Pressing towards the Mark
My heart is full of sorrow this morning because I had to say goodbye this morning to one of my housemates who is moving across country to go back to school. I've had such a great year getting to know her and I'm really going to miss her presence in my life. Knowing her has changed me, its made me want to be more of who Christ is. She is one of those people who allows you to be you, but makes you want to change. I'm going to miss how she is loud when she walks, how she loves ice cream,I'm going to miss our deep conversations while she is brushing her teeth and the way she talks about Jesus, and most of all I'm going to miss her love, presence and leadership in ministering to the teen girls in our neighborhood. I cant imagine how our bible study time will go without her there. Yikes! These girls are a tough crowd.
A few weeks ago, we had a big party for her going away. With a tent, band, food and the whole 9. She has had a particularly hard time coming to terms with leaving because she is so tied to our neighborhood and the relationships she has made and they ways she has been changed. It was so evident by the people there, the words that were spoken and the lives that have been changed by her, that she is a rather unique person. What I find most unique is the way she loves God and the way she loves people. If it is really true sometimes, that we (Christians) may be the only Jesus some people see, I think she does a good job of showing people Jesus. And I think that is the ultimate beauty about my housemate, she knows Jesus, loves Jesus, and wants to show people Jesus and loves people with his Love like I have never really seen before. And she does it in such a meek, humble, warm and gentle way. She is totally talented in so many ways and not concerned with that, but concerned with Jesus and helping others. It kind of reminds me of Paul and I'm always so impressed.
But anyway she is leaving this afternoon, and I know it will be a hard afternoon as she drives away from our house, neighborhood and all of her relationships. But I am so happy and excited for her, just to see what God will do in her life through this new experience. How he will outdo himself, because he always does even in the hard times. I read something this morning that in summary said, if you really believe that your God is who he says he is, then go. (it said something like that) Moving towards what God has for us, even if it is hard, is perfecting our faith and its beautiful. I love when people follow God, it makes me believe him even more and want to follow him whole heartedly. We may have to leave everything we know and love to follow God, but he only wants to perfect and refine us in new ways we can't even conceive of. So I just pray that my housemate, and even myself, would grab hold of, delve into and fully experience that new things God is doing in our lives, even if its hard or uncomfortable. Our purpose and calling is to follow Christ and be about the business of God and not our own agenda. So I will miss my housemate so very much, and there will be a missing place in my life, but I know this morning was just see you later and I am sad, but I know we have more of this lifetime and all of eternity to be friends. But all in all she has challenged me to love people better, cling to God more, be about his business and long for his redemption in my life and in the lives of those I love. That's unique, and I love how the source of her love, strength and character is Christ, and that has made all the difference in her life and relationships. The impact of the love of God is so profound and transforming. God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask of or imagine by His power at work within us. So this morning I am thinking about allowing God's power and love to be at work within us, loving sacrificially and the sacrifice of following Christ. Sacrifice is hard, but the gain of knowing Christ is indeed priceless. I love God's word and how it is the truth, so i must share it with you this morning as I think upon these things.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." --Galatians 5:1
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. --Isaiah 43:18-19
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.... --Philippians 3:8
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
--Philippians 3:13-14
A few weeks ago, we had a big party for her going away. With a tent, band, food and the whole 9. She has had a particularly hard time coming to terms with leaving because she is so tied to our neighborhood and the relationships she has made and they ways she has been changed. It was so evident by the people there, the words that were spoken and the lives that have been changed by her, that she is a rather unique person. What I find most unique is the way she loves God and the way she loves people. If it is really true sometimes, that we (Christians) may be the only Jesus some people see, I think she does a good job of showing people Jesus. And I think that is the ultimate beauty about my housemate, she knows Jesus, loves Jesus, and wants to show people Jesus and loves people with his Love like I have never really seen before. And she does it in such a meek, humble, warm and gentle way. She is totally talented in so many ways and not concerned with that, but concerned with Jesus and helping others. It kind of reminds me of Paul and I'm always so impressed.
But anyway she is leaving this afternoon, and I know it will be a hard afternoon as she drives away from our house, neighborhood and all of her relationships. But I am so happy and excited for her, just to see what God will do in her life through this new experience. How he will outdo himself, because he always does even in the hard times. I read something this morning that in summary said, if you really believe that your God is who he says he is, then go. (it said something like that) Moving towards what God has for us, even if it is hard, is perfecting our faith and its beautiful. I love when people follow God, it makes me believe him even more and want to follow him whole heartedly. We may have to leave everything we know and love to follow God, but he only wants to perfect and refine us in new ways we can't even conceive of. So I just pray that my housemate, and even myself, would grab hold of, delve into and fully experience that new things God is doing in our lives, even if its hard or uncomfortable. Our purpose and calling is to follow Christ and be about the business of God and not our own agenda. So I will miss my housemate so very much, and there will be a missing place in my life, but I know this morning was just see you later and I am sad, but I know we have more of this lifetime and all of eternity to be friends. But all in all she has challenged me to love people better, cling to God more, be about his business and long for his redemption in my life and in the lives of those I love. That's unique, and I love how the source of her love, strength and character is Christ, and that has made all the difference in her life and relationships. The impact of the love of God is so profound and transforming. God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask of or imagine by His power at work within us. So this morning I am thinking about allowing God's power and love to be at work within us, loving sacrificially and the sacrifice of following Christ. Sacrifice is hard, but the gain of knowing Christ is indeed priceless. I love God's word and how it is the truth, so i must share it with you this morning as I think upon these things.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." --Galatians 5:1
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. --Isaiah 43:18-19
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.... --Philippians 3:8
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
--Philippians 3:13-14
posted by SPIRIT at 10:14 AM
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