1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

So this is not a very deep post tonight - but I just wanted to comment on the basic truth in this verse. Don't worry, I'm not going to get into the debate of who will rise first and other theological details implied and not clearly defined. All I want to say is that (a) I am blessed with such good friends that I got to hang out with all day today; I'm so glad we share the same Lord. And (b) that I long for heaven and a place that isn't filled with the sickness of sin like the world we currently know. I can't even imagine the feeling of being with the Lord forever. I can't wait!

John 14:13-14, New International Version

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

In several conversations in my life, these verses have cause interesting conversation among Christians. I see people react to it three ways. One, you agree; God will do anything you ask. Two, you disagree; God isn't a vending machine and doesn't always give us what we ask for. Or three (which is what I believe), I agree in context; God wants us to request things in His name that are for His glory so that He is lifted up. This isn't a shopping list prayer, this isn't a "be all and heal all" power, this is truly seeking God's will in prayer and following His leading in the conversation to ask what you know God is willing, not what we want.

For instance, read the same verses in the Message: From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.

I think the difference is clear. But I still like hearing opposing or different views on it. What do you think?

Romans 12:17-21, The Message

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Last weekend I hung out with a new friend. Although we've been aquaintances for several months, we've never interacted socially. To be frank, I didn't think I liked this individual. I knew we have nothing in common, we live very different lives, and our conversations have never been effortless or enjoyable. Pretty harsh, huh? To my surprise, we had a great time together. Granted, the conversation didn't always flow and our differences only because more pronounced as we got to know each other more. BUT, I had misjudged this person and, clearly (see above verses), that was wrong. So point #1 of this post - I was wrong to judge and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I have a new friend in someone very different from me. Shame on me for not believing it was possible in the first place.

Point #2 of this post, do good. Be generous. See verses 20 and 21 -- surprise people with goodness. I love that idea. Let's go do it.

Ruth 1:16-17, The Message

"Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"

Just as Ruth made this promise to Naomi when she chose an unfamiliar land over the comfort of her own people, so I too make this same covenant to God tonight. I pledge to go where to the places God gives me as "home" whether familiar or not, I chose to live there with all my heart and not look back. I promise to do my best to love all people the way God loves them; to teach and show them my God. No matter the cost, my life is His.

C.S. Lewis

"Faith in this sense arises after a man has tried his level best to practise the Christian virtues, and found that he fails, and seen that even if he could he would only be giving back to God what was already God’s own. In other words, he discovers his bankruptcy.... What he [God] cares about is that we should be creatures of a certain kind or quality—the kind of creatures He intended us to be—creatures related to Himself in a certain way. I do not add ‘and related to one another in a certain way’, because that is included: if you are right with Him you will inevitably be right with all your fellow-creatures."[Ch. 12]

What are your thoughts and/or reactions? I really want to know how this passage makes you feel.

James 3:17-18, The Message

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

I've been convicted almost every day for the last week of my lack of love for those in my life. There is so much more I could be doing. First, praying consistently for them. Coworkers, small group girls, family, and friends. Second, I was guilty of picking an argument with someone this week. According to these verses from James, I was not being very wise or overflowing with grace. Third, I want to work hard building a community, a robust community, of people who depend on God to provide their needs through the family that they become.

I don't think we emphasize honor enough in our western culture and I'd like to do my part to put honor higher on the priority list in my life and thus bring pleasure and glory to God too.

Hebrews 6:10, NIV

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

I thought a lot today about missional living. It's so important to me, I hardly go more than a day or two without thinking about opportunities I have to speak about the Word, to love like the Lord, or to learn something new about God. My challenge for the last year and a half (since returning from a year in Ireland) has been to figure out this missional lifestyple apart from the organized mission field. I might sound repetitive to those who read this regularly, but this is what I think about. All the time. I don't want to give up my desire to serve God in other countries. So I'm going to keep pursuing that calling while also "blooming where I'm planted," even if it is currently inside a cubicle.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have...

I'm working towards this freedom of the stresses of money; however, it's a difficult task for me and I'm having to teach myself some very touch lessons along the way. At the same time, I really hate money and I hate that I give it so much time and thought. I'm tempted more and more frequently to sell all of my stuff and give away more money and live more simply. "Live simply so others may simply live." By de-complicating my life I will be hear less noise and be more available to hear God.

Romans 11:33-36, The Message

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?

Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him.

I miss the tradition of a doxology that was read at the end of every service when I attended St. Judes Church of Ireland in Belfast. The doxology usually sounded like these verses in that it always was scripture and brought glory to God. I liked being sent out from a church service each week with scripture that uplifts and inspires. I need to be better about filling my prayers with scripture and conversations with praise.

Zephaniah 3:17, New Living Translation

"For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

I remember the first time a friend in college showed me this verse. I don't know why I hadn't seen it before, or why they hadn't stood out to me if I had seen them before. But I find they comfort me in the times when I feel alone or unwanted. Tonight isn't one of those times, but the people I know if my life who are going through this time -- this verse is for you tonight. Affirm this truth in your mind, claim these words as your comfort. Don't let doubt rattle you because God is your warrior. Say it again and again until your heart believes. There is cause to rejoice.

2 Corinthians 8:12-15, The Message

Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,
Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

I like the part that I put in italics because it reminds me that I can't do what I can't do. You see, I sometimes wonder if I have an attention disorder because of my ever-changing hobbies and projects. In the last two months I have made a quilt, homemade jam, a dress form mannequin, canned my own tomato sauce, sketched an idea for a painting, read two books, potted plants, and continued to work on refinishing furniture. Once I pick something up, I get an idea for something new. While this might seem all well and good, it results in a lot of unfinished projects.

All that aside, these verses (which we talked about at small group tonight...and it was awesome) help me remember to take it easy. Not just with crafts and projects, but with my day-to-day spiritual hopes and goals, with my desire to be more generous with my time and intellect. I can't do what I can't do. If I don't have the money, I can't give it away. If I don't have the truth, I can't speak it. If I don't have the time, I can't be there. We don't have to "be all things" all the time. Fortunately for us, we're a part of the Body of Christ and whatever job/need/words we can't fulfill or give, someone else can for us. Your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.

Proverbs 19:21-22, The Message

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails. It's only human to want to make a buck, but it's better to be poor than a liar.

Would someone be considered a liar if they worked for a buck instead of doing what they felt God calling them to do (Hi purpose)? I don't care a whole lot for money, but I think a lot about money. One of the reasons I have the job I have is because it provides monetary comfort for me. I can't do a lot with it, but there isn't a necessity that I can't take care of either. My struggle this week (and a little bit of last week, too) is knowing whether or not I should stay here.

I always tell people that I feel that one day I'll be in fulltime ministry again - but what is stopping me from searching for that opportunity and make "one day" actually come to fruition? One of my biggest fears is that I'll be doing the same thing five years from now and gotten to the place where I can't remember why I never took the chance to go do what I felt called to do.

We used to sing this song on Sunday mornings at St. Judes church in Belfast, and I can't help but hear it in my head as I ask myself "is there more than this?" and lift of a prayer to God for Him to lead me to His purpose for me.

There must be more than this
oh breath of God come breath within
There must be more than this
Spirit of God we wait for you
Fill us anew we pray

Consuming Fire
Fan into flame
a passion for your name
Spirit of God fall in this place
Lord have your way

Come like a rushing wind
Fill us with power from on high
Now set the captives free
leave us abandoned to your praise
Lord let your glory fall

Consuming Fire
Fan into flame
a passion for your name
Spirit of God fall in this place
Lord have your way
Lord have your way with us

2 Corinthians 4:7-12, The Message

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

A friend showed me a CareerBuilder commercial today that showed a man going through his mundane job all day and kept seeing himself in other people. These people would tell him how fulfilling their jobs were or how he should quit and get another job. The tag line at the end of the commercial was "self-help yourself." It made me realize (again, I'm considering these thoughts a lot lately) that it's my choice whether or not I make an impact every day. I live an ordinary life but I've been given an extraordinary gift - grace. As these verses above say, I know I'm not much to look at, but if you can see even a glimmer of God in my life then it's worth it to go through life without a lot of pizazz or flashy jobs or things or even a large group of people you influence.

Jeremiah 17:5-8, New Living Translation

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

It's spring and this verse eludes to the fact that spiritual springtime is constant if you have put your trust, hope and confidence in the Lord. Why would you choose misery over this? There is hope for the future and fruit in the present when we choose to live with God every day.

I finally got it! It's part of "me being me" and I absolutely love it. I know tattoos aren't for everyone, or approved by everyone, but I have to say that I think I was as smart as I could be by waiting a year to get it. I wanted the same thing in the same place for a year and would draw it on there all the time. As such, I didn't have (and still haven't) any remorse or regret. Anyway, I love it!! (Did I say that already??) Also, I like the opportunity to tell people that the reason I chose "Authentic" is because it's the theme for my life that I can see as I look back on the last several years. A reminder to be true to myself, what I believe, and to not be fake.

Rock on.

Ephesians 4:14-16, New International Version

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Being a follower of Christ takes work and, honestly, sometimes I don't want to put in the effort. I sat next to a new family at church tonight and found myself jealous of the infant who just sat in the sling attached to his mother and slept through the service. Right now, this infant doesn't have to worry about money or relationships or career choices or eternal things - he is completely dependent upon his parents for everything. I realize that in the spiritual analogies regarding infants given in scripture (see verses above), we aren't supposed to be infants. We're supposed to move from milk to meat in our spiritual understanding. But, just like babies, the comfort of the womb and the ease of dependency can't last. We have to go through growing pains as we are given more knowledge that increases our awareness and responsibility. We can't naively go through life without building up our vigilance against the enemy and our desire to serve God.

The last two days I didn't want to think about eternal things, I wanted to be selfish and I was. But the remorse of that decision has set in and I realized how foolish I was to try and be an infant again when there is no going back. But it's okay. I don't really want to be a spiritual baby again, the work that is required as I grow up in my faith is worth the reward of seeing others around me grow up and help teach others to walk.

Hebrews 1:1-3, The Message

Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words!

I've read and re-read these verses a couple times - I'm not sure I fully understood what they were saying. So I continued to read the rest of chapter one and some parts of chapter two. I forget how important it is for me to take verses in context and to spend time soaking it all in. If I did that more than facebook or blogging or reading other blogs, I'm pretty sure the world would be a far more loving and less confusing place. So go ahead and walk away from your computer for 30 minutes and pick up your bible and read it.

God of This City

These are the guys I know from Bluetree (we used to hang out and work together when I lived in Belfast) telling the story of when the song began. I was at every monthly Mannafest gathering during my Y1 year and was probably there the night they first sang this song in public. Aaron was so obedient to follow God's leading in this instance and many times after that at Mannafest. I've never seen worship leaders ask for prophetic words from God while they're in the middle of singing. May this story bless you today.

God of this City

Proverbs 5:21-23, New Living Translation

For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

I don't know what lead me to this proverb tonight. The previous 20 verses talk about why a man would want to waste his love on a street whore when he has a wife at home. Unfortunately, I think I often forget that love is a gift and our world has perverted and abused love to become selfish, a weapon, and an addiction. I can't help but think of the story "Redeeming Love" that Francine Rivers wrote about the man who married a prostitute. That story, based on a biblical prophet who did the same thing, is incredibly powerful. The man's struggle with God and relentless pursuit of his wife give us a glimmer of how captivated God is by us and how much He desires the return of His love. Yet, his wife is someone who is held captive by her sins. Just as with the verses I chose above, God doesn't miss a step. Whether it's an adulterous women or a child who lied or a young man of violence or an old gossip -- it's all a great foolishness that ties us down and away from our Hero who desperately wants to save us with His pure unbridled love.

The Message translation of these verses says: Mark well that God doesn't miss a move you make; he's aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you'll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.

Don't stumble around in the darkness and the storm any long - run into the arms of grace that have been surrounding you the whole time.

Mark 6:1-6, The Message

He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?"

But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.

Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

Sometimes I catch myself longing to be somewhere, anywhere but here. I have a full life, a great life, a blessed life. But it's hard to be in my "hometown" sometimes. The thrill is gone, the excitement is tamed, the shine has worn off. I don't mean any disrespect or offense -- it's just that it's nice to explore new places and people and customs and cultures. And, from the spiritual/ministry side, it's often most difficult to minister in familiar surroundings.

Jesus knows what I mean. In these verses He is attempting to share the good news and show God's glory through miracles and all he gets are scoffs, doubt, and ridicule. Their unbelief was a hindrance in His ministry. Oh it's true he healed the sick and taught, but they wouldn't hear it. Jesus knew it was obviously not going to sink in for them, not yet. So He moved on to where the harvest was ready.

This passage makes me think of a couple things. One, the struggles of speaking truth and being bold in ministry in your hometown. Several obvious disadvantages are the fact that many people will know your past, your secrets, your weaknesses. It might be hard to be taken seriously, or with any sort of credibility, if people know all that about it. When I spent a year in Ireland learning so much from God and realizing things that need to change in our world, I wanted to tell as many people as I could. I wanted to stay in Belfast and be a part of what God was doing there. But what God told me was to apply what I learned to my hometown. Go minister in Dallas. So thought a job/career in full time ministry was ahead of me. Well no jobs came up in that field. It's discouraging to realize I'm in a cubicle, not always feeling as though I'm making a big difference. But this is the challenge -- can I still take a stand and teach and preach to those who don't want to have their nice lives disrupted by new, seemingly "radical" ideas by their friend's daughter or their best friend's sister or their neighbor? It's so hard, and these verses comfort me knowing that Christ found His ministry on earth and endured the same.

Secondly, these verses make me wonder if I have been a hindrance to someones ministry here? Has someone ever done or said what I knew to be right and true but because it made me feel convicted or bad about my own actions, I chose to mock them instead of thank them for their insight? I'm humbled to admit that I have. I've become the stubborn voice of unbelief in the ministry of truth from a "neighbor," someone I should stand by and trust more than others. This is where hypocrisy creeps into our lives, and cynicism. It's an ugly thing. I don't want to be a part of it.

So I think I need to pray for more boldness and endurance to work towards the finish line of my current placement in Dallas. It could be another year, or forever, but I won't let the excuse of the opposition of those familiar faces to become my reason to give up and blend in. Also, I'll be work on becoming the friend/neighbor who is excited to hear about what God is teaching my friends. Even if I disagree or feel shamed by the words they may speak, I'll realize that sometimes God tells me the difficult things from the last person on earth you want to hear it from. We're all in this as a family and as a Body. Let's not get in each other's way and thus delay the ministry of God in our hometown.

Matthew 13:12-14, New Internation Version

Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

I often feel as though a parable of Jesus can have many different meanings. But tonight at church my pastor said that parables only have one meaning. My pastor said this because Jesus spoke plainly to his disciples (and others) when sharing a parable because He was constantly explaining the meaning to His listeners. This side of God sometimes frustrates me because I know that my brain should be capable of understanding more and I wish for the complex puzzle to solve. I don't want an obvious interpretation, I want a journey and a revelation that would be worth writing a book about. But, because God knows my mental capacity, He wisely used parables to explain His Truth clearly. If the meaning were hidden too well, I might search but then I would inevitably become weary or discouraged. So, again, God knows best and has given me His truth in a way that I can understand it but still desire to search further and deeper on life's journey.

2 Timothy 2:19, The Message

Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever...

Strange as it is, this verse stuck out to me with just these 9 words. "Meanwhile" indicates that there is stuff happening and things going on. So, in spite of whatever that stuff is, the truth is that God is unchanging. In the midst of change, he doesn't move. God is firm and He is our foundation that can be trusted to weather time and elements.