In a way it's a bit dishonest to say that I haven't had time to write until now. Truthfully I've had a bit more time in my schedule this week. However, I've been spending a lot of time on Facebook. Some people may say I'm creepy, but I genuinely love to know about people's lives, and this is an exciting time of year. People are talking about their Spring Break adventures, sharing frustration about school and anticipation for summer, and posting pictures of Spring Dances. I'm such a girl, I really love seeing it all. Perfectly harmless interest, right? Well... sometimes. On days like today my time on Facebook is less than healthy. I've been spending time looking at my recent pictures and postings, and comparing them to others. For someone like me who often suffers depression, comparison is a toxic thing. I can always find someone else to envy. I can always find a reason to call myself boring or ugly. What a terrible attitude to indulge! Each person is different, and each person is uniquely beautiful. Psalm 139:14 is often used, but it's worth hearing again and again - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Each of us is made carefully by God, as one of his prized creations. It seems natural to look at nature - landscapes, animals, plants - and praise God for the beauty he creates. We should have the same praise for ourselves. Not one hair on your nose, or scar on your knee, or wart on your foot is a mistake. Yes, our bodies are marred by sin. But God works in all situations, and He has worked beautiful things for you, inside and out.
One thing I'm guilty of is using the phrase "If only..." when comparing myself to others. "If only I had her eye color, I'd look great." "If my hair was just that easy to style, I'd never have to worry about it." I even envy personalities, saying, "If only I could be as comfortable around people as they are, I'd have a much better opinion of myself." The problem is, these things don't fit into the unique scheme of our lives. Who can say how different hair would change my life? The one thing I can say is that God meant for me to look and act exactly as I do, and no minute change is going to make me suddenly happier. The key to beauty isn't a certain look. It's a certain attitude. It's truly believing that there are great plans laid out for your life, and that you will fit into them perfectly, just the way you are.
"If my boss thinks I work hard, it doesn't matter what I actually do."
"Everyone gets a pay raise, why should I work harder than anyone else?"
"I'm tired and I have better things to do. I need to take care of myself first."
These and many others are excuses that I've used at work, and I'm sure you have too. When we first begin a job we often start out on the right foot, wanting to impress our supervisor and set ourselves up above the rest. But it usually doesn't take long before we've figured out how to cut corners and put forth as little effort as possible. It's human nature to look out for self before serving others. Maybe it's even hard to look at your job as a service to others. In reality though, nearly every job, no matter how "mundane", is one that serves people in some way. Making food, keeping a store in order, sitting at a welcome desk - all these and more make life easier for others.
Hmmm... Service to others... This is starting to sound like a Christian issue. Truthfully, it is. God says numerous times in the Bible that we should put forth our best effort in all the work we do. His will for us is almost painfully clear in Colossians 3:23-24:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
When I read this, I felt ashamed. In both academics and employment, I'm guilty of giving partial effort because it seems to not matter. In my pride, I put myself first, claiming that it's better for my health and sanity to "take it easy". It's important to remember that every earthly task placed in front of us is a chance to glorify God. He gives us the ability to carry out our calling, and He deserves the credit when we succeed. When we give our best effort it is a testimony to the blessings God has given us, and a witness to those we are serving with love and joy.
Ever get that feeling like you're just invisible? Sometimes it's just a feeling. You're having a bad day, you don't feel special, so you don't believe anyone notices you. Sometimes it's real. Someone might be ignoring you on purpose. Neither of these scenarios is good. Humans are social beings, we thrive on interaction. Some of us seek less attention than others, but we all want attention at one time or another.
I know that, personally, one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone avoids me. Maybe they just don't like me, or we're experiencing conflict. In either case, I'm a woman of action. I like to resolve things quickly. The worst thing for me is to just sit and stew. If I feel like something is not being said, it bugs me. I dwell on it. I wonder if it's just not that big of a deal or if I'm being left out of something important.
This semester I'm in a class called Interpersonal Communications. One of the things we've learned is how important it is to communicate openly. Receiving the "silent treatment" is one of the worst feelings to experience. It's vital to actively listen to people and let them know that you value them.
God never gives us the "silent treatment". It's true that he doesn't generally speak audible words to us. But he communicates in so many other ways: his Word in the Bible, our circumstances, events in our lives, people that we meet, etc. We should strive to listen whenever and however he speaks to us. He always listens to us. In Isaiah 65:24 He says, "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
God listens to us even before we speak. He truly hears the deepest words of our hearts. Sometimes that seems like a scary thought, if you consider the sinfulness that we harbor inside. Fear not. He always loves us, always forgives us, and always continues to speak to us.
Some people are afraid of storms. I can't say I'm one of those people. When it's raining hard and there's thunder and lightning you're actually likely to find me under the roof of my back porch, watching and breathing in the storm. I do understand why storms are scary though. They're so powerful, and so unpredictable. They can cause so much damage.
We have storms in our lives sometimes. Days, weeks, and months when it seems like things are out of control and there's so much damage occurring. Those are the storms that I am afraid of.
We often talk about bad things - fights, injuries, crises - as the raindrops of life. They all fall down at once and make us feel cold and miserable. It's hard to find shelter. But if we look beyond our present misery, those raindrops might be doing some good. The rain that falls from the sky, though sometimes inconvenient, is essential to our earth. Maybe those hard times in life are also essential. They teach us so many things. They teach us to look for the good in life and be thankful in all circumstances. They teach us to be content. They teach us patience. Psalm 40:1-3 says:
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to out God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."
It's always interesting after (or during) a long ordeal to look back and consider how God is using the rain to bring forth new growth in your life. He is a master of using everything in our lives for our good. What is an unexpected way in which God has blessed you lately?
There are two common viewpoints that I've encountered in my life. I never really gave much thought to either. And I certainly never realized the connection until this morning. It was a beautiful Spirit-filled moment.
First, there's the view I've gotten from society about rules. How often do we appreciate rules? If I'm being honest with myself, I'd have to say not very often. Generally the viewpoint is that rules are hindrances. They make life less fun and too complicated.
Second, there's the view I've heard from church about sin. Often we hear in church that sin puts us in bondage. It makes sense that those things which go against God's plan would cause chaos and hurt in our lives.
So how are these two viewpoints connected? As usual, the viewpoint of the church (or more accurately, the Bible) is healthier than that of the world. As I've grown older and developed a broader mind, I've been able to see the usefulness in laws and rules. They keep us safe and protect our rights. The same goes with God's law. His law, when kept perfectly, is the perfect rulebook for a happy life.
A friend of mine gave me a devotional book for Christmas called Breaking Free Day by Day. As I've read through each day and gone about my daily life, it's really hit me how bound we are by sin. Particularly those "harmless" sins of the mind such as despair, hatred, pride, and jealousy. Why do we hang on to them? Why do we allow ourselves to be chained up daily by thoughts and attitudes that hinder our ability to love? The answer is simple: We are sinful beings. It's our human nature to cling to the sins that seem so natural to us. I will admit that sometimes it feels good to be angry or arrogant. But the momentary rush that comes from allowing those feelings to have control cannot even compare to the lasting relief of letting them go.
As I said, sin comes naturally to us. We're born with it. So it's hard to let go. That's why we have to rely on Christ Jesus, giving our sins to him. He's the only one who can take them and truly make them disappear. He even says it himself! "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:34-36)
It's a daily process, but it's so worth it. Confession is difficult, but there is peace to be found in the forgiveness of God and any others affected by our sin. Although the law may seem a burden, it's actually the best way to avoid the burden of sin. God gives us rules so that we can live peacefully with each other and enjoy his blessings.
"I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.
I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord;
do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free."
Psalm 119:30-32
Let go of your sins, live by the law, and be free!
I had the privilege of spending this last weekend at the Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (OAFC) New Years Gathering, and I must say, this year may have been my favorite ever. Many different factors contributed to this, but a large part of it was the theme chosen for this year - "Unity Through Humility". The devotions and Bible studies that saturated the weekend came at just the right time with just the right theme for my life. Hopefully I can implement the lessons learned. The theme verses for the event came from Philippians 2:1-11, which I've already talked about before in this post. So I thought I'd look at another section associated with the theme that was the subject of one of our Bible studies.
1 Corinthians 12 talks about spiritual gifts and our role in the body of Christ. Verses 17 and 18 say, "If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
I could go on for quite a while with the literal meaning of these verses. Our physical bodies are truly miraculous in the way they are arranged for maximum efficiency. Just the other day I got a good laugh from a friend who was musing about the complications that would arise if our mouths were in the back of our heads, rather than the front. Anyway, the passage is really using the physical body as an analogy for the "Body of Christ" - the growing, moving, and working church. This doesn't even just apply to one congregation or denomination. All Christians are called to follow Christ's example and work together in His service. We are called to Christian unity. We must make peace with each other and be unified to fully live out our Christian purpose. And the best way to do that is by taking on an attitude of humility. This doesn't mean that we cannot recognize the importance of our own individual gifts. The verses above speak to the contrary. Each personality carries with it special abilities and functions that are necessary. These gifts are from God, and should be celebrated and esteemed! However the danger comes when we begin to esteem our own abilities more than those of others.
It is all too easy to look at a situation you are in the midst of and convince yourself that you're contributing more than someone else. That attitude is prideful, and quite honestly narrow-minded. It breeds jealousy and contempt. My personal experience has made it clear that jealousy and contempt are poisonous emotions that drain time and energy. If we go back to 1 Corinthians 12:26, we find a better suggestion for relating to people around us: "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." If we are truly unified and truly humble, this is how we should react to each other, showing compassion for each others hardships and joy for each others blessings. There is no room for jealousy and contempt next to such strong love. Love is an emotion that really satisfies.
I know very well that it's often hard to swallow our sinfully selfish human nature. We have our own sorrows, how can we bear the sorrows of others? In the end however, it's always worth it when you find yourself being the one who needs sympathy or congratulations. Compassion is a sacrifice that often reaps great rewards. Strive every day to see the value in everything around you, and recognize the importance of people's actions. Everyone deserves to feel appreciated.
It really was rather difficult to put a name on this post. I have hardly any personal thoughts this time around. Honestly, right now I barely feel worth listening to, but I know that God is always worth listening to. I've been looking up verses of comfort, and looking at verses having to do with fear. Now is a time of uncertainty and fear in my life and he lives of those I care about, but I know that God doesn't want us to fear. Moreover, if we are walking with God, we have no reason to fear. Most of these verses are from the Old Testament. Usually I'm guilty of overlooking those stuffy old books, but I realized that it's very fitting to draw comfort for fear out of them. The Israelites were constantly besieged and downtrodden by their enemies, and had plenty of reason to lose hope. But God had hope for them, and that hope is certainly good enough for my fears. So I'll share with you the scripture that I've found.
Isaiah 40:1-2 - "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."
Psalm 46:1-2 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."
Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"
Psalm 91:5, 9-10 - "You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day... If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."
Proverbs 29:25 - "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."
Isaiah 41:12-13 - "Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who rage war against you sill be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'"
Jeremiah 17:7-8 - "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (One of my favorites)
Matthew 10:29-31 - "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (another favorite)
And finally, in this hopeful season of Advent:
Isaiah 9:2 - "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
