I love the opening week of each semester at college. I love catching up with friends from around the country. I love diving back into a semi-challenging academic schedule. I love once again having the opportunity to minister at Windsor, but most of all, I love the revival services that challenge me to have a soft, open heart for Christ.
This semester's speaker was evangelist Joe Mark. Dr. Mark is truly blessed with the gift of preaching. I could not wait to listen & soak up everything he had to say: God is using him in a powerful way. Each of his messages challenged me, but one sticks with me more than the others.
On Monday evening, Dr. Mark spoke from Isaiah 44:13-17 Giving God the Garbage. He pointed out that all too often Christians only give God their leftovers--their garbage. Instead of giving the Lord what He deserves, our personal best, we selfishly keep the best of our time, money, & strength to ourselves. After a long day of serving ourselves, we realize that we have forgotten God & rush to scrape together the remainder of our time, money, & strength for Him.
By this point, you are probably wondering why this blog is entitled "wasted". Dr. Mark emphasized throughout his message that a Christian who gives God only garbage is living a wasted life. I can still hear his illustration of a saved man who lived his life for himself. On his death bed he could only scream, "WASTED!" I do not want to live a wasted life! How selfish & disheartening to give the Saviour of my soul the left-overs.
Dr. Mark did not end his sermon with the dispair of a wasted life. To avoid a wasted life a Christian must simply dedicate his time & testamony to the Christ who saved him. Dedication is not an easy task: it takes determination & communication. Determination to give God the best of what He has given & constant communication with Christ through devotions & prayer.
The opening week to my sophomore year was filled with things that I love. I love all of the teachers & classes that I am enrolled in this semester. I loved eating, hanging out, & bowling with friends. But most of all, I loved being challenged spiritually. My life will not be wasted.
06 September 2008
01 September 2008
the wardrobe
In C. S. Lewis' epic tales, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe, Lucy Pevensie falls into a magical world just by opening a door to an old, dusty wardrobe. Yesterday, after talking with friends, I began to think about all the doors that the Lord has opened for me.
Friendships are a special gift. I cannot imagine my life without the friends that surround me, both at college & at home. Each friendship began with God opening a door where the slightest sliver of light shone through. Like Lucy I had to choose, despite the unseen costs & rewards, to engage myself in friendly conversation & open my heart to my friends. That step can be so hard! I am so thankful for the doors of friendship that the Lord directed me toward. Because of my friends I truly believe that I have been changed for good.
There are other doors: doors that lead to opportunities in ministry, academics, & career. These doors bring with them more apprehension than the doors of friendship . . . at least for me. I love meeting new people & having fun. I have been embarrassed enough in my life that I no longer care what people think about me as long as I am being myself & a good representation of Christ. That I snort & honk when I laugh does not bother me as it used to, but when Christ cracks open a door that leads to an opportunity in ministry, academics, or career, I get a little scared. I don't want to mess up something so important in my life. I am scared of the outcome, not so much in ministry, but in academics & career opportunities. It is these major areas, where I must completely trust Christ for the outcome, that I struggle the most to let go.
It is often hard to step out on faith & follow Christ; it is harder when the outcome of this step of faith cannot be seen. So many of the choices I have been challenged to make force me to trust Christ in the outcome. I love & get quite excited about change, yet it still scares me. What if I do the wrong thing? What if I make a mistake that is irreversable? This summer the Lord has taught me that I when I rely on Him there is "no cause for worry or for fear".
The Lord has so many doors cracked open: doors that lead to some great opportunities. I am excited & scared to open them & step inside leaning on Christ. Pray with me, that I would choose the best door & enter a wonderful world where I continue to grow to be more like Christ.
Friendships are a special gift. I cannot imagine my life without the friends that surround me, both at college & at home. Each friendship began with God opening a door where the slightest sliver of light shone through. Like Lucy I had to choose, despite the unseen costs & rewards, to engage myself in friendly conversation & open my heart to my friends. That step can be so hard! I am so thankful for the doors of friendship that the Lord directed me toward. Because of my friends I truly believe that I have been changed for good.
There are other doors: doors that lead to opportunities in ministry, academics, & career. These doors bring with them more apprehension than the doors of friendship . . . at least for me. I love meeting new people & having fun. I have been embarrassed enough in my life that I no longer care what people think about me as long as I am being myself & a good representation of Christ. That I snort & honk when I laugh does not bother me as it used to, but when Christ cracks open a door that leads to an opportunity in ministry, academics, or career, I get a little scared. I don't want to mess up something so important in my life. I am scared of the outcome, not so much in ministry, but in academics & career opportunities. It is these major areas, where I must completely trust Christ for the outcome, that I struggle the most to let go.
It is often hard to step out on faith & follow Christ; it is harder when the outcome of this step of faith cannot be seen. So many of the choices I have been challenged to make force me to trust Christ in the outcome. I love & get quite excited about change, yet it still scares me. What if I do the wrong thing? What if I make a mistake that is irreversable? This summer the Lord has taught me that I when I rely on Him there is "no cause for worry or for fear".
The Lord has so many doors cracked open: doors that lead to some great opportunities. I am excited & scared to open them & step inside leaning on Christ. Pray with me, that I would choose the best door & enter a wonderful world where I continue to grow to be more like Christ.
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