I am tongue-tied today. Last night I poured out my heart to God, and He graciously pointed out a thing or two in my life that need(s) changing. Basically what it all boils down to is what my purpose in this life is.

This issue has been gradually brought to my attention over the past week. Having been mortified by the recent life choices of a former peer, I found myself passionately stating, "he was meant to live for so much more than this!" And it's true. This world has taught us to believe that the only thing we should live for is our own prosperity and enjoyment. At first I piously considered myself to be above such an apparent lie, but after further processing, I've come to realize that I have been as trapped as any other person on the face of this earth.

The subjects that have been filling my thoughts for the past few months have been that of my future vocation, marriage, and living circumstances. Don't get me wrong, these are all very important things that should be given serious thought. The problem was that I was looking at them as goals in my life rather than basic needs. I was made to live for so much more than this! I was made to live for God, to make Him my every desire and joy!

When God created man, man's purpose was clear: live for God. When man fell from God's presence, there were consequences involving labour, relationships, and prosperity. Man had to work hard for everything he needed, and this was the curse. Somewhere in history people have started to look at these consequences as goals, for whatever one works for must be of highest importance. This line of thought is so skewed, for people are meant to work hard, but for God's glory, not man's. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to pursue a marriage, a better job, or more power. We are commanded to pursue God. This is where I found myself at fault.

I was reading in Hebrews this morning, only to find that it completely tied in with my aforementioned revelation. The writer of this remarkable book puts a great deal of importance on being diligent to not fall away. I know all to well how easy it is to enter a state of unbelief. Here, consider these verses:

"Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb 3:12-13).

Unbelief creeps into our lives in unbelievably subtle ways. I was redirected last night, but not everyone has experiences such as mine. That is why we are supposed to encourage each other daily--sometimes all it takes is the insight of an outsider to set us on the right track. We are meant to live for so much more in this life, and that "more" is not of this world. The "more" we are to live for is to grow daily in our relationship with our awesome, holy, loving, faithful God.

To everyone who reads this, I hope you are encouraged, and I hope you have the courage to encourage others.

Andrea

of the cross and little old ladies

It's 18 days away from my wedding. I am nearly going crazy with just thinking about all the things I have to do. Why does planning a wedding have to be so difficult? Why can't it just be like the old days where if the preacher was in town, you got married on the spot? Oh all right, that would be rather anti-climatic. But it would save money and give me less to think about... hmmm... Wait a second, snap out of it!

Joey and I have attended Morrow Gospel Church for the past two Sundays, and are fairly certain that we are going to make it our home church. Our reasons: the gospel is preached and the Lord is glorified. Isn't that what church is about?

Anyways, yesterday the congregation (and the speakers, I'd imagine) received a healthy reminder to pick up our various crosses and follow Jesus. The cross is a symbol of rejection, scorn, and separation, which would seem to be unfit for respectable Christians (SARCASM). What so many Christians (myself included) have trouble with is this very concept of alienation. This doesn't just mean that Christians separate themselves from the world by walking through a special doorway once a week. It means living a completely radically different lifestyle than the rest of the world. It means nearly collapsing under the crushing weight of a jagged, bloodstained cross with no one to share the load and spittle streaming down your body. I despise the comfort that this culture preaches.

I was at a loss as to exactly how I've been carrying my cross--to the world I look no different, I'm sure. God, what must I do? How will they see? His affirmation and challenge came from a little old woman eating all alone in a cramped, homely diner. I didn't even notice her, didn't even see her face. Suddenly I felt hands on my shoulders, felt the warmth of someone leaning in close and whispering in my ear, "God bless you for praying in public. It is so good to see. Don't you ever become discouraged and stop doing it." I murmured as many thank-you's as my stunned brain would allow and stared at Joey sitting across from me. What just happened? A complete stranger separated herself from the world to encourage two young Christians to remain separate. God used her to show me that being faithful in the little areas of life is just as important as the big areas. He showed me that carrying my cross starts with something as simple as bowing my head in a busy place and praising God for His provision.

That lady mirrored the face of God to me today. She was faceless and strange, and she was following the leading of God. He moves in mysterious ways.