10. the mayans were wrong; God was (and is always) right.

DOOMSDAY??

I have to admit, I was one of those people that feared the end of the world. I definitely wasn't a doomsday prepper, but I slept with my light on until I was 15, and checked under my bed until I was…wait… sometimes I still do that (oops). 

We all heard the hype about "The end of the world," which was supposed to happen 13 times in our history, according to www.ranker.com. 13 times! I knew the declaration of the new millennium wasn't going to be it. I remember talk of exploding computers and artificial intelligence attacking the world and although I was only 12, I thought, "No way that is happening." I was not afraid of that one. In fact, I wasn't really afraid of any of them until the most recent one. This one had the most build-up and seemed to be the most "reliable." The Mayans were apparently a trustworthy source, and although there were many flukes described on the history channel and doubts that the Mayans ever made this prediction, when December 21, 2012 came around, I felt a little uneasy. This bothered me for years that I wasn't excited about the end like most believers were. Every time people were gossiping about the supposed end of the world (times 13), I was confronted with the fact that I wasn't excited about leaving this world, even if it meant going to heaven. 

The world didn't combust (shocker!) but something peculiar DID happen to me on December 21^st. Although I know that the Bible tells us in Matthew 24:36, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father," I thought, “what if this IS it, what if the Mayans were right?" I began to imagine what the end of the world would be like for me: I remembered vaguely what I had read in Matthew 24:29-30 about the second coming, “…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken… they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” I looked up at the sky, which happened to have a red tint to it where I was. I imagined Jesus there, riding on a cloud with a blazing fire to His back, floating through the sky.

I did observe that the verse doesn't say I'm going to die, it says I will be taken up. I began to imagine myself there, in heaven, with everyone else like a big party in the sky with golden streets and Jesus. Mostly Jesus, as long as He is there, I think heaven is going to be awesome. Revelation 4 gives a good description of heaven if you want to check it out. While you're simmering in that hefty verse, give some serious thought to heaven...

Why do we go there?

Do I want to go there, why?

I genuinely contemplated those questions, and after remembering a delightful quote I heard my father-in-law use, "I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live as if there isn't and die to find out there is a God" (Albert Camu), I came to this conclusion:

I live as if the true reward is living THIS life depending on Christ, having a God who intercedes for me and helps me grow. The orchestrator of this world simultaneously orchestrates the symphony of my life. To me, heaven is a hope, of course- but it is kind of like a bonus as well. That life is without fear, pain, tears, and this life is the painful one. The Bible tells me that those who believe are going to heaven, so I believe I'm going, wherever it is. That is a great reward, but the greatest reward is just to have Jesus hold me in His arms, which He does now, in this life as well. I'm already winning; I already have such a great reward.  

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

He is with us now, and will be with us then. Therefore, there is no fear in death. Even if we die a terrible death, we spent a life with Jesus and will be with Him forevermore. That is not something to fear, no matter how reliable the Mayans are supposed to be (their credibility has definitely dwindled some). I don't need to store up dried foods, I just need to store up more love and gratitude for the one who gave His life to me, paying for the sins that I committed so I could have a relationship with a perfect God. 

Thank you Mayans for giving me my 13th opportunity to refocus on keeping fear at bay; even in death. My precious Jesus, thank you for loving me despite my fears and doubts. 

Here's to living another day! Thank you Jesus.

9. we cannot know Him fully for He is too great.

in·ef·fa·ble  
/inˈefəbəl/

Adjective Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words: "ineffable beauty". Too sacred to be uttered.

Synonyms unspeakable - inexpressible - unutterable - nameless

METAPHYSICS 101:

My last semester in Undergraduate studies, I took a class named "Metaphysics." My friends and I determined it wasn't a real class because nobody could explain what it was about, including myself. It wasn't until I did an extensive study on the term metaphysics (and went through a couple of weeks in the class) before I started to understand what the subject meant. Here's the gist of what I remember metaphysics to be: "beyond physics." As in, physics is the stuff we can explain using science, metaphysics is the stuff we can't (VERY broad and not extensive definition). For example: take the term "personal identity." Physics can explain a person in the terms of a body, or chemical make up, or something like that. Metaphysics asks: what makes a person the same person throughout a span of time? Can we really say the phrase "I'm not the same person anymore?" Is "personhood" defined by someone living in the same body over a span of time? Well what if you did a brain transplant? Is it still the same "person?"... this goes on and on. That is your intro to metaphysics. You passed!

Metaphysics is denied and ridiculed by a large number of philosophers because the questions it asks cannot be answered with science. What makes a person a "person" (different from the term "human being") cannot be settled on by science or philosophy. In fact, the last day of class was entitled "What is metaphysics?" And we, as a class of 8, determined we didn't really know exactly what it was, even after an entire semester of studying it extensively. Such is philosophy. Although I left the class thinking, "What just happened...?"  I loved the professor, I was challenged to come up with my own theories, write papers that mattered, and had the freedom to challenge all that I thought I knew. I started to think, do we have to be able to explain something to believe it to be true? Some would say "absolutely yes," (especially the justified true belief theorists) and I can respect why they feel pulled to that answer. But where the rubber meets the road for me, is when I, as a believer apply how I feel about knowledge confirming existence to the God I believe in. The very definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 writes, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

I've been reading The Knowledge of The Holy by A.W. Tozer, and he writes about the things we can know about God. He says that we can know what He reveals through his Word, nature, and Son, Jesus. But we cannot know Him in His entirety. In his book, there is a quote on page 18 from Thomas Carlyle (who studied under Plato) that is written so well that I kind of got the jitters.. I went back to my philosophical roots-- I just HAD to write about it! (Hence this blog post..) I added the definition of "Nescience."

"Science has done much for us; but it is a poor science that would hide from us the great deep sacred infinitude of Nescience (lack of knowledge), whither we can never penetrate, on which all science swims as a superficial film. In this world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it." 

Translation: Earlier in the chapter, Carlyle is quoted in his writing about lightening and how instead of being amazed by it, we reduce it down to an electricity, something science should deal with. That we try to explain everything with lectures and science, but forget to wonder in amazement. 

Don't get me wrong-- I LOVE science. I was that kid in high school that thought of science as a hobby, and wanted to be really good at it just for fun. I ended up going a different route in life but my love for science still flutters within. I am not saying science is something we should throw out or that it's useless, I'm just simply saying maybe we should challenge throwing out the things that can't be explained by science, such as God. I don't want us to lose our sense of wonder in the name of science.  

Tozer writes, "Some persons who reject all they cannot explain have denied God is a Trinity... These forget that their whole life is enshrouded in mystery. They fail to consider that any real explanation of even the simplest phenomenon in nature lies hidden in obscurity and can no more be explained than can the mystery of the Godhead."(Tozer, 17)

I would challenge those who claim God is not real because He cannot be explained. I would challenge those of us who are believes but try to explain God. If we could fully explain God, then He would be one of us. Do we want a Creator we can fully explain? Maybe we think we do. God has a response for us, it's found in Job 38-39, where He shares with us some of the inner workings of the world. Here's my favorite quote: "Who shut up the sea behind closed doors... When I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt." (Job 39:8,11). God is the one who defined the lines of the sea. Isn't that.. amazing? Now, when I see the photo below, I think.. the ocean stopped in that place because God told it to. 

Southern California beach, taken by yours truly ;)

This is how Job responds, and I love this: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things that I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." (Job 42:2-3)

I didn't create the sea. I can't even explain it a little bit, even though there are some people who can. Yes, I took oceanography and remember learning about the ocean floors and plates and lava and cliffs and all of that. But there are some questions that can't be answered, the metascience if you will. What is beyond the plates? Where did all of the water come from? Science can lead to wonder, and vice versa. But wonder doesn't need science to survive.

won·der  /ˈwəndər/

Noun A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Verb Desire or be curious to know something.

Synonyms noun.   marvel - miracle - prodigy - astonishment - amazement verb.   marvel

8. we don't have to be craft thieves because He gave us each our own

When I was planning my wedding, I became obsessed with etsy.com. I mean literally, I checked like how I envision people checking the stock markets, or some people check their Facebook accounts. If you aren't well versed on all things etsy, let me give you the quick version: IT'S AMAZING! All kinds of handmade, and not handmade crafts. You can type in "hand made pallet shelf with mason jar" and you get this picture, with a link of someone who is willing to make this for you and ship it right to your doorstep:

Created and owned by Etsy shop: Rufcreate

Back in August, my obsession was at 100% and my dream was to be a featured seller on etsy, with some craft EVERYONE would want! But, the problem was... I didn't have a craft. I thought about making frames, stamps, invitations, you name it. I got SUPER into flower arranging. I'd go down to the farmers market, pick out bunches of flowers and make my own arrangements. My house was filled with them, and I started daydreaming about being some flower arranging professionals intern. I had a plan: I could study with them in my spare time, gain experience and then eventually open up my own shop. Sadly, this dream came to a screeching halt when I realized I'd have to some day be a business owner. Economics almost killed me in my undergraduate studies, and there was no way I was going back to that.. EVER (sorry econ lovers). I still arrange flowers for around my house, but because I like it, not because I feel the need to be America's (or the worlds) next best flower arranging extraordinaire in order to gain acceptance while I am shunning my actual talents and goals. 

My kitchen a few weeks back.  Arranging for fun!
R.I.P. to my precious peony that NEVER bloomed :(

Just to clarify, I think developing new talents can be great, beneficial. But what I am referring here is when we suffocate our real talents, dreams, goals in order to chase after some other "craft" that isn't really our passion at all. Maybe it's someone else's, and you've seen them have so much success, you covet it, and decide to get really good at it. I've done that before. "They had so much success, and so many people like it--that's what I should be doing, why am I not good at that?" All the while, my poor little passions are weeping in some dark room somewhere getting crushed by the invasion of some new impostor dream.

Even more so than my crushed dream of flower arranging, I realized that I was trying so hard to run away from the things I am already good at, my God given talents. I was trying to replace them; create something new. I was trying to give away something tangible, that someone could hang on their wall or put on a shelf somewhere. But I figured out that the things I'm best at, I may never be able to sell on etsy. It reminds me of a quote by Bob Goff that I heard at the NYWC. He said, "Stop doing stuff you're able to do and do the stuff you were made to do." 

I am able to wrap lace around a mason jar and sell it for $10. 
I am also able to hot glue buttons on frames and maybe those will sell for a little bit more. 
I learned that I am able to arrange flowers, even without being a professional.
But I was made to spend my life investing in people with love, leadership, encouragement and compassion. 

I still love crafting, don't get me wrong. But it's an "able to do" thing for me. Now, you might find a way to make that something you were made to do, and that is fine. Plenty of people are made to create beautiful crafts and touch the lives of others by sending their precious pieces of art around the world (I'm just not that good). The point is: stop stealing other peoples crafts. Develop your own. Find what you were made to do. Find your passion. Find what will change this world one person at a time. If you just spend your life getting good stuff that you don't think matters... you will have wasted your life. 

Finally, one of my favorite Bob Goff quotes from his book, Love Does,"I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter."

Just do stuff that matters.

7. the earth could have been a giant desert

This is a picture from somewhere between Big Bear and Orange County, CA. Probably closer to Big Bear with a view like that. Being in Big Bear made me think many profound things, but one smacked me on the head like a ton of bricks...

God could have put us anywhere. 

Earth could have been a giant bubbling bowl of witch's brew. It could have been one island with one food and your thirst quenched by salt water. It could have been a giant desert. But it isn't. We live in this spectacular place filled with beauty and awe. I mean, when you look at this beautiful creation, how can you not believe in a Creator? I have some pregnant friends, and when I think about pregnancy, I wonder, "How can this not scream of a creator that is bigger than His creation?" (I mean just think about it)... 

We find this written in Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

God could have put us anywhere, but He chose this beautiful place for us to reveal Himself one scene at a time. Take that in. Breathe in the fresh air knowing it was meant to woo you. Sit under a mature maple and be covered by the umbrella of His lovely creation. 
Be wooed and enveloped, that is precisely what He intended. 

Princess Madison and I conquering one giant rock at a time. 

Big Bear Lake, with lots of ducks that Madison
would really like to get acquainted with.

6. joy is simply a matter of remembering

This morning I woke up with a simple prayer, "God, please help me to experience joy today." One precious thing I have learned over the past year is that joy is not like happiness. You see, happiness can be thwarted, shaken, circumstantial. Let's say you walk into the Post Office and see that there is a line of at least 400 people, and oh.. ONE person working. GREAT! You're unhappy. Maybe that's just me. Anyways, circumstantial. But I want to tell you something important: Joy is not circumstantial like happiness. In fact, Paul tells us in Philippians 4: 11-13 we can have joy in all circumstances. (He uses the word "content.")

"... for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 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."

I read that at first and thought, "Well Paul was in prison so maybe he was losing his mind because he actually thought that was possible." I know, bad on me. But it's honest. I thought, PAUL WAS CRAZY! 

But the truth is, Paul wasn't crazy. If we believe that The Bible is God's inspired word, as I do, then we must believe that this is an attainable truth. I know, the groans set in and we regurgitate from the core of our beings a pathetic little "hhhhhooow?" Don't worry, Paul has an answer for that too. If you're like me, you speed read through the text and find the answer as quickly as you can as if your heart will explode any second and you're looking for the magic words to prevent the inevitable catastrophe.

Read a little further, at whichever pace you so choose, and He says this: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

The answer to this contentment or joy: Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Just typing His name makes me feel better. 

I KNOW this truth. I've READ those verses. I have the answer to perfect joy pinned on the map as a place I've visited many times. I know where to find it. So why did I wake up this morning and ask for it again? Because we forget, don't we? My goodness, we are so forgetful! But no need to fear, all you have to do is whisper these words "God, please help me to experience Your joy today." That's what I did, and less than 10 minutes later, I saw this in my quiet time (from Jesus Calling, Sarah Young).

"Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." 

Thank you Jesus for answered prayer. You are sweet to me.

Joy comes from the presence of God, which is always with us. We find that reminder in His promises. Want joy? Remember Jesus. Remember that He loves you, wants to know you, is always with you.

That's it. 

Remember that and go be joyful. Remember that He answers prayer. Remember that when you walk into a room Christ is already there.  

Remember. 

Hanging out with Jesus this morning. (Jesus Calling, Sarah Young).

"Heavenly Father, I pray for those that read this message. I pray that they be filled with your undeniable joy. I pray that they know you and will believe your promises. If your promises have not yet been revealed to them, I pray that you do so now. I pray that they will be still and know You are God. I pray in Jesus' precious name because there is no way to You except through Him. Thank you for being Big even though we are small. Amen."