Some great things have been happening over the last few days...
1. Everything is squared away with school! YAAY! I start classes tomorrow!
2. elevation RH got approved for Northwestern high school. PTL!
3. I've met tons of new people volunteering on the Elevation RH launch team! They are AWESOME!
4. I got my student loan refund. It put me in really good shape on my bills. Its nice to not feel pressured for a change.
5. I got an iPhone today. Its incredible. I LOVE it. If you wanna text me, same number.
6. I have worked a TON of days in a row, and finally I will have a three day weekend this week! Can't WAIT for Friday!
7. This weekend I get to go to the beach and see Harrison! I've been super lonely since he moved away, so I am thrilled to go and see him FINALLY! I cannot wait to spend the weekend with my favorite guy! PLUS I haven't been to the beach all summer!! I am beyond excited!
Showing posts with label Elevation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elevation. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 23
Friday, August 19
notes.
Anyone who knows me well can tell you this... I NEED to write things down. If I don't make a list, a calendar, a page of notes, well then its going in one ear and right out the other. Learning this about myself is one of the reasons that I tend to make good grades in school. I know that I can't read the text and listen to the prof lecture and pass a test. It just isn't going to happen. I've GOT to outline the chapter as I read. I have to highlight and take notes in my book. When the professor speaks I have to write things down. Even if I think I know what he/she said, it just make me feel much more secure if I can go back and look at where I documented all the important information that was provided.
This is also one of the reasons that I keep a blog. I'm always learning things about God, life, love, myself. I blog them so that I will be able to remember them later on when I need a reminder of how far I've come. I also keep a journal. Thats a little more random than the stuff that I write on my blog. Often times, several days/weeks worth of journal pages are synthesized into one of my blog posts actually. I usually write prayers in my journal. Its just sort of letters to God. Sometimes its serious stuff like sin I'm struggling with, things that I'm worried over, or something that a friend asked me to pray about, and other times its just my way of being thankful for small pleasures in life. I also keep track of sermon notes in the same journal. Pastor Steven is GREAT at giving points that are easy to record and remember and using phrases that will come back to mind throughout the week. Often times I find myself in a situation where I need guidance and I think back to a sermon I heard at Elevation and go back and hunt the notes in my journal.
Anyway, why am I saying all this? The one thing that I find it hard to record is my own personal Bible reading time. I have just never been able to find a format that really helped me capture what I was learning as well as I wanted it to. I wanted to be able to go back and recall the things that I learned from any given passage of scripture that I'd read, but writing big long paragraphs just didn't seem like the most effective way to do that. Anyway, I stumbled across this format on the internet (which isn't ALL bad haha) and its been working really well for me so far, so I thought I'd share.
Personal Bible study suggested format:
Passage:
Date:
1. What has God spoken to me about today through the reading of this section?
a. Concerning Himself?
b. Concerning my life?
2. What am I going to do about it (Ephesians 4:22-24)?
a. Ungodly habit of thinking or behavior to "put off"
b. Godly habit of thinking or behavior to "put on"
3. When do I plan to do it? (Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:23-25)... If ______ happens, then I plan (with God's help) to _______________.
4. What verse am I going to take with me today? (Look for opportunities to share this verse with someone today)
5. What can I pray back to God from this section (as a worshipful expression of praise and/or resolve)?
6. follow up for the next day: Did I follow my plan?_____If so, thank the Lord! If not, consider what happened, if necessary, seek God's forgiveness (James 4:17), determine what you need to do differently, asking God for wisdom (James 1:5).
I know that intellectual endeavors work a lot better for me when I can look at a plan and go step by step. As such, I decided to stop rummaging around God's word randomly hoping for insight and revelation and instead treat Bible study with as much respect as I treat studying for school. I'd NEVER start a paper without an outline, or read a chapter of text without a highlighter and pen on hand, so why should I be any more nonchalant about my approach to Bible study? God wants to speak to us through his word, but if we don't take the time to study it properly, then we won't learn anything.
This is also one of the reasons that I keep a blog. I'm always learning things about God, life, love, myself. I blog them so that I will be able to remember them later on when I need a reminder of how far I've come. I also keep a journal. Thats a little more random than the stuff that I write on my blog. Often times, several days/weeks worth of journal pages are synthesized into one of my blog posts actually. I usually write prayers in my journal. Its just sort of letters to God. Sometimes its serious stuff like sin I'm struggling with, things that I'm worried over, or something that a friend asked me to pray about, and other times its just my way of being thankful for small pleasures in life. I also keep track of sermon notes in the same journal. Pastor Steven is GREAT at giving points that are easy to record and remember and using phrases that will come back to mind throughout the week. Often times I find myself in a situation where I need guidance and I think back to a sermon I heard at Elevation and go back and hunt the notes in my journal.
Anyway, why am I saying all this? The one thing that I find it hard to record is my own personal Bible reading time. I have just never been able to find a format that really helped me capture what I was learning as well as I wanted it to. I wanted to be able to go back and recall the things that I learned from any given passage of scripture that I'd read, but writing big long paragraphs just didn't seem like the most effective way to do that. Anyway, I stumbled across this format on the internet (which isn't ALL bad haha) and its been working really well for me so far, so I thought I'd share.
Personal Bible study suggested format:
Passage:
Date:
1. What has God spoken to me about today through the reading of this section?
a. Concerning Himself?
b. Concerning my life?
2. What am I going to do about it (Ephesians 4:22-24)?
a. Ungodly habit of thinking or behavior to "put off"
b. Godly habit of thinking or behavior to "put on"
3. When do I plan to do it? (Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:23-25)... If ______ happens, then I plan (with God's help) to _______________.
4. What verse am I going to take with me today? (Look for opportunities to share this verse with someone today)
5. What can I pray back to God from this section (as a worshipful expression of praise and/or resolve)?
6. follow up for the next day: Did I follow my plan?_____If so, thank the Lord! If not, consider what happened, if necessary, seek God's forgiveness (James 4:17), determine what you need to do differently, asking God for wisdom (James 1:5).
I know that intellectual endeavors work a lot better for me when I can look at a plan and go step by step. As such, I decided to stop rummaging around God's word randomly hoping for insight and revelation and instead treat Bible study with as much respect as I treat studying for school. I'd NEVER start a paper without an outline, or read a chapter of text without a highlighter and pen on hand, so why should I be any more nonchalant about my approach to Bible study? God wants to speak to us through his word, but if we don't take the time to study it properly, then we won't learn anything.
Wednesday, August 10
Notice.
This will be a short little update, as I have to be at work shortly, and I'm aiming to get my dishwasher emptied before I leave.... we'll see how that goes.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a little something that was a BIG deal to me today. If you read my last post, you know that I had a big experience at Elevation last weekend. God is really moving in that church and consequently in my personal life. Anyway, the same post that I made I also emailed to what the church refers to as the 'amen corner.' Its just a way to share your story with the staff at Elevation. They sometimes read a story during a sermon or other event.
Tonight I was at an Elevation Rock Hill launch team meeting. As our campus pastor was speaking, he mentioned that he loves to read the stories people email in. I didn't think much of the comment at the time. After the meeting, I introduced myself to Pastor Frank and discussed some outreach opportunities at Winthrop. At the end of the conversation he asked me my last name. I told him, and he immediately said 'didn't you send in an email this week?'
In a church that had 10,000 plus people attend last Sunday, Pastor Frank remembered my name and story specifically. I've never felt so honored by someone that I didn't really know. People say that a 'mega church' can't work. But I'm here to say that's not true. If we each take the time to honor the people that we come into contact with personally then we can create a tight knit group no matter how big the church family is. So, I'm making it my mission to invest personally into whoever God puts into my path... I'd love to know that I had a hand in someone feeling as important as I felt this evening.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a little something that was a BIG deal to me today. If you read my last post, you know that I had a big experience at Elevation last weekend. God is really moving in that church and consequently in my personal life. Anyway, the same post that I made I also emailed to what the church refers to as the 'amen corner.' Its just a way to share your story with the staff at Elevation. They sometimes read a story during a sermon or other event.
Tonight I was at an Elevation Rock Hill launch team meeting. As our campus pastor was speaking, he mentioned that he loves to read the stories people email in. I didn't think much of the comment at the time. After the meeting, I introduced myself to Pastor Frank and discussed some outreach opportunities at Winthrop. At the end of the conversation he asked me my last name. I told him, and he immediately said 'didn't you send in an email this week?'
In a church that had 10,000 plus people attend last Sunday, Pastor Frank remembered my name and story specifically. I've never felt so honored by someone that I didn't really know. People say that a 'mega church' can't work. But I'm here to say that's not true. If we each take the time to honor the people that we come into contact with personally then we can create a tight knit group no matter how big the church family is. So, I'm making it my mission to invest personally into whoever God puts into my path... I'd love to know that I had a hand in someone feeling as important as I felt this evening.
Monday, August 8
Follow.
Here's what's been going on at Elevation. After the video, read below for my experience with FOLLOW.
I've been thinking about sharing my story for some time, and I know for sure now that its time. For a long time I would have said that my walk with Christ began as a child, but now I know that this is not true. I was taken to church as a child, and around age 7 or 8 I got baptized. It was clear that this was what my parents wanted, so I complied. (Bless them for caring about my soul.)
Through out middle and high school I was incredibly involved in church. I was constantly bombarded with lists, rules, regulations, commandments that I had to keep. I was an expert at putting on the Christian act. I kept these rules because my friends did, but I now know that my heart was never in it. I attended a Christian college where I pursued a degree and met people who I most definitely did not expect to find in that environment. Before I knew it, the girl who grew up as an expert at keeping the rules was drinking, partying, in a relationship that did't honor God, and pretty much anything else you could think of. I graduated, got a job, and only found more time and means to live a sinful life. Looking back, it seems like I blinked and my life was out of control. I wasn't an addict, I wasn't pregnant, I wasn't in jail, but I wasn't a Christian either. I was SCARED.
None of the things I were doing made me happy. I knew that I had to figure out this God thing for myself. I realized that I've believed in Jesus for most of my life, but I've never really followed him. There is a big difference I've come to see. I'd been To Elevation a few times, but in early 2011 I decided to commit to regular attendance. The first Sunday I attended Pastor Steven began a series called "Get Back" all about how to recover your spiritual life coupled with a Beatles theme. As the most avid Beatles fan you'd ever find in a 25 year old, I felt like God was saying 'not only do I know what you need to hear, I know EVERYTHING about you.' I knew it was God's way of telling me that this was the beginning of the right journey for me. Over the last several months I've struggled a LOT. I joined an eGroup. I got involved, but I was still wrestling with what it meant to follow Jesus instead of just believing in him. I was still struggling with leaving my old ways in the past. I've been praying for a long time about my next step in following Jesus.
Last Saturday night I attended Blakeney alone. I was sitting close to the front and crying my eyes out as Pastor Steven spoke about following. I knew that the 'dying daily' and the 'carrying my cross' were what I had been missing. At one point he looked directly at my section of the crowd and said "I must follow Jesus for myself." As he continued to speak, those words played over and over in my mind. I couldn't WAIT for him to count to three and send people outside to be baptized. I knew that this was the next step of faith that I had been looking for. I knew I was ready to FOLLOW. I cried as I changed clothes. I cried as I waited in line at the baptismal tank. I'm crying as I think about it now. I've felt anxious for months and months now, but when Pastor Chunks lifted me out of the water I felt at peace like I have never felt before. I know that following instead of believing won't be easy, but I know that it will be worth the sacrifice.
I start grad school classes at Winthrop in a few weeks... right about the time Elevation Rock Hill opens. I can feel God leading me (for the first time in forever) to reach my campus for him. I'm SO excited about the next steps of following Jesus, and I'm proud to say that Elevation was a huge part of my changed life.
Follow from Elevation Church on Vimeo.
I've been thinking about sharing my story for some time, and I know for sure now that its time. For a long time I would have said that my walk with Christ began as a child, but now I know that this is not true. I was taken to church as a child, and around age 7 or 8 I got baptized. It was clear that this was what my parents wanted, so I complied. (Bless them for caring about my soul.)
Through out middle and high school I was incredibly involved in church. I was constantly bombarded with lists, rules, regulations, commandments that I had to keep. I was an expert at putting on the Christian act. I kept these rules because my friends did, but I now know that my heart was never in it. I attended a Christian college where I pursued a degree and met people who I most definitely did not expect to find in that environment. Before I knew it, the girl who grew up as an expert at keeping the rules was drinking, partying, in a relationship that did't honor God, and pretty much anything else you could think of. I graduated, got a job, and only found more time and means to live a sinful life. Looking back, it seems like I blinked and my life was out of control. I wasn't an addict, I wasn't pregnant, I wasn't in jail, but I wasn't a Christian either. I was SCARED.
None of the things I were doing made me happy. I knew that I had to figure out this God thing for myself. I realized that I've believed in Jesus for most of my life, but I've never really followed him. There is a big difference I've come to see. I'd been To Elevation a few times, but in early 2011 I decided to commit to regular attendance. The first Sunday I attended Pastor Steven began a series called "Get Back" all about how to recover your spiritual life coupled with a Beatles theme. As the most avid Beatles fan you'd ever find in a 25 year old, I felt like God was saying 'not only do I know what you need to hear, I know EVERYTHING about you.' I knew it was God's way of telling me that this was the beginning of the right journey for me. Over the last several months I've struggled a LOT. I joined an eGroup. I got involved, but I was still wrestling with what it meant to follow Jesus instead of just believing in him. I was still struggling with leaving my old ways in the past. I've been praying for a long time about my next step in following Jesus.
Last Saturday night I attended Blakeney alone. I was sitting close to the front and crying my eyes out as Pastor Steven spoke about following. I knew that the 'dying daily' and the 'carrying my cross' were what I had been missing. At one point he looked directly at my section of the crowd and said "I must follow Jesus for myself." As he continued to speak, those words played over and over in my mind. I couldn't WAIT for him to count to three and send people outside to be baptized. I knew that this was the next step of faith that I had been looking for. I knew I was ready to FOLLOW. I cried as I changed clothes. I cried as I waited in line at the baptismal tank. I'm crying as I think about it now. I've felt anxious for months and months now, but when Pastor Chunks lifted me out of the water I felt at peace like I have never felt before. I know that following instead of believing won't be easy, but I know that it will be worth the sacrifice.
I start grad school classes at Winthrop in a few weeks... right about the time Elevation Rock Hill opens. I can feel God leading me (for the first time in forever) to reach my campus for him. I'm SO excited about the next steps of following Jesus, and I'm proud to say that Elevation was a huge part of my changed life.
Sunday, April 3
Sunday Lyrics.
We sang this song by Hillsong in our worship experience at Elevation this morning. The lyrics always move me... Just thought I'd share. Oh, and part 2 of Pastor Steven's series Grapes and Giants was PHENOMENAL. Check it out tonight, or online at www.elevationexperience.com, or via podcast. Its sure got me thinking, and I'll be posting some of those thoughts throughout the week I'm sure. For now though, I'm reflecting on these lyrics. Hope they stir your soul like they did mine. Happy Sunday. =)
Hillsong - Forever Reign
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting
Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
Hillsong - Forever Reign
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting
Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
Thursday, March 31
Songs.
I was planning on posting something that I'd seen on another blog. It was a survey of sorts, all about music. As a music fanatic, I couldn't pass that up. Then interestingly enough, Pastor Steven's blog the other day was about music. I thought it was an interesting little way God used to point something out to me. Pastor Steven said it so well that I'm going to quote a little bit...
"One area where you refuse to listen to God can lead to a time when you can’t hear Him in any.
One bad note can ruin the whole chord.
What’s your bad note?
Get it in tune now before the masterpiece God has composed for your life is drowned out in a cacophony of contradicting notes."
I thought that last line was BEAUTIFUL. It was also a message that I needed to hear in an analogy that I could definitely relate to and remember. LOVE it when God does that. Check out the rest of that blog and the tons of other encouraging material Pastor Steven posts at www.stevenfurtick.com. I HIGHLY recommend it. I check it out every day =)
Now, on to my songs...
01: YOUR FAVORITE SONG: SHOCKINGLY, not a Beatles song. My all time favorite song is 'Breakin' Me' by Jonny Lang (Who I get to see in concert next week!! YAY). I LOVE the song because the lyrics (included below) are beautiful and you can hear the emotion in his voice. Give it a listen here:
Every day I see your face I wish I'd stayed
Don't even know what made me run away
It's just the way I play the game
Emotional is not a word I'd use to explain myself
But now I'm down upon my knees
Baby please take me back
I don't want to be in love but you're makin' me
Let me up I've had enough. Girl you're breakin' me
Here I am just half a man standing alone
Feeling like I lost my only chance
At happiness when I let you go
I don't want to be alone thinkin' bout you girl
I got nothin' left to hold in this lonely world
The first time my heart was ever touched
Was the day I lost your love
I can feel it in my flesh and blood
My soul can only take it so much
So there it is. Why can't you give us one more try
You and I could find a way to live
If you let me in one more time
I know you lost your faith in me but I still believe
Can I make you understand, can I make you see
That I'm desperate for your love and it's breakin' me
02: YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE SONG: Leann Womack's 'I Hope You Dance' Long story as to why, but I HATE that song.
03: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY: The Beatles "Good Day Sunshine'. These lyrics ALWAYS make me smile "I need to laugh, and when the sun is out/ I've got something I can laugh about/ I feel good, in a special way/ I'm in love and it's a sunny day"
04: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU SAD: 'Lucky' by Jason Mraz. Reminds me of a lost love... It used to make me cry, but thank goodness its not that bad anymore.
05: A SONG THAT REMINDS YOU OF SOMEONE: '45' by Shinedown (and about a million other songs) will ALWAYS remind me of Mr. Michael Miller.
06: A SONG THAT REMINDS OF YOU OF SOMEWHERE: Panic! at the Disco's "Nine in the Afternoon" reminds me of NGU.
07: A SONG THAT REMINDS YOU OF A CERTAIN EVENT: P!nk's "So What" reminds me of an amazing beach trip with my best girlfriends!
08: A SONG THAT YOU KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO: Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby". Sang it to my kids at work and they thought it was hilarious that I knew all the words!
09: A SONG THAT YOU CAN DANCE TO: I don't really dance, but in college we used to LOVE dancing to Usher's "Yeah" and Lil Jon's "Get Low" hahahhahaha
10: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU FALL ASLEEP I almost always listen to Will Hoge's "Baby Girl" before bed. I know not many people know him, but they should so listen to it here (and I was at this performance of Baby Girl on TRB. SO FUN!):
11: A SONG FROM YOUR FAVOURITE BAND: ummm any song by the Beatles. duh. (My favorite happens to be Something.)
12: A SONG FROM A BAND YOU HATE: anything and everything by Nickelback!
13: A SONG THAT IS A GUILTY PLEASURE: The biggest one EVER is Ricky Martin & Christian Aguilera "Nobody Wants to be Lonely." I LOVE that song for some reason, but I keep that info to myself normally.
14: A SONG THAT NO ONE WOULD EXPECT YOU TO LOVE: Breaking Benjamin "I Will Not Bow". LOVE that song. LOVE.
15: A SONG THAT DESCRIBES YOU: NeedToBreathe's "something Beautiful." The lyrics that follow are EXACTLY how I feel SO often! I absolutely LOVE these lyrics. They describe me and particularly my faith SO adequately!
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees.
I'm waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can't be sure when it will subside
So I won't leave your side, no I can't leave your side.
16: A SONG THAT YOU USED TO LOVE BUT NOW HATE: Cee Lo 'Forget You' SOOO sick of that song!
17: A SONG THAT YOU HEAR OFTEN ON THE RADIO: Bruno Mars "Grenade" LOVE him!
18: A SONG THAT YOU WISH YOU HEARD ON THE RADIO: Anything by Marc Broussard. He's AMAZING. See below for proof!
19: A SONG FROM YOUR FAVORITE ALBUM: "Blackbird" from The Beatles' white album
20: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY: any hard rock... Shinedown, Rise Against, Avenged Sevenfold
21: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE HAPPY: Boybands.... Nsync, BSB, Hanson, LFO. They all work!
22: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE SAD: lately, this song by Hot Chelle Rae called "Bleed"... if you only watch one of these videos make it this one. I LOVE this song!
23: A SONG THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING: The Beatles 'In My Life' and Hanson's 'I Will Come to You'... yes I did say Hanson. Show up to my wedding one day and you'll see that I'm totally not joking.
DAY 24: A SONG THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL: John Lennon's "Imagine"
DAY 25: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH: Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song" is SOOO funny!
DAY 26: A SONG THAT YOU CAN PLAY ON AN INSTRUMENT: there isn't one.
DAY 27: A SONG THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY: anything would be nice.. but mostly a Beatles song!
DAY 28: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GUILTY: I don't really have one.
29: A SONG FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD: New Kids on the Block "Hangin' Tough' is the first song I ever remember listening to
DAY 30: YOUR FAVORITE SONG AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR: I'm pretty sure I was diggin' Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" around this time last year.
"One area where you refuse to listen to God can lead to a time when you can’t hear Him in any.
One bad note can ruin the whole chord.
What’s your bad note?
Get it in tune now before the masterpiece God has composed for your life is drowned out in a cacophony of contradicting notes."
I thought that last line was BEAUTIFUL. It was also a message that I needed to hear in an analogy that I could definitely relate to and remember. LOVE it when God does that. Check out the rest of that blog and the tons of other encouraging material Pastor Steven posts at www.stevenfurtick.com. I HIGHLY recommend it. I check it out every day =)
Now, on to my songs...
01: YOUR FAVORITE SONG: SHOCKINGLY, not a Beatles song. My all time favorite song is 'Breakin' Me' by Jonny Lang (Who I get to see in concert next week!! YAY). I LOVE the song because the lyrics (included below) are beautiful and you can hear the emotion in his voice. Give it a listen here:
Every day I see your face I wish I'd stayed
Don't even know what made me run away
It's just the way I play the game
Emotional is not a word I'd use to explain myself
But now I'm down upon my knees
Baby please take me back
I don't want to be in love but you're makin' me
Let me up I've had enough. Girl you're breakin' me
Here I am just half a man standing alone
Feeling like I lost my only chance
At happiness when I let you go
I don't want to be alone thinkin' bout you girl
I got nothin' left to hold in this lonely world
The first time my heart was ever touched
Was the day I lost your love
I can feel it in my flesh and blood
My soul can only take it so much
So there it is. Why can't you give us one more try
You and I could find a way to live
If you let me in one more time
I know you lost your faith in me but I still believe
Can I make you understand, can I make you see
That I'm desperate for your love and it's breakin' me
02: YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE SONG: Leann Womack's 'I Hope You Dance' Long story as to why, but I HATE that song.
03: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY: The Beatles "Good Day Sunshine'. These lyrics ALWAYS make me smile "I need to laugh, and when the sun is out/ I've got something I can laugh about/ I feel good, in a special way/ I'm in love and it's a sunny day"
04: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU SAD: 'Lucky' by Jason Mraz. Reminds me of a lost love... It used to make me cry, but thank goodness its not that bad anymore.
05: A SONG THAT REMINDS YOU OF SOMEONE: '45' by Shinedown (and about a million other songs) will ALWAYS remind me of Mr. Michael Miller.
06: A SONG THAT REMINDS OF YOU OF SOMEWHERE: Panic! at the Disco's "Nine in the Afternoon" reminds me of NGU.
07: A SONG THAT REMINDS YOU OF A CERTAIN EVENT: P!nk's "So What" reminds me of an amazing beach trip with my best girlfriends!
08: A SONG THAT YOU KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO: Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby". Sang it to my kids at work and they thought it was hilarious that I knew all the words!
09: A SONG THAT YOU CAN DANCE TO: I don't really dance, but in college we used to LOVE dancing to Usher's "Yeah" and Lil Jon's "Get Low" hahahhahaha
10: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU FALL ASLEEP I almost always listen to Will Hoge's "Baby Girl" before bed. I know not many people know him, but they should so listen to it here (and I was at this performance of Baby Girl on TRB. SO FUN!):
11: A SONG FROM YOUR FAVOURITE BAND: ummm any song by the Beatles. duh. (My favorite happens to be Something.)
12: A SONG FROM A BAND YOU HATE: anything and everything by Nickelback!
13: A SONG THAT IS A GUILTY PLEASURE: The biggest one EVER is Ricky Martin & Christian Aguilera "Nobody Wants to be Lonely." I LOVE that song for some reason, but I keep that info to myself normally.
14: A SONG THAT NO ONE WOULD EXPECT YOU TO LOVE: Breaking Benjamin "I Will Not Bow". LOVE that song. LOVE.
15: A SONG THAT DESCRIBES YOU: NeedToBreathe's "something Beautiful." The lyrics that follow are EXACTLY how I feel SO often! I absolutely LOVE these lyrics. They describe me and particularly my faith SO adequately!
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees.
I'm waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can't be sure when it will subside
So I won't leave your side, no I can't leave your side.
16: A SONG THAT YOU USED TO LOVE BUT NOW HATE: Cee Lo 'Forget You' SOOO sick of that song!
17: A SONG THAT YOU HEAR OFTEN ON THE RADIO: Bruno Mars "Grenade" LOVE him!
18: A SONG THAT YOU WISH YOU HEARD ON THE RADIO: Anything by Marc Broussard. He's AMAZING. See below for proof!
19: A SONG FROM YOUR FAVORITE ALBUM: "Blackbird" from The Beatles' white album
20: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY: any hard rock... Shinedown, Rise Against, Avenged Sevenfold
21: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE HAPPY: Boybands.... Nsync, BSB, Hanson, LFO. They all work!
22: A SONG THAT YOU LISTEN TO WHEN YOU’RE SAD: lately, this song by Hot Chelle Rae called "Bleed"... if you only watch one of these videos make it this one. I LOVE this song!
23: A SONG THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING: The Beatles 'In My Life' and Hanson's 'I Will Come to You'... yes I did say Hanson. Show up to my wedding one day and you'll see that I'm totally not joking.
DAY 24: A SONG THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL: John Lennon's "Imagine"
DAY 25: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH: Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song" is SOOO funny!
DAY 26: A SONG THAT YOU CAN PLAY ON AN INSTRUMENT: there isn't one.
DAY 27: A SONG THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY: anything would be nice.. but mostly a Beatles song!
DAY 28: A SONG THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GUILTY: I don't really have one.
29: A SONG FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD: New Kids on the Block "Hangin' Tough' is the first song I ever remember listening to
DAY 30: YOUR FAVORITE SONG AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR: I'm pretty sure I was diggin' Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" around this time last year.
Sunday, March 27
Power.
This weekend at Elevation, Pastor Steven started a sermon series on the book of Ephesians. His first sermon was from the first chapter of Ephesians, and focused on the power of God working in our lives. I've also been reading Ephesians on my own, and recently focused some reading/study time on the same passage. Anyway, it was so good that I HAD to share a little of it with my wonderful, be it small, blog audience.
Pastor Steven pointed out something (as he regularly does) that I know, but I've never really devoted significant thought to. We already have all of the power of God in us. As verses 7-10 in the first chapter of Ephesians say: (and I'm quoting from The Message... a modern language translation of the Bible that I like to use in my personal reading time.)
"Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for EVERYTHING WE COULD POSSIBLY NEED, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth." (emphasis there was my own.)
God provided us with all the power that we need... the same power that raised Jesus from the DEAD for crying out loud (see verse 20) but we choose to live in weakness. And yes, I say WE because I fall into this category PLENTY of times. Pastor Steven likened this to potential and kinetic energy. I googled to get a little refreshed on that as physics wasn't my best subject in high school. The fact of the matter though, is that all that power, the power that raised Jesus from the dead and sat him at the right hand of God, is just potential in our lives until we make it WORK in our lives through trust, faith, ACTION. We got all the power we'll ever need the moment we became a Christian, but we waste it and forfeit God's blessing when we choose not to act.
Here's the part of this that really gets me... Paul points it out in verse 19. I worry SO much about my strength, what I'm capable of. But it has NOTHING to do with my ability. NOTHING. It all hinges on God's authority... which we know very well never changes, dwindles, struggles. NEVER. But somehow I still worry that I can't do it. Its my perception of power and strength thats the issue. His power never changes... my confidence in his power to be exerted though me... THATS what varies, and that's what causes me to miss out on things that He has for me.
I had a professor in college who used to tell us that "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." Its sometimes hard for me to think this way, but when I refuse to, I'm underestimating God's power. If God can raise people from the dead, part seas, make the sun stand still in the sky, why in the world am I so arrogant to think that my issues are outside his realm of expertise? As I write that sentence, doubting sounds utterly ridiculous, and yet I find myself behaving that way more often than I care to admit. To express it a different way, as Pastor put it (after making a GREAT analogy about Apple products... which made this Mac lover smile) we use the equipment God gave us FAR beneath its potential.
After hearing about the sermon series coming up at Elevation I decided to devote my own Bible reading time to Ephesians for the next couple of weeks. Rarely do I spend so much time in one place in the Bible, so I thought it would be a nice change of pace. The thing that stood out to me initially... and then REALLY hit home after hearing Pastor's thoughts is the following...
In verses 15-19 Paul says (again quoting from The Message)
"That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!"
Paul prayed for the believers that he cared for in such a beautiful way. When I read "intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally" I thought WOW, that, more than anything I could say, sums up EXACTLY what I'm looking for in my relationship with Christ. Thats just what I want. I can't think of anything better than gaining intimacy with the Father and gaining intelligence and discernment that will allow me to better love and serve those around me.
This week I'm working on tapping into God's power through my prayer, faithfulness, action. I'm praying Paul's prayer for myself... and I'm praying it for you too. I'm asking God "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do..."
Pastor Steven pointed out something (as he regularly does) that I know, but I've never really devoted significant thought to. We already have all of the power of God in us. As verses 7-10 in the first chapter of Ephesians say: (and I'm quoting from The Message... a modern language translation of the Bible that I like to use in my personal reading time.)
"Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for EVERYTHING WE COULD POSSIBLY NEED, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth." (emphasis there was my own.)
God provided us with all the power that we need... the same power that raised Jesus from the DEAD for crying out loud (see verse 20) but we choose to live in weakness. And yes, I say WE because I fall into this category PLENTY of times. Pastor Steven likened this to potential and kinetic energy. I googled to get a little refreshed on that as physics wasn't my best subject in high school. The fact of the matter though, is that all that power, the power that raised Jesus from the dead and sat him at the right hand of God, is just potential in our lives until we make it WORK in our lives through trust, faith, ACTION. We got all the power we'll ever need the moment we became a Christian, but we waste it and forfeit God's blessing when we choose not to act.
Here's the part of this that really gets me... Paul points it out in verse 19. I worry SO much about my strength, what I'm capable of. But it has NOTHING to do with my ability. NOTHING. It all hinges on God's authority... which we know very well never changes, dwindles, struggles. NEVER. But somehow I still worry that I can't do it. Its my perception of power and strength thats the issue. His power never changes... my confidence in his power to be exerted though me... THATS what varies, and that's what causes me to miss out on things that He has for me.
I had a professor in college who used to tell us that "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." Its sometimes hard for me to think this way, but when I refuse to, I'm underestimating God's power. If God can raise people from the dead, part seas, make the sun stand still in the sky, why in the world am I so arrogant to think that my issues are outside his realm of expertise? As I write that sentence, doubting sounds utterly ridiculous, and yet I find myself behaving that way more often than I care to admit. To express it a different way, as Pastor put it (after making a GREAT analogy about Apple products... which made this Mac lover smile) we use the equipment God gave us FAR beneath its potential.
After hearing about the sermon series coming up at Elevation I decided to devote my own Bible reading time to Ephesians for the next couple of weeks. Rarely do I spend so much time in one place in the Bible, so I thought it would be a nice change of pace. The thing that stood out to me initially... and then REALLY hit home after hearing Pastor's thoughts is the following...
In verses 15-19 Paul says (again quoting from The Message)
"That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!"
Paul prayed for the believers that he cared for in such a beautiful way. When I read "intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally" I thought WOW, that, more than anything I could say, sums up EXACTLY what I'm looking for in my relationship with Christ. Thats just what I want. I can't think of anything better than gaining intimacy with the Father and gaining intelligence and discernment that will allow me to better love and serve those around me.
This week I'm working on tapping into God's power through my prayer, faithfulness, action. I'm praying Paul's prayer for myself... and I'm praying it for you too. I'm asking God "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do..."
Tuesday, March 15
In The Market.
Hello everyone. First, a brief update:
I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. I have a sinus infection, so mine is moving kind of slowly. I laid around most of the day today. Hopefully, that rest started me on the road to getting better. My day off did give me time to FINALLY make a custom layout for my blog. I've been using generic layouts from blogger until now. It took me a while to get the hang of the html stuff, but by the end of my project I got pretty good at it. So, if anyone wants their own blog header let me know. I'll make you one, or show you how to make your own!
I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. Hopefully, I'll be getting better. I should hear about grad school this week (keep praying!) and April's bachelorette party is Friday night... which means I get to see all my girls! I got an apartment which I'll be moving into when my lease with April is up, and Saturday my mom and I are going to get some fabric to start on curtains for my new place! All in all, an exciting few days are coming up. Plus, its supposed to be 80 degrees Saturday!
Anyway, I've been a little slack with my blog lately, but I've been wanting to share some of the things that I've been thinking about lately.
A few weeks back, Pastor Steven spoke on the topic of honor at Elevation. He laid out a very easy to understand, practical method for increasing the amount of honor that we show to other people. The part of the series that really spoke to me was about honor being a lifestyle. He spoke about leading a lifestyle that you always do more than you have to. In my head I've started referring to this as the "and then some" mentality. I'm going to do what someone needs me to do "and then some."
Often times, I don't take advantage of opportunities because I simply don't notice them. This is the case with honor and with plenty of other things. Pastor Steven pointed out that we should be "in the market" for opportunities. For example, when I bought a yellow car I started noticing other yellow cars a LOT more. So, now I'm actively working to see opportunities to do positive things! The more and more I live for Jesus, the more I realize that its the little things that matter SO much. One little negative behavior starts a landslide that can take someone right back into the depths of their sinful nature. But on the other hand, one little positive, encouraging, honoring action can give someone the strength they need to keep going.
Just something to think about. =)
I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. I have a sinus infection, so mine is moving kind of slowly. I laid around most of the day today. Hopefully, that rest started me on the road to getting better. My day off did give me time to FINALLY make a custom layout for my blog. I've been using generic layouts from blogger until now. It took me a while to get the hang of the html stuff, but by the end of my project I got pretty good at it. So, if anyone wants their own blog header let me know. I'll make you one, or show you how to make your own!
I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. Hopefully, I'll be getting better. I should hear about grad school this week (keep praying!) and April's bachelorette party is Friday night... which means I get to see all my girls! I got an apartment which I'll be moving into when my lease with April is up, and Saturday my mom and I are going to get some fabric to start on curtains for my new place! All in all, an exciting few days are coming up. Plus, its supposed to be 80 degrees Saturday!
Anyway, I've been a little slack with my blog lately, but I've been wanting to share some of the things that I've been thinking about lately.
A few weeks back, Pastor Steven spoke on the topic of honor at Elevation. He laid out a very easy to understand, practical method for increasing the amount of honor that we show to other people. The part of the series that really spoke to me was about honor being a lifestyle. He spoke about leading a lifestyle that you always do more than you have to. In my head I've started referring to this as the "and then some" mentality. I'm going to do what someone needs me to do "and then some."
Often times, I don't take advantage of opportunities because I simply don't notice them. This is the case with honor and with plenty of other things. Pastor Steven pointed out that we should be "in the market" for opportunities. For example, when I bought a yellow car I started noticing other yellow cars a LOT more. So, now I'm actively working to see opportunities to do positive things! The more and more I live for Jesus, the more I realize that its the little things that matter SO much. One little negative behavior starts a landslide that can take someone right back into the depths of their sinful nature. But on the other hand, one little positive, encouraging, honoring action can give someone the strength they need to keep going.
Just something to think about. =)
Sunday, March 6
help.
This is another one of those posts that spawned from something thats been floating around in my head. I won't go into the details of the situation, as the specifics are irrelevant to the idea that I'm thinking about.
Anyway, do you ever hear quotes, phrases, ideas about God that aren't from the Bible? I do from time to time, and I wonder how applicable they are. I certainly believe that new wisdom about God surfaces all the time. Truth can be found outside the Bible itself. At the same time, we have to be discerning about who and what we listen to.
Some examples I've had on my mind as of late:
"God helps those who help themselves." - Benjamin Franklin
"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." - Hunter S Thompson
In fact "God helps those who help themselves" is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 says, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need because we could not help ourselves.
I know all of this, and I TOTALLY believe it to be true. HOWEVER...
Apart from salvation, I think there is a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. I'm pretty sure its a smart move to "call on God, but row away from the rocks." For example, if you were to ask me to help you make dinner and then sat and watched as I did all the work, then I'm not really HELPING you. I would be doing the work for you. To help implies two bodies working along side each other.
Many of us as Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. We ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. We excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. I DEFINITELY think that God provides in the manner that he sees fit. However, this is no reason for inactivity.
As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you.
A friend once told me not to try and catch the right fish, but to worry about becoming the right bait. God will help you, but you've got to put in work too. Similarly, a few weeks back Pastor Steven spoke of praying for rain in a drought from the following passage of Scripture:
And he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. - 2 Kings 3:16-17
The armies of Judah and Israel were out in the middle of the desert with no water and they were getting scared. They were on their way to Moab but now they were concerned that they were not even going to make it to the battle. They talked to Elisha the prophet and this was the word passed to them from God through Elisha. Obediently, they dug the trenches and one morning they looked and saw water coming from Edom and filling up their trenches. They had plenty of water to drink. If you ask me, this speaks directly to the idea that Ben Franklin came up with... God helped the armies of Judah, but they helped themselves too... Here's how.
1.Go to God: Note what they did with their problem – they went down to a prophet of God, Elisha, to find out what God was going to do in this situation. I think that was definitely the correct decision. If you’re facing a giant of a problem, remember that God is the biggest giant of them all.
2. Prepare for the blessing: Now the prophet told them to do something strange; he told them to dig a bunch of ditches in the middle of the desert. This might seem like a pointless exercise to you and it might have seen pointless to them, too….but they did it. They were obedient to God and dug the ditches. They had to believe that God was going to give them the blessing and they had to put in some hard work to prepare for it.
Just something I've been thinking about... I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Anyway, do you ever hear quotes, phrases, ideas about God that aren't from the Bible? I do from time to time, and I wonder how applicable they are. I certainly believe that new wisdom about God surfaces all the time. Truth can be found outside the Bible itself. At the same time, we have to be discerning about who and what we listen to.
Some examples I've had on my mind as of late:
"God helps those who help themselves." - Benjamin Franklin
"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." - Hunter S Thompson
In fact "God helps those who help themselves" is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 says, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need because we could not help ourselves.
I know all of this, and I TOTALLY believe it to be true. HOWEVER...
Apart from salvation, I think there is a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. I'm pretty sure its a smart move to "call on God, but row away from the rocks." For example, if you were to ask me to help you make dinner and then sat and watched as I did all the work, then I'm not really HELPING you. I would be doing the work for you. To help implies two bodies working along side each other.
Many of us as Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. We ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. We excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. I DEFINITELY think that God provides in the manner that he sees fit. However, this is no reason for inactivity.
As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you.
A friend once told me not to try and catch the right fish, but to worry about becoming the right bait. God will help you, but you've got to put in work too. Similarly, a few weeks back Pastor Steven spoke of praying for rain in a drought from the following passage of Scripture:
And he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. - 2 Kings 3:16-17
The armies of Judah and Israel were out in the middle of the desert with no water and they were getting scared. They were on their way to Moab but now they were concerned that they were not even going to make it to the battle. They talked to Elisha the prophet and this was the word passed to them from God through Elisha. Obediently, they dug the trenches and one morning they looked and saw water coming from Edom and filling up their trenches. They had plenty of water to drink. If you ask me, this speaks directly to the idea that Ben Franklin came up with... God helped the armies of Judah, but they helped themselves too... Here's how.
1.Go to God: Note what they did with their problem – they went down to a prophet of God, Elisha, to find out what God was going to do in this situation. I think that was definitely the correct decision. If you’re facing a giant of a problem, remember that God is the biggest giant of them all.
2. Prepare for the blessing: Now the prophet told them to do something strange; he told them to dig a bunch of ditches in the middle of the desert. This might seem like a pointless exercise to you and it might have seen pointless to them, too….but they did it. They were obedient to God and dug the ditches. They had to believe that God was going to give them the blessing and they had to put in some hard work to prepare for it.
Just something I've been thinking about... I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Monday, February 28
HONOR.
I know I already wrote a post today, but I think I'll post another today anyway. The first one was just to get something off my chest. This post promises to be much more coherent and more applicable to people besides myself.
This last weekend Pastor Steven started a series about honor. Honestly, I've never thought much about honor specifically until I got involved at Elevation. In fact, with the exception of people literally reading from the Bible, I don't think I've ever even heard honor spoken of in a church I've attended... until Elevation. In retrospect, after hearing what Pastor Steven had to say about honor, and seeing the way most Christians I've encountered in the past behave, it makes a LOT of sense that nobody was talking about it.
The reason I bring up this particular sermon (I usually don't explicitly share commentary on sermons... I mean you can just go watch them online... and I wholeheartedly recommend that you do that!) is that I got to apply it in a pretty interesting way.
One point that REALLY stuck out to me when Pastor was speaking was that "honor is about what I decide, not what they deserve." What's that mean? Well, sometimes we have to choose to honor someone (treat them as someone of value and worth) when they aren't behaving as such. Pastor provided a powerful example of this idea from his own life, and then made an observation that I've been thinking about since. When we decide to honor someone who doesn't honor us back, God will honor us for our faithfulness to Him and His purposes. God honored us by giving us Jesus when we didn't deserve it... so why can't I honor someone who I don't feel is deserving of my respect or patience? That idea has been in my head constantly. Its really changing the way I think about interacting with others.
For example...
I heard this sermon Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning I went to work. From the start that day the kids weren't stable. For no particular reason they were agitated, upset, and just down right non compliant. Before lunch I'd been called every profane word you can think of, I'd gotten a chair thrown at me, and had my hair pulled a good bit. I SO wanted to get annoyed, angry, frustrated, but the word honor kept floating around in my head. So, I put a smile on my face. I used my best therapeutic voice. I prayed that God would give me the words to provide comfort and clarity to the kids on my floor who were struggling that day.
Well, for the most part, the kids that were struggling kept on struggling throughout the day. I didn't think anyone had noticed my approach, but I trusted that, as Pastor Steven had said, God would honor me because I honored these kids... even when they didn't act so honorable. I didn't want to limit God's blessing in my life or anyone else's, so I did the best I could to keep a happy face on, even when the profanity (and sometimes the furniture) was flying.
Well, when I finally took a break I sat down in the hallway on my floor to enjoy a diet coke... One of the most well behaved kids I have the pleasure to work with came out to go to the bathroom. She asked if she could talk to me. Despite being on break, I figured I might as well see what she wanted. She told me that she didn't understand how I stayed so calm all day. She said she wanted me to know that all the things her peer had said about me earlier in the day weren't true, and that she appreciated that I sacrificed my time to come to work and make sure she and her peers were taken care of. Rarely do I get such a comment from one of my patients. Even now, Im getting a little teary eyed thinking about her kind words. God really demonstrated to me that Pastor Steven's point was true. When you honor someone who doesn't honor you, God will find a way to bless you.
Inevitably, we'll come across someone who doesn't really deserve our honor. I can tell you though, that giving it anyway will bring a blessing. I'm working on making this an all the time practice. I hope you will too.
This last weekend Pastor Steven started a series about honor. Honestly, I've never thought much about honor specifically until I got involved at Elevation. In fact, with the exception of people literally reading from the Bible, I don't think I've ever even heard honor spoken of in a church I've attended... until Elevation. In retrospect, after hearing what Pastor Steven had to say about honor, and seeing the way most Christians I've encountered in the past behave, it makes a LOT of sense that nobody was talking about it.
The reason I bring up this particular sermon (I usually don't explicitly share commentary on sermons... I mean you can just go watch them online... and I wholeheartedly recommend that you do that!) is that I got to apply it in a pretty interesting way.
One point that REALLY stuck out to me when Pastor was speaking was that "honor is about what I decide, not what they deserve." What's that mean? Well, sometimes we have to choose to honor someone (treat them as someone of value and worth) when they aren't behaving as such. Pastor provided a powerful example of this idea from his own life, and then made an observation that I've been thinking about since. When we decide to honor someone who doesn't honor us back, God will honor us for our faithfulness to Him and His purposes. God honored us by giving us Jesus when we didn't deserve it... so why can't I honor someone who I don't feel is deserving of my respect or patience? That idea has been in my head constantly. Its really changing the way I think about interacting with others.
For example...
I heard this sermon Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning I went to work. From the start that day the kids weren't stable. For no particular reason they were agitated, upset, and just down right non compliant. Before lunch I'd been called every profane word you can think of, I'd gotten a chair thrown at me, and had my hair pulled a good bit. I SO wanted to get annoyed, angry, frustrated, but the word honor kept floating around in my head. So, I put a smile on my face. I used my best therapeutic voice. I prayed that God would give me the words to provide comfort and clarity to the kids on my floor who were struggling that day.
Well, for the most part, the kids that were struggling kept on struggling throughout the day. I didn't think anyone had noticed my approach, but I trusted that, as Pastor Steven had said, God would honor me because I honored these kids... even when they didn't act so honorable. I didn't want to limit God's blessing in my life or anyone else's, so I did the best I could to keep a happy face on, even when the profanity (and sometimes the furniture) was flying.
Well, when I finally took a break I sat down in the hallway on my floor to enjoy a diet coke... One of the most well behaved kids I have the pleasure to work with came out to go to the bathroom. She asked if she could talk to me. Despite being on break, I figured I might as well see what she wanted. She told me that she didn't understand how I stayed so calm all day. She said she wanted me to know that all the things her peer had said about me earlier in the day weren't true, and that she appreciated that I sacrificed my time to come to work and make sure she and her peers were taken care of. Rarely do I get such a comment from one of my patients. Even now, Im getting a little teary eyed thinking about her kind words. God really demonstrated to me that Pastor Steven's point was true. When you honor someone who doesn't honor you, God will find a way to bless you.
Inevitably, we'll come across someone who doesn't really deserve our honor. I can tell you though, that giving it anyway will bring a blessing. I'm working on making this an all the time practice. I hope you will too.
Thursday, February 17
Calling.
Tomorrow is a BIG, BIG day for me. I am interviewing for a spot in graduate school at Winthrop next semester. (side note: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say a prayer for me!) For a while I've been hesitant to even talk about the application process. Inevitably if I tell people about it, they'll ask for a follow up... and if I don't get in, well, that won't be a fun conversation. Even so, here I am writing about it. Why? Only because it relates to something that I think will make a good blog post. =)
One of the questions in the essay process, and for that matter, a question most people ask me when they hear that I work in mental health, is why I got involved in such a stressful field. What really makes anyone go into a specific career? I've been chewing on these ideas lately. The one word that's been floating around since the graduate school application process began... CALLING. Being that Winthrop is a secular school, I didn't discuss this concept at length in my essay, but I think its definitely something worth sharing with my small, but faithful blog audience.
Of course to a certain extent every follower of Christ has the same calling. Mark 12:28-31 makes that calling clear:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
But what about the career God wants you to have? This part isn't QUITE so clear in the Bible... I had to do a lot of reading and asking questions and praying about this. I did end up finding some interesting stuff though. And now, I'll share.
Our secondary calling is usually related to our job or career. Each secondary calling is different. How does God call us to a vocation? Here are some examples from the Bible:
God calls us directly: Abraham and Paul... he literally TOLD them what they were supposed to do.
God places a desire in your heart: Isaiah... He asked God to send him based on his own desire to serve others.
God takes some people along a path they would not have chosen: Daniel... he didn't know where he was going until he got there.
God offers an attractive option: Stephen... he was called as one of the seven in Acts 6.
One thing that I found interesting was that there were almost always other people involved in someone figuring out their calling. Often times God speaks through people, so why not about my calling in life?
For example, I can pinpoint two specific professors in my undergraduate education who REALLY inspired me. Both were intelligent, Godly men who practiced psychology in addition to teaching counseling and psychology classes.Their passion, dedication to helping others, and command of their field of study brought about a desire in me to study counseling. At the time I didn't recognize that this might be God's way of pointing me toward his purpose for my professional life, but in retrospect it makes a lot of sense. Interestingly enough though, those men didn't provide me with anything that I didn't already possess. They merely used the gifts and talents God gave them... and showed me ways that I could use mine.
As I was beginning the grad school process I was reading Pastor Steven's book "Sun Stand Still." Two sentences REALLY spoke to me:
I AM ABLE TO FULFILL THE CALLING THAT GOD HAS PLACED ON MY LIFE.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me. - Psalm 57:2
I AM FULLY RESOURCED TO DO EVERYTHING GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO.
Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. - Deuteronomy 8:18
It was encouraging to know that I could do whatever God called me to do. But more than that I was encouraged by the thought that my personality, interests, talents are a way to know WHAT God has called me to do. God has provided me with certain resources that nobody else has. It follows that he gives me (and you) the talents necessary to fulfill the calling that he has for us. Obviously, I'm not athletic... God isn't calling me to the NBA. I am good at relating to people. God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. What am I getting at exactly?
Yes, look to others to help you discover God's calling on your life... because they will help you understand yourself. Things I've been thinking about in this area...
Passion: What motivates you?
For me its all about relationships. Most things I enjoy have to do with other people. Whether its spending time with my family/friends/boyfriend, my work, or just social media I really like connecting.
Talent: Understand your gifts, and then seek work that matches them well.
I'm told I'm good with words. I pretty much never meet a stranger. I am good at building a rapport or finding a common bond with others.
Life experience: What has happened to you?
I want to work with teenage girls, helping them develop a positive self-image. Why? Because I know what it feels like to be a girl with a terrible opinion of herself. I know being a teenage girl is HARD.
Opportunity: Is there an open door?
My job at New Hope (working with teen girls) fell into my lap. I prayed and it showed up.
Community: Listen to the voice of others.
That professor I mentioned... He was the one who suggested that I apply to New Hope, and that ultimately counseling might be the field for me.
Joy—not happiness; joy.
As Dallas Williard puts it in Divine Conspiracy, “The deepest longings of our heart confirm me in my original calling.”
I must add a warning though. Calling, because it is so vital, presents us with moral challenges: First, our work should not drive us: Vocation is not about doing, but being. Second, our work should not trump family. A healthy sense of calling ought to lead to wise choices and good boundaries. Vocations, careers, jobs, and work flow from the primary calling: serving and loving God. Although secular minded people may not want to admit it, there is no calling without a Caller. Because there is a Caller, I have a calling... and so do YOU. If you're still looking, then I pray that you find it.
And if I don't get into Winthrop? Do I doubt my calling? Absolutely not. His ways are not my ways, so if Winthrop is not the pathway He has for me, then I look forward to seeing where he will take me, and I pray that I will have the wisdom to know the right opportunity when it comes around... and I pray the same for you.
One of the questions in the essay process, and for that matter, a question most people ask me when they hear that I work in mental health, is why I got involved in such a stressful field. What really makes anyone go into a specific career? I've been chewing on these ideas lately. The one word that's been floating around since the graduate school application process began... CALLING. Being that Winthrop is a secular school, I didn't discuss this concept at length in my essay, but I think its definitely something worth sharing with my small, but faithful blog audience.
Of course to a certain extent every follower of Christ has the same calling. Mark 12:28-31 makes that calling clear:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
But what about the career God wants you to have? This part isn't QUITE so clear in the Bible... I had to do a lot of reading and asking questions and praying about this. I did end up finding some interesting stuff though. And now, I'll share.
Our secondary calling is usually related to our job or career. Each secondary calling is different. How does God call us to a vocation? Here are some examples from the Bible:
God calls us directly: Abraham and Paul... he literally TOLD them what they were supposed to do.
God places a desire in your heart: Isaiah... He asked God to send him based on his own desire to serve others.
God takes some people along a path they would not have chosen: Daniel... he didn't know where he was going until he got there.
God offers an attractive option: Stephen... he was called as one of the seven in Acts 6.
One thing that I found interesting was that there were almost always other people involved in someone figuring out their calling. Often times God speaks through people, so why not about my calling in life?
For example, I can pinpoint two specific professors in my undergraduate education who REALLY inspired me. Both were intelligent, Godly men who practiced psychology in addition to teaching counseling and psychology classes.Their passion, dedication to helping others, and command of their field of study brought about a desire in me to study counseling. At the time I didn't recognize that this might be God's way of pointing me toward his purpose for my professional life, but in retrospect it makes a lot of sense. Interestingly enough though, those men didn't provide me with anything that I didn't already possess. They merely used the gifts and talents God gave them... and showed me ways that I could use mine.
As I was beginning the grad school process I was reading Pastor Steven's book "Sun Stand Still." Two sentences REALLY spoke to me:
I AM ABLE TO FULFILL THE CALLING THAT GOD HAS PLACED ON MY LIFE.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me. - Psalm 57:2
I AM FULLY RESOURCED TO DO EVERYTHING GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO.
Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. - Deuteronomy 8:18
It was encouraging to know that I could do whatever God called me to do. But more than that I was encouraged by the thought that my personality, interests, talents are a way to know WHAT God has called me to do. God has provided me with certain resources that nobody else has. It follows that he gives me (and you) the talents necessary to fulfill the calling that he has for us. Obviously, I'm not athletic... God isn't calling me to the NBA. I am good at relating to people. God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. What am I getting at exactly?
Yes, look to others to help you discover God's calling on your life... because they will help you understand yourself. Things I've been thinking about in this area...
Passion: What motivates you?
For me its all about relationships. Most things I enjoy have to do with other people. Whether its spending time with my family/friends/boyfriend, my work, or just social media I really like connecting.
Talent: Understand your gifts, and then seek work that matches them well.
I'm told I'm good with words. I pretty much never meet a stranger. I am good at building a rapport or finding a common bond with others.
Life experience: What has happened to you?
I want to work with teenage girls, helping them develop a positive self-image. Why? Because I know what it feels like to be a girl with a terrible opinion of herself. I know being a teenage girl is HARD.
Opportunity: Is there an open door?
My job at New Hope (working with teen girls) fell into my lap. I prayed and it showed up.
Community: Listen to the voice of others.
That professor I mentioned... He was the one who suggested that I apply to New Hope, and that ultimately counseling might be the field for me.
Joy—not happiness; joy.
As Dallas Williard puts it in Divine Conspiracy, “The deepest longings of our heart confirm me in my original calling.”
I must add a warning though. Calling, because it is so vital, presents us with moral challenges: First, our work should not drive us: Vocation is not about doing, but being. Second, our work should not trump family. A healthy sense of calling ought to lead to wise choices and good boundaries. Vocations, careers, jobs, and work flow from the primary calling: serving and loving God. Although secular minded people may not want to admit it, there is no calling without a Caller. Because there is a Caller, I have a calling... and so do YOU. If you're still looking, then I pray that you find it.
And if I don't get into Winthrop? Do I doubt my calling? Absolutely not. His ways are not my ways, so if Winthrop is not the pathway He has for me, then I look forward to seeing where he will take me, and I pray that I will have the wisdom to know the right opportunity when it comes around... and I pray the same for you.
Tuesday, February 15
Ebenezer.
So, as I noted in my last post, Elevation's 5th birthday was last week. To celebrate they made a documentary about the history of the church. When I heard about the documentary I thought it was SUPER cool, but to be honest I didn't quite know why that was the chosen method to celebrate. Well, in true Elevation style, there was an awesome story behind it. Pastor Steven called the documentary "This is How We Change The World" our ebenezer for the first five years.
I LOVE this concept. It really is (and has been for a while) one of my favorite concepts in the old testament. I first heard it in good old number 400 of the Baptist Hymnal "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing..." (The lyrics are SO lovely that I included them all. The part thats pertinent to my post tonight is verse 2.)
1. Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
3. O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
So, what's an ebenezer anyway? Obviously, being that its a biblical concept, scripture is the first place to look for that answer.
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites." - 1 Samuel 7:12-14
After a long period of problem and discord (a consequence of Israel's disobedience) the Israelites repented under the leadership of Samuel. God restored their security and the people committed their hearts and minds to their Lord again.
Samuel put a large stone at the place where this restoration began. He publicly dedicated it as a monument to God's help, God's faithfulness, God's eternal covenant. As the people got on with their lives, the stone stood there, visible to all who passed that way, a reminder that God judged them. A reminder that God loved them. A reminder that God forgave them. A reminder that God restored them. The Ebenezer stone represented a fresh beginning, a reversal of course for God's people. It also said something important about God: his mercies are everlasting; his covenant is forever.
This concept is SO beautiful to me. I can't express it enough. We even preach this idea to the children I counsel at work. To know where you're going, its SO important to know where you've been. One good example of that idea:
Members of AA can tell you how long they have been sober. They keep alive the memory of the last drink they took, and with each new day they move farther down the road of sobriety. AA is on to something important. Do they ask their members to count the number of years spent in drunken waste? No. They count the days spent walking in a new direction.
I to beat myself up about mistakes I made way back. I don't forgive myself, even though I accept the fact of God's forgiveness. Perhaps you can identify with me. But that's not what God wants from me... or from you.
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14
This is a lot of the reason why I've come to enjoy keeping this blog. This is also a lot of the reason that my blog has moved from just writing about life to chronicling my walk with Christ and the things I learn about faith. On a day that I'm feeling down or lost or just not good enough, I can look back at my ebenezer and see that I serve a wonderfully faithful blog. This is the same idea Elevation employed with the documentary, and if you ask me its a GREAT one.
Some of the things that God has blessed me with lately follow. I know that at some point I'll be down again, and I want to remember how faithful he is.
- I have a grad school interview in a few days! I am beyond excited at the opportunity to get into a Master's program and ultimately be one step close to being a licensed counselor.
- I got cards in the mail today from my baby sister and from my niece and nephew. I really have the most wonderful family in the entire world.
- This weekend I have a dinner date with three friends from my early days at North Greenville. I am already so excited about spending time with these girls. God has continued to provide me with some of the best friends I could ask for. I can't wait to catch up and fellowship with them.
- Several people I love (most notably, my mom!) have birthdays this week. I'm so thankful that all these wonderful people were able to see another year, and that I'm able to enjoy them in my life.
- I always thought that Elevation was the best church in the world (and it is) but joining an E Group has provided a whole new world of blessings in recent weeks. The women in my group are caring, Godly women who never fail to challenge and encourage me. I LOVE being a part of their group.
- Love Week 2011 is coming up at Elevation. I'm going to get to serve like CRAZY, love on all kinds of people and spend time with my E Group girls... it doesn't get much better than that!!
- Yesterday was Valentine's day. I spent the evening with the most caring, selfless guy I know. He spent the entire day at the hospital encouraging his sick Grandpa (who could use your prayers, if you don't mind), and then spent his evening doting on me and making sure that I felt special on Valentine's day. I went through SO much pain and heartache in past relationships, and all that is making me even more aware that God has REALLY blessed me with Harrison.
I will stop for now, but truly I could keep going and going... God really is faithful. He loves us.
We should all set up an ebenezer, if you ask me, to serve as a continual reminder that we are forgiven, that we have chosen a new life, that God has made a permanent covenant with all who put their faith in him.
Samuel was a smart guy and he had a good idea. He, and Pastor Steven (and the documentary makers) for that matter are in touch with one of the short comings of human nature --- we're forgetful. At Ebenezer, Israel could stand next to that big old rock and remind themselves, "Yes, we serve a living and faithful God, whose mercies are everlasting." When I get down, I can read back over this and say MY GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!
Get some stones! Build your ebenezer.
I LOVE this concept. It really is (and has been for a while) one of my favorite concepts in the old testament. I first heard it in good old number 400 of the Baptist Hymnal "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing..." (The lyrics are SO lovely that I included them all. The part thats pertinent to my post tonight is verse 2.)
1. Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.
2. Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
3. O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
So, what's an ebenezer anyway? Obviously, being that its a biblical concept, scripture is the first place to look for that answer.
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites." - 1 Samuel 7:12-14
After a long period of problem and discord (a consequence of Israel's disobedience) the Israelites repented under the leadership of Samuel. God restored their security and the people committed their hearts and minds to their Lord again.
Samuel put a large stone at the place where this restoration began. He publicly dedicated it as a monument to God's help, God's faithfulness, God's eternal covenant. As the people got on with their lives, the stone stood there, visible to all who passed that way, a reminder that God judged them. A reminder that God loved them. A reminder that God forgave them. A reminder that God restored them. The Ebenezer stone represented a fresh beginning, a reversal of course for God's people. It also said something important about God: his mercies are everlasting; his covenant is forever.
This concept is SO beautiful to me. I can't express it enough. We even preach this idea to the children I counsel at work. To know where you're going, its SO important to know where you've been. One good example of that idea:
Members of AA can tell you how long they have been sober. They keep alive the memory of the last drink they took, and with each new day they move farther down the road of sobriety. AA is on to something important. Do they ask their members to count the number of years spent in drunken waste? No. They count the days spent walking in a new direction.
I to beat myself up about mistakes I made way back. I don't forgive myself, even though I accept the fact of God's forgiveness. Perhaps you can identify with me. But that's not what God wants from me... or from you.
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14
This is a lot of the reason why I've come to enjoy keeping this blog. This is also a lot of the reason that my blog has moved from just writing about life to chronicling my walk with Christ and the things I learn about faith. On a day that I'm feeling down or lost or just not good enough, I can look back at my ebenezer and see that I serve a wonderfully faithful blog. This is the same idea Elevation employed with the documentary, and if you ask me its a GREAT one.
Some of the things that God has blessed me with lately follow. I know that at some point I'll be down again, and I want to remember how faithful he is.
- I have a grad school interview in a few days! I am beyond excited at the opportunity to get into a Master's program and ultimately be one step close to being a licensed counselor.
- I got cards in the mail today from my baby sister and from my niece and nephew. I really have the most wonderful family in the entire world.
- This weekend I have a dinner date with three friends from my early days at North Greenville. I am already so excited about spending time with these girls. God has continued to provide me with some of the best friends I could ask for. I can't wait to catch up and fellowship with them.
- Several people I love (most notably, my mom!) have birthdays this week. I'm so thankful that all these wonderful people were able to see another year, and that I'm able to enjoy them in my life.
- I always thought that Elevation was the best church in the world (and it is) but joining an E Group has provided a whole new world of blessings in recent weeks. The women in my group are caring, Godly women who never fail to challenge and encourage me. I LOVE being a part of their group.
- Love Week 2011 is coming up at Elevation. I'm going to get to serve like CRAZY, love on all kinds of people and spend time with my E Group girls... it doesn't get much better than that!!
- Yesterday was Valentine's day. I spent the evening with the most caring, selfless guy I know. He spent the entire day at the hospital encouraging his sick Grandpa (who could use your prayers, if you don't mind), and then spent his evening doting on me and making sure that I felt special on Valentine's day. I went through SO much pain and heartache in past relationships, and all that is making me even more aware that God has REALLY blessed me with Harrison.
I will stop for now, but truly I could keep going and going... God really is faithful. He loves us.
We should all set up an ebenezer, if you ask me, to serve as a continual reminder that we are forgiven, that we have chosen a new life, that God has made a permanent covenant with all who put their faith in him.
Samuel was a smart guy and he had a good idea. He, and Pastor Steven (and the documentary makers) for that matter are in touch with one of the short comings of human nature --- we're forgetful. At Ebenezer, Israel could stand next to that big old rock and remind themselves, "Yes, we serve a living and faithful God, whose mercies are everlasting." When I get down, I can read back over this and say MY GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!
Get some stones! Build your ebenezer.
Friday, February 11
This is How We Change The World!
This weekend is Elevation's birthday! We are watching a feature length documentary called This is How We Change The World, and its all about how Elevation started and what God's done in the last 5 years. I just wanted to post a link to the trailer and let everyone know that you NEEEEED to come to Elevation this weekend. I'll be at the Blakeney campus Saturday at 5pm. There are tons of opportunities, so come out and celebrate with us!!
Check out the trailer for the documentary here:
http://vimeo.com/19335948
Happy Friday!
Check out the trailer for the documentary here:
http://vimeo.com/19335948
Happy Friday!
Tuesday, February 1
more lyrics.
I know I just posted lyrics recently... but I keep hearing this song, and its just SOO good. Normally, I'm not a fan of contemporary christian music at all. The message is great, but its just not my style musically. This song keeps touching me though, so I had to share. These lyrics talk about being faithful through hard times. That's something I have been trying to do over the last six months or so... and something that I'd never really done before. And I have to say, even though I'm not completely sure about everything yet, all this has been SO worth it. Every day I realize more and more that God puts me where he wants me for a reason, and that all things work out for the good of those of use who love him (Romans 2:8). Yeah, some situations in my life have been so hard. Yeah, sometimes I have no idea why God puts me where he does.... but I know that I am so blessed. God is good. Last Sunday Pastor Steven said "When you want what God wants for the reason God wants it, you're UNSTOPPABLE." So, I'm praying that I'll be in one accord with God, even if that means I have to endure a little rain...
Mercy Me - Bring The Rain
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Mercy Me - Bring The Rain
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Tuesday, January 25
ALWAYS.
Pastor Steven opened Elevation's worship experience with this passage last weekend, and its been on my heart since then.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights."
He's always with me. He's always with you too. ALWAYS.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights."
He's always with me. He's always with you too. ALWAYS.
Tuesday, January 18
follow.
So let me just go ahead and make the proclamation... I'm fairly certain that I'm not going to be blogging about anything besides faith anymore. If you read my blog from the beginning you can see quite a journey over the last several months. A few months ago I wrote a post about my struggle with faith. I readily admitted that I felt weird writing about being a Christian and that I didn't have the authority to say anything of worth. I used to know a lot about being a Christian when I was a kid, but it never really changed me too much. I just took information in and spit it back when I was supposed to. I recently heard it called spiritual bulimia. Kind of crass, but totally true. So, I all but deserted the Christian faith for a few years post college. Anyway, I've gone over that story in a recent blog, so I'll skip the details. Suffice to say that over the last few months I wanted to find my way back to Christianity. I realized that I was missing something, but it wasn't that old excuse for faith that people presented me when I was a kid. I always felt guilty because I wanted something besides my religion. I thought is was a guy, a drink, a paycheck. Tried that and I was wrong. Turns out the whole time I was being suffocated by Christiainity and what I wanted was GOD. All the STUFF (meetings, trips, do's and don'ts, christian politics, and just CHURCH in general) of Christianity clogged up my mind and heart to the point that I never really got GOD. So, anyway, here's the thing I just realized. I've been a BELIEVER for a long time, but I just became a FOLLOWER.
I want to say a LOT more about this, but I'm still figuring it out myself. Here are a few related thoughts I'm currently chewing on... most are a combination from sermons I've heard recently at Elevation, stuff I've read in my own personal Bible study (I read Matthew today), and my current pleasure reading 'Irresistible Revolution' by Shane Claiborne.
- What I am > what I do. Therefore I am striving to not worry about what I am going to do, but who I am going to become. I want to be someone who loves God and loves people.
- Love God. Love people. Follow Jesus. Thats really all there is, so I am striving to stop worrying about anything that's not in direct relation to those things.
- Being passive is just as bad as being violent. TAKE ACTION.
- We can worship Jesus without following him. We can adore his cross without taking up ours... But that's not something I'm interested in.
- Sometimes Christian 'stuff' makes so much noise that people can't hear our words. That's not acceptable for me. If something I do makes it harder to hear Jesus, then its gotta go.
- Following Jesus is simple, but not easy.
- We should start out by serving others, but move toward a relationship with those people.
- Everyone in the body of Christ is important. We need to get planted in the local body and EMBRACE OUR PLACE.
- There shouldn't even be a plural form of the word church... there's only ONE body of believers.
- Conversion is a process, not a one time event
- 'There is enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.' -Gandhi
- 'We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you life so many people out of the ditch, you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved.' Martin Luther King Jr.
I know all of this didn't exactly 'flow'.... but hope you found at least one piece thought provoking. =)
I want to say a LOT more about this, but I'm still figuring it out myself. Here are a few related thoughts I'm currently chewing on... most are a combination from sermons I've heard recently at Elevation, stuff I've read in my own personal Bible study (I read Matthew today), and my current pleasure reading 'Irresistible Revolution' by Shane Claiborne.
- What I am > what I do. Therefore I am striving to not worry about what I am going to do, but who I am going to become. I want to be someone who loves God and loves people.
- Love God. Love people. Follow Jesus. Thats really all there is, so I am striving to stop worrying about anything that's not in direct relation to those things.
- Being passive is just as bad as being violent. TAKE ACTION.
- We can worship Jesus without following him. We can adore his cross without taking up ours... But that's not something I'm interested in.
- Sometimes Christian 'stuff' makes so much noise that people can't hear our words. That's not acceptable for me. If something I do makes it harder to hear Jesus, then its gotta go.
- Following Jesus is simple, but not easy.
- We should start out by serving others, but move toward a relationship with those people.
- Everyone in the body of Christ is important. We need to get planted in the local body and EMBRACE OUR PLACE.
- There shouldn't even be a plural form of the word church... there's only ONE body of believers.
- Conversion is a process, not a one time event
- 'There is enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.' -Gandhi
- 'We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you life so many people out of the ditch, you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved.' Martin Luther King Jr.
I know all of this didn't exactly 'flow'.... but hope you found at least one piece thought provoking. =)
Friday, January 14
take two.
Sometimes I have something that I want to blog about, but I don't quite know how to say it. So, usually I think about it, pray about it, google it for a few days and then it all sort of comes together into something that I can post. The idea I've had in my head this week hasn't really done that. As such, I decided to start typing and see if I can get it to flow. Hope that's ok. I'll be honest. Most of the time these blogs are more for me than anyone else. Its nice to go back to my blog on a down day and read back over the things God's been teaching me. Sometimes it makes it easier to know where you're going if you can see where you've been. I don't even know if anyone else actually reads my blog. Either way, I'm gonna keep writing. Ok, back to what I've been thinking about this week.
This all started last Saturday. Normally I attend the Saturday afternoon service at Elevation Blakney. Well, last weekend I was off work, so I decided to go to a Sunday morning service. Saturday night I went out to dinner with good friends and watched a little football. I had fun, but the whole time I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. I really missed that time with God. I mean I knew I'd get it the next morning, but it still made me feel a little off so to speak. I thought about that for a few days. I didn't even realize how much I looked forward to going to church to spend time in worship. So then I started trying to remember having that feeling in the past. I LOVED going to church when I was a kid, but it was a much different feeling. The more I started thinking about it, I realized that I used to look forward to going to see people. I was friends with the other kids in my youth group. I wasn't the most athletic or best looking kid, so I was never very popular in school. But boy did I know lots of Bible verses. I was friendly to everyone. I was one of the popular kids. THAT is why I liked going to church. But now? I know people at Elevation. But in a church that averages close to 8,000 people across four campuses each weekend, how many of those acquaintances do you run into? I realized that I was actually looking forward to singing, praying, tithing, writing down notes from a sermon, finding out the next thing God wants me to know. Since that little revelation from God, I've been POURING over old memories from my church going days as a kid.
Please don't think I'm about to bash on the church I grew up in or the people who taught me about Christianity as a kid. Thats not my intention at all. The faults of my past are just as much mine as anyone's. Somehow I really just missed what being a Christian is all about until a few months ago. I wanted to be a Christian. [And I know that God knows I wanted to love him. I honestly didn't know the right way to do it though. I'm glad He knows my heart even when my actions don't match up.] I wanted God's blessings and love. I wanted to serve him. I wanted to love people like Christ did. But for some reason I just never quite felt the thing I saw some other Christians expressing in their worship and in their lives. When I was in high school I thought that the way to be a Christian was to not drink, not cuss, not use drugs, not have sex. Thats pretty much all anyone ever said to me. I avoided that stuff, but I wasn't ever really all that happy. I still didn't love God or people like I wanted to. Well, then I graduated and moved out on my own. I experimented with some of that stuff, thinking that maybe then I would be happier. Well, things got worse. The drinking didn't make any difference. The boyfriend didn't make me feel complete. Well, eventually (within the last 6 months or so) I decided that turning back to Jesus was the thing to do... but I didn't want to do it the way everyone around me did church as a kid. I knew that it didn't work.
The more I think about it the more I realize that the reason I couldn't make it work when I was a kid is that I was trying to fit into the Christian mold. Ok, sure lots of people get up really early and read their Bible and pray in the morning... after all, in youth group thats what they told us good christians did. Good Christians listen to 91.9 (our local contemporary Christian station) because thats the only holy music. There are countless other things I could name, but you get the point... This stuff doesn't work for me. I HATE getting up early. I want to listen to The Beatles. And to be honest I don't have the self-discipline to avoid sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll just because all the preachers I knew when I was a kid told me I was supposed to. I just don't. That's not me. And I was turned off by Christianity when I was a young adult because people told me all this stuff about me was bad.
This time around though, I found Christianity for myself instead of listening to what other people told me. I don't like to get up early. So I don't. I go to church on Saturday night. I read my Bible and pray at lunch time. I don't like having to tote a big bible around all the time. So I don't. I pull up a bible app on my blackberry whenever I want to read. I don't like wearing dresses or high heels. So I don't. I wear converse and a hoodie to church. I listen to secular music. I watch TV. And I look for God in all that everyday stuff... because he's there. He speaks to me all the time through stuff that isn't labeled Christian. And all that other stuff... sex, drugs, alcohol. Yeah, I avoid it. But this time I know that avoiding it won't make me a Christian. I know that I'm a Christian because I love God more than anything else and I want to please him. I avoid sin because I love God more than I love my own pleasure. I love making him happy. I know that sin disgusts him, and when you love someone, you never want them to feel that way.
Most importantly, I know that I can't love God or people enough on my own. Its seems weird to ask God to help me love him. But the fact of the matter is I need him. And if I need him to help me love him in all his perfection, then I sure need him to help me love fault-filled human beings... including myself. Its a CRAZY cycle. The more I pray and ask God to help me love him, the more I love him... which causes me to want to pray and ask for his help and read his word and worship him more... I just can't believe it took me until now to figure this out. I wish someone had clued me into this so long ago... its what I was missing that makes being a Christian work like its supposed to. I grew up thinking that the only thing I could do was love God. And that the way I proved that I loved him was by not sinning (especially those "big" sins)... but I was wrong. I can't even do that. I need him for EVERYTHING, even loving him. Then, I have to stop thinking this way, relying on God, in order to engage in those intentional, "big" sins. I'm no longer having to stop and wonder if I'm doing it right, a thought that CONSUMED me as a young person. Now I am freed up to love and worship and give and serve without guilt or worry or fear. I mean yeah, I fall down still... a lot, but I know that it doesn't mean I don't love God (which I thought when I was a kid). It means I have something else to rely on him for... it means he's going to save me from something else, and I'll get to experience his love and power in a fresh, new way. And that is a goooood feeling.
This seems like a lot of rambling to me... but I'm posting it anyway. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
This all started last Saturday. Normally I attend the Saturday afternoon service at Elevation Blakney. Well, last weekend I was off work, so I decided to go to a Sunday morning service. Saturday night I went out to dinner with good friends and watched a little football. I had fun, but the whole time I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. I really missed that time with God. I mean I knew I'd get it the next morning, but it still made me feel a little off so to speak. I thought about that for a few days. I didn't even realize how much I looked forward to going to church to spend time in worship. So then I started trying to remember having that feeling in the past. I LOVED going to church when I was a kid, but it was a much different feeling. The more I started thinking about it, I realized that I used to look forward to going to see people. I was friends with the other kids in my youth group. I wasn't the most athletic or best looking kid, so I was never very popular in school. But boy did I know lots of Bible verses. I was friendly to everyone. I was one of the popular kids. THAT is why I liked going to church. But now? I know people at Elevation. But in a church that averages close to 8,000 people across four campuses each weekend, how many of those acquaintances do you run into? I realized that I was actually looking forward to singing, praying, tithing, writing down notes from a sermon, finding out the next thing God wants me to know. Since that little revelation from God, I've been POURING over old memories from my church going days as a kid.
Please don't think I'm about to bash on the church I grew up in or the people who taught me about Christianity as a kid. Thats not my intention at all. The faults of my past are just as much mine as anyone's. Somehow I really just missed what being a Christian is all about until a few months ago. I wanted to be a Christian. [And I know that God knows I wanted to love him. I honestly didn't know the right way to do it though. I'm glad He knows my heart even when my actions don't match up.] I wanted God's blessings and love. I wanted to serve him. I wanted to love people like Christ did. But for some reason I just never quite felt the thing I saw some other Christians expressing in their worship and in their lives. When I was in high school I thought that the way to be a Christian was to not drink, not cuss, not use drugs, not have sex. Thats pretty much all anyone ever said to me. I avoided that stuff, but I wasn't ever really all that happy. I still didn't love God or people like I wanted to. Well, then I graduated and moved out on my own. I experimented with some of that stuff, thinking that maybe then I would be happier. Well, things got worse. The drinking didn't make any difference. The boyfriend didn't make me feel complete. Well, eventually (within the last 6 months or so) I decided that turning back to Jesus was the thing to do... but I didn't want to do it the way everyone around me did church as a kid. I knew that it didn't work.
The more I think about it the more I realize that the reason I couldn't make it work when I was a kid is that I was trying to fit into the Christian mold. Ok, sure lots of people get up really early and read their Bible and pray in the morning... after all, in youth group thats what they told us good christians did. Good Christians listen to 91.9 (our local contemporary Christian station) because thats the only holy music. There are countless other things I could name, but you get the point... This stuff doesn't work for me. I HATE getting up early. I want to listen to The Beatles. And to be honest I don't have the self-discipline to avoid sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll just because all the preachers I knew when I was a kid told me I was supposed to. I just don't. That's not me. And I was turned off by Christianity when I was a young adult because people told me all this stuff about me was bad.
This time around though, I found Christianity for myself instead of listening to what other people told me. I don't like to get up early. So I don't. I go to church on Saturday night. I read my Bible and pray at lunch time. I don't like having to tote a big bible around all the time. So I don't. I pull up a bible app on my blackberry whenever I want to read. I don't like wearing dresses or high heels. So I don't. I wear converse and a hoodie to church. I listen to secular music. I watch TV. And I look for God in all that everyday stuff... because he's there. He speaks to me all the time through stuff that isn't labeled Christian. And all that other stuff... sex, drugs, alcohol. Yeah, I avoid it. But this time I know that avoiding it won't make me a Christian. I know that I'm a Christian because I love God more than anything else and I want to please him. I avoid sin because I love God more than I love my own pleasure. I love making him happy. I know that sin disgusts him, and when you love someone, you never want them to feel that way.
Most importantly, I know that I can't love God or people enough on my own. Its seems weird to ask God to help me love him. But the fact of the matter is I need him. And if I need him to help me love him in all his perfection, then I sure need him to help me love fault-filled human beings... including myself. Its a CRAZY cycle. The more I pray and ask God to help me love him, the more I love him... which causes me to want to pray and ask for his help and read his word and worship him more... I just can't believe it took me until now to figure this out. I wish someone had clued me into this so long ago... its what I was missing that makes being a Christian work like its supposed to. I grew up thinking that the only thing I could do was love God. And that the way I proved that I loved him was by not sinning (especially those "big" sins)... but I was wrong. I can't even do that. I need him for EVERYTHING, even loving him. Then, I have to stop thinking this way, relying on God, in order to engage in those intentional, "big" sins. I'm no longer having to stop and wonder if I'm doing it right, a thought that CONSUMED me as a young person. Now I am freed up to love and worship and give and serve without guilt or worry or fear. I mean yeah, I fall down still... a lot, but I know that it doesn't mean I don't love God (which I thought when I was a kid). It means I have something else to rely on him for... it means he's going to save me from something else, and I'll get to experience his love and power in a fresh, new way. And that is a goooood feeling.
This seems like a lot of rambling to me... but I'm posting it anyway. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Sunday, January 9
overwhelmed.
I'm one of those people. You know, the ones who worry... a lot. Yep. I know I shouldn't. I know its not helping me. I know it makes me moody and keeps me from sleeping. But I worry a lot. Usually though, I find small ways to reduce that stress and worry into a manageable load. Lately though, thats been easier said than done. Lots of things are changing, and I have a lot of decisions to make in a rather short amount of time. Anyway, I've been praying constantly over what to do. Today though I found an unexpected amount of comfort at Elevation.
This week started a new sermon series called 'Get Back.' The series is all about recovering your spiritual momentum. Throughout the sermon Pastor Steven just kept going back to the concept of not asking God WHY, but asking God WHAT --- What's next? What do you have for me? What do you want me to do? It was such an affirmation that its ok that I don't quite know where I'm going. It doesn't mean you're doing something wrong if you don't have it all figured out. As Pastor Steven went on to explain we should be looking for natural means to make room for a supernatural occurrence. His encouragement was to 'prepare for the blessing you're praying for as if its already yours.'
The Pastor specifically said, maybe all your friends are engaged and moving on to new life experiences, and you're wondering what's next for you. I'm not ashamed to say that that sentence was straight from God's heart to my ears. I may be being overly vulnerable here, but I do feel like I'm a little behind the rest of my friends in some ways. I'm still waiting on the perfect guy, the perfect job, and plenty of other things. I'm just trying to do the best I can where God put me. On the other hand though, I'm aware that I am loved by a perfect and holy God and everything will come about in his time. God reassured me of that today thanks to a wonderful sermon at what I'd say is the best body of believers on the planet.
Oh, and to top it all off, the theme of the sermon series was based on the Beatles song 'Get Back.' Everything from the videos, to the printed material, to the music had a Beatles flair to it today. And think I'm reading too much into this if you want to... But EVERYONE knows how much I love the Beatles. I just felt like God was saying 'not only do I know what word your spiritual life needs today, but I know you personally, who you are, what you like, what you want and need, and what I speaks to you most because I love you... and this service is for you.'
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm overwhelmed today by how prefect our God is and how much he loves me. I hope you know He feels the same way about you. =)
This week started a new sermon series called 'Get Back.' The series is all about recovering your spiritual momentum. Throughout the sermon Pastor Steven just kept going back to the concept of not asking God WHY, but asking God WHAT --- What's next? What do you have for me? What do you want me to do? It was such an affirmation that its ok that I don't quite know where I'm going. It doesn't mean you're doing something wrong if you don't have it all figured out. As Pastor Steven went on to explain we should be looking for natural means to make room for a supernatural occurrence. His encouragement was to 'prepare for the blessing you're praying for as if its already yours.'
The Pastor specifically said, maybe all your friends are engaged and moving on to new life experiences, and you're wondering what's next for you. I'm not ashamed to say that that sentence was straight from God's heart to my ears. I may be being overly vulnerable here, but I do feel like I'm a little behind the rest of my friends in some ways. I'm still waiting on the perfect guy, the perfect job, and plenty of other things. I'm just trying to do the best I can where God put me. On the other hand though, I'm aware that I am loved by a perfect and holy God and everything will come about in his time. God reassured me of that today thanks to a wonderful sermon at what I'd say is the best body of believers on the planet.
Oh, and to top it all off, the theme of the sermon series was based on the Beatles song 'Get Back.' Everything from the videos, to the printed material, to the music had a Beatles flair to it today. And think I'm reading too much into this if you want to... But EVERYONE knows how much I love the Beatles. I just felt like God was saying 'not only do I know what word your spiritual life needs today, but I know you personally, who you are, what you like, what you want and need, and what I speaks to you most because I love you... and this service is for you.'
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm overwhelmed today by how prefect our God is and how much he loves me. I hope you know He feels the same way about you. =)
Monday, December 20
gentle and quiet.
I read a lot. Fiction. Nonfiction. Magazines. Newspapers. Blogs. Wikipedia articles (favorite pastime when I'm bored at work...). And of course, The Bible. So, usually I think about something I've read for a little bit, but before long I've read something else that works its way into the forefront of my mind. I say that so you'll understand how weird this next bit is. I read a piece of scripture more than a month ago, and its been rolling around in my brain on a daily basis since then. I don't mean to say that I normally read scripture and then forget it. But I also don't usually find that a specific phrase attaches itself to my brain quite as strongly as this one did. To be honest, I was almost... well... bothered by this scripture. Ok, so now I bet you're wondering what this scripture said that had me so... confused, annoyed, whatever I was. I still don't exactly know what to say about it. Here it is...
1 Peter 3:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
The part that kept creeping back into my head was the phrase "gentle and quiet spirit." Why you ask?
Anyone who has spent more than about 2 minutes in the same room as me will tell you that I am not shy. I am outspoken. I am opinionated. I am loud. I have a BIG personality. I am the EXACT opposite of a wallflower. So when I read that God values GENTLE and QUIET I thought 'well geez, I'm screwed.' I want to be beautiful... ESPECIALLY in God's eyes, but I don't know about gentle and quite. In my head that's like saying God values women with brown eyes... well mine are blue... so what exactly am I supposed to do about this?
To be honest, 'gentle and quiet' sounded to me like the recipe for BORING. In order for me to be a good Christian woman I have to be meek, easy to dominate, and not talk too much? I think that the way I initially read these verses is the way LOTS of people interpret them. Actually, to be totally honest, I've met Christian women like that. And I don't want to be one. On the other hand I've known women who were outgoing and were made to feel less feminine or worse less holy because they had a strong personality. I suppose some people see such women as a threat to Christian tradition or male leadership.
Well, after thinking about all this for about a week I decided to do a little research and see what some other people had to say about interpreting these words. I just didn't believe that I needed to change my personality in order to be a Godly woman. After reading what some really credible Christian women had to say about this passage I started to feel a lot better.
First off, the passage says gentle and quiet SPIRIT not PERSONALITY. Look up the definitions... not the same thing at all. Your spirit is the thing underneath that drives your personality, but its not the same thing. This information was INSTANT relief to me. Meaning I can be strong, loud, passionate, opinionated and have a gentle quiet spirit underneath. Well, that revelation led me to my next question. What does an outgoing woman with a gentle quiet spirit look like in comparison to an outgoing woman without a gentle quiet spirit? So, more googling, reading, praying etc led me to the following conclusions... (understand of course that all of this isn't directly out of my head... I read some quite intelligent women's thoughts on this subject... but I don't think they'd mind my sharing.)
1. An outgoing woman with a gentle and quite spirit is confident, but not forceful while a woman without such a spirit will push, force, or manipulate until she gets her way. (A manipulative woman... SHOCK, right?!)
2. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit can lead without controlling, while a woman without such a spirit seeks to have all the power. (How many women are self-described as type A?!)
3. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is driven by her desire to serve (Christ and other people) but not by not her fear of failing, while a woman without such a spirit is scared of what will happen if she slows down.
4. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is outspoken when the situation calls for it, but speaks with the grace and humility of Christ, while a woman without such a spirit MUST be heard no matter the repercussion.
5. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is quick to listen and slow to speak (and THINKS before she does speak in order to communicate truth effectively), while a woman without such a spirit is pushy, harsh or overbearing.
As I read at some point in my 'investigation' the bulk of this situation comes down to having a spirit working out of peace or out of fear. We're driven by one or the other, and its all our choice as to which one it is. I've been in both situations in my adult life, and I can say that the peace is a FAR better choice. I have found that its an active day to day choice to live out of peace and to develop a gentle quiet spirit. As Pastor Steven noted in the last sermon series at Elevation, 'when we give God the highest glory, he gives us his deepest peace.' And when I'm at peace I'm able to have that gentle and quiet spirit that God finds so beautiful. It amazed me how God just fit all these little pieces together to make one big message for me.
So, if you're loud and outgoing like me, then keep it up. Just do it as a way to glorify God, not to get attention. As I mentioned in a blog a few weeks back, the thing that makes you unique is the thing that makes you powerful (Thanks to Pastor Steven for that clever turn of phrase.) A gentle and quiet spirit doesn't equal a boring personality. Its just an anchor that ties your God given personality to Christ and makes you even more unique, so embrace it. Thats what I'm working on. =)
1 Peter 3:3-4 (New International Version)
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
The part that kept creeping back into my head was the phrase "gentle and quiet spirit." Why you ask?
Anyone who has spent more than about 2 minutes in the same room as me will tell you that I am not shy. I am outspoken. I am opinionated. I am loud. I have a BIG personality. I am the EXACT opposite of a wallflower. So when I read that God values GENTLE and QUIET I thought 'well geez, I'm screwed.' I want to be beautiful... ESPECIALLY in God's eyes, but I don't know about gentle and quite. In my head that's like saying God values women with brown eyes... well mine are blue... so what exactly am I supposed to do about this?
To be honest, 'gentle and quiet' sounded to me like the recipe for BORING. In order for me to be a good Christian woman I have to be meek, easy to dominate, and not talk too much? I think that the way I initially read these verses is the way LOTS of people interpret them. Actually, to be totally honest, I've met Christian women like that. And I don't want to be one. On the other hand I've known women who were outgoing and were made to feel less feminine or worse less holy because they had a strong personality. I suppose some people see such women as a threat to Christian tradition or male leadership.
Well, after thinking about all this for about a week I decided to do a little research and see what some other people had to say about interpreting these words. I just didn't believe that I needed to change my personality in order to be a Godly woman. After reading what some really credible Christian women had to say about this passage I started to feel a lot better.
First off, the passage says gentle and quiet SPIRIT not PERSONALITY. Look up the definitions... not the same thing at all. Your spirit is the thing underneath that drives your personality, but its not the same thing. This information was INSTANT relief to me. Meaning I can be strong, loud, passionate, opinionated and have a gentle quiet spirit underneath. Well, that revelation led me to my next question. What does an outgoing woman with a gentle quiet spirit look like in comparison to an outgoing woman without a gentle quiet spirit? So, more googling, reading, praying etc led me to the following conclusions... (understand of course that all of this isn't directly out of my head... I read some quite intelligent women's thoughts on this subject... but I don't think they'd mind my sharing.)
1. An outgoing woman with a gentle and quite spirit is confident, but not forceful while a woman without such a spirit will push, force, or manipulate until she gets her way. (A manipulative woman... SHOCK, right?!)
2. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit can lead without controlling, while a woman without such a spirit seeks to have all the power. (How many women are self-described as type A?!)
3. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is driven by her desire to serve (Christ and other people) but not by not her fear of failing, while a woman without such a spirit is scared of what will happen if she slows down.
4. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is outspoken when the situation calls for it, but speaks with the grace and humility of Christ, while a woman without such a spirit MUST be heard no matter the repercussion.
5. A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is quick to listen and slow to speak (and THINKS before she does speak in order to communicate truth effectively), while a woman without such a spirit is pushy, harsh or overbearing.
As I read at some point in my 'investigation' the bulk of this situation comes down to having a spirit working out of peace or out of fear. We're driven by one or the other, and its all our choice as to which one it is. I've been in both situations in my adult life, and I can say that the peace is a FAR better choice. I have found that its an active day to day choice to live out of peace and to develop a gentle quiet spirit. As Pastor Steven noted in the last sermon series at Elevation, 'when we give God the highest glory, he gives us his deepest peace.' And when I'm at peace I'm able to have that gentle and quiet spirit that God finds so beautiful. It amazed me how God just fit all these little pieces together to make one big message for me.
So, if you're loud and outgoing like me, then keep it up. Just do it as a way to glorify God, not to get attention. As I mentioned in a blog a few weeks back, the thing that makes you unique is the thing that makes you powerful (Thanks to Pastor Steven for that clever turn of phrase.) A gentle and quiet spirit doesn't equal a boring personality. Its just an anchor that ties your God given personality to Christ and makes you even more unique, so embrace it. Thats what I'm working on. =)
Tuesday, November 30
LOVE THIS!
I said a few weeks ago that I try to avoid writing about my faith. I just feel like I'm not a preacher, so it makes me uncomfortable. Who am I to speak with authority? And somehow, since that post faith is pretty much all I've written about. Funny how God does stuff like that, huh? I'm working on a writing a blog that I've really been thinking about for a while now. Its some pretty heavy stuff... this is NOT that blog.
The following are a list of a few things I love: creativity, music, Elevation, musicians, Glee, spoofs, worshipping God through having fun, the ability to laugh at one's self, The Beatles.
The following bit of media goodness combines all these elements for your viewing enjoyment... all credit belongs to the immensely talented individuals on the creative team at Elevation. Ok. After I wrote that I couldn't get it to work properly... so go to the following address and check out the video! Its super funny!
http://vimeo.com/17328128
The following are a list of a few things I love: creativity, music, Elevation, musicians, Glee, spoofs, worshipping God through having fun, the ability to laugh at one's self, The Beatles.
The following bit of media goodness combines all these elements for your viewing enjoyment... all credit belongs to the immensely talented individuals on the creative team at Elevation. Ok. After I wrote that I couldn't get it to work properly... so go to the following address and check out the video! Its super funny!
http://vimeo.com/17328128
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