Celebrating a Miss to Mrs.

Happy wedding weekend and marriage to my dear friends Melissa and Dan!  I was so honored to stand up with Melissa's family and friends and bear witness to the vows that she spoke yesterday to the man of her dreams.  It has truly been a blessing and encouragement to watch their relationship grow and blossom from the evening that they first met.  Now as they embark on the journey of marriage together, I know that they will have much to learn from one another.  As I watch them move forward in this new chapter with Christ as their center, I'm excited to see them continue to serve and increase in their likeness of Him.

Praying blessings for you sweet Mel and Dan!    


A wife of noble character who can find? 
     She is worth far more than rubies.
                 (Proverbs 31:10)

Endless, Incomprehensible, Extravagant Depths

There are things in life that we take hold of and perform without a glitch.  I can show students how to solve a mean fraction problem like a pro (least common denominators and all)!  I can also make a pretty delicious pie crust complete with rippled edges browned to just the right hue.  There's an understandable procedure behind it that, once understood and internalized, the task can be mastered.

If only everything in life were so explainable and simple.  And yet, I take that back because how truly boring it would be if we as humans had it all figured out.  In our pride and selfish drive, the human race has strived through time to find a cause, explanation, and solution to every occurrence and aspect of our world and human experience.  I can't help but think that we just aren't meant to get it all.  We aren't the Maker, we were created in His image.  We aren't the Father, we are the children.  We aren't the Potter, we are the clay.  We aren't the Doctor, we are the sick in need of healing.  Over and over, we see that it doesn't draw our attention back to us as the focal point.  It all points to Him!  While God in his goodness has chosen to reveal much of Himself to us, I recognize that I won't be able to comprehend it all until that day when I finally come home to my Savior.

One of the most beautiful aspects of God that I continue daily to revel in is His love for us.  I've heard the message from the time I was a small child how much He loves me, but with every year, every day, every moment, He continues to reveal new facets of this love in such a way that I find that it reaches endless, incomprehensible, and extravagant depths.  A song which made me ponder and reflect on this truth recently is "His Kind of Love" by Group 1 Crew.  The lyrics pose a question which matches my own realization that His love for me is deeper than I can imagine.  "How do you sing about a love so deep without feeling like you missed something?  I could try but I could not explain."  While I know that in this life I may never reach a complete understanding of it, I will never stop trying to enjoy it and share it with others.  This I know: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are complete without me, but they have found joy in creating me, blessing me, completing me, and letting me find wholeness in my relationship and worship of God.  Although I bring nothing to God that He needs, He delights in me so much that Christ stepped down from the heavenly realms of glory to pay the price for my sins and redeem me with His saving grace.  I can't earn this love.  No, it has been given to me as a gift and it will not be taken away.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39).

Such endless, incomprehensible, extravagant depths of love.  I won't minimize it by pretending to have fully wrapped my mind around it, but I will dive in and bathe myself in His great love that He has poured out upon my life knowing that each day of this life I have been given the opportunity to realize it and experience more fully until I reach glory!





      

Reckless

It's simple to carry a heart of gratefulness and praise on many days and occasions.  Much like the sun shining brightly upon our lives and its rays warming us to the core, our situation may match our desires and result in such happiness that overwhelms.  Yet just as the sun rises each morning to greet us, it too departs at dusk leaving the darkness of night.  When our circumstances dishearten, when hearts are broken, when doors close, or when we struggle to understand disappointment, our hearts may not be as likely to overflow with praise and thanksgiving.  

In such circumstances, I am forced to survey the source of joy in my heart.  Do I find my happiness in the ever changing people, places, and things in my surroundings and environment?  May it not be so, for these will inevitably disappoint.  No, my joy comes from a deeper and rock solid source; my life proclaims utter gratitude for the gift of salvation and adoption as a child of God that I have been granted through Christ!  Though it may be simple to praise Him for His blessings in moments of ease and contentment, how much more significant is our praise in times of struggle.  His love and His promises do not falter or waver as if blown about by the wind.  They are steadfast and firm.  With this understanding, it is essential to be reckless as we offer up praise for His goodness and saving grace that is ever present.  As the lyrics of the song "You Are" by Colton Dixon offer, "If I had no voice, if I had no tongue, I would dance for you like the rising sun."  Whatever seems lacking in our present circumstances, it cannot hinder praise lifted up to our deserving God.  Take my voice, yet I will still dance for Him because such joy and worship cannot be withheld.  There is nothing that this world has to offer that can bring true happiness or steal my source of joy.  The sun will rise and set, but despite it all I will recklessly give glory to Him who is worthy.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

A Love Resolution

2013 has arrived!  Another year is over, and a new year has begun.  Like most, I spend some time considering ways that I might improve myself and means for achieving these goals.  As I ponder how I might direct my focus and efforts, I'm forced to think about the relevancy of certain resolutions.  Some seem rather unrealistic considering my obligations and schedule.  Others simply aren't very important.  What constitutes a worthy resolution?

I'm reminded of a question once posed of Jesus by the Pharisees.  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus replied: '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.' (Matthew 22:36-39)  It seems that these two commandments highlighted by Christ are quite worthy of my attention and personal growth.  How, though, does one more effectively love God and others?  Our society certainly does us no favors in exemplifying the type of love to which we are called.  It's not an empty word tossed around haphazardly because you strongly like something, but it's something much deeper, richer, and very real.  In striving for an abundant love, a love that increas[es] and overflow[s] (1 Thessalonians 3:12), there are three steps I find to begin taking.

1. Pray
Our love is so shallow and imperfect compared to that to which we have been called.  Thus, we cannot grow more perfect in our love for Christ or one another without prayerfully requesting His guidance and help.  Paul demonstrates this in saying, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight..." (Philippians 1:9)  Striving for a more perfect love without asking for His help is futile.  We must lift up our petitions before God recognizing our need for His hand in our growth and maturity in love.  In addition to praying for God's hand to help us love more abundantly, this verse also leads us to a second step. 

2. Learn
In the aforementioned verse, Paul has prayed that their love may increase in knowledge.  Thus, we find that our love grows when we seek to immerse ourselves in His Word.  In His Word, God has given us insight and direction to help us love in a more perfect way.  For example, in the well-known and often quoted love chapter of 1 Corinthians, we learn what love should look like.  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 hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)  From these verses, we gain knowledge of love that we can apply in our own lives.  For instance, when we wish to show love, we must be patient.  We also find that we shouldn't keep a list of the ways in which we've been wronged, but loving means forgiving.  Furthermore, growing in the knowledge of God's Word can allow us to better love our Heavenly Father.  For example, in the book of Romans Paul expounds upon the gospel message.  As He studies and considers this good news, it brings Paul to a point of passionate worship for God's greatness and goodness.  "For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen."  When we delve into the truths of Scripture and see the beautiful love letter of redemption that God has written to us, His children, we can't help but love Him and praise Him all the more! 

3. Follow
Finally, I can begin to grow in the depth of my love for God and others by following His example.  When I was dead in sin and thus an enemy of God, He showed me the greatest love imaginable.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friend, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4: 10-11)  Jesus hung upon a cross and paid the full penalty for my every sin so that through faith, I might have His righteousness and be called a child of God.  How this great love stirs my adoration for my Savior and presses me onward to love others as I have been called to do.

It's not just a January goal, and it's not just a 2013 thing.  He loved us first and He loves us perfectly.  How can we not in response spend a lifetime growing in our love for our Master and one another?  This isn't a new year's resolution.  It's a life resolution.  It's a love resolution.

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.