see part 1 of this Lucado blog for more info on why I'm writing it
The Hebrew word for “holy” is “qadosh” which means cut off or separate. Holiness, then, speaks of the “otherness” of God. His total uniqueness. Everything about God is different from the world he has made. -Lucado
I guess that's how He can do what is best for us, because He's separated from us. He can see objectively while lovingly. We can sort of do that as parents, but not really. We are so empathetic with our children that we can't see straight half of the time. We don't exactly have an objective view. But He made us this way as parents, so there must be a reason why WE are like this and HE is different.
NOT EVEN GOD MADE GOD. -Lucado
Yeah, I'm just gonna let that sink in. I LOVE LOVE LOVE thinking about things like this. When was the beginning? What was before that? Who made time? God had to start somewhere... Well, no He didn't. He. Just. Is. That is such a cool, crazy concept. One we can't wrap our minds around, but when we rise sometime in the future and stand before Him, and whenever the time is that we know all the whys and why nots, and hows of the world, IT WILL ALL BE CLEAR!
He knows your beginning and your end, because he has neither.-Lucado
This is just a cool statement to turn around in my head.
“he has set eternity in their hearts” Ecc 3:11 Tucked away in each of us is a hunch that we were made for forever and a hope that the hunch is true. -Lucado
This is how we can feel homesick for a place that we don’t even remember! Isn’t that crazy? That feeling when life is rushing alllll around you, and you can’t keep up and you long for something you can’t put your finger on. Haven’t you ever felt it? Out of place, but in the place you’re “supposed” to be???? I think we all have, but when we can’t define it, we try to erase it with whatever addiction/coping mechanism your body responds to best: spending money, sex, alcohol, escape, depression, shopping, ignoring life. The homesickness is from God; the self destruction you use against it is from the enemy.
Whatever weakness you hold in your body, the enemy will exploit and use it against you. And guess what? He'll do that to your strengths, too.
"Throw off your old evil nature...Yes you must be a new and different person , holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature." Eph 4:22, 24
Words fail me pic
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
I was reading the book of John and...
a few things popped out at me. They aren't necessarily insightful, just things that popped into my head. Here they are, friends:
12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
-- no one could deny "the world" was drawn to Jesus and that made the Pharisees mad. And what comes out of ignorance and jealousy? Destruction. Destruction in the name of God.
2:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
-- so maybe we have it backwards.. We always say where WE go, God goes; but I think it's where GOD goes, we go
12:42-43 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
-- so some may believe but for fear of others or for their own glory do not confess therefore are not saved. Ugh, we're such humans.
13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
--"his own" and he "loved them to the end". I love how the disciples are shown to be close to Jesus on earth. Even though Jesus is God and therefore created us all, when he was on earth for those 33 years, He had family and forged friendships. That is very cool.
13:27Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
-- why quickly? And crazy how with that bite he allowed Satan in. Could Judas have stopped it?
15:7-9If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
--now that is just awesome. "Abide in my love." The dictionary defies "abide" as : to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship,etc.; last. to remain; continue; stay. to wait for; await
So, He is saying REMAIN IN MY LOVE; STAY IN MY LOVE; WAIT IN MY LOVE; CONTINUE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH ME IN MY LOVE
15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
-- lay down his life. What does this mean? I've definitely always thought this meant death, but maybe "lay down your life" means something else, too?
16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
--so why is the Holy Spirit better than having Jesus in the flesh? And why did Jesus have to leave for The Holy Spirit to come?
16:21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
--I know why this one always sticks out to me, it's because of my love of childbirth/pregnancy education, so I GET IT. Also, I've given birth so I know what that feeling is like. I can relate it to how after childbirth, such a rush of oxytocin "the love hormone" just going crazy in my body. So, that is what he is talking about here. I totally understand. And I love it!
17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth
--just really cool. Sanctify means to "purify or free from sin; the make holy; set apart as sacred" So it means He wants for us to be purified in the truth. And we'll get that way by reading the word.
Random: Whatever happened to Pilate?
19:38-39 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
--these 2 buried him...why is it two people who followed him in secret or at night? What is the symbolism here?
12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
-- no one could deny "the world" was drawn to Jesus and that made the Pharisees mad. And what comes out of ignorance and jealousy? Destruction. Destruction in the name of God.
2:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
-- so maybe we have it backwards.. We always say where WE go, God goes; but I think it's where GOD goes, we go
12:42-43 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
-- so some may believe but for fear of others or for their own glory do not confess therefore are not saved. Ugh, we're such humans.
13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
--"his own" and he "loved them to the end". I love how the disciples are shown to be close to Jesus on earth. Even though Jesus is God and therefore created us all, when he was on earth for those 33 years, He had family and forged friendships. That is very cool.
13:27Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
-- why quickly? And crazy how with that bite he allowed Satan in. Could Judas have stopped it?
15:7-9If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
--now that is just awesome. "Abide in my love." The dictionary defies "abide" as : to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship,etc.; last. to remain; continue; stay. to wait for; await
So, He is saying REMAIN IN MY LOVE; STAY IN MY LOVE; WAIT IN MY LOVE; CONTINUE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH ME IN MY LOVE
15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
-- lay down his life. What does this mean? I've definitely always thought this meant death, but maybe "lay down your life" means something else, too?
16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
--so why is the Holy Spirit better than having Jesus in the flesh? And why did Jesus have to leave for The Holy Spirit to come?
16:21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
--I know why this one always sticks out to me, it's because of my love of childbirth/pregnancy education, so I GET IT. Also, I've given birth so I know what that feeling is like. I can relate it to how after childbirth, such a rush of oxytocin "the love hormone" just going crazy in my body. So, that is what he is talking about here. I totally understand. And I love it!
17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth
--just really cool. Sanctify means to "purify or free from sin; the make holy; set apart as sacred" So it means He wants for us to be purified in the truth. And we'll get that way by reading the word.
Random: Whatever happened to Pilate?
19:38-39 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
--these 2 buried him...why is it two people who followed him in secret or at night? What is the symbolism here?
It's Not About Me-Max Lucado part 4
see the beginning of part 1 for reasons behind this Lucado blog...
Moses says “show me your glory”. We cross a line when we make such a request. When our deepest desire is not the things of God, or a favor from God, but God himself, we cross a threshold. Less self focus, more God focus. Less about me, more about him. -Lucado
Less self focus. That...is a hard one. (BTW, right now Show Me Your Glory by Jesus Culture just came on my computer which is really a big "coincidence" listen if you haven't heard it, you'll understand).
I want to cross the threshold. Finally, I WANT TO CROSS THE THRESHOLD! I've always said I want to know Him, but haven't really put much effort into that relationship, instead I focused on the works I was doing FOR Him. Those works are great, but don't mean as much if not done to show God's glory but to show my own. And how can I even know what His glory is, if I don't know Him?
Shouldn’t Moses’ request be yours? You’ve got problems. Look at you. Living in a dying body, walking on a decaying planet, surrounded by a self centered society. Some saved by grace; other fueled by narcissism. Many of us by both. Cancer. War. Disease. You and I need what Moses needed--a glimpse of God’s glory. Such a sighting can change you forever. --Lucado
I want that. The end.
How?
To seek God’s glory is to pray “Thicken the air with your presence; make it misty with your majesty. Part heaven’s drapes, and let your nature spill forth. God, show us God.” God’s glory carries the full weight of his attributes: his love, his character, his strength, and on and on.
"GOD, SHOW US GOD." That statement really got to me. I can see why Moses was literally glowing after seeing the back of God. Can you imagine being hit with the full weight of everything that is God. It is our love multiplied infinitely. It is our emotional and physical strength magnified to a point we can't even imagine.
God exists to showcase God.
And I’m ok with that. If I’m a part of how He does it, so be it. Who said life had to be any certain way, anyway? Well, aside from God, but that’s the point! Who says we have to be the center of it all and get to the top. Here’s a thought. What if everyone DID get to the top? We would topple…
We need to learn our place, which may be at the "top" by earthly standards, or it may be a lot lower. But, we are all children of God put here for one purpose: TO GLORIFY HIM AND TO REFLECT HIM. That sort of puts us all in the same place.
Moses says “show me your glory”. We cross a line when we make such a request. When our deepest desire is not the things of God, or a favor from God, but God himself, we cross a threshold. Less self focus, more God focus. Less about me, more about him. -Lucado
Less self focus. That...is a hard one. (BTW, right now Show Me Your Glory by Jesus Culture just came on my computer which is really a big "coincidence" listen if you haven't heard it, you'll understand).
I want to cross the threshold. Finally, I WANT TO CROSS THE THRESHOLD! I've always said I want to know Him, but haven't really put much effort into that relationship, instead I focused on the works I was doing FOR Him. Those works are great, but don't mean as much if not done to show God's glory but to show my own. And how can I even know what His glory is, if I don't know Him?
Shouldn’t Moses’ request be yours? You’ve got problems. Look at you. Living in a dying body, walking on a decaying planet, surrounded by a self centered society. Some saved by grace; other fueled by narcissism. Many of us by both. Cancer. War. Disease. You and I need what Moses needed--a glimpse of God’s glory. Such a sighting can change you forever. --Lucado
I want that. The end.
How?
To seek God’s glory is to pray “Thicken the air with your presence; make it misty with your majesty. Part heaven’s drapes, and let your nature spill forth. God, show us God.” God’s glory carries the full weight of his attributes: his love, his character, his strength, and on and on.
"GOD, SHOW US GOD." That statement really got to me. I can see why Moses was literally glowing after seeing the back of God. Can you imagine being hit with the full weight of everything that is God. It is our love multiplied infinitely. It is our emotional and physical strength magnified to a point we can't even imagine.
God exists to showcase God.
And I’m ok with that. If I’m a part of how He does it, so be it. Who said life had to be any certain way, anyway? Well, aside from God, but that’s the point! Who says we have to be the center of it all and get to the top. Here’s a thought. What if everyone DID get to the top? We would topple…
We need to learn our place, which may be at the "top" by earthly standards, or it may be a lot lower. But, we are all children of God put here for one purpose: TO GLORIFY HIM AND TO REFLECT HIM. That sort of puts us all in the same place.
Friday, June 17, 2011
It's Not About Me -Max Lucado Part 3
see part 1 for more info on why I'm writing about this book :)
Self promotion. Self preservation. Self centeredness. It’s all about me! We thought SELF CELEBRATION would make us happy. But what chaos this philosophy creates.-Lucado
We can’t be self celebrators…we have to be Son reflectors. SOUL REFLECTORS. Our own self should not constantly be celebrated, we should push all of that aside because it hinders us. Our focus needs to be on letting others know who God is by living it. THEN, we will get the outcome that we THOUGHT would come from celebrating ourselves, which is happiness, crazy love, contentedness, and peace.
I know it sounds like I'm being pushy with all of this, or self righteous like I know it all, but it's an important part of our lives and our relationships with God. And purpose. Everyone is seeking out their purpose in life, WELL HERE IT IS. It's to reflect God. That's it. I don't think it's as much about our career or decisions as much as it is that. If we are reflecting God, it means we know Him and when we know Him, we know His voice. It's kind of a big circle for me.
So, how do you hear His voice? Pastor Steve says, the more you get into the word of God and pray you'll learn to know what He sounds like. Basically, spend time with Him. I could pick out Isaac's voice anywhere because I spend so much time with him and invest so much energy caring about what he says. Same with God. Hear Him. Reflect Him. Follow what He says. By doing that, you love Him.
LIFE MAKES SENSE WHEN WE ACCEPT OUR PLACE. The God-centered life works. And it rescues us from a life that doesn’t. -Lucado
As we live a life that is centered around our own interests, we become our own God. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in control because then I’m responsible for how it all works out. I am who everyone will come to when it doesn’t go as planned. And who wants more pressure in life?
We’d see our suffering differently. “My pain proves God’s absence.” would be replaced with “my pain expands God’s purpose.” -Lucado
While I "get" this one, it's not one I'm going to pretend to be able to perform in life just yet. I've gained some perspective lately in realizing that in reading the Bible, you can see the start, middle and end of these peoples' lives. Because of that, you can see WHY certain things happened and HOW their suffering not only glorified God, but made a way for better things to happen.
The story that comes to mind is one I've been studying and that's of Lazarus (John 11ish). I've been wondering what Jesus felt in the 2 days that he stayed behind even though he knew Lazarus would die. But he also knew that him being raised from the dead after FOUR DAYS would glorify God and bring so many people to Him. And it did.
But that doesn't dismiss the fear, confusion and pain that Mary and Martha had to suffer in between. They must have been thinking "Our brother is dying and that brings an unimaginable pain...and JESUS who CAN heal him is not, he's not even rushing home to be with us in the midst of it." They felt pain, hurt, left alone. They wondered if God had left them. How many of us have felt that? Are feeling that now? Everyone who is reading this has felt that. But we see, that God has bigger plans that doesn't put our comfort at the forefront. He cares if we hurt, but He sees how our hurt can expand His purpose and set us up for better things. Is the pain then worth it? I can step away from it and say yes, but I'm not sure if I can when in the midst of it. But, that's ok, it's why He sent his Helper, His Holy Spirit to comfort us and intercede for us.
Ok, that's all for today.
Self promotion. Self preservation. Self centeredness. It’s all about me! We thought SELF CELEBRATION would make us happy. But what chaos this philosophy creates.-Lucado
We can’t be self celebrators…we have to be Son reflectors. SOUL REFLECTORS. Our own self should not constantly be celebrated, we should push all of that aside because it hinders us. Our focus needs to be on letting others know who God is by living it. THEN, we will get the outcome that we THOUGHT would come from celebrating ourselves, which is happiness, crazy love, contentedness, and peace.
I know it sounds like I'm being pushy with all of this, or self righteous like I know it all, but it's an important part of our lives and our relationships with God. And purpose. Everyone is seeking out their purpose in life, WELL HERE IT IS. It's to reflect God. That's it. I don't think it's as much about our career or decisions as much as it is that. If we are reflecting God, it means we know Him and when we know Him, we know His voice. It's kind of a big circle for me.
So, how do you hear His voice? Pastor Steve says, the more you get into the word of God and pray you'll learn to know what He sounds like. Basically, spend time with Him. I could pick out Isaac's voice anywhere because I spend so much time with him and invest so much energy caring about what he says. Same with God. Hear Him. Reflect Him. Follow what He says. By doing that, you love Him.
LIFE MAKES SENSE WHEN WE ACCEPT OUR PLACE. The God-centered life works. And it rescues us from a life that doesn’t. -Lucado
As we live a life that is centered around our own interests, we become our own God. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in control because then I’m responsible for how it all works out. I am who everyone will come to when it doesn’t go as planned. And who wants more pressure in life?
We’d see our suffering differently. “My pain proves God’s absence.” would be replaced with “my pain expands God’s purpose.” -Lucado
While I "get" this one, it's not one I'm going to pretend to be able to perform in life just yet. I've gained some perspective lately in realizing that in reading the Bible, you can see the start, middle and end of these peoples' lives. Because of that, you can see WHY certain things happened and HOW their suffering not only glorified God, but made a way for better things to happen.
The story that comes to mind is one I've been studying and that's of Lazarus (John 11ish). I've been wondering what Jesus felt in the 2 days that he stayed behind even though he knew Lazarus would die. But he also knew that him being raised from the dead after FOUR DAYS would glorify God and bring so many people to Him. And it did.
But that doesn't dismiss the fear, confusion and pain that Mary and Martha had to suffer in between. They must have been thinking "Our brother is dying and that brings an unimaginable pain...and JESUS who CAN heal him is not, he's not even rushing home to be with us in the midst of it." They felt pain, hurt, left alone. They wondered if God had left them. How many of us have felt that? Are feeling that now? Everyone who is reading this has felt that. But we see, that God has bigger plans that doesn't put our comfort at the forefront. He cares if we hurt, but He sees how our hurt can expand His purpose and set us up for better things. Is the pain then worth it? I can step away from it and say yes, but I'm not sure if I can when in the midst of it. But, that's ok, it's why He sent his Helper, His Holy Spirit to comfort us and intercede for us.
Ok, that's all for today.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
It's Not About Me-Max Lucado Part 2
Go to part 1 for the full story on this many part blog :)
Our comfort is not God’s priority. If it is, then something’s gone awry. If God exists to please us, then shouldn’t we always be pleased? -Lucado
Hmmmmmm. I don't like the sound of this. BUT, I get it because I'm a mom. Zoe's safety and overall well being trumps her comfort. I don't like it, because I'd like for her to have both, but that's not always possible. I can imagine that is how God thinks about it. He can see our beginning and He can see our end, so he knows all those parts in the middle that may not feel so good, or may feel completely devastating are for our greater good. That's why we *should* praise Him anyway, no matter what we are going through. I put the little stars around should because, I'm not saying it's easy or may even feel possible, but it's the right thing. After all, WHO ARE WE to praise and glorify Him for the good, then leave Him out of the bad? I wouldn't want Zoe to do that...
SO. If we are here on this earth, but we aren't the center of the universe and our comfort is NOT a main priority, then WHY ARE WE HERE?
What does the moon do? She generates no light. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light. And she’s happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth. -Lucado
And what if “our place” is working in an office or staying at home to take care of the kids and the house when we’d rather be working? If “your place” isn’t where you hoped it would be, then I would suggest STOPPING and thinking “hmmm, maybe God knows better?” OF COURSE HE DOES, so while you find out WHY He wants you where He does, bask in the happiness of knowing you trust Him and that He’s never let you down and never will. He knows best, so shouldn’t that take the pressure off? That alone makes ME happy! It’s not about me finding out what is the best direction in my life, it’s just listening and following. I can do that! Which is good news because in this life, it feels like I can't control a lot and can't figure a lot of things out but God is telling me that I don't have to! I don't have to have it all together, I just need to reflect Him, listen to His voice and ....follow.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ACCEPTED OUR PLACE AS SON REFLECTORS? -Lucado
If I can get child like for a minute, it makes me think that we are moon beams! Is that child like or hippie like? Either way, I like the idea! I may name my next child that. Wait a minute, I'm even having another child...
What would happen if we quit worrying about what we look like, what time our kids go to bed so we can have “me time”, or what we can do to lose weight or what our friends are doing or what would happen if we lose our jobs or what people think of us. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST LET ALL OF THAT GO AND LIVED TO RELFECT HIM TO OTHERS? I have a feeling that all of our senses would be elevated and we would feel that purpose we are always trying to find. And I have to say "I have a feeling" because I really haven't been doing it, so I have no idea. I worry too much about silly things that not only don't matter spiritually but don't even matter in day to day life. I AM A WORRIER, I get anxious about the silliest things. I can't make decisions, I'm a mess sometimes. What if I let all that go and began my purpose?
"Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Beholding the glory of God. It. Changes. Us. And I don't know about you, but I really need a change in my life right now. It's good. It's an amazing life really, but I can sense that I'm not doing what I've been sent to do and it's an uneasy feeling. I want to feel content in my purpose, even if things are falling down around me or even if things have never looked better. Because it's just not about "things." It's about God and reflecting him.
Our comfort is not God’s priority. If it is, then something’s gone awry. If God exists to please us, then shouldn’t we always be pleased? -Lucado
Hmmmmmm. I don't like the sound of this. BUT, I get it because I'm a mom. Zoe's safety and overall well being trumps her comfort. I don't like it, because I'd like for her to have both, but that's not always possible. I can imagine that is how God thinks about it. He can see our beginning and He can see our end, so he knows all those parts in the middle that may not feel so good, or may feel completely devastating are for our greater good. That's why we *should* praise Him anyway, no matter what we are going through. I put the little stars around should because, I'm not saying it's easy or may even feel possible, but it's the right thing. After all, WHO ARE WE to praise and glorify Him for the good, then leave Him out of the bad? I wouldn't want Zoe to do that...
SO. If we are here on this earth, but we aren't the center of the universe and our comfort is NOT a main priority, then WHY ARE WE HERE?
What does the moon do? She generates no light. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light. And she’s happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth. -Lucado
And what if “our place” is working in an office or staying at home to take care of the kids and the house when we’d rather be working? If “your place” isn’t where you hoped it would be, then I would suggest STOPPING and thinking “hmmm, maybe God knows better?” OF COURSE HE DOES, so while you find out WHY He wants you where He does, bask in the happiness of knowing you trust Him and that He’s never let you down and never will. He knows best, so shouldn’t that take the pressure off? That alone makes ME happy! It’s not about me finding out what is the best direction in my life, it’s just listening and following. I can do that! Which is good news because in this life, it feels like I can't control a lot and can't figure a lot of things out but God is telling me that I don't have to! I don't have to have it all together, I just need to reflect Him, listen to His voice and ....follow.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ACCEPTED OUR PLACE AS SON REFLECTORS? -Lucado
If I can get child like for a minute, it makes me think that we are moon beams! Is that child like or hippie like? Either way, I like the idea! I may name my next child that. Wait a minute, I'm even having another child...
What would happen if we quit worrying about what we look like, what time our kids go to bed so we can have “me time”, or what we can do to lose weight or what our friends are doing or what would happen if we lose our jobs or what people think of us. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST LET ALL OF THAT GO AND LIVED TO RELFECT HIM TO OTHERS? I have a feeling that all of our senses would be elevated and we would feel that purpose we are always trying to find. And I have to say "I have a feeling" because I really haven't been doing it, so I have no idea. I worry too much about silly things that not only don't matter spiritually but don't even matter in day to day life. I AM A WORRIER, I get anxious about the silliest things. I can't make decisions, I'm a mess sometimes. What if I let all that go and began my purpose?
"Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Beholding the glory of God. It. Changes. Us. And I don't know about you, but I really need a change in my life right now. It's good. It's an amazing life really, but I can sense that I'm not doing what I've been sent to do and it's an uneasy feeling. I want to feel content in my purpose, even if things are falling down around me or even if things have never looked better. Because it's just not about "things." It's about God and reflecting him.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It's Not About Me -Max Lucado PART 1
I read a book in less than 24 hours that changed my life, my perspective completely. It's called It's Not About Me by Max Lucado. Every part of that book that affected me greatly, I typed out and then didn't know what to do with it. I've struggled with blogging, and it hit me, I can type parts of it out here, add some commentary and hope it affects you as strongly as it did me. I don't know how often I'll do it, hopefully every other day or so, but maybe sometimes a few a day. I literally can't stop thinking about it and may be driving my husband crazy. Maybe. Probably. But I know he doesn't mind. **I want to remind you here that Max Lucado is not God. These are his thoughts and while they resonated with me, it's your biz if you believe them or not. It's up to you to research things that pop into your head while reading this and decide if you agree or not.**
I'll always put Lucado's words in font like this:
la la la la la la
So, here goes...something.
When God looks at the center of the universe, he doesn't look at you. -Lucado
Wow, that was the first thing that rocked my world. I read it in the bathtub and had to put the book down and just breathe for a minute. It's crazy. I always assumed God made me, so that He could sit in awe as I lived. As each of us lived. I had it in my head that we all individually were the center of his universe.
We aren't.
God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of Him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about Him. -Lucado
It's about the glory of our loving God. DOWN, EGO, DOWN! So, how do we act, what do we do? WHAT IS THE POINT OF IT ALL??????? More to come...
I'll always put Lucado's words in font like this:
la la la la la la
So, here goes...something.
When God looks at the center of the universe, he doesn't look at you. -Lucado
Wow, that was the first thing that rocked my world. I read it in the bathtub and had to put the book down and just breathe for a minute. It's crazy. I always assumed God made me, so that He could sit in awe as I lived. As each of us lived. I had it in my head that we all individually were the center of his universe.
We aren't.
God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of Him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about Him. -Lucado
It's about the glory of our loving God. DOWN, EGO, DOWN! So, how do we act, what do we do? WHAT IS THE POINT OF IT ALL??????? More to come...
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