Sunday, April 20, 2014

Courage

I don't have much to say today. I have much on my heart and mind, but am having a difficult time organizing the jumble in my brain, and putting those thoughts down on paper in a tangible coherent way. Instead I will quote what someone else said that struck me so profoundly. Sarah Young, in her book Jesus Calling, wrote this:

"Be willing to go out on a limb with Me. If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be...Your desire to live close to Me is at odds with your attempts to minimize risk. You are approaching a crossroads in your journey. In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe.

Let Me lead you step by step through this day. If your primary focus in on Me, you can walk along perilous paths without being afraid. Eventually, you will learn to relax and enjoy the adventure of our journey together. As long as you stay close to Me, My sovereign Presence protects you wherever you go."  

- Sarah Young, Jesus Calling


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Oneness of Purpose

I've been so saddened by what seems to be the latest fad in Christianity these days. I realize this is probably nothing new, but it seems that it is hitting me full force right now. Godly men attacking other Godly men because they don't agree on certain areas of Scripture, or because they aren't the same denomination and hold to the same interpretations of certain passages of Scripture. They are spending thousands of dollars to hold conferences and produce the dvds and books of these conferences, all based on what? On a difference of opinion.

The Word of God gives allowances for a difference of opinion in some areas that seem quite huge to us. But, as much as we may want to be dogmatic on our opinion and no matter how much we think we are right, we are all fallible. We are all growing and changing in our understanding.

(side note: I'm not saying that there aren't wrong interpretations that actually do go directly against the Word, or have been taken to an extreme that changes the Gospel. We should not stand for obviously unbiblical interpretations that change the Gospel and teach a false view of who God is. But, that isn't my point. My point is when we DO agree on those primary things, and our differences of opinion on these other areas are treated as primary when they shouldn't be).

I don't know why the Lord allows for these differences of opinion, and why He doesn't just come right out and clearly say what we are to think and how we are to interpret these passages. Or maybe He does and we are just not listening clearly enough. Or maybe He doesn't intend for these differences, but sin and pride have caused division. Not to mention how we  tend to forget that we are fighting against "principalities and powers" not against "flesh and blood." Regardless...He IS clear on what NEEDS to be clear! #1, the Gospel!! He is VERY clear on what it is and what it is not. He is VERY clear on His character and His Sovereignty. He is also VERY clear on Unity and Love in the body of Christ.

So, why are we spending thousands of dollars to attack our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, calling them heretics or false teachers, because of a difference of opinion instead of being obedient to what God is quite clear on...one of those things being Unity! and another Love!

I love this quote by Pricilla Shirer, "Unity is not sameness. Unity is oneness of purpose." 

Fellow followers of Jesus, we have a common purpose! We desire to see the Gospel taken from here to the ends of the earth, and see His Kingdom advanced and our God glorified. Let's be unified! Let's love one another! John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." We agree on everything that is important, so let's stop preaching about who NOT to listen to, and just start preaching the beautiful truths of the Word! Let's stop pointing fingers, and start joining hands!

This can also lead to how we treat unbelievers as-well. Why are we expecting unbelievers to act like believers? They don't know Jesus! They don't have the Holy Spirit! Maybe instead of preaching against immorality and pointing fingers, we should be preaching on the love of Christ who came to save sinners just as they are, sinners acknowledging they are separated from God and need Jesus to give them a right relationship with the Father. The reward of salvation isn't heaven (although that's a enjoyable benefit), the reward is HIM! HE is the reason we need to be saved! We are separated from Him, lost in our darkness. We need to be with Him again to be whole! We need His light! We need His Grace! We need ALL that He is because HE is the prize! I think if we lose sight of that, we lose sight of how to speak the truth into someone's life, and our message becomes one of brimstone and fire rather than a message of Love and Grace.

Instead of approaching unbelievers with "turn from your sin so you can get saved and act like people are supposed to act" speeches, let's start loving them! Showing them it's not about good behavior! It's about a God who came down to die for us! To pay our debt, to make us right with God! When they trust in Christ, they will receive the Holy Spirit who will empower them to produce the fruit of the Spirit and not the flesh.

All that to say, let's stop pointing fingers and show the world the love of Christ in how we treat our brothers and sisters, and also how we treat the world.

I'll end with a few lines from the song, "Love You with the Truth" by Casting Crowns. You can look it up on Youtube if you want to listen.

"When we love, we earn the right to speak the truth.
When we speak truth, we show the world we truly love
I'm not pointing my finger
I'm holding out my hand
I lay it all out on the line now to see God save my friend

Let my life and my words be the proof
I'm going to love you with the truth

It's not about religion or earning God's forgiveness
or magic prayers or new behaviour
It's all about your heart
He'll meet you where you are"


Sunday, April 6, 2014

Isaiah 43

This has been a favorite passage of Scripture of mine for years now. Before leaving for the mission field, this became "my verse." In the middle of some of the most difficult times of my life, this verse held promises and truths that I could cling to and carry on and continue trusting in my Lord. Today, I return once again to this passage and in typical God fashion, He highlighted a couple of verse in here and gave them a whole new fresh meaning and application to my current situation. A few verses that somehow didn't mean as much to me as they do now. His Word truly is alive and active! His mercies new every morning! 

I'll copy the whole passage for you at the bottom of this post, but for now these are the verses that have really struck me, that I keep coming back to. And I'm pretty sure these are going to end up on a canvas on my wall some day. 

 Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

When going through the storm, I find myself at times giving thanks and at rest, and then all of a sudden out of no where I'll get so angry and start playing the blame game. Have you ever had someone have such a huge influence on your life and the lives of others and you feel like they are to blame for everything that is happening? I do. I find myself thinking, "if only (so and so) would stay out of my life and leave us alone, none of this would be happening! I would be carrying on with my original plans and life may not be perfect but at-least it would feel right." But, then I come back to this verse and the first thing it says is, "Forget the former things! Do no dwell on the past." *sigh* Okay Lord! Turning my eyes forward to You. Then I read "See, I am doing a new thing! NOW it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Wow! Okay Lord! If I truly believe that He is Sovereign over every detail of my life, then I will truly believe with all my heart that regardless of other people and their decisions and how those decisions affect my life, HE is the One controlling it all and I will be at rest and at peace in Him. I am in that "wilderness" right now, and yet God doesn't see it as a wilderness. He sees this beautiful, new thing springing up from the ground with fresh life.

"Forget the former things! Do not dwell on the past."  Yes, Lord!
"Do not be anxious for anything!" Yes, Lord!
Give thanks in everything!" Yes, Lord!
"I am doing a new thing!!" Thank you Lord!
"No really! I am doing a new thing right now!" I believe! Open my eyes to see it Lord!

Lord, "My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but (You) God are the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26 (parenthesis mine)

Isaiah 43:1-21

 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”
Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    who have ears but are deaf.
All the nations gather together
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13     Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”
14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,[b]
    in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator, your King.”
16 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
    the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Welcome to the Ramblings of my Crazy Wonderful

First things first. I'm not really a blogger. I really haven't had the time for it, nor the resources. For the past 8 years, we (my husband, kids and I) have lived overseas without reliable internet connection. Well, most of the time no internet connection at all in the middle of the rain forest.

Recently, I've had so much on my heart and mind as I try to navigate my way through many changes and heartaches. I need to somehow get these thoughts out of my head and on to paper, and somehow get some of these thoughts heard.

 Three kids finally asleep. So here I sit, alone in the dark, listening to music, praying to my Father, crying my tears, and learning how to feel His presence in my current situation all over again.

Starting this blog as an outlet, and hopefully an encouragement to others wrestling with some of the same thoughts and feelings. Maybe different circumstances, but the same struggle and the same God who hears us and seeks after us. The same Spirit who makes even the the groanings and longings of our hearts intelligible to Him when words fail us and we don't know how to pray anymore.

No commitments here to keep up with this blog. When I feel the need to post, I will. When I feel the need to let it go and focus my energies elsewhere, I will. No pressure is the only way I can roll these days. Thanks for reading along. Thanks for any words of encouragement you would like to leave in the comments.

With all that said...here it goes. Welcome to the ramblings of this girl's life that I like to call...crazy wonderful!

Sarah