Well, as most people are sleeping away their food comas, or elbowing their way through huge Black Friday crowds, my internal clock has thrown me out of bed after 5 hours of sleep. Alright. I'll take it.
So, now I'm sitting in a beautiful, cozy living room, drinking coffee, eating leftover pie, and reflecting on how incredible Jesus is and how much I love my life.
TODAY, I am thankful for:
1) Aaliyah. Kid you not, I woke up this morning with "Are You That Somebody?" stuck in my head and have been singing it for the last half hour. Complete with that creepy baby voice.
2) FAMILY. My entire family may be in California, but God has blessed me. The Almados invited me over to spend Thanksgiving with their family & friends. I arrived late, but they already had a place at the table set for me, and warm, gluten-and-dairy-free food to serve me! The food was SO delicious.
We sat down& talked as I ate, then went on ATVs through the woods, watched a little football [Go Skins and Texans!], and had some seriously great conversations.
THEN... as if that wasn't good enough... Heidi brought out the gluten-free, dairy free pumpkin pie she had baked. I haven't had pumpkin pie in 7 years due to food allergies. It was SO good. Then I got to bring half of it home. Score! :)
Honestly, though. As Melanie, Heidi, Loryn, Bethany, and Mrs. Almado and I sat and talked in the kitchen, I was amazed at how "at home" I felt, and how non-homesick I felt. I LOVE my family, and would give practically anything to be with them at most times, but I was just grateful to spend the holiday with a new family, who feels nearly as flesh& blood as my own. It's such a picture of Jesus to see people who accept me into their family, not because I've done great things for them, but because they are loving& kind& giving.
They kept thanking ME for coming over, when I was sitting there, being so grateful for them, for their hospitality, and for their willingness to go out of their way to make food I could eat... without me ever mentioning it or requesting that. If they hadn't been so hospitable, I probably would have spent my day doing laundry, cleaning, and watching Fred Claus.
3) The Salvation Army & the opportunity to volunteer. I was basically a filler. If there was a need, I filled it. Getting food for the guests who came to the dinner, cleaning, packaging desserts for guests to take home, and just sitting& talking with people and getting to know them.
I LOVED being there yesterday. I realize I will now probably spend most of my Thanksgivings in Colorado from now on, and go home for Christmas... and the thought doesn't sadden me at all, because I've begun a new tradition that I'm planning to continue! I'm hooked.
4) Football. We hardly watched the games yesterday, because we were too busy catching up on each other's lives, but HOT DANG, I LOVE FOOTBALL. I also love that the Cowboys lost. Booyah.
5) Fantasy football, enjoying playing, and realizing it doesn't matter.
This morning I woke up, and the first thought in my mind [Aaliyah came after] was, "Oh no! I forgot to change my starting lineup yesterday! I left Austin on my bench!"
Then it dawned on me that I forgot to fix my lineup because I was too busy having a fantastic day.
Suddenly it didn't matter anymore. It makes me laugh when people get SO into their teams... it may be NFL players' livelihood. But it's not ours. I can enjoy playing, but also don't give a rip if I lose one week [or two. In a row. Badly. Haha. Whatev.]. It's a GAME.
6) Christmas lights.
Thanksgiving basically throws Christmas spirit into full-force. As I drove to Aurora last night, I passed SO. MANY. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I also screamed with delight no less than 4 times. Yes, I'm serious. Denver Airport and another shopping center/hotel courtyard had the most amazing lighted Christmas trees, and lighted snowflakes on the building.
If I hadn't been driving on nearly-pitch-black roads, I may have clapped& wiggled with joy.
Instead, I screamed. Yeah.... I get it.... I am ridiculous & over-the-top. But it can't be helped.
AKA, I don't care enough to tone it down. I just react naturally& hope people don't shun me.
7) Friends!
I spent the day with Austin& Loryn, Heidi, Melanie, Bethany, and their parents& friends. Then I drove to Aurora to spend the evening with Sarah. One Lifetime Christmas movie and a thousand laughs later, we went to bed. I'm so thankful for friendships, and for people in my life whom I feel as though I've known forever. Sarah is a fantastic friend& person, and it's great having a friend to go adventuring with. Estes Park tomorrow! Christmasland!
8) JESUS.
Last, but never least... Jesus. I am so, so, so thankful for Him. He is the definition and example of love. He is compassion, He is kindness, He is patience, He is joy.
All the words in this spaghetti-brained blog come nowhere near expressing how impossibly joyful I am. Yesterday, I could not wipe the smile off my face.
[Although I guess that's not uncommon. When my bosses try to make bets with me, they start with, "I bet you $20 that you can't NOT smile for the next 5 minutes." They always win.]
I'm just consistently astounded at how good Jesus is. You'd think that, after years& years of seeing His goodness in my life-- even when I wasn't living for Him or looking for Him-- I'd get used to it by now. But I don't. Because He is so much greater than the human mind could ever comprehend. The old adage, "I've got more where that came from," suits Him perfectly. He's ALWAYS got more. More ways to demonstrate His love. More ways to prove His worth. More ways to show us He is in control, and that He cares about our needs implicitly more than the person who we'd say loves us most.
I'm reminded every single day that I am loved by the Creator of the universe. Perfectly. Completely. Undeservingly. I haven't done a billion things to deserve it. I haven't been nice enough, or patient enough, or giving enough. I've been ME. And Jesus loves me still, because it's His character to love, even though people could never earn it. He chooses to love us. He chose to give His life for us. He chooses to still put up with us and our indifference to Him, or our unwillingness to change for Him.
That's what love is, right? An action. A CHOICE.
And that just makes me love Him more, which makes me want to please Him.
I am not loved because I am worthy of it.
I'm loved because Jesus is love, and because He chooses to love me.
We ALL are. No matter who we are, where we've been, the decisions we've made, the ways we've royally screwed up, the good things we've done... Regardless of details, Jesus loves us all... Exactly the same. Because He wants to.
And, for that, I am thankful.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Today I'm Thankful For...
Singleness & not having the luxury of being with my family.
Call me crazy, but I mean it. I am so grateful that I don't feel particularly homesick today.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my family. I love my friends. I wish I could see them all every single day, and spend time with them, and enjoy their company, and make memories with them.
Also, yes, it's true that sometimes holidays can be difficult for single people. I mean, if you know me, you know I. LOVE. CHRISTMAS. It would be cool to share that with someone, of course. But I'm also glad that, as a single woman, I can just make decisions and run with them. I decided that I wanted to volunteer for Thanksgiving.... So I did.
I didn't have to feel bad about abandoning my family, or neglecting their needs. I am able to start new traditions which I can continue throughout my life and--- someday--- I can do it side-by-side with someone. Instead of being all "woe is me, I'm single", I'm honestly excited that I can get involved in things as my schedule allows, and meet new people, and help out where possible.
And, today... I'm glad to be in Colorado for Thanksgiving, and away from home.
Wanna know why? Because God has dealt GRACIOUSLY with me.
Even when I moved here, I wasn't worried that I'd be alone on Thanksgiving. I knew God would hook it up. Sure enough, He has given me some great friends in this state, in the short time I've lived here. The Almados invited me over for Thanksgiving, and so did Ashleigh Wright.
Even when I'm away from my family, I still have "family" that God has placed in my life to share times with, and to appreciate. ALSO, I got to volunteer at the Salvation Army this morning!
I have literally wanted to do that for years, but it has never worked out with my family's plans of going to LA for Thanksgiving. Today was such a great reminder of the fact that I'm not here to take care of myself only, but to look out for the needs of others, and to give time& attention to them.
Also... People really seem to open up a lot more when you tell them that you don't have any family here, either. Living in Colorado without my family& best friends around has given me so much more compassion for people--- particularly people who spend the holidays alone.
At the same time, it has given me SUCH a deep appreciation for hospitable people such as Melanie& Heidi& Ashleigh [and even my bosses!] who invite me into their families, and let me be part of the gang.
GOD IS SO INCREDIBLE.
I am so, so thankful.
Enjoy your day, friends! Whatever you do, whomever you're with, remember that life is an amazing gift, an opportunity to love, and a chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, for the benefit of others & most importantly, for the glory of God.
Call me crazy, but I mean it. I am so grateful that I don't feel particularly homesick today.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my family. I love my friends. I wish I could see them all every single day, and spend time with them, and enjoy their company, and make memories with them.
Also, yes, it's true that sometimes holidays can be difficult for single people. I mean, if you know me, you know I. LOVE. CHRISTMAS. It would be cool to share that with someone, of course. But I'm also glad that, as a single woman, I can just make decisions and run with them. I decided that I wanted to volunteer for Thanksgiving.... So I did.
I didn't have to feel bad about abandoning my family, or neglecting their needs. I am able to start new traditions which I can continue throughout my life and--- someday--- I can do it side-by-side with someone. Instead of being all "woe is me, I'm single", I'm honestly excited that I can get involved in things as my schedule allows, and meet new people, and help out where possible.
And, today... I'm glad to be in Colorado for Thanksgiving, and away from home.
Wanna know why? Because God has dealt GRACIOUSLY with me.
Even when I moved here, I wasn't worried that I'd be alone on Thanksgiving. I knew God would hook it up. Sure enough, He has given me some great friends in this state, in the short time I've lived here. The Almados invited me over for Thanksgiving, and so did Ashleigh Wright.
Even when I'm away from my family, I still have "family" that God has placed in my life to share times with, and to appreciate. ALSO, I got to volunteer at the Salvation Army this morning!
I have literally wanted to do that for years, but it has never worked out with my family's plans of going to LA for Thanksgiving. Today was such a great reminder of the fact that I'm not here to take care of myself only, but to look out for the needs of others, and to give time& attention to them.
Also... People really seem to open up a lot more when you tell them that you don't have any family here, either. Living in Colorado without my family& best friends around has given me so much more compassion for people--- particularly people who spend the holidays alone.
At the same time, it has given me SUCH a deep appreciation for hospitable people such as Melanie& Heidi& Ashleigh [and even my bosses!] who invite me into their families, and let me be part of the gang.
GOD IS SO INCREDIBLE.
I am so, so thankful.
Enjoy your day, friends! Whatever you do, whomever you're with, remember that life is an amazing gift, an opportunity to love, and a chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, for the benefit of others & most importantly, for the glory of God.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Giving Thanks = Giving Back.
For me, at least.
I've always considered myself a giving person.
...Yet I'm selfish.
I've always known that I am an appreciative person... I enjoy the little things, and small gestures mean the world to me.
...Yet I have a sense of entitlement.
Learning so, so much about myself lately. It's such an American mentality that, "I work hard for my money, so it belongs to me. I've earned it. I deserve it."
I want to be done with that mentality. Forever. Yes, I work. Yes, I technically "earn" my money... I'm paid based on the hours of work, and my wages are based on the quality of work I do.
Whatever.
I don't want to have this selfish mentality that my money is "mine, mine, all mine!"
Everything I have--- everything I am--- has been a gift to ME. God gives good gifts, and He is a generous God. He's the one who swung the doors wide open to provide my job.
He is the one who has given me favor in the sight of my bosses, to give me a raise. He is the one who gives opportunities, and supplies where we are lacking.
I may not have a lot by America's standards, but in comparison to the rest of the world, I am undeniably richer.
Yet, with all my false professions of being a generous person, I realize that I spend 90% of my money ON MYSELF.
My rent, my electricity& hot showers, my car, my gas, my food, my entertainment, my social life, my, my, my. Me, me, me.
So... That said, I realize I am more affluent than the majority of the world.
But I also realize that I still spend the majority of my money on myself.
God has been teaching me so much lately about this disconnect between what I desire, and what I do.
I desire to give. To give back. To supply people's needs. To step in & provide where someone is lacking.
However, what do I do about it?
I work on my budget.
I make sure I have enough money to: pay the bills, get me to and from work, and have some "fun" money left over to do what I want, or buy what I've been eyeing.
That does not display a heart of thankfulness or contentment.
It displays greed & materialism.
From someone like me, who has never, ever identified myself as "materialistic" because I honestly don't care about most expensive things, or having the next best technological gadget, or shopping at really expensive stores.
Turns out, materialism and greed are not based on the monetary value of what you desire.
Materialism and greed are based simply on WHAT you desire, and how badly you want them, or what you're willing to sacrifice to get them. Covetousness.
Instead of being more giving to someone who might truly need money/food/clothes/etc., I find ways to cut down in my own budget, so I can afford something for myself.
A new pair of shoes that I "need" for work. A new pair of expensive boots that I "need" for hiking.
Again, as I mentioned in a previous post, it is NOT bad to have nice things, or to want nice things.
But when I'm putting those "wants"-- those fluffy extras-- before the true, actual NEEDS of others... something is clearly wrong with my love for people, my compassion for them, my theology, and my understanding of the person of Jesus Christ.
He came not to be served, but to serve.
He came to love. To live. He came to earth& was born simply for the purpose of bringing truth to the world, and laying down His life to die for us. He redeemed us so we could know& have a real relationship with God, and spend eternity with Him.
God has been showing me that giving thanks means giving back.
If I am truly thankful to Him for all He has given me, then I will use my time, energy, and resources to give back... To share His generosity with others. Practically.
I know we are not saved by our good works... All the giving & volunteering & housebuilding we do isn't going to make God say, "Oh, well, looky here... You've earned 5 gold stars, and now you're welcome to be in my family. Now I'm proud of you."
No. He has already saved us by giving His Son, and by accepting Jesus' sacrifice for us.
But He has also saved us to good works. The Bible says that followers of Jesus will be known by our fruits, and we will be known by our love.
That's what I want. I want to love people with the heart of Christ, and to find ways to meet needs, so that people can see God's heart of compassion, generosity, & redemption through it.
I realize this will be a lifelong learning process. I will never fully arrive, and I'm sure I will consistently realize ways where I am being greedy, or materialistic, or self-focused. But I'm glad to have my eyes opened to my own weaknesses& temptations. This needs to be changed. I need to be reshaped in this aspect.
The challenges of facing my sin, my weakness, and my faults NEED to happen. God had to open my eyes to new areas in which I need to grow, so He can teach me to live, think, believe, and act differently, and so I can grow through this.
I've always considered myself a giving person.
...Yet I'm selfish.
I've always known that I am an appreciative person... I enjoy the little things, and small gestures mean the world to me.
...Yet I have a sense of entitlement.
Learning so, so much about myself lately. It's such an American mentality that, "I work hard for my money, so it belongs to me. I've earned it. I deserve it."
I want to be done with that mentality. Forever. Yes, I work. Yes, I technically "earn" my money... I'm paid based on the hours of work, and my wages are based on the quality of work I do.
Whatever.
I don't want to have this selfish mentality that my money is "mine, mine, all mine!"
Everything I have--- everything I am--- has been a gift to ME. God gives good gifts, and He is a generous God. He's the one who swung the doors wide open to provide my job.
He is the one who has given me favor in the sight of my bosses, to give me a raise. He is the one who gives opportunities, and supplies where we are lacking.
I may not have a lot by America's standards, but in comparison to the rest of the world, I am undeniably richer.
Yet, with all my false professions of being a generous person, I realize that I spend 90% of my money ON MYSELF.
My rent, my electricity& hot showers, my car, my gas, my food, my entertainment, my social life, my, my, my. Me, me, me.
So... That said, I realize I am more affluent than the majority of the world.
But I also realize that I still spend the majority of my money on myself.
God has been teaching me so much lately about this disconnect between what I desire, and what I do.
I desire to give. To give back. To supply people's needs. To step in & provide where someone is lacking.
However, what do I do about it?
I work on my budget.
I make sure I have enough money to: pay the bills, get me to and from work, and have some "fun" money left over to do what I want, or buy what I've been eyeing.
That does not display a heart of thankfulness or contentment.
It displays greed & materialism.
From someone like me, who has never, ever identified myself as "materialistic" because I honestly don't care about most expensive things, or having the next best technological gadget, or shopping at really expensive stores.
Turns out, materialism and greed are not based on the monetary value of what you desire.
Materialism and greed are based simply on WHAT you desire, and how badly you want them, or what you're willing to sacrifice to get them. Covetousness.
Instead of being more giving to someone who might truly need money/food/clothes/etc., I find ways to cut down in my own budget, so I can afford something for myself.
A new pair of shoes that I "need" for work. A new pair of expensive boots that I "need" for hiking.
Again, as I mentioned in a previous post, it is NOT bad to have nice things, or to want nice things.
But when I'm putting those "wants"-- those fluffy extras-- before the true, actual NEEDS of others... something is clearly wrong with my love for people, my compassion for them, my theology, and my understanding of the person of Jesus Christ.
He came not to be served, but to serve.
He came to love. To live. He came to earth& was born simply for the purpose of bringing truth to the world, and laying down His life to die for us. He redeemed us so we could know& have a real relationship with God, and spend eternity with Him.
God has been showing me that giving thanks means giving back.
If I am truly thankful to Him for all He has given me, then I will use my time, energy, and resources to give back... To share His generosity with others. Practically.
I know we are not saved by our good works... All the giving & volunteering & housebuilding we do isn't going to make God say, "Oh, well, looky here... You've earned 5 gold stars, and now you're welcome to be in my family. Now I'm proud of you."
No. He has already saved us by giving His Son, and by accepting Jesus' sacrifice for us.
But He has also saved us to good works. The Bible says that followers of Jesus will be known by our fruits, and we will be known by our love.
That's what I want. I want to love people with the heart of Christ, and to find ways to meet needs, so that people can see God's heart of compassion, generosity, & redemption through it.
I realize this will be a lifelong learning process. I will never fully arrive, and I'm sure I will consistently realize ways where I am being greedy, or materialistic, or self-focused. But I'm glad to have my eyes opened to my own weaknesses& temptations. This needs to be changed. I need to be reshaped in this aspect.
The challenges of facing my sin, my weakness, and my faults NEED to happen. God had to open my eyes to new areas in which I need to grow, so He can teach me to live, think, believe, and act differently, and so I can grow through this.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Acts 17 [Part II].
Again, I've read and re-read Acts 17 all week.
This is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and this chapter is just... DUDE. So good.
A few things have really stood out as I've been reading, and the more I read, the more they make sense/make me think/make me take a step back and examine my own life & actions.
Okay.
So, this was right after Paul & Silas were imprisoned, and God causes this earthquake that is strong enough to cause all the prison doors to fly wide open. Instead of bolting for the door, Paul & Silas stay... Which is a good call, because the prison guard was about to kill himself when he thought the prisoners had escaped, because he knew his neck would be on the chopping block for it.
Instead of berating this guy for keeping them prisoners when they'd really done nothing wrong, Paul & Silas use the opportunity to preach the gospel to him. Not only does the guard choose to follow Christ, but his whole family is saved, too.
They're freed from prison, go back to Lydia's house [a woman from Thyatira who is SUPER hospitable]. This next part is what gets me: Paul& Silas visit with the other "brethren" [aka fellow followers of Christ] and encourage them, then leave.
Paul and Silas.
The two guys who were stripped in public and beaten with rods--- by a MULTITUDE of people.
The two guys who were just in prison all night.
The two guys who had just had a sleepless night, and had all sorts of people opposing them... These guys encouraged the fellow believers at the house of Lydia.
I LOVE THAT. They weren't focused on themselves, or their hardships, or their own lives. They were focused on what was best for the people they were staying with, and they were SO full of the knowledge of God, love of Christ, and power of the Holy Spirit, that even after a night from hell, they had enough in them to pour out to others.
Enough love to share.
Enough encouragement to go around.
Enough joy to make it possible.
I don't know about you, but I know that, when I'm in a funk & not feeling super joyful, I'm not usually being very encouraging. If anything, my best bet is to keep my mouth shut and not let my lame mood seep into the lives of others. Or go lay down so I'm not giving people the stink eye or moping around.
Therefore, I know that Paul& Silas had to be full of joy & peace, if they were able to encourage the brethren.
If you're not abiding in Christ, that'll take it out of you big time, and leave you feeling tired and dry. This wasn't the case.
These disciples of Jesus encouraged the group that was there and departed for Thessalonica.
This is so encouraging and challenging for me, because it shows me that when my eyes are on Jesus, no matter what challenges I'm facing, I can be used by Him.
He can use me to bring comfort, encouragement, and joy into the lives of others.
No matter how rough my week may have been, there can still be more than enough joy left in me so that I can encourage someone else. No matter how overwhelmed I might be with thoughts& plans, God's Spirit within me can overflow with excitement and praise for Him, which can be a great testimony of His worth & sufficiency.
It's challenging, I say, because there are often times when I can just get annoyed and want to vent.
And that's FINE, and good... It's important to have friends whom you can talk to, vent to, share with, and be completely& humbling-ly honest with.
I have a few of those friends, with whom I can share ANYTHING. I know they will pray for me, listen, give me godly, sound advice, and encourage me.
However, I don't want to be someone who is solely a consumer.
Someone who takes& takes & takes.
Someone who is looking to unload on people, in order to make myself feel better.
That is PART of the Christian life. The other part is to be that supportive person to others.
To be the woman who commits to praying for the needs of others, and who checks back with them to find out the status of what we've been praying about.
To be someone who is invested in the lives of others. Who thinks of others, and not simply when something "big" happens. To be someone who is willing to bear the burdens of others, and to lift up someone's arms, just as Aaron& Hur did with Moses in the battle against Amalek [Ex. 17].
In that story, when Moses lifted his arm, the children of Israel prevailed. When he let his arm fall, Amalek started winning. But of course Moses' arms got tired after awhile, so Aaron & Hur stood with Moses and held his arms up when he was too tired to do so himself.
I want to be that person. To be like Aaron or Hur. To be a support to the people around me... ALL people. To be able to be there for someone in difficult times, lonely times, complacent times, or good times.
To be willing to shoulder someone else's burden, so they know they are not alone in their efforts... but, then, to drop that burden at the feet of Jesus. Together.
Because that is what He asks of us. He tells us to come to Him when we are weary and weighted down, because He will give us rest. He tells us that we WILL find rest for our souls when we take on His yoke and learn from Him.
Sounds counterintuitive, right? : "Here, take My yoke and you'll find rest."
Have you ever SEEN a yoke? If so, you might think, "Uh... Seriously? You want me to stick my head in that thing? That harness? Is this a joke? That doesn't look too "restful" to me."
The answer is no. No. It isn't a joke. It is truth from a Savior who contains far more wisdom& far more understanding than anything the human mind can conjure up.
A yoke is used to lead animals. Jesus is telling us, "When you're burdened, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. I promise it will be light. It won't weigh you down. I want to teach you--- to teach you more about Myself, to show you more of My personality& My heart& My character. I want to show you My vision, My purpose for you, and teach you more about yourself, so you can better follow Me. Let Me lead you."
If I'm walking through the woods in the dark, I'm going to be bumbling around, falling, tripping over tree roots, and probably will be getting myself pretty banged up. So, if I see a friend with a flashlight, YOU HAD BETTER BELIEVE that I would latch onto their arm and follow them, and let them lead me. Why? Because they have a light. They can SEE. They know what's coming up.
Why, therefore, do humans so often scoff at the thought of following Jesus?
"Excuse me? Jesus wants FOLLOWERS? Wow. He sounds pretty arrogant to me. He wants me to drop everything and let HIM lead me? Why would I do a thing like that?"
The reason, friends, is because He is Light. He can see. He knows the way.
He IS the Way. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father unless they surrender to Jesus and let Him lead them. This isn't some power trip, or some pride complex. It is truth. Jesus doesn't have a "messiah complex". He is the literal Messiah. Literally. We're the prideful ones for thinking we don't need Him. Word.
It is because Jesus knows the way--- the twists, the turns, the detours, the bumps in the road--- that He asks us to follow Him. If I see a friend take a wrong turn while driving and go toward a dead end or a ditch, I'm going to tell them to turn around, NOW. I wouldn't just say, "Oh. Yikes. They're totally headed for a really dangerous path. Too bad."
No. Love doesn't do that. Love doesn't ignore those things. Love speaks the truth, and gives warning and direction. Love wants the best for people. Jesus knows what is best, so He tells us, "Take My yoke upon you, and let Me lead you. I know the way. I know where you're going, and I can get you there safely."
Now, I don't know HOW I got into all that from Acts 17. Spaghetti brain & whatnot.
Everything is connected in this silly brain of mine. So... yeah.
I'll just leave it at that before I rabbit trail again.
If you're reading this, just know that Jesus is the only One able to lead you perfectly, and His yoke & burden ARE light... He simply wants us to follow Him, because He knows how to get us to where we need to be. And He loves us without reservation, so He is the best one to follow.
We can bear the burdens of others because, when the smoke clears, Jesus is waiting to take the burdens from OUR shoulders, so He can lead us into His presence, which gives us rest.
So... Do your part, and let Him do His. Jesus doesn't want mere "works".
He wants participation in His greater work. It's so much more fun than working away to try to earn His love. His love is free.
This is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and this chapter is just... DUDE. So good.
A few things have really stood out as I've been reading, and the more I read, the more they make sense/make me think/make me take a step back and examine my own life & actions.
Okay.
So, this was right after Paul & Silas were imprisoned, and God causes this earthquake that is strong enough to cause all the prison doors to fly wide open. Instead of bolting for the door, Paul & Silas stay... Which is a good call, because the prison guard was about to kill himself when he thought the prisoners had escaped, because he knew his neck would be on the chopping block for it.
Instead of berating this guy for keeping them prisoners when they'd really done nothing wrong, Paul & Silas use the opportunity to preach the gospel to him. Not only does the guard choose to follow Christ, but his whole family is saved, too.
They're freed from prison, go back to Lydia's house [a woman from Thyatira who is SUPER hospitable]. This next part is what gets me: Paul& Silas visit with the other "brethren" [aka fellow followers of Christ] and encourage them, then leave.
Paul and Silas.
The two guys who were stripped in public and beaten with rods--- by a MULTITUDE of people.
The two guys who were just in prison all night.
The two guys who had just had a sleepless night, and had all sorts of people opposing them... These guys encouraged the fellow believers at the house of Lydia.
I LOVE THAT. They weren't focused on themselves, or their hardships, or their own lives. They were focused on what was best for the people they were staying with, and they were SO full of the knowledge of God, love of Christ, and power of the Holy Spirit, that even after a night from hell, they had enough in them to pour out to others.
Enough love to share.
Enough encouragement to go around.
Enough joy to make it possible.
I don't know about you, but I know that, when I'm in a funk & not feeling super joyful, I'm not usually being very encouraging. If anything, my best bet is to keep my mouth shut and not let my lame mood seep into the lives of others. Or go lay down so I'm not giving people the stink eye or moping around.
Therefore, I know that Paul& Silas had to be full of joy & peace, if they were able to encourage the brethren.
If you're not abiding in Christ, that'll take it out of you big time, and leave you feeling tired and dry. This wasn't the case.
These disciples of Jesus encouraged the group that was there and departed for Thessalonica.
This is so encouraging and challenging for me, because it shows me that when my eyes are on Jesus, no matter what challenges I'm facing, I can be used by Him.
He can use me to bring comfort, encouragement, and joy into the lives of others.
No matter how rough my week may have been, there can still be more than enough joy left in me so that I can encourage someone else. No matter how overwhelmed I might be with thoughts& plans, God's Spirit within me can overflow with excitement and praise for Him, which can be a great testimony of His worth & sufficiency.
It's challenging, I say, because there are often times when I can just get annoyed and want to vent.
And that's FINE, and good... It's important to have friends whom you can talk to, vent to, share with, and be completely& humbling-ly honest with.
I have a few of those friends, with whom I can share ANYTHING. I know they will pray for me, listen, give me godly, sound advice, and encourage me.
However, I don't want to be someone who is solely a consumer.
Someone who takes& takes & takes.
Someone who is looking to unload on people, in order to make myself feel better.
That is PART of the Christian life. The other part is to be that supportive person to others.
To be the woman who commits to praying for the needs of others, and who checks back with them to find out the status of what we've been praying about.
To be someone who is invested in the lives of others. Who thinks of others, and not simply when something "big" happens. To be someone who is willing to bear the burdens of others, and to lift up someone's arms, just as Aaron& Hur did with Moses in the battle against Amalek [Ex. 17].
In that story, when Moses lifted his arm, the children of Israel prevailed. When he let his arm fall, Amalek started winning. But of course Moses' arms got tired after awhile, so Aaron & Hur stood with Moses and held his arms up when he was too tired to do so himself.
I want to be that person. To be like Aaron or Hur. To be a support to the people around me... ALL people. To be able to be there for someone in difficult times, lonely times, complacent times, or good times.
To be willing to shoulder someone else's burden, so they know they are not alone in their efforts... but, then, to drop that burden at the feet of Jesus. Together.
Because that is what He asks of us. He tells us to come to Him when we are weary and weighted down, because He will give us rest. He tells us that we WILL find rest for our souls when we take on His yoke and learn from Him.
Sounds counterintuitive, right? : "Here, take My yoke and you'll find rest."
Have you ever SEEN a yoke? If so, you might think, "Uh... Seriously? You want me to stick my head in that thing? That harness? Is this a joke? That doesn't look too "restful" to me."
The answer is no. No. It isn't a joke. It is truth from a Savior who contains far more wisdom& far more understanding than anything the human mind can conjure up.
A yoke is used to lead animals. Jesus is telling us, "When you're burdened, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. I promise it will be light. It won't weigh you down. I want to teach you--- to teach you more about Myself, to show you more of My personality& My heart& My character. I want to show you My vision, My purpose for you, and teach you more about yourself, so you can better follow Me. Let Me lead you."
If I'm walking through the woods in the dark, I'm going to be bumbling around, falling, tripping over tree roots, and probably will be getting myself pretty banged up. So, if I see a friend with a flashlight, YOU HAD BETTER BELIEVE that I would latch onto their arm and follow them, and let them lead me. Why? Because they have a light. They can SEE. They know what's coming up.
Why, therefore, do humans so often scoff at the thought of following Jesus?
"Excuse me? Jesus wants FOLLOWERS? Wow. He sounds pretty arrogant to me. He wants me to drop everything and let HIM lead me? Why would I do a thing like that?"
The reason, friends, is because He is Light. He can see. He knows the way.
He IS the Way. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father unless they surrender to Jesus and let Him lead them. This isn't some power trip, or some pride complex. It is truth. Jesus doesn't have a "messiah complex". He is the literal Messiah. Literally. We're the prideful ones for thinking we don't need Him. Word.
It is because Jesus knows the way--- the twists, the turns, the detours, the bumps in the road--- that He asks us to follow Him. If I see a friend take a wrong turn while driving and go toward a dead end or a ditch, I'm going to tell them to turn around, NOW. I wouldn't just say, "Oh. Yikes. They're totally headed for a really dangerous path. Too bad."
No. Love doesn't do that. Love doesn't ignore those things. Love speaks the truth, and gives warning and direction. Love wants the best for people. Jesus knows what is best, so He tells us, "Take My yoke upon you, and let Me lead you. I know the way. I know where you're going, and I can get you there safely."
Now, I don't know HOW I got into all that from Acts 17. Spaghetti brain & whatnot.
Everything is connected in this silly brain of mine. So... yeah.
I'll just leave it at that before I rabbit trail again.
If you're reading this, just know that Jesus is the only One able to lead you perfectly, and His yoke & burden ARE light... He simply wants us to follow Him, because He knows how to get us to where we need to be. And He loves us without reservation, so He is the best one to follow.
We can bear the burdens of others because, when the smoke clears, Jesus is waiting to take the burdens from OUR shoulders, so He can lead us into His presence, which gives us rest.
So... Do your part, and let Him do His. Jesus doesn't want mere "works".
He wants participation in His greater work. It's so much more fun than working away to try to earn His love. His love is free.
Acts 17. [Part I.]
Oh MAN.
So, I've been reading through the book of Acts this month, and I have been stuck on chapter 17 for like five days now. It's just SUCH a great chapter. I've always liked it, but lately, with what God has been teaching me in my own life, it just seems to apply so much more.
Like it comes alive, right on the pages.
One of my favorite parts of the chapter is when the opposing Jews say, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too. . . These are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king-- Jesus."
Um... that's because there IS another King. And His name is Jesus. BOOYAH.
No matter who is king/president/ruler/etc., we act according to the Word& commands of Jesus Christ, the true King. Not doing so with a rebellious or hateful heart, but doing so out of a heart of love & obedience to our Messiah. Not being propelled by hatred, or anger, or violence, but rather being spurred by love for Jesus, love for His people, and love for the truth.
Reaching out to others in LOVE, speaking the truth in LOVE, not sacrificing one for the other.
As much as depends on us, living peaceably with others. Loving people, looking for ways to serve them, seeking out opportunities to put the needs of others above our own, even if it causes us to swallow our pride.
A wise man once told me, "I want to be identified by what I'm for, rather than what I'm against."
That sparked a slew of incredible conversations, that really caused me to broaden my perspective, and realize that it's so much more life-giving to focus on being like Christ, rather than to focus on "not doing wrong."
When the focus is Christ, we're motivated by love. When I look at Christ, I cannot help but be in awe of Him, be humbled in His presence, and be overwhelmed by His goodness& His sacrifice for us and acceptance of us. Fixing my eyes on Jesus causes me to want to be more like Him, because I want to please Him, and I just want to be near Him.
If I'm focused on "fighting bad things" or opposing evil, or whatever, the focus can often be shifted from Christlikeness to self-righteousness. At least for me.
But I don't want to be "good" simply for the sake of being good. I want to be like Jesus, who is the definition & consummation of GOOD.
Like the apostles in the book of Acts--- they didn't turn the world upside down because they were trying to be hell-raisers and anarchists and overturn society or government.
They were accused of turning the world upside down, because they didn't live by the status quo.
They didn't do what was expected of them by Caesar or the governing officials. They did what was right by the word of God, and by His leading, and by the example of Jesus Christ.
They couldn't keep quiet about the gospel of Christ. They HAD to share it. I imagine they identified with Jeremiah the prophet, when he said that the word of God was in his heart, like a fire shut up in his bones. The apostles were SO passionate about Christ, so excited about what they had seen, so astonished by the miracle of Jesus raising from the dead and ascending into heaven--- they were obsessed with talking about Him. They were unable to share anything else. And they got burned for it. They were beaten, imprisoned, exiled from cities, mocked, and later killed.
But none of that was done out of hearts of rebellion. They weren't focusing on what they were against---- or, rather, who was against them. They weren't proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ simply to anger the Pharisees, or to annoy the Gentiles. They weren't bucking the system of Caesar because they wanted to stick it to The Man.
Nope. They did all of it because they KNEW that Jesus is real. There is no way they could have bowed to a false king when the true King of heaven had ascended to heaven right before their eyes.
They went around sharing with people, being hospitable to others, healing the sick& injured, and showing deep, tangible love to people--- Christian or not.
It was their most vivid example that Jesus Christ came to this world not to be served, but to serve... and they followed suit. I want to be the same way. I want to be motivated by love. Motivated by the passion and joy and value of life that God has placed in me. To truly LISTEN to others... because to listen is to love. To get to know people, to understand them, to learn about them.
To be able to practically supply for the needs of others, because I've listened long enough to recognize those needs. To show the love of Christ in my words& actions, and to share the word of God in my words& actions.
To be identified with Christ, and not to be identified by someone who is anti-everything.
To be honest, and truthful, and to not be UNloving by mincing words when I need to be straightforward... but to let the love of Christ compel me in all that I do, and all that I say.
Lately, I have sat back& observed life, and I just see so many OPINIONS. Opinionated signs, and posters, and bumper stickers, and t-shirts, and Facebook posts. So many of those are loudly proclaiming what people are against. And they drive me nuts. I figure, if those things [spoken or unspoken] are enough to turn me off or want me to avoid the topic, how much more should I strive to stick with the TRUTH, rather than my own mere opinions that change with the seasons?
So, I've been reading through the book of Acts this month, and I have been stuck on chapter 17 for like five days now. It's just SUCH a great chapter. I've always liked it, but lately, with what God has been teaching me in my own life, it just seems to apply so much more.
Like it comes alive, right on the pages.
One of my favorite parts of the chapter is when the opposing Jews say, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too. . . These are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king-- Jesus."
Um... that's because there IS another King. And His name is Jesus. BOOYAH.
No matter who is king/president/ruler/etc., we act according to the Word& commands of Jesus Christ, the true King. Not doing so with a rebellious or hateful heart, but doing so out of a heart of love & obedience to our Messiah. Not being propelled by hatred, or anger, or violence, but rather being spurred by love for Jesus, love for His people, and love for the truth.
Reaching out to others in LOVE, speaking the truth in LOVE, not sacrificing one for the other.
As much as depends on us, living peaceably with others. Loving people, looking for ways to serve them, seeking out opportunities to put the needs of others above our own, even if it causes us to swallow our pride.
A wise man once told me, "I want to be identified by what I'm for, rather than what I'm against."
That sparked a slew of incredible conversations, that really caused me to broaden my perspective, and realize that it's so much more life-giving to focus on being like Christ, rather than to focus on "not doing wrong."
When the focus is Christ, we're motivated by love. When I look at Christ, I cannot help but be in awe of Him, be humbled in His presence, and be overwhelmed by His goodness& His sacrifice for us and acceptance of us. Fixing my eyes on Jesus causes me to want to be more like Him, because I want to please Him, and I just want to be near Him.
If I'm focused on "fighting bad things" or opposing evil, or whatever, the focus can often be shifted from Christlikeness to self-righteousness. At least for me.
But I don't want to be "good" simply for the sake of being good. I want to be like Jesus, who is the definition & consummation of GOOD.
Like the apostles in the book of Acts--- they didn't turn the world upside down because they were trying to be hell-raisers and anarchists and overturn society or government.
They were accused of turning the world upside down, because they didn't live by the status quo.
They didn't do what was expected of them by Caesar or the governing officials. They did what was right by the word of God, and by His leading, and by the example of Jesus Christ.
They couldn't keep quiet about the gospel of Christ. They HAD to share it. I imagine they identified with Jeremiah the prophet, when he said that the word of God was in his heart, like a fire shut up in his bones. The apostles were SO passionate about Christ, so excited about what they had seen, so astonished by the miracle of Jesus raising from the dead and ascending into heaven--- they were obsessed with talking about Him. They were unable to share anything else. And they got burned for it. They were beaten, imprisoned, exiled from cities, mocked, and later killed.
But none of that was done out of hearts of rebellion. They weren't focusing on what they were against---- or, rather, who was against them. They weren't proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ simply to anger the Pharisees, or to annoy the Gentiles. They weren't bucking the system of Caesar because they wanted to stick it to The Man.
Nope. They did all of it because they KNEW that Jesus is real. There is no way they could have bowed to a false king when the true King of heaven had ascended to heaven right before their eyes.
They went around sharing with people, being hospitable to others, healing the sick& injured, and showing deep, tangible love to people--- Christian or not.
It was their most vivid example that Jesus Christ came to this world not to be served, but to serve... and they followed suit. I want to be the same way. I want to be motivated by love. Motivated by the passion and joy and value of life that God has placed in me. To truly LISTEN to others... because to listen is to love. To get to know people, to understand them, to learn about them.
To be able to practically supply for the needs of others, because I've listened long enough to recognize those needs. To show the love of Christ in my words& actions, and to share the word of God in my words& actions.
To be identified with Christ, and not to be identified by someone who is anti-everything.
To be honest, and truthful, and to not be UNloving by mincing words when I need to be straightforward... but to let the love of Christ compel me in all that I do, and all that I say.
Lately, I have sat back& observed life, and I just see so many OPINIONS. Opinionated signs, and posters, and bumper stickers, and t-shirts, and Facebook posts. So many of those are loudly proclaiming what people are against. And they drive me nuts. I figure, if those things [spoken or unspoken] are enough to turn me off or want me to avoid the topic, how much more should I strive to stick with the TRUTH, rather than my own mere opinions that change with the seasons?
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Morning Thoughts.
I had about 5 dreams last night. None of which I remember with any type of specific detail… Just little bits& pieces from each one.
However, I woke up with a lyric repeating over& over& over in my mind:
Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
WELL… I must admit that God has been teaching me so, so much lately. About Himself, about myself, about people. Humanity in general, but also specifically about living with/among others, how to conduct myself, how not only my actions but my REactions are quite important to control.
This is an incredible season in my life. What started as a somewhat lonely season—- moving away from all my family& all of my best friends, and having to start everything from scratch once more—- has become one of the sweetest times.
While I miss my family& friends and CANNOT wait to see them all come Christmastime, I am thankful for the opportunity to press into Jesus, and to have no one to cling to but Him. I’ve made several friends here, whom I love and appreciate so much already… but it has happened during this context of my life, so God is teaching me the beautiful, difficult, and necessary lesson that I cannot cling to people and look to others for fulfillment. Nor should I ever try.
If you know me, you know I LOVE PEOPLE. I love meeting new people, getting to know them, talking to strangers, and pouring into the relationships I already have with people. People are one of my favorite things in life, right after Jesus.
With a personality like mine who genuinely enjoys people, relationship, communication, and the like—- it’s been pretty strange to see what God has been doing in my life, in making people JUST as enjoyable to me as they’ve always been, but realizing they do not change my fulfillment in Christ, and my confidence in Him, and my identity in Him.
I don’t even want to ever imagine what life would be like without people. I could never, ever be a hermit. God created us in His image, and He is relational… It is at the very core of His being, therefore also at the core of humanity.
But I can’t begin to express the beauty in the freedom to LOVE, cherish, and appreciate people, but to know that, no matter what, I am hidden with Christ in God. HE is the most important Person, and the most important relationship.
And now, I have the thought& prayer in mind that:
“Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.”
Praying for Him to open my eyes to see ways that I can put faith into action… Ways I’d never thought of, or that I previously thought impractical. What might be impractical to me may be EXACTLY what God wants to do, because He works and thinks in a realm so much higher and greater than human reasoning.
Thankful for the love of Christ that frees us to be content in Him and Him alone, but which ALSO calls us to mirror His heart& example, which is to share love, truth, and His worth with people.
God is good. SO, so good. He is so worthy of all praise.
However, I woke up with a lyric repeating over& over& over in my mind:
Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
WELL… I must admit that God has been teaching me so, so much lately. About Himself, about myself, about people. Humanity in general, but also specifically about living with/among others, how to conduct myself, how not only my actions but my REactions are quite important to control.
This is an incredible season in my life. What started as a somewhat lonely season—- moving away from all my family& all of my best friends, and having to start everything from scratch once more—- has become one of the sweetest times.
While I miss my family& friends and CANNOT wait to see them all come Christmastime, I am thankful for the opportunity to press into Jesus, and to have no one to cling to but Him. I’ve made several friends here, whom I love and appreciate so much already… but it has happened during this context of my life, so God is teaching me the beautiful, difficult, and necessary lesson that I cannot cling to people and look to others for fulfillment. Nor should I ever try.
If you know me, you know I LOVE PEOPLE. I love meeting new people, getting to know them, talking to strangers, and pouring into the relationships I already have with people. People are one of my favorite things in life, right after Jesus.
With a personality like mine who genuinely enjoys people, relationship, communication, and the like—- it’s been pretty strange to see what God has been doing in my life, in making people JUST as enjoyable to me as they’ve always been, but realizing they do not change my fulfillment in Christ, and my confidence in Him, and my identity in Him.
I don’t even want to ever imagine what life would be like without people. I could never, ever be a hermit. God created us in His image, and He is relational… It is at the very core of His being, therefore also at the core of humanity.
But I can’t begin to express the beauty in the freedom to LOVE, cherish, and appreciate people, but to know that, no matter what, I am hidden with Christ in God. HE is the most important Person, and the most important relationship.
And now, I have the thought& prayer in mind that:
“Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.”
Praying for Him to open my eyes to see ways that I can put faith into action… Ways I’d never thought of, or that I previously thought impractical. What might be impractical to me may be EXACTLY what God wants to do, because He works and thinks in a realm so much higher and greater than human reasoning.
Thankful for the love of Christ that frees us to be content in Him and Him alone, but which ALSO calls us to mirror His heart& example, which is to share love, truth, and His worth with people.
God is good. SO, so good. He is so worthy of all praise.
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