Words (Part Two): How We Speak About God Matters

This is kind of a follow up to my last post about why words matter.  And I want to preface this by saying that I'm not judging you in this post.  If you use this phrase, I know what you mean, I know you're well intentioned, but Scripture talks about the power of the tongue and how we should speak truth. I believe that we need to be careful in the way that we talk about God and His work.

Have you heard people use the phrase "God showed up"?  It's one I've been hearing a lot lately. Some of my friends went on a mission trip recently and were telling testimonies of what the Lord did while they were there.  They kept saying that they were in situations where it seemed hopeless, but "God showed up" and met those needs.  I also heard in a different context that "God showed up in our church gathering last night" and it seems like a phrase that's thrown around a lot.  But, it's a lie.  God didn't show up, and He couldn't show up, because that would imply that he left.  When we say "God showed up" it's like he went for a snack break, came back and realized that we were in a pickle and thought, "Oh, I'd better do something about that".  No, Scripture tells us that God is omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:23-24; Psalm 139).  Scripture tells us that God is faithful, that He will never fail us, and that God is sovereign over all (Job 42:2; Psalm 103:19, 115:3; Ecclesiastes 7:13-14; Lamentations 3:37-38).  This leaves no room for the absence of God.  And what do we say if we're overseas, need Bibles and God doesn't provide them?  Does that mean that He is any less faithful or sovereign, or that he wasn't there?  No, it simply means that it was His perfect plan being carried out in His perfect way, even when we don't understand it.  I think the main danger in this comes from not knowing who is hearing you speak about God, and how they will interpret it.  When Marshall (my three year old cousin) and I drive under an underpass he calls it a tunnel.  I know what he means, but if he says he went through a tunnel to a stranger with no background in Marshall translations, they're going to have wrong assumptions about what he is talking about.  When we talk to unbelievers or Christians who don't understand that God is omnipresent, using the phrase "God showed up" makes Him seem small, and somewhat insignificant a majority of the time, and again can cause questions when it seems that He doesn't show up when you need him.

When we say "God showed up" I think that it has more to do with our mindset than God's work.  By using that phrase, we are acknowledging God's faithfulness in a certain situation.  But God is always faithful, even when we don't recognize it.  Sure, there are times when we experience situations that spur us to be in complete awe of God's relentless faithfulness.  But we must not forget that although it doesn't seem as great or as special, that everyday God's perfect faithfulness plays out in our lives.  God showed His faithfulness in providing Bibles for the ladies in Africa and he shows His faithfulness in providing the cereal and milk that I'll eat for breakfast tomorrow.  I'm probably not going to stand up in church Sunday morning and talk about how God provided cereal in the cupboard and milk in the fridge, but that doesn't make Him any less faithful. When my car breaks down and I have to buy a new one, when I labor in prayer about a situation and don't have any clarity, when I've prayed for salvation and that person dies an unbeliever, it's all a part of God's sovereign plan.  He is faithful to use every situation, good or bad, for our good and for His glory.  Even when it doesn't look spectacular, even when it's painful, God is working and He is faithful.  Theology matters and the way we speak about God matters.  Let it be said of us that our speech honors and glorifies our great God, and that it portrays His true character as best we can.

Words: Edifying, Discerning, Purposeful

Several months ago I listened to a sermon from CJ Mahaney called Every Word Matters. I've had the privilege of meeting CJ and hearing him speak live a handful of times, and he is one of my favorite pastors to listen to. His love and passion for the Lord pour out of him when he speaks.

Everyone talks...some more than others...but we all do it. My question is, do you think about the impact of your words? This is one area in my life that the Lord has really been convicting me of over the past few months, which is why I listened to the sermon. I struggle with my words, so keep me accountable to what I'm about to write. As a part of my Bible reading plan, I am continuously reading through Proverbs. I am always struck at how many mentions there are of the power of the tongue and the need to control it. Words are powerful, and God created it to be that way. In his book War of Words, Paul Tripp says,

"When we speak, it must be with the realization that God has given our words significance. He has ordained for them to be important. Words were significant at Creation and at the Fall. They are significant to redemption. God has given words value. So we must do all we can to assign words the importance Scripture gives them,”

The average person speaks 25,000 words a day. CJ asked a question that I've spent a lot of time reflecting on. In light of Ephesians 4:29 (Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear), are an increasing percentage of my words imparting grace to those whom I serve and love? Are my words building others up? Are my words encouraging? Or am I using my words to complain, to gossip, for worthless arguments, or to make myself look better?

CJ gave an analogy that made a lot of sense to me; he likened our words to choosing fruit at a grocery store. When you go to buy fruit, you don't just randomly pick up whatever you see, you examine it carefully to make sure it doesn't have any bad spots, to discern the ripeness and size, etc. He said it's amazing the attention and carefulness we can give to fruit, and the lack of attention and carefulness we give to our words.

Guilty. I'm a thorough fruit inspector - Lauren made fun of me in Hawaii because I was so carefully choosing the bananas I wanted, but I've been really convicted about how rarely I examine my potential words with the same attention and care. So then I had to ask myself, how do I change? If I'm putting off the sin of careless words, in what way can I put on righteousness in this area?

• Speaking edifying words:  This doesn't mean words that are just kind, polite, and certainly not flattery.  Edifying words are theologically informed, they are informed by Scripture, they are gospel centered.  These words should bring attention to God himself, to His promises and commands, and to the activity of God in the lives of other christians.
• Using discernment: The content of my communication must be appropriate to the occasion, as well as to the person I'm interacting with. If I’m trying to serve someone with my words (not just trying to impress them with my words) it requires discernment and knowledge of this individual.  We must be drawing them out and asking them questions, before choosing words that fit the occasion. I must know what the occasion is before I can choose words to build them up in that occasion, and it’s not enough to be well-meaning, we must be wise. When our speech fits the occasion we experience the Proverb that reads ‘an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is.”
• Speaking purposeful words: Ephesians 4:29 says we speak “that it may give grace to those who hear”.  This captures the purpose of every conversation we have; God’s purpose for my words is to give grace. When our purpose is to impart grace, it makes all the difference in the recipients' experience of grace.  God promises that we will be able to be a means of grace when our words are meaningful, and edifying and appropriate. 

So you may be thinking, that's all great but what does this look like practically? CJ ended his sermon with some great insights into practical ways to grow in godliness in the area of our speech. Here are some suggestions he gives: 

• Take this verse with you into the many conversations you will have this week. Memorize Ephesians 4:29, meditate on this passage, and apply it.  One way that I did this, is by putting a new wallpaper on my phone that has the verse written out.  Since I do a lot of communicating on my phone (talking, texting, emails, facebook, etc.), it's great reminder to evaluate the words I'll be using.
• Invite others to evaluate your speech in light of this passage. Ask a spouse, friend, children, pastor, "When I'm with you, and I'm communicating a few thousand words, how many of those are formed by this passage? When you're with me, do you feel yourself built up, edified, reminded of the gospel, reminded of the grace of God and how God is at work in your life? Do you walk away from a brief time with me aware that there’s fresh grace in your heart that wasn't there prior to our interaction?"  This is to be the effect of the gospel in our lives. 
• Pray that an increasing percentage of our words are soul edifying, grace imparting, God glorifying words of encouragement. So that our speech is distinctively encouraging, and explainable only by the Savior's sacrificial work on the cross, and the Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives, for the glory of God. 

Think about and evaluate your words, they matter.

Response to "The Story of Ian & Larissa"

If you haven't seen this video, you need to watch it.


The Story of Ian & Larissa from Desiring God on Vimeo.


Here are some of my favorite Piper quotes from the video:

"Marriage is mainly about displaying the covenant keeping love between Christ and His church"

"The beauty of the covenant keeping love, between Christ and His church, 

shines brightest when nothing but Christ can sustain"

And my favorite quotes from Larissa:

"As long as Ian could talk to me, we could make it work."

"When we're walking out our marriage practically, Ian can't do the secondary things, like working or making a meal for me, everything that's primary though he can do, which is leading me spiritually.  

Ian always comes back to the foundational truths of who God is and kind of reels me back in from my emotions, and that's the most important thing."

"We've been able to help them see that maybe the little things that they're excited for about marriage are worth being excited about, but they're not the end all and be all of their marriage."

"We're able to love each other, with I think, a more Christlike love because of Ian's disability, and understand that picture a little better than if you were healthy."

Response:
I think that this video is a must see for our culture, because we see very few marriages that so clearly reflect Christ's love and a pursuit of holiness through trials.  So many times we make marriage about us, when really and ultimately marriage is about Christ and His love for us, it's only because of His perfect love that we can truly love others.

I'm young and single which gives me very little credibility on this subject, but in my 26 years I've seen several friends who proclaimed to love the Lord, get married, and then a couple years or even months later get divorced.  They claim they "never loved her/him" that they "weren't compatible" or that it just wasn't what they expected, that their husband/wife changed.  I absolutely despise how lightly the covenant of marriage is taken in our culture.  When you say your vows you are making a covenant before God and the people at your wedding.  The definition of a covenant is a binding agreement - but people treat the covenant of marriage more like a piece of gum.  When they've chewed all they want and it's lost some of the flavor they just spit it out and look for another piece.  They turn marriage into a "what's in it for me" or "how does it make me feel" game instead of a serious commitment.  Many people look forward to the "secondary things" that come with marriage more than the "primary things", and I would guess many people even get married based on the appeal of secondary things.  This is why Christians date and marry people who aren't believers, because they are attracted to the idea of marriage so they compromise primary things for secondary things.  I also believe this is why there are a plethora of relationships that are not centered on the Lord.

Hollywood paints a glamorous picture of marriage that's all fun and full of "happily ever afters", but that's not reality.  Contrary to the Beatles' song, love is NOT all you need, Christ is all you need.  Marriage is hard.  Relationships are hard, because we're all sinners.  Marriage requires selflessness like you have never had to display before.  As a sinner entering into a marriage covenant, you can't expect your sins to lessen, in fact they will be amplified.  This isn't all bad because when dealt with correctly this will lead to your sanctification, but it will not be easy.  Your life is bound to another and you are to love, serve, and sacrifice for your spouse, even when it's not fun, even when it's hard, even when it's painful.  This video is a great example of loving, serving and sacrificing when it's not fun, when it's hard, and when it's painful.  I think that this picture of marriage is much more accurate and gives us hope that although they may never have a picture perfect "happily ever after" that they can find a "joyfully ever after" in the midst of trials because of their understanding of God's sovereignty, and through an understanding of the love that God lavished on us.  As an outpouring of that love, we see a selfless relationship that points others to Christ.

It's About Time

I've been thinking a lot about time lately - how we choose to spend our time, how time reflects our priorities, and how much of it we waste.  All of us experience life events which remind us that life is a vapor (James 4:14) and we don't know how much time we have on the earth, and many times this temporarily motivates us to make the time we do have profitable, but we so quickly seem to forget.  Time is a valuable commodity and the way we spend our time reflects the goals and priorities of our hearts.  I think that it's important to keep in mind that our time is really not ours to spend, but rather it belongs to God, the giver of all things.

When I was at TMC I read a really good book called "Shopping for Time" by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters (and they have an awesome blog too, check it out, you'll be encouraged).  They make the point that we often don't treat the time that God has given us with intention or purpose.  It challenges us to plan how we use our time to make the best use of it, bringing God glory.  It also talks about the need to discern the best opportunities life has to offer and make them our priorities.  I discipled a couple of girls in Missouri and as a part of a book study we were doing I had them memorize this little saying: Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best!  Many times it's the good things that distract us from the best things.  Planning and discerning how to best spend your time requires a great deal of discipline, exercised in reliance upon God's grace.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal."  What are your eyes fixed on today?  It's so easy to get so caught up in "life" that we cease to live for what's important, for things that will make a lasting impact.  Think about some ways that you can be purposeful in loving and serving others, sharing the gospel, prioritizing time in the Word, talking about spiritual things when spending time with friends, spending more time in prayer, granting the forgiveness we've been given to others, growing in grace and holiness.  What are you doing to cultivate an eternal mindset when it comes to spending your time?

"Now Lord, I would be yours alone and live so all might see 

the strength to follow your commands could never come from me.  

Oh Father use my ransomed life in any way you choose, 

and let my song forever be my only boast is you."

Engagement Rings and Chocolate Bunnies

I love spring and Easter is full of memories for me.  I love that we spend more time remembering and reflecting on Jesus' work on the cross, but I also spend some time each year thinking about Easter 2005.  Most people get chocolate bunnies and candy in an Easter basket, but I was given something most women dream about that year.

We stopped by the pond and he took my hand, got on one knee, showed me a ring glistening in the sunlight and said "Heidi, will you marry me?" and to this day I think that was one of the most difficult days of my life.

I started courting/dating/spending time with this boy in August of 2003.  He was one of my best friends, and we had known his family for a long time.  His dad had loved me ever since he asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I told him I wanted to be a wife and mom (years before we started dating), and I think then and there he decided I should marry one of his sons.  The first time the bf and I met to spend time alone was at the Emerson Drive concert at Trails West.  Our first real date (he asked my dad, picked me up, opened my doors, and no siblings or parents were in the vicinity) was to the rodeo...yes, you read that right, a country music concert and a rodeo, doesn't get much more hick than that!  He was a good guy, ambitious and driven, worked really hard, managed his money well, and was a gentleman.  At the time, I would have told you our relationship was going well, and when I graduated from high school in 2004 he said he wanted to marry me, but when he and my dad had the initial "talk" my dad told him flat out we couldn't get married until I finished college, and bf agreed, saying he would wait.  But 4 years is a long time to wait and although I really do think he loved me, he was getting impatient.  We had visited the marriage option over and over, bringing different scenarios to my dad and every time my dad saying we needed to wait.  We were young and had much to learn, probably more spiritual lessons than anything else.  In one letter he wrote me he said, "But if your dad won't let you get married next fall, I need to change some things, and I need to let God start taking control of my life more."  Um, hello, red flag - so if we are getting married God doesn't need to "take control", what?!  But I was blind to it then.  I think we were both kind of spiritually stagnant, but we didn't fully realize it until later.  We spent so much time working on our relationship with each other that we neglected our personal relationships with the Lord, and as a result there was a lack of growth, and we weren't keeping Christ at the center of our relationship.  A few months later, after some distance, the Lord began to open my eyes to the mistakes we had made.  I wrote that "No matter how much a part of my future "bf" might be, I need to focus on my relationship with Christ first."

On Easter, our plan was that after our family lunch at my house, the bf and I would go to his sister's new farm to spend some time 4-wheeling and then eat dinner with them.  Now, 4-wheeling is one of my favorite activities in the world.  You get to go fast, feel the wind blowing through your hair, catch some air if you go terrace jumping, and feel that "lose your stomach" feeling you get on the drop of roller coasters.  I LOVE it.  Bf knew I loved it and really planned the perfect proposal.  When we got to the house we rode around for awhile, and then we stopped by the pond.  It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, the water was sparkling, and I was doing my favorite activity with the boy that I loved.  Then he hopped off the 4-wheeler, proposed, and by God's gracious mercy the first words out of my shocked mouth were "did you ask my dad?"  Bf said yes, he asked my dad, and I proceeded to ask what my dad said, why would I do that...wouldn't I assume if he was asking, my dad said yes?  God is truly sovereign and merciful!  The next words out of bf's mouth changed everything, "Your dad said no."  

Now, at this point in our relationship, I loved my parents but I didn't think they understood our situation.  I thought I was mature enough to get married, I understood that I was trading life experiences for marriage and I didn't care.  I knew marriage was hard, but I couldn't convince my parents that I knew it.  My relationship with my parents was very strained as a result.  This made the fact that I even asked what my dad said, or cared enough to decline bf's proposal because of it, nothing short of amazing.  To this day, I don't understand it, God had to have put those questions on my heart and lips.  I wasn't being obedient to my parents in other ways.  I thought I knew better than they did; I hated college and just wanted to marry bf so I could begin my dream of being a wife and mom.  But again, God showed me mercy and gave me the courage to tell bf that if my dad said no, then I couldn't marry him.

We skipped dinner with his family and he drove me straight home.  I cried a lot that night, and I think my parents might have been more shocked that I said no, than they were that bf proposed.  We sort of kept dating (yeah, not my brightest idea), but with a lot of distance, and two short months later I randomly found The Master's College online (there's another long, but awesome story of God's faithfulness) and decided I wanted to go.  I left in August and bf said he would wait for me.  But waiting only lasted until September when he called to tell me we either needed to get married that summer or break up.  Again, the Lord had been working on my heart and gave me the courage to tell him that I knew I was where God wanted me, so I guess we needed to break up, and that was the end of it.  Since I was thousands of miles away we didn't talk again...for like three years.  It was hard at the time, but I grew so much through the situation.  I have several friends my age who worry that they are never going to find "the one" that they will be single for the rest of their lives, and that they will die lonely old men and women.  But let me tell you, it's better to live for the Lord, to follow Him and be single, than it is to be married without the Lord in the center of your relationship.  Every Easter I am SO thankful that the Lord is merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and sovereign over all, and that He caused me to decline that marriage proposal, and ultimately draw my heart to Him to show me that only in Him can I find joy, contentment, and satisfaction.

Why Complain?

The graciousness of God amazes me more every day.  I am so blessed, and enjoy so much, but I have been convicted of how often I forget to acknowledge that everything I enjoy is from God (Ecc. 2:25; James 1:17).  It’s actually only because of God’s graciousness that we enjoy anything at all.  As I ponder God’s graciousness, my sin of complaining has been brought to mind, and not just the complaints that come out of my mouth, but an attitude of complaint even when it isn’t verbalized.  In light of how God graciously provides for us, and the price that Jesus paid on the cross, it’s sad that myself, and other Christians are so apt to complain.  If you had a scale and on one side put your complaints, and the other side you put your thankfulness/gratitude, how would you measure up?  I’m pretty sure my complaints would far outweigh my gratitude.

This isn’t a new problem; we see it frequently in Scripture as well.  In Exodus we read about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, we see the parting of the red sea, and God’s sending manna and quail, but the people were back to complaining in a matter of chapters (Ex. 13 is the parting of the sea and by Ex. 17 the Israelites are complaining about being brought out of Egypt).  We read this and think about how foolish they were to complain about God’s provision, but don’t we do the same thing?  I complain about having to wipe off the dog’s muddy feet in the middle of the night because of all the rain we’ve had, but God is using that rain to provide water for us to drink, and to grow the crops that we eat, so I’m complaining about His provision.  People are quick to complain about the weather, jobs, traffic, the price of gas, the president, but Christians are called to be different, we are told to do EVERYTHING without complaining (Phil.2:14-15)  And not only do we complain about the same things the world complains about, we start complaining about the church as well.  The service is too long/short, the music is too loud or not my style, the pastor dresses too formally/casually, etc.

Our complaining is a constant reminder of how much we focus on ourselves throughout the day.  I think that focusing on the person and provision of God is a big key to battling an attitude of complaint and replacing it with a grateful heart.  To practically put off an attitude of complaint and put on a heart of gratitude, when I am tempted to complain, I will instead think of something to be grateful for and to pray, thanking God for His continuous provision in my life.  As we dwell on who God is and how unworthy we are to receive His provisions, how can we have anything to complain about?

Mountain Beauty

Last week Laurel and I were looking at our week, and planned that our ski day would be Tuesday, God graciously saw fit to make it the most clear, beautiful day!  The sun was shining brightly, the sky was a deep blue, and it was finally clear enough that, for the first time, I could see all of the mountains around Jackson (even the other clear days there were clouds covering the highest mountains).  I took several pictures with my phone, but nothing can compare to the splendor of the mountains in person.  Being in the mountains always reminds me of God's power, majesty, strength and sovereignty, but at the same time they show His creativity and remind me that He is the author of beauty.  I pray that as I move here to live in Jackson, the beauty of creation will continue to point me to the Creator.  

About a year ago, I decided to memorize a portion of Colossians 1, and as I was standing looking out over the tops of the mountains the Lord brought part of that passage to mind...

Colossians 1:16-17 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Psalm 95:3-6 - For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Nehemiah 9:6 - You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. 

Lessons From A Busted Garbage Bag

I'm convinced the workplace is filled with bad employees.  I've worked with them, I've supervised them, and have definitely experienced them as a consumer.  Two examples stand out to me in particular.  One time my mom and I were at Kohls purchasing several small items (LOTS of individual pairs of socks, small candles, etc.) and then bought two shirts to give as gifts.  As we started the transaction this cashier talked non-stop about how horrible her day had been.  She locked her keys in the car, was late, the store was super busy, and lots more.  As she finished the transaction we asked if we could get gift receipts for the two shirts.  She explained that she had to print off gift receipts for every single item (we're talking probably 15 items or so).  My mom commented that it's too bad they couldn't just print them for individual items and the girl said "oh well, it doesn't matter to me.  It's not my money!" and then she handed us the whole pile of receipts.

The most recent example came this morning as we noticed the mail truck coming down the street.  For those of you who don't live here, we had a little snow last night and it was SUPER windy today, and like many other blustery days, it just happened to be trash day.  Our trash cans were out by the street waiting for the garbage man to come pick them up, but at some point one blew over and the bag fell out into the street.  I looked out the window just in time to see our mail lady drive right over the bag of trash, popping it and spreading trash all over the street, instead of driving around the bag.  It's unfortunate that turning the steering wheel would have taken SO much effort.  What happened a few minutes later made me think of how we view occupation.  My mom braved the sub-zero wind chill temps to pick up the garbage the mail lady spread around and a little later the garbage truck came.  I was walking by the window again, just in time to see them dump the trash and then carefully set the cans and lids halfway back in our front yard so that they wouldn't blow out into the street.  A garbage man's job isn't exactly a coveted job, especially when it's cold and snowy, but this guy went the extra mile, and completed his work in a more honorable way than either the cashier or the mail lady.

How often do we go about our work with the mindset that our job is the ministry to which the Lord has called us?  Do we treat our jobs as a ministry or is it just a way to make money?  Even if we don't like it - or if we actually hate it, even if it isn't a glamorous job or might even be looked down upon - like my garbage man, even if our supervisor is terrible or our co-workers are annoying, even if no one seems to notice the work we put in, we are called to work at our jobs with ALL our hearts as working for the Lord not for men.  Do we love our supervisors and co-workers more than ourselves, do put their interests above our own?  Do we take initiative when the job is mundane or difficult, do we do our work without grumbling or complaining?  The workplace is our platform for being God's light, do you take advantage of the opportunities He has given you?  Like it says in 1 Peter 2:11-12, live your lives in the workplace in such a way that your co-workers, customers and supervisors will see a difference, and realize that the difference is Christ in you.

Goals – Kicking Off 2012

Confession: I’m kind of a goal freak.  This probably stems from my (sometimes unhealthy) love of competition.  I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving goals. I love beating whatever time frame I set, I love the challenge, the endurance and determination it takes.  Over the years though, I've learned that although I can easily set and achieve goals that it doesn't necessarily have any long term outcome (building new habits, lifestyle changes, etc.), it was just more of a game for me.  Goals were great, but once they were achieved it was on to the next thing for me.  There was a class at Master’s where we learned a lot of valuable things about goals, and I would like to share some of the things I learned with you in hopes of spurring you on toward achieving the goals or resolutions you have set for 2012!

One thing to be mindful of before setting goals, is that they should reflect our priorities (those things, activities, and responsibilities only you can take care of), which helps you limit what you feel like you have to take on.  Priorities change based on your season of life.  Do you know what your priorities are right now?  Here are a few that might make your list: relationship with God, husband and children, managing your home, caring for aging parents, work obligations, school, health and fitness.  Make a list of your priorities and set your goals from there.  This gives you a broad picture of what you want your life to look like and then you can create specific goals to support your priorities.  Another helpful thing is to create from your priorities a life mission statement.  A few years back I made this mission statement from some of my favorite verses: Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23.

 “Whatever happens in my life, I want to conduct myself in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27).  No matter where God calls me, or what He asks me to do, I want to do everything with all my heart, as unto the Lord.  I will do all my work with excellence, regardless of what that work may be, that I might honor God and bring glory to His name in everything I say and do however great or small.”   

Sometimes we feel like our goals smack us in the behind, but this rarely happens when we SMAC them first!  When setting goals make sure they are:

S: Specific – Many goals fail because they lack detail.   

M: Measurable – How will you measure your progress? Come up with short range, intermediate and long range plans of how you will measure your progress. 

A: Achievable – Sometimes goals fail because they are simply not realistic.  We must remember that our time, energy and resources are limited.  

C: Compatible – They must be compatible with all your current obligations and responsibilities in life.  

One of the most important things I have learned (the hard way) is to be realistic when making goals.  I tend to get excited and think that I can do way more than I actually can, then I get discouraged when I fail or I achieve the goal at the expense of other things I shouldn’t have let go.  Take the time now to adjust your goals and make your expectations realistic!

Be prayerful in what goals you set, and consider the following scriptural principles related to setting goals: 

• The most important thing for the Christian goal setter to keep in mind is that his/her relationship with Christ must come first (Exodus 20:3).  Although goals are good, when we put them above our relationship with the Lord we are making them idols and breaking the first commandment (Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller is an excellent read on this topic).  
• Pray for wisdom and discernment (James 1:5) regarding what your goals should be and how you will accomplish them.  
• Spend time in God’s word looking for principles that apply to a goal that you are considering setting (Psalm 119:24). 
• Get counsel from godly people who know you and whom you trust (Proverbs 15:22). 
• Once you have goals set, grow in the character qualities of perseverance and determination to accomplish that goal and remember that only through relying on Him can we achieve our goals (1 Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 19:26; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 15:58; Galatians 6:9, Colossians 1:10, 3:23).  

Sacrificial Giving

The last couple of months I’ve been thinking a lot about giving, and more specifically what sacrificial giving looks like. As an American, I have a lot of “stuff.” Some of it is more valuable than others, but none of it has eternal value. In the end, what I have on this earth is going to make absolutely no difference to anyone, so why don’t I always live like it?

My junior year of college, I stayed on skid row at the Union Rescue Mission for a week. Each afternoon I spent time helping with their program for homeless children who were staying at the mission. At the time, I had a red rubber bracelet that had some cheesy Christian saying on it that I wore most of the time. I distinctly remember that while we were playing a soccer game with the kids, a little boy, Junior, came up to me and asked me if he could have my bracelet, and I actually had to think about it before I said yes. Granted, it was only a couple seconds before I gladly gave it to him, but it really made me sad that I would even have to think before giving this kid, who had close to nothing, a stupid rubber bracelet. At this point, I determined that I never wanted to be stingy in my giving, but instead to be generous but also wise with both my money and my possessions.

Fast forward to the present…I was really excited when I found out that our Sunday school class had adopted a needy family in town. For about five days, I spent a lot of time in prayer trying to determine the amount that I should give. Since Friday was payday, I decided that I would give half of whatever my paycheck was to this family. It seemed to be a practical way I could live out a biblical command (Matt. 22:39), that if I was loving this family as I loved myself, I would give as much money to them as I kept for myself. So Sunday rolls around, I give my money and go on with life. The next week I realize that my student loan payment, my credit card bill, and my car payment were all due within two days of each other. One of my first thoughts was “if I could have deposited my whole paycheck into my checking account, I wouldn’t have to shuffle my money around.” As I thought about it more I was really convicted, and I realized that although I might have the concept down of actually giving money, that I gave without expecting to live any differently because of it. And it wasn’t even that I didn’t have the money, just that I had to move it around from different banks.

Since the Go Conference, I’ve also been thinking and praying about how much to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering this year. I pray that the Lord has changed my attitude, and that He will allow me to give with the right attitude. I think that I’m a little more prepared this time. I want to give more than I have in the past and I pray that it does stretch me.

I want to have to live differently and to give up some material things because of how I give to the church, to missions and to others, and I want to do it so that God gets the glory and to further His kingdom here on earth. I pray that I would not get caught up spending my money on trivial things, but that I would spend my money thinking about the fact that my treasure is not on earth, but in heaven.

Summer in a Nutshell

Well, summer is officially over and I’m about to go home for three months. The summer was full of ups and downs, but overall I think that things went pretty smoothly, and I was definitely stretched in a good way. Maybe I'll expand on these some in the future but if not, here is my summer in a nutshell...

Here are a few highlights of the summer –

• Making new friends and building relationships with both the new and returning summer staff.
• Surfing with Dave and actually being able to stand up!
• Rescuing Micah’s goldfish from the milk that he poured into the fish bowl.
• Kayaking for the first time – we started out from Santa Cruz harbor and then paddled out past the boardwalk and the wharf.
• Hanging out in San Francisco with Jeffrey and Keegan.
• Using a nail gun (check that one off the bucket list!)
• Helping and watching the cave and pyramid evolve into the awesome set that we used for our programs.
• Getting to go shopping for program stuff including a trip to my favorite store, Toys R Us.
• Getting to be in Rachel and Seth’s wedding in WV in July and the roadtrip out with my mom.
• Watching Simon (who is from England) learn how to drive an automatic on the opposite side of the road in the middle of San Francisco.
• Snipe hunting - sorry guys :)
• Realizing I know the road well enough I can easily drive up the canyon without my brights on.
• Reading through Spiritual Leadership again.
• Working on the ropes course which allowed me to have more interaction with the campers.
• Beckie, Erica and the Burton’s coming up to visit.
• Going to the lake and hanging out with church friends on the boat, and attempting to wakeboard for the first time.
• Getting permission to drive the golf cart - finally!
• Getting rescue certified for the ropes courses.
• Hanging out in the library parking lot mooching off the wireless internet.
• Finding out that the coffee shop at the bottom of the hill has free wireless internet (hence this post)!

These are some things I’ve been thinking about lately

• At the college and career Bible study, we’ve been going through Proverbs. A couple of weeks ago it was about money and they asked “if money was not an issue what would you buy?” All I could think of was a time last semester where I had realized and written that I want to live simply and never be slave to my possessions. I think part of this stems from Midwest culture as opposed to the California culture I’ve been living in for the last three years, but maybe it’s more my personality. I also wonder if this gets harder as you get older and acquire more stuff? I guess I’ll find out!

• This weekend a couple was asking me about the fire and every time I talk about it I am reminded of God’s grace, protection, and His faithfulness, but I don’t remember and think about it nearly as much as I should.

• This is the first time I’ve been here long enough that I forget how beautiful it is here and I don’t like it.

• Finding a biblically solid and healthy church is difficult, and I realize that there will never be a perfect church, but how much imperfection is ok and at what point do you decide that moving on to a different church may be best?

• We went to Vintage Faith Sunday night and Dan Kimball preached on spiritual gifts. There were a couple of points he made that really impressed me. First, I liked that he pointed out that just because you think your strongest "gift" is not evangelism, it doesn’t mean that it removes your responsibility to share the gospel. And not just the gift of evangelism, but in other areas too where there is a need and you can meet it even though it might not be your main spiritual gift. The second point that I liked a lot was that he explained how a pastor or shepherd is not just the person who gets up and preaches on Sunday mornings, but that a pastor is someone who intimately knows and teaches a smaller group of people. In a large church there is no way that the head pastor can know each person in his congregation deeply, so this is where others step up and lead a smaller group, get to know them and become their shepherd. I think this is a biblical concept that many churches are missing today.  So often we put it on the head pastor to shepherd the whole church, but that's why we need to be involved in a smaller community of believers, and why going it alone just produces bitterness toward the church.

Fire Update

Things are looking a lot better today. The fire continues to have a growing percentage of containment, and right now it appears that the Koinonia will be fine. Dave went up last night to check it, and said that the main problems will be smoke and all the debris that fell onto the grounds. Dave seems really optimistic and was talking this morning about the possibility that we would still be able to have the outdoor school come next week.

A friend and I were talking about a week ago about how being a witness to others, does not just mean preaching the gospel to them. Our biggest witness often comes through relationships and our love for others. When we sacrificially love others and take opportunities to meet their physical needs, this lays a foundation that is needed to further share the gospel. John 13:35 says “by this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” It is my prayer that we will do this at Koinonia in the months to come. The Lord has been gracious in sparing the area right around camp, but other areas in our community were not so fortunate. Please pray that we will be examples of Christ’s love through our love for others in our community, and that we would have opportunities to help those who have lost their homes or had other damage in any way that they need it. This could be an awesome opportunity for us to come alongside our unsaved neighbors and be a light for Christ through our love for them.

Back to Blogging

It's official, I'm starting a new blog! I don't promise any great words of wisdom, and I'm definitely not going to write each detail of every day in my life, but I do hope that through my words on this blog, that I will give testimony to God, and that above any other purpose this blog may serve, that it would bring glory and honor to Christ.

The title of my blog comes from one of my favorite books, When God Writes Your Life Story. It is a simple book to read, but has some deep insights and is very challenging. The book explains the Christian life as an endless frontier. Eric Ludy says,

"We get one step ahead of the culture and then, for some strange reason, stop all forward movement. The majority of us may be one step ahead of the world when it comes to purity, spiritual disciplines, knowledge of Scripture, and understanding the problems of society. But what if being one step ahead of the world is ten thousand steps behind where God desires to take us?

Unfortunately, today's Christianity breeds settlers rather than pioneers. It has bred men and women who no longer comb the wilds of God's grace. And it's time we realize that knowing Christ is an endless frontier - a frontier into which we have taken but one measly step."

It is my desire that this blog will be an encouragement to others to continue traveling the journey into the endless frontier.