Fig Leaves and Lamb Skin

Modesty.  This is always a hot topic issue, especially come summer time.  It's hot, humid, and wearing clothes is often optional.  Shirtless men and scantily clad women can be seen running or biking alongside the road, swimming in crystal clear waters, or laying out under the hot rays of the sun.  And that's normal, fine, expected, and good!  Or is it?

Ask any one of my friends and they will tell you that on the spectrum of modesty, I am on the extreme end of being modest.  Showing skin or rocking the latest fashion of tank tops, dresses or short shorts is not something I do.  At age 22 going on 23, I have never owned nor worn a bikini, have changed clothes in front of other girls (such as teammates or roommates) about five times, and shopped in Victoria's Secret twice (see It's A Jungle Out There).  Literally.  No jokes.

Part of that is largely due to the fact I have always been a jock; wearing t-shirts and athletic shorts is what I do.  Another part of that is growing up as an only child; I have always been used to having my own space, a lot of privacy.  But a lot of my choice in being modest is because of choosing to be a woman of God.

Over the years it has become apparent that conversations about modesty are not always easy to have, let alone get started.  Opening up about what we wear and why we wear it does not come naturally.  It may be because, more often than not, people are genuinely clueless, having never really given modesty a thought.  And if people have thought about it, it is easy to quickly become defensive and/or judge others for.  Personally, my take on the issue is simple: let's have an open conversation about it and just be real.  The only way to mature in wisdom and insight is to share with and learn from others as we seek God through reading scripture, praying, and life's circumstances.

And that is exactly what we did this afternoon.  A group of about eleven high school girls and three women got together and got real.  While I don't know what the girls took away from the conversation, this is what I left with:

• Guys and girls are different...very, very different.  I can go to a movie and see an attractive guy with his shirt off and never think about him again.  Guys, on the other hand, seemingly have a storage of images in their brains.  Something he saw ten years ago can be drug up from the depths of his brain, potentially leading him to dwell on thoughts that are not pleasing to God (Philippians 4:8, Matthew 5:28).  That is the way God has designed men.  I do not get it, I will never get it.  But, I will honor the Creator in his design by loving my Christian brothers by choosing modesty.

• Modesty doesn't just mean not showing skin.  Years ago I had a conversation with a great guy friend of mine, and he shocked and awed me with this truth: tight clothing is just as bad as seeing too much skin.  Up until that point in time, I had no idea that clothes which fully cover me yet accent my curves are just as dangerous for a man...as are bra straps, bare shoulders, and short shorts.

Here's my favorite take-away:

• Clothing is a reflection of the cross.  What I didn't realize until after today was that by wearing clothes, I am reflecting what Christ did on the cross for me.  Seriously, check it out...

Back in the Old Testament we see Adam and Eve.  They were created in the image of God and without sin.  Genesis 2:25 tells us that they were naked and felt no shame - at that point, without sin, they had absolutely zero reason to feel, let alone know, what shame was.  Can you imagine that?  However,  that was soon to change.  

When Satan enters the picture, he begins to tell half-truths, lies, to Eve (Genesis 3:1-5).  She buys in, forgetting what God instructed them to do (Genesis 2:15-17), and chooses to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Almost immediately Adam and Eve realize they're naked (Genesis 3:7).  They then make clothing from fig leaves, most likely just enough to cover their "private parts."  Clearly they still felt shameful because they run into the trees, away from one another to hide.  

Then God enters the garden.  He asks them where they are hiding and why they are hiding (Genesis 3:8-9...isn't God funny...as if he didn't know already!).  God addresses their choice to walk away from his commands, bringing consequences and cursing the serpent, Eve, and Adam (Genesis 3:14-20).  And here's the real kicker that I never saw until today: God fashions clothes for them, which fully cover them neck to knee.  And he does this from the skin of a sheep (Genesis 3:21).  Until today, I glossed over the beauty of this fact and what it reflects.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the lamb of God, a living sacrifice.  By being killed on the cross for my sins, your sins, the blood of Jesus covers my sin; I am made whole because of Jesus, the lamb of God, taking my place upon a cross.  I can be right with God through Jesus Christ.

Now get this.  It's almost as if when God created clothes out of the skin of a sheep, it was no mistake. In the very beginning He is making known what is to come, his plan to send his son to die on a cross.  It's a beautiful picture!  The sins of Adam and Eve, the sense of shame, are literally being covered by a lamb; the sins deserving of death are covered by Jesus.  Whoa.

So, how is this related to modesty?  It all comes back to the heart.  I believe that if my motivation to be modest was rooted out of a desire to protect my brothers in Christ or to "do what's right", I would probably fail.  In all honestly, it can be fun to have the attention of men; it makes a girl feel good.  Yet, if my heart is able to recognize that wearing clothing is, in some way, a representation of God's grace... I'm all in.  Not only are clothes literally providing me a way of covering the shame I would feel at nakedness, but they remind me that I am covered by the blood of Christ in order that I may have a personal relationship with him. 

If I choose to bear the name of Christ, calling myself a Christian, than I want to be a woman who chooses modesty.

Where's the Disconnect in Being Connected?

BEEP!  "New Text Message"
DING!  "Facebook alert"
BEEP!  "Twitter alert"
DING!  "New Email"

Connected.  That is what we are. The Internet is literally at the tip of fingers, constantly.  Work is not a 9a-5p job anymore; it's 24/7, 365 days out of the year.

Want to see what's going on in New York City while you're sitting at your desk in Iowa?  No problem, simply pull up the live video feed.  Or, do you miss your family who are located thousands of miles away?  Again, piece of cake--Skype! What about that job interview across town?  Not sure how to get there?  Easy, GPS is built right into your cell phone. 

No matter what it is or who it is, you can be connected to anyone, anytime, anywhere.  Admittedly, I have fun with technology and I have benefited from a lot of these inventions; but at the same time, I have never been so discouraged by what we have available to us.


After recent discussions in one of my communication study courses (Organization Communication), I've come to realize how much technology has impacted the way we live.  As my classmates talked about how often they check email, how many hours a day they spend on Facebook, and how they "can't get through a day without their cell phone," my heart fell.  People long to be connected, to feel as if they matter.  There is a need to feel needed.  And yet technology only presents a false sense of security.


Status updates, tweets, and text messages.  These are all things we use to say, "Here I am!  Look at me!  This is what I'm doing, won't someone tell me they care?"  Our heads are bent down, and our fingers are tightly gripping our cell phones.  It's as if those little black square-shaped devices are the source of life.  Instead of looking in the right places, our affirmation is sought in little screens filled with 160 characters.

At one point in our discussion, my professor told us about a recent study.  One of the findings states the following:

10% of people under the age of 25 report checking text messages during sex.

While I do not believe in sex before marriage, this statistic shocks me!!  God created sex (Yes! He did! Did you ever think about that?).  In his perfect design, it binds people together; it's the closest, most intimate relationship two people can have.  And when it is in the context of marriage, it is a beautiful thing (or so I'm told!).  To think that the act of making love is so warped, that it's purpose has been so lost within our generation, that people check their text messages while they do it is appalling to me.  We have a problem, and it needs to be addressed.  Yet, at the same time, once again, my heart breaks.

Technology has allowed people to be connected constantly, and yet I feel as if people have never felt so disconnected. 


One of the saddest scenes I have ever seen was at a restaurant a few weeks ago.  A family sat across the way from us, a father, mother, and a couple of children.  The mother sat staring at her plate, pushing her food around while the father had his eyes glued to his Blackberry, barely looking at the woman he had committed to love; one child sat using his cellphone, the other  had headphones in.  Is that really what "family time" has come to?  Sitting in the presence of one another, but never saying more than a few words to each other?  Sending, receiving, and reading text messages and emails?

Oh, God, have mercy on us.  Awaken us! 

Father, all glory to you.  It is your desire and purpose for us to be connected, to be in community with one another.  You have placed that longing deep within each of our souls!!  I thank you for that.  You also created the person who invented Facebook, and text messaging, and iPhones.  Thank you for their genius.  While I am grateful for the ability to Skype friends long distance, or reconnect with people via Facebook, I admit that I have used those technologies wrongly.  In moments of worry or joy, I do not pray; I update my Facebook status.  God, forgive me for my lack of acknowledgment of the God who is.  Forgive me that all too often my affirmation comes from receiving a text message from a friend instead of your Word.

God, I ask that our souls would be awakened to Truth!  It is right that we want to feel loved, to be loved.  But God--we're looking in the wrong places.  You have offered your Son as a sacrifice in order that we may be fully connected with and in a relationship with you.  But we seem to think we can find delight in anything but you.  Open our eyes.  Help us to delight ourselves in you!!

Father, I also ask that you give me a heart to love people--and not through a text messages or a wall post.  Help me to love people by serving them, by interacting with them face-to-face.  Help me to be a woman of action in real life, not someone who fills up a persons mini-feed with all of the things I do on Facebook.  Oh, how I LONG to look a person in the eyes, to listen to them, to really listen.  May I live a quiet, simple life.  Cause my heart to burst with genuine, sincere love for people.


I pray that the use of my cell phone or Facebook or email would only glorify you.  Help me to use it rightly.  I don't want to be known as "the girl with funny Facebook status's", but a woman who loves God and loves people.


Yahwah, that is who you are!  My redeemer, my maker, my creator, my father.  May I serve you, and not technology.  You answer prayers; Twitter doesn't know my name or how many hairs are on my head.  In You and you alone am I fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are Alpha and Omega, beginning and end.  My text messages get erased, those 160 characters are forgotten--yet you are the same yesterday, today, and forever.


Amen.






(Isn't it ironic that I'm blogging this and planning on posting it to Facebook? Hmmm.  I got room to grow.)

Psalm 37:4

As a little girl, I had the opportunity to attend multiple Women of Faith (WoF) conferences with my mom.  I can remember watching women that looked just like Grandma walk back and forth across the huge stage, lights shining down on them.  They all wore one of those nifty cordless microphones and each of them were dressed to the nines!  I was in such awe of the five or six women who took turns speaking to a crowd of hundreds of women about God and how He had worked in and through their lives.

Part of the infatuation I had with WoF was the simple fact that each woman was so wise and exemplified the love of God.  Their testimonies were incredible!  For example, one of my favorites, Patsy Clairmont, is a woman hardly over 5-feet tall who once suffered from agoraphobia, which caused her to be a prisoner in her own home.  Yet God did some major work in her life, giving her the ability to speak in front of thousands every single year.  Wow.

Being in the presence of and learning from women who plainly love Christ was immensely influential as a little girl.  I wanted to grow up to be a woman that spoke truth into the lives of other women, too.

Those Friday-Saturday conferences were the beginning of a big dream.  And as my future post-graduation begins to unfold, I see God moving.

By grace has God placed a desire in me to love people, especially women.  There is no way that the desire I have to encourage and affirm others comes from myself, but it is undeniably there.  Every year it seems to me that He increases both my capacity and eagerness to jump into the lives of women around me.

Since I have been in college, I have been able to play the role of a student leader with The Salt Company. Every week I have the opportunity to meet with a group of women, talk about the Bible, what we're learning, struggling with, and encouraged by.  Basically, I get to do life with them.

With age and experience comes wisdom, so I am able to recognize that this experience has been a gift.  I am so thankful for the women who have allowed me to be apart of their lives.  Unbeknown to them, their willingness to let me walk through life with them is both extremely encouraging, affirming, and challenging to me.


Well, I believe that my Father in Heaven is a God who loves to give good gifts.  And as I've been thinking about graduation these last few months, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do or where I see myself going. The idea of ministry wasn't even on my radar. In late January of 2011, however, I was presented with an interesting opportunity.

The church I currently attend has recently been certified through Midwestern, a seminary in Kansas City, to teach courses and offer the opportunity to get a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) or Masters of Divinity.  On top of that, they're offering an internship opportunity to do hands on work with one of their ministries (middle school, high school, college). 

I contacted one of the head Pastors of the church, and the director of the Cornerstone School of Theology (CST).  There were a few questions I had regarding the program that I wanted to get answered.  At that point, I hadn't even filled out an application and was not even considering it as an option.

The next day, Stan, the head staffer of the high school ministry, Escape, contacted me and asked if we could get together and talk--he had heard my name was in the hat for CST.  I was quite confused, to say the least.  How had he known about that?  How did he get my number? Why would he want to meet? etc.  But I thought why not meet, it can't hurt anything.

So, a couple of days later we met for coffee.  He asked me what my heart was in terms of ministry.  And boy, do I love that question!

As I mentioned earlier, I cannot get enough of listening to people, encouraging them, and being real about life.  My heart for ministry is to invest in people; to live simply by loving and serving.  That's what I want, and so that is exactly what I was able to express.

Fortunately, when I was in high school (was it really already 4 years go?), I had a couple of 25-year old women investing in me, loving on me.  Because of their guidance and "older sister" influence, I left for college with a strong foundation in Christ and understanding who I was in Him.  That gift is something I have always wanted to turn around and give to other women.  I want to be a big sister.  That was another thing I was able to tell Stan.

It was an encouraging conversation, and I left planning to fill out the CST application. 

About a month later, Stan asked if we could get together again.  Sure thing.

Stan sat me down and said he had read through my application, contacted my references, and even went above and beyond by sitting down with my boyfriend, too (I think he got grilled a bit!).  Incredibly (and awesomely), after all of that, he asked me to come on board as a CST intern and work with high school women.

Unbelievable.

From my perspective, God is just something else!  Why?  Because although doing ministry and working with women is something I yearn to do, I had sort of let it go. It was only a dream. 

And yet here I am at age 22, preparing to go straight from undergrad at ISU to not only earning a masters degree, but into ministry work.  Oh my gosh. I get to continue to learn, which is something I love. I get to jump straight into the lives of high schoolers.  I get to do the exact thing I have always wanted to: be a big sister, spurring young women on in their faith and loving the heck out of them. 

Lastly, one of the neatest things about the last month is God's timing.  It is no secret that I struggle with anxiety; sometimes it's hard for me to believe that God says who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.  I'm a work in process!  So, the fact that all of this just happened, and that I'm still 2.5 months out till I graduate, but I know what I'm doing and where I'll be...is awesome.  Praise God for knowing His daughter so well--not only has He given me an incredible opportunity, but He has given me peace.  My God is an Awesome God.


Who knows if I will ever be able to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of women, sharing what God has done in my life and why I believe He is worth it, why I choose Him.  I don't know if I will ever get to write books full of wisdom and insight or words of encouragement.  But that is more than okay with me because if I can love one girl next fall, one high schooler, than my joy will be made complete.  Investing in one woman in order for her to understands God's love and then choose to live to glorify Him...is worth it.

I'm all in. 

Join me in praying for the lives I will be involved with beginning in August.  Pray that God continues to grow in me the ability and desire to serve, to love, to encourage, challenge, and teach.  May His will be done.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4

Dear Justin

...assuming I ever had a picture taken with Bieber, it would probably look similar to this...

Bieber Fever has overtaken me.  I cannot deny it; in fact, I openly admit to it.  While I had his first album on iTunes and could singalong with most of the songs, I knew little about him...or at least that was true until this past Friday.

About a week ago one of my Connection Group (Bible study) girls posted a status on Facebook about wanting to go see Never Say Never.  I was thrilled as I was convinced I was the only 22-year old woman with any interest in seeing the film--my excuse was that I like documentaries.  Turns out, there were more than a few of us that wanted to go.  So, last Friday night a small group of us made our way into a theater full of high-pitched, overly excited, teeny boppers.

No, I did not just kind of like it or thought it was pretty good.  I loved it.  In all seriousness, I thought it was a great movie and worth the $7.75 I paid to watch it.  In fact, as soon as it hits the dollar theater I'm going to go again (and maybe again?).

Not only was it well-done in terms of having a plot and carrying the viewer through a storyline, but there were great interviews, behind the scenes footage, and lots of music.  As I mentioned, prior to seeing this movie I had zero clue about how he got started.  So let me just say that this young man is legit as a musician.  He clearly has natural gifts and abilities, and the right people at the right time took notice and made something happen.  It is a pretty neat story.

What I was most surprised by, however, was the blatant acknowledgment of God throughout the whole movie.  More than once there were clips of Justin, his family, and his crew praying.  At one point, Biebs' mom prayed, "Lord, we just thank you for what you have done and ask that you get all the glory tonight."  Personally, I was caught off guard.

Later I did some research, talking to more "dedicated" Bieber fans, and apparently there is some evidence that Justin and his family have an understanding of the Gospel, even personal relationships with Christ!  Talk about exciting.

Now, I obviously have no idea, really, where Justin (and/or his family/crew/band) is spiritually.  Whether or not he is walking with God is something I can't answer with a definite "yes" or "no."  But what I can do is pray for that young man.

Sometimes I think we forget that celebrities are people, too.  Although by our culture's standards they are extremely successful, that does not make them immune to internal struggles.  More often than not we hear stories about famous men and women losing themselves in drugs, alcohol, broken relationship after broken relationship.  In my opinion, celebrities are almost more at risk for falling into temptations and moving further away from God than anyone else because they have access to any and all things.

In so many ways and places are they looking for that "thing" that will finally bring them joy and a sense of completeness.  But what they're missing is that it has nothing to do with material wealth or being in a relationship with another person (even if it is Brad Pitt).  In order to have everything, the Bible says that what it takes is Jesus + nothing.  It is all about being wrapped up in Christ, living as a servant to God and to the people around us.

Over the last couple of days, Justin Bieber has been on my mind a lot.  And it isn't because he is really cute or has fun songs!  Instead, it has been because I have thought about what would I want to tell him if I ever saw him.  In a weird way, thinking about this little 16-year old possibly being a follower of Christ has made him more endearing, almost as if he is a little brother.

Therefore, as a writer and as someone who has always wanted a little brother, this is what I would have to say to him:

Dear Justin,

Biebs.  You are one talented, gifted young man.  Clearly, your passion is music and entertainment, which are two things you do quite well!  It is fun to watch and observe someone who is doing something that they love.  I hope you continue to find joy in the abilities you have been given.

Justin, I do not know where you stand with God.  I have a feeling your mom and grandparents brought you up in a household where God was talked about, going to church was the norm, and prayer happened on a regular basis.  These are all good things!  But as you grow up, I hope you begin to understand the motivations behind them.  They are not meant to be actions that modify your behavior, making you out to be a "good" person.  No.  Instead, may they become things you desire to do out of the overflow of your heart; a natural response to being in a personal relationship with God.

At sixteen, you are only beginning to encounter life!  But because of what you do, you will be exposed to a lot of things very early on.  There has been and will continue to be all kinds of people and circumstances that you will be faced with.  Although there are a lot of really great things out there, the world is also full of destruction and pain.  Be aware of the people you surround yourself with, the things you listen to and watch, and where you are finding your worth.

Biebs, you have a lot of people rooting for you!  How can't you, you're so stinkin cute.  Enjoy what you have been given, but remember that it is all a gift.  Be grateful, remembering to thank the people who have helped you get to where you are.  Most importantly, acknowledge that it all comes from God.

I also pray that you do not get consumed by pride.  May your heart be one of humility.  As a powerful person, even as a young man, you have the potential to effect thousands of lives.  I ask that your heart would beat for what the heart of God beats for; may you be a shining star in a very dark place.  Also, Justin, do not forget that because of the cross, you have been lavished with love and are a child of the King!

As your sister in Christ, I look forward to watching God do great things in and through you!
Psalm 37:4


___________

Just discovered this video!  Check it out--JB a little bro in Christ!

Billionaire

"If wealth and success was measured by how much a person felt loved by and grateful for ones family and friends, then I would be a billionaire."

Growing up as a young woman, I have experienced a lot of pressure over the years.  Many burdens fall heavily upon the heart of a woman: the need to be skinnier and weigh less, have better skin and prettier hair, to be intelligent and wise, own nicer clothes and drive posh cars, and to have scores of boys chasing after her, to name a few.  While many women appear to have it all together outwardly, there remains an inward battle she fights day in and day out.

It all stems from one phrase, one sentence.  All too often she will repeat it to herself over and over again; it plays continuously, sometimes consuming her thoughts.  These eight words lay the foundation for a place of misery, heartache, and difficulty: "I'm not good enough the way I am."

Honestly, this sentence is one that has become much too close with me.  Sometimes I wonder if in some way or another, it is almost a place of security.  I know what it is like to believe this, to live this as if it is a reality, a truth.  The pain I have experienced because of my choice to accept this as an accurate portrayal of who I am is abundant.

But over the years, the grace and Spirit of God has revealed so much to my heart, the part of my soul that longs to be accepted.  By spending more time in prayer, communicating with my Father, and by reading the Bible, love letters He wrote to me, my heart has begun to understand that it is not about WHO I am, but WHOSE I am.

Psalm 139:13-14 talks about how God knitted me together in my mothers womb.  What an interesting choice of word, knitted.  When I think of what that means, the picture I get in my head is of someone investing a lot of time and effort into creating something beautiful.  The idea that what was being created was not simply thrown together without intention or purpose; it was given a lot of attention and care.  So, scripture makes it clear that I am a unique and intentionally made human, a woman.  The verses go on to talk about how I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  While I may not be over 5'4'', fit into size 0 jeans, or have perfectly clear skin, I am a pretty marvelous work of art.

Reading 1 John 3:1, we see that God has lavished His love on us, and that we are His children.  The God who is above all other, who created the heavens and the earth, who is not surprised by anything anyone has done, is doing, or will do, sees me as His daughter.  Because God sent His is son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, allowing me to move from death to life, I get to call God "Abba, Father."

One of my favorites is Colossians 2:9-10.  It says that because I am in Christ, as His daughter, I am complete.  The cross has finished it all.  I do not have to do anything or be anyone in order to be made complete and full; the cross has done that for me.  Other scripture mirrors this same idea.  As a person who struggles with perfection, this is unreal to me.  I do not have graduate with honors, get a high paying job, or outdo anyone to be considered entire, whole, complete.

And while the Bible is absolutely the best place to look to hear truth and to experience the work of God in my heart, I cannot go without mentioning my friends and family.  It is so easy to get caught up in the world around me, to buy into what our cultures measure of success is.  Simply turn on the television, pop in a movie, or tune into the radio and message after message hits you.  But when I am surrounded by God's people, other men and women who live to Glorify Christ in all things, that is when my heart is able to believe without question that I am who the Bible says I am.

Within the last few months, God has outdone Himself.  Between my parents, the group of girls who meet at my house every week for Bible study, the best friends in the entire world, a boyfriend who is simply a gem, and my church community, I am rich.  Filthy, dirty rich.

As the Spirit continues to impress into their hearts a longing to know Him, the words of their mouths and the actions of their lives echo the truth of the Gospel.  Being surrounded by God's people I am able to fully live in the reality that I am complete, I am righteous, I am a daughter of the King.  The cross has brought me from darkness into light, and this light has begun to shed reality about whose I am.

God does not look at me the way the world does.  He does not measure my success and value in the ways the world does.  Instead, He looks at my heart.

And today....today my heart says that I am His.

Thank you, family and friends, for speaking Truth into my life.  Because of your encouragement, I am free to live sincerely believing that my value is found in Christ.  It is a truth that sets me free and makes me feel like a billionaire.

AWAKEN

It has been almost an entire year since I last wrote for this blog.  That is much too long, especially when God continues to draw me to my knees in prayer.  But, there is never a better time to start writing again than today.

Last night I was able to attend the Chris Tomlin concert in Des Moines, IA.  It was the beginning of the And If God Is For Us... tour.  Without a doubt, this was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.  This was largely due to the fact that everyone in the building, musicians included, knew why we were there: to ascribe glory to and worship our Father.  Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels may have beautiful voices, but their hearts clearly yearn to honor God above all else.  So, to be led in worship by talented, Godly people, and then to sing with brothers and sisters in Christ whom I have never met was incredible!

But that wasn't all.

Part of the tour includes guest speaker Loui Gigilio.  Over the years I have heard his name tossed around, but I had never heard him speak.  Last night was my first taste of this gifted man of God.  While his message was relatively short, it hit home.

Essentially, I was made to worship and praise God.  That's it.  Because of what was done on the cross, I am alive and I have walked from death to life; my sole purpose is to glorify God because of who He is and what He has done.  As I continue to understand that, the Spirit is working in me in such a way that all I yearn to do is honor and glorify God.  Clearly, that is not my own doing but God's.

Scripture says that everything that has breath should praise the Lord.  In Psalm 148 we can read that not only are creatures who breathe are supposed to praise the Lord, but so too are the mountains, the hills, snow, rain, and lightning.

And yet, that only makes sense.  Any artist who has ever painted something beautiful has gotten praise for his work; any musician who has ever written a song has gotten praise for his lyrics; any author who has ever written a book has gotten praise for his words.  To be a creator of something beautiful leads to being praised for one's work.  Of course the creator of the heaven's and earth would be praised by all of His creation.

Last night I realized that if I'm not praising the Lord, then the rocks are.  That good ol' Iowa snow is. And no way am I going to let any amount of snowflakes out-do me!  Why? Because I understand what happened on the cross; I know the reality of what it means to have walked from darkness into light.  That Truth should cause my soul to awaken.

Loui talked about what the prayer for this current tour is: that the church would have an "Awakening."  May Gods people become awake to the Holy Spirit, that our souls would sing and shout for Him, and that we might desire to love the world like He loves us.

And this is the part of the message that stuck with me most.

Some people in the church raise their hands while they worship.  Others do not.  And those that do are seen as being "those kind of Christians."  But Loui hit on something I found to be so insightful.  Look at these pictures below:

Who are these people?  ISU fans celebrating at a football game.

Who is this massive group of people?  Germans, celebrating a World Cup soccer game victory.

What about these guys?  They're at a Coldplay concert.

And these kids are in India.  They're excited about going to school.

Do you know what I see in all of these pictures?  Arms raised.  It is a natural inclination for a human being to raise their hands when they see something of worth.

If the church claims to believe that Jesus Christ is above all else, worthy of all honor and praise, than why is the church one of the last places we feel comfortable to raise our hands?

As Loui talked about this idea, it totally hit me: if I am willing to raise my arms and pump my fists in the air when my team wins a game, then how much more should I do so for the man who loves me and saved me?  I should want nothing more than to raise my hands in surrender, in praise, in honor, in acclaim.

So, Church--AWAKEN!

I pray that we would become awake to the Spirit who resides in us, that all of our praise would go to our Father in Heaven.  Awaken to the truth of the Gospel and live in a Christ-conscious way.  And the next time you find yourself in church, throw it up, raise it up!

Shatter

Growing up in Iowa, I've seen a lot of snow in my lifetime. It's made for some wonderful memories, that white stuff. Whether it's sledding at the Gateway Hill, shooting off the man-made bump, or throwing my arms and feet out in my attempts to make the perfect snow angel, or spending hours outside building a snow fort only to come inside with a head of hair that is literally frozen, I've had years of experience with snow. And, to be honest, for the most part I really do enjoy winter.

As I've gotten older, though, my seasonal experiences have changed. It's not just about snowflakes, sleds, and snowmen, but I have to deal with the "gross" stuff too. Things like driving on ice, shoveling, and walking on campus are things as an adult I have to contend with. The thrill of winter has begun to fade a little as I have new responsibilities.

About a month and a half ago we experienced an ice storm. I'm sure this wasn't the first year we've been hit with inches and inches of frozen water; however, it was a new experience for me because I have a car...and no garage.

For a couple of days I had chosen to not even attempt getting in my car as it was covered in about 3 inches of ice. There was no chance of getting in. By Wednesday night, though, it was time to force my way into the driver seat--a little ice couldn't deter me from getting to leaders group.

I headed outside all bundled up with my Bible and my royal blue Camelback water bottle. I skated my way across the parking lot to good ol' BamBam only to realize I had completely undermined the amount of ice to be chipped away. This was no small job. I took the only thing I had, my Camelback water bottle, and began to beat, strike, and pummel my wonderful RAV4.

After what seemed like an eternity (although I'm sure it was a matter of five-minutes), my frozen fingers pried open the driver door, turned the key to start the engine, and continued to beat my car. My fingers fought to hold on to the water bottle, freezing to the point of having no feeling left. After awhile, I felt my arms and shoulders ache and I was tired. In my head I debated quitting altogether, but realizing the heat of the engine was warming more of the body, I kept at it.

I repeatedly hit windows, and most of the ice finally began to break. With each blow that took a chunk of ice off the car, I got more excited as I watched it shatter to the ground, splitting into hundreds of pieces. It may have been taking awhile, but with great determination on my part, BamBam was making its appearance once again.

Eventually, I made it into the drivers seat. As I looked out the window while driving away, I saw the evidence to the work I'd just put in--broken, chipped, battered ice chunks laying all over the parking spot. It felt so good to drive away knowing I'd gotten every last bit of ice off my car!

Later that week I began to think about that ice and my car. It reminded me of myself.

I am like my car, my sin is like that ice. Thick. Encasing me, strangling me, and not allowing anyone in or out. Sin makes me incapable of being used for my purpose.

The water bottle is like Christ and God's word. Little by little chipping away at the ice, the bottle was the only thing I was armed with. Well, the Holy Spirit dwelling in me and Gods Word is my only spiritual weapon to conquer sin, chipping away at it. I must be equipped with it, writing it on my heart, in order that I do not sin. The water bottle won't beat away at the ice by itself--I had to use it. I have to know God's Word and use it.


No matter if I'm chipping at ice, or chipping at sin, I must remain determined. It would be easy to allow the loss of feeling in my finger tips to force me to quit; but I had to persevere. Well, I will experience things in life that will numb me. It will hurt. But I must persevere, I must find peace in knowing Christ is everlasting, my rock.

Because, the thing is, when the ice shattered and smashed to the ground, what was underneath was my beautiful, black, RAV4. Without the ice, it was fully functional and ready to drive. I must realize that as my sin is torn away from my life, the woman I am purposed to be will be underneath, ready to be used as God designed.

What I learned that night was that ice is incredibly strong, but not indestructible. With hard work and much effort, it crashed to the ground. My life is not much different and it's time I pick up my water bottle, the water of Life, and begin to chip away.

It's Been Awhile

I sit here this morning realizing how long it's been since I've written on this blog. This is really unfortunate because God continues to work on my heart, He never stops. In fact, these last few weeks God seems to be moving in my heart in ways He never has, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Which means it's time to write.

In the last few weeks I have been to a TSC retreat, listened to a guest speaker at Salt, and attended a Women of Faith conference. In my opinion, the timing of everything is not a coincidence. God has used all three things to show me the following:

1) Life is about bringing Glory to God in all things; it's not about me.

2) I have the choice of playing a part in a better story...God's story.

3) God has a heart for the nations. I've heard that for years, but for the first time I saw it from Genesis--Revelation and I get it.

4) Time is short. Very, very short. And there is a 100% chance every human being will die. The question is, where are they going to be spending eternity? If I have the ability of knowing how to get to Heaven, I need to tell everyone I know.

5) Never stop dreaming. God has a plan for my life, and it's greater than I could imagine, that He has said yes to. I may not be able to see what that is yet, but He promises it is a plan to bring prosperity, hope, and a future.

6) Cravings. Everyone has them. And the only thing to satisfy that need for more is Christ.

Granted, a lot of these things may seem trivial or basic, but they are so key. I am jumping out of my skin with a new excitement to share the Gospel, to love on people as Christ does, and to pursue Him hard and well. The choice is up to me, and I want in on the story God is writing.

I appreciated the Salt retreat because it was that weekend that I felt God working in my heart to begin opening my eyes to see people as he sees people. At times I struggle with frustration, irritation, disgust, and bitterness with people. And God seems to be saying to me, "Jenn, I created each of these people in my image. Love them as I love you." Also, as I mentioned, that weekend I finally "got" the idea of missions. I have never felt "the call" to go to Africa, or India, or China...I don't know if I ever will; however, I did understand the necessity to pray and support. I can get excited about that.

The speaker last Thursday at Salt, Mark Cahill, was a challenge. What a message. Not that I am not excited about my faith or what God is doing, but I am out of practice of talking about it. I have bought in to the lies Satan feeds me--things like I don't know enough, I'll be rejected, etc. But it's time I realize it's a nothing but a win-win-win situation when I share. First of all, who am I serving--God or men? When I die, I will not be standing before my friends, but I will be in front of the God of the universe. I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." If I truly love my friends, I will care where they spend eternity, I will care about their souls. It's time I change my perspective from "have to's" to "get to's." I GET to share my faith; I GET to talk about the love of Christ; I GET to plant seeds. As Mark says, it's a win-win-win. If I share and the person accepts Christ-WIN! If I share and I plant a seed-WIN! And, if I share and get rejected, the Bible says I will be rewarded in Heaven-WIN! I have to get to sharing.

Then, the thing I am most excited about is what's up between God and myself. I believe God has a big purpose for my life. I believe the part he has written for me will change lives. I may not be able to see what that is yet, but I will say yes.

As I was sitting at the Women of Faith conference listening to wise women of the Lord, I couldn't help but think, "I want that, I want to be that." If I had the opportunity to speak to women about real life issues and point them to Christ, I'm so in. I will never stop dreaming, ever, about how God might use me. And this year God has given me opportunities to begin that kind of career as an author and speaker that I dream of. I am going to continue to chase that dream, to be with Women of Faith (or something like it) in the attempt to bring Glory to God through it all. The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. Well, I am going to delight myself in the Lord and trust that He knows the desires of my heart.

On top of that, this thought occurred to me: become a woman of the Word. Trivial, right? Well, not that I don't want to know God on my own, I do; but with the motivation of the dream I have, of becoming a wise woman who can speak Truth into the lives of others... I need to write Gods Word ALL over my heart. I want to envelop myself in it, to learn it, to live it, to speak it. I should not wait until I'm in my later 20's, 30's, 40's to become that woman--I need to start now. I want to start now. Also, may I simply learn to experience life in a way that as I go through the in's and out's of day to day things, I gain spiritual Truths out of each experience. Sweet. May God use this desire to speak to just bust my life up with a love for Him.

I am excited.
I am working to become wise, knowledgeable of Truth, and a lover of Christ who shares her excitement with the people in my life.
It's a another step in the process, so please...come along for the ride. Let's share in life together and have a perspective of excitement as we ask God to show up!

Snowflakes

Winter is my most favorite time of the year! I love everything this season represents: freezing cold, huge coats that make you look like a marshmallow, mittens that I'll lose by the end of the season, quality time with my family, unique and fun decorations, delicious food I get once a year, and of course-the celebration of Jesus' birth!! One of the things I look forward to most, though, is the first snowfall of the year. Personally, I find it to be extremely exhilarating! How calming it is to see millions and millions of tiny flakes falling softly to the ground, landing to then create the most gorgeous scene of white. It gets me every year!

This past season, as my hometown is facing another snowstorm Christmas Eve through Christmas day, I have been thinking about snowflakes and I did some reading about these tiny little things.

I found out that scientists have developed an entire classification system for snowflakes--there are countless varieties of "dendrites, grooves, ridges, sectored plates, columns, needles, bullets, sheaths, chandelier crystals, rosettes, arrowheads, and caps." Also, I read that scientists say that it could snow DAY AND NIGHT until the sun dies and still no two flakes could ever be precisely alike. Talk about a unique masterpiece~! And, the thing is, GOD created each of those snowflakes, he fashioned each tiny crystal! Uh, wow? One of Gods names in Hebrew is "Yahweh Borey" which means "Lord Creator." Personally, it can be easy to think that it can be really hard to talk to God when I can't "see" Him--but, as I thought about it, I can look at snowflakes, or trees, or stars, or whatever, and I can see God. I think in those things I can see Gods power, creativity, love, care, and on and on.

Psalm 19:1-3 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard." I think that creation testifies all about its Creator and clearly God can be seen! Maybe I just need to spend more time looking at creation and taking it all in and then I'll realize that God is in fact extremely visible--and snowflakes are a great place to start.

I'm Just Going to Do Something

I grew up with a father that loves to read. Every night before bed he would accompany me upstairs, tuck me in, and read to me one of the hundreds of stories tucked into the thousands of pages sitting on my bookshelf. The love of words on a page that my dad has was easily transferred to me after all those nights of reading to me. I owe a large part of my passion for writing to my pops, for opening up a world of possibilities, dreams, and insights that come from cracking open a book.

The thing is, as I've gotten older our interest in the same kinds of genres of books has changed; he prefers science fiction, "never going to happen in this lifetime" kinds of stories, whereas I tend to like the thrillers, classics, and "award-winning" kinds of books. Therefore, my dad rarely has a book suggestion for me--he is well aware I stay away from aliens and ghostly happenings. So, when he does come to me with a "must read," I heed the advice. A few weeks ago he came to me with one such suggestion.

We were sitting at the breakfast table on a Sunday morning and I saw this thin, small, white soft-covered book on the table. It had an interesting cover that took me a moment to grasp what the picture was--an outdoor movie screen. As I read the title, my interest was perked--"Just Do Something, A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will." One of my best girlfriends and I had just been discussing what it means to uncover God's will for our lives, and this book in front of me claimed to have something to say about just that. My dad sat eating his Captain Crunch cereal, so I interrupted his crunching to ask, "Dad, are you reading this?" A muffled, "Yes" came out of his mouth as he chewed and swallowed. "I just started it. It's really good, Jenn. I think you should read it." "Really? Haley and I were just talking about this topic, too...it looks interesting." "Yes, I think you would really like it. It's challenging me, too." Well. That did it. I respect my father in many ways, one of which is his walk with the Lord. He has done well with what he has been entrusted with, being faithful in big and small things. It must be a book worth reading.

That next week, we took a family vacation down South to po-dunk Missouri (now I understand why it's the "Show Me" state). With the 5-6 hour trip ahead, I sat in the back of the tightly packed van and cracked open the little white "Just Do Something" book.

I finished the book, cover to cover, in about 3 hours--that included stopping and taking notes in my journal as I read and was struck with thoughts. THREE hours. I tell you right now--the book was challenging, encouraging, and, for me personally, life-changing. I am confident God used the words of author Kevin DeYoung partnered with Truth from the Word to radically change the way I view God's will as well as how I relate to my Father.

I am not sure I can even go into full detail of the things I took away from the book--I'll create a very small and shortened list of what I wrote down in my journal below--but all I can say is that this book is a must, must read. I think it is a book that is never too late for someone to read (i.e. my over-half-a-century-old dad took things away from it). I would encourage someone to go through it at any age, but I specifically believe people of my generation and the college-age level need to pick this book up. Within the first few pages one will see why and will immediately identify with what Kevin has to share.

From one avid reader to another and now to you who is reading this post right now--go to your nearest bookstore and/or online and buy it. It won't take you long to get through it and I think God desires for you to understand just how he cares for you and what it really means to discover the plan for your life.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Thoughts from "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung

--We suffer from "adultolescence."

--God has three kinds of will:
1) Gods Will of Decree--ordained by God, he is sovereign, his plan can't be thwarted (Eph 1:11, Matt 10:29-30, Acts 4:27-28, Isaiah 46:9-19),
2) Gods Will of Desire--Gods commands, his desires for his creatures, how things ought to be (1 John 2:15-17, Heb 13:20-21, Matt 7:21, Deut 29:29), and
3) Gods Will of Direction--yes he has a plan, yes he works things for good, yes see Gods hand; but no, we don't need to figure it out ahead of time.

--Trusting in Gods Will of Decree is good. Following his Will of Desire is obedient. Waiting for Gods Will of Direction is a mess. Seek first the Kingdom, trust He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are or where we're going.

--This life will not be a 5-star hotel. We are pilgrims here. We excpet too much out of life, it is not and never will be heaven on Earth.

--Stop pleading with God to show us the future; start living and obeying like we are confident that he holds the future.

--The conventional way of looking at Gods wills says that God has a plan for my life and it's my job to try and figure out what that plan is. If I miss it or don't get it right, I'll only get second or third best for my life. STOP THINKING OF GODS WILL IN THIS WAY, instead...

--**Gods will is that I live a holy, set-apart life; always to rejoice, pray, and give thanks; learn who God is, get to know him better and begin to bear fruit; be filled with the Holy Spirit--it's about WHO I am in Christ, not WHERE I am. Get happy and holy in Jesus.**

--God cares about my life and the choices I make, yes, but he is more concerned with my santification. This is what the Bible speaks to me about--how to behold Christ and become more like him, it doesn't contain the answers about what job to take, what to study, or who to date.

--We become what we behold. God wants us to behold him and his glory so we're transformed to be like him--so we can focus on him, delight, and meditate in him.

--Pray for: illumination, wisdom, for things that are already Gods will, good motives, an attitude of trust, faith, and obedience, humility and teachability, for the Gospel to spread.

--Do SOMETHING rather than nothing. Work hard, take chances, show initiative, pray, expect little from life. Be active in the present, grateful for the past, and hopeful for the future.

--Gods will for my life is simpler, harder, and easier: simpler because there are no secrets to discover. Harder to deny myself, live for others, and obey God. Easier because God commands what he wills and grants what he commands.

--End of the matter: Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before myself. Be Holy. Love Jesus. And as I do these things, do whatever else I like, with whomever I like, whereever I like, and I'll be walking in the will of God.