Tonight I had the unique opportunity to hang out with bikers (the real serious kind) and hear some of their stories. It was an incredible evening of seeing a God who transforms people's lives. Faith brings transformation, it brings fruit!
It strikes me that so many Christians are afraid to share there stories, and afraid to "hang their dirty laundry on a clothesline". My story is not one that will ever play well as a movie. There's no big exciting or horrific event. It's as simple as this... a girl who felt incredibly unlovable discovered that there is a God who loves her unconditionally, enough that God would send Jesus to the cross to restore a relationship that she had repeatedly broken, and today that girl lives in the freeing knowledge that she is loved, not because she's good, but because God has transformed her and set her free from her selfishness. My story is not mine, my story is that of God's redeeming work. How can I stay silent if I understand what God has done?
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Faith and Friends
Ken and I have been reflecting a lot lately on the nature of faith. What is it? What is it good for? Beyond the salvific function, what does faith have to do with living each moment? I'm not sure that we've come up with any good answers yet, just more questions. If Jesus said that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we could tell mountains to move into the sea, I must not have even that much faith because I've yet to move even a grain of sand. I suppose that my faith muscles need a little development!
This week a newly single mom asked if we would be friends with her and her son, and it left me wondering at the complexity of relationships. When we're children, we feel free to ask other children if they will be our friend. How do adults build new friendships? Not the kind of friendship that talks merely about the weather, work, or grocery prices, but the kind of friendship where people are free to be themselves, take off their masks, and say this is who I am. I'm struck by how much we adults complicate things. I think that maybe I will take a cue from this new friend and just ask, "Will you be my friend?"
This week a newly single mom asked if we would be friends with her and her son, and it left me wondering at the complexity of relationships. When we're children, we feel free to ask other children if they will be our friend. How do adults build new friendships? Not the kind of friendship that talks merely about the weather, work, or grocery prices, but the kind of friendship where people are free to be themselves, take off their masks, and say this is who I am. I'm struck by how much we adults complicate things. I think that maybe I will take a cue from this new friend and just ask, "Will you be my friend?"
Thursday, August 26, 2010
summer camp
Well, the week is winding down for chaplaincy and so I wanted to post a couple of cool things that have happened this week.
Pick-up lines from Heather (maintenance chick)
Christina, can I take you out with the trash?
See all these keys? This one's the key to your heart.
On Sunday, when I arrived, I sensed a heaviness over the camp property. It felt as though a weight was placed on my shoulders. I waited until the reason came out last night in a conversation. It amazes me how God longs to bring reconciliation into all of our relationships, how God desires to transform our hearts to be quick to love and slow to grow angry, and how something as simple as praying with a brother or sister in Christ can change the entire atmosphere. Suffice to say that after a time of prayer last night this heaviness that had burdened me all week, lifted creating great opportunity for God to work last night.
A sweet, beautiful young woman taught me a lot about the nature of love, and how we need to look past all the physical traits to a person's heart. I've watched her make courageous choices and take brave steps that allow people to see her heart. May we all look past labels to the image of God that resides in each of us, loving people deeply and courageously.
Last night, after the revival service a group of teenage boys ran past yelling, "now that was a party!". I don't know if I've ever heard teenagers equate worship with a party, but... WOOHOO!
I've spent some time reflecting on the meaning of my own baptism this week and here are the summaries of the devotions that we've shared:
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
Today, I walk with Him, and He will walk with me.
I remember today, my baptism.
I recall that baptism calls me to confession and genuine repentance; that the water is like a cleansing bath for my sin-stained soul.
I remember that in baptism the old me is buried, and that I am raised to life, true Christ-filled life.
I proclaim that in baptism I am a member of the one body of Christ.
I recognize, as I recall my baptism, the weakness of my flesh and my need for the fire of the Holy Spirit.
I remind myself, as I remember my baptism, that I am a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and no dark valley or demon may take that citizenship away from me.
That's it for today... don't want to miss any opportunity to hang out with an image bearer of the King!
Pick-up lines from Heather (maintenance chick)
Christina, can I take you out with the trash?
See all these keys? This one's the key to your heart.
On Sunday, when I arrived, I sensed a heaviness over the camp property. It felt as though a weight was placed on my shoulders. I waited until the reason came out last night in a conversation. It amazes me how God longs to bring reconciliation into all of our relationships, how God desires to transform our hearts to be quick to love and slow to grow angry, and how something as simple as praying with a brother or sister in Christ can change the entire atmosphere. Suffice to say that after a time of prayer last night this heaviness that had burdened me all week, lifted creating great opportunity for God to work last night.
A sweet, beautiful young woman taught me a lot about the nature of love, and how we need to look past all the physical traits to a person's heart. I've watched her make courageous choices and take brave steps that allow people to see her heart. May we all look past labels to the image of God that resides in each of us, loving people deeply and courageously.
Last night, after the revival service a group of teenage boys ran past yelling, "now that was a party!". I don't know if I've ever heard teenagers equate worship with a party, but... WOOHOO!
I've spent some time reflecting on the meaning of my own baptism this week and here are the summaries of the devotions that we've shared:
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
Today, I walk with Him, and He will walk with me.
I remember today, my baptism.
I recall that baptism calls me to confession and genuine repentance; that the water is like a cleansing bath for my sin-stained soul.
I remember that in baptism the old me is buried, and that I am raised to life, true Christ-filled life.
I proclaim that in baptism I am a member of the one body of Christ.
I recognize, as I recall my baptism, the weakness of my flesh and my need for the fire of the Holy Spirit.
I remind myself, as I remember my baptism, that I am a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and no dark valley or demon may take that citizenship away from me.
That's it for today... don't want to miss any opportunity to hang out with an image bearer of the King!
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