Kyle AtkinsBio: I'm a simple man, a little part of a bigger plan
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Monthly Archives: August 2010
Crazy
Wow, what a week! I think that one word that sums it up would probably be crazy. Over the past week I have moved back up to college, met a bunch of new friends, finished chapter summaries for the book of Genesis, semi-adjusted to my schedule here on campus and a bunch of other stuff. It has been quite a roller coaster ride and it really doesn’t feel like even a week has gone by.
Crazy. That word has been tossed around so much that it can mean many different things. We were even talking about the crazy people today in my counseling class. As I was in the midst of worship today at 12 Stone’s O2 worship event I started thinking more and more about this simple word. So here are few thoughts (a little unorganized again but hopefully you can find something beneficial out of my ramblings).
Every time that we see something is different than what we are used to we usually see one of two things. We either judge/talk about it to everyone we know or we call the person crazy. Crazy has become our word that means that its way not like the norm so we aren’t going to accept it. I think we have this all wrong but it is something that with constant work we can change. I primarily think we need this change in the way that we love others.
God is crazily in love with us. He loves us more than we can even fathom. His love is greater than all the universe for each of us, individually he loves us that much. The problem comes when we don’t love him back. We tend to be reserved in our love for God. You may be thinking, “Well I don’t do that, I love God a lot and spend time with him and stuff like that”, but don’t check out just yet. I used to have that same idea, I love God and that’s good enough for me and God, but its not! God doesn’t just want us to love him, but he wants us to love others.
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he responds in Matthew 22:36-40 by saying:
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Yes, we are to love God above all else. But have we forgotten the second part? Love your neighbor as yourself. Maybe I’m just a tad crazy, but I think that means to love everyone. So one of the questions that has been plaguing my mind is why don’t we do that? why don’t we love everyone?
We don’t love everyone because we have a misconception about love. We think that love is supposed to be this emotion that we give to others and receive from them as well. We think that love is supposed to be this nice pretty thing that we see on wedding days and on other special occasions. This isn’t the only thing that love is all about though. Love is getting into the muck and helping out someone, it is messy, ugly, gross, selfless, and very draining.
If you think love is something that is always a pretty thing, think about the most amazing expression of love that you have ever heard about. Hopefully you begin to think about the cross. On the cross, Jesus Christ showed us the most perfect expression of love and it wasn’t pretty at all. Jesus was hung on a cross (one of the worst ways to die in the time), naked, bleeding, broken, dying a slow and painful death. The cross was gruesome and Jesus was being jeered by those who were below him. That is love, and it’s not pretty, at least not on the outside.
Love is selfless. Love means to love others and not expect anything in return, or even expect the exact opposite. Love hurts, but it is also rewarding. Love doesn’t gossip about others, it doesn’t give us a right to point out everything wrong with someone. Love gives us the chance to build up others and encourage them in their journey. Love means to love those who we don’t want to, are hard to love, reject us, hate us, and don’t even care what we think.
So I have to constantly ask myself what areas I need to love more in. What adjustments do I need to make so that I can love others more. And yes, to the world loving others in this way that Jesus did is super crazy. We will become insane, misunderstood, rejected, looked down upon and the topic of others conversation….. but wait, sounds a lot like what happened to Jesus doesn’t it?
Some say that we are crazy to go after this, but I say that we would be crazy not to.
May God strengthen you and encourage you in all ways.
To God be the Glory, Forever and Ever, Amen
Kyle
What is on my heart tonight
Wow what a few crazy couple of weeks. As I get ready to start school in a few hours I should probably be asleep but for some reason I can’t seem to make myself tired so I wanted to write. Writing has become something I enjoy more and more as of late. It’s so cool and I’m really excited about what is going on in my life personally and those around me. Where do I even start with what is on my mind. There really is no beginning or end, just random thoughts going through my head (so bear yourself for a nicely disorganized post 
).
I’m pretty excited to be back up at Toccoa Falls College. While coming back up here means the return to school, I love being back in the mountains. I have already met a bunch of new people and gotten a chance to reconnect with some old friends. Of course, this transition has been a little rough because even though I can go back home, I now live a majority of the time up here. I had thought that moving back up would be easier the second time, but let me tell you it is not at all. Leaving my family has bee tough. Leaving the security of home is tough. Not nearly as tough as last year though. Don’t get me wrong, I love where I am, but as with anyone I still miss people back home.
I’m excited that Dive Deep is exploding in front of me. From favor on our ministry to potential partnerships, wow. A year and a half ago when God gave me the idea to start Dive Deep, I never ever thought the ministry would grow like this. It is a literal roller coaster ride and I am overwelmed by what God is doing. I not only get a chance to be front seat to watch what he is doing with the ministry, but also what he is doing in our staff. I don’t think words can convey what I’m feeling at the moment, but all I know is that God is driving and we are along for the ride. I think this feeling is the joy that we are told about in the Bible.
Have you ever felt like you can’t get enough of God? Like have you ever felt like you want so much more of God and have no clue where to start digging in? That is kindof how I am feeling at this season in my life. I want so much more of God. For a while I think I fell into a semi contentness (I don’t even know if that is a word) with my faith because I was unsure of what was around the next corner. I didn’t want to leave the safety net that I had constructed, but that all changed over the summer. My trust has been strenghthened and I am so hungry for God. I’m like a starving child who desperatly wants to be fed more and more. I want to be an all consuming fire and someone who lives out my life for God in everything. There is something vastly different in my heart and I think it is this hunger that is new to me. I have always wanted to grow deeper but never had this feeling. I can’t even explain it. I just want to sit at the feet of God and just be in his presence all the time.
Another thing I’m excited about is the new atmosphere I feel on campus. Last year this was a very dark place. The enemy had so many strongholds here that the presence of God was seemingly absent from this campus (I know He was here but we as a campus were not reflecting it). This year, its different and I know God is in it.
God, you know what your doing. We don’t. I don’t. I just know that I get to sit and be a part of it. Oh my brothers and sisters how I wish I could put into words how good this feeling that God has given me is. I want you to have it too. It is one of the best feelings in the world. It’s love, grace, peace, and joy all wrapped into one emotion.
I challenge you to go after this. If you don’t know where to start, I suggest searching your heart for area’s that you haven’t given God and give them up to him. Then just ask him what it is that he would have you do. I pray that you would experience this outpouring of the overwhelming since of God so that you could share it with others.
May God be with you and over you brothers and sisters. Thank you for your continued prayers and if there is anything I can pray for you about let me know.
To God be the glory,
Kyle