As I came into this weekend, I just knew that the time was coming to write a new post for this blog. I didn't know what it would be about, and there were different ideas swirling around in my head. I can't describe the feeling I had, but I just knew that one was coming. There is something about the onset of the week of my Lord's Passion that just gets my heart tendered toward Him. I become really aware of the sin in my life and just how amazing His grace really is. I begin to ponder and meditate on just how much my God loves me. I think about His faithfulness when my tendency is to be anything but faithful. I think about the fact that I am His child, and with that identity and position comes amazing love, an abundance of mercy, and perfect discipline. What I mean by that is, His discipline always perfectly fits my need. He convicts me through His Word, or uses someone close to me to point me back to Him, He pries my fingers from things that I thought were good for me, He closes doors, and, sometimes He uses my children.
There are many times that I marvel at the wonderful creation of God called parenting. I never would have dreamed the lessons I have learned by being a parent. It is through parenting that God has given me a little taste of what he feels about me, and a better understanding of just how much He loves me. He also shows me, through the actions of my children, how I can treat Him. He shows me my tendency toward independence and rebellion. And, through it all, I come to a deeper and clearer understanding of His patience, kindness, and love.
The last few weeks have not been easy nor pleasant for me. Caroline is in a phase that I would call her first adolescence. Sure, her twos were terrible at times :) but, this is different. There has been the crossing of the arms, rolling of the eyes, and huffing around like she's 15 already. I found myself saying several times today, "O Lord help me!" I am quite sure that she has spoken to me in ways I never spoke to my parents, and Allen and I are disciplining in the same way I was raised--and it worked! Sometimes it is like she's never been disciplined in her entire life, which couldn't be further from the truth. Being a student of the wonderful book "Shepherding a Child's Heart", my thoughts have been, "Okay, we've got to get to the heart of this. I will ask probing questions to see what is going on in her heart." While a 15 year old wouldn't have much trouble speaking her mind, a 5 year old isn't quite there yet. I have wondered if it has something to do with Julianne at some level. Allen and I have thought that it is important to make sure Caroline is getting the attention from us that she needs. There is no doubt that has suffered a bit since I have gone back to teaching this year---and taking Hebrew---AND teaching a Bible study---AND doing the things a wife and mom does for her family every day.
Bottom line: For a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. I was reminded of this truth again as I talked over our situation with my parents. What a blessing to have godly parents who will tell you like it is in a loving an gentle way. Thanks, mom and dad for your words of wisdom tonight. After our phone conversation, I sprung into action. The determined perfectionist that I am---I got off of the phone and immediately started to think of ways I could spend some quality time with Caroline--to listen to her, talk to her, and spend more time with her. So, tomorrow for lunch it is a mommy daughter date to her favorite restaurant in town.
But, even after that decision was made, I still felt like I needed to think through somethings and pray. I don't know where your prayer closet is, but mine is in the shower. :) Yes, you read that correctly. Many times, if I need to clear my head or talk to God I jump into a nice warm shower and start thinking, praying, and sometimes talking. Thankfully I didn't do this in college or my suite mates would have thought I was crazy!! I cannot tell you how many times God has spoken to my heart during these times. Weird huh? Well, tonight I had another spiritual revelation in the shower!
I was thinking about how Caroline has been behaving and I believe this anger has manifested itself because I have not had time to give her my full undivided attention. Sure, I tell her I love her, I tell her she is beautiful, I tell her how happy I am that she is my daughter. But you know what---words are not enough. I began to think about times in my own life when I have longed for someone to spend time with me, to really stop what they are doing and make me a priority. We humans SO depend upon that. I have learned that ministry opportunities take TIME. Any time that I have done work for the Kingdom, it has meant sacrificing my own selfish goals and ambitions for the day. Often, the opportunities God provides for ministry happen at what we would consider the worst possible time. But, we then realize that if we follow through and obey, we reap a blessing of joy that far outweighs anything we would have chosen to do that day on our own. For a child, the same rules apply, in a way. I am convinced that what Caroline needs most right now, is for me to show my love to her by spending time with her and giving her my undivided attention. Its time for me to put away the homework, the cleaning, the cooking, the emailing, and the myriads of other things that distract me and just listen to her.
As I stood in the shower I came to a realization. Like my relationship with Caroline, Julianne, and Allen--words alone cannot define my relationship with God. My words are not enough. I can stand there in church and worship with a pure heart, and I can lead a group of women in a Bible study, and I can talk about Him to my family, but these words cannot be the measure of my relationship with Him. But the words I speak with Him alone--one on one in a time that I have sacrificed and set aside just for Him--that is different. Love is spelled T-I-M-E. I was brought to the place where I realized yet again how my words may not be enough but His Word is. I can converse with him through His Word. I can listen to Him. I can revel in His presence. You know what is really wonderful?? When I neglect my time with Him, He does not respond as Caroline or I would respond if someone were not spending time with me. He does not react in anger, He doesn't wine or complain, He doesn't speak ill of me. Instead, He patiently waits. And, when my well runs dry and I realize I have neglected my first love, all I have to do is confess and run back to Him and He is waiting with open arms to pour out his love, truth, and freedom into my soul. He is my Abba, Father.
I heard a great sermon today about the events of Palm Sunday, and the attitudes of those in the crowd. The man who preached described these people as merely "fans" of Jesus, not followers. By the end of the week, many of these people changed their "Hosannas" (Save!) to "Crucify Him!!" He asked us--are you a fan of Jesus or a follower? This really hit me. When we are a fan of someone, we can talk them up really well, but it is so surface--so fleeting. We can talk the good, churchy talk--can't we? But when the rubber meets the road--or should I say, when our feet hit the pavement---are we following Him? Are we walking as Jesus walked? Doing so requires sacrifice. It requires a crucifixion. We must die to self and instead, abide in Him. "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave Himself for me." Faith is not just speaking doctrinal truths, it is living out day by day, step by step--the actions that define a follower of Christ.
Abide in Him. Talk with Him. Spend time with Him. He is our Abba.
And He is waiting and so willing.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Identity
The past few weeks, a friend and I have been leading a Bible study for college women who attend Luther. We have been studying the book of Ephesians, and are wrapping up the first three chapters. I don't know how many of you are familiar with this epistle of Paul, but it has many distinguishing characteristics that set it apart from his other letters. I won't go into all of that right now, but one aspect of Ephesians that makes it unique is that Paul does not address a specific problem within the church. In fact, many believe that this letter was circulated amongst many churches in the region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
It was a letter written to the church--the body of Christ and it has great implications for our lives today. For the first half of the epistle, Paul sets out to proclaim to the Ephesians (and other area churches) just exactly who they really are--both collectively and individually. Half of the epistle is spent revealing truths that were once unimaginable to the Gentiles. Interestingly enough, I think some of us today find them unimaginable. Because, if we truly believed them, our lives would be different. Our thoughts about ourselves and who we really are would change drastically. Our daily choices and the motives behind them would look so different.
As I sit here and think about the choices I made today, I realize that many of the wrong choices came from a mistaken identity. What I mean by that is, when I choose to believe what others say about me or what I think about myself instead of the Truth in God's Word, I usually don't make good choices. Ephesians 1-3 clearly points out who I really am. But, the question is, do I believe that is really my identity?
Who am I? What are the essential characteristics that define who I am?
Is my self worth tied up in my perception of myself? Does what I do define who I am?
Ask those questions of yourself and write down some answers.
To be totally honest, for most of my life my self worth was tied up in how I perceived myself or how others perceived me. My identity was tied up in "the doing" of life: my performances, my teaching, my successes, my failures.
How many of us look in the mirror, or think these thoughts...
"I am a failure. I can't do this as well as __________ can."
"I am not beautiful at all."
"I am not a good _____________________ because I can't seem to get results that others would deem successful."
"I am unable to change."
"I am unloved."
Of course, there is the other side of the coin too! When everything is going our way, we tend to think:
"I am really gorgeous today!"
"I am such a good ______________________."
"I must really be something because of what this other person said about me."
Isn't it amazing how one day we can feel one way, and the next day we feel another way about ourselves? Is this the way we are supposed to exist??? Are we supposed to be on an emotional roller coaster?
NO.
I don't know about you, but after I rode this roller coaster for several years, I got sick. Miserably sick. What I didn't realize was that I was believing a lie.
Who I am is not determined by what others think, what I think, what society thinks...etc...
Why? Because I am IN CHRIST.
These two seemingly simple words make all the difference, because apart from Christ, I am nothing, but IN CHRIST I am:
forgiven
loved
accepted
adopted
chosen--i.e. hand picked
blessed
favored
beautiful
reconciled to God
given an eternal inheritance that will never spoil or decay
renewed day after day
given a very special purpose
a friend of God
a dwelling place of God
a new creation
a saint
a masterpiece
righteous and holy
a part of something greater than myself
a citizen of heaven
free from condemnation
free from the control of sin and evil
FREE
FREE
FREE!
Now, to be honest, I am going through a time right now, where I need to repeat these truths over and over again. I can feel myself slipping back--and waiting in line to ride the roller coaster of misery! In my thought life, I have been trying to tell myself that I am a failure--not doing good enough.
I am done with that ride. No thanks! Not going back.
I am going to chose to believe that His divine power has given me everything I need for this life, and to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3). I am going to choose to believe that God sees me as pure, holy, beautiful, righteous. I am going to chose to believe that I am highly favored. I am going to choose to pursue all that He has called me to do for His kingdom and His glory.
Is it because of anything I've done? NO!!!
When are we going to get it through our thick, stubborn skulls that it is nothing we do. It is all His work. Only when we get this truth can we respond in true freedom and gratefulness. Only then can we really experience joy and a hope that never fails.
That is why Paul (after he tells the church all that they possess in Christ) inserts this very important truth: "For it is by GRACE that you have been saved, it is NOT from yourselves, it is the gift of God, so that no one can boast." THEN, he says, "for we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:8-10)
Our good works will follow because of who we already ARE in Christ. Not because of something we do or earn. Everytime we are driven by performance, we are operating under a mistaken identity. If you are a believer, you already possess every spiritual blessing possible. Why should you have to earn anything? Isn't his grace marvelous? I realize that every time I pursue the praise of others, I am demeaning God's grace.
So, think about your choices today, as I am thinking about mine. Or better yet, think about the choices you made this last week--is there a pattern? There definitely were patterns in my choices. Never forget that choices are what make up your day, and these choices stem from what you believe or hold dear. "We live and act according to how we perceive ourselves" is a great quote from one of the Bible studies I have gone through recently.
I'm not saying that we won't have difficult times--times of serious suffering. There is no doubt that we will. But, in the midst of that suffering, we can have a right view of ourselves and save ourselves a lot of excess heartache and misery. "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
I have been contemplating what I should give up for this season of Lent. My thoughts first went to food, but deep down I knew this wasn't the avenue to take. I knew I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons. I now realize that what I should give up is myself. I will offer my body as a living sacrifice--holy and acceptable to God. I will be transformed buy the renewing of my mind, instead of thinking self-full thoughts. I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of my faith. I will chose to walk in the Spirit, believing who God says I really am and not clinging to what this world says of me. I want to grasp and take hold of what I already possess in Christ.
I came across a short video about identity on You Tube. I think this says it quite perfectly.
Identity
Just like the glass pictured in the clip, we can only begin to see ourselves clearly when, through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our cup, we allow His truth to permeate us and to overflow. Then and only then will we perceive ourselves rightly and live the life He has planned for us since before the creation of the world.
"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3)
It was a letter written to the church--the body of Christ and it has great implications for our lives today. For the first half of the epistle, Paul sets out to proclaim to the Ephesians (and other area churches) just exactly who they really are--both collectively and individually. Half of the epistle is spent revealing truths that were once unimaginable to the Gentiles. Interestingly enough, I think some of us today find them unimaginable. Because, if we truly believed them, our lives would be different. Our thoughts about ourselves and who we really are would change drastically. Our daily choices and the motives behind them would look so different.
As I sit here and think about the choices I made today, I realize that many of the wrong choices came from a mistaken identity. What I mean by that is, when I choose to believe what others say about me or what I think about myself instead of the Truth in God's Word, I usually don't make good choices. Ephesians 1-3 clearly points out who I really am. But, the question is, do I believe that is really my identity?
Who am I? What are the essential characteristics that define who I am?
Is my self worth tied up in my perception of myself? Does what I do define who I am?
Ask those questions of yourself and write down some answers.
To be totally honest, for most of my life my self worth was tied up in how I perceived myself or how others perceived me. My identity was tied up in "the doing" of life: my performances, my teaching, my successes, my failures.
How many of us look in the mirror, or think these thoughts...
"I am a failure. I can't do this as well as __________ can."
"I am not beautiful at all."
"I am not a good _____________________ because I can't seem to get results that others would deem successful."
"I am unable to change."
"I am unloved."
Of course, there is the other side of the coin too! When everything is going our way, we tend to think:
"I am really gorgeous today!"
"I am such a good ______________________."
"I must really be something because of what this other person said about me."
Isn't it amazing how one day we can feel one way, and the next day we feel another way about ourselves? Is this the way we are supposed to exist??? Are we supposed to be on an emotional roller coaster?
NO.
I don't know about you, but after I rode this roller coaster for several years, I got sick. Miserably sick. What I didn't realize was that I was believing a lie.
Who I am is not determined by what others think, what I think, what society thinks...etc...
Why? Because I am IN CHRIST.
These two seemingly simple words make all the difference, because apart from Christ, I am nothing, but IN CHRIST I am:
forgiven
loved
accepted
adopted
chosen--i.e. hand picked
blessed
favored
beautiful
reconciled to God
given an eternal inheritance that will never spoil or decay
renewed day after day
given a very special purpose
a friend of God
a dwelling place of God
a new creation
a saint
a masterpiece
righteous and holy
a part of something greater than myself
a citizen of heaven
free from condemnation
free from the control of sin and evil
FREE
FREE
FREE!
Now, to be honest, I am going through a time right now, where I need to repeat these truths over and over again. I can feel myself slipping back--and waiting in line to ride the roller coaster of misery! In my thought life, I have been trying to tell myself that I am a failure--not doing good enough.
I am done with that ride. No thanks! Not going back.
I am going to chose to believe that His divine power has given me everything I need for this life, and to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3). I am going to choose to believe that God sees me as pure, holy, beautiful, righteous. I am going to chose to believe that I am highly favored. I am going to choose to pursue all that He has called me to do for His kingdom and His glory.
Is it because of anything I've done? NO!!!
When are we going to get it through our thick, stubborn skulls that it is nothing we do. It is all His work. Only when we get this truth can we respond in true freedom and gratefulness. Only then can we really experience joy and a hope that never fails.
That is why Paul (after he tells the church all that they possess in Christ) inserts this very important truth: "For it is by GRACE that you have been saved, it is NOT from yourselves, it is the gift of God, so that no one can boast." THEN, he says, "for we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:8-10)
Our good works will follow because of who we already ARE in Christ. Not because of something we do or earn. Everytime we are driven by performance, we are operating under a mistaken identity. If you are a believer, you already possess every spiritual blessing possible. Why should you have to earn anything? Isn't his grace marvelous? I realize that every time I pursue the praise of others, I am demeaning God's grace.
So, think about your choices today, as I am thinking about mine. Or better yet, think about the choices you made this last week--is there a pattern? There definitely were patterns in my choices. Never forget that choices are what make up your day, and these choices stem from what you believe or hold dear. "We live and act according to how we perceive ourselves" is a great quote from one of the Bible studies I have gone through recently.
I'm not saying that we won't have difficult times--times of serious suffering. There is no doubt that we will. But, in the midst of that suffering, we can have a right view of ourselves and save ourselves a lot of excess heartache and misery. "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
I have been contemplating what I should give up for this season of Lent. My thoughts first went to food, but deep down I knew this wasn't the avenue to take. I knew I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons. I now realize that what I should give up is myself. I will offer my body as a living sacrifice--holy and acceptable to God. I will be transformed buy the renewing of my mind, instead of thinking self-full thoughts. I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of my faith. I will chose to walk in the Spirit, believing who God says I really am and not clinging to what this world says of me. I want to grasp and take hold of what I already possess in Christ.
I came across a short video about identity on You Tube. I think this says it quite perfectly.
Identity
Just like the glass pictured in the clip, we can only begin to see ourselves clearly when, through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our cup, we allow His truth to permeate us and to overflow. Then and only then will we perceive ourselves rightly and live the life He has planned for us since before the creation of the world.
"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
True Beauty
This past weekend I had two experiences that I know God meant just for me—to encourage me, to draw me to Himself, and to ultimately share with others. Reader warning—this entry is NOT PC! I am a woman in every sense of the word and I am going to express my true beliefs about womanhood! You see, as a woman, I so easily get caught up in the anxieties that come from wanting to look beautiful on the outside. Can I get an amen from any other woman reading this?? Frankly, there have been moments in my life where this consumed my thoughts. I have noticed that happening again, as of late. My focus on Jesus Christ has been divided, and my quiet time surface and obligatory. I have been praying that God would speak to my heart again, and that I would have some moments of true worship and communion with Him. This has been my prayer partly because I am beginning a college women’s Bible study in 2 days and I haven’t felt the usual anointing and fire in my gut. A new friend and I are going to teach the book of Ephesians to a group of college gals at Luther. I have always loved the book of Ephesians, and recently, have come to love chapter 1 in particular. I’ve read the epistle several times in the last 2 weeks, but there was no fresh word and I was longing for one! Well, this weekend, He put a fire in my gut again and gave me a fresh word. I love it when He does that.
You see, within the opening verses of this epistle of Paul, God’s Truth about who I am in Christ is revealed in such beautiful and almost poetic language. It is a true description of the Bride of Christ—His Church. I love it that we are His bride. As a female, I really get into that analogy! When I think of a bride, I picture a radiant woman in white, lots of flowers, lots of satin and tulle, and sheer beauty. Guess what? That is supposed to be me, and anyone else who is a believer in Christ. We are beautiful. Paul lays that out clearly in Ephesians 1. If you are familiar with the passage, you might be saying---beauty? Where are you getting that??
Well, it goes back to what I said in the opening paragraph. As a woman, I want to feel beautiful. What goes along with feeling beautiful? When have I felt the most beautiful in my life? These words come to mind: Belonging. Security. Acceptance. Purity. Blessing. Joy. When I know I belong, am secure and accepted, I feel beautiful. When I know I am pure and white as the beautiful hills of snow just outside my window—I feel beautiful. When I am showered with gifts—unexpectedly and for nothing I have done, I feel especially beautiful. When my husband looks at me with tenderness in his eyes and tells me that he loves me……you get the idea.
Yesterday, I received a package in the mail from my Dad. I am 35 years old and my dad sent me a gift—just because I am his daughter. He sent me a box of Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffles. These are my absolute favorite and he knows it. When I opened the box and saw the little note he wrote on it, my middle-aged heart felt 20 years younger. It was reminiscent of how I felt when I married Allen. Can it also be reminiscent of some of my quiet moments with my Savior, Jesus Christ? ABSOLUTELY! It is a deep emotion that only a woman can feel. I know that this is extremely un-PC but I don’t care. I believe God created man and woman differently, and men just don’t understand this like women do. So, if you are a male and reading this, sorry! As I took out that first truffle and began to eat it (Yum!), I knew that my daddy loves me and was thinking about me. I knew that I was accepted—because I am his daughter. I knew that I was beautiful, and I was secure in that. That simple act of love made my week! It brought back many memories of our daddy/daughter dinners, trips to the mall (Yes!), ice cream sundaes, and many other special times when my dad was parenting like his Heavenly Father parents. I always knew I was beautiful in my daddy’s eyes. Yesterday’s gift reminded me that I still am.
And then, today we ended up at the Mall of America. I had told Caroline that I would take her to the American Girl store located there. She and I had talked about getting a matching outfit of some kind that she and her doll Emma could wear. She decided she wanted matching pajamas. So, we bought them and she couldn’t wait to get home and put them on. She took one of the fastest baths I’ve ever seen and then she dressed herself in the pjs and we both dressed Emma in hers. It was so fun! I felt like a 6 year old dressing up my dolls. I knew immediately that this was one of those times of mother/daughter bonding and that pictures must be taken to capture the moment. As I held the camera up to take the shot and I looked at my daughter through the viewfinder, I felt a searing of my soul and Spirit, and a deep sense of love for my beautiful child sitting before me. Caroline was radiant in EVERY since of the word. Was her hair perfect? No. Was she wearing make up? Heavens, no and not for many more years! Was she dressed to the 9’s? Uh, no. PJs. Was every physical blemish or scratch concealed in some way? No.
Not only was she beautiful on the outside (I know, a mother’s bias!), but her inner beauty was shining through. In that moment, Caroline was secure, content, joyful, and feminine. Childlike femininity just oozed out of her and flowed over onto me. It was a priceless time that I will never forget. If I can love my child with such a love, how much more does my heavenly Father love me. When He looks through His viewfinder and sees me smiling with the radiance of child-like faith and the purity that I have through His Son, I know that He feels, at an even deeper level, what I felt tonight. My mind cannot comprehend what God feels, but He gave me a taste of it. I was deeply moved and again, I felt beautiful--as a parent--a mom, a woman, a daughter of the King. I could not stop thanking Him.
Through these two experiences, God has reminded me that he created me FEMININE, beautiful and radiant. I am His daughter. I belong. I have an inheritance.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.”
We, as God’s bride (men and women of course) don’t posses only a few blessings. We possess EVERY SPIRITUAL blessing in Christ. Notice that the blessings are not material or monetary. They are spiritual. I get so disgusted with preachers who only talk about material wealth and prosperity. Do they not realize that all of that is not going to last? We are not leaving earth with that stuff. God wants to bless us with SO MUCH more than money and prosperity. He has given us every spiritual blessing!! EVERY SINGLE ONE. And, each one of these blessings is eternal. They will not end when we die. Think for a minute about spiritual blessings and what that means. He wants to bless that eternal part of you. Wow.
He chose us in Him BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. Have you ever really quieted yourself enough to ponder this truth? It blows my mind that God chose ME before spoke the world into existence. He chose us to be adopted as his children through Jesus because He wanted to! He didn’t just pick out the Israelites, he included us Gentiles! It was His pleasure to do so, just like it was my dad’s pleasure to send me my favorite box of chocolates. Okay, maybe not just like that—on a deeper level, but you get my meaning.
As Christ’s bride, I am PURE. All of my sins past, present, and future are forgiven and washed clean. I am redeemed! Christ’s church—His bride—is holy. I don’t have to try and prove myself, or make myself seem beautiful by my works. I don’t have to cover up my blemishes and scars. My faith in Jesus and His sacrifice wipes them away and does all the work that needs to be done. To me, that is FREEDOM!
God lavishes His grace on us. Try and create a visual for the verb lavishes. To me, this word means over-doing, pouring out in abundance, not holding anything back. Some synonyms are: extravagant, lush, heaping, abundant, sumptuous, copious, plentiful, bountiful. What a loving Father! Not only has he adopted us, but he lavishes more grace on us than we could possibly comprehend. In a material sense, if I had lavished things on Caroline today, I would have bought her the entire American Girl store and given her all of its contents. Get the picture?? No matter how much I mess up or demean His sacrifice through my unbelief, His grace is sufficient. Its more that sufficient. His grace outweighs my sin. My sin and yours cannot stack up to the height and depth of His grace.
And, if that wasn’t enough, when I believed on Jesus Christ, God the Father marked me as His own. In the spiritual realm, I have a mark on me—the Holy Spirit. I truly believe that all the angels, demons, and any other beings that exist in that realm know I am His child. I am His radiant bride. They see my beauty! My enemy knows I am beautiful. That is why he tries to convince me that I’m not. He does not want me to get this concept. He does not want me to be free. I will say it again, Satan knows you are beautiful.
So, the question comes to me: “Why can’t I see it in myself?”
And that my friends is where the rubber meets the road. The reason I fall into insecure and self-loathing thoughts is because I am not believing the Truth. It all boils down to faith!!!! When I am consumed with my physical appearance and believing that I am not beautiful, then I am believing a lie rather than the truth expressed in Ephesians 1. I am depriving myself of the spiritual blessings that he has for me and I am essentially devaluing what He has done for me.
Here is the fact of the matter. If you are in Christ; if He is your Savior and you are following Him, then you are beautiful. It is a fact. Not only are you beautiful---you are RADIANT. No ifs, no ands, no buts.
Will you choose to believe it?
The broken, weary and poor
Finding...You are the cure
The weak and dying, glorifying, You in it all...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free,
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
The fallen back on their feet
The fatherless now complete...
The innocent suffering, rising from wounding, to find...You were there all along!
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He love me...
The broken, the beautiful....
The prodigal running home...
The widow never alone...
The one who is waiting, rising and singing, “You...Jesus, You Are My All!”
Written by Christy Nockels
© 2009 worshiptogether.com Songs / sixsteps Music (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) (ASCAP)
You see, within the opening verses of this epistle of Paul, God’s Truth about who I am in Christ is revealed in such beautiful and almost poetic language. It is a true description of the Bride of Christ—His Church. I love it that we are His bride. As a female, I really get into that analogy! When I think of a bride, I picture a radiant woman in white, lots of flowers, lots of satin and tulle, and sheer beauty. Guess what? That is supposed to be me, and anyone else who is a believer in Christ. We are beautiful. Paul lays that out clearly in Ephesians 1. If you are familiar with the passage, you might be saying---beauty? Where are you getting that??
Well, it goes back to what I said in the opening paragraph. As a woman, I want to feel beautiful. What goes along with feeling beautiful? When have I felt the most beautiful in my life? These words come to mind: Belonging. Security. Acceptance. Purity. Blessing. Joy. When I know I belong, am secure and accepted, I feel beautiful. When I know I am pure and white as the beautiful hills of snow just outside my window—I feel beautiful. When I am showered with gifts—unexpectedly and for nothing I have done, I feel especially beautiful. When my husband looks at me with tenderness in his eyes and tells me that he loves me……you get the idea.
Yesterday, I received a package in the mail from my Dad. I am 35 years old and my dad sent me a gift—just because I am his daughter. He sent me a box of Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffles. These are my absolute favorite and he knows it. When I opened the box and saw the little note he wrote on it, my middle-aged heart felt 20 years younger. It was reminiscent of how I felt when I married Allen. Can it also be reminiscent of some of my quiet moments with my Savior, Jesus Christ? ABSOLUTELY! It is a deep emotion that only a woman can feel. I know that this is extremely un-PC but I don’t care. I believe God created man and woman differently, and men just don’t understand this like women do. So, if you are a male and reading this, sorry! As I took out that first truffle and began to eat it (Yum!), I knew that my daddy loves me and was thinking about me. I knew that I was accepted—because I am his daughter. I knew that I was beautiful, and I was secure in that. That simple act of love made my week! It brought back many memories of our daddy/daughter dinners, trips to the mall (Yes!), ice cream sundaes, and many other special times when my dad was parenting like his Heavenly Father parents. I always knew I was beautiful in my daddy’s eyes. Yesterday’s gift reminded me that I still am.
And then, today we ended up at the Mall of America. I had told Caroline that I would take her to the American Girl store located there. She and I had talked about getting a matching outfit of some kind that she and her doll Emma could wear. She decided she wanted matching pajamas. So, we bought them and she couldn’t wait to get home and put them on. She took one of the fastest baths I’ve ever seen and then she dressed herself in the pjs and we both dressed Emma in hers. It was so fun! I felt like a 6 year old dressing up my dolls. I knew immediately that this was one of those times of mother/daughter bonding and that pictures must be taken to capture the moment. As I held the camera up to take the shot and I looked at my daughter through the viewfinder, I felt a searing of my soul and Spirit, and a deep sense of love for my beautiful child sitting before me. Caroline was radiant in EVERY since of the word. Was her hair perfect? No. Was she wearing make up? Heavens, no and not for many more years! Was she dressed to the 9’s? Uh, no. PJs. Was every physical blemish or scratch concealed in some way? No.
Not only was she beautiful on the outside (I know, a mother’s bias!), but her inner beauty was shining through. In that moment, Caroline was secure, content, joyful, and feminine. Childlike femininity just oozed out of her and flowed over onto me. It was a priceless time that I will never forget. If I can love my child with such a love, how much more does my heavenly Father love me. When He looks through His viewfinder and sees me smiling with the radiance of child-like faith and the purity that I have through His Son, I know that He feels, at an even deeper level, what I felt tonight. My mind cannot comprehend what God feels, but He gave me a taste of it. I was deeply moved and again, I felt beautiful--as a parent--a mom, a woman, a daughter of the King. I could not stop thanking Him.
Through these two experiences, God has reminded me that he created me FEMININE, beautiful and radiant. I am His daughter. I belong. I have an inheritance.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.”
We, as God’s bride (men and women of course) don’t posses only a few blessings. We possess EVERY SPIRITUAL blessing in Christ. Notice that the blessings are not material or monetary. They are spiritual. I get so disgusted with preachers who only talk about material wealth and prosperity. Do they not realize that all of that is not going to last? We are not leaving earth with that stuff. God wants to bless us with SO MUCH more than money and prosperity. He has given us every spiritual blessing!! EVERY SINGLE ONE. And, each one of these blessings is eternal. They will not end when we die. Think for a minute about spiritual blessings and what that means. He wants to bless that eternal part of you. Wow.
He chose us in Him BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. Have you ever really quieted yourself enough to ponder this truth? It blows my mind that God chose ME before spoke the world into existence. He chose us to be adopted as his children through Jesus because He wanted to! He didn’t just pick out the Israelites, he included us Gentiles! It was His pleasure to do so, just like it was my dad’s pleasure to send me my favorite box of chocolates. Okay, maybe not just like that—on a deeper level, but you get my meaning.
As Christ’s bride, I am PURE. All of my sins past, present, and future are forgiven and washed clean. I am redeemed! Christ’s church—His bride—is holy. I don’t have to try and prove myself, or make myself seem beautiful by my works. I don’t have to cover up my blemishes and scars. My faith in Jesus and His sacrifice wipes them away and does all the work that needs to be done. To me, that is FREEDOM!
God lavishes His grace on us. Try and create a visual for the verb lavishes. To me, this word means over-doing, pouring out in abundance, not holding anything back. Some synonyms are: extravagant, lush, heaping, abundant, sumptuous, copious, plentiful, bountiful. What a loving Father! Not only has he adopted us, but he lavishes more grace on us than we could possibly comprehend. In a material sense, if I had lavished things on Caroline today, I would have bought her the entire American Girl store and given her all of its contents. Get the picture?? No matter how much I mess up or demean His sacrifice through my unbelief, His grace is sufficient. Its more that sufficient. His grace outweighs my sin. My sin and yours cannot stack up to the height and depth of His grace.
And, if that wasn’t enough, when I believed on Jesus Christ, God the Father marked me as His own. In the spiritual realm, I have a mark on me—the Holy Spirit. I truly believe that all the angels, demons, and any other beings that exist in that realm know I am His child. I am His radiant bride. They see my beauty! My enemy knows I am beautiful. That is why he tries to convince me that I’m not. He does not want me to get this concept. He does not want me to be free. I will say it again, Satan knows you are beautiful.
So, the question comes to me: “Why can’t I see it in myself?”
And that my friends is where the rubber meets the road. The reason I fall into insecure and self-loathing thoughts is because I am not believing the Truth. It all boils down to faith!!!! When I am consumed with my physical appearance and believing that I am not beautiful, then I am believing a lie rather than the truth expressed in Ephesians 1. I am depriving myself of the spiritual blessings that he has for me and I am essentially devaluing what He has done for me.
Here is the fact of the matter. If you are in Christ; if He is your Savior and you are following Him, then you are beautiful. It is a fact. Not only are you beautiful---you are RADIANT. No ifs, no ands, no buts.
Will you choose to believe it?
The broken, weary and poor
Finding...You are the cure
The weak and dying, glorifying, You in it all...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free,
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
The fallen back on their feet
The fatherless now complete...
The innocent suffering, rising from wounding, to find...You were there all along!
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He love me...
The broken, the beautiful....
The prodigal running home...
The widow never alone...
The one who is waiting, rising and singing, “You...Jesus, You Are My All!”
Written by Christy Nockels
© 2009 worshiptogether.com Songs / sixsteps Music (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) (ASCAP)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Radiance of Faith
Tonight, I listened to a sermon on Psalm 34. This is one of my favorite Psalms, and tonight I was reminded of why I love it.
Psa. 34:1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
This is a Psalm of David, after he fled from the murderous hand of Saul. David had said goodbye to his best friend, Johnathan and left because he knew he would be killed if he stayed. He then came to the town of Gath, where the king of Gath, Achish, had some servants who recognized David. As they brought him before the king, David pretended to be insane so that the king would discount the servants' observations. The king falls for it, and David flees again to a cave. For the whole story, read 1 Samuel 21.
There is no denying that David is being afflicted as he writes this Psalm. He has been unjustly hated and threatened by Saul, torn away from his best friend, and left alone (for a time). This story does not take place after his sin with Bathsheba. This Psalm was written years before. Up until this point, David had made righteous choices again and again, and had proven himself to be "a man after God's own heart." David was going through some really tough stuff. In our day and age, our response to this would be, "How unfair---David didn't deserve this kind of treatment!" Others of us might blame God if we were suffering this same affliction as David, or be angry at Him.
This was not David's response.
What was his response? "I will extol (praise, glorify, speak of the excellence of, bless) the LORD at all times. His praise will ALWAYS be on my lips."
Okay, lets stop here. I don't often have that response for the little annoyances that happen everyday, much less the times I really feel unjustly treated. Is the praise of God my first response to affliction and trials? Nope. But, wow, I'd really like to get there.
Here is a man who fully trusted God's character and love. Here are the characteristics of God that David whole-heartedly believed:
1) God answers when we seek Him. "I sought the LORD and he answered me."
2) God delivers us (tears us away, snatches us) from our fears/things we dread. "He delivered me from my fears."
3) When we call, he hears and delivers us from our troubles, anguish, and distress.
4) The angel of the LORD encamps (sets up camp, pitches his tent) around those who fear Him.
5) The LORD is good.
6) We are blessed (in a state of happiness and joy) when we take refuge in Him.
7) Those who fear Him lack nothing--he provides exactly what we need.
8) David says of God, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit." So, when His children struggle and are in anguish, he is close to them.
These are just a few attributes of God that David praises and fully trusts.
It would have been so easy for David to question God in this circumstance, and to lose hope. "Lord, didn't you anoint me as king over Israel? Why am I, the anointed one, here in a cave all by myself, fleeing a crazy jealous man??? I'm the righteous one! I've made all of the right decisions and Saul has made all of the wrong ones???
Raise your hand if this would have been your response.
C'mon, raise it up there! I'm typing with my right hand only at this point!
But, David doesn't go down that path. He is CONVINCED of God's love, calling, and provision. He has God and God is more than enough.
There are two verses in this Psalm that have always stuck with me, and I just love to meditate on their meaning:
"Those who look to the LORD are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame."
and
"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and he delivers them."
Lets begin with this verse. In the Hebrew, the word for encamps, literally means to set up camp. Imagine the angel of the LORD setting up a campsite that encircles you. When I picture this image, I think of PROTECTION from the enemy that prowls around like a roaring lion. God protects me from my enemy. I picture CLOSENESS. The angel's camp is set up all around me---close by and within arms reach. I can look around me and see the blazing light from the camp fire and the tall strong tents tied to strong/deep stakes.
But, notice that the angel doesn't encamp around just anyone---he encamps around those who fear God. This Hebrew word for fear is NOT the same one used in verse 4 (which means to dread). This word refers to a holy fear which engenders reverence and worship. So, in other words, when I choose to worship God instead of dreading the people and circumstances that are causing the anguish, I can be guaranteed a divine campsite around me! Not only that, I am guaranteed DELIVERANCE! That deliverance may not happen right away, but it will happen. And, in the meantime, while I suffer, God is close to me and I am protected by his angels. Pretty amazing when you stop and think about it. What a promise!
The other verse hits me at an even deeper level. Can I just say here that as a woman who is a "girly girl" and romantic (in all the Jane Austen sense of the word) that I LOVE it when anyone would say that I am radiant? This word conveys so much more to me than outward beauty. Let me explain.
The other night, after I dressed Caroline up as Cinderella for Halloween, I was really blown away by her beauty. Later that night I looked back at the pictures I had taken of her and she just looked ravishing. I guess I'm probably a little biased, right? :)
Even as beautiful as she was in appearance to me in those moments, there are other moments when she has been in a pair of sweats with a tangled mess of hair and food on her mouth, but has looked absolutely RADIANT! Those are the times when what is inside just overflows into her outward appearance. They are the moments of pure joy and freedom when her face just lights up and those shining blue eyes sparkle with the fire of life! She is free, joyful, and content.
"Those who look to the LORD are beaming with joy and radiant." It is almost as though I am reflecting His beauty as I look to Him--completely undone in His presence and looking on Him with the eyes of a child who fully trusts her Father. I know the emotions I feel when my daughters look at me that way, so I can only imagine what we must look like to God when we come before Him with full trust and joy in His presence. And, not only are we radiant, but we will NEVER be covered in shame.
Radiance and joy in the midst of affliction. Freedom from shame in the midst of what would seem to be a humiliating circumstance. Though we may be tempted to think we aren't so beautiful during those times, in the spiritual world, when we look to Him we are seen as RADIANT. Wow. What a picture.
That, my friends, is the radiance of faith. David had it. As a child of the King, I have it as well. If you are His, so do you. Like David, we can sing a beautiful song of praise and glory to our Father, no matter how ugly the circumstances around us.
The Song of the Beautiful...
The broken, weary and poor
Finding...You are the cure
The weak and dying, glorifying, You in it all...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free,
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
The fallen back on their feet
The fatherless now complete...
The innocent suffering, rising from wounding, to find...You were there all along!
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Oh how He loves me
The broken, the beautiful....
The prodigal running home...
The widow never alone...
The one who is waiting, rising and singing, “You...Jesus, You Are My All!”
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Words and Music by Christy Nockels
Psa. 34:1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
This is a Psalm of David, after he fled from the murderous hand of Saul. David had said goodbye to his best friend, Johnathan and left because he knew he would be killed if he stayed. He then came to the town of Gath, where the king of Gath, Achish, had some servants who recognized David. As they brought him before the king, David pretended to be insane so that the king would discount the servants' observations. The king falls for it, and David flees again to a cave. For the whole story, read 1 Samuel 21.
There is no denying that David is being afflicted as he writes this Psalm. He has been unjustly hated and threatened by Saul, torn away from his best friend, and left alone (for a time). This story does not take place after his sin with Bathsheba. This Psalm was written years before. Up until this point, David had made righteous choices again and again, and had proven himself to be "a man after God's own heart." David was going through some really tough stuff. In our day and age, our response to this would be, "How unfair---David didn't deserve this kind of treatment!" Others of us might blame God if we were suffering this same affliction as David, or be angry at Him.
This was not David's response.
What was his response? "I will extol (praise, glorify, speak of the excellence of, bless) the LORD at all times. His praise will ALWAYS be on my lips."
Okay, lets stop here. I don't often have that response for the little annoyances that happen everyday, much less the times I really feel unjustly treated. Is the praise of God my first response to affliction and trials? Nope. But, wow, I'd really like to get there.
Here is a man who fully trusted God's character and love. Here are the characteristics of God that David whole-heartedly believed:
1) God answers when we seek Him. "I sought the LORD and he answered me."
2) God delivers us (tears us away, snatches us) from our fears/things we dread. "He delivered me from my fears."
3) When we call, he hears and delivers us from our troubles, anguish, and distress.
4) The angel of the LORD encamps (sets up camp, pitches his tent) around those who fear Him.
5) The LORD is good.
6) We are blessed (in a state of happiness and joy) when we take refuge in Him.
7) Those who fear Him lack nothing--he provides exactly what we need.
8) David says of God, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit." So, when His children struggle and are in anguish, he is close to them.
These are just a few attributes of God that David praises and fully trusts.
It would have been so easy for David to question God in this circumstance, and to lose hope. "Lord, didn't you anoint me as king over Israel? Why am I, the anointed one, here in a cave all by myself, fleeing a crazy jealous man??? I'm the righteous one! I've made all of the right decisions and Saul has made all of the wrong ones???
Raise your hand if this would have been your response.
C'mon, raise it up there! I'm typing with my right hand only at this point!
But, David doesn't go down that path. He is CONVINCED of God's love, calling, and provision. He has God and God is more than enough.
There are two verses in this Psalm that have always stuck with me, and I just love to meditate on their meaning:
"Those who look to the LORD are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame."
and
"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and he delivers them."
Lets begin with this verse. In the Hebrew, the word for encamps, literally means to set up camp. Imagine the angel of the LORD setting up a campsite that encircles you. When I picture this image, I think of PROTECTION from the enemy that prowls around like a roaring lion. God protects me from my enemy. I picture CLOSENESS. The angel's camp is set up all around me---close by and within arms reach. I can look around me and see the blazing light from the camp fire and the tall strong tents tied to strong/deep stakes.
But, notice that the angel doesn't encamp around just anyone---he encamps around those who fear God. This Hebrew word for fear is NOT the same one used in verse 4 (which means to dread). This word refers to a holy fear which engenders reverence and worship. So, in other words, when I choose to worship God instead of dreading the people and circumstances that are causing the anguish, I can be guaranteed a divine campsite around me! Not only that, I am guaranteed DELIVERANCE! That deliverance may not happen right away, but it will happen. And, in the meantime, while I suffer, God is close to me and I am protected by his angels. Pretty amazing when you stop and think about it. What a promise!
The other verse hits me at an even deeper level. Can I just say here that as a woman who is a "girly girl" and romantic (in all the Jane Austen sense of the word) that I LOVE it when anyone would say that I am radiant? This word conveys so much more to me than outward beauty. Let me explain.
The other night, after I dressed Caroline up as Cinderella for Halloween, I was really blown away by her beauty. Later that night I looked back at the pictures I had taken of her and she just looked ravishing. I guess I'm probably a little biased, right? :)
Even as beautiful as she was in appearance to me in those moments, there are other moments when she has been in a pair of sweats with a tangled mess of hair and food on her mouth, but has looked absolutely RADIANT! Those are the times when what is inside just overflows into her outward appearance. They are the moments of pure joy and freedom when her face just lights up and those shining blue eyes sparkle with the fire of life! She is free, joyful, and content.
"Those who look to the LORD are beaming with joy and radiant." It is almost as though I am reflecting His beauty as I look to Him--completely undone in His presence and looking on Him with the eyes of a child who fully trusts her Father. I know the emotions I feel when my daughters look at me that way, so I can only imagine what we must look like to God when we come before Him with full trust and joy in His presence. And, not only are we radiant, but we will NEVER be covered in shame.
Radiance and joy in the midst of affliction. Freedom from shame in the midst of what would seem to be a humiliating circumstance. Though we may be tempted to think we aren't so beautiful during those times, in the spiritual world, when we look to Him we are seen as RADIANT. Wow. What a picture.
That, my friends, is the radiance of faith. David had it. As a child of the King, I have it as well. If you are His, so do you. Like David, we can sing a beautiful song of praise and glory to our Father, no matter how ugly the circumstances around us.
The Song of the Beautiful...
The broken, weary and poor
Finding...You are the cure
The weak and dying, glorifying, You in it all...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free,
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
The fallen back on their feet
The fatherless now complete...
The innocent suffering, rising from wounding, to find...You were there all along!
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Oh how He loves me
The broken, the beautiful....
The prodigal running home...
The widow never alone...
The one who is waiting, rising and singing, “You...Jesus, You Are My All!”
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
Words and Music by Christy Nockels
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Unfailing Love
How different would our lives look if we truly believed that God loves us with an unfailing love?
What kind of choices would we make?
Who would we choose as friends?
If single, would we make the same choices in the kind of person we date?
How would we react in difficult situations?
Would we spend more quality time with God each day?
Would we still watch Glee on TV?
How would we react if we felt we were being rejected or criticized by our peers, teachers, or parents?
How would we react when we looked at ourselves in the mirror?
If our performance didn't go so well, what would our thought life be like?
What would I let go of?
What fears would I release?
Would I still have unforgiveness in my heart toward someone who hurt me?
These are just a FEW questions that come to my mind and cause me to realize that this is a fundamental question that affects nearly every facet of our lives. How different would my life be if I truly believed that God loves me with an unfailing love? How different would my life be if I truly grasped the depth of love Jesus Christ has for me?
Yesterday, I listened to an amazing sermon by John Piper. In it, he goes one step further:
"I have been asking audiences for years: “Do you feel more loved by God because God makes much of you, or because God, at great cost to his Son, frees you to enjoy making much of him forever?” The aim of that question has never been to deny that God makes much of us. He does. (Which we will see shortly.) The aim has been to help people relocate the bottom of their joy—the decisive foundation of their joy—from self to God.
It is so interesting to me how we can so easily make our Christian walk about us and not about Him. Our motives can so easily be skewed-sometimes without even realizing it! I've touted the phrase: "Its not about me" over and over again, but I don't think I truly grasped the concept until I listened to this sermon. Piper's words made me realize how selfish I have been---just pure SELFISHNESS! Allen and I were so convicted after listening to this sermon. We realized that we have not truly grasped the unfailing love of God, because, if we had, our lives would look a lot different. Yes, we would still struggle. Yes, we would still have difficult times, but we would not be in bondage.
I realize just how many hours of my life I have wasted being consumed with self. The sad thing is that many of those hours were spent thinking and worrying about what other people thought of me, rather than focusing on the truth of who I am in Christ. When we realize who we are in Christ, we no longer focus on ourselves. We don't allow our thought life to center on questions like: "I wonder what he/she thought about me? I just don't measure up--why can't I be like her or him? Why do I look this way? How come my students don't sing as well has hers? These kinds of thoughts used to haunt me back in college and for the first few years I taught voice. In fact, they consumed me.
I tried so hard to put on a mask. Some of you know what I am talking about because you do it too. Its the "I'm supposed to have it all together because I'm a Christian and have no chinks in my armor" mask. I may have fooled some of the people around me, but I didn't fool God. He was looking straight into my heart. Some serious sanctification needed to take place.
Even though I am experiencing freedom from that kind of selfishness--it seems a new kind has crept into my life. Now, it is all centered in my children and our family life. I have to watch that I don't put my children above Jesus Christ. It is interesting. When I really understand what Jesus did for me and the grace God has shown me, I worship Him with a heart that is pure. I think about Him more. I talk about Him more with my children--rather than making my children the focal point. Instead of listing out rules for Caroline to follow, I simply point her to the reason for every choice we make: Jesus Christ. His love compels me.
Paul said it perfectly:
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When I truly grasp the love of God, I am free to love others. I no longer live for myself. Notice that Paul alludes to the fact that he once regarded Christ from a worldly point of view. I must confess that I have been guilty of that. Without realizing it, I minimize his sacrifice. I underestimate the depth of his love. On one hand, I tolerate my sin and on the other, I don't grasp just how much I have been forgiven. It is his love that will compel me to live differently--but I have to accept that love and believe.
For those of you reading this blog, I don't know where you are with all of this. I don't know what your struggle is. The bottom line is, if we are thinking about ourselves--whether good or bad, we are not thinking about Him and worshiping Him. He is not, as Piper put it--the "decisive foundation of our joy."
I am well aware that so far, in this blog, I have mostly been focusing on the "us" end of things. See how easy it is to do? We can even make our Bible studies about us if we are not careful. For the remainder of the blog, I just want to focus our attention on Him.
There is an amazing word in Hebrew that describes God's love for us. It is used throughout the Old Testament and is used to describe God's unfailing love, kindness, and mercy for His covenant people.
The word is hesed and is translated: loving-kindness, mercy, love, and faithfulness. This word is used about 249 times in the OT. Almost all of the uses of this word refer to an aspect of God's character that we often don't truly trust. Yet, it is essential to knowing Him.
Psalm 118 and Psalm 136 are excellent examples of the hesed of the LORD our God. Just take a few moments and read them slowly. His Word is alive and active!
Psa. 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” 5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 136:
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
Who made the great lights — His love endures forever.
The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
And brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
To him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
And brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
To him who led his people through the desert, His love endures forever.
Who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
And killed mighty kings — His love endures forever.
And gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.
To the One who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.
And freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever.
And who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
I love the quote by Charles Spurgeon in his commentary on Psalm 118:
"Because his mercy endureth for ever: Mercy is a great part of his goodness, and one which more concerns us than any other, for we are sinners and have need of his mercy. Angels may say that he is good, but they need not his mercy and cannot therefore take an equal delight in it; inanimate creation declares that he is good, but it cannot feel his mercy, for it has never transgressed; but man, deeply guilty and graciously forgiven, beholds mercy as the very focus and centre of the goodness of the Lord. The endurance of the divine mercy is a special subject for song: notwithstanding our sins, our trials, our fears, his mercy endureth for ever. The best of earthly joys pass away, and even the world itself grows old and hastens to decay, but there is no change in the mercy of God; he was faithful to our forefathers, he is merciful to us, and will be gracious to our children and our children’s children."
Here is the truth about the hesed of God to his covenant people. If you are in Christ, you are in covenant with God.
God is eternally loyal
God is eternally faithful
God is eternally merciful
God is eternally kind
God is love--eternally.
I know you have already spent a lot of time reading this blog entry, but please set aside some time to listen to this sermon by John Piper. It is too crucial and too foundational to miss.
How Much Does God Love This Church?: "How Much Does God Love This Church? on DesiringGod.org"
Eph. 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
What kind of choices would we make?
Who would we choose as friends?
If single, would we make the same choices in the kind of person we date?
How would we react in difficult situations?
Would we spend more quality time with God each day?
Would we still watch Glee on TV?
How would we react if we felt we were being rejected or criticized by our peers, teachers, or parents?
How would we react when we looked at ourselves in the mirror?
If our performance didn't go so well, what would our thought life be like?
What would I let go of?
What fears would I release?
Would I still have unforgiveness in my heart toward someone who hurt me?
These are just a FEW questions that come to my mind and cause me to realize that this is a fundamental question that affects nearly every facet of our lives. How different would my life be if I truly believed that God loves me with an unfailing love? How different would my life be if I truly grasped the depth of love Jesus Christ has for me?
Yesterday, I listened to an amazing sermon by John Piper. In it, he goes one step further:
"I have been asking audiences for years: “Do you feel more loved by God because God makes much of you, or because God, at great cost to his Son, frees you to enjoy making much of him forever?” The aim of that question has never been to deny that God makes much of us. He does. (Which we will see shortly.) The aim has been to help people relocate the bottom of their joy—the decisive foundation of their joy—from self to God.
It is so interesting to me how we can so easily make our Christian walk about us and not about Him. Our motives can so easily be skewed-sometimes without even realizing it! I've touted the phrase: "Its not about me" over and over again, but I don't think I truly grasped the concept until I listened to this sermon. Piper's words made me realize how selfish I have been---just pure SELFISHNESS! Allen and I were so convicted after listening to this sermon. We realized that we have not truly grasped the unfailing love of God, because, if we had, our lives would look a lot different. Yes, we would still struggle. Yes, we would still have difficult times, but we would not be in bondage.
I realize just how many hours of my life I have wasted being consumed with self. The sad thing is that many of those hours were spent thinking and worrying about what other people thought of me, rather than focusing on the truth of who I am in Christ. When we realize who we are in Christ, we no longer focus on ourselves. We don't allow our thought life to center on questions like: "I wonder what he/she thought about me? I just don't measure up--why can't I be like her or him? Why do I look this way? How come my students don't sing as well has hers? These kinds of thoughts used to haunt me back in college and for the first few years I taught voice. In fact, they consumed me.
I tried so hard to put on a mask. Some of you know what I am talking about because you do it too. Its the "I'm supposed to have it all together because I'm a Christian and have no chinks in my armor" mask. I may have fooled some of the people around me, but I didn't fool God. He was looking straight into my heart. Some serious sanctification needed to take place.
Even though I am experiencing freedom from that kind of selfishness--it seems a new kind has crept into my life. Now, it is all centered in my children and our family life. I have to watch that I don't put my children above Jesus Christ. It is interesting. When I really understand what Jesus did for me and the grace God has shown me, I worship Him with a heart that is pure. I think about Him more. I talk about Him more with my children--rather than making my children the focal point. Instead of listing out rules for Caroline to follow, I simply point her to the reason for every choice we make: Jesus Christ. His love compels me.
Paul said it perfectly:
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When I truly grasp the love of God, I am free to love others. I no longer live for myself. Notice that Paul alludes to the fact that he once regarded Christ from a worldly point of view. I must confess that I have been guilty of that. Without realizing it, I minimize his sacrifice. I underestimate the depth of his love. On one hand, I tolerate my sin and on the other, I don't grasp just how much I have been forgiven. It is his love that will compel me to live differently--but I have to accept that love and believe.
For those of you reading this blog, I don't know where you are with all of this. I don't know what your struggle is. The bottom line is, if we are thinking about ourselves--whether good or bad, we are not thinking about Him and worshiping Him. He is not, as Piper put it--the "decisive foundation of our joy."
I am well aware that so far, in this blog, I have mostly been focusing on the "us" end of things. See how easy it is to do? We can even make our Bible studies about us if we are not careful. For the remainder of the blog, I just want to focus our attention on Him.
There is an amazing word in Hebrew that describes God's love for us. It is used throughout the Old Testament and is used to describe God's unfailing love, kindness, and mercy for His covenant people.
The word is hesed and is translated: loving-kindness, mercy, love, and faithfulness. This word is used about 249 times in the OT. Almost all of the uses of this word refer to an aspect of God's character that we often don't truly trust. Yet, it is essential to knowing Him.
Psalm 118 and Psalm 136 are excellent examples of the hesed of the LORD our God. Just take a few moments and read them slowly. His Word is alive and active!
Psa. 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” 5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 136:
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
Who made the great lights — His love endures forever.
The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
And brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
To him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
And brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
To him who led his people through the desert, His love endures forever.
Who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
And killed mighty kings — His love endures forever.
And gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.
To the One who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.
And freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever.
And who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
I love the quote by Charles Spurgeon in his commentary on Psalm 118:
"Because his mercy endureth for ever: Mercy is a great part of his goodness, and one which more concerns us than any other, for we are sinners and have need of his mercy. Angels may say that he is good, but they need not his mercy and cannot therefore take an equal delight in it; inanimate creation declares that he is good, but it cannot feel his mercy, for it has never transgressed; but man, deeply guilty and graciously forgiven, beholds mercy as the very focus and centre of the goodness of the Lord. The endurance of the divine mercy is a special subject for song: notwithstanding our sins, our trials, our fears, his mercy endureth for ever. The best of earthly joys pass away, and even the world itself grows old and hastens to decay, but there is no change in the mercy of God; he was faithful to our forefathers, he is merciful to us, and will be gracious to our children and our children’s children."
Here is the truth about the hesed of God to his covenant people. If you are in Christ, you are in covenant with God.
God is eternally loyal
God is eternally faithful
God is eternally merciful
God is eternally kind
God is love--eternally.
I know you have already spent a lot of time reading this blog entry, but please set aside some time to listen to this sermon by John Piper. It is too crucial and too foundational to miss.
How Much Does God Love This Church?: "How Much Does God Love This Church? on DesiringGod.org"
Eph. 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Greatest of These
As you all know, the focus of this blog has been faith...
Since we have been here in Decorah--for almost two months now--God has directed me time and time again to passages about love. A couple of nights ago, I was reading in 1 Corinthians 13. I don't know about you, but this is a passage I have read so many times, I can quote it by memory. But, as I read through it again, I was convicted and God really spoke to me anew through His Word. I love it when He does that, by the way. His Word really is alive and active--it penetrates our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). He proved to me again that no matter how well I "know" a verse, I can still be hit over the head by it!
In the final verse of Chapter 13, Paul says: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Another verse that came to mind was Galatians 5:6b: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
I am pretty sure that God is challenging me to look at faith a little deeper, and to examine if I have been expressing my faith through love. As Paul states, I may have faith that can move mountains, but if I do not have love, I am NOTHING. In other words, I am no one, not anyone--a nobody. Whoa.
So, really, the saying should be, "It all boils down to faith expressing itself through love."
I have been pondering many different facets of faith and love recently. I've not only thought of my own shortcomings in this area (which are many, by the way), but also where the church as a whole is missing the mark. On one end, you have people who are pretty strong in their faith, but who, at times can be very legalistic, judgemental, and loveless. On the other end, you have people who focus on the "love thy neighbor" aspect of things--all the while negating the basic tenants of Christian faith--so much so that one is left wondering if the church really believes or stands for anything. So where does God desire for us to be?
Our family has just made an enormous step of faith. I have been trusting God as we begin a new life here in Iowa. He really has increased my faith. There is no doubt that, at times, we feel like we are a part of a culture where the truths Allen and I hold dear and stand firm upon are not embraced and taught in many churches. The pervading tide seems to be one of liberal thinking when it comes to the interpretation of scripture. Some of the people we have encountered at Luther do not believe as we do.
That being said, God has brought several couples and individuals into our lives that do believe that God's Word is truth and that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. I guess what God is impressing upon me is that I must see those who don't believe in Christ as God sees them. I guarantee you He sees them differently than I do. Being tolerant of someone is not enough (though society would claim that it is the highest virtue). If I am just tolerating someone, I am putting up with someone that, in reality, I really don't like. Or, if I am tolerating the weather--I am enduring it--but not loving it. The dictionary defines it as "to withstand the unpleasant effects of something." Or, to endure something you really don't want to endure if you had the choice. Tolerating is not what Christ called us to do with regard to others. He called us to love one another as we love ourselves. He called us to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Christ didn't tolerate the woman at the well. He loved her enough to reveal her hidden sins. He pointed out her core thirst for love and acceptance and then taught her that her satisfaction could only be found in Him. He made her aware of her need for Him. He wanted her to have living water, welling up to eternal life! This is so much more than tolerance. If he merely tolerated her, then his conversation with her would have been much different! After a little bit of debate about where Jews and Samaritans worship, he would have just left it alone and said, "Well, you can believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe and that's okay." Would that response have made the woman aware of her deep thirst for God? NO! Would that response have resulted in an entire village joyfully discovering that the Messiah had come? No.
On the other end, you don't see Christ condemning the woman either. He asks leading questions that reveal her heart's thirst and how she had been filling it with the wrong things. Without judgement or condemnation, he revealed to her the lies she had been believing and pointed her to the truth. The fact that he stopped at the well at that time of day in a city in Samaria--proved that Jesus loved the Samaritan people--he didn't just tolerate them. Most Jews did everything they could to avoid the Samaritans. They even walked many extra miles around Samaria in order to avoid contact with the people there. I can tell you with all honesty, that this has been me at times. Not anymore, but there was a time when I behaved this way.
True, agape love is neither tolerant nor legalistic. Co-existing does not equal love. True agape love asks questions of others to reveal their heart condition and their need for God. Every human that has ever lived has within them a need for God, whether they realize it or not. If I possess the love of Christ, then I realize that I was no better than that person who denies there is a God. I once was lost too, trying to fill my heart with things that cannot satisfy. My sin deserves death just as much as the person next to me. If I truly love as Christ does, then why wouldn't I talk about what He has done for me and live a life that is totally different from what the world exalts and embraces.
True love is patient: not patient in circumstances but patient with PEOPLE and all their shortcomings. In other words, to delay or with-hold vengeance or retaliation.
True love is kind: the opposite of harsh or cutting. To be useful, kind in disposition and character
True love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud (inflated or arrogant).
True love is not rude and does not act dishonorably or improperly
It is not self seeking: to seek out glory for oneself
True love is not easily angered or irritated
It keeps no record of wrongs
At the same time, though--
True agape love does not delight or find happiness in evil and does not condone sinful behavior or participate in wickedness.
Instead, true love rejoices with the TRUTH, which is God's Word and Christ himself
It always stands with to protect or cover, trusts, HOPES and perseveres.
True love will not give up easily on someone who desperately needs Christ.
The true agape love of Christ, given to believers through His Spirit NEVER FAILS.
All types of worldly love will fail and cannot stand up to all of the above attributes.
So, all of this to say, I believe that those of us who call ourselves Christian need to examine what godly love really is. Myself included. Our own agendas have to be put to the side and we have to take up the purpose and calling Jesus Christ gave to his disciples in the Great Commission. It is Christ's love that should compel us to speak the truth about God and His Word. There is inherent boldness in this approach. But, at the same time our words should be seasoned with salt and the truth should be spoken in love.
Yes, God is Love, but we cannot forget that He is Holy, He is Just and we are to love Him first and foremost--above all else! Remember, God doesn't look at the outside, He is looking at our hearts. It is His love that compels us to leave our lives of sin, to break free from the shackles and addictions that bind us and to run the race marked out for us.
My prayer has become, "Lord increase my faith and help me to love others as you love them."
"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for YOUR kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity..."
Since we have been here in Decorah--for almost two months now--God has directed me time and time again to passages about love. A couple of nights ago, I was reading in 1 Corinthians 13. I don't know about you, but this is a passage I have read so many times, I can quote it by memory. But, as I read through it again, I was convicted and God really spoke to me anew through His Word. I love it when He does that, by the way. His Word really is alive and active--it penetrates our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). He proved to me again that no matter how well I "know" a verse, I can still be hit over the head by it!
In the final verse of Chapter 13, Paul says: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Another verse that came to mind was Galatians 5:6b: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
I am pretty sure that God is challenging me to look at faith a little deeper, and to examine if I have been expressing my faith through love. As Paul states, I may have faith that can move mountains, but if I do not have love, I am NOTHING. In other words, I am no one, not anyone--a nobody. Whoa.
So, really, the saying should be, "It all boils down to faith expressing itself through love."
I have been pondering many different facets of faith and love recently. I've not only thought of my own shortcomings in this area (which are many, by the way), but also where the church as a whole is missing the mark. On one end, you have people who are pretty strong in their faith, but who, at times can be very legalistic, judgemental, and loveless. On the other end, you have people who focus on the "love thy neighbor" aspect of things--all the while negating the basic tenants of Christian faith--so much so that one is left wondering if the church really believes or stands for anything. So where does God desire for us to be?
Our family has just made an enormous step of faith. I have been trusting God as we begin a new life here in Iowa. He really has increased my faith. There is no doubt that, at times, we feel like we are a part of a culture where the truths Allen and I hold dear and stand firm upon are not embraced and taught in many churches. The pervading tide seems to be one of liberal thinking when it comes to the interpretation of scripture. Some of the people we have encountered at Luther do not believe as we do.
That being said, God has brought several couples and individuals into our lives that do believe that God's Word is truth and that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. I guess what God is impressing upon me is that I must see those who don't believe in Christ as God sees them. I guarantee you He sees them differently than I do. Being tolerant of someone is not enough (though society would claim that it is the highest virtue). If I am just tolerating someone, I am putting up with someone that, in reality, I really don't like. Or, if I am tolerating the weather--I am enduring it--but not loving it. The dictionary defines it as "to withstand the unpleasant effects of something." Or, to endure something you really don't want to endure if you had the choice. Tolerating is not what Christ called us to do with regard to others. He called us to love one another as we love ourselves. He called us to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Christ didn't tolerate the woman at the well. He loved her enough to reveal her hidden sins. He pointed out her core thirst for love and acceptance and then taught her that her satisfaction could only be found in Him. He made her aware of her need for Him. He wanted her to have living water, welling up to eternal life! This is so much more than tolerance. If he merely tolerated her, then his conversation with her would have been much different! After a little bit of debate about where Jews and Samaritans worship, he would have just left it alone and said, "Well, you can believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe and that's okay." Would that response have made the woman aware of her deep thirst for God? NO! Would that response have resulted in an entire village joyfully discovering that the Messiah had come? No.
On the other end, you don't see Christ condemning the woman either. He asks leading questions that reveal her heart's thirst and how she had been filling it with the wrong things. Without judgement or condemnation, he revealed to her the lies she had been believing and pointed her to the truth. The fact that he stopped at the well at that time of day in a city in Samaria--proved that Jesus loved the Samaritan people--he didn't just tolerate them. Most Jews did everything they could to avoid the Samaritans. They even walked many extra miles around Samaria in order to avoid contact with the people there. I can tell you with all honesty, that this has been me at times. Not anymore, but there was a time when I behaved this way.
True, agape love is neither tolerant nor legalistic. Co-existing does not equal love. True agape love asks questions of others to reveal their heart condition and their need for God. Every human that has ever lived has within them a need for God, whether they realize it or not. If I possess the love of Christ, then I realize that I was no better than that person who denies there is a God. I once was lost too, trying to fill my heart with things that cannot satisfy. My sin deserves death just as much as the person next to me. If I truly love as Christ does, then why wouldn't I talk about what He has done for me and live a life that is totally different from what the world exalts and embraces.
True love is patient: not patient in circumstances but patient with PEOPLE and all their shortcomings. In other words, to delay or with-hold vengeance or retaliation.
True love is kind: the opposite of harsh or cutting. To be useful, kind in disposition and character
True love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud (inflated or arrogant).
True love is not rude and does not act dishonorably or improperly
It is not self seeking: to seek out glory for oneself
True love is not easily angered or irritated
It keeps no record of wrongs
At the same time, though--
True agape love does not delight or find happiness in evil and does not condone sinful behavior or participate in wickedness.
Instead, true love rejoices with the TRUTH, which is God's Word and Christ himself
It always stands with to protect or cover, trusts, HOPES and perseveres.
True love will not give up easily on someone who desperately needs Christ.
The true agape love of Christ, given to believers through His Spirit NEVER FAILS.
All types of worldly love will fail and cannot stand up to all of the above attributes.
So, all of this to say, I believe that those of us who call ourselves Christian need to examine what godly love really is. Myself included. Our own agendas have to be put to the side and we have to take up the purpose and calling Jesus Christ gave to his disciples in the Great Commission. It is Christ's love that should compel us to speak the truth about God and His Word. There is inherent boldness in this approach. But, at the same time our words should be seasoned with salt and the truth should be spoken in love.
Yes, God is Love, but we cannot forget that He is Holy, He is Just and we are to love Him first and foremost--above all else! Remember, God doesn't look at the outside, He is looking at our hearts. It is His love that compels us to leave our lives of sin, to break free from the shackles and addictions that bind us and to run the race marked out for us.
My prayer has become, "Lord increase my faith and help me to love others as you love them."
"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for YOUR kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity..."
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Faith is the Victory
This morning in Sunday school at Tallowood we studied 1 John 4-5. These two chapters are full of such glorious truth, but the verses that captured my attention were 1 John 5:3-5
Here are the verses in a few different translations:
NASB
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
NIV
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
NLT
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
In other words, it all boils down to faith!
For those of us who struggle with sin (that would be all of us!!) take heart in this scripture! If you are in Christ, have trusted Him as your Savior and Lord, and are still trusting Him YOU HAVE VICTORY. You CAN obey God's commands. His divine power has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Have you ever thought or believed that God's commands were burdensome? I think anyone who is in rebellion will view God's commands as a burden. This is especially true when you are a teenager or student in college. Frankly, many people feel this way as adults! In the here and now, it is much easier to succumb to the temptations of this world rather than be set apart and pure.
In a different way, as an adult, I know that trying to walk with God and obey His commands has felt burdensome to me at times Why? Because I had the wrong motivation for obedience. If my obedience comes from anything other than love and fear/reverence of the LORD, then it is legalism. Legalism is lifeless, stark, and depressing. Or, there have been times when the Holy Spirit convicted me of the same old sin, and I felt like I could never have victory! I especially felt this way about the sin of pride. Some sins are just so deep and cherished by Christians that it is very hard to really repent. Why? Because of doubt and unbelief. Sometimes we just don't believe we have the power to completely turn away from the sin in our lives. We don't really believe that Jesus, through his blood, has washed us clean.
In these verses and many others, the Bible is clear that if we are believers in Christ we have victory over the world, over Satan, over our sin! He has taken away our sin, made us completely new, and has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal.
One night this week, Caroline awoke in a foul mood. There is no other word to use but foul! She was just plain mean. Trying to remain calm, and to send a message to her, I quietly and calmly left the room and shut the door behind me. I then began praying fervently for wisdom. I knew I could spank her--which is often what happens when she speaks to me or Allen that way, but as I prayed I felt that I should handle it a different way. So, I went back to bed and Allen and I waited until she calmed down and showed some sign of repentance. We even prayed that God would give her sorrow over her sin.
When I could sense a change of heart I went back into her room. We sat and talked about what had happened, and I asked her questions that probed her heart condition. After she acknowledged her sin, I asked her what the consequence should be for her sinful choice. She responded. I offered two choices for her, and she chose one. After the punishment was given, scripture reviewed, and reconciliation achieved, I asked Caroline to say a prayer to God. My only prompting was to pray what was in her heart and mind. The first words out of her mouth were, "God, take away my sin. I want to obey you and to obey mommy." The truth that I want to ingrain in Caroline and Julianne is the truth that it is love for Jesus that should compel our obedience. The love that God bestows upon us, through Christ should compel us to live for Him. Our obedience should not come from a desire to follow Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, or Lutheran doctrine and platitudes. It should not come from a desire to keep up appearances at church or to please other people, or, can I say, to even please our parents.
I pray for the salvation of my daughters almost every day. I pray for singleness of heart for God, and that they would have a deep love for Jesus Christ. Ultimately, my prayer is that Caroline would obey Allen and me out of a love for and faith in Christ. Then, she can have victory and can live the abundant and free life Jesus promised in the book of John. Every time I discipline Caroline, we have a time of reconciliation. I assure her of my love and that no matter what she does, I will love her and discipline is a part of that love. She will often tell me that she loves me. I often retort, I love you too, but if you love me, you will obey me. Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Love and faith are so inextricably linked in God's economy!!
All of this to say, no matter what your sin--no matter how grievous it is--you can be totally set free from it. The key is faith. It will be hard and it will take perseverance, but it is possible. He promises us freedom! Faith is the victory!
For some of us, our sin IS unbelief. Romans 14:23 says that everything that does not come from faith is sin. ( I am not saying that we will have a carefree life without suffering. We will suffer and we will go through difficult times. There will be times of grief and struggle, but in the midst of all of that, we can have freedom from our sin.) Here are some examples:
1) If I am doubting the truth that God sees me as righteous and pure, and that my identity is in him and not in how I perform, I will make sinful choices.
2) If I am doubting God's love and character, and that He wants only what is best for me I will make sinful choices.
3) If I am doubting the truth of God's Word and the relevancy His truth has in my life, I will make sinful choices.
I can think of several sinful choices that go with each of these points, but I encourage all who read this to stop and think of some yourself. The list can range from sexual sin to pride to fear, to unhealthly relationships...the list goes on and on.
Those who are in Christ must remember that He has overcome the world, Satan, sin and death. If you truly believe that, then you will live a life of victory--a life of freedom! Christ came to set us free and give us victory in any spiritual battle we face.
I couldn't help but recall the words to this old hymn:
Here are the verses in a few different translations:
NASB
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
NIV
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
NLT
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
In other words, it all boils down to faith!
For those of us who struggle with sin (that would be all of us!!) take heart in this scripture! If you are in Christ, have trusted Him as your Savior and Lord, and are still trusting Him YOU HAVE VICTORY. You CAN obey God's commands. His divine power has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Have you ever thought or believed that God's commands were burdensome? I think anyone who is in rebellion will view God's commands as a burden. This is especially true when you are a teenager or student in college. Frankly, many people feel this way as adults! In the here and now, it is much easier to succumb to the temptations of this world rather than be set apart and pure.
In a different way, as an adult, I know that trying to walk with God and obey His commands has felt burdensome to me at times Why? Because I had the wrong motivation for obedience. If my obedience comes from anything other than love and fear/reverence of the LORD, then it is legalism. Legalism is lifeless, stark, and depressing. Or, there have been times when the Holy Spirit convicted me of the same old sin, and I felt like I could never have victory! I especially felt this way about the sin of pride. Some sins are just so deep and cherished by Christians that it is very hard to really repent. Why? Because of doubt and unbelief. Sometimes we just don't believe we have the power to completely turn away from the sin in our lives. We don't really believe that Jesus, through his blood, has washed us clean.
In these verses and many others, the Bible is clear that if we are believers in Christ we have victory over the world, over Satan, over our sin! He has taken away our sin, made us completely new, and has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal.
One night this week, Caroline awoke in a foul mood. There is no other word to use but foul! She was just plain mean. Trying to remain calm, and to send a message to her, I quietly and calmly left the room and shut the door behind me. I then began praying fervently for wisdom. I knew I could spank her--which is often what happens when she speaks to me or Allen that way, but as I prayed I felt that I should handle it a different way. So, I went back to bed and Allen and I waited until she calmed down and showed some sign of repentance. We even prayed that God would give her sorrow over her sin.
When I could sense a change of heart I went back into her room. We sat and talked about what had happened, and I asked her questions that probed her heart condition. After she acknowledged her sin, I asked her what the consequence should be for her sinful choice. She responded. I offered two choices for her, and she chose one. After the punishment was given, scripture reviewed, and reconciliation achieved, I asked Caroline to say a prayer to God. My only prompting was to pray what was in her heart and mind. The first words out of her mouth were, "God, take away my sin. I want to obey you and to obey mommy." The truth that I want to ingrain in Caroline and Julianne is the truth that it is love for Jesus that should compel our obedience. The love that God bestows upon us, through Christ should compel us to live for Him. Our obedience should not come from a desire to follow Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, or Lutheran doctrine and platitudes. It should not come from a desire to keep up appearances at church or to please other people, or, can I say, to even please our parents.
I pray for the salvation of my daughters almost every day. I pray for singleness of heart for God, and that they would have a deep love for Jesus Christ. Ultimately, my prayer is that Caroline would obey Allen and me out of a love for and faith in Christ. Then, she can have victory and can live the abundant and free life Jesus promised in the book of John. Every time I discipline Caroline, we have a time of reconciliation. I assure her of my love and that no matter what she does, I will love her and discipline is a part of that love. She will often tell me that she loves me. I often retort, I love you too, but if you love me, you will obey me. Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Love and faith are so inextricably linked in God's economy!!
All of this to say, no matter what your sin--no matter how grievous it is--you can be totally set free from it. The key is faith. It will be hard and it will take perseverance, but it is possible. He promises us freedom! Faith is the victory!
For some of us, our sin IS unbelief. Romans 14:23 says that everything that does not come from faith is sin. ( I am not saying that we will have a carefree life without suffering. We will suffer and we will go through difficult times. There will be times of grief and struggle, but in the midst of all of that, we can have freedom from our sin.) Here are some examples:
1) If I am doubting the truth that God sees me as righteous and pure, and that my identity is in him and not in how I perform, I will make sinful choices.
2) If I am doubting God's love and character, and that He wants only what is best for me I will make sinful choices.
3) If I am doubting the truth of God's Word and the relevancy His truth has in my life, I will make sinful choices.
I can think of several sinful choices that go with each of these points, but I encourage all who read this to stop and think of some yourself. The list can range from sexual sin to pride to fear, to unhealthly relationships...the list goes on and on.
Those who are in Christ must remember that He has overcome the world, Satan, sin and death. If you truly believe that, then you will live a life of victory--a life of freedom! Christ came to set us free and give us victory in any spiritual battle we face.
I couldn't help but recall the words to this old hymn:
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n.
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in Heav’n.
Then onward from the hill of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring Name.
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Refrain
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Refrain
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Refrain
White raiment shall be giv’n.
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in Heav’n.
Then onward from the hill of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring Name.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O Glorious victory that overcomes the world!
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