Today

Someday, I’ll find the perfect marriage.

Someday, I’ll get my finances in order.

Someday, I’ll get that promotion.

Someday, I’ll pursue what God has called me to do.

This Sunday, guest speaker Dave Barringer introduced our congregation to the concept of “Someday Syndrome.” Whether it be an unswerving anticipation of the future, or a relentless desire to escape from the present, someday syndrome is an infection of the mind that hinders us from fully perceiving or acting on the present. As we become so consumed with what lies ahead, we fail to see God’s presence in what is happening right in front of us.

As a college student, my mind naturally drifts to “someday.” I spend a significant amount of time planning, thinking about, and dreaming of what my future may hold. After all, the time I spend studying and the majority of my money is, in fact, going towards my future. However, it is not healthy to limit my perspective solely to what tomorrow holds. While God’s plans for the future may be great, I must not lose sight of the fact that today is just as important. Just as I believe God has designed me for a specific career and specific purpose in the future, He has placed me specifically where I am at today, whether or not that seems ideal. In other words, God deeply desires to use what seems like an unimportant transitional phase in my life as a platform for both personal and spiritual growth.

Perhaps your “someday” looks a little bit different. Maybe you’re desperately waiting for your child to get potty-trained. Maybe you’re waiting to get out of debt. Maybe you’re waiting to retire! Whatever the case may be, we all have the potential to become so future-focused that we glaze over God’s presence in the mundane. The truth is, God wants to use us, shape us, and challenge us right where we are NOW. Sure, he might have plans for tomorrow. Sure, things in the past may have changed what today looks like. Nevertheless, God is ready to fill us, change us, and use us TODAY. The question is, are we going to let opportunities pass us by, or are we willing to take action and listen for God’s voice today?

This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant 

Always Winter, But Never Christmas

“I just need this week to be over.”

“I wish I could skip this part of life.”

“I don’t see this ever getting better.”

Sound familiar? Some seasons of life, it feels like this is my own personal mantra. While this particular season is meant for rejoicing with the Magi, the short, cold(ish) days and insanely busy crowds make it much easier to try and shut myself out of the holiday scene entirely and snuggle up like Herod did in a throne of self-deception.

Whether it be feeling the absence of a loved one, a battle with depression, tension between a family, or even simply the pressure to make the darkest, coldest, longest season of the year cheery and fun, it seems as though there are just as many reasons to be down as there are to celebrate. While the existence of our emotions is healthy and human, it is how we deal with them that affects us so deeply. When we choose to take our moments of hopelessness and weave them into a web we fool ourselves into thinking is impenetrable, we fall victim to the trap of self-deception. We allow seasons of frustration to fester in our hearts, and we become their slaves, unable or unwilling to break through the mold and try on a new perspective of hope.

See, though I identified earlier with Herod’s patterns of self-deception, the truth is that unlike Herod, I know a hope that cannot be counted out when I am emotionally disoriented. When I feel the world itself has stopped and I’m stuck at the bottom of a mountain, Matthew 2:20 reminds me of the promise and perseverance of God, even when I feel like I have nothing left in me.

“Get up, take the child and his mother to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” Matthew 2:20

Though I may only see winter at times, though I may miss “Christmas” at any time of the year even when its right in front of me, it does not mean it isn’t there. By acknowledging the freedom God can give my mind and wholeheartedly receiving it to be true, I am reminded that even in the bleak and trying days, Christmas is still here in His promise. Like Herod’s attempts to end Jesus’ life before it really began, the emotionally-driven distortions of my own life situations cannot eradicate the promises of God. Even on the most difficult of days, I can find freedom in the fact that out of Egypt, Christmas is coming.

Written by: Brianna Vanderveen

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant

Family Christmas

Christmas Traditions: some are better than others.

My children and I bake cookies together in the days leading up to Christmas. We bake the same types each year and it’s an all-day event. Chocolate Mint. Magic Cookie Bars. Cinn-a-Spin. Of course we have to make sure they taste good enough to serve to our Christmas guests. This is a tradition they love.

Last year, I attempted to begin a new tradition with our family. I purchased a beautifully written and illustrated book by a fairly popular Christian author. The idea is that one is supposed to dedicate a particular tree and add specific ornaments that coincide with a devotional reading on each day leading up to Christmas. Each devotional reading is no less than 45 pages long. Well, maybe not that long, but it feels like it. The first day of reading was met by blank stares and a smirk (from one particular family member to remain unnamed.) The next day, the reading was met with groans and sighs. On the third day, the complaints were more vocal.  Then the particular “smirking” family member decided to make up a stupid song to go along with the long, dry reading. This resulted in a slight overreaction:  the slamming of the book, angry tears and declarations of “I just wanted to create a nice family tradition!”  I won’t tell you who said and did any of those things. I’ll let you figure it out. And needless to say, we scrapped that particular tradition. The book looks lovely as part of our coffee table Holiday décor, but remains unopened this year.

Again, some traditions are better than others.

For example, this past Sunday, we participated in one of my favorite Christmas traditions! We celebrated some very special people during our annual Family Christmas service. Each year, several individuals, couples or families are “surprised” as the church honors them for living daily lives exemplary of the Christmas Story.

What I love about those honored in these services is the way I see each and every one of them leap off of the pages of Scripture as I read the Bible.

 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “ Philippians 3:14

As we discuss the stories of individuals and begin making plans in the weeks and months leading up to Family Christmas each year, I am inspired by the way these people continually “press toward the goal.” In spite of often immeasurable odds, they are relentless in the pursuit of what God has called them to.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of other to be seen by them…” Matthew 6:1a

When a name is called and the person sits momentarily frozen in his or her seat and then walks on stage in disbelief, it is never more obvious to me that their righteous acts were done all for the love of Jesus and not for their own glory.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13

While I feel that the entire chapter of Romans 12 is a very succinct summary of what the Christian’s life should look like (or what we should be striving to look like), those three verses can be accurately used to describe the “spirit of those honored at Family Christmas.”

I continue to consider it a profound honor and privilege to serve and live my life among the most amazing people on Earth – the friends and family of Freedom Christian: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:3-4a.

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant

Overcoming Fear

The last major recession probably created a lot of workaholics for those of us in the career world who survived it and also saw those around us who didn’t. Someone who walks away from a major car accident can still feel their muscles seize up at the sound of a car horn or squealing brakes for years after the fact. Bad relationships we thought we’d left behind can still make us avoid starting any new ones. Basically, fear is an easy takeaway from painful experiences -- and we can try to elevate our own chronic anxiety into wisdom, or even something spiritual, but it’s still just fear.

To call me a workaholic or an anxious person might be an understatement. There are many nights I don’t sleep, and I’ve had the kind of panic attacks that settle in your chest like a deep physical pain. When my wife worries for me and tells me I’m working myself into a heart attack or early death, I used to respond with “then it will be God’s will.” 

 That makes sense, right? I mean, the Lord holds death and life within His hands, and people have fatal heart attacks all the time (about 610,000 deaths per year are related to heart disease, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). So it makes sense that some heart attacks are part of his plan, and if He wanted to prevent that he could defuse the anger of others around me, or help me get home on time and see more of my family, or keep a diet and exercise regimen that doesn’t get so often derailed by work. But of course, this is only the fear talking—not the truth. Ultimately, in these instances I am asking God to improve my circumstances, not my character. And having Him pull your feet from the fire here and there doesn’t mean you overcame your fear of flames. Sooner or later, you have to work on you.

Anxiety, as we heard this week, can have three key fuels: imminent danger, the diet of social and media inputs that you receive, and damage from your interpersonal relationships. And to combat these, you should change how you think, how you talk, and how you work. I could especially appreciate the suggestion Sunday that working too hard can stem from the fear of not having enough, and that what you think is diligence is really just letting fear and anxiety have the upper hand in your life.

Reading the word is also a healthy practice in cutting down anxiety (another helpful suggestion from my wife), so I’m also planning to meditate again on Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He is a God of peace, and I’ve been learning that again in prayer and Bible study time. It also wouldn’t hurt to put an emphasis on “every situation,” because just like arterial blockage, the worries you neglect to take to him will build up over time. And sometimes, bringing those situations to Him isn’t about changing them. It’s about changing us.

Written by: Chad Halcom

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly

Proverbs- Part 7

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Have you ever been on the brink of breaking down, then suddenly someone said something that gave you just the hope you needed to persevere? When I was in high school, I distinctly remember receiving a timely word that brought life to my uncertain spirit. As I was going through a phase of trying to figure out what my purpose was or what my future held, a friend reminded me of the value I possessed, the purpose I already had, and the belief that God was going to use me to do great things. While this was just a part of a regular conversation and the person who said it may never remember it, it left a lasting impression that strengthened my spirit.

 On Sunday, we learned that words can rescue people. Whether it be something as simple as a coach telling a player, “Hey, you did a great job,” after a rough game, or a friend sending a letter with just the right words of encouragement after a difficult loss, it is clear that words have power.

Unfortunately, on the opposite end of the spectrum, words can bring great pain. I think we have all encountered someone who has made a distasteful or sarcastic comment about our character that has left a bruise. The reality is, “just kidding” never seems to negate the pain caused by a quick remark. Words have power. Just as quickly as they can build a spirit up, they can tear a spirit down.

So how, then, may we become encouragers? How may we bring life to the hopeless? How can we avoid quick slips of the tongue that have the potential to cause great harm?

Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

While words have great power, they are rooted in something much deeper. The way one speaks is merely a reflection of the contents of their heart. Likewise, we may become more encouraging when we allow God to transform our hearts into his likeness. When we choose to love people unconditionally as God has, we will be able to speak in a way that is uplifting. In the same sense, we will be able to avoid stumbling over distasteful dialogue. No longer will our hearts possess ammunition for relational ruin. Rather, when we let go of our feelings and allow God’s unconditional love to invade our hearts, we may become people who give life.

I challenge you, this week, to analyze your heart. Are you filled with unconditional love, grace, and kindness, or are you being held back? Are you hanging on to grudges, personal scars, or envy that is causing you to say hurtful things? As Pastor Aaron highlighted on Sunday, “The first step to transforming our speech is allowing God to transform our hearts.” I encourage you to surrender your troubles to God, and allow Him to invade your heart. Let our words not be the stones that break bones, but powerful voices that bring life. 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Proverbs- Part 6

On “Killing Them With Kindness”: Thou Shalt Not Murder

I don’t understand grace. I really, really don’t. I could read every book Max Lucado has ever written and I still don’t think I’d ever fully comprehend it. This is in part because I am a naturally vindictive person, if you hurt me or the ones I love, or even a stranger badly enough, my natural desire is to see you get what (I feel) you deserve. Because I am on this journey, however, to try and be a supernaturally renewed servant of Christ, grace is something I am constantly trying to practice. Even though I don’t understand it all the time. Though I am of course oh so humble in Christ Jesus…I honestly believed that I must be a great person, being understanding and not shouting in situations where I’ve seen the rest of the world lose their minds. And sure, showing grace is a good thing. But what I lacked, and still lack some days, is a gracious heart.

When grace has been difficult to give in my life, I instead give guilt dressed up as kindness. When I practice being kind and humble to those who wrong me, I try and drown them in it, all the while thinking, “I hope you feel awful. I hope it makes you sick to have done so much wrong to someone who is still so good to you.”  So this past Sunday, when Pastor Aaron mentioned "heaping hot coals onto their heads," I couldn’t help but feel justified. But as Pastor Aaron continued to speak to the congregation, and God continued to speak to me, I was reminded of every time I have ever needed grace and received it—without hesitation or spite—from God and others. How every wrong I have committed that was met with mercy and kindness moved me to my core, and almost always inspired a very real transformation within my own spirit. Because I was not made a victim of someone else’s vindictiveness, God was able to be the one to deal with me, reshape my attitude and actions, and set me free. Why then, should I seek in my own heart to make someone else captive to my own bitterness under the guise of "grace," instead of allowing them to experience that same freedom that could impact them much more than my guilt trips or passiveness ever could?

Before God ever asked for our actions, or our "help", He asked for our hearts. We cannot truly practice forgiveness, love, patience, grace, or any of these fruitful things if the tree they come from is rotten (Luke 6:43-45). Therefore, we must be careful of our intentions and our hearts as much as we are our actions.

This week, I challenge you (and myself) to be observant of our own attitudes as we try and extend grace to those who we don’t feel deserve it, and allow God to use it for their growth, instead of trying to “kill” them with our kindness.

Written by: Brianna Vanderveen

Edited by: Brigit Edwards

Proverbs-Part 5

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! Proverbs 6:6

Our challenge from the book of Proverbs for Sunday, November 9 was to be diligent in our discipline as demonstrated in the example of the ant.

I did a search on “ant facts” and discovered some fascinating tidbits. Of course we all know that ants are capable of carrying objects 50 times their own body weight. But did you know that ants sometimes herd or tend to other insect species – like shepherds with sheep? (I visualized that and it was very cute – a little cartoon ant with a shepherd’s crook, rounding up little groups of big-eyed cartoon aphids…anyway…)

Also, ants follow scent trails laid by scout ants to gather food.  I remember learning this firsthand as a very young child sitting on the front stoop of my home with my dad. We watched a trail of ants carrying pieces of food into a nearby anthill.

“Watch this,” my dad said. He crouched down toward the trail and vigorously rubbed his finger on the ground in front of one of the ants marching single file.  The ant stopped and began to wander back and forth frantically for about 30 seconds. The other ants stopped dead in their tracks as well. Finally, the first ant picked up the scent again and forged a new path for his followers. And they all went marching down…to the ground…to get out of the rain…BOOM…BOOM….BOOM! (Sorry. I couldn’t resist).

As we heard the message Sunday on how diligence is a remarkable trait obtained by doing unremarkable things, I remembered this scene from my childhood. The long trail of ants was unremarkable.  But what struck me as remarkable was how diligently that ant searched to get back onto the right path again. Even more remarkable than that was the way his momentary wanderings affected those who were traveling the path with him.

Marching along in the difficulty and sometimes mundaneness of our Christian walk can be hard. Sometimes it’s not super fun. And sometimes, we wander off the path. It feels unremarkable and lonely. We forget that there are people who love, support and look to us along the journey as well. 

My diligence has an effect on those around me. I hope I never forget that.  So does yours. If you’ve struggled with that, or wandered off the path, just know today that there’s a trail of believers in front of and behind you cheering you on to your destination.

So, remember that ant! Consider its ways and be wise!

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly