Paul writes...1Thessalonians 4:11-12 "11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
Paul worked really hard. He was betrayed by his countrymen, he spent time in prison, he was persecuted, he was stoned, he was whipped, and he was mocked. He ran for countless hours to avoid death, he stood firm in front of leaders of the synagogues in harsh territory, he built tents to make his own way, and he was never idle.
Philippians 2:14-16 "14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."
And Paul put all of these sufferings over the heads of Christs followers, not as a guilt trip or as a complaint, but as a motivating factor. He was not loud about his status as a disciple, but he was quiet in a way. Yes, he spoke up...but he was also quiet. I want to be like Paul. I want to be a shining light, a star in the sky, to guide others off of the crooked path.
I came up with an analogy at my girls' bible study this last week...
All my life I have been pushing myself to be like the Sun. It's the biggest, the brightest, and everyone knows it is there and has known it was in the sky since the beginning of time. It marks the days and tells people how to live, how to grow crops, when to go to sleep. It enters everyone's lives, whether being asked to or not. The Sun is powerful and shows its power.
But God has called us to live "quiet lives" and "shine like stars in the universe." How can I be quiet but still guide others? I can choose to be like the North Star. Significantly smaller in our sky, the North Star has not always been noticed, but has instead been discovered. It quietly guides those who seek its assistance and helps others find the right path. While it is not the biggest or the brightest, it still has an important purpose. It lives quietly and unassumingly as an important guidance in the lives of others.
I'm not asked to shout the name of Christ. That comes out of my joy for him! But I am asked to shine the name of Christ. So here my journey to become like the North Star, like Paul, like a guide begins.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
Three: Faithfulness
God has pressed the idea of faith on my heart this last school year. While giving up old friends, trying to make new ones, signing on for a mision trip, and surrendering my passions to Christ, I have been asked to have faith. What is faith? What determines if I have it? Do faith and fear come hand in hand?
(Mark 11:22-24) 22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
When I went to Colorado Springs for my summer missions orientation, I had a little chat with God. Well, it was more like a little freak out. I said to Him, "That's it, I'm not going on this trip unless You can show me, God, that I will get the money for it. I'm giving up unless You show me how faithful you are." And he showed me that verse in response. "Sure God," I thought.
The next day I had to take a 20 minute flight from Colorado Springs into Denver. Before my friends left on their flights, I told them about my talk with God the night before and about how I wasn't sure this mission thing was for me. They reassured me that God would answer my prayer and they went on their ways. I tried to get on an earlier plane and ended up getting on the 2nd standby flight. God had something in store for me. There was one seat left for me on the plane (as my drum had to take the seat in the front row), and I moved back to the 8th row, next to a nice gentleman named Blair Sawyer. Blair and I started talking about what we were doing in Colorado Springs, and after a few minutes we ended up sharing life stories and our testimonies with one another. Turns out that all 3 of his children went to Wheaton College (where my boyfriend goes to school, and I happened to be flying there the next week!). By the time the flight was ending, he told me about how he realized in college that he wasn't very good at going on missions...so he funds missionaries (currently, five of them!). He pulled out his business card, wrote his address on the back, and told me that he wanted to help fund my trip.
Within 24 hours, God had answered my prayer. His faithfulness is something He has been revealing to me all year. I'm still a little nervous and am in great need of funding for my trip. So...the prayers and phone calls will continue! And I hope to keep seeing God's love and grace through all of this.
(Mark 11:22-24) 22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
When I went to Colorado Springs for my summer missions orientation, I had a little chat with God. Well, it was more like a little freak out. I said to Him, "That's it, I'm not going on this trip unless You can show me, God, that I will get the money for it. I'm giving up unless You show me how faithful you are." And he showed me that verse in response. "Sure God," I thought.
The next day I had to take a 20 minute flight from Colorado Springs into Denver. Before my friends left on their flights, I told them about my talk with God the night before and about how I wasn't sure this mission thing was for me. They reassured me that God would answer my prayer and they went on their ways. I tried to get on an earlier plane and ended up getting on the 2nd standby flight. God had something in store for me. There was one seat left for me on the plane (as my drum had to take the seat in the front row), and I moved back to the 8th row, next to a nice gentleman named Blair Sawyer. Blair and I started talking about what we were doing in Colorado Springs, and after a few minutes we ended up sharing life stories and our testimonies with one another. Turns out that all 3 of his children went to Wheaton College (where my boyfriend goes to school, and I happened to be flying there the next week!). By the time the flight was ending, he told me about how he realized in college that he wasn't very good at going on missions...so he funds missionaries (currently, five of them!). He pulled out his business card, wrote his address on the back, and told me that he wanted to help fund my trip.
Within 24 hours, God had answered my prayer. His faithfulness is something He has been revealing to me all year. I'm still a little nervous and am in great need of funding for my trip. So...the prayers and phone calls will continue! And I hope to keep seeing God's love and grace through all of this.
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