expectantly

One thing I've definitely learned this past year is that life is full of disappointments. No matter how hard I try not to, I will always have expectations and make assumptions that are incorrect.  Consequently, there will always be those things which I eagerly anticipate, yet in reality they just turn out to disappoint me. As wonderful as high expectations are, I've come to realize that they won't always be met.

Sometimes, I have high expectations for myself.

I expect to get good grades, to get along with those around me, to get in better shape, to prioritize my schedule, to succeed in things I attempt, to be a good friend, to make the right decisions, to respect my parents, to be bold and courageous, to encourage those around me, to grow in my relationship with God and to faithfully follow Christ. But frankly, I fall short of my expectations. Often. I get frustrated when I fail and discouraged when my good intentions fall through. Sometimes, I disappoint myself.

Sometimes, I have high expectations for others.

I expect others to be considerate, to be friendly, to understand my feelings, to show compassion, to include others in their activities, to give their best effort, to be honest, and to be faithful and keep their promises. Unfortunately, people fall short of my expectations too. People are sinners just like I am. Because no one is perfect, including myself, sometimes people disappoint me.

In a world where people fail me or betray me, and where my shortcomings consistently disappoint me, it's easy to lower my expectations and let my standards down. It's safer to expect less when expecting more means risking the chance of disappointment.

But unlike imperfect human beings who constantly fail and fall short, God never falls short; in fact, he consistently exceeds any expectations we could ever have for him! In the midst of my failings and disappointments, Ephesians 3:20-21 is full of hope and anticipation: "him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." God is faithful, he does not fail. We should never put limitations on what God can do. God desires to magnify himself and glorify his name, and he will always succeed in what he does. Although we may not always know God's purpose or intentions, we can always expect that they are greater than we could ever ask for or imagine! 

 Always, we should expect great things of God.

This new year, 2013, you and I both have goals, expectations for what this year holds and what it will be like. While there are sure to be joys and successes, there are certain to be disappointments as well. However, no matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, let's make this a year where we expect great things of God. Let's not put limits on what he can do in our lives and in the lives around us. God doesn't always move like we expect him to, but he certainly never disappoints. Don't you think he would delight in doing far more abundantly than anything we could ask or think this year?!

 A new season, a new year, and a faithful God.

Lord, we wait expectantly.

A Bigger Gospel

Do I really know what the gospel is about?
Well, I thought I did... until my youth group started studying the book of Romans. It wasn't that I was incorrect about what I had known before, but it was that I was missing the bigger picture of what the gospel is truly about. Because of a few misconceptions I had about the gospel, my view of it was narrow. However, the gospel is deeper than I ever realized.


The Gospel is for Believers, Too
I think it's safe to say that most Christians think about the Gospel in terms of those who are not Christians. But notice that Paul writes the book of Romans to the Roman church. In the first chapter of Romans, Paul commends the Roman church for their faith because it's known "in all the world" (1:8). If anyone should know what the gospel is about, it should be the Romans. Yet, just several verses later, Paul says that he's "eager to preach the gospel to them" (1:15). Why would they need to hear the gospel?

The reason that the gospel is for believers as well as non-believers is because the gospel is not a one-time event. Salvation is the first part, but then it continues to feed the Christian. The gospel is living and is to be a part of our lives every single day. Believing is not what I did yesterday -- it's present tense, it's continual. Yes, it has a starting point, but it keeps on going. I want the gospel to play an active role in my life, and I want my entire life to be about the gospel.


The Gospel is Not About Me
While it's true that my salvation is definitely a part of the gospel, I don't think that's what the gospel is about. The very first verse in the book of Romans mentions "the gospel of God." So often, I see the gospel in relation to myself. I think of it in terms of my salvation, how Jesus saved me, or how I have been forgiven. But it's not about me.

Before the gospel is about me and my salvation, it's first about God and His righteousness. Next time you read Romans, I challenge you to mark every time the word "righteousness" is used. (It's a LOT, by the way.) The gospel is all about the righteousness of God! Because God made a way to pay in full the penalty for sin AND therefore justly forgive sinners, the gospel displays His righteousness. It screams with the righteousness of God.


The Gospel Has Power Because of Christ's Righteousness
Jesus came and died so that we can be forgiven, right? Well, yes, but there's so much more to it. You see, there's a problem with forgiveness. A big problem. God could have just wiped out our sins and forgiven us all, but... it's not right. If a convicted criminal goes before a judge and pleads for forgiveness, the judge would not be just if he just pardoned the criminal and let him go. Consequently, if the judge gave the criminal what was rightfully due him, he would be upholding justice.

That's what it's like with God. He can't just freely pour out forgiveness to everyone who asks for it because He would be marring His righteousness. To forgive guilty sinners would go against God's character. But God solved this problem. He made a way to forgive sinners AND uphold His righteousness: justification. When I placed my faith in Christ, God could declare me "not guilty" because He imputed Christ's righteousness on me. Jesus died, taking my sin, so that I could have His righteousness. This is what justification means; I am made just (or righteous) in God's sight.

The Gospel has power to save because of God's righteousness. Romans 1:16-17 says that "it is the power of God for salvation... for in it the righteousness of God is revealed...." Without God upholding His righteous character, the Gospel would be powerless.

Do I really know what the gospel is about?
The Gospel is so much bigger than I ever realized. It's beyond myself and all about God. Now that my perspective of the Gospel has changed (from being about my salvation to about God's righteousness), I get so excited when I hear the Gospel preached! Before, it used to be that I'd already "heard it, done that." Now, I can't help but thinking how great, how glorious God is! The Gospel is not just a thing of the past - it's about the present and the future.

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Waiting for a Sign...

Our culture seems to expect young people to have their life planned out by the time they graduate high school. Once the senior year rolls around -- and even before -- the reoccurring questions seem to be, "What college are you going to?" "What do you want to major in?" "What are your future plans?" With all of the huge, significant choices that life brings, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the fear of making the wrong choice.

Lately, I've found myself wondering, how do I know what God wants me to do? What if I chose the wrong thing? I just wish I could know God's will for my life! When I, or most other people, talk about the "will of God," I think they're usually looking for a specific sign from God, or an "open door" for God's specific plan for their future. In Scripture, however, God doesn't often reveal a person's life plan to them in advance. Abraham, for example, left everything he knew to follow God... without knowing anything about his future.

So here's the thing about the will of God: you can't always know it.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8).

I think some of us have this notion that we can "mess up" God's plan. We become paralyzed with the questions and decisions of life. The fear of making a wrong choice keeps us from committing to anything. So we sit. And wait. We want a specific answer from God before we move forward.But when I don't know God's will, how do I know what direction I should take? Maybe the question isn't What is the will of God? but rather What should I be doing right now so that God can lead me? Instead of waiting for a "sign," I should be moving forward. Stepping out.

God may not verbally reveal His plan, but He sure does guide. Take the time to read Proverbs 3:5-6 (and really read it): Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. If we trust in God's sovereignty, He promises to direct our paths. But God can't direct our paths if we aren't moving forward.

It's okay not to know the future. Although God doesn't always give us our life story in advance, He does require us to step out in faith and move forward in confidence. So do something. Develop your skills and talents. Pursue your interests. Look into all of your options. You may find something that God wants you to continue doing.... Or, He may shut the door in your face. But either way, don't just stand around doing nothing.

Instead on focusing on the great unknown future, find a way to follow God now. God is sovereign. You can't mess up His plan. Move forward and trust that He will lead you exactly where you need to be.

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Takeing every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

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Bless the Lord!

I know I haven't mentioned this on my blog before, but my dad has been out of work for over 6 months. Yes, that's a long time! It's been hard on our family (mostly my parents), but I knew God was going to use our situation for His glory.

I was praying for my dad from the start. And I kept praying, and praying, and praying (or so it seemed). It soon got to the point where I was tired of praying for the same exact thing every day...for months! I knew that God knows our every need, and I had prayed so much before - I was beginning to feel like I had done all I could do and that prayer wasn't needed anymore.

Around this time I began reading Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy. Chapter 6 changed my view of prayer.

In that chapter Leslie talks about how she had learned to worship and let God speak to her through His word, "But the idea of wrestling, importunate, persistent prayer was completely foreign to me." (152) I knew exactly what she meant when she said that sometimes we pray, "God, if it's your will, please do this," or, "Please do that, if it's your will." Then, if God doesn't answer after a few times of praying, we assume that it's not His will. But maybe, just maybe, God doesn't answer right away to teach us faith and perseverance.

Our praying needs to be pressed and pursued with an energy that never tires, a persistency which will not be denied, and a courage that never fails.

-- E.M. Bounds

James 4:2 says, "...you do not have because you do not ask." Christ teaches that He wants us to be "relentlessly persistent" in our prayer: Luke 11:5-9, Luke 18:1-8, John 6:23-24, and so many more!

Here's what Leslie Ludy says, "God asks us to have the kind of faith that asks boldly for specific things. Instead of vague, general prayers that don't demand faith, we must begin 'putting it all on the line' and take the risk of laying our precise needs before the King." (160)

After reading that, I was convicted about the way I had been praying - especially for my dad's job. I began to change that. It's probably one of the boldest prayers I've ever prayed, but I prayed that God would give my dad a job in one month. One month. I struggled with myself at first, thinking, What if Dad doesn't get a job in one month? What would happen if God doesn't answer this prayer? I don't want to become like the "name-it, claim-it" people who think that they'll get whatever they pray for!!!!

But I prayed that God would give me faith in Him, that He is more than able - and He delights in giving us good gifts! I began praying with fervency everyday: Okay God...give me faith. One month.

Now, since this is all written in the past tense, I'm sure you all know what I'm about to say! =D

My dad got a job!!!!

I'm sooo amazed at how God has answered this prayer! On January 10, 2010, I prayed Dad would get a job in a month, and on January 28, 2010 he did! Praise the Lord! All glory to God! He used a trying situation to teach me an important lesson about prayer! Bless the Lord!

The Power of the Resurrection

When I was younger, I heard the story of the resurrection over and over. I could retell it, backwards and forwards. But the resurrection is more than just a story. Much more. I think because it was so familiar, I didn't fully understand its significance. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes to the Corinthians explaining the importance of Christ's resurrection and how fundamental it is to our faith:

13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
(1 Corinthians 15:13-19)

The notes in my study Bible divided divided this passage into six points. . .

Six disastrous consequences if there was no resurrection:

1) Preaching Christ would be senseless (14)
2) Faith in Christ would be useless (14)
3) All the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (15)
4) No one would be redeemed from sin (17)
5) All former believers would have perished (18)
6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on earth(19)

Wow! I have just recently been learning how fundamental Jesus' resurrection is to the Christian faith. The whole purpose of Jesus leaving His glory and coming to earth as a man was to conquer death for all mankind, that we may have Salvation through Him alone!!! And because Jesus DID rise again, we have a faith that's alive and a living hope. (Like verse 19 says, if Christ did not rise, then we have a false hope because it's based on this life only.) We have hope that we will be resurrected someday because death has been conquered by our Savior!!!

Have you ever found it hard to believe in (or doubted) the resurrection?


Revelation 1:17-18
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."