Dad

I’m thankful it’s another Father’s Day – and, specifically, for my dad! Just as I shared some of the many great attributes of my mom, I’m sharing just a few of my favorites about my dad. 

I am so blessed to have a great dad – I'd say the best! Unfortunately, we have a world with many absent fathers. But to those of us who have received Christ, no matter what our earthly father is like, we have the ultimate, Heavenly Father – who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, is always with us and has promised never to leave nor forsake us. 

Today when my family celebrated Father’s Day over lunch, my earthly dad reminded us about our need to rely on our Heavenly Father. That’s a pretty good segue to my father’s best quality: his complete commitment to Jesus, which makes him the best example of what spiritual leadership is supposed to look like in family leader. My dad, who is passionate about evangelism, has told us how he came to know Jesus about 31 years ago, the year I was born. He had grown up going to a Christian school, church and being a “good” kid, but that year was the first time that he could say The Gospel penetrated his heart and changed his life. I am pretty sure that, from that point on, he committed himself to following Jesus wholeheartedly. 

My dad is an academic with several degrees, but I have never seen him more committed to any study than the study of God’s Word. He reads it, digests it, memorizes it and lives it. And he passed his zeal for God and His Word on to his family. He’s always made sure that we relate the Word to everything we do – school, work, play and beyond. Growing up we also had family devotions most nights of the week, went to a church with solid Bible teaching, and me and my siblings went to Christian schools – beginning with enrolling my older brother in kindergarten while my dad was a grad student and our family barely had enough money to live on. Each time tuition was due, he and my mother trusted God to provide the money because they believed it was so important for their kids to get a biblical foundation. And for many years, they continued to rely on God to provide financially so that just as we were learning our ABCs and 123s, we also daily digested the foundations of the faith, which made me and my siblings wise unto salvation and maximized our growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because of my dad, I have learned what spiritual leadership is – and when to recognize and encourage it in other men, too. 

As with my mom, I could go on for quite some time singing my dad’s praises. Just a few more attributes that I must mention tie into his commitment to Christ. He is perhaps the nicest, most compassionate person you will ever meet. He treats people kindly regardless of who they are, which also is why he often attracts broken people who look to him for guidance. Over the years, I have watched him take time out of his always-busy schedule to give biblical counsel to others and bear their burdens. He never gives up on anyone, and, in his faithfulness, has been part of seeing countless lives changed through Christ.

Another that warms my heart is how he is never too busy to talk to me and the rest of our family. He prefers to have long conversations with us (I say that his love language is quality time-dialect quality conversation, but he refuses to take the quiz, lol. I have blogged about my fondness for the love languages as a way of seeing whether I am maximizing my relationships with others, here). And although I am not much of a phone person, I love that I can call my dad and he will pick up anywhere – even in a meeting, if only to say, “My girl [or, in the case of my brothers, my boy], I can’t talk right now, but I’ll call you back.” And he always does.

I will close with sharing that my dad also is great because of his amazing outlook on life. Despite not always having had the best circumstances, he still has a very positive, spiritually focused perspective. He  chooses to see even trying, "unfair" times from a biblical perspective. He models what Paul said in Philippians 3: 7-14 about forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead to win the prize for which God will eventually (but, prayerfully, not any time soon) call him heavenward in Christ Jesus (or, to put it in a reference to what I believe is one of his favorite passages, which he quotes often and had us memorize, 2 Timothy 4: 7-8). I’ve seen my daddy change lives for Jesus in so many great ways, and, the more I live, the more I see that I’ve been blessed with the very best father that God could have given me.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Not For a Moment

I've been listening to the newest CD from one of my favorite artists, Meredith Andrews, who writes and sings such beautiful, amazing worship songs. One song in particular, "Not for a Moment," has been a great source of reflection on God's sovereignty and promise never to leave nor forsake His people. It's been especially relevant considering the recent Moore, Oklahoma, tornadoes and other tragedies in our country and around the world - through which we can still see God at work.

One of my favorite stories about the Oklahoma tornado was the elementary school teacher who gathered her students under some structure (I believe desks), had them play makeshift instruments and sing "Jesus Loves Me" through the storm. Somehow - God's how, all the children from that elementary school were spared. And even in the deaths, God is being glorified.

"Not for a Moment," which I've had on repeat for a few days, has a couple lines from the chorus that have stuck most: "After all, You are constant. After all, You are only good. After all, You are sovereign. Not for a moment will You forsake me."  The words bring me to tears because they ring so true  - El Roi, The God Who Sees Me, has never left me - and never will.

Jesus promised His disciples that in life they would have trouble, but should take heart, because He's already overcome the world! In Romans 5 we also are reminded by the Apostle Paul that, in believers, suffering produces godly traits – perseverance, which leads to character, and character to hope: "And hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out His love on us” (v. 5).

I praise God for His love and sovereignty. He has a definite plan to overcome tragedy and evil that will prevail. Romans 8: 35-39 is appropriate:

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
             we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Check out "Not For A Moment." It's a wonderful reminder of The God we serve. He'll never leave us - not for a moment.

Num Nums

Note: the links below were deleted as a result of some updates (technical difficulties), so I need to fix them. I will do so by tomorrow when I get a chance...thanks!

I've been digesting a few great resources the last few weeks that I wanted to pass on. Bon appetit! 

“Ephesians” Sermon Series on Identity by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church: For about the last year and a half or so, I've been regularly listening to Mark Driscoll, whom I credit with discovering my Calvinistic side. Going to a Southern Baptist-run middle and high school, I became well versed in Arminianism (with a belief in eternal security rather than the idea that you can lose your salvation) and arguments refuting aspects of Calvinism. Some of my classmates came from a Reformed theological background (our school was technically non-denominational), and in Bible and sometimes History class there were some serious debates over predestination, but ultimately I was never presented a complete picture of Calvinism and did not explore it on my own. What I’ve learned in the last couple years through Mark Driscoll and other sources, however, is that I actually agree with most tenets of Calvinism, and now consider myself, at minimum, an “Arminist” - i.e, Arminian-Calvinist, if there is such a thing, lol. I still need to study limited atonement some more in particular to figure out my position (in case you need a brief overview of Arminianism v. Calvinism, click here, but note that I purposely did not link to anything else because the sources I would choose for more detail are biased one way or another).

Anyway, all this started in attempting to highlight that I think Mark Driscoll is a theologian, and I gain so much from listening to him. Not every pastor makes you feel like you are in Bible class – gaining in knowledge – though their sermons. While I wholeheartedly believe that applying what you learn is the most important step to take as a result of gaining biblical knowledge, understanding the doctrines of the faith is still critical because your theology directly impacts how you live. Second Timothy 2:15 says, in part, that we are to study the Word of God so that we can know how to apply it rightly –not a command reserved just for theologians!

Whether you agree with Calvinism, Pastor Mark still presents core tenants of the faith that are not reserved for Calvinism. I highly recommend him (and you may not necessarily recognize what he says as Calvinism – but I do agree that he is distinctly Calvinist in his focus on our sin nature as totally depraved and salvation through the grace of God despite the fact that we in no way deserved it. However, his emphasis on salvation through grace also is central to evangelical beliefs).

Okay, so now that I am finally saving the rest of that ramble for another time, I will get to recommending Driscoll’s series on Ephesians. It’s based on a recently released book he wrote titled, Who Do You Think You Are? Finding Your True Identity in Christ. As my pastor has put it, one of the greatest crises facing our world today (and, I add, particularly shaping youth) is a lack of understanding about our identity. For Christians, our true identity is found in Jesus Christ. This means that we are to allow Him to conform us to His likeness, and that we do not have to identify ourselves in ways that contradict Scripture despite the fact that the world tells us we do. In this 16-week series, Pastor Mark preaches on 15 awesome statements about our identities that should shape how we live:

I Am in Christ
I Am a Saint
I Am Blessed
I Am Appreciated
I Am Saved
I Am Reconciled
I Am Afflicted
I Am Heard
I Am Gifted
I Am New
I Am Forgiven
I Am Adopted
I Am Loved
I Am Fathered
I Am Rewarded

It also should be noted that, as you may know from listening to him, he does not mince words and I think can sometimes be on the confrontational side, but despite the fact that I may not agree with his approach or opinions all the time, I still respect his communication of deep spiritual truths as a teacher of The Word.

You can check out the Ephesians series here, or on iTunes, Mars Hill Church: Mark Driscoll or Marsh Hill Church Everything Audio; podcasts January 13 - May 5, 2013.

“God in the Mirror” Sermon Series by Pastor Miles McPherson, The Rock Church San Diego: Pastor Miles is another one of my favorites (and was very blessed to visit his church in San Diego recently). If Mark Driscoll is a theologian in a more common sense of the word, I consider Pastor Miles McPherson a practical theologian - he’s a master at breaking down deep theological concepts to express their everyday implications for both the saved and unsaved. For example, he often gives the definition of love as “helping someone else obey God.” To me that really provides a very good measure of whether my actions are genuinely loving or selfish.

“God in the Mirror” is another great sermon series on identity in which Pastor Miles explores characteristics humans possess as a result of being made in the image of God, and how to conform ourselves to our true identity. It also is based on his new book, God in the Mirror. Throughout the six- week series he preaches on each of the following attributes of human identity using the acronym IMAGE (with an introduction to all for the first week):

Individually unique
Moral mirror [of God]
Authority to rule
God’s friend
Eternal

Last week’s sermon was on authority to rule, and there are two weeks left in the series. Here’s a link, or access through iTunes, The Rock Church: Weekend Messages, Series “God in the Mirror.”

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson, pastor of the DC-Based National Community Church (NCC): I highly recommend this book on the importance of fervent prayer. It peppers stories about the “true legend of Honi the Circle Maker, a first-century Jewish sage whose bold prayer ended a drought and saved a generation (see back cover) ” – with principles and real-life testimonies about the spiritual and physical results of praying without ceasing. The back cover of the book also notes a major principle covered in the book: “God honors Bold Prayers and Bold Prayers Honor God.”

“Circling” is a theme throughout the book emphasizing continuous prayer. In addition to the introduction, there are four main sections addressing different aspects of circling in prayer: Dream Big, Pray Hard, Think Long (on the importance of planning and praying long term or for future generations) and Keep Circling (about never ceasing prayer). A really cool aspect of the book is that many of the testimonies highlighted are about God at work through Batterson and NCC and reference various D.C. landmarks. Now if I ever pass them I will think about answered prayers and how God’s power is on display right here in our city.

I felt this book really summed up my personal journey with prayer and encouraged me to continue growing spiritually through pursuing prayer at increasingly deeper levels (although I do feel that based on some of the word choices Batterson and I probably have some theological differences that would cause me to characterize some of the principles in the book differently, I do not see these differences as diminishing the importance of checking out the book. I only note this in case you may feel the same when you start reading and wonder whether to continue reading; as I said, I still highly recommend!).

As I read The Circle Maker, I spent time thinking about the relationship between prayer and God’s Word. At times I have gone through the motions of prayer without always comprehending its significance. I often fancy reading God’s Word because of its immediacy in telling us what God says, as it is God’s revealed word. By contrast, the result of prayer is not always an immediate word from God; we may pray for something for years without seeing God reveal the answer (although God does transform us in the process, but this is still gradual). While we may read God’s Word and it may take us time to understand what it’s saying about a particular issue and conform ourselves to what it says, we still can always be sure when we read it that God is revealing Himself to us.Yet the Bible and prayer are meant to go hand in hand.

God’s Word gives us the ability to continue praying even when an answer is years away – or may never be answered while we are on earth- by helping us meditate on the promises of God even when we haven’t seen them materialize in specific situations. Romans 15:4 (which I know I recite often:)) says of the Bible: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (NIV). The NLT translates the second sentence as “And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” The Word of God gives us encouragement for now as we pray for later.

The Word of God also tells us how to pray and what to pray for. I like this quote from nineteenth century theologian R.A. Torrey: “To pray 'the prayer of faith' we must first of all study our Bibles intensely that we may know the promises of God-- what they are, how large they are, how definite they are--and just exactly what is promised.”

The Circle Maker is an inspiring title that should encourage us to go to God both in prayer and Scripture, and not only about our biggest dreams and greatest fears, but also in everything! Here's a link to The Circle Maker.

Num num!

Mom

Many of us love Mother’s Day for the chance to honor our mothers for all that they do for us. I’m taking this opportunity to show thankfulness for mine.

A lot of us would put our mothers in the running for world’s greatest mom. I totally nominate my mommy!

One of the many amazing qualities my mother possesses is wisdom - not just in her speech, but also in her conduct. Her life is a testament to what planning, obedience, diligence, love for God and a host of other qualities radiate when someone's prudent. There are a few areas that my mom has shared wisdom with me from childhood that particularly come to mind.

Two can be explained with a story. A few weeks ago, at a birthday party, I got into a conversation with someone that led me to mention two warnings my momma gave me growing up that particularly stuck with me: no sex and no debt. She was never afraid to talk to me and my siblings about saving sex for marriage. We never had just one “sex talk"; we had many. In fact, I remember being in elementary school and not yet completely knowing what sex was when my mom told me I should wait to have it. I credit her talks with planting the seeds that later led me to pursue purity. It also was because of my mom that in college I said no to those shady credit card company reps carousing my campus trying to get kids to sign up for a tab. Her lessons also taught me about the importance of financial stewardship and still govern the way I spend money today.

And then there was her constant admonishing, from James and Matthew, that my yes should be my yes, and my no, no. Because of her example and words, I’ve learned to keep my word.

I could go on for quite some time, but I have to stop somewhere. I’ll end with highlighting what she taught me about prayer – to do it without ever ceasing. Growing up my siblings and I would sometimes groan when my mom was about to pray, because we knew that we were going to be there for a long time (and my dad always made us have long family devotions studying the Bible, so, not always to our delight, we had full-fledged church in our home several times a week!). Through her example I also am still learning to devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And what I love too is that in Sunday School growing up, whenever kids in her presence said that they couldn’t pray aloud because they were too scared, she let them know that they should snap out of that, because prayer was simply a conversation with the God who loved to hear them. As a high school and college student one of the greatest joys I had being a first grade Sunday School teacher in the same children’s department of our home church where my mother has served for more than two decades was seeing the kids become more and more comfortable just having a conversation aloud with God as I repeated my mother's words throughout the school year. And I’m still encouraging kids to pray aloud now – and, in turn, helping them learn to talk to God more openly when they’re in secret, too.

It’s also my desire to be a mother, and for my kids to spend a lot of time around my mother (who is certainly itching to be called grandma, lol). There are many capable and virtuous women, but I believe, truly, that my momma surpasses them all.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy!

Jesus, My Redeemer

It’s another Good Friday, and I love it for the chance to reflect on The Cross – and use a blog entry to do so!

 I like to think about what aspect of The Cross stands out to me on Good Friday that year and blog about it. Last year it was the fact that The Gospel is “good news” that we are to share with others. What came to mind when I asked that question this year was simply the word “redemption,” and the fact that, without Christ, I was once “dead in my transgressions.” After looking up the passage using those words, Ephesians 2: 1-10, I found that they summed up my reflection.

Ephesians 2: 1-5 reads,

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  Without Christ, I was in the worst possible state – spiritually dead, and I deserved to stay that way. Yet God, in His love and mercy, redeemed me through His Son. By accepting His free gift of salvation, I am made "alive in Christ" – gain spiritual life, which outlasts my physical life– and allows me to belong to the family of God. I like how the Apostle Peter describes Christians in 1 Peter 2: 9 - "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Ephesians 5: 6-7 also adds, "6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Further, Ephesians 2: 8-9 hits home that nothing I ever did, or can do, can ever save me: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” When I recognize that my redemption through accepting salvation is not my doing, my response is humility.

But the most exciting part of Ephesians 2:1-10 for me as it relates to this life is verse 10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The passage culminates in the conclusion that God redeemeds Christians for a purpose – not just so that we can escape hell, as glorious as that is – but also today so that we can join in His work and live out our calling in Christ. And, for every believer, that includes sharing The Gospel - the story of God's Redemptive plan - with others.

The more I consider that I’m God’s "handiwork" (or workmanship) created to do good works that He prepared for me to do, the more it hits home the result of redemption in the now. In 1 Corinthians 13: 12 the apostle Paul notes that on this earth we lack full knowledge, and will continue to until we get to heaven. While God’s ultimate plans are revealed to us in Scripture, and the more that we study God’s Word and walk with Him the more that we learn about His character, purposes, and ways, there is still much that we will never understand on this side of heaven. But today, I know that God has a purpose for me being here and, as I seek Him daily, He shows me what I should be doing today, and, as He wills, tomorrow. And His plans far outweigh any that I can come up with on my own.

For the last couple years, particularly as I’ve been continuously reading through the Bible – through which I've come to see even more as an awesome, mind-blowing true story of Redemption (as is said, “The Greatest [True] Story Ever Told”), God has really revived John 10:10 as a “life” verse (and I feel like I somehow reference in it in like, every entry, lol). I will repeat it (again), in three versions:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.(NLT)

John 10:10 excites me to know that God has such an amazing purpose for my life, one that is greater than anything I could dream up on my own. It’s this knowledge that helps me see God’s glory  in the trying times that, truth be told, you and I often would rather not experience.

Yet in John 16:33, Jesus said to his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I also like how the Apostle Paul looked at hardship as a result of this knowledge. In 2 Corinthians 12: 10 he says: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Through His death on the Cross and resurrection, Jesus paid the ultimate punishment - and triumphed over it - to accomplish my redemption. His free gift of salvation allows me to be “justified,” be in right standing with God. As His child, on this earth He sanctifies me as I walk with Him, making me more like Him. And, after this life, I will experience glorification, eternity with God and freedom from sin. In other words, He’s The Redeemer who keeps on redeeming; or, the God who keeps saving. I am looking forward to glory, but I am thankful for redemption today. Thank you, Jesus, for redeeming me!

REQUEST FOR READERS: Please Take My Survey!

As you may know, it's been about seven years since I started blogging. My blog (oh so creatively titled) began as nothing more than an outlet to express myself and keep up my writing skills after getting a journalism degree in college but choosing to pursue another field. Although my earliest entries tended to cover more random topics - such as annoying summer tourists in D.C. and my favorite food flavors, it quickly became clear that my desire was to blog about my ongoing journey as a follower of Christ and encourage other believers - especially those around my age and younger - in their walks with Jesus. I can't believe it's been several years!

Recently, I've really been getting direction from God that He wants me to do more with my writing. I'm not sure yet exactly what form He wants my "next steps" to take, but I'm starting by compiling some of the material that I've amassed on this blog.

That's where I need your help - you, the reader! As I'm pursuing potential projects, I want to get a better sense of who (if anyone, lol) periodically reads my blog, and what you have to say about it. Some of you have given me comments over the years (which I very much appreciate), but I'd also like responses to a quick survey that I've created (so far, everyone has completed it in under 5 minutes!), which you can access here. It asks for some demographics and thoughts about the blog. I know my girls will come through on it (and, just to be clear, I very much need you to!), but I'd also like to hear from any males who are reading (or have read), just so that I can get some sense of whether my blog appeals to you too.

In short, please take my survey - and thanks in advance!!

The New Rules of Resolution

There's a sermon series I just finished listening to from Steven Furtick, Pastor of Elevation Church, that I absolutely had to pass on. I only have a few moments, but I wanted to do so before I forget because it's just sooo good. It's called "The New Rules of Resolution: Five Facts that Change the Way We Change." If I can summarize it in the minute that I have, it's about how to live the Christian life successfully.  The answer in a nutshell, which relates to one of my recent entries, is in "embracing the now" that God has placed you in (like, right now, lol). The theme passage of the series is Colossians 2: 6-7:

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

The five facts from the series (also preached in five weeks), involved what I thought were profound statements about maximizing the Christian life:

Fact 1: It’s not a project, it’s a process.

Fact 2: It’s not achieving, it’s receiving.

Fact 3: It’s not trying, it’s training.

Fact 4: It’s not a competition, it’s a calling.

Fact 5: It’s not what you would [do], it’s what you can [do].

If you are feeling at all down about some aspect of walking with Jesus, may not be now but want to have another weapon in your arsenal for when you are, or just want another way to meditate on the things of God (I hope at least one of those categories includes you!), check out these messages! You can either click here, or download them on iTunes: Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC>The New Rules of Resolution (Jan. 5, 2013 – Feb. 2, 2013).

Happy Listening!

Valentine's Day Sweets

Valentine’s Day is, of course, on Thursday. Naturally, it’s come up a lot in conversation recently, in my case especially in brainstorming with women small group leaders at my church about how to address it in women’s groups, where there are a significant number of single women. Often I use reoccurring themes in my life as muses for blog entries, but I will confess that, although I thought the conversations a good opportunity to blog about Valentine’s Day, I was not inspired by them.

I did, however, gain inspiration for this entry by listening to podcasts on the Web site of one of my favorite authors writing about love and purity, Leslie Ludy (I will note that on limited occasions I have seen her write a culturally myopic comment or two, but only minimally, and she is very genuine and exudes a passion for seeing all her readers and listeners approach purity and relationships God’s way, regardless of their backgrounds).

That said (whew!), one of the reasons that I’ve come to appreciate her so much is that she presents a message of making Jesus the center both in singleness and marriage in a way that many other Christians purportedly providing biblical advice on singleness and relationships don’t seem to convey. When I read or listen to her advice as compared to others, it is always encouraging and a great reminder of what I think we all want our lives in Christ – including our love stories – to look like, but may be afraid to wait on God for. We are often more prone to listen to advice – both Christian and secular – that allows us to take matters more into our own hands when it comes to relationships in particular. But, to borrow from a book Leslie co-wrote with her husband, I believe in God writing love stories, and that, when He does, they are the most beautiful. I also believe that there are a whole lot of people – Christians included, who never experience a God-orchestrated love story because they are not willing to let God do the writing. But if you’re still waiting to be married, you have the amazing opportunity to let Him script the story.

Regardless of whether you’re married or single, male or female, I would encourage you to listen to some great podcasts from Leslie Ludy, provided below. If you’re single, use them to renew your hope in Jesus regardless of how you may feel about this time in your life. If you’re married, consider how they can be applied to your marriage and maybe how you can give godly advice to single people in your lives.

Whatever your relationship status, you can still use Valentine’s Day to celebrate God’s unchanging, alive love, which never fails or gives up on us. Married or single, let’s celebrate the love of The Only One who can meet our heart’s deepest longing, and allow His love to help us show unconditional love to others.

Please take a moment to listen to the podcasts – they are worth it! Click each title to listen.

Podcast: "Krissy’s Story"
“... an inspiring story about my amazing sister-in-law who allowed God to write her love story despite the pressures of the world.”

Podcast: "Something Worth Waiting For"
“... raising our expectations for marriage and understanding that when God writes the story, it only gets better with time.”

Podcast: "The Gospel and Singleness"
“... a Biblical perspective on the sacred season of aloneness, challenging the common mentality that a woman is incomplete until she finds a man.”

Podcast: "Keeping Sex Sacred"
“A brief look at God’s design for sex and what it really means to keep it sacred as He intended.”

Happy Birthday to Me (Celebrate)!

It’s my birthday. I’m not saying this to garner any more birthday wishes (I’ve already had plenty, and have spent a good chunk of my day responding to them, lol), but to share a biblical perspective on comments about “age” that most of us often hear, especially where there’s birthday buzz.

I turned 31 today. I’ve always loved celebrating my birthday, but sometime around my late 20s I started noticing that people were getting less excited about this inevitable, universal yearly occurrence. I began hearing comments such as “I’m old”, “we’re old,” “I feel old,” “Do you feel old?” and every other manner of description expressing how “old” the person feels.

Turning 30 last year, I gained even greater “access” to a not-so-underground world of people in their third decade who are very disgruntled with their age. There is nary a time when someone in their thirties has a birthday that there are not eye rolls, requests that the age of the “celebrant” not be mentioned, whines or jokes about being over some kind of hill. And all of this comes from Christians and non-Christians alike. This, my fellow followers of Christ, is a problem. But thankfully, it has a solution (which I will need to address in a short period of time, so that I can continue celebrating my 31st).

First of all, I must note that, objectively speaking, the 30s are not old. According to the United States Census Bureau, the average life expectancy is about 78 years; about 76 for men and 81 for women. In your thirties, you may barely reach half of your life expectancy, at most. Also, even if you will die well before that, most of us have no basis for predicting our deaths. In short, the 30s are hardly a time for most us to believe that we will shortly head to the grave; only God knows if that is the case.

But, more importantly, as followers of Christ we should approach each day being thankful for where God has placed us. Scripture clearly supports this. I will state just a few of my favorite verses that get me excited about approaching each day of my life with anticipation: Psalm 139 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, so much so that God “knit” us together in our mother’s womb. That means He has a purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God’s plans for us are to give us a hope and a future. First Corinthians 2:9 (quoting Isaiah 64:4) says that we cannot even imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him. In John 10:10, Jesus also said that He came for us to have life, and have it more abundantly, or to the full. That means that, in knowing Him, our lives are not supposed to end because we turn a certain age – they are meant to remain rich with pursing Him and seeing His work in each of us, day by day.

It’s this knowledge – and hope – that God has something for me at every moment of my life that staves off the temptation to be down about some aspect of my life that is not just how I want it and instead embrace now. The Apostle Paul was really good at doing this, and encouraging believers to do the same. In Philippians 1: 3-6, he said this to the church in Phillippi (which also has become one of my favorite prayers, particularly for my closest friends and family):

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Verse six is incredible –Paul could be confident that God, who started something amazing in those believers, would be faithful to finish it. When we know Jesus, we ultimately have a home in heaven. Before then, in this life, we have the opportunity to experience the process of being sanctified as we grow in our relationships with God and He transforms us. That means that He is constantly working on me, no matter what my age – I never get too old for Him to do that! And if His plans for me are excellent, the best, no matter how painful life may get, they are glorious, incomparable to anything a life without Him offers. That’s something to celebrate!

Further, in those moments when we are tempted to feel dissatisfied, Paul also reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:6 that godliness with contentment is great gain. In Philippians 4: 12- 13, he adds, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

The Christian walk is definitely a marathon, requiring endurance. But it’s also an amazing adventure. Whatever your age, thank God for where you are. Brothers and sisters in Christ who are 30-something, those who will one day be 30, or those who have long left the 30s, you are more than the perceived failures that can keep us from embracing even the thought of leaving, or having left, youth: familial status (i.e., lack of being married, lack of children); financial situation; career; education level; the list can expand. At every turn, God has a purpose for your life – He created you and made the universe, and knows just want He’s doing!

With that, I will continue celebrating. And if you have the urge to whine about your age, please let the truth of God’s Word, speaking to this adventure that is life, encourage you not to (and if you do it around me, I will also rebuke you). And oh yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

THE MUSIC

I haven’t blogged in a little while, but not because I haven’t had a few entries in my head, that I’ve yet to write. I’m going to start with the one requiring the least amount of additional resources (This was initially out of laziness, but by the time I finished this entry, it was no longer a lazy one, lol!). Anyway, it highlights a topic close to my heart: Christian music. I’m writing both to share my testimony and some tunes that God’s been using for my spiritual growth.

If you know me well enough (or have read my blog long enough), you’re aware that I’m a huge supporter of Christian music, especially Contemporary Christian music. The short of my testimony is that I started listening to it almost exclusively during my freshman year of college. Almost immediately, I noticed the impact it had on helping me set my mind on things above  – heavenly, God-honoring thoughts. Before then, I did not think that listening mostly to secular music was a big deal – especially if the music wasn’t “bad” or raunchy (and even if a song here and there was off color, I reasoned, it had a “good beat” and I did not even focus on the words). I also thought that secular music was just better anyway.

As I got more into Christian music, I also began to hear increasingly more stories about people like me who had made the “big switch” primarily to Christian music and had seen the big-yet-unexpected change.

More than 12 years later, I’m still blasting Christian music. And I can say that I believe, categorically, without exception, that all Christians should listen to Christian music – not necessarily exclusively, but as a significant part of meditation through song, which is just what music is. I think it’s also true that you are more likely to listen to Christian music if you play at least some music styles that you actually enjoy, not just ones that you think sound “more holy” than others. God accepts praise that comes from more than just an organ!

When I think back to the greatest influence on my ultimate choice to "go Christian music,” it was my youth  group leaders. During summer missions trips in high school, we spent hours-long car rides listening to Christian music. We also attended youth events where I was exposed to many different Contemporary Christian artists. And when God prompted me to listen to more Christian music during freshman year in college, it was first some of the tapes (remember those?) that I had gotten from my youth pastor.

Now, I’m doing the same thing with teens I lead at my church. I went to a couple great Christian concerts last year, and had the opportunity to take the teen girls in my small group to one. I just generally love anyone under the age of 21 (and pray to be a mommy to lots of kids, but at least one, Amen!). I love that they are generally teachable, impressionable (even the ones who think they aren’t), and curious about life. What perfect ingredients to introduce them to a God who will never fail them throughout their lives?!?!

I’ve led a teen or college girls small groups for several years, but the last couple have been my first working with middle school girls in particular. While I believe middle school is the worst time in a human’s life for reasons I have no need to mention here, it also has been one of my favorite age groups to work with! The tweens, thirteen and fourteen year olds are in such a position to learn about Jesus and making wise choices before they even set foot in a high school or go off to college and, prayerfully, will avoid temptations that can come as they near adulthood. I think encouraging them to listen to Christian music is part of that process.

In December we took the girls to a TobyMac concert featuring various other Christian artists, including Jamie Grace, Mandisa, Britt Nicole, Group 1 Crew, Brandon Heath and Chris August (several who are among my favorites!). The concert was awesome (the girls thought so too!), really reminded me of the journey that led to me love Christian music, and prompted this entry.

At the concert I purchased TobyMac’s latest CD, “Eye On It” (which I just learned from the link was only the third Christian album ever to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200). I also remembered that I already had the latest Group 1 Crew CD, “Fearless,” but hadn’t listened to it yet. I started playing them both, and have not stopped since! The words and sounds have been so profitable that I want to share a few lines from each capturing them in a nutshell. I highly recommend them!

“EYE ON IT” (TOBYMAC)

“Unstoppable”: (About the Body of Christ): “We make our moves in mysterious ways. We’d rather burn out than stick to the shade. Not of this world so we live on the run. We keep our eyes set [and hearts set] on what is to come. We are unstoppable…That’s who we are” - in Christ!

“Me Without You” (God): “Where would I be without you? I’d be packin’ my bags when I need to stay. I’d be chasin’ every breeze that blows my way. I’d be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away. It’s true – that’s me without You…Don’t know where I’d be without You.”

“Steal My Show”: About asking God to get the glory in his performances, and in your life: “If You [God] want to steal my show sit back and watch You go. If you have something to say go on and take it away. Can’t wait to watch You go…No matter who we are, no matter what we do, every day we can choose to say, ‘If you want to steal my show'…My plans, my heart, my family, my career...take it away…It’s You I want to live for.”

“Eye On It”: When I listened to this song, I immediately thought of it as a rallying cry for Philippians 3: 7-14, which was likely the inspiration: pressing - every day - toward the goal, to win the prize for which God calls us heavenward in Christ Jesus - “Reaching for what lies ahead…I got my eye on it…pressing on with everything I’ve got. I’ve got my eye on it…Let me run in the race…I will not quit.” #eyeonit!

“Speak Life”: “It’s crazy amazing we can turn a heart with the words we say. Mountains crumble, with every syllable, hope can live or die. So Speak life, speak life…look into the eyes of the brokenhearted watch them come alive as you soon as you speak hope, you speak love, you speak life…”

“Lose Myself”: Thought of Matthew 10: 38-39 (a biblical principle TobyMac likes to come back to in his music) – “Take all of the good, and all of the bad, ‘cause all of it’s [so] me. Take all of my ways, the things that I chase, the things that control me. And all that I hide could you bring it to light, could you open my eyes and show me. Take all that was me, and shape it to be reflecting You solely. I want to lose myself...to find You…I don’t care how it sounds, burn it all to the ground; Your Kingdom I desire. I want to lose myself…to find You.”

“Thankful For You”: TobyMac shares his testimony about being in the music industry and his thankfulness to God for directing his life: “Well it started out in a spare bedroom. Two turntables, uh, and a microphone…It’s never been my dream to see my face in magazines. It’s always been about the music hopin’ God would use it; set some people free. But I can say without a doubt, I’ve never had it figured out, Lord you’ve opened every door I’ve stepped through. I’ve tried to keep my head about me so thankful for the friends around me - I’m Thankful for You.”

He adds this about his career: “I’ve been on this road and you [fans] come to my shows. Sometimes just a few of y’all, other times… in droves. But you’ve been right there to rock with us, we come together we lift Him up. Seein' you there inspires me, puts a fire in me."

“Made for Me”: About his wife. The whole song is soooooo cute – it talks about their differences but also their commonality in love: “She was made for me, given to me, said I’d hold loosely but I so wanna squeeze. She’s just right for me…light for me, I can’t believe I get to call her mine…I got white skin, and she got brown skin, but milk and coffee’s always been a beautiful blend.”

"Forgiveness": "'Cause we all make mistakes sometimes, and we all step across that line. But nothin's sweeter than the day we find forgiveness."

GROUP 1 CREW: “FEARLESS”

Most of the songs on this CD have been very beneficial, too. Here are excerpts:

“He Said”: I’ll confess that my initial thought was to pick at the theology in the beginning of the song a little bit – perhaps tweak it, but I like the spirit of the song. The inspiration is likely 1 Corinthians 10: 13 - “I won’t give you more…than you can take. I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break…I’ll never let you go. Don’t you forget what He said.”

“His Kind of Love”: This.Is.My.JAYYYYYM!!! I have only been listening to this CD for about a month, but iTunes tells me this song is currently my most played one of all time (I just keep hitting repeat!). It epitomes  modern worship, now my favorite genre (from pop). Just a little of it (can't do it complete justice here - you'll have to listen!):

“There are no words, no phrase I could create. There is no melody that I could make. How do you sing about a love so deep without feelin’ like you missed something? I can try but I cannot explain. His kind of love… is reckless for us. His kind of love…will never give up ‘til the whole world knows how far He went to show His kind of love. Tell me what kind of God would choose to save the bruised, the broken, the sinners, the runaways? How do you ever try to comprehend this love that knows no limits? I could try but I could not explain…This is our God, He is strong and His mercy is our song. He won’t stop chasin’ us, that’s just His kind of love.”

“Dangerous”: “Lived a life so reckless, I don’t know how I made it through. Always takin' chances, but tryin' everything but you. So why am I playin’ it safe when it comes to givin’ You my life? I can’t let fear hold me back from doing what I know is right... I want to live dangerous, riskin’ all for you Lord. I need you to wake me up from the life I’ve known before. Whatever it takes, I want You to make me more like You. There’s nothing I won’t give up, I wanna live dangerous.”

“Fearless”: “Through the dark You’re my light and Salvation, all that’s in me will trust in You Lord, I’m fearless. If You’re with me who can be against me – I have no reason to fear. If you’re with me who can be against me, I know You’re keeping me near. As I stand in the eye of the storm it’s Your love that’s guiding me home. I’m fearless.” See Romans 8:31.

“Mr. & Mrs. (I Do This For You)”: This is just a great romantic love song: “Just saw a movie and it made me think, 'My life ain’t Hollywood, love don’t come that easily.' And when I try so hard, and just can’t get it right, it still amazes me love [could] be here by my side. 'Cause every day we get down on our knees asking God to help us be who we need to be. We’re far from perfect but I believe…you and me can grow a heart that will truly say, ‘I’ll do this for you, I’ll do this for love, I’ll do this for the life we’ve been dreamin' of. I’ll give you my word, attached with my heart, and nothing in this world can ever tear us apart. I’ll do this for you.'”

“Not the End of Me”: A song about a breakup, which I think is an important topic to address too: “The end of us, is not the end of me… Every second gets easier to breathe. Push the fear away, face another day. Every moment I’m starting to believe: I’m not broken, I’ll keep hopin’ there’s a part of me waiting to love again. The end of us is not the end of me.”

"Steppin": “ I feel called to something more, beyond what I have known…I have more to give, but I have been afraid…I’m steppin’ out to take a chance and if I fly, or if I fall, it’s in Your hands. You’re the Maker of my dreams, and You’ll make a way for me, so I’m steppin’ out…to take a chance…I believe in the grace You’ve shown me, I believe in the words You say. I believe there’s an untold story that You’re tellin’ through me.”

 "Forsaken" (Not): “There were times when my fear controlled me…But my God you have shown Your mercy, through my good and my darkest days, so whom shall I fear if You are for me, Jesus? But here I stand, I’m broken, here with an open heart. And in Your hands I give You all of me, forgive me with a brand new start. Let Your spirit reign over me. I’m down on my knees. I’m giving you everything; I know I’ll never be forsaken.” See Psalm 27.

"Darkest Valley": A great song of personal testimonies about walking in the darkest valleys and overcoming through Christ: “I knew that I was made for more than rockin’ heels and designer skirts… In my darkest valley I could see the sun above my earth…Jesus gave me hope beyond the pain of what my eyes could see…that truth is here to set you free.”

THE VIRTUES, THE MUSIC

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible talks about three virtues that remain: faith, hope and love – the greatest being love. I like to think about how God is cultivating these virtues in my life. Most recently, He has been growing me in hope. Scripture has been a big part of that, and so has Christian music (which also is most often derived from Scripture!). By meditating on God’s promises through song, I am learning to hope in God more, and am becoming more aware of the ways that He already has done so. And I pray the same growth in teens everywhere, and the Body of Christ collectively!

The title of this entry is borrowed from TobyMac’s song, "Thankful For You". I’ll repeat the key section: “It’s always been about the music, prayin' God would use it; set some people free.”

That’s just what God does through Christian music – helps us live the abundant, free life in Him. We can mediate on just “positive” thoughts through a number of avenues the world offers, or we can mediate on heavenly thoughts. One is okay, one is excellent – the best way. I pray that if you don’t already, you’ll make Christian music part of your regular diet, too. The Music – Christian Music – is about Jesus, and makes all the daily difference!

Giving, Revisted

I love the Christmas season! This past weekend, I decorated my house for Christmas kind of on a whim; I had no plans to, but excitement over the upcoming month while Black Friday shopping moved me to hang up some bows and garland across a long wall, put up a slim tree with lights and run glittery things along my banisters (rendering them largely unusable for climbing up stairs for a month-plus, lol). An HGTV special also inspired me to decorate my dining area chandelier, pictured below (I’ve since replaced the red bows with gold bells, and the bows are part of a wall display behind it that still needs some work).

Anyway, after amassing the decorations and then starting to hang them up, I really felt God remind me that, in all the festivities, Christmas is an especially great time of year to give.

Every other time also is a great time to give. One of the reasons I see giving as so important is because it’s so close to the heart of God: We never have to wonder whether generosity is something He’s pleased with – we already know it is. As I’ve said before, one of my all-time favorite verses – and a life motto, which I remember learning in second grade, is 2 Corinthians 9:7:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (NIV).

I also believe that this is one of – if not the most – important verse on giving for the people of God. As I’ve said before, I strongly believe that it’s infinitely more significant for helping people understand God’s heart for giving than Malachi 3:10, which a lot of churches use to convince people to open up their wallets. Ultimately, God owns everything, and He doesn’t just want to use our resources for His kingdom, He is most concerned with our hearts. Further, as we can forget, The God of the Universe has a heart too, and LOVES it when we give from our hearts. Don’t you love the idea of making the God of the Universe happy?!? That’s awesome!

God’s been teaching me more lessons about giving this year. I’ve blogged before about some principles of giving (which you can revisit here if you’d like), so I don’t want to rewrite them. What I want to do is encourage us all to consider how God is calling us to give this season.

This whole year, God’s been showing me new ways and areas to give. In that spirit, I listened to this great message about giving from a pastor visiting Elevation Church, Robert Morris. He’s given in some big ways over the years – at God’s leading he’s voluntarily relinquished his transportation (including the two cars he owned at one time and use of a private jet and personal pilot that someone gave him voluntarily for his ministry); income he needed to pay bills, his house, his retirement accounts, and much more. He exemplifies, and notes, the adage, “you can never out give God.” It really challenged me, and would encourage you to check it out here, or on iTunes, Elevation Church: Charlotte > Banner Years…11/17/12 Message) !

I believe that many of us could stand to give more than we actually do. Sometimes there is a perception among God’s people that “as long as I’m tithing - or trying to tithe - I’m good.” But there are so many other needs in the world for which God can call us to give our money, time and abilities to that we’ll miss out on if we focus on just tithing. And further, if we’re tithing reluctantly or under compulsion – because we heard we’re supposed to, we want people to think we’re generous or just because of the money that we think we’ll get back from God, we’re not actually giving cheerfully as God desires that we do (I also note that I do not believe tithing is a command as in the Old Testament sense, but I do see tithing as a good minimum New Testament guideline for churches, but only a guideline – meaning that giving 10% does not necessarily fulfill God’s call to give for every person – and that following 2 Corinthians 9:7 will lead to true, God-honoring giving, while relying on a 10% command may not. Further, there is a lot of biblical study on Old Testament giving indicating that people actually gave more than 10 percent. But my point here is not even that everyone must give more than 10 percent– we give out of what God has given us – but to emphasize that giving is a heart matter, not a numbers thing. I believe that when the heart is right – cheerful, as God loves and intends it– the number will be right – whether that’s 2% or 50%, because we’ll be giving what He intends that we give. Biblical guidance on giving is a topic I plan to tackle in detail on this blog at some point after I’ve had time to do all the necessary exegesis, laid out in proper expository format, lol, so this is not the end of this long aside).

Christmas is a time that we thank God for the indescribable gift of His Son to save us from sin. It’s also a time when people have needs unique to this point in the year. It’s starting to get cold, and some people don’t have – and can’t afford – coats to keep warm, or to pay their heating bills. Others are separated from family during the holiday for reasons such as school, work or even prison. People all over the world – here and abroad - need basic necessities, and to hear - sometimes for the first time, The Gospel Message.

Jesus said that where our treasure is, our heart will be also. It’s year end. Some of us may be blessed with additional money or time that we didn’t have during the rest of the year. This season, we can ask God what needs He may be asking us to meet with the resources He’s given us – monetary or otherwise – to show His love at Christmas – and then go out and give. Let’s make God smile this season!

A Voter Guide for The Body (of Christ)

We’re less than 24 hours from the presidential Election Day, and I’m very excited about watching the results unfold tomorrow night. I already had plans to get a new television, but made sure it arrived in time to have big-screen viewing on election evening – for me, this quadrennial occurrence is as much spectator sport as any major, world-class championship game. But with all of the excitement, I can’t help but feel a deep burden for seeing Christians do a much better job proclaiming something that matters far more than whether a preferred candidate reaches 270 electoral votes: The Gospel.

It’s tended to get buried because of politics, especially in our current polarized political climate. Republican Christians pit themselves on one side; Democrat Christians, on the other (not to mention other offshoots of these parties that I will refrain from naming to avoid potentially misclassifying them). Then there are so-called Independents, who still tend to lean one way or the other. Christians on both – or all – sides often marvel how the other side could possibly profess Christ yet support “x” policy or have “y” view (although I think it’s fair to say that, at least on some level, these claims are made to varying degrees depending on political position).

I have spent significant time in Christian circles that are either overwhelmingly Republican or predominantly Democrat, and have been an outsider in both. That’s not to say that I don’t lean a certain way (I do) – or that I haven’t at times vocalized my political opinions – but, growing up as a first-generation American, with parents who grew up in another country, my family did not have a tradition of belonging to a particular party as many Americans do. On some level, my sensitivity to the tendency for Christians to become overly partisan at the expense of The Gospel is a result of my own experiences interacting with politics and faith.

I became most disturbed by the often vitriolic comments that came out of professing Christians’ mouths vilifying “the other side” (whichever that is) during the 2008 presidential election campaign cycle. For example, I remember Facebook becoming a breeding ground for public, incendiary exchanges between many of my Christian-school classmates who had known each other since elementary school, but were now on opposite sides of the political spectrum. I even found myself posting a couple comments about the party of a candidate whom I was not supporting that drew fire and, in retrospect, I would not have made.

But, on a positive note, that election I remember one Christian settling a difference of political opinion with another Christian on Facebook by noting that Christians of varying political positions are connected by the fact that our true citizenship actually is not in this world, but in heaven. That’s the beginning of where I want to land: encouraging fellow believers not only to remember during election season that our citizenship is in heaven, but also that it’s our job to take as many people with us.

Message Mix-Up

Often, we don’t realize how our partisanship can affect our witness and responsibility as Christians to share the good news. The Gospel is defined as Jesus dying and rising again on the third day - providing eternal life to all who believe - according to the scriptures. Our good works are a way for us to live out God’s purpose for our lives and show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. But, as noted in 2 Corinthians 5, sharing The Gospel is the job – or the “ministry of reconciliation” that all Christians are given on this earth. That’s above everything else we do – our occupation, hobbies, and yes – our political parties or positions. Second Corinthians 5: 20 says this about our God-given ministry  of reconciliation: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (ESV). That’s the message to which we’re supposed to be dedicated at all times.

When we become so tied to a political position, we can not only vilify other Christians and show the world division in The Body where we are called to unity, but also start to create another Gospel: that if people don’t share our political positions, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. Yes, there are issues that God calls us to take a stand on, but in the political arena, there is often more than one way to take a stand for a particular issue. Further, God may give us a heart for one issue, while another Christian may be more focused on another, which can cause us to vote differently even if we may actually share many of the same views. Additionally, there are other areas where we can legitimately, based on Scripture, hold more than one view. When we give our political positions the same inerrancy as the Word of God, we become idolaters - and are just plain wrong.

Also, when we become too partisan, we can begin to see a candidate as a  kin of savior for our nation or even the world, when it is only God who saves. When we became too wrapped up in a candidate, we can feel a sense of hopeless when he or she loses. We forget that God is sovereign, over everything, and establishes leaders – presidents included. It also then becomes hard for us to do for our leaders what Scripture calls us to do regardless of outcome – pray for them specifically.

Further, when partisanship overtakes us, it tends to show by the hateful words that we spew at others who disagree with us. The bitter partisan climate that we are in calls for us to vilify the other side, while The Gospel requires that our conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt. When we’re too partisan, what comes out of our mouths ends up being no different from those who do not know Christ – and can be even worse when we claim to be overcome by hateful partisanship in Jesus’ name.

Moreover, being carried away with politics also gives Christians a bad reputation and limits our effectiveness when we do take unpopular stands for the right reasons. Jesus warned His disciples that the world will hate them, just as they hated Him. As Christians, we must take a stand for righteousness, even when it's not in vogue. Often, the world can’t understand why we take certain positions that are the result of having a biblical, countercultural worldview. But because the world will hate us at times does not give us a license to present our positions hatefully, with an “us versus them” mentality. Yet many Christians espouse this attitude – with non-Christians and other Christians, and, in turn, dishonor God and fail to be witnesses for Him.

Voting for Jesus

What does proper conduct for Christians look like this presidential election week, and beyond? The Bible has an answer for that too. The New Testament provides guidance on how we are to share our faith and interact with believers and nonbelievers, including how to navigate politics. In the New Testament, the early church audience was at times under oppressive governments and communities that often maligned them for their faith. They were probably tempted to dishonor those around them, but apostles such as Paul and Peter, moved by the Holy Spirit in their writings, encouraged them to conduct themselves blamelessly. In providing more evidence of Scripture’s continual relevance to the present day, Peter gave this instruction in 1 Peter 2: 12, 17:

"12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."

Further, 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

It really does not matter what the world does, we are to take a stand for Jesus, and be "nonpartisan" - and kingdom driven - in out pursuit of sharing The Gospel with others.

Further, as the Facebook friend I mentioned earlier said in reaching out to a fellow believer on the other side of the political aisle, we should all remember that our citizenship is in heaven. The apostle Paul said those very words, and more, in Philippians 3:20-21:
“ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Because ultimate victory is heaven, we have a hope no matter what an election outcome, and we are to share this undying hope with the world. A human, political candidate can let us down, but God never fails us.

Kingdom Perspective
In (not-so-short) short, we must always choose The Gospel over worldly political institutions, parties and opinions. And whenever we get carried away and allow our partisanship to prevent us from living out our faith – loving the world and other believers and sharing The Gospel, we pick The Gospel. In the short term, this may mean that, over the next couple weeks, we may need to take a step back from some conversations, news or social media outlets or e-mail messages and reassess our loyalty, and speak lovingly to others, believers and nonblievers, in the face of hate. Far more  important than proclaiming our political positions is promoting eternity with Jesus.

I think often when perspectives like the one in this entry are shared, Christians can get defensive and point the finger at believers belonging to other political parties as the culprit and not do any personal reflection. I pray that as you read this, you’ll consider not just how Christians you disagree with may have put partisanship over The Gospel, but how you and others with whom you agree may have as well. We all have the potential to go astray in this area – myself included, and I think it’s important to constantly be checking ourselves and not just criticizing others. This may be something you’ve already done at least once this election season, but it doesn’t hurt to do it again!

Let’s remember to keep a kingdom perspective as we go to the polls tomorrow (and even if we’ve voted early!), spectate on election night, and after the results are announced. As Christians, we may lean left or right, but, for the Love of Jesus, let’s unite by voting daily for the ultimate Commander in Chief – the King of all Kings, who belongs to no political party – and, in fact, rules over ever manmade establishment. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.