Brennan Manning in his book Abba's Child: the Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, shares what it means to intentionally live in the presence of Jesus Christ:
"Living in the awareness of the risen Jesus is not a trivial pursuit for the bored and lonely or a defense mechanism enabling us to cope with the stress and sorrow of life. It is the key that unlocks the door to grasping the meaning of existence. All day and every day we are being reshaped into the image of Christ. Everything that happens to us is designed to this end. Nothing that exists can exist beyond the pale of His presence ('All things were created through him and for him' - Colossians 1:16), nothing is irrelevant to it, nothing is without significance in it."
So this begs the question, how aware am I of the risen Christ? Does He fit in to my schedule only if I don't have anything else more "important" to do? Is He only a safety net for times when I need extra comfort or peace? My friends, Jesus Christ is not a means to an end - He is the means and He is the end. How I choose to live in the awareness of his presence affects everything that I am. He is the key, period. Not the key to holiness, not the key to righteousness or joy, He is. I am nothing without Him, and everything I say or do without the blessing and agreement of His presence, is in vain. And each day I live for Him He is shaping me into the precious image of Himself, drawing me closer to the Father.
How aware are you of the risen Christ?
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." -Collosians 3:1-4
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
There is Joy in the Journey
First of all, if you are not yet familiar with the artist (and in my opinion, poet) Michael Card, let me be the first to recommend one of the most talented and Spirit-filled musicians out there. Yes, Dad, I know I used to make fun of you for listening to "old people" music, but with age comes wisdom *cough cough* and I can now appreciate the Scripture-filled lyrics and soul-nourishing music that I secretly loved growing up (*insert gloating father comment here*).
This song is called Joy in the Journey and if you're not sure how this message could apply to your life, here's my advice: keep living.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1kMjH6XW5Y
"There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey
And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who've been born in the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time
And weary of struggling with sin
Forget not the hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost
There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey
And freedom for those who obey..."
Do you long for freedom? Obey the voice of the One who has already paid your debt and wants to bring you joy. He isn't far away - your Savior is close by and if you are struggling with sin, surrender it to Jesus. Ask for His strength to do what you know you should. I am finding there is no other way to fulfilling wonder and wildness to life except through surrender and obedience to Jesus. If you're not sure what all this "freedom for those who obey" stuff means, try it sometime...see what happens.
PB (post blog, not peanut butter) Shout out to Joel Kramer and anyone else who encouraged me to keep writing on this silly thing called the interwebs...I don't feel that I have much to say but maybe our journeys can love the light together, as we travel on our way.
This song is called Joy in the Journey and if you're not sure how this message could apply to your life, here's my advice: keep living.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1kMjH6XW5Y
"There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey
And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who've been born in the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time
And weary of struggling with sin
Forget not the hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost
There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey
And freedom for those who obey..."
Do you long for freedom? Obey the voice of the One who has already paid your debt and wants to bring you joy. He isn't far away - your Savior is close by and if you are struggling with sin, surrender it to Jesus. Ask for His strength to do what you know you should. I am finding there is no other way to fulfilling wonder and wildness to life except through surrender and obedience to Jesus. If you're not sure what all this "freedom for those who obey" stuff means, try it sometime...see what happens.
PB (post blog, not peanut butter) Shout out to Joel Kramer and anyone else who encouraged me to keep writing on this silly thing called the interwebs...I don't feel that I have much to say but maybe our journeys can love the light together, as we travel on our way.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Juggling
Sometimes it feels like a juggling act when you're going about life, happy to do what you know you need to do, and then something new gets thrown in the mix...and then something else, oh and don't forget about that, and that, and then there's that other thing coming up. These days I feel like I've been tossed some chainsaws. But amidst the seeming chaos and potential crash of this life I'm juggling, the "Ringmaster" hasn't left me to fall.
Though I've never been very good at the real thing (juggling), I'm finding that when I give God the control, somehow I don't lose my grip. Christmas seemed like a whirlwind (and pretty much all first semester for that matter). It was wonderfully refreshing to comfortably be myself with my family in Florida, but it was also a relief to come home, enjoy my roommate, apartment, my friends here, and even my ornery kitties. I am unbelievably blessed by God's provision and how He has used me this year at AAI. It has been wonderful not to come in brand-new and start a position from scratch! Though I am obviously still learning what it means to be an elementary chaplain, a friend, a challenging yet encouraging sister in Christ, a good employee, a good renter, a good sister/daughter, and a good steward, I am thankful for the stretching and even sometimes breaking experiences God has led me through this past year.
Part of that experience has been learning to seek joy despite circumstances, attitudes and extras. Psalm 139 has truly been a comfort and challenge lately. Though I don't know all the ins and outs of what I do and who I am, my Father does, and He goes before me. The other side to that coin, is that He also knows what I do and say and why, before I ever do or say anything. He alone can search me and know my inmost being...confronting me with motives or attitudes I may not consciously be aware of. Through it all, to trust God totally, surrendering everything to Him, is pure joy. The process isn't sunshine and rainbows, but the joy in the journey means everything.
A thought to chew on:
"Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love." -St. Clare of Assissi
Though I've never been very good at the real thing (juggling), I'm finding that when I give God the control, somehow I don't lose my grip. Christmas seemed like a whirlwind (and pretty much all first semester for that matter). It was wonderfully refreshing to comfortably be myself with my family in Florida, but it was also a relief to come home, enjoy my roommate, apartment, my friends here, and even my ornery kitties. I am unbelievably blessed by God's provision and how He has used me this year at AAI. It has been wonderful not to come in brand-new and start a position from scratch! Though I am obviously still learning what it means to be an elementary chaplain, a friend, a challenging yet encouraging sister in Christ, a good employee, a good renter, a good sister/daughter, and a good steward, I am thankful for the stretching and even sometimes breaking experiences God has led me through this past year.
Part of that experience has been learning to seek joy despite circumstances, attitudes and extras. Psalm 139 has truly been a comfort and challenge lately. Though I don't know all the ins and outs of what I do and who I am, my Father does, and He goes before me. The other side to that coin, is that He also knows what I do and say and why, before I ever do or say anything. He alone can search me and know my inmost being...confronting me with motives or attitudes I may not consciously be aware of. Through it all, to trust God totally, surrendering everything to Him, is pure joy. The process isn't sunshine and rainbows, but the joy in the journey means everything.
A thought to chew on:
"Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love." -St. Clare of Assissi
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
It's good to be "home"
The concept of "home" is turning into a more dynamic concept than I ever could have thought.
I've been doing a lot of travelling the last 2 weeks I've been in the States. I flew in from Quito and almost immediately set out to visit Hillary and Ian in Illinois (thanks Mom and Dad for letting me borrow your car). We had a really great time taking a day trip to Chicago, shopping at half-price bookstores, and just being together. It was good to be with my twin/family and to also see some wonderful friends from college who came to spend the 4th with us. On my way back to WV I stopped by a friend's house to spend time with her and her family and it was good to be together again. After being home for less than 24 hours, I set off for Southern Ohio (where I grew up) to speak at my church the next morning. I spent the night with a friend from high school and her crazy/wonderful family who had just finished cleaning up after their son's wedding. I loved seeing a lot of friends (who are more like family) from growing up. The next morning I spoke at the church I spent most of my life in and after service, caught up with my church family and went to eat Mexican food with friends. On the way back to WV, I called some friends because I was thinking about them, and incidentally they had been thinking about me too so I went over for dinner and didn't get back to the house until 10 that night.
Needless to say, I've been wonderfully busy since coming home. But where is home? Can it be defined by a building? A house or church, a city or state? Home isn't a location or a zip code. Home is where my family is, no matter what state they currently live in. Home is where my friends are, no matter how far apart or close they are. Home is community: a body of believers worshipping and loving with the same Spirit. I do feel at home when I look up and see the WV foothills and when I drive down curvy windy roads, but mostly I feel at home when I am with the people I love.
Thank you, family and friends for the home you have created for me, no matter where you are. You will always be my home. Thank you, Heavenly Father for always being my one true Home, no matter where I go, no matter where I lay my head, you are my eternal Home.
I've been doing a lot of travelling the last 2 weeks I've been in the States. I flew in from Quito and almost immediately set out to visit Hillary and Ian in Illinois (thanks Mom and Dad for letting me borrow your car). We had a really great time taking a day trip to Chicago, shopping at half-price bookstores, and just being together. It was good to be with my twin/family and to also see some wonderful friends from college who came to spend the 4th with us. On my way back to WV I stopped by a friend's house to spend time with her and her family and it was good to be together again. After being home for less than 24 hours, I set off for Southern Ohio (where I grew up) to speak at my church the next morning. I spent the night with a friend from high school and her crazy/wonderful family who had just finished cleaning up after their son's wedding. I loved seeing a lot of friends (who are more like family) from growing up. The next morning I spoke at the church I spent most of my life in and after service, caught up with my church family and went to eat Mexican food with friends. On the way back to WV, I called some friends because I was thinking about them, and incidentally they had been thinking about me too so I went over for dinner and didn't get back to the house until 10 that night.
Needless to say, I've been wonderfully busy since coming home. But where is home? Can it be defined by a building? A house or church, a city or state? Home isn't a location or a zip code. Home is where my family is, no matter what state they currently live in. Home is where my friends are, no matter how far apart or close they are. Home is community: a body of believers worshipping and loving with the same Spirit. I do feel at home when I look up and see the WV foothills and when I drive down curvy windy roads, but mostly I feel at home when I am with the people I love.
Thank you, family and friends for the home you have created for me, no matter where you are. You will always be my home. Thank you, Heavenly Father for always being my one true Home, no matter where I go, no matter where I lay my head, you are my eternal Home.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Half-Way
Celebrated my half-birthday a few days ago. Half-way through the school year. Half-way between disillusionment and contentment.
In case you didn't know, living abroad (and, similarly, culture shock) can be categorized into typical stages. The first stage is called the "honeymoon" stage: everything has the illusion of being wonderful, beautiful, perfect. The second stage is "withdrawal" and that's when disillusionment - hand-in-hand with that steadfast companion, Reality - sets in.
In case you didn't know, living abroad (and, similarly, culture shock) can be categorized into typical stages. The first stage is called the "honeymoon" stage: everything has the illusion of being wonderful, beautiful, perfect. The second stage is "withdrawal" and that's when disillusionment - hand-in-hand with that steadfast companion, Reality - sets in.
Thankfully, I've been here before. I have experienced these feelings before. I know what it measn to work through them, to confront them. No, life isn't perfect, nor is every situation I find myself a part of (not to mention by blogging consistency), but I am living in a beautiful country with beautiful people with a beautiful purpose. And my friends are helping me to know the way. It's a process of surrender.
So I've been reading Mother Teresa lately and for the record, her words are not light reading. If you want to be totally uncomfortable yet comforted and challenged at the same time, you probably should read her book No Greater Love. She speaks of trust and surrender as a radical yet essential part of truly following Christ:
"The path of loving trust means: total reliance on our Heavenly Father with the spontaneous abandonment of little children, totally convinced of our utter nothingness but trusting to the point of rashness with courageous confidence in His fatherly goodness."
"This is total surrender - no to be loved by anybody, not to be wanted by anybody, just to be a nobody because we have given all to Christ."
A promise I'm clinging to when I'm tempted to sway with the desires of others and even self:
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT) "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
There is no half-way to surrender. I cannot please God when I am trying to please people. I cannot please God when I want to be "somebody." Partially relying on God doesn't even partially work. I want to completley abandon myself with courageous confidence like the children I am leading.
Now I know more than I did in the beginning. Now I have an even greater opportunity for extending love and grace into this beautifuly messy community.
Monday, December 7, 2009
It's almost Christmas!
And I'm so ready to go home and share with my family and frirends what I have experienced!
A lot has happened in the last few months I have been here and sometimes it's hard for me to express in writing. So please forgive me once again for failing to update as often as I (and you too hopefully!) would like.
Spiritual Emphasis Week is basically a mini-revival involving special speakers who come and have a sort of chapel time every day for grades PreK-6 (in 3 different sections). Our speakers this year were excellent! They came prepared with materials and relevant messages and most importantly they developed relationships with the students. It was a wonderful time of worship and comittment and the kids still remind me about what was taught and sung! Below is PJ (our main speaker) painting faces at the Alliance Harvest Festival that was put on the Saturday after SEW.
For our four-day weekend which was a result of Ecuadorian holidays, I and a group of friends travelled north to Same and stayed at a beautiful resort called Casablanca. It was a refreshing, relaxing, and wonderful time getting to know people and enjoying the sand and sun.
The view from our balcony (ocean to the right).
Spirit Week was an interesting animal...I was asked to be involved in the planning which was primarily done by the secondary chaplain's office (which was a good bonding/growing time for us) and which amazingly turned out pretty well in the end! The high school teamed up with the elementary (12/1, 11/2, 10/3, etc.) and every day at 3 we would gather in the gym for a competition and on Thurday (Thanksgiving Day) we had an Amazing Race all around the school grounds! It was a lot of fun and the highschoolers really proved that they could take care of their little buddies (we used the buddy system which was the best idea of the whole week).
Thanksgiving was a great experience. I wasn't sure at first how it was going to be being away from family for the first time but basically I was adopted into another family and it was wonderful! I made corn pudding/casserole which went over really well and let me just say that that turkey was the best I have every eaten (it soaked in brine for a few hours). I was glad I chose to be a part of the Saavedra family & Co.!
The one thing I am truly thankful for here is the gift of friends. God has gifted me with very special people that I feel comfortable sharing my heart with. I am held accountable and encouraged by their love and support and I am so thankful He has shown me what true friendship looks like in a place so far from home.
He has also shown me what it means to my church community with my gifts and I am also thankful for that.
Some prayer requests: that I would persevere and not grow tired in these last couple weeks before break. As the AWANA director I definitely need prayers for peace and wisdom. As dorm assistant I am in a position of leadership and responsibility and therefore need grace, love, patience, and wisdom to extend to the girls and guys I live with.
Thank you for reading and sharing life together and thank you most of all for your prayers.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
So it's been a while...
I definitely had doubts about creating a blog because I'm much more of a one-on-one conversationalist, and my fears were confirmed when I realized that I haven't blogged in more than a month...ahh well. Here's a synopsis of what's been going on in life lately:
God has been teaching me a lot about what it means to be a part of the Church (the capital "c" is intentional). Knowing that I would be living here for at least a year, I wanted to get plugged into a church where I could feel welcomed, served, and fed. However, after more than a few frustrating weeks, the Lord challenged my expectations of what church "should be." I had tried a lot of places but none of them really "fit" and I was finding myself either getting bored or extremely angry which completely confusing to me. With a little help from Don Miller, I finally realized that I was approaching church like I would a vending machine, and even more specifically, like money. If I thought a church or a group of people was worth my time, I would "pay" or "spend" myself and my time in that place. If I didn't think a church/people was "worth the investment" I would "withdraw" myself and leave.
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it is completely opposite of what Christ teaches (not to mention pretty selfish). We are not called to be served, but to serve. I may never find "the perfect church..." probably because the Church itself is not perfect. We are the body of Christ but we are made up of humans struggling to do what pleases God while trying to please man which is a tension that will always be present. Obeying what God asks of me and serving rather than expecting to be served is how Christ empowers me to live with that tension. And so even though I was feeling angry and frustrated, I obeyed the Lord's leading and signed the "I'm interested in serving in the church musically" sheet (I don't think that's what it was officially called) and since then I have felt a peace and joy that passes all understanding while worshipping the Lord as a member of His Church. I am excited to see how God will use the gifts and talents He has given me for His glory!
Other tidbits:
I recently took a trip to Mindo which is about 2 hours north of Quito in the cloud forests of Ecuador and our dorm family had a wonderful time! We hiked to waterfalls, visited a butterfly farm, and ziplined over the jungle canopy...basically just relaxing away from the noise of the city.
Developing meaningful friendships has been a wonderful blessing. One of my great hopes was to come and enjoy authentic community at AAI and the Lord has certainly made that possible!
As for my job, I am feeling more and more comfortable with who/what I am to the elementary students and teachers. At first I wasn't quite sure what to expect or how to go about doing the chaplaincly position (since it's never been done before) but recently I've been able to spend time in individual classrooms building relationship with students and for the first time this week I had a student come to my office where we just sat and talked. I am definitely feeling the Lord's blessing on my position as chaplain. As for the music portion of chapels, I have been struggling a little with what exactly the kids most benefit from...should I stand in front and lead or just let the CD/words lead? Should I have fast or slow songs...how long is too long...a lot of questions that I think experience will help answer but until then, I am so pleased with the chapel speakers!! I could not have done what they do and so I'm so thankful we have the teacher rotation system in place (even if it isn't everyone's favorite).
So I guess that's the long and short of it for now...I'm glad I could share what God is doing here in Quito!
And please feel free to look at my Facebook photo albums and videos!
Blessings,
Lauren
God has been teaching me a lot about what it means to be a part of the Church (the capital "c" is intentional). Knowing that I would be living here for at least a year, I wanted to get plugged into a church where I could feel welcomed, served, and fed. However, after more than a few frustrating weeks, the Lord challenged my expectations of what church "should be." I had tried a lot of places but none of them really "fit" and I was finding myself either getting bored or extremely angry which completely confusing to me. With a little help from Don Miller, I finally realized that I was approaching church like I would a vending machine, and even more specifically, like money. If I thought a church or a group of people was worth my time, I would "pay" or "spend" myself and my time in that place. If I didn't think a church/people was "worth the investment" I would "withdraw" myself and leave.
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it is completely opposite of what Christ teaches (not to mention pretty selfish). We are not called to be served, but to serve. I may never find "the perfect church..." probably because the Church itself is not perfect. We are the body of Christ but we are made up of humans struggling to do what pleases God while trying to please man which is a tension that will always be present. Obeying what God asks of me and serving rather than expecting to be served is how Christ empowers me to live with that tension. And so even though I was feeling angry and frustrated, I obeyed the Lord's leading and signed the "I'm interested in serving in the church musically" sheet (I don't think that's what it was officially called) and since then I have felt a peace and joy that passes all understanding while worshipping the Lord as a member of His Church. I am excited to see how God will use the gifts and talents He has given me for His glory!
Other tidbits:
I recently took a trip to Mindo which is about 2 hours north of Quito in the cloud forests of Ecuador and our dorm family had a wonderful time! We hiked to waterfalls, visited a butterfly farm, and ziplined over the jungle canopy...basically just relaxing away from the noise of the city.
Developing meaningful friendships has been a wonderful blessing. One of my great hopes was to come and enjoy authentic community at AAI and the Lord has certainly made that possible!
As for my job, I am feeling more and more comfortable with who/what I am to the elementary students and teachers. At first I wasn't quite sure what to expect or how to go about doing the chaplaincly position (since it's never been done before) but recently I've been able to spend time in individual classrooms building relationship with students and for the first time this week I had a student come to my office where we just sat and talked. I am definitely feeling the Lord's blessing on my position as chaplain. As for the music portion of chapels, I have been struggling a little with what exactly the kids most benefit from...should I stand in front and lead or just let the CD/words lead? Should I have fast or slow songs...how long is too long...a lot of questions that I think experience will help answer but until then, I am so pleased with the chapel speakers!! I could not have done what they do and so I'm so thankful we have the teacher rotation system in place (even if it isn't everyone's favorite).
So I guess that's the long and short of it for now...I'm glad I could share what God is doing here in Quito!
And please feel free to look at my Facebook photo albums and videos!
Blessings,
Lauren
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