Beloved

Do you believe in grace? And do you believe that God’s grace covers all of your sin? I do. I know that there is nothing I can do to make Him love me more or less.

This year one of the biggest things I have strive for is to view people the way God views them. I think it is a good way to share Jesus with people when you meet them right where they are instead of expecting them to fix some stuff before they can come and stand with you before the King. The reason I have wanted to focus on this and meditate on it because I have actually had conversations with people who don’t understand grace and how God truly sees them. It breaks my heart and I just want to shake them and say YOU DON’T GET IT!!!!!!!! You can’t earn grace people, it’s a gift. You can’t change the way he thinks about you.

The other day I was in Oklahoma City when it started to snow.  I was so cold, walking and finding my car was miserable, and I was getting frustrated fast. When I got in my car it took forever to warm up and I was getting even more aggravated.  I then realized I never ate lunch and I was starvingggg. So (naturally) I found a chickfila and went through the drive through. It took about 20 minutes and I was in such a bad mood because I was so cold, starving, and impatient! I pulled out to a stop light and saw this homeless man holding up a sign and it looked like he was shivering to death. The first thing I thought was I wonder what he did to get in that position. I wonder if he had been into alcohol or drugs or what got him there. Then I was so disgusted with myself for being so ungrateful and upset about being cold and hungry when this man had no warmth and no food. I rolled my window down and handed him my chickfila, and as he grabbed it thanked me. But then I realized something way worse. I had just judged him right of the bat. I saw him and put him in a place “far from where I was at”. What makes me better than him? What makes me more deserving of knowing Jesus than him? I realized I had judged him and saw him the way man sees him.

 But how does God see him? Man thinks a person like that would be unreachable. God just waits patiently.

One of the things that keep non-believers from truly questioning and experiencing God is them not having a clear understanding of how God actually views us. They have been told lies all of their life, and the negative circumstances in life just verify those lies. So we see people for their rights and wrongs. We classify them as “unreachable.” But Jesus approached people from all different places no matter where they were in their life. He focuses on the relationship rather than the right or wrong. He is compassionate. He doesn't discriminate. He meets you where you are. How sweet is that?

So how does God view us? I cannot even begin to comprehend his love for us or imagine what he thinks of us. But there are two things I really like that I know he does see in us.

Children. You have probably heard the saying “child of God.” But what does it mean? It means we are his beloved. His son or his daughter (keyword HIS!) One of my favorite stories in the bible in John is when Mary is washing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and oils and the men in the house are questioning her for doing so. And Jesus responds with “Leave her alone.” We are his children! He has so much compassion and unconditional love for us.  He will even stick up for us!! He fights for us because we are his. He is our father and wants to give us freedom and life.

Blameless. This is the hardest thing for humans to grasp. How could a God so just view us as blameless? Even in God’s wrath, his mercy compared to it is astounding. That’s the thing about Jesus. He has unending grace. He wants us to not get caught up in right and wrong and focus on the relationship instead. I have seen God do crazy things and redeem people in ways so cool I can’t even explain it. And it is when we focus on the relationship that we find a life worth living.

I can pray and strive to view people for only the good and not the bad and I might get better but I can never come close to the way God sees them. That is so powerful. How different would you be if you strive to see people the way God sees them? God is way bigger and doesn’t see people as “unreachable.” And he wants us to meet people where they are just as he met you where you were.

If we believe that we are his beloved and we see that God’s grace has covered all of OUR sins, how can we not see it cover other people?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Who do you Measure

Proverbs 20:24
“A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”

 This past weekend I got to go to the Love Does conference in Austin with some of my best friends. IT WAS AWESOME! One of the speakers named John Richmond asked us some questions that really caught me off guard.

He first asked us a really important question I want you to ask yourself.

“Who is your ruler?”

 I didn't understand what he was asking us. He was talking about what consumes or rules our life. We are often so busy with ourselves and sometimes what we do with our lives can become our ruler. It could be a job, school, or an obligation that we idolize and let dictate our life. It could be a sin or struggle that we give ourselves to. We tend to get caught up in so many different worldly things that become our “ruler.”

Then he went on to ask another question.

“Who do you measure? Do you measure yourself or God?”

He talked about how we tend to make everything about us instead of trusting in God. Am I able to do this? Am I capable of it? Is this realistic for me to do? I realized after asking myself this question that whenever it comes to a decision whether it’s simple or complex, I make the decision based on whether or not I think I can do it. Why do we do this? Is it our selfish nature? Are we being “safe”?

 I was scared. I was safe. Most of the time, we don’t attempt something because we don’t see the end result. I will be the first to admit that I like to know the answers! I like to know the answers for school, my future, and so much more! And if I don’t, I find myself worrying and over thinking things. And it is stopping me from doing so many things. We are not just created to believe in Jesus. We are called to put our faith into action! We can start something that God can finish. He is making something beautiful out of us! (Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time…”) We don’t need to be discouraged or taken back if we mess up.

What is it that you want to do…? Do you want to go to law school and change adoption laws? Maybe you want to become a teacher and love Jesus and love children. Do you want to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves? Do you want to mend family relationships that seem impossible to fix? Do you want to change your ways and the way you live your life? What are you passionate about?! What do you really want to do? God gave us gifts, desires, and talents to be passionate about and use to do things with our faith instead of just living safe...

We need to stop measuring ourselves up and measure God. Without him we will always fall short.
God tells each of us: I do measure up. I am sufficient. I love you and care for your dreams. I will go with you. I will provide. I will show up and come through. What you start I will finish. I am ruler over all. I am able.

 “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every single time.”

Who is you ruler? What are you aiming for? Who are you measuring?

Proverbs 16:3
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.”

A New Creation

So I’m writing about something I have become really passionate about this whole semester. I have heard a lot of talk recently (especially after we accept Jesus) of how “in Christ we are made new” and by that I mean a “new creation.”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf; be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

WAIT SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?     

Basically what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians is how we have redemption and freedom from the blood of Jesus. We are completely blameless in the eyes of God. We are perfect in his sight. We are set free when we accept Jesus into our lives! That passage tells us that the one who KNEW NO SIN was made to BE SIN. I googled freedom to find an online dictionary definition and this is what I got:

a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence. (thanks Merriam Webster)

                That definition sounds pretty nice to me. The absence of a choice of action. Liberation from slavery. Liberation of restraint or from the power of another. If that doesn’t blow your mind I don’t know what will. Sooooo what’s the hold up then?!

WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK? This is a very important question to think about and maybe ask yourself. I challenge you to ask yourself what it is. What is keeping you from being free? Mine was my pride and the way I lived MY life. Is it your pride or your selfish ambition? Is it a particular sin you have noticed and battle with? IS IT YOUR PAST?

            I know for myself, my family, and my friends that a past can define who you are. Sometimes we cling to something we have done or the way we lived our lives. BUT WE CANNOT BE CONSUMED WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE. God forgets everything if we ask him into our lives. We need to remember that we are not seeking the approval of man, and that God approves us JUST AS WE ARE. We can rejoice in the fact that we are so messed up, but that we have a savior that takes our sin. That takes our past.

SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? (Being free)

                After we notice our sins and ask for forgiveness WE ARE FORGIVEN. But not only that, God will FORGET. You will be washed clean, MADE NEW. I feel free when I ask God to forgive me for my selfishness and particular sins I struggle with. I feel free when I recognize who God is. When I try to comprehend his love for me. When I learn more about his truths and promises. When I give him my burdens. When I give him my life. When I stand before him and worship him with my whole heart and soul. When I drive with my windows down. When I get to go on adventures with Jesus and experience his beauty. (God put an adventurous desire in our hearts for a reason!!!!!)

(This picture is from when I went to turner park falls with some cool people and embraced who Jesus is and his beauty!)

Think about what is holding you back and break free from it! Give it to the one who has already taken it.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE FREE.

“Then you know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Hiding Place

I could not be happier to be back at the school that I love in the town that I love with the people that I love.  The past few weeks here in Norman I have been running around with my friends, working with my sorority, drinking coffee, reading, and driving (if you know me you know I love to drive lol). This past summer and these past few weeks here in Norman I have really been able to meditate and just hide out.

College is this weird thing where you get to have fun all the time. You have so much free time and you get to do whatever you want. It’s pretty legit. However, with the free time comes responsibility. You have to manage so many things and last year I went non-stop. If I wasn’t studying for a class I was calling up friends to go to the caf or doing laundry or heading to theta to hang out. I made sure I was always busy and being “productive” (lol). We live in a world where technology is taking over. So many times I found myself bored with nothing to do so I just would scroll through instagram, twitter, or facebook. I made social media my quiet time (how sad!!) In this world privacy can be hard to come by. I never had time to myself because I made sure my day was full. And it wore me out; it ran me to the ground leaving me to feel exhausted, weak, or even defeated.

This summer I got the chance to stop “doing.” I was able to find a hiding place and spend time with Jesus and it changed me forever. I went to Starbucks a lot and read some pretty cool books and met random people and loved life.

 “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

That verse blows my mind. I have read it so many times. Sitting in silence and acknowledging who God is and what he is capable of stirs my soul. We need this time with Jesus to unwind and rest in him!

Obviously now that we are getting back into the swing of things it will be hard for me to just chill and relax all the time with upcoming Theta events and meetings, school (it starts tomorrow wait what?), and my new job. But this year I am going make time to hide out and I want you to also. See what happens. Find somewhere that doesn’t have many distractions. Somewhere you can rest in the Lord because he wants a relationship with you and he wants to know you. He wants to hang out with us! Spending time with Jesus and in the word of God awakens us and leaves us feeling satisfied. We need this time to get away from the noise so we are not run down and overwhelmed.

He is our refuge and our hiding place!!!

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 143:9

"You're Invited"

For a long time I looked all around me and saw so many people doing great things. I watched God use people to do incredible things, things I wanted to do. Thinks I thought that I couldn't do, so I didn't try.

This summer I really wanted to be in a place where God could actually use me. I wanted to go on a mission trip or I wanted to work at a camp all summer. If I was in Africa God could use me to love on the kids and spread so much joy. If I could be a camp counselor I would be able to share the gospel with kids and pour into them and show them so many truths. But my parents really wanted me to be home this summer to take a few classes and I knew God wanted me home so I didn't fight it. Eventually I would love to go on mission trips or work at a summer camp when it is God’s timing. ***I didn't want to go home though because if I was home in Houston taking classes at a local community college how could God use me? How could I learn things about him and engage in him all summer?!***

I made myself believe that I had to be a “special” person or be in a specific place in order for him to use me and really make a change in myself and others. At the beginning of summer a specific verse really stuck out to me and it has been the “theme” of my summer:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20)

This verse gave me a lot of hope and I prayed over it that God could reveal himself to me this summer and to others even though I wasn't too happy to be home. WELL I WAS DEFINITELY SURPRISED!

I have learned more this summer than I could have ever imagined. I have seen God move so many people around me! I have come to know him more. I am starting to understand (or try to lol) just how much he loves me. This verse means so much to me and God has taught me it’s not about who you are, where you are in your walk of faith, or where you get to spend your summer.

***The next step: JUST SAY YES! I am reading this awesome and encouraging book called “Love Does” by Bob Goff (quick easy read you should get it) and he talks about stopping where you are in your life no matter who you are and “Just say yes” to God.

I think we can all agree that one of the best feelings is being included. Getting invited to something. The bible is full of stories sharing how Jesus invited people. He invited people to accept him, to walk with him, to try things, to be a friend, to be present in their lives. The coolest part is the type of people he invites.

EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rich, poor, healthy, sick, religious, not religious, even people who would never show up. (For me if I reach out to a friend and they never respond eventually I give up and move on. Its so crazy that he never gives up and continues loves us the same waiting for us to respond.)

When we accept his invitation he wants us to participate. “We simply need to show up.” Jesus wants us to come. This summer I didn't need to be a certain type of person or in a certain place. I finally let God use me and he did.

“When we accept life’s invitation, it’s contagious too. Other people will watch us and start seeing life as something more. When you show up to the big life, people (the type who don’t think they’re invited) start seeing invitations everywhere. They don’t think about their pain or their weakness any longer.”

            “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 34:7)

He is sending us an invitation. In a sunrise, in a beautiful song, in the smell of coffee, or in the sound of rain. It could be for him to use you to love on a friend. It could be to help out a family member who needs support. It could be to share light to a random stranger. It could be to get to know YOU more. He whispers to each of us…                      “You’re invited.”

We Hope, We Seek, We Pray

I think it is easy to get discouraged. Especially when you need something. We all go through hardships…whether they are small daily inconveniences or huge life changing events. We struggle and suffer and search for the right answers. We hope, we seek, we pray.

“Lord teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

            Sometimes it might feel as if the problem is too big. You pray for God to come in, but you aren’t seeing any change. You aren’t getting the result you want. Or any change at all. You think there is no way this “change” could happen or God could fix this. I have recently been struggling with prayer and being able to trust in God that he will come through. I know I am important to him so why is he not giving me what I want, what I need? Last Sunday at Church the pastor talked about prayer. He read the famous “Lord’s Prayer” from Matthew 6:9-13. We all know it…

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us for the evil one.”

I guess you could say God was trying to teach me something! (Wow okay God good one…) The line that stands out the most to me is His will be done. Well there’s his answer. All of my confusion and frustration and waiting are answered by those words. I FORGOT HOW POWERFUL HE IS. I FORGOT HOW HE KNOWS EVERY HEART. I FORGOT HOW HIS TIMING IS PERFECT. I FORGOT THAT HIS LOVE COVERS EVERY STRUGGLE AND PAIN THERE IS. His will be done. He has the best interest for every single human in mind. He knows the depths of our hearts and he loves us the same. We cannot lean on our own understanding. We do not know what is best even when we think we might (typical human lol). GOD’S WILL IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. He has taught me that his plan is greater than mine. His promises are true.

 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I am SO thankful for the people God has placed in my life. I am so fortunate to have friends who pour into me and love me and teach me so much. One thing I have learned second semester/this summer is something I didn’t ever consider or think to do.

PRAY RADICALLY

            So what does that even mean…? You will be surprised. God will surprise you. He has definitely surprised me. I have meditated on this verse all summer and every time I read it I am hopeful and reminded of how powerful he is. HE IS ABLE! He will provide everything and MORE.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
(Ephesians 3:20) (This verse gives me the chills. LIKE WHAT!?)

He has won every battle. God is ABLE. Don’t think God is not capable of anything. Sometimes we struggle with believing that what we pray can actually make an impact. “Like any father, when he hears his children crying out, he answers them. Whole-hearted prayer moves God to do the impossible.” Think of all the miracles he did in the bible. GOD IS THE SAME. If he could make the blind see he can certainly show someone the light. Jesus does not discriminate. He does not pick “easy battles.” Don’t be afraid to pray for the unimaginable. A heart that has undergone surgery 3 times OR A HEART THAT HAS NOT BEEN SAVED. Don’t just pray for things that our human minds can comprehend! Pray with everything you have. He will provide for us at the right time. YOU WILL BE AMAZED/SURPRISED.

 “’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered… ‘Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.’” (Mark 11:22&24)

God doesn’t want just empty phrases or half-hearted prayers because we think he will not answer them. OUR PRAYERS PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HIS PLANS.

            Just for laughs: imagine if every prayer you have prayed got answered. YIKES IF YALL KNEW MY PRAYERS (LOL) Thank you Jesus for YOUR will!

Beauty to Unveil

Sunday, May 19, 2013

“The king is enthralled by your beauty.”(Psalm 45:11)

I have been reading a book called “Captivating” by John and Stasi Eldredge that has opened my eyes to the desires of a woman’s soul, one of them being to unveil beauty. Something God has recently put on my heart is to share what I have learned about beauty in a world that twists and reshapes our view on it. The desire to be beautiful is a timeless longing, so why not understand it?

The first thing I learned is that beauty is essential to God, and it is also the most misunderstood quality of His. “Beauty is the essence of God.” The bible tells us that the whole world is filled with the glory of God through its beauty. I am currently on a plane headed to Oklahoma City for my friend’s wedding, and I am looking out the window to witness the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. I am up so high in the plane I feel a part of this masterpiece! God is the best artist. You are the mirror image of this God, which is why you desire for these things too.   

“The reason a woman wants beauty to unveil is simply because God wants to as well. God is captivating beauty.”

God has given us Eve, “the crowning touch of creation,” because beauty is the essence of a woman (both physical and spiritual). God created Eve with a beautiful form and a beautiful spirit just as he created you and me in that way.

“Every experience of beauty points to eternity.”

            So why does beauty matter? Because beauty is SO powerful.Women desire to be heard. Beauty speaks that “all will be well.” Think about a day at the beach... you are surrounded by spectacular scenery, and all your worries seem to disappear.  A woman who is comfortable with her feminine beauty is a woman who can rest and live at peace. Women desire to be seen. Beauty invites. What I mean by this is that something beautiful (a pretty song or picture-perfect scenery) is something that draws you in; it captivates you. Women desire to be an irreplaceable role. Beauty inspires. Think of what it would have been like to know a “beautiful woman” such as Mother Theresa. Her beauty shows us that life can be better, and it calls us to do something higher.

Beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation.Every woman of any age desires to be beautiful, not just because they want to “get a man” but because it is actually a part of her heart, her design. This is where the biggest misconception comes in.  Beauty causes untold pain in the lives of women who never grasp the idea of true beauty. The world has created this image of what is beautiful and what is not. THAT IMAGE IS A LIE!

The bible tells us that Satan originally fell because of his beauty. He was beautiful and became prideful and wanted more praise. Because of that, it is his mission to destroy any beauty he sees. That includes any great work of art created by God. He fears your beauty.

He puts an echoing noise of what is considered “beautiful” in most women’s minds. You need to have this type of hair. You need to have this type of body. You should dress this way. You need to act like this. Why do we give in to this normalcy look? Why can’t we be ourselves? Why don’t we express who we really are?

“You are loved by the God of the universe. You are hated by His enemy.”

Turn to the One who has sought you out from the beginning,  the One who has made you in His image, the One who thinks you are beautiful and captivating. 

“There is radiance hidden in your heart that the world desperately needs.” 

 Don’t be afraid to unveil your beauty!