death - the five letter word that we think means the end. the end of a life, the end of a companionship, the end of a life. while the earthly side may change, the spirit of the person lost will remain forever. "now death where is your sting, our resurrected king has rendered you defeated" were the words I heard tonight while laying in bed, listening to music, and it hit me. God sent his son to earth to rule over all earthly things, knowing that he would see him in heaven again. he was not afraid of death. Mary was not afraid of death when she gave birth to Jesus, knowing that he would be taken from her much before his time. death is not something we should be afraid of, because we all know that it is coming at one point or another. easter and death go hand in hand as a celebration. Jesus had to die in order to rise again on the third day, and he was not afraid of death. he hung there on the cross, not afraid of what would happen to his body, but excited to see his Father once again. we celebrate the fact that he rose from the dead, and now lives in each one of us. he's not physically here with us on earth, and though it would be different, he lives in our hearts, guiding us on the path towards him, knowing that we will soon see him again. we should not be afraid of death. none of us are immortal, but we have the best thing waiting for us at the finish line - Jesus.
0 Comments
we all know that Jesus died on the cross for us. that's the first lesson taught to us in sunday school. but i don't think we completely fathom the degree to which he loved us. everything he did was in the name of love - so that we may pass it on to each other. washing the feet of the twelve disciples was a dirty job, yet he did it out of respect and love towards them. he didn't think twice about someone when they messed up, and he welcomed every believer with outstretched arms.
so often now we worry about the mistakes we've made. but the truth is that we're all broken. by forgiving each other in the name of Jesus and in love, we become a little less broken and a little bit more full. we become more like Jesus. at first, these words sound pretty nasty. they're not words that you would typically use in everyday conversations, until you put them with another thing. get out of your comfort zone, leave your bubble, exit the known and enter the unknown.
in Bible class this week, we focused on prayer. as a way of communication with God, thanking him for his gifts, it doesn't have to be fancy, and yet so often we forget that. we got out of our comfort zones by walking around the classroom, silently reading the prayer requests of our classmates and friends, praying for each one. those prayers weren't fancy, but they weren't rushed. we each took the time to pray for our friends, and thanked God for putting them in our lives. it wasn't something I was used to, but it taught me that prayer comes in many different forms. in fact, no two prayers are the same, just like people. there is no exact replica of me on planet Earth, and there is no exact replica of you. God doesn't care how scripted your prayers are, or how well-worded they are. He just wants you to know that He's listening. as I got ready for bed tonight, the realization suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't written anything new recently. it became a problem, because I didn't really know what to write about. so I started thinking. and a song came to my head, along with a Bible verse that is one of my favorites.
"take your candle and go light your world" were the infamous words of our Advent theme song at church, and little did I know, those words would stick with me through the next months, through good times and bad. it would also be accompanied by "you are the light of the world -- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14). through a chapel speaker, I learned that the most memorable parts of faith are shared through other people. so, following in Jesus' footsteps, that is what we are called to do. lighting our world by sharing our stories of unwavering faith is what matters most to the people that we'll meet along our various journeys. believe it or not, you'll come out the other side with a new look on life, because that person will have shared something with you too. "holy spirit, you are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere" were the first words that came into my head this morning, as I stood in the front of the church, practicing music for today's service. little did I know, it was about to come true. it was so amazing to see a small Mennonite congregation, in a white church, some singing songs that they had never heard in their life, but at the same time, you knew. you knew that God was there too, singing those songs from the bottom of his heart, loving every minute of worship and seeing his people.
but in that moment, I learned something. seeing fellow believers worshiping right along with me made me realize that worship isn't just about the songs that you sing. it's not about how good or how meaningful the sermon was on any given Sunday. it's not about whether or not the service went as planned. it's about who the worship and praise is going to. I think sometimes we forget that church is a time to worship and to give praise, and instead we get caught up in the other side of things... business and maintenance. but, in reality, you can worship anywhere. just like Jesus did, because he didn't always have a church. he praised God and worshiped on the mountains, in the streets, and even in the homes of tax collectors. I think that's what we should do too. many of us don't know the power that we hold. the power of a compliment, the power of a smile, the power of going out of your way to help someone around you. it's amazing. we also have the power to change the world... or at least the familiar world around you. many of us don't know what we're truly capable of, and have many times been doubted by others.
take David, for example. at first glance, Saul thought that all he was capable of was being a shepherd. because, that's all that Saul knew him as. David's brothers thought he would get himself killed. "Go, and God be with you." Saul said to David in 1 Samuel 17 when he was finally convinced that David could successfully fight Goliath. David knew that he could do it, because David believed. if we believe that "With God, all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26), then we will be able to do much more than we could ever imagine on our own. When Peter asked Jesus what he would receive in return for being a follower, probably expecting a monetary gift or a material gift, Jesus' answer most likely blew Peter away. Everlasting life, Jesus said. Not a house, not a phone, nothing immediate. Eternal life. As a follower, we too have the best gift of all to look forward to.
I imagine getting to Heaven, arriving at the gates, and Jesus welcoming me with open arms, telling me how much he loves me and cares for me. Getting to talk to him, ask him as many questions as my mind can think of, and forever. That's the best gift a follower can ask for. New Years Eve, for many, brings a time of reflection. I thought I'd add my piece to the picture, and give you a look at the big parts of my 2015... in a different way.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 : "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." March brought the birth of a cousin, and added a new bundle of joy to our family. We were showed the miracle of birth, and once again reminded of God's love. Matthew 5:43-44: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for the ones who persecute you." April brought a school trip to D.C., during which we spent a week helping those who are less fortunate than us. We were taught to care for those who have less, and to show them the same love that God has showed us. Genesis 28:15: "I am with you and shall keep you wherever you go." June brought the celebration of 50 years of unending love for my grandparents, and an unforgettable trip to Turks and Caicos. We saw breathtaking views of crystal clear blue water and received a glimpse into life in a different corner of the world... island time. Acts 1:5: "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." August brought a new step of faith. I committed my life to Jesus Christ in front of my family, and I can honestly say it is the only decision I've ever been completely sure about. The times in between and after August have brought many blessings and great memories with friends and family, and I see God's mercy and love every day, as I live out His plan for my life. So, there's a little look into my year. I hope 2015 was a great year for you, and I hope 2016 brings many memories and things to be thankful for. Happy New Year! With the help of a wonderfully written devotional book, I reflected on the true miracle of the Christmas story throughout Advent. I learned how God used ordinary people, much like you and I, to change the course of human history. And he used things we learn and do every day ... hope. patience. prayer. trust. watching God do the impossible. obedience. praise. wonder.
Elizabeth had hoped for a child for many years, expecting one for many years before God answered her prayers. She trusted God's plan for her life. Zechariah and Joseph, both suddenly thrown into a world where caring for a son was becoming their priority, spent many hours in prayer because they didn't know what to do. Mary watched God do the impossible when he gave her, a virgin, a baby boy, our Savior. She placed immense trust in God's plan, because her baby, her firstborn son, would be taken from her and given into the hands of the Father. Zechariah obeyed God's instructions. The name chosen for his son, a prophet, was not a name widely used at the time. Joseph patiently stayed with Mary, trusting God to lead him in the right way, considering a divorce. Mary and Elizabeth both praised and wondered, aloud and in prayer, the works of God's handiwork in their lives, doing things they thought were impossible. The devotional book, "Refocus - 25 Days of Devotions for Christmas & Advent" taught me that Christmas isn't about the presents, no matter how numerous or wonderful they are, or the brightness of your outdoor lights, or the height of your Christmas tree, but the birth of a baby. A humble baby, who doesn't care about the presents or the bustle of the holiday season. "immigrant children.
they're looking for a place to call home, instead of sleeping on top of hard, cold ground, covered only by a thin blanket. they're looking for love, after being turned away at the gates of the United States and chased out of their country. they're looking for a future, currently thinking that their lives will forever consist of mile after mile of walking. they're looking for answers. why is this happening to them? why isn't their God doing something? why? is shutting them out really the answer? what if we could do something about their pain? their loss?" After thinking about the topic of immigration for a sociology class, I started thinking... why are we shutting millions of innocent immigrant children out of their chance of a better future? We have so much we could give them, so much that we have to offer, and yet, so many of them wait for their chance to escape from their lives, suddenly overturned by war and disaster. Why? What is the logic behind this? As Christians, we are supposed to welcome the children, in the same way we welcome God (Mark 9:36-40). So, why isn't this our logic when thousands of children arrive at the entry gates to the United States? |
Archives
April 2018
|