I'm sure you've read that verse in the bible before. You know, the one that says, "Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!" Matthew 18:21-22
Well that verse has got me on a journey right now. This year I decided to read through the whole bible. So I am going through one of those bibles everyday. It's great because it breaks down Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs for every day. So after 365 days you will have read through the entire bible. Anyway, to me it's like reading a novel everyday. Especially the Old Testament. Some books cause you to scratch your head in confusion, but there are others that tell stories that just blow me away.
One constant theme I have been seeing is forgiveness and mercy. Not from people, but from God. From God towards the Israelites specifically. Have you ever noticed HOW MANY times those people would turn their backs on God? He would have mercy on them and rescue them, only to find them back in the same place again not much later. I have been scratching my head at that because I would have totally just wiped them away and started over after about the 3rd time I had to come to their rescue again. Good thing I'm not God I guess. :-D It seems to be a constant theme though. And every time I just sit back in awe of such a merciful God we serve. He performed amazing miracles for them. Amazing!! I'd like to think that if God parted a sea in order for me to cross over to dry land that I'd be on the "never gonna turn my back on God list" forever! He led these people out of captivity in Egypt and carried them, providing all they needed. And after they died and the next generation came along, He still did the same thing. He would rescue them from their enemies when they would come crying out to Him. Important fact to learn here....our God is full of mercy and compassion for His children, no matter how many times they fail.
So back to 70x7....Jesus told Peter to forgive that many times because that's what God does. He forgives when we come asking for forgiveness. He doesn't ask us to do anything that He doesn't do Himself when you think about it. And He tells us to forgive like that, because THAT's how He forgives. But if you're like me, then forgiveness doesn't always come that easy to you. I might get to 7, but after that my flesh is over and done with and the thought of 70 x 7 is as ludicrous as they come. BUT, that's what God commands us to do.
Why? Because we forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. How many times have you repeated the same mistake or sin over and over and over again? And how many times have you gone before God asking His forgiveness? So why would we think that we could treat our fellow man any different if they ask for our forgiveness?
Oh friends, forgiveness is not an easy task. It takes a will of laying down our rights and treating others as God has treated us. And we cannot do it within ourselves. We must rely on the strength and power of God at work within us. But there's no doubt about it... we MUST forgive.
If you have children, then you've probably heard the question from them on more than one occassion..."mom just give me one more chance!" It's funny, because I used to resound a loud "NO" with that request. But now, as soon as I am about to utter those words from my mouth I am reminded of the times I have gone before my heavenly Father asking for just "one more chance". Like I said earlier...our God is full of compassion for His children. That doesn' mean we won't have consequences for our actions, but it does mean that when we come to Him and ask for forgiveness, He forgives.
1 John 1:9 says, "But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." He will forgive. And so must we.
Keep pressing,
Stacy
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday....
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
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
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
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Going on a different run....
So I was deep into the heart of my next marathon training. I was down to just a few weeks remaining before race day on April 30. But something happened along the way. And I think I can trace it back to that Sunday morning run across the dam a few weeks ago. Because nothing has been the same since then.
I finished that run that morning and haven't felt the same about running since. Something happened in my heart that day seeing those spillways and having God speak to my heart like He did. My heart left the physical race I was training for that day and became completely focused on my spiritual race. I have been completely consumed with a passionate pursuit of God. I mean consumed!!!! Nothing else is measuring up. I tried to keep running and training for my marathon, but my heart had left it. So last Thursday morning as I was on what was supposed to be an 18 mile run, I got to 15 and made the decision to lay it down. And I did it with a peace in my heart knowing that there would be other marathons later on in my life, but I wasn't going to pass up this invitation from the heart of God to find Him and discover Him like I've never known before.
Now, if you would've asked me 6 months ago would I ever do that, I would have firmly told you no way. I loved running too much. But guys, let me tell you, something happens when you get a glance of Jesus. When you catch HIS glance, you want nothing else. And that's where I am. All I want is to find Him in everything. And I look for Him everywhere I go.
Running isn't gone from my life for good. But I have laid it down for a time. I used to place it before God. I'm ashamed to say it was such an idol in my life. But it was. I put my runs before everything else in my life. I was so consumed at training for marathons and everything else that I held it high in my heart. And it took the place of Jesus. I got a new perspective at the beginning of this year and finally got my priorities straight. And I was able to enjoy my runs and keep Jesus on the throne of my heart! :-) But as my heart has been drawn more and more to Him in these last couple of months, a holy fire has been lit within my heart and it seems every moment I spend alone with Jesus He just continues to pour a holy gasoline on it and cause it become a raging wild fire within my spirit now. It is one that is consuming everything in its path too. I mean completely consuming.
But isn't that what He does? And what He wants to do in each of us? To set our hearts on fire with His Spirit coming alive within us, and burning away all that is of our flesh and not of Him? Oh, I believe with all my heart it is what God longs to do in each of us. I think we just keep our hearts wet with cares of this world and it hinders that fire being ignited within us. That's where I was for a good while. But when we let those things dry up and we allow Him to ignite within us, there is no telling what all He will do within us. And when He sets us on fire spiritually, it becomes a raging, out of control wildfire within our hearts that forever changes who we are. It isn't a fire to be afraid of. It is a fire to long for. It is a fire to seek after with all your heart. Oh that His church would be ignited with that fire....think what we could do in this world.
He is calling each of us to run. Not physcially, but spiritually. He calls us to come up higher. To run after Him. To leave the world behind and to run after Him. To throw caution to the wind and give it our all to go after His heart with everything within us. We will find our joy in this pursuit. We will find that things that used to be so important to us really don't matter in view of finding Him. We pretty much become ruined for this world after we've had a taste of Him. And don't you think thats what He wants to do in all of us? To give us a taste of Him, so that our appetites are ruined for the things of this world?
Jeremiah 29:13 gives us this promise...."You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with ALL of your heart." He promises us that we WILL find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts.
So, yeah, I'm still running. But it's a different run right now. It's a run that's going after the heart of God with everything inside of me. I want my life consumed with Him. I want His fire to burn away everything that's of my flesh and of this world that is inside of me.
Don't just run. But run with a purpose in your life. Run after what really matters. Run after Him.
Run hard....
Stacy
I finished that run that morning and haven't felt the same about running since. Something happened in my heart that day seeing those spillways and having God speak to my heart like He did. My heart left the physical race I was training for that day and became completely focused on my spiritual race. I have been completely consumed with a passionate pursuit of God. I mean consumed!!!! Nothing else is measuring up. I tried to keep running and training for my marathon, but my heart had left it. So last Thursday morning as I was on what was supposed to be an 18 mile run, I got to 15 and made the decision to lay it down. And I did it with a peace in my heart knowing that there would be other marathons later on in my life, but I wasn't going to pass up this invitation from the heart of God to find Him and discover Him like I've never known before.
Now, if you would've asked me 6 months ago would I ever do that, I would have firmly told you no way. I loved running too much. But guys, let me tell you, something happens when you get a glance of Jesus. When you catch HIS glance, you want nothing else. And that's where I am. All I want is to find Him in everything. And I look for Him everywhere I go.
Running isn't gone from my life for good. But I have laid it down for a time. I used to place it before God. I'm ashamed to say it was such an idol in my life. But it was. I put my runs before everything else in my life. I was so consumed at training for marathons and everything else that I held it high in my heart. And it took the place of Jesus. I got a new perspective at the beginning of this year and finally got my priorities straight. And I was able to enjoy my runs and keep Jesus on the throne of my heart! :-) But as my heart has been drawn more and more to Him in these last couple of months, a holy fire has been lit within my heart and it seems every moment I spend alone with Jesus He just continues to pour a holy gasoline on it and cause it become a raging wild fire within my spirit now. It is one that is consuming everything in its path too. I mean completely consuming.
But isn't that what He does? And what He wants to do in each of us? To set our hearts on fire with His Spirit coming alive within us, and burning away all that is of our flesh and not of Him? Oh, I believe with all my heart it is what God longs to do in each of us. I think we just keep our hearts wet with cares of this world and it hinders that fire being ignited within us. That's where I was for a good while. But when we let those things dry up and we allow Him to ignite within us, there is no telling what all He will do within us. And when He sets us on fire spiritually, it becomes a raging, out of control wildfire within our hearts that forever changes who we are. It isn't a fire to be afraid of. It is a fire to long for. It is a fire to seek after with all your heart. Oh that His church would be ignited with that fire....think what we could do in this world.
He is calling each of us to run. Not physcially, but spiritually. He calls us to come up higher. To run after Him. To leave the world behind and to run after Him. To throw caution to the wind and give it our all to go after His heart with everything within us. We will find our joy in this pursuit. We will find that things that used to be so important to us really don't matter in view of finding Him. We pretty much become ruined for this world after we've had a taste of Him. And don't you think thats what He wants to do in all of us? To give us a taste of Him, so that our appetites are ruined for the things of this world?
Jeremiah 29:13 gives us this promise...."You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with ALL of your heart." He promises us that we WILL find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts.
So, yeah, I'm still running. But it's a different run right now. It's a run that's going after the heart of God with everything inside of me. I want my life consumed with Him. I want His fire to burn away everything that's of my flesh and of this world that is inside of me.
Don't just run. But run with a purpose in your life. Run after what really matters. Run after Him.
Run hard....
Stacy
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Are You Holding On.....Or Letting Go?
Found this article by J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine. It was so good I had to repost in my blog and share with you! I think it is a very timely word for the church today.
It's time to check your posture: Are your hands in the air? True worship requires surrender.
Christians used to talk a lot about surrender. They called it the consecrated life, and they sang about it in hymns such as "I Surrender All," "Have Thine Own Way" or "Wherever He Leads, I'll Go." These songs fueled the missionary movements of the past.
Today? Not so much.
In many American churches, "altars" are a strange concept. They are referred to as "stages," and they are used only for fog machines or music performances. "Altar calls" no longer fit in the time constraints of our trendy 80-minute services. Meanwhile, talk of surrender has been replaced by messages about self-empowerment and self-motivation.
The Good Life has replaced The God Life. The Path to Prosperity has become more popular than The Calvary Road. We are more interested in getting a breakthrough than brokenness.
Yet God is calling us back to consecration. Genuine worship, according to Romans 12:1, involves a wholehearted abandonment of self. Paul wrote: "Therefore I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (NASB).
When priests were set apart for God's service in the Old Covenant, they were "consecrated" in a solemn ceremony. The word for consecration in Exodus 28:41 means "to fill the hand."
The word is a picture of an empty hand receiving God's blessings and then giving them back to the Lord in unconditional surrender.
My question to you: Are your hands open and raised to God? Or are you making a fist? Have you given back to the Lord what He has given you? Or are your hands tightly clenched? It might be a good idea to examine how you are holding every aspect of your life:
Your TIME. Does God have your life 24/7? Does He have your weekends? Have you made room in your life to spend time with Him? Or has prayer been crowded out by your favorite TV shows, time with friends or the demands of work?
Your TALENTS. Are you using your natural and spiritual gifts to reach others for Christ? Or did you hide your talents, like the unwise steward in Jesus' parable? Have you assumed that, because others seemed more gifted, you should be a spectator while they serve?
Your MONEY. The only way to know if you are truly surrendered to God's will is if your wallet is open. A lack of generosity toward God's work reveals a much deeper problem.
Your FUTURE. Are you driving your career plans—or have you allowed God to take the steering wheel? Ambition can take you a long way—but it must be yielded to His will or it will lead to tragedy. You must agree with what Jesus prayed at Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Your RELATIONSHIPS. Do you allow friends, or romantic relationships, to lead you away from purity, integrity and spiritual faithfulness? The Bible says friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4). As painful as it may be, true surrender will involve cutting some ties.
Your SEXUALITY. Many Christians believe they can be faithful believers while practicing immorality. Don't buy that lie. Living the consecrated life means repenting of all known sin daily—and fleeing from fornication, adultery, pornography and all forms of lust.
Your CHILDREN. While we have been commanded to raise our kids for God, we also must entrust them to His care. After all, they are really His children, not ours. Once you've done your part, give them back to Him.
It's one thing to give your own life to Christ. It's another thing to surrender those you love to His will and purpose. It requires a whole new level of trust. But it is the path that Abraham, the father of our faith, was required to walk when he put his son Isaac on the altar.
True faith always involves gut-wrenching surrender. I urge you to take the right posture: Get your hands open, lift them up to heaven and say with all your heart: "Lord, I'm all yours."
It's time to check your posture: Are your hands in the air? True worship requires surrender.
Christians used to talk a lot about surrender. They called it the consecrated life, and they sang about it in hymns such as "I Surrender All," "Have Thine Own Way" or "Wherever He Leads, I'll Go." These songs fueled the missionary movements of the past.
Today? Not so much.
In many American churches, "altars" are a strange concept. They are referred to as "stages," and they are used only for fog machines or music performances. "Altar calls" no longer fit in the time constraints of our trendy 80-minute services. Meanwhile, talk of surrender has been replaced by messages about self-empowerment and self-motivation.
The Good Life has replaced The God Life. The Path to Prosperity has become more popular than The Calvary Road. We are more interested in getting a breakthrough than brokenness.
Yet God is calling us back to consecration. Genuine worship, according to Romans 12:1, involves a wholehearted abandonment of self. Paul wrote: "Therefore I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (NASB).
When priests were set apart for God's service in the Old Covenant, they were "consecrated" in a solemn ceremony. The word for consecration in Exodus 28:41 means "to fill the hand."
The word is a picture of an empty hand receiving God's blessings and then giving them back to the Lord in unconditional surrender.
My question to you: Are your hands open and raised to God? Or are you making a fist? Have you given back to the Lord what He has given you? Or are your hands tightly clenched? It might be a good idea to examine how you are holding every aspect of your life:
Your TIME. Does God have your life 24/7? Does He have your weekends? Have you made room in your life to spend time with Him? Or has prayer been crowded out by your favorite TV shows, time with friends or the demands of work?
Your TALENTS. Are you using your natural and spiritual gifts to reach others for Christ? Or did you hide your talents, like the unwise steward in Jesus' parable? Have you assumed that, because others seemed more gifted, you should be a spectator while they serve?
Your MONEY. The only way to know if you are truly surrendered to God's will is if your wallet is open. A lack of generosity toward God's work reveals a much deeper problem.
Your FUTURE. Are you driving your career plans—or have you allowed God to take the steering wheel? Ambition can take you a long way—but it must be yielded to His will or it will lead to tragedy. You must agree with what Jesus prayed at Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Your RELATIONSHIPS. Do you allow friends, or romantic relationships, to lead you away from purity, integrity and spiritual faithfulness? The Bible says friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4). As painful as it may be, true surrender will involve cutting some ties.
Your SEXUALITY. Many Christians believe they can be faithful believers while practicing immorality. Don't buy that lie. Living the consecrated life means repenting of all known sin daily—and fleeing from fornication, adultery, pornography and all forms of lust.
Your CHILDREN. While we have been commanded to raise our kids for God, we also must entrust them to His care. After all, they are really His children, not ours. Once you've done your part, give them back to Him.
It's one thing to give your own life to Christ. It's another thing to surrender those you love to His will and purpose. It requires a whole new level of trust. But it is the path that Abraham, the father of our faith, was required to walk when he put his son Isaac on the altar.
True faith always involves gut-wrenching surrender. I urge you to take the right posture: Get your hands open, lift them up to heaven and say with all your heart: "Lord, I'm all yours."
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Mighty, Rushing Outpouring...
This morning I got up at 3:30 am, on "spring forward" day. I met my running group at 4 and we proceeded out on our 16 mile run. I didn't want to be there. I would have rather been back in my bed, warm and cozy, enjoying every minute of sleep that I could. BUT, I survived the early alarm clock, made it out the door and happy to say, finished that dreaded run this morning. And oh how glad i am that I did.
Part of our run took us across the Wilson Dam. I've been across it dozens of times before on my long runs. But today, well, today was one I will never forget.
This past week was our Kingdom Advancement Conference at church. God did a mighty, mighty work in the hearts of His people. We experienced His presence and His Word. It was wonderful. It has inspired an even deeper hunger for the things of God in my life. Not only that, but it has set me on a passionate pursuit of holiness in my life. that's a topic for a whole nother blog post there. So let's get back to today.
As we were coming upon the top of the dam, I noticed there were several of the spillways open. As I got to where I could look over and see them, I saw a mighty rushing of water coming forth. It was powerful and quite the majestic sight. As sure as I'm writing this blog, I heard the Holy Spirit say to my heart, "This is what's to come spiritually for My people." I almost stopped in my tracks. But I kept watching the water gushing out of the spillways. It was captivating. It was a powerful force. And I felt the Lord showed me how these spillways represent the hearts of His people. He has been raining down lately, He is waiting for people to open up the spillways of their hearts so that He can pour through. And let me tell you, it's not a trickle He wants to do. It is a mighty, rushing outpouring that will change us the root of who we are. That water current was so strong coming out today. Nothing could have withstood it. And that's how it will be in our lives when He begins to pour forth. Nothing of our flesh can remain. No sin will be able to stand in it. It will wash away everything not of Him. And it will pour over to those around us. But it has to start in us.
How do we open the spillways of our lives? I believe with all my heart it starts with repentance. It starts when we fall to our knees and acknowledge our filthiness in our hearts. It starts when we dethrone all the false idols we have placed before God. We repent of our pride, arrogance, selfishness, lusts, vanity, anger,....anything that exalts itself against the nature and principles of God. It HAS to start in us. And we must be willing to come to terms with all the sin in our lives if we are to receive the outpouring that He has in store.
Not further down the road i came upon a smaller stream that had water rushing through it. It was tiny in comparison to what I had just seen. It was more like a refreshing stream of flowing water. And I felt like God began to show me how we have settled for just "refreshing". But He has soooo much more He wants to pour out. Refreshing times are good and useful for us, but they don't change us at the core of who we are. They aren't so powerful that they could wash away anything in its path.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to settle for streams of God. I want the spillways open so He can flood my life with His presence. I want nothing in my life to be able to stand when He pours Himself out in me. I want a spiritual tsunami over my life. I want the mighty, rushing outpouring so strong that Stacy disappears under it, and only the Jesus in me remains when all is said and done. I want a heart that crys out, "let no sin or iniquity rule in my heart, but only Christ and His Word."
May God stir our hearts to repentance. May He stir us to fall to our faces and cry out for more of Him, more of all He has in store for us. And may we not be content with streams in our lives, but earnestly seek after and passionately pursue the holiness of God in our lives. Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city....because there is no one like our God. To Him be glory!
Stacy
Part of our run took us across the Wilson Dam. I've been across it dozens of times before on my long runs. But today, well, today was one I will never forget.
This past week was our Kingdom Advancement Conference at church. God did a mighty, mighty work in the hearts of His people. We experienced His presence and His Word. It was wonderful. It has inspired an even deeper hunger for the things of God in my life. Not only that, but it has set me on a passionate pursuit of holiness in my life. that's a topic for a whole nother blog post there. So let's get back to today.
As we were coming upon the top of the dam, I noticed there were several of the spillways open. As I got to where I could look over and see them, I saw a mighty rushing of water coming forth. It was powerful and quite the majestic sight. As sure as I'm writing this blog, I heard the Holy Spirit say to my heart, "This is what's to come spiritually for My people." I almost stopped in my tracks. But I kept watching the water gushing out of the spillways. It was captivating. It was a powerful force. And I felt the Lord showed me how these spillways represent the hearts of His people. He has been raining down lately, He is waiting for people to open up the spillways of their hearts so that He can pour through. And let me tell you, it's not a trickle He wants to do. It is a mighty, rushing outpouring that will change us the root of who we are. That water current was so strong coming out today. Nothing could have withstood it. And that's how it will be in our lives when He begins to pour forth. Nothing of our flesh can remain. No sin will be able to stand in it. It will wash away everything not of Him. And it will pour over to those around us. But it has to start in us.
How do we open the spillways of our lives? I believe with all my heart it starts with repentance. It starts when we fall to our knees and acknowledge our filthiness in our hearts. It starts when we dethrone all the false idols we have placed before God. We repent of our pride, arrogance, selfishness, lusts, vanity, anger,....anything that exalts itself against the nature and principles of God. It HAS to start in us. And we must be willing to come to terms with all the sin in our lives if we are to receive the outpouring that He has in store.
Not further down the road i came upon a smaller stream that had water rushing through it. It was tiny in comparison to what I had just seen. It was more like a refreshing stream of flowing water. And I felt like God began to show me how we have settled for just "refreshing". But He has soooo much more He wants to pour out. Refreshing times are good and useful for us, but they don't change us at the core of who we are. They aren't so powerful that they could wash away anything in its path.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to settle for streams of God. I want the spillways open so He can flood my life with His presence. I want nothing in my life to be able to stand when He pours Himself out in me. I want a spiritual tsunami over my life. I want the mighty, rushing outpouring so strong that Stacy disappears under it, and only the Jesus in me remains when all is said and done. I want a heart that crys out, "let no sin or iniquity rule in my heart, but only Christ and His Word."
May God stir our hearts to repentance. May He stir us to fall to our faces and cry out for more of Him, more of all He has in store for us. And may we not be content with streams in our lives, but earnestly seek after and passionately pursue the holiness of God in our lives. Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city....because there is no one like our God. To Him be glory!
Stacy
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