I have learned so many lessons from being a mother. Even in pregnancy, God was teaching me about Himself and how He wants to know me and how He wants me to know Him. Just like in nearly everything in life, He is reflected in the things He has created!
I've been getting to keep my beautiful great-niece these past few weeks and again, He reminds me. Today I was feeding her and as I got her bottle ready she searched my bare arm for the latch she desired. Her eyes closed, her sweet little mouth moved back and forth looking, seeking. And I remembered nursing my own babies. The way their little mouths searched. The way they acted like they'd not eaten in days at every feeding. And I remembered the deep joy and satisfaction of giving them what they sought. They'd look up at me with such love and gratitude. This is the way of His love. He even says in Isaiah 49 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you." He sees our desire for Him. He watches us search, longing, looking for the only thing that will satisfy us. And His heart overflows with love when He fills us with His Spirit and His grace.
We, however, have to have a need before He can fill it. But we go around like we don't need Him. Or we get it from other sources. Like, for my sweet great-niece, I gave her a bottle of her mother's milk when she was hungry. This was satisfying to her, she was filled. It was nutritious. But it wasn't the source. That little meal held her over until she could get what she needed from the source, her mother. We get truth from other sources, pastors, pod casts, songs and even friends and family. They share God's truth with us and we're filled and we can grow. But how much more beautiful and satisfying is receiving truth straight from our Source. We so often use our daily times (which may or may not happen daily) with Jesus as what "gets us through" until we can get back to church or until our favorite speaker posts his/her next pod cast. How backward is that? Would a nursing baby prefer a bottle from a stranger rather than her mother? He takes such joy in giving us the things we need! Just as the mother gets joy from giving her baby what she needs and how she jealously guards her time with her baby, He is overjoyed to supply us what we need and He is jealous of our time and attention. Oh the sweetness of His love for us. Let Him wash it over you!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Waves
Just today I posted to our Leadership Team at the BSM some things God had been showing me these past few days about stepping out in faith. I realized, as I've continued to mull over it, that these aren't just words for a team of college students looking to make an impact on their campus and world, but for all of us who are fighting this good fight... not against people but against the darkness that wreaks havoc on Believers and Not-Yet-Believers alike. We all need encouragement right now, especially in the face of current domestic and international events. Here's my heart right now.
It all started with me reading Philippians 1:27-28 that says "..stand firm in one Spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you." There were actual people opposing these early Christians as they proclaimed the gospel, but Paul had another meaning there as well. This is clear from what he writes in Ephesians 6:12 that "our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms." Paul understood who the real enemy was. We often don't, however, know our real enemy. The real enemies aren't people. People can only do so much. The real enemy is so much more dangerous. He knows your weaknesses... he knows what makes you freak out. The real enemy knows what can make you sink.
Peter was in a boat once on a rough sea. Jesus, like a ghost, came out to meet them walking across the water. Peter, knowing ahead of time that the waves were high and the wind was fierce, called out to Jesus... "If it's really you, call me out onto the water." Jesus calls him out... out of the safe boat. That safe boat that, while Peter was in it, he was brave and bold, but when he left it's safety and sturdiness, the waves became real. He saw that Jesus wasn't going to calm the sea this time, but He was going to allow Peter to be in the waves and wind just as they were. And he got distracted. He became afraid. He began to sink. Familiar story probably, but so real, so relateable. Peter, like us oftentimes, was passionate and ready to go wherever Jesus called. But, also like us, he was afraid. We have no reason to fear, though! That is what Jesus is telling us through Peter's story and through Paul's words. We actually don't have to be brave, we don't have to be strong. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act." Philippians 2:13 and "perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18. See? God is calling you out. He wants, not needs, but wants to have you be a part of His big story. He has beautiful things for you. But with every calling, there are the waves. Satan seizes upon these moments of trial and suffering, these waves, and lies to us. He says that we can't do it, that it's too hard. Or he says that we've heard God wrong. His best lie is that the trial is his own creation and must be prayed away. So often we stop pursuing God and start pursuing comfort and ease. Because why would God call us then let the waves come? Because He's the Master of the waves. If He can still them, He can cause you to walk through them in peace and without fear. There is tremendous closeness to Him and a testimony to the darkness when a Believer endures great hardship and continues to seek God's face. And the absolute best part is that He gives us the strength. We don't have to be brave or bold, just faithful. Just ready. And we have to choose love over fear. We don't have to come up with the love that drives out fear, He gives it. But we have to let fear be driven away... we can't hang onto it. So, friend, let go of fear. Breathe in His power and get ready for the waves. When they come keep a steady eye on the Horizon.
It all started with me reading Philippians 1:27-28 that says "..stand firm in one Spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you." There were actual people opposing these early Christians as they proclaimed the gospel, but Paul had another meaning there as well. This is clear from what he writes in Ephesians 6:12 that "our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms." Paul understood who the real enemy was. We often don't, however, know our real enemy. The real enemies aren't people. People can only do so much. The real enemy is so much more dangerous. He knows your weaknesses... he knows what makes you freak out. The real enemy knows what can make you sink.
Peter was in a boat once on a rough sea. Jesus, like a ghost, came out to meet them walking across the water. Peter, knowing ahead of time that the waves were high and the wind was fierce, called out to Jesus... "If it's really you, call me out onto the water." Jesus calls him out... out of the safe boat. That safe boat that, while Peter was in it, he was brave and bold, but when he left it's safety and sturdiness, the waves became real. He saw that Jesus wasn't going to calm the sea this time, but He was going to allow Peter to be in the waves and wind just as they were. And he got distracted. He became afraid. He began to sink. Familiar story probably, but so real, so relateable. Peter, like us oftentimes, was passionate and ready to go wherever Jesus called. But, also like us, he was afraid. We have no reason to fear, though! That is what Jesus is telling us through Peter's story and through Paul's words. We actually don't have to be brave, we don't have to be strong. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act." Philippians 2:13 and "perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18. See? God is calling you out. He wants, not needs, but wants to have you be a part of His big story. He has beautiful things for you. But with every calling, there are the waves. Satan seizes upon these moments of trial and suffering, these waves, and lies to us. He says that we can't do it, that it's too hard. Or he says that we've heard God wrong. His best lie is that the trial is his own creation and must be prayed away. So often we stop pursuing God and start pursuing comfort and ease. Because why would God call us then let the waves come? Because He's the Master of the waves. If He can still them, He can cause you to walk through them in peace and without fear. There is tremendous closeness to Him and a testimony to the darkness when a Believer endures great hardship and continues to seek God's face. And the absolute best part is that He gives us the strength. We don't have to be brave or bold, just faithful. Just ready. And we have to choose love over fear. We don't have to come up with the love that drives out fear, He gives it. But we have to let fear be driven away... we can't hang onto it. So, friend, let go of fear. Breathe in His power and get ready for the waves. When they come keep a steady eye on the Horizon.
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