Lately God has been teaching me a lot of things....and when I say "a lot", I mean a big honkin' bunch! I have been reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and it has truly worked me over. We have taught it to our teenagers at church for the past 10 weeks and let me just say that there have only been a few Sundays that I didn't cry and break down over what God is doing in my life. I am not sure that any of the teenagers have "gotten it", but I know that my husband and I did and several of my friends. Probably THE most convicting spiritual book I've ever read. It challenges you out of any luke-warm tendencies...challenges you especially in the realm of giving financially and sacrificially.I believe that the handful of us that got it are going to make big changes and do big things....and I pray that we will do it!
Some things that worked in my heart from the book were:
~"When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving out of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is"
~"When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice."
~"The goal of American Christianity is often a nice marriage, children that don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involved suffering."
One of the things that God taught me was that in my Christian life I have lived a safe, comfortable life. I haven't stepped out of my comfort zone enough. My senior year of college I went on a mission trip to Spain and had an amazing experience. Shortly after my return I began to feel God was leading me to do full time missions...or ministry or something. I began a campaign to raise money to go to India for a year as a missionary. The funding never come through and I knew it was God shutting that door. I wasn't sure why....but I knew He needed me here. Shortly after the door was shut my Papa died and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wanted me to quit my job and take care of my grandmother who was suffering with Dementia...(isn't it neat when God shows us things so clearly). It was one of the best things I had ever done...and I learned so much from my Mama. I soon met Ric...married him and started into ministry. And have been safe and comfortable ever since.
It took some faith to step away from a great job where I was making loads of money and had health insurance...to stay home with my grandma. It took faith to sign the papers to go to India...even if it didn't work out..it still took faith. I wanna go there again...to that place where you want to do something "radical" (as the world sees it) for God. I want to do BIG things for God....I want to minister to the widowed...the orphaned...the poor. I still have dreams of doing missions work overseas and having my kids experience it. I want to love people the way Christ has called me to...and see lives changed because of it.
I feel like I have been grasping onto the balance beam....as Francis talks about in the video below(watch it...it's 3 minutes long..but it's worth it) ..and I don't want to be like that anymore. So maybe we sell our house....start the special needs camp we have been burdened about...get involved with giving to those less fortunate...take lunch to a widow from church....encourage our teenagers to live bold....encourage our church to do more...and just fall in Love with Jesus....cause I want a CRAZY love. Yep, I do!
Some things that worked in my heart from the book were:
~"When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving out of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is"
~"When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice."
~"The goal of American Christianity is often a nice marriage, children that don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involved suffering."
One of the things that God taught me was that in my Christian life I have lived a safe, comfortable life. I haven't stepped out of my comfort zone enough. My senior year of college I went on a mission trip to Spain and had an amazing experience. Shortly after my return I began to feel God was leading me to do full time missions...or ministry or something. I began a campaign to raise money to go to India for a year as a missionary. The funding never come through and I knew it was God shutting that door. I wasn't sure why....but I knew He needed me here. Shortly after the door was shut my Papa died and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wanted me to quit my job and take care of my grandmother who was suffering with Dementia...(isn't it neat when God shows us things so clearly). It was one of the best things I had ever done...and I learned so much from my Mama. I soon met Ric...married him and started into ministry. And have been safe and comfortable ever since.
It took some faith to step away from a great job where I was making loads of money and had health insurance...to stay home with my grandma. It took faith to sign the papers to go to India...even if it didn't work out..it still took faith. I wanna go there again...to that place where you want to do something "radical" (as the world sees it) for God. I want to do BIG things for God....I want to minister to the widowed...the orphaned...the poor. I still have dreams of doing missions work overseas and having my kids experience it. I want to love people the way Christ has called me to...and see lives changed because of it.
I feel like I have been grasping onto the balance beam....as Francis talks about in the video below(watch it...it's 3 minutes long..but it's worth it) ..and I don't want to be like that anymore. So maybe we sell our house....start the special needs camp we have been burdened about...get involved with giving to those less fortunate...take lunch to a widow from church....encourage our teenagers to live bold....encourage our church to do more...and just fall in Love with Jesus....cause I want a CRAZY love. Yep, I do!
Mat 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
6 comments:
This is such a neat post! Thank you for sharing so candidly, I am inspired to read the book!! Thanks for stopping by to visit me! ;) Come back anytime!! I also look forward to keeping up with you and your family.
Great post! I am going to pick up this book this week...I've heard so much about it.
Yep. I'm praying for ya...and wishin' we lived closer cuz we have so much in common. :)
Tell me more about this special needs camp.
I'm looking into some homeless ministries in downtown Atlanta too. Once I find a good one to partner up with I'm going to share it with some people and get something going.
Hello! I saw that you visited my blog! I am glad to have found yours. It is very inspriational, at a time when I need it!
Thank You,
Sunshine
Love that study! We did that a couple of months ago in our Small Group! :)
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