Friday, August 31, 2012

Devotion

"And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.  
Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.  
For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought.  
If you seek him, you will find him.  
But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.  So take this seriously.  
The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary.  Be strong, and do the work."
- 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

What has the Lord chosen you to do?  I can think of many things, both 'small' and 'large.'  Yet, while we seem to classify these things as 'small' and 'large,' they are all just as important.  Anything God charges us to do in life is for a reason and disobedience is disobedience, whether it was over a so-called 'small' or 'large' thing.  What if Solomon refused to build the temple?  He would be rejecting God.  He would not be loving him.

What if you or I reject God by refusing to love our neighbor?  By telling a "white" lie?  By lusting after someone in our flesh, in our heart, or with our eyes?  By being selfish with our time or money?  They are all equal in that they go against what God has charged us to do, just as equal as the 'large' thing Solomon was chosen to do.  Just as equal as being chosen to bring the Gospel to an unreached people and refusing to.  Just as equal as murder.  Just as equal as hate.  Just as equal as theft.  Just as equal as cursing.  Just as equal as being unkind.  We would be rejecting God.  We would not be loving him.

"Then David continued, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  
Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.  
He will not fail you or forsake you.  
He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly."
- 1 Chronicles 28:10

If God chooses you to do something, he has a reason and he will provide a way to do it.  If he chooses you to lead a Bible study, be a missionary, take care of children, coach a team, teach a class, study a subject, encourage believers, give to a ministry, etc. etc. etc., he will walk with you and lead the way.  And not just see that it is done but see that it is done CORRECTLY.  Not doing something correctly, when you know what and how correctly is, is disobedience.  And disobedience is sin.  And sin separates us from God.

What are some things we are ALL 'chosen' to do?  Love God.  Love people.  Tell the truth.  Be pure in thought, speech, and action.  Spread the Gospel.  Gather together in fellowship to worship.  Serve one another.  Give our lives and everything in it to the Lord.  Folks, how many times have we failed in one or all of these regards?  Too many times.  But that is not an excuse to continue to do so.  Like David said, "Take this seriously.  The Lord has chosen you... BE STRONG, AND DO THE WORK."  Or else one would have to ask, do you even really know God?

"And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, 
I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction... 
Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the LORD today?"
- 1 Chronicles 29:3, 5


"Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!"
- 1 Chronicles 29:14

There is nothing on this earth that is truly ours.  It all belongs to God and he has allocated it to us for his purposes.  Doing what God asks requires giving to God what is his: our money, our time, our lives.

I love how David specifies not just to know God but to know him INTIMATELY.  Don't just have him as an acquaintance; know him better than you know anybody else.  With "your whole heart and a willing mind" get to know him.  Everyday.  Lead by example like David and give yourself fully to whatever he asks you to do.  Allocate your resources to follow his lead.  God will help you complete whatever he asks you to do.  All you have to do is obey.

Devotion: "love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause" (from the dictionary app on my Mac).

Would others describe you as being devoted to God?  Or are you devoted to something else?  Based on your speech and actions people will identify you.  How about a self-evaluation: What preoccupies your thoughts?  What preoccupies your heart?

Are you just toting God around in the backseat?  Give him the wheel.  It's where he belongs.  Trust him to take you the right way, in the right time, to the right place and don't try to do it yourself.  Because his activities are the best activities.  And his cause is the best cause.  And because he first loved us.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Go

"When you make a promise to God, 
don't delay in following through, 
for God takes no pleasure in fools.  
Keep all the promises you make to him.  
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it."
-Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

Six years ago, over the 2005-06 New Year, at the first World Missions Summit in Louisville, KY, I and hundreds of other college students were challenged to 'give a year and pray about a lifetime' in missions.  The premise being, what's a year in the grand scheme of your whole life?  Can't we all take a year and give it to God and allow him to work through us and in us?  Can't we all take a year to leave our comfort zone, get over ourselves, and go to those who have not yet heard?  Because, as the slogan went that year, "It's not about me."

Three years ago I intended to give that year but ended up coming home after six months due to a medical issue (which has since been resolved... after an unnecessary appendectomy... yeah ask me about that another time if you don't know).  Ever since then I have struggled with whether or not I still had a promise to fulfill.  I intended to stay a year.  It wasn't my fault I had to go back early.  Does that count?  Do I only owe half a year?  Can the year be cumulative?  If I add all the English camps and stuff to that half a year does that count?  These questions have swum around in my brain for the past three years, along with an aversion to thinking about going again for more than short-term work because it is hard.

Fast forward to 2012.  I'm in London, about to finish my masters degree, needing a job.  I go to English camp for the month of July as usual (It really has become a habit).  The first night there, a missionary I've known now for 5 years corners me about a job she has for me.  She says the local university needs English teachers and she's trying to build the local missionary 'cluster.'  So essentially, a job fell into my lap.  And not just any job.  This job would give me teaching experience, a chance to continue language study, and a salary to enable me to make payments on my student loan.  And I would be serving on the field.  (Seriously, how many missionaries get a salary??)  It's everything I wanted/needed and I got that tingly 'this-is-it' feeling, yet, part of my heart held me back.  My heart had been looking forward to coming home.  I'm not really sure how to articulate it, but part of me was/is grieved and I can't really say it all here.

I said I wasn't ready to say yes and needed some time.  Then day after day, in my early morning quiet time by the light of a phone, while my roomie was still asleep, until the first rays of dawn crept into the room, before running down the dusty streets early enough to beat the craze of Oriental traffic and see the sunrise over some of those funky-shaped karst mountains, God showed me over and over again why I needed to go.

He first reminded me of the promise.  I found myself convicted by Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (as you see above).  But he also reminded me why.  It's not simply a matter of a promise.  It's not simply being there for a year to say I was there.  It's about God's heart for the lost.  It's about his redemptive plan for the world.  It's about his glory.

"Then,  calling the crowd to join his disciples, [Jesus] said,
'If any of you wants to be my follower, 
you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  
But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  
Is anything worth more than your soul?'"
-Mark 8:34-37

"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; 
or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.   
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
-Matthew 10:37-39

"The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; 
ask him to send more workers into his fields."
-Luke 10:2

 "Wake up and look around.  The fields are already ripe for harvest.  
The harvesters are paid good wages, 
and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.  
What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!"
-John 4:35-36

Jesus calls all of his followers to be missional wherever we are.  Each and every one of us is called to be salt and light to everyone we find around us.  Wherever God puts us, we are meant to be sharing the Gospel.  Some places have more workers than others, so God shuffles us around to get the job done.  How are 'all nations' supposed to hear if we all stay in one place?  If God asks you to do something, then you better do it.  I was very bluntly asked to go and I didn't really have a good reason to say no.  "Turn from your selfish ways..."  Could I trust God to take care of it?  Yes.

To those I saw in the States back in June, I'm glad I got to see you.  To those I didn't get to see, I'll see you next year.  To those who looked forward to me coming home, I'm sorry.  God had other plans for 2012-13.  Apparently they involve a subtropical, Asian city.

"Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.  
They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.  
For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
That is why the Scriptures say,
'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'"
-Romans 10:12-15





------------------------------
And it's really funny that my last post two months ago was titled "Come" based off of the quote "Jesus cannot say 'Go' without first saying 'Come.'"  And now this one is titled "Go."  I promise I just now realized this after I wrote it! hahaha

Friday, June 8, 2012

Come

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced...
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced...
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you...
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way...
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you...
-Psalm 25:1-5, 9, 20-21

I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells...
Now I stand on solid ground,
and I will publicly praise the Lord.
-Psalm 26:8, 12

The Lord is my light and my salvation -
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?...
The one thing I ask of the Lord -
the thing I seek most -
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...
My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."
And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."...
the Lord will hold me close.
Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path...
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
-Psalm 27:1, 4, 8, 10-11, 13-14

I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.
Do not turn a deaf ear to me...
as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary."
 -Psalm 28:1-2

I've been on that page in my Bible over and over again recently.  These words are David crying out to God for guidance, protection, and favor.  He wants to know what to do next; he wants to know how to proceed.  He knows God is there and that God has the answers, that God is in control, that God looks favorably on those who are humble before him.  He's seeking and praising the Lord in the same breath.  He's saying, "I don't know what to do here, but I know you do and I know you'll guide me. And even though I'm not getting an answer yet, I am trusting you.  I am praising you.  I am waiting on you because you are the Lord and you care more about me going the right way even more than I do.  So surely I can be brave and courageous, walking in integrity and honesty, obeying you, as I hope in you and trust you with my life and reputation."

I once heard someone say, "Jesus cannot say 'Go' without first saying 'Come.'"  I like Psalm 27:8: My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."  And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."  Really, how else do we expect to hear from God and know his will for our lives if we don't spend time with him, talking with him, and learning from him?  How else can I expect to know what to do next?  Sure, talking to wise friends helps.  It can help flush some things out.  Sometimes God does speak to us through other people, or confirms things through them, but ultimately he is the source.  It's like doing research for school.  How much more credible is a primary document rather than a secondary one that makes reference to it?  Or, even worse, a tertiary source which quotes the secondary which quotes the primary?  Very much so.  Anyone who's done academic research will tell you that.  It's the same with God.

In order to say like David: 

But I am trusting you, O Lord,
saying, "You are my God!"
My future is in your hands.
-Psalm 31:14-15

There has to be a conscious decision to wait on God and listen to him.  There has to be deliberate time spent with him, allowing him to teach.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you."
-Psalm 32:8

That is a promise we can live in if we seek the Lord.  If we come to him.  Just like a parent, boss or professor, you don't know what job to do or how they want it done until you ask them and listen to what they have to say.  That is why the Lord says, "Come."  He says, "For I know the plans I have for you... They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  I will be found by you" (Jeremiah 29:11-13).  He's not hiding.  We are the ones who like to go our own way and ignore his calls so to speak.  Yet he says, "Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come" (Jeremiah 33:3).

There are a lot of questions in my life right now.  I'm confused about a lot of things.  Some of these things I want to be angry about, yet I know there is a bigger picture that I don't understand.  It seems that most things don't turn out as I expect.  I've stopped making plans.  They're just me fooling myself.  One step at a time, one moment at a time, is better.  One decision at a time asking, "Is this glorifying to God?"  Responding to God's call, "Come," with "Speak, your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10), "confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13) and not be disgraced as I wait in his presence.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

April/May Adventures!

Right.  So let's play catch up!

I posted the Scotland trip I took at the beginning of April.  It was awesome.  Check it out.

Spent Easter in London and even received an Easter basket! I haven't had one of those in years!  And apparently the UK does chocolate Easter eggs rather than chocolate bunnies.


The next weekend I was in Paris for four days to run the Paris Marathon!  It was my first full marathon (26.2 miles) and the first time I ran more than 16 miles.  I had missed a good month of real training due to on and off colds/flu-like something or others during March so I was nervous, but I still managed my goal which was to be around 4 hours (finished in 4:03).  I was so close to a sub-four I guess I'm going to have to run another one!  Thank you to Paula who came with me to be support and for getting me a fresh French baguette to much on afterwards!  It was really cool see the sites of Paris as we ran.  Fortunately though Paula and I were able to spend a couple days actually going to the sites, too.  These included the Effel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame.



Start and finish at the Arc de Triomphe!


Then I had to hit the books again to finish my final Silk Road essay and take exams. (The UK had a month-long break from classes for Easter.  That's why I was able to travel.)  The week after I finished exams I had some visitors for a couple days!


It was a nice treat to see the Hertzlers!

One more place I visited was Windsor and Windsor Castle with the Messersmiths.  As you can see we had fun with the camera...


Then I finalized my dissertation proposal, presented it, got approved, and have commenced working on it ever since!  I'm researching how Animal Style art from the Northern Steppes got to Yunnan province (southwest China), how it was adapted to their culture, and what this can tell us about them (they left no written documents).  If that meant anything to you - bravo!  It's 15,000 words due September 15th.

Last Thursday and Friday I went to York and hiked eight miles of Hadrian's Wall near Newcastle with a classmate.  We got perfect weather!  The UK finally got a bit of summer!  (Which would only be in the 70s haha however it felt really warm to us.)


York Minster's flying buttresses!


Above: Looking back on what we had already hiked.
Below: We ran into lots of sheep and cattle along the way.


Then on Saturday (got back the night before from Hadrian's Wall) I played hockey and went to tea at Fortnum and Mason with ladies from my church.  You know it was a proper tea when it's where the Queen does her grocery shopping!  Yum!  We got to take home a few extra scones and jams to extend the yumminess until morning.


Speaking of church, I've become part of the rotation for teaching Junior Church.  Emily and I tag team it.  She knows all the little kid songs.  I do the lesson.  And I try to learn the little kid songs.  There are a bazillion of them I never knew about!  Their favorite though is one I know - Father Abraham.  I think it's just because they get to march around and be silly.  Sometimes I make up new moves to it just to keep them on their toes!


That particular Sunday was Jake's birthday.  At our church, birthdays are just excuses for the Filipinos to cook a feast!  Seriously, if you've never had Filipino food, you're missing out!  Here's a photo of me with the Messersmiths, my adopted American family in London.


And now I'm Stateside until June 19th.  If you want to see me hit me up!  I can use my American phone now! :)

Warning: I do have to finish writing my first chapter by the time I leave so it's not all fun and games! :P

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

SCOTLAND Adventures! April 3-6

I traveled to Scotland with two classmates: Francesca and Andrew.  Francesca is from Scotland and she was kind enough to have us stay at her family home which is also a bed and breakfast.  You can check it out here.

Tuesday, 3 April:
We all had flights out of London in the evening, but mine was the flight after the others.  Their flight took off on time, but mine was delayed.  It was supposed to take off at 7:25 but didn't until around 9.  Francesca and Andrew had already landed in Scotland by the time I got on the plane, so they ended up chilling in a coffee shop for a while.  At first we thought the delay was due to blizzard warnings that had been in Scotland for about a week at that point, but it turns out there was something going on with French air-traffic control that was messing up the whole network.  Either way, we still all ended up safely in Edinburgh.  When we picked up the rental car we found out we had been upgraded to a Prius which was awesome because it saved us a lot on fuel over the next few days.  Driving from Edinburgh airport to Essendy House (Francesca's home) was my first experience driving on the wrong side of the road.  At first it was a bit nerve wracking, but I think that I have been over here long enough now and separated enough from driving on the right side at home that it wasn't too hard to get used to it.  It was super exciting to drive!  When we got there, Francesca's parents greeted us with delicious lentil soup and pizza.

Wednesday, 4 April:
Essendy House is old, so no central heat.  The walls are three feet thick and we slept with electric blankets.  For that reason it was super nice to have coffee delivered to bed where I could sip it down and have my quiet time before venturing out into the crisp morning air.  We were treated to a full Scottish breakfast of sausages, bacon, eggs (mine had a double yolk) plus a French addition of a crissont.  After breakfast, we had a tour of the grounds and then stopped to see an osprey nest at a wildlife sanctuary on a loch.  There were red squirrels there, too.



 Then we hiked up a foothill mountain (not really big enough to be a mountain but bigger than just a hill in my opinion... not sure what to call it).  As we went up there was more and more snow and we crossed paths with some sheep.  The view from the top was beautiful and we had a bit of a picnic lunch before descending.  On the descent we came across a spot in the path that we decided must've been where the hobbits hid from the Black Rider in the first Lord of the Rings movie.  Once we made it back to the car, we drove back across the river to Dunkeld where we explored a Medieval cathedral and walking around the town a bit.



We stopped in an antique shop and the lady inside asked if I had Scottish ancestry due to my red hair.  I got to tell her that it's not natural but that I do have a bit of Scottish lineage and that my mom and younger sister have naturally red hair.  I didn't mention that it comes from my grandma who was of the Dutch/German line... oh well, Grandad Davis was Scot-Irish and must have had some recessive gene for red hair.  Then we stopped at the store on the way back to Essendy to get supplies for s'mores and American pancakes (Andrew is Canadian and therefore agrees with me that the flat English things called pancakes are totally crepes.).  There aren't graham crackers here either, so we got chocolate Digestives (a kind of biscuit... yes, I know sounds weird but they're good).  Somewhere on this drive we stopped to explore some church ruins along the road.  The access to get inside the walls was very Secret Garden-like.  It's a good thing we're all history nerds.  In the words of Andrew, "After a short archaeological survey we think it's 17th century, damaged by fire."

When we got back to the house, we had tea with Tess and John (Francesca's parents).  Tess had made an amazing ginger carrot cake.  It also turns out that John used to be a field hockey goal keeper and they have friends who have a daughter who now plays at Wake Forest, whom I played with at the South Region training center last year!  Small world!  After tea, we hauled wood from all over the property so that we could build a bonfire.  I drove a tractor and chopped wood for the first time.  We were fed a hearty dinner along with John's ginger pudding creation and then proceeded to have our bonfire and s'mores.  Overall, a great day.

Thursday, 5 April:
Coffee in bed again.  Francesca spoiled me.  Then before breakfast I ran a 10k loop from the house that kicked my butt.  It was even more mountainous than the 10k race I did with Emberli out in the Waynesboro area this past summer.  It started flurrying after I finished.  That will tell you how cold it was, too.  But the scenery made up for the difficulty!  Beautiful country roads, mountains, valleys, and lochs!  Tess was glad that I thought it was hard because she routinely runs that route and thinks it's difficult, too.  After the run it was pancake time!  Then Andrew and I were enlisted to move some beds and mattresses around to prepare for more people coming that night.  Francesca's younger sister was coming home with three friends that night.  One of which was another Canadian named Andrew haha.  Then we hit the road for more site seeing.

First we drove to Meigle where we saw some Pictish stones.  The Picts were early occupants of the land and the later phase of their stones are the earliest evidence of Christianity in Scotland.  Then we went to Glamis Castle (from MacBeth).  That was my first castle ever.  It's still used now, so it's been slowly renovated over the years.  I'd really like to go to one that's still very medieval-like.  There were highland cattle grazing on the castle's land.  They're so funny looking with their big, shaggy, ginger coats.



After that, we got in the car again and headed to St. Andrew's (Yes, the golf place.).  There we saw the ruins of St. Andrew's cathedral and castle.  They were really neat.  The crypt of the cathedral has a lot of artifacts in it and some people were practicing MacBeth at the castle.  St. Andrew's is on the water, so we got a really pretty view from the top of the cathedral tower and out on a dock.  When we got back to Francesca's we had tea and dinner.  So much food!







 
Friday, 6 April:
We drove back to Edinburgh, returned the car at the airport, and got a bus into the city.  I'll definitely say that Edinburgh is a really cool city to visit.  The old-style streets give it a lot of character.  Among other things we saw St. Giles Cathedral, the Castle of Edinburgh, and the Scottish crown jewels.  For lunch we ate haggis, neeps, and tatties.  Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from a lot of ground up meat parts traditionally cooked in a sheep's stomach.  I was surprised that I liked it, but I must say I prefered the veggie version.  Neeps are mashed turnips and tatties are mashed potatoes.  Francesca and I popped into the National Museum at one point while Andrew met a friend and were baffled by the sheer eclecticism of the collections and layout.  Let's just say it could be done better.

At the end of the day, Francesca hopped a train home and Andrew and I flew back to London.  It was a great few days!  Thanks again to Francesca and family for the hospitality!












There are plenty more pictures on Facebook if you haven't seen them yet!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Purpose

YOU DON'T LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF YOU FULFILLING YOUR PURPOSE.

What is your purpose?
To glorify God's name.

Do you magnify Christ in your life?  That is, do you bring Christ closer?  Do you bring honor to his name?  Do you live for his glory?

GOD PUT YOU SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU ARE AND YOUR PURPOSE IS TO MAGNIFY CHRIST HERE AND NOW. 

BE AN APOSTLE PAUL TO SOMEONE.  That is, teach someone.  Disciple someone.  Lead by example.  Yes, you should be getting taught, but you should be passing it on as well.  Who are you passing on the faith to?  Who are you encouraging?

YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGN HAND.  HE COULD'VE PUT YOU ANYWHERE, BUT HE CHOSE HERE. BE A SHINING LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD.

The reason why people aren't happy and satisfied is because they're not living this way.  Instead, they're trying to get joy from something other than God.

PURPOSE YOUR HEART FOR CHRIST BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE HERE.



*This is based on notes I took from a sermon at CBC earlier this year, based on Philippians 1:12-26 and Colossians 1:28-2:3.

Monday, April 9, 2012

London Adventures: Feb 27 - April 3

Wow I have some catching up to do!!  It's been a month... or more than a month... let's see if I can recap...

Well, the first three weeks of this missing period were spent on and off with some sort of flu/flus.  Not fun.  And not good for productivity.  Every time I thought I was better I wasn't.  BUT I'm better now.

School:
Guess what.  Two weeks ago I had my last masters classes ever.  All of a sudden it seems like time has just flown by!  Now it's just deadlines and exams.  I turned in an essay the last week of classes and another the week after that.  I'll be turning in another next week and then I have a couple exams.  After that it's all dissertation!  Which I think maybe just maybe I've finally decided on a topic... but I'll wait to post that until it's certain lol

Work:
Didn't get a whole lot of hours in during the sick weeks, but I'm back to normal and grabbing up what I can so that I can have fun later!  I met another "Erin" for the first time since I've been here!  Except this was a guy and he spelled his name "Arran."  It was a spelling I'd never seen before.  Apparently it's not a common name in the UK.  I'm always having to repeat my name and being told that I'm the first Erin people have ever met.  Rarely, I'm the second.  And those two people who have met an Erin before have connections to Ireland.  It's really strange!  To top that off, a couple Sundays ago when I went to Starbucks with Lisa and Emily, they wrote my name on the cup (which they don't seem to do often here, or I think they just started really doing) and spelled it "Irin."

Hockey:
Last week I had my last game.  The Messersmiths were awesome enough to came out and watch.  It's weird to be at that point again where I'm not sure if I'll ever get to play again.

Church:
Church family has continued to be awesome.  Over the course of this chunk of time, I've been thrown into various group singing specials and become part of the new rotation for teaching Junior Church.

Randoms:
PARIS MARATHON IN ONE WEEK!!  EEEEEK.  Paula will be my travel buddy.  I told her she should pass me a baguettes throughout the race... or maybe crepes.  Being sick really took a toll on training, but two weeks ago I managed a 16 mile run and didn't die.  It was the longest run I've ever done in my life (previous was 15 miles three years ago on accident).  That will be the longest run I do before the marathon.  This week is all about not wearing myself out and fueling up.

I've moved house.  After much unofficial time spent in the spare room, I've got the remainders of my things out of the dorm and to the Messersmiths!  If you want my updated address send me a message.

Oh, and did I mention?  My hair is red...

Next stop: Scotland!

Monday, March 12, 2012

A Pleasing Aroma

Something that stood out to me while reading my Bible the other day:

"And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders 
fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp, 
and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people." 
- Revelation 5:8

"Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar.  And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.  The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."
- Revelation 8:3-4

OUR PRAYERS used as incense.  As an offering.  As a pleasing sacrifice.

Let's take a closer look.  Webster defines incense as "material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned" or "the perfume exhaled from some spices and gums when burned; broadly : a pleasing scent."  Synonyms include:  aroma, attar, bouquet, fragrancy, fragrance, perfume, redolence, scent, and spice.  Antonyms are fetor, malodor, reek, stench, and stink.  So incense is supposed to smell good.

And what does Strong's say?  The word incense here is translated from the Greek word thumiama, which means "an aromatic substance burnt, incense."  So it is a strong, good smell.  And this strong, good smell is found perfuming the area around God's throne.  And the source of the smell?  Our prayers.  How awesome is that?!

But it's not just prayers - it's our LIVES.  Take a look:

"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God."
- 2 Corinthians 2:15

The word fragrance here is the Greek word euodia, which, like thumiama, is also defined as a good smell or incense.  But it's also specified as "a sweet odor, spoken of the smell of sacrifices and obligations, agreeably to the ancient notion that God smells and is pleased with the odor of sacrifices" and, as a metaphor, "a thing well pleasing to God" (Strong's).

The Old Testament is full of examples of this "ancient notion" that God takes pleasure in the smell of sacrifice.  Just a few examples include Leviticus 1:9, 2:2, and 3:5 where the sacrifice burned on the altar is described: "It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord."  This word aroma is the Hebrew word reyach which is used throughout the Old Testament, defined by Strong's as an "odour of soothing (technical term for sacrifice to God)."

Was it that God thought burning grain or animals literally smelled good?  Not really.  It was the act of obedience and reverence for God.  It was the heart attitude of the one offering the sacrifice.  David speaks of this in one of his psalms:


"You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God...
you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit..."
- Psalm 51:16-17, 19

Now we who live in the New Testament times, with the sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, covering us, paying the death penalty for our sins,  do not need to offer a burnt offering, even in the "right spirit."  We are instead told:


"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God 
because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - 
the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him."
- Romans 12:1

 "And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.  What's more, you are his holy priests.  Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."
- 1 Peter 2:5

How do we do this?  How do we offer ourselves as living sacrifices?  What are the spiritual sacrifices that please God?  How do we become euodia, a Christ-like fragrance, the kind of sacrifice that God finds acceptable and pleasing?  The same word euodia is used in two other places in the New Testament:

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  
He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."
- Ephesians 5:1-2

"At the moment I have all I need - and more!  I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus.  They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God."
- Philippians 4:18

Following the example of Christ in love and humility.  Giving generously.  And how else?

"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, 
proclaiming our allegiance to his name.  
And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need.  
These are the sacrifices that please God."
- Hebrews 13:15-16

"So you should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.  Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.  Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life.  So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.  Sin is no longer your master... Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?  You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living."
- Romans 6:11-16

Praising no matter what, being faithful in our devotion to God, doing good, sharing, living in the new life Christ gave us - a life free from sin, no longer bound - "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22) - accepting God's gift of grace and striving to live clean, honorable lives out of thankfulness and a desire to please him:

"So think clearly and exercise self-control.  Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  So you must live as God's obedient children.  Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.  You didn't know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'"
- 1 Peter 1:13-16

By imitating God, not the world (Romans 12:2).  By producing sweet-smelling fruit:

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: 
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  
There is no law against these things!  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there."
- Galatians 5:22-24

Such a life doesn't just please God:

"But thank God!... Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God..."
- 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

It adds to the Kingdom.

So how do you smell today?  Are you a strong, sweet, pleasing aroma or a retched, selfish stink?  If you're a stink, take the time to talk to God and give yourself over to him and allow Christ's sacrifice to cover you and make you new.  If you've accepted Christ, but you're not living for his glory, still hanging on to your old ways, let go.  Those old ways aren't worth it.  If you truly believe that Jesus died to give you eternal life, live the life of praise and sacrifice, the fruit producing life, that freshens the air of Heaven and Earth because of your thankfulness.  Because you know God deserves all honor and praise.  Replace that old air freshener and turn up its strength!  It seems like a lot, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.  It's one decision at a time.  Then God will delight in you and seeds of faith will be planted among the lost.

"For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
- Zephaniah 3:17

Let's live to bring a smile to God's face.  Let's spread Christ's life-giving aroma.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

All These Other Things

Seek God, not the answers.

Do you ever find yourself so adamant about figuring out something specific that you get hung up on it to the point that you're focusing on that problem or situation or answer more than you're focusing on God himself?  Even though you're talking to him about it, it's all about that thing you want to know instead of being about him.  The whole point of your prayer or quiet time is about seeking an answer rather than drawing near to God.  It's all about 'tell me, tell me, tell me, why aren't you telling me, I can't have peace without knowing this right now, tell me and then I'll rest in you' rather than 'God I trust you, you're awesome, help me draw closer to you because in you is all wisdom and knowledge and I know you'll lead me as long as I draw near to you, I can have peace because I know you're in control.'

Focusing on what we don't know leads to anxiousness, worry, stress, wasted time and energy, jealously of those who seem to have it all figured out, and bitterness with God for not doing things in the way we selfishly think he should.  But God calls things such as these "earthly, unspiritual, and demonic" (James 3:15).  Whether you believe in God or not, I believe everyone would agree that these things are undesirable.  With these things in your heart, there is no way you can live joyously.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, 
and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." 
- Matthew 6:33

Seek God, not just the answers.  Yes, the text before this verse is speaking of our basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing, but it has a deeper meaning than that as well.  It's about priorities.  It's about trust.  It's about living in God's presence and valuing that above all else.  It's about how even seeking 'good' things can become a stumbling block if not done properly.  Seeking God about your career path, about the next step in life, about who you should marry, about why he has you in a certain place, about why you're having a trial, or other such things is not bad, but it can become a hindrance to your relationship with God if receiving that answer is all that you're seeking.  If you're placing your condition for joy on receiving that knowledge rather than taking joy in God himself, then you're not walking in the presence of God and you're going to drive yourself nuts.

"You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever."
- Psalm 16:11

"All who seek the LORD will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy."
- Psalm 22:26

True joy is in the presence of God.  Fullness of joy is in him.  Does this mean we'll never feel sad?  No!  Joy is more than an emotion.  Happiness is an emotion; it's temporal and fleeting.  Fullness of joy, God's joy, is deeper than that.  It is what reigns in your heart and gives you peace even when things seem like they are crashing down around you.  It becomes part of who you are.  It defines who you are.  It is ever present.  It is the Holy Spirit living within you.  It is the Comforter at work saying, 'You're Mine'.  It is the presence of God.  It isn't knowledge or understanding about everthing.  It's knowing one thing:

"See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The LORD GOD is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!"
- Isaiah 12:2-3

God has come to save us.  Christ made a way.  He bridged the gap.  He gave us all access to the Holy of Holies - the presence of God.  And he came at "just the right time" (Romans 5:6).  If he came at just the right time to save us, why then should he slack on other things?  Why would he not take care of the smaller things in life at just the right time?  He saved our souls at just the right time.  Everything else should be a piece of cake!

Let's look a little more at the context of Matthew 6:33:

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And why worry about your clothing?  Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  
Why do you have so little faith?  So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear?'  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."
- Matthew 6:27-34

 Jesus is saying here that as a believer there is no reason we should worry.  And what is worry other than a lack of trust in God?  Since God says he'll take care of our needs and he does things at just the right time, why then should we worry?  Why then should we get caught up on needing to know answers?  He will tell us at just the right time if we need to know.  Sometimes it just isn't time yet.  And sometimes we just don't need to know.  Like Paul said:

"I pray that God, the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace
because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope 
through the power of the Holy Spirit."
- Romans 15:13

Because you trust in him.  Because you seek him above all else.  Joy and peace are yours.  Confident hope is yours.

"The LORD directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?"
- Proverbs 20:24

 The only thing we need to understand is that God is God.  This doesn't mean don't ask questions.  We are told to ask him for wisdom and understanding (James 1:5).  It just means trust the Lord to take care of it by giving it to him instead of dwelling on uncertainties.  Dwell on the certainty of God.  Dwell in his presence.  Feed off of his joy.  Seek God above all else.  Seek the Kingdom.  And all these things shall be added unto you.  At just the right time.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

London Adventures: Feb 13-26

School:
 Manic couple of weeks.  Turned in an essay, gave a presentation, and came up with three possible dissertation topics.  I'm exhausted.  Seriously just weary.  That's the only way I can describe it.  Just weary.  So ready for the term to end so I can just focus on the dissertation and nothing else.  Hard to believe the first of the two weeks covered in this post was Reading Week aka Half Term!  I'm now more than halfway through my last semester of my masters!  Four weeks left.  The end of April after Easter break will involve turning in an essay and taking two exams for the start of 'third term' but that's all.

Been super tired, but I'm very glad I have some classmate buddies to do work with this term, namely Francesca and Andrew.  Francesca and I have been tag-teaming the research for our Silk Road essays.  Since our topics are related, we have to look at a lot of the same sources, which means we can each take half and tell each other if we find anything!  So far so good.  We had to present on our essay topics last week and we were the only ones who didn't get negative comments from the professor so far.  That was a huge load off.  At least I know I'm on the right track for this essay.


Work:
 I've gotten my full 20 hours in these past few weeks.  It's probably contributing to the tiredness, but I'll be glad to get that paycheck!  I've been really glad to get more opening and closing shifts rather than ones in the middle of the day.


Hockey:
We've had our games cancelled the past three weeks.  The first two were due to so called frozen pitch.  This past Saturday the opposition cancelled for a reason unknown to me.  Training this past Thursday was fun though because the guys' team needed another keeper, so I got to play with them.  Love the faster pace!


Church:
Last week, for the Sunday evening service we watched the movie Courageous as a church.  If you haven't seen it, you really should.

Last week was also the breaking of the fast.  Like NLAG, CBC also did a 21 day fast.  It's funny how things I thought I would get answers about are not what I got answers about, but instead I got answers and reminders I wasn't even looking for or didn't realize I needed.

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.  "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

"The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" (Proverbs 20:24).  Do I need to understand everything?  No, I can still do what is required of me without that.  "No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

We had a visiting pastor come in from Minnesota on Wednesday.  He preached to us Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights as well as Sunday morning and evening.  The theme was overcoming demonic strongholds in our lives.  Something to think about - "Addictions come when you choose the wrong master.  When you don't choose God as your master, you get Satan by default."  What have you chosen or not chosen?  If you've chosen God, are you allowing him full access to the entirety of your life?  Is he your master on more than just Sunday morning?  Do you give everyday, every action, and every thought to God?

"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts" (1 John 5:21).



Randoms:
Thank you for praying for my cousin Stephen.  He is back in the States. :)

Ran my fastest half-marathon of my life on Friday!  Guess I should run scared of being late for work more often lol... however, I then just wanted to nap for the duration of my shift...

The weekend was beautiful and sunny.  Loved it.  After a recovery run on Saturday, Paula and I sat in the hot tub at her and Bobby's place and chatted about life.  I stayed with them Friday and Saturday nights so that I wouldn't have to tube back and forth for all of the preaching this weekend.  It was really refreshing and so nice to relax a bit before heading back into school stuff.

The Friday of Reading Week I got to spend some time with Ingefleur at the National Gallery.  We were amused that we both wanted to head to the Impressionist section first.  She is an awesome sister in Christ and I enjoy hearing what she has to say.  And then this past Sunday her mom visited from Holland and brought me stroopwafels!  Guess I should keep her around! ;)

The ladies of CBC met for pizza this past Saturday before the service for pizza at an authentic Italian pizzeria.  Oh boy was it different!

Introduced the Messersmiths to Chinese mooncake.  I bought some at a bakery in Chinatown for one of the six children's birthdays last weekend.  I'm pleased to report that everyone loves red bean!

Sang a quartet with Lisa, Emily, and Cori on Sunday.  Kenny is visiting from the Messersmith's home church in Maryland and since he's a piano performance major he has given Cori a break from playing piano.  Funny thing is that all four of us since the alto part in choir (Cori would if she weren't the pianist.)  Lisa and I ended up with the soprano.  It was one of those songs that I feel like if it were a half step higher I would not be able to sing it!  Thankfully, we all hit our notes. :)

So incredibly thankful for my church family both here and abroad.  People to mourn with you, rejoice with you, learn with you, and teach you.

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God.  But if you love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us... All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love" (1 John 4:9-16).

Thinking about a flight home for part of the summer.  Prices skyrocket at the end of June, so I'm thinking end of May or early June.  Any leads on good deals let me know.