I have been pondering shepherding and leadership lately. As a teacher, it is my job to equip the little ones entrusted to me. I have learned, however, these past few years that being a teacher and a leader is more about shepherding than instructing.
Shepherds set boundaries for their sheep to keep them from harm not to be mean and keep them from fun. In fact I think some of the best Shepherds can probably laugh with their flock and have a good ol time!
Shepherds gently lead their flock away from danger zones. They are firm but gentle not harsh and condemning.
Shepherds work to grow their flock, focusing on building up their gifts and talents not tearing them down.
Two quotes our pastor recently shared with us have really challenged and encouraged me in both my teaching and leadership roles.
“As a leader my responsibility is not only to live each day to fulfill my purpose, but also lead those God has sent me in fulfilling theirs.”
“Your job as a leader isn't to be the smartest person in the room. It's to make everyone else feel THEY are...” Phil Cooke
I am learning as a teacher and a leader my job is more about cultivating the gifts and talents inside each person entrusted to me than forcing my thoughts and opinions.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Come and Worship
One of my favorite Christmas songs is by Bebo Norman. The words are simple.
"Come and Worship"
We are invited to come. Come into His Holy Presence and worship the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Almighty!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaHKGNaYcrU
"Come and Worship"
We are invited to come. Come into His Holy Presence and worship the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Almighty!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaHKGNaYcrU
Angels from the
Realms of Glory
Wing your flight o'er the Earth
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim the Messiah's birth
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King
Shepards in the
Fields abiding
Watching o'er the flocks by night
God with man is
Now residing
Yonder shines the infant light
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King
Saints before the
Alter bending
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ...the Newborn King
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Love and Serve
God has been messing up my heart in many ways these past few months.
I thought I loved people well. I don't.
I realized my attitude towards a co-worker was not right. First, the Lord showed me that I needed to stop talking about her when she frustrated me. I was doing good with that...then He showed me that really loving her would be not even having the thoughts of frustration and negativity. So we're doing good with that...then He said, well that's good but now I want you to care about her and her story. WHOA! Ok, I've stopped talking/thinking negatively about her and now I'm supposed to be her friend! Well, as soon as I began to care about her story a release of compassion flooded my heart.
I have found recently that in the most unusual situations I am concerned about someones story. Do they know Jesus? Do they need some hope?
Most recently this occurred while in a restaurant with my family. There was a lady sitting at the table next to me rolling the silverware. I began to wonder about her family, her story, did she have the hope of Jesus? Then I became so overwhelmed as I realized, no matter what her story was, her job was to serve me. She took a job rolling silverware to serve me. I am still getting over that moment of humility.
I have continued to ponder this moment, thinking about how often I am served on a daily basis compared to how often I serve.
The Lord is really sharpening the way I love people and the way I serve people. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace because I need it desperately everyday to love and serve those around me.
I thought I loved people well. I don't.
I realized my attitude towards a co-worker was not right. First, the Lord showed me that I needed to stop talking about her when she frustrated me. I was doing good with that...then He showed me that really loving her would be not even having the thoughts of frustration and negativity. So we're doing good with that...then He said, well that's good but now I want you to care about her and her story. WHOA! Ok, I've stopped talking/thinking negatively about her and now I'm supposed to be her friend! Well, as soon as I began to care about her story a release of compassion flooded my heart.
I have found recently that in the most unusual situations I am concerned about someones story. Do they know Jesus? Do they need some hope?
Most recently this occurred while in a restaurant with my family. There was a lady sitting at the table next to me rolling the silverware. I began to wonder about her family, her story, did she have the hope of Jesus? Then I became so overwhelmed as I realized, no matter what her story was, her job was to serve me. She took a job rolling silverware to serve me. I am still getting over that moment of humility.
I have continued to ponder this moment, thinking about how often I am served on a daily basis compared to how often I serve.
The Lord is really sharpening the way I love people and the way I serve people. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace because I need it desperately everyday to love and serve those around me.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Holiness
Several Sundays ago I watched a dear couple I've known for many years walk into church. Their lives and marriage exude holiness and love. I honestly have no idea what areas of the church they serve or what many acts of kindness they have done over the years. While watching them and pondering their legacy God continued to press into me something He's been teaching me lately.
"Holiness is a way of being, not a way of doing"
While holiness does result in doing - my doing does not result in holiness. The holiness of Jesus drew sinner's to their knees. He was perfect and pure and yet the lowliest came to Him in desperation. I want my life to exude this kind of holiness. I want sinner's to be drawn to Jesus in me. This is a great post about the holiness of Jesus http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/NOV10_article--what_kind_of_holiness_is_this--hirsch/
"Holiness is a way of being, not a way of doing"
While holiness does result in doing - my doing does not result in holiness. The holiness of Jesus drew sinner's to their knees. He was perfect and pure and yet the lowliest came to Him in desperation. I want my life to exude this kind of holiness. I want sinner's to be drawn to Jesus in me. This is a great post about the holiness of Jesus http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/NOV10_article--what_kind_of_holiness_is_this--hirsch/
Monday, November 22, 2010
Seasons
Winter seems to be creeping in early this year. I love quiet winter mornings. Soft clouds blanket the sky, threaded with color as the sun quietly rises behind their warmth. It beckons me to slow down, to stop and rest. Winter is a season of rest. Though it is often harsh and barren it is a much needed time of pruning and restoration for the fruit bearing seasons of spring and summer.
Like the earth, our spiritual lives go through seasons. Though winter is often much harsher than the other seasons, it is vital for us to be thriving and fruit bearing for the Kingdom. I was reminded of this, this morning as I enjoyed a quiet early winter morning. Despite the barreness and ugliness that often surrounds winter, I find that I am drawn to the beauty of it. The beauty is not is what is seen, but in the closeness of the Father, tending to the soil of our hearts, restoring, pruning, preparing us for the beautiful Spring. So snuggle up with the Father during your long harsh winters, let Him have His way with you for there is always the promise of spring!
Like the earth, our spiritual lives go through seasons. Though winter is often much harsher than the other seasons, it is vital for us to be thriving and fruit bearing for the Kingdom. I was reminded of this, this morning as I enjoyed a quiet early winter morning. Despite the barreness and ugliness that often surrounds winter, I find that I am drawn to the beauty of it. The beauty is not is what is seen, but in the closeness of the Father, tending to the soil of our hearts, restoring, pruning, preparing us for the beautiful Spring. So snuggle up with the Father during your long harsh winters, let Him have His way with you for there is always the promise of spring!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Heritage
Boston is steeped in heritage. Not only our country's heritage but as Believers our spiritual heritage. The Commonwealth of Boston was established by Puritans. Like every generation of Believers, they had their faults, however, they forged the way for us to be able to worship freely today. We passed many historical churches and toured The Old North Church. Many of these churches have been a place for Believers to come and worship for 300 years! As we walked through The Old North Church it was humbling to think of the number of saints who had sought after God in those pews. I pray I will leave behind a rich heritage for the next generation to follow in.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Inspiration
My affinity for Boston began in 1999 on a two day drive by while on a church trip. My heart quickly fell in love with its beauty, history and community feel. (I am a closet history nerd whose secret indulgence often involves the history channel). My heart has not been disappointed today! The beauty of Boston in the fall far surpassed my expectations! I realize how important times like this are for me. I love teaching but it drains every bit of creativity and passion that I have leaving very little to devote to other passions of my heart. Getting away to places that inspire my creativity and passions are so vital! Not to mention good time to enjoy my Father! More to come over the next few days! Enjoy some of my inspirations from today!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
I went back and listened to and then read the transcript of a great message by Paul Washer. It was on marriage; however I was able to take so much out it concerning ministry! As Bryan and I enter this season of vocational ministry it was such a good word for me!
Excerpts from Paul Washer: “The Glory of God in Marriage”
“We might be running wildly in the ministry doing all that we can possibly because we donot understand grace and we still have a works mentality. We might be running wild in ministry doing all that we can working too much because we fear men. We might berunning wild and working too much because we love to have a reputation of a very tired,worn out servant of God. We may be running too much because we want to build ourown kingdoms. We might be running too much because we don’t understand God’s willnor our place in that will.
The first thing that you must understand is this. God does not need a one of you. Nowthat might make you angry, but that is a very liberating thought to me. If I were to perishbefore I finished in this pulpit, Gods’ kingdom is not going to be halted one bit. Theministry does not depend upon you. You do not have to go out there and save God’swork. You simply have to be obedient. He lists several things through which we might glorify God. And one of them is this. To be content with God’s providence. And I have found that among ministers, very few are content with God’s providence, though they would be if they had a larger ministry. To be content with God’s providence—and I believe that many men in the ministry, their neglect of their wives and their families for the sake of the ministry is simply that they are not content with the place that God has put them.
If you say “I had to put my family on the altar of sacrifice for the sake of the ministry. For the sake of the work of God I had to neglect my family. Couldn’t spend as much time with family as maybe I ought to have spent because I was busy doing the will of God.”You are making a declaration that God’s Word is not true. You are denying the verything that God speaks forth in this passage. God’s will is perfect. That means, dear sir,you do not have to violate one aspect the will of God in order to fulfill another aspect ofthat same will. If in God’s good providence he has given you a wife (or spouse) and that is his will, then his will is perfect and you do not have to neglect that wife (spouse) in order to carry out your vocation. And if you do(neglect your spouse) you are either not understanding God or you are not really working for his kingdom, you are working to build your own.
You see, my dear friends, your approval, God’s approval of you before the throne willnot depend as much on your ministry as you think. I mean ministries are impersonal things. He can get donkeys to talk for him. He gave you a daughter (spouse, child, etc).
You know, if God calls me to be a janitor in Brooklyn and I go to Nigeria and plant 300churches I am out of the will of God.
End of excerpt
I am so easily distracted by doing things for the Kingdom. Yet it is so humbling to be reminded that my ministry is not needed. Yet, it is an honor to be chosen to be a part of it. The greatest commandment He has called us to is to love Him first and love others. If we are neglecting those people He has placed in our lives to love (our spouses, children.) then our ministry is not truly for Him but for our own. We must know His will for our life and stay focused on it. If He has called us to something and we go and do something else no matter how good, noble and for the Kingdom it may be…if it is not His will for our life we are not in His will!
Excerpts from Paul Washer: “The Glory of God in Marriage”
“We might be running wildly in the ministry doing all that we can possibly because we donot understand grace and we still have a works mentality. We might be running wild in ministry doing all that we can working too much because we fear men. We might berunning wild and working too much because we love to have a reputation of a very tired,worn out servant of God. We may be running too much because we want to build ourown kingdoms. We might be running too much because we don’t understand God’s willnor our place in that will.
The first thing that you must understand is this. God does not need a one of you. Nowthat might make you angry, but that is a very liberating thought to me. If I were to perishbefore I finished in this pulpit, Gods’ kingdom is not going to be halted one bit. Theministry does not depend upon you. You do not have to go out there and save God’swork. You simply have to be obedient. He lists several things through which we might glorify God. And one of them is this. To be content with God’s providence. And I have found that among ministers, very few are content with God’s providence, though they would be if they had a larger ministry. To be content with God’s providence—and I believe that many men in the ministry, their neglect of their wives and their families for the sake of the ministry is simply that they are not content with the place that God has put them.
If you say “I had to put my family on the altar of sacrifice for the sake of the ministry. For the sake of the work of God I had to neglect my family. Couldn’t spend as much time with family as maybe I ought to have spent because I was busy doing the will of God.”You are making a declaration that God’s Word is not true. You are denying the verything that God speaks forth in this passage. God’s will is perfect. That means, dear sir,you do not have to violate one aspect the will of God in order to fulfill another aspect ofthat same will. If in God’s good providence he has given you a wife (or spouse) and that is his will, then his will is perfect and you do not have to neglect that wife (spouse) in order to carry out your vocation. And if you do(neglect your spouse) you are either not understanding God or you are not really working for his kingdom, you are working to build your own.
You see, my dear friends, your approval, God’s approval of you before the throne willnot depend as much on your ministry as you think. I mean ministries are impersonal things. He can get donkeys to talk for him. He gave you a daughter (spouse, child, etc).
You know, if God calls me to be a janitor in Brooklyn and I go to Nigeria and plant 300churches I am out of the will of God.
End of excerpt
I am so easily distracted by doing things for the Kingdom. Yet it is so humbling to be reminded that my ministry is not needed. Yet, it is an honor to be chosen to be a part of it. The greatest commandment He has called us to is to love Him first and love others. If we are neglecting those people He has placed in our lives to love (our spouses, children.) then our ministry is not truly for Him but for our own. We must know His will for our life and stay focused on it. If He has called us to something and we go and do something else no matter how good, noble and for the Kingdom it may be…if it is not His will for our life we are not in His will!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Glory of it All
Five letters...grace
a gift to redeem and accept us into the family of God; to conform us into His likeness for all eternity.
The story of God that is unfolding before me has left me awestruck. As I pondered His purpose...His Glory...my heart was overwhelmed as I sat amazed that I had the privilage to be a part of it. I have not and cannot do a single thing to be worthy of this grace that has been lavished upon me...a sinner transformed into a vessel for His Glory.
This was a recent journal entry of mine as I reflected on His purpose...His Glory.
"The Glory of God is the redemptive work (process; not made complete until Heaven) in the life of the believer. It (the Glory of God) is in the life and death of Jesus Christ redeeming us. The purpose of the life of the believer is to reflect and bring Him glory through the redemptive work in our life. My life should reflect His glory if Jesus is truly having His way with me. It will be subtle and subconscience; not of my own effort. I will not even be fully aware of all that He has done through me. I must be as passionate about His glory as He is. My life is to be a museum of His Glory- His beautiful redemptive masterpiece in our life."
I often get overwhelmed wondering if I am doing "enough" for the Kingdom. As I sat with Jesus and shared my heart; He spoke some words gently that He had taught me long ago..."by grace for glory" (thank you matt and april dean). Those words resonate in my heart and set me free knowing every breath I breath is for His glory even in the mundane. He reminded me that He is the one doing the work in and through me. Yes, I must be obedient and submit to the process. However, the fruit that my life will bear will not come from my own effort. A tree does not will itself to bear fruit; it bears fruit because it was created to do so and as long as it is recieving life it will bear life giving fruit! I love this picture! I know I have to be intentional and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit; but it is so freeing to know that it is not I who is responsible for bearing enough fruit. I am called to be a new creation and allow my life to be a museum for His glory! (John 15)
a gift to redeem and accept us into the family of God; to conform us into His likeness for all eternity.
The story of God that is unfolding before me has left me awestruck. As I pondered His purpose...His Glory...my heart was overwhelmed as I sat amazed that I had the privilage to be a part of it. I have not and cannot do a single thing to be worthy of this grace that has been lavished upon me...a sinner transformed into a vessel for His Glory.
This was a recent journal entry of mine as I reflected on His purpose...His Glory.
"The Glory of God is the redemptive work (process; not made complete until Heaven) in the life of the believer. It (the Glory of God) is in the life and death of Jesus Christ redeeming us. The purpose of the life of the believer is to reflect and bring Him glory through the redemptive work in our life. My life should reflect His glory if Jesus is truly having His way with me. It will be subtle and subconscience; not of my own effort. I will not even be fully aware of all that He has done through me. I must be as passionate about His glory as He is. My life is to be a museum of His Glory- His beautiful redemptive masterpiece in our life."
I often get overwhelmed wondering if I am doing "enough" for the Kingdom. As I sat with Jesus and shared my heart; He spoke some words gently that He had taught me long ago..."by grace for glory" (thank you matt and april dean). Those words resonate in my heart and set me free knowing every breath I breath is for His glory even in the mundane. He reminded me that He is the one doing the work in and through me. Yes, I must be obedient and submit to the process. However, the fruit that my life will bear will not come from my own effort. A tree does not will itself to bear fruit; it bears fruit because it was created to do so and as long as it is recieving life it will bear life giving fruit! I love this picture! I know I have to be intentional and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit; but it is so freeing to know that it is not I who is responsible for bearing enough fruit. I am called to be a new creation and allow my life to be a museum for His glory! (John 15)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Faith
I have been sick for several weeks now. The other day I had a horrible sinus headache while I was at work. I was desperate for some relief! Thankfully someone came to my rescue with a sinus medicine. I took it knowing my pain would soon be gone...wrong. While the pain was dulled it did not go away completely for nearly two days.
The Lord used this little incident to give me some insight into my faith. I realized I had more faith in a pill...that I didn't know what was in it...who had put it together...I trusted someone, somewhere, who had promised taking that pill would relieve my pain...than I did in my Creator. My Creator, who knit me, who lives in me and knows the pain I am feeling and exactly what I need. I whole heartily believe that God has given us the wisdom to use medicine to heal our bodies but in putting so much of my faith in medicine I often lack faith in my Creator to still perform miracles and heal me...of even a sinus headache. It caused me to take a look at the things I am quick to trust and why I often waver in my faith of God, when I know He is faithful and will not allow something to come to me that ultimately won't bring Him Greater Glory!
The Lord used this little incident to give me some insight into my faith. I realized I had more faith in a pill...that I didn't know what was in it...who had put it together...I trusted someone, somewhere, who had promised taking that pill would relieve my pain...than I did in my Creator. My Creator, who knit me, who lives in me and knows the pain I am feeling and exactly what I need. I whole heartily believe that God has given us the wisdom to use medicine to heal our bodies but in putting so much of my faith in medicine I often lack faith in my Creator to still perform miracles and heal me...of even a sinus headache. It caused me to take a look at the things I am quick to trust and why I often waver in my faith of God, when I know He is faithful and will not allow something to come to me that ultimately won't bring Him Greater Glory!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Revelation
So often revelation brings excitement and joy. Yet, right now it has brought hurt. I know the rejection I feel is far less than the hurt I cause the heart of the Father and He continues to love me beyond what I can comprehend. I know I must walk forward in love and extend grace and mercy no matter how often I am hurt again. I am reminded in this how our sin not only affects our own lives but the lives of the people around us. So often I think when I sin it will only affect me, but it doesn't it hurts the people in our lives too. How great the Love the Lord has lavished on us that we should be called His Friends!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday Musings
Its not that God doesn't want us to have or enjoy things on this earth. He just wants to be the chief desire of our hearts. When we are fully satisfied in Him, He can then bless us with things because we will not look to them to find our satisfaction.
Living lukewarm has less to do with what we are not doing for Him and more about taking our eyes off our first Love and finding delight and satisfaction in anything other than Him.
"Common sense is not faith" (Oswald Chambers); Often what the Lord leads us to do will not make sense to the world around us or even to our own "common sense" brain.
1 Peter 3:8-10 " Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers; be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." NKJV
This verse spoke deeply to my heart this morning as I continued to dwell on the Lord's reminder from yesterday concerning Love. He extended grace and mercy toward me the chief of sinner's while I was still a sinner. How much more then should I extend that same grace and mercy through blessing to those around me, especially those who sin against me.
"Let us believe that God is in all our deeds and learn to find Him there" AW Tozer
"The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort." AW Tozer
Living lukewarm has less to do with what we are not doing for Him and more about taking our eyes off our first Love and finding delight and satisfaction in anything other than Him.
"Common sense is not faith" (Oswald Chambers); Often what the Lord leads us to do will not make sense to the world around us or even to our own "common sense" brain.
1 Peter 3:8-10 " Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers; be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." NKJV
This verse spoke deeply to my heart this morning as I continued to dwell on the Lord's reminder from yesterday concerning Love. He extended grace and mercy toward me the chief of sinner's while I was still a sinner. How much more then should I extend that same grace and mercy through blessing to those around me, especially those who sin against me.
"Let us believe that God is in all our deeds and learn to find Him there" AW Tozer
"The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort." AW Tozer
Sunday, August 23, 2009
What it all comes down to
I have been processing a lot recently...scripture...books...personal thoughts/beliefs...doctrine. As I have processed through the different things the Lord keeps bringing me back to the same place... Love.
God is love and everything opposite of Him and His glory is sin. He hates sin. He passionately hates sin.
Yet, His love for us was greater than His hatred of sin.
This morning in church, I was reminded how He lavishes grace upon me and I am to return that same grace to those around me...even when they sin. God is the righteous judge...the ONLY righteous judge. We are not to judge...we are to extend the same love and grace that was extended to us.
This was a huge reminder for me because there are several people in my life right now that I am struggling to love. The Lord calls us to "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13. The greatest command is "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37
The Lord continues to work this out in me as He shows me the importance of living my life above reproach but making sure that is marked by love, grace and mercy and not condemnation. I should be focused on be rightly related to Him day by day and trust Him to work in the people around me. I love what Oswald Chambers says:
"The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you. You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him."
I want my gaze to be fixed upon Him moment by moment so that I can be "be poured out like a drink offering"(Philippians 2:17) so that my "left hand (will not) know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret"(Matthew 6:3-4)
God is love and everything opposite of Him and His glory is sin. He hates sin. He passionately hates sin.
Yet, His love for us was greater than His hatred of sin.
This morning in church, I was reminded how He lavishes grace upon me and I am to return that same grace to those around me...even when they sin. God is the righteous judge...the ONLY righteous judge. We are not to judge...we are to extend the same love and grace that was extended to us.
This was a huge reminder for me because there are several people in my life right now that I am struggling to love. The Lord calls us to "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13. The greatest command is "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37
The Lord continues to work this out in me as He shows me the importance of living my life above reproach but making sure that is marked by love, grace and mercy and not condemnation. I should be focused on be rightly related to Him day by day and trust Him to work in the people around me. I love what Oswald Chambers says:
"The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you. You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him."
I want my gaze to be fixed upon Him moment by moment so that I can be "be poured out like a drink offering"(Philippians 2:17) so that my "left hand (will not) know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret"(Matthew 6:3-4)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Holy Intent
"Not perfection, but holy intention made the difference." A.W. Tozer
When I first read this statement my mouth dropped open and I wrote, "WOW" in my book. My deepest desire is that my intentions in every single thing I do and say would be holy. Its so humbling to remember God does not expect perfection, however, He does desire to see "holy intention".
"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
When I first read this statement my mouth dropped open and I wrote, "WOW" in my book. My deepest desire is that my intentions in every single thing I do and say would be holy. Its so humbling to remember God does not expect perfection, however, He does desire to see "holy intention".
"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Love
I'm so glad God is so patient with me. He is gently reminding me again that it is all about L-O-V-E! I know I should have learned this by now, at least I feel that way. However, He showed me that I was not loving well the "unlovables" in my life. This is where it becomes the hardest for me and I put my expectations of they way I think people should act or say in front of loving them with the same gracious love that was bestowed upon me.
I Corinthians 13:1-3
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angles, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
My prayer today is that I would love well all those in my life. Those who are "easy" for me to love and those who are "hard" for me to love. I don't want to become a clanging cymbol in the ears of my Father, I want to honor and glorfiy Him in all and do and say and if I do anything without love it is for nothing!
I Corinthians 13:1-3
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angles, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
My prayer today is that I would love well all those in my life. Those who are "easy" for me to love and those who are "hard" for me to love. I don't want to become a clanging cymbol in the ears of my Father, I want to honor and glorfiy Him in all and do and say and if I do anything without love it is for nothing!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Brightness of His Glory
I have been reading through the New Testament with some friends and right now we are reading in Hebrews. Hebrews is one of my favorite books of the New Testament. Each time I read it, it comes alive to me in new ways. One verse in particular stood out to me and I have meditated on it for several days now.
Hebrews 1:3 "...who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..."
Christ is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person. As believers, Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit! When we live through the power of the Holy Spirit we become the brightness of God' glory!
What an honor this is to me, that when I chose to submit to the Holy Spirit in my life I can display the brightness of God's glory. Oh this is my prayer that I would display His glory to all I come in contact with today.
Hebrews 1:3 "...who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..."
Christ is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person. As believers, Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit! When we live through the power of the Holy Spirit we become the brightness of God' glory!
What an honor this is to me, that when I chose to submit to the Holy Spirit in my life I can display the brightness of God's glory. Oh this is my prayer that I would display His glory to all I come in contact with today.
The Gaze of the Soul
A. W. Tozer is one of my favorite authors. His writing is eloquent, however, more than that it is sweet. The depth of his relationship with our Father grabs you and invites you into deeper waters. One of my favorite chapters from his book, "The Pursuit of God", is "The Gaze of the Soul". Here is talks about the precious gift of faith and that "faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God."(Tozer)
My desire through this blog is to share my journey of gazing upward to the heart of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to hopefully encourage you on your journey!
"The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of ten thousand butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom. Trust is our gift back to God. Unwavering trust is a rare and a precious thing." Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust
My desire through this blog is to share my journey of gazing upward to the heart of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to hopefully encourage you on your journey!
"The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of ten thousand butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom. Trust is our gift back to God. Unwavering trust is a rare and a precious thing." Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust
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