Love

The New Year Got You Feeling Pruney?

/ Erin Kirk / 8 Comments
Photo 13

“Meh”

I haven’t posted in a few days because my mind has been a stinking, burbling cesspool of negative mental energy and I figured I’d just keep it to myself.

I think New Year’s Day can be harder than people admit. What if you don’t feel eager, motivated and confident about the future? Even my favorite bloggers are bubbling with enthusiasm for the goals they’ve set, the ten pounds they are sure to lose and the sheer excitement to see what Jesus will get up to in 2013.

Me? I’m just…Meh.

And I’m a Christian. I’m supposed to be full of joy regardless of circumstances.

Today, Pastor Dennis nailed what I already suspected was the problem: I’ve run out of gas. I’ve gotten out of my routine and haven’t spent my regular time meditating on the word of God. I’m like a plum that’s dropped to the ground, and absent my connection to the tree, I’m shriveling into prunedom.

Well now, isn’t that a lovely corner to paint yourself into? I got addicted to Jesus and now if I don’t get enough of him I’m a mopey, shriveled up mess. There is no Before Christ available to me anymore.

Making matters worse, I am reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a book about life in the Mumbai slums, which makes for feel guilty for whining because I have literally NOTHING to complain about.

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Thanks Dennis!

But from time to time when I can’t figure out how to act, I remember to look at the gospel and find out what Jesus did. It helps. Today, Pastor Dennis pointed us to Mark 1:35 wherein Jesus got up before the sun, alone, talked to God and waited for direction.

Can it be that simple?

Yes, it can. I know because for two years, I got up at 5:30 and spent two full hours reading the bible and praying before starting my day. That time was arguably the hardest period in my life, yet this practice held things together like a good pair of spanx.

It is no different now. It’s still about practice and without it I get sloppy. Like Dennis said this morning, God is just waiting for me to stop freaking out and lock eyes with Him, so He can remind me what joy is, and how to do it.

I know I can’t do this without God, yet, amazingly, I still try.

Sometimes the New Year isn’t about grand gestures and plans; sometimes it’s just about setting the alarm.

This Is What Love Looks Like.

/ Erin Kirk / Leave a comment

I can’t remember how I stumbled across my new favorite book, Love Does by Bob Goff.

Maybe I read Bob’s bio which said he is an attorney and honorary US consul to Uganda, who offices at a picnic table in Disneyland. When he’s not in Uganda representing imprisoned children caught in a legal vacuum, he invites people dying of cancer to his house in British Columbia, so they can make good memories in the time they have left.

Bob is a ripping good storyteller and every one of his capers originates in the whimsy and extravagant love of Jesus. He doesn’t quote a lot of scripture, he just lives it and tells us what happens.

Try not to chuckle about the trips he takes with his kids or how he snuck into the Library of Congress, at midnight; or how he sent flowers to the woman who totaled his jeep, just so she wouldn’t feel badly. He didn’t replace his Jeep either, he bought a long board instead. When he’s in LA, he skates to work at Disneyland and relies on the kindness of others to get him where he needs to go.

Who lives like that?

Jesus did.

Oh and in case you’d like to be friends with Bob, he included his cell phone number in the back of his now New York Times Bestseller. He says he answers it. So, I’m going to call him. I’ll let you know what happens.

Giving = Fruit

/ Erin Kirk / 1 Comment

Jesus said you will know my disciples by their fruit.*

King David said I’m a green olive tree planted in the house of the Lord.*

The Prophet Isaiah said believers were trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.*

Being a grower myself, I love the Bible’s agricultural metaphors. Not long after I started reading it, I drew this picture in my journal, just to fix the image in my mind. I want to be a fruit-bearing tree of righteousness and grow love, so that hungry people can come and eat.

Can it really be that simple? I think so; but I’m still a sapling. So here’s a piece of fruit from a more mature tree:

Susie Davis is a Christian author, blogger and church-planter from Austin who spoke at a conference I attended, last weekend. She told us she planned to give away something of hers – even expensive things she likes – to her blog readers, every day in October.

Photo Credit: Susie Davis

Yesterday, it was this Coach purse. Yeeeoowwwww!

She’s doing this in part because her pastor-author-husband just wrote a new book called Enough: Finding More by Living with Less, a book she said is sure to wreck her scented candle-filled life; but she’s also doing it because she wants to love people in a practical way.

Giving stuff away feels good and blessing people who would really enjoy a new Coach purse (Pick Me Susie! Pick Me!) feels good. So it’s a win-win.

I’ve already gathered some fruit from Susie Davis’ tree and it was tasty, that’s why I’m sharing it with you. Though I’m sure Susie is far from perfect, this kind of behavior – this kindness – is the mark of a follower.

When you bear much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of mine. Matthew 15:8

*Matthew 7:20 *Psalm 52:8 *Isaiah 61:3