"For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Where are you weak? Is it in sexual immorality? Perhaps it's the lust for money? Or maybe even confrontation? Worse yet, maybe you cannot control what comes out of you mouth -- profanity, discouragement, whatever?

There is comfort in all of our weaknesses though. It took me until now, well actually Sunday night/Monday morning, to realize this. For so long, I thought that I was the only one in our community here at W&J to struggle with the things I do; however, God has opened my eyes, ears, and heart to those who share my struggles.

Recently, I was discussing some of these struggles with some of my friends and one of them quoted a passage which has hung in my heart the last couple of days. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

Delight in my weaknesses? Who does that? Who boasts when they are weak? Do we freely express the areas in our lives where we cannot do it ourselves, but completely rest on the faith that God will provide for us? The last two days have challenged me to do this, which has been one of the most freeing times in my life. I have felt a burden lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to express my joy freely again.

It is so hard for us to rely on God for everything, but Christ has commanded us to do just that. We cannot do anything on our own; we cannot continue to carry our burdens, for we will be crushed in our feeble attempts to do so. Christ tells us that he will take our burdens: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Mat. 11:28-30)

God, take my burdens, for You alone can ease my load; You alone are able to bear my burdens. God, thank You for Your willingness to take my weary heart and give it rest. Thank You for taking my yoke from me.

Community

Would you give everything you had to help a friend in need? Would you sacrifice your own well-being to help a less fortunate friend? Would you be willing to allow a friend to probe into every facet of your life?

If you can honestly answer yes to all of these questions, you are to be lauded. It is rare to find someone so willing to be sacrificial. However, Luke calls us to do all of these things, and more, in Acts (2 and 4). Imagine a community in which everyone lived this life.

Pretty awesome, huh? So what is it that makes this "grace of giving" (2 Cor. 8) so difficult?

Until this summer, May to be exact, I was focused on one thing with my career plans -- how to make the most money and get ahead in life. I didn't give one hoot about giving to those less fortunate than myself; it was all about me, myself, and I. However, in May, our Father smacked me across my face and opened my eyes to His plan, His direction, His mercy. He has never thought of Himself before us, never thought of taking and not giving.

Our challenge here on Earth is not to see who can get the furthest ahead in life, not to see who can make the most money, not to see who has the fanciest car, rather it is to complete give ourselves to God, our Father.

Tim, Ryan, Emily, Deanna, Hobgobbler, Heff, anyone else who wants to join:

Imagine a community like that on campus here. That is our vision, our goal, our prize, our gift from our Father. We must accept this awesome responsibility to build it here; we must give ourselves to the Lord for it to happen. I love all of you guys, and you all continue to be an inspiration for me. Thank you for all you have done for me, and all that you continue to do without even realizing it.

For whom or what are you living?

Just a few days ago, one of my closest friends presented a question to me. I never thought a question would affect me the way this one did, tearing my heart the last two weeks. I encourage each of you to take a closer look at this question as well:

For whom or what are you living?

For most of us, this question is difficult to answer. I am hoping that in the coming years of my life, I can give a definite and conclusive answer to this question -- God, and God alone.

body (n.): the physical structure of a human being or animal, not including the head, limbs, and tail; trunk; torso.

This definition is provided by dictionary.com. Is that all our body is? just our physical structure? useful for only this life, none other? What hope do we have then? Is our life constrained to the 80 years (if you're lucky) here on Earth? This definition would make you think so.

body (n.): earthen vessels, such as "jars of clay" (2 Cor. 4:7), used to glorify God and His word.

This definition is a combination of several of Paul's writings, as well as other Scriptures. To me, this defintion is more appropriate, leaving hope for an age to come -- the age of the coming of Christ. Our bodies are not our's, rather, they belong to God to do with as He pleases and sees fit for His Kingdom here on Earth.

Does everything you do glorify God, His honor? Do you follow selfish ambitions rather than following God's plan for your life? "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Eph. 1:4-6).

Jeremy Camp "Take My Life"

Take my life, take my mind
Take my soul, take my will
I am your's now, and I give it all to You.