Out of My Control

Over the past three weeks while I have been away Nina, Jen and Jeremy each wrote a guest post responding to a question I asked: How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order bear fruit? It's only fair that I respond as well.

Every week for three years, I have written a brief email message to you, often using what was going on in my life for reflection. I wrote them during Jeff’s illness and after his death. I wrote them during my own treatment for breast cancer. I wrote them when I was on vacation. This year, shortly before leaving on our trip, I asked the three who would be preaching while I was away to write guest posts and email them to me so that I could post them. The first week away, Nina sent me her reflection and I posted it. The second week, Jen sent me a note saying that her post was written and scheduled for sending. And then she posted and scheduled Jeremy’s reflection for this past week. I have to admit I was taken back a bit. I realized that it was hard for me to let go of control.

I shared this in a somewhat humorous tone during staff meeting this week, but it is a real issue for me. I felt as though God were putting a hand up to get my attention to remind me that I am not in control, and that God was helping me on how I have been working on trying not to be a bottleneck to the Spirit’s work. It was as if God said, “See, I took you out of the loop here, and all was well. Get used to it.” This was a gentle reminder but I definitely felt uncomfortable, mostly with the realization that I didn’t like not being in control. God’s Spirit is not something I can control. It blows where it will. I just pray I can stay aware of it.

John 3:8

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Guest Post: Jeremy Koontz: How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit?

While I am visiting family, I have asked our "guest" preachers to reflect on a particular question:

How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit? The reflection will be a guest post here.

Asking ourselves what God wants of us can easily be answered with, "what I already do now, of course" but what if there is something more?  As a fledging married person, my initial response to how God is challenging me was to bless people with friendship and hospitality in my new home.  Sounds good, right?  Well, maybe that is an okay start but it seems like something is missing.  In my case, I do good works and for all intensive purposes am a decent person.  People look favorably upon me like a innocent puppy or a flashy popular TV show.  Sometimes strangers say nice things about me for no apparent reason.  All these things mean I'm okay with God, right?  Having to even ask the question seems to suggest the opposite.  Lately, I have let many friendships linger when I could have called or sent a letter.  I have witnessed injustice within arms reach and stood by idly.  I have prayed and read God's word, yet not made a dwelling for the Risen One in the seat of my consciousness. I've kept my Christian identity secret and felt ashamed to even mention the name of Jesus. I have sinned greatly, my family, forgive me.  

The first step to forgiveness is not receiving absolution, rather, it is to confess!  When we confess, we awaken to the divine reality that God is capable of forgiveness. God can change the power of the seas and turn darkness into light.  As a fast-food culture, we honestly don't prepare enough time for confession; we don't let it sink in.

One of my favorite manservant jobs to do around the apartment is to cook.  One thing I've learned is to appreciate spices and allow them to have its time to properly sink into the meat.  Strangely enough, I think a similiar logic in confession applies in cooking. Think of reflection, prayer, and confession as the divine spices and our hearts are the unprepared raw meat (I'm thinking of a red New York Strip steak, and you?). If you throw the steak on the grill right away, it's going to taste so-so but it's worlds away in how good it can be.  Likewise, when we confess, perhaps we really need to take a time-out and be alone with a journal or confide in a mentor about how you feel God is distant in your life.  

I have already begun doing this and I must say, I am greatly relieved.  The experience is like being released from ignorance and having a new perspective on joy and pleasure; its more synonymous with rejuvenation as opposed to self-consumption.  Jesus is known for refering to discipleship as being flavorful like salt.  "You are the salt of the earth" He says, and I think that is a way of saying that true Christian spirituality can bring much needed seasonings like life and joy to a community and a nation--if we learn to be more salty.

 

Blessings,

Jeremy Koontz

Guest Contributor

Guest Post: Jennifer Secki Shields--How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit?

While I am visiting family, I have asked our "guest" preachers to reflect on a particular question:

How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit? The reflection will be a guest post here.

Each Sunday, my family wakes bright and early to get ready for church.  Since I'm the Director of Christian Education and Don is in the praise band, we arrive an hour or more before worship begins.  On my drive to church I pass the joggers and cyclists.  I pass the dog walkers drinking their coffee.  With a twinge of envy, I notice their "day of rest" looks much more restful than mine.  But, I'm on my way to church, to answer God's call to "bear fruit"--to do my little part to try to make this world a bit more like God imagined it when he birthed it.  We engage in a whirlwind of activities both before and after worship.  It is 1:00pm before we return home, and nearly 2:00pm before we have lunch.

Who would choose this as an enjoyable--a comfortable-- way to spend their Sundays?

Truthfully, following Jesus isn't meant to be comfortable--and Jesus didn't mince words about that.  Jesus described his own comfort level as not even having a place to lay his head (Matt. 8:20) and said, "...the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:14).  So why choose this way of life following Jesus?  Because as pleasant as it may be to sleep in on a Sunday, sip coffee, or go for a run, those comforts pale in comparison to the rest and peace that comes from a life lived with God.  My faith does not make me immune to the troubles of human existence.  But, amidst the stress and unpredictability and heartaches, I find strength and calm, blessed with an unwavering vision of hope and redemption given by God, manifest in Jesus, and lived out with those who walk this road with me.

The comforts of the world cannot satisfy a craving for God nor calm the disquiet in the human soul.  No human comfort zone provides adequate answers for our deepest questions--who is God?  Who am I and what is my purpose in this universe?  Who are we, together on this earth?

Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:29).  It is yet another strange-but-true paradox from the Gospels--by going out of our comfort zones for the kingdom of God, we find rest and peace that the world, with all its comforts, cannot give.

 

With you on the journey,

Jennifer Secki Shields

Guest Contributor

Guest Post: How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit?

While I am visiting family, I have asked our "guest" preachers to reflect on a particular question:

How does God call me out of my comfort zone in order to bear fruit? 

The reflection will be a guest post here.

Early last week, I received a text message out of the blue from a former colleague. “It looks like there is extra breast tissue on my left breast. I have to get a second mammogram. Please keep me in your prayers,” my friend writes. After the initial shock, I responded, “Of course, you’re in my prayers.” Then out of nowhere I offered to accompany her to her appointment. My friend gratefully accepted. OK. God, what did you get me into?

Now at the time, I was thinking, I’m coming along, being there for friend. But when I met her two days later, I discovered that I’ll be driving her to her appointment. Now, I am not a born-to-drive driver. I don’t experience the thrill or freedom of the open road like others. I prefer to get around by walking or taking public transportation. But here I am, picking her up in Falls Church and taking her to Reston and back. I’m in unfamiliar territory: I’m out of my comfort zone.

God has an uncanny way of calling me out of my comfort zone nearly every day, whether it’s driving to unfamiliar places or reassessing my career track after working at the same firm for over eight years. By calling me out of my comfort zone, God reminds me not to take things and people for granted, to not be complacent and that no matter what, He will always be there. Through the experience, God’s grace is always revealed. Appropriately enough, the Upper Room devotional on the day of my friend’s mammogram was from Psalm 31:5: [The psalmist wrote:] “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

My friend’s test results came out definitively negative. She has no abnormal tissue growth. She and I celebrated the good news over lunch. Thank you, God, for my friend’s life and continued friendship. God is great!

Peace,

Nina de las Alas

Guest Contributor

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” – Psalm 31:5.

Taking Risk

I have some bulbs sitting in a box in my bedroom. The purpose of these bulbs was to plant them in the yard so they could grow and flower. They’re not doing much good sitting over there in a box rather than having been planted—over a year ago! Oh, well, I can make excuses. I have plenty of “good” reasons why I didn’t get around to it, but that doesn’t change the fact that there they sit, not being allowed to fulfill their purpose.

Several years ago, I used an illustration of an ice cube for a children’s message. If I tried to save the ice cube in my pocket, it would just melt and be of no use to me at all. And even if I tried to save it in the freezer, it would eventually dwindle away, and be no use. The only way to fulfill its purpose would be to use it to cool my drink.

I have been thinking about this in terms of the church. We have resources that we tend carefully. We are good stewards of these resources. Or are we? How are we called to move out in what may feel like risky ways in order to bear fruit? We really need to think about this, and pray about this. God is calling us to bear fruit. How best can we do that?

John 12.24:

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.