The Daily Grind

As a college student, the years we devote to our education seem to follow a certain pattern. The fall semester rolls around and anticipation fills the air, students excited to get back to their respective college to see friends and share stories of their three months away. The first few weeks are complete with new classes, coupled with a fresh perspctive brought on by whatever your summer may have held. Not too many tests, football and a whole lot of energy. Then, after a few weeks, the rush of new beginnings seems to fade, and we find ourselves chipping away at our daily schedules with a sense of purpose and importance. We settle in to our routines, and begin to crank out classes, organizational involvement, and late night study sessions for tests like seasoned pros. We put our heads down and just move at an insane pace most of the time, looking to each weekend for relief from the onset of chaos. So it's official, we are in the grind. It is here that time seems to simply disappear. As we fix our sights on our goals and responsibilities, the weeks just vanish. It is almost November, and as I sit here under a beautiful October night, the weather is beginning to show signs of fall, and life is seems to be so fast and furious, yet so fragile in this moment.

If you are like me, it is easy to simply think about what is required to jump over the bar. What must I do in order to succeed in my endeavors? Yet as I enjoy the first opportunity to post on this in some time now, I am forced to look beyond what is required to fulfill my goals, and I am confronted with reality. Tears are drawn to my eyes because so often I forget that the days I have are only what has been given, and the time I spend here is both precious and gracious. Sure, there is purpose in our days. There is productivity and accomplishment. Be it acing a test, exercising, or brightening someone's day, we all fill our days with stuff. But how often do we echo the sentiments of King David in Psalm 3 when he said "I laid down to sleep, and I awoke again, for the Lord sustained me"? As he was being pursued by his enemies, David understood that the sun rising on a his still living body should only be credited to the One who fine tuned this place. Overcome with gratefulness, joy, and grace it is realities such as this that cause the mighty king to break out in dance, invite the cripple to eat at his side, and compose some of the most intimate, and moving poetry ever-recorded. Yet so often we trade this beautiful truth in for a cheap to do list, limit the thoughts of our God to time built into our schedules, and we set our minds and energy in pursuing the many banners of this world. The greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind." Yet too often my life looks as though I exchange 'the Lord you God' with 'anything and everything that makes me successful'

As we grind, life accelerates, and if we aren't careful, the beauty of our Savior and the blessing of simply existing in His presence may be replaced with christian performance. We have our quiet times and serve others as if we are meetings a quota. Christ then simply becomes part of the picture instead of the entire painting. Our God conquered death so that He may have dominion over our time, our lives, and our goals, yet we try and reduce Him out of the equation by controlling Him via numerous activities and schedules. He cannot be contained nor controlled, yet fear grips us to pursue aspirations at a break-necking pace in hopes that our Mighty God does not call us to abandon all we know and seek His face in a distant place or position. Yet as I look throughout history and the bible, no believer of any memorable impact bound himself to the confines of 'the daily grind.' Existing rather than living. My hope and prayer is that I will leave it to god to guide and direct my steps, not my iCalendar. May we free ourselves from the chains of busyness, in order to free our minds and hearts to seek the heart of God. I went to sleep and awoke again...

I'm exhausted... Good.

You go on a mission trip for two weeks to a foreign country. Or perhaps you go work at a summer camp all summer (which is exactly what I'm doing). It could be serving in a church. Whatever the vice may be, most of us have experienced scenarios in our lives where we go and completely devote ourselves to the work of the Lord. for the time you are serving the Lord in that way, from sun up to sun down, you are fully devoted for the gospel work. You spend hours in prayer and searching the scriptures daily, countless conversations about the Lord, and you count it some of the most spiritually rich time of your life. You are so filled up, and then you go back to your home and resume business as usual. Days full of school, homework, activities, movies, and hang out time. We slowly settle back in to our daily lives, and the reality of what Jesus's showed us begins to fade farther and farther from our minds. We settle back in to the average, american, self-serving lifestyle with just a hint of Christian mixed in there. Especially at Texas A&M there is a tendency to live a very selfish Christian life. Complete with several Christian organizations, church and breakaway services, and a few intentional conversations. Consumerism Christianity at its best, if we allow it. We say things like "Back at camp I was growing so much." Or "During our tirp I expereinced Jesus." So what is the disconnect? Why can't that be the case 365 days a year?

I believe we absolutely can, or dare I say we should have that type of growth and experience all year. The common denominator between all those trips or jobs where we experience Jesus is the fact that we are totally and unterrly consumed with the gospel work. We exhaust ourselves for the work of Jesus. I was running the trails here in Lampe, Missouri with a kamper when he began to share an incredible truth. As we ran togethr he told me how he thought the best way to battle sin is to serve others. I've never thought about this before but as we continued down the trails I acted like that was such a great realization for him to come to, having no clue that he just rocked my world. Over the next few weeks I began to brainstorm of how I could take this fruitful growth that I've experienced here back to College Station. My conclusion: Find ways to exhaust myself for the gospel. daily. Which is not a mind- blowning realization by any means, but in the midst of college my faith has been so selfish in so many areas. The problem I've realized is that I had slapped a hint of ownership on the time, friendships, ministries, talents, and gifts I was given. We get so caught up in pursuing our goals, school, friendships, that we forget our purpose. To impact those around us for the gospel. The environment I have experienced over these few months has been nothing short of incredible. Yet I firmly believe that it shouldn't just end once we pack up and go back home. But rather, as we pack our bags we strap on the mindset that we will literally "beat our bodies" for the sake of Christ. How many of us truly have that mindset in our everday lives? Attacking for the kingdom like a mighty warrior of the Living God? Fighting for souls, devoted in prayer, hiding His word in our hearts. Instead, we have reduced this type of life to which we are called to fond memories and wishful thinking. When in reality, if we have Christ in our hearts, we should wage war daily. From the moment our feet hit the ground, to the second our heads hits the pillow, we strive with a purpose. Yet so few of us take up our crosses daily to follow Christ, instead we wait until we cross a border or sign a contract to work at a camp. We live so comfortably it almost sickens me. Because when I look at scripture, comfort in the physical sense was nowhere to be found, but suffering and discomfort marked the life of a believer. It's time we lay aside the incumbrence of comfort and follow after Jesus with selfless ababandomment. In and out of our everday lives. Strategically attacking each day to make known the gospel.

It must have slipped my mind.

I am so forgetful. Now, if you're reading this, chances are, so are you. This can range from the most simple, daily tasks like eating a meal to a more serious violation like missing class. I cannot even count how many times I have simply forgotten to turn in an assignment, wish someone a happy birthday, or fulfill any other kind of task that someone asks of me. I have seen forgetfulness, coupled with an unfocused mind lead me astray in the midst of daily prayer and quiet times. It's remarkable that I can literally forget the very thing that was on my mind one second before when I am intentionally seeking a Holy God. Unfortunately, forgetfulness holds much more serious implications then we often realize. As I flip through the pages of the Old Testament, I see a people who continually forget who it is they have as an Advocate, who they are, and where they have been. Over and over again God rescues His people from a mistake they made just several generations before. The same people who sing praises and give thanks for their daily mana in the desert, are the same people who erect a golden calf when their stuttering, staff-carrying leader seemingly leaves for a short time. We see a people who jubilantly praise God as their enduring and mighty King, and a people who cry out in anger for a human king to lead them. All the while we almost laugh at the Israelites expense. Armed with our coffee cups and study bibles, laughing at these foolish people for leaving their God time and time again. Often times we fail to see the stark connection between God's chosen nation, and ourselves. In some form or fashion, we stray from our almighty God on a daily basis. I don't have to think very hard to remember times that I have committed unspeakable sin shortly after a great quiet time, moving sermon, or gripping bible study. I almost always then seek to blame God for the tragedy in my life and ask Him why this is happening. A mirror reflection of the Israelites. All the while my God is leading back to the cross to remind me of His grace, because I am so forgetful.

We examine God's faithfulness time and time again in scripture, but the moment a trial comes our way, we lose our minds and have the arrogance to think that we are the exception to the rule. As if God will not deliver you through something or work out a tragedy for good because 'we can't see how God can use this'. If the one that we place our trust in can conquer the grave for our sake, what makes us think He can't conquer our brokenness? I am not merely a Christian who uses the stories of the Old Testament to learn a lesson, but to connect with a people who suffer from the same disease I am plagued with. My very character fequently pulls me away from the God I love and trust to meander in the pool of worry and doubt. My God has never failed since before the creations of the fondations of the earth, why do I think He will not be sufficient for my portion now? If I truly embraced the realities in scripture, then there would be no desire to reach back into the patterns of sin and death. I am so forgetful. I have never sought God and returned with thirst or hunger, always He satisfies me, forever He keeps me. My prayer is that we would constantly remind ourselves of God's goodness and faithfulness, because if it is not with a constant abiding in His Spirit, our hearts will turn from face of our Savior. "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it."