Heart Test...

Where's the stroller?!  Arrgh.  I totally left it in the garage at home!  Why didnt I realize sooner?  Now I have to turn around and go back to get it.

After a fairly smooth morning, lazily getting ready for a walk date with friends, I suddenly realized we were definitely going to be late now.  You would think with a relaxed morning that I wouldn't be so eager to get into a tizzy about being late, but then...  I wasn't thinking on the thankful side of things.  I was feeling entitled to my wealth of freedom that I had experienced during the first half of my morning.  So, with that mindset- or should I say, heart set- my emotions were feeling quite justified in being annoyed.  All the while my little toddler was chillin' out in his car seat to some music- not caring at all that we were going to be late (what was wrong with me?!).

As I pulled up in my driveway and went to open the back of the car, of course in my selfish rush, I had forgotten to actually unlock the back.  So I stomped over to the front car door again and pressed unlock and then stomped back- huffing, puffing, and muttering.  I had to unload a bunch of stuff from the back and pile it into our already cluttered garage...  something I was also not very happy about... when suddenly, my neighbor next door pops up right next to me as I wheel my stroller down the driveway to put it in the back.  "Can I help?" he asked.  He definitely surprised me as I stopped and looked at him for a moment.  Then I smiled and felt a little ashamed inside...  Here I was complaining and feeling alone, when hello, from out of nowhere this nice man just wanted to help...  "Why- yes please!" I replied, finding my voice again.  "Thank you!" I exclaimed as he loaded up my stroller into the car.  I suddenly wondered why I was in SUCH a rush, it seemed so silly now.  And he replied back kindly, "what are friends for?"  As if to just say don't mention it...  He was just happy to help.  

Oh what a treasure of unexpected love I would have missed if I didn't have to go back for my stroller.  And I can't help but mention that this neighbor is an older man with a mental handicap, which is funny to say since it seems that my mental state was much more handicapped than his.  He was ready to help before I knew he was even there.  It's crazy too, because he doesn't usually talk very much at all, or if he does it can be hard to understand, but his words came out clear and kind this morning!  Truly Jesus' love was shining through his sweet face and I was blessed.

In the end, as I drove away, feeling suddenly overwhelmed and thankful- I couldn't help but reflect that God tests our hearts with the simplest of things sometimes.  My prayer is that I won't miss His love, His people, His joy, or His face!  Thankful for the way God shows His love for us through other people.  And, I am hoping that I won't miss my opportunity to pass His love on to others today too ;)

³ "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts." - Proverbs 17:3

"Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!" - Psalm 119:36

Light, Beauty, Salvation, and Strength...

All of these wonderful things come into our lives when we wait on The Lord, for once we hope in Him alone we are able to find His light, His beauty, His salvation, and His strength.  There is no One more worthy of our attention and praise!  Unlike any other words, His Words bring life; so if you are feeling empty, seek His face!  Truly, we all miss out on Reality when we separate our lives from Scripture- real Life is found when we take time to soak in His Truth.  Psalm 27 inspires my thoughts this morning, "The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:1 & 4).

Yesterday my husband and I were caring for the little children in our church and, as young as they may be, it is amazing to see the amount of information they can already process and understand!  During our snack time, I attempted to tell a very short story from Genesis: how God created Light!  We played with flashlights in a dark tunnel and sang "this little light of mine" as we held our own flashlights up and out, waving them around as we sang.  The children brought smiles to my heart as I watched them just soak up all of this new knowledge and I can't help but thankfully identify the incredible gift of learning that God has given children.

Oh that we might all stand beside The Lord, to listen, watch, and learn from Him today!  Even if it feels like the Words God speaks to you are not seeping in, continue to expose yourself.  He is calling us to Himself and as we fill our lives with His precious Words then we build up an appetite and thirst for Him that can only be quenched by Him!  His Truth never returns void and it is only by hearing His Words that we are able to believe His voice.

Children have much to teach us about being sponges towards who God is and all God has to say.  They are eager to speak the name of Jesus (once they have heard His name) and to celebrate their Creator in song (once they have been told that God created them and loves them)!  Little people have amazing faith, they are willing to believe what their parents say to them- so tell them the Truth.  Before anyone can do that though, we must know the Truth!  

As I conclude, I pray that you may see the importance of hoping and waiting in The Lord!  May we come to Jesus as a young child, eager to learn from Him and to soak up His light, His beauty, His salvation, and His strength.  Just as a child busily engages in their world while feeling safe within the presence of a loved one, may we also face this day in the knowledge that we are in Gods holy presence and wrapped up in His un-changing, amazing, unfailing love!

¹³ "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" - (Psalm 27:13-14).

Musings on Boldness and Humility...

Boldness and Humility sometimes seem to be at odds with each other, especially so in our society, and yet Jesus modeled a balance of these two attributes amazingly!  I think specifically of a Proverb and some verses in the New Testament that speak of Jesus' humility which both balance out the importance of boldness and being humble in the lives of those who follow the Lord.  "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1 ESV) and "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

And I can't stop there when it continues to talk about Jesus being glorified by God in His humility:

"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)

Just reading that makes me want to read through all of Philippians again!  I couldn't just post one verse because everything in this section makes so much more sense and has so much more power when it's kept all together.  If only I knew how to speak these truths more boldly myself- to proclaim Gods glory more openly in my day to day conversations.  

What a blessing Gods Word is though!  To be reminded that every knee will bow before Him, that His glory will be acknowledged by everyone one day even if I am forgetful some days...  He is still honored above any name!  It fills all the voids in my heart and mind, giving me hope for the moment and hope for the day...  My little guy is sleeping right now, and although it is always nice to nap these days, the Bible fills me with such peace and rest that as lovely as sleep is it cannot even compare!  Such knowledge of Gods goodness comforts me and gets me all excited to live each moment in His loving hands :)

Oh the precious gift of quiet meditation.  Even though this gift feels scarce in my life these days, I can't help to rejoice when I find that my rare quiet moments are exploding with Gods overwhelming love.  May I never forget to look to Jesus!

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word."  (Psalm 119:114 ESV)

As I continue to think on these topics of humility and boldness, I can't help but think of Daniel.  How he was a man who trusted God so deeply that he did not give up openly praying by his window, even when prayer to God was outlawed.  The picture I see of him in my mind is such a beautiful one of both boldness and humility- as he kneels humbly before God and boldly prays, even though the King had ordered that no one pray to anyone except himself... and the consequence of disobeying was no laughing matter: death by lions!  Even I would have at least closed my window to pray, so no one could see... But Daniel knew that God was God, and no King on earth could take away the glory that only God Himself deserves.  Oh to fully understand and learn to live out the blessed balance of bold humility in Jesus' name!

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight." (Proverbs 11:1 ESV)

"A just balance and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work." (Proverbs 16:11 ESV)

"For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."  (Psalm 112:6, 7 ESV)

Don't those verses capture Daniel and his memory well- he truly lived his life by Gods righteousness!  Oh that we could all come to a place where we are not afraid of bad news.  Truly, isn't God always worth trusting?  He has proved Himself true and righteous more times then the Bible itself can mention!

There are so many examples in scripture of people who have personally experienced Gods faithfulness and righteousness.  In the lives of David, Sarah, Hannah, Job, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Mary and Joseph...  Even though there were times of doubt and struggle in their lives, as they continued to turn to God in their distress- amidst bad news- He was always true to His promises!  God's righteous character is bold and humble- un-changing and amazing...  Not one of His promises have failed!

And so I end...  

"Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."(Joshua 21:45 ESV)

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  (Psalm 73:26 ESV)

Better than a delicious coffee drink (even though I love those)...

Oh what beauty!  I just love Romans chapter 8 :) how can so much Good News be packed into one little chapter?  And this is only part of the Bible, only a glimpse of all the goodness throughout Gods Word. Before you read my blog any further- sit down and soak up Romans 8!

I can't tell you how many times I have searched for Gods wisdom, hope, and love...  And then have been led to this chapter in Romans.  Not only are these words comforting but they are also challenging!  Romans 8 presents many questions to my wandering heart:

Am I living by the Spirit, or living for my flesh?  Do I have life and peace, or am I living in death and separation?  Is my heart submitted to Gods laws, or am I acting in hostility towards what God has commanded?  Is my mind set on the Spirit and how I may please The Lord, or am I living to please myself?  These are questions that everyone is faced with when reading Romans 8:6-8...  And I am humbled- because Gods goodness is so evident...  His Spirit is so clearly ready to share life and peace with us if I would only submit my heart!  Yes!  Yes please!  Why would I say no?!

Well, I suppose there is this next part which speaks of suffering...  If you and I are to submit to God, and His Spirit and be: "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" it is assumed then that "we suffer with [Christ] in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:17 ESV). This is where it gets hard to submit doesn't it?  When suffering comes along its often hard to look forward to the glory in Jesus Christ that is to come!  

Oh but: "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:18 & 19 ESV). May we "wait with eager longing" as we live our lives...  Even in hard times, suffering, and sad news...  The glory ahead is so far beyond any glory we have known it is not even worth comparing to the things we go through day to day!  What blessedness :)

I would love to dissect more of this chapter but house duties call- so I will just dwell in the treat of Gods Words that Ive been able to meditate on.  Praying that my spirit will be submitted to The Lord and that I may reflect His vibrant life and overwhelming peace- even when things aren't going the way my flesh had originally planned :p thank you Jesus for your bigger and better plans!  Amen.

The Call to Have a Heart of Worship...

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness." - Psalm 29:2

Oh what glory is due to God!  It is overwhelming and wonderful to think how my life should exist in this all consuming task of acknowledging my Savior in everything.  In thankfulness and joy my thoughts should pour forth praise!

Why is it then that living a life of worship towards my Creator and Sustainer is such a battle most days?  How can it be that my circumstances and emotions  dictate my response to God?  The reality is that He never changes- He is always worthy of praise!  This reality of Truth is beyond what I can always see and always feel and this is where God calls faith to play its part in my lifelong song of worship.  The questions above must be addressed as my human nature, the doubts of my flesh: when I live for my flesh, consumed by my flesh, I am naturally at war with my spirit, at war with God's Holy Spirit who desires to live through me!  

As I worship God I am also called to do so by living a life of discipline- to practice doing what is right and good and wonderful even when it doesn't feel easy.  And miracle of miracles, once I begin to humbly do this, to live by Christ's strength and to listen to His Spirit lead: my flesh no longer is a curse but a means to be thankful, to enjoy Jesus more fully, to sacrifice my body daily as Jesus did and to share with others all that I have been given.

My life is truly blessed!  I am called to live a life of worship, thankful praise to a God I owe everything to...  and He doesn't Lord this debt over me, but rather gives me freedom and love.  He shares with me the responsibility of forgiveness and grace so I may pass it on to others and then with joy I am able to watch others also live in God's freedom and love!

Oh what lies I believe when I am burdened down by fear and bitterness...  God has set me free!  He has set us all free!  Jesus died that you and I may have new eyes to see and to understand His Truth.  We are new creations in Him- set apart for His glory and praise...  Not because He is vain and arrogant- no... Because He is good and kind!  

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” - C. S. Lewis

God knows that we need Him!  His power alone can free us from our chains of selfishness and sin.  Hallelujah!

"... the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24

Our Lord and Savior is seeking us actively, asking us to be true worshippers!  We must know His Word and Listen to His Spirit if we are to praise Him in Spirit and in Truth.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2

What joy- to be able to meditate on God's Word, to be renewed in my mind with hope and purpose!  Worship simply takes time...  and every moment we are given is from The Lord!  Thank you Jesus for allowing me quiet to focus on you as Nico sleeps in my arms and Saphira kicks and grows inside of me.  My spirit and my flesh are consumed by Your Love!

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” - Revelation 4:11

Father of all...

⁸ 

In honor of our ultimate Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I wanted to just focus our thoughts on Him this Fathers Day!  Here are some verses about who we are in God and who God is always.  May you be encouraged and inspired to be thankful to our all-powerful Father today and always:

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us..." - Malachi 2:10

"So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 

I and the Father are one.”

- John 10:24-30

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

- Ephesians 4:5-6

Happy Fathers Day!  Praying blessings over all the men in my life who have been called to be Dads.  May you each be inspired and be led by The Lord as you lay down your lives each day: as you worship our Living God, by parenting your children, loving your wives, and serving others as Jesus did!

A Hard Teaching...

Notes, quotes, and paraphrases from a sermon by John Piper entitled: "Don't Waste Your Life"

"When horrific events take place we need to ask: What would Jesus want us to learn from this, about not wasting our lives?  I think Jesus would say, just as in Luke 13:2-5: '... Unless you repent you will all likewise perish...'  Jesus is compassionate and kind, He weeps," and He comes to display Gods love and salvation, "but His goal is not to make everyone happy!  He doesnt need to make excuses for Gods actions.  Are you astonished at the magnitude of this calamity, don't be. You should be astonished that you are not among the ones who died- for we all deserve to die and perish!  If we are alive, we should question what it is that The Lord desires of us."

John Piper went on to mention Job and his reaction to the destruction of his children: "Blessed be the name of The Lord, He has given and He has taken away."  He went on to mention Hannah, who desperately wanted a child and she acknowledge God as thenone who holds life and death in his hands.  And so he concludes: If any of us lives through the night, or if I do, it is only by grace!

"Your life is in God's hands.  He never does anyone wrong.  Whether he takes your life or lets you live: you belong to God!  Therefore He knows what life is for- and the only way not to waste your life is to key off of the Almighty and to know what he would have you be."

"Jesus has something to say about this because He is really jealous that you don't waste your life today.  Jesus is jealous for you!  I think He would say to you: 'a person's life does not exist in the abundance of his possessions.'"

"Who knows when God will say: "this night your soul will be required from you."  Your life is not about accumulating things!  No sane person on his deathbed ever comforted himself with his possessions that his life was well spent."

Matthew 16:24-25, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

"It is possible to waste your life.  Few things make me tremble more than wasting my life.  As a child I would wake up and run into the kitchen and see this sign: "Only one life, twil soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."  And it communicated to me very early on that a life could be wasted.  Don't waste it!  I decided early on that I did not want to waste my life, and I cried out to God about it."

"What a tragedy in America that billions of dollars are invested every year to waste the rest of our lives: it's called retirement. For some it goes like this: "you worked for it, enjoy it" and so they live in relaxation, comfort, and ease.  While so many are still in need," not just physical need but spiritual need.  "We are going to join them, and be sucked in, unless we decide that our treasure is Christ- it will take a massive measure of grace to rescue us from this culture!"

"So now the question is: what is an unwasted life?  What would that be?  How can I not waste my life, this text is the answer: Philippians 1:20-21."

"The unwasted life is one that puts Christ on display as supremely valuable" -because He is!  "How does Paul make Christ look great?  He counts everything else in comparison to Jesus Christ as a loss...  Because of the treasure Christ has become to him." 

"Make Christ look great, that's why you exist.  This is Paul's all consuming passion.  My expectation and hope is that Christ will be shown great in me and in my body whether in life or in death."

Philippians 3:7-8.  How does Paul make Christ look great?  By experiencing Christ as such a treasure that every thing else in His life was as loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ."

"How do you make Christ great in your life?  Money, food, clothes, friends, and family are given to you so that you may live in such a way that it will be plain to the world these are not your treasures- Jesus Christ is!  Use all that you have been give to show the world that you treasure Jesus Christ above all things!  Get it- and if you dont get it yet, then pray!  Pray that you would treasure Jesus Christ above everything else in life!"

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." -Philippians 1:21

"If death is to be gain, Christ must be more precious to you than everything you leave behind.  Then when the world looks on, they will be able to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is valuable!  Life and death are given to you- they are gifts- in order that you may display the supreme glory of Jesus Christ."

"This treasuring of Him... is most clearly seen in what you are willing gladly to risk and sacrifice, if He calls, in order to have more of Him!  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Do you want more and more, is He your treasure?  Labor in prayer for authenticity!"

"'Magnifying Christ by being satisfied in Him' was the passion in Paul's life- it was not the American dream of escaping hardship.  He wanted to make Christ's life more vivid for all to see!  Are you going to buy into the American dream or live by the cross, and treasure Jesus beyond all else?!"

"'Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.'  - 1 Peter 3:15.  Has anyone asked you about your hope lately?  Maybe it's because it looks like your hope is in the same thing as everyone else, worldly goods and possesions and not Jesus Christ."

"Embrace Christ, embrace suffering, and embrace the reward of knowing Him!  If your passion is to display Christ then my prayer is that, your life will have the words 'this life was not wasted for Jesus' written all over it.  May you hear the words at the end of your life: 'well done good and faithful servant.'"