"Those who look to the saving God are radiant."
What is the difference between hiding and rejection?
Oh we can hide after being or feeling rejected. I'm really good at this kind of hiding. The kind where I don't want to be found. The kind of hiding where disappearing into the shadows is my solution to eluding the pain.
On a bright sunny day recently, I walked. I walked and I prayed. I asked for some kind of answer to the pain that had yet to go away. I could show anyone the passages in scripture that speak of God's redemption, His healing, His love. But even in the light of day, darkness was overwhelming me. So I hid.
In hiding, I try to do things myself. Things I have no business or ability to do. Like fix my own computer. Sitting there staring at my laptop in pieces, I cried, feeling control and my backup plan shatter into pieces. I knew I could do nothing but more harm if I tried to repair what I had just done.
"Now will you let Me heal you. On My terms."
This kind of exposure to my helplessness, left me in tears. I'm learning to hide in God's presence; to let Him heal me, overshadowing me, to make me confident of His love in all circumstances.
It's harder than I would ever like to admit. I don't really have a clue what I am doing. I've made more mistakes in this week, sinned more, ran back and forth more, seeking shelter, peace in my own way, even after I had His word and promise.
To hide in God and not from Him. It's what I need.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Worthy
What's a person worth?
The error of that question is to mistakenly think that you can put any kind of numerical value on a person that God has created and called priceless. In effect putting a price on something that is meant to be prized as priceless has left it vulnerable to becoming worthless.
When a person thinks there is a particular price for their worth, they will live up to their billing, and others will treat them that way.
See how pornography and prostitution has completely destroyed the value of women.
See how materialism has put a higher value on things that won't last than on souls that are eternal.
See how abortion has stolen the lives of the innocent.
I dare say that most of the world lives as though they are worthless.
Satan likes it that way.
He came to steal, kill and destroy.
Only Jesus paid the price to restore all people back to their pricelessness. The only one Worthy restores our worth.
"You were bought with a price, therefore honor God with you body."
Beloved, see yourself as Jesus sees you.
The error of that question is to mistakenly think that you can put any kind of numerical value on a person that God has created and called priceless. In effect putting a price on something that is meant to be prized as priceless has left it vulnerable to becoming worthless.
When a person thinks there is a particular price for their worth, they will live up to their billing, and others will treat them that way.
See how pornography and prostitution has completely destroyed the value of women.
See how materialism has put a higher value on things that won't last than on souls that are eternal.
See how abortion has stolen the lives of the innocent.
I dare say that most of the world lives as though they are worthless.
Satan likes it that way.
He came to steal, kill and destroy.
Only Jesus paid the price to restore all people back to their pricelessness. The only one Worthy restores our worth.
"You were bought with a price, therefore honor God with you body."
Beloved, see yourself as Jesus sees you.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Blame
She made me do it!
But he (fill in the blank)...
Well, they didn't do their job, so I gonna do this (not to mention tear down their character)...
Casting blame is easy. Justifying our own sins and actions based on what someone else does. We do anything to keep the spotlight off of our own hearts of imperfection.
Yes, I do this A LOT!
But how Jesus' words and the Holy Spirit have convicted me of the the words that far too easily spill out of my mouth. Words I wouldn't dare to day to their face. Blame. Rejection. Comparison.
All of it to tear down another person or hide my own flaws and mistakes; to place responsibility on another person for my actions.
It has nothing to do with love.
O how I want to learn to humbly love.
I am. From the Master. Speaking blessings and not curses. Praying for a changed heart. A heart that is secure in His Words about me that it doesn't cross my mind to speak poorly of another. And I want to be quick to take the weight of my actions, whether they require a quiet humility to accept praise or to humbly repent.
But how Jesus' words and the Holy Spirit have convicted me of the the words that far too easily spill out of my mouth. Words I wouldn't dare to day to their face. Blame. Rejection. Comparison.
All of it to tear down another person or hide my own flaws and mistakes; to place responsibility on another person for my actions.
It has nothing to do with love.
O how I want to learn to humbly love.
I am. From the Master. Speaking blessings and not curses. Praying for a changed heart. A heart that is secure in His Words about me that it doesn't cross my mind to speak poorly of another. And I want to be quick to take the weight of my actions, whether they require a quiet humility to accept praise or to humbly repent.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Sparks
A preacher I listen to has said, "Jesus is the only one that the Holy Spirit descended on like a dove. The rest He has come upon like unquenchable fire."
Picking the word Burn for 2012, I wondered, even prayed that God's fire would hit me and I would have no doubt.
God has touched me and my heart wants to sit with Him, praise Him, obey Him, love Him more now than ever before. But the fire continually comes against the things that don't last. Yeah...like sin, like fear. I know far too often I don't feel the weight of grief Jesus has when I disobey, when I hurt someone else, when I am doing anything that is not about knowing and loving Him more and leading others to know and love Him more. Yes, tears came, as I knew the words that came from my mouth reflected a heart that wasn't fully in love and therefore, tore down His Children.
Yes...burn is the the fire love of Beloved, but it is also the refining fire. To burn, means nothing will be left untouched. My prayer is for my heart to be a pure alter of worship to Jesus. I don't want to live speaking blessings and curses from the same mouth poured out of the same heart. I want to live with an undivided and burning heart.
Picking the word Burn for 2012, I wondered, even prayed that God's fire would hit me and I would have no doubt.
God has touched me and my heart wants to sit with Him, praise Him, obey Him, love Him more now than ever before. But the fire continually comes against the things that don't last. Yeah...like sin, like fear. I know far too often I don't feel the weight of grief Jesus has when I disobey, when I hurt someone else, when I am doing anything that is not about knowing and loving Him more and leading others to know and love Him more. Yes, tears came, as I knew the words that came from my mouth reflected a heart that wasn't fully in love and therefore, tore down His Children.
Yes...burn is the the fire love of Beloved, but it is also the refining fire. To burn, means nothing will be left untouched. My prayer is for my heart to be a pure alter of worship to Jesus. I don't want to live speaking blessings and curses from the same mouth poured out of the same heart. I want to live with an undivided and burning heart.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Confessing and Contending
In tears and sorrow; a sorrow that leads to repentance and back to life, I found myself weeping. Other voices in intercession around me, pleading for the church to commands that God gave us to lead us to life. Not dead works of the letter of the law, but life in becoming obedient to the Spirit of the law written on our hearts.
I confessed my idolatry, bowing to gods of my own creation. I confessed to profaning the Holy name of Jesus, Yahweh. Treating Your name as a curse instead of a blessing, and misrepresenting You as I bear Your name. I confessed to murderous thoughts, knowing I had cursed another human being as I drove to this meeting, knowing far too often what came out of my heart and on to my lips was destructive. I confessed to my adultery, treating my own body as worthless, my heart ready run rather than stand faithful to Him who loves me and bought me with a price. I confessed to desecrating the Sabbath, working without rest and refusing to turn to Jesus; failing to trust that He will meet my every need without my toiling in worry and anxiety.
Yes, the look at my own heart showed much darkness. But Jesus is the light of life and NO darkness can stand against that light! For the beginning of His kingdom coming is the Bride, the Church exalting His leadership and dominion in our hearts.
Then to hear, that He was pleased, delighted at our labors for the church, for the neighborhood, for the city. He loves when we the church join with Him in His work, contending for His kingdom. He poured His lavish grace out on us.
The only response fitting was the cry of Revelation 22: Come Lord Jesus! Come! The Spirit and the Bride say Come!
I confessed my idolatry, bowing to gods of my own creation. I confessed to profaning the Holy name of Jesus, Yahweh. Treating Your name as a curse instead of a blessing, and misrepresenting You as I bear Your name. I confessed to murderous thoughts, knowing I had cursed another human being as I drove to this meeting, knowing far too often what came out of my heart and on to my lips was destructive. I confessed to my adultery, treating my own body as worthless, my heart ready run rather than stand faithful to Him who loves me and bought me with a price. I confessed to desecrating the Sabbath, working without rest and refusing to turn to Jesus; failing to trust that He will meet my every need without my toiling in worry and anxiety.
Yes, the look at my own heart showed much darkness. But Jesus is the light of life and NO darkness can stand against that light! For the beginning of His kingdom coming is the Bride, the Church exalting His leadership and dominion in our hearts.
Then to hear, that He was pleased, delighted at our labors for the church, for the neighborhood, for the city. He loves when we the church join with Him in His work, contending for His kingdom. He poured His lavish grace out on us.
The only response fitting was the cry of Revelation 22: Come Lord Jesus! Come! The Spirit and the Bride say Come!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Working
Some would say that there is a dichotomy between bearing the name of Christian and the work that we do, if our job title has nothing to do with Church or Ministry work.
It's a false dichotomy.
Seriously.
For those who bear the name of Christian, ALL is ministry (With the admission that certain illegal and all immoral careers obviously don't fall into this category.)
Yes, Jesus called the 12 away from their careers to follow Him in His public ministry, but my argument is going back to Genesis in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created to walk with God but they also had the responsibility to steward the Earth. The effect of the Fall is that man finds work to be painfully unrewarding, as the intimate communion of the Garden was broken. His work no longer brings joy as when He worked with God.
God's plan of redemption through out history has been to reconcile man to Himself and restore the relationship on all levels. This plan of redemption also includes God reestablishing His kingdom and dominion on Earth.
God could easily bring His kingdom about by force or coercion. But He hasn't. He's done it by love. Sending His Son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin, revealing the love of the Father that would do anything to win the hearts of His image-bearers back to Him.
Not only did the Fall break the relationship between God and man, it also gave dominion to Satan on Earth. We've been under him ever since.
When God took on humanity, lived the perfect life, died our death and then conquered death, He broke the hold of Satan on humanity. Satan's kingdom didn't just disappear but now those who trust in Jesus, they are rescued from the Kingdom of Satan into God's Kingdom of Life. So the Kingdom of God increases with those who turn to trust His leadership, who follow Him with all of their lives and through the work of Holy Spirit bring Jesus' kingdom and life where ever they go and into whatever they do.
As Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Paul also taught the early church to work as though working for the Lord and not for men. This is what it means to put ourselves under His leadership. Our intent at work, whatever our job title, is to bring His kingdom and push back the darkness and dominion of Satan. Love. Pray. Work. Know that you have the opportunity to make His name famous, to influence others to see and meet, and come to to know and trust the King.
We work, in all various fields, giving our best. We love and care for those we work with and work for. We strive for excellence and the final approval we look for is God. We work to catch His attention. We are faithful in all the little jobs we have to do. This is the faithfulness and integrity that God looks for. And we also take part in our call to subdue the Earth, as well as, love our neighbors as ourselves. These two things done under Jesus' leadership are what push back the kingdom of darkness (For we could do them under our own leadership or the leadership of another and Satan wouldn't budge and inch).
This is the end we work towards because this we're on the way to Eternity. God will come and finish establishing His kingdom back on Earth, and we want to be found working when He does.
It's a false dichotomy.
Seriously.
For those who bear the name of Christian, ALL is ministry (With the admission that certain illegal and all immoral careers obviously don't fall into this category.)
Yes, Jesus called the 12 away from their careers to follow Him in His public ministry, but my argument is going back to Genesis in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created to walk with God but they also had the responsibility to steward the Earth. The effect of the Fall is that man finds work to be painfully unrewarding, as the intimate communion of the Garden was broken. His work no longer brings joy as when He worked with God.
God's plan of redemption through out history has been to reconcile man to Himself and restore the relationship on all levels. This plan of redemption also includes God reestablishing His kingdom and dominion on Earth.
God could easily bring His kingdom about by force or coercion. But He hasn't. He's done it by love. Sending His Son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin, revealing the love of the Father that would do anything to win the hearts of His image-bearers back to Him.
Not only did the Fall break the relationship between God and man, it also gave dominion to Satan on Earth. We've been under him ever since.
When God took on humanity, lived the perfect life, died our death and then conquered death, He broke the hold of Satan on humanity. Satan's kingdom didn't just disappear but now those who trust in Jesus, they are rescued from the Kingdom of Satan into God's Kingdom of Life. So the Kingdom of God increases with those who turn to trust His leadership, who follow Him with all of their lives and through the work of Holy Spirit bring Jesus' kingdom and life where ever they go and into whatever they do.
As Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Paul also taught the early church to work as though working for the Lord and not for men. This is what it means to put ourselves under His leadership. Our intent at work, whatever our job title, is to bring His kingdom and push back the darkness and dominion of Satan. Love. Pray. Work. Know that you have the opportunity to make His name famous, to influence others to see and meet, and come to to know and trust the King.
We work, in all various fields, giving our best. We love and care for those we work with and work for. We strive for excellence and the final approval we look for is God. We work to catch His attention. We are faithful in all the little jobs we have to do. This is the faithfulness and integrity that God looks for. And we also take part in our call to subdue the Earth, as well as, love our neighbors as ourselves. These two things done under Jesus' leadership are what push back the kingdom of darkness (For we could do them under our own leadership or the leadership of another and Satan wouldn't budge and inch).
This is the end we work towards because this we're on the way to Eternity. God will come and finish establishing His kingdom back on Earth, and we want to be found working when He does.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
just some sentences
Considering that it doesn't take much to improve on having to wear a uniform that includes a tie and a hairnet, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to really dress up. My co-worker and friend's wedding dance was a blast and it was a shock for another co-worker to see me in a dress.
Speaking of shock. M was more surprised that I walked up with a beer in hand. Typically, I don't drink alcohol, and I go through seasons where God has asked me to abstain, but I am no teetotaler. Thing is I used to think not drinking made me better than people, then I turned 21 but I didn't know how to drink with a responsibility that I was comfortable with. I couldn't hang out with people who I wrongly labeled any number of terms, "bad, wrong, immoral, etc..."
I got super uptight. Time made me realize...the only person that can make me make bad choices: is me. No one gets to rub off on me unless I let them. It actually makes me more free to be their friends. I'm so sorry if you were someone I didn't get to know because of my fear and insecurity. Forgive me. Yes, I'm still going to tell you about Jesus, because I love Him and I want you to love Him too but I'm not pushing an agenda. I'm gonna be your friend regardless and get to know, understand and love you.
I love working nights...seriously. I stayed up until 6am after getting off at 3am to chill with Jesus. The odd hours also give me the opportunity to meet some pretty awesome people.
Speaking of shock. M was more surprised that I walked up with a beer in hand. Typically, I don't drink alcohol, and I go through seasons where God has asked me to abstain, but I am no teetotaler. Thing is I used to think not drinking made me better than people, then I turned 21 but I didn't know how to drink with a responsibility that I was comfortable with. I couldn't hang out with people who I wrongly labeled any number of terms, "bad, wrong, immoral, etc..."
I got super uptight. Time made me realize...the only person that can make me make bad choices: is me. No one gets to rub off on me unless I let them. It actually makes me more free to be their friends. I'm so sorry if you were someone I didn't get to know because of my fear and insecurity. Forgive me. Yes, I'm still going to tell you about Jesus, because I love Him and I want you to love Him too but I'm not pushing an agenda. I'm gonna be your friend regardless and get to know, understand and love you.
I love working nights...seriously. I stayed up until 6am after getting off at 3am to chill with Jesus. The odd hours also give me the opportunity to meet some pretty awesome people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)