God's marvelous plan.

i heard a sweet message not too long ago and i kind of feel like regurgitating it for awhile.

...probably for my own good.


one of the things humans, mostly christians, get hung up on in life is the thought of this masterful plan that has been set out before us since day 1. i think to an extent this is true, but let's be honest.

how many times have you used this to notdo something?

rather than diving after this plan we sit and wait for it to be thrust upon us. the single problem with that is this:
if we haven't taken the time to prepare ourselves we won't even be able to recognize the opportunity.

the point?

it starts with effort. pure effort. aside from selfish motives.

if there's one thing i've learned it's that God can't fully utilize us if we are in it for ourselves. i mean, think about it.. it's the most contradicting ideology ever but we take it as standard living.

Paul says in Philippians 2 v.5 that:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!"

and goes on to say in v.14:
"Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."

i could go on and one, but really you should just read Philippians, it's pretty amazing.

there are two HUGE truths that i'd just like to point out.

1. we are called to be like Christ, who made himself nothing.
-this obviously isn't an easy task, but just think of what your life would look like if literally EVERYTHING you did was for other people. i have a bit of news for you, it wouldn't be glamorous. it'd be dirty and sweaty and sleepless.
-i was once given an old beat up silver dollar and a minted silver dollar of the same year and asked the question, "which of these served it's purpose?" is it better to keep clean or to actually be used for the purpose you were created?

2. we are to shine like stars
-i don't think Paul was using this as some huge metaphor trying to be dramatic to get his point across, i think that if we emulate Christ in our daily living and strive to be more like Him, the shine comes naturally. NOT from you, but from Him.

THAT'S what I want.

see, this "plan" that we are all looking for is already laid out before us. it starts with making yourself nothing; stripping away titles, goals, and ambitions, all in the name of Christ for the purpose of serving others.

i invite you to keep me accountable for the things i say and i genuinely hope that you'll search within and see the marvelous plan God has for you has already started, and you're living it right now.

transition.

my life, for the past while, has been in a constant phase of transition. i know that we are always moving, adapting, creating, but transitioning to me seems like it trumps it all. at least where i'm at. the everyday inspirations, conversations, musings are all in limbo. the search for new beginning has started whether my mind is ready for it or not.

when i drove to LA 2 years ago my mindset was so different. at the time i felt like i was leaving so much behind and putting huge relationships on hold to follow what God had for me at the time. it was heartbreaking, but i knew it was right. the drive was filled with thoughts of what i was leaving and hoping the decision was right. there was uncertainty in the act of leaving, but not in the act of arriving.

this transition is totally different. i'm not stepping into a position, i'm not guaranteed anything. there is this shroud of uncertainty that is both frightening and liberating. really, for the first time in my life, there is so much i don't know.

well, there is one truth.

God is God, and i am not.

most people look at me with a blank stare when i tell them i've been excited to drive to ohio. i love it because there is time for reflection and time to soak in God's creation that typically goes unnoticed.

for instance, this morning i witnessed the marvelous sunrise at the grand canyon. i stood in utter amazement at this portrait God was literally painting before my eyes. by the time the sun was coming up there were countless tourists with their cameras trying to capture this indescribable moment using a man-made device. seems like a feeble attempt, but it proves that there is still this innate fascination with things bigger than us. see, no matter how hard anyone tried, they could never come close to recreating that sunrise, let alone recreating everyday.

we are all spectators of this wonderful creation that God has built for us. think about all that is beautiful in this world...

all of it was made at His hand.

and to really blow our minds, that sunrise would have happened if no human being were there to witness it. why?

because this world can't contain His beauty.

if we could just understand that creation is constantly worshipping Christ, then we would take better care of it. not only that, but our hearts would be connected with it. i'm not saying "we are one with creation" but i AM saying that we were created by the same God for the same purpose.

to worship of wonderful creator.

so, back to this transition.

i know that i know nothing. but i know God won't let me down. this is the most exciting time of my life and i don't intend on wasting it on stresses that aren't worthwhile. i'm just going to do my best to join with the rest of God's creation and worship Him with all that i am.

not on subject, but a powerful verse i just read:
Romans 12:9
"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good."