pastoring one another

I went to a seminar last night where Tim Chester spoke. His main point was about pastoring one another. No... not going to seminary to be able to exposit scripture exactly or to speak Greek like an Olympian or Hebrew like a pharisee, but to teach, encourage, and admonish one another regularly.

See, whenever we need to rebuke someone for their sin, or whenever someone needs to rebuke us for our sin, it happens with a major confrontation. If rebuke was a natural way of doing community life in the church, this would not be seen as negatively confrontational. With that, the defense mechanisms and the height of emotion may too leave the situation. I think this radical way of doing community would really perpetuate gospel living if we could do it. This will definitely feel very awkward at first, but I have a feeling we can get into the swing of it.

Another thing he said was that when you rebuke someone they should not leave that conversation feeling condemned. Boy was I struck like a ton of bricks. I'm certain I have let many walk away feeling condemned by the words I've said. [Oh Lord, hasten the day when sin will be no more.] Chester continued in that if people have left feeling that way, then we weren't doing gospel pastoring. Instead, we were creating moralistic legalists like ourselves. [whoa dang] Instead of saying "you shouldn't get drunk" or "you shouldn't be anxious," we should be saying "you need not get drunk" and "you need not get anxious." Why? Because God is all and is in all. Why? Because of the gospel. Why? Because it's good news! You don't have try to meet your deepest needs in sinful ways, Jesus is here! He's born the shame. He's taken the punishment. He's in control. He rose again. He's victorious. He cares.

Let's try it together. Instead of having conversations about legalism, point out the sin, then point to the cross. The Word is what has power, not my advice. The gospel through the Holy Spirit changes people, not my rubbish wisdom. There is no victory in try harder. There is victory in the full grace and acceptance of Jesus as you are.

guess what...

For some reason this struck me in the shower today and I'm not sure why. The shower is always great for deep thinking.



Do you remember the joke/silly thing we used to say as kids, "Guess what?" "Chicken butt!"

I was thinking today about that statement and realizing it was the most ridiculous thing ever. Number one, it doesn't make sense, and number two, it's not funny. There is no way in your right mind that you think that is funny. The only reason that was ever perceived as funny is because someone else thought it was funny. Maybe that last sentence didn't make sense. I know I must have only laughed at it because I wanted to be accepted by someone else. It got me thinking, how often do I do things just for the approval of others? Now laughing at a joke doesn't make much of a difference, but seeking the approval of others is a dangerous thing. We are to be in the world but not of it. This means being different and not always being acceptable. I mean, Christ was not always popular. He was killed by his peers, spit in the face, and even his friends were in the firing range. Even though that seems like a scary thing (not being accepted), it is the best thing. Faced with the choice, I choose to live differently. Do you?

campaigning...

So, I have been on the campaign staff of, the one and only, Abby Daniel. This means that I have given her all of my time over the past two weeks, neglected sleep, and sported "Abby" attire everyday. This has been a delight to me to be able to serve her, although it required daily showering. :/. One of the fellow staff members told us to make sure we looked decent and had showered when we were sporting Abby's name. We were representing her to all of those we came in contact with.

These words made me change my behaviors. I showered daily [Yep, that's uncommon :)]. I blow dryed my hair. I was the nicest person you have ever come in contact with. I was constantly smiling, holding doors, offering people candy, etc. I wore a shirt with Abby's name on it everyday, and was known by all of the people in my classes by these articles of clothing. Many people who I came into contact with asked me if I was Abby. I knew her platform in case anyone had any questions. I was poised to answer questions about her history and what made her the best candidate. People noticed my commitment to Abby, even people who didn't know me.

About halfway through the week, a thought struck me. If I am willing to do this for Abby and spread the word, why am I not doing this for Jesus? Now, I think most Christian shirts are cheezy (Sorry if i offended you.), but seriously. Can I easily state how Jesus stands on the issues facing us currently, or tell you His history? Can I convince you to give him a chance? Will I put myself out there for ridicule? Do all I come in contact with know that I love Jesus? Oh mama, this was convicting. I have taken a stronger stand for Abby Daniel over the past couple of days than I have for Jesus my whole life. Now, I realize there aren't "Vote for Jesus" stickers, but there is a way to let people know that it encompasses your being. I can bring up conversations about Jesus, just like I did about the campaign. It didn't matter what people thought, I just wanted to make sure they had heard.

I hope this makes sense to you. It was awfully convicting to me this week. I hope it will make you think twice and to consider what people know and notice most about you. I am striving to make it that I am in love with Jesus and want nothing more than Him.

friendships

Today I was doing a lot of thinking about friendships, and I came to the conclusion that they are hard. They are wonderful (don't get me wrong), but let's be honest they take work. Other than just the work required in maintaining a relationship, there's also the fact that friends will hurt your feelings/forget about you/etc. or you may have to watch them make bad decisions (which is also hard to do). You know you all have a friend who has to learn via the school of hard knocks instead of just heeding advice. That can be one of the most heartbreaking things, knowing that they don't have to be in the position they are in.. they are choosing to be there.

I was just talking to God about this and wondering why we were built wanting relationships with people even though we know that they will let us down. He reminded me that our deepest desire is for a relationship for a perfect Savior who will never fail us. But another thing that He spoke about was the fact that just like our friends hurt our feelings, I've hurt His feelings. I have decided that other things are more important, or decided that I'd rather talk to other friends. You know when you see some of you friends post facebook pictures of some fun time and realize that you weren't invited... remember that feeling? We do that to God all the time. Sometimes your friends didn't mean to neglect you, they just forgot to call. A lot of times we don't mean to neglect God, He just becomes an afterthought. ouch.

See with our relationships with our friends, it's man being friends with man. They are both fallen beings, and they are both going to fail each other. In most friendships, it ends up evening out. God never fails us and never will. We just abuse him. Take that in. Remember how it feels to be forgotten. Realize that God has feelings too.

Now take a moment and remember grace. Accept his grace and mercy and love for us regardless of our actions. This was just a good thing for me to remember today. I oftentimes forget that God has a heart too and feels things... which is a not good place to be in.

FCA tonight...

Matt Rogers brought us the word tonight based on "why do bad things happen to good people?"

First of all, this is the wrong question. This question is man-centered, therefore the answer is man-centered.... FAIL. Without the answer being God-centered, we are not destined to succeed. This question is also saying that God gives out blessings and hard circumstances based on our performance. That is a scary thought. We fail so much more than we succeed. If we were to ask this question properly we must say, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" The fact that we are still living is evidence of God's grace.

Suffering has nothing to do with you. It's about God. Life has nothing to do with you. It's about God.

In John 9, we read the story about Jesus healing the blind man at the pool at Siloam. The disciples ask Jesus why the man is blind. They think it was based on his sins or the sins of his forefathers. (That is a common view of the day.) Jesus responds, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." SO THAT... there is purpose in our suffering. Now, we are not always promised to see the reason we are suffering, because again... it's not about us.

Another cool part about this story is the fact that Jesus stooped down, spit on the ground, and made clay to put on this man's eyes. He met the man where he was. He saw the blind man in his brokenness, in his blindness, and came to him. How often do we meet people where they are in their time of need and time of hurting? I am not talking about a mission trip or a small group project, or a youth service day. I am speaking of walking out of class and seeing someone hurting, and reaching out in compassion and meeting them where they are. Sometimes the reason that we suffer might be so that we can feel compassion for others who are suffering. We just don't know, but we do know that God knows. We serve an all-knowing God who loves us deeply, personally, and passionately. He is what we seek: not our circumstances, not comfort, not happiness. We seek Him. Although our trials come and people and situations fail us, He NEVER will. Isn't He great?

reason for troubles

I have found that the reason for a lot of my troubles is the fact that I doubt God is who He says He is. You may think, wow, Kayla, that's horrible, but listen and hopefully you'll relate too.

When I am anxious about my future, I am not believing Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I am not believing that my Father wants to give me good things; I am not believing Matthew 7:9-11 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Most insecurities I have (and probably you too) stem from the fact that I am not finding myself in my Father's eyes and delighting in what He thinks of me. I spend too much time listening to my thoughts and not enough time telling myself truth.

Living and existing should not be a passive process but an active process. We are allowed to relax in Christ and relish in His beauty, but we are also told to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This requires deliberate thinking. This is an aspiration of mine, and you should consider it, too.

new blog

So, I decided to start a blog. I haven't told anyone about it, so let's see how this goes. I am not sure what I will put on here, but I'd like to have the option. Anyways, let's begin the journey together.