I was reminded today of the power of God's love. I think that we talk about it so much that it gets watered down a bit. Read these lyrics, meant to be from God's perspective, and really take them in.
Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away.
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run?
To where will you run?
Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the worlds sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
Cuz I love you
I want you to know
That I love you, and I will never let you go
And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you'r calling
Please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you.
----Tenth Avenue North
This song gives me so much hope and reminds me of so many of the promises that God gives us: that we don't have to strive, that He gives us His grace freely, that we can run to Him always, that He can hold us in and through anything.
I underestimate the power of the gospel. I underestimate the power of God in his redeeming work in us. It is truly life-changing. This life is hard, but He is better, His promises are better, His grace is truly sufficient.
His Spirit is with us; He is not going anywhere. That I would hear His voice for what it is. That I would see Him for who He truly is: good, loving, just, sufficient for all of my needs, worthy of all of my devotion.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
His grace is strength and life, and peace is God's own smile
Today is a very hard day for a lot of people very close to my heart. I feel like being far away from a tragedy reminds you of how full of them the world is. Something very real that my family is feeling today is half a world a way from me...and yet I realize through this just how many tragedies happen every day. With real people. Everywhere. Today, tomorrow, here and back at home...
One of the first things that I heard when I moved here was a poem by a girl that I go to school with. I hope to get to know her, and right now can't remember her name. But her poem was beautiful. Full of anguish, frustrated with the world we live in and the life she finds herself navigating through...her main request was the no one try to "put a band-aide" on the hurts in her life.
That phrase has really stuck with me. I think we can all relate to some degree. When something happens that sucks, we put a band-aide on it. Or say something to try to make it better. Or try to explain it away. Are there good things that come out of the bad? Yes. But that doesn't make them less hard, or terrible even. It's just not good enough to explain things away.
The only thing that makes sense to me when people are hurting is to hug them. Wrap them up and hold them, for a long time and without letting go. Hoping that in that, they may feel some comfort, some love, some relief from their sadness...some peace, some hope, some warmth. I think God does that for us.
I am praying for everyone in Texas today, and hope that you will find comfort in this, which I think reflects so well God's desire to comfort us daily:
"Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.
Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.
Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.
Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free;
God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.
--Edith Willis Linn
One of the first things that I heard when I moved here was a poem by a girl that I go to school with. I hope to get to know her, and right now can't remember her name. But her poem was beautiful. Full of anguish, frustrated with the world we live in and the life she finds herself navigating through...her main request was the no one try to "put a band-aide" on the hurts in her life.
That phrase has really stuck with me. I think we can all relate to some degree. When something happens that sucks, we put a band-aide on it. Or say something to try to make it better. Or try to explain it away. Are there good things that come out of the bad? Yes. But that doesn't make them less hard, or terrible even. It's just not good enough to explain things away.
The only thing that makes sense to me when people are hurting is to hug them. Wrap them up and hold them, for a long time and without letting go. Hoping that in that, they may feel some comfort, some love, some relief from their sadness...some peace, some hope, some warmth. I think God does that for us.
I am praying for everyone in Texas today, and hope that you will find comfort in this, which I think reflects so well God's desire to comfort us daily:
"Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.
Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.
Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.
Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free;
God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.
--Edith Willis Linn
Thursday, October 28, 2010
On my mind
This week I have been thinking a lot about knowing. You've probably heard it said that our deepest desire is to know and be known....I think that God made us relationally this way. Because He wants us to know Him and He wants to (and already does) know us. Then He turns us outward and wants us to know and be known by others.
Pretty simple sounding, right?
Well, it's not. It's hard work to really know someone. It's hard work to allow ourselves to really be known. It's so much easier to know about, to serve, to check things off a list, to keep things on the surface.
This verse has been on my mind lately:
"On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and then I will declare to them ' I never knew you'" -Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus wants us to know Him. It is that simple.
BUT...When we really know someone or are known by them we have to face big things. Hard things. Fears. Expectations. Hopes. Confusion.
I want to know Jesus, to really know Him. But sometimes that is messy-looking. Just like people, He is not someone that can be "figured out" or put into a box. He is bigger than that. And it's kind of overwhelming. It's equally overwhelming thinking about how well He knows me, the good and bad and in between.
In my classes, we've been talking a lot about secure attachment. That's a fancy psychology term for basically being healthily attached (without being overly attached) in your relationships. Peter Fonagy, an expert in this area, says that secure attachment is "knowing that you exist in someone's mind". This is something that we all want. For others to be aware of us, to care for us, to know that we pass through their minds every once in a while...
And God gives us this. We are at the forefront of His mind.
I am so convinced that at the end of the day, God just wants us to be honest with Him. To put ourselves out in front of Him and say "God, this is me. These are the little parts of me that I don't show to other people-these are the parts that I think I can even keep from You.
Show me who You are. I am nothing like You but I want to be."
He can handle knowing us, and He wants us to know Him.
Pretty sweet, don't ya think?
Pretty simple sounding, right?
Well, it's not. It's hard work to really know someone. It's hard work to allow ourselves to really be known. It's so much easier to know about, to serve, to check things off a list, to keep things on the surface.
This verse has been on my mind lately:
"On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and then I will declare to them ' I never knew you'" -Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus wants us to know Him. It is that simple.
BUT...When we really know someone or are known by them we have to face big things. Hard things. Fears. Expectations. Hopes. Confusion.
I want to know Jesus, to really know Him. But sometimes that is messy-looking. Just like people, He is not someone that can be "figured out" or put into a box. He is bigger than that. And it's kind of overwhelming. It's equally overwhelming thinking about how well He knows me, the good and bad and in between.
In my classes, we've been talking a lot about secure attachment. That's a fancy psychology term for basically being healthily attached (without being overly attached) in your relationships. Peter Fonagy, an expert in this area, says that secure attachment is "knowing that you exist in someone's mind". This is something that we all want. For others to be aware of us, to care for us, to know that we pass through their minds every once in a while...
And God gives us this. We are at the forefront of His mind.
I am so convinced that at the end of the day, God just wants us to be honest with Him. To put ourselves out in front of Him and say "God, this is me. These are the little parts of me that I don't show to other people-these are the parts that I think I can even keep from You.
Show me who You are. I am nothing like You but I want to be."
He can handle knowing us, and He wants us to know Him.
Pretty sweet, don't ya think?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Unconditionally loved by the God of the universe
This last weekend I got to see a bunch of my really good friends from home and my family. There is a certain amount of expectation that comes with any trip to see people you haven't in a while. I was so comforted...in the ways that things had changed but people and their love hadn't. Unconditional people giving unconditional love. Influenced by the love they receive from God.
One of my friends at school reminds me of this sometimes. Dixie, you are unconditionally loved by the God of the universe. Wow.
It is a little overwhelming. Learning not only from being told but from experiencing real, unconditional love. That's what's been rocking my world lately. Unconditional love from wonderful people in my life, but mostly from the God who made it all. I think my view of love has been a little skewed for most of my life. I've known what unconditional love is, have been given it by many people over the years, but I think somehow attributed my own earning of it at least to a small degree, if I'm honest.
I have learned bad habits. Habits of how to love people "enough", or for a season, or until it gets hard. Or when I feel like it.
God doesn't do that. I don't deserve His love; He showers it on. I doubt him daily and push him to the side hourly. I plan my future and see if I can squeeze him into it all. I rebel against His loving discipline. He loves me the same.
All I know is that if you haven't truly experienced that love, His love, unconditional, uncompromising, unending...I pray that you will. You can.
So remember, today, wherever you are, whatever you're feeling, wherever you are wishing you were, however you may be hurting or confused or just tired...
You are unconditionally loved by the God of the Universe.
One of my friends at school reminds me of this sometimes. Dixie, you are unconditionally loved by the God of the universe. Wow.
It is a little overwhelming. Learning not only from being told but from experiencing real, unconditional love. That's what's been rocking my world lately. Unconditional love from wonderful people in my life, but mostly from the God who made it all. I think my view of love has been a little skewed for most of my life. I've known what unconditional love is, have been given it by many people over the years, but I think somehow attributed my own earning of it at least to a small degree, if I'm honest.
I have learned bad habits. Habits of how to love people "enough", or for a season, or until it gets hard. Or when I feel like it.
God doesn't do that. I don't deserve His love; He showers it on. I doubt him daily and push him to the side hourly. I plan my future and see if I can squeeze him into it all. I rebel against His loving discipline. He loves me the same.
All I know is that if you haven't truly experienced that love, His love, unconditional, uncompromising, unending...I pray that you will. You can.
So remember, today, wherever you are, whatever you're feeling, wherever you are wishing you were, however you may be hurting or confused or just tired...
You are unconditionally loved by the God of the Universe.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Step
This week has been one of those weeks where I have just felt inspired. Over and over again. And it is just Wednesday.
The outline of the sun coming up over the mountains on a morning run, the overwhelming display of stars on a dark night, the consistent return of sunny days, good talks with new and old friends alike, learning challenging things in and out of school every day ...reminders that God is at work, here and now.
Yesterday was particularly inspiring as I was encouraged and challenged in multiple ways, through multiple people, to take a step.
The other day in my New Testament class we were talking about Peter. We talked about Peter and Jesus, and that day during a storm where Jesus told Peter to come out to him on the water. What I always remember about this story is that Peter began to sink once He took a couple of steps, and Jesus reminded Him to have more faith. What we talked about, though, in class was the fact that Peter took that first step.
It's craziness when you really think about it. Stepping out onto water in the middle of a big storm. I think that the fact that Peter took that first step needs to be paid more attention to. Peter took a step in faith because he knew the man that was calling him. He knew him well and he knew he could be trusted. Once he took that first step, it was not complete smooth sailing. His faith dwindled for a while, he even got wet, but he had chosen to trust a man that was trustworthy.
Jesus can be trusted. He calls us to come to Him every day. Our journey towards Him is not perfect. But He is still there, pulling us out of our comfort zones, steady and unchanging, loving and hope-giving.
It's kind of a scary time, for me and for a lot of people I know. There's a lot of change going on, I am learning a lot about myself, about the world, and about people. Through my experiences in Colorado, I am being forced to truly look into who I am and where I am taking steps towards. It is terrifyingly exciting.
Such is life, and I am glad.
The things that God puts on our hearts to do and to be can become a reality. We can have the courage to act, with His help. His grace is bigger than our most overwhelming fear.
Donald Miller contemplates life in his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in acknowledgment. We don't want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn't remarkable, then we don't have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants."
Jesus told Peter that day simply to come, he saved him when he sank, and he proved his trustworthiness completely.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." -2 Corinthians 12:9
The outline of the sun coming up over the mountains on a morning run, the overwhelming display of stars on a dark night, the consistent return of sunny days, good talks with new and old friends alike, learning challenging things in and out of school every day ...reminders that God is at work, here and now.
Yesterday was particularly inspiring as I was encouraged and challenged in multiple ways, through multiple people, to take a step.
The other day in my New Testament class we were talking about Peter. We talked about Peter and Jesus, and that day during a storm where Jesus told Peter to come out to him on the water. What I always remember about this story is that Peter began to sink once He took a couple of steps, and Jesus reminded Him to have more faith. What we talked about, though, in class was the fact that Peter took that first step.
It's craziness when you really think about it. Stepping out onto water in the middle of a big storm. I think that the fact that Peter took that first step needs to be paid more attention to. Peter took a step in faith because he knew the man that was calling him. He knew him well and he knew he could be trusted. Once he took that first step, it was not complete smooth sailing. His faith dwindled for a while, he even got wet, but he had chosen to trust a man that was trustworthy.
Jesus can be trusted. He calls us to come to Him every day. Our journey towards Him is not perfect. But He is still there, pulling us out of our comfort zones, steady and unchanging, loving and hope-giving.
It's kind of a scary time, for me and for a lot of people I know. There's a lot of change going on, I am learning a lot about myself, about the world, and about people. Through my experiences in Colorado, I am being forced to truly look into who I am and where I am taking steps towards. It is terrifyingly exciting.
Such is life, and I am glad.
The things that God puts on our hearts to do and to be can become a reality. We can have the courage to act, with His help. His grace is bigger than our most overwhelming fear.
Donald Miller contemplates life in his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in acknowledgment. We don't want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn't remarkable, then we don't have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants."
Jesus told Peter that day simply to come, he saved him when he sank, and he proved his trustworthiness completely.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." -2 Corinthians 12:9
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
God bless the whole world...no exceptions
Colorado- I am obsessed.
Mountains so steady in the distance you forget they are real, cool crisp air at night and in the mornings, sunshine that only elevates the steady dose of endorphins the people around here have on a daily basis.
I have been here about three weeks now, but it feels a lot longer. New roommates, new classes, a new town, new hobbies, a new culture...I am a sponge. Soaking it all in.
On my run through Littleton the other day I saw a silver Subaru (that is the cool car around these parts-who knew?) with "God bless the whole world...no exceptions" as a simply-stated bumper sticker. It made me laugh a little; so Colorado.
If you have ever had the chance to climb a mountain, to see a view, to exit the world of the daily, small things you can touch and see and enter a perspective from far above, I think you may be able to understand the Colorado culture a little more. And, as I am thinking about it, on perhaps a different note, may be able to understand God a little more too.
From what I have seen so far, people in Colorado are just a little more aware of life, of the world that they live in. I mean, living up here, we should be more aware of it because it is in our faces so much. That bumper sticker I think describes the culture up here. People are aware and in awe of the great big world around them
A couple of weeks ago I got to go "adventure" to Estes Park with one of my best friends for a couple of days. I think my favorite memories were our two trips up Trail Ridge Road. The first one was on a rainy afternoon. I set out slowly up the mountain, ready for breathtaking views along the way. Because of the rain, I ended up driving slowly up the side of a mountain, even closer to the wheel than before, using the ten foot of road I could see in front of me to guide us slowly up to 12000 feet above sea level. I have never been so aware of how risky one wrong move could be. Few views were even visible in the weather, and I wouldn't have noticed them anyways because I was so focused on what was in front of me.
The way down was an entirely different story. At every turn, there was a more breath-taking view. From up high, the detail of the terrain we are so used to living in was part of a perfect picture, each detail created a perfect scene.
The tour ended with the sighting of a huge rainbow. What does it mean? haha (see Youtube)
The next day, we headed up the mountain at night, on an impulse. Shelby drove. John Meyer provided the soundtrack. Even in the dark, the perspective from above was breath-taking. Crisp, biting air, faint stars attempting to outshine the moon, a low hum of nature below, content in its place.
I feel a need to apologize for the analogy I am about to make. That life is like climbing a mountain and the perspective from the top is so clear. I know it is cheesy, but I really think God made the mountains for that very analogy.
Life is hard-climbing is hard. For some people, it's easier than others. For some it really sucks. Some days there are views around every corner, other days, all you can do is look ten feet in front of you.
And a very humbling thing I am realizing is that some people's entire lives are rainstorms, and it is all they can do to put one foot in front of the other and "trudge" ahead.
I don't think that there is some "peak" of life that we are supposed to be trudging towards. I think it's more like a person. God-at the top of the mountain, looking down at all of us, seeing things from a different perspective than we do, aware of our individual and collective beauty, of the bigger picture despite the struggle.
Some days, I feel like I am at the top of the mountain with Him. Those are the days that life makes sense. That I can feel God's control over the mess that I am, that I can sense His bigger purpose.
Other days, I am trudging. In a book I had to read for class, it described it this way:
"God says, 'follow this cloud'...we have no idea where we are going. We walk by faith not by sight."
Some days we just follow a cloud. I would say most days that is the case.
The cool thing is that not only is God at the top of the mountain, able to see the bigger picture, but He is also trudging with us. I am very thankful for that.
During my time here so far in CO, I have never felt so...certain. Certain that I am where I am supposed to be, certain that though the future is just a cloud in front of me, I am following, by God's grace, the right cloud. He is here with me and He is there with you. That is comforting.
And He is blessing the whole world...
no exceptions.
Mountains so steady in the distance you forget they are real, cool crisp air at night and in the mornings, sunshine that only elevates the steady dose of endorphins the people around here have on a daily basis.
I have been here about three weeks now, but it feels a lot longer. New roommates, new classes, a new town, new hobbies, a new culture...I am a sponge. Soaking it all in.
On my run through Littleton the other day I saw a silver Subaru (that is the cool car around these parts-who knew?) with "God bless the whole world...no exceptions" as a simply-stated bumper sticker. It made me laugh a little; so Colorado.
If you have ever had the chance to climb a mountain, to see a view, to exit the world of the daily, small things you can touch and see and enter a perspective from far above, I think you may be able to understand the Colorado culture a little more. And, as I am thinking about it, on perhaps a different note, may be able to understand God a little more too.
From what I have seen so far, people in Colorado are just a little more aware of life, of the world that they live in. I mean, living up here, we should be more aware of it because it is in our faces so much. That bumper sticker I think describes the culture up here. People are aware and in awe of the great big world around them
A couple of weeks ago I got to go "adventure" to Estes Park with one of my best friends for a couple of days. I think my favorite memories were our two trips up Trail Ridge Road. The first one was on a rainy afternoon. I set out slowly up the mountain, ready for breathtaking views along the way. Because of the rain, I ended up driving slowly up the side of a mountain, even closer to the wheel than before, using the ten foot of road I could see in front of me to guide us slowly up to 12000 feet above sea level. I have never been so aware of how risky one wrong move could be. Few views were even visible in the weather, and I wouldn't have noticed them anyways because I was so focused on what was in front of me.
The way down was an entirely different story. At every turn, there was a more breath-taking view. From up high, the detail of the terrain we are so used to living in was part of a perfect picture, each detail created a perfect scene.
The tour ended with the sighting of a huge rainbow. What does it mean? haha (see Youtube)
The next day, we headed up the mountain at night, on an impulse. Shelby drove. John Meyer provided the soundtrack. Even in the dark, the perspective from above was breath-taking. Crisp, biting air, faint stars attempting to outshine the moon, a low hum of nature below, content in its place.
I feel a need to apologize for the analogy I am about to make. That life is like climbing a mountain and the perspective from the top is so clear. I know it is cheesy, but I really think God made the mountains for that very analogy.
Life is hard-climbing is hard. For some people, it's easier than others. For some it really sucks. Some days there are views around every corner, other days, all you can do is look ten feet in front of you.
And a very humbling thing I am realizing is that some people's entire lives are rainstorms, and it is all they can do to put one foot in front of the other and "trudge" ahead.
I don't think that there is some "peak" of life that we are supposed to be trudging towards. I think it's more like a person. God-at the top of the mountain, looking down at all of us, seeing things from a different perspective than we do, aware of our individual and collective beauty, of the bigger picture despite the struggle.
Some days, I feel like I am at the top of the mountain with Him. Those are the days that life makes sense. That I can feel God's control over the mess that I am, that I can sense His bigger purpose.
Other days, I am trudging. In a book I had to read for class, it described it this way:
"God says, 'follow this cloud'...we have no idea where we are going. We walk by faith not by sight."
Some days we just follow a cloud. I would say most days that is the case.
The cool thing is that not only is God at the top of the mountain, able to see the bigger picture, but He is also trudging with us. I am very thankful for that.
During my time here so far in CO, I have never felt so...certain. Certain that I am where I am supposed to be, certain that though the future is just a cloud in front of me, I am following, by God's grace, the right cloud. He is here with me and He is there with you. That is comforting.
And He is blessing the whole world...
no exceptions.
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