Embracing the Necessary

“Cease from what is necessary; embrace that which gives life.”

As I mediate on the first verses of the beatitudes, I come to an internal cycle:  I am not hungering and thirsting for righteousness, because I don’t think that I’m empty.  I’m not completely mourning my sin because I’m blind to much of it.  I’m not poor in spirit because I don’t feel spiritually bankrupt.  I do not have a constant correct picture of God’s holiness, in order to see how sinful I truly am.  I don’t have God’s greatness in mind because I am too focused on myself.  …And then we come to the New Year Resolution time…when it's all about "me."  

For a Type-A like me, the New Year often brings new goals & checklists.  As I’m reading these Scriptures now, I begin to wonder:

• How does someone start to not focus on themselves?
• How do I obtain what I truly need without focusing on myself?
• How do I rejuvenate, if I don't pursing the things I need for me?
• Should I pursue or cease from the necessary things?
• How should I embrace the things that give life?

I’m finding, it’s not about lists or goals.  It’s not about what I can do better.  It’s not about desiring to do greater things.  It’s not even about what Christ can do through me.  It’s about making Christ glorious—in the necessary things and the things that tend to “give life.”

So, I think the quote above needs to be adjusted… Because if I can do the dishes and make God look great, then I need to do the dishes.  Life will happen regardless of my internal attitude, but then it only becomes something necessary, not something that gives life.  Therefore, I’ll begin the New Year sans lists and resolutions, but instead hungry and thirsty for righteousness, in the necessary and in the rest. I can't often cease from what is necessary, but instead, I will “Embrace the necessary, since Christ gives life.”

I Could Play the Background

The past 3 weeks, I’ve been helping out with the high school drama.  I’ve been running lines with students during study hall, drama practice, and after school.  It’s been amazing to see their dedication and progression.  Many students wrote and performed monologues about tertiary characters.  I had to learn that tertiary characters are the background characters in stories.  For instance, one student was a “weak-minded storm trooper” from Star Wars.  Another student played the henchman, who was ready to fight Indiana Jones, but was shot without a fight.  Another student was one of the three triplets that swooned over Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.   The students performed wonderfully and the plot was tied together through a hilarious performance of the time-traveling Dr. Who and his companion Martha.  The characters bumble and grumble in an abandoned theatre, desiring the spotlight, dreaming one day of what they could become as primary characters.  The message of the show was revealed in the Lecrae song “Background.”  Not only was I impressed with the students’ ability to rap, but they had so much fun up there. The characters in the show began to realize that there is more to life than being in the spot light; that sometimes it’s better to be in the background: 

I could play the background

I could play the background

‘Cause I know sometimes I get in the way

So won’t you take the lead lead lead lead lead?

So won’t you take the lead lead lead lead lead?

I could play the background.

Students teach me so much.  They probably teach me more than I could ever teach them.  This is just one way that God has been speaking to me this semester.  He has indeed been speaking in “surround sound” about being the background. 

Last year, was a painful year of rooting out sin with constant… constant repentance.  The year before was all about transitions—understanding this place, my marriage, my friends, my job. 

This year, I think…it’s about consistently being reminded of God’s proper place in my life. 

God is allowing me to have amazing opportunities to share about Him.  I’ve seen three students come to Christ just in the last month.  I’ve seen relationships healed.  I’ve seen people learn from the hard lessons and grow closer to their God.  I’ve seen honesty and openness in my friendships and my marriage.  While working hard in my post-graduate work, I’m also playing the background and support for my husband who has much more work than I do.  I’ve been able to go on several school retreats …where things fail, which always reminds me that it’s not about what I am creating.  It’s not about the ambiance, the environment, the technology, or the games. 

It’s not about anything I do.  It’s not about me at all.  

And how cool is it that God still allows me to be a part of it.  I want that part to be the background.  My prayer is from Philippians 1, which we studied this week in the high school girls’ Bible study.  "Through my being with you agian, your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound..."  Does my being here abound peopel's boasting in Christ?  IS that my goal as I work with students, or sit next to my husband, or laugh with my friends?  What role do I play?... because I’m not the primary character.  I’m not even secondary. 

So, God, please take the lead! I want to play the background.  

Ephesians

Last weekend, I decided to spend this semester memorizing the book of Ephesians.  It is a bit much to think about, but 5 months with a Sabbath day every week should be plenty to work through at least 5-10 verses a week.  Throughout the class that I have just finished, the professor spoke often of using Ephesians as a way to counsel people.  In his words, you could counsel someone effectively and biblically just by using the book of Ephesians.  I thought that was worth paying attention to.

I’ve been very convicted about how I spend my time. 

• How much time do I spend getting ready in the mornings?
• How much time do I spend looking at a screen?
• How much time do I spend worrying about something related to work?
• How much time do I spend talking about nothing? 

                          Vs.

• How much time to do spend meditating on and memorizing Scripture?
• How much time do I spend loving my husband and friends in tangible ways?
• How much time do I spend praying for those people and situations that worry me?
• How much time do I spend encouraging, admonishing, and speaking truth to others?

Please pray with me that my time is used wisely, that I learn and apply what I memorize, and that God-honoring change happens in my heart and relationships.

Sabbath Rest

After this past year of working through various struggles and sin issues, I have come out on the side of learning, growing, and feeling renewed in Christ’s grace.  I’m feeling the need to continue in his grace by learning more about what Christ values and choosing to apply it to my life.

Currently, Ben and I are praying through how to have a Sabbath day in our expat, busy lifestyle.  We’ve been processing what the purpose of rest is and what it look like, which is difficult since an extrovert’s idea of rest and an introvert’s idea of rest are completely different. 

However, our basis for Sabbath rest is this: Time that is set aside for purposeful reflection and growth that includes personal communication with the Lord, spiritual renewal within our marriage, and open fellowship and encouragement among a community of believers.

A massive point for us to consider along the way is that although Christ values rest, renewal, prayer, etc, God states very clearly that he “desires mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6).  And that a true relationship with him is not about rest and renewal, but that we could take care of orphans and widows (James 1:27), and that we would spend time encouraging Christians and reaching others for the gospel.  The gospel is not less important on the Sabbath.  “The Sabbath was made for the man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

So, we asked ourselves, what will our Sabbath look like?

This process may take some tweaking and much grace, but I think it will be a helpful tool for growth.  The goal in this is not to create a list (which I so easily do, and am tempted to do at this very moment) but rather to intentionally seek consistent renewal from God. 

Because our events and schedules change from weekend to weekend, we are not tied to a certain day of the week.  We work Monday through Friday, so that kind of cuts it down to 2 days.  For us, either day works.  It may be a Saturday one week and a Sunday the next.  We will be purposeful with one day during the weekend with Masters courses, prepping for work, cooking and housework, etc, so that the other day of the weekend can be completely restful.

We have many ideas for how to make our Sabbath a Sabbath, and this will continue to unfold as we explore options and opportunities.  Pray for us on our journey, that we will learn, grow, minister, and be at rest in Christ’s goodness.

Thailand (November 2012)

This was a post from November 2012.  Our trip to Thailand, that was mostly in a hotel.   I hadn't posted it before because my pictures were not loading.  Right now, a half year later... I don't mind.  I'll just post what I have, because it's fun.

The view from our hotel room.  SO colorful compared to Qingdao this time of year!

Being silly!

What an awesome picture, Ben!

This is what we'd call "culturally competent marketing."  

 What a cool shot of some lights.

Ben with his buddies.

Shopping at the night markets.

We got our Chiangmai Starbucks Mug.

A form of taxi-ing.  It was so hot, we didn't mind.