Saturday, February 28, 2004
Phil. 4:10-20
Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?
By John Wade
The title of this scripture is Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?, but one could almost think of it as the acknowledgement of God’s gift.
I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.
During our lives, we have been on track and we have been lost. We have felt pain and joy, happiness and sorrow; we have followed the right path but at other times gone astray and sinned.
I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied now that I have received the gifts. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory Christ Jesus.
However, God will give us what we need. It may not be what we want, for we will be hungry for knowledge and thirsty for happiness at times, but it will fill our stomachs, our souls, with what we need. There is a different between a want and a need, and God will come to fulfill our needs and make us better people, acting through our own trial and tribulation.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
John Wade is a second year student at the University of Virginia.
Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?
By John Wade
The title of this scripture is Acknowledgment of the Philippians? Gift?, but one could almost think of it as the acknowledgement of God’s gift.
I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.
During our lives, we have been on track and we have been lost. We have felt pain and joy, happiness and sorrow; we have followed the right path but at other times gone astray and sinned.
I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied now that I have received the gifts. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory Christ Jesus.
However, God will give us what we need. It may not be what we want, for we will be hungry for knowledge and thirsty for happiness at times, but it will fill our stomachs, our souls, with what we need. There is a different between a want and a need, and God will come to fulfill our needs and make us better people, acting through our own trial and tribulation.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
John Wade is a second year student at the University of Virginia.
Friday, February 27, 2004
Nothing But Abundant Love
By Christian Miller
I heard this story from a friend the other day:
After much despair, a man standing on the edge of a great river decides that he has wronged too many people and that his life is just not worth living anymore. Without hesitation, he flings himself into the river, which pulls him towards his death over a raging waterfall. At the last minute the man realizes that he has been a fool and wishes to change what he has done. He realizes that he does not want to die and frantically grabs onto a rock sticking out of the water. Another man on land sees him and calls for help. Rescue workers strain and endanger themselves for his rescue. The man slips and begins to head toward the falls. He grabs onto another rock. Finally, with a rope attached to him, a rescue worker dives into the waters and grabs tight of the man as the frigid rapids crash over his body. The man is pulled onto dry land. Later, after sitting a little way off the shore, staring out at the river and reflecting upon what had just happened, he goes over to the rescue workers and asks them why they would risk themselves to save him. He has done so many wrong things in his life and hurt so many people and he just wasn't worth it. Almost immediately, one man replies, saying, "I did not save you for who you are, I saved you because of who I am. I was called to save you, so I did."
I love this verse so much, and after hearing this story, it spoke to me all the more. The part that touches me the most about this verse is the last part where it says, “the love of God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.” There is so much packed in that little phrase: God made a pact of love with us. He sent His glorious Son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus shed his blood out of His amazing love for us, and in that, an almighty gracious covenant was made that can never be broken. God will never break his promise with us. But still, sometimes, I forget the infallible strength of this pact, and I think about myself and how much I fall short of God’s will. But God is so much bigger than us. My challenge to you, in this time of devotion, is to not focus on yourself and the things going on around you, in your life. We are never going to deserve God’s love, and that’s all that focusing on these things will show you. But, when we come to the point where we realize that, and we look up instead of around us, that is when we see God and Jesus and the abundant love they have for us. Beloved, you are so beautiful, and God’s love is abundantly there for you, no matter what. He doesn’t love us because of what we do or have done, good or bad, nor is our salvation based on this; He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:16), and He looks past our sin with heavenly, loving and gentle eyes to see a beautiful creation that is His, and will always be His. O gracious and almighty Father, all praises be to You, the King of Kings, forever and ever. Amen.
Christian Miller is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia.
By Christian Miller
I heard this story from a friend the other day:
After much despair, a man standing on the edge of a great river decides that he has wronged too many people and that his life is just not worth living anymore. Without hesitation, he flings himself into the river, which pulls him towards his death over a raging waterfall. At the last minute the man realizes that he has been a fool and wishes to change what he has done. He realizes that he does not want to die and frantically grabs onto a rock sticking out of the water. Another man on land sees him and calls for help. Rescue workers strain and endanger themselves for his rescue. The man slips and begins to head toward the falls. He grabs onto another rock. Finally, with a rope attached to him, a rescue worker dives into the waters and grabs tight of the man as the frigid rapids crash over his body. The man is pulled onto dry land. Later, after sitting a little way off the shore, staring out at the river and reflecting upon what had just happened, he goes over to the rescue workers and asks them why they would risk themselves to save him. He has done so many wrong things in his life and hurt so many people and he just wasn't worth it. Almost immediately, one man replies, saying, "I did not save you for who you are, I saved you because of who I am. I was called to save you, so I did."
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in a creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
(Romans 8: 38&39)
I love this verse so much, and after hearing this story, it spoke to me all the more. The part that touches me the most about this verse is the last part where it says, “the love of God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.” There is so much packed in that little phrase: God made a pact of love with us. He sent His glorious Son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus shed his blood out of His amazing love for us, and in that, an almighty gracious covenant was made that can never be broken. God will never break his promise with us. But still, sometimes, I forget the infallible strength of this pact, and I think about myself and how much I fall short of God’s will. But God is so much bigger than us. My challenge to you, in this time of devotion, is to not focus on yourself and the things going on around you, in your life. We are never going to deserve God’s love, and that’s all that focusing on these things will show you. But, when we come to the point where we realize that, and we look up instead of around us, that is when we see God and Jesus and the abundant love they have for us. Beloved, you are so beautiful, and God’s love is abundantly there for you, no matter what. He doesn’t love us because of what we do or have done, good or bad, nor is our salvation based on this; He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:16), and He looks past our sin with heavenly, loving and gentle eyes to see a beautiful creation that is His, and will always be His. O gracious and almighty Father, all praises be to You, the King of Kings, forever and ever. Amen.
Christian Miller is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Amos 5:15
Hate Evil and Love Good
By Kristi Campbell
"Hate evil and love good..." Well this seems simple enough in theory, but in practice it can be quite complex. "What is evil? Define good." These questions aren't easily answered without studying scripture and actively seeking the answers to these questions. Even then the answers are not always clear. So is there any hope that we can follow the simple advice of hating evil and loving good? Well, without Jesus, the answer is a depressing, "no". However, since God sent Jesus to forgive believers of their sins, there is a lot of hope. Try to hate evil and love good, but if you should fall short, ask Jesus for forgiveness. In summary, during this Lenten season be conscious of your thoughts and deeds, making sure they're in accordance with scripture and your conscience.
Kristi Campbell is a graduate (Class of 2003) of the University of Virginia.
Hate Evil and Love Good
By Kristi Campbell
"Hate evil and love good..." Well this seems simple enough in theory, but in practice it can be quite complex. "What is evil? Define good." These questions aren't easily answered without studying scripture and actively seeking the answers to these questions. Even then the answers are not always clear. So is there any hope that we can follow the simple advice of hating evil and loving good? Well, without Jesus, the answer is a depressing, "no". However, since God sent Jesus to forgive believers of their sins, there is a lot of hope. Try to hate evil and love good, but if you should fall short, ask Jesus for forgiveness. In summary, during this Lenten season be conscious of your thoughts and deeds, making sure they're in accordance with scripture and your conscience.
Kristi Campbell is a graduate (Class of 2003) of the University of Virginia.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Skittles and Sacrifice
By Christian Braunlich
I’ve been giving up something for Lent since I was a little kid. It was what you’re supposed to do, I was told, and so I just sort of did it, without really thinking about it. Eventually, I began to think about why this tradition of Lenten sacrifice existed, and why I should continue to do it. After all, if I could give up something that I didn’t need for 40 days, why shouldn’t I have to give it up forever? Or why shouldn’t I just give it up of my own accord? After some reflection, I decided that both of those questions were indicative of a shortsighted understanding of why I was giving things up for Lent. The purpose of giving up, say, Skittles, was to take something that I didn’t need out of my life during Lent. The more important question, though, is why I should abstain from something during Lent. Certainly part of the reason is to live a life with less possessions and less attachment to material objects. I think what’s more important, though, is what happens when you give up something you’ve become accustomed to. For me, Lenten sacrifice is a way to focus on the events of Lent, and the event that is about to be celebrated, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us.
The focus that comes through sacrifice is generated in more than one way. In one sense, making a sacrifice is a way of slapping myself in the face. It forces me to think about why I would make a sacrifice, and about the sacrifices that have been made for me. In another sense, though, removing something that I don’t need from my life clears my mind. It helps my thoughts to flow a little bit more freely, enabling better reflection. Lent should be a time for great reflection. Many things are happening during this time of year. In religious terms, the entire body of the church is preparing to celebrate the culmination of Jesus’ time on Earth. His death and resurrection are the fulfillment of prophecy and serve as an affirmation of His power over us and over all the Earth. In South Bend and Alexandria, the only two places I have ever called home, spring is coming into bloom. Nature’s re-birth has always given me pause to think about the wonder of God’s creation, and the power of nature’s cycle from death to life. Lent is a time for me to clear my soul and open my heart to God’s mysteries.
As a kid, Lent was always about sacrifice. Recently, though, something that I’ve been trying to do is add things to my daily routine in addition to taking things out of that routine. I’ve found that extra prayer, time alone to think, and trips to the grotto on campus have given me another avenue to open myself up to God. I don’t know that more prayer would have helped me when I was younger. Only recently have I begun to take prayer seriously and really tried to open up conversation with the Lord. It now serves a valuable role in the spiritual aspect of my life, providing an outlet for my thoughts and a way to clear my mind and cleanse my soul. Sacrificing that which I don’t need and spending more time doing things that I do need helps to bring me closer to God and prepare me to celebrate His Son’s sacrifice, a sacrifice that He made for me and for all of us.
Christian Braunlich is a senior at the University of Notre Dame.
By Christian Braunlich
I’ve been giving up something for Lent since I was a little kid. It was what you’re supposed to do, I was told, and so I just sort of did it, without really thinking about it. Eventually, I began to think about why this tradition of Lenten sacrifice existed, and why I should continue to do it. After all, if I could give up something that I didn’t need for 40 days, why shouldn’t I have to give it up forever? Or why shouldn’t I just give it up of my own accord? After some reflection, I decided that both of those questions were indicative of a shortsighted understanding of why I was giving things up for Lent. The purpose of giving up, say, Skittles, was to take something that I didn’t need out of my life during Lent. The more important question, though, is why I should abstain from something during Lent. Certainly part of the reason is to live a life with less possessions and less attachment to material objects. I think what’s more important, though, is what happens when you give up something you’ve become accustomed to. For me, Lenten sacrifice is a way to focus on the events of Lent, and the event that is about to be celebrated, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us.
The focus that comes through sacrifice is generated in more than one way. In one sense, making a sacrifice is a way of slapping myself in the face. It forces me to think about why I would make a sacrifice, and about the sacrifices that have been made for me. In another sense, though, removing something that I don’t need from my life clears my mind. It helps my thoughts to flow a little bit more freely, enabling better reflection. Lent should be a time for great reflection. Many things are happening during this time of year. In religious terms, the entire body of the church is preparing to celebrate the culmination of Jesus’ time on Earth. His death and resurrection are the fulfillment of prophecy and serve as an affirmation of His power over us and over all the Earth. In South Bend and Alexandria, the only two places I have ever called home, spring is coming into bloom. Nature’s re-birth has always given me pause to think about the wonder of God’s creation, and the power of nature’s cycle from death to life. Lent is a time for me to clear my soul and open my heart to God’s mysteries.
As a kid, Lent was always about sacrifice. Recently, though, something that I’ve been trying to do is add things to my daily routine in addition to taking things out of that routine. I’ve found that extra prayer, time alone to think, and trips to the grotto on campus have given me another avenue to open myself up to God. I don’t know that more prayer would have helped me when I was younger. Only recently have I begun to take prayer seriously and really tried to open up conversation with the Lord. It now serves a valuable role in the spiritual aspect of my life, providing an outlet for my thoughts and a way to clear my mind and cleanse my soul. Sacrificing that which I don’t need and spending more time doing things that I do need helps to bring me closer to God and prepare me to celebrate His Son’s sacrifice, a sacrifice that He made for me and for all of us.
Christian Braunlich is a senior at the University of Notre Dame.
