Friday, August 05, 2005
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Now for Sami’s Ramblings about Jesus:
A few weeks ago I worked a DiscipleNow weekend with a wonderful woman that I had just met for the first time. In the course of the weekend, she shared with me some things that the Lord laid on her heart to tell me after hearing how ultra-stressed I was feeling. Her humor-filled, loving, yet very pointed words really helped me to see how I needed to make some drastic changes if I expected to not just survive being a mommy, a wife, and a campus minister, but to thrive. She even enlisted the help of my very own students in holding me accountable to the things the Lord was asking me to do. And yes they have kept asking me if I have “done the things on my list.”
Now I’m not saying I’ve made all the changes God was asking me to make perfectly, but I have begun to make some significant changes in my life that have made a HUGE difference. Now this isn’t rocket science; these changes are simple things that need to be done to keep my body, mind, and spirit (in other words God’s temple) in good shape. I’ve begun exercising, making sure I have some daily quiet time with Jesus, drinking more water, and making sure I take time to be with my husband Tim and little boy Noah. Again, I’m not doing these things perfectly, but just the efforts that I have made have made a difference. My back doesn’t hurt anymore, I am less stressed, and I am generally happier.
It is amazing to me how in the business of life things can get so hugely crazy that the basic, “be a healthy person” things get completely edged out. It was like before I got hit in the head with the Jesus skillet I had forgotten that I had a life outside of my work. I really had thought that the sum total of my existence existed for the purpose of doing ministry. I had forgotten that there really was a person inside me who needed to live too.
I say all of this to encourage all of you who are so stressed out because of crunch time and impending finals. By all means, do the best you can, faithfully study, complete your work, but know this: Life exists beyond deadlines and final grades. First and foremost, you are a child of God. And God has plans for your life that are bigger than the next two weeks. In the midst of crunch time it is way too easy to abuse and misuse your body because there seems to be no time to take care of it. It is like everything else seems more important. This is the trap that I fell into. And not only did I suffer for it, I really believe my work suffered too. What I am learning, by the grace of God, is that honoring the temple God gave me (i.e. being nice to my body by giving it rest, food, water, and exercise), and finding balance between the ministry I’m called to while also being a regular person has made everything else better.
When I say Jesus loves you, I mean Jesus loves you, all of you, every last bit of you. It is not Jesus’ idea that you must sacrifice your well-being on the altar of perfection. Do your best. But don’t let it come at the price of your health and well-being. Take time in these next two weeks to eat a real meal at least once a day, to have several good belly laughs, to take a walk in the beautiful sunshine that is not on the way to class, to drink enough water so that you are refreshed, and to get plenty of rest when you need it. I promise that if you will make a good faith effort to do these things, then you will do better in your studying and test taking and project finishing because you will be giving from your full resources instead of from emptiness.
Gosh, if I could make it better for each of you I would. Just know that you can do it. Jesus is with you and will never leave nor forsake you. His promises are just as real during finals week as they are any other time of the year.
So just hang in there. And know that you are not alone.
Jesus loves you and so do I.
Sami
A few weeks ago I worked a DiscipleNow weekend with a wonderful woman that I had just met for the first time. In the course of the weekend, she shared with me some things that the Lord laid on her heart to tell me after hearing how ultra-stressed I was feeling. Her humor-filled, loving, yet very pointed words really helped me to see how I needed to make some drastic changes if I expected to not just survive being a mommy, a wife, and a campus minister, but to thrive. She even enlisted the help of my very own students in holding me accountable to the things the Lord was asking me to do. And yes they have kept asking me if I have “done the things on my list.”
Now I’m not saying I’ve made all the changes God was asking me to make perfectly, but I have begun to make some significant changes in my life that have made a HUGE difference. Now this isn’t rocket science; these changes are simple things that need to be done to keep my body, mind, and spirit (in other words God’s temple) in good shape. I’ve begun exercising, making sure I have some daily quiet time with Jesus, drinking more water, and making sure I take time to be with my husband Tim and little boy Noah. Again, I’m not doing these things perfectly, but just the efforts that I have made have made a difference. My back doesn’t hurt anymore, I am less stressed, and I am generally happier.
It is amazing to me how in the business of life things can get so hugely crazy that the basic, “be a healthy person” things get completely edged out. It was like before I got hit in the head with the Jesus skillet I had forgotten that I had a life outside of my work. I really had thought that the sum total of my existence existed for the purpose of doing ministry. I had forgotten that there really was a person inside me who needed to live too.
I say all of this to encourage all of you who are so stressed out because of crunch time and impending finals. By all means, do the best you can, faithfully study, complete your work, but know this: Life exists beyond deadlines and final grades. First and foremost, you are a child of God. And God has plans for your life that are bigger than the next two weeks. In the midst of crunch time it is way too easy to abuse and misuse your body because there seems to be no time to take care of it. It is like everything else seems more important. This is the trap that I fell into. And not only did I suffer for it, I really believe my work suffered too. What I am learning, by the grace of God, is that honoring the temple God gave me (i.e. being nice to my body by giving it rest, food, water, and exercise), and finding balance between the ministry I’m called to while also being a regular person has made everything else better.
When I say Jesus loves you, I mean Jesus loves you, all of you, every last bit of you. It is not Jesus’ idea that you must sacrifice your well-being on the altar of perfection. Do your best. But don’t let it come at the price of your health and well-being. Take time in these next two weeks to eat a real meal at least once a day, to have several good belly laughs, to take a walk in the beautiful sunshine that is not on the way to class, to drink enough water so that you are refreshed, and to get plenty of rest when you need it. I promise that if you will make a good faith effort to do these things, then you will do better in your studying and test taking and project finishing because you will be giving from your full resources instead of from emptiness.
Gosh, if I could make it better for each of you I would. Just know that you can do it. Jesus is with you and will never leave nor forsake you. His promises are just as real during finals week as they are any other time of the year.
So just hang in there. And know that you are not alone.
Jesus loves you and so do I.
Sami
Friday, April 15, 2005
A Little Something to Encourage You
I want to write a prayer for you today, a little something to encourage you as you finish the semester:
Dear Father,
I come before You in the precious name of Jesus. He is so wonderful and so sweet. And He is so beautiful as I see Him reflected in the faces of each of the students you have placed in my care. I praise You and thank You for them now, and I ask that You bless them mightily in the face of deep stresses that always come at the close of another year.
Lord please bless each one of them with confidence. You have placed so many good things in them: gifts and strengths that shine brilliantly. But Lord, when we are stressed out and feel overburdened, it is hard to appreciate, and sometimes even see, the good things about our selves. I pray that You would put someone in their paths that will just encourage them and show them how wonderful they are.
Lord give them Your peace. While so many things are making huge demands upon their time, their energy, their resources, their hearts, please give them the peace that passes understanding. Lord when You are in our lives we can have that kind of peace, even though to the natural mind there should be no earthly reason to feel peaceful. Give them Your peace that permeates all things, yet is not dependent upon circumstances.
Lord give them Your presence. Sometimes college can feel so lonely. Lord, it breaks my heart whenever I hear of the loneliness these students face. Lord, You came to live within us that we might never have to be swallowed up by loneliness again. I pray that the joy and peace of Your presence would be a reality for every person who reads this prayer.
Lord, give them Your joy. Fill their days with small treasures that surprise them with happy moments. Open their awareness to the wonders of Your creation (especially dogwoods and redbuds). In the midst of the business give them moments of laughter and good clean fun. Help them to not be overwhelmed by impending deadlines. Help them to not be paralyzed by the “got to’s.”
Lord, if I missed anything, please cover it. KEEP THEM SAFE!!!!! Please provide for their needs and love on them real good.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
Jesus loves you and so do I!
Sami
Friday, April 08, 2005
Baptismally Beautiful
I have been on the phone with my Mom. She is making plans to travel here from Jacksonville to be present at Noah’s baptism on May 15th. This is such a special time for our family. When I think of how God has blessed us with this little boy, and when I remember how God saved his life when we had to take him to Vanderbilt Hospital a week after he was born, joy and thanksgiving fills my heart. We are going to make a really big deal out of this. It is just natural that we give Noah back into the Lord’s hands, and promise to raise him to know Jesus. After all, Noah is a true gift of God’s love to both Tim and I, and our extended family. We are so thankful for the opportunity to love him and take care of him and raise him.
Did you know that Jesus feels about you the way that we (Tim and I) feel about Noah? Sometimes we go into his room and just watch him sleep, amazed at how beautiful he is. This is how Jesus feels about you. You are His precious child, intricately created by Him in amazing ways. He is so proud of you, not for what you do, but because of who you are. You are a unique, creative expression of God’s love. And by giving you the breath of life, God has lavished His love through you on the world. Now this is true whether you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior or not. You are God’s precious creation.
Now just imagine what joy must fill God’s heart when you return His precious gift and creation, your life, into His care through baptism? The Bible says that all the angels in heaven rejoice when one lost soul is found, when one precious and unique expression of God’s life is returned to God’s care to prosper and fulfill its purpose. When you come to know Jesus as more than just a good man, as more than just a great teacher, as more than just a religious leader, when you come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, something cosmic in the universe changes, shifts, and all heaven rejoices. It is like God rushes in to your heart to greet you with arms wide open, a perma-grin plastered across the Heavenly face, and love oozing out all over. God is crazy about you, and when you honor Him by returning your life into His hands, to allow Him to guide and love and protect His precious child in the way that only He knows how, He just bubbles over with excitement and joy. He probably even weeps. The way I do when I realize that this little boy of mine, who once was so sick, is healthy and happy and full of love to give us.
In the core of who you are, can you honestly say that you belong to Jesus, wholly and indefinitely? Are you still holding out for something better? Oh He loves you. He so wants your joy and fulfillment. He so wants to give you His very best. But these things can only happen in their fullness when you completely relinquish yourself into His care. And here is how you do it:
Talk to Him the way you would talk to someone on your cell phone, knowing He is there and listening even though you cannot see Him with your physical eyes. Tell Him you’re sorry for not realizing how great His love for you is and for not coming to Him sooner. Tell Him you no longer want to get in the way of His blessings by ruling over your own life. Tell Him you want to give Him the care and guidance of the beautiful creation He created when He made you. Tell Him you want Him to live in your heart, to love you and guide you and care for you forever. Tell Him you are ready to be found by His love. And then . . . . Thank Him for coming to you and making you completely His own.
Because this is what happens when you invite Him into your heart like that. And if you haven’t been baptized, go find your church pastor and tell him or her you are ready to be baptized. (If you don’t have a pastor to baptize you, call me at 842-2880, or email me back, and we will make sure you get baptized!) Because there is something so beautiful about having the water of baptism poured over your physical body as a sign of what the presence of Christ has already done in pouring Himself over and into your life. It represents that you are washed clean: everything about you is made new; all your sins are forgiven; and now you can live with the fullness of God’s creative power making you every part of the beautiful creation He made you to be. It is so beautiful. And every angel in heaven celebrates with you.
You are all so precious to me. I rejoice every time I see each of you. For those of you whom I have not met, I still know that you are special and precious, because I know my Savior, and He doesn’t make any junk! I so want for all of you all that Jesus has to offer. It is a beautiful thing when you let Him make you His own. I promise; He is everything He says He is and more; He will give you His very heart. Know that you are so special and blessed.
Blessings,
Sami
Monday, March 28, 2005
Now for Sami’s Ramblings about Jesus:
I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, KY spending time alone with the Lord. It was one of those times that was so blessed, but at the same time very eye-opening. This scripture kept coming to mind as I read, meditated and prayed:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
It is so easy to walk down a road that destroys us. It is like each little decision we make is one small step in a certain direction. And it is only after we have traveled a fair amount of distance that we realize the cumulative effect of those decisions, that we see the direction our lives are taking. When we make decisions and choices that are life-giving, the result is that our lives are replenished and produce good things. When we make decisions and choices that are life-destroying (no matter how small they seem at the time), the result is that we wake up one day and realize there isn’t a lot of Life left in our lives.
Now there are several directions I can go with this, particularly in speaking to college students who are surrounded by so many temptations. But I want to be completely honest and say that this is something that I struggle with daily. Because anything that takes us away from God’s will for our lives is a destructive choice; anything can rob us of the Abundant Life Jesus wants to give us if it comes before His will for us. And anytime we choose something over God, it is sin. Yes, I am guilty of letting things get in the way of what He wants for me and from me. This weekend was a real wake-up call for me, and it caused me to think long and hard about the choices I am making. I am having to think clearly about what I am saying “yes” to and what I am saying “no” to, and why. And I am having to acknowledge the sin in my life of making decisions that are in direct conflict with God’s will for me because I made them wanting to please someone else or because I wanted to prove my worth.
I want to invite you to take this moment to think clearly about your life: Is it filled with Life? Or is it filled with a kind of claustrophobic weariness, emptiness, and dread? Do you feel you have the Abundant Life Jesus died to give you? If not, why not? What choices have you been making lately and why? Could it be that like me you thought you were making choices to please God when in fact you were making them for other reasons?
So here is the good news. At any moment we can begin to make God choices for ourselves that will put us back on God’s road for our lives. We can have Abundant Life. And Jesus Himself will be there to help us find it. As we DAILY seek His face, we begin to understand what those Life-Giving choices look like. Without this daily time with Him, it is IMPOSSIBLE, no matter our intentions, to figure out which decisions are on His path and which are not. But He is oh so patient with us. He loves us so much. He wants us to have everything He died to give us: peace, joy, abundant life free from guilt and bondage and the power of sin. And it doesn’t matter how many times we fail: Every day He his mercy is new. Everyday He is ready to pick us back up and put us on the right road with Him, helping us to make wise choices to keep us there.
So how are we supposed to know which choices are good and which are bad? Well, if we were all really honest, we could pretty well say what is the truth of our choices. We know what is right and what is wrong. For those of us who have asked Jesus into our lives to be our Lord and Savior, He has given us His Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will prick our consciences with specific direction. It will sound off internal alarms when we make bad choices, and It will give us peace about the good choices. If we are stubborn and keep making bad choices, the Holy Spirit becomes like a sharp rock that hangs out in our tennis shoes; we will not be able to ignore the Spirit’s leading in our minds. And the moment we give in to the Holy Spirit we will have a sense of release and well-being.
There is so much love in Jesus’ heart for you. He loves you so much, and it hurts Him to see you hurting. It breaks His heart when you are suffering and when you feel like you are dying inside, and He wants to help. My prayer for you and for me is that we will have the courage to let Him help us. That we will have the courage to follow His direction. That we will have the strength to say “no” to everything else so that we can say “yes” to the Abundant Life He died to give us.
You are so precious. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.
Jesus loves you and so do I,
Sami
I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, KY spending time alone with the Lord. It was one of those times that was so blessed, but at the same time very eye-opening. This scripture kept coming to mind as I read, meditated and prayed:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
It is so easy to walk down a road that destroys us. It is like each little decision we make is one small step in a certain direction. And it is only after we have traveled a fair amount of distance that we realize the cumulative effect of those decisions, that we see the direction our lives are taking. When we make decisions and choices that are life-giving, the result is that our lives are replenished and produce good things. When we make decisions and choices that are life-destroying (no matter how small they seem at the time), the result is that we wake up one day and realize there isn’t a lot of Life left in our lives.
Now there are several directions I can go with this, particularly in speaking to college students who are surrounded by so many temptations. But I want to be completely honest and say that this is something that I struggle with daily. Because anything that takes us away from God’s will for our lives is a destructive choice; anything can rob us of the Abundant Life Jesus wants to give us if it comes before His will for us. And anytime we choose something over God, it is sin. Yes, I am guilty of letting things get in the way of what He wants for me and from me. This weekend was a real wake-up call for me, and it caused me to think long and hard about the choices I am making. I am having to think clearly about what I am saying “yes” to and what I am saying “no” to, and why. And I am having to acknowledge the sin in my life of making decisions that are in direct conflict with God’s will for me because I made them wanting to please someone else or because I wanted to prove my worth.
I want to invite you to take this moment to think clearly about your life: Is it filled with Life? Or is it filled with a kind of claustrophobic weariness, emptiness, and dread? Do you feel you have the Abundant Life Jesus died to give you? If not, why not? What choices have you been making lately and why? Could it be that like me you thought you were making choices to please God when in fact you were making them for other reasons?
So here is the good news. At any moment we can begin to make God choices for ourselves that will put us back on God’s road for our lives. We can have Abundant Life. And Jesus Himself will be there to help us find it. As we DAILY seek His face, we begin to understand what those Life-Giving choices look like. Without this daily time with Him, it is IMPOSSIBLE, no matter our intentions, to figure out which decisions are on His path and which are not. But He is oh so patient with us. He loves us so much. He wants us to have everything He died to give us: peace, joy, abundant life free from guilt and bondage and the power of sin. And it doesn’t matter how many times we fail: Every day He his mercy is new. Everyday He is ready to pick us back up and put us on the right road with Him, helping us to make wise choices to keep us there.
So how are we supposed to know which choices are good and which are bad? Well, if we were all really honest, we could pretty well say what is the truth of our choices. We know what is right and what is wrong. For those of us who have asked Jesus into our lives to be our Lord and Savior, He has given us His Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will prick our consciences with specific direction. It will sound off internal alarms when we make bad choices, and It will give us peace about the good choices. If we are stubborn and keep making bad choices, the Holy Spirit becomes like a sharp rock that hangs out in our tennis shoes; we will not be able to ignore the Spirit’s leading in our minds. And the moment we give in to the Holy Spirit we will have a sense of release and well-being.
There is so much love in Jesus’ heart for you. He loves you so much, and it hurts Him to see you hurting. It breaks His heart when you are suffering and when you feel like you are dying inside, and He wants to help. My prayer for you and for me is that we will have the courage to let Him help us. That we will have the courage to follow His direction. That we will have the strength to say “no” to everything else so that we can say “yes” to the Abundant Life He died to give us.
You are so precious. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.
Jesus loves you and so do I,
Sami
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Now for Sami’s Ramblings about Jesus:
Over the weekend several Wesley Foundation students and I participated in a DiscipleNow weekend in Elkton, KY. This incredible event was hosted for the youth of Elkton by Petrie Memorial United Methodist Church. My good friend Kris Weathers is the youth pastor there. She, along with some very loving and dedicated folks, put together an amazing time for youth to come to a deeper understanding of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ. I literally saw lives transformed before my eyes. It was such a beautiful testimony and witness to the power of God set free in a community, a church, and especially young lives. Before the weekend was over 7 youth had come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the first time. Nineteen other had publicly rededicated their lives. I have to say, as I stood in the middle of Petrie’s sanctuary Saturday night for the commitment service, I stood amazed as I saw the Holy Spirit move like I had never seen. So many people flooded the altar that there wasn’t enough room. We finally began praying with people in the pews. All I can say is “God is so amazing!”
All of this is to say—if you have just about given up on God, hang in there. He is so present, so loving, so crazy about you. I went to this weekend to serve, and God even sent someone to minister specifically to me. God never leaves us. We may feel so all alone, we may feel like our prayers never make it to where God is, but somewhere, right now, God is working through someone to bring about an amazing thing in your life. I know how easily it can be to give up. Especially when the things you have prayed for, hoped for, longed for seem so long in coming. Just know, you are so IN God’s heart. God has a special place in His heart that remembers your name each and every moment. Just because His time frame is so different from ours does not mean He has given up on you. He hasn’t given up on You; don’t give up on Him. And if you need a message of hope tonight, come and join us for our program this evening at the Wesley Foundation at 6:30pm. God gave me a “fly-by” just for you. (You know, one of those thoughts that you have that you are certain didn’t originate with you.) You are so precious to Him. If you forget easily, print off this e-mail and read it often.
Hey! You’re special!
Jesus loves you and so do I,
Sami
Over the weekend several Wesley Foundation students and I participated in a DiscipleNow weekend in Elkton, KY. This incredible event was hosted for the youth of Elkton by Petrie Memorial United Methodist Church. My good friend Kris Weathers is the youth pastor there. She, along with some very loving and dedicated folks, put together an amazing time for youth to come to a deeper understanding of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ. I literally saw lives transformed before my eyes. It was such a beautiful testimony and witness to the power of God set free in a community, a church, and especially young lives. Before the weekend was over 7 youth had come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the first time. Nineteen other had publicly rededicated their lives. I have to say, as I stood in the middle of Petrie’s sanctuary Saturday night for the commitment service, I stood amazed as I saw the Holy Spirit move like I had never seen. So many people flooded the altar that there wasn’t enough room. We finally began praying with people in the pews. All I can say is “God is so amazing!”
All of this is to say—if you have just about given up on God, hang in there. He is so present, so loving, so crazy about you. I went to this weekend to serve, and God even sent someone to minister specifically to me. God never leaves us. We may feel so all alone, we may feel like our prayers never make it to where God is, but somewhere, right now, God is working through someone to bring about an amazing thing in your life. I know how easily it can be to give up. Especially when the things you have prayed for, hoped for, longed for seem so long in coming. Just know, you are so IN God’s heart. God has a special place in His heart that remembers your name each and every moment. Just because His time frame is so different from ours does not mean He has given up on you. He hasn’t given up on You; don’t give up on Him. And if you need a message of hope tonight, come and join us for our program this evening at the Wesley Foundation at 6:30pm. God gave me a “fly-by” just for you. (You know, one of those thoughts that you have that you are certain didn’t originate with you.) You are so precious to Him. If you forget easily, print off this e-mail and read it often.
Hey! You’re special!
Jesus loves you and so do I,
Sami
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Now for Sami’s Ramblings about Jesus:
A few weeks ago I sent out an e-letter that focused on the Joy of the Lord being our strength. I shared about how Becky and Kelly fixed one of Noah’s burp rags into a swami hat and placed it on his head. We just laughed and laughed. Well the film is finally developed, and you no longer have to wonder what was so funny. This is one of those magic moments where faith becomes sight:
You know, faith becomes sight all the time, it’s just that most of us don’t have the patience to wait for it to be revealed in our lives. We give up on God before God has time to perfect His plans for us. “So why does it take so long?” you might ask. It’s like this: imagine you have been invited to dinner at a place known for its steak dinners. This place has a reputation for succulent, tasty, perfectly grilled steaks. It only serves them just right. The same is true for the baked potato and salad that come with it. They too are worth writing home about. But one day someone comes to eat there and within five minutes of ordering demands that the food be brought out. The server pleads with the patron saying, “It just isn’t ready; we need more time.” But the patron is so impatient to eat that the demands become more escalated. Reluctantly the server agrees to bring the dinner out. Of course what does the patron find? The steak is raw, the potato is hard, and the lettuce hasn’t even been washed. In disgust the patron exclaims that it is the worst meal ever served on the face of the earth and stomps out of the restaurant. In reality, it is the very best meal that could ever be offered, it was just tasted way before its time.
This is how we are with God so often. We give Him our lives and then thirty minutes later (in spiritual time) we demand that He give the results back to us. And then we leave disillusioned and disgusted because God didn’t live up to our expectations. The sad thing is that if we could just hang in there, and wait patiently upon God (in God’s time), God would EXCEED our expectations. Too often we never give God the time or room to work.
So where are you at right now? Waiting for Noah’s picture to be developed was so worth it. I’m so glad that I didn’t interrupt the process out of impatience, because this precious image would have been lost. God is developing some really great pictures in your life even now as I write. All you have to do is hang tough, trusting that God’s end result is so worth the wait. You will be so blessed when you finally see what God has been up to. There is no telling how many lives God is having to impact, how many situations God is having to influence, how many minds God is patiently trying to change to bring about His perfect best for your life. All I can say is, whatever it is you are waiting on God for, it is sooooooooooooooooooooo worth the wait.
God loves you and so do I,
Sami
A few weeks ago I sent out an e-letter that focused on the Joy of the Lord being our strength. I shared about how Becky and Kelly fixed one of Noah’s burp rags into a swami hat and placed it on his head. We just laughed and laughed. Well the film is finally developed, and you no longer have to wonder what was so funny. This is one of those magic moments where faith becomes sight:
You know, faith becomes sight all the time, it’s just that most of us don’t have the patience to wait for it to be revealed in our lives. We give up on God before God has time to perfect His plans for us. “So why does it take so long?” you might ask. It’s like this: imagine you have been invited to dinner at a place known for its steak dinners. This place has a reputation for succulent, tasty, perfectly grilled steaks. It only serves them just right. The same is true for the baked potato and salad that come with it. They too are worth writing home about. But one day someone comes to eat there and within five minutes of ordering demands that the food be brought out. The server pleads with the patron saying, “It just isn’t ready; we need more time.” But the patron is so impatient to eat that the demands become more escalated. Reluctantly the server agrees to bring the dinner out. Of course what does the patron find? The steak is raw, the potato is hard, and the lettuce hasn’t even been washed. In disgust the patron exclaims that it is the worst meal ever served on the face of the earth and stomps out of the restaurant. In reality, it is the very best meal that could ever be offered, it was just tasted way before its time.
This is how we are with God so often. We give Him our lives and then thirty minutes later (in spiritual time) we demand that He give the results back to us. And then we leave disillusioned and disgusted because God didn’t live up to our expectations. The sad thing is that if we could just hang in there, and wait patiently upon God (in God’s time), God would EXCEED our expectations. Too often we never give God the time or room to work.
So where are you at right now? Waiting for Noah’s picture to be developed was so worth it. I’m so glad that I didn’t interrupt the process out of impatience, because this precious image would have been lost. God is developing some really great pictures in your life even now as I write. All you have to do is hang tough, trusting that God’s end result is so worth the wait. You will be so blessed when you finally see what God has been up to. There is no telling how many lives God is having to impact, how many situations God is having to influence, how many minds God is patiently trying to change to bring about His perfect best for your life. All I can say is, whatever it is you are waiting on God for, it is sooooooooooooooooooooo worth the wait.
God loves you and so do I,
Sami
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Now for Sami’s Ramblings about Jesus:
This past weekend several of us went to Fairview United Methodist Church in Maryville, TN to share our Outreach ministry with them. I had the opportunity to speak along with Becky Tenpenny (our campus missionary) to a Sunday School class about our ministry here at Western. One of the things we talked about was how students’ needs have changed over the years. As a college student ten years ago, I remember having so much more free time than many of you have now. Today, so many of you are taking 18-21 hours of classes, have classes that demand much more from students than in when I was a student, have part-time jobs that you work close to 20 hours a week, and have more demands on your time because of other organizations that you need to be in because of your major or career goals. I guess this is preparation for life beyond college where things don’t get easier.
As I pondered these things I felt you needed to hear some good news. Hear these gracious words from scripture:
“Come unto me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” --Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)
I know many of you are weary. You are so run down that your bodies (though they are young and strong) get so beat up on that they catch the flu and sickness, knocking you off your feet. I look at some of you sometimes, and the weariness is etched in your faces with dark circles cradling your eyes. And I only know the pressures you tell me about. I can’t even account for those other things you struggle with which you don’t mention, things that drain you of whatever classes and work didn’t siphon off. I just want you to know no matter what challenges, or obstacles, or impossible circumstances you are facing, there is good news.
With a simple invitation Jesus can come into the present moment of your life and begin re-engineering it so that you experience all of His promises. When He takes the time to make sure a promise makes it into scripture (especially the red word print!), you can be sure that He will stand by it and help you to stand upon it. Are you tired? Are you weary? Are your books—I mean burdens—too heavy? Jesus is offering you his peace this morning. Just come unto him. Take a moment to seek His face. Take a moment to read His scriptures. Take a moment to be still before Him and let Him speak to your hear. Rest is coming.
Now for the bad news (that’s not really bad news at all, it just asks something of us). We have to come ready to learn. Jesus says, “Learn from me.” If we come to him looking for help, yet with an obstinate attitude that is unwilling to let go of things that are harmful and unwilling to be obedient to the direction (spiritual medicine) he gives, then our coming to Him makes no difference. We leave more frustrated than when we came. It is like going to the doctor who give us a prescription, says “drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest,” and instead of doing any of those things we continue on doing the very things that made us sick in the first place. And because our need for help is so critical, and our refusal to accept help so obstinate, we eventually find ourselves even worse than when we asked for help in the first place. Yeah, I know. Those of you who know me well are thinking, “This girl needs to listen to her own sermons.” Point taken. I spent my day with Jesus yesterday myself.
Anyway, know that you are loved. You are so precious in His sight. He would give his everything for you. In fact He already has, and He always does. Just be still and let Him love on you a little bit (okay, a lot).
You know you are all special to me too.
Blessings,
Sami
This past weekend several of us went to Fairview United Methodist Church in Maryville, TN to share our Outreach ministry with them. I had the opportunity to speak along with Becky Tenpenny (our campus missionary) to a Sunday School class about our ministry here at Western. One of the things we talked about was how students’ needs have changed over the years. As a college student ten years ago, I remember having so much more free time than many of you have now. Today, so many of you are taking 18-21 hours of classes, have classes that demand much more from students than in when I was a student, have part-time jobs that you work close to 20 hours a week, and have more demands on your time because of other organizations that you need to be in because of your major or career goals. I guess this is preparation for life beyond college where things don’t get easier.
As I pondered these things I felt you needed to hear some good news. Hear these gracious words from scripture:
“Come unto me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” --Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)
I know many of you are weary. You are so run down that your bodies (though they are young and strong) get so beat up on that they catch the flu and sickness, knocking you off your feet. I look at some of you sometimes, and the weariness is etched in your faces with dark circles cradling your eyes. And I only know the pressures you tell me about. I can’t even account for those other things you struggle with which you don’t mention, things that drain you of whatever classes and work didn’t siphon off. I just want you to know no matter what challenges, or obstacles, or impossible circumstances you are facing, there is good news.
With a simple invitation Jesus can come into the present moment of your life and begin re-engineering it so that you experience all of His promises. When He takes the time to make sure a promise makes it into scripture (especially the red word print!), you can be sure that He will stand by it and help you to stand upon it. Are you tired? Are you weary? Are your books—I mean burdens—too heavy? Jesus is offering you his peace this morning. Just come unto him. Take a moment to seek His face. Take a moment to read His scriptures. Take a moment to be still before Him and let Him speak to your hear. Rest is coming.
Now for the bad news (that’s not really bad news at all, it just asks something of us). We have to come ready to learn. Jesus says, “Learn from me.” If we come to him looking for help, yet with an obstinate attitude that is unwilling to let go of things that are harmful and unwilling to be obedient to the direction (spiritual medicine) he gives, then our coming to Him makes no difference. We leave more frustrated than when we came. It is like going to the doctor who give us a prescription, says “drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest,” and instead of doing any of those things we continue on doing the very things that made us sick in the first place. And because our need for help is so critical, and our refusal to accept help so obstinate, we eventually find ourselves even worse than when we asked for help in the first place. Yeah, I know. Those of you who know me well are thinking, “This girl needs to listen to her own sermons.” Point taken. I spent my day with Jesus yesterday myself.
Anyway, know that you are loved. You are so precious in His sight. He would give his everything for you. In fact He already has, and He always does. Just be still and let Him love on you a little bit (okay, a lot).
You know you are all special to me too.
Blessings,
Sami
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