I was looking through some pictures on Facebook, thinking about people, and I realized how many examples of godly women I have around me. So here is a clip of specific people for whom I thank God. Some family, some friends - equals with me, not people in authority above me. (Order does not indicate importance. You have all been instrumental in my life.)
First up, the person with whom I've enjoyed friendship for the length of my life. My older sister, sometimes my rag doll gal, Ashlie Lockwood (Ragan). She is the sweetest, meekest person I know. She's fun, quick to laugh, and my only rub is that I never felt like I was good for her like she was for me. I can't count the times that she would say or do something that would utterly amaze me. Truly my BEST friend.
Second, Stephanie Ragan (also soon to be a Lockwood). (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) We had some rough times early on - at times, the large age gap made things . . . difficult, to put it gently. But when I went to college, Steph was there for me. We cried, we laughed, we sat in her car talking till her gas was starting to run out because we had to have the heater on. . . . College without Steph's company would have been nearly unbearable. And from her I learned the pros and cons of being everybody's friend. (Not that I've really ever been in the running for that. . . . )
Then there's Jessica Daniels. College Roommate with whom I had the most in common. I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow, we opened up to each other more than anyone else - at least while I was there. (I think she may have found a replacement after I moved back home. ;) :)) Of all my roommates, I expect to keep in contact with her longest. Someone to enjoy fantasy novels with that isn't a guy. Someone who likes clouds as much (or more!) than I do. A ridiculously generous person who was always kind enough to lend me her khaki skirt. And, random fact, we had the exact same shirt. Haha. :)
And there you have it. I could continue, and perhaps I will add to this list as my life goes on and I develop new honorary sisters, or decide to add in some of the older ones in a "part two." We'll see. For now, I've satisfied my urge to write.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Humanity
Much like my blog about shyness, this post is most likely going to be full of my experience with things and generalized statements, often stated as fact. Don't let it fool you: this is just my blog, and my opinion. Feel free to try to change it if you dare. ;)
There's a phrase I've heard quite a lot. It's said by people - lost or found -, it's quoted from movies, and it's an idea that has permeated our thinking. It is this: Humanity is flawed. It's not often said that way, but that's the idea. Someone does wrong and we say, "Only human." I take issue with this for two reasons:
1. It makes is sound like humanity STARTED that way; like it's inseparable from mankind.
2. It removes personal accountability. It's not me; it's my whole species.
1. Now, I have to be careful because on the one hand, sin is now inherent within us, and it is demonstrated abundantly through our physical/mental/emotional - human - desires. BUT, sin is not part of humanity. We know this because before the Fall, Adam was perfect. We know this because Christ became a man. Sin is not necessary for humanity, nor humanity for sin. (Angels fell, too.) It's not humanity which makes us sin, even when the sin nature has become so embedded in our humanity - our wills, our emotions, our reasoning, etc.
We'll still be humans after we've been glorified, when we have new bodies and new hearts, when we're perfect. We're not going to turn into angels or something. We'll just be CLEAN humans.
2. It happened multiple times when I was working that people would talk about their problems, about someone who wronged them, or something they did to others, and it would get . . . shrugged off by using this excuse. "Oh, well. I'm just human." People have no idea what humanity is SUPPOSED to be, what it should mean, what it should look like. We're image-bearers of GOD! It's not "JUST human." God the Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords is human. Just human?
No, no. Not JUST human. I'm human - that means Christ came to save ME. He didn't become an angel and die to save them; He became a man. Humanity is not the problem. It's the sin nature. Don't blame what you do on your humanity; blame it on your sin; own it. And understand that while you will always be human, you can be free of the sin.
We've come to expect that sin will happen (that's just common sense), but then we move to accept it. There's no other option if we're not thinking properly. If HUMANITY is the problem, there is no hope for me EVER. I'm always going to be human. However, when humanity is not the problem, when it's simply the means by which we SEE the real malady, then we can understand, there's hope. I can be cured by the One Who became human and showed what humanity is supposed to look like, and one day will again.
There's a phrase I've heard quite a lot. It's said by people - lost or found -, it's quoted from movies, and it's an idea that has permeated our thinking. It is this: Humanity is flawed. It's not often said that way, but that's the idea. Someone does wrong and we say, "Only human." I take issue with this for two reasons:
1. It makes is sound like humanity STARTED that way; like it's inseparable from mankind.
2. It removes personal accountability. It's not me; it's my whole species.
1. Now, I have to be careful because on the one hand, sin is now inherent within us, and it is demonstrated abundantly through our physical/mental/emotional - human - desires. BUT, sin is not part of humanity. We know this because before the Fall, Adam was perfect. We know this because Christ became a man. Sin is not necessary for humanity, nor humanity for sin. (Angels fell, too.) It's not humanity which makes us sin, even when the sin nature has become so embedded in our humanity - our wills, our emotions, our reasoning, etc.
We'll still be humans after we've been glorified, when we have new bodies and new hearts, when we're perfect. We're not going to turn into angels or something. We'll just be CLEAN humans.
2. It happened multiple times when I was working that people would talk about their problems, about someone who wronged them, or something they did to others, and it would get . . . shrugged off by using this excuse. "Oh, well. I'm just human." People have no idea what humanity is SUPPOSED to be, what it should mean, what it should look like. We're image-bearers of GOD! It's not "JUST human." God the Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords is human. Just human?
No, no. Not JUST human. I'm human - that means Christ came to save ME. He didn't become an angel and die to save them; He became a man. Humanity is not the problem. It's the sin nature. Don't blame what you do on your humanity; blame it on your sin; own it. And understand that while you will always be human, you can be free of the sin.
We've come to expect that sin will happen (that's just common sense), but then we move to accept it. There's no other option if we're not thinking properly. If HUMANITY is the problem, there is no hope for me EVER. I'm always going to be human. However, when humanity is not the problem, when it's simply the means by which we SEE the real malady, then we can understand, there's hope. I can be cured by the One Who became human and showed what humanity is supposed to look like, and one day will again.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Facebook Status
"Faith jumps in the wheelbarrow."
I think this illustration has been circulated already, so you'll probably get it before I reach the end of the explanation. But for whatever reason it really struck me on Sunday morning, and it's been in my head a lot.
Illustration:
There's a tight-rope-walker who sets up his show over the Niagara Falls. He walks over and back, then does it using different items to balance himself. He asks the cheering crowd if they think he can do it with a wheelbarrow, and they shout, "Yeah! Yeah! DO IT!" So he does. Then he asks if they think he can do it with a full load of things, and again they cheer him on. And again, he makes it. He asks if they believe he can make it with a person in the wheelbarrow and they cheer. So he asks for a volunteer. The crowd goes silent.
Real faith jumps in the wheelbarrow. It doesn't just believe that the guy can take someone across in a wheelbarrow; it acts on it. It puts itself in the care of whatever it's depending on. The wheelbarrow, the rope, the guy. Faith jumps in. :)
I'd been struggling with something as of late. A question of, "Where is the line? Have I passed it? Am I pushing it? Am I being over-sensitive? Am I making trouble where there isn't any?" I'd been praying for a few days for God to help me, to show me. He did this morning. Not the way I'd have chosen to be sure, but it was an answered prayer, and I can honestly say I'm thankful for it (only by God's good grace).
You may wonder what that has to do with the tight-rope illustration. Well, I'll try to tie it in (pun intended). Faith doesn't only jump in the wheelbarrow. Faith STAYS in the wheelbarrow. Faith doesn't look around and think, like Peter, "This is crazy! I'm going to die!" and try to cross alone. Faith says, "I can't see where to go; I need You to push me. All I can hear is the roar of the water; I need Your voice to give instructions. I need Your help not to flail, not to fear, else I'll make this trip rough and bumpy for myself when in Your hands it could be smooth." Faith puts it all with Him.
Now? It doesn't really matter if I had crossed a line. If I hadn't, it never hurts to be farther away from sin. If I had, God be thanked, praised, and adored that He already paid for it on the cross. I'm His girl. I don't know if guys really understand those words. I don't even know my dad understands what that means for me to be his girl. But I know my mama does. She was her dad's girl.
How stupid would it be to try to jump out of the wheelbarrow. It's only when we lose sight of who we are compared to Who He is. . . . He's not just an expert. He's Almighty God. He doesn't need to walk a tight-rope. He can turn it into a street of gold and fly if He wants. Even if it feels like I'm falling, or if I'm getting jarred about, as long as He's got the handles, I'm safe. And even if I can't feel Him directing, He's promised to never leave me. I'm always in His hands.
I'm His girl.
I think this illustration has been circulated already, so you'll probably get it before I reach the end of the explanation. But for whatever reason it really struck me on Sunday morning, and it's been in my head a lot.
Illustration:
There's a tight-rope-walker who sets up his show over the Niagara Falls. He walks over and back, then does it using different items to balance himself. He asks the cheering crowd if they think he can do it with a wheelbarrow, and they shout, "Yeah! Yeah! DO IT!" So he does. Then he asks if they think he can do it with a full load of things, and again they cheer him on. And again, he makes it. He asks if they believe he can make it with a person in the wheelbarrow and they cheer. So he asks for a volunteer. The crowd goes silent.
Real faith jumps in the wheelbarrow. It doesn't just believe that the guy can take someone across in a wheelbarrow; it acts on it. It puts itself in the care of whatever it's depending on. The wheelbarrow, the rope, the guy. Faith jumps in. :)
I'd been struggling with something as of late. A question of, "Where is the line? Have I passed it? Am I pushing it? Am I being over-sensitive? Am I making trouble where there isn't any?" I'd been praying for a few days for God to help me, to show me. He did this morning. Not the way I'd have chosen to be sure, but it was an answered prayer, and I can honestly say I'm thankful for it (only by God's good grace).
You may wonder what that has to do with the tight-rope illustration. Well, I'll try to tie it in (pun intended). Faith doesn't only jump in the wheelbarrow. Faith STAYS in the wheelbarrow. Faith doesn't look around and think, like Peter, "This is crazy! I'm going to die!" and try to cross alone. Faith says, "I can't see where to go; I need You to push me. All I can hear is the roar of the water; I need Your voice to give instructions. I need Your help not to flail, not to fear, else I'll make this trip rough and bumpy for myself when in Your hands it could be smooth." Faith puts it all with Him.
Now? It doesn't really matter if I had crossed a line. If I hadn't, it never hurts to be farther away from sin. If I had, God be thanked, praised, and adored that He already paid for it on the cross. I'm His girl. I don't know if guys really understand those words. I don't even know my dad understands what that means for me to be his girl. But I know my mama does. She was her dad's girl.
How stupid would it be to try to jump out of the wheelbarrow. It's only when we lose sight of who we are compared to Who He is. . . . He's not just an expert. He's Almighty God. He doesn't need to walk a tight-rope. He can turn it into a street of gold and fly if He wants. Even if it feels like I'm falling, or if I'm getting jarred about, as long as He's got the handles, I'm safe. And even if I can't feel Him directing, He's promised to never leave me. I'm always in His hands.
I'm His girl.
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