I found a new cool verse while reading my Bible for New Testament class. I don't like reading the Bible for class so much because it takes away from the amazing, inspiring, convicting message I usually get from it. It becomes less God's love letter to us, and more the professor's assignment for us. And who likes assignments? But, whether or not it's an assignment, it's still God's word and God was still able to speak to me (it's God; I doubt he found it difficult to do).
Anyways, here is the very cool verse I'd like to share with you. I don't think I've ever heard it before. We always here the one in James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead," but I like this new one as well from Galatians 5:6b "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Amen!! We go to heaven by faith alone, grace alone, Jesus alone; but what is faith without love? Certainly not the kind of faith Jesus talked about having.
Express your faith through love!
Another thought from Francis Chan...when people leave a church, they shouldn't be thinking "Wow, great music," or, "That pastor was wearing a nice tie," or, "Free donuts were a nice touch." No, they should be thinking, "Wow, I have never been in a place seeped in so much love!" People should leave Christian churches completely blown away by the amount of love in them.
Is that how America's churches are? Maybe- I hope so!
But I'm afraid a lot of them are being too distracted by business, church politics, catty drama, or other things when there are people coming into those churches who need to see and feel genuine love.
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6b
Monday, February 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
"Cannot Keep You" by Gungor
Enjoy:) And maybe feel a little conviction just to spice things up:)
CANNOT KEEP YOU by: GUNGOR
They tried to keep you in a tent
They could not keep you in a temple
Or any of their idols, to see and understand
We cannot keep you in a church
We cannot keep you in a Bible
Oh it's just another idol to box you in
They could not keep you in their walls
We cannot keep you in ours either
For you are so much greater
Who is like the Lord
The maker of the heavens
Who dwells with the poor
He lifts them from the ashes
And He seats them among princes
Who is like the Lord
We've tried to keep you in our tents
We've tried to keep you in our temples
We've worshiped all our idols
We want all that to end
So we will find you in the streets
And we will find you in the prisons
And even in our Bibles and churches
Who is like the Lord
The maker of the heavens
Who dwells with the poor
He lifts them from the ashes
And He seats them among princes
Who is like the Lord
We cannot contain, cannot contain
The glory of your name
We cannot contain, cannot contain
The glory of your name
We cannot contain, cannot contain
The glory of your name
Who is like the Lord
You took me from the ashes
And you healed me from my blindness
Who is like the Lord
Loving While Hurting
Sometimes I find it hard to distinguish love and...other things. Maybe that means I'm not really feeling love. But then I also believe that maybe love is deeper than just feeling...so this leaves me confused.
Let me explain.
My dad was asked to resign from his job as a pastor a couple of weeks ago by the board of directors at my church. This past week was his last Sunday as their senior pastor. Honestly, it was like being kicked out of a family. I mean, the church is a family, it's a community, it's a body; so being told to leave hurts. I was very, very angry at the people who caused this to happen. However, last Saturday night, my mom told me to be kind and to show love to those people. Actually, I believe she phrased it "Jesus' love."
I am not sure that I did that. Maybe I did. I did not punch anyone. I did not make any snide comments. I did not call anybody out. (Earlier I had made the argument that Jesus called people out all the time, but my mom quickly told me that in that case I could let Jesus do it.) However, did I show love? I did not seek anyone out to show them that I forgave them. I did not go out of my way to be kind to anyone who I knew did not support my dad.
I think that my actions could be better defined as passive than loving.
But how could I love when I was still so hurt? What does that kind of love look like?
Ok, well while writing that, I realized what it looks like...I wish I would think of things while they were happening so that I could better live them out! I guess that's why the phrase "live and learn" exists. Anyways, here is what I think that love looks like:
"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" Luke 23:33-34
They didn't just fire Jesus from a job or a family- they were firing him from like, life. And he forgave them. Out loud. While dying. That is some intense stuff.
I think I have forgiven the people who hurt my father. I do not agree with them; I do not support them; but I think I have forgiven them. Jesus is bigger than my situation.
I learned this from Louie Giglio, who in turn learned it from Jesus, but: My circumstance or situation does not affect me being free and alive in Christ.
How cool is that? There is no reason for us to complain anymore. Ever. My dad lost his job? Well I'm free and alive in Christ! I'm stressed and not getting enough sleep? What does that matter when I am free and alive in Christ!
We have the freedom to love. It's not a burden, it's a gift! It's a freedom!
So this is cool. I started this post, confused on how to love someone when you were being hurt by them and Jesus has since answered my question.
Now...to live it out...
Let me explain.
My dad was asked to resign from his job as a pastor a couple of weeks ago by the board of directors at my church. This past week was his last Sunday as their senior pastor. Honestly, it was like being kicked out of a family. I mean, the church is a family, it's a community, it's a body; so being told to leave hurts. I was very, very angry at the people who caused this to happen. However, last Saturday night, my mom told me to be kind and to show love to those people. Actually, I believe she phrased it "Jesus' love."
I am not sure that I did that. Maybe I did. I did not punch anyone. I did not make any snide comments. I did not call anybody out. (Earlier I had made the argument that Jesus called people out all the time, but my mom quickly told me that in that case I could let Jesus do it.) However, did I show love? I did not seek anyone out to show them that I forgave them. I did not go out of my way to be kind to anyone who I knew did not support my dad.
I think that my actions could be better defined as passive than loving.
But how could I love when I was still so hurt? What does that kind of love look like?
Ok, well while writing that, I realized what it looks like...I wish I would think of things while they were happening so that I could better live them out! I guess that's why the phrase "live and learn" exists. Anyways, here is what I think that love looks like:
"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" Luke 23:33-34
They didn't just fire Jesus from a job or a family- they were firing him from like, life. And he forgave them. Out loud. While dying. That is some intense stuff.
I think I have forgiven the people who hurt my father. I do not agree with them; I do not support them; but I think I have forgiven them. Jesus is bigger than my situation.
I learned this from Louie Giglio, who in turn learned it from Jesus, but: My circumstance or situation does not affect me being free and alive in Christ.
How cool is that? There is no reason for us to complain anymore. Ever. My dad lost his job? Well I'm free and alive in Christ! I'm stressed and not getting enough sleep? What does that matter when I am free and alive in Christ!
We have the freedom to love. It's not a burden, it's a gift! It's a freedom!
So this is cool. I started this post, confused on how to love someone when you were being hurt by them and Jesus has since answered my question.
Now...to live it out...
Monday, January 24, 2011
When to Love Radically
So last night two of my girl friends and I had to do some homework and so at about 10:30 pm we set off for a little cafe near downtown Austin to study and write our papers (boys were going to come but they ended up backing out at the last minute - in the meanwhile, homework had to be done!). While we were there, two older men (37 and 40) came and sat at the booth next to us and began to strike up a conversation. While generally this is not socially acceptable, I personally love it when strangers talk. It makes me feel like the world is more connected and in community than we generally think. I just believe that if we're all humans, why not all be friends instead of all of us living in our own little worlds and constantly missing the fun of the other worlds around us? I don't know if that makes sense but that is why I like it when strangers strike up conversations.
Anyways, we ended up talking to them on and off for about two hours. The subjects of conversation ranged from religion and politics to our favorite movies. The discussions/arguments were heated and opinionated and for not knowing each other, I would say it was one of the most interesting and eye opening conversations I've ever had. I was seriously surprised at how stereotypical and judgmental someone his age could be. It hurt my heart.
Now here is where the question of how to love/live radically comes up. As we were leaving, they were waiting by the side of the road for a cab. It was very cold for a night in Texas and they asked us for a ride home instead of waiting. My friends and I freaked out, said no, hopped in the car and sped away. As a young female college student, is it right for me to withhold love if it is not the safe thing to do? Or should I risk danger so that I can truly love? In this situation, I believe we did the right thing. No middle aged man in his right mind could possibly think that it is socially acceptable to ask girls our age for a ride at 2am. However, in similar situations....I do not know what the answer to this is. I feel as though I should love; but most people do not agree with that.
This is something I have a feeling I will be speculating on every time I am put in a situation where being a young woman makes me hold back Jesus' radical and gritty love...
Anyways, we ended up talking to them on and off for about two hours. The subjects of conversation ranged from religion and politics to our favorite movies. The discussions/arguments were heated and opinionated and for not knowing each other, I would say it was one of the most interesting and eye opening conversations I've ever had. I was seriously surprised at how stereotypical and judgmental someone his age could be. It hurt my heart.
Now here is where the question of how to love/live radically comes up. As we were leaving, they were waiting by the side of the road for a cab. It was very cold for a night in Texas and they asked us for a ride home instead of waiting. My friends and I freaked out, said no, hopped in the car and sped away. As a young female college student, is it right for me to withhold love if it is not the safe thing to do? Or should I risk danger so that I can truly love? In this situation, I believe we did the right thing. No middle aged man in his right mind could possibly think that it is socially acceptable to ask girls our age for a ride at 2am. However, in similar situations....I do not know what the answer to this is. I feel as though I should love; but most people do not agree with that.
This is something I have a feeling I will be speculating on every time I am put in a situation where being a young woman makes me hold back Jesus' radical and gritty love...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Learning to Love
I've been thinking a lot lately about how to love like Jesus because while his love was crazy and radical and difficult, my love tends to seem lame and mediocre. Even love for him, the Creator of everything and a being actually made out of love- he literally reeks of love- is hard for me to muster up sometimes. I can never love him enough.
In "Crazy Love" Francis Chan writes, "It confuses me when loving God is hard. Shouldn't it be easy to love a God so wonderful?...It may sound 'un-Christian' to say that on some mornings I don't feel like loving God, or I just forget to. But I do. In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him." I wholeheartedly agree. What's the deal?! It is actually difficult for me to sincerely love my Creator and his creations.
In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love me, you will do what I command." That doesn't just mean not stealing and not cussing. It doesn't just mean to smile at someone who looks sad. It means disciplining, being willing to give up everything I own, and dying to myself. It means genuinely loving the person who annoys me most. It means not spending my money on things that don't matter but actually getting up off of my butt and doing what I can to stop injustice, hunger, and preventable diseases in other countries. It means picking up my cross (as David Platt puts it, my "instrument of torture") and following Jesus.
I know it's a crazy endeavor and it's going to be difficult and I may end up lonely and rejected at times, but I want to live for the Jesus who loved me enough to die a nasty, awful, painful death; and that means learning to love like him. This next passage is just the beginning of some of the stuff Jesus asks us to do. It's gonna be a crazy ride.
Matthew 25: 34-45
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"
In "Crazy Love" Francis Chan writes, "It confuses me when loving God is hard. Shouldn't it be easy to love a God so wonderful?...It may sound 'un-Christian' to say that on some mornings I don't feel like loving God, or I just forget to. But I do. In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him." I wholeheartedly agree. What's the deal?! It is actually difficult for me to sincerely love my Creator and his creations.
In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love me, you will do what I command." That doesn't just mean not stealing and not cussing. It doesn't just mean to smile at someone who looks sad. It means disciplining, being willing to give up everything I own, and dying to myself. It means genuinely loving the person who annoys me most. It means not spending my money on things that don't matter but actually getting up off of my butt and doing what I can to stop injustice, hunger, and preventable diseases in other countries. It means picking up my cross (as David Platt puts it, my "instrument of torture") and following Jesus.
I know it's a crazy endeavor and it's going to be difficult and I may end up lonely and rejected at times, but I want to live for the Jesus who loved me enough to die a nasty, awful, painful death; and that means learning to love like him. This next passage is just the beginning of some of the stuff Jesus asks us to do. It's gonna be a crazy ride.
Matthew 25: 34-45
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"
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