As you might have noticed, I haven't posted a new blog entry in quite a few months, not since August! Life has just been rather hectic and crazy lately. I'm back at good ole NC State ...studying hard, making new friends, leading a Bible study of freshman girls, and above all, trying to live a life for Christ. These past couple of months, while challenging, have been such a blessing from God nonetheless. Less than a year ago I was debating whether or not being Bible study leader was what God was calling me to do. Now I praise God every day for introducing the 35 girls we have in our group to me and not only allowing me to teach them but learn from them as well. We've already had so many awesome memories and I truly can't wait for the many more great times to come as we all grow closer to God together!
One of the things that has been on my heart lately is the amount of time I am devoting to God on a daily basis. This thought came up in Bible study the other day after this quote was shared..."If you're too busy to spend time with God, then you're simply too busy." While studying, working on homework, and getting to know my girls is important, it's far more important to spend time in the Word and meditate on scripture daily. I find myself to always be going going going when really I need to slow down and reevaluate why I'm always going and is this 'going' stopping me from spending time with God.
As a Bible study leader, I believe it is rather crucial to get on a deeper level with those you lead, love on them, and show them how much you care about their lives. I heard this analogy the other day, which really opened my eyes to how we should be living our lives as Christians when it comes to pouring into others.
The analogy went something like this: We are like teacups. When we pour into other people, we think we use the tea that is already in our cup. But that causes the tea to run out or get really low. How do we try to get more tea in our cup? The truth is, Jesus is our tea and there is no way we can fill our own cup. As he pours his love, wisdom, grace, and overall presence into our lives, our cup begins to fill to the point where it even overflows. The overflowing tea is what is used to fill the cups of others while pouring the truth of Jesus Christ into their lives.
These thoughts have been a good reminder that while pouring into others is good, it's also good to be poured into as well. That occurs through things like spending time in the Word daily and being discipled or mentored by an older, strong Christian male or female. It's not a bad thing to be busy, but when you get to the point were your busy-ness is too overwhelming and is interrupting time with God, it's time to take a step back and evaluate your priorities.
A great example of this in Scripture is found at the home of Martha and Mary when Jesus came to visit in Luke 10 verses 38-42.
(38) As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. (39) She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. (40) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (41) "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, (42) but few things are needed -- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her."
I can definitely relate to Martha in this instance in that, just like her, I busy myself with what is good but don't focus on the bigger, more crucial picture sometimes. My challenge these next couple of months, through the rest of the school year, and throughout my life, is to live a life like Mary. No matter what is going on around me, devote time to Jesus Christ and give him all the attention he deserves. Through this, in the end, I want to be able to look back and see my tea cup overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ. The only way to do this, keep Jesus Christ as my focus, my drive, my all in all.
~Kel
