Monsters Under The Bed

Were you afraid of monsters under your bed when you were a kid? Yeah, I was too!!

I remember running into my room at full speed, leaping a good 2 feet in front of my bed, and then landing with a sigh of relief. I thought if I just ran fast enough and jumped far enough, that I would dodge those crazy creatures under my bed.

Looking back, it was silly, but at the time, it was sure something that scared me! I truly felt that the moment I actually got in my bed and hid, I was safe.

I have dealt with some sort of fear for most of my life. My fears are usually completely irrational and somewhat silly. Just like the monsters-under-the-bed scenario, when I step back and gain some perspective I am able to see my fears in a different light; they seem to fade away. Yet, in the midst of times of fear, I feel as if I want to hide. I don't want to be vulnerable. I don't want to take risks. I just want to hide and crawl into my bed, if you will. That hiding makes me feel somewhat safe and protected. Yet, in all actuality, that is a false sense of security. In those moments, I take the "helpless" route, when God calls me (and you!) to rise up and be the conquerors that He has called us to be. He wants us to do something with the gifts, abilities, and moments that He has given us... instead of just hiding away.

I have been going through the Gospel of Matthew in the last few weeks and the Parable of Talents got me good the other day. It spoke directly to the fears that I have been facing. This story that I have heard since I was a child, came alive in a new way to me. Isn't that just like Jesus? He speaks through His Word, which is alive and active!

Anyway, back to the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 22:14-30. The story isn't about what we think of as talents nowadays, but "talents" actually meant money... A talent was worth more than $1000 back in Biblical times! That's a lot of money, and I am not talking about Monopoloy money! I am talking about the real deal. So, in the story, Jesus told of a man who called his servants and gave them each a different amount of money. He was entrusting the money to them because he was going on a journey. He gave one man 5 talents, and that guy was creative, diligent, and hard-working. He went out and earned an additional 5 talents. The second servant received 2 talents, and similar to the first servant, he doubled his money. The third and final servant received 1 talent and guess what he did... Instead of going out to try to earn more money, he dug a hole in the ground and hid his talent.

When the master came home, he asked the servants to bring back the money he had entrusted to them. He was pleased with the first two servants. Yet, then it came time for the third servant to show the master what he had earned. In explaining his situation he said, "I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you" (Matt. 25:25). The master was disappointed with the third servant and took his money and gave it to the one who had risked the most.

As I was reading this story, I tried to understand the third, cautious, hesitant servant. As I read Matt. 25:25 a few times, the words "afraid," and "hid," stood out to me. The servant was afraid. What was he afraid of? He may have been afraid of failure. He didn't want to lose the money. He was afraid of risk. He was probably afraid that he wasn't strong enough, creative enough, or hard-working enough, to earn more money. I think he was afraid that he was inadequate. He did not feel like he could go out and make a difference in the world.

So, what did these fears drive him to do? Hide. In a sense, he, too, was afraid of the monsters under his own bed. This fear drove him hide the money, and this created this false sense of security around what had been entrusted to him. In that moment, he was giving power to his fears. He was giving power to the lies that he was bound to fail and that he was not adequate. He was giving power to the fears that he was not strong enough to make a difference and engage in the world.

Just like the servant, I, too, can become afraid of taking risks. Sometimes, it is just easier to hide. Yet, God calls all of us to hold our heads high, trust in Him, and engage the world. I once heard someone say, "Any time you feel backed into a corner, that is not of God." So, as I learn to face my fears, I know that I must first recognize when I want to hide in my comfort zone, and secondly, do exactly the opposite of that. As soon as I feel like I want to hide, I must instead rise up. I must trust the One who has entrusted me with life, passions, abilities, callings, and relationships.

I must trust the One who has entrusted me. 

I want to be bold and courageous. I am called to be bold and courageous.
So are you.

Let's stop hiding, stop fearing, and stop playing it safe.
Let's learn a whole new way of trusting in the One who is trustworthy to the moon and back.
He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, so let's move forward in confidence, knowing that "He who called us is faithful" (1 Thess. 5:24).

No more hiding from your monsters under the bed.

Pray With Expectation

Kids ask the best questions. Do you remember the show, "Kids Say the Darndest Things"? Well, I submit that "Kids Ask the Darndest Questions." They ask why the sky is blue, why they have to eat their dinner, and why Jonah was able to live in the belly of a whale. They are inquisitive; no question is off limits. Kids ask questions without hindrance or fear. They ask whatever comes to mind, and they expect a response.

I love this about kids. I love that they aren't ashamed or worried about what people may think. They just ask the question that pops into their head and they wait for the answer.

Our church has been going through a series on being "Changed By Prayer." As we have journeyed together through what it looks like to live a life of prayer, I have thought, 

"Why am I afraid to pray and ask God tough questions? Why am I afraid to ask God for big things?"

I do not think that I am alone in this. I think many of us have been followers of Jesus, but yet we are afraid to truly take Him at His word. Personally, I have lost my some of my child-like innocence and faith. I have become worried that I will not get a response (or the response I desire), so I just don't ask. I have believed the lie that I am safer that way. 

Yet, as I have been processing what it looks like to pray, I have realized that prayer must be coupled with faith. Prayer must be coupled with belief. Prayer must be coupled with expectation.

I have heard these verses since I was a child, but it wasn't until lately that I really grasped the promises in Jesus' words:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will opened." (Matt 7:7-8)

Asking puts us in a position to receive. In our human relationships, we do not ask a question thinking that we will be left with no response. We ask a question, expecting a response. If we expect that people here on earth will respond to our inquiries, we can expect that our Heavenly Father will respond. Why should we expect anything less? 

Asking questions and waiting for a response puts us in a vulnerable position. We no longer have control of our "what ifs." Instead, we have put the ball in God's court and we wait on Him for an answer. Yet, the great thing is, when we trust in God, He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5). 

Our loving Heavenly Father is beckoning us to come to Him with child-like faith. He is calling us to stand on His promise that if we "knock the door will be opened." God is asking us to approach prayer with expectation and trust that He will respond. 

Will you join me in praying with expectation and a heart ready to receive?

- Carly

The Lord Provideth

I am a fresh college graduate. I am poor. When you are a person in my position, my priorities often become an inconvenience. I am the type of person who would rather spend money on a guitar or a trip to Hawaii to visit an old friend than, say.. eat. This can at times prove difficult. I sometimes decide to myself, "Chris, this month you are not going to spend money on food." As I headed into the month of January, (my birthday month and first official full month as a non-student) I said just this. At first it was easy. I at food I already had in my fridge and cupboard, but soon my storage started to run thin and meals started to consist of cream of wheat, pancakes, and frozen veggies (which I had avoided). Then my loving mother took me shopping  and bought me sandwich foods and fresh veggies (still avoided, but consumed). This was an answer to prayer and a blessing. As the month got to its midsection, my cupboards again began to run bare, but I was committed to finishing out the month.
I also work at a theatre where I eat unlimited popcorn, but a man can only take so much. At the theatre I hold on to unused coupons to bless people with. On January 16th, my birthday, a couple came in and were in a slight argument and about buying popcorn. The husband didn't want to purchase popcorn because it is expensive. The woman's popcorn cravings were not to be denied. Eventually, the husband headed toward the restroom and left his wife to order. I told her, "How 'bout I just give you a free small popcorn and you can brag about it to your husband." She gladly accepted. Her popcorn cravings were not to be denied.
After the movie, the husband came out and politely, but sternly said, "I owe you for the popcorn." I smiled and replied, "Nope, it was a gift." He continued for insist, and we engaged in a humorous back and forth until finally I said, "Listen, today is my birthday, I want you to accept the popcorn as a gift for my birthday." Finally I was able to convince him that he owned nothing. He thanked me and left.
Soon after, while I was dealing with a customer the man came back to the counter and dropped off a paper bag, and said just loud enough for me to hear, "Here's for the birthday boy." I yelled  "Thank you!" after I was able to register what he said, but he was already in the doorway. I looked in the bag and saw three large and beautiful muffins; three large and beautiful breakfasts for the next three days. I was able to bless them, and I was blessed in return. The Lord provideth.

-Chris, To Thrill a Mockingbird

Airport Security Lessons

Earlier this week, I headed out to California for a quick trip to a Christ in Youth event. As I went through the security lines, I was so proud of myself. Pride usually isn't the feeling I get when I go through airport security lines, but on this day on particular, I had packed lighter than I ever had before! I had everything I needed for my trip in one small backpack and my purse. For this girl who packs WAY too much for EVERY trip, it was pretty much miraculous! (Just to give you an idea, on a 6 day trip I took last month, my bag weighed exactly 50 pounds. Whoops).

Anyway, back to the story....

Before boarding my flight, I went to the little airport store to buy a bottle of water and my debit card was declined. What?! I was confused and caught off guard. I asked the gentleman to run my card once more and again it was declined. By this point, I was fairly embarrassed and quickly paid with some of the little cash stash that I had.

My flight was boarding in ten minutes and I had a small amount of cash. I mean, who carries cash these days?! I called my bank and asked them what was going on. They told me that some fraudulent company in Michigan had tried to use my card multiple times in the last 48 hours so they deactivated my card. I told them I was traveling and that I needed some money; my card was the main way I was planning to pay for things! The bank was not able to provide a solution so I boarded my plane not knowing what to do with only $15 cash and a few days away from home ahead of me.  

As I sat on the plane, trying to think about what to do, my thoughts took a turn. Instead of being consumed with what to do, I starting thinking about how much this situation had rattled me. I felt totally ill-equipped for my trip because of this hiccup. I had to stop and ask myself, 

"In what do I find my security?

What makes me feel safe and in control?"

I am a planner and I like to know what to expect. I like to be ready for the road ahead and not have bumps along the way. Yet, in this life we live, this is an unattainable and somewhat silly goal. The unknown will always be present. In fact, some of the best gifts come as surprises. In order to embrace the unexpected gifts and overcome the figurative potholes, I must first be able to embrace the security that comes from Christ alone. If my security is found in my circumstances or stuff (including debit cards) I am placing my foundation on sinking sand. 

I was able to figure out my money situation after all... Thank goodness! However, I ended up being even more thankful for the unexpected lesson from Jesus. He is my security. He is my hope. He is my consistency in this ever changing world. 

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

- Carly