Holy Counterculture

"Let's be a holy counterculture."

-Shane Claiborne

A counterculture is a cultural group that runs counter to those in the social mainstream. To those in the world. But living as a holy counterculture is a choice we have to make.

Being a part of a counterculture isn't an easy thing. We get ridiculed, questioned, and looked down upon. Our plans are seen as impractical. Because our plans are formed by a God who isn't limited by human practicality. We get to be divine troublemakers, just like Jesus. We fight for the poor, the hungry, the sick. We become a part of God's redemptive plan for the world. We do things because it's what we were made for. We find our identity in our Father. We remember who we are. We realize that our view of God is one of the most important things about us. So we search after that. We seek Christ with all we are. We are empowered to live a holy life because of God's grace. We live by the spirit by understanding who we are. By learning how God views us. We have discipline in the ordinary, day-to-day life so that we can have courage in the extraordinary days. We seek out God's dream for our lives. We ask God what He wants us to do, then we join Him on His mission.

Living as a holy counterculture is not normal. It's not our flesh's first desire. It's not easy when others aren't doing the same. But that's why it's a counterculture. That's what Jesus has called us to. It's a lot of obedience, but also a lot of intimacy. Intimacy with our Savior, our Creator. And when I remember that the God of Ages delights in me, oh it just becomes so much clearer. It becomes a relationship, a precious calling, rather than a bunch of rules. It becomes a privilege, not an obligation. It becomes my desire.

Let's be a holy counterculture.

[These are just some of the ideas I took away from Desperation Conference]

5 Things Friday- Things that are on the Horizon

Things that are on the Horizon

1. DESPERATION CONFERENCE! (June 20-25)

2. Going to the cities to see my cousin play basketball (THIS weekend!)

3. VYC Summer Series Kickoff (July 10)

4. My future roomie getting back to the US (July 16)

5. Block Family Reunion (August)

Heather Who? Part II

So I wrote a post awhile back about old Heather and new Heather. And it seems that this needs to be re-visited.

Because apparently new Heather comes out to play only when she feels comfortable to do so. In big groups, old Heather stifles new Heather. She doesn't let her talk. She gives into torment. She believes that she doesn't have anything to offer. I've realized that nearing the end of this last semester, old Heather was doing this more and more frequently. Overpowering new Heather. Sure, new Heather would come out at Valleybrook, VYC, and Navs, but she was letting old Heather get the best of her when it came time for school, work, or RAing. I didn't realize until a conversation I had yesterday that because of the way I was living out those areas of my life, I was really letting old Heather live them out.

I would see the mandatory, more mundane activities of life and label them as less important than the things that I am passionate about. But really, God wants my best in everything, He wants new Heather, real Heather, Heather He created me to be, to flourish in every aspect of my life, not just the things I'm passionate about. He wants me to be who I was created to be at school, work, and as an RA. He wants the same passion and drive that I put into my "more important" activities to be the same for those activities that I deem less important. Because the truth of the situation is that He has put me here. He has put me in school, as an RA, and at work to be who He created me to be to all the people I come in contact with.

God wants me to be someone very specific. And I know some of that picture. Not the whole thing. He is always revealing more of who he wants me to be. And my part in this is just to obey. To say "yes" to Jesus when he gives the simple call- "Follow me."

Are there areas of your life that you deem less important, and thus aren't living out who you are meant to be?

Passion

...or at the very least, boring.

5 Things Friday- Repurposing for jewelry organization

Repurposing for jewelry organization

1.Use an old rake to hang necklaces



2. Organize small pieces of jewelry in an ice cube tray



3. Use a pegboard and hooks to hang jewelry



4.Hang earrings from an old painted cheese grater



5. Place antique bowls and teacups in a drawer as a replacement for more boring drawer dividers

Soulcare

So I don't know about you, but I'm weird. I have a different way of relating, a different way of learning, growing, and seeking than anyone else I know. Which is really exciting. Because it means I get to relate to, learn from, grow with, and seek God in a way that is entirely my own. I get to experiment with how I connect with God. How I hear from Him. How I respond in worship to Him.

It means I don't have to stick to a strict formula. I don't have to do x, y, and z for so many a minutes a day in order to grow closer to my God. I get to do what works for me, what draws me close to Him, what feeds my soul. I get to try on new and different approaches to relating to God, because honestly I have been following a formula for far to long. It means I get to make mistakes in the whole process, changing and adapting as I find the things that work for me. I get to let go of all my expectations that I have for my relationship with God and just explore.

Seeking

Seeking God is hard. I'm not very good at it, especially for specific things. My mind is wild. All the time. There's like a hundred and ten things going on in there at once. My attention span is the same length as a 5-year-old boy's in a Catholic mass. My ability to sit still is even worse. So when it comes to being still and knowing God is God, there are some issues. I like to fill the silence. I like to blabber. I like to repeat myself, if it means that I won't have to do nothing. These lyrics sum it up pretty good:

I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time

-Addison Road, What do I Know of Holy?

 I think it might be time for a little vacation with God. Or at least some extended time to be still and rest and seek Him. At least enough time to stop talking. Stop planning. Stop being overwhelmed by the one hundred and ten things going on in my brain.

 

Joy

What brings you joy in life? Are you doing it?

5 Things Friday- Books I want to read this summer

Books I want to read this summer

1. The Me I want to Be by John Ortberg (working on it now- SO GREAT!)

2. The Shack by William P. Young (re-read)

3. Sacred Singleness by Leslie Ludy

4. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

5. Radical by David Platt (need to finish this one)