A good fight to live

It's time for a little honesty.

If you've spent any time on social media sites as of late, I'm sure that you've noticed the plethora of posts about free speech and freedom of religion.  If so, then you've also seen many pages with lists of things to do before you get married, and responses with "better" ideas, plans, and dreams.  I've read political pieces about the economics of our country and world.  Many authors put their talent to use and right about the things that they really care about, while others respond in anger and ill-spoken language.  We are a society that speaks most often in rash statements, selfish words, untimely replies, and overall bitterness.  What does this say about our world's focus and goals in life?  You can fill in the blanks. 

Even in the church, we have been overtaken by similar feelings and reactions.  We're worried about the state of our world and country.  We talk about holding on to our constitutional rights as Americans, and take action when they are compromised.  We write about our plans, ideas, and dreams for what we want to do.  We talk about little things that don't really matter in the long run, but are fun to argue about every once in a while.

Is this wrong?  Not necessarily.  

Is there more?  Yes!  

At the end of his life, the apostle Paul wrote a final letter to his young son in the faith, Timothy.  These were his last words calling Timothy and all believers who followed after to live for the Gospel and strive for godliness.  If anyone would have a perspective on life, it would be Paul, and Scripture affirms this fact.  He said,

"I have fought the good fight, 

I have finished the race, 

I have kept the faith.  

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, 

which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day, 

and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing"  

What a novel idea!  Here's a man in prison at the end of his life facing certain death.  He's not claiming rights or innocence.  He's calling for higher living.

Living for Christ isn't easy and Paul would be the first to tell anyone that.  He even made a list of all the persecutions and terrible things that he faced to encourage the Corinthian church that God's grace is sufficient for everything!  For Paul, life wasn't about fighting for freedom; he lived in the freedom of Christ.  He didn't make plans for retirement on the beach; he knew that to "live is Christ, and to die is gain..."

Good Fight, Good Race

As I was thinking about this, I thought, what would I say as my last words to my best friend?  Would I thank them for being such an encouragement in my life?  Would I thank God for His blessings.  Would I tell my last wishes?  I don't have an answer yet, but I don't think I'd talk about the fight it was to live!  

Reality check. 

Paul fought the good fight.  He lived for one purpose: to glorify Christ by spreading the gospel of grace.  Paul ran the race of life well.  It started on the road to Damascus and spread on from there till the day he died.  Once his life was captured by the mercy and grace of God, he lived for something better and bigger and more glorious.  He kept the faith that was entrusted to him.  There was nothing that he had to do to keep himself in God's "good graces".  He recognized and repeated over and over that the gospel was given to him by God, and he was a steward of that ministry.  He was faithful.  

And his hope?  Though not sunk in a bank account or person or job, he was assured of the hope of heaven through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  His hope was the righteousness of God finally and fully being realized through the completion of his sanctification in Jesus Christ.  

What of the crown?  Isn't that worth something?  Yes, it's the testimony of God's strength in his life to live a life that pleased God.  It is just one thing to receive humbly, then cast back at the feet of the Great I AM.

Life Well Lived

I get tired of seeing so many people live for so little.  It's one thing to expect it from the masses, but when you see your brothers and sisters in Christ doing the same thing, it's pitiful!  

We've become comfortable with the way that our world exists.  Romans 1 is playing out, and we watch it happen from our arm chairs, blessing the fact that we've been saved from the fires of hell.  We're comfortable letting sinful thought patterns take root in our minds.  We take human philosophy, tie a pretty bow around it, and say that nothing's wrong.  We compromise the truth for what sounds better and more politically correct.  We are more willing to listen to what rich men and women have to say, than what God has said in His word.  

Something's wrong!

We live for so little if we do not live every breath of life for the God who made us, saved us, works in and through us, and rules over all things.  We live for nothing if we are not pursuing godliness for the glory of God.  We live for nothing if our hearts are constantly being pulled away from loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, to bow to this idol and that addiction.  We have no goal in life if we don't love God first and then the people around us.  We have no purpose in life, if we live for ourselves.  

Life is a gift.  Each breath you take and step you walk is God's mercy.  We are nothing apart from God's sustaining hand holding us together.  

Live for more; live for Christ.

Life is nothing if not lived for the glory of God through the gospel.  

10 Days of Thankfulness: Life (6) & Insignificant Days (7)

Life: it's something that we all have in common.  

The lady in the check-out line with her cart of groceries; she's alive.
The man behind the wheel of the police car; he's alive.
The little kids thinking about what they want for Christmas; they're alive.
The doctor scrubbing up before performing open heart surgery; he's alive.
The woman sitting at the window of her apartment, watching the world go by; she's alive.
The little boy riding his bike down the street; he's alive.
The older man playing chess with his friends and remembering the "good 'ole" days; he's alive.
The little girl giddy with the anticipation of being "older" playing tea-party and dress up; she's alive.

We have life.  We're alive.

What is life if not more than a few breaths that we take while we walk the earth.  Life is short.  We're all aware of this grim reality, though some live with this reality in mind and others pretend that it doesn't exist.  Life is a vapor.  Scripture accords that man's days are nothing more than a breath, a vapor that floats on the wind.  There is nothing to it; one moment here and the next gone.

Life is more than breath, or the blood coursing through our veins.  It's more than a job.  It's more than family and friends.  It's more than a dash marking the time we entered the world and when we left.  It's more than a story.  It's more than a memory.  Life, true life, is something to be thankful for!

True life brings hope.  It is full of joy and wonder.  It's rich and blessed.
It's free.

How many times have you woken up in the morning, rubbed the sleep from your eyes, and let out a prodigious yawn, without thinking about where the air you just breathed came from?  Or what about just before you took that difficult test and you sighed with despair; did you think about where that air came from?  Life is as simple as breathing, yet we hesitate to stop and think who is the Giver of Life.  

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place..." (Acts 17:24-26)

Life is a gift from God.  He, being the Creator of the universe, has set into motion life and breath and everything.  He created the earth, set the stars in their place, made the laws of the universe so that it functions in order.  He set the times and the seasons in place.  He causes the rain to fall and the sun to shine.  He raised up the mountains by the word of His power.  Creation sings of the life that God has granted it.

And humans, people made in the image of God, are we thankful for every breath, every moment of life?
It's a gift!

What about when life is normal, like on the weekends when all time is taken up by Statistics homework, baking and cleaning?  What about when the days seem so long, and your hope for the future is waning fast?  What about when life is hard or the days hurt more because you are still breathing?  What about the prospect of living another day alone?

Is not God still here?

Yes, He is.  And He made these days just for you.  They may be hard and painful yet, but that is because He is still shaping and molding you into the image of His Son.  This process is hard.  It hurts.  It's like the Potter working with the clay; squeezing and conditioning it so that He can work with it.  Even these days are gifts from God.

Sometimes, I think, that we don't recognize that even the hard days are from God.  We make excuses for them to explain them away with our varying emotions or the weather.

Look for God's grace on the days that are "normal", "ordinary", or "insignificant".  God has given it to you to live; to love Him and others around you!

Life is a gift from God, yet it's more than just the air that we breathe.
It's found in Jesus Christ: the true Life.
This life is salvation, given to us through the grace of God by faith, to live eternally with God.
This life is the promise that what we have and are now is not the end.

This life is full of reasons to be thankful!   

God glorified in death...

Life is so short.  Of this truth, I've been sorely reminded more often than I should like.  I mean, we all know that death is “normal”.  Everyone is going to die at some point.  But it still hurts, and it's still hard.  And it's unexpected.  

My friend Dustin died, and it was unexpected.  

As has been said before, Dustin was a crazy guy!  He was the dictionary definition of goofy.  Some of my favorite memories include the time he was walking around our college campus with a gun belt and chaps.  Of course, he wasn’t just walking.  He was jumping over things, and lilting like a cowboy.  

Another time, my brother and his friends were making a music video of an original song about falling in love with a microwave.  Dustin wasn’t playing the guitar, although he did play, but rather he was in the background, dancing with the microwave!  Oh, and then there was that Spring Break skiing trip to Colorado.  Who could forget all the funny memories?!  Like everyone getting VERY sunburned and sore, and Dustin's bright blue snow pants.  

But I’m not writing only about Dustin.  Because he lived for something more, and through his death the gospel is being declared.  

I don't know how many people Dustin actually knew.  He was 24.  I don't know who he talked to.  But God is more glorified through His death.  And that was what Dustin was living for: the glory of God!     

The apostle Paul was thinking right when he said, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Everything in our lives revolves around our relationship with God.  If we live, we live to God.  If we die, we gain eternal life with Christ forever.  Whether we live or die, Christ wins!  

I know that we serve a sovereign God, which means that He is the Supreme Ruler of everything, and nothing happens outside of God's control.  I know that God is good.  He allowed Dustin and those other firefighters to die, because in His will and goodness He would be more glorified through their death. 

Dustin's death has reminded me that each day is a gift from God.  And not a gift for myself, but so that I can serve Him more and love others through the strength that He has supplied.  It has reminded me that I could die at any moment; or have a loved one die.  Yet, being reminded of this causes me to think about what I am doing.  Is is really of any eternal value?  Is it glorifying to God?  

Thank You, Lord, for using Dustin for Your glory!  Thank You for teaching me!

MoT: Monday...#4

Monday dawned gray.  Like yesterday.  

The world felt like a Monday.  Don't ask me how to explain, but each day has it's own feel to it.  

Mondays seem to have a touch of expectation, like a new week is starting.  

There is also a lagging feeling that follows a busy weekend.  

On this Monday, I have been thinking about how God is working in my life.  

It is so incredible to contemplate!  

It has been a year since I was encouraged by my family and friends to apply for the RD position at Calvary.  We didn't know what God was going to do, but I was accepted.
That began one of the best and most challenging years of my life (so far!), and it's not over yet!

This is what brings hope for the future!  Because we serve a God who has shown His faithfulness in the past. There isn't a reason to doubt the future!

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."  ~ Romans 8:23-25

How often does the future look grim, and nothing seems to make sense?  

Yet, what does God continually say?

Trust Me!    

God is good!
How have you seen God's goodness in your life?  

They spoke of the Messiah

It is Christmas Eve.

I am sitting, cozy and comfortable under a blanket, by a fireplace (that isn't lit), while enjoying the feeling of a profitable day.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day.

The day that thousands of children wake to find piles of brightly colored packages laid under a heavily decorated tree.

They wake up too early from the anticipation; and "gently" wake the parents too!

Christmas is a day for family and friends and good food and games.

It is the day that we remember our Savior's birth.


I have been reading the Christmas narrative from Matthew and Luke's gospel for the last couple of days, and have been impressed over and over again of the wonderful miracle of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Three people in particular stood out to me, as I read the familiar account.  They are Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna.

Zechariah:

He spoke of the Messiah.  He was Mary's cousin by marriage and the father of John the Baptist.  Because of his unbelief after hearing about his wife's pregnancy, he was unable to speak.  Yet, when the birth came to pass as the Lord had foretold, his "...tongue was loosed..." and he began to prophecy concerning the soon-coming Messiah. (Luke 1:67-79) 
He spoke by the Holy Spirit, blessing God for His provision of salvation through the Messiah.  He was raising up a "horn of salvation" for Israel--God's chosen people--just as He had spoken in the ages past to the fathers and prophets.  God was fulfilling His promise.  Salvation was born.  The Messiah had come!  The Messiah came to save.  For Israel, they were looking for the physical salvation and the return to their land with a mighty political ruler, but God's plan, set from before the foundation of the world, was to redeem people from the power, presence, and penalty of sin and death so that man could live forever in heaven to the glory of God.
This Messiah has delivered us from our enemies, so that we might "...serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days..."  Server God, without fear, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ applied to our account through the cross.  This is Messiah.  Messiah has come!

Simeon:

He had waited and waited.  He was growing older.  His body was beginning to fail.  But he had a promise, a promise from God that he would not die until he saw the Promised Messiah.  At just the right time, Christ was born; and eight days later His earthly parents took Him to the temple for the customary rites of the Law.    And there was Simeon.  

Imagine the overwhelming delight to see God's promised Son.  Here was the One he had been waiting for all his life.  And it was a Child.  A small Baby, wrapped in rough cloth, held by a young woman who looked a little scared.  Here was the Messiah, God's chosen Lamb!  

This Child was salvation, promised by God, to be "...a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel..."  Jesus is the Messiah.  The Messiah has come!  

Anna:

Anna was a prophetess.  Having seen her share of sorrow, a widow of 84 years, she stayed in the Temple worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.  She too, was looking for the salvation of Israel.  And here it was!  Her response: "...she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem."  

She gave thanks to God for bringing salvation to earth, His Son in human form!  The Messiah has come!  

Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Christ, come for you and me!

16 days

16 days.

Two days past two weeks.  A normal amount of time for grass seed to sprout.  Sixteen days, plus five, is all the time it takes to break a habit.  Sixteen days from now it will be January 3, 2013.  Sixteen days ago, it was December 2, I was going to a Christmas Tea.

16 days.  Such a short time.  Not long enough, but that was all they had.

He stood out in the cold, tears streaming down his face.  His wife stood beside him, not crying, but overwhelmed.  His uniform looked official, but underneath, there was a man, grieving, hurting, touched by a song.  She was holding back the tears, but we knew that there had been many days when the flood hadn't ceased to run.
We were Christmas caroling.  You know that old-Christmas tradition, famed by well-bundled people singing carols in the cold on people's doorsteps.  There were about twelve of us who braved the cold that night.  It was a beautiful night, chilly and dry, but clear.  The stars were shining, and you could almost see most of them despite the city lights.  We were jolly and loud.  It had been a fun evening.  We had sang to many houses, and had blessed many people.
As we were coming to this house, we began to ask the same question: "Should we stop here?"  "There aren't any lights on, maybe no one's home."  Our fearless leader led the charge, saying that we would sing one song and see if anyone came to the door.  We started and the door opened.  At first, the man in the uniform looked a bit confused.  But soon, his expression changed and he called to his wife.  She rushed to the door with an exclamation.  As we started the second song, her camera came out and she took a couple of pictures and a video.  Needless to say, we were delighted to have made such an impact!  We could tell from the tears and their body language that they had been touched by the love of God.  When we finished the last chord of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas", they both thanked us deeply.  Then we heard why...

This was a hard time for them.  They were grieving.  16 days was all the time that they had with their newborn son.  Just a few months back, they had a son, but he only lived 16 days.  This Christmas was the first Christmas of many without him.  There had been months of preparing and planning for this new little life to change their lives, and then after 16 days, the dream was taken away.  What was supposed to be the first Christmas with their son, was instead the first Christmas with the memory of those few short days.  16 days.  

They told us that we would never know how much it meant to them for a handful of college students to come out in the cold to sing some Christmas carols to them.  We would never know!  We can't know.
But God used us.  We weren't even going to stop there, and that house alone would have made the whole evening worth the trip in the cold!  We got to pray with them, endeavoring to show God's love to them.

We'll never know the full impact that God allowed us to have in this couple's life.  We pray that it is a testimony to the gospel of Christ, and that they are surrounded by His love and see their need of a Savior from their sins.  But God used us!  He used selfish motives, cold fingers, noses, and toes, and froggy voices to glorify Himself!  Praise God!

We can never know how God is going to use us in other's lives.  Most often, it is during the oddest circumstances and situations that God's hand is most seen.  He works in mysterious ways.  But He knows, and He calls us to be faithful; faithful to proclaim His truth, His love, His grace to a dying, hurting world.

This Christmas season, may we not be too quick to overlook a person who may be hurting.  May we be vessels filled to overflowing with the grace and love of God, so that we can spill over onto others and God may be glorified!

It's the fear that gets us.

We all pray for God's will to be shown to us in the decisions of our life.  We want to know what God has for us to do.  Then, the time comes when He clearly reveals His plans for us.  We rejoice to see them, and go forward in His strength.
I have experienced this many times.  I have seen God's hand working in very different situations to provide for His children.  He has done this in my life!

Yet, too often I trip over a terrible reality.
I fear.  I fear that I am not doing what I should be doing.  I fear the opinions of others.  I fear making the wrong decision.  I fear wasting my life.  I fear.

Why do I fear so much?  Why am I doubting God's faithfulness?

The truth is that God will never lead me wrong.  If we are trusting in Him to provide the way, we can't fail.  He has promised His strength and grace for every step.
The feeling of fear is crippling.  When I choose to focus on my circumstances, present situation, people around us, etc., I fear the plan of God.

Do you fear God?  Or are you more afraid of people?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

 and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."  Proverbs. 9:10

We begin to be wise when God is our fear.  We seek to honor and glorify Him over everything.  

The fear of God stands against our other fears.  

We look to Christ!  

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.  He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By His wounds you have been healed."  1 Peter 2:21-24

He did not fear.  He trusted His Father's plan.  His was not the life of worry and fear, but of trust and obedience in God.  

Yes, He was God-incarnate, perfect in all things, but, as children of God, we are new creations, made alive in Christ, and filled with His Spirit!  Why should we fear? 

"The end of the matter; all has been heard.  

Fear God and keep His commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.  

For God will bring every deed into judgment, 

with every secret thing, whether good or evil."  

Ecc. 12:13-14 

February 26th: Evidence concert

"I will bless the Lord at all times,

His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Ps. 34:1

I am so privileged for the opportunity to sing with some fabulous musicians.  We not only get to sing together, but we also get to minister to other brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a blessed and enormous responsibility! 

I am still awed by the strength that God supplies for ministry.  It is those times when we are most tired or sick or have a lot on our minds that God encourages our hearts more so that His grace, love, and mercy is spilling onto others.  It is a very humbling experience!  What an amazing God we serve!!!

One of the encouraging parts of the morning was the time that our group met and prayed together.  The church people let us use a room in the basement that was very very small.  So all 9 of us crowded in.  At first, we were just laughing and joking.  But then the atmosphere became more serious as we started to share from the Word of God what God has been teaching us through the last couple of days.  We shared and sang (imagine a Little Room and 9 people singing loudly!  Awesome!) and prayed together.  It was such an encouraging way to spend the time preparing our hearts for ministry. 

When it was our turn to sing, the Lord gave grace.  The concert wasn't perfect.  We made many mistakes.  But that shouldn't be the focus (although we should be challenged to work on our music more diligently). 

As our hearts and minds are focused on worshipping God through song, we should give that to Him and pray that He would use us in spite of our failure.  And the good news!  He does!!!

February 25th: Starbucks with Mrs. A

 So, couple of weeks ago, the freshmen put on a Winter Social.  This event entailed a lovely picture scavenger hunt.  For the prizes, each of the teams would win an opportunity to spend some time withe professor of their choice going doing things like...going out for coffee, eating BBQ, put-put golfing, going shooting, going bowling, etc.
My team, made up of Alisha, Sarah, Beth, and Jesica chose to go with Mrs. A to Starbucks for COFFEE and GAMES!

Bethie and I

 Besides drinking yummy coffee, we got to play some fun "learning" games like In a Pickle (this is the game where you choose things that can fit inside of other things...the more creative you are the funnier it ends up) and You've been sentenced (this game involves combining random grammatical cards to make grammatically correct sentences that do not necessarily make any sense.)

Jesi and I

This is a sentence that Alisha made up.  She said that it was about my mom.

"What if chickening out Mom Parker is traveling about the crusher monkey milk."

What a happy part of the day!!! 

February 20th: Monday

*que epic music*

Monday...

*music slowly gaining momentum*

Monday...

*cymbals crash, etc*

Monday...

Yes, today was Monday.  Now, I suppose that you are wondering..."What's with the epic music and cymbals?"  

And frankly, I just thought that it would give you a nice audial picture of my anticipation for a NEW week complete with starting Monday on the "right" foot!  :)

Honestly, there are some weeks that you just dread starting.  There could be any number of reasons, such as a huge homework load, a unpleasant job, or lack of sleep (which makes Everything Look Horrible).  Need less to say, I was very excited about starting a new week.  

Reason #1:  I am a people-person.  I love spending time with people.  Most of the time, I get energy and encouragement just from spending time with people.  So, Sunday night--being filled with "people time"--spurred me to loads of energy and kept me going on Monday!  

Reason #2: In chapel today, a student at Calvary spoke.  He lost two of his fingers in a table-saw accident over Christmas break.  He just shared all of the things that God has been doing and teaching him through the hard time!  God's grace is so good.  Praise Him!

Reason #3: Study-time in the Library.  On the days that I don't work IN the library, I sometimes like to go and study in there.  Even though there are usually some people still around, the atmosphere is quiet, and you are surrounded with books.  

Reason #4: Do I really need another reason to be happy!?!  I don't think so.  

Thank you Lord for the start of another week!  You are good! 

I am happy!

Brothers!

Growing up with brothers is an experience quite unlike anything else.

Yet, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Having brothers provides me with a different outlook on the world.

Basically...

I love my brothers!

One of the "many" funny brother/sister pictures of Graham and I. This is from CBI choir tour trip to the East Coast! This is the Liberty Bell!


This is my "little" BIG brother. He obligingly took a picture with me because I was leaving early on Christmas break.

Philip and I conquering the kitchen, with egg-rolls! This is just one of the many adventures that we have had...:)

Did I mention my brother Joel? He is just simply funny! He always gives me a hard time and wants to do "boy" stuff...go, figure! :)

Graham: the musician, adventurer, *slightly* narcissistic, king of the grill, mechanic, fellow-road tripper, friend.

Sam: Mr. Incredible, football player, role model, "teddy bear", my "little" BIG brother, breakfast chef, friend.

Philip: the character, amazing sense of humor, photographer, painter, computer savvy, fellow egg-roll maker, friend.

Joel: 100% boy, always moving, ornery, joke-ster, great smile, always sporting a "new" hairstyle, friend.

I am so thankful for the family that God has placed in my life! I love all the different personalities and persons that make up my family. I wouldn't know what to do without even one of them. I am thankful for the friendships that we have, and I know that my brothers will always be my friends! I am thankful that even though I am not able to be with them all the time, I know that they love me and are thinking of me. (especially when I can't be apart of their lives, go to all their sporting events, or concerts, or movies, or just be around to "hang out".)

God is good through all the seasons of life!