SoapBox Status

Recently, in a conversation with a close friend, I shared that I have been greatly enjoying the soap box that Pastor Dennis has been on for the past couple of weeks. Before I could go any further, her facial expression stopped me in my tracks. Her face had twisted up in disbelief and disgust. Of course, I then asked what was wrong. She proceeded to tell me how rude it was that I had used the phrase “soap box” while referring to the messages my pastor had been delivering on Sunday mornings. 

I was stunned. Dumbfounded. Never had I meant for this phrase to be a negative one. But it led me to some pretty deep thinking. Two words compose this phrase; soap and box. I spent time pondering both words individually. When I think about soap, I think about cleanliness. Sweet smells, renewed freshness and a crisp mental satisfaction in knowing my hygiene has been restored are all a part of my considerations of soap. The word box has a different connection entirely. Boxes! They hold things. They’re stackable. Often times, one might even flip a box upside down in order to stand on it to grasp something out of their normal reach. Boxes are sturdy and strong.

Now, put the two together. After researching, I learned that the earliest use for the term "on a soap box" was in 1907 when people would stand upon the wooden crates used to transport boxes of soap in order to preach or give a speech on a public street corner. 

In my eyes and in my understanding, I had used this phrase with great intentions. To me, the messages that have been preached here lately have completely rocked my heart. God’s truth has shaken my foundation and challenged me in many ways. Because of that, I will continue to use the phrase “soap box.” Our pastor has been standing up in order to insure that his voice reaches all and has been sharing Truth that has the power to cleanse and restore our hearts and minds. If that does not perfectly fit the description of an authentic soap box, I don’t know what does. And so I raise a challenge for us all: Let us step up onto the soap box of Christ and share the truth of the Gospel until all lost are finally found.

In His Love,

Brittany Jade

Superhero Expectations

We live in a world surrounded by media. Movies and shows overtake a major part of our time and thoughts. This season, we are drowning in the Avengers waves. People everywhere are going on and on about this movie. I have no doubt that it’s a great movie and I even want to see it myself, but tonight, thinking about it, I realized how things like this build our expectations. 

With June 19^th (my mission trip to Venezuela) quickly approaching, I am currently in a phase where my nerves are in bundles, hiding in the pit of my stomach. For months now, we have been preparing, praying and counting down the days until we take flight into this amazing journey God has planned. I am excited, don’t get me wrong, and I understand that saying I have knots in my stomach doesn't sound the best. It has caused moments of stress, worry and frustration within me. Just a moment ago, however, I realized exactly where it’s all coming from! It isn’t a lack of desire or from safety fears. I now realize that it has been due to the expectations I have put on myself! 

We smother ourselves with superheroes and fairy tales and then expect our lives to be mirror images of what we see. I think it is about time to wipe those expectations away. I will never be a superhero who wears colorful, metal protection or one who can quickly fly to save the world. I will never have the strength to carry everyone around me and I cannot imagine that anyone would truly expect me too. I am no superhero. There is only One. But I know Him. So as I embark on this amazing mission God has laid before me, I ask that you would pray with me—that you would pray a reminder over me, that I don’t have to be a superhero in Caracas, Venezuelia. Would you pray an reassurance over me? Would you pray that I walk in the authority, trust and faith that my God, my superhero, has it all in His hand and that He will use me as His willing vessel? Because I can’t save anyone. I have no super powers or magic mechanisms and I’ll never be able to fly. But I do have the answer. Please pray that I would not, in any circumstance, lose sight of this. Please join with me and pray that this mission trip would be glorifying and fruitful for our Superhero’s Kingdom. 

In His Love,

Brittany Jade

Would You Even Let HIM In?

Four teenage boys wandered into church one Sunday morning. As service started, they made their way to the back pew. They sat beside each other with their John Deer hats on. As their gaze was fixed on the pastor, a deacon of the church walked behind the boys sitting on the pew. With his finger, he quickly flicked the hat off of each head and mumbled something about respect. Without hesitation, the boys rose, collected their hats and left the church. They never returned.

In another church somewhere, service was starting and the choir began the first hymn of the morning. A homeless man entered the sanctuary. His clothes were smothered in dirt, sweat and the smell of loneliness. His hair was matted to his head and his shoes full of holes. As he made his way down the aisle looking for a seat, not one person would slide over and let him sit in their pew. After several looks of rejection from the men and woman already seated, he quickly made his way down towards the pulpit. In between the first pews, right in the center where the aisle ended, he had a seat. Individuals throughout the church let out gasps of disbelief, judgment and disgust. Not once did the homeless man turn back to battle such gasps with his own. Instead, his eyes were fixated on the pastor, waiting for the message. Suddenly, an elderly man stood from his seat on the pew. He slowly made his way into the aisle. All eyes watched in wonder. The elderly man walked to the homeless man and as everyone else sat up in intensity waiting to hear what would be said to the unordinary visitor, he calmly sat in the middle of the aisle beside him.

Recently, I shared a video in Sunday school. The poet highlights some amazing points and thought provoking quotes. Such points included “Church isn’t a museum for the pretty. It’s a hospital for the broken.” and “Just because you call some people blind, it doesn’t give you vision.” An amazing discussion came from this video. Questions were asked. Thoughts were shared. But one line from the poem casted conviction on us all: “If Jesus came to your church, would they actually let Him in?” In our conversation, I replaced one word. My edit of the line became “If Jesus came to your church, would YOU actually let Him in?” Truth is, not all of the hearts in the Youth room that morning could answer yes, and those that could knew it wouldn’t be an automatic answer in such a situation.

After leaving church that day, I started to question myself on how churches become museums instead of hospitals and why we are so quick to call others blind before actually receiving God’s vision ourselves. Still, I do not know the answers. One thing I am certain about, however, is that our church wants to know God’s face. We long to know His voice and feel His presence, even in our imperfection. But are we overlooking someone? Are we missing a “homeless” man or woman, thirsty for God’s Word and provision? Are we focusing on the dress code instead of the broken hearts of the younger generation? We are not perfect, nor will we ever be perfect. But God’s love is, and that’s what we are supposed to be sharing. So I ask that you join me in praying that our vision would be God’s alone; that His heart would form our actions. And that most of all, our home would be a home for all.

In His Love,

Brittany Jade

In Search of His Face

This morning, as I sat in my pew and listened to the message being preached, I could not help but notice an encounter occurring on in front of me. As my ears filled with the scripture being presented, my eyes fixated on the most beautiful image I have seen in a long while. A baby boy was in the lap of his grandfather. Their faces were facing each other and I watched as his big blue eyes raced around the lining of his grandfather’s face. He was fascinated. He was fixated and in awe.

After a few minutes of searching his grandfather’s face with his eyes, I could tell he was not satisfied. And then he raised his hands to his grandfather’s face. As his small hands were slowly and carefully gliding across his grandfather’s face, trying to feel the shape and texture and warmth, I felt my heart ask one question: “When is the last time you crawled up in your Father’s lap just to see and feel his face?”

Often, I crawl into my Heavenly Father’s lap to cry on His shoulder or to bring forth my requests. Sometimes I simply go for conversation. I am no stranger in His lap. But this morning, I realized that I am a foreigner to the idea of climbing into His lap just to see and feel His face. We are supposed to have child-like faith. We are supposed to be in search of the pure beauty of His face. We are not called to seek only His helping hands in times of trouble or to only run to Him when we feel alone. I am learning with every passing day that in order to truly follow God, you have to be in love with who He is. Not what He does. And so today, I ask you to join me in falling in love again. May we seek His face, be in awe of the beauty that we find and renew our fascination of the Father daily.

In His Love,

Brittany Jade

A Heart Remodeled

“But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.” -1 John 3:2 MSG

There is a house in Radford that I drive by often. I have always seen it as the perfect house. Not too big, on the friendly side of town and a nice Tuscan-blue color. It has always looked so welcoming and put together. In an odd way, driving by it has always given me a sense of comfort.

Today, however, I drove by the house seeking that few seconds of comfort it usually gives and for the first time ever, I had to stop my car. There was a man with a tool in his hand that was taking the siding of the house off one by one. He was in no rush and seemed to be so careful.

As I watched the man take his time with this house, two things hit me: 1. For the longest time, I have looked at that house and viewed it as perfect. Today, I realized that what I saw on the outside was not all that mattered. In order for that house to be remodeled, there was apparently something not right about it. Maybe those living in it are the only ones who can see the leaks and destruction on the inside. But it’s there. 2. That man—the one taking his time in order to do the job right—is like God in our lives. Sometimes, from the outside, we look perfectly fine. But God knows the leaks and destruction within us. And instead of leaving us (moving to a new “house”) He takes His time to mold us. Piece by piece, He allows His healing hands to form us into what we have been called to be. How if we just let Him, He takes our lives and transforms them.

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’²¹ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? –Romans 9:20-21 MSG

May God remodel our hearts; that we may be able to move more closely with His spirit and in His will.

In His Love, Brittany Jade.