Isn't it amazing how God can take something ordinary, run-of-the-mill, even foolish, and turn it into a reminder of His goodness or a Kingdom lesson? That happened to me early this morning...
At 2:55 this morning I was very suddenly awake. Rather than wake my husband by tossing and turning, I decided to get up and do something productive....a light load of laundry. What had been a small amount of dirty clothes on the laundry room floor the day before had seemingly multiplied a hundred-fold in the few hours since I had gone to bed. As I was throwing a load of whites into the washer, some dirty socks caught my attention. How is it that dirty, stinky, old socks can resume their original shape after going through the washer and dryer (at three o'clock in the morning this is as deep as my thoughts go)?
Seemingly out of nowhere I heard God's still small voice say to me, "I can do that."
"What? Was that you, God?"
"When someone accepts me as their Savior, I take them dirty, bent out of the shape I intended them to be in, even a stench to my nostrils, and make them clean again. When I'm done washing them clean, I apply a little heat, and they resume the shape that I intended them to have."
Hmm. I couldn't argue with that.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
What's in a name?
What's in a name? Or maybe the question should be WHO's in a name?
I would venture to say that when people find out that they are expecting a baby, great care is given in selecting a name for that child. For that which is expected to come. Some parents choose a particular name because it has a nice ring to it. It is pleasing to their ears.
Some parents choose a name because it reminds them of someone or something that was near and dear to them. They want to be reminded of that person or thing every time the child's name is mentioned. Maybe they are hoping that the baby will grow to have the same beloved characteristics of the one for whom they were named. A reflection of that person or thing.
Some parents name their baby paying careful attention to the meaning of the name itself. They use that name to speak prophetically over their child. This is who we want you to become. This is who we believe you are. These are the characteristics and virtues we want you to display.
Often, when parents choose a name, they use a combination of these methods. For example, the newest member to our family, our granddaughter, Abbigale Grace, was named because her parents liked the sound of her name. She also shares her beloved great-grandmother's middle name. Lastly, her name speaks prophetically over who she is and who her mom and dad hope she becomes (Joy of the Father and Grace of God).
In getting to know a person and building a relationship with them, you first know them by their given name. As you spend time with them, you get to see who they really are. You discover new and interesting things about them that you didn't know before. As they grow and mature in who they are (and who God intends them to be), you learn and appreciate even more about them. You develop a richer understanding of that person, where they came from, and perhaps, even where they are headed. You see that the person they are today is a result of where they have been and what they have encountered along the way. You begin to see new possibilities in them. In yourself. They become a multi-faceted jewel to you. A precious treasure. If you have a deep appreciation for that person, you try to become like them yourself. You might even be drawn into a deeper love relationship of marriage with that person.
Now...
Have you ever thought about God in this way? Is He more than just a name to you? What about His son, Jesus? Or the Holy Spirit? Do their names have meaning to you? Have you taken the time to be around them? To build a relationship with them? To learn more about WHO they are and what motivates them to do the things they do? Does the thought of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit bring pleasure to you? Do you appreciate them for who they are, what they've done, where they've been and where they will go? Do you love them? Do they love you? Have they become your treasure? Do you want to change and become like them? Do you want to enter into a deeper relationship and take on their name?
If you have answered "yes", how far will you go? How deep will you dig to find this treasure? You can start with a name...the Name of Jesus.
I would venture to say that when people find out that they are expecting a baby, great care is given in selecting a name for that child. For that which is expected to come. Some parents choose a particular name because it has a nice ring to it. It is pleasing to their ears.
Some parents choose a name because it reminds them of someone or something that was near and dear to them. They want to be reminded of that person or thing every time the child's name is mentioned. Maybe they are hoping that the baby will grow to have the same beloved characteristics of the one for whom they were named. A reflection of that person or thing.
Some parents name their baby paying careful attention to the meaning of the name itself. They use that name to speak prophetically over their child. This is who we want you to become. This is who we believe you are. These are the characteristics and virtues we want you to display.
Often, when parents choose a name, they use a combination of these methods. For example, the newest member to our family, our granddaughter, Abbigale Grace, was named because her parents liked the sound of her name. She also shares her beloved great-grandmother's middle name. Lastly, her name speaks prophetically over who she is and who her mom and dad hope she becomes (Joy of the Father and Grace of God).
In getting to know a person and building a relationship with them, you first know them by their given name. As you spend time with them, you get to see who they really are. You discover new and interesting things about them that you didn't know before. As they grow and mature in who they are (and who God intends them to be), you learn and appreciate even more about them. You develop a richer understanding of that person, where they came from, and perhaps, even where they are headed. You see that the person they are today is a result of where they have been and what they have encountered along the way. You begin to see new possibilities in them. In yourself. They become a multi-faceted jewel to you. A precious treasure. If you have a deep appreciation for that person, you try to become like them yourself. You might even be drawn into a deeper love relationship of marriage with that person.
Now...
Have you ever thought about God in this way? Is He more than just a name to you? What about His son, Jesus? Or the Holy Spirit? Do their names have meaning to you? Have you taken the time to be around them? To build a relationship with them? To learn more about WHO they are and what motivates them to do the things they do? Does the thought of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit bring pleasure to you? Do you appreciate them for who they are, what they've done, where they've been and where they will go? Do you love them? Do they love you? Have they become your treasure? Do you want to change and become like them? Do you want to enter into a deeper relationship and take on their name?
If you have answered "yes", how far will you go? How deep will you dig to find this treasure? You can start with a name...the Name of Jesus.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
So perfect. So tiny. So beautiful. Too bad she leaks.
I am truly blessed by God... This past Monday we welcomed the newest member to our family: Abbigale Grace. Who would have thought that six pounds, two ounces could already weigh so heavily on my heart? My heart was (and is) so full of love for my first grandchild, Gabe, that I didn't think it was possible to feel quite the same about any other babies that might come along. Thankfully, I was wrong. I stand in awe and am amazed at God's goodness and at the work of His fingers. How can He form something so perfect, so tiny, so beautiful? And how can He cause this heart to expand and to love so deeply and so quickly?? All I want to do is look at her, touch her, drink her in, be with her... I'm not sure which is the bigger miracle...This amazing little person God created or His ablity to expand hearts and grow love. Both are awesome. But I'm thinking God's love for us is most awesome in that it allows for both to happen.
And what the Bible says about "love covers a multitude of sins"...It must be true. We don't even mind that she leaks.
And what the Bible says about "love covers a multitude of sins"...It must be true. We don't even mind that she leaks.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Are You Real?
Before I accepted Christ as my Saviour at nineteen I was a mess. I grew up in church, but had many misconceptions about who God was, who His Son, Jesus, was, and about what that Holy Ghost thing was all about (Sorry, Holy Spirit). Even though nineteen is "young", I had suffered several life-times worth of hurt by that tender young age and tried to "soothe" those hurts away any way I could.
When my friend Rob got saved one summer, he was so excited that he came back to college early to tell those of us who had elected to stay the summer about what had happened to him. He showed up unannounced on the doorstep of the house where I was staying. When I opened the door to see who was knocking, I could immediately see in his eyes that there was something noticeably different about him. Before he could even say anything, I said to him, "Rob, I don't know what you have, but whatever it is, I want some!" With a laugh, Rob came in and began to tell me about accepting Christ as his saviour and introducing me to the Person of Jesus. I knew that what he was telling me must be true because of the change I saw in him, but more than that, he was able to back up everything he said directly out of the Bible, the true Word of God.
Because of all the pain I had experienced in my past, I wanted to believe Rob in the worst way, but was afraid to because I could not stand to be hurt and forsaken one more time, especially by God. It would have killed me. What if God really wasn't as big and loving as Rob believed Him to be? And what about all the bad things going on in the world? How could God, if He was so loving, allow all those bad things to happen? I had grown up in church, why hadn't I known Jesus like this? If I had grown up in church and believed in God, why did I have to accept Christ as my Saviour? Wasn't I already a pretty good person? And why did God allow all those awful, painful things to happen to me? If He really loved me, how could he allow those things to happen??
I had a million and one questions for Rob (and God)...and a million and one hurts I wanted erased. Rob spent several months leading Bible studies, teaching me about God, and meeting all my skepticism with scripture so that I could understand Who God was. One evening, after one of Rob's Bible studies, I had more questions I wanted answers to. Rob just smiled at me with the love of Jesus in his eyes, chuckled, and said, "You know, Liz, you don't have to understand everything. You just have to believe!" Something about what he said rang with truth. I accepted Christ as my Saviour that evening and began the life-long adventure of finding out WHO God is.
Now, some thirty years later, I realize that my big questions back then could have been narrowed down to just a few:
"God, are you real?"
"God, Who are you?"
"Are You really who the Bible claims you to be?"
and,
"Will you show me?"
Many people question God's authenticity in such a crazy, mixed-up, hurting world. I invite you to take some time by yourself. Talk to God. Ask Him those questions. Ask Him to show you the answers so that you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is Who he says that He is. Begin to read the Bible, a little at a time (many recommend starting with one of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Ask God to show you Who Jesus is. Is Jesus for real? Are You for real, God? And what about the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit for real? What is the Holy Spirit? (This might help you: the Holy Spirit is definitely not an it, but a Who). Keep asking God and keep searching your Bible until you know, in your heart, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is Who He claims to be in the Bible. You will not be disappointed that you asked.
When my friend Rob got saved one summer, he was so excited that he came back to college early to tell those of us who had elected to stay the summer about what had happened to him. He showed up unannounced on the doorstep of the house where I was staying. When I opened the door to see who was knocking, I could immediately see in his eyes that there was something noticeably different about him. Before he could even say anything, I said to him, "Rob, I don't know what you have, but whatever it is, I want some!" With a laugh, Rob came in and began to tell me about accepting Christ as his saviour and introducing me to the Person of Jesus. I knew that what he was telling me must be true because of the change I saw in him, but more than that, he was able to back up everything he said directly out of the Bible, the true Word of God.
Because of all the pain I had experienced in my past, I wanted to believe Rob in the worst way, but was afraid to because I could not stand to be hurt and forsaken one more time, especially by God. It would have killed me. What if God really wasn't as big and loving as Rob believed Him to be? And what about all the bad things going on in the world? How could God, if He was so loving, allow all those bad things to happen? I had grown up in church, why hadn't I known Jesus like this? If I had grown up in church and believed in God, why did I have to accept Christ as my Saviour? Wasn't I already a pretty good person? And why did God allow all those awful, painful things to happen to me? If He really loved me, how could he allow those things to happen??
I had a million and one questions for Rob (and God)...and a million and one hurts I wanted erased. Rob spent several months leading Bible studies, teaching me about God, and meeting all my skepticism with scripture so that I could understand Who God was. One evening, after one of Rob's Bible studies, I had more questions I wanted answers to. Rob just smiled at me with the love of Jesus in his eyes, chuckled, and said, "You know, Liz, you don't have to understand everything. You just have to believe!" Something about what he said rang with truth. I accepted Christ as my Saviour that evening and began the life-long adventure of finding out WHO God is.
Now, some thirty years later, I realize that my big questions back then could have been narrowed down to just a few:
"God, are you real?"
"God, Who are you?"
"Are You really who the Bible claims you to be?"
and,
"Will you show me?"
Many people question God's authenticity in such a crazy, mixed-up, hurting world. I invite you to take some time by yourself. Talk to God. Ask Him those questions. Ask Him to show you the answers so that you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is Who he says that He is. Begin to read the Bible, a little at a time (many recommend starting with one of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Ask God to show you Who Jesus is. Is Jesus for real? Are You for real, God? And what about the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit for real? What is the Holy Spirit? (This might help you: the Holy Spirit is definitely not an it, but a Who). Keep asking God and keep searching your Bible until you know, in your heart, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is Who He claims to be in the Bible. You will not be disappointed that you asked.
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