Worship Defined: Lead Me to the Cross

I want to paint a picture for you: hundreds of Christians standing in a worship center at some revival or another singing their hearts out to Christ. They are singing powerful, moving words. Unfortunately, many times, the words are not taken to heart. The meaning of the words they are singing are not resonating in their hearts.

This is a common problem that we come in contact with in corporate worship. At some point in high school, I asked God to not let me sing a single word that I did not mean in worship. This radically and beautifully changed my life. I am still struggling with meaningful worship, because it really does begin with the heart. It is a journey, and I am very excited about what God is teaching me about it. 

As a Church Music major, worship, through the form of music, is something very near and dear to my heart. It is how I express my feelings to God. I absolutely LOVE it. This is as much of a challenge to me as it is to those who read it-if anyone reads this. Through the next few weeks, or maybe even more, I will be attempting to define worship songs. I will go through hymns, contemporary worship songs, and fill in the gaps.

The first song I’m going to do is heavy. It popped into my Pandora station a few minutes ago, and I tried to ignore it. I couldn’t. I have wanted to do this series for quite some time, but have not felt it was the right time. I believe that now is.

So, here’s what’s going to happen. I will post a link to a Youtube video of the song I will be talking about and I encourage you to listen to it as you read this. It probably won’t sync up (I’m not that talented), but hopefully it will help you, and me, understand more completely the Biblical truths behind the lyrics.

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

These are the words that open up this powerful song. I’m going to try not to break it down word-by-word, but we’ll see how it goes. It is talking about the crucifixion scene; Jesus spilling His blood for our sins. He has paid for our sins; we are covered by His blood. The last two lines are a reiteration of Philippians 3:7-8.

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

This is the part that gets me a little emotional. I think Francis Chan says it quite well in his book, Forgotten God. “The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be.” At first, we sing in the chorus that we want to be led here. How many of us actually mean those words? I can say with all honesty, sometime I really don’t want to be led to the cross. It’s being associated with the person on the cross. If this were someone being executed in modern times, would you want to be associated with someone that is being given the death penalty? It is completely against this world and against your safety, reputation, comfort, and all that you cherish in this world to be associated with them. THIS is what we are called to do. THIS  is what we are singing that we want to do. We are also singing in this song the cry of Matthew 16:24, when Jesus commands His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him.

Jesus calls us to a life of complete and utter devotion. And this requires us to lay down everything of ours (Luke 18:29-30). This is RADICAL.

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
Human
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

Oh, this is such a beautiful picture of the gospel.  Jesus was fully God and fully human, yet remained perfect. He sacrificed Himself for us, then rose again! This makes my heart oh so happy!

This is the main idea of the song. It is a powerful song, and absolutely beautiful. I encourage you (and myself as well) to focus on the meaning of lyrics as you sing praise unto our Savior, not just in this song, but in all of them. They are so powerful, meaningful, and beautiful!

I already have a few songs lined up for the coming weeks (who knows, maybe even days!) and I absolutely cannot wait to see what God will be teaching me through this journey!

Keep Moving Forward

Yeah, that’s  a quote from Walt Disney and the slogan from the movie Meet the Robinsons(I may or may not want the child from that movie…) I found this absolutely so applicable to my life and the life of a Christian. Last night at the John Mark McMillan concert, something stuck with me that he said:

                “Where worship exists, music happens.”

Essentially, this means that worship is not music. Music happens when worship is in your heart. Singing is something that comes natural (well…for some people, others have different forms of worship).

                So this got me thinking. I know it can be scary when I think sometimes, but just hang in there for me.

(Oh yeah, I like flow charts)

This is the thought process that went through my head last night. It was a little strange, because after I thought about this, he came back and talked about the same thing. We are saved FOR something.

                Many times, as Christians, we focus on the life that we had before Christ. The point of salvation is the most important moment in our lives. However, if we do not move forward, we become stuck in the past. Our life is a process of reaching the final goal. We are saved FOR a greater good. We are saved FROM something, but more importantly we are saved FOR something.

                Our point of salvation is oh so important. SO, SO important. However, if we linger too much on what we are saved FROM, we lose sight of what we were saved FOR (sorry about ending the sentence with a preposition, I couldn’t find a way to reword it).
                Both elements of salvation are extremely important. Don’t lose sight of either. I have talked about what we are saved from before (Amazing Grace pt. 1 and 2).

Keep Moving Forward.

The Little Things

                Recently I’ve been the busiest I’ve been since high school. It’s been crazy. Super duper crazy. I am the first to admit that I may be a tiny bit too emotional at some times in my life. But, with that being said, I have been extra emotional as of late. For about the last month, I have been crying at the drop of a hat, sometimes with cause, others not so much. Don’t get me wrong, I love being busy. I cannot stand being in one place too long or not having something to do for several days in a row. But this doesn’t mean I don’t want my alone time or to hang out with my friends. I am in my room, besides sleeping and the weekends, for 3-4 hours a day, most of which is consumed with homework, checking and replying to emails, and other necessities. I want to BREATHE.

                But I think, though I’m sure this won’t be the only thing that God will teach me throughout the next two weeks leading up to fall break (for which I will be drinking coffee, practicing, and RELAXING), is that it is teaching me to enjoy the little things. Hanging out with my friends is now a privilege and something I expectantly wait for. I have always valued my friendships and been intentional about them, but it has made me become even more so. I eagerly await coffee dates (for the friends of course, not just the coffee), movie nights, and even study sessions.

                Having time for the “little things” makes my heart rejoice. I find God most brings me back to Him in these moments. When I’m walking to class and see a butterfly He reminds me of His presence. When I’m stressed out, overwhelmed, and in WAAY over my head in my Spanish class, I look out the window and see the beautiful scenery and God reminds me that He created this other language and He will help me through it if I ask. When I’m just about ready to scream because I’m just too tired and too busy, God reminds me that I just need to ask Him to help me. Why don’t I ask for help? I’d like to be able to say I really don’t know the answer, but I do. I’m too prideful. If I can’t make it a week without crying out for help, I must be weak and no one can see the weakness in me. I have to be strong. I can’t let anyone down. I can’t say no. But God reminds me in subtle ways that He came for the weak, dying, and helpless.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins….But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah.”- Ephesians 2:1 &4-5

I can’t do it on my own. It is impossible. I am dead without Him. So, if I’m so helpless without

Him, why do I try to do it without Him? Why am I so stubborn? I am prideful.

                It is in the little moments, like stargazing with some awesome people or drinking a cup of coffee, that God reminds me that I need Him. He shows me my utter lack of ability and then shows me His infinite ability. I am weak and He is strong.  

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yaweh is the everlasting God. The Creator of the whole Earth. He does not grow faint or weary. There is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”-Isaiah 40:28-31

He is my strength. He is my power.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.- Philippians 4:13

Oh yeah, and it's fall. Who couldn't be excited about that??? I mean, pumpkin lattes, boots, scarves, pretty leaves, and that bonfire smell. I like fall. A lot.

Amazing Grace Part 2

                Ok, God. I get it. There’s something you want me to know about your grace.

Once again I am covering the topic of grace. God really has been nailing this to me for the past several weeks as I transition into my sophomore year of college. Amidst my busy schedule and trying not to forget to breathe, He shows me a glimpse of His grace.

 Almost every event I have been to over the past month, the topics have, in some form or fashion, been about grace. I think God is telling me something about grace being the true heartbeat and drive of a Christian. I will probably be reiterating a lot of stuff from my last blog post, but I really don’t care. I believe that God really is pounding this into me, and possibly you, for a very, very distinct reason. And I want to know why.

Being changed by grace makes you live differently. If you are pardoned for murder by a judge, you most likely would not live in the same way. I believe grace is something that RADICALLY and BEAUTIFULLY changes your life. As I said in the post previous to this one, you cannot truly appreciate grace until you look at what you have been saved from. I used to have a hard time with this concept. I was saved when I was 8 years old. What had I been saved from? I surely wasn’t evil was I? I was not rolling around with the tricycle gangs and making illegal candy deals on the playground. I was eight. I obeyed my teachers, did my school work, only pulled my card ONCE (which was totally unjustified, I might add-I cried for the rest of the day), and obeyed my parents (well…..not all the time). What was I saved from?

I still messed up. I still was not holy, righteous, or blameless. I think Ephesians 2 sums up the doctrine of grace quite well:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved. He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heaves, in Christ Jesus, who that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift- not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation-created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. –Ephesians 2:1-10

We were DEAD in our sins. Dead: no life. We had no life in us. Not the inhale, exhale, my heart is beating kind of life, but a spiritual kind of life. Prior to my encounter with Christ as an eight year-old, I had no life. I was dead in my sin. Anyone can look at an eight year-old and understand that they sin. All parents can tell you that. “Clean your room,” says the parent. “No,” says the child (the story of my entire childhood). For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So where does grace come in? Grace comes in when a God, who is justified to punish us for our sins, decides that He will forgive us. That He will give us, as undeserving as we are, a way to Him. A way to be justified, and stand before Him, clean, pure, spotless, and righteous. This is the true beauty of grace.

I am currently reading through my notes from 2011 Super Summer. The first session of Silver School covered Holiness. While reading, I found this:

“Do not say ‘I am a sinner saved by grace,’ but ‘I am a saint by Him.’”

How beautiful is this? That we no longer have to linger on our sins, but get to focus on our righteousness by GRACE.

Grace gives us something the law could not. Grace gives us God. The law was so impersonal. Grace is so full. Grace connects us to the Father. Grace gives us LIFE. We have been given a way to reach our prize-the Father-through  grace. His grace is displayed to us through Jesus Christ.

I will leave you with this last thing I found in my Super Summer notes:

Saved by grace, Live by grace

Has grace changed you? If not, there is something terribly, terribly wrong. I’m sure this is not the end of the road with God teaching me about His grace, so I can tell you to look forward to me writing about it more.

Amazing Grace

grace

noun /grās/

The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings

Today has been a time that I have been constantly rejoicing in grace. Between Sunday School and Worship, I am OVERWHELMED by the grace of the Father. I have really begun to see how far I have fallen and what God’s truly Amazing Grace has done. There have been times where I have hardly ever been able to contain my excitement and joy over this. I am beginning to learn how truly amazing grace really is.

I think Christians need a healthy dose of self-loathing. Not like the “I’m so horrible, I hate myself, etc.” kind, but the “oh my gosh, I can’t believe I just did that. I’m so undeserving of God’s grace” kind. Reminder that I said a healthy dose.  

The problem with not seeing our sins for what they are is that we won’t see grace for what it is. You must see how far you fall to see how far you must be saved. And that, my friends, is the beauty of grace. If you erase the implications of sin, you completely erase the implications of grace.

Let’s say for instance you own a company that has recently ran into a truck load of debt. Let’s also say for instance that it is the size of the National Debt. You, by no means, can fix that problem by yourself. But someone comes in and saves you from the debt. You aren’t going to walk off without looking back at the debt and saying “wow, I was saved from a whole heck of a lot of trouble.” (You may say it in less of a southern way, though). If you don’t look at the debt you had, you wouldn't be able to truly appreciate what has happened.

So, applied, what I’m saying is that we have to look at how depraved we are as sinners to truly appreciate grace. If you were to not think you were saved from as far of a distance as you really were, it wouldn’t be the same when you were saved.

The loss of grace and the loss of being overwhelmed by grace makes for a Christian that really isn’t much different from the rest of the world except for where they go on Sunday mornings.

And this does not even touch the implications of what grace is. Grace is a mystery-a sweet and beautiful mystery. I hope to write more as I continue to look at and study the grace of this amazing God I call my Savior.

And as grace is free, so is it sure. Nothing can change, or alter, or turn away sovereign grace.-Alexander Whyte

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:4-9

I Can't Believe I'm Actually Writing This

                Ok, before I start, I just want to say I don’t want to start any major uproar or have people protesting outside my house with pitchforks and torches. I actually am considering not writing because of this exact reason. I know there are probably less than five people that actually read my blog and I am writing to people who don’t really need to hear this message. But I’m going to do it anyway. In my mind, I have started this upwards of 20 times. The number one reason I don’t want to do this is because I’m sick and tired of seeing things about Chick-Fil-A in my newsfeed. Like really sick and tired. Mainly because I am reminded that I am too poor to buy Chick-Fil-A and it is less than 3 minutes away from my house (I’ve timed it, and even when the really bad lights in Decatur are not in my favor, I still make it there in under 3 minutes). But, here I am. I am writing this. Breathe in, breathe out.

                Why am I writing this? I'm not even really writing this about Chick-Fil-A. Yes, it has been spurred on by the buzz about Chick-Fil-A, but it's a much deeper issue than that. I hate getting involved in politics or hard topics because it usually ends up with two people who are unwilling to move in any direction just yelling and making pointed insults and I don’t believe that is a good path for any Christians to follow (let’s be civil, kind people).  And if you have read my blog before you know that I don’t like politics (see Big Whoop Part 2). So, if not politics, there is one reason why I am writing this. STOP USING THE BIBLE INCORRECTLY PEOPLE! There I said it. Phew, that took a load off.

                Ok, so there has been a great deal of arguing over “what the biblical definition of marriage” really is. I’m down for studying scripture and getting to the bottom of stuff. I certainly am not opposed for having multiple passages of scripture that back up a claim. But when your claim does not make sense in light of the gospel (get used to that phrase people, I’m going to use it a LOT), I’m going to get a little angry (hopefully I won’t do anything that is not very Christian-ly).

                I would also like to say I’m NOT doing this to create a debate or because I want to prove people wrong. I want to proclaim the truth in light of the gospel (there it goes again). Because, the problem is, if you are a Christian or proclaim to be a Christian, if all the argument you are giving off does not have anything to do with the truth of the gospel of Christ, then I’ve got a problem. Yes, the Old Testament is wonderful, good, great, fantastic, and has TONS to teach us about CHRIST. But the New Testament shows us how we are no longer bound by LAW, RULES, and REGULATIONS (praise the Lord for that one). I also am not pretending to be a Biblical expert (Lord help us all if I was). I will be using a lot of information that I have gotten from my New Testament class this past semester and a lot of things God has taught me throughout the past few years. Once again: I AM NOT AN EXPERT.

                Where to start, where to start? I believe in starting at the problem, identifying it, then creating a solution. So, let’s do that.

PROBLEM:

Incorrect usage of scripture without using anything in light of the gospel.

Here’s a list of what I have seen many people use as why the Biblical definition of marriage is not correct:

Genisis 4:19, 4:23, 26:34, 28:9, 29:26-30, 30:26, 31:17,32:22, 36:2, 36:10, 37:2

Exodus 21:10

Judges 8:30

1 Samuel 1:2, 25:43, 27:3, 30:5, 30:18

2 Samuel 2:2, 3:2-5

1 Chronicles 3:1-3, 4:5, 8:8, 14:3

2 Chronicles 11:21, 13:21, 24:3

Wow, that’s a long list. I can assure you that all these have to do with someone taking more than one wife. But what is missing from this list is where it said it was ok to do all these things. I’m simply saying that I have yet to come across a verse in the Bible where God commands His people to take more than one wife or even justifies it. I’m not saying that it’s not in there. If there is one, please let me know and I will be very grateful. People sin. You sin. I sin. We all sin. There are also hundreds (I’m just guessing, I’ve never counted) of instances in the Old Testament and New Testament of people sinning. They sleep with people when they aren’t married (David), rape their fathers (Noah's son), lie about their tithe (Ananias and Sapphira), and various other things. I don’t know if this is a sin (nor does it really matter), but from my research, I haven’t found anything that says it is or it is not a sin. And, I hate, hate, hate saying this, but I don’t think there are any instances of it being ok to marry multiple people in the New Testament. This is one of those gray areas. So, because of the lack of clarity on this matter, I’m just going to move on (I am more than willing to look at evidence if you can provide me with it. I just don’t have any).  

Also, another argument used is that a man who rapes a virgin who has not been promise for marriage has to marry her (Exodus 22:16, Deuteronomy 22:28-29). And if there is no proof of you virginity on your wedding night, you are stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).

Now, there are lots of more examples of the “Biblical definition of marriage.” Lots of them. Obviously, the Old Testament has provided us with many different versions of marriage. Some are enforced by the law and others are not. I thank this lovely person for helping me with some of the research, though I have found the list several other places. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JprRWKQys7A&feature=player_embedded

Back to the problem. In light of the gospel. What does that mean? It means in light of Christ coming down to earth and dying on the cross for our sins so that we may have eternal life (wahoo!!). It means that you using these laws for an argument are invalid. I’m not saying that you using these is entirely pointless (oh, wait, I think I am. Give me a sec). What the problem is, in a nut shell, is that these were laws (not the multiple wives thingy, the other stuff mentioned above) were used to make a person holy before God. No other reason. Humans are not perfect and there was no way to rectify a broken relationship with the Creator of the universe after the fall, and these laws were put into place to govern the Israelites’ behavior. Paul says in Galatians that the purpose of the law was:

“Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was ordered through angels by means of a mediator. Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For is a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”-Galatians 3:19-25

Basically, to break it down into a few bullet points

• We mess up. A lot.
• The law was a mediator between us and God.
• The law is not contrary to God's promise of a Savior.
• Law can't give life. If it could, we would be righteous through the law (thank God it's not. I wouldn't have a chance)
• The law was our guardian until Christ (to govern our behavior so we didn't make an even bigger mess of things and so we could have a communication with God and stuff)
• We are justified by faith.
• Faith through Jesus Christ has come and we are free from the law.
• We are now seen as righteous before God (yay!!!!)

This is why using the laws is invalid (yeah, even for those on the Christian side of the argument, it doesn’t really work too well in light of the gospel). I’m not saying that the law is invalid, but it’s invalid. I really hope you understand what I’m saying. We are governed by the Holy Spirit now (John 16:7-11).

 Some of them may sound a little ridiculous, but, without getting into a lot of other really deep topics that I don’t feel like tackling right now, we’re just going to have to leave it at that.

SOLUTION:

Jesus. Yep, I really could leave it at that, but because I feel like there might need to be an explanation of sorts, I’m going to have to keep writing (don’t leave me yet! I’m just getting to the good part!). “Meghan, none of this proves why homosexuality and gay marriage is wrong.” I’m not trying to prove it wrong. I’m trying to show why you can’t use the Bible as an argument for it. I’m trying to show you why these arguments I keep seeing cannot be used in light of the gospel. Because you are using the law, which the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has abolished and let us become free from, it technically doesn’t count. The law was used to make us clean, pure, and holy when we were dirty, stained, and unrighteous. WE DON’T NEED THE LAW ANYMORE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW SEEN AS PURE, CLEAN, HOLY, AND RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. This makes me SOOOOOOO HAPPY. Christ has defeated death and the law. The law isn’t necessary for a relationship with Christ (this doesn’t mean you can live in sin, remember the original intent when Adam and Eve were in the garden was for a sinless life. Christ restores the relationship-to some extent-of what was in the garden. We cannot be sinless on our own, well, I could talk for a while on this one, back to my main point). Thank you Jesus that MY works are not necessary, but it is your sacrifice that makes me righteous before you!

Ok, I feel like I should talk about some other things. Yes, your argument using the Old Testament laws and circumstances may be invalid, but there are some other things that I feel like I need to bring up.

Argument #1: “The Bible was written such a long time ago. It can’t be valid anymore. Society was totally different!”

(This isn’t an exact quote, just similar to something I feel like a person might say).

Imagine a society where sex rules the minds of the men and women. Everything revolves around sex. Men sleep with men, women sleep with women. It is accepted in society. Sometimes scandals even occur in the church. It is a melting pot of ideas and cultures. It is a very wealthy society. It must be today’s culture, right? False. (in the voice of Dwight Schrute) It can be describing today’s culture, but the society I am describing is the Corinth society. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says something about homosexuality being wrong. And if the society really isn’t that different from ours (yeah, it is different in the sense of time period, but I’d say there are a lot of similarities in the moral standards of the culture. They might have been a little bit “looser” than our society is) shouldn’t that apply to us too? Hmm…interesting. Yeah, the Bible was not originally written to us. I completely understand that. But in context, does this passage of scripture really not apply to us? Do we not serve the same God that they served then? If the God and plan of salvation are the same, then why are we changing the rules? Just wondering.

Argument #2: “Jesus never said anything about Homosexuality being wrong.”

Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were with Jesus every single second of His life. I apologize. Seriously? Are we actually using this argument????? I really just want to slap someone in the face every time this is ever mentioned (in a loving, Christian way of course). Seriously???????????? I hate this argument. We are missing all of Jesus’ childhood (except that one scene at Passover) until His baptism. He might have said something about it then. Do you think every word Jesus ever said is in the Bible? We even have proof that every word Jesus said is not in the Bible. John 21:25- “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.” I’d be a little worried if all Jesus said was recorded in the Bible. I’d think He was a very, very quiet man. He said a lot, but if that was all He ever said in His entire life, I’d start to get a little antsy.

I guess that’s it. I just spent two hours writing and researching for this and I think I’m pleased. Once again, don’t think I don’t like you, or I hate you, or anything along those lines if you don’t agree with me. This is merely me just being fed up with people using the Bible without taking into consideration the death and resurrection of Jesus. So, please, before you start spouting off scripture in attempt to rebuke me while you are chasing me down with  pitchforks and torches, ask yourself “does what I am saying make sense in light of the gospel?” It will save you, and me, a lot of trouble in the long run. 

Insert Title Here

The title of this post is not messed up. I wanted to share with you my thought process behind naming and starting this blog. I want to travel back about one year and tell you why I did this and why I am still doing this. So grab yourself a nice warm cup of coffee, and maybe a cookie, and enjoy.

It’s almost a year since I started this blog. I was reading back on different posts, thinking about how much has changed in my life over the past year, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve never really explained why I named my blog what I did. “Standing Firm in One Spirit” seems like an odd title for a blog. I didn’t want to do some cutesy title like “Meghan’s Musings” or anything like that. I wanted something of substance, something I could write an entire blog post on (which I failed to do so until now).

I also didn’t want it to be corny. I didn’t want it to make you laugh, not take this seriously, or think I was a complete and total idiot (which I may be at some point). I wanted to make sure that it didn’t highlight me, but it highlighted my love and passion for Christ. I wanted to make sure I didn’t show me in your first introduction to the blog, but rather everything pointed to Christ.

The name of my blog comes from my favorite passage of scripture. It became my favorite passage as my friends and I were ready to head off to college and I was going to be very, very far away from them. It was an encouragement to me, more than to them I think. It was what I wanted, above all, to be known about myself.

“Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel.”-Philippians 1:27

This has been my constant reminder, especially through freshman year. It has been an encouragement, a reminder, and even a slap on the back of my head. I want people to know that I am working for the faith of the gospel. If they see me in person or hear about me, I want this to be what they see/hear.

So, the name of my blog came out of that passage. This blog is to uplift, encourage, slap on the back of the head, remind, and taunt you with false hopes of cookies (I really do that too much, don’t I?). This blog is to let you know what God is doing in my life, the journey He is taking me on, and to let you know I’m still working for the cause of the gospel.

Onto why I started this blog. I guess you could say that it all started 5ish years ago. I said something in a Bible Study once and compared something to a puzzle piece and God worked His magic after that. I was blessed with the quite unusual gift of creating really corny, but applicable analogies. Somehow, I still don’t exactly know how, it blessed people. It helped them understand. When I graduated and was leaving to go to Carson-Newman, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to share these things with the people I knew from home all the time. I started thinking about it, and realized that I’ve always been better at writing than I ever have been at speaking. So, I started writing. And I wrote for about a year, and hopefully will continue.

That’s why I started. I started to share the wisdom God has blessed me with. I kept writing for an entirely different reason, though. I kept writing because it gave me a vent. Writing gave me a way to share what I was thinking, get my frustrations out, and encourage others. I kept writing because it made people smile. I may seem really silly and quirky, but if it encourages ONE person or makes even ONE person smile, I’ve done my job. I’m content. Seeing people upset breaks my heart. I may be scatterbrained, odd, and just plain crazy, but I’m ok with that. I kept writing because God told me to. God has helped me to want to see people smile. God has helped me to want to encourage. God has helped me learn how to express my emotions in a civil manner. This is why I write.

                Now, go get yourself a cookie, because you deserve it. 

Good Plan

Before I begin, let me say that this post is really for me. Hopefully I will work through some personal issues. And, if it just so happens to help you today, glory be to God. So enjoy my mass insanity and excessive hold onto childhood, maybe I’ll say something profound.

As I lay awake in my bed last night pondering the deep mysteries of the world (yeah, right), I remembered a movie I watched last night. You remember that old Disney Channel Movie (yeah, this is what I’m doing with my summer-watching DCOMS on youtube), Miracle in Lane 2? The one about the kid with spina bifida who wanted to drive in the soap box derby and ended up winning a national championship? It was played by Frankie Muniz, depicting a real-life boy named Justin Yoder (ff you absolutely don’t know what I’m talking about, google it and read the synopsis).

In the very first scene of the movie, he daydreams he is speaking to God (played by a fictional NASCAR driver, Bobby Wade) and asks Him if He messed up when making him. Justin is paralyzed from the waist down, can’t control his bodily functions, if you know what I mean, and if he gets too much spinal fluid backed up in his brain, he can die within seconds if not taken to the hospital immediately. Justin assumes that he is a mistake; that God messed up when He made him. Well, God immediately turns around from working on a car with a shirt on that says “I don’t make mistakes.”

At the end of the movie, after he makes it to the final race for the big trophy and wins, he goes back to another scene with God. I think it was the most beautiful line in the movie. Justin simply says, “good plan.” I cried (ok, so I may be a little more emotional than I care to admit).

The reason I cried, though I’m sure Disney Channel was not trying to intentionally do this, is because I started getting super-duper mad at God last night and over the past few months. I see people my age changing the world. They are doing international mission trips, camps, community service, and lots of other AWESOME stuff.  I end up in these deep conversations with God saying “remember me? Surely you’ve forgotten me over here. Don’t you have something for ME to do? I mean, you must have forgotten me. What else could it be? When I try to do stuff, you tell me that’s not what I’m supposed to do. Well, PLEASE let me do SOMETHING! PLEASE!!!!”

Then, this movie put me in my place (God moves in VERY mysterious ways). One day, I’m going to say “good plan, God.” He doesn’t make mistakes (I do-believe me). But, no matter how insignificant I feel, one day, I’m going to look back and say “good plan.” I can’t wait for that day. 

I like plans. I like having plans, executing plans, then looking back and saying “that was a really good plan.” Me without a plan isn’t good. I end up looking like a crazed fool that should be instituted (pictured below).

But there’s good news and bad news for people like me. The good news: God has a plan. The bad news: I don't know what the plan is (which stresses me out, refer to picture on the right). 

If I find my planner stressful, imagine what God’s looks like (though I highly doubt He has a planner, because the thought of God sitting there with one just makes me giggle). If God were to have a planner, I probably would get a similar look on my face as I did before if I had to even look at it. But, if He did have a planner, I’d be written in there somewhere. He didn’t forget me. I’m in there, surrounded by all of you that I think are changing the world. And, my name is in the same size, font, etc. as yours. I’m just as important to Him as you are. I need a reminder of this. So, to help me, I’ve created a visual (you may use it too and insert your name in place of mine if you need help).

*Note, if you happen to have one of the names mentioned above, it is purely by coincidence. It does not mean you missed out on anything. Also, in my imaginary world where God has a planner, everyone's last name is Smith, except me. And God's handwriting looks like this. 

Oh, how I need to be reminded of this. Just as one sin does not outweigh another sin, one work for the kingdom does not outweigh another. Wow. I needed that. Thanks God. Give me a second, I'm just dancing around celebrating that fact.

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Ok. I'm back.

Just because I’m not doing something huge and impressive doesn’t mean that I’m not working for God and glorifying Him. I tried looking for a Bible verse to describe this. I couldn’t (not saying that there isn’t one, it’s just REALLY hard to find). It doesn’t mean that this isn’t Biblical. I’m 99.9% sure it is. Wait, scratch that. I'm 100% sure. We get caught up in “I just want to be an Esther” or “I want to do what Paul did” instead of focusing on the here and now. Smiling at the cashier, tipping someone extra though they don’t deserve it (and your bank account really can’t afford it either), doing the dishes without being asked, picking up things in a store that have fallen off the shelf, or cleaning up after yourself at a restaurant (especially if you left a REALLY BIG MESS), are all the “everyday things” that we all don’t think are significant to the kingdom. But, they are. Oh, they so are. I’m telling myself this because I feel as though if I don’t do something HUGE I’m not making a difference. But God’s plan is far superior to mine.

I feel as though we occasionally try to "one up" other's good deeds. "Oh, you helped a homeless person today? I helped FIVE." I'm not saying that all this isn't good and fine, but everything done for God should be celebrated. Actually, let me rewrite that sentence. Everything God does THROUGH you should be celebrated. I wouldn't do diddly squat without Him. 

So, I look forward to one day, looking up at my Father who loves me and saying “good plan.” I actually can’t wait till that day. God has a “good plan,” even if we can’t see it. I can’t wait to see how everything comes together and I get to see how it all worked out. So, for now, I just have faith that God has a “good plan.” I may not be able to see it, but I know I will someday. And THAT gives me joy.

Big Whoop. Part 2

I’m actually a little surprised at myself. I in no way thought that I would be writing part 2 this quickly. I REALLY must not want to do my psychology work (someone please motivate me!!!!!!). I’m not saying that I don’t want to write about this, but I typically find other things to do-sometimes less important things, like staring at a wall (for all those that still don’t think I sit and actually stare, trust me, I do).

I also think I'm getting a little heated. I've had a lot of time to think (which may not be a good thing) over summer break, and I have got some good ideas for future posts. Caution-you may be offended. Big Whoop. I'm starting to like saying that.

As I was sitting in the surgery center this morning, listening to a woman that hadn’t worn off her pain meds yet professing her love to the nurses and everyone who passed her room, I was reading Not a Fan, but Kyle Idleman. Basically, I just want to take everything he wrote in the book and put it on here, but I’m not going to because I’m pretty sure that’s illegal. So, to prevent myself from doing so, I’m NOT sitting here with my book (don’t get mad at me for misquotes).

Originally, I was going to write this part about what it actually means to be a Christian. I may touch on that, but I may not be going in the direction you (or me) are thinking of.

Politics. There, I said it. Now, before you bring out your pitchforks and torches that you didn’t get to use last night, give me a second (or a few paragraphs). I realized that I was extremely uninformed about politics and what is going on in this election cycle when I wasn’t even sure who the Republican nominee was. I used to watch the news (Fox News) almost every morning in high school, with my cup of coffee, ready to discuss the current issues of today’s society. I used to get in heated debates over why the government should do this or do that, until I realized that I love Jesus.

So, now, when I say politics, I’m going to say Big Whoop. “But Meghan!” you may say, “You have the responsibility to care and to pay attention to current events like a concerned citizen!” Yeah, I do. I’m not saying that I don’t care if my freedoms are taken away. I’m not saying that I don’t care that abortions are legal. I’m not saying I don’t care if our government isn’t listening to its people. I’m saying that I don’t have to care. I’m saying that Christ is what I rely on and where my heart lies, not politics. I’d rather rely on the strength of Christ ANY DAY and have my hope in Him rather than in the government.

Where is your hope?

“This country is going down the tubes!” This is what I hear (more or less) from many people. I care. I don’t want the country I love and am BLESSED to be in (anyone that thinks they aren’t blessed to be here should consider going to the nut house or a third world country) to lose what it is. But I am saying that if the country would become a socialist nation under some dictator (which many people think will end up happening), I would be ok. Or, at least I hope I would be. And what I mean by that is that I hope I would have enough faith in Christ to be able to know that my hope is found in Him and things of eternal value, not the diminishing fade of the government.

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from god, and those that exist are instituted by god. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing god’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. Or rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. For government is god’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is god’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes. Since the authorities are god’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.-Romans 13:1-7

That’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it. Let’s analyze some of it. “Since the authorities are God’s public servants,” “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God,” seems to me that if God didn’t want someone in power, they wouldn’t be there. Now before you all go and claim Obama is the antichrist (I will remain neutral on my view point of the man), read your Bible. Just so you know, the antichrist is not mentioned in the book of Revelation (and the whole world gasps). But, that isn’t what I came to talk about today. Don’t you think that if God REALLY, REALLY couldn’t be glorified in a situation, He wouldn’t let it happen? Don’t you think that if God REALLY, REALLY couldn’t keep the world functioning if someone were to be president, He wouldn’t let it happen.
I want to include this video. I really, really like it. It is entitled "God is not a white man" by Gungor. Just watch it, it has a lot to do with the previous paragraph. You might even start tapping your foot and singing it around the house. I describe the video as "great theology mixed with the perfect amount of cuteness." 

I really don’t give a root-tootin-holler (that’s one of my Alabama phrases for all my Tennessee friends that think I’m from a hick town) about your opinions on Obama, Romney (who I found out is the Republican nominee), or any other politician. I care-like I said yesterday-about your relationship with Christ. Do you have one? Does Obama have one? That’s all that matters. You have the responsibility to PRAY for them, not bash them for every single thing they do.
                Don’t like the president? Big Whoop.

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes ever. This is basically a summation of why I tend not to get wrapped up in politics*. Enjoy.

"Science and politics are the two false paths for Christianity; the latter is the most dangerous because it can become so popular." - Søren Kierkegaard

Where is your hope?

*Note: if you are called into politics by God, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t think that I am telling you that is wrong. Do what He tells you to do. Please. 

Big Whoop.

Today while I was watching A Walk To Remember, eating ice cream, and bawling my eyes out (I refuse to admit that I’m an emotional wreck, Nicholas Sparks just knows how to pull on the heartstrings of every woman in the world), I listened to Landon read 1 Corinthians 13:4 (but I will go through the beginning of verse 8). If any Bible verse were able to be exhausted, this would come in second place-behind John 3:16. It is recited in weddings, put on walls, Bibles, journals, t-shirts, and any other marketing tool Christian organizations have created. So, I’m going to talk about it today, hopefully in a new way (if not, don’t throw rotten tomatoes at me, please).

Love is patient….even when we have been waiting on someone to do something for years.

Love is kind……even when we think someone doesn’t deserve it.

Love does not envy…even when we REALLY want to be someone else.

It is not boastful…...even when we think we deserve to be able to.

It is not conceited...even when we want the attention to be on us.

It does not act improperly….even though we may just want to punch someone in the face.

It is not selfish…..even when we REALLY just want some “me” time.

It is not provoked….even when we’ve had the last straw.

It does not keep record of wrongs…even after the thousandth time.

It finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth…even when politics is really enticing.

It bears, hopes, and endures all things….no matter how tough that relationship may be.

Love never ends…..ever.

Many times, I feel as though I put exception clauses into Bible verses. “Be patient,” the Bible says. I say, “but they are getting on my LAST nerve.” “Be kind,” the Bible says.  “They don’t deserve my kindness,” I say.

That last one gets on my nerves. I do it all the time. You know what I don’t deserve? Christ’s sacrifice. But I got it.

The second greatest commandment, Jesus said, is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36). Most the time, I beat around the bush, trying not to offend. Well, I’m not going to do that today. Something that has really begun to irk me in the Christian community is that we don’t love. I tweeted something the other day that I regretted doing right after I sent it. Then, I realized it was because I didn’t want to offend anyone. I got over it and said “those that are offended need to just deal and read their Bible.”

“Can we quit labeling people by their sins and start seeing them as people in desperate need of the gospel?”

I’m tired of people being labeled by their sins.

“She struggles with drinking.”

“He’s gay.”

“He is a compulsive gambler.”

“She shoplifted that one time.”

Big whoop. I don’t care. Do they have Christ? (We are assuming that these people mentioned do not have Christ. They also are no reflection of any actual person). That’s all that matters. ‘Cause guess what….the only difference between them and I is that I have Jesus and they don’t. The only difference is that I am not enslaved by the things of this world and have the eternal JOY that comes with Christ. If they don’t have Christ, then I don’t care if they are homosexual, alcohol/drug addicts, compulsive liars, gamblers, or stealers. The only thing I’m concerned about is LOVING them like Jesus does and showing them Christ.

Don’t try to change them! PLEASE! I’m going to use this saying that I’ve found recently. I might make some people mad. Don’t get mad at me, read the Bible. You’ll see that Christians are told to live differently than the pagans. The saying that I heard goes something like this: “telling me I can’t marry the same sex is like telling me I can’t eat a cupcake because you’re on a diet.”

Now, just wait a second before you get out your pitchforks and torches and form the village mob to come burn me at the stake. Though I do not support gay marriage (other people, don’t form a mob either), I don’t think trying to tell someone that them being gay is wrong is a useful tactic when it comes to evangelism (I'm just using being gay as an example). We cannot expect anyone who is not saved to live life like a Christian. I'd also say this: "telling a lost person to act like a Christian is like telling me I can't eat a cupcake because you're on a diet." 

There was a lecture series this past semester at Carson-Newman. It was entitled “The Difference Christ Makes.” Though I can’t tell you a single thing that was said that week, I do really like this phrase. The difference Christ makes is that you don’t live in the ways of the world. You are not a slave to sin. Expect people to sin. Don’t judge them for it. See the lost and sinners as people in desperate need of Christ. See the lost as people loved immensely by the Creator of the universe. It will change your perspective in life.

I find it hard to believe that people just want “tolerance.” Let’s love them. Let’s overwhelm them with the love of Christ. Let’s stop seeing people differently just because they are prone to a certain sin (just a reminder-sin is sin, no matter what it is. No sin is worse than another) and start loving them with the unconditional love of Christ mentioned in 1 Corinthians. Love your neighbor…and neighbor is everyone you come in contact with.

                I don’t really care what kind of sin they struggle with; I care if they have Christ. 

Note: there may or may not be a second part to this post (to clarify some loose ends)

Reflection

If you know ANYTHING about me, I’m a goober for mushy gushy sentimental things. I like looking back on the past and seeing how much I have grown, what in my life has changed, what new hobbies I have created, and which ones I have lost. I like change, but I hate it all at the same time. I despise letting go. My roommate had to force my hand into a trash can and yell at me to throw things away as I began packing up my first ever college dorm room. I like looking into the past, seeing what I can learn from it, and applying it to the future. I like keeping things so I can remember them.
I guess I do that because I’m scared if I let something go, I might forget about it (precursor to Hoarders?? I sure hope not). It is a startling reality. I am TERRIFIED of forgetting the good things in my life. If I could, I would record my life so I could go back and look at the happy times. I would look at my life through my later eyes and enjoy the smiles I shared and the memories I made.
“What does this have to do with the price of eggs in China” might be what you are asking (which many, many people I have come to school with have not heard of and left them thoroughly confused, which amuses me). To answer your question, I felt like reflecting. I wanted to talk about the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly, that have occurred in this past year. Starting with graduation festivities.

Let’s start with this memory. This is one of my favorite memories in my LIFE. I love these people so much. They are my IB family. I cried with them, yelled at them, almost killed some of them, but we made it through what most people can’t say they have: IB. This day was an accumulation of two years of hard work. We left school after the most boring awards ceremony known to man, then travelled to Mi Hacienda, where we ate, laughed, and created memories. The best of which being me walking into the bathroom, spotting a cockroach, screaming, then running out with Allysa, Mindy, and Miracle, laughing and crying. Connor then responded to the staff singing “la cucaracha,” and we talked about it for the rest of the day. We went to the IB Book Signing, where I wrote the wrong graduation year, Miracle made us bawl our eyes out, and we were blocked off by a train. I got this award:

We played this game:

And ate pizza when Christian “went to get help for his French IB exam.” Then I graduated. I walked across that stage, got my diploma, and took, what I’m sure the most horrible picture was in the world, after getting a 2nd degree sunburn. I went to Orlando, went to Harry Potter World, was asked if I was OK after my picture came up of me looking terrified in the Spider portion of the ride, and was carried across a large row of people. I prayed more than I have in my entire life, and the Holy Spirit did some crazy awesome stuff. Then Super Summer happened. DUDE. It was ridiculously awesome. I cried, I laughed, I stood up in the middle of the cafeteria holding both hands in the air in silence with a few others, and tried not to laugh as I saw the confused looks of others. Then, I went to college. I’ve never been more nervous in my LIFE. I crammed all my stuff into the spacious “jail cell” and waited to see what God had in store for me.

For the record, this is probably the cleanest my room has ever been. I then made some really awesome friends, and dressed up like a shower.

I even wore a fake mustache to Wal-Mart.

Then before I knew it, I was home for Christmas. I went to Passion 2012, one of the coolest events I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.

Honestly, this past semester has been a blur (not from alcohol, I promise). I can’t remember any moments from this semester. Especially significant ones. But, a lot has happened. I know I cried a lot. I cried in frustration, in happiness, in sorrow, in joy. I cried for friends, myself, and people I didn’t even know. I cried because of misunderstandings, back-stabbings, and missing home (which I haven’t done since elementary school). I drank too much coffee, didn’t read my Bible enough, and formed some great friendships. And after all this, I am exhausted. I am too stressed, too overwhelmed, too everything. I want to be home. I want familiarity. But I want my pictures and letters to look back on. I want about 10 books to read, lots more coffee, a pool, cookouts, and friends to spend my summer with. I want to grow in Christ more, relax, and breathe the fresh-ish air of Decatur, Alabama, my home. Familiar. I’m sure, come July, I will be screaming to get back to college, but that is how life works. Or, at least mine does. I will want to return to the beautiful scenes of Tennessee, see my wonderful friends again, and make new memories. But, I will never, ever forget my past. The great things that have happened to me, the friends I have made and the ones I have left behind. I will cry when I have to let go, and I will put up a fight. Because I love memories. Because I love people. I think the verse that I have really held onto this past year, and I believe I have mentioned it previously, is Ecclesiatstes 3:1-8. It expresses, and reminds me in my impatience, to hold on, and in the right time, everything will come to fruition.
There is an occasion for everything,

and a time for every activity under heaven: 
 a time to give birth and a time to die; 
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
 a time to weep and a time to laugh; 
a time to mourn and a time to dance; 
 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; 
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; 
 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak; 
 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

Love,

Megs.