Remember Your Creator

*Below is a letter I crafted to give as a gift and encouragement to my 8th grade girls I disciple.

Dear Girls,
I have discovered that there is great value in choosing what is pure, beautiful, and good on this Earth. I can guarantee you that your greatest pleasure will be found where your heart intersects with God’s heart. I hope you search for music that reflects truth, always find honest friends, seek out art that speaks honestly about the human condition, and realize that there is only one absolute truth. The world will suggest something different, but as daughters of the King you get to represent a different standard. I can tell you that from my own experience, people will respect and honor your convictions as you begin to navigate through high school, college, and beyond. Life is a gift from your Heavenly Creator, and whatever you do in this life is a gift back to God. I am still learning the importance of yearning for the Kingdom, and my hope is that you too would partake in this exciting adventure.
For a real life application, I would like you to take a piece of paper (folding it hot-dog style) and on the left hand side write the words “Stirs my affection” and on the right hand side right the words “robs my affection.” Now, make a list of examples in each column that either stirs or "robs your affection" for Christ. You can even add hypothetical examples to your list. I believe by doing this you will have a greater understanding of how the Lord will be present or absent in situations in your life. Franz Kafka said that "a good story is an ax for the frozen sea inside us." I believe that this applies to the gospel, truly the greatest story ever written. As you grow to learn to fall in love with Jesus and His Word, may this quote serve as a reminder to the power of a story that explains our desires, hopes, fears, and pains.
As you enter into high school, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite authors, websites, musicians, and artists that are always trying to portray things that are true. They understand and appreciate that the kingdom of God is "now but not yet." Remember, if Christ is living inside you, the Holy Spirit will guide and direct you, as the Bible promises. With that in mind, here is a list of some fellow truth seekers who are trying to usher in God’s Kingdom. Will you join together in their work? I pray that you too would begin to love the things that God loves, and hate the things in this world that grieve our God. I found out about some of these people during high school and college, and these influences continue to shape how I view and value the world I live in.

Musicians:
Wild sweet orange, Mat Kearney, Taylor Sorenson, Shane & Shane, u2, Sufjan Stevens, Need to Breathe Authors:
Walker Pearcy, Richard Foster, Dorothy Sayers, Dallas Willard, Oswald Chambers, CS Lewis, NT Wright, and Francis Schaeffer Links: Toms shoes Worldvision Buckner Orphan Care International The Mocha club Human Rights Watch Habitat for Humanity Biblegateway Christiananswers.net

Lastly, I leave you with a special quote. It comes from an introduction to a wonderful book entitled, The Fabric of Faithfulness, written by my beloved teacher, mentor, and friend, Steve Garber. ENJOY!

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, when all possibilities lie open before you and you can offer all your strength intact for his service. The time to remember is not after you become senile and paralyzed! Then it is not too late for your salvation, but too late for you to serve as the presence of God in the midst of the world and the creation. You must take sides earlier – when you can actually make choices, when you have many paths opening at your feet, before the weight of necessity overwhelms you." – Jacques Ellul, Reason for Being: A Mediation on Ecclesiastes

I love each of you with all my heart, and I can not wait to see how God works in your life as you follow after Him on a daily basis in a rigid search of what is true, beautiful, and good.

Much love,
E*