Demonstration

"I have given you an example."

(John 13:15)

(Katie) 

This morning, I read the following excerpt:

How will Jesus' Way ever be learned? It is well enough to tell people what we mean, but it is infinitely better to show them how to do it. People are looking for a demonstration, not an explanation (The Master Plan of Evangelism, p.80).

This past weekend, James and I were in San Antonio Texas celebrating my sister's wedding. 

The deep love between my sister and John was evident, but even more obvious was their mutual love of God. One of the many highlights of the weekend was a post- wedding conversation that James and I had with a longtime family friend of mine. My friend is a wonderful combination of intellect and heart. My friend went to a Catholic high school and  heard a lot of explanations about God.  While intellectually, he is still undecided in many ways, he expressed to us how strongly he feels God's presence in the love that exists within the Mooty family and between James and I, and my sister and John. He is drawn to this love and can't explain it. 


I don't share this story to brag on my marriage or my family. In fact, I was reminded of my friend's comment the other day in Pottery Barn. James and I were registering in one of my favorite stores, which should be really fun. I was exhausted. Impatient. Not loving. Not joyful. And, everyone in Potter Barn knew it. Yes, I am totally depraved and any ounce of love that I exude is completely God's grace.


My point is that my friend did not need more intellectual explanations of who God is; he needed a demonstration of God's love. 1 John 4:8 declares that "God is love!" When we encounter love, we know God. I'm reminded of an old song that I sang as a child in Sunday school..."and they'll know we are Christians by our love." Its a lot safer to write a blog about God (explanation), than to intentionally love the people around me (demonstration). There is absolutely a need for explanation. But our explanations cannot be void of demonstrating the truths that we profess with our mouths. 


How much of your life is spent being a living demonstration in your relationships, at home, at work, at school (etc)?

Worship in Whatever You Do

(Katie) 

You are not worshipping right in any place until you worship God right in every place. If you cannot worship God in the kitchen, then you cannot worship Him audibly in the church.

- A.W. Tozer

Worship is not a spotlight focusing on one area of your life, for example your posture before God on Sunday morning. Instead, I am learning that true worship should radiate throughout a person's entire life. 

Do I worship the Lord in the way that I love James?

Do I creatively approach graduate school as an invitation to worship God?

Is how I spend my time pleasing to God?

Does the way I spend my money bring glory to God?

My marriage must honor God. My time must honor God. My home must honor God. My relationships must honor God. My ministry must honor God. 

I desire to be a woman in which EVERYTHING in my life revolves around my personal worship of God. Worship isn't something that I do when its convenient, its a lifestyle. 

In Revelation 3, the Church of Laodicea is described as "neither hot or cold (v.16)." Rather than being lukewarm, God says that he would prefer the church to choose either one or the other. These words are very convicting. We can't worship lukewarm nor be warm in some areas of our lives and cold in others. We cannot continue to worship God at our convenience. Are you willing to pay the price to live a lifestyle of worship?

Cultivating a Quiet Heart

(Katie) This last month has been quite the whirlwind. I finished my first year of Graduate School, completing 3 final papers and 1 final project. 600 students checked out of our Residence Hall. I said goodbye to 12 RAs. Wrote 43 fines and 36 work requests. Reflected on the year with 6 GRAs and 3RDs. We hosted 7 members of James' wonderful family. Celebrated Brian's college graduation. Spent 5 days in San Antonio to celebrate the beautiful wedding of my middle sister Ali to John Boone. 


So much life has occurred in the last 3 weeks. There is much to celebrate and give God thanks for, yet I feel emotionally numb. Too many transitions in a short period of time. My heart cannot keep up. 


My theme for the Summer is to cultivate a quiet heart- a heart at rest, trusting in God. One of the perks of Residence Life is a month and a half of paid vacation in the Summer. My prayer is that this external rhythm of rest will become an internal reality. 


When I reflect on my heart's posture throughout the last 3 weeks, I am reminded of an image of Jesus, asleep during a raging storm. How could He? My heart's posture resonates much more with the disciples in this story who are terrified, fearful, and overwhelmed. Jesus slept in the calm assurance that His Father was in control. Even in the midst of good things, my heart can still doubt that God is actually in control of all the pieces. Does God actually care about what I need in these circumstances?


Cultivating a quiet heart begins with immersing ourselves in God's love. Jesus' unbroken intimacy with God's love enabled Him to keep a quiet heart. Jesus experienced the heart of the  Father. Jesus could be at rest because he knew from personal experience that God was attentive to his needs. 


Like the numbers in the first paragraph, so often I got focused on my circumstances. We are subjects to the vicissitudes and necessities of the world, causing us to become disquieted. The secret to a quiet heart is not a different set of circumstances. It is to focus on Christ in me amidst the circumstances of my life.


Lord, give me a quiet heart.

I'm Covered Well

(Katie) I woke up this morning to French Press and a note from my husband. After weeks of minimal sleep from finals and students moving out, I finally had a morning to sleep in. James, on the other hand, was up early...spending time with God...praying for me and into the dreams that God has given me. James diligently covers me with words of blessing and prayer.

"You shall decree a thing, and it shall be established for you." (Job 22:8)

I am grateful that my husband takes time daily to declare Truth over my life and pray into my dreams. Some of my dreams are that the Joy of the Lord will be my strength or that wisdom and wise counsel will rest upon me. When we declare things that are in line with God's Word, God promises to establish those things in us.

 Today, take time to boldly declare God's Word over your life. Write down the promises that God has given you and share them with your spouse, family, and friends so people can pray into them on your behalf!

Acts 2 Community

(Katie) I love the picture of community described in Acts 2: "They shared their possession with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people" (vs. 45-47). 

This week, James and I have learned to radically receive from Acts 2 Community. On Monday, I was frantically trying to finish two final papers and I hadn't taken a break to eat. My phone rang and it was Edible Arrangements saying that they had a fruit arrangement to deliver. Fruit is a love language of mine. In the midst of the stress of finals, my parents loved us in the form of fruit. Tuesday night, a friend initiated making us dinner- grilled chicken, sweet potato fries (another guilty pleasure of mine), broccoli, our favorite kinds of ice cream for dessert AND it was all Gluten Free, which requires a lot of extra creativity and intentionality. Wednesday night, James returned from small group with a beautiful new mirror for our bedroom (pictured above), the gift of a generous friend. We were in need of a new mirror, however, it was more of a want than a need. This mirror is exactly what I would have hand picked and our friend gave it to us for free!

After being the recipients of incredible generosity, James and I desire to be radical givers so that others can also experience great joy. The Acts 2 community is often exalted as ideal but is unfortunately framed as something of the past. That is a lie. Acts 2 community exists today. Radical giving requires radical trust. We choose to trust that God will provide for us as we lavishly give to others. I am grateful that God has surrounded us with a community of people who live this out!

Get Your ASK In GEAR

Celebrating the Masons (Andrea in the Middle)

Katie) Have you ever noticed how much pre-qualification we add to our prayers? God, we pray that you would just... sell our house, provide us with a new car, heal this broken relationship, enable me to get all A's on my final exams... if it is Your Will....

Sound Familiar?

Perhaps, we have forgotten who we are praying to. We are praying to God, who already knows that we are not worthy because He made provision for us through His Son. Therefore, we can stop adding excessive pre-qualifications to our prayers. Instead, ask God boldly! We can come before Him in prayer with confidence, trusting in His Character, standing in His Grace, and walking by Faith.

Study the prayers of Joshua. Nehemiah. Moses. Jesus. These prayers are direct. Bold. Audacious. They are completely unqualified on any basis other than the righteousness that comes from God.

This Sunday night, James and I got to celebrate with our dear friends, the Masons, who have spent a year praying boldly that God would bring them to Wheaton College. In the wake of facing mountains...the GRE...applying to an ambitious graduate school....a competitive interview pool and process...they did not waste time complaining about these mountains, they spoke with God to them. Their faith moved mountains. 

Christ is in you. God is for you. Stop prequalifying your prayers and begin believing for God’s best in your life.