It's my favorite time of week again..... Blogging time!
Good morning ladies. I pray blessings on this week for you!
Many of you do not know that I'm a student at a private, Christian university. This post is in no way going to persuade or dissuade you against any such education; it does matter for context, though. Every single day I am surrounded by Christians and non-Christians alike. Chapel discussions, devotionals, Bible classes: these things and more happen every single day of the week for me. I have a tendency to look at most systems I'm in and notice things. I notice what is done well, but I also notice what isn't done well.
A lot of times, in my experience, I find that a lot of things aimed at teaching the Bible do that. Especially here on campus. We have a phenomenal team of teachers, preachers and students. It is super important that we're learning the Bible. I am learning more verses and history from the Bible than I ever have before and I absolutely love it.
What I find missing, though, is "heart" discussions. I hear a lot of sermons preach against doing certain things. I hear a lot of sermons preach for doing certain things. But I have heard very few sermons preaching the why. In student-led discussions, I hear a lot about what the church should or should not be doing, but I don't hear very much about what we should each change about ourselves.
I think a lot of us have a heart problem. Our minds work quite well, you see. Most of us are capable of discerning situations and knowing, mostly, what the correct thing to do is. We have a lot of our "answers" to different questions already memorized and ready for when someone asks us about our hot topic beliefs. We're like a jack in the box: we get wound up and wound up each time a sermon is taught on this belief and then one day, someone comes up and asks us about the topic and we spring on them with our defenses. We're so thankful we know the answer and won't look like an idiot.
I don't think the Israelites had much of a mind problem either. They knew all the answers. They knew who they needed to turn to and they always knew God was the one throwing circumstances at them. But their problems were heart problems.
The thing about rules is once you know them all, you can find a loop-hole. You can find a way around the system so that what you're doing isn't "necessarily" wrong. When we stop looking at rules and start looking at the way our heart should look, that is no longer a possibility. When the rule says, "Do not cuss," that's all you do; you don't cuss. You know what else you do? You find filler words. You say mean things. You get angry. You tear people down or make jokes that shouldn't be made. The thing is, the Bible doesn't specify "cussing" as the problem.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (ESV).
Matthew 12:36-37 "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (ESV).
These are both addressed to the heart; they give the why not just the what. Because this life is not about rules, it's about living. The Bible is not a rule book, it's more like a script. It's full of a lot more than "Do"s and "Do not"s.
Over the next few weeks I'll be looking at some of the things we see as rules and see how they could be addressed to the heart rather than to our actions.
I love you ladies. I have missed you so very much!
-Kat
"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:11-12 ESV
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Firm Foundations -Kat
Hello ladies!
I have missed you all so very much. The hectic life of a college student is making me feel like a sailor without her sea legs. There hasn't been a whole lot of solid ground to cling to since moving to this new town a little over a month ago.
A few weeks ago, I had a particularly rough week. You know those weeks that seem to be full of bad news and punches to the gut? Yeah, it was one of those.. I felt as though the ground had broken up into little tiny pieces and while my feet were standing on all those pieces, I was sliding around looking for something to hold on to.
One night, I felt super alone. I was about to break down and cry. I don't cry very often, but this night I was on the verge of a hurricane of tears. I just felt lost. I felt conflicted, alone and even a little scared. I kept thinking to myself, "What was I thinking coming to school? I'm not ready for this. I don't know anyone, nobody wants to be my friend and I just don't think this is worth my time." But worst of all was this thought: "I don't want to be here anymore." That thought bounced around in my head for days and I couldn't shake this feeling of insufficiency. I wasn't capable of this, I wasn't able to understand people, I wasn't able to talk to people, I couldn't do any good...
I can't speak for the guys here, but us ladies get really wrapped up in our problems. When we're upset, it feels to us like the entire world is crashing down around us and our shoulders aren't sufficient enough to hold it all.
The truth is: we're not. We weren't designed to carry all of our burdens alone (and neither were men!). We were designed to need each other, and more importantly we were designed to need God.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:30)
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121)
It is hard getting to that rock bottom point, feeling like all you can see around you is insurmountable trials and mountains too high to see over. But it is not until we get to that point that we can learn just how desperately we need God. I need God every single day. Not just on Sundays or Wednesdays or bad days. I need Him now and I will need Him for the rest of my life. I pray today that you all come to that realization as well. I love you dearest sisters. Depend on each other and depend on God a little bit more today than you did yesterday.
God bless,
Kat
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." Psalm 28:7
**All verses in this post come from the English Standard Version (ESV)**
I have missed you all so very much. The hectic life of a college student is making me feel like a sailor without her sea legs. There hasn't been a whole lot of solid ground to cling to since moving to this new town a little over a month ago.
A few weeks ago, I had a particularly rough week. You know those weeks that seem to be full of bad news and punches to the gut? Yeah, it was one of those.. I felt as though the ground had broken up into little tiny pieces and while my feet were standing on all those pieces, I was sliding around looking for something to hold on to.
One night, I felt super alone. I was about to break down and cry. I don't cry very often, but this night I was on the verge of a hurricane of tears. I just felt lost. I felt conflicted, alone and even a little scared. I kept thinking to myself, "What was I thinking coming to school? I'm not ready for this. I don't know anyone, nobody wants to be my friend and I just don't think this is worth my time." But worst of all was this thought: "I don't want to be here anymore." That thought bounced around in my head for days and I couldn't shake this feeling of insufficiency. I wasn't capable of this, I wasn't able to understand people, I wasn't able to talk to people, I couldn't do any good...
I can't speak for the guys here, but us ladies get really wrapped up in our problems. When we're upset, it feels to us like the entire world is crashing down around us and our shoulders aren't sufficient enough to hold it all.
The truth is: we're not. We weren't designed to carry all of our burdens alone (and neither were men!). We were designed to need each other, and more importantly we were designed to need God.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:30)
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121)
It is hard getting to that rock bottom point, feeling like all you can see around you is insurmountable trials and mountains too high to see over. But it is not until we get to that point that we can learn just how desperately we need God. I need God every single day. Not just on Sundays or Wednesdays or bad days. I need Him now and I will need Him for the rest of my life. I pray today that you all come to that realization as well. I love you dearest sisters. Depend on each other and depend on God a little bit more today than you did yesterday.
God bless,
Kat
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." Psalm 28:7
**All verses in this post come from the English Standard Version (ESV)**
Monday, August 11, 2014
Lessons From A Happy Camper -Mia
Hi friends!
Recently, I’ve had the wonderful experience of taking part of a camp at a Christian university. There were many inspiring classes and devotionals, and let me tell you- the Christian fellowship there was absolutely refreshing! So many Christians in one place… It was very encouraging (and you all know I’m all about the encouragement!). I met several strong Christians and was able to look up to some godly examples, and I think we all grew a lot in our faith. I know I learned several important things- I learned much about God and His holiness, but I also learned a lot about myself.
For one, I learned that I have a very hard time saying one very simple little word: “no.” This was a church camp, and thankfully, I came in no contact with temptation to do anything bad, such as drugs or alcohol or anything- I’m not talking about any of that. I’m simply talking about when my friends asked me to do something with them or go somewhere with them or for a favor. And most of the time, it doesn’t really matter- these are small things, and it’s all harmless. But there is a danger of being stretched too thin, sisters, and that’s precisely the situation I found myself in towards the end of the week. I’ll admit it- I really made a mess of things.
I have a feeling I’m not the only one struggling with this issue, friends. Sometimes, we just forget that it’s really okay to just say no- forgetting we have that privilege is very easy to do. But we must remember that we do have a choice- we have other options, sisters! Sometimes, the people we declined will be disappointed, but it’s not the end of the world if we have to say no, and sometimes, we really do have to say no. We can’t do everything, ladies.
I know that’s much easier to say than do. I’ve recently experienced it. The friends I confided in about this certain issue kept telling me “you can say no, you know?” and talking with them was a huge relief. But I realized that when I actually had to go through with it, it was easy to panic and just go along with things. It took an awful lot of psyching myself up to actually stick to my decisions, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without the moral support and advice of my friends. One of my friends told me I should just take a walk, think things over, come to a decision, and not let anyone else convince me otherwise; and that was literally the best advice I received. We need to do that sometimes, sisters- we need to take a break from things to think. That’s the only way we can think clearly. I took her up on that suggestion, and I think it was the only way I got through that day.
But that’s also not the only thing I learned this past week. I also learned it’s best not to judge too quickly. I’m guilty of this often, sisters. Sometimes, upon seeing someone- I haven’t even met them yet!- my mind automatically pegs them as “one of those types.”
People tend to make judgment- especially what the Bible says about it- a controversial subject. No one wants to be judged, and in defense, some will pull out Matthew 7:1, which says “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (ESV) Yes, the Bible says this, but you’ll find that this verse is often pulled out of context. This passage is actually talking about not being hypocritical- taking care of your own sin problems before trying to help out a brother or sister with their issues. In fact, later in that very chapter, Jesus goes on to say “You will recognize them by their fruits” in verse 16. This implies that we actually are supposed to “judge”- and I use this term loosely- people, BUT we are supposed to judge by ACTIONS, not by appearances.
But I’m not talking about judging people for their sin- most of the time, I’m just passing them off as an athletic person, or a prissy girl, or a smart kid, or some stereotype along that line. I’m not condemning the person in any way, or even saying the way they come across is bad, but I am forming an image of them in my mind, and I’ve found that more often than not, I’m wrong about them.
And, actually, this does go back to judging by actions instead of appearances. Appearances are often deceiving- I definitely learned that during camp. People are always deeper than the stereotype they’re placed into, even if they don’t know it themselves. There are those people, even once you get to know them, that actually do seem to fit the stereotype perfectly, but, as the old saying goes, until you’ve “walked a mile in their shoes,” then you really can’t “peg” them as a certain type of person accurately. And trust me- it’s pretty shocking when you realize you’ve been wrong about them all along.
Anyway, during that week, I learned one last vital thing, summed up in five simple words. You can make a difference. Yeah- I know we’ve all heard it before. We’ve all seen it before. If you’ve ever been a part of a huge gathering of Christians in one place… it’s spectacular! In a crowd like that, it’s easy to believe you could just march outside and change the world. If we have unity as children of God, we’re unstoppable! But… that’s not what I’m talking about here.
You can make a difference. Alone. You don’t have to have a huge group, or a following, or a network of people to make a difference. Those things help, sure, but they aren’t necessary. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes, sisters, I feel lost in the crowd. I’ll admit- most of my friends are Christians. I’m constantly surrounded by strong examples and wonderful people willing to give it all for God- which, don’t get me wrong, is great! But it’s easy to get so overwhelmed and forget that we can make a difference on our own too.
“Making a difference” can be interpreted so many different ways, sisters. Sure, ending world hunger would definitely be making a HUGE difference! But I think we forget sometimes that if we make someone smile or do someone a favor or do anything to show God’s love in someone’s life, we’re making a difference in that person’s life. It’s not a spectacular show or a huge change, but I’m willing to bet that it means as much to that person as ending world hunger would.
I’m not saying that we can’t do anything spectacular or huge by ourselves- hey, the vote of one random guy made Texas a state (I won’t go into it here, but that’s an amazing story if you ever want to look it up- it’s true, too)! But I am saying that the little things definitely count! Sometimes in church, we’ll sing the song “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” That’s doable for anyone, ladies! It’s easy! And it’s making a difference.
I hope you all have a wonderful next week!
Mia
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Character Sketches with Kat: Joseph
I would venture to say most of us know the story of Jesus' birth. Christian or not, if you lived in a developed country the chances are in your favor that you've at least heard the story of the virgin Mary who gave birth to Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Mary was a woman very strong in her faith; we know this because she responded to God's call out of humility. She was probably afraid and she certainly didn't fully understand the reality of the situation she was being put in (how often do we really understand the weight of the decisions we make?) but she went for it anyways. She was, without a doubt, someone to learn from. (Read about Mary in Luke chapters 1 and 2)
But today, I want to look at another part of the story. Maybe it's just me, but I never really thought about Joseph much. I always knew he was betrothed to Mary before she conceived Jesus. I also knew that Joseph could have easily annulled their betrothal on grounds that Mary was pregnant and therefor "not a virgin." (if you read in Luke chapter 1, you'd know Mary was, in fact a virgin. However, people aren't impregnated as virgins every day so this would have been an easy misunderstanding) But I never really thought it all the way through.
You see, Joseph is not a main focus for most people. "What did he do?" You might ask; but if it's me you're asking, I'd argue Joseph was just as much of an example to us as Mary is.
I spent some time looking through Jesus' genealogy as it is listed in the beginning of Matthew and I stumbled across the name Boaz. If you remember the story of Ruth, Boaz is the man who took Ruth as his wife. Boaz did everything in his power to take care of this woman he witnessed working hard for the sake of her mother-in-law. There's no doubt that there was some sacrifice in the things Boaz did for Ruth; including his marriage to her. But he was happy to do it because he saw a woman who worked hard and he valued her and the work ethic she displayed.
I don't know if it was intended this way, but that is very similar to what I see Joseph did for Mary. Joseph was not going to publically annul his betrothal to Mary because, as Matthew says, he was "a righteous man..not wanting to disgrace her." Joseph knew that pointing Mary out in front of others for her sins was not the best way to handle the situation. Sometimes, I am tempted to "get even" with someone by telling everybody else what they did wrong. But is that really the attitude I should adopt? I don't think so.
That aside, there's also the example Joseph sets to follow God. In the end, Joseph didn't even secretly annul their betrothal. Once an angel of the Lord came to Joseph and told him not to leave Mary, Joseph didn't even consider the thought. Instead, Joseph took Mary in to take care of her and her child (Matthew 1:24). And during Jesus' early childhood, Joseph paid close attention to the words of God. When King Herod heard of Jesus, he was out for blood. God literally called to Joseph in the middle of the night to leave and Joseph got up and left, he didn't wait for morning or wait to look for a job first (Matthew 1:14). Joseph knew the only security he needed was God.
Joseph was righteous, humble and he trusted God to lead his life. Although Joseph may not be credited with a whole lot when we tell the story of Jesus' birth, he was a man worthy of giving credit to. Even "small characters" make an impact, so don't be afraid to be the small character in some stories.
I love you sisters!
Kat
Mary was a woman very strong in her faith; we know this because she responded to God's call out of humility. She was probably afraid and she certainly didn't fully understand the reality of the situation she was being put in (how often do we really understand the weight of the decisions we make?) but she went for it anyways. She was, without a doubt, someone to learn from. (Read about Mary in Luke chapters 1 and 2)
But today, I want to look at another part of the story. Maybe it's just me, but I never really thought about Joseph much. I always knew he was betrothed to Mary before she conceived Jesus. I also knew that Joseph could have easily annulled their betrothal on grounds that Mary was pregnant and therefor "not a virgin." (if you read in Luke chapter 1, you'd know Mary was, in fact a virgin. However, people aren't impregnated as virgins every day so this would have been an easy misunderstanding) But I never really thought it all the way through.
You see, Joseph is not a main focus for most people. "What did he do?" You might ask; but if it's me you're asking, I'd argue Joseph was just as much of an example to us as Mary is.
I spent some time looking through Jesus' genealogy as it is listed in the beginning of Matthew and I stumbled across the name Boaz. If you remember the story of Ruth, Boaz is the man who took Ruth as his wife. Boaz did everything in his power to take care of this woman he witnessed working hard for the sake of her mother-in-law. There's no doubt that there was some sacrifice in the things Boaz did for Ruth; including his marriage to her. But he was happy to do it because he saw a woman who worked hard and he valued her and the work ethic she displayed.
I don't know if it was intended this way, but that is very similar to what I see Joseph did for Mary. Joseph was not going to publically annul his betrothal to Mary because, as Matthew says, he was "a righteous man..not wanting to disgrace her." Joseph knew that pointing Mary out in front of others for her sins was not the best way to handle the situation. Sometimes, I am tempted to "get even" with someone by telling everybody else what they did wrong. But is that really the attitude I should adopt? I don't think so.
That aside, there's also the example Joseph sets to follow God. In the end, Joseph didn't even secretly annul their betrothal. Once an angel of the Lord came to Joseph and told him not to leave Mary, Joseph didn't even consider the thought. Instead, Joseph took Mary in to take care of her and her child (Matthew 1:24). And during Jesus' early childhood, Joseph paid close attention to the words of God. When King Herod heard of Jesus, he was out for blood. God literally called to Joseph in the middle of the night to leave and Joseph got up and left, he didn't wait for morning or wait to look for a job first (Matthew 1:14). Joseph knew the only security he needed was God.
Joseph was righteous, humble and he trusted God to lead his life. Although Joseph may not be credited with a whole lot when we tell the story of Jesus' birth, he was a man worthy of giving credit to. Even "small characters" make an impact, so don't be afraid to be the small character in some stories.
I love you sisters!
Kat
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Back to the Basics -Kat
I'm glad to see you all this week!
The generation I've grown up in boasts athletics. That may not exactly be "new," I haven't checked the demographics of athleticism, but I do know how my generation has treated it. Everybody is working towards a scholarship to play some sport at some school. They spend hours upon hours practicing, playing, and talking about their sport.
My only experience as an athlete was in my high school marching band. Think what you will about the sport, but the way we practiced was not any different than the way other athletes practiced and that's all that matters for this point I have to make. It has been drilled into me that the details matter. You have got to know your technique backwards and forwards or your entire set of movements will be thrown off. There's no getting around it. Sport teams practice to win, which means they don't take a practice lightly. You have to practice the way you'd play in a game.
Humans, by nature, run on familiarity. Some of us are more methodically or routinely oriented than others (I'm a bit in the extreme) but each and every one of us is wired to like familiarity in some form. That's why when it comes to the "Real Deal," you have to already be trained in the small things. If you already know how to kick the soccer ball, your body won't be trying to figure out what angle to kick it as you're trying to figure out who you're passing to. If you can play your scales, your fingers won't be trying to make the jump from a C to a D flat while you're remembering the 16th notes coming in 4 measures.
If we're all used to this idea that we fall back on our habits, why do we not often value the habits of reading our bibles? Why don't we understand that having an open and honest prayer relationship with God serves to better our entire lives? So many of those athletes I know are Christians. And yet they find they are "too busy" to read their bibles or pray on a regular basis. Myself included! Sometimes, I just don't think I really need to work on my habit of daily reading. But you know what? If I don't work to make it a habit it will not become a habit. If I don't make the conscious effort to work on the little things, those little things won't be what I fall back on when I need to.
I hope you work on going back to the basics this week. Work with me to get back to studying your bible and praying.
I love you all!
Kat
"'For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.'" Luke 6:43-45
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." Anonymous (I've seen this quote with credit attributed to several different people, but I really couldn't tell you who said it first.)
The generation I've grown up in boasts athletics. That may not exactly be "new," I haven't checked the demographics of athleticism, but I do know how my generation has treated it. Everybody is working towards a scholarship to play some sport at some school. They spend hours upon hours practicing, playing, and talking about their sport.
My only experience as an athlete was in my high school marching band. Think what you will about the sport, but the way we practiced was not any different than the way other athletes practiced and that's all that matters for this point I have to make. It has been drilled into me that the details matter. You have got to know your technique backwards and forwards or your entire set of movements will be thrown off. There's no getting around it. Sport teams practice to win, which means they don't take a practice lightly. You have to practice the way you'd play in a game.
Humans, by nature, run on familiarity. Some of us are more methodically or routinely oriented than others (I'm a bit in the extreme) but each and every one of us is wired to like familiarity in some form. That's why when it comes to the "Real Deal," you have to already be trained in the small things. If you already know how to kick the soccer ball, your body won't be trying to figure out what angle to kick it as you're trying to figure out who you're passing to. If you can play your scales, your fingers won't be trying to make the jump from a C to a D flat while you're remembering the 16th notes coming in 4 measures.
If we're all used to this idea that we fall back on our habits, why do we not often value the habits of reading our bibles? Why don't we understand that having an open and honest prayer relationship with God serves to better our entire lives? So many of those athletes I know are Christians. And yet they find they are "too busy" to read their bibles or pray on a regular basis. Myself included! Sometimes, I just don't think I really need to work on my habit of daily reading. But you know what? If I don't work to make it a habit it will not become a habit. If I don't make the conscious effort to work on the little things, those little things won't be what I fall back on when I need to.
I hope you work on going back to the basics this week. Work with me to get back to studying your bible and praying.
I love you all!
Kat
"'For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.'" Luke 6:43-45
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." Anonymous (I've seen this quote with credit attributed to several different people, but I really couldn't tell you who said it first.)
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
A Servant's Heart -Kat
"The highest position we can have within the kingdom of God holds a simple title: Servant."
These words (only altered slightly so as to make more sense to you all out of the context of the sermon) hit me square in the forehead one morning during my preacher's sermon.
Of course, I had heard it before. Several times, even! Not in so many words, but the idea has been said to me so many times, I couldn't count. Jesus actually said this first: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14b). Or later Paul says in Romans 12:3 "..I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think." For someone like me, that's not a hard thing to take in. I have had the high title before. Though I got through it and was commended on my leadership skills, it is not a place I want to be in anytime soon. In fact, my favorite part about being a leader had nothing to do with the orders I gave out or the credit I was given for leading such a large group of people. My favorite part of leading was serving. I absolutely love to be behind the scenes, working my fingers to the bone and doing everything I can to bring the little details as close together as possible so that everything looks seamless. I can't get enough of that.
But.
I know you were waiting to hear that word. ;)
I love that job, however I don't think I even fully understood what it means to be a servant in the Lord's kingdom until a couple of weeks ago.
When I heard "servant," I thought of a man (or woman..) in a suit with silly penguin tails and holding a silver serving tray and standing silently in the corner until summoned. I may have thought of a waiter in a given restaurant as a servant to their customers; they juggle a lot of responsibility to make guests' experiences as nice as possible.
And then I went to camp. I would have loved to post about camp but something about that didn't feel right. I will say though, that camp this year was really eye opening. Our theme was Before His Throne and if I ever went to a camp where the theme meant something, this was it. The line that stuck with me was this: "You can not come before the throne of God and leave an unchanged person." Wow!
That's when I realized that the things I'd been wanting to fix, but hadn't fixed yet, were not getting fixed because I wasn't allowing myself to be changed by my experience before God's throne. I have since tried to change those things. Things like trusting God with my future, reading my Bible every single day, praying even more frequently than I thought would be "standard.."
I have since delved into my Bible and in the past two weeks alone, my entire view of things has changed. Including how I see being a servant. 1 and 2 Samuel is where I decided to start, and I'm glad I did because it's entirely applicable and it helped me to understand this point.
David started as a servant. Did you know the best leaders are also the best servers? David eventually came to be King. And many times, David and his servants were thrust into these difficult circumstances (much like we are faced with today). Each time, David turned to God and said (I'm paraphrasing here. Please, please read this for yourself!!) "I am your servant, I will do what you're telling me to do. This is hard, that is scary, I don't really know 'what's what' but I am your servant and I trust you." In another instance, a man who had literally become David's servant the day before picked his whole life up to follow David as he fled from his son Absalom. Observe: "Then the king said to Ittai the Gimmite, 'Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where?..' But Ittai answered the king, 'As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be'" (2 Samuel 15:18-22).
Mary had to have been scared to death when the angel of the Lord told her she'd conceive and give birth to a child. She was a virgin, she was young, and she stood to lose a lot if her integrity was seen as lost. "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38)
Ruth had just lost her father-in-law, brother-in-law and husband. Naomi urged her to return home because she would have to find a way to take care of herself and there was no way she could promise to have the means to take care of her daughter-in-law as well. But Ruth stayed. She stayed knowing that Naomi could not promise to take care of her. Knowing that she'd have to move to another new place, one where she would be a foreigner. These famous words were spoken by Ruth: "'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God'" (Ruth 1:16).
A servant is not a passive person waiting to be called on and told what to do. We don't sit in the corner in silence, nor do we always just 'do as we're told'. Servants trust. They act on integrity. They know what is right and they don't even think about hesitating to take up the challenges they're given.
This is the highest position we can take in the Lord's Kingdom.
Ladies, pull up your chairs at the servant's table and get ready for whatever is thrown your way. It will be a lot, but you will be rewarded.
Kat
"It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:19
*All verses were taken from the English Standard Version*
These words (only altered slightly so as to make more sense to you all out of the context of the sermon) hit me square in the forehead one morning during my preacher's sermon.
Of course, I had heard it before. Several times, even! Not in so many words, but the idea has been said to me so many times, I couldn't count. Jesus actually said this first: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14b). Or later Paul says in Romans 12:3 "..I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think." For someone like me, that's not a hard thing to take in. I have had the high title before. Though I got through it and was commended on my leadership skills, it is not a place I want to be in anytime soon. In fact, my favorite part about being a leader had nothing to do with the orders I gave out or the credit I was given for leading such a large group of people. My favorite part of leading was serving. I absolutely love to be behind the scenes, working my fingers to the bone and doing everything I can to bring the little details as close together as possible so that everything looks seamless. I can't get enough of that.
But.
I know you were waiting to hear that word. ;)
I love that job, however I don't think I even fully understood what it means to be a servant in the Lord's kingdom until a couple of weeks ago.
When I heard "servant," I thought of a man (or woman..) in a suit with silly penguin tails and holding a silver serving tray and standing silently in the corner until summoned. I may have thought of a waiter in a given restaurant as a servant to their customers; they juggle a lot of responsibility to make guests' experiences as nice as possible.
And then I went to camp. I would have loved to post about camp but something about that didn't feel right. I will say though, that camp this year was really eye opening. Our theme was Before His Throne and if I ever went to a camp where the theme meant something, this was it. The line that stuck with me was this: "You can not come before the throne of God and leave an unchanged person." Wow!
That's when I realized that the things I'd been wanting to fix, but hadn't fixed yet, were not getting fixed because I wasn't allowing myself to be changed by my experience before God's throne. I have since tried to change those things. Things like trusting God with my future, reading my Bible every single day, praying even more frequently than I thought would be "standard.."
I have since delved into my Bible and in the past two weeks alone, my entire view of things has changed. Including how I see being a servant. 1 and 2 Samuel is where I decided to start, and I'm glad I did because it's entirely applicable and it helped me to understand this point.
David started as a servant. Did you know the best leaders are also the best servers? David eventually came to be King. And many times, David and his servants were thrust into these difficult circumstances (much like we are faced with today). Each time, David turned to God and said (I'm paraphrasing here. Please, please read this for yourself!!) "I am your servant, I will do what you're telling me to do. This is hard, that is scary, I don't really know 'what's what' but I am your servant and I trust you." In another instance, a man who had literally become David's servant the day before picked his whole life up to follow David as he fled from his son Absalom. Observe: "Then the king said to Ittai the Gimmite, 'Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where?..' But Ittai answered the king, 'As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be'" (2 Samuel 15:18-22).
Mary had to have been scared to death when the angel of the Lord told her she'd conceive and give birth to a child. She was a virgin, she was young, and she stood to lose a lot if her integrity was seen as lost. "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38)
Ruth had just lost her father-in-law, brother-in-law and husband. Naomi urged her to return home because she would have to find a way to take care of herself and there was no way she could promise to have the means to take care of her daughter-in-law as well. But Ruth stayed. She stayed knowing that Naomi could not promise to take care of her. Knowing that she'd have to move to another new place, one where she would be a foreigner. These famous words were spoken by Ruth: "'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God'" (Ruth 1:16).
A servant is not a passive person waiting to be called on and told what to do. We don't sit in the corner in silence, nor do we always just 'do as we're told'. Servants trust. They act on integrity. They know what is right and they don't even think about hesitating to take up the challenges they're given.
This is the highest position we can take in the Lord's Kingdom.
Ladies, pull up your chairs at the servant's table and get ready for whatever is thrown your way. It will be a lot, but you will be rewarded.
Kat
"It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:19
*All verses were taken from the English Standard Version*
Monday, July 14, 2014
Elementary, My Dear! -Kat
Ladies, ladies, ladies
Can I be honest with you all for today? There is something about a best friend that I yearn for. You see, there are a lot of people out there who have great best friends. You may be one of those, and I honestly pray that if you aren't right now you will be one day. I, unfortunately, haven't always been one of those people. Even right now, I'm trying to understand how a best friend relationship works. I can count on two hands the number of best friends that I've had over the years and of those friends, only a couple have truly shown to be sincere best friends.
In the last six months alone: I have had to examine an unhealthy friendship with a best friend; I've had a best friend decide she didn't want to be friends anymore (and didn't want to tell me that, either..); I've had what I thought was a new best friend who apparently didn't feel as close to me as I did to him; and I've looked back through my childhood and found that "best friends" really made fun of me behind my back. "Best friends" wanted to put hurdles in my path because they didn't like where I was going.
Does that make it easier for you all to understand how much I long for a "Kirk and Spock" friendship? For a brotherhood like that of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson? Dr. House and James Wilson; Corey and Shawn; Dawson and Pacey.... Boy this list is unending.
These guys literally had each others' backs through everything. I mean, a couple of them put their lives in the hands of their best friends and trusted they were safe there. Would you guys believe me if I told you there was a friendship like this in the Bible? I can't tell you all how exciting this was to me when I learned of these two. (Side note: I realize there are more examples than this one, but this is the one I found and have since fallen in love with! I would enjoy reading all the other examples; I encourage you to drop me a comment with another example and where their story can be read. :) )
The post today will be a little more interactive than my posts usually are. For starters, you should open your Bible to the book of 1 Samuel and read chapter 18 verses 1 through 5. We're introduced here to David and Jonathan; the first thing I notice is how quickly the two were bound to each other as friends. They met, became friends, and quite literally bound themselves to each other (through a covenant which is kind of like saying a promise, agreement, or contract). This is more than a skin-deep matter. They are bound by the soul- you can't break that type of a bond you guys! Nothing could tear these two apart!
Moving right along with their story, you should skip down to 1 Samuel 19. Here we read just how good of friends David and Jonathan really were. Saul, Jonathan's father, was the king of Israel. For those of you who don't already know this, kings are powerful men. When a king tells you to do something, you have to do it; there is virtually no way out of it! So when Saul orders all of his servants and his son Jonathan to kill David, imagine what Jonathan was put through! His own father, and the king, was ordering him to kill his brother: his best friend, the guy he promised before God to be there for. What would you have done in that situation? For me, I hope I would do what Jonathan did.
Jonathan respected his father and did everything he could to diffuse the situation peaceably. He did what he could to save face of all three men: himself, his father and David. It works at first, but then Saul is overcome once again with an angry spirit and David is forced to talk to Jonathan about it. 1 Samuel 20 is the highlight of this story for me. This chronicles the exchange between Jonathan and David. We see that Jonathan can't imagine this evil coming from his father, but he also knows he must protect David at great costs. He wants to believe his father is still a noble and righteous man, but he knows that David is an honest man. So they come to an agreement. David looks to bring out an honest response from Saul while Jonathan looks to prove to David that all is well. The chess board has been set and all that is left is a game of quick wit. Much to Jonathan's surprise, David was right and Saul was out for blood.
Side note: Have you ever pushed your mom's or dad's buttons too far? I remember one time when I was younger I was bugging my mom (for who knows what reason) and I eventually bugged her to the point she said words to me I never thought I'd hear come out of her mouth. If that's happened to you, you know how much it hurts. It honestly scared me to silence! Imagine being told, "'You son (or daughter) of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.'" (1 Samuel 20:30b-31)
To my astonishment, Jonathan wasn't scared silent by this. Instead, he responded with confidence. He asked his father very plainly what David had done. Saul, being that he was overcome with this evil spirit didn't have an answer for that but rather he attempted to kill Jonathan. Wow... Talk about scary and hurtful!
Now, men today aren't very big on showing affection for one another. I have noticed more recently that many Christian men are better about this than those outside of the church but even with that being said, it doesn't seem to be very often that guys show affection to each other. Jonathan and David wept together. Let me say that again, they wept together. Jonathan didn't stand beside David awkwardly patting him on the back as he shed tears of grief. He didn't tell David to get off of him when he kissed him. They grieved together. They were still bound to each other. (See 1 Samuel 20:41-42.)
I don't cry very often, but I would like to know that if I were crying, my best friend would be right there with. me. Not beside me, not rubbing my back but feeling awkward to witness this, not distracted by his/her cell phone. I want to feel with my best friend. I want to be there with that person, just as I want them to be there with me.
Ladies: please, please, please take this lesson to heart. We people were made to have and share emotions. There is nothing "natural" about hiding our tears or our joys. We have to work with each other. Pray for each other this week; I will be praying for you!
With the love of the Lord,
Kat
Can I be honest with you all for today? There is something about a best friend that I yearn for. You see, there are a lot of people out there who have great best friends. You may be one of those, and I honestly pray that if you aren't right now you will be one day. I, unfortunately, haven't always been one of those people. Even right now, I'm trying to understand how a best friend relationship works. I can count on two hands the number of best friends that I've had over the years and of those friends, only a couple have truly shown to be sincere best friends.
In the last six months alone: I have had to examine an unhealthy friendship with a best friend; I've had a best friend decide she didn't want to be friends anymore (and didn't want to tell me that, either..); I've had what I thought was a new best friend who apparently didn't feel as close to me as I did to him; and I've looked back through my childhood and found that "best friends" really made fun of me behind my back. "Best friends" wanted to put hurdles in my path because they didn't like where I was going.
Does that make it easier for you all to understand how much I long for a "Kirk and Spock" friendship? For a brotherhood like that of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson? Dr. House and James Wilson; Corey and Shawn; Dawson and Pacey.... Boy this list is unending.
These guys literally had each others' backs through everything. I mean, a couple of them put their lives in the hands of their best friends and trusted they were safe there. Would you guys believe me if I told you there was a friendship like this in the Bible? I can't tell you all how exciting this was to me when I learned of these two. (Side note: I realize there are more examples than this one, but this is the one I found and have since fallen in love with! I would enjoy reading all the other examples; I encourage you to drop me a comment with another example and where their story can be read. :) )
The post today will be a little more interactive than my posts usually are. For starters, you should open your Bible to the book of 1 Samuel and read chapter 18 verses 1 through 5. We're introduced here to David and Jonathan; the first thing I notice is how quickly the two were bound to each other as friends. They met, became friends, and quite literally bound themselves to each other (through a covenant which is kind of like saying a promise, agreement, or contract). This is more than a skin-deep matter. They are bound by the soul- you can't break that type of a bond you guys! Nothing could tear these two apart!
Moving right along with their story, you should skip down to 1 Samuel 19. Here we read just how good of friends David and Jonathan really were. Saul, Jonathan's father, was the king of Israel. For those of you who don't already know this, kings are powerful men. When a king tells you to do something, you have to do it; there is virtually no way out of it! So when Saul orders all of his servants and his son Jonathan to kill David, imagine what Jonathan was put through! His own father, and the king, was ordering him to kill his brother: his best friend, the guy he promised before God to be there for. What would you have done in that situation? For me, I hope I would do what Jonathan did.
Jonathan respected his father and did everything he could to diffuse the situation peaceably. He did what he could to save face of all three men: himself, his father and David. It works at first, but then Saul is overcome once again with an angry spirit and David is forced to talk to Jonathan about it. 1 Samuel 20 is the highlight of this story for me. This chronicles the exchange between Jonathan and David. We see that Jonathan can't imagine this evil coming from his father, but he also knows he must protect David at great costs. He wants to believe his father is still a noble and righteous man, but he knows that David is an honest man. So they come to an agreement. David looks to bring out an honest response from Saul while Jonathan looks to prove to David that all is well. The chess board has been set and all that is left is a game of quick wit. Much to Jonathan's surprise, David was right and Saul was out for blood.
Side note: Have you ever pushed your mom's or dad's buttons too far? I remember one time when I was younger I was bugging my mom (for who knows what reason) and I eventually bugged her to the point she said words to me I never thought I'd hear come out of her mouth. If that's happened to you, you know how much it hurts. It honestly scared me to silence! Imagine being told, "'You son (or daughter) of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.'" (1 Samuel 20:30b-31)
To my astonishment, Jonathan wasn't scared silent by this. Instead, he responded with confidence. He asked his father very plainly what David had done. Saul, being that he was overcome with this evil spirit didn't have an answer for that but rather he attempted to kill Jonathan. Wow... Talk about scary and hurtful!
Now, men today aren't very big on showing affection for one another. I have noticed more recently that many Christian men are better about this than those outside of the church but even with that being said, it doesn't seem to be very often that guys show affection to each other. Jonathan and David wept together. Let me say that again, they wept together. Jonathan didn't stand beside David awkwardly patting him on the back as he shed tears of grief. He didn't tell David to get off of him when he kissed him. They grieved together. They were still bound to each other. (See 1 Samuel 20:41-42.)
I don't cry very often, but I would like to know that if I were crying, my best friend would be right there with. me. Not beside me, not rubbing my back but feeling awkward to witness this, not distracted by his/her cell phone. I want to feel with my best friend. I want to be there with that person, just as I want them to be there with me.
Ladies: please, please, please take this lesson to heart. We people were made to have and share emotions. There is nothing "natural" about hiding our tears or our joys. We have to work with each other. Pray for each other this week; I will be praying for you!
With the love of the Lord,
Kat
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