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?