Birthday Week

With each passing birthday, I value memories more. Memories with those I love have become some of my favorite gifts. My birthday this year was very low-key but I enjoyed it as such! I had several opportunities throughout my "birthday week" to spend quality time with wonderful friends who have blessed my life over the last few years.
One of the many things my discipler, Tara, taught me my senior year of college was to "embrace the birthday week". For me, this has meant a weekend trip the last couple of years to celebrate with dear friends. Last weekend, I had my first experience driving through the snow at night! I was definitely thankful to be in Columbia after a 4 hr drive that usually takes 2! I thankfully got there safely and spent the evening with Meredith and her roommates watching the Olympic opening ceremonies. One of Meredith's roommates and I were in a small group Bible study together our Sr yr of college. One of the other girls from that group also lives in Columbia. She spent the night as well so the next morning was a lot of fun spending time with everyone!
The next morning, we woke up to a white blanket still largely intact. A group of us walked down to the State House and built a snowman there!




I left Columbia around noon and headed up to Clemson (where I'd intended originally to be Fri night but I loved the detour!) I had dinner with 3 other girls from college. We all have birthdays within two weeks of each other; 3 of us within a week!


It was great to catch up and just spend some quality time with ladies I respect and love so much. We went to Fatz cafe and of course loaded up on the awesome rolls and all sorts of yummy birthday food. The waitress even brought each of us a strawberry shortcake for dessert!


After dinner, we went back to their townhouse and had a couple other girls over. We ended up chatting and watching the Olympics. I really wanted my birthday to be kinda low key surrounded by friends so I loved it! After church at my old Clemson home church, I had lunch with one of the girls from my Passion family group! She's a sophomore at Clemson. It was so good to catch up with her in person! I usually end up making my way back home slowly visiting friends along the way so of course for my birthday trip I had to as well! I had coffee with one of my Summerlink roommates on my way through Greenville then stopped back in Columbia to go to church with Meredith. Her church meets at night and they were starting a new series she wanted me to visit for. I got back around 10ish pretty tired but thankful for a great trip.
The birthday celebration continued on Wed with my community group! They were so sweet in "changing the venue" for our usual meeting time to go out to dinner. We went to a little restaurant downtown that we all really enjoy. It was wonderful to have some time to just catch up on each others lives and enjoy some great fellowship!


On my actual birthday, I enjoyed a relaxing morning before going to work in the afternoon. I had the following day off which I spent relaxing, running a few errands and spending time with my roommates.
My birthday is just one of many days that I'm so blessed by family and friends who consistently remind me of how much I'm loved.

Birthday

Those who know me well know I'm not prone to waves of emotion....Every now and then though, something really grips me. That happened tonight as I was moved to tears by a birthday card from my parents. Its a music card that plays "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts. I've heard the song and I do like the lyrics. What moved me was thinking of the sentiment from my parents' perspective. They've been so encouraging throughout my life but especially now as I've been trying to navigate this "adult world". I cant express how thankful I am for parents who pray for me encouraging me to wholeheartedly pursue God's plan for my life. It's been hard on all of us for me to live so far from home. I do know I'll always have a place in their home. I think, though, it takes stronger parents to encourage their most precious gifts to venture away from what is secure and familiar.
I'm so blessed to have parents who desire above all else to see me walk closely with the Lord. Thank you mom and dad for all you've done to encourage my growth spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I love you so much!

My Wish- Rascal Flatts

.....more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything........

Passion 2010 Main Session: Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio gave the final main session message of Passion 2010.
Phillipians 2:1-11
Considering others more important than ourselves we need to have the same view as our example, Jesus.
Having a theological not an emotional turn-around of the way we view who God is and how He relates to me produces zeal!
The goal is not to be more moral etc The goal is to think and see like Christ- to act and respond like Him
Jesus took on the nature of a servant humbling Himself to death.
God's wrath had to be satisfied- someone had to die
....and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, (a COMMA not a period!) to the glory of God the Father
Are you putting faith and trust in Him now? The question isn't "when" its "are you"?
I'm surrounded by a bigger story-- the glory of God

Paul is writing from jail celebrating that the church was living for Christ while he was not with them.
Can 2010 make it back to towns, relationships, campuses, workplaces?

We dont need more input- God gave us everything in Christ- We need more output.
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you
The living GOD is at work in you!
the will and the ability to act according to His great purposes

Surrender (to be His grace in me) not promise
"I cant but you can"
dying to the self trying

Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure
still something to be had for being like Christ in this world
our generation took the wrong path
my mouth, hands, face display the living God

Passion 2010 Main Session: John Piper

One of the many ways Pastor Piper ministers is by sharing the notes for his sermons in the resource library of DesiringGod.org. Passion 2010 was blessed to have him as a main speaker and that he posted his notes! Here they are!


Is Jesus an Egomaniac?
Passion 2010
Atlanta, Georgia

By John Piper January 4, 2010
Erik Reece is writer-in-residence at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, teaching environmental journalism, writing, and literature. He published a book last April entitled, An American Gospel: On Family, History, and the Kingdom of God. On May 13, 2009, he did an interview on National Public Radio with Terry Gross on the program Fresh Air about his book.
What he said is in large part why I am giving this message the way I am. It wasn’t the first time someone had said this. But it may have been the most recent and most public and most blatant. And just so you know, I wrote to Mr. Reece a long letter with my concern in the hope that I could give him another perspective.
Reece grew up in a fundamentalist Christian home, like I did. He rejected his. I loved mine and give thanks for it to this day. The background paragraph at the NPR website said that he struggled to find a different form of Christianity with the guidance of Thomas Jefferson, Walt Whitman, and other American writes.
Jesus Christ, Egomaniac
In the interview, Terry Gross pointed Mr. Reece to page 28 of his new book. On that page, he quotes from Jesus in Matthew 10:37-39.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Then after quoting Jesus, Reece says, “Who is the egomaniac speaking these words?” Terry Gross asks him, “Would you elaborate on that reaction?”
Reece replies, “Well, it just struck me as ‘Who is this person speaking 2000 years ago, a complete historical stranger, saying that we should love him, (who we are really incapable emotionally of loving) more so than we should love our own fathers and sons?’ It just seemed like an incredibly egomaniacal kind of claim to make.”
So in his book, he says that if Jesus talked like this, he is an egomaniac, and then in the interview, he confirms that conviction that someone who would talk like this is egomaniacal.
So here is Jesus saying: “Love me more than you love anyone in the world. If you don’t you are not worthy of me.” And Erik Reece says: “That is an egomaniac talking.”
Now Reece is not the only one who feels that way.
Like a Vain Woman Wanting Compliments
C. S. Lewis, eventually professor at Oxford and great writer of Christian apologetics and fiction 60 years ago, was slow to come to Christ. He was 29 before he was converted.
And he says in his book Reflections on the Psalms that one of the great obstacles in coming to believe in the God of the Bible was that when he read the Psalms, the constant demand from God to praise him seemed (to him) to picture God as craving “for our worship like a vain woman who wants compliments.”
In other words, he stumbled, just like Erik Reece, over the self-exalting commands of God that we praise him, and the self-exalting commands of Jesus that we love him more than we love our parents or our children or our own lives. To Lewis and Reece, this was sheer egomania.
Human Tyrants Crave Adulation
Almost seven years ago in the March 30, 2003, issue of the London Financial Times, Michael Prowse wrote the same thing from another vantage point:
Worship is an aspect of religion that I always found difficult to understand. Suppose we postulate an omnipotent being who, for reasons inscrutable to us, decided to create something other than himself. Why should he . . . expect us to worship him? We didn’t ask to be created. Our lives are often troubled. We know that human tyrants, puffed up with pride, crave adulation and homage. But a morally perfect God would surely have no character defects. So why are all those people on their knees every Sunday?
Or if he were here, he would say, “Why are these 20,000-plus students standing with their hands and their voices lifted in praise to a God and his Son who are such egomaniacs that they constantly demand that we think they are the greatest?
Why are all these young people cowed into doing just what these egomaniacs want them to do, namely, admire them and praise them above everybody else in the universe?
Until He Said, “Jealous”
My wife and I had dinner last night with Francis and Lisa Chan, and I was telling them about this talk and Oprah Winfrey came up as another example of someone who left traditional Christianity because of seeing God this way.
So I went back to my room and called up the You Tube clip of her statement and wrote it down. Here’s what she said. She was describing being in a church service where the preacher was talking about the attributes of God, his omnipotence and omnipresence. Quote:
Then he said, “The Lord thy God is a jealous God,” I was caught up in the rapture of that moment until he said, “jealous.” And something struck me. I was 27 or 28, and I was thinking God is all, God is omnipresent, God is . . . also jealous? A jealous God is jealous of me? And something about that didn’t feel right in my spirit because I believe that God is love, and that God is in all things.
In Exodus 34:14, God says, “You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” In other words, God demands that you and I and Oprah Winfrey give him all our worship. If we give any of our worship to another, he is jealous, and if we don’t repent, he will break forth in wrath. “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24).
So Erick Reece and the early C. S. Lewis and Michael Prowse and Oprah Winfrey all turned away from the God of the Bible because they thought he was too self-exalting. Too self-centered. Too much the egomaniac.
Such a Self-Exalting, Self-Centered God
I heard Don Carson, New Testament scholar from Trinity Seminary near Chicago, say a while back that as he has done evangelistic outreach on university campuses, the questions have changed over the years. Thirty years ago they tended to revolve around historical problems with Christianity.
Nowadays it is represented by questions like, How can you worship a God who so self-exalting and so self-centered as the God of the Bible—a God who is constantly pointing to his own greatness and constantly telling people that they should recognize this greatness and tell him how much you like it?
Touching the Very Center of Christianity
I don’t think that what we are seeing here is a small, marginal, or tricky opposition to Christianity. I think what Erik Reece, C.S. Lewis, Michael Prowse, and Oprah Winfrey are seeing touches the very center of Christianity.
If you say in response: I thought Christ crucified for sinners and risen triumphantly was the heart of Christianity, you would be right. Paul said, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
That’s true. But the amazing thing is that it’s the intersection of God’s apparent egomania with the human condition of sin that makes the cross of Christ necessary and makes it intelligible and reveals the deepest things about God in the death of Christ.
So we are not dealing with something small here or marginal, but something central and crucial.
God Lives for the Glory of God
I didn’t face this issue until I was about 23 years old—40 years ago now. I had grown up in a Christian home where I was taught 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So it was clear to me that I should live for the glory of God.
But no one ever said to me that God lives for the glory of God. Then I read Jonathan Edwards’s The End for Which God Created the World, and everything changed. He simply blew me away with page after page of biblical texts showing God’s pervasive God-centeredness. That God does everything for his glory. That he is unwaveringly committed to uphold and display his glory.
And what became clear to me, and remains clear to this day, is that many Christians think it is good for us to be God-centered, but don’t feel at all comfortable with God being God-centered. We should be Christ-exalting, but Christ shouldn’t be Christ-exalting.
God’s God-Centeredness as the Test
What I have found in my own life, and in the life of many others, is that God’s God-centeredness is the test of whether our own God-centeredness is real: Do I rejoice in God’s unwavering commitment to uphold and display his glory—do I rejoice in God’s God-centeredness? Or am I God-centered only because deep down I believe God is man-centered, so that my supposed God-centeredness is really man-centeredness, even me-centeredness?
Does my opposition to God’s God-centeredness reveal that my supposed God-centeredness is just a cover for wanting myself at the center, and the use of God to endorse that because he is so centered on me?
God’s Radical Devotion to Himself
Reading the Bible with these eyes, I began to see what Erik Reece and C.S. Lewis and Michael Prowse and Oprah were seeing. God really is radically devoted to seeing himself exalted. God is radically committed to seeing that his glory is esteemed as the supreme value of the universe.
Here is a sampling of what I saw.
God creates for his glory.
Isaiah 43:6-7: Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.
God elects Israel for his glory.
Jeremiah 13:11: I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory.
God saves them from Egypt for his glory.
Psalm 106:7-8: Our fathers rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake that he might make known his power.
God restrains his anger in exile for his glory.
Isaiah 48:9-11: For my names sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you . . . . For my own sake, for my own sake I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.
God sends his Son at the end of the age for his glory.
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10: He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at in all who have believed.
In all of redemptive history, from beginning to ending, God has this one ultimate goal: that his name be glorified. The aim of God in all that he does is most ultimately the praise of his glory.
All of redemptive history is bookended by this amazing purpose in God the Father and God the Son. And in the middle of that redemptive history stands the greatest event in the history of the world, the death of Jesus Christ.
And just at these points—the beginning and the ending and the middle (predestining of our salvation at the beginning, and the consummation of our salvation at the end, and the purchase of our salvation at the middle)—just at these points the problem of God’s apparent egomania finds its amazing solution.
God’s God-Centeredness from Start to Finish
Consider a passage of Scripture about each of these points—the beginning (predestination), the ending (consummation), and the middle (propitiation).
Beginning: Ephesians 1:4-6
God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace.
Before the foundation of the world, God planned a redemption in Christ with this great and ultimate goal: that we would praise his glory. And the apex of that glory would be the glory of his grace.
So from the very beginning, we see that God made his exaltation and our salvation one piece. You don’t have to choose between God’s glory and your joy, because the apex of your joy is praise, and the apex of his glory is grace.
What We Delight to Do
C. S. Lewis broke through to the beauty of God’s self-exaltation (thinking at first that the Psalms sounded like an old woman craving compliments). He finally saw something very different:
My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can’t help doing, about everything else we value. I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. (C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms [New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1958, 93-95])
Lewis saw that praising God is the consummation of joy in God. Therefore, when God is pursuing—even demanding—our praise, he is pursuing the consummation of our joy.
This may feel at first counter-intuitive—that when we are small and feel insignificant, while God is great and central, at those very moments we reach our highest joy. But it’s not counter to our deepest sense of where joy comes from. John is not in thinking highly of ourselves. Joy reaches its height in moments of self-forgetfulness in the presence of beauty and greatness.
So if Jesus wants you to feel most alive, most joyful forever, what would he show you?
Ending: John 17:24
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
When all is said and done, and the history of the world is complete, and the new heavens and the new earth are established, and the infinitely joyful age to come is here, the ultimate joy, the ultimate climax of history for our aching hearts, is “we will see his glory,” and we will be transformed by it into the kind of people who can enjoy it fully and not be incinerated by it.
When Jesus says, “Love me more than you love your mother and father and sons and daughters and your own children and your best beloved on earth,” he is not hurting anyone!
Jesus Is Saying…
He is saying: If you find your ultimate joy in your most cherished earthly treasure, you will be disappointed in the end, and I will be dishonored. Because I am offering myself to you as the all-satisfying beauty and greatness and wisdom and strength and love of the universe. I am what you were made for. And I am telling you that, if you see this—if you see me as your supreme Treasure—then you don’t have to choose between your satisfaction and my glorification, because in the very act of your being most satisfied in me, I will be most glorified in you.
Jesus continues, “When I pray for you, that in the end you will see my glory, it is simply because, as God, I am infinitely glorious, and I want you to see infinite glory and enjoy it. I want you to be with me and be satisfied in me. I am not an egomaniac. I am your all-satisfying friend.”
The Great Problem of Sin
But of course, there is a great problem—and this is that we are sinners. Not only do we not want to treasure someone above ourselves, we don’t deserve that privilege. And so how will sinners like us be able to stand in the presence of God and enjoy his greatness as our all-satisfying Treasure?
Which brings us now to the middle of history and the work of Christ on the cross.
The Cross at the Center
The center of God’s plan—from beginning to end—stands the mighty cross of Christ. And in it we see the clearest statement of God’s passion for his glory—precisely and amazingly in the salvation of sinners. Romans 3:23-26:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Note the argument:
What God did: He put Christ forward as propitiation by his blood (verse 25a). Christ died to remove the wrath of God.
Romans 8:3: “What the law could not do . . . God did: . . . he condemned sin in the flesh.”
Galatians 3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”
Why did he need to do it this way—by dying on a cross? Verse 25b: “This was to show God’s righteousness.” Why did he need to show his righteousness? Verse 25c: “because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”
Why does passing over sins call God’s righteousness into question? Verse 23: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. “Fall short” means “lack.” We have exchanged the glory of God in every sin (Romans 1:23). Every time we sin, we say that the glory of God is not the supreme Treasure to be desired above all others. It is not satisfying. It is not to be preferred.
When God passes over that, it looks as if he agrees. And if he agrees, he is unrighteous. He is wrong. He is acting in contradiction to what is true. His righteousness—his commitment to doing what is right—is his commitment to act as though his glory is supremely valuable, which it is. His righteousness is his commitment to upholding and displaying the infinite worth of his glory. And that is what the cross does.
God Is Passionate for God
Therefore, from beginning to end—from predestination before creation to the final state of contemplation of the glory of Christ at the end of history—God is passionate for his glory.
In the center of that history, the greatest event that ever happened, the death of the Son of God for sinners like us, is the demonstration of God’s righteousness—the demonstration of his unwavering commitment to uphold and display the infinite worth of his glory as the supreme Treasure of the universe.
Forgiveness for His Name’s Sake
Which means that now when we come to him for mercy and cry out to him for the forgiveness of our sins we do it for his name’s sake—for the sake of his glory.
For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalms 25:11)
And we hear the promise from 1 John 2:12, “[Y]our sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”
The greatest news in the world is that in the death of Christ, God has made a way for his name to be exalted and my sins to be forgiven in the very same act. God is both just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
The Foundation of Our Salvation: God’s Value
And what makes this so spectacular is that the foundation under our salvation is not our value but God’s value. The consummation of our salvation is not that heaven is a hall of mirrors where we like what we see, but that we will be glorified and the universe will be glorified to the point where we can fully enjoy the glory of Christ.
Here is the end of the matter: God is the one being in the universe for whom self-exaltation is not the act of a needy ego, but an act of infinite giving. The reason God seeks our praise is not because he won’t be fully God until he gets it, but that we won’t be happy until we give it.
This is not arrogance. This is grace.
This is not egomania. This is love.

Passion 2010 Main Session: Andy Stanley

It's always a mistake to determine what you want to be before who you want to be
Most spend too much time on what they'll do and who they'll be with
Who you are will determine what you'll do and achieve
My talent, education, drive has the potential to sweep me past what my character can maintain

Who a person is on the inside always impacts the other aspects Who you are on the inside will dictate what people associate with your name

You will never be that mouthpiece if you lose sight Your being will always influence your doing
There is no guarantee you'll stay passionate about the things of God unless you refuse to lose sight of this truth

Daniel 6:3-5
Daniel- Hebrew, slave in Babylon, the king gave him leadership, treated him as a Babylonian because of his intelligence and skills
Daniel is recognized for management etc skills
the men around him got jealous and tried to malign him- unsuccessfully- they found no corruption in him because he was trustworthy
They thought they couldnt find anything unless it deals with the law of his God

Laying a foundation to be a leader in the generation- people look past what you do to see that your character backs it up (nothing could be found in Daniel)

8 things you'd want said at your funeral about who you were
honest- foundation of all relationships
ask why? whats at stake if I'm not?
pure- mind, heart, soul, body What's at stake?
generous- whats at stake?

dishonesty undermines the integrity of relationships
purity paves the way to intimacy - way bigger than a bad memory
generosity ensures that the things you own never own you

these words form an invisible barrier around behavior- going outside of it
For the sake of achievement becomes too much of a risk Too much at stake
Failure because intimacy, integrity etc is at stake

What you want said about you at your funeral is your personal definition of success

What wont you sacrifice? (things God wants for you)
What kind of person will you choose to become? What type of leader?

The question is not what you'll do Its what values do I want to form a perimeter around my behavior
Within that perimeter there's freedom to achieve

What are my non-negotiables?
Get this right and you'll be a leader worth following
Who has God created me to be?
God is working with me and in me to mold me into who He's created me to be

Passion 2010 Main Session: Francis Chan

Day 2 Evening Main Session was Francis Chan
This was one of the messages that stuck with me the most.

Some saw Jesus raise Lazarus and still chose to deny- some are hardened soil
2 Pet 3:1 Stir up your sincere mind with a reminder
God will still get you there after wrong turns It may take a little longer and you'll have to listen but He can and will
*illustration of a GPS "recalculating"

Read with reverence for the Word of God
Is 66:2 He looks for the humble, contrite in spirit who trembles at His Word

Matt 17--Transfiguration Peter, James, John on the Mount with Jesus
Do you know what you're asking when you ask God to speak to you? The voice of God

2 Pet 1:16-21 Peter heard the actual, audible voice of God He says we have something better, more sure
The Word of God- its true yesterday, today and tomorrow
Crave the Word. Read and tremble

What we see and call "church" and "Christian" in society is different from whats in the Word

II Pet 1:1 Peter writes that he's writing to people of equal faith standing- my faith is of equal standing with Peter, an apostle!
I am not some less loved kid I am just as much a child of God as any and all of my siblings even apostles and the great theologians and teachers of modern day

When others look at my life- the grace and peace- do they wish they had my (Heavenly) Father?

v3 His Divine power has granted us all things pertaining to life and Godliness
If you believe this as God's Word and you're not living a Godly life, its your own fault
He's given me everything I need to live a Godly life walking with Him
when you mess up, confess it Stop making excuses and explaining why its so hard

God's Word says I am a partaker of Divine nature v 4

II Pet 2:20-22 A pig will be a pig unless his nature changes he'll go back to the mud
He's referring to those in spiritual culture (getting "hosed off") but not getting a new nature

Rom 2:4 God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance
anger, addictions, lack of kindness....
If the Holy Spirit (new nature) is in you, you have the power over these things

Passion 2010 Main Session: Beth Moore

The speaker for the morning main session on Day 2 was Beth Moore. She focused a lot on what God uses to equip His children for His purposes I recently finished reading through Hebrews (one of the main books she used) Its essentially full of redemption history: the difference between life under the law and freedom in Christ after His sacrifice that bought our lives.

Luke 24:45 Love for God is a gift of the Holy Spirit
Hebrews 13: 20-22 God has a specific, individualized plan for my life
vs 21: equip
What does ministry look like? How does it play out? (practically)
time plays a huge role
What do you what me to be? Who have you called me to be?
My life fits into the kingdom purpose plan
He has promised to equip us as He fulfills His will through His plan for individuals. The author of Hebrews packs everything back into the benediction
God's will for me is good! Let that sink in Phil 1:6z
Good= beneficial
I'm here to do good- leaving the world better after I'm gone
Greek for equip--> (broader in greek)
prepare, adjust, fit, readjust, supply, mend, complete

4 ways He equips:
1) By preparing us
He's been preparing for me since the creation of the universe
Eph 2:10 He prepared our works in advance
2 Tim 1:5-6
2 lines/strings coming into Timothy's ministry
1) natural blood line 2) Spiritual influence --Paul was Timothy's spiritual father Others cant own your faith for you! (even in a home that taught and exalted Christ)
not one detail has been wasted!
Rom 8:28 even tragedies and horrible circumstances are used (meant to be used) for equipping and His glory

2) He equips us by adjusting us
He puts us in situations where we feel we don't fit- situations that provide finishing
The biggest adjustments will be to people
constant flux and change- new situation so that we'll be a new person and character
I am not finished
If you feel like you don't fit, there's a reason why its fitting
Don't run until He releases you
Until you're around the people who bring you the worst in you, you're not in a position for God to bring out the best in you

3) By Repairing us
dominant themes of "equip" --prepare and repair
dont surrender to ministry, surrender to Jesus- to go anywhere to do anything with Him
the "call" is to Himself- following Him, you'll do His will
Gal 6:1
restore= equip (same root Greek)
Repairing is constant You want to keep it together
Resetting or mending a broken bone
Broken relationships, vows promises
If you don't allow this restoration, you wont be equipped
Telling God: I wish you wouldn't have had to pick me up from that pit or sin
will you be angry or allow God to restore
God always wills to restore people not positions- hanging on to positions is pride
Heb 4:13 Grace and Mercy
you dont have to be ashamed to need grace and mercy- hold your head up

4) By filling us
Heb 13:20-21 Through Jesus Christ
You cant do what you've been called to do Only Jesus can fulfill His great purpose
How much will you give way to Him? If you determine to hold on to carnality, you'll miss it
He wont use the carnal
Stop trying to run in someone else's lane- run your own race! Don't compare yourself to anyone else.

Passion 2010: Community Group Study

The routine for Passion was Community Group, main session, lunch, breakouts, afternoon/dinner break (when we picked up late night tickets), Main Session, Community Group, late night LONG days but so packed with amazing theology, wisdom, fellowship and seeing God in new, awe-inducing ways.
Every Community Group at Passion did a study of Colossians 1. It was used to either introduce or remind us of Interactive Bible Study:
Reading a passage and asking:
1. What is the context? (whats going on-to whom, when why)
2. What does it say? (original language)
3. What is God saying about Himself?
4. What does it mean? Implication
5. What does it mean to me? Application

We started with Col 1:15-20 discussing each question with our family groups then Kyle lead us through it as a community group.
Here are some of my notes:
context- Colossians was written to the church at Colossae (modern day Turkey) Paul probably hadnt been to Colossae which was no longer the city center (it was then Laodicia) At the time, starting a church meant evangelizing to those who had never heard, seen or met Jesus (though many doing the evangelizing had) They were dependent on church leaders Paul is in prison. Colosae was in trouble- believing lies that they are still under the law. The fear was that they'd abandon the faith.
Vs 15 His is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
greek-icon Jesus is the exact representation of God but not an idol He is God- God revealed Himself in Jesus. John 14:9
Firstborn- Supreme
Greek means first Son of God: Jewish- rights and privileges, authority
Prominence not sequence, rank
What does this mean: Implications
If Jesus is the icon, there is no other special revelation coming or needed
What does it mean for me?
Nothing will satisfy like Christ does- the icon, Knowing God is possible through Jesus, Jesus is worthy to be followed- He's supreme.

Vs 16 For by Him all things were created...by Him and for Him
context: Jesus is initiator All things are made to serve and glorify Him
Implications: As creator, Jesus couldnt be created; All power and creativity are in my Saviors hands
--I LOVED this! I love being creative so hearing things like all creativity is in His control reminds me of why things like photography are a form of worship for me. I feel more drawn to Him while expressing creativity.
Satan can only do what our Savior permits Jesus has all power and authority
If all things are for Him, my life exists to serve and glorify Him
What does this mean for me?
If Jesus has authority, I'll fear no evil- all even submits to MY GOD!
Before thinking of myself as gifted, I am a created masterpiece of God
My day is different if I am focused on my purpose to serve and glorify Him This truth changes my life, career path, etc Work and live with the purpose of serving and glorifying God -- this is something I try to remind myself of before going to work. Thinking of unpleasant tasks as serving the purpose of glorifying God definitely changes my attitude towards them.

vs 17 He is before all things and in Him all things hold together
What does it say?
Keeping all things in continuous stability My Savior holds solar systems and my cardiovascular system in place
what does this mean?
He's in and around all aspects of my life, All things continue and exist by the pleasure of His will
Trouble in the world isnt Christ's weakness its all for God's purposes and glory in ways we cant comprehend Part of His plan for history.
What does it mean to me?
I can trust Him with my life.

Vs 18 He is head
What does it say? Church=Body; He's the head Jesus is first of many to be raised
what does it mean? Dont rely on something so temporary when you have something so eternal and valuable Pre-eminent- we wont see the end to His glory We wouldnt want a God we can fully understand
What does it mean to me?
Jesus is possessive over His bride. He has control over every aspect- the messy and the beautiful. We are to fulfill His purpose here and to be His hands and feet
Every church leadership flow chart begins with Jesus
How do I do _______(college/vocation) world while keeping Jesus supreme?
Vs 19 For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (greek: to be at home permanently)
Implications: every part of God was resident in Jesus Fully God
What does it mean to me? Through Jesus, I have complete access to God- not a substitute
Vs 20 Through Him to reconcile to Himself all things
God initiates reconciliation with us
There was nothing we could do It pleased God to secure the peace we could never accomplish on our own
The way to restoration with God is the cross - personal faith in Him
I have been reconciled- there is peace between me and God

Passion 2010: Awakening

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:8-11

Louie Giglio posted this passage on his blog shortly after the conclusion of Passion. The mission statement of Passion has always been (and will continue to be) Isaiah 26:8-- a generation united, passionate to see Jesus made famous.
Each conference, though, does have a different focus. Louie Giglio's message in the opening main session introduced the focus for Passion 2010: Awakening.

He defined Awakening as "trading in something small (lives we control) for something huge (a life that fits into His plans, spent for God's purposes- a plan greater than anything we could dream of).
He spoke out of John 11, the death of Lazarus. His friends and family were asking where Jesus was and why He didn't care enough to come immediately. Even the disciples were asking Jesus why they weren't going to Lazarus sooner. Louie explained that according to verse 4, its possible that the pain you're going through is receiving a response of "I love you, but its for God's glory"
Jesus went to "wake" Lazarus (as well as everyone else there observing!)
*the following is transcribed out of my notes so it may seem scattered but I think its fairly straightforward to stand without explanation**
"Some of us have fallen asleep" and "God wants to bring a rattling vision of the Almighty God to shake my tiny world". "Jesus, wake me up from just existing"
vs 15: "For your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe" --Jesus knew it was better for them to see Lazarus awakened than if He'd saved him from death
vs 34-36 Jesus wept over Lazarus' death He WAS upset that his FRIEND died!
Martha objected to Jesus rolling back the grave stone because Lazarus' body would have started to decay (stench)
Some need to be awakened and the stench behind the stone is overpowering but God's not afraid of our stench! He's not offended by our humanity Move the doubt-- the "I tried and failed" mentality, move the "it wont work for me", Jesus called to God for the benefit of those listening. He already knew Lazarus would be awakened.
He told Lazarus to take off his grave clothes and come to Jesus Wake up to who you are, what mending you need ....
Take off the grave clothes! Go beyond just knowing God. Unpeel the layers, be unbound and free.
The timing was no accident: vs 45 The passover was drawing near and many more people were around Many put their faith in Him after seeing Lazarus raised (Lazarus' death and awakening served a greater purpose for the Glory of God)
Lazarus' family held a party for Jesus. Celebrate the One who raised you, invite Him into your space, call your friends around, pour out something extravagant that matches His work. Let those around you see you dead and after resurrection. Someone they know personally - let them witness a great change.
Jesus was made more famous in Bethany BECAUSE of Lazarus' death More will come to know Jesus BECAUSE I go through the fire! He'll become more famous now with the testimony of my resurrection.
vs 24 Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone but if it dies it bears much fruit
Jesus didn't cry to be bailed out He cried for God to be glorified. Could God be glorified, made famous, if Jesus said "no" to the cross? yes but b/c Jesus traded something for larger, God's MORE famous.

Passion 2010!

Yes Lord, walking in the way of your truth we wait eagerly for you for your Name and Renown are the desire of our souls Isaiah 26:8


The past month has flown by! I arrived in Atlanta for Passion on January 2nd and left on the 5th. It was such a blessing to get to attend! God definitely paved the way making His hands in the process so evident. I know the same hands that cleared the path for me to Passion 2010 were also the ones holding me through some difficult spiritual lessons and sustaining me now as I'll be held spiritually responsible for what I've learned. It was definitely a challenging, convicting, growing, healing and encouraging time! As with SummerLINK, I know I'll be processing through and applying what I learned there for years!
The blessings of the conference began even before arrival. I drove up to Clemson to join my group for the drive to Atlanta. With just four girls in the car, we were able to talk about Passion, to pray together and to listen to the arrival podcast that Louie Giglio had recorded to help us get our minds and hearts ready for a very powerful few days. I also printed off the 16-day prayer journey to read on the way. It was great to be with Clemson girls and to have that time of fellowship and community prayer before getting to Atlanta.
The magnitude of what God was trying to do in my heart started hitting me even during worship in the first main session. Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels Charlie Hall and Matt Redman all lead from the two venues. (Phillips arena cant hold all of Passion so a portion of the group watches the message from the Georgia World Congress Center Arena but they have a separate live worship band) We had Charlie Hall live. He asked "Who is God as he lead "Chainbreaker" -- liberator, heart Savior. He asked "What has God done?" as he lead "Song of the Redeemed" --set us free, purified our hearts and made us clean. Then: "Who are we?" We are Yours. One of the worship leaders said something that struck me "He took the punishment that brought us PEACE" That really got my mind set on God for worship and the message. Louie gave the first message and really set the tone for Passion (as really only he could).
After the first awesome main session, it was on to our first Community Group! We were told by Louie (on the podcast as well as after arrival) that Community Groups would be the place of greatest personal growth during our time at Passion. That was reiterated by our Community Group leader as he opened the first meeting. Louie recorded messages for each of probably 20 Community Groups. With over 21,000 18-25 year olds attending Passion, each Community Group contained about 1,000. He welcomed us to the "Lime Green" Community Group and introduced our leader.


Kyle Dunn is a college pastor serving Baylor University and an old friend of the Giglio's from their time in TX. He's married with 3 kids and is an undoubtedly gifted teacher. And then the real fun began haha. Kyle told us all to "gather our goodies" (backpacks, purses, jackets--there was a lot of layering going....didn't know a "southern city" could get that cold!) and just start "mingling" around the room. When Kyle said stop we had to link arms with someone near us. This little routine was repeated two more times until groups each had 8 people. These are family groups. They're created with the intention of more intimate community during Passion. (pictured below is my family group with Kyle)


While main sessions and breakouts are awesome, they're completed by the opportunity to process everything with a group of loving brothers and sisters. As Kyle simply yet almost profoundly put it: you processing out loud helps others connect the dots. It's so true! I learn more when I can verbally process with others. Sometimes they can articulate something I just can't put into words. I'm convinced that my group was hand-picked by God for me! So many different backgrounds and things to bring to the discussion table.....Our time together and the new friendships formed have been such sweet blessings! We spent that first meeting getting to know each other and preparing for the first full day of passion.
After Community Group, I attended my first late night concert: David Crowder! I'd seen Crowder at Passion Regionals as well as at a concert in Easley my Sr yr of college. I really wanted to take advantage of all aspects of Passion though. The concert was in Phillips on the main stage. Crowder is incredibly funny as an entertainer!
Of course, it was still worship but more laid back than main sessions. Crowder concerts are just fun in general. He's not my favorite of the artists but I do enjoy his band's creativity. They have something called the "keytar". Basically a keyboard worn like a guitar with a neck strap. They have a "band member" named Steve who's actually a robotic drummer. One of the band members also modified a Guitar Hero guitar to be played on stage. At some point in the show they usually play the theme to Mario Brothers.(yes, the video game! haha) It's all pretty crazy and fun to watch! On a serious note though, I read Crowders book, Praise Habit a couple years ago. Its a very insightful and spiritually growing commentary on select chapters in Psalms. David Crowder is definitely not conventional but He is truly a solid worship leader with a great deal to impart on a generation needing more people they can look to who will point them to Christ.
We finished up a little after midnight and headed back to the hotels. Our walk to and from included going through Centennial park. It was still decorated for Christmas and the city was lit up all around us at night. There were so many positive aspects of Passion for the mind, body, and spirit. The walk to and from the hotel each day was so good for my mind and body! I felt great physically with so much activity those few days! Though it was COLD, the morning and evening walks were one of my favorite aspects of Passion.
Most of the 2010 attendees had never been to a Passion Conference (or had just attended the regional in 08- the last full conference was held in 2007) so for the majority, the next day was something completely new.

Just for Fun

There have been a couple Facebook trends recently. One is changing your profile picture to that of a celebrity you think you physically resemble. (I skipped this one in case you were wondering) The other is looking up the meaning of your name on UrbanDictionary.com
I thought this would be fun. Here are the first three definitions (the others are just too outlandish...)

1.

A beautiful and sophisticated woman that will probably never give you the time of day. Generally they have advanced degrees, wear very high heels and know that you are not worthy.

2.
the nicest people in the world.... some may think they're kinda weird or a tad nuts but when you see past it you'll see they are the best people to have around.
they sing, they dance and they love.
very talkative, funny, cuddly, loveable and just all round fantastic people.

3.

The most amazing girl... eyes that shine, with hair a curl, and smile that lights a room. Her looks are the beginning of the journey with her, her soul beams brighter than her amazing beauty. To know her is to love her

Granted, NONE of these are really me but they ARE submitted by random authors whom I've never met. I got a little chuckle out of it. Now aren't you excited to see the urban definition of your name?? ;)