Beautiful things can be simultaneously simple and complex.
The complicated pieces always involve people. Often, sin plays a role, too. In the midst of brokenness and painful stories, though, Jesus always bursts through to claim victory. Mess, drama, whatever you want to call it-- Jesus is able to win in every story.
This week was beautiful because Jesus wins. Sunday to Friday at Cascades Camp, leading a crew of high school students to serve at middle school YFC camp. Saturday of rest.
This week was beautiful because the Holy Spirit restored hope. Students at camp saw hope for their brokenness. Emerging leaders had hope renewed in messy situations. Newlife Bremerton hosted a worship night centered on the theme of Christ's hope for our city. Mark repeatedly proclaims that Jesus is the hope that makes the broken... beautiful.
Yes! This is the victory!
Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.--Ephesians 5:14
Hannah wrote that verse on our wall as a bold proclamation of hope.
This week was beautiful, even when I had to wake up six highschool girls at the crack of 7 am to set tables for campers. It felt analogous to waking the dead some mornings. Yet hope is tangible. Christ wins. The Holy Spirit equips us with beautiful gifts (like patience) to serve His children.
This week was beautiful as a full expression of the Bride of Christ. Meeting new brothers and sisters is one of my favorite parts of loving Jesus. Making new friends shows the world what love looks like. Jesus gains victory when we share stories and do live together.
This week was beautiful with story. Even today, with camp completed, God gave opportunity to catch up with faithful old friends. Conversation with neighbors moving out. Conversation with neighbors moving in. Connection with church planters in our neighborhood. Walks with dearest friends and mentors. Lovely afternoon at my parents. Hope, sweet victory. And to finish the evening, Cassia and I were blessed to welcome a stranger to the city we've both come to love. Joy is the expression of hope played out. I doubled over laughing so many times on our walks that two different friends called me on it...
This week was beautiful, but really hard. Leading American teenagers to work is challenging, but a passion (hobby, even) of mine. Settling personality disputes took a lot of patience that I don't naturally have. But, oh Jesus gives the grace we need. Walking back and forth all day built character for all of us until I caved on Wednesday and started driving the Kia around camp. Camp was hard on the Kia.
This week was beautiful and worth it. There are two more camps on my schedule for the summer. Please join me in praying for God to stir revival in the hearts of Kitsap's children. Please pray for the love of God to transform our community. Pray for grace. Pray for truth. Hope for the victory.
Thank you for being part of this beautiful week.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Aw! YOU are a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart. I love you so much.
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