Clueless

So, I'm pretty sure I've always thought that when I grew up I'd have life figured out, at least a little.  But I feel like the older I get, the less I know about anything.  Sure, I've matured in some ways...I don't let my shyness hold me back quite as much as I used to, I'm more comfortable speaking my mind, and I have causes that I will champion even if no one else believes in them.  But those things feel so small in comparison with what I want to have accomplished.  I feel like I should be able to manage my relationships in a completely straightforward way, I should have this school thing in the bag, I should have more of a plan for the future instead of saying, "I guess I'll do this or that next." 

And now it's after midnight.  By this point I should have had two papers written and a class presentation prepared.  And if I'd really been on my game, I also would have spent three hours in the practice rooms both yesterday and today!  So, if you're analyzing this correctly, it all boils down to the fact that I've had a super-unproductive weekend, and I'm just annoyed about that.  Although, if you scratched the surface with me in person, you might be able to find some other things that are bothering me, but they aren't important here.  Basically, I'm just trying to put off the wonderful feeling that I'll get when I finally finish those papers I've been talking about. 

Hey, anybody who's reading this:

Remember that these days come to everyone...but even so, "This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!"  (Maybe that exclamation point was too emphatic...)  Anyway, it gets better from here...it may not feel like it for a long time, but it does.  I pray that when you look back, God will allow you to see that He's been faithful. 

I never realized the power of 1 Corinthians 13 when I memorized it in 5^th grade, but I do now and I am so thankful that the leadership of Missionettes felt that growing Christians needed to know it.  In the past I have talked often about the importance of having high standards and integrity, and I will always do so.  But it’s only been recently that I have discovered, through 1 Corinthians 13, that these things can’t be achieved in their true form without love.  And not just the presence of love, but a foundation of love. 

Consider:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always trusts, always perseveres…

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” 

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7, 13

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

Matthew 22:37-40

How empty is the life that tries to attain all these things without the power of love.  And how full is the life that allows all these things to happen because it is empowered by love!

Pop Quizzes and Maturity

I was in chapel this morning and suddenly realized (for reasons that will remain undisclosed) that I was being faced with a pop quiz in my spiritual maturity. 

At our leadership conference, Morgan Hill shared about how Abraham exemplified passing a pop quiz with maturity when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22).  Any offering of his son would have counted as “passing” the test, but it was Abraham’s attitude that caused him to actually pass it.  Not only did Abraham offer his son…but he did so immediately.  He didn’t make excuses; he didn’t put off the trip as long as possible; he didn’t even sleep in on the morning they were to leave.  On the contrary, he got up early the next morning to set out.  He went above and beyond regurgitating information in this pop quiz…he passed it with maturity. 

Also important to note is that when we fail a test (by not responding maturely) we always have to take it again.  I hate retaking tests!!

Oh, Lord, give me maturity when I’m faced with unexpected circumstances!  I don’t want to live life spitting up the correct answers…I want to have the heart and the attitude that overcomes, whether or not the knowledge is there! 

P.S.  How…ironic that we would sing “Your Grace is Enough” right as I was addressing this issue.  J 

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

It’s been brought to my attention that my site is in dire need of a new post…okay…you guys are right…here we go…

Our discipleship administrator shared this scripture with us tonight, and it really rang true to me. 

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”  Ephesians 3:14-21

I have so many friends who are bravely going through things that I’m not sure I would have the courage to go through.  So many of you come from situations that almost automatically predict failure in life; but you’re making the most of what God has given you, and you aren’t just skating by…you’re flourishing!  I pray that you may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. 

And for you who are trying to set up a "God’s will" matrix for your life, where you punch in all the numbers and details and a little formula for your life pops out…let God do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine!  Don’t be afraid to explore new options!  Don’t limit your potential for God’s kingdom!  Bask in the immeasurability of God’s plans! 

Finally, be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being.  Don’t try to do everything on your own!  Allow God’s power to take over…let his strength flow through.  Just be a willing vessel. 

I hope this was as encouraging to you as it was to me.  Final thought: God has called us to be peacemakers, but that doesn’t often mean that we watch peacefully as things fold out in front of us.  We mustn’t be afraid to get involved in making peace.  Be active peacemakers! 

Okay…I’m done now.  J

Anticipating Christmas

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as soldiers rejoice when dividing the plunder. 

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. 

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." 

Isaiah 9:1-7

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was 9in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

John 1:9-14

This is for all the Scrooges of Christmas.  I’m not pointing any fingers, just giving a valid reason for the anticipation of Christmas, and showing why it’s fitting that we should spend almost an entire month looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ. 

From the time of the writing of the last book of the Old Testament until the birth of

Christ (a time spanning 450 years), there was silence between God and his people.  And yet, the coming of the Messiah had already been prophesied many years before that.  Through all this time, the people of God looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as freedom from the bondage of darkness.  (“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”) 

What joy it must have been in the hearts of those who recognized the Light of the World when He arrived!  As the Israelites anticipated the coming of the Messiah (and many still do), we should anticipate the celebration of His coming, but even more so, His second coming. 

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus”

Revelation 22:20