read my profile...
In case you haven't heard...I'm going to Guadalajara, Mexico on an ENGAGE Internship for the year. If you didn't know, now you do...you can read my profile to find out a little bit more on the subject. I'd also recommend checking out the ENGAGE website. I've been pretty busy with getting everything together, which is why I've been slacking off on my blog entries:{.
I'll fill in more details later...Oh, one thing though. It's about 20 degrees F here in Grandview, and when I checked the local weather in Guadalajara it was about 73 degrees...Nice!
THANK YOU!!!
Thanksgiving weekend (by far my favorite holiday) is coming to an end. I've been thinking about how, when I do something for another person, I don't just want them to tell me thank you...I want them to act in a way that shows their gratitude.
There's a story in the Bible about a woman who was very good at showing her love and thankfulness...here's her story.
36-39One of the Pharisees asked Jesus over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."
40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41-42"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43-47Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it?
She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful."
Luke 7:43-7 (THE MESSAGE)
I know...and I say that without Jesus sacrifice, I would be nothing. But often times I act as though His sacrifice is nothing. If I am being totally honest, I can be like the Pharisee in the story. I have invited Jesus to come into my heart, but many times I am so busy that I forget to serve Him, to talk to Him, to show Him my adoration, and to show His love to those who come into my life. I want to take the time to stop and really say thank you...not just with words, but with my life.
...about a true hero
My family travelled down to LaPine, Oregon for my Uncle Ken's memorial service on Sunday afternoon. I was amazed by the number of people in attendance. The High School auditorium had room to seat 450... it was packed and there were probably close to 100 people standing outside.
I wish I had the oportunity to spend more time with my Uncle, but the times I did spend with him had an undeniable impact on me. Uncle Ken lived life and loved people. That was so obvious when I looked into tearful eyes of the family and hundreds of friends he left behind. It was the thread that connected all of the memories from people who my uncle had invested in over his 49 years. My Uncle Ken was a true hero. If I would have told him that, he would have laughed. The people who lived life along side him probably wouldn't have considered him to be one, just a beloved part of the family or an indispensible friend...but now that he is gone, his true worth is made apparent by the legacy that is left behind. The funny thing is, he didn't serve others for the praise, but those he served were anxious to help him whenever they could. He was not a devoted husband, father, and friend for the benefits he could receive...but in the process, he gained more positive influence and genuine love than most people could even imagine. He didn't live with the intention of being remembered, but he always will be. Uncle Ken mastered something that is an illusive and discouraging pursuit.
At the end of the service, my cousin Chris shared a challenge that has taken a hold of my heart. "Now, I'm not one to preach, but if there's one thing you can learn from this, it's tell the people who you love that you love them. You never know if you'll have the chance later. That's what my dad did."
So here's to the man who knew life is for living, people are for loving...and who I was blessed to know as my Uncle Ken.
Little Helping Hands
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Well, she has good intentions anyway...
Tonight, our children's pastor, Maggie Najera, was talking about parenting/ discipling relationships. We definitely learn the most by following our mentor's examples...even if we don't get it right at first. :) |
Uncle Ken
Sometimes, the "right answers" don't really help issues you have going on in your heart. My Uncle Ken was recently in a car accident. A woman travelling in the opposite direction hit a patch of black ice and swerved over the median. My Uncle is in a medicine-induced and natural coma. He has severe brain trauma and hemorraghing in both sides of the brain and the brain stem. As of yesterday, he was given a 10% chance of survival by the neurologist.
I drove down to Bend, Oregon yesterday with my dad to see him. My Uncle is a big, burly guy...and he's a fighter. He never did get an easy hand dealt to him. He's stuggled to make a good life for himself and family, and he succeeded. That's the image I've always had of my Uncle Ken. Strong. But yesterday, his bulky frame was lying limp in the Intensive Care Unit...a machine was the only thing that kept him from moving from this life into the next. He was completely helpless...and so was I and everyone else.
I have so many questions. I know the ulitmate answer is that God is always in control, and I have faith that even this is somehow a part of His plan...but that doesn't take away the pain I have in my heart. I think I've sort of had this idea that to be "holy" meant to feel only a supernatural joy and wisdom in the middle of a crisis. I have found that this is untrue. It's not that these natural emotions of confusion, vulnerability, and even anger are wrong... if I didn't feel them, it would honestly mean I was hard-hearted or disconnected.
Before Jesus was crucified, he was praying. He was weeping and sweating drops of blood because he knew the unbearable torture that was only a few hours from Him. Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me..." In other words he was saying, "I don't want to go through this! It hurts!" Jesus, the Son of God...you can't get more holy than that...and all of the feelings I have fade in comparison to the suffering He endured.
Even He wanted a way out. Jesus followed His first statement with, "...yet not my will, but Yours be done." Jesus had a choice to make, run from the pain or embrace God's will. Now, I used to confuse embracing God's will with embracing pain... there's a big difference. First off to embrace or enjoy pain means that there's a serious mental condition, which requires immediate professional help. Embracing God's will, sometimes in the middle of pain, means that you choose to keep an open heart toward God and to persue a relationship with Him. It's easy to run from or shut out pain. It's difficult to take an honest look, make your fears known to God, and continue to move forward in His direction...with your bleeding heart revealed.
