Made for Something More AND Less

A pendulum swings back and forth in two directions from one side to the other.  Much like this arching motion, in life we can find ourselves in two unhealthy extremes.  In one instance I may struggle with pride and hold myself in much higher esteem than is healthy or right.  "Make much of me," my heart cries out.  Yet in another moment, I may find myself feeling downtrodden and defeated thinking that I didn't make the cut.  Does this sound familiar?  I can imagine that you've been there too.  I believe that there are two extremes that we must embrace, yet we must swipe the current pendulum off the table.  Neither defeat nor pride are healthy as we have been called for something more AND something less.

(The cross shows us we're made for something more, while the manger reminds us we're made for something less.)

Something More
Consider the cross and the beautiful message which it exemplifies.  With even my best attempts, I am a sinner who falls short.  This is true of each and every one of us.  Paul writes, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)  Yet even in my brokenness, God extended His hand and picked up my pieces.  It was not deserved, and it was not earned.  Oh amazing love.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)  As Christ lived a perfect life, only He was able to pay the price that my sin deserved.  While He hung upon the cross, He took the punishment that my sin justly deserved and stood in my stead.  He paid the heavy price willingly that I might be made right with God.  We are made for something much more because we now can surrender our lives to Christ and, through faith, receive the gift of His righteousness.  As a daughter of God, I am vastly mistaken in my identity when I see myself as less than His beautiful child.  Granted, I do not lose sight of my brokenness without Him, but I rejoice and embrace that I am made new and clean.  I really soak this in and relish it fully!  When God looks at me, He sees me made perfect in Christ.  Yes, this is what I was made for, this something more! 

Something Less
On the wings of this great identity and boldness we are given in Jesus, we are also to stifle our sinful pride and to make something less of ourselves.  In fact, I am reminded this Christmas season that He Himself first exemplified it through His humble birth.  One might imagine that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would be given a grand reception into our world, yet instead He was welcomed and first worshiped in a lowly manger.  While I selfishly may get irritated by small inconveniences in daily life, Christ modeled for His followers what it is to have a true servant's heart.  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness... (Philippians 2:6-7)  Time and again in His ministry, He taught His followers what He meant in His command to love one another.  I love the Scripture which tells of Jesus' great humility in washing his disciples' feet.  In a time when dusty roads resulted in very filthy feet, this act demonstrated true service and humbleness toward another.  Jesus explained, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (John: 13:15-16)  As Christians, we do not glorify God when we allow our pride and selfishness to get in the way; instead we bring great joy through our obedience in making less of ourselves to serve one another.          


As I reflect upon the manger and the cross, I recognize that we have truly been created in His image to be something more and something less than the status quo.  Through His power, may we seek to live up to these expectations each day. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)

When the Rubber Meets the Road

 

(Photo from techpinions.com)

     I've always placed great stock in the old adage "actions speak louder than words."  How many times have we heard people spout wise words of advice only to turn around and contradict what they had spoken?  It's not terribly convincing.  The speaking is easy; the doing is difficult.  This is the ever-present opportunity and challenge in the life of a Christian.  Great conviction or words of praise lifted up to honor God are beautiful, but we must always be working in partnership with Christ in allowing Him to match the way we conduct ourselves with our identity as His son or daughter.  This is the path of sanctification that believers travel.  If I try to do it alone, I find myself completely inept and helpless, for that is what I am, a sinful human being from the time I was born.  In my twenty-five years of life, I've done quite a job of showing my own human depravity, but praise God that He has given me a great gift.  Jesus came to live the perfect life and to pay the penalty for my every sin that I may be made right in His Father's eyes.  It simply blows my mind and makes my heart overflow with thankfulness that my Savior has given me the gift of being made right with my Creator and Lord.  I recognize that I don't deserve it even for a second, but I embrace it wholeheartedly because it's clear that we cannot ever earn it.  It is a truly incredible gift.  Day by day, I let my heart be forever grateful to my Jesus and focus on the work that He is actively doing in me.  I love how in Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis describes this lifelong process of becoming more and more reflective of Christ.  He writes, "It is not a question of a good man who died two thousand years ago.  It is a living Man, still as much a man as you, and still as much God as He was when He created the world, really coming and interfering with your very self; killing the old natural self in you and replacing it with the kind of self He has." 

     If then I am partnering with Christ in this process, I must put my money where my mouth is.  It's easy to do so when things are going as one has planned, but how do we react when the rubber meets the road?  Take for example the lyrics of a beautiful, old hymn.  I surrender all.  I surrender all.  All to thee my precious Savior, I surrender all.  Surrender seems a flawless process when my path and God's path for my life are synonymous.  When a trial or difficulty is placed before a believer, though, the hardship offers such a richness of opportunity to be real and raw in one's reliance on Him.  If I believe that God is good as I know Him to be and I submit to His will for my life, then I must let Him keep shaping my heart and my focus on Him.  I rejoice in the work He is doing in my life daily whether it may seem easy or difficult.  I desire for my attitude and actions in all circumstances both joyous or painful to proclaim what the the apostle Paul so aptly wrote.  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)  This may seem counter-intuitive to some, but it makes perfect sense!  Whatever the day, whatever the challenges we may face, may He forever shape my perception to recognize that every step in my relationship with Him gives an opportunity to bring glory to His name.  When I am weak, Christ is strong and can shine all the more brightly in my life.  It's not about me.  It's not about you.  It's about Him!  That's the truth when the rubber meets the road, and side by side with Him, that's the road I'll confidently drive on.              

Z is for...

    is for zeal.



I'm fairly convinced that most everyone is passionate about something.  The musically inclined close their eyes and devour the notes that emanate from instruments.  Art lovers browse galleries looking at each work and finding the beauty and multiple meanings within a painting.  Athletes spend hours perfecting the shot, practicing the play, preparing their bodies for quick reactions.  When an individual finds something worthy of this passion, they don't approach it lackadaisically but instead with great fervor and zeal.

Indeed, just as many hobbies and interests require great attention and effort from their aficionados, so it should be with followers of Christ.  In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes:

"Christ is the Son of God.  If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God.  We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us.  He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has -- by what I call 'good infection.'  Every Christian is to become a little Christ.  The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else" (p. 176-177).

If the purpose of the Christian life is to become more like Christ, why can we as Christians find areas in our own lives that fail to approach this calling with great zeal?  Just as an infection spreads from one to another like wildfire, giving one's heart to God must ignite within us an insatiable desire to walk more and more like Him every day of our lives.  I love the great emotion with which Paul speaks of His desire to grow in Christ in Philippians Chapter 3.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ - yes to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3: 8-11)

(www.pinterest.com)

If there is ever a day that I approach any worldly endeavor with more zeal and passion than my walk with Jesus, may I always be set right again upon the path with Him.  As the lyrics of a popular Third Day song state, "nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You Lord."  No riches, no level of success, and no popularity or fame can compare or satisfy.  We weren't created to place our hearts and our best attentions elsewhere.  In the deepest, truest places of my soul, I find a longing that always draws me back to the foot of the cross with my eyes turned heavenward.

        

Y is for...

  is for yardstick.




About a month ago, I spent the day at a workshop at church called Spiritual DNA.  During this program, the participants were led through a variety of sessions and exploratory discussions to better understand what makes us uniquely ourselves.  Based on a variety of assessments I took prior to the workshop, I was able to delve deeper into understanding my personality type, where my spiritual gifts rest, and how I most desire to serve.  Just the other night, I pulled out my folder from Spiritual DNA and was looking back at one of my personality assessments; my results were certainly spot on.  I am very much a peacekeeper who desires to nurture others while avoiding conflict or tension.  While there are a number of traits within my personality type that are beneficial to myself and others around me, it is important to be aware of the weaknesses that we must overcome as well.  For example, understanding that conflict creates much disquietude in my life and that maintaining well-being is very important to me, I find that I can easily slip into a routine of looking to others for their opinions and feelings and then adjusting my actions accordingly in order to avoid making waves.  While this approach can be helpful in many settings, it can also lead to a trap that many are apt to fall into: the yardstick mentality.

Do you too find yourself measuring yourself and your actions based on those around you before responding accordingly?  Perhaps instead you have fallen into the trap of looking first and foremost to the significant individuals in your life for affirmation and confirmation of your worth.  What I call "the yardstick mentality" (measuring something in your life based on the views, reactions, and actions of others) can, I think, be found in the lives of nearly every individual in some form and to varying degrees.  The question lies, then, with how we might approach this mindset and replace it with a healthier lens.

Let me show you where my heart turns in addressing this matter.  As a follower of Christ, it is first and foremost crucial to remember that above all else, my identity is in Him.  I am His daughter, His dearly loved child.  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1)  When I wrap my mind around that thought, I find that it is truly extraordinary.  My Creator, my Lord, and my God loves me as His child, unconditionally and with no bounds.  When I measure myself and respond through my actions based on His view of me, everything changes.  In fact, we find the faultiness in measuring against human opinions and standards that are unlike God's view of His children.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)  If we continually look to those around us, it's as if we were using the wrong measuring tool!  I wouldn't use a cup measure to find the length of an object.  So then we must stop measuring ourselves and our lives so inaccurately time and again.  And what of those of us who shy from conflict and tension whenever possible?  On one hand, this can be a great strength.  Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)  However, if I'm measuring situations continually based on others, it can be unhealthy in some cases.  I have not been called to be cowardly or weak.  With Christ as my foundation, I am reminded that I needn't fear the opinions or reactions of others.  If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)  May you and I find a balance between the beautiful qualities that God has given us to love and interact with one another and the ways in which these can cause us to fall.  I break the yardstick of measuring against others and remember who I am.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. (1 Timothy 1:7)  Let us be bold in who we each are and who He has created us to be.     

  
    

X is for...

     is for x-ray.




Some might call it luck, others chance.  Quite frankly it seems a small miracle to me that during the years of my life I have never broken a bone.  I cheered, I tumbled, and to be quite honest, I'm fairly clumsy.  The fact that all of my bones have escaped unscathed leaves me feeling very fortunate.  While I've never had to endure the painful experience of a broken bone, I've had classmates, friends, and students who have arrived on the scene with a cast and story to tell.  You see, while going about their daily lives, something had gone amiss.  Although perhaps on the outside they seemed fine, further medical attention suggested otherwise.  An x-ray revealed the reality on the inside although the outer may have clouded or tried to cover it up.   

My bones may certainly be intact, but this actually is my story after all.  I bet if you are honest with yourself, it's your story too.  Every day we work our hardest to have it all together.  You have a great career.  You just bought a new house.  You have an amazing boyfriend/girlfriend or a loving spouse.  Your brand new baby is healthy and beautiful.  The kids are on the honor roll at school.  You just received a call that you landed your dream job.  You fill your evenings and weekends with social obligations and friends.  You work out relentlessly at the gym to get the fit and toned physique that others envy.  You volunteer and give your time to others because you want to make a difference.  Imagine with me for a moment, then, that we were each subjected to a life x-ray.  When the doctor held it up to the light, would you want an audience to see it?  If you're anything like me, you'd probably be strategically placing yourself in front of the image or switching off the light.  "Never mind, Doc.  Don't worry about it.  Life's great. I'm doing well.  It's all dandy.  Thanks for your time and see you later!"  Although the routines of our lives may have others convinced, we all know the mess to be found inside.  With this honest realization, its seems that people fall into one of two camps: having it all together on the outside is good enough and most important or they'll keep working and striving on their own until they are good enough to make the inner match the outer.

Can I suggest to you a third and, I believe, better choice?  First of all, it's important to recognize that we all are missing the mark.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23.  To be complacent and think that our condition is good enough just isn't true.  We are not living up to the potential we were created to have.  How then do we tackle this problem?  "Let's just try harder.  Let's get to work!" many rally and cry out.  Unfortunately no matter how earnest our efforts, we simply cannot prove our worth and make ourselves right by our own means.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.  If we realize that the status quo isn't good enough and that we can't fix the problem on our own, we come to the understanding that surrendering to God and letting His sacrifice cover us is the true option.  An yet still, this is so hard for many.  How could we ever approach Jesus with a heart condition like it is?  We know we can cover it up for others, but He can see right through the charade.  Here's the good and beautiful news my friends.  Breathe easy.  He sees you as you are, He loves you as you are, and He bids you to come to Him just as you are.  Hear this, His own words: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  Turn the light back on, and pull the x-ray back out for inspection.  Calling all patients who, when honest with themselves, understand that they can't do it on their own.  The Great Physician came for you and He came for me.  Would you allow Him to do a healing work in your life and to make you anew?  It's your choice.  The Doctor is in.                    

W is for...

 

  is for wobbly.



One of my good friends has a very energetic and bubbly two year old.  When I was visiting them recently, the little toddler told me how she had accidentally fallen on the stairs recently.  "Were you scared?" I asked her.  "Um....maybe a little bit," she replied.  (Let me translate: It was super scary and I probably cried, but that was yesterday and a thing of the past, Cassie.  No biggie.)  She's a sweet little gal on the move who runs around letting me chase her when I visit, but her story reminded me that sometimes she still falls down.

I'm well beyond two years old now, but like this toddler I still get wobbly and lose my balance in life from time to time.  Sometimes it's literal, but unfortunately it's typically a bit more figurative in nature.  Just when I'm skipping right along in my walk of faith, I trip and fall.  I make a poor choice.  I regret my response to a situation.  I sin.  It would be one thing if it was a mistake or the first time, but I have plenty of experience under my belt.  One would think I'd be getting it right by now.  Enter the words of Paul: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.  It's certainly not an excuse for failures, but it is truth to be acknowledged.  Every single human who has ever walked the face of this world with only one exception has missed the mark.  No matter how hard we try, no matter how greatly we strive, our efforts are not enough.  Only through the sacrifice and grace of my beloved Savior am I made righteous before God.  Thank you Jesus!  When he let Himself be led to the cross and nailed upon it, I know He knew just how wobbly and mistake filled my and your life would be, but He loved us all the same.  There was no condition that I had to be good enough first.  No, He lavished His grace so freely upon me that day.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8.        

That's the beautiful news worth celebrating.  You don't have to be perfect.  Come as you are.  Let His forgiveness and love wash over you making you new.  I know I'm not always going to get it right.  When we slip and fall, we must allow Him to help us back up again and keep walking forward.  One day when this life is over, I will stand before my Creator.  He'll know His child so well.  With a heart and life led for him, I pray that He will look upon me and speak the words that every soul will long to hear.  Well done, good and faithful servant.  Matthew 25:23.  Well done.

V is for...

  is for vicarious.




Much like the rest of the world, I watched some of the Olympics several weeks ago.  Probably like you, I was very impressed with the athleticism and determination of the athletes in each sporting event.  And also like you, I sat there and thought, "Wow, I wish I was that good at _____________  (No, not equestrian sports........gymnastics of course).  But alas, my gymnastics dreams died years ago amid the piles of mats and the infamous "cheese pit" where I once took lessons.  There was no way my lack of flexibility would lead me to the platform for gold.  It's fine, I've come to terms with it.  I see people around me or in the world who are each outstanding in their little niche.  They are inspiring athletes or teachers or parents or writers or volunteers or group leaders or mentors......and the list goes on and on.  "Wow," I think, "how inspirational.  I wish I could be more like that."  I watch and I admire, living vicariously through the successes and talents of others.

Take for example a book I read recently that absolutely floored me.  After my friend Heather recommended it, I put in my request at the library.  When I saw my queue number, I knew it was going to be an enjoyable read, but I had not idea just how much it would impact me.  7 by Jen Hatmaker is a book about one woman and her seven month journey to fast from the areas of excess in her life.  Each month, she chose something which she and her family were incredibly wasteful of and limited her involvement in it.  For example, one month she only ate seven different foods to better understand what it's like to live in other countries of poverty where there are millions starving daily.  In yet another month, she gave away seven possessions a day to those in need.  Talk about making me feel like an overly selfish individual.  Again, the words that came to my mind were, "I wish I could be more like that!"  Radical, action-oriented, someone leaving a footprint of change in my circles of influence and beyond.

So why not?  I can't sit around and hope that the people who inspire me will simply rub off some of their awesomeness on me.  I can't vicariously enjoy and be impacted by their courage and action and pretend that they represent people like me.  No, it's time to step up to the plate.  Here are some things that I'm learning as I ponder my desire to let God use me as an instrument in powerful ways.

1. My talents aren't the same as someone else's skills and abilities.  Just because they are making a difference in an incredible way doesn't mean that I can or should expect for God to use me in that same exact way.  He made us unique for a reason. 

2. If I'm desiring to make a difference, then I can't have my cake and eat it too.  It requires stepping outside of comfort zones and letting go of what our society says we each "deserve."  How twisted is that expectation anyways?  I deserve nothing.  Every good and perfect gift is from above... (James 1:17)  Every blessing in my life is an extension of my Father's incredible grace and love.  May I return it back to him in full measure.

3. Impacting others doesn't have to take place in obvious, loud, and attention-drawing ways (although sometimes it does)!  God moves and uses us in many ways both subtle and obvious.  It's not about us and the accolades that we can receive.  It's all about bringing glory to Him.

4.  Learning and desiring to let God work through me is going to be uncomfortable.  It's not for the faint of heart, it's for the heart of faith. 

5. Last but not least, it's not alright for me to sit around and wait until I feel ready or deserving of being used by God.  One of my dear camp friends once shared a quote with me that says it all.  "God doesn't call the qualified.  He qualifies the called."  As we looked back at every Bible hero outside of Jesus, we find men and women desperately flawed and hopeless.  Yet with His power at work in their lives, God used willing and obedient servants to make waves and impact His people.


May I never be content in self-centered living.  May we be bold and courageous enough to step out in faith.  Let us not live vicariously through warriors of Christ but offer our own hands, feet, and lives to walk the incredible path and adventure that God has planned for each of us.

U is for...

       is for undercover.




Last weekend while visiting home, Dad and I decided to have a little outing to go see The Dark Knight Rises, the new Batman movie.  I'm all girl and love a sappy chick flick with the love story and happy ending, but I did grow up with a brother who loved all things action and boyish so I've developed an appreciation of many types of films.  (I still have a fond memory of one birthday when I went to the movies with Clay and Dad.  Obviously I got to choose so we saw Pride and Prejudice.  I'm pretty convinced that they were bored out of their minds, but I personally can't understand what's not to love about Mr. Darcy...)  So anyhow, this was a movie that Dad and I were mutually stoked about seeing.  I'm fascinated by the idea of superheros, characters who often hide their identity from the public they serve.  I also noticed a marked difference between Batman in action and the much more human character of Bruce Wayne.  In full suit and cape, the Batman roamed the streets of Gotham fighting those that seek to bring harm upon its citizens.  Back at the mansion, however, Bruce Wayne leaned heavily on a crutch depending on its assistance to move from one room to another in his mansion.

(Source: www.mtv.com)

I loved the movie and totally recommend that you go see it.  Let's be honest though, Hollywood isn't always so realistic when it comes to superheroes.  There's no way that a guy walking with a cane can suit up and do work at this level of intensity with such extensive injuries.

 

(Source: www.entertainment.time.com)

But then again, maybe it's not so far-fetched after all.   It's what many do day in and day out.  I'm coming to find that people who are broken and hurting are putting on a mask, pretending that everything is fine, and going out into the world undercover to face yet another day.  How do I know this?  I've been there before.  You probably have too.  I certainly can think of several close friends who are facing challenges and struggles that put on a brave face for the crowd.  It's just easier for them and it doesn't make others around them uncomfortable having to recognize the pain that another is experiencing.

How do we get beyond the mask and what should we do for our fellow man?  Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)  Stop pretending yourself and thus forcing others to do so.  Be honest and real with the people you trust.  In turn, let's learn to become people who don't expect perfection from ourselves or others.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)  How are we to be honest and seek support and love from one another if we can't lay judgment aside?  We were never called to be the judge of others.  Instead, be in community.  Amongst a number of definitions, Google defines community as "a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat."  Interdependent.  Relying on one another.  Spurring one another on in hope and love.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5: 11)  Above all else, let us become prayer warriors for one another and lead the hurting into the warmth of the promises of God.  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)  

Life is certainly a dance in which we learn new steps each day.  Let us not come dressed for a masquerade ball with a need to cover up and hide our struggles and pains.  May we live in love and encouragement, a people no longer undercover. 



    

T is for...

      is for taking hold.


Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Philippians 3:12

 
I turned around in frustration yesterday as I watched my hard work flutter to the classroom floor.  After spending a good portion of time attaching a classroom library checkout space, both functional and cheery, to the cabinet door, I was dismayed to see the heat take effect on the tape I'd used.  The card pockets drooped and fell to the carpet one by one.  Bending over to pick up my then undone work, I realized that I'd need to come up with a Plan B.  I find that not only in my classroom but in life in general, things so often don't go as expected or planned.  If my younger self could have time traveled forward to get a peek at my current life, I think she'd have been quite surprised.  "Huh....this is really just not how I thought it was going to go," she might have muttered.  "Looks great, but that's not exactly how I planned for it to play out."  I'd look my younger self gently in the eyes knowing that a few more years of knowledge and life experience had given me understanding and tell her, "Cassie, it's really not all about you."

This is the truth that God has been impressing on my heart recently.  We live in a culture that bombards us with images and messages that urge us to gratify our every desire and to do what is best for us.  While listening to Klove on the radio recently, I was not surprised by the study being discussed.  According to recent research, texts show an increase in the use of words such as "I" pointing to ever growing levels of selfishness in our world today.  I'd hate to count the number of times my speech includes the words "I" or "me" in a day.  We are a self-centered people and I count myself among its ranks.  I take a deep breath and thankfully realize that this is not what life is meant to be.    

I look to the words of Paul in Philippians, a man who knew better than most what it meant to stop viewing the world as revolving around himself and to embrace a greater and truer vision.  Paul writes:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!  (Philippians 2: 5-6)

Paul looks to the example of Jesus, the One who stepped down from His rightful place of glory and honor to walk amongst the broken of a sinful world.  Christ taught us not only with words but with the absolute act of love and obedience what it means to look to God's plan instead of our own desires when He stretched out His arms and hung on the cross for our undeserved forgiveness. 

Paul further encourages me in this attitude change by reminding me of what should be our top priority as believers, sharing what we have found in Christ with others.  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27)  It's not all about me.  God has a plan I can trust and the role of Christians is to walk in a way that brings glory to our Father.  In this mindset, we are reminded to be content whatever the circumstances. (Philippians 4:11)  It's not my place to come up with Plan B and take matters into my own hands over and over again.  Instead, God lovingly taps me on the should each time to remind me He has it covered.  Oh when will I ever learn?!  Yet knowing our struggle as humans and our tendency to focus on ourselves, Paul reassures us that he who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

It's not really about me.  Over and over we must tell ourselves this as we allow God to transform our deeply ingrained selfishness.  Confident that He loves me deeply and will guide me as a part of His master plan, I grasp these words tightly unwilling to let them go.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.



  

S is for...

     is for safe.

I like to consider myself a fairly safe person.  I try to assess the risks before taking a chance, to weigh the pros and cons of each situation.  I don't find myself to be very compulsive but like to think things through carefully before acting.  And for the most part, I feel pretty good about that quality.  Sometimes I think back and realize that I've really grown in this area.  I'm now more willing to take risks and be more adventurous than I was as a child.  I love the memory of a trip I took with my family and some friends to Jamaica a few Christmases ago.  While there we visited an eclectic restaurant on a cliff by the ocean called Rick's Cafe.  Just the day before, my brother had gone there and jumped off the 30 foot cliff adjacent to the restaurant.  "Okay" I thought, "there's no way I'm going to leave this country letting Clay have done it and not doing it myself."  So I marched my little self right on up there, and my awesome bro cheered me on as I made the leap.  Did I mention that it took me forever to talk myself into jumping?  It's the act of letting your feet leave the edge that counts.

Thinking back on moments like that, I'm tempted to pat myself on the back and deem myself a little daredevil.  The truth of the matter, however, is that I play it far too safe and far too often.  One verse that inspires me hangs on the wall of my apartment.  I love the reminder of Joshua 1:9.

 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  

Jumping off a legitimate cliff in Jamaica is perhaps a bit frightening, but it's completely doable.  Scary but not really something to stop traffic.  Taking the leaps in life and following God's direction is a whole other story.  Have you ever had one of those days where you go to church and you're sitting there listening to the message and you realize that God was speaking so directly to you through it?  It's awesome....and it was me today.  One of the pastors at church bravely spoke about following God in all circumstances and trusting His guidance even when it's incredibly difficult or scary.  Every day I understand more and more that it's not my job to figure out where I'm going or what I need to be doing tomorrow, next week, or next year.  Better yet, it's certainly not my role to be meek, complacent, and afraid.  No, I am called to be strong and courageous!  I am to be thankful for each day that God has given me to live this life and to let Him lead me through it.  I can't say I'm particularly great at that on most days, but I'm human and I love Him and I'm letting Him work on me through it.  Knowing that my God will be with me wherever I go, I'm pretty excited for the adventures that He could reveal in my life....but only if I let Him.  "Better safe than sorry!" they say.  I beg to differ.  I know I'd truly be sorry to miss the chance to claim my role in God's great works and plans.  Where are you being called to be more courageous for Christ?  Join me in this challenge and opportunity to trust Him more deeply every single day.  Don't miss the chance to take a leap of faith.

R is for...

Sadly I accidentally deleted my "R" post.  Oops!  Hopefully you got to enjoy it while it lasted. 

Q is for...

       is for quenched.



One afternoon last week, I got to enjoy the sweet company of my friend Miss AG while laying poolside.  Armed with two books, sunscreen, and a beach towel, I led the way across the apartment complex to an oasis of relaxation.  Stretched out on pool chairs with the sun's rays warming us, it felt great to relax and read.  Shortly after arriving, however, I realized that I had made a very amateur mistake.  The one thing that I'd left behind and needed direly at that moment was some refreshing water.  I glanced around to no avail.  No water fountain.  An extra walk back to the apartment to retrieve my water bottle was a lesson learned.

This experience reminds me of feelings I have periodically and in certain seasons of life.  When things get hurried and busy, when the pressures and responsibilities of work or classes weight heavily upon my shoulders, when worries grasp at my heart, I begin to feel a thirst that must be quenched.  I desire calm, peace, and stillness for my soul.  As humans, can't we honestly say that when this happens we often look around for a quick fix?  I look to my family or my dearest friends to share the burden and to help me gain perspective.  I might even take a break to fit in a fun activity or head to the gym for a run.  I don't know about you, but it can be really effective or so it seems.  And then another day arrives and you feel that you've arrived full circle.  Perhaps the same feelings overwhelm you again and you feel helpless to overcome a mountain whose peaks seem insurmountable.

This reminds me of the story in John 4 of the woman at the well.  In case you are unfamiliar, this chapter tells of a woman's life changing encounter with Jesus.  A Samaritan woman went to the well midday to draw water.  While there, Jesus requested that she share a drink of water with Him.  The woman was surprised that this man would ask for this as she was Samaritan and he was Jewish.  She did not expect him to interact with her in such a manner as Jewish people considered the Samaritans unclean.  I'm sure this woman felt especially undeserving as she truly did carry some weight on her heart.  The verses tell us that she'd had five husbands.  Obviously this woman had made some mistakes in life and was burdened.  I love this story even right at this point because Jesus is totally loving on a sinner like you and me.  According to the culture and common sense, Jesus shouldn't reach out to a woman like this.  The truth is, Jesus sees us and knows us to our greatest depths and still He loves us, His children.  Not just loves us, He treasures and adores us!  Just like you and me, He finds us as we are and He desires to quench this deep thirst in our souls.  Using the metaphor of a spring of living water, Jesus shares the good news of His gift of eternal salvation.  He says, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [John 4: 13-14]

Life can be busy, trying, and a struggle at various times.  As I continually am challenged to do, stop going to the well to draw up your own solutions for they only satisfy for a short time.  Instead, allow God's peace and love to freely flow and quench every bit of the thirst within you.  I promise you this: He alone can satisfy.

  

P is for...

   

                                   is for perseverance.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

  -Hebrews 12:1 

  

     I stood in the recovery area guzzling a bottle of water and munching on some delicious honey mustard flavored pretzels.  My body was craving just about any nourishment to replenish the energy just expended in the Geist half marathon that took place this past Saturday on the north side of Indianapolis.  As I stood resting with my friend, I overhead a father's words of wisdom to his young daughters.  "This is what setting a goal and achieving it is all about," he explained and I couldn't help but smile.  This would have been a moment that my brother and I would have jokingly referred to as one of mom or dad's infamous life lessons.  In a world where it seems fewer and fewer kids are taught a strong work ethic and the value of pushing toward a goal, I appreciated the valuable lesson he was striving to teach the girls.  

     The past several months, I have been working to achieve one of my life goals: completing a mini marathon.  I want to especially direct this post to anyone out there who hears the words mini marathon or half marathon and thinks, "I couldn't do that."  That used to be me.  Looking back in high school, I absolutely dreaded running days in gym class.  A slow-paced mile seemed like twenty.  Once in college, however, I participated in a few 5k runs and enjoyed the competitive aspect of racing for time.  Not that I was trying to beat anyone in particular, but I realized I liked pushing myself to see what I could do.  Building upon that, this past fall I helped coach a program called Girls on the Run at my elementary school.  As the weeks progressed and we reached the date of our 5k race, I was so incredibly proud of the hard work that the girls of all shapes, sizes, and athletic ability were able to complete.  Every one of them improved and learned that they could do more than they might have imagined.  When I learned that my brother and his girlfriend had signed up to run the largest half marathon in the country, the Indianapolis 500 Festival mini marathon, I jumped at the opportunity.  Soon after beginning my training, a college friend convinced me to sign up for a second one that would take place just two weeks following my first.  I'm a girl who likes a challenge albeit a large one.  I was in.

With both of these races now in the rearview mirror, I can honestly say that this experience has been a huge lesson in perseverance.  It took me several months to build up to the place that I am now, and yet I feel I have much room left to improve.  This is just the start!  So for anyone out there, young or old, athletic or a bit rusty in the exercise world, let me tell you that you can absolutely do it too.  With a strong will, a desire to succeed, the determination to see it through, and God's help carrying those legs mile after mile, you can achieve big goals for yourself as well.  

In closing, let me share just a couple of the many lessons learned so far in my training and race day experiences.  Here's hoping they'll inspire you to get going too!

1. Don't expect to run far right away.  It's a building process and a very slow one at that.  Focus on what you can do today and be proud of it.  Next week you will go just a bit longer or farther.

2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  My body was so much more ready for the miles on days when I had given my body lots of water.

3. Share your goal with family members and close friends.  Once others know what you are aiming to do, it's much more motivating to prove that you can actually achieve it.

4. Don't worry about how far or how fast others runners go.  They don't have your unique experiences or body.  Be in competition with yourself and work to overcome your weakness by pushing yourself and excelling!

  

5. Sign up, start training, and stick to it.  If you always say someday, that day will never arrive.  Now's the time!  I began a training plan back in December and stuck to it fairly rigidly, especially for the first few months.  After getting the hang out it, I was able to make better time and mileage decisions for myself based on my body's response.  I will say that there were many, many days when I really didn't want to get up and run.  However, 99% of the time it felt awesome to accomplish it once I was up and moving.  Remember, it's about perseverance and working hard now to achieve your results and goal in the long run!    

   

 

O is for...

   is for out loud.



I have a bit of a book obsession.  I mean, I really really love bookstores.  In fact, I feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I walk through the doors of Barnes and Noble.  Whenever another one of their stores closes, a little piece of my heart breaks...(I obviously need to toughen up a bit.)  I come upon some pretty good reads now and then, but once in a blue moon a book reaches out and grips me, it speaks to me, and it does some work on me as the reader.  So from one book lover to another, I wholeheartedly suggest you take a chance on not a fan. by Kyle Idleman.

(Kyle Idleman is one of the pastors at Southeast Christian Church and its satellite campuses in the Kentuckiana area.  Whenever I'm visiting back home, I love catching his messages broadcasted at the Indiana location.  He's funny, he's poignant, but most of all he's very honest and down-to-earth.  These same qualities are very apparent in his writing.)


So anyhow, I picked up this book off the shelf at the store last week enticed by a familiar name and a bestseller tag on the shelf below it.  Only a few chapters in, Idleman is cutting right to my heart, making me uncomfortable, and allowing me to think about the way I relate to Jesus.  Away with the surface level and wishy-washy; this one's good stuff as far as I'm concerned.  The basic premise of this book is the reality that believers fall into one of two categories: fans of Christ or true followers.  Idleman makes clear that Jesus never called us to the easy road cheering Him on from the sidelines.  To be His bonafide follower, it means sacrifice, honesty, action, and life lived out loud for Him.

Here I am, challenged to eradicate the areas of my life where I'm a bystander and wimpy cheerleader for my Savior.  I don't want to be a fan.  I want to live a life where I'm not numero uno and that glorifies Him.  I want to apologize when you look at me and see all of the messy and you think that it's a reflection upon Him.  Please don't confuse my flaws and my humanness with my Jesus.  As I strive to live out loud, it's my earnest hope that as a follower I'll continue to be less like me and more like Him.  So what about you?  Fan or follower? 

    

N is for...

     is for needy.



It's much past my bedtime, yet I can't go to sleep.  I'm not sure if it was the half hour nap I took late this afternoon or the espresso covered gelato I enjoyed for dessert at my favorite restaurant.  Probably a combination of the two not so wise choices, so here I am writing and hoping that I will soon drift off into dreamland. 

I was thinking about my word for the letter "n".  I've chosen the word needy because it's something that I'm realizing I need to embrace.  Over the past few years, I have found such empowerment in being self-sufficient.  I have a job I love, I have many friendships and activities to fill my time, I have a wonderful church, and I have goals that I'm working on such as attaining my master's degree or training for mini marathons.  I'm proud that I'm becoming the woman that I wanted to be as a young girl, yet I must acknowledge that this self-reliance isn't completely all that it's cracked up to be.  You see, this has another side to it, a very ugly side.  When God is blessing me in these areas of life and allowing me to succeed, I often forget to give Him the glory for it.  Sadly (and very honestly), I also often become more focused on me and less focused on Him. 

I recently began attending a different church and got connected through a young adult Bible study group.  I've been so encouraged by these godly men and women who are seeking to grow in God and to live lives pleasing to Him.  It challenges me to slow down, to prioritize, to fellowship, and to become more of a Christ-centered woman instead of a self-centered being.  I find that as I focus more clearly on Him, I realize how truly needy I am.  When I let Him fill me, I thirst for more.  I want to feel needy for Jesus, to be humbled and aware that I am nothing without Him.  In Christ, I can stand tall and be a woman of God who does good things for Him.  May my pride be squelched when it arises, may I be needy rather than self-reliant, and may I continually desire more and more of my Savior.     

M is for...

is for knowing you matter.


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I have to throw it out there that it's one of my least favorite holidays.  Guys, I know you all hear me on that one.  Seriously though ladies, isn't it just a recipe for disaster?  I'll blame it on Disney princesses and The Notebook, but by golly I really want someone to go all out.  Go ahead and write me a year's worth of letters.  I won't be mad.  In all seriousness, though, these girly wishes quite frankly just aren't very realistic or a fair expectation all in all.

Love this.  (Source: someecards.com)

 

I feel like it's a bit sad that we have to set a day aside each year to let people know how much we care.  I want the people in my life who I love to know how much they matter to me each and every day that we get to live this beautiful life.  I want to talk to them, spend time with them, work with them, and play with them.  I want to make them laugh and let them cry.  I want to be honest and absolutely not perfect and will expect the same from them.  When Valentine's Day rolls around, I guess the commercialized aspect of it just doesn't mean that much.  I think my expectation, though, is a much greater thing.  I think we owe it to each other to go out of our way all year round to let one another know how much we matter and make the lives of others brighter.  It's not always easy, it's not always convenient, but I'm convinced that it's always worth it.  

This February 14, spread the love.  I just hope we let it roll on over into all the other 364 days this year too!  Because you and others matter.

L is for...

   is for learning.



I truly admire the men and women in my life who are excellent cooks.  I have such an appreciation for impeccable flavor and presentation when it comes to food.  I've come to realize lately that to become such an individual, it's going to take some more time rolling up my sleeves and getting down and dirty in the kitchen.  Cooking isn't something that one will instantly be skilled at; it is most certainly a learning process.  Therefore, I've been trying one new recipe a week in 2012.  Thanks to Pinterest and my friend H, I found an amazing food blog called Annie's Eats.  In addition to a wide variety of recipes, I love the fact that Annie is a hard-working wife, mom, and resident physician right here in Indianapolis.  I figure if she has time to take care of her family, work/learn in the medical field, and to share her talent with the world, then I sure can give her recipes a try!  (I'm secretly wondering, though, if she is Wonder Woman.  I'm impressed to say the least.)

So far I've tried out four recipes three of which have been amazing.  One was a bit of a disaster, but let's not talk about it.  It happens.  Today I made her recipe for Mom's Goulash.  As I was preparing the dish, it reminded me a little bit of lasagna, but much to my pleasant surprise it is unique in its own right.  It was very easy and really reeeealy good.  Head on over to her blog and check out the food love she's sharing!  Bon appetit!
   



“I think preparing food and feeding people brings nourishment not only to our bodies but to our spirits. Feeding people is a way of loving them, in the same way that feeding ourselves is a way of honoring our own createdness and fragility.” 
-Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

K is for...

    is for kettle.



Something slightly momentous happened today on just another seemingly ordinary Sunday afternoon.  I finally buckled down and purchased a tea kettle!  Seems like no big deal, right?  One would think...   Nonetheless, I have been incredibly indecisive as I've browsed on and off for about a year now in search of the perfect tea kettle.  I know I was being a bit picky, but it seemed pretty important as far as I was concerned.  Call me crazy, but a tea kettle is one of those extremely classy items that every woman should own along with a perfect strand of pearls.

She's a beauty.  Silver, dainty, classy.  Spot of tea anyone?

J is for...

   is for journey.



One of my favorite country songs blared out of my car speakers just the other day.  Life's a dance you learn as you go.  Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.  Don't worry 'bout what you don't know.  Life's a dance you learn as you go.  So true.  Life really is a little bit like going on a trip without knowing the exact coordinates of the next stop or destination.  At times I get excited to see a path laid out before me while in other moments I simply must follow along.  I'm learning as I go.

Taking a journey makes me think of adventure, and this is a word I'm beginning to connect with more and more.  Ask my dearest friends and adventurous might not be one of the first words they'd use to describe me.  Nonetheless, I think that adventure boils down to so much more than backpacking around the world or jumping out of an airplane.  Adventurous is taking risks and trying something new when God calls your name.  Our life journey can certainly be mundane, yet we're given the opportunity to go on a thrill of a ride if we simply take God's hand and let Him lead the way.

I visited a new church today with one of my friends.  The minister really challenged me to begin this new year not with a list of resolutions and a list of accomplishments to attain.  Instead, he reminded us to be still and to listen to God's quiet voice whispering into the corners of our lives.  Quite frankly, it excites me and scares me at the same time to think about the adventures that God will bring my way when I quiet the world around me and listen more clearly to His voice.  I believe that anything He brings me to, He will also equip me with the tools and abilities to fulfill His works and purposes.  I don't want to miss out on a moment of the greatest journey and adventure that God has planned for my days.

I leave you with a thought that I heard about a year ago that has continued to impact me even until today.  Are you willing to make this your surrender to God?  Whatever You want even if what You want isn't what I want.  It's really frightening to surrender our desires and wishes, yet I know that His ways and His plans are far greater than my hopes and dreams.  May I be given the privilege to be used as His hands and feet.  What a blessed journey it will be.    

I is for...

    is for imperfection.



As I approached the letter "I", I began to wonder what word I might choose to represent this alphabetic character.  That it so happens to fall as the first post of the new year gives it that extra added importance.  In fact, I'll admit that I even turned to Google and searched for a list of i-beginning adjectives.  I really wanted to find just the right one.  A bit of disappointment washed over me as I glanced through the lists on various sites.  Believe it or not, "i" words in general don't tend to be so fancy and happy. Icy, irritating, impolite.........no thanks.  Then my eyes fell upon yet another that could be added to this list of negative words: imperfection.  Quite frankly, it was just right.

In the middle of a several hour drive home from visiting a friend recently, I found myself browsing unfamiliar radio stations.  I came upon a show that was hosting Christian artist Laura Story and featuring her music.  She shared a really poignant quote that touched me in such an honest, real way.  She quoted Timothy Keller who stated, "We are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, yet we are more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope at the same time."  Can we all just let out a sigh of relief?  I'm not the only imperfect one.  In fact, truth be told, I'm much more sinful than I am aware of or I acknowledge.  That's a humbling thought, but it's true isn't it?  It's so easy to tout our accomplishments and focus on our talents and strengths.  Recognizing our weaknesses and ugliness is difficult and scary.  But the story isn't over; to the degree of my imperfection, I am cherished by my Savior more than I ever could have hoped or imagined.  It's overwhelming and so undeserved, but I'm humbled and forever grateful.

It's January 1st and people all over the world are beginning to work on their New Year's resolutions.  I'm all about self-improvement, but I think we have to accept the fact that we can never completely fix ourselves all on our own.  Only through Jesus can we become more like Him.

So with that, this January 1st, I admit my imperfection and my heart fills with gratitude that in spite of it, I am loved, accepted, and made anew again and again through His grace.

Happy New Year!