breathing

In case any of you were wondering, I am still alive. Life is really good but really busy these days, thus there have been no posts recently. I just wanted to take a minute to give you a quick update of what is going on with me.

I am living in my new place now, and have been for almost a month. I will try to post pics soon. I still need to get everything put up on the walls, etc... It is going really well. It is a nice place in a great location. I absolutely LOVE the fact that I once again have a place to hang my hammock and have spent a lot of time laying in it while reading for school.

My parents, both of my sisters, and my two nephews and one niece came to visit me over Labor Day weekend. They were gracious enough to bring my furniture up to me and we did a little birthday dinner to celebrate mine and my mom's birthday. It was so great to see them up here and to be able to show them a small part of what my life looks like these days. My oldest nephew, Evan, was disappointed that he didn't get to see any snow in " 'tucky" as he calls it.

School has started and is going well. I really like all of my professors and classes. There is so much to read, but I am sure that I'll find a way to get through it all. Between cleaning and working with Emerge, I'm averaging right at 40 hours a week with work. So between the two jobs and school, I'm not currently looking for a new hobby.

I have been blessed recently by the Lord. I feel like His Kingdom is advancing so much in my mind and in my heart. Chapel services at the seminary have been incredible. My personal time with Him and just our daily interaction has been so life-giving to me. I have had some great conversations with new people and am excited about the rest of this year.

I was able to visit the weddings of two friends recently and was incredibly blessed at both of them. Although I'm still waiting for the day when I'll get married, it's an honor to watch people whom I love so dearly celebrate their weddings.

Everything with Emerge is going well. I would love to see greater numbers and more consistency in attendance with the group, yet I am blessed at the Lord's faithfulness in the ways I have been able to watch Him work in peoples' lives. I continue to sit in prayer for the ministry, seeking His vision and discernment, and I appreciate your prayers for this as well.

I must be honest and say that I am a little anxious and nervous to go back to the doctor next month and find out what is going on with my eye. I still am rather confident that everything will be fine, but the closer it gets the more I think about it. Again, I appreciate your prayers over this.

And finally, I am just seeking more and more intentionality and quality time in every aspect of my life. Whether I am blessed with a random conversation, am enjoying a scheduled discipleship meeting, reading for one of my classes, being blessed with an incredible phone/skype conversation as I catch up with one of my friends, am sitting in chapel, or am praying through the burdens and concerns on my heart for many of you, the Lord is giving me grace to be intentional and fully present in most of those interactions. (I mean, how else could I lay in my hammock on a beautiful day and read for 5 hours without falling asleep?) So now, I am enjoying what He has for me as I simultaneously seek for more, and am hoping that I find a good rhythm for all of this in order that I get more than a few hours of sleep daily.

May you all find grace and meaning in each moment of your day. And for the many struggles you are facing in your own lives and in the lives of those you love and care about, find comfort in the promise that He never leaves us. Even if all you want is an answer, try to receive the peace of His presence. Hopefully more, and more substantive, posts will be coming soon. Be blessed!

Who am I?

In Matthew 16, Jesus has a discussion with His disciples that is full of insight and truth for us today. He asks them who people say that he is. After hearing several responses from Peter, He then asks Peter specifically, "Who do you say that I am?"

Peter answers that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus then comments on Peter's answer and follows that comment by telling Peter that he is the rock on which He will build His church.

So, what's the big deal? I believe it is incredibly important to pay attention to the role of the characters in this story and the ordering of the events. First of all, Peter has to answer the question, "Who do you say that I am?"

How can Peter answer such a question? He can do so because he has spent time with Jesus, worked with Him, watched Him perform miracles, listened to His teachings, etc... And out of that experience and the discernment given to him through the Holy Spirit, Peter answers "the Son of God."

Then, after Peter has made his own confession and declaration of who Christ is, Jesus tells Peter who he(Peter) is. After Peter has come to realize who Jesus is, then Jesus is able to reveal Peter's true identity to him. And what an identity Peter has.

So, who are you? How would you answer this question to yourself, "Who am I?"

Well, before you can answer that, and get the total truth, you must first realize and declare who Jesus is. Once you have come to that realization, Jesus will tell you who you are. That you are a child of God, a co-heir with Christ to the throne. That you are His beloved.

This is so very important for us today because we quickly turn to so many things to define who we are. We use relationships, careers, personalities, etc... And however true those things may be, they don't constitute the truest essence of who you are. This is because your identity is found in Christ. As He is declared Christ, your identity is found. Remember that He is truth. He is the only one who can reveal to you who you are. And that comes in response to you declaring who He is. And you can only declare who He is when you know Him, spend time with Him, and believe in His love.

May you know Christ.
May you declare who He is.
May He reveal to you who you are.
May your identity be found in Christ more so than ever before.

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." ~ Matt. 6:33