Ok, so if you didn't see, my last blog was about the main factors of the past two months of my life at Murlough House. Those are the talking points but the thinking points have come in and amidst these events as well as looking forward past them.
It is interesting to be in the midst of activity and a busyness that you enjoy, and yet have an under-girding sense of foreboding, or uncertainty. March has been a fantastic time, including busyness with the team I got to join with. I spent 10 days with a group of 14 from Cincinnati Christian University and was blessed to join with them in ministry. While getting to join with, and lead or guide their experience while letting the Lord lead and grow them in the way he longed.
To be able to assist, look over, talk through, and challenge them in certain situations or on specific thoughts was a joy. It has increased my longing to help lead in a position where I can be of influence for Christ in a large age group. I immensely enjoyed getting to know and have fun while trying to challenge the young ones we met in the park, through the high schoolers we met as well as normally minster to at Crosspoint; and then to challenge lead and long to grow collegians in their faith and walk with Christ is an incredible blessing. The combination of ages and ways needed to infuse growth and challenge thought processes felt like I was in a place where i can use all my gifts in one setting.
Soo that led to thinking in times of reflection with the group an interesting series or train of thought. I am surprisingly reaching nearer and nearer the end of my time here at Murlough. While this place will ultimately always have a special place in my heart and I will most definitely visit here again, my time here at this juncture in my life winds down. I look forward to what God has next, with some trepidation and nerves but knowing that God has His plans in store. He is continually calling me to stand firm, to not fear and to move, better yet march ;) forward.
I am still not sure of the direct path that I am taking, but I know that the narrow fork i am taking is along Christ's path. Serving him faithfully in an avenue that he knows i can be used, even if i feel as though I am at this point ill equipped.
The times sharing with CCU and seeing God's love move, and affect the community in ways where even the spiritual attacks were blatant and obvious excited me. To see God move around me and to have a leadership role while that was happening was a joy. That in congruence with different aspects and opportunities God has brought my way these last two months have allowed me confidence that I will be able to be successful in the next step. The uncertainty comes in when choosing from one or two options that I have coming at me. I cannot wait to see what God does in my life and through me in the next step.... but I'd rather be there and past the decision making point.
This is the point where Trust, movement and belief that God is in control and its my life given to him is the biggest point. Fear, doubt, shame and uncertainty come from attacks of the devil. My friend has a saying of "never be afraid to trust an uncertain future to a known God" and that "we are all looking for certainty, but we live in an uncertain world" we are longing for a piece of God's peace. Something that we can get glimpses of, but we wont get to rest in it unless we more and more fully give up ourselves and worries to Him.
The Lord has been showing me through Gideon's life lately how that our doubts are not big enough to stop the Lords work. He is mighty and powerful and majestic in all his ways, and it is not dependent on me other than my surrender to HIM.
So now I look forward to March, marching on and to life continuing that moving walkway that seems all to fast sometimes and other times seems like your not moving fast enough. But the Lord's plans are far and above mine (Jer 29), and all he requires is to walk faithfully with Him (humbly, loving mercy, justly), and he will reward our paths as we draw near to HIM.
SO thats where I am, being asked to march foreward. I am excited and nervous to be moving.... so pray for me and the next decisions of where, and what I will be doing HIS work.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Last 2 months in 2 minutes
Sorry it has been a long while bloggos. With returning to Murlough and settling into the routine again and having a couple things added in... I've just been lazy in getting back into the blog. It happens, no excuses needed, but I am back to think on stuff that has happen in these last two months, and with less than two left in this Murlough House leg of my journey.
Quick recap to catch you up
- Returned to Murlough Jan 20
- Resumed normal routine of Dundrum Crosspoint ministries and football work with the Tollymore team
- Added in a great and God sent bonus of being a keynote speaker for a local high school Scripture Union. Four sessions on God's love and what it means and what we think on it. amazing time of fellowship and digging into God's love and its base and how we go forward from there
- My Mom visited for a week end of Feb, fantastic time!
- March madness-> 4 American teams staying at Murlough within 2.5 weeks, 60 people in all, 50 in the house at one point during a week.
- Leading and guiding as a Murlough liaison for the team from Cincinnati Christian University
- Tollymore is fighting for the league championship with 4 games to play
So there is the update on what has been going on, feel free to as me about specifics of how things went!
Quick recap to catch you up
- Returned to Murlough Jan 20
- Resumed normal routine of Dundrum Crosspoint ministries and football work with the Tollymore team
- Added in a great and God sent bonus of being a keynote speaker for a local high school Scripture Union. Four sessions on God's love and what it means and what we think on it. amazing time of fellowship and digging into God's love and its base and how we go forward from there
- My Mom visited for a week end of Feb, fantastic time!
- March madness-> 4 American teams staying at Murlough within 2.5 weeks, 60 people in all, 50 in the house at one point during a week.
- Leading and guiding as a Murlough liaison for the team from Cincinnati Christian University
- Tollymore is fighting for the league championship with 4 games to play
So there is the update on what has been going on, feel free to as me about specifics of how things went!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Stateside!
Wow. As interesting as it is to try to formulate a comprehensive idea on how being back home in Chicago is compared to being in Northern Ireland within 24 hrs of being home is, I am going to try.
I have traded in the seaside, rolling hills and mountains in my daily view for the concrete suburban skyline. I have traded living in a Manor house on a nature reserve for a basement room, or sharing a bed on the floor with my brother. I have traded 6 days a week of working with youth or playing soccer with Northern Irish for figuring out when and where to meet up with friends and catch up and do life together. I have traded in skyping video chats at 1am with my girlfriend to texts, phone calls, and soon 10 amazing days together.
But none of that really is reality. Nothing of this transition for 5 weeks that will again be done in the reverse, defines me. For me so often I have base truths of who I am and how those impact me lead to a definition of home and purpose in my present situation.
I am Bryan Miller. Bryan is defined by a life lived outloud and purposed for connections, conversations, and challenges. Bryan is loved by the Creator GOD who loves and gives me mercy. Bryan has gifts given that want to be utilized. So Bryan being me, is at home when able to be used for God's glory in my present situation.
That is my thought at the moment. While the exterior and external place has changed, my longing stays the same. I want to hold fast to my base. To the Truth that God loves me, and that he calls me to be bold in that knowledge and make connections, build discussion in conversation and challenge people as well as myself.
I have been humbled by messages from both sides of the Atlantic in the last week as people are excited for me and are looking forward to my return either to Chicago or County Down. God is good and I know that I am who I am because of Him. His grace and gifting allows me to make the relationships I have.
I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this break, the stories I get to relate and the ability to learn more from this step of the journey God has for me. I get to speak and stand for Truth no matter where I am. I can ask tough questions or give answers when asked no matter where I am. I will look for ways to serve and ways to help others, from a friendly smile, opening of a door, or hours of help in any way.
I know that my path is in HIS mighty and loving hands. I cannot wait to share life with you and those around me. He is Good, His love Endures forever. I am humbled by my opportunities and look forward with anticipation to the chapters that are still to be written.
Thanks for being a part of some of the steps I've taken!
Bryan
"For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son to save us while we were yet still sinners."
I have traded in the seaside, rolling hills and mountains in my daily view for the concrete suburban skyline. I have traded living in a Manor house on a nature reserve for a basement room, or sharing a bed on the floor with my brother. I have traded 6 days a week of working with youth or playing soccer with Northern Irish for figuring out when and where to meet up with friends and catch up and do life together. I have traded in skyping video chats at 1am with my girlfriend to texts, phone calls, and soon 10 amazing days together.
But none of that really is reality. Nothing of this transition for 5 weeks that will again be done in the reverse, defines me. For me so often I have base truths of who I am and how those impact me lead to a definition of home and purpose in my present situation.
I am Bryan Miller. Bryan is defined by a life lived outloud and purposed for connections, conversations, and challenges. Bryan is loved by the Creator GOD who loves and gives me mercy. Bryan has gifts given that want to be utilized. So Bryan being me, is at home when able to be used for God's glory in my present situation.
That is my thought at the moment. While the exterior and external place has changed, my longing stays the same. I want to hold fast to my base. To the Truth that God loves me, and that he calls me to be bold in that knowledge and make connections, build discussion in conversation and challenge people as well as myself.
I have been humbled by messages from both sides of the Atlantic in the last week as people are excited for me and are looking forward to my return either to Chicago or County Down. God is good and I know that I am who I am because of Him. His grace and gifting allows me to make the relationships I have.
I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this break, the stories I get to relate and the ability to learn more from this step of the journey God has for me. I get to speak and stand for Truth no matter where I am. I can ask tough questions or give answers when asked no matter where I am. I will look for ways to serve and ways to help others, from a friendly smile, opening of a door, or hours of help in any way.
I know that my path is in HIS mighty and loving hands. I cannot wait to share life with you and those around me. He is Good, His love Endures forever. I am humbled by my opportunities and look forward with anticipation to the chapters that are still to be written.
Thanks for being a part of some of the steps I've taken!
Bryan
"For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son to save us while we were yet still sinners."
Friday, December 3, 2010
Life is going well!
Hey all, if you dont feel like reading my in-depth thoughts and musings of my brain and heart here is a more light hearted update!
I am doing well, battled through some sinus infection type stuff in the past month but am enjoying the autumn and into winter months here in Northern Ireland. God has brought teachings, growing relationships, discussions and readings to me that has grown and got me thinking and ready for each next step!
Whether that is a conversation with a searching teenager, an apathetic hurting 14 yr old, an angry and confused lad, a goofy carefree teammate, or a challenge to be better and more responsible by my fellow workers I can meet them and learn from them.
God is good and has given me a lot to look at and think on, and people to enjoy the ride with. I love discussions, and that is what I wanted to bring in my experience here. I want to talk, learn think and discuss all facets of life, being as real as possible and as open as I can be in my thoughts to people so that I am clear and transparent.
I am excited in the now 4!!! months that I have had to learn names, stories, and personalities that I get to call friends here. I know that the next step to come will be another great opportunity to grow, learn and challenge myself with. I want to help ppl challenge their views. To grow, to grow up, to grow in wisdom, to grow in the LORD. If i can help enact that all glory to God. I just want to be a vessel used for purposes beyond myself.
I have loved learning more about Christ, how the world thinks and how I should think and challenge the world with the Love and Truth of Christ the Creator Crucified. It is humbling and just the thoughts and growth I have prayed for. Now to graft into life continuing in the states during this break and plans for the future as well!
Drop me a line!! Let me discuss with you! What is new in your life? What is challenging you?
God Bless. Merry Christmas time!! Remember that the Creator became Immanuel, God with us, in this time, and changed human history forever!
Bryan, Bmilla, Bmill, Millsy, Miller, Mill, B, Bruce, Bry, Mighty Mouse, and hopefully also a growing servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
:):):)
I am doing well, battled through some sinus infection type stuff in the past month but am enjoying the autumn and into winter months here in Northern Ireland. God has brought teachings, growing relationships, discussions and readings to me that has grown and got me thinking and ready for each next step!
Whether that is a conversation with a searching teenager, an apathetic hurting 14 yr old, an angry and confused lad, a goofy carefree teammate, or a challenge to be better and more responsible by my fellow workers I can meet them and learn from them.
God is good and has given me a lot to look at and think on, and people to enjoy the ride with. I love discussions, and that is what I wanted to bring in my experience here. I want to talk, learn think and discuss all facets of life, being as real as possible and as open as I can be in my thoughts to people so that I am clear and transparent.
I am excited in the now 4!!! months that I have had to learn names, stories, and personalities that I get to call friends here. I know that the next step to come will be another great opportunity to grow, learn and challenge myself with. I want to help ppl challenge their views. To grow, to grow up, to grow in wisdom, to grow in the LORD. If i can help enact that all glory to God. I just want to be a vessel used for purposes beyond myself.
I have loved learning more about Christ, how the world thinks and how I should think and challenge the world with the Love and Truth of Christ the Creator Crucified. It is humbling and just the thoughts and growth I have prayed for. Now to graft into life continuing in the states during this break and plans for the future as well!
Drop me a line!! Let me discuss with you! What is new in your life? What is challenging you?
God Bless. Merry Christmas time!! Remember that the Creator became Immanuel, God with us, in this time, and changed human history forever!
Bryan, Bmilla, Bmill, Millsy, Miller, Mill, B, Bruce, Bry, Mighty Mouse, and hopefully also a growing servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
:):):)
Lenses
I am pretty blind. Many people have not seen me without my contacts in, but I wear them and need them. It is how I am able to see, what allows me to drive legally and be involved with the world around me. Sight is active and for me to be active I have to have lenses that correct and shape the world around me so I can see it.
There is another word that is a lens that I am encountering more and more. This lens has a synonym, Worldview. A worldview is defined as: the fundamental cognitive orientation of an individual or society encompassing natural philosophy; fundamental existential and normative postulates; or themes, values, emotions, and ethics. Additionally, it refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it.
The framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it. An all encompassing philosophy that manifests itself in action and interaction with the world around you. A lens that you see things as and then helps shape how you act and what you think about.
I see today and people with worldviews and lenses that are supposedly carefree and freedom giving. But digging into these thoughts and extrapolating the lenses to their base premise or furthest extent lends to an interesting path. What worldviews do you see around you? In the youth you see or have?
I see so little Hope, and so much self. Freedom comes from thinking free of "old" stuff or "religion" or a BCE (cause Before Christ is too much) thought process. You must not have this thought, but be free..... to have OUR thought.
Come join our worldview, you did not even know that you were us but you KNOW that your not them. So come, speak up, look at us as free and thinkers and judge everything by your circumstances. Or I just see apathy and anger, it should not be this way, and if you say it is God's world and life is this way, forget that. Reason and human thought, science are the grounds for everything. But we have been taught and told this and that is all I know. Even so much as I do not care about your thoughts as long as it is not "religious." Life is relative, nothing is concrete, except what you can see, feel and quantitate.
The problem comes in with a need for a cornerstone, a basis to lean on. Circumstances change, everyday something new happens. You cannot control what will happen to you in the next instance, it is beyond you because it is affected by others. If my circumstance is ok and yours is ok, you do what you do and I'll do mine how does that work? What happens when conflict happens in worldviews and circumstances, who is right and where do you turn but self? And isn't there more than just seeing and quantitative aspects of life. Feelings go deeper than brain chemicals to me... and affects of life around me go beyond physical. And arguments can be counter productive but at some point someone is wrong correct? There is so much more... I need a cornerstone and want to have clear vision on things.
Absolutes are missing in this world. Are there absolutes? I think there has to be at the base level. Circumstances can throw a wrench in how you think about absolutes and what that means to hold to a Truth, but where is hope anchored to if all is relative and bound to change and struggle.
I am learning and seeing worldviews around me, ones similar to my own, some that are close in some areas and different in others, some that are diametrically opposed to mine, and some so apathetic to mine or others they fall in their own category. But I do want mine to be challenged, to think, to learn to grow into a mature worldview and perspective. Spouting my ideas in all reality mean nothing because it is just as valid as yours at the maximum if it is only my personal values morals and ethics. But if i am challenged in mine as well as grafting in something that is beyond me, that claims Truth, then either that will have authority and bearing on my thoughts or it is wrong and i will be on the wrong path. Things are clearer, in a crazy way.
For me I lean, trust, and experience the Hope that is grounded in the Truth of the BIBLE. It claims to be the Living Word of God. If it is and i trust it then I feel I will be shaped by it and my worldview has an anchor to grow from. If it is not true, then I will find that out at somepoint, but I choose to hold fast to it and experience all that it has to offer and teach, as well as experience.
I dont want to be that horse. Now that it is Christmas time you see the horse taxi and sleighs. There are always beautiful creatures doing a great and fun purpose. But they are necessarily blindered. They have blinders and are led in the path from behind. Their lenses are blurry. I want to be challenged, grown, and firm in my training, thought and belief in Christ, his Word and Truth that I am more like a police horse. A trained and regimented but ultimately freer entity that will react and follow well when necessary. I would have clear lenses, sight and readiness, a freedom to continue and move.
So often we do not challenge and look to think on and grow in our lives and thought processes. We must! Looking, discussing, learning, listening and challenging is how you grow and take hold of Truth. Sometimes digging will lead us to see the cornerstone to which we hold, I pray that when it is found it is something you want to follow, because you have been following it for a long time then.
How will you challenge yourself to challenge think and see how your thoughts, values and morality plays out? Does it match up to what you want it to? What you think it does? What Christ says to value? What will lead you to freedom and life?
Get that contact solution out and unblurr your lenses. If you dont then you may get so used to having blurry sight that you forget that sight can be anything different.
There is another word that is a lens that I am encountering more and more. This lens has a synonym, Worldview. A worldview is defined as: the fundamental cognitive orientation of an individual or society encompassing natural philosophy; fundamental existential and normative postulates; or themes, values, emotions, and ethics. Additionally, it refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it.
The framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it. An all encompassing philosophy that manifests itself in action and interaction with the world around you. A lens that you see things as and then helps shape how you act and what you think about.
I see today and people with worldviews and lenses that are supposedly carefree and freedom giving. But digging into these thoughts and extrapolating the lenses to their base premise or furthest extent lends to an interesting path. What worldviews do you see around you? In the youth you see or have?
I see so little Hope, and so much self. Freedom comes from thinking free of "old" stuff or "religion" or a BCE (cause Before Christ is too much) thought process. You must not have this thought, but be free..... to have OUR thought.
Come join our worldview, you did not even know that you were us but you KNOW that your not them. So come, speak up, look at us as free and thinkers and judge everything by your circumstances. Or I just see apathy and anger, it should not be this way, and if you say it is God's world and life is this way, forget that. Reason and human thought, science are the grounds for everything. But we have been taught and told this and that is all I know. Even so much as I do not care about your thoughts as long as it is not "religious." Life is relative, nothing is concrete, except what you can see, feel and quantitate.
The problem comes in with a need for a cornerstone, a basis to lean on. Circumstances change, everyday something new happens. You cannot control what will happen to you in the next instance, it is beyond you because it is affected by others. If my circumstance is ok and yours is ok, you do what you do and I'll do mine how does that work? What happens when conflict happens in worldviews and circumstances, who is right and where do you turn but self? And isn't there more than just seeing and quantitative aspects of life. Feelings go deeper than brain chemicals to me... and affects of life around me go beyond physical. And arguments can be counter productive but at some point someone is wrong correct? There is so much more... I need a cornerstone and want to have clear vision on things.
Absolutes are missing in this world. Are there absolutes? I think there has to be at the base level. Circumstances can throw a wrench in how you think about absolutes and what that means to hold to a Truth, but where is hope anchored to if all is relative and bound to change and struggle.
I am learning and seeing worldviews around me, ones similar to my own, some that are close in some areas and different in others, some that are diametrically opposed to mine, and some so apathetic to mine or others they fall in their own category. But I do want mine to be challenged, to think, to learn to grow into a mature worldview and perspective. Spouting my ideas in all reality mean nothing because it is just as valid as yours at the maximum if it is only my personal values morals and ethics. But if i am challenged in mine as well as grafting in something that is beyond me, that claims Truth, then either that will have authority and bearing on my thoughts or it is wrong and i will be on the wrong path. Things are clearer, in a crazy way.
For me I lean, trust, and experience the Hope that is grounded in the Truth of the BIBLE. It claims to be the Living Word of God. If it is and i trust it then I feel I will be shaped by it and my worldview has an anchor to grow from. If it is not true, then I will find that out at somepoint, but I choose to hold fast to it and experience all that it has to offer and teach, as well as experience.
I dont want to be that horse. Now that it is Christmas time you see the horse taxi and sleighs. There are always beautiful creatures doing a great and fun purpose. But they are necessarily blindered. They have blinders and are led in the path from behind. Their lenses are blurry. I want to be challenged, grown, and firm in my training, thought and belief in Christ, his Word and Truth that I am more like a police horse. A trained and regimented but ultimately freer entity that will react and follow well when necessary. I would have clear lenses, sight and readiness, a freedom to continue and move.
So often we do not challenge and look to think on and grow in our lives and thought processes. We must! Looking, discussing, learning, listening and challenging is how you grow and take hold of Truth. Sometimes digging will lead us to see the cornerstone to which we hold, I pray that when it is found it is something you want to follow, because you have been following it for a long time then.
How will you challenge yourself to challenge think and see how your thoughts, values and morality plays out? Does it match up to what you want it to? What you think it does? What Christ says to value? What will lead you to freedom and life?
Get that contact solution out and unblurr your lenses. If you dont then you may get so used to having blurry sight that you forget that sight can be anything different.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Overdue: Mindset and actions vs the good stuff
Hey all, cannot believe that it has been 3 weeks since i last tickled the keyboard to COMPLETE a blog post. I have started a couple posts and just wanted them to be real good, deep and challenging to myself and others. I.E. I started them and then 'ran out of time' or lost the focus on what I was thinking i wanted to say and just trashed them, or saved them to drafts (who finishes or remember if you have drafts written anyway ;p).
So In a bit of a light-hearted mindset and a time to think on and evaluate the whole process we tend to do things, or not do things. Promise I will finish this post :)
There have been quite a bit of good things going on here at Murlough and in Dundrum and Newcastle since I last posted. I have gotten to know the guys and girls a lot better at Crosspoint and enjoy my interactions and the conversations and reality of circumstances that we often share. We have been hanging out with the crew after school on Tuesdays, started a younger group of jr-highers on Monday afternoon in addition to Wednesdays Discussion night. Creation/evolution and football with the Guys and bible study/girls night hangout for the girls that hang out.
Football (soccer) has gone really well the past month. I have gotten back into game shape, started the last 4 games with the first team and have 3 goals and 3 or so assists. Praising God for the ability to continue to play and have more and more opportunities for people to know me, what I am about and why even while running up the mountain or doing sprints i can be smiling and encouraging. God is good.
We have also taken time as a group here at Murlough to focus on God and teaching, uplifting and learning from eachother as we grow in faith, a group unity and trust in God's Truth. The ultimate Truth. We have meetings every Tuesday where we get a Bible teaching alongside updates from all the aspects, and Thursdays are teaching times where we are going through Francis Schaeffer's "How then shall we live?" videos about thought, history and philosophy and that held up next to the Word. It has been great.
There has been many instances where it does not work out perfectly, and conflict or conversations are necessary or planning needs to be enacted or done better. It is in these times I start reflecting and thinking. Always a dangerous combination ;)
Mindset. Attitude. The lens you see a situation. Look at different quotes about attitude or mindset and it is interesting. It can come to a point where will of attitude seems to shift things. Here are two random examples from an attitude quote site.
The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be.
- William James
The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.
- Eric Hoffer
But there are often times that I sit back and think about the circumstances and how your attitude and mindset can shape the reaction and subsequent actions in a major way. If we do get into ourselves and think selfishly as the Hoffer quote says the whole of the instance is negative and can spiral negatively.
Case in point, I had a situation where one of the guys had been increasingly annoying and vocal in his dissent to anything I tried to do and help with. Trying to act within grace and the fruits of Galatians 5 into practice without slipping into the fruits of human, sinful nature, can get hard. But on any given day, how your attitude is at the moment of confrontation your reaction ends up doing a lot. I tried to allow grace and let boys be boys, but as the annoyance and buildup of frustration with him explode I tried to control the situation. It was not done especially well, I felt I acted close to within my bounds to start, but as the egging on continued and I felt i had asserted the upper hand my mindset shifted and I spoke out of place and made the situation much worse. I left that day in thought and trying to figure why I felt the mix of emotion of kinda right but very out of place as far as the end result and actions. My attitude was well out of place and my selfishness allowed me to act out in fruit contrary to what I want to strive for each and everyday.
I have always been a positive person. Uber-optimist. The glass should always be half-ful right? It is a gift from God and one that I am shocked at in myself sometimes, but I am also FULLY HUMAN and am far often "turned inward upon myself" as C.S. Lewis states. Even if i want to quantify it as only looking inward upon myself looking in the mirror, its still selfishness that leads to sin. So when people ask HOW can you be so positive, or not everyone can be positive so often as you, or thanks I needed that optimism etc. Its humbling cause I know its not from me, and it is exciting to know that the TRUST, HOPE, FAITH comes from Christ. It makes me want to hold onto that in my attitude and mindset.
But I know it comes with a choice. I love that I had to/tried to/semi succeeded in memorizing Colossians 3. Because Paul tells of an ACTIVE choice, a mindset, an attitude that you THEREFORE must do. Therefore means, we should because Christ has, or God is. So I try to keep in mind and pray that you do the same- Put to death the earthly nature that corrupts and makes us spiral downward and Put on, clothe, take out of your closet and wear for others to see the fruit of the Spirit that comes from continually choosing to trust God and look to share his truths and let the Sovereign God handle the big picture.
Are there circumstances in your life that are over your head, people pushing buttons beyond your breaking point? Busyness and time that keep you from doing/dwelling on the good stuff? Try to control your attitude, enact change and go for it. I believe that William James quote up there IS true, but it NEEDS Christ to help us come through on the positive side of that. So if needed- Stop, take a deep breath, breathe a prayer to God to help out, and FIGHT against the feelings and attitude at the moment, put it to death, and clothe yourself (even if it is only socks and shorts, cause that's a start), with the selfless attitude of Christ and see how it turns out!
Meanwhile I am gonna try to keep on smiling laughing and trusting in the One who has given me much, see how far it takes me and how hard I have to fight to keep that at the forefront. But I am also going to be thankful that it has helped me and that others wonder if it is possible too.
God bless, SMILE, Laugh and Love.
So In a bit of a light-hearted mindset and a time to think on and evaluate the whole process we tend to do things, or not do things. Promise I will finish this post :)
There have been quite a bit of good things going on here at Murlough and in Dundrum and Newcastle since I last posted. I have gotten to know the guys and girls a lot better at Crosspoint and enjoy my interactions and the conversations and reality of circumstances that we often share. We have been hanging out with the crew after school on Tuesdays, started a younger group of jr-highers on Monday afternoon in addition to Wednesdays Discussion night. Creation/evolution and football with the Guys and bible study/girls night hangout for the girls that hang out.
Football (soccer) has gone really well the past month. I have gotten back into game shape, started the last 4 games with the first team and have 3 goals and 3 or so assists. Praising God for the ability to continue to play and have more and more opportunities for people to know me, what I am about and why even while running up the mountain or doing sprints i can be smiling and encouraging. God is good.
We have also taken time as a group here at Murlough to focus on God and teaching, uplifting and learning from eachother as we grow in faith, a group unity and trust in God's Truth. The ultimate Truth. We have meetings every Tuesday where we get a Bible teaching alongside updates from all the aspects, and Thursdays are teaching times where we are going through Francis Schaeffer's "How then shall we live?" videos about thought, history and philosophy and that held up next to the Word. It has been great.
There has been many instances where it does not work out perfectly, and conflict or conversations are necessary or planning needs to be enacted or done better. It is in these times I start reflecting and thinking. Always a dangerous combination ;)
Mindset. Attitude. The lens you see a situation. Look at different quotes about attitude or mindset and it is interesting. It can come to a point where will of attitude seems to shift things. Here are two random examples from an attitude quote site.
The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be.
- William James
The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.
- Eric Hoffer
But there are often times that I sit back and think about the circumstances and how your attitude and mindset can shape the reaction and subsequent actions in a major way. If we do get into ourselves and think selfishly as the Hoffer quote says the whole of the instance is negative and can spiral negatively.
Case in point, I had a situation where one of the guys had been increasingly annoying and vocal in his dissent to anything I tried to do and help with. Trying to act within grace and the fruits of Galatians 5 into practice without slipping into the fruits of human, sinful nature, can get hard. But on any given day, how your attitude is at the moment of confrontation your reaction ends up doing a lot. I tried to allow grace and let boys be boys, but as the annoyance and buildup of frustration with him explode I tried to control the situation. It was not done especially well, I felt I acted close to within my bounds to start, but as the egging on continued and I felt i had asserted the upper hand my mindset shifted and I spoke out of place and made the situation much worse. I left that day in thought and trying to figure why I felt the mix of emotion of kinda right but very out of place as far as the end result and actions. My attitude was well out of place and my selfishness allowed me to act out in fruit contrary to what I want to strive for each and everyday.
I have always been a positive person. Uber-optimist. The glass should always be half-ful right? It is a gift from God and one that I am shocked at in myself sometimes, but I am also FULLY HUMAN and am far often "turned inward upon myself" as C.S. Lewis states. Even if i want to quantify it as only looking inward upon myself looking in the mirror, its still selfishness that leads to sin. So when people ask HOW can you be so positive, or not everyone can be positive so often as you, or thanks I needed that optimism etc. Its humbling cause I know its not from me, and it is exciting to know that the TRUST, HOPE, FAITH comes from Christ. It makes me want to hold onto that in my attitude and mindset.
But I know it comes with a choice. I love that I had to/tried to/semi succeeded in memorizing Colossians 3. Because Paul tells of an ACTIVE choice, a mindset, an attitude that you THEREFORE must do. Therefore means, we should because Christ has, or God is. So I try to keep in mind and pray that you do the same- Put to death the earthly nature that corrupts and makes us spiral downward and Put on, clothe, take out of your closet and wear for others to see the fruit of the Spirit that comes from continually choosing to trust God and look to share his truths and let the Sovereign God handle the big picture.
Are there circumstances in your life that are over your head, people pushing buttons beyond your breaking point? Busyness and time that keep you from doing/dwelling on the good stuff? Try to control your attitude, enact change and go for it. I believe that William James quote up there IS true, but it NEEDS Christ to help us come through on the positive side of that. So if needed- Stop, take a deep breath, breathe a prayer to God to help out, and FIGHT against the feelings and attitude at the moment, put it to death, and clothe yourself (even if it is only socks and shorts, cause that's a start), with the selfless attitude of Christ and see how it turns out!
Meanwhile I am gonna try to keep on smiling laughing and trusting in the One who has given me much, see how far it takes me and how hard I have to fight to keep that at the forefront. But I am also going to be thankful that it has helped me and that others wonder if it is possible too.
God bless, SMILE, Laugh and Love.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Time and Certainty
Time flies. There is not another thing that is constant but time and how fast it can seem to go. Well that is a bold statement and I know that i would be corrected around here for saying such a general or flippant statement. I love the people around Murlough, and how they help me speak words that are forward and true and I am joked about the literal/figurative or possibilites within each sentence.
It is LATE septemeber. And life is crazy here. John Moxen has now been in the Hospital for almost a month after a minor stroke and problems with his heart. Thoughts of transition and contemplation on the future of this place and leadership have interwoven with continuing about the daily ministry here. It has left a tiring and interesting place where communication comes and goes and leaves it incomplete. I ask for your prayers for John, his heart (literally and figuratively as he longs to further grow Murlough, even at the expense of his body), for Murlough and her vision and movement for Christ.
We all long for clarity and certainty in this word. But we are not promised our next moment let alone the plans down the road. This is a hard thought for us humans to dwell on. But I am planning this! and it will happen! and i will make it happen. I am certain of this. We may say this but it doesnt make it fact, or true. True things remain, and the Bible says there are only three things that remain, Faith, Hope, and LOVE, the greatest is Love. The fact is that none deals with certainty. Love remains, but at its core it is trusting in something that can be uncertain.
Love can go beyond reason and make things that should not be sure, ring true. It is actually an illogical trust in someone or something that defies base reason. When you love and love fully and selflessly it goes beyond circumstance and is not held down by expectations or time constraints or other aspects and obstacles.
Love DOES.
Love IS.
God is love and his love for us is poured out into us and this world. But our fallen and busy and selfish selves distorts things and when we choose one to another the uncertainty can reign. But when Love is, and love is acting above any constraints, it transforms beyond certainty into reality.
Faith is trusting in the unseen and believing in things hoped for. No certainty there. But it transforms so much and permeates all that we do. You have faith that you will not get in an accident on the way to the grocery store or you have faith that THIS time someone will show up on time. But faith as how you live and hold fast to it changes how you interact and gives you an optimistic outlook even in times of uncertainty. Faith in Christ and his Love and Grace transforms so much into who you are and how you interact. It goes beyond the reason of growth or a thought process into who you are.
Trust, a pact in which you enter in where you assume the other party will keep their end of the bargain. Where uncertainty can reign but goodness comes out of allowing all to work out as it will.
These are my thoughts and uncertainty can flood so much and I hate that. But i want to hold fast to the stuff that rings true and firm amidst the uncertainty. I've found none other than Jesus Christ, His love, His Word, and all that comes with believing that I am fallen and selfish and need a savior and Jesus Died for me so that i am experience things beyond this world and the time and uncertainty that come with it.
It is LATE septemeber. And life is crazy here. John Moxen has now been in the Hospital for almost a month after a minor stroke and problems with his heart. Thoughts of transition and contemplation on the future of this place and leadership have interwoven with continuing about the daily ministry here. It has left a tiring and interesting place where communication comes and goes and leaves it incomplete. I ask for your prayers for John, his heart (literally and figuratively as he longs to further grow Murlough, even at the expense of his body), for Murlough and her vision and movement for Christ.
We all long for clarity and certainty in this word. But we are not promised our next moment let alone the plans down the road. This is a hard thought for us humans to dwell on. But I am planning this! and it will happen! and i will make it happen. I am certain of this. We may say this but it doesnt make it fact, or true. True things remain, and the Bible says there are only three things that remain, Faith, Hope, and LOVE, the greatest is Love. The fact is that none deals with certainty. Love remains, but at its core it is trusting in something that can be uncertain.
Love can go beyond reason and make things that should not be sure, ring true. It is actually an illogical trust in someone or something that defies base reason. When you love and love fully and selflessly it goes beyond circumstance and is not held down by expectations or time constraints or other aspects and obstacles.
Love DOES.
Love IS.
God is love and his love for us is poured out into us and this world. But our fallen and busy and selfish selves distorts things and when we choose one to another the uncertainty can reign. But when Love is, and love is acting above any constraints, it transforms beyond certainty into reality.
Faith is trusting in the unseen and believing in things hoped for. No certainty there. But it transforms so much and permeates all that we do. You have faith that you will not get in an accident on the way to the grocery store or you have faith that THIS time someone will show up on time. But faith as how you live and hold fast to it changes how you interact and gives you an optimistic outlook even in times of uncertainty. Faith in Christ and his Love and Grace transforms so much into who you are and how you interact. It goes beyond the reason of growth or a thought process into who you are.
Trust, a pact in which you enter in where you assume the other party will keep their end of the bargain. Where uncertainty can reign but goodness comes out of allowing all to work out as it will.
These are my thoughts and uncertainty can flood so much and I hate that. But i want to hold fast to the stuff that rings true and firm amidst the uncertainty. I've found none other than Jesus Christ, His love, His Word, and all that comes with believing that I am fallen and selfish and need a savior and Jesus Died for me so that i am experience things beyond this world and the time and uncertainty that come with it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)