[ you are golden ]

"Lead them to the ocean."

[ as the years roll by... ]

Lately I've been praying and thinking a lot about what it means for God to restore joy in our lives -- not just fleeting moments of happiness, but authentic joy in Him, as we leave behind our fears and begin to approach Him with newfound confidence, knowing He has the very best and firmest grip on each and every sphere of our lives. What, really, does this mean?

A few words I've been thinking about lately in relation to God's restoration of joy in our lives: alive and complete.

Think about the last time you were in the presence of someone who really allowed others to come alive in their presence -- who pushed new and old friends to share their passions and questions and doubts without the risk of rejection, but with clear assurance of complete acceptance. Our friend Sharon, who graduated a few years ago from Muskingum, is one of these people. She pours out His energy and passion to everyone; it's beautiful.

When we take time to really listen and respond to those around us, we're able to care for them and invite them to experience the life God has intended for them. This past semester or so, God's been accomplishing some big-time repair work in my heart, challenging me to listen before speaking and to ask questions. It's not often enough that we stop talking, block out the noise around us, look one another in the eye and really listen.

Jesus' presence and the Spirit's active intercession will be the only driving factor to make anything like this happen.

Complete. We read the fourth chapter of 1 John tonight at Life Group. The four of us were struck (again and again) by this:

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:11-12)

We shared for awhile about the challenges we face in understanding this on a daily basis. (Young women and new friends sharing their hearts is a big, important thing -- whoa.)

Anyway, I talked for a bit about how those few words -- made complete -- always seem to lift up off the pages as if I had 3-D glasses on or something like that. There's activity there; there's a necessary beginning to the continual transformation that God has in mind for our lives -- His business of His glory -- His process of molding us to be more and more like Jesus. Paul's words in Colossians 3:10 about our new selves being renewed in knowledge in the image of [our] Creator are especially poignant.

You know, I can eliminate all the noise and set up my schedule to spend time with others; I can learn to listen to others and ask good questions, but without full-fledged, uninhibited surrender to Him and the reality of needing to wholly depend on Him, I am nothing.

Any source of authentic, complete life is not rooted in or dependent upon this flesh. For that, I am grateful.


May you be fully restored by God, continually awakened to His beauty and activity all around you.

Love you all.

Jessie

[ the battle of the...holidays? ]

I don't make bold statements everyday, but today I made one. (Really, it wasn't too bold.)

I mean, this statement doesn't have a huge impact on multiple spheres of life or anything, but when I said it, I meant it.

"Say it like you mean it." Well, okay.

Sara (best friend from home who is a junior at Notre Dame; loves ND football) and I were shopping at Target tonight. Today, of course, was the day after Thanksgiving (which, maybe, should start being capitalized, and marked on calendars -- The Day After Thanksgiving; another official holiday!). The store wasn't too busy, but the music was a-playin' and the decor was a-hangin' -- and man, customers' carts were full -- to-the-brim -- with stuff. Lots and lots and lots of stuff.

"Thanksgiving is about ten times better than Christmas."

"Um...yeah. It's kind of overshadowed by all of...this."

Here's the thing: Christmas is a beautiful holiday: of humble beginnings and big praises, of God's glory revealed through His Son -- of giving and family and love. Good stuff, really.

I just am at a point -- maybe just today, I don't know -- where this good stuff being replaced with all this other stuff is just getting old. Used-up. Tired out.

To be honest, I was one of those people today. A lot of us were. I shopped for four hours total, probably, and it was enjoyable -- Sara and I really, really had fun.

But beyond that...there's just something more to this Day After Thanksgiving stuff. Today a mother and her daughter were checking out arms-full of jewelry and coats and kids' clothes, and the cashier at JCPenney gave them their total. They looked at each other, and the mother confidently presented their 15%-off coupon to her.

The cashier, looking pretty wiped-out (probably from a 4 a.m. wake-up call), handed the coupon back to the mother, saying, "I'm sorry. This doesn't apply until after 4 p.m. today." (It was 3 p.m. or so.)

The mother and her daughter looked at each other again, shaking their heads with this sort of anxious disbelief. One of them -- I forget who -- said, "This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

You know, I've heard people say that kind of thing before -- we all have. I heard it a hundred times this summer while I was serving. And you know, it hurts -- it hurts because there seems to be this instant loss of any type of perspective, or of mutual respect -- or of even treating another with any type of dignity. It hurts because really, words are powerful, and cheap jewelry and additions to already-jammed closets are unworthy of any of that.

There was a part of me that wanted to turn to the women and call them out, but I didn't. Instead, it makes good thinking and blogging material.

But really...what kind of impact is stuff having upon our lives? Is it adding to the noise that's already invading our days?

I like stuff, but I want to be committed to greater things, like learning to really love people and serve God. In my life, stuff is getting in the way of the good stuff that really matters.

I can't even remember what I received two Christmases ago, or even most of the gifts from last Christmas. I don't have a super-detailed memory, but I think this is pretty common -- and definitely telling.

I want to start making simplicity a reality -- because it can be. It just seems like it makes the most sense, especially as we're seeking out a radically-different God -- who, through His Spirit, begins to mold and change, well...about everything in our lives. Including our spending habits during the holidays.

Here's a few causes to think about giving to during the holidays. Consider telling your loved ones that you'd like them to give to one of these organizations -- or another local charity of your choice -- instead of the usual piles of gifts for Christmas.

These are a few familiar ones for me. The Salvation Army's "Angel Tree" program is also popular; look for those at chain and discount stores. Think about local food pantries, banks and soup kitchens; consider giving to foreign missions. We are so blessed. Let's share.

World Vision

Samaritan's Purse

Habitat for Humanity

The Heifer Project

Love you all.

Jessie

[ do you know what i mean when i say i don't wanna be alone? ]

One of my best friends encouraged me the other night to think of sharing life as leading someone to something beautiful that cannot always be grasped with the perfect combination of words or descriptions.

My mom at the beach in Huron; July 2006

It really hit me, because often I'll process ideas and thoughts and want them to 'look good' as a product of what I say or how I present it as a whole.

It's just not about me, or about my words or actions, but about Him -- and about providing truth and clarity to those around me -- and us; about giving them an opportunity to be presented with beauty -- namely, Jesus Christ -- and to allow them time and space to respond.

As we're satisfied in God, desiring Him in every moment, we'll see others drawn to Him. It's often unbelievable. His glory trumps all.

Let's pray boldly about living Kingdom-centered lives that honor Him; living out communal faith propelled by our own giving-up daily. We'll fall in awe and wonder at what He fills in our depraved state -- wholeness, fullness, abundance...His Spirit.

Everything -- a loss, compared to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

All things -- rubbish.

Anything genuine and lasting and true: in Him.

Love you all.

Jessie