan can’t make you sin, he’ll keep you busy.”
I have realized more and more that my busy ministry schedule has taken me away from personal time with God. Staying busy doing “God’s work” (work that is for the kingdom of God, but not the task or capacity to which God has called me) has hindered my own spiritual growth. Sure, I read God’s word every day and have hit-and-miss prayer sessions…but this is NOT the relationship to which I have been called. I cannot be a fruitful leader unless I am doing God’s will, and it is vital to remember that in the end, it isn’t our works that will please God, it is whether or not we know Jesus personally and intimately. Is your relationship with God suffering because you are too busy trying to earn his love and admiration? His love cannot be bought or earned; it can only be accepted and reciprocated. Take time to fall in love with Him.
Calling was the latest chapter in the book, and the perfect sequel personally from realizing I am taking on too much to trying to figure out what should stay on my metaphorical “plate”. When I watched Driscoll’s sermon, I made a list of the things that consumed my time, breaking it down into opportunities I am called to, stuff I do for my self and my own walk with God, and things I only do because I like to do them.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love youth ministry. I have felt God’s definite call to pour into the lives of teenage girls. I have specifically felt called to a youth ministry, small group, and a person God told me to pursue in discipling and mentoring. Outside of these, everything (other small groups, ministries that I was involved in, serving opportunities) fell into the “Like To Do” category. I took my call to be a youth leader as a call to be involved in any and every area of youth ministry. Plus, I was fooling myself into believing that I was a great Christian because I love to do all these things. But a huge realization came in looking at the “For Me” category. There were three things on my list that I do for me. First of all, is my job. I put time into this in order to meet my physical needs. Second, Church Services. I go to the services for fellowship and to get fed spiritually. And finally, family time. A completely neglected area of my life, so much so that every time I come to visit my parents, they refer to me as the “prodigal daughter”.
Notice anything missing here? The time I spend with God in the morning/evening wasn’t consuming enough time to even make the list. I always thought it would be selfish of me to want my time to myself with God when I could be pouring into others…thinking they needed God more than me. As if whether or not I struggled with sin was an accurate reflection of where I stand with God. But really, my extreme selfishness came to light in robbing God of my love and relationship. I was letting a pat on the back from those around me (for giving all my time) satisfy me, instead of seeing the necessity of God being pleased with me (for giving Him my time). Let me tell you, WORSE TRADE EVER.
I want to close with an idea from our latest staff devotional. There are things in our lives that hinder our call, and if we don’t throw those things off (as “good” or “noble” as they are), they will distract us from God. He is the prize. He is the reason for running this race at all. Throw off not only the sin that easily entangles, but also anything that would hinder you from running the race with your eyes on the prize. Don’t selfishly try to make your call greater than it is. Focus on what it is you were meant to do: Bring God glory by doing His will. Nothing more and nothing less.
I thank Jesus for helping me realize my need for Him. If I do anything apart from my love for Him and desire to please Him by doing His will, it will and should fail miserably. Is it twisted that failure is good thing? How else would we realize that we must really on God’s salvation, strength, and wisdom? I have resolved to spend less time doing empty works, and more time meditating on the goodness of God, and spending time sitting at his feet. Why be a Martha to please people when you can be a Mary to please God? I will achieve my purpose to serve and my call to youth ministry. But I don't want to achieve anything else, unless it is God will for me. Is your devotion to being busy and accomplishing as much as possible, or being fruitful and accomplishing what God has called you to?
God has been drilling in me lately the importance of His call on my life. I have found my identity in being the go-to person who will serve in any and every way. I have taken pride in my ability to manage a never-ending “To Do” list without burning out. But God has been revealing to me lately that burning out isn’t the only sign you are taking on too much.
The staff where I work has been reading a book together called “Leaders Who Last.” Chapter after chapter, this book gets more and more convicting for me. The last two chapters we read addressed Pacing and Calling.
Pacing stressed the importance of resting, by not only observing a Sabbath day of no work, but also by taking sabbatical times where you study God’s word, spend time in prayer and just take time to rest in God’s presence. This is a discipline in which I have severely dropped the ball. I have taken so much pride in my ability to work and work without needing physical rest that I have completely ignored my spiritual need to rest.
I was especially challenged by a sermon I heard from Mark Driscoll on pursuing your calling, the one from which my opening quote is drawn. Amazing how a few words can pierce your soul with conviction from the Holy Spirit. One line from his sermon summed up the biggest struggle in my spiritual walk: “If Satan can’t make you sin, he’ll keep you busy.”
I have realized more and more that my busy ministry schedule has taken me away from personal time with God. Staying busy doing “God’s work” (work that is for the kingdom of God, but not the task or capacity to which God has called me) has hindered my own spiritual growth. Sure, I read God’s word every day and have hit-and-miss prayer sessions…but this is NOT the relationship to which I have been called. I cannot be a fruitful leader unless I am doing God’s will, and it is vital to remember that in the end, it isn’t our works that will please God, it is whether or not we know Jesus personally and intimately. Is your relationship with God suffering because you are too busy trying to earn his love and admiration? His love cannot be bought or earned; it can only be accepted and reciprocated. Take time to fall in love with Him.
Calling was the latest chapter in the book, and the perfect sequel personally from realizing I am taking on too much to trying to figure out what should stay on my metaphorical “plate”. When I watched Driscoll’s sermon, I made a list of the things that consumed my time, breaking it down into opportunities I am called to, stuff I do for my self and my own walk with God, and things I only do because I like to do them.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love youth ministry. I have felt God’s definite call to pour into the lives of teenage girls. I have specifically felt called to a youth ministry, small group, and a person God told me to pursue in discipling and mentoring. Outside of these, everything (other small groups, ministries that I was involved in, serving opportunities) fell into the “Like To Do” category. I took my call to be a youth leader as a call to be involved in any and every area of youth ministry. Plus, I was fooling myself into believing that I was a great Christian because I love to do all these things. But a huge realization came in looking at the “For Me” category. There were three things on my list that I do for me. First of all, is my job. I put time into this in order to meet my physical needs. Second, Church Services. I go to the services for fellowship and to get fed spiritually. And finally, family time. A completely neglected area of my life, so much so that every time I come to visit my parents, they refer to me as the “prodigal daughter”.
Notice anything missing here? The time I spend with God in the morning/evening wasn’t consuming enough time to even make the list. I always thought it would be selfish of me to want my time to myself with God when I could be pouring into others…thinking they needed God more than me. As if whether or not I struggled with sin was an accurate reflection of where I stand with God. But really, my extreme selfishness came to light in robbing God of my love and relationship. I was letting a pat on the back from those around me (for giving all my time) satisfy me, instead of seeing the necessity of God being pleased with me (for giving Him my time). Let me tell you, WORSE TRADE EVER.
I want to close with an idea from our latest staff devotional. There are things in our lives that hinder our call, and if we don’t throw those things off (as “good” or “noble” as they are), they will distract us from God. He is the prize. He is the reason for running this race at all. Throw off not only the sin that easily entangles, but also anything that would hinder you from running the race with your eyes on the prize. Don’t selfishly try to make your call greater than it is. Focus on what it is you were meant to do: Bring God glory by doing His will. Nothing more and nothing less.
I thank Jesus for helping me realize my need for Him. If I do anything apart from my love for Him and desire to please Him by doing His will, it will and should fail miserably. Is it twisted that failure is good thing? How else would we realize that we must really on God’s salvation, strength, and wisdom? I have resolved to spend less time doing empty works, and more time meditating on the goodness of God, and spending time sitting at his feet. Why be a Martha to please people when you can be a Mary to please God? I will achieve my purpose to serve and my call to youth ministry. But I don't want to achieve anything else, unless it is God will for me. Is your devotion to being busy and accomplishing as much as possible, or being fruitful and accomplishing what God has called you to?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Prayer and Petition
I’ve been wanting to write a blog for sometime now, but have been unable to fit that into my busy schedule until now. God has been doing some amazing things in my life lately. Primarily, He has been placing a deep need in me to spend time petitioning God in prayer. Working at ECC, I receive prayer requests every week from our congregation, and some people will submit the same requests week after week after week. I am tempted to say at times “Didn’t we just pray for that?” But that thought is often followed by the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my soul. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” These people are setting an example of what God is calling us to do in these verses. We are supposed to pray without ceasing, and continue taking our requests to God with thanksgiving until he gives us an answer (whether or not it is the one we are looking for!).
Our prayer meeting on Thursday is my favorite part of the work-week. We get to spend an hour in worship and prayer with those we work with, and lift up the needs of the congregation. It is easy to spend an hour in prayer when it is part of my job, but God was challenging me, “Why aren’t you devoting this much time to prayer outside of church?” I love to start and end my day with reading my bible and praying. But so often, I get caught up in the routine, and repeat the rehearsed prayers that I have been saying for years. I try to say a blanket prayer over my life, instead of breaking it down to each person, experience, and area in my life that needs God’s work. Since my youth, my excuse was always that I never have enough “time”. I knew really digging into God’s word and yearning for Him in prayer meant sacrificing something else that had somehow taken over God’s spot in my life. Even things like serving in ministry were getting in the way of me giving God the time he deserves, and allowing opportunities for God to speak into my life through personal devotion. I was spending hours telling other people how great God was, but I was too “busy” to spend personal time in thanksgiving telling God how much I love Him.
There are many things in my life that are confirming this urgency I have felt from God. A few weeks ago, one of the people I serve in leadership under asked us to spend a few days in prayer and fasting. God did so much in those few days to deepen my hunger and thirst for Him. Then, this past weekend, I visited a church while in Eastern Washington. The pastor was preaching out of Hebrews 11, which is basically the Faith “Hall of Fame”. His main point was this: It is not your accomplishments that please God, but your faithfulness. While some of these men had great victories for God, others faced nothing but trials, temptations, and suffering. Yet they still went down in history as people who were faithful. Which brings me to a phrase God has been replaying over and over in my mind: You cannot impress God with your works. We can accomplish nothing apart from Him, so our pride in ourselves for what we have done (even for His kingdom) is just rubbish. Instead of working so hard in the name of God, but for our own glory, we should be humbling ourselves in prayer, calling on his strength and his power to accomplish in us what HE wants. Who are we to think we have something to offer people apart from God? He is their Savior, and before we for a moment attempt to build his kingdom, we must first come to him in prayer and seek his face. And the extra time I have put into prayer in these recent weeks I know will prove fruitful in the end. I challenge you all as I challenge myself: there should be no greater priority than our time with God, because as we spend face-time with Him, we learn his character and our love for Him grows. It is only then that we can really accomplish what HE wants for HIS kingdom.
Our prayer meeting on Thursday is my favorite part of the work-week. We get to spend an hour in worship and prayer with those we work with, and lift up the needs of the congregation. It is easy to spend an hour in prayer when it is part of my job, but God was challenging me, “Why aren’t you devoting this much time to prayer outside of church?” I love to start and end my day with reading my bible and praying. But so often, I get caught up in the routine, and repeat the rehearsed prayers that I have been saying for years. I try to say a blanket prayer over my life, instead of breaking it down to each person, experience, and area in my life that needs God’s work. Since my youth, my excuse was always that I never have enough “time”. I knew really digging into God’s word and yearning for Him in prayer meant sacrificing something else that had somehow taken over God’s spot in my life. Even things like serving in ministry were getting in the way of me giving God the time he deserves, and allowing opportunities for God to speak into my life through personal devotion. I was spending hours telling other people how great God was, but I was too “busy” to spend personal time in thanksgiving telling God how much I love Him.
There are many things in my life that are confirming this urgency I have felt from God. A few weeks ago, one of the people I serve in leadership under asked us to spend a few days in prayer and fasting. God did so much in those few days to deepen my hunger and thirst for Him. Then, this past weekend, I visited a church while in Eastern Washington. The pastor was preaching out of Hebrews 11, which is basically the Faith “Hall of Fame”. His main point was this: It is not your accomplishments that please God, but your faithfulness. While some of these men had great victories for God, others faced nothing but trials, temptations, and suffering. Yet they still went down in history as people who were faithful. Which brings me to a phrase God has been replaying over and over in my mind: You cannot impress God with your works. We can accomplish nothing apart from Him, so our pride in ourselves for what we have done (even for His kingdom) is just rubbish. Instead of working so hard in the name of God, but for our own glory, we should be humbling ourselves in prayer, calling on his strength and his power to accomplish in us what HE wants. Who are we to think we have something to offer people apart from God? He is their Savior, and before we for a moment attempt to build his kingdom, we must first come to him in prayer and seek his face. And the extra time I have put into prayer in these recent weeks I know will prove fruitful in the end. I challenge you all as I challenge myself: there should be no greater priority than our time with God, because as we spend face-time with Him, we learn his character and our love for Him grows. It is only then that we can really accomplish what HE wants for HIS kingdom.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The World Does NOT Revolve around YOU
So, I have been thinking a lot lately about selfishness. As much as I try to think of others first, somehow I always end up serving my own agenda.
Despite the many times I received the “world does not revolve around you” speech from my parents, I find that even as an adult, I often think of how each situation can serve me instead of how I can be of service to each situation. This has seeped into my spiritual life as well: I have found myself thinking that my salvation is about me.
I have been reminded this week that salvation is not about me. It isn’t about me not feeling guilty anymore, me getting heaven, getting my prayers answered or being a happier person. Salvation is about GOD. It is about how we can glorify Him in all that we do. The bible talks about being chosen…but did you ever stop to think that it didn’t just mean chosen to be saved from hell? It means that you have been chosen to be saved from a life of bringing glory to yourself…you have been chosen to bring GOD glory.
Just a gentle reminder: The world does NOT revolve around you. It revolves around Jesus Christ, the Son and Center of all things.
Despite the many times I received the “world does not revolve around you” speech from my parents, I find that even as an adult, I often think of how each situation can serve me instead of how I can be of service to each situation. This has seeped into my spiritual life as well: I have found myself thinking that my salvation is about me.
I have been reminded this week that salvation is not about me. It isn’t about me not feeling guilty anymore, me getting heaven, getting my prayers answered or being a happier person. Salvation is about GOD. It is about how we can glorify Him in all that we do. The bible talks about being chosen…but did you ever stop to think that it didn’t just mean chosen to be saved from hell? It means that you have been chosen to be saved from a life of bringing glory to yourself…you have been chosen to bring GOD glory.
Just a gentle reminder: The world does NOT revolve around you. It revolves around Jesus Christ, the Son and Center of all things.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Pride, Humbleness, and Conviction
(This is a blog I wrote on Tuesday night, but am just now getting to post...I knew I had to chronicle my converstation, lest it be forgotten)
Tonight was one of the proudest and most humbling moments I have had since I have become a part of the FOS community. A group of amazing students and leaders gathered last weekend on a snow-blanketed mountain to experience four days of transformation. I had the pleasure of seeing seven incredible students from McCleary have their worlds rocked at camp...a series of events which led to one outstanding conversation with two girls after McFOS tonight. A testimony to the way God is working in and through their lives.
As I wrapped up the small group time with my girls, two others pulled me aside and asked if we could "talk". Without hesitation, I agreed, and we decided to find an empty classroom. As we sat down, one of the girls began unpacking the dilemma that pushed its way into their lives at school earlier that morning:
"At school today, my friends were asking what happened to me. They said that I went away to camp for the weekend, and now I am not the same. They said that I am now acting "super christian" and they don't understand why I don't act the way I used to and do the things they are doing."
The other chimed in, "Yeah, they asked me why she was acting all different. And they gave me really weird looks when they saw my bible. I took my bible to school today."
They continue, "Even though my friend was a (hands in the air, motioning quotation marks) "Christian" for 13 years, she started mocking me."
"And this other girl asked me 'Isn't the point of being a Christian that you can sin? I mean, isn't that what forgiveness is for?' I told her that even though God forgives us, we should still strive to be perfect."
They expressed their desire to please God, and their fear of saying the wrong thing. It was then that they asked the question I saw coming from the beginning of the conversation: What do we do when our friends don't understand? How do we, as humans, react when people make fun of our faith?
As I started to explain how amazing it was that God did such a huge and obvious work in their lives, and what a privilege it was to be identified with Christ, my mind was flooded with examples from the bible of suffering for the name of Christ. I grabbed my bible, and started with the ultimate example: Jesus. Matthew 27 talks about the soldiers mocking Jesus, and patronizing him in a cruel and humiliating way...an easy foreshadowing of what his followers would have to suffer in order to follow him.
Many of the apostles have written about how being like Jesus in his suffering was a blessing in disguise. After searching for a moment, I rediscovered 1 Peter 4:16: "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." After reading it in my head, I felt God leading me to read them the entire chapter. Verse after verse, phrase after phrase, the words seemed to join those spoken just moments before, as if they were two parts of the same song. Melody and harmony: "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do...they think it strange you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you..."
But the Lord does not make light of your problems only to leave you with no solution. Peter continues in verses 13-14: "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
The most encouraging and convicting words came from my mouth as I explained these verses. To be able to share with them that the changes people saw in their lives were examples of God's glory...WOW. How great is the reward we have in heaven with Christ!?! The girls bringing this to me, declaring that they “don’t want to make a mistake or say the wrong thing” was a clear sign of the spiritual maturity developing in their lives. And while I was SO proud of them for holding their ground and speaking the truth in love, I couldn't help but feel a tug at my heart: is my life showing the same fruit and growth as these jr. high girls? Does the Spirit of glory rest on my life?
This experience begged me to ask myself the same question I am now posing to you: Is your life showing so much transformation that people recognize you are living a life set apart to God? And if so, how are you reacting to those who chose to question motives and hurl insults? As I listened to this redeemed life that in her own words is "just starting to get to know God," it dawned on me: she is farther along the road to sanctification than she even realizes. And in some ways, further along than this 22 year old girl whose faith is rarely bold enough to be recognized and challenged. Praise be to God for the work he is doing in the lives of our kids. Amen!
Tonight was one of the proudest and most humbling moments I have had since I have become a part of the FOS community. A group of amazing students and leaders gathered last weekend on a snow-blanketed mountain to experience four days of transformation. I had the pleasure of seeing seven incredible students from McCleary have their worlds rocked at camp...a series of events which led to one outstanding conversation with two girls after McFOS tonight. A testimony to the way God is working in and through their lives.
As I wrapped up the small group time with my girls, two others pulled me aside and asked if we could "talk". Without hesitation, I agreed, and we decided to find an empty classroom. As we sat down, one of the girls began unpacking the dilemma that pushed its way into their lives at school earlier that morning:
"At school today, my friends were asking what happened to me. They said that I went away to camp for the weekend, and now I am not the same. They said that I am now acting "super christian" and they don't understand why I don't act the way I used to and do the things they are doing."
The other chimed in, "Yeah, they asked me why she was acting all different. And they gave me really weird looks when they saw my bible. I took my bible to school today."
They continue, "Even though my friend was a (hands in the air, motioning quotation marks) "Christian" for 13 years, she started mocking me."
"And this other girl asked me 'Isn't the point of being a Christian that you can sin? I mean, isn't that what forgiveness is for?' I told her that even though God forgives us, we should still strive to be perfect."
They expressed their desire to please God, and their fear of saying the wrong thing. It was then that they asked the question I saw coming from the beginning of the conversation: What do we do when our friends don't understand? How do we, as humans, react when people make fun of our faith?
As I started to explain how amazing it was that God did such a huge and obvious work in their lives, and what a privilege it was to be identified with Christ, my mind was flooded with examples from the bible of suffering for the name of Christ. I grabbed my bible, and started with the ultimate example: Jesus. Matthew 27 talks about the soldiers mocking Jesus, and patronizing him in a cruel and humiliating way...an easy foreshadowing of what his followers would have to suffer in order to follow him.
Many of the apostles have written about how being like Jesus in his suffering was a blessing in disguise. After searching for a moment, I rediscovered 1 Peter 4:16: "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." After reading it in my head, I felt God leading me to read them the entire chapter. Verse after verse, phrase after phrase, the words seemed to join those spoken just moments before, as if they were two parts of the same song. Melody and harmony: "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do...they think it strange you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you..."
But the Lord does not make light of your problems only to leave you with no solution. Peter continues in verses 13-14: "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
The most encouraging and convicting words came from my mouth as I explained these verses. To be able to share with them that the changes people saw in their lives were examples of God's glory...WOW. How great is the reward we have in heaven with Christ!?! The girls bringing this to me, declaring that they “don’t want to make a mistake or say the wrong thing” was a clear sign of the spiritual maturity developing in their lives. And while I was SO proud of them for holding their ground and speaking the truth in love, I couldn't help but feel a tug at my heart: is my life showing the same fruit and growth as these jr. high girls? Does the Spirit of glory rest on my life?
This experience begged me to ask myself the same question I am now posing to you: Is your life showing so much transformation that people recognize you are living a life set apart to God? And if so, how are you reacting to those who chose to question motives and hurl insults? As I listened to this redeemed life that in her own words is "just starting to get to know God," it dawned on me: she is farther along the road to sanctification than she even realizes. And in some ways, further along than this 22 year old girl whose faith is rarely bold enough to be recognized and challenged. Praise be to God for the work he is doing in the lives of our kids. Amen!
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