Thoughts

I just finished the book "Crazy Love" (by Francis Chan) last night. As if the entire book wasn't enough, the last chapter truly struck me at the core of my heart. In previous chapters, Chan addressed the need for a radical change in the lives of Christ followers. The insight and own convictions he shared sparked hope and necessity for change in our complacent christian lives. However, this last bit grabbed ahold of my heart even more so. Here are a few excerpts from the last chapter:

(When referencing how we finish this book...) "We respond with words like Amen, Convicting sermon, Great book... and then are paralyzed as we try to decipher what God wants of our lives."

"We need to discover for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God as we 'continue to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling' (Phil. 2:12)."

"Memories are wonderful, but do you live differently because of them?"

"Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you."

"...put [yourself] in situations that scare [you] and require God to come through."

"It means I put every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."

What have I done with what God has given me? How do I rely on Him throughout each day? If my list is short, should I not change my life in a way that requires that reliance and trust? So often I let God open incredible opportunities in my life and then I grab at them and run selfishly in them...when I get in a bind through the journey, I get frustrated and turn to God once again. Who am I to taint an opportunity so delicately laid out by the Lord with my own plans? Is it not my heart's desire to have Him lead? An example I think of is furthering my education. As I read through my process of getting to this point in my first semester of grad school, I saw the blatant hand of God presenting this passion and opportunity. I have now taken it into my own hands and am making plans to move to a different school, pay for classes, etc. without anyone's influence but my own. How much more beautiful the process would be if I allowed God to play a role amidst the process...not just the beginning and the end. It's my desire to do so.

Within this chapter it also talks about how so many people are waiting to find their purpose in life and waiting for a calling from God. As they do so, they are sitting in front of the TV, going out with friends, taking trips, etc. Was God telling them to do that? No. This is NOT to say that any of those things are bad, only to point out that we are so very slow in engaging in being a servant of Christ as we are quick to rationalize the other acts and priorities our lives hold as we wait for God to speak in our lives.

I had an incredible conversation with my grandparents as I drove the windy roads home yesterday. Their wisdom, discernment, honesty, and vulnerability opens my heart in a way that few others have the ability to do. We spoke of the past as a whole and the role it plays and should play in each of our lives. When it says "Memories are wonderful, but do you live differently because of them?" I thought of our conversation. We can't live in our memories, neither good nor bad. We have to live because of them, in spite of them, refined by them. Recognize the purpose of the past experience and memories and live it. Reliving the memory, either good or bad, robs your heart and days of growth.

If you are desperate for a final summer read, pick up this book. It's a bit radical and will leave you possibly defensive and uncomfortable, but it demands your heart to be fully, wholly, and diligently...day after day...to be placed in the hands of Christ.