People often talk about the “mountain top experience” as the epitome of life. Its the best experience you could have! I think everyone will have a handful of these types of experiences where something incredible happens and completely changes your life.
But the reality is that most of our lives are actually spent in the valleys, in the mundane, in the everyday Tuesdays. And I think there is just as much beauty in the valley as there is on the mountain. Sure, the mountain gives you a new perspective, but you have to go through the valley in order to get to the mountain.
This summer, we backpacked in some of the most beautiful places in Colorado. As we hiked and hiked …and hiked… I contemplated this concept of mountains and valleys. Each time we got to a peak, I looked out and saw the valley we had trudged through. We had sometimes spent hours walking through these valleys that seemed to never end. Valleys that were often filled with a chilly wind that was relentless, or bugs that stuck to our faces and necks and arms without letting go, or rocks and uneven ground that was tedious, treacherous, and tough. But from up here, on the top of the world, on the mountain peak… the valley looked beautiful. It was wonderful and magnificent and perfect. We could see the green trees, lakes, and rivers and that was simply stunning! Sitting up here on the mountain, it seemed easy to forget the effort and endlessness of the valley which we had just traversed for a good portion of the day. We had made it to the summit!
And as we sat on the summit peak, I realized that sometimes you need to climb up the mountain just to see the beauty of where you were and how hard you worked. The view of the valley from the mountain top is what makes the mountain top experience so great. It’s understanding what it took to get out of the valley and up the mountain. That’s where the real beauty is.
The summit is never really the goal. (And I love myself a good summit!!) But the summit isn’t the end, in fact, the summit is typically only the halfway point. And each summit I reach there is a valley below that calls out and says, “Look how hard you worked to get here and look where you are now.”
The mountain top experience is about the person you are becoming as you climb. And for me, this is becoming a person who doesn’t give up, a person who knows that it will be hard and yet it will be worth it, a person who wants to learn how to be present even in the hardship and pain, a person who continues to lean on and trust the Lord even in the hardships of the valleys of life.
Last year held some difficult things for me, and in the moment they didn’t look beautiful. In the moment they seemed hard, and ugly, and painful. But as I catch my breath, as I continue to work at mental health, as I climb out of anxiety and depression… I can begin to see the beauty of the valley. And I can see where I was and the long hard road it took to get to where I am now. And I can see how God never left me alone in the valley, but rather continued to give me grace and rest each step of the way.
The Bible talks about the Christian life as being transformed one degree at a time. One degree is not a lot, but once you start to add these degrees up, it is much easier to see where you were! One step at a time. One degree at a time. That is the type of healing and the type of life that God has for us. Yes, he works in the big moments as well, but more often, he is simply with us in the everyday, long, and hard valleys of life.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
There is beauty in growth. There is beauty in hardship. There is beauty in seemingly endless seasons of anxiety. But sometimes, you have to keep taking one step at a time to get to a place where you are awarded with some perspective. Others might not see how hard you have worked or the valleys you have trudged through, but you have made it, dear friend. And the journey is not over at the summit. In fact, it is just getting started!
Hope. We all hope for things in life. Some hopes come true while others do not. Often, when we use the word “hope” we mean the feeling of an expectation in life or the desire for a specific thing to happen. We use the word “hope” more like wishful thinking… hoping, wanting, desiring, wishing for all our dreams to come true. But the thing about hope on earth is that it’s never promised and never certain. Hope that is not fulfilled leaves you hurting, hopeless, and heartbroken.
Recently I experienced the loss of hope. Specifically, I had hope for a relationship to flourish. Instead, it felt like it was ripped from my hands out of no where. I was left confused, sad, and broken. Hope that is not fulfilled is one of the worst feelings in this life, and in its wake are broken hearts, sloppy tears, and sleepless nights.
And yet, as I sat and contemplated this loss of hope, I was reminded of a hope that is certain, unfailing, and sure. In this life, we have one hope that will never leave us unfulfilled, hurt, or abandoned. This is the hope of Christ’s return!
“Our hope isn’t that nothing bad will ever happen to us. Or that everything that does happen to us is ‘the will of God.’ Our hope is that no matter what happens to us, Jesus is back from the dead, and anything is possible.”
John Mark Comer
The hope of Jesus coming back is something that is certain. It is sure. It will happen. It’s a hope that we can go to the bank on. We can bet all the chips. We can go all in. And this hope is good.
We can be certain of this hope because of the person this hope is based on. This is a hope that is based on the one and only creator God. He is a promise-keeping God. His character proves that He will keep his word. He has never once left us unfulfilled or abandoned. He has never failed us and he never will. And because of who He is, we can trust that His promises are steady, certain, sure, and true.
“To the Scripture writers, hope is the absolute expectation of coming good based on the character of God.”
John Mark Comer
And in this hope, we rejoice! We rejoice because in this world we will experience pain, loss, suffering, tears, and hurt. We will break promises and promises given to us will be broken. We will experience hope unfulfilled. We will be left wondering if God truly has our best interests in mind or if He even cares.
And friend, I can tell you… He does. He is good. In fact, all he can be is good. It doesn’t always feel like he is, but history and his word tell us what is true. Our God keeps his promises to the very end. And we demonstrate our trust in the promises of God when we put all our faith in this good God. He is faithful to the very end, and our faith is what holds this hope secure.
So go all in on him. He is for you. And in him, your hope is secure.
Don’t lose hope because someday HE IS COMING! Our King is on the move.
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
“Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
“Rejoice in HOPE; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”
I am now 29 years old and have been working with middle and high school students in a discipleship environment since I was a teenager. I remember being one of the few high school students in our small youth group growing up, which meant I was also a leader for our middle school groups. I remember having bible studies with neighbors and leading our middle school group when I was just a junior in high school, never imaging that God would allow me to be paid to disciple students, teach the Bible, and walk with parents through these crazy teenage years.
Over these years, I have met with dozens of girls for discipleship and I have seen them all come from a variety of places in life. I have also had the privilege of getting to know them and their families so well that I call them my little sisters. These girls are an inspiration to me because of the faith they have in Christ and the desires they have to live out the gospel in this crazy world.
This new series is written for all the “little sisters” out there who need some encouragement and guidance in this world. I may not know you personally, but if you are a follower of Jesus and desire to seek him with all your heart, then this series is for you.
My hope is that this series will talk about things that are relevant to the teenager of today, begin conversations at home and with friends, and encourage the sisters we have in the next generation to live counter-cultural. This world is really hard, and life can throw a lot of things at you. But lil sis, I believe in you. And I believe that you can stand up for God in a world that seems to hate him and ignore him. I believe that you are part of the generation that will have an incredible impact on history. And I believe that God made you for a purpose to represent and reflect him in all you do.
Prayer: God, you are good, wise, and loving. You know the state of this world. You know what the next generation of leaders needs. You know how difficult it is to follow you in this world. I pray that you would send your Spirit to guide, teach, and encourage all of the young girls out there who need to hear a bit of truth in a world of lies. Go before them, and make them a generation of courage! We love you and trust you! Amen.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
The book of Job has been really intriguing to me recently. If you haven’t read this book before, or haven’t read it in a long time, here’s a quick summary. Job is a righteous man. He knows and loves God, and God actually says that he is “blameless and upright.” Job also has a lot of wealth. He has sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, servants, houses, and children. It seems like Job has it all! From here, we see Satan and God engage in a conversation, where God allows Satan to essentially curse Job. Job begins to lose everything… his animals, his houses, and even his children. Job’s health is also attacked and yet, in it all, he does not curse God. Several of Job’s friends speak into his suffering, trying to explain why this suffering is taking place. And for the most part, they believe he is suffering because of a sin he has committed. (There is a lot of dialogue here in the middle, and it’s important, but I will let you go read these interactions on your own.) Eventually, Job and God have a conversation where God reminds Job that he is not God. God affirms his own wisdom, justice, and sovereignty. And at the end of the book, God gives Job more than he started with!
As I have studied this book, a few things have stood out. First, as the reader, we know that Job has done nothing wrong or sinful to deserve what is happening to him, yet even at the end of the book, God does not explain to Job exactly why all of this suffering has happened. This reminds me that I won’t always know everything that God is doing or why certain things are happening or are not happening. And God does not owe me an explanation. Job is a really good example of living with integrity and faith. Job is tempted many times to curse God and yet, he continued to trust God and do what is right, even in the midst of the greatest suffering he has ever experienced!
Second, the book is not really trying to show that Job was righteous, we know that already. Instead, the book is pointing to the way to deal with suffering and how to hold suffering in line with a good, righteous, just, and wise God.
God’s wisdom is beyond any human wisdom. Therefore, we can trust that God is the one who does exactly what is right, in the right way, at the right time, to the right extent…always. This is what it means for God to be wise and to act in wisdom. And with this wisdom, God also acts with perfect justice. It is only because God is fully wise that he can act in perfect justice. “His justice must be deduced from his wisdom.” (Hill & Walton) We cannot fully understand God’s justice because we cannot fully understand his wisdom. God’s wisdom and justice go hand-in-hand.
God’s justice is vindicated, not by identifying a “legitamate” cause for suffering, but by demonstrating his great wisdom.
A Survey of the Old Testament by Hill & Walton
So if you are suffering, I pray that the story of Job would encourage you. We will not always know the cause of our suffering, but we can trust in a fully wise and sovereign God. God knows your pain, your hurts, your sufferings, your longings, your disappointments, your unmet desires, your heartbreak, your loss. God knows it all because he is fully wise and all-knowing. And in the midst of all of this hurt, God is still working. We may never know why certain things happen or don’t happen, and God doesn’t owe us any kind of explanation for any of it. But, I find comfort and rest in the fact that we have a God who knows us fully and loves us completely. And he does what is best, every time. I pray you can find that comfort too.
Citation: A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew Hill & John H. Walton. Zondervan 2009.
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
John 5:1-9 (ESV)
This story get me every time. Let’s just recap this story and try to imagine what this would have been like. The man Jesus went to go see had been there for 38 years and had put all of his hope in getting into the water to be healed. Jesus saw him and he knew he had been there for a long time, and then asks the man, “Do you want to be healed?”
I can imagine the man thinking, “Well yeah! That’s why I’m here! Obviously, I want to be healed!” I’ve always thought that was a strange question for Jesus to ask a man who lived by healing waters in simple hopes that he would one day be the first in the pool to be healed. This was his reality for the majority of his life.
Anyways, the man explained his situation to Jesus in hopes that he will stay around and carry him in. He was essentially saying, “Will you carry me into the water?” The man misunderstood what Jesus was offering him. And I can imagine Jesus simply shaking his head, “no” and looking at the man with kind and compassionate eyes.
Jesus doesn’t look at the man and ask him if he wants help getting into the water. He doesn’t come to him and tell him he will carry him into the waters. He doesn’t even ask him if he knows that he is Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus is simply not in the business of helping us get things our way.
That is where I break in the story every time.
All this man wanted was to be put into the water so he could be healed. He did want to be healed but he had a limited understanding of healing, believing the only way he could be healed was through this water.
Yet Jesus said no because he had something better in mind. He knew that the waters would not truly heal this man. Jesus knew true healing would only come through him.
So he kindly spoke to the man. And instead of responding to him with “Well, I will take you to the waters” or “My disciples here will carry you to the waters” he says, “Get up, take your bed, and walk!” Jesus healed this man because He is God!
This man is told to get up, something he has never done, and to take his bed and walk. This is an indication that he is not to return to this life, he is not to return to this place to sleep. He has been healed and everything has changed!
And this is how we should be when we trust in Jesus. Everything should change. We are a new person. We have a new purpose. And we have a new hope. The man didn’t even know Jesus’ name and yet he was healed by him.
God is kind to not give us everything we want. And he is kind to give us the things we want in ways we don’t expect. This is hard to admit though because I often feel like it is not kind when he withholds things from me or has another plan. I believe that my plans are the best and struggle to trust God in the unknowns. Yet, this simple story reminded me that sometimes God withholds things from us that seem good to us because he has something better in mind. In this story, I see Jesus withholding healing the way the man imagined being healed in order to show this man who he truly was. This was far better for the man and it is far better for us as well.
So today, I encourage you to run to Jesus with all of your trust and hope. He may not give you what you want, or he may give you what you want in another way, but we can trust that he is a good and faithful God through it all. Only in Jesus is true healing found.
My first full backpacking trip was to Northern Colorado in the Rawah Wilderness. This area is beautiful and scenic, with lots of opportunity to see wildlife and wild flowers! …although we sadly did not see any moose this trip like we hoped to see…
Anyways, we drove up to Tunnels campsite on Wednesday to spend the night before our big trip beginning the next morning. (Note to self: bring $22 in cash or find another place to camp next time…) But it was nice to have a real fire pit, water, and a bathroom (which smelled like cinnamon) the night before we started the trip!
Thursday morning we started our adventure! We began hiking around 9am. The first day was a pretty decent uphill climb to Twin Crater Lakes. We had to cross several rivers and go over, under, and around dozens of fallen trees. Both of these tasks proved extra difficult with the added weight of a pack, but we finally made it to the lakes around 2:30pm. The last mile or so was the steepest part and I ended up doing it in sandals because I had taken off my boots to cross a river and then never put my boots back on. The lakes were beautiful!! We saw a bald eagle near the lakes and spent a good amount of time refilling water and resting by this insanely majestic place!
The only unfortunate part was that we couldn’t camp at these lakes for a few reasons. First, we were above the trees so there was not much shelter from wind or rain. Second, we couldn’t have a fire above the alpine line. And third, the mosquitoes were INSANE. That last one was true every we went, but around the water they were much worse. So, after enjoying the lakes and views for a while, we headed back down and found a nice campground that another group had left. It was a great spot, close to the river and sheltered in the trees, for our first night on the trail!
The next morning, we headed out around 9am again. It took us about 1.5 hours each day to pack up everything and eat breakfast. This day was my favorite! We had a mix of uphill and downhill hiking, but the best part was going over the tree-line again! There is something I love about the feeling of being on top of the world that I will simply never get over. It was an insanely beautiful view and we got to pass several lakes this day as well! We jumped in one of them and it was amazing! …and cold!
We got to Upper Camp Lake around 2pm on Friday and found a place to camp. Since it was a lot more downhill this day than the previous day, we had gone faster which meant our legs and feet were super tired! The first site that we saw, we took, and then another group came in behind us about 30 minutes later. We were thankful we had a great spot with a good view. …But… the mosquitoes were UNREAL. So we packed up and moved further up the trail. This ended up being the right choice because the view from the top of the hill overlooked the lake (see picture below) and was way less “mosquito-y” …which was our main goal.
We enjoyed a longer day at camp this day, but also had to go get water at the lake several times. This was a whole situation as we had to hike through marshy grounds to get to the lake. We saw lots of moose tracks but unfortunately, no moose.
The next morning we headed out around 7:30am. The goal was to be to the cars before 3pm, but really, we wanted to get back between 12-1pm. People on the trail told us that the way down was steep and there was lots of loose rock and fallen trees. So we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to get down safely and planned extra time. This was also our longest day of hiking at about 8 miles. The entire trail, since day one, had fallen trees on it as well, so we knew those would continue to be something we had to go around (which added miles) or go over/under (which was simply exhausting, especially with a pack).
This part of the trail was also so beautiful though, and included a very flat, wide section of trail! It was wonderful! We ended up making it down by 11:45am, beating all of our predictions! We saw a lot of people on this section. It was a Saturday morning for one, but it was also much closer to the trailhead, so there were people out for day hikes as well as overnight trips.
Overall, this trip was worth it! The mosquitoes were the worst part about the trip for sure, and the fallen trees were a close second, but now we know to be better prepared for the bugs and be mentally prepared for the trees. We also learned that there are things we can share next time (like toothpaste, because each person doesn’t need their own toothpaste on a trail!!!) and we learned that we can survive in the wilderness for several days!
Being in nature, away from the crowds and the cell service and the social media pressures, is one of my favorite things. I enjoy time with my own thoughts, time in prayer (which often include prayers like, “Please God, let the trail not be so steep anymore”), and time with good friends. Being in nature reminds me that we serve a God who sustains us in all seasons, just as he continues to care for the wildflowers and the wild animals.
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
This year, instead of sending a Christmas letter, I decided to jump on the early bird train and send a “Thanksgiving Letter,” because despite all the curveballs from 2020, there is a lot to be thankful for! This is the letter I sent out to several people but also wanted to have it digitally right here to share with those I was unable to send letters to this year. I want to tell you about 20 things I’m thankful for this year, and I pray this will encourage you to end your year with gratitude too!
1. New Washer: Our washer broke in January. One of our friends came to look at it, and was going to order the right pieces for us and fix it. Instead, his family bought us a brand new washer AND installed it for us! This may seem small, but I am thankful for this family and the way they loved me and my roommates!
2. Spin Weekend: We were able to have our annual spring student event, SPIN, in March a few weeks before the pandemic hit Texas. That was one of our last times seeing our students, and I am so grateful for that weekend together!
3. Roommates and Movie Marathons: Once the pandemic hit, my roommates (Shelby and Margie) and I watched over 40 movies! I am grateful for their friendship, willingness to eat popcorn every night, and for their grace during quarantine.
4. Loving Neighbors: One blessing the pandemic provided was the opportunity for me, my roommates, and a few of our other friends to meet our neighbors, pray with them, and have spiritual conversations with them. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we were invited in for hours to talk with people who were really lonely, several who were sick, and many who were struggling during this season. We had frequent conversations with our closest neighbors, but knocked on almost every door in our apartment complex over the span of a few months. I am grateful for these friends to love neighbors with, the conversations we got to have, & the men and women who trusted Jesus!
5. Sabbath Rhythms: This quarantine season honestly gave me a great opportunity to truly practice sabbath. I know I haven’t “nailed it” yet, but I am thankful for the new mercies each week to practice sabbath rest and trust the Lord deeper.
6. Parents 30 Year Anniversary: On June 9, my parents celebrate 30 years of marriage! Although I didn’t get to be there in person to celebrate with them, I am incredibly grateful for the ways their marriage is an example of faithfulness, devotion, service, and humility. They love God, each other, and others with the deepest love, and I am proud to call them my parents! Congrats mom and dad!
7. TVC Residency Program: I began the Residency Program at The Village Church in the Fall of 2019 and completed it this spring! This program grew me in uncountable ways, including challenging me in how many books I could physically read in a year! We had in depth conversations about culture, postmodernism, theology, and the church. I am thankful for the challenge and the ways I was pushed to be a deeper disciple of Jesus.
8. Backpacking Trip: With all of our student summer events canceled, this gave me the opportunity to plan a backpacking trip with a few friends! None of us had backpacked before, which made for an interesting trip! You can read about this trip (and the many other hiking adventures I’ve had recently) on my blog under the “Adventures” tab. But, I am thankful for these adventure friends and the opportunity to be in the middle of nature with them!
9. Accepted Job at Storyline Fellowship: In August, I began a new job as the student minister at Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colorado. It was not an easy thing to apply for this job, simply because I loved my community, my friends, and my coworkers so much at The Village Church. This decision took weeks of fasting, prayer, and guidance from others. I am thankful for the ways the Lord showed me more of Himself during these stressful few weeks and the clarity He provided through it all. Although I deeply miss the students, my coworkers, my roommates, the families, and my close community in Texas, I know this is exactly where God wants me, & for that I am grateful. Also, I love my new job a whole lot!
10. Mom Healed from Cancer! My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer on the first week the pandemic hit. So yeah, it was a rough week. On the day I accepted the position at Storyline, my mom also went in for her last treatment and is doing great! I am thankful for the ways the Lord guided her, provided friends around her to love and support her when Austin and I could not be near, and brought her healing through incredible doctors. And I’m grateful that cancer has been defeated in her life, & prayerful it will not return!!
11. My Texas Family: There are several families that impacted me during my time in Texas & invited me in. But I have some favorite little people who I love deeply & miss daily (pictured below). I am grateful for my 5 years in Texas, all God taught me, & the people I call my family.
12. Moved in a Pandemic: My friends who were planning on driving the moving truck with me ended up getting Covid two days before we left. That led to a day of panic about how I was going to move to Colorado, followed with sadness that I wouldn’t get to see them before I left. Yet, the Lord provided two other friends who were willing to drive for 13 hours straight with a moving van across three states! I am thankful for these friends and their willingness to go on a spontaneous moving trip with me!
13. Hiked My 14th 14er: I was able to hike four 14ers (mountains over 14,000 ft) this summer, reaching number 14 on my list! My goal remains to hike all 58, & now that I’m back in Colorado, I hope this goal will come sooner than later! I’m thankful for the friends who hiked 14ers with me this summer, the majesty of God I get to see from that altitude, & for the physical ability to hike. I never want to take that for granted, so I’m thankful for a healthy body this year!
14. New Roommates and New Traditions: Upon moving to Colorado, that meant I needed new roommates and a place to live. Praise the Lord for two other single girls, who both moved from Texas and The Village, and who were looking for roommates! Caitie and Lindsay have quickly become great friends and I am so thankful for the community they have provided during this transition and continued pandemic. We also have started a tradition of getting up early on Saturday mornings (mostly to beat the crowd and be more efficient… can you tell we are all enneagram 1’s?!) and go on a nice long hike! So if you’re in town on a Saturday & want to get up early, you know where to find us!
15. Early Snow: We got hit with early snow in September and it made my heart happy! Again, this may seem like a little thing to mention, but it’s something I am grateful for! The snow seems to bring with it this sense of peace and the remove of urgency to be everywhere and do everything. Plus, it’s been really fun teaching my Texas roommates about all things Colorado, preparing for winter, and how to shovel a driveway!
16. Community: In Texas, I cherished living within walking distance of a lot of people I knew, spent time with, and loved. And yet, I remembered moving to Texas a little over five years ago and having no community at first. God answered that prayer over time as I lived there! Moving back to Colorado has led me to pray for the same thing! I am thankful for the community God provided in Texas, especially during a pandemic, & for the community he has provided here in families who moved from Texas at the same time!
17. Family Visited: My brother (Austin) and sister-in-law (Jenna) came to visit for two whole weeks in October! That was a really sweet and unexpected gift since Hawaii has been in full lock down for most of the year. I’m grateful they were able to come and spend a few weeks here with us, & thankful for the ways they encourage me, along with all the fun we have together.
18. Student Came to Faith: During the second month of my job, I got to see the Lord save one of our students and totally transform her life! I’m grateful to be on the front row of seeing all God is doing in the lives of students in Arvada!
19. No Instagram: I took a year off from Instagram (except the one week in August to announce I was moving) and it has been wonderful! I am thankful for the ways this has led me to be more present with those around me & less concerned about getting the perfect picture and caption everywhere I go.
20. YOU! Last but not least, I am grateful for you! Thank you for reading this post and many other posts from this year! I pray that these have been an encouragement to you and a little glimpse into my life while I take a break from Instagram! And I hope this list encourages you to make your own list of things to be grateful for from this crazy year!
Stay around for more posts in the future and follow my blog using the links below so you won’t miss a post! Until then, Happy Thanksgiving!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
What does it mean to be part of the Kingdom of the Son? Well it means a whole lot of things, and it also means being called into a whole lot of things.
“God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.”
Colossians 1:13-14 (MSG)
Being called into the Kingdom of the Son means being pulled out of the pit. It means being rescued from an eternal doom by the loved Son of God. It means being set free from frantic failures and patterns of sin. It means living into the identity God has given you. It means truly bearing the image of God in all you do and with all you are.
Being part of the Kingdom is about belonging. It’s about purpose.
My word for 2020 is purpose. I want to learn to live into my purpose here and now, and help others see their purpose in life too. Purpose, for the follower of Jesus, is to belong to the Kingdom of the Son and to live in light of that eternal reality.
As a believer in the one true God, I belong to a greater location than Texas or the United States. I am an ambassador of Jesus Christ and I belong to His Kingdom…and He is the Eternal King! My purpose then is to bring others close to God, that they may also see the beauty, grace, forgiveness, and love of the Father.
Purpose also includes living in light of a reality that is eternal. The chaos of this world, the disappointments, the failures, the flaws, the pain… these are all side effects of a broken world. But my reality is that there will come a day when the Kingdom of the Son will break through, redeeming all that was lost and bringing new life and eternal belonging to those who belong to the Son.
I’m finding that purpose is something we seek and desire as humans. It’s part of being human because our purpose has been marred by sin. We were made to be with God, to enjoy His creation, and to tend His garden. But that picture has been ruined by sin. So our purpose is now difficult to find, leading us to seek identity in other things and in ungodly ways. We attempt to find purpose in who others tells us we are or should be. We attempt to find purpose in our jobs and families. And all of these attempts leave us without lasting purpose or fulfillment, every single time.
The reason we can’t find true, lasting purpose in anything of this world is because we were made for a different world. God created us to be with Him in the beginning. So our longing for purpose, our desire for belonging, our hope for better days ahead, is all stemming from the fact that we were made to be with God. We were made to be in the Kingdom of the Son. And those who follow Jesus will be in this Kingdom forever!
So today, I pray you will consider what it means to be part of the Kingdom of the Son… to live the way He designed us with a purpose that is focused on Him. He is the only one who can rescue from failed attempts at perfection and misguided desires. And He saves all those who come to Him. His Kingdom is eternal and it begins here and now. Will you allow Him to be your King?
I’m sure you have driven through a tunnel before. Well, my family used to play this game when we drove through tunnels where we would try to hold our breath all the way through the tunnel until we could see the sky again. It’s easy if you go through a short tunnel. But road trips always seemed to lead to the super long tunnel where you can’t see the end and your stuck holding your breath until the end, giving up early, or just pretending you held it the whole way but secretly breathing through your nose the whole time! …That’s what I did! 😉
I think we feel like we are in tunnels often. Not real tunnels, but tunnels in our mind. Social media, the internet, and really anything that captivates our attention quickly, pulls us into a tunnel that is hard to get out of.
And I’m sure you have felt this before. You look up at the clock after what seemed like five minutes, and it’s an hour and half later. And all you’ve done is scroll, scroll, and scroll on your device.
Often when we find ourselves in a tunnel, we are easily drawn to comparison. We keep scrolling because we want to see who else we can compare ourselves too. Sometimes it’s out of a desire to become more like that person (or at least their post) and other times it’s out of a desire to prove yourself better than others. Either way, comparison pulls you into a tunnel that is hard to escape.
I recently wrote a blog about comparison, noting that gratitude is the antidote of comparison. I believe that gratitude is the way out of the tunnel of comparison that we too often find ourselves trapped in.
Each night before I go to bed, I write down one thing I’m thankful for on a sticky note and put it on the back of my bedroom door. This can be a person, a thing, an event …really anything! The trick is, I have to come up with something new each day! So I can’t write down “Fridays” every time it’s Friday since that word is already on my door. Ending my day with gratitude helps me remember what is important in life and to spend time being thankful instead of comparing myself to others.
The reason why I think gratitude, out of all things, is what combats comparison is because of what comparison is and the effects it has on us as human beings. Comparison is when we look at someone else and see either something we want or something we are glad we don’t have, which leads us to coveting and judgment of others. Comparison also shows a lack of true identity. Comparison eats away at our time, our money, our desires, and orients us to false stories. When we compare ourselves to others, we are not taking time to be grateful for the things God has given to us. Instead, we are believing that God has not given us what is sufficient to have in life, or He has messed up on us. Comparison begins to cause us to have a judgmental spirit towards others, leading us to unkindness, envy, bitterness, anger, and so much more.
There are an incredible amount of verses in the Bible about gratitude, so I don’t need to go through them all here. But one of my favorites will do this point justice.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
God tells us in His word exactly what His will for us is! And that is to rejoice! To Pray! And to give thanks! If we have a sure and grounded identity in God, knowing that He made us in His image in the exact way He designed from the beginning, we can trust that He made us different than others for a purpose! And because of that, we can give thanks. This is part of our purpose as humans! Instead of spending time scroll on Instagram, seeing all the things you wish you had, and seeing how you measure up to others, God tells us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all things.
Spend some time this week looking up verses on gratitude. And then start a journal where you write down something you are thankful for each day. Taking time out of your day to give thanks to God for His good gifts is something well worth your time. And I can tell you from experience, gratitude is something that changes my perspective, encourages me when I’m feeling down, insignificant, or insufficient, and keeps me grounded to what is true.
Living in Texas there are a lot of thunderstorms. These roll in often and typically include some magnificent clouds and incredible lightning shows. These are the kind of storms you just want to pull up a chair and watch for hours. I like calling them “God’s fireworks” because the skies are often so beautifully colored as the lightning goes off in the midnight sky. Texas storms are truly a masterpiece of God.
Nature is and always has been one of my favorite things. I love being outside all the time, enjoying nature by going on hikes, running, and exploring. I love nature because it shows me more about who God is.
A verse struck me tonight as I read in Job 36-37. Elihu is speaking to Job. He points out a variety of types of nature, like wind, snow, rain, and ice. He goes on to say that each of these things are from the Lord, that God is the one who holds the power of these things. He is reminding Job of the magnificence and power of God, and how this is displayed in His creation.
Elihu says things like this: He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. (Job 27:3) He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ (Job 37:6) The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. (Job 27:10)
And then he says the thing that stood out:
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.”
Job 27:14 (NIV)
Job is told to stop and consider God’s wonders. Other versions of this verse say, “the wondrous works of God” (ESV) and “the wonderful miracles of God” (NLT). Job is asked by this friend to consider the ways and works of God. He is not God, and he does not control the earth. God is God. God is the only one who can speak things into existence, command the skies, and control the winds.
As I read this verse I thought, “How do I stop and consider the works of the Lord?”
In a world, culture, and era where busy is new normal, fast food is not fast enough, and Amazon allows us live a life of immediate gratification, we do not stop and consider often, if ever. And this life of non-stop busyness and hurry leads us to the false belief that we do not need God, nor do we need to consider His works.
But I think I want to stop and consider the Lord and His ways. This seems so important, like an essential aspect of being human in the ways God intended for us to be human because it reminds us how small we truly are in comparison with God. Job is told to consider the ways of the Lord, His marvelous and miraculous works. I want to live a life that is slow enough to stop and consider the ways of the Lord, like Job is encouraged to do. And this includes taking time to stop and simply enjoy God’s creation.
So, what are the marvelous and miraculous works of God around me and in my life that I can stop and consider? What are the miraculous works of God around you? And what should our response to these be?
As we consider the ways of the Lord and His miracles, I believe the only right response is worship. When we consider how he commands the lightning, controls the wind, and created all of the earth, there is nothing else for us to do but bow down in worship towards our great God!
So today, I want to encourage you to STOP and CONSIDER. Take a moment right now to stop what you are doing. Look out your window and praise God for something you see that He made. Maybe it’s your kids playing outside. Maybe it’s a bird perched on a branch. Maybe it’s a newly planted tree just beginning to bud. As you look at these things, consider the Lord. Consider that He created each of these things with intentionality, purpose, and creativity. He created these things out of joy that we might worship Him all the more!
Take time today, friend, to stop and consider the ways of the Lord.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Psalm 34:8a (ESV)
P.S. I love the way The Message tells of these verses, so I have copied that below for you to enjoy and worship God with these words today!
“Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God’s miracle-wonders? Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms, how he piles up the cumulus clouds—all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind? Why, you don’t even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day, so how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?
Morgan Marshall 