"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24
I don't know about you, but when someone mentions running I feel an intense urge to change the subject. I don't like running, never have. To me it's exhausting and it hurts everything in me, and that's just after a run down the end of the driveway. My sister has talked about signing me up for a marathon and I just have to laugh because I would not last very long at all. You'd see me get maybe about a mile before quitting. For those who can run, I'm extremely impressed and I have absolutely no problem cheering you on!
So when Paul mentions "running a race" several times in the New Testament, that fear begins to surge through me again. It didn't take me long, though, to recognize that this is not necessarily a running race, but a race of faith. And in 1 Corinthians 9:24 he talks about running in a way to win the prize, or how we need to discipline our body, mind, spirit, and soul to become stronger and help us endure the race of faith that lasts our whole life. Even after understanding all of this, however, I still had a difficult time understanding what Paul was talking about until my Bible reading this morning.
Lately I've been reading through 2 Chronicles and recently came upon the story of Asa, King of Judah. Asa is described, according to 2 Chronicles 15:17-19, like this: "Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated. There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign." Asa is described as a man who was committed to God and served Him. Even one chapter earlier it describes a scene were the Cushite army is coming to attack Judah with a very large army. And what does Asa do? He called out to God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you (2 Chronicles 14:11)." And what does God do? He strikes down the Cushites and they fall into Judah's hands. Asa was a man of great faith! Well, almost...
This morning I finished the story of Asa, and the ending didn't match up with the beginning and the middle. You see, in 2 Chronicles 16 it talks about how, in the 36th year of Asa's reign, the army of Israel went up against Judah fortified Ramah, a city of Judah, so no one could leave or enter Asa's territory. Now you'd think that a man who saw God strike a huge army before him would turn once more to His God, but it's at this point that Asa stumbles in his race and takes things into his own hands. He sends lots of silver and gold to an ally of Israel, Aram, so that they will break their treaty with Israel and even attack their old friend. The king of Aram agrees and it works out well for Judah, until a seer comes to Asa to give him this message from God: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles 16:7-9)." Asa relied on his own strength and intelligence and while he solved one problem he created an even bigger one. If God had sent this message to me I'd repent immediately, I would not want to go up against God. But the once great man of faith, even when stricken with disease, "did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12b)", and two years later Asa died without completing the race of faith.
Stories like Asa's show me that it's great to have faith in God and trust Him, but it's a continuing choice for the rest of our lives. Now thankfully we have been covered by the blood of Christ for all of our sins, mistakes, and doubt. And it's times like this where I'm so thankful for God's grace, for His amazing blessings even though I sometimes doubt or trip in my own race. As long as we repent and ask for God's help to learn from our mistakes (because we can't do it in our own strength) so we may be more disciplined moving forward, seek Him so that we may find Him, and accept His love, grace, and forgiveness then we will quickly get back up and continue to run the race. And I hope that someday, when I am facing the end of my time on earth, that I will be able to say as Paul did, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)."
May you successfully run to win your race of faith, turn to God for His strength in times of exhaustion and pain, and remember what a privilege it is to be running this race for Christ!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Making a Masterpiece out of a Mess
It had been a tough day full of hurt and pain, so I went to the store and bought some paint and canvases and decided to try painting in my room to be alone with God. Not being much of an artist, I decided to try to give it my best attempt. I took a canvas and decided to try an abstract idea I'd found on Pintrest and started dropping globs of different colored paints around the canvas. I then took my brush and started swirling the paints, beginning to mix the colors, excitedly awaiting the result. Before long I was looking at a perfect representation of my mind on this particular day. The colors had begun to blend into a dull brown and there was excess paint everywhere. I sighed and thought, "Well that was a failure, I can't do anything right today." I started thinking about if anything could be done because I didn't want to throw out a perfectly good canvas, but I was out of ideas.
Finally I decided to grab some paper towel to wipe off as much paint as possible, figuring I could try to paint over what was left to hopefully create something new. I took a bunched up piece of paper towel and wiped from one side to another. I looked down at what was left and thought, "Huh, well what do you know! That looks neat!" I kept doing this until all the paint on the canvas was moving from right to left. I looked down and thought, "That turned out better than I thought! This will be the perfect background to what I want to paint!" My mess ended up being the beginning of a masterpiece!
It wasn't until the next morning when I was reflecting on this that I realized that this was yet another representation of how God works. We're a canvas that starts to think we can make a masterpiece on our own, so we start putting things together. Inevitably we all reach a point where we realize the mess we've made that forces us to throw up our hands and say, "I give up! I have no idea what I'm doing! This is a mess!". That's when God comes in and begins to work with the mess that we've left and His mighty hand works to create an incredible masterpiece that blows us away so we're left thinking, "God, you did that with me? With my mess? This is amazing!"
If you're finding yourself in a mess right now give it to God! He can't wait to show you the masterpiece He has for you!
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2
Finally I decided to grab some paper towel to wipe off as much paint as possible, figuring I could try to paint over what was left to hopefully create something new. I took a bunched up piece of paper towel and wiped from one side to another. I looked down at what was left and thought, "Huh, well what do you know! That looks neat!" I kept doing this until all the paint on the canvas was moving from right to left. I looked down and thought, "That turned out better than I thought! This will be the perfect background to what I want to paint!" My mess ended up being the beginning of a masterpiece!
It wasn't until the next morning when I was reflecting on this that I realized that this was yet another representation of how God works. We're a canvas that starts to think we can make a masterpiece on our own, so we start putting things together. Inevitably we all reach a point where we realize the mess we've made that forces us to throw up our hands and say, "I give up! I have no idea what I'm doing! This is a mess!". That's when God comes in and begins to work with the mess that we've left and His mighty hand works to create an incredible masterpiece that blows us away so we're left thinking, "God, you did that with me? With my mess? This is amazing!"
If you're finding yourself in a mess right now give it to God! He can't wait to show you the masterpiece He has for you!
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2
Saturday, January 10, 2015
He Will Move
"Dear Diary, Why can't I enjoy fun things like vacations and cruises? Why am I programmed in a way that I can't enjoy things without a man by my side? Why can't I break this?? I'm so frustrated! Why isn't God enough? How can I be so stupid and selfish all the time, always trying to get what I want, and then getting mad when He withholds it? And why can't I be content with myself? Why am I always last in the romance department? I know these thoughts are ungrateful and sinful but it's how I feel! How do I change this? Why can't I be truly happy? What else do I have to do? I love Christ, I've given myself to Him, and I pray and go to church, and I look for His guidance! What else do I have to do? And why do I feel so deserted? What else do I have to do to receive His Spirit, to love Him more than anything, to be grateful for everything He's given me? And why don't I feel like I'm good enough?
Lord, please help me to shed this diseased, selfish, mean-spirited skin! I don't want to be this person anymore! Please Lord, I need you so badly right now! You're the only one who can help me!!"
You might be wondering what this is from, and why there are so many questions. Today I have dedicated myself to the Lord through having a day of silence and as much solitude as one can get when they live with two dogs. A dear friend of mine had told me about this "24 Hours of Silence and Solitude", and so I planned a time to give it a try. God started the day by leading me down a final path of healing over my broken engagement, which included rereading my previous journals, most of which included many details about my previous relationship along with many Bible verses and a few nuggets of wisdom. As I was looking through some old pictures, I came across a thin journal with a pen still wedged inside. And what I found were some of my earliest prayers and writings from following God. This entry came out of that journal, written on May 16, 2012, days after I had turned 23 and almost a year old as a follower of Christ. 3 years ago, as you can probably tell, I was going through a very difficult time. What really struck me as I read through the desperate prayer at the end was that God did in fact answer that prayer! It took time, almost 3 years, but looking back it seems like no time at all. God has taken me through so much in my young years following Him, and I was filled with so much joy in realizing that I'm not that sad and confused girl anymore! Reading through this I actually had to wonder if that could've been me. I'm no longer mean-spirited, envious of others, or selfish. I focus on putting others before myself and serving God daily. I'm truly content and happy being single and God is definitely enough for me! And through my relationship with God I've realized how valued and loved I am by Him, I see myself as the Princess He sees me as! I'm content and joyful, praising God for all the incredible and undeserved blessings He's given to me, including anointing me and setting me apart for His work! My heart is so thankful!
As I was preparing to close this journal a last thought hit me. If God could answer prayers as big as this, one I forgot about but He never did, then how can I possibly believe that He can't or won't answer my biggest prayers? Who am I to doubt that He can't bring to me an incredible husband and a beautiful marriage, or lead me to a fulfilling career, or answer my hearts deepest desires? He really does do immeasurably more than we ask, it's absolutely mind-blowing! And I can't wait to look back on my newly completed journal 3 years down the road and be reminded of how much more He's done for and through me. Thank you so much Father God! Amen!
Daughter, you took a risk trusting Me, and now you are healed and whole! Live well, live blessed!
Luke 8:48 (The Message)
Lord, please help me to shed this diseased, selfish, mean-spirited skin! I don't want to be this person anymore! Please Lord, I need you so badly right now! You're the only one who can help me!!"
You might be wondering what this is from, and why there are so many questions. Today I have dedicated myself to the Lord through having a day of silence and as much solitude as one can get when they live with two dogs. A dear friend of mine had told me about this "24 Hours of Silence and Solitude", and so I planned a time to give it a try. God started the day by leading me down a final path of healing over my broken engagement, which included rereading my previous journals, most of which included many details about my previous relationship along with many Bible verses and a few nuggets of wisdom. As I was looking through some old pictures, I came across a thin journal with a pen still wedged inside. And what I found were some of my earliest prayers and writings from following God. This entry came out of that journal, written on May 16, 2012, days after I had turned 23 and almost a year old as a follower of Christ. 3 years ago, as you can probably tell, I was going through a very difficult time. What really struck me as I read through the desperate prayer at the end was that God did in fact answer that prayer! It took time, almost 3 years, but looking back it seems like no time at all. God has taken me through so much in my young years following Him, and I was filled with so much joy in realizing that I'm not that sad and confused girl anymore! Reading through this I actually had to wonder if that could've been me. I'm no longer mean-spirited, envious of others, or selfish. I focus on putting others before myself and serving God daily. I'm truly content and happy being single and God is definitely enough for me! And through my relationship with God I've realized how valued and loved I am by Him, I see myself as the Princess He sees me as! I'm content and joyful, praising God for all the incredible and undeserved blessings He's given to me, including anointing me and setting me apart for His work! My heart is so thankful!
As I was preparing to close this journal a last thought hit me. If God could answer prayers as big as this, one I forgot about but He never did, then how can I possibly believe that He can't or won't answer my biggest prayers? Who am I to doubt that He can't bring to me an incredible husband and a beautiful marriage, or lead me to a fulfilling career, or answer my hearts deepest desires? He really does do immeasurably more than we ask, it's absolutely mind-blowing! And I can't wait to look back on my newly completed journal 3 years down the road and be reminded of how much more He's done for and through me. Thank you so much Father God! Amen!
Daughter, you took a risk trusting Me, and now you are healed and whole! Live well, live blessed!
Luke 8:48 (The Message)
Friday, January 2, 2015
Be Still
Today I found myself rereading through parts of my journal, and I came across an entry that spoke to me for where I'm at today. God seems to be repeating the message of "rest" once more, but I'm realizing that it means something different than what I initially thought. I began wondering what Godly Rest was in the late summer and tried my best to apply it, but God is continually helping us to learn and grow, and I find myself in that pattern once again. So here's another flashback from my journal, maybe God is speaking the same message to you:
"Be still and know that I am God."
This is what I heard on my drive to work today. I had been trying to pray as I usually do but I kept getting nowhere. Finally I just asked God what was going on, wondering what He wanted me to do. I felt like I needed to empty my mind of thought and open my ears to God. The moments ticked by and the suspense grew but nothing happened. Finally I angrily yelled, "God, what do you want me to do?" And that's when I heard it. "Be still and know that I am God." I let it roll over and over in my head and suddenly God felt so big and so close, I could feel Him everywhere. But I still couldn't make sense of why He was telling me that.
After I parked my car at work and finally prayed in earnest, I looked on my iDisciple App and my thumb clicked on an article titled "A Balanced Diet", a short article about how to feed the mental, emotional, and spiritual life. In the prayer section it asked the question, "What do You want me to do to keep my heart attuned to Jesus? Do I need to spend more time in scripture, seeking you in prayer, or being still in Your presence?" I gasped as the pieces began to fall into place and I understood what God was trying to tell me! This is how He wants me to keep my heart attuned to Him, by being still and resting in His presence. Be still, rest in Him and know that He is God. I don't need to strive or stress, I need only be still and remember who's in charge. What a relief this is! How great you are, O God!
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
"Be still and know that I am God."
This is what I heard on my drive to work today. I had been trying to pray as I usually do but I kept getting nowhere. Finally I just asked God what was going on, wondering what He wanted me to do. I felt like I needed to empty my mind of thought and open my ears to God. The moments ticked by and the suspense grew but nothing happened. Finally I angrily yelled, "God, what do you want me to do?" And that's when I heard it. "Be still and know that I am God." I let it roll over and over in my head and suddenly God felt so big and so close, I could feel Him everywhere. But I still couldn't make sense of why He was telling me that.
After I parked my car at work and finally prayed in earnest, I looked on my iDisciple App and my thumb clicked on an article titled "A Balanced Diet", a short article about how to feed the mental, emotional, and spiritual life. In the prayer section it asked the question, "What do You want me to do to keep my heart attuned to Jesus? Do I need to spend more time in scripture, seeking you in prayer, or being still in Your presence?" I gasped as the pieces began to fall into place and I understood what God was trying to tell me! This is how He wants me to keep my heart attuned to Him, by being still and resting in His presence. Be still, rest in Him and know that He is God. I don't need to strive or stress, I need only be still and remember who's in charge. What a relief this is! How great you are, O God!
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10
Royalty
Over the Christmas holiday God blessed me with the incredible opportunity to go to Disney World, a place I hadn't been since I was 6-7 years old. To better explain, I'm kind of a Disney Nerd who grew up loving the musical films and gleaning life lessons from the characters in these films, particularly the women. The princesses and leading women have come under scrutiny in recent years for the lessons they have supposedly taught young girls. Much of my personal strengths of character such as kindness, patience, love, believing in others, sacrifice, hope, encouragement, joy in the face of trials, friendship, strength, boldness, and standing up for my beliefs, I received from these characters. The only bad lesson I learned was that animals will come help you clean up your house when you sing (a joke, but seriously, come on animals).
Earlier this year God showed me that since He is the King of Kings and I am an adopted daughter into His royal Kingdom that it makes me His Princess. Yes, I am a Princess of the Kingdom of God! And if you are a woman following Jesus then you are one as well (and men, that would make you Princes, this royalty stuff isn't just for the women). It took a while to wrap my mind around this truth, but now that I have nothing and no one can take it from me! When I went to Disney World I met many of the princesses that I had looked up to as a child (yes, I know they're actresses), but it was such a crazy experience meeting them knowing that I am a princess! On my last night of the trip, my friend and I had dinner at Cinderella's Castle and we even wore tiaras, a symbol representing our standing in God's Kingdom. I can't even describe the feeling, it just felt right.
To better explain this point of being God's royalty, I'd like to share with you an entry from my personal journal from this summer when I first came upon this realization:
Something that has just been blowing me away is that I am a princess of God! For a girl who grew up on and LOVED Disney movies and their heroine princesses, this idea hits me so hard that it strikes joy into my heart! It makes me think of all my favorite princesses and what I share in common with them.
I share Snow White's dream of her prince and Aurora's lovely voice. Like Cinderella I don't always look like a princess on the outside, but I persevere to be one within.
I share Ariel's curiosity and Belle's desire for adventure. Like Jasmine I stand up for myself and won't allow men to have the final say on my future.
Like Pocahontas I know there is both good and bad in us all but I express grace and seek a peaceful world. I have a competitive side and desire to find out who I truly am like Mulan, and I share an independent streak with Meg.
Like Gisele I believe in true love, and I wonder when my life will begin like Rapunzel. I share Anna's adorkable personality and strong love for those close to me, and I have a beauty to unveil like Elsa.
I share many similarities with all my favorite heroines. Most importantly, I am my own as God has created me for a purpose and has designed me and crafted me in a specific way for a specific role! I am Princess Jennifer, a beautiful brunette (turned blonde) with eyes that can shift from a deep ocean blue to a piercing hazel, and I have curves and edges unique to me. I am beautifully and wonderfully made by my Father, the King of Kings, and I have a desire to see the beauty in the world and be one with it. I can get lost in gorgeous swelling melodies and join in the song. I have a desire to create and enjoy my Father's magnificent creations such as the land and seas. I have a maturity of one who has lived 25 years and knows her Heavenly Prince and true love intimately, but I also have a playful side and child-like innocence, still learning right from wrong. I have a stubbornness to try things for myself and an interest in learning new things. I am Princess Jennifer, independent, silly, and filled with love, hope, and romantic dreams. I have an adventure all my own to share as God's Princess! Just wait until you see my story!
This experience isn't just unique to me. God longs for you to know Him and yourself this way too, in a way that is specifically fit to you. He longs to give you lovely gifts and romance your heart while also comforting and protecting you like a father! Just ask Him, He's right at the door and has been waiting patiently for you to let Him in. He can't wait to show you the incredible story he has for you!
Love,
Princess Jennifer
Earlier this year God showed me that since He is the King of Kings and I am an adopted daughter into His royal Kingdom that it makes me His Princess. Yes, I am a Princess of the Kingdom of God! And if you are a woman following Jesus then you are one as well (and men, that would make you Princes, this royalty stuff isn't just for the women). It took a while to wrap my mind around this truth, but now that I have nothing and no one can take it from me! When I went to Disney World I met many of the princesses that I had looked up to as a child (yes, I know they're actresses), but it was such a crazy experience meeting them knowing that I am a princess! On my last night of the trip, my friend and I had dinner at Cinderella's Castle and we even wore tiaras, a symbol representing our standing in God's Kingdom. I can't even describe the feeling, it just felt right.
To better explain this point of being God's royalty, I'd like to share with you an entry from my personal journal from this summer when I first came upon this realization:
Something that has just been blowing me away is that I am a princess of God! For a girl who grew up on and LOVED Disney movies and their heroine princesses, this idea hits me so hard that it strikes joy into my heart! It makes me think of all my favorite princesses and what I share in common with them.
I share Snow White's dream of her prince and Aurora's lovely voice. Like Cinderella I don't always look like a princess on the outside, but I persevere to be one within.
I share Ariel's curiosity and Belle's desire for adventure. Like Jasmine I stand up for myself and won't allow men to have the final say on my future.
Like Pocahontas I know there is both good and bad in us all but I express grace and seek a peaceful world. I have a competitive side and desire to find out who I truly am like Mulan, and I share an independent streak with Meg.
Like Gisele I believe in true love, and I wonder when my life will begin like Rapunzel. I share Anna's adorkable personality and strong love for those close to me, and I have a beauty to unveil like Elsa.
I share many similarities with all my favorite heroines. Most importantly, I am my own as God has created me for a purpose and has designed me and crafted me in a specific way for a specific role! I am Princess Jennifer, a beautiful brunette (turned blonde) with eyes that can shift from a deep ocean blue to a piercing hazel, and I have curves and edges unique to me. I am beautifully and wonderfully made by my Father, the King of Kings, and I have a desire to see the beauty in the world and be one with it. I can get lost in gorgeous swelling melodies and join in the song. I have a desire to create and enjoy my Father's magnificent creations such as the land and seas. I have a maturity of one who has lived 25 years and knows her Heavenly Prince and true love intimately, but I also have a playful side and child-like innocence, still learning right from wrong. I have a stubbornness to try things for myself and an interest in learning new things. I am Princess Jennifer, independent, silly, and filled with love, hope, and romantic dreams. I have an adventure all my own to share as God's Princess! Just wait until you see my story!
This experience isn't just unique to me. God longs for you to know Him and yourself this way too, in a way that is specifically fit to you. He longs to give you lovely gifts and romance your heart while also comforting and protecting you like a father! Just ask Him, He's right at the door and has been waiting patiently for you to let Him in. He can't wait to show you the incredible story he has for you!
Love,
Princess Jennifer
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Look Above the Clouds
I recently returned from a dream vacation to Disney World (more on that to come), and while I was on the plane to Orlando I was inspired to write in my journal and later realized that I want to share it with you. So here it is:
The sky was grey and hazy as it was in Detroit, and I watched the rain fall constant on the pavement and plane outside the Chicago terminal. Anyone looking could see that it was a less than pleasant day. Finally the time came for us to line up and board our flight to Orlando. And as the airplane taxied toward the runway I continued to allow the unpleasant weather to dull my excitement.
Suddenly the plane sped up and before I knew it we were off the ground watching the city get smaller until I could see nothing at all due to the cloud cover. Just as I was beginning to determine that my view was less than stellar, our aircraft broke through the clouds and my eyes beheld a lovely sight. I could see the clear blue sky that accentuated what looked like perfectly clean, smooth, white hills of snow. Only it wasn't snow at all but the tops of those same grey, miserable clouds that I had witnessed on land. As I was taking in my new breathtaking view, I could feel God sharing with me an important lesson. He showed me that when we are of the world it is like viewing life from the ground. There will be times of sunny and clear skies, moments of dreary clouds and hazy rain, and moments of trying and terrifying storms. From the world we cannot realize that the sun is still shining and we don't have the peace of realizing that there is still a beautiful clear, blue sky above the clouds. However, when we are in the world and not of it, when we declare Jesus Christ as our love, Lord, and Savior we have the chance to poke our heads through the clouds and see how God is always constant in His glory and His ways, just like the sun and sky even when our human eyes can't see it. We are given a peace and assurance that Jesus remains Lord and God remains majestic in His Kingdom even through our worldly storms. And we are warmed by His gift of salvation and His never-ending unconditional love for us. While the world only has a ground-level perspective, walking in and with God offers a much higher perspective if we choose to accept it and separate ourselves from the world. We have the opportunity to poke our head through the clouds and be graced by His peace and assurance that the storm will end and we'll be alright. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ warm and calm you! Draw near to Him and rest in His assurance that you're going to be fine, just keep your hand in His!
The sky was grey and hazy as it was in Detroit, and I watched the rain fall constant on the pavement and plane outside the Chicago terminal. Anyone looking could see that it was a less than pleasant day. Finally the time came for us to line up and board our flight to Orlando. And as the airplane taxied toward the runway I continued to allow the unpleasant weather to dull my excitement.
Suddenly the plane sped up and before I knew it we were off the ground watching the city get smaller until I could see nothing at all due to the cloud cover. Just as I was beginning to determine that my view was less than stellar, our aircraft broke through the clouds and my eyes beheld a lovely sight. I could see the clear blue sky that accentuated what looked like perfectly clean, smooth, white hills of snow. Only it wasn't snow at all but the tops of those same grey, miserable clouds that I had witnessed on land. As I was taking in my new breathtaking view, I could feel God sharing with me an important lesson. He showed me that when we are of the world it is like viewing life from the ground. There will be times of sunny and clear skies, moments of dreary clouds and hazy rain, and moments of trying and terrifying storms. From the world we cannot realize that the sun is still shining and we don't have the peace of realizing that there is still a beautiful clear, blue sky above the clouds. However, when we are in the world and not of it, when we declare Jesus Christ as our love, Lord, and Savior we have the chance to poke our heads through the clouds and see how God is always constant in His glory and His ways, just like the sun and sky even when our human eyes can't see it. We are given a peace and assurance that Jesus remains Lord and God remains majestic in His Kingdom even through our worldly storms. And we are warmed by His gift of salvation and His never-ending unconditional love for us. While the world only has a ground-level perspective, walking in and with God offers a much higher perspective if we choose to accept it and separate ourselves from the world. We have the opportunity to poke our head through the clouds and be graced by His peace and assurance that the storm will end and we'll be alright. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ warm and calm you! Draw near to Him and rest in His assurance that you're going to be fine, just keep your hand in His!
You Know How It Ends
Today I gathered with some close friends and watched my beloved Michigan State Spartans play in the Cotton Bowl against the Baylor Bears (Go Green!). Now, as much as I love my school and their football team, they have a never-ending tendency of stressing me out because I never know if they're going to win or lose a game, most times, until the clock hits 0:00, and today's game was no exception. Down by 20 points, I thought we were done for and was prepared to say, "Oh well, better luck next year". I thought I knew how this game would end. Fortunately for me I was wrong, and my Spartans completed the impossible comeback through a crazy 4th quarter so the scoreboard read Spartans:42- Bears: 41 at 0:00! It was unbelievable, but as I was driving home I thought about how I might have reacted if I had known that my boys were going to win while watching the game. I've had the experience of recording and re-watching MSU games and it's a much more relaxing experience. While I know what the final score will be, however, I rarely remember what happened in the middle of the game unless it was highlight worthy. Many times, if it was a win, there are some great catches and runs, perhaps a blocked kick or a trick play here and there, but there are also many low points; an interception, a fumble, being unable to convert on 3rd down, a missed field goal attempt. And throughout much of the game are just lulls filled with a lack of excitement. Thinking about the way I contemplate and experience football games got me thinking about the way we think about our lives.
Many times we approach life as if we were watching the game live. We live and die by each play, and the uncertainty of what could happen next can stress us out. We get excited about each big play and have a desire for more, but when the worst happens we can get so depressed that we decide we don't want to watch anymore (that tends to be my reaction). And if a game gets really boring we have a tendency to tune out and wish for something exciting to happen. We're on the edge of our seats until the time clock reaches 0:00 and then we look back to see what happened and see if we can remember all the big moments or, if it's a loss, we try to forget and distract ourselves from the disappointment. But what if we had a different approach? If we know Jesus and accept him into our lives as Lord and Savior, then it's like watching a game where you know the outcome is going to be a win. Jesus already won by dying on the cross with all of our sins and defeating the grave by rising again. He won the ultimate battle! And better yet, even when we don't know what comes next he does! Just look at Jeremiah 29:11 or read through the Psalms, he knows we're going to win too because he already won!
What if we approached each day knowing this, fully internalizing his victory. What would happen in our daily life? Would we walk with confidence in knowing that even though the time clock hasn't reached 0:00 that we're going to win? Would we let the lulls and setbacks disappoint us? It's strange to think about, but I have a feeling it would help us to relax to our daily stresses and forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Instead of thinking that change and development in us is hopeless, would we be able to let go and trust that God has got this so we could get up and try again? During the Cotton Bowl I watched Connor Cook, the MSU quarterback, throw an interception during a crucial point in the game when the Spartans were beginning to mount a comeback. While many of us would want the ground to eat us whole so we could disappear and try to forget that ever happened or just give up altogether, that's not what Cook did. On the next set of downs he got back out on the field and tried again, this time leading to the eventual comeback. This is what walking with Jesus does for us! Yes, we will make mistakes, some of which will be embarrassing or incredibly damaging, but we know that with Jesus everything will be alright and it gives us the confidence to get back up and try again. And unlike a sports game, we don't have to mount the comeback on our own, instead we know that He is with us and that we will overcome because he loves us!
So instead of approaching your life as a live game, try looking at it as if it's a game already won, and you're just watching what happens to lead to victory. Because Jesus loves us and died for us, we are victorious and can walk in that confidence even though the time clock has not yet hit 0:00. Trust him, because he knows the plans he has for you and he will not stop working with you here on earth until his work in you is complete! And then we will celebrate triumphantly in heaven together!
Many times we approach life as if we were watching the game live. We live and die by each play, and the uncertainty of what could happen next can stress us out. We get excited about each big play and have a desire for more, but when the worst happens we can get so depressed that we decide we don't want to watch anymore (that tends to be my reaction). And if a game gets really boring we have a tendency to tune out and wish for something exciting to happen. We're on the edge of our seats until the time clock reaches 0:00 and then we look back to see what happened and see if we can remember all the big moments or, if it's a loss, we try to forget and distract ourselves from the disappointment. But what if we had a different approach? If we know Jesus and accept him into our lives as Lord and Savior, then it's like watching a game where you know the outcome is going to be a win. Jesus already won by dying on the cross with all of our sins and defeating the grave by rising again. He won the ultimate battle! And better yet, even when we don't know what comes next he does! Just look at Jeremiah 29:11 or read through the Psalms, he knows we're going to win too because he already won!
What if we approached each day knowing this, fully internalizing his victory. What would happen in our daily life? Would we walk with confidence in knowing that even though the time clock hasn't reached 0:00 that we're going to win? Would we let the lulls and setbacks disappoint us? It's strange to think about, but I have a feeling it would help us to relax to our daily stresses and forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Instead of thinking that change and development in us is hopeless, would we be able to let go and trust that God has got this so we could get up and try again? During the Cotton Bowl I watched Connor Cook, the MSU quarterback, throw an interception during a crucial point in the game when the Spartans were beginning to mount a comeback. While many of us would want the ground to eat us whole so we could disappear and try to forget that ever happened or just give up altogether, that's not what Cook did. On the next set of downs he got back out on the field and tried again, this time leading to the eventual comeback. This is what walking with Jesus does for us! Yes, we will make mistakes, some of which will be embarrassing or incredibly damaging, but we know that with Jesus everything will be alright and it gives us the confidence to get back up and try again. And unlike a sports game, we don't have to mount the comeback on our own, instead we know that He is with us and that we will overcome because he loves us!
So instead of approaching your life as a live game, try looking at it as if it's a game already won, and you're just watching what happens to lead to victory. Because Jesus loves us and died for us, we are victorious and can walk in that confidence even though the time clock has not yet hit 0:00. Trust him, because he knows the plans he has for you and he will not stop working with you here on earth until his work in you is complete! And then we will celebrate triumphantly in heaven together!
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