At Work (by Jake Dudley)
I’ve discovered something about myself during the last few months or so:
I’m emotional.
Yup, it’s official. As a man, I was hoping it was just a seasonal thing like the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, but I’m afraid I am doomed to the fate of being an emotional basket case for the rest of my life. But, either way, I feel like I need to grow a beard or chop some wood or go buy something from Home Depot.
Even as I type this, I’m wishing there was a manly way of letting you beautiful people know that I cried yesterday after watching a clip from “A Walk to Remember.” I’m not sure why this is, really, other than a growing understanding that this season of life has just been difficult.
Maybe you can relate.
For me, the combination of a failed relationship, constant car trouble, growing up, moving out and preparing to leave for a 2 ½ month long summer job away from family and friends, have forced my emotions get the best of me. I’ve been faced with lots of questions about who I am, who I want to be and how the heck I’ve found myself where I am.
Here I sit, letting valuable life lessons pass me by in the name of trying to measure up to somebody – anybody – who can validate me and tell me I can do this on my own.
And in the middle of all the chaos, the mess, the insecurity and the doubt, I’m reminded of a simple truth that I too often forget:
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us. –Ephesians 3:20
The best 2 words of this verse?
AT WORK.
Think about it – not according to what we did last year or what happened to us last month or what we’ll do when we get a college degree or when we figure out who we are. NOPE! According to the power that is AT WORK – right now, currently – within us right where we are.
Whether we are living in beauty or terror, joy or anxiety, emotion or apathy, faith or fear, God is currently at work within us. He is molding and shaping and helping and loving and doing things bigger than we can possibly imagine.
That, my friends, is beautiful.
Living in a world driven by standards and outcomes and results, we Christians have become far too destination-oriented. That’s dangerous. Why? Because God doesn’t work that way.
We are a destination-oriented people serving a journey-oriented God.
We always seem to focus on an outcome. We look past the present to focus on the future. We try and try and try to meet standards and live up to other people’s expectations all the while forgetting that we have the Creator of the Universe working on our behalf right. Where. We. Are.
You see, I’m learning that my current emotional state is not a curse, but an opportunity to notice that everything I’m trying to do is worthless if I don’t have the guts to face the fact that God is the one doing it through me.
I’m done with standards. I’m finished with trying to measure up. I’m tired of worthless expectations that do nothing but glorify myself and my feeble attempt to make something of this life I have been given.
No more.
The more we try to live up to a standard, the less we are able to live for a Savior.
Let go of the standard and focus on the God who died so you didn’t have to measure up. Stop trying to find the outcome and focus on the moment.
As Christians, we have the living, breathing God AT WORK within us right now. Live like you believe it.
Follow Jake on Twitter here and read more of his writing here.
(via mynameiscolton)
Source: corycopeland
Getting Started
Made it down to Florida a couple days ago, and finally have my job for the summer working at the Polo Ralph Lauren outlet. Getting an employee discount there, AND living 5 minutes away from the beach? Doesn’t get much better than that. This being said, those awesome things are not actually my main focus for the time that I’m here. The main thing, which I’m even more excited about, is participating in this discipleship program to not only make myself closer to my God, but equip me with the means to evangelize to other people and show them the glory of God and the way to salvation as well. Extremely stoked about what I’ve been blessed this for this summer. Good things. Good things happening.
Colton
Source: mynameiscolton
Went to a Lecrae concert a couple nights ago and it was siiiick! Dude is very passionate about what he does and most importantly is passionate about preaching the word of God and spreading the word for His glory. I would have taken a video of part of the concert, but the dude in front of me was going Lecrae cray, so I couldn’t really get anything that would have been worth posting. So I’ll just leave you with this. “I could play the background.”
When the Bible says “watch and pray”…
It doesn’t mean “watch and criticize,” “watch and gossip” or “watch and judge.”
Kaleo Summer Project
My name is Colton, I am finishing my Junior year in college, and I am in a Fraternity.
That is how I imagine my introduction would be if I had to go to AA support meetings or something like that (Not that I would need to go to those). On a real note though, in addition to the Fraternity, one of the student organizations that I have most been impacted by on campus is Student Mobilization. It is a Christian organization with a mission to build laborers for Christ from the college campuses of the world. This January, along with a couple of my Fraternity brothers, I went to a Student Mobilization conference in Oklahoma City where we worshiped God together through music and had the privilege of listening to several guest speakers about God’s Word and what it says. At this conference I learned about a summer program that Student Mobilization offers called Kaleo, which I have chosen to participate in. It will be a time to learn biblical truths and practical skills to help me learn how to have a ministry on my campus and throughout the rest of my life. Other college students from Arkansas, Oklahoma and other states will be there, too. Together we will study the Bible with a Discipleship Group, share the gospel, participate in a local church and attend large group Bible study sessions. I will work a full-time forty hours a week job in the community of Destin, Florida, where we will be living and studying together through Kaleo. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to participate in a program such as this and I know that this will end up being one of the most pivotal summers of my life because of it.
I want to ask you to pray for me and my time this summer, that God would use it mightily to continue to build my character as well as my convictions. Student Mobilization has as their core values: Teamwork, Initiative, Development, Excellence and Faith. This summer I am convinced that I will develop and improve in each of those areas of my life, as well as in my relationship with God and with others. I am also currently seeking financial support for this growth/outreach opportunity. Several of us will be living together in condominiums in the beach community, which call for living expenses (lodging, food, materials, etc.) over the course of the nine weeks that we will be there. I would be honored for you to be a part of this experience with me in whatever way you feel God would have you belong. Continue to pray for me and the others going to this, and if you would like to contribute online to my summer outreach adventure, go to www.stumo.org, click on the word donate, and follow the directions there. Please go to www.stumo.org, click on Kaleo and watch the video and read about this summer ministry. You can message me on here if you have any questions.
Thank you, again, for all the encouragement and support that has been thrown my way. I can’t wait to share with you what God has done in my life during the summer upon my return (I don’t know how frequently I’ll be able to update this blog during my participation in this project). I appreciate your consideration and participation in my summer experience either through your prayers or financial support or both.
Sincerely,
Colton Duffy
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT, emphasis mine).
Source: hecticity
The problem with Christianity is everybody knows what we are against… but not what we are for.
Source: jesusiwillfollowyou
“Chill. I got your back.” - God
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11
