It's Just a Phase?

Listen closely.... Do you hear the screaming?... It's shrill, demanding, selfish, and angry.... It's stubbornly striving to exert its own will.... It's searching its boundaries seeking control.... It's human.... It's sinful.... It's Amariah.... And it's just a phase?

If I were to say, "It's just a phase," it certainly would not be in any type of agreement with society's use of the phrase.  If a phase is something that naturally passes with time--which I think is the generally accepted meaning of "it's just a phase"--then indeed a phase it is not.  But if for my purposes I may define a phase as something which will pass, though not naturally (and I mean it will pass only through a purposeful effort of Biblical training and discipline), then perhaps I could consider calling this a phase.

Then again, we're talking about a human being--a sinful human being.  So even in the context of my definition, can I accurately say, "It's just a phase"?  Indeed, it's the fleshly desire of the maturest of adults to practice selfishness and to seek control.  Isn't this really just the earliest signs of the sinful nature which rears its ugly head in different ways all throughout this life?  [Christians, praise God that sin shall not be master over you! (see Romans 5-6)]

Perhaps from a parental perspective, it's just a phase.  For, if dealt with correctly at it's onset, the battle will be won (by the parent, that is).  Lines will be drawn, boundaries defined, respect cultivated, selfishness subdued... not to mention groundwork laid for conquering the flesh (through the power of Christ) later in life.

With all that said, gear up, Self!  For whether or not this is "just a phase," the battle is on, and it must be won!

Childish Play

As our church continues to grow, there is a growing concern amongst the leadership that newcomers could easily go unnoticed, getting lost in the crowd that fills the lobby before and after each Sunday service.  To help prevent this from happening, our elders have encouraged members to approach people we don't know, introduce ourselves, and strike up a conversation.  Apparently, they know the human tendency to settle into a "comfort zone" of familiar faces.  As a way to move us out of those comfort zones, our lead pastor put it this way:  "Get over yourself, and get to know somebody!"

I've been really challenged by the whole "get over yourself" thing.  It's not that I think I'm better than anyone else or somehow above needing to introduce myself to unfamiliar people.  It's more some sort of insecurity that the introduction will be awkward and the conversation strained.  To help me through this, I've decided to volunteer as a greeter at church.  (Surely if it's my job to speak to people I'll find more confidence!)

...Or maybe I should just watch my 2-year old son....

I took the kids to the park today, and my heart was warmed as I watched Abel interact with other preschoolers.  With the greatest of confidence, innocence, and joy, Abel engaged in play and conversation with people he's never met before and likely will never meet again.  As I watched, I wondered how something that my toddler does by nature could be so difficult for me--and probably for adults in general.  I suppose it goes back to the alienation which resulted from The Fall.  The unstrained, untainted fellowship which naturally occurs between Abel and his peers must be a picture of what God intended for our relationships with each other.

So, once again, God has used my children to teach me something.  Okay, so maybe watching Abel run around the playground with strangers won't actually supply me with confidence; but it does show me an innocence to strive for! :-)

A Biblical Look at Spiritual Gifts

Sometimes I wonder what unbelievers in our culture consider church to be.  The programming of GodTV, TBN, and the like doesn't always show what a Biblically-based gathering of the church should look like.  Even the local "seeker sensitive" church may not be following Biblical guidelines for the gathering.  So if an unchurched or unbelieving person were to visit your church service, what preconceptions might he come in with?  And maybe more importantly, what notions might he leave with?  It is these questions (in part) which make 1 Corinthians 11-14 so important in the conducting of a church service.

In the world of Christianity today, we unfortunately see much perversion of the spiritual gifts which God distributes for His glory and for the body's edification:  the gifts of faith and healing being used as tools of prosperity, the gifts of tongues and prophecy being used chaotically for self-glorification.  The result is that many Christians shy away from seeking and/or using these gifts.  But this is not the Biblical way to respond to such abuse.  As Pastor Todd put it, the solution to abuse is not disuse but proper use.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:1,39, "...desire earnestly spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.... Desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues."  And in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Paul again says, "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances (i.e. gifts).  But examine everything carefully...." So we are to desire these gifts--especially prophecy-- and we are also to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).  Certainly we are to use spiritual gifts, and in using them to exercise discernment (1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) and order (1 Corinthians 14) and love (1 Corinthians 13).

When it comes to gifts such as these--tongues, prophecy, healing--there is a certain level of fear that comes with our unfamiliarity, lack of knowledge, and misconceptions; but if we suppress these gifts for such reasons, we most certainly are missing out on the edification for which God has given them.  As a body, may we believers earnestly seek spiritual gifts--for the right reasons--and properly use them that we may be edified and God glorified.

A Word on Writing

Wow, it seems that my posts have been few and far between lately.  I'm sure it's not because I have nothing to say.... Don't women always have something to say?!.. I always have something to say; but I guess I have a tendency to think that my thoughts aren't blogworthy unless they're "deep."  Because writing is a passion of mine--and probably because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, too--I take what (and how) I write pretty seriously.

Writing is something I've always enjoyed.  Some of my favorite homework assignments throughout high school and college were papers; and when I started working full-time, I found that composing business letters was the highlight of my duties.  But when I became a stay-at-home mom, I suddenly had little more to write than a few important emails here and there (oh, and dozens of baby gift thank you's!).  Needless to say, blogging has been far more satisfying to me than I expected, giving me an avenue to exercise this gift of writing.  All in one place I get to organize my thoughts, articulate them just so, and share them with those who care to read!

So, dear blog reader, I hope you enjoy the reading as much as I enjoy the writing....

A Greater Longing

Today is the one month anniversary of my miscarriage.  I can hardly believe it's been that long since that painful night, and yet somehow it seems longer.  So much healing has come in the past four weeks.  I believe I will always miss my baby, but it will be with the hope that I will meet him/her one day in heaven.  God has taught me over the years that I ought not to doubt His promises; so I cling to His word, knowing that what He says is true and trustworthy.  "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).  God, how I long for that day now more than ever before.  And if that be the only good that comes out of this trial, it was worth it....

The Body of Christ

Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing Pastor Todd's timely sermon on the body of Christ. "Timely," I say, because a few weeks ago I would have fully understood neither the importance nor the function of the body of Christ. But as is typical of our great God, He used a couple recent events to prepare me for this lesson.

Just prior to his sermon on the body of Christ, Pastor Todd preached about spiritual gifts and the fact that each member of the body is given different gifts which are distributed and to be used for the edification of the body. At the time of this teaching, I was in the midst of emotionally and physically recovering from a miscarriage; and by His grace, the Lord was placing various people with various gifts in my path and using them to strengthen and encourage me. Some showed compassion; some offered words of encouragement; some gave gifts; some prayed. Each member was used in different ways to help me in the healing process. Through this, the Lord opened my eyes to see the body of Christ in action and to thereby more fully understand the importance and blessing of being an active member of it.

So when Pastor Todd preached through 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 yesterday, I really understood his teaching that in the body of Christ there is 1.) no inferiority, 2.) no independence, and 3.) no inaccuracy. In other words, each member of the body is 1.) equally important, 2.) in need of the other members, and 3.) providentially "seated" by God in a designated place. Praise God that through both teaching and trial He prepared me to receive this message. May I allow Him to use me and my gifts to edify others in the body just as He has used others to edify me.

The Love of Christ

As I continue to learn of more people who have been praying for Travis and me, I am humbled and blessed by the love and support of our Christian brothers and sisters.  How awesome it is to be a part of the body of Christ and a friend of believers who truly live out the gospel by loving God and others.  Words cannot express how much we appreciate all the prayers, meals, books, and words of encouragement; you knew how much we needed these things even before we did.  Thank you for demonstrating to us the love of Christ--it has meant more than you can know.