Where's Your Pulse??

The other week, I spoke with our students in chapel about the heart and how to guard its health both physically and spiritually. We performed an activity where we tested both our resting heart rates and accelerated rates and talked about just what these results signified. Sometimes one just needs to get high school students jumping up and down in order for them to actually pay attention...I hoped and prayed that it worked.

And so I want to challenge myself and my readers to keep our fingers on this pulse, as I present to you these questions: What is it that really gets your blood pumping with excitement? What do you find yourself doing that brings you to a bubbling-over level of joy (and even a ridiculous smile and possibly uncontrollable laughter)? What truly brings you LIFE, and life to the FULL (John 10:10)? Do you know what it is? And most importantly, are you opening up your moments, your dreams and visions, and your soul to opportunities to experiencing this touch with divinity?

A couple of weeks ago, I was abundantly blessed to witness this life-giving breath pulsating from the compassionate eyes, loving smiles, and giving hands of small groups of our 11th graders who volunteered to participate in our Stephen Project service trips to three different locations within the city: the public hospital, a school for the blind, and a local nursing home. Venturing to these places filled with desperately hungry, beautiful hearts and observing the “chispas” (sparks) constantly lit in the every movement and impulse of our students filled my days with overflowing LIFE.

Each of our students' pulses pounded with love, power, and PURE JOY as they were finally given the opportunity to ACT out the life of faith about which they have learned so much in their years of attending a Christian school. Finally, the years of head knowledge, memorized scripture, and weekly chapel attendances were being lived out in action, in faith, and in empowered love and compassion.

And I witnessed miracle after miracle as each student conversed, gave, listened, and loved each and every person in their care for those brief moments during the school day. Our students were transformed, because they found the pulse of a true life of faith: service. It is in the giving that we receive: "It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive."--Acts 20:35 And boy, did we receive in abundance! Talk about a fire hydrant pressure of Holy Spirit presence! And yes, we danced in the spray and in the giant puddles.

So have you checked your pulse today? Have you found just what gives you true life? Step outside, venture into the unknown, and MOVE at the impulse of His ginormous love. And I promise you will be forever changed. I, for one, am beyond grateful for and so proud of how my students have changed ME. And I hope they know it, because they make me want to skip around my office in absurd joy and thanksgiving. Life lived with Him is just that GOOD.

Hungry for Words

My soul is hungry. And when people say that, they're usually talking about a need for more of the Lord, His presence, or His love. Well, I'm hungry for His knowledge. Like never before. And perhaps I should first clarify that my soul is also tired. Not tired from service unto Him, not tired because of this endless spiritual battle that rages all around us, but tired of...well..."Christian-ese" and "Christian-isms." I'm tired of feeling like I have to say all of the right Christian things that a good follower should... "Hey, God bless you!" "Don't worry, all in His timing!" "He works everything for the good!" "Yeah, I'll pray for you!" (or not)

I'm tired of filling in the gaps with my own strength, my own aimless beating into the air. And I'm hungry, even ravished, for the Spirit of God to move in my words. I want HIM to overflow from my heart and mind and into words of KNOWLEDGE for my students. I want to be slow to speak (and open to awkward silences) and quick to listen to the Spirit's voice. And then, by His marvelous grace, I will be able to experience the power that moves when His Spirit is given the freedom to fly and move about as the wind. And lives will be changed....because HE is changing them, not me. I'm just a stinky rag, anyway.

So this is my prayer request for all of you. And my prayer to the Lord echoes that of David: "May the words of my mouth....be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."--Psalm 19:14 Amen and Amen. "...to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit."--1 Corinthians 12:7-8