I am thankful for dates with my Dad. I can't remember the first time we went on a date, but I know I was really young. He is one of the most polite guys I know. He always lets me pick whatever restaurant or coffee shop I want.
Especially this year, I've realized that I can talk to him about anything--even things I've never talked about with anyone else. He isn't just a good listener, though he certainly is one of those. He is genuinely good at advice. Not like those people you go to when you just want to be reaffirmed in your own intentions. Not like those people who jump down your throat with a million corrections before you even explain your side. My dad gives advice that comes from years of knowing the scriptures, and years of caring about me. When we go on dates, I love to talk with him and just listen to his wisdom. I'm thankful to God for this dad I have.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Bearing Fruit
--It's not possible unless I am abiding in Christ.
The problem for me is, I am apathetic about abiding in Christ. I get close to Him for a short time, and really exciting growth happens all over my life. Then somebody nice tells me that I'm godly, I'm doing great, and I think I have it made.
But all that good stuff in me isn't me.
"As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
Anything worthy in me comes from Christ. The second I start to give myself credit for what He has done is the second that I decide I don't need to abide in Him. In that second, it becomes impossible for me to bear fruit.
All I'm left with is that detestable, but stubbornly lingering pride that says "I'm godly," but has no proof to back it up. The problem is, I can go days or weeks without realizing that--get ready for this, Car--I'm not all that great.
I praise God that He has given me people to (graciously) remind me of that horrible, wonderful, liberating fact.
How I need Jesus. I need Him when I feel that I need Him. And oh, how I need Him when I feel okay.
If you feel okay, you shouldn't. You should be afraid, very afraid of your own pride. Because without Him, we are nothing.
"Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:4, 5
The problem for me is, I am apathetic about abiding in Christ. I get close to Him for a short time, and really exciting growth happens all over my life. Then somebody nice tells me that I'm godly, I'm doing great, and I think I have it made.
But all that good stuff in me isn't me.
"As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
Anything worthy in me comes from Christ. The second I start to give myself credit for what He has done is the second that I decide I don't need to abide in Him. In that second, it becomes impossible for me to bear fruit.
All I'm left with is that detestable, but stubbornly lingering pride that says "I'm godly," but has no proof to back it up. The problem is, I can go days or weeks without realizing that--get ready for this, Car--I'm not all that great.
I praise God that He has given me people to (graciously) remind me of that horrible, wonderful, liberating fact.
How I need Jesus. I need Him when I feel that I need Him. And oh, how I need Him when I feel okay.
If you feel okay, you shouldn't. You should be afraid, very afraid of your own pride. Because without Him, we are nothing.
"Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:4, 5
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Humbling
Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
--Isaiah 66:1-2
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Top 17: Reasons I Am Thankful for Katelyn Ladd
17. You are hilarious--often unintentionally. You put up with me laughing at you and riding you about things like "Sick-a-go." Besides that, you are gracious enough to forget when I do something embarrassing, rather than holding it over my head.
16. You are just about the first person that I ever talked with about the Lord for an hour or more.
15. When I'm excited about something--shallow or deep--you can't wait to listen and share the excitement with me.
14. All those times I stayed at your house while my folks were gone. Those are some great memories.
13. You always claim to be less godly than other people, even when God's work in you is so blatantly obvious to the rest of us.
12. You are sensitive to the wants and needs of others. You will sacrifice of yourself even if the other person doesn't say their desires out loud.
11. You have a heart to reach out to the lost.
10. You have a greater capacity for making and keeping strong friendships than I have ever had.
9. You are always sweet and patient with your family.
8. When you are mistreated, you don't hold a grudge.
7. You have one of the softest hearts I have ever seen.
6. The smallest little poke of conviction is enough to bring you to your knees and cause you to change. A whisper from the Spirit is like a shout to you.
5. You have the joy of the Lord.
4. You are honest about your sin.
3. You are broken over your sin.
2. You see God's grace in me, and tell me about it. This builds me up and causes me to praise Him.
1. You love Jesus more with each passing year.
16. You are just about the first person that I ever talked with about the Lord for an hour or more.
15. When I'm excited about something--shallow or deep--you can't wait to listen and share the excitement with me.
14. All those times I stayed at your house while my folks were gone. Those are some great memories.
13. You always claim to be less godly than other people, even when God's work in you is so blatantly obvious to the rest of us.
12. You are sensitive to the wants and needs of others. You will sacrifice of yourself even if the other person doesn't say their desires out loud.
11. You have a heart to reach out to the lost.
10. You have a greater capacity for making and keeping strong friendships than I have ever had.
9. You are always sweet and patient with your family.
8. When you are mistreated, you don't hold a grudge.
7. You have one of the softest hearts I have ever seen.
6. The smallest little poke of conviction is enough to bring you to your knees and cause you to change. A whisper from the Spirit is like a shout to you.
5. You have the joy of the Lord.
4. You are honest about your sin.
3. You are broken over your sin.
2. You see God's grace in me, and tell me about it. This builds me up and causes me to praise Him.
1. You love Jesus more with each passing year.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Love and the Obvious
The New Commandment
A new commandment I live to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
--John 13:34-35
--John 13:34-35
Love and the Obvious
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
--1 Thessalonians 4:9
Sometimes love seems like a difficult and confusing thing. This passage makes me wonder if that is completely my fault.
If I followed this verse, I would save myself so much trouble! I wouldn't spend so much useless time debating with my conscience over whether or not I need to include this person, or apologize to that person, or give her a call, or just leave him alone.
My problem is not that the Bible doesn't tell me how to love others—it does.
It's not that I don't have access to the Bible at virtually any time of the day—I do.
It's not like I don't have a Helper within me, activating my conscience to awareness of God's will—He's there.
Sometimes, the best advice is the simplest.
Do what you know.
If you are a believer, then God has already equipped you to know who you need to love, and how you need to do it.
An application: write down 10 names of people in your life, and next to the names, write practically how you can love them better. Write down what you already know, and ask God for new strength and motivation to actually love these people.
To image Christ to the world, love others in the obvious ways.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Love and Your Mindset
The New Commandment
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
--John 13:34-35
Love and Your Mindset
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
--Col 3:14
Perfect harmony. What a concept! I have certainly not achieved this state in my relationships. Even the closest friendships I have don't sound like a perfectly blending a capella group. There are moments--and sometimes days or weeks--of discord that create a clashing, painful racket. Thank God that the reason for this disunity is so plain and obvious. If we are not in perfect harmony, then we are not loving each other as we should.
Love is incredibly important for the believer. It is so important that this passage actually directly states that it is "above" many other important godly traits. For example: "compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another"--each of these important characteristics must submit to love. Why? Because without love, it is impossible to bear even one of these Christian fruits.
So love is absolutely crucial. The context of this verse, the rest of the chapter, sheds more light on what this love means, and how it can be lived out.
The central theme of Colossians 3 is a contrast between the earthly and the heavenly. The opening statement of the chapter is this: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Set your mind on the the things above--not the things which are on earth.
Love flows out of this simple yet profoundly impactful choice that each person makes. On what will you set your mind?
What are the things on earth?
Attention, beauty, clothes, fun, being liked, man's praise, money, pleasure, power, reputation, talents, worries.
What is above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God?
Heaven, my eternal home.
Certainly there is more to love than this, yet this simple truth could deeply impact my life and my love if I let it. Set your mind on heaven, and as the things of earth fade away, love will overflow out of your heart and into your actions.
Death to worldly thought patterns leads to a growing, godly life. "You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (v. 9-10)." Beginning with the mind, there is an inescapable, undefeatable new life with all new desires. If you are a believer, your life is already being renewed--in your mind's knowledge--so that you are being transformed to look like the one who made you.
If you are struggling to love anyone in your life, take comfort in the fact that your mind is already being renewed, and God will not stop untill you look like Him. And as you rest in this truth, take action: make it a priority to think about heaven every day. When that person does something annoying that drives you crazy, or makes an effort to put herself in your path when you don't want to deal with her, or shoots back a stinging remark--take a minute to set your mind on the things above, where your Savior is sitting down at the right hand of God the Father.
To image Christ to the world, be intentional about meditating on heaven, so that love will flow from your mind to your heart and out to everyone you know.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
--John 13:34-35
Love and Your Mindset
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
--Col 3:14
Perfect harmony. What a concept! I have certainly not achieved this state in my relationships. Even the closest friendships I have don't sound like a perfectly blending a capella group. There are moments--and sometimes days or weeks--of discord that create a clashing, painful racket. Thank God that the reason for this disunity is so plain and obvious. If we are not in perfect harmony, then we are not loving each other as we should.
Love is incredibly important for the believer. It is so important that this passage actually directly states that it is "above" many other important godly traits. For example: "compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another"--each of these important characteristics must submit to love. Why? Because without love, it is impossible to bear even one of these Christian fruits.
So love is absolutely crucial. The context of this verse, the rest of the chapter, sheds more light on what this love means, and how it can be lived out.
The central theme of Colossians 3 is a contrast between the earthly and the heavenly. The opening statement of the chapter is this: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Set your mind on the the things above--not the things which are on earth.
Love flows out of this simple yet profoundly impactful choice that each person makes. On what will you set your mind?
What are the things on earth?
Attention, beauty, clothes, fun, being liked, man's praise, money, pleasure, power, reputation, talents, worries.
What is above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God?
Heaven, my eternal home.
Certainly there is more to love than this, yet this simple truth could deeply impact my life and my love if I let it. Set your mind on heaven, and as the things of earth fade away, love will overflow out of your heart and into your actions.
Death to worldly thought patterns leads to a growing, godly life. "You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (v. 9-10)." Beginning with the mind, there is an inescapable, undefeatable new life with all new desires. If you are a believer, your life is already being renewed--in your mind's knowledge--so that you are being transformed to look like the one who made you.
If you are struggling to love anyone in your life, take comfort in the fact that your mind is already being renewed, and God will not stop untill you look like Him. And as you rest in this truth, take action: make it a priority to think about heaven every day. When that person does something annoying that drives you crazy, or makes an effort to put herself in your path when you don't want to deal with her, or shoots back a stinging remark--take a minute to set your mind on the things above, where your Savior is sitting down at the right hand of God the Father.
To image Christ to the world, be intentional about meditating on heaven, so that love will flow from your mind to your heart and out to everyone you know.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Love and the Law
The New Commandment
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
--John 13: 31-35
Love and the Law
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
--Romans 13:8-10
We owe it to God to fulfill His law. Complete and total obedience to Him, from now until the day we die, would still not be perfect enough, for we have disobeyed Him already enough to earn Hell thousands of times. In this passage, we find the broad category under which much of God's law falls: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus has a higher standard than just "Don't have an affair" or "Don't kill anybody." In His most famous sermon, He revealed that He considers lust to be adultery and hatred to be murder. So it isn't enough for us to just abstain from heinous, obviously despicable crimes that would earn us shame from other people. That in itself is not enough to pay what we owe. The perfect obedience which is our debt consists of a heart that loves.
If love is the fulfilling of the law, then I am a law-breaker.
Looking at these four sins, I find just how guilty I am of transgressing God's commandments.
Adultery. There is more to lust than just looking at someone with impure desires in your heart. There is a sense in which any relationship you have can contribute to indulging your cravings for attention. One of the places this can be most obvious is in relationships with people of the opposite gender. My selfish heart can and does seek to gratify itself in the attention of men. God tells me that this is not only a way to rack up debt against Him, but it is in fact a refusal to pay what I owe to other people in my life. If you see someone--anyone--in your life as a source of self-gratification, then your lust for your own glory is actively hindering you from loving that person. No matter how much you may "like" that guy or girl, the only person you are loving is yourself.
Murder. The sin of hatred is equally dangerous and equally disguisable. Almost no one I know has ever actually taken someone else's life. Yet we all have feelings of anger, bitterness, and un-love that we would be appalled to see anyone find out. Daily, someone I know does something that causes the mercury in my anger-meter to push to the top. I may ignore the person--may even be silent--but inside I am hot with wrath. I have literally thought before of someone in my life, "I hate ____." I have done this multiple times. Even more numerous are the instances in which I have said, "I hate it when _____ does ____." My open complaint reveals that I love my own unchallenged comfort more than I love the person who challenged it.
Coveting and Stealing. The last two breakable laws seem to go hand in hand--"You shall not covet" and "You shall not steal." How many times have I wanted something that someone else has? To limit this to material possessions would be (for me) a major cop-out. I have found myself capable of being jealous of anything and everything. Someone's car or clothes or paycheck--sure. Someone's abilities, popularity, or the favor they enjoy--even more prevalent. I often like to see the sin of jealousy as a sin against God. After all, I am being discontent with His numerous gifts. But I am remiss if I don't consider this sin as a lack of love towards others. Have you ever been actively envious of someone in your life, and continued to love them perfectly, or even treat them well externally? It's not just difficult. It's impossible. To covet someone, or competitively fight to get what they have is to deny them your love.
Each of these sins jars me with the realization that I do not love as I should. Every day, instead of paying God and others the debt that I owe, I am increasing my deficit by being lustful, hateful, and jealous. A comparison to Jesus' law reveals that I am hopelessly behind on laying down even a fraction of the payment He is due.
But praise be to Jesus--He has paid our debts.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
--Matthew 5:17
Not only does Jesus establish the law of love--He follows it to the letter. In His perfect obedience, we are free to enjoy God's favor even though we cannot obey perfectly. And because our Savior lives in us, we know that He will help us to pay back what we owe.
To image Christ to the world, rely on His power to help you obey the law.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A New Commandment + Love and Vengeance
A New Commandment
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
--John 13: 31-35
In an incredible context, we receive an incredible command. Jesus is sitting down for his last meal. Directly after being abandoned by a dear friend, and directly before his horrific death, Jesus gives a new commandment.
"Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
And what is the purpose of this great call?
"By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
Love is important. Love is so important that our Savior says we are identified by it. Jesus says that love is how the world knows we are His. It is important, then, to look very carefully at what our God means when He tells us to love.
The extent to which we know and apply Biblical love is the extent to which we make it obvious to the world that we belong to Jesus.
Love and Vengeance
Leviticus 19:18
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."
Love, in this verse, is described by what it does not do. Love never has a grudge or a desire for vengeance upon those who harm us.
The problem with this commandment is that, even as believers, we do suffer harm from others--even other believers. Because we live in a fallen world, we hurt each other. Until I reach heaven, I will have to deal with biting words from family members, sharp-edged sarcastic remarks from friends, mean-spirited jabs disguised as rebukes, criticisms motivated by jealousy, and undeserved anger caused by circumstances unrelated to me. But the Bible says that the way to respond to these injuries is never, ever to hand back what is dished out.
Not only are we not to exact our own revenge, but we are also commanded to not even hold a grudge.
Do you realize what this means? It means that if you have been wronged and do not fire back a single unkind word, it is still possible to sin. The root of the sin of vengeance--the grudge--is deeply buried in the heart. A retaliatory attitude can be present (even controllingly so) and not be visible to anyone else.
Holding a grudge is refusing to think well of someone who wronged you. It is unforgiveness held close to the heart. It is a treasured ill will towards another person. It is the voice in your head that says you would be justified in being mean to that person but you are being extra godly by holding back.
How guilty are we of this? Most of us carry just as many grudges as we do scars of being hurt. It can feel so impossible to love that person who made fun of you in front of friends you look up to, or who belittled you out of his own pride, or who excluded you when she invited everyone else. It seems rediculous to think of looking at that person the same way again, as though they never did that evil thing. You look at them through the ugly veil of your own hurt, and their image is forever marred by the fog of your grudge.
There is only one escape, only one way to "love your neighbor as yourself" and that is in the identity of your God.
"I am the LORD."
Freedom from a begrudging heart can only be found in the One who has forgiven you. For you greatly wronged Him, spurning Him to His face repeatedly, day after day. Yet now, when He looks at you (if you have become one of His own), He willingly does not see one who is an enemy. He has chosen to look at you as though you never sinned against Him. How much more, then, ought we sinners to willingly close our eyes to the faults of those who wrong us.
To image Christ to the world, love others by forgetting their wrongs against you through confidence in who God is.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
--John 13: 31-35
In an incredible context, we receive an incredible command. Jesus is sitting down for his last meal. Directly after being abandoned by a dear friend, and directly before his horrific death, Jesus gives a new commandment.
"Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
And what is the purpose of this great call?
"By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
Love is important. Love is so important that our Savior says we are identified by it. Jesus says that love is how the world knows we are His. It is important, then, to look very carefully at what our God means when He tells us to love.
The extent to which we know and apply Biblical love is the extent to which we make it obvious to the world that we belong to Jesus.
Love and Vengeance
Leviticus 19:18
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."
Love, in this verse, is described by what it does not do. Love never has a grudge or a desire for vengeance upon those who harm us.
The problem with this commandment is that, even as believers, we do suffer harm from others--even other believers. Because we live in a fallen world, we hurt each other. Until I reach heaven, I will have to deal with biting words from family members, sharp-edged sarcastic remarks from friends, mean-spirited jabs disguised as rebukes, criticisms motivated by jealousy, and undeserved anger caused by circumstances unrelated to me. But the Bible says that the way to respond to these injuries is never, ever to hand back what is dished out.
Not only are we not to exact our own revenge, but we are also commanded to not even hold a grudge.
Do you realize what this means? It means that if you have been wronged and do not fire back a single unkind word, it is still possible to sin. The root of the sin of vengeance--the grudge--is deeply buried in the heart. A retaliatory attitude can be present (even controllingly so) and not be visible to anyone else.
Holding a grudge is refusing to think well of someone who wronged you. It is unforgiveness held close to the heart. It is a treasured ill will towards another person. It is the voice in your head that says you would be justified in being mean to that person but you are being extra godly by holding back.
How guilty are we of this? Most of us carry just as many grudges as we do scars of being hurt. It can feel so impossible to love that person who made fun of you in front of friends you look up to, or who belittled you out of his own pride, or who excluded you when she invited everyone else. It seems rediculous to think of looking at that person the same way again, as though they never did that evil thing. You look at them through the ugly veil of your own hurt, and their image is forever marred by the fog of your grudge.
There is only one escape, only one way to "love your neighbor as yourself" and that is in the identity of your God.
"I am the LORD."
Freedom from a begrudging heart can only be found in the One who has forgiven you. For you greatly wronged Him, spurning Him to His face repeatedly, day after day. Yet now, when He looks at you (if you have become one of His own), He willingly does not see one who is an enemy. He has chosen to look at you as though you never sinned against Him. How much more, then, ought we sinners to willingly close our eyes to the faults of those who wrong us.
To image Christ to the world, love others by forgetting their wrongs against you through confidence in who God is.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Top 40: Reasons I Am Thankful for My Dad
1. Most of my best childhood memories come from you--memories like wrestling, special breakfast noodles, and hiking in Spokane, and you reading to me.
2. You sometimes (try to) pick out my clothes.
3. You introduced me to the Bible before I was even old enough to understand it.
4. Going through books with you has strengthened my faith and spiritual knowledge.
5. You prayed for me every night.
6. You introduced me to some of my favorite songs. Number one is a toss up between "Split Screen Sadness" and "I Don't Want to Be."
7. You taught me to never go on a second date with a guy who doesn't get the door.
8. I still don't like the Westerns (or "The Straight Story"), but I'll admit you've picked some winner movies in your day.
9. You taught me not to worry.
10. You run with me.
11. I feel comfortable talking with you about just about anything.
12. It isn't exaggerating to say you get my humor better than anyone else.
13. I laugh harder at you than at almost anyone else.
14. I learned to love reading from you, and I love it to this day.
15. You taught me how to teach.
16. Your preaching continues to convict me and inspire me to Christ-centered living, Sunday after Sunday.
17. Your preaching has profoundly impacted the lives of people I deeply care about.
18. Your high view of God's word inspired me to hold it in esteem--and to base my life on it.
19. You are really, really smart.
20. You hate sin.
21. You are humble. You brag about Jesus, not your talent. And you don't take all the credit you could for the reaches of your ministry.
22. Your discipline has saved me from dangerous paths I might still be on otherwise.
23. You have helped me to be firm in my convictions--and to have the right ones.
24. You've always had high expectations for me. Especially in these teenage years, you've treated me like an adult, even thought I act so immature sometimes.
25. You make it a priority to study the Bible as a family multiple times a week. You are washing us in the water of the Word.
26. You said you're proud of me.
27. Your love for the lost moves me to care about them more.
28. You taught me how to say "no" to things, in order to focus on what's truly important.
29. You've instilled in me a respect for the classics.
30. You've given me a passion for ministry.
31. You would rather suffer yourself than see me be hurt.
32. You will never sit by silently if I choose to wreck my life.
33. I know that any guy who really likes me will need to go through you. Makes me wonder if there's any guy brave enough, but I'm thankful for it nonetheless.
34. You say "yes" to things that aren't your favorite, for the sake of letting me enjoy life. You are selfless towards your family.
35. You are wise, and you have made wisdom look desirable to me from a very young age.
36. You are a hard worker, and have taught me to respect diligence and abhor laziness.
37. You encourage me to branch out and do things I might not choose on my own.
38. I don't need to wonder what a godly man should look like. I have the biblical model with me every day.
39. God's glory is more important to you than anything else.
40. Jesus is your life.
2. You sometimes (try to) pick out my clothes.
3. You introduced me to the Bible before I was even old enough to understand it.
4. Going through books with you has strengthened my faith and spiritual knowledge.
5. You prayed for me every night.
6. You introduced me to some of my favorite songs. Number one is a toss up between "Split Screen Sadness" and "I Don't Want to Be."
7. You taught me to never go on a second date with a guy who doesn't get the door.
8. I still don't like the Westerns (or "The Straight Story"), but I'll admit you've picked some winner movies in your day.
9. You taught me not to worry.
10. You run with me.
11. I feel comfortable talking with you about just about anything.
12. It isn't exaggerating to say you get my humor better than anyone else.
13. I laugh harder at you than at almost anyone else.
14. I learned to love reading from you, and I love it to this day.
15. You taught me how to teach.
16. Your preaching continues to convict me and inspire me to Christ-centered living, Sunday after Sunday.
17. Your preaching has profoundly impacted the lives of people I deeply care about.
18. Your high view of God's word inspired me to hold it in esteem--and to base my life on it.
19. You are really, really smart.
20. You hate sin.
21. You are humble. You brag about Jesus, not your talent. And you don't take all the credit you could for the reaches of your ministry.
22. Your discipline has saved me from dangerous paths I might still be on otherwise.
23. You have helped me to be firm in my convictions--and to have the right ones.
24. You've always had high expectations for me. Especially in these teenage years, you've treated me like an adult, even thought I act so immature sometimes.
25. You make it a priority to study the Bible as a family multiple times a week. You are washing us in the water of the Word.
26. You said you're proud of me.
27. Your love for the lost moves me to care about them more.
28. You taught me how to say "no" to things, in order to focus on what's truly important.
29. You've instilled in me a respect for the classics.
30. You've given me a passion for ministry.
31. You would rather suffer yourself than see me be hurt.
32. You will never sit by silently if I choose to wreck my life.
33. I know that any guy who really likes me will need to go through you. Makes me wonder if there's any guy brave enough, but I'm thankful for it nonetheless.
34. You say "yes" to things that aren't your favorite, for the sake of letting me enjoy life. You are selfless towards your family.
35. You are wise, and you have made wisdom look desirable to me from a very young age.
36. You are a hard worker, and have taught me to respect diligence and abhor laziness.
37. You encourage me to branch out and do things I might not choose on my own.
38. I don't need to wonder what a godly man should look like. I have the biblical model with me every day.
39. God's glory is more important to you than anything else.
40. Jesus is your life.
Friday, November 26, 2010
12 Things I'm Thankful For: Thanksgiving Week 2010
3 People
3. Rebecca Jeanson. I really like Rebecca's no-nonsense attitude. She is fun to be around, but she also doesn't waste a lot of time or words on foolish things. She has an appetite for God's word, so conversation with her is almost always edifying.
2. Megan Williams. It's always fun talking with Megan, but it took a while for me to realize why. Megan is really selfless in conversation. She will ask you a ton of questions about yourself, and genuinely care about what you say. Among other things, I'm thankful for Megan's selfless attitude.
3. Rylie DeBurgh. My youngest brother Rylie and I went on a date this week. Lately, I've been enjoying his company more and more. Living in the same house with him, I don't always appreciate him as much as I should. He is growing in love for the Lord and for others, and in patience with me. I am thankful to God for this sweet younger brother.
3 Things
3. Mrs. Ladd's stuffing. I have always been a fan of stuffing. It might be my favorite thanksgiving dish. But Mrs. Ladd's stuffing (via Guy's mom's accidental secret recipe) takes it to another level. The other people at the table were probably wondering why I would take a bite and then just close my eyes and smile. Killer stuffing.
2. Left Behind Series. This Christian fiction series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim Lahaye is really something else. It's loaded with cheesy dialogue and 90s technology. But somehow, I've come to actually look forward to the few minutes I spend reading this series before bed every night.
1. "While You Were Sleeping," the movie. The first time I saw this movie, it instantly became a favorite. I still love watching it every year (usually multiple times a year). Especially as Christmas draws near, this movie is an absolutely must see at my house. Probably because I watch this movie so often, it gives me good feelings every time, and I always laugh all the way through. Especially memorable, for me, are the Joe Jr. quotes: "Who told?!" "I know that trick!" and even "Nice....(tongue click).....sweatah!"
3 Events
3. Basilisk War. In the Ladds' TV room, an epic battle was fought between Sam, Rylie, Christian, and myself. The only weapon was the basilisk--a snake you make with your hand that makes anyone who looks at it go blind. Under normal circumstances, the goal is just to get someone to accidentally look at your basilisk. This particular battle, however, culminated in Christian's basilisk chomping down on Rylie's upper thigh. Over the laughter that ensued, Christian could be heard saying, "Got you there!"
2. Scattergories Game. Katelyn and I joined together to form the dream team in a game of Scattergories at the Ladd's house. She was "The Brains" and I was "The Brawn"--and together, we were unstoppable (enough to win third place). It's a fun game, and it was fun to spend time with the DeBurgh and Ladd families together.
1. Thankgiving Day Prep. On Wednesday, I went to Racine's Festival Hall to help "set up" for a huge, free Thanksgiving meal that would take place the next day. As it turned out, they had an excess of volunteers and didn't really need us after all. Still, we had fun sweeping out two little rooms and eating free sandwiches. On the way out, we overheard the woman in charge telling a newcomer: "If you see something that needs to be done, jump in. If not, just enjoy yourself." I didn't work too hard, but I sure did enjoy myself. Hard not to in a place as exciting as the Festival Hall!
3 Verses
3. John 12:25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This may seem like a funny verse to be thankful for--who wants to hate their life?--but I am thankful for how God is working it out in me. Things that used to be too important are, little by little, losing their grip on my affections by His power. Eternal life is becoming more precious to me.
2. John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. I am thankful that I have a Savior who lived the life of a servant, so that I can copy Him. If only I were better at this! I am one selfish girl--and if you don't believe me, it's because you don't know me. But that just brings me to the other thing I am thankful for: Jesus grace! He never "gives up" on me, despite my stubborn heart.
1. John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. I am thankful for the love I have been shown. It is the mark of my salvation, and God is helping me to have real love in my heart for other people, too. I am amazed that He can actually live in me to the extent that other people know that I am His.
3. Rebecca Jeanson. I really like Rebecca's no-nonsense attitude. She is fun to be around, but she also doesn't waste a lot of time or words on foolish things. She has an appetite for God's word, so conversation with her is almost always edifying.
2. Megan Williams. It's always fun talking with Megan, but it took a while for me to realize why. Megan is really selfless in conversation. She will ask you a ton of questions about yourself, and genuinely care about what you say. Among other things, I'm thankful for Megan's selfless attitude.
3. Rylie DeBurgh. My youngest brother Rylie and I went on a date this week. Lately, I've been enjoying his company more and more. Living in the same house with him, I don't always appreciate him as much as I should. He is growing in love for the Lord and for others, and in patience with me. I am thankful to God for this sweet younger brother.
3 Things
3. Mrs. Ladd's stuffing. I have always been a fan of stuffing. It might be my favorite thanksgiving dish. But Mrs. Ladd's stuffing (via Guy's mom's accidental secret recipe) takes it to another level. The other people at the table were probably wondering why I would take a bite and then just close my eyes and smile. Killer stuffing.
2. Left Behind Series. This Christian fiction series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim Lahaye is really something else. It's loaded with cheesy dialogue and 90s technology. But somehow, I've come to actually look forward to the few minutes I spend reading this series before bed every night.
1. "While You Were Sleeping," the movie. The first time I saw this movie, it instantly became a favorite. I still love watching it every year (usually multiple times a year). Especially as Christmas draws near, this movie is an absolutely must see at my house. Probably because I watch this movie so often, it gives me good feelings every time, and I always laugh all the way through. Especially memorable, for me, are the Joe Jr. quotes: "Who told?!" "I know that trick!" and even "Nice....(tongue click).....sweatah!"
3 Events
3. Basilisk War. In the Ladds' TV room, an epic battle was fought between Sam, Rylie, Christian, and myself. The only weapon was the basilisk--a snake you make with your hand that makes anyone who looks at it go blind. Under normal circumstances, the goal is just to get someone to accidentally look at your basilisk. This particular battle, however, culminated in Christian's basilisk chomping down on Rylie's upper thigh. Over the laughter that ensued, Christian could be heard saying, "Got you there!"
2. Scattergories Game. Katelyn and I joined together to form the dream team in a game of Scattergories at the Ladd's house. She was "The Brains" and I was "The Brawn"--and together, we were unstoppable (enough to win third place). It's a fun game, and it was fun to spend time with the DeBurgh and Ladd families together.
1. Thankgiving Day Prep. On Wednesday, I went to Racine's Festival Hall to help "set up" for a huge, free Thanksgiving meal that would take place the next day. As it turned out, they had an excess of volunteers and didn't really need us after all. Still, we had fun sweeping out two little rooms and eating free sandwiches. On the way out, we overheard the woman in charge telling a newcomer: "If you see something that needs to be done, jump in. If not, just enjoy yourself." I didn't work too hard, but I sure did enjoy myself. Hard not to in a place as exciting as the Festival Hall!
3 Verses
3. John 12:25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This may seem like a funny verse to be thankful for--who wants to hate their life?--but I am thankful for how God is working it out in me. Things that used to be too important are, little by little, losing their grip on my affections by His power. Eternal life is becoming more precious to me.
2. John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. I am thankful that I have a Savior who lived the life of a servant, so that I can copy Him. If only I were better at this! I am one selfish girl--and if you don't believe me, it's because you don't know me. But that just brings me to the other thing I am thankful for: Jesus grace! He never "gives up" on me, despite my stubborn heart.
1. John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. I am thankful for the love I have been shown. It is the mark of my salvation, and God is helping me to have real love in my heart for other people, too. I am amazed that He can actually live in me to the extent that other people know that I am His.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Looking at Jesus: 10 Things From John 13:1-20
1. He suffered willingly to depart this world to the Father.
2. He loved His own to the very end--even when they fled or denied Him.
3. He greatly trusted His Father.
4. He humbled himself like a servant
5. He was patient with his disciples.
6. No pain or sacrifice of earth was too low for Him.
7. He set His followers an example.
8. He promised to reward obedience.
9. We have access through Him to God the Father.
10. In Him we have salvation, forgiveness, cleansing, and a relationship with the Most High God
2. He loved His own to the very end--even when they fled or denied Him.
3. He greatly trusted His Father.
4. He humbled himself like a servant
5. He was patient with his disciples.
6. No pain or sacrifice of earth was too low for Him.
7. He set His followers an example.
8. He promised to reward obedience.
9. We have access through Him to God the Father.
10. In Him we have salvation, forgiveness, cleansing, and a relationship with the Most High God
Monday, November 22, 2010
Unbeautiful
I am humbled. Both the Grand Canyon and the oceans are a good bit more beautiful than I am. This, instead of bolstering self-esteem, ruins it. I am not living beautifully. My heart is too often compromised with concerns about my glory rather than God's. The hurt from this humbling, however, is exactly what I need. It feels a lot better than any temporary puffing up of my ego.
Ed Welch in "When People are Big and God is Small." Pg. 106.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Greatest Honor
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.
--John 12:25-26
Following Christ is harder than it sounds. Following--it's not just like follow the leader in a neat little line for a short little time.
Where Jesus was, you will be. Among the needy, the demanding. Jesus went where suffering was worst. The suffering was often His own.
Following Jesus, these verses tell us, is equivalent to "hating your life." It takes pain, suffering, and denial of your very self! Death might even be literal
Yet this great price also leads to a great reward--"If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him."
Can you just imagine what that could mean? Jesus telling you: "My Father will honor you." Imagine a big honor that you have--or could--receive in your life. Maybe someone you really like paid you a great compliment. Maybe you found out you graduated with a 4.0 or made the top something for being smart.
God's honor--what's that all about?
Psalm 91:14-16 tells us:
Because He holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My Name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.
Know God,
Follow God,
Hold fast to God in love.
When you call, He will answer.
When you are in trouble, He will be with you.
The "honor" that He gives is more than just "props to you." It's rescue. It's satisfaction in the life He
gives. It's salvation.
He who hates his life will find it.
--John 12:25-26
Following Christ is harder than it sounds. Following--it's not just like follow the leader in a neat little line for a short little time.
Where Jesus was, you will be. Among the needy, the demanding. Jesus went where suffering was worst. The suffering was often His own.
Following Jesus, these verses tell us, is equivalent to "hating your life." It takes pain, suffering, and denial of your very self! Death might even be literal
Yet this great price also leads to a great reward--"If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him."
Can you just imagine what that could mean? Jesus telling you: "My Father will honor you." Imagine a big honor that you have--or could--receive in your life. Maybe someone you really like paid you a great compliment. Maybe you found out you graduated with a 4.0 or made the top something for being smart.
God's honor--what's that all about?
Psalm 91:14-16 tells us:
Because He holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My Name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.
Know God,
Follow God,
Hold fast to God in love.
When you call, He will answer.
When you are in trouble, He will be with you.
The "honor" that He gives is more than just "props to you." It's rescue. It's satisfaction in the life He
gives. It's salvation.
He who hates his life will find it.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Losing It--Keeping It
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
--John 12:25God is helping me to love my life less and less.
I've always really loved all the good things in life God has given me. But the longer I know Him, the more I can say: I'd take heaven over all that.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Top 5: Evidences of Grace, Wayne and Carol
Enthusiasm for spiritual things
1. There is one thing you will never hear at the end of a conversation with Wayne Beilgard. You will never, ever hear someone say, “That guy is really boring.” What is it that makes Wayne this way? Having an engaging personality helps, and and so does being willing to talk about other people (both true about Wayne). But the contagious excitement in conversations with Wayne goes beyond either of these things. With him, it's never boring because he's excited about God. He raves about what God is doing in other people's lives. He'll tell you what he sees God doing in your life—and just try to to tell me that doesn't make you excited by the time he's done! The joy of the Lord just seems to radiate from of the Beilgards, because they are genuinely thankful for what God has done. And they don't just thank the Giver of all good things. They bring everyone they know along with them, surrounding themselves with a crowd of thankful worshipers of Christ.
Honesty
2. Every time I talk with Carol Beilgard, I am impressed with her straightforwardness. She isn't overbearing or rude, but she refuses to be fake. It is so refreshing to hear God's truth applied to your situation without cotton candy or bubble wrap. Carol tells it like it is. Besides this, she is honest about her own mistakes. Hearing Carol's personal testimony for the first time was impactful on my heart. She didn't spare the listeners from the truth of her own sinfulness--so she didn't keep us from the full weight of God's marvelous grace in her life. Carol's honesty allows her to be a vessel of God's grace and truth to everyone she speaks with.
Generosity
3. The Beilgards give generously, as God has given to them. To illustrate this, let me tell you a little story that took place last Sunday night. Church was over, and everyone was leaving for the night. On my way out the door, I saw Wayne coming out of the church offices, putting a book in his bag. I asked him what it was. His face lit up and he told me how much he liked it. “Do you want one?” he asked. I said, “Are you serious?” He was, so one of my friends and I followed him into his office while he told us about the book, then took two copies off of his shelf and gave us each one. Three other girls meandered towards his office, and he gave two more of the books away. Now, this is all fairly understandable, since Wayne gets some books on the church's budget for the sole purpose of giving them away. But then, the 5th girl told Wayne she had already read the book he was giving. He showed her another one, and she already had that one at home, too. So Wayne said, “Just pick one off my shelf.” Now, I don't know about you, but I like the books I have! I have a small stash of my favorites, and I like to keep those off limits, if at all possible. But here Wayne opened up his entire bookshelf for someone to take from. What's more, he lamented that his favorite book was at home; he actually wanted to give her that one! Wayne has already enjoyed what his books have to offer—so he's willing to give them away. It's all so that God can bless someone else—even through the sacrifice of a favorite book.
This isn't just a one-time, isolated event. The Beilgards are giving people, period. You are far more likely to find Wayne and Carol spending their time and energy on serving others than on serving themselves.
Selflessness
4. Wayne and Carol are truly others focused. Last year, Carol found out she had some cancer. I remember being shocked by the news, and worried for her. I expected to express this in conversation the next time we talked. I should have known better. Carol wasn't interested in talking about herself. She refused to let even this serious trial in her personal life keep her from being truly selfless. In good times and in bad, her focus is on making other people see Jesus better. And if that means they see Carol less clearly, that's alright with her. I long to be like this!
Boldness
5. Wayne and Carol beat about everyone I know when it comes to evangelism. Here's why: they love the lost more than they love themselves, and they love Jesus more than they love anyone else. Wayne and Carol have both endured persecution for being sold out for Christ. Have I? I've undoubtedly suffered less than they have, yet I worry far more. This is because I fail to see the eternal value of winning souls for Jesus. What could be more important than that? Wayne and Carol live this joyful calling every day, with a boldness I desperately want for myself. I am challenged and convicted by their example. But most of all, I praise God for His work in these two lives, for as they'd be the first to tell you, all glory goes to Him!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Believe and See
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, His hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
--John 11:38-44
What is the glory of God?
When Jesus spoke about it here, and in many other places, He was referring to the most amazing of God's miracles: the giving of life.
“Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
There's a problem with that: we don't believe. I know I have saving faith. Yet I often find myself not living as though I really have faith in God's ability to give life to the dead.
It's easy to say, “I believe in God.” But it's harder to live day to day expecting God to bring the miracle of life. Sure, I know that God saved me when I was dead in sin. But _(fill in the blank)_ is too dead. “He'll never turn away from his sins.” Wrong! No one will turn to God on their own, but anyone can be saved if God wills it! If He could save me, then of course He can save them. No heart is too hard.
I've also been guilty of skepticism as it pertains to myself. Sin is death. Jesus in me—now that's life. But at times when my struggle with sin is getting more intense, with no sign of letting up, I might think “I will never have victory.” Wrong! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Freedom is in my heart—freedom from every wrong thought, every mixed-up priority, every unhelpful word I say. Jesus is completing perfect life in me.
The miracle of my sanctification--the glory of God in giving me life--is not impossible. It's happening, right now!
The most amazing, God-glorifying giving of life happened a couple thousand years ago when a dead man named Jesus took a breath and walked out of the tomb He had been laid in. And millions of miracles have happened since, because of that one. Dead people in every place, buried by their own sinfulness, have taken in the breath of new life by His power. I am one of them. How can I possibly think that Jesus won't do this miracle again? He glorifies God by giving life—so we better believe He'll give more!
John 17:1-5
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”
Jesus glorified His Father when He gave me eternal life! What a thought—my salvation is part of the work that God gave Jesus to do. And I believe that making me holy is the other part of the work. I am so excited about this. Jesus is giving me life! He won't stop—ever.
I believe that I am seeing the glory of God.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
On Eternal Life
John 11:25-26
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
John 5:21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.
John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 12:24-25
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Today I am praising God that He has given me this life, and praying for those I know who don't have it yet.
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
John 5:21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.
John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 12:24-25
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Today I am praising God that He has given me this life, and praying for those I know who don't have it yet.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Thankfulness #3: Musical Talent
I am thankful for people with musical talent. I know many people who fall into this category. For example, let's see: my mom, my brother, my other brother, Jim Bergman, Patricia Black, The Guilty Person + 4given, Tim Haumersen, Katelyn Ladd, the rest of the Ladds, 5byFaythe, Jon Foreman, Corrie Ladd, Bryce Lenz, Dave McKeever, Pete Miller, Drew Papillon, The Carrying, Amy Papillon, Phylis Swigart, Maja Skoglund, and many more. And I really do know all of those people. Except Jon, who I've only met once.
The great thing about all the talented people at my church is that they use their abilities to glorify God rather than for selfish ambition. I have been blessed time after time after time by how these people praise God, whether we are in the youth room on a Wednesday night, in a packed out coffeehouse, in my living room, in the sanctuary with a few hundred people on a Sunday Morning, or in the sanctuary early on a Sunday morning when it is just them practicing and me listening. I'm thankful to God for these people and their gifts, but especially for how their gifts are used to give me and other believers a foretaste of the worship we'll experience forever in heaven
The great thing about all the talented people at my church is that they use their abilities to glorify God rather than for selfish ambition. I have been blessed time after time after time by how these people praise God, whether we are in the youth room on a Wednesday night, in a packed out coffeehouse, in my living room, in the sanctuary with a few hundred people on a Sunday Morning, or in the sanctuary early on a Sunday morning when it is just them practicing and me listening. I'm thankful to God for these people and their gifts, but especially for how their gifts are used to give me and other believers a foretaste of the worship we'll experience forever in heaven
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Happy Anniversary: Evidences of Grace, Spencer and Amy
Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! I am so thankful to God for you, every day. I don't know where I would be without you. I'm glad I don't ever need to know, because God has blessed my life so much through always having you around. Thank you for showing me Jesus every day.
5. Anniversary. This anniversary represents more than just a good memory of the day my mom and dad expressed once and for all their commitment to each other. It represents 19 years of life as one person, serving God and loving God more deeply with each year through their unity in Him.
4. Wife and mother. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.”
We live in a world that thinks being a wife and mom is a waste of time. But we follow a God who says that being a wife and mom can represent the very glory of His Son and His bride to everyone around us. I have a mom who truly believes that, and who does an excellent job of portraying God's glory. She is quick to give up her own wishes in order to submit to my dad or serve her kids. I don't even want to talk about trying to follow her example—I have so far to go before I am ready for that. Nonetheless, I praise God for giving me her to show what marriage and family can be for His glory.
3. Husband and father. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with His word.”
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
I do not deserve the dad I have. I don't think I know anyone else in the world who is as committed to God's word as he is. His faithful teaching of the Bible to me has instilled the fear of the Lord in me from the earliest age. Besides this, he is a great example of a man biblically leading his wife according to God's will. Think there's another guy as good as him somewhere in the world? I sure hope so!
2. Sacrifice. I can't count the times when either of my parents has sacrificed something important to them. They give up their desires for the sake of their ministries, their kids, and each other. For example, even though they love to have us kids at home with them, they let us pursue other things that are important to us, even at the expense of what could have been family time. They've taught me from the beginning that true love (for anyone) means sacrifice, and I am often amazed by how quick they are to sacrifice their personal desires for the sake of loving one another, and me.
1. Love for each other. The world says that two people should fall in love and stay in love because they are attracted to each other and make each other happy. I am so thankful that God has put me in a family that is such a stark contrast to worldliness. There is no question that my mom and dad are totally happy with each other, but there is so much more to their marriage than a selfish world thinks there should be. Their love is deeper than that, because it stems from them loving Jesus first and foremost. Besides this, they are willing to forgive each other when they fail—meaning that when one doesn't make the other happy, the relationship can still thrive. My mom and dad love each other, not the way the world loves, but the way that Jesus and the church love each other.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Top 10: Fall Project Serve 2010
10. Relationship building. It was wonderful for me to spend time serving alongside a couple of the girls who I didn’t know extremely well. In particular, I was truly blessed to see what God has been doing in the lives of Paige Williams and Rebecca Jeanson. On a service weekend, close proximity and hard work pave the way for you to learn about others and appreciate them more. I am so thankful that God blessed me with a time to strengthen my relationships with people in the group.
9. Sheets. Christian Ladd was a blessing to have on the trip. He is definitely one of the hardest workers of any of us. Besides appreciating his energy and diligence, I really enjoyed his cheerful attitude. Some of the funniest memories made on the trip (in my opinion) were jokes made by Sheets. For example, on the ride up to Fort, the four guys were sitting in the back seat. Colton, Sam, and Christian had joined together to beat up Evan. In one of the few quiet moments, Evan gasped out: “I need some air!” Christian replied: “I don’t give air…….I give……DEATH!!”
8. Stars. On Friday night, after we broke off into small groups and prayed, Todd Kellner led us on a walk to the beach. Standing out on the dock, we looked up at the stars as Dan read from Genesis 1 about the day when God created them. One day. All that huge, immeasurable expanse, and my God did it in one day.
7. Rowing. On Saturday, our group had to move all the oars, life-jackets, and beach toys from Fort’s beach area to a small boat shack. The shack was a bit of a walk from the beach, and the path was narrow and hard to navigate while carrying heavy objects. Todd Kellner had the bright idea to load up one of Fort’s rowboats with beach stuff and row along the shore to the boathouse instead of walking down the path. Despite common consensus that he didn’t know what he was doing, his plan was a success. I hopped on Cap’n TK’s ship for the ride back from the boat house and he let me row the ship back to shore for the second trip. It was fun learning how to row from a pro.
6. Isaiah 55. For this weekend, there couldn’t have been a better passage to focus in on. Each morning, we all spent time praying through and meditating on the chapter. Hearing later from different people about what they had learned from the passage helped to further cement these truths in my heart:
-Jesus is THE ONLY source of true joy
-Jesus is THE ONLY source of true joy
-Seeking the Lord through His word is the path to freedom from a discontented life
-God is not only infinitely greater than us, but compassionate to forgive and pardon
-God’s word will never return void—not only when it is shared with unbelievers, but when it is placed in my own ever-sinful heart
5. Luann Purdy. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that Luann came along as a leader to us girls. The longer I know her, the more I appreciate her level-headed, genuine love for the Lord. The trip would not have been the same if Luann didn’t come along. Her easygoing and affirming attitude is exactly right for serving in a group setting. Besides this, she spurred me on towards godliness and deeper thinking about who God is. Her thoughts about fighting sin were refreshing, challenging, and encouraging to me—exactly what God knew I needed to hear for my own battle.
4. Waking up. On service projects, the little sleep that you get is precious. At 6:30 on Saturday morning, I was dead to the world. Katelyn and I agreed she would wake me up at this time—but she wasn’t sure if I was in my bed. She climbed the ladder to my top bunk and, instead of patting around softly to find out if I was there, dropped her hand nice and hard so it landed with a startling thud in the middle of my rib-cage. I’ve never gone from dead slumber to gasping awakeness in that short of a time!
3. Dan. I am so thankful that this trip took place under the leadership of our youth pastor, Dan Miller. To us as students, Dan is an example worth imitating. He is a hard worker who spends his time caring for other people rather than complaining about what he has to do. His attitude is contagious, making it a joy to work with him. Besides this, and most importantly, Dan gave the trip a spiritual focus. I was personally blessed by time spent praying with him, and talking about Jesus’ work in our hearts.
2. The girls. I don’t thank God enough for the young women of my youth group. I am so thankful that I belong to such a sweet, growing set of people. Time spent together as girls this weekend was something to enjoy, hardly tainted at all by complaints or crankiness about the hard work. We had a great talk on Sunday morning (led by Luann) that was like a breath of fresh air for me. We discussed together, constructively, what we would like to see in our youth group in the near future. It wasn’t a complain-fest, like “changing the youth group” conversations often are. Instead, I heard the girls express a passion for reaching out to others, and for personally growing closer to Christ. Especially encouraging was my friend Katelyn Ladd. She is a senior this year, and our youth group is blessed to have such a Christ-centered girl as one of its “leaders.”
1. Repentance. I know that weekends like this one are not all about what I get out of them as an individual. Yet what God did in my own heart was really the highlight of this trip for me. God was gracious enough to reveal some sin to me that needed to be dealt with. He didn’t just show me my own failings, though. He gave me a hope-giving passage from His word to study, He put me with godly believers to talk about my struggles with, and He made my heart soft enough to embrace true repentance and the freedom that comes with it. It’s hard, it’s sad, and it’s exhausting, but there is true joy when God sets you free.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thankfulness #2: Generosity
I am thankful for generosity. I know many people who are truly generous. For example,
-friends who buy my meal, then sneak the money into my purse when I try to pay them back
-servants: the people who volunteer in ministry, giving of their possessions and of time that could be spent to far greater personal profit
-parents who don't charge me for many monthly expenses that I should be paying
-people who give gifts to my family at random times, just for the sake of blessing us
-people at church who give above and beyond what they have to, because they want to further Christ's cause
Beyond all these, I am thankful that I believe in a generous God. He doesn't just stingily dole over a little blessing every now and again. He gives, and gives, and gives, so much that my life is full of good and perfect gifts from above. I deserve nothing—and I'm not just saying that; it's the truth. Yet my life is happy, both spiritually and in earthly ways. Even when you consider material things and comfort and fun times, my life is obviously blessed by God. I am so thankful for His generosity.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pray for Project Serve
This Friday, 9 youth group students and 3 youth group leaders from RBC are going to Fort Wilderness for a weekend of service. Could you pray for the trip? I would be so thankful if you would! Here is what I have been praying for...
-The weekend would be saturated with God's word
-Genuine edification would take place among believers
-Conviction of sin and genuine change for all of us on the trip
-We will serve with great joy
-Selflessness!
Here's what I am praying for myself:
-That I will not make the same mistakes I always do:
- serving for man's approval
- having my motivation be that the trip is fun for me
-That instead I will:
- spend time encouraging each one on the trip
- point others towards Jesus with every word
- sacrifice my desires
I am trusting God to bless us with a Project Serve that is not only physically stretching and tiring, but also spiritually strengthening. Thank you for your prayers! I am excited to tell you how God answers them.
Trip Roster:
- Connie Haumersen
- Rebecca Jeanson
- Katelyn Ladd
- Paige Williams
- Me
- Evan Casey
- Sam DeBurgh
- Christian Ladd
- Colton Purdy
- Todd Kellner
- Luann Purdy
- Dan Miller
Monday, October 25, 2010
Check It Out!
http://everythingasloss.blogspot.com/
I'm excited to see what's in the future for this blog as Katelyn continues to encourage me and others.
The Truth that Sets Them Free
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me because My word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
--John 8:31-38
This conversation (and the rest of it, as it continues through verse 59) is quite frustrating to read. There is nothing quite like talking to someone with head-knowledge of Jesus, and apparent close proximity to embracing His truth, yet who staunchly and wilfully remains ignorant of Him in the most important ways. The verses tell us that these Jews "believed in Him." Yet they also were "slaves to sin" and were even seeking to kill Jesus. How is this even possible? How can someone believe in Jesus, yet be totally lost? The answer to this question can be found at the borderline of belief and unbelief. That line is this: "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples."
There can be no freedom outside of God's word. There can be no following Jesus in any way other than His word lays out. Rejection of God's word is rejection of Jesus, and no one who rejects is a disciple.
Reading these verses this morning reminded me of a somewhat similar conversation I had with a woman on an airplane. I was witnessing to her, despite her immediate affirmation that she was a Christian, because it was obvious that she did not know the truth, and had not been set free. She, like the Jews, was claiming belief--yet contradicting in the next breath the very words of God. From her mouth, I heard little gems like this:
"Yes, I absolutely agree with you that Jesus is essential to salvation! He is a wonderful son of God!"
"Yes, I agree with you that the Bible is absolutely true and it is the only message of salvation! But without the Book of Mormon, the Bible can't be verified and its message will be twisted."
"Yes, I believe that salvation is only by God's grace and our faith. But if my child dies without being baptized, I need to baptize someone else for her, so she can get into heaven."
Strangely enough, I was having a brutal argument with someone who only ever expressed joyful acquiescence with me. And now I know the tragic problem that had kept this woman from salvation for so many years. She was willfully refusing to know truth. Because of this, she could not be freed by truth, or truly be a disciple of God's word through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus' words "found no place" in her--for although she accepted them in her mind, she had laid them beside other qualifying "truths" that limited their absolute authority.
I have been just like that woman, and just like those Jews. I was willfully blind to God's truth, and with no excuse. God alone opened up my eyes to finally behold that which I had put off for years--that He is Truth. He would not tolerate a mind shared with other beliefs. So He set me free from my sins, and made me His child once and for all by the death of His own Son. I am free indeed!
I need to remember this as I seek to witness to others who don't know Truth. It is absolutely impossible--not worth trying--to convince them with brilliant arguments or concise refutals of whatever they say. There is only one way for them to believe, and that is for them to hear Truth. As a disciple of Jesus, I must be personally abiding in His word if I ever hope to make disciples of others. The best thing they could possibly hear from me is a direct quotation of Jesus' words. His truth alone can set them free--so let's abide in it, and boldly proclaim the Truth that fills our hearts.
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me because My word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
--John 8:31-38
This conversation (and the rest of it, as it continues through verse 59) is quite frustrating to read. There is nothing quite like talking to someone with head-knowledge of Jesus, and apparent close proximity to embracing His truth, yet who staunchly and wilfully remains ignorant of Him in the most important ways. The verses tell us that these Jews "believed in Him." Yet they also were "slaves to sin" and were even seeking to kill Jesus. How is this even possible? How can someone believe in Jesus, yet be totally lost? The answer to this question can be found at the borderline of belief and unbelief. That line is this: "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples."
There can be no freedom outside of God's word. There can be no following Jesus in any way other than His word lays out. Rejection of God's word is rejection of Jesus, and no one who rejects is a disciple.
Reading these verses this morning reminded me of a somewhat similar conversation I had with a woman on an airplane. I was witnessing to her, despite her immediate affirmation that she was a Christian, because it was obvious that she did not know the truth, and had not been set free. She, like the Jews, was claiming belief--yet contradicting in the next breath the very words of God. From her mouth, I heard little gems like this:
"Yes, I absolutely agree with you that Jesus is essential to salvation! He is a wonderful son of God!"
"Yes, I agree with you that the Bible is absolutely true and it is the only message of salvation! But without the Book of Mormon, the Bible can't be verified and its message will be twisted."
"Yes, I believe that salvation is only by God's grace and our faith. But if my child dies without being baptized, I need to baptize someone else for her, so she can get into heaven."
Strangely enough, I was having a brutal argument with someone who only ever expressed joyful acquiescence with me. And now I know the tragic problem that had kept this woman from salvation for so many years. She was willfully refusing to know truth. Because of this, she could not be freed by truth, or truly be a disciple of God's word through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus' words "found no place" in her--for although she accepted them in her mind, she had laid them beside other qualifying "truths" that limited their absolute authority.
I have been just like that woman, and just like those Jews. I was willfully blind to God's truth, and with no excuse. God alone opened up my eyes to finally behold that which I had put off for years--that He is Truth. He would not tolerate a mind shared with other beliefs. So He set me free from my sins, and made me His child once and for all by the death of His own Son. I am free indeed!
I need to remember this as I seek to witness to others who don't know Truth. It is absolutely impossible--not worth trying--to convince them with brilliant arguments or concise refutals of whatever they say. There is only one way for them to believe, and that is for them to hear Truth. As a disciple of Jesus, I must be personally abiding in His word if I ever hope to make disciples of others. The best thing they could possibly hear from me is a direct quotation of Jesus' words. His truth alone can set them free--so let's abide in it, and boldly proclaim the Truth that fills our hearts.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Thankfulness #1: Godly Families
I am thankful for all the godly families at my church. One of the great things about RBC is that we are made up of a wide variety of people. There are young families that are just starting. There are families who have been faithful to each other for decades. Many of these families, regardless of their size or their age, have shown me a beautiful picture of Christ's love lived out.
For example here are just three, a small sample of many more:
-The Bowers, whose kids know more scripture than I do
-The Ladds, who have godly conversations over dinner many nights
-Amy and Drew Papillon, who are just gospel-centered people to begin with, but who also continue to love and care for the families they don't live with anymore
Hearing the sermon this morning got me pretty convinced that I have a long, long way to go before I am selfless or gospel-focused enough to someday have a family of my own. I praise God that He is helping me to learn these things even now, and that He has given me so many examples of Christlikeness within my church.
For example here are just three, a small sample of many more:
-The Bowers, whose kids know more scripture than I do
-The Ladds, who have godly conversations over dinner many nights
-Amy and Drew Papillon, who are just gospel-centered people to begin with, but who also continue to love and care for the families they don't live with anymore
Hearing the sermon this morning got me pretty convinced that I have a long, long way to go before I am selfless or gospel-focused enough to someday have a family of my own. I praise God that He is helping me to learn these things even now, and that He has given me so many examples of Christlikeness within my church.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Top 100: Things Rylie is Thankful For
This is a guest post from my brother Rylie DeBurgh. He is a wonderful younger brother. Last night, during the last few hours of his 13th birthday, Rylie wrote down 100 things that he is thankful for. Looking through this list made me laugh, (almost) cry, and just remember how much I love the guy that wrote it. I'm not a perfect sister to him, and he's not perfect either, but recently I have truly seen God growing him into a young man who will follow Him. I hope you enjoy this list anywhere near as much as I did.
Love you, Rye!
----------------------------------------------
1. Los Mariachis
2. Paper
3. Dogs
4. Sam
5. Cards
6. Ann Batikas
7. Racine, WI
8. Zelda
9. Goldfish
10. Origami
11. Guitar
12. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
13. Thunderstorms
14. The ocean
15. Anthony Willems
16. Ping-pong
17. Pizza
18. Cameras
19. Toby
20. Roller Skates
21. Tae Kwon Do
22. Toothpaste.
23. Chipotle
24. Sunday nights at Culver's
25. Walt Disney
26. Alex and Natasha Myers
27. M. Night Shyamalan
28. Sydney the Dachshund
29. McCoy the Dachshund
30. Super China Buffet
31. RVs
32. Art!
33. Vertical Devotion
34. The Game
35. Trees
36. Christmas
37. Communication with my Master and Savior
38. Hoodies
39. The Newsboys
40. The over 80s party
41. Jubbeeeeee!
42. Granddaddy's memory
43. Books
44. Cell phones
45. Thanksgiving
46. Little brown packages tied up with string
47. Football on TV
48. Alex and Brett Harris
49. :D Emoticons
50. San Diego
51. Billiards
52. Swimming
53. Calvin and Hobbes
54. Lord of the Rings
55. Clothes
56. Snow
57. Video Games
58. Ernie the bird R.I.P.
59. Campfires
60. God's word
61. peanuts
62. Peanuts
63. Fright Fest
64. Cars
65. Pikachu
66. The colors red and green
67. Sand
68. The men's retreat
69. Dan Cabush
70. Steve Schulz
71. The Chronicles of Narnia
72. Mac n cheese
73. Hugh Beresford
74. Culver's
75. Sprecher's rootbeer
76. The Incredibles
77. Switchfoot
78. Carly
79. Roller Hockey
80. The skatepark
81. Pete Miller
82. Damian Acker
83. The Mario theme song
84. Hockey pucks
85. Broomball
86. Monk
87. John Mark Goeke
88. Mary Kullberg
89. Fort
90. My Lord Jesus Christ
91. Nicole Kim -------------\
92. Brendon Kim------------ \
93. Min Kim--------------------> they get their own
94. Steve Kim-----------------/
95. My mom
96. My dad
97. M.S. Youth Group
98. R.B.C.
99. Godly examples in my life
100. The rest of my life as God continues to bless undeserving me.
Love you, Rye!
----------------------------------------------
1. Los Mariachis
2. Paper
3. Dogs
4. Sam
5. Cards
6. Ann Batikas
7. Racine, WI
8. Zelda
9. Goldfish
10. Origami
11. Guitar
12. Percy Jackson and the Olympians
13. Thunderstorms
14. The ocean
15. Anthony Willems
16. Ping-pong
17. Pizza
18. Cameras
19. Toby
20. Roller Skates
21. Tae Kwon Do
22. Toothpaste.
23. Chipotle
24. Sunday nights at Culver's
25. Walt Disney
26. Alex and Natasha Myers
27. M. Night Shyamalan
28. Sydney the Dachshund
29. McCoy the Dachshund
30. Super China Buffet
31. RVs
32. Art!
33. Vertical Devotion
34. The Game
35. Trees
36. Christmas
37. Communication with my Master and Savior
38. Hoodies
39. The Newsboys
40. The over 80s party
41. Jubbeeeeee!
42. Granddaddy's memory
43. Books
44. Cell phones
45. Thanksgiving
46. Little brown packages tied up with string
47. Football on TV
48. Alex and Brett Harris
49. :D Emoticons
50. San Diego
51. Billiards
52. Swimming
53. Calvin and Hobbes
54. Lord of the Rings
55. Clothes
56. Snow
57. Video Games
58. Ernie the bird R.I.P.
59. Campfires
60. God's word
61. peanuts
62. Peanuts
63. Fright Fest
64. Cars
65. Pikachu
66. The colors red and green
67. Sand
68. The men's retreat
69. Dan Cabush
70. Steve Schulz
71. The Chronicles of Narnia
72. Mac n cheese
73. Hugh Beresford
74. Culver's
75. Sprecher's rootbeer
76. The Incredibles
77. Switchfoot
78. Carly
79. Roller Hockey
80. The skatepark
81. Pete Miller
82. Damian Acker
83. The Mario theme song
84. Hockey pucks
85. Broomball
86. Monk
87. John Mark Goeke
88. Mary Kullberg
89. Fort
90. My Lord Jesus Christ
91. Nicole Kim -------------\
92. Brendon Kim------------ \
93. Min Kim--------------------> they get their own
94. Steve Kim-----------------/
95. My mom
96. My dad
97. M.S. Youth Group
98. R.B.C.
99. Godly examples in my life
100. The rest of my life as God continues to bless undeserving me.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Psalm 3, pt. 2
I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Nighttime can often be the time when sinful thoughts are most prevalent. Sin starts with the heart, and as the day closes, my heart and mind are freest to roam wherever they want. What should be a peaceful nights sleep (8 or so hours to not worry about sin) often becomes a tiring battle against dishonoring my Savior.
But there can be relief from this. God's power truly is such that I can "lay down and sleep"...and wake up again and feel refreshed. I don't need to be worried. My God is with me every moment. Even (and especially) at the times when sinful thoughts threaten to take me over, I have with me my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
So what needs to happen for me to rest easy? I need to pray the way that David did.
Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For You strike all my enemies on the cheek;
You break the teeth of the wicked.
I know I need God. But how I long to live like I know this. Every night, my prayer ought to be the same as David's when he was under great pressure from the world around him. "Save me, O my God!" We need to be saved--and not just once so we're all set for a happy life until we get to heaven. Every morning when I wake up to my sinful self, I need to be saved. Every afternoon, when my meditation on the morning's scripture starts to wear off, I need to be saved. Every night, as my mind starts to wander towards wrong thoughts and feelings, I need to be saved.
My enemies are no match for the saving power of my Lord. Sin is like a hideous beast just waiting to devour me. It seems impossible to overcome. But God can break the monster's teeth.
Salvation belongs to the LORD;
Your blessing be on Your people!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Psalm 3, pt. 1
O LORD, how many are my foes!
many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God.
With very little exception, I am my own worst enemy. Other people may be unkind, inconsiderate, or even downright hostile towards me—and this does happen, albeit less than I deserve. But ultimately, the hideous foe that plagues me more than any other is that of my own sinfulness. I can almost see my temptations rising against me, like an army mounting the crest of a hill, telling my soul, "There is no salvation for you in God."
I felt this way recently. In the midst of repentance, I found to my dismay that the sorrow I was feeling might not be sorrow over offending God but actually leftover selfishness that had been the root of my sin to begin with. I felt like Eustace, from the Chronicles of Narnia, whose desire to please himself turned him into a hideous dragon. The only way to escape the monster he had become was for him to shed his scales. Yet every time he scraped off a layer of his ugly exterior, he found a new one just under the surface.
I confess and confess, and then the second I stop for breath, I find the sin ramming itself against my mind once more. And in my heart I feel, “I can't stand this.”
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD,
and He answered me from His holy hill.
I was right. I can't stand this. I can't be bombarded with temptation again and again and stand unflinching before it. What I can do, and will do, is fall, and be trampled under the feet of my own worst desires.
But I don't have to try and stand alone! The LORD God himself is a shield about me. Can you imagine? Such an infinite, matchless God, being a shield around someone so small and puny? That He would be there for me, a nearby safeguard and source of security, is staggering. It is also amazing that God actually can be my glory and the lifter of my head. My sins may be a great source of despair and self-loathing. But ever within my reach I have an even more abundant spring of joy and exultation. I do not need to despair. For in the onslaught of my wickedness, when I cry to out to the LORD, He answers.
Though I can't deny the power of sin, I know there is yet a power that is greater, more fearsome, and that will be victorious. My God is my shield. He's my glory. He hears me. I am plagued by my sinfulness. But I truly find hope in knowing what a God I have.
Psalm 3: 1-4
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Top 40: Reasons I Am Thankful for My Mom
1. You taught me how to talk and tie my shoes. (I don't feel like such a baby anymore.)
2. You first introduced me to 80s music...Can't Fight This Feeling, baby!
3. You are the first person who showed me what it's like to spend time with God every day...and to love it and need it.
4. You told me about the birds and the bees.
5. You prayed for me every night.
6. When I was scared, you would come and help me not be scared anymore. You taught me to trust in God.
7. I'm Juddy's favorite.
8. You have a great sense of style, and you help me not look like a dweeb.
10. Your favorite color is mine too!
9. Whoops...I'm pretty sure you taught me to count.
11. You showed me what to look for in a man. I'll never settle, thanks to you and dad.
12. YOU LOVE ME.
13. Thanks to you, I know what it looks like to be a mom who loves Jesus first and points her kids to Him always.
14. You showed me the merits of Tabasco.
15. You taught me to look people in the eyes and speak up. Now I'm not shy...just obnoxious and annoying.
16. You've showed me--by example--what true beauty is.
17. You worship God with all your might! I've seen in you pure worship, in spirit and in truth. It's what I want to imitate.
18. You showed me what prayer can be. You taught me how to love people by praying for them, and how to see God answering.
19. You care so much about listening. No one else is so intentional about getting me to share my hopes, joys, laughter, frustration, and disappointment.
20. Discipleship. You live Jesus' call.
21. I've learned from you how to "confront" others with love.
22. You've given me your passion to see Jesus in other people!
23. You let me drive when I was way too young.
24. You've always had high expectations for me. Especially in these teenage years, you've treated me like an adult, even thought I act so immature sometimes.
25. You crack me up! Like nobody else.
26. You have a beautiful voice. Something I wish you passed down, but I'll settle for getting to listen.
27. You spur others on (including me) to love and good deeds...not by harshness or empty ideals, but with grace and truth and a high view of Jesus.
28. You've given me a passion for ministry.
29. I see in you what it's like to have both a serious spiritual life and a riotously fun personality.
30. Who else can I talk to about boys? No one, the way we talk!
31. A lot of my love for writing, as a way to glorify God, has come from your example.
32. You've taught me how to be patient, look for the best in people, and leave the rest to God when they're growing slowly.
33. YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND.
34. You show me, every day, true love for your husband and the desire to please him.
35. You taught me to take risks!
36. You trust God's sovereignty. You taught me not to worry.
37. You've showed me that real love means sacrifice. And you have that love.
38. Your desire is contagious when you talk about heaven! Let's go there, together right now!
39. God's glory is more important to you than anything else.
40. Jesus is your all in all.
2. You first introduced me to 80s music...Can't Fight This Feeling, baby!
3. You are the first person who showed me what it's like to spend time with God every day...and to love it and need it.
4. You told me about the birds and the bees.
5. You prayed for me every night.
6. When I was scared, you would come and help me not be scared anymore. You taught me to trust in God.
7. I'm Juddy's favorite.
8. You have a great sense of style, and you help me not look like a dweeb.
10. Your favorite color is mine too!
9. Whoops...I'm pretty sure you taught me to count.
11. You showed me what to look for in a man. I'll never settle, thanks to you and dad.
12. YOU LOVE ME.
13. Thanks to you, I know what it looks like to be a mom who loves Jesus first and points her kids to Him always.
14. You showed me the merits of Tabasco.
15. You taught me to look people in the eyes and speak up. Now I'm not shy...just obnoxious and annoying.
16. You've showed me--by example--what true beauty is.
17. You worship God with all your might! I've seen in you pure worship, in spirit and in truth. It's what I want to imitate.
18. You showed me what prayer can be. You taught me how to love people by praying for them, and how to see God answering.
19. You care so much about listening. No one else is so intentional about getting me to share my hopes, joys, laughter, frustration, and disappointment.
20. Discipleship. You live Jesus' call.
21. I've learned from you how to "confront" others with love.
22. You've given me your passion to see Jesus in other people!
23. You let me drive when I was way too young.
24. You've always had high expectations for me. Especially in these teenage years, you've treated me like an adult, even thought I act so immature sometimes.
25. You crack me up! Like nobody else.
26. You have a beautiful voice. Something I wish you passed down, but I'll settle for getting to listen.
27. You spur others on (including me) to love and good deeds...not by harshness or empty ideals, but with grace and truth and a high view of Jesus.
28. You've given me a passion for ministry.
29. I see in you what it's like to have both a serious spiritual life and a riotously fun personality.
30. Who else can I talk to about boys? No one, the way we talk!
31. A lot of my love for writing, as a way to glorify God, has come from your example.
32. You've taught me how to be patient, look for the best in people, and leave the rest to God when they're growing slowly.
33. YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND.
34. You show me, every day, true love for your husband and the desire to please him.
35. You taught me to take risks!
36. You trust God's sovereignty. You taught me not to worry.
37. You've showed me that real love means sacrifice. And you have that love.
38. Your desire is contagious when you talk about heaven! Let's go there, together right now!
39. God's glory is more important to you than anything else.
40. Jesus is your all in all.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Never Thirst Again!
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal.
--John 6:26-27
In the wake of an astonishing miracle (the feeding of the 5,000) the crowds proved again the inability of worldly people to comprehend spiritual things. Their desire for earthly food alone propelled them to follow Jesus to Capernaum. Not only was their focus “What's in it for me?” but they didn't even see that the gain they were pursuing was completely unsatisfying and temporary. It must have been so frustrating for Jesus to see these people who followed Him around and heard His teachings still deny their need for salvation. How could a loaf of bread seem more important to them than eternal life?
People today live in much the same way. You probably don't see many people choosing a bag of Wonder Bread over an eternity in heaven. But human desires (and not just those of the unsaved) tend towards what we can feel, and taste, and touch.
Some people just put off the need for spiritual reconciliation because they are enjoying the world too much. These people have not necessarily even heard the whole gospel, and they don't want to. They don't want to hear anything that will make them change, because the fleeting happiness they are pursuing—that joy that's always just around the corner—depends on their doing things that, in their heart, they know are wrong.
Even more tragic are those people who know the Gospel and choose something else anyway. These are the people that we as Christians have labored in prayer over, cried about, and pleaded with to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Savior, Lord, and true Joy. Our attempts fall on deaf ears and stubborn hearts, because there is something else in their life that they just can't give up. There is something that can be touched, and felt, and tasted that is so tantalizing and addictive that the urgency of the Gospel message seems irrelevant.
But unbelievers are not the only ones who partake in the folly of the crowds. Look inside your own heart, and I believe that you will find, as I did, that we who are saved can be guilty of the same atrocity. We want what we can feel. I know that Jesus is in me, shining as a light to the world. I know that heaven is real, and it's coming, and it's infinitely better than the best thing that's ever happened to me. I know that the Bible is made of the very words of God, and is an incredibly precious gift that I have the privilege of taking with me in my heart wherever I go. But my heart looks at the blessings of the world and wants them.
Why is it that we want earthly blessings so badly? Why is it that we'll devote hours of actions, thoughts, and words each week to the purpose of winning peoples' good opinions? Why is it that we'll worry and wonder and plan endlessly for our future in pursuit of great personal success, instead of trusting the only One who ever had any control over what's to come? Why is it so hard to be content with loving Jesus wholeheartedly by yourself, and so easy to feel like you need someone else to love and be loved by? Why is it that just about every blessing in our lives is only ever a hair's breadth away from becoming an idol—a necessary, ultimate goal of life? The reason why is that we are like the crowds who followed Jesus with their feet but not their hearts. We are captivated by the taste, the smell, the feel of earthly bread in our hands, in our mouths, in our stomachs. We want it, we pursue it, we take it, we eat it. Then, after a few hours of feeling warm and full, we find that once again we are hungry. The cycle repeats. And the cycle will repeat, in my heart and in yours, if God doesn't put a stop to it. Thanks be to God that there is a way to stop wanting and chasing this earthly bread—and to finally find true joy and satisfaction.
Isaiah 55:1-3
Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
I am sick of spending my money, spending my time, spending my labor on that which does not, cannot, and will not satisfy. I am ready (at least in my heart) to throw my all into pursuing Jesus, the bread of life. And right here, in Isaiah 55, is the way for me to do just that.
“Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good.”
“Incline your ear.”
“Come to me.”
“Hear, that your soul may live.”
I'm thirsty. I want my life to be more joyful, and more fulfilled. Jesus, my Savior, is the only fountain that can quench my thirst. So I'll come to Him. I'll enter His presence. And it won't just be for the few minutes that constitute a “quiet time.” Instead, I'll linger with Him. I'll listen diligently—not giving up when His words seem counter-intuitive to my immediate happiness. And as I hear, as I listen, as I come, I will worship Him—because He is the bread of life.
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Being the Witness
You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
--John 5:33-34
If there was ever someone who shouldn't have needed anybody to stick up for Him, it was Jesus. He shouldn't have needed anyone to testify, “Yeah, He's God”--because He was God. The words of some man couldn't make His claims any more or less true, because He only told the truth.
If I was claiming to be Taylor Swift, I would need a lot of backup. For one thing, I don't look like her. For another, I don't sound anything like her. No one would believe my claims, because I'm not her.
But for Jesus to say He was God was for Him to declare the truth. And it was a truth that should have been obvious. He fulfilled every single Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, yet the Old Testament scholars were the ones that hated Him most (John 5:45-46). He healed the sick, proving He had both the compassion and the power of God His Father, yet even the ones He healed betrayed Him (John 5:15-16). He offered the bread of life to people enslaved to insatiable desires, yet they forsook the gift of God for earthly food (John 6:26-27). It should have been obvious to everyone that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, yet people refused to believe (just as they do now) that this Man was the Son of God.
So Jesus did something He should never have needed to do. The perfect Man referred the Pharisees to the testimony of a sinful, finite man. He showed that He understood their small-mindedness when He said, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that He bears about me is true (John 5:31-32).”
Sinful people, deserving of Hell, had raised a finger and said to the One who could save them: “We don't think you are who you say you are.” Jesus didn't ignore their vain, useless arguments. He didn't leave them in their self-deception without a word of how they could escape. He took the argument down to their petty level. “Alright, so you aren't willing to believe the Bible. You aren't willing to believe the words of the very God you claim to serve. You'd rather believe the unwarranted claims of imperfect human beings than the indisputable truth of the Most High God. I get that. So go ahead and listen to John. He's a man like you, so listen to what He says about Me.”
This is the humility of Jesus Christ. He did what He never needed to do, in order that sinners might believe what they needed to believe. “I do not receive glory from people,” He said. “But I know that you do not have the love of God within you....How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God (John 5:41, 42, 44)?”
How could they believe, indeed? They had made a narrow door to their hearts. They ostensibly wanted to hear God's truth, just not from His Son.
And today it happens in much the same way. People have all the evidence they need readily available in the Bible, yet they don't believe. So Jesus uses another means to get His gospel to people--us! Just as Jesus didn't need John, He doesn't need you and me to be the ones telling a disbelieving world that He is the Christ, the Son of God. The God-breathed scriptures bear more than enough testimony to this truth. But still, God has chosen to use people like us to be messengers to the hard-hearted. He lets pitiful, failing sinners like you and me be the ones who get to tell a dead girl about Life for the first time. He lets earthly, tainted eyes like ours be the first to see a lost person's face light up at the realization he can be found. He gives dishonest, untrustworthy people the unspeakable privilege of bearing witness to the Savior of the world—though we wouldn't even believe our own words unless He had quickened our hearts.
Jesus doesn't need glory from us. But he wants it! Just as He used John the baptist, He is pleased to use us as testimonies to His great salvation. What an honor.
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