Dear Generation Y and Z,
I have a few concerns. Lectures are not my style, so I'll be skipping that. I only want to point out some things I've noticed recently. Also, my concerns are not complaints; we are in this together. You see, I see these generations doing incredible things: rising up to occasions, solving problems, promoting equality and justice, leading, adjusting. Congratulations! We are making the world our own, as we should. Although we are accomplishing so much, I also see some areas that we could improve on.
First area: grace. Where has our grace for our fellow mankind gone? Quick judgements and snide remarks flood our daily thinking like an explosive hurricane. It's as though we've forgotten the power that unity has to change the world.
Second area: humility. This is so important. No longer do we value and give worth to other's opinions or ideas; instead, we value how loud our own opinions and ideas are being projected to everyone else. It's similar to a shouting match. We have forgotten the beauty in conditioning ourselves to invite other's thoughts into our thinking. Pride is taking over.
Third area: our stance. If we're not standing for what we believe in, we allow what we don't believe in to tower over us. Too many times I see great individuals with great ideas cower in fear of standing. Eventually, the current sweeps them in they are tossed back and forth like waves, crashing back and forth between opinions and ideas that aren't even theirs. Those voices become lost, or drowned out.
Fourth area: individuality. Being yourself seems boring. With all the sparkling celebrities, small town popularity, and ideal lifestyles, it's very easy to conform. This seems to be a result of apathy. It's not easy being unique when other forces are telling you to model them. This is tragic.
And lastly: self-worth. Loss of self-worth is heart breaking. Insecurity comes in many forms and they aren't hiding themselves anymore. They are being blasted on the faces of so many people that some are barely recognizable. Hiding them behind makeup, false identities, attitudes, and veils is becoming increasingly difficult.
My point is, wake up. We are a force to be reckoned with. Our ideas contain truth. We have to stand together. Have grace with one another. We are all just trying to figure everything out. There's no set list of rules that come with existance. Listen to one another's opinions and value them. They hold tramendous weight. Sit back and practice being humble. It pays off. Take a stand on the things you believe to be true. Whether it be something as small as flavor preferences, or something as large as worldwide equality, dig your heels into the ground and stand by what you believe. Be unwavering forces in raging storms. We were made for this. Be yourself. Self-worth is one thing that you will never regret possessing. We mean something to this world. No individual on this earth is pointless. We do not have the right to consider ourselves anything less than significant. Be individuals. Embrace the fact that every day, you live and exist as no one else can, because you are you. Unique individual, stand up and rise to the occasion of loving yourself and others like no one else can.
I believe in us.
Sincerely,
Samantha Jane, Generation Y Blogger.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
"More Than Ever"
I don't know why evil exists. I don't know why suffering, hate, pain, or sadness continues to exist, day after day. I don't know why our world looks further from God every passing day. "Isn't there a God?"; I've read and heard this phrase too many times to count within the past two weeks. Empty questions plastered onto screens such as, "Where is God?", or "Why is God letting these things happen?", have given me insight into what the world around me is feeling: afraid. How can anyone blame these souls with such questions? Hatred, pain, sadness, insanity, evil: they're all occurring within the bubble we call home. Everyone around me is starting to feel the discomfort that is a result of a lost and dying world, and to be quite honest, I am afraid too.
As I was reading through social media some last week, I came across a prayer that a friend of mine had written. It was not eloquently worded, or even grammatically correct throughout most of it. But, it spoke to me in a way that it may not have been intended to. One line read, "God, we need you now, more than ever,". When my eyes first met this plea, it only registered as another cry to God on Facebook. Then, after moving on with my day a bit, a question hit me. I felt uncomfortable; my view of my friend's words turned from acceptance to, "Why do we need God now more than we did a year ago? Why do I need God more today than I did yesterday?".
Then, as I was lying in bed wrestling my fully awake mind with my exhausted body, I remembered Mark 4.
We are exactly like the disciples in the middle of a storm. Panic takes us over when things get chaotic. Our faith shrinks, our minds race...in short: we go nuts. Why? That's what human nature tells us to do: human instinct, fight or flight, [insert another psychology term here]...right?
The truth is, I need Jesus today the same as I did yesterday, the many years before, and I will need Him every day for the rest of my natural born life. Why? Because without Him. I am filled with the number one problem we face in the world: sin.
In Mark 4, Jesus shows why He is my hero. He does 3 things. One, He knows what the disciples need and He gives it to them. What an awesome and providing Father He is to them! They needed to be and feel safe. Two, he tells the winds and waves to be still. Although He's talking to the elements in this moment, I still hear Him speaking directly to the disciples and to me with those words: be still. Finally, three, He challenges the disciples hearts by asking, "Do you still have no faith?", not because He wants to humiliate them, or make them feel inadequate, but because He loves them and knows that they are capable of believing and being vessels of faith in a powerful and living God.
That is us! Up, down, left, and right, that is us.
Where is our faith? Where is my faith? Jesus gives us a spirit of boldness that allows us to do so much more than we can imagine. He even tells us we will do greater things than He did. Chew on that for a second. My 5"5 frame, 130 pound, silly, food loving self will do GREATER things than Jesus did on earth.
Yes, the world is going crazy! Yes, it will continue to get worse! Yes, we need Jesus now! BUT, we have always needed Him the same. So did the disciples.
I challenge you, in the middle of this storm we are suffering through, take heart. Know that Jesus did this thing called life and rocked it. He kicked it's butt and tells us that we can do the same (John 16:33). Have faith and know that men cannot do anything to your soul because that is in The Lord's control (Matthew 10:28). Call on Jesus daily and even when the storm seems to pass, call on Him harder (1 Chronicles 16:11). And finally, be still and know that God is who he says He is (Psalm 46:10).
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
As I was reading through social media some last week, I came across a prayer that a friend of mine had written. It was not eloquently worded, or even grammatically correct throughout most of it. But, it spoke to me in a way that it may not have been intended to. One line read, "God, we need you now, more than ever,". When my eyes first met this plea, it only registered as another cry to God on Facebook. Then, after moving on with my day a bit, a question hit me. I felt uncomfortable; my view of my friend's words turned from acceptance to, "Why do we need God now more than we did a year ago? Why do I need God more today than I did yesterday?".
Then, as I was lying in bed wrestling my fully awake mind with my exhausted body, I remembered Mark 4.
We are exactly like the disciples in the middle of a storm. Panic takes us over when things get chaotic. Our faith shrinks, our minds race...in short: we go nuts. Why? That's what human nature tells us to do: human instinct, fight or flight, [insert another psychology term here]...right?
The truth is, I need Jesus today the same as I did yesterday, the many years before, and I will need Him every day for the rest of my natural born life. Why? Because without Him. I am filled with the number one problem we face in the world: sin.
In Mark 4, Jesus shows why He is my hero. He does 3 things. One, He knows what the disciples need and He gives it to them. What an awesome and providing Father He is to them! They needed to be and feel safe. Two, he tells the winds and waves to be still. Although He's talking to the elements in this moment, I still hear Him speaking directly to the disciples and to me with those words: be still. Finally, three, He challenges the disciples hearts by asking, "Do you still have no faith?", not because He wants to humiliate them, or make them feel inadequate, but because He loves them and knows that they are capable of believing and being vessels of faith in a powerful and living God.
That is us! Up, down, left, and right, that is us.
Where is our faith? Where is my faith? Jesus gives us a spirit of boldness that allows us to do so much more than we can imagine. He even tells us we will do greater things than He did. Chew on that for a second. My 5"5 frame, 130 pound, silly, food loving self will do GREATER things than Jesus did on earth.
Yes, the world is going crazy! Yes, it will continue to get worse! Yes, we need Jesus now! BUT, we have always needed Him the same. So did the disciples.
I challenge you, in the middle of this storm we are suffering through, take heart. Know that Jesus did this thing called life and rocked it. He kicked it's butt and tells us that we can do the same (John 16:33). Have faith and know that men cannot do anything to your soul because that is in The Lord's control (Matthew 10:28). Call on Jesus daily and even when the storm seems to pass, call on Him harder (1 Chronicles 16:11). And finally, be still and know that God is who he says He is (Psalm 46:10).
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Monday, June 8, 2015
The Strangest Thing I've Ever Written
This may be the strangest thing I've ever shared. To those who know me, it's no surprise that I say and do strange things. But, today, I felt like being a little more peculiar than usual.
So, Saturday night, I had a dream. In the dream, I was jumping from dangerous situation to dangerous situation, over and over again. As if that wasn't enough, it was ME that was placing myself in these dangerous situations. I was being rebellious, taking risks, making dumb decisions...you name it, I was probably doing it. When I finally woke up, I felt exhausted. The dreams that exhaust me are the worst; waking up feeling like I never fell into a deep, much needed sleep aggravates me to no end.
As I rolled out of bed, slipped on some jeans and a t-shirt I found on my bedroom floor, washed my face and halfway brushed my tangled mass of hair, one part in the dream kept playing over and over again inside of my head. I remembered sitting in a house known for being a place to conjure spirits and palm reading.
*****Pause: here's where it gets kinda weird.
As I sat in this house, I was met by a woman dressed in ripped, 70's flare jeans; a fringed graphic t-shirt; and purple dreaded hair. I then proceeded to ask her to tell me what she could about my future. So, like any erratic and unusual hippie lady who tells young girls about their futures do, she pulled out the tarot cards. Weird yet? Absolutely. Even though this was my dream, I knew what I was getting myself into was wrong; so as she proceeded, I remember saying the same 3 phrases over and over again to myself as a protection method. The words I uttered to myself were: "God is bigger than this.", "He will protect me from any evil this may stir up.", and "His grace will cover me even though I'm sinning by being here and doing this.".
Now, people...how strange of a dream is that? I should consider what I eat before I go to bed.
But, even though it was crazy, Jesus chose to speak to me through it. After thinking about how God had become my safeguard in that crazy house, I realized something. I didn't just use Him as protection in my dream, I do that when I'm awake too.
In my daily life, I sin. I have no claims to perfection. A lot of times, I sin without thinking about it because some things I struggle with are so easy to just do without meditating on it beforehand (quickly becoming angry with something/someone, slander, being lazy about spending time with Jesus, etc.). But, there are times when I KNOW that what I'm contemplating doing is sinful. Just like in my dream, I find myself having the same thoughts: God is good, He will protect me from whatever consequences this sin may hold, and His grace will cover me.
How wrong is that? Very.
I am taking advantage of the grace, love and mercy that is given to me so freely. Why? Simply because I am sometimes selfish (there's another one to add to the list). Jesus didn't give me all that I have so that I could live without rules, consequences and boundaries. He gave me what he did so that I could live fully, in Him, where safety, rest, and adventure is found. It's so creative how God always decides to speak to me in the things that seem so far from Him.
So, after the conviction hit and the lesson set in, I felt new. Knowing that Jesus doesn't give up on me even when I use Him encourages me like nothing else. I know what to change now and what to watch out for, all because of a dream about tarot cards and being dangerous.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2
So, Saturday night, I had a dream. In the dream, I was jumping from dangerous situation to dangerous situation, over and over again. As if that wasn't enough, it was ME that was placing myself in these dangerous situations. I was being rebellious, taking risks, making dumb decisions...you name it, I was probably doing it. When I finally woke up, I felt exhausted. The dreams that exhaust me are the worst; waking up feeling like I never fell into a deep, much needed sleep aggravates me to no end.
As I rolled out of bed, slipped on some jeans and a t-shirt I found on my bedroom floor, washed my face and halfway brushed my tangled mass of hair, one part in the dream kept playing over and over again inside of my head. I remembered sitting in a house known for being a place to conjure spirits and palm reading.
*****Pause: here's where it gets kinda weird.
As I sat in this house, I was met by a woman dressed in ripped, 70's flare jeans; a fringed graphic t-shirt; and purple dreaded hair. I then proceeded to ask her to tell me what she could about my future. So, like any erratic and unusual hippie lady who tells young girls about their futures do, she pulled out the tarot cards. Weird yet? Absolutely. Even though this was my dream, I knew what I was getting myself into was wrong; so as she proceeded, I remember saying the same 3 phrases over and over again to myself as a protection method. The words I uttered to myself were: "God is bigger than this.", "He will protect me from any evil this may stir up.", and "His grace will cover me even though I'm sinning by being here and doing this.".
Now, people...how strange of a dream is that? I should consider what I eat before I go to bed.
But, even though it was crazy, Jesus chose to speak to me through it. After thinking about how God had become my safeguard in that crazy house, I realized something. I didn't just use Him as protection in my dream, I do that when I'm awake too.
In my daily life, I sin. I have no claims to perfection. A lot of times, I sin without thinking about it because some things I struggle with are so easy to just do without meditating on it beforehand (quickly becoming angry with something/someone, slander, being lazy about spending time with Jesus, etc.). But, there are times when I KNOW that what I'm contemplating doing is sinful. Just like in my dream, I find myself having the same thoughts: God is good, He will protect me from whatever consequences this sin may hold, and His grace will cover me.
How wrong is that? Very.
I am taking advantage of the grace, love and mercy that is given to me so freely. Why? Simply because I am sometimes selfish (there's another one to add to the list). Jesus didn't give me all that I have so that I could live without rules, consequences and boundaries. He gave me what he did so that I could live fully, in Him, where safety, rest, and adventure is found. It's so creative how God always decides to speak to me in the things that seem so far from Him.
So, after the conviction hit and the lesson set in, I felt new. Knowing that Jesus doesn't give up on me even when I use Him encourages me like nothing else. I know what to change now and what to watch out for, all because of a dream about tarot cards and being dangerous.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2
Friday, May 29, 2015
Simple Truths
Sometimes, I feel like Moses. I am not eloquent in my speech, I am not the epitome of confidence, I am not always the best at confrontation, and I tend to run from my problems. I spend so much time focusing on lacking that I completely miss that I experience huge peaks in my week straight from Jesus himself. Usually, I look for huge, exciting and emotional experiences during times of musical worship or reading my bible. But, today, I experienced a peak bigger than any worship service I've ever been to, any bible study I've done, and all that is in between. Today, I feel adequate and that is an incredible victory. Being completely vulnerable and honest, I struggle to feel my worth and to see my abilities.
During my reading today, I responded to an urge to write what I felt and what I heard in my heart. Sharing this is so exciting for me because it's so simple. It may seem elementary, but that's the beauty that I found within these words. Jesus is not complicated. His love is simple, His pursuit of me is constant, and his grace is sufficient.
This is what He reminded me of this morning:
When I am misunderstood, His love understands me. When I feel lost, His love finds me. When I am broken, His love puts me back together. When I am tired, His love carries me, When I am joyous, His love rejoices with me. When I am hurt, His love heals me. When I am alone, His love stays with me. When I can't speak, His love speaks truth for me. When I'm under attack, His love protects me. When I feel empty, His love fills me to overflow. When I am scared, His love comforts me. When I feel unsure of myself, His love is my identity. When I see no hope, His love becomes my vision. When I feel overwhelmed, His love lightens my burden.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
As I Am
We live in a world of image. Day after day we go on taking selfies, dressing a specific way to achieve a certain look, buying what's "in" and putting so much effort just into creating someone else's perception of us. For ladies especially, we may see another lady on Tumblr or Pinterest and think, "Gosh I wish I was her,". Confession time: we've all done it and will most likely do it again. But, have you ever wondered what these girls heart's contain? Have you ever considered what they like, or do not like, what they think about and do not think about? In my case, I can honestly say, no. No, I have never taken the time to consider these things. So, should I? Should we?
Recently, controversy has erupted concerning H&M and a jumpsuit. I won't get into the tiny details, but basically, H&M created a jumpsuit that many complained about, saying that it resembled the uniforms worn by Kurdish women fighting ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). Some said that the jumpsuit was "disrespectful" and that H&M "ought to be ashamed of themselves". Personally, I do not have much of an opinion on this. It's a neat jumpsuit and I will leave it at that. After, H&M apologized claiming that they never intended to offend anyone by creating the clothing. The color is trending and so are jumpsuits. But, how many people know that H&M in the past has allowed slavery to occur in their corporation around the world? Many do not and will not know that many of the jumpsuits, jackets, blouses and wedges made by our beloved H&M were once created by men, women and children suffering under poor work wages, sexual abuse, human trafficking and other unimaginable conditions.
On a different end of the spectrum, social media was recently in an uproar about the tan suit that the President wore in a press conference. Comments such as, "If everyone is in an uproar about Obama wearing a tan suit, just wait until he wears white after Labor Day," were made ridiculing the President about his wardrobe. To this day, I do not know what the speech was about and I guarantee that the other 1,000,000 young people who joined in on this re-enactment of Fashion Police do either.
Now, to my point.
In 1 Samuel 16, God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king. Samuel went and observed all of these men while he awaited for God to show him the one that he was supposed to anoint. Here's where Samuel shows that he was exactly like us. As soon as he arrived, he sees Eliab, Jesse's eldest son. Eliab must have been tall and handsome with leader-like qualities, because as soon as Samuel laid his eyes on him he said, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord," (1 Samuel 16:6). Wait, what? Samuel...a great man of the Bible judged someone based on their looks? Yes! He absolutely did! What a joy to know that God has given us scripture that is so relevant in our culture!
Then, God stepped in and turned Samuel's heart and focus back onto Him by saying, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart," (1 Samuel 16:7).
Samuel observed 7 other sons until finally Jesse called in his youngest son, David, who attended to sheep. The Lord then told Samuel, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one". Wow. What powerful words those are? David, a young boy who tended to sheep was chosen by the Creator of the universe, not because of his height, muscles or clothes, but because of his heart. David was "a man after God's own heart". Not after God's own clothes, hair or height- His heart.
We are living in an image driven world. Surface level is becoming the new deep. Controversy over jumpsuits and tan suits are given more attention than human suffering or words that are spoken to better our society.
God has given us a way to escape all of this. By following Him, we can choose to put off the ways of the world and to become men and women after God's own heart. As we grow in him, we become less and he becomes greater in us. The joy that this brings to my heart is overwhelming! I am not confined to look a certain way, talk a certain way or dress in any way that conforms to what someone else thinks I should be. When The Lord looks on my heart, I want to be confident in saying that he sees Jesus.
The world may SEE me how it wants, but Jesus KNOWS me as I am.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Woodstock 2014
As some of you may or may not have known, this past week, my youth group and I headed out to Dirty Myrtle for the second year in a row, to spread the good news of Jesus to all who would listen. We call this trip Woodstock (for no reason involving psychedelic drugs, sex or rock and roll, just in case you were wondering). I have decided to share what happened in my heart this week because I just cannot contain the joy that The Lord has revealed to me.
The week began with sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. The South Carolina heat hath no mercy on campers in tents at Ocean Lakes Campground. Then, came the rain. Lots, and lots, and lots, AND LOTS of rain. Tents were flooded, clothes were soaked, pizza was ruined and patience was definitely tested.
But, despite the tests, I could not have been more pleased with the way that our team held together it's strong and firm foundations as a group that overflowed with willingness to serve, love and encourage one another as well as the community around us. So, as we all stood under a broken canopy, holding up bent poles and duct taped edges, the Holy Spirit was definitely present and prominent in that moment.
This week, my heart was challenged. Going into the adventure that is Woodstock again, I was bursting with the excitement to pour out and see what wondrous works God was planning to perform in the people's lives I met this week. Experiencing Woodstock was a completely different story.
No, I do not have any stories of stirring salvations, nor do I have any radical stories of persecution to share with you. What I have though, changed my life and the way I intend to live it.
The convictions that The Lord sent my way were so strong and powerful. First, He convicted me of modesty. As I walked throughout the dusty campsite, then the freezing cold Coastal Grand mall, I noticed the lack of modesty in young women that looked to be my age and possibly even younger. I felt a certain emptiness seeing the girls seeming to have no shame or pride in keeping their bodies hidden from anyone and everyone who wanted to look. The lack of self respect and of Jesus had my heart in shambles for these young women. In these places, I heard Him speaking to me; softly whispering to me and gently urging me to examine my choice in clothing as a young woman who is following Jesus Christ. Does what I wear send off the correct message to the outside world that my body is a temple of the Living God? Secondly came the conviction of the media that I feed myself with. Listening to conversations within the group that I was with, I realized that feeding myself with Lana Del Rey's dramatic concept of relationships, Iggy Azalea's glorification of cash and sex, and many other artists that I have been so blindly supporting was in no way glorifying the God of the universe who created me to stand out from the world. Because of Jesus, I am set free from the chains of self idolization, sexual glorification and empty, loveless relationships. Because of Jesus I am urged to not camouflage myself in with the brokenness of this world.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This week, Jesus kept this verse on my heart and mind daily. On a week that was expected to be so full of pouring out and giving, the Holy Spirit radically changed areas of my heart with loving and pleading convictions.
The week began with sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. The South Carolina heat hath no mercy on campers in tents at Ocean Lakes Campground. Then, came the rain. Lots, and lots, and lots, AND LOTS of rain. Tents were flooded, clothes were soaked, pizza was ruined and patience was definitely tested.
But, despite the tests, I could not have been more pleased with the way that our team held together it's strong and firm foundations as a group that overflowed with willingness to serve, love and encourage one another as well as the community around us. So, as we all stood under a broken canopy, holding up bent poles and duct taped edges, the Holy Spirit was definitely present and prominent in that moment.
This week, my heart was challenged. Going into the adventure that is Woodstock again, I was bursting with the excitement to pour out and see what wondrous works God was planning to perform in the people's lives I met this week. Experiencing Woodstock was a completely different story.
No, I do not have any stories of stirring salvations, nor do I have any radical stories of persecution to share with you. What I have though, changed my life and the way I intend to live it.
The convictions that The Lord sent my way were so strong and powerful. First, He convicted me of modesty. As I walked throughout the dusty campsite, then the freezing cold Coastal Grand mall, I noticed the lack of modesty in young women that looked to be my age and possibly even younger. I felt a certain emptiness seeing the girls seeming to have no shame or pride in keeping their bodies hidden from anyone and everyone who wanted to look. The lack of self respect and of Jesus had my heart in shambles for these young women. In these places, I heard Him speaking to me; softly whispering to me and gently urging me to examine my choice in clothing as a young woman who is following Jesus Christ. Does what I wear send off the correct message to the outside world that my body is a temple of the Living God? Secondly came the conviction of the media that I feed myself with. Listening to conversations within the group that I was with, I realized that feeding myself with Lana Del Rey's dramatic concept of relationships, Iggy Azalea's glorification of cash and sex, and many other artists that I have been so blindly supporting was in no way glorifying the God of the universe who created me to stand out from the world. Because of Jesus, I am set free from the chains of self idolization, sexual glorification and empty, loveless relationships. Because of Jesus I am urged to not camouflage myself in with the brokenness of this world.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This week, Jesus kept this verse on my heart and mind daily. On a week that was expected to be so full of pouring out and giving, the Holy Spirit radically changed areas of my heart with loving and pleading convictions.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Unplugged
As Spring and Summer are fast approaching, the idea of adventure is bursting through the barriers of everyone's minds, making the wait practically unbearable. Where will you be this Spring Break? Munching on macaroons in Charleston? Perhaps sun soaking in Miami? Maybe you'll be relaxing with Chinese takeout and the boyfriend like me. Then comes Summer. What then? The beach? Mountains? Europe, even? Although, if you're not one for planning, like myself, you may just pick a place and go on a sunny Summer day and create your own adventure. Isn't that what we all love about adventures? The spontaneity of jumping in a car or airplane, traveling for hours on end until you finally reach the destination that you had no intention of reaching until you woke up that very morning- it's THRILLING! We all can agree that a good adventure is well worth the time, money and energy spent.
For some reason though, adventure is turning from an action, into more of a fantasy or dream. You've seen the quotes, reblogged the pictures, pinned the places, retweeted the tweets that spark that ever so famous word "wanderlust" in our hearts and imagination. But, what is the last adventure you went on? When is the last time you loaded up a car full of Vanilla Cokes, friends, sunblock, iPods and sleeping bags and hit the road, driving ceaselessly to a destination of unknown? Better yet, when is the last time you actually went on an adventure without hash tagging, checking in, tweeting, or Instagramming it? Have we really become so plugged into a world of followers, likes, retweets and knock off vintage photos that we can't take a day to do the daring? Recently on Pinterest, I saw a quote stating, "We can’t jump off bridges anymore because our iPhones will get ruined. We can’t take skinny dips in the ocean, because there’s no service on the beach and adventures aren’t real unless they’re on Instagram. Technology has doomed the spontaneity of adventure and we’re helping destroy it every time we Google, check-in, and hashtag.”
Now, ladies, I know that you have heard this speech 1,000,001 times. But trust me, I have a better point.
We all, whether we know it or not, have been called to go on the greatest adventure ever known to mankind. Seriously. This adventure that WE have been asked to take part in would make Finn and Jake jealous (sorry for the Adventure Time reference all my anti-cartoon network folks). This great, spectacular and jaw dropping adventure has been offered out to us freely and get this: we don't even have to pay for gas.
Jesus came into the world to recruit us for God's great adventure: to seek and save the lost. As Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son Of Man came to seek and save the lost." But wait, there's more! God actually wants to join you on this adventure! In Hebrews 13:5b, the Lord says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Just think of the great commission that He tells us about in Matthew 28! "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' ” To the ends of the earth? THAT right there sounds much more enticing than Charleston or Miami.
Recently, I found myself feeling empty. As I sat for weeks with these forsaken feelings in my heart, I wondered to myself what I was doing wrong. What in my heart was keeping me from my Jesus? Then, the Lord spoke to me clear as day and said, "Unplug,". What? What does that mean? All of a sudden, I realized that my heart, head and time were becoming consumed by Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook- you name it, I was probably on it. So, I UNPLUGGED! Without hesitation, I began to race through the settings of my phone and laptop, one by one disconnecting the things that have kept me so connected to the world and so disconnected from my Father. After everything was disconnected, uninstalled and unplugged, I sat back and felt the freedom of Jesus just completely wash over me.
Now, in no way am I saying, "Hey ladies! Uninstall all social media because Jesus wants us to unplug,". Even I, after some housecleaning in my heart, reinstalled Pinterest! NO! I am saying that in my situation, the adventure being portrayed by a washed out picture of high waist shorts, aviators, baggy t-shirts, converse and a Volkswagen bus that we all know nobody actually possesses, was blocking out the actual, real life adventure that The God of the universe is calling me on. No, God probably will not call me to wear a White Stripes t-shirt and roll out to Coachella over the summer or vacation in the keys, but what he has in store for me, and for you, is more precious and exhilarating than any adventure that the internet (or teenage girls on Tumblr with way too much time on their hands) could ever create.
It's a great feeling at the end of the day to say to myself, wow, I serve an impressively creative and adventurous God.
For some reason though, adventure is turning from an action, into more of a fantasy or dream. You've seen the quotes, reblogged the pictures, pinned the places, retweeted the tweets that spark that ever so famous word "wanderlust" in our hearts and imagination. But, what is the last adventure you went on? When is the last time you loaded up a car full of Vanilla Cokes, friends, sunblock, iPods and sleeping bags and hit the road, driving ceaselessly to a destination of unknown? Better yet, when is the last time you actually went on an adventure without hash tagging, checking in, tweeting, or Instagramming it? Have we really become so plugged into a world of followers, likes, retweets and knock off vintage photos that we can't take a day to do the daring? Recently on Pinterest, I saw a quote stating, "We can’t jump off bridges anymore because our iPhones will get ruined. We can’t take skinny dips in the ocean, because there’s no service on the beach and adventures aren’t real unless they’re on Instagram. Technology has doomed the spontaneity of adventure and we’re helping destroy it every time we Google, check-in, and hashtag.”
Now, ladies, I know that you have heard this speech 1,000,001 times. But trust me, I have a better point.
We all, whether we know it or not, have been called to go on the greatest adventure ever known to mankind. Seriously. This adventure that WE have been asked to take part in would make Finn and Jake jealous (sorry for the Adventure Time reference all my anti-cartoon network folks). This great, spectacular and jaw dropping adventure has been offered out to us freely and get this: we don't even have to pay for gas.
Jesus came into the world to recruit us for God's great adventure: to seek and save the lost. As Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son Of Man came to seek and save the lost." But wait, there's more! God actually wants to join you on this adventure! In Hebrews 13:5b, the Lord says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Just think of the great commission that He tells us about in Matthew 28! "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' ” To the ends of the earth? THAT right there sounds much more enticing than Charleston or Miami.
Recently, I found myself feeling empty. As I sat for weeks with these forsaken feelings in my heart, I wondered to myself what I was doing wrong. What in my heart was keeping me from my Jesus? Then, the Lord spoke to me clear as day and said, "Unplug,". What? What does that mean? All of a sudden, I realized that my heart, head and time were becoming consumed by Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook- you name it, I was probably on it. So, I UNPLUGGED! Without hesitation, I began to race through the settings of my phone and laptop, one by one disconnecting the things that have kept me so connected to the world and so disconnected from my Father. After everything was disconnected, uninstalled and unplugged, I sat back and felt the freedom of Jesus just completely wash over me.
Now, in no way am I saying, "Hey ladies! Uninstall all social media because Jesus wants us to unplug,". Even I, after some housecleaning in my heart, reinstalled Pinterest! NO! I am saying that in my situation, the adventure being portrayed by a washed out picture of high waist shorts, aviators, baggy t-shirts, converse and a Volkswagen bus that we all know nobody actually possesses, was blocking out the actual, real life adventure that The God of the universe is calling me on. No, God probably will not call me to wear a White Stripes t-shirt and roll out to Coachella over the summer or vacation in the keys, but what he has in store for me, and for you, is more precious and exhilarating than any adventure that the internet (or teenage girls on Tumblr with way too much time on their hands) could ever create.
It's a great feeling at the end of the day to say to myself, wow, I serve an impressively creative and adventurous God.
Monday, January 13, 2014
To The Full.
When we are born, we are carefree. Fun is our middle name, wonder fills our hearts and the world is an enormous playground in our innocent, adolescent eyes. We seem to think that we are invincible and that danger will never phase us. Point being, we seem to live life to the fullest at our youngest, most vulnerable stage in life. It is in the stage, that we are taught two valuable lessons. The first being not to stick bugs and crawly creatures of all shapes and sizes into our diapers. This was a lesson I definitely heard, but failed at when test time came crawling by my feet. The second lesson was that we could be ANYTHING that we set our hearts on being. Naturally, we all believed this, because of the youthful carelessness and freedom we possessed. "You can be president if you really want!", "Maybe you'll be an astronaut!". We've all heard these infamous lines at least once or twice in the span of our lives, so far, whether it be from a teacher, parent, friend, family member, or in my case, strangers waiting to get their cars fixed in the auto mechanic shop that I go to with my father to have his oil changed. No matter where you've heard it, it has been said. But was it all truth?
Fast forward a few years. We are now entering the preteen years. The awkward, socially terrifying jungle full of gossip, rumors, Jr. High, cliques, bad hair, beginners make up, padded sports bras and endless anxiety (*RESULTS OF PRETEEN YEARS MAY VARY*). Now, two more lessons come into play. Or should I say, one more lesson and one old, familiar lesson that has been slightly edited. We now have to say no to peer pressure and instead of being able to be anything we want, we must begin to look at what job we want to have once we grow into mature adults. "You can be president" now becomes, "You can work in state government!", or "You can become an engineer and work on computers for NASA". But, why? Why has my horizon suddenly become more dim and less adventurous?
Finally, we are young adults. We have grown into the stage between fully grown and finishing up adolescence. Once again, that age old lesson has been edited, but this time, it's barely even recognizable. Now, the lesson says that we can be anything we want to be, as long as it provides success in life, financial security, useful services to our fellow citizens, and "happiness".
Young people, I am OUTRAGED. To me, this "lesson" has become a "sentencing" to a cookie-cutter life; a life that I, myself never asked for, nor do I want.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full". What exactly is life to the full? Is it unlimited success in life? Financial security? Useful services to our fellow citizens? I say no. I refuse to live out my life as if I need the security of money, comfortable living arrangements, and so many other things that take away the adventure and wonder of life that we all believed in at some point in our lives.
Life to the full, to me, is the life that Christ has planned for me. Never once has The Lord told me, "My daughter, I gave you life, now go live it how the world wants you to". My heart breaks at the thought of our culture and society draining the life out of "life to the full". You don't want to work a nine to five job behind a desk. So what? You want to be an astronaut, whizzing into outer space as we speak. SO WHAT? Maybe you just want to skip college and go straight for Europe to backpack around the world. Do it! Jesus is dreaming right along with us. He instills dreams and desires in our hearts for a reason. He wants to live out these dreams with us so that we can live them out to the full. Now, what if you do want to find a job, settle down and live a nice life right where you are? GO AHEAD! So long as you are living right where you are to the full. Living every day the way that He intended for you.
So, whether I end up an accountant at a huge business firm, or climbing mountains with a backpack of my all of my belongings over one shoulder, I will live my life to the full. I will not be chained down by parents, friends, family members or any voice in society telling me to live a certain way in order to be "happy" and secure. The wonder of life will not leave my heart now that freedom has become my middle name. But, for now, I will take on today living life to the full, as well.
Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Fast forward a few years. We are now entering the preteen years. The awkward, socially terrifying jungle full of gossip, rumors, Jr. High, cliques, bad hair, beginners make up, padded sports bras and endless anxiety (*RESULTS OF PRETEEN YEARS MAY VARY*). Now, two more lessons come into play. Or should I say, one more lesson and one old, familiar lesson that has been slightly edited. We now have to say no to peer pressure and instead of being able to be anything we want, we must begin to look at what job we want to have once we grow into mature adults. "You can be president" now becomes, "You can work in state government!", or "You can become an engineer and work on computers for NASA". But, why? Why has my horizon suddenly become more dim and less adventurous?
Finally, we are young adults. We have grown into the stage between fully grown and finishing up adolescence. Once again, that age old lesson has been edited, but this time, it's barely even recognizable. Now, the lesson says that we can be anything we want to be, as long as it provides success in life, financial security, useful services to our fellow citizens, and "happiness".
Young people, I am OUTRAGED. To me, this "lesson" has become a "sentencing" to a cookie-cutter life; a life that I, myself never asked for, nor do I want.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full". What exactly is life to the full? Is it unlimited success in life? Financial security? Useful services to our fellow citizens? I say no. I refuse to live out my life as if I need the security of money, comfortable living arrangements, and so many other things that take away the adventure and wonder of life that we all believed in at some point in our lives.
Life to the full, to me, is the life that Christ has planned for me. Never once has The Lord told me, "My daughter, I gave you life, now go live it how the world wants you to". My heart breaks at the thought of our culture and society draining the life out of "life to the full". You don't want to work a nine to five job behind a desk. So what? You want to be an astronaut, whizzing into outer space as we speak. SO WHAT? Maybe you just want to skip college and go straight for Europe to backpack around the world. Do it! Jesus is dreaming right along with us. He instills dreams and desires in our hearts for a reason. He wants to live out these dreams with us so that we can live them out to the full. Now, what if you do want to find a job, settle down and live a nice life right where you are? GO AHEAD! So long as you are living right where you are to the full. Living every day the way that He intended for you.
So, whether I end up an accountant at a huge business firm, or climbing mountains with a backpack of my all of my belongings over one shoulder, I will live my life to the full. I will not be chained down by parents, friends, family members or any voice in society telling me to live a certain way in order to be "happy" and secure. The wonder of life will not leave my heart now that freedom has become my middle name. But, for now, I will take on today living life to the full, as well.
Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Monday, January 6, 2014
What Is Trust?
For a young girl who is just beginning to leap into an enormous shark tank that we have all come to call "the future", there are countless expectations that I am supposed to meet, essential responsibilities that I have to take on, intimidating obstacles I am destined overcome and let's not forget about the endless list of people who must be pleased with all of these critical elements of "the future". As all of these things seem to loom over me, I stand with a crippling fear that I may never amount to what is expected of me. The phrase "the future", has lost its luster, in my eyes. But, why?
My eyes are weak. I see things through a dusty, blurred lens (and let's not forget the awful astigmatism that I have been ever so lucky to receive). So, because of all of these hindering features of my eyes, they are useless. But, there is hope. A tremendous hope that no one can surpass. This hope not only brings clear eyes, but it brings peace, understanding, love and trust.
As I find myself before this hope who is named Jesus, I am constantly reminded of the condition of my eyes that will never begin to compare to the sight of my God. The way He views me, the way he views the lost and weary, the way He views anything and everything that comes into his view- even "the future", is a treasure that I am so blessed to be a part of and all that I have to do is ask Him for His eyes in place of mine. So what do I see when I peer through the unsurpassable vision of my Jesus? I see light. I see a world aching for His love. Also, I see all the things in life that I may miss on a regular, mundane day.
What does this have to do with "the future", you may ask? Good question.
I have heard this specific piece of scripture countless times throughout my life- Jeremiah 29:11. The well known and widely quoted verse says, "'For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Yes, of course, this verse has always had "meaning". But, it was not until recently, that "meaning" became truth and a definite promise from the One who gave me new life and clear eyes. Suddenly, this "shark tank" that I mentioned earlier, looks more like a small pond of minnows.
Jesus, on many occasions, tells us, "do not fear, for I am with you". It becomes so easy to just accept this as a statement of comfort, but not as a rock solid promise as it is intended to be. Learning from The God Of the UNIVERSE is far from easy at times. Trust me, it has taken me more time than was truly needed to fully grasp the simple concept of swallowing my pride and filling myself with Christ and seeing through His magnificent, beautiful eyes that not only reveal and shatter barriers that myself alone, will never even be able to scratch the surface of. But once I swallowed it whole, "the future" illuminated right in front of my eyes. All of the expectations, responsibilities, obstacles and people melted away and the true glory of what my God has in store for my future shone brighter than the sun.
There is a song that I could never get enough of entitled My Delight Is In You. The words seem to come to my mind more and more often here recently as my future is slowly but surely approaching. It says, "Here I am, open arms. Draw me close, to Your heart. You're my life. You're my Refuge. My delight, my delight is in You". I truly am now standing with open arms instead of feeling this looming fear over me of something that I possess no reason to fear. I possess no right to fear it. I am delighting in my God given future! I am trusting, hoping, seeking and loving my everlasting King who has never failed and never will fail me.
So, what is trust? What purpose does it have in our lives? What purpose does it hold in God's plan for our lives? Maybe the word "trust" should be rephrased and given new meaning for us all. Trust is admitting that we are limited, lacking creatures that have the ability to see, but only through the eyes of the One who created us and by Him alone and taking action by asking for that wonderful vision. Day by day my fear is decreasing. The looming shadow is fading away and the illuminating light of my Jesus standing in my future, with His hand stretched out towards me, waiting to walk side-by-side through it, is shining through.
So, future- bring it on.
My eyes are weak. I see things through a dusty, blurred lens (and let's not forget the awful astigmatism that I have been ever so lucky to receive). So, because of all of these hindering features of my eyes, they are useless. But, there is hope. A tremendous hope that no one can surpass. This hope not only brings clear eyes, but it brings peace, understanding, love and trust.
As I find myself before this hope who is named Jesus, I am constantly reminded of the condition of my eyes that will never begin to compare to the sight of my God. The way He views me, the way he views the lost and weary, the way He views anything and everything that comes into his view- even "the future", is a treasure that I am so blessed to be a part of and all that I have to do is ask Him for His eyes in place of mine. So what do I see when I peer through the unsurpassable vision of my Jesus? I see light. I see a world aching for His love. Also, I see all the things in life that I may miss on a regular, mundane day.
What does this have to do with "the future", you may ask? Good question.
I have heard this specific piece of scripture countless times throughout my life- Jeremiah 29:11. The well known and widely quoted verse says, "'For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Yes, of course, this verse has always had "meaning". But, it was not until recently, that "meaning" became truth and a definite promise from the One who gave me new life and clear eyes. Suddenly, this "shark tank" that I mentioned earlier, looks more like a small pond of minnows.
Jesus, on many occasions, tells us, "do not fear, for I am with you". It becomes so easy to just accept this as a statement of comfort, but not as a rock solid promise as it is intended to be. Learning from The God Of the UNIVERSE is far from easy at times. Trust me, it has taken me more time than was truly needed to fully grasp the simple concept of swallowing my pride and filling myself with Christ and seeing through His magnificent, beautiful eyes that not only reveal and shatter barriers that myself alone, will never even be able to scratch the surface of. But once I swallowed it whole, "the future" illuminated right in front of my eyes. All of the expectations, responsibilities, obstacles and people melted away and the true glory of what my God has in store for my future shone brighter than the sun.
There is a song that I could never get enough of entitled My Delight Is In You. The words seem to come to my mind more and more often here recently as my future is slowly but surely approaching. It says, "Here I am, open arms. Draw me close, to Your heart. You're my life. You're my Refuge. My delight, my delight is in You". I truly am now standing with open arms instead of feeling this looming fear over me of something that I possess no reason to fear. I possess no right to fear it. I am delighting in my God given future! I am trusting, hoping, seeking and loving my everlasting King who has never failed and never will fail me.
So, what is trust? What purpose does it have in our lives? What purpose does it hold in God's plan for our lives? Maybe the word "trust" should be rephrased and given new meaning for us all. Trust is admitting that we are limited, lacking creatures that have the ability to see, but only through the eyes of the One who created us and by Him alone and taking action by asking for that wonderful vision. Day by day my fear is decreasing. The looming shadow is fading away and the illuminating light of my Jesus standing in my future, with His hand stretched out towards me, waiting to walk side-by-side through it, is shining through.
So, future- bring it on.
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