One Step Closer
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Overwhelmed...
Monday, July 18, 2011
Purpose is My Middle Name
5 yr old nephew’s response “Purpose is my middle name.” (James Bond eyebrow arch included)
Me. Unable to contain my laughter.
I know I have quoted my nephews in the past. They make for great material. There is a reason for these quotes though….the Lord uses these simple daily interactions to buttress the truths He has been building in my life.
Most recently, my focus has been directed (with a fervent gaze) on His cross. A few years ago my (extremely God-given talented) cousin wrote a song titled “The Cross Centered Life”. She was 15 years old at the time. The words were Spirit breathed:
What was it that drew me to Your throne of grace?
What was it that made my heart sing?
Twas Your Son hanging there
With all of my sins to bear
Way up on Calvary
The chorus goes on to say
One single passion
The cross which your Son once suffered for me
Reopen my blinded eyes
Rekindle my fading heart
I long to be revived
I seek one ambition
To have a cross centered life
Powerful words, aren’t they?
In the book Gospel of Peace by Jim Richards he discusses the centrality of the Cross. “…all understanding, all revelation, all that God has done for us could only be understood in the finished work of the cross. All truth has its basis in the cross. Prior to the cross God had spoken in many different ways, through many different people, in many different situations. Now, however, He has said all He has to say in His son. Specifically in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Heb 1:1-2) To live by faith is to live dependent on, trusting in, adhering to and deriving power from what Jesus did at the cross. All else is simply vain imaginations.”
(I realize I am quoting a lot…bear with me…)
The cross is center. God’s Word….letter of love to us….from the very beginning (John 1:1)…Elohim(Creator God) had a PURPOSE. That purpose was the cross. It was everything the cross embodies. Forgiveness. Salvation. Renewal. Sanctification. Reunification. The entire Bible from Genesis (chp 3 v15 anyone??) is a gloriously weaved purposeful journey towards the cross.
“At the cross. At the cross. Where I first saw the light….”
I was blind. But now I see. I was broken. But now I am whole. I was lost. But now I am found. And why is that? Because of the cross.
I am a typical woman. I have dozens of things on any given day that pull at my attention. Work, family, friends, ministry, errands, etc etc etc… and all of that quickly turns into a knotted ball of yarn without purpose. I need, and am called, to be a woman of purpose. To not just act instinctively, or passively, but with purpose.
But what is my purpose?
The answer is clear. I am to look to the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2). His entire life, from conception to death and ultimately to resurrection had one sole purpose.
I seek one ambition. To live a cross centered life.
To quote my nephew…..
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
How BIG?
How big is God to you?
How big is God IN you?
Does He sometimes whisper to your heart things He wants you to know?
How big is God to you?
How big is God IN you?
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The NEXT STEP!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Lovebugs
"This must be a small example of what Egypt was like during the plagues to free the Israelites".
Yes. I'm a random weirdo and think things like that.
And then, almost immediately after that thought crossed my mind, my gracious Lord prodded me to consider not the "plague" like image of the lovebugs...but His image in His creation. He reminded me that His love surrounds me at all times...swarming above and beside and even ON me. That there is no where I can go to escape His love. That He is always with me.
*Swoon*
LOVEbugs. My First Loves reminder to me of HIS love for me. Forget rainbows. His love for me has wings....
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 NLT
This week He has shown me His love in such powerful ways...the most beautiful being this....
So....if you live in southwest Florida and find yourself in the midst of a lovebug "storm" don't be alarmed, its just His love note to me.... (and you!)
Saturday, April 30, 2011
How soft is your pillow?
Ethan 4 yrs old "Sissy, can I sleep in your bed? I can't sleep..."
Me "Why monkey? Don't you want to sleep in your bed?"
Ethan "No. My pillow isn't soft anymore."
Needless to say I relented and let him climb on into my bed. Five minutes later Graham 5 yrs old joined us. We slept contentedly until my alarm went off at 6:20am reminding me I had to go to work today. I looked over and saw two precious boys sleeping all curled up next to me. My heart swelled.
And then the busy whirl of work day activity began. Shower. Teeth. Scrubs. Get Luke 8 yrs old ready for play date this morning. Kiss Goodbye. Drive through town to work. Etc etc etc
And despite it being extremely busy at work the first half of my shift, and an unending to-do list in the forefront of my mind, Ethan's reason for wanting to switch beds kept running through my mind "My pillow isn't soft anymore."
His comfortable nest of a bed. His plush, enveloping, pillow wasn't "soft" anymore. He wanted to leave his bed. He was done with it.
The Lord has been teaching me a lot the past few months about coming out from my comforts and into His. My comforts of home, and my family being nearby, and my secure job, an amazing church family, gorgeous FL sunsets, sushi thats to die for whenever I crave it....my immensely cozy bed (no lie! its my piece de resistance). He has been calling me out from what I have clung to so strongly as my greatest comforts. He's showing me that His comfort. His will. His plan is so far above mine.
He is making my "pillow" not so soft anymore.
The comforts that used to satiate me are no longer as desirable. They aren't as inviting. I want to go to Him...to share His comfort. Its way better than mine.
His ways might not always feel so soft. His ways can be hard, yet He spurs us on.
Paul said "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" 2 Cor. 4:7-9
But wait....He doesn't leave it with just that!
Paul reminds us of where it leads us to.
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Cor.4:16-18
My pillow isn't soft anymore.
.......Is yours?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
First Step...New Beginnings
And I sit here. In their house. With their three boys I am staying with while they are on the other side of the world. Bubbling with thoughts and energy and nearly exploding with excitement. And I can't help but think....
When is it my turn?
Can I go back to Uganda too Lord?
Can I adopt too?
Can I please go live among your sweet children (young and old) and love with Your hands and see with Your eyes over there in Africa's fertile land?
Can I go?
Me, Lord, me!!
And yet I sit.
Waiting.
He has a plan for me. I'm living it. I can't see tomorrow's destination. I am only in today. And that is all He has called me to. To be with Him today.
So I'll sit and wait on Him...to light the next step of my path tomorrow.
One step closer towards Him....