Really, Kelsey?

As evidenced by the infrequency with which I post to this lovely little blog, the pace of life just never seems to slow down.  It never fails...you think you have everything all set out and it will be smooth sailing for a few days, and then something comes up. 

So, with things coming at us at the speed of light, it is easy to blame our poor management of time on the fact that we feel like we don't have any time to begin with.  Something that hit me this morning while I was reading Streams in the Desert (trying not to think about the fact that I had to leave in 5 minutes and still had to make my lunch) was this thought: well I'm so glad that this lady in the devotional had an extra hour every day that she could sit in her garden and just talk to God, completely uninterrupted...if I had that much free time, I would do the exact same thing.  But before you think I am being "holier than thou," let me complete my thought process, which continued on the way to work...ok, let's be honest...if I had an extra hour every day, it would most likely get taken up by the pile of laundry that I'm trying to ignore even though it is right beside the dining room table, or cleaning the counter in the bathroom (because I have noticed a nice layer of dust accumulating), or cleaning the door of the oven (because I don't realize until I am cooking that I have still not removed the burned sweet potato that splashed out of the pie).

So, what is my point?  Instead of viewing my job as the reason why I don't get to spend an hour alone with God in my (nonexistent) garden, I need to view it as the way that God wants me to glorify Him during this time in my life.  Well, one of the ways...but since I spend 35.7% of my waking hours at work (more like 50% if you include the shop), that's kind of a lot.  Also, when I do get free time, it has to be prioritized.  Yes, the laundry is important, but not more important than spending time with my husband, or reading CS Lewis, or finishing my quiet time before 11pm when I just want to close my eyes.  So that's that.

Take It.

Life happens. Quickly. And if we aren't careful, we let opportunities pass us by. We let things catch us by surprise. We let little things become big things. And we become subject to what the world throws at us.

However, since we know that this world and its fleeting desires are passing away (1 John 2:17), it is imperative that we take hold of the life that God has given us and run with perseverance the race that is before us (Hebrews 12:1). I would consider this living proactively, as opposed to living reactively and just taking things as they come. We know that God sent Christ to give us abundant life, but the Prince of the Power of the Air demonstrates his power in the world in an attempt to steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10).

When we lose sight of the fact that the enemy has no power over us that we not give to him (John 14:30), we are more and more impacted by his attempts to destroy us. But when we know and are fully aware that our battle has already been won (Romans 16:20), his stabs at us have no effect. This concept is obviously so simple, but when things happen so quickly that all you can do is squeak by the deadlines, the truth sometimes seems too simple and we don't trust that it is true. That is the dangerous time when we let things affect us too much and we are tempted to cut corners or disgrace the fact that we are only here to live our lives for the One who created us.

We must be careful not to let the good things become the enemies of the great things. Know that we are not alone in this fight against the enemy. We know how the story ends. We win. So while we are here, let's take this life proactively and not be distracted by the lies of the enemy.

Calm It Down, People.

"Just because you're sweating at the game, doesn't mean that you're on the field."

I have attended plenty of football games in my time...High school, Christian college, Public college. That means that I have encountered plenty of football "fans" as well...Nice, civil, cordial, annoying, frustrating, cross, hateful, obnoxious, just plain rude.

Here is what I have observed through my experiences...there are people who legitimately cheer for the team through thick and thin, there are people who are happy when the team is doing well and yell a string of explitives if the team is not, there are people who leave after the first quarter as if there is no hope of recovery, there are people who curse the coach and the players on the team that they are "fans" of. And most everyone believes that they can actually do something about the way their team is playing...they think that if they "go where they go and do what they do," all will be well...they think that if they yell loud enough, the coach will miraculously hear them and change the way he is coaching...they think that if they could just be a player on that field, they would never lose a single play, let alone a game.

In thinking about this (and trying not to smack the guy in front of me in the back of the head for yelling worse words than I have heard in months), I realized something. These "fans" are just like "Christians" today.

Some people say they are Christians, but when it really comes down to it and their life is caving in, they wouldn't even think to call on Jesus. Some people think that by being angry with God for a situation, they can actually change His mind. Some people think that if they could only be in charge, nothing would ever go wrong. Some people think that if they tell God frequently enough what He is doing wrong, that He will all of a sudden change His whole plan.

The world has lost the point. The point is not winning every game, never having any struggles, being in control, criticizing the things that come your way. The point is trusting God to work out His purposes, sticking with Him when the whole world turns away, believing that He is making you stronger, becoming more like Christ in everything you do. Just like a coach knows his players and his strategies and his ultimate plan, our Coach is sovereign over everything and He never makes a mistake. Do not let the world define success.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." --Micah 6:8.

"'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD, 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" --Isaiah 55:8-9.

Wake on up from your slumber, open up your eyes.

When Strivings Cease.

Lately, when I have found myself getting stressed or overwhelmed by everything going around me, the LORD has brought this one line from "In Christ Alone" to my mind.

What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease, my Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

I didn't really understand why those words would repeat over and over again, but I knew that He wanted me to figure it out.

This I know: my Heavenly Father loves me. Of course, everyone knows that. But do you acknowledge that the statement is true, or do you allow the incredible fact to invade your life and motivate everything you do? It is this picture of a Father gently reminding His child that they cannot do anything without Him, and then when they try and try to be independent of Him and they fall terribly short, He is there to hold them in His arms and encompass them with His love. I can almost hear Him saying to me "Alright, Kels, are finished striving yet? I'm here to show you undeniable grace and love, but you have to sit still for two seconds."

The song "The One You Need" by Shane and Shane captures some of what I'm trying to say, though I seem to be rambling...and yes, it makes me cry.

He who has called you is faithful.

Insurance Claims.

Don't worry...nothing happened. :)

I've heard people say "claim (Scripture reference)," "claim Christ's power," "claim the promises of God's Word" as long as I can remember. But it had never really resonated with me until a few days ago when my dad told Casey to claim Isaiah 41:10.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discourage, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

I got this picture of a precious child of God looking into his Bible, finding Isaiah 41:10, holding it up to his Father in Heaven, pointing at it, and saying "I'd like to redeem this, please!" God has promised us that everything in His Word is true for every single one of us. To recieve this insurance, our monthly payment is simply our faith in Him, faith in what He has done for us, faith in what He is currently doing in us, and faith in His promises for the rest of our lives on earth and our eternal lives with Him. So when we claim one of His promises, it is essentially us admitting that we cannot do this life without Him...we are submitting our shortcomings and mistakes to Him and asking Him to take over.

He will never let us go.

Hebrews 4.

Hebrews chapter 4 has been resonating with me these past few days. In fact, every day since Monday that I have opened my Bible to read the next chapter, I just go right back to chapter 4.

In short, it is impacting me to think about rest. Countless people have asked me lately if I have been resting well. This is a valid question considering all of the recent changes in my life...this is a completely different sermon, but resting in the LORD is not always the same as physically resting, though they may be one in the same sometimes.

This is what I find so intriguing: we focus on various things when we think about Heaven--ceaselessly worshiping our LORD, the place He has prepared for us, no more evil, no more tears, all of the saints that have gone before us, etc. And I think in this passage, Paul is speaking of one of the most significant promises that God makes to us about Heaven: we will be able to experience rest...I think it is far beyond our current comprehension and higher than any of our expectations.


"God's promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this Good News--that God has prepared this rest--has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter His rest." --Hebrews 4:1-3.

Such a Blessing.

Today, I had my third of four bridal showers (the fourth one is tomorrow). There were many wonderful people there and it was a good time of fellowship. But there was one event that stood out a bit from the rest of the time there.

Muriel is a good friend of our family and she has become an adopted third grandmother to me over the years. Before I opened her gift this afternoon, she told everyone about one of the first times she remembers of me. (I don't remember this). She told a story about when I was 3 and I walked away from my mom for a moment to stand by Muriel. I started twirling around a bit and said "I really (weally) like your jewelry."

At this point (today) she started walking towards me and said "Well, Kelsey...this is the jewelry that I was wearing that day." She took the bracelet and watch off of her wrists and handed them to me. Oh. My. Goodness. I wanted to cry right then and there...but frankly, I think I was too flabbergasted to do such a thing. How in the world did she remember the exact jewelry she was wearing that day, 18 years later?!

God knew. He always has ways of showing us how much He loves and cares for us. It's just so intriguing to see how much He uses one of His precious saints like Muriel so many times to do that very thing.

Joyful Noise.

Tonight at the Leadership Dedication/Commissioning Service, the Campus Praise Band led us in a few worship songs at the beginning to get things started in the right attitude. During the second or third song, the LORD told me to stop singing and listen. What I heard was the ensemble of thousands of student leaders expressing their heart cries to our Father...people from all backgrounds and social classes and languages and traditions...it was a joyful noise.

But what stuck out to me the most was the medley of all of the girls from our dorm who were there in those two rows singing to our Maker. We were just there...open...willing...surrendered...presenting our hearts to God. Leaders from this year, leaders for next year, leaders who are coming, leaders who are leaving, seasoned leaders, fresh leaders. We were just there...because that's where God wanted us to be. And now all of us are making plans for where God wants us to be in the next phase of our lives.

Be Happy.

Paul's Honesty.

I am not quite sure why, but when I sat down to blog, this verse popped into my head...

"This is a trustworthy saying and everyone should accept it: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' -- and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst of sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life." --1 Timothy 1:15-16.

I don't think that Paul is actually saying that he committed sins that were far worse than any other person who ever lived, but I do think that God humbled and convicted him of the sins he committed before he was a true follower of the Way. Paul says that he used to blaspheme the name of Christ...this is considered the "worst" sin, but all throughout the New Testament, God tells us that sin is sin...the wages of sin (any kind of sin) is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. It's amazing to see how God took Saul from being a persecutor of Christians to the prime example of the Christian striving after God's own heart. (This story is told in Acts 9 and retold in Acts 22).

The part that gets me about this 1 Timothy passage is that Paul says everything that he used to do ultimately demonstrated God's grace and His glory...Paul made the amazing statement that Christ made Paul a prime example of His patience. Being in a position of leadership these past few years has taught me that people just want an example to follow. It would be easy for leaders to try to win people over with their outgoing personalities and try to make themselves the archetype of the "cool Christian" so that people would want to be like them...it would be easy for them to lose sight of the fact that they are supposed to be pointing people to Christ, because worldly popularity brings so much more quick fulfillment. But Paul realized that God had not brought him from the mire and clay so that people would follow Paul, but to follow Christ in Paul. Our flaws are the ultimate way that we can relate to people and point them to Christ...His power is made perfect in weakness.

"And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." --1 Corinthians 11:1.

Being Okay.

(Note: I always spell it "ok"...but my future husband says "okay," so I thought I would try it out for once.)

I have never been someone who can handle uncertainty...it's my biggest fear, but that's a different post altogether. In fact, I tend to fret for a very very long time when I'm not sure what is going to happen in a situation or what is expected of me. If something uncertain is going on during a particular day, I wake up with a sense of dread that plagues me until I realize that everything will, in fact, be more than alright. God's working me through that.

"But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore -- the LORD above is mightier than these!" --Psalm 93:4.

I suppose the way to sum up what I am trying to say is this: God is teaching me to be okay with not knowing what the next step is. He is giving me peace with only being able to see the step I am on until He shines His sovereignty flashlight on the next step on the staircase. If we try to take control and shine our little nightlights farther down the path, it will come to no avail because we will be just as uncertain and blind to the future as we were before. His light is so much more than we can comprehend...we just have to go along with what He tells us to do, because His gazillion-watt bulb shines plenty bright enough.

I think I'm on the brink of something large
Maybe like the breaking of a dawn
Or maybe like a match being lit
Or the sinking of a ship, letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up, gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet, where I want to be
I am Yours

Whenever I think of the radiance of God and the immaculate light that exudes from Him, I am reminded of Exodus 34:29-30, when Moses comes down from Mount Sinai and he doesn't realize that his face is glowing...He has to put a veil over his face so that he can even be around other people. That's how indescribable the light of God is...that's what we have to look forward to when we can finally see Christ as He really is. Wow.

Philippians.

I think it is safe to say that we have all read the book of Philippians multiple times in our lives. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians were probably the books that I had read the most before I started having a daily quiet time...because I thought that they were the easiest to read and the most applicable to my life. Then I began exploring the truths of Scripture in other books of the Bible and almost began to shun GEPC, thinking that I was "too far advanced for that stuff" or "above the truths of those baby Christians." How arrogant. That is most certainly NOT the case. Paul talks to the churches in those cities as his equals and speaks to them some of the deepest truths in the Bible.

Think about it: these people were first and second generation Christians...like THE first and second generations of Christians...EVER. They were standing for a faith that had just come on the scene, believing in a man who had just gone off the (earthly) scene...they were mocked and persecuted and laughed at and ridiculed unlike most of us have ever experienced...but they knew that what they were believing in was (is) the truth. These people needed more encouragement to stay true to the faith than churches today do...or so the American church has been led to think. The Christians of GEPC helped spread the Gospel all across their towns, regions, countries, and continent...they were involved in the initial push of evangelism, much truer than the "hellfire and brimstone evangelism" or "social gospel evangelism" that has been reeking havoc in our country.

All that to say: I repent of my prideful attitude in approaching the book of Philippians in the past. I have since turned from that ignorance and learned countless truths from the words of Paul...they are still ringing true today...the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.

A few interesting notes that I find helpful in making Philippi seem like a real place that actually existed (it used to seem to me like a place resembling Narnia or another mythical land):

--Philippi was named after Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great.
--Philippi became a Roman colony in 42 BC.
--Philippi had a famous school of medicine, and may have been the place where the disciple Luke had studied.
--Paul established the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey in AD 50.

The second you start thinking that something in the Bible doesn't apply to you is the very second that God will start pointing out exactly why you need to hear it.

Breathe.

It would be easy to say that at this point in the semester, this point in the year, this point in my college career, etc., it is completely understandable to be sick and tired of school. And I am. I think that I came to the realization long ago (probably somewhere around fourth grade) that there is a whole lot more to education than homework and reading ridiculous books about the meat-packing industry and Big Brother. So now, almost 12 years after this realization, I think I've had just about all I can take. I know that being a good steward of the talents and opportunities that God has given me is of crucial importance, but I am beginning to recognize that those talents and opportunities lie outside the classroom.

At the beginning of this school year, I had the clear impression that I no longer belong in college. This came as a very abrupt, but welcome, realization since I have spent my entire life rebelling against change and clinging on to whatever felt secure in the past...it was very affirming that God has been working on that in me when He told me that the next chapter of my life is indeed standing before me. And then, 4 months and 12 days ago, the LORD began another new chapter in my life as well! Now, not only am I graduating in a month and a day...I am getting married in 52 days!! And I know that nothing I have ever learned in a textbook can prepare me for that amazingly wonderful journey with my best friend. So, I think that that fact is influencing my increasing apathy towards memorizing things like the different terms of sale in global marketing and the amount of start-up capital needed for a hypothetical business.

"In his heart, man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." --Proverbs 16:9.

Silence.

I am perfectly okay with silence. For me, there is nothing awkward about it. It is in silence that the LORD speaks truth into my life. It is in silence that the most loving glances are exchanged. It is in silence that I reflect on the beauty of my Savior. It is in silence that my heart is calmed. It is in silence that things begin to make more sense.

Silence doesn't have to be total and perpetual quiet...silence is stillness...it is being alright to just sit for a moment...to pause the world around us and just listen. Sometimes, we have been seeking an answer for a long time and God has been trying to give it to us for just as long...we have just been too busy and loud and crowded and claustrophobic to be able to recognize His sovereignty.

Lately, things have been just speeding by at the speed of light...it is so difficult to be able to realize what is actually going on and how those things affect our perceptions. You know when you've been sitting for a long time, just waiting to hear what the LORD has to say, and it seems like clarity never comes? Maybe we have just been conditioned to believe that our answers come from sources other than our fellowship with Christ. He is the Source. The end. Done. He is waiting for you to just stop and listen. Don't pass Him by like you would a homeless person in a big city...don't place Him on so high a pedestal that you think there is no way He would ever want to care for you...don't read Him your grocery list of prayer requests and then bolt out of there to get on to that movie you're about to watch...don't try to preach to Him about the injustices around you.

He knows. He created you. He just wants you to want to spend time with Him. Don't think that you always have to be talking or singing or writing or reading in order to do that. He wants you to walk down the hallway and just worship Him with no words...He wants you to just sit in awe of Him...He wants you to look up at the stars of the heavens and be thankful. The hectic nature of our society has poisoned us. Just let Him rejoice over you with singing...let Him dance over you...be still and know that He is God.

Enough For Today.

There has been so much going on lately...so many changes, so many decisions, so much to think about. I truly am learning that faith is the step between promise and assurance...and even though the Old Testament contains mainly principles for us to follow, not promises for the New Testament Church, God has been teaching me a lot through it.

"Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make:

the Tabernacle;
the Ark of the Covenant;
the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;
all the furnishings of the Tabernacle;
the table and its utensils;
the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories;
the incense altar;
the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils;
the washbasin with its stand;
the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests;
the anointing oil;
the fragrant incense for the Holy Place." --Exodus 31:6-11.

God gave to all the craftsmen of the Tabernacle the specific skills they needed to complete the tasks He created them for...nothing more, nothing less. It is the same for us in the body of Christ. He gives us the gifts and the passions to do what it is that we can bring Him the most glory in. He shapes a path for us in this earthly life that will lead the most people to Him. He knows the end from the beginning, so of course He knows better than we do why things are happening.

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" --Proverbs 20:24.

I am fully confident that my God has given me all that I need for the step that I am on in this journey of life...and I won't receive the next portion until He moves me a step further.

Applying God's Word to Apply God's Word.

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." --Hebrews 4:12.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work." --2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Something that I have noticed in the past few years as I have been running towards Christ is the wisdom attained from Scripture. (You're probably thinking "Of course, Kelsey, how could you not see that?!") But not only from reading and meditating on the Word, but actively listening to what God is saying through it.

I have been amazed at the similarities in phrases used by all of the different writers of Scripture, Old Testament and New, doctors and tax collectors, tent makers and prophets, Jews and Gentiles. But really, God wrote all of the books. In actively listening to the Word, I mean that we need to read these things that God has allowed men to write in a way that we can best apply it to our own lives and place it in our long-term memories. Nothing blesses me more in reading the Word of God than when I read a verse that immediately reminds me of another verse and I just have to write down the other reference. This is what I mean by applying the Word to apply the Word...the Holy Spirit highlights things for us and allows us to see parallels that help us understand the Scriptures better.

No other words compare to the words that God has written down for us in the Bible, so why do we always fill our "expositions" with the thoughts of other humans? The best way to get the most out of Scripture is to apply other Scripture. Remember, it's God-breathed.

Just Like You.

But God sees through my foolish pride,
And I’m weak life Adam another victim of Lucifer’s foolish lies
But then in steps Jesus,
All men were created to lead but we need somebody to lead us
More than a teacher,
But somebody who buy us back from the darkness,
Say He redeemed us,
Taught us that real leaders follow God,
Finish the work ‘cuz we on our job
Taught us not to rob
But give life love a wife like He loved the Church,
Not seeing how many hearts we can break first
I wanna be like you in every way,
So if I gotta die everyday
Unworthy sacrifice
But the least I can do is give the most to me
Because being just like you is what I’m ‘spose to be
You said you came for the lame,
I’m the lamest
I made a mess you say you’ll erase it,
I’ll take it
You said you came for the lame,
I’m the lamest
I broke my life, but you say you’ll replace it,
I’ll take it.

--lecrae.

Psalm 105:19.

"Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character." --Psalm 105:19.

If God used such extreme circumstances to test and refine Joseph's character, how could we expect any less?

Hang in there. Stay committed to God. Trust.

Secret Millionaire.

I've been watching a show called Secret Millionaire lately. In the show, they find a millionaire who has a desire to give back to the community and is willing to put up some of their own money in order to do so. They get flown to a strange city, usually the slums of a city, and they are provided with a very old car and a typical one bedroom house/apartment as well as $50 for a week. They spend 4 or 5 days exploring the community and volunteering at local charities or organizations that are trying to make an impact on the community (soup kitchen, afterschool program, etc.).

On the 6th day, the millionaire decides which of the organizations they would like to make a donation to and they write the checks. They go to the locations and give them the checks, after explaining that they are, in fact, millionaires and will be heading back to their homes that day. They give anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 to one organization and the people they give the checks to are always (understandably) so appreciative that all they can do is cry and hug the millionaire. This is such an amazing idea for a tv show and I think it will inspire other people to be just as generous with the funds the LORD has provided for them.

But I want to say that sometimes, money is not enough. Usually, the soup kitchens appreciate the help that the millionaire gives to them that week in volunteering more than the final donation they receive. Isn't that strange?! The world tells us that money can create happiness...security...worth...satisfaction. But it turns out that the love of a willing heart is so much more valuable! Now, don't get me wrong...the show still brings tears to my eyes because the donations allow the organizations to upgrade their facilities or expand their efforts or pay off some of their debt! God provides!

There's A Place For Us.

Lately, it has come to my vivid attention that we go through all sorts of stages in our lives. When we are little, all we can think about it ourselves and the things that we want...I'm hungry, I'm tired of this show, she stole my tricycle. Then we become a little more aware of the needs of the people around us and we begin to show them that we care...I love you, here's a big sloppy kiss, I made you a mud pie. We enter school and we are bombarded by the thousands of very strong personalities we encounter in our kindergarten class...some people thrive and some people retreat. And even though we slowly mature all through elementary and middle school, the kindergarten dynamic remains relatively unchanged...we all desire to be that person that is deemed worthy of being considered someone's friend...we want to find people that we feel comfortable around, who (though we don't realize it) will probably shape our behaviors. This is the period of time when most Christians are saved and begin their new life in Christ, though there are many realization points along the way.

"God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:8-10.

And then we enter high school, where we are in classes with people whom we have never gone to school with before. We try to "be ourselves" while still hoping that people will like us, and find only seldom success. The problem is this: we are still being influenced by the idea that we obtained when we were younger, that our needs and wants are more important than meeting other peoples' needs and wants, though God has adequately equipped us to do the latter. High school, where everyone's ideas collide. We feel like there has to be more depth to the relationships that are formed there. Sadly enough, even the strongest Christians can be negatively influenced by the apathy and selfishness around them, because it has a permeating effect. High schoolers, for some reason, become much too concerned with what is expected of them according to society. I don't know what it is about the high school environment that makes it so different from college...maybe it's a mixture of some people wanting to grow up too fast and some people wanting to stay young forever...both thinking that they have learned all there is to know in life. This is normally when the grain is separated from the chaff...and, sadly, many of the people who committed their lives to Christ when they were younger forget their first love and instead run to fleshly desires for "satisfaction."

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." --Philippians 2:3-4.

Then there is college...a breath of fresh air (normally). Where people grow and mature exponentially if they commit themselves to it. Where they can actually become the adults that God created them to be if they listen to His leading. I would venture to say that college is where most people find their identity in Christ...where they can truly be accepted for who they are. I think it has to do with moving away from home and learning how much responsibility it takes to live on our own. And then there comes a time when God shifts our focus and makes us realize that we do not belong in this stage of life anymore...that He has something better waiting for us. When everything is stripped away from us and all that we have known is suddenly miles away, we should realize the comfort that Christ has always tried to provide for us, though we were too stubborn to recognize and accept it when we were living our lives for ourselves.

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." --Proverbs 16:9.

There's a place for us. And though it might take what seems like way too long for God to tell us where that place is, we still trust Him and know that He is taking care of us.

Blessed Assurance.

God has been making me think about something lately that I find very interesting. I think it first sprouted off of Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death." Oh, the depth of Paul's affection for our LORD and his immense faith. (As a sidenote, I think that all too often Christians think that the level of faith that Paul and the other apostles had is unattainable for us today. Even though they saw the risen LORD, I think we have just as much opportunity to experience their level of faith as they did.)

Of this I am absolutely certain: the LORD is going to send Casey and I some sort of difficulty or hardship that we are not yet prepared for. Ever since the LORD revealed that to me, I've been feeling convicted about complaining about little things that are not difficult in the slightest. If I can't endure tiny trials without counting it all joy, then how will we ever be able to face what the LORD has for us later in life?

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." --2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." --2 Corinthians 12:10.

Nothing is impossible for God. That is why the assurance of sufferings is blessed...because there is nothing that our God can't do.

This I Know.

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.

Such a simple chorus...most of us learn it before we even know how to talk...but how often do we actually reflect on the simple truths that are housed in the most elementary and fundamental phrases? I know that Jesus loves me because the Bible tells me so...but I also know that He loves me because that's all I have. I've been considering this for a few months now...and, ironically, it was prompted by something my grandmother said that struck a nerve. The first time I saw her after we got engaged, she said "What are you going to do, live on love?!" At the time, I was actually quite irritated by that, but after thinking about it, I came to this conclusion: everyone lives on love.

Every single person in the world is in search of the love that will never fail or disappoint. So whether we have found that the Source of this love is our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ...or we are still deceived into thinking that there are people on this earth capable of giving us this love...or we haven't quite recognized that love is what we are seeking...we are all living on love. As Christians, we realize that all we have is the love of our Father. Everything else comes directly from that...James 1:17 tells us that "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." Through more in-depth study, we learn that the love being described in 1 Corinthians 13 is the agape love that God has for us. This love is also described in Romans 5:1-11.

Jesus loves me, this I know
For He Himself tells me so.

"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought life to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." --John 1:1-5.

The Word. God's Word. The Bible.

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.

Information Overload.

Do you ever feel like your brain is so full of information that you can't contain any more? And then one of your professors oh-so-gently reminds you that you have a 10 page paper due in 2 days?

What do you do? Do you flip out and dive right into the enormous mountain of work that is looming over you? Do you just curl up in bed and watch a movie to escape it all? Do you call your mom for sympathy and then just end up getting an attitude when she says that it's just part of life? Do you run to a friend and cry as if this is the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone in the entire world in all of human history?

Wrong responses.

God has you where you are right now for a reason. And that reason may not be the most obvious. He has you in those particular classes with those particular people in those particular groups because that is how He can get the most glory. Even when professors begin to sound more like Charlie Brown's teacher than any intelligible human beings, God is teaching us something. His ways are higher than our ways...Isaiah 55:8-9.

I get so tired of hearing people complain about this and that, only to realize that I complain just as much, even if it is only inside my own head. How backwards. We need to realize that every single person on this earth has been created by God, so we need to respect them like we would respect Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ if He were standing right in front of us. (Personally, I would be face-down on the ground at my LORD's feet, but that's beside the point.) So...stop judging...stop gossipping...stop thinking you are better than everyone else around you...stop feeling sorry for yourself...stop going around thinking that everyone should thank you for allowing them to be a part of your life. And when the LORD points something out in you that needs to be changed...CHANGE IT! Stop sitting around waiting for God to swoop down and point His finger in your face to discipline you. He very well may do that, but He has given us the power to live godly lives through the sacrifice of His Son...so make war!

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence." --2 Peter 1:3.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." --Proverbs 3:5-6.

Pay attention to that last one. We see and hear it all the time, but we do not realize what it means. Read it over again until it starts to sink in...then go hard.

Readily Unprepared.

As each day that God gives to me passes, I become more ready for the abrupt and startling changes that will occur in my life in the next 100 or so days. And this is big for me, because I absolutely despise change. But as I have written before, when God plants that holy discontent in your heart, it's nearly impossible to stay where God has you for now...but that passion for the purpose He created you for fuels whatever determination is necessary to get through the preliminary steps. These are probably the hardest steps we will have to take, because they take the most faith. Even if it is a difficult calling, it is easier to trust God and have faith that He will take care of you once you've actually started the journey than it is to take the blind steps of faith before you even know your calling.

But I am ready for this adventure. Whatever step I'm on. Knowing that I am completely incapable of doing anything at all. Knowing that if I do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, I may jeopardize the life that God has called me to. Knowing that I am totally unprepared for whatever comes my way. But, my God is more than enough. My God invented "capable". My God does not accept self-seeking servants. My God is all I need.

To sum up...I'm ready to face the uncertainty of tomorrow despite my insufficiency today.

The Great Love Story.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while were were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son." --Romans 5:6-10.

Korean Tea.

That title has absolutely nothing to do with the content of this blog post, but it is what I am consuming while writing it.

I've had this on my heart for at least a week now, but I haven't had a chance to actually sit down and collect my thoughts until just now. I was sitting in DeMoss reading The Ragamuffin Gospel while I was waiting for church to start, when I overheard a conversation going on right across the hall from me. Oh, yes, I am an eavesdropper...especially when people are talking about what is going on in their lives and how God is working.

There was a 30-something guy interviewing a girl my age...I could tell it was an interview because there was a recorder on the table and he was taking notes. I wasn't there when the conversation began, but the first part of the conversation that I caught was the girl talking about her CF (cystic fibrosis) and all of the different doctors and hospitals and treatments that she has tried throughout her life. This made my ear(s) perk up because at one time, I was being tested for CF because they just had no idea what was wrong with me...but it came back negative. She then began describing what a normal day entailed for her and what a sick day looked like. Oh my goodness...she has to take dozens of pills and do hours of treatments before she is even ready to get to class in the morning, and that's on a good day. How many times do we wake up an early before class and complain that we have to take a shower or pick out what to wear? How many times do we whine because we have to take one vitamin in the morning, when other people have to take dozens?

The next part was what got me. She said that people with her condition live on average to their late 20s or early 30s, but because of this experimental treatment she is on, she will probably live until she is about 35. This girl is 20 and she is going through school knowing that her life is more than halfway over. Then she just started pouring her heart out about why she is in school and what she wants to do with her Health Promotions degree. She wants to be a researcher for conditions like CF, so that she can improve the lives of the people that come after her.

She was talking about how most people say that they will serve the LORD once they get married, or after they graduate, but she says that she has to serve the LORD now and as diligently as she can, because she doesn't know how much time she has left. Most girls go through school focused on finding a husband so that they can start a family shortly after graduation, but she has already dealt with the fact that she will probably not get married, and if she does, she will not have children because she said it would be cruel to bring them into the world and then have to leave them a few short years later. Wow. I am not afraid of death whatsoever, but to hear her talk so openly about knowing she will not live much past college really struck me. I almost couldn't focus on church that night because I was thinking about her faith and the sovereignty of the LORD.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." --Philippians 1:21.

The Samaritans.

I learned this today in class and I just want to pass it along...

I know that we have all heard about how much the Jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews, but do we understand why? It all goes back to a misunderstanding that occurred in the time of Nehemiah. When the temple was being rebuilt again at the end of the Old Testament, there were Jews living in Samaria and Jews living in Jerusalem. The Samaritan Jews thought that when Nehemiah built the wall around the Temple in Jerusalem, he was telling them that they were not allowed to come and worship there. You see, back in the time of the kings of the Old Testament and the Babylonian exile, all of the Jews lived in Samaria/Babylon. The Jews that stayed there and intermarried when the exile was over became the Samaritan Jews of the New Testament; they were looked down upon for intermarrying, but they were still Jews. So after Nehemiah built the wall around the Temple, the Samaritan Jews built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim (John 4:20).

This is why it was so significant in John 4 when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman...not only because it was a man talking to a woman, but because they were supposed to hate each other with a hundreds-of-years old hatred. I just think that is significant.

Galatians 4.

First of all, go read Galatians 4. Yes...now.

Ok, thank you. Isn't it great?! I'm mainly talking about verses 21-31, Abraham's two children. Way back in Genesis, God promised Abraham that He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky...Abraham believed God, but when he starting thinking about it, he realized that he and his wife Sarah were much too old to have children, so he took matters into his own hands. He tried to have a child with another woman, in hopes that this would fulfill God's promise. Wrong. If God promises something, He doesn't need us silly little powerless humans to do anything to make it happen. So Abraham's concubine, Hagar, had Ishmael...and Abraham thought that this was the son that would carry on Abraham's name and cause him to have countless descendants. Wrong again.

Nothing is impossible with God, so He allowed Abraham and Sarah to have a son, Isaac, who was indeed the one who would carry on the family line. Isaac was the son born to the free wife, signifying that we are free to submit to God's plan and have the marvelous things that He has planned come true. Ishmael was not the child of promise, as it appeared to Abraham and the others around at the time. (As a side note, this is the separation point between Islam and Christianity. It carries on to this day that Muslims are bound to their law, the Koran...while Christians are free from slavery to the law because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross 2,000 years ago.)

And another thing...have we ever truly considered the intense faith it took for Abraham to obey God when he was commanded to take Isaac up on a mountain and sacrifice him to the LORD? After Isaac was born and Abraham realized that through Isaac God's promise was going to be fulfilled, I'm sure Abraham thought that God would sovereignly protect Isaac with a huge cloud of angels or something...so when Abraham was commanded to kill his own son, I can only imagine the turmoil going on inside of him. Paul tells us that Abraham was considered righteous because of his faith...Abraham learned through the birth of Isaac as the child of promise that if God wants to do something, He will do it...Abraham believed that if Isaac was going to be killed, God had another way of fulfilling His promise. Mmm.

Abraham got it.

All Things New.

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave
It was You
You intoduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You

You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and restore

This is a new year...well it has been for a few weeks now, but I'm just now getting around to writing about it. As every new year dawns, I can't help but think about the renewal that God affords to us every new morning. He gives us the unfathomable gift of life...displayed every moment of every day...realized every single time we beg for God's gift of grace whenever we lose sight of His face for even a split second...bestowed upon us every time we do something that deserves the punishment of death...because that is what we deserve. If we fought for our rights, we'd be in hell tonight. Yes, it is a song lyric, but it is so very true. And every time I think of that truth, I become so much more indebted and grateful to my Almighty LORD and Savior!

Laugh if you like, but I was thinking of this when everyone was coming back from break. It seems like everyone received a new coat or pair of shoes or phone or jeans for Christmas. And when they come back to school, those things become a part of their lives...so much so that if you ask them 6 months later, they will probably say that they can't remember not having that pair of jeans and they can't imagine not having them. (Simple example, I know). To a much greater extent, when we receive Christ into our hearts and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, if we were to be asked even a week later, we would all say that we can't imagine not having the Advocate.

God makes all things new. He takes the broken and wretched sinner who comes to know that they are in desperate need of the Savior and He completely transforms their life until they are blameless in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith (Romans 1:17)...and it is manifested in the justification and sanctification that emerges in the life of the believer and completely changes them. It is miraculous to hear peoples' testimonies and be able to visually see where God has brought them from and how He has changed their lives completely. He never ceases to do that...all it takes is a willing heart.

And when He makes something new, He always attaches a promise right along with it...He says "You are mine now. The enemy can't touch you. You have been redeemed. You are new. That person you were before is gone. I will never leave your side." I have known this for a long, long time...but in the past few weeks, I have been thinking more and understanding more about promises. When a Godly man prayerfully gives a Godly woman a ring to symbolize his promise to her that they will soon be a Godly husband and wife, he is echoing what Christ has done with the church...just as he is commanded to in Ephesians 5:25. As the earthly husband promises to be there for better or for worse, he is mirroring what God our Husband (Hosea 2:16) has been doing for us ever since He created us: promising to never leave or forsake us! When a marriage is based upon that understanding, I am convinced that it can only ever be pleasing and glorifying to God!

Despite Any Circumstances.

The apostle Paul is most assuredly one of the most joyful people displayed in the Bible. It is apparent that following his conversion (as described in Acts 9), Paul submitted himself fully to furthering the Kingdom of God and proclaiming Christ to every place that God allowed him to go. He was so committed to the Gospel (and so unashamed...Romans 1:16) that he could stay strong and remain faithful despite any circumstances. There are so many passages that come to mind, but I'll mention just a few.

"And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear." --Philippians 1:12-14.

Can any of us honestly say that if we were in prison for speaking boldly of the truth of Christ, we would share this same truth to the very people that are holding us as prisoner?! We should be able to say just that! We have the faith that never fails...the faith without fault...the faith that is timeless...the faith that is the answer to everything in this life...because our faith is in the one and only LORD and Savior Jesus Christ! So why in the world wouldn't we proclaim this Gospel even from a prison cell as Paul did?!

"We live in such a way that on one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, yet we have everything." --2 Corinthians 6:3-10.

How often do we complain when one little thing throws off our plans for the day? Would we be willing to live lives like those described by Paul in this passage for the cause of Christ? That means that we have to care more about that cause of Christ than the cause of ourselves. Did you get that? It means that we have to be selfless. As John 3:30 says: He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Paul is going hard about this all through Philippians and his other letters...but rather than me typing out all of the instances, how about I point you toward a few:

Philippians 1:20-24.
Philippians 2:14-17.
Philippians 3:7-11.
Philippians 4:10-13.
1 Thessalonians 2:4-6.
1 Timothy 6:12, 17-19.

Identity.

This is a story that is in Streams in the Desert for today...I just really like it.

A story is told of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was tired of life and determine to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree. The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.

And so it went throughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet, the king found its face as bright and happy as ever and said "Well, violet, I'm glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don't seem to be the least disheartened." The violet responded, "No, I'm not. I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I'm determined to be the best little violet I can be."