Defining Moments Pt. 2

From the time I was in 3rd grade and onward, every summer was an exciting one. The first week in June was always 'Freed Camp', and starting when I was in high school, mid-July meant a week tent camping in North Carolina. The first time I went on the NC camping trip, boy was I in for a surprise! Firstly, I didn't like anything that we had to eat. Chili - no. Fettucini alfredo - no. Sub sandwiches - no. I thought that I was going to be miserable the entire time! Secondly, there were no showers in the outhouse. Thankfully Mr. Tim rigged up a MacGyver-like shower that would do for a week, but for someone who'd never 'roughed' it, like I said, I was in for so many surprises.

That week taught me a lot of things-- and more than to like fettucini alfredo (and that Tuna Helper tastes better than Chicken Helper in that respect) and sub sandwiches. Since the title of this post is 'defining moments', obviously there is one instance that has stuck with me ever since.

Mr. Tim was all about teaching us life lessons. Everyone there was required to participate in devotionals, help fix dinner, and even clean up afterwards. Every single person had to pull their weight on a trip like this if it was going to work. On one such occasion, I was helping Mr. Tim with KP (kitchen patrol). Mr. Tim, Jessie (my bff growing up) and I were talking and laughing and throwing soap suds at each other and having an all-around good time. And then, I said it. I said a phrase that I had said so many times before: oh my goodness.

The moment could have passed. Mr. Tim could have turned a deaf ear toward the innocent, childish phrase. But he didn't. In that moment, he went from joking and playing around, to serious. It wasn't an 'in your face' kind of serious, but instead he stopped and he asked me what that meant.

What do you mean what does that mean?! I'd never thought about it --and who hadn't heard that phrase to know what it means! And yet, Mr. Tim probed some more. He asked me if I thought it was disrespectful. Again, I'd never thought about it; after all, I was a young, immature high schooler who frequently said before she thought. The discussion continued and I came away from that situation thinking three things:

1: You need to think before you say things.

2: You don't need to take the Lord's name in vain.

3: You can take the Lord's name in vain without even saying His name.

How many times had I said the phrase? Countless times, I'm sure. How many times had I intentionally been meaning to say, "Oh my God"? Probably zero. How terrible did I think it was to say, "Oh my God"? Pretttty terrible. And yet, I'd been using a euphemism for His name multiple times throughout the day. What was worse is that I never thought about it: I never thought about God one single time when I uttered the phrase. After all, I wasn't saying Oh My God or even lessening it with Oh my Gosh. I was saying goodness! That was different, right?

It was in that moment that I decided that I needed to hold myself to a higher standard. If I was going to be pleasing to God, I needed to respect Him. I needed to show Him that I awed Him and revered Him, and that I didn't think His name was something flippant that I could use as an exclamatory thought, especially in light of Jesus saying we would be judged by our idle (fruitless) words (Matt. 12:36).

On that very day, I got a rubber band and placed it around my wrist, then popped myself every time I said it. After a few days, my arm was SORE! I couldn't believe how many times I thoughtlessly used God's name (or a euphemism) in conversation! And yet, after about a month, the phrase was completely removed from my vocabulary.

But obviously it still had lasting effects. To this day, I cannot hear the "Oh My God" phrase without shuddering. I am constantly aware of it, even when people try to substitute God's name with euphemisms/synonyms like "gosh", "goodness" or, "word". And every time I hear the phrase? I think about Mr. Tim. I think about him looking at me and asking me if I respected God. I think about him being saddened that I, a Christian, would use such a word/phrase so flippantly. And while I know that what people think doesn't matter, it was apparent to me on that day that he was just the human representation of what God must have been thinking every time I said it.

I am so thankful to have had Mr. Tim in my life. I could probably write a novel over all of the things that he taught me, and yet I cannot think of an instance that has affected me more than this one.

Today, think about the words that you say. Think about the ways that you proclaim who you are. Are your words confirming your Christianity, or causing others to question it? We will be judged by our words, so let's all use them wisely and respectfully.

Defining Moments: Part One

We all have those moments in life: moments that turned everything upside down and around and changed everything about who you were.

One such moment happened to me in 2007. I remember the time very, very vividly, as it was a highly emotional time. My grandfather has just passed away, my boyfriend had broken up with me at the beginning of a three hour car ride back to school, and I was working 20+ hours a week on a Makin Music show for Freed-Hardeman. Translation: Life. Was. Crazy.

I hit a really low point in all of this. My priorities shifted, my attitude changed, and my faith weakened. I was relying on self, consumed with self, and shutting out those around me. And then, God did something beautiful in my life.

Providence is something that is very hard for me to put my finger on, but looking back, it is easy to see God's handiwork in your life. For me, looking back at the end of 2007, I see God's fingerprints everywhere.

During the fall semester in 2007, Robert and I started becoming much better friends in a common journalism/media class we had together. He consoled me when said boyfriend broke up with me. He talked me down from quite a few Makin Music ledges. He really and truly became my best friend.

Over the Christmas break in 2007, my life completely changed. I had someone who was truly concerned for me, and interested in helping me to get my spiritual life back on track. I had someone who valued me and told me that I should value myself. I had someone who constantly lifted me up and helped me gain a stronger, truer relationship with my heavenly Father.

When I got back to school in January of 2008, my life was forever changed. In those coming weeks I would officially start dating this boy who'd been there all along, I would lead my first devotional in Hall-Roland, and I would vow to be better for God in front of hundreds at the Henderson church of Christ.

I didn't know what all God had in store for me in the early parts of 2008. I was broken and weak and frail. I was hurting, but He was healing, and soon I would be back on my feet--His strength making me stronger than ever. It was, absolutely, a defining and life-altering moment for me.

So what's the point?

The point is, God's grace offers all of us new beginnings...and what better time to decide to be a new, better you than right now--in these early weeks of 2013! Perhaps you feel broken and at rock bottom: that's ok! God heals (Psalm 51:10,12). Maybe you feel beaten down and unworthy: that's ok! God sent His only Son to save all sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). No matter what you have gotten yourself into in life, there is a way of escape from those sinful chains, and that way is Jesus Christ! If you want your life to be better, all you have to do is follow Jesus' plan for you! Living the Christian life is truly the best, most wonderful life there is! Following after the perfect and sinless Messiah makes for the most joyful life of all! And having the assurance of heaven? There is absolutely nothing better.

Whatever it is that's holding you back/down/under -- give your burdens to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Lay on Him every weight that easily entangles you. Put your burdens at the feet of His cross, and He will give you life everlasting. Make today a defining moment in your life: change who & how you are and who you live for.