Undeserved Blessings

I'm sitting at the pool this morning enjoying some warm sun and cool water before working this afternoon. The sun is toasty warm, and a refreshing morning breeze is blowing. This moment feels beautiful and peaceful. My summer has been filled with so many beautiful moments like this one. Outdoors in the beautiful weather. Fun times with loved ones. Surprises and misadventures abound. So many happy things and moments of joyful peace. Of course not everything has been happy. But I can't help but thank the Father for so many undeserved moments of joy. So many people in this world are suffering and going through great trials right now. Fighting for basic needs. Suffering loss, abuse, oppression, and tragedy. No refreshing mornings at the pool for them. I've had my own losses and bitter moments to teach me not to take what I have been given for granted. I don't deserve to be blessed and happy any more than they do.  Yet God has chosen to give me this time and these moments, for now. Moments to remember when the dark, bitter times come again. Make sure you pause and enjoy the all the kinds of riches and joy that God has placed in your life. And remember that everything He has blessed you with is meant to be shared to His glory.

I see God...
                     In blessings I don't deserve.

Running

2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."


Pursue...

Righteousness

Faith

Love

Peace


What is it you sincerely want in your life today? What does God want?

And what do you need to flee from to get there?

I see God...
                          when I think about what I want to run toward.

God's Image in Us

Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."

     We often use this verse to remind us of our self-worth - that God made us His, made us valuable, and made us the way we are for His perfect reasons. But that's not the only way to look at this verse.

Have you ever looked for God's image in others? If God has made us in His image then doesn't it follow that, as His direct creations, the best parts of our personalities and character traits are a reflection of His character. Has God put people in your life that reveal part of God's character to you?

My boyfriend is a happy, optimistic person. He's generous and caring and can make anyone laugh or smile. In him I see Christ's abundent joy when he gives us blessings and spends time with us.

One of my sisters is dogged and persistent and knows how to fight for what she wants. She reminds me of Christ's perseverance in His earthly life and God's intense pursuit of us and our redemption.

Another sister is an example to me of Christ's compassion and service in the way she is always thinking of others and their needs and feelings.

What about you? What part of God's image do other's see in you?

I see God...
                  In the people He has placed in my life to teach me more about who He is.

Expect and Accept the Unexpected

     Wow, it feels good to be blogging again. I haven't had a lot of time to miss it until now. My life is in one of those crazy in-between places right now. I'm not sure where I'm heading. It feels a lot like  climbing the first peak of a roller coaster - the anticipation of reaching the top but not knowing what to expect after that. I'm finding myself surprised a lot lately by all the twists and turns - unexpected circumstances, unexpected friendships, unexpected ministry. Truthfully, nothing in my life has turned out like I expected it would. But I think that that is a pretty significant clue that God is working in your life. If everything plays out exactly as you thought it would, then where is God's grander plan? How would you know that He has a plan greater than your limited vision without a few surprises? I'm finding that I enjoy the unexpected more than I thought I would. It's still hard. I'm still learning to have faith in a future that I can't foresee or control and to trust God when things don't go the way I want them to. But my life has already become so different from what I thought it would be; I'm willing to trust that if I continue to wait for God's plans I will be happier when I enter Eternity.

I see God...
                  When His unexpected surprises remind me that He has a Great Plan.

Love based on Faith

     The truest, most sacrificial form of love is a choice. It is an action not an emotion. It is based on faith, not feeling, and not faith in the ones you choose to love (for they can still let you down) but faith in the One who loves all in spite of all.

What Bible verses about love does this statement bring to mind?

What verses about love mean the most to you?

"Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that." - Ephesians 5:2, The Message

I see God...
                   in love based on faith in Someone far more true and loving than myself.

Grace versus Evil

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:20-21

Grace...

Wonderful grace.

Kindness.

Generosity.

Unfailing Love.

Goodness.

     This verse assures me that there is pure, absolute, concrete, universal Good that God has placed in this world - that existed before Evil and exists in spite of Evil.

Now God's wonderful Grace rules instead...

I see God...
                    when I see His goodness and grace reigning in the world.

1 Million Letters

     I've joined a group called the Teenage Life Club that's writing 1 million pro-life letters (one for each baby aborted in the U.S. each year) to the White House and the Supreme Court by the end of this month. That's only a week away and we've got a long way to go!

If you'd like to help go to the links below:

• Teenage Life Club Blog - Read more.
• Form Letter - Copy and print.
• TLC Facebook Page - Share away.

I trapped myself?

My friend posted this statement on a social media site:

     "Repeat something often enough and it will become you."

     The other day I wrote about feeling trapped by your past. This statement made me think - Do we sometimes trap ourselves? I believe that we do. I know that I do sometimes. What we say to ourselves, what we choose to let ourselves think, is just as dangerous as our tongue can be to others. And it's just the foothold Satan needs to get you to believe more and bigger lies. This is where God's promises come in.

      "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." - 2 Peter 1:3-4

What you think, if you let it in long enough, will become your reality whether or not it is true. In the battle for your mind, be careful what tell yourself and what you let yourself believe about yourself. God promises freedom, love, victory, protection, guidance worthwhile-ness, purpose... I'm learning to measure every negative thought by the truth of His promises not by culture or even my own standards - especially when I get that trapped feeling.

I see God...

                 when I reject the lie and claim the promise.

Kony 2012 Video

     I'm still reading the literature, but from what I've read and seen so far, I fully support Invisible Children's KONY 2012 campaign. I've watched the video, and I'm going to a IC event on Wednesday. I'll post more about it after that. In the mean time, if you haven't already done so, watch the video. It's PG-13, but it's a story of hope not of despair. Joseph Kony and his rebel group have been committing war crimes, abducting children and forcing them to become his army, for decades. Now people know his name and have demanded that the African and global communities fulfill there promise to capture and try him for his crimes. Kony will be stopped in God's timing as He wills it, and I will do my part to raise awareness of IC's mission and support the restoration of those affected by Kony and his rebel leaders.



For more information:

• Invisible Children Homepage
• History of the Conflict
• "Who is the LRA?" - Video about Kony's rebel group
• IC's responses to some important concerns and critiques

Prayers for a Friend / Drama

Praying hard for a friend tonight.

It seems like we are always looking for drama. We look for it in the lives of our friends. We look for it in our own lives. We always have to have something to talk about, brag about, complain about, until we run it in the ground. Our culture craves it; some of us even become addicted to it.

Until something happens out of our control, something that might not go away after the evening news  or next printing of the tabloid. Then we've had enough of drama and can't pray it away fast enough.

That's got nothing to do with my friend and what he's going through. It's just something I've noticed about society. And myself.

Next time you find yourself caught up in drama that's not all that important, try taking a moment to pray for someone, even someone you don't know, going through actual trials, injustices, and heartache. See if it changes your perspective. See if God shows you something more eternal.

What happened to my friend is unfair, and I'll keep praying for him. God's already had a hand in protecting him, and I expect to see more of God in this situation.