This morning I was reading in Galations 2:16-21. It talks about how we don't receive God's approval by anything other than believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. It isn't about following the law or the rules, or living according to a set of standards set for us. It's about the grace He has given us freely through the sacrifice of His Son.
Alot of times, I think we stop there and say, whew- good thing He doesn't expect me to live by these rules, because I just can't do it.
Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for His grace, because I know I can't live by these rules every day too. However, we conveniently leave out what follows the grace part. In vs. 17, it says "If we, the same people who are searching for God's approval in Christ, are still sinners, does that mean that Christ encourages us to sin? That's unthinkable!" then in vs.19-20 "When I tried to obey the law's standards, those laws killed me. As a result, I live in a relationship with God. I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God's Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins."
Because He lives in us from the time we believe in Him and accept His gift of salvation, we aren't doing anything on our own anymore. Of course, we can't obey the rules or live by the law on our own. We are nothing but sinners. But we have the secret: He lives in us now. So if we are still struggling with sins in our lives, it is because we are stifling the one that lives in us. We are silencing His voice. We aren't accepting the help that He is offering us to get us out of situations we shouldn't be in. We have been given a gift. A life-saving gift. And yet we still live like we are dying.
It would be like a heart-transplant patient. Before transplant, they can't do anything. They are usually bed-ridden and have difficulty doing any kind of care for themselves. But after they get a new heart and the transplant is successful, their life is changed. They can do things they never dreamed of doing. But what if they still lived like they used to? Staying in the bed all the time. Still having other people care for them. What would have been the point of the transplant?
We do the same thing. We have been given the gift of salvation. We have been given the secret to living a life that looks like Christ's. Yet we still live exactly the same.
Ephesians 4:1 tells us ".... I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
What would our lives look like if we lived a life worthy of the gift that we have received?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Not For the Faint of Heart
I just finished doing the homework for my small group lesson tonight and I am left feeling convicted, uncomfortable, yet excited about the way God spoke to me through the lesson. The very first chapter of the book was all about being used by God. Ironic too because that was exactly what the pastor spoke on this morning too.
Romans 12:1-2 "1So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." The Message
I read this in about 4 different versions because I have heard these verses my entire life and I wanted them to speak to me in a new way and they did!
God wants to use us to transform the world through his church. And I'm not doing my part in that.
In the book I read it said "Serving God is not a bed of roses. You take your hits, the shine comes off, and you have to replace parts here and there. Sometimes it's a hurtful thing. But it beats spending your life never experiencing what you were built to do." WOW..... this life of presenting yourself as a living sacrifice to God isn't easy. It is uncomfortable. It means getting rid of your own selfish desires and ambitions. It isn't for the faint of heart. But it sure beats not ever experiencing life the way God intended for us. He came that we would have life and have it FULLY! (John 10:10)
I want to have a full life. The kind that God intended for me to have and I really don't want to cheat myself out of living a life like that.
"If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full." -John Piper
Romans 12:1-2 "1So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." The Message
I read this in about 4 different versions because I have heard these verses my entire life and I wanted them to speak to me in a new way and they did!
God wants to use us to transform the world through his church. And I'm not doing my part in that.
In the book I read it said "Serving God is not a bed of roses. You take your hits, the shine comes off, and you have to replace parts here and there. Sometimes it's a hurtful thing. But it beats spending your life never experiencing what you were built to do." WOW..... this life of presenting yourself as a living sacrifice to God isn't easy. It is uncomfortable. It means getting rid of your own selfish desires and ambitions. It isn't for the faint of heart. But it sure beats not ever experiencing life the way God intended for us. He came that we would have life and have it FULLY! (John 10:10)
I want to have a full life. The kind that God intended for me to have and I really don't want to cheat myself out of living a life like that.
"If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full." -John Piper
Thursday, August 18, 2011
When God Gives a Big Fat No
I hate being told "no". I am one of the most headstrong people you will ever meet. Ask my husband. I can remember growing up in my teenage years and being unable to wait for the day when I would be out on my own and wouldn't have to do what my parents told me anymore. What a joke! Adulthood is full of having to do what other people tell you to.. who knew??
Even now, I struggle daily with being the submissive wife like the Bible tells me I am supposed to be. I dislike being told what to wear, to hide my nose piercing, that I can't spend money on certain things that I want, etc. I have a rebellious spirit, I guess.
I think that is why I really hate it when God tells me "no". I have plans for my life and I think they are great, and when God comes along and says, "no" or "not right now" or "I have something else for you", it really is a difficult pill for me to swallow. I want to argue and tell Him that my way is best, that I know myself really well and I know what I need and when I need it.
That's why sometimes I need this little reminder....
"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work., God's decree. For as the sky soars high above the earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond what you think" Isaiah 55:8-9
These have been some of my favorite verses since I was a teenager. Probably because of my rebellious, authority-hating nature!
When you really think about it from God's perspective, it's actually kind of laughable. The "created" telling the Creator who/what they should be! It's ridiculous. The Creator would be the only one that would know best what the "created" should look like and what the "created" should do.
So, today, I am uncomfortable with the "no's" I am getting, but I am learning invaluable lessons through it. I am learning to submit to One who honestly does know what is best for me. He honestly knows exactly what I need and when I need it.
Even now, I struggle daily with being the submissive wife like the Bible tells me I am supposed to be. I dislike being told what to wear, to hide my nose piercing, that I can't spend money on certain things that I want, etc. I have a rebellious spirit, I guess.
I think that is why I really hate it when God tells me "no". I have plans for my life and I think they are great, and when God comes along and says, "no" or "not right now" or "I have something else for you", it really is a difficult pill for me to swallow. I want to argue and tell Him that my way is best, that I know myself really well and I know what I need and when I need it.
That's why sometimes I need this little reminder....
"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work., God's decree. For as the sky soars high above the earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond what you think" Isaiah 55:8-9
These have been some of my favorite verses since I was a teenager. Probably because of my rebellious, authority-hating nature!
When you really think about it from God's perspective, it's actually kind of laughable. The "created" telling the Creator who/what they should be! It's ridiculous. The Creator would be the only one that would know best what the "created" should look like and what the "created" should do.
So, today, I am uncomfortable with the "no's" I am getting, but I am learning invaluable lessons through it. I am learning to submit to One who honestly does know what is best for me. He honestly knows exactly what I need and when I need it.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Self vs. Spirit
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.
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.
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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