Today it seems like every time I turn around I am confronted with weddings. Not just from friends, but from businesses, and billboards, and even casual conversations that I pass by in restaurants. In short, today's weddings are a business; machines programmed to gobble up money faster than tech stocks in 2000. After thinking on this a while, I concluded that it almost seems as though the focus of marriage is more on the ceremony, than on its true purpose..........love. Now, I don't believe every wedding falls into this trap, but unmistakably more and more are getting sucked into the wedding ceremony snowball.
I do believe that these extravagantly expensive weddings do have some symbolism. They symbolize what love has come to mean to marriage today. The view is a romantically, and idealistically seen idea that is more pomp and circumstance, than reality. So, the question I am posing through all this is, what is love?
The basis for answering this question is one that is found throughout the Bible. Two sets of verses that have been on my heart, include (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and 1 John 3: 16-18) From what I know, studying these words, love is not: always happy, always perfect, always positive, always joyful. Love is more commitment, perseverance, and hard; rather than spontaneous, fleeting, and easy. I feel that today we see love more as something that we are entitled to receive, as opposed to a gift that we must give without the expectation of getting in return. Love is by no means simple, and does not protect against hurt and pain, rather it is very hard and serves as a median through which we can share the true essence of Christ. In 1 John 3:16-18, it is stated "by this we know love". We know love through Christ's gift to us. His unwavering resolve and commitment to experience the depth of pain and agony for us; all this without any expectation that we would return that love to Him. He is, and was given, for us and to save us, because he first loved us. So, how can we live under the commandment in John 13:34 to "love one another, just as I have loved you" without taking the vantage point of love, through any pain, and given without any thought of receiving?
Why is love so difficult? Because, it is the true median in which to share Christ. By loving to this depth, and placing others above yourself, what happens? You are in the position to show Christ, through an experience to others. What makes more of a lasting impression? Loving someone that you float with on cloud #9, or loving someone who has hurt you to depth of pain you never felt you could experience? When we love through our horrendous sufferings, they see it, and they feel it, and it has the power to change more deeply than is imagined.
How do you love this way? I believe this is part of sanctification. This kind of love is a continual process of growth. I can only say where it starts. It starts by taking a hard look at where love began, who first loved us, and realizing that love is more than that emotional feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach. It is deeper than happiness, and joy. Love is; placing yourself as a median through which others can have the opportunity to love back, not necessarily the expectation that they will. The hard part is that to those whom you give love, the choice not to love rest squarely on their shoulders, and you have no way of manipulating that choice. But, giving and giving and giving though no return is ever witnessed, is love. It is perseverance, it is discipline, it is suffering, it is hope, it is faith, it is perfect.
-Joshua
Monday, November 28, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Getting Close to the End
Graduation Day........December 10, 2005. What have I learned over the past 16 months? That the Lord can change a person into things that they never thought or dreamed they could be. As I look back at myself, and examine the circumstances that have occurred in my life, I realize I found something I never had......peace. I now consider myself changed forever through the willingness to walk close with Christ. This is in sharp contrast to my once selfish attitude. You see, I once viewed my Christian life in the sense of walking around thinking Christ would follow. By doing this I was taking my life in my own hands, and focusing on my own will, and the result..... I was constantly tormented. This torment came from all directions all the time; it was mostly from feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, lust, greed, envy, coveting, and loneliness. In short, the effects of living in the world, and for the world.
In contrast to those tough and lonely times, I now have a blessing of peace. While my world continues to accelerate, and changes happen more frequently and with more consequence, I sit and realize, I am at peace. When fear and doubt creep in, ultimately I have an intense calm and constant reminder that I am not living life for myself, and therefore should not feel the need to control the situations around me. My only responsibility in those circumstances is to REACT and to react in the way the Lord wants. Now this does go with the disclaimer that times occur when I know I go against God's will, and times occurr when I just totally miss God's will from being pre-occupied, or just too busy. That does not mean that His will does not ultimately get accomplished, it only means that He had to get it accomplished either with me, or without me taking part. You see, the Lord gives us the opportunity to bring glory to Himself, and our demise is that sometimes we miss that! Whether circumstances I face would be deemed bad, or good doesn't really change the decisions the Lord wants me to make; I think it only changes my perspective as to how much am I willing to wait and learn what the Lord wants me to do.
Now, just reading this some may say, yea sure.....Peace, whatever? Well, I can certainly understand that response, and would venture to say that obviously this is something you have never experienced. I realize that to those in utter misery right now, that you are comparing your life with mine, and making statements to the effect that I have never been where you have, and thus have no idea the hurt and pain you struggle with on a daily basis. In response, I say, I agree. I have only lived my life and know experience and hurt through my eyes. One thing I do know is that Christ knows EXACTLY how you feel. After all He became a man on Earth, and experienced life just as we do. The amazing thing about it all is that He chose to do the will of God every step in the process.
Some may also say, what does Jesus know about internal pain and suffering He had God with Him to help him through the tough times? How can he truly relate? In response I would encourage you to read Luke 22:44. This verse will give you an accurate description of the internal pain that Jesus faced while alive, and hopefully will give you a more humbled perspective of the pain that you are struggling with. Jesus does understand your hurt, your fears, your pain, and your suffering........And He is the one that can give you a peace about facing it. When I got to the point where I finally just let go, that is when peace entered my life. Now, the control over my life is in the hands of the One who can do the job. The only role I really want to play is choosing to wait for him to show me what to do , and then do it! I also understand, that although this process sounds relatively simple, I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure out how to accomplish it!
-Joshua
In contrast to those tough and lonely times, I now have a blessing of peace. While my world continues to accelerate, and changes happen more frequently and with more consequence, I sit and realize, I am at peace. When fear and doubt creep in, ultimately I have an intense calm and constant reminder that I am not living life for myself, and therefore should not feel the need to control the situations around me. My only responsibility in those circumstances is to REACT and to react in the way the Lord wants. Now this does go with the disclaimer that times occur when I know I go against God's will, and times occurr when I just totally miss God's will from being pre-occupied, or just too busy. That does not mean that His will does not ultimately get accomplished, it only means that He had to get it accomplished either with me, or without me taking part. You see, the Lord gives us the opportunity to bring glory to Himself, and our demise is that sometimes we miss that! Whether circumstances I face would be deemed bad, or good doesn't really change the decisions the Lord wants me to make; I think it only changes my perspective as to how much am I willing to wait and learn what the Lord wants me to do.
Now, just reading this some may say, yea sure.....Peace, whatever? Well, I can certainly understand that response, and would venture to say that obviously this is something you have never experienced. I realize that to those in utter misery right now, that you are comparing your life with mine, and making statements to the effect that I have never been where you have, and thus have no idea the hurt and pain you struggle with on a daily basis. In response, I say, I agree. I have only lived my life and know experience and hurt through my eyes. One thing I do know is that Christ knows EXACTLY how you feel. After all He became a man on Earth, and experienced life just as we do. The amazing thing about it all is that He chose to do the will of God every step in the process.
Some may also say, what does Jesus know about internal pain and suffering He had God with Him to help him through the tough times? How can he truly relate? In response I would encourage you to read Luke 22:44. This verse will give you an accurate description of the internal pain that Jesus faced while alive, and hopefully will give you a more humbled perspective of the pain that you are struggling with. Jesus does understand your hurt, your fears, your pain, and your suffering........And He is the one that can give you a peace about facing it. When I got to the point where I finally just let go, that is when peace entered my life. Now, the control over my life is in the hands of the One who can do the job. The only role I really want to play is choosing to wait for him to show me what to do , and then do it! I also understand, that although this process sounds relatively simple, I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure out how to accomplish it!
-Joshua
Monday, November 14, 2005
What a Weekend!
Well. I have been trying to get something posted on here since last week, and have finally gotten a short chance today. For all of those unaware, it was certainly an eventful weekend! Instead of going into all the details, I just want to comment on some things I learned through it all.
First, the Lord will put us in situations in which we must face potential harsh realities we may not have ever expected.
Second, He may not want us to face those realities fully at that point in time, but undoubtedly He will use them to teach us that we need to prepare for those instances if they were to occur.
Third, in a trial, the first reaction is usually to over react, and learning to control this response can allow the Lord to show you exactly how much He is aware of your needs, and how to meet them.
Fourth, the Lord can re-arrange stars if it is needed to get His will accomplished, so why do we have such a hard time letting go of our smallest needs to Him?
As the days pass by, I am constantly reminded that a walk with the Lord is a continuous process. On this side of heaven we are only going to have a limited understanding of God, and His will and perfect plan for our lives. (see1 Corinthians 13:12) But, I believe that one thing is for sure, if we are wise enough to really try to learn how much God is in control of all things and focus on learning how to live our lives in submission to that fact daily in EVERYTHING we need; we will be able see His AWESOME power and ability to meet all our needs on a constant basis. When we see Him bless us in the big needs, we usually recognize it is from Him, and therefore give thanks for his grace, but when was the last time we really focused on recognizing Him in the smallest needs we have, and gave Him just as much glory?
First, the Lord will put us in situations in which we must face potential harsh realities we may not have ever expected.
Second, He may not want us to face those realities fully at that point in time, but undoubtedly He will use them to teach us that we need to prepare for those instances if they were to occur.
Third, in a trial, the first reaction is usually to over react, and learning to control this response can allow the Lord to show you exactly how much He is aware of your needs, and how to meet them.
Fourth, the Lord can re-arrange stars if it is needed to get His will accomplished, so why do we have such a hard time letting go of our smallest needs to Him?
As the days pass by, I am constantly reminded that a walk with the Lord is a continuous process. On this side of heaven we are only going to have a limited understanding of God, and His will and perfect plan for our lives. (see1 Corinthians 13:12) But, I believe that one thing is for sure, if we are wise enough to really try to learn how much God is in control of all things and focus on learning how to live our lives in submission to that fact daily in EVERYTHING we need; we will be able see His AWESOME power and ability to meet all our needs on a constant basis. When we see Him bless us in the big needs, we usually recognize it is from Him, and therefore give thanks for his grace, but when was the last time we really focused on recognizing Him in the smallest needs we have, and gave Him just as much glory?
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