Crazy Love

Hey guys I'm back! We had a great time skiing last week! Skiing is one of mine and Jonathan's favorite things to do. I did not want to get off the mountain the last day! We went to Crested Butte, it was our second time there and we absolutely love it there! I am not going to post many pictures because they are all already posted on Facebook so if you want to see more, just check out my Facebook page.

{I loved the beautiful homes they had on the mountain! If I lived here I would ski everyday and drink a lot of hot chocolate!}

{I seriously think the Grinch lives at the peak.}

{Jordan, Me, and Jonathan about to hit up the blacks!}

{So beautiful!}

{Our last night we ate at The Secret Stash. Great restaurant! We had a pizza with chicken, sun dried tomatoes and goat cheese. AMAZING!}

We went to Crested Butte with the college group at our church...have I ever mentioned how much I love those guys and gals?! Anyways, Jonathan and I got to spend a lot of quality time together because we got to drive one of the buses. Well Jonathan drove the bus. We had one bus for the students and one for the luggage. When we drove the bus with luggage, we had many meaningful conversations, listened to some great music, and listened to some AWESOME pod-casts! We listened to quite a few Francis Chan pod-casts. You must listen to him speak if you haven't before. Every one of his pod-casts got me to thinking about my life and what it really means to be a Christian. I started questioning what it means to be a Christian in America versus other countries. We spent three weeks in China this summer, and the Christians we met there were really Christians. In China you don't just say you are Christian just because it's the "normal" thing to do. In China, along with other countries, when you are a Christian, you give up everything. In America, we don't do that. What have I given up to be a Christian? I haven't been persecuted by my family or government.

Francis Chan talked about how your life as a Christian should be so much different than the lives of those who are non-Christians. When I look at my life and compare it to scripture and then compare it to non-Christians, I would honestly have to say I look more like a non-Christian. I still stress and worry, I am consumed with material things, unfortunately I get caught up in gossip, and judge others. In America, it's all about fitting in. How can be a Christian but in an American way?You're not supposed to look like everyone else.

Matthew 7: 13-14 says: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But, small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

There have been so many times that I try to make a middle road. There is no middle road according to God's word. There is only a narrow and wide road. Sometimes I try to see how far I can go and do the things I want to do but still be a Christian. I test the boundaries. This isn't what God called us/me to do. His word also says,"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) How scary is that?! Every morning I wake up and worry about my future. Where will I work? Will I even get a job? Do my clothes look cute? Is my house clean enough? What do others think of me? Why do I worry about things like that so much???? What I should worry about is whether or not my life brings glory to God, not to myself. Everything is about me, me, me. Not God. When I am gone from this world, my clothes, house, job, etc. will not matter!

Have you read the book Crazy Love? It is by Francis Chan as well. You should read it. But I will warn you, it will convict you and it will change your life!

In this book, he says, "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." I have memorized Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you..." I think I know God is in control, but then I don't truly act like He is. If I truly believed that, then why would I worry so much?

I promise I am almost done, but I must say God has a laid a lot on mine and Jonathan's hearts lately. Here is one last paragraph in the book Crazy Love.

"I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it."

Francis Chan was discussing what it meant to be a lukewarm Christian. I do not want to be a lukewarm Christian. I want to be the person God has called me to be.

PS: Sorry there was no Tasty Tuesday, but we were gone all last week and we have only cooked spaghetti this week; everyone knows how to cook that! So, I thought I would share with you the things that have really been on my heart.

I hope you have a wonderful week!!