Thoughts on Selfies

Here's the deal with these "selfie" photos. (Note: a lot of these thoughts specifically apply to Christians- for people who don't follow Jesus, take this as you will.)

I think just about everyone takes a selfie now and again- but I see a trend of a lot of teen girls (including some spiritually mature ones I know and love) posting a lot of selfies on Facebook and Instagram.  Some times they caption it with an inspirational quote or story. They sometimes get a lot "likes" or comments. 

I get it. As women, we long to be told we're beautiful. Society doesn't make it easy to recognize the inherent God-given beauty in each of us- but then we are fed a different message of self-esteem and "you're beautiful and you deserve the best life has to offer." Both are selfish extremes, and I don't believe that either approach solves the problem. 

So we turn to social media. Friends, family, and the general public are called upon to give us (hopefully good) feedback.  We position ourselves in front of our iPhones with hair and makeup that have been fussed over, make sure we angle it a certain way to avoid a double chin, and make a duck face. (And usually caption it with something like "just on my way to do ______" #runningerrands #messybun #longhairdontcare #yolo). I've done it too.  And then constantly check our phones for feedback. 

A few thoughts.

1) it isn't wrong to want to be seen as beautiful. I think that is fairly normal for women, and placed in our hearts by God. When beauty becomes an idol (something we value over The Lord), that is the problem.

2) an inspirational quote or verse added to a selfie doesn't make the selfie less .... Selfie-like. Here's a good moment to question your motive: are you posting this picture and this quote to be seen a certain way?

3) speaking of motive, why are you taking the selfie in the first place? Is it an ego boost? Is it to try and prove how awesome your life is? How beautiful you are? (Again, I am right there with you asking these questions.)

4) your true family and friends know what you look like, and know the real you.  They will love you through the bad hair days, fat days, and every other kind of day.  They have a pretty good understanding of what you look like (inside and out).  If they are true, healthy friends, I would argue that they will be some of the first people to tell you if something looks good/bad. Because they love you and are willing to be honest with you, there is no need to take it to social  media. 

Again, these are just some thoughts, written in haste.  I do take selfies sometimes, but laugh at myself because I always feel so ridiculous and vain.  If I have an exceptionally good hair day and want to document, I might take a selfie.  But the question of motive and asking "am I beautiful?" Should always first be taken to The Lord. Ask Him what He thinks of you, and then take the time to listen.  (It could change you!)  

Use social media to tell us about your life.  What you're doing, thinking, feeling. Take an occasional selfie - but don't let the "likes" and notifications be your measurement of your beauty and self worth.

#youaresomuchmorethanduckfaceselfieSunday #overandout

New year

 2013 - you've been interesting. Not all bad, but not my favorite.

However, you did teach me a lot about myself. Not all good things... But starting points for growth.  

You've brought new friendships and rekindled old ones. You took me to a foreign country for 2 months and challenged me in more ways than I thought were possible. You showed me that I get more anxiety and culture shock from starting university in America than I ever felt living in a foreign country.  You showed me that I have a long ways to go in learning to love people like Jesus did.

You reminded me how blessed I am.  

You reminded me that God is still gracious and loves me, a reality which continues to blow my mind and shape my life. 

You reminded me that an ocean, a culture difference, and a language barrier doesn't change your love for me or others- and reminded me of the blessing of hearing an Asian believer pray to the same God in their native language. 

You reminded me that "not all those who wander are lost." (Tolkien)  So, in a continued season of wandering, I know this:  God is faithful. 

Disciple-making

This spring, I had the privilege of taking a class called Perspectives.  Its a missions training course, covering the biblical basis, history, and strategy of missions.  Its hosted by a local church, and you can choose how much work you put in to it by taking it at the key reading level, the certificate level, or take it to get college credit.  (Because I'm insane and like to torture myself by fitting way too many things in my schedule, I took it for credit.)  Overall, its been a great class and I've learned a lot, to say the least.

  One of the chapters I recently read spoke of church planting movements happening throughout the world.  There have been cases of churches growing and being planted at the rate of one new house church per day in some people groups.  When analyzing these movements, one thing they had in common was an ability to disciple their people, who in turn disciple others, who in turn disciple others.  In his book Radical (which is an awesome read), David Platt tells of a pastors meeting where these house church leaders wrote down every single word of the teaching, so that they could go and mobilize their local leadership to mobilize their congregations.  Its repeatable.  Its simple.  And they feel it is their responsibility.

I actually got to hear David Platt speak in person, and he spoke of 'kitchen sink Christians' versus 'faucet Christians.'  The former is one who enjoys sitting in the comfortable tub that can be suburban American Christianity.  Discipleship, teaching, resources, and opportunities are poured into you, and you sit there an enjoy it.  Contrast that idea to that of a 'faucet Christian,' in which you are a conduit to pass on spiritual life and power to others.

  I find this idea incredibly challenging as I try to picture myself as a 'faucet Christian' in my current situation.  I've had the privilege of getting to do this with my dance students, but when the teaching session ends, what then?  Who are "my disciples"?  Are they Christians that could deepen their faith?  Are they seekers who just want to learn more about this Jesus guy?  How does one even find disciples?  (And how weird and arrogant does that sound, asking for disciples?  As if I were leading some cult.  Creepy thought.)

  These are questions I find myself asking.  I don't really have any answers yet, but I do know that I don't do nearly enough with the vast amount I've been given.  There is too much selfishness and not enough love or willingness to pour out my life for others.  Teach me Lord.

The Resume

In my agenda to find redemption, I went to God with my resume of what I have done and my accomplishments, expecting Him to take that list and make something of it.  Instead, He did something unexpected.  He did away with my nice list, a list I had labored over for many years, and pulled out a blank sheet of paper.  On this paper, He begins to write His own story of my life.  All else from before is done away with - my life is hidden in Christ.  Some of the things He writes on the new paper are similar to parts from before.  Some things are left off.  Some things are added.  But they are all penned by the Master.  Everything on the previous resume had been handed over with the expectation that He would take the pre-existing list and use it.  Instead, He starts from scratch, only including the things He deems good and necessary to the list.  Under the place where it says qualifications, it just says Jesus, in big letters.

"Lord," I protest, "what are you doing?  Don't you want to use these gifts and talents to bring you glory?  These gifts that I have worked so hard on to perfect so that I might use them for you?"  

"I have used them.  These gifts, that I have given you as a loan, have glorified me.  Now I am willing that you glorify Me in other ways.  Ways that I will choose.  Ways that will bring maximum glory to Myself.  And it will be GOOD."  

I let Him write the list and watch with curiosity and a little fear.  I hope and pray that I won't have to experience this feeling of watching Him erase the resume again, but somehow, I know that this story will get repeated.  That the years spent in investing in any one vocation, pattern, or location will become an offering to Him.  My heart breathes a sigh of relief as I remember that He is a Faithful Father.  A slight bit of excitement begins to fill my heart as I recall the adventures He's led me on before - it hasn't been conventional, but its been pretty exciting!  I still don't quite know what He's up to, but He is a good writer.  He is good at a lot of things.  I slowly realize that the resume isn't even about me - while He works at it with utmost care, it is a means to a different end.  I feel very small.  I feel self-conscious that He is the one writing my resume.  The previous offerings of years and talent don't seem to matter as much now...God Himself is writing my resume.  I am awestruck that He would be willing to do so.  All I can manage is "Thank you."


"If you're still measuring out your offering, you haven't seen His worth yet."

Yielding

 Have you ever stopped to think about people in the Bible and the commands God gives them?  Put yourself in their shoes for a moment, and try to imagine what that must have been like?  Just some thoughts I've had recently...

For example, in Joshua 5 and 6 (not too long after Joshua has started leading the Israelites), Joshua is faced with a big problem.  That big problem is named the city of Jericho.  Joshua gets a chance to talk from the Lord and hear His plan, and it goes something like this:  Basically, Joshua, you are going to get your people to walk around the city once a day for 6 days.  Then on the seventh day, you'll walk around Jericho seven times, then the priests will blow the trumpet, the people will shout, and voila!  The walls will fall down.

Personally, if I were Joshua, my first response would be:  uh, are you sure about this plan?
(Or if it was God telling Gwen to do this, my response would probably be a lot more blunt.  Blunt as in directly telling God, "I'm pretty sure this is a terrible plan!")

Nevertheless, Joshua obeys, and we all know the end to this story:  the walls come down exactly as God said they would.  This story has a major lack of self-reliance and a giant dose of faith in God and in His word.  And not surprisingly, God gets the glory for the whole situation.

Example B of crazy things the Lord tells you:  Mary, in Luke 1.  As in Mary the mother of Jesus.  Imagine having a huge angel coming to you and saying "You are favored of the Lord!  Even though you're not married yet, you're going to get pregnant supernaturally and your child will be the Son of God."  Say what!?  "I was all ready to go and be happily married, with my Pinterest-perfect life all laid out in front of me...I think this kind of throws a wrench in my plans."  Oh wait.  Mary didn't say that.  (But I totally would.)  What she actually says is "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1: 38)  And again - there is obedience.  And there is blessing.  And the Lord is glorified.

  These are just the first stories that came to mind.  I could go on.

  Its been a very challenging thought to me lately.  I find myself looking at the Lord's plan, and in my human stupidity saying "Not gonna lie, I think this is a terrible plan.  I kind of hate it."  (Wow, how arrogant am I?  The clay is too stupid to have any say in the Potter's work, and yet she comments anyway.)  But time and time again I'll read or hear of a story of someone being obedient to a command of the Lord and yielding their rights and their way, and there is blessing.  And an amazing plan is worked out by the hand of the Lord, and He receives all the glory.

Yielding.  Denying self.  Surrender.  However you want to put it, it will sound great in your inspirational Christian book, and be ridiculously hard and painful in practice.  But so necessary for those who would follow Jesus.  Lord may I be quick to yield, and slow to give suggestions on the plans that You have in store.  Thank you that You are God and I am not.  Help me to not soon forget that fact...

Never Once

"Scars and struggle on the way, but with joy our hearts can say 'Never once, did we ever walk alone...'"

This last session of teaching has flown by... we are so close to the end! I am so incredibly thankful for schedules and routine that make time seem to pass more quickly.

Each session at CMA, we focus on a certain topic for our devotional time throughout the session. Our session theme this fall has been "My Strength and My Song." The idea is that as we learn to remember and recognize what God has done in our lives previously, we then let that remembrance and knowledge fuel how we serve Him now. Also, remembering and seeing what He has done in our lives should bring us to a place of sharing that story of His faithfulness.

Hmm, what a timely message for Gwen to hear!

Before the start of the session, I felt like the Lord wanted me to go back and read some of my old journals (especially ones from the past 3 years). I wasn't quite sure why, but as I started reading and remembering things forgotten, it was so encouraging to see where the Lord has brought me from, what He has brought through, and where He has brought me to now. It has forced me to admit that the Lord has been incredibly faithful in my life, at a time when I can sometimes want to sit in my pity party whining about how the Lord has done nothing for me. Its been a great reminder both of the Lord's great love, and also of my own (spiritual) short term memory loss.

In our devotional times in class, teachers have also been having students share testimonies of how they've seen God working in their own lives. What a blessing that has been! There is nothing like being able to hear your students share stories of how they have seen (and currently see) the Lord at work in their lives. (We'll also end up putting together a cardboard testimony video for the performance - I can't wait to see it! If you've never seen Cardboard Testimonies, check it out on Youtube. Really good stuff!)

The Lord is basically just too good to us...and He really knows how to drive a point home. Because sometimes the best way to learn (or remind yourself of) something yourself is to teach it to someone else.

Saturday thoughts

Its hard when you so desperately want to go, and then you're called to stay for a season :( And watch a lot of other people go as well....

*sigh*

OK, pity party over. Time to go preach myself some truth!