Our Human Desires.

This morning I began reading a book by Jerry Bridges called Respectable Sins. My parents read it in the fall and spoke highly of it, inspiring me to read it.  Though they also said it was ridiculously challenging as it calls its readers to confront the sins we frequently tolerate in Christian circles. The portion of the first chapter reminded me of a conversation I had with someone recently about our human desires being significantly different than what God calls us to live out daily. Bridges points to Galatians 5:17 as scripture that describes the guerrilla warfare between the flesh and the spirit – a fight that we have to face in our hearts every single day. I like that entire section of Galatians 5:16-26.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Sprit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

In this scripture, Paul essentially defines the works of the flesh (v. 19-21) and the works of the spirit (v. 22-23). I wonder if this is where we are to begin discerning our different desires. Understanding the identified works of the flesh – granted there are a million other ones that aren’t mentioned – and recognizing how these desires and actions have become a part of our daily lives. Upon knowing these temptations, consciously choosing to live out those mentioned in verses 22 and 23 – the fruit of the spirit. I don’t think it’s something that we can change overnight… I actually don’t think we will ever fully be disengaged from the sins of the flesh. But I do believe that we can work hard at knowing our motivations and the sins of our flesh – and choose to live out the fruit of the spirit. Paul writes in verse 25: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Sprit.”  I think Paul is saying that if we’re living by the spirit in our hearts, it will be reflected in how we walk – in the daily choices we make.

So what does it take to make these changes in our lives? Accountability with others. Honesty with ourselves. A desire to change – not just for ourselves, but for the Lord.  I believe this type of change is an outpouring of the love we have for God. If we simply have a list of things we have to do and we check them off, there is no depth of meaning there and we will likely resort to living for ourselves once again… and the list will be set aside. The motivation isn’t quite right.  But perhaps it is a starting point for some.  As they seek to understand God’s love more, that motivation to do the right thing might change from a check-list of actions to a deep desire to serve and honor the Lord because of a newfound understanding of what He’s done in our own lives. Maybe these can happen simultaneously. I don’t know. But I do know that sometimes we have to address our actions while at the same time intentionally seeking to change our hearts.

Final Spring.

It is strange to believe that my time as a Residence Director at Geneva is coming to a close.  Nearly three years have passed since God opened up the door for me here and I have not regreted walking through that door once.  The emotions I have felt the past week as we prepare for students to return for classes on Monday have been surreal.  Its strange to mourn what was and anticipate what is to come, all while being fully present with my current staff.  I don’t think I’ve figured out how to do this exceptionally well yet, but I’m certainly trying. 

Tonight, I experienced a third year of our Winter Training Bowling Competition with my RAs.  This year my staff dressed up in 80s gear & laughed like school kids as we cheered one another on with each strike.  Within a short five months, we have experienced so much together as we’ve united over our service to the students residing in our building.  I delight in their easy smiles and joyful hearts. I truly have been blessed to experience the unique RD life of living with the students I serve.  I will likely never experience work like this again outside of this position – and that will bring much sadness.  I will miss this. 

These are my vows for my final spring - To be faithful to this season of my life.  To finish the work God has called me to at Geneva with excitement.  To find joy in both the difficult and the beautiful moments.  To soak up every experience that comes my way.  And to truly live each day as if it is my last.   

The Coulter Christmas Letter

 

Another year has come and gone filled with wonderful memories.  Several years have passed since our last Christmas card and many new experiences have filled our lives, so it is time to fill you in!

T	hankful for the opportunity to serve in India as a family this past summer for several weeks, our family’s passion for missions grew in new and profound ways. The prayers and support blessed our time with the Indian people and we are forever grateful.
H	appiness fills our souls with the new addition to our family. Mocha Rae Coulter is a beautiful, energetic and cuddly 5-month-old Jack Russell Terrier – Maren’s new baby girl!
E	vidence of our individual gifts were apparent while serving in India together. Brad’s ability to use humor, that crosses all language barriers, brought joy and laughter to both the Indian people and the team. Maren’s heart for engaging the Indian kids in activities was apparent as she led kids and teachers in songs, crafts, and games in the schools and the fishermen village. Christy’s passion for equipping young women to thrive in their cultures was exhibited while visiting the nursing school and strengthened her desire to impact lives through higher education. Katie’s love of children was crystal clear while watching her interact with kids of all ages in all the places we visited. Courtney’s genuine love for people in other cultures and her heart for missions developed significantly as she cared for the Indian communities. The opportunity we had to see our unique gifts exemplified led us to this scripture as a family: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, in everyone.” – I Corinthians 12:4-6.
C	alling all party goers!!! Maren and Christy are finishing their master’s degrees in May 2012. After many hours of reading, writing and studying; Maren will complete her Master of Art’s in Education and Christy will receive her Master of Art’s in Higher Education this spring. Both are looking forward to celebrating this accomplishment!
O	ccupied by traversing Hudson’s land, Brad finds fulfillment in his newest title: Town’s Sniper. Every weekend he helps the overpopulated deer population decrease.
U	nsurprisingly, Courtney has transitioned well into college life and loves the memories being created at Bethel. She has felt called to major in social work and minor in communication. Courtney is looking forward to internships and experiences that give her the opportunity to serve in her final two and a half years of college.
L	ife in the Coulter household has changed drastically in recent years. Christy has been living in Pennsylvania for a whopping 3 years now; Katie is living in the “far-away” Minnesota; Courtney resides at Bethel with five roommates; and due to his work, Brad lives in Iowa Monday through Friday… living at home on the weekends.
T	o deal with a VERY empty nest, Maren and Brad have taken up: bird watching, texting, big-screen TVs, Sunday napping, wireless internet, extracurricular activities, and hosting parties. What’s next? The girls are convinced a dishwasher will adorn the kitchen to replace the three they lost.
E	nriching the minds of students has been the focus of Maren, Christy, and Katie’s work. Maren continues to use her gifts as an educator teaching and loving her first grade Hudson students. Christy is in her third year educating college students in a variety of ways through mentoring, supervising, discipling, and loving over one hundred women as a Residence Director. Katie is teaching her first class of students in Fridley, MN and loving the challenges and joys of teaching a lower income and culturally diverse second grade class.
R	egardless of the distance that separates us, our family continues to grow closer through the experiences we share together and our love for one another. Although our hearts miss seeing each other frequently, our support for one another’s life ventures keeps our relationships strong – love crosses all distances.
S	o, as we bring 2011 to a close, we are reminded of the incredible God we serve… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17.

 

Merry Christmas!!

Love – The Coulter Family

 

A day to give thanks.

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!  The word – LOVE – barely scratches the surface when it comes to my liking of this holiday.  There is just something beautiful about getting together with family, sharing a meal, and enjoying one another’s company.  The expectations and pressures that often come with the Christmas season are at a minimum… and the simple joy of being in the presence of loved ones is the priority. 

This holiday gives me the opportunity to intentionally remember how blessed I am.  And with the arrival of Thanksgiving this year my tradition of naming my blessings is here.  It’s time to praise God for the many blessings of the past year.  Here are a ten of my highlights:

ONE.  Traveling to India with my entire family. 

TWO.  Finishing my master’s thesis a year early. 

THREE.  Making new friends & keeping the old… just as the Girl Scouts song goes.

FOUR.  Watching my sister walk across Bethel’s stage as she received her diploma.

FIVE.  Being reunited with my little boy from the leprosy colony in Visakhaputnam, India.

SIX.  Biking from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. for a second year in a row.

SEVEN.  Traveling with friends and students to NYC, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh & Gettysburg.

NINE.  Hearing the stories of a variety of people on over 20 domestic & international flights this year.

TEN.  Finding encouragement, support, and laughter in my bible study and church community group.

I. Am. Blessed.

Recent Ponderings

Somehow a variety of Frank Sinatra’s Christmas songs rang through my iTunes “coffee shop” playlist the other day as I worked on grad school… nothing like Christmas music to remind me that another year is coming to a close.  While a student at Bethel, I recall a time when a friend of mine attempted to explain, through his understanding of economics, the reasons that years seem to pass quicker with age.  I barely remember what he told me, but I believe the essence of this theory is that the more life you’ve experienced the more memories you have to compare the present moment, which seemingly makes the days pass more rapidly.  Regardless of one’s theoretical understanding of time and the way in which it connects to everyday life, the realization that another year is coming to a close never ceases to stop me in my tracks.  It forces me to evaluate and ponder the happenings of the previous year… and what a year this has been.

Something I have been considering lately is the various paths one can take in life.  Since I remain single – to which I am content with the majority of the time – I realize that my life has taken a different path than I imagined in high school.  I was the kid in high school that thought (primarily subconsciously) that I would go to college, meet the man of my dreams, fall in love & life happily ever after… while becoming a Pediatric Oncologist… I know, I know… quite ambitious.  Though I am very thankful that God redirected my medical career and moved me to the field of higher education, there are moments when I wonder what on earth I was thinking… balancing med school and marriage would have been quite a task.  I am convinced, however, that if my journey in life had pushed me in this direction, God would have provided me with the necessary tools to press forward with these various commitments. 

In the coming 6 months, I begin the process, yet again, of looking for a new job… something I look at with great anticipation, yet a heavy heart. Saying goodbye to a college I have worked at for three years, students I have grown to love, and a college I greatly admire, will be an immense challenge… one I do not look forward to. The reality of looking for work has placed an interesting thought in my mind. On what basis do you make your career decisions?

I have spent several years looking at the role of women, in relation to one another, God, and men… the tension of career vs. family for women has been an interesting one to ponder.  As a single female, I do not have a spouse to consider in my career-related decisions.  There are many times when I look at this and am grateful because I am able to make decisions based on what I personally believe to be best for myself and those I am called to minster to.  Though this seems nice, particularly to my married friends, the challenge is that it can become very selfish, very fast.  I live on my own, create my schedule, base decisions on what I prefer to do, travel when I want to, etc.  When it comes to career decisions, I can choose the location I prefer, I can make a move that will benefit me professionally, I can work beyond the typical 40-hour work week because I do not have someone at home to keep me accountable, and the list could go on and on.  Essentially, the world (or my perceived world) revolves around me. 

When it comes to making decisions, sometimes I wish I were married because I could stop leading and follow.  I could bounce ideas off my husband, share my excitement and hesitancies regarding our future; yet trust that in the end, he will make the decision for our lives.  There is a mutual conversation, but he gets to direct our path as a family.  As a single woman, I wear both hats – I process through the various options for life, and then make a decision on my own.  There is a lot of work involved.  I certainly have an admiration for men and the role that God has called them to as the head of the family. 

The past few weeks, I have been pondering my future and where to begin looking… I have had many thoughts that revolve around… well me.  The tension of focusing on myself vs. others has been a challenging, but good process to navigate.  It has reminded me of my continuous need to acknowledge my selfish desires, to refocus on the Lord, and to listen to the quiet whispers He uses to guide my life. 

I am praying that the Lord reveals wisdom to me regarding my future ambitions.  If I choose to make a move that advances my career, my prayer is that God would bless the decision and provide me with a nearby community that will remind me that the world is about more than just me… that I am a part of something bigger than myself.  Despite my uncertain future, I do trust that the Lord will be faithful, that He will bring me where He wants me to be.  I pray that He brings clarity to your future as well – and that you learn to trust Him in unforeseen ways and in all circumstances – the good and the bad.

The joy of an impromptu road trip.

I’ve decided that last minute road trips are one of the best, most spontaneous ways to spend a weekend.  On Wednesday of last week, a co-worker asked if I had any plans for the long weekend and proposed a 2-day, 1-night trip to Gettysburg, PA – a place I have yet to visit since moving out east.  I immediately said yes.  I mean, who would pass up a weekend with friends to unchartered territory?!

With four of us forming the traveling quartet, we made arrangements to stay in a hotel on Saturday night just outside of town, with the plan to leave at 9:00 am on Saturday to begin our journey. We made no further plans.  In my day-to-day world, most trips require weeks of planning, intentional thought going into how the day is structured to create the best and most educational trip possible – mainly because I’m usually planning a trip for students.  It was refreshing to jump in the car on Saturday morning; with a trunk of luggage, an iPod set to shuffle, three books on Gettysburg, and a map of Pennsylvania to guide us.  We had no agenda, except for these three exceptions: to have a good time, learn about the history of this infamous city, and see the Pennsylvania countryside in the fall. 

On our 48-hour trip, we visited: 1) the Gettysburg museum, 2) the cyclorama (a gigantic canvas painting that depicts the battle from a person standing and the 360 degrees around him – I’ve never seen anything like it – I’d have to say that he was a pretty talented artist), 3) a film on the 3-day Gettysburg battle, 4) a bus tour of the battle sites, 5) Devil’s Den (a rocky area where confederate snipers were located – it would be terrifying to navigate in the night or while running), 6) an outlook tower, and 7) random other sites along the way.  We learned a lot, were challenged by the concept of wars, and came to the conclusion we are very thankful we do not have wars taking place on American soil in the present time.

As I am reflecting back on the weekend, it was exactly what I needed – a short escape with good friends, solid conversations, and historical depth.   On our journey to and from our home, my breath was taken away at various points because of the beauty my eyes were witnessing as we traversed the rolling hills, curvy roads, and sun drenched skies on these two beautiful, fall days.  On several occasions, I even found myself giggling in the driver’s seat as I thanked God for creating such beauty in the fall season.  It was a glorious weekend to vacate “the falls” and travel through the countryside on an impromptu road trip.

On the Road

The view from a Gettysburg Outlook Tower

The view from Little Round Top.

Patriotic Gettysburg

The four of us enjoying apple pie at a local apple festival.

Homecoming.

The word homecoming, according to Oxford English Dictionary, is defined as “The action or an act of returning to one’s home, household, or native land; an arrival at home.”   At colleges and universities, one designated day each year is deemed homecoming and everyone is invited back to the place they called home for several years in their early twenties.  And at such events, they are not only reunited with the physical structure(s) that was their home, but they are also reunited with the community that created the environment of their home. 

The meaning of this word struck me in a different way this past Saturday as I celebrated Homecoming at Geneva for a third year as a Residence Director.  Hundreds of people flooded Geneva as the typical Beaver Falls rain fell from the sky welcoming its people “home”.  After receiving many text messages from some of my ‘old’ students and RAs, I decided to plant myself at the local coffee shop – Beaver Falls Coffee & Tea – and greet the planned and unplanned reunions with a cup of coffee. 

I was delighted to see a variety of my ‘old’ students, catch up on their lives.  Many of whom have recently been offered dream jobs or gotten married and were anxious to share the various stories that make up their day-to-day lives now that studies and academia aren’t ruling their days.  Their lives look significantly different than they did in college – which has required a lot of transition, some growing pains, and significant trust in our Heavenly Father.  Many have made it past some of the most turbulent times and are now looking forward to God’s continued hand of guidance over their lives.  Their faith and trust in Christ was really incredible to hear as they retold stories of God’s faithfulness.

One of my favorite parts of the day was sitting at the back table, my face turned toward the entrance of the coffee shop, and observing the gigantic smiles and bear hugs exchanged between old friends and acquaintances.  There is something so very sweet about the relationships formed in college.  It reminded me of how unique the college experience is – you never again get to share your life, the good and the bad, with so many individuals in a community that intentionally focuses on embodying the community of Christ.  It is at a place like Geneva, where friends do become family.  Where you live life with others.  Where you encounter Christ daily.  It becomes home. 

Perspective

Below is an excerpt from a thought provoking message we send our student leaders to prepare them for a discussion group they are required to attend once per month.  I cannot take credit for one word of what is written, but I thought it so well thought out that I had to pass it along to you…

One of my favorite devotional reflections comes from the book of Luke, chapter seven. Here we find John the Baptist imprisoned and, I’m assuming, fighting a bit of discouragement, frustration, and doubt. He has had quite the life journey, experiencing some incredible things as he prepared the way for the coming Messiah – and now, here he sits, locked up. John is starting to have second thoughts about Jesus, or at least Jesus’ methods. In verse 19 we read “…and John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” We can pick up on the seemingly frustrated state that John finds himself in.

Now wait a second, let’s back up for a moment. In Mark, chapter one we read that John baptizes Jesus Christ himself. Verses 9-11: “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” Yes, that’s right. John is there and witnesses this fascinating experience firsthand. John sees the heavens open up and observes Jesus blessed by His father – right there, with his own eyes.

But, now we find him doubting. His perspective has been clouded, skewed, altered from the truth. John the Baptist had allowed his current circumstances to take over his thinking.

Now, back to Luke seven. I love Jesus’ response to John. He does not go and break him out of prison, which I’m sure he could have easily done if he thought it necessary. He sends this message instead, verse 22 reads, “And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.’” Nice! Jesus doesn’t even directly answer the question, he replies with a call to recognize the prophecies that are coming true! It may not look like what John would have wanted it to, but God knows (always knows) what He is doing.

The other reason I really like Jesus’ response is because it doesn’t serve just John and his personal circumstances. Jesus obviously knew what sort of discouraging predicament John was in (remember, he was in prison). Jesus seems to send the message back to John of “Hey, snap out of it! This thing is way bigger than you!” Did Jesus care about John and the situation he was in? Of course he did! But Jesus also understood the context of the Kingdom and that something greater was at work. And John needed a refocusing moment, a paradigm shift if you will. What can we pick up on here? It’s all about the Kingdom. Our perspective needs to be a Kingdom perspective. Nothing matters but the Kingdom, but because of the Kingdom, everything matters.

beautiful things.

 

This song is played on my iTunes list daily… if not on repeat.  The words remind me that God does make beautiful things out of every situation that comes our way, no matter how painful or difficult the circumstance is.  This truth brings me hope when I hear and see the brokenness of this world.  Thank you Lord for MAKING BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF US.

 

 

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us (repeat)

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us (repeat)

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

Click here to listen.

perfect timing.

I never cease to be amazed by God’s timing – his good & perfect timing.

This weekend I was fortunate enough to join the team I served in India with for a weekend of serving our supporters traditional food and sharing the work God did and is still doing in India through our ministry.  Coming off an intensely busy and stressful six weeks of work at Geneva, I wasn’t certain how this weekend would diminish my feelings of exhaustion.  Little did I know that I needed this change of pace for a plethora of reasons.

I was blessed by many good conversations with my friends and family … I was blessed bythe beautiful laughter of children … I was blessed by encouragement through a variety of people from my home church … I was blessed by the beauty of the stars hanging over a crisp September night … I was blessed by the simple act of play … I was blessed by God’s ability to see past the bigger picture of the weekend to see my immediate need for refreshment.

I was blessed … I am blessed.

Thank you Lord for providing exactly the weekend I needed.