A few things have happened as of late to make me think that Jesus is speaking to me. I get daily emails from Christ Notes that send one Bible verse a day to my inbox. I highly recommend them. I periodically post a particularly poignant verse onto my computer or the surrounding chalkboard. (Did you notice the alliteration in that sentence?) Recent events caused me to stare at and digest all the verses -while sitting in my teacher cocoon- and meditate on some meaning: Here are my thoughts.
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15-17
This was a shout out to my compulsive "Husband Gone Depression" shopping habit. I do lust after clothes on sale, I can't imagine a world in which I do not have those hot pink capris on sale for 20 dollars. So, I put this verse on a card and stuck it in my wallet. So far it has only served to thin out the stream of purchases rather than quell them completely, but I'm a work in progress.
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Face it Kaley-you're in a trial. (A trial so deep it has you talking to yourself in third person on your blog-lame!) This really hit home with me especially the part where it mentions that it has work to do. Instead of revolting against my trial I can embrace it and learn what Jesus is aching for me to pull from it. To come out of the tunnel with a stronger faith than you went into it with. Obvious, but a bit of an "Oh!" moment when I reread it.
Ah working in a secular environment sure does tempt me to gossip and pick up some smarmy language. And I fail. Again and Again. They might even put me on the fail blog with a giant FAIL across my face for "Resisting temptation to repeat smarmy work vocabulary". I can blame it on work all I want, but a large part of it is my heart and it's craptastic attitude. "The joy of the Lord is my strength, my song. It has become my salvation"
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
In a secular world how far do you go when defending your beliefs? I always state how I feel, most times with a disruption. The Gospel is urgent, but when does it become rude especially if the "greatest of these is love". I want to live in truth. I want my actions to speak of my faith. I feel like I'm on trial everyday. And to be honest, I'm looking forward to working at a Christian Camp with Christ lovers all summer, a little respite from the world I live in.
Jesus is definitely working in people's hearts who are around me.
Love, Kaley
PS I'm really not looking for a book deal. So if you read this and think : Her theological insights remind me a lot of C.S. Lewis- listen, I'm not in it for the fame. (The above was completely facetious)
2 comments:
see... i don't give you too much credit. you're wonderful, and these trials are for something. love you.
this is so encouraging, mr. lewis! (and you're not lame for talking to yourself - i do it even though my husband's home.....or maybe that just means i'm super lame)
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