It has been quite some time since I have blogged. A good long while. With that in mind, I decided to blog about...time.
Let me, first, take a small rabbit-trail. Last Sunday I woke up with unbearable pain in my stomach. I spent all day in bed keeled over in pain. That night I started feeling better and had high hopes of being able to go to school in the morning. 3am rolled around and I was jolted awake by the same pain consuming my tummy. I was so disappointed and immediately overcome by stress. Let me tell you why.
Pre-calculus is the devil. Now a close runner-up to this position is Chemistry. Both, are in my life this year and both are driving me to an early grave. I have final tests on both coming up. On top of the hours I spend trying to understand these evil subjects I also have another academic stress. At my school, the juniors and seniors choose controversial thesis statements at the end of the year and write and deliver 3000 word papers on them. My thesis was due today.
So as much as I would like to say that I didn't want to miss school because I love it so much...it was really because I had too much to do and couldn't aford to miss school.
I was panicing about missing one day and little did I know that my pain would not cease. After a doctor's appointment, getting my blood drawn, drinking a chalking watery substance that tasted like death 5 times, then a CT scan...we determined that I had to go into emergency surgery to have my appendix removed.
After surgery, I laid in the hospital bed in a drugged daze. The doctor came in to check on me and I asked him when I could return to school. He replied, "Do you have any big projects you need to get back to?" I quickly returned with a resounding, "YES!"
Nonetheless, I have been out of school all week.
The following were my thoughts as I laid in bed at home unable to accomplish any homework. "Great. This came at the worst time. I have Pre-calc homework, Chemistry homework, thesis work to do, and Kung Fu Panda 2 came out YESTERDAY and I still haven't seen it."
Lately I've noticed that sometimes things happen at what seems to be the wrong time. Nothing ever happens when I want it to and nothing ever goes exactly according to my plan.
I hate time.
I hate plans.
I hate it when time interferes with my plans.
The more I think about those statements, the more selfish I seem. Since when are my plans the most important thing? Why does everything have to revolve around my time? Who died and made me the center of everything?
Through these times when nothing seems to go my way, I have realized two things. First, God's timing is perfect. And second, my plan is not God's plan.
God knows what He is doing. He is the ultimate planner. He is the author and creator of all of creation. The entire plan of redemption is in His hands. Knowing that, why would I not trust in His timing? Why would I not trust in His perfect plan?
With God, all thngs will work out. He is in control and He holds everything together.
So even though I have to make up a little bit of homework and I didn't see the sequal to one of the best Pixar movies ever made exactly when I wanted to, I will still get it all done by the grace of God. I will get it done not in my timing, not in my plan, and not by my own power, but in His perfect timing, in His incredible plan, and by His never-ending power and grace in my life.
Thank you, Jesus, that it is not all left up to me. Thank you for planning my life before I was born and timing out every moment flawlessly before it happens.
Your timing is perfect.
My plan is not Your plan.
But they do not know
the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
-Micah 4:12
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Death
The other day in my Doctrine class, a kid asked our teacher if he was afraid to die. Without hesitation he said, "No. Well actualy I take that back. Am I afraid to die? Maybe a little. Am I afraid of death? Absolutely not."
Death is a strange topic. Everybody has to go through it. There is no way around it. It's a strange thing to think about. It's hard to comprehend. And frankly, I don't really want to think about, let alone comprehend it. Most people don't. Which is why, the topic gets avoided all too often.
Death.
Words that come to my mind when I think of death:
Eery.
Creepy.
Scary.
Halloween.
Pain.
Sorrow.
Hell.
Why is that? Why do such dark, horrible thoughts come to my mind? Maybe it's because dying is not a very friendly thought. Not many people are excited to go through the process of dying.
Personally, I have probably the lowest pain tolerance of anyone you know. Literally. I could drop a paperclip on my toe and I would flinch. I don't take pain well. So, am I afraid to die? HECK YES I AM! I just hope that I die in my sleep of old age.
But when you think about it, dying and death are two very different things. Everyone is afraid of dying whether they want to admit it or not. But death? Death doesn't have to be a frightening thing.
Have you ever heard people use this "evangelism" technique?: Walk up to a non-believer and say, "Hey do you know where you're going when you die?" And when they say no fire back with, "Well I do, and if you don't believe in God then it's not gonna be a pretty place!" In my opinion that is not a great way to share the gospel.
HOWEVER, as Christians, sometimes we need to be asked that question. Do you know where you're going after you die? What's gonna happen to you after death? Where will you spend eternity?
Are you ready to die? Have you lived your life to the fullest? And I don't mean, "Have you gone skydiving at least 3 times and completed everything on your bucket list?" I mean, "Have you served, honored, and glorified God to the best of your ability in everything? Have you been on mission for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you been a shining light for Jesus? Have you made an impact on this world through your love for God and His love for you?"
These are hard questions to answer. But think about it. If you died tomorrow would you hear God say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant." ? Or would He say, "Depart from me, I do not know you." ?
We need to be in a place in our walk with God, where we can say without a shadow of a doubt, in full confidence that we are not afraid of death because we will spend eternity in paradise with our Father in Heaven.
We need to live our Christian lives like we will die tomorrow.
We need to serve God in all we do.
Death is not an eery thing. It's not scary or creepy. As long as our lives have been committed to our Savior.
It's a hard thing to grasp. It's hard to think about it. It's not always easy or fun to think about. But today, I am resolving to have the mindset of my Doctrine teacher. Am I afraid to die? Maybe a little. Am I afraid of death? Absolutely not.
"Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."
Philippians 1:21-26
Death is a strange topic. Everybody has to go through it. There is no way around it. It's a strange thing to think about. It's hard to comprehend. And frankly, I don't really want to think about, let alone comprehend it. Most people don't. Which is why, the topic gets avoided all too often.
Death.
Words that come to my mind when I think of death:
Eery.
Creepy.
Scary.
Halloween.
Pain.
Sorrow.
Hell.
Why is that? Why do such dark, horrible thoughts come to my mind? Maybe it's because dying is not a very friendly thought. Not many people are excited to go through the process of dying.
Personally, I have probably the lowest pain tolerance of anyone you know. Literally. I could drop a paperclip on my toe and I would flinch. I don't take pain well. So, am I afraid to die? HECK YES I AM! I just hope that I die in my sleep of old age.
But when you think about it, dying and death are two very different things. Everyone is afraid of dying whether they want to admit it or not. But death? Death doesn't have to be a frightening thing.
Have you ever heard people use this "evangelism" technique?: Walk up to a non-believer and say, "Hey do you know where you're going when you die?" And when they say no fire back with, "Well I do, and if you don't believe in God then it's not gonna be a pretty place!" In my opinion that is not a great way to share the gospel.
HOWEVER, as Christians, sometimes we need to be asked that question. Do you know where you're going after you die? What's gonna happen to you after death? Where will you spend eternity?
Are you ready to die? Have you lived your life to the fullest? And I don't mean, "Have you gone skydiving at least 3 times and completed everything on your bucket list?" I mean, "Have you served, honored, and glorified God to the best of your ability in everything? Have you been on mission for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you been a shining light for Jesus? Have you made an impact on this world through your love for God and His love for you?"
These are hard questions to answer. But think about it. If you died tomorrow would you hear God say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant." ? Or would He say, "Depart from me, I do not know you." ?
We need to be in a place in our walk with God, where we can say without a shadow of a doubt, in full confidence that we are not afraid of death because we will spend eternity in paradise with our Father in Heaven.
We need to live our Christian lives like we will die tomorrow.
We need to serve God in all we do.
Death is not an eery thing. It's not scary or creepy. As long as our lives have been committed to our Savior.
It's a hard thing to grasp. It's hard to think about it. It's not always easy or fun to think about. But today, I am resolving to have the mindset of my Doctrine teacher. Am I afraid to die? Maybe a little. Am I afraid of death? Absolutely not.
"Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."
Philippians 1:21-26
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Today
I saw a commercial the other day advertizing...well, to be honest, I don't remember what it was advertizing. But I do remember what it was about.
There was a phrase in it that really caught my attention: "What if we celebrated every new day like we do the new year?" Then it showed several people at a variety of different dates and places throwing confetti and blowing noise makers when the clock stroked midnight.
Apparently the point of this commercial didn't mean much to me or I would remember what it actually was. But the part that I do remember was very striking to me.
What if we toasted with champaign, gave a new day's kiss, blew noise makers, and screamed "Happy New Day!" every night? What if we threw major parties every night just to bring in the new day? What if we got excited for every new day, not knowing for sure what it would hold? What if instead of new year's resolutions, we made new day's resolutions? What if we treated every new day like it was a gift?
What if every new day IS a gift?
You know that feeling of "December 31st is here again. Time to bring in the new year by limiting my facebook time and losing 25 pounds by March."
What if we changed that feeling to "Tomorrow is a new day. I'm going to celebrate by giving God the glory, thanking him for His grace, and resolving to read my Bible today."?
Bringing in the new year is, I think, one of the most fun traditions that our society has. This year we hosted a party at my house, played ping pong, ate more food than our stomachs could handle, and when midnight rolled around we blew noise makers and screamed at the top of our lungs for a solid 6 minutes. If that is not an awesome tradition, than I don't know what is.
New Year's is fun, but so often we forget about New Day's.
We forget that every day is a gift.
We forget that we do not deserve to be living on this earth in luxury.
We forget that God has gifted each and every day to us out of His loving kindness, grace, and mercy.
I'm not saying that we need to stay up until twelve every night and scream for 6 minutes straight, but I am saying that we should not take our lives for granted. We should not merely go through the motions of day-to-day life and not even stop to smell the roses. Not even stop to have some fun. Not even stop to pray. To thank God for what He has done for and given us. To thank Him for today. Not even stop to feel the all-comsuming love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Not even stop to acknowlege Him.
So as you bring in the New Year and set impossible goals for yourself, remember to also, bring in the New Day and set more achievable ones for today.
Trust in the Lord always. He know what today holds. He knows what 2011 holds.
"We don't know what 2011 holds.
But we know Who holds 2011."
-Josh McPherson
"I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
-Matthew West
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
-Lamentations 3:22,23
There was a phrase in it that really caught my attention: "What if we celebrated every new day like we do the new year?" Then it showed several people at a variety of different dates and places throwing confetti and blowing noise makers when the clock stroked midnight.
Apparently the point of this commercial didn't mean much to me or I would remember what it actually was. But the part that I do remember was very striking to me.
What if we toasted with champaign, gave a new day's kiss, blew noise makers, and screamed "Happy New Day!" every night? What if we threw major parties every night just to bring in the new day? What if we got excited for every new day, not knowing for sure what it would hold? What if instead of new year's resolutions, we made new day's resolutions? What if we treated every new day like it was a gift?
What if every new day IS a gift?
You know that feeling of "December 31st is here again. Time to bring in the new year by limiting my facebook time and losing 25 pounds by March."
What if we changed that feeling to "Tomorrow is a new day. I'm going to celebrate by giving God the glory, thanking him for His grace, and resolving to read my Bible today."?
Bringing in the new year is, I think, one of the most fun traditions that our society has. This year we hosted a party at my house, played ping pong, ate more food than our stomachs could handle, and when midnight rolled around we blew noise makers and screamed at the top of our lungs for a solid 6 minutes. If that is not an awesome tradition, than I don't know what is.
New Year's is fun, but so often we forget about New Day's.
We forget that every day is a gift.
We forget that we do not deserve to be living on this earth in luxury.
We forget that God has gifted each and every day to us out of His loving kindness, grace, and mercy.
I'm not saying that we need to stay up until twelve every night and scream for 6 minutes straight, but I am saying that we should not take our lives for granted. We should not merely go through the motions of day-to-day life and not even stop to smell the roses. Not even stop to have some fun. Not even stop to pray. To thank God for what He has done for and given us. To thank Him for today. Not even stop to feel the all-comsuming love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Not even stop to acknowlege Him.
So as you bring in the New Year and set impossible goals for yourself, remember to also, bring in the New Day and set more achievable ones for today.
Trust in the Lord always. He know what today holds. He knows what 2011 holds.
"We don't know what 2011 holds.
But we know Who holds 2011."
-Josh McPherson
"I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
-Matthew West
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
-Lamentations 3:22,23
Thursday, November 18, 2010
This year I am thankful for...
My family is better than your family.
Wait, let me back up.
Remember when you were a kid in elementry school and every thanksgiving your teacher would make you write a paragraph explaining what you were thankful for? I don't know about you, but every year I wrote the same things. "I am thankful for my friends and family, a roof over my head, food to eat, and water to drink." I felt so profound. So now that I am not in elementry school and I am not required to write a paragraph on what I'm thankful for...I think I'll just blog about it.
It may sound cliche, but out of everything that I can think of, I am most thankful for my family.
So where was I? Oh yes. My family is better than your family. I hate to break it to you, but no family can top mine. I down right love them.
The first thing you need to know about my immediate family is that we are about as traditional as it gets. We have SO many traditions and we stick to them every single year, without fail.
The first and probably the most important tradition we have is lefsa. You may be asking yourself, "Lefsa? What the heck is that?" Well, you are not alone. Most people have no idea what it is. Well, it's a norweigian pastry that looks like, but tastes nothing like a tortilla. There are many ways to eat it, but my family likes to butter it, roll turkey in it, and dip it in gravy.
Why is this such a big deal, you ask? Well, let me tell you. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving week, we make the lefsa. It is not a simple task, mind you. With christmas music blaring, mom rolls all the little flour-y, potatoe-y, balls of dough. Then the fun begins. We roll out the dough and fry them. We work in an assembly line and we have it down to a science but by the end we are literally swimming in a sea of flour.
Every Thanksgiving morning, we wake up and my mom has fresh cinnamon rolls waiting for us. We all grab our breakfast and settle into our big, green, sectional couch and watch the Macy's Day Parade. After it's over (or we are sufficiently bored) we pile in the mimi van and head to the Turkey Bowl and utterly dominate in some football with our church family. When noon roles around, my sister and I help mom in the kitchen and Kyle and dad watch more footlball. (I will never understand what it is about that sport that fascinates the male species so much.) Soon all the fam starts showing up. My mom's twim sister, all of her family, and all the grandparents, plus a few extras here and there come through our door bearing green bean cassaroll and the ultimate dessert, 7-up salad.
Feast time. 300+ pieces of lefsa, tukey, light meat, dark meat, gravy, a multitude of rolls, enough mashed potatoes to feed all of Wenatchee, green bean cassaroll, stuffing, cranberry sauce, 7-up salad, every kind of cookie or bakable item imaginable and of course lots and lots and LOTS of pie.
After this we all go find a quiet spot in the house and do what we call "getting horizontal" to let the food settle in.
The second thing that you need to know about my family is that we are probably more competetive then anyone you know. Ever. Period. End of discussion. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. Literally everything is made into some kind of competition. It's the best.
So let the competition begin. We start out with a little game of catch phrase. Which then turns into two games of catch phrase. Then three and then four. And normally we'll wrap it up with "the championship of the universe" round and, let me tell you, this is no laughing matter. It's serious buisness.
After we have laughed until it hurts, and screamed until we have no voices left, we compete just a little more. Chase the Ace. I will not even take the time to describe this game but it is quite simple. But even more competetive than catch phrase and an absolute blast! Complete with table slapping, ear-piercing singing, and of course the musical stylings of The Big Guy aka gramps.
We finish the day by kicking off the christmas season and we watch the best christmas movie known to man: It's a Wonderful Life. I have legitimately seen that movie every year since I was born and it never gets old.
My family is the cream of the crop. The bee's knees. The cat's pajamas. The crock's socks. They are...to put it simply...awesome.
So this year, I am thankful for my family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wait, let me back up.
Remember when you were a kid in elementry school and every thanksgiving your teacher would make you write a paragraph explaining what you were thankful for? I don't know about you, but every year I wrote the same things. "I am thankful for my friends and family, a roof over my head, food to eat, and water to drink." I felt so profound. So now that I am not in elementry school and I am not required to write a paragraph on what I'm thankful for...I think I'll just blog about it.
It may sound cliche, but out of everything that I can think of, I am most thankful for my family.
So where was I? Oh yes. My family is better than your family. I hate to break it to you, but no family can top mine. I down right love them.
The first thing you need to know about my immediate family is that we are about as traditional as it gets. We have SO many traditions and we stick to them every single year, without fail.
The first and probably the most important tradition we have is lefsa. You may be asking yourself, "Lefsa? What the heck is that?" Well, you are not alone. Most people have no idea what it is. Well, it's a norweigian pastry that looks like, but tastes nothing like a tortilla. There are many ways to eat it, but my family likes to butter it, roll turkey in it, and dip it in gravy.
Why is this such a big deal, you ask? Well, let me tell you. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving week, we make the lefsa. It is not a simple task, mind you. With christmas music blaring, mom rolls all the little flour-y, potatoe-y, balls of dough. Then the fun begins. We roll out the dough and fry them. We work in an assembly line and we have it down to a science but by the end we are literally swimming in a sea of flour.
Every Thanksgiving morning, we wake up and my mom has fresh cinnamon rolls waiting for us. We all grab our breakfast and settle into our big, green, sectional couch and watch the Macy's Day Parade. After it's over (or we are sufficiently bored) we pile in the mimi van and head to the Turkey Bowl and utterly dominate in some football with our church family. When noon roles around, my sister and I help mom in the kitchen and Kyle and dad watch more footlball. (I will never understand what it is about that sport that fascinates the male species so much.) Soon all the fam starts showing up. My mom's twim sister, all of her family, and all the grandparents, plus a few extras here and there come through our door bearing green bean cassaroll and the ultimate dessert, 7-up salad.
Feast time. 300+ pieces of lefsa, tukey, light meat, dark meat, gravy, a multitude of rolls, enough mashed potatoes to feed all of Wenatchee, green bean cassaroll, stuffing, cranberry sauce, 7-up salad, every kind of cookie or bakable item imaginable and of course lots and lots and LOTS of pie.
After this we all go find a quiet spot in the house and do what we call "getting horizontal" to let the food settle in.
The second thing that you need to know about my family is that we are probably more competetive then anyone you know. Ever. Period. End of discussion. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. Literally everything is made into some kind of competition. It's the best.
So let the competition begin. We start out with a little game of catch phrase. Which then turns into two games of catch phrase. Then three and then four. And normally we'll wrap it up with "the championship of the universe" round and, let me tell you, this is no laughing matter. It's serious buisness.
After we have laughed until it hurts, and screamed until we have no voices left, we compete just a little more. Chase the Ace. I will not even take the time to describe this game but it is quite simple. But even more competetive than catch phrase and an absolute blast! Complete with table slapping, ear-piercing singing, and of course the musical stylings of The Big Guy aka gramps.
We finish the day by kicking off the christmas season and we watch the best christmas movie known to man: It's a Wonderful Life. I have legitimately seen that movie every year since I was born and it never gets old.
My family is the cream of the crop. The bee's knees. The cat's pajamas. The crock's socks. They are...to put it simply...awesome.
So this year, I am thankful for my family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Onward and Upward
The past month has not been an easy one. I do my very best to hide from the ghastly evil called "drama", but somehow, it always finds me. I guess that's high school for you.
Sometimes in life, things happen. Things that you don't want to happen. Things that you don't understand. Things that litteraly don't make sense. Things that make life hard. Things that just plain suck.
I have found that these "things" are hard to get around. In fact, you can't get around them. It's impossible.
Let me just pause for a moment before I continue this post. I am beginning to realize that basically everytime I blog, it has something to do with trusting in God. I try to be creative and come up with new topics, but for some reason I keep coming back to trust. Maybe because it's something I have been struggling with. maybe because I desperately need God's help in my life. Maybe because it's so important. Maybe because it's INCREDIBLY important. Maybe because it is a blatant sin to not trust God. Which leads me to my next point...
When these "things" come up in life, there are two things we can do. First and foremost, we MUST trust God. We must give everything to Him; the good things and the bad things, in the good times and in the bad times. He is our rock and comforter. The only real peace that we can find is through Him.
Now practically speaking, the second thing to do when drama arises is to simply (or not so simply) move on.
Move on?
Move on. Hmm, only one thing comes to mind...easier said than done.
It might be difficult, but when you really think about it, that's what you gotta do. I have found that the less attention I give to drama, the less often it finds me. However, that doesn't make the daunting task of moving on any easier. But there is one thing that makes it easier. There is one way to accomplish it...you guessed it...Trust. In. Jesus.
So after the drama and hard "things" in my life in this past month, I have decided to completely and fully give it over to God, let Him handle it, and move on.
Tomorrow is a new day filled with new blessings from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I am moving on. Onward and upward.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22, 23
Sometimes in life, things happen. Things that you don't want to happen. Things that you don't understand. Things that litteraly don't make sense. Things that make life hard. Things that just plain suck.
I have found that these "things" are hard to get around. In fact, you can't get around them. It's impossible.
Let me just pause for a moment before I continue this post. I am beginning to realize that basically everytime I blog, it has something to do with trusting in God. I try to be creative and come up with new topics, but for some reason I keep coming back to trust. Maybe because it's something I have been struggling with. maybe because I desperately need God's help in my life. Maybe because it's so important. Maybe because it's INCREDIBLY important. Maybe because it is a blatant sin to not trust God. Which leads me to my next point...
When these "things" come up in life, there are two things we can do. First and foremost, we MUST trust God. We must give everything to Him; the good things and the bad things, in the good times and in the bad times. He is our rock and comforter. The only real peace that we can find is through Him.
Now practically speaking, the second thing to do when drama arises is to simply (or not so simply) move on.
Move on?
Move on. Hmm, only one thing comes to mind...easier said than done.
It might be difficult, but when you really think about it, that's what you gotta do. I have found that the less attention I give to drama, the less often it finds me. However, that doesn't make the daunting task of moving on any easier. But there is one thing that makes it easier. There is one way to accomplish it...you guessed it...Trust. In. Jesus.
So after the drama and hard "things" in my life in this past month, I have decided to completely and fully give it over to God, let Him handle it, and move on.
Tomorrow is a new day filled with new blessings from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I am moving on. Onward and upward.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22, 23
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Trials
Trials.
We all go through them on a regular basis. Some are small; others are not so small. Some are easy to get through and move on; others...well...not so much. Sometimes trials are as little as failing a test or getting a speeding ticket; but other times they are on a much larger scale. They could be things like losing a loved one or getting emotionaly hurt. They come in all shapes and sizes but whether we like it or not, they are impossible to get around.
If you are a girl or anything like me, when a trial comes around...you over-think and completely analyze the entire situation. I tend to pick apart every little detail and replay everything in my head. I dissect it all and attempt to figure it all out myself. Then after I have sufficiently evaluated and considered everything possible to evaluate or consider, I go vent to my friends and talk their ears off for as long as I feel so inclined.
Hmmm, as I went back and re-read that last paragraph I realized that it sounds unbelievably silly because honestly, analyzing the situation...never helps. In fact, sometimes it makes the trial harder to get through. It makes it hurt worse.
God is sovereign.
God is all-powerful.
God is in control.
God is good.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
So...
Why the heck am I so inclined to think everything over by myself?
Why don't I immediately go to the One who can actually help?
Why don't I pray right away?
Answer: Well that would be because I am a self-righteous sinner.
Even though I fail everytime when I lean on my own strength, I don't seem to learn. Why? Because, I am arrogant. Prideful. Selfish.
I need to learn that when I am weak, Christ is strong. I can lean on His strength. In fact, He WANTS me to lean on Him.
Trials are hard. But we can get through them. Not on our own, but through the power and help of Jesus Christ. In Him we can find peace, comfort, and strength. In Him we can find joy, happiness, and love. In Him we can find grace, mercy, and truth. Through Him we can get through our trials...whether they are small or big...He is there. He will help.
Jesus, grant me the humility to lean on You through trials. Grant me the strength to get through them.
"When the storm is raging all around me
You are the peace that calms my troubled sea
And when the cares of this world darken my day
You are the light that shines and shows me the way" -Beautiful Lord, Leeland
We all go through them on a regular basis. Some are small; others are not so small. Some are easy to get through and move on; others...well...not so much. Sometimes trials are as little as failing a test or getting a speeding ticket; but other times they are on a much larger scale. They could be things like losing a loved one or getting emotionaly hurt. They come in all shapes and sizes but whether we like it or not, they are impossible to get around.
If you are a girl or anything like me, when a trial comes around...you over-think and completely analyze the entire situation. I tend to pick apart every little detail and replay everything in my head. I dissect it all and attempt to figure it all out myself. Then after I have sufficiently evaluated and considered everything possible to evaluate or consider, I go vent to my friends and talk their ears off for as long as I feel so inclined.
Hmmm, as I went back and re-read that last paragraph I realized that it sounds unbelievably silly because honestly, analyzing the situation...never helps. In fact, sometimes it makes the trial harder to get through. It makes it hurt worse.
God is sovereign.
God is all-powerful.
God is in control.
God is good.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
So...
Why the heck am I so inclined to think everything over by myself?
Why don't I immediately go to the One who can actually help?
Why don't I pray right away?
Answer: Well that would be because I am a self-righteous sinner.
Even though I fail everytime when I lean on my own strength, I don't seem to learn. Why? Because, I am arrogant. Prideful. Selfish.
I need to learn that when I am weak, Christ is strong. I can lean on His strength. In fact, He WANTS me to lean on Him.
Trials are hard. But we can get through them. Not on our own, but through the power and help of Jesus Christ. In Him we can find peace, comfort, and strength. In Him we can find joy, happiness, and love. In Him we can find grace, mercy, and truth. Through Him we can get through our trials...whether they are small or big...He is there. He will help.
Jesus, grant me the humility to lean on You through trials. Grant me the strength to get through them.
"When the storm is raging all around me
You are the peace that calms my troubled sea
And when the cares of this world darken my day
You are the light that shines and shows me the way" -Beautiful Lord, Leeland
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sovereign God
Trust.
What does it really mean?
Dictionary.com--"reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence."
Sovereign.
Dictionary.com--"being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc."
What the heck do these words have to do with eachother, you ask? Good question.
Well let's think about it for a second...if someone was truly above all others in character, importance, and excellence then wouldn't you rely on that person's integrity, ability, and strengh assuming they were a just person? I would.
Seems simple, right?
Now let's say that not only do you have to trust that person with some things, but ALL things. You trust that person with your entire life. You give them control and let them run everything. No exceptions.
Seems a little harder now, huh?
Well this is what I have been struggling with. As christians we are called to surrender our lives to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to trust Him with everything. We need to give Him all control because when it comes down to it...He's in control of everything anyway. Take it from me, this is not an easy task. But why is that? Shouldn't it be easy? We know from the Word of God, that He is in control. He's got it all covered. He is Sovereign. All-powerful. All-knowing. Everlasting. Faithful. Loving. Forgiving. Just. Wrathful. Merciful. Wonderful. Perfect. Shouldn't it be easy to trust someone as awesome as Him? It should be.
Sin.
Dictionary.com--"any act regarded as such a transgression, esp. a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle."
Selfish.
Dictionary.com--"devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others."
Pride.
Dictionary.com--"a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc" (In other words, the root of all sin.)
We are sinners. We are selfish. We are proud.
Because of our sinful, selfish, proud nature, we find it difficult to completely give over our lives to Christ. We think that we can handle everything on our own. We think that we are so amazing that it will be no big deal. When it's all laid out like that...we are really stupid people. Everytime, however, we fail on our own. We need His control in our life. We need to trust His sovereignty to survive. If we have the option to let God sit in the driver seat of our lives than why would we even want to drive?
God is continuing to show me in many ways that there is no way I will make it without Him. I always trust Him for awhile and then fall away again. But the great thing is that God is faithful and he constantly brings me back to Him and reminds me that I MUST trust Him.
We are weak and powerless. God is sovereign.
"13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen." I Timothy 6:13-16 ESV
What does it really mean?
Dictionary.com--"reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence."
Sovereign.
Dictionary.com--"being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc."
What the heck do these words have to do with eachother, you ask? Good question.
Well let's think about it for a second...if someone was truly above all others in character, importance, and excellence then wouldn't you rely on that person's integrity, ability, and strengh assuming they were a just person? I would.
Seems simple, right?
Now let's say that not only do you have to trust that person with some things, but ALL things. You trust that person with your entire life. You give them control and let them run everything. No exceptions.
Seems a little harder now, huh?
Well this is what I have been struggling with. As christians we are called to surrender our lives to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to trust Him with everything. We need to give Him all control because when it comes down to it...He's in control of everything anyway. Take it from me, this is not an easy task. But why is that? Shouldn't it be easy? We know from the Word of God, that He is in control. He's got it all covered. He is Sovereign. All-powerful. All-knowing. Everlasting. Faithful. Loving. Forgiving. Just. Wrathful. Merciful. Wonderful. Perfect. Shouldn't it be easy to trust someone as awesome as Him? It should be.
Sin.
Dictionary.com--"any act regarded as such a transgression, esp. a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle."
Selfish.
Dictionary.com--"devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others."
Pride.
Dictionary.com--"a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc" (In other words, the root of all sin.)
We are sinners. We are selfish. We are proud.
Because of our sinful, selfish, proud nature, we find it difficult to completely give over our lives to Christ. We think that we can handle everything on our own. We think that we are so amazing that it will be no big deal. When it's all laid out like that...we are really stupid people. Everytime, however, we fail on our own. We need His control in our life. We need to trust His sovereignty to survive. If we have the option to let God sit in the driver seat of our lives than why would we even want to drive?
God is continuing to show me in many ways that there is no way I will make it without Him. I always trust Him for awhile and then fall away again. But the great thing is that God is faithful and he constantly brings me back to Him and reminds me that I MUST trust Him.
We are weak and powerless. God is sovereign.
"13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen." I Timothy 6:13-16 ESV
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