A Committed Life

Yesterday morning when I was getting ready for church, I hit the snooze button just a few too many times. I was therefore also running late. But, no speeding for me during Lent!! At first when I was leaving my apartment, I tried justifying it in my head, "Well, God, don't you want me to be in church on time? So it should be ok for me to speed to get there... just this once." But I knew I shouldn't because I had already made that commitment to Him not to speed so I can literally and figuratively slow down.

This turned into quite the blessing in disguise. Ok, nothing major like missing an accident... well, who knows actually. But I was able to spend some time on my own in worship in my car. After, of course, I prayed that God would help alleviate my impatience and frustration. Which also subsided.

When I did get to church, our sermon lesson was about Abraham being tested by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac (Genesis 22). Now there is a picture of someone walking by faith, of a Christ-centered commitment... nothing like a Lenten sacrifice of not speeding.

Clearly Abraham was upset and confused by this test and trial that God presented him - Isaac was his only son, born to him in old age, and supposed to be the offspring of the promised Savior! But, even in his doubt and hurt, he - and even Isaac - complied, trusted God, and obeyed what God said. He was committed in his faith and trusted God's plan, as confusing as it may be. In turn, because of his faithfulness, God stopped Abraham before he actually sacrificed his son. And he provided a substitute ram for the sacrifice instead. Just a few of the many reasons we shouldn't doubt God's plan:

• "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25). We don't have a CLUE when it comes to God's plan. I'd like to think as an Academic All-American that I'm pretty smart, but to come close to the wisest man? Nah... I mean, it's not like I came up with the Fibonacci code (do I even know what that is?) or invented electricity or anything. And this kind of mind-blowing wisdom on earth... that's rubbish and foolishness to God. Hahaha. 

• "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7). These trials and tests aren't for God's pleasure and enjoyment. They're for us. God uses tests and trials to reveal what's on the inside of our heart and purify us, refine us, and make us pure and holy. Not only is our faith in the midst of these circumstances credited to us as righteousness (Hebrews 11) but we also find out that God is more faithful to us than we ever thought. God shows up for those who love and follow Him.  

This lesson from Abraham and Isaac is such a beautiful picture of what God had to go through when sacrificing his son Jesus for us. God was clearly upset and in agony over having to sacrifice and abandon his only Son. But he loved us enough to go through with it anyways (John 3:16). When we are faithful and believe in Him, Jesus acts as our holy, perfect substitute before God. God followed through on his commitment to us so that I can be saved and live in heaven with Him. I think a little commitment about not speeding... or reading my Bible... or being devoted in prayer... or loving others as myself... can be followed through out of love and praise to Him too.

The sobering and sacrificial sight of what our sin cost our Savior.
The ultimate picture of sacrificial love and commitment. 

Be Still

I'm a control freak. I'm such a Type A personality. I have lists for any and everything. I try to be efficient and end up being unproductive. I hurry. I overthink. I make little things bigger than they need to be. Whoaaaa, yikes! That's probably not the way to attract a handsome, attractive young man, is it?! ;) I probably didn't need to share all of those lovely qualities... but I'm sure if you're honest, you can all relate.

Because my life seems to be a big 'to-do' list, my intimate time with God tends to be put on the 'when-there's-time' list. Oops!

This season of Lent, I truly do desire to know my Savior more intimately. I need to get rid of the distractions, the busyness, the hurry... and simply be still and sit at His feet. By doing so, I know a natural progression will arise that will allow me to:

• Better know Jesus, His love for me, and His perfect life lived for me
• Recognize and repent more openly and honestly of my sin
• Understand the holiness and awsomeness of God my Father
• Realize my utter dependence on Jesus my Savior and better understand His passion and journey that he endured for my sake
• Serve him more joyfully and freely 
• Ultimately continue to be still and sit at his feet more and more - because who wouldn't want to come to a fuller knowledge of all of these wonderful truths?!

That sounds like a lot, even for me, Miss List Queen! But it's not more I have to do. It's not my own ability or knowledge or will-power that God desires or needs to make this transformational heart change. It's actually less. It's availability. And that can be done when I just slow down and realize that my life and my lists really aren't that important. But knowing my Savior certainly is.

"Be Still and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." -Psalm 46:10

To help me be more still and slow down to avoid spiritual distractions this Lenten season, I'm giving up speeding. Weird, right? But it makes sense. Speeding just incites a spirit of hurriedness. Which leads to feeling like I always need to be going somewhere to do something. Which leads to this incessantly distracted, busy, and spiritually thirsty girl.

I'm also going to be learning and studying from a beautiful example in the Bible: Mary and Martha, in "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." One woman who was distracted, over-worked, and frustrated. One, who was still, quiet, and available. And through this study, I hope to better understand how I can sit at my Savior's feet while still accomplishing the tasks that need to be done. How to be devoted in worship before accomplishing my work and service. How to have the "better life" that Jesus tells Martha about.

God just asks for my availability. He will do the rest and be exalted through me and my work. What peace and comfort Psalm 46:10 brings to this busy and striving young lady!

What Are You Promoting?

So my life this semester is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I'm interning and taking one online class. And that is it. Yes, it rocks... in case you were wondering. But anyways, my class is all about social media and how we can best use it for marketing and promotion of ourselves and business. It got me thinking that everything and everyone serves as a promoter of something - by talking about it, spreading the word, excitement about it, the clothes we wear, and the way we act towards it or the way we act in general. Unless you simply aren't passionately living your life, odds are you promote one thing or another.

I, for example, am a big promoter of MSU Volleyball, my family and brother, and my Faith. Most college kids are promoters of the bars and drinking. Parents are promoters of their children and their accomplishments. Companies are promoters of their product or service. Some people - well most if we are honest - are huge promoters of themselves (because who doesn't love sharing their All-American type accomplishments with others?). Ok, I think you get the picture...

Yes, Dwight and The Office are awesome. But no need for all of us to toot our own horns!

Can the same be said about promotion for Christ? Do I proudly wear and bear his name as I walk by faith through life? Do I excitedly talk about how I have been saved and will get to share in The Feast of heaven by simply believing in Him? Do I always have Beautiful Feet and share my faith and the gospel with others? Or, do I shy away from promoting Christ, do I become worried about my 'image' and instead continue to promote myself and toot my own horn, attempting to 'fit in'?

Why is it so hard to walk by faith? Well, put plainly, I'm sinful! "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." (Romans 7:19-20).

My sinful nature keeps me from being a "Jesus Freak" and having reckless abandon to promote Christ. But a) what better thing could I really be promoting and b) what a privilege that the God of the universe uses me to promote his work and love! This isn't even to mention Jesus' promotion of me before his holy Father in heaven. He's vouching for me despite this sin that's so ugly and present! Umm, mind blown, anyone?

The opinions of others and approval I crave from this world start to seem pretty insignificant, as does my own self-centered promotion. Especially when I consider the amazing works of my God. That I am loved and chosen by Him. And that nothing in this world can separate me from his hand. It doesn't necessarily make my desire to fit in disappear, but I'm at least I'm 'not fitting in' and even hated (John 15:19) for a pretty dang good cause.

Share it with me!

Walking by faith and promoting Christ start to become easier when I place my focus back on Christ instead of myself. "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25). I don't need to muster up the strength to do it all and promote Christ on my own. It comes from Jesus living in me... from the overflowing love of His spirit in my life. Not by sight can truly become a way of life, because I'm being lead by my heart, not by my selfish mind.

So I think my self-promotion (subtle, humble, or loud as it may be) can take a back seat for awhile. And I challenge yours to do the same. Go be bold. Go against the grain. Go share the gospel. And go be a Jesus Freak. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." -Philippians 1:21

The Feast

I wouldn't classify myself as a picky eater. At all. I love and will try 99.9% of the food items you place in front of me. Except bleu cheese. Well, I did try it at one point. I was even tricked into thinking I'd get money for trying it too (Dad......!). So not only was the taste an utter disappointment, but not receiving money for what could very well be the worst piece of food on the planet made it even worse. I hate bleu cheese. Period.

Well, what's that have to do with anything? Some dry, crumbly, gross food... big deal! It may be a stretch, but I think God is thought of as my bleu cheese to a lot of people. Dry, unappealing, acquired, and something that ruins what could've been a really good dish. This is exactly what the devil wants me - and the rest of the world - to think about God and being a Christian. That following God is boring, dry, unappealing, only for those acquired "Jesus Freaks", and that it will ruin what could've been a really good time or experience.

The devil would like me to believe that my God is like bleu cheese. The devil is the "thief (that) comes only to steal and kill and destroy:" Trying to make me believe lies that being a Christian is no fun. That following God isn't worth it. That I can't enjoy myself to the fullest if I follow all those rules and get boxed in by what the Bible says. That I need to find my self-worth in 'things' of this world like the acceptance of others, relationships, being successful, or having my life in order. So while I hear and maybe even listen to these lies, I am robbed of the abundant life I have in my Savior. And if left unchecked, the thief will not only rob me, but kill and destroy my soul and life with God, both here and for eternity.

It is in these moments of doubt and falsehoods that I must remember the beautiful promise at the end of John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." In Jesus I have the abundant life. He is gracious enough to let me enjoy this abundance not only with Him, in heaven, for an eternity; but also here and now - on this sinful, rotten, bleu cheese of an earth! This life is the appetizer to the feast in heaven, and none of it has even a hint of bleu cheese on the menu!!

But what is the abundant life? How can I even experience it if I have a list of things I can't even do, things that, by the way, seem pretty fun? Well, Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), and Jesus also said that "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28). So eternal life is Christ's gift to those who believe and He, in fact, is the life. I receive Christ and eternal life... good... but what about right now?!

He says He has given me "life to the full," and that certainly doesn't mean just in heaven. Examples of full, abundant, and overflowing blessings and lives are not only scattered throughout the entire Bible, but also in my own life. It doesn't take much to notice how gracious and good He has been. His abundance is all around me: The loving relationships of my parents, brother, family, and friends.  The beauty in nature like beaches, rainbows, a peaceful snowfall, mountains, flowers, and the sun shining through the clouds. The joy of being able to engage and participate in my passions like volleyball, piano, being creative, and helping others. The ability to work hard. The health and protection of me and my loved ones. The loyalty and love felt by and for a dog. The plan for my life that has unfolded seamlessly. The protection from sins that could damage my heart and soul. The forgiveness and unconditional love when I need it - which is of course all the time! And most importantly a personal relationship with Jesus, my Savior. If all of this is just an appetizer - yet Everything I need in this life (and without any "bleu cheese" lies) - I cannot wait for the feast of the abundant life in heaven. Eat up!

Stones of Remembrance

"Everything happens for a reason." We hear that a lot, don't we? Something bad happens... don't worry, this will work out because everything happens for a reason! Something good happens... see, told you there was no need to worry! And the cycle goes on and on with any given situation. Luckily for me, my hope and the circumstances of life rest much more securely than on a nice-sounding little phrase. Rather, I find hope, peace, and even joy for everything that happens from the promises found in Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Typically I find solace in this verse when the world seems to be crashing in around me. I may have a hard time seeing the purpose turmoils - like tearing my ACL or challenging relationships or overwhelming deadlines and projects - would bring while in the midst of the storm. I can try to be at peace knowing that God will use it for his best and according to his plan, but it is still difficult to see the silver lining. And yet another tricky part of this trust and faith is recognizing it's according to his purpose. It's not about me. Or my plan. Or what I think is best. God can see the entire blueprint of my life. He knows how everything folds together and connects to build one awesome masterpiece of a life for me. Why should I think I know better in situations that I would, quite frankly, hope to avoid?

This verse can and presently is also able to bring such joy and thanksgiving to me. I have been able to see how God has been using situations to mold and prepare me for what lies ahead. A torn ACL to provide a fifth year of volleyball eligibility, pay for my master's degree, be able to comfort others in their trials (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and make my recent knee scope seem like a walk in the park. My two degrees, leadership training and hardships experienced in volleyball, and multiple work experiences around the athletic department to prepare me for my future job with Mr. Skandalaris. And family, friendships, and mentors to serve as a support system as I am finishing up college and starting to make major life decisions.

It has been incredible to see God's hand working in my life recently. He has literally plopped opportunities in my lap out of the blue and provided for my current and near-future needs beyond belief. These opportunities have seemed to good to be true, leaving me giddy, in awe, and only able to praise and thank him. I've been reminded daily that when and if I do everything to his glory, life unfolds beautifully. Again, that's not to say I don't struggle - my current recovery is frustrating because I can't walk normal, I'm a little intimidated by the job responsibilities and jealousies my future job entails, and I'm feeling anxious about leaving my 'known' circles and life. However, with how these events and opportunities have unfolded so effortlessly, it's beyond apparent that God has been doing some amazing work on my behalf. My Lord is powerful, may I always fear and trust Him.

Beautiful Feet

Intentional walking. Hmm, that seems obvious and redundant. After all, don't I always walk with a purpose, having somewhere to go or someone to see? Physically, of course that's almost always the case: I walk around my house to get ready in the morning, I walk to my car to go to work or class, and even when I get lost while walking, I still had a purpose in mind! Not only am I intentional with my steps, but efficient... getting from point A to point B as directly and quickly as possible. In the physical sense, I am always walking intentionally.

However, I don't think intentional walking is always the case spiritually as I walk through life. I often start off with good intentions, but become distracted, lose focus, and end up coasting through or stumbling along. My feet become like that of a infant and I start going in circles and take 4 steps back to go 1 forward. That, or I get in my efficient walking mode and cruise right through, oblivious to the circumstances around me. As a result, my relationships with God and the people around me become anything but intentional. Yet Jesus' whole ministry was focused on pouring into others, even as he washed their feet - the very tools used for such intentional walking!

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -Romans 10:15. The disciples' feet were beautiful not only because were washed by Jesus, but because of the purpose and intentions of their paths. All of these men put their lives on the line to share the gospel, to reach out to and be aware of others, and to love deeply and unconditionally.

So, in this last semester as a college student as I am about to leave what is known and embark in another new challenge, how can I, too, have such beautiful feet? How can I be prepared for the next chapter while still leaving a lasting footprint on this one? It will take my being intentional. First, with my walk with God. Being fed and in communion with Him, recognizing His work in my daily life, and growing closer to my Savior... "walking by faith, not by sight," -1 Corinthians 5:7. Second, with the people and situations around me. Pouring into others and fostering the relationships with my friends - on a deep level so that they will remain in love beyond graduation.

Such intentionality will require my Type A personality to slow down, and maybe start to stroll through life, just as if I were walking through campus or downtown on a nice day. No time frame or agenda, just an observant, content, and inquisitive state of mind - enjoying what the walk has to offer. I'm excited yet a little nervous to embark on this walk through my blog... something so new and tangible and with such accountability! But what better way to share my journey's path with its ups and downs, pit-stops and roadblocks than this medium. So please, come along on my journey. Walk, and have Beautiful Feet.