All Or Nothing Girl

One thing you should know about me: I'm an all or nothing girl. Sometimes this is a blessing, and other times a complete and utter curse. I am currently reading this awesome blog style book by Jen Hatmaker and she made me laugh out loud. She said that she went through a period where she burned every secular tape (or cd -- can't find the page again), then rebought them a 2nd time. Yep, sounds like a girl just like me. Except for maybe she's more "all" because I would have most likely donated them leaving my music to "corrupt" some other poor soul...

But in this area - secular vs. sacred - I am learning that it doesn't have to be all or nothing. All Jesus music or, gasp, un-Jesus music (or literature, movies, you name it). Maybe there is a different way of looking at this great debate!

Usher in the fabulous Calvin Miller, whose study I just read -- A Hunger for the Holy: Nurturing Intimacy with Christ. Here are some excerpts:

"The marvelous Christ pervades the entire world of thought and study. We have nothing to fear, therefore, by growing in many directions at once. In fact, the more we know of psychology or literature or mathematics or philosophy, the wider our perception of God becomes. J.B. Phillips, in his well-known book, Your God is Too Small, grieved that the God of harried, busy Christians really is too small. If this is true, it is because we give Him only a fractional, religious place in our lives. As we allow God to be in charge of more of our world, our understanding of His immensity will grow." - p. 96

"How small we keep God when we force Him to be the author of some printed devotional guide or doctrinal statement. We had better let God grow! Then we may meet Him in the art galleries of our world. There we will see the Holy One of Israel in the colored pinpoints of the impressionists or the heavy umber warmth of Rembrandt. Were any of these artists atheists? No matter. God exists in the very threads of their canvases and will not be denied. Was the composer an unbeliever? Never mind. His unbelief will not lock God from the concert hall. Does a book we treasure as a great piece of literature not concern itself with God? Nonsense. If the book contains any beauty or makes any sense, it has come from God as surely as Jesus did. Not only has it come from God, but God inhabits its pages. We read and meet the incognito Jehovah who passes His truth from the writer's paragraphs to our retina and never mentions Himself. But if the book is full of light, it is full of God." - pp. 102-103

This last piece is critical to me - it is a new plumb line of sorts: If it is full of light, it is full of God. If it isn't full of light, I can be "nothing" about it, but if it is full of light, even though it is not overtly religous, is full of God and I need not abstain from it or fear it. Calvin Miller goes on to address this directly:

"Certainly God has called us to evaluate the messages contained in art and culture, however we need to engage our world, not run from it. As more than conquerers, God calls us to see His majesty in all the world around us." - p. 103

Amen! Like Dirty Dancing says: No one puts Baby in a corner. So why put God in one? The sacred in one? Spurgeon was talking about the Word of God here, but I think his thoughts still apply: The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.

Is my all or nothing bent when it comes to sacred vs. secular putting God in a corner rather than letting Him be the lion that he is?

Some final thoughts and a challenge to ponder from Miller:

"I will never force the cosmic Christ into some corner where I may feed Him sour bits of church life. Nor will we meet only where the institution agrees to our meetings. He will be mine in His own music, and I will be both His song and His enthralled audience. At the table we shall talk of our love, and everywhere else we shall glory in it. Thus the intimate wildenerness expands until all parades and markets join with nature to celebrate His presence and thrill to His silent and roaring reality." - p. 103

I'd love to hear your thoughts in response to Miller! Please comment away and lets dialogue.

 

Ugly Areas

We all have ugly areas (Romans 3:23). Sometimes we know about them, other times they catch us by surprise.

Ephesians 5:8 says: For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Praise God I'm not full of darkness any longer! But oh dear are there times when I don't live as a person of light, where the darkness in me is bigger than I'd like and I need to cry out for God's light to shine on those areas.

I am in the midst of such a caught by surprise time. And my ugly area: selfishness.

Here's how it went down: Something wasn't going my way. It didn't seem fair. I tried to lay my crabby thoughts to rest, but they kept coming back and the thoughts got bigger and bigger. I've been working on hiding God's words in my heart, and His words pierced me: I did not come to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Wow! I listened for maybe all of 30 seconds though, and my thoughts got the best of me. Rather than serving, I served up some attitude. Ugly, ugly, ugly. And I'm still in the midst of the ugly. I'm not going to excuse it, or run away from it. I'm going to lay all of the ugly at God's feet and ask Him to continue to shine His light on my darkness and bring that dark place into His light and under His authority.

Here's the cool thing, the thing I'm banking on to get me through this ugly: The Lord will see me through this! Rather than trusting in my own strength, which clearly didn't get me very far, I am trusting in the Lord! Check these verses out, verses that I am going to use to pray over this ugly area in me:

• The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29)
• ...my God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28)
• Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell (Psalm 43:3)
• For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life (Psalm 56:12-13)
• Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105)
• I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16)
• He will bring me out into the light (Micah 7:9) -- Thanks Jedly Manimtim

While I don't know exactly how to rid this in me, praise God that He does! He will turn this darkness in me into light!

My prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) Help me to have a heart to serve rather than be served. Help me to be a person of mercy and grace. Phillipians 2 rings in my ears! Help me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility help me to value others above myself, not looking to my own interests but to the interests of others. Help me to do everything without grumbling or arguing. Help me to shine like a star for your glory in this world! I lay my selfishness at your feet. Thank you for knowing my heart! Thank you for loving me despite my ugly. Thank you for leading me and not leaving me to fix this on my own. Apart from you I know I can do nothing, and I thank you for bearing this fruit in me! Help me to be patient as you prune me God. (John 15) Thank you for bringing this ugly to light!

Blesssing my Pants Off

I have been reading so much and have so many things I want to share. But for now, this song has been blessing my pants off!!!

These words get me every time: In death and in life I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love. My debt is paid there's nothing that can separate my heart from your great love. I'm confident! Not in my own strength, or in chariots or horses, but in the name of the Lord our God! (Psalm 20:7)




What's the song that does this for you? Do tell!

Heart Warmed

We have something big we are asking our small group to pray for tomorrow. The time changed for this "thing" and I sent an update out.

My email: ...So if you think of it at 8:30, please send up a prayer!!...

My dear friend's response: If we think of it? It's going on our alarm clocks! Mid-appt or not, I will excuse myself for a quick prayer!  :)

My heart was instantly warmed. How awesome to know that we have people in our lives who will drop everything to pray for us!

Who do we know that needs to tangibly know our love and support? Let's be my dear friend to them! And let's connect ourselves with others through small groups, or whatever, to be known, make ourselves known, and support each other in growing to be more and more like Jesus and in doing life with each other.

What does God's word say the fellowship of believers looks like?

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Beautiful! Sacrificial. Life together. Creating disciples. Celebratory. A true picture of community! A community that takes seriously the example of Christ, who though He was God, did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:44-45). Lets be a people that likewise serves others!

Thank you, dear friend, for doing life together with me!

Reclaiming God's Way vs. Culture's Way

I am reading a book called The Missional Mom: Living with Purpose at Home & In the World by Helen Lee.

The premise of the book (at least what I've read so far), is that the primary calling we all have is to be with God. Lee says that we often turn our secondary callings, like parenting, into our primary calling, placing children and family before God. Why? Because we give in to secular and Christian culture when it comes to life, parenting and priorities, not because we don't want to follow God, but because cultural influences are real and strong.

Here is what she says about a missional mom: she "recognizes the cultural influences around her and stands against those contrasting with God's plan and purpose for her life. She strives to develop sensitivity to discern which cultural forces run counter to biblical values. And she pursues a life in line with God's ideals, even if it does not look ideal to the world." (p. 46)

Reading this book has been another reminder of how good it will be to immerse myself in God's word this year, asking His Spirit to replace God's way with culture's way in me, and to give me the strength to stand firm! Going against culture isn't easy...!

Here are three things I've read in Lee's book today that really resonate with me and that I am ruminating more on:

• Christan mothers who are unaware they are being shaped by the achievement orientation of American culture may well be taking the lives of their children into their own hands, instead of being the shepherds that God intends. How freeing would it be if we could remember that we are not the ones in control of our children's future and that God Himself is the one and only Author of our children's tomorrows...The words we need to repeat to ourselves and our children are not 'Be Successful,' but 'Remain in Him' or 'Remain with Him.' (pp. 36-37)

• The challenge for missional moms is to recognize the things we are tempted to have and our children are tempted to own and to say, 'What we have is enough.' When missional moms claim with absolute certainty that God satisfies more than any man-made object of desire ever could, their message runs absolutely counter to the marketing ploys of nearly every American company. (pp.42-43)

• Missional moms find ways to affirm their roles as mothers and wives without losing sight of their ultimate calling - to pursue God first and foremost and to live out the mission He has given. There may be stretches or seasons in which the needs of our children taken an inordinate amount of our time and energy...At the same time, we must continue to encourage all mothers, regardless of life stage, to continually ask the Lord for his guidance in prioritizing their lives. As long as we are willing to follow His gentle nudges to serve Him in whatever opportunity He presents, we can avoid the trap of idolizing our family to an extent that is not biblical. (pp. 44-45)

Together, let's pursue God first and foremost and remember that just as He is the Author of our children's futures, He is that same Author for us! Let's not spend our life in worry (Matthew 6:25-34), but instead, abide in Jesus and trust Him to bear fruit in us (John 15:5)! Let's remember afresh that our calling is, above all else, to be with God.

Digging into the Word

This year, one of my priorities is to dig into the word of God. To live it, breathe it, immerse myself in it, all with the hopes that the Holy Spirit will make it come alive in a new way that utterly transforms me and informs every part of my life.

What does Scripture say about the Word of God? Here is what stands out to me:

• It teaches me, rebukes me, corrects me and trains me in righteousness so that I can be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-16)
• It is a guide for the way I should go, lighting my path (Psalm 119:105) 
• It is at work in believers (1 Thessalonians 2:13) 
• It is alive and active, sharp and penetrating, judging the thoughts and attitudes of my heart (Hebrews 4:12)
• It's unchained, even when I am chained or to the point of being chained (2 Timothy 2:8-9)

I feel chained a lot by the American worldview. The word of God is unchained, and will guide me back to the heart of God! It will teach me, rebuke me and correct me when I fall astray. It will judge the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. God will use it to prune me so that I can do good works for Him and for His glory! Because I believe, God's word is at work in me. And if I allow it to, it will light my path in this dark world, guiding me ever closer to the holiness and awesomeness of God!

Scary and wonderful? Yes! A chore? No. Essential for living for Chris? Yes!

Even though I don't come to the Bible thinking of it as a chore, it is easy for me to read through it at a breakneck pace, not stopping to listen for God's voice and instruction. I also find that I read it thoroughly stuck in my modern lens. To this end, I am committed to two things to help me dig more deeply into the word of God.

1. Lectio Divina, exampled in this video by John Piper:





2. Referencing The Complete Bible Handbook: An Illustrated Companion (an awesome find on our bookshelf).

However we choose to dig in, let's each commit ourselves to spend quality time in the word of God, that we may by transformed and ultimately equipped for every good work, all for the glory of God.

The Romans Project

Ann Voskamp, who blogs at A Holy Experience, did a post at the start of this year entitled The 1 Habit God Really Wants For Your New Year. Curious? I was too!

Her answer: Bible memorization. Because ...
"What you really know by heart is what your heart really knows — and what you really live."

So, so true! How many other things do I know by heart? Many things, and most more than I know the living, active, powerful, transforming word of God (Hebrews 4:12).

But no more!! Join me in joining Ann in doing the Romans Project -- memorizing Romans 1, 8 and 12. In Ann's words: "memorizing only 2 verses a week through 2013 will have us know by heart three Great Chapters of the Christian faith."

It's not too late to jump in; I'm just starting this week! A guide is available at The 1 Habit blog post linked above. Let's fix God's words in our hearts and minds (Deuteronomy 11:18), and let His Spirit transform us in the process!

Fighting Freak Out

I am having a brain freak out kind of day. Big circumstances are out of my control. I spent a small part of yesterday evening and a big part of this morning focused on my powerlessness, my weakness, my inadequacy to shield and protect. I was majorly stuck in the problem, and through talking with a friend, realized that my issue isn’t really the problem. My problem is that my focus is on me and not on God!

From yesterday’s post, you can see that God has been driving home the words of Romans 8 and Psalm 139, writing them deep in my heart. I read them to get my focus back on God, and was reminded that He is bigger than my problem. If I go up to the heavens, God is there; if I make my bed in the depths, he is there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there his hand will guide me, his right hand will hold me fast (Psalm 139:8-10). I am not alone in this! None of us are alone in anything. Ever. Praise God!

So instead of fretting, worrying and letting fear find a stronghold in me, I am keeping my eyes on God and His power and glory to work good in all circumstances! Today, every minute if I have to, I will remind myself that He is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, therefore I need not fear (Psalm 46:1-3).

When my mind wanders to my circumstances, I will instead lift my eyes to God and remember that He is where my help comes from (Psalm 121). I will remember that His Spirit hems me in on all sides (Psalm 139:5).

And when I kick myself for forgetting all that God is teaching me, I will remember too that there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1-2), and that His power is made perfect through my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)!

We serve a BIG God, a God bigger than our circumstances. He is sovereign over everything, working all things out for His own ends (Proverbs 16:4), yet is close enough to bring each of us comfort and peace.

Today, on this fighting freak out kind of day, I proclaim:

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2).

May we each find ourselves unshakeable today because we stand firm in a big and awesome God! Wait on Him for what you need. 

Here's some gospelicious encouragement (excuse the brief announcer info):

My good, true things

One of my favorite bloggers is Shannan at Flower Patch Farmgirl. She wrote today: "The Bible says to tie the good, true things around our necks" (check out her post here). She encouraged us to name our good, true thing.

Summed up in a word (or words), God is teaching me three things in a big way lately:

• Hemmed In, Psalm 139:5 - God is always with me and is my great lover and protector. There is nowhere that I can go from His Spirit. He surrounds me on all sides, on all days, at all times. 
• Give Thanks, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - I am to be thankful in all circumstances of my life.
• Conquerer, Romans 8:37 - God has made me not just a conquerer, but more than a conquerer through His strength and power at work in my life! Fear has no stronghold.

 What is God teaching you at this season in your life?