30 Years

This week I had my last group project presentation of my undergrad career. Yay! It was a good feeling to complete it, but the best thing was what I learned in that 100 minute class period. All four of the groups presenting had to cover two things and we could do it in any way that we wanted.

1. Why is Jesus a leader you would follow?
2. How did He manage His time on earth?

It was amazing to see how every group brought up different points, awesome qualities about Jesus that all describe why we love Him so much. But the one thing that stuck out to me, that put words to everything that I have been thinking about for the last 3 months of college was this: Jesus used  the 30 years before He began His ministry to learn everything He could and prepare for what the Father had in store for Him. To prepare for what the Father had in store for Him!

I am asked every day what I am going to do after I'm done at Multnomah in 10 days? My answer is a little different every time, but it always consists of spending time with my family, support raising, working, doing some kind of ministry...and all of those things are good, but there is more to it. Actually, I think there needs to be more purpose and mission to everything we do. Right now, for myself, I am looking ahead 9 month to when I embark on what God has in store for me. Not to say that what lies in between is not important, it is crucial to how I will do ministry in Germany. I am in my hypothetical 30th year and its almost time to go!

I have a million things to do, places to see, people to talk to, meetings to plan. Its going to make these 9 months go really fast. I am setting the goal for myself to not waste this time, but to learn everything I can to prepare myself for what is coming. God knows all the things I'm going to face when I get there and along the journey. He will provide some lessons ahead of time and some I will learn when I get there, but so long as I remain humble and open-handed to His leading I'll be ok. He's got me covered :)

And thats what I'm thinking about tonight. Have a good night!

-L

Do I "live like that"?

Tonight I'm caught up in the piles of senior year homework...oh so much homework. Sometimes when I have been studying all day and haven't really thought about anything else God chooses to remind me why I'm putting all this effort into studying His Word. Why He has put me here, at Multnomah, at the age of 21, studying and diving into the greatest news in the world. And then I'm convicted. I take this opportunity for granted so often. I'm only a few months from saying "goodbye" to this part of my life and then I will be on to the next part of preparing for Germany and BFA, but for now I'm here.

I want to share this song tonight. It helps put me in my place when I get distracted from all the blessings and lessons that God is teaching me and it makes me ask "am I living as though I have the greatest gift in the world or the greatest secret?" Because if I'm living as if it is a secret then I'm missing the whole point! Live like you have the greatest gift anyone could ask for and then share it with everyone.

Live in light of the blessing you have received. We are blessed, chosen, and loved by the Creator so give all you have so that everything you say and do points to Him.