Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Power and Love

I was reading in Acts today and was just struck by how powerful God is and how much he cares for individual people.  I think sometimes we just gloss over how powerful he is and we know that he loves the world, but sometimes I think we forget he loves individuals.

His power is enough to take Paul (who was at the time Saul) and change him from a zealous persecuting machine, to a zealous Jesus preaching missionary.  His power is enough to raise the woman Tabitha back to life. His power is enough to put Phillip in the exact right place at the right time.  His power is awesome.

And his love.  Did you notice that in each of those instances it was an individual that God chose to invade?  It was one person God chose to speak to on the road to Damascus.  It was one person God chose to raise back to life in that instance.  It was one person that needed to hear about what Jesus had done and how he had fulfilled prophecy.

His power.  His love.  There is nothing else like it.  It's personal.  God loves you.  He longs to meet you right where you are.  If you're dead, he longs to give you back life.  If you are intensely working against him, he longs to turn that passion into working for him.  If you have questions, he longs to answer them.  God is totally in the miracle working business.  And he longs to work those miracles in your life.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Alone and Still

Alone time.  As an introvert I not only crave it at times, I need it to survive.  I love being with people.  But I love spending time alone.  I think we all need it. Even if you aren't an introvert.  I just happen to be more in tune to the fact that I need it because I am.  But time alone is good.  Time to reflect.  Time to process.  Time to be quiet before God.

It can be really hard to be still in this world.  It's really easy to get caught up in our life and everything that needs to be done or that we want to do.  But our relationship with God is a two way street.  We need to listen and be still and stand in awe of him just as much as we need to talk to him.  Think about it.  When was the last time you were just enthralled by his beauty?  When was the last time you were breathless because of his power?  When was the last time you were still?

As much as I like my alone time, I don't always use it well.  I get caught up in doing things.  Or I waste the time by doing unimportant things.  When what I really need to do is just be still and worship.  When I really just need is to be still and know.

Psalm 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God!"

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Promises

I've had a pretty sweet weekend. My grandparents came to visit and we went to Shipshewana.  It was pretty fun even with all the rain. Also happening this weekend, I'm officially dating someone pretty special. And then today I helped my cousin make cupcakes.  It's always an interesting day to help him bake, but it's oh so much fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything.





























One of the things I loved about Shipshewana was all the Bible verses that were around.  There were all these plaques and decorative wall hangings with sayings (my grandparents' favorite was the multitude of ones that said "Always kiss me goodnight") and many with Bible verses.  Perhaps one of my favorites that kept showing up was from Isaiah 43:1.

"Do not be afraid for I have RANSOMED you. I have called you by name; you are mine."

I love it.

He knows my name.  He paid for me.  He says my name.  And I am his.  There is such power in that.  And so tonight, I read the rest of the chapter.  And let me tell you, I have this chapter underlined pretty well, but it never gets old. The promises in this chapter are amazing.  Go read it. You won't be sorry.  I sure wasn't.

I needed that reminder.  I needed the reminder of how deep God's love is for me.  Of how he ransomed me.  Of how precious he thinks I am. Of how he honors me.  Of how I've been chosen.  And of how he proclaims all of this to the world.

He doesn't keep his love for us quiet.  He proclaims it.  With every sunrise, every sunset, every rainbow, every budding flower, every scrap of color shouts his love for us.

I feel like there is just so much in this chapter and not enough room to type it all.  So read it.  Tell me your favorite part or parts. Share what God is teaching you through this passage.

And maybe I'll get back to it another night, but I want you to hear God's voice as you read this passage.  Not mine.  What is God teaching you tonight?

P.S. The cupcakes aren't quite finished and my camera battery is almost dead... so you'll just have to use your imagination... but they look good so far!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Road Through Ephesus... A Call To Holiness Ephesians 2:22

It's very warm and humid down here today.  Which isn't bad until I want to sleep and then I'll be miserable.  I don't like it cold and I don't like it sticky and hot.  I would like a happy medium please.  Well, I decided since I've been putting off writing about the last verse of Ephesians 2 that I should remedy that situation and get back to it.  I have just had a hard time coming up with what to write about this verse.  Part of me feels that I keep saying a lot of the same things over and over again, but I'm ready to possibly say the same thing again and jump back in.

Here we go:

Ephesians 2:22

"Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit."

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty exciting.  We who were once outcasts, who had no hope of a relationship with God, have become a part of the family of God and he lives in us by his Spirit.  How cool is that???  We were so far separated from him, but God made a way to get back to him and now he lives in us.

He chose us.  We've discussed that. But he didn't just choose us.  He lives in us.  He has made us his dwelling place.  The one who created the universe chose to live in us.  That's pretty amazing.

1 Corinthians 3:17 "For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

2 Corinthians 6:16 "For we are the temple of the living God."

I love that first one.  Because in it, we aren't only called to be holy, it says we are holy.  Because the God who loves you enough to die for you lives in you and gives you his holiness.  His holiness covers you.  It covers me.  It's incredible.  

Because if I think about it, there are many times when I don't feel holy.  There are many times when I don't choose the holy thing to do.  But God still calls me holy, because when he looks at me, he sees his holiness covering me.  Because he lives in me.

But even though his holiness covers me, that doesn't mean I can do whatever I want.  Because his holiness covers me, it pushes me to choose the right thing.  It pushes me to honor him.  It pushes me to love and obey him.

It's not always easy.  Okay, really, it's never easy.  But it's right.  His holiness calls us to a higher living.  

So this week, I want to strive for that. I want to strive to live holy.  Not because I have to, but because his holiness, his love, his Spirit living in me calls me to live a holy life.  

Will you join me?  Will you let him call you to a holy life?

Monday, May 9, 2011

Knowing my heart

Coughing sucks.  I was told today that I sounded like an asthmatic. And I do, it's kinda sad.  Allergies are upon us and even though my new allergy meds are working, I can't take too deep of a breath or I go into a coughing fit.  Or I just go into a coughing fit for no apparent reason.  It makes me tired.

But these last few days have been good as well.  I've had some fun phone conversations and even had some time to just rest which I desperately needed.  It was good.  There's a reason God tells us to take a sabbath.  Our bodies can't handle going without stopping.  And my body needed to rest to handle the upcoming week. Especially if I'm going to be coughing like this for any length of time.

I got to spend some time with a friend tonight.  And we just talked and relaxed and got to know what was happening in each other's lives.  It was good.

It's those times, those relaxing, rejuvenating, kairos times, that allow us to continue living without going insane. And it's in those times that we can be quiet before God and listen to him.  We can get to know his heart.  And it's a time when he can reveal our hearts too us.  Because all too often, I don't know my own heart.  And until I spend some time with my Jesus, I won't know.  He knows my heart so well.  Way better than I could ever hope to know.  And I love that.

(And I couldn't pick just a few verses from this chapter... so I put the whole one :-)

Psalm 139

For the choir director: A psalm of David.
 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
      and know everything about me.
 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
      You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
 3 You see me when I travel
      and when I rest at home.
      You know everything I do.
 4 You know what I am going to say
      even before I say it, Lord.
 5 You go before me and follow me.
      You place your hand of blessing on my head.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
      too great for me to understand!
 7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
      I can never get away from your presence!
 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
      if I go down to the grave, you are there.
 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
      if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
 10 even there your hand will guide me,
      and your strength will support me.
 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
      and the light around me to become night—
    12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
   To you the night shines as bright as day.
      Darkness and light are the same to you.
 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
 16 You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed.
 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
      They cannot be numbered!
 18 I can’t even count them;
      they outnumber the grains of sand!
   And when I wake up,
      you are still with me!
 19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
      Get out of my life, you murderers!
 20 They blaspheme you;
      your enemies misuse your name.
 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
      Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
      for your enemies are my enemies.
 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
      test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
      and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Pleasing People

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day.  I love being able to have windows open and being able to be outside without a coat.  It makes me happy.  Even if it does mean that my allergy meds have to work overtime.  And it was a wonderful day to celebrate and honor moms, even if I spent my day far away from mine.

Church this morning was wonderful.  Something that caught my attention during the sermon was when he started talking about how we can't worry too much about what other people think about us. *Sigh* Apparently I needed to hear this yet again.  I really struggle with this.  I don't like conflict or people being upset or angry.  I like to make people happy.  And I get called a pushover which at times I am.  But it's a problem.  Because way too often I care more about what other people think of me instead of thinking and caring about what God thinks about me.

If I'm not careful, I can spend my life trying to please everyone around me, when instead I need to do what God has called me to do without excuse.  I need to focus on him and put on blinders for the rest of the world.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying putting a smile on another person's face, the problem is when I avoid the conflict that needs to happen or stray from doing what I know is right because of what people may think.

It's something I'm constantly working on and one of my favorite verses about this is Galatians 1:10:

"Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.  If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."

My goal can't be to please people.  That cannot be what I am striving for.  I can't always make everyone around me happy.  But I can do what I know is right no matter what I think people may think about me.  I can strive to honor and bring glory to God through all my actions and words.

So I'm fighting the people pleaser within me.  It rears its head at the most inopportune times.  But with the power of Christ in me, it will be overcome. Because sin has been defeated and my savior won.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Endurance

Endurance.  It's something I thought about a lot at the beginning of this school year.  I had just moved several hours away from home and started a new job and all I could think about was enduring.  And when I thought about enduring, it wasn't in the most positive light.  Teeth gritting endurance.  But God started changing my perspective. Endurance doesn't have to be a chore.  It can be a joyful time.  And even though this year has had its ups and downs, I've endured.  And it has become an endurance that comes from joy and contentment.  An endurance that displays the strength of my Father.

In the beginning of this year I found these verses:

"We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-- not the grim strength of gritting your teeth, but the glory strength God gives.  It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful he has for us."
Colossians 1:11-12


Now they are taped to one of my notebooks.

In the beginning they were a constant prayer.  I didn't think I could endure.  I wasn't sure I could make it.  But I did.  And there was joy in the enduring. That was completely mind blowing to me. That God could replace my fear and teeth gritting with joy and contentment. And you know what did it?  It was the truth in this verse (another one that adorns my notebook):

"He kept right now going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." Hebrews 11:27b


And it's true.  When your eyes are on Jesus, you can keep right on going.  He will lead. He will guide.  And he'll take that teeth gritting and turn it into a beautiful expression of faith.  It becomes joy filled.  And that's something that only God can do.  And it's pretty awesome.  Because when you don't think you have the strength to endure any more, when you're sure that you aren't strong enough, when you're ready to give up and walk back to Michigan, God makes it a time of joy because of what HE can do.  Because of his power.  And he gets the glory.

And that's just awesome.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Aware

I love getting my hair done.  Having someone else wash it and blow dry it is like heaven.  And then the scalp massage...it makes me relaxed just thinking about it.  That's what I did yesterday after school.  I feel like that was really the start of my weekend in some ways.  I got my hair done, went to my Bible study for game night, talked to someone special on the phone, got to wear jeans to work this morning because it's Friday, and was gone on a field trip all day long. It was wonderful. And I definitely almost fell asleep on the bus, apparently I'm still really relaxed.

We need days like that.  Days that are relaxing and fun.  Days where we stop thinking about all the bad news on TV and just enjoy the world God created. Those are the days that rejuvenate our spirits.

It struck me as I wrote that last sentence, that I don't remember the last time I just enjoyed God's creation.  Sure, every once in a while I'll see something that makes me go, "Wow, God." But rarely do I spend a chunk of time.  Rarely do I specifically set time aside to just take it in.  I'm not a super outdoorsy girl.  I happen to prefer hotels over tents any day.  But there is something to be said about just taking in God's creation.  Whether it's the people I work with everyday, or a smile on someone's face, a flower in bloom, or the fact that my new allergy medicine might be working, I want to be aware.  I want to live aware.  Aware of the life around me.  Aware of what God is doing in my heart and in the hearts of the people around me.

Aware. Seeing. Understanding. Reaching. Working where God has me. Serving those God brings into my life. That's living life aware.

"They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."
Romans 1:19-20


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Lists and Heart Talk

I don't really have a lot to say tonight so I thought I'd make some lists for you.  Lists to help you get to know me better.  Lists of what I've been thinking about lately.  So.  First, a list of things I really really like:

1. Lists :-) They make me very very happy.

2. Not having to pack my lunch (and still having food to eat because of an awesome PTO!)

3. Not having to scrape my car in the morning (though it's supposed to frost tonight...sad)

4. Driving to work in the daylight and not with the moon still out!

5. Cough drops. They make my life so much better.

6. Long phone conversations with people I like to talk to.

7. Countdowns.  I have a whiteboard full of them.

8. Field Trips!!

9. Sleep :-)

10. Yummy beef burritos that I made from Mrs. Tappen's recipe. So good.

Things I don't like:

1. Packing my lunch :-)

2. Scraping my car in the morning.

3. The fact that my allergy meds aren't working and apparently I need to switch.

4. Students who are disrespectful.

5. Gas prices.  It's making it rough going to and from Michigan.

And there's probably more, but I hate being negative (whoops, there's number 6). So let's move on to better topics.

I love when Jesus speaks directly to my heart.  Usually it's no more than a gentle reminder that he's here with me, that he cares for me, or that something's happening that I need to pay attention to, but I love it.  There were times when I was not close to God at all.  I had turned away and couldn't hear him anymore.  And that's what I missed the most.  But God.  He gently pursued me and loved me.  He brought me to a place where I could hear his voice again.  And I love it.  It's precious because I know what it's like to not hear his voice.  It makes it that much more specail to hear it.

And now I'm rambling and my contacts are going in and out of focus so I'll stop.  But my heart is pretty much bursting with thankfulness right now over who my God is.  Because he's amazingly awesome and everyone should know him.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Safe

I have a favorite spot to sit in to read.  It's true.  If you don't believe me, just ask my parents to show you pictures.  I have been sitting in the same place to read for years.  In my opinion it's the best place in the house to read.  It's in the living room, at the end of the couch closest to the lamp.  It's quiet, the light is good, and, well, I like corners.

That may sound odd, but I've been thinking about it lately.  If you give me a choice of where to sit, I'll choose the end of the couch so I can tuck myself into the corner.  Usually I'll curl up with my feet under me and a pillow on my lap.  I like things touching me.  Sitting in the middle of the couch is discomforting to me.  We have oversized chairs in our family room and when I'm home for the weekend, I'll squeeze in with my mom.  It's not because I like to be cramped.   But there is something about being small and having pillows and chair arms around that makes me feel rather safe. Protected even.

It's why, when my dad is sitting on the couch, I'll curl up next to him. It probably explains why I love to cuddle. It's why in the winter I'll sleep with four blankets, a comforter, and a sheet on top of me.  Someone suggested I get an electric blanket if I'm that cold, but that defeats the purpose. I like the weight.  I like feeling safe.

God does that for me.  He makes me feel safe.  He reminds me that I'm not alone.  He holds me.  And while I know that God asks me to do incredibly risky things, it's like doing them with the weight of my blankets, or in the corner of the couch.  I know he's there.  I can feel him holding me in the crook of his arm.

Like babies who sleep best when they are held close because they realize they are safe, I know I'm safe in my Father's arms.  That doesn't mean that my life will be easy, risk free, failure free, hurt free, or pain free. It simply means that I know who holds me. And I know his plan is for my good.  Whatever comes, he will still hold me.

Safe does not equal nothing bad ever happening to me.  It means that when bad stuff does happen, I still trust that my God is holding me in the palm of his hand.  It means that I still trust.  It means I still have a hope.  It means that my eternity is still safe and secure in him.

And that's what being safe means.

"I am not asking you to take them out of this world, but to keep them safe from the evil one." John 17:15 (Jesus praying for US!)

Monday, May 2, 2011

God Sized Moments

Moments.  God has a lot to say about moments and time.  Moments are special.  I happen to love those little moments where the little things happen.  The moments when I can hear God whispering to my heart.  The moments when I stop and listen.  The moments are where life happens.

Yet too often we forget to invite God into the moments.  We just go along our daily lives knowing he's out there, but forgetting to invite.  And invitations are nice.  I love knowing that I'm being thought of and I think God feels the same way.  He's waiting to be invited into the moments.

Still, I know that all my moments aren't pretty.  There are moments when I act in sin or when I am being completely overwhelmed by temptation.  But those are the moments that we need to invite God into the most.  He loves us. Deeply. Passionately. With a never-ending, unfailing, unfathomable love.  And those moments that I feel the most unlovable, are the moments I need to invite him into to show me how wrong I am.

I'm starting to see that every moment is a God size moment.  Every moment deserves to have his touch, his power, and his grace. That touch, that power, that grace, makes temptation flee.  It silences the condemnation and the judging voices.  By inviting God into those moments, I'm inviting God to take care of things.  It's not my power or my ability any more. It's Jesus. Working in me. Working through me.  Changing me. Shaping me.  Building me into his woman.

So.  I'm working on making every moment a God sized moment.  I'm working on inviting him to take part in the life that happens in moments. Moments are special.  And I have a God who cares about each moment of my day.  Who wants to savor the specialness with me.  Who wants to fight for me.  I like that.

"For the King trusts in the Lord.  The unfailing love from the Most High keeps him from stumbling."
Psalm 21:7

"For I am always aware of your unfailing love..."
Psalm 26:3a


Sunday, May 1, 2011

Fear

Fear.  It's not a fun word. It's not a fun emotion to experience.  There are times and places where fear is a good thing.  Fear can keep us from harm.  But if we allow it to, fear can also keep us from what God's best is for us.

That's the kind of fear I battle on almost a daily basis.  I have the normal silly fears of heights, roller coasters, and creepy crawly things.  But I also have the fears that seem at times to define me.  And those fears are what can keep me from doing what I know God has called me to do.

Recently, I've been battling fear in new areas.  But at the same time, it's a familiar fear.  It's the fear of change, the fear of failure, and the fear of being vulnerable and real all wrapped up together.  It's fear that I've battled before, only the situation is different.

Healthy fear can help keep me safe.  Unhealthy fear will harm and cripple me.

And so I battle.  Day after day.  Sometimes experiencing victory and sometimes giving into the fear.  And that's when I hear God's whisper:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." (1John 4:18a)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified...for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

And then I have a choice.  I can choose to believe that what God has said is true.  That his perfect love (because his love is the only perfect love I know of) will chase my fear out.  That he will be with me. Always. I can choose to trust the One who has more than proved himself trustworthy.  Or I can choose to wallow in my fear.  I can choose to say that I think God is a liar, because I don't believe what he has said in his word.

And frankly, I don't want to be the one to call God a liar.

So here's my choice.  I am choosing to believe God.  I am choosing to allow him to perfectly love me and replace my fear with his love.  I am choosing to trust him.  Because he is believable.  He is trustworthy.  And his very name is LOVE.