Yesterday morning, before my track meet, God completely blew my mind with Leviticus and I thought I'd share.
In Leviticus, there are a lot of rules for sacrifice. There is clearly a need for atonement, because the people keep sinning. In verse 17:11, it says, "for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" Chapter 16 verse 21 says that when the priest takes a goat, all the sins are put onto that goat, and the blood of the slaughter makes the people clean before God. And, it says that only the high priest can make an atonement for all of his people:
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 16:17
Isn't this incredible?! Look at it. It's a parallel (precursor) to Calvary, and it's getting me so excited. The Lord transferred all of our sins onto the perfect Savior Jesus Christ, who faced the cross alone, redeeming the entire world.
I was telling my friend that the more I read and learn in the New Testament, the more exciting the Old Testament is, and then the circle just never ends. Jesus was in the beginning (John 1:1), always has been, and always will be. He is there from Genesis to Revelation, our Savior, the lover of the world. I crave knowing more. Every day the Lord shows me something new about who He is, and there is nothing I love more than getting to know Jesus.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Philippians 3:10
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:18
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Get Up
This is the weekend of indoor conference for track and field. It's a really exciting time, and even though I don't compete until tomorrow, I have those positive nerves running around in me. I woke up to Superchick's "Get Up" stuck in my head, a song a haven't listened to in years. There are so many great lines, but the one I want to look at here is "I know I'll fall again but I can win this in the end"
Does that describe humanity to the T or what? We are not perfect and sinless. There was only one of those, and His name is Jesus Christ. He never fell. He was so high and devoted in HIs relationship with our Father that even when tempted, He didn't give in. And so God also highly exalted HIm (Philippians 2:9-11). But us, we want to know our Lord; He created us with a hole only He can fill, but we can't stop sinning.
But.
It wasn't enough to have our God step down and live a perfect life. He died an excruciating death so that we too could be raised up and enter the Kingdom of God forever. In Christ, we are already victors. We have nothing to fear, and even if our world is trying to get us down, we will win this in the end, because the battle's already over. Our failures do not count against us, and if we turn to the Lord and Savior, He will carry us through.
For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Proverbs 24:16
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Micah 7:8
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37
Does that describe humanity to the T or what? We are not perfect and sinless. There was only one of those, and His name is Jesus Christ. He never fell. He was so high and devoted in HIs relationship with our Father that even when tempted, He didn't give in. And so God also highly exalted HIm (Philippians 2:9-11). But us, we want to know our Lord; He created us with a hole only He can fill, but we can't stop sinning.
But.
It wasn't enough to have our God step down and live a perfect life. He died an excruciating death so that we too could be raised up and enter the Kingdom of God forever. In Christ, we are already victors. We have nothing to fear, and even if our world is trying to get us down, we will win this in the end, because the battle's already over. Our failures do not count against us, and if we turn to the Lord and Savior, He will carry us through.
For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Proverbs 24:16
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Micah 7:8
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Restoration
This week has been pretty nice. The Lord blessed me with extreme efficiency, giving me a low-key week to follow the insanity of last week.
He continued His work today. I went to the local Christian school to talk with someone about National Day of Prayer events, and there are some good things in the works. He invited me to stay for their chapel service, a weekly event. Since I didn't have anything pressing to do, I said sure. With some worship and then a few Bible readings, sermon, and prayer, it was pretty basic. But in its simplicity, I left feeling so uplifted, so refreshed, so restored. I loved being surrounded by all the students, encouraged by the fact that they are being taught to love Christ and follow His will. Sure, many of them were less than attentive, but I treasured seeing the ones hanging on every word, truly digging into their Bibles.
I have truly felt God restoring me, and I am thankful. I know, too, that He has plans for me and that this is a time of preparation for what is to come. I felt very tired and plain worn out after last week's craziness, but I can feel God bringing me back to life through the heart of Jesus Christ. He is taking what is broken and ultimately useless and crafting it for His purpose. Only the Lord knows what He is doing, but I know that He is working for my well-being (Romans 8:28).
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:12
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11
He continued His work today. I went to the local Christian school to talk with someone about National Day of Prayer events, and there are some good things in the works. He invited me to stay for their chapel service, a weekly event. Since I didn't have anything pressing to do, I said sure. With some worship and then a few Bible readings, sermon, and prayer, it was pretty basic. But in its simplicity, I left feeling so uplifted, so refreshed, so restored. I loved being surrounded by all the students, encouraged by the fact that they are being taught to love Christ and follow His will. Sure, many of them were less than attentive, but I treasured seeing the ones hanging on every word, truly digging into their Bibles.
I have truly felt God restoring me, and I am thankful. I know, too, that He has plans for me and that this is a time of preparation for what is to come. I felt very tired and plain worn out after last week's craziness, but I can feel God bringing me back to life through the heart of Jesus Christ. He is taking what is broken and ultimately useless and crafting it for His purpose. Only the Lord knows what He is doing, but I know that He is working for my well-being (Romans 8:28).
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:12
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Gift of Sundays
People who know me well know that I don't do serious work on Sundays. If I do homework, I'm working ahead, and it's only because I want to. At any point if I don't feel like it, I just stop. The only things I do regularly are church, Bible study, and working out (easy, just to recover from the week).
When I woke up this morning, I was recalling a Gospel teaching, where Jesus says that the Sabbath was created for man, and not for Sabbath. Sunday mornings to me mean waking up "late" (around 6:30 or 7), and spending time in prayer and the word of Lord while resting in my cozy bed before breakfast. I love it so much. I work incredibly hard during the week, with classes, track, and work, and then on Saturdays I have track meets all day. So by the time Sunday comes, I need a break. And the Lord provides.
Sundays, in my opinion, are one of God's greatest gifts beyond Christ, whose bloody sacrifice is the ultimate treasure. This day gives me so much time to dwell in the presence of the Lord. I am so in awe of my Father, and how good He is and how He loves us. The blood of Jesus covers our sin, but He also reigns inside our bodies. Feeling the sovereignty of God in my body is what makes Sabbath rest so absolutely incredible. There is nothing better than spending an entire day in full awareness of the Holy Spirit in every essence of my life.
My soul just feels restored, knowing that the God of the Universe was thinking about His people and created a day for them to be revitalized by His very presence.
Lord, I thank You for Sundays. I thank You for Your bountiful gifts to humanity, for the way You poured Yourself into a body to serve the world, both in dying and in living still. You are a provisional God of passion and love, forever my all in all. Glory to You my Creator, Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, Amen
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11
And He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Mark 2:27
When I woke up this morning, I was recalling a Gospel teaching, where Jesus says that the Sabbath was created for man, and not for Sabbath. Sunday mornings to me mean waking up "late" (around 6:30 or 7), and spending time in prayer and the word of Lord while resting in my cozy bed before breakfast. I love it so much. I work incredibly hard during the week, with classes, track, and work, and then on Saturdays I have track meets all day. So by the time Sunday comes, I need a break. And the Lord provides.
Sundays, in my opinion, are one of God's greatest gifts beyond Christ, whose bloody sacrifice is the ultimate treasure. This day gives me so much time to dwell in the presence of the Lord. I am so in awe of my Father, and how good He is and how He loves us. The blood of Jesus covers our sin, but He also reigns inside our bodies. Feeling the sovereignty of God in my body is what makes Sabbath rest so absolutely incredible. There is nothing better than spending an entire day in full awareness of the Holy Spirit in every essence of my life.
My soul just feels restored, knowing that the God of the Universe was thinking about His people and created a day for them to be revitalized by His very presence.
Lord, I thank You for Sundays. I thank You for Your bountiful gifts to humanity, for the way You poured Yourself into a body to serve the world, both in dying and in living still. You are a provisional God of passion and love, forever my all in all. Glory to You my Creator, Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, Amen
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11
And He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Mark 2:27
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Indescribable
Life has been crazy! From organizing a student volunteer movement to hosting an author and pastor to pole vaulting to Bible study to school work to trying to sleep once in awhile, I am so blessed to be granted the strength of the the Lord Jesus Christ right now.
Monday marked a very special spiritual moment in my life. A year prior, I began praying for a friend daily, wanting him to return to his walk with the Lord. It was often difficult, especially at the beginning, but God used this time to teach me more about what His love and forgiveness really looks like. He did come back to Christ this summer, but I kept up the prayer because that's what God had called me to. My friend and I both recognize that we are forever linked together, whether or not we see each other again on this side of the world.
To celebrate, I wrote him a message that was simply called "Prayer 365", and it was at the end of the day at the end of the year. Part of his response to me was, "There really aren't words in our dictionary to accurately capture what you've done and to thank you for it", with another piece being, "Kate, you've literally slain me with kindness and selflessness. I cannot begin to put it into words"
The reason he doesn't have any words for this, and really, neither do I, is because what God did in Christ at Calvary is completely indescribable. We don't have a way to talk about the glory of our risen Savior that can come close to what happened there. We try, but it's not enough, and we just have to live in that recognition that God's grace is too big for us to understand all at once. The Lord wants us to continue to follow Him so that He might reveal more of Himself to us. And the fact that the God of the Universe wants anything to do with us is pretty indescribable in itself.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Monday marked a very special spiritual moment in my life. A year prior, I began praying for a friend daily, wanting him to return to his walk with the Lord. It was often difficult, especially at the beginning, but God used this time to teach me more about what His love and forgiveness really looks like. He did come back to Christ this summer, but I kept up the prayer because that's what God had called me to. My friend and I both recognize that we are forever linked together, whether or not we see each other again on this side of the world.
To celebrate, I wrote him a message that was simply called "Prayer 365", and it was at the end of the day at the end of the year. Part of his response to me was, "There really aren't words in our dictionary to accurately capture what you've done and to thank you for it", with another piece being, "Kate, you've literally slain me with kindness and selflessness. I cannot begin to put it into words"
The reason he doesn't have any words for this, and really, neither do I, is because what God did in Christ at Calvary is completely indescribable. We don't have a way to talk about the glory of our risen Savior that can come close to what happened there. We try, but it's not enough, and we just have to live in that recognition that God's grace is too big for us to understand all at once. The Lord wants us to continue to follow Him so that He might reveal more of Himself to us. And the fact that the God of the Universe wants anything to do with us is pretty indescribable in itself.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Monday, February 14, 2011
Beloved
I love Valentine's Day. I love thinking about all the wonderful people in my life. And I love hearing everyone talk about love, because God is love (1 John 4:8).
I may be single, but that doesn't mean I don't have the greatest love that anyone has ever known. My beloved is the Beloved Son of God. I have found the one my heart will love (Song of Solomon 3:4). Last night I pulled out my guitar and wrote a love song to Him.
My love, my hope, my all in all
I wanted You to know
That You're the one I adore
And this love always grows
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus,
It's me You died for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus,
It's You I'm longing for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
You're the One who hears me
And whispers in my ear
You hold my hand and walk with me,
Drawing ever near.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus
It's me You died for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus
It's You I'm longing for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
"Be" means "I am". "I am" is a name for God" Beloved. God loved. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Jesus gave everything He had just to make us His.
Oh Lord, You are my absolutely everything. What I have to give is never going to be enough, but I want to give You all I am. You have swept me off my feet and into Your glory. How dearly blessed I am to be loved by the very definition of the word! Amen
But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: 'Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name, you are Mine" Isaiah 43:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1
I may be single, but that doesn't mean I don't have the greatest love that anyone has ever known. My beloved is the Beloved Son of God. I have found the one my heart will love (Song of Solomon 3:4). Last night I pulled out my guitar and wrote a love song to Him.
My love, my hope, my all in all
I wanted You to know
That You're the one I adore
And this love always grows
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus,
It's me You died for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus,
It's You I'm longing for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
You're the One who hears me
And whispers in my ear
You hold my hand and walk with me,
Drawing ever near.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus
It's me You died for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
Dear Jesus, sweet Jesus
It's You I'm longing for
Your love is all I need
My heart's forever Yours.
"Be" means "I am". "I am" is a name for God" Beloved. God loved. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Jesus gave everything He had just to make us His.
Oh Lord, You are my absolutely everything. What I have to give is never going to be enough, but I want to give You all I am. You have swept me off my feet and into Your glory. How dearly blessed I am to be loved by the very definition of the word! Amen
But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: 'Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name, you are Mine" Isaiah 43:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1
Friday, February 11, 2011
He Is Jealous
Today, a really good friend of mine surprised me with a shoulder rub while I was in the library studying. My shoulders get really tight and knotted up from pole vaulting, so I can't express how appreciated this was, and he'd just done it without any prompting whatsoever. As we were talking, he misunderstood me. I said I was breaking in my new pole vault pole, but he'd thought I'd said I was breaking up with someone. He initially was upset that he hadn't known I'd had a boyfriend. When I explained myself, he said, "Good. Because you know, when you do date someone I'm going to have to meet him first and threaten to break him if he isn't good enough to you" He went on to add that this guy couldn't be too much bigger than him, of course. (Side note: he's in a very committed relationship and we are not "interested" at all in each other)
I instantly thought of the way the Lord jealously protects His faithful ones. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus tells us He is with us always, and we know that is through His Holy Spirit (John 14:17). God came down here to take care of us, and reigns inside our very bodies. He has never let us go.
But He also wants all of us. Our Father wants us to come to Him for all of our needs. He is more than we could ever want or hope for. He is everything we could ever desire or need. God gave us good things to be enjoyed, but He always wants us to remember who created them. He designed us to be in community with each other, but He also wants to be our number one source of intimacy and friendship. And it's all because of how much He loves us. I'm sitting here right now crying because I'm trying to get my head around the love Christ had for us and it's simply indescribable. Oh, how He loves us!
Lord, thank You so much for wanting all of me. How incredible it is that You , so holy, awesome, and pure, would want a sinner so unworthy as myself. I praise Jesus as my Savior for redeeming me in Your eyes and making a way for me to know You. Help me to always be taken by Your love and let it govern my life and rule over my whole being. I love You, Lord, more with every breath that You give me. Amen
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
I instantly thought of the way the Lord jealously protects His faithful ones. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus tells us He is with us always, and we know that is through His Holy Spirit (John 14:17). God came down here to take care of us, and reigns inside our very bodies. He has never let us go.
But He also wants all of us. Our Father wants us to come to Him for all of our needs. He is more than we could ever want or hope for. He is everything we could ever desire or need. God gave us good things to be enjoyed, but He always wants us to remember who created them. He designed us to be in community with each other, but He also wants to be our number one source of intimacy and friendship. And it's all because of how much He loves us. I'm sitting here right now crying because I'm trying to get my head around the love Christ had for us and it's simply indescribable. Oh, how He loves us!
Lord, thank You so much for wanting all of me. How incredible it is that You , so holy, awesome, and pure, would want a sinner so unworthy as myself. I praise Jesus as my Savior for redeeming me in Your eyes and making a way for me to know You. Help me to always be taken by Your love and let it govern my life and rule over my whole being. I love You, Lord, more with every breath that You give me. Amen
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
See You
It's no coincidence that the title of this post is also the title of Josh Wilson's new album. I downloaded it early this morning, and the Lord has used it to completely save my day. I was in such a drained state of being, with incredible low confidence and high fatigue. But I've been playing that album straight through all day and it has helped me see the work of the cross more vividly in my life.
Next week a speaker is coming to campus to talk about how doubt is a natural and even essential part of faith. Today showed me how true that really is. The more I doubted who I was and what I was doing, the more I had to look at who I am in Christ. I had to run further into God's arms and really look at what He's doing in my life. I am God's child, Christ's friend, God's co-worker, and free from any charge against me (John 1:12, John 15:15, 1 Corinithians 3:9, Romans 8:31-34). I was completely at the end of myself, but when I was about to fall off the edge, I stepped instead into everything I needed - the comfort and aid of the Lord.
This is my favorite song right now. I think I've listened to it at least a dozen times today.
"When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain’t nothing you can do, that’s when God takes over"
Denver Moore, Same Kind of Different as Me
Lord, I thank You so much for bringing me to this point where I had to run into Your arms. Everything was coming crashing down around me, but You were there and ready to take me much further. You know all that I need, and sometimes I need things I don't think I want. But You, God, are so faithful and so good to provide. You search my heart and know what I'm ready for, Lord. My times are Yours. I am so in love with You, Jesus. You were willing to die for me, and now Your Spirit reigns inside of me. I need You to be in control of my life so I might be free and holy. I praise You with my life and everything I have. It's never going to be enough, but it is all I have. Amen.
You are my God. My times are in Your Hands... from Psalm 31:14-15
I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 17:10
Next week a speaker is coming to campus to talk about how doubt is a natural and even essential part of faith. Today showed me how true that really is. The more I doubted who I was and what I was doing, the more I had to look at who I am in Christ. I had to run further into God's arms and really look at what He's doing in my life. I am God's child, Christ's friend, God's co-worker, and free from any charge against me (John 1:12, John 15:15, 1 Corinithians 3:9, Romans 8:31-34). I was completely at the end of myself, but when I was about to fall off the edge, I stepped instead into everything I needed - the comfort and aid of the Lord.
This is my favorite song right now. I think I've listened to it at least a dozen times today.
"When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain’t nothing you can do, that’s when God takes over"
Denver Moore, Same Kind of Different as Me
Lord, I thank You so much for bringing me to this point where I had to run into Your arms. Everything was coming crashing down around me, but You were there and ready to take me much further. You know all that I need, and sometimes I need things I don't think I want. But You, God, are so faithful and so good to provide. You search my heart and know what I'm ready for, Lord. My times are Yours. I am so in love with You, Jesus. You were willing to die for me, and now Your Spirit reigns inside of me. I need You to be in control of my life so I might be free and holy. I praise You with my life and everything I have. It's never going to be enough, but it is all I have. Amen.
You are my God. My times are in Your Hands... from Psalm 31:14-15
I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 17:10
Monday, February 7, 2011
Everything Falls...Except God
In the last three days, many things have been falling apart in my life. The concordance section of my Bible has come detached from its binding. My back and left achilles have certainly seen better days. My study abroad interview left me wondering if Beloit was the place for me after all. And I feel like I'm disappointing all these people and coaches in high school who told me I could be a great vaulter one day.
I'm not one to dwell on the negatives, but everything was really getting in my head. Then, two very specific things happened. The first is that I recalled a book by Joyce Meyer about worship; I remembered how she had described the importance of worshiping when you don't feel like it. So I picked up my guitar and played "How Great Is Our God" and "Everything Falls" and found that worshiping the Lord for who He is helped to magnify His glory in my life. Secondly, I had to finish up a Bible study about sin and holiness. It really centered on being in Christ. It made me even more aware of how much I need Jesus, and how in fact, I cannot take a single step without Him.
Because of my sin, I can't have the joy and peace found in the riches of God's glory. But in Christ, I have my sins forgiven and am free from condemnation.
So when everything falls apart, my Father's hands hold me together. Though the world shakes, I will not.
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
I'm not one to dwell on the negatives, but everything was really getting in my head. Then, two very specific things happened. The first is that I recalled a book by Joyce Meyer about worship; I remembered how she had described the importance of worshiping when you don't feel like it. So I picked up my guitar and played "How Great Is Our God" and "Everything Falls" and found that worshiping the Lord for who He is helped to magnify His glory in my life. Secondly, I had to finish up a Bible study about sin and holiness. It really centered on being in Christ. It made me even more aware of how much I need Jesus, and how in fact, I cannot take a single step without Him.
Because of my sin, I can't have the joy and peace found in the riches of God's glory. But in Christ, I have my sins forgiven and am free from condemnation.
So when everything falls apart, my Father's hands hold me together. Though the world shakes, I will not.
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
Sunday, February 6, 2011
I Will Believe
Today, for a class, I had to visit a different church. Since I was in a bit of mental, emotional, and spiritual lowness, I was quite sulky about it. I wanted to go to my church, where everyone knows me and the children run to embrace me. I wrote in my journal how I knew the importance of giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), but it didn’t feel genuine.
The Lord flipped me upside down this morning, that’s for sure. From the moment we sat down in the pews, I could feel God’s presence. The congregation was tiny, but they sang and prayed with the full joy of the Lord. Their great love for Christ moved me to tears. There is no better remedy for the soul than to join in worship with a fellowship of sincere hearts. God used their great faith to touch my life and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Thank You oh Lord for providing for me. Help me to truly believe that You are here with me, ready to raise me up to so much more than I could ever think possible. In my weakness You are strong; in my darkness You are the light. I thank You for coming to earth to die to show us the message of Your love for us. Your faithfulness echoes through the ages and I praise You with all that I am, giving thanks to Your great name through my Savior Jesus Christ.
For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven, and do not return there without saturating the earth, and making it germinate and sprout and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from my mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it to do. You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 9-12
The Lord flipped me upside down this morning, that’s for sure. From the moment we sat down in the pews, I could feel God’s presence. The congregation was tiny, but they sang and prayed with the full joy of the Lord. Their great love for Christ moved me to tears. There is no better remedy for the soul than to join in worship with a fellowship of sincere hearts. God used their great faith to touch my life and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Thank You oh Lord for providing for me. Help me to truly believe that You are here with me, ready to raise me up to so much more than I could ever think possible. In my weakness You are strong; in my darkness You are the light. I thank You for coming to earth to die to show us the message of Your love for us. Your faithfulness echoes through the ages and I praise You with all that I am, giving thanks to Your great name through my Savior Jesus Christ.
For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven, and do not return there without saturating the earth, and making it germinate and sprout and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from my mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it to do. You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 9-12
Saturday, February 5, 2011
God's Voice
I had a track meet today, and it didn't go all that well. I was beating myself up and felt tired and worn down. I've been doing all the work and getting no results but a sore back and low confidence. I could have been at an awesome concert with great friends, but instead I was feeling down and alone despite being surrounded by hundreds of people. It was one of those rare days when I just wanted my mom and I to snuggle up on the couch, watch some Gilmore Girls, eat ice cream and have her tell me I am good enough and that I'd get them next time.
I spent the bus ride home drifting in and out of sleep, praying along with the gentle worship strains coming from my iPod. I couldn't put the day out of my head, no matter how hard I tried. Matthew West sings in a song, "God is good, but life's still hard" I wanted to focus on the "God is good" part, but I just couldn't.
Well, our God provides for us exactly what we need, often in a different and better way than we asked for. As we unloaded the bus, tired from the long day and eager to unwind, a close (non Christian) friend of mine came up to me and said, "I know today didn't go how you wanted it to, but you'll get them next time," and wrapped me in his arms.
I knew in that moment that the Lord was using my friend to speak to me and to tell me that He was still holding onto me. God speaks in many ways.
Here's the song I quoted earlier; the lines have been running through my head all day:
God made me long for home, but also Home. He is still speaking in such wonderful ways. And now, I can say that God is better than life is difficult and actually mean it.
God's voice thunders in many marvelous ways. He does great things beyond our understanding. Job 37:15
I spent the bus ride home drifting in and out of sleep, praying along with the gentle worship strains coming from my iPod. I couldn't put the day out of my head, no matter how hard I tried. Matthew West sings in a song, "God is good, but life's still hard" I wanted to focus on the "God is good" part, but I just couldn't.
Well, our God provides for us exactly what we need, often in a different and better way than we asked for. As we unloaded the bus, tired from the long day and eager to unwind, a close (non Christian) friend of mine came up to me and said, "I know today didn't go how you wanted it to, but you'll get them next time," and wrapped me in his arms.
I knew in that moment that the Lord was using my friend to speak to me and to tell me that He was still holding onto me. God speaks in many ways.
Here's the song I quoted earlier; the lines have been running through my head all day:
God made me long for home, but also Home. He is still speaking in such wonderful ways. And now, I can say that God is better than life is difficult and actually mean it.
God's voice thunders in many marvelous ways. He does great things beyond our understanding. Job 37:15
Friday, February 4, 2011
Pole Vault Pains and God's Glory
I have some pretty tough back problems due to an old cheerleading injury and a lifetime of gymnastics. For the past few years it comes in waves - sometimes nothing, sometimes a lot. When I pole vault, it's typically aggravated the most when I'm doing something wrong, which is quite the incentive to fix the problem.
But this week, I've had some of my best vaults in a long time, and my back has been absolutely killing me. Today I had all of my teammates watch me, and no matter what we did or how good the vaults looked, my back still ached. It's truly a mystery.
Sometimes, life hurts. We may be doing everything "right" and it may even look good on some level, but there can still be pain. All that I can say is that we have to trust that God has a plan through the midst of our hurt. He is, after all, the ultimate healer. Maybe we have to let our comfortable lives get broken so that we may be a little more aware of the healing that we are so desperately in need of. Maybe there are clues somewhere in our lives that are pointing to the cracks that need to be filled up by the blood and Spirit of a Savior. I never want to settle just because things are going pretty well. I want to experience God's greatness on a higher level every single day. I want to wake up to an enchanted life and be excited by even the smallest things in my day, because they are all gifts from my Father. I don't want to be plagued by pain; I want to see past it into what God is trying to show me.
The more I write and really lean on the Lord in this post, I can tell how He's giving me a physical manifestation of my own brokenness. I know He wants me to open myself up to Him even more; He needs all of me. He needs me to recognize I can't do this unless I love my Lord with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul and proclaim with all of my being "long live the King!"
Lord, take my life and let it be all for You. Thank You for showing me my great need for You. You have done so much for me, and I want yo live completely in You. To Jesus I am eternally bowing down, for He bore my sin, pain, sorrow and death, so I wouldn't have to. Step by step, I will follow You and live for You glory. Amen.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14
But this week, I've had some of my best vaults in a long time, and my back has been absolutely killing me. Today I had all of my teammates watch me, and no matter what we did or how good the vaults looked, my back still ached. It's truly a mystery.
Sometimes, life hurts. We may be doing everything "right" and it may even look good on some level, but there can still be pain. All that I can say is that we have to trust that God has a plan through the midst of our hurt. He is, after all, the ultimate healer. Maybe we have to let our comfortable lives get broken so that we may be a little more aware of the healing that we are so desperately in need of. Maybe there are clues somewhere in our lives that are pointing to the cracks that need to be filled up by the blood and Spirit of a Savior. I never want to settle just because things are going pretty well. I want to experience God's greatness on a higher level every single day. I want to wake up to an enchanted life and be excited by even the smallest things in my day, because they are all gifts from my Father. I don't want to be plagued by pain; I want to see past it into what God is trying to show me.
The more I write and really lean on the Lord in this post, I can tell how He's giving me a physical manifestation of my own brokenness. I know He wants me to open myself up to Him even more; He needs all of me. He needs me to recognize I can't do this unless I love my Lord with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul and proclaim with all of my being "long live the King!"
Lord, take my life and let it be all for You. Thank You for showing me my great need for You. You have done so much for me, and I want yo live completely in You. To Jesus I am eternally bowing down, for He bore my sin, pain, sorrow and death, so I wouldn't have to. Step by step, I will follow You and live for You glory. Amen.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Paperclips and Power
I sort of got challenged to write a blog post about paperclips; I thank the Lord for giving me words that actually might mean something.
I love paperclips. I am the only person I know who keeps them in their backpack, but it really makes sense to me. Staplers are bulky and can make readings harder to do. Paperclips are small, light, and easily removed. In my highly biased opinion, they are incredibly valuable.
Do you know something that God finds incredibly valuable? Us! He loves us so much and He put us all here on this earth for His pleasure and His use. We’re so small, insignificant in the grand scope of the universe, but He still loves us and wants to work with us.
The bad thing about paperclips is that they are easily bent out of shape and they sometimes stray from their pages. The only way they stay perfect is by a human hand guiding them and making sure they stay put. And while they’re nice to have, we could certainly get on without them.
Well look at us. We sin. We wander away from the Lord. We mess things up. But God’s hands are on us, molding us, and holding us so that we might stay on His path doing His will. It is so important for us to realize that God doesn’t need any of us. He doesn’t need us to be pastors, or worship leaders or Bible study hosts so that people can know the name of Jesus; He can reveal Himself to anyone in any way He chooses. But He’s chosen His people – us. Those tiny little paperclips on the history of the world are supposed to make a difference for Christ and His Kingdom. In all of our smallness and weakness, we will find the power of our God to be enough for us.
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I love paperclips. I am the only person I know who keeps them in their backpack, but it really makes sense to me. Staplers are bulky and can make readings harder to do. Paperclips are small, light, and easily removed. In my highly biased opinion, they are incredibly valuable.
Do you know something that God finds incredibly valuable? Us! He loves us so much and He put us all here on this earth for His pleasure and His use. We’re so small, insignificant in the grand scope of the universe, but He still loves us and wants to work with us.
The bad thing about paperclips is that they are easily bent out of shape and they sometimes stray from their pages. The only way they stay perfect is by a human hand guiding them and making sure they stay put. And while they’re nice to have, we could certainly get on without them.
Well look at us. We sin. We wander away from the Lord. We mess things up. But God’s hands are on us, molding us, and holding us so that we might stay on His path doing His will. It is so important for us to realize that God doesn’t need any of us. He doesn’t need us to be pastors, or worship leaders or Bible study hosts so that people can know the name of Jesus; He can reveal Himself to anyone in any way He chooses. But He’s chosen His people – us. Those tiny little paperclips on the history of the world are supposed to make a difference for Christ and His Kingdom. In all of our smallness and weakness, we will find the power of our God to be enough for us.
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Change: Losing Big to Gain it All
As was alluded to in the previous post, I like the t.v. show The Biggest Loser. While I'm at school, it's the only show I actually make time to watch. Season to season, I am always inspired by the contestants' stories and struggles to change their lives from the outside in. With few exceptions, they put their noses to the grindstone every single day and see results - noticeable physical transformation from week to week. They work hard and see the changes. To win, they must lose. Sound familiar?
As I watch the contestants sweat it out in the gym and on the ranch, I can't help but think of the incredible effort God puts into humanity. Before any of us here today were ever formed by His hand, we have to remember that Jesus Christ hung on a cross. The Lord of all creation stepped down from His throne on high and became one of us. But He didn't just become one of us. He lived life the way it should be - sinless and pure. But as difficult as that was, God didn't stop there. Our Lord became our sin. I try to imagine all of that hatred, anger, shame, regret, and darkness cast onto a single person, and not just anyone, but God. God took that on, and He hung there at Calvary until those sins were dead. Talk about hard work!
But it doesn't even stop there. Because when Jesus rose again, He left with us His Spirit, and that Spirit is what lives inside of us. And the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our very mortal, imperfect and sinful bodies. But with Jesus, we can see our lives changed. And it takes an every day 24-7 commitment to the Lord if we want to be more like His Son. We should all be willing to let our Father drill us each and every day so that we too may be transformed.
The biggest losers are shedding pounds, but God Almighty is melting away the baggage of our sin. Jesus didn't just come to save us, He came as our Redeemer to make us whole and fill that space in our hearts with His grace and love. In losing ourselves, we gain Christ.
Father, I thank You that I'm not who I was even yesterday. I am always caught in awe when I think of what You've not only put up with in my prideful self, but what You've embraced wholeheartedly and never turned away from even for a second. I am so broken and desperately in need of Your healing, Lord. I am so blessed by Your work in my life. I want to be changed and challenged every day to be more like Jesus. Make my life Yours and not mine. I want You to work so hard in me that I am transformed from the inside out. I'm so excited to see what You're going to do in my life. In the name and blood of the Lamb I pray, Amen.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
As I watch the contestants sweat it out in the gym and on the ranch, I can't help but think of the incredible effort God puts into humanity. Before any of us here today were ever formed by His hand, we have to remember that Jesus Christ hung on a cross. The Lord of all creation stepped down from His throne on high and became one of us. But He didn't just become one of us. He lived life the way it should be - sinless and pure. But as difficult as that was, God didn't stop there. Our Lord became our sin. I try to imagine all of that hatred, anger, shame, regret, and darkness cast onto a single person, and not just anyone, but God. God took that on, and He hung there at Calvary until those sins were dead. Talk about hard work!
But it doesn't even stop there. Because when Jesus rose again, He left with us His Spirit, and that Spirit is what lives inside of us. And the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our very mortal, imperfect and sinful bodies. But with Jesus, we can see our lives changed. And it takes an every day 24-7 commitment to the Lord if we want to be more like His Son. We should all be willing to let our Father drill us each and every day so that we too may be transformed.
The biggest losers are shedding pounds, but God Almighty is melting away the baggage of our sin. Jesus didn't just come to save us, He came as our Redeemer to make us whole and fill that space in our hearts with His grace and love. In losing ourselves, we gain Christ.
Father, I thank You that I'm not who I was even yesterday. I am always caught in awe when I think of what You've not only put up with in my prideful self, but what You've embraced wholeheartedly and never turned away from even for a second. I am so broken and desperately in need of Your healing, Lord. I am so blessed by Your work in my life. I want to be changed and challenged every day to be more like Jesus. Make my life Yours and not mine. I want You to work so hard in me that I am transformed from the inside out. I'm so excited to see what You're going to do in my life. In the name and blood of the Lamb I pray, Amen.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wrestling For Life
Prayer, contrary to what some people may believe, is not us giving our "grocery lists" to God. He already knows the desires of our hearts, and while He does want us to talk to Him about them, that's not all He wants from us. He wants that real relationship. Jesus died so we could have it; it was that important.
And sometimes relationships can take quite a bit of work. You might need to spend hours talking together to figure something out that's been troubling. I have often found myself wrestling on my knees, be it a difficult situation or a question or even a passage of Scripture I'm just not getting.
Two nights ago, I committed myself to wrestle with God. About a week and a half ago, a man named Kermit Gosnell, a late-term abortionist, was charged with eight counts of murder; seven fetuses and one mother. He is alleged to have killed thousands of others by stabbing them with scissors in their spines. Former clients have said they had long term injuries, not to mention post abortion syndrome. He was accused about the same time as the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade's decision was marked. And not long after I read the news, I was informed that 23,000 infants are aborted each week. Week. That's about 3,285 per day, 137 per hour, and a little more than 2 every minute of every day.
Let me put this in perspective: in the time it takes you to brush your teeth, about 4 children will lose their chances to ever take a single breath. In a 15 minute shower over 30 lives are lost before they ever begin. And in the time it takes to catch up on an episode of The Biggest Loser, 205 infants are murdered.
This absolutely ripped my soul apart. I wanted to throw up; I wanted to scream, and I wanted to tell everyone who would listen (and kind of did that one). But God tells us in His Word to take our worries to Him in prayer (Matthew 6:25-27, Philippians 4:6). So I went to a quiet place, set out a blanket and I got on my knees and wrestled with God about this problem. He is the author of life. The Lord forms each and every one of us and knows us from the time we're cells in the womb. I cried, I rose my voice, and I listened. I listened hard. And then the whole thing repeated. Over and over. Until I heard this:
My daughter, I have given you a heart for this that you might allow me to work in you to change this. You cannot, but I can. Trust Me. if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
God has laid it on my heart to find (or start? that would be a whole other story in trusting Him) an organization dedicated to connecting women considering abortions to families who want to adopt. I can't let this go. I think of the 46 lives lost while I wrote this post and feel called to answer when God asks, "Won't You Be My Love?"
Lord God, You are My Father, but You are also Father to the world. You made each of those tiny precious souls and I know that they are with You in heaven. But I also know that as Your Church, we cannot let this continue. Show us the way, Lord, as You showed us in Jesus. He cared for the helpless and the needy, and I can't think of anyone who fits that better than those babies. Lead me, and I will go. I will be Your love where it needs to be. Thank You for the way You value each and every one of us; let us do the same. In Jesus' Name Amen
Be careful for nothing;but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
And sometimes relationships can take quite a bit of work. You might need to spend hours talking together to figure something out that's been troubling. I have often found myself wrestling on my knees, be it a difficult situation or a question or even a passage of Scripture I'm just not getting.
Two nights ago, I committed myself to wrestle with God. About a week and a half ago, a man named Kermit Gosnell, a late-term abortionist, was charged with eight counts of murder; seven fetuses and one mother. He is alleged to have killed thousands of others by stabbing them with scissors in their spines. Former clients have said they had long term injuries, not to mention post abortion syndrome. He was accused about the same time as the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade's decision was marked. And not long after I read the news, I was informed that 23,000 infants are aborted each week. Week. That's about 3,285 per day, 137 per hour, and a little more than 2 every minute of every day.
Let me put this in perspective: in the time it takes you to brush your teeth, about 4 children will lose their chances to ever take a single breath. In a 15 minute shower over 30 lives are lost before they ever begin. And in the time it takes to catch up on an episode of The Biggest Loser, 205 infants are murdered.
This absolutely ripped my soul apart. I wanted to throw up; I wanted to scream, and I wanted to tell everyone who would listen (and kind of did that one). But God tells us in His Word to take our worries to Him in prayer (Matthew 6:25-27, Philippians 4:6). So I went to a quiet place, set out a blanket and I got on my knees and wrestled with God about this problem. He is the author of life. The Lord forms each and every one of us and knows us from the time we're cells in the womb. I cried, I rose my voice, and I listened. I listened hard. And then the whole thing repeated. Over and over. Until I heard this:
My daughter, I have given you a heart for this that you might allow me to work in you to change this. You cannot, but I can. Trust Me. if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
God has laid it on my heart to find (or start? that would be a whole other story in trusting Him) an organization dedicated to connecting women considering abortions to families who want to adopt. I can't let this go. I think of the 46 lives lost while I wrote this post and feel called to answer when God asks, "Won't You Be My Love?"
Lord God, You are My Father, but You are also Father to the world. You made each of those tiny precious souls and I know that they are with You in heaven. But I also know that as Your Church, we cannot let this continue. Show us the way, Lord, as You showed us in Jesus. He cared for the helpless and the needy, and I can't think of anyone who fits that better than those babies. Lead me, and I will go. I will be Your love where it needs to be. Thank You for the way You value each and every one of us; let us do the same. In Jesus' Name Amen
Be careful for nothing;but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
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