"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Today as we were driving around town, we passed a KFC. In the parking lot, there was parked an ambulance. As I chuckled, I thought of the irony and possible circumstances surrounding this conveniently placed medical service vehicle outside of a possible heart attack-inducing fast food joint. Maybe it had been called as an emergency situation arose inside. As an EMT, imagine being called to KFC or any other fast food restaurant in response to a patient who has had a heart attack. A more comical and far-fetched possibility is that someone, knowing the risks of indulging in too much fried chicken and biscuits, arranged for an ambulance ahead of time, in case tragedy should strike. Maybe they feared going into a competitive chicken eating battle without the appropriate back up.
This got me thinking though about dependency on Christ. Are we fearful of going into everyday life without his guiding our path? Part of boasting in weakness may just be calling ahead of time for assistance as opposed to waiting until we find ourselves in the middle of a predicament. I want my life to be one that is simply impossible to live with the strength of Jesus Christ!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Toot His Horn Often
"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." -2 Corinthians 11:30
Coach once told us that we should not be focusing on lifting Jesus up, because he can't go any higher, and even if he could, what makes us think that we'd be able to do that? We instead need to focus on humbling ourselves. I think sometimes we think we might need to put ourselves down and this verse is a great counter to that argument. We don't need to put ourselves down or minimize the talent's the Lord has blessed us with, rather we need to highlight what makes us low and what shows that we are broken, that his power my be evident! I wonder what exactly this looks and sounds like. I wish I had more to write about that, but I don't. Venture with me to seek opportunities to boast in weakness and maybe we can figure it out together.
Coach once told us that we should not be focusing on lifting Jesus up, because he can't go any higher, and even if he could, what makes us think that we'd be able to do that? We instead need to focus on humbling ourselves. I think sometimes we think we might need to put ourselves down and this verse is a great counter to that argument. We don't need to put ourselves down or minimize the talent's the Lord has blessed us with, rather we need to highlight what makes us low and what shows that we are broken, that his power my be evident! I wonder what exactly this looks and sounds like. I wish I had more to write about that, but I don't. Venture with me to seek opportunities to boast in weakness and maybe we can figure it out together.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Garbage
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways." -Psalm 119:37
-Focusing on worthless things leads to death in our hearts
-This act is not a function of our own will, but of God's power in us to redirect our focus on things that are above.
- The second part of the verse says "give me life in your ways" not "give me life in your ways and my accomplishments, and in love, and in money, and in ______." Go ahead and fill in the blank, but this verse suggests life comes in his ways and in his ways alone.
-This small line is an awesome prayer when we feel ourselves getting sucked into the ways of this world. However that looks for you, maybe challenge yourself to recognize those worthless things, and immediately go to the Lord in prayer with this simple line.
-Focusing on worthless things leads to death in our hearts
-This act is not a function of our own will, but of God's power in us to redirect our focus on things that are above.
- The second part of the verse says "give me life in your ways" not "give me life in your ways and my accomplishments, and in love, and in money, and in ______." Go ahead and fill in the blank, but this verse suggests life comes in his ways and in his ways alone.
-This small line is an awesome prayer when we feel ourselves getting sucked into the ways of this world. However that looks for you, maybe challenge yourself to recognize those worthless things, and immediately go to the Lord in prayer with this simple line.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." -Romans 8:18
Say you and I are sitting at my favorite Indian restaurant just about to dig in to a savory meal cooked with probably over 30 different spices. The aromas that met our noses are so rich that they seem to make the food instantly palatable. After a quick blessing of course:) we venture into the depths of grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and seasoned basmati rice. You tell me about the delicious spice and sweetness your dish provides, and with a somewhat displeased look on my face I say to you, "yeah, that's cool, ya know....I could really go for a good PB&J."
What?!?!
It would be beyond silly, probably downright insulting, to compare delicious ethnic cuisine to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I wonder if that's not just a little glimpse into how ridiculous it is for us to complain about our sufferings when we have an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15) waiting for us. I'm encouraged, because sometimes those sufferings do feel intense and at times they rock our worlds, but God has promised us the opportunity to experience a glory so intense it will seem like those sufferings were like piddly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in comparison.
Say you and I are sitting at my favorite Indian restaurant just about to dig in to a savory meal cooked with probably over 30 different spices. The aromas that met our noses are so rich that they seem to make the food instantly palatable. After a quick blessing of course:) we venture into the depths of grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and seasoned basmati rice. You tell me about the delicious spice and sweetness your dish provides, and with a somewhat displeased look on my face I say to you, "yeah, that's cool, ya know....I could really go for a good PB&J."
What?!?!
It would be beyond silly, probably downright insulting, to compare delicious ethnic cuisine to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I wonder if that's not just a little glimpse into how ridiculous it is for us to complain about our sufferings when we have an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15) waiting for us. I'm encouraged, because sometimes those sufferings do feel intense and at times they rock our worlds, but God has promised us the opportunity to experience a glory so intense it will seem like those sufferings were like piddly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in comparison.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Mom always says "don't play ball in the house"
"O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you." -Psalm 38:9
I guess you could look at this verse two ways.
#1.) Through the eyes of Peter Brady when he broke his mom's vase while she wasn't home. Sometimes there's part of us that wants to hide what's going on in our hearts. We don't like to confront the reality of sin or face the conviction of scripture or of the Holy Spirit. Confessing sin is like telling mom we broke her vase, as we grow fearfully weary of the consequence.
And the other way....welp, I tried to come up with another TV character or some fun analogy, but I couldn't think of one, so let's just bring this real close to home. We can think of what we want out of every day; what we want out of life. I guess those deep desires that never change; the ones that actually feed our want for a car or a new gadget, nice clothes, or a piece of jewelry, relationships or acceptance. God understands what is beneath the surface and what resides in our hearts.
The Good News is that Jesus died for the broken vases and for the pain we experience when our longings seem to go unsatisfied. So regardless of which way we look at this scripture, hope reflects back at us!
I guess you could look at this verse two ways.
#1.) Through the eyes of Peter Brady when he broke his mom's vase while she wasn't home. Sometimes there's part of us that wants to hide what's going on in our hearts. We don't like to confront the reality of sin or face the conviction of scripture or of the Holy Spirit. Confessing sin is like telling mom we broke her vase, as we grow fearfully weary of the consequence.
And the other way....welp, I tried to come up with another TV character or some fun analogy, but I couldn't think of one, so let's just bring this real close to home. We can think of what we want out of every day; what we want out of life. I guess those deep desires that never change; the ones that actually feed our want for a car or a new gadget, nice clothes, or a piece of jewelry, relationships or acceptance. God understands what is beneath the surface and what resides in our hearts.
The Good News is that Jesus died for the broken vases and for the pain we experience when our longings seem to go unsatisfied. So regardless of which way we look at this scripture, hope reflects back at us!
Monday, July 18, 2011
"look daddy i'm growing"
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up in salvation" -1 Peter 2:2
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence"-2 Peter 1:3
This afternoon, I watched a gorgeous, blond haired, four year old girl reach up to the table portion of a tall desk. As she stood on her tip-toes and stretched out her little arms, bellybutton exposed and tiny fingernails white from gripping the edge of the desk so intensely, she called out to her daddy. "Daddy, look, I'm growing, I can reach all the way to the top now!" She was so proud of how she'd changed and how she could now reach the top like a big girl.
It made me think that this little everyday life picture is an example of how we should respond to God's desire to grow us. Think about what that little girl's daddy provided for her that allowed her to grow that way: food, water, love, doctors visits, a place to sleep. She was so excited to share and show him her growth. What if we recognized how completely we've been resourced for growth, as the above verses show? Then what if we embraced and rejoiced in the opportunity to grow as followers of Jesus like that little four year old did?!
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence"-2 Peter 1:3
This afternoon, I watched a gorgeous, blond haired, four year old girl reach up to the table portion of a tall desk. As she stood on her tip-toes and stretched out her little arms, bellybutton exposed and tiny fingernails white from gripping the edge of the desk so intensely, she called out to her daddy. "Daddy, look, I'm growing, I can reach all the way to the top now!" She was so proud of how she'd changed and how she could now reach the top like a big girl.
It made me think that this little everyday life picture is an example of how we should respond to God's desire to grow us. Think about what that little girl's daddy provided for her that allowed her to grow that way: food, water, love, doctors visits, a place to sleep. She was so excited to share and show him her growth. What if we recognized how completely we've been resourced for growth, as the above verses show? Then what if we embraced and rejoiced in the opportunity to grow as followers of Jesus like that little four year old did?!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Security
"He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord." -Psalm 112:7
There are those times when things come up in life that scare you and seem to throw your circumstances and security into extreme question. I love this saying I heard a pastor say in reference to fear: "stop concerning yourself with "what is" and start realizing that "who is" never changes."
There are those times when things come up in life that scare you and seem to throw your circumstances and security into extreme question. I love this saying I heard a pastor say in reference to fear: "stop concerning yourself with "what is" and start realizing that "who is" never changes."
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