Flashback -- Reflection from 2002

As I stood next to my dear friend Katy, tears welled up in my eyes but an uncontrollable smile brightened my face. Her wedding day – a time of joy – and I was honored to stand next to her and hand over the ring that symbolizes the never-ending love she is to have with her husband Luke.  Oh, what a joy, a blessing it is to be united in Christ with the one He has chosen for you.  You could see it on their faces as they promised themselves to each other; their eyes sparkled as they danced as husband and wife for the first time.  Their love overflowed into the joy of being together.  Their delighting in each other was, and still is so apparent – not merely the sensation of love based on emotions, but true love that penetrates their whole being and moves them in action and deed to honor each other.

And Katy's marriage is not the only one I have witnessed – it’s the time of my life where most of my old friends from college have gotten married or are soon on their way to it.  And it used to be that I desired that for my life, looking around in every new setting, asking God, ‘Is there one here that will be mine?’  But how foolish I have been to not see it all along.  As I seek out for myself who it is that will love me, God is sweetly singing over me, “I am He.”  Oh the love of God – passionate and pure, holy and heartfelt.

His Word is filled with promises of love for us. In some amazing God-way, He is everything to us – fulfilling the role all earthly relationships combined.  His love for us has so many facets to meet our every need. One such loving call to us is found in Isaiah 62:5: “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”  This isn’t merely a friendship love, or the love that a father has for His children, but it’s the love a husband has for his bride.  Picture a man in love, let your mind dwell on how he pursues the woman his heart is set on.  Examine the words of popular love songs, think about the characters your favorite romance movie.  That is the love your God has for you – you are His bride!  He pursues us, sings sweetly over us, He calls us to Himself, rejoices over us and sweeps us up in His love.

There was once a time where I couldn’t imagine never getting married – the thought brought fear and the desire to rebel if that is what God desires for me.  But I’ve found that as I seek Him, He can meet that need.  While marriage is a definite blessing from God, He alone is our sole soul’s satisfaction.  To become one with another is only possible when we are completed in Christ. 

Musings on positive psychology & God

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

Psychology research has shown that focusing on the positive side of things creates energy and motivates us. We learn that if an organization or an individual wants to change, they should focus on the opportunity and the vision, not the problems of the current situation. I think Philippians 4:8 shows us that God gets this! (Of course He does! He's God.) His instructions for us to think about the Good (with a capital G!) things isn't only about wanting to keep us pure and holy. God knows that dwelling on Good things will motivate us, keep us strong and give us energy to face a new day. 

Remaining in the Light

This last week, I've been undergoing an intense spiritual battle characterized by darkness and light. The darkness rises up and consumes me. I am filled with despair, dread, hopelessness, fear and, most significantly, doubt. When I am in the darkness, I can't shake the feeling. I just sink deeper and deeper and deeper into it. Until, amazingly, God comes and rescues me, bringing me by His grace into the light. In the light, there is hope, peace, joy, and a deep longing to know God and to do His will. In the light, all doubt is gone. I find it interesting that these experiences have also been related to the presence of literal light and darkness. Perhaps the gloom of a never-ending Chicago winter has been getting to me, but I have a yearning to be in the sun, to see the dawn of a new day.

As I was driving home last night, I felt God leading me to read Ephesians, where the Word calls us to "live as children of the light" (Eph 5:8). I was once in darkness, but now I am in the light. This recent battle, I'm sure, is the enemy's ploy to keep me in darkness. But, there, there is no hope, no joy, no peace. I choose to live in the light! Oh Jesus, shine on me!  

All Creation Sings

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy." Psalm 96:11-12

In reflecting on this verse, I pondered how the earth can rejoice and how the trees can sing for joy. How exactly does plant life sing God's praises? It occured to me that the earth glorifies God by doing what it was created to do ... being what it was created to be. The oak tree was created to grow tall and strong. My favorite, the sweet olive tree, was created to give off a sweet, sweet scent. By doing those things, all of God's creations sing God's praises.

Likewise, we glorify God when we do the good work he has created us to do -- work He has prepared us for in advance. I do believe there are things we're all called to do and be as God's children. We're called to worship Him, to glorify Him and to love Him with an undying love. But, we are all unique. We don't all have the same calling. We are not all created to be the same person, to do the same things.

In the business world, the Strengths-based movement is gaining popularity. The premise is that everyone in the world is born different -- we're born with our own personalities, our own strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, a strength is not something you're "good at" but rather something that makes you "feel strong".

I spent a long time in my early adult life thinking that I had to be "perfect" in order to truly please God (while also knowing that, through faith, I was holy and blameless). But in my pursuit of God, I thought that the mission and quest I was on was to improve all my weaknesses (not just being strong against temptations) and to be strong in every way. My recent studies, however, have given insight into just how different and unique we all are. None of these differences are bad -- no one personality is better or worse than another. Every strength can be used to glorify God or to indulge in sin.

Scriptures say, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). I believe God prepares us for these good works in two ways. First, through the trials and experiences in our lives, he prepares us for the future works we are to do. But also, as He creates us in our mothers' wombs, He forms us and molds us as a unique being, uniquely created for a certain calling.

So what's the message here? Be who God created you to be! Perhaps you look around you in your church and see people with gifts and talents you just don't have. Maybe you're trying just so hard to "be" like certain brothers and sisters, but this quest drains you and makes you feel weak. Consider for a moment that these paths may not be your calling. Look to God, look to the Scriptures and look inside your heart. What sets you apart from others? What Kingdom works make you feel strong? Embrace these passions and these strengths. They are a sign of what God has prepared you to do!