Watched "Good Will Hunting" for the first time tonight. It was amazing, go watch it if you have not already. Really got my mind going so here I am at 1:00am deep in thought...
"It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey his mind to US regarding the people for whom we intercede." -Oswald Chambers
People are mysteries–each and every one of us is a puzzle only God knows how to figure out. We walk around filling our days with busyness and obligations, people and conversations, all of it nonsense really. Every hour of every day we occupy ourselves or we find ourselves left to our own idleness. Everyone is lost, everyone is searching for meaning, for significance, even when they will not admit it. In the moments of solitude, questions arise and we find ourselves searching in vain or running from the questions.
"It is the spirit of man, the Breath of the Almighty that makes him understand." Job 32:8
This verse is one of my favorites because it reminds me how we cannot find meaning ourselves. We cannot find meaning until our hearts rest in God like Augustine once said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you." Every one is restless even the least likely, even the most chill or different people–those who we find extremely difficult to understand and those who may be too easy to understand. Who are you to say you know the depths of someone else's soul? The communion they have with God?
I walk down 6th street in Austin and I encounter prostitues, gays, gang members, transvestites, wandering businessmen...all people of whom I have very little in common with and I frankly cannot understand. But, I see something deeper going on...call it a curse or a gift, I feel like sometimes I can see into people's hearts. They all have a longing.
Jesus loves them. His love covers all people, the sins of the whole world. Even those people on 6th street need Him, they may just not be reaching out in the recognizable ways. But they are reaching out, they are screaming for attention through their actions. We ALL need Him.
"Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on LOVE which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:12-15
May we all try and open our hearts and our minds to how Jesus views the world. Jesus, awaken us to your heart for others and may we then intercede for them in response to your love for us.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." Romans 5:6-8
That is why we are here. That is our meaning. That is our significance. To live is Christ.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Arise.
In response to a question: What are the differences in the words rise and arise?
Rise-
verb: Move from a lower position to a higher one "The sun rises in the morning"
noun: An upward movement; an instance of becoming higher: "the bird has a display flight of steep flapping rises".
Arise-
verb: Emerge; become apparent: "new difficulties had arisen".
Come into being; originate: "God arose Adam from the dust"
Rise seems to me it concludes once the action has been competed. Rise means to get up. Rise is an action that is performed in or through something that has already been brought into existence.
Arise seems to mean more than just to rise. Arise means to get up and the action continues...its keeps going. Arise is an action of bringing something from death to life. Arise can bring nothing into something.
A few verses:
Luke 15:18 Jesus says, "I will ARISE and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'"
Daniel talks a lot about Kingdoms ARISING and Kings ARISING...(8:22; 11:21; 7:24)
Eph. 5:13-14 "But when anything is exposed by light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead and Christ will come to you.'" (PS I'm working on memorizing this verse, theres something about it I cannot get away from...you should memorize it too and when I see you we can cite it together!)
John 11:23-24 Jesus says, 'Your brother (lazurus) will RISE again.' Martha said to him, 'I know he will RISE again in the resurrection on the last day.'
Luke 21:10 "Nation will RISE against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."
Psalm 44:26 "RISE up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love."
Proverbs 31:28 "Her children RISE up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
For the most part the two words are pretty interchangeable, but it seems to me ARISE could be a more powerful word. Jesus Himself uses the word ARISE for the powerful action of Him returning to the Father. To ARISE is to bring life from death. When I think of ARISE I think of God breathing the breath of life into Adam...the image on the Sistine Chapel Michelangelo so perfectly painted of the Creation of Adam. On the other hand, RISE is a more common term used to describe the more mundane and typical. I guess, it just depends on your own use of the two words and how you personally interpret them.
Another question: What are the Psalms?
Psalm is the longest book in the Bible with 150 psalms, most written by King David, "favored by the Lord." Apparently, the word Psalms comes from a Greek word which means, "a song sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument." I think thats beautiful and helps me understand....You know how on rainy days your mood becomes more somber and calmed, while on sunny days your mood seems to lift? I often think of my life as a soundtrack...on good days, I walk with a pep in my step and its almost like I'm dancing to jazz or skipping to some folk music, but on rainy days, my head hangs lower and I love my slow chill acoustic music, I sit for long periods of time and think to classical music. Every day, the songs I sing to God change with the music playing in the background of my life. While we have control of the songs we sing and how we respond to God, we don't have full control of circumstances, God determines those.
Therefore, the Psalms are David's response to different seasons of music in his life. Sometimes he sings praises, while in others I cannot seem to find any joy but just remorse or pain. I love the authenticity of the psalms, they make me feel like I am not alone in the way I feel sometimes. Some days I realize it is okay to be mad or upset or in pain or confused, and then there are also days when things make complete sense and all I can do is praise Him. The psalms are so diverse and address so many subjects. They are a beautiful songs of our lives.
Reminds me of one of my top 5 favorite verses: "For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven" Ecc 3:1
Found this poem randomly, thought it was intriguing based on the topic of "Rise"...its a poem about perseverance when the world tells you to quit. Deep called to deep in this one.
"Still I Rise" poem by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Rise-
verb: Move from a lower position to a higher one "The sun rises in the morning"
noun: An upward movement; an instance of becoming higher: "the bird has a display flight of steep flapping rises".
Arise-
verb: Emerge; become apparent: "new difficulties had arisen".
Come into being; originate: "God arose Adam from the dust"
Rise seems to me it concludes once the action has been competed. Rise means to get up. Rise is an action that is performed in or through something that has already been brought into existence.
Arise seems to mean more than just to rise. Arise means to get up and the action continues...its keeps going. Arise is an action of bringing something from death to life. Arise can bring nothing into something.
A few verses:
Luke 15:18 Jesus says, "I will ARISE and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'"
Daniel talks a lot about Kingdoms ARISING and Kings ARISING...(8:22; 11:21; 7:24)
Eph. 5:13-14 "But when anything is exposed by light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and ARISE from the dead and Christ will come to you.'" (PS I'm working on memorizing this verse, theres something about it I cannot get away from...you should memorize it too and when I see you we can cite it together!)
John 11:23-24 Jesus says, 'Your brother (lazurus) will RISE again.' Martha said to him, 'I know he will RISE again in the resurrection on the last day.'
Luke 21:10 "Nation will RISE against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."
Psalm 44:26 "RISE up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love."
Proverbs 31:28 "Her children RISE up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
For the most part the two words are pretty interchangeable, but it seems to me ARISE could be a more powerful word. Jesus Himself uses the word ARISE for the powerful action of Him returning to the Father. To ARISE is to bring life from death. When I think of ARISE I think of God breathing the breath of life into Adam...the image on the Sistine Chapel Michelangelo so perfectly painted of the Creation of Adam. On the other hand, RISE is a more common term used to describe the more mundane and typical. I guess, it just depends on your own use of the two words and how you personally interpret them.
Another question: What are the Psalms?
Psalm is the longest book in the Bible with 150 psalms, most written by King David, "favored by the Lord." Apparently, the word Psalms comes from a Greek word which means, "a song sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument." I think thats beautiful and helps me understand....You know how on rainy days your mood becomes more somber and calmed, while on sunny days your mood seems to lift? I often think of my life as a soundtrack...on good days, I walk with a pep in my step and its almost like I'm dancing to jazz or skipping to some folk music, but on rainy days, my head hangs lower and I love my slow chill acoustic music, I sit for long periods of time and think to classical music. Every day, the songs I sing to God change with the music playing in the background of my life. While we have control of the songs we sing and how we respond to God, we don't have full control of circumstances, God determines those.
Therefore, the Psalms are David's response to different seasons of music in his life. Sometimes he sings praises, while in others I cannot seem to find any joy but just remorse or pain. I love the authenticity of the psalms, they make me feel like I am not alone in the way I feel sometimes. Some days I realize it is okay to be mad or upset or in pain or confused, and then there are also days when things make complete sense and all I can do is praise Him. The psalms are so diverse and address so many subjects. They are a beautiful songs of our lives.
Reminds me of one of my top 5 favorite verses: "For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven" Ecc 3:1
Found this poem randomly, thought it was intriguing based on the topic of "Rise"...its a poem about perseverance when the world tells you to quit. Deep called to deep in this one.
"Still I Rise" poem by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Focus on Scripture, not worries by Rick Warren
“I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12b NIV)
The Bible repeatedly urges us to meditate on who God is, what he has done, and what he has said.
It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what he says. You can’t love God unless you know him, and you can’t know him without knowing his Word. The Bible says God “revealed himself to Samuel through his word” (1 Samuel 3:21).
God still uses that method today. While you cannot spend all day studying the Bible, you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you have read or memorized and mulling them over in your mind.
Meditation is often misunderstood as some difficult, mysterious ritual practiced by isolated monks and mystics. But meditation is simply focused thinking — a skill anyone can learn and use anywhere.
When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that’s called worry. When you think about God’s Word over and over, that’s meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate! You just need to switch your attention from your problems to Bible verses. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the less you will have to worry about.
The reason God considered Job and David his close friends was that they valued his Word above everything else, and they thought about it continually throughout the day. Job admitted, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).
When you read your Bible or hear a sermon or listen to a CD, don’t just forget it and walk away. Develop the practice of reviewing the truth in your mind, thinking about it over and over. The more time you spend reviewing what God has said, the more you will understand the “secrets” of this life that most people miss.
The Bible repeatedly urges us to meditate on who God is, what he has done, and what he has said.
It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what he says. You can’t love God unless you know him, and you can’t know him without knowing his Word. The Bible says God “revealed himself to Samuel through his word” (1 Samuel 3:21).
God still uses that method today. While you cannot spend all day studying the Bible, you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you have read or memorized and mulling them over in your mind.
Meditation is often misunderstood as some difficult, mysterious ritual practiced by isolated monks and mystics. But meditation is simply focused thinking — a skill anyone can learn and use anywhere.
When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that’s called worry. When you think about God’s Word over and over, that’s meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate! You just need to switch your attention from your problems to Bible verses. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the less you will have to worry about.
The reason God considered Job and David his close friends was that they valued his Word above everything else, and they thought about it continually throughout the day. Job admitted, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).
When you read your Bible or hear a sermon or listen to a CD, don’t just forget it and walk away. Develop the practice of reviewing the truth in your mind, thinking about it over and over. The more time you spend reviewing what God has said, the more you will understand the “secrets” of this life that most people miss.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A humbling remark by AW Tozer...
"Man for all his genius is but an echo of the original Voice, a reflection of the uncreated Light. As a sunbeam perishes when cut off from the sun, so man apart from God would pass back into the void of nothingness from which he first leaped at the creative call."
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Song of Songs
I dont know what it is about listening to music when I exercise, but rhythm and beat and rhyme have a way of getting me through when I am tired. As songs build in my ears, I find my feet below me quicken in step. I run stronger and faster with the beat of the music. When the music slows, I breathe again and ease my pace. Its a funny thing...
Right now, as senior year comes quickly to a close, there is a song in my ears slowing my pace. I no longer want to run fast, I want to slow down and breathe again. It is time to soak in the scenery and walk, listening to the people around me and memorizing their faces.
I cherish this time with people so dear to me. As sad as I am to go, I find myself so grateful for the faces in my mind and forever on my heart, more importantly for their encouraging words echoing in my ears. This place and these people have given me a song I can forever hear in my heart, it is a song that never stops playing, a song that keeps me going when I get tired.
Thank you, dear friends, for your words...they will follow me where ever I go.
Right now, as senior year comes quickly to a close, there is a song in my ears slowing my pace. I no longer want to run fast, I want to slow down and breathe again. It is time to soak in the scenery and walk, listening to the people around me and memorizing their faces.
I cherish this time with people so dear to me. As sad as I am to go, I find myself so grateful for the faces in my mind and forever on my heart, more importantly for their encouraging words echoing in my ears. This place and these people have given me a song I can forever hear in my heart, it is a song that never stops playing, a song that keeps me going when I get tired.
Thank you, dear friends, for your words...they will follow me where ever I go.
My Utmost for His Highest
I really enjoyed this devotional on Saturday, I wanted to share it with you!
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.” Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again. Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34)
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.” Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again. Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
If you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone
In 1958, John Steinbeck, author of East of Eden, received a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom expressed the situation of having fallen completely in love with a girl called Susan at the boarding school.
In response, Steinbeck wrote this beautiful letter back to him the same day. I think it is so thoughtful and sweet.
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
In response, Steinbeck wrote this beautiful letter back to him the same day. I think it is so thoughtful and sweet.
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet- Max Lucado
It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing.
The disciples enter [the room], one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.
After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.
In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants…The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.
In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them...
You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table…
What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin!
Jesus knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet…
He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
The disciples enter [the room], one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.
After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.
In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants…The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.
In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them...
You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table…
What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin!
Jesus knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet…
He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
He is the True God and Eternal Life.
"If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death." 1 John 5:16-17
In regards to this scripture, I have been dwelling on it all week...its been interesting. At first glance, I immediately thought about venial and mortal sins I have learned about in the Catholic Church. Basically, they believe there are certain "levels" of sins. It goes back to the age of Medieval church that collected indulgences; they would rank sin and the worse it was, the more money the people would have to pay. I do not know if I believe in hierarchy of sin, I definitely believe in different types of sin, but sin is sin is sin is sin. Anyways, I dont really want to get into that, back on track...
I have heard it said this sin that "leads to Death" is the sin of turning away from God. BUT, I just do not know if anyone could/would turn away from God if they ever experienced him in the first place! How/why would anyone who has actually, truly experienced God turn away from him? We were created to desire Him, so why on earth would we ever turn away from Him if we actually tasted even a bit of the Love we were created to crave relationally. This is why I think anyone who "turns away from God" never actually ever fully opened their heart to Him in the first place. Not entirely sure.
"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him and he CANNOT keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:8-10
I think we really have to read the whole context of this book to understand what John was trying to say, so I have been reading it a lot. Heres an excerpt that stuck out:
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we BELIEVE in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and LOVE one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever KEEPS his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." 1 John 3:19-24
John is not emphasizing how he wants us to dwell on figuring out levels of sin or judging the sins of others. The simple fact is, I think he wants us to see and know the Hope of Christ as our Advocate and propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-6). Although we were created "of the truth," God knows we have fallen and have sinful nature...He is asking us to realize we are sinners and to acknowledge and seek help from each other for accountability, but more importantly from Christ. Back to 1 John 5:16, we have to be willing to love someone by calling them out and/or praying on behalf of them for God's grace and forgiveness. Simply put, we must BELIEVE in his Son's grace and forgiveness and therefore, LOVE each other because He first loved us.
Furthermore, our job is to define and discover exactly what "believing in Jesus" and "loving one another" looks like for each of us. There is not always a precise easy formula for loving others and believing in God. Circumstantially, its always changing, but we always have guidelines (scripture) to find hints and clues. For instance, sometimes to "love" others best could mean hugs and kisses, ponies and fairies:), but other times it means letting someone fall so they can learn to pick themselves back up again...Tough love. But sometimes its okay to help someone up because they may need help learning...circumstances always change, but the Holy Spirits guidance is always loyal and consistent.
In regards to this scripture, I have been dwelling on it all week...its been interesting. At first glance, I immediately thought about venial and mortal sins I have learned about in the Catholic Church. Basically, they believe there are certain "levels" of sins. It goes back to the age of Medieval church that collected indulgences; they would rank sin and the worse it was, the more money the people would have to pay. I do not know if I believe in hierarchy of sin, I definitely believe in different types of sin, but sin is sin is sin is sin. Anyways, I dont really want to get into that, back on track...
I have heard it said this sin that "leads to Death" is the sin of turning away from God. BUT, I just do not know if anyone could/would turn away from God if they ever experienced him in the first place! How/why would anyone who has actually, truly experienced God turn away from him? We were created to desire Him, so why on earth would we ever turn away from Him if we actually tasted even a bit of the Love we were created to crave relationally. This is why I think anyone who "turns away from God" never actually ever fully opened their heart to Him in the first place. Not entirely sure.
"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him and he CANNOT keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:8-10
I think we really have to read the whole context of this book to understand what John was trying to say, so I have been reading it a lot. Heres an excerpt that stuck out:
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we BELIEVE in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and LOVE one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever KEEPS his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." 1 John 3:19-24
John is not emphasizing how he wants us to dwell on figuring out levels of sin or judging the sins of others. The simple fact is, I think he wants us to see and know the Hope of Christ as our Advocate and propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-6). Although we were created "of the truth," God knows we have fallen and have sinful nature...He is asking us to realize we are sinners and to acknowledge and seek help from each other for accountability, but more importantly from Christ. Back to 1 John 5:16, we have to be willing to love someone by calling them out and/or praying on behalf of them for God's grace and forgiveness. Simply put, we must BELIEVE in his Son's grace and forgiveness and therefore, LOVE each other because He first loved us.
Furthermore, our job is to define and discover exactly what "believing in Jesus" and "loving one another" looks like for each of us. There is not always a precise easy formula for loving others and believing in God. Circumstantially, its always changing, but we always have guidelines (scripture) to find hints and clues. For instance, sometimes to "love" others best could mean hugs and kisses, ponies and fairies:), but other times it means letting someone fall so they can learn to pick themselves back up again...Tough love. But sometimes its okay to help someone up because they may need help learning...circumstances always change, but the Holy Spirits guidance is always loyal and consistent.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Josh Garrels inspires me.
http://vimeo.com/28337517
Listen intently and after you watch it, I want you to redefine "love" for yourself. Let your mind wander and really think about what "love" truly means to you and how it affects the way you treat people around you. Journal about it or whatever, but I think its a really convicting thing to think about...as dumb as it sounds, and as much as you may think you know about what "love" means, it doesnt hurt to redefine it and really make it real to you again.
Listen intently and after you watch it, I want you to redefine "love" for yourself. Let your mind wander and really think about what "love" truly means to you and how it affects the way you treat people around you. Journal about it or whatever, but I think its a really convicting thing to think about...as dumb as it sounds, and as much as you may think you know about what "love" means, it doesnt hurt to redefine it and really make it real to you again.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Help the weak, dont blame them.
Driving by a homeless man on the corner holding a sign "Anything helps" or "Hungry" or "Need gas money", I am usually immediately flooded with compassionate, but I also get this great sense of frustration. Why don't these people just get a job and work? What could I do to help them because I will not give them money? Is another energy bar and water bottle really serving them? How do I help them? My mom has always preached to me about the ridiculousness of our government's enabling system and a friend recently expressed his frustration. He showed me a passage in scripture "If a man will not work, he shall not eat..." 2 Thes 3:10, sooo naturally I had to investigate. This is what I found:
I read the 2 Thessalonians passage, but we often overlook the part we (you and I) are called to. It says "Now such persons (the idle) we (the followers of Christ) COMMAND and ENCOURAGE in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for YOU (follower of Christ), do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thes 3:12-13. We can be so very quick to point out the "lazy" and the "wicked", but we are also called to live as examples AMONG those people. We are to stay away from falling into their idleness, but it is our job as men and women of Christ to serve those people by taking the time out of our lives to teach them how to live properly. This is service. We must take the time to serve others through example and spending time with them, rather than just constantly pointing at them and telling them they need to get a job and work. We have to serve people, we have to be patient with people. I know its frustrating, but we have to take responsibility for each other too! If we are truly One Body in Christ, we have to nourish one another and seek to do good with even those who might appear lazy and those who we have absolutely nothing in common with. Jesus came for to heal the sick and reached out to the most lowly of people, the lepers, the tax collectors...we have to be willing to love even those we may not think deserve to be loved, by teaching them, not enabling them.
"And we urge you brothers, admonish (call out) the idle/undisciplined, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to EVERYONE." 1 Thes 5:14-15
Instead of blaming and pointing fingers and letting frustration plant bitterness and resentment towards these people, may we get up and go as Christ has called us to serve. Who are we if we are not making an effort daily, even weekly to help those who cannot help themselves? We are all part of one body, just like when you sprain your ankle you take time to nourish it and help it heal every day until it becomes well again...we have to take time to nourish and help our brothers and sisters to heal.
I read the 2 Thessalonians passage, but we often overlook the part we (you and I) are called to. It says "Now such persons (the idle) we (the followers of Christ) COMMAND and ENCOURAGE in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for YOU (follower of Christ), do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thes 3:12-13. We can be so very quick to point out the "lazy" and the "wicked", but we are also called to live as examples AMONG those people. We are to stay away from falling into their idleness, but it is our job as men and women of Christ to serve those people by taking the time out of our lives to teach them how to live properly. This is service. We must take the time to serve others through example and spending time with them, rather than just constantly pointing at them and telling them they need to get a job and work. We have to serve people, we have to be patient with people. I know its frustrating, but we have to take responsibility for each other too! If we are truly One Body in Christ, we have to nourish one another and seek to do good with even those who might appear lazy and those who we have absolutely nothing in common with. Jesus came for to heal the sick and reached out to the most lowly of people, the lepers, the tax collectors...we have to be willing to love even those we may not think deserve to be loved, by teaching them, not enabling them.
"And we urge you brothers, admonish (call out) the idle/undisciplined, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to EVERYONE." 1 Thes 5:14-15
Instead of blaming and pointing fingers and letting frustration plant bitterness and resentment towards these people, may we get up and go as Christ has called us to serve. Who are we if we are not making an effort daily, even weekly to help those who cannot help themselves? We are all part of one body, just like when you sprain your ankle you take time to nourish it and help it heal every day until it becomes well again...we have to take time to nourish and help our brothers and sisters to heal.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Idols continued...
First of all, nooo I do not receive joy from looking in the mirror and say "daaang girl you look good!"....haha. For a long while though, I thought if I look good enough, skinny enough, pretty enough, people will like me better which was quite a rude lie. Now after years of dealing with this insecurity and growing through it, I have learned so much about myself and who I am. I love myself for who Christ made me to be. And I still enjoy being healthy and working out in order to let go of stress and be a good steward of the body God has blessed me with....its when my vision becomes skewed again (which it does almost every day) that it becomes an idol. The second I start working out and eating healthy again for the wrong reasons, I realize it eventually and take steps to remind myself how to let go of this idol. No, I cannot tell you when it is your body or whatever it may be becomes an idol to you, because you just know. You know when you really think about it, if your body and working out is something that takes precedent to the more important things in life God has called you to. I think thats awesome that you took the initiative to stop working out for awhile to see what the Lord had to teach you...thats a perfect example of personal accountability. Never hesitate to re-consider and re-evaluate things in your life, even when you do not think you are wrong. It is always okay to think about these things and remind yourself why you are doing these things or acting this way. Its healthy to re-evaluate every so often, even the things you may think are the "good" things in your life.
You have idols. You always will and you do right now. That is human nature and part of our fallen, sinful self....to desire more than what God has given us.
Heres some more examples: Ministry itself can be an idol when we are doing it to get brownie points with God. Sometimes I overwhelm myself and exhaust myself because I am working so hard to attain God's love, that becomes an idol; I am putting my own efforts at salvation before what Christ did for me without really realizing it! Christ made the propitiation for my sins on the cross and by trying to save myself and earn God's love I am reaping fulfillment from what I can do to obtain His love, rather than just accept it and share it with others. Also, sometimes I find myself enjoying the attention I receive from people because it makes me feel needed and wanted, not because it is bringing glory to God. Sometimes I realize I say things just so that people will think highly of me and "like" me more. Sometimes I conform to the way people want me to be so that I will be accepted and people will include me. We do these little things and have these little thoughts, but those are little idols and desires which disguise themselves in the most ordinary things that we often do not acknowledge them as seeds of idols. The little sparks of idols are more often than not, very hard to identify because they are not loud and boisterous. Money and body image are loud, but what about just the tiny desire to be liked by people so you can feel better about yourself? What about the idol you create when you look at talented athlete and slightly incline your mind to wanting to be like him? Just those little thoughts are minor idols forming in your mind...we have little tastes of idols every day, every single person on earth does.
I think, you think, idols are bad things. Just like everything else, idols are things god created to be good. Money for instance...money is not a bad thing, we just make it bad when we let it take precedent in our lives. Body image...the way you view body is not bad, until you make it more than what God made it to be. Relationships...relationships are not bad until you allow them to consume your thoughts. Ministry is not bad, its a very good thing...but if I let myself start reaping selfish benefits from it and not constantly using it to glorify God, it is going in the wrong direction. Looking up to an athlete is not bad, but when you start comparing yourself to him and discounting the gifts and talents God has given you individually, then you are not using a role model for the right reasons.
Is this starting to make a little more sense? Idols can be good, just like every "bad" thing in your life...when they turn us back to thinking about Jesus and reminding us of our own fallen selves. Just like how you think of things you have done in the past and you hate that you did them, but they have shaped you and allowed you to grow. Just as you cannot know the full strength of light until you know the deepest depth of darkness. We have to see what God is NOT in order to see what and who he truly is. Hope that helps!
You have idols. You always will and you do right now. That is human nature and part of our fallen, sinful self....to desire more than what God has given us.
Heres some more examples: Ministry itself can be an idol when we are doing it to get brownie points with God. Sometimes I overwhelm myself and exhaust myself because I am working so hard to attain God's love, that becomes an idol; I am putting my own efforts at salvation before what Christ did for me without really realizing it! Christ made the propitiation for my sins on the cross and by trying to save myself and earn God's love I am reaping fulfillment from what I can do to obtain His love, rather than just accept it and share it with others. Also, sometimes I find myself enjoying the attention I receive from people because it makes me feel needed and wanted, not because it is bringing glory to God. Sometimes I realize I say things just so that people will think highly of me and "like" me more. Sometimes I conform to the way people want me to be so that I will be accepted and people will include me. We do these little things and have these little thoughts, but those are little idols and desires which disguise themselves in the most ordinary things that we often do not acknowledge them as seeds of idols. The little sparks of idols are more often than not, very hard to identify because they are not loud and boisterous. Money and body image are loud, but what about just the tiny desire to be liked by people so you can feel better about yourself? What about the idol you create when you look at talented athlete and slightly incline your mind to wanting to be like him? Just those little thoughts are minor idols forming in your mind...we have little tastes of idols every day, every single person on earth does.
I think, you think, idols are bad things. Just like everything else, idols are things god created to be good. Money for instance...money is not a bad thing, we just make it bad when we let it take precedent in our lives. Body image...the way you view body is not bad, until you make it more than what God made it to be. Relationships...relationships are not bad until you allow them to consume your thoughts. Ministry is not bad, its a very good thing...but if I let myself start reaping selfish benefits from it and not constantly using it to glorify God, it is going in the wrong direction. Looking up to an athlete is not bad, but when you start comparing yourself to him and discounting the gifts and talents God has given you individually, then you are not using a role model for the right reasons.
Is this starting to make a little more sense? Idols can be good, just like every "bad" thing in your life...when they turn us back to thinking about Jesus and reminding us of our own fallen selves. Just like how you think of things you have done in the past and you hate that you did them, but they have shaped you and allowed you to grow. Just as you cannot know the full strength of light until you know the deepest depth of darkness. We have to see what God is NOT in order to see what and who he truly is. Hope that helps!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
In response to questions about Idols...
You asked me about idols and I am so glad you did...I truly believe idols are one of the core issues within all of us. Every day potential idols surround us hoping to entangle us in a terrible web of lies. All sorts of things are potential idols: physical objects, people, property, jobs, roles, a hope, an image, an idea, pleasures,... As soon as our loyalty to anything leads us to disobey God, we are in great danger of making it an idol.
In the beginning, we were made to worship and serve God and rule over all created things in God's name (Gen 1:26-28). Instead we fell into sin. We refused to give God glory and instead chose certain parts of creation to glorify instead: "They exchanged the glory of the immortal God...and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator." Romans 1:23-25 Whatever controls us becomes our lord...the person who seeks power is controlled by power; the person who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people they want to please. We do not control ourselves as much as we think we do, we are always controlled by the "lord" of our lives; whatever we may make that to be. Desire for Jesus was intended to shape all our other desires. But we have to be so careful not to let anything take precedent to our desire for him in ALL things and through ALL things.
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:1-4
"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." 1 Peter 2:1
Its so important for us to daily check ourselves and ask ourselves at this point, right now, "What are the things in my life I could not live without?" When I start there, I begin reevaluating and remembering who I am again and who I want to become. Idols are something besides Jesus, we feel we have to have to be happy; something more important to our heart than God, something enslaving our heart through excessive desires. We change and get rid of these idols when we begin to identify them in our lives. We have to go much deeper than the tangible things...for example, if I say money is my idol there is so much more than just idolizing money, the real idol is my desire for more control of my life or to be liked by other people. We will never get rid of our innate nature to desire, but we can redirect the sweet gift of desire back to Jesus. I think idols simply display our constant misdirection and they should continually lead us back to the cross...when we rejoice and remember and dwell on who Christ is and what he has done for us, that is when we lose our idols and remember where we started.
"Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
We create idols because we want to control our lives, even though we know we owe God everything. We take created things and settle our hearts on them and build our lives around them without even realizing it most of the time. If anything but Christ is our source of salvation, we are falling into idolatry. We were created to worship and desire God, but so often we skew our desires and "exchange the Truth of God for a lie" Romans 1:25. The more we seek power through idols, the more they drain us of strength. They blind us to the reality of our own desperate need for Christ to save us from ourselves. "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6
SOO all that to say, keep yo eyes on those sunrises and sunsets and always remind yourself daily of who God is and he will keep you from idolizing anything too much. When we seek Him daily, when we remind ourselves who He is whether through scripture or even just enjoying nature, or seeing Him in people...we remind ourselves, "How could we ever love anything or anyone more than Jesus?" Sometimes its hard to see Him beneath it all, I struggle with it all the time, but when things get complicated I just feel my heart beat and know. Use anything you might find as an "idol" as a perfect venue to channel desire to God. For instance, I go through dumb seasons where I idolize having this "perfect body image" like every other girl, but I have to be thankful for it now because whenever I feel inadequate I immediately direct my attention to God and pray about it and remember who I am in Christ cannot ever be changed by my physical appearance...by trying to redirect my desires I address Jesus and naturally turn my attention to Him instead of myself.
In the beginning, we were made to worship and serve God and rule over all created things in God's name (Gen 1:26-28). Instead we fell into sin. We refused to give God glory and instead chose certain parts of creation to glorify instead: "They exchanged the glory of the immortal God...and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator." Romans 1:23-25 Whatever controls us becomes our lord...the person who seeks power is controlled by power; the person who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people they want to please. We do not control ourselves as much as we think we do, we are always controlled by the "lord" of our lives; whatever we may make that to be. Desire for Jesus was intended to shape all our other desires. But we have to be so careful not to let anything take precedent to our desire for him in ALL things and through ALL things.
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:1-4
"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." 1 Peter 2:1
Its so important for us to daily check ourselves and ask ourselves at this point, right now, "What are the things in my life I could not live without?" When I start there, I begin reevaluating and remembering who I am again and who I want to become. Idols are something besides Jesus, we feel we have to have to be happy; something more important to our heart than God, something enslaving our heart through excessive desires. We change and get rid of these idols when we begin to identify them in our lives. We have to go much deeper than the tangible things...for example, if I say money is my idol there is so much more than just idolizing money, the real idol is my desire for more control of my life or to be liked by other people. We will never get rid of our innate nature to desire, but we can redirect the sweet gift of desire back to Jesus. I think idols simply display our constant misdirection and they should continually lead us back to the cross...when we rejoice and remember and dwell on who Christ is and what he has done for us, that is when we lose our idols and remember where we started.
"Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
We create idols because we want to control our lives, even though we know we owe God everything. We take created things and settle our hearts on them and build our lives around them without even realizing it most of the time. If anything but Christ is our source of salvation, we are falling into idolatry. We were created to worship and desire God, but so often we skew our desires and "exchange the Truth of God for a lie" Romans 1:25. The more we seek power through idols, the more they drain us of strength. They blind us to the reality of our own desperate need for Christ to save us from ourselves. "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6
SOO all that to say, keep yo eyes on those sunrises and sunsets and always remind yourself daily of who God is and he will keep you from idolizing anything too much. When we seek Him daily, when we remind ourselves who He is whether through scripture or even just enjoying nature, or seeing Him in people...we remind ourselves, "How could we ever love anything or anyone more than Jesus?" Sometimes its hard to see Him beneath it all, I struggle with it all the time, but when things get complicated I just feel my heart beat and know. Use anything you might find as an "idol" as a perfect venue to channel desire to God. For instance, I go through dumb seasons where I idolize having this "perfect body image" like every other girl, but I have to be thankful for it now because whenever I feel inadequate I immediately direct my attention to God and pray about it and remember who I am in Christ cannot ever be changed by my physical appearance...by trying to redirect my desires I address Jesus and naturally turn my attention to Him instead of myself.
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