Happy New Year!
With each new year, we hope for better, it's another chance for change, and new beginnings...and praise the Lord that we have opportunities to ask for forgiveness and realize where we've often strayed and gone wrong. If we've been in a valley for a while, we can cry out to God and pray for reprieve, and if we've been on the mountain-top, He has been exceedingly good, and we long to stay there longer. We can rejoice in both because God is in control and trustworthy, that's part of who He is.
And as I reflect on how the Lord has been working in my life, it's important to think about the familiar passage in John 15:2 - "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
J.C. Ryle says this: "God will often increase the holiness of true Christians by His providential dealings with them...just as the vinedresser prunes and cuts back the branches of a fruitful vine, so does God purify and sanctify believers by the circumstances in life in which He places them."
I like that...life isn't about fairness, comfort, or "happiness" in the sense that it should revolve around us and what we most desire and want to fuel our ill-begotten and sinful tendencies. Brothers and sisters, we were bought at a price and the least we can do is to surrender our lives daily to God as living sacrifices to Him.
Instead, God is kind to include us in His work; He is molding us, pruning us, so that we can produce more fruit, be stretched in ways that make us my like Christ...so we can minister to others better.
New Year's Day is a great time to think deeply about our spiritual conditions, to revisit and look through our priorities (how we spend our time, money, and other resources), kinda in the same way that I have looked through and cleaned out my actual closets recently, and pray that the Lord will be first in our hearts and minds, that He is affecting our daily living and the choices that we're making.
I'm excited about the year to come, because I'm enjoying all that the Lord has graciously provided, and how He's patient to work with me, even though I am so weak and imperfect.
May we be mindful and intentional in the ways we can serve Him excellently, moreso in 2011 than ever before!
Grace and peace to you.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Bearing fruit
Good morning, dear friends!
Just wanted to post something briefly to start off your week. I've been thinking about how I can try to use this time of "singleness" to the fullest, being challenged to serve and minister to others for two reasons, one: because I love Christ and the Church, two: because I know it is how God intended us to live as a Body, how we grow and are sanctified, and how I learn to turn to the focus on loving God and others more than self.
The passage I was reading this morning focuses on John 15:8 - "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." Ryle says this - "the point is not what a man should do to be saved but what ought a saved man to do."
What is the meaning of bearing fruit? What is the meaning of doing good works?
I'll leave this exercise to you, for your personal study, as we think about and reflect upon how we can and should be "doing" more for the glory of the Lord.
We were created in His image, work is part of God's design, and as Pastor John says, the curse only changed the nature of work, that work was never the punishment, but something given to man to do, something that God did/modeled for us through creation and still does through providence, etc. God works!
I often revisit the lists in Gal. 5:16-24, to see how my life reflects more of the latter than the former. How am I living by the Spirit? Would people describe me as bearing good fruit as the result of what I say I profess?
I pray that you are all fighting the good fight, struggling and battling against the flesh, all for the glory of our Lord.
Grace and peace to you.
Just wanted to post something briefly to start off your week. I've been thinking about how I can try to use this time of "singleness" to the fullest, being challenged to serve and minister to others for two reasons, one: because I love Christ and the Church, two: because I know it is how God intended us to live as a Body, how we grow and are sanctified, and how I learn to turn to the focus on loving God and others more than self.
The passage I was reading this morning focuses on John 15:8 - "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." Ryle says this - "the point is not what a man should do to be saved but what ought a saved man to do."
What is the meaning of bearing fruit? What is the meaning of doing good works?
I'll leave this exercise to you, for your personal study, as we think about and reflect upon how we can and should be "doing" more for the glory of the Lord.
We were created in His image, work is part of God's design, and as Pastor John says, the curse only changed the nature of work, that work was never the punishment, but something given to man to do, something that God did/modeled for us through creation and still does through providence, etc. God works!
I often revisit the lists in Gal. 5:16-24, to see how my life reflects more of the latter than the former. How am I living by the Spirit? Would people describe me as bearing good fruit as the result of what I say I profess?
I pray that you are all fighting the good fight, struggling and battling against the flesh, all for the glory of our Lord.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Are we too comfortable?
Dear friends,
It's the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday. For many years, I would be amongst the crazy holiday shoppers, sifting through the advertisements to plan out the best way to hit all the stores for the best deals, especially in electronics...those days are gone with the advent of internet shopping and my realization that time and rest are becoming higher priorities, scarcer commodities.
As many of you know, I've looked and waited 18 months, for a full-time job and the Lord has been gracious to provide. He is always faithful! However, the routine and things I was used to, waking up, enjoying breakfast, going to the gym, having prolonged time in the Word, are now very much different as I join millions of others in the world of Work. I see how much I like taking in the morning slowly, with ease, and doing the things that make me most happy and calm.
With that, I've stumbled across a theme in my life, am I getting too comfortable with the way things are or how I wish them to be? Being loved, feeling warmth, freedom from pain, noise, obnoxious smells, having financial security, peace/hope and knowledge of a great future including spouse and family.
I was reading a passage in Matt. 4 about not living by bread alone...and I stopped to reflect on how much I hate the feeling of hunger and how much my life can be somewhat dominated by that. I asked the Lord to reveal what other idols had taken hold. I'm still so consumed with "me", tired of waiting, of traffic, of being inconvenienced or annoyed by others...in a way that is both sad and humbling...why is it that this selfishness still lies within?
And yet, it's all quite paradoxical, because this is not our home, and the Lord is faithful to keep us "unsatisfied" in many senses (not to be confused with discontentment), and I pray that He continues to make me uncomfortable because it is for my own good. So ask yourself the hard questions, about when you last assessed your spiritual condition, what you're doing to love the Lord and others more...that it's not about you and what makes you comfortable, but how you're serving in a selfless and sacrificial way because it's Sanctifying for your soul!
I know I have to keep working on it, put off, AND put on. It's like J.C. Ryle says, not moral living but living in the Spirit. I pray that you are all well. I will try to be better at blogging more regularly. :)
Grace and peace to you.
It's the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday. For many years, I would be amongst the crazy holiday shoppers, sifting through the advertisements to plan out the best way to hit all the stores for the best deals, especially in electronics...those days are gone with the advent of internet shopping and my realization that time and rest are becoming higher priorities, scarcer commodities.
As many of you know, I've looked and waited 18 months, for a full-time job and the Lord has been gracious to provide. He is always faithful! However, the routine and things I was used to, waking up, enjoying breakfast, going to the gym, having prolonged time in the Word, are now very much different as I join millions of others in the world of Work. I see how much I like taking in the morning slowly, with ease, and doing the things that make me most happy and calm.
With that, I've stumbled across a theme in my life, am I getting too comfortable with the way things are or how I wish them to be? Being loved, feeling warmth, freedom from pain, noise, obnoxious smells, having financial security, peace/hope and knowledge of a great future including spouse and family.
I was reading a passage in Matt. 4 about not living by bread alone...and I stopped to reflect on how much I hate the feeling of hunger and how much my life can be somewhat dominated by that. I asked the Lord to reveal what other idols had taken hold. I'm still so consumed with "me", tired of waiting, of traffic, of being inconvenienced or annoyed by others...in a way that is both sad and humbling...why is it that this selfishness still lies within?
And yet, it's all quite paradoxical, because this is not our home, and the Lord is faithful to keep us "unsatisfied" in many senses (not to be confused with discontentment), and I pray that He continues to make me uncomfortable because it is for my own good. So ask yourself the hard questions, about when you last assessed your spiritual condition, what you're doing to love the Lord and others more...that it's not about you and what makes you comfortable, but how you're serving in a selfless and sacrificial way because it's Sanctifying for your soul!
I know I have to keep working on it, put off, AND put on. It's like J.C. Ryle says, not moral living but living in the Spirit. I pray that you are all well. I will try to be better at blogging more regularly. :)
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Surrender is sweet
Dear friends and family,
I've been spending a lot of time at home lately...well, a lot of time in bed actually, since I've needed a lot of rest to recover from this sinus infection/cold I caught last week.
And it's always in these times of vulnerability, especially through physical and/or emotional brokenness, that I realize how much I must continue to seek God for His grace to sustain me.
So needless to say, I have had more time to read, reflect, and meditate, to pray through things that I've continued to struggle with.
And the lesson is, that God, in His sovereign ways, is teaching me more about surrender.
What does that really mean?
I think it's a complete end to myself. I think it's being humbled...and being stripped of my pride and any thought that I could be self-sufficient. I think it's telling God that my life is in His hands, that He can use me however He pleases, that I cannot and will not complain but will allow whatever circumstances to shape me into how He sees fit. I think it's trusting that everything that's happening, what I'm feeling is what is best for me right now. And I think it's asking the Lord to search my heart more, to reveal ways that I can continue to daily let go of "control" and let Christ reign as King of my life.
And beloved, surrender to the Lord is sweet indeed. :)
Grace and peace to you.
I've been spending a lot of time at home lately...well, a lot of time in bed actually, since I've needed a lot of rest to recover from this sinus infection/cold I caught last week.
And it's always in these times of vulnerability, especially through physical and/or emotional brokenness, that I realize how much I must continue to seek God for His grace to sustain me.
So needless to say, I have had more time to read, reflect, and meditate, to pray through things that I've continued to struggle with.
And the lesson is, that God, in His sovereign ways, is teaching me more about surrender.
What does that really mean?
I think it's a complete end to myself. I think it's being humbled...and being stripped of my pride and any thought that I could be self-sufficient. I think it's telling God that my life is in His hands, that He can use me however He pleases, that I cannot and will not complain but will allow whatever circumstances to shape me into how He sees fit. I think it's trusting that everything that's happening, what I'm feeling is what is best for me right now. And I think it's asking the Lord to search my heart more, to reveal ways that I can continue to daily let go of "control" and let Christ reign as King of my life.
And beloved, surrender to the Lord is sweet indeed. :)
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Lessons from the loving Father
Dear friends and family,
I hope you enjoyed a long and wonderful Labor Day weekend! I've been able to do a lot of reading lately, waiting to hear back about a few job opportunities. And as usual, reading leads to more reflection, more lessons to be learned and applied. Here are the latest:
1. Being a good steward of my time
Ephesians 5:15-16 is a great reminder - "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
I need to have a heavenly perspective, thinking often about what God's purpose is for me as revealed through His Word, about how Jesus could return at any given moment and that I need to be making the BEST use of what time He has granted. I need to ask myself what to "invest" in, WHO to invest in and love and serve...because being idle is so easy and natural, Watching tv can be the worst time waster of all if we're not careful...even if it's just something wholesome like Discovery or History or Sports.
2. Being reminded of my ongoing need for sanctification, to cultivate greater humility
1 Thes. 4:3 says "For this is the will of God, your sanctification". Romans 8:29 says "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
In working with my discipler, it's becoming clearer than ever that I have to make a deliberate effort to "work" at dealing with my sins. I know this sounds obvious, but it is hard work. Old habits die hard. I'm so grateful that Kim has lovingly shown me the Truth, and continues to encourage and point out my sin, so that I can become more like Christ. I have to continue to reshape old ways of thinking and behaving by applying and conforming to what the Bible says I should think or do.
As a side note, I was cooking some frozen dumplings, separating some that were stuck together in the pot, noticing how the skin tore as I did so, even if I was careful and doing it slowly. I thought to myself, this is what God, the loving heart-surgeon is doing for us. He has to separate us from the sin that entangles, for our good, and sometimes it leaves scarring...sometimes, revisiting those areas where our sin has caused damage is still really rough, but over time, God brings restoration, healing, and rejoicing!
And, something I have to relearn over and over is that I am responsible for me, to let God deal with others, as He will, and that I cannot be overly concerned or needlessly worried about His care for them, His work in their lives. 1 Cor. 7:17 says "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to Him, and to which God has called him." - which again reminds me that I need to be content where I am, to trust in God's timing.
3. A call to love and be joyful
Pastor John says that love is not jealous (wants what others have) and does not boast (wants others to want what you have). Love is a big challenge for me, especially loving people who may not love me, people that are hard to love, people who offer me very little in return. But we have to learn to imitate Christ and how to really give up our "selfishness" and "comfort", to push ourselves to care, because that's who God loves, because God loved us first.
Also, I'm convicted to practice more joy in my life, to be reminded to be thankful and rejoice (1 Thes. 5:16-18) that I have all that I need in Christ and am doing better than I deserve.
And even when circumstances don't go the way I wanted them to, or expected, that the Lord is doing something above and beyond my ability to understand, and that I need to rejoice anyway. :)
Well, that's all I have for today. God never ceases to amaze me as He patiently works with me, is eager to love and bless and meet with me, and how He always forgives me when I mess up.
Isn't He alone worthy of our whole heart? Isn't He alone worthy of our love and devotion? Isn't He alone worthy of our praise and worship?
Grace and peace to you.
I hope you enjoyed a long and wonderful Labor Day weekend! I've been able to do a lot of reading lately, waiting to hear back about a few job opportunities. And as usual, reading leads to more reflection, more lessons to be learned and applied. Here are the latest:
1. Being a good steward of my time
Ephesians 5:15-16 is a great reminder - "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
I need to have a heavenly perspective, thinking often about what God's purpose is for me as revealed through His Word, about how Jesus could return at any given moment and that I need to be making the BEST use of what time He has granted. I need to ask myself what to "invest" in, WHO to invest in and love and serve...because being idle is so easy and natural, Watching tv can be the worst time waster of all if we're not careful...even if it's just something wholesome like Discovery or History or Sports.
2. Being reminded of my ongoing need for sanctification, to cultivate greater humility
1 Thes. 4:3 says "For this is the will of God, your sanctification". Romans 8:29 says "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
In working with my discipler, it's becoming clearer than ever that I have to make a deliberate effort to "work" at dealing with my sins. I know this sounds obvious, but it is hard work. Old habits die hard. I'm so grateful that Kim has lovingly shown me the Truth, and continues to encourage and point out my sin, so that I can become more like Christ. I have to continue to reshape old ways of thinking and behaving by applying and conforming to what the Bible says I should think or do.
As a side note, I was cooking some frozen dumplings, separating some that were stuck together in the pot, noticing how the skin tore as I did so, even if I was careful and doing it slowly. I thought to myself, this is what God, the loving heart-surgeon is doing for us. He has to separate us from the sin that entangles, for our good, and sometimes it leaves scarring...sometimes, revisiting those areas where our sin has caused damage is still really rough, but over time, God brings restoration, healing, and rejoicing!
And, something I have to relearn over and over is that I am responsible for me, to let God deal with others, as He will, and that I cannot be overly concerned or needlessly worried about His care for them, His work in their lives. 1 Cor. 7:17 says "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to Him, and to which God has called him." - which again reminds me that I need to be content where I am, to trust in God's timing.
3. A call to love and be joyful
Pastor John says that love is not jealous (wants what others have) and does not boast (wants others to want what you have). Love is a big challenge for me, especially loving people who may not love me, people that are hard to love, people who offer me very little in return. But we have to learn to imitate Christ and how to really give up our "selfishness" and "comfort", to push ourselves to care, because that's who God loves, because God loved us first.
Also, I'm convicted to practice more joy in my life, to be reminded to be thankful and rejoice (1 Thes. 5:16-18) that I have all that I need in Christ and am doing better than I deserve.
And even when circumstances don't go the way I wanted them to, or expected, that the Lord is doing something above and beyond my ability to understand, and that I need to rejoice anyway. :)
Well, that's all I have for today. God never ceases to amaze me as He patiently works with me, is eager to love and bless and meet with me, and how He always forgives me when I mess up.
Isn't He alone worthy of our whole heart? Isn't He alone worthy of our love and devotion? Isn't He alone worthy of our praise and worship?
Grace and peace to you.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Our Great God
Dear friends,
It's been another quick two months since I've been able to post. God has again proven to me how faithful He is to provide and care for me, especially returning to "everyday life" and "uncertainties", but being so good and gracious to me, bringing our team safely home, and resolving some "open" issues at home. I promise to return again soon but for now, I wanted to briefly share what the Lord taught me during my trip to Japan from 7/22 - 8/11. Here's the email wrap-up I sent out:
Dear Friends and Family,
It's been another quick two months since I've been able to post. God has again proven to me how faithful He is to provide and care for me, especially returning to "everyday life" and "uncertainties", but being so good and gracious to me, bringing our team safely home, and resolving some "open" issues at home. I promise to return again soon but for now, I wanted to briefly share what the Lord taught me during my trip to Japan from 7/22 - 8/11. Here's the email wrap-up I sent out:
Dear Friends and Family,
It brings me great pleasure and excitement to report to you a safe trip home after nearly 3 weeks of serving in Japan. After hours and hours of recuperating, I think I'm finally back on a semi-normal schedule.
I look forward to an opportunity to share with you each individually, along with photos and video footage but I would simply like to briefly express the major "take-aways", how I've seen God work and change me through this trip.
1) We worship a great God! Thousands of miles away, the same God that we will all be called into account, is involved in the details of my life here, is in control of all that is going on in the lives of those in Japan...and I find myself relating to the same struggles as my friends overseas, that we must learn to trust God and surrender to Him daily.
2) We must persevere and be faithful through our witness, to share the gospel. I was challenged again by the importance of the message we bring and how we choose to live our lives, albeit sometimes "lost" in translation...but it can be through our prayers and conduct, as we LOVE on the kids. People ARE watching.
3) God uses us all to minister in big and small ways where HE has placed us. That my service and ministry to the Lord doesn't end once I get home, and that I must use whatever I do to bring God glory (at work, school, or at home)...in the DAILY decisions I make and how that affects eternity and His kingdom, that it's not for my personal comfort or selfish goals but that God is using me to somehow touch lives and hearts for HIM!
Please continue to pray for Hamadera Bible Church and the hearts of the people of Japan! The faithfulness of the HBC staff and members and their deep burden for the lost encourages me in my everyday encounters, that I not be "ashamed" or shy away from being bold for Jesus! People need a Savior, hope and purpose, true fulfillment, joy and satisfaction in life! Please pray and ask God to remind you of your own salvation experience, that He'll again show you His kindness and goodness in your life, so you'll be desirous to share with others what the Lord has done! :)
Thank you all so much for your support, prayers, and all the encouragement along the way.
Grace and peace to you!
aLice
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
SRVT LDR
Dear friends,
After an AMAZING experience at the Resolved 2010 Conference this weekend, I'm just quietly reflecting through the theme and central character of Jesus, what an example He was and is to us, to me.
If you weren't able to make it, audio and video files are available online at http://www.resolved.org/.
The title of this post is familiar to some: my license plate - a reminder that being a leader involves service and deference first.
Christ lived this out. He was revolutionary. His teachings were completely opposite to what we are naturally led and inclined to believe...to be selfless, to serve and meet others needs always before His own.
Recall the scene where Jesus washes the disciples' feet: there's a picture of deep love, service, and humility, where the focus could have been, perhaps should have been on Him, as He would soon be delivered to be crucified.
And yet, He's demonstrating to them that it's not about His own comfort...and I'm so convicted, how often I see things through my self-serving lenses, how things don't fit the way I like them, how I'm irritated by giving up my own comfort to serve others...sad, shameful...sin is deceitful and abounds in the depths of my heart!
I'm reminded about how I need to be constantly sifting through my motives, serving when I most deserve to be served, serving those who least deserve it, with true love, joy, and humility like my great Savior:
"For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." - John 13:15
More thoughts to soon follow...
Grace and peace to you.
After an AMAZING experience at the Resolved 2010 Conference this weekend, I'm just quietly reflecting through the theme and central character of Jesus, what an example He was and is to us, to me.
If you weren't able to make it, audio and video files are available online at http://www.resolved.org/.
The title of this post is familiar to some: my license plate - a reminder that being a leader involves service and deference first.
Christ lived this out. He was revolutionary. His teachings were completely opposite to what we are naturally led and inclined to believe...to be selfless, to serve and meet others needs always before His own.
Recall the scene where Jesus washes the disciples' feet: there's a picture of deep love, service, and humility, where the focus could have been, perhaps should have been on Him, as He would soon be delivered to be crucified.
And yet, He's demonstrating to them that it's not about His own comfort...and I'm so convicted, how often I see things through my self-serving lenses, how things don't fit the way I like them, how I'm irritated by giving up my own comfort to serve others...sad, shameful...sin is deceitful and abounds in the depths of my heart!
I'm reminded about how I need to be constantly sifting through my motives, serving when I most deserve to be served, serving those who least deserve it, with true love, joy, and humility like my great Savior:
"For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." - John 13:15
More thoughts to soon follow...
Grace and peace to you.
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