Pressing On

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 NIV

This verse really spoke to me this week...I guess mostly because the news about Pastor Kim and his wife really shook me. Out of all the churches I have attended this is the only one where I feel like my family in Christ is actually my family. Losing Pastor Kim and his wife is like having family members taken away from you. Thinking back all I ever received from either of them were genuine smiles, hugs, and how-are-you's...and I hardly share any history with them at all. This whole situation breaks my heart because I cannot even imagine the sacrifices the entire Kim family has made so willingly for the glory of God.

But that's really what we have to do, isn't it? I mean when it comes down to it, faith isn't about our church members or our leaders, it's about you and God. Giving up our past lives, lives of sin and worldy things...well it's not really much of a sacrifice if you think about how amazing it will be in dwelling in the heavenly kingdom of God. But that's not really to say that life on this earth is a breeze, and that once you accept Jesus Christ that your life will be perfect and you will never struggle with any sort of sin or temptation ever again. Quite the opposite actually; you'd probably be much more aware of sin and Satan's traps for you. Also I guess that like Pastor Kim, we will all be faced with situations where we must push on, the only thing keeping us on that path being our trust in God. This week I have been praying so hard for their family and the future of our church, but I know that each of us must persevere, press on for the glory of God and the hope of eternity with Him.

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

This week I read this verse and it seemed to stick out to me especially because we have break this week. During breaks I usually sleep alot and pretty much do whatever I want...but I also found that I am more spiritually sound during breaks. I have less stress and more time that is devoted to God without having other worries or anxieties interfere. This verse says that we should live in peace...and not just on breaks. I think this verse shows how I should already be content with what God has given me. It's almost the exact opposite of what we're taught by the media and parents and stuff...to always want more money, to work harder in school to get a better paying job, etc. I'm sure that my parents are just trying to make sure I don't end up being a hobo on the street, but I know that God will provide for me wherever I end up. I just think it's awesome that I have that reassurance. Even if I were to end up as a hobo on the street, God is still going to be with me. I don't know what God's plan for me is in the future, but I am content because I have all I will ever need--His love. If God's love is with me on this earth and even past that, then the temporary things I acquire on this earth are of much less significance...

Recently one of my friends was rejected from some of the schools he applied to...after he received the rejection letters he told me how frustrated he was and how he didn't really know what God's plan for him on this earth is if his chance to go to college is taken away. My automatic response was to comfort him, reminding him that God will never give us more than we can handle and that when we have salvation in Christ, we are entrusting our lives to God fully and completely in all matters of life. Later I guess I realized that I'm pretty much anxious about the same thing. I don't know what God has in store for me at all, and now that college visiting and all this other stuff is starting to come around during junior year it's all a bit mortifying at first. In considering what areas I would like to pursue in college, I am starting to look at things I could do in either english or art. My parents worry because they say there is no money in either of those studies and their worries start to become my own. Upon deeper reflection I am comforted by the realization that I already one true purpose on this life, which is (always!) to live a life that glorifies Christ and His sacrifice for us on the cross. But even with the commands that Scripture provides us with it's still hard to know what God is calling you to do in order to glorify His name to the best of your own ability...which is why I like this verse alot:

So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34 NIV

Not only does this relieve my anxieties about college and the future; but it also reminds me the importance of reading Scripture. Just because you've read Scripture once doesn't mean you've taken it all in. Our memories fade; therefore, constant reinforcement, re-application, and general reflection is what makes Scripture valid in our lives both now and until we stand before Him in judgment.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 NIV

This is a really simple verse that I am trying to apply to my own life because I think it gets straight to the point of how we should live as believers. If we don't give over every aspect of our life to God, our faith is false. To claim faith to the Lord only when we're inside a church building or in front of our christian friends/family members is useless and in time, only harms ourselves in that we have deprived ourselves from a chance of true salvation in Christ. For my own spiritual life this is something I've thought about a lot, because at first I didn't really understand the verse. We are commanded by Scripture to live our lives so that the work that we do will glorify God's image and not our own. Thus, even the things I do in my daily ritual that seem trivial to me should be magnified in their importance because they are for God and dedicated to His glory. But things like swim practice, washing dishes, doing my homework....how were these things at all related to glorifying God? Even though it may not be straightforwardly glorifying God like we do when we sing praise songs and prayer, it is still work. When I do homework, it is (I hope) to improve my mind and at the very least my discipline. An improved mind and discipline can be used to gain a better understanding of Scripture and my spiritual relationship with God. Things like helping my parents with chores and swimming aren't directly related to worshipping God-but they may give me opportunities for evangelism and extending further from the church "bubble" of overly self-contented christians. In the end I think that faith should be something that transcends the boundaries that we often create in our own minds when we compartmentalize our lives. Faith is not something to be restricted into "Church time" or "Prayer/Devo Time", rather, it should be a driving force that moves all aspects of our lives so that we can glorify God with all that we have.

So this week our english teacher wanted us to write essays for a competition. The essay topic was basically to write about a woman we regard in high esteem...I picked my grandmother. I realized she is someone I admire because she is for me, an example of a woman of Christ. She was far from perfect, but after she was saved she lived her life with a strength and hope that could only come from Christ. I realized that throughout her life she extended the love of Christ to whoever she met. In low spiritual times I wonder if my faith is just an act--my grandmother's sons, for the most part, rejected Christ after my grandmother died. My mother, as well as my older brother, have rejected Christ. I wonder if this is will happen to me too, that putting up a pretense of faith is for all intents and purposes, "hereditary"...

and through these treacherous thoughts this is one of the verses that appears in my mind:

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

I've heard this verse spoken zillions of times and I think it's just so simple and powerful. There is no doubt in my mind nor heart that Christ died for us; that the saving power of His grace is all we need and He will never leave our side. Now that I'm writing this I guess this can be related to the Spiritual Disciplines book. If you guys don't have it,get it...it's pretty straightforward and really puts things in the proper perspective. Anyway, there's this part where Whitney talks about why believers should memorize Scripture--without the Word of God stored in our hearts, how can we know what He wants us to do when a Bible isn't nearby? Verses are our weapons against Satan, against the daily temptations and thoughts he puts into our minds. The Holy Spirit will work in us and bring verses to mind that will help us through our problems. This verse was especially comforting to me because it says "do not be discouraged"....a reminder of perseverance against the world, and the trust that I put into the truth of Christ.

Uncompromising

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.



So this week I watched the the Obama inauguration in school and it started off with the music and the invocation prayer and stuff. Normally I'm not really an avid follower of politics or anything but I guess I paid more attention because the gay community is all in uproar about Warren being picked to deliver the invocation. Anyways so at the end I was a little disappointed (esp. after watching the Brittany McComb video)because Warren seemed a little.....eh. He didn't preach Christ or eternal life; most of his speech was pretty much passive and vague enough to satisfy pretty much everyone. The point of me saying this is not to criticize the guy, but I guess I feel sort of responsible. This is really cheesy I know, but some day the kids in my grade are all going to be grown up and we're going to be leading America. Most of the time I feel like a lot of the Christian youth I meet are too passive, too willing to give up their beliefs in exchange for outward acceptance. Either that or I guess we kind of have a desensitized view on the fragile state of life and the immense gift Christ offers us. You probably can't compare a speech made up by a high school valedictorian to a speech read at the inauguration of the first black President (with millions watching), and certainly there is a lot of pressure to avoid controversy...but still, I think values should still stand, regardless. There seems to be a fine line between being tactful about evangelism and compromising the message of Christ to the point where you only skim the very surface and never actually get to the heart of Scripture at all. haha...I seem to be getting sidetracked. Anyways, I just feel as someone who is starting to get older I should try harder to examine my life and make sure that I'm not compromising anything. In the end I will only face God's judgment. My favorite verses of that passage are the last two; even though I may stumble or grow weak, the Lord will renew me. His strength is going to be what will carry me through, what will help me lead an uncompromised life, a life for Christ.

Psalm 119

1 [a] Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.

3 They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.

4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.

5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!

6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.

8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.

This week has been so much work because of midterms so I had to try really hard to keep myself disciplined in Scripture and prayer. Most of the time whenever I struggle with keeping daily devotionals its because the night before I was working until way too late...and Scripture is always better when you can read it and think it through clearly. So not to be redundant here, but I think the retreat and Spiritual Disciplines book were blessings to my life because they remind me of my true purpose on this earth: to live like Christ would. So this psalm was really encouraging to me and I really hope that I can remain steadfast in Him.