Saturday, January 23, 2016

Grace Lets Us Create

How boring would this world be if we couldn't create?

Seriously, all the things that I see around the world that I love are a product of creativity. "I'm Turnt" by Lecrae? Created. My mom's beautiful artwork? Created. Your favorite Disney movie that makes you feel like a kid again? Created. 

Creativity is a trait that we can only get from one place (or person); and that person is God. Genesis 1:27 wraps this blog post up in one powerfully worded verse, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." 
So, if God created us, and we are made in his image, doesn't that mean we can create as well?

Shoosh yeah it does!

The fact that we are made in God's image is sign that we can create. When I look around my high school, I see so much God-given creativity that inspires me to create differently and wonderfully pieces of creativity for myself. I see so many talented artists that use that gift beautifully to paint, take photos, and draw. I have a friend that writes her own songs; that's AMAZING. I have a friend that is a sick drummer. Great cheerleaders, gifted writers, wicked good baristas, and amazing athletes. There are a couple of dancers at school that can elegantly entice your attention. Creativity/gifts don't even have to be an art form. My best friend is becoming such a good role model to her peers and is really an excellent example to follow. There are strengths in places you might not even know. 

I don't have a ton of confidence when it comes to my perception of my own creativity. I often view my artwork as something that will never be perfect. I color outside the lines, and it often looks messy. When music starts moving these hips I find myself out of rhythm or I just look plain silly. I look at other photographers and see my photos as inferior. 

But you know what? I don't really like to listen to that voice of negativity. My imperfection is a trademark of originality in my work! It's like slapping a big "Aidan made this" sticker on my work. I'm not perfect, I'll probably never be famous for my work; but, using my God-given gifts to glorify my creator, in gratifying enough. And He is up there, delighted and rejoicing in what I do? 1 in 7.3 Billion and counting, and He is delighted in me? 


Zephaniah 3:17New Living Translation (NLT)

17 For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.[a]
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

He has the same feeling for you, your neighbor, your boss, your bully, your teacher, and everyone else on this world. A God that rejoices and desires intimacy with His creation is amazing and we definitely don't deserve it. The gift of grace inspires creativity, praise, and a eternal promise that is better than anything in this world.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Runaways

Hi! This post is start off kind of different from the rest, but before you delve into the words I am about to write below, take some time to read the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15:11-32. Don't worry, these words will be here when you get back. I'd love to hear your interpretation of the parable and how you feel about it!

....

As I read this story, I think of it as the world that I was so excited to grow up in. I couldn't wait to drive, I couldn't wait have my first girlfriend, and I couldn't wait to look like the cool kids on TV. I didn't ease into these stages, I dove in head first. I wanted to be popular, I wanted to date this hot piece of arm candy. I wanted to have the next best tech gadget before anyone else did, and be better than everyone else. So I started to drop all the things that were good for me and replaced them with lust, greed, and arrogance. I thought I knew what was best for me, and that's where it all went downhill. I tried to be friends with the crowd that everyone wanted to be apart of, no matter how I got there. I burned some bridges with old friends in an attempt to get closer to the prettier girls. I played football with the athletic ones at recess in middle school just to get my foot in the door for them to notice me. I went so hard that I ended up tearing a ligament in my leg, I came back to school later that week like a peg leg. As I progressed in this decaying lifestyle, the worse I started to feel. I was in the cool crowd, wasn't this supposed to make me happy? Pretty girls talked to me, shouldn't this feel more fulfilling?

It didn't, and doesn't 

The more weight I trusted these things with, the bigger a hit it was when it feel through. It got to the point where I would repeatedly think about taking my own life. I could stop feeling bad if I just stopped feeling everything.

This lifestyle was toxic, not like the bad Britney Spears song; like you're going to put yourself in the ground toxic. So as a last resort (more like a life raft), my old youth minister held this opportunity in front of me, but I had to take the chance. As I had explained in my first blog coming back I accepted Christ into my heart and started to regain the lifestyle I had ditched in the first years of being in Batesville. Today looking back on it, I wonder why God even considered taking me back into His kingdom. I had totally disrespected and disregarded him for years while my sin started piling up. However, every time I look back on the Parable of the Lost Son; the dad is like God. Even though we screw up so bad to the point of no return; we can come back to God. And He will have his arms wide open. He is our refuge, He is our comforter, and He is our Father.

I'd also like to take a look at the perspective of the older brother. He was by his father's side ever since the younger brother left. He was the perfect worker and a blessing of a son. Put yourself in his shoes: your younger brother comes home after making a mess of himself, living wildly and making your family's image turn rotten. Then he comes home and gets a party thrown for him? Where's your reward for staying? Where is the calf for your hard work? Why can't you throw a party for me?

I believe that when we think like the older brother, we get the mindset that God's gift for eternity is earned. But God's gift is just that, a gift. No matter how hard you try, you can't earn that blessing. And if you are a believer, you're working toward something that has already be bestowed upon you . God gives us this gift so that we can spread the Good News and bring more people to Jesus and his sacrifice for us.


Saturday, January 9, 2016

Eat Our Own Fruit

Imagine yourself as a little kid again, maybe the age of 6. Your parents are in another room, and you and your 10 year old role model brother are in the kitchen. Now imagine this dessert; it could be cookies, it could be ice cream. However there is this note from your parents on the fridge that reads, "You can eat any food from the pantry, but do not eat the dessert on the table." As a 6-year old kid, you probably have enough experience from the past to listen to your parents. So you get hungry and take some food the pantry, until all of sudden you hear your brother say, "Man, does this dessert look yummy!" He beckons you over to gaze at the masterpiece your mother made a little while ago. "Why don't you take a little bite off the side?" your brother says, "Mom won't notice a thing." But you come back with, "But mom told me not to on this note, and I trust she knows best." Your brother answers, "Mom just doesn't want you to taste how delicious it is! Just take a little bite, then you'll know how she feels after a yummy dessert like this!" He keeps pressuring and seducing you to take a bite of this forbidden and delicious dinner-ruiner. 

All of a sudden, you feel the guilt of eating the dessert, and your brother is no where to be found. So you realize what you have done and try to cover it up. Then your mother comes in. It's too late, you're done, you're going to the big house, you had a nice run. She notices that you have tried to cover it up and asks, "Why did you try to cover it up? Why did you eat the dessert I told you not to?" as you explain how delicious you thought it was you couldn't resist. He was tempted. Afterwords you mother sends you to your room after disobeying and you repeatedly hide from her because you are afraid she is still mad at you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice a familiar set of events?

If you haven't caught on, this tale relates to the story of Adam and Eve; the very first humans to dwell with God. Now you see, like the story God tells them, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Genesis 2:16-17). One rule; don't eat from the tree of knowledge or else. Now, they obediently followed this rule until they stumbled across a serpent that seduced them into taking a bite. Instantly they knew they were naked and hid from God. They were ashamed.

All of a sudden, God enters the place where Adam and Eve were and asked where they were. Adam answers, (I'm paraphrasing) "I realized we were naked so I hid!" He asks who told him that; this has a deeper meaning that I've missed up until recently. He knows that they have eaten from the tree, he knows where they're hiding. It's a beckon to intimacy with God, the last thing He wants is for us to hide from Him. There is a short passage from Jefferson Bethke's book It's Not What You Think that rattles me down to the bone. God is asking us, "Who told you that you weren't good enough? Who told you I didn't love you? Who told you that you were a failure? Because I sure didn't" (Bethke 58-59) This is such a hard hitter because when we realize that we aren't good enough; when we are addicted to drugs or porn, when we lie, cheat, kill, and steal, we hide. The slime of shame covers us and we constantly think we are worthless. But what God thinks of us is the exact opposite; He wants a relationship, intimacy, and love with His creation. 

Back to the eating of the apple; beforehand Adam and Eve put their trust in God with the knowledge of right and wrong. However, when Satan enters the picture he twists the trust of right and wrong to Adam and Eve, or independence from God. Adam and Eve didn't truly didn't know the difference between right and wrong before the fall because they didn't need to. They trusted that God knows best for them--which he does. 

Sin = I Know  
When we have the false idea that we know the difference between right and wrong, or good and evil; we become our own masters or gods. We think "I know what's best for me", but that is so toxic. This behavior leads to death. Trust in God's plan for your can lead to an eternity that you don't want to miss. 

We have the choice to decide our fate here, choose an awesome eternity trusting in God, or make our own path and completely destroy ourselves.

God loves you, you are worth everything to Him; don't forget that.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVOTIONAL PICK: "In His Steps" from 15 Minutes Alone with God for Men by Bob Barnes 

This devo comes from 1 Peter 2: 13-25, at a first glance it is a letter to slaves in various places in Asia Minor. Although, I come to this passage and think of a common message of perseverance. To respect authority even if they are cruel is a testament to your obedience to God. It also talked about how Jesus is the perfect example to follow in the midst of unjust conditions. 

But lets face it, we can't be exactly like Jesus, its impossible. There are a lot of things we can't change in this broken world, but we can introduce people to Jesus. We can develop a teachable spirit. It's the gift that keeps on giving. To share a unity in Jesus with others is truly a blessing. 

Challenge:
How teachable are you? What can you do to be more open to what God wants you to learn?

What will you do to follow in Jesus' steps today?

Father God thank You so much for speaking through me today. I pray that we can come out of hiding and  find a relationship that will truly last forever. Help me and the people reading this live like Jesus and spread the love today and the rest of our days on earth. Thank You for the ability, the time, and the resources to do this today. In Your son's name I pray,
Amen

John 16:33New Living Translation (NLT)

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

God Bless!
Aidan