Tea Time

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,

for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

that the man of God may be complete, equipped

for every good work."  2 Timothy 3:17

The day before graduation I sat around a table having tea (yes, having tea) with seven other girls who just finished their first semester of seminary.  One of the girls asked if we could go around the table and reflect on what we learned this semester.  I giggled a bit and elected to go last in order to answer for my entire time and challenge these ladies for the semesters to come.  What I did not expect was to get choked up at the goodness of our Father and at the amazement of the semesters to come when these ladies would be completely transformed.    

Just before I sat down with those ladies for tea, I was sitting in graduation rehearsal and the only word I could say and think about was, "wow!"  Seems crazy but I was about to walk across a stage with a Masters degree.  If you know me, you would have never thought I was one to further my education, I would rather be in a gym with a basketball in hand.  But I serve such a powerful, merciful, gracious Father who called me out of the gym to such a bigger plan.  See, “my” plan was to always be a high school Physical Education teacher and coach basketball.  I never planned on furthering my degree, let alone going to a Seminary to do so.  But the Lord moves in mighty ways and calls us all in different directions and paths than what we expect.  So August 2013, straight out of college, I started at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary focusing on Christian Education, with the idea of going into Sports Ministry. 

So, let’s go back to that table of first semester students, and let me tell you what I learned my three and a half years at Southeastern.  I learned that no matter how you are feeling or what you are doing, the Gospel should never feel like a burden.  I have spent multiple summers serving in different cities across the States and when I get so tired and worn out, God shows up the most.  When I tend to be in a hurry, the Lord puts someone in my path that slows me down.  When we are drained and down that’s when we should call on Him the most.  Through prayer and devotion is when we become the most Christ-like and peaceful.  But most importantly, I have learned how important and how personal Christ’s love and death is for me and that the greatest call of all is to show that love to all we come in contact with.  This is what Jesus truly meant in Matthew 28, when he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

During orientation Dr. Akin challenges us all to take advantage of this opportunity and to use this time wisely because when we are done, we are done and are sent out to use what we have learned in full time ministry/career.  So, as Dr. Akin now comes to a close and challenges the graduates, he asks a question that hits home.  He asks us if it is okay that he shares the Gospel in his speech tomorrow, but he then takes it a step further and asks how many of us would give up our diploma if it meant that just one person in the crowd became a believer in Christ.  Every single hand shot up.  I honestly teared up and thought to myself, “wow”, having this piece of paper means nothing when I stand in front of my Savior one day!  This is what it means to live out the Great Commission.  Before Southeastern, I did not really know what this meant.  But after being apart of a Great Commission Seminary, I leave with the thought in mind to constantly be living out the Gospel and focusing on sharing the Good News with all I come in contact with.  So whether you are in Seminary, College, High School, or whatever walk of life, do not let the Gospel be a burden but a method in which you live daily.  Be “complete, equipped, for every good work.” 

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:21

Grace

Grace.  What is grace?  We hear of teachers having grace towards students when it comes to grades. We hear of someone graciously letting us over in traffic or the police officer who graciously let's us off of with a warning. But what does "grace" really mean? Webster's dictionary would define it as, "a simple elegance or refinement of movement, or (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings."  We can look around at bombings, injustice and the shortage of gas, and we tend to get so angry and wrapped up in the chaos.  In reality the only thing we need to be looking towards and at is the only One who can truly save us from our sins and from the world.  There is a famous Hymn, "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," in which the chorus has the words:

Grace, Grace, God's Grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,

Grace, Grace, God's Grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin

From the above lyrics, I cannot help but think about the marvelous grace we have been given through Christ Jesus.  "Grace is greater than all our sin."  Those lyrics alone sum it all up.  God's grace is greater than anything we do against Him.  I experienced this grace.  I was chasing a sport that could never fulfill me and it took a simple tragedy in my life in order to open my eyes to the this infinite grace.  I find it very hard to give grace to someone who cheated on a test, let alone murdered someone.  But that is what separates our God from any other.  Our God comes to us and cleanses us from any bad thing we have ever done.  

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ --by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:4-9

"But God, being rich in mercy…"  God gives us grace!  Webster got it right, "the free and unmerited favor of God."  Grace means to get something that you do not deserve; "unmerited favor."  Mercy means you do not get a punishment that you deserve; compassion, forbearance.  God is abundant in grace and mercy and we see that in Ephesians.  His greatest act of grace is the gift of salvation that is available for all people through faith.  When this free gift is accepted, eternal life is promised to the recipient.  Grace is the only way to the Father and we know that He is so gracious that He sends his only son to die for me and you, so that we may have eternal life and be in relationship with Him.     

Next time you think of grace, think of the blood that Christ shed for you and how "God, being rich in mercy…made us alive together with Christ."  So, today look around and remember that God's grace is better than anything else in the world and with it you will have a home one day in heaven with God.  I pray you have had an opportunity to experience this grace, because it is truly the only thing that can make you "alive in Christ."    

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Romans 3:23-24

    

Where would we be?

I was laying in bed and could not really go to sleep because there was just too much on my mind and I started thinking about Where would I be if God would not have saved me?  I was just looking at what God had done for me in one day, but then I started looking at what He has done for me in my life.  Then I thought, how on earth can someone say there is not a God after all I see He has done for me?  I looked back at my life before I knew Christ and where I would be today if I did not know Him.  I then just started to cry, God loved me so much to have taken me out of what could have been.  Yea, I have been through a lot, from the lost of my mother, to moving a ton, to quitting the biggest thing in my life, but I would not take any of that back because it made me who I am!  It is truly scary to just think about and to see how your life could have been.  I would not be sitting in seminary housing typing this blog on my mac book that is for sure!  How amazing is it that a God who hates sin can still love us so much to rescue us from what could have been!  It is just truly amazing!  I am truly blessed and cannot thank my God enough for saving me and taken me out of the what could have been.  Thank you God for Saving Me!

FANATIC

I think it is only necessary to post a blog during the first few weeks of football season.  Have you found yourself reppin your favorite sports team lately?!?  I have seen flags flying, tweets, instagrams, and Facebook status' all about football.  It's funny though, how we can be so into this football team that will sometimes let you down or make you super excited.  We fight with other fans and yell at the TV.  I am guilty of it as well but, why aren't we this way for Christ?

I think it's important to realize how excited we get about new sports seasons and compare that to how excited we get about Christ.  We know that Christ will not let us down.  He will not tailgate a football game or get in a fight with a fan for the other team.  No, he is there at all times, loving you and me.  We might need to sit back and take a look at our life and how much we really love Jesus.  It's his season at all times, so why don't you rep Him?!?

Webster's dictionary defines fan as, "an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)." Do you see yourself this way about Jesus? Sometimes we have to take a reality check to ourselves. We know that being a fan is important in the sense of being an admirer of something but when we look at the fan that blows. What does it do? It "spreads" air around a room. Do we spread the Gospel to people we come into contact with; do we shine Christ's light everywhere we go and in everything we do? When was the last time you just simply told someone to have a wonderful day? Sometimes just a tiny act of kindness can change someone's day/life. Let's be FANS of Christ but not just the kind that worship Him but the kind that do what we are commanded and spread the Word; BE FOLLOWERS!


"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."--Acts 20:24

Humbled!

Where do I start?  This summer has been such a humbling experience.  It is very difficult to come up with one word or any words that could sum up my summer.  Working a camp that strictly glorifies the Lord is humbling and helps you realize where you lack in your life. While at camp I was not worrying about money or the scholarship I had applied for, mostly because I did not have time, but also because I did not need to worry.  God rewards those who worship Him and glorify Him.  I have so much I want to share but instead I will just share about how I was used and where I was lacking in life even when I was working for the biggest boss on earth, God.  

It's humbling to see how churches and students respond to us as staff and leaders. They do hear us and watch us so its important for us to know that. I was able to learn and see how God rewards those who serve Him.  I was at camp working 7-11 everyday and He blessed me with immeasurably more than I could ever ask for.  It was very easy to sit back and become in this routine of getting up and going to work, then go to bed. I was bad about not doing a devotional every day. I have been caught in this routine of camp.  When I go home I don't want to live on the spiritual high for a week, just as it would be for the campers. I want my spiritual high for the rest of my life! I will be in a routine at Seminary, learning about God and thinking I don't need a devotional today because I had chapel or class.  But, I need to stay in the Word and grow spiritually as well as educationally.  

One night during camp it was the last week and I sat in with the church group I was hosting.  I thought that I was doing a job. I kept praying that God would use me; I did not realize He was using me. I was just blind and could not see it because I really was not looking for it and the students were not informing me of it. But that night when I sat in on Mount Zion's church group devotion and heard, first hand, how students lives were changed through our staff. We did make a difference! We were unable to see it because it was not the atmosphere where the students were comfortable sharing. It's humbling to end the last week with awesome worship and knowing that I did do something this summer. I was beginning to feel discouraged because I didn't lead anyone to Christ but I can't do that. I can share and help people believe but they have to make that decision on their own through the Holy Spirit! I had a grown up in my group the last week wanting to swim and interact with kids but our site was on a field trip day one; they were super late on day 2 and there were no kids at the park day 3. I was even becoming discouraged because we were not able to minister.  We were only able to be with the Malvern Hills kids for an hour and within that hour my adult impacted the life of a little girl.  The third day my other adult spoke with a parent at the park. God always has a plan even if it is slim! In that church group devotion I had four people from my group and they all shared how they were impacted at site even when we did not get to minister to many people. We played four square within our small group  majority of the time.  God is amazing and I am so happy he showed that to me and answered my prayers on the last night of the summer.  

 'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."'  -Revelation 21:3