Well it’s December 26th, are you ready to take the tree down? I was at a store today and Valentines decor and candy has already invaded. It’s all over, the presents are unwrapped, dinner is eaten and the hype has come to an end. But, Christmas has just begun…think back to that first Christmas, Jesus is only a day old. Contrary to the movie version, the Wise men have not yet showed up. Mary and Jesus are just starting to recover and attempt to figure out this next chapter of life. Jesus is just an infant, a pure, sweet little baby boy who, over the next weeks and months we will journey with to the cross. A manger to a cross…for me Christmas has just begun as I am reminded of living a life for Christ, a life worthy of his coming, his dying, and his resurrection. Now that the world has put Christmas away, let’s continue to celebrate, this child’s life means eternal life for each one of us. Merry Christmas!
Complete Surrender December 11, 2009
I would consider myself a fairly confident person. I usually approach new tasks with enthusiasm and boldness. But, I am starting to realize this type of thinking can often stand in the way from God’s real plan.
I went back to York College yesterday to do some work in their library and I admit that visiting the campus has been some thing I usually dread. I don’t like to be reminded of the person I was then and the decisions I made. Going back to campus has often brought back memories of a life I work hard to forget. But yesterday’s visit was finally different. I approached my time there through a new perspective. I used those memroies and many mistakes to reflect on how far I’ve come. I realized that the person who went to York College no longer lives in this body. I have finally taken enough baby steps of change to feel like I am a new person, living a life that centers around the life of Christ and doing my best to live and love the way he did. The visit back in time actually felt good!
But, of course the pride issue is always knocking at the door and I started to think, you know I can do this, I can walk this journey with boldness. I believe there’s a level of bolness and confidence that is good for the soul but often times I cross that line and become overly confident. Unfortuantely, this prevents God from really being able to use me for his purpose. I believe people can see this in me and probably wonder which Aimee is going to show up some days. I hate stuggling with pride and I’ve been told that will probably never go awy. I pray it does.
I want to work toward being humble instead of accomplished, toward serving instead of leading, toward loving instead of proving! I believe this is the only way to tryly lead people on the journey of faith, to live a life that reflects His image. It’s easy to stay humble when that’s your measuring stick because I definitely fail horribly every day. I pray that I can stay focused on this through out the next several years and especially once God calls me to serve at one of his churches. So this morning, I am once again completely surrendered, knowing that if anything good comes out of this day, this journey, this life, it is all because of Christ working through me.
A Passionate Witness November 16, 2009
This was my second weekend preaching and it was a bit different from the first. I showed up very nervous but knew that God would communicate with his people in spite of me. I didn’t feel as connected with the congregation as I did last week but as long as God connected that’s all that really matters. After worship we had the business meeting of our church conference followed by another short but awesome worship service. Our District Superintendent Mark Webb spoke on our calling to be witnesses. Not the type of witness that happens on a street corner or beats people over the head with bibles but rather the type of disciple that lives a passionate sold out life for Jesus Christ. A witness that you can follow, and really, a witness that you want to follow. Essentially someone who’s life reflects a passionate love for Jesus and you can see that passion in everything they do and say. Jesus was that kind of witness for God his father. He was a man that people were drawn to because of how he lived and therefore showed them how to live. To live a life of passion!
For so long I felt the church trying to beat the passion out of me. The desire for my passion to be checked at the door before entering a business meeting and if I could just come back to reality everything would be fine. What I have learned over these last three weeks is that giving up the passion Christ has created in me would be the worst decision of my life. He created me to be a passionate person and can use me as a passionate witness for his glory. That is the call I am willing to say YES to, whatever the cost!
Go and Show November 13, 2009
Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
I have been working on a Certification Project for the National Association of Church Business Administrators (NACBA) and the title is Communicating the Great Commission in the 21st Century. In recent months God has unveiled just what that needs to look like in order for churches to be effective. First, we can no longer go into the world telling people about this wonderful man named Jesus. We must go into the world living out of our relationship with Christ so that people see him through us and desire to have something more in life. Second, we must be willing to take church to where the people are. This does not mean negotiating core values or being inclusive just to be liked. It means meeting people where they are, meeting them in real life but also via Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Linked In, Friend Feed, etc. We must be willing to go to the fastest growing population of Social Media and bring Christ to where the people are. Both of these are must haves in order to effectively communicate the Great Commission today and in the future!
