Safety in Numbers.

I believe the Lord takes us through seasons where we MUST rely on others. Yes, we need fellowship and godly friendship at all times, but the need increases at moments to accomplish a greater purpose.

The true beauty of a community of believers walking together lies in our ability to love and support one another under any circumstance. If one falls, the community as a whole responds in love and carries the broken member back to safety. It never abandons. By requiring unconditional love, the Lord tests our ability as a community to "carry one another's burdens" and remain faithful in the midst of hardship, offense, frustration, disagreement, etc. Can we love through the pain? Can we simply love? It is in these moments that hearts are saved and restored. (Not in the sense of salvation, but in the sense of the prodigal returning).

With that said, this community can not function properly unless we decide individually to open ourselves up and be vulnerable to one another. WE MUST ASK FOR HELP. The structure of the body of Christ only works if we rely on one another. The community is responsible for carrying one another, but the individual is responsible for reaching out.

In the past few weeks, and even within the past few days, I've realized my incredible need for others. My tendency is to recluse. But after spending the weekend with some of my closest friends, I found that my heart was naturally encouraged. It's not that we did anything "spiritual." They never prayed for me. (Our time together consisted mostly of just sitting around and drinking beer). But, something still shifted in me. Areas that I have been struggling with and wrestling over just gave way. By simply putting myself in the environment of people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in love, incredible things happened within me. I remembered what it was like to be a part of that kind of community. It was beautiful.

This is the Way.

There is a graceful fluidity to following Father. I look back on the what seemed to be disastrous transitions and misplacements and I see a beautiful puzzle coming together. My life was and is full of awkward and sudden changes. But, I'm beginning to see how each part plays into the greater purpose. It is mind-blowing.

But, what's next? I feel another change is on the horizon. I hear the voice of the Shepherd gently leading me little by little in specific directions. While the Holy Spirit is so kindly leading me in one area, I feel in other aspects of my life, there is complete silence. I find myself getting so impatient with Him. Why can't I know everything right now?! As if He hasn't proven Himself as completely faithful and trustworthy... Praise the Lord, He is gloriously faithful and worthy of every ounce of trust we can muster up.

Instead of becoming stagnant in my frustration that He hasn't answered ALL my questions about what's to come, I'm moving forward in what I know He's made clear to me. I will not stop seeking for answers in the blind places, but I will walk confidently in what I know He HAS said. The rest will come in His perfect time.

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21

The Higher Love

I had a wonderful Valentine's day for the first time in my life. But, it wasn't because I received the cliché stuffed bear and chocolates (which I didn't.) It was because I encountered a new understanding of the steadfast love of the Father. When I woke up, I wanted to be bitter. I wanted to have a pity party and raise the awareness flag of my single status. But the Lord invaded my thoughts with this word.

"Do you want to think about love today? Then revel in the unfailing love of your Heavenly Father."

I couldn't really argue with the Guy. He had a valid point. I am so incredibly loved by Him. Not in the cheesy, "Jesus is my Valentine" kind of way. But in an "I'm willing to die if it means I get to have you" kind of way.

When we fix our eyes on the eternal Love of Abba, the fleeting, shallow love that flesh has to offer loses its appeal. Why spend my time dwelling on that which can not satisfy when we have been offered complete fulfillment in His desire for us? We spend so much emotional energy fighting to find a release from loneliness that He has already eternal cured.

While all else will ever fade away, His steadfast love for me remains.

Insecurities are simply the lack of revelation that we are intricately created and woven together by the Father for a specific purpose. We are who He needs, wants and longs for us to be. He was INTENTIONAL in His crafting of His children. There were no mistakes. Our personalities, our spiritual gifts, even our physical appearance, all plays a part in His master plan of fitting us into a beautiful bigger picture called the body of Christ.

Today, I re-applied to work as a Resident Assistant at USM. I had to make a presentation to my boss of why I thought I should be rehired. This is what I made:

It's my heart. With all of it's special compartments... Uniquely me.

Fun.

I went for a bike ride today. It was my first bike ride in a really long time since Betty was stolen earlier this year. : (

We went to a park. And it was fun.

Sometimes, the soul just needs a big ol' dose of good times.

Keep Walking

Deliverance is a *snapping fingers* moment. But if I never walk away from that which I have been delivered from, I am never truly free.

When the Israelites were freed from the oppressive bondage of slavery, Pharaoh's words extended freedom to them in an instant. They went from a people of captivity to those who could rejoice in unrestricted liberty. BUT, if they would have chosen to remain in Egypt, working for Pharaoh, even if they were technically free, they would have remained a people of slavery. It was in the action of walking away from bondage that they became the freed people the Father intended them to be.

As of now, I am delivered. Yes, I am set free from the bondage of slavery to unforgiveness and anger. But, every day, every moment, is a conscience choice to move away from the area of that which had enslaved me. I choose to put away thoughts of malice and contempt and walk in the freedom of the Lord. The further I walk, the deeper I enter into the liberty of Abba.

Out With the Old... But Wait! Keep Their Stuff...

Retro is IN. Old is new in today's hip culture. Vintage EVERYTHING. And if it isn't vintage, at least it looks like it is. We obsess over our Grandparent's sweaters, mom's hippie attire, and dad's skin tight jeans from the 70's (which we USED to think were SO lame...). We listen to records on our record players (even though we have access to the greater music quality and quantity on our Ipods). We read old and worn copies of books (instead of buying the same ones brand new). I even had a bicycle that was my Great-Grandmothers and of course, it was a hit with the culture moguls. Modern is ironically becoming a regurgitation of old styles.

What interests me about this new trend is that while our culture is obsessed with old THINGS, it rejects the people and the values of the same eras. This same hipster generation that buys old, broken furniture in the name of vintage has been built upon a foundation of rebellion against "old" principles and standards. The hip movement bases its entire existence on a "we want to do things our own way" and a "screw authority" mentality. The values that carried our forefathers are no longer "cool" to stand by. But, their stuff is rad.

I'm concerned with the culture as a whole but I'm more concerned with the seeds this type of thinking is sowing into our next generation of Christ followers. This attitude not only rejects simple principle (such as respecting parents) but is beginning to reject foundational biblical values. For example, it is now acceptable to support gay marriage and abortion as a professed Christian in the name of "21st century culture." Being pro-life is only for old, right winged, stiff collared people. (FALSE!)

Proverbs 4 calls out to the younger generation to take heed of a (physical and spiritual) Father's counsel.

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.


We will not survive if we do not embrace the ones who have gone ahead of us. We must learn from their wisdom, not reject it. Biblical values do not "go out of date."

C.S. Lewis expressing his frustration this way:
"I have some definite views about the de-Christianizing of the church. I believe that there are many accommodating preachers, and too many practitioners in the church who are not believers. Jesus Christ did not say “Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.” The Gospel is something completely different. In fact, it is directly opposed to the world."

I'm with Clive on this one...