"Fight every battle in prayer, and you will win every time."
Jesus said, (Matthew 5:43-48) "You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.""
Ephesians 2: 3-5
"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifing the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved."
James 4: 6-8
" 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. "
1 Samuel 16:7
"...The Lord does not look at the things a man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Luke 23:34
"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'"
Help me God, cause I don't understand your ways all the time. I love you so much. You are amazing! Thank you for saving me from myself! As you said on the cross, "It is finished" your finished work has freed me!! Give me your strength to endure and continue to proclaim who you are. All for Your glory, never for myself.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Jesus,church, and beautiful basics
I recently posted on facebook a book/author I found, Dan Trimmal, who wrote They like Jesus but not the church and I like Jesus but not the church. Pretty sure I got some funny looks from all sides, but I wanted to comment on it by posing this analogy.
Zach liked this so I thought I would blog it.
Let us say, that you have never met my husband Zach and I. Say you met us at a party. And you thought, "hey, I really like Zach, he seems like such a nice guy and has so many good things to say, but I don't like Haley. She is really annoying, and I don't like her."
So, you really want to be friends with Zach, but the thing is, Zach is married to me. He loves me, and while getting to know Zach and spending time with him, you will begin to get to know Haley as well. Or maybe, before that even, the fact that Zach DOES love Haley and is commited to her.
Jesus loves His church, he sacrificed his life for her. Jesus has a similar relationship with the church of believers, as a husband to his wife.
More than anything, I would like to see the universal, Christian church wake up and get back to preserving the gospel truth. Zach and I looked at our budget of giving funds and realized that we are mostly supporting missionaries in the United States. I think this is because the truth the Bible tells us has either been watered down or skewed so much. God's gospel, simple and elegant, able to be understood by a child and still amazes a theologian or philosopher.
Sometimes, we can walk around in life feeling like we have gotten bits and pieces of information but never the whole story. Or, if you have ever taken a high school or college course and the professior failed to hand out a syllabus. And every class assignment and lecture feels random, and you may walk away feeling like, yeah, I did learn something... I guess I can try to use that somehow. Well, here is the syllabus that put it all together for me.
My syllabus for Life:
1. I was created for God, by God:
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and eath and does not live in temples built by hands.
2. I have sinned:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
3. Sin's penalty is death, I will die physically and spiritually:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
4. Christ paid my wage-what I earned, by his death and resurrection, paid in full.
2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
5. I believe and I am assured in Christ, and He leads me to life.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-
John 5:24 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
Zach liked this so I thought I would blog it.
Let us say, that you have never met my husband Zach and I. Say you met us at a party. And you thought, "hey, I really like Zach, he seems like such a nice guy and has so many good things to say, but I don't like Haley. She is really annoying, and I don't like her."
So, you really want to be friends with Zach, but the thing is, Zach is married to me. He loves me, and while getting to know Zach and spending time with him, you will begin to get to know Haley as well. Or maybe, before that even, the fact that Zach DOES love Haley and is commited to her.
Jesus loves His church, he sacrificed his life for her. Jesus has a similar relationship with the church of believers, as a husband to his wife.
More than anything, I would like to see the universal, Christian church wake up and get back to preserving the gospel truth. Zach and I looked at our budget of giving funds and realized that we are mostly supporting missionaries in the United States. I think this is because the truth the Bible tells us has either been watered down or skewed so much. God's gospel, simple and elegant, able to be understood by a child and still amazes a theologian or philosopher.
Sometimes, we can walk around in life feeling like we have gotten bits and pieces of information but never the whole story. Or, if you have ever taken a high school or college course and the professior failed to hand out a syllabus. And every class assignment and lecture feels random, and you may walk away feeling like, yeah, I did learn something... I guess I can try to use that somehow. Well, here is the syllabus that put it all together for me.
My syllabus for Life:
1. I was created for God, by God:
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and eath and does not live in temples built by hands.
2. I have sinned:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
3. Sin's penalty is death, I will die physically and spiritually:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
4. Christ paid my wage-what I earned, by his death and resurrection, paid in full.
2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
5. I believe and I am assured in Christ, and He leads me to life.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-
John 5:24 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Where is my faith?
Today, while working with two children that I have known and worked for for over 2 years now were coloring with me; the little 3 year old kept calling me "mommy" several times. As I walked to my car and drove off after the session, I realized, while this is not uncommon for young children to call their teachers "mommy" what caught me was my reaction to it. It had taken me until the end of the session to correct him, to call me "Ms Haley". Throughout the session, I let the "mommy" just wash over me like a cool wave. And, I hate to admit this, but I started to 'pretend' that I was to this child, what he was calling me. When I am not.
I thought about how God has provided for me time and time again, so why do I keep doubting His ways?
When I was in college, I pretended that my boyfriend was my husband, when he was not. I realized later that God had much greater plans for me. Not only to have an amazing husband -- with a mutual loving and growing relationship, but He wanted me to get to know Him. Through His son Jesus, I got to know the God who has great plans for me all along.
I have been studying Philippians this summer, so these passages have come to my mind and it is amazing how as I read them, I see doors opening and insight into what God has for me.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Phil 4:11)
- OK, so, I obviously need to learn what Paul learned here. My battle is always with discontentment. Always looking forward to what I don't have now, and thinking things should be different, and in the meantime loosing opportunities to be who I am.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)
- God started His work in my heart when I was younger, and has been faithful even though I have not always been faithful!!
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." (Phil 1:9)
- I am learning that God is good, and that God is God no matter what is going on in my life, and no matter what others say or what I say or think, God is who He is. He is God and I can give Him glory in my life whether I have a baby or not. I still pray that I do, because I am aware that my circumstances are not uncommon.
I laugh at how little patience I have, and how God is sorta telling me, yeah, let's work on that, huh?
I thought about how God has provided for me time and time again, so why do I keep doubting His ways?
When I was in college, I pretended that my boyfriend was my husband, when he was not. I realized later that God had much greater plans for me. Not only to have an amazing husband -- with a mutual loving and growing relationship, but He wanted me to get to know Him. Through His son Jesus, I got to know the God who has great plans for me all along.
I have been studying Philippians this summer, so these passages have come to my mind and it is amazing how as I read them, I see doors opening and insight into what God has for me.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Phil 4:11)
- OK, so, I obviously need to learn what Paul learned here. My battle is always with discontentment. Always looking forward to what I don't have now, and thinking things should be different, and in the meantime loosing opportunities to be who I am.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)
- God started His work in my heart when I was younger, and has been faithful even though I have not always been faithful!!
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." (Phil 1:9)
- I am learning that God is good, and that God is God no matter what is going on in my life, and no matter what others say or what I say or think, God is who He is. He is God and I can give Him glory in my life whether I have a baby or not. I still pray that I do, because I am aware that my circumstances are not uncommon.
I laugh at how little patience I have, and how God is sorta telling me, yeah, let's work on that, huh?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Persecution.com
I have been seeking out what Christ followers around the world face, and ways that they worship in their own, unique cultures. I love to hear how Jesus appeals to those in different cultures, and how the Gospel of Christ is universal. Today, Zach and I listened to our friends who recently went to Japan for a misson trip. He told how this one 20 something year old girl, bold and full of life, wanted to "hear it straight" as she put it. She wanted to know exactly who Jesus was and why it mattered to her and her life. Her response to the gospel message was, "DO OTHER PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS??" Her father was a Buddist priest, she grew up Buddist. She had heard things about Jesus, and just thought he was just another 'moral teacher' along with Muhammad and Budda. But not that he went to die willingly to atone for her sin!
"I never knew how important Jesus was..." she just kept repeating. I love hearing stories like this, because I can always relate somehow.
I knew Jesus was important, but I didn't know just how important He truely was and still is today, until nearly two years ago. Like that girl in Japan, I felt the need to tell others.
As an American Christain, I tend to forget that my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering around the world for the sake of the Gospel.
http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAw&featuredstory_ID=MjYy&clickfrom=ZmVhdHVyZWRzdG9yaWVz
The stories of people you hardly read about in the news; in prison, beaten, even killed in much of the Arab nations as well as Africa, Asia, and around the globe. It is so easy to forget and take for granted that I can worship freely.
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"I never knew how important Jesus was..." she just kept repeating. I love hearing stories like this, because I can always relate somehow.
I knew Jesus was important, but I didn't know just how important He truely was and still is today, until nearly two years ago. Like that girl in Japan, I felt the need to tell others.
As an American Christain, I tend to forget that my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering around the world for the sake of the Gospel.
http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAw&featuredstory_ID=MjYy&clickfrom=ZmVhdHVyZWRzdG9yaWVz
The stories of people you hardly read about in the news; in prison, beaten, even killed in much of the Arab nations as well as Africa, Asia, and around the globe. It is so easy to forget and take for granted that I can worship freely.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Just how far?
A song this morning got to me, because it is the prayer I had in my heart this morning and have had in the past too. As I went out to Starbucks to get my Iced Chi tea (in my awesome special cup) and Zach a latte, these words came on from Casting Crown, that very much spoke to me this morning. I love listening to music that puts to words what I am feeling, that I sometimes cannot find. I think I have done that all my life, and it could not be more true for me now.
"Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west?
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me
Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other "
'Woman' for me, 'I don't have to see the woman I've been come rising up in me again' man flows better. I am just hanging on to Jesus this morning, sometimes I feel like by a pinky--He'll pull me back up though.
I've watched alot of TV and movies in my life, and so, I think in images. My brain is like a constant movie reel. Today, I am seeing myself as the 'girl in distress' about to fall off a cliff, and Jesus is my Prince, Rescuer, who is pulling me back up to safety. Dramatic? yeah. Real? YES!
"Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west?
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me
Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other "
'Woman' for me, 'I don't have to see the woman I've been come rising up in me again' man flows better. I am just hanging on to Jesus this morning, sometimes I feel like by a pinky--He'll pull me back up though.
I've watched alot of TV and movies in my life, and so, I think in images. My brain is like a constant movie reel. Today, I am seeing myself as the 'girl in distress' about to fall off a cliff, and Jesus is my Prince, Rescuer, who is pulling me back up to safety. Dramatic? yeah. Real? YES!
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