I don't know why, but I feel like posting this. Whenever I think about it (I wrote it over a year ago) I pray that the attitude expressed here will be my attitude, no matter what happiness or craziness is going on in my life.
Lord, your greatness surprises me still
And I find you where I least expect to.
Though I falter, and stumble, and ignore you
You are consistent, and You have integrity.
Who can describe
The Greatness and the Majesty of You, Lord?
I would not even begin to try.
The things I can do through You and because of You
I know I cannot do alone.
And in poignant lonliness, I know now
That I have the hand of God on my shoulder
and the Spirit of the Lord in my heart, forever.
I ask for strength, and courage,
A simple tongue and an open heart,
so that I can be
A light for you and of you in this dark world.
I offer my music, my life to be used by you.
Direct me where you want me to be.
It's not about me, Lord, but You.
2/08/2010
Day 37: Sharing Your Life Message
"Thoughts from the evening service" to come soon. Very challenging stuff, and I want to reflect on it, but I want to be undistracted when I do.
I love spending time with people, and doing things like accompanying, but I am still an introvert at heart, and I need some alone time. I haven't had a lot of that in the past couple weeks (pretty much whenever I've had a chance to blog has been my only time for thinking/reflection/not doing much, and that's only been a couple hours at most each day). I get next Monday off, and I don't think I have activities planned for this weekend (I have a Friday night "gig" at my church (Ginny, the organist, and I are going to play a short duet at the church Valentine's dinner. . .should be a blast!), but nothing pops into my head for Saturday or Sunday, at least). I need some time to just chill, sit around, watch a movie, play Wii, just do something that doesn't involve a lot of mental or emotional work. Even cooking Saturday evening was a nice "getaway", but I started the process later than I had intended and it took me into the far reaches of the night (well, for a teacher- 11 PM).
But even when things feel impossible, if we take that step of faith, God gives us the strength.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God may speak to us through the Bible, but He also speaks to the world through us as believers. Our "Life Message" has four parts. First is our testimony. Most of the time this is our "salvation story," but it is not limited to that. We should be able to describe what life was like before Jesus, how we realized we needed Him, how we committed to Him, and the difference it has made. For me, those first two points are not nearly as interesting as the second two. I came to know Christ at a young age, and I am so thankful for that, because it colored everything that happened in my life (I guess that would be the Holy Spirit).
Also, it's important to remember that witnessing is not arguing a point; it is simply reporting what has happened to us, and letting the listener decide about the veracity of our statements. God will be the attorney (and the judge, and the jury); we are just witnesses.
Second is the life lessons we've learned. What is most of the Bible except for a bunch of lives and the lessons that we should learn from them? Of course, not every single situation is covered in detail in the Bible, and with changing times and cultures, some things seem abstract to us. We as Christians have fresh, relevant life lessons that we can share with non-believers who are experiencing the same thing right at that moment. What an opportunity to be used by God! From failure to depression to pride to family issues to illness, every Christian has different and unique life experiences, and it's likely that someone else they know may be going through that. Once again, I must ask: how can we hide our problems, even if they are unresolved, if we know THE solution?
Third is sharing our Godly passions. Whether it's passion for a people, a problem, a purpose, or a principle, God uses passionate people to do His work. And, since we can't be passionate about everything, He needs each of us to purse the thing(s) we are passionate about. This may seem strange, but I am passionate about college age students (especially those just entering). But. . . I just graduated. . . . . . yeah, I know, and that's why I care; I wish there had been someone who would have intervened more directly in my life during college, because with great freedom comes important decision making opportunities (or maybe "With great power comes great responsibility"?). I had Christian friends and "Christian" friends and non-believer friends, but ultimately I had very little true fellowship. Fusion was a Godsend, but even with that, I wasn't able to commit, and I still didn't "get it" quite yet. God finally hit me over the head, moved me halfway across the country, and said "STOP SEEKING AFTER THE WORLD AND FOLLOW ME." So I did. But He didn't say that directly; it has been a process. If someone would have shown me that a few years ago, how different life would have been! But on the other side, it wasn't God's plan. Who's to say that I couldn't be a mentor though? I really like the idea of someone specifically watching out for my well-being, and I also like to play the role of mentor. I think that's also part of the reason I love teaching. Especially being a music teacher, I get to develop relationships with students that many other teachers don't, and I can have a significant impact on their lives (which is both exciting and scary).
Finally, the last (and seemingly obvious) part is the Good News. We shouldn't just be saying that we are changed; we have to explain why. The story is incredible, and the love unfathomable: that God, the Creator of the universe and all that is in it, from the stars to the ocean, from animals to the smallest of plants, sent His Son in human form so that He could die for OUR sins. He did absolutely NOTHING wrong in His life, and yet He paid the ultimate price because of our imperfections and desire for power (because essentially, every sin has to do with us gaining power of some kind- think about it). But, because He was perfect, He did not just die, but rose again, and asks us to follow Him! How can anyone say no to that offer? How can anyone say, "Thanks for giving me life, Lord, I'm going to go do what I feel like, and maybe someday I'll think about what you've done for me. Maybe." I do not deserve to go to Heaven. I do not deserve to be able to talk to God, and I definitely don't deserve the wholly unconditional love I receive. I mess up a lot, and I will never be perfect. I do not have the ability to make my own way to Heaven. But I don't have to! Jesus paid my way, and I have accepted it. Only He is worthy of praise! I don't understand it, and I am overwhelmed by trying to understand it. But I know that He is the only thing I need in my life, and I will chase Him with everything I have (even when things are tough. . . I'm still working on getting it right, and I feel like that's going to be a lifelong pursuit).
I serve a risen Savior, and there is no greater thing in my life than that.
Point to Ponder: God wants to say something to the world through me.
Once again, it's ultimately not about us. We just get to be vessels. We actually have a use! (more than one, in fact)
Verse to Remember: 1 Peter 3:15b-16 - "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." Today's English Version
Two important things: we are supposed to answer and defend our beliefs, BUT we need to be gentle and respectful. There are too many people out there getting into the face of non-believers, telling them that they are wrong about life and therefor are going to "burn in Hell." Instead of badgering people, why don't you offer your story to everyone passing? Wear a sandwich board that says "I am not perfect, but Jesus is." Then pass out a pamphlet of your personal testimony. Or yell it through a loudspeaker, if that's your thing. But please stop harrassing non-believers; it just makes our mission tougher.
Question to Consider: As I reflect on my personal story, who does God wnat me to share it with?
I can think of a couple specific people that I have been talking with in the past few months. . . and I have to realize that I still may not have "the answer" but I certainly have "The Answer." And that's what matters way more than anything else I can share.
I love spending time with people, and doing things like accompanying, but I am still an introvert at heart, and I need some alone time. I haven't had a lot of that in the past couple weeks (pretty much whenever I've had a chance to blog has been my only time for thinking/reflection/not doing much, and that's only been a couple hours at most each day). I get next Monday off, and I don't think I have activities planned for this weekend (I have a Friday night "gig" at my church (Ginny, the organist, and I are going to play a short duet at the church Valentine's dinner. . .should be a blast!), but nothing pops into my head for Saturday or Sunday, at least). I need some time to just chill, sit around, watch a movie, play Wii, just do something that doesn't involve a lot of mental or emotional work. Even cooking Saturday evening was a nice "getaway", but I started the process later than I had intended and it took me into the far reaches of the night (well, for a teacher- 11 PM).
But even when things feel impossible, if we take that step of faith, God gives us the strength.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God may speak to us through the Bible, but He also speaks to the world through us as believers. Our "Life Message" has four parts. First is our testimony. Most of the time this is our "salvation story," but it is not limited to that. We should be able to describe what life was like before Jesus, how we realized we needed Him, how we committed to Him, and the difference it has made. For me, those first two points are not nearly as interesting as the second two. I came to know Christ at a young age, and I am so thankful for that, because it colored everything that happened in my life (I guess that would be the Holy Spirit).
Also, it's important to remember that witnessing is not arguing a point; it is simply reporting what has happened to us, and letting the listener decide about the veracity of our statements. God will be the attorney (and the judge, and the jury); we are just witnesses.
Second is the life lessons we've learned. What is most of the Bible except for a bunch of lives and the lessons that we should learn from them? Of course, not every single situation is covered in detail in the Bible, and with changing times and cultures, some things seem abstract to us. We as Christians have fresh, relevant life lessons that we can share with non-believers who are experiencing the same thing right at that moment. What an opportunity to be used by God! From failure to depression to pride to family issues to illness, every Christian has different and unique life experiences, and it's likely that someone else they know may be going through that. Once again, I must ask: how can we hide our problems, even if they are unresolved, if we know THE solution?
Third is sharing our Godly passions. Whether it's passion for a people, a problem, a purpose, or a principle, God uses passionate people to do His work. And, since we can't be passionate about everything, He needs each of us to purse the thing(s) we are passionate about. This may seem strange, but I am passionate about college age students (especially those just entering). But. . . I just graduated. . . . . . yeah, I know, and that's why I care; I wish there had been someone who would have intervened more directly in my life during college, because with great freedom comes important decision making opportunities (or maybe "With great power comes great responsibility"?). I had Christian friends and "Christian" friends and non-believer friends, but ultimately I had very little true fellowship. Fusion was a Godsend, but even with that, I wasn't able to commit, and I still didn't "get it" quite yet. God finally hit me over the head, moved me halfway across the country, and said "STOP SEEKING AFTER THE WORLD AND FOLLOW ME." So I did. But He didn't say that directly; it has been a process. If someone would have shown me that a few years ago, how different life would have been! But on the other side, it wasn't God's plan. Who's to say that I couldn't be a mentor though? I really like the idea of someone specifically watching out for my well-being, and I also like to play the role of mentor. I think that's also part of the reason I love teaching. Especially being a music teacher, I get to develop relationships with students that many other teachers don't, and I can have a significant impact on their lives (which is both exciting and scary).
Finally, the last (and seemingly obvious) part is the Good News. We shouldn't just be saying that we are changed; we have to explain why. The story is incredible, and the love unfathomable: that God, the Creator of the universe and all that is in it, from the stars to the ocean, from animals to the smallest of plants, sent His Son in human form so that He could die for OUR sins. He did absolutely NOTHING wrong in His life, and yet He paid the ultimate price because of our imperfections and desire for power (because essentially, every sin has to do with us gaining power of some kind- think about it). But, because He was perfect, He did not just die, but rose again, and asks us to follow Him! How can anyone say no to that offer? How can anyone say, "Thanks for giving me life, Lord, I'm going to go do what I feel like, and maybe someday I'll think about what you've done for me. Maybe." I do not deserve to go to Heaven. I do not deserve to be able to talk to God, and I definitely don't deserve the wholly unconditional love I receive. I mess up a lot, and I will never be perfect. I do not have the ability to make my own way to Heaven. But I don't have to! Jesus paid my way, and I have accepted it. Only He is worthy of praise! I don't understand it, and I am overwhelmed by trying to understand it. But I know that He is the only thing I need in my life, and I will chase Him with everything I have (even when things are tough. . . I'm still working on getting it right, and I feel like that's going to be a lifelong pursuit).
I serve a risen Savior, and there is no greater thing in my life than that.
Point to Ponder: God wants to say something to the world through me.
Once again, it's ultimately not about us. We just get to be vessels. We actually have a use! (more than one, in fact)
Verse to Remember: 1 Peter 3:15b-16 - "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." Today's English Version
Two important things: we are supposed to answer and defend our beliefs, BUT we need to be gentle and respectful. There are too many people out there getting into the face of non-believers, telling them that they are wrong about life and therefor are going to "burn in Hell." Instead of badgering people, why don't you offer your story to everyone passing? Wear a sandwich board that says "I am not perfect, but Jesus is." Then pass out a pamphlet of your personal testimony. Or yell it through a loudspeaker, if that's your thing. But please stop harrassing non-believers; it just makes our mission tougher.
Question to Consider: As I reflect on my personal story, who does God wnat me to share it with?
I can think of a couple specific people that I have been talking with in the past few months. . . and I have to realize that I still may not have "the answer" but I certainly have "The Answer." And that's what matters way more than anything else I can share.
2/07/2010
Week 4 In Review
I'm hoping to tackle this today, not that I have lots of free time on Wednesday, and it's not early release, but I want to do this before I read the last entry in the book.
. . . and I still didn't get to it until Thursday. Haha.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is "using your shape to serve others" different from the way most people understand "ministry"?
Ministry sounds like something for special people. "Called" people. Both of those things are actually true, but what we don't realize is that each one of us is special, with our unique talents, interests, and experiences, and God calls ALL His children to serve.
What do you love to do that you could use to serve others in the family of God?
Well, music, of course, and I'm already getting involved with the music ministry at SBC. I also find a lot of enjoyment in simple, physical tasks in which I can practice my efficiency of movement: setting up or putting away chairs and tables, cleaning up, stuffing envelopes, folding programs. . . basically anything that doesn't require a lot of hard thinking, just time and a pair of hands. I think I like it because you can see definite progress and an end-point to reach for, and it gives me the perfect mindset to have some internal monologue that isn't clouded and distracted by too much (what I mean is, those tasks are distracting enough that I am generally purely honest with myself without realizing it, and I don't really have the opportunity to overanalyze).
Think of a painful experience you have gone through that God could use to help others who are going through the same kind of situation.
The depression, anger, doubt, depravity, and just pure insanity of this past summer has taught me a lot of things, and I'm still making heads and tails of it all, but I can tell you one thing for sure: God has a PERFECT plan, and if we would truly call out to Him in our anguish and trust that He will provide, we will find our prayers answered.
How does comparing ourselves with others keep us from fully developing our unique shape?
For me, when I start to compare myself to others, I lose sight of why I was doing what I was doing in the first place; beating the other person becomes the new goal. I don't really have a competitive spirit, so when I do get into that mood, it's very strange, and I feel like I become someone that I'm not. There are reasons to do and improve upon things beyond trying to outdo someone else. And I feel like I get the most joy when I'm just in the zone and not paying attention to anyone else.
How have you seen God's power demonstrated through you when you felt weak?
This weekend/Monday/Tuesday were a little rough. I didn't want to come in and teach either of those days. I felt like my mind was cloudy, my mood was not super great, and I just wanted to sleep it all away. Trust me, the temptation to call in sick had been quite enticing. But each morning I prayed that I might please Him through all my actions in the day, and I told myself that Jesus is my boss, and I should come to school and do my best, even when I don't feel up to it, because I think that's what He wants me to do. With that little step of faith, this week has actually been one of my best weeks of teaching so far. I know that this positive energy didn't come from me (because I have still been having the problem of getting out of bed in the morning all week), but once I get here, I feel much better. I have a three day weekend to catch up on sleep, emotions, and all that; God gives us exactly what we need.
How can we help every member of our small group or class find a place of ministry? What can our group do to serve our church family?
Well, I know everyone is involved with something, whether it is the nursery, music, VBS, Upward basketball, Wednesday night youth ministry, MOPS, Wednesday night studies. It's hard for me to say if we all could do any more (I'm finally getting more involved, but I also don't have any pets nor any children, nor a spouse, unlike most everyone else in my class. . .). I think there could be something we do as a class that would serve the church that would be neat, but I don't know what that "something" is.
. . . and I still didn't get to it until Thursday. Haha.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is "using your shape to serve others" different from the way most people understand "ministry"?
Ministry sounds like something for special people. "Called" people. Both of those things are actually true, but what we don't realize is that each one of us is special, with our unique talents, interests, and experiences, and God calls ALL His children to serve.
What do you love to do that you could use to serve others in the family of God?
Well, music, of course, and I'm already getting involved with the music ministry at SBC. I also find a lot of enjoyment in simple, physical tasks in which I can practice my efficiency of movement: setting up or putting away chairs and tables, cleaning up, stuffing envelopes, folding programs. . . basically anything that doesn't require a lot of hard thinking, just time and a pair of hands. I think I like it because you can see definite progress and an end-point to reach for, and it gives me the perfect mindset to have some internal monologue that isn't clouded and distracted by too much (what I mean is, those tasks are distracting enough that I am generally purely honest with myself without realizing it, and I don't really have the opportunity to overanalyze).
Think of a painful experience you have gone through that God could use to help others who are going through the same kind of situation.
The depression, anger, doubt, depravity, and just pure insanity of this past summer has taught me a lot of things, and I'm still making heads and tails of it all, but I can tell you one thing for sure: God has a PERFECT plan, and if we would truly call out to Him in our anguish and trust that He will provide, we will find our prayers answered.
How does comparing ourselves with others keep us from fully developing our unique shape?
For me, when I start to compare myself to others, I lose sight of why I was doing what I was doing in the first place; beating the other person becomes the new goal. I don't really have a competitive spirit, so when I do get into that mood, it's very strange, and I feel like I become someone that I'm not. There are reasons to do and improve upon things beyond trying to outdo someone else. And I feel like I get the most joy when I'm just in the zone and not paying attention to anyone else.
How have you seen God's power demonstrated through you when you felt weak?
This weekend/Monday/Tuesday were a little rough. I didn't want to come in and teach either of those days. I felt like my mind was cloudy, my mood was not super great, and I just wanted to sleep it all away. Trust me, the temptation to call in sick had been quite enticing. But each morning I prayed that I might please Him through all my actions in the day, and I told myself that Jesus is my boss, and I should come to school and do my best, even when I don't feel up to it, because I think that's what He wants me to do. With that little step of faith, this week has actually been one of my best weeks of teaching so far. I know that this positive energy didn't come from me (because I have still been having the problem of getting out of bed in the morning all week), but once I get here, I feel much better. I have a three day weekend to catch up on sleep, emotions, and all that; God gives us exactly what we need.
How can we help every member of our small group or class find a place of ministry? What can our group do to serve our church family?
Well, I know everyone is involved with something, whether it is the nursery, music, VBS, Upward basketball, Wednesday night youth ministry, MOPS, Wednesday night studies. It's hard for me to say if we all could do any more (I'm finally getting more involved, but I also don't have any pets nor any children, nor a spouse, unlike most everyone else in my class. . .). I think there could be something we do as a class that would serve the church that would be neat, but I don't know what that "something" is.
Day 36: Made for a Mission
I'm working on a song. I don't know what will come of it, and it may end up in my large pile of unfinished musical projects (like the chord progression I came up with a few months ago. . . although I think about that every so often, and thankfully wrote it out on Sibelius). We'll see. If anything comes to fruition, I'll probably post it here.
I can't believe I've been reading through PDL for a month, and that I'm almost done! Time is so crazy. I'm finally to the last theme/purpose: You Were Made for a Mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was wondering about why the book hadn't talked about unbelievers. Now I understand. Ministry = brothers, mission = future (or at least potential) brothers. Got it. If you think about the analogy that the Church is the Body of Christ, doesn't it make sense that we should be doing what it is that He was doing when His physical body was on Earth? . . . oops. That's actually the first bold statement in this chapter: our mission is to continue Jesus' mission here. There are five different passages about His commission to us. It is not enough to just be content with having God in our lives, and in fact, if we know such great news, why aren't we sharing it with EVERYONE we know??? At times we want to make it not that easy (or at least I know I'm guilty of that) but come on! This is ETERNITY! 300,000 piece choirs singing praises to a God that we will see and interact with! Here's a challenging statement: "You are the only Chrisitan some people will ever know, and your mission is to shar Jesus with them." We can't make anyone choose to have a relationship with Christ, but I don't think we are excited enough about it to really sell it anyway! I know I'm not going to get many students to join band if I don't act excited about music; why do we evangelize like it's an inconvenience??
I'm preaching to myself mostly. I don't do this, and I need to stop being afraid and start living the life God intends me to.
Second, our mission is a wonderful privilege. God could say, "Hey, you got it! Congrats! Now just watch as other people struggle while you sit safe in My arms." But He doesn't. He says, "Great! Now go get other people and bring them to Me." We have so many wonderful benefits, being in His family; why are we so stingy with sharing them?
After all, telling others about Him is the best thing we can do for them. The book says that if we had a cure for cancer or AIDS, we would share it. We have the cure for eternal damnation, which is WAY worse than any worldly illness. The book mentions that long-time Christians sometimes forget what it was like to be hopeless when they were without Christ. . . I don't know that I completely agree. I find that most people's personal testimonies are pretty powerful, no matter what age they are and what age they came to know Him. Some people can empathize with others better, but that doesn't mean that we forget what life was like before salvation.
Our mission has eternal significance; our jobs in and of themselves generally do not. But that DOES NOT MEAN WE QUIT OUR JOBS AND BECOME "PROFESSIONAL EVANGALISTS", nor does it mean that if we aren't "professional evangalists" that we are exempt from sharing the Good News! Pastor Dan this morning had some great stuff relating to this idea; here are some paraphrases.
-Compartmentalizing your life (this is my "work sphere," my "home sphere," and my "religious sphere") does not lead to true worship and integrity.
-We work for an Earthly boss, but we answer to a Heavenly manager.
-God will pay us in Heaven far beyond what this world gives us for our work- work for the heavenly reward.
Essentially, we should change our work into worship. PDL has covered this idea already.
I have to get going (it took me a while to clean up my kitchen after last night's cooking escapades) but I will finish this after the Super Bowl Party.
AFTER THE PARTY: I am thankful for my SS class for so many reasons, but I won't get into that now. I must finish this chapter!
Our mission also gives life meaning. "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." The only thing that will last is God's Kingdom! Are we making a difference for our current time, or do we have the eyes of eternity? And think about it: the end of time on Earth is directly connected to the completion of our mission. Armageddon won't come until everyone is saved that will be saved. Jesus didn't do a lot of prophesying. But He certainly did a lot of spreading around the message of God, and urged the disciples to do the same after He left the world. I don't know about you, but the combination of getting people to see the truth and get to Heaven along with bringing the completion of time and the eternal reign of God is more than enough motivation to get out and fulfill my mission!
Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission.
Even if God didn't specifically call us to "go and make disicples of all nations," there's no reason that we should ever want to keep that information held inside!
Verse to Remember: Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." New International Version
It is interesting that the Great Commission ends with "I am with you always." We are not tackling the battle of spreading our faith alone, and that is very encouraging.
Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News?
For me (and probably for many people), it is that fear of rejection, of being ridiculed, of being mocked, of being counted as a "crazy." I've barely started Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails" (and I think that might be the next book I explore via this blog), and this morning in SS we talked about what Jesus knew He would go through to successfully accomplish God's purpose on Earth. I think the journey through that book will be very eye-opening and encouraging for me, and I hope it will for whomever chooses to read this blog.
I can't believe I've been reading through PDL for a month, and that I'm almost done! Time is so crazy. I'm finally to the last theme/purpose: You Were Made for a Mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was wondering about why the book hadn't talked about unbelievers. Now I understand. Ministry = brothers, mission = future (or at least potential) brothers. Got it. If you think about the analogy that the Church is the Body of Christ, doesn't it make sense that we should be doing what it is that He was doing when His physical body was on Earth? . . . oops. That's actually the first bold statement in this chapter: our mission is to continue Jesus' mission here. There are five different passages about His commission to us. It is not enough to just be content with having God in our lives, and in fact, if we know such great news, why aren't we sharing it with EVERYONE we know??? At times we want to make it not that easy (or at least I know I'm guilty of that) but come on! This is ETERNITY! 300,000 piece choirs singing praises to a God that we will see and interact with! Here's a challenging statement: "You are the only Chrisitan some people will ever know, and your mission is to shar Jesus with them." We can't make anyone choose to have a relationship with Christ, but I don't think we are excited enough about it to really sell it anyway! I know I'm not going to get many students to join band if I don't act excited about music; why do we evangelize like it's an inconvenience??
I'm preaching to myself mostly. I don't do this, and I need to stop being afraid and start living the life God intends me to.
Second, our mission is a wonderful privilege. God could say, "Hey, you got it! Congrats! Now just watch as other people struggle while you sit safe in My arms." But He doesn't. He says, "Great! Now go get other people and bring them to Me." We have so many wonderful benefits, being in His family; why are we so stingy with sharing them?
After all, telling others about Him is the best thing we can do for them. The book says that if we had a cure for cancer or AIDS, we would share it. We have the cure for eternal damnation, which is WAY worse than any worldly illness. The book mentions that long-time Christians sometimes forget what it was like to be hopeless when they were without Christ. . . I don't know that I completely agree. I find that most people's personal testimonies are pretty powerful, no matter what age they are and what age they came to know Him. Some people can empathize with others better, but that doesn't mean that we forget what life was like before salvation.
Our mission has eternal significance; our jobs in and of themselves generally do not. But that DOES NOT MEAN WE QUIT OUR JOBS AND BECOME "PROFESSIONAL EVANGALISTS", nor does it mean that if we aren't "professional evangalists" that we are exempt from sharing the Good News! Pastor Dan this morning had some great stuff relating to this idea; here are some paraphrases.
-Compartmentalizing your life (this is my "work sphere," my "home sphere," and my "religious sphere") does not lead to true worship and integrity.
-We work for an Earthly boss, but we answer to a Heavenly manager.
-God will pay us in Heaven far beyond what this world gives us for our work- work for the heavenly reward.
Essentially, we should change our work into worship. PDL has covered this idea already.
I have to get going (it took me a while to clean up my kitchen after last night's cooking escapades) but I will finish this after the Super Bowl Party.
AFTER THE PARTY: I am thankful for my SS class for so many reasons, but I won't get into that now. I must finish this chapter!
Our mission also gives life meaning. "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." The only thing that will last is God's Kingdom! Are we making a difference for our current time, or do we have the eyes of eternity? And think about it: the end of time on Earth is directly connected to the completion of our mission. Armageddon won't come until everyone is saved that will be saved. Jesus didn't do a lot of prophesying. But He certainly did a lot of spreading around the message of God, and urged the disciples to do the same after He left the world. I don't know about you, but the combination of getting people to see the truth and get to Heaven along with bringing the completion of time and the eternal reign of God is more than enough motivation to get out and fulfill my mission!
Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission.
Even if God didn't specifically call us to "go and make disicples of all nations," there's no reason that we should ever want to keep that information held inside!
Verse to Remember: Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." New International Version
It is interesting that the Great Commission ends with "I am with you always." We are not tackling the battle of spreading our faith alone, and that is very encouraging.
Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News?
For me (and probably for many people), it is that fear of rejection, of being ridiculed, of being mocked, of being counted as a "crazy." I've barely started Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails" (and I think that might be the next book I explore via this blog), and this morning in SS we talked about what Jesus knew He would go through to successfully accomplish God's purpose on Earth. I think the journey through that book will be very eye-opening and encouraging for me, and I hope it will for whomever chooses to read this blog.
2/06/2010
Day 35: God's Power in Your Weakness
So before I went to bed last night, I was trying to deal with the whole "murder" thing. Where else would I look but to the first murder in human history, the story of Cain and Abel. My LASB gave some insight: "This is the first murder- taking a life by shedding human blood. Blood represents life (Leviticus). If blood is removed from a living creature, it will die. Because God created life, only God should take life away. Cain was severely punished for this murder. God judges all sins and punishes appropriately, not out of vengeance, but because he desires to correct us and restore our fellowship with him. When you're corrected, don't resent it. Instead, renew your fellowship with God."
So today I challenge you to pray not only for the family, but also for the killer. It is not our place nor God's will to seek vengenance; pray that through this tragedy God can reach out to him/her/them and that His will is furthered in their lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another challenging yet encouraging chapter, all about the one thing we don't want to talk about: our weaknesses. Physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual, none of us really like to talk about our flaws. "Hey, look! I can't do this at all, and this part of my life is really messed up! Wanna see?"
Now, I realize that statement is a little facetious, but the truth of the matter is that talking about what we can't do is not generally appealing. But God doesn't want us to hide our weaknesses. Think about it: if God is doing great things through "great" people, how much more impressive is it when God does great things through weak people?
So what can we do to be used by God ("because after all, if God only used perfect people, nothing would get done")? First, we must admit our weaknesses. We can't be honest with other people if we aren't honest about ourselves. And remember back to the list of people in the Bible who weren't perfect in a previous entry. We know and can admit that God is all-powerful, but why can't we admit that we are only human? What a freeing confession!
Second, we have to be content with our weakness. After all, being weak just makes us even more aware and dependent on God for strength. They keep us from becoming egotistical (hopefully. . .), and encourage relations (think about it; do you generally gravitate towards people that are arrogant and "perfect" or do you find yourself wanting to find support with people who have been through what you have and can help you out?). It also means we shouldn't be jealous of people who are strong in areas we are not.
We must also honestly share our weaknesses. Vulnerability. . . it's always scary to take that first step. In the dichotomy of people, there are some that can start things very easily but have a hard time finishing, and then there are people who are reluctant to start a project, but once they finally start it, they will complete it fully. I am definitely the latter. I know that once I get out of bed in the morning, my morning routine will set in and I'll be good to go. . . but it's getting out of bed that's the problem. I know I have to schedule time or send an e-mail that will start a chain of events. . . such a simple task, but I wait until I'm "good and ready." One trick I do is to do something immediately after I think of it so I don't have a chance to back down. Why am I rambling about this? Well, my point is that it is hard for me to open up. Because I know that once I start spilling my guts, it'll start a snowball affect.
Am I ready for that? Shouldn't I be? Don't I need major change in my life? What am I so afraid of?
Lastly, we glory in our weaknesses. We are "trophies of grace," and we should act as such. It's not about us and our abilities; it is about what God is able to do through us in spite of how we are! Our weaknesses make us realize what a wonderful God we serve; we should be so thankful to know that we cannot do it alone.
Point to Ponder: God works best when I admit my weakness.
He doesn't just use our strengths; if that were the case, He wouldn't bother giving us weaknesses, and the world would be perfect!
Verse to Remember: 2 Corinthians 12:9a- "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." New International Version
Such a great verse to tuck away for a rainy day.
Question to Consider: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?
Yeah, probably. No one wants to look an ignorant fool (and being 21 and in a "new" environment (though with each day I feel better and more settled), that is inevitable in my life right now), but is that keeping me from reaching out to people? I don't know that I've really thought about it for today. . .
So today I challenge you to pray not only for the family, but also for the killer. It is not our place nor God's will to seek vengenance; pray that through this tragedy God can reach out to him/her/them and that His will is furthered in their lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another challenging yet encouraging chapter, all about the one thing we don't want to talk about: our weaknesses. Physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual, none of us really like to talk about our flaws. "Hey, look! I can't do this at all, and this part of my life is really messed up! Wanna see?"
Now, I realize that statement is a little facetious, but the truth of the matter is that talking about what we can't do is not generally appealing. But God doesn't want us to hide our weaknesses. Think about it: if God is doing great things through "great" people, how much more impressive is it when God does great things through weak people?
So what can we do to be used by God ("because after all, if God only used perfect people, nothing would get done")? First, we must admit our weaknesses. We can't be honest with other people if we aren't honest about ourselves. And remember back to the list of people in the Bible who weren't perfect in a previous entry. We know and can admit that God is all-powerful, but why can't we admit that we are only human? What a freeing confession!
Second, we have to be content with our weakness. After all, being weak just makes us even more aware and dependent on God for strength. They keep us from becoming egotistical (hopefully. . .), and encourage relations (think about it; do you generally gravitate towards people that are arrogant and "perfect" or do you find yourself wanting to find support with people who have been through what you have and can help you out?). It also means we shouldn't be jealous of people who are strong in areas we are not.
We must also honestly share our weaknesses. Vulnerability. . . it's always scary to take that first step. In the dichotomy of people, there are some that can start things very easily but have a hard time finishing, and then there are people who are reluctant to start a project, but once they finally start it, they will complete it fully. I am definitely the latter. I know that once I get out of bed in the morning, my morning routine will set in and I'll be good to go. . . but it's getting out of bed that's the problem. I know I have to schedule time or send an e-mail that will start a chain of events. . . such a simple task, but I wait until I'm "good and ready." One trick I do is to do something immediately after I think of it so I don't have a chance to back down. Why am I rambling about this? Well, my point is that it is hard for me to open up. Because I know that once I start spilling my guts, it'll start a snowball affect.
Am I ready for that? Shouldn't I be? Don't I need major change in my life? What am I so afraid of?
Lastly, we glory in our weaknesses. We are "trophies of grace," and we should act as such. It's not about us and our abilities; it is about what God is able to do through us in spite of how we are! Our weaknesses make us realize what a wonderful God we serve; we should be so thankful to know that we cannot do it alone.
Point to Ponder: God works best when I admit my weakness.
He doesn't just use our strengths; if that were the case, He wouldn't bother giving us weaknesses, and the world would be perfect!
Verse to Remember: 2 Corinthians 12:9a- "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." New International Version
Such a great verse to tuck away for a rainy day.
Question to Consider: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?
Yeah, probably. No one wants to look an ignorant fool (and being 21 and in a "new" environment (though with each day I feel better and more settled), that is inevitable in my life right now), but is that keeping me from reaching out to people? I don't know that I've really thought about it for today. . .
2/05/2010
Day 34: Thinking Like a Servant
Another long day, although good (until the end). I'll get there momentarily.
Teaching went well, minus the whole pep band rumor thing and me freaking out about my accompaniment parts. I can be pretty unreasonable with my demands for myself sometimes, as surprising as that might be. After school band, although small, was going well, and then all of the sudden we were told to dismiss students because there was a tornado warning (which wasn't completely true. . . there was a warning probably 35 miles south of us, and it wasn't moving nearly fast enough for us to have to evacuate because southern Volusia County didn't get the warning until after 4 PM, but whatever, I don't call the shots). So I drove out to Deltona (towards the storm, actually) and got there a little early, which wasn't necessary since the whole thing was falling behind partially due to weather and partially due to other circumstances. Overall S&E went well; I could get into specifics but if you're really that interested, just ask me. I don't quite understand everything in the FBA system yet. . . and if I see my way into any position of authority during my tenure in Florida (who knows how long that will be) I will see if I can't make some changes happen to the logistics and such. Musically, there were a couple students that surprised me with their expression and quality of sound, and I'm excited to play at state for them. I had a friend from church page turning for me, and that was extremely helpful. We went out to dinner afterwards (as both of us were starving. . .my last event was "8:40" and we didn't leave until probably 9:30).
I had recieved a text from one of my former roommates, but since my phone was off I didn't get it until after S&E. It was a simple text but important: "Call me." A little terse for him, so I figured something bad was up.
I was right, unfortunately.
He called me back as we were eating at Arby's, and informed me that a friend of mine and her husband were murdered this morning.
Being 1,200 miles away, I'm still in shock. While I didn't know her for very long, I saw her about once a week during my internship. She was a good person, and although I didn't know her husband, I just. . . murder doesn't make sense. Ever. I don't get it. Two musicians killed in SW Michigan in 3 or so months? What is going on with the world?
Anyway, please pray for the family, friends, and musical community affected by this loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter tells how we can change our mindset to become more like a servant. First is thinking more about others than about ourselves. To echo the point he made in an earlier chapter, it is thinking about ourselves less and NOT thinking less of ourselves. Being a servant does not mean that we lose significance; it just means that we don't focus on our needs first. As much as I like to help other people out, I don't know that I've ever "emptied" myself. Do we become angry or upset when other people treat us like servants? How proud are we? Quite the challenge.
Second, servants think like stewards, not owners. Although the book mentions money as being a huge stumbling block, I think it's important to remember that everything is God's. Our jobs, our relationships, our environment, everything. Are we acting as though we are only living here temporarily, or are we establishing our own "kingdoms" on Earth?
Third, servants think about THEIR work, not other's work. Criticism from outside the Church is one thing; why are we criticizing each other within the Church?? It's been said before: everyone is working towards the same goal. It doesn't matter who is doing what, as long as it is being done and with the right heart (which, if it's being done, it's probably with the right heart). We need to avoid the distractions of those who wish to criticize us, and we must avoid the temptation to criticize others.
Fourth, servants base their identity in Christ. Serving God doesn't prove our worth (we are already saved!) so what does it matter which task we are being involved with? If you are serving to get a pat on the back, an approving statement by another, or an award, who are you really serving? "The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself."
Finally, servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not obligation. It is a JOY to serve, not a task. Whenever we serve, it is likely that we are being used by God to touch another person's life. And we each only get one life to live. Passing up that service opportunity might mean passing up the only chance you may have to impact someone's life for Christ.
Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.
Simple statement, but sometimes difficult to do.
Verse to Remember: Philippians 2:5- "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." New International Version
It's probably one of the verses that inspired the whole WWJD craze back in the 90's.
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
Truthfully I think I do a good job of looking out for ways to help others. However, I am working on actually going through with being helpful everytime I see opportunities.
Teaching went well, minus the whole pep band rumor thing and me freaking out about my accompaniment parts. I can be pretty unreasonable with my demands for myself sometimes, as surprising as that might be. After school band, although small, was going well, and then all of the sudden we were told to dismiss students because there was a tornado warning (which wasn't completely true. . . there was a warning probably 35 miles south of us, and it wasn't moving nearly fast enough for us to have to evacuate because southern Volusia County didn't get the warning until after 4 PM, but whatever, I don't call the shots). So I drove out to Deltona (towards the storm, actually) and got there a little early, which wasn't necessary since the whole thing was falling behind partially due to weather and partially due to other circumstances. Overall S&E went well; I could get into specifics but if you're really that interested, just ask me. I don't quite understand everything in the FBA system yet. . . and if I see my way into any position of authority during my tenure in Florida (who knows how long that will be) I will see if I can't make some changes happen to the logistics and such. Musically, there were a couple students that surprised me with their expression and quality of sound, and I'm excited to play at state for them. I had a friend from church page turning for me, and that was extremely helpful. We went out to dinner afterwards (as both of us were starving. . .my last event was "8:40" and we didn't leave until probably 9:30).
I had recieved a text from one of my former roommates, but since my phone was off I didn't get it until after S&E. It was a simple text but important: "Call me." A little terse for him, so I figured something bad was up.
I was right, unfortunately.
He called me back as we were eating at Arby's, and informed me that a friend of mine and her husband were murdered this morning.
Being 1,200 miles away, I'm still in shock. While I didn't know her for very long, I saw her about once a week during my internship. She was a good person, and although I didn't know her husband, I just. . . murder doesn't make sense. Ever. I don't get it. Two musicians killed in SW Michigan in 3 or so months? What is going on with the world?
Anyway, please pray for the family, friends, and musical community affected by this loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter tells how we can change our mindset to become more like a servant. First is thinking more about others than about ourselves. To echo the point he made in an earlier chapter, it is thinking about ourselves less and NOT thinking less of ourselves. Being a servant does not mean that we lose significance; it just means that we don't focus on our needs first. As much as I like to help other people out, I don't know that I've ever "emptied" myself. Do we become angry or upset when other people treat us like servants? How proud are we? Quite the challenge.
Second, servants think like stewards, not owners. Although the book mentions money as being a huge stumbling block, I think it's important to remember that everything is God's. Our jobs, our relationships, our environment, everything. Are we acting as though we are only living here temporarily, or are we establishing our own "kingdoms" on Earth?
Third, servants think about THEIR work, not other's work. Criticism from outside the Church is one thing; why are we criticizing each other within the Church?? It's been said before: everyone is working towards the same goal. It doesn't matter who is doing what, as long as it is being done and with the right heart (which, if it's being done, it's probably with the right heart). We need to avoid the distractions of those who wish to criticize us, and we must avoid the temptation to criticize others.
Fourth, servants base their identity in Christ. Serving God doesn't prove our worth (we are already saved!) so what does it matter which task we are being involved with? If you are serving to get a pat on the back, an approving statement by another, or an award, who are you really serving? "The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself."
Finally, servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not obligation. It is a JOY to serve, not a task. Whenever we serve, it is likely that we are being used by God to touch another person's life. And we each only get one life to live. Passing up that service opportunity might mean passing up the only chance you may have to impact someone's life for Christ.
Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.
Simple statement, but sometimes difficult to do.
Verse to Remember: Philippians 2:5- "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." New International Version
It's probably one of the verses that inspired the whole WWJD craze back in the 90's.
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
Truthfully I think I do a good job of looking out for ways to help others. However, I am working on actually going through with being helpful everytime I see opportunities.
2/04/2010
Day 33: How Real Servants Act
I gotta say, this has been one of my longest weeks so far, but it's been good (minus the not wanting to wake up at 5:30). Tomorrow will be quite the adventure, though. Teaching all day (including after school band), then driving directly to Deltona MS for S&E from 5 until 9 (technically 5:10-8:40, provided they are on time. Hah). I know I'm going to need a lot of patience tomorrow (I learned that tonight, but when I stopped being annoyed and focused on the amazing weather and the smell of cut grass. . . it's funny what a change of perspective does for the mental state).
I had other things I wanted to write about, but I'm so tired that I want to get to PDL so I can get to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter is all about the qualities that comprise a servant's heart. I think we all know at least one person who we think of when we hear that phrase (I know I do). There are six different qualities.
(also, I apologize in advance if I don't edit or link a lot, and if my dyslexia comes through. . .I've already typed at least three words completely backwards)
First is that real servants make themselves available to serve. Instead of filling their lives with busy-ness and only serving out of convenience, they are available to God on a moment's notice. After all, everything happens for a reason, right? So, if we aren't jumping on the opportunities to serve, we are ignoring a chance to grow.
God's minutemen. . . shouldn't all Christians be like that? I know that I'm not.
Second, servants pay attention to needs. They don't just wait for opportunities to pop up; they are also actively seeking opportunities to help others. It is a combination of sensitivity and spontanaeity. Carpe diem, right? Service isn't the last thing on our to-do list; it should be in a place of priority.
Third, they do their best with what they have. There is no excuse to wait to serve. Everyone can do something, and there's no bar of excellence for serving. Perfection is not the name of the game: involvment is. Any service is better than none. And how will you get better at something if you never actually do it? I'm excited to see the list of things that need to be done at SBC, because I know that every single person in the congregation has a place to be involved. I'm praying both that I will step up in the places I feel I should and that everyone else will also take that step of faith (I know I'll be doing things I've probably never done before) and put their name to a committment of service. What an awesome thing that will be to see.
Real servants also do every task with equal dedication. It's not about what is being done, but about how it is done. Sound familiar? Our service should be acts of WORSHIP to God. Whether we are cleaning up after a church function, making food, sending out e-mails, taking out the trash. . . all of it can be done and should be done with the same heart as the "great" things. Everyone wants to be part of the big happenings; but it does not take special people to fill in the massive amounts of little things!
Fifth, servants are faithful to their ministry. Dependable, reliable, trustworthy, committed. . . all those words work. They get stuff done, and they do it right. One thing that always gets me is that Moses never gave up on the Israelites (quite the opposite; he begged God not to destroy them). They seemed so hopelessly lost! Of course, if I look at my own life, I can defintely relate to that.
Finally, servants maintain a low profile. Service is not about making yourself look good to others ("eyeservice") because service IS NOT ABOUT YOU. The life of Joseph is a perfect example of this. I love this quote: "You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your body that are indispensible. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant service is often the service that is unseen." It's actually out of the Bible. We must be careful of our motives.
Point to Ponder: I serve God by serving others.
Cool beans. I can do that.
Verse to Remember: Matthew 10:42- "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." New Living Translation
The book talked about how people want to lead, but I think also people want to serve those who are in prominent positions more often than those in "lower" positions. This is a good reminder that EVERYONE deserves service, not just the "elite".
Question to Consider: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?
Probably the hardest is making myself available to serve. Although I do have a bit of an unstable schedule with being a band director (and finding out last minute about meetings and rehearsals) I know that I can get out of certain things if I start making times sacred to me (i.e. Wednesday nights, since so many church things go on then). It's not necessarily that I try to avoid things, but I need to be careful that I don't start making school an excuse when it doesn't have to be. And if that means saying no to certain things, well. . . I only get 24 hours in every day. I can still serve and worship God at school functions, but if I sign up for something at church first and then have to give it up for school . . . I just have to be careful.
I had other things I wanted to write about, but I'm so tired that I want to get to PDL so I can get to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter is all about the qualities that comprise a servant's heart. I think we all know at least one person who we think of when we hear that phrase (I know I do). There are six different qualities.
(also, I apologize in advance if I don't edit or link a lot, and if my dyslexia comes through. . .I've already typed at least three words completely backwards)
First is that real servants make themselves available to serve. Instead of filling their lives with busy-ness and only serving out of convenience, they are available to God on a moment's notice. After all, everything happens for a reason, right? So, if we aren't jumping on the opportunities to serve, we are ignoring a chance to grow.
God's minutemen. . . shouldn't all Christians be like that? I know that I'm not.
Second, servants pay attention to needs. They don't just wait for opportunities to pop up; they are also actively seeking opportunities to help others. It is a combination of sensitivity and spontanaeity. Carpe diem, right? Service isn't the last thing on our to-do list; it should be in a place of priority.
Third, they do their best with what they have. There is no excuse to wait to serve. Everyone can do something, and there's no bar of excellence for serving. Perfection is not the name of the game: involvment is. Any service is better than none. And how will you get better at something if you never actually do it? I'm excited to see the list of things that need to be done at SBC, because I know that every single person in the congregation has a place to be involved. I'm praying both that I will step up in the places I feel I should and that everyone else will also take that step of faith (I know I'll be doing things I've probably never done before) and put their name to a committment of service. What an awesome thing that will be to see.
Real servants also do every task with equal dedication. It's not about what is being done, but about how it is done. Sound familiar? Our service should be acts of WORSHIP to God. Whether we are cleaning up after a church function, making food, sending out e-mails, taking out the trash. . . all of it can be done and should be done with the same heart as the "great" things. Everyone wants to be part of the big happenings; but it does not take special people to fill in the massive amounts of little things!
Fifth, servants are faithful to their ministry. Dependable, reliable, trustworthy, committed. . . all those words work. They get stuff done, and they do it right. One thing that always gets me is that Moses never gave up on the Israelites (quite the opposite; he begged God not to destroy them). They seemed so hopelessly lost! Of course, if I look at my own life, I can defintely relate to that.
Finally, servants maintain a low profile. Service is not about making yourself look good to others ("eyeservice") because service IS NOT ABOUT YOU. The life of Joseph is a perfect example of this. I love this quote: "You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your body that are indispensible. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant service is often the service that is unseen." It's actually out of the Bible. We must be careful of our motives.
Point to Ponder: I serve God by serving others.
Cool beans. I can do that.
Verse to Remember: Matthew 10:42- "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." New Living Translation
The book talked about how people want to lead, but I think also people want to serve those who are in prominent positions more often than those in "lower" positions. This is a good reminder that EVERYONE deserves service, not just the "elite".
Question to Consider: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?
Probably the hardest is making myself available to serve. Although I do have a bit of an unstable schedule with being a band director (and finding out last minute about meetings and rehearsals) I know that I can get out of certain things if I start making times sacred to me (i.e. Wednesday nights, since so many church things go on then). It's not necessarily that I try to avoid things, but I need to be careful that I don't start making school an excuse when it doesn't have to be. And if that means saying no to certain things, well. . . I only get 24 hours in every day. I can still serve and worship God at school functions, but if I sign up for something at church first and then have to give it up for school . . . I just have to be careful.
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