God never ceases to amaze me! Everyday He reveals Himself to me in bigger and better ways. His Word is my source of inspiration - it is the light to my path in this dark world, my anchor of hope in the midst of life's many storms. This blog is a collection of prayers, poems, and messages God has given me through the inspiration of His Word since the day I surrendered my life completely to Him.
Well, another year is coming to an end and another new beginning is on the way. This year has flown by, so quickly in fact, that I have trouble even remembering what all happened. But the one thing that stands out to me about this past year is PROVISION. The saying "God will make a way when there seems to be no way" has been made evident in my life this year. From receiving a card in the mail from a dear friend with a check enclosed during a time when we needed it the most, to getting nearly the exact amount of money needed for a mission trip donated the week before we were supposed to leave... God has proven faithful in my life this year! The economy led me to lose a lot of money I was receiving for school. My mom had some health problems and was written out of work for a month, only to find out later that she had been denied disability. But somehow, God still made it possible for us to keep up with the tuition payments. God led me to that school for a reason, and deciding to attend a pricey private University takes a major leap of faith, but He didn't let me down. God answered countless prayers for me this past year, and he gave me assurance that I'm following the plan He has prepared for me. He gave me the opportunity to help babysit my little cousins over the summer, and when I went back to school He provided me with a work/study job. The people I work with are truly a blessing, my hours are flexible with my class schedule, and the money I make helps my mom with tuition payments. Not only that, but He also allowed me to be chosen for an educational grant in which I get the chance to mentor middle school students in the afternoons. I've also been getting a lot of positive feedback on my blog this year, and that has been a great encouragement. It's now the last week of the year, and God is still opening doors, answering prayers, and supplying needs. The greatest provision of all happened last week when I received a phone call from my dad letting me know that my 70 year old Grandfather had accepted Christ as his Savior. That was an answer to a prayer my dad had been praying all his life, a prayer I had been praying all my life, and a prayer my Grandmother was still praying when she lost her battle with cancer two years ago.
*Update: Exactly one week to the day from when my Grandpa accepted Christ, God called him home. He is now dwelling with the Savior, and rejoicing with his loved ones who've gone on before. What a blessed assurance we now have!*
When I look back at it all, I'm amazed. I have been incredibly blessed, beyond words. It hasn't been an easy year by any means. It's been tough, and I've struggled with my faith at times, but God never failed me. The definition of "provision" is "the action of providing or supplying something for use; to supply with food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey." This year God provided me with the opportunity to go on a mission trip with my youth group, because He knew that was something I needed in order to grow in my Spiritual walk and develop the qualities I need to become an effective leader. This year God provided financially for my college education, because that's something I'm going to need in order to do what He would have me do and fulfill the purpose He has planned for me. This year God provided me with a job, because working for the money to pay for my college education makes it all the more valuable. This year God provided me with the opportunity to mentor middle school students, because He wanted to teach me how to relate to them and He wanted to prepare me for the things I will face in the future He has planned for me. This year God provided me with lots of encouragement from my writings, because He wanted to assure me that this is part of the plan He has in store for me. This year God provided my Grandfather with salvation, because He wanted to give me and my family hope for the future.
God's provision has been such a blessing to me this year, and I am unworthy of it all. I have not given God the praise He deserves. His provisions were not given so that I would take them for granted and keep living on my own terms. His provisions were given so that they may be put to use, they were provided as supplies for a journey. 2012 is the start of a new journey, and with all that God has provided, I am fully prepared for what is yet to come. I have no reason to doubt or to fear. With God on my side, I can do all things. Thank you, Father, for your continued faithfulness in my life this year. Thank you for your continued provision, for making a way every time when it seemed like there was no way. In this upcoming year, may I be what you would have me be, and do as you would have me to do. All the glory goes to you, Lord! Thank you for all that you've done and all that you're going to do. I give you all the praise.
God has been teaching me a lot about faith these past few months. I recently read A.W Tozer’s The Pursuit of God and in this book he describes faith as being “the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.” When I read this it reminded of when Peter walked on the water in Matthew 14:22-33.
You see, in verse 26 the disciples were fearful because they were gazing at what they thought was a ghost walking on the water towards them. But Peter, gazing through the eyes of faith, saw the Savior instead. And he said, “Lord if it be thou; bid me come unto thee on the water.” I can only imagine what all was going on in the minds of the disciples who were watching this take place. Not only is Peter talking to ghost like it’s the Lord, but he’s climbing out of the boat when they’re in the middle of sea, and in the midst of a storm nonetheless! Following Christ is a lot like that today. It’s like stepping out of a boat in the middle of a storm. It’s like walking on the water. Those who don’t have faith think we’re just chasing after a ghost. They don’t see the Savior beckoning us to come. They don’t understand what it’s like to just want to be closer to Christ. They don’t know what it’s like to gaze upon a saving God. They don’t know what faith is all about.
As I mentioned earlier, God’s been teaching me a lot about faith lately. I’ve had to take Him for His promises, and put my trust in His plan even when it didn't make sense. At times, I felt like Peter, walking on the water while the waves crashed around me. There may have been a boat full of faithless people behind me, but Jesus was in front of me and that's all that mattered. That first step of faith can be an empowering one, and the next few steps may seem easier because of it. But it isn’t long until that wind starts howling, and fear starts to creep in. Peter wasn’t perfect, he made mistakes just like we do. Peter’s mistake came when he took his eyes off Christ. He suddenly became aware of the storm around him, and his fear began to take control. He lost faith for an instant, and the waters began to pull him under. Satan works in the same way. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we become aware of the world around us, and it's then that we let our fears overcome our faith. Satan will try to catch us in those moments of weakness, and he'll try to pull us under. But if we do like Peter did and cry out for the Lord to save us – then verse 31 says that immediately He will stretch forth His hand and catch us.
As powerful of a testimony as that was, Peter’s story of faith (and his lack thereof) didn't just end there. The Bible says that when he and Jesus had come back into the boat, the winds ceased. Then, the disciples, who had been looking through faithless eyes, came and worshipped Christ saying “Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.” Wow! This reminds me of Romans 8:28 which says that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” You see, Peter stepped out in faith... and even though he may have stumbled in his fear, God still used him to fulfill a purpose. By stepping out on faith, Peter helped to open the eyes of those who had been blinded by their fears. So I encourage you to step out, because you never know who's eyes may be opened because of your obedience.
Listen to the words of this song...
“Step out, even when it’s storming.
Step out, even you’re broken.
Step out, even when you’re heart is telling you to give up.
Step out, when your hope is stolen.
Step out, even when you can’t see where you’re going.
You don’t have to be afraid.
So what are you waiting for?
You know you’re made for more.
So don’t be afraid to move.
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water too.”
God hit me with a tough question awhile back, and I can't seem to get it off my mind. It’s the kind of question that can bring you humbly to your knees if you truly examine the inner workings of your heart. The question was… What are you doing today, to prepare for eternity tomorrow?In other words, how am I any more prepared for God to come back today than I would’ve been if He had come back yesterday? Am I one step closer to God’s vision for my life, or have I fallen two steps behind? Have I added anything to the kingdom of God, or have I selfishly hoarded everything He’s given so freely to me?
This question came to me when I was watching a news story about Billy Graham’s 93rd birthday. My mom and I were talking about how awesome of a man of God he’s been, and with his latest book being titled “Nearing Home” we talked about how his ministry has come full circle. Then my mom said something that really stuck out to me, she said, “You know, of all the thousands of people who’ve come to know Christ through Billy Graham, I wonder who that one person is that God’s waiting for Billy Graham to reach before He finally calls him home?” Her question sunk into my heart, and as I pondered it, God began to speak to me. Who’s the one person He’s waiting on me to reach? Am I even trying to reach them? Do I really have a desire to be the hands and feet of Christ? Am I really trying to increase the Kingdom of God, or am I more worried about adding to my own earthly kingdom?
I couldn’t help but think of my friend, Trey. Next month will be 2 years since God called him home. Billy Graham has been here for 93 years and God is still not finished with him. Trey was only here for 20 years. He was killed in a car accident after preaching his very first sermon at our Friday night youth church. That’s all God was waiting for with Trey - he was just waiting for him to make that one leap of faith, surrendering to the call to preach, and his ministry on earth was complete. After only 20 years on this earth, he had already found and fulfilled the purpose God had for him. What purpose is God waiting on you to fulfill? If there's one thing I learned from Trey's passing, it's that we are not promised another day. We have to live each day we are given to the fullest; live as if it's our last day on this earth, because it just may be. Whether you're on this earth for 20 years or 93 years makes no difference, but what you do with the time you are given makes all the difference in the world. So that brings me back to my original question, what are you doing today to prepare for eternity tomorrow?
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin."
~ James 4:14-17 ~
I am one of those people who has always been "the good girl" and if God had not have found me when He did, I would have been one of those "good girls" to whom God would've said "Depart from me, you worker of iniquity." But far too often, when you've been labeled "the good girl" long enough, you start to believe it. Eventually, pride (which is a sin in itself) starts to creep in. But Romans 3:23 assures us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So when I read James 4:17 I realize just how much of a sinner I really am. How many moments have I let pass by that I could have been sharing the gospel? How many people have I crossed paths with and never told about Jesus? How many times has God convicted my heart, and I simply refused to respond? It's a scary truth to answer up to, but how much of my purpose am I missing out on when I "knoweth to good, and doeth it not?" I know that I need to be living my life today in preparation for eternity tomorrow, but is that what I'm doing?
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So this whole blog has pretty much been a whole lot of asking questions without any answers, that's because these are all questions that can only be answered by searching within your own heart and asking God for direction and discernment. Well... last year when I was asking myself these same types of questions my search soon became a prayer, and that prayer became a poem. So if you're interested, the poem can be found here: What is my life?
A few weeks ago I was sitting in my room, eating dinner and watching TV, when I saw something on the screen that caught my attention. In the scene of the show I was watching, one of the main character’s car had broken down and she had called a tow truck. When the tow truck pulled up, it looked something like this…
Now maybe you think I’m weird, and that I am. Maybe you know what the back of a tow truck looks like, and think I’m pretty slow to just be noticing it. But when I was sitting there watching TV and I saw a tow truck pull up with what looked like a cross on the back, I had a God Moment. My brain started spinning... I was thinking "that cross-shaped object is reaching down to pick up a broken down car, and then it’s going to take that broken car to the shop to be fixed." As the saying goes, “that’ll preach!” I was immediately fascinated with tow trucks and I wanted to know more. So I did what I always do when I’m looking for answers.
Pray. Read the Bible. Google it.
What I found was definitely inspired by God, because I could not have come up with it on my own if I had tried. First of all, a tow truck is also known as a wrecker, a breakdown truck, or a recovery truck. When I read this I thought about the times in my life when I was a nervous wreck, or the times when I felt like I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown - the times when I felt completely broken down and alone. The definition of "tow" is to draw,to pull, or to lead. So who was there to draw me out, pull me up, and lead me out of those messes in my life? Who was my recovery? – It was God. Or as I like to refer to him now, my Tow Truck Savior! Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator. So when you find yourself in the middle of a situation where you’re broken down and in need of repair – call up the emergency road service operator. Call up the Tow Truck Savior. My Preacher has told us several times that the Savior's number is 333... Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Okay, so the next "God thing" I found out about tow trucks is that they are used to transport vehicles to another location (usually a repair garage) or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface. As the body of Christ we are vehicles for Christ. We are vessels, used by Him to carry His gospel out to the world. He has plan for us, a road that He wants us to follow. So in those moments when we find ourselves broken down, or in the moments when we get off track from His plan and end up in a ditch somewhere, we can call up the Tow Truck Savior and he will answer us. He will come and draw us out of our mess, pull us up, and lead us forward. He will transport us to another location. He will take us to a place where He can work in our lives. He can repair our brokenness. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When we call out to God, He will put people around us who can encourage us. He’ll put us back on a drivable surface. He’ll lead us, direct our paths, and put us back on a track heading in the direction He has planned for our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
There are three different types of tow trucks that are used for different types of emergency services. The first is the Hook & Chain tow truck. eHow.com says,
“For the hook-and-chain tow truck, a boom is attached to the back of the tower's vehicle. A chain with a hook at the end hangs from the boom. The tower can adjust the boom and the chain as needed. The chains and/or hook would be attached to the vehicle's axle. The boom would lift the vehicle up and place the front wheels onto a rubberized area on the back of the truck, while the back wheels are free on the road.”
I think that far too often when we encounter problems in life our first choice of rescue would be the hook and chain tow truck. We try to adjust God’s answer for us into something that we think is more suitable for our need. We want God to help us, but we don’t want to surrender our lives completely to him. We want to keep those back two wheels free on the road. We think as long as we give part of ourselves to Christ, we’ll be okay. But God doesn't want just part of us, He wants all of us. He wants to carry our burdens for us. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast your cares upon Him, for he cares for you! You see, when we hook onto Christ, but keep those back two wheels on the road, we’re doing more damage than good. Hook & Chain tow trucks are no longer used much nowadays because they end up scratching the bumper of the cars. Don’t let your bumper get scratched by trying to fix the problem on your own... surrender your life completely to Christ and let him fix the broken parts of you.
The next type of tow truck is the flatbed. The flatbed truck "can be hydraulically inclined and moved to ground level allowing the vehicle being towed to be placed under its own power or pulled by a winch." I am so thankful that Jesus Christ moved himself to this earthly ground level so that he could repair our brokenness! By coming down to ground level, the car can be placed on the flatbed one of two ways. First it can come up by its own power (just driving up), or if it’s too broken to make it up on it’s own then there is a pully that will help it. I’m so thankful that when I’m broken down to nothing, when I’m weak and I don’t have the strength to pull myself up, that I can look up and see God reaching out to pull me up. When we are powerless, He has the power to lift us up and bring us to safety. He draws us forward, levels us out, secures us, and raises us up on the flatbed. Psalm 62 is an awesome passage that talks about God as our Sold Rock (flatbed) and our power (pulley system).
The final type of tow truck is the one in the image above. This is the wheel-lift tow truck. Wikipedia says that it,
“evolved from the hook and chain technology to produce a large metal yoke that can be fitted under the front or rear wheels to cradle them drawing the front or rear end of the vehicle clear of the ground by a pneumatic or hydraulic hoist so it can be towed”
This type of tow truck evolved from the hook and chain technology because it has less ability to damage the car. The cross keeps us safe from harm! The large metal yoke it is talking about would be that lateral piece. On the cross of Christ, that would have been where His arms were outstretched. His arms cradle us and draw us clear off the ground to be towed. In the arms of his mercy we find rest. Matthew 11:28-30 says,
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
So what does that word yoke mean? Well literally it means "a bar of wood that’s used to unite two animals allowing them to work in the fields." But figuratively it’s a symbol of slavery, burdens, oppression, and bondage to sin. So with this metaphor of the tow truck God uses a yoke, something that has all of these negative connotations attached to it... burdens, slavery, oppression, bondage to sin… things that normally weigh heavily on you and bring you down. But God says, "I’m going to take these things and I’m going to use them for my glory. Yes you've made some mistakes in the past, but I’m going to take those mistakes that have now been washed in my blood, and I’m going to use them to lift you up. I’m going to cradle you in my arms of mercy. I’m going bring you up, draw you forward, and I’m going to fix the broken parts of you. Then I’ll put you back on the road and you will go to great places. You will be in my will. You will declare my name. You will make disciples of all nations. And when the world catches up with you again, if you ever find yourself broken down again, you just call upon me. I’ll lift you up. I’ll give you rest. Take my burdens upon your shoulders, because they are light. Give me your problems, and I’ll repair them. Cast your cares on me, because I care for YOU!"
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When I think of brokenness in the Bible, one of the first people I think of (other than Job) is Jeremiah. Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. To lament literally means "to mourn aloud, to express sorrow demonstratively." Jeremiah was obviously broken when he wrote this book. He had just personally witnessed the downfall of Judah and the capture of Jerusalem. But even though Jeremiah is writing about sorrow and tragedy, even while he is pouring out his heart to the Lord, he still has hope. Jeremiah has the ability to hope in the midst of such suffering because he has found relief in God's arms of mercy. He has been rescued by the Tow Truck Savior. In Lamentations 3:19-29 Jeremiah is remembering his brokenness. He remembers it because it gives him hope. It's never good to dwell in the past, but every now and then we need to take a little trip down memory lane and remember where God has brought us from. We need to remember the times when we were broken down on the side of the road of life, the times when we called out to God and He came to our rescue. As verse 22 says, it's because of His mercies that we fail not. Our hope is in Christ and His faithfulness. In verse 32 of the same chapter, Jeremiah says "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." I've always heard the saying "God will never put more on you than you can handle" and I've always believed that to be true. But I heard it from a different perspective the other day. I was reading a devotional by someone who's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She said that people kept telling her "God will never put more on you than you can handle" but she didn't believe them. She knew what she was feeling, and she knew what her mom was going to be put through in the coming months and years. It all seemed pretty overwhelming. So she began to search the Bible, because she wanted proof that what everyone was telling her was true. However, she never found the proof she was looking for. What she found instead was that "though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion." You see, we're all going to face hard times. And at times, it may seem like it's too much to bear. But Christ tells us to cast our cares on Him. He says for us to take His yoke upon us. Nothing is too much for Christ to bear, and with Him on our side we can endure all things. Skipping down again, in verses 49-58 of the same chapter, Jeremiah is overwhelmed with grief. He is broken down yet again. But when called out, when he called upon the name of the Lord (333)... God, the emergency road service operator, came with the cross-shaped tow truck and pulled him out of the low dungeon. He drew him near. He redeemed his life. What is your story of redemption? Do you need to bring it into remembrance so that it will give you hope like it did for Jeremiah? Have you grown complacent in your walk with Christ? Do you need that hope back? Do you even have that joyous hope that only comes from the salvation of God? Search your heart. Maybe you're at a place in your life right now where you're broken down. Maybe you've made some mistakes and you feel stuck in the mess you've made. Let God fix your brokenness. Let him pull you up out of the miry clay. Don't be afraid to call out to Him. Cry out to Him and He will hear you. He will answer you and He will come to your rescue. We serve a Tow Truck Savior... We serve a God who will come down and meet us in the midst of our problems. He will reach out and pull us up out of our pit of despair. He is the lifter of our heads. He'll repair the broken pieces of our heart. He is a God of mercy and love. He will cradle us in His arms, raise us up, and take us to safety. He will bear our burdens, if only we would surrender them to Him.
I've been struggling spiritually a lot lately, and I'm not sure why. I'm not even sure how to explain it. All I know is that I haven't had the passion, desire, or inspiration that I one time had. I've felt distant from the Savior, almost as if I've hit a brick wall, a spiritual plateau. My walk with God has grown complacent. God has continued to pour out His blessings on me, and yet I've become stagnant in the praise I offer back to Him. I've felt empty inside, desperately searching for some type of revelation as to why I feel this way. Earnestly, I've been seeking a personal revival. Fervently, I've been praying for God to restore the joy of my salvation. Well, I think my breakthrough came today.
Sometimes you read a passage of scripture and it speaks to you in such a profound way that there is simply nothing that needs to be added or taken away from it. Well, that's exactly what happened to me tonight when I read this passage, so I felt led to share it...
"I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: "Please, Lord, save me!" How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth! I believed in you, so I said, "I am deeply troubled, Lord." In my anxiety I cried out to you, "These people are all liars!" What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord's name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all his people. The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die. O Lord, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains. I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people - in the house of the Lord, in the heart of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!"
I saw someone offer this advice to someone else via Facebook a while back, and I was in awe of the power that seemed to radiate from just two words. Extend Grace. Two words - it seems simple enough, but in actuality it's probably one of the biggest struggles of the Christian life today. Don't ask me why. Christ extended His Grace to us, so I will never understand why we find it so hard to extend Grace to others. I guess it all comes back to pride - one of the most destructive sins and one of the most successful tools of Satan.
One of my biggest pet peeves in school is on that first day of class, when the sophomores start ragging on the "lowly" freshmen. It gets under my skin, because just a few months ago they were that lowly freshman. They know what it's like. If you remember how miserable it was for you, then why do you want to be the source of misery for someone else? We, as Christians, are the exact same way. We know what it's like to be lost out in the world. It seems like you're all alone, nothing is ever good enough, you constantly feel as if you're being judged. So why do we want to make others feel the same way we once did? We are called be Christ-like. It's what being a Christian means, literally. Christ was all about Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, and Compassion... so why can't we offer that same type of love to our neighbors? Christianity has a negative reputation, because so many who profess to be Christians aren't living like it. And those who are Christians don't do anything but judge those who aren't. When we call ourselves Christians we are saying that we are like Christ, or at least striving to be like Him. So how does the way you're living reflect who Jesus is? Do you show the world that Jesus walked around with His chest bowed out, looking down on everyone around Him, kicking those who were already knocked down? Or do you show them the Jesus who showed compassion to crowds of people, extended grace to prostitutes, mercy to thieves, and love to murderers? He was the King of Kings, and yet He humbled Himself to the form of a servant and washed the feet of His very disciples. That is the Jesus I know, love, and serve. That is the Jesus I want others to see in me when I call myself a Christian. Will I ever live up to who Jesus was? Absolutely not. But I want to live every day of my life striving to be more like Him.
So what exactly does it mean to "extend grace"? Well to extend means to "cause to cover a larger area, or cause to last longer" and grace means "divine love and protection bestowed freely on people, the state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God, and an excellence or power granted by God." When I was reading these definitions 1 Peter 4:8 came to my mind, which reads "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." If you continue reading, verse 10 says "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."According to the definition of grace, we are granted excellence and power by God through His Grace. If His excellence and power is within us, then why is it so hard to offer it back to others? We need to use that power for love and service, rather than judgement and condemnation. Matthew 10:8 says, "Freely you have received, Freely give." You were freely given love, mercy, and compassion by Christ. Why not offer it freely to everyone you come in contact with? Don't ask questions or wait until you see what kind of person they are, just love them like Jesus!
As confirmation that this blog was "InspiredByGod" these are a few quotes that I coincidentally came across this week...
"A Pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a Spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself." -A.W. Tozer
I was reading a passage in my Bible the other day and I can't remember what the passage was, but it was talking about the "righteous" and the notes in my Bible made a point that really stuck with me. It said the author wasn't really calling these people righteous, because Romans 3:10 says "there is none righteous" and Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." So when the Bible refers to someone as being righteous, it actually implies that they are being self-righteous. Therefore, a Pharisee is a self-righteous person, but a Spiritual man or woman acknowledges and makes it known that Christ is the only Righteous One.
"The Holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him." -Spurgeon
This quote says that the Holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness that remains within himself. It does not say that the Holier a man becomes, the more he condemns the unholiness of others. He is too saddened by his own unholiness to worry about the unholiness of others. Does this mean he doesn't care about leading others to Christ? Absolutely not, but he must get himself right with God before he can lead others to Him. It's like the verse that says, "Why are you worried about the dust in your brothers eye, when you have a plank in your own eye?" When you are focused on ridding yourself of your own unholiness, that is when you will set the greatest example to those who are lost.
"Have you ever considered that the area of the church which you are most critical of just might be the area in which you need to be serving?" -Mark Hall
I realize that this quote (though nonetheless powerful) does not directly relate to the main idea of this blog. However, if you look at it from a different perspective it makes perfect sense... Have you ever considered that the people you are most judgmental of just might be the ones you need to be ministering to? We need to build up the Church, not tear it down. So reach out to someone today that you would normally avoid. Start a conversation with someone you would normally just talk about behind their back. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
"If you see someone is bleeding don't ask "Are you a Christian... Muslim... Atheist... gay... illegal?" Just help them, like Jesus did!" -Rick Warren
*This is a blog that I wrote back in April, but for some reason I never got around to posting it. Well this week the thought of "Redefining Love" has been on my mind again. I originally came across this post with the idea of using it for my personal study and/or just adding something to it. But as I read through it, I didn't see that there was anything that needed to be added or taken away. It spoke to my heart in a powerful way once again, and I pray it does the same for you.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was able to be a part of an amazing move of God last weekend. Part of that awesome move happened around midnight Saturday after we left the church. Our FOCUS group was gathered in the living room of a generous church member's house, planning our lesson for Sunday School. We knew that we wanted to talk about the true meaning of love, but we couldn't seem to get any of our ideas to work. It seemed like we kept hitting a brick wall, and it was frustrating. Finally, one of the girls in the group asked if we could pray. Of course, we all quickly agreed. She didn't pray for a miracle, but God answered her prayer in a miraculous way. Immediately after she finished praying we decided on the scripture we were going to use. There were seven verses, and seven of us, so we each read a verse. I honestly believe that in that moment we were bound by a form of unity that I have never experienced before, and the Holy Spirit began to speak. When we finished reading the scripture someone made a comment about love being an action. Then someone else added to that, and we literally went around the room finishing eachother's sentences. We had the basic outline of our lesson planned in just a few minutes. I can't even begin to describe how awesome that was. We were overwelmed by the greatness of God, and it bubbled over in the form of joyous laughter. The only words that seemed to appropriately describe the moment was, "God is good!" :)
Our lesson that next morning was titled, "Redefining Love" and God has used that exact same message to minister to me all week. The basis of our scripture was 1 John 3:14-20 and the message we received could be summed up like this... Love is an action, so if you don't act on it then it isn't really love. God is love, so when we show love to others we are also showing them who God is. Love involves passion and sacrifice, therefore Jesus made the ultimate demonstration of love through His death on the cross.
God has really been opening my eyes lately to the power of the Trinity - God in three separate persons. It's one of those things that I've always known about, and always believed to be true, but never really understood or truly grasped the meaning of. Well last week God laid it out to me like this...
God: My Father
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
-Romans 8:15
As a father watches over and protects His children, so does God watch over and protect us. And as a child is taught to respect and obey his father, so should we respect and obey our heavenly Father. The word Abba is Arabic for father, but it is accompanied by another word which also means father. Therefore Abba is often believed to have been more of a childlike term of endearment - almost like the word "Daddy" in English. I believe God uses the word "Abba" to try and teach us that we need to depend on Him like a little child depends on his daddy. We need cry out to God to fix our boo-boo's when we get hurt. We need to call out to Him when we need someone to get the monsters out from under the bed. When the kids on the playground are making fun of us, we need to run to our Daddy. It's all about that childlike faith. But we can't forget that Abba is also accompanied by the word "Father" because when we run away from home and realize we can't make it on our own, it's our Father we need to run back to with shame and humility. When get out in the real world and it knocks us down to our knees a few times, it's our Father we need to call for advice on how to get back up on our feet again. When He speaks, we listen. And what He tells us to do, we do without argument. The relationship between a father/son or father/daughter is all about respect and obedience - or at least it should be. Children seem to be constantly searching for approval from their parents. When they are younger they want their artwork to be displayed on refrigerator for all to see. When they are older they want to see that look of pride and feel that pat on the back when it comes time for family introductions. Search for that same approval from God, and always live your life in a way that would make your Father proud. Come to Him with childlike faith and endearment, but at the same time offer Him the respect and reverence He deserves, and obey His commands when He speaks.
Jesus Christ: My Prince "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
Jesus is the lover of ours souls, and He loves with an unconditional love. He demonstrated this love when He laid down His life on Calvary (Romans 5:8). Before He offered up His life, Christ prayed to His Father. This prayer is found in John 17 and in it He prays first for Himself, then for the disciples, then for us who had yet to believe. Christ came to be our intercessor, so that we could have a direct communication line with the Father. But before we were even brought into being, He was already making intercession for us! He ends His prayer by saying "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." He is basically saying "I want the love that You (God the Father) have for me, Your perfect and blameless (only begotten) Son, to be in them (the sinful beings who are about to betray and crucify me)." Wow! There is truly no greater love. Now Christ has ascended and we are awaiting His return. He is the Bridegroom and we are his bride, anxiously awaiting the marriage supper around His throne (Revelation 19:6-10). This comparison between Christ and the Church and the relationship between a husband and wife can be found in Ephesians 5:23-25. We are to submit to the will of Christ, just as the wife is to submit to her husband. We must humble ourselves before Him, cast our cares at His feet, and surrender our lives to Him in humble obedience. How could we not demonstrate our love for Him in these acts of service after He demonstrated His love for us on the cross at Calvary? We need to give Him the praise He deserves, it is the very least we can do. And just as in any other relationship - communication is the key. We must stay in a state of constant communication with Christ in order for our relationship with Him to remain strong. The Word of God is His love letter to us. He speaks His love to us daily through His Word, through nature, through others, and through that still small voice. Our prayers, worship, and service are our love letters back to Him. Have you told Him lately that you love Him?
Holy Spirit: My Best Friend "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." -John 15:26
I have been amazed by what all I've learned about the Holy Spirit this year. I was able to be a part of a ladies bible study and our focus for the study was the Holy Spirit. Most of the inspiration for the study came from Forgotten God by Francis Chan and though I haven't yet got a chance to read the book I was left in awe by how much we truly seem to have forgotten the third person of the Trinity. We take Him for granted, and so often forget that He is also a separate being just as The Father and Son are separate beings. In fact, one scripture in particular that left me dumbfounded was John 16:7 in which Jesus Christ Himself said, "It is expedient (advantageous) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." I have often thought that life would be so much easier if Jesus were here with us in person. But John 14:17 gives an explanation for why it is so advantageous for Him to go, "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth in you, and shall be in you." The world could see Jesus Christ in the flesh, and they still rejected Him. The Spirit, however, dwells within us. Jesus in the flesh could walk and talk, but He could only walk and talk as far as His human voice would allow and His human legs would take Him. Therefore He taught His message to twelve men who would carry the message after He was gone. But even those twelve men, though they could see Him with their eyes and hear His voice with their ears, often failed to let His words sink into their hearts. The Holy Spirit, however, is not contained to a fleshly body. He dwells within us and can speak directly to our hearts. He is everywhere, at all times. He can speak to hearts in Africa, and at the same time speak to my heart thousands of miles away. He is our helper, our comforter, and He is with us always. We simply have to call upon His name. The Holy Spirit is our evidence that Jesus Christ is very much alive and living. The Holy Spirit is our evidence that God cares for us and loves us with an everlasting love. The world doesn't understand because they can't see Him with their eyes or touch Him with their hands. But we know He's there because we can feel Him in our hearts. He is our very best friend, so we need to treat Him like. Talk to Him and spend time with Him - don't take His friendship for granted!
"... faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God." - A.W. Tozer
Many non-believers use the phrase "seeing is believing" to defend their beliefs. However, I am a believer, and therefore I prefer to twist this statement up a little. I like to say that believing is seeing, because in order to see God you must first believe that He exists. Seeing can be believing, but only if you're looking through the eyes of faith rather than worldly eyes. Look with your heart and then you will begin to see. Open your eyes to the invisible things of God. For as Hebrews 11:3 says, "Things which are seen were not made by things which do appear". In other words, the things of this earth are only made visible through the invisible things of God. So how can we see things that can't be seen? Faith makes it possible. Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" so when you look through the eyes of faith you will begin to see things that did not seem visible before, and belief in those invisible things will naturally follow.
A.W. Tozer seeks to provide a definition for faith in chapter 7 of "The Pursuit of God". Tozer comes to the conclusion that "looking" and "believing" are synonyms. He says that looking is done through external eyes, but believing is done through the heart. He then says that faith is when you focus your eyes on the things of God and look to Him in all things. He used Psalm 34:5, 123:1-2, and Matthew 14:19 to support this definition. As I read through these verses and through Tozer's explanation, I was utterly amazed. I began to read Hebrews 11 (aka "The Hall of Faith") and God began to speak. As He spoke, my eyes were opened and I began to view faith in a different way than I had ever seen it before.
First of all, I think it is important to point out that in Biblical numerology the number 11 means "chaos" and the number 40 means "some sort of probation or trial period". Hebrews 11 is a book devoted to defining the word faith and it consists of 40 verses total. So before I even begin reading this chapter I have already determined that faith is defined (and refined) through a chaotic trial period.
The chapter provides several examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated true and genuine faith even in the midst of trial and chaos. For example, verse 7 says "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." And verse 17 says "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son... Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead." These men, along with the others listed in this chapter, endured and conquered great trials because they looked at their situation through the eyes of faith. They knew the promises of God and they took Him for His word, never doubting or wavering. Although they had not yet received the promise, they embraced and clung to it because they knew that God was faithful and they believed wholeheartedly that He would not suffer them to be tempted beyond that which they could bear.
Imagine if they had not looked through the eyes of faith. Imagine if Noah had said, "I have to see the first raindrop before I'll begin building the ark." He and his whole family would have been destroyed and life would have ceased to exist. But Noah never doubted God. Scripture says he "moved with fear" and began to prepare for what he could not see with external eyes. He hadn't yet received the promise, but He saw it in the distance because he was looking through the eyes of faith. He looked to the Heavens and believed in what could not be seen. In the end, God provided a rainbow in the sky as evidence of His promise.
If you're having trouble seeing through the eyes of faith today, look to Christ for strength and place your trust in Him. Be assured that even if you can't see God's promise today, it's waiting patiently in your future. So embrace the journey, because God will prove Himself faithful in the end... and He may even provide a rainbow as evidence of His faithfulness. Then you will be able to use your rainbow to give a little hope to someone else and help them to also be able to see through the eyes of faith.
I was reading from Psalm 144 the other day. It is a powerful chapter and I highly recommend that you go back and study it for yourself. But as I was reading there something intriguing that stood out to me. In verse six David says "your enemies" which suggests that God has enemies. This was a concept that I had never really considered before. Of course we always refer to Satan as the enemy of God, but this verse suggests that Satan is not the only enemy of God. We as humans typically consider our enemies to be other humans. But what human being could pose a threat to God? After all, verse three says "What are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?" God loves all humans equally and desires salvation for each and every one. It's not humans who are the enemies of God, but rather it is the power of Satan working through humans. An enemy is defined as "one who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes the interests of another; something destructive or injurious in its effects." Satan feels hatred towards God and all of His followers, he is opposed to the interest of God to save people through the blood of Jesus, and he intends to put a stop to God's plan. Satan seeks to accomplish his task through something destructive, something that will be disastrous in its effects. These tools of Satan are the enemies of God.
Satan lies to God's people and strives to convince them that his ways are better than God's ways because they will never live up to the expectations of God. The lies of Satan ultimately lead to a life of defeat outside the will of God. Satan uses pride to keep people from stepping out and surrendering to the call of God, and as a result many will never see the Kingdom of God. Gossip is a tool used by Satan to break up churches and tear apart families. Jealousy is used to put family against family, friends against friends, and neighbors against neighbors. Greed leads to selfish thoughts and desires. Satan uses the power of greed to draw people slowly away from the purpose God designed them to fulfill. Doubt and Fear are used to keep believers from taking that leap of boldness and truly shining the light of God into the darkness of those already under Satan's power. Bitterness causes divisions, and a house divided will not stand. Last but certainly not least, apathy is a powerful tool used by Satan to convince believers that there is a such thing as good enough when it comes to serving Christ. This a lie as well because it's impossible to give God all that He deserves. When we as Christians become apathetic we are not only keeping ourselves from fully experiencing the work of God, but we are also keeping others from Him as well. And in the process, we are giving Satan an upper hand.
Granted, Satan doesn't have a chance when it comes to challenging God. I've read the end of the book, and I know that God wins in the end. But it's not a happily ever after for all involved in this story of life. Not everyone wins in the end. We've all been influenced by the tools of Satan at one time or another in our life. Take a look at you're life right now... Are you under the power of God, or under the power of one of His enemies? When judgement day comes will you find that you're on the winning team, or the losing team? It's even possible that you're on God's team, but you keep lending a helping hand to Satan and the powers working under him. Which is it? Examine your heart and determine the answer. Pray. Seek God. Ask for Forgiveness. If a change needs to be made, then make it. Time is running out and God has a place for you on his team. He has a position available that only you can fill, so take up your cross and follow Him.
This is a study I did last year, but I came across it the other day and it spoke to my heart once again. It's short, sweet, and to the point - but it speaks truth that words can't explain. Like many of my studies, it begins with a question... Why does God find broken people beautiful? It's one of those things that I've always known to be true, but I've often wondered why it's true. Why does a perfect God love imperfect people?It doesn't seem like there could be an answer to that type of question, but God's Word says to ask and it will be given to you, and on this particular day He gave four answers to my one question.
When they are broken, He is near. (Psalm 34:18)
He desires their broken spirit & delights in their sacrifice. (Psalm 51:16-17)
Broken people are looking for a Savior. (Psalm 69:20)
Brokenness comes to pass and beauty follows. (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11)
Take time to look up the scripture attached with each answer, ponder them in your heart, and let God speak to you personally. Listen to this song as well and allow the words to minister to you.
"We all fall short. We all have sinned. But when you let God's Grace break in, it's beautiful. Come as you are. Surrender your heart. Broken and Beautiful."
I was looking through some of my notes on Facebook the other day and I found this post that I had written for Thanksgiving last year, and then last night my pastor preached a message on giving God praise so I thought I would share because MY GOD IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!!
"Thanksgiving week is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean I need to stop giving God praise for the countless blessings He has given me in my life. This year has not been easy by any means, but I'm thankful that God has never left my side. I've turned my back on Him so many times, and yet He always welcomes me back with open arms. I'm thankful that four years ago He found something in me that was worth saving. I'm thankful that He has given me hope and a future. I'm thankful for His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy. I'm thankful that He is not only my Father, but He is also my Best Friend. I'm thankful that He has given me peace, comfort, and understanding in the moments when I needed it the most. I'm thankful for the lives of those He has taken from my life. I'm thankful for the difference they made on this earth and the lives they impacted while they were here. I'm thankful for the vision He has given me for my life. I'm thankful that He has led me to a school where I'm surrounded by amazing people who are full of His Holy Spirit. I'm thankful not only for His guidance and direction, but for His discernment and confirmation as well. I'm thankful for the spiritual leaders, encouragers, and prayer warriors He has placed in my life. I'm thankful for my amazing family, the constant stronghold in my life. I'm thankful for my amazing church family, the church that Love is building. I'm thankful for my amazing youth group, the bloodline of Christ. I'm thankful for new friends God has placed into my life and the joyous mystery of what is yet to come. I'm thankful for old friends God has placed back into my life and the unfolding of His mysterious, magnificent plan. I'm thankful for His Holy Word and all that He has taught me through the years. I'm thankful for the power of His conviction. I'm thankful for His daily inspiration. I'm thankful for His perfect plan. I'm thankful that He knows me better than I know myself. I'm thankful that He is in control. I'm thankful for the valleys where He has grown me and the valuable lessons learned. I'm thankful for answered prayers. I'm thankful for His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. There aren’t enough words to describe how Great He truly is, nor how grateful I will forever be. But I trust there will come a day when I can finally give Him the praise He deserves, and I can only imagine what a glorious day that will be!"
As my last few posts have revealed, I've been struggling a lot lately and my mind has been a scattered mess. I've been frustrated with the way people handle situations, and aggravated by the way God's people have become so wrapped in playing religious games that they lose sight of who He is and what His vision is in their life. I'm tired of people thinking they have the right to tell others how to serve God instead of focusing on their own calling and serving Him in their own way. We are the body of Christ, but we each have our own role to play. No one person in the body of Christ is any better than another. We are all broken people, only made whole by the love and mercy of God our Savior, so why do we try so hard to tear each other down instead of building each other up? If only we would fall back in love with God, we would see that religious matters don't really matter at all. If only we would get to know our Savior on a personal basis, we would see that it's not up to us to dictate how our fellow brothers and sisters should worship. My heart is breaking for God's church and His people. My only desire is to make God proud and bring a smile to His face. He deserves so much more from us than what we choose to settle for. Something has to be done, but I don't know what to do or where to start. I'm crying out. The songs "If We've Ever Needed You" and "Lord Move or Move Me" have been playing on repeat in my mind. Then one day last week God began to speak to me through a passage in the book I was reading...
"For this great sickness that is upon us no one person is responsible, and no Christian is wholly free from blame. We have all contributed directly or indirectly, to this sad state of affairs. We have been too blind to see, or too timid to speak out, or too self-satisfied to desire anything better than the poor, average diet with which others appear satisfied. To put it differently, we have accepted one another's notions, copied one another's lives and made one another's experiences the model for our own. And for a generation the trend has been downward. Now we have reached a new place of sand and burnt wire grass and, worst of all, we have made the Word of Truth conform to our experience and accepted this low plane as the pasture of the blessed. It will require a determined heart and more than a little courage to wrench ourselves loose from the grip of our times and return to biblical ways. But it can be done."
- from A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God
Those words were written over half a century before I ever read them, but it seemed as if they were written for the sole purpose of speaking to me in that very moment. It reminded me of the day I accepted Christ as my Savior because every question and every doubt I had was answered in only a few short minutes. God broke through my madness and clearly revealed Himself to me. If I am this disappointed in God's people right now, I can't even imagine how disappointed He must be. I kept thinking about the children of Israel. Every time I read their story I say to myself, "How does God still love them after they've turned away from Him so many times?" and "Why do they continue to turn away from God after all He delivered them from?" It's no secret that the children of Israel are symbolic of the church of Christ. We are no different than them. God blesses us and we turn away from Him. God delivers us and we reject His plans. God saves us and we live as if we were actually worthy of His salvation. We are not worthy, so we need to start living like it and stop taking God's grace for granted. Recognizing a problem within God's church doesn't make me a saint by any means. It's easy to talk about change, but it's another to actually enact change. Pointing fingers doesn't make me any less of a sinner, but disobeying the conviction of God does make me more of a sinner. God assured me through this writing from Tozer that hope does exist. God can still use the church despite it's flaws. God can still use me despite how many times I've let him down in the past. As a body of Christ we need to come together and cover each others weaknesses, not expose them. We need to remember where God brought us from and the countless ways in which He has blessed us along the way. We need to seek after God in a way that we never have before. We need to thirst for Him like we thirst for water. We need to crave Him as if He's a drug we're addicted to. We need to stop viewing ourselves as self-righteous and worthy of God's love. We need to open our eyes to needs of this world and the needs of our own souls. Our one and only focus in this life needs to be to know God more and invite others to do the same. Only then will the problems within the church vanish. Only then will discord become unity. Only then will we be healed from the sickness that has infected the church of Christ for so long. We need to put God back on the judgement seat where He belongs, we need to look to Him to solve our problems, and we need to seek His will above all others. He alone is worthy of such a position.
The other morning as I was driving I noticed that the sky looked dark and dreary ahead. There was no doubt that rain and possible storms were on the way. It seems as if there has literally been a storm every day this summer. I'm not a fan of storms, and I was dreading driving into yet another one. But then I glanced up and noticed in the rear view mirror that the sun was still shining brightly behind me. It was as if one of those cartoon light bulbs went off in my head. That is exactly what my life has felt like lately. Everything seems dark and dreary on the road ahead of me. I've found myself questioning if this is really all a part of God's plan. If trials only make us stronger, then why do I feel so weak? If the rain brings the harvest to fruition, then when will we ever reap what we've sown? I've found myself missing the days behind. I miss the days when there was no doubting that I was exactly where God wanted me. I miss the days when I was able to worship freely and without hindrance. I miss the days when there was a fire within God's people that couldn't be contained or even put into words. Where is that joy? What happened to the days of sunshine? Then God began to speak. He showed me that the rain and the storms serve temporary purposes, but after every rain shower there is a rainbow and beyond every dark cloud the sun will shine again. It was as if He were saying, "Beloved, just wait it out. This storm will pass like all the ones before. Don't give up hope. Just be patient and let Me do my work." So I'm going to take Him for His promises. I'm going to wait on Him, and in the meantime I'll praise Him in the storm. This BarlowGirl song is a perfect representation of my prayer of surrender...
"All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward."
The more changes I experience in my life, the more I find this quote to be true. The opposite of growth is stagnation or decay. It breaks my heart to sit back and watch people change in ways that are not pleasing to God. I've seen people I love experience that slow fade until they are completely out of God's will. I've watched as people I care about allow others to change them and transform them instead of letting God have control in their lives. I've seen people try so hard to imitate the actions of others that they lose sight of their own vision and eventually forget that God created them for a unique purpose. They've become stagnant, and some have even begun to decay and wither away. This is not the kind of change God wants to see in our lives. God wants to see us get on fire and burn for Him. God wants to see us take the vision He gives us and run with it. God wants to see us love others and reach out to those in need. God wants to see us grow in Him, not away from Him.
Last night I was studying in the book of Ecclesiastes and I found a passage that was both interesting and confusing at the same time. The first three verses in chapter 7 said things like "better is the day of death than the day of birth... it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting" and "sorrow is better than laughter." What?! That didn't make sense to me at all, but I reminded myself that God's thoughts are not my own and His ways are higher than mine. I read the notes in my Bible to try to get an idea of what point the Word of God was trying to get across, and suddenly it made perfect sense. The notes in my Bible read, "Mourning and sorrow are better than feasting and laughter because they cause a man to reflect wisely on the brevity of life... Both good and bad days are the work of God and are used, apart from our ability to understand them, in God's sovereign plan." Wow! As I looked back over Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 everything began to fall into place, and God began to speak to my heart. He showed me six points throughout the passage and gave me the answer to every "Why?" I asked along the way. My God is an awesome God!
Death is better than birth (v.1) - Spiritual death is better than birth because you have to die to your sins in order to be born again. Physical death is better than birth because it is better to leave a sinful world and enter a sinless world than to leave a sinless world and enter a sinful world. There is a quote that says "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." That is so true!
Mourning is better than feasting (v.2) - Mourning is better than feasting because it is a time when you focus your thoughts inwardly on the life of another being. On the other hand, feasting is a time when your thoughts are focused outwardly on selfish things.
Sorrow is better than laughter (v.3) - Sorrow leads you to reflects on the brokenness and brevity of life, while laughter drowns out these thoughts. Sorrow leads you to seek out answers, while laughter leads you to forget there was ever a problem to begin with.
Rebuke of the wise is better than the song of fools (v.5) - The rebuke of the wise (teachers, parents, pastors, etc.) convict your heart and instruct you to make a change, but the song of fools (worldly musicians and celebrities, non-believer friends, etc.) try to convince you that all is well and eventually lead you down a path of destruction.
End is better than the beginning (v.8a) - In the beginning of a story the character, who is usually immature and naive, is setting out on a journey of self discovery that is full of obstacles and opposition. However, by the end of the story the problem has been solved, the character has been rescued, and a valuable lesson has been learned.
Patient in Spirit is better than proud in spirit (v.8b) - Patience is molded and perfected through death, mourning, sorrow, and rebuke. But pride is molded and perfected through feasting, laughter, and the song of fools.
Last, but not at all least, verse 12 says "Wisdom is a defense." When I looked up the word "defense" it said that it meant a "protective shade" or a "shadow." I found that to be an interesting comparison and I wanted to look into it more. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my shadow reflected on the wall to the left of where I was sitting. It was the middle of the night and I was the only one awake in the house. I suddenly remembered when I was younger and how scary I used to think those big black things on the wall were. As soon as that thought entered my mind, I looked to my right and saw my lamp sitting on the table beside me. It was the only source of light in the darkened room.
God Moment!
God's Word is our only source of light in this dark world, and by it we receive wisdom. Like the shadows on the wall when I was younger, wisdom can be scary when you first encounter it. After all, according to verse 12 it has the power to give life to those who have it. Like this passage when I first read it, wisdom is difficult to understand at first. But when you break it down and let the words sink in, it will minister to your soul. A shadow is defined as "an imperfect imitation or copy, a mirrored image or reflection." Let the Word of God illuminate you, because we are imperfect people, but with God behind you your reflection can be bigger and bolder than you could ever imagine. Remember that wisdom is also defined as a "protective shade" and there is nothing better than to rest and find comfort in the shadow of God, safe under His wing.
One of my favorite things about God is how He speaks to us through the simple things in life. He takes the most basic of circumstances and teaches me a valuable lesson. These are the moments when God makes Himself real and personal in my life. I call them "God Moments!" My “God Moment!” this week came in the form of my iPod
I got an iTouch for Christmas and it very quickly became one of my most valued possessions for the simple fact that it combined Music, the Bible, and Facebook in one handheld device. I went from December to April without it even getting one scratch, though I did tend to drop it pretty frequently. Then, last month it was sitting on a stack of clothes on the counter in the bathroom. Suddenly and without notice, the pile of clothes began to lean and my iPod went crashing to the floor. I didn't think twice about it because this had happened so many times before. I simply bent over and picked it up. My heart sank... It was shattered! I quickly searched the web trying to figure out the simplest and easiest way to repair the damage. It was going to end up costing at least $100 - nearly the cost of a brand new one. It still worked though so I continued to use it. I just had to be wary of cutting my fingers on the cracks and shivers of glass. However, I knew I couldn't continue to use it, because the simplest of falls this time could destroy it completely.
Then a few weeks ago I was at a clothing store, when I happened to come across a case for an iTouch. It was for the same version as mine, it was my favorite color, it was only $5, and it came with a protective screen shield. In other words…. It was perfect! As soon as I got home I fixed it up. The screen shield covered the cracks, so I could use it without worrying about hurting my fingers. And the case protected it from future falls. It was just like new! My mom, however, wasn't as pleased. She had paid for an iPod that was now damaged, cracked, and ugly. I, on the other hand, didn't care what it looked like. I just knew that I could use it and that was enough for me. In my mind, it was just as valuable as the day I got it. I had bought it for what it could do, not what it looked like.
God Moment!
We are broken people. We've been shattered by sin. Our falls have left us cracked, damaged, and ugly. When the world looks at us, that's all they see. But God sees beyond our exterior image. He sees what we are capable of. He sees our value. He sees through our brokenness and say's "I can still use her!” or “I can still use him!" God knows we are broken, but He doesn’t leave us that way. He covers us with His blood. It fills in the broken pieces and protects us from more damage. The cracks are still visible. They're still ugly. But we still have a purpose. God can still use us, and to Him that makes us valuable. The cracks remind us of where we came from, and keep us from going back. When God saved us He made us a new creation. My mom saw the cracks in my iPod and she didn’t see the use in it. In the same way, the world will only see your broken pieces - until you play them your music! Show the world what God has done in your life. Show them what you are capable of. Show them that God changed you from the inside out!
Brokenness & Transparency. Before I came to Gardner-Webb, these were just words to me. But the people I've met and the things I've experienced this year have given new life and meaning to these words. This year has been a tremendous learning and growing process in my walk with Christ, and most of the lessons I've learned can be traced back to these two words. Tonight, I felt as if the lesson finally came full circle. God opened my eyes and made these words real to me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was real with God. I didn't pretend to be someone I wasn't and I didn't try to impress Him. I simply humbled myself before Him. I opened myself up to Him. I was honest with Him. I surrendered myself to Him. And as a result I felt like my prayer life was given new life. I simply had an honest conversation with God, and it was the closest I've felt to Him in a long time. I may be four years old in Christ, but I felt like I didn't take my first real steps as a Christian until tonight. There's a song by Josh Wilson that says, "I don't want to say another empty prayer." That is my prayer. There is no point in praying a "pretty" prayer to a God who knows all your dirty secrets. Those are just empty words. You can't conceal the truth from an all-knowing God. Be transparent. If you are angry, yell at Him. If you are hurt, cry to Him. If you are broken, let it show. There is so much beauty in our brokenness. God knows our true inner darkness- and He loves us anyway! This is a poem called "The Real Me" that I wrote in August 2007. It seemed relevant to the situation so I thought I would share.
No one knows the real me.
No one that is, exceptfor me.
No one understands what I feel inside.
No one cares about the pain hold inside.
No one listens to my cries from deep within.
No one can see through my mask, to the real me which dwells within.
Wait…
Someone is calling out my name. Someone is pulling off the veil.
My prayers have been answered. The wait is over.
Now I know One who knows the real me – He loves me anyway!
Now I know One who understands what I feel inside – He listens!
Now I know One who cares about the pain I hold inside – He offers healing!
Now I know One who hears my cries from deep within – He gives me comfort!
Now I know the One who can see through my mask, to the real me that dwells within.
"There is nothing more beautiful than to be broken in the arms of the Savior."
I am blessed to be a part of a FOCUS group at school and we have the privilege of going to minister to different youth groups in the area. Being a part of this group has been such an amazing experience. This past weekend in particular was an exceptionally amazing experience. The way God pieced everything together so perfectly was absolutely beautiful. I've never experienced anything like it. The whole weekend was one big "God moment" and His presence was undeniable.
The youth group we were working with was not your average church youth group. They were not brought up in church. They were there because they wanted to be, not because their parents dragged them. The youth pastor picked them up for church and took them home afterwards. They didn't conform to the "stained glass masquerade" and they didn't wear a "church mask" to cover anything up. They were not religious; they were just real. They held nothing back, never pretended to be something they weren't, and they didn't let their diversity cause divisions. Their youth pastor accepted them as they were and did not judge them. He proved himself trustworthy and dependable. He befriended them just as Jesus would have, and he never gave up on them. As a result, they kept coming back. Church for them was not a place to fake who they really were or pretend that life was good when it really wasn't. Church for them was a place where they could be real about their problems; they could seek answers, and find comfort.
The theme for the week was "Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?" In other words, are you changing the world or are you letting the world change you? The key verse was Daniel 3:16-18 which is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It is a very familiar passage of scripture. These three men are thrown into the blazing furnace because they refused to bow to a graven image. The furnace was seven times hotter than usual, so hot that the men who threw them in were killed by the flames. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego escaped unharmed - and a fourth person was even found walking in the flames with them! It is powerful story of God's deliverance when you stand up for your faith and endure persecution. However, for the lesson Saturday night we chose to focus more on verse 18 in which they declare that they will still praise God even if He doesn't deliver them from the flames. After the lesson, God showed up and left us all in awe.
Picture with me a church basement, splatter painted walls, and a room full of mismatched couches. If you look out the window you see that a storm is raging. You can even hear the rolling thunder and flashes of lightening outside. But in this room you can also hear the hearts of God's children singing, "I'll praise you in this storm!" When the music ceases, the Spirit of God takes control. Suddenly, the walls are being torn down and these young people begin to tell their stories. Pain. Heartache. Sorrow. Abuse. Struggles. Brokenness. They begin to ask the tough questions... Why, God? They are crying out. They are seeking answers. My heart is breaking for them, but God slowly opens my eyes to the beauty of their brokenness. They don't even realize it yet, but they are in the arms of the Savior. I no longer see a room full of broken people; instead I see powerful testimonies in the making. We may not be able to save them from their pain, but we can point them to the One who can. We plant the seeds, and God brings it to fruition. The sin of this world may lead to pain and suffering, but God finds purpose in our pain. I can't even begin to imagine the plan God has in store for this group of young people. Their struggles have only made them stronger and there is no doubt in my mind that one day they will take hold of the promises of God and recognize Him for His goodness. I believe that one day I will sit around the throne of God and listen to them share their stories of deliverance. I will watch the crowns come rolling in as God rewards them for their patience, perseverance, and obedience of His will. Then I'll watch them turn around and cast those crowns back at the feet of Jesus and worship Him for His goodness and provision in their lives. Sweetly broken, wholly surrendered.
