A Quest for More

I just completed Paul David Tripp's book A Quest for More. It was a book that challenged and convicted me. To be honest, parts of it were hard to get through because I knew that I was not living for the kingdom of God as Tripp describes. I would like to share with you a few highlights from the book.

The bottom line is, we were created to be part of something big. "There is woven inside each of us a desire for something more-a craving to be part of something bigger, greater, and more profound than our relatively meaningless day-by-day existence" (14).

We have a choice: to live for our little kingdoms or to live for a kingdom much bigger than we could imagine, God's. "Ever since that fateful day [the fall], human life and history has been shaped by kingdoms in conflict[. . .] Everything everyone ever does is done in pursuit of the success of one of these kingdoms. This war is unceasing and inescapable because it is fought on the turf of each of our hearts. Created for 'big kingdom' living, sin twists our allegiance and causes us to be all too dedicated to the little kingdom of our own making" (50).

So what is this "little kingdom?" It isn't a location, but a commitment of the heart. What drives your day? What satisfies you and gives you a sense of purpose? The answers to these questions will tell you what kingdom you are living for.

"The fundamental difference between the two kingdoms can be seen in who resides in the center [. . .] To live for yourself is to rob yourself of your own humanity. It is only in living for Christ that we actually begin to become what we were meant to be" (98, 100).

So, if we can identify these so-called "little kingdoms," why do we keep serving them? Sin. "The DNA of sin is selfishness. Sin is about wanting my way, in my own way, and in my time" (56)..."Sin causes fundamental changes in the 'molecules' of my heart. No longer is my heart driven by a deep-seated love for God...The DNA of sin is selfishness, and it shrinks the size of my universe to the size of one" (86).

It is also very easy to say were are living for the kingdom of God but our lives don't show it. Are you self-focused? Self-righteous? Self-satisfied? Self-ruled? If so, you are still living for the little kingdom. "There really is no place for Christ in many people's Christianity. Their faith is not actually in Christ; it is in Christianity and their own ability to live it out" (106).

Tripp's words are very convicting and it was easy for me to be bogged down with guilt of living for the little kingdom of self. However, Tripp constantly reminds us of the gospel. "His grace blows a hole in your self-contained kingdom, and in his redemptive love he reaches in and pulls you out, again and again" (68). Christ suffered on the cross to free us to live for something bigger than our lives. His death also guarantees that some day this kingdom conflict will be over.

What does big kingdom living look like? "...radical abandonment of our whole being in grateful trust and love to the God disclosed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ: so that we become willing agents in a costly confrontation with every form of evil and unjust suffering in the world. This faith involves us in embracing the pain and confusion of others, and in being willing to live with uncertainty ourselves while moving towards a future that is already at work among us" (76).

Tripp also talks about groaning, anger, and loneliness. If we are living for the kingdom of God, we will groan because we are dissatisfied with the way things are. The full expression of God's kingdom has not yet come. He talks about anger in that God is angry when He doesn't get His way. We should be angry for the same reasons; not because we didn't get our way, but because things are not going God's way. We are going to be lonely because our Redeemer is our love that we are waiting to return.

This book was a tough read but it definitely opened my eyes to how I am living my daily life. I often think I am living for God's kingdom but all I am thinking is "me, me, me." I think of the principles in Tripp's book almost daily, asking myself why today was a good day (because of the Lord or because of me?) and how I treat others (like Jesus would or out of my own selfishness?). I would recommend this book to anyone but be ready to be convicted. You will end up angry, lonely, and groaning. At least that's how I feel.

Please pray as I apply big-kingdom living to my college life.
In Christ,
Christine ><>

C.S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, "If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were those who thought most of the next [. . ]Aim at heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither."

Support-raising

Support-raising is really picking up! God is being so faithful! This week alone the Lord has blessed me with $525!
Please keep praying!

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evila spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,b drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

11“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Matthew 9:1-23 NIV

In Christ,
Christine

Make your own Countdown Clocks

350 Billion

350,000,000,000. That's at least how many galaxies we know about. Why did God create such a large number? Was it to make us say, "Wow, God is really big?" Or, as Francis Chan puts it, "God wanted us to see these pictures [of the universe] so that our response would be, 'Who do I think I am'?"

When I begin to dwell on the $6000 I am required to raise by May, my head head starts to spin. Doubt fills my brain and I let Satan begin to convince me I can't do it. 6000 is too big of a number.

But thankfully, the Holy Spirit steps in this spiritual battle. Who is to say that $6000 is a lot of money? You? Me? Yes, sure. But are we the ones raising the money? No! The Lord is, and nothing is too big for Him. Nothing. If He created the universe, all the billions of galaxies, the 228 distinct muscles on the caterpillar's head, over 3,000 species of trees in one square mile in the Amazon, and the human heart that generates enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout the body that it could squirt blood up to 30 feet, can't I believe that He can provide $6000 for me to share His Gospel in Thailand? 6000 seems kind of small now doesn't it?

What started this thought was the comment of a sixth grade boy in my class. We are starting a unit on space in science. We were having a discussion about what they already know about space. One boy said that we don't know how big it is. It hit me. I have been so stressed about raising support and allowing Satan to convince me that 6000 is too big of a number. But if God created this whole universe, can't He provide for me? What is $6000 to God?

Please continue to pray for me as I follow the Lord's will on this difficult journey. Prayers really do work. A woman approached me after church on Wednesday to give me money for CCP. She told me God told her to give it to me. The Lord provides!

In Christ,
Christine ><>

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Please understand that I don't choose the ads posted on my blog. My roommate saw a video about a Morman women. Please know that the ads do not reflect my beliefs or views.
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Ads

I have now included Google ads to make money on my blog. This money will go to my CCP support. I am also working on adding a PayPal button so you can electronically donate to my support.
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Support-Raising

As many of you may know, I am seeking God's will to go to the nations to spread the Gospel this summer. Campus Outreach is sending many teams this summer to work with the Campus Outreaches in other parts of the world. I was asked to join a team to Thailand for 8 weeks beginning in late May. We will be ministering on a college campus in Khon Kaen and working with the Campus Outreach that has been established there since 1990. Lately, I have been doubting God's will in me going. I have been discouraged about support-raising but I shouldn't be! It's too early in the game to doubt! Part of it is that I have $1500 due this Friday and I have less than 2% of that goal (which I am thankful I have that!). My roommates are doing really well with support which I am so happy for them but I look at myself and question why the support isn't coming in.

So naturally, I turn to God's Word in times like this.

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you...have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." -2 Chronicles 20:12,20
Support-raising terrifies me. Raising $1500 last year proved hard at times but $6000 this year?? It will take a lot of trusting in the Lord. I don't know how I am going to do it but God does. It is written in His sovereign will to spread the Gospel to the nations. I can do that in Thailand. I can't do it on my own! With God's help I can raise this money.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." -Psalm 127:1
I can't do this on my own! This is in the Lord's hands. It will be painful and discouraging if I try to do it without Him. And what do I have to lose? He is God of the universe! I can trust Him!

"Do not worry about your life...who of you by worrying can add a single hour to this life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" -Luke 12:22,25,26
Why worry about support? The lilies and the birds don't worry and God provides for them. I have to trust in the Lord that he will provide support. And I am more valuable to God than lilies and birds. I can trust the One who wrote the Book of Life to provide for me.

"You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2,3
Why would God give me support if I do not ask Him? I also need to ask with pure motives. I can't spend the money I am raising so the question is why do I want to go to Thailand? Is it for selfish reasons or is it for God?

If you are considering joining my financial support team, please consider it an opportunity to be involved in God's global mission. You can impact the nations for Him by sending me to serve. If you have not received a letter from me, please contact me and I will send you more information.

Please pray for me.

In Christ,
Christine ><>