I wish I was more disciplined at blogging. Ideas constantly run through my head on what to write, but I do not take the time to sit down and put them into words (which is hard enough for me anyway). So, I apologize, once again, that it's been a while since my last post.
This morning I was reading in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 about Paul's love of the Thessalonians and his joy in their faith. As I read through this chapter, I hear a leader exuding extreme joy for the people he has poured his heart and life into. He has literally poured his life since he wrote the letter after being torn away from the people through trials.
I reflect just a portion of Paul's emotions here when I think about the ministries and the people I have poured my life and heart into.
"Timothy...has brought good news about your faith and love." (vs. 6)
"in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." (vs.7)
"For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." (vs. 8)
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." (vs. 12)
Let me share a recent example of this:
Two very dear friends of mine from church, they are sisters -one graduated a few years ago and the other is still in high school - are going on a mission trip to Haiti in just a few short weeks. They both had been working extremely hard to raise funds for this trip, but money was still short. $700 short to be exact. The day before the rest of their money was due, someone made an announcement at the high school youth group bible study that these sisters needed money, which was due the next day. So, the youth group decided to take a collection for the two.
Remember, these are high schoolers who have little or no money whatsoever. Within 15 minutes, every penny that was needed for the remainder of the trip had been collected and counted. Let me say that again, in 15 minutes - less than 80 high schoolers gave $700.
Seeing those students give of themselves to another person, maybe even someone they don't know, proud is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings. I do not take ownership of that youth group, but it is a group of people I poured 4 years of my life into and I cannot help but smile when I see how God is moving in that group of young people.
It is in moments like these that I remember how great our God is. He is no small being that can only do small things. He can and does bigger things than we can imagine.
Colossians 1:15-20
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Walking into a church that's not my own
Sometimes I want to walk into other churches.
Before you start thinking that I'm leaving my own church - let me explain myself. There are many days when I'm driving or walking around a town and I see a church, and I want to go in. I want to talk to the pastors, the elders, the congregants and ask them about their church. I want to hear what God is doing in their faith family (term coined by David Platt). I want to hear the amazing stories that fill their hallways and coffee areas - just as they do at my church.
For me, it is super exciting to see and hear how God is moving in my church. H ow much greater the excitement about the movement of God in another church. I know I can be narrow-minded many times and think that God is only in present in my church, my family, or among my friends. Oh, how wrong am I! How big is our God, and how present is He all over the world.
That's one reason I want to walk into other churches - as a healthy reminder of how infinite God is. He is not confined the the walls of White River Christian Church or Cornerstone University or my own heart. He is so great, in a sense of magnitude. The verses go on and on about the greatness of God: Isaiah 40:15-18; Psalm 89:6; Psalm 139; Job 36:26. (Check out this article if you want to see where I got these verses.)
I think division can come so quickly between believers when we forget that we all worship the same God. I am including myself in this mindset, too. There are so many times I forget that students at Calvin, Kuyper and other schools have a relationship with the God I call Abba, Father. There are other churches in world that are doing things right. I think a shift of thinking can occur when we remember these things. It will look differently for everyone. For me, it makes me want to walk into other churches or talk to strangers about their relationship with Christ (this is another post for another day).
I want to challenge you to think about these things, talk to God about them, wrestle with it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
So, if you see a random 19-year old girl walking through your church or talking to your pastor some weekday afternoon - it just might be me.
Before you start thinking that I'm leaving my own church - let me explain myself. There are many days when I'm driving or walking around a town and I see a church, and I want to go in. I want to talk to the pastors, the elders, the congregants and ask them about their church. I want to hear what God is doing in their faith family (term coined by David Platt). I want to hear the amazing stories that fill their hallways and coffee areas - just as they do at my church.
For me, it is super exciting to see and hear how God is moving in my church. H ow much greater the excitement about the movement of God in another church. I know I can be narrow-minded many times and think that God is only in present in my church, my family, or among my friends. Oh, how wrong am I! How big is our God, and how present is He all over the world.
That's one reason I want to walk into other churches - as a healthy reminder of how infinite God is. He is not confined the the walls of White River Christian Church or Cornerstone University or my own heart. He is so great, in a sense of magnitude. The verses go on and on about the greatness of God: Isaiah 40:15-18; Psalm 89:6; Psalm 139; Job 36:26. (Check out this article if you want to see where I got these verses.)
I think division can come so quickly between believers when we forget that we all worship the same God. I am including myself in this mindset, too. There are so many times I forget that students at Calvin, Kuyper and other schools have a relationship with the God I call Abba, Father. There are other churches in world that are doing things right. I think a shift of thinking can occur when we remember these things. It will look differently for everyone. For me, it makes me want to walk into other churches or talk to strangers about their relationship with Christ (this is another post for another day).
I want to challenge you to think about these things, talk to God about them, wrestle with it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
So, if you see a random 19-year old girl walking through your church or talking to your pastor some weekday afternoon - it just might be me.
Friday, April 29, 2011
His Good and Perfect Timing
Before I start, I apologize that it's been a whole month since I've written something. My spring semester is quickly coming to a close and course work has increasing, thus leading to less time to blog.
If there's anything I've learned through this crazy journey with God in the last month, it is His good and perfect timing. One could say that my push and urgency to create unity has dwindled greatly. And, I guess you could say that, but it feels different to me. I do not feel defeated as others and I have felt when you feel so very strongly about something and it falls through.
I do not think this idea of unity among belivers across campus and denominational borders has fallen through. God has only said, "Not yet, just wait." Though at times it has been frustrating trying to share my enthusiasm and passion with people only to get a nod and a smile, I know God is working and moving. In his good and perfect timing. God has brought some amazing people my direction with whom I have shared many wonderful conversations about how to foster unity between our campuses.
I don't think we'll see his full in this tomorrow, next week, or even in the next year, but I am encouraged to know and see how He is moving individually in the lives of His children. God is moving and doing things for and through us. He is stretching us and growing us, and it's a beautiful thing.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.....What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28, 31
If there's anything I've learned through this crazy journey with God in the last month, it is His good and perfect timing. One could say that my push and urgency to create unity has dwindled greatly. And, I guess you could say that, but it feels different to me. I do not feel defeated as others and I have felt when you feel so very strongly about something and it falls through.
I do not think this idea of unity among belivers across campus and denominational borders has fallen through. God has only said, "Not yet, just wait." Though at times it has been frustrating trying to share my enthusiasm and passion with people only to get a nod and a smile, I know God is working and moving. In his good and perfect timing. God has brought some amazing people my direction with whom I have shared many wonderful conversations about how to foster unity between our campuses.
I don't think we'll see his full in this tomorrow, next week, or even in the next year, but I am encouraged to know and see how He is moving individually in the lives of His children. God is moving and doing things for and through us. He is stretching us and growing us, and it's a beautiful thing.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.....What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28, 31
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Baby Steps
God is faithful and always provides. I reflect upon that truth at the end of this day. Today was a whirlwind of the good, the bad, and the ugly, but God was faithful and provided. After having a rough afternoon, God blessed with me an encouraging and energizing conversation with a good friend at school. After the Sunday night worship chapel service my school provides for the community, I was able to share with her my heart for finding a way to unite the believers in the Grand Rapids community. It was encouraging seeing her become just as exciting as I was about this idea. We began discussing ideas on what this unity could look like, and how it can start among students in the area. I was sharing how I want the word of this idea to spread around campuses, but I do not know students at these other universities to make that happen. The resolution we came to causd me to hesitate slightly, and for that very reason I am confident that we must continue forward. As we were talking about spreading this idea to other colleges in the area, students from Calvin, Kuyper, and GVSU were socializing amongst each other in the very gym I was standing in. I do not need to go to these campuses to spread the word, these students are coming to a community worship chapel at my campus every Sunday night. So, the resolution my dear friend Grace and I made is to meet someone from a different school every week, and begin telling them about this idea of unity among the campuses. This may seem very easy to some people, but for the introvert that I can be, this is challenging and stretching for me. I am scared but also excited to step out of my comfort zone and share my heart and passion with other students. I'll keep the blog up to date on who Grace and I meet and anything else that may happen in this crazy, exciting journey. It seems like it's only baby steps right now, but I will take baby steps over inaction any day. Everyday I see God moving in this area and on my campus, but most importantly God's name is being exalted. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
Monday, March 14, 2011
Giving God the Glory
I've been reading the book Radical by David Platt lately and so much that Platt introduces and challenges believers with coincides with my heart for Grand Rapids, West Michigan.
I was reading today about God's global purpose, and our role in that purpose. Plain and simple, God's purpose is to glorify himself. In absolutely everything he does, he gives himself glory. That's our purpose in life as well, though we are not very good at doing so.
Anyway, in one of his chapters he quotes a Christian American asking the question, Why am I so blessed when other have so little? The answer, though simple in nature, made so much unbelievable sense. We are greatly blessed, to bring him great glory.
It's so simple, yet so difficult to grasp and live out. Imagine if those who are greatly blessed (that means you!) turned around and gave all the glory back to God. Making it slightly more personal for college students or young adults, imagine if your able, healthy body, your intelligence, your good grades, your successful career, your relationships, your house, your car, everything that you've been blessed with, imagine if you immediately turned all the glory back to God and used those blessings to show to the rest of the earth God's glory.
If Christian Americans did that today, our nation would no longer be considered consumers, a selfish and greedy nation, but the most self-less nation in the world. Today, I would like to challenge you to take your blessings and give God the glory, then find some way to use those blessings to share God's glory and name with some one else. I'd love to hear your stories and/or opinion/thoughts on this. I'm no where near an expert on this, and do not speak from some pedestal of authority. I'm no better at this than the next person.
This week, I cling to the fact that God is still moving in GR and the world, though at times I do not see it with my eyes. Our God is always good.
I was reading today about God's global purpose, and our role in that purpose. Plain and simple, God's purpose is to glorify himself. In absolutely everything he does, he gives himself glory. That's our purpose in life as well, though we are not very good at doing so.
Anyway, in one of his chapters he quotes a Christian American asking the question, Why am I so blessed when other have so little? The answer, though simple in nature, made so much unbelievable sense. We are greatly blessed, to bring him great glory.
It's so simple, yet so difficult to grasp and live out. Imagine if those who are greatly blessed (that means you!) turned around and gave all the glory back to God. Making it slightly more personal for college students or young adults, imagine if your able, healthy body, your intelligence, your good grades, your successful career, your relationships, your house, your car, everything that you've been blessed with, imagine if you immediately turned all the glory back to God and used those blessings to show to the rest of the earth God's glory.
If Christian Americans did that today, our nation would no longer be considered consumers, a selfish and greedy nation, but the most self-less nation in the world. Today, I would like to challenge you to take your blessings and give God the glory, then find some way to use those blessings to share God's glory and name with some one else. I'd love to hear your stories and/or opinion/thoughts on this. I'm no where near an expert on this, and do not speak from some pedestal of authority. I'm no better at this than the next person.
This week, I cling to the fact that God is still moving in GR and the world, though at times I do not see it with my eyes. Our God is always good.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sweet Fellowship
I experienced some sweet fellowship with other believers in the past few days. It was just a glimpse of what I think God intends for all Christ followers.
On Friday, I hung out with my cousin and his girlfriend listening to some bands play for a CD release and a fundraiser concert for a mission trip to Haiti. I didn't necessarily experience fellowship here, but I observed it. I saw Christians from, what I'm assuming are, different backgrounds worship and fellowship together. It was an encouragement to me not only to see the common bond present among then but also to see people pursuing Christ in a different city.
On Sunday, I went to the college group at my church. Besides a couple of people, we all attend different universities. It was wonderful to see people from different schools come together to study the scripture and worship. Now, most of us attend the same church, so we already have that bond together. But, I see how God can go beyond that.
This is where I want to see not only the college group at my church but also believers in Grand Rapids to grow. I want to see not only different schools come together but also different church backgrounds and denominations. I challenge you to imagine a community where no walls and boundaries are present between churches that bear different names. Imagine if no dissension was amongst Christians because our hearts were so enthralled and captivated with Christ that minuscule differences would not create the division that is currently present.
These things and so much are what I see, what I dream about, and what I hope and pray for the future. This is what keeps me awake at night and puts a fire in my bones.
God has been, is, and will always be moving and His Name will be glorified.
Philippians 2:1-3
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value other above yourselves."
On Friday, I hung out with my cousin and his girlfriend listening to some bands play for a CD release and a fundraiser concert for a mission trip to Haiti. I didn't necessarily experience fellowship here, but I observed it. I saw Christians from, what I'm assuming are, different backgrounds worship and fellowship together. It was an encouragement to me not only to see the common bond present among then but also to see people pursuing Christ in a different city.
On Sunday, I went to the college group at my church. Besides a couple of people, we all attend different universities. It was wonderful to see people from different schools come together to study the scripture and worship. Now, most of us attend the same church, so we already have that bond together. But, I see how God can go beyond that.
This is where I want to see not only the college group at my church but also believers in Grand Rapids to grow. I want to see not only different schools come together but also different church backgrounds and denominations. I challenge you to imagine a community where no walls and boundaries are present between churches that bear different names. Imagine if no dissension was amongst Christians because our hearts were so enthralled and captivated with Christ that minuscule differences would not create the division that is currently present.
These things and so much are what I see, what I dream about, and what I hope and pray for the future. This is what keeps me awake at night and puts a fire in my bones.
God has been, is, and will always be moving and His Name will be glorified.
Philippians 2:1-3
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value other above yourselves."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Interactions with Calvin College
In the past week and a half, I've had a few intentional interactions with students and staff at Calvin College. Last Friday I met with a gentleman from the admissions office, whose named I received through a series of connections. While he gave me a brief tour of the campus I shared with him my desire to unite the Christians in Grand Rapids and West Michigan.
He was very polite as I explained my vague and currently unguided ideas and thoughts, but in the end I clearly saw one reaction, hesitation. I'm not sure where this hesitation lies and where it originated, but I am praying that God will work in the hearts of those he wants to use to start this uniting process. I'll be honest, when I got to my car after we talked for only half an hour I was deflated. I had thought a door was slowly and politely shut in my face. That next day Satan was more than happy to chatter those words in my mind all day.
However, after what I experience tonight I think there is at least a brick if not more in that door. Calvin has a Sunday night chapel called Loft that is provided for students and anyone else interested in coming. Myself and two other friends decided to check it and see what it was like. Though Calvin's service was more traditional than Cornerstone's chapels usually are, I thoroughly enjoyed watching people worship Christ in a different way than I am accustomed to. Their chaplain, who's a women (woot woot), gave a powerful and thought-provoking message about the faith of the centurion and who our authority will be, Jesus or the things of this world.
The thought came to mt mind while she spoke about how so much disunity is created based upon worship or teaching (not referencing the recent Rob Bell frenzy). When we began worship and when the chaplain went up to speak, I felt this pretension rise up in me, almost like I changed from participator to observer. As if, because I didn't go to Calvin, the words of the chaplain didn't apply to me. Boy was I wrong, she challenged me to evaluate how and when I approach and trust God.
Do I only trust God when he fixes the smaller things in my life or do I go to him with the one thing that matters most to me in my life? The centurion, according to Jesus, had more faith than anyone in Israel. Do I have faith like the centurion? Do I go to Christ with the one thing I wish to cling to most?
God is moving, changing hearts and lives, challenging the complacent and the passionate, and His Name will be Glorified.
He was very polite as I explained my vague and currently unguided ideas and thoughts, but in the end I clearly saw one reaction, hesitation. I'm not sure where this hesitation lies and where it originated, but I am praying that God will work in the hearts of those he wants to use to start this uniting process. I'll be honest, when I got to my car after we talked for only half an hour I was deflated. I had thought a door was slowly and politely shut in my face. That next day Satan was more than happy to chatter those words in my mind all day.
However, after what I experience tonight I think there is at least a brick if not more in that door. Calvin has a Sunday night chapel called Loft that is provided for students and anyone else interested in coming. Myself and two other friends decided to check it and see what it was like. Though Calvin's service was more traditional than Cornerstone's chapels usually are, I thoroughly enjoyed watching people worship Christ in a different way than I am accustomed to. Their chaplain, who's a women (woot woot), gave a powerful and thought-provoking message about the faith of the centurion and who our authority will be, Jesus or the things of this world.
The thought came to mt mind while she spoke about how so much disunity is created based upon worship or teaching (not referencing the recent Rob Bell frenzy). When we began worship and when the chaplain went up to speak, I felt this pretension rise up in me, almost like I changed from participator to observer. As if, because I didn't go to Calvin, the words of the chaplain didn't apply to me. Boy was I wrong, she challenged me to evaluate how and when I approach and trust God.
Do I only trust God when he fixes the smaller things in my life or do I go to him with the one thing that matters most to me in my life? The centurion, according to Jesus, had more faith than anyone in Israel. Do I have faith like the centurion? Do I go to Christ with the one thing I wish to cling to most?
God is moving, changing hearts and lives, challenging the complacent and the passionate, and His Name will be Glorified.
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