Celebration

It's the celebration of all celebrations, and I accepted my seat. This will be a great time of jubilee; when family from all around will come and take their seats. It will be a party that never ends, I just know well and plus I've been told that it will be this way, so I guess it's not just my "knowledge" but I just can't wait! It's one of those excitements and joys that I can't contain. Finally a time where we can all come together and 'differences' will be put aside forever. Normally at celebrations you are allowed your spouse or one other significant other but this time I was told to invite everyone! No gets left out!...well that is everyone has the invitation it's just a matter if they would accept it. I think I forgot to mention it is a wedding, and I'm the bride! But get this so are you, well again if you accept the invitation to be apart of the bride. Now I know this sounds a little nontraditional. The fact that I can be the bride and you can as well but this is no ordinary wedding this is the wedding of all weddings. With a Jewish wedding, so I've been told, there is a betrothal and then the husband-to-be return's to his father's house to prepare a room for his bride and once all is ready the man will again go to his father and then his father will say, "Go get your bride!" That is the same way that this wedding is working only it is the model for those weddings. Here let me explain for I think this might be confusing. The groom has been waiting for your response, on His knee so to speak, your whole life. He's been there wanting to begin this amazing relationship with you. For you to see how dearly He loves you. But like I said and like traditional for all weddings you must accept the offer and then follow through. Now I get to rejoice right now because I know many of you have accepted the offer and you are the bride along with me! How terribly exciting is it! But do you remember that when we accepted the offer He told us, "go out and tell everyone about my offer"? We get to be the inviters of the uninvited! We get to go out and declare this wonderful celebration...but I wonder why some of the Bride has lost site of this? As far as I know and have been told brides don't forget their wedding day. In fact the prepare and plan for such day but to sit back and relax expecting all will come into play? No, I've never heard of such thing; so why the case now? It's dumbfounding. But I guess that is the point of my excitement and little rambling today; to shake the memory of the bride and to stir up those who don't understand. I've been invited to the celebrations of all celebrations and I have the most amazing relationship ever imaginable so tell me how I am suppose to contain such joy and excitement?

Holiness

I continue to come around to this idea of holiness, being set apart. Last Night was was talking to one of my friends and we found ourselves once again discussing this and what the means.

Holiness being set apart for Christ. Christ is the only holy one and I as a Christ followers am to be following His examples and instruction. Christ was in the World but not of it as I am called to do the same. If it (activities, etc.) had nothing to do with furthering the Kingdom and ultimately the Father He had no part in it. Therefore the same again applies to me and i should be evaluating life ridding it of all things not pertaining to Christ. So again I come back to music. Something to simple yet so prevalent in my life. Based on those words would that not mean music that is not sung by Christ followers I should not listening to them? Then movies? and other things as well. I want to ask the question how far do I go but then shouldn't I more be saying what else so that I may be like Christ! And then others may say this is too liberal and you won't be able to witness to others because you are closing yourself off but now can that be true? When trying to follow the examples of Christ? Or is it that this is just "too" far? I'm here in the World but I am not of it. "To act is to believe, and to believe is to act."

Back in TJ

When I was home on break i was talking to one of my friends who was on staff during the summer. She said, "it would be hard to get adjusted to life home and then back here again" Now that I'm back I can say um yeah it is definitely hard. It's hard because all the staff members that I was on staff with for my six months are gone accept Travis will be returning soon. I'm trying not to be always referencing this is how it was and this is what happened with all the former staff with the new staff girl. especially with my whole life in the last six months being with all of them here and thats where I am now except without them all. One of my friend wrote me a really encouraging letter and in it she said something like, "love with everything you have and then more." and then our director's wife's favorite word intentionality. So i'm praying like crazy and trying to just be a great person for the new staff girl.

Towards the end of my time at home the last week or so I started feeling "normal" again, used to the culture and way of life, and was hesitant about coming back but then we had a Mexico service the last sunday night i was there. It was so encouraging to hear what the team members shared. Just how God changed their lives and the application they are now doing. Everything from the culture, a lot of the messages, their devotionals in the morning, etc. terribly encouraging just to see the impact caravan was having when they were there and then to see it in action as i've been here. And as I was listening to them speak it just made me want to return to Mexico with all the more intentionality and to see the impact that Caravan has and to know that I have been so blessed to be a part of what God is doing here. Just to be reminded that Caravan is where God has me and that not only do i get the privilege of working there but I know God has so much to teach me still and I am so stoked to see what that will be. God must have some large stretching to do in me

Sunday Messages

This past sunday the messages struck some ponderings for me.

when the college pastor was preaching from Isaiah 9:6&7 most 6 and just on the words there used to describe Christ. We focused on Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God for that week. It was cool he went to different passages all of the Bible that referenced more of God's character in that way. All of it was good but the part that stuck out to me was what he said about Mighty God. We looked at 1 Peter 5:6&7. Specifically this phrase "If we say God is Mighty but don't submit to it? We do not really believe He is the Mighty God." that just really made me think how many things do we, I say about God and who He is but in my life do I show it?

then the pastor spoke from 1 timothy 3:14-16. Speaking of many different things from this portion but again the thing that stuck out to me is that Paul gives the church direction in who to conduct themselves. First point is that we are the house of God. when we meet together with 2 or more people He is present! Think about that? as individuals we are the temple of God but coming together we are the house of God. just a cool thought but then this is the part that really struck me. At the end of verse 15 it says "Which is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth." Then the pastor began to describe the the architectural purpose of pillars to uphold something and with the temple of Artemis or Diana, the goddess of fertility (i forget the reference). The pillars they used for her temple 60 feet tall. yes to up hold the ceiling but also to show off the beauty of the temple and ultimately Diana. then he went into describing the practical purposes for foundation. We are those. We are to be upholding the truth and to be showing off its beauty and if the pillars or foundations aren't good then the building suffers and in the same way if we do not uphold the truth it will suffer. I was thinking of the World now and how true it is. Christians not actually being the pillars of truth and the truth is now gray or arbitrary even among "christians."

which just makes me think again back to the college pastor's message we say one thing, "I'm a Christian" "He is a Mighty God" but is there fruit in our lives?

Set Apart

As people trying to strive for a life of holiness are there things that aren't necessarily bad that we should refrain from? The thing that I keep thinking about is music (and movies but mostly music). If artists aren't Christ Followers should we be listening to their music? For even when they don't sing about sex, drugs, or violence but sing about love their love isn't real for they don't know Christ. And therefore if the rule of thumb for music is, "are they glorifying to God?" Wouldn't a false love be dishonoring and more as an idol? Or songs that are more depressing or sad, same reasons; they are trying to fill their life with other things where God should be. dishonoring?

Moved by What?

Walked up the tiled steps to a unknown building with people i had just met but I was optimistic because it was a youth event. the place was small but packed. we found seats and waited. the MC got up and introduced the evening. the band started the night off with a few songs. the instant the song started there were hands raised, clapping for every song, and in the front row a couple of girls were twirling ribbons. After each song a couple of loud "hallelujahs" rang above the applause. a choir stood to sing a couple of songs. Again within a short period of time when the music started hands raised and eyes closed. but there was one individual that I watched. every time he went to raise his hand he looked at those around him to see if they did. There was one song they sang that on every part hands raised. they were dancing and singing so passionately. then pastor began his message. he was more like a comedian to me. not that pastors can't be funny but its seemed as though the message was more jokes. he did read the passage before speaking on it but then besides the general reference to David and Goliath he didn't refer to it again.(due to the language barrier i'm only making these as observations.) when he wasn't making jokes he would speak louder and louder into the microphone and then people would start clapping and yelling. Towards the end as the song started people began to cry. a mass of people went to the front, meaning everyone. As they continued the song they cried then the song ended and people left.


these are only my observations but the thoughts that kept running through my head the whole evening was: without the music, without the pastor speaking louder, would people just read the WORD OF GOD and shout? read the WORD OF GOD and lift up their hands? read the WORD OF GOD and bend their knees humbled? read the WORD OF GOD and be moved to tears? GOD is what the pastor (is suppose to) preache about. GOD is what the songs are written about...and the GOD gave us HIS WORD. are we, am I moved by the WORD OF GOD...or just the songs, pastors jokes and words, and everyone else?

Blindfold Obstacle

a group of people, including yourself, stand in a semi-circle listening to directions. the instructions are given and you all take the spots. the color that you once saw drowned out by the blindfold tied around your eyes. You stand on a small platform big enough for your feet to be standing on and that's it. "Alright begin!" a single voice resounds then within a matter of seconds your ears are bombarded with a multitude of voices telling you what step to take next. there is an obstacle course that you are suppose finish without touching the ground,everyone else around is to give you directions, and there is one person in the middle on the obstacle course who once you meet you can grab their hand and they can guide you with their hand and voice but until then they can only vocally direct you. you decipher a few directions that seem to be coming from a couple of different people, your friends, and choose to follow them. first step, complete. so you listen again...a resounding group of voices again. so you take the step again. second step complete. again...listen, go. left foot out with a slight height increase...your foot misses completely and you fall to the grassy ground. unable to remove the blindfold the leaders of the obstacle come and help you up, taking you back to the beginning. as you are led back you wonder what went wrong? why would they led me in a wrong direction? Again you try the course, fail. Again fail. what is going on? at this point so fed up with the blindfold and just want to give up on this stupid obstacle course. And to your fortune this time the leaders remove the blind fold but put on special goggles that won't allow you to look down. You are able to look at those around you and the person in front of you. Your eyes slowly adjust to the light to see that everyone on the sides are blindfolded too. They had a chance to look through the obstacle course but then they were all blindfold. the only person who isn't is the person in the middle. this time you try hard to to focus on the person in the middle but you can't hear them everyone else is too loud. So you try on your own. it worked. alright again. fail. Again and again you try listening to others trying yourself but never being able to accomplish the task. You wearily step up onto the small platform once again. people start barking orders again...you yell above everyone else and ask them to stop talking. The middle person's voice comes clear and you step by step still a little unsteady go father and farther until you reach them. their hand now guide yours allow with their reaffirming voice and within moments you finishing the obstacle course.

This past week there was one these obstacle courses that I've done before at high school and leadership building retreats were brought to my mind, but not in that task so much as the metaphor to life. So often we are like the blindfolded person aimlessly wandering trying to follow the right path. We turn to friends, to family, to people we don't know, to things, but we miss the one person who knows and sees the path that is before us. And all we need to do is listening and lift our eyes to that one being, Jesus Christ.

"If only we took the time to turn our eyes and hearts away from this world, even from the faces of family and friends that surround us, the joys that attract us and distract us, and fix them steadfastly on the face of Jesus, He would manifest himself to our hearts and we would be filled with the consciousness that He is with us."
Absolute Surrender by, Andrew Murray


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2