"The Call" by Regina Spektor

"We are far too easily pleased."

“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of rewards and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea….We are far too easily pleased.” A Mind Awake, p 168, C.S. Lewis

As a younger woman, I was always fascinated by this quote. I loved the image of a little child playing in the mud with the sea sparkling in the distance.

Now that I am an older woman (not much, but it counts for something, right), I am able to see the real meaning in this quote. Our desires as humans, finite beings, are so weak compared to the reality that God wishes to share with us. Everything is better in Him. Everything. 

I started to really apply this to my life and am now learning that the desires I have are so much better in my Lord. He has things planned for me that I could not even imagine. And they will be infinitely better than the things I have now. I seek pleasure in things, but I have no idea the joys and pleasure that He will supply me. The greatest of all being in Him. He show me how weak my desires truly are when the time comes. 

So look for that offer for the holiday by the sea. Ask God to make your desires His desires. How much more joyful and beautiful will our lives be if this is the case? 

"But take heart; I have overcome the world."

This week I was thinking about suffering for Christ's sake, and how the first century disciples rejoiced in their persecution. Why don't we do that now? 

I feel as though we as Christians in this world, we tend to strive for complacency and being comfortable. I don't think we really strive to put our faith out there. But why not? We talk about it all the time. Oh how we can't wait to graduate from this school or that, to be in the work-place where we can really live out our faith. But why not now?  

I really struggle with being comfortable. It's not right. I think that God wants us to have sufferings. Actually I know He does. Paul says in Romans: 

...and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)

 And also in his letter to the Corinthians:

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is prepared for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

As Christians, we tend to think that we are here to be here. To remember that we are going to have a home someday that will dwarf this world is hard. But we need to live out our faith in a way that does not make us comfortable.

Get dirty.

Peter says in his first letter:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it come upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christians, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:12-19)

We must rejoice in our sufferings! If we suffer, we need to remember that it isn’t weird. Do not be surprised. The first century Christians did it. Why can’t we? I know we like to be comfortable, but dang it, I’d rather rejoice in sufferings than sit around so that I may share in the glory of God as Paul says.

…and when they called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42)

Are we worthy to suffer dishonor for His name? Do we desire to be?

I want to suffer for his name because honestly, that is what we are called to do. And yeah, it’s scary, but remember:

For everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that had overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

And:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (Jesus quoted in John 16:33)

 

Bursting at the Seams

So over the past four weeks, I have spent my Tuesday and Thursday mornings at a middle school for placement. This supposedly consists of me observing a teacher in my area teaching a class of unruly middle school kiddos. When I was first placed in a middle school, I was very hesitant because if you know me at all, you'll know I want to teach high school kids. I went into the classroom with a little experience, my summer job putting me in a classroom setting four days a week. I learned how the class worked and after the first week, I was in love.

I am at the middle school for two class periods of Language Arts.

Oh man. I love it.

I get to walk around and chat with the kids about their projects and reactions to certain topics. For the first couple weeks, the kids were really hesitant to think anything of me, or at least outwardly. But they are middle schoolers.

Now, my placement is quickly coming to a close, and they like me. I don't want to leave. Some of the girls asked me why I don't come every day. I melted. One followed me around while we were in the library. She was disappointed when she had to go back to class with the real teacher. They really like me. I'm attached. I don't want to ever leave.

I'm really amazed at these students as well. I noticed this in summer school as well, but it seems more apparent in the middle school setting: though I discipline, the students still like me. They respect me and want my attention. I'm absolutely baffled by this. If I tell them what they are doing is wrong, why would they like me? I don't fully understand. Is it the way I go about it? I'm not sure I will ever understand.

My excitement to be a teacher is magnified in these days that I spend with these students. I feel God's love for them as I walk through the halls and watch them interact. The desire of my heart is to be a teacher. How great is our God that He fills our hearts, our measly pitiful little hearts, with His awe-some incredible desires.

I can't contain myself. Literally.

God is good, my friends. God is so good.

Reality is Calling

So over the past few weeks, I haven’t been very good about striving towards the Lord. I have been thinking that I could do it all myself and was consistently humbled. Every few days, I would get a swift kick in the pants to remember that I, the ultimate control freak, have absolutely no control.

Suddenly, I changed the course for the next semester. Granted, it's only three months or so, but still, it has a big impact on what will happen in my future.

I dropped a class I need for my major and picked up a class that will not be beneficial to me credit wise.

This does not seem super important, but it is. With this class that is important to me graduating, I was not able to spend time in the Word in my mornings. The time I would have spent would have been cramped and rushed.

But as I dropped this course, I found myself desiring to be in the Word even more. Everyday. I can't get enough of its truths. It's all I desire.

I immediately dug into Acts. I had been slowly making my way through this book, but now, I had a passion to really know it. As I read it, I can across this passage (Acts 16:6-10):

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God has called us to preach the gospel to them.

This passage really spoke to me because I had been seeing the Holy Spirit working in ways that seem contrary to what He would want. But then I remembered that God has a plan in everything. Even when we are striving to do God's will, we might not be listening. We must listen to our men of Macedonia and go where God is calling, listening to Him and Him alone.

He calls us to the places we least likely expect to go to preach the gospel and witness for Him.

I also began to read 1 John, and God began to speak to me through it. One of the many passages that stuck out to me was 1 John 4: 4:

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them [evil spirits], for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

And 1 John 5: 4-5:

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This passage really reminded me that I am of God, and even as I live in the world, I have a God that I am called by. He loves me and with Him I can overcome every temptation, crude comment, slander, fear, violence, or hate that is thrown at me.

God is good, my friends. Through a trivial change in my schedule, I have become more solid in my decision to transfer. God is calling me out, as Pastor Jason said today at Grace Church of Roseville. He talked about knowing God and following His voice. Pastor Jason stated that we were not meant to live life in a pen, or a bubble. God is calling me out.

This might be the first time some of you have heard me speak of transferring. If you want to know more about my decision, drop me a line. I'd love to tell you about what God is doing in my life and has been doing in the past few months.

It all comes back to my Father. He is my sustainer, and without Him, these decisions would never come to be.

So, I will be following God’s voice in this transition. His Word has become fuel for the fire within me. I’m intoxicated by it.

One thought to leave you with. Do not let yourselves be distracted from the Maker of heaven and earth. Do not listen to the voices of the world, for they are all corrupt. Even mine, if my words and my intent are not the Lord’s. Stay away from those things that would draw you to evil.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5: 21)

Psalm 27:14

There are so many things happening in my life right now, so many transitions. They are all exciting in their own way, but they are all also hard. Throughout my thought-processes and rants, I have had a few good friends call to my attention the fact that God is in control.

Nothing is up to me. I really realized it the other day when I finally got on campus. So many emotions, thoughts, worries, excitements, came rushing back. It was almost frightening the intensity of it all.

The over-arching feeling I was blessed with was peace. I had been so concerned with the future and not being able to see it. But God set upon me a cloud of peace. Such an amazing God I serve, or attempt to serve. He is my Maker.

The verse that really influenced me was Psalm 27:14. It spelled out what I needed to hear, and what I plan on focusing on while these transitions come to be.

"Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take
courage;
wait for the Lord!"
--Psalm 27:14

God is good. He is in charge of all I feel and do. He is sovereign. Truly sovereign.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.