In less than a week, I turn 26. Instead of freaking out about the fact that I am one year closer to 30 and am starting to notice both wrinkles and gray hair (!!!), I decided to reflect on the past 26 years. So, here are my top 26 lessons of my 26 years (in no particular order)...
26. God is good, all the time.
25. I am precious, pursued, and deeply loved by the Creator of the universe.
24. Life will never be exactly (or at all!) what I expect.
23. Mental health "sick days" that include pancakes and pedicures are perfectly acceptable.
22. There is no person alive who will not disappoint me.
21. I can be a handyman and a spider-killer when I need to be.
20. There is nothing like being free to worship.
19. No one is beyond the grasp of grace.
18. Deep, intentional, soul-bearing friendship is like nothing else this side of heaven.
17. Learning is both a privilege and a responsibility.
16. Used cars are money pits.
15. It's ok to ask for help.
14. The combination of a good cry, Ben & Jerry's, and time with the Lord are the best solutions for life in this world (Although I'd recommend switching to FroYo after graduating from college).
13. My parents were right about a whole lot more than I thought at the time (except the Titanic thing - you know what I mean!)
12. Taking a big, blind risk is not always reckless - sometimes it becomes a defining moment and a chance to know God better.
11. Foil and microwaves do not mix.
10. Listening to the still, small Voice often means tuning out everyone else's...even the ones that seem wise.
9. Some days, you just have to dance.
8. Truth is not relative.
7. Love is not optional.
6. Sometimes, relationships are only meant to be for a season.
5. Always carry an umbrella, a hairbrush, and an extra pair of shoes.
4. God's timing is certainly not mine.
3. Prayer transforms circumstances, situations and hearts.
2. My mistakes can't undo His grace.
1. I have learned that the trials, heartaches, disappointments, and surprises of my life have eternal purpose...even if I can't see it now.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
...if You had been here...
The story of Lazarus is quickly becoming one of my favorite New Testament stories. And not because it's a cool story of a dead mummy-like guy emerging from a tomb (cue reminiscent image of flannel-graph).
I think it's one of the most relevant and telling portraits of Christ written in Scripture. In the story, Christ is told that Lazarus, a beloved friend, is sick - even to the point that he is about to die. Jesus hears this, and He decides to wait four days before going to see Lazarus. By this time, of course, Lazarus has died, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are angry. And, in my opinion, rightfully so. It's not like these women were faithless. In fact, the reason they were so mad was because they knew the power that Christ had - the power to heal their brother and save them from their grief.
Both Mary and Martha say the same thing to Jesus: "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
But, the amazing thing about this story is WHY Jesus waited. He waited until the timing was perfect. There was a crowd there to comfort Mary and Martha - a crowd that would see what happened and some who put their faith in Him. There was also no doubt that it was Christ Who had the power to raise the dead. It was all about maximum glory. And to Mary and Martha, who only could see what they thought was the best solution to the problem, there was confusion and suffering in the four days before Jesus arrived.
Often, I think, we understand this lesson in retrospect, just like Mary and Martha did. We see our problems, and we also see our own solutions. But often, I think, the Lord wants to make us wait to give Himself ultimate glory and to reveal something of Himself to us. It's really all about love. God didn't just want to lessen Mary and Martha's pain - He wanted to strengthen their faith and show them a glimpse of His glory. The hard thing about it is to trust that this is true, even when the end can't be seen among the trials of the moment.
Most recently, the Lord taught me this through answering my prayer with a job offer. After about five months of job searching, more than 100 applications sent out, one temporary job, and twelve or so interviews, I got an offer from a company that I never would have imagined. The amazing thing was, I can't say that it came about through anything except the hand of God. The timing - getting the job literally an hour after finishing my temporary job - was more than coincidence. The means by which I found out about the job and was asked to interview could also only be the Lord leading the way.
With that prayer answered, I can now say that I truly am thankful for the time it took for the job to come about. Although there were definite moments of frustration, anger, and tears, I can say most assuredly that the Lord taught me a lot about Himself and was glorified in the result.
And as I face the other obstacles of my life - and the other prayers that I have that have not yet been answered - I face them with a certainty that the same God that desired to reveal His love to Mary and Martha, desires to reveal it to me, too.
His timing is perfect.
I think it's one of the most relevant and telling portraits of Christ written in Scripture. In the story, Christ is told that Lazarus, a beloved friend, is sick - even to the point that he is about to die. Jesus hears this, and He decides to wait four days before going to see Lazarus. By this time, of course, Lazarus has died, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are angry. And, in my opinion, rightfully so. It's not like these women were faithless. In fact, the reason they were so mad was because they knew the power that Christ had - the power to heal their brother and save them from their grief.
Both Mary and Martha say the same thing to Jesus: "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
But, the amazing thing about this story is WHY Jesus waited. He waited until the timing was perfect. There was a crowd there to comfort Mary and Martha - a crowd that would see what happened and some who put their faith in Him. There was also no doubt that it was Christ Who had the power to raise the dead. It was all about maximum glory. And to Mary and Martha, who only could see what they thought was the best solution to the problem, there was confusion and suffering in the four days before Jesus arrived.
Often, I think, we understand this lesson in retrospect, just like Mary and Martha did. We see our problems, and we also see our own solutions. But often, I think, the Lord wants to make us wait to give Himself ultimate glory and to reveal something of Himself to us. It's really all about love. God didn't just want to lessen Mary and Martha's pain - He wanted to strengthen their faith and show them a glimpse of His glory. The hard thing about it is to trust that this is true, even when the end can't be seen among the trials of the moment.
Most recently, the Lord taught me this through answering my prayer with a job offer. After about five months of job searching, more than 100 applications sent out, one temporary job, and twelve or so interviews, I got an offer from a company that I never would have imagined. The amazing thing was, I can't say that it came about through anything except the hand of God. The timing - getting the job literally an hour after finishing my temporary job - was more than coincidence. The means by which I found out about the job and was asked to interview could also only be the Lord leading the way.
With that prayer answered, I can now say that I truly am thankful for the time it took for the job to come about. Although there were definite moments of frustration, anger, and tears, I can say most assuredly that the Lord taught me a lot about Himself and was glorified in the result.
And as I face the other obstacles of my life - and the other prayers that I have that have not yet been answered - I face them with a certainty that the same God that desired to reveal His love to Mary and Martha, desires to reveal it to me, too.
His timing is perfect.
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