Waiting... Eagerly

Today a friend was visiting campus.  I'm sure you've been in a similar position where you are excited to see a close friend with whom you haven't spent a lot of time.  You don't just wait, the time can't pass fast enough for you.  You glance at the clock every so often... doing the math in your head to find out the amount of hours and minutes you have to wait until their arrival.  So, as I was going about my business for the day, I was waiting for my friend.  I was anticipating the short amount of time we would be able to talk and that's when it hit me.  Are we not always waiting?  I mean to say that as Christians, we are always (hopefully) in anticipation of the return of Christ.  But, do we always get excited about His return.  Are we anxiously counting away the days; living everyday like it's our last?  I tried to examine my life and realized that I don't think about the return of my Saviour, at least not with the excitement I have when I await the visit of a close friend.  But, as Christians that day should definitely be on our "Top 10 Things to Wait For" list.  When Paul wrote to the Galations, he said:

But, by faith we eagerly await through the spirit the righteousness for which we hope.  

-Galations 5:5

Paul emphasizes the idea of eagerness further in Romans 8:23

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

 In his book "The Epistle to the Romans," Douglas J. Moo proposes "the word 'eager expectation' suggests the picture of a person craning his or her neck to see what is coming."  I like that picture and I'm going to make the effort to constantly reflect the excitement I have for my saviour, to wait eagerly.

The Eye of a Needle

As I was packing and unpacking for college I couldn't believe the sheer amount of things I owned.  I apparently have something like 35+ pairs of socks.  I could not believe the wealth by which I was surrounded, yet I wouldn't necessarily consider my family "rich".  However, according to some studies (http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1222-04.htm), my family is in the top 2 percentile of the wealthy IN THE WORLD (yours is likely to fall into the same category because over 70 percent of America falls into the top 3 percent).  My family is not only rich, but filthy rich.  I couldn't believe it.  All the clothes and small little items I thought I needed for school... or at all.  I have so many things I could barely fit them all in my family van.  "Why, why do I have all this?" I asked myself again and again.  "Do I really need this?  If I lost it today, would I even notice?"  Once I came to realize the magnitude of my belongings, I felt guilty.  I'm a normal American who always thinks that they need more.  One more pair of shoes, tv, book, table, burger at Mickey D's.  We're deceiving ourselves.  I couldn't help but think that maybe kids in Pakistan could use my extra cash with which I was going to get another shirt.  Or how someone in Chile might be able to use my extra sports sweatshirt.  I have so much, but I realized I wasn't giving any of it away, just accumulating.  How often do we find ourselves doing that, just getting more stuff without getting rid of the old.  I challenge you to find out how many pairs of socks you own (and if you're at college, don't forget to count the ones at home),  how many pairs of shoes you have (do you really need more than one for recreation and one for church?), and how often you go shopping for extra things.
     Am I saying we need to be poor.  No, but I am encouraging you to re-evaluate your own life like I did mine.  I was reminded of a passage in Matthew where Christ talks to the rich young man:

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"  Jesus replied, "Why do you ask me about what is good?  There is only One who is good.  If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."  "Which ones," the man inquired.  Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."  "All these I have kept," the young man said, "What do I still lack?"  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come follow me."    -Matthew 19:16-22

I want to stop there for a moment.  Christ doesn't condemn this guy immediately after he claims to have followed all the commandments.  He doesn't call the young man out and say "look, I'm Jesus so I know everything, and you definitely lied to your friend that one time."  Instead Jesus just challenges him to put his money where his mouth was.  I always think it's funny how many people "claim" to be Christians.  "Yeah I go to church on Easter and Christmas, and I don't swear plus I taught my kids the golden rule."  We all know Christianity is more than that, and we typically view ourselves as being on the inside group.  But, I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is.  Before you buy more clothing, take two items (just two, any two, a shirt, shorts socks, shoes, jewelry, any two), and take them to Salvation Army, or donate them to some other organization, church or anything.  As you search for something to give away, you may struggle.  That's understandable, and brings me to my final point.

 Jesus said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
 -Matthew 19:23-25

I love how Jesus' disciples have the same reaction we likely do today.  If it's impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then how are we going to be saved?  Christ's response should humble us, but also bring us reassurance, hope, and love for Him.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  -Matthew 19:26

It's hard in this world to not be distracted by the things we own; to not let the things we own come to own us.  If we are to inherit the Kingdom of God, we need to keep God at the center, to not let our "busy" lives full of "important" things take our attention away from that which is truly important.  I leave you the challenge I gave above: go through your things and find out what you actually "need."  You'll likely be surprised.  I'll leave you with one more scripture.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  - Mark 10:29-31

Blessings,
MN

Seasons Change

Today's forecast for my hometown was sunny and a high around 80 degrees.  Well, the sun never showed, there was a cool northern breeze, and the temp topped out at just around 70.  I couldn't help but feel that today felt like a true fall day, the first one of the season perhaps.

That got me to thinking about how seasons change, and it is good that seasons change.  Though sometimes it's a struggle to go from sunny and warm days to cooler, darker days, we always make it through and are rewarded with a harvest time where the air is crisp, the colors are glorious, and the smells take us back to childhood.  I have one more day at home before I go off to school again, and I couldn't help but think of the seasons of life.

Ecclesiastes 3 begins by telling the reader about the seasons of life.  There's time for everything.  New friendships, old friendships, summer jobs, family, school, activities, etc.  As I thought about this, it made me a little sad, even annoyed.  Why do we have to go through so many changes?  Make friends, lose them, be with family, go to school, grow at summer camp, struggle at college, but it was then I realized that I shouldn't be sad.  Not sad or angry or scared or anything but joy and anticipation, because behind it all is God's perfect plan.

In Jeremiah 29, we're told about the plans God had/has for his chosen people, Israel, and I can't help but imagine how He has the same types of plans for us:

                            "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 
                             plans to give you hope and a future."

Romans 8 says something similar:

                           "And we know that in all things God works
                            for the good of those who love Him,
                            who have been called according to his pupose."

The seasons of life are part of God's plan for our lives.  We have nothing to fear, mourn, or be agitated at because he's in control.  God grows us through trials and blessing.  This reminded me of Job's situation.
At end of his conversation with the Lord, Job says:

  "I know that you can do all things; 

       no plan of yours can be thwarted.

  You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' 

       Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, 

       things too wonderful for me to know.

  "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; 

       I will question you, 

       and you shall answer me.'

  My ears had heard of you 

       but now my eyes have seen you.

  Therefore I despise myself 

       and repent in dust and ashes."

How silly and arrogant of me to be disgruntled with the changes in life.  Instead, it should be my prayer that God would continually sustain and prepare me for the constant changes He has planned for me, that I might always look to do His perfect will and glorify His name.

My Portion, My Cup

I've been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and it has revolutionized the way I look at my lifestyle.  I highly encourage you to read it.  As I was reading today, I was re-struck (I've been struck by this idea before, but it was brought to the front of my mind again, thus: re-struck) by the idea that God is everything to me and for me.  I wonder how often I forget and get distracted from my Savior.  I found the following Scripture passages enlightening, reassuring, and worthy of my meditation:

Psalm 16
Psalm 63
Lamentations 3
Matthew 6

I love the reoccurring theme that God is everything. He provides, protects, and leads.  He is Just, Loving, and Steadfast.  I pray you are benefitted by these chapters as I am.

P.S.  Chapter videos by Mr. Chan regarding the chapters in "Crazy Love."
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_chapter.html

EDIT:  Crazy Love sells 1 million copies... http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/607314715.html

The First

This is my first post, and the idea of "first" reminded me of a passage in Matthew where Christ speaks about the last will be first in the Kingdom. Just thought I'd throw that out there before I began my post.

Matthew 20:16

This blog is being created for the sole purpose of remaining in touch with all friends who I can't see in person. I like the format of "Blogger" better than "Facebook," this is my compromise. I'll make posts on this when I remember to do so and you, my friends, can respond/comment. YAY.

Let the posts begin.