Psalm 139:5
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
I touched on this in my last post, but the Lord had more to share on this topic. I know I'm not alone in that a common lie we hear is that past battles or pain will play some kind of determining role of our future. Sometimes we can be so devoted to trying to clean up our past and not repeating mistakes that we aren't devoted to loving God where we are at. Sometimes we can even let this lie actually become a likeness of truth. How sneaky is it that all of a sudden a lie from the enemy about your PAST is now your PRESENT idea of reality? One lie left without combat from the Word of God can cripple you from stepping into greater things and intimacy He has planned from the beginning.
Throughout Psalm, David pleaded that the Lord would not hide His face from Him. This plea was coupled with realization that we desperately need the graciousness of God. My idea of seeing Him face to face, was always something in front of me, like on the day I come home to Him. However, in a moment of worshipping Him, He revealed that not only when I look ahead am I able to see His face, but even if I choose to look behind me for a moment, His face is there also, because He hems us in.
Typically in sewing, hemming is a craft that finishes a piece of work. It is done in such a way to prevent unraveling. In the same way, God took His time to carefully craft you. By the blood of Jesus, He then clothed you in garments that were washed white. He doesn't just clothe the front (future) side of you, and leave the back (past) crimson until you can get your act straight. He finished the work, and He will not let you unravel.
Remember friend, our shortcomings can't stop His glory from piercing through. We can offend His grace by looking back and only seeing regret, shame, weakness, etc., or we can see spotless blood covering us and a torn veil that allows us to meet Him face to face. Where will you focus?
Monday, August 25, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Rise of Kindness
Do you ever have those moments when you hear God speaking something to you or showing you a certain vision, only to actually read it in the Bible months, weeks, or days later? I sure do, and I am so grateful for them.
A few days ago, I was getting ready in the morning and wrestling with some thoughts, thoughts that I'm sure have crept in many of your minds as well. Has my past really left me? Will people really accept and love me for despite words and actions I may regret? OH and especially whoever I marry, will they want to dig into that hot mess? Those thoughts were beginning to weigh on me until God's voice broke through like light clearing the fog. I heard Him say, "I made a way so that your past never has to be resurrected." Shew, really Lord? Yes, really beloved. The resurrection of Jesus Christ TOOK THE PLACE OF the resurrection of our past. Christ rose so that our past could forever remain buried. Grace has the power to release the fear that we won't ever be good enough for something or someone. Aren't you glad we don't have to strive to achieve such a false status? Being "good enough" has never been nor will be our calling. But by His blood and faithfulness, we are made righteous. We were given peace with God and a genuine opportunity to be His friend, His lover, His son/daughter, an heir to His kingdom, etc. In Him, the old things are GONE, and the new is here! How could news get any better?
As I'm sitting here now, the kindness of God is just hitting me. I know I've definitely had moments in my life where I knew good and well my actions or words were hurting my Father, but I cared more about my own feelings/desires at the time. Holy Spirit would gently nudge me to choose differently, but I was stubborn and terribly selfish. Once the consequences and the heart aches came, God could have easily looked at me and said "I tried to tell you" or "Well, that's what you get." But that's not His nature. When our flesh tells us to turn away from those who hurt us, God's love actually chooses to draw even closer. He doesn't withhold discipline, but He doesn't withhold His kindness either. He continues to intercede on our behalf. He is slow to anger, quick to forgive, and faithful to comfort. He's a kind Father, and that's what leads us to repentance.
Everything He has been speaking to my heart lately can be summed up in what I just opened my Bible to. God's so cool :)
Titus 3:3-7
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Ahhh, this just stirs my heart like a bowl full of honey. Sweet to my soul, healthy to my body.
A few days ago, I was getting ready in the morning and wrestling with some thoughts, thoughts that I'm sure have crept in many of your minds as well. Has my past really left me? Will people really accept and love me for despite words and actions I may regret? OH and especially whoever I marry, will they want to dig into that hot mess? Those thoughts were beginning to weigh on me until God's voice broke through like light clearing the fog. I heard Him say, "I made a way so that your past never has to be resurrected." Shew, really Lord? Yes, really beloved. The resurrection of Jesus Christ TOOK THE PLACE OF the resurrection of our past. Christ rose so that our past could forever remain buried. Grace has the power to release the fear that we won't ever be good enough for something or someone. Aren't you glad we don't have to strive to achieve such a false status? Being "good enough" has never been nor will be our calling. But by His blood and faithfulness, we are made righteous. We were given peace with God and a genuine opportunity to be His friend, His lover, His son/daughter, an heir to His kingdom, etc. In Him, the old things are GONE, and the new is here! How could news get any better?
As I'm sitting here now, the kindness of God is just hitting me. I know I've definitely had moments in my life where I knew good and well my actions or words were hurting my Father, but I cared more about my own feelings/desires at the time. Holy Spirit would gently nudge me to choose differently, but I was stubborn and terribly selfish. Once the consequences and the heart aches came, God could have easily looked at me and said "I tried to tell you" or "Well, that's what you get." But that's not His nature. When our flesh tells us to turn away from those who hurt us, God's love actually chooses to draw even closer. He doesn't withhold discipline, but He doesn't withhold His kindness either. He continues to intercede on our behalf. He is slow to anger, quick to forgive, and faithful to comfort. He's a kind Father, and that's what leads us to repentance.
Everything He has been speaking to my heart lately can be summed up in what I just opened my Bible to. God's so cool :)
Titus 3:3-7
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Ahhh, this just stirs my heart like a bowl full of honey. Sweet to my soul, healthy to my body.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Hungry? Why Wait?
All my life I've been a softie for strays. Today was no different. I was driving home and see this tiny dog scavenging around. Naturally, I pull my car over to see if I can help it. I get closer and see that it's backbone is pretty visible. This dog was starving. I randomly had a can of cat food in my car so I open it up to see if the scent will bring the dog closer. It took awhile, but I managed to get it to come to me. The dog was eating sticks, so I figured I'd give it some cat food on a stick. It took it from my hand and ran as fast as it could into the woods. Little did it know, I had a whole can I was going to give it, and then some. My sole desire was to take care of this little guy and find him a home.
One thing that may have motivated him to run from me was fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of getting hurt, fear of not surviving, etc. Haven't we done this with God? He sees us, comes to us, waits patiently with extended hands, and we might acknowledge Him for a moment, but then we run away again. God's perfect love will not co-exist with fear, He wants to drive that out of us so we can experience the fulness of His love. We have to KNOW that literally everything we need He is delighted to provide. He wants nothing more than to bring us home, hold us in His loving embrace, and strengthen us for the narrow path that leads to abundant life.
Maybe there was pride thrown in there too. "Yeah, I got this, I don't need your help. What do you have that I can't go find on my own?" Pride is basically a synonym for weight. It brings you down EVERY time. It's also very deceiving, making you think that you won't take a tumble. We can give this life our best shot but still come up empty-hearted. That's because nothing was made to satisfy you deeply other than the Love of your Maker. Let Him do it! Why wait? We can only go around gnawing on sticks for so long. It's exhausting, it's lonely, and it's unhealthy. God is over here with a table set with your name on a place card just waiting for you to come, sit, and be with Him. I don't' know about you, but a feast sounds a WHOLE lot more satisfying than sticks.
Psalm 23:5
One thing that may have motivated him to run from me was fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of getting hurt, fear of not surviving, etc. Haven't we done this with God? He sees us, comes to us, waits patiently with extended hands, and we might acknowledge Him for a moment, but then we run away again. God's perfect love will not co-exist with fear, He wants to drive that out of us so we can experience the fulness of His love. We have to KNOW that literally everything we need He is delighted to provide. He wants nothing more than to bring us home, hold us in His loving embrace, and strengthen us for the narrow path that leads to abundant life.
Maybe there was pride thrown in there too. "Yeah, I got this, I don't need your help. What do you have that I can't go find on my own?" Pride is basically a synonym for weight. It brings you down EVERY time. It's also very deceiving, making you think that you won't take a tumble. We can give this life our best shot but still come up empty-hearted. That's because nothing was made to satisfy you deeply other than the Love of your Maker. Let Him do it! Why wait? We can only go around gnawing on sticks for so long. It's exhausting, it's lonely, and it's unhealthy. God is over here with a table set with your name on a place card just waiting for you to come, sit, and be with Him. I don't' know about you, but a feast sounds a WHOLE lot more satisfying than sticks.
Psalm 23:5
"You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings."
Isaiah 58:11
"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
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