"A wife of noble character who can find?...Her husband has full confidence in her...she brings him good, not harm...she works with eager hands...she gets up while it is still dark, she provides food for her family...she sets about her work vigorously...her arms are strong for her tasks...she extends her hands to the needy...she is clothed with strength and dignity...she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue...she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness...give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." (excerpts from Proverbs 31:10-31)
This past weekend, I had the blessing of spending time with some of my relatives. I truly enjoyed the chance to be with them and spend time with my dear cousin. While I was there and even after I left, God has challenged me through the life of my aunt. I love my aunt- she is an amazing woman! I don't think I can truly nail down all of my thoughts in a blog entry, but I am going to try to give you a little piece of the challenge that's in my heart as a young woman.
When I was thinking of my aunt, Proverbs 31 immediately popped into my head. As I opened the text and began to read, her name jumped off the pages. After I left their house on Saturday night, one word continually stayed in my mind about my aunt- "selfless". Her life has not been absent of trials. She has been through extremely difficult times...circumstances to which I really don't know how I would respond. But, she ALWAYS has a positive outlook and a smile for those in need. It's not fake- or a mask she wears to hide her true feelings- no...she's real. Her joy comes from the Lord- her peace- her selflessness- her kindness- it's hard to describe in words such a beautiful woman. My aunt is always looking out for others...but not grudgingly or in expectance of something in return. No, she serves others because she truly loves people. And, she sees each individual for who he or she is- a wonderful creation of a GREAT GOD! (Psalm 139) In the midst of hardships, struggles, and arrows, my aunt rises above because she knows Who holds her in the palm of His Hands. Oh, thank You, Lord, for giving me such a beautiful example to follow. In following Proverbs 31:31, I want to praise my aunt at the city gate! Well, I don't really have a city gate- but, I can shout it from a blog! Thank you, Annie- I love you forever.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Memorizing Memories
Just the other day, I was listening to the song, "Your Love is Deep"- a song that is based on Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
A beautiful passage...one that I have committed to memory. Then, I started thinking back of when I memorized it. Now, my memory is definitely not in the "stellar" category- so, what are the chances that I would remember the time and place this Scripture memorization actually occurred? But, surprisingly, I did. As I sat in my car, I started thinking back on the day that I put Romans 8:38-39 in my heart. I could see it clearly in my head...
We were in the backyard of our little ranch house in Ohio...it was a sunny, spring afternoon...we created motions to help us learn the verses...I was in the middle of my high school career...he was a youth leader in our church...wait...he? You may be asking, "Who is 'he'?" That "he" is very significant to this story. I believe he is a big reason why this memorization memory is so embedded in my mind. That "he" is my dad. My dad didn't just tell me to learn Scripture, he didn't just encourage me, he memorized it WITH me. I smile thinking of the quizzes we gave each other, the hand motions we made up to correspond with each word, and his "high 5" after I quoted it perfectly. My dad not only helped me learn a passage about God's unconditional love, he helped me see a glimpse of it.
I want to make more of those memorization memories...who can I encourage? Who can I "high 5"? We all have opportunities to invest in people...let's step out and make a memory...for eternity.
A beautiful passage...one that I have committed to memory. Then, I started thinking back of when I memorized it. Now, my memory is definitely not in the "stellar" category- so, what are the chances that I would remember the time and place this Scripture memorization actually occurred? But, surprisingly, I did. As I sat in my car, I started thinking back on the day that I put Romans 8:38-39 in my heart. I could see it clearly in my head...
We were in the backyard of our little ranch house in Ohio...it was a sunny, spring afternoon...we created motions to help us learn the verses...I was in the middle of my high school career...he was a youth leader in our church...wait...he? You may be asking, "Who is 'he'?" That "he" is very significant to this story. I believe he is a big reason why this memorization memory is so embedded in my mind. That "he" is my dad. My dad didn't just tell me to learn Scripture, he didn't just encourage me, he memorized it WITH me. I smile thinking of the quizzes we gave each other, the hand motions we made up to correspond with each word, and his "high 5" after I quoted it perfectly. My dad not only helped me learn a passage about God's unconditional love, he helped me see a glimpse of it.
I want to make more of those memorization memories...who can I encourage? Who can I "high 5"? We all have opportunities to invest in people...let's step out and make a memory...for eternity.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Name calling
Good looking. Popular. Loser. Rich girl. Snob. Sweet. Shy. Moody (not to be confused with Mr. D.L. Moody). Mean. Smart. The world calls people all sorts of different names. Some good...others not so good. But, our God also calls us names...GOOD names. His words are forever...they give us eternal worth. In Isaiah 62, God calls His children by various names. One of them, in particular, intrigued me..."Hephzibah" (vs. 4). It means, "My delight is in her". Wow! Our Creator God delights in us!!! Check out the other names in this passage (vs. 12):
-Holy People
-Redeemed of the Lord
-Sought After
-City No Longer Deserted
As a woman, I think my favorite name is "Sought After". Let's be honest, every woman wants to be sought after. She wants to feel that she is valued and loved. God knows that about us- He is well aware of our feelings, our emotions, and our needs. Because of that He assures us, "Daughter, you are sought after by Me- no one else can possibly care for you and love you the way I do. You are mine."
So, the next time someone asks you, "What's your name?" or "What do they call you?" Go ahead- tell them you are "Redeemed of the Lord" and "Sought after"...by an eternal God!
Thank You, Lord!
-Holy People
-Redeemed of the Lord
-Sought After
-City No Longer Deserted
As a woman, I think my favorite name is "Sought After". Let's be honest, every woman wants to be sought after. She wants to feel that she is valued and loved. God knows that about us- He is well aware of our feelings, our emotions, and our needs. Because of that He assures us, "Daughter, you are sought after by Me- no one else can possibly care for you and love you the way I do. You are mine."
So, the next time someone asks you, "What's your name?" or "What do they call you?" Go ahead- tell them you are "Redeemed of the Lord" and "Sought after"...by an eternal God!
Thank You, Lord!
Friday, April 18, 2008
"Worth the Struggle"
"I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally." (Colossians 2:1)
I know in college I was a professional at speed-reading...you know, when you have 3 books to read in one night (slight exaggeration) you gotta fasten your seatbelt and put on the speed! But, in our Bible study, I believe that each sentence, in fact, each WORD is important. God's Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)- every single word! So, don't skim the surface...dig deep! I camped out on Colossians 2:1 yesterday and stayed there for quite a while. There are many truths crammed in those 26 words...let's dig in...
*Struggling for YOU
Paul tells the Colossians that he is struggling to get rich and popular...right? Uh...no. Paul testifies that he is struggling for PEOPLE, so that he might present to them the Word of God in its fullness (Colossians 2:25). He invested in others...eternal souls. Even though it was a struggle at times (btw- ministry can be hard), he knew it was worth the struggle.
*Struggling for those at Laodicea
Remember reading about the Laodiceans in Revelation? This is what was said about these folks: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are luke-warm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked." (Revelation 4:15-17) So, why did Paul struggle for these people? After all, their priorities seemed out of whack, and they didn't even realize their need for a Savior. He struggled for them because it was worth it...they were people/eternal souls, and he knew his mission. It's hard to minister to folks who don't care about what you are saying, to those that care more about the things of this world than the message in Scripture, to people who don't grasp the big picture yet...sometimes it feels like it would be easier to give up...but, don't! God has called you to share His Word with them- not to save them...GOD is the Savior.
*Struggling "for all who have not met me personally"
Paul invested in people...even if he he didn't know them personally...he still struggled for them. Now, in our minds, it makes sense to struggle for someone you know deeply- for a close friend, a relative, or someone you respect. But for someone you haven't even met? Wow...that's love...God's love.
So...what or WHO are we struggling for? Our struggles may not be identical to Paul's, but we can have the same purpose...to invest in PEOPLE for the glory of God.
I know in college I was a professional at speed-reading...you know, when you have 3 books to read in one night (slight exaggeration) you gotta fasten your seatbelt and put on the speed! But, in our Bible study, I believe that each sentence, in fact, each WORD is important. God's Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)- every single word! So, don't skim the surface...dig deep! I camped out on Colossians 2:1 yesterday and stayed there for quite a while. There are many truths crammed in those 26 words...let's dig in...
*Struggling for YOU
Paul tells the Colossians that he is struggling to get rich and popular...right? Uh...no. Paul testifies that he is struggling for PEOPLE, so that he might present to them the Word of God in its fullness (Colossians 2:25). He invested in others...eternal souls. Even though it was a struggle at times (btw- ministry can be hard), he knew it was worth the struggle.
*Struggling for those at Laodicea
Remember reading about the Laodiceans in Revelation? This is what was said about these folks: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are luke-warm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked." (Revelation 4:15-17) So, why did Paul struggle for these people? After all, their priorities seemed out of whack, and they didn't even realize their need for a Savior. He struggled for them because it was worth it...they were people/eternal souls, and he knew his mission. It's hard to minister to folks who don't care about what you are saying, to those that care more about the things of this world than the message in Scripture, to people who don't grasp the big picture yet...sometimes it feels like it would be easier to give up...but, don't! God has called you to share His Word with them- not to save them...GOD is the Savior.
*Struggling "for all who have not met me personally"
Paul invested in people...even if he he didn't know them personally...he still struggled for them. Now, in our minds, it makes sense to struggle for someone you know deeply- for a close friend, a relative, or someone you respect. But for someone you haven't even met? Wow...that's love...God's love.
So...what or WHO are we struggling for? Our struggles may not be identical to Paul's, but we can have the same purpose...to invest in PEOPLE for the glory of God.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Nim's Island
Today, I had the blessing of hanging out with a sweet friend. We went to see the movie, "Nim's Island". I really had no idea what it was about, but after I saw it, I thoroughly enjoyed the film! Now, as you know, this blog is not for movie reviews (btw- it's a good one)...but, I'd like to share some of the spiritual lessons I learned from it (even if that wasn't the director's intentions). Here let me explain:
To give you some background... Jack Russo (a marine biologist and scientific researcher) and his 11 year old daughter, Nim, live alone on an island far out in the ocean. Obviously, as they are the only people living on this island, their lives are vastly different than majority of others in the 21st century. Jack and Nim love the different adventures they encounter everyday. On the other side of the world, in San Francisco, lives Alexandra Rover, a successful author who writes adventure novels. The irony of the situation is that Miss Rover's real life is anything but adventurous. Because of her agoraphobia, she never goes outside of her apartment...the front door is an enemy. After a turn of events, however, Alexandra finds herself stepping (more like jumping) WAY out of her comfort zone. Although painful at times, she eventually realizes that there is so much more to life...so much adventure and excitement within her grasp. She just has to reach out and grab it. No longer are adventures just made-up stories in novels, she can truly live them.
As I watched this movie, I thought of how this is similar to the Christian life. Many times we read about incredible adventures that are in the Bible- the courage of Esther, the boldness of Paul, the leadership of Josiah, the perseverance of Moses, the faith of Noah, and many more. Yet, we often view these Biblical people as merely characters in an adventure novel. But, they were people just like us- with real feelings and real fears...but they had real adventures. How? They didn't let the spirit of fear stop them from pursuing what God had called them to do. We serve the same big God...why don't we step out of our comfort zones, reach for the door He has left unlocked, and passionately live the adventure of a lifetime! All for His glory!
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)
To give you some background... Jack Russo (a marine biologist and scientific researcher) and his 11 year old daughter, Nim, live alone on an island far out in the ocean. Obviously, as they are the only people living on this island, their lives are vastly different than majority of others in the 21st century. Jack and Nim love the different adventures they encounter everyday. On the other side of the world, in San Francisco, lives Alexandra Rover, a successful author who writes adventure novels. The irony of the situation is that Miss Rover's real life is anything but adventurous. Because of her agoraphobia, she never goes outside of her apartment...the front door is an enemy. After a turn of events, however, Alexandra finds herself stepping (more like jumping) WAY out of her comfort zone. Although painful at times, she eventually realizes that there is so much more to life...so much adventure and excitement within her grasp. She just has to reach out and grab it. No longer are adventures just made-up stories in novels, she can truly live them.
As I watched this movie, I thought of how this is similar to the Christian life. Many times we read about incredible adventures that are in the Bible- the courage of Esther, the boldness of Paul, the leadership of Josiah, the perseverance of Moses, the faith of Noah, and many more. Yet, we often view these Biblical people as merely characters in an adventure novel. But, they were people just like us- with real feelings and real fears...but they had real adventures. How? They didn't let the spirit of fear stop them from pursuing what God had called them to do. We serve the same big God...why don't we step out of our comfort zones, reach for the door He has left unlocked, and passionately live the adventure of a lifetime! All for His glory!
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Monday, April 14, 2008
Finding Significance in Christ = Finding Peace
Finding our worth in Christ is finding peace. This kind of peace might parallel with feelings of ease, a relaxed mindset, and freedom. Think about it…how many times do you feel like you need to impress someone with your words, wit, or wallet? Have you ever played events over in your mind thinking, “Did I say the right thing?” Ooh...I have both my hands raised at this point! But, when we put our total worth and significance in Christ, we can put those fears aside…or rather, to death. Last night, I was driving home from a ballgame with some friends. We were listening to some Christian music, and I was gazing out the window- enjoying the sun disappearing behind the rows of trees. I sat there, and I almost spoke (which is my tendency, by the way), but then I paused and I could hear God speak to my heart… “Emily, my daughter, just enjoy Me right now. You don’t have to speak to get attention from your peers…You already have My attention and that’s all that matters. You are significant, you are special, you have worth because You are Mine.” Period. The end. When I find my significance totally in Christ, those people pleasing fears are buried…gone…and then, God ushers in His peace straight to my heart and mind. (sigh)…peace.
Isaiah 43:1- "...you are Mine...", says the Lord
Isaiah 43:1- "...you are Mine...", says the Lord
Friday, April 11, 2008
The commission God gave me
"I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness..." (Colossians 1:25)
Paul is a rather bold guy...I mean, he really doesn't beat around the bush when he wants to make a point. Now, you may be thinking- "Emily, how is this statement (in Colossians 1:25) bold? Hmmm...maybe I can use another word for bold...how about confident? Uh-oh...now "confident" can almost sound prideful in our culture. But, I believe the kind of confidence Paul exudes here is righteous...one of faith- not in his own flesh (Phil. 3:3b).
In this passage, Paul point blank refers to his ministry of sharing the gospel to the Colossians as "the commission God gave" him. He didn't second guess himself- he didn't say, "Well, I'm pretty sure God has called me to talk to y'all" or "I feel that this is the right thing to do, so I'm going to share with you". No! Paul boldly said that God had specifically commissioned him to share the gospel with the Colossians. He was ready to serve, even calling himself a "servant".
You may be thinking..."Well, that's PAUL, Emily! He's Mr. Super Christian- of course he could be confident of his calling." I beg to differ...Paul was a human being, just like us. Paul had emotions, he had fears, he had his ups & downs, he had doubts...but, he took what was given to him in life and he went for it. He wholeheartedly served God- he didn't sit around and wonder, "Is this God's calling on my life? or is it this?" Paul jumped right in- he saw the need, he knew God's heart, and he boldly approached each mission with God's energy, which powerfully worked in him (Col. 1:29).
Don't keep second guessing yourself...be confident in the commission God has given you for today- work it out in boldness...knowing that God is powerfully working within YOU!
Paul is a rather bold guy...I mean, he really doesn't beat around the bush when he wants to make a point. Now, you may be thinking- "Emily, how is this statement (in Colossians 1:25) bold? Hmmm...maybe I can use another word for bold...how about confident? Uh-oh...now "confident" can almost sound prideful in our culture. But, I believe the kind of confidence Paul exudes here is righteous...one of faith- not in his own flesh (Phil. 3:3b).
In this passage, Paul point blank refers to his ministry of sharing the gospel to the Colossians as "the commission God gave" him. He didn't second guess himself- he didn't say, "Well, I'm pretty sure God has called me to talk to y'all" or "I feel that this is the right thing to do, so I'm going to share with you". No! Paul boldly said that God had specifically commissioned him to share the gospel with the Colossians. He was ready to serve, even calling himself a "servant".
You may be thinking..."Well, that's PAUL, Emily! He's Mr. Super Christian- of course he could be confident of his calling." I beg to differ...Paul was a human being, just like us. Paul had emotions, he had fears, he had his ups & downs, he had doubts...but, he took what was given to him in life and he went for it. He wholeheartedly served God- he didn't sit around and wonder, "Is this God's calling on my life? or is it this?" Paul jumped right in- he saw the need, he knew God's heart, and he boldly approached each mission with God's energy, which powerfully worked in him (Col. 1:29).
Don't keep second guessing yourself...be confident in the commission God has given you for today- work it out in boldness...knowing that God is powerfully working within YOU!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Perfect Peace
Really? Can there truly be "perfect peace"? It almost sounds to good to be true, doesn't it?! Nothing in this world is perfect- as humans, we have no concept of what that really means. But, a perfect peace really does exist- it is something supernatural...it's from God! Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." This is a promise from God's Word- a promise that you can count on with your life. No one and nothing in this world can give you this kind of peace- only your Heavenly Father. But, in order for this perfect peace to flood our minds, we have to keep our minds steadfast...focused on Jesus, stayed on Him...trusting Him. The word "trust" in this passage comes from the the Hebrew word, "batach", which means to attach oneself, to confide in, feel safe, be confident, secure. Think about it...if we attach ourselves to Christ and confide everything in Him, don't you think this would result in a God-kind of peace? Yes!! And, that's what He promises to us! So, put Your confidence and security in the Lord Jesus. Keep Your mind stayed on Him- focus on Him...and HE will be the one to give you that perfect peace this world so desperately desires.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)