I have plans for my life. I'm sure everyone does. My plan has always been to get married shortly after graduating from college, find a good job with decent pay, buy a nice house before later having kids (potentially). Oh, and I want a Ferrari, but that might be a bit excessive. All of that doesn't sound too bad, right? That's not too much to ask for. I like to think I have my life planned out pretty well. I want to live near my parents and my sister and her husband. I want to have some animals, maybe horses, a dog and a cat. After a few years, I'll have children - two boys. I mean, this all sounds pretty normal. Ask just about anyone, and they will give you a similar story.
However, although there is nothing wrong with what I have planned for my life, in the end, it's not my call. I don't get to decide what is going to happen with me after graduation. I might get married, and I might not. In church today, this verse was brought up: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9. I have my life planned out, but God is the One determining what I do with my life.
For some people, this is out of the question. American culture preaches individuality. You are your own person. You make your own decisions. You can do whatever you want with your life. You are strong and independent, and you don't need anyone besides yourself. You can make it on your own. For someone growing up with this mindset, it is extremely hard to just hand the reins over to God and say, "All right, God. Here's my life, You do with it what You please."
But isn't that what Christians are called to do? Our lives are not our own. We have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, and ultimately, He's the one in control. I won't lie... sometimes it is really hard for me to acknowledge that. I am the kind of person who wants things to be done my way. I was never good at working on group projects because I always felt that the project could be done better if I had just done it myself. So in all honesty, it's not easy for me to give up control of my life. I mean, after all, I have dreams and goals. There are things that I want to accomplish, places I want to go, people I want to be with. And while God's plan may line up with mine, I have to be willing to accept that there is the chance that God is going to call me to something else.
I went to Peru this past summer, and when I returned, I had a lot of people asking if I would ever go back. I would always tell them, absolutely. It was such a beautiful place with great people. I would love to go back. Then I would always get those people who would say something like, "Well who knows? Maybe God is calling you to be a missionary there." Whoa. Hold up. No one said anything about being a missionary.
I got to thinking, though. What if that is God's plan for my life? What if He has called me to be a missionary somewhere in the world? What if I am meant to leave my comfort zone with my family, my friends and everything that is familiar? At this point in my life, I don't feel called to do that, but that could easily change. God is ordering my steps, and I need to be prepared for anything.
The biggest thing to keep in mind, though, is that God is not going to call you to do something you are unequipped for. He will give you the tools and the training to accomplish His purposes. Also, He is not going to make you miserable. Wherever He sends you, whatever He has you doing, it will feel so right. It will feel so rewarding and so purposeful.
There's a saying that I have written on my mirror in my dorm room. "God's plans are better than my dreams." I look at this daily because I constantly need to be reminded of this. No matter what my dreams are, God's plan is better. FAR better. Even if I don't end up rich, even if I don't have the house or car of my dreams, even if I don't get married, whatever God has in store for me will be so much greater. When you are fully engaged in serving the Lord and doing what He has for you, the material things of this world become second-best. They tend to lose their importance in our eyes. Sure, we may still want those things, but they are vital to our success. We understand that our lives can be rewarding even without them.
We can all learn from the prophet Isaiah, who, when commissioned by God, immediately said, "Here am I. Send me!" This is easier said than done. I tell God that I am prepared for whatever He has in store for me, but if tomorrow He called me to serve in the mission field, how readily would I answer with "Here am I. Send me!"? I'd like to think that would be my first response, but in my heart, I know that it wouldn't be that easy. I would probably struggle with that decision. But in the end, you will never go wrong if you are following the call of God.
Another verse that came up in church is a very familiar one. Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" As I said before, it is not the will of God that we be miserable. He wants us to succeed and be happy. He wants us to prosper. But He always wants us to do this in such a way that will bring Him honor and glory. There is no better way to glorify God than to listen to His voice and do what He commands.
I hope you will just be thinking about all of this. Talk to God about this. Ask Him what He has in store for your life. Thank Him for where you currently are. Thank Him for being in control. Make it your daily goal to be closer to Him today than you were yesterday. And no matter what He may call you to, strive to be like Isaiah and reply with, "Here am I. Send me!"
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Thoughts
Today has been a pretty good Monday. The weather outside is gorgeous, and I am hoping this means that spring is here for good. I loves these days because I am reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness. Winter can feel so long and dreary, but we have the comfort of knowing that soon spring will arrive, and with it, beautiful weather and happy people.
I am also reminded on beautiful spring days of God's beauty - the beauty of His character and of His creation. Even though it's only the beginning of spring and the trees are still bare, there is a sense of something wonderful that is about to happen. We anticipate the budding of those trees, the sprouting of the flowers, the beauty of life happening right before our eyes. All of this happens by God's hands. I imagine it is even more enjoyable for Him than it is for us.
God made everything in His creation beautiful. At the very beginning, God called everything good. When God created man, His creation was finally complete. He looked down upon His treasure and proclaimed that everything was very good. We were the last piece in the puzzle.
Sometimes it's hard to look at the vastness of creation and remember that God thinks of us as more beautiful. I've had the pleasure of seeing some of the greatest sites in the world, and it is incredibly humbling to realize that the God who created these wonders of nature knows each and everyone one of us by name and thinks of us more highly than all of creation.
The bottom line is that we are God's treasures. He loves us individually and personally. No matter how flawed we are, He is always ready to forgive us and welcome us back into His arms. I only wish that we could live up to this standard. I wish that we could treat each other with the same level of respect and caring that God shows to us. Too often I hear people criticize others, and unfortunately, I am one of those people. It's as if in that moment we think ourselves better than that person, like they are less of a human being, like they are less worthy than we are. This is a lie from the pit of hell!
I don't know who you are or what you are going through today, but I want to give you this encouragement: God loves you. That phrase is tossed around so much in Christian circles, and I know I often hear it said to me without thinking deeper about what it actually means. I like to look at it this way. God's love for you is so great that even if you were the only person on the face of the earth, Christ still would have died for you. 1 Peter 3:9b says "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Every person is precious to Christ, and He would not have changed a thing, even if you were the only person He needed to die for. Such love is hard for me to comprehend.
Another thing: don't ever tell yourself that you are not as worthy or beautiful in God's eyes as someone else. I sometimes fall into this trap of thinking that God has bigger and better plans for other people and that His plan for my life is going to be second-best. No! Another lie from Satan! God's plan for each person is different. Sometimes I wonder why for some people, life just seems to fall in their lap. They get accepted into the college they want, they get great grades, they get married to their high school sweetheart or the only person they have ever dated, and their lives are just perfect and happy. I don't know why this happens for some people and not for others (and I probably never will know), but I do know that this is not because God loves them more. Romans 2:11 says, "...God does not show favoritism." He just simply has a different plan for your life. And I can assure you that His plan for your life will be the very best.
These are just a few things that I like to remind myself of on a daily basis - God is so beautiful and His creation is amazing, God thinks I am beautiful, no matter who I am, and God's plan for my life is unique and incredible.
Lastly, I can't tell you how thankful I am that my God is a personal God. I don't have to worry about trying to be more "holy" than anyone else. In my relationship with God, it's only God and myself. I am accountable to Him only, and I don't have to worry about trying to beat other people into Heaven (what a relief!). The only person I have to try to be better than is myself. I have to daily remind myself to be a better person than I was the day before. Often, I fail in this regard, but I still need to try every single day.
These are my thoughts from the past few weeks. I don't know who all reads this (if anyone), but I hope that you have a fantastic day and a good start to the week. If you have some nice spring weather right now, don't forget to go outside and enjoy the beauty of life and God's creation!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Stillness
One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I love just sitting and thinking about this verse. Often when I am fearful or worried about something, this is the first verse that comes to my mind.
How often do we actually do what this verse says though? The first two words are clear: be still. In my opinion, those words are easier said than done, especially in our high-paced, technology-filled culture. I know that I have very few moments when I am still. It seems that I am constantly busy with homework and studying, and if I'm not doing that, I'm usually with my friends, and if I'm not with my friends, then usually I am doing the most mind-numbing activities like watching TV shows or aimlessly surfing the Internet. In college, the closest I get to being still is right before I go to bed when I read my Bible.
I do have to say that deer season does provide me with an excellent opportunity to be still. When you are out sitting in the woods, waiting for a deer, you are trying to be as quiet as possible. Deer are very flighty animals, and even the smallest sound can send them running. For me, this is the perfect opportunity to talk to God and just spend time alone with Him with no distractions. Yes, the woods aren't always quiet - there's birds chirping, squirrels running around and leaves rustling. But all in all, being alone in the forest is so peaceful. It's probably the only time I am ever really still.
Stillness is rare and precious. We learn so many things when we stop and reflect. When we actually force ourselves to put aside all distractions and focus wholly on God, we learn so much about Him and His character. Like the verse says, we know that He is God. We understand it. We truly get it. It's such a powerful realization, too. He will be exalted in the nations. He will be exalted in the earth. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him.
Another one of my favorite passages dealing with stillness is 1 Kings 19:9-12. This is when the Lord God appears to the prophet Elijah in the cave. Basically at this moment, Elijah is scared. He is telling God how Israelites have broken their covenant with God and they are killing the prophets and breaking down God's altars. Elijah says, "I am the only one left, and they are now trying to kill me too." I can almost hear the desperation and fear in his voice.
Then the Lord speaks. "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." If I were Elijah, I wouldn't know what to expect. But Elijah obeys. First there is a great and powerful wind. This wind is so powerful that the mountains shake and the rocks shatter. But God is not in the wind. Next comes a great earthquake. We have all seen how powerful earthquakes can be. It must have been terrifying for Elijah to witness. But we are told that God is not in the earthquake either. After the earthquake, comes a fire. Just this past summer, the western half of the United States dealt with terrible wildfires. Fire is dangerous and intense. However, God is not in this fire.
Then it comes. A soft whisper. The King James version calls it "a still small voice." You see, God is more powerful than the wind, the earthquake and the fire. However, He chose not to pass by Elijah in any of those. Instead, He spoke to Elijah softly, in a still small voice. In a gentle whisper. It was with this voice that the Lord Almighty reassured Elijah and calmed his fears.
I think too often we beg God for help, we pour out our fears to Him and ask Him to calm us, but then we miss hearing His still small voice. We get too caught up in the world around us that we miss Him. Oh sure, He could come roaring in like the powerful wind and reassure us and tell us that everything is fine. But He doesn't always do that. Sometimes He waits in the background, waiting for us to go find Him.
How many times have we tried to talk to someone who was distracted? Either they are listening to music or watching TV or reading a book. They give us maybe half of their attention or less. In fact, most of the time, they don't even catch what we are saying, and they often ask us to repeat ourselves. This is exactly how we treat God. We sing the worship songs, we listen to worship music, we listen to the pastor's sermon on Sunday... all of these are good things, and we can definitely grow closer to God through them, but I feel like there needs to be more. There needs to be that time when it's just you and God, alone in a silent environment, when you refuse to let your mind wander and you focus all of our attention on the Creator, your Father.
After all, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:6 to go to a quiet room when we pray. We don't need to be out in front of people. We don't even need to pray out loud. "But when you pray, go into our room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Quietness, stillness.
The beautiful thing about being alone with God is understand that He desperately wants to have a one-to-one correspondence with you. Just you and Him! The Creator of the universe wants to have alone time with only you. That's a crazy, wonderful thought! God, who knows everything about you and who passionately loves and adores you, wants you to meet with Him in a quiet place.
In God's perfect stillness, we find God's perfect will.
"The sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will be the ultimate Word from God." ~ Jim Elliot
How often do we actually do what this verse says though? The first two words are clear: be still. In my opinion, those words are easier said than done, especially in our high-paced, technology-filled culture. I know that I have very few moments when I am still. It seems that I am constantly busy with homework and studying, and if I'm not doing that, I'm usually with my friends, and if I'm not with my friends, then usually I am doing the most mind-numbing activities like watching TV shows or aimlessly surfing the Internet. In college, the closest I get to being still is right before I go to bed when I read my Bible.
I do have to say that deer season does provide me with an excellent opportunity to be still. When you are out sitting in the woods, waiting for a deer, you are trying to be as quiet as possible. Deer are very flighty animals, and even the smallest sound can send them running. For me, this is the perfect opportunity to talk to God and just spend time alone with Him with no distractions. Yes, the woods aren't always quiet - there's birds chirping, squirrels running around and leaves rustling. But all in all, being alone in the forest is so peaceful. It's probably the only time I am ever really still.
Stillness is rare and precious. We learn so many things when we stop and reflect. When we actually force ourselves to put aside all distractions and focus wholly on God, we learn so much about Him and His character. Like the verse says, we know that He is God. We understand it. We truly get it. It's such a powerful realization, too. He will be exalted in the nations. He will be exalted in the earth. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him.
Another one of my favorite passages dealing with stillness is 1 Kings 19:9-12. This is when the Lord God appears to the prophet Elijah in the cave. Basically at this moment, Elijah is scared. He is telling God how Israelites have broken their covenant with God and they are killing the prophets and breaking down God's altars. Elijah says, "I am the only one left, and they are now trying to kill me too." I can almost hear the desperation and fear in his voice.
Then the Lord speaks. "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." If I were Elijah, I wouldn't know what to expect. But Elijah obeys. First there is a great and powerful wind. This wind is so powerful that the mountains shake and the rocks shatter. But God is not in the wind. Next comes a great earthquake. We have all seen how powerful earthquakes can be. It must have been terrifying for Elijah to witness. But we are told that God is not in the earthquake either. After the earthquake, comes a fire. Just this past summer, the western half of the United States dealt with terrible wildfires. Fire is dangerous and intense. However, God is not in this fire.
Then it comes. A soft whisper. The King James version calls it "a still small voice." You see, God is more powerful than the wind, the earthquake and the fire. However, He chose not to pass by Elijah in any of those. Instead, He spoke to Elijah softly, in a still small voice. In a gentle whisper. It was with this voice that the Lord Almighty reassured Elijah and calmed his fears.
I think too often we beg God for help, we pour out our fears to Him and ask Him to calm us, but then we miss hearing His still small voice. We get too caught up in the world around us that we miss Him. Oh sure, He could come roaring in like the powerful wind and reassure us and tell us that everything is fine. But He doesn't always do that. Sometimes He waits in the background, waiting for us to go find Him.
How many times have we tried to talk to someone who was distracted? Either they are listening to music or watching TV or reading a book. They give us maybe half of their attention or less. In fact, most of the time, they don't even catch what we are saying, and they often ask us to repeat ourselves. This is exactly how we treat God. We sing the worship songs, we listen to worship music, we listen to the pastor's sermon on Sunday... all of these are good things, and we can definitely grow closer to God through them, but I feel like there needs to be more. There needs to be that time when it's just you and God, alone in a silent environment, when you refuse to let your mind wander and you focus all of our attention on the Creator, your Father.
After all, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:6 to go to a quiet room when we pray. We don't need to be out in front of people. We don't even need to pray out loud. "But when you pray, go into our room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Quietness, stillness.
The beautiful thing about being alone with God is understand that He desperately wants to have a one-to-one correspondence with you. Just you and Him! The Creator of the universe wants to have alone time with only you. That's a crazy, wonderful thought! God, who knows everything about you and who passionately loves and adores you, wants you to meet with Him in a quiet place.
In God's perfect stillness, we find God's perfect will.
"The sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will be the ultimate Word from God." ~ Jim Elliot
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Matthew 25:40
What is poverty? I struggle to find one correct answer to this question. Poverty is different for everyone. In America, you can live in poverty and still own a house and have food on the table. In parts of Africa, to live in poverty often means you go days without food, you sleep on the ground, you can't afford an education.
I have been blessed. I live in the United States, which in itself provides many great opportunities. I have food on the table for every meal (and also food for in between meals). I drink clean water every day. I'm receiving an education from a great college. I have a house to go home to, I have enough clothes to get me through a couple weeks without wearing the same thing twice, I have a vehicle that gets me from place to place, I am healthy and happy. But sometimes I ask myself why?
Don't get me wrong. I am so incredibly thankful for all of this. It is only because of God that I enjoy these things. But when I think about it, I just don't understand why I live this blessed life when there are hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people who suffering every day from diseases and starvation. There are children who run around naked because they have no clothes or shoes. There are teenagers who are nothing but skin and bones because they have no food. There are mothers and fathers who lay awake at night because they don't know how they are going to feed their children the next day. Why do I have a surplus of food and clothing when they people have nothing?
It's not fair. I have done nothing to deserve what I have. I am no different from them. They are human, and I am human. They are intensely loved by God, and I am intensely loved by God. It just doesn't seem fair that they are dying of a disease when the medication in America can be bought for less than $10. It isn't right that they go long periods of time without a balanced meal, and here I am, throwing away perfectly good food in the cafeteria because either it didn't taste good or I've already stuffed myself too full and I can't finish it.
This bothers me so much. Sometimes I think about it so hard that it makes my head hurt. It simply isn't fair. The worst part is that so many Americans have no idea what is actually going on in other countries. We see commercials on TV about these children who run around in the dumps looking for food, and we say, "That's so sad! I wish I could help." Then we turn the channel as we take a sip of our soda or eat a little more of our popcorn.
I've seen poverty firsthand. I went to Peru this past summer, and I saw children playing in the mud with no shoes or pants on. I saw families living in shacks. I saw little boys and girls with bloated stomachs from parasites. My eyes were definitely opened to a different side of the world. Yet sometimes I forget these things that I saw. I complain about the food in college and how there is never anything I want to eat. I take for granted the fact that I even have food in the first place.
In some ways, I think Christians in America are failing these people. We hear stories from missionaries about their hardships, we donate money to their cause, and we are content to just sit in our pews on Sundays and listen. If we were to be approached by someone about an opportunity to serve in a third-world country, many of us would give excuses like we are too busy, we don't have time, we have families that we can't leave, etc. The list could go on and on.
I'm not saying that giving to missionaries isn't an effective way to help. That's not the point at all. Our missionaries are incredible people who are giving of themselves to serve the Lord and others. They need our support and prayers by all means. I'm just saying that we shouldn't be content to just stop there. We need to be willing to go to these places ourselves. We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and see the world through God's eyes. And most of all, when we do travel to other parts of the world, we need to remember that these people deserve our respect and our love. We cannot strip others of their dignity. They are hard-working people who love their families - this is no different from most of us.
Lastly, we need to remember to be continually thankful to God for each of the blessings He has given to us. I mean really be thankful. All of this could be stripped from us in an instant. It is only by God's grace and mercy that America is living in wealth - this could all change. If we were all suddenly plunged into extreme poverty, wouldn't we want the help of others from around the world? Wouldn't we look to our fellow humans to support us in our troubling times?
If nothing else, at least think about these things. You don't have to feel bad when you eat a bag of potato chips or a donut or whatever. I do those things all the time. Maybe, however, when do you allow yourself to indulge, say a prayer to God, asking Him how you might be able to help others. It may be something small - helping a local food bank, volunteering at a homeless shelter. Baby steps. You don't have to completely jump in right at the get-go. Start by putting your toe in the water. Quit standing on the sidelines and do something.
I have been blessed. I live in the United States, which in itself provides many great opportunities. I have food on the table for every meal (and also food for in between meals). I drink clean water every day. I'm receiving an education from a great college. I have a house to go home to, I have enough clothes to get me through a couple weeks without wearing the same thing twice, I have a vehicle that gets me from place to place, I am healthy and happy. But sometimes I ask myself why?
Don't get me wrong. I am so incredibly thankful for all of this. It is only because of God that I enjoy these things. But when I think about it, I just don't understand why I live this blessed life when there are hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people who suffering every day from diseases and starvation. There are children who run around naked because they have no clothes or shoes. There are teenagers who are nothing but skin and bones because they have no food. There are mothers and fathers who lay awake at night because they don't know how they are going to feed their children the next day. Why do I have a surplus of food and clothing when they people have nothing?
It's not fair. I have done nothing to deserve what I have. I am no different from them. They are human, and I am human. They are intensely loved by God, and I am intensely loved by God. It just doesn't seem fair that they are dying of a disease when the medication in America can be bought for less than $10. It isn't right that they go long periods of time without a balanced meal, and here I am, throwing away perfectly good food in the cafeteria because either it didn't taste good or I've already stuffed myself too full and I can't finish it.
This bothers me so much. Sometimes I think about it so hard that it makes my head hurt. It simply isn't fair. The worst part is that so many Americans have no idea what is actually going on in other countries. We see commercials on TV about these children who run around in the dumps looking for food, and we say, "That's so sad! I wish I could help." Then we turn the channel as we take a sip of our soda or eat a little more of our popcorn.
I've seen poverty firsthand. I went to Peru this past summer, and I saw children playing in the mud with no shoes or pants on. I saw families living in shacks. I saw little boys and girls with bloated stomachs from parasites. My eyes were definitely opened to a different side of the world. Yet sometimes I forget these things that I saw. I complain about the food in college and how there is never anything I want to eat. I take for granted the fact that I even have food in the first place.
In some ways, I think Christians in America are failing these people. We hear stories from missionaries about their hardships, we donate money to their cause, and we are content to just sit in our pews on Sundays and listen. If we were to be approached by someone about an opportunity to serve in a third-world country, many of us would give excuses like we are too busy, we don't have time, we have families that we can't leave, etc. The list could go on and on.
I'm not saying that giving to missionaries isn't an effective way to help. That's not the point at all. Our missionaries are incredible people who are giving of themselves to serve the Lord and others. They need our support and prayers by all means. I'm just saying that we shouldn't be content to just stop there. We need to be willing to go to these places ourselves. We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and see the world through God's eyes. And most of all, when we do travel to other parts of the world, we need to remember that these people deserve our respect and our love. We cannot strip others of their dignity. They are hard-working people who love their families - this is no different from most of us.
Lastly, we need to remember to be continually thankful to God for each of the blessings He has given to us. I mean really be thankful. All of this could be stripped from us in an instant. It is only by God's grace and mercy that America is living in wealth - this could all change. If we were all suddenly plunged into extreme poverty, wouldn't we want the help of others from around the world? Wouldn't we look to our fellow humans to support us in our troubling times?
If nothing else, at least think about these things. You don't have to feel bad when you eat a bag of potato chips or a donut or whatever. I do those things all the time. Maybe, however, when do you allow yourself to indulge, say a prayer to God, asking Him how you might be able to help others. It may be something small - helping a local food bank, volunteering at a homeless shelter. Baby steps. You don't have to completely jump in right at the get-go. Start by putting your toe in the water. Quit standing on the sidelines and do something.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Worry and fear vs. trust in God
When it comes to my daily struggles, worrying is definitely number one. It doesn't matter how small and insignificant something is, I always find a way to worry about it. This worrying leads to stress, and we all know the effects stress can have on you. I know that I've already written about worry, but it is such a reoccurring problem for me. I know that I am not the only one who struggles with this.
Let's just face it: worrying is rooted in fear. Without fear, there is no need to worry. I fear getting a bad grade on a test, so I worry about how that test is going to go. I fear someday getting cancer, so I worry about how my lifestyle may affect my health. I fear someone close to me dying, so I worry when I get a phone call late at night. These are just examples of how fear leads to worry and anxiety.
Being in college, the source of much of my stress and anxiety comes from grades. I am a perfectionist, so getting a bad grade on a test greatly affects my mood and my emotions. I once got a 43 on a hard math test in college, and all I could do was return to my room, weeping uncontrollable, and call my mom telling her that I wasn't cut out to be a math major anymore. Believe it or not, though, I almost squeaked out an A in that class. My overreaction was for nothing.
Yes, I understand that worrying can lead to more motivation. If I am really worried about something, I might try everything I can to prevent my fears from coming to life. When it comes to grades and tests, worrying can cause you to study more. However, we shouldn't just study hard because we are afraid of getting a bad grade. We should study hard because we want to do our very best and achieve the highest grade that we as individuals are capable of.
I already established that worrying stems from fear. But fear comes from not trusting in God. Think about it. There is nothing to fear when you have full trust in Him! When you understand that He has our lives completely mapped out and that nothing we do will disrupt His plan, we have no reason to fear. Yet we still do! Why is fear such a problem for us? I have to be honest, I still don't have an answer to that question. I know that fear (and I'm not talking about the fear of God here... that is different) is stupid and irrational, so why do I still allow it to control my life?
The bottom line is that instead of letting fear control us, we should instead resolve to do our absolute best in everything. If we put forth our best effort, God is not going to leave in the dark. He will get us through. When it comes to grades, we may not get an A in that hard class, but if we try our best, we will not go unrewarded. God knows that we are not perfect. We just need to accept this fact for ourselves. Not all of us are going to be super smart in academics or excellent musicians or physically gifted. Just because we may not be good at math or science doesn't mean that we should accept that we are going to get a D in the class. We should strive to do the best job that we can!
I know that I haven't written an entry in a long time, and my thoughts may seem very scattered. I just got to thinking about this this week (I have a hard upper level math test on Friday). Instead of really studying for the test, I've just been worrying about it and anticipating a bad grade. That is stupid! I need to just buckle down, study the material, and go in with a positive attitude. God takes care of His own, so we have nothing to fear!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Giving of our best
Each of us has talents. Regardless of whether someone can do something better than you, there is something that you can do better than them. There are times when I will be listening to a song and think, "Wow, I wish I could sing like her." Or sometimes when I am watching a professional soccer game, I find myself sometimes envious of the girls with the talent to play at that level. I find myself wishing that I had been a better player.
However, we must keep in mind that God has given each of us specific talents in order to carry out a certain purpose. Obviously God's purpose in my life was not to be a great singer or a professional athlete, despite how cool I think that would be. I may not have the ability to be great in those areas, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them. I was able to play soccer in high school and enjoy the competitiveness of the sport. I also have the ability to sing (though sometimes not very well), and I am able to enjoy that as well.
Yes, all of us have talents, but so often, we don't give of the best of our talents to God. He gives us these gifts, and we squander them and use them for our purposes. For example, there are many great singers in the world who use their voices to sing songs full of obscenities and vulgarity. This is not giving glory to God. They are using their God-given talents to bring fame, money and attention to themselves.
Some of my favorite verses on this topic are Colossians 3:23-24. I'm sure they are familiar to many of you: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward. It is the LORD Christ you are serving."
What I love about these verses is that they don't specifically say to give the best of only your talents. No, the first part of verse 23 says, whatever you do. Anything. Even if you aren't necessarily good at it, do it with all of your heart and put forth your best effort. To men, it may seem foolish, but God is so pleased when we try our hardest for His glory, even if it involves something we really stink at.
I remember when I first started playing the violin. The violin is one of those instruments that can be very, very beautiful in the hands of the right person, OR it can be a horrible, screeching, crackly sounding instrument. And unfortunately, when you are first starting out, you don't sound like Itzhak Perlman (look him up if you don't know of him... he's amazing!). Well as soon as people from my church found out that I was learning the violin, they wanted me to incorporate it into some special music. I balked and complained and whined so badly to my mom because I thought that it sounded horrible! And to this day, I still think I sound horrible. But what my mom always reminded me was that I was to be playing for the Lord and not for men. It didn't matter what the congregation thought. God is pleased when we use our abilities to glorify Him.
The sad thing about America today is that so many people are not doing their best. There are so many bright minds in this country that are too busy playing video games, going out and partying, doing drugs. There is so much talent among young people that is basically getting washed down the drain. They just don't care.
The problem is that they don't believe in God, so they feel no conviction to do their best. They feel that their lives are their own, so why should they work hard? As Christians, we know differently. We have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are not our own. We were once slaves until Christ bought us with His precious blood. Now we are free of bondage, but we are still the property of Christ.
If we do our very best and give the praise to God, He will reward us. We may not see that reward in this life, but God is not going to leave us hanging. He doesn't expect us all to be great teachers and speakers, singers and musicians. He just asks that we take whatever He has given us and try our hardest. After all, if you read through the Bible, you will find that the men and women that God used the most were not the strongest or wisest - often they were quite the opposite - yet God used them in mighty ways to further His purpose.
Remember that God often uses "foolish" people over wise people to do His will (1 Corinthians 1:27). If you allow Him to work in your life, and if you pledge to Him to give of your very best, God will use you in ways you never even imagined. Sometimes He will use you even if you don't want to be used. However, it's always easier and less painful if you are open and receptive to His working in your life.
Keep this all in mind the next time you are asked to do something that you don't think you can do. Give it your best shot and give it all to God. More often than not, it turns out much better than you expected.
However, we must keep in mind that God has given each of us specific talents in order to carry out a certain purpose. Obviously God's purpose in my life was not to be a great singer or a professional athlete, despite how cool I think that would be. I may not have the ability to be great in those areas, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them. I was able to play soccer in high school and enjoy the competitiveness of the sport. I also have the ability to sing (though sometimes not very well), and I am able to enjoy that as well.
Yes, all of us have talents, but so often, we don't give of the best of our talents to God. He gives us these gifts, and we squander them and use them for our purposes. For example, there are many great singers in the world who use their voices to sing songs full of obscenities and vulgarity. This is not giving glory to God. They are using their God-given talents to bring fame, money and attention to themselves.
Some of my favorite verses on this topic are Colossians 3:23-24. I'm sure they are familiar to many of you: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward. It is the LORD Christ you are serving."
What I love about these verses is that they don't specifically say to give the best of only your talents. No, the first part of verse 23 says, whatever you do. Anything. Even if you aren't necessarily good at it, do it with all of your heart and put forth your best effort. To men, it may seem foolish, but God is so pleased when we try our hardest for His glory, even if it involves something we really stink at.
I remember when I first started playing the violin. The violin is one of those instruments that can be very, very beautiful in the hands of the right person, OR it can be a horrible, screeching, crackly sounding instrument. And unfortunately, when you are first starting out, you don't sound like Itzhak Perlman (look him up if you don't know of him... he's amazing!). Well as soon as people from my church found out that I was learning the violin, they wanted me to incorporate it into some special music. I balked and complained and whined so badly to my mom because I thought that it sounded horrible! And to this day, I still think I sound horrible. But what my mom always reminded me was that I was to be playing for the Lord and not for men. It didn't matter what the congregation thought. God is pleased when we use our abilities to glorify Him.
The sad thing about America today is that so many people are not doing their best. There are so many bright minds in this country that are too busy playing video games, going out and partying, doing drugs. There is so much talent among young people that is basically getting washed down the drain. They just don't care.
The problem is that they don't believe in God, so they feel no conviction to do their best. They feel that their lives are their own, so why should they work hard? As Christians, we know differently. We have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are not our own. We were once slaves until Christ bought us with His precious blood. Now we are free of bondage, but we are still the property of Christ.
If we do our very best and give the praise to God, He will reward us. We may not see that reward in this life, but God is not going to leave us hanging. He doesn't expect us all to be great teachers and speakers, singers and musicians. He just asks that we take whatever He has given us and try our hardest. After all, if you read through the Bible, you will find that the men and women that God used the most were not the strongest or wisest - often they were quite the opposite - yet God used them in mighty ways to further His purpose.
Remember that God often uses "foolish" people over wise people to do His will (1 Corinthians 1:27). If you allow Him to work in your life, and if you pledge to Him to give of your very best, God will use you in ways you never even imagined. Sometimes He will use you even if you don't want to be used. However, it's always easier and less painful if you are open and receptive to His working in your life.
Keep this all in mind the next time you are asked to do something that you don't think you can do. Give it your best shot and give it all to God. More often than not, it turns out much better than you expected.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Goodness
Psalm 118:1 - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."
I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis. In my opinion, this man was incredibly smart and godly. I am especially a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, but then again, who isn't? I love the portrayal of Aslan in these books. One of my favorite lines in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes in eighth chapter entitled "What Happened After Dinner." The Beavers and the Pevensie children are sitting in the Beavers' dam eating supper and discussing Aslan, the Great Lion.
Not too many things in society are good anymore. It seems like the world is overflowing with evil sometimes. More than once I have watched the news and gotten depressed about what is happening, not only in the United States, but all around the world. It's hard to see goodness in all of the evil. It's hard to see any light in this darkness.
But there is Light! We must remember that this earth is not our final home. This evil presence will not endure forever; it cannot endure forever. Soon, and very soon, Christ will return for His Church and He will re-make the earth to be as it was intended - pure and holy. And everything will be good again - just as it was in the Beginning when God pronounced it good.
Psalm 31:19 - "How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You."
Our God is not safe. He is powerful and holy and worthy to be feared and adored. But we cannot forget His goodness. We cannot go around preaching hell and destruction to those who are lost without showing them that the Maker of everything is good and loving and takes a personal interest in their lives. So often people back away from Christianity because through Christians (yes, through me) they see a judgmental and hypocritical God. Yes, God does judge, but His judgments are unlike ours. They are worthy and perfect.
We must remember that unbelievers are looking at us. We must strive to be good just as our God is good. We must show them a goodness and a love unlike anything they have seen before. Maybe then we could get the Gospel message across. Maybe then people would start listening instead of immediately writing us off.
This week, I challenge us all to look for ways to do good. Write someone an encouraging note or Bible verse. Give someone a hug. Have a meal with a close friend. Help someone in need. Think of others as better than yourselves. Reflect the goodness of God to those around you. We all need to be reminded that, in this world of evil and chaos, the Light reigns supreme.
I think you will be surprised at just how good it feels inside when you do something nice for someone else. Who knows? Maybe it will change your life.
I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis. In my opinion, this man was incredibly smart and godly. I am especially a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, but then again, who isn't? I love the portrayal of Aslan in these books. One of my favorite lines in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes in eighth chapter entitled "What Happened After Dinner." The Beavers and the Pevensie children are sitting in the Beavers' dam eating supper and discussing Aslan, the Great Lion.
"Ooh!" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."I love that last line. Of course Aslan isn't safe, but he is good. Our God is not safe, but He is infinitely and wonderfully good. He is always just and always caring and always kind.
Not too many things in society are good anymore. It seems like the world is overflowing with evil sometimes. More than once I have watched the news and gotten depressed about what is happening, not only in the United States, but all around the world. It's hard to see goodness in all of the evil. It's hard to see any light in this darkness.
But there is Light! We must remember that this earth is not our final home. This evil presence will not endure forever; it cannot endure forever. Soon, and very soon, Christ will return for His Church and He will re-make the earth to be as it was intended - pure and holy. And everything will be good again - just as it was in the Beginning when God pronounced it good.
Psalm 31:19 - "How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You."
Our God is not safe. He is powerful and holy and worthy to be feared and adored. But we cannot forget His goodness. We cannot go around preaching hell and destruction to those who are lost without showing them that the Maker of everything is good and loving and takes a personal interest in their lives. So often people back away from Christianity because through Christians (yes, through me) they see a judgmental and hypocritical God. Yes, God does judge, but His judgments are unlike ours. They are worthy and perfect.
We must remember that unbelievers are looking at us. We must strive to be good just as our God is good. We must show them a goodness and a love unlike anything they have seen before. Maybe then we could get the Gospel message across. Maybe then people would start listening instead of immediately writing us off.
This week, I challenge us all to look for ways to do good. Write someone an encouraging note or Bible verse. Give someone a hug. Have a meal with a close friend. Help someone in need. Think of others as better than yourselves. Reflect the goodness of God to those around you. We all need to be reminded that, in this world of evil and chaos, the Light reigns supreme.
I think you will be surprised at just how good it feels inside when you do something nice for someone else. Who knows? Maybe it will change your life.
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