Psalm 139 -- Today's prayer.

"Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

What Do You Make of This?

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend... I have called you friends" - John 15:13, 15

Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him.  It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with a sense of the high calling. 

Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect -- "Now work it out, be loyal to Me, whilst the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal." 

"I have called you friends" -- Stand loyal to your Friend and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life.

- Oswald Chambers - 

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