Who will persevere?

I have a note in my bible in red pen that says:

"keep on"

You see, I wrote this to myself when was training for a half marathon in Texas in July (terrible idea in the first place, but I didn't want to sound like a wimp and whine about the obvious reasons...I mean, I wanted to live a little bit longer...but whatever...Tee ran a 1/2 with me, and I didn't want to let her and Jules down, so I agreed against my better judgement).  Training was brutal and my stamina greatly reduced because of medication I was on at the time.  Running, like most other things is a mental exercise as much-if not more than a physical exercise...you already should have figured out that I survived that day-my main goal was to survive and I don't think I've ever sweated so much--or hated running so much--as that day. But I've recovered just fine. And one of the things that motivated me that day was the fact that life is kinda like a race. Some days it's downright brutal. But our focus cannot remain on the discomfort we feel.  We think about the finish line--my parents, and my dear friends and mentors from Bolivia cheering (or worrying) for me, the free frozen yogurt, the satisfaction of successfully completing a ridiculous feat.  In life we can't focus on the hardships in front of us--well, we shouldn't.  My friend used to remind me that you never want to finish a race and feel like you could've run harder, faster, or farther.  And I definitely do not want to finish my life thinking that I could've done better or more.

I wrote this note a while back-on a particularly frustrating day of watching friend after friend give up.  There are plenty of well meaning individuals who offer the cliche advice that we should do what makes us happy.  Ummm...hello. If we only did what made us happy we would leave a disaster in our wake. 

"Why so quick to quit?

I'm so tired of everyone so quick to give up.  Why can't we just encourage others to persevere?  Why won't someone try to save their marriage instead of saying they just can't.  When will people hold out and maintain sexual purity for the one they will marry.  Or have the baby they conceive even of they know it will bring some hardships.  Because with that perseverance will come strength and what a testimony of love. "

Paul Shepard (pastorpaul.net) said, "we are killing a generation in the name of love...loving them to death, not life".  His point was that we do a great injustice to those we care about when we neglect, or refuse to faithfully come alongside others and help them see areas of need and grow out of it.  So we might out of "love" tell our friends to just give up when something gets hard because we want them to be happy, but is that love? What about "love endures through every circumstance/always perseveres/endures all things" (1 Cor. 13:7b NLT/NIV/NASB)

Who will be the ones to press on and finish strong--and cheer on those around them to do the same?

Disaster transformation specialist: God

A sweet reminder today. ..maybe a bit girly, but I imagine mostly girls read my blog anyways...
Sometimes I find myself wavering.  Rethinking and analyzing decisions, actions, or attitudes that I've had.  Sometimes I make poor choices. I let my emotions carry me away.  I get discouraged.  Or I just think things should have happened differently for me. But today as I was chiding myself, "silly, silly girl", I told myself as I thought of how stupid I was for having whatever bad attitude it happened to be at the time--usually some sort of selfishness or pride.
And then I stopped, and I had to bring myself back to a place of reflection. Does God see me as a stupid child?  Nope. I think He looks down on me and says, "Oh, precious girl- I love you, even when it seems that no one else does.  You're not worthless--I MADE you." And I melt.
What an amazing God we have.  In Ephesians it talks about the complete and total disaster we were before we came to Christ--"having no hope and without God in the world" (2:12b). And that, my friends, is depressing. But it's not over there.  Chapter 2 is sets of contrasts between who we were-left to ourselves and who we ARE--in Christ.  Verses 4-5;
BUT GOD being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions made us ALIVE together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Emphasis mine) That's it. Not because I'm smart, or pretty, or nice.  Truth is: I was a mess and God loved me anyways. He reaches down and picks me up out of my broken disaster and gives me hope and peace and a future.  Ultimate example of unconditional love.  One of my girls from Bible study pointed out that God wasn't surprised...when He chose to extend grace and love to us unconditionally He knew full well how desperately wicked our hearts are. Yet...He loves us anyways and desired to use us for His glory.  Yep, it's a paradox...but I'll leave it there for some reflection.

Even better than having John Wayne for a dad.

This is my dad.  And he's probably the. coolest. dad. ever. No joke.  I'm not saying he's perfect.  In fact, he'd be the first one to say that he's not. We'd reluctantly agree--but we don't really care.  All our imperfections make us that much more quirky!  Growing up we watched a lot of John Wayne movies. I thought he was pretty cool..but quickly realized that movie characters are fake! Bus as I've grown and seen a lot of hard family situations-deadbeat dads, absent dads, workaholic dads, etc. And I don't know why, but God has seen fit to bless me with my dad, who in real life is a good man.
Honestly, he's taught me so many good things.  Like working hard, working for others, and finishing a job.  He taught me to be strong, and to learn as much as I can about as much as I can.

 I told him one time that no matter how good of a show part-time dad's put on to try to show everyone what a good dad they were, I know he's the kind of dad who was there for me.  He was standing at the finish line when I ran my hardest 1/2 marathon, he put his arm around me and held me when I cried when I sold my steer (*and didn't even act like I was silly), he was there for my quiz meets, helped put on llama leaps, has picked me up from the airport hundreds of times, and fixes my car without ever complaining! He taught us how to play basketball--in the living room with a ball of socks.  He didn't bail me out when I got into a project over my head.  He stood behind me and reassured me that I could tame that steer, or back that rake into the barn, or end that relationship.  And when I had to make a hard decision he never told me what to do-even if I cried and begged.  He just gave me some things to think about and told me that he knew I would make the right decision.  Well, this list could go on forever, but I think you get the idea.

But the things Dad taught me went beyond physical achievements.  He encouraged me to know the Lord. He challenged me to read and memorize God's Word, and think about my decisions and actions and how they represent God.  He introduced me to Mexico and missions to unreached people.  I'm sure he had no idea that would have such a deep impact. He and my mom modeled sacrifice like no human I've ever seen.  Imagine, 13 kids, all fed, clothed and educated.  And we never had food-stamps or medicaid.  They trusted in our God to be faithful-and He always has been.  And my earthly dad has been a cool example of unconditional love when I make really poor choices and sacrifice when I don't deserve it, and the encouragement to do more than I think I'm capable of.

This kind of reminds me of someone else...Jesus who "loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20),

In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us

and sent His son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (I John 4:10)

He is the ultimate example of love and sacrifice.  Of accepting us and loving uis just the way we are. And as cool as my dad is, I can assure you that he probably has felt on a few occassions that he would rather just put me up for adoption--I was a pretty stubborn kid, okay?!  But our God is faithful in spite of our sins,  longsuffering and kind. He has sent Jesus to pay the debt we've incurred because of our sins that we could never repay.  And that's grace.  And on top of all of that He showed even more grace by giving me the family I've been given.  And because of that, I think no sacrifice is to great to give.  As CT Studd once said,

"If Jesus Christ be the Son of God and died for me,

Then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him"

So today, on his birthday, I'm so thankful to God for giving him to me and allowing me to be so deeply affected by a man who loves his family, gives of his time and skill to serve, and has been faithful (though still learning and growing) in his role as a father, husband, brother and son. And I love him!

Banana Oatmeal Bread Bites

1/2 c brown sugar

1 stick soft butter

4 T cornstarch

1 1/2 c ripe bananas (3 lg, or 4 small)                                                                                                       

1 t cinnamon

1 t vanilla

1 1/2 c flour

1 1/2 c oats

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

Drop by rounded tablespoons on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.  This recipe is adapted from key ingredient (I didn't have any eggs and wanted to add some healthy things to them...so I added oats and left out the chocolate chips) and they turned out delicious if I do say so myself!  The cornstarch made them soft and fluffy and held them together.  Made them for my nieces and then went home and made them for my siblings!  (*sorry I don't have a super duper fancy camera to take awesome pictures, but I guess this will have to do!). 

Lessons Learned: Grace

So I cannot believe I'm in my final semester of Bible school.  This past week I had my senior interview and it's basically a chance to sit down with my dean (who's been an incredible model of intentionality, honesty and grace) and recap the past two years.  Good times and bad and what God's taught me through all of it (both the academic side (classes) and experiences).  It was a really cool way to be reminded of things and even while remembering some moments that I'm not proud of, to see God's hand in it and His desire to redeem even those moments where my brokenness and sinfulness is most evident.  She asked me how the whole concept of Grace has changed since I've been here and I found myself get really emotional as I reflected on the many ways I've been overwhelmed as God so faithfully  and continually extends His grace to me--even in those moments I'm most ashamed of.  Wow, so different from the response I find in others, or even give many times when others fail.  In Christ we have the chance to move on.  Unconditional love that we do not deserve. The opportunity to grow when I'm incompetent to complete the task in front of me.  The room to move on from failure because in and of myself I'm incapable of making good decisions.  I don't know maybe some of you have found yourself in a similar place.  Before the Lord, broken; so aware of your sin; your need exposed and finding that all you can do is hang on to the Lord and trust that He will be faithful.  Because really, when I look back, I see that I've failed so many more times than I care to even recall.  I remember that every time, my amazingly faithful God has been the source of strength that I need.  I remember the promise of Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

And I am certain that God

who began the good work within you,

will continue his work until it is finally finished

on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

So grow in grace my friend.  

Bendiciones:

Kristen

Two girls that have modeled grace so genuinely in my life. 

My dean Martha (R) and great friend Deborah (middle). 

Bolivia 2013

Lessons learned: [Part 1-Felix]

Follow this link to the team page to learn some pretty cool lessons the Lord taught us through our brother Felix.