The blessing of a spark.

Ever have something on the outskirts of your heart and mind that you feel is forming- you then have a couple great conversations or maybe an experience and *boom* something gets laid on your heart?

Get excited.

I have recently been pondering life in a new light. What it takes for a Christian to stand a part, to make a difference, to go against the flow of culture, and to live a radical life.

Conviction has happened lately as to how I’m living life. How are my beliefs, my morals and standards affecting the way I live and the choices I make? Am I making a difference in the world? Am I challenging others by the way I live and the paths I choose to go down? Am I providing the opportunity to light a spark in the lives of others?

BECAUSE-I believe it comes down to a spark.

So, I just got back from the store after purchasing way too many sparklers for a gathering this weekend. Having just put my foot in the door, so excited at my purchases, dad decided his daughter needed a reminder talk on fire safety. After willingly listening to his wisdom I made my way over to my desk –which had this blog half typed up, when something clicked-

How easy a spark can turn into a flame.  

Over the last two Sundays I have been blessed to sit in the audience at church and listen to our speaker, Gary Burge. Gary is a professor of New Testament studies at Wheaton College. This past weekend absolutely rocked my socks off and I feel a huge need to share my notes.

About a year ago I was honored to have taught on John 4- The Samaritan Woman at the Well. However, it is so awesome to be able to hear another take on the beloved story, especially after many hours of studying it myself.

Gary began his sermon by starting out with this questions:

What are the characteristics of those who change the world?

These are not just routine Christians but those who have an encounter that pushes them to start a fire in the world; an encounter that will radically change them.

4 Characteristics

1.       Undeniable experience

2.       Immediate ‘gut check’

3.       Enviable Focus

4.       Infectious Enthusiasm

Keep these characteristics in mind as we jump into the passage of John 4.

I.                    Background:

a.       This Samaritan woman as we know is an outcast in the town. How do we know? Evidence…

b.       Water collection is done in the morning or at dusk as that is the coolest times of the day.

c.       Water collection is a time for women to come together for great fellowship. Wells belong to women.

d.      When this young woman went to get water it was the 6^th hour (noon) hottest time of the day.

e.      She is alone- isolated from her community.

II.                  Community

a.       Jesus is alone at the well, as is she. Jesus is an obstacle; he is at a place that is known to belong to women.

b.      Wells are also known to bring romance into a city or a town as all the men would know where most of the women are congregating. J

III.                Water

a.       There are also two types of water:

b.      Dead Water: Whether or not humans have touched it.

c.       Living Water: Touched by the hand of God. Wells, rain, lakes, etc.

d.      If one is usually considered unclean then they may bathe in clean water and get cleansed.

 

Through the dialogue Jesus has with this woman we find she has given up on marriage and men. She has experienced horrible things with men and at a well (romance) she is about to come face to face with the true living water, Jesus. An encounter with a man of integrity, honor, and purity.

Everything begins to click with this woman and she is filled with the desire to go back to her town and share the Good News and light a spark.

So- what do we see in this passage?

1.       Undeniable Experience

-          Meeting Jesus

2.       Gut-Check

-          Her life was unclean

-          Jesus could make her clean

3.       Enviable Focus

-No longer defined by dead water

 

4.       Infectious Enthusiasm

-          Runs back to her village

Which leads to….

1.       Encounter

2.       Assessment

3.       Recommitment

4.       Zeal

Which then leads to…

1.       Meet Jesus

2.       Confession

3.       Devotion

4.       Vision

THE SECRET OF PASSION

I think the world needs some sparks- are you ready to start a fire??

 

I recently stepped foot into an amazing place called 3 mile. 3 mile is a place where sparks happen. It is an organization for middle school-high school age kids, providing a spot for kids to hang out in not only a safe and fun environment, but also to talk and chill with a pretty awesome kid-loving passionate crew. 3 mile is a spark starter. This past Sunday I had the honor of attending an incredible concert put on by the band Bennett and the crazy awesome group Leeland. I’ll leave you with this song that nailed my heart hard. Enjoy.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrDtyDz3BA

The Blessings of Marinating and Dancing

Marinate.

 What do you think of when you read or hear this word? Personally, I think of steak. A thick sirloin that is so tender from a night of marinating, hot off the grill and just a touch of pink. I’m a meat girl, always was-always will be.

Definition: To allow a sauce or flavoring mixture to absorb into something; to steep or soak something in a marinade to flavor or prepare it for cooking.

 I read this word several days ago in an email I received from a good friend. “Stoked for what the Lord has ahead for you and even where He has you marinating right now!!” It caught my eye, made me think of steak….but made me ponder what it means to be marinating in life, marinating in the presence of my Lord.

I am currently feeling so blessed right now in life. My current position at my job is allowing me to work one on one with people who so selflessly desire to give of themselves. I see horses, yes, horses carry broken, disabled, yet amazing individuals day after day, lap after lap, giving these riders hope. I have not only been able to experience the thrill of graduating with my BA and having a semester finished of my MA already, but I have also got to witness and rejoice with my sister as she walked across the stage for her high school diploma. My morning /evening devotions have rocked my world as of late and I feel so grateful for my earthly family, but also for my Heavenly Father as well. Nights have been spent on my horse or chatting it up with fellow comrades over dinner or a cup of jo.

But, I consider my greatest blessing the overwhelming amount of peace I have right now in life.  I can vividly see God filling my life and slowly diminishing every earthly want or desire I have.  Actually my daily prayer goes along the lines of, “I pray for patience in times of desire. Courage for when I am nudged to jump. Trust in times of waiting.

I don’t by any means want to sound like my life is perfect, it is the farthest thing from it; but I do believe in perspective, in learning lessons, in choosing joy, and in being patient.

I was recently at a Ladies Day retreat out at Gull Lake Ministries (I highly encourage this retreat to all you ladies who read this).

Sheri Rose Shepherd was the keynote speaker and boy did she challenge us women. One of the questions that stuck out to me was, “How many catastrophes have you gone through that actually never happened?” So often we tend to blow things out of the water when it comes to life and the struggles it brings. We live in a world that over exaggerates, focuses on negatives, and rarely is able to see the joy in the midst of hardships. Sheri encouraged us to dance.

D- Dream Everlasting Dreams.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Eph. 3:20a

The dream you felt God didn’t give you- would it have drawn you or anyone else closer to God? God doesn’t pull us out of dark places- to then keep it to ourselves.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Prov. 19:21

We must have the faith of a mustard seed, God will move the mountain if it is in the way of his will.

A- Accept His grace.

“But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’a power may rest on me.” 2 Chr. 12:9

Sometimes God disables us- to enable us.

N- Never forfeit your identity in Christ.

So often we put faith in others before Christ. We can believe the Word of God or the word of man- but we can’t muddle them together.

“We are sons and daughters of the King.”

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16

Our worth is what someone else is willing to pay for you- Jesus died on the cross for us.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

C-Come out of hiding.

This is the state of ‘whatever’. In order to let loose and dance, you don’t need designer jeans, a great haircut, or any worldly item, all you need to know is the Designer of your life.

E- Embrace your battles.  

You will have troubles- there is no might. So often when we are wounded and broken we see God in such a vivid and astounding way.

The giants in life are not too big to hit- but they are too big to miss. For it is when we head into battle an opportunity to watch the invisible God become visible arises.

So I have a couple of questions…

First, how are you being marinated?

Second, are you dancing?

The Blessing of a Thorn

"Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." {II Corinthians 12:7b-10}

Last Sunday I heard an amazing sermon upon these several verses. I could not pass up the opportunity to share a bit of my notes and thoughts in response to the feelings that surfaced after hearing a great message.

We don't know the specifics of this thorn, this 'thing', Paul is dealing with. Many speculations and research has been done upon this particular topic, but reguardless of specifics, there was a 'thing' that Paul was dealing with. It was a 'thing' that tormented Paul, it was like a punch to the gut.

Three times Paul pleaded for the Lord to take away this 'thing'. But the Lord responded, "My grace us sufficent for you, for my power is made PERFECT in weakness.' The Greek word for perfect is not so much the aspect of 'perfectness' but the ability God has to bring completion, to blow us away on what He can do through our 'thing'. Everybody has a 'thing'.

Therefore, Paul's only response is to boast all the more gladly about his weakness, the insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties life brings. Paul's only response is to choose JOY.

Like stated before, we all have a 'thing'. Resilient people see their 'something' as a gift. Sometimes it takes us awhile to be able to see our difficulties, struggles, illnesses, and weaknesses as gifts.

This past Sunday  I went to a different venue within our church. I ended up sitting with some family friends and as I sat down our Pastor began to share the blessings of a family who's son had recently been considered in remission from a bonemarrow transplant. This family happened to be one I had followed very closely as their daughter had been in my mom's kindergarten class. As I went over to share my congrats with them, I made eye contact with the mom the flood gates of tears opened up as we hugged.

I have a 'thing'. My thing came into my life in 2002. It has lingered on through different side effects and reminders I come in contact with on a daily basis. But my thing is a blessing. Because on a Sunday like this past, I can relate to the joy this family is feeling. I can relate the struggles and harships they have gone through to get to this joyful day. My thing has allowed me to be molded, shaped into the woman God has had me become. I have been able to choose joy, gain much wisdom, and see this world in a new light- because of my 'thing'.

Be thankful for your 'thing'. You will never know how perfectly God will use it in your life.

Blessings.

The Blessing of Never Walking Alone

This year, like many years has been full of ups and downs, doors shut and windows open, memories made and moments treasured. If I could sum up 2012 with a simple phrase it would be, ‘Never once did I ever walk alone’.

So here I am, sitting in a vintage lazy boy in what we call ‘the piano room’ at my house, a cup of joe at my side and tears welling up in my eyes as I live back on the beginning of the year. To be honest with all of you it was rough. No one really would have known anything was wrong but deep down inside my heart I knew I was not in a healthy position in the relationship I was in. I felt I was ignoring the signals God was giving me. I was praying for direction but avoiding handing myself over to the choices God was nudging me to take.  Fast forward a few months, difficult conversations were had, numerous tears flowed from my eyes, and a breaking point happened. Six months into the year I found myself in a position I had not been in for the past two years. Single.

Psalm 123: 1-4

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

 

After that breaking point, God granted me with a waterfall of grace and mercy. He lifted a burden, freed my heart, and granted me the strength to forgive. Within a week I reconnected with several dear friends, was blessed by countless amounts of affirmation, and had the joy of a fun-filled schedule to free my mind.

Never once did I ever walk alone.

Summer was filled with a wonderful trip with my mom to visit family out in Las Vegas. This included a day trip to visit my bone marrow and kidney donor, Celeste, and her family out in Huntington Beach California. This year I also celebrated my ten year anniversary of my original cancer diagnosis date, October 16, 2002. Tears are coming to my eyes again as I replay memories in my mind of the lowest of low days in the hospital, but my heart overflows with the unimaginable amounts of support, prayer, and love poured into my family and me during that time. God let us through that journey with an army of prayer warriors and a wise medical staff. I did not fight that battle alone.

Never once did He leave us on our own.

Classes began again in the fall and I am honored and humbled at the support, knowledge, and wisdom that flow from my professors and staff at Kuyper College. I was blessed with the position of being one of the TA’s for the Greek class, and had the humbling opportunity to share my testimony and a Bible teaching of the Samaritan Woman at the Well for chapel at the college. (If any of you would like to read a copy of my teaching and story, I would love to e-mail a copy to you). Along with crazy good memories made, friendships created, and so much information learned, this semester rocked my socks off. God is good.  I have so glad to be a part of the Kuyper community.

You are faithful God, You are faithful.

The end of 2012 brought a sliver of what the New Year will bring; I will be attending Grand Rapids Theological Seminary to start my Masters in Counseling starting in January. I have two classes left at Kuyper College before graduating in May with a degree in Pre-Seminary and a minor in Greek and communications.

So what else may 2013 bring?

I am not sure what adventures will come up in 2013, but my hope and prayer for myself and those reading this, is that the Lord may bless it immensely. I pray for clear direction, courage to jump into the unknown, and for peace and mercy to rain down upon each of us. I pray God will grant us patience in times of desire, comfort in times of distress, and joy in all circumstances.

I am starting a new tradition this year. I have a mason jar ready to except the memories, treasured moments, answered prayers, and lessons learned in 2013. I look forward to a year from now to look back on the way God moved within my life. Get excited.

My first paper is my Bible verse for 2013- Ps. 27:13-14- Wait on the Lord.

May you all feel God's presence and know you are never walking alone.

Marissa

Treasuring the Present

I have a love/hate relationship with surprises. To put it even more simply there are two emotions running inside of me, a desire to know, and a desire to be shocked, awed, etc. Example: Leading up to Christmas. My mom has a large walk-in closet, and every year since I can remember, she has 'hid' the shopping bags containing the Christmas presents in there. Anticipation kills me, it's bad. I will confess I have once or twice 'snooped' around before the presents were wrapped and stuck under the tree. *Insert-feeling so so guilty typing this confession. - But, I figured this will help create a bridge to my destination within this blog post.

I find myself often, day dreaming about the future, what it may look like, who may be in it, where I'll be, how God will use my gifts, etc. There is a deep desire to just know, to see a few quick snap shots of what life will look like 10yrs...5yrs...Next year...6 months (ha.) down the road.

....THEN...I catch myself.

Those presents at Christmas were never as cool as those I didn't know were coming. In fact, the excitement of finding out what I may be receiving vanishes just moments after. I could hardly rip the wrapping paper off of the gifts without feeling guilty. On top of those, the 'surprise' faces one makes after opening a gift were totally fake- and probably looked it.-

Now, what if I found out what life would look like down the road? What if God offered me one of those toy cameras where I could flip through a few frames, would I take the offer? Would the same feelings of those past Christmas eve moments where I felt guilty slowly arise? Most likely.

Ten years ago, this Tuesday, the 16th, will mark the day I was diagnosed with Leukemia. If I had a chance then to look forward to what life would look like now, how crazy would that be. In all honesty I don't know if I would want to continue to live life knowing the many chemo treatments I went through, the kidney transplant, and several hip replacements. The scariness of going through the broken hearts, tough moments, and painful times that arose, most importantly, I would miss the excitement of seeing how God works through ALL of those times! The affirmation He provides, the grace He gives, and the strength He upheld me with. Surprises of friendships, blessings, and moments of true thankfulness would never feel the same.

So what now? Here are some several things...

1. Prayer. I've found a consistent prayer life can lead to confidence in knowing God has a plan for me. Clarity, affirmation, and vividness come when I make time for prayer. My prayer time allows a deeper relationship with my Father, who listens, but who also answers-in His timing.

2. Patience and Waiting. When I lessen my wants and desires to know and I focus on waiting and living in the moment an underlying confidence, peace, joy and excitement fill me soul. God is good, so is His plan.

3. Remembering the past. As I grow older, I become more in awe of the workings of my Creator. It is truly an unbelievable journey God has me on, and I've learned to welcome the detours, the traffic jams, and those crazy Michigan turns. I've also learned to treasure the scenery, relax on the straight a ways, and to enjoy to ride.

4. Living in the moment.

James 4:13-15 " Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.

Here in Michigan we are experiencing the season of Fall. Leaves are changing, temperature is dropping, and boots and sweaters are making their appearances. In my life, I'm experiencing the season of going hard, living in the moment, and anticipating some exciting moments to come- in HIS timing-.

God is good. Blessings in living life to its fullest.

Humble Living

My church, Ada Bible, is reading through the New Testament in 8 weeks. Crazy? Not really...more like awesome. It has been a true blessing to read the deignated readings each day and know that hundreds, maybe even thousands are reading the exact passages as well.

Through are readings we are asked to ponder five different questions...
1. What was new or compelling to you?
2. What questions did you have?
3. What did you learn about God?
4. What did you learn about yourself?
5. How might this change the way you live?

My small group ( 6 girls coming together to support one another in life and faith) has met every Thursday thus far to discuss this book-we are in week 2.

I have read through the New Testament before, but we were given the book, The Books of the Bible, which is an NIV version of the Bible that has eliminated the chapter and verse numbers to read more like a story. It has been so cool to see how much of a story the Bible really is.


This story hit me hard when I read it...Luke 14:7-14

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹ If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”


How easy it is in our lives to pick the biggest, greatest, most glamorous items or places. How often do we look over people in need and focus on ourselves? How often do we desire LESS> of us and MORE< of Him?

Be humble. Be blessed.

7 years of Thankfulness

August 30, 2012 is the seven year mark post-kidney transplant. Back in 2003 a total stranger came into my life as I underwent a bonemarrow transplant as a last resort to rid leukemia. Celeste Ryan gave me her precious and healthy bonemarrow on May 16, 2003. A year later we were able to connect over a phone conversation and we began to build a very unique and special relationship. In 2004 my kidneys began failing and I was put on kidney dialysis while anticipating a kidney transplant. Celeste made a phone call to my doctors and said she would be willing to give me one of her kidneys. It is a perfectly matched kidney as we share the same blood DNA through the bonemarrow transplant. So in August she flew here to Michigan from California and we met for the very first time. The rest of her family flew in a couple days later and on August 30, 2005 she selflessly gave me a second gift of life.

Thanking God today as I share in this celebration. Thank you for allowing me to wake up each morning to be a light and live fully for You. Thank you Celeste Ryan for your selfless gifts!! God is good!