Forgiveness

Something weird happened this week that lead me to the realization of how honest I am. I think this is a good thing, but this blog post is going to be full of honesty once again.

These assignments are hard for me. I sat down to look at the assignment and thought, "Oh crap! Where did that rock even go! And, why did I feel like THAT was the object I needed to take." With that said, I didn't put very much thought into this specific assignment in regards to feeling convicted on forgiveness towards another person. So, I reflected on my week and what God has been teaching me. There are a lot of things that could answer that question. I am loving the season that God has me in right now and the things I am learning.

Steve Fowler talked about friends this weekend at church, and that got me thinking. Over the summer, I was not a pleasant person to be around. I had an abnormal critical attitude, and it was reflected in everything I was apart of. Steve talked about gossip and what that does to our friends. I know I am very guilty of this. I gossip about everyone in some way. And I generally feel like it's my right, and I am justified in the things we are talking about. Yes, girls tend to be a lot more prone to this sort of conversation, but I don't like it.

Even without carrying a rock around all week, this has been a pain for me to have to carry around. I am constantly thinking about the words I say, and asking God for how to respond when someone wants to talk to me about other people. Did I improve? Not really. But I am thankful for this conviction, and more aware now than I was in class last week of an area of my life that I need forgiveness from God for, and have a few people I need to apologize to for the conversations I bring them into that are not encouraging or uplifting.

Incarnation

In the Theology class I am currently taking, we are learning about the incarnation of Jesus. So far, I have enjoyed the readings that we have done by A.W. Tozer and McClain. I think this is a theology I never thought twice about. Especially after establishing in Theology 1 that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all one and equal in their divinity. So, Philippians 2:5-11 says, "In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every knee should bow, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in hum the glory of God the Father."

The debate on whether or not Jesus humbled himself to the extent of giving up his divinity to become like us as humans. I like that the question arises to think critically, but I don't think it's necessary to spend to much time on because the rest of scriptures point to Jesus being fully God. And twice within this passage alone it confirms that Jesus was/is equal with God (v.6). With that being confirmed about God, and then following the instruction in verse 5 to have the same mindset as Christ within our relationships, then this example on humbling is to be applied.

When this assignment was first given, I was slightly uneasy about it. I did not want to do something "humbling" just for the sake of an assignment. I asked myself and God what I needed to be emptied of in my life, and nothing came to me right away. But as I reflected on my week and reread the assignment, I found moments where I set my time and money aside for someone that may not be as easy to interact with. For example, when I worked at the coffee shop, it was apart of my job to interact with those in the community that  stepped into our building. One guy who has a rough life with addictions, finances, and work would come in often and chat with me. I no longer work at the coffee shop, so it is no longer my "job" to interact with this particular person. I saw him as I was about to pull out of the Safeway parking lot. I was in a hurry, a little overwhelmed with financial stuff at that moment and didn't know how long saying hi would end up being with this guy. He didn't see me, so I could easily have left and not interacted with him.

It must have been the Holy Spirit at work in me in order to be emptied of myself in order to reveal more of Himself to someone in my world. I rolled down my window to say hi, and instantly I can tell this guy was not doing well. By turning off my car, I have him my full attention and found out he had just gotten out of the hospital, and was not doing well. Long story short, I could tell he needed a little bit of cash, and was having a really rough day. We chatted and I helped him out a bit. We talked about some mutual friends that are getting married and decided that I could give him a ride and attend the wedding with the group I am going with. It was a little thing, but initially I wanted to go on with my day and be focused on the stresses that I had myself. I hope God continues to show me how to help those around me, because when I think less of myself there is something that happens in me that I don't know how to explain, and would prefer that over my selfish ways.

I hope to continue to grow in my knowledge of the incarnation of the Holy Spirit. I pray God will continue to push me in ridding myself of the selfish things existing in me. I want to know Him more and worship Him with my life.

Theology 2!

Hey guys! This blog was recreated because I am horrible at computer things, and could NOT figure out how to post on the blog I've had for years! So here we go! I'm excited to read what you guys post on your blogs about school and the things God is teaching you through this RTI experience.