Repentance

Oftentimes we are so driven to a life of perfection that our "repentance" becomes a method. It becomes about us; OUR feeling "a clean slate," OUR feeling "right," OUR success driven thinking to personally have victory over sin. In doing so, we miss the real point of repentance ~ opportunity to connect with the very One's heart we grieved. A moment of embrace. A beautiful occasion to hear, “You and I are okay.”

Worth It

As I walked this afternoon I was meditating on:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God loved us smack dab in the middle of our sin. He demonstrated His love while we rejected Him.  He poured His life out as an offering with the chance we may never love Him back.  Why would He lay Himself down for us in the midst of our wickedness? Why would He provide a way of escape for us when we lived a life that mocked His ways?  Why?   

“Not because you were worthy of it, but because you were WORTH IT.”     

Immediately I was reminded:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

It is not a suggestion, but a commandment to love as He loved. We are called to love those who do not deserve it.  Just saying we love people isn’t what He meant.  Love is a verb.  It is demonstrated in our actions, in our attitudes, in our words towards EVERYONE… yes, even the unlovely. Yes, even the one who disrespects you, the one who speaks evil of you, the one who has smeared your name, the one who has broken your heart, corrupt leaders, misguided politicians, the harsh boss that takes you for granted…

We have become so accustomed to the thought that we need to only respect and love those who are deserving of it and those who have earned it.  But God’s ways are much higher than our human logic:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the heathen do that?  You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:42-48

Each one of us was once lost in our sin and living a life separated from God… and yet - Jesus found us WORTH IT.  When we are tempted to pull our judgmental swords and withhold “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts” let’s remember where we came from and love those who have not yet found The Way. 

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"  Romans 2:3-4

The goodness of God. The goodness of God in what Jesus already did, the goodness of God in our everyday lives, and could it also be the goodness of God THROUGH US to others that will lead them to true repentance?  

May our love walk demonstrate the God who loved “while we were yet sinners.” May God's love in action - in us - be the very tool that gains us access to speak the Truth into those people’s lives who Jesus found WORTH IT! J

The Crown

Create in me a clean heart

Make me more like You

Help me walk obediently

Down the path You choose

You’ve made me in Your image

Please change me day by day

I am the clay within Your hands

Do with me what You may

You encourage me to persevere

When my enemies arise

Reminding me You’re always here

Help me focus on the prize

Rid me of myself, Lord

Fill me with Your Spirit

Don’t want to walk in my own strength

For I know I’ll never make it

Faithfully You take me back

When I stray from Your will

Help me focus on the plans

You want me to fulfill

You promise me a crown of life

If I love You and endure the test

I need Your strength so I can stand

I want to give my best

I don’t want to disappoint You

Never want to let You down

Lord, I want to please You

So I’m worthy of the crown

4/27/2000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNTd0B-3dL4&feature=related

Vessel

 

Smith Wigglesworth, a man of God from the 1800's... it is recorded, "He would walk by people and they would come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and be saved. He began to see miracles and healings and the glory of God would fall when he prayed and preached."  I want that!

But...

We have to step back for a minute and remember - God will use a willing vessel. He will. BUT just because He is using us, doesn't mean He has placed a stamp of approval on our lives.  The pride we cleverly disguise, the glory stealing, the rudeness, callousness, anger, hidden sin - all of it still must be dealt with and surrendered to Him. In knowing that, we realize that nothing we do is of ourselves. We have nothing to boast of.  We all have "stuff" to deal with. We are not perfected. We are only being used by the Perfect One.

It is also not enough that we are just a "likable people." We have failed if our lives have only produced a bunch of people who enjoy our company because of the "good life" we live. We need to be very conscious of why we do what we do and for Whom we do it for.  God wants His Kingdom advanced.  Let's just make sure we remind ourselves every day that it is not the created that deserves the glory - but the Creator. :) 

Use us, Lord - whether it be through an encouraging word, a healing, a deliverance, an act of hospitality, an act of service - whatever You choose, to touch a lost and dying people. May our lives, our attitudes, our demeanor, our actions be a mirror of who You are so that people will be drawn to You. May You use us in such a way that it would be evident to all that it is You working and not that of ourselves... We realize that You are the Contents; we are merely the vessel You have chosen to pour Yourself out of... 

God pours Himself into us, for us to pour Him out to others. May we wake up each morning EXPECTING. May our desire and prayer be: "Grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word. Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:30) 

...and whenever and however He uses us, let's give Him ALL the glory and praise that only He is worthy of! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXH0MjGe10s

Spills

"I need ALL of you" I heard the Lord speak.  ALL of me. He wants the good, the bad, and the ugly.  He wants the things I am ashamed of. He wants the pains, the struggles, the frustrations, the questions. ALL. 

Notice He didn't say He "wants." Though He does want all of us, in order to work in us, He NEEDS our cooperation.

We have to quit shoving things under the rug with God.  It's impossible to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, body, and strength - as we claim we do, if we don't give Him all of it.  Just as an earthly relationship with secrets, it's those very things that destroy the intimacy and damage the relationship.  We need to expose to Him the things He already sees - which in turn grants Him permission to heal, mend, and adjust our mindsets so we can be all we are called to be in Him.

Anything unrevealed will not be healed; will not be cleaned or made whole. If I spill something on the floor and leave it undealt with or carelessly spot clean, the damage remains.  It may be visible damage or it may be damage that is only seen when the carpet is removed.  In order to restore or fix the "spills" in our lives, we have to confront them head on by allowing God in. We must allow Him to shine His healing presence on the condition.  When our "free will" chooses to let God in, He then has something to work with. 

Upon opening the door to Him in ALL areas, we then need to trust Him. Trust Him that whatever He tells us is for our benefit and the benefit of others. Trust Him that even if what He tells us is painful at the moment, it's always for our greater good.  He may require you to rip out the carpet to get to the spill.  You may be, along with God, restoring the floor. Not an easy task. Not a joy ride... but His purpose is always greater... It's always to get you to the other side - to the side of His will - because He knows that it is in His perfect will, in His presence, joy and fulfillment are found.

I challenge you to surrender your ALL. Expect Him to do some rearranging because He will.  His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts... He won't always do what we are comfortable with. The process isn't always a quick work because anything rushed is rarely done well.

Quiet yourself. Wait on Him. His voice is calling out, "Give Me ALL of you."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LcyQOLVS_U

(Matthew 22:37, Isaiah 55:9, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 139:23, Psalm 51:10-12, Isaiah 53:4-5, Psalm 30:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 18:4)

His Love

Nothing could have stopped Him

From laying down His life

It wasn’t nails that held Him

To the cross that night

The love He had for the lost

Kept Him on that tree

With a word He could have come down

But He wanted us to see…

That He is the only and true way

By no other can we be saved

He became the sacrificial Lamb

To destroy death and the grave

He came to give an abundant life

To disarm the thief of our soul

Making a way for us to walk in victory

To be made completely whole

His love for us gives us hope

We don’t have to live in defeat

For by one single drop of His precious blood

are we able to be free…