An Image that Teaches Lies

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak." Habbakuk 2:18

an image that teaches lies

One such image sprang to the forefront of my thoughts, society's definition of what it means to be beautiful. It's an image that has spread like wildfire throughtout most of the world.

Plastered on just about every billboard and seen constantly on tv is what this world considers a beautiful person.

The message being recieved by millions is that if you don't look like this then you are not beautiful

What a load of crap.

I have personally struggled with my self image for YEARS. I have the highly sought after hourglass figure but it was the bigger version and not a smaller one. I have the beautiful curly hair but it's curls are crazy and unpredictable not soft and perfect. I have a cute face but it's only cute when I smile.

Why did I, and sometimes still do, believe this? I believed those lies that the devil surrounds me with. I would see the photos and shows and ads and tune my ear to that whispering of "you're not good enough"

They're wrong and WAY off base. I AM beautiful and so are you. It's not our physical attributes that define our beauty but who we are on the inside. And what is inside radiates out causing breathtaking beauty. We are like stained glass windows, our true beauty is not ignited until we radiate from the inside out.

We were considered sheep to be slaughtered

Ever have those moments when passages in the bible suddenly make sense and you sit there dumbfounded and mouth gaping.....

('O')

welcome to right now.

I'm doing a study on Paul and his heart for Jesus by Kay Arthur (high recommend her)

I read this verse "Just as it is written, 'For your sake we are being put to death all day long, we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered" Romans 8:36

and then I kept reading...not truly knowing the gravity of the first verse

ok...yeah...being put to death all day, More of Christ, less of me. Carry my cross, put my sinful nature to death

ok.

"We were considered sheep to be slaughtered"

Have you every HEARD a sheep being slaughtered?

No?

You won't. They don't make a sound. You hear a pig being slaughtered a mile away, but you will not hear a sound from a sheep.

And that is how we should be. Trials come, life downpours on us and we are tempted at every turn, but that is why Jesus tells us to place our burdens upon him.

The world will see us go through this life and it's troubles and wonder why we're different. Our trials are no better than theirs, we aren't superhuman, so WHY are we reacting so weirdly? The world should look at us and see that which is not in the world.

Everything is for God's sake and once that is put into a reality in our lives we can gladly bear it because of the love we have for him and the even greater love he has for us.

Do I do this? Not even a little. The phones go crazy at work and I'm the first one huffing and puffing. But that needs to stop.

I pray that day by day, myself and you who are reading this, sees life from a eternal perspective, to see that everything good and bad is for the glory of Christ. And when asked what sets you apart that you have the courage to say

 "My Savior"

sidenote: HOW IN THE HECK DID I MISS THIS IN MY ROMANS 8 STUDY!

geez...

further proof that you can read the bible a million times and get something different and life altering each time

Being a True Christian

“A nominal Christian is content with proving the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. But the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at the very thought of glorying in anything else.… Let all your joys flow from the contemplation of his cross.”

— Charles Simeon, quoted by John Piper in
The Roots of Endurance

I strive to be a true Christian. To love God as I should and delight in him every day

Making Magic

Find the drops from your wrung-out day. Launch a relentless pursuit of the art.

 

Write for 30 minutes. It is not a waste of time.

Take a walk with your camera and see what you can find.

Dare to believe you have something to say but remember it’s because He said it first.

Sit in the quiet just because. A lot more may happen there than you might think.

Savor the moments to talk through the dreams, to sift through the disappointment, to pray for the miracle.

Do the work you love when the early morning lifts up her head with a smile and a high-pitched song.

Sit at the table and make your art when the evening sky fills up the yard right outside your window.

Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you can.

 

Then? Open wide your eyes and see what happens. It may be the littlest things that change a life, and the magic is in the details.
Chatting at the Sky by Emily Freeman

 

 

 

Perfectly Placed

Tonight has just been another one of those nights when I am again reminded of what I don't have.
It's not fun, just so you know. Not even a little. And when I get in this mindset it's hard to focus on what I DO have (mainly because if I had someone special in my life to share it with it would be that much better)
BUT....
the Holy Spirit always reminds me of the Letter to the Exiles, a letter that resonates with me.
You probably know it as "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...." but I know it as SO much more.
"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD. This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:4-15

Build houses, raise families, plant crops. You are going to be here for a while, settle in. These people had dreams, exile probably never entered their minds. They had plans in Jerusalem and lives there.
But God had other plans. God WANTED them in exile, the exile into which he carried them. He asks them to pray for and seek peace and prosperity which to me implies a significant lack in such things.
But the bedrock of the truth is TRUST. He wants them to trust Him with their lives. He knows what he's doing, he knows the effect it will have. God has me where he wants me. I'm perfectly placed. I may not do what he wants all the time (or most of the time) but he still uses me in ways I don't even see. My station in life (and love life) is what God wants.
AND...I'm done trying to find this "Mr. Right" We are not playing some big game of hide and seek. He has not entered my life yet and I'm thankful because although I may be in denial about it (and maybe him as well) I'm not ready or he's not ready. He's out there, i know this BUT I don't want him until he's ready for me. I don't want him until I'm perfect for him.

Sprirtual Epiphanies Don't Mind the Time



Eowyn daughter of King Theoden.



Sometimes I think of God at the oddest times. Showers and driving are the most frequent. Today it happened while going down to my office. I had just showered and felt so clean and loved starting my day fresh ( LITERALLY!)

Then the idea of a fresh start with God came to mind. I should feel this freshness with God every day. A new day, another gift from God. Another day to experience His love and majesty.

Like washing away the dirt of the day before I should wash me of myself and bathe in the Spirit. Each day to be lived for God, not myself.

As Paul says we should die to ourselves DAILY. Get up in the morning and rid ourselves of our sinful nature and put on the armor of God to battle this crazy situation called life.

Two forces are at war around and within us, we just have to be aware and KNOW who we're dealing with and who's side we're on.

We are not only sons and daughters of God but we are WARRIORS.

Naked and full of shame

Adam and Eve faced temptation about a tree in a bright, sunny garden, a paradise with no pressure. But Christ faced temptation about a tree in a dark garden, a garden given the name that meant ‘oil press,’ and certainly he felt squeezed like an olive in a press on that dark night, to the point that his sweat was like drops of blood.

If Adam and Eve obeyed God about the tree, they would live. If Jesus obeyed God about the tree, he would die.Jesus obeyed. And through his obedience he gained for us far more than Adam lost for us through his disobedience.
Adam lost for us the beautiful ‘naked and not ashamed’ of the garden. But at the cross, Christ hung naked and full of shame. It wasn’t his own shame. It was your shame and my shame. He ‘endured the cross, despising the shame’ (Heb. 12:2) so that ‘everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame’ (Rom. 10:11).”
— Nancy Guthrie

The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis

The Tree

I was walking to church one evening during a light spring shower. Soon I noticed that the raindrops had lessened considerably. I had walked into the shade of a tree. As I was walking God reminded me of a simple fact. He is protecting me from the rains of life. Yes a few drops here and there may fall through the leaves but I am safe from the true downpour of the rain because I choose to stand in his shadow.

I can always choose to leave but I know that when the downpour of life comes I’ll have no one to stand in front of it. Time and time again I return to the tree of Life. The One who carries my burdens as if they were His own. The One who knows my deceitful heart better than I do. The One who can change me but more importantly the One who died because of the love He has for me.

Such a simple reminder during a spring rainfall.

The blood is for God to see

“The Israelites at the time of the exodus knew they had escaped the night of God’s judgement through trusting in the blood of the Passover lambs on their doorposts.

Notice that the blood was to be placed on the outside of their houses. The blood was for God to see, not for their benefit. The blood was not to make them feel good or feel safe. The blood was not for their feelings at all. The blood was to satisfy God. It was for his eyes alone. God said, ‘When I see the blood I will pass over you’ (Exodus 12:13).
We have peace, not because we feel good, but because God is satisfied with the blood. Only he can evaluate the worth of the lamb. Because he is satisfied, we have peace.”

— Terry Virgo

A Post where I use the word Cornucopia

Sometimes I just get the urge to write. About what, I have no clue. It comes about when I read. As my eyes pour over the words weaved by another, I have the urge to do the same. I’ve never been the creative type. To create something from nothing is quite difficult for me. I’m the appreciator. I know what to look for in good books, good music or good photography. While I possess none of the talent it takes to produce such things, my eyes can search out the key ingredients to make such wonderful art.

I would love to be a photographer. To capture, on film, a moment in time that will never come again. To arrange a cornucopia (I love that word) of meaningless things and create a beautiful collage. I have my moments. The right angle, the right mood, the right model (mostly Whitney) all culminate into an amazing photo. Consistent awesomeness is not in my repertoire, as least not where photography is concerned.

Even though I wish I had the talent to write or take amazing pictures, I don’t. It’s taken me a while to accept that. It’s taken longer to appreciate the gifts God has given me.

I’ve grown to like the person God has made me and, sure, I’m not a music prodigy, picture taker extraordinaire, or in line for the next Pulitzer Prize, but I am who I am for a reason.

Nothing in my life is without a purpose.

God Breathed

I know I need a spiritual overhaul from above when reading the ancient works of men inspired by God doesn't cut it.

I selfishly hope that my faith is never the last thing I have to hold on to....

i don't think it could hold me.

Thank goodness God can.



The Spirit's Mission

“The Holy Spirit glorifies Father and Son together. He is procured for the world by the blood of the Son, and sent into the world by the authority of the Father, so that both are alike represented in His mission, and equally glorified in His office.

The gracious things which the Father gave into the hands of the Son when He descended from heaven, the Son gave into the hands of the Spirit when He returned to heaven ‘All things that the Father hath are mine, and He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.’ This is the object of the Spirit’s advent: the communication of the things of Christ to men.

What are the things of Christ? His merit, His mercy, His image, His Gospel, His promises, all the gifts of His grace, all the treasures of His love, and all the immunities of eternal redemption. These the Father hath given to the Son, as the great Trustee of the Church, and the Son hath given them to the Spirit, as the appointed Agent of their communication.”

— Christmas Evans

“The Father and Son Glorified"

Finding God in the Everyday

Everyday at work this pencil cup reminds me of who it is that I serve.

The Lord your God is with you, a mighty warrior that saves.

He will take great delight in you.

In His love He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing

Happy Easter!!!

Hope you guys had a wonderful Easter filled with too much food, too much family, and too much thankfulness.


My brother, Noah..and is epically tied tie!


My Easter was fantastic.
Learned how to tie a tie
Told repeatedly how small I am
Had my self esteem lifted in the fact that my sister and I wear the same size (she's 12)
Went to a church service with the people from my past
Remembered how AMAZING my Daddy's green beans are.
Ate so much dirt cake I shouldn't be alive
Watched my baby (he's 10..but will ALWAYS be my baby) ride through a massive puddle and succeed in covering himself in mud
Again reminded of how small I am
Talked to my uncle who is in Pennslyvania and isn't spending Easter with us for the first time in my life.
Went to church again with my amazing cousin/roommate
Ran into my friend, Maegan, who's very presence fills me with joy.
Worshipped and rejoiced with fellow brothers and sisters in our victory in Christ
Watched Jack and ate MORE dirt cake (seriously should not be living right now)

Epic Easter. ^_^

Overwheming Victory in Christ

Romans 8:36 (Even the Scriptures say "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep")

Paul is referencing Psalm 44:22 (v22-26)

The first century was a trying time for Christians, wait...scratch that. The first century was KILLER, both literally and figuratively. God's word spread like wildfire (once Paul put the proverbial light under Peter's butt) and King Nero wasn't too happy (also VERY evil). It was a holocaust of Christians.

I wish I could say things are different. And here, they are. And we are very lucky. But else where, in China, in the Middle East, our brothers and sisters are not so lucky. They meet in secret, daring to worship God in the midst of a Godless country. Pray for them. And thank God that though you may face persecution and ridicule you can worship Him freely without restraint.

Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

I love Paul's choice of words. We not only have victory, but overwhelming victory. Through Christ we have victory over death! The "end all, be all" is now just the beginning. A song played a church yesterday describing heaven as an "eternal day with God." I couldn't help but smile (quite largely) at that fact. It reminds me of all those moments when I thought "I hope this never ends." It always does, obviously. But I look forward to a day when I think that....and it's true. To sit and talk and just BE with God wishing it would never end....and it never does. My heart is soothed just thinking about it

Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away

God loves messed up people. We're entirely more messed up than we think we are. Paul is showing up both sides of the spectrum here, opposites. Nothing on one end, nothing on the other...and nothing in between can separate us from the love of God. Fears, inadequacies, slip ups, chronic sins (i.e. porn addiction, alcoholism, etc.), sins of your fathers (i.e. temper, bad habits), neurotic tendencies, road rage, NOTHING can separate you from God's love. Forget it...not going to happen. You think you are undeserving of God's love. You're right!! Does he love you anyway? YES!!! So many times I catch myself feeling deserving of God's love. I LOATHE it. Self-righteousness is one evil flaw that always sneaks up on me. Lately God has made me aware of the depth of my sin, and I'm SO thankful...it helps me appreciate just what Christ did for me.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Rest in that.

Romans 8:39 Whether high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No matter where we go or what we do, if we are in Christ there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God. He is showing us the expansiveness of our security as a result of what Jesus has done!

Glory and Love in the Storm

Romans 8:34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for He is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us

When I first read this verse, my thought was "Wow...this verse really makes it seem all about me" He died for me, was raised to life for me and is sitting next to God, pleading for me. But then I asked WHY?

Why did Christ die for me? To give God ultimate glory.

Why was Christ raised to life for me? To give God ultimate glory.

Why is He sitting next to God pleading for me (Romans 8:26)? To give God ultimate glory.

God is the one who all of this is for. Him and Him alone. When I start turning the gospel onto myself, self righteousness sets in. I somehow think that I am worthy of being saved. That is so far from the truth. God's glory and mercy is revealed BECAUSE he saved me when I wasn't worthy.

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8) That verse struck a cord with me. I'm not righteous, I'm not even GOOD. But while I was still filthy with my own sin God sent his son to die for me.

Since God did that I'm no longer under condemnation for my sins. According to God they are wiped clean. Do they still exist? Yes. I'm not going around pretending I'm sinless. But I have confidence that my sins are forgiven, past, present and future. This doesn't give me a free ride to go and sin more and not care about consequences. My love of God spurs my desire to obey his laws. Even this should not be. I'm still working on my feelings dictating whether or not I will obey God. I want to obey him EVEN when I feel he's not there.

Romans 8:35 Can anything ever seperate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?

Welcome, dear friends, to a snapshot of the Christian life. It's not easy. Thankfully God loves us through ALL circumstances. My thought is that when Paul wrote this to the Roman church, he had a story for every situation mentioned above. He went through it all for the Gospel.

Nothing this life throws at us can make God love us any less. Thank. You. GOD.

This also brings to the surface our (and when I say our I mean mine) habit of comparing ourselves to others. Seeing the blessings poured out upon close friends and aquaintances and wonder what we did for God not to bless us with that. Just because God loves you and that you've been adopted into His family doesn't mean you will be rich and healthy the rest of your days. If anything you are MORE susceptible to the storms of this life. Satan and his compatriots will try even harder to tear you away from the Father. That is why God gives us His armor (Ephesians 6:10-20) to battle everyday life.

Jesus doesn't promise the absence of sin, suffering and persecution but rather he promises us his love and presence to overcome these things.

The Ultimate Gift.

Romans 8:32 Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

God gave us the ultimate gift. Himself. What greater gift can there be? God went all out for us...not even sparing His own son, how can we begin to think that God doesn't love us or think of us? What makes us think that we won't be taken care of? We are called to trust him. Right now I feel as though I'm sinking beneath debt. Get one card paid off then something happens and twice the amount gets put on. I've been paying for debt for almost two years and I feel as though I've barely made a dent. Some weeks I barely have enough money. And honestly I worry. I constantly worry about my financial state. Constantly doing sums, averaging payments or budgeting what little leftover money I have. I need to begin to trust God in this. Sometimes I'll compartmentalize my life and not even be aware of it. I'll give God the affairs of my heart, but not my financial situation. He'll take care of IT ALL. He wants that from me. He wants to take care of it and for me to let him. I'm grateful the Spirit reminded me of this fact. (seriously..just NOW realized it ^_^)

Romans 8:33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with Himself.

God is the God of justice. Thanks to Jesus we have been given right standing. God will not accuse us. The perfect Son has taken our place. We will be ushered into heaven with Jesus saying "It's ok Dad, she's with me"
He has given us right standing. HE DID. There is no verb by us. We have done nothing to deserve this. You can go your whole life doing and doing and doing for God and it won't even cover a speck of your sinfulness. God's grace is sufficient. And I am SO thankful it is.

Distractions Lead to Epiphanies about One's Own Actions

Yeah...I'm slacking....I have no excuse, just lazy (-.-)


Romans 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these. If God is for us, who can ever be against us.


That is one thing I need to remember. If God is for me, then who can EVER be against me. Nothing can seperate me from the love of the Father. NOTHING. Nothing I say or do will ever make God love me less. It's a blessing that He loves me at all. He doesn't have to. But He DOES!
I love how Paul is at loss for words in the beginning of the verse. What can we say? What words on this earth can describe these wonderful things?

I wrote the above a couple of days ago. Then I became distracted. My heart became heavier than it has in a long time. My co-worker's mother had a heart attack and left urgently, my other co-worker is having a hard time, another is dealing with a psycho ex husband and two children caught in the middle and another is dealing with a psycho husband and a daughter who doesn't deserve the treatment she gets at school.

Having I been praying for these people that I am with 40 hrs a week? When I think about it. Even thinking back my heart is heavy. I spend more time with these 7 people than I do with ANYONE ELSE, yet it takes effort to pray for them. I hated myself in that moment, I hated my selfishness. They all know I'm a Christian, yet do my actions prove my words to be true? The hardest place for me to act as God would want is at work. It's so easy to get caught up in thinking people are idiots, getting annoyed with fellow co-workers who don't think like I do, talking bad about other departments. It's so easy to get caught up in that, but I'm called to do what is RIGHT not easy.

So my goal is to pull myself out of my selfish little world and actually care about the people around me. Patience and a smile can go a long way. "Just as water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart"

I pray that God works in my heart and in turn works in my life.

Adopted into Sonship

What a fitting quote for my current memorization project =)


God redeemed us in his Son so that he might love us and delight in us even as he loves and delights in his eternal Son. Adoption is God’s act of making room within his triune love for prodigals who are without hope, and providing them with homes in this world and the world to come.”




— Dan Cruver

Reclaiming Adoption

Someday He'll Call Her And She Will Come Running

Romans 8:30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself and He promised them His glory.

I can FEEL the love in this verse. The mercy shown by this verse is amazing. We have been chosen to come, be redeemed, and share in the glory of God. Let that sink in, think about it. I don't know about you but I'm feeling pretty unworthy right now. The verse brings to mind a line from the Jars of Clay song "Love Song for a Savior"

In open fields of wild flowers,

she breathes the air and flies away

She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses

in no simple language

Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens

As close a heartbeat or a song on her lips

Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him

Someday He'll call her and she will come running

and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with You"

Such a beautiful picture they paint with those words.

This verse is also all in past tense. We have been chosen and called, given right standing and promised glory. Jesus conquered death. His work on the cross made all of this possible, made our future possible. Wait, I take that back. He GAVE us a future! With him no less. Best. Future. EVER.

(the future in Back to the Future 2 comes in a close second though)

I sincerely hope they're working on making the hoverboard a reality.