The Depth of Reflections

I really do love summer, so much. Even when it feels boring and like I am doing the same thing everyday, time away to process and reflect is much needed. Since being home, I made a decision to cut down on social medial use and take an introspective look at my life and my relationship with God. I have taken a break from Pinterest, Tumblr, and other sites for 30 days, of which I am a little over half way through. God has really met me in this time of commitment to reflecting on him. What I have been learning about is, loving his people more. One of the ways that this lesson was enforced was through the book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. I realized that I want to like in a heaven-minded way and to love others I encounter as if they are Jesus, himself.  

            To live in a heaven-minded way, is to become more conscience of the dimension of God and his intimate involvement in the lives of his people. It is easy to push God far away, only letting him into life in the form of the ritual dinner time prayer or a quick word before you fall asleep, and forget that he hears all of our thoughts, knows the desires of our heart, and, more importantly, is walking this journey of life right along side of us. In becoming heaven-minded, we are also becoming God conscience and are then able to reflect and build a relationship with, the person of God, as we move throughout our day. Therefore, opening us to a deeper and more fulfilled relationship with our Creator.

            Secondly, loving others as if they were Jesus is a difficult task and will only come from someone who is heaven-minded. Jesus was the one who noticed the least, the mundane, and the socially unacceptable. This can be exemplified in many ways, but at the core is not being to busy in our daily lives that we seam roll past the people that are a constant part of life. It is doing the dishes that are left behind and forgotten about, even when you will not gain recognition. It is offering a hand to the lady outside of Bed, Bath, and Beyond who is holding her screaming child over one shoulder, her return item in the other, trying to get the attention of her wandering four year-old, and trying to close the trunk of her car. Or, swallowing the urge to take back something that you don’t feel someone truly needs to borrow, and giving it willingly, because you know, in the scope of eternity, it truly doesn’t matter if it is in your possession. Becoming conscience of people and treating them as Jesus, takes much more effort than living out the image/reputation based culture that we live in. Our culture is constantly concerned with how we look and how much we possess. What sets those who love Jesus apart from the world is that second glance and show of grace that we give to the people we encounter.

            Jesus noticed everyone: the short man in the tree, the bleeding woman who touched the fringe of his coat in a crowd, the leper who was entirely covered in diseased, oozing wounds. Jesus proclaims that whatever we do for the least of these is what we are doing directly for him. Tell me, how could we change this world if everyone took a moment to recognize and show grace to the people we encounter in life everyday, weather we feel they are deserving of it or not. It will not always be easy, but love them like Jesus. 

Embrace Weakness

 Coming home to Orange County from the bubbled community that is Westmont, I am again confronted with the image-based society that I live in. Here, everyone puts up fronts, weakness is not embraced but rather, condemned, and everything must look perfect on the outside. I have grown up in this, and held together my shiny outside and performed, seemingly, close to perfection.

In the face of many life-impacting events this semester, I found that I, out of habit, would push feelings down into my core and present a shiny, nothing-bothers me, veneer. However, as all veneers will eventually be worn off to show the less-than-perfect underside, the community of people that Westmont placed around me caused it to get pulled back, little by little.

The mission statement of Page Hall, something that was determined the summer before school began, was: Redeemed by Grace, Rooted in Christ, and Rejoicing in Weakness. Its amazing how God knows what people will need and prepares to meet us in the time where we will need him the most.

It was the third part of this mission statement: Rejoice in Weakness, that was the most vital to my life this semester. 2 Corinthians 12:9 appeared everywhere, once six different times in a week. God’s power is made perfect when we are weak, and if we embrace this, it becomes easier to let the veneer wear off. This is my goal: to be open and not hide the hurt, but rather allow healing to come from God, despite my own weakness.  

Like a Book

             I cannot believe that I am finished with my first year of college. It has been the most exciting, most memorable, hardest, and amazing year of my life.
God answered many of my prayers in brining me to this amazing community of Westmont College and brining into my life some of the best friends I have ever had. I know that I am truly blessed by this.
            Yesterday was the transition, from my freshman dorm, Page, back to home. Although this is sad transition, it is nice to know that the journey is only beginning, rather than ending.
            My roommate and I were talking before we left school, and we decided that college is like a book. It is made of chapters, and each chapter holds a new adventure. It is similar to a book, in that the first chapter (or, in this case, year)  is where you are introduced to the characters. It is in the following chapters, however, once the introductions have been made, where the adventures are able to begin and be more fully embraced. Continuing in this book analogy, then, the summers are like a footnote to the chapters, they allow the good times to be expanded upon.
            In thinking like this, the time away from the community at Westmont will not be sad, rather, it will be an expansion of the experiences and adventures that will be different. Summers will be nice and relaxing, without the parameters of school work. With this mindset, I am looking foreword to enjoying the now and seeing what God has planned for this summer.

Blue Like Jazz

Today I was able to finish a book that I had been reading over the past few weeks, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. You may have heard of it because it was also recently made into a movie.

The book is fantastic. Miller is very honest in his struggle to believe in Christianity and reconcile it with his feelings and experiences in the world. From being raised in the church, in the same way I was, he had grown up experiencing the world through the stereotypes of a typical, sheltered, sometimes, judgmental Christian.

 For those of us that are in the same boat, of being raised with stereotypes, I think this book offers a refreshing perspective on Christian spirituality. I also recommend it to non-believers, because it emphasizes the humanity of us Jesus followers. I think that Christians are sometimes placed on this pedestal, and when we mess up and act like the broken, even stupid humans that we innately are, the world says: See! You are no better than me! Why should I change my beliefs?

It is when we embrace the fact that we are God’s broken masterpiece that we can be true examples to the world of the hope that we have in Jesus. We are still broken and human, but we are set free, in the process of healing, and embrace the purpose that our creator has for us.

I think that this short excerpt from the book says it the best:

            “In a recent radio interview I was sternly asked by the host, who did not consider himself a Christian, to defend Christianity. I told him that I couldn’t do it, and moreover, that I didn’t want to defend the term. He asked me if I was a Christian, and I told him yes. “Then why don’t you want to defend Christianity?” he asked, confused. I told him I no longer knew what the term meant. Of the hundreds of thousands of people listening to his show that day, some of them had terrible experiences with Christianity; they may have been yelled at by a teacher in a Christian school, abused by a minister, or browbeaten by a Christian parent. To them, the term Christianity meant something that no Christian I know would defend. By fortifying the term, I am only making them more and more angry. I won’t do it. Stop ten people on the street and ask them what they think of when they hear the word Christianity, and they will give you ten different answers. How can I defend a term that means ten different things to ten different people? I told the radio show host that I would rather talk about Jesus and how I came to believe that Jesus exists and that he likes me. The host looked back at me with tears in his eyes. When we were done, he asked me if we could go get lunch together. He told me how he didn’t like Christianity but how he had always wanted to believe Jesus was the Son of God.”

~Blue Like Jazz, 115

I am so sorry if a Christian hurt you. Unfortunately, as much as we strive to be, we are not always the best representatives of Christ. However, we are broken masterpieces created with a purpose to bring glory to Christ, despite our weaknesses. I pray that you will meet Jesus and see how he can make your life different; he loves you more than you could ever imagine.

And if you get a chance, read the book, Blue Like Jazz!

Happy Easter!

Today we celebrate the victory that God had over death in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The best part of this victory is that Jesus is alive, even today. I think that sometimes it is easy for us to get caught up in the moment of Jesus being raised from the dead, and almost forget that Jesus is as alive today as you and me are. And, he promises us that he is coming back for us soon!

Before Jesus’ crucifixion, he ate a final meal with his disciples and he foretold the things that were going to happen to him.

Jesus said to them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you may know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-3

Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, where he is preparing a place for each of us. Those of us he takes early in death, have places that were finished early. For the rest of us, Jesus is still working, and he promises that he will be back soon to bring us.

The way to this place, eternity, is through belief in Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior. In Romans it says, if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, then, you will be saved. Jesus has always loved you and wants you, more than anything. Belief in him is the only way to everlasting life.

The first Easter marked the beginning of the free entrance to God’s presence, through the gift and grace of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the grace that God has given to me through Jesus, and the sacrifice that Jesus gave on the cross at Calvary. I cannot wait for the day when I will be united with my Savior. I pray that you all will come to know this grace and be able to spend eternity in the presence of God.

It is Well, With my Soul

It is well; it is well, with my soul

This hymn was written by a man who had just lost his wife and children in an unexpected accident. He wrote it while he was passing by the place where their accident had occurred.

This life is riddled with tragedy of all sorts. Some trials are not as extreme as death, but many things happen that can get the best of us and shift our focus.

This year has been filled with different traces of death for me. My school was impacted by death when senior, Nick Davis, was killed in an accident. My church and friends were impacted by death when, Joel Macurio, was killed in another accident. Most recently, my family was impacted by death when my Aunt Debbie died of cancer on March 25, 2013.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

In thinking about death, what we can see is the hole that these people have left in our lives today. From our point of view, this life is all that we know and can see. Death brings mystery, pain of loss, and sadness for loved ones who feel the loss. But, it also brings hope.

            While the earthly finality of death can bring a shadow of sadness, the hope that Jesus has overcome and conquered death can bring the light of joy.

            While on the cross, facing his own death, Jesus was insulted and mocked. People claimed that he did not have power to save himself; however, Jesus willingly submitted to God’s plan for him and took on death.

            Later, the family and friends of Jesus were morning and void of hope because they believed that Jesus had come to save them—death was not part of the plan. It was a shock, just as it is a shock to loose a loved one for us now. All they had were the memories, the hole where he was missing from their lives, and the final picture of the suffering he underwent before death.

           

            Some women, who were close friends of Jesus, went early the morning of the Sunday after Jesus had died to put some spices his body. When they reached the place where Jesus had been buried, though, the body was not there. Instead, they were greeted by an angel, who proclaimed that Jesus had risen! Later, they encountered the risen Jesus, and were filled with hope and joy from the knowledge that not only was Jesus alive, but so would then, be those who believe in Jesus.

            This is the same hope that we have for those who we have lost today. Their faith and trust in Christ as Lord and Savior enables them to be at home in heaven.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Paul reassures the Corinthian believers that their Christian loved ones, who have passed, are with Christ. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22 “ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

            Although we miss our loved ones and grieve for the place where they were in our lives, we can find hope and solace in knowing that they are alive and waiting for us to return home to heaven. 

Therefore we can say, it is well with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

Always

Growing up, one thing my parents made sure to reiterate to us was the permanence of tattoos and their fairly strong disapproval of tattoos. Being one who was never fond of pain, I have never thought that I would ever voluntarily get one. Plus, my parents would probably have me burned at the stake if I ever came home with one (ok, that’s a little extreme but they would be severely disappointed in me). So when I came home with the word “always” sharpied on my wrist they were clearly not happy.

I started writing always on my wrist about two months ago. I am a second semester college freshman, and this year has been particularly more difficult, in every aspect of life. I will get into more details as this blog progresses, but for now the important thing is that the past year has brought a lot of stressful things in my life in the areas of school, family, and friends. Through it all, God has been teaching me a lot about life and trust. One of the most important things that was imparted to me was Jesus’ final promise on earth, which comes from Matthew 28:20:

Jesus says: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

This is the last thing that resurrected Jesus said to his disciples before he ascended to take his place on the throne at the right hand of God. It is a promise for each and every one of us. Jesus has always been with you, is always with you, and will always be with you.

It became something that was so important to me to remember, that I had to put it in a place where I would see it every second of every day. So that when those inevitably stressful moments arrived I could look down and remember that Jesus was right there with me, and he always would be. With the knowledge that I had Jesus with me there, something that I have always known but have not always taken the care to remember, I have found security and help in carrying the burdens of my life. With Jesus’ help, you do not have to hold on to things alone, and a great weight can be taken off of your shoulders.

I am not sure how much longer I will have the always on my wrist (although, mom and dad, don’t worry I will never get a tattoo), but what I can say confidently is that Jesus will be right here with me, always.