Hey! Where's my coffee?

It's been a WHILE since I posted anything, but I wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about the 2014 blog challenge. No really....I didn't!

Wait, did I leave my coffee mug in the microwave again? (I am prone to do that more often than I'd like to admit. LOL)

This challenge has still been on my mind and I've been learning so much about who I am in Christ. This year, it has become painfully obvious that part of my identity is that I am an enemy of Satan. In March, I was hospitalized for asthma and bronchitis. I've never been diagnosed with asthma before and never really had a major issue with it...until March. For a while, my family wondered if I'd even survive. I wondered that myself for a little bit, but then God reminded me who likes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Ah, yes. Him.

Then something strange happened. I remembered that Scripture tells us to count it all joy when we face trials and persecution. Those trials and that persecution don't always come through people and this year I have experienced my fair share of attacks. I had a soft, gentle reminder that it is an HONOR to be under attack from the enemy and I suddenly felt humbled and unworthy of my attack. I know that I am far from perfect and I don't always get it right (ok, I rarely get it right), so I couldn't understand what Satan saw in me that was worth assaulting.

It wasn't me. He saw JESUS! He saw my new identity. My frustration and fear turned into joy and peace! My lips began to praise the Father at every chance I got.

{insert Rocky theme song here}

I began to fight, not in my own human strength, but with the strength of a child of the King. Spiritual battles are way different when you remember and walk in your new identity in Christ! Praise Jesus!

So that battle was over and others began. It's not like he's going to give up, but neither does God. My most recent battle was financial. Someone got access to my husband's bank account card and used every last cent we had in there. I've never seen my husband so crushed, broken, and violated. It was heartbreaking to watch, but then again....something strange happened.

Normally, I am the one to fall apart when finances aren't feeling very safe (you know women and their need for security), but that Divine strength flowed through me again and whispered, "It's OK. It's all going to be fine. I've got this."  Boy was that true! We shared our prayer request with a few friends and family members and God got straight to work. So many sacrificial gifts were given to us to help us through this rough time. From gas and toilet paper to funds and prayer support, God took care of every single need and then some! We have been so blessed and emotionally overwhelmed at the goodness of God and the generosity of his people who were walking in THEIR identity.

Realizing and walking in our identity as Christ followers is a beautiful thing! It blesses others, glorifies God, and puts the devil in his place. So here is my charge:

1. Be fierce in the way you follow and chase after God!
2. Be fierce in the way you walk in your NEW identity in Christ!
3. Be fierce in battle with your enemy!
4. Be fierce in your trust of and obedience to the Father!

{insert your own Rocky theme music here}

GOD IS GOOD!

Chained Like Jacob Marley

Sure, I know. Christmas is over. However, since it is so fresh in our minds, you'll have to pardon the comparison I'm about to make (fa la la la laaaa, la la la la.....Oops, sorry! That just slipped out).

Ever since I was a child, I have absolutely loved the movie "A Christmas Carol." I've never found a version of it that I haven't enjoyed (and believe me, there are many versions). I love the whole Victorian era, the clothes and the language, but most of all, I love the message of the story. It's quite symbolic of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The verse I'm using for meditation today is Romans 8:1-4:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has FREED YOU from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 

When I read this verse, I think of Scrooge as he is visited by the ghost of Christmas future. This is the most fearsome ghost of all for Scrooge (and would probably be for most of us) and the visit proves to be the most agonizing one of the night. He is faced with his own "legacy" and the rapidly approaching death that promises to drag him into a deep, dark grave leading straight to a fiery hell.

 Source: www.public-domain-image.com

Not very assuring.

Remember Scrooge's deceased partner, Jacob Marley? When he first visited Scrooge to warn him of the three ghostly visits and to urge him to change his ways, Scrooge was completely freaking out. It was not because of the visit from Marley himself, but because of the magnitude of the chains he bore. They were extremely heavy, numerous, and loud. Marley had to drag them around for all eternity as a result of how he lived his life.

Source: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net 

 

Now imagine those chains are yours as a result of your sin. The evil things you have done and the sin nature that has bound you in those chains is dragging you into a deep, dark grave leading straight to a fiery hell. Terrified, you're falling in darkness, dragged against your will farther and farther until, in desperation, you cry out to God asking for forgiveness for your sins.

SNAP!

You hear the deafening sound of metal breaking as you are suddenly jerked upward like you had just opened a parachute. The wind on your face as you fly upward and out of the grave is a welcome feeling. Your feet touch the ground and as your eyes adjust to the brightness of the sun, you are able to see that your chains are gone. You are FREE!

Now imagine you see the One who had the power to do that for you. What would you do?

This is how I envision what Jesus did for us. The question is: How do we respond?

Do we take it for granted and walk right back into a life of sin or do we see it for the precious gift that it is and turn away from sin to follow the Spirit? I am so grateful that I was given that second chance and that God offered me freedom when I deserved death. One of my favorite worship songs, "In Christ Alone," says:

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

 

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me (PRAISE GOD!!!)
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ



This is what being a Christian means. It means that you turned from sin to follow the Savior and he broke your chains when you were powerless to save yourself. You are FREE!

That just makes you want to shout, doesn't it?!

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Saved by a....string?

God is love, but not the love we understand as humans. As powerful as human love can be, God's love is so deep and strong that it is unfathomable. We can't understand it.

1 John 4:7-10

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  

The only reason we even have the ability to love is because we are made in the image of God. God made us to love Him and love each other. He demonstrated how love works Himself by sending His only Son, Jesus, on a rescue mission for our souls. He gave up someone who meant a lot to Him and allowed him to be abused, mistreated, and beaten for our sakes. His Son was perfect! He commited no sin and yet He died for our sin. He took the blame, shame, and responsibility for us. He took the punishment that should have been ours (we are the ones who deserve it, after all) so we didn't have to.

That is love as well.

Because of the love of the Father and the love of the Son, we are free from the bondage of sin, death, and eternal punishment. What do we get instead? God! Heaven! Eternal LIFE!  Freedom! That's worth shouting about!

Some might say, "Yeah, but love is never free. There are always strings attached." While I can see why would may think that on the human level (I know I have thought that on many occasions), God's strings are much different. Here's what God wants from you....He wants you to:

1. Tell him that you know you've sinned and that you are truly sorry.

2. Turn away from your sins and ask God to forgive you and be the Lord of your life.

3. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and accept His gift of grace and love.

It's true that love comes with strings sometimes. Some strings bind you to things you don't need or want. The strings with God's love are like the very strings that pull you to safety when you're drowning in the sea. These strings bring life, healing, and never-ending love from an infinite, holy God.

I can't imagine why He would love me. I know what a mess I am at times and I know that many times, I fail Him. I have been mean, ungreatful, rebellious, and disrespectful to Him. I have sinned and fallen short of His desires for me. I have been so thick-headed that at times I thought God would have to hit me over the head with a brick to get through my thick skull. And yet, He loves me. He loved me first which is why I even have the ability to come to Him and apologize for my random acts of selfishness and stupidity. Every time I mess up, God is there and always ready to offer forgiveness and restoration.

It's when you look at God's love that you realize that you don't know as much about love as you thought. Holy Father, please teach me more about your love and help me to love You and others better.

Like Inigo Montoya says...

For those of you who know me, you know that I absolutely LOVE the movie, "The Princess Bride." Getting into a quote battle with me is like going against a Sicilian when death is on the line....you just don't do it. (See how I snuck that one in there?) Much of the conversation that takes place in my home is filled with accents and all sorts of movie quotes. If you've never seen the movies we quote, you'd think we were all insane after one trip to my home (yes, you read right..."we all" means that we've corrupted...or enhanced...our children with this practice).

One of my favorite quotes from Inigo Montoya (OK, seriously, if this name is unfamiliar to you, go watch "The Princess Bride." Go on...I'll wait.) is when he says, "Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up." He had a whale of a story to share with the man in black, but he was short on time. That is how I feel right now.

I have so much to say, but I have to summarize it into one blog. HA!

This past year has just been nuts. At this time last year, I was in great need of a creative outlet. I had so much in my heart and mind that I couldn't hold it inside any longer. Thus, my blog was born. Right around that time, I also had a birthday. I turned 33. That is a pretty big number...not age-wise, of course, but Biblically speaking. At the age of 33, Jesus Christ suffered a horrendously brutal death to save every human being on earth from the bondage of sin and eternal punishment. I can't imagine CHOSING to do something like that at my age. But he did. They didn't "take" his life from him. He gave it freely with a purpose.

That thought intrigued me so I prayed a prayer. You'll think I'm nuts when you read what I prayed, but hang out with me long enough and you'll know I'm nuts regardless. Here's what I prayed:

Holy Father,

I want to dedicate this next year to Christ. I want to draw nearer, be more connected, and I want to understand him more. By this time next year, I want to BE more like Christ. This year is yours. Take it and do as you wish for your glory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Yep...I did it. I know, right? Apparently, that got God's attention and He got right to work. Things began to shift rapidly and all of a sudden I felt like I had been sucked into a vortex. My life dramatically changed (thus limiting my time for blogging, but that's another story for another day). From my relationships, family, and location, to my church experience, relationship with God, and my employment. Nothing is the same. Some changes are good, but some changes were painful. As you may have read in my previous blog, I have faced some definite trials along the way....some that had significant impact. It wasn't until I had a conversation with my husband that I began to see how God answered my prayer.

I was feeling very much like the devil's chew toy when my husband said, "But you don't understand. Through this situation, I have seen you become more like Christ. I have seen Christ in you more than ever as you worked through this. When you faced this situation years ago, it destroyed you. This time is different."

It IS different because I have learned to live my life surrendered to the King. When we hold on too tightly to the things of this world, it hurts when they are taken away. When we hold tightly to eternal things, they will never be taken away.

As I approach my next birthday this summer, I anxiously anticipate the things God has in store for me in the big 3-4. I have a feeling it will be nothing I would have dreamed to ask for and so much better than I could think up on my own (Have you ever considered piracy? You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts!).

I'm yours God. I'm all in....the point of no return. Fire swamps and all.

Let's Take a Walk on the Wild Side, Shall We?

I don't know about you, but my imagination is WILD. Sometimes it's just downright nuts. Have you ever just sat and let your imagination run wild to see where it would take you? I do that frequently. I used to be afraid of my imagination because I never knew if I would like where it took me. I'm not afraid anymore.

Are you?

Let's take a walk on the wild side for a bit. Not me. You. Go grab a cup of coffee or tea, get comfortable, and settle in for mental journey (i.e. this blog may take a few more minutes than usual). I'd like you to let your imagination go as we follow the story of a man from Canada. We'll call him Ray. The story goes like this:

You find yourself on a missions trip in a foreign country that you didn't sign up for. You were misled into thinking that you were going to this country for one reason, only to find out that you would actually be spending the week starving for a day (actually, they did give you $1 to eat off of for the whole day), only using 3 items to get ready another day (toothpaste, hair brush, deodorant...oops! What about the toothbrush?!), doing prayer walks around a scary city at night, visiting an insane asylum, painting an orphanage & church, and cleaning some man's apartment.

How are you feeling so far? Are you still with me?

So you realize that you are stuck in this situation and the only way out of the situation is to do what you're told and make the best of it. Oh, did I mention that you are only 15?

Let's skip through all the stinky, starving, scary, painting (sorry, ran out of "s" words) parts of the story and skip forward to Ray. The leaders of the missions trip sit you down to explain Ray's situation. He is an extreme outcast who lives in a high-rise apartment. He has a girlfriend who visits often, but no other family or friends. He NEVER leaves his apartment. He has food brought to him and orders out a lot. He is filthy. His apartment is so dirty and nasty that you can smell him down the hall. The neighbors complain, but stay away from him partly because of fear and partly because the smell is repulsive. You are warned about the possibility of rats and roaches, armed with cleaning supplies, and encouraged to hurry along because his apartment is 18 city blocks away.

While you are walking (yes, you read correctly....walking) 18 blocks, what do you think would be going through your mind? Would you be happy about serving the Lord in that moment?

When you arrive and climb the stairs, fear grips you as you as the stench permeates the hallway and triggers your gag reflex. People in the building stare in disbelief as you head down the hallway toward, not away from, Ray's apartment.

Are you mentally running away yet? Stick with me.

You enter the apartment to find Ray. He is surprisingly pleasant and happy you are there to do some work in his apartment, but he wants no part of your "Jesus stuff." You begin the cleaning session by praying for Ray with the other members of the cleaning team and asking God to bless him (while you simultaneously ask God to help you through this without losing your lunch). You look around and are overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done, but decide to start in the kitchen.

The team feverishly works for hours doing a complete overhaul on the apartment, throwing out stacks of pornographic magazines (don't even get me started on that one), and disposing of empty beer cans. The once yellow stove is now gleaming white. You could eat off of the floors and the whole place smells fresh. The sheets and blankets have been washed, but the bed still has a foul odor. Otherwise, the place looks immaculate!

Can you picture this? It's like an episode of Extreme Home Makeover!

You smile because you are proud of your work and the difference you see all around you...until your eyes land on Ray. He looks around at what all had been done and can't believe the way his apartment looks. Tears fill his eyes as he says, "I never knew that stove was white!" At the close of the day, the team gets together once more to pray for Ray, but this time it was a little different. Ray asks if he can join in the circle. Once in the circle, he asks if it would be ok for him to pray as well. With tears streaming down his (and your) cheeks, his heartfelt prayer goes something like this:

"God, um...I just want to thank you for sending these people all the way to my house from the United States. I just can't believe what they have done....for me. Thank you for them and I pray that you would bless them, too. Amen."

Now, how do you feel? Was our little trip worth it?

But wait! There's more! [Said like a true infomercial junkie]

As you leave that day, you see maintenance workers from the apartment building bringing in a new mattress - you guessed it - for Ray. They tell you that they can't believe that teenagers from another country would come help this man they didn't even know when they saw him everyday and did nothing to help. They are now making plans to help Ray, set up his new bed, and get him a job.

One man's world was radically changed that day. One apartment building's tennants were rocked and inspired to reach out to the "lowest and least" of their society.

As you may have guessed by now, the imagination journey you just took was my actual experience. This part of my real-life journey is forever etched into my memory and I will never be the same. Many people ask me why I am the way I am and why I see things the way I do. Ray is one of those reasons. It's easy to judge others and see only what they present to you. It's hard to go in and clean their apartment in humility.

Many will choose the easy path and distance themselves from the dirt, grime, and repulsive stench of other people's messes. Some will see the need and act on it. Others will just watch to see what you will do.

What will they see when they look at you? I hope they see a crazy person, armed with supplies, and heading INTO the mess instead of away from it.