You see alot of posts on facebook and everywhere today talking about Good Friday. Some talk about how it was good because of what Jesus did for us on this day. Others say it is good because of what comes after today. And then there are still others who don't have a clue what today represents in the hearts of believers.
But I want to present today in another way. We call it Good Friday. It is the day we honor the sacrifice that Jesus made by sacrificing His life for ours so that we may have eternal life. His sacrifice enables more than just that though. His sacrifice provides us with everything we need to endure our life on this earth. His sacrifice paid the way for it all. But lets look at it even closer. We can call today Good, because no matter what we endure in this life, HE remains GOOD through it all.
When times are the hardest in our lives, He is GOOD. When our strength fails us, He is GOOD. When our lives get interrupted by turmoil, crisis, or troubles, HE IS GOOD. And He knows the pains of our hearts when we are called to endure times of pain and suffering.
Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, "15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
Dear friends, I don't know what you are going through in your life today. I have seen some troubles hit many people I love in the last few weeks and months. I have watched parents say goodbye to their only child who was only with them for 3 short years. They are in the pit of grief. I have watched 2 young girls and their father say goodbye to their mom and wife who was taken from them suddenly in a car crash. Their world has been turned upside down. I have watched a family say goodbye to their daughter, sister, and wife who fought a long hard battle with cancer. Their hearts are saddened. And yet I have watched a little girl who came to the brink of death just a few short months ago and God has raised her up and doing some amazing things through her and her family. Yet during this whole experience, her parents are learning to see one truth that can only sustain....HE IS GOOD, EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE NOT. That alone is the only hope we can rest assured of when our lives are falling apart. And let me tell you, He WILL show you His goodness in your darkest storms.
You see, as believers, we can boldly say on any given day, that He is GOOD, even when that day and all the circumstances that surround it are not. Why? Because we have watched Him endure great sacrifice. We are given promise after promise in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us. And just as we have seen in Hebrews, He understands how hard it is when we are faced with daunting circumstances that seem to be bigger than we are. And the fact of the matter is just that....our circumstances are bigger than WE are. BUT, they are not bigger than the God who lives inside of us. He provides everything we need to make it through each day of the storm we may be facing.
Lighthouses provide comfort to many a ship at sea. They know the lighthouse will provide a beacon to help guide them to safety, even when they may not can see ahead of them. They trust the lighthouse and the light it provides. As the lighthouse is to ships at sea, so God is to His children. Even when we cannot see how we will make it safely to shore, God provides a beacon of hope and light to guide our way. All we must do is trust Him. Trust His Word He has given us.
So you see, today is GOOD Friday. It's GOOD because we have the same Jesus who sacrificed His life living inside of us. It's GOOD, because His sacrifice enables us to say on ANY given day, HE alone is GOOD. I urge you today, if you are facing one of your toughest battles, look UP. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Let His light guide you through the storm in your life. And make HIM bigger than anything you are facing. Exalt Him with your life, not your circumstances. You've heard it said, "Don't tell God how big your problems are , tell your problems how big your God is." Well, it's true! Don't allow what you are facing to become the center of your life. Don't allow it to take over the place in your heart that is meant for God and God alone. When you do that, it's hard to look up and say that He is good because you can't see through the troubles you are facing. BUT, when make God bigger than anything else in our lives, we CAN look up and say "He is GOOD, even though my times are not." That is putting your trust in Him when life is full of crashing waves.
Today is a GOOD day friend. It's a GOOD FRIDAY. Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice that enables me to say everyday, You are Good.
Stacy
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Epic Fail....or Quiet Perfection?
So this was my week to play drums on our worship team at church. I haven't played regularly on the drums in many years, so I always feel quite rusty whenever I play. This past Wednesday night we had band rehearsal and I was a ball of nerves all of practice. I just tried to play a straight beat, no fills, no nothing. Pretty boring actually. But I was scared of messing up so I just played it safe. About the last 15 minutes of practice I felt more free and so I started playing more aggressively and just letting go basically. And my worship Pastor took notice. Afterwards he and I had a conversation and it has etched so deeply in my spirit I can't shake it loose.
I was telling him after practice that how I was unsure of myself and was trying to play it safe so i wouldn't make any mistakes so I didn't do anything but a basic beat. He then proceeded to tell me how he would rather I play aggressively and boldly and have an epic fail than to play safe and have quiet perfection. And I haven't been able to shake that since.
I got to thinking about that in every aspect of my life. But especially spiritually. How often do we play it safe spiritually. We never take chances because we're afraid of failing. We ignore the urges to speak to someone or to step out and do something because we're afraid. So we just play it safe and sit back in a quiet perfection if you will, never making any ripples against the kingdom of darkness.
I don't know about you, but I don't want quiet perfection when it comes to my walk with Jesus. I want boldness. I want to live so boldly for Him that I step out in faith and risk epic fails, but also find opportunities to see His kingdom advanced, rather than to stay to myself, never having made a difference.
Think about the disciples in Acts. They prayed with BOLDNESS. They lived aggressively for the Kingdom. They didn't play it safe. They took chances. They trusted God with great faith. And look what happened. They didn't live with "what ifs" or looking back with regrets. They lived for the Kingdom, and everything they did reflected that.
Think about the blind man at the gate when Jesus was passing through. He could've sat silently just hoping Jesus would notice him. But he didn't. He began shouting to Jesus. He was living boldly. He was being aggressive in his faith. And what did Jesus do? He healed him.
Think about Peter. He acted boldly when he stepped out of the boat onto the water and began to walk towards Jesus. What happened when he took his eyes off of Jesus though? EPIC FAIL......HE SANK.
So what's the moral of this story? It's that living for Jesus is meant to be more than a subdued and quiet reflective state. It is meant to be lived with boldness for Him. Yes, you can live quietly, never take chances and still go to heaven if you've asked Jesus to be Lord of your life. BUT, what are you missing out on by never taking chances? What greater victories have you missed out on because you were afraid? Have you missed the miraculous in your life because you were too scared to step out and see God move?
I have. I know that I have missed some great opportunities in my life because I was afraid. And so I played it safe. And those are my regrets. But no more. I want to live out loud for Jesus in every part of my life. I want to exercise great faith in what I believe He can do. I want to get out of the boat. I want to pray boldly and expectantly. I want to shout out His name even when those around me are silent. Fear has no place in our lives. It cripples us. I don't want to be crippled. I want to run free after the heart of God.
What about you? Are you living boldly for Him? Are you stepping out of the boat? Or are you playing it safe, always looking back on the "what ifs" in your spiritual life? Are you living with regrets because you have been wrapped up in fear? Well no more. Step out! And abandon yourself totally and completely to Him and what He is doing in your life. And what He wants to do through your life. You don't have to be a preacher or a pastor for God to use you. You just have to have a willing heart that is always YES LORD in every circumstance.
He's extending His arms to us from the water today and saying, "Come." Won't you join me?
Live boldly....
Stacy
I was telling him after practice that how I was unsure of myself and was trying to play it safe so i wouldn't make any mistakes so I didn't do anything but a basic beat. He then proceeded to tell me how he would rather I play aggressively and boldly and have an epic fail than to play safe and have quiet perfection. And I haven't been able to shake that since.
I got to thinking about that in every aspect of my life. But especially spiritually. How often do we play it safe spiritually. We never take chances because we're afraid of failing. We ignore the urges to speak to someone or to step out and do something because we're afraid. So we just play it safe and sit back in a quiet perfection if you will, never making any ripples against the kingdom of darkness.
I don't know about you, but I don't want quiet perfection when it comes to my walk with Jesus. I want boldness. I want to live so boldly for Him that I step out in faith and risk epic fails, but also find opportunities to see His kingdom advanced, rather than to stay to myself, never having made a difference.
Think about the disciples in Acts. They prayed with BOLDNESS. They lived aggressively for the Kingdom. They didn't play it safe. They took chances. They trusted God with great faith. And look what happened. They didn't live with "what ifs" or looking back with regrets. They lived for the Kingdom, and everything they did reflected that.
Think about the blind man at the gate when Jesus was passing through. He could've sat silently just hoping Jesus would notice him. But he didn't. He began shouting to Jesus. He was living boldly. He was being aggressive in his faith. And what did Jesus do? He healed him.
Think about Peter. He acted boldly when he stepped out of the boat onto the water and began to walk towards Jesus. What happened when he took his eyes off of Jesus though? EPIC FAIL......HE SANK.
So what's the moral of this story? It's that living for Jesus is meant to be more than a subdued and quiet reflective state. It is meant to be lived with boldness for Him. Yes, you can live quietly, never take chances and still go to heaven if you've asked Jesus to be Lord of your life. BUT, what are you missing out on by never taking chances? What greater victories have you missed out on because you were afraid? Have you missed the miraculous in your life because you were too scared to step out and see God move?
I have. I know that I have missed some great opportunities in my life because I was afraid. And so I played it safe. And those are my regrets. But no more. I want to live out loud for Jesus in every part of my life. I want to exercise great faith in what I believe He can do. I want to get out of the boat. I want to pray boldly and expectantly. I want to shout out His name even when those around me are silent. Fear has no place in our lives. It cripples us. I don't want to be crippled. I want to run free after the heart of God.
What about you? Are you living boldly for Him? Are you stepping out of the boat? Or are you playing it safe, always looking back on the "what ifs" in your spiritual life? Are you living with regrets because you have been wrapped up in fear? Well no more. Step out! And abandon yourself totally and completely to Him and what He is doing in your life. And what He wants to do through your life. You don't have to be a preacher or a pastor for God to use you. You just have to have a willing heart that is always YES LORD in every circumstance.
He's extending His arms to us from the water today and saying, "Come." Won't you join me?
Live boldly....
Stacy
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Purging....
So we are on a mission at our house right now. We are putting our house up for sell and moving into the city. With that said, we are having to do some work in our house before it is ready to go on the market. Besides the obvious repainting and things like that, our biggest job is purging. That's right....PURGING. And it is no fun task in this household!!!
We have only lived here a little over 6 years, but we have accumulated enough stuff that it looks like we have been here for 20. I don't even know where it all came from. But whatever little fairie dropped it off at my doorstep and left it, I sure wish she would just come pick it right back up and save me from the daunting task of clearing it all away!
One thing I have discovered while on this mission...when I have gotten an area in my house cleaned out good and thrown all the unneccessary stuff away, it feels GREAT. It feels cleaner, it feels open, it feels free. And it makes the room or area that I purged much more usable because I have cleared out SPACE. Space that was filled with mindless little things. Things that really should've been thrown in the trash a long time ago. Things that are really of no value to me anymore. Just "things" that needed to be discarded so that the area could be useful once again and not crammed full of that stuff.
You know, I think it's the same way in our lives when God begins purging us. Is it fun when He begins the process in us? No way. Sometimes it just flat out hurts like the devil. Is it necessary? Absolutely. It's necessary because if He doesn't purge away all the useless garbage in our lives, then we can't be very useful for His kingdom.
The dictionary defines purging as "To free from impurities; purify....To rid of sin, guilt, or defilement..." We all have things in our lives that defile us spiritually. It may be that unforgiveness we are holding on to, it may be an uncontrolled temper, it could be a tongue that speaks evil.... God tells us through His Word clearly what things we are to do and what needs to be purged from our life.
Ephesians 4:21-32 tells us....
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
So, after reading that, see anything that might need a little purging in your life? I read it and think to myself, "OUCH!" God wants to rid us of all the impurities that keep us from living a victorious life for Him. Yes, it may hurt when He is in the purging process in our lives, but when He is done and we allow Him to rid our hearts of all the garbage, there is a glorious beauty that surrounds our hearts when we are full of HIM. When we allow Him to purge us, the end result will be a heart that is full of Him and made useful for His kingdom. And isn't that what we want in our heart of hearts???? I know I do. I want His kingdom at work and active in my life. And if there is anything in my heart that keeps Him from working in me, I want it gone!
Cleaning out and purging is never fun. It takes time. It takes work. And when the Spirit of God is doing the purging, it takes submission to the Potters hands. Allow Him to do that work in your life. You'll like the end result....I promise.
Stacy
We have only lived here a little over 6 years, but we have accumulated enough stuff that it looks like we have been here for 20. I don't even know where it all came from. But whatever little fairie dropped it off at my doorstep and left it, I sure wish she would just come pick it right back up and save me from the daunting task of clearing it all away!
One thing I have discovered while on this mission...when I have gotten an area in my house cleaned out good and thrown all the unneccessary stuff away, it feels GREAT. It feels cleaner, it feels open, it feels free. And it makes the room or area that I purged much more usable because I have cleared out SPACE. Space that was filled with mindless little things. Things that really should've been thrown in the trash a long time ago. Things that are really of no value to me anymore. Just "things" that needed to be discarded so that the area could be useful once again and not crammed full of that stuff.
You know, I think it's the same way in our lives when God begins purging us. Is it fun when He begins the process in us? No way. Sometimes it just flat out hurts like the devil. Is it necessary? Absolutely. It's necessary because if He doesn't purge away all the useless garbage in our lives, then we can't be very useful for His kingdom.
The dictionary defines purging as "To free from impurities; purify....To rid of sin, guilt, or defilement..." We all have things in our lives that defile us spiritually. It may be that unforgiveness we are holding on to, it may be an uncontrolled temper, it could be a tongue that speaks evil.... God tells us through His Word clearly what things we are to do and what needs to be purged from our life.
Ephesians 4:21-32 tells us....
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
So, after reading that, see anything that might need a little purging in your life? I read it and think to myself, "OUCH!" God wants to rid us of all the impurities that keep us from living a victorious life for Him. Yes, it may hurt when He is in the purging process in our lives, but when He is done and we allow Him to rid our hearts of all the garbage, there is a glorious beauty that surrounds our hearts when we are full of HIM. When we allow Him to purge us, the end result will be a heart that is full of Him and made useful for His kingdom. And isn't that what we want in our heart of hearts???? I know I do. I want His kingdom at work and active in my life. And if there is anything in my heart that keeps Him from working in me, I want it gone!
Cleaning out and purging is never fun. It takes time. It takes work. And when the Spirit of God is doing the purging, it takes submission to the Potters hands. Allow Him to do that work in your life. You'll like the end result....I promise.
Stacy
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