The Beauty of Broken People

I struck up a conversation this morning with my good friend Robin
about the story of Jonah.  Her response was one of the most
beautiful things I've ever read.  

Hope you get something out of it.

Me: When you get a chance, re-read the story of Jonah and let me know what you get out of it. I've spent all day reading and re-reading it because it's so deep and rich, yet simple. It's amazing how a city that is so wicked and evil, after one sermon, could completely repent and turn their lives around and cry out to God. It's amazing because that was God's plan all along and He WILL save even the people who everyone has the hardest time believing will EVER come to God. And I also think it's funny because people who feel so broken and unworthy of love are the most open to embracing God's love and more excited to run around proclaiming it, because they feel so unworthy. Yet, people like Jonah, feel like they have this entitlement to it, and get angry when God pours blessings over people who seem "less worthy" in their eyes. The fourth chapter boggles my mind. And I wanted to hear your thoughts on it. Whenever you get time, I know you're a busy working woman. Hope you have a blessed day!

Robin: I will read it tonight. omg just you saying that part about ppl being unworthy can receive more easily. it's so true. when we have zero religiosity we are like, the free gift of righteousness, free salvation, free healing. OK where do i sign up? it's those who fall into religiosity and pride about traditions and what they do or how they follow the rules. well, they feel entitled. and there is no mistake. it's never God + Me = salvation. it's GOD and God alone. I can do nothing without him and everything with him but it's not a collaboration. it's a "me accepting His free gift" that's why the "I can Do It" and self affirmations "all good things are coming my way today" are so dangerous. Yes, all good things are coming my way. so is favor and influence and finances, but only by the hand of God. ok, i'm off in left field. that's what was on my heart. stay pure and stay simple. that's the key. and have lots of unsaved friends. it's when we isolate and start picking and choosing and getting int the "christian club" well that's when we lose our ability to hear God. "For He did not come for those who are well but for those who were in need of a physician" I love unsaved ppl. I love broken, addicted, messed up, got no plan, got nowhere to go, got nothing going on people. I love gays, strippers, rapists, people on death row, drug dealers, cheaters, thieves, --- they are all God's favorite. They are who he came to seek and to save. he came for them. He looked upon the city and said, Look...they are like sheep without a shepherd. He came for the most vile, the most disturbed, the demon possessed, the most lowly, the most hated, the most surprising in society. He came for them. the outcasts. the ones no one wanted. the throw away people. and he delivered them and said, child...you are mine. you are my prize. you are my beloved. come home. he said that to the wicked city of ninevah. he looks at us like we would look at our own children. when you look at your child, even on death row because they've killed someone...you say, that's my baby and i can see the little boy or little girl inside. God sees us like that. He sees the helpless place that we try to cover up with motivation or anger or a fake smile or a boyfriend, girlfriend, food, drugs, etc...he sees that broken child and says...I'm here and its time to come home. He never looks at our mess. He looks at His creation. Ok, gotta work. i love you so much! I'll read Jonah tonight.

Yes.

"Come unto Me." - Matthew 11:28

If I will come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease from sin, and actually find the song of the Lord begin.  The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.

"..And I will give you rest"

 Not - I will put you to bed and hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but -- I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive; I will imbue you with the Spirit of Life and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity.

We get pathetic and talk about "suffering the will of the Lord!" -- Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that?

HAD TO SHARE :)

The lyrics of this song speak so much to me.  I've had it on repeat for days now.

This is my prayer in the desert, when all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need, my God is the God who provides
This is my prayer in the fire, in weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
This is my prayer in the battle, when triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
All of my life, in every season, You are still God
I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship
This is my prayer in the harvest, when favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again, the seed I've received I will sow

Guilt Induced Serving

Jesus calls us to bring justice to the darkness.  You can't bring justice if you're feeling guilty about not bringing justice.  Why? Because that guilt becomes a motivator to do good, and this motivator modifies your heart, but as humans, eventually we become numb to this emotion, and it slowly fades away.  The gospel is about the transformation of your being, not the modification of your heart.  The gospel frees us entirely from condemnation, and guilt is a sinful weapon often used against us to lead us away from God.  We're to bring about justice to the world because we've got the gospel woven into our hearts, with the belief that every person created was created by God, in His image, and is loved more than we can imagine by Him.  When the gospel truly gets a hold of your heart, you will see the beauty of Jesus in every person you serve.

"Jesus didn't just empathize with the poor, He became poor."

Tend It With Care

Note to Self

"If you allow even one thing to obscure your inner communion with God, drop it, whatever it may be, and see that you keep your inner vision clear."

I need to be in the continuous practice of steadily facing myself with God.  He does not come with a voice like thunder; His voice is gentle and it is easy to ignore.  And if I am continuously bringing things to God then in every circumstance, knowing what He desires for my life will become written into my conscience.

The Habit of Having No Habits

           As a college student, I feel like habits consume my life.  There are habits that I'm very self-aware of, like when I wake up in the morning and go about my day; I do the same things because it's what's comfortable and well-known to me.  Whether or not I do each of those things in a specific order, I always know that I'm going to set out and accomplish the things I had planned for that day.  And having these habits isn't necessarily a bad thing until it comes to the habits we form in our relationship with God
           If there's a specific time we set aside to do devotions, or a specific time we set aside to pray, we start to become conscious of that time as our "time with God" and this is where we need to tread lightly.  For example, if a situation or person approaches you while you are praying or doing a devotion and you say "No I'm sorry, I can't do that right now, it's my time with God." whether it comes in those exact words or not, it's your time with your habit.  Why? Because love means that there is no habit visible, you have come to the place where it is lost and God is so interwoven into everything you do, that your entire day is your time with God, because He is always with you and you are allowing Him to work through every circumstance and situation that He brings you to. So make sure to never turn down a situation that approaches because  it is "your time with God," for  you may very well be stepping away from something God placed in your path for a reason.
           As Oswald Chambers stated,"The right thing to do with habits is to lose them in the life of the Lord, until every habit is so practiced that there is no conscious habit at all."
           So yes, there are some habits I know we're aware of and there's some that we're not aware of.  Some that are hidden way deep down, and the only way we can come to terms with them, face them, and overcome them, is to step outside of our routine and comfort zones every single day.  Because nothing new can be experienced or revealed to us when we're living safe within our bubbles of comfort. God thrives on those opportunities where we put our trust in Him that He will do outstanding things with each of our days.  He desires for us to recognize our deep rooted sin, He desires for us to bear fruit; sometimes it's just a matter of us desiring it enough in return to allow Him bring us to places where He can grow us.

           When Jesus was on Earth, He was at home with God anywhere and everywhere. Is there anywhere where you are not at home with God? Let Him press through in that particular circumstance until you gain Him there.