Valley vs. Mountaintop

Hello, Sigmas! I wanted to take a few moments to share something with you. One of my close friends shared this with me the other night and I was really humbled. That is the only feeling that can describe its impact. This passage is filled with great information and encouragement regarding our walk with Christ. Check it out!

http://utmost.org/the-place-of-humiliation/

As you guys know, we discuss a lot about Valley vs. the Mountaintop at Sigma- Valley being everyday life and Mountaintop being our so-called "Sky High." This was the message that hit me the most, "....but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there." It is important to live in the valley, but it is more important to remain faithful while we are there. This semester has been that of a trying one for me...from college applications to battling with personal struggles, remembering to keep Christ as my focus wasn't that easy. But thankfully, God forgives. It is not the Lord who turns his back, it is us...his children and it is never too late to return to the embrace of our Father. We as Sigmas are blessed with a community to lean on...to hold us accountable while in the Valley. Sigma shouldn't be a 2 week experience...we aren't meant to live on the mountaintop!

I am praying for you guys! You are all incredible.

Caitlin Steves

How do you read your Bible?

My friend Curt writes a lot of songs.  The other day I was listening to one and it made me remember in a really tangible way:

God REALLY loves us...it took me by surprise.

Too often I act like He doesn't necessarily love me, or at least that maybe he does it out of selfishness (because it's for Himself and His glory in the end), or that it's not pure or satisfying enough to me.  The end of the story is that ultimately it IS all about Him, but that's not selfish or bad at all.  He is Almighty God.  I'm digressing.  Think of all the beautiful expressions of love you can imagine.  Every ounce of some burning thing inside of you that you can't explain but you know you can't live without; that kind of love is just a scratch of how he yearns and jealously loves for you.

Goodness gracious I think I might "feel" more from a movie than my Bible sometimes.  At least they often make me cry more.  I'm not saying that feelings and getting teary eyed are good measurements for love.  But sometimes I think I definitely allow my idea of God's love for me become just that:  a dry, philosophical thought instead of the real, exciting, crazy, burning, scary, monumental, perfect love that he has for me.  The problem isn't the Bible, and it's certainly not God.  That leaves me...did you know that you can have a real relationship with God?  I mean really, I pray for the grace and faith from Him to remember the truth and not allow sterile philosophy to come between me and my God.