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.

Cookie Cutter Christianity

I love to bake. It's a type of therapy for me, a stress reliever of sorts. While my little brother and I decorated our annual batch of Christmas cookies, one phrase continued to pop into mind: "Cookie Cutter Christianity"

It has a negative connotation as believers over the years have gotten the rep of holding each other to standards that don't always have Biblical backing. We shouldn't feel pressured to act or appear a certain way just to fit into the Christian subculture. An example of this is Shia LaBeouf's recent conversion. When he accidentally let some expletives fly while giving his testimony, many Christians went so far as to question his salvation. We need to be patient and show grace to new believers as they grow in their faith. 

However, many seasoned Christians swing to the opposite extreme and cry "Cookie Cutter Christianity" in defense when confronted about their poor reflection of Christ.

Stop using it as a copout.

 We should resemble the God we claim to serve. Because while only God can judge, Matthew 12:33 reminds us that our actions reflect the condition of our heart. And if the Holy Spirit dwells within us, shouldn't God's hand be evidenced in our life? We shouldn't be spiritually stagnant, but should continue to grow and mature in our faith.

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit."

I am not saying that we all need to be identical, unvaried, perfect little cutouts of each other. Remember God has created us with different passions, talents, and desires. Remember not all of us are called to be pastors, missionaries, or leaders in the church. Some of us were meant to be bloggers, or farmers, or engineers, or teachers. Glorify God and serve His kingdom in the way He designed you to. What God desires is for us to seek to please Him in a brilliant display of gratitude. Shouldn't we want the world to be able to recognize us as being different, as being set apart? Shouldn't we want to be molded into the image of Christ?
 
Yes, Christianity can still be messy. 

And even though we may come out of the refining fires a little broken,  by grace we are still deemed beautiful in God's eyes.

"Never forget, you are my handmade creation, a one of a kind, and yes … you are "fearfully and wonderfully made." -Psalm 139:4