Dear Savior and Redeemer,
Please don't let me forget that I am involved in the greatest Story ever told, and that there was nothing I did to be a part of it.
Don't let me brush over the gospel, over your death, over your resurrection - as though they are mere facts that simply define who I am today. Let them be all that I am not - which is everything.
I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian - or even a 212 degree Christian. Make me a flame that constantly is growing and burning brighter. Make my passion for You consume me, and let the gospel be the oxygen for my fire.
I want to sing your praises when I get up in the morning, when I work, when I play, when I cry, when I smile, when I sleep.
Don't ever let me belittle Your love for me, for there is no greater love than someone who lays down his life for his friends. That is what you did, Jesus! Was there no life more valuable than Yours? And yet You freely gave of it to redeem my poor and wretched soul. For you know that is what I am, Father, and yet You still love me more than I can imagine.
Don't let Your Word go through one ear and out the other. Let me hold onto it, cherish it, nuture it. It is the Word of my Father, my God, and my King.
Fill me with such awe and amazement for Your love for me that I have no other thoughts but for You. Keep me in raptures, Lord, and keep me ever full of joy because of the wondrous cross You endured for me.
Lord, there is no greater love but Yours. There is no greater Word but Yours. There is no greater abundance of mercy and grace but Yours towards Your people. There is no greater relationship but the one I get to have with You.
Never cease to fill me with Your Spirit, and never let me dim the bright and beautiful glory of the gospel.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
A Cry of Relinquishment
Precious Father,
I am not my own. Take me as you will. Use me as you will. Use all of me, to my very last breath.
I don't want to be the item used only once a month and put on the shelf at all other times. Use me every day, hour, and minute.
It's been said that Christians are broken pots that shine your light through the cracks. Father, I don't care how cracked and broken I am as long as more of Your light shines through!! Break me more, Crack me more, in order to display Your glory!!
I don't want part of my life to be devoted to You. I want it all!! I surrender that which is not even mine to give.
Exhaust me with opportunities to proclaim Your wondrous name. I want to be weary with the gospel, if that possibility even exists.
Transform me, create me, and change me into someone I am not. Let others see You, and not me.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, LORD, to Thee!! Take it all, Jesus!!! Don't let any part of my life be for my personal use.
Give me trials, give me suffering, for then I will become more like Christ - the greatest privelege ever given to mankind!!
Take my voice, my dreams, my ambition - and use them as Thou shalt choose!! Let me sing always and only for my King!!
Let me love others with the greatest love that only comes from You. Let me give everything I possess for the sake of Your name because I already have all I need in You!! Become my all in all, Lord Jesus!!
Take my will, and make it Thine!! May I only strive to do what You deem fit!!
May I never retire from Your work, but rather press on for the sake of Your glory!!
When I reach the glorious gates, may I hear You say, "Well done, my good and faithful daughter!" And I will reply: "It was all for Your sake and by Your grace, my Father!!"
Take it all, Lord. Take it all. It is already Yours.
I am not my own. Take me as you will. Use me as you will. Use all of me, to my very last breath.
I don't want to be the item used only once a month and put on the shelf at all other times. Use me every day, hour, and minute.
It's been said that Christians are broken pots that shine your light through the cracks. Father, I don't care how cracked and broken I am as long as more of Your light shines through!! Break me more, Crack me more, in order to display Your glory!!
I don't want part of my life to be devoted to You. I want it all!! I surrender that which is not even mine to give.
Exhaust me with opportunities to proclaim Your wondrous name. I want to be weary with the gospel, if that possibility even exists.
Transform me, create me, and change me into someone I am not. Let others see You, and not me.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, LORD, to Thee!! Take it all, Jesus!!! Don't let any part of my life be for my personal use.
Give me trials, give me suffering, for then I will become more like Christ - the greatest privelege ever given to mankind!!
Take my voice, my dreams, my ambition - and use them as Thou shalt choose!! Let me sing always and only for my King!!
Let me love others with the greatest love that only comes from You. Let me give everything I possess for the sake of Your name because I already have all I need in You!! Become my all in all, Lord Jesus!!
Take my will, and make it Thine!! May I only strive to do what You deem fit!!
May I never retire from Your work, but rather press on for the sake of Your glory!!
When I reach the glorious gates, may I hear You say, "Well done, my good and faithful daughter!" And I will reply: "It was all for Your sake and by Your grace, my Father!!"
Take it all, Lord. Take it all. It is already Yours.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Habits
Habits are a funny thing. Dictionary.com defines them as, "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary". So you do something so many times that you don't even realize that you do it anymore. Cool. That's all fine and dandy - until sin comes along.
Sin, with its pull on you like gravity can break any habit at any time...especially if it is spiritually-related, such as reading your Bible or praying. And once a habit is broken it can become extremely hard to put back in its "involuntary" place. I used to describe my Christian walk as always taking two steps forward and one step back. Now I believe it can be more accurately depicted as taking two steps forward, completely forgetting how to walk, learning how to walk again, taking two baby steps forward - and then repeating this cycle over and over again. When you are in the grip hold of sin and the devil sometimes you forget who you even are, or who God created you to be.
When we are in the throws of sin, it can be a nasty place - and we can become nasty people because of it. I have my good days and I have my bad days. The bad days reveal that I am still a sinner and have not reached heaven yet, and the good days reveal that I have a Savior whose grace is more than enough to keep me from falling. I completely agree with Paul when he says, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15). As Christians we want to serve and obey God but because of our sin we do not always (or usually ever) complete that desire.
This is why we must preach the gospel to ourselves everyday, and if you're like me you'll probably have to punch yourself with the gospel everyday. This is why we must have a fierce determination to actively oppose Satan and his lies and to live for Christ as soon as we get up in the morning. This is why the Christian life is called a battle and a race because it calls for strength, stamina, courage, determination, endurance, grit, and hope.
My parents have this contraption - don't ask me what it's called - where you hang upside down. Weird, right? Well I didn't think it was that cool until I realized the purpose behind it. And that was to be Batman. Just kidding. The reason for this thing is to benefit your spine. Apparently, throughout the day, gravity pulls down on your spine so that all your discs become crunched together - probably causing pain and tightness on the nerves. Terrible, I know. But by hanging upside down at the end of the day for 5-10 minutes, it elongates your spine and (supposedly) puts it back in the correct position. I don't really know how well this thing works - all I get is a headache whenever I use it so I wouldn't advise purchasing it.
Anyway, what that contraption thing supposedly does for your spine is what the Word of God really does for us. Earlier I said that sin pulls on you like gravity, and it's true. It's always with you everywhere you go, and it affects every human being. It causes pain and disorder among your soul, whereas gravity does it to your body. Being in God's Word daily, hourly, minutely - that is what is going to bring relief.
Paul also says in Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind". As Christians we have already been transformed tremendously through the miracle of salvation, but we are to be continually transformed and renewed daily. One of the definitions for renew is, "to make effective for an additional period." That means that we have to keep on renewing ourselves, implying repeated renewing, and we can become even more new through excessive renewing!!
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to "Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Sometimes we will have to press on, and sometimes we will have to body slam our way through the race - either way Christ is indeed Immanuel - God with us. And when we fall or when we forget, He never fails to pick us up and remind us of His promises. When we have no strength, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29).
"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth! Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow! Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" Even though I constantly fail to be faithful, YOU never are!!! Thank you, Blessed Savior!!
Sin, with its pull on you like gravity can break any habit at any time...especially if it is spiritually-related, such as reading your Bible or praying. And once a habit is broken it can become extremely hard to put back in its "involuntary" place. I used to describe my Christian walk as always taking two steps forward and one step back. Now I believe it can be more accurately depicted as taking two steps forward, completely forgetting how to walk, learning how to walk again, taking two baby steps forward - and then repeating this cycle over and over again. When you are in the grip hold of sin and the devil sometimes you forget who you even are, or who God created you to be.
When we are in the throws of sin, it can be a nasty place - and we can become nasty people because of it. I have my good days and I have my bad days. The bad days reveal that I am still a sinner and have not reached heaven yet, and the good days reveal that I have a Savior whose grace is more than enough to keep me from falling. I completely agree with Paul when he says, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15). As Christians we want to serve and obey God but because of our sin we do not always (or usually ever) complete that desire.
This is why we must preach the gospel to ourselves everyday, and if you're like me you'll probably have to punch yourself with the gospel everyday. This is why we must have a fierce determination to actively oppose Satan and his lies and to live for Christ as soon as we get up in the morning. This is why the Christian life is called a battle and a race because it calls for strength, stamina, courage, determination, endurance, grit, and hope.
My parents have this contraption - don't ask me what it's called - where you hang upside down. Weird, right? Well I didn't think it was that cool until I realized the purpose behind it. And that was to be Batman. Just kidding. The reason for this thing is to benefit your spine. Apparently, throughout the day, gravity pulls down on your spine so that all your discs become crunched together - probably causing pain and tightness on the nerves. Terrible, I know. But by hanging upside down at the end of the day for 5-10 minutes, it elongates your spine and (supposedly) puts it back in the correct position. I don't really know how well this thing works - all I get is a headache whenever I use it so I wouldn't advise purchasing it.
Anyway, what that contraption thing supposedly does for your spine is what the Word of God really does for us. Earlier I said that sin pulls on you like gravity, and it's true. It's always with you everywhere you go, and it affects every human being. It causes pain and disorder among your soul, whereas gravity does it to your body. Being in God's Word daily, hourly, minutely - that is what is going to bring relief.
Paul also says in Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind". As Christians we have already been transformed tremendously through the miracle of salvation, but we are to be continually transformed and renewed daily. One of the definitions for renew is, "to make effective for an additional period." That means that we have to keep on renewing ourselves, implying repeated renewing, and we can become even more new through excessive renewing!!
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to "Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Sometimes we will have to press on, and sometimes we will have to body slam our way through the race - either way Christ is indeed Immanuel - God with us. And when we fall or when we forget, He never fails to pick us up and remind us of His promises. When we have no strength, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29).
"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth! Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow! Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" Even though I constantly fail to be faithful, YOU never are!!! Thank you, Blessed Savior!!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Running...to nowhere
The semester is over. Summer is here. For me, at least. For everyone else on the planet...well, probably not. I have spent the last few days just chilling and enjoying doing things that I didn't get to do whilst in college - reading, writing, exercising, sunbathing...etc. etc. But now I feel like I'm at a standstill.
I'm at a standstill in so many ways - with relationships, with work, with writing (it's taking all my effort just to type this up), with my ambition, and the list goes on. It's not that I don't want to do those things - it's not that I'm apathetic - but I just can't. God has put them all on hold it seems. I want to be running, but I feel like I'm being kept under lock and key. I want my relationships to progress, I want to already be a concert performer, I want to be working. I want to be doing.
I tell myself it's probably just because college life moves so fast and now home life feels so slow in comparison. But I don't think that's the real reason. God has stopped (or not even started to begin with) a lot of things in my life. And I don't know why. All I can do is just wait.
I want to tell God, "Hey, are we on the same time zone? Cause um, I don't have a lot of time. Do you need a new watch?" Now I sound like the impatient whiner...which is what I am most of the time. Those questions are just foolish because God knows what He's doing; He's the author of time.
1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." Right now I feel like I could sprint a marathon faster than ever, but yet the ground has been taken out from under me so in reality I'm not getting anywhere. I always hated running on treadmills because I never felt like I made any progress...and that's what I feel like right now. I'm like a runner all prepped up to go, muscles tensed, heart pounding, ready for the race - but there's no whistle. And I keep waiting for it, but it never blows. Eventually I tire of being in the ready stance and I become lazy.
But the Bible does not allow for us to become lazy. Mark 13:32-33 says, "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come." We must be vigilant to always be on the watch for Christ and his return.
The Bible also commands us to wait upon the Lord - implying that there will be times when we will have to wait for Him. When His timing will not coincide with our timing.
Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him". Be still. What a hard thing to do when it seems as though the rest of the world is moving fast and you aren't moving at all.
In Hebrews it tells us of our reward if we are patient: "And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through and patience inherit the promises." We will inherit God's promises if we have faith and are patient!! That is something that I can settle for. :)
I'm at a standstill in so many ways - with relationships, with work, with writing (it's taking all my effort just to type this up), with my ambition, and the list goes on. It's not that I don't want to do those things - it's not that I'm apathetic - but I just can't. God has put them all on hold it seems. I want to be running, but I feel like I'm being kept under lock and key. I want my relationships to progress, I want to already be a concert performer, I want to be working. I want to be doing.
I tell myself it's probably just because college life moves so fast and now home life feels so slow in comparison. But I don't think that's the real reason. God has stopped (or not even started to begin with) a lot of things in my life. And I don't know why. All I can do is just wait.
I want to tell God, "Hey, are we on the same time zone? Cause um, I don't have a lot of time. Do you need a new watch?" Now I sound like the impatient whiner...which is what I am most of the time. Those questions are just foolish because God knows what He's doing; He's the author of time.
1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." Right now I feel like I could sprint a marathon faster than ever, but yet the ground has been taken out from under me so in reality I'm not getting anywhere. I always hated running on treadmills because I never felt like I made any progress...and that's what I feel like right now. I'm like a runner all prepped up to go, muscles tensed, heart pounding, ready for the race - but there's no whistle. And I keep waiting for it, but it never blows. Eventually I tire of being in the ready stance and I become lazy.
But the Bible does not allow for us to become lazy. Mark 13:32-33 says, "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come." We must be vigilant to always be on the watch for Christ and his return.
The Bible also commands us to wait upon the Lord - implying that there will be times when we will have to wait for Him. When His timing will not coincide with our timing.
Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him". Be still. What a hard thing to do when it seems as though the rest of the world is moving fast and you aren't moving at all.
In Hebrews it tells us of our reward if we are patient: "And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through and patience inherit the promises." We will inherit God's promises if we have faith and are patient!! That is something that I can settle for. :)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Blinders
I always thought that blinders were one of the meanest things you could do to a horse. I mean, you just make them run without letting them see anything except for what's right in front of them? That's no way to go through life - they are trapped in their own little world.
But yet, don't we have blinders of our own - blinders that we willingly strap onto ourselves? Think about it. Why don't we get involved in other people's problems, or why don't we see the beauty of Creation? Lately I have been studying the idea of Individualism, and how it has become something so promoted by the world. "Just be yourself, and don't let anyone or anything define you."
WHAT? Ok, really - does that mean I just don't let anything influence me? I don't build deep enough relationships so that people won't make an impact, because I want to be my own person?!?
Anyways, someone brought up the piercing fact that we don't even notice people in public places, such as grocery stores. That cut me to the heart because I know it's true in my life. We're just blazing through our little mission list, charging with our heads down and cart wheels screeching as we try to get the chore done as fast as possible. It seems almost comical if you can picture it. Why do we do that? Why do we not even look at the people that we pass in the aisle, and only mumble an acknowledgement to the cashier?
The pride and selfishness that is so deeply sewn into our hearts has no problem with whipping up a few blinders to keep us in our own little kingdom. And to be honest, it's really easier to just keep to yourself. Engaging others requires effort. But is it really the better thing to do in the end? Nope. Let me tell you a story.
So the following night after that person made that piercing comment I went - go figure - to Kroger. It probably would have turned out just like any other grocery store dash had I not had that comment stuck in my brain, so I was determined to make it different. I did not come outright and say hello to everyone I saw, but I did smile and acknowledged everyone. My countenance was different than usual when searching for a certain type of cheese. Because of this a man made a comment to me about orange juice. The cashier thought he knew me from somewhere (which was unfortunately not true). And because I noticed everyone in the store, I recognized an old friend from high school, and we were able to talk for a bit. In the end I left Kroger even more happy than I was upon entering it, if that could be possible.
Moral of the story: don't let the blinders ever be strapped to you. Everywhere there are people begging to be noticed, appreciated, acknowledged, etc. If you put effort into people, you'll be the better off for it. And Kroger's not such a bad place after all. :)
But yet, don't we have blinders of our own - blinders that we willingly strap onto ourselves? Think about it. Why don't we get involved in other people's problems, or why don't we see the beauty of Creation? Lately I have been studying the idea of Individualism, and how it has become something so promoted by the world. "Just be yourself, and don't let anyone or anything define you."
WHAT? Ok, really - does that mean I just don't let anything influence me? I don't build deep enough relationships so that people won't make an impact, because I want to be my own person?!?
Anyways, someone brought up the piercing fact that we don't even notice people in public places, such as grocery stores. That cut me to the heart because I know it's true in my life. We're just blazing through our little mission list, charging with our heads down and cart wheels screeching as we try to get the chore done as fast as possible. It seems almost comical if you can picture it. Why do we do that? Why do we not even look at the people that we pass in the aisle, and only mumble an acknowledgement to the cashier?
The pride and selfishness that is so deeply sewn into our hearts has no problem with whipping up a few blinders to keep us in our own little kingdom. And to be honest, it's really easier to just keep to yourself. Engaging others requires effort. But is it really the better thing to do in the end? Nope. Let me tell you a story.
So the following night after that person made that piercing comment I went - go figure - to Kroger. It probably would have turned out just like any other grocery store dash had I not had that comment stuck in my brain, so I was determined to make it different. I did not come outright and say hello to everyone I saw, but I did smile and acknowledged everyone. My countenance was different than usual when searching for a certain type of cheese. Because of this a man made a comment to me about orange juice. The cashier thought he knew me from somewhere (which was unfortunately not true). And because I noticed everyone in the store, I recognized an old friend from high school, and we were able to talk for a bit. In the end I left Kroger even more happy than I was upon entering it, if that could be possible.
Moral of the story: don't let the blinders ever be strapped to you. Everywhere there are people begging to be noticed, appreciated, acknowledged, etc. If you put effort into people, you'll be the better off for it. And Kroger's not such a bad place after all. :)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Playing it Safe
As I have gotten older, everyone asks me - "So what's your game plan? What do you intend to do with your life?" A year ago, when I told them that I was going to major in Vocal Performance, they replied (after first having a suppressed look of shock and disdain): "Well what do you want to do with that after college??" I always answered back with some form of teaching, or grad school...you know, the usual answers. I knew I had already lost them by my major choice. (And by "them", I don't mean any specific group of people; it's pretty much everyone I come into contact with). I didn't dare tell them what I really wanted to do: Perform. In any way possible in order that Christ was given glory, and to proclaim his name through music throughout all the earth. I knew I would've gotten an interrogation as to how I was going to go about doing that.
Now that I've finished my first year of college (and my Vocal Performance major still intact), I have many more "outlandish" goals of what I want to do with my life. I believe I shall never tell anyone of many of them, because I would only be brought down by the "money talk" or the "God's will talk". I have no want of money, except to complete my ambitions and to stay alive, and since all of my goals are ministry-oriented, I believe that they all are from God.
But why am I interrogated so on my future? Those who major in Business, or Education, or something otherwise respectable, do not receive such talks (or at least not at this intensity).
This is a result of what I call the "playing it safe" life plan. Since I do not possess this plan, I freak out others who cling to it tightly. They fear for me even though I do not fear for myself.
So what does this plan entail? Let me list of some characteristics: lack of faith and trust in God, fear, worry, lack of perspective, love of worldly things, apathy, and probably many others, but these are just a few. Not all of these characteristics are present in everyone's "playing it safe" plan, but many of them are.
I believe that many people have worried about my life a great deal more than I have. And I do not believe that is because I am naive to the world, but rather that I know that God will bring me in, through, and out of any circumstance. I know full well that I may not get a job after college, and I could literally become someone who lives on the streets someday. But so could someone who is obtaining a mechanical engineering degree. Someone told me once that "safety is an illusion" - which is so true. Luke 12:22-40 says:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Now that I've finished my first year of college (and my Vocal Performance major still intact), I have many more "outlandish" goals of what I want to do with my life. I believe I shall never tell anyone of many of them, because I would only be brought down by the "money talk" or the "God's will talk". I have no want of money, except to complete my ambitions and to stay alive, and since all of my goals are ministry-oriented, I believe that they all are from God.
But why am I interrogated so on my future? Those who major in Business, or Education, or something otherwise respectable, do not receive such talks (or at least not at this intensity).
This is a result of what I call the "playing it safe" life plan. Since I do not possess this plan, I freak out others who cling to it tightly. They fear for me even though I do not fear for myself.
So what does this plan entail? Let me list of some characteristics: lack of faith and trust in God, fear, worry, lack of perspective, love of worldly things, apathy, and probably many others, but these are just a few. Not all of these characteristics are present in everyone's "playing it safe" plan, but many of them are.
I believe that many people have worried about my life a great deal more than I have. And I do not believe that is because I am naive to the world, but rather that I know that God will bring me in, through, and out of any circumstance. I know full well that I may not get a job after college, and I could literally become someone who lives on the streets someday. But so could someone who is obtaining a mechanical engineering degree. Someone told me once that "safety is an illusion" - which is so true. Luke 12:22-40 says:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
We do not know when we will die - so why not live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord? No matter how much we worry over our lives, we will not add a single hour to them. Verse 31 says to seek God's kingdom first, and everything will be given to you. Our perspective must always be for Christ and His Kingdom, and for His final return.
I am not meaning to bash those who "play it safe" - but rather open their eyes to a new freedom that comes from being a Christian! Those who are in Christ should be the most free with their time, money, health, relationships - because they understand that none of it was theirs to begin with!!
In the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis writes about Aslan, "He's not safe, but He's good." That is what a life with Christ is like!!! We will not always feel safe and secure, but if we hand our lives over to Him He will take us places that we never dreamed of going to! We don't have to make sure that everything is in place; that we're choosing the right career, making enough money, marrying the right person - because He will allow everything to fall in place in His correct timing!! It's like choosing between having to drive a dingy little car the same small route everyday, or hopping into the back seat of a limousine with the most accredited chauffeur in the driver's seat. Do you want to be the one constantly stressing that your car won't make it each day through your boring route? Or do you want to trust the limo driver even though you can't always see where He's going? Trust me, the limo driver will take you down roads you didn't know existed and show you things you never could have even imagined.
At nine years old, I never thought I'd be going to an amazing private Christian college for Vocal Performance (and actually be able to afford it). But that was when the Lord gave me the ambition to sing and perform for Him, and since then He's opened all the doors for me. I trust Him that He will continue to do that. Now I'm just someone who wants to give something of the gifts that I've been given back to the Giver; not because I feel like I ought to, but because I want to. And it sure hasn't felt comfortable and easygoing the whole time, but it has been excellent and good and glorious - because I'm fulfilling who God has called me to be.
The Christian walk isn't about making sure that we've taken each step properly according to somebody's definition; it's about giving God the reins and just hopping along for the ride, however crazy it might get - because He's not a tame Lion.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Actively Passive
I love paradoxes. They are the story of salvation.
Tonight I heard the statement, "Jesus fixes all our problems when we trust Him, and then we can just enjoy life." We don't have to try to enjoy life - we just do when we focus on trusting Him with everything.
I love analogies as well. I'm going to use one right now.
As a vocalist, we have to be actively passive. In other words, we have to choose to be passive.
Our diaphragm is one of the main muscles that allows for breath flow within a phrase. It is attached to the bottom of the lungs and regulates how much air is being let out. The funny thing about the diaphragm though is that in order for it to work properly, it must relax. When you sing, you are not working that muscle, but rather letting it go free.
The problem is that when we sing we don't trust our diaphragm to regulate us throughout a phrase, and so we tense up and hold on to our breath - which only makes us lose it. But when we focus on letting the diaphragm do its job, then everything falls into place. Even though it feels like we're not in control anymore, we feel such a sense of freedom because something else is in control and all we have to do is trust it and come along for the ride.
Now you can see where this is going.
Jesus Christ is our diaphragm. He is our anchor that guides us through life, if we would only trust him. When we take our eyes off of Him like Peter did, and see the winds and waves of this world, we become fearful and we try to find refuge in our own strength - only to fail again. Matthew 10:39 says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Our life is not our own, and freedom will only come through conscious surrender.
And even though giving our life over to Christ may seem like a rollercoaster, if we trust Him it'll turn out to be the best ride we've ever ridden. He may not "fix our problems" like how we expect - but that's the fun of it. Just like the diaphragm, we must dive off into the abyss and trust Him to carry us through. Just don't be surprised when He takes you someplace you could've never even imagined. :)
Tonight I heard the statement, "Jesus fixes all our problems when we trust Him, and then we can just enjoy life." We don't have to try to enjoy life - we just do when we focus on trusting Him with everything.
I love analogies as well. I'm going to use one right now.
As a vocalist, we have to be actively passive. In other words, we have to choose to be passive.
Our diaphragm is one of the main muscles that allows for breath flow within a phrase. It is attached to the bottom of the lungs and regulates how much air is being let out. The funny thing about the diaphragm though is that in order for it to work properly, it must relax. When you sing, you are not working that muscle, but rather letting it go free.
The problem is that when we sing we don't trust our diaphragm to regulate us throughout a phrase, and so we tense up and hold on to our breath - which only makes us lose it. But when we focus on letting the diaphragm do its job, then everything falls into place. Even though it feels like we're not in control anymore, we feel such a sense of freedom because something else is in control and all we have to do is trust it and come along for the ride.
Now you can see where this is going.
Jesus Christ is our diaphragm. He is our anchor that guides us through life, if we would only trust him. When we take our eyes off of Him like Peter did, and see the winds and waves of this world, we become fearful and we try to find refuge in our own strength - only to fail again. Matthew 10:39 says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Our life is not our own, and freedom will only come through conscious surrender.
And even though giving our life over to Christ may seem like a rollercoaster, if we trust Him it'll turn out to be the best ride we've ever ridden. He may not "fix our problems" like how we expect - but that's the fun of it. Just like the diaphragm, we must dive off into the abyss and trust Him to carry us through. Just don't be surprised when He takes you someplace you could've never even imagined. :)
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