It's been a busy month. So busy I haven't been able to find time to write on my blog! But in all the busyness, I was able to still reflect on the meaning of this great Christmas season: The center of the universe, the Baby who came to be the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I was able to go see the movie "The Nativity Story". I honestly didn't know what to expect, and was mostly hoping for a "correct" account of what we know from scripture. What happened was something even more meaningful and personal to me.
What first struck me was the portrail of Mary and Joseph. The story portrayed them as regular people of faith, who believed. More then anything, the precious baby in their arms was, as one of the wise men said, "God in flesh". Their Savior had come to save them from their sins!!! To them, He was the Son of God, their Messiah, the One they had been waiting for, not just a sweet little baby for them to hold and care for.
Because of this, the birth of Jesus Christ was seen in my mind on a whole new level. When you're raised in a Christian home, you're reminded every year that "Jesus is the reason for the season", not Santa, presents or reindeer. But in my heart it had become a story. I knew that the reason we can celebrate Easter is because of what happened at Christmas. But this year, as I sat in a movie theatre, His story was truly revealed to me.
The most precious scene in the movie was just after He had been born. The shepherds and the wise men had just come upon the stable where He was resting. This old shepherd knelt down and stared in awe at the Savior. He reached out to touch Him, then pulled away. Mary then said to him, "He is for all mankind". Then when he reached out and truly touched Him, I felt like it was me reaching out. And suddenly the words of Thomas when he touched Christ's side after He had been raised from the dead came into my mind, "Thee my Lord and my God!".
I did everything physically possible not to weep.
I started to cry. His love was so real to me. It was like He reached down and touched ME in that very moment. This wondrous story of God coming to earth as a baby, was suddenly MY Lord and MY God becoming flesh to save me. I could see the thorns, the nail-pierced hands, the bleeding side when I looked at that baby. His purpose of coming to earth was always known in my mind, but in that moment, I SAW it. I SAW my Savior in a Baby!
I cried all the way home. Some tears were of sorrow, but most were of joy. First, I had a moment of complete despair. I couldn't believe that He had gone through all of that grief of being born and living a human life just so He could die for me. But then, I was reminded that He HAD to do it.
He had to do it for me, for us. He made us for the pleasure of His glory. His dying for me, for you, for the world...There was no greater way to show His love and to bring glory to His name!
Praise Him for His unspeakable gift! God becoming flesh, a Baby born to die! God as a man, defeating death to bring us life!
My Lord and My God!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
His Pleasure
I was reminded the other day of what it means to find pleasure. To delight in something, to know the joy and blessing that it brings. And it all came from a movie.
My sister and I watched for the first time "Chariots of Fire". I knew it was the story of Eric Liddell but I didn't know that a film could effect my soul so much. It wasn't the story, (even though I'm an Olympic freak, ask anyone who knows me well), it was the testimony. It wasn't that Eric refused to run on Sunday and it made international headlines. It was the pleasure on his face when he ran.
Eric Liddell had a unique running style. A style that would cause any Olympic runner of our day to hang his head and be ashamed to be associated with such a runner. In the last 100 meters of any race he would run, Eric would throw his head back, open his mouth, widen his eyes, and then flail his arms right before he crossed the finish line. Scientifically, logically, anyway you look at it, his form from a human perspective, is ludicrous. His eyes weren't focused on the finish, his form had no control, and because of the demand he would put on his body, it caused him to cross the finish line in exhaustion. Yet, Eric Liddell never lost a race.
Why? What made Eric win? I think he knew the secret.
I believe with all my heart that when Eric threw his head back he could see Jesus. I think his mouth was open, and eyes were wide because he was in awe of the beauty of the Lord. And when his arms flailed about, I think it was because he had given complete control over all that he was to the One he delighted in. And when he crossed the line in physical exhaustion, his spirit could not have been more strong, because when he ran, He SAW THE LORD!
Eric Liddell did not run for an Olympic gold medal. He didn't run for his country. He ran because he could do NOTHING else. He wanted to see and feel his Lord. He ran because he felt His joy, His delight, His pleasure. My favorite quote from the movie is from Eric himself. His sister didn't understand why he was running instead of going to China. He tells her that he knows his life is in China, but at that time he had to be obedient to the Lord and run. I believe the Lord wanted to use Eric as a living testimony of what we all can know and discover. Eric made much of His Lord, and because of it he could say, "When I run, I feel HIS pleasure!".
I believe that Eric won because the power of the Lord came over him when he ran. He didn't lose because his running was a testimony of His spiritual life. Eric could not lose because Jesus had already won. His races were a picture of his life, his delight, his Jesus.
It reminds us as children of God that we are also running a race. Not one that the Lord desires just for us to focus on the finish, to train for, live, breathe and eat. And even though that's all a part of it, it's a very small part. The race of life should be where we can throw our heads back, with eyes wide, mouths open, and be so filled with His pleasure that the race itself is meaningless. Because then the race becomes all about HIM. That He may be made much of.
May we all follow in the steps of this servant. May we all make much of Him and pursue the pleasure of the Lord.
For we were made for HIS pleasure.
My sister and I watched for the first time "Chariots of Fire". I knew it was the story of Eric Liddell but I didn't know that a film could effect my soul so much. It wasn't the story, (even though I'm an Olympic freak, ask anyone who knows me well), it was the testimony. It wasn't that Eric refused to run on Sunday and it made international headlines. It was the pleasure on his face when he ran.
Eric Liddell had a unique running style. A style that would cause any Olympic runner of our day to hang his head and be ashamed to be associated with such a runner. In the last 100 meters of any race he would run, Eric would throw his head back, open his mouth, widen his eyes, and then flail his arms right before he crossed the finish line. Scientifically, logically, anyway you look at it, his form from a human perspective, is ludicrous. His eyes weren't focused on the finish, his form had no control, and because of the demand he would put on his body, it caused him to cross the finish line in exhaustion. Yet, Eric Liddell never lost a race.
Why? What made Eric win? I think he knew the secret.
I believe with all my heart that when Eric threw his head back he could see Jesus. I think his mouth was open, and eyes were wide because he was in awe of the beauty of the Lord. And when his arms flailed about, I think it was because he had given complete control over all that he was to the One he delighted in. And when he crossed the line in physical exhaustion, his spirit could not have been more strong, because when he ran, He SAW THE LORD!
Eric Liddell did not run for an Olympic gold medal. He didn't run for his country. He ran because he could do NOTHING else. He wanted to see and feel his Lord. He ran because he felt His joy, His delight, His pleasure. My favorite quote from the movie is from Eric himself. His sister didn't understand why he was running instead of going to China. He tells her that he knows his life is in China, but at that time he had to be obedient to the Lord and run. I believe the Lord wanted to use Eric as a living testimony of what we all can know and discover. Eric made much of His Lord, and because of it he could say, "When I run, I feel HIS pleasure!".
I believe that Eric won because the power of the Lord came over him when he ran. He didn't lose because his running was a testimony of His spiritual life. Eric could not lose because Jesus had already won. His races were a picture of his life, his delight, his Jesus.
It reminds us as children of God that we are also running a race. Not one that the Lord desires just for us to focus on the finish, to train for, live, breathe and eat. And even though that's all a part of it, it's a very small part. The race of life should be where we can throw our heads back, with eyes wide, mouths open, and be so filled with His pleasure that the race itself is meaningless. Because then the race becomes all about HIM. That He may be made much of.
May we all follow in the steps of this servant. May we all make much of Him and pursue the pleasure of the Lord.
For we were made for HIS pleasure.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
My Search Is Over...
I am so blessed by the Lord. I've been looking for these words that were read by Wendall Calder in a sermon years ago. Now, ten years later, a friend of mine just happened to post it on her blog!!
I LOVE what these words say. They not only remind me of what I should strive to be, but who I NEED to be in Christ. Be blessed by what is said, and make it your prayer today.
"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit Power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by love.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me --my banner will be clear!"
I LOVE what these words say. They not only remind me of what I should strive to be, but who I NEED to be in Christ. Be blessed by what is said, and make it your prayer today.
"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit Power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by love.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me --my banner will be clear!"
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
We Need Each Other
I've always been of an independent mind. At least, that's what I thought. I've always loved people, but I never believed that I NEEDED them.
Lately, my pastor has been speaking on the book of Joshua. He has been telling us about the need for each one of us to cross the Jordan and go into our Promise Land. What has been striking me as most significant to my life in past days is the point he has made about the children of Israel crossing the river TOGETHER. They needed each other in order to take the Land and follow the Lord in obedience.
Two people come to mind when I think of the needs in my life right now.
One is a lovely young woman that the Lord has blessed with a gentle spirit. Even though she is 7 years my junior, she has taught me so much about seeking the Lord, and the importance of sitting at His feet. I've grown so much closer to the Lord, and I know that much of it has had to do with her prayers on my behalf. She also has been given a gift of encouragement in helping young woman feel beautiful and beloved by their Bridegroom. And with our prayers for one another, we've been helping each other on a journey towards absolute obsession with our Jesus. In His sovereignty, I've been given a soul sister in Christ to walk with along this part of the path of my life.
On the other side of me, walks a man of challenge, intrigue and adventure. Every word that comes out of his mouth makes me think. He is one of the dearest friends that I've ever had because his honesty and integrity urge me on to become more like Jesus. We go through challenges of friendship because of such different personalities and gender conflicts, but the Lord has given us such grace and blessing. No matter what the circumstances we have always worked it out, learned from it, and through it have become even better friends. He doesn't let me wallow in my selfish ambitions. He pushes me to have the mind of Christ, and think of others before myself. I've learned difficult things about myself through my friendship with him. But in it, I've had to think more of him, and as a result have thought more of others.
I know that right now, I need these two people. While one friend is helping me grow closer to God, the other is helping me die to myself. God in His plan has placed His purpose for my life into their lives, and I praise Him for His gift of them.
Thinking of these two precious people, has also reminded me of the words of wisdom spoken by my project director this past summer. She asked us to think of our best friends and the people that they are. Because in a year, we will be that person. My prayer is that these wonderful workings of Christ in the lives of my two friends will overflow and splash all over me. In these aspects of their growth in Christ, I pray that I WILL be like them in a year. But I mostly pray that whatever the Lord is doing in my life will become grace overflowing into my friends, and that they will be blessed because of Christ's work in me.
So as we cross the Jordan together, I praise the Lord for these two friends that he has placed by my side. May we cross with purpose and push each other to pursue the will of our Maker and His plans for our lives.
We need each other.
"Now ye are the body of Christ..." I Cor. 12:27
Lately, my pastor has been speaking on the book of Joshua. He has been telling us about the need for each one of us to cross the Jordan and go into our Promise Land. What has been striking me as most significant to my life in past days is the point he has made about the children of Israel crossing the river TOGETHER. They needed each other in order to take the Land and follow the Lord in obedience.
Two people come to mind when I think of the needs in my life right now.
One is a lovely young woman that the Lord has blessed with a gentle spirit. Even though she is 7 years my junior, she has taught me so much about seeking the Lord, and the importance of sitting at His feet. I've grown so much closer to the Lord, and I know that much of it has had to do with her prayers on my behalf. She also has been given a gift of encouragement in helping young woman feel beautiful and beloved by their Bridegroom. And with our prayers for one another, we've been helping each other on a journey towards absolute obsession with our Jesus. In His sovereignty, I've been given a soul sister in Christ to walk with along this part of the path of my life.
On the other side of me, walks a man of challenge, intrigue and adventure. Every word that comes out of his mouth makes me think. He is one of the dearest friends that I've ever had because his honesty and integrity urge me on to become more like Jesus. We go through challenges of friendship because of such different personalities and gender conflicts, but the Lord has given us such grace and blessing. No matter what the circumstances we have always worked it out, learned from it, and through it have become even better friends. He doesn't let me wallow in my selfish ambitions. He pushes me to have the mind of Christ, and think of others before myself. I've learned difficult things about myself through my friendship with him. But in it, I've had to think more of him, and as a result have thought more of others.
I know that right now, I need these two people. While one friend is helping me grow closer to God, the other is helping me die to myself. God in His plan has placed His purpose for my life into their lives, and I praise Him for His gift of them.
Thinking of these two precious people, has also reminded me of the words of wisdom spoken by my project director this past summer. She asked us to think of our best friends and the people that they are. Because in a year, we will be that person. My prayer is that these wonderful workings of Christ in the lives of my two friends will overflow and splash all over me. In these aspects of their growth in Christ, I pray that I WILL be like them in a year. But I mostly pray that whatever the Lord is doing in my life will become grace overflowing into my friends, and that they will be blessed because of Christ's work in me.
So as we cross the Jordan together, I praise the Lord for these two friends that he has placed by my side. May we cross with purpose and push each other to pursue the will of our Maker and His plans for our lives.
We need each other.
"Now ye are the body of Christ..." I Cor. 12:27
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A Change of Perspective
We all have our own struggles. There are so many things that we don't understand, and ask the Lord in the most sincere way to change the situation. We think that if it's more bearable, we can at least get through it and move on. But God doesn't want to change what happens to us, He wants to change US.
I had such an experience lately. I was struggling in an area of my life, trying to find joy. Begging the Lord to not just get me through, but to love the journey. One moment I was in prayer, frustrated and crying out to the Lord. Then in the next moment, His revelation came to me. I had asked Him a question while feeling pity on myself, when He answered my question with His own question. What He asked burned through me, illuminated my mind and penetrated my heart. He revealed to me His grace in the situation. He showed me that I was seeing everything in the opposite way that He wanted me to. Suddenly, my thought pattern made a complete "180", the self-pity was gone, and His gifts to me flooded my soul.
He changed my perspective.
He allowed me to see the situation the way He saw it. To see the blessings, the grace and what I needed most, the JOY. I saw HIM. And through this I was able to see this situation with the mind of Christ.
Since then, I've had a change in perspective in so many more aspects of my life. It's been amazing to see situations and people through His eyes. My prayer is that I will continue to be blessed with such a window into the soul of God. To find compassion, mercy and love for those who I find it difficult to show such affections to. To put the comforts of others before the comforts of myself. To stop being so selfish and self-centered....in other words go against my human nature altogether.
So, even though I've been blessed to look into this window of perspective, there is still such a long journey to go. I'm still so naturally wicked and want so much to look out for ME. But Jesus Christ lives in me...Change is not just good, it's inevitable.(:
Continue to change me, Lord. My heart, my soul, my mind,....my perspective.
Form me into the image of Your Son.
Change is good when you serve a God who never changes.
I had such an experience lately. I was struggling in an area of my life, trying to find joy. Begging the Lord to not just get me through, but to love the journey. One moment I was in prayer, frustrated and crying out to the Lord. Then in the next moment, His revelation came to me. I had asked Him a question while feeling pity on myself, when He answered my question with His own question. What He asked burned through me, illuminated my mind and penetrated my heart. He revealed to me His grace in the situation. He showed me that I was seeing everything in the opposite way that He wanted me to. Suddenly, my thought pattern made a complete "180", the self-pity was gone, and His gifts to me flooded my soul.
He changed my perspective.
He allowed me to see the situation the way He saw it. To see the blessings, the grace and what I needed most, the JOY. I saw HIM. And through this I was able to see this situation with the mind of Christ.
Since then, I've had a change in perspective in so many more aspects of my life. It's been amazing to see situations and people through His eyes. My prayer is that I will continue to be blessed with such a window into the soul of God. To find compassion, mercy and love for those who I find it difficult to show such affections to. To put the comforts of others before the comforts of myself. To stop being so selfish and self-centered....in other words go against my human nature altogether.
So, even though I've been blessed to look into this window of perspective, there is still such a long journey to go. I'm still so naturally wicked and want so much to look out for ME. But Jesus Christ lives in me...Change is not just good, it's inevitable.(:
Continue to change me, Lord. My heart, my soul, my mind,....my perspective.
Form me into the image of Your Son.
Change is good when you serve a God who never changes.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
My God is Big!
I can't begin to tell you what God has revealed about Himself to me. Mostly because in my human mind I can't comprehend or begin to explain the vastness of my God! But in all of His vastness and His power, He still wants me. My thoughts, my hopes, my dreams, ALL of me. The King of the universe who sustains all that He has created with a single thought, has precious thoughts of me! In fact, "How vast are the sum of them? If I could count them,they are more than the sand..." (Psalm 139:17-18a). My mind cannot contain such an amazing picture. But it's real, it's true, because it's HIS Word!
And on the other side of it, this God in all of His vastness still takes the time to move all the neutrons, protons and electrons in perfect harmony, creating a symphony of matter that we call LIFE! From the biggest of the biggest galaxies, to the smallest of the smallest elements, God is in, God is with, God IS! And in all of this He knows my name, He knew me before He created this universe, and He wants more then anything to be My Friend!
What sweetness there is in knowing that in our confusion and chaos, God is in complete control. His hand is on all that happens, and when there are days that we don't see Him, He still sees US.
Let me encourage anyone who reads this post: Don't confine God. Sometimes we get comfortable in who we want our God to be that we forget the joy in exploring who He Really IS. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and then prepare yourself for the ride of a lifetime!
My God is Big! How big is your God?
And on the other side of it, this God in all of His vastness still takes the time to move all the neutrons, protons and electrons in perfect harmony, creating a symphony of matter that we call LIFE! From the biggest of the biggest galaxies, to the smallest of the smallest elements, God is in, God is with, God IS! And in all of this He knows my name, He knew me before He created this universe, and He wants more then anything to be My Friend!
What sweetness there is in knowing that in our confusion and chaos, God is in complete control. His hand is on all that happens, and when there are days that we don't see Him, He still sees US.
Let me encourage anyone who reads this post: Don't confine God. Sometimes we get comfortable in who we want our God to be that we forget the joy in exploring who He Really IS. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and then prepare yourself for the ride of a lifetime!
My God is Big! How big is your God?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)