"God has called us to come alongside people."

*disclaimer: this post is incredibly long and consist of much unintelligible rambling.*

that's a quote from Rick McKinley in one of his sermons...it really struck me, because it's exactly what the Lord has laid on my heart this past year or so. i began to truly understand exactly what this meant on a couple of different occasions...

first: in my wonderful experience with my fellow team members on the Holland mission trip. together, we learned how when God calls us to love, He doesn't just mean an emotion. He means agape/hesed love...a love which is not felt, but rather acted out unconditionally on those who don't even "deserve" it. but how is this love acted out? well, that's the beautiful thing. the Christian life isn't just about being a "good kid," but rather, even moreso, it is about walking alongside people, sharing Christ with them. Christ walks alongside us...and we are to follow that example. of course, that doesn't mean that you participate in things you shouldn't be doing along with others...that would gain acceptance, perhaps, but acceptance isn't something we need. it means that you live life with people, WITH them,and don't turn away when they do something you don't approve of. rather, LOVE THEM IN ALL SITUATIONS. live out that love, don't just say it. THAT will make the difference. cause none of us is capable of always being a "good kid"...but to show grace both when you mess up and when others do...they will see who you really are in those times.
so who are we? what is our identity? as believers in Christ, we are children of God, accepted, adopted, beloved...i could go on and on. so....now it's time to live like we are who we say we are.
i'm still learning how to do that.

second: in many of my experiences in the music community here at Sam. one of the first times i was ever in the presence of Dr. Allen Hightower, he said something i'll never forget: "how wonderful, to give something to someone who is incapable of returning the favor." what a wonderful thought, indeed...to love someone, to show real, agape love for them...even when they are incapable of returning that love.
i must say i've learned how often i screw up when it comes to loving people fully. but identifying the problem is the step that comes right before fixing it-if i choose do to so. and i do.

third: on the occasions when i return home from school. i have realized more and more how awful a job i have always done of loving my family. but experiences like those listed above have helped me to notice that problem and learn how to change it.

somewhere in the gospels, it talks about Christ dining with sinners. people not accepted by society because of the way they live. when questioned about what He was doing, He said that it is the sick who need care, not those who are well. and He said to learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

basically...to attempt to wrap this rambling up...i have learned just how much love doesn't just mean love. it means walking alongside people. it means showing them who you are and genuinely wanting to know who they are. it means realizing that you are not "better" than them, but that you know a God who takes us all, broken and messy, and makes us into people we cannot become on our own.

i like that. i like that He loves us in our messiness. if it makes any sense...to me it makes my mess more beautiful to know that the mess isn't forever. and i'm loved right now, i don't have to wait until i'm all squeaky clean to be loved.

*good thing He understands my rambling...sometimes i'm not even sure i do!*
"the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." --somewhere in romans 8? :)