Poster Children and Prodigals, Humbly Obey | Watermark Community Church

Poster Children and Prodigals, Humbly Obey | Watermark Community Church

Be Faithful: In the Palace or Prison | Watermark Community Church

Be Faithful: In the Palace or Prison | Watermark Community Church

Seek Justice and Oppose Evil in the Right Way | Watermark Community Church

Seek Justice and Oppose Evil in the Right Way | Watermark Community Church

Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way | Watermark Community Church

Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way | Watermark Community Church

God's Providence - Genesis 24 | Watermark Community Church

God's Providence - Genesis 24 | Watermark Community Church

Genesis 1-24 Review | Watermark Community Church

Genesis 1-24 Review | Watermark Community Church

Provision Leads to Obedience - Genesis 21-23 | Watermark Community Church

Provision Leads to Obedience - Genesis 21-23 | Watermark Community Church

Matt 6:19

Two paces separated me from grabbing my computer back from the 17-year-old thief looking at me with saucer eyes as he screamed, “go! go! go!” to the getaway driver. Instead, I slammed my hand against the trunk of the champagne sedan as the bandits sped away to pick up the fourth member who swiped my brand new galaxy s4—yes, the one that can move between pages by waving your hand in front of it and can read your eyes so it moves the email page on its own, that one.

One moment I am discussing how to write biblical curriculum with the Sandra Glahn, and the next I am borrowing her phone to call the police about my pilfered MacBook and galaxy.

Frustrated. Tired. Overwhelmed. Anxious. Annoyed. I felt all of them.

However, toward the thieves, I mostly felt pity.

Before my head hit the pillow, my mom had suspended my line with T-Mobile, a great friend brought me dinner, my boss handled all of the IT needs (should I have mentioned it was my work’s computer?…who steals a Church’s computer?!), my IT department sprang into action, strangers expressed kind sentiments, and multiple people asked, “what can I do?”

Before the end of the week, I enjoyed gifted cookies, hugs in droves, Facebook messages expressing empathy, T-Mobile lending me a phone free of charge, friends comforting, God speaking tenderly, and much, much more.

As I thought about those four teenagers and their post-theft experience, I imagined the climax looked like a high five for lifting a couple hundred bucks of electronics.

Except for one shining moment of victory and a meager payday split four ways, they probably felt predominantly negative emotions. Fear from being identified by multiple people. Embarrassment from screaming in fear at the sight of a 5’6” blonde chasing you. Sadness from resorting to common thievery.

Certainly, their lives lack love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…all of which I bask in from the outpouring of those around me and the Spirit within me.

I pity them.

So, I have been praying for them. Praying they will repent. Praying they will someday know the kindness of others. Praying they know I am not mad, but wanting to share the good news with them. Praying they will someday learn to store up treasures in heaven (not here on earth, you know, where thieves can break in and steal).

Gen 3-5 The Fall | Watermark Community Church

Gen 3-5 The Fall | Watermark Community Church

Was reminded tonight of just how far from Eden I have fallen in my own life. Thankful for grace, thankful for the good news, thankful for forgiveness...divine and human.

This message was as much for me as it was for the women in attendance at Bible Study.

My God would never do that...

I have often heard people attempting to defend the character of God by claiming God would never do something harmful or hurtful to humans.

"God didn't cause your car wreck, God doesn't cause car wrecks."
"God didn't cause your breakup, God is not a God of breakups."
"God didn't take your mom's life, the enemy did."

Those were all statements I heard uttered from godly, intelligent people who felt the need to protect God's character. While I can appreciate their efforts, I wonder if their poor theology led to greater hurt in the end when the God they attempted to defend turned out to be the kind of God who does in fact cause pain. Notice, I did not say "allows for pain," I straight up said, "causes pain."

At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. Exodus 12.29

Who!? The Lord struck down children due to the pride, negligence and wickedness of their parents. Now you're uncomfortable. It's okay, I used to be, too.

A big part of my testimony includes a period of time when I struggled to believe that God was good. Like Jacob outside of the Jabbok, I wrestled with God. Crazily, it was not the stuff I saw in this broken world that made me question God's goodness; instead, I read His word and felt the twinge of antagonism. I will tell you how I got over that struggle in another post at another time. For now, we have to deal with a God who causes pain.

So what? Does a good God cause pain? Maybe. How you answer that question depends upon what you place your highest value. If comfort and health triumph over holiness, then yes, God must give an account for His behavior. However, if holiness, Christlikeness, and a relentless pursuit of God's glory constitute your first fruits, then a good God will use whatever means necessary to bring them about. Even pain and sometimes even death (reference Calvary if you don't believe me).

So, the next time you experience pain, before you shift blame away from God, maybe you should consider the reasons why God might be inviting you to suffer. He might just want to use it for your good and His glory.

God Sees and Knows

One independent study course stands between me and a Masters of Theology degree. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel forces me to consider what life could look like post graduation. What do people do with their free time? Does anyone actually use the words supralapsarianism and eschatology? How do "normal" people study the Bible? 

I still lack answers for the first two, but I answered the third question by googling "Bible reading plans" a few weeks ago and stumbled upon one that DTS created for their students. Apparently, my school knew we would need help reading the Bible. 

Tonight I read Exodus 1-3. In English. Without a commentary. Without the pretext of researching for an assignment. Just because. 

It was good.

Reading tonight reminded me of the promises of old I seem to have forgotten. 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4.12

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. Jer 15:16

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Ps 19:7

And I could continue. 

So, what pierced my soul tonight, you ask? Exodus 2:24-25 "And God heard their groaning and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God SAW the people of Israel--and God KNEW."

That's it. Nothing academic or esoteric. No need to look up the Hebrew grammar to exegete the text. The God of the Universe who sovereignly rules over everyone and everything saw the Israelites and knew of their affliction. I paused as I read that, looked up the heavens and simply asked, "do you see and know me, too?" 

He does.

And He sees and knows you, too. Be encouraged by this incredibly simple yet unfathomable truth. 

As I head "back to the basics," I am incredibly grateful that God in his mercy chose to reveal himself to humanity so that we too, in part, can see and know. While a ThM can help a person understand God's revelation, what we all desperately need is the faithfulness to get in the Word. 

Thank you, DTS, for the reading plan. Thank you even more, Father, for giving us all yourself to read.

Romans 9-11 Wrap-Up | Watermark Community Church

Romans 9-11 Wrap-Up | Watermark Community Church

Community

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.  Heb 10.24-25

         I wish I knew who wrote the book of Hebrews, because then I would say “preach it, [insert author’s name], PREACH IT!”

         This past week I had the extreme privilege of watching Merce become a Hurst. From Wednesday to Sunday I enjoyed the company of some of my best friends as we celebrated, danced, laughed, prayed, shared, and made a fool of ourselves.* Community. We were in community. As my time with my friends drew to a close on Sunday afternoon, I choked back tears thinking of leaving these women who I have grown to love as sisters.

         After saying my goodbyes and failing to keep some of those tears inside, my heart ached as I headed home. As my car rumbled down I35 to Dallas, I consoled myself with the fact that I had great friends in Dallas, too. Really great friends. Community. I am in community.

         Unlike some of my college friends, I have set some roots here in Dallas and have been blessed to find other believers who are pursuing Christ as I strive to do the same. While my college friends live in exotic locations and have much more interesting lives, they will tell you, having close friends who love the Lord is something they deeply miss.

         So what’s my point? It’s this: fight for community. Somehow in the midst of technological advances, societal evolution, and living the American dream we have bought into the lie that money, power and titles will satisfy us. We pursue lives of significance, comfort and happiness, when God has asked us to live simply, and in community (just look at the birth of the church in Acts, they shared everything!).

         This thing we call life packs a punch, and God never intended for us to endure the blows alone. Certainly, God will use seasons of loneliness to shape us but David had Jonathan, Elijah had Elisha, Joshua had Caleb, and so on. Find a church, get into a small group, beg an older person to mentor you, go to Sunday school, stalk your local pastor, do whatever it takes to surround yourselves with believers so that you can spur one another on to love and good works. Fight for community. That way, when you find yourself fighting through this life, your corner won’t be empty. 

*Disclaimer: it may have just been me acting like a fool...

Shame

Last week in my Creative Writing course, we took a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art to discuss various pieces which reflect biblical imagery. Then, we were asked to pick any piece from the Museum's vast collection and write about it. I knew before I even arrived at the DMA which painting I would select. I have attached it below as well as the short piece I wrote. I hope as Christmas approaches you all find time to reflect on what Christ did for you and what he asks of you.

The second floor of the Dallas Museum of Art beckons me every time I visit. I know if I look at the piece red cheeks and escaping tears will expose my swelling shame. Yet, like the ascetics of old, I proceed to the Early European gallery to receive my beating.

While the father points heavenward knowing his mission, his eyes gaze downward upon his pale, unblemished son. A century of barrenness culminates with his only begotten, but Abraham’s good God demands the spilling of Isaac’s blood. And, he obeys. He obeys. Abraham obeys. Here comes the shame.

While Abraham was willing to place his son upon the altar, I grumble at the thought of placing my money, my time, or even my image. Instead, the savory aroma of hedonistic incense burns on the altars I erect for the gods of convenience and pleasure. By comparison, Abraham’s God asks me for so little, and he constantly receives what he asks: so little.

Yet, after sufficiently despairing over my disobedience, I swallow the gathered spit, wipe away the streaks left by tears, and remember that the reckoning of righteousness comes by faith, not sacrifice.

Mourning

This semester I am enrolled in a creative writing course…stop laughing, I’m serious. And, despite whatever preconceived notions you have about a creative writing course in seminary, this class has given me the opportunity to express many deep, theological convictions in ways previously foreign to me. One such opportunity came when our class was asked to reflect upon the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Not having had the opportunity to visit this landmark, my thoughts focused instead on the idea of mourning loss. It was in my preparation for that writing assignment that I realized our society has lost the ability to grieve well. Throughout scripture mentioning of sackcloth and ashes, wailing, renting of clothing, and utter despair accompany bereavement. Now funerals exhibit starched clothing, manicured appearances, and hushed whimpers as we attempt to add dignity to suffering. It is my firm conviction that mourning plays a purposeful and redemptive role in the life of a believer (c.f. Ecclesiastes 7:4; and verses which speak on suffering, Romans 8:17 in particular) and we would be wise to follow in the footsteps of our spiritual ancestors who grieved openly, loudly, and genuinely. Rejoice with those who rejoice, but, please, remember to WEEP with those who WEEP.

Silent Grief by Nika Spaulding

Hurried tears and gentle sobs escape the young widow.

Induced smiles conceal the writhing hands of a bereaved mother.

Somebody lied to them, to us.

“Dignity emerges in restraint,” paralyzes their sorrow.

Etched names satisfy our need to commend.

But, who receives the honor?

Consideration killed grief.

Reverence excised wailing, but left a wall.

Silence replaced weeping

Sackcloth exchanged for starched suits

Where is your sting O Death?

We forgot how it feels.