I am...

   

And then he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to Him in reply, "You are the     Messiah." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. Mark 8:29-30 (NAB)

These words sit heavy on my heart today as I think about who I am. Jesus meant something so much greater than just " Hey, when you look at me, what do you think about me?" When He begs the question, "Who do you say that I am?" He is digging much deeper. In essence, He is getting to the heart of who we are.

How many times do we skip over books of the Bible, like Numbers, or Leviticus, or even the first chapter of the Gospels before we even get to the birth of Jesus, simply because we can't pronounce all of those names listed in the genealogies? I am guilty as the next person. Sometimes, as we go from who begot who, to who begets who, I suddenly feel like I am reading a Dr. Seuss book, how about you? There is something so great about those genealogies that I think we're missing, not just in the way that we see Jesus, but in the way that we see ourselves.

When meeting someone for the first time and introducing ourselves, we usually go straight into what we do. It's just part of our culture that we give the laundry list of items that makes us who we are. We say things like,
I am __________ (fill in the blank with your job title). I am _______(fill in the blank with your status: married, single, divorced, widowed, etc.). I am _________ (fill in the blank with some new project you're working on or whatever else you do as a hobby or sport). The list could go on for the ways that we describe who we  are. We describe who we are by the things that we do. But, what I gather from this question of Jesus is not who does Peter say He is based solely on what He does. But, who He is in relationship to others. Yes, he is the Messiah, but he warns Peter, after this response not to tell anyone about him. Now, I am no biblical scholar, but what I think is happening here is that Jesus wants to be known for who He is, not just what he does. I mean, think about it. If we don't believe in who He is, then what He did do doesn't even matter. We have to first believe that he is the Son of God, and the Son of Man--fully divine and fully human to get why it's important that he died for us. And, the only way to believe these things is to know who He was. And, so the genealogies are important. They show us who Jesus is in relationship to others, and folks, that really does matter.

It leads me to ask, who are you? I submit we are so much greater than the things we do. Before we are anything, we are simply people in relationships.

I am Eileen. First and foremost, a child of God. I am the daughter of Amy and Johnny. Step daughter to Jay and Karen. Sister to Paula, Nathaniel, Lauren, Autumn, Hope, Janssen, Kara, Marcellis, and Harrison. Aunt to over a dozen nephews and nieces. Grandaughter to Dalton and Ruth, Roy and June. Close companion to Emily and Richard, Mike and Mary as well as others. Friend to many. Mentor to many teens. I am who I am in relation to others. Relationships are what we live for..not what we do.

I invite you today, to think not about what you do to describe who you are. But, think about who you are in relation to others. Once you have done that, I guarantee that you will feel more inclined to make time for that phone call to a parent, sibling, or friend that you have been putting off because you are too busy "doing" things instead of "being" in relationship.

Let's pray:

Father, we thank you that we are all in relationship with one another. We thank you for the reminder that we are never alone, because we didn't get here alone. Above all things, we thank you for loving us just because of who we are, not for what we have done, or will become.  May we live this day, and each day forward,"being" in relationships and less "doing" things that distract us from those relationships. Amen.

Turn! Turn! Turn!

 
To everything there is a season and time to every purpose under Heaven. Sometimes, it's easy to forget this. When we find ourselves at a "turn" in our life we can become disheveled, anxious, and overwhelmed by uncertainty. But, God reminds us, through His incredible word, brought to song by The Byrds, there is a season for all things. God knows what has been, what is, and what will be, and thus we must TRUST in His Almighty plan for us. Easier said than done!

I grew up with a plan for my life. I had it all figured out...from where I would go to college, when I would get married, where I would settle down, how many kids I would have, right down to the clothes I would wear as a grown up. Thank God for all those "turns" that redirected those plans! I look back now, realizing where I am today, and know that God surely had a reason for those things that disrupted my plans, and so beautifully revealed his to me. God is good about turning us around when we are off course and he did that with me many times this short life. Those turns are the very things that have allowed me to find my calling in life: youth ministry. And, ten or more years ago, I wouldn't have thought twice about what I am doing today. But, that is the funny thing about God's plan. It is always so much grander than anything we could ever dream up. 

So, here I am...ready for another TURN--

Where do you feel God is turning you around in your life? How have your plans been keeping you from all that he has designed you for? Are you so focused on what you want to be, that you are failing to see what could be with God involved? Today, let Him turn you around and direct your footsteps. He has AMAZING plans for you! Go ahead: Turn! Turn! Turn!

A NEW year, calls for lots of NEW things, and as we all know, means coming up with NEW resolutions. One of my resolutions this year was to be a brighter light in this world. The above song reminds me that I CANNOT do this without first turning to the true light...CHRIST! It is true that He shines down on everyone, we but only have to turn our face to Him so that we might better reflect His incredible light!


I pray that this year is filled with the light of the "Son" that shines down on us and that we reflect that light into the lives of others. Let this year be all that it can be by letting go, letting God, and sharing His love and light with all those you encounter!

Word of heart speak.

 Just some thoughts from my heart to yours!

Christ-- as I prepare for Christmas, may I seek to know you better, and make you better known. May I love you more deeply. May I continue to decrease so that you might increase. May I feel your holy presence, love like you and this Christmas season, catch even a glimpse of your call for my life. Thank you, wonderful Creator, for your endless love, and for your lesson in humility by the Incarnation. Thank you to the Blessed Mother for her resounding YES in your will and your plan for the salvation of mankind. Thank you for another moment to praise you, to share you, to be still with you. May I remember Christmas has nothing to do with presents, but all to do with PRESENCE! Amen...

God bless you and yours this wonderful time of year!

You are my Mary

Never have I thought that any four words could be so powerful until one of my teens shed tears as she uttered: "You are my Mary." I almost wondered if she was mistaken...if she might have meant to look at someone else, or if she meant to say another name, like, Jan--a crazy nut from the Brady Bunch. But, no, the reality was she was looking right at me..staring not just at my face and into my eyes, but directly into my soul, touching the depths like only those words could do as she compared me to her idea of the Blessed Mother.

I certainly don't share this out of pride and boastfulness. I share it out of humility and out of love. You see, I was putting on  a retreat for my high schoolers this past weekend at the beach. It's a retreat that follows the entire life of Christ, from the annunciation to the resurrection. How can you even begin to share that journey without talking about Mary's "YES" in the grand scheme of things? And for those of you unfamiliar with my journey, the Blessed Mother and I have a very special relationship. She has helped to revive my heart and renew my soul by drawing me nearer to Christ. All things Mary point right back to Christ and I just love her for that! Since my own personal transformation and redemption I have always sought to be first like Christ, but, admittedly so, also, like Mary and Elizabeth. Mary was so quick to say YES to God's will for her, and she was also quick to carry Christ to others (very literally since he was in her womb) as she traveled to see her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth quickly recognized Christ in her when she arrived. These are two things that I strive to do on a daily, heck a minutely basis! First to be so eager to carry Christ to others, but also to be so enthusiastic and quick to recognize him in others.

When my teen told me that I am her Mary, I in essence took it as her saying she believes I am carrying Christ to others. That is my goal in life. I desire to serve God, to let His will be done unto me, and to ultimately bring Christ to every person I encounter along the way. I guess for the sake of what I am saying here, this teen was then my Elizabeth, who was so faithful and so quick to recognize Christ in others. We have so much to learn from one another! May we go out each day, with Christ on our minds, our hearts and our lips...as we strive eagerly to be a Mary and an Elizabeth to those around us. Who will you be today?

Again, I share this out of humility and love, as I remember that I am called daily to pick up my cross, whether in jeopardy of persecution or not, and share our amazing Savior with all those I meet, but even more importantly for me at times, to recognize him in others. It can be easy to forget the duality of our responsibility as Christians. And so, I leave you with this: Go out with the intention of being like Mary and Elizabeth today, and know that when you turn in for the night you will be more Christ like than imaginable.

LinC Retreat Dec. 2010 with AMAZING youth and leaders--true servants of Christ

Remembering the reason for the season: Happy Advent!

This year, try to focus more on the WHY we celebrate Christmas, and less of the HOW.

Shaking hands with Jesus...

Fact: Jesus lives in you and me, though many times we don't treat this as a truth. Really, we more often act as if it is just a matter of opinion, depending on the person. Today, I was reminded of this simple fact, despite human misconceptions of where Christ is and is not, as I walked around in San Francisco distributing coats, socks and other warm clothing to the homeless. Honestly, I was a little nervous about the trip for a few different reasons. 1. I went with another youth group, tagged on as a chaperone to help a friend out, so I hadn't met any of these kids before. 2. I had never gone out on the streets of San Francisco to do such a thing. Now, despite the anxiety I felt, I was also quite excited to go out and share Christ's love with each person we encountered. We left on the bus at eight o'clock this morning, ready to do God's work! Unfortunately, once we got there, with more than 20 trash bags full, it began to rain and it was difficult to find anyone on the streets in need of warm clothing because they were in essence trying to stay warm elsewhere.

The youth quickly became disheartened as they walked miles around looking to give to those in need. I continued to encourage them, trying to get them to go up and down side streets in hopes of finding someone who needed a coat. As we walked a few miles, tired from carrying the bags for over an hour already, we slowly started to hand out a few of the goods. When I gave the jackets to the men we encountered, I couldn't just walk away after they said thank you. I had to know their names, and something told me I needed to shake their hands. Who knows how long they go without the love and comfort of something as simple as human touch found in a handshake. So often they are looked down upon and very rarely given the same common courtesies we'd give anyone else.

Each one of them seemed so surprised when I reached out my hand, grasping theirs, and asking for their names. Their responses were not what I would have expected, because my ears heard one thing, while me heart heard another. When I heard Wayne, I was thinking Lamb of God because Wayne was such a gentle man, very grateful, very polite. Terry was more of a resurrected Christ Jesus, walking on the road to Emmaus, quickly coming, and quickly going, but not without sharing love. Chris, was much like Jesus on the mountain, all alone in a secluded area and he kept saying, "I love you, and I love God." And then there was Lionel. He reminded me of Jesus writing in the sand, as he was hunched over in a chair on the side of the street. As I shook the hand of each of these men, all I could think was that I was shaking hands with Jesus. It was a powerful experience.

From the long day in San Francisco, I came home to reflect on how I many times fail to recognize Christ in others and even more so I fail to bring Him to everyone without bias or exclusion. I was reminded of the story of Mary and her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-55). Two very important things happened with that occurrence and they are quite telling of how we should all approach this world: Mary not only carries Jesus (literally in her womb) to Elizabeth, but Elizabeth quickly recognizes Jesus in her. We should all be so convicted to carry Christ to others like Mary, and so quickly see him in others, like Elizabeth.

And, so I pray for every reader, that our Lord rest in your heart, mind and soul, as you seek to bring Him more into your life, and carry Him into the lives of others. Remember that He will use you, and just as much use your brothers and sisters in Christ. With reckless abandon, and without bias, let us go out to love and serve one another. Thanks be to God!