Reflections of a King

I just finished reading probably the greatest books I've ever picked up (sorry Harry Potter, but you've been put to shame). J.R.R. Tolkien, in all his literary genius, has created a masterpiece in 'The Lord of the Rings' and it's been something worth reflecting on. Here are some thoughts, here are some reflections. They're random, center justified, and open for feedback, comments, agreement, or 'I've been there too.' Enjoy.

Isn't it awesome that the third and final part of the Lord of the Rings is called 'The Return of the King?' The book is largely the tale of a ring, the hobbit that is entrusted to deliver it to its doom, and the team that is entrusted to guide him. Yet, the end is not just about the ending of evil. It's about the RETURN of a king. The REIGN of good. The destroying of evil and the infinite replacing it with goodness and beauty. That's what Jesus is coming back to do: not just to rid the world of sin. But to restore Eden and to make the world as he created it to be.

Gandalf, the White Wizard, says repeatedly that there will always be evil, something new and wicked will always come up, but we must do what we can do to destroy it in our time. When the kings and warriors are discussing the next move to Mordor, Gandalf reminds them: that it is not their job to master all the evils of the world, but to alleviate and uproot the evils of the present age they live in. Couldn't we say the same for us? There will always be evil: since the fall, when sin was introduced. We live in a fallen world with fallen bodies and we anxiously await the return when Jesus restores Eden. In the meantime, we live for Jesus NOW by living out Ephesians 6:10-20, putting on that armor, and defeating satan on a small scale. On the only scale we know how. Through confession, dependency, honesty, repentance, diligence, prayer, accountability, faith, a right perspective of Jesus and satan, hope, Scripture memory, humility, confrontation, and truth.

I can't stop thinking about one thing Frodo said to Sam, from one hobbit to another. He said, "You were meant to be solid and whole, and you will be." You were meant to be SOLID and WHOLE, and you will be! I go through phases when the awareness of sin is heightened and the pain I've gone through comes back to rear its ugly head. Shame becomes my most frequent and unwanted thoughts. When that happens, I dwell on heaven. I hope that's the right response. I think about what it will be like and I think on all of us worshipping TOGETHER. I think of no hurt, pain, sin: just love. I think of us being SOLID and WHOLE.

And the only way I get to think on heaven is because of Christ's death,which has given us the chance to be reconciled and solid and whole for eternity.

Thinking on Frodo and Sam reminds me of my neighbor and mother of five who just found out her newborn baby girl has some hearing loss. And you know what she told me after learning that? She said, "These are our fallen bodies. It comes with being sinful and fallen. We're human. And we'll one day be in our resurrected bodies with Christ."

What a perspective! That comes from someone who knows Who's saved her and her children and who knows what's coming. Who knows what's been promised her. Someone who knows the significance of the Gospel. I want a response like that.

After the ring is destroyed and Sam and Frodo are rescued, they are brought to the camp of the king and there they are honored. They are led through a great host of soldiers and brought to the king's throne. And there the king bows before them, offers them the throne, and leads the hosts in praise for their journey and job well done. Reading that reminds me of Luke 12:8 which says that whoever acknowledges Christ before men, He will also acknowledge us before the angels of God. He will present us holy. When this war we've entered in against satan and His powers is eliminated as Jesus returns, we will stand with our King. I can't stop thinking how amazing that will be.

Solid and whole. Acknowledged and presented. Together with worshipping hearts.

Get me there now.

I have this continuous realization over and over again, so bear with me because I never grow tired of understanding it. When I am sad or lonely or uncertain or sinful.. and then begin to feel happier or more assured or complete, the answer CANNOT be because of something that has happened to me or something that I have done. It cannot be because I got into Gordon Conwell or because I serve at Advance or because I hold a record for home runs.

It HAS to be because Christ died on the cross for me. That has to be the answer.

I overheard a conversation today between two people. One was saying that they always felt like they needed to do more and never felt like they were doing enough. And the other responded: "Go on more mission trips."

No people that is NOT the answer!!

Take it from a recovering I-never-do-enough addict.

Missions trips are great and we are called to serve others. That is so biblically clear. But that act itself cannot save you or heal you or make you happy. It is Christ in you that will save you. That act and any other act can represent what Christ has done in you and how He is faithful to work through you. It shows your life change, the ways you've put on the new life. But Christ has to be your only fulfillment and satisfaction and the rest will fall into place. (When I say 'you' here, I really mean me. I need to hear it every chance I get. This truth is so beautiful).

I've been listening to Sara Groves the whole time I've been writing this. 'Less Like Scars' is ah-mazing. She sings of a process, how lessons are hard, healing is sometimes subtle, but how things are redeemed. Over time, things seem

Less like tearing more like building • Less like captive more like willing • Less like breakdown more like surrender • Less like haunting more like remember

And in your hands the pain and hurt • look less like scars • And more like character

I love that!

I feel like I'm getting there. This hurt, pain, and these memories will seem less captive, haunting, tearing with each new day, with each new obedience, and will be the key components of what has pushed me to Christ's work on the cross.

The King is reigning on His throne in heaven and He will reign on Earth.

His Kingdom is coming in all its fullness when Christ returns. You ready?

The Cave

My best friend came into town this past weekend. Have you ever spent time in the presence of people you admire, cherish, love, and aspire to become more like? I had four days of that! She's a spiritual force. I can look to her and say she's pointed me to Christ.

During one of our conversations this weekend, the recent revelation I've been having came full circle (that's what happens when you're in community). The past few weeks, I've had this freeing AWESOME epiphany that keeps manifesting itself in new ways.

I am what I think. What I think determines how I act.

I have a constant battle in my mind over fear of judgment: but what if I called that battle conquered and started to believe it?

What if I lived out the second part of 2 Corinthians 10:5 and made every captive thought obedient to Christ?

What if I took Tim Keller's advice and replaced negative thoughts and idols with the Gospel? Replaced them with experiences, conversations, Scriptures, songs, community that remind me of His deliverance and sacrifice?

What if I was proactive in not just stopping bad thoughts, but in STARTING good wholesome thoughts about God's grace, love, sovereignty, redemption, restoration, healing?

I'd be healthier, more spiritually alive, and able to discern the voice of God more clearly. Sign me up for that.

David Chadwick said this morning that if the spiritual realities of life in Christ are true (that we are raised with Christ, we have died to sin, our lives are hidden with Christ in God, we will appear with Him in glory), then we must seek things that are eternal. Our minds are set on things that are above!

We must live and breathe the truths that "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross"

(Colossians 1:15-20).

We were alienated and hostile but He has reconciled us by his death in order to present us holy, blameless, and above reproach: why don't we think on that?

Lately I haven't been able to stop listening to 'The Cave' by Mumford and Sons and have felt drawn to these lyrics:

"So come out of your cave walking on your hands

And see the world hanging upside down

You can understand dependence

When you know the maker's hand"

My mind paints a lot of mental images when I hear this verse. I see a dark cave and I imagine a desperate, frightening, surrendering journey to find the light. I imagine coming to the end at a crawl. I imagine emerging from the cave and realizing your world was not the same as the one you left. In fact, it's completely different: it's upside down. Dependence becomes real to you when you know there's a Maker: a Maker who shaped your world and radically shifted how you see things. How you think things.

Going through a cave of trials and turning to Jesus and His Gospel in the midst of it will make you come out thinking differently.

I think we all go through some kind of cave. A cave of confusion, darkness, despair. But our cave should turn us to Jesus and remind us of the Gospel. We turn to the light and find our world changed. We have a choice to turn to Christ in dependency and cry out for his help.

You may feel like you're in the midst of your cave, but throw your hands in the air and fall on your knees and worship a God of wholeness, healing, restoration, and redemption. Believe in a God who reigns and believe you're entitled to a thinking re-route.

Because Christ died for you, think eternal.

Luke

It's one of those weeks where I find myself staring at the blank computer screen.

Not for lack of thoughts (there's always a million of them swimming up there), but for lack of knowing which ones to latch on to and entertain.

Where I find my thoughts circling back to is my recent journey through Luke. Saying it's an incredible book would be an understatement. It has taught me about Christ, pointed me to His Cross, showed me His life, dwelt on His promises. It's given me a different lens.

I couldn't really pick out what has spoken to me the most.

I loved the parable of the persistent widow in chapter 18 who kept asking for justice and kept coming back and coming back even when the judge refused. Her persistence was an ASSET to her in seeking justice (asset is one of my most treasured words).

I loved when Jesus describes the coming of the Kingdom in chapter 17 and tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom is in the midst of them. And that the return will be bright and unmistakeable and sudden.. but the Son of Man must suffer first. "The consummation of the kingdom requires that a divine event 'must' take place-- that is, the obligation that Jesus must first die according to God's plan to redeem a people for himself." (amazing!)

I loved Zacchaeus when he receives Jesus joyfully.

I loved the Great Banquet.

I loved when Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

I LOVED the Transfiguration.

I loved chapter 21 verses 27-28: "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, STRAIGHTEN UP AND RAISE YOUR HEAD, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR."

Learning from Luke has been about seeing things with a different lens.

There are people I didn't really like, speakers I hated listening to, places I hated to be. But when you take off the glasses of selfishness, arrogance, and pride, a new perspective changes everything. See that sad little man up in that tree? He must really be passionate about seeing Jesus! See that weird poor lady giving Jesus two small coins? Look at her incredible faithfulness! See the homeless people and the people begging for money? See the people that Jesus cares so much for!

The people and places I originally disliked have become some of the things I hold dearest to my heart.

You determine your attitude. You determine what you think about someone, how you choose to see them, what you want to remember about them. You choose what lens you want to use.

You can choose to hold on to hurt, to withhold forgiveness, to make others feel condemned and accused. Or you can live like you know Jesus saved you and like you know Who holds your bigger picture.

Surrender the people you can't love, daily lift your situations up in prayer, and seek the Scriptures.

I've heard the song "With Everything" a bunch of times before.. but tonight, I heard it differently. I'd always sung it as a surrender of material things and life decisions and a proclamation of trust. But tonight I sang WITH EVERYTHING.

With our hurt, WE WILL SHOUT FOR YOUR GLORY.

With our pain, WE WILL SHOUT FORTH YOUR PRAISE.

With our unwillingness, BE LIFTED HIGH ABOVE ALL NAMES.

With everything: when circumstances don't seem to be going our way. When forgiveness is just too hard. When you don't want to move on. When you're moving on in the wrong direction. When there are uncertainties. When there is doubt.

We choose to see things through the lens of the Cross of Christ

because that's where the greatest and most selfless act took place.

Why Choose

Compassion Prayers

Meet Daniel!

I started sponsoring a Compassion child a few weeks ago and chose Daniel, a 9 year old from the community of Ntarama, Rwanda. Already I feel captured by his story and all the ways my money is being used.

Seriously. My money helps pay for: Biblical teaching, medical checkups, nutritious food, hygiene and nutrition education, physical exercises, field trips, opportunities for community service, scholastic materials, tutoring, and domestic assistance.

Makes buying a Starbucks white chocolate mocha seem kind of silly, doesn't it?

Lately I've been thinking of specific ways to be daily lifting up Daniel, his family, and his community in prayer and couldn't stop thinking. Here's how I'm praying for him: and would be honored if you joined me!!

Prayers for HEALTH: Daniel lives in an HIV/AIDS affected area (half a million Rwandans have HIV/AIDS) and his community's common health problems are malaria and worms. Pray for healing, for medical supplies, for adequate doctors, for education.

Prayers for FAMILY: Daniel lives with his father and mother and 4 other siblings (offer up prayers of thankfulness at a complete household)! Prayers for work for both parents (as farmers), for PROVISION, safety, and protection.

Prayers for EDUCATION: for school supplies, teachers/mentors/influences, the means to learn, the desire to grow in knowledge. For other students in his classroom: for a common commitment to learn together. Pray for COMMUNITY.

For the Ntarama Student Center as they provide evangelism, training, and discussions.

For Daniel's church as they worship the One true God. Pray for Bibles and for strong church leaders.

Prayers for BASICS: clean water, warmth, a healthy diet, hygiene, toothpaste, toothbrushes, clean clothes, shoes.

Prayers for RWANDA: for peace, joy, and restoration as the country continues to heal from the devastation of the genocide in 1994. For forgiveness and a belief that God works good out of the sinful ways of man. He reigns.

For land for farming, employment opportunities, educational materials.

Prayers for FUN: Daniel loves soccer, running, and playing group games! Pray for friends to play alongside, soccer balls to score with, and strong legs to run far and fast!

Daniel also sings in his church's choir: thankful for the gift of music as a way for Daniel to worship!

Prayers for the INTANGIBLES: for trust, motivation, perseverance, peace, joy, a future, dreams, ambition, faith, hope, love.

Prayers for the GOSPEL: that the love of Jesus Christ will penetrate Daniel's community and his heart. For him to be changed by the same message and beauty of the Cross of Christ that has changed me. For an identity, value, self worth, and confidence to be based on faith in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. For Daniel to feel loved, wanted, and accepted by who he is in Christ. Pray for the Good News to be preached!

Thanks for reading and joining me in a journey of prayer in loving a part of the Kingdom and in carrying out Jesus' mission.

Luke 4:18-19

Feeling Sin

I've got a lot of thoughts: go with me here.

I've been reflecting on sin.

Sin is sad.

Devastating.

Destructs.

Divides.

Thwarts.

It's wicked. And it's sad.

I believe and I trust and I know that everything works for the Kingdom. The things that are wicked, God beautifully works in and redeems. I've seen the evidence of a rebirth and transformation firsthand! But God is not the author of pride, anger, lies, disunity, confusion, tension. And when the beauty of a rebirth comes through sin and not obedience, that's tough. It feels like life is full of human sin and stupidity and failings and short memory loss on how great God is. Because of sin, we need a Savior to save us.

Sorrow is always my last response to sin in my life. And I wonder if that's right. I feel anger and bitterness first at situations and events in my life, which builds to confusion and a constant questioning on what I need to do.. and then I mourn. The dust settles, reality kicks in, and I'm often overwhelmed by sadness.

But I wonder if that should be first. Maybe mourning and sadness over sin is the right response. To mourn the presence of sin: to feel your heart broken: to feel great sorrow. Because I think we feel a little of what God feels when we disobey.

When we run away.

Do it ourselves.

Ignore.

Divide.

Because feeling sin deepens the significance of the Gospel. Of the invitation we have to come before Christ as the unworthy, cruel, selfish, sinful people we are.

In Timothy Keller's sermon "The Gospel and Your Self," he talks about God moving from a concept to a reality. God as a concept is a God being shaped by us. It's a God that you believe in but hasn't changed you very much. You basically have more glory. But God as reality is you giving way to the glory of God. It's a radical change. God as reality is sacrificing your individual needs after coming into His presence.

But the point TK makes about this shift is this: you start to hate yourself. It's in the Bible everywhere: the moment the God of Job, Isaiah, Peter moves from concept to reality, they start to see themselves for who they really are. And that happens with us too: When God becomes reality, you think you're a sinner. You see your sin.

Keller says, "One second after Isaiah realized he didn't deserve to live and he was more wicked and flawed than he ever dared believe, he is now more AFFIRMED and VALUED and WANTED than he ever dared hope."

The more we realize our true nature, the more we realize who we are in Christ Jesus.

We become both bold and humbled: more wicked and more loved. All at the same time!

Why?? How??

The Grace of God.

We're nothing but sinners saved by grace.

I think when I focus too much on sin, I miss the point. I miss the redemption. Sure, sin is devastating but that's the humanity of a fallen world. And sure, it's right to mourn.. but we must proactively mourn. Be filled with sorrow at the sin we throw at our Savior everyday but be OVERWHELMED and MOVED and IN AWE at the grace and the love we receive despite that.

How in the same moment we see the sin, we see we're loved more than we could ever hope.

So sadness is our cue: our call: to look at the big picture and see Christ on the cross.

We worship despite our sadness.

We recognize our continual sin and that should push us closer to the One who died to save us.

We mourn our sinful humanity because we know we were made to be in harmony with God and this disease has thwarted that (for now).

And His grace is so undeservingly beautiful and unexplainably rich.

(P.S. A partial dedication to my friend Andrew, who I hope makes it to the end this time. AND who runs marathons without training!! Check it out: How to Hack a Marathon if You Aren't a Runner).

Who We Were: Who We Will Be

Have you ever read the story of Paul?

Back when Paul was Saul, he hated Christians. He destroyed the church and put God's people in prison. He approved of the execution of Stephen, who was the first martyr. His mission was to destroy the name of Jesus. His name was infamously known.

And then God steps in:

"But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And he said, Who are you, Lord?'' And he said, 'I am JESUS, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:1-9).

He encountered the risen Christ.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias whom the Lord came to in a vision. He told Ananias to find a man named Saul and to lay his hands on him and to give him back the sight he lost during his Damascus Road conversion. Ananias had heard of Saul's reputation and the evil he had done to the Lord's people. Could this be the same man?

And to this, God responded:

"GO, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15)

A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT. The one who used to kill Christians and hate them to his core is a chosen instrument of God!?

And Ananias went and laid hands on Saul and immediately scales fell from Saul's eyes and he regained his sight and was baptized. "And he immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is the Son of God." (9:20).

I mean, have you ever heard a better story!?

I think you have. That story is yours and mine.

Our church has been spending an awesome amount of time dissecting Colossians (written by Paul!) and today we talked through 1:21-23. Check out verses 21-22:

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach him."

Sometimes I don't know how to articulate the significance of these verses. It's taken me a long time to get what they really mean: it's taken me a transformation. The 'you' that Paul is speaking to: is me.

Colossians 1:21-22 is the Gospel:

WHO WE WERE: is alienated. Aimless. Doing evil deeds. Worshipping idols. Enemies of God. David Chadwick put it well that we worship creation, not the Creator and that the focus of our worship has become distorted. Jesus came to change our minds.

WHO WE ARE: is reconciled. All our sin was poured onto Him. Now we're sons and daughters! Our identifier is now the Cross of Christ.

WHO WE WILL BE: is holy. Blameless. Above reproach. Perfect. Sin has been traded for a new righteousness. Jesus will PRESENT US before God with pleasure.

I can't even fathom a story like that.

But that's the transformation that takes place when you come humbled before Christ. That's the transformation of Paul, of me, of everyone. That's what happens when God reconciled us to Himself through death on the Cross. That's what happens when you encounter the risen Christ.

The Gospel transforms us.

The Gospel calls us to new life.

The Gospel frees us from who we were and welcomes us into who we will be.

The Gospel is changing us from evil deeds and is sanctifying us to perfection.

Jesus was the ultimate Chosen instrument of reconciliation so we could all be chosen instruments to carry His name.

The Gospel saves!

God in All Our Simple Deeds

Figuring out what I want to do for the rest of my life has never been automatic for me.

I played 'school' my entire childhood: with my students being the empty room. I made real homework assignments and kept track of the troublemakers whose parents I had to 'call.' I grew out of that game when I entered high school and my teacher aspirations went with it. Then I went to college and studied journalism before I realized it wasn't what I hoped to be. I found my passion in majoring in history and have never enjoyed studying anything more. But history stops in a classroom.. unless you want a career in a museum.

This past year, especially, I've spent navigating through a career: what to do with the rest of my life (which sounds so daunting, doesn't it?). I've recently realized it's the one thing I'm least likely to share with people, even my closest friends. The journey I make towards finding the right job and calling is one I prefer to do in private.

And I think it's because I still draw my deepest identity from having a job. I've become wired with a 'do' mindset.. and 'do' for the wrong person: me.

And in my recent shift from 'do' to 'done (by grace),' my insecurities over my job uncertainties have (stubbornly) been the last to go. And I'm learning (have learned + still learning) that having a job does not create happiness, worth, contentment, or value. Yes, it's essential and important and imperative in learning responsibility and in making a difference through a calling: yes, yes I love jobs. But it doesn't create ULTIMATE worth. That's the cross and that's the Gospel. That's Jesus.

In 'The Pursuit of God,' A.W. Tozer writes on 'The Sacrament of Living' and how most Christians divide their life into two areas: the sacred and the secular. He says this causes us to live divided lives because we tend to always bounce back and forth between our disunited lives. Jesus lived a united life.

Tozer writes that we "must offer all our acts to God and believe that he accepts them. Then hold firmly to that position and keep insisting that every act of every hour of the day and night be included in the transaction. Keep reminding God in our times of private prayer that we mean every act for His glory; then supplement those times by a thousand thought-prayers as we go about the job of living. LET US BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN ALL OUR SIMPLE DEEDS AND LEARN TO FIND HIM THERE."

What if I learned to live like that? To live out Colossians 3:23-24 ('whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward')? To find Him and love Him and serve Him in EVERYTHING? What if I refocused?

I think figuring out what I want to do wouldn't make me so fearful: because I would already be serving Him in all things and wouldn't be waiting for the one thing.

As this post gets longer and longer..

I've recently discovered what working heartily for Him NOW means and found my point of refocus.

It's been a year of stretching, growing, challenges, new life: by far my best year. Ever. And interwoven between those times of anger and bitterness and uphill climbs, there have been.. children. I spent the most time with kids than I think I've ever spent before and I've fallen in love with them. I found that I loved + laughed + learned from people.. some even 20 years younger than me!

There's a family of five who live down the street that I spend time with everyday. A 10 year old, 8, 4, 2, and a two week old newborn! And every day I go to their home, I get on the job training for future responsibilities. Their mom teaches me about motherhood: the struggles of a big home, what no one tells you about pregnancy, how she dealt with losing a child, how to incorporate the Gospel into tough conversations with her 10 year old: she's my teacher.

And then I get to 'intern.' The kids and I play, we do homework, make dinner, stretch and take baths (the 4 yr old loves to stretch before bathtime: ask a kid to do a sit up and you'll never stop laughing), read books, sing songs, say prayers, and tuck them in (burrito style is always the best).

These are my simple deeds.

This is my refocus.

In my recent journey through Luke, I reached the 9th chapter and the Transfiguration and had a moment of wonder:

"And as he was praying, the appearance of his face altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"-- not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"

This is a glimpse of the second coming: of the future glory of Christ. He is illuminated from the inside. He is the transcendent Son of God. The significance of Moses and Elijah is that Jesus is the fulfillment of both. He is far greater than the Law and the Prophets. All the Old Testament POINTS to him.

While reading this afternoon, I felt a charge to REFOCUS. Jesus came to fulfill the kingdom of God and the new covenant and he promises to come again in all his glory. He is the better Moses and he is the better Elijah. Instead of always offering up prayers of petition for my life, what if I remembered the Transfiguration and remembered prayers of adoration and praise for who God is, what He came to do, and what He will come to do? What if I prayed in anticipation of his glory?

A good friend told me this week what calling looks like vs. our desire. He says that deciphering the true calling of God involves a process: a process of seeing your desires crushed and heart broken, only to see it reborn in a slightly different way. It can become a joy and a point of praise to watch the destruction of our idea of "God's call wrapped in a thick layer of our glory" and to see the beginning of a joyful waiting for his calling to be revealed. But true calling is to abide in him. To heed His voice in the middle of it all.

To abide in the promise of the Transfiguration. And to remember He is in all our simple deeds.