I have been really wrestling lately with the concept of living in this broken, messed up world. Honestly, most of my wrestling has been with the idea that God wants nothing less than all of who we are, and yet it is so rare to see someone completely sold out to God. Tonight, God smacked me upside the head with something so I just want to write and see if I can make sense of it.
In Malachi, God really comes down on the Israelites (and especially the priests) for giving up blemished animals for their offering to a Holy God. He says, "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king, says the Lord Almighty, and my name is to be feared among the nations." Some strong language God is using here, and it for sure stings.
I can't help but think of how often I take the very best of what I have and use it for me. Or how I give my left-over time to God instead of giving Him my best hours. Tomorrow I am speaking at our high school service on the holiness of God. But one of the things I am talking about is what the fear of the Lord really looks like. I love reading the Old Testament in light of the New. I love thinking about the sacrifice that God gave to us in Jesus and how gracious He is in forgiving us.
But more than that, I love that the fear I have for God is becoming more and more complete awe as to who He is and what He is about. I can't give any excuses for why I often times give God blemished offerings. What I can do is continue to fix my eyes on the grace and love of Christ and automatically my offerings become more pure...not because of anything I did, but because of everything He did. My desire becomes more for Him and less for me. And in turn, He teaches me how to love better...with more purity of heart and intention.
What do your offerings look like?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Bad Blogger
I know, I know...I've been such a horrible blogger lately. It's not that I don't want to share what's going on, it's just that I have been stretched in so many different directions lately, I have had little time to sit and collect my thoughts.
Which actually brings up a thought...Why is it that we tend to push off the most important things for the most urgent things?? I remember in graduate school going through a time quadrant where we were supposed to label things "urgent and important", "urgent and unimportant", "not urgent but important", and "not urgent and unimportant". And I remember thinking then, 10 years ago, that I often times end up in the urgent and unimportant category just because it seems urgent. And still, 10 years later, I find myself there all too often.
Maybe it's the technology we work with. When an email pops up, I often feel the need to respond right away, regardless of what else I might be doing at the time. Facebook sure hasn't helped either, as I can waste countless minutes/hours messing around...and I can even call it "ministry" because often times I'm chatting with students or sending them little encouraging notes or whatever.
I guess I realized this the other day when I had a spare hour in my day. It was really nice outside so I decided to take my little backpack with a book, my Bible and my journal and walk down to the park. I spent the hour I had, and another half hour that I didn't really have free and just spent time with God...rewinding, relaxing and refueling. It was in this moment that I realized that what I had relegated to the important but not urgent quadrant really is important and urgent if I'm going to be the woman God has made me to be.
I have big plans this summer. I'm leading a trip of 25 high school students and adults to Mexico from June 13-19...and then I'm heading to Jos, Nigeria for almost 5 weeks from July 11-August 15th. God has big plans this summer...not only for me, but for the students I minister to and their families...for the kids in Mexico and the kids in Nigeria that I will meet and have the priviledge of hanging out with. I'm excited. But I'm also very aware that without placing that "down time" in the urgent and important category, I'm going to miss what God has for me.
I was amazed at all God had to say to me in that hour and a half the other day. Tears ran down my face as He reminded me what a treasure I am to Him. Excitement welled up in me as He shared his desire to touch the world through me and countless others who follow His leading. And peace flooded over me as I was reminded that it's not me, but the God who created the universe doing all the work.
Make it urgent...to spend time with your Father...it's the most important thing you will do today!
Which actually brings up a thought...Why is it that we tend to push off the most important things for the most urgent things?? I remember in graduate school going through a time quadrant where we were supposed to label things "urgent and important", "urgent and unimportant", "not urgent but important", and "not urgent and unimportant". And I remember thinking then, 10 years ago, that I often times end up in the urgent and unimportant category just because it seems urgent. And still, 10 years later, I find myself there all too often.
Maybe it's the technology we work with. When an email pops up, I often feel the need to respond right away, regardless of what else I might be doing at the time. Facebook sure hasn't helped either, as I can waste countless minutes/hours messing around...and I can even call it "ministry" because often times I'm chatting with students or sending them little encouraging notes or whatever.
I guess I realized this the other day when I had a spare hour in my day. It was really nice outside so I decided to take my little backpack with a book, my Bible and my journal and walk down to the park. I spent the hour I had, and another half hour that I didn't really have free and just spent time with God...rewinding, relaxing and refueling. It was in this moment that I realized that what I had relegated to the important but not urgent quadrant really is important and urgent if I'm going to be the woman God has made me to be.
I have big plans this summer. I'm leading a trip of 25 high school students and adults to Mexico from June 13-19...and then I'm heading to Jos, Nigeria for almost 5 weeks from July 11-August 15th. God has big plans this summer...not only for me, but for the students I minister to and their families...for the kids in Mexico and the kids in Nigeria that I will meet and have the priviledge of hanging out with. I'm excited. But I'm also very aware that without placing that "down time" in the urgent and important category, I'm going to miss what God has for me.
I was amazed at all God had to say to me in that hour and a half the other day. Tears ran down my face as He reminded me what a treasure I am to Him. Excitement welled up in me as He shared his desire to touch the world through me and countless others who follow His leading. And peace flooded over me as I was reminded that it's not me, but the God who created the universe doing all the work.
Make it urgent...to spend time with your Father...it's the most important thing you will do today!
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