I have to admit that I am tired. Very tired.
Working so much and spending so much time in the car is definitely taking its toll on me. Add to that the nearly non-existent time I have with Andy and the emotionally draining work that I do and at the end of the day I could just be bitter and worn out.
But I'm not. I'm tired, but I'm not dead.
I am blessed beyond belief and am so extremely thankful for the provision, the love, and the mercy that God gives me every single day of my life.
This weekend we had a youth retreat and I had to drive A LOT to pick up my kids and take them to this retreat. Truth be told its been quite exhausting.
As I was driving down to Warner Robins to pick them up on Friday I was reminded of a time when I was a kid sitting in the back of the van excited about a trip to youth councils. I was reflecting about how much I was loved and cared for and about how much fun I had learning about God with other kids my age. Someone spent many hours in a van taking me to and from several youth councils.
Now I am that person and I am thankful for the privilege I have to do it for other young people. My prayer is that these experiences will transform their lives like it did for me.
God continues to amaze me and bless me. Thank you, God, that you have chosen me to do your work!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"Save-the-world-itis"
Georgia has so many strip clubs is really angers me. There are so many interstates running through Atlanta...so many truckers...so many desperate people. People are spiritually hungry. I really believe that we as the church aren't doing our job in "feeding" them because we aren't spiritually feeding ourselves...
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
It's just disgusting.
I met a stripper. She gets paid $7,000 a night to do her thing at the AFB here in town. Her husband is her manager. She wants to have another child, but can't do that until she finds a new job. The problem is that there is nothing else that will pay her even close to what she makes now with the "good" hours and she has no other training or skills.
This girl is young, beautiful and has tons of questions about God. She seems to be angry at Him for a very sad situation in her past, but she knows He's there and she keeps the questions coming. She's really keeping me on my toes. I love it and I love her.
The conversations I have had with her and will continue to have with her remind me that what I am exactly where God needs me to be. I am anxious to talk to her and we never have enough time to talk about everything.
In my neighborhood in Atlanta there are three strip clubs within walking distance. We went on a prayer walk last Friday night. As I was praying out loud the bouncers began to laugh as us which only made me pray louder. They eventually got quiet...they became silent. The ground in front of the strip club became Holy ground.
My brother Mike has said that I have "save-the-world-itis" and I do. I want to save everyone. I want to take the strippers and prostitutes off the streets and put them into a salvation factory. Same with the drug addicts, the homeless, and everyone else that society has forgotten, chooses to ignore, doesn't see, or won't commit sufficient funding or intelligence to to fix the sick problems of our society.
LORD, help me to be faithful and to love how you love.
Kids say the darndest things
There's a family of children that another adult and I take home each week. We sometimes stop by a pond on the way home to throw some old bread in to the ducks and geese. These are the kind of kids whose mom is never wondering where they are when they're 30 minutes later than usual getting home.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
We stopped by the pond recently and the kids were throwing bread in the water and we were all chatting and singing camp songs when one of the little girls asked, "is that grease in the water?" The other adult with me (Ms. Vickie) explained that it's either algae, pollen or a combination of both. The young girl seemed satisfied.
A few minutes later we were all talking and the girl had a few more questions and then she became very confused with the answers since we were all talking at once and she asked, "how do you know the grease is Canadian?" and her sister said, "it's not Canadian grease....it's Canadian GEESE!" Her brother then chimed in and said, "they're not Canadian geese, they're Cuban geese." A bit puzzled Ms. Vickie looked at the child and said, "what makes you think those geese are Cuban geese?" The boy told her that he thought they were Cuban because they could swim!!!!!!!!! Once I collected myself I asked him about it and he said that he learned about it in school.
Wow.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Hidden blessings
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just didn't make logical sense at the time?
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
It's in these times that God reminds us that He made us in His image and that his promises are true. He is faithful and He will take care of us. God is in control.
As busy as I am I need to make sure that I take time for myself. It can be kind of difficult when I am driving two hours each way to work a few times a week and when I feel like I just can't catch my breath with the workload, let alone sleep a full night or make it to the gym.
But guess what? The work will still be there the next day.
I am going for a run in the morning before work and I am going to enjoy it. I am vowing to not think about everything that needs to be done during the day, but to just spend some time with God as I figure out a new route to run. I bought some new running shoes last week and I want to try them out.
I am counting it all joy. This is a hidden blessing.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Crazy Love
Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?
These are questions posed in the book by author Francis Chan. He sets up the premise that present day Christians are lukewarm. Revelation talks about what God thinks of lukewarm Christians (Rev 3)...
This book has been the best seller on the Christian Business Association's list for several months and for good reason. Crazy Love is a simple, yet profound read. The ideas posed by the author aren't really new ones, but need to be reinforced for our "Christian culture."
A few things in the book really caught my attention. In one section of the book Chan talks about the parable of the sower throwing the seed among the path and cautions us that we may not be good soil:
We, I, fill our lives with so much "stuff" that spending time with God becomes something we do, not something we live for. There are so many distractions and working full time in ministry is one of them for me. I want to be good soil and totally in love with Jesus. That truly is crazy love. The world cannot understand it but I want more of it!
These are questions posed in the book by author Francis Chan. He sets up the premise that present day Christians are lukewarm. Revelation talks about what God thinks of lukewarm Christians (Rev 3)...
This book has been the best seller on the Christian Business Association's list for several months and for good reason. Crazy Love is a simple, yet profound read. The ideas posed by the author aren't really new ones, but need to be reinforced for our "Christian culture."
A few things in the book really caught my attention. In one section of the book Chan talks about the parable of the sower throwing the seed among the path and cautions us that we may not be good soil:
I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.
Most of us have too much in our lives. As David Goetz writes, "Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually." A lot of things are good by thmeselves, but all of it together keeps us from living healthy, fruitful lives for God.
We, I, fill our lives with so much "stuff" that spending time with God becomes something we do, not something we live for. There are so many distractions and working full time in ministry is one of them for me. I want to be good soil and totally in love with Jesus. That truly is crazy love. The world cannot understand it but I want more of it!
Psalm 63 and praise
Psalm 63 is my favorite Psalm. I am going through a difficult time with work right now and this Psalm reminds me to focus on what is important. David wrote this Psalm while he was in the wilderness fleeing from Absalom.
There isn't a lot of time for much of anything after working extremely long days. The frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion are all taking its toll on me. I need to make my time with God a priority. My personal relationship with God will outlast these next three months.Despite the difficult time right now I am going to praise God because He alone is worthy. I know that He will bring us through this.
Psalm 63
There isn't a lot of time for much of anything after working extremely long days. The frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion are all taking its toll on me. I need to make my time with God a priority. My personal relationship with God will outlast these next three months.Despite the difficult time right now I am going to praise God because He alone is worthy. I know that He will bring us through this.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld you power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I love,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches on the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and become food for the jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
God gave-unfailing love
If God is love and love is God, what is love?
Love is a lot of things.Any word, situation, experience we have to describe love is inadequate when compared to the awesome love of God. Our finite minds cannot comprehend it. Love is indescribable. At times we think we know, but we can't. God is love.
God loves us unconditionally and he wants to! God gave and still gives unfailing love.
We don't deserve it, we can't earn it. All we can do is attempt to live, do, be something in return that we can't fully comprehend.
If God gave us something that is unfailing, this love, it would help to understand it. The trouble is that the more we delve into what love is and the more we think we begin to understand it, the more we realize that we can't explain what it is outside fo the perfect love we have in Jesus. And even then we accept it, but do we truly understand it? If we did we would live different lives. We are limited to understanding how big, how great, how deep this love is for us. This love is impossible to grasp, yet is perfect in the simplicity of what it is. Ephesians 3:19 tells us that this love surpasses all knowledge as it is unknowable, but at the same time cannot be completely known.
1 John 4:8-10 tells us that to know God one must love. If one doesn't love one does not know God. But we don't really know what love is so how can we know God?
The scripture goes on to tell us that love is what God did for us--he gave his only (unique) Son. In this way we see love modeled for us. We can't fully grasp it, but we see it in action and can go and do likewise.
Love isn't something that we do for God. Love is what God did for us when he allowed Jesus to dies on the cross for our sins. Our response is the natural out flowing of this love from our spiritual soul to our material sole.
In order to know God one must love. If one does not love, one cannot know God. The Amplified Bible tells us that not only does one not know God if they don't love, but they never knew God. This shows us that this love is unconditional--it is continuous. Truly loving God isn't a phase in life, there isn't a gap during rebellious teenage years--it continues. Real love, true love never ends. It's big. It's worth living for, fighting for, and dying for. That's what Jesus did for us.
When do we "know" someone? When does a person for from being a stranger, to having recognition in your memory, to being an acquaintance, to being "known" by you? To love God isn't to have him as someone you recognize on the street every now and again or even to talk to him occasionally as an acquaintance. To know God is to have a relationship with Him. He who does not have an intimate, personal relationship with God does not love.
God made his love know (apparent) to us be sending Jesus to the earth to die for our sin. In his great love for us he became the atoning sacrifice for our sin. It's difficult to grasp--it seems quite inconceivable if it is done without love. But it wasn't. It was love and that makes all the difference in eternity.
Our sin keeps us from God--all sin does--the confessed din, the secret sin, the "justifiable" sin, the "deniable" sin...all of it keeps us from God, from knowing God and from loving God. Ephesians 2 tells us that we used to be separated from Christ as a result of our sin but that because of Christ's great love for us (vs 5) we have been made alive in Christ.
Is sin the opposite of love? Some say apathy is the opposite of love or hatred is the opposite of love. Elie Wiesel says indifference is its opposite. I think sin is its opposite. Sin separates us from God. Sin damages the intimate, personal relationship. Sin keeps us from knowing God and it damages the connection no matter how "small" we think it is--it still separates us. This is why we strive for a life of holiness.
The more we sin the less we love. Jesus, who was without sin was and is love. He modeled love for us.
We can't love and sin. To know God is to know this love, to depend on it, to rely on it, to live by it and in it, to exist in it.
God gave his unfailing love through His only Son so that we may live through him. We do this by living in love.
How we respond to this unfailing love is in knowing God. Knowing God cannot be kept to oneself. It must be shared, expressed, live and must be evident to all--not just to the people who look, think and smell like you--to all people. The song says "they'll know we are Christians by our love". John 15:9-17 gives us some instructions about how we are to love--just as the Father has loved us. Vs 17 then commands us to love one another.
Ephesians 2 tells us that we are made alive in Christ by this love and that we are to abide in it as it has been modeled for us (Jn 15:10). Our response is to allow this love to control us (2 Cor 5:14) and to love one another (Jn 13:35) as nothing can ever separate us from this love (Ro 8:35-39). This unfailing love surpasses all knowledge (Eph 3:19) and is poured out into our hearts (Ro 5:5).
Do you "know" God? Do you love? This love is the distinguishing mark of Christ's followers (Jn 13:35). Is it distinguishable in your life--in all areas of your life? God gave his unfailing love and this love compels (2 Cor 5:24)--drives us, pushes us, urges us, forces us--to love others. This unfailing love allows us to no longer live for ourselves, but to live for Him.
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