So, I'm in the middle of a Bible study called Falling in Love with Jesus. The 3rd week in our study is all about surrender and abandoning everything for the Love of our lives. I also started reading a book called Radical by David Platt, which is basically about this exact thing. It just so happens I started reading the book the same week I managed week 3 in my Bible study... hmmm... coincidence?
My heart has always been for God's will in my life, no matter what. At the beginning of this week's study I was challenged to pray Ruth 1:16-17 “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” I must say I had a little trouble getting the words out. I've come to realize that it's not just something to say or "believe", but it's something to live.
Now I'm not saying that before this past week I didn't really mean that I wanted to live out God's will, but it's just hit me like a ton of bricks, that if He asked my life -- not just my physical life, but everything I hold dear, and He could! -- then I would have to give it. Not have to like someone's making me, but have to like because I love Him with everything. Nothing I have has come because of anything I've done, only because He's given it. But as I started to pray those words, "Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay..." I broke, because I realized that my stuff really did have a hold on me. That's not who I want to be!
I want to live my life in a way that I can fulfill every call of God on my life. Yes, I want to enjoy His blessings and walk with joy and hope, but do I really need "stuff" to believe that He's a good God? Do I need "things" to believe that He wants to bless me? I have an amazing family and more love than I can possibly deserve, but what if He asked me for them? Would I question that He's worth it? I've decided that He is -- He's so worth it: everything, all of me, all my comforts and desires, hopes and dreams, loves and lovees. He's the only One I want to live my life for.
I've started reading through the Bible, and I'm shooting to read through it in the coming year. I've attempted this before and have never quite made it, but here I go again. I'm praying that through His Word, my life will be transformed and my mind renewed. I've already had some "aha" moments. I can't wait for more to come. I'm so blessed to be loved by such an amazing Papa. I hope you know that love too.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Revelation(s)
I'm taking part in a new Bible study this fall: Revelation, There and Then, Here and Now by Beth Moore. It's obviously deep, but also surprisingly refreshing. Beth has asked us to ask God for fresh revelation from Him about Him in our daily lives, and then journal it. I thought I'd just share a little of what He's been showing me.
Having a new baby in the house, I get to see and learn new things about God and His big giant love all the time! Yesterday we were laying on my bed and Jeremiah was babbling on and on, grabbing at his feet and studying his hands. He was so precious, and I thoroughly enjoyed just listening to him "talk" even though I had no idea what he was saying. Then it hit me: that's how God feels about me. The only difference is He always knows what I'm saying -- maybe even better than I do. But he enjoys me that much. He just wants to spend time with me, listening to me, watching me discover new things and sharing them with Him. So beautiful!
As I was driving today I had another small revelation about how He wants me to serve Him. I think in my head I have this built-up, crazy notion of who I'm "supposed to be". But I felt Him say, "Just be you. Just be who I created you to be and that's enough for me. I'll do the rest." It's so refreshing to think that I don't have to put on airs or try to make myself better. I can just be me. And that in itself is an act of worship.
It's amazing how learning more about Him always sheds light on my silly thoughts and insecurities. But I love knowing that to Him, nothing I feel or think or am is silly. It's all exactly right. Just how He made me.
Having a new baby in the house, I get to see and learn new things about God and His big giant love all the time! Yesterday we were laying on my bed and Jeremiah was babbling on and on, grabbing at his feet and studying his hands. He was so precious, and I thoroughly enjoyed just listening to him "talk" even though I had no idea what he was saying. Then it hit me: that's how God feels about me. The only difference is He always knows what I'm saying -- maybe even better than I do. But he enjoys me that much. He just wants to spend time with me, listening to me, watching me discover new things and sharing them with Him. So beautiful!
As I was driving today I had another small revelation about how He wants me to serve Him. I think in my head I have this built-up, crazy notion of who I'm "supposed to be". But I felt Him say, "Just be you. Just be who I created you to be and that's enough for me. I'll do the rest." It's so refreshing to think that I don't have to put on airs or try to make myself better. I can just be me. And that in itself is an act of worship.
It's amazing how learning more about Him always sheds light on my silly thoughts and insecurities. But I love knowing that to Him, nothing I feel or think or am is silly. It's all exactly right. Just how He made me.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
You Blow Me Away!
Oh Lord! My heart cries out in gratitude, in humility, in praise!
Who am I that you would even notice me?
Yet You extend your hand of salvation, in desire for relationship with me!
How have I even caught your eye?
Why do you look on me as lovely and beloved?
Oh precious blood of Jesus Christ!
Only by your mercy have I been redeemed.
Only because of your sacrifice do I even have a place at the Father's table...
Yet not just any place, but the place of honor:
The bride of my beloved.
And so I come in all humility, in all my unworthiness,
Only to be clothed with your strength and to be made clean and worthy
Of your love, of your life...object of your desire.
Holy, righteous, acceptable, desired, loved, beautiful,
Without spot or blemish -- because of your blood.
Oh how I love You!
Who am I that you would even notice me?
Yet You extend your hand of salvation, in desire for relationship with me!
How have I even caught your eye?
Why do you look on me as lovely and beloved?
Oh precious blood of Jesus Christ!
Only by your mercy have I been redeemed.
Only because of your sacrifice do I even have a place at the Father's table...
Yet not just any place, but the place of honor:
The bride of my beloved.
And so I come in all humility, in all my unworthiness,
Only to be clothed with your strength and to be made clean and worthy
Of your love, of your life...object of your desire.
Holy, righteous, acceptable, desired, loved, beautiful,
Without spot or blemish -- because of your blood.
Oh how I love You!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Joshua 2
Well, I'm working on a message for my Bible study next week. I'm really excited to be a part of the teaching team, and next week is my turn. I'd like to share just a little of what I've learned along the way as I'm preparing for it. We are studying the book of Joshua. Just started our study this week, so next week I'll be speaking on chapter 2: the story of Rahab. I'm so glad I get to teach this lesson. God has really spoken to me through it. I'm sure He'd do that no matter what chapter it is!
Ok, so Joshua 2:1 says that Joshua sent spies who "...entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab..." Now, I'm not even going to address the matter of why they chose Rahab's house. I'll leave that to the theologians. Suffice it to say there would be lots of info there. What I'd like to focus on is the fact that almost every time we encounter Rahab in the Bible she is called Rahab the prostitute. As I read through the chapters in Joshua that include Rahab it kind of frustrated me. I thought, "Wow! this woman is clearly turning her life around. I mean geez she's in the genealogy of Jesus after all! The least they could do is remove the title."
Rahab is also mentioned in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 both commend Rahab the prostitute for her faith and "righteousness". And I thought, "OK, for sure here we could do without the title!" I've been mulling this chapter over and over in my mind. My initial direction was to talk about the fear of God: Rahab chose to fear God over man, she chose faith, and God chose to save her. But on Tuesday at Bible study I was thinking about it again and I got the word "label", and then, "What's your label?"
You see some theologians suggest that at the time the spies visited Rahab, she was possibly no longer a prostitute but an innkeeper, or maybe both. Eventually she was adopted into the Israelite community and even married into what would be the "royal" family. You can be sure she was no longer a prostitute once she joined the Israelites and gave her life to Yahweh. Yet she continued to bear a title her whole life for something that she used to be.
How many times do we label people for who they used to be? How often do we resent that nickname or title that we've been given? How often are we held back simply because no one believes that we can change? Or how often do we hold others back?
So what's your label? Are you the liar, the sinner, the adulterer, the thief, the pain-in-the-rear, the hot temper, the jerk? Are you living or acting a certain way because it's just who you've always been? Or are you allowing God to change you into who He made you to be? Are you giving others the freedom to change?
As I looked up verses about Rahab I was astounded to find one in which she was not called "the prostitute". Matthew 1:5 "...Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab..." just Rahab. There it is. Some might say that Matthew was just trying to clean up the genealogy of Jesus. But here's what I see: when you give your life to God, when you choose to fear Him, when you are adopted into the blood line of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who you used to be doesn't matter anymore. There are no titles to be held, no sins to hide, just pure, blessed acceptance and love. The blood of Jesus washes away the sin and the past.
Acts 10:34-35 from the Message: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."
So here's the deal: let it go. Whoever you are or used to be. Whatever label or title you've hidden behind or loathed for years. Allow the Blood to cover the past and walk in the freedom you've been given as a co-heir with Christ. You are just you -- and that's enough!
Ok, so Joshua 2:1 says that Joshua sent spies who "...entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab..." Now, I'm not even going to address the matter of why they chose Rahab's house. I'll leave that to the theologians. Suffice it to say there would be lots of info there. What I'd like to focus on is the fact that almost every time we encounter Rahab in the Bible she is called Rahab the prostitute. As I read through the chapters in Joshua that include Rahab it kind of frustrated me. I thought, "Wow! this woman is clearly turning her life around. I mean geez she's in the genealogy of Jesus after all! The least they could do is remove the title."
Rahab is also mentioned in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 both commend Rahab the prostitute for her faith and "righteousness". And I thought, "OK, for sure here we could do without the title!" I've been mulling this chapter over and over in my mind. My initial direction was to talk about the fear of God: Rahab chose to fear God over man, she chose faith, and God chose to save her. But on Tuesday at Bible study I was thinking about it again and I got the word "label", and then, "What's your label?"
You see some theologians suggest that at the time the spies visited Rahab, she was possibly no longer a prostitute but an innkeeper, or maybe both. Eventually she was adopted into the Israelite community and even married into what would be the "royal" family. You can be sure she was no longer a prostitute once she joined the Israelites and gave her life to Yahweh. Yet she continued to bear a title her whole life for something that she used to be.
How many times do we label people for who they used to be? How often do we resent that nickname or title that we've been given? How often are we held back simply because no one believes that we can change? Or how often do we hold others back?
So what's your label? Are you the liar, the sinner, the adulterer, the thief, the pain-in-the-rear, the hot temper, the jerk? Are you living or acting a certain way because it's just who you've always been? Or are you allowing God to change you into who He made you to be? Are you giving others the freedom to change?
As I looked up verses about Rahab I was astounded to find one in which she was not called "the prostitute". Matthew 1:5 "...Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab..." just Rahab. There it is. Some might say that Matthew was just trying to clean up the genealogy of Jesus. But here's what I see: when you give your life to God, when you choose to fear Him, when you are adopted into the blood line of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who you used to be doesn't matter anymore. There are no titles to be held, no sins to hide, just pure, blessed acceptance and love. The blood of Jesus washes away the sin and the past.
Acts 10:34-35 from the Message: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."
So here's the deal: let it go. Whoever you are or used to be. Whatever label or title you've hidden behind or loathed for years. Allow the Blood to cover the past and walk in the freedom you've been given as a co-heir with Christ. You are just you -- and that's enough!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Looking UP!
I've heard it said that if you're not in a trial you're probably just coming out of one, or you're heading into one. It used to bother me. I never really thought that was a very "Christian" perspective... You know the whole "joy of the Lord is my strength" thing. What I'm coming to realize is that it's true: all of it.
I'm reading "To Live is Christ" by Beth Moore. It's all about the life of the apostle Paul. Boy, talk about suffering and trials! I don't know if I could stand up under half the life he lived through. But Beth addresses the idea of Christianity as a life of prosperity only, and why as Christians we will suffer. It seems like such a morbid topic, I guess. But in reality it makes sense. Basically she comes to the conclusion that as Christians we aren't exempt from the trials of life, and we're probably prime targets for attacks of the enemy. But God is able to take the things that the enemy plans to harm us with and turn them into something good!
Although we have trials, and sometimes life just plain stinks, God can always turn our situation around for good. Not only that, but He will always use whatever happens to us for His glory if we allow Him to!
I also believe that sometimes God leads us into times that seem so hard, painful, void, desert places, so that He can work in us. Have you noticed that the hardest times are the times you're closest to God? Maybe not. Maybe you're always spiritually in tune, but I know that up until recently for me this has proved to be true. Lately God has really been teaching me about daily discipline and living in His presence. But I know that in my life it has always been out of the "desert times" that I have come away the strongest in my relationship with Him.
I heard a speech recently where the speaker talked about Joseph. She mentioned all the crazy things he'd been through, and how eventually he ended up in the palace. She came to the conclusion that the pit, the prison, the dungeon was only preparation for the palace. All that time, years of his life, he spent just being himself, then getting thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, thrown into prison, was only in preparation for who God was making him to be. You ever notice how going into the pit was a product of his big-mouthed-boldness and pride in the dreams God had given him? But coming out of the prison was a result of humility and sharing only what God gave him to share. I think maybe Joseph learned something through all the trouble he went through. In the end he was even able to see that though some intended to harm, God only intended good.
You see it truly is only through the joy of the Lord that we have strength to endure the pit, the prison, and the desert. We can't do it on our own. Joseph could have felt sorry for himself and thrown a fit, refused to be a "slave" because he was a "free man". He could have refused to serve Potiphar well, but instead he served as unto the Lord. That sometimes is the hardest part: serving God by serving those who treat you like you don't matter, or you're just there to serve them... But isn't that truly why we are here? To serve? Isn't that what Jesus did?
No matter what you may be going through, determine in your heart that you will live your life as unto the Lord. Because you are. Your life is so precious to him. He sees you in the pit. He sees you in the prison. He sees you in the desert. And He alone is your portion, your joy, your strength. He alone can raise you out of the "depths of despair" (thank you Anne Shirley) and put you into the palace. It is, after all, where you belong, you know. You are a child of the King of kings!
I'm reading "To Live is Christ" by Beth Moore. It's all about the life of the apostle Paul. Boy, talk about suffering and trials! I don't know if I could stand up under half the life he lived through. But Beth addresses the idea of Christianity as a life of prosperity only, and why as Christians we will suffer. It seems like such a morbid topic, I guess. But in reality it makes sense. Basically she comes to the conclusion that as Christians we aren't exempt from the trials of life, and we're probably prime targets for attacks of the enemy. But God is able to take the things that the enemy plans to harm us with and turn them into something good!
Although we have trials, and sometimes life just plain stinks, God can always turn our situation around for good. Not only that, but He will always use whatever happens to us for His glory if we allow Him to!
I also believe that sometimes God leads us into times that seem so hard, painful, void, desert places, so that He can work in us. Have you noticed that the hardest times are the times you're closest to God? Maybe not. Maybe you're always spiritually in tune, but I know that up until recently for me this has proved to be true. Lately God has really been teaching me about daily discipline and living in His presence. But I know that in my life it has always been out of the "desert times" that I have come away the strongest in my relationship with Him.
I heard a speech recently where the speaker talked about Joseph. She mentioned all the crazy things he'd been through, and how eventually he ended up in the palace. She came to the conclusion that the pit, the prison, the dungeon was only preparation for the palace. All that time, years of his life, he spent just being himself, then getting thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, thrown into prison, was only in preparation for who God was making him to be. You ever notice how going into the pit was a product of his big-mouthed-boldness and pride in the dreams God had given him? But coming out of the prison was a result of humility and sharing only what God gave him to share. I think maybe Joseph learned something through all the trouble he went through. In the end he was even able to see that though some intended to harm, God only intended good.
You see it truly is only through the joy of the Lord that we have strength to endure the pit, the prison, and the desert. We can't do it on our own. Joseph could have felt sorry for himself and thrown a fit, refused to be a "slave" because he was a "free man". He could have refused to serve Potiphar well, but instead he served as unto the Lord. That sometimes is the hardest part: serving God by serving those who treat you like you don't matter, or you're just there to serve them... But isn't that truly why we are here? To serve? Isn't that what Jesus did?
No matter what you may be going through, determine in your heart that you will live your life as unto the Lord. Because you are. Your life is so precious to him. He sees you in the pit. He sees you in the prison. He sees you in the desert. And He alone is your portion, your joy, your strength. He alone can raise you out of the "depths of despair" (thank you Anne Shirley) and put you into the palace. It is, after all, where you belong, you know. You are a child of the King of kings!
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