Great and Wonderful Things

Sometimes it's really easy to get angry at God for where we find ourselves. We look around and see things that are totally different from what we anticipated, and what do we do? We get angry and frustrated at God. We blame him for setting us up in a situation or at a place or with people we don't prefer.

And you know what? It's really ridiculous to think like that. Believe me, I've done it a million times. But why? Why don't we look for the positives? Why don't we look for what God is actually doing?

It's so easy, especially as college students, to look around see people in relationships, getting engaged and getting married, and become slightly depressed with that fact that we are not dating. Honestly, I hate to keep harping on this issue. But if I had a dollar for every conversation I've had in the past few weeks about relationships, both good and bad, I bet wouldn't even have to take out student loans!

Okay, maybe that was a hyperbole, but you get the point. Just stop with me and consider that maybe God has an unbelievable plan and purpose for you - and one of the qualities he might use to bring about his plan is your singleness. It's not crazy, it's practical. He did the same sort thing to prepare the world for the sending of his Son. Do you think it's any coincidence that the vast expanse of the Mediterrian world was controlled by one power (Rome), generally spoke the same language, had a huge transportation system, and began to accept Judaism as the legal religion about the same time that Jesus was born?

For example, last semester, God said to me: I want to do great and wonderful things in you and through you before there's a guy in your life. When I asked God to show me what those were, he put multiple things in my path, such as leading a Bible Study for the girls in my dorm, co-leading a student group on campus, starting my student ministry with the church, and multiple other ways I could get involved on campus and in my community - that I could do very efficiently while I'm single. God answered that prayer of mine with a very distinct answer. He gave me a reason to have faith, to believe in what I can't see, specifically that he has a plan for my life. He wants to use me to further his kingdom. And while it may seem like I'm a lonely single lady, God is really doing something beautiful in my life. The loveliest part of it is that he's using me to reach others. How amazing is that?

And guess what? He wants to use you, too. Exactly where you are.

Temple Tuesday

Look at these wicked people—

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

....
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

(Psalm 73:12-13, 16-28)

Going Skydiving

Eric Ludy writes, "God is asking, 'How seriously are you going to trust me?'" How seriously are you trusting God? Do we really believe that God is enough? That he works everything out for good? That he is supreme and everywhere and all powerful? That we can rely on him for anything and everything?

We may say that we believe God is all powerful, but then we worry and doubt the outcome of a situation. That's normal, but it's not right. If God is really all powerful, what can't he do?

Likewise, we'll tell our friends, "Oh, yeah, God loves you and he's going to work out everything out for your good" then we complain or freak out as soon as plans change.

How seriously are you trusting God?

A friend once told me: "The opposite of faith is fear." Are you afraid? 1 Timothy tells us that God did not give us "a spirit of timidity", but one of "power, love, and self-discipline". In actuality, with God we have nothing to fear, because if God is for us, who can be against us?

So be willing to trust God. Ask him to give you the ability and desire to rely on him, to depend on him, to be less afraid and more faithful. God is faithful to us, and never failed us. He will never let you down. Give him your trust. Truly, unashamedly, ask him to show you how to trust, how to let go of the airplane and jump out so you can actually experience sky-diving. Ask him to give you a perfect opportunity to do so.

Often times we give a lot of our lives to God, but we hold back something for ourselves. Maybe this is your school work, your friendships, your romantic relationships, your speech or thoughts. Listen, God wants it all. Go sky-diving in every part of your life! Wrap it up in a box and set it at God's feet. Treat each issue of your life the same - an issue to bring before God and ask for his grace about. No problem is any different than the others.

So... How seriously are you willing to trust God? How seriously are you depending on him, relying on him, needing him for everything?

Trust him.

Temple Tuesday

Okay, get this: God is amazing. And He has done and will do amazing things. By all means, share these awesome things God has done for you with those around you. An awesome way to share your faith with nonbelievers and to encourage fellow believers is to tell your testimony, or let them know what God has done in your life and in their lives of those around you.

Along those lines, here's some words from David:

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The sovereign Lord rescues us from death.... Tell everyone about God's power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Psalm 68:19, 20, 34, 35

Patience Is a Virtue

"The kind of guys who would go after you your first semester [or first year of college] are not the kind of guys you should date and marry." - My Lovely RA

Believe me, it feels good to be approached by a guy first semester freshman year of college (or even high school) and realize he's paying attention to you. I'm not going to lie and tell you that attraction is bad or wrong. It's normal. And granted, we all like people to notice us.

However, with the entering of college or high school that first semester, suddenly you are surrounded by so many new people. There are a lot of new things to experience, new people to meet, new friends to get to know, new things to do. My advice is to put off dating. For a long while.

When they say patience is a virtue, they aren't lying. To tell you the truth, I've never heard someone say, "Yeah, we waited until we knew each other better or whatever before we started dating and it was the worst decision we ever made." Who says that? If anything, it's typically a positive to wait.

Wait for how long and for what? I don't want to give specific details, since, well, I've never been there, but typically, if you've been in a relationship before, you should wait before you get in another relationship the length of time of your last relationship. If you were dating someone for 6 months, you should probably wait at least 6 months before dating again. If you haven't been in a relationship before, I'd say you should know the person 6 months to a year (And I'd really push a year) before entering into an exclusive dating relationship. Obviously, group dating/outings are different.

Someone wise once told me, "You should never date until you're happy being single." Which, actually, is the over-arching point of this entire blog-post. If you're out there visibly looking for a significant other, if you found the perfect guy or girl who makes you feel happy... Not exactly a prime reason to begin a relationship. In addition, I just want to remind you that singleness is a beautiful gift as well. Allow God to do something great and lovely in you and through you before have a guy/girl in your life.

I don't know if I'm just vastly old-fashioned, but I love the idea of being a lady in waiting, having what Proverbs 11:16 (in the Message) describes as "gentle grace". None of this flirtatious, go-ask-the-guy-out-because-he's-too-much-of-a-pansy stuff. Guys are called to be men. I don't know how much you believe that.

But there's something that girls, especially some around me, have forgotten. Being a man does not mean that a guy should ask you out immediately. Girls get so tired of waiting on guys to do the asking, but imagine what would happen if he asked too quickly or never left you alone. There's something more beautiful, more manly, even, in a guy giving a girl he happens to like a little more space, in "casually" bumping into her at the cafeteria, for example. By all means, there is a time to make your intentions known - it's typically called the "defining the relationship talk" - and it's different from asking her on a date. But that time does not need to happen as soon as you meet her.

There's an anonymous quote that is used to compare relationships to grains of sand. If you've ever held a handful of sad tightly in your fist, you know what I mean...

If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, its yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be.

I know it sounds anti-pop culture, or whatever, but it's true. The greatest test to see if something if really for you is if you let it go and it doesn't go away. To apply this, if you stop trying to control a relationship and let God do the writing of your story, it's actually going to work out the way God desires and has planned. Believe me, it does. God has a plan and a purpose for you and your love life. Take the risk to believe it.

Please don't get wrong, I am not condemning or ridiculing those who have begun dating relationships, even Freshman year. I am simply offering advice, wisdom, and encouragement to those who haven't entered these relationships and/or will face the opportunity soon.

Temple Tuesday

My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;

In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath.
Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery.

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this:

That power belongs to God;
And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,

For You recompense a man according to his work.

Psalm 62

NASB

A Psalm of David

C. S. Lewis writes:

An ‘impersonal God’ - well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads - better still. A formless life-force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap - best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband - that is quite another matter.

- C.S. Lewis's Miracles

Later in this same passage, C.S. Lewis asks, "Supposing we really found Him? Or, He found us?"

There are many people on a mad search for God, even though they call it something else. They'll say "I'm trying to find happiness" or "Looking for someone who will make me feel good and happy" or "I just need this amount of money, this kind of boyfriend or girlfriend, this car, then I'll be set". Some get a little closer when they say: "If I only knew the meaning of life, then I'd know what I'm supposed to be doing."

We are all on a search for something to fill us, to stop us from striving, and we, as faulty humans, will try anything. Bad things, good things, people, possessions, activities, experiences... But nothing will fill in the hole like Christ. In fact, nothing ever fills the emptiness in us except Christ.

So, in all of this searching, if these searching people actually came face to face with God, the real, living God that Lewis describes as "hunter, king, and husband", how would their lives change. Everything would be different. God changes everything.

The cool part is that God, the real, living God, is not sitting on a giant throne somewhere gazing down on our earth nonchalantly. He is playing an active role in our world. He created it, but he hasn't left it here - He is working in it even now. With that in mind, note that God is ardently pursing every one of us, even those who do not know him or believe in him. He pursues us with love, quietly, romantically, drawing us into a relationship with Him. Picture a wayward young woman romanced by a strong lover, diligent in pursuing her.

God may be pursuing you in many different ways. For me, I am captivated by sunrises and sunsets, and I believe God creates them to show his beauty. Other times, friends, acquaintances, even people I don't know, say something that could only be perceived as a word from God. He is wooing you and pulling you towards Him.

And He is real and living and active and personable.