What is it that drives the desires of our hearts? I believe it is universally parallel: To be loved and known. Is this not our fundamental human need? Who is the Author who built this need into the core of our souls? Could it be that the God who created each one of us...who planted such needs to be grown and tended to within our beings...this God who so longs for our communion and our relationship; could it be that he has the same heart desires? To be loved and to be known.
God intricately and precisely designed us to need. To need others. To need him. To need relationship. Without it, we are left to fight a war ill-equipped. Jumping hurdles and going into battles, disabled. The Artist defines beautiful. Engineers the concept of wholeness within the interconnected relationship of the Trinity. Fully loved. Fully known.
In a culture which depicts strength as individuality and independence...a "dog eats dog" and Darwinistic "survival of the fittest" value, we are called...no, we are designed, to embrace our intrinsic need to be interdependent within relationship. We are designed to need!
Personally, having the feeling of needing someone, admittedly causes me to feel weak. But is this not the point? For the Scripture actually equates our "weakness" to being equipped with the strength of our Lord. When we need, God is able to offer himself. That is relationship. It is within this relationship that we are truly able to experience Love and to know more of God. Our faith walk. What a privilege we have to be able to long for, experience, and to be longed for--from the very heart of Jesus. Who are we that we would influence the heartbeat of God, himself?---We are his---
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Out of The Mouth, Flows The Heart
Speak Life.
Out of the mouth, flows the motivations of the heart...
Matthew 15:11
"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Out of the mouth, flows the motivations of the heart...
Matthew 15:11
"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Words. Jesus seems to put a lot of emphasis on their importance. Why? Because, just like actions, words tell a story...a story defining our beliefs...outlining our representation of the very heart of Jesus. In a generation that finds pride and entitlement in our "freedom of speech" and "speaking our minds"...or even turning our backs on words all together, claiming that words are "useless...it is only our actions that are of importance". Nah. It's both. We can choose to either speak life or death into ourselves, others and the world around us.
If we fail to realize the great importance of speaking forth Life, then we limit and contaminate Jesus' own heart. I realize that this is a pretty bold statement, but I am convinced that we are cutting our faith walks short of experiencing the fullness of Fruit. I recognize that not everyone holds the desire or the same amounts of the spiritual gifts of evangelism or encouragement; however, I also believe that we use this fact as an excuse for exercising our responsibility to call forth Life in ourselves and others. We act out of fear. Our humanity. We, again, box up Jesus into what is comfortable for us. Beloved, let us not allow our eyes to be veiled and deceived in this way!
In addition, Jesus links our words to our spiritual, physical and mental health. Why? Because he made the totality of our person as an interconnection, not as separate and compartmentalized systems. Reading through Proverbs, it emphasizes the correlation of our health...our "hearts and minds" as being influenced by one another. It links "hurting bones to lack of praising" and a "hurting heart" to depression and anxiety. If we are allowing death to flow from our mouths...complaining, gossip, negativity, discouragement, disbelief, lies...we are affecting not only others, but ourselves in an amount of negativity that we are unaware of. If the motivations of our heart are spoken forth from our mouths, then perhaps what we allow our mouths to speak out, will act to reshapen our motivations. A theory of working backwards. Working our faith out...through heart, mind and soul. Have you ever noticed how when you choose to praise Jesus when you are least "feeling like it"...you act to improve your attitude...strengthen your faith and belief...and glorify the heart of Jesus as a result?
I will be the first to admit that it is often a struggle for me to claim Life. To choose praise...to choose Jesus in my words...my mind or heart. Sometimes it is chemical, sometimes situational, sometimes...i'm just not taking care of myself. whichever the reason...death knocks on the door of our lives in some way...to some degree...and in some form or another. Some of my poisonous thoughts include "I'm such a failure", or "What difference am i really making?"..."I'm stupid...worthless..." the list goes on longer than i'm proud of. Are these words of Life??! Um...not so much! These words don't just fill the air...they shape my very beliefs...my thoughts, and ultimately impact my actions. Not very glorifying to a Christ that gave his very life for this heart. When i choose praise...when i choose to remold my disbelieving thoughts or words into the very mold of Jesus' heart...then i make room for the impossible. For others to see Jesus, not me.
Lets not stay boxed to our "personalities" or our "human nature"...for that is what we will remain stuck in...US...our humanity. A lack of walking into the fullness of our inheritance and promises. It is the motivation of our God's heart, for us to fully know him. to fully experience HIM...not us. Let us speak forth Him...Life...and close the door on more of our own disbelief--slam the door on death. Out of the mouth...can flow the heart of Jesus, because he is within us.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Glory At Our Fingertips
Whew! This journey of faith is quite the process, right?! Picture it as a long distance road trip. Upon starting out, you are so hyped to be starting out and so excited to "get there"...and then a few hours into it (or for me, more like 15 min), you start to feel it. The ancy-ness, the boredom, the fights with your sisters (because you a ref squished together), the realization that this is going to take A LOT longer than what you had envisioned in your mind! The only way to get through the trip is to find the joy in the midst of the journey. That ever so present gift of Joy within our faith forms together with Hope in securing our foundation; equipping us for the process of a faith-filled walking out of our inheritance every step along the way--through every test, roadblock, detour or seemingly never-ending same road.
In Matthew, Jesus lays claim to Simon, renamed Peter, and the security of his faith foundation. He identifies Peter's foundation of faith with being "a rock". Immovable. Steadfast. Enduring. Jesus knew Peter. He knew Peter was his disciple who would deny him repeatedly out of fear. Jesus knew Peter would also revert to fear on the water, walking towards Jesus, the Savior of the world, who had already displayed to him miracle after miracle. Jesus knew Peter's impulsive tendencies. And still, he names him "a rock"; a steadfast, immovable faith is attributed to one of the most impulsive of the disciples. Why? Because Jesus knew him. He knew all of him. He knew Peter's heart. His motivations. His passionate determination and love for his Master. He identified Peter as he is...as he is through the complete power of Jesus. He is who makes us whole. It is he who calls and marks us as righteous...as perfect...as his sons and daughters. And he sees and knows all of us. He calls forth greatness, great men and women of honor that are capable of the inconceivable---through HIM.
It is us, who stop short. It is our disbelief or disillusions that cause us to remain close to our starting points. As babes still needing and relying on milk, not meat. We don't grow up because we don't think we are capable or worthy or...the list goes on and on. The Enemy's greatest accomplishment is infiltrating our minds and hearts with deception. Deceiving us to belief that we are inadequate even as Christ-followers. And we too easily agree with him. Our beliefs will affect our thoughts...going further to determine our actions. Jesus states in Matthew "If you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like i did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles...Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God" (Matt. 21:21-22).
Let us lay hold of ALL that God is. May we not confine him to our disbelief, or cynicism, or wounded view of who he is. May we dig deep within our hearts and minds to pry out that which does not belong, and replace it with truth...with who God claims and defines us as. It is then, and only then, that we will have our eyes opened to all of God. Upon our full embrace, the fullness of God will be capable of being seen. And he is so anxious to show himself to us!!! He is eagerly displaying himself in all of his glory to those "Peters", who are passionately grasping for truth, believing, and ready to open their eyes. Open your eyes and start seeing, feeling and knowing the truest joy that can be ours along our journeys! That is the hope that we have today. That is our inheritance...Glory at our fingertips, as we hold his hand through it all.
In Matthew, Jesus lays claim to Simon, renamed Peter, and the security of his faith foundation. He identifies Peter's foundation of faith with being "a rock". Immovable. Steadfast. Enduring. Jesus knew Peter. He knew Peter was his disciple who would deny him repeatedly out of fear. Jesus knew Peter would also revert to fear on the water, walking towards Jesus, the Savior of the world, who had already displayed to him miracle after miracle. Jesus knew Peter's impulsive tendencies. And still, he names him "a rock"; a steadfast, immovable faith is attributed to one of the most impulsive of the disciples. Why? Because Jesus knew him. He knew all of him. He knew Peter's heart. His motivations. His passionate determination and love for his Master. He identified Peter as he is...as he is through the complete power of Jesus. He is who makes us whole. It is he who calls and marks us as righteous...as perfect...as his sons and daughters. And he sees and knows all of us. He calls forth greatness, great men and women of honor that are capable of the inconceivable---through HIM.
It is us, who stop short. It is our disbelief or disillusions that cause us to remain close to our starting points. As babes still needing and relying on milk, not meat. We don't grow up because we don't think we are capable or worthy or...the list goes on and on. The Enemy's greatest accomplishment is infiltrating our minds and hearts with deception. Deceiving us to belief that we are inadequate even as Christ-followers. And we too easily agree with him. Our beliefs will affect our thoughts...going further to determine our actions. Jesus states in Matthew "If you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like i did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles...Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God" (Matt. 21:21-22).
Let us lay hold of ALL that God is. May we not confine him to our disbelief, or cynicism, or wounded view of who he is. May we dig deep within our hearts and minds to pry out that which does not belong, and replace it with truth...with who God claims and defines us as. It is then, and only then, that we will have our eyes opened to all of God. Upon our full embrace, the fullness of God will be capable of being seen. And he is so anxious to show himself to us!!! He is eagerly displaying himself in all of his glory to those "Peters", who are passionately grasping for truth, believing, and ready to open their eyes. Open your eyes and start seeing, feeling and knowing the truest joy that can be ours along our journeys! That is the hope that we have today. That is our inheritance...Glory at our fingertips, as we hold his hand through it all.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A Desperate Heart
We are not of this world. And yet, we must live in it. If you have tasted and seen the glory of God, this simple fact of being a foreigner will leave you absolutely longing for more. More of God's glory. More of his Kingdom. More of Him!
The challenge for me is to see him in the mundane. For the mundane is part of this life, regardless if we enjoy it or not. We can't just decide to stop buying groceries or filling up the car with gas or whatever it is that we have to make a routine habit of. It simply is apart of this life. Too much of it, I must admit, can easily depress me. I have great difficulty living in the "now" the "present", and too often am focusing and yearning for tomorrow...envisioning and dreaming about the future and what could be or what could happen. It's apart of who I am, that, if trained well, can serve as a strength...but often steals my joy right out from under me if i'm not careful. Yes, God is our God of the past, and the future, but it is the now that we are able to experience him. And is this not what we truly long for? To experience him as much as we are able? If you have gotten to know him at all, you will agree.
For to truly experience Christ, even in the tiniest way...will leave you desperately longing for more. Not more sermons, not more songs, nor empty words and promises...not more religion or rules or even works for God---more of God himself. The God of the heavens and earth, colliding amidst your very life- producing change---fruit---insight---touching us, in the wholeness of who we are, within our mess and our imperfection. The touch of Love, himself. peeling back another layer of the cloud in which we see through, and opening our eyes to more.
------------"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly." --1 Cor 13:12-13.--------------
We, obviously, will have to wait until heaven to see and know our Father in his complete fullness; but while we are living on the training ground where he has us, we can enter into the more of who he is everyday that we wake up, breathing his breath. The more we trust steadily...the more we hope unswervingly...and love extravagantly...the closer glimpse we get to the fullness of Christ. This is the longing that has been anchored in our hearts, and full-out pursuance of this completeness is the only way to soothe the desperate heart.
The challenge for me is to see him in the mundane. For the mundane is part of this life, regardless if we enjoy it or not. We can't just decide to stop buying groceries or filling up the car with gas or whatever it is that we have to make a routine habit of. It simply is apart of this life. Too much of it, I must admit, can easily depress me. I have great difficulty living in the "now" the "present", and too often am focusing and yearning for tomorrow...envisioning and dreaming about the future and what could be or what could happen. It's apart of who I am, that, if trained well, can serve as a strength...but often steals my joy right out from under me if i'm not careful. Yes, God is our God of the past, and the future, but it is the now that we are able to experience him. And is this not what we truly long for? To experience him as much as we are able? If you have gotten to know him at all, you will agree.
For to truly experience Christ, even in the tiniest way...will leave you desperately longing for more. Not more sermons, not more songs, nor empty words and promises...not more religion or rules or even works for God---more of God himself. The God of the heavens and earth, colliding amidst your very life- producing change---fruit---insight---touching us, in the wholeness of who we are, within our mess and our imperfection. The touch of Love, himself. peeling back another layer of the cloud in which we see through, and opening our eyes to more.
------------"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly." --1 Cor 13:12-13.--------------
We, obviously, will have to wait until heaven to see and know our Father in his complete fullness; but while we are living on the training ground where he has us, we can enter into the more of who he is everyday that we wake up, breathing his breath. The more we trust steadily...the more we hope unswervingly...and love extravagantly...the closer glimpse we get to the fullness of Christ. This is the longing that has been anchored in our hearts, and full-out pursuance of this completeness is the only way to soothe the desperate heart.
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