There is a song called Lay Me Down, and the lyrics of the bridge say, "It will be my joy to say, 'Your will, Your way, always." I'm thinking and meditating on that today and realizing that the joy may not come when we submit to the Lord's will. The actual submission, the initial act of surrender can be hard and painful and and uncomfortable. But afterwards, when we are living in accordance with the will of God, is where we find joy.
Submitting to God's will can mean so many things. It can mean giving up things we hold dear, it can mean changing our behaviors or reorienting our lives. Those are not easy things to do, and doing them often requires that we conquer our fears and develop a new level of trust in the Lord. In the story of Saul/Paul's conversion we see an extreme example of the struggles associated with submission turning into a deep, abiding joy. Saul spent three days blinded, praying, before the Lord restored his sight. It was only after that time that he began to preach. Now, once he began preaching and living according to the will of the Lord, it wasn't that he never faced adversity, but Paul often wrote of his abiding contentment and joy in the Lord. He gave up everything, totally changed his life, and found true joy in the midst of all his circumstances.
Are you filled with joy today?
Today's Verse
Isaiah 30:21
And your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
An exploration of faith and hope in the midst of fibromyalgia and the various and sundry things of life.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Only One Thing
Planning and executing those plans is time consuming and thought consuming. It is worthy of our attention, and when God calls us to do things for Him we should do them to the utmost of our ability. We should to all things to glorify Him, to bring Him praise.
However, I have been thinking about the story of Mary and Martha, and their different attitudes when Jesus came to visit them. Martha was so pleased to see Jesus that she immediately went to work preparing a special meal. When Mary's response was to sit with Jesus, not to help Martha with her preparations, Martha was resentful. When she addressed her resentment with Jesus and asked him to support her and to tell Mary to help her, Jesus told her that it was Mary who had made the wiser choice. He said that only one thing was needed, and He would not take it away from Mary simply so she could help her sister.
As someone who likes to plan and then execute the plan, especially when it comes to things like hospitality, this story of Martha hits home. The last few weeks have been filled with welcome events for the new grad students on campus and in our ministry, and in my excitement and desire to make them feel welcome it would be so easy to continue to plan and execute events without actually taking the time to sit down and just be with them. It's easy to do this in our faith, too. When quiet time with the Lord or our time in fellowship with others or going to church become things we check off our to do list and not things that we invest our attention and intentions in, we risk developing the same attitude as Martha. We risk seeing others around us who have chosen rightly and resenting them for doing things differently. We risk losing sight of the one thing that we need.
Do you tend to be like Martha or Mary?
Today's Verse
Luke 10: 41-42
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
However, I have been thinking about the story of Mary and Martha, and their different attitudes when Jesus came to visit them. Martha was so pleased to see Jesus that she immediately went to work preparing a special meal. When Mary's response was to sit with Jesus, not to help Martha with her preparations, Martha was resentful. When she addressed her resentment with Jesus and asked him to support her and to tell Mary to help her, Jesus told her that it was Mary who had made the wiser choice. He said that only one thing was needed, and He would not take it away from Mary simply so she could help her sister.
As someone who likes to plan and then execute the plan, especially when it comes to things like hospitality, this story of Martha hits home. The last few weeks have been filled with welcome events for the new grad students on campus and in our ministry, and in my excitement and desire to make them feel welcome it would be so easy to continue to plan and execute events without actually taking the time to sit down and just be with them. It's easy to do this in our faith, too. When quiet time with the Lord or our time in fellowship with others or going to church become things we check off our to do list and not things that we invest our attention and intentions in, we risk developing the same attitude as Martha. We risk seeing others around us who have chosen rightly and resenting them for doing things differently. We risk losing sight of the one thing that we need.
Do you tend to be like Martha or Mary?
Today's Verse
Luke 10: 41-42
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Friday, September 6, 2013
Unexpected Growth Opportunities
There are so many new faces to be thankful for my life right now and I am so excited that God is growing not only the groups I am involved in, but also my relationships. Unexpectedly, however, I find that I have forgotten one of the most difficult things about meeting new people: revealing my...quirks. There are some things that go along with having fibromyalgia that are so normal to me that I don't really notice them until new people see them. Even my friends get used to them and they become commonplace occurrences, not meriting attention or acknowledgment - it's just me, and we all know it.
I shiver - it's actually really a twitch. Some people shiver when they get a chill, and it's a lot like that. The thing is, I'm rarely cold, so it isn't actually that I'm cold, it's just my nerves firing, making me shake. A lot of the time I wince when I stand up, or when I sit down, or when I shift in my seat. Some times my joints randomly hurt, and I yelp. And yet, despite the weirdness of all of these things, I forget that it's weird behavior until I'm surrounded by new people.
The great part about this, however, is that, while I have been slightly embarrassed that people notice these things, and while I have avoided the rather depressing "I have chronic pain" explanation, I can feel God stretching my comfort zone. I don't like admitting weakness, period. I don't like people noticing the ways that my condition makes me different. But, as more people notice, I have more opportunities to accept myself as I am, as God made me, and embrace it. I have more opportunities to be real with people, to be honest with them about myself, and to glorify God, to have a positive outlook, and to count all the other blessings in my life in spite of my illness.
How is God stretching you?
Today's Verse
2 Timothy 2: 15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
I shiver - it's actually really a twitch. Some people shiver when they get a chill, and it's a lot like that. The thing is, I'm rarely cold, so it isn't actually that I'm cold, it's just my nerves firing, making me shake. A lot of the time I wince when I stand up, or when I sit down, or when I shift in my seat. Some times my joints randomly hurt, and I yelp. And yet, despite the weirdness of all of these things, I forget that it's weird behavior until I'm surrounded by new people.
The great part about this, however, is that, while I have been slightly embarrassed that people notice these things, and while I have avoided the rather depressing "I have chronic pain" explanation, I can feel God stretching my comfort zone. I don't like admitting weakness, period. I don't like people noticing the ways that my condition makes me different. But, as more people notice, I have more opportunities to accept myself as I am, as God made me, and embrace it. I have more opportunities to be real with people, to be honest with them about myself, and to glorify God, to have a positive outlook, and to count all the other blessings in my life in spite of my illness.
How is God stretching you?
Today's Verse
2 Timothy 2: 15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Only God Can
Situations where solutions or goals can only be reached through the power of Christ are both exciting and incredibly daunting. I find myself in a number of those places right now and the realization that only He can bring these things to pass is both freeing but also incredibly challenging. I have to be willing to let Him move in me and to let Him place me where I need to be. No matter how much I try, only He can do the work that needs to be done.
I want God to use me, and my Spirit is willing, but so often my flesh is weak. At times my attitude isn't what it should be to begin with, other times I am simply weary of encountering the same obstacles over and over again. Then there are the times when a team needs to come together, so just having myself isn't enough, and I need to trust that God will raise others up as well.
I read a quote today from Tim Keller that said, "Putting our faith in Christ is not about trying harder; it means transferring our trust away from ourselves and resting in him." When I think of all the goals I have before me, this is key. I don't need to try harder, I need to stop trusting in myself, and instead rest in Him.
Are you trying harder or resting in the power of Christ?
Today's Verse
Phillipians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose
I want God to use me, and my Spirit is willing, but so often my flesh is weak. At times my attitude isn't what it should be to begin with, other times I am simply weary of encountering the same obstacles over and over again. Then there are the times when a team needs to come together, so just having myself isn't enough, and I need to trust that God will raise others up as well.
I read a quote today from Tim Keller that said, "Putting our faith in Christ is not about trying harder; it means transferring our trust away from ourselves and resting in him." When I think of all the goals I have before me, this is key. I don't need to try harder, I need to stop trusting in myself, and instead rest in Him.
Are you trying harder or resting in the power of Christ?
Today's Verse
Phillipians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Like He Sees Me
I really dislike self-evaluation. Whenever I do it, I find that there are two parts of me that go to war. First there is the part of me that wants to think well of myself. That part wants to focus on the things I do well, to recognize that there are areas where I can improve, but to generally be kind and loving towards myself. Then there is the other part. The other part of me doesn't think of well of me. It tells me that honest evaluation is evaluation that lists all my flaws. It tells me that the kind part of me isn't kind, it's dishonest. That it isn't give a fair and balanced review, it's giving a sugar-coated and false picture of who I am.
In these situations, I know that what I really need to do is to not focus on how I see myself at all. Instead, I need to ask God how He sees me. I need Him to guide me, I need Him to help me decide what to say about myself. If I leave it up to me, I'll simply end this task saddened or guilt-ridden. Luckily, God sees all of me and knows all of me. I am forgiven for my faults, yet He is just and so I know that any conviction He places on my heart is righteous. I can trust that, with His guidance, evaluation is not a journey of guilt but one of self-discovery and a chance for improvement. When I see myself like He sees me, even as I am corrected, I am safe, valued, protected, and loved.
Are you letting yourself see you as God sees you?
Today's Verse
Ephesians 1: 4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In these situations, I know that what I really need to do is to not focus on how I see myself at all. Instead, I need to ask God how He sees me. I need Him to guide me, I need Him to help me decide what to say about myself. If I leave it up to me, I'll simply end this task saddened or guilt-ridden. Luckily, God sees all of me and knows all of me. I am forgiven for my faults, yet He is just and so I know that any conviction He places on my heart is righteous. I can trust that, with His guidance, evaluation is not a journey of guilt but one of self-discovery and a chance for improvement. When I see myself like He sees me, even as I am corrected, I am safe, valued, protected, and loved.
Are you letting yourself see you as God sees you?
Today's Verse
Ephesians 1: 4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The Things that Count
It's a new semester here at Penn State and that brings with it all the usual advice for the freshman. The usual things can be heard around campus, in syllabi, at convocation, from the RAs, all trying to make sure that the freshman understand that they need to make their time count. I remember being a freshman in college and being told that, while graduation seemed very far away, the things I did in classes, the work I did (or didn't) do, mattered. The things I chose to put effort into or not would effect the outcome of my college career. I hear those same things being told now, here.
I, however, find myself so thankful that this is not the message we get from God about our pasts. Today I am thinking over parts of my past, and I am so thankful for the redeeming power of Christ. The things I did, or didn't do, don't count against me in light of the blood of Christ. I don't have a cumulative GPA in heaven, where I am constantly working to balance out my failing grades with some straight A semesters. Instead, my past is wiped clean, and I can trust the Lord to work in my heart to change me so that my future might be different from my past.
I needn't dwell on the past and constantly work to compensate for my mistakes. Christ has taken all of them upon Himself that I might be free. I am free to focus on the things that truly count, to praise and bring glory to the Lord in all that I do.
Today's Verse
1 John 1: 7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
I, however, find myself so thankful that this is not the message we get from God about our pasts. Today I am thinking over parts of my past, and I am so thankful for the redeeming power of Christ. The things I did, or didn't do, don't count against me in light of the blood of Christ. I don't have a cumulative GPA in heaven, where I am constantly working to balance out my failing grades with some straight A semesters. Instead, my past is wiped clean, and I can trust the Lord to work in my heart to change me so that my future might be different from my past.
I needn't dwell on the past and constantly work to compensate for my mistakes. Christ has taken all of them upon Himself that I might be free. I am free to focus on the things that truly count, to praise and bring glory to the Lord in all that I do.
Today's Verse
1 John 1: 7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Monday, September 2, 2013
A Proper Rest
In Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller writes, "You cannot have a proper work theology unless you have a proper rest theology." As a grad student, I clung to ideas like this. I knew needed rest, I would even say I yearned for it. To keep my work in perspective, to keep myself sane, I needed proper, God-centered rest.
Now I am discovering how easy it would be to forget the lessons about rest that I learned as a grad student. I am doing work that I love with people that I love. As a campus ministry volunteer, everything I've done in the first week or so of the semester has been incredible and energizing. I've adored every minute of it.
However, today I realized just how easy it would be to never have rest. The more people I meet and connect with, the more relationships I make, the happier I become, and the more effective I know I am in my job. Along with that, however, comes the opportunity to never be still, to always be out (or in) doing something with people, to never take the time to make sure that I am taking care of myself.
Today I am taking the time for proper rest. I want to spend today reflecting on all that God is doing, thanking Him for His provision. I want to make sure that I am focused on Him, that my life is centered where it should be.
What is your rest theology?
Today's Verse
Psalm 62: 5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Now I am discovering how easy it would be to forget the lessons about rest that I learned as a grad student. I am doing work that I love with people that I love. As a campus ministry volunteer, everything I've done in the first week or so of the semester has been incredible and energizing. I've adored every minute of it.
However, today I realized just how easy it would be to never have rest. The more people I meet and connect with, the more relationships I make, the happier I become, and the more effective I know I am in my job. Along with that, however, comes the opportunity to never be still, to always be out (or in) doing something with people, to never take the time to make sure that I am taking care of myself.
Today I am taking the time for proper rest. I want to spend today reflecting on all that God is doing, thanking Him for His provision. I want to make sure that I am focused on Him, that my life is centered where it should be.
What is your rest theology?
Today's Verse
Psalm 62: 5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
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