Our Union with Christ

I love church.

I love gathering with fellow believers and worshipping God as a body. 

I just love it. 

I also love learning more about the Word... even though at times it brings rebuke. 

Today, we had a guest speaker at my grandparents church, since the pastor and his wife are out of town. His name is Robert Noufer and he used to be in the air force. His main passage was Col. 2:5-14:

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

___

If you know me, you know that verse 14 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. I love the image of our sins... All of them... being nailed to His cross. So powerful. 

Anyways, the preacher began with a story. In the military, the preacher once had to jump out of an airplane. He was strapped to an expert jumper, since he himself did not know the first thing about jumping out of planes. 

He applied that picture to us an Christ. If we try to jump alone, we will fail. We need to depend on Christ everyday as we jump out of our airplanes in life. Being an English nerd, this analogy was so powerful to me. Just like the pastor and the jumper, we are literally covered by Christ and His grace to land safely. His love and forgiveness is the only thing that separates us from eternal punishment. He has made us alive... since we were nothing but dead in our sins. 

I started to think about how I, more often than not, try to jump alone. I get my "Sunday pep talk" and then begin the next week trying to "fly solo." How silly is that? I think I can do it on my own...

No parachute. 

No qualifications.

No idea how to land. 

And then I fail. I fall flat on the ground and can't understand why. The short answer is because I failed to trust my Expert Jumper. 

The first three verses of the next chapter explain how to fix this issue:

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

If our focus is on Christ, everything else will fall into place. Out affection shouldn't be fixed on this wicked, temporal world... which will soon pass away, but on things above. That's what really matters. All my "plans" of life are useless if they are not centered around Christ. Everything else is nothing compared to the union I have with my Savior. 

This Shadow of This Death

In my Creative Writing class, I had to write a poem. It could be about anything and in any style. I decided to write about freshman year, and the feelings I felt after Micah passed away. For those who don't know, I lost two friends last year, one to an unexpected case of Leukemia, and the other in a car accident. This isn't the best poem ever, but I decided I would share it anyways. The style is free verse.

This Shadow of This Death

Six months past.

Wounds inside of

Anger, confusion, hurt, sadness

Begin to heal with fresh pink scars.

Coffee dates with friends.                                                                               

“He is bigger than

Anger, or confusion, or hurt, or sadness.

Bigger than my situation of life.”

The phone rings just like last time.

Lying in my bunk and feeling surprised,                                                        

The painful sting hits like a bullet.                                                                

Surprised by grief.

 “Have you heard about Micah? Dead.”
The words come in one swift motion.
“Micah?” The question runs through
My mind trying to understand the words.                                                    

The awful word that doesn’t seem to connect.

The meaning doesn’t seem to resonate.
“Are you sure?” The most desperate
Question that has ever been asked.                                                                 

Another night of tears,
Alone in the empty practice shacks.

Another feeling of anger, confusion, hurt, complete sadness

Another trip home to mourn

Where we must kneel before a box of emptiness
And write goodbyes in bright colored pens upon another casket.
“Give Meg a hug for me.”
“See you soon.”

“God is good."
Empty words written in pen upon this empty box
As tears come and heart aches.
“God is good?”

Feelings against the One able to stop it
The One able to hold back this valley of
Anger, confusion, hurt, and bitter sadness
Of the shadow of this death.

“Why?”
Wounds open, hearts bleed once more
Questions left unanswered
Accusations fly at the One responsible                                                          

“Wasn’t He able?
To heal the sickness?
To stop the car?
To mend this broken heart?"

Six months past.
Fade away into His light all the
Anger, confusion, hurt, beautiful sadness.
He is able over death.

©AndreaMansfield2013

Joy in Christ

Today at school, we had student body... The serious one. 

Every semester, we have at least one student body. One semester we have a funny one and then the other we have a serious one. Typically, students dread the serious one. I have been guilty of this as well.

But today was really encouraging. The passage was John 15. The speaker was talking about how Christ is the vine and we are the branches... How we've been "grafted into" Christ. How everything the branches (we) do is nothing without the vine (Christ).

John 15:4-5
⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

However, he changed the illustration a bit. He compared us to an iPod.

2nd generation to be exact.

Something a little more understandable for the modern audience. Christ, as his illustration panned out, is the charger. The iPod, without the charger, is nothing. Just a square of uselessness. Unless the battery is powered by the charger, the iPod is just something that takes up space. No matter how hard you try, the iPod will do nothing for you.

The illustration really made me think. How many times do I try to overcome temptation, or even the mundane hurtles of life, without Christ?

Oh yes, this is something we'd never admit in prayer meeting or small group. But isn't it true? How many days can I honestly say I've woken up totally dependent on Christ getting me through the day?

We have time to brew the coffee, make sure the outfit we picked out looks nice, and even make a point to meet friends for breakfast, but do we make time for Christ? Our true source of power? Coffee, as beautiful as the creation is, only gets you so far.

I was convicted as conviction comes.

The service also talked about Joy, true Joy. Something I've been meditating a lot on recently.

Joy doesn't come through circumstances, or people, or even that blessed cup of coffee.

Joy comes through Christ.

Even when the pain is too great and the loss we've experienced is so huge, we can have joy in Christ. He has given us so much and has poured grace on our lives in so many ways. He has experienced more pain and suffering than all of mankind, bearing the sins on that beautiful cross some 2,000 years ago today. He understands. He loves. He cares.

He gives Joy.

We sang the song, "Oh God, My Joy," and the lyrics were beautiful. Take some time to meditate on them... You will be encouraged.

"O God, My Joy"

O God, my joy, You reign above 
In radiant splendor and beauty.
Your Word has drawn my heart to love 
The awesome sight of Your glory!
Your blazing Light and gospel grace 
Shine brightly from my Savior’s face!
No other wonder would I see 
Than Christ enthroned in His glory!

Sustained by joy in trial and pain, 
I trust Your wisdom and mercy.
Through suff’ring that Your love ordains, 
More like Your Son You will make me.
For Christ embraced the cross of shame, 
Beholding glorious joys to come!
O give me faith like His to see 
That suff’ring lifts me to glory!

Compelled by joy, I fight the sin
That turns my gaze from Your glory.
Your Holy Spirit dwells within; 
His presence arms me for victory!
Let death and hell against me rise; 
Through death I’ll gain eternal joys!
All pow’rs of hell will bend the knee 
Before my great King of Glory!

What does your vapor count for?

I've been thinking a lot recently about the shortness of life.

No, I'm not morbid.

No, I'm not depressed.

No, I'm not a sad person.

I've just been thinking about it recently. Compared to eternity... Life is short. Like, shorter than Christmas break short... which is always wayyy too short...

Our window of existence on earth is so brief. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I'm in college already... I have spent my childhood days, my high school days, and my college days are almost halfway over too. Soon, I will be out of college, maybe married, and then the days only fall off the calendar more rapidly and the times flies faster than we can say, "Slow down."

Most times, as humans, I believe we forget how our days are indeed numbered. One day, whether we're ready or not, we will all pass away. The people we love will pass away and a new generation will follow. This mortal body will fail and I will enter eternity.

The reality cannot be ignored. But do we live out this reality? Do we live each day to the fullest, making sure to make time for what really counts?

I know I've been guilty of this. Focusing on the negative and hoping that, "Tomorrow will be better."

What if tomorrow doesn't come?

What if today is the last day I have?

God has blessed us so much. Shouldn't we rejoice in everything giving thanks as the Bible says to do?

The Bible compares our lives to a vapor... Here. Gone.

I know that when I die I will be with my Savior. That is the day I've waited for for my entire life.

But what about what I've left behind? What are people going to say about me at my funeral? How many lives will I have touched?

If I focus on the negative... the "bad days" of life... the impact will be little or nonexistent.

However, Christ has given us an example of what it means to live a life of great days. He was nailed to a cross over 2,000 years ago, but people are still talking about His life, His mission, His purpose... the only purpose of life.

That's what I want people to remember me for... I want people to remember that I lived out Christ's mission. His mission of the hope of salvation we have in Him. His gospel of love and forgiveness.

I want my vapor to count for more than a nice house, or car, or well groomed family... I want it to count for Christ... for eternity. I wan to impact people for Christ and share the love that He offers to everyone.

I want my vapor to count.

Amazing Love

Ever feel like you're a total failure.

I know I do.

Every time I feel like I've got it figured out, I'm reminded once again as my face hits the floor that I don't have it all together.

If I were being completely honest, which is my intention in this blog, I fail... a lot. I've been struggling a lot with having positive thoughts this year - loving people and focusing on "whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure..." I feel like I'm constantly repenting and committing to not let it happen again.

And then it does.

This past week, I've been really discouraged. I know what the right thing is, but sometimes that little wire that connects your head to your heart shorts out.

Today it dawned on me. This whole time I've been trying to handle everything on my own. I didn't really asked for Christ's help unless I was asking for His forgiveness. Which is the complete WRONG way to go about fighting the devil. We should be praying for His help in the midst of temptation...

Then I started struggling with guilt. We've all been there. I was reading in Romans 6-8, though, and my view on guilt changed. Yes, we need to be repentant of our sins. But it is wrong to feel like Christ can't forgive our sins.

There is nothing special about us. 

We are saved sinners.

He died on that awful cross for all our sins...

Past
Present
and

Future


Even Paul said, "14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from 

this body of death?"

This seems discouraging, but the last verse gives hope!                       

^"25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

Chapter 8 goes on...

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.^[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you^[b]free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,^[c]he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Let that verse sink in. No condemnation in Christ. 

He is able to forgive and doesn't want us to live as slaves to sin. He paid a price so great for us to become slaves to righteousness. He loves us. Amazing Love.

A Trickle from Life's Frozen Pipes

Monday mornings. Gotta love em.

After having a weekend of no classes for two days, sleeping in, and just relaxing...

Monday morning hits like a load of bricks rolling off a dump truck.

"What would make it better?" you may ask.

Well.... apparently my university thinks that having three dorms of girls completely void of water would make it better.

Happy Monday to Me.

My initial reaction, "AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR DATT!"

I was, ashamed to say, very upset. Thankfully, my friend Anna's dorm had water so I was able to get ready in her room...

As the day went on, the joke was passed around campus about the girls having no water. Some girls were laughing it off, while others were clearly upset. I fell more in the first category, even though a small part of me was upset too.

However, when it I got to chapel, my attitude on the situation began to change... a lot. Our president spoke from Psalm 103 and the theme of his message was, "Behold Your God." Most of the message was dealing with the awesomeness and powerfulness of our God, but my mind could not get away with verse 15-19.

As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children's children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

And while I admit, this passage does not specifically deal with our response to water shortages, I could not help but focus on the part, "for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more."

We are, as this passage says, like grass. Or in other passages, our lives are compared to vapors. One moment here, the next, gone. 

And then I began to think, in 10 years time will we really remember that, on Monday Febuary 18th 2013, we had frozen pipes and no water. Silly thought, I know. But seriously, how often do we complain about things that don't matter. Really... 1st world problems. 

I got to thinking about my extension on Friday nights. This past Friday, we had an open house night for the Bible club. Parents were supposed to come and see what the club is all about. This Bible club is in a rough part of town - most of the children come from broken homes and many of them are the only ones from their family attending church. I was, to be honest, not expecting any parents to show up. A few parents did, however, and overall it was a great experience. 

Although, one father came and was either drunk or high. The girls had practiced songs to sing for their parents and he was carrying on - disturbing the songs and activities. We were able to handle him fine, but his daughter was so embarrassed.  

Another girl's mom had promised to come but never showed up. When the bus dropped her off afterwards she told me, "Oh, my brother's car is blocking her in. That's why she couldn't come." My heart sunk and I assured her that she was right. 

This little girl below named Betsy made a Valentine. When her mom never showed up she wanted to give it to me. I told her that she could make another one for me later and that she should give this one to her mom.

After I thought about all this, the frozen pipes seemed so insignificant. How many times do we, as Christians, get upset about things that don't matter. Yeah, they might be frustrating but are they really gonna matter in eternity? Prob not.

Most of these kids will never have a Christian influence outside of Bible club. They come from homes that either don't care or don't know about Christ and His love. 

Walking to another dorm for a shower is really not that big a deal when you think about kids that don't even have water to drink, let alone shower in. 

We have been so blessed by God. He has given use loving homes and a hope to share with others... Don't let the frozen pipes of life freeze your heart. 

Coffee Dates, Mexican Food, and Shady Allies

Sooo... I know it's been a while since I've posted. You've probably made your own assumption that this blog, like a lot of things in my life, is just another thing that I won't keep up with...

However, this is not the case. To put it simply, I have been dying to post, but this week has been super busy with tests and papers. I told myself that once I get all my big things taken care of that I can post a blog update.

You may say, "Talking to yourself? Really?"

Yes. Really. It is a proven fact that if you talk to yourself, you are a genius. And while I wouldn't exactly use the word "genius" in my case, this statement makes me feel better about my weird conversations.

Now back to the blog...

Today is February 14th, or more commonly known as "Valentine's Day," and to the hopelessly depressed single individuals, "Singleness Awareness Day."

This year, I did not celebrate either of those days! I celebrated "Go Out With Your Girlfriends and Make Crazy Memories" Day! It was awesome to say the least.

The awesomeness began at 7am in the crazy morning when I deliriously decided to go to breakfast with my friends Anna and Abbie. It was a very silent, yummy breakfast, since no one should ever speak before 9am in the, yet again, crazy morning.

After my 8am class, my friend Becca and I had to observe at the Academy for a class (not before stopping to get a "buy one get one free" coffee at Cuppa Jones). Nothing says Happy "Go Out With Your Girlfriends and Make Crazy Memories" Day better than a hot Vanilla Latte! Becca is a great friend and I love her! Who ever thought a DP major and an Ed major would get along so well ;)

After yet another observation, classes, and a lovely nap, the real fun began :)

Instead of being like the typical single population of this campus and pouting about what sadness their lives posses, Kirsten, Kaitlin, Joy, Elle, Nicole, and I made a date of our own!

First stop was Papa's and Beer... Yes, I do realize this sounds sketch, but trust me, no alcohol or boys were involved. Just some really good food and friends! I mean good!

Reason #3423 not to date a boy on Valentine's Day: you can eat all the food you want and not feel guilty.

That's what I kept telling people all day:

"Guess what I got for Valentine's Day?

"What?" they'd ask.
...

"Fat. I got fat."

(insert uncontrollable laughing here)

After dinner we drove downtown (which is beautiful) and stopped at OCHA for some bubble tea. There, we encountered a sketchy hallway where they kept the bathrooms and a book about Mullets, which was rather fascinating. Nicole may or may not have chased me down the street, Kirsten may or may not have spewed bubble tea on everyone... And...Elle and I finally got over our problems initiating hugs!!

All around, it was a GREAT night! I love my friends and am so blessed that God put them in my life.

He's my true Valentine.

He has blessed me beyond measure and I owe him everything.

So, whether you celebrated "Valentine's Day" or not, I hope you too had a great day and told at least one person how much you love them! <3