wow. This sweet boy is the glory of God.
Truly, you need to watch this.
Truly, you need to watch this.
12.11.2011
11.19.2011
"That’s how God is now making futility serve you. The subjector is becoming the subjected. Futility is now fueling your hunger for freedom." - Jon Bloom
10.17.2011
An exchange of addictions...
"To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too easily satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart" (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p. 15). "Or as St. Bernard sang it:
"We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still:
We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill."
Matthew Henry is right: "Wherever there is true grace there is a desire for more grace." When Paul said, "Don't be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), his aim was to make God-aholics out of all believers. The Spirit is not deadening; he is addicting. The evidence that you have him is that you want more of him. Continued indifference to growth in grace is a sign of no grace." - John Piper
"We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still:
We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill."
Matthew Henry is right: "Wherever there is true grace there is a desire for more grace." When Paul said, "Don't be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), his aim was to make God-aholics out of all believers. The Spirit is not deadening; he is addicting. The evidence that you have him is that you want more of him. Continued indifference to growth in grace is a sign of no grace." - John Piper
enjoy this sweet comfort of a lil song I stumbled upon just now!
---
The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone (yeah oh oh)
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the sufferin' Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
'Cause when I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
Gonna look into your eyes and see you never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I will walk through the valley if you want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley if you want me to
Ginny Owens - "If You Want Me To"
---
The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone (yeah oh oh)
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the sufferin' Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
'Cause when I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
Gonna look into your eyes and see you never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I will walk through the valley if you want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley if you want me to
Ginny Owens - "If You Want Me To"
9.08.2011
As a Child
Below was written in January 2011 - I have currently stepped out of the counseling field for a bit, but wrote this while in the thick of this weighty work - the stories & individuals behind those stories are still very close to my heart, as the experience changed my life & showed me gospel love, community, and God in a whole new light. Similar thoughts have been on my mind lately...if I can catch any of the millions of thoughts that overflow my brain these days, you will see more on this again!
-------------------
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." – Mark 9:37
I work with individuals, mostly women, who have experienced extreme trauma. The stories I hear are the worst of the worst; I could not imagine it possible to hear stories that are more horrible and evil than the stories of the evil these women have experienced. I have become so aware of the evil in this world, but with that, very aware of God’s power over evil, which has been powerful for my own perception of and relationship to the God who saves, grows, and perfects me through Christ Jesus’ sufferings on my account and defeat of death through the resurrection.
It is only through Him that I am able to do the work that I do, and because of Him, I am not overly preoccupied/overwhelmed by clients’ stories, but there are moments when their stories come to mind…usually when I am at church. This happened a couple weeks ago. I was sitting in church and suddenly, clients’ stories of trauma began going through my mind. I had visions of each one, and I began to feel sadness as I watched the abuse endured by young, innocent children play out in my mind. Then suddenly, right in that very moment, I had a strong desire to hold and spend time with a baby. And to my surprise and appreciation, after church, a young mother caught my eye and offered for me to hold her baby!
I got some wonderful time with her sweet precious baby girl. We walked around the church, stole away to the nursery, we exchanged lovely smiles and laughed together, we danced, and we enjoyed one another’s company. After our sweet time together, this sweet baby girl decided to just lay her head down and curl up on my shoulder and fell right asleep! I treasured each moment as I held her close in my arms and she slept peacefully. I felt so loved by God, knowing I had desired this time and felt He had given it to me.
The following day, everything came full circle, as this moment was clearly being turned into more than just a blessing, but also a teaching moment. As I continued reading in a book I had been reading, I came across texts like, “humility is also like a child at rest in his father’s arms (John Piper),” humility is like a child, not childlike as though it is sweet and easy, but childlike that is powerless and absolutely dependent (Piper – my paraphrase), and “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me (Mark 9:37)”
And these texts were so sweet to me knowing that, immediately, as I felt sadness and in touch with some of the horror and evil in the world, I desired to be close to a baby…to receive Jesus and the Father (Mark 9:37) and to experience the humility, powerlessness, and dependency of a child asleep in my arms. And to feel and be reminded of the comfort, joy, and stretching pain in the smallness of curling up in my Father’s arms and resting. Oh how it feels to be painfully small while resting in the great arms of a powerful and absolutely trustworthy Father!
-------------------
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." – Mark 9:37
I work with individuals, mostly women, who have experienced extreme trauma. The stories I hear are the worst of the worst; I could not imagine it possible to hear stories that are more horrible and evil than the stories of the evil these women have experienced. I have become so aware of the evil in this world, but with that, very aware of God’s power over evil, which has been powerful for my own perception of and relationship to the God who saves, grows, and perfects me through Christ Jesus’ sufferings on my account and defeat of death through the resurrection.
It is only through Him that I am able to do the work that I do, and because of Him, I am not overly preoccupied/overwhelmed by clients’ stories, but there are moments when their stories come to mind…usually when I am at church. This happened a couple weeks ago. I was sitting in church and suddenly, clients’ stories of trauma began going through my mind. I had visions of each one, and I began to feel sadness as I watched the abuse endured by young, innocent children play out in my mind. Then suddenly, right in that very moment, I had a strong desire to hold and spend time with a baby. And to my surprise and appreciation, after church, a young mother caught my eye and offered for me to hold her baby!
I got some wonderful time with her sweet precious baby girl. We walked around the church, stole away to the nursery, we exchanged lovely smiles and laughed together, we danced, and we enjoyed one another’s company. After our sweet time together, this sweet baby girl decided to just lay her head down and curl up on my shoulder and fell right asleep! I treasured each moment as I held her close in my arms and she slept peacefully. I felt so loved by God, knowing I had desired this time and felt He had given it to me.
The following day, everything came full circle, as this moment was clearly being turned into more than just a blessing, but also a teaching moment. As I continued reading in a book I had been reading, I came across texts like, “humility is also like a child at rest in his father’s arms (John Piper),” humility is like a child, not childlike as though it is sweet and easy, but childlike that is powerless and absolutely dependent (Piper – my paraphrase), and “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me (Mark 9:37)”
And these texts were so sweet to me knowing that, immediately, as I felt sadness and in touch with some of the horror and evil in the world, I desired to be close to a baby…to receive Jesus and the Father (Mark 9:37) and to experience the humility, powerlessness, and dependency of a child asleep in my arms. And to feel and be reminded of the comfort, joy, and stretching pain in the smallness of curling up in my Father’s arms and resting. Oh how it feels to be painfully small while resting in the great arms of a powerful and absolutely trustworthy Father!
9.05.2011
Snapshots: "We don't need better salesmen. We need better messengers."
Been reading some really good stuff lately...decided to share some of my favorites on here. The quote below is from Steve Mizel's blog - I clipped my favorite parts, but do yourself a favor & read the whole thing on his site!
-----
"The gospel is an incredible message of what God did for us in Jesus' death and resurrection. And it is insanely beautiful. He took my shame, my sin, and my place in judgement so that I could stand with him in the fullness of his blessing. He was covered with my shame so that I could be covered with his glory. He was crushed as my substitute in judgment so that I could stand as his brother in blessing.
The gospel is simply and profoundly a message of what God has done to gain our victory - a victory we could never win for ourselves. It is the good news delivered to us so that we might believe and be saved immediately and absolutely from the penalty, progressively from the power, and ultimately from the presence of our sin. The gospel is a message of good news to be believed about God's commitment to us. It is not a request for commitment from us.
The gospel says, Stop trusting your ability to work up to God and take hold of God, and instead start trusting in what God has done to take hold of you.
...
Scripture is clear: we are saved by faith in the person and work of Jesus. Our goal as those who share the good news of Jesus should not be to get people to do something with the truth - it should be to persuade them to believe the truth. And just because we can get someone to want heaven or forgiveness or a better life doesn't mean we have persuaded them to trust completely in the person and work of Jesus.
We don't need better salesmen. We need better messengers. We have been entrusted the greatest message ever given to mankind, and it carries it's own power." - Steve Mizel, Trailhead Church
-----
"The gospel is an incredible message of what God did for us in Jesus' death and resurrection. And it is insanely beautiful. He took my shame, my sin, and my place in judgement so that I could stand with him in the fullness of his blessing. He was covered with my shame so that I could be covered with his glory. He was crushed as my substitute in judgment so that I could stand as his brother in blessing.
The gospel is simply and profoundly a message of what God has done to gain our victory - a victory we could never win for ourselves. It is the good news delivered to us so that we might believe and be saved immediately and absolutely from the penalty, progressively from the power, and ultimately from the presence of our sin. The gospel is a message of good news to be believed about God's commitment to us. It is not a request for commitment from us.
The gospel says, Stop trusting your ability to work up to God and take hold of God, and instead start trusting in what God has done to take hold of you.
...
Scripture is clear: we are saved by faith in the person and work of Jesus. Our goal as those who share the good news of Jesus should not be to get people to do something with the truth - it should be to persuade them to believe the truth. And just because we can get someone to want heaven or forgiveness or a better life doesn't mean we have persuaded them to trust completely in the person and work of Jesus.
We don't need better salesmen. We need better messengers. We have been entrusted the greatest message ever given to mankind, and it carries it's own power." - Steve Mizel, Trailhead Church
Snapshots: Power of Gospel for TODAY
“I think one of the most powerful apologetics of the gospel is when a group of people love one another, live in unity together in the midst of a broken, dark, depraved world and they don’t think they have to remove themselves from the world to be sanctified because they believe the gospel is powerful enough to sanctify them in the middle of a broken world.” - Jeff Vanderstelt
9.04.2011
Snapshots: Incomparable
"So if it seems that there are going to be some temporary losses when you run this race with Jesus, you are right. That is why Jesus said to count the cost (Luke 14:25-33) before you sign on. But the marathon of the Christian life is not mainly loss. It is mainly gain. "For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross." It is only a matter of timing. If you see things with the eyes of God, there is a vapor's breath of loss and pain, and then everlasting joy (2 Corinthians 4:17)....the sufferings of this present age are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to the children of God (Romans 8:18). So let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with Jesus." - Piper
Snapshots: Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
"I remember the effect this verse had on me as a boy when I heard someone explain that we must lay aside not only entangling sins, but "every encumbrance." That is, every weight or obstacle. Things that in themselves may not be sins. This was revolutionary. What it did (and I hope it does the same for you) was show me that the fight of faith - the race of the Christian life - is not fought well or run well by asking, "what's wrong with this or that?" but by asking, "is it in the way of greater faith and greater love and greater purity and greater courage and greater humility and greater patience and greater self-control? Not - Is it a sin? But: Does it help me run! Is it in the way?"..."
But when you look at your life through this lens, remember, "...verse 2 says, "Look to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith." Don't look to your own resources and say, "I've tried before. It won't work." Fix your eyes on him. The battle is a battle of faith: will you believe that the things he promises are better than the bad habits that you use to cover your sadness? But more than that, Jesus doesn't just respond to faith with his help. He works to author faith and perfect faith. He works to begin it and he works to complete it. Faith lays hold on Jesus for help, because Jesus laid hold on the heart for faith. Hebrews 13:21 says that God works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus. He is the author and the perfecter of our faith" - John Piper
"I remember the effect this verse had on me as a boy when I heard someone explain that we must lay aside not only entangling sins, but "every encumbrance." That is, every weight or obstacle. Things that in themselves may not be sins. This was revolutionary. What it did (and I hope it does the same for you) was show me that the fight of faith - the race of the Christian life - is not fought well or run well by asking, "what's wrong with this or that?" but by asking, "is it in the way of greater faith and greater love and greater purity and greater courage and greater humility and greater patience and greater self-control? Not - Is it a sin? But: Does it help me run! Is it in the way?"..."
But when you look at your life through this lens, remember, "...verse 2 says, "Look to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith." Don't look to your own resources and say, "I've tried before. It won't work." Fix your eyes on him. The battle is a battle of faith: will you believe that the things he promises are better than the bad habits that you use to cover your sadness? But more than that, Jesus doesn't just respond to faith with his help. He works to author faith and perfect faith. He works to begin it and he works to complete it. Faith lays hold on Jesus for help, because Jesus laid hold on the heart for faith. Hebrews 13:21 says that God works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus. He is the author and the perfecter of our faith" - John Piper
My family history of faith -
"We look and we see examples of faith and perseverance under every imaginable circumstance: there's David who committed adultery and murder, and he finished; there's John the Baptist who had a weird personality, and he finished; there's John Mark the quitter, and he finished; and Mary the prostitute, and she finished; and William Carey, plodder, and he finished; and Jonathan Edwards who got kicked out of his church, and he finished; and Job who suffered so much, and he finished; and Stephen who was hated and stoned, and he finished; and Mary Slessor and Amy Carmichael and St. Paul who served as single people all their lives, and they finished; and there's Wyman and Jerry and Rollin, and they all finished. Well, by the power and faith that got them through I'm going to finish too!" - John Piper
7.05.2011
empty heart - pour out to me!
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
Lo! on Thee I cast my care:
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
Dying, and, behold, I live!
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name;
I am all unrighteousness:
False and full of sin I am;
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art
Freely let me take of Thee:
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity!
- Charles Wesley, 1740
----------------
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
- Isaiah 61:1-4
------------------
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
Lo! on Thee I cast my care:
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
Dying, and, behold, I live!
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name;
I am all unrighteousness:
False and full of sin I am;
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art
Freely let me take of Thee:
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity!
- Charles Wesley, 1740
----------------
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
- Isaiah 61:1-4
------------------
6.13.2011
My Psalm to the LORD
To You alone I will sweetly sing & boldly declare:
Perfect Father – You are my all.
Faithful Husband – How do you stay with your whore bride?
Oh I love You. I love You.
Oh Lord, these lies I believe!
Somehow I still hear them – what am I to do?
Lies. Horror. Terror. Deceit. Fear.
They keep me alone, they keep me down, they put distance between me and You.
Turn my protective walls of a fortress into Your mighty Kingdom!
I am Yours. You are mine. You are near.
May I tremble at the closeness of your Presence!
Let me just drink it in!
Lord, I have hidden myself from others.
I have taken my white sheet and covered me up, but I am still there, just below this thin sheet.
Self-protection. Pride. Shame. Loneliness. Judgment. Fear.
Self-Protection and Fear have been my gods.
Against You and You alone have I sinned.
Father, please rip away this white sheet of protection!
It keeps me committed to my gods.
It keeps me from You.
I don’t want to be apart from You! I don’t want to trust anything more than You!
I resign! I don’t want to be my own Savior!
Only You Lord! ONLY You!
Wrap me in Your Presence.
I am Your precious Daughter! Hold me near!
Lord, I will lie down in the midst of the city. I will stand in the middle of destruction.
I will go into the wilderness. I will enter chaos.
If that is where you go, I will go too.
I lie down and see your light all around me. Where you go, I will go.
Lord, reach out to me! Help me to reach to You!
I cannot do this alone. I cannot run this race without You.
Oh Lord, hold my hand. Let us be ever so close.
Even closer as the days pass. I want to know more of You.
Overwhelm me with Your Presence! Surprise me with Your Reign.
God reigns! My Perfect Father reigns! My Faithful Husband is KING!
And He is my Savior; I need You. My Counselor, I cherish You.
Perfect Father, You fill me. Spirit, You never leave me.
You are my Master, I will not go free! You are my King, I will put my face to the ground!
You deliver me from darkness and keep me in Your light.
And You do it again and again – I rest my hope in Your Deliverance.
Holy Savior, Perfect Father, Precious and Powerful Spirit, I love You! Keep me near!
Perfect Father – You are my all.
Faithful Husband – How do you stay with your whore bride?
Oh I love You. I love You.
Oh Lord, these lies I believe!
Somehow I still hear them – what am I to do?
Lies. Horror. Terror. Deceit. Fear.
They keep me alone, they keep me down, they put distance between me and You.
Turn my protective walls of a fortress into Your mighty Kingdom!
I am Yours. You are mine. You are near.
May I tremble at the closeness of your Presence!
Let me just drink it in!
Lord, I have hidden myself from others.
I have taken my white sheet and covered me up, but I am still there, just below this thin sheet.
Self-protection. Pride. Shame. Loneliness. Judgment. Fear.
Self-Protection and Fear have been my gods.
Against You and You alone have I sinned.
Father, please rip away this white sheet of protection!
It keeps me committed to my gods.
It keeps me from You.
I don’t want to be apart from You! I don’t want to trust anything more than You!
I resign! I don’t want to be my own Savior!
Only You Lord! ONLY You!
Wrap me in Your Presence.
I am Your precious Daughter! Hold me near!
Lord, I will lie down in the midst of the city. I will stand in the middle of destruction.
I will go into the wilderness. I will enter chaos.
If that is where you go, I will go too.
I lie down and see your light all around me. Where you go, I will go.
Lord, reach out to me! Help me to reach to You!
I cannot do this alone. I cannot run this race without You.
Oh Lord, hold my hand. Let us be ever so close.
Even closer as the days pass. I want to know more of You.
Overwhelm me with Your Presence! Surprise me with Your Reign.
God reigns! My Perfect Father reigns! My Faithful Husband is KING!
And He is my Savior; I need You. My Counselor, I cherish You.
Perfect Father, You fill me. Spirit, You never leave me.
You are my Master, I will not go free! You are my King, I will put my face to the ground!
You deliver me from darkness and keep me in Your light.
And You do it again and again – I rest my hope in Your Deliverance.
Holy Savior, Perfect Father, Precious and Powerful Spirit, I love You! Keep me near!
5.08.2011
Come. See. Follow. Found.
Life. Light. Purpose. Love.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." – John 8:12
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. - John 12:26-27
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. - Psalm 138:7-8
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." – Mark 10:21
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. - John 12:26-27
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. - Psalm 138:7-8
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." – Mark 10:21
The Great Walk
© 2009 Kristy Wakefield
As I pray, I feel His presence come over me.
He begins to show me…
A Dad and his little child walking, hand in hand.
As I watch, I know it is Him and I.
He is walking with me.
He asks me if I would like to go on a walk.
Without a thought I say “yes,”
All the while knowing that this would be more than just an ordinary walk.
He is going to walk with me forever.
He tells me to “follow Him.”
To give up all else and follow Him.
He is walking with me.
We walk, hand in hand. Sometimes I hesitate, sometimes I run.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes I dance, sometimes I sing.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes He picks me up and carries me,
While other times He gives me a needed push to face the things I fear the most.
When I am alone, hopeless, lost, or saddened by the world,
He knows His purpose. He knows the direction.
He is walking with me.
When the road becomes too weary, I see His outstretched arms.
He knows how much I need Him.
He gives me strength enough to reach for Him.
He is walking with me.
As He walks with me, He leads.
We walk, hand in hand; He shows me love.
He leads me in the way everlasting.
His path looks crooked from my worldly lenses,
But His is a straight and narrow path that leads to life.
He is walking with me.
As we walk, I pause.
He gently presses His hand against my back,
“Keep walking with me…I know what is ahead.
Our walk will not be taken by darkness, for I am the light of life.”
He is walking with me.
As I pray, I feel His presence come over me.
He begins to show me…
A Dad and his little child walking, hand in hand.
As I watch, I know it is Him and I.
He is walking with me.
He asks me if I would like to go on a walk.
Without a thought I say “yes,”
All the while knowing that this would be more than just an ordinary walk.
He is going to walk with me forever.
He tells me to “follow Him.”
To give up all else and follow Him.
He is walking with me.
We walk, hand in hand. Sometimes I hesitate, sometimes I run.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes I dance, sometimes I sing.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes He picks me up and carries me,
While other times He gives me a needed push to face the things I fear the most.
When I am alone, hopeless, lost, or saddened by the world,
He knows His purpose. He knows the direction.
He is walking with me.
When the road becomes too weary, I see His outstretched arms.
He knows how much I need Him.
He gives me strength enough to reach for Him.
He is walking with me.
As He walks with me, He leads.
We walk, hand in hand; He shows me love.
He leads me in the way everlasting.
His path looks crooked from my worldly lenses,
But His is a straight and narrow path that leads to life.
He is walking with me.
As we walk, I pause.
He gently presses His hand against my back,
“Keep walking with me…I know what is ahead.
Our walk will not be taken by darkness, for I am the light of life.”
He is walking with me.
----
“God takes care of the lilies and the sparrows and God will take care of you. Just come.” – Mother Theresa
4.26.2011
Divine Father. Divine Love. Adopted Child.
“Father” “Perfect Father” “My Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name” These are the words of a child addressing her divine Father. “Abba, Father,” these are the words of Jesus addressing His divine Father (Matthew 14:36), but also the words of His Spirit, whom God has sent into our hearts (Galatians 4:6).
This is my very favorite and most life-changing aspect of my relationship with God. So, when sitting down to write about it, I thought, “this will be something I will be able to write about!” But when it came to writing, instead of words, I had tears, instead of thoughts, I had story after story of God as my Father. Instead of knowledge/doctrine of God, I have intimate moments, knowledge of God’s love for me, His knowing me, His protection, His provision, His comfort, His assurance, and His counsel. The greatness in knowing God as my Father is in the smallness of knowing that I am His child.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”-Romans 8:14-15
For more, check out Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 4:1-11.
"He is contrasting the fear of a slave with the affection of a son. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to change our slavish fears toward God into confident, happy, peaceful affection for God as our father.” – John Piper
J.I. Packer states, “Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption” and describes adoption as “the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” (justification: tried and found innocent)
Not only are we found innocent of our trespasses, our daily strivings for other things over God, but we are adopted into relationship with God our Creator & not just into any relationship, but as a child with God as a Perfect Father! It’s like what Jesus has!
We are children of the Most High; this is our unique & powerful new identity! Being a child of God is a whole new identity. Being a child of God is non-circumstantial. I know no instances in the Bible where people got everything together and everything right in their life and that is where they met God. I met God as my Perfect Father when I was broken and in need of a Father. That is where I meet Him still.
All this is ours in Christ Jesus. It’s all free. And it’s not in response to our worth. Love is not based on another’s worth, it is based on the lover’s ability to love. And in the end, His divine love is an overflow of His worth. In God doing what only God is able, in His passion He went to the cross, defeated death, shattered brokenness and self-salvation to point to what is greater than all things, to what will make us supremely happy forever, namely HIMSELF. He gives us more than a new identity, a new way of life, He points all things to Himself and works to give us what is best, and that is Himself, as our Most Perfect and Supremely Passionate and Intimate Father.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This is the intimacy God seeks to have with us and sends His Spirit to aide in our intimate relationship (“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’"- Galatians 4:6). In crying to our Father; He knows that we need a Father to cry to in this broken world. He knows me and knows that I cannot find satisfaction apart from Him.
Take some time to be alone with your Father. I have “Father/Daughter dates” with Him. Jesus escaped to be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35); as women and men fighting to be close to God in a distance-prone, individualistic society, we must escape to be alone with Him, for our spirits to cry “Abba, Father!” I can’t do this on my own anymore! After all, how can we be comforted if we’re always comfortable? How can we be counseled if we’re always “okay”? How can we be helped if we don’t need anybody? How can we have a relationship with the Father if we do not know that we are His child?
This is my very favorite and most life-changing aspect of my relationship with God. So, when sitting down to write about it, I thought, “this will be something I will be able to write about!” But when it came to writing, instead of words, I had tears, instead of thoughts, I had story after story of God as my Father. Instead of knowledge/doctrine of God, I have intimate moments, knowledge of God’s love for me, His knowing me, His protection, His provision, His comfort, His assurance, and His counsel. The greatness in knowing God as my Father is in the smallness of knowing that I am His child.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”-Romans 8:14-15
For more, check out Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 4:1-11.
"He is contrasting the fear of a slave with the affection of a son. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to change our slavish fears toward God into confident, happy, peaceful affection for God as our father.” – John Piper
J.I. Packer states, “Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption” and describes adoption as “the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” (justification: tried and found innocent)
Not only are we found innocent of our trespasses, our daily strivings for other things over God, but we are adopted into relationship with God our Creator & not just into any relationship, but as a child with God as a Perfect Father! It’s like what Jesus has!
We are children of the Most High; this is our unique & powerful new identity! Being a child of God is a whole new identity. Being a child of God is non-circumstantial. I know no instances in the Bible where people got everything together and everything right in their life and that is where they met God. I met God as my Perfect Father when I was broken and in need of a Father. That is where I meet Him still.
All this is ours in Christ Jesus. It’s all free. And it’s not in response to our worth. Love is not based on another’s worth, it is based on the lover’s ability to love. And in the end, His divine love is an overflow of His worth. In God doing what only God is able, in His passion He went to the cross, defeated death, shattered brokenness and self-salvation to point to what is greater than all things, to what will make us supremely happy forever, namely HIMSELF. He gives us more than a new identity, a new way of life, He points all things to Himself and works to give us what is best, and that is Himself, as our Most Perfect and Supremely Passionate and Intimate Father.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This is the intimacy God seeks to have with us and sends His Spirit to aide in our intimate relationship (“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’"- Galatians 4:6). In crying to our Father; He knows that we need a Father to cry to in this broken world. He knows me and knows that I cannot find satisfaction apart from Him.
Take some time to be alone with your Father. I have “Father/Daughter dates” with Him. Jesus escaped to be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35); as women and men fighting to be close to God in a distance-prone, individualistic society, we must escape to be alone with Him, for our spirits to cry “Abba, Father!” I can’t do this on my own anymore! After all, how can we be comforted if we’re always comfortable? How can we be counseled if we’re always “okay”? How can we be helped if we don’t need anybody? How can we have a relationship with the Father if we do not know that we are His child?
3.28.2011
Grace
"Past grace is glorified by intense & joyful gratitude. Future grace is glorified by intense and joyful confidence. This faith is what empowers us for venturesome obedience in the cause of Christ." - John Piper
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3.14.2011
JUDE 20/21
Perfect Father, who knows me, provides for me, loves me unconditionally, forgives me, disciplines me, holds me, saves me...be with me today.
Holy Spirit, who moves me, gives breath to me, convicts me, knows God's will & prays for it on my behalf (thank you so much for that)...help me feel your presence today, open my eyes to your greater things.
Jesus, I love you. Thank you for making God known to me, thank you for being my Teacher and showing me more and more of God. Thank you for doing the unthinkable, for coming to the brokenness in the world, coming to my brokenness, and not waiting for or expecting me to do what I am unable to do: to save myself through word or actions. Thank you for knowing how much I need You and going to the cross so that I could have more of You and see more of God. I love you.
Please Lord, be with me today. Wake me up to Your will and Your presence. Thank you Lord for the desire You have given me for You...thank you for the urgency to take a shorter shower today so that I could have more time with You. Thank you for this amazing weekend, for time of rest, for a friend that cares about what is going on in my life, for sharing Your glorious way with me through the way you love my friends. Thank you Lord, for opening the door to let others in to what You and I share, for urging me to give a voice to the intimate life You and I share and the thoughts You stir within me. Oh I love You. Help me to want You more than all the other things I think I want more of. Spirit, it is in You that I have life and breath...Jesus You want me to have life and to have it abundantly (John 10:10). Lord, please wake me up from my dead ways. Father, I trust You to defend and protect me from the thief in the world and the lies he tells me. I need Your gospel truth Lord, oh thank you for being Who I can turn to when I hear the lies! I love you Lord!
Holy Spirit, who moves me, gives breath to me, convicts me, knows God's will & prays for it on my behalf (thank you so much for that)...help me feel your presence today, open my eyes to your greater things.
Jesus, I love you. Thank you for making God known to me, thank you for being my Teacher and showing me more and more of God. Thank you for doing the unthinkable, for coming to the brokenness in the world, coming to my brokenness, and not waiting for or expecting me to do what I am unable to do: to save myself through word or actions. Thank you for knowing how much I need You and going to the cross so that I could have more of You and see more of God. I love you.
Please Lord, be with me today. Wake me up to Your will and Your presence. Thank you Lord for the desire You have given me for You...thank you for the urgency to take a shorter shower today so that I could have more time with You. Thank you for this amazing weekend, for time of rest, for a friend that cares about what is going on in my life, for sharing Your glorious way with me through the way you love my friends. Thank you Lord, for opening the door to let others in to what You and I share, for urging me to give a voice to the intimate life You and I share and the thoughts You stir within me. Oh I love You. Help me to want You more than all the other things I think I want more of. Spirit, it is in You that I have life and breath...Jesus You want me to have life and to have it abundantly (John 10:10). Lord, please wake me up from my dead ways. Father, I trust You to defend and protect me from the thief in the world and the lies he tells me. I need Your gospel truth Lord, oh thank you for being Who I can turn to when I hear the lies! I love you Lord!
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." - JUDE 20/21
Our God is Greater
"Our God is greater," the same words I sang with all my heart and soul to God as I drove to work in the middle of the night (and REFUSED to be filled with fear but with nothing but peace of God). Several months ago, a co-worker of mine called me for emergency back-up overnight at the trauma center where I work. I was driving in the middle of the night, eager to encounter a night I will never forget. On my drive there, I sang with all my being "Our God is Greater" as I anticipated the unimaginable, and I entered work that night with such peace of God. What a night.
A choir of survivor children, former child soldiers in Africa, sing the same song I sang in the car on my way to work that unforgettable night; they sing with all their heart and soul a truth they know by heart and by their very own lives - "our God is greater." I want you to see these kids & how much God loves them - see the link below. Watch those lil boys in the front sing with all their heart, oh wow they have seen God and know His Spirit!
I love the God who is in love with those kids. That is my God...the One who is GREATER.
A choir of survivor children, former child soldiers in Africa, sing the same song I sang in the car on my way to work that unforgettable night; they sing with all their heart and soul a truth they know by heart and by their very own lives - "our God is greater." I want you to see these kids & how much God loves them - see the link below. Watch those lil boys in the front sing with all their heart, oh wow they have seen God and know His Spirit!
I love the God who is in love with those kids. That is my God...the One who is GREATER.
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