In the Quiet

It's been a longgggg time since I last published a post. It wasn't intentional at first, there were just a lot of other things clamoring for my attention. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets easily distracted the second life gets a little crazy!

In church as a young child, my dad used to constantly need to remind me to stop wiggling and listen. Sometimes God too commands us to "be still", but it's not meant to be a punishment. Rather, it's a place of safety- of meditation. God is the calm in the center of life's storms. But how often do we fail to stop and listen to that message?

"Be still and know that I am Lord"- Psalm 46:10

We find it so difficult to quiet ourselves down, to shut out all the external voices, stimulation, and things clamoring for our attention. And I think it's because we like it that way. We prefer all the noise because we're afraid to hear the convictions God places on our hearts. It's in the stillness, that we can better communicate with Him.

"But the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any sword, piercing to the soul, and discerning of thoughts and the hearts intentions."- Hebrews 4:12

There's a lot of articles on the internet telling you how to live your life and what to believe, and that plays into part of my hesitation in continuing writing. Words are powerful, and not always for good. My goal in putting my fingers to these keys is to be vulnerable and invite each of you to walk along side me through some of my own personal devotions. Because community is also powerful and the world is a needy place. Let's not go there for sustenance. Only by finding completeness in Our Savior can we go and help others without using them to meet our needs. Only if we live in the light of Our Savior, can our light shine brightly into the world and the lives of others. So let's each make it a goal, not a punishment, to set aside more "quiet time" through reflection, meditation, and God's Word.

I challenge each of you, my friends, to take a few minutes out of your busy day today to go outside, find a quiet spot, lift your face to the sunshine, and spend a few minutes in heartfelt prayer. That's it. That's all I have to say for now. No new message, no new anecdote. Simply sit, pray, and meditate on the awesome power of our Creator and the beauty that is your life. I promise it will do your soul good.

Hi, my name is: Doubting Thomas

I've done a lot of doubting lately. I've doubted if I'm in the right career. Doubted if God is really using me. Doubted if He actually called me to where I am right now. Doubted my gifts and capabilities.

DOUBT: that bitter enemy that creeps into the back of your mind and subtly whispers, "you're not good enough," until you actually believe it.

James 1:6 says, "Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind."

When you doubt, you allow fear to control you.

Doubt destroys confidence, and not in a good way like that in which humility destroys arrogance.  It limits our potential. It produces fear rather than contentment. It will cause you to miss the opportunities that God puts in your path.

God told Joshua, "Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9) and this command still rings true for us today.

God is not expecting perfection of us, for that has already been attained in the work of the cross! What He is expecting, is for us to follow in faith. To trust that He has not given us more than we can handle. To believe that He will indeed use us to glorify Him and further His kingdom, no matter how large or small the task may seem.

We can have confidence, because our confidence is in Christ.

photo via Pinterest

Make America Great Again

 

Yes, this post is about to get political, but probably not in the direction you're expecting. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to rally in prayer with Franklin Graham and thousands of my neighbors on the steps of the State Capitol. It did my heart so much good, because the way we as God's people organize ourselves, matters to our Creator. Already back in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God lays down some guidelines to ensure that those in authority do not elevate themselves above those whom they exercise power over. It is made clear that leaders are to be humble and not only familiar with, but guided by, God's laws. When the Israelites asked for a massive shift in their God-ordained system, it also shifted the fate of their nation. Like so many Biblical accounts, their demand for a king identical to that of their pagan neighbors contains relevant nuggets of wisdom.

For God knew their selfish hearts. He knew where a king would lead. He also knew they would reject Samuel's warning, but commands him to warn them nonetheless. And Samuel does exactly that, because he lived a life of obedience, and trusted everything to God's hands.

"So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, 'These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take... he will take... he will take... and in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer in that day'... But the people refused to obey... And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey their voice and make them a king.'" -1 Samuel 8:10-22

God allows for them to appoint their own king. The people attempt to reject God's rule, yet they cannot escape it. Our Lord is omnipotent: all powerful. He will never abdicate His throne, even if man asks Him to. This underlying issue of fleeing God's sovereignty is not new to us today in America and it was not new to Israel. In fact, this issue begins all the way back in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve rejected God's rule over them. As sinful mankind, we seek power and autonomy. Yet the "naked truth" is we cannot retain both sovereignty to ourselves and citizenship to the Kingdom of God.

We know how this story ends for Israel. Saul becomes king. It's a mess. We're a mess. But we can rejoice because the King of all Kings comes, dies for us, rises from the grave, and ascends into heaven on the promise that He will come again to establish the only Kingdom that could literally be heaven on earth.

But that is to come, and for now it is important that we learn from the mistakes God's people have made in the past. It's clear that a nation gets the leaders it deserves. This should definitely concern us. What kind of a leader do you think we as a nation deserve in our current circumstance?

We are so blessed to live in a land where "We the People" are the government. We have the ability to unite for truth, love, equality, and justice. There is no substitute for personal responsibility in the home, in the church, and in our community. We have been called to be Samuel's to a country of Israelites. The people might not listen, but we still need to proclaim God's message and live a life of obedience to our One True King. So Samuel, are you ready?

Not Exactly a Fairytale

I've always loved the story of Esther: a small-town orphan girl wins a beauty pageant and the crown she receives is to a real kingdom. At first glance it seems like textbook Disney material, but the "happily ever after" is still "far, far away". Esther has just been plucked from her home and placed in a pagan land. She finds herself married to a controlling ruler who struggles with drinking and rash decision-making. And then, when a plot to destroy the Jews is revealed, she risks it all. Esther could have said, "I don't want to jeopardize my position. No one will ever find out I am a Jew. I am going to be careful and play it safe." Little did she know it was God's plan for her to be there at that specific time in order to rescue her people. A bold girl in the right place at the right time saved an entire nation from annihilation.

The story of Esther is saturated with this theme of God's providence, even though He is never specifically mentioned. God’s supposed "absence" is used by the author to remind us how the Lord works through seemingly ordinary events to achieve His purposes. Esther teaches us that although we often cannot see God in the face of adversity, He is still present and orchestrating all things for our good.

Right now, I feel a little bit like Esther. No, I'm not living in a palace. No, I definitely won't be winning any beauty pageants. But I've left my family and moved to a foreign land alone; a place where I, as a Christian, am definitely in the minority. Esther's story reminds me that God has a specific purpose in bringing me to Salt Lake City. What comfort to know that He created me with this very plan in mind! Whatever overwhelming trial you are currently facing, God has a purpose for placing you in the midst of it. Will you take a stand?

 

Your reply may be, "But how?" Esther wasn't sure of God's plan either. Our next step won't always be clear. There will be times in your life when you've searched Scripture, prayed, sought wise advice, and yet a big unknown still remains. You can definitely take the time to sleep on it. Esther certainly did as she fasted and prayed for three days. But then there comes a point when you can wait no longer. You have to pull up your big girl (or boy) panties and step out in faith.

Today, let’s boldly step out and make ourselves available to God just as Esther did. God has created you, my friend, with a beautiful plan in mind. Perhaps it was for this particular trial, or to simply share the hope of eternal life! Be bold. Be courageous. And take faith. We may not have all the answers, but we certainly serve a God who does!

 
 

Not All Who Wander, Lust.

wanderlust (v.): a strong urge or desire to explore and enjoy the world

This earth is filled with wonder, and my heart with wanderlust.
God has given me such a desire to adventure and explore His dazzling creation.
It used to stress me out as I tried to compile a lengthy bucket-list of all the destinations I've dreamt of visiting, until Sunday when I heard a simple sentence that left a big impact and a content heart:

"the idea of our glorified bodies, gives us perspective to live with moderation"- Michael Spotts

Our bodies and life on earth are temporary, distorted by sin. But as Christians we have hope, because God has promised us the resurrection of both body and soul in Paradise.

"He will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body"

- Philippians 3:21

The hope of having a physical body in the future, helps us to live moderately in the means by which we enjoy the earth God has given us in the now. Before, I was tempted to cram an entire eternity of bodily pleasures in my one mortal experience. How comforting that we don't have to be gluttonous, because there will be enough! How comforting to know that we don't have to be adulterous, because it will be far better to communion with Jesus! How comforting that the New Earth will be a marvelous gallery of God's craftsmanship, and we won't depend on money or other needs to explore it! When you embrace this truth in your heart, it will change the way you live your life. Knowing our time here is limited, we shift our focus to glorifying God, rather than ourselves.

Don't get me wrong. I still possess the desire to experience God's remarkable creation, but no longer the lust. It's not a frantic need, that if unfulfilled before I die, renders me hopeless. Because I know what's awaiting me in eternity is infinitely better. Not only do these assurances provide us with comfort, but we can also have JOY. Why distinguish the difference? Comfort takes the edge off of sorrow, but joy entails pleasure. We find joy by meditating on, and anticipating the next life.

Q: How does "life everlasting" comfort you?
A: Even as I already now experience in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, so after this life I will have perfect blessedness such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no man has ever imagined: a blessedness in which to praise God eternally.- Heidelberg Catechism

I am learning to sync my present condition, with the hope of the future. Instead of wandering, I wonder. Instead of lusting, I am content.

*adapted from Michael Spotts' sermon, "Trading in the Old Tent"

"Let Paris Go!"

Last night Paris, a city symbolic of love, cried out in heartbreak.

129 individuals were killed, 352 injured. These people are not just numbers. They are someone's children, someone's spouse, someone's friend.
Our first reaction might be to question, "Where is God in all of this?"
But we can call off the search party, because God has not left us.
He is still here, with you and me. He is still in Syria. He is still in Paris.

Do you remember when God's people were enslaved in Egypt? It seemed by all outward appearances that God had left them. But then He called Moses and commanded him to march before Pharaoh and his army and demand that they "Let My people go!"

Today we might not face Pharaoh and his army, but we do face the very same evil God's people have fought throughout all of history. 

The world can be a dangerous place, but the answer is not to cower from ISIS.

When we give into terror, we give into the very root of their cause.

As Christians, we are to take a stand.

"Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage and be strong."

-1 Corinthians 16:13

 

Courage has always been a necessary quality among the people of God. Standing for righteousness takes courage. Speaking the truth of the Gospel takes courage. Like Moses, you might be tempted to believe you don't have a voice, that what you say won't make a difference. But God declares otherwise:

"Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."- Joshua 1: 5, 9b

 

I changed my profile picture because it's a small way I can display this courage. A symbol that I back my neighbors, and that we will not let them be picked on without a fair fight. It's a symbol that I stand with Paris and a demand that ISIS "Let God's people go."

It may be weeks, it may be months, it may be years until this enemy is defeated. We might not even see the victory in our lifetime. But of this I have utmost confidence: there will be a day when the victory is won.
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power"- 1 Corinthians 15:24

An Open Letter

"Measuring sticks try to rank some people as big and some people as small, but we aren’t sizes. We are souls. There are no better people or worse people, there are only God-made souls. There is no point trying to size people up, no point trying to compare, because souls defy measuring."

-Ann Voskamp

To my little sisters in Christ,

You are beautiful. Each and everyone of you. After all, you bear the very image of God! Any shortcomings you may perceive in your body, personality, gifts, and abilities in comparison to others is an insult to our Creator.
You were created with intention; no flaws or imperfections.
"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made"- Psalm 139:14

But just in case you don't struggle with low-self esteem enough on your own,
sometimes people will step in to help and do the comparing for you.
Sometimes they will make polls to vote for who they think is prettiest.
Sometimes this will happen even in Christian institutions.

And for that, I'm so sorry.
It breaks my heart that I can't shield you from the hatred and evil in this world.
I pray that you will use these moments as opportunities to witness. To display God's grace. To define true beauty. Because the only thing that can drive out this sort of hatred is love- God's perfect, radiant love. This is a unique opportunity you have been given: "to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

 

Lastly, remember that comparison is a deadly weapon. It robs joy. It beats people down. Rather than uniting us, it often drives the church apart. Be ever cautious and slow to judge. "Do not consider his appearance or his height,  for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

-1 Samuel 16:7

your sister,
Kyla

Not Waiting 'til Marriage

If I were to make a list of my flaws, impatience would definitely top it. Waiting is not something I am good at, or enjoy. Then this summer, my Facebook newsfeed suddenly exploded into a Pinterest wedding board.

While I am overjoyed for all my friends who are recently engaged/married, I can't help but notice my blaring singleness in a sea of happy couples. I am an exception to the Christian College norm. How much longer am I going to have to wait to find love?

I've been living under the impression that I deserve a relationship. Why else would God give me this innate desire for marriage? Am I a failure?

Our individualistic culture has bought into the idea that marriage can bring ultimate fulfillment. For many, it is the climax of their happiness. The "first day of the rest of their life."

Marriage is good, but above all we should seek God.

I was pursuing fulfillment and self-worth through my relationships with others, rather than Christ. Often in the church we hear "be the woman God made you to be, focus on that, and then the husband will come." But what if the husband doesn't come?

Don't get sold on a deal, rather than a Savior.

Christ is indeed the source of all blessing, but He is not the magic solution to life's problems-

 He is life itself!

So for now, I'm single and content in it.

Because I've decided I'm not going to wait until marriage.

"Cease striving and know that I am God."- Psalm 46:10

Stop waiting for "The One". Do not put your life on hold. Each day is a gift. Seek joy and growth and opportunities to really live. With a man by my side or not, I want to wake up every morning madly in love with my Savior, Jesus Christ. Every day. For the rest of my life.

"I'd rather have the right God than the wrong man."- Christen Rapske

Set a Fire

Fires are a constant threat here in the forest- especially in the middle of a drought. 
Currently a large fire has expanded to about 2,800 acres, while several hundred other small fires were touched off by lightning. 

But contradictory to Smokey the Bear, I would argue that fire isn't always a bad thing. 
Fires have several very important functions in the life of the Sequoia Forest:
1) it prepares a seedbed
2) it cycles nutrients
3) it removes any excess vegetative growth
4) it removes the threat of insects and disease to the trees

But most importantly, without fire the Giant Sequoia seed would remain trapped. Green cones can live for up to twenty years with viable seeds inside. Fire dries out the cones, enabling them to crack open and sprinkle their seeds on the forest ground. 

Fire plays much the same role in our spiritual lives.

"Fire has a refining element. It is the essence of the Holy Spirit's work. When He comes in power, He also comes to burn up the sin in our lives. He comes with conviction, searching our motives, uprooting our unforgiveness, and shattering our pride."

The Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13 is the perfect example of this. Our seed of faith faces many obstacles: 
1) hard soil
2) poor root system
3) choking weeds
4) being snatched away
All of which fire helps combat. Although it sometimes appears as a threat, we need the refining work of the Holy Spirit to protect us from other dangers and purify our lives, so that the Word of God may find a viable home in our heart and the seed of faith may take root.

"when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart... he who has no root, endures for awhile and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the world immediately he falls away... As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful... As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold." - Matthew 13:18-23

"so set a fire down in my soul

that I can't contain and I can't control

I want more of You God,

I want more of You God."- Set a Fire

Faith of a Sequoia Seed

This is it. The last "summer" of my academic career.

I've had the awesome privilege of being one of the camp nurses here at Hume Lake, CA. Nestled deep in the heart of the Sequoia National Forest this ministry affects all it comes in contact with: camper, tourist, and employee (myself included).

Over the course of the past six weeks, the greatest analogy I have been continuously aware of is found in the small, yet mighty Sequoia seed.

The well-known proverb that "mighty oaks from little acorns grow" is more than accurate for this lifeform. Each seed is flat, about the size of a pinhead. Only with time and the right conditions will they grow to be Giants of the Forest attaining a staggering height of 300 feet. However, the odds of an individual seed germinating, surviving, and growing into a mature tree are less than one in a billion (not exactly in their favor). Making this little guy the definition of a miracle.

Sound familiar? It's almost exactly like the Parable of the Mustard Seed found in the Gospel.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a [Sequoia Seed] it is the smallest of all seeds but when it is grown it is LARGER than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."- Matthew 13:31&32

On the first day of orientation my boss gave me a Sequoia cone and reminded me of this truth. As she pressed it into the palm of my hand and enfolded my fingers around it she uttered a blessing, which I now leave for you:

"God loves you.

God cares for you.

God has a plan for you."

May your seed of faith continue to grow, so that as you face the mountains of life nothing will be impossible through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. - Matthew 17:20

Our Mountaintop Experience

My sister Ashlyn just completed her last week of high school and I couldn't be more proud of the young woman she has become! In order to celebrate, we packed up my car with way more luggage than appropriate for a simple week's vacation and set off on a roadtrip across California.

 

Our first stop- Salvation Mountain.

 

This beautiful testimony, found in the middle of the desert, was refreshing to the soul. Sculpted by Leonard Knight, it's truly an art masterpiece with the bold and recurrent message of:

 

"God is Love"



Mountains have always possessed significance as places of powerful, personal encounters with God. The very phrase mountain top experience originates from the Biblical accounts of God revealing Himself to Abraham at Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2, 14), to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19, Deuteronomy 5), and to Elijah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:24, 1 Kings 19:12).

But the greatest mountain-top experience of all time occurred on the Mount of Transfiguration: (Mark 9:2-7) "Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus... And [Peter] did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is my beloved Son; listen to him.'"

Peter was so awestruck in this moment that he wanted to never let it go. He wanted to stay forever in the sheer beauty and power. But faith can not be put in a box, or as Peter later suggested- a tent. The disciples had to leave the mountain and shortly after Jesus gave them the command to go into “the world and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”



As fellow disciples of Christ, we might not come face to face with God or see historic fathers of the faith, but we too can have mountain top experiences- "a temporary, uncommon encounter with God that is meant to give us a fresh awareness of His reality and nearness."

As amazing as these experiences can be, I believe it is important to remember that they are meant to strengthen us for the journey back down. They sustain us so that we can share the Gospel message with others. Abraham had been to the mountain. Moses had been to the mountain. Elijah had been to the mountain. Jesus brought the disciples to the mountain. They came back changed and ready to work for God's vision. Our perspective changes as our personal problems are left on the dwarfed landscape and we are made aware of the grandeur of the God whom we serve.

In his famous speech, Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop."

Are you ready to not only go to the mountain, but return to serve God's kingdom? Because as dazzling as the mountain top is, there is much work that still needs to be done.

Value of Vulnerability

In a culture where we value strength and perfection, vulnerability is often viewed as weakness.
(the very word comes from its Latin root meaning "to wound")

Over the past year, I've strove to open up in my relationships and show the most intimate sides of myself to those whom I love. Some of this has been done right on these pages, through this blog.

How vulnerable are we as Christians? Most of us are slim to none.

We're self-protective, politically correct, and afraid.

Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of being rejected. Afraid. Afraid. Afraid.

Instead of embracing vulnerability, we've done the exact opposite. We've built lives disconnected from love; lived defensively, detached, isolated and rigid, where one cannot personally grow or relationally grow with God and others.

Newsflash: there is no safety or security in this life. Our only guarantee is eternal life which Jesus has secured for us.

Vulnerability is good and even commanded from God. Jesus told us to have child-like faith. A young child is vulnerable- trusting, open, and accepting.

We all want to feel and know we are secure in this world, but to what degree can we and at what expense?

“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.” - C.S. Lewis

It's Still Easter

It's Monday, Easter's come and gone. And most of us are bombarded with life's distractions and long to-do lists after a weekend of relaxation.

It's easy to mentally set aside the message of Easter for another 364 days.

Jesus' resurrection isn't something to celebrate once a year and then place in the back of our minds. It’s something that should be on our hearts and influence our actions every single day.

But if we're honest with ourselves, we often fail to see the Resurrection evidenced in our everyday lives. We still argue with loved ones, we're still overwhelmed with work or school, we're saddened at the suffering and selfishness in the world around us. Like the two men on the Road to Emmaus we wonder, “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21a).

Do things seem pretty much the same as before Easter Sunday? Are you still trying to fight sin with your own strength? Like the men on the Road to Emmaus, we too are in need of our eyes being opened:

Because Jesus lives, our sins are really forgiven. Because Jesus lives, the devil is really defeated. Because Jesus lives, resurrection and eternal life have been won for us.

Don't let this truth fade into the noise of your life.

The disciples surely didn't. They witnessed their Savior's crucifixion, and when they saw Him alive it changed their world.  They couldn’t help but spread the news. They didn't restrict celebrating to one mere day, but lived whole lives of celebration. They knew that because Jesus lived, they too would live.

May the reality of our Savior’s empty tomb fill you with joy, hope, and peace not only yesterday, but today, and every day to come.

T.G.I.F.

Today's the day we commemorate The Passion;

The day we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice of atonement for us.

This day holds such significance because we will never understand God until we understand the cross.

The Romans considered death by crucifixion to be not just an execution, but the most obscene, the most disgraceful, the most horrific means of death known to mankind.

But I'm going to refrain from going into medical detail. Because all too often, we focus primarily on the physical suffering that Jesus underwent for us. In doing so, we actually lessen the significance of what He accomplished. It is not the physical sufferings of Jesus that the Bible emphasizes.

Christ endured the wrath of God against all of our sin. Not only did He endure hell for us, but He conquered it. That we might not perish, but have eternal life.

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

23 simple words. 26 short syllables. But miss this and you miss the truth of God.

And here is the "News" of the Gospel, which makes this Friday so "Good": it doesn't matter what sins you've committed, how much you've accumulated, or how guilty you feel. When Jesus cried out "It is finished", it was not just a mere proclamation, but a spiritual truth. The penalty for sin has been paid in full. What He accomplished in His death was so total, so complete that it could never be repeated. When you believe you are too terrible for God's forgiveness, you offend the work of the cross by claiming it insufficient. There is nothing more that could save you, the death of Christ was enough. Accept the gift of salvation extended to you by means of the cross, and rejoice.  Because God claims everything, even this day on which our Savior died, and orchestrates it for His good.

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken and smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."- Isaiah 53: 4&5

Key to my (Happy) Heart

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him"- John Piper

I often catch myself saying things like, "Well when I get to _____  point, when I have _____ , when I become _____ , then I will be content."

I'm sure you can easily fill in the blanks as well.

But true contentment is not found in the absence of trials. It is not found through achieving our hearts desires. In fact, it is often the opposite. Most times, those who have seemingly everything by the world's standards are the least satisfied.

My personal struggle with contentment is often a direct result of stress. When I allow stress to overwhelm me, my focus shifts from God and my identity in Him to my present situation. But when I release my anxieties to God in prayer, He is faithful to fulfill His promises.

"God does not give us everything we want, but God does fulfill all His promises, i.e., God remains the Lord of the earth, God preserves the Church, constantly renewing our faith and not laying on us more than we can bear, gladdening us with Divine nearness and help, hearing our prayers, and leading us along the best and straightest paths to holiness. By God's faithfulness in doing this, God creates in us praise for Him alone."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer,  from his Nazi prison cell

The world constantly pushes us to seek the antidote for our discontentment through products, through adventures, through comparison to others, or even inner reflection. But God calls us to look elsewhere. God calls us to look to Him alone.

Here are three simple questions to help determine whether your desires align with that of service to God's kingdom, or personal gain:

1. What consumes your thoughts?
2. How do you spend spare time? Or are you a workaholic who never seems to come by any? Time is the most precious of commodities and the way you utilize it reflects what you are seeking.
3. What do you desire most? What do you want to see God do with your life?

Your reaction to your financial situation; your reaction to your appearances; your reaction to your possessions; your reactions to trials, obstacles, and disappointments are your testimony to the world. Is yours one of contentment, displaying your rested assurance in the power and grace of God?

Remember, money can't buy it and lazy satisfaction can't provide it. Real, true contentment is an attitude of the heart found in Christ alone "in redeeming relationships with one another, rejoicing in the Lord always, and releasing our anxieties to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving in our hearts."

Christian Stewardship

Stewardship is a term often tossed around Christian circles. Odds are you've probably heard of it in association with finances and giving back a portion of our wealth to the church. But if this is the extent of our definition, we're missing out on some key components.

In the beginning, God gives us the creational mandate through Adam saying,
"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” - Genesis 1:28

“The LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it” -Genesis 2:15

God has placed us, mankind, in a position of authority on earth. Our role is like that of a manager, to whom God has entrusted the care of His creation. It's important to remember that even though God has given us "all things to richly enjoy", nothing really belongs to us. God owns everything. This is our Father's World; we're merely responsible for how we treat it and what we do with it.

"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it"- Psalm 24

We should be concerned not only about financial stewardship but also our health and caring for the world around us.

True stewardship fully acknowledges we are not our own but belong in body and soul to Christ. We not only bear the image of God, but are temples of the Holy Spirit. We need to treat our bodies as such. As a nurse, it can be completely overwhelming to try and address all of the modifiable health problems our society faces today, so here's the two I am most passionate about:

1. Healthy Diet
Food is the energy that fuels our body. We have managed to distort this so that it is all about ease and bringing ourselves pleasure. We over indulge in sweet, fried, and processed goods. I truly believe that a healthy, balanced diet can bring glory to God. I try to ask myself this main question in regards to my food choices:

 Is what I'm about to eat in it's natural form as created by God?
The key is avoiding chemical-laden, processed food by sticking to fresh fruits and vegetables, natural meats, whole grains, raw nuts, etc. I won't bore you by going into the nitty-gritty details of nutrition, but I believe there is great blessing to be found in abiding by the principles of eating products unaltered by human invention and as God intended.

2. Active Lifestyle
Americans as a whole live a sedentary lifestyle. Unfit employees cost companies an average of $100 billion per year in preventable health care costs. We drive to school or a job where we spend the majority of our day sitting behind a desk, only to return home and spend the rest of our evening sitting on the couch. Get up and move! Go for a run outside. If you're in Arizona, go and take a hike for me- I miss mountains. Marvel at the wonder of God's world around you and the beauty of the human body as it works in perfect unison to keep you breathing and your heart beating. An active lifestyle is crucial to maintaining your health. Did you know exercising only once per week (or not at all) makes you seven times more likely to die suddenly than those who exercise on a regular basis? Or that inactive individuals tend to have higher blood pressure, be more obese, and are more prone to diabetes, disease, and the effects of osteoporosis?

I mean, have you ever wondered why Jesus, as the Son of God, came to this earth as a carpenter instead of a Pharisee, merchant, or scribe? This kind of labor in an age without power tools certainly required a significant amount of expenditure. Jesus was most likely a strong, well-built man. He also walked everywhere. Just the three customary trips to Jerusalem alone would have been over 450 miles of traveling on foot each year. Jesus lived a physically active lifestyle and set an example for us to follow. As the Son of God, with an intimate knowledge of creation, Jesus understood the very concept that has taken science years and thousands of experiments to confirm: the human body is designed to operate by physical laws and needs exercise to function properly.

It is not sinful to appreciate the beauty of the human form and strive to better ourselves, as long as we do so in moderation and with the proper motivation: to glorify God and follow in Christ's steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

But Christian stewardship doesn't end there. Our call to care for God's creation extends beyond our personal bodies to the world all around us- this includes the environment.

Those at the forefront of environmentalism often have pantheistic or naturalistic worldviews causing Christians to shy away from pressing issues. We have become silent and apathetic, resulting in unconcern. We need to step up, get involved, and lead from a Biblical perspective.

 Did you know?

•  Each year, Americans throw away 25 trillion Styrofoam cups.
• On average, a single supermarket goes through 60,500,000 paper bags per year
• The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year. This means that 5% of the world's people generate 40% of the world's waste. We toss out two billion plastic razors, a million and a half tons of paper towels, and 12 billion disposable diapers annually.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.

These alarming statistics reminded me a lot of the admonition found in Ezekiel 34:18-

"Is it not enough for you to feed on the green pastures?
Must you also trample them with your feet?
"Is it not enough for you to drink the pure water?
Must you also muddy it with your feet?"

 

 

God has given us the earth to enjoy, not destroy.

 

You can make small changes in your lifestyle that will go a long way in conserving the earth. The next time you leave a room, remember to turn off the light. While growing up, my parents used to fine my siblings and I a dollar for every light we left on. Although it seemed harsh at the time, I am so grateful that they instilled this practice in me at a young age. Get in the habit of turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Buy reusable grocery bags. Carpool. Ride your bike to work. Bring your own coffee mug to church. These are just a few easy ways you can consciously make a difference.

"We are all stewards of the resources, abilities and opportunities that God has entrusted to our care, and one day each one of us will be called to give an account for how we have managed what the Master has given us. This is taught in the Parable of the Talents. God has entrusted authority over the creation to us and we are not allowed to rule over it as we see fit. We are called to exercise our dominion under the watchful eye of the Creator managing his creation in accord with the principles he has established. Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, we will be called to give an account of how we have administered everything we have been given, including our time, money, abilities, information, wisdom, relationships, and authority."

"Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already."

- C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Gaze vs. Glance

 I recently had an eye doctor appointment, which confirmed the sad truth that I no longer have perfect vision. I began to notice a problem when I had to sit and study for hours on end. All of that intense focus blurred my vision, and everything became an indistinguishable jumble, forcing me to stop and take a break.

How often don't we find ourselves so intent on studying our problems, that we lose focus of God?

 

I came across this statement in my devotions this morning and it really resonated with me:

"Gaze at God. Glance at problems."

 

As sinful humans, our natural tendency is to flip the two around. We have a nasty habit of gazing at our problems and occasionally glancing at God for help.

 

Gazing at our problems makes them appear daunting.
We become overwhelmed, worried, and fearful.

An example of this is seen through the figure of Peter walking on the water:
"So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'"- Matthew 14: 29-33

Peter shifted his focus from Christ right beside him, to the storm that seemed to be closing in. He literally began to sink in his doubt. The same is true for us when we focus on the storms in our life's- we drown in worry.
 

But gazing at God makes Him appear larger.
We can be at peace knowing that our Lord is sovereign.

 

My favorite example of keeping our sights set on God is found in the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den:
Daniel 6:10 "[Daniel] got down on his knees... and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously."

Daniel 6: 21-23 "'My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king. I have done no harm.' Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

When we give thanks in a time of crisis, we reflect on God's previous faithfulness, setting us up to trust fully in Him. We can rest secure, because Jesus faced the ultimate lion's den for us. He went all the way to death so that like Daniel, we might be set free. Psalm 22: 13 relates Jesus' tortures to that of roaring lions:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?... they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion."

 

Is your focus on the storms and lions in your life that are currently trying to consume you? Are you merely glancing at God for help when you need a hand? Or is your gaze set fixed on Him who has promised us in the words of Isaiah 26:3: "I keep Him in perfect peace whose focus is on Me."

 

{Don't lose focus of God}

 

 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"

- Hebrews 12:2



Suffering

Earlier this week, Rocklen returned from his mission trip to Tanzania. He brought back with him more than just pictures, but also images of hope and faith paralleled to incredible suffering.

 

Suffering is evidenced everywhere as a direct result of living in a fallen world. We don't even have to look on a global scale to see this truth displayed. Most of us have experienced hurt in our own personal life's. When we are broken down, we often cry out in anguish: "Is God punishing me? Has He abandoned me?"

Likewise, when the disciples were faced with suffering their minds were quick to jump to God's judgment. The Gospel of John recounts for us the story of their encounter with a blind man. Their only concern was if he or his parents had sinned to cause his affliction. They don't show him compassion. They don't even ask Jesus to heal him.

Imagine this man- lacking sight since birth and living the life of the outcast. Imagine having everyone around you assume you were unrepentant before God. Who would show him love with that mindset of justice being served? It's easy to excuse our lack of caring for those who are hurting when we equate it as something that was due.

Jesus responds, "It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."- John 9:3

Jesus outrightly rebukes these assumptions. He stoops down, spits in the very dust from which He created us, and wipes the sludge across the man's eyes to restore his sight.

What a perfect vision of the lavish grace God spreads on us.

As Christians, we are called to be God's disciples and bring the healing message of the Gospel to those who are hurting.

God has not promised to keep us from pain and suffering, but to keep (care, hold on to) us in our pain and suffering.

We have a Savior who knows what we are experiencing.

There is nothing so terrible, that He can not relate.

Because Christ's entire life, was a life of suffering.

"What do you understand by the word 'suffered'?

 

That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.

This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might deliver us, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life."- Heidelberg Catechism Q&A37

 

We have hope, because through Christ, we are promised salvation and an end to all suffering. Through His sacrifice, we are viewed as righteous. He was bound to the cross, that we might be loosed from our sins. He was innocently condemned to death, that we might live. He humbled himself on the cross to hell's deep agony, which rung from Him the cry, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" so that God might never forsake us.



Questioning your Calling?

Wow. I can't believe I'm done with nursing school. Two intense, fast-paced, content-packed years. 730 days. 856 hours spent at clinical. Priceless experiences. Countless tears. Valued friendships. The best and worst two years of my life. I couldn't have done it without the grace of God along with the love and support of my friends and family- especially that of my parents.

I'm ashamed to admit there were several times along this journey that I turned to them in tears. I was ready to give up because it was HARD. There were times it was straight up miserable. During these moments, doubt would creep in and cause me to question whether or not God was really calling me to be a nurse.

My dad taught me a valuable lesson in deciphering whether or not God is directing us to a different career. Because we're guaranteed to question if we are on the right path. Regardless of whether we are just choosing our major, or celebrating twenty years on the job. Regardless of whether we are 19, or 46.

Ask yourself these three main questions:

1. Has God given you another passion?
Passion is a valuable component, innumerably more so than salary or other tangible benefits a job has to offer. Without passion, you will be miserable in whatever job you pursue. You will have many doubts along your career path that will leave you wanting to throw in the towel and quit. But don't be so quick to discard your calling without feeling as though God has placed something else on your heart. Simply stopping in your path is not an option, that is just looking for a way out and errs toward laziness. You must continue on, it may just happen to be in a different direction.
"the desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor." -Proverbs 21:25.

2. Has He instilled you with the gifts to do it?
The desire to do something else is not enough, you must also possess the ability. Reflect on what areas God has gifted you in. Would you be utilizing your talents in your new career path? For He has created us to be productive. Just take a glance at the splendor of creation around us. To think God handcrafted the world in a span of six days! And what did He say after, but "it is good." As image bearers of God, shouldn't we seek to follow His perfect example and be productive, utilizing our gifts to the best of our abilities so that He may be glorified?

3. Is God opening another door?
Oftentimes when the going gets tough, we feel like God is closing a door. But He has promised to not do so without opening another. If it is His will, the opportunity will arise.

If after laying the matter before God, you can answer all three of these questions with an affirmative "yes", then I believe you can be confident that God is directing you towards a new career path. If not, keep turning to Him in prayer for the strength and perseverance to continue. Be encouraged that God has a perfect plan for you, even if it may not seem that way at the moment.

"This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow."- Isaiah 48:17

Like Coffee

No one likes studying, especially over Christmas break. Yet here I am, sitting in my local Starbucks, sipping on a piping hot peppermint latte. Coffee always seems to be best when either refreshingly iced or as I like to say, "warming to the soul". In my opinion, coffee can never be too hot. Even if I can only warm my hands against the mug while it's aroma wafts and fills my senses, I am satisfied. Sitting here for a few hours, I've had the opportunity to observe people give their orders. I find it interesting that everyone selects hot or cold coffee, no one desires a lukewarm beverage and if given one they will promptly send it back. Because it is mediocre.

 

Like coffee, people are one extreme or another. We never strive to be plain.

We have been created with passionate hearts. God has given you a passion for Him. When we attempt to live and serve him merely half-heartedly we are a disgusting failure.

He desires us to serve Him with a smoldering love, not one which has grown cold.

"I know all the things you do; that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of  my mouth... I correct and discipline everyone I love, so be diligent and turn from your indifference." - Revelation 3:15-19

The Church of Laodicea had grown lazy. They were neither passionate nor rebellious. Sounds a lot like our culture today. Most people consider themselves as relatively good people, doing good things, doing just enough to get by. Get fired up for God! Church attendance, occasional worship, and watered down service will not be accepted by God as an obedient life.

Ask yourself this question, "Am I hot for God?"

The choice is yours, but there are only two options. Will you be hot or cold?

Because God will expel mediocrity from His kingdom, in the same way you throw away your lukewarm beverage.