Prayer of Love

Lord, thank you for the love you have shown and bestowed on us.  Thank you for the way you work in our lives and care deeply for us.  Thank you that you love us unconditionally and that you love us in our broken state.  Thank you that your love does not leave us in our brokenness, but makes us into a new creation through your grace.  I am forever changed by your love and cannot express through words the meaning it has brought to my life that is soul deep.  You are a beautiful God who is always present, mercifully good, and unconditionally loving.  May our lives reflect who you are to the world. Amen.

Relax and Reflect

When I have days off, I always try to take time to just sit and do nothing.  And I mean nothing.  Just sit in the silence and allow my mind to reflect.  During these times, however, I find that I am overcome with emotion.  I am reminded of people who are gone, or circumstances that are difficult, or hiccups in the calling.  I feel very much during these times where I allow myself the time to just be.  I hear people say that they don't allow themselves any down time because then they have to deal with the emotions of life.  I don't believe that is healthy.  I've found there to be so much healing in tears.  When I'm able to think on circumstances that are trying, I can take the time to deliberately turn them back over to God so that I don't start to slowly take them back unconsciously.  I am able to take time with my frustration about my calling and listen to what God is saying and reflect on the ways he is working.  Silent time of reflection is so necessary for us, but we fight it with everything in us.  We want to medicate ourselves with busyness or people or drugs instead of going to the One who really can heal our brokenness.  Be sure you're spending quiet time with God.  I know it's not always easy, but it is necessary.  Just a reminder from the beginning of the year.

By Grace, Through Faith

Why is it that we hold on to our pride so tightly?  Why do we spend a lifetime trying to avoid humiliation and weakness?  If we are called to live our lives as Christ and in Christ, humility is paramount.  Pride is such a double-edged sword.  On one hand it can make us work hard to perform well and strive for excellence in certain arenas.  On the other hand, it can be completely debilitating.  It leads to self-destruction when we can't admit we my need help.  So how do we balance the need to do things well, yet not let it overtake us and ruin us?  The key is to recognize our own imperfection and the need for Christ to redeem it.  Once we believe in our hearts that Christ is the only way to fix the brokenness of life, we will see that all of our excellence comes from him too.  We owe everything to Him who created us, redeemed us, and transforms us. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith Builders

Today I read the story of David and Goliath.  David convinces Saul he is able to fight the Philistine based on his experience in guarding his flock.  He had fought a bear and a lion and won.  God gave David these experiences to prepare him for such a time as this.  Yes, David knew God would be with him in battle and that was where his faith lay, but for Saul, he needed some extra proof.  The slaying of the lion and the bear not only helped Saul, but they were also how David knew what it felt like to go into battle with the Lord on his side.  Those were faith builders for David.  It made me think, what experiences has/is God giving me that are building my faith for a future encounter?  How might I look at my circumstances differently if I knew they were God's preparation for a day to come?  There is value in the journey.

Heart Change

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

What does it look like to offer your body as a living sacrifice?  That is my question.  Paul describes it as a spiritual act of worship.  It seems like a physical act of worship, and I think many people read this verse as such.  We try to "beat" our bodies into submission through workouts and diets, aiming to make our bodies the perfect temple for God.  That's not what I'm gathering from Paul's writing here.  He is stating that by offering our bodies as living sacrifices we are worshipping the Father spiritually. So how does one go about doing so? Offering your body to God means you are turning over your earthly desires to him to transform and remove any inkling of temptation that can come through the body.  This type of sacrifice is spiritual in nature because it requires a heart change.  The heart change is the Spirit's work and my spirit can only truly worship God when my body gets out of the way.  This is my journey for Lent, to allow God to change my heart such that the things and thoughts, of which there are many, that tempt my physical body will no longer cause me to stumble.  These thoughts and moments may come across my path, but my heart will be such that it has no desire for the earthly reward.  My heart will be fixed on things above and the reward that is in Christ Jesus.  May this be the time when I gain the full understanding of the words, "and lead us not into temptation".

Reflection For a Lenten Journey

I'm starting into my reflection process as Ash Wednesday approaches and the season on Lent is upon us.  I'm not one for giving up something for Lent, but I definitely make this season a time of focusing on God's work in my life and the transformation He has in store for my heart each year.  This time of reflection before the journey begins gives me the opportunity to spend time with God and ask Him what He is working on in my life and how I can become more aware of His movement.  I will spend time writing prayers and seeking His wisdom to guide my steps on the Lenten journey ahead.  What are your expectations of the Holy Spirit as you journey through Lent this year?  Is it a focus on Jesus through the removal of a distraction?  Is it a focus on the Spirit as your heart is transformed? Or is it a focus on God's sovereignty as you reflect on His work throughout your life?  Whatever your Lenten journey, set out to allow God to change your heart so you are never the same as you are now.

All In

Last Sunday, Dad preached a sermon about Jesus being "all in".  What was he "all in" for?  Us.  Just like the nation of Israel missed the Messiah because he didn't conquer Rome, I believe I miss him because I'm looking for him in the wrong way too.  I want Jesus to be Superman.  I want him to take over the world in a physical sense.  I want him to put leaders in place who would lead like him.  Oh, wait, his leading was so different than what I'm thinking.  When I think of a leader who would lead like Jesus, I'm thinking of the Superman Jesus, not the real life Jesus.  What would it look like if we did have a leader like the real life Jesus?  Hmm...makes me think.  Then I realize, maybe I am called to lead like Jesus.  What does that look like?  Not someone who takes over the world or even is overly zealous about my beliefs.  Instead, it is the man who spoke truth and loved everyone where they were, who was "all in" for the world, even when all of his followers ran.  He came to redeem us, not to take over the world.  Oh, what being loved while we are still sinners does for our broken lives!  I pray that I can be "all in" as Jesus was, for the sake of others.  Changed people change people.

Clyde Teel's Sermon on Jesus being "all in"