I listened to a great sermon yesterday that was about being filled with the Holy Spirit. And because my mind tends to head in other directions, I found myself thinking about what people are filled with if they aren't filled with the Spirit. I think I figured it out. We are filled with ourselves. When we have bad attitudes, it is because we are thinking of ourselves. When we sin, it is because we are thinking of ourselves. When we back out of commitments, it is because we are thinking of ourselves.... I think you are getting the point.
I stumbled upon these verses in the Message version that I think sums this up pretty well.
"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day."
Galations 5:16-17
We are either feeding the compulsions of self or we are living motivated by God's Spirit. You can't do both....you have to choose. If you are motivated by the Spirit then you aren't motivated by self. If you are motivated by self, then you can't be motivated by the Spirit because the two have completely different interests.
It is hard for me to imagine living life not motivated by myself. We make decisions based on what is best for ourselves all the time. That's how we decide which house to buy, what job to take, what school to go to...........I wonder what our decisions would look like if we based them on the Spirit instead.
But I know this; we are sinful creatures and the war will continue to rage within us. But I firmly believe if we ask God for help, He will give us the strength we need and the Spirit side will start to win more of those battles than the self side.
So this week, as I am starting this Monday, I am asking God for help; Help to rid myself of myself :) And be filled up by His Spirit so that I can live a life pleasing to Him.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Finishing Strong
I have recently become a runner. Having never been an athlete in any form or capacity in my entire life, this is a real accomplishment for me. I remember the day I made it to 30 minutes of straight running. Talk about wanting to throw a party to celebrate! I felt like I had finally accomplished something. All of those days of feeling like my lungs were going to explode in my chest or that I might fall off the treadmill if I had to keep going finally were worth it. Now that I have gotten to a point where I can run for 30 minutes, it is time to start training for something. (At least that is what all the running articles I have read have said)... So.. my very first 5k will be in October.
Our spiritual life is compared to a race too.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
It is interesting to me that Paul compared it to a race. Now that I am training for one, I know how important it is to fix your eyes on the finish. When you have a goal, it is so much easier to keep at something. God knew that the spiritual walk wasn't going to be easy for us. He knew it would take discipline (perseverance) to make it to the end. He knew we would want to give up. He knew there would be serious roadblocks in our way. That is why he specifically gives us some tips...
1. throw off everything that hinders us
There are a lot of things that hinder me when I am running. What I ate that day, if I didn't sleep well the night before, if I overdid it at the gym the day before and I am sore... lots of different things.
In life, there are a lot of things that hinder us... don't really think I need to list them all (there isn't room anyway)
2. Get rid of the sin that so easily entangles us.
There is a difference between hindrances and sins. When I think of hindrances, I think of distractions. But sin is sin. And we all know what that is because we all have it in our lives.
3. Develop perseverance
It takes discipline. It takes being super committed to finishing. If you aren't committed, you won't finish strong. If you aren't really dedicated to what you are doing, you won't accomplish your goal.
I know there are hindrances(distractions) in my life keeping me from fixing my eyes on the finish. I know there are sins that have wrapped themselves around my life slowing me down and trying to keep me from finishing. I know I lack discipline in certain areas of my life. But I know what God has called me to do. He's called me to run this race strong, to be a witness for Him with my life, to live a holy life, and He's called me to keep at it until the finish. And I also know I want to finish strong. It's going to take some pruning in my life.. some cleaning out of the closets, getting rid of some distractions. But I am determined to finish strong.
Our spiritual life is compared to a race too.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
It is interesting to me that Paul compared it to a race. Now that I am training for one, I know how important it is to fix your eyes on the finish. When you have a goal, it is so much easier to keep at something. God knew that the spiritual walk wasn't going to be easy for us. He knew it would take discipline (perseverance) to make it to the end. He knew we would want to give up. He knew there would be serious roadblocks in our way. That is why he specifically gives us some tips...
1. throw off everything that hinders us
There are a lot of things that hinder me when I am running. What I ate that day, if I didn't sleep well the night before, if I overdid it at the gym the day before and I am sore... lots of different things.
In life, there are a lot of things that hinder us... don't really think I need to list them all (there isn't room anyway)
2. Get rid of the sin that so easily entangles us.
There is a difference between hindrances and sins. When I think of hindrances, I think of distractions. But sin is sin. And we all know what that is because we all have it in our lives.
3. Develop perseverance
It takes discipline. It takes being super committed to finishing. If you aren't committed, you won't finish strong. If you aren't really dedicated to what you are doing, you won't accomplish your goal.
I know there are hindrances(distractions) in my life keeping me from fixing my eyes on the finish. I know there are sins that have wrapped themselves around my life slowing me down and trying to keep me from finishing. I know I lack discipline in certain areas of my life. But I know what God has called me to do. He's called me to run this race strong, to be a witness for Him with my life, to live a holy life, and He's called me to keep at it until the finish. And I also know I want to finish strong. It's going to take some pruning in my life.. some cleaning out of the closets, getting rid of some distractions. But I am determined to finish strong.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A Crazy Love
Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel down on yourself? You wonder how on earth anyone ever could or would ever choose to love you? I have days like those sometimes. Maybe that isn't normal... but I'm not really normal anyway.
Today was one of those days. Sometimes when I think about my character flaws and my shortcomings, I really wonder how on earth anyone could love me. I wonder why God would choose me to be his daughter. Why he would ever even want me.
So as I was asking Him this today, I was reminded of what His love really is like.
Romans 8:31-39 The Message
"So what do you think? with God on our side, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't glady and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even point a finger? The One who died for us- who was raised to life for us! is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture. None of thise faces us because Jesus loves us. I am absolutely convinced that nothing- nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable, absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
I really don't understand that kind of love. I don't have children yet. I hope to one day, but I think that hinders me from understanding the love that God has for me, for us. To think that the love that a parent has for their child doesn't even begin to compare to the love that God has for me. I don't understand why He loves me, but his Word says He does. And I have to believe that. I have to believe that He loves me with a crazy love that isn't fazed by any sins I have ever committed or ever will commit. It isn't fazed by my character flaws. It isn't fazed by my lack of trust and faith some days. And He is always going to want me no matter what. It's crazy but I'm so glad He loves me like that.
Today was one of those days. Sometimes when I think about my character flaws and my shortcomings, I really wonder how on earth anyone could love me. I wonder why God would choose me to be his daughter. Why he would ever even want me.
So as I was asking Him this today, I was reminded of what His love really is like.
Romans 8:31-39 The Message
"So what do you think? with God on our side, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't glady and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even point a finger? The One who died for us- who was raised to life for us! is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture. None of thise faces us because Jesus loves us. I am absolutely convinced that nothing- nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable, absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
I really don't understand that kind of love. I don't have children yet. I hope to one day, but I think that hinders me from understanding the love that God has for me, for us. To think that the love that a parent has for their child doesn't even begin to compare to the love that God has for me. I don't understand why He loves me, but his Word says He does. And I have to believe that. I have to believe that He loves me with a crazy love that isn't fazed by any sins I have ever committed or ever will commit. It isn't fazed by my character flaws. It isn't fazed by my lack of trust and faith some days. And He is always going to want me no matter what. It's crazy but I'm so glad He loves me like that.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Power of Community
What is Community? What does that word even mean? There is a tv show called Community, but that isn't the community I am talking about. The dictionary says it means "fellowship or organized society". Wikipedia says it means people interacting with common values. That is probably is closer to what I think it means than what the dictionary says.
Over the past 5 years of my life, I have begun to learn what community means. I have learned that through relationships, through small groups at my church, through miscommunications, through arguments, through intense discussions, through differing of opinions, through triumphs shared, through periods of defeat, and through times of absolute joy. I think very few people, especially believers understand what community really means.
Community is not people getting together to sing songs at church or listen to a preacher or sit in a room and listen to somebody teach you about God. While those things are all great, that is not community.
I believe community is about relationships. It really all boils down to that. Our small group just finished up a book called "Groups: the Life Giving Power of Community" by John Ortberg and I really think this guy gets it. I learned so much from that book, but even more from discussing things of importance with people in my group, some of which were strangers to me at the beginning. There were times where we disagreed about things. But then there were times where people cried sharing about their struggles and we all came together with words of understanding and encouragement. That is what community is about. It is about people coming together, determined to really know one another( and I mean REALLY KNOW ONE ANOTHER)..... it is about finding a common ground even when you might not agree on everything, it is about loving each other even though we all are not really easy to love, it is about forgiving past mistakes and moving on.
If churches would really experience community, everyone would want to be a part of it. People long for that intimacy with one another. They long to be known and still be accepted in spite of their flaws. People need to have support. Real support.
In Acts 2 towards the end, it talks about real community. How the believers came together and lived together in harmony and had everything in common. They pooled all their resources and gave to people that were in need. Then it says that people saw that and wanted to be a part of it.
It is amazing to me how a group of strangers can come together and what God can do in the middle of it. People that I didn't know very well at all that I would do anything to protect now....People that I pray for daily and I know they pray for me too. People that I am proud to call my friends.
That is what community is and I am so honored to get to be a part of a community like that.
Over the past 5 years of my life, I have begun to learn what community means. I have learned that through relationships, through small groups at my church, through miscommunications, through arguments, through intense discussions, through differing of opinions, through triumphs shared, through periods of defeat, and through times of absolute joy. I think very few people, especially believers understand what community really means.
Community is not people getting together to sing songs at church or listen to a preacher or sit in a room and listen to somebody teach you about God. While those things are all great, that is not community.
I believe community is about relationships. It really all boils down to that. Our small group just finished up a book called "Groups: the Life Giving Power of Community" by John Ortberg and I really think this guy gets it. I learned so much from that book, but even more from discussing things of importance with people in my group, some of which were strangers to me at the beginning. There were times where we disagreed about things. But then there were times where people cried sharing about their struggles and we all came together with words of understanding and encouragement. That is what community is about. It is about people coming together, determined to really know one another( and I mean REALLY KNOW ONE ANOTHER)..... it is about finding a common ground even when you might not agree on everything, it is about loving each other even though we all are not really easy to love, it is about forgiving past mistakes and moving on.
If churches would really experience community, everyone would want to be a part of it. People long for that intimacy with one another. They long to be known and still be accepted in spite of their flaws. People need to have support. Real support.
In Acts 2 towards the end, it talks about real community. How the believers came together and lived together in harmony and had everything in common. They pooled all their resources and gave to people that were in need. Then it says that people saw that and wanted to be a part of it.
It is amazing to me how a group of strangers can come together and what God can do in the middle of it. People that I didn't know very well at all that I would do anything to protect now....People that I pray for daily and I know they pray for me too. People that I am proud to call my friends.
That is what community is and I am so honored to get to be a part of a community like that.
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