"When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion." -Ezekiel 19:5
The back story to this verse is an expression of sorrow for for the Princes of Israel. It gives two stories; one of a mother lion raising one cub to be a strong lion. When he was full grown and the nations had heard of him they caught him and took him away, so the mother lion raised up another cub to be a strong lion who became even more ferocious than his brother. He was attacked by surrounding nations and lost. The second story is of a vineyard who is abundant in fruit and was seen by many because of it's great height. It was soon devoured and laid to waste by all who could see it.
This verse now seems pretty depressing and devoid of hope. However, this verse comes into the picture a while later:
"And his name-by faith in his name- has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all." - Acts 3:16
This verse is referencing an event that happened between a beggar who couldn't walk and peter and John, two apostles. This beggar was sitting outside the temple gate called "Beautiful" (sort of fitting). He had been lame since birth and Peter and John walked by as the beggar asked them for money. Peter told the beggar to look at him and he expected something from them. "But Peter said, 'I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!'" the beggar got up and his legs and feet were immediately strengthened. The beggar walked with them into the temple he had sat outside of for years and praised God. People crowded around Peter and John and praised them but they stopped the people and gave praise to Jesus.
When all seems lost and we feel that we keep working harder and harder to redeem ourselves, we have to realize that it won't work. We cannot redeem what is not ours. We are made in the image of Christ, of God himself! Therefore we are a product of the creator, so we are his. Only he can redeem us. Christ was sent to rescue the lost and the broken who are seeking him. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." - 1 Corinthians 1:25 We find strength in him but only if we have faith that he exists. "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5 All of this is making us stronger through faith. But to have faith to be redeemed(rescued) which will strengthen you in every area of your life that can be used to glorify the King!
My prayer for you is that you will see how finding purpose in this world is not satisfying. You can have full satisfaction in Christ but you have to give up what is holding you down. You are loved. If you have faith that Christ can change you then you will be strengthened daily. You are loved. You are loved. You are loved.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
365 Days to Discover Beauty
Beauty: the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and please the mind.
God has told me to spend 1 year without wearing makeup. He prompted me with the question "If a woman can only feel beautiful with makeup, does she really feel beautiful?" If being in the image of the perfect woman is our god, then beauty is our heaven and ugliness is our hell. No one wants to be hideous for eternity, much less for a minute. If this is true, and I believe it is, then everyone strives to be beautiful.
We are surrounded by perfectly beautiful people in magazines, in movies, in TV shows, on billboards, but we never see them on the street, in our classes, or at work. Never seeing this perfected beauty with our own eyes gives us a sense of impossibility to become like this. We settle for depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, destructive habits. We cannot achieve these standards. Have you asked yourself why? Why can't we be that beautiful, skinny, attractive? 99.9% of magazine covers have been retouched. I assume the same for billboards and other types of advertisement. If our goal is unattainable and our standards literally cannot be reached, then should we still try?
We were given desires to be fulfilled. This is truth. Where we find our purpose, our security, our fulfillment is where we put our worth. If our worth is in our looks, we will be disappointed. If we put our worth in how others see us, we will be ashamed. Lie: a pimp telling a girl that she is beautiful and he will take care of her, he will provide shelter, comfort, and hope. Truth: Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! - proverbs 31:30
Beauty is the combination of qualities. If something is beautiful for a season and that season ends, move on, there is more beauty to be discovered!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Messy Love
The God of creation is so incredibly powerful, it can be terrifying to trust in him. I know from experience. But his love is the most beautiful, majestic, set apart, stunning, splendid experience you will ever have. However, the world has twisted and mangled the meaning of love to an unrecognizable putridity.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
-1 John 4:16
According to this verse, God is love. But, the world has made love into an ugly, "perfect", torturous object. I placed perfect in quotes because media has influenced society to believe perfect love is never having to say you're sorry, never fighting, always happy. This is an impossibility, since falling in love is a messy, painful, growing process. Love is made perfect in death. It was made perfect when The Creator of the universe willingly gave his one-and-only, unique son for his creation made out of love, to love. You were made to love. Hatred is born straight from evil, from Satan himself. If you are going to read my blogs, you will have to accept that I believe in Heaven and Hell, in good and evil, in Yahweh and Satan. Since God is love, love cannot be beaten. Falling in love with God can happen in an instant or it can take years. As with any relationship, it takes work. You need to set aside time, be honest, loyal, trusting. It is one of the scariest things you will do, if you have trust/control issues. You have the most amazing God waiting for you to say yes, to accept him as your one true love. It will be messy at times, but what a beautiful mess it will be.
My Thoughts Are Not My Own
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
-Isaiah 55:8
The purpose for this blog is not to get my name and thoughts out. I have no intention of making my worldly desires known, if I do, I am greatly apologetic. I want you to read this blog and see God's love, grace and mercy. I want my God's desires to be my own. I will admit, my creation of this blog is selfish. I want to grow in my faith, but I have hit a plateau in my walk with Christ. I want to learn to spread His word openly and I believe this is a way to get His word out into the world. You have a choice in everything you do. I do hope that you will keep reading and open your heart to God's beautiful love. I love you and I want you to know that there is love, there is perfect and marvelous light.
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