what is defiant peace? peace that is found in the middle of the mess. Right when we're hurting the most. It's a choice, and it's not meant to be easy, because the word itself, defiant, implies that you are in the middle of a battle.
Lord, I'm in the middle of a battle. a huge one. and i feel myself sabotaging your calling in my life. i pray you give me defiant peace that helps me tap into the resurrection power.
I am more than my weaknesses because my strength comes from the Lord. every moment that i spend in his presence is a glory moment; a transformation story of redemption and scandalous grace.
dear Lord, save me from myself.
isaiah 65:2
1 corinthians 2:16
chapter 23 "but because the Lord loves you"
Deuteronomy 7:7-8
Lord, thank you for choosing me, because you love me in all that I am. Not because of any merit on my part, but because of Yours. Because, that's the kind of heart you have.
I love you, Lord, because you loved me first. Teach me how to live in response to that love.
The Lord did not set His love on You nor choose you because you were more in number than any other peoples; but, because the Lord loves you...
Lord, thank you for choosing me, because you love me in all that I am. Not because of any merit on my part, but because of Yours. Because, that's the kind of heart you have.
I love you, Lord, because you loved me first. Teach me how to live in response to that love.
chapter 23 "poor smudges of paint..."
This morning, as I'm drinking coffee and listening to worship music, I read a devotional that spoke of God's artistry, workmanship and all around great talent in being God. It spoke of His purpose for our lives, and how He is not undecided in what that is. I've been asking the Lord lately what my purpose is, and as my brother very wisely (and quickly!) pointed out, His purpose is for me to be happy, truly. To travel, eat, pray, love, wander...and I am awed that the creator of this universe, created it just for me and just for you. For His glory, so that others can see it, so that others veils can be lifted and receive Him in their hearts.
What I feel and what I felt this weekend when we were up at Broken Bow, OK was the unchanging truth that God is a big God. I was telling a friend that there's nothing quite like the mountains to make God bigness and man's smallness come into perspective. And that He called me out of my darkness into His light fills me with joy.
We're "poor smudges of paint" (C.H. Spurgeon), the reading said, that God uses to pour His grace into a dark World that desperately needs light to shine. The truth that I could be part of that light is daunting and exciting at the same time. What is my purpose?
When I am stirred to love someone, even in a small way, I see how awesome He is in creating me for that precise moment. That He would even consider me to carry out anything in His name is humbling. It fills my heart that whenever I say, "yes" to Him, He uses me to bless others.
When I say, "yes" to His promptings, His story is being told.
I'm thankful for that. So, so thankful.
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." |Degas
What I feel and what I felt this weekend when we were up at Broken Bow, OK was the unchanging truth that God is a big God. I was telling a friend that there's nothing quite like the mountains to make God bigness and man's smallness come into perspective. And that He called me out of my darkness into His light fills me with joy.
"I am the work of your hands." |Isaiah 64:8
We're "poor smudges of paint" (C.H. Spurgeon), the reading said, that God uses to pour His grace into a dark World that desperately needs light to shine. The truth that I could be part of that light is daunting and exciting at the same time. What is my purpose?
When I am stirred to love someone, even in a small way, I see how awesome He is in creating me for that precise moment. That He would even consider me to carry out anything in His name is humbling. It fills my heart that whenever I say, "yes" to Him, He uses me to bless others.
When I say, "yes" to His promptings, His story is being told.
I'm thankful for that. So, so thankful.
chapter 22 for freedom
Reading from a devotional tonight, I came across Galatians 3:23-29
The law brought us to Christ. It show us our true nature and our need for a holy God to save us. In Christ, we're free from our nature because we receive His: Christ in us.
God calls us to freedom in His son, which means that before Christ, we were slaves to something else. We were held captive by the World and we served it. Now, in Christ, we're enslaved by His love that convicts us, moves us and makes us bold. We're a new creation. We no longer serve the World and its pleasures, we serve God almighty and He's good.
Who I am in Christ...is free. Free from my guilt and my anger, my frustration, stress, loneliness and sin.
I confess I don't always live in this freedom; in fact, most of the time I go back to being enslaved all over again by who I used to be. I don't love like I should, like the Lord calls me to. I'm easily angered, frustrated and depressed.
If the life that resurrected Christ from the dead lives in me, why do I live like I myself died in that tomb but didn't come back to life?
I don't want to live with a veil over my heart (2 Corinthians 3:15) when I know firsthand about the freedom I've been called to.
How can I talk to others about the freedom found in Christ, if I'm not living in it myself? How can I talk about Christ's love if I'm not loving others? The answer is, I can't. You can't pour out of an empty cup.
The Spirit fills our longings
for truth, freedom, love, joy
and pours grace over us
as we call out to a God
who calls us to freedom
whose very life is in us
Christ, the living God
Messiah
I'm praying for gentle reminders that in Christ I am free. I am free to love my family, friends, strangers...free to love myself.
for freedom.
"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to christ, that we might be justified by faith."
The law brought us to Christ. It show us our true nature and our need for a holy God to save us. In Christ, we're free from our nature because we receive His: Christ in us.
God calls us to freedom in His son, which means that before Christ, we were slaves to something else. We were held captive by the World and we served it. Now, in Christ, we're enslaved by His love that convicts us, moves us and makes us bold. We're a new creation. We no longer serve the World and its pleasures, we serve God almighty and He's good.
Who I am in Christ...is free. Free from my guilt and my anger, my frustration, stress, loneliness and sin.
I confess I don't always live in this freedom; in fact, most of the time I go back to being enslaved all over again by who I used to be. I don't love like I should, like the Lord calls me to. I'm easily angered, frustrated and depressed.
If the life that resurrected Christ from the dead lives in me, why do I live like I myself died in that tomb but didn't come back to life?
"...for freedom christ has set us free." | Galatians 5:1
I don't want to live with a veil over my heart (2 Corinthians 3:15) when I know firsthand about the freedom I've been called to.
How can I talk to others about the freedom found in Christ, if I'm not living in it myself? How can I talk about Christ's love if I'm not loving others? The answer is, I can't. You can't pour out of an empty cup.
The Spirit fills our longings
for truth, freedom, love, joy
and pours grace over us
as we call out to a God
who calls us to freedom
whose very life is in us
Christ, the living God
Messiah
I'm praying for gentle reminders that in Christ I am free. I am free to love my family, friends, strangers...free to love myself.
for freedom.
chapter 21, a study in kindness
people always seem genuinely surprised when you extend kindness to them, as if kindness is the last thing they expect out of this World. people celebrate 12 days of kindness in an effort to evoke sympathy in people's hearts.
I even find myself having to choose kindness when I really want to choose the opposite.
Nehemiah 9:17
When you abound in love, you abound in kindness. When you're in Christ, you don't think twice about loving people through kindness, compassion, patience and grace.
Proverbs 19:22
Kindness upon kindness.
Further reading: 40 best Bible verse about kindness
I even find myself having to choose kindness when I really want to choose the opposite.
Nehemiah 9:17
"...But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them."
When you abound in love, you abound in kindness. When you're in Christ, you don't think twice about loving people through kindness, compassion, patience and grace.
Let kindness abound where darkness seems to win.
Proverbs 19:22
"What a person desires is unfailing love;"People need to see love. They need us to show kindness in a World where love is fading + is being replaced by a sorry copy that will never satisfy like the real love of Christ does.
Abound in kindness, let it overflow.
Kindness upon kindness.
Further reading: 40 best Bible verse about kindness
Chapter 19, community: part 1
What I've learned about community so far,
. . .
God knows I would rather be alone than with people. I'd rather lock myself in my room with a book or Netflix + forget the World.
I'm a homebody. I crave a good book, a blanket + nothing else. It worries me that it never worried me how comfortable I am with being alone. Lately, I've been encouraged to seek community. And while it's overwhelming + I would truly just as well stay home, I'm starting to see the blessing of opening up and letting people in my island. It all boils down to trust and intentionality. How do I stay growing in Christ if I'm not with His Church?
In order to put on the full armor of Christ, I have to get into a community of believers who will encourage me + whom I can encourage.
who am I attracting?
. . .
Further reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
. . .
God knows I would rather be alone than with people. I'd rather lock myself in my room with a book or Netflix + forget the World.
I've never noticed how truly lonely that is.
I'm a homebody. I crave a good book, a blanket + nothing else. It worries me that it never worried me how comfortable I am with being alone. Lately, I've been encouraged to seek community. And while it's overwhelming + I would truly just as well stay home, I'm starting to see the blessing of opening up and letting people in my island. It all boils down to trust and intentionality. How do I stay growing in Christ if I'm not with His Church?
"A lack of Church life makes us vulnerable to the enemy."- Steven J. Cole
In order to put on the full armor of Christ, I have to get into a community of believers who will encourage me + whom I can encourage.
"Your vibe attracts your tribe."Makes me wonder sometimes, what I am attracting? Am I glorifying Christ with my action, my words + attitude?
who am I attracting?
. . .
Further reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
chapter 17, reflections on easter + some nuggets and worms with coffee
I appreciate the beauty of these three days + the impact those three days many, many years ago had on my life, right now.
to be honest, i don't appreciate it nearly as much as I should, nor do I spend the time to really meditate + reflect on the beauty of what Christ did at the cross, and then at the tomb. i take it for granted some times (read: a lot of times).
 |
| my brother makes the most bomb coffee, ever. |
but, God.
He doesn't give up on me, He fights for me + He loves me, deeply. my prayer is that I love Him + others with that same intensity. That I walk a life that honors Him and brings Him glory. I think about this some times and I wonder what I reflect when others look at me. I am not perfect, I fail Him daily and my love for Him seems lacking somehow.
 |
| can I have some sauce to go with these nuggets? |
but, God.
 |
| Book nerd in the making. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)