perfect love drives out fear...

1 John 4:18 says:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear."

I don't know about yall, but I think that I am much more often driven by fear than I am by love. I think essentially that means that I am more driven by what I can see than I am by God.

Galatians 1:10 says "Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Wow. That's a little hard to swallow.

Today I did something despite my fear and with the help of God. Essentially I reached out to a friend in a way that I felt led to do but that was way out of my comfort zone. I am terrified by what that friend is going to think. But I did it anyways.

I share this story not by any means to boast, because I promise that most days I cannot say the same thing. I am simply trying to remember this feeling...the feeling that comes with stepping outside of your comfort zone in obedience to God. It is terrifying but very rewarding. I think it reflects the way that God truly made us to live. We want adventure, purpose, a thrill...so we go to roller-coasters, movies, and dramatic relationships instead of to God. I really think He has a lot of thrills in store for us if we asked Him more often. Thrilling things to do for Him.

If you like to read and have some free time this summer, pick up a copy of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. It's really legit. But get ready to be challenged.

Until you read the book, the following quotes won't completely make sense. Just know that a lion chaser is essentially a Christian willing to take risks, and God calls us all to be lion chasers..to do things that He calls us to, trusting simply in His perfect power. I really liked what Batterson had to say:

"Lion chasers aren't afraid of conflict. They aren't afraid of risking their reputation by chasing snakes out of the temple. And they aren't afraid of risking their lives chasing a lion into a pit. They often look foolish while in the act. It almost seems like they have a death wish. But lion chasers have a life wish. They live life to the fullest because they are willing to look foolish."

I don't know of many times that I've thought to myself, "wow, I am so glad that I look like a fool right now. I am taking risks for God." Instead, it's more like "well, God, if you ask me to do this, I'll feel really dumb, surely you won't want me to feel dumb..." and then I wonder why I get bored with life at times? Maybe because I'm not always listening to God's crazy callings?

The fact is that God's perfect love drives out fear. He gave us His perfect love through the sacrifice of His son. We have nothing to fear. He has us exactly where He wants us and invites us on adventures with Him all of the time.

Batterson puts it this way: " God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. That isn't just good theory. It is reality. I have an unshakable sense of destiny because I know that as long as I pursue God's calling on my life, then God is ultimately responsible for getting me where He wants me to go."

This is heavy stuff. Exciting stuff. If God is in us, if we have experienced His perfect love, we have NO reason to fear. He drives out any fear. Think about that. All of the things you have ever feared being driven out by his huge, merciful, perfect love. And he wants us to help Him show other people this as well, to show them His perfect love so that they too can experience a life without fear....Wow.

I need to chase lions more often.

"I will live by my pen"

Last night I watched the movie "Becoming Jane". Good movie for those of you who haven't seen it. I love the character of Jane Austen in the movie. She is funny, bright, outspoken, determined, and incredibly idealistic. Not trying to ruin the movie, but let's just say that she gives up a lot to live for her lofty ideals.

It got me thinking about ideals and expectations in my own life. I would say that I'm an idealist...in all different senses of the word. I have high expectations for myself, for my life and for the people around me. I think that's why I like to write. I can create a world that is perfect in my head and put it on paper. My favorite line from the movie is this: Jane is talking to an author, Mrs.Radcliffe, about writing:

Mrs. Radcliffe: Of what do you wish to write?
Jane Austen: Of the heart.
Mrs. Radcliffe: Do you know it?
Jane Austen: Not all of it.
Mrs. Radcliffe: In time, you will. But even if that fails, that's what the imagination is for.

Imagination...it transcends this imperfect world, allows us to go beyond even the greatest things the heart can fathom. Takes us to a perfect world unlike our own. Allows our ideals to be more than simply ideals: to be reality.

So, are these ideals attainable? Is it better to settle for what's in front of you or wait for the possibility of the ideal? I asked my good friend Maria this this morning and this was her response: It depends. For things that are eternally important, like ethics and morals, you should never settle. But for things of this world-relationships, or a job-sometimes you just have to realize that it will never be perfect.


Life is just life. People are people. Our world is not perfect.

But God created all of the above and I have been blessed to see Him through so many aspects of life and through so many people. He also created imagination. Maybe to allow us to think past this imperfect world, to heaven and to a more perfect understanding of himself. I am very thankful for that.

I think I'm learning more about living in this real, hard, imperfect world. I mean, I am not one to complain...I have been incredibly blessed. But the world is not as it was originally created to be.

Thankfully, the One who made it is unchanging.

So I think for now I will at times choose to "live by my pen" as Jane puts it, at times allow myself to imagine and wonder and write about things that could be, the "what-if's" of life...

But I will be aware of what's in front of me. Of the grace, love and people that God gives me daily. I will admit that I am not perfect just as our world is not. And I will enjoy the pieces of heaven that He gives us here on earth.