Rob and I have landed back in Oshkosh and actually plan to be here for at least 3 weeks straight! WOAH! Now it's hit the road hard for the last 3 weeks of the semester -- for me that mainly means loving on and encouraging the students through finals, and helping them find some time to relax. It ALSO means, and I'm INCREDIBLY excited about this: getting through the applications for our Council of Student Ministers for next year, and meeting with each applicant for an interview and starting to put together our plans for next year's ministry. God has already done a LOT of work in the hearts of our students as far as preparing and exciting them into action, and the vision that they have to minister to their peers is awe inspiring! Pray for wisdom and guidance for us as TCF begins to draw alongside God for the 2009-2010 school year at UW-O. It's going to be awesome!
Part of that awesomeness is Sam Murray -- another Prospective Student Minister for next year. Check out her Word of the Week post below, and be blessed!
King, “Melek”
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34). When we hear someone describing God, they may say; King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Prince of Peace. Melek… King, describes the Lord as King of all Kings. He is all of those names, but how often do we sit back and really think about what those titles really mean.
While I was reading up on what this means, the song by David Crowder Band, “He is our King” kept coming into my mind. If we look at the lyrics, the song says, “He is our King, He is our Love, He is our God who’s come to bring us back to Him.” When we think of earthly kings, an earthly king is a lot of times worried about his government and how to gain wealth for him and his people. Our God already has all of the wealth and power in the world.
Recently we have had a lot of rain, but not any thunderstorms. For some of us, that may be a relief, but to me I look forward to the thunderstorms. I love hearing the thunder boom inside my heart and seeing the lightning light up a room. Psalm 97:4 says, ‘His lightning lights up the world, the earth sees and trembles.’ Our God is the King over all the earth, He produced that power, and we need not be afraid of the thunder, but of our great and powerful God.
Finally, those of us who have received the Lord’s gift and accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior need to learn to have God as King of our lives. Think of how we would be awestruck by a king of present day, we need to be even more in awe and immensely more willing to do as He wills. Live as though God is right here, governing over every move we make, because He is.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Word of the Week: Yahweh Tsuri
Justin Christofferson wrote this week's Word post. He is a freshman this year at UW-O, and got involved in TCF early on in the year. He has been in my and Rob's Lifegroup all year and we've greatly enjoyed getting to know him and his Cubbie-loving self :) This semester he has taken on the task of getting the room set up before TCF each week -- making sure people are scheduled to be there to help and then directing them to accomplish the task before students arrive for worship. Praise the Lord for his service, and for being a vessel that God can speak through! Check it out!
Yahweh Tsuri
This name of God comes from the Hebrew noun meaning “rock” or “stone.” Therefore, God has revealed Himself to us as the Lord My Rock. The Lord is a solid foundation in which we can trust at all times. When He gives us a promise, He is faithful and always keeps His promises. Unlike the things or people of this world, God is completely reliable, and He will never let us down.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:2-4). According to these verses, the Lord My Rock will protect us when we call out to Him.
Remember when Saul repeatedly tried to kill David? David fled and hid in a cave. When Saul entered the same cave that David was hiding in, David was urged by his men to kill Saul right there. It’s only rational that David should have killed the very person who was trying to kill him, right? But David did not kill Saul because he trusted that the Lord would protect him; he “believed that the promises God had made were as solid as the rock he stood on.” Instead of striking out, David left it up to God to punish Saul. In the same way, when we are wronged by others, we need to leave it up to our ever-faithful Rock to deal with those people instead of retaliating against them.
The Lord My Rock is the strong foundation for those who put their trust in Him. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Psalm 125:1-2). No problem, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, is too big for the Lord! When we pray and give our problems up to Him, He will take our burdens off our backs.
So remember that when you build your life around Jesus, you are building on a solid rock foundation that will not crumble! “There is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).
Yahweh Tsuri
This name of God comes from the Hebrew noun meaning “rock” or “stone.” Therefore, God has revealed Himself to us as the Lord My Rock. The Lord is a solid foundation in which we can trust at all times. When He gives us a promise, He is faithful and always keeps His promises. Unlike the things or people of this world, God is completely reliable, and He will never let us down.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:2-4). According to these verses, the Lord My Rock will protect us when we call out to Him.
Remember when Saul repeatedly tried to kill David? David fled and hid in a cave. When Saul entered the same cave that David was hiding in, David was urged by his men to kill Saul right there. It’s only rational that David should have killed the very person who was trying to kill him, right? But David did not kill Saul because he trusted that the Lord would protect him; he “believed that the promises God had made were as solid as the rock he stood on.” Instead of striking out, David left it up to God to punish Saul. In the same way, when we are wronged by others, we need to leave it up to our ever-faithful Rock to deal with those people instead of retaliating against them.
The Lord My Rock is the strong foundation for those who put their trust in Him. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Psalm 125:1-2). No problem, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, is too big for the Lord! When we pray and give our problems up to Him, He will take our burdens off our backs.
So remember that when you build your life around Jesus, you are building on a solid rock foundation that will not crumble! “There is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).
On the Road Again
So, last Friday Rob and I were in La Crosse, WI so that he could give a presentation at a science convention. Then he went to Door County to help lead a weekend marriage retreat for Army folks, and I went to Milwaukee for drill. Today we were actually home in Oshkosh. Tomorrow, we leave for Virginia Beach for an Army Bands Leader Training -- a working vacation for me, simply a vacation for Rob. :) Please pray for us that travel would be safe, our time together would be like vacation for both of us, and that we would be living testimonies to the people we meet. Be blessed, and be in touch!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Word of the Week: Esh Oklah, El Kanna
Kyle Ackerit, another Prospective Student Minister, took on this week's post. Kyle is a freshman this year. His dedication, maturity, and pure potential have been a blessing to us at TCF and we are excited to continue to watch him grow in the Lord. Check out what he's got to say below!
Consuming Fire, Jealous God
Esh Oklah, El Kanna
Deuteronomy 4: 23-24 says “Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” When I was first introduced to the thought that our God is a jealous God a while back, I didn’t think it made any sense. Sure our God is all knowing, all powerful, and wonderful… but jealous? The reason this didn’t make sense to me at first is because we tend to immediately apply our definition of human jealousy. Edward Mac says “This word (jealousy) did not bear the evil meaning now associated with it in our usage, but rather signified ‘righteous zeal,’ Jehovah’s zeal for His own name or glory.”
El Kanna… the Lord our God is jealous. He wants each and every one of us to be constantly faithful to him. God is all consuming because he wants every last bit of us. Though that might sound scary at first, isn’t it comforting to know that God wants all of us? Even the bad things! We can give EVERYTHING over to him and then we don’t have to worry about it anymore.
Hebrews 12: 28-29 says “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” God’s wrath is real. Just because we believe in God’s awesome mercy doesn’t mean that sins don’t still anger God. God sent his son to die on the cross for us. Hopefully you’ve had time these last few days to think about that. But we can only be saved if we choose to be. There is a quote from Anne Spangler’s Praying the Names of God that I really like. It is by Ignatius of Antioch from the first century that says “we must either fear his future wrath or love his present grace - one of the two!”
When we think of anger, we might think of someone throwing a tantrum or getting revenge for something someone else has done to them… but this is not the kind of anger that God has. God’s anger is a “consuming fire,” an expression of his justice and holiness! What’s not just is the fact that God is willing to offer us anything better than hell. Even a life that is extremely honoring to God still has not deserved heaven. We can be thankful that God has offered us grace, even though we did absolutely nothing to deserve it. Praise God that he is a consuming fire and hates everything that is evil. Do you hate what is evil? Do you hate the sin in your own life?
God is a Jealous God, who loves us with an everlasting, all-consuming love!
Consuming Fire, Jealous God
Esh Oklah, El Kanna
Deuteronomy 4: 23-24 says “Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” When I was first introduced to the thought that our God is a jealous God a while back, I didn’t think it made any sense. Sure our God is all knowing, all powerful, and wonderful… but jealous? The reason this didn’t make sense to me at first is because we tend to immediately apply our definition of human jealousy. Edward Mac says “This word (jealousy) did not bear the evil meaning now associated with it in our usage, but rather signified ‘righteous zeal,’ Jehovah’s zeal for His own name or glory.”
El Kanna… the Lord our God is jealous. He wants each and every one of us to be constantly faithful to him. God is all consuming because he wants every last bit of us. Though that might sound scary at first, isn’t it comforting to know that God wants all of us? Even the bad things! We can give EVERYTHING over to him and then we don’t have to worry about it anymore.
Hebrews 12: 28-29 says “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” God’s wrath is real. Just because we believe in God’s awesome mercy doesn’t mean that sins don’t still anger God. God sent his son to die on the cross for us. Hopefully you’ve had time these last few days to think about that. But we can only be saved if we choose to be. There is a quote from Anne Spangler’s Praying the Names of God that I really like. It is by Ignatius of Antioch from the first century that says “we must either fear his future wrath or love his present grace - one of the two!”
When we think of anger, we might think of someone throwing a tantrum or getting revenge for something someone else has done to them… but this is not the kind of anger that God has. God’s anger is a “consuming fire,” an expression of his justice and holiness! What’s not just is the fact that God is willing to offer us anything better than hell. Even a life that is extremely honoring to God still has not deserved heaven. We can be thankful that God has offered us grace, even though we did absolutely nothing to deserve it. Praise God that he is a consuming fire and hates everything that is evil. Do you hate what is evil? Do you hate the sin in your own life?
God is a Jealous God, who loves us with an everlasting, all-consuming love!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Word of the Week: Abba
Check this out! This was written by one of our Prospective Student Ministers. Courtney is a sophomore this year, but was new to TCF this fall. I have been blessed to meet with her each week this semester for one-on-one discipleship. Her growth and excitement in the Lord have grown exponentially and this post, trust me, is evidence of that. Praise God!
Father
Ab, Abba, Pater
When we think of God, we often times think of our Savior, our Lord, our King, however we often forget that he is not only those things, but also our Father. He is the one who loves us, who protects us, who holds us close, who rejoices when we come back to him, and forgives us when we least deserve it.
In Hebrew Scriptures, God is normally seen as the Father over Israel, not the Father over individuals. Jews of that time would never have considered calling Him Father; however, Jesus himself referred to God as his Father, and called us—as believers—to do likewise. Jesus depicted God as a tender, and a compassionate father, who gives grace to sinners.
According to the book, Praying the Names of God Ab (Hebrew) or Abba, the Aramaic word for Daddy which came to be known as “dear father” is paired with the Greek word pater. Pater is the most frequently used term for Father in the New Testament. The name Abba, Pater is found three times in the New Testament, all in prayer. Jesus cried out to God in Gethsemane saying, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).
I’m sure we can all see God as our Father in many of the circumstances we face each day. When I was a freshman in high school, it was made clear to me that my God is my Father, my Abba, my Pater. I remember vividly my mom breaking the news to me that my dad would be in prison for nine years. I remember crying and wondering what I was supposed to do without my dad. I longed to have a dad who would watch over me, and protect me. Unfortunately, I received none of those from my earthly dad. I looked to God and wondered, are you like the dad I have now? Are you going to leave me? Are you going to break countless promises? Anne Spangler puts it best, “If you want to perceive who God the Father is, earthly models will fail you” (321).
It was and is true, my earthly model of a dad failed me in perceiving who God truly is. God watches over us, and protects us through everything. Spangler quotes Sigmund Freud, “One of the strongest needs of childhood is the need for a father’s protection” (325). Even when our earthly father fails to provide a sense of security, we can count on and know that God will everlastingly provide faithful fatherly protection. When we feel as if there is no one to protect us we need to remember Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” This protection will not weaken, it will not fail, it will eternally remain.
It is important to know that God is our Father, our Abba, our Pater, and he wants us to be His children. He wants to hold us close so that we may experience security in him. By doing so we are free to confidently take risks that faith requires. Let God be your Father, so that you can take those risks for him, let him cradle you, and know that he will never let go.
Luke 12:32-
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Father
Ab, Abba, Pater
When we think of God, we often times think of our Savior, our Lord, our King, however we often forget that he is not only those things, but also our Father. He is the one who loves us, who protects us, who holds us close, who rejoices when we come back to him, and forgives us when we least deserve it.
In Hebrew Scriptures, God is normally seen as the Father over Israel, not the Father over individuals. Jews of that time would never have considered calling Him Father; however, Jesus himself referred to God as his Father, and called us—as believers—to do likewise. Jesus depicted God as a tender, and a compassionate father, who gives grace to sinners.
According to the book, Praying the Names of God Ab (Hebrew) or Abba, the Aramaic word for Daddy which came to be known as “dear father” is paired with the Greek word pater. Pater is the most frequently used term for Father in the New Testament. The name Abba, Pater is found three times in the New Testament, all in prayer. Jesus cried out to God in Gethsemane saying, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).
I’m sure we can all see God as our Father in many of the circumstances we face each day. When I was a freshman in high school, it was made clear to me that my God is my Father, my Abba, my Pater. I remember vividly my mom breaking the news to me that my dad would be in prison for nine years. I remember crying and wondering what I was supposed to do without my dad. I longed to have a dad who would watch over me, and protect me. Unfortunately, I received none of those from my earthly dad. I looked to God and wondered, are you like the dad I have now? Are you going to leave me? Are you going to break countless promises? Anne Spangler puts it best, “If you want to perceive who God the Father is, earthly models will fail you” (321).
It was and is true, my earthly model of a dad failed me in perceiving who God truly is. God watches over us, and protects us through everything. Spangler quotes Sigmund Freud, “One of the strongest needs of childhood is the need for a father’s protection” (325). Even when our earthly father fails to provide a sense of security, we can count on and know that God will everlastingly provide faithful fatherly protection. When we feel as if there is no one to protect us we need to remember Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” This protection will not weaken, it will not fail, it will eternally remain.
It is important to know that God is our Father, our Abba, our Pater, and he wants us to be His children. He wants to hold us close so that we may experience security in him. By doing so we are free to confidently take risks that faith requires. Let God be your Father, so that you can take those risks for him, let him cradle you, and know that he will never let go.
Luke 12:32-
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Update on March
Wow. So, after my week in Chicago (which was absolutely excellent and I left after my class SPILLING OVER with knowledge and love for Jesus -- almost unable to contain it at all), I spent a week in Middle Tennessse at Horton Haven Christian Camp on TCFs 2009 Spring Break Mission Trip. Hopefully I'll have an update here soon about that. God was at work and the changed lives and relationships amongst the 14 of us who were there testify to it daily.
Last week, I was so overwhelmed trying to get caught back up with life that the Word of the Week got lost in the shuffle, so we focused on Yahweh Rophe again -- and praised God for healing and refreshing and renewal. Phew!!
This week, the big news in TCF is that my co-campus minister, Kyle, is heading to Moody Graduate School himself next year (yay!) and will not be working with TCF in the fall (boo!). Please pray for him and his future endeavors and for Jeremy and I, who, only with God's help, will be picking up the slack (or, by God's grace, hiring someone new).
Last night I had the immense privilege of introducing the hopes and expectations for next year's Leadership team -- now renamed the Council of Student Ministers. Over the next few weeks, our Prospective Student Ministers will be prayerfully considering their commitment to TCF and what ministry God is calling them to lead. Please pray for them too!!
I hope you are doing well and I praise the Lord for your prayers and financial support. Thank you thank you thank you. Every prayer and every penny makes a huge difference in my life and my ability to keep doing what God gives me to do.
Last week, I was so overwhelmed trying to get caught back up with life that the Word of the Week got lost in the shuffle, so we focused on Yahweh Rophe again -- and praised God for healing and refreshing and renewal. Phew!!
This week, the big news in TCF is that my co-campus minister, Kyle, is heading to Moody Graduate School himself next year (yay!) and will not be working with TCF in the fall (boo!). Please pray for him and his future endeavors and for Jeremy and I, who, only with God's help, will be picking up the slack (or, by God's grace, hiring someone new).
Last night I had the immense privilege of introducing the hopes and expectations for next year's Leadership team -- now renamed the Council of Student Ministers. Over the next few weeks, our Prospective Student Ministers will be prayerfully considering their commitment to TCF and what ministry God is calling them to lead. Please pray for them too!!
I hope you are doing well and I praise the Lord for your prayers and financial support. Thank you thank you thank you. Every prayer and every penny makes a huge difference in my life and my ability to keep doing what God gives me to do.
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