It has been rather fun and interesting adjusting to living in the Hampton Roads area... compared to Farmville, Virginia- this place is packed with people. I was so comfortable with going in taco bell and having a whole corner of the restaurant to myself.... not so much in Virginia Beach. If feels like there are people everywhere. Let's not even talk about the Wal-Mart:) I usually like to scan my surroundings and make eye contact with the people around me. If I were to make eye contact with everyone I see here- I think I would need some visine. So, this has given me such a desire to minister and love on people in the Virginia Beach area; however, it has also put me on an overload. Then.... this morning, I read th story of Hagar in Genesis 16. Hagar was used by Sarai to produce an heir and then Hagar is mistreated once she gets pregnant. She runs away from Sarai (her mistress), and then an angel of the Lord appears to her. This is what Hagar tells God in vs. 13:
"You are the God who sees me." for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
In the midst of a hundred thousand people or in the midst of 3, God sees us. God sees our pain, our hardships, and our frustrations. When Hagar thought she was utterly alone and abandoned, God came to her. God saw her. God sees us when we are going through financial difficulty, when we are emotionally distraught, and when we are being mistreated in a relationship. He sees us and He desires to go with us into all situations. Hagar ran away from her mistress, but the Lord told her to go back to that difficult relationship and to submit. The Lord wanted to bless her, even while she stayed in the difficult relationship.
God doesnt't just see us... He sees everyone around us. And while I can't make eye-contact with everyone I see- without needing a bottle of visine, God sees into the hearts and minds of everyone and He desires to bless them and love them.
You are the God who sees me.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Hello God! Are You There?
I have been thinking alot lately about this one story in Matthew 15:21-28 regarding a woman who calls out to Jesus because her daughter is demon-possessed. The reason I have been thinking about this story so much, is that the response Jesus gives blows my mind and puzzles me. It is one of those segments of scripture... that make you think..... "God, do I really know who you are?" Of course the Jesus I know (the one who looks like a CA Surfer dude and hangs on the Sunday school room wall) would NEVER respond this way!
So what is it about this story? Let me break it down....
A chick comes to Jesus in vs. 22.... and cries out that her daughter has been demon possessed. She says, "LORD, Son of DAVID, Have mercy on me."
BUT Jesus does not look at the woman with compassion or anything great like that.... The Bible just says that Jesus remains silent. "Jesus did not answer a word." NOT A WORD! This doesnt sound like my Jesus! Jesus Doesn't ignore the cry of the oppressed!
then it gets worse..... this chick gets straight up rejected by Jesus. After the chick continues to cry after Jesus, Jesus says... "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." WHAT? C'MON JESUS! FOR REAL? I mean this chick is crying for you and you respond with something like that? This was a smack in the face, because this chick was from Canaana and not Israel.
But this chick does not give up, after Jesus gives her silence.... and she is told that the blessing is not for her... she kneels before Jesus. SHE KNEELS! She humbles herself. Jesus then seemingly rejects her again as he says "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."
The chick does not get mad, she gets even more humbled and she says.... "But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their Master's table." In other words she says, "Lord... if you could just give me the leftovers of your great power.... if you could just give me the crumbs of your blessings..... I would be happy with that."
Finally Jesus says, "Woman... you have great faith, your request is granted."
But why silence, God? Why did you seemingly reject a woman who loved you? Why did you wait until she was humbeled and humiliated before you blessed her? I have been there before... Havn't you? You ask God, "why do I hear only silence when I speak to you?" But this passage is not about how inconsiderate our God is.... for the mere fact is this:
God's Silence..... Taught us Perseverence
The Humiliation... Taught us to be Humble
The Rejection... Taught us to Appreciate the Smallest of Blessings
Jesus loves the Canaanite chick... but He could see beyond her need for a miracle, and into the growth that could be created in her. Jesus did not just give miracles so that lives could be easier... His aim was to transform lives.
He wants to transform our lives.
So what is it about this story? Let me break it down....
A chick comes to Jesus in vs. 22.... and cries out that her daughter has been demon possessed. She says, "LORD, Son of DAVID, Have mercy on me."
BUT Jesus does not look at the woman with compassion or anything great like that.... The Bible just says that Jesus remains silent. "Jesus did not answer a word." NOT A WORD! This doesnt sound like my Jesus! Jesus Doesn't ignore the cry of the oppressed!
then it gets worse..... this chick gets straight up rejected by Jesus. After the chick continues to cry after Jesus, Jesus says... "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." WHAT? C'MON JESUS! FOR REAL? I mean this chick is crying for you and you respond with something like that? This was a smack in the face, because this chick was from Canaana and not Israel.
But this chick does not give up, after Jesus gives her silence.... and she is told that the blessing is not for her... she kneels before Jesus. SHE KNEELS! She humbles herself. Jesus then seemingly rejects her again as he says "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."
The chick does not get mad, she gets even more humbled and she says.... "But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their Master's table." In other words she says, "Lord... if you could just give me the leftovers of your great power.... if you could just give me the crumbs of your blessings..... I would be happy with that."
Finally Jesus says, "Woman... you have great faith, your request is granted."
But why silence, God? Why did you seemingly reject a woman who loved you? Why did you wait until she was humbeled and humiliated before you blessed her? I have been there before... Havn't you? You ask God, "why do I hear only silence when I speak to you?" But this passage is not about how inconsiderate our God is.... for the mere fact is this:
God's Silence..... Taught us Perseverence
The Humiliation... Taught us to be Humble
The Rejection... Taught us to Appreciate the Smallest of Blessings
Jesus loves the Canaanite chick... but He could see beyond her need for a miracle, and into the growth that could be created in her. Jesus did not just give miracles so that lives could be easier... His aim was to transform lives.
He wants to transform our lives.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Everyone dies but not Everyone LIVES
So really, it has been a year since we have logged into this thing. For those of you who did not know... we just moved. Yes, after basically 2 years of praying about this decision.... we moved to VA Beach. Why VA Beach? No, it was not because of the ocean (believe itor not). Conrad and I felt led to finish our degrees on the Regent University Campus. We have both been taking online courses for our degree; however, I needed 30 on-campus credit hours to get my degree and Conrad felt as if he could not complete his degree in a timely fashion if he did not get his booty on campus. Conrad is getting a B.A. in Church/Ministry and Worship Music Ministry. I will be getting my M.Div. with a concentration in interdisciplinary studies. Conrad will probably have 3 years left to complete his degree and I will hopefully* be graduating in the Fall/Spring of 2011. I do not know why it takes longer to get a Masters of Divinity than it does to get a law degree;)
So WHY? Why are we going back to school? Why are we even getting degrees? First, I can tell you that it has nothing to do with our social status. Who cares about that mess! What motivates us is a call to minister to others and while we could do that without a degree.... we are so thirsty to know more, and to know how we can better serve those that we minister to. This is also something we feel called to do..... trust me, you have to feel called in order to swallow the school bills that come our way:) We cannot exactly see where God is leading our every step, but we know that to neglect this calling would be to act in disobedience towards the plan God has for our lives. This is probably one of the hugest jumps of faith we have ever taken.... we were working with youth and a ministry that we loved, our income was predictable (even if it wasn't large), we were near our families, and we were comfortable. But watch out... whenever you are comfortable, you are in a dangerous spot. God called us here.... beyond our comfort, away from the ministry we love, and away from a stable income. We have to wait on the Lord.... and we are excited to see where He is taking us.'
One of my favorite Superchick songs has the following lyrics:
*Everybody dies but not Everyone Lives*
Thats what I want to do..... LIVE..... no matter how uncomfortable it makes me, or what risks I have to take. I want to LIVE in the fullness of God's power and grace.... I want to LIVE by seeing the beauty in every moment.... I want to LIVE as if I could die tomorrow..... I want to LIVE by pouring into others.....
Are you LIVING?
-Krystle
So WHY? Why are we going back to school? Why are we even getting degrees? First, I can tell you that it has nothing to do with our social status. Who cares about that mess! What motivates us is a call to minister to others and while we could do that without a degree.... we are so thirsty to know more, and to know how we can better serve those that we minister to. This is also something we feel called to do..... trust me, you have to feel called in order to swallow the school bills that come our way:) We cannot exactly see where God is leading our every step, but we know that to neglect this calling would be to act in disobedience towards the plan God has for our lives. This is probably one of the hugest jumps of faith we have ever taken.... we were working with youth and a ministry that we loved, our income was predictable (even if it wasn't large), we were near our families, and we were comfortable. But watch out... whenever you are comfortable, you are in a dangerous spot. God called us here.... beyond our comfort, away from the ministry we love, and away from a stable income. We have to wait on the Lord.... and we are excited to see where He is taking us.'
One of my favorite Superchick songs has the following lyrics:
*Everybody dies but not Everyone Lives*
Thats what I want to do..... LIVE..... no matter how uncomfortable it makes me, or what risks I have to take. I want to LIVE in the fullness of God's power and grace.... I want to LIVE by seeing the beauty in every moment.... I want to LIVE as if I could die tomorrow..... I want to LIVE by pouring into others.....
Are you LIVING?
-Krystle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
