Monday, December 7, 2009
Voice of the Martyrs
So easy to forget that our bodies are wasting away while we are here. Morbid... but true. The only renewing we have is in Christ/spiritually/inwardly. Outwardly in every form we are living in imperfect tents awaiting what is to come in Christ. This is just not the place they were created for. So until the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb (Revelation 5) comes back to have complete rule and kingship- Romans 8 says that we will groan and long for what is to come.
But we can forget that this is not the place to set up our kingdoms... It is the place to long for, welcome in, pray earnestly for, work toward, anticipate, and bring glory to the Kingdom of the One who will soon reign. It's time I lay down the crown I feel so entitled to wear... Lay it down at the feet of the only One worthy to wear it.
Lord, remind us that this is not it. This life, this great life overflowing with one blessing after another from your gracious hand is a plot, a ground, a time to give glory and honor to our God. May we not lose heart in the waiting. We anticipate the day when our jaws will drop in your presence and we will then see "THIS is our God!"
- I wrote this as I sat reading a Voice of the Martyrs update. This email was so hard to read as a mother, thinking about your child ever being tortured. And of course, I wandered- Why? And then He reminded me of the verse from this morning... That there is a greater glory at stake. What we see now is temporary so we hope for what is eternal in Christ.
http://www.salememail.com/specialoffers/VOM_Persecution/VOM_persecution_watch_full.aspx?id=2
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Groaning in the Waiting
Longing for what?
As joy seemed so distant, I quickly opened to words of truth to help make out the confusion.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:22-23)
The New Living Translation says:
"And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)"
And in this the Lord reminded me. There ought to be a groaning. There ought to be greater longing for the "release from sin & suffering" that is to come. We have been given a "foretaste of future glory". For right now we see in part, but soon we will see & know fully.
I suspect that if there were no longing, no eager hope & expectation, we would indeed have staked our citizenship in the wrong land. We have far too long made earth our home, forgetting that this is our temporal plot to bring glory to our Creator.
In that reminder Christ graciously reassured that the longings will remain. This- He reminded me- is precisely why He has called us to put our hope in HIM and not in any earthly thing. No person or thing can bear the weight of my expectation. The idol will come tumbling down.
Seek Me.
Let Me fill your cup.
Enjoy the gifts I have given & the blessings at hand... but know that they are but a foretaste.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Giving & Prayer
Torrey goes on to say that "there is perhaps no greater hindrance to prayer than stinginess" and reminds that with the same measure we use, it will be used with us as well (Luke 6:38).
"Many a man and woman who is seeking to find the secret of their powerlessness in prayer need not seek far, it is nothing more nor less than downright stinginess. George Mueller was a mighty man of prayer because he was a mighty giver. What he received from God never stuck to his fingers; he immediately passed it on to others."
Oh Lord refine my heart. Remind me that I am a manager of your wealth... It was never intended to be mine, to be hoarded. Break my fingers that they be released from all that I am gripping ever so tightly.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Jesse Tree
Looking for a family Christmas tradition? This is one we started with our family last December and loved it. It is called a Jesse Tree & is THE best advent waiting calendar I have yet to see. This advent calendar starts in Genesis with the story of creation (on December 1st) and goes through the Old Testament until December 25th, when you celebrate the birth of Jesus.
It can be easy to view the birth of Jesus as an isolated story... All the while missing out on the grand story of redemption that God has been writing since creation. For after sin entered in the Garden, God has been wooing the hearts of His children back to Him. We can see this all throughout the Old Testament as God prepares the way for His Son.
Hebrews makes it clear that the endless, daily sacrifices that were offered up could never cleanse the conscience or make perfect. (Hebrews 9:9, 10:1-4, 11-12) But God had a plan... A better plan than the sacrificial system that could finally reconcile a sinful people with a holy God.
Enter Jesus. The spotless Lamb whose blood does cover. Blood that once for all would be sufficient. No more living with guilt. No more condemnation. No more sacrifices in hopes of being "okay" for that day. No more veil to keep us from the Holy of Holies- the very presence of God.
Through the birth, life, death & resurrection of Christ, we now have right standing with God. The story of the babe in the manger is huge. For this is the life that brought us life.
Join us in making a Jesse Tree this December as we anticipate "The Word made flesh who made his dwelling among us." (John 1:14)
Making A Jesse Tree:
1. For each of the 25 Days of Advent, you will make an ornament for your tree. For example, Day One is a SUN for creation, Day Two is a MAN for Adam, Day Three an APPLE.... You can be as creative as you want with your ornaments. We've added googley eyes to our animals & people- just for a fun extra effect the kids enjoy. Make your ornaments as basic or elaborate as you'd like them to be.
2. Starting on December 1st, read the scriptures for that day. (included at bottom of blog post)Then the first ornament is hung on the tree. By Christmas Day you will have completed the Jesse Tree & will have a tree full of ornaments that tell the redemptive story of God's pursuit of man... Beginning with creation in the garden all the way through the birth of the One- the tiny babe- who would come to reconcile us & give us right standing with a Holy God.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1: 14
Scriptures for Jesse Tree: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc86hr5f_9hfvpnkcq&btr=EmailImport
For information on the history of the Jesse Tree: http://www.cresourcei.org/jesse.html
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Right Action Follows Right Thinking
-Joyce Meyer
And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will if God. Romans 12:2
Monday, November 16, 2009
("Beloved Disciple" by Beth Moore)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Romans 1:16-17
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Taking Headphones Off
Sweet conviction. Refreshing refinement. Lord have your way.
The video was filmed in Dallas of a man sitting down to watch the news. At the sights & sounds of the tragedy he stands to leave, putting his headphones on.
He walks down the street, passing a homeless man on the corner. The homeless man looks up at him, hungry & needy with anticipation and hope that maybe this man will be the one to reach out. The man looks away, passing the homeless man while eating his snickers bar, headphones on.
A little further in his walk a young boy sits alone on the curb holding a football. Clearly hoping for a friend, a father, a hand to reach out and love him. The self-absorbed man looks away, consumed with his music & his life... with his headphones on.
On the bus he sits across from a hurting lady. He knows He should offer hope. He wants to offer a word, a touch, some love... But his headphones are on. It's easier to just drown it out. It's easier to "pull the curtain down".
Do I live life with my headphones on? It's easier many times to decide I don't want to hear it. I can drown it out and go on with my life.
But is that what we are called to? Did Christ die to give us comfy lives, free from suffering, secluded from the oppressed & hurting?
Suffering is difficult to look at. But it's all over the Bible. To turn my nose to it is to turn my nose to the heart of Christ.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Give Us Eyes To See
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes,
The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries."
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Monday, November 2, 2009
Six Steps
This is why he is called the man after your own heart. David could not take six steps without breaking out in worship. He got it. He understood the One we call God.
"So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When whose who were carrying the ark of the Lord has taken six steps, he sacrified a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts & sounds of trumpets." (2 Samuel 6:13-15)
His first two items on the agenda as King: Conquer Jerusalem making it the city of God's people. Get the ark of God back to it's rightful place in the city of God's people.
In 1 Chronicles 13:3 he says "Let us bring the ark of God back to us, for we did inquire of it during the reign of Saul."
I wander what our motives & agenda would be were we crowned king & queen. What would my first priority be? Or what about each morning- What is my agenda for each day I've been given? That the glory of God would reign in me... or that I would reign?
Is it to have God's presence in my heart & my home? Is it to seek and worship the One... The Only One who is worthy.
Oh Lord may our hearts beat for the glory and honor of our King. Tear down every competing idol in our hearts, that YOU alone would reign as Lord and receive the praise due your Name. This holiday season... as Thanksgiving & Christmas approach, may our hearts & attitudes be FULL of praise. Give us the heart of David that cannot make it through breakfast, cannot make it through lunch, cannot make it through the afternoon & evening... without a heart overflowing in praise to our God.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
To feel Your presence
To make the choice
And push aside the things to do
Quiet heart, and hear from You
May not seem huge like some sins are
But hurry & bustle keep my heart so far
Far from what's central
Far from what's true
Keeps me searching and longing
For all but You
Settle my heart now
Wandering though it be
Till face set like flint
I'm content in only Thee.
-Writings from a wandering heart
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Gratitude Journal
Friday, October 2, 2009
Refining
And then comes His Spirit... turning up hard places, hurts, frustrations, fears... I would rather leave well alone. But praise God He won't just let me be. It must be faced. It must be prayed through. And much must be removed.
As we read the Relationship Principles of Jesus at church, it is a touchy subject. One I would rather leave well alone.
And as I poured my heart out to the Lord asking Him "Why do I have to go through this? Why do I have to face these hurts & the junk within my heart?" He spoke so tenderly..."Would you rather I left you here?" "No sir!" "Well then press on with me".
So press on I shall. He is unearthing some tender places. But You are the safest One to tear through it with.
He designed us for relationships... Yes for connection & intimacy. But I'm starting to see also for refining. Lord help me to not shrink back from the work you want to do. Continue unearthing all the junk that must be removed, all the fears that I must be set free of, all the hurts I must lay down at your feet... Let there be no callous places within my heart. No matter how painful this journey.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
"Enough"
This is a poem God spoke to me as I was journaling these thoughts. On the faithfulness & grace of an awesome God....
It would have been enough to let us go our way
To shake your holy hands in sorrow & dismay
“I had so much in store for you,
Such blessings yet to unfold.
But now that you have chosen sin
My blessings I’ll withhold.”
It would have been enough
To leave us wandering on our own
But instead Undeserved Grace
Is what we’ve been shown
Through vast deserts, scorching heat
Your own shade you did provide
You parted seas, came down in glory
On that magnificent Mount Sinai
It would have been enough to take us to the altar every single day
A dove, a lamb, a sacrifice we would have to slay
In hopes of there you looking down and forgiving us for that day
But instead praise God You had a plan, You said
“Oh there’s a better way”
This would have been enough but not for
The Truth, The Life, The Way
For our God revealed in loving kindness
His redemptive plan one glorious day
The day that God-made man in a horse trough was lain
The One who came to earth, the sinless spotless Lamb
Was born… to soon be slain
That would not have been enough, you said
For My purpose and plan I must fulfill
That’s why to have you by my side again
My Son will walk that hill
The Lamb was slain, the blood was spilt
And now one day you’ll see
The life you were created for
In My presence and glory
Now trust me child when I say
This story still unfolds
Tis not the end while here on earth
There’s glory yet to behold
But until my face you see one day
When you will worship and adore
Know that mud pies in the sand
Is not what you were created for
While on this earth ‘till I return (between the trees)
Endless enticements are all around
Know my child with eyes fixed on me
There my blessing will abound
Don’t start with here; Don’t start with now
For this land is not your home
The land, the life you are destined for
My child you will soon know
And until that day when faith is sight
Keep your eyes turned to the cross
Knowing earthly idols fades away
To soon become just loss
My precious daughter, heir to the King
In Me your calling stands
For nothing earth may bring your way
Will ever unfoil my holy plans
