Peace

The last few days have been very cool. God has been teaching me a TON. Thursday night I went to Anderson to hang out with my good friends Jake and Suzanne. We talked a lot about the question in my previous post, (and the situation that created it) and God really used them to encourage me and speak truth into my life. Bottom line – there are times in life when the ONLY thing that is obvious that God is doing something different than what we thought he was doing. It doesn’t negate what he put on a person’s heart, it simply means there is a different purpose for it other than the apparent one.

God did something like that in the Bible when he asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Because we know the ending of the story it doesnt have near the impact on us that it should, but imagine being in Abraham’s shoes. He KNEW that God had promised him decendants, and that promise had been fulfilled in his son Isaac. Now God wanted him to kill this only son as a sacrifice? Are you kidding me? What level of trust do you have to have in God to even begin to carry that out? Obviously the thing that God told Abraham to do was not really what God wanted to happen. His real (but hidden) purpose was to test and strengthen Abraham’s faith, give us an example to live by, and to bring himself a ton of glory through Abraham’s obedience and faith.

So when we are faced with situations that make no logical sense, it only means that God is up to something else. It may be to bring us to a place where we are truly dependent on him. It may be to bring out other issues that are hiding below the surface of our lives. It may be simply to bring himself glory through our faithfulness. But we can be assured of this – that his purpose is better than the ones we think we see. No matter how good we think something he is telling us to do is, his higher purpose is better. And that to me is exciting!

Ever since leaving Jake and Suzanne’s Thurday night, I have had the strangest feeling. Complete peace. (and for those who know me well, that is unusual on any front) No more worry about having possibly heard God wrong, no more anger at him for not being more clear, no more confusion. Just peace. I still feel the same about the situation that brought all this up. And I still dont understand it. But I know that he is in control. And that he is good. And that is what gives me peace. Thanks so much to Jake and Suzanne for their friendship, Godliness, and wisdom. I hope that I may return the favor one day.

Enigma

How can 2 people be truly seeking God’s will and come up with opposite conclusions to a situation? I have seen this happen many times in many different ways, most recently and personally today. As usual, it is very confusing and painful. God, what in the world is going on?

Christmas Thoughts (sort of)

I have always wrestled with the idea of God being personal and intimate. Although I believe with all of my being that he is personal and intimate, my experience has rarely seemed to agree with that belief. For me, God has almost always felt far off and difficult to connect with. I have often been jealous of those who seem to be truly close with him.

For the past 9 months or so I have been following a schedule to read the Bible through in a year. Now before you write this off (as I normally would) as some legalistic crap that will only end up making you feel guilty for not reading your Bible, hear me out. This has been a difficult task for me, because as most of you know I am not a very disciplined or structured person. A friend of mine asked me to do this with them, and the reason that I decided to subject myself to something so confining and structured as a DAILY READING SCHEDULE was not to be able to check it off a list every day or even at the end of the year. It was simply to try and spend some more time in God’s word. Like most believers, I truly want to spend more time in the Bible; I just never seem to actually get around to it.

So 9 months into the deal, I can honestly say that this year I have spent far more time reading the Bible than any other year since I have been a Christian. Probably 4 or 5 times as much. Do I say that to make you feel guilty, or to highlight my “accomplishment?” Not at all. Heres the deal – that God who has always seemed so far off and distant to me? This year he feels much closer, real, and personal. And that has been refreshing to my soul.

Christmas is all about God coming near to us. And this year I have experienced just a little taste of that. My somewhat formal and stiff relationship with Him has become much more alive and free. I still have a long way to go to what I would consider truly “knowing God,” but I feel as if I am on the path. My hope for all of you this Christmas season is that you are on this path as well, and that Jesus is very real in your life as he so badly wants to be!

Big Band Christmas

Went down to Speakeasy tonight to hear some sweet big band jazz. It was awesome!! They even played some Christmas tunes! There are not too many places you can go hear a big band on a regular basis, so it is just cool to hear that kind of thing live.

Christmas Cheer!

You have probably seen this before, but it still makes me happy!! The best part is from about 1:30 to the end. Clark Griswald eat your heart out!

New Tunes

Got a new favorite CD – Family Force 5. Kind of like Linkin Park with a 70’s funk influence. Check them out, especially the Luv Addict track.

Weekend Tunes

Got to hear some great music so far this weekend. Last night I went to see Eddie From Ohio at the Handlebar with Rachel and Matt. They are one of those groups that is definitely best when seen live, and last night was no exception. Killer harmonies, amazing percussion, and a fun show. Never a disappointment. Tonight back in Columbia, I went down to Jammin Java to hear Micah Dalton. (with a full band) Micah is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, and his music reflects that. It is easy to listen to, and the band was perfect in the small coffeehouse.

The openers this weekend were really great, which was nice for a change. Rachael Davis walked out on the stage last night at The Handlebar with just a banjo and blew the walls out of the place. (the myspace songs dont do her justice at all) Tonight, Tyler James (who looks like he’s 15 yrs old) opened up and was great. Tyler is so chill that when his keyboard quit working and he had to play his backup, (a plain old Casio like the ones at Wal Mart) he just took it in stride and it didnt take away from the music at all!

More Surprises

As if taking over the music at Midtown was not enough, suddenly I find myself helping out with music at another church! Sunday I led worship at Columbia Crossroads for 2 services in the morning, then at Midtown that evening! What a day! Talk about some tired vocal chords!

Crossroads is a GREAT church that we have gotten connected with down here. I have never seen a church so selfless and “kingdom minded” in its ministry philosophy. Their service Sunday was simply telling stories about things that God has been doing. In addition to asking us to share about the Extreme Home Makeover, they had stories from people who were sharing Jesus through mentoring, prison ministry, etc. There was not a dry eye in the place when it was over – so encouraging to see God at work!

After Christmas it looks like I am gonna be playing and singing at Crossroads 2 Sundays a month. Looking forward to that and continuing to partner with them in ministry! We are also going to start having weekly Midtown services in January, so my life is gonna be busy. Please keep me in your prayers!!

Must be Going Around….

Congratulations also to Matt Dunbar and Catherine, and Craig Schutte and Sarah McCutcheon who were engaged a few weeks ago, and Jay Taylor and Kerri McClure, who got engaged this past weekend in Atlanta!!

Congratulations….

…to Whitley for getting engaged recently!!! Leave her a comment at her new blog, here.