Forty

Today my 30's are behind me and I turn 40. Though I don't necessarily feel "sad", I do look with anticipation at what this next year, this next decade, this next half (gulp) of my life, Lord willing, will look like. I looked up the number 40 to see what significance is associated with it and this is what I've found this and I found this. 

-Forty, as an age and when defined by ABC News and their research, states that my mind and body slow from here on out.

-That I am now considered to be "middle aged"-ugh.

-Forty, when used as a time period in scripture, was significant to times of testing, times of trial, times of waiting and also times of promise. It's significant.

My hope is that this life of mine will be significant, not for my glory, but for God's glory. That I may be a tool for the kingdom of Christ. I pray that, whatever my first 40 years represented, these next 40 (Lord willing) will be His because I am His. Though my mind and body may slow, I pray my ministry for Him only becomes more urgent, more useful and more fruitful and that I may know Him more 40 x 40. .

Thank you God for these last 40 years. Thank you for today. Thank you for my future.

You’re not 40, you’re eighteen with 22 years experience.

~ Unknown

If you are 40+, what insight have you gained?
If you are under 40, what do you look forward too or feel apprehension about?
just curious.

See the Tree

Matt 5:16
 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The old cliche' states "You can't see the forest for the trees". It's meaning describes a person who is so involved with the details that they can't see the broad picture. It's a great phrase in consideration of how we need to live and love as christians here on this earth. We need to be careful not to get so focused on the issues: political, social or otherwise because in a world that is lost, the details can be trivial and a distraction from what is important. Sharing the gospel and bringing others to Christ is the big picture.

I am not going to address the recent Chick-fil-A issue as it has and is already being over discussed all over the net.

I will say that I am a Bible believing Christian who is a sinner and who only has redemption because of Jesus Christ.

I will say that I believe the Bible in its entirety.

I will say that because of the grace of Christ in my life and because of what the Bible says I do not hate anyone. I do not support violence, hate or discrimination of any kind. I have no intentions of removing anyone's "rights" to the freedom our country offers. I have no intention of slandering anyone in opposition to my beliefs.

This is addressed to my brothers and sisters in Christ and this is about our testimony to the whole world.

Concerning the seeing the forest through the trees statement, can I make one argument?

SEE THE TREE.

In this world if we are so focused on our agenda, so focused on proving ourselves right and others wrong and trying to make the world as we believe it should be, we fail to see the people/the individuals in our lives who we are called to love and be a light to. You cannot grow a forest without planting the seeds one by one, THEN it is up to the work of the Holy Spirit to grow it. There are many things I cannot change and the Bible promises us that the world will only get worse until Christ's return. If we are hated because we love Christ, that is persecution. If we are hated because we hated first...that is a fail on our part.

We are not all called to be "Pauls" and to speak to multitudes. We are not Christ incarnate. We are not called to judge the world. We cannot hold others to a standard of living to soothe our uncomfortable feelings.

We are called to lovingly share the gospel.

To declare Christ's work in our lives and to testify the truth.

We cannot do that on the big scale unless we are doing it on a small scale first, every day offering grace, love and truth. If a heart is truly changed and filled with the Holy Spirit, the outer life will also change....It does not happen in reverse.

Christ did not die for our political freedoms. He died for you, for me and every face you see around you.

See the tree, because Jesus did...even amongst the crowd. He saw each person and knew what they needed....Him.









***There is a difference between judging the world and holding a christian brother/sister to accountability. (Matt 4)

A boxed delivery

Last night I arrived back home from the She Speaks conference. It was an amazing, inspiring and eye opening experience. I was able to hear from faithful and obedient women who were following their "calling" to teach scripture and encourage other sisters in Christ how to more effectively and genuinely share Jesus. During my time there I met some beautiful women who blessed my heart and friended me despite all my feelings of awkwardness. We were challenged to listen for God, to know him more and use the gifts given us to share Him and his truths with others on whatever platform God provides. To minister to my world of influence and trust God to do the rest.

One of the groups I participated in was a speaker evaluation group. My group leaders were Melissa Taylor and Stephanie Clayton. They were sweet, encouraging and gracious. Our mission was to share a 3 minute testimony on Friday and a 5 minute bible verse teaching on Saturday. They conceded right off that it's crazy to expect a 3 minute testimony and 5 minute teaching but it was a lesson in being concise and sharing your heart. I decided that attempting to reduce my life story (not that by worldly standards it's very exciting) to 3 minutes could only be accomplished if I shared a specific meaningful story or shared a theme.. I opted with the theme because it's more fun to make the abstract applicable and profound. I'm not sure that I accomplished either but I did cry, spoke everything I planned to say, said "um" at least a dozen times but I did finish within the 3 minute cut off.

Here is my 3 minute testimony:



A British playwright, Tom Stoppard, is quoted as saying "Life in a box is better than no life at all...".  

Life in a box is something I can relate to because, until I met Christ, that's exactly how I was living.  I grew up in a family that attended church together. My guides for living and our view of God was confined to a box. In all honesty, I loved it. I knew what was expected of me and had always been an "excellent rule follower". I had no plans to step out of these boundaries, mostly out of fear of failure and being the attention seeking people pleaser, this was a great way to live.

You see, box living has its benefits: you earn the trust of others, you receive praise and you avoid all the really bad consequences. Win, win, win. I was exactly what we want our kids to be. One time I lied to my parents and before they even suspected I came crying and confessed.  

But box living has its down side...

Growing up in a church, I must have heard the gospel at least 500 times but it was muted by the box I lived in and it failed to reach my sanctimonious heart.  I remember thinking "I don't think i sinned today". 

Outwardly, I don't think anyone questioned the destination of my soul. I was even highlighted in a yearbook article about my "faith" and involvement in church. 

 Phil 1:8 "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice" 

Growing up in the church without revelation of the gospel is like performing a choreographed dance you've known your whole life. You know exactly what to do and how to look- kind of like a Stepford Christian, pretty on the outside but dead and hollow on the inside. You know, the lost outside the church are easy to spot, it's the lost inside the church that can be harder to find and reach. 

It was during my Senior year of high school when my eyes were opened to see that all my box living didn't earn me Gods attention or earn his favor. That was the day that the gospel penetrated. Thankfully, despite my walls of self righteousness and pride, Christ made a hole of truth. He revealed to me that, I too was a sinner that deserved death and required Christ's sacrifice.  My box living had blinded me from seeing my need for His grace . . 

Rom 3:10 “There is no one righteous, not even one;"  

I became aware that it was someone boxed like me who had yelled, "crucify him", it was someone like me who stood right next to truth, yet didn't recognize it. My box living was a delusion of protection that was destined to burn up in hell with me willingly inside.

Since then I get to follow him where he leads and pray He would use my old box and transform it into a billboard of truth that helps me point others to him.