You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be is a wonderful, affirming warmly written book by Max Lucado. I enjoyed this book, but do think with it is perfectly suited as a gift book. It is just a bit over 100 pages and really does help others see their strengths and abilities as God-given to be embraced and used by Him. Of course, this message is not only pertinent to a graduate, it is for everyone but I do think that these types of questions of discovering one's purpose and "sweet spot" is even more a topic among high school and college graduates. Because of its size, Mr. Lucado doesn't go in depth in many areas but this is a fun, enjoyable book that I finished with a smile.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Sneeze program.

Community Is...

Community is supposed to be this amazing thing. Messy yet rewarding; but the reality is I don't see how it actually works.

First, in life I find that there are groups of people that are completely separate. My schoolyard friends that I know through my children, old friends I've known forever that have a special place in my heart, my church friends, neighborhood friends, hobby friends. They hardly ever cross their boundary lines. Church friends stay at church, maybe out to lunch afterward once in a while, school friends I see at school but hardly outside it, etc. The only time they all occasionally converge in on my facebook page, but even then it is nicely compartmentalized.

If I were to gauge community through Facebook, it looks like I have a really good thing going on, but the reality is quite different. There is no interaction midweek. I see these friends in their neatly ordered parameters, never outside it.

I read so many books about how God designed community; how He himself is community (the trinity) One book, by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp says this in their book How People Change

"Being involved with people is time consuming, messy and complicated. From our point of view, it is inefficient, but from God's point of view it is the best way to encourage growth in grace. Our value system collides with God's, but his means for bringing about change in us is best. That means we will have to make time for these kinds of friendships to emerge and grow. We will have to be realistic too. Close relationships makes it more likely that you will sin against someone or that someone will sin against you. There will be times of confession and forgiveness. There will be times when you need to serve someone, even though you feel you lack the resources. There will also be times when you will be served! That may not sound like a challenge, but if you are proud, it is the last thing you want!

These are the very reasons why community is such a big part of God's plan to transform us into the image of Christ. Living in community pushes us to die to ourselves. There will be times when loving others and allowing others to serve and love us will feel like death, but this is the pathway to real life in Christ. The more we understand our own hearts, the more we see that it takes a work of God's grace to transform self-absorbed individuals into a community of love. Being in redemptive relationships shows us our need for change and helps bring it about!"

Theoretically, it all sounds so enticing and yet challenging, but rewarding: Community. People that love and accept you. People that enjoy you.

I really struggle in community. I spent one year being involved in everything my church did and still emerged feeling empty. Of course, you can say that it's my fault; I should be looking to GIVE not GET. I understand that. Yet, there's a part of me that feels that I did give. When asked to do things, I always say yes. I have gone out of my way to further community. I invite people into my little world and enter into theirs when the invitation is given.

My thought? I don't want to be self piteous and "me" oriented but realistically I do wonder if true community is really possible? Am I willing to live in community that pushes me, that I'm willing to serve, that is messy? One that transcends the basic "hello, how are you?" that is the typical Sunday morning interaction?

I am shy and reserved, and yet I try to interact, and then grow discouraged when it doesn't work out, but I realize I'm part of the problem.

This past year I've done none of the women's ministry events with my church. I thought I'd really miss it because I don't like to be left out, but surprisingly I really don't care. I know that even if I went, it'd not satisfy the deep craving I have for true community. I truly am quite "different" than most other women.

I don't think anything will satisfy the craving I have for community. Perhaps I love the idea of community but the actual living it out, in all its stickiness and imperfection bothers me. Perhaps this tension of wanting to fit in yet not succeeding is part of the stickiness.

I really do think that there are certain people that do well in community; that fit in and are a joy to be around. Then there are the others that one invites only when it can't be avoided, in the name of "community" and "Christ." Perhaps there is no such thing as perfect love and community.

Which makes me sad.

I So Enjoy This Band!

I saw them in concert. Oh my! Love this band!

Enjoy!

It Is No Secret

I'm involved in a Bible study for the past 6 or 7 years. It started as a Kay Arthur Inductive style study, and it was the first step for me to actually start interacting in my church, getting to know some people, and becoming a part of community. Though we met at a church, not all of us attended the same church. It was a good group of people, and Kay Arthur's Precept study is excellent.

I generally stayed silent in the group, but after several years, I now feel a bit more comfortable. Since then, we now meet in a friend's home and our group has seen some people leave and others added. We come from all different churches and backgrounds, neighborhoods, faiths, and communities. Though this can make things rather messy, it all works as we strive to set aside our opinions and look intently at what the Bible actually has to say about things.

After listening to how many of us really don't love the video that accompanied the study, my friend started writing/compiling/editing her own. The first was a study on James. It was quite simply one of the best studies I've ever done. James is such a straightforward book, quite topical and so relevant to today. Though there was homework, it could easily be done in 20 minutes per night. It was a great fit for all levels and interests. We followed up James with a brief study of Hosea, and the the following year did an 8 week study based on John Piper's The Pleasures of God, then Colossians and Esther. All were quite wonderful.

There is just one thing: I love looking up the cross references. I enjoy summarizing what happened in a chapter. But I have a tendency to be tempted to skip the "Application" questions. You know, the ones where it challenges you to really think about how it applies to you.

It is no secret; and my Bible study leader laughs at me because it is absolutely pointless in reading or studying the Bible if one is not going to have it change and influence one's life!

Here's a few of the application questions from the study in Colossians:

"How have these verses (Luke 1:69-75, Romans 8:29, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-12, 2 Peter 1:5-10, Ephesians 5:1-2) inspired you to a deeper commitment to "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel?"

"In what way do you have a sweeter appreciation for your reconciliation to the Father through Christ? "

Now, those are the easy questions: Try these ones:

"What does it mean to you that your competence is in Christ alone? How are you connected to and in Christ? Do you feel and know it? If not, why not?"

"The spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, reading the Bible, and meditation) are crucial means to know and grow in Christ and produce more maturity and fruit. How can these practices become a way to manipulate God's will? What can you do to make sure your practice of the faith is sincere and God-honoring rather than manipulating? "

Now, the strange thing: I'm naturally introspective but I have the hardest time writing down the answers to these questions, let alone sharing them in a group! Really: I don't like application questions! In Bible studies, church or in blogs!

So, that being said, I'll leave you with an application question!

Ha. Just kidding.

Change

Change is one of those strange things. Some people love change; others are fearful. For me, it depends on the situation. If I'm not altogether happy about something, then change seems more appealing. If I'm content and happy, then change is scary! What if I don't like it as much as how things are currently? What if it makes me uncomfortable? What if......?

There are some things that I can't control and change; there are others that I need to change, and there are things that need changing but I'm not quite aware or ready to change them.

I do think it is interesting that oftentimes others can see what needs to be changed well before I do! Why are some things so obvious to everyone but the person that counts?

I have heard it said that change is a choice. I have to say, that scares me a bit. I'm not sure I have the willpower and a bit upset that the people that can successfully change are those that are driven.

I've just been thinking about change lately and really have no answers yet.

Family Life

I peruse quite a few blogs and definitely have my favorites. Some are by authors of books I read, some are well known pastors, or not well known. Worship leaders, missionaries, and even friends. Most blogs encourage dialogue and discussion; some blogs don't even have a comment section and are more of a monologue. I don't read those blogs.

Some blog provide original content, others focus on highlighting other's blogs. I am thankful for both. One such blog provides original content and links to blogs and videos is Zach Nielson's blog Take Your Vitamin Z, which I stumbled upon through another blog and now permanently read. His blog is even more exciting to me because he'll post a few times during the day, and I love that!

Today is Saturday, and a lot of bloggers don't post things on Saturday, but this guy oftentimes does. Here is a video he posted of Mark Driscoll titled Why Your Church Doesn't Feel Like Family.



I have been thinking lately why I love my church when oftentimes it disappoints and frustrates me. My qestions for me are:

Why is church so important?

What makes it so important?

I think these are key questions because, though I think there is a "right" Biblical answer, how an individual answers these questions makes a huge difference on how they view the importance of church. I tend to view the most important part of church is the message. (It happens to be my favorite part) Yet, if that is the biggest reason for me to attend church, then why go to church? I can listen to incredibly gifted speakers on a podcast.

For most of my friends, worship is the biggest reason they attend. While it is true that "worship" isn't just the singing part; it's the whole church service (and hopefully afterwards too) many of my friends go to church to sing in praise and worship to God. But can't one do that at home?

Perhaps church is important because of the community of other Christians, coming together to share life. I really do love the idea of this aspect of church. I agree with it, crave it. I want more community than just on Sunday mornings, and yet, find it really difficult. I often wonder if where I live is impossible to effectively slow down and create time to be with others in true community that God designed.

If community is the most important thing about church, does one really need a church to provide it?

I think we do. I know for me, I'd choose to surround myself with people that are similar to me. Even in church, I'm naturally drawn to those that I like, believe things more like I believe, and feel comfortable around. But church doesn't cater to that. Church is filled with people way different than I am, and the really cool and amazing thing is that...... we're actually not all that different. We're more the same than different. But I usually just see the surface: our theological differences, our parenting differences, our worship style differences, social and economic differences.

My thought? Church has a wonderful way of gathering people that are not "just like me." it is a sticky, messy community of imperfect people that love God, and by loving God, loving and serving each other and the world. Madly imperfect, of course. I do confess that I don't like it. I'd much rather it be similar to what I'm comfortable with.

It is a church's great strength: Unity. I do wonder how it can coexist with all the differences but it remains. As Mark Driscoll says in his video: It is family.

Collect The World

It is funny how music stamps a memory, how I have associations with people, places, events, based on songs. Toad the Wet Sprocket always brings me back to when I first met and began dating David. I believe they were a Santa Barbara band, a place that David spent a good deal of time at, and we went and saw them at Stanford. It was the first time I'd been in a concert where I was close to the stage among hundreds of people, all crowding in. The excitement was amazing, as was the concert. I really enjoyed their album and remember the lyrics of many of their songs, songs that make me think and I actually like that.

Anyways, here's one I've been humming for a while. There's one line in it that keeps echoing in my mind. What do you think is the meaning of this song?

Butterflies

(I saw something
gigantic
out on the water
I asked my dad for a nickel
He gave it to me
It was kind of misty
I couldn't be sure what it was
And of course, he wouldn't tell me)
in time i will collect the world
the eggs and wings of butterflies i love the wings
of butterflies

a man drove up in an ugly car
and he flashed his lights at everything he saw
and his eyes were red
and his stereo was so loud you couldn't hear the engine's roar
and he yelled at everybody in the road
and did not notice all the moths he'd massacred
spread across the open road

all of a sudden there it was
I still couldn't tell
ya know when you get so close
to something that BIG
you can't see anything at all...)

in time i will
collect the world
the eggs and wings of you who fall on
butterflies calvary
had you wings of i give my children
butterflies

a moth had settled upon his arm and he looked at it with a lazy eye
and he lifted up a gigantic hand
and he spread his fingers towards the sky
and he nudged the moth to make it fly away
but moths are fragile things
and he just wiped its body
down across his shoulder blade

he's a wonder, he's a little black-wing boy
oh my daughters
he'll fill you with joy

in time i will
collect the world
the hearts and limbs of
butterflies you who soar o'er
calvary
had you wings of
butterflies oh father, i offer
butterflies