God's Word

I've been meaning to write this entry sicne thursday.Right now I'm taking Exegesis of JEremiah.We spent all of thursday's class talking about the call narrative in the first chapter.Seeing as how I'm a seminary student who doesn't know what life is going to look like when I graduate in 2 years, this is a topic that I always pay special attention to.

At any rate, we spent some time talking about God's Word.Our prof said that God's Word possesses a power that we may not even believe is there-but it is irregardless of our own opinions.This comment struck me.I do believe that God's Word is life, it's food for us Christians, it holds weight in our lives, it's authoratative.But I also admit that maybe I haven't allowed myself to believe that God's Word alone can change lives.I know this may sound horrible, but I grew up in church.The Word always came to me via other people.And no doubt,God can use this as a means of grace.But what about the Atheist who pulls out the Bible in a hotel room on a whim and reads the gospel account and his/her heart is transformed by the Spirit? That is the power of God's Word.

This whole discussion reminded me of the first year I went to Wales.It was the first year a team had been sent to this town, so really our job was to plant seeds.Isaiah 55 became the theme of that week very quickly.It really did boil down to trusting that God would accomplish what He desired.The next two years were such a blessing because we got to see that foundation being built upon.

So yeah,I just thought it was pretty darn awesome to reflect on the power God's Word holds!

In His Mercy...

Being Type A

This past Sunday, I was trying to figure out why it is that when it comes to music, I want to get everything perfectly.I hate messing up and get visibly frustrated with myself-at least during rehearsal.I stress-out when we don't have praise band rehearsal or when I can't go.I feel like I have to practice. WHy is that???

Well,I realized something.Growing up, it seemed like everybody had their "thing." I had friends who were dancers, star athletes, ridiculously good students, etc etc. Music was my thing-particularly playing classical guitar.Let me tell you something, I was pretty much the only one who played classical guitar.So by default, I was the best.Maybe without even realizing it, I made myself into a perfectionist when it came to music because I so desparately wanted to be the best at something- like I had to prove myself.

Well,this thinking is faulty.Last week, I opted not to go to praise band rehearsal due to exhaustion and a cough I was trying to shake.I told myself I wasn't going to stress out about getting things perfectly.On past Sundays after a week of no rehearsal, I've made some mistakes here and there.I thought about it so much afterwards and kicked myself for making those mistakes, when really I'm sure no one was sitting at home those nights thinking, "Wow,Sarah came in at the totally wrong time on that song." I realized on Sunday, that when it becomes about me "getting things right," then it's no longer worship.It becomes about me "proving" to everyone that I have talent.God didn't give me a voice to sing with so I could show off or try to prove myself; He gave me a voice to sing songs for Him, to Him, and for the edification of the Body of Christ.So how can I edify the Body?Well, for one,I can stop trying to be a perfectionist.And for another thing, I can remind myself that I am free to worship the Lord.I need to let the Holy Spirit sing through me.As long as I keep my "Type A" personality in this respect, I am inhibiting the Spirit's movement in me.

So yeah,just some things I've been thinking about.

In His Mercy.

P.S.I'm ready for Spring Break!!!

Love vs. Power

I recently read in two different books that I'm reading the difference between love and power.Power coerces people into action, while love moves people into action.We often see power as a good thing, but really, "power" is a manipulative tool of a select group of people that occupy "high places in society." I know that this statement probably seems a bit bold, but let me qualify my statement.Power in and of itself is a dangerous thing. Hitler had power-and aside from a major heartbreak in the middle of the 20th century, what did his "power" accomplish for humanity? We often see wealthy people as people of power because they have lots of money and we think that money makes us important.A lot of times when money is used as a source of power, people manipulate rules and regulations-and get away with it- while in the meantime everyone else around them resents them.

On the other hand, we have love.Love moves people to action.Love is the cry of every human heart.Think about Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, or William Wilberforce.None of them had "power" in the eyes of society, but they all had love and look what they accomplished! Love fills a basic human need and acting out of love has an amazing power to change things for the better.Power apart from love is useless-but power coming out of acts of love can have a lasting impact. Joy and happiness replace resentment and bitterness. Not all of us have lots of money-but love is something that God offers to everyone, free of charge, and and it's that love that truly has power!!!

In His Mercy...

Be Still

Be still my soul:the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still my soul:thy best, thy heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still my soul:Thy God doth undertake to guide the future as he has the past;
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still my soul:the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still my soul:the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When dissapointment, fear, and grief are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still my soul:when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

I love this hymn.God put it on my heart today as I reflected on how life is going these days.Life is exhausting, but it seems that I can only see this when I go to sleep at night.I have enough going on where I don't take the time to process through things as they happen.I lay my head on my pillow, already tasting the glorious sleep I look forward to, but find my mind racing a mile a minute.I think about what has happened, what hasn't happened, what I want to happen, what I have to accomplish. All the while God is saying, "Be still.Not just when you lay your head to rest, but always.Be still and know that I am God."

My problem is that I forget sometimes that the Lord is on my side.Without even realizing it,I lean on my own strength, which is really just an illusion because I have no strength apart from Jesus Christ.Maybe the fact that my mind is racing a mile a minute is a sign that I have allowed ministry to be an excuse for my business.I don't have to do everything.This errs on the side of works righteousness-or atleast has the danger of heading in that direction.When this semester is over,I need to re-evaulate where my involvement should lie.

But until then,I need to find time to be still.God guided me in the past, so has He already taken care of my future.He is with me in the present.Be still....

In His Mercy.

I'm Pressing On

Church was awesome today.It was a kingdom service, which meant all three services were there-which in turn meant a trilingual service.There was communion, singing, and a sermon that got me thinking....

Aaron talked about leaving the past in the past and the importance of forgiveness.One thing that he said was that we can't let who we were beat-up who we are.It's so easy to clutch onto guilt and shame of things we have done wrong.I can make a whole list of all the ways I've screwed-up in just this past year! But what is the point of that? When we don't forgive-either ourselves or others- we carry this emotional and mental baggage that can just eat away at our hearts- and this gives the devil a ncie little foothold! God's Word says that there is no condemantion for those who are in Christ Jesus.That's the beauty of grace-it's completely unfair.

So yes,there are things in my life that I'm not proud of, but I can't dwell on those things.The fact of the matter is, if I could go back and change any of those things, I wouldn't.Those things have shaped my character, my heart,and my faith.In fact, it was because of a colossal mistake when I was 15 that I became a Christian.After two years of some serious soul-searching, I fell on my knees one night and gave my life to the Lord.I think that those things that we repent of are opportunities- to a deeper faith, to be made new day in and day out.Life is amazing like that-it is so full of opportunities and that makes me excited to see what God has in store for me! Yeah,I'll mess up again, plenty of times! But God is a God of grace, mercy, forgiveness,and new life! There is always room to grow...

In His Mercy...

William Wilberforce

So if you haven't gone to see Amazing Grace yet,you should.It's an incredible movie! There were a few things that really stood out to me.One is the fact that William Wilberforce was one person, a commoner, who had a passion and acted on it.And look what he accomplished? How often do we say/think that we are only one person and what could we possibly accomplish of consequence?By saying this we are in a sense limiting what God can do through us.Through one man's passion, slavery was abolished.All it takes is one small spark to start a fire...

I was also struck by John Newton in the movie. At one point he said, "I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior." I think that sums up the life of a Christian.We are so good at sinning...praise God for His grace in Jesus Christ.He certainly is a great savior.

There was one other thing about John Newton that brought tears to my eyes.John Newton wrote Amazing Grace (the song) after being redeemed from being a slave-driver.As the years past of his life, he became physically blind.Wilberforce visits him towards the end of the movie and John says, "I was once was blind,but now I see.I wrote those words once,didn't I? Now at last it's true!" True sight isn't having 20/20 vision (although sometimes I wish I did have 20/20 vision=) ). True sight seeing the truth of Jesus Christ.It's repenting of our sin and allowing God to awaken our spiritual senses.Only then can we truly see...

So yeah,good movie.

In His Mercy...