Getting a haircut or becoming a missionary, which would you say is more pleasing to God?
The missionary duh! I mean growing up in the church we are "unofficially" taught that the highest level of holy that you could get was being a missionary, being a pastor was a close second, so I guess that makes us pastors kids third by association.
When I was in high school I was extremely excited to go on my first missions trip. This was the first big God step that every Christian should take. I had grown up following Christ, but now I was going to prove it by going to the other side of the world Thailand. The trip opened my eyes to injustice and I began to imagine how I would be the one to save the day. I assumed that God always asked for you to take a huge step of faith, like instantly moving to another country to be the hero. After getting home I realized that I must be called into full time missions in Thailand. I didn't think I needed to really pray about it because it was a good thing, I mean I would go right after college and save people. I already had the plan of what Nonprofit I would work with and where I would live.
As the trip became further back in my memories I started to worry that maybe this was not the lane for me. I had already told everyone I knew that I felt this call in my life. As these anxieties started coming up I talked to my dad about it. He told me to just pray if the feeling got stronger it was God, if it got weaker it wasn't. Simple enough, I am sure God will prove me right at any moment. Turns out when you pray for things, it gives God the permission to actually speak.
The feeling got weaker.
Now I am sure some of you are wondering what I meant when my first line was about getting a hair cut. When I was a freshman in college I was looking in the mirror one day and had the thought that I should cut and donate my hair. Wait what? No. I loved my long hair, that is what made me feel beautiful. I kind of laughed off the thought assuming I just didn't want to study anymore. When I was younger I had short hair, all one length, with a middle part. Ouch. So needless to say I did not find short hair cute on me. I loved it on other people, but for me I just could not picture it. For some reason this pesky thought kept coming to my mind. Finally I decided I would pray about it and I knew God would tell me I was being silly, why would God want me to cut my hair?
The feeling got stronger.
Wait that is not what should be happening. I was so frustrated that I decided to tell God that the only way I would cut my hair was if he gave me a good reason. (P.s maybe don't demand things from the creator of the universe, he might actually answer). As soon as the words left my mouth I heard the words in my mind "let me be the one that defines your beauty". Dang, that was a really good answer. I needed to cut my hair to let God define my beauty. This is a lesson many girls never hear. God has called us his beautiful daughters and for that reason I am always beautiful to him, even with short hair. If I am a missionary or if I am living on the street (preferably the beach) all God wants from me is my obedience.God has called me to follow him one step at a time and eventually those little steps might just be able to help people.
God is the true hero, so why do I keep trying to steal the role.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Final Exam
Final Exam.
Wow, just hearing the word exam brings anxiety and stress. Even more stress comes when I realize that I have my final exams next week! The end of the semester for a college student is probably one of the most stressful parts of the school year. At any given moment you can find college students crying over study guides, sleeping in coffee shops, and consuming more chocolate than the average person does in a year (oh maybe just me). But exams really can make or break your semester grade, and every student knows it.
The only thing worse than the actual exam, is trying to prepare for it. What should we study, who should we study with (we always have those friends who may not be the best person to keep us on track). We need to look over the book, our notes, and anything else we can find relating to the topic that our exam will cover.
This semester a week before my final, I found out the exam is open book. This is the best news! I was so excited to kick this test in the butt....then I remembered... I never bought the book. Wait what? Yeah...I thought it was kind of dumb to spend all that money on books that I don't really need. I mean hey I'm a senior I don't need to by textbooks. Now as I am realizing my mistakes it might be too late. I mean I doubt the book store has any left in stock, and ordering online around Christmas time will likely take 7 years, not 7 days.
Sometimes I think as Christians we float through life like seniors who float through classes. I grew up in the church so I know all of the right materials. I know the right things to say and how to say things to "encourage others" in the Lord. I can even quote John 3:16 to you with my eyes closed. But I never bought the book. Yes, I do own a Bible and yes I am trying to get into reading it on a daily basis. But how many of us Christians come to a test in our lives and we are so ready to conquer it ourselves. We try and remember everything we ever heard someone else say, we try and fight using our own knowledge.
Then God reminds us the test is open book. He has given us tools to fight against the enemy in his word. Using the book seems like a cop out, we should KNOW this stuff. If God was really testing me he would want me to rely on my own strength and use the bible verses I had memorized. If I use the book that shows God that I didn't really learn everything that I was supposed to learn. That means I failed, or worse cheated.
Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."
God is asking us to take refuge in him and he is saying that his word is a shield for us. When we go through trials God never asks us to recall everything and only be able to rely on our own knowledge. Prior knowledge is good because even in an open book test, you can get through it a lot faster when you already have an idea of where the information is. If we are going through tests of our faith, attacks on or our family, our friends, or any other things Satan can throw at us...we can rest in knowing that the test is open book.
God has given us the Bible for a reason and it does not show we are weak when we use it. Yes, God wants us to store scripture in our heart, but he loves us so much that he knows there is no way for us to know every scripture in the same way that God does, or the same way our neighbor does.
When we get to heaven God will ask us why we should get in; saying that you came to class, did okay on tests, and can recite exactly what the teacher/preacher said won't be enough. If we never buy the book and actually read it, then we may have missed out on what the whole purpose of the class was about.
Wow, just hearing the word exam brings anxiety and stress. Even more stress comes when I realize that I have my final exams next week! The end of the semester for a college student is probably one of the most stressful parts of the school year. At any given moment you can find college students crying over study guides, sleeping in coffee shops, and consuming more chocolate than the average person does in a year (oh maybe just me). But exams really can make or break your semester grade, and every student knows it.
The only thing worse than the actual exam, is trying to prepare for it. What should we study, who should we study with (we always have those friends who may not be the best person to keep us on track). We need to look over the book, our notes, and anything else we can find relating to the topic that our exam will cover.
This semester a week before my final, I found out the exam is open book. This is the best news! I was so excited to kick this test in the butt....then I remembered... I never bought the book. Wait what? Yeah...I thought it was kind of dumb to spend all that money on books that I don't really need. I mean hey I'm a senior I don't need to by textbooks. Now as I am realizing my mistakes it might be too late. I mean I doubt the book store has any left in stock, and ordering online around Christmas time will likely take 7 years, not 7 days.
Sometimes I think as Christians we float through life like seniors who float through classes. I grew up in the church so I know all of the right materials. I know the right things to say and how to say things to "encourage others" in the Lord. I can even quote John 3:16 to you with my eyes closed. But I never bought the book. Yes, I do own a Bible and yes I am trying to get into reading it on a daily basis. But how many of us Christians come to a test in our lives and we are so ready to conquer it ourselves. We try and remember everything we ever heard someone else say, we try and fight using our own knowledge.
Then God reminds us the test is open book. He has given us tools to fight against the enemy in his word. Using the book seems like a cop out, we should KNOW this stuff. If God was really testing me he would want me to rely on my own strength and use the bible verses I had memorized. If I use the book that shows God that I didn't really learn everything that I was supposed to learn. That means I failed, or worse cheated.
Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."
God is asking us to take refuge in him and he is saying that his word is a shield for us. When we go through trials God never asks us to recall everything and only be able to rely on our own knowledge. Prior knowledge is good because even in an open book test, you can get through it a lot faster when you already have an idea of where the information is. If we are going through tests of our faith, attacks on or our family, our friends, or any other things Satan can throw at us...we can rest in knowing that the test is open book.
God has given us the Bible for a reason and it does not show we are weak when we use it. Yes, God wants us to store scripture in our heart, but he loves us so much that he knows there is no way for us to know every scripture in the same way that God does, or the same way our neighbor does.
When we get to heaven God will ask us why we should get in; saying that you came to class, did okay on tests, and can recite exactly what the teacher/preacher said won't be enough. If we never buy the book and actually read it, then we may have missed out on what the whole purpose of the class was about.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)