God grew tired of us... Powerful documentary about the lost boys of Sudan. What horrors they endured at such a young age. They lost parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and endured it all together. What is miraculous is the attitudes of the 3 young men that were followed on their journey from a refugee camp to living in the United States.
I am grateful for community- those who love me and endure the good, the bad, and the ugly with me. Those who don't listen to other's opinions of me but know me for themselves and love me anyway. Those who I can laugh and cry with me. Those who really listen and really care- those that I listen to and care about.
On the other hand, I am also grateful for the bad and the ugly in life. Situations that hurt and the people who hurt me. Why you may ask? Frankly because those situations and people when viewed as coming from the sovereign hand of God produce perseverance and faith. They also give me perspective that I would not otherwise have. Appreciation for true friends and times of peace are greatly enhanced through enduring the bad and the ugly of life. Experiencing God and His great grace, mercy, and faithfulness deepens my relationship with Him in ways I could not have imagined.
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, October 4, 2010
"When in doubt.... Don't"
Romans 14:22-23
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
This past Sunday in church we talked about not violating your conscience. The sermon, based on the passage above, was very practical and thought provoking... and convicting - all of which are good things especially for me.
One of the most thought provoking things Pastor shared was that one behavior can be right and wrong at the same time. How? Because of two people with a different conscience in regard to the same issue. Interesting isn't it? Of course this refers to those things that are not explicitly stated in scripture as sin (Rom. 13:12-14; I Cor. 6: 9-10; Gal. 5: 19-21; Eph. 5:3-5). For example dancing, playing cards, having a glass of wine, full frontal hugging, music preference, appropriate dress lengths and necklines, etc.
These "gray areas" are hot spots that can easily become points of division. In regard to Christian liberty, while it is true that we have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) AND all things are lawful for me... not all things are profitable (I Cor. 6:12) - we do have our brethren to consider.
Christian liberty is a blessing from God and should we choose to restrain it, the motivation should be to demonstrate love toward a weaker brother or sister. How is that demonstrating love? Because it is an expression of agape love to restrain our liberty in order to do what is best for our weaker brethren. The weaker brethren are those who may be stumbled by our actions because their conscience tells them that our action is sin.
Where does the conviction come in for me? Being a person who tends to be principle driven, it is easy for me to be dogmatic and very black and white. While God has created me this way, He has also called me to live a life full of grace and mercy toward my fellow man. So when our pastor reminded us to not go around trying to bring people around to our own personal convictions in any of these areas... I was convicted. Whether or not I intended to or purposed in my heart to force my convictions on others, I was and have been guilty of that very thing. Ouch.
Practically speaking, the basic take away thought is this: If you violate your own moral code, you are guilty of sin. When your conscience is clear you can exercise your liberty without feeling badly. So "When in doubt... Don't."
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
This past Sunday in church we talked about not violating your conscience. The sermon, based on the passage above, was very practical and thought provoking... and convicting - all of which are good things especially for me.
One of the most thought provoking things Pastor shared was that one behavior can be right and wrong at the same time. How? Because of two people with a different conscience in regard to the same issue. Interesting isn't it? Of course this refers to those things that are not explicitly stated in scripture as sin (Rom. 13:12-14; I Cor. 6: 9-10; Gal. 5: 19-21; Eph. 5:3-5). For example dancing, playing cards, having a glass of wine, full frontal hugging, music preference, appropriate dress lengths and necklines, etc.
These "gray areas" are hot spots that can easily become points of division. In regard to Christian liberty, while it is true that we have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) AND all things are lawful for me... not all things are profitable (I Cor. 6:12) - we do have our brethren to consider.
Christian liberty is a blessing from God and should we choose to restrain it, the motivation should be to demonstrate love toward a weaker brother or sister. How is that demonstrating love? Because it is an expression of agape love to restrain our liberty in order to do what is best for our weaker brethren. The weaker brethren are those who may be stumbled by our actions because their conscience tells them that our action is sin.
Where does the conviction come in for me? Being a person who tends to be principle driven, it is easy for me to be dogmatic and very black and white. While God has created me this way, He has also called me to live a life full of grace and mercy toward my fellow man. So when our pastor reminded us to not go around trying to bring people around to our own personal convictions in any of these areas... I was convicted. Whether or not I intended to or purposed in my heart to force my convictions on others, I was and have been guilty of that very thing. Ouch.
Practically speaking, the basic take away thought is this: If you violate your own moral code, you are guilty of sin. When your conscience is clear you can exercise your liberty without feeling badly. So "When in doubt... Don't."
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Necklace - author unknown
image courtesy of www.karipearls.comThe cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
'Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?'
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. 'A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you a nd in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.'
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, 'Do you love me?'
'Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you.'
'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me.. She's my very favorite.'
'That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night.' And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, 'Do you love me?'
'Daddy, you know I love you.'
'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.'
'That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.' And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
'What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?' Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, 'Here, daddy; this is for you.'
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.
'Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?'
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. 'A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you a nd in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.'
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, 'Do you love me?'
'Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you.'
'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me.. She's my very favorite.'
'That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night.' And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, 'Do you love me?'
'Daddy, you know I love you.'
'Then give me your pearls.'
'Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.'
'That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.' And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
'What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?' Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, 'Here, daddy; this is for you.'
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Glorious Things
"See the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove:
Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age."
Recently in church we sang "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", which was new to me. As I focused on the hymn, I was struck by the second verse. There were four elements that caught my attention and reached my heart.
1) Streams of living waters which spring from eternal love.
Imagine that! Streams (not trickles) of living (not dead) water - active, vibrant, and life giving water. It's source? Eternal love - that is an endless supply - it springs from the love of God which does what is best for the receiver.
2) Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want removed.
The living water supply is abundant - it well supplies all of God's sons and daughters. It is so abundant that it banishes fear of not having enough. It leaves no room for want or worry.
3) Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
How can it be that we grow faint and weary when we have access to an eternal river that fully satisfies all our thirst - emotionally and spiritually? That river EVER abundantly meets our thirst to the full, it never falls short of being completely able to quench our thirst.
4) Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age.
Grace never fails because it's Author, our Lord, never fails. One of God's qualities noted here is the Giver. We don't get it, He gives it. Grace is from Him to us - unmerited favor - and it will NEVER fail. God's grace is limitless, powerful, and overarches all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
God in His ever persistent, yet gentle way, used this hymn to refocus my thirsty soul back to it's source. I pray it "rehydrates" your thirsty soul too. To God be the glory!
Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove:
Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age."
Recently in church we sang "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", which was new to me. As I focused on the hymn, I was struck by the second verse. There were four elements that caught my attention and reached my heart.
1) Streams of living waters which spring from eternal love.
Imagine that! Streams (not trickles) of living (not dead) water - active, vibrant, and life giving water. It's source? Eternal love - that is an endless supply - it springs from the love of God which does what is best for the receiver.
2) Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want removed.
The living water supply is abundant - it well supplies all of God's sons and daughters. It is so abundant that it banishes fear of not having enough. It leaves no room for want or worry.
3) Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
How can it be that we grow faint and weary when we have access to an eternal river that fully satisfies all our thirst - emotionally and spiritually? That river EVER abundantly meets our thirst to the full, it never falls short of being completely able to quench our thirst.
4) Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age.
Grace never fails because it's Author, our Lord, never fails. One of God's qualities noted here is the Giver. We don't get it, He gives it. Grace is from Him to us - unmerited favor - and it will NEVER fail. God's grace is limitless, powerful, and overarches all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
God in His ever persistent, yet gentle way, used this hymn to refocus my thirsty soul back to it's source. I pray it "rehydrates" your thirsty soul too. To God be the glory!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Fruit of the Spirit
While perusing my old journals, I came across this excerpt from a newlsetter from by Dr. Paul Chappell, teaching pastor at Lancaster Baptist Church.
"Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Longsuffering is love enduring
Gentleness is love's true touch
Goodness is love's character
Faith is love's habit
Meekness is love's self-forgetfulness
Temperance is love holding the reins.
...Wise is he who continues learning to hear that still small voice of God and obeys His every impulse."
"Joy is love singing
Peace is love resting
Longsuffering is love enduring
Gentleness is love's true touch
Goodness is love's character
Faith is love's habit
Meekness is love's self-forgetfulness
Temperance is love holding the reins.
...Wise is he who continues learning to hear that still small voice of God and obeys His every impulse."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
I'm back!!
Oh my! Has it really been that long since I've posted last??? Goodness me.
Well, I am working on getting my act together (anyone else in the boat with me?). Meanwhile the Lord and I have been working on the concept of loving the brethren. Not that I haven't loved them at all but expanding my ability (and understanding) to love them in the way He wants me to... especially the difficult ones. Now there's where the lesson comes in.
My girls and I have been doing an in depth study of I John which covers the concept of agape love quite deeply. Basically those who say they love God but don't love their brethren are liars (I Jn 4:20)... ouch. God commands that we love one another.
As I have been studying this I looked up LOVE in Vine's Expository Dictionary. Here is what it said for agape:
"Christian love has God for it's primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all and works no ill to any; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal. 6:10"
The best picture of this love is the sacrifice God made when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins while I was yet a sinner. God loves me in spite of my unworthiness.
Agape loves expresses itself by doing what is best for the receiver regardless of what they want. It is sacrificial, unconditional, unselfish and requires no return. It is a love that I cannot begin to express outside of the power of Christ in me as I abide in the Word of God and press in to God daily.
Honestly I fall so short especially when I get too busy to abide in His word, when I have disconnected from the lifeline. How about you? Are you plugged in and loving as God would have you love? Praise be to God for His mercies are new every morning... let's make today a day of living in the light of God's love by loving others.
Well, I am working on getting my act together (anyone else in the boat with me?). Meanwhile the Lord and I have been working on the concept of loving the brethren. Not that I haven't loved them at all but expanding my ability (and understanding) to love them in the way He wants me to... especially the difficult ones. Now there's where the lesson comes in.
My girls and I have been doing an in depth study of I John which covers the concept of agape love quite deeply. Basically those who say they love God but don't love their brethren are liars (I Jn 4:20)... ouch. God commands that we love one another.
As I have been studying this I looked up LOVE in Vine's Expository Dictionary. Here is what it said for agape:
"Christian love has God for it's primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all and works no ill to any; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal. 6:10"
The best picture of this love is the sacrifice God made when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins while I was yet a sinner. God loves me in spite of my unworthiness.
Agape loves expresses itself by doing what is best for the receiver regardless of what they want. It is sacrificial, unconditional, unselfish and requires no return. It is a love that I cannot begin to express outside of the power of Christ in me as I abide in the Word of God and press in to God daily.
Honestly I fall so short especially when I get too busy to abide in His word, when I have disconnected from the lifeline. How about you? Are you plugged in and loving as God would have you love? Praise be to God for His mercies are new every morning... let's make today a day of living in the light of God's love by loving others.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Whatsoever things are lovely...
Lovely is word that conjures up thoughts of lush, inviting gardens or a serene lake surrounded by trees at sunset; lovely reminds me of sweet tempered, servant-hearted women I know that I can't help but be drawn to. What does it remind you of? Lovely is a picture painting word isn't it?
I am grateful for "lovely", it cheers, brightens, and beautifies the world around me; it is winsome.
Just so, our thoughts are to be lovely - friendly towards others, with love toward others, agreeable. Our thoughts have the potential to reflect beauty and love drawing others to Christ. How do they do that? The Word of God tells us that what is in our hearts/minds will overflow into our lives (Matt. 12:35).
Thoughts full of the love of Christ, compassion, tenderness, mercy, and sweetness. Lovely thoughts have no room for bitterness, anger, malice, envy, jealousy, self-pity, or the like. These are not passive, enabling thoughts, unwilling to face the sinfulness of others but thoughts that are for their best interest, willing to reflect true Biblical love in a winsome way... they are thoughts that are purposeful, carefully chosen, and resonant of pure Christlike love for others.
How can we begin to think on whatsoever things are lovely? By filling our hearts and minds with the living word of God... hide God's word in your heart and that will be what flows out of it.
I am grateful for "lovely", it cheers, brightens, and beautifies the world around me; it is winsome.
Just so, our thoughts are to be lovely - friendly towards others, with love toward others, agreeable. Our thoughts have the potential to reflect beauty and love drawing others to Christ. How do they do that? The Word of God tells us that what is in our hearts/minds will overflow into our lives (Matt. 12:35).
Thoughts full of the love of Christ, compassion, tenderness, mercy, and sweetness. Lovely thoughts have no room for bitterness, anger, malice, envy, jealousy, self-pity, or the like. These are not passive, enabling thoughts, unwilling to face the sinfulness of others but thoughts that are for their best interest, willing to reflect true Biblical love in a winsome way... they are thoughts that are purposeful, carefully chosen, and resonant of pure Christlike love for others.
How can we begin to think on whatsoever things are lovely? By filling our hearts and minds with the living word of God... hide God's word in your heart and that will be what flows out of it.
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