Will They Know I am a Christian by My Love?

I have seen this picture a couple of times over the last few days, but today is stirred renewed emotion in me when I thought about the men holding hands protecting those that they don't know and don't agree with - literally risking life and limb.


If the caption is true, and these men are Christians, they are showing the truest form of John 13:34-35 when Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."


I have to wonder if, in the same circumstance, I would do the same. And more importantly, am I living that out in my own suburban world every day? What does that even look like in my world?


I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Sound off...

95.3%

If you follow my blog, you know that over the last months, I have been embarking on a journey that I have never been able to complete successfully in the past. I am reading through the bible in a year. Well, with about a week left in the year - I am happy to report that I am 95.3% complete (right on track according to my reading plan in YouVersion.) 

I can tell you that the ONLY reason I have bee able to complete this task (which at times was daunting) was that I had a accountability partner. Someone who was not only on this journey with me, but got an email once a week telling her how I did. Together we are finishing this race and together we will do it again next year. So, here is my challenge - if any of you want to get in on it with us, make a comment of send me a message via Facebook or email and I will put you on a list and send out instructions. It's gonna be great!

Today, my reading took me to 2 Timothy. A letter from Paul to Timothy that was written while Paul was in prison in Asia for preaching the gospel. Timothy was a young man and Paul continually encouraged and taught him in the faith of Jesus Christ. A true "mentor-mentee" relationship. In many ways that mentor legacy still lives on, many centuries after his death, as I learn and grow from reading his words in the bible. Here is what I learned from Paul today.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

When I read these verses I thought I knew what they meant, but just to make sure - I looked them up in some commentaries.  Here is the gist of them: In the church there are some people who are set apart to so special things, have special impact and special purposes (gold & silver). They are set apart from the crowd of people who call themselves Christians but have little to no impact for Christ in the world around them (wood & clay.) In my mind, I picture all those who look one way at church and totally different at work or at a restaurant or at home or where ever, the rest of the week. This passage says they are common.

I guess I always knew this principle, but it is the last past that really stuck out to me - "Those who cleanse themselves from the latter (being common, being like everyone else in their day to day lives) will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master (Christ) and prepared to do any good work."

I am not sure why this struck me so powerfully today. I think maybe it is because I am becoming more aware of the people around me that are quite possibly in the wood & clay category. It makes me so sad to see and yet it makes me examine myself all the more to make sure there are no places in my life that would put me into that category. I want to totally cleanse myself of those things so that when I am looked at by God, he sees me as gold & silver, set apart for a special purpose, made holy and useful to Him.

I hope that you too want to be gold & silver in the house of the Lord. I know that each and everyone of us has things in our lives that are wood & clay. Things that hold us back from being useful for Him.

My prayer is that as we close out 2010, enter 2011 and take that backward look at our lives, as we so often do this time of year - that God would show us all those things we need to "cleanse ourselves" of to be wholly useful to Him as we go forward in our faith. I pray that He would reveal to us the special purposes He has set us apart to do and that we would jump in with both feet, no matter how daunting the challenge. 

Refuse to be normal and common in 2011. If we are joining the likes of Paul and Timothy, being different is not all that bad!

Make a Statement

So over the weekend, my daughter Jenna (an aspiring makeup artist and photographer) decided to turn my almost 12 year old, Kira, into a couture super model. She made her up in amazing face made up and, looking much older than she is, she was off to the photo shoot. After coming home and "working her magic" on some of the photos - I found this one. The caption is very fitting - don't you think? (and no - her hair was not that color, it is computer magic)

Today in my Chronological reading of the bible, I finished the book of Joshua. YAY! One of the verses in chapter 22 stuck out to me and seemed to be very fitting it says, And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. Joshua 22:10. I know, you're thinking what in the world does that have to do with your baby getting made up like an emo child and getting her picture taken... The verse says " made an alter of imposing size." Based on the other things I have read about the journey of the children of Israel, this must have been some alter - cause they didn't do anything small.

In a nut shell the story goes like this: The children of Israel (12 tribes) were told God would give them the land of Canaan. 2 1/2 tribes decided they liked the land on the desert side of the Jordan river and asked for permission to have that land. God said "Yes, on one condition, all your men have to go to the other side and help fight for Canaan. Then you can return to your side." So that happened. they fought many battles and won and were finally allowed to return to their inheritance. So on their way home, on the Canaan side of the Jordan, they decided to build this "alter of imposing size". The other 9 1/2 tribes got freaked out when they saw it and thought the 2 1/2 tribes were turning to idols worship so they called them out. In actuality, the 2 1/2 tribes had built the alter to serve as a reminder to all their descendants and the descendants of the 9 1/2 tribes that they worship the same God and they should never forget that.

Not back to the picture of Kira. The caption says, "Don't be afraid to stand out." In this case, they went for broke. Funky makeup, flaming red hair, the whole thing! I am sure people took and will take notice when they see this picture. (I am already fielding comments of how I could let my 12 year old look like that, and would it bother me if she decided to dress like that every day.) The point I am trying to make here is that if we are going to take a stand for the Lord, GO BIG! Don't be afraid to look different than those around you. Make enough of a statement bout who you are in Christ that when they see you, they see and alter to the Lord of "imposing size", one that can not be shaken or toppled easily.

I hope that's what people see in my life when they look at me and I hope that for my children as well, makeup and fiery red hair and all! (and in case you're wondering - I LOVE the picture!)