I am humble...there, I said it...but now am I not humble because I said I was humble?...maybe now I am humble since I admitted to not being humble...but is being humble admitting that you are not humble?...if you think you are humble does that mean you are not humble?...is it just me or is the word humble starting to sound weird?
What does it mean to be humble?
Picture this..."I am humble...I am worth nothing, I have no strengths, I am useless and disgusting and I am nothing but dirt compared to God."
Now picture this..."I am humble...I know I am a sinner, I have no right to grace in light of who I am compared to God, I know my strengths, but I also know my weaknesses."
Which "humble person" sounds like they have a healthy relationship with God? See, being humble is not so much about having a state of mind of lowliness all the time so much as knowing what you are and who God is...but most importantly what he has done for you. That may throw you a little bit, but take a look aaallllll the way back to Isaiah 53 and see what a prophecy of Jesus says.
"He was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way, He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weakness he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down."
This may cause you to ask the question "what does this have to do with humility???" But understand that the author wrote this passage in military terms. Jesus in the surrounding verses and chapters is the Messiah who comes like a king leading the battle and destroys EVERYTHING that is evil and sin. Pretty epic huh?
But he also comes saving everything worth saving. Think about it...we see soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan who give up their lives for their fellow soldiers and we think "wow, what a humble hero!" and in good light.
Jesus came to take the bullet for all of his creation...and he is the commander and chief of the army. Not only did he die, "he was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word." Jesus was humble.
So sure, it's easy to call Jesus humble because he's Jesus and you know, perfect. So how can we call ourselves humble. I think being humble is knowing that you are a sinner, and yes, deserving of no grace. But grace is why we can be humble...because we know that we did nothing to earn or deserve redemption. You can be humble by knowing your strengths and weaknesses...as God made you to...in order to live a healthy Christian life and have a healthy relationship with God. We can be humble by knowing who we are in light of all that God is.
" And when he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all of their sins."
Isaiah 53:11
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Don't pray your will
I've learned a lot this past year when it comes to prayer, and not the easy way. For some reason my prayers always go like this..." God, forgive me my sins, thank you for all you have done, now can you just....?" I don't want to let on that my prayers are always selfish, because at times they really are! But when i go through really hard times, i always pray for God to take me away from my troubles and to save me, so on, so on. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing horrible about asking God for some help...but is it God's will? or yours?
In Haggai, the Israelites are attempting to rebuild the temple, God promises them that he will shake the heavens and the earth, and to the Israelites, the promise of glory into the new house (vs.7) seems like the glory of the temple they are rebuilding will be greater than before. But this prophecy was never fulfilled in their time. Haggai promised the people that that there would be a time when nations would bring their treasures to Israel, the new temple would be more glorious and peace would reign. But this was never fulfilled in their lives. I'm very sure that the Israelites were angry that after all they had been through, and after all the time they had spent waiting and praying for God to bring peace and glory, it never came.
...hundreds of years later...Jesus told his disciples, while looking down at that rebuilt temple, that he was and is the glory of God, he is the new temple and all of the nations bring their treasures to him, and in him, we receive peace.
when I pray, I ask God to provide, or to bless, to take care of the situation I am in. I know the greatness of my God and that he is capable of these things, and I pray these for strength and relief, but now I'm asking why my prayers and most likely yours, never end with "My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as i will, but as you will."(Matthew 26:39) Why do we constantly pray our will and not God's? Did we ever stop to think that God is trying to teach us something, make us stronger by pushing us. After all, it is when we face struggle and pain that we are closest to God, because we are solely dependent on him.
How frustrated those Israelites must have been! Don't think that rebuilding a flipping massive temple was easy work, along with attacks from other people, fear and a serious lack of motivation. But who were they building for? Who did they put their trust in? Did they ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe God was putting them through all of this to bring them back together as his nation? To get their priorities straight? To bring them back to him? And he is the same God that we are praying to.
The only real promise of answer to prayer in the New Testament is found in Philippians 4:7. It is not an answer of blessing or prosperity, not even really any promise of a request granted at all. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God doesn't promise to give us an easy, blissful life once we submit to his will, and he's not a pot of gold we can tip over to have a prosperous, happy life. He does, however, promise peace, not the kind of peace that comes from the lack of sorrow or hurt or trial, but the peace that we have in a future with him, and knowing his will is far more superior then ours, whatever his will may be, and he is in control and has a plan.
God promised the Israelites peace, and they got it when Jesus took the cup God had given him, because ultimately, he wanted God's will to be done, and not his own. All the glory to God.
God promises peace, his peace, his son.
"Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for i am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant i made with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the Lord of Hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, i will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And i will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and i will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts...and i will give peace, declares the Lord of Hosts."
Haggai 2:4-9
In Haggai, the Israelites are attempting to rebuild the temple, God promises them that he will shake the heavens and the earth, and to the Israelites, the promise of glory into the new house (vs.7) seems like the glory of the temple they are rebuilding will be greater than before. But this prophecy was never fulfilled in their time. Haggai promised the people that that there would be a time when nations would bring their treasures to Israel, the new temple would be more glorious and peace would reign. But this was never fulfilled in their lives. I'm very sure that the Israelites were angry that after all they had been through, and after all the time they had spent waiting and praying for God to bring peace and glory, it never came.
...hundreds of years later...Jesus told his disciples, while looking down at that rebuilt temple, that he was and is the glory of God, he is the new temple and all of the nations bring their treasures to him, and in him, we receive peace.
when I pray, I ask God to provide, or to bless, to take care of the situation I am in. I know the greatness of my God and that he is capable of these things, and I pray these for strength and relief, but now I'm asking why my prayers and most likely yours, never end with "My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as i will, but as you will."(Matthew 26:39) Why do we constantly pray our will and not God's? Did we ever stop to think that God is trying to teach us something, make us stronger by pushing us. After all, it is when we face struggle and pain that we are closest to God, because we are solely dependent on him.
How frustrated those Israelites must have been! Don't think that rebuilding a flipping massive temple was easy work, along with attacks from other people, fear and a serious lack of motivation. But who were they building for? Who did they put their trust in? Did they ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe God was putting them through all of this to bring them back together as his nation? To get their priorities straight? To bring them back to him? And he is the same God that we are praying to.
The only real promise of answer to prayer in the New Testament is found in Philippians 4:7. It is not an answer of blessing or prosperity, not even really any promise of a request granted at all. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God doesn't promise to give us an easy, blissful life once we submit to his will, and he's not a pot of gold we can tip over to have a prosperous, happy life. He does, however, promise peace, not the kind of peace that comes from the lack of sorrow or hurt or trial, but the peace that we have in a future with him, and knowing his will is far more superior then ours, whatever his will may be, and he is in control and has a plan.
God promised the Israelites peace, and they got it when Jesus took the cup God had given him, because ultimately, he wanted God's will to be done, and not his own. All the glory to God.
God promises peace, his peace, his son.
"Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for i am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant i made with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the Lord of Hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, i will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And i will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and i will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts...and i will give peace, declares the Lord of Hosts."
Haggai 2:4-9
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
What's my big fish?
When I was little I used to think that Jonah was swallowed up by the big fish because God just didn't want to deal with him anymore, or it was like a way of punishment. After reading the story once more it seems to me that God was actually rescuing Jonah from the sea. Jonah told the sailors of the ship to throw him over, knowing he would die in the stormy water. As he was drowning, a great fish came and swallowed him, and he lived. Everyone knows the story of Jonah... he was called to go to Nineveh and preach, he did not want to so he ran away...long story short, God found him and he ended up where he didn't want to be in the first place. Moral of the story-God always wins..so don't even try to fight? Maybe not.
So what did Jonah need rescuing from?
Really, i think the moral of this story is about serving our enemies. Jonah and the people of Nineveh did not get along, and it was the last place he wanted to go...so he ran, just like us at most times.
There are times and people in my life that i do not want to spend my time and effort on, and i would rather seem them brought down to what they deserve (not like i don't deserve the same). Just like Jonah, i would prefer them to be brought to justice. But our justice is not God's justice. We want revenge, God wants his children to be treated with generosity. God defines justice as taking care of the widows and the orphans, not putting ourselves above those we should love to keep our pride. Our justice is the very essence of sin itself, because it is founded on selfishness.
I think it is amazing how God still rescued Jonah from his sin not against Jonah's enemies but against God himself. He does the same with us, every time he disciplines us he rescues us from sinning further.
so who are your enemies and why is it so hard for you to show them love? and what is your big fish? how does God rescue you from you sin and selfishness?
Anyone who truly knows and has the love of God has generosity... because his love is capable of serving the hardest people to serve. Generosity defies greed. Greed is the root of all sin. Instead of falling to sinful nature by putting our selves and our pride first, let us put God's glory and who we are called to serve first.
We can only know what love and pure generosity is in light of who God is, and every time we love unconditionally even when it hurts us, the light of God is brought out in us.
So what did Jonah need rescuing from?
Really, i think the moral of this story is about serving our enemies. Jonah and the people of Nineveh did not get along, and it was the last place he wanted to go...so he ran, just like us at most times.
There are times and people in my life that i do not want to spend my time and effort on, and i would rather seem them brought down to what they deserve (not like i don't deserve the same). Just like Jonah, i would prefer them to be brought to justice. But our justice is not God's justice. We want revenge, God wants his children to be treated with generosity. God defines justice as taking care of the widows and the orphans, not putting ourselves above those we should love to keep our pride. Our justice is the very essence of sin itself, because it is founded on selfishness.
I think it is amazing how God still rescued Jonah from his sin not against Jonah's enemies but against God himself. He does the same with us, every time he disciplines us he rescues us from sinning further.
so who are your enemies and why is it so hard for you to show them love? and what is your big fish? how does God rescue you from you sin and selfishness?
Anyone who truly knows and has the love of God has generosity... because his love is capable of serving the hardest people to serve. Generosity defies greed. Greed is the root of all sin. Instead of falling to sinful nature by putting our selves and our pride first, let us put God's glory and who we are called to serve first.
We can only know what love and pure generosity is in light of who God is, and every time we love unconditionally even when it hurts us, the light of God is brought out in us.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Learning to Pray through Psalms
Tuesday night i could not sleep because i felt very attacked. I was experiencing so much guilt, fear and doubt and i didn't have the words to say to God. So i opened up psalms and read for a couple hours in the dead of night 1-43. I should have been really, really tired... but all i had was joy and peace!
It is funny looking back on it now, because the psalms went in the order that i was feeling, they started off with grief and pain and asking God for protection and rescue. To be honest, i have never felt so attacked in my life, and the first chapters were all about being attacked. As i read through the chapters, this strange calm came over me and i could clearly see that God's hand of protection was over me, and i was able to figure out the source behind the guilt and doubt racing in my mind, as well as God pushing me and teaching me new things. God set me free from guilt that i have been struggling with for a long time now, 18:19.
As the psalms went on, instead of needing reassurance and rescue, all i needed was to praise God for what he had just done in the span of seven inspired Psalms for such a time as this. I have never experienced so much Joy, and because it came from a mess of a time, it just goes to show how great my God is.
Psalm 13:5-6 Psalm 16 Psalm 27:4
It is funny looking back on it now, because the psalms went in the order that i was feeling, they started off with grief and pain and asking God for protection and rescue. To be honest, i have never felt so attacked in my life, and the first chapters were all about being attacked. As i read through the chapters, this strange calm came over me and i could clearly see that God's hand of protection was over me, and i was able to figure out the source behind the guilt and doubt racing in my mind, as well as God pushing me and teaching me new things. God set me free from guilt that i have been struggling with for a long time now, 18:19.
As the psalms went on, instead of needing reassurance and rescue, all i needed was to praise God for what he had just done in the span of seven inspired Psalms for such a time as this. I have never experienced so much Joy, and because it came from a mess of a time, it just goes to show how great my God is.
Psalm 13:5-6 Psalm 16 Psalm 27:4
How can we improve on syncretism in missions?
2 Kings 17 partially describes the history of the Samaritans. In the Babylonian exile, the Samaria was replaced and re-populated by peoples of false religions. When the Samaritans returned from the exile they not only had influences from their captor's religions but now would blend in the religions of the people living in their homeland. The Jewish leaders shunned them so they would not be influenced by their syncretistic ways, and caused a hatred between the two groups.
Flash forward to Jesus...
John 4:1-26 tells of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan at a well. She is very aware that Jesus should not be speaking to her because of her people's mixed beliefs. In verse 23-24, Jesus says " But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and truth, for the father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
This is clearly a story of a people with mixed beliefs, causing them to be slaves to their sin. Jesus comes in and tells her that what she is doing and who or what she and her peeps are worshiping, clearly is not working(since she so quickly asks for the living water Jesus speaks of in 13-15). The story ends with Jesus' true identity being revealed and the woman leaving in praise.
I think it is interesting that although this woman's values and worship was mangled, she knew that a rescuer, or a Messiah would come and set everything straight. Well, here we are... Jesus' hands and feet. The problem many missionaries face when first going into a people group is syncretism. What a dreaded word... because we seem to not really know how to deal with it.
Firstly, we need to know the language, traditions, and past experiences of the group with other missionaries.
Language- because many only speak their native language, if a missionary were to come speaking in a similar or trade language, the people might not understand as well and only pick up on some of the gospel.
Traditions-many people only follow spiritual rituals and such because it is what they have been taught by older generations. Although these traditions may not be incredibly helpful to the people, they may be binding due to fear or superstition.
I read a story that told of how new missionaries discovered that the great success of a past missionary was not really so, because they simply added god to their old practices. So we need to understand where the people are at, and what they view God as truly.
some other steps we can use to avoid syncretism in missions are:
-some of their "spirits" are actually demons, who are worshiped out of fear, God can rescue the people
-know the origins of what they believe
-know the heart language
-give the message in the context of the peoples situation and not our own
-start with Genesis
-DO NOT try to turn them into the typical western Christian
-make it clear that God is the only God to be worshiped in spirit and in truth, sometimes being blunt as Jesus was in John 4 is necessary
Flash forward to Jesus...
John 4:1-26 tells of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan at a well. She is very aware that Jesus should not be speaking to her because of her people's mixed beliefs. In verse 23-24, Jesus says " But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and truth, for the father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
This is clearly a story of a people with mixed beliefs, causing them to be slaves to their sin. Jesus comes in and tells her that what she is doing and who or what she and her peeps are worshiping, clearly is not working(since she so quickly asks for the living water Jesus speaks of in 13-15). The story ends with Jesus' true identity being revealed and the woman leaving in praise.
I think it is interesting that although this woman's values and worship was mangled, she knew that a rescuer, or a Messiah would come and set everything straight. Well, here we are... Jesus' hands and feet. The problem many missionaries face when first going into a people group is syncretism. What a dreaded word... because we seem to not really know how to deal with it.
Firstly, we need to know the language, traditions, and past experiences of the group with other missionaries.
Language- because many only speak their native language, if a missionary were to come speaking in a similar or trade language, the people might not understand as well and only pick up on some of the gospel.
Traditions-many people only follow spiritual rituals and such because it is what they have been taught by older generations. Although these traditions may not be incredibly helpful to the people, they may be binding due to fear or superstition.
I read a story that told of how new missionaries discovered that the great success of a past missionary was not really so, because they simply added god to their old practices. So we need to understand where the people are at, and what they view God as truly.
some other steps we can use to avoid syncretism in missions are:
-some of their "spirits" are actually demons, who are worshiped out of fear, God can rescue the people
-know the origins of what they believe
-know the heart language
-give the message in the context of the peoples situation and not our own
-start with Genesis
-DO NOT try to turn them into the typical western Christian
-make it clear that God is the only God to be worshiped in spirit and in truth, sometimes being blunt as Jesus was in John 4 is necessary
Thursday, February 10, 2011
1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve.
Acts; Evangelical Examples:
-Must have the spirit first (1:4-5)
-right heart with God (8:9-25)
-compassion, knowing money won’t fix things or last (3)
-Continually praying (2)
-“you will* be my witnesses.”(1:7-8)
=know where their authority comes from (5:29-42)
-*going* (to the temple) (3)
-even speaks truth to enemies (4)
=convicting in speech
-support one another without question (9:20-32) teamwork (11:25-30)
-unity with other believers, sharing all possessions (4:32)
=good deeds (die to the world) story of Ananias and wife (5)
-listen to the instruction of God (8:26-38) (9:11-16)
-evangelize wherever you are (8:4)
=roll with it (8:39-40)
-endure (16:22-34)
-testimonies are important for unbelievers as well (22:1-21)(even if no one listens)
-turning the glory to God (3:12)-humility
When reading the whole book of Acts in one sitting, I realized that all of the points I had collected on examples of evangelization had one thing in common. They were based not on human qualities but from the strength and control of God. I think it is important to note that we as sinners should not feel the need to help others. But when God brings us into the light he places in our hearts the ability and the will to serve and not just become do-gooders. When I was writing these points down I saw that all had to do with letting God be in control. From receiving power and authority from the Holy Spirit to speaking with strength and conviction all must be done first with the instruction of God and only by the power he gives his followers. From God we receive compassion to not only do good deeds but to offer people life. All for the glory of God.
This week I was nominated for a position on student leadership, which is really random because I am still trying to figure out if I am even coming back for a degree next year. Maybe this is God’s way of telling me to stay. Again, I find myself asking the question “what have I learned about faith?”
I have learned that faith does not mean I know where I am going, but it mean that I trust that God knows what he is doing more than I know what I am doing. I was thinking to myself the other day about the 4 years of wonderful OSAP that I would be chained to, and how that would most likely be put onto my parents (one of the main reasons I am doubtful about returning) and how if maybe someone would just randomly come up to me and say, don’t worry about it, then I would return. BUT, why couldn’t I just do that without someone taking care of it for me, after all God is the one who really takes care of me in the end. It then hit me that faith is not waiting for God to give me a big road sign telling me where to go, that would be too boring. Faith is being sure of who my God is, and he is faithful. Where does my hope lie? In the fact that God is in control and providing school funds is nothing for him. It’s all about stepping out and knowing that God has my back. I have trust that God will provide for this trip so I can grow during it, so if he really wants me back here, he will provide.
But after I hand in the returning forms;)
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