Updates: Life and Writing

Hello my reader friends. Goodness it has been a long time since I've done an actual post. What is up with me? But I did want to take a few minutes to fill you in on what's been going on with me. So here it is!

Jesus in real life {Thinking Theology}

E.A. Creative Photography

I’m tired.

And I’m guessing I’m not the only one out there who is thinking those very same words. Possibly even saying them as an excuse (though a valid one) right now.

*Yawn* Yep, still tired.

But, you know what? That’s okay.

I’ve come to realize that life doesn’t look as pretty as I thought it once did. I know that sounds slightly defeatist, but I’m not treading down that path. I’m only reflecting on the fact that, the older you get, the more you've seen. The more you've experience. The more that affects you.

Sometimes, it’s so much that it threatens to overwhelm me. I see the hurt in the world and think – why can’t I do something about it? I see those in need and think – why can’t I give them more? I see the unloved and think – how can I love them like He did? These are all good things to think, but they require a lot of time, resources, and effort.

In the midst of this I wonder...what heaven will be like? I start to think about the sick being healed and the Lord personally wiping away my tears.

I think of that, and then I think of where we live now, and I see the disparity between the two. And yet, it’s okay to be like this, because He promises to come again. He promises to make things new. He promises to heal this broken and torn down world.

I’ve been thinking about Jesus in real life.

How He loved those around him who were dirty. How He spent time with those that the religious leaders wouldn't. How He broke the mold of rules and regulations with a new covenant of love. How He put aside His desires for the sake of His Father and for us…ultimately giving up His last breath in order for ours to never cease.

Now I’m awake.

I’m thinking about His love. His grace. His just governing. His righteous right hand. His overwhelming goodness. His promises.

We live in darkness here, shadowed by the cloud of sin on an Earth ruled by the prince of the air, but there will come a day when we will no longer squint to see the truth. We will rise with Him, our feet pounding the pavement of a new earth restored to perfection beyond our wildest dreams.

Can you see it? Can you feel the exhilaration of hope that those thoughts bring?

So today, though you may be tired—though I am tired—let us put our thoughts away from present suffering and turn them to the future. Turn them to the One who upholds us. The One who never leaves nor forsakes us.

And let us be renewed.

A Conversation With Phil

I don't know Phil.

Well, I mean to say I don't really know him. We met a few weeks back at Starbucks while I was putting together my support letters with the help of my trusty slave helper, Dani.

We sat there, drinking our lovely, liquid caffeine and tea respectively, scribbling an address across what felt like endless amounts of envelopes. We then folded, assembled, and stuffed more envelopes with these papers. It was fun work, and you could tell it caught peoples interest. A few different people asked about what was going on, assuming Dani (a high school student) was raising money for camp or something similar.

It was great because it gave me an opportunity to share what I was doing and how God has been working in my life. An open, honest explanation of how God works in peoples lives and I was given the invitation to just spill it on out.

We were nearing the end of the first stack when a gentleman, Phil, asked the obvious question. "What are those for?"

I responded in my usual manner, "I'm moving to Washington, D.C. to start a church and am raising support to go as a missionary." I could tell he was intriged, but he also had to go so we did the polite nod back and forth and he was gone.

Not five minutes later he was back.

What, I thought?

He shrugged, opened up his Starbucks sandwich and, with a grin, asked to hear more about what I was doing. As I shared, his grin turned into a full-blown smile. I wrapped up the more in-depth explanation of what I was doing and he sheepishly admitted that what he really wanted to do was brag about his daughter to us (in addition to listening to my story of course). She had just received two job offers within a short span, one with a church and one with a church-affiliated organization. He was so excited for her!

It was funny because, as we chatted - me interested in knowing more about his daughters jobs and he just happy to gush - the most incredible thing happened. Our discussion turned from the opportunities themselves to the God that had granted them. Phil was encouraging, reminding me that just as I was being directed, his daughter was also following the path laid out before her by a God who knows it all.

As the conversation naturally progressed toward an end, I was shocked and touched to see tears of joy in his eyes. He leaned toward Dani and I and told us that God was doing good things. Big things. Amazing things.

I walked away from Starbucks that day with more than all of my support letters folded and ready to go. I walked away with a sense of confirmation. One I've gotten in other areas as I made my way toward a decision to move to D.C. but this one was different. It reminds me that my story--and your story--is important. It was the gateway that opened up this amazing conversation with Phil, but it was also a testimony to the goodness of the big God that I serve.

I look forward to more stories like this. To the meetings the Lord will 'divinely appoint' for me and how I'll get to share them with you!

What about you? Do you have a story of a time you knew the Lord put you at "just the right time and place" for something?

I'd love if you shared comments below! I also wrote about sharing your story for this months post on Putting On The New: What's Your Story? I'd love to hear from you over there :)