A homeschool family I know recently adopted two little girls from China. I mean they're still in China, recently. You can find their blog here. The joy of the parents, the siblings, and even the families of the siblings (since there's such an age range) is incredible. I started to cry when I saw the pictures of the little girls and how much they already love their new parents and sister but also how scared and confused they are.
It made me think about a conversation I heard between a couple gentlemen from my home church. One of them adopted a baby about five months ago and the other is considering adoption.
"Our society really looks down on adoption," said the latter. "It really stresses blood relation even if those blood relations aren't healthy." The men continued to talk about particular instances where the home situation or extended family home situation weren't safe or those family members weren't as close to the child as a foster family that loved and wanted to adopt the child. They continued to talk about why adoption's stigma is wrong.
"I mean, God has adopted us," said the first gentleman. "We were in that bad situation and God took us out of it to His perfect family. He's made us brothers and co-heirs with Christ *[Romans 8:16-17]. That's profound. He doesn't love us less. I'm not going to love my adopted child any less because he's not biologically my kid."
That's roughly how the conversation went. I began to ponder and turn their words over in my mind. I also chewed on a comment one of the ladies in the church had made during Sunday School. We were reading in **Mark 1 when she spoke up about a verse that really touched her.
"Untying sandals was a job for the lowliest and filthiest of servants," she began. "John's a prophet and a blood relation to Jesus, but he says he's not even worthy to undo his shoes. We put people in the Bible on a pedestal and think they're so great at obeying God, but then what does that make me? If John isn't worthy to undo sandals, where does that leave me? No where near His presence, at the very least. Instead, He bends down and washes my feet."
How is that possible, my friends? Adoption. God has removed you from your sinful situation and given you a new family. A perfect family. Brothers and sisters who have also been adopted, a Brother and friend of Jesus, and, my favorite, a Father. A perfect Father who knows your every need and holds your every tear. You give Him joy.
Seeing pictures of the Chinese little girls who are being adopted makes me think of what God has done for me. A representation of my adoption. He chose me and picked me up even when I was confused and scared. The family rejoiced when all the papers were signed and I was officially His. He loves me as His own Son.
I'm adopted.
*Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with
him.
**Mark 1:7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the
strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Not Quite 2am, But Feels Something Like It
Once again, I returned home from closing at the Lafayette Chick-fil-A FSU. I parked into a spot no where near close to my front door, juggled the multiple things I was carrying inside until I found my key to unlock the door, looked for Bekah. When I didn't see her, I turned off the kitchen light and went upstairs to my room. The milkshake spattered belt was the first to go, the lemonade and tea stained pants, the chocolate smudged shirt, the gucky black socks were tossed off with disgust. All was replaced with bedtime attire including fuzzy coffee themed pajama bottoms.
I told myself more than once that my next step was to go to bed. Yet here I am, talking to you, because my mind is still working and because I might have something I want to say or express. I'm currently reading The Great Gatsby. I'm enjoying it, it's well written, but its element of mystery isn't fit for this mind this evening. Er, morning.
Life will drastically going to be changing within the next couple weeks. Martha, a wonderful young woman from my InterVarsity chapter, will be moving into my room with me. She'll be taking my place while I'm away at SIL. We'll be here together for about three weeks before I leave. I'm very much looking forward to living with her.
SIL. I cannot wait to go. I will certainly miss home and my loved ones, but God has done great things in my heart there in the past and I look forward to what He has in store for me there this summer. It'll have new and different challenges as well as new and different blessings. I really look forward to seeing my nephews and sister again. Journey is going to be performing at the North Dakota State Fair this year. Maybe I can convince one of them to go with me. :)
After I return from SIL, I'm moving back into the ole Riepe homestead. Mom and Dad are lamenting their loss of a room for storage purposes. I've already insisted that I don't mind a few boxes here and there, but if they're storing it, do they really need it. ;) It will be an adjusting after living away for a couple years. However, I think it will give me the opportunity I've wanted to grow closer to my sister Becca and help out my mom with her motherly duties.
Either today or yesterday, I was reading in John 11. To familiarize you with the passage, it's when Lazarus gets sick and Mary and Martha send for Jesus. Jesus stays away doing his Jesus thing and Lazarus dies. Jesus finally gets there after Lazarus has been buried in the tomb for four days. When Martha sees Him coming, she runs to meet Him, falls at His feet and says, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (11:21). Even in her hurt, Martha confesses to Jesus that she knows He has the power to resurrect her brother, yet she mourns. Martha returns to her sister Mary and prompts her to go to Jesus. Mary runs to Jesus, falls at His feet and says, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (11:32). Jesus weeps at the grief both sisters have expressed to Him. But then He does the impossible and brings Lazarus back to life. Guess what! We were given a hint this would happen in verse 4 when Jesus said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Now, I'm not saying that Lazarus didn't really die. The passage removes all doubt of that. When Jesus is talking about 'death' in verse 4, I think he's talking about Mary and Martha. The death of their brother was difficult, heartbreaking (especially when they both believed Jesus could have prevented it), and traumatic. They probably felt abandoned, let down, ignored, and rejected just to name a few of the possibilities. Mary is so hurt that she needs to be prodded by Martha to go to Jesus. Martha tells Jesus she's trying so hard to understand, but she doesn't. The miracle that Jesus did in Lazarus brought Mary and Martha even closer to Him than before. He proved that they could in fact trust Him, even when it seemed like He was powerless. Because HIS plan was better. The more I read Scripture, the more I'm convinced that we only see the little bit we're involved in. We don't see the big picture like God does.
I don't know why my dear friend's daughter is terribly ill and can't seem to catch a break. But she and her family have brought hope, comfort, and joy to so many other people and entire families through their struggles. I don't know why my mother's close friend has endured decades of financial struggles. But she's encouraged my mom and myself (at the very least) that God does provide and that you can trust Him with your finances even when your income is small. I don't know why I grew so close in my relationship to a young man for him to be taken away. But it has taught me to understand how others can hurt so deeply, it's helped me understand how I pretty frequently make God feel, it has humbled me and shown me just how weak and frail I am. I hope I am able to bless someone else with the lessons I've learned and love the unlovable who needs to know Jesus in a real way...
This leads me to wonder: what part of me spiritually, emotionally, is dead and needs resurrection?
What part of you needs resurrection?
Have you rolled the stone from the entrance to the tomb of your heart for Jesus to bring to life?
I told myself more than once that my next step was to go to bed. Yet here I am, talking to you, because my mind is still working and because I might have something I want to say or express. I'm currently reading The Great Gatsby. I'm enjoying it, it's well written, but its element of mystery isn't fit for this mind this evening. Er, morning.
Life will drastically going to be changing within the next couple weeks. Martha, a wonderful young woman from my InterVarsity chapter, will be moving into my room with me. She'll be taking my place while I'm away at SIL. We'll be here together for about three weeks before I leave. I'm very much looking forward to living with her.
SIL. I cannot wait to go. I will certainly miss home and my loved ones, but God has done great things in my heart there in the past and I look forward to what He has in store for me there this summer. It'll have new and different challenges as well as new and different blessings. I really look forward to seeing my nephews and sister again. Journey is going to be performing at the North Dakota State Fair this year. Maybe I can convince one of them to go with me. :)
After I return from SIL, I'm moving back into the ole Riepe homestead. Mom and Dad are lamenting their loss of a room for storage purposes. I've already insisted that I don't mind a few boxes here and there, but if they're storing it, do they really need it. ;) It will be an adjusting after living away for a couple years. However, I think it will give me the opportunity I've wanted to grow closer to my sister Becca and help out my mom with her motherly duties.
Either today or yesterday, I was reading in John 11. To familiarize you with the passage, it's when Lazarus gets sick and Mary and Martha send for Jesus. Jesus stays away doing his Jesus thing and Lazarus dies. Jesus finally gets there after Lazarus has been buried in the tomb for four days. When Martha sees Him coming, she runs to meet Him, falls at His feet and says, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (11:21). Even in her hurt, Martha confesses to Jesus that she knows He has the power to resurrect her brother, yet she mourns. Martha returns to her sister Mary and prompts her to go to Jesus. Mary runs to Jesus, falls at His feet and says, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (11:32). Jesus weeps at the grief both sisters have expressed to Him. But then He does the impossible and brings Lazarus back to life. Guess what! We were given a hint this would happen in verse 4 when Jesus said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Now, I'm not saying that Lazarus didn't really die. The passage removes all doubt of that. When Jesus is talking about 'death' in verse 4, I think he's talking about Mary and Martha. The death of their brother was difficult, heartbreaking (especially when they both believed Jesus could have prevented it), and traumatic. They probably felt abandoned, let down, ignored, and rejected just to name a few of the possibilities. Mary is so hurt that she needs to be prodded by Martha to go to Jesus. Martha tells Jesus she's trying so hard to understand, but she doesn't. The miracle that Jesus did in Lazarus brought Mary and Martha even closer to Him than before. He proved that they could in fact trust Him, even when it seemed like He was powerless. Because HIS plan was better. The more I read Scripture, the more I'm convinced that we only see the little bit we're involved in. We don't see the big picture like God does.
I don't know why my dear friend's daughter is terribly ill and can't seem to catch a break. But she and her family have brought hope, comfort, and joy to so many other people and entire families through their struggles. I don't know why my mother's close friend has endured decades of financial struggles. But she's encouraged my mom and myself (at the very least) that God does provide and that you can trust Him with your finances even when your income is small. I don't know why I grew so close in my relationship to a young man for him to be taken away. But it has taught me to understand how others can hurt so deeply, it's helped me understand how I pretty frequently make God feel, it has humbled me and shown me just how weak and frail I am. I hope I am able to bless someone else with the lessons I've learned and love the unlovable who needs to know Jesus in a real way...
This leads me to wonder: what part of me spiritually, emotionally, is dead and needs resurrection?
What part of you needs resurrection?
Have you rolled the stone from the entrance to the tomb of your heart for Jesus to bring to life?
Friday, April 12, 2013
Definitions
justice. noun. \ˈjəs-təs\
the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
righteous. adjective. \ˈrī-chəs\
1. acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
2. morally right or justifiable
good. adjective. \ˈgu̇d\
(1) : virtuous, right, commendable <a good person> <good conduct> (2) : kind, benevolent <good intentions>
[All definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. --Ecclesiastes 3:10
Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? --Exodus 4:11
But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." --John 11:4
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. --Romans 5:3-4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Through God's wonderful sovereignty, I was able to comfort a dear friend yesterday. As we rested, hand in hand, and shared the sorrows of our hearts, we began to ponder the character of God. Why is a God who is just allowing this trial to happen? We know He can take it away with a breath from his mouth or a touch of His hand.
As the tears fell and our hands clasped tighter, we began to share verses where the Lord had revealed Himself to us. Some of the verses we talked about are shared above. God is in control. He always has been. He always will be. Has He not made us who we are? Is He not making us into who we will be?
When we come across struggles and trials in our lives and we see them as unjust or not right or not good, could the problem really be that our definitions of what is 'just' or 'righteous' or 'good' isn't in line with God's definition? Isn't our own understanding clouding by our human nature that is both finite and sinful?
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. --I John 3:2
Saying goodbye to my second mother, I pondered what God's definition of 'just' and 'righteous' and 'good' are as I walked away. In all things, no matter what my definition of these words are, God will still bring glory to Himself, He will still makes things beautiful-- in His time.
The God who heals infirmities, who is in the business of transforming hearts and lives, who is faithful, Just, Righteous, Good, who delivered a nation from slavery and oppression, will continue to be exactly who He is and will continue to work in me.
I may never know why my loved one had to endure all this pain, but I know that one day I will understand and know why. When that happens, I 'shall see him as he is.' Until then, I will be His faithful servant.
the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
righteous. adjective. \ˈrī-chəs\
1. acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
2. morally right or justifiable
good. adjective. \ˈgu̇d\
(1) : virtuous, right, commendable <a good person> <good conduct> (2) : kind, benevolent <good intentions>
[All definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. --Ecclesiastes 3:10
Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? --Exodus 4:11
But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." --John 11:4
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. --Romans 5:3-4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Through God's wonderful sovereignty, I was able to comfort a dear friend yesterday. As we rested, hand in hand, and shared the sorrows of our hearts, we began to ponder the character of God. Why is a God who is just allowing this trial to happen? We know He can take it away with a breath from his mouth or a touch of His hand.
As the tears fell and our hands clasped tighter, we began to share verses where the Lord had revealed Himself to us. Some of the verses we talked about are shared above. God is in control. He always has been. He always will be. Has He not made us who we are? Is He not making us into who we will be?
When we come across struggles and trials in our lives and we see them as unjust or not right or not good, could the problem really be that our definitions of what is 'just' or 'righteous' or 'good' isn't in line with God's definition? Isn't our own understanding clouding by our human nature that is both finite and sinful?
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. --I John 3:2
Saying goodbye to my second mother, I pondered what God's definition of 'just' and 'righteous' and 'good' are as I walked away. In all things, no matter what my definition of these words are, God will still bring glory to Himself, He will still makes things beautiful-- in His time.
The God who heals infirmities, who is in the business of transforming hearts and lives, who is faithful, Just, Righteous, Good, who delivered a nation from slavery and oppression, will continue to be exactly who He is and will continue to work in me.
I may never know why my loved one had to endure all this pain, but I know that one day I will understand and know why. When that happens, I 'shall see him as he is.' Until then, I will be His faithful servant.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Good Friday
Once upon a time, there was one man and one woman and they walked and talked with God.
And then they sinned. They could no longer walk and talk with God. They would die.
But it was not the end.
There was a man named Noah. He and his family were the only ones who feared the LORD.
The LORD instructed Noah to build an ark so save a few from the judgement that would destroy the world.
But it was not the end.
Joseph, the favorite of his father, was sold into slavery by his brothers. Years later, the brothers were caught in a famine and had to appeal to their brother Joseph for food.
Joseph forgave them and moved the family to Egypt to take care of them. Their children fell into slavery.
But it was not the end.
Moses, equipped by God, lead Israel out of Egypt against great opposition. The Law was given to Moses to give to the people. Sacrifices, the Arc of the Covenant, the tabernacle, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The children of Israel complained, whined, disobeyed, and couldn't keep the Law.
But it was not the end.
Elijah was a prophet and spoke the Word of the LORD that Ahab did not want to hear.
He fled to the desert to avoid being imprisoned or killed. He was thirsty and hungry.
But it was not the end.
Isaiah was also a prophet. He prophesied of a Messiah. Someone who would be the Lamb and the ultimate sacrifice.
The children of Israel continued to fall from God and then return to him to fall away again.
But it was not the end.
A little girl named Mary was told by an angel that she was going to be pregnant with the Messiah.
She gave birth with her husband, Joseph, in a feeding trough to the Son of God.
But it was not the end.
The Son grew up and began teaching. He performed miracles, discipled his followers, was baptized, and changed the lives of countless people.
There were those who hated him, one who betrayed him, and he fulfilled his purpose when he received the wrath of God for sin that was not his own. Prophesy was fulfilled. The price was paid.
He died. A large stone closed the mouth of the tomb where he lay. A stone so large it couldn't be moved by a single man.
But it was not the end.
And then they sinned. They could no longer walk and talk with God. They would die.
But it was not the end.
There was a man named Noah. He and his family were the only ones who feared the LORD.
The LORD instructed Noah to build an ark so save a few from the judgement that would destroy the world.
But it was not the end.
Joseph, the favorite of his father, was sold into slavery by his brothers. Years later, the brothers were caught in a famine and had to appeal to their brother Joseph for food.
Joseph forgave them and moved the family to Egypt to take care of them. Their children fell into slavery.
But it was not the end.
Moses, equipped by God, lead Israel out of Egypt against great opposition. The Law was given to Moses to give to the people. Sacrifices, the Arc of the Covenant, the tabernacle, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The children of Israel complained, whined, disobeyed, and couldn't keep the Law.
But it was not the end.
Elijah was a prophet and spoke the Word of the LORD that Ahab did not want to hear.
He fled to the desert to avoid being imprisoned or killed. He was thirsty and hungry.
But it was not the end.
Isaiah was also a prophet. He prophesied of a Messiah. Someone who would be the Lamb and the ultimate sacrifice.
The children of Israel continued to fall from God and then return to him to fall away again.
But it was not the end.
A little girl named Mary was told by an angel that she was going to be pregnant with the Messiah.
She gave birth with her husband, Joseph, in a feeding trough to the Son of God.
But it was not the end.
The Son grew up and began teaching. He performed miracles, discipled his followers, was baptized, and changed the lives of countless people.
There were those who hated him, one who betrayed him, and he fulfilled his purpose when he received the wrath of God for sin that was not his own. Prophesy was fulfilled. The price was paid.
He died. A large stone closed the mouth of the tomb where he lay. A stone so large it couldn't be moved by a single man.
But it was not the end.
Friday, March 22, 2013
March Madness. Among Other Things.
I have to admit that although it can be a very long month, I love March. Spring (hopefully) begins, winter storms are less winter-like (sometimes), you're finally over the shock of the new year being new, you have a better idea of what the rest of the year will hold, and (my personal favorite) there's Madness.
Now, I'm sure a number of you reading this blog can understand a love for a particular sport such as football, racing, or baseball. However, Indiana is unique in that it's crazy about basketball. Absolutely crazy in love with ten guys fighting over an orange ball. Space Jam was my favorite movie for awhile.
When I was little, Gene Keady was leading the Purdue Boilermakers to consecutive Big 10 Championships. I remember trying to fall asleep over my mother cheering them on. In Indiana, high school basketball is a big deal. College basketball is a big deal. NBA is a big deal. Yes, there's variation in who prefers each level of basketball, but everyone knows what NCAA stands for and everyone either makes a bracket or thinks about making a bracket for the tournament.
My recent days have been filled with March Madness. Even though my own school didn't make it to the tourney, I'm in on as much action as I can get. I had a two hour break at work yesterday and spent the whole two hours rotating games on my computer.
Yep. I'm a Hoosier. Through and through.
Among Other Things,
I changed the blog title. I was originally going with God being a pursuer of the hearts of His followers, but recently I've been convinced He wants more than our hearts. He wants our dreams, our passions, our talents, our time, our affection. That goes beyond the heart. And so I've renamed it The Great Pursuit. God is pursuing you. All of you. He pursues you every moment of every day. There really is nothing else worth pursuing if you're not first pursuing God. I want to highlight that.
I'm done with part one of my application process for Wycliffe. They're currently processing my application. I need to set up a meeting with my pastor and an elder to talk with them about my plans and get their thoughts. I met with an administrator from Wycliffe last week to talk about questions I have about what being a member means and what I think being in ministry as a single means.
I'm returning to SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) this summer. I'm super excited! I'm really hoping to find a lot of healing, form new friendships with like hearted people, and see family again. I'm looking forward to what the Lord will reveal to me about Himself. Until then, I hope to pursue Him as He pursues me.
<3
Now, I'm sure a number of you reading this blog can understand a love for a particular sport such as football, racing, or baseball. However, Indiana is unique in that it's crazy about basketball. Absolutely crazy in love with ten guys fighting over an orange ball. Space Jam was my favorite movie for awhile.
When I was little, Gene Keady was leading the Purdue Boilermakers to consecutive Big 10 Championships. I remember trying to fall asleep over my mother cheering them on. In Indiana, high school basketball is a big deal. College basketball is a big deal. NBA is a big deal. Yes, there's variation in who prefers each level of basketball, but everyone knows what NCAA stands for and everyone either makes a bracket or thinks about making a bracket for the tournament.
My recent days have been filled with March Madness. Even though my own school didn't make it to the tourney, I'm in on as much action as I can get. I had a two hour break at work yesterday and spent the whole two hours rotating games on my computer.
Yep. I'm a Hoosier. Through and through.
Among Other Things,
I changed the blog title. I was originally going with God being a pursuer of the hearts of His followers, but recently I've been convinced He wants more than our hearts. He wants our dreams, our passions, our talents, our time, our affection. That goes beyond the heart. And so I've renamed it The Great Pursuit. God is pursuing you. All of you. He pursues you every moment of every day. There really is nothing else worth pursuing if you're not first pursuing God. I want to highlight that.
I'm done with part one of my application process for Wycliffe. They're currently processing my application. I need to set up a meeting with my pastor and an elder to talk with them about my plans and get their thoughts. I met with an administrator from Wycliffe last week to talk about questions I have about what being a member means and what I think being in ministry as a single means.
I'm returning to SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) this summer. I'm super excited! I'm really hoping to find a lot of healing, form new friendships with like hearted people, and see family again. I'm looking forward to what the Lord will reveal to me about Himself. Until then, I hope to pursue Him as He pursues me.
<3
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Land Between
Northview, my church in Lafayette, is going through The Story. This was week/chapter 6 which is about the spies going into Israel, the Israelites sentenced to 40yrs in the desert, and Moses dying. David Choutka was preaching in Steve Poe's absence and began the message something like this (bear in mind that this is purely from my memory):
"My wife is a great packer. I'm banned from packing because she's just so good at it and I've screwed it up so many times. My job is to set up the GPS and do the driving. The first thing I look at is the ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. My goal on every trip is to beat the ETA. If the GPS tells me I wont get there until 8:05, I do what I can to bring that down to 8:00, then 7:55, then 7:50. Then I hear the dreaded words, 'I gotta go to the bathroom.' After using the restroom or getting gas we get back on the road again and now the ETA is 8:20. AAAHH! It's so frustrating!"
I'm raising my hand in my heart. That's me. I've said or thought all of these things: How much over the speed limit can I go without getting caught? How long can I go without food before I have to stop for something to eat? We ONLY stop for gas!
What's my rush? Well, it's not that I don't love traveling. I love to travel, but I like being there even more. Is it a surprise to you that the primary reason I've actually finished reading a number of books I started reading was purely because I wanted to know how it ended? In my own life I've seen this desire to be at the destination or finish line, as it were, and wanting to skip what's in between the start and the finish.
I felt pretty convicted while I heard the Sunday message continue. "My wife asked me why I was in such a hurry. I said I wanted to just get there. 'And do what?' was her response. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that some of the best times I've had with my own family has been in-transit to the destination... The journey is what's called the Land Between."
The Land Between is where the real growth, the real story, happens. This is Moses' second round of 40yrs in a desert. God did amazing things in his heart the first time. Can you imagine what happened in the hearts of the Israelites in 40yrs?
I began to think about this in other contexts. I tried to imagine Cinderella without the Land Between: "This girl named Cindy met Prince Charming and they lived happily ever after." Lame story. Anything that makes the story of Cinderella unique or interesting happens in the journey. I also had a flashback to English 409: Introduction to Writing Fiction: "Only conflict is interesting. Literature revolves around conflict. The better your conflict, the better your story."
I'm currently in the Land Between. Yes, I'm close to completing my initial application for Wycliffe (woot woot!) and pretty much everything is looking up for me now, I'm nearing the end of it, but this is one of the most difficult Land Betweens I've ever been in. Pretty much all I've wanted from the beginning is to escape it. No joke.
It's not just my Land Betweens either. As a kid, all I've ever wanted was to be a grown-up. I never wanted to go to Neverland or never age with Peter Pan. When I was younger I wished I could fast forward to the part of my life when I would be married and having children. That was really living.
False. I mean, those things are great, I'm sure, but if there's so much more to life.
Being an adult is lame. Unfortunately, looking back, I wished away my childhood. I made myself grow up too fast because I was in a rush to get to the end of my journey. It wasn't until I was nearly graduated from high school that I realized I needed to enjoy where I was. I needed to cherish the time I currently had or I would regret it later.
I had the same realization again today. Yeah, it's the Land Between, but God is there in all seasons of life and in all circumstances. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. This Land Between is another chapter in making me more like Him (even if it doesn't feel that way).
God will provide for me in my 40yrs in the desert. He's put me there to prepare me for inhabiting the Promise Land. How much more I'll appreciate my destination after a long and weary journey. How many memories I can create and lessons I can learn in the Land Between.
~Christina
If you want to watch/listen to the sermon I've mentioned in this post, you can visit the Northview Church website and click "watch messages." This message was from March 10th.
"My wife is a great packer. I'm banned from packing because she's just so good at it and I've screwed it up so many times. My job is to set up the GPS and do the driving. The first thing I look at is the ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. My goal on every trip is to beat the ETA. If the GPS tells me I wont get there until 8:05, I do what I can to bring that down to 8:00, then 7:55, then 7:50. Then I hear the dreaded words, 'I gotta go to the bathroom.' After using the restroom or getting gas we get back on the road again and now the ETA is 8:20. AAAHH! It's so frustrating!"
I'm raising my hand in my heart. That's me. I've said or thought all of these things: How much over the speed limit can I go without getting caught? How long can I go without food before I have to stop for something to eat? We ONLY stop for gas!
What's my rush? Well, it's not that I don't love traveling. I love to travel, but I like being there even more. Is it a surprise to you that the primary reason I've actually finished reading a number of books I started reading was purely because I wanted to know how it ended? In my own life I've seen this desire to be at the destination or finish line, as it were, and wanting to skip what's in between the start and the finish.
I felt pretty convicted while I heard the Sunday message continue. "My wife asked me why I was in such a hurry. I said I wanted to just get there. 'And do what?' was her response. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that some of the best times I've had with my own family has been in-transit to the destination... The journey is what's called the Land Between."
The Land Between is where the real growth, the real story, happens. This is Moses' second round of 40yrs in a desert. God did amazing things in his heart the first time. Can you imagine what happened in the hearts of the Israelites in 40yrs?
I began to think about this in other contexts. I tried to imagine Cinderella without the Land Between: "This girl named Cindy met Prince Charming and they lived happily ever after." Lame story. Anything that makes the story of Cinderella unique or interesting happens in the journey. I also had a flashback to English 409: Introduction to Writing Fiction: "Only conflict is interesting. Literature revolves around conflict. The better your conflict, the better your story."
I'm currently in the Land Between. Yes, I'm close to completing my initial application for Wycliffe (woot woot!) and pretty much everything is looking up for me now, I'm nearing the end of it, but this is one of the most difficult Land Betweens I've ever been in. Pretty much all I've wanted from the beginning is to escape it. No joke.
It's not just my Land Betweens either. As a kid, all I've ever wanted was to be a grown-up. I never wanted to go to Neverland or never age with Peter Pan. When I was younger I wished I could fast forward to the part of my life when I would be married and having children. That was really living.
False. I mean, those things are great, I'm sure, but if there's so much more to life.
Being an adult is lame. Unfortunately, looking back, I wished away my childhood. I made myself grow up too fast because I was in a rush to get to the end of my journey. It wasn't until I was nearly graduated from high school that I realized I needed to enjoy where I was. I needed to cherish the time I currently had or I would regret it later.
I had the same realization again today. Yeah, it's the Land Between, but God is there in all seasons of life and in all circumstances. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. This Land Between is another chapter in making me more like Him (even if it doesn't feel that way).
God will provide for me in my 40yrs in the desert. He's put me there to prepare me for inhabiting the Promise Land. How much more I'll appreciate my destination after a long and weary journey. How many memories I can create and lessons I can learn in the Land Between.
~Christina
If you want to watch/listen to the sermon I've mentioned in this post, you can visit the Northview Church website and click "watch messages." This message was from March 10th.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Hosea 2
Before reading this post, please read Hosea 2 [found here]
Particularly pay attention to 2:14-20
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
15 And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
Particularly pay attention to 2:14-20
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
15 And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
16 “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ 17 For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. 18 And I
will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.
I've been chewing on this passage for awhile. I've read Hosea before, but I don't remember the deep message or the power of the words in it. Maybe it was a little advanced for a 15ish-year-old girl with no life experience. Now that I'm older, I can't believe how profound it is. Until verse 14, the whole chapter talks about her. The truth about her is displayed for us: sin, adultery, whoring, and complete disregard for her Husband [God].
Conviction struck my heart as I read it. I am her. The detestable, the unlovable, the ugly, the stupid girl. God was angry with me. Righteously angry and hurt. Astounding. Mercy, grace, and love are more frequently associated with God in our every day lives. In our worship, in our talk about Him, in our Bible time, and in most times generally. But before He showed me that, He was angry. Furious. He was hurt. Why? Because I hated Him.
But God, even though I hurt Him, reached out to me. When I had gotten myself into a mess and landed in a desert with absolutely nothing, He wooed me. He gave me an understanding of Him I didn't have before. Verse 14 and 15 remind me of what Steve Poe said in a message recently about Moses living in the desert for 40yrs: "Sometimes God puts us in the backside of a desert to change and grow us." He shows us who He really is. He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). He wants my devotion, my affection, my time, my heart, my praise, my life, my everything. He wants all of me and He wants me to want all of Him. He wants you to want all of Him too.
Why do we get bent out of shape when something doesn't go right? We don't deserve anything He's given us. It's all Him. He should smite us, leave us, divorce us, never forgive us for what we've done to Him. But He doesn't. When our foundations crumble, He humbles us and reveals Himself.
"And you shall know the Lord."
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