Updating after a long pause in the blog scene. Lately I have been drained a lot, I have had a lot of work to do, and not nearly enough sleep. I have spent too much time on Msn, and not enough time in my studies, I suppose this is because it is easier to procrastinate then it is to do work, although the cloud of guilt looms over my head from time to time, and tries to convince me that because of my procrastination it is reason to get nothing done at all. And so this is something that has happened. With all the personal development I have been going through it has also tired me. But God has done a great work in my life, and has made me realize more of his glory, and shown me more of him on a day to day. I have started doing daily devotionals that have proved to be powerful and energizing for me (in the afternoons) I can't wait until I can implement them into my mornings (aka going to sleep on time is a key to this). At this point my body is really hurting, as Mel and Key know I took a nasty spill a couple months ago, and it has really worked it's way up to my neck and all through my back, if you guys could pray for me it would be appreciated. I have decided to not take pain killers at this time even though the pain is excruciating as it makes me docile and extremely tired (and I'm not so sure it would help too much at this point anyway). Well I believe that I can start the healing process right now...I'm going to bed.
There have been many times in the last few weeks that I have been convicted to live as Jesus lived. My biggest struggle has been my attitude towards a class that all of us have to take. The teacher just doesn't seem to teach the way we want her to and then we develop bad attitudes about her and we start to say things that put down her character and make her look like a horrible person. I am guilty of doing this as well, but I am being convicted of it and I am trying to say nice things about her. Its not that she is a bad person or even a bad teacher cuz she takes what she does seriously and she is full of knowledge and ability and she puts her all into it. I think what has been happening is we are not respecting her, and she's not dumb, I'm sure she hear's the gossip that goes on around the school about her. I know that this class is not everyone's cup of tea but we aren't loving her the way we are supposed to. Our attitudes about that class are not right. I know that we make excuses for the way we talk (I'm busy, I don't like the way she teaches, I don't get the respect I want from her, etc.). I have made excuses previously in the past and really that doesn't make right the stuff I have said about her. I heard in a sermon once that has been really impacting me lately. This guy told us to think of the person that we dispise the most. Then he told us that we cannot love God more than we love that person. We are not capable of it. This reminds me of a scripture that I read in 1 John 4:20 "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." This applies to this situation. How can we say we love God and worship God with everything we have if we do not love him with actions. Part of loving him with actions is respecting those around us and not speaking against them. God has called us to love others as Jesus loved them. He didn't always like what he was going through. He loved and forgave the people that hung him on the cross. This class isn't even half as bad as being hung on a cross. We need to step up our act towards this teacher. We need to act like Jesus would act. He wouldn't get mad at people for sharing their opinions or be rude to others or even speak against the teacher. He wouldn't demand respect before he gave it. He wouldn't gossip and slander her. He would love her. Love is always patient and kind. Clearly some of us have not even been patient or kind towards her. I know that none of us is perfect, but if we can't love a fellow sister in Christ, how do you expect to be able to love a non-Christian who upsets you or even, how can you love God? Remember, you can only love God as much as you love the person you like the least. Let us try and treat this teacher with respect. Maybe if we change our attitudes she will treat us with more respect. Let us try to love and Jesus loved.
We are here for an education – aren’t we?
Or are we here for something more?
Is it all about a GPA or is it about a process of continual spiritual growth?
So I guess the question is why are you here?
Time and time again this year I’ve butted heads with those who are upset when I say I don’t care about my grade point average. What matters to me is that I learn something new from each of my classes – something I have found I do not do very well when I am worried about how well I did in the class (if you can do both great – I can’t). Call me crazy but for me it has always been – “Don’t let your studies get in the way of your college education!” I’m not slamming effort; Jesus was ruthless with those who treated their call frivolously. I am just saying that we need to get to a point of kingdom focus over self focus.
Recently in chapel, Esther 4:16 was quoted as a key verse. “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” I find it parallels my favourite verse Daniel 3:16-18 as in both cases people did their all but were willing to perish if it was God’s will. Esther was willing to stand up for her people NOW as it required her to, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego worked hard, yet when push came to shove they recognized who they truly worked for. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be know to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
I think we are called to service now. What does that mean? It means not taking lies when we are told to repeat them; it means recognizing who is responsible for our lives and education; it means that much of what we need to learn is not always on the test. Go out and work hard, yet be ready to do work not asked of you. Jesus spoke in the same manner of this subject only he spoke in terms of talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27). Each of us has been given talents and responsibility in response to where we are at and it is only by being obedient that we can move forth and learn more.
