Living the Right Life is Wrong

Are you tired today? Are you worn out?  Possibly it is the consuming habits of being right and being correct. I face these lies every day in a world where information is easily accessible and the glamourous lives of our peers is displayed in front of us.  We desire to be the standing point of reference. We want to be right. We want to be wise. We want to be noticed for our knowledge and our correct stance.  

Tonight I heard a sermon that discussed the difference between living a life of rightness and righteousness. Suddenly, I began to see significant parts of my life that I had been living to follow the "right" path instead of a righteous one.  A life of rightness is one governed by a series of works that equate to what we believe is a salvation-worthy life, while a life of righteousness is the humble submission to the will of God for the Glory of God.  

God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

I started thinking more about this though and the depth at which we believe a life of rightness is a commandment of God.  We all desire to be right. We desire to have the correct political opinions, and we share them on social media. We all desire to be right in our theology, and swiftly correct those that are liberal or those that are too fundamental. We find joy in the argument and find passion in fueling a fire that only leave both parties more distraught and discouraged that we were in the first place. 

I am going to use a phrase often spoken in Sunday School all the way through adulthood... "We are on the same team." But, you know what is crazy? If we call ourselves follower of Jesus, we literally have submitted ourselves to the commandments of ONE truth and ONE calling. Although interpretations may differ and the ways in which our Heavenly Father reveals himself to us is different for every individual, at the end of the day, we exist to make Him famous.   

God formed, sent, and sacrificed his Son not so that we would correctly follow Him. He didn't send his son so that we would follow him in the most radical way. He didn't send his Son so that we would find the solution, the answer, or the RIGHT way to be a follower!  He sent His son as the redemption for our sin and the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  He sent His Son so that we have the ability to Follow! Period. That's it.  

Let us stop searching for the manner that is most obedient. Let us simply be obedient. Let us stop searching on how to be a rightful follower suited for the King. Let us submit, and follow. 

Jeremiah 9:23-24 

²³ This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Being right is our feeble human attempt at making ourselves more clean and worthy to be presented to our God. Let us not waste time toiling in useless works. Only His Son can cleanse us.  Let us instead understand who our God is. Let us search Him. Let us know Him and His commandments. Let us exercise the kindness and justice for His people and His creation. It is in these fundamental acts that we transition from the pursuit of earthly rightness to heavenly righteousness.   

At Hand

Do you find yourself fueling your day with the dreams of tomorrow? Do you find yourself powering through your day with caffeine? Do you find yourself numbing your feelings with alcohol? Or gossip? Or stress-relief techniques?  Do you find yourself dreaming of the future so that you don't have to submit to the reality of the present?  Do you find yourself looking to the world as a solution to the world?  

Often I find that when I am in my deepest yearning for peace and comfort, I numb my current state with something of the earth. Isn't it so funny how we believe that the answer to pain, sadness and grief can be found in the place where those feelings originate?

We have been called as followers of Jesus to submit ourselves to God. We have been commanded to seek Him in the midst of our tired and weary state. 

"Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4: 7-8 

When we draw near to the earth, it does not draw nearer to us. When we seek comfort from the earth, the comfort does not grow in the knowledge of what our world is. In fact, isn't the opposite true?  Yet, our God lavishes His love and His peace on us as we submit to Him and find our answer in Him. Our world is a stagnant world. It cannot grow close to us. It cannot comfort us. It cannot turn our mourning into laughter.  

Let us always remember that our God yearns for the spirit that He has made to dwell within us!  (James 4:5) When we befriend the world, we lose the precious connection God planted within us from our conception.  The Spirit in us as believers is only nurtured after submission to God. By befriending the world and seeking its aid for our distress, we show our God that HE is not GOOD enough! We show the world that HE cannot SATISFY! Yet the reality is that the entire time we grieve, and cry and seek understanding from our world, He looks at us from afar saying, "Child...I am JEALOUS for you and the spirit within you!"

Why do we not seek him when we need energy? Why do we not seek him when we face confusion? 

Even when the world seems closer and "at hand", our GOD is even closer than that. While the earth stands still, our God seeks us with all of himself. And, who can be closer than that..?  

Conviction vs. Condemnation

As far as Webster is concerned, none of us are mature Christians. In fact, we are barely maturing. We certainly grow in our faith, through immersion in the Word, fellowship, conversations with believers, prayer, and community...yet maturity pertains to the perfection of a skill or the completion of growth.

One aspect of maturity is the discernment of conviction (Holy Spirit) and condemnation (Satan).   And, on paper, you might know the difference. In fact, you could possibly give a sermon about the difference, or at least mentor a friend on the difference between the two.  We can even recite Romans 8:1, that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Yet, I have learned in these past two months, that even a maturing believer can fall under the lies and deception of condemnation, incorrectly believing that the emotions coming over them are God-driven and originating in Holiness.

I read an article last week that was potent and pertinent on the subject of condemnation. It stated that because condemnation originates from the Great Deceiver, condemnation will deceive, will lead astray, and will push you away from God into one of two conditions; shame or depression.  Conviction, on the other hand, pushes you in the opposite direction; away from sin and into the loving arms of Our Father.

But once again, that's great, useful knowledge to know, to write about, and to encourage someone with. But when the overwhelming cloud of concern comes over believers as a wave, or pierces the heart, or confuses and creates anxiety, how really can we discern?  How can we discern these thoughts while avoiding despair?  How can we really learn to interpret our feelings, and divide them into truth from our Father, or lies from the devil?

First, how do these thoughts and feelings come to you? For me, I feel troubled late at night before I go to sleep.  I physically feel antsy, as though I cannot rest. I will check all social media outlets to pass the time, and "make myself tired" so that rest comes easy. Or, I know of friends that will wake up with doubt, and wake up worried, or even have frightening dreams that startle them awake.  What troubles you, and how does it trouble you?

Next, when is your soul troubled and stirred?   Not necessarily the time of day, but what is affected by your worry and anxiety?  Is it your time of prayer? Is it your community? Is it that coffee date you were looking forward to, cut short by anxiousness? Or, a Sunday morning that you could not join the Church family because of your grief?

Now here is what is SO beautiful- I promise you, the good news is coming!  The difference between conviction and condemnation can be discerned often by what is interrupted.

Here is something I will challenge you to do. When you feel the most on fire for Christ (or even when you only have a small flame!), open up your Bible.  Open your Bible the second that doubt and despair creeps in.  And, READ.  Read the good news that He has prepared for you.

And when you read, notice something. Take notice to see if your concerns (the things that clog up your day-to-day thought processes and take you away from constant prayer) are eased or if they interfere with the Good News.  As Christians, it is essential we remember that the Word is prepared by our Father for the glory of the Father. Or, as John Piper has stated, "We get mercy, He gets Glory. We get the happiness from Him; He gets the honor from us."

Begin to think about the last time you read your Bible. Were your thoughts eased, solved, aided, calmed, comforted by Him and His word that He has for You?  Or, was your time with God over-ridden by the sinful confusion of the present?  This is discernment.  When impurities affect purity, and when the temporal aims to distract from the eternal, condemnation is present. Yet, when your fears are comforted or an answer is presented, you may be under the reality of conviction. Our Father convicts us because He loves us and corrects us. He is our shepherd.  He would not correct without a Word of Truth accessible to you.
Imagine our Lord in Heaven convicting His children. When He sees a response in us, He is glorified. We are directed from Him and drawn towards Him.

I cannot even begin to open my heart to you all and express the process of discernment that has occurred in my heart and mind this past month.   And, as I said earlier, it is a process. A long process that may take a lifetime.  But once we begin discerning the moments and nuggets of truth that God places into the hearts of all of us-His children- the closer we grow to Him, and the easier discernment becomes.

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."- Jeremiah 33:3

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."- Matthew 6:33

The Ever After Lady-T.E.A.L.

www.theeverafterlady.com

More info to come--this has been the great project of my last two years of college!

The Ever After Lady (T.E.A.L.) will be an online social media community for women that have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses. 

Every woman deserves to live happily ever after!! 

Stay tuned for our new, interactive website! 

~Alexa    

The Parable for Effectivity

Last evening I had the opportunity to see the academy-award nominated movie, Lincoln, based on the life and successes of Abraham Lincoln's presidency. The accomplishments of this tall, awe-inspiring man were tremendous-but one aspect of his character stuck out to me as truly phenomenal and un-matched. 

Whenever Lincoln spoke, he drew crowds. He drew fans, and enemies, but whether you agreed with his views or not, he still grew crowds. He drew conversation out of people, and made the crowd ponder life-lessons and values. 

Amazingly, for such a tall and strong looking man though, Lincoln was not one to raise his voice in enforcement of his views. Instead he knew how to communicate effectively without needing to raise the volume of his voice, change the pitch, or utilize a certain pace. 

Instead, Abraham Lincoln told stories that mesmerized. He was was a genius storyteller. Through humor, history, and hope, Lincoln was able to translate direction in the midst of devastation.  Lincoln, spoke through parables. Life Lessons that point to his Savior.  I began researching some of the remarkable quotes by Lincoln and here are some of our world's greatest leaders comments on this man... 

 Count Adam Gurowski, a Polish exile who worked in the State Department, observed, “In the midst of the most stirring and exciting — nay, death-giving — news, Mr. Lincoln has always a story to tell.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson declared, “When he has made his remark, he looks up at you with a great satisfaction, & shows all his white teeth, & laughs.” 

Walt Whitman saw something else in Lincoln’s storytelling; he thought it was “a weapon which he employ’d with great skill.” 

Lincoln knew when to find joy in the negative and light in the darkness. But he also knew that it was necessary to meet people where they are. 

Jesus Christ modled this through his relational outreach to the "least of these."  From a woman at a well, to the sick and dying, Jesus was able to meet each individual where they were, and through where they were. 

It is crucial as believers to know a lot about a lot of things. I know this sounds like such an odd observation- but I encourage all Christians to read often and read a variety of works. It is essential to relate to people, even people that are far different in the way they were raised or their visions for their future. 

When we find a "connect" with people, we are able to show them that we care about them enough to go outside of our inner circle. And, we are able to show them the reason for which we live, for Jesus. 

Just was the most educated "backwoods" president one could ever imagine- he had people intelligence and intellectual intelligence. 

Let us be people-smart. And, let us understand that each person may not understand the reason for which we live. This gives us a significant reason to relate to people through stories, and through their culture. 

Commonalities let us become comfortable. And commonalities form communities. Through these communities, we can reveal Christ to our inner circle.   


Matthew 25:34-36  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Simplicity

Last week, I heard a presentation by marketing genius, Seth Godin, at High Point University. The entire keynote was exciting, motivating, and encouraging for young entrepreneurs.

He stated something halfway through his presentation that was one of the most profound moments of his entire speech. In response to a question by our president, Dr. Qubein, he stated that a success to staying fit and maintaining health is eating simply so that you may live fully.   

Eat simple, live full.

Live simply, live fully.

When we remember to live our lives in simplicity, we avoid distraction and stay the course. For the Christian faith, it is essential to remember our purpose every single day. Our purpose on earth is simple-love God, and love others because you love God.   If that is our intention every single day, our lives actually become more full. When we live in the groove for which we were created, we thrive. 

I find it so interesting how we try and color outside of the lines hoping to "experiment", or find out more about ourselves.  In reality, we achieve the most then we realize what we were made for, and stay in that reality.   

John 5:30 

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Let us re-focus on what we were made for, and eliminate the things in our lives that take us our of the groove. 

 Trains cannot run apart from the specific grove in their tracks. The same is true for us. We cannot run or reach our destination unless we fit to the mold of which we were created.  And God does not make us identical-do not fear not being unique!  Your uniqueness will be found in Him, simply living for and with Him, and thriving in that creation.  

Live simply-Live in Him- and Live fully in the way He directs.     

2 Corinthians 1:12

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Investigate

God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with ‘surviving’ and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life.- 

Charles Stanley

Life is an investigation- investigating who we are, who we want to be, who the successful people are (and what makes them that way), as well as discovering the reason we are on this earth.  

Whenever someone asks me what a passion of mine is, I often respond, "Theology". I love the study of why people believe what they believe and why they believe it. I love the investigation. I love the soul searching. It is SO human, and so real. It reveals our doubts, our concerns and our dreams. 

Our Heavenly Father desires that we investigate him. Dare I say, He wants you to sit down and attempt to critique him, analyze him, and find fault in his perfection. We are human-we want answers! We hope to investigate once we have come up with a hypothesis of why God is. 

When we proclaim that God is good, we search for his goodness. When we hear a friend say God is gracious, we search for evidence of grace. 

God desires an investigation. 

Why? Because he is faultless, perfect, constant, and THE answer. 

The solution to our problem is why we investigate- Our God desires to be investigated. He wants to be our solution. 

When we hear something about our God, let us take time to pray on those truths, and see if He in fact adds up to the world's proclamations. Often the world will lead us astray through their "feelings", instead of the facts of who God is. Or, we may encounter an outlier who is not in touch with the reality of our God. But, once we take in the world, and lay that against the truth of the scripture (our avenue for discovering the true and perfect God) we can discern what is false AND-(this is the greatest part)- we come to know the Lord better through the investigation.   

Here is an Abrahamic Promise for us that will sustain us in our searching. In Deuteronomy, we see a declaration by Moses, through the Lord. 

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all of your heart and all of your soul."- Deut. 4:29 

And this will all occur, because we serve a merciful God who will never forget "the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them". And, a jealous God who "is a consuming fire" ready to protect you because He desires YOU and investigates and pursues YOU daily! 

I find it pretty amazing that the God that we pursue is perfect- and it is difficult for us to find the motivation to continue pursuing Him.  Yet, we are so far from perfect- and our God investigates our hearts, searches them, and loves us unconditionally even through the obvious imperfection.   

Let us promise to investigate our God and search the heart of the Lord. We will continually be renewed, finding perfected goodness and holiness!  

Psalm 139:23- "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" 

A Turbulent Heart

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve on the "Student Panel" for High Point University' Admissions event, Presidential Scholarship Weekend. One young man in the crowd asked me a question that in the past, I had routinely answered without pause. He stated, "What was the toughest for you about the transition from highschool to college?" In the past, I had immediately responded, "not having my family close by", "meeting a new group of friends", or "being in a new environment." Instead, yesterday, I responded differently. And I said something-that at the time- did not make sense to me. I woke up this morning wondering why I said it, and where it even came from.
"You know, I believe the most important aspect of the transition is having a contentment of knowing where you are-and understanding that you will be in this new environment for four years. Know where you are, and thrive in it for four years. "
I think it is very interesting how often the words we speak are the ones that WE need to hear-not our audience. I had never said anything like that before to someone when they asked about college life. I continually create a lack of contentment within me- and continually find myself anxious for the future.

This morning I was reading a chapter in one of my favorite books of the Bible, Isaiah 40. It discusses comfort for God's people, that is guaranteed when we are in the grasp of our Lord. I noticed multiple verses that mention a common theme...

"Make straight the desert a highway for our God" (v. 3)
" Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the uneven ground shall become level" (v. 4)
"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (v. 5)

Isn't it so true that often our hearts feel one of two ways- like we are in the desert-thirsting for something more to quench the overwhelming desire we have within us. Or, we feel as though our hearts are turbulent-filled with mountains and valleys (sometimes within a 24 hour period!) and laden with uneven ground.

Just as roads transform rocky, sandy, shaky desert ground to solid highways, and turbulent hearts become stable and level, our Lord will do a work within us in the same manner.

He is the steadier of our hearts, the One who smooths the terrain, and the One who calms the violent emotions that take place within us every day.  This is how he comforts us! Often, He doesn't comfort us simply by throwing joy at us-maybe he comforts us by the steadying of our hearts, and smoothing  the rocky nature of our emotions.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken to his people, and continues to speak into our hearts every day. 

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12 

The Lord God Almighty-with strength and power that we cannot fathom takes the time to mold our hearts and steady them. How beautiful is the image of the Lord, that shaped us and formed us, continues to take the time every moment of every day to speak truth to our souls. He does not tire, he does not grow weary, even when his followers do. He does not lose heart when our Hearts lost focus, grow dry or grow turbulent. 

Allow your heart to be steadied by Him. It is His beautiful way of comforting us. 

Contentment is found in the understanding of permanence. Even though we will not be found permanently on this earth, we can stay content where we are because of the over-arching, permanent, steadiness found in Him. 

The Surprise

What makes a surprise special? For me a real surprise is something that you couldn't even begin to guess-nowhere on your radar and nowhere in your day-to-day thoughts.

Why were Christmases when we were young so special? Many would say Santa. I say it was the surprise. Santa wouldn't be glorified in our society's mind unless he brought a surprise! He brings the gift that is unexpected-wrapped in a way that alludes to the gift, but does not completely make it obvious in the child's mind.

Now, what makes Christianity, special?  To answer this, we must look at Jesus. Jesus was special because He was a surprise. He was and is a fulfillment of prophecy, but the manner by which He came to us and for us was a surprise. He was not a surprise gift, but the way in which He was presented was.

Now let us step back and look at this from the "surpriser's" point of view. You plan a surprise party for your friend, and you are so excited. In fact, you maintain more excitement than the one that ends up being surprised. Why? You see the whole picture. You know the work you put in to its organization and orchestration. You know the special gift you purchased for the individual's birthday. You cannot wait to celebrate with them as this is a new turning point in their life.

Imagine our Heavenly Father planning a surprise party for us. He has prepared the perfect gift-His perfect son. He has invited the perfect people-His creation. He understands that not everyone will accept the surprise- yet proceeds with the planning.

Our God understood that the perfect gift would be a surprise to His creation. But once we understand the gift, it all makes sense. It all becomes clear. It all fits together. And, we are filled with joy. We are filled with the joy we experienced when we were six years of age unwrapping a gift we may not have ever anticipated receiving. Yet once it is opened- it all makes sense, and you are so grateful.

Let us return to Christmas morning excitement when we open our bibles and open our hearts. He was a surprise for a reason- for that moment when we GET IT.   When we get it, we repent. When we get it, we look to Him more. When we get it, we are awe-struck. Surprises are more exciting than the expected.

Surprises are not happen-stance or random. Let us remember that tedious planning goes into a surprise, and to not take His surprise for granted. In addition, let us remember that surprises are intentionally crafted for a specific reaction from the surprised. 

Let us return to the humility and joy of a young child on Christmas morning. Let us regain the reverence and the awe when we look at Him.  


John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth
John 1:15-17 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

New Year Goals (2013)

Goals for a new year, 2013: 

1. Intentionally pursue relationships, decisions, and goals while abstaining from anything frivolous. 
2. Thrive in spontaneity: He gave us emotions for a reason. I hope to act on them frequently and sensibly. 
3. Understand simplicity: spend less, save an equal amount, give more. Truly go back to basics in all aspects. 
4. Continually desire to learn more about people- people watch, hug, read, observe.
5. Write more letters to more people.
6. Appreciate nature in a greater way. Nature helps us understand what it is like to go through seasons in our own lives.
7. Show compassion: break my heart for those who are hurting.
8. Exhibit forgiveness, and understand how often I need it myself. His grace sustains!
9. Work hard, and grasp the art of persistence.
10. This year will be a year of change: graduation, relationships, and a new career. I hope to praise Him in it, love those in it, stay content throughout it, and pray continually.

Happy new year, everyone!!!