Be Still & Know His Crazy Love

 Waking up today, I was reminded that today is the day we remember the greatest gift of love that has ever been given -

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

 This is something that many of us have heard and have been taught our entire lives and we know full well what this truly means...how much God loves us...that He gave His one and only Son to die so that we could spend eternity with Him...that Christ loves us so much that He willingly and quietly laid down His life for us...

In Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love, he says - 

"Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?  It's crazy, if you think about it.  The God of the universe - the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor - loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love.  And what is our typical response?  We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss."

These are things we definitely know...BUT...do you really get it-is it at the core of who you are?   Because I think that if we truly get this in our heart of hearts, there is no way we can continue with our lives the way we tend to live; caught up in our schedules, jobs, church, our things, etc.   If we really & truly get this, it has to humble us to a point that we can barely speak; it has to overwhelm us with love & gratitude in such a way that it will be obvious to those around us that we are different.  Not because of who we are or what a great person we are, but that we are so loved and overwhelmed by the Almighty Creator that we just are different.

Of course, we are still human and will still make mistakes, but if true understanding of this is who we are to the core, don't you think it would show to those around us?   Don't you think it would mean we would all be spending time in His Word, trying to understand even more of who He is and how He works in us and around us?  Don't you think our choices & actions would be different throughout the day if this was who we are at the core?

As I'm writing this, I'm reminded again of the depth of His love for me - love that I deserve to have no part of....and yet He still chooses to love me.   Today my act of worship is to share that love with everyone I can - to be sure they know how much He loves them (starting with reminding my family).

Luke 23:44-46 says -  It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,  for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Live today knowing to your core how much your Creator loves you & let those around you see His love in you.   Take a few minutes today and tomorrow to read the story of His crucifixion, watch the Passion...do something that reminds you of the extent of His love...then get lost in His love - just a few minutes to remember something so overwhelming.  As Francis Chan says "...when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

A Life of Peace??

Very simply put, my act of worship today has been to not worry.   I am a worrier by nature; I like things to be planned out - I like to know what to expect next, to be sure my bases are covered; I don't like being unsure, unaware or caught off guard.

There are a lot of things going on in our family right now- decisions that need to be made, projects that have word to be done, but are also waiting on others.   I am most definitely a planner with my lists and spreadsheets that make me feel comfortable and I don't like depending on others to decide what happens next (okay, so maybe I'm a bit of a control freak)...  ;)   Because of that, I think God knows that sometimes He needs to put me in a spot where I am forced to wait on Him and depend on Him - just to remind me which one of us is sovereign.

In the midst of everything, I am reminded by Psalm 139 that God created me and knew every day of my life before I ever drew a breath; therefore, despite my uncertainty, He does know what tomorrow brings, what decisions I will end up making (right or wrong), and how He will use those decisions to bring Him glory.   Another one of my favorite passages says:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 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.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.    James 1:2-6

Romans 12:1-2 tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God - that this is our act of spiritual worship.   So...today...I choose to live in His grace & His peace - to not worry about any of the decisions I have to make, but to know that He already knows what is coming and what needs to happen.   Instead of worrying and trying to figure out what I'm "supposed to do", I choose to "let His mighty Spirit fall on me" - to get lost in His amazing, awesomeness/ His sovereignty and to ask Him to reveal decisions to me in His time.

What decisions are you wrestling with today?   Instead of wrestling with yourself, take a few minutes to be in awe of our Creator, listen to "Spirit Fall" by Chris Tomlin or "Waiting Here for You" by Christy Nockels (both are Passion) and get lost in His presence for 7 minutes...then go live today in peace - as your act of worship - knowing that your Lord & Savior knows what tomorrow brings.   Then walk away "singing alleluia" knowing that the one who controls the wind and the waves is in control of your life.

Happy birthday!!!

Today is my birthday and I have to say that today I feel blessed beyond anything I could imagine!   I was actually up and driving home at midnight this morning when my birthday started; I was praying (good alone time) and it was like I heard God say "Happy birthday! Today is the day you celebrate the day I gave you life!"  Then I rec'd my first "Happy Birthday" on facebook.   It reminded me that He celebrates our lives more than we do - that He so carefully crafted each and every one of us, watched us as we took our first breath, and loves us beyond anything we can imagine.   At the same time, He also knew every mistake we would make, every time we would fail Him, every time we would turn our backs on Him, and every time we would come running back to Him grateful for His love.   He knew all of that as our parents were meeting us for the first time and experiencing just a fraction of the love He feels for us.

What an amazing God we serve!   Over this last year, I have fallen more in love with my Savior than I have ever been; I have been overwhelmed by His grace, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy, and just how incredibly amazing He is.   I have watched him strengthen my marriage, draw our family in tighter to Him and continue growing our relationships with our girls.   I am reminded on this day that "I am celebrated" that I deserve none of this - the only reason I am to be celebrated is because I am His creation.  Anything I do that is of any worth is only because of Him and I am so blessed that He has allowed me to be in ministry - that He allows me be drawn into His presence in worship - and that He has surrounded me with an amazing family, incredible friends, and a worship team that I can't imagine life without.

This next year is His - wholly & completely - & I can't wait to see what He chooses to do and just pray that I am prepared for what He calls me to be a part of...  :)

Psalm 139 - in celebration of my birthday!

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD, 

and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise; 

you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down; 

you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue 

you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.