Paul asks in Colossians 1:9-10 for God to fill his audience with the knowledge of His will in order that they "may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way." How so? Here's the list:
-bearing fruit in good works
-growing in one's knowledge of God
-being strengthened with His power to enable endurance and patience
-joyfully giving thanks to God who has qualified us to share in His Kingdom
The list translated? Blessing. Blessing. Blessing. Blessing.
Funny how that works. That knowledge and obedience to God's will and Word ushers in blessing, yet often we see it as sacrificial, taxing, noble, "super-spiritual". Like we struggle and wrestle with God when we should be embracing the blessing. Like we think that what we have by picking and choosing which commands we like is so much better than anything He could possibly give through utter obedience. Like we pat ourselves on the back for making noble allegiances to God or singing songs about surrendering it all, but in reality we cling tightly to our plans, our dreams, our desires, our strategies, our rational, our traditions and our appetites for the world's treasure.
I laugh so easy and yet struggle so much with these same things. And I realize that God did good naming Israel "Israel". Real good. One who wrestles with God. The identity we have all inherited.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
[counting my 1,000]
I recently finished the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. So good. I mean, it's easy to read a book, put it down, say it was "the best", and then forget what it was even about by next week. Been there. Done that.
But this one was different because it had something practical attached. As I read about Voskamp's journey with her list, I started making my own with 1,000 gifts/things I loved. Right now I'm only at 235, but it has been a fun and humbling adventure so far.
84. the character of old buildings
107. laughing about nonsense
138. the way a meal brings people together
161. that a dead, frozen, brown earth comes alive again every spring
212. witnessing people do what they love
226. bare feet on soft earth
That last one is a lot like reading this book, too. As I walked barefoot across the park Saturday, I realized my sense of awareness was heightened while I kept an eye out for sticks, dog poop and rocks. But in that awareness, I also felt more things. I slowed down. I actually noticed I have a sense of touch. And this is precisely what Voskamp writes about - embracing the all of every moment and seeing it as grace.
There are many things I want to take away, but for now, I am going to just let it soak in that God is good. God is extravagant. God is real. God is present. God is in the midst of details and darkness and light and even mundane. He is to be experienced and loved and worshipped.
God is a bad banker - exchanging bankruptcy for bottomless checking. Not only cancelling our debt but filling our savings. He is life and meaning and purpose, and I don't think words do Him justice a lot of times. But truthfully, I think that's ok. Because I'm learning that that's what God's about sometimes - leaving people speechless. Quieting our noise.
It's an adventure you know. A crazy adventure and a mystery and a story and a beautiful ride, and though I know not what's ahead, I crave to see what He unwraps.
But this one was different because it had something practical attached. As I read about Voskamp's journey with her list, I started making my own with 1,000 gifts/things I loved. Right now I'm only at 235, but it has been a fun and humbling adventure so far.
84. the character of old buildings
107. laughing about nonsense
138. the way a meal brings people together
161. that a dead, frozen, brown earth comes alive again every spring
212. witnessing people do what they love
226. bare feet on soft earth
That last one is a lot like reading this book, too. As I walked barefoot across the park Saturday, I realized my sense of awareness was heightened while I kept an eye out for sticks, dog poop and rocks. But in that awareness, I also felt more things. I slowed down. I actually noticed I have a sense of touch. And this is precisely what Voskamp writes about - embracing the all of every moment and seeing it as grace.
There are many things I want to take away, but for now, I am going to just let it soak in that God is good. God is extravagant. God is real. God is present. God is in the midst of details and darkness and light and even mundane. He is to be experienced and loved and worshipped.
God is a bad banker - exchanging bankruptcy for bottomless checking. Not only cancelling our debt but filling our savings. He is life and meaning and purpose, and I don't think words do Him justice a lot of times. But truthfully, I think that's ok. Because I'm learning that that's what God's about sometimes - leaving people speechless. Quieting our noise.
It's an adventure you know. A crazy adventure and a mystery and a story and a beautiful ride, and though I know not what's ahead, I crave to see what He unwraps.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
[no need for religion]
The last few days I've had several surprising conversations with friends about religion, and it seems to me that no one likes it. Truthfully, I have to say I agree.
Religion makes life into a list of "dos" and "don'ts".
It stuffs our ideas of a higher power into a being who is distant, unapproachable, and disinterested in our day-to-day affairs.
Religion traps people in indifference. You don't need to experience God, for routine will do the trick.
It's conditional.
It's monotonous.
It's ever so boring and brainless and unstimulating and emotionless and why do we need to let religion affect us when our physical needs are provided for, we have plenty of dreams for our lives and frankly, we're quite short on time these days.
As I was visiting with an international friend, I realized that the belief system she was raised in only offered this. God showed me that intellect, culture and routine only go so far in comparing religions, for at the end of the day, you can know everything and still have no faith in anything.
But testifying to a relationship with a God who is not distant? That's my witness. Speaking about a God I can meet with and experience and wrestle with and return love to? Sharing a personal struggle and how God walks me through that and slowly changes my heart to see it as He sees it? Those things are my witness too.
We could debate all night and day about the differences between religions. And there are just as many as there are similarities. But something you cannot debate is personal testimony, when someone shares how they've experienced a relationship with God that is not founded on fear or culture or rights or trying to please and appease a holy God.
Truth is, I never will. Truth is, God knew we never could. And that leads us to the cross where the world's relationship with God is forever, radically changed.
I don't think religion has done a whole lot for this world. It traps us in culture. Traps us in routine. Traps us in fear about what others think of us and whether we've measured up to God's standards.
But God? He's not about any of that. In Christ, we are made right before Him. We are loved as we come, cherished as a son or daughter, freed from self-condemnation and all the sin that entangles us.
Can we believe God doesn't want our religion? Our worship attendance? Our thin love? Our charity? Our can drives? Our cheap wall hangings? Our committee meeting hours? Our service hours? Our hypocrisy? Can we believe there is something more to God than a simply a list of "do's" and "don'ts"?
"Rend your heart and not your garments," the prophet Joel wrote to a culture where sorrow was outwardly shown by tearing your clothes. "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." [joel 2:13]
Gracious. Compassionate. Slow to anger. Abounding in love. Let those soak in.
God doesn't need our religion world. No one does. No one seems to like it. But I am convinced we need a relationship with Him. I'm convinced He desires that and wants to meet us where we are now so we can experience Him in a way religion will never allow. That He wants to walk through life beside us - sometimes coaxing on, sometimes slamming doors shut that we liked open, sometimes carrying us when our feet refuse to go, sometimes just being present. But always present. Always fighting for us. Let us not refuse the invitation.
Religion makes life into a list of "dos" and "don'ts".
It stuffs our ideas of a higher power into a being who is distant, unapproachable, and disinterested in our day-to-day affairs.
Religion traps people in indifference. You don't need to experience God, for routine will do the trick.
It's conditional.
It's monotonous.
It's ever so boring and brainless and unstimulating and emotionless and why do we need to let religion affect us when our physical needs are provided for, we have plenty of dreams for our lives and frankly, we're quite short on time these days.
As I was visiting with an international friend, I realized that the belief system she was raised in only offered this. God showed me that intellect, culture and routine only go so far in comparing religions, for at the end of the day, you can know everything and still have no faith in anything.
But testifying to a relationship with a God who is not distant? That's my witness. Speaking about a God I can meet with and experience and wrestle with and return love to? Sharing a personal struggle and how God walks me through that and slowly changes my heart to see it as He sees it? Those things are my witness too.
We could debate all night and day about the differences between religions. And there are just as many as there are similarities. But something you cannot debate is personal testimony, when someone shares how they've experienced a relationship with God that is not founded on fear or culture or rights or trying to please and appease a holy God.
Truth is, I never will. Truth is, God knew we never could. And that leads us to the cross where the world's relationship with God is forever, radically changed.
I don't think religion has done a whole lot for this world. It traps us in culture. Traps us in routine. Traps us in fear about what others think of us and whether we've measured up to God's standards.
But God? He's not about any of that. In Christ, we are made right before Him. We are loved as we come, cherished as a son or daughter, freed from self-condemnation and all the sin that entangles us.
Can we believe God doesn't want our religion? Our worship attendance? Our thin love? Our charity? Our can drives? Our cheap wall hangings? Our committee meeting hours? Our service hours? Our hypocrisy? Can we believe there is something more to God than a simply a list of "do's" and "don'ts"?
"Rend your heart and not your garments," the prophet Joel wrote to a culture where sorrow was outwardly shown by tearing your clothes. "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." [joel 2:13]
Gracious. Compassionate. Slow to anger. Abounding in love. Let those soak in.
God doesn't need our religion world. No one does. No one seems to like it. But I am convinced we need a relationship with Him. I'm convinced He desires that and wants to meet us where we are now so we can experience Him in a way religion will never allow. That He wants to walk through life beside us - sometimes coaxing on, sometimes slamming doors shut that we liked open, sometimes carrying us when our feet refuse to go, sometimes just being present. But always present. Always fighting for us. Let us not refuse the invitation.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
[if Peter were a college student]
Yesterday I was studying the story of Gethsemane with a Chinese friend, and something really struck me. I have read that story countless times throughout the years, but it hit me in humorous and grave ways that the disciples were sleeping while Jesus was in agony.
Check out Matthew 26:35 first. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows, but Peter insists he will never do that. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you," he claims.
Yet what happens in the verses following? He and the other disciples fall asleep when Jesus asks them to keep watch. Not once. Not twice, but three times they doze off. Jesus is gripped with agony knowing what lies ahead. He has warned them to keep watch and pray so that they do not fall into temptation. He has warned Peter before this that He will fall to temptation by betraying His Lord, and what do they do in response? They fall asleep! Why? "Because their eyes were heavy" [Matt. 26:43].
Peter's my favorite. This isn't the first time he makes bold claims and fails to live up to them. And it's not the last.
Earlier on in his discipleship, Jesus calls him to walk on water [Matt. 14:25-33]. Peter slips for lack of faith. There's his betrayal of Jesus in the hour most needed - the most remembered "stain", if you will call it, on Peter's transcript [Luke 22:54-62]. And later at Antioch, Peter is called out for having a double standard with Jews and Gentiles [Gal. 2:11-21] even though he is the one who declares to fellow Jews that Jesus died and rose for Gentiles too [Acts 10, 15].
If Peter were a college student today, I think we'd be friends. "I'll never do that God," I declared coming to college. "Not me. You know I have no intentions of getting involved in those things. I'm on the straight and narrow. I love you. I won't even let those things tempt me." And I think there are others out there who can nod their head at this too.
Then college arrives, and there are party invitations. People don't attach meaning to your last name. There's freedom. There's relationships. There's choices. And it's in those times of choices that you find out where your heart is really at. "Oh Lord I'd never do that!" becomes a pretty weak statement when you realize you are also human and full of desires you didn't know you had and tempted in both mind and body to do things you insisted you would never ever do.
With this reality in mind, you've gotta love Jesus' statement in Luke 22:31-32: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Simon, Simon, you will fail, but I pray you will know the grace that catches you when you repent. Simon, Simon, in the midst of seeing your failure, you will see my goodness that much more. I pray you turn back. I pray you are even stronger because of your failure.
Truth is, we don't really understand the gospel until we see our utter failure to live up to who we think we are and who we want to be. I do the things I don't want to do and the things I want to do I don't do [Romans 7:14-20]. This is reality my friends, and it is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we see the cross for what it is. Peter did that, and this is why I like him.
He understood the reality of his sin. He recklessly failed many times. He fell far short of living up to who he thought he was. And by God's grace, after Peter repented and turned back and stopped depending on his strength or will power, God did incredible things through him to take the gospel to the nations.
This is the Bible. This is the gospel. This is what Christianity is to be about. Not perfect or holy or do-good people. Broken, failed, redeemed people. This is me, and I praise God for the utter failures in my life [both those that have passed and those to come] because it reminds me Who this is all really about.
"Not me God. I'd never do that," we claim. But I urge you to be careful of those words. I said them and found myself looking back and realizing I was sleeping when I should have been praying, just like Peter in Gethsemane. Yet when we turn back, when we repent, God uses the reality of our brokenness to shine His glory through us that much more. This is a beautiful gospel of redemption and restoration. May we all see the Peter in us, and from that, come alive to the goodness of God and His grace.
Check out Matthew 26:35 first. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows, but Peter insists he will never do that. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you," he claims.
Yet what happens in the verses following? He and the other disciples fall asleep when Jesus asks them to keep watch. Not once. Not twice, but three times they doze off. Jesus is gripped with agony knowing what lies ahead. He has warned them to keep watch and pray so that they do not fall into temptation. He has warned Peter before this that He will fall to temptation by betraying His Lord, and what do they do in response? They fall asleep! Why? "Because their eyes were heavy" [Matt. 26:43].
Peter's my favorite. This isn't the first time he makes bold claims and fails to live up to them. And it's not the last.
Earlier on in his discipleship, Jesus calls him to walk on water [Matt. 14:25-33]. Peter slips for lack of faith. There's his betrayal of Jesus in the hour most needed - the most remembered "stain", if you will call it, on Peter's transcript [Luke 22:54-62]. And later at Antioch, Peter is called out for having a double standard with Jews and Gentiles [Gal. 2:11-21] even though he is the one who declares to fellow Jews that Jesus died and rose for Gentiles too [Acts 10, 15].
If Peter were a college student today, I think we'd be friends. "I'll never do that God," I declared coming to college. "Not me. You know I have no intentions of getting involved in those things. I'm on the straight and narrow. I love you. I won't even let those things tempt me." And I think there are others out there who can nod their head at this too.
Then college arrives, and there are party invitations. People don't attach meaning to your last name. There's freedom. There's relationships. There's choices. And it's in those times of choices that you find out where your heart is really at. "Oh Lord I'd never do that!" becomes a pretty weak statement when you realize you are also human and full of desires you didn't know you had and tempted in both mind and body to do things you insisted you would never ever do.
With this reality in mind, you've gotta love Jesus' statement in Luke 22:31-32: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Simon, Simon, you will fail, but I pray you will know the grace that catches you when you repent. Simon, Simon, in the midst of seeing your failure, you will see my goodness that much more. I pray you turn back. I pray you are even stronger because of your failure.
Truth is, we don't really understand the gospel until we see our utter failure to live up to who we think we are and who we want to be. I do the things I don't want to do and the things I want to do I don't do [Romans 7:14-20]. This is reality my friends, and it is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we see the cross for what it is. Peter did that, and this is why I like him.
He understood the reality of his sin. He recklessly failed many times. He fell far short of living up to who he thought he was. And by God's grace, after Peter repented and turned back and stopped depending on his strength or will power, God did incredible things through him to take the gospel to the nations.
This is the Bible. This is the gospel. This is what Christianity is to be about. Not perfect or holy or do-good people. Broken, failed, redeemed people. This is me, and I praise God for the utter failures in my life [both those that have passed and those to come] because it reminds me Who this is all really about.
"Not me God. I'd never do that," we claim. But I urge you to be careful of those words. I said them and found myself looking back and realizing I was sleeping when I should have been praying, just like Peter in Gethsemane. Yet when we turn back, when we repent, God uses the reality of our brokenness to shine His glory through us that much more. This is a beautiful gospel of redemption and restoration. May we all see the Peter in us, and from that, come alive to the goodness of God and His grace.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
[dear God]
Dear God,
It's Valentine's Day, and as a single woman, I feel like there are two approaches I can take. Either I'm a hater of all things love or the overly optimistic one people also hate.
But what if I'm neither? What if I have no need to voice my opinion about Valentine's Day via Twitter or bookface? What if it's really ok just to be single and know that love isn't left up to one day of the year or a boy/girl couple relationship? I feel like You're ok with that too, God. I know that the love you offer is a lot more complete and fulfilling and lasting and faithful than this world even knows, and I'm ok simply soaking that in today.
Boy we sure get wrapped up in a lot of fleeting things. They're fun, sure. They're adventurous, sure. They're romantic, sure. But they're also temporary and sometimes leave us more empty by the end. Thanks for being eternal God. Thanks for being faithful. I'd take a guy after Your own heart any day, but I also know that my deepest desires are only ever going to be fulfilled by You.
Love,
Hannah
It's Valentine's Day, and as a single woman, I feel like there are two approaches I can take. Either I'm a hater of all things love or the overly optimistic one people also hate.
But what if I'm neither? What if I have no need to voice my opinion about Valentine's Day via Twitter or bookface? What if it's really ok just to be single and know that love isn't left up to one day of the year or a boy/girl couple relationship? I feel like You're ok with that too, God. I know that the love you offer is a lot more complete and fulfilling and lasting and faithful than this world even knows, and I'm ok simply soaking that in today.
Boy we sure get wrapped up in a lot of fleeting things. They're fun, sure. They're adventurous, sure. They're romantic, sure. But they're also temporary and sometimes leave us more empty by the end. Thanks for being eternal God. Thanks for being faithful. I'd take a guy after Your own heart any day, but I also know that my deepest desires are only ever going to be fulfilled by You.
Love,
Hannah
Sunday, January 22, 2012
[as i am running]
I think God is trying to teach me something about going lately. Yesterday I was reading about Jesus healing a blind man and got stuck on the phrase "as he went along" [John 9:1], and today I noticed in the Good Samaritan story that the Samaritan stopped to help the beat-up man "as he traveled" [Luke 10:33]. Sure there were destinations they were heading to, but the journey was also an opportunity for ministry, and they didn't miss out.
This is convicting for me because truthfully, I'd love to be overseas right now sharing the gospel. When I first heard that one-third of the world has little or zero exposure to Jesus or the Bible, I immediately signed up to be one of the go-ers. I like adventure. I loved living overseas before. I'm young. I don't have a family to take care of yet. I don't have a lot of material things tying me down here. I'm physically capable. Prime time right? All signs point to yes 'cept God's.
And His is the one that counts.
So instead I am here in Ames working with international students. And don't get me wrong, I am really really blessed. Truly blessed. I get to meet people from many different countries. I get to rest in the comforts of my own culture and language. I get to be close to family and friends. I have incredible people to work with, and I get paid to do this. Wow. So blessed.
But there is still a desire in my heart to go overseas, and I stand guilty of accusing God He doesn't know what He's doing by asking how long til I can go. How long God? I'm ready. I said send me. Next week sound good? Alrighty. I'll get my bags packed!
However, I am learning that has also become a great stumbling block for me. So much of my heart yearns to go overseas that I can easily miss the opportunities God has given me here on the way. On the journey. As I am running. I thought that was a good title since this blog is about the race of life, and I'm realizing that my faithfulness to God is what matters more than the exact places I live or what my job title is.
So as I am running God, would you remind me that You don't need me to accomplish Your purposes? As I am running God, would you keep me humbled? As I am running, would you remind me that my best efforts and intentions are nothing without Your presence? As I am running, would you keep my eyes on the Christ who both began and finished this race we're in, so that above all else, I would put worship before work and love before service? That I may love You for Your own sake, for Your goodness, for Your majesty, and not for what You can do for me.
This is convicting for me because truthfully, I'd love to be overseas right now sharing the gospel. When I first heard that one-third of the world has little or zero exposure to Jesus or the Bible, I immediately signed up to be one of the go-ers. I like adventure. I loved living overseas before. I'm young. I don't have a family to take care of yet. I don't have a lot of material things tying me down here. I'm physically capable. Prime time right? All signs point to yes 'cept God's.
And His is the one that counts.
So instead I am here in Ames working with international students. And don't get me wrong, I am really really blessed. Truly blessed. I get to meet people from many different countries. I get to rest in the comforts of my own culture and language. I get to be close to family and friends. I have incredible people to work with, and I get paid to do this. Wow. So blessed.
But there is still a desire in my heart to go overseas, and I stand guilty of accusing God He doesn't know what He's doing by asking how long til I can go. How long God? I'm ready. I said send me. Next week sound good? Alrighty. I'll get my bags packed!
However, I am learning that has also become a great stumbling block for me. So much of my heart yearns to go overseas that I can easily miss the opportunities God has given me here on the way. On the journey. As I am running. I thought that was a good title since this blog is about the race of life, and I'm realizing that my faithfulness to God is what matters more than the exact places I live or what my job title is.
So as I am running God, would you remind me that You don't need me to accomplish Your purposes? As I am running God, would you keep me humbled? As I am running, would you remind me that my best efforts and intentions are nothing without Your presence? As I am running, would you keep my eyes on the Christ who both began and finished this race we're in, so that above all else, I would put worship before work and love before service? That I may love You for Your own sake, for Your goodness, for Your majesty, and not for what You can do for me.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
[keeping first things first]
This post is from my dad. He truthfully hasn't ever really used a computer. His version of email is sitting down with one of us kids or my mom and telling us what to type.
And I don't think he'll actually ever make time to learn because good old fashioned pen and paper still do the trick in keeping farm records and keeping up with people. I like that about him. No one writes hand-written notes anymore. But whether it's some Eden-township humor or a word of sincere encouragement, everything from him is personally written, stamped (sometimes obnoxiously) and delivered via UPS.
Here's a passage from one of his often-quoted and used books, though, that I like and wanted to pass on. It's by John Gile in "Keeping First Things First":
"Many people have much higher callings than they realize
but live on much lower levels than they should.
Our perceptions determine our attitudes,
and our attitudes increase or diminish the joy we experience and give to others.
Men and women in every walk of life seek fulfillment.
But fulfillment isn't something we get from our work.
It is something we bring to it.
Fulfillment isn't found in what we do,
but in why we do it."
I like the last sentence best. Good stuff I do say.
And I don't think he'll actually ever make time to learn because good old fashioned pen and paper still do the trick in keeping farm records and keeping up with people. I like that about him. No one writes hand-written notes anymore. But whether it's some Eden-township humor or a word of sincere encouragement, everything from him is personally written, stamped (sometimes obnoxiously) and delivered via UPS.
Here's a passage from one of his often-quoted and used books, though, that I like and wanted to pass on. It's by John Gile in "Keeping First Things First":
"Many people have much higher callings than they realize
but live on much lower levels than they should.
Our perceptions determine our attitudes,
and our attitudes increase or diminish the joy we experience and give to others.
Men and women in every walk of life seek fulfillment.
But fulfillment isn't something we get from our work.
It is something we bring to it.
Fulfillment isn't found in what we do,
but in why we do it."
I like the last sentence best. Good stuff I do say.
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