Who am I?

For the past few weeks, I've been reading one of Donald Miller's books, Searching for God Knows What. Miller narratively traces the events of Genesis 1-3 and remarks on how Adam and Eve's actions have affected our world. One overriding theme keeps sticking out to me: God created us so that we would find absolute security and identity in relationship with him. Knowing we are loved, valuable, and a beautiful creation all come from him. When our relationship with God was broken because of Adam and Eve's sin, we began thinking that we didn't have any worth. We have tried to find worth in other places, most apparently in the way we compare ourselves to one another: Who is the best? Can I one-up the person I'm in conversation with by boasting of my own achievements? We all want to measure up in order to feel love. If we feel like we are better than someone else, somehow that makes us more important, more valuable.

I've been on the look out for examples because I think Miller is right. Here's what I've seen both in myself and in others just the past few days: belittling words that make you feel better than another, the need to prove you are right, a longing for close human relationships because you think they'll make you feel less lonely, bragging about achievements so someone will praise you, complaining about your appearance or abilities so someone will inevitably have to affirm that you are, indeed, beautiful and gifted. There are more, but I think you get the idea.

We will never be whole, satisfied, content, feel loved, valued, or beautiful until we seek and find the One who made us. Miller says this, "What if when we are with God, we feel that we have glory, we feel his love for us and know, in a way infinitely more satisfying than a parent's love or a lover's love, that we matter? I think that would be very beautiful . . ." (p. 109)

Me, too.

Ski Retreat!

Yep, it's been awhile since I've posted. Things get busy around the holidays when you work in a church! Nonetheless, the past few weeks have been a blast. We had a lock-in on New Year's Eve, and this past weekend, we traveled to Boone, NC for our ski retreat (see picture below!). It was an awesome experience for our youth group to grow closer to one another and for us to experience God together in a new way. As we shared what we learned about God over the weekend, several of my youth said they learned that you can never stop growing in relationship with God if you are willing to follow Christ. So, this is the beginning. Take a look at them now . . . this group, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will transform the world because they are being transformed by God! I can't believe God's given me the privilege to help guide us to do that. I love these young men and women, and I can't wait to see how God will move through them!