Eyes and Goodbyes

Alright, so I leave for college tomorrow morning and I've been super excited all week. Through all the packing and loading I never really sat down and took the time to think about what I was leaving. Yes, I knew I was leaving home and I would miss my parents and my room, but that's expected. The unexpected sorrow hit me tonight while attending the student ministry at my church. In one prayer I realized just how close I had grown to all the people there and just how much I would feel the void in my heart once I left. Until about a year ago, my love for this place and these people was not this strong. Finally I found a group of people with whom I could monitor and enhance my relationship with God. This above all else I will miss the most; the accountability, the support, the love.

On a lighter note, once I realized how much I am going to miss them, I also was hit with another thought. This is why I need to leave. So I can bring the joy I feel while with these people to the students on campus. As scary as it seems, I just have to get out there and find friends who will become what this group of people has been for me all summer. I have been blessed to know these people and because of that I will bless others with the love of God. While encased in a giant hug, I prayed for strength to reach out to non-believers and courage to live by faith no matter what the cost. The people at my church have taught me so much. I know that I can always come back to them, which is what keeps me moving forward.

By leaving my hometown, I will be forced to meet new people. People of all backgrounds, all interests, and all personalities. My goal is to see them all the way God would see them. Often times when we are in the familiar we miss what is going on around us. Likewise, if we are too intensely focused on a certain task, person, or goal we will overlook a potentially life changing opportunity.  If we just step back and survey our surroundings, we might discover that our God-given talents are needed. We are put in situations to serve God, but if we are so busy looking elsewhere the need will never be fulfilled.  In order to serve, you must first find the need. You must see the problem if you are ever going to fix it. God sees everyone for who they are and he knows exactly what they need in their life. If we at least attempt to see people the way God does, more than likely we will be able to figure out some need in their life that we can help with.

To bridge the two stories, I discovered one more important fact in that group hug. The love I feel for the people at my church needs to carry on through me to the people that I meet on campus. By leaving this spiritual support group, my familiar, I will be able to look at my surroundings and see the needs. I will see the opportunities in which I can serve the Lord.

So thank you for the goodbyes; they will open my eyes for the glory of the Almighty.

How comfortable are you?

In the book Crazy Love, Francis Chan talks about how most modern day christians lead comfortable lives. This meaning that if God was taken out of thier lives for a day, nothing would really change. Bills would still be paid, dinner would still be on the table, friends would still call just to chat. In America, many christians are not forced to put their faith in God on a daily basis, myself included. This is because we all strive to live comfortable lives in which we depend upon ourselves.

The other day my firend was talking about where she might want to be a YoungLife leader. At one point she said something along the lines of, "I want to go to the East side because if I stay on the West, I'll be too comfortable." Huh.. see a connection? I never really put the two together until this moment. My life is comfortable, I want that to change. In order for us to grow as christians we must be challenged. "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Persecerance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1: 3-4. This won't happen in comfortable situations.  In his book, Chan says, "A person who is obbsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort."

Everyone has heard the phrase "Going out of your comfort zone," well Chan is saying we should do just that for God. Whether it's standing up for your faith when you're the only one who believes; downsizing your house and luxury items to give more to the Church; partaking in a mission trip to a third-world country; talking to the kid who sits alone in the cafeteria; declining an invitation to the most outragious party of the year. I could go on, but I think you understand my point. Now because I and going away to college, I will have to aquire an entirely new friend base, talk about intimidating. Those first few weeks are going to be quite uncomfortable, but I look forward to it. I know that God will be with me and guide me. I pray that I will be strong enough to continually seek opportunities that place me out of my comfort zone so that I will be forced to place my full trust in God. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -Psalms 23:4.

So let me ask you this. How comfortable are you?

Let's all be childish

When one thinks about childeren the following words tipically come to mind: cute, energetic, lively. However, most tend to forget these words that also describe childeren: whiney, messy, persistant. Either way you look at it, one thought will not usually come to your mind when looking at a 5-year old on the swings. That thought being, "I wish I was just like them." But perhaps that should be our mind set...

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying lets all start running around in diapers and putting everything in our mouths. On the contraty let me share a stroy with you that might clear some things up. I work in retail and each shift I see several different types of families come through my line. The other day, one little boy really caught my interest. While waiting in line, a four year old boy turned and looked at the couple behind him. The couple said hello and the boy began to converse with them. When his mother was ready to leave he looked at the couple and said, "See ya later" as if they were old friends. Wow, talk about pure kindness and trust. When was the last time  you taked to the people behind you in line like that? I can't even remember one time I've done that.

Despite the small amout of time childern have been on this earth, they can teach us a lot. For one, they display hospitality, greeting everyone they come in contact with. Mark 9:37 says "Whoever welcomes one of these little childern in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Jesus told his desciples to welcome the childern first. Yes, the crying, mess making childern come before any of us, because they are guniunely pure of heart and mind, not yet influneced by worldly ideas.

To surpass the humility of childern, Jesus says in Luke 18:17, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not recieve the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." If that doesn't convince you to be more like that little boy then I don't know what will. He saw no social barriers; had no judging thoughts. He was simply happy to talk to this kind couple and his trusting nature told him that indeed he would one day converse with them again. My hope for the boy and the couple is that they all walk with christ, because then there is no doubt that they will meet again.

So how about this? Let's all be a little childish for God.

You've got to start somewhere

Well obviously this is my first blog and it was mostly created upon a whim so who knows how this will turn out. My topic for this post is simply "Getting Started."

No matter what you decide to do, whether at work, on your days off, or just minute by minute, there is a starting point. By creating this blog I hope to provide a check for any type of goal I may set, sort of like an accountabiliy tool. Most posts will likely be connected to some sort of scripture reading I've just completed or something of the sort. This is because I hope to further my knowledge and comprehension of scripture by writing down my thoughts.

In addition, random ideas that pop into my head will be planned out on this blog, because as I've mentioned already, every goal needs a starting place. For example, I recently compiled a list of classical novels that I plan to read in the near future. This list includeds ten selections of American liturature and I hope that by telling you about my list I will stay motivated to finish it. Oh look at that, I've discoved another reason for creating this blog.. MOTIVATION.

Alright, I think I've made a good start into the blogging world so I'll finish up here and hope to soon return.