Building Bridges

For all of my friends who don't follow Jesus and are reading this, hey!

And if you do, also hey.

I wanted to get your attention. Because seeing as this has thus far been a predominantly faith-based blog, I am thinking that when new posts pop up on your Facebook from me, you may feel disconnected or as if you're about to go down a seemingly endless rabbit hole of TL;DR. Especially when this chick doesn't even always add pictures. Who does she think she is?

And I want you to know that I understand.

But if you are reading this, something brought you to click here this morning/afternoon/evening.

And basically,

I have now cast you under my Christian spell and will force you to see things with a Christian worldview.

Jokes, that's not how it works.

BUT that's actually my point. Today, I am writing about Christian misconceptions.

I've kind of written about this before when I discussed "Christianese" here. ( From 2011! Go team!)

In general, one of the biggest tensions we have as humans moving about in this world and interacting is centered around our ability and inability to connect. One thing is for sure, we all desire to. Look at the host of ways in which we share. I am writing this blog post, for instance. Guaranteed you know at least five other people with blogs. If not a blog, we have Instagram, the sharing of our daily lives in photos. We have Twitter, our little soundbites of thoughts. Facebook - our highlight reels of our lives. And there are tons more. It can be funny to stop and think about how each of these mediums for sharing are different, but their core is the same. And their popularity is based on the core of connectivity that they share. This obviously extends to real life - if you're an actor, all you need to do is sit in an audition waiting room to hear the endless chatter of individuals who are bursting at the seams to sometimes over share. (Really, I know a lot more about people from those auditions than I even asked for.) I even know of a church that had an affectionate abbreviation to represent how so-and-so didn't leave service to go home yet because they were still talking. The desire for unity and connectivity is without a doubt a God-placed, inherent thing in our nature.

Yet, the tension arises when there are billions of obstacles and barriers getting in the way of our forming these bonds. Not going to cue the technology rant, but that is certainly one. And there are hundreds more. Racism, classism, ageism. Hit me with your best -ism, it probably fits.

I've said this before, and we all know this stuff already. I feel like I wrote twelve essays on this at NYU, so I won't bore you or myself. We could go on and on about how our connectivity and lack thereof hinders or helps us in one way or another.

Some of our chatter is incredibly important though. For me, one thing as a Christian that actually disturbs and grates my soul is when Christianity specifically is represented in a light that is simply not true as a result of wrong information or miscommunication and misrepresentation. I see it more and more the longer I am alive, and quite honestly, it breaks my heart.

Following Christ is a call to above-and-beyond love, a call to selflessness. A call to service. It is a group of broken individuals, flawed individuals -- not perfect individuals, nor individuals trying to be perfect, NOR individuals trying to make YOU perfect. We are simply a bunch of people in need of a Savior, and realizing it, and living in light of that radiant truth and hope that Jesus gives us in providing us that very thing.

(Now I am in NO means trying to trivialize Christianity or downplay it at ALL. It is truly ground-breaking, life-changing, mind-blowing, and radical Good News. But in order to best communicate, that is the simplest way I know how to break it down.)

And if you are meeting people who are calling themselves Christians that are not walking in the humility of all of this, I may need to make the assertion that you may not actually be speaking to a Christian.

Christianity is not what is so often in the headlines, depicting a group of hate-spewing individuals, picketing and screaming and obstinate. That is not Christianity, and that is certainly not Christ.

I am in an industry where a lot of people don't understand Christianity. Upon hearing that I am a Christian, people have actually told me that they just assumed I was crazy.

And I mean, I might be. You should see me when I'm hangry. But I'm not crazy because of my Christianity. On the contrary, that is the most sane decision I have ever made.

To keep it real - do Christians WANT you to believe in Jesus as Lord? Of course we do. How much time do you have for me to explain why? Christ has saved my life, and given me the ability to see clearly. He has given me the comfort of knowing I am in His care, even despite my insecurities and fears, both rational and irrational. He has adopted me into His family when the world is wrought with rejection and hostility, and my place is secure there, eternally. He blesses me with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He is my hope in this life and the next. He gives me peace to know truth, and a rock to stand firm on. The abundant life I have as a follower of Christ is sheer joy, "AND I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT!" (That is a direct quote from philosopher Buddy the Elf, circa 2003 AD.)

But to get back on track.

Christians do not have the agenda of going out and changing you. That is not their job. Christians know and understand that the Holy Spirit is the only one who can change your heart and open your spiritual eyes and provide that understanding (see Titus 3:5). To guide you into all truth, as Jesus promised and as I mentioned in my last post. Our job is to love, to extend, to serve. Are we perfect at this? Oh gosh, no. And I think that's where the misconceptions begin and where our barriers toward connectivity fail us. Christians are real people who fall short constantly just like anyone else. We are constantly dependent on Jesus to help us get through and to navigate and to rise above our bodily and spiritual failings. We drink in the grace of Jesus like we do the very air we breathe.

If that doesn't make sense to you, what I mean is this: We recognize that we are unable to go this life journey alone. And we know that Jesus is the Lord of second and third and twelfth and five billionth chances. And we all need those chances -- all day long, 24/7, 365 days of the year. We accept His help and His endless goodness and righteousness and friendship and guidance and pardon, and we know that we need it to survive.

That's the real Christianity. I'm trying my best each day to look more like it, and I am truly sorry if you've experienced others (or even myself) who haven't treated you in the way that Christ would treat you and love you. That should never, ever be. But we are not Christ. Only Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ. The best I and others can ever hope to do is give you a taste of the goodness of walking with Him through the example of the abundance of joy and grace and mercy in our lives, and as such, to point you in His direction.

I encourage you not to base your assumptions of Christianity on the every move of Christian people alone, just like I'd encourage you not to make hasty generalizations of anyone else for whatever the reason may be. While I can't make declarations for others, I will speak for myself when I say that though forever imperfect until the day of Christ's return, I will do my very best to paint a more accurate picture for you of the Christian faith. To help build a bridge, to help break the barriers, to help foster love over hate.

Not in my own strength or power, but

Soli Deo Gloria.


(Which means "Glory to God Alone." You didn't think I'd write a whole post about misunderstandings and not explain that, now did you?)

--

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Beauty Marks

Ever since God impressed on my heart to get back to this blog and then confirmed it in a dreamlike state for me last night (yeah, I can't believe that still happens either...but no seven cows or heads of corn or anything like that), I have been filled to the brim with joy and excitement for whatever He is at work doing. I am learning so much about trusting in Him and His timing, and what obedience to Him looks like. But more on that another time.

This evening, let's get right to the raw stuff. Because life is too short, YOLO, and all of that.

So my whole life, one of the hardest concepts for me to grasp about God has been His personal love for us individually. I use the pronoun us, but I really mean me.

And the reason I say me is because it comes naturally for me to look at others and see their beauty and where God has blessed them. I see people worthy of love. I see beautiful faces, distinguishing gifts, and spine-chilling talents that are difficult to describe but are unmistakably a direct send from heaven. I marvel at His creation and the people that He has placed all around me. But as is so often the unfortunate case, when we think of ourselves, we see a different picture. We don't see the indelible mark of our Creator on our own person.

Maybe it's because society tells us to see our specialness is to be egotistical. Maybe it's because no one ever told us we were special. Maybe we had something happen to us that spoke the lie to our heart that we weren't worthy and meant to be loved, even if we never heard the words. Maybe we've experienced another traumatic life event that has blinded us to the glory of God in a personal way.

For years I struggled with who God made me to be. At times I still do. I fought against what are simply facts about myself and how I was made, and instead of praising Him for making me different and for the various unique marks he gave me that made me special, I lamented over what I deemed to be ugly or unattractive; things I was convinced wouldn't delight others, and would surely only result in my own rejection and failure as a woman.

So I tried to fight my perceived flaws. Through methods both drastic and seemingly miniscule, I tried to work against my natural canvas of the Lord. I developed complexes. Receiving what should have been a meaningless comment from someone that was unintentionally laced with a "trigger" or "buzz" word had the power to not only ruin my day, but send my thoughts down a negative spiral indefinitely. So I tried whatever methods were in my control to stifle or change myself. Always to my own detriment. Always punishing myself either in negative self talk or action (or both) for being who God made me to be.

As I look back now, I am mortified by not only how disrespectful this was to the Lord, but also how selfish.

Not just for the obvious reason that when we fixate on our flaws we are focusing way too much on ourselves. But also because this self hatred and obsession trickles over to those we love. When we suffer, when we think we don't measure up, it is amazing the Domino effect of sin that can spring up as a result.

Bitterness for being who we are.
Jealousy for others who don't have our "problem".
Having an unkind spirit toward others, often lashing out in fear at the ones we love and cherish most.

It goes on.

But God has a way of guiding us into all truth by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). And while in the thick of my problems I couldn't tell you how the power of evil was going to be broken in my life, I can now see that God allowed specific circumstances, instances, conversations, and people into my life (some certainly painful) to gently and lovingly guide me toward a truth that I wish I had somehow magically grasped all along:

I was made specifically and intentionally, and I was made for Him.

If you had asked me back then if I knew that truth to be well, true, I would have emphatically answered yes, of course I did. But just because we know the truth doesn't mean we live the truth. Walking the walk only comes with maturity, life experience, and the strength and encouragement of our Heavenly Father as He guides us along and gives us that desire. 

If you are getting bogged down by the world and its criticisms tonight, or if you are the one constantly berating yourself - I can't sit here and tell you exactly how to get out of the hole you are in. But what I can tell you is that the lies you are telling yourself and all the striving you are doing to be something you are not is not God's will for your life. And I can direct you to what God's own word has to say about the specialness of you.

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

(Psalm 139:13-18, emphasis mine)

You can choose to lay down your burdens at the foot of the cross of Jesus. You don't need to be at war with yourself any longer. Jesus invites you to rest.
 And with a parting thought I would like to add another important and crucial thing here: your special is not others' special. It is a constant and cyclical thing to dress in certain ways, like certain things and brands, believe certain ideas, and laugh at the same kind of trending articles and videos on the internet. The pressure to fit the mold and standard of "cool" might even vary depending on where you live. Quite honestly, this game we play has made me feel inadequate more times than I'd even like to admit. 

Can I urge you not to consider those things?

If you're a constantly battling skeptic like me, you're reading this (if you got this far) and saying "Yeah yeah...it's the inside that counts, we all know. We've heard it all before." And I agree. We have. That phrase is so trite and so oft-repeated that it has lost nearly all of its meaning on us. 

I am taking the concept a step further. I am not merely suggesting that God's particular mark on you is just for fun and giggles to make you a special little flower (though you are a special little flower). I am suggesting that you are special for specific reasons. Maybe your nose is the way it is because your future spouse is going to love that the most about you and find it endearing. You have long and gangly legs because you are going to glorify God through basketball. Your high-pitched voice makes up for your lack of sense of direction and makes you distinguishable in a crowd when you're calling out to your friends at a sporting event. God is so far-reaching, and so beyond able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). I don't know what your specific "thing" or hang up is. But God knows why He gave you whatever it is you are cursing. And the great thing is, the story isn't over. You may not know every answer right now. At this very moment, God might be preparing you to reach millions of people because of your beautiful mark. OFTEN we don't know what God is up to, and that's okay. He'll show you in His timing if you commit your life to walking with Him.

And when you do? Prepare for the best and most fulfilling adventure. Though we may not know what specifically He has in store, we CAN trust in the Creator's masterful hand and the depth of His knowledge, wisdom, and plan for us. And I think that's exciting.

I pray that God gives you a tender and open heart to hear His truth and to receive His specific love for you today. That He gives you eyes to see that how He made you was intentional. That you feel confident enough to hold your head up high as the child of God that you are, and to embrace all that He is about to do in your life - using all of the broken and beautiful parts of you, not just in spite of them.

---

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

There's That Stirring Again..

The Lord has impressed on my heart to repost this blog publicly and to soon share some new insights He has given me since I've last written here. I plan on it, not for my own glory, but for His - and hopefully, to share some words of grace with you beautiful people. Stay tuned!

On Being Free

The funny thing about blogs is that blogs are funny.

It's sort of like a club fair - visit each blog, see what they have to offer you, take the free samples, move on when you get bored.

Sometimes there's even the option of  putting your name on a mailing list just to get a free cookie.

Many emails later, you wonder if putting your name on that list was worth it. But you don't unsubscribe - in case there may be more free future cookies.

Well, the same is true for Christianity. And Christian blogs. And pseudo-Christian blogs. And self-worshipping spirituality blogs. And any other sort of lifestyle blog.

You can get lost in them before you even realize what happened. Hours have passed, and you begin to wonder what it is you just figuratively signed your brain up for. And depending on the type of blog it is, you may be left in a worse condition than you started.

Your brain on Twitter.
Source

Things get mucky. Truth gets foggy. Insecurities are magnified, and Jesus is brushed to the side for a before-bed lullaby.

We get lost in a series of pictures, personalities, comments, and points of view that are consciously and unconsciously forming our perceptions of our own lives, the way we view the world around us. Our spirits are temporarily indulged and pleased - only for the moment, and potentially with a personal cost.

We can never be too careful about what we expose ourselves to.

The same is true for Facebook and other websites on the internet. By now it is no secret that these social networks are breeding grounds for comparison traps, feelings of inadequacy, failure, rejection and loneliness.

He's cuter than your sad feelings.
Source

But we keep on inviting those bad feelings by logging on, opening up the browser.

This is not a post about giving up social networking sites, tumblrs, or blogs. Not at all. What kind of a hypocrite would I be if I told you to? The fact of the matter is, we don't have to give them up. They are a part of our culture, and they can ultimately be used for our good and overall well-being.

But my question to you is - are you willing to alter your approach to these forms of recreation?

Are you willing to unfriend, speak up, and place limitations if doing so would help keep your morality intact?

Are you willing to honestly ask yourself if the things you're viewing glorify God, the One who we are placed on this planet to live for and represent? And if the sites are for leisure, are we at least designating the same amount of time we spend online to spending time with the Lord (if not more)?

I'm writing about this because this is incredibly convicting for me. I think I, like many of you, probably have developed some sort of youth-centric-21st-century-ADD of some sort. Having grown up with technology, I know how hard it is for my generation especially to turn off the computer and x out the things that trigger us into spirals of negativity. It's like this force that compels us. We don't even know what it's like to sit quietly and read - or even if we want to, who has the discipline?

It kind of looks a lot like sin.

Big scary word, that one. It's practically taboo in our culture, but it is scary for a reason. Sin is damaging and totally life-ruining. Ask the family member of a drug addict, or the wife of a cheater. There's nothing funny about it.

Temptations dangle about, inviting us in. All we have to do is entertain it, eventually click the page of whatever that wrongful act may be, we enjoy it for a time (sometimes not even that) and suddenly feelings of worthlessness and failure abound. We don't have to allow this. 

God has promised us that 

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

And because He has promised us this, He will give us the strength and wherewithal to get out of a sinful mindset. In order to do this though, we must draw upon this strength by asking God to come to our aid in prayer and reminding ourselves of the truth in God's Word that is stronger than the sinful behavior.

This is what Jesus himself did when He was tempted in the wilderness after fasting for forty days and forty nights, which can be looked at in full here.

In order to best offset these temptations, we need to do what Jesus did. Satan offered the Son of God himself everything physical this world has to offer, but Jesus knew the truth of God's word readily to strike down the lies of evil. And of course, the only way to do what Jesus did is to familiarize ourselves with Scripture for when the moments of weakness strike.

How are we to avoid getting lost in a frenzy of Christian or pseudo-Christian ideas? How are we to know how God wants us to live out our lives? By going to the Bible and seeing what God REALLY says, not what other minds shape shift the Bible into saying.

Better still is to make sure our bodies are not in situations where we are more likely to sin than others. Incredible pastor and thinker Charles Stanley always says that Christians should never make snap judgments when they are : 

                                                H - Hungry

                                                A-  Angry

                                                L - Lonely

                                                T - Tired

In other words, we are to H.A.L.T. Makes perfect sense when you think about it, don't you agree? I know when it comes to myself, my eyes are often bigger than my stomach, my emotions rage when I should have a forgiving and tender heart, my soul cries out when it should be seeking refuge in the only One who fully loves, and my mind plunges into negativity when I should be sleeping.

Source

So, not exactly the best times to be making our decisions.

Let's just stop and think a little before we commit ourselves to our leisure activities - both on the internet and out there in the real world. Or if you're on Catfish the TV Show, your internet-real-world.

So, how are we to avoid sin? How are we to resist those terrible thoughts and influences that are just a click away? 

Don't play with fire - pray, familiarize ourselves with all of God's tremendous promises, and HALT.

Sounds good to me.

 After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

In the Quiet of Our Hearts

Its been said that we receive our best ideas at the most inconvenient times. For me, this is generally when I can't get back to sleep.

In fact, I take it a step further. I tend to actually start writing blog posts or essays or poetry... in my head. As I lay there. And I'm talking like, full-out, well-crafted writings (At least in my opinion - but what do I know, I'm half-conscious during these moments. We're all Einstein when it's irrelevant). But I don't get up and write them down, of course. I'm trying to sleep here, after all. So I draft. It feels incredibly productive in the moment.

Naturally, I wake up completely and totally frustrated with myself for not only losing zeal for what I thought up in my quasi-dreams, but impossibly, for not having actually written them down to document with some sort of magical brain-to-computer usb connection.

But I think what I'm actually frustrated with is my laziness. My general reluctance to act in my oh-so-very-important waking hours.

When we're in the thick of our days, doing the things we are obligated to do or feel like we "need" to do, it can be incredibly hard to also actively pursue things that would benefit us or magnify the Lord. These would perhaps take time, a stop in our motion - and sometimes, we just don't want to make time for that. We allow the currents, the momentum of our everyday lives have us whiz on by with nary a thought for the still, small voice of The Holy Spirit urging us to take a moment and listen. To give in to what He is telling us to do or pursue in His honor. 

What society has whittled down to the concept of a "guilty conscience", I believe is really just a Spirit-tugging.

Why do we make sure to go to the gym, but never follow-through with the mental note to read through the Holy Week gospel narratives side-by-side like we wanted to? Like we planned on doing?

Why, when our impulse is to rest, do we calculate all of the reasons why it is that we mustn't and thus tire ourselves out needlessly?

Why do we wait until we are laying wide awake in bed to realize we could have loved someone better that day, been more patient, or listened more carefully and thoughtfully?

Why do we so easily let our Lord get away from us?

I'm a fast walker. Oftentimes, it's because I enjoy it. I'm a small human by nature, so I get enjoyment out of darting in between folks on the street in a quick and rapid "catch-me-if-you-can!" sort of way. Yes, I am ridiculous.

But in my moments of fast walking, every once in a while I'll come to the realization that I'm rushing for absolutely, 100% no reason whatsoever. And it's hilarious and bizarre all at the same time. Here I am, nearly running to literally go somewhere and sit. Or even if I am going somewhere important, there are USUALLY no bears chasing me and the Olympic speed-walking is probably unnecessary.

Once the alarm clock sounds, we are a fast-paced people. Smell the roses? What ros...?

See? Couldn't even finish my sentence let alone smell a flower. I was too busy power-walking to the grocery store or scrolling rapidly through my Facebook.

It can be so terrifyingly easy to forget to take the time out to appreciate all that the Lord gives. And He does give. He gives and gives and then gives some more. Because He is gracious. It is in His nature to give good gifts to His children, both large and small, direct, and subtle. (Matthew 7:11)

He gives because He loves. So tremendously does He love. Have we ever really stopped to think about the implications of what it would mean to not spare your only Son for an entire people? To give Him over to excruciating physical pain as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual abuse and humiliation, all the while separating yourself from Him in order to accomplish your will?

No, chances are we haven't. Because it's really really hard to. Because it's not exactly a position we find ourselves in. But that doesn't mean we can't appreciate the magnitude of what this means in our lives.

God gave you life. Every moment that you walk about on this earth, you either encounter or potentially encounter things that will cause you to stumble into sin. Some sins grab a hold of you and refuse to let go, choking out your very vitality - while others mount up gradually in little dribs and drabs. Regardless of the sin itself, all sin separates us from God, who knows no sin. He is only Good.

Because of our mess-ups, we are not able to draw near to the One who is all Good; naturally, our ways offend Him. What do we do when we offend someone? We try to make it right. We give of ourselves in some way, whether it be our words or our time, in the attempt of righting our wrongs.

But what words or what deed could ever possibly be good enough to redeem ourselves with the Creator of the Universe - who is all that is Love, all that is Good, and all that is Right, and therefore created these things? Nothing. There has to be a death to something.

But are we going to give up our lives? No. He doesn't want that. Not physically, anyway. He loves us, and wants us to live and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28), and to live life abundantly (John 10:10).

But in order to receive that life, there needed to be some death. But who? Who could take our place FOR us? Could another human intercede for our sin against God?

No. But Jesus could. Because by the incredible power of God, Jesus, who is God-eternal, came to this earth as a man. And He was both fully God and fully man, in one of the most powerful divine mysteries there ever was.

This usually trips us up, but listen. What good would a mere human's death do if it weren't our own? If I hit my brother on the arm and my dad apologizes for me, I still did the bad thing. That doesn't change. And even if I did apologize, my natural tendency is that I am going to keep on sinning deliberately and even unintentionally. There would never be enough I could do to be holy in His sight. 

If there is going to be an effective intercessor, there needs to be the added level of Deity. Christ died on our behalf, bearing all of the justified wrath of God on His human body so that the Lord's anger could be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11), and His Deity enabled Him to be raised from the dead. In this miraculous act of history, death and sin were not only defeated, but conquered. And because not even the grave could keep our Lord and our Ultimate Sacrifice, neither will it be able to keep or enslave us.

Does that mean we stop sinning? No. We still live in a fallen world and we are still imperfect, and the time has not yet come for Satan and his demons to be cast into hell forever. But what it does mean is that when we do sin and confess that sin to the Father, "He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  No longer are we slaves to sin. If we believe in what Christ has done for us and surrender to Him as our Lord and Savior, we have freedom.

While Jesus took our place in His physical death and bodily resurrection, we also die to sin spiritually and are made new creations in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When we accept what Jesus has done on our behalf, we then spiritually identify with His death and resurrection as well. Of course, the Bible puts it in a way more clear and inspired than I ever could:

"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
-Romans 6:8-11 (Emphasis mine)

And we do need new life in Him, friends. So very desperately. Take a good honest look at any given day in your life and note the gunk that accumulates in your own heart and mind. If you're being truthful, this should be enough to convince you. But if it isn't, I'd ask you also to consider the horrors that exist in the world we live in. Child abuse. Senseless murder. Suicide. War. Genocide. How can we look at these things and not see that evil exists and that we desperately, desperately need a Savior to restore the world and the individuals inhabiting it?

It's certainly a work-in-progress for me, but now when I'm tempted to ignore the Holy Spirit's voice, I try to listen. I seek out what His word is lovingly telling me. And I ask Him to HELP me listen, because I know I'm often too selfish to do it on my own.

I encourage us all to hear the voice of Jesus this Easter weekend, and for the rest of our precious lives. He is telling us such wonderful things through the Holy Spirit!

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you."

- John 16:13-15

He died so you don't have to toil and fight against sin each and every day. He came to give you freedom. He came to make you His own.

Be still. Appreciate. Take note. Give thanks. Quiet yourself before His throne. Take a seat at the foot of the cross and consider all that He has done for you, and how very much He loves you.

Friends, let's rest in His palm today. Let's receive unlimited grace in His strong and protective arms. 

Let's not wait until the day is done and we retire to our beds to encounter the Lord; let's stop and smell His roses right now.

God Bless You All.

Awakened By Grace

There is oftentimes an echo in the space in the corner of a nook in our heart that we feel reverberating in our spirit. The space in which we feel this echo of ache is usually a place neglected; seldom-visited at best, and a fond memory on days when the sun shines just right and the temperature is moderate. It is, undoubtedly, something that can be easily suppressed with the tiniest of effort on our part. But nevertheless, this echo, this whisper, it speaks to you - gently, softly, periodically. But it is always there. It may come about as we're walking, or standing, or working, but generally it is not found in times such as these. This internal call to our consciousness happens generally while we're in-between thoughts - wondering about a thing, perhaps ready to move on to the next, in a liminal space of thought and action, and then - tug tug. There it is. It is often a reminder, a harkening back to a passion once explored but since tucked away; a precious relationship left unresolved; a gift unenjoyed; a dream unattended to. But regardless of the means in which it is brought once more to our awareness, there is one thing we can always be sure of  - it is always guiding us back to, or deeper within, the Source of things, all gifts, all relationships, all wonder - our Abba Father.

Hello there, Old Friend. I acknowledge what You are showing me now. And I'm sorry for ignoring you before. Perhaps I wasn't ready. It would be silly to say that I've missed You, for we've been about one another's business many times each day - or rather, You have been about mine and I have cheerfully conceded. For You live inside of me, and You help me, comfort me, and instruct me in Your Word. But this time is different. This time You are reminding me of Your Power in new ways - taking your precious Light and guiding me somewhere - You are bouncing around inside of me in the kindest tenderness, pointing me to something I have allowed to be tucked gently away for a season. And I'm not sure why, but I'd like to thank You, as I feel as though you are guiding me towards something quite momentous. It could be momentous, perhaps, to the world's standards, sure; but also possibly only for me personally, for my heart, my worship, and my lifelong song to You. Which, of course, is far, far greater in worth and importance. But the reason for my awakening is not so important right now. I'll leave that up to You, for I can trust in your magnificent plans.

It is just important that I have been re-awakened to it. And for this, I thank You.

_

Hello, More Than Conquerers! It has been a while. Since we last spoke I have gone on quite a journey, as God often does take us on in order that we might grow and learn. I have been blessed - oh, how I have been so blessed - and I have hurt and bled and cried despairingly. I have seen the glimmer of hope that comes from a Savior resurrected and trickles down into all things as a result.

I have read articles. I have read books. I have tried, and I have failed.

But most important of all, I have finally begun to grasp Grace.

I have learned that it does not matter how long you have walked with the Lord, or what your past can offer you in the way of knowledge or intellectual understanding. It doesn't matter how many sermons you have or have not listened to. To understand the grace of what Jesus Christ has done for you personally, physically and radically, with your entire being and soul and spirit, is something no theologian or pastor can ever imprint on your person or cause you to comprehend. Because it is something that is of the Holy Spirit himself; working within you, causing you to process in the most digestible of increments such a marvelous and wonderful mystery - the most important mystery you could ever set out to comprehend in your entire life.

If you do not consider yourself a Christ follower, this may confuse you. But I hope - no, I pray - that it intrigues you to the point of discontented marvel and exploration.

Friend, it is a journey that will lead you all the way to heaven.

Because may I tell you something? You can find rest for your soul, even now. You can find Peace in Jesus that is unlike the world gives. You can walk in freedom. Finally! Finally!

And all you must do is confess your pain - the pain and muck and sin that you already live with every minute of every day and know all too well - and believe. Believe in the Lord Jesus, the son of God the Father, the Creator of all that you see and don't see, who loves you so passionately and personally that He sent His Son to this world as the ultimate sin offering for your pain and sickness. For your restless stumbling in the wrong path. For the chasm that existed because of it between you and your Creator.

 Christ died, yes - he shed his very blood - for you. And He loves you so much that He doesn't make you have to DO ANYTHING to receive all of the exceedingly abundant life that He offers. This is not an exclusive club meant for the holy, but an open invitation to any and all who will soften their hearts and receive the life He offers. He came for the outcasts; the lonely; the broken. He came for you, right where you're at, right now.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." (John 6:35)

You simply must believe in what He did for you -let His words change you as His Holy Spirit takes residence within you - and you will never hunger and thirst after what this world cannot offer you ever again. 

And all it requires is faith in Jesus, and a willing and contrite heart. Romans 10:9 says,

  "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Anyone - regardless of life situation, family history, status, or race can do that. He knows you. He always has. And He desires you to be His.

And when he died for you as the perfect sacrifice, being the perfect sinless man as well as the Almighty God, it was not a defeat by the forces of evil; quite the opposite. It is because he not only died, but rose again that He defeated the grip of sin and death - just as Scripture from ages and ages before He was even born into the world predicted He would. And because He defeated death itself, we can share in His victory. 

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. "(John 10:10)

Oh hurting heart, will you let go? I don't care if you already consider yourself a Christian. I don't care if you're a frog, or a Muslim, or a Wiccan. This message is for all, and this message is necessary for all.

He is the only Way. He is the only Truth. And He is the only Life.

Dare to see what an incredible masterpiece He will create with your life. Listen to your heart echo. Accept the grace He so readily offers you, and refuse to ignore it any longer. Walking with Jesus will be the most loving, incredible journey you could ever embark on.

And the best part? It lasts forever.

___

There is so much more to be said that was only briefly touched upon here; so many volumes that could be written on grace and the freedom that the Lord gives. However, awakening ourselves to it is the very first start. I encourage you to look at the links on the side of my blog to truly cultivate and deepen your walk with Christ.

If you would like to know more about how you can be adopted as a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ, please visit the wonderful link below! May God's grace and peace be yours, cherished one. You are so loved. Embrace Him, and be blessed in His Strong Care, always.

 http://www.intouch.org/god

Gratitude.

One of my favorite quotes, as introduced to me by my father, is by the wildly brilliant G.K. Chesterton :

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

The reason why this is one of my favorite things to reflect on lies not in the blatant poetry of Chesterton's words and their ability to powerfully invoke beautiful imagery. That, to me, is apparent. It is the sheer breathtaking way in which those words quickly and effectively pierce my heart, making it bleed with conviction and shame at my ingratitude, my self-absorption, my lack of thanks. It calls to mind not just visions of endless night skies, but of faces, of places, of tender moments shared, of gifts and blessings. It is a reminder to pause briefly in my day to be grateful for all that I am given when it seems much more beneficial in that moment to consider all that I am not. It is a checkpoint in my day to pause, to exhale, to put things in perspective, and to remember that these things that consume us are mere things, and that things are not eternal. Though this quote never fails to bring me important moments of self-discovery and recognition,  what is most important of all is that it brings me closer to moments of God-discovery and God-recognition. It is so easy for me to simply bask in the goodness while only thanking my loved ones or myself for times of bliss. Unfortunately the easiest thing to forget to do, which is ironically the most essential component of all our expressions of gratitude, is to thank our Lord -- for He is not only the source of all good things enjoyed at present, but also for all of the good and exciting things still left for our discovery.