Once upon a time, there was this girl. Using a random name generator, we'll say her name was Sonya. (Really. No relation to having read Crime and Punishment. That's what the random name generator gave me.) Sonya was new to high school. And all the buzz was about this guy: His name, according to the random name generator, was Travis. Travis Wrenn, actually, but I didn't really want a last name in there.
It appeared that Travis was a really, truly wonderful young man. Being friends with him didn't necessarily make you popular, but being friends with him meant you knew what you were doing. He was the most loyal friend anyone could ask for. He made an effort to know everyone, and to know them well. He seemed to have an infinite amount of time at his disposal, as it was difficult to believe that he had the time to be such close friends with so many people. People either loved him, hated him, or couldn't care less. No one merely "liked" Travis; and the people who hated him, well, they were the sort of people you want to avoid in high school anyway. Travis had a way of making those he came in contact with feel special, important, needed. Being friends with Travis changed people -- and always for the better.
And Travis showed immediate interest in getting to know Sonya. Having heard Travis's reputation, Sonya was delighted, and she gushed to her friends about how honored she felt, and how she couldn't wait to see how her friendship with Travis would develop.
Therefore, it greatly surprised Sonya's friends when she turned down every opportunity she was offered to spend time with Travis. He offered to help her with her Algebra homework, invited her to church, asked her to come to a party at his house. But every time, he was rejected. Sonya had different priorities. She always had a perfectly good excuse -- someone needed to talk, she had too much homework, she had already committed to going to the movies with her friends. But Sonya had seemed so excited about this friendship, that it was really shocking how often she rejected Travis's offers of company.
Finally, Sonya couldn't stand it any longer. She exclaimed to her friends, "I just don't understand it! I've been here an entire semester, and I barely know this Travis guy. I mean sure, I've talked with him sometimes, and I wave back at him when he waves in the hallway. But is that what everyone's talking about? I don't get why we haven't become great friends! Does he not like me or something?"
It seems ridiculous that anyone could be this blind and ridiculous. But I am. I get caught up in my little world and everything I have to do: Study for that history test, practice for that upcoming performance, make signs for Prom. And then I wonder, Gosh, God. Why haven't You been changing me and shaping me? I haven't learned anything recently!
Too often, I think we forget that knowing God is just like knowing anyone else. It requires time. He makes every effort to invite us into His presence, but we offer up excuse after excuse. We have different priorities. But then we get frustrated when knowledge of God and what He desires to teach us doesn't magically spring up in the two minutes we give Him every day.
It takes years to really get to know someone. Think how much longer it takes to get to know Someone whose character is infinite. Are you willing to put in the time? Not necessarily the effort; the only effort that is required is to clear our lives and come sit at the feet of Christ. But that's all. He's eager to love you. He's eager to teach you. And He's waiting.
Will you come?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A Lasting Hope
"I finally started cutting for real. It bled. It hurt. But it's spring, and I'm going to stop. I don't want people to see the cuts on my arm and feel bad. So what will I do to stop the pain now? Isn't it obvious? I cut on my hip instead. And I'm only eleven. Is there no way out?" ~Six Billion Secrets
There are very few things more sad than this. More heart-breaking. But what may be even more sad than this "secret" is the sort of response this young lady received. Several people declaring that she needed to "go out and get a freakin' life." "You're flippin' eleven, live your life." And so on. Those who actually seemed to care repeated the same sentiment over and over: Cutting is not the answer.
But none of them seemed to know what the answer actually is.
This world is obsessed with quick fixes. People offered this girl options for what she could do instead of cutting: Squeeze an ice cube, write in a journal, hit a pillow. All excellent distractions that keep you from self-harm. I've done many of those things myself. But these are all immediate distractions, not a solution to the deeper problem that has to be eating away at this girl's heart. Even cutting is something of a "quick fix"; a symptom of a much more deep-seeded problem.
And no one had any idea how to address that. And that's what breaks my heart.
Five years ago, Jesus saw poor, pitiful little me. Huddled in a freezing cold study. Ready to go beyond just scratching myself, ready to gather the courage to actually make myself bleed. But before I could put anything to my arm, He gently whispered to my heart, I already took that cut. And I never cut, or even came close, again.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus saw that darling eleven-year-old girl. He saw her breaking heart. He saw the pain she couldn't keep inside any longer. He saw what she did to try and make it go away. And He gave up His life so that she could keep hers. But who is ever going to actually tell her what He did for her? Who is going to intercede on her behalf? Who is going to plead that someone will come into her life and let her know she is worthy of love? Who is going to be the hands and feet of Christ to this child?
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home. I was blessed to have parents that gave me a solid foundation. I knew Bible verses. I knew who Jesus was. I knew the Gospel story. So that, in my darkest hour, when I heard Jesus' voice, I knew exactly who it was. But that is not a luxury that many have these days. If people know the Gospel, they tend to know the watered-down, fictional version.
But the Gospel has power. Jesus Christ has power. This world needs to know that when the blow was about to fall; when the blade was about to be lowered; when the whip was about to strike; Jesus stood in their place. His body took the hit. His arm took the cut. His back took the lashes that were rightfully ours. He removed the chains from our wrists and put them on His own, so that we could walk out of our prison cell and live in freedom. And not only did He take our chains -- He shattered them.
And even in America, when there's a church just about every five minutes down every given street, I never cease to be amazed how few people actually know this. When people ask, "Is there no way out?" why are Christ's children not stepping up and crying, "Yes! There is a way out! There is a God who loves you no matter what you do, who gave up His very life because He adores you so much. He doesn't want you to be perfect. He wants all your broken pieces. He wants your heartbreak, your depression, your anger, your sadness. He wants your ashes so that He can make them something beautiful. Please, just give them to Him!"
Instead, we write people off as lost causes.
Our God is alive. Our God is working. Our God stood in the gap, our God took the blow, our God aches for people to just come sit at His feet and be loved by Him. He doesn't want people to try harder. He doesn't want the prodigal to work for Him; He wants the prodigal to be wrapped up in His arms until everything that happened in the past is washed away.
Too often, I treat people as though they need to do more. As though they aren't trying hard enough to obey God. As though until they have exactly the same relationship with God that I have, they're not good enough.
But then I remember where I was five years ago. And I realize that some of these people have not learned to hear the voice of God. That they may never have even heard His Name. That they need someone, not to judge them, but to be Jesus' hands and feet. They need someone to tell them, He already took that cut.
They don't need to do more. They just need to be loved.
Let the Living God work and love through you. The world is starving for hope, and hope that lasts beyond a quick fix can only be found in Christ. Hope that saves lives comes from God. Hope that changes lives comes from the One who was cut, so that we don't have to be.
Hope comes from the Risen Christ. And we have the privilege of telling this world about Him.
There are very few things more sad than this. More heart-breaking. But what may be even more sad than this "secret" is the sort of response this young lady received. Several people declaring that she needed to "go out and get a freakin' life." "You're flippin' eleven, live your life." And so on. Those who actually seemed to care repeated the same sentiment over and over: Cutting is not the answer.
But none of them seemed to know what the answer actually is.
This world is obsessed with quick fixes. People offered this girl options for what she could do instead of cutting: Squeeze an ice cube, write in a journal, hit a pillow. All excellent distractions that keep you from self-harm. I've done many of those things myself. But these are all immediate distractions, not a solution to the deeper problem that has to be eating away at this girl's heart. Even cutting is something of a "quick fix"; a symptom of a much more deep-seeded problem.
And no one had any idea how to address that. And that's what breaks my heart.
Five years ago, Jesus saw poor, pitiful little me. Huddled in a freezing cold study. Ready to go beyond just scratching myself, ready to gather the courage to actually make myself bleed. But before I could put anything to my arm, He gently whispered to my heart, I already took that cut. And I never cut, or even came close, again.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus saw that darling eleven-year-old girl. He saw her breaking heart. He saw the pain she couldn't keep inside any longer. He saw what she did to try and make it go away. And He gave up His life so that she could keep hers. But who is ever going to actually tell her what He did for her? Who is going to intercede on her behalf? Who is going to plead that someone will come into her life and let her know she is worthy of love? Who is going to be the hands and feet of Christ to this child?
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home. I was blessed to have parents that gave me a solid foundation. I knew Bible verses. I knew who Jesus was. I knew the Gospel story. So that, in my darkest hour, when I heard Jesus' voice, I knew exactly who it was. But that is not a luxury that many have these days. If people know the Gospel, they tend to know the watered-down, fictional version.
But the Gospel has power. Jesus Christ has power. This world needs to know that when the blow was about to fall; when the blade was about to be lowered; when the whip was about to strike; Jesus stood in their place. His body took the hit. His arm took the cut. His back took the lashes that were rightfully ours. He removed the chains from our wrists and put them on His own, so that we could walk out of our prison cell and live in freedom. And not only did He take our chains -- He shattered them.
And even in America, when there's a church just about every five minutes down every given street, I never cease to be amazed how few people actually know this. When people ask, "Is there no way out?" why are Christ's children not stepping up and crying, "Yes! There is a way out! There is a God who loves you no matter what you do, who gave up His very life because He adores you so much. He doesn't want you to be perfect. He wants all your broken pieces. He wants your heartbreak, your depression, your anger, your sadness. He wants your ashes so that He can make them something beautiful. Please, just give them to Him!"
Instead, we write people off as lost causes.
Our God is alive. Our God is working. Our God stood in the gap, our God took the blow, our God aches for people to just come sit at His feet and be loved by Him. He doesn't want people to try harder. He doesn't want the prodigal to work for Him; He wants the prodigal to be wrapped up in His arms until everything that happened in the past is washed away.
Too often, I treat people as though they need to do more. As though they aren't trying hard enough to obey God. As though until they have exactly the same relationship with God that I have, they're not good enough.
But then I remember where I was five years ago. And I realize that some of these people have not learned to hear the voice of God. That they may never have even heard His Name. That they need someone, not to judge them, but to be Jesus' hands and feet. They need someone to tell them, He already took that cut.
They don't need to do more. They just need to be loved.
Let the Living God work and love through you. The world is starving for hope, and hope that lasts beyond a quick fix can only be found in Christ. Hope that saves lives comes from God. Hope that changes lives comes from the One who was cut, so that we don't have to be.
Hope comes from the Risen Christ. And we have the privilege of telling this world about Him.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Not Ashamed
This past Monday, I presented my "senior thesis" at my school. This is the culmination of our high school career: Twenty-five pages detailing what we believe makes "the good life," presenting twelve of those pages to whatever poor soul loves you enough to come hear you talk for an hour, and answering questions about your thesis.
And of course, I talked about Jesus. Specifically, a poured-out life, first before God, then before man. Several people were sweet enough to tell me they liked it; and just as many people told me how much courage it took.
Why has Jesus' Name become a taboo? Why is the only One who has the power to save all of humanity relegated to Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, and the occasional holiday? Why is speaking the Name of Jesus Christ and telling about His power to save something that appears to require notable courage?
Of course, I know all the historical and cultural reasons for that. But still, why do those of us who have been given the power and the spirit of Christ remain silent? Why can we not allow ourselves to be even a little uncomfortable? Why are we so afraid of being judged when we know that the only Judge who matters aches for us to share His life with a broken world?
Why are we ashamed of Someone who's so awesome?
We were designed to "bubble over with Jesus joy" (yes, I'm quoting myself), not just sit around believing in Jesus. When we have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, He instills that desire in us to go tell about it! Not necessarily specific, private details, but the fact that other people can have this too.
Do not be silent. Speak up for your God. It's the most elating experience in the world. Nothing tops telling people about Jesus. Really. He has given you the tools you need to be able to share His life, so share it!! Fall more in love with Him, and He'll help you. Let your passion for Jesus make you unable to keep your mouth shut!
Of course, that doesn't mean that we should force our beliefs on other people. You can tell them about Jesus once, or twice, however many times they seem receptive to it... But then just tell them with your life. Actions speak so much louder than words. Let Jesus do the talking in their life.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone that believes...."
And of course, I talked about Jesus. Specifically, a poured-out life, first before God, then before man. Several people were sweet enough to tell me they liked it; and just as many people told me how much courage it took.
Why has Jesus' Name become a taboo? Why is the only One who has the power to save all of humanity relegated to Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, and the occasional holiday? Why is speaking the Name of Jesus Christ and telling about His power to save something that appears to require notable courage?
Of course, I know all the historical and cultural reasons for that. But still, why do those of us who have been given the power and the spirit of Christ remain silent? Why can we not allow ourselves to be even a little uncomfortable? Why are we so afraid of being judged when we know that the only Judge who matters aches for us to share His life with a broken world?
Why are we ashamed of Someone who's so awesome?
We were designed to "bubble over with Jesus joy" (yes, I'm quoting myself), not just sit around believing in Jesus. When we have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, He instills that desire in us to go tell about it! Not necessarily specific, private details, but the fact that other people can have this too.
Do not be silent. Speak up for your God. It's the most elating experience in the world. Nothing tops telling people about Jesus. Really. He has given you the tools you need to be able to share His life, so share it!! Fall more in love with Him, and He'll help you. Let your passion for Jesus make you unable to keep your mouth shut!
Of course, that doesn't mean that we should force our beliefs on other people. You can tell them about Jesus once, or twice, however many times they seem receptive to it... But then just tell them with your life. Actions speak so much louder than words. Let Jesus do the talking in their life.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone that believes...."
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Dear Beautiful
Dear Beautiful,
I know what goes on inside that head of yours. I might not know specifics, since we have very different lives, families, experiences. But in general, as a teenage girl in 2011, I know what those thoughts are. They go through my head, too.
You think nothing you do is ever good enough. You're always disappointing someone -- your parents, your friends, maybe just yourself. You don't measure up. You'll never be able to do anything right, or at least right enough to set you apart and get you noticed.
You don't think you're beautiful. It doesn't matter how many people tell you you're gorgeous -- they're your friends, they have to say that. And if one of them actually criticizes you, it hurts more than anything; after all, who would know better than they? Maybe you even make disparaging comments about your appearance so that you can hear other people contradict you. A stranger's compliment means more than anything the people who know you best could ever say. If warned that a guy only liked you for your looks, you might even be delighted. If your looks are enough to attract, without all that "personality" junk, that would mean you're pretty gosh-darn gorgeous! But somehow, not even that affirmation would be enough to convince you of your beauty.
You want a problem. Maybe you don't know it, and maybe your "problem" is genuine. But when the people around you struggle, they get attention. And however subconsciously, you want a problem so that you'll need that help and attention. You feel absolutely horrible for wanting this attention that others desperately need; but somehow, you can't help it. Your "problem" might be as subtle as self-pity over how you are always helping others, and no one even thinks that you might need help.
And all of this can come back to a very human, very feminine need: To be loved. Really, truly loved. We girls want and need it so badly that when the potential of that love occurs, we either throw ourselves into it without a thought, afraid of losing it, or hang back, fearing it's too good to be true.
And naturally, we think this love will come in the form of a guy.
It's only natural that we think this. After all, "Someday my prince will come" has been fed to us since the age of two. Our prince would come, transform us from rags to riches, and we'd live happily ever after. Everything would be solved by this one magical man. So of course, we look for him. We become self-conscious. After all, what if that magical man meets you on a bad hair day when you didn't have time to do your make-up? Would the entire course of history change because your mascara was neglected that morning?
We begin looking in the craziest places for this guy to appear. "Well, he's not exactly what I've pictured... But I can change him! He's cute, and he likes me! How often does that happen? He must be the one!" Or maybe he doesn't even like you in that way...but if you can just become a little prettier, if you can just do a little more to catch his eye, he'll realize what a gem you are...and he'll become "the one."
And all the while, we're silently screaming, "See me. Notice me. Think I'm worth something. Give me a reason to get up in the morning. Love me."
By the time we graduate high school, our hearts are no longer whole. They've been held out to anyone -- everyone -- freely. You hope this gift of your heart will be enough. That someone will accept it. And perhaps it has occasionally been accepted -- and then handed back, battered and bruised, leaving you even less to offer the next passer-by.
Instead of meeting that deepest need of your feminine heart, pursuing a guy's attention has actually made that need deeper. But no matter how many times a crush fails to satisfy you, you somehow still think the answer to all your problems can be solved by a boy.
You know what's coming now. I'm going to tell you that your heart's desire for love and attention cannot be met by a guy. It can only be found in Jesus Christ.
"I know," you say, "I've heard it a million times. But Kendall, I'm sorry, I've tried to let God be enough. And He's not."
Maybe you wouldn't put it that bluntly. But admit it: At some point in your life, the "Jesus thing" didn't work for you. You tried seeking Jesus, but that wasn't enough. God's love was not enough. I mean, think about it: He loves everyone. He thinks you're beautiful, but He made you; He has to think that. He can love you across time and space, but He can't reach out and tangibly take your hand or give you a hug. It's almost...commonplace. Not special.
Not enough. You need God...and something else.
May I suggest something? It's not comfortable. It's not nice. It's not what you want to hear.
You don't have room for God.
I've tried seeking Him, you say. How much time per day do you spend diving into His Word? Pouring your heart out in prayer? Allow me to venture a guess that it's not as much time as you spend on Facebook or texting your friends. (And I'm guilty of that too.)
I've tried to let His love be enough, you say. Have you allowed Him to strip away everything else in your life that's distracting you from His overwhelming adoration? Have you sat silently at His feet, allowing Him to restore life to your aching heart?
I can't reach out and touch Him, you say. Can't you? He stated that whatever you do for the least of these around you, you do for Him. Haven't you ever seen Christ in the face of a child in Sunday school? Haven't you ever felt Him in the hug of a loving friend? Have you ever asked to see through the eyes of Jesus?
He loves everyone, you say. Yes. He loves you perfectly. Uniquely. He designed you just the way He wanted you, to accomplish a specific purpose on this earth. He is incredibly in love with you, with your heart, with your life. If you were the only one He would have saved, He still would have given His life for you. And He knows every single little thing you've ever said, done, or thought. He knows what goes on inside your mind in the middle of the night -- the things that no one else will ever know, nor would you want them too. He knows all that; and He still loves you.
If you truly want to be satisfied by this glorious God, sweet girl, you need to seek Him with your entire heart. The attention you crave must be forgotten. Any needs to be told you're beautiful in the world's eyes must be laid to rest at the foot of the cross. To have the deepest longings of your feminine heart satisfied, you must stop trying to satisfy them with anything else.
Let this world fade away. Allow Him to tear down your idols. And I promise -- when He becomes all you want, He becomes all you need.
You cannot seek God while this world fills your heart. Empty yourself; and then fill. Fill to overflowing. Pour out your life at Jesus' feet, and then be filled beyond all imagination with a love that will never leave you wanting more.
And then one day, you will experience a love story like no other. As you fall more in love with Jesus, you'll fall more in love with this man; and as you fall more in love with this man, you'll fall more in love with Jesus. He'll think you're gorgeous without any make-up, on a bad hair day, because it's the glowing, whole heart that is consumed with love for a beautiful Savior that attracts him. He'll love your eyes and your smile because they're yours, not because the world has decided that they meet some fickle, ever-changing criteria of beauty. His passion for Christ will inspire you to greater passion, and your passion will do the same for him.
And it all begins with coming to Jesus and making the decision to follow wholeheartedly. It means ceasing to live by the world's standards, forsaking all, and embracing a new meaning of beauty. It is a radical emptying of self, determining to live only for the applause of heaven.
You have the opportunity to be radiant. Will you let it slip through your fingers, continuing in a pattern of pain, heartbreak, and an ever-growing need for acknowledgment and affection? Or will you seize this opportunity, and become a shining example of God's pure power?
"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." ~Psalm 45:10-11 (emphasis added)
I am praying for you.
In His Love,
Kendall
I know what goes on inside that head of yours. I might not know specifics, since we have very different lives, families, experiences. But in general, as a teenage girl in 2011, I know what those thoughts are. They go through my head, too.
You think nothing you do is ever good enough. You're always disappointing someone -- your parents, your friends, maybe just yourself. You don't measure up. You'll never be able to do anything right, or at least right enough to set you apart and get you noticed.
You don't think you're beautiful. It doesn't matter how many people tell you you're gorgeous -- they're your friends, they have to say that. And if one of them actually criticizes you, it hurts more than anything; after all, who would know better than they? Maybe you even make disparaging comments about your appearance so that you can hear other people contradict you. A stranger's compliment means more than anything the people who know you best could ever say. If warned that a guy only liked you for your looks, you might even be delighted. If your looks are enough to attract, without all that "personality" junk, that would mean you're pretty gosh-darn gorgeous! But somehow, not even that affirmation would be enough to convince you of your beauty.
You want a problem. Maybe you don't know it, and maybe your "problem" is genuine. But when the people around you struggle, they get attention. And however subconsciously, you want a problem so that you'll need that help and attention. You feel absolutely horrible for wanting this attention that others desperately need; but somehow, you can't help it. Your "problem" might be as subtle as self-pity over how you are always helping others, and no one even thinks that you might need help.
And all of this can come back to a very human, very feminine need: To be loved. Really, truly loved. We girls want and need it so badly that when the potential of that love occurs, we either throw ourselves into it without a thought, afraid of losing it, or hang back, fearing it's too good to be true.
And naturally, we think this love will come in the form of a guy.
It's only natural that we think this. After all, "Someday my prince will come" has been fed to us since the age of two. Our prince would come, transform us from rags to riches, and we'd live happily ever after. Everything would be solved by this one magical man. So of course, we look for him. We become self-conscious. After all, what if that magical man meets you on a bad hair day when you didn't have time to do your make-up? Would the entire course of history change because your mascara was neglected that morning?
We begin looking in the craziest places for this guy to appear. "Well, he's not exactly what I've pictured... But I can change him! He's cute, and he likes me! How often does that happen? He must be the one!" Or maybe he doesn't even like you in that way...but if you can just become a little prettier, if you can just do a little more to catch his eye, he'll realize what a gem you are...and he'll become "the one."
And all the while, we're silently screaming, "See me. Notice me. Think I'm worth something. Give me a reason to get up in the morning. Love me."
By the time we graduate high school, our hearts are no longer whole. They've been held out to anyone -- everyone -- freely. You hope this gift of your heart will be enough. That someone will accept it. And perhaps it has occasionally been accepted -- and then handed back, battered and bruised, leaving you even less to offer the next passer-by.
Instead of meeting that deepest need of your feminine heart, pursuing a guy's attention has actually made that need deeper. But no matter how many times a crush fails to satisfy you, you somehow still think the answer to all your problems can be solved by a boy.
You know what's coming now. I'm going to tell you that your heart's desire for love and attention cannot be met by a guy. It can only be found in Jesus Christ.
"I know," you say, "I've heard it a million times. But Kendall, I'm sorry, I've tried to let God be enough. And He's not."
Maybe you wouldn't put it that bluntly. But admit it: At some point in your life, the "Jesus thing" didn't work for you. You tried seeking Jesus, but that wasn't enough. God's love was not enough. I mean, think about it: He loves everyone. He thinks you're beautiful, but He made you; He has to think that. He can love you across time and space, but He can't reach out and tangibly take your hand or give you a hug. It's almost...commonplace. Not special.
Not enough. You need God...and something else.
May I suggest something? It's not comfortable. It's not nice. It's not what you want to hear.
You don't have room for God.
I've tried seeking Him, you say. How much time per day do you spend diving into His Word? Pouring your heart out in prayer? Allow me to venture a guess that it's not as much time as you spend on Facebook or texting your friends. (And I'm guilty of that too.)
I've tried to let His love be enough, you say. Have you allowed Him to strip away everything else in your life that's distracting you from His overwhelming adoration? Have you sat silently at His feet, allowing Him to restore life to your aching heart?
I can't reach out and touch Him, you say. Can't you? He stated that whatever you do for the least of these around you, you do for Him. Haven't you ever seen Christ in the face of a child in Sunday school? Haven't you ever felt Him in the hug of a loving friend? Have you ever asked to see through the eyes of Jesus?
He loves everyone, you say. Yes. He loves you perfectly. Uniquely. He designed you just the way He wanted you, to accomplish a specific purpose on this earth. He is incredibly in love with you, with your heart, with your life. If you were the only one He would have saved, He still would have given His life for you. And He knows every single little thing you've ever said, done, or thought. He knows what goes on inside your mind in the middle of the night -- the things that no one else will ever know, nor would you want them too. He knows all that; and He still loves you.
If you truly want to be satisfied by this glorious God, sweet girl, you need to seek Him with your entire heart. The attention you crave must be forgotten. Any needs to be told you're beautiful in the world's eyes must be laid to rest at the foot of the cross. To have the deepest longings of your feminine heart satisfied, you must stop trying to satisfy them with anything else.
Let this world fade away. Allow Him to tear down your idols. And I promise -- when He becomes all you want, He becomes all you need.
You cannot seek God while this world fills your heart. Empty yourself; and then fill. Fill to overflowing. Pour out your life at Jesus' feet, and then be filled beyond all imagination with a love that will never leave you wanting more.
And then one day, you will experience a love story like no other. As you fall more in love with Jesus, you'll fall more in love with this man; and as you fall more in love with this man, you'll fall more in love with Jesus. He'll think you're gorgeous without any make-up, on a bad hair day, because it's the glowing, whole heart that is consumed with love for a beautiful Savior that attracts him. He'll love your eyes and your smile because they're yours, not because the world has decided that they meet some fickle, ever-changing criteria of beauty. His passion for Christ will inspire you to greater passion, and your passion will do the same for him.
And it all begins with coming to Jesus and making the decision to follow wholeheartedly. It means ceasing to live by the world's standards, forsaking all, and embracing a new meaning of beauty. It is a radical emptying of self, determining to live only for the applause of heaven.
You have the opportunity to be radiant. Will you let it slip through your fingers, continuing in a pattern of pain, heartbreak, and an ever-growing need for acknowledgment and affection? Or will you seize this opportunity, and become a shining example of God's pure power?
"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." ~Psalm 45:10-11 (emphasis added)
I am praying for you.
In His Love,
Kendall
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I Have Decided
If you ever want your heart broken, go to www.sixbillionsecrets.com.
Actually, I'm not sure I can condone that. This website contains so much pain, so much despair, that it is anything but uplifting. The cutters; the people who have never believed they're beautiful; the abused; the wounded; the abandoned; all come here to spill their secrets to the world, anonymously. And I cannot, for the life of me, understand why...
...until I see the number declaring the hundreds of people who have "liked" this secret. Who have noticed it. Who have in some small way affirmed this person's pain, and given them a reason to believe they can go on.
This generation is dying. This is a generation that screams silently, that openly declares its feelings to everyone with internet, yet cannot personally tell closest friends and the people who need to hear these stories.
This is a generation that is dying to be seen. To be noticed. To be loved.
This is not written to those people, although I have much I could say to them. But they don't need my words. Words can do very little against such deep pain. I will not tell them to turn away from themselves, although I do believe that pouring one's life out for others is an incredible way of healing.
This is written to those of you whom Christ has made strong. This is a call to stand; to notice; to fight. Millions around you are dying; yet how many of us take the time to notice? How many of us wrestle in prayer for the souls of those whom Christ calls Beloved? How many of us, even though we have been rescued and have every reason to spend our lives for others, are still focused on our own problems?
Christianity is to be a bold forsaking of self. It is to be a relentless pursuit of Christ; and a continuous laying down of our own desires to fulfill His call to reach the least of these around us. It is not a name. It is not an activity. It is not something to be taken lightly. It is passionate.
So come to life! It's what you were meant to do! Stop focusing on the problems in front of you. You have been eternally snatched back from hell -- do you realize that? You did nothing to deserve the great love you have received. You have been promised eternal joy in the presence of the Most High God! Your needs pale in comparison to the aching need of this joyless generation. So rise, shine, for your light has come (Isaiah 60:1). You were made strong for a reason: You were made strong so that you could be poured out for the weak.
Become Christ's prayer warriors. Become His hands and feet. You have already been given all you need for this life. So go, and share it with a dying world. Regardless of what they think of you, stand for your God. Even if you are mocked, never cease to share the hope you have been given. We will not always know what effect our words have; all we can determine is whether or not we will speak when He says, "Speak," whether or not we will go when He says, "Go." Be a part of reviving the bold spirit of true discipleship. Say with the hundreds of heroes of Christianity, "I have decided to follow Jesus. Though none go with me, still I will follow.
"No turning back."
Actually, I'm not sure I can condone that. This website contains so much pain, so much despair, that it is anything but uplifting. The cutters; the people who have never believed they're beautiful; the abused; the wounded; the abandoned; all come here to spill their secrets to the world, anonymously. And I cannot, for the life of me, understand why...
...until I see the number declaring the hundreds of people who have "liked" this secret. Who have noticed it. Who have in some small way affirmed this person's pain, and given them a reason to believe they can go on.
This generation is dying. This is a generation that screams silently, that openly declares its feelings to everyone with internet, yet cannot personally tell closest friends and the people who need to hear these stories.
This is a generation that is dying to be seen. To be noticed. To be loved.
This is not written to those people, although I have much I could say to them. But they don't need my words. Words can do very little against such deep pain. I will not tell them to turn away from themselves, although I do believe that pouring one's life out for others is an incredible way of healing.
This is written to those of you whom Christ has made strong. This is a call to stand; to notice; to fight. Millions around you are dying; yet how many of us take the time to notice? How many of us wrestle in prayer for the souls of those whom Christ calls Beloved? How many of us, even though we have been rescued and have every reason to spend our lives for others, are still focused on our own problems?
Christianity is to be a bold forsaking of self. It is to be a relentless pursuit of Christ; and a continuous laying down of our own desires to fulfill His call to reach the least of these around us. It is not a name. It is not an activity. It is not something to be taken lightly. It is passionate.
So come to life! It's what you were meant to do! Stop focusing on the problems in front of you. You have been eternally snatched back from hell -- do you realize that? You did nothing to deserve the great love you have received. You have been promised eternal joy in the presence of the Most High God! Your needs pale in comparison to the aching need of this joyless generation. So rise, shine, for your light has come (Isaiah 60:1). You were made strong for a reason: You were made strong so that you could be poured out for the weak.
Become Christ's prayer warriors. Become His hands and feet. You have already been given all you need for this life. So go, and share it with a dying world. Regardless of what they think of you, stand for your God. Even if you are mocked, never cease to share the hope you have been given. We will not always know what effect our words have; all we can determine is whether or not we will speak when He says, "Speak," whether or not we will go when He says, "Go." Be a part of reviving the bold spirit of true discipleship. Say with the hundreds of heroes of Christianity, "I have decided to follow Jesus. Though none go with me, still I will follow.
"No turning back."
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Unlikely Mission Field
It's inspiring. It's heartbreaking. It tells stories of hearts broken and lives remade. It's time-consuming. It can make some smile. It makes others weep. It can be uplifting or oppressive. It can be en enormous waste of time, or it can be a way of radiantly reflecting Christ and reaching out to serve others.
It's Facebook.
When Facebook first became popular, I was hugely confused about what was so great about it. I updated my status around once a month. I was a boring Facebook user.
As I got older and began to lose contact with more of my friends, I began to see the utility of Facebook in staying connected to people I would otherwise probably never hear from. Many of my friendships have stayed alive because of Facebook. Now, it has become one of my greatest areas for ministry.
The following is my "Facebook philosophy" -- the "policies" I have adopted so that rather than being a distraction and poor use of my time, time on Facebook can become a way of reaching out to others and encouraging them.
Facebook can be an incredible opportunity for ministry. After all, how else do you have contact to so many people in a single day? So long as we use it wisely and selflessly, I am convinced that God can easily work through Facebook to bring people to Him. I challenge you to consider how you can use a social network for His glory. You may end up blessing people without ever knowing it!
It's Facebook.
When Facebook first became popular, I was hugely confused about what was so great about it. I updated my status around once a month. I was a boring Facebook user.
As I got older and began to lose contact with more of my friends, I began to see the utility of Facebook in staying connected to people I would otherwise probably never hear from. Many of my friendships have stayed alive because of Facebook. Now, it has become one of my greatest areas for ministry.
The following is my "Facebook philosophy" -- the "policies" I have adopted so that rather than being a distraction and poor use of my time, time on Facebook can become a way of reaching out to others and encouraging them.
- Discover Spirit-led prayer. Most of us spend much more time on Facebook than we need to, simply because we have "nothing better to do." It should take no more than five or ten minutes to get all of your "Most Recent" posts read. Then, instead of spending time playing games or creepily stalking peoples' profiles, ask God to open your eyes to the people who need prayer. I used to pray for every single person who appeared on my news feed by name whenever I would read their posts. While I no longer do that, as it actually increased my time spent online, this habit was a wonderful time of learning to discern God's voice. Many times, something specific would come to mind for certain individuals. God still uses status updates to draw my attention to someone who needs prayer -- even if their status is as simple as, "Chocolate ice cream is delicious."
- Take advantage of messaging. I don't mean chat; I turn my chat off. But you have the opportunity to reach and encourage people with the click of a button. Send encouraging messages. Let somebody know you're praying for them. You never know how God is working; I've often gotten messages back saying that was exactly what that person had needed at the time. [Note: This does not mean you should send messages willy-nilly. Ask God if there is someone who needs an encouraging word, and if He brings no one to mind, send nothing.]
- Don't post negative statuses. Two hundred and nineteen of your "friends" do not need to know your most intimate struggles. They don't need to know how much you hate your parents. Your post-break-up depression does not need to be posted for every person you know (or don't know) to read about. Thoughts of self-harm are intended to be shared with parents or another trusted adult, not with that one guy you met at that camp that one time. If you would not tell every single one of your Facebook friends in person, don't post it on Facebook. It comes off as a poor, selfish cry for attention; and far too often, it gets the desired reaction in the form of comments from well-meaning friends.
- Don't be too open. You are a complex individual with unique circumstances, emotions, and reactions. The moment you declare every single thing you feel on Facebook, you lose your intrinsic mystery and become a much less fascinating person. Even if it is a positive experience, don't share every detail of your personal life with all these people. I rarely share my emotions on Facebook unless they are generic feelings of praise, gratitude, love, etc. Even when I am privately discussing the way God is working in my life, I do not give specific examples. Try to keep some of that old-fashioned distance and reserve in the way you write your status messages. I seriously doubt you would truly want hundreds of people knowing the inner workings of your heart; and yet, many of us unwittingly post them daily (and in great detail).
- Be encouraging. If you can't post something nice, don't post it at all! Whenever I've found myself wanting to post something less-than-positive, I come to realize that it is simply because I want the attention. I want people to feel sorry for me. But here are more than 200 people who do not need any more negativity in their life, especially from someone who claims to have the joy of the Lord as her strength. If anything, they need a word of encouragement from Jesus Christ. So more often than not, I end up posting things that weren't written by me at all. They are quotes from people far wiser than I; and they end up crazily blessing people when I least expect it.
Facebook can be an incredible opportunity for ministry. After all, how else do you have contact to so many people in a single day? So long as we use it wisely and selflessly, I am convinced that God can easily work through Facebook to bring people to Him. I challenge you to consider how you can use a social network for His glory. You may end up blessing people without ever knowing it!
Friday, December 31, 2010
A Different Kind of "Going On"
There is a phrase that is used these days that absolutely tears at me. It is so indicative of the mediocrity and brokenness that Satan asks us to accept. He whispers, "Life is terrible. It can't get any worse (or could it?), and you can't feel any better...so you might as well just deal with it."
And we nod, lift our heads, brush off the dirt, and say resignedly, "And life goes on."
And yes: life goes on. It does. The circumstances that tear us down will soon be only painful memories, and the people who hurt us will soon move out of our lives. In some ways, the recognition of this fact is admirable. There is something in it that says, "No, I will not let these things break me. I will continue to fight and live and go on, and realize that I won't always feel like this." It refuses defeat.
But at the same time, it refuses healing.
Jesus did not die so that you could accept your pain and carry it with you for the rest of your life. He did not rescue you from a life of misery just so that you would "deal" with your heartbreak by pushing it to the back of your mind. He does not stand with open arms, able to carry the entire weight of the entire world's sin, waiting for you to come to Him, just so you can say, "Nah, it's okay. Life goes on. I'll get over it."
No, my friend, you are made for more! So much more! Your God did not design you to accept brokenness. He did not create you for a life where crack after crack forms in your heart and you simply try to ignore it and forget the pain. He shaped you so that you would be whole. He does not want you to muddle through a mediocre life, pushing yourself back up time and again thinking that's the only way life can be -- you might as well deal with it. No! Your God made you more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are to live victoriously. Passionately. Fully. You were not made to settle, you were made to want Jesus' best. He did not give up all so that you would settle for a life less than that!
Our God can calm a raging storm with a word. He heals the lame. He restores sight to the blind. He brings the dead to life. And He wants to take your heart, that has died one tiny piece at a time, and breathe His life into it. He desires disciples who are completely alive!
"And He who is seated on the throne said, 'See! I make all things new'" (Revelation 21:5). Come, fall at the feet of your God. Do not do it flippantly. Do not do it just for show or to make yourself feel better. Do it with a deep desire to be made completely new, completely alive. Come to be made strong, and to fall head-over-heels in love with a God who is strong to save. Come to discover victorious life in Christ. Come; worship; seek the heart of God. And as you lose yourself in His beautiful heart for you, yours will be raised to life. And life will, again, go on -- but it will go on with a strength and power that you could never have imagined.
And we nod, lift our heads, brush off the dirt, and say resignedly, "And life goes on."
And yes: life goes on. It does. The circumstances that tear us down will soon be only painful memories, and the people who hurt us will soon move out of our lives. In some ways, the recognition of this fact is admirable. There is something in it that says, "No, I will not let these things break me. I will continue to fight and live and go on, and realize that I won't always feel like this." It refuses defeat.
But at the same time, it refuses healing.
Jesus did not die so that you could accept your pain and carry it with you for the rest of your life. He did not rescue you from a life of misery just so that you would "deal" with your heartbreak by pushing it to the back of your mind. He does not stand with open arms, able to carry the entire weight of the entire world's sin, waiting for you to come to Him, just so you can say, "Nah, it's okay. Life goes on. I'll get over it."
No, my friend, you are made for more! So much more! Your God did not design you to accept brokenness. He did not create you for a life where crack after crack forms in your heart and you simply try to ignore it and forget the pain. He shaped you so that you would be whole. He does not want you to muddle through a mediocre life, pushing yourself back up time and again thinking that's the only way life can be -- you might as well deal with it. No! Your God made you more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are to live victoriously. Passionately. Fully. You were not made to settle, you were made to want Jesus' best. He did not give up all so that you would settle for a life less than that!
Our God can calm a raging storm with a word. He heals the lame. He restores sight to the blind. He brings the dead to life. And He wants to take your heart, that has died one tiny piece at a time, and breathe His life into it. He desires disciples who are completely alive!
"And He who is seated on the throne said, 'See! I make all things new'" (Revelation 21:5). Come, fall at the feet of your God. Do not do it flippantly. Do not do it just for show or to make yourself feel better. Do it with a deep desire to be made completely new, completely alive. Come to be made strong, and to fall head-over-heels in love with a God who is strong to save. Come to discover victorious life in Christ. Come; worship; seek the heart of God. And as you lose yourself in His beautiful heart for you, yours will be raised to life. And life will, again, go on -- but it will go on with a strength and power that you could never have imagined.
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