4. Personal experience
I
am eons away from being fully mature and complete in my faith, however I
have definitely had the privilege of seeing the truth of James 1:2-3
play out in my short life. Over the years, I have faced various hardships and trials. From those of my youth including losing pets, learning to make friends, learning to be subject to my parent's authority, making good grades...to more serious ones such as losing a loved one, going through hard break-ups, persevering through an intense grad school program, a close relative losing a job undeservedly, losing connection with friends (for various reasons), and being unmarried.
Again, my trials are miniscule compared to the trials of some others...yet God has graciously used those trials in my life to continually mold me into a better servant for Him. And I am so incredibly thankful that He is no where near finished. Each trial/test makes me stronger in Him by magnifying my weaknesses and His power. Every time I face something new, I am better able to rely on Him and see His power manifested a little more. While in the moment I could not understand why I had to endure certain circumstances...I have seen God grow me in some pretty cool ways when I am open to Him. I have become more patient with others and am able to see the good in them more quickly, able to stay more positive in difficult situations, trust in God's plan despite the circumstances, and be thankful for the blessings in my life. I am so thankful for these aspects of growth...but we're just beginning to scratch the surface with these attributes as I have a lot of growing to do!
I know that this process will never cease in my lifetime, as I can never attain a flawless Christlike character here on earth. But I am so thankful that my Father in heaven will never give up on me...diligently and patiently scraping off my rough edges to shape me into the woman He wants me to be. <3
5. A couple other Bible verses...
1 Peter 1:6-7: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Romans 5:3-5: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Hebrews 12:5-7: And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Facing Trials Part 2
In my last post, I looked at James 1:2, talking about having joy in suffering. Long story short, we are called to have pure joy in all circumstances, no matter how difficult they may be. But why? Just because God says so? Well...I personally think that's an excellent reason, but He goes into a little more depth as to why we should have joy. :) He follows verse two's call to action with these words :"Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:3-4). Last time I talked about the "what" and "when"...now what about the "why"?
3. Result (why)
For some reason, God has allowed me to avoid some of the serious trials that many of you may be going through right now. But I do have trials of my own. God knows each of our lives intimately, what we can handle and what we need to grow in Him. Each one of His children has different trials that they will need to face according to His plan. Trials that will test their individual faith...not the faith of their parents or the faith of their friends, but their faith alone. This can be intimidating as we, as humans, are social animals and rely heavily on one another. While the social comradery is very important to our Christian walk, we need those individual trials and tests to develop our faith to it's fullest.
First things first...He says that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. For all you sports minded people, this part should make total sense! You can't take an individual that has never played baseball in his life and expect him to hit a home run the first time he holds a bat...or expect that girl that has never run in her life to win a marathon...that's just preposterous! We all know that these things take training. You don't just wake up one day an all-star athlete. Let's just take running for example. I dabble in running here and there, but I mostly definitely don't have the stamina to persevere through a marathon! That would take training, training that I have not yet pursued. But if I were to push myself and to actually train for that marathon, I would one day be able to accomplish that goal. That training would definitely not be easy and would test me and stretch me in ways I have never been tested/stretched before. But that's how I become better and develop that perseverance! The same holds true with our faith. Just because we accepted Christ as our savior does NOT mean we are strong, mature Christians. Yes, accepting Christ brings us into the Christian family and grants us eternity with God...but at first citation of the sinners prayer, we are still baby Christians.
Going through those trials and gaining that perseverance are what causes maturity to grow. I don't know about you, but I would love to develop just a little bit of that spiritual maturity! Yes, I am more spiritually mature now than when I first accepted Christ....but then I look at those Godly men and women in my church and in ministry and I think "wow!" How I would love to have the faith that they exhibit! And the wisdom! It's truly amazing. But did they always have that faith and wisdom? Goodness no! They had some sort of humble beginning or hard times that brought them to the place they are now. I can guarantee you, if you seek out a truly spiritually mature individual in your church, and ask them how they got there....they will have some sort of story for you, big or small. For just as James said, perseverance must "finish its work so you may be mature and complete." Perseverance leads to maturity.
Ok, cool, maturity. So what's the big deal? As we persevere through trials and develop that spiritual maturity, God prepares us for what's to come! We become stronger in Him and are able to more fully rely on Him and His provision with each new scenario. Each unique trial contributes to that strength in some way. Most likely we won't recognize it in that instance....it will be when we are faced with a new trial. Again, you may not readily see how that previous trial was beneficial, but there is a good chance you will be able to face this current trial in a way you would have been unable to previously. God knows exactly what each of us needs to help us grow in Him. It might not always be enjoyable or easy (in fact, I can guarantee there will be times that are NOT enjoyable and easy)...but it will be beneficial.
So while it is easy to let out a groan when thinking about trials....try to refocus on these verses in James. No, trials probably won't be fun and will most likely be difficult....but they are a necessary part of God's plan to mold us into who He wants us to be. They allow us to grow in faith and reliance on God, develop a more intimate relationship with our savior, and give us strength and wisdom to face whatever the future brings. I never thought I'd be thankful for tests and trials, but I most certainly am now!
3. Result (why)
For some reason, God has allowed me to avoid some of the serious trials that many of you may be going through right now. But I do have trials of my own. God knows each of our lives intimately, what we can handle and what we need to grow in Him. Each one of His children has different trials that they will need to face according to His plan. Trials that will test their individual faith...not the faith of their parents or the faith of their friends, but their faith alone. This can be intimidating as we, as humans, are social animals and rely heavily on one another. While the social comradery is very important to our Christian walk, we need those individual trials and tests to develop our faith to it's fullest.
First things first...He says that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. For all you sports minded people, this part should make total sense! You can't take an individual that has never played baseball in his life and expect him to hit a home run the first time he holds a bat...or expect that girl that has never run in her life to win a marathon...that's just preposterous! We all know that these things take training. You don't just wake up one day an all-star athlete. Let's just take running for example. I dabble in running here and there, but I mostly definitely don't have the stamina to persevere through a marathon! That would take training, training that I have not yet pursued. But if I were to push myself and to actually train for that marathon, I would one day be able to accomplish that goal. That training would definitely not be easy and would test me and stretch me in ways I have never been tested/stretched before. But that's how I become better and develop that perseverance! The same holds true with our faith. Just because we accepted Christ as our savior does NOT mean we are strong, mature Christians. Yes, accepting Christ brings us into the Christian family and grants us eternity with God...but at first citation of the sinners prayer, we are still baby Christians.
Going through those trials and gaining that perseverance are what causes maturity to grow. I don't know about you, but I would love to develop just a little bit of that spiritual maturity! Yes, I am more spiritually mature now than when I first accepted Christ....but then I look at those Godly men and women in my church and in ministry and I think "wow!" How I would love to have the faith that they exhibit! And the wisdom! It's truly amazing. But did they always have that faith and wisdom? Goodness no! They had some sort of humble beginning or hard times that brought them to the place they are now. I can guarantee you, if you seek out a truly spiritually mature individual in your church, and ask them how they got there....they will have some sort of story for you, big or small. For just as James said, perseverance must "finish its work so you may be mature and complete." Perseverance leads to maturity.
Ok, cool, maturity. So what's the big deal? As we persevere through trials and develop that spiritual maturity, God prepares us for what's to come! We become stronger in Him and are able to more fully rely on Him and His provision with each new scenario. Each unique trial contributes to that strength in some way. Most likely we won't recognize it in that instance....it will be when we are faced with a new trial. Again, you may not readily see how that previous trial was beneficial, but there is a good chance you will be able to face this current trial in a way you would have been unable to previously. God knows exactly what each of us needs to help us grow in Him. It might not always be enjoyable or easy (in fact, I can guarantee there will be times that are NOT enjoyable and easy)...but it will be beneficial.
So while it is easy to let out a groan when thinking about trials....try to refocus on these verses in James. No, trials probably won't be fun and will most likely be difficult....but they are a necessary part of God's plan to mold us into who He wants us to be. They allow us to grow in faith and reliance on God, develop a more intimate relationship with our savior, and give us strength and wisdom to face whatever the future brings. I never thought I'd be thankful for tests and trials, but I most certainly am now!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Facing Trials Part 1
Trials. This topic has been on my mind lately as I'm facing some biggies currently and it is a common word used in our Christian circles. We all go through them....big, small, medium....painful, not so painful, confusing....some are concrete, others more abstract....whatever it may be, as Christians we most likely know we'll face them at some point in time. Ugh. Just the thought of trials makes my heart feel heavy and stressed. But what does the Bible say about trials? Be stressed and upset? Cry and complain about them? Give up and feel sorry for yourself? Those of you that have read the Bible much at all should be almost laughing at this point, because that is definitely NOT what the Bible says about trials. The Bible actually takes a much different stance on trials:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-3
PURE joy. Not just joy...not a little joy...not joy in a few things....but PURE joy. Other translations say "count it all joy" (ESV, KJV) or "great joy" (Holman Christian Standard) or "nothing but joy" (NET Bible). Furthermore, God is calling us to have complete joy when we are going through trials, of all sorts! It doesn't matter whether you failed a class, wrecked your car, are going through a breakup, lost a loved one, lost a job, are being persecuted for your faith, whatever! Ok wait, let me get this straight...you want me to have COMPLETE JOY when I'm SUFFERING?!? I don't get it...this just doesn't fit with my westernized way of thinking. Stephanie, I'm looking for the American dream, not sorrow. Well let's break this down...
1. Joy vs. Happiness
First things first, let's confront a common misconception. Many people, when they read that verse, mentally substitute happiness for joy. That seems harmless enough, right? I mean, in our culture we often use them interchangeably. But just because we do that does not mean we should. In fact, these two words have a slightly different meaning....and if God had wanted to refer to happiness, you better believe He would have done so. One source I found defined the difference well: "In order to understand the lifestyle God desires for us, we need to know the difference between joy and happiness. Both can be defined as gladness, delight, and pleasure in something, but happiness has an external cause. When circumstances are favorable and delightful, we are naturally happy, but when events take a downward turn, so do our spirits. Joy, on the other hand, has an internal cause and is not dependent upon outside conditions. As believers, we can keep our contentment in good times and bad because our delight is in the Lord, not in our fluctuating circumstances. (http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_empowering_emotion_of_joy#.VI5xGXufJWM)." Another source puts it this way: "Happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people. Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. (http://www.gotquestions.org/joy-happiness.html)." Very similar words....very different meanings.
In James 1, God is calling us to have joy, not happiness. I believe He wants us to be happy, what father wouldn't want his children to be happy?? But that's not what He's asking from us in these verses. Instead, He's telling us to have 100% joy despite the circumstances, which is much deeper than a fleeting feeling of happiness.
2. When?
Ok....I get the difference between joy and happiness, but God really wants me to have that pure, unadulterated joy when I'm facing trials?!? Yes! You got it!! It's easy to have joy when things are good...you know, when things seem perfect with that boyfriend/girlfriend, you get that promotion at work, you pass a certification exam...those things are great and make us feel good. But what happens when you break up with that boyfriend/girlfriend, or lose that job, or fail that exam? What then? That's right...have pure joy. All these things are trials....things that God uses to test our faith and ultimately bring us closer to Him. (*Disclaimer*: Some hard times in our lives are simply consequences for things we've done in our past or a result of sin in the world. However, God can use even those situations to help us grow in Him. So I think it's safe to say we should have joy in those circumstances as well. :) Furthermore, have you ever considered that God just MIGHT have something better for you in mind? Sure, that boyfriend/girlfriend may have been an amazing Godly person....but there are a lot of those individuals in the world! God may have a much better fit for you in store. Heck, I don't know, only God can see that bigger picture! Or what about that job or certification exam? Maybe He has a better job? Or a better career for you? Something in which you can better serve Him? Only He can see that bigger picture of His plan...the plan that He's working out for His glory. We just gotta have faith, trust Him, and follow His leading.
Such a simple verse...but so much meat to it! It completely goes against much of our American culture. Next time you're going through a trial, step back, take a deep breath, and think on this verse. Yes, it might be a horribly awful situation...but our heavenly Father has called us to have joy, even in those circumstances. We've looked at verse 2 telling us the what and when, but next time we'll take a look at verse 3, the why. And no, the why is not just "because God said so"...although I'd say that's still a pretty good reason ;)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-3
PURE joy. Not just joy...not a little joy...not joy in a few things....but PURE joy. Other translations say "count it all joy" (ESV, KJV) or "great joy" (Holman Christian Standard) or "nothing but joy" (NET Bible). Furthermore, God is calling us to have complete joy when we are going through trials, of all sorts! It doesn't matter whether you failed a class, wrecked your car, are going through a breakup, lost a loved one, lost a job, are being persecuted for your faith, whatever! Ok wait, let me get this straight...you want me to have COMPLETE JOY when I'm SUFFERING?!? I don't get it...this just doesn't fit with my westernized way of thinking. Stephanie, I'm looking for the American dream, not sorrow. Well let's break this down...
1. Joy vs. Happiness
First things first, let's confront a common misconception. Many people, when they read that verse, mentally substitute happiness for joy. That seems harmless enough, right? I mean, in our culture we often use them interchangeably. But just because we do that does not mean we should. In fact, these two words have a slightly different meaning....and if God had wanted to refer to happiness, you better believe He would have done so. One source I found defined the difference well: "In order to understand the lifestyle God desires for us, we need to know the difference between joy and happiness. Both can be defined as gladness, delight, and pleasure in something, but happiness has an external cause. When circumstances are favorable and delightful, we are naturally happy, but when events take a downward turn, so do our spirits. Joy, on the other hand, has an internal cause and is not dependent upon outside conditions. As believers, we can keep our contentment in good times and bad because our delight is in the Lord, not in our fluctuating circumstances. (http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_empowering_emotion_of_joy#.VI5xGXufJWM)." Another source puts it this way: "Happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people. Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. (http://www.gotquestions.org/joy-happiness.html)." Very similar words....very different meanings.
In James 1, God is calling us to have joy, not happiness. I believe He wants us to be happy, what father wouldn't want his children to be happy?? But that's not what He's asking from us in these verses. Instead, He's telling us to have 100% joy despite the circumstances, which is much deeper than a fleeting feeling of happiness.
2. When?
Ok....I get the difference between joy and happiness, but God really wants me to have that pure, unadulterated joy when I'm facing trials?!? Yes! You got it!! It's easy to have joy when things are good...you know, when things seem perfect with that boyfriend/girlfriend, you get that promotion at work, you pass a certification exam...those things are great and make us feel good. But what happens when you break up with that boyfriend/girlfriend, or lose that job, or fail that exam? What then? That's right...have pure joy. All these things are trials....things that God uses to test our faith and ultimately bring us closer to Him. (*Disclaimer*: Some hard times in our lives are simply consequences for things we've done in our past or a result of sin in the world. However, God can use even those situations to help us grow in Him. So I think it's safe to say we should have joy in those circumstances as well. :) Furthermore, have you ever considered that God just MIGHT have something better for you in mind? Sure, that boyfriend/girlfriend may have been an amazing Godly person....but there are a lot of those individuals in the world! God may have a much better fit for you in store. Heck, I don't know, only God can see that bigger picture! Or what about that job or certification exam? Maybe He has a better job? Or a better career for you? Something in which you can better serve Him? Only He can see that bigger picture of His plan...the plan that He's working out for His glory. We just gotta have faith, trust Him, and follow His leading.
Such a simple verse...but so much meat to it! It completely goes against much of our American culture. Next time you're going through a trial, step back, take a deep breath, and think on this verse. Yes, it might be a horribly awful situation...but our heavenly Father has called us to have joy, even in those circumstances. We've looked at verse 2 telling us the what and when, but next time we'll take a look at verse 3, the why. And no, the why is not just "because God said so"...although I'd say that's still a pretty good reason ;)
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Alone?
Thank you Father for never leaving me or forsaking me!
Being an only child, there are many times I feel alone. Sure, I have friends, great friends! And my parents? Yea, they're pretty amazing too! While I know not every sibling relationship is strong...I find myself envying those with that intimate lasting sibling connection, especially when going through trials. Someone to be there for you in a way no one else can, or check in on you often. Friends get married or move away and my folks...well, who knows how long they'll be here. But is it right for me to envy? Of corse not! I am blessed with amazing friends and family, yet I still yearn for more.
Being an only child, there are many times I feel alone. Sure, I have friends, great friends! And my parents? Yea, they're pretty amazing too! While I know not every sibling relationship is strong...I find myself envying those with that intimate lasting sibling connection, especially when going through trials. Someone to be there for you in a way no one else can, or check in on you often. Friends get married or move away and my folks...well, who knows how long they'll be here. But is it right for me to envy? Of corse not! I am blessed with amazing friends and family, yet I still yearn for more.
Hmm....I wonder what God thinks of that yearning?? Exactly, His heart probably hurts to hear that...because only HE can fill that need. And He does!! Holy cow, does He ever. What a huge blessing and weight lifted from my shoulders to know that the God of the UNIVERSE is yearning to fill that need in my little insignificant life. No matter how far friends go, or busy they get with families....or my own family starts to fade...He is always with me, right by my side...no matter what obstacle I may be facing. Not only is He there, but He will be helping me through it! I don't know about you, but that gets me seriously excited!
I know I'm probably not alone (no pun intended) in feeling alone at times...especially during the holiday season. But we can all find hope in God's promises that He will always be with us..."Come near to God and He will come near to you (James 4:8)." Here's just a few Bible verses for encouragement:
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go
Matthew 28:20b: And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age
Isaiah 41:10-13: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you
Proverbs 1:33: But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster
Genesis 28:15: Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you
Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
I know I'm probably not alone (no pun intended) in feeling alone at times...especially during the holiday season. But we can all find hope in God's promises that He will always be with us..."Come near to God and He will come near to you (James 4:8)." Here's just a few Bible verses for encouragement:
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go
Matthew 28:20b: And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age
Isaiah 41:10-13: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you
Proverbs 1:33: But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster
Genesis 28:15: Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you
Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Mosaic of life
Thank you Jesus for the freedom to openly attend church and for the blessing of a Christ centered, loving church.
My church is a little unique in that our first service is a time of open sharing. One man starts with a short devotional and then the floor is open to whoever wants to share what God has put on their hearts, Bible verses, prayer, encouraging words, or song requests. A theme that began the service today and then was intertwined throughout was that of trials. Now this perfectly fit a story I wanted to share! But as many people wanted to contribute and I am not a fan of the spotlight...the service came and went without any movement from my safe place in the church pew. Hmm....good thing I have plenty of time and courage to share here. :)
A few weeks ago I was listening to a Focus on the Family radio broadcast. The man speaking had been born with Cerebral Palsy. (For those that do not know much about this disorder, it is a non-progressive neurological disorder occurring at birth that can cause a varying degree of muscle coordination impairments, affecting both gross and fine motor movements. Thus, impairments may be barely visible or may result in an individual being completely unable to care for himself.) I do not remember the specifics of this man's impairments, but many "normal" daily activities were not so easy for him. While many kids had goals of making a sports team or being in a dance recital, he was working towards independently cleaning himself up after using the bathroom. He was made fun of daily, not only as a child, but even on his college campus. He never understood why he had to go through this, but he never gave up and continued to be the best he could be...not only for himself, but more so for God. Until one day he was at his wits end...unsure of the purpose of this life he had to lead. Looking over he saw a BEAUTIFUL mosaic. Wow, if only my life could look like that. Taking a closer look, the mosaic was made of hundreds of tiny pieces of material....hmm, each of those pieces really aren't that pretty, in fact, they are kinda ugly! But when pieced together by a talented artist, wow! All of a sudden a breath taking picture is revealed from those tiny ugly pieces of material. The speaker then realized that this was just like his life....lots of ugly stories being pieced together by an awesome (the BEST!) artist. He alone could take all those hideous stories, sins, trials, etc and put them together to create something amazing. One way (along with many others) God was doing that in this man's life, was giving him a touching story in which to encourage others. This was actually a blessing...not a curse.
Man did that speak to me!! Such a great tale and one that I could apply to my story. But as life would have it, that story inevitably went on the back burner of my mind. A week or two ago at church, while sitting in the first service and listening to all the encouraging words and prayers of my brothers and sisters....I sat there distraught. "God, I want to a clean slate! There are so many ugly parts of my life...times when I was far from you, blatantly ignored you, or was faced with some sort of trial....I want a fresh start, please Lord, take it all away!" Well, of course I knew my past could not be changed....but I was just so sick of the sins of my past and the trials I was currently facing, can't you just get rid of them?! And just like that I heard Him softly remind me "Stephanie, I am God! I can use all those hideously ugly pieces to make something beautiful. And I am doing that! Yes, there will be consequences to your sins, but I can (and will!) still use all those things (even the consequences) to make something beautiful." He went on to remind me of that radio broadcast....telling me He could make a gorgeous mosaic out of my much less than perfect life, taking those broken pieces and gently putting them together to create a whole masterpiece.
My life is far....FAR...from perfect. In fact, there are many parts of my life I honestly wish I could forget, as I know they bring tears to my heavenly Father's eyes. But not only has He completely forgiven me, He is using those segments of my life to teach me and mold me into the woman He wants me to be! Ok, that's seriously incredible. While thinking about all of this, I was reminded of a passage that I absolutely love, "He has made everything beautiful in it's time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)." He is using all those dark and ugly times in my life to make me beautiful. Yes, it may be hard and even painful (very painful!) at times, but He is taking each situation in my life and using it to scrape off the rough edges of who I am. Making me smooth and lovely, presentable to Him one day. Even in my short life, I can definitely look back and see ways He has already been doing this! He's still got a million miles to go on my life, but it's so encouraging to see those tiny pieces coming together to glorify Him. Man, do we have an awesome God or what?!?!
My church is a little unique in that our first service is a time of open sharing. One man starts with a short devotional and then the floor is open to whoever wants to share what God has put on their hearts, Bible verses, prayer, encouraging words, or song requests. A theme that began the service today and then was intertwined throughout was that of trials. Now this perfectly fit a story I wanted to share! But as many people wanted to contribute and I am not a fan of the spotlight...the service came and went without any movement from my safe place in the church pew. Hmm....good thing I have plenty of time and courage to share here. :)
A few weeks ago I was listening to a Focus on the Family radio broadcast. The man speaking had been born with Cerebral Palsy. (For those that do not know much about this disorder, it is a non-progressive neurological disorder occurring at birth that can cause a varying degree of muscle coordination impairments, affecting both gross and fine motor movements. Thus, impairments may be barely visible or may result in an individual being completely unable to care for himself.) I do not remember the specifics of this man's impairments, but many "normal" daily activities were not so easy for him. While many kids had goals of making a sports team or being in a dance recital, he was working towards independently cleaning himself up after using the bathroom. He was made fun of daily, not only as a child, but even on his college campus. He never understood why he had to go through this, but he never gave up and continued to be the best he could be...not only for himself, but more so for God. Until one day he was at his wits end...unsure of the purpose of this life he had to lead. Looking over he saw a BEAUTIFUL mosaic. Wow, if only my life could look like that. Taking a closer look, the mosaic was made of hundreds of tiny pieces of material....hmm, each of those pieces really aren't that pretty, in fact, they are kinda ugly! But when pieced together by a talented artist, wow! All of a sudden a breath taking picture is revealed from those tiny ugly pieces of material. The speaker then realized that this was just like his life....lots of ugly stories being pieced together by an awesome (the BEST!) artist. He alone could take all those hideous stories, sins, trials, etc and put them together to create something amazing. One way (along with many others) God was doing that in this man's life, was giving him a touching story in which to encourage others. This was actually a blessing...not a curse.
Man did that speak to me!! Such a great tale and one that I could apply to my story. But as life would have it, that story inevitably went on the back burner of my mind. A week or two ago at church, while sitting in the first service and listening to all the encouraging words and prayers of my brothers and sisters....I sat there distraught. "God, I want to a clean slate! There are so many ugly parts of my life...times when I was far from you, blatantly ignored you, or was faced with some sort of trial....I want a fresh start, please Lord, take it all away!" Well, of course I knew my past could not be changed....but I was just so sick of the sins of my past and the trials I was currently facing, can't you just get rid of them?! And just like that I heard Him softly remind me "Stephanie, I am God! I can use all those hideously ugly pieces to make something beautiful. And I am doing that! Yes, there will be consequences to your sins, but I can (and will!) still use all those things (even the consequences) to make something beautiful." He went on to remind me of that radio broadcast....telling me He could make a gorgeous mosaic out of my much less than perfect life, taking those broken pieces and gently putting them together to create a whole masterpiece.
My life is far....FAR...from perfect. In fact, there are many parts of my life I honestly wish I could forget, as I know they bring tears to my heavenly Father's eyes. But not only has He completely forgiven me, He is using those segments of my life to teach me and mold me into the woman He wants me to be! Ok, that's seriously incredible. While thinking about all of this, I was reminded of a passage that I absolutely love, "He has made everything beautiful in it's time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)." He is using all those dark and ugly times in my life to make me beautiful. Yes, it may be hard and even painful (very painful!) at times, but He is taking each situation in my life and using it to scrape off the rough edges of who I am. Making me smooth and lovely, presentable to Him one day. Even in my short life, I can definitely look back and see ways He has already been doing this! He's still got a million miles to go on my life, but it's so encouraging to see those tiny pieces coming together to glorify Him. Man, do we have an awesome God or what?!?!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The fulfillment of the OT in the NT
I am so thankful for the privilege to freely listen to teachings any time and anywhere! Today's sermon via podcast was from Alistair Begg. Great Scottish accent, yet even wiser words to be heard. :) It was part 2 of a 2 part series in preparation for Christmas. The part that really stuck out to me from this segment....was a quote from Griffith Thomas concerning the Old Testament: "It is a book of unfulfilled prophecies, unexplained ceremonies, and unsatisfied longings...all of which are resolved in the New Testament's focus on Jesus Christ, who fulfills in His life the prophecies, explains in His death the ceremonies, and satisfies in His resurrection the longings." Wow! I love that! If any unbeliever were just to take the Old Testament...some may think Christians are a bunch of crazy, ritualistic, legalistic weirdos without a cause (depending on where they look!). BUT combine the inspired words of the OT with those of the New? Holy cow! It all makes sense now. What's even more amazing is how God had all that planned out before time began. All the prophecies, all the ceremonies, and all the longings had their place and would be made complete in the gift of Jesus Christ, God's son.
I can't imagine living in OT times with all these incomplete things...yet there was so much faith demonstrated throughout the OT. How inspiring! And then jumping to the NT...where there was so much excitement with the fulfillment of the OT words that many knew well. Yet so many were blinded to the truth...or simply chose not to believe it (but that could be a whole other topic!). But what a blessing that we, in current times, have the Old and New Testament together. The WHOLE BIBLE in one book! So while things may seem confusing, we can study His word and find the answer. Praise God for His inspired words to us :)
I can't imagine living in OT times with all these incomplete things...yet there was so much faith demonstrated throughout the OT. How inspiring! And then jumping to the NT...where there was so much excitement with the fulfillment of the OT words that many knew well. Yet so many were blinded to the truth...or simply chose not to believe it (but that could be a whole other topic!). But what a blessing that we, in current times, have the Old and New Testament together. The WHOLE BIBLE in one book! So while things may seem confusing, we can study His word and find the answer. Praise God for His inspired words to us :)
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Here I am Lord
While listening to the radio on the way to work yesterday morning, a little devotional was shared that I really appreciated. The speaker was talking about preparing our hearts for Christmas and being ready for whatever God has planned for us. She read from the book of Luke, chapter 1. The part she focused in on was when the angel appeared to Mary and told her she was going to have a Son and that He would be the Son of God. Can you imagine, a young, unmarried, virgin girl being told she's about to have a baby! While having a baby is a super exciting event, the situation as a whole must have been very scary and intimidating to her. Although she was engaged to be married, becoming pregnant before the wedding day could mean losing her soon to be husband. Would he still want to marry her? What would happen if he didn't? Would this young teen girl be left to fend for herself with a newborn baby? How could she raise him alone? These are just a few of the numerous questions that would pop into my mind in that scenario....but Mary's response was perfect and showed her faith: "'I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May your word to me be fulfilled."' Wow! She didn't start pouring out questions/fear/concerns...she simply said ok. Ok God, let it be as you say. I'd like to think I have a faith like that, but if I'm completely honest with myself...I can tell you flat out that's not the case. But this is an area in which I'm trying to improve. As a Christian, I am a servant of the Lord, here to do His will, not my own. "Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21).
I absolutely LOVE Mary's readiness and openness to do whatever God asks, no matter how preposterous or scary it may seem. She humbled herself to His will because she knew He had a plan and she desired His purpose to prevail. How cool is that. And look at the book of Isaiah! "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am, send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). In 1 Samuel it is written "Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, 'Here I am'." I desperately want that kind of faith. But so often I find excuses, big and small (I'm too busy, that's too hard, I don't want to, I have other plans, I'm not smart/strong/skilled enough, etc). Many times I don't even realize I'm making the excuse until it's too late. Little by little I am getting better at this. But I pray one day my response may be a quick and solid "Here I am Lord, send me"
(LOVE this song! <3 )
I absolutely LOVE Mary's readiness and openness to do whatever God asks, no matter how preposterous or scary it may seem. She humbled herself to His will because she knew He had a plan and she desired His purpose to prevail. How cool is that. And look at the book of Isaiah! "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am, send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). In 1 Samuel it is written "Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, 'Here I am'." I desperately want that kind of faith. But so often I find excuses, big and small (I'm too busy, that's too hard, I don't want to, I have other plans, I'm not smart/strong/skilled enough, etc). Many times I don't even realize I'm making the excuse until it's too late. Little by little I am getting better at this. But I pray one day my response may be a quick and solid "Here I am Lord, send me"
(LOVE this song! <3 )
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