We are rolling on through the book of 1 Peter. Today we are in Chapter 3. You can open your Bible or go to BibleGateway.com if you would like.
As I am reading I am realizing what a little gem 1 Peter is! I have not 'studied' the book before but I recognize many of the key elements. This may be a small book but it is filled with tons of wisdom and clear directions for faith-filled living.
Remember yesterday when I said I have a hard time submitting to others (I am constantly trying to improve on that), well the same goes for me relationship as a wife. The first paragraph of chapter 3 is talking directly to me. So loudly that at first reading I skim right over it and do not let it sink in too deep. But God, who is always intentional in what He does, wants me to dig in and fully understand.
I am a "modern" wife that enjoys her own freedoms, makes her own way in the world, defines herself in the singular before the plural. I am sure some of that come from being an only child of a single mother. The early parts of my life were filled with strong, independent 'I am woman hear me roar' kinds of thinking. But in the beginning of this chapter I am clearly called to be submissive to my husband and not just for my sake but more importantly for his. Through the "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight," I am to show my husband the Glory of God.
The second half of verse six is like a gun shot through a silent wilderness, "...if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I have never thought of my actions being a result of fear. I try my very best to not live in fear and to put all FAITH in God, but maybe I am missing the mark on this one. Maybe I am fearful of losing my identity. Fearful of having decisions made for me. Fearful of trusting someone else, only to be left open for pain and disappointment. Fearful of following someone down a path and then finding out we are both lost.
But after I read the end of verse six I went back up to verses one and two and reread them. Now I focused my thoughts, not on my fears but on what God is calling me to DO "...so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives."
Well, ok then!
My actions can lead to my husband being a believer or can be a deterrent to his relationship with Christ. Now all of a sudden it is not about my personal fears, it is about the thoughts and feelings of someone else. I am partly responsible for how my husband views what a relationship with God is like.
Being that I am not a husband I can not speak to verse seven other than to say that I pray that when my husband reads it he is filled with the same sense of responsibility and reverence for our relationship as I now am.
The second half of the chapter goes into more detail on the beauty of suffering for doing good. Yes, I said the beauty of, because in verse twelve it says "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." What could be more beautiful than that. We are called to be sympathetic, compassionate, humble and because of living in such a way we may inherit blessings from God. An inheritance is something of value, something we desire to receive. And to receive such a gift from God is a beautiful thing.
My prayer for today is that we may all consider our role in the relationships we are in. I pray that we begin to understand how we bring other people closer to God and that we are open to God using us in ways we did not think possible. I pray for husbands and wives and our intimately interwoven lives that were designed by God to bring Glory to Him.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
1 Peter, Chapter 2
This morning I went to BibleGateway.com and decided to read this chapter from the NIV, the NLT and the Amplified translations. You can click on any of these and be taken right to them.
I enjoy the Amplified Bible translation because it adds other words in ( ) to help me understand bigger thoughts and concepts. I am a language junkie and I love the variety of words we have at our disposal in which we can use to communicate with each other. But as I stated yesterday, for the purpose of this study, I will be using the NIV translation.
Anyway... Moving on into 1 Peter, chapter 2 today:
The first three verses of this chapter are again, very direct and clear. We are called to throw off some pretty unhealthy things: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. That covers ALL the bases for things we could feel and or do that would hurt others. God does not need to go through the laundry list of nasty deeds or unacceptable behavior, all of that is caught up in one of these underlying reasons.
Growing up one of my favorite songs in church had a line from this chapter, "The stone the which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." I love the imagery of that statement. How something that was looked upon as being unworthy had become the base of the foundation for something beautiful and strong. There have been many times in my life that I have felt unworthy but I try and remember that, through Christ, I can be useful and necessary, like a cornerstone. I feel a closer to connection to Jesus through our shared experience.
I also love the idea that it is not through anything I do, but ONLY through what Christ has done, that makes me a part of the family of God. And in that I am called to share this Good News with others. And not just to share the news but to live it out before unbelievers, not in a way that makes me look good, but in such a way that brings Glory to God.
I am forever thankful that mercy has been extended to me and in return, not as a 'duty' but as a privilege, I am able to extend it to others.
The last part of this chapter has always been a mixed-bag for me. I have a hard time submitting to other people. I was raised to be a strong, confident person that could handle almost anything on her own. While I fully understand my need to depend completely on God, I have a harder time listening to my fellow man/woman, especially those in authority. I like to think that I know better than them and if they would just listen to me then things would be easier for all of us.
But... that is clearly NOT what God is calling me to in the last verses of this chapter. Here, God is saying that by my peaceful and willing submission I am able to bring Glory and Honor to Him. It says nothing about my comfort and recognition. In fact, it says that when I am unjustly judged or treated unfairly by others, and I answer them with kindness and love, THAT is when I bring the greatest Glory and Honor to God.
He goes on to say that even though I am to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am expected to also love the harsh, cruel, ignorant and unbelievers with just as much kindness and compassion. And in doing so I am able to show God's mercy and again share in an experience that Christ Jesus also suffered. Again I am drawn closer to Him through the commonality. He does not ask me to do anything He himself has not gone through, and in doing so He can assure me of it's power and purpose.
And finally Peter reminds us that even as Christ suffered, He did so with out complaint, without contempt, without threats or judgment and we are called to do the same. As much as I like complaining about my suffering, I am to follow my shepherds lead and die to sins and live for righteousness.
LOTS to think about as I move through my day.
My prayer today is that we are all able to set aside the sins of our past, and those of our present, and be fully released to love others, accept our value and the authority of others, and to remember the price Jesus paid for us.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
I enjoy the Amplified Bible translation because it adds other words in ( ) to help me understand bigger thoughts and concepts. I am a language junkie and I love the variety of words we have at our disposal in which we can use to communicate with each other. But as I stated yesterday, for the purpose of this study, I will be using the NIV translation.
Anyway... Moving on into 1 Peter, chapter 2 today:
The first three verses of this chapter are again, very direct and clear. We are called to throw off some pretty unhealthy things: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. That covers ALL the bases for things we could feel and or do that would hurt others. God does not need to go through the laundry list of nasty deeds or unacceptable behavior, all of that is caught up in one of these underlying reasons.
Growing up one of my favorite songs in church had a line from this chapter, "The stone the which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." I love the imagery of that statement. How something that was looked upon as being unworthy had become the base of the foundation for something beautiful and strong. There have been many times in my life that I have felt unworthy but I try and remember that, through Christ, I can be useful and necessary, like a cornerstone. I feel a closer to connection to Jesus through our shared experience.
I also love the idea that it is not through anything I do, but ONLY through what Christ has done, that makes me a part of the family of God. And in that I am called to share this Good News with others. And not just to share the news but to live it out before unbelievers, not in a way that makes me look good, but in such a way that brings Glory to God.
I am forever thankful that mercy has been extended to me and in return, not as a 'duty' but as a privilege, I am able to extend it to others.
The last part of this chapter has always been a mixed-bag for me. I have a hard time submitting to other people. I was raised to be a strong, confident person that could handle almost anything on her own. While I fully understand my need to depend completely on God, I have a harder time listening to my fellow man/woman, especially those in authority. I like to think that I know better than them and if they would just listen to me then things would be easier for all of us.
But... that is clearly NOT what God is calling me to in the last verses of this chapter. Here, God is saying that by my peaceful and willing submission I am able to bring Glory and Honor to Him. It says nothing about my comfort and recognition. In fact, it says that when I am unjustly judged or treated unfairly by others, and I answer them with kindness and love, THAT is when I bring the greatest Glory and Honor to God.
He goes on to say that even though I am to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am expected to also love the harsh, cruel, ignorant and unbelievers with just as much kindness and compassion. And in doing so I am able to show God's mercy and again share in an experience that Christ Jesus also suffered. Again I am drawn closer to Him through the commonality. He does not ask me to do anything He himself has not gone through, and in doing so He can assure me of it's power and purpose.
And finally Peter reminds us that even as Christ suffered, He did so with out complaint, without contempt, without threats or judgment and we are called to do the same. As much as I like complaining about my suffering, I am to follow my shepherds lead and die to sins and live for righteousness.
LOTS to think about as I move through my day.
My prayer today is that we are all able to set aside the sins of our past, and those of our present, and be fully released to love others, accept our value and the authority of others, and to remember the price Jesus paid for us.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
1 Peter, Chapter 1 (NIV)
Are you ready?
Do you have your coffee and your Bible in front of you?
For the purpose of this study I am choosing to use the NIV or New International Version translation.
I am reading from BibleGateway.com, which I encourage you to check out. They offer many different translations and some great search tools. I also read the NLT and Message versions of this chapter this morning. It is always amazing how each translation brings deeper insight and meaning because of the words used to translate the original manuscripts.
I suggest that you read the chapter first and then read further on here. If you are using your computer for your Bible reading as well, you can have two tabs open, one for BibleGateway and one for the blog. That way you can switch back and forth between the two.
Ok, here we go... 1 Peter, chapter 1...
The first to verses set me at ease right a way. I know that this book is written for me, I totally feel like a stranger in this world sometimes. And it might as well say 'scattered throughout Sun Prairie, Marshall, Madison, Columbus, DeForest, Northern WI, Illinois, Colorado, Alaska' (he is speaking to US too).
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance." What a wonderful blessing! I could not hope to start my day with a more heartfelt gift.
In verses 3 - 9, Peter is reminding us of Who has laid this life before us and why He has chosen to do so. He is acknowledging our part in the story because of our FAITH to believe in things we have not personally witnessed. And he is reminding us that this life is not one of ease and comfort but of struggles, brought on by our faith and used to prove our faith. I know I can get grouchy when things do not go my way, are not easy, but this is reminding us that when we follow God's plan for our lives, He will build our faith through our struggles. Through the power of the Holy Spirit these trials will prove beneficial.
And verse 9 blows me away!!! "for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." We are a goal oriented people, and we love to reach our goals. I am so excited to know that even through the challenges and rough roads, I am making progress. I am receiving the goal of my faith, not just something earned but something given freely, like a gift. And what better gift than the salvation of my soul!
Verses 10 - 12 go on to say that not only you or me or the original readers of this letter are wondering about this salvation but even the prophets (really, really smart and Heaven sent guys) and the angels (the very army of God) wonder about it too. We are in good company here. We should not feel discouraged that we do not fully understand it, yet. We should actually feel encouraged that we are on the right path and following in wonderful footsteps.
Living a Holy Life, verses 13 - 25 speak to this, the how and the why this is so important. The HOW: "prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." It couldn't be any clearer. I love it when God makes things clear for me.
And then we receive the good news that we do not have to "be holy" all on our own. We are holy because God is holy. Like a parent that teaches their child how to acquire a new skill, God is showing us how to be holy, through His holiness. We don't have to guess or go it a lone, He is with us, modeling it for us all the way.
And like I was talking about yesterday, because you are now accepting of your worth and holiness in and through Christ, you are able to fully love others as your brothers and sisters. "For you have been born again... through the living... word of God. For the word of the Lord stands forever." In that, you do not need to worry, He will be with you always, through His Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the insight into His Word.
WOW!!! Who knew 25 little verses could rock our socks in such a way. Now I can see why we were issued the challenge to dig deeper into this book. This first chapter alone if full of some comforting and encouraging stuff. I, for one, can't wait to see what tomorrow's reading will bring. I hope you join me!
My prayer for all of us today is that we are able to lock God's words deep into our hearts. That we will be able to pull them out and use them in our lives, or in the lives of those in our world, in order to bring Glory to God. I pray that we are changed by our experience and that even though we are strangers in this land we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in the lives around us so that they may know and love God too.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Do you have your coffee and your Bible in front of you?
For the purpose of this study I am choosing to use the NIV or New International Version translation.
I am reading from BibleGateway.com, which I encourage you to check out. They offer many different translations and some great search tools. I also read the NLT and Message versions of this chapter this morning. It is always amazing how each translation brings deeper insight and meaning because of the words used to translate the original manuscripts.
I suggest that you read the chapter first and then read further on here. If you are using your computer for your Bible reading as well, you can have two tabs open, one for BibleGateway and one for the blog. That way you can switch back and forth between the two.
Ok, here we go... 1 Peter, chapter 1...
The first to verses set me at ease right a way. I know that this book is written for me, I totally feel like a stranger in this world sometimes. And it might as well say 'scattered throughout Sun Prairie, Marshall, Madison, Columbus, DeForest, Northern WI, Illinois, Colorado, Alaska' (he is speaking to US too).
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance." What a wonderful blessing! I could not hope to start my day with a more heartfelt gift.
In verses 3 - 9, Peter is reminding us of Who has laid this life before us and why He has chosen to do so. He is acknowledging our part in the story because of our FAITH to believe in things we have not personally witnessed. And he is reminding us that this life is not one of ease and comfort but of struggles, brought on by our faith and used to prove our faith. I know I can get grouchy when things do not go my way, are not easy, but this is reminding us that when we follow God's plan for our lives, He will build our faith through our struggles. Through the power of the Holy Spirit these trials will prove beneficial.
And verse 9 blows me away!!! "for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." We are a goal oriented people, and we love to reach our goals. I am so excited to know that even through the challenges and rough roads, I am making progress. I am receiving the goal of my faith, not just something earned but something given freely, like a gift. And what better gift than the salvation of my soul!
Verses 10 - 12 go on to say that not only you or me or the original readers of this letter are wondering about this salvation but even the prophets (really, really smart and Heaven sent guys) and the angels (the very army of God) wonder about it too. We are in good company here. We should not feel discouraged that we do not fully understand it, yet. We should actually feel encouraged that we are on the right path and following in wonderful footsteps.
Living a Holy Life, verses 13 - 25 speak to this, the how and the why this is so important. The HOW: "prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." It couldn't be any clearer. I love it when God makes things clear for me.
And then we receive the good news that we do not have to "be holy" all on our own. We are holy because God is holy. Like a parent that teaches their child how to acquire a new skill, God is showing us how to be holy, through His holiness. We don't have to guess or go it a lone, He is with us, modeling it for us all the way.
And like I was talking about yesterday, because you are now accepting of your worth and holiness in and through Christ, you are able to fully love others as your brothers and sisters. "For you have been born again... through the living... word of God. For the word of the Lord stands forever." In that, you do not need to worry, He will be with you always, through His Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the insight into His Word.
WOW!!! Who knew 25 little verses could rock our socks in such a way. Now I can see why we were issued the challenge to dig deeper into this book. This first chapter alone if full of some comforting and encouraging stuff. I, for one, can't wait to see what tomorrow's reading will bring. I hope you join me!
My prayer for all of us today is that we are able to lock God's words deep into our hearts. That we will be able to pull them out and use them in our lives, or in the lives of those in our world, in order to bring Glory to God. I pray that we are changed by our experience and that even though we are strangers in this land we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in the lives around us so that they may know and love God too.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Accept Your Worth
Raise your hand if you've ever felt a moment of self-doubt. Raise your hand if you've ever wondered "What on earth am I doing here?!" Raise your hand if you are really good at noticing strengths in others but areas for improvement in your self.
Why do we do that?! Why do we put more value on others than we do ourselves?! I know that Christ calls us to to "love our neighbor as ourselves," but sometimes it feels like we love our neighbor more than ourselves. We will bring them a meal when they are in need, but we will starve ourselves because we think we are too fat. We will let them plan the next family gathering because they were unhappy last year, but we will keep our mouth shut because we fear it may ruffle feathers. We will give them every advantage in life we never had growing up, but we will sacrifice our hopes and dreams in order to fulfill theirs.
Even as Christ calls us to make sacrifices, I challenge the idea that some of us have changed the His command to "love your neighbor better than yourself." This is an unhealthy and unwise way to live. How can you possibly give to others what you do not have yourself? You must first seek to love the LORD, then love yourself, and THEN you can be strong enough to love on others.
But what does that look like? What does it mean to first seek to love the LORD? It means that you accept the love He extends to you through His death and resurrection. It means you spend time with Him daily by being in His Word and being in prayer. It means you begin to seek the meaning He has placed on your life, the value He has placed on your head.
And what does it mean to love ourselves? What does that feel like? For some of us it may feel very foreign. It may feel forced. It may feel way out of our comfort zone. But it begins with accepting who God made you to be. He made you to be a witness of His love and grace. In Jeremiah 29:11 He says, "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." That sounds to me like God has a purpose for each of us and we need to believe in Him and feel confident in ourselves in order to live out that purpose.
Accepting who God made you to be means that you do not wish you were someone else or somehow better (thinner, smarter, taller, more athletic, etc...) than you already are. It means you embrace the unique person God designed you to be, the unique path He set you on, the unique purpose He has placed before you, and only you. It means that YOU are a beloved child of the Most High God and that alone gives you value and worth. No need to keep searching for your meaning or your purpose or your worth. He has given it to you, therefore it is yours!
That may take a while to sink in.
Let it.
Let it go down deep into your soul.
Let it find a comfortable place of acceptance and let it take root there. Let it begin to fill you from that deep place. Let it begin to give you a new comfort and strength. Let it begin to well up within you. Let it begin to bubble out from you. Then, and ONLY then, will you be able to "love your neighbor as yourself!"
Once you understand the love God has for you, you will be able to understand how to love yourself and then how to share that with others. God has designed our paths to cross with each other. We are meant for relational living. And in doing so we must strive to know God, know ourselves, and know our neighbors. When we understand, when we know, when we can share in God's love, it can release a power so mighty that it can change the world. YOUR value, YOUR worth can change the world.
My prayer for you today is that you feel God's love for you deep down in your soul. I pray that whatever is keeping you from knowing His peace is released from your life. I pray that His love will wash over you like a flood and you will find comfort and strength from His warm embrace. I pray that as God's love fills your life that you will begin to love yourself. I pray that you will discover your purpose and that you will take hold of it with all your might. And I pray that as you begin to overflow with God's love that you will not be able to help it but to spill it out onto others.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
p.s - For my regular followers:
I have decided that I will be posting on "in FAITH...with Coffee" each weekday and taking a break on the weekends.
However this week we received a challenge in church to walk through the book of 1st Peter. The book has 5 chapters and so I am going to read and explore one chapter a day here in the blog. Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, and going through Sunday morning. I hope you will join me as I study what God has to say through this small but powerful book.
Why do we do that?! Why do we put more value on others than we do ourselves?! I know that Christ calls us to to "love our neighbor as ourselves," but sometimes it feels like we love our neighbor more than ourselves. We will bring them a meal when they are in need, but we will starve ourselves because we think we are too fat. We will let them plan the next family gathering because they were unhappy last year, but we will keep our mouth shut because we fear it may ruffle feathers. We will give them every advantage in life we never had growing up, but we will sacrifice our hopes and dreams in order to fulfill theirs.
Even as Christ calls us to make sacrifices, I challenge the idea that some of us have changed the His command to "love your neighbor better than yourself." This is an unhealthy and unwise way to live. How can you possibly give to others what you do not have yourself? You must first seek to love the LORD, then love yourself, and THEN you can be strong enough to love on others.
But what does that look like? What does it mean to first seek to love the LORD? It means that you accept the love He extends to you through His death and resurrection. It means you spend time with Him daily by being in His Word and being in prayer. It means you begin to seek the meaning He has placed on your life, the value He has placed on your head.
And what does it mean to love ourselves? What does that feel like? For some of us it may feel very foreign. It may feel forced. It may feel way out of our comfort zone. But it begins with accepting who God made you to be. He made you to be a witness of His love and grace. In Jeremiah 29:11 He says, "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." That sounds to me like God has a purpose for each of us and we need to believe in Him and feel confident in ourselves in order to live out that purpose.
Accepting who God made you to be means that you do not wish you were someone else or somehow better (thinner, smarter, taller, more athletic, etc...) than you already are. It means you embrace the unique person God designed you to be, the unique path He set you on, the unique purpose He has placed before you, and only you. It means that YOU are a beloved child of the Most High God and that alone gives you value and worth. No need to keep searching for your meaning or your purpose or your worth. He has given it to you, therefore it is yours!
That may take a while to sink in.
Let it.
Let it go down deep into your soul.
Let it find a comfortable place of acceptance and let it take root there. Let it begin to fill you from that deep place. Let it begin to give you a new comfort and strength. Let it begin to well up within you. Let it begin to bubble out from you. Then, and ONLY then, will you be able to "love your neighbor as yourself!"
Once you understand the love God has for you, you will be able to understand how to love yourself and then how to share that with others. God has designed our paths to cross with each other. We are meant for relational living. And in doing so we must strive to know God, know ourselves, and know our neighbors. When we understand, when we know, when we can share in God's love, it can release a power so mighty that it can change the world. YOUR value, YOUR worth can change the world.
My prayer for you today is that you feel God's love for you deep down in your soul. I pray that whatever is keeping you from knowing His peace is released from your life. I pray that His love will wash over you like a flood and you will find comfort and strength from His warm embrace. I pray that as God's love fills your life that you will begin to love yourself. I pray that you will discover your purpose and that you will take hold of it with all your might. And I pray that as you begin to overflow with God's love that you will not be able to help it but to spill it out onto others.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
p.s - For my regular followers:
I have decided that I will be posting on "in FAITH...with Coffee" each weekday and taking a break on the weekends.
However this week we received a challenge in church to walk through the book of 1st Peter. The book has 5 chapters and so I am going to read and explore one chapter a day here in the blog. Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, and going through Sunday morning. I hope you will join me as I study what God has to say through this small but powerful book.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Be Who God Created You to Bee
I am guessing, if you are anything like me, that if someone gave you a piece of paper and told you to write all the things you like about yourself on one side and then all the things you did not like about yourself on the other side, you would have one full side and one side with lots of room left over.
We are all very capable of listing the things we would like to improve about ourselves or the things we know others would like us to improve. We know exactly how much weight we would like to loose, how we would like to change our hair style, how we would like to be a better parent, sibling, child. We know we need to "fix" the way we spend money, how often we eat out, how long we wait to start organizing our taxes each year.
We have good intentions of being closer with our friends, of spending more time with our family, of deepening our relationship with God. But somehow we always end up sabotaging our own efforts. Somewhere along the way we decide that there is just too much to improve upon and it will take too much work so we give up and accept the fact that we will only be a small glimmer of who we really could be.
What if we changed our mind-set? What if we looked at life as a process and not a product? What if we accepted Who We Are, shortcomings and all, and realized that we are exactly as God made us to be! God, the infinite designer that created more species of vegetation, insects, and animals than we humans have even been able to discover yet. The God who decided that bees, you know the buzz-buzz, honey making guys, would have the ability to cross pollinate plants AND sting predators in order to protect themselves.
I have seen some beautiful flowers that would not be possible with out those busy little bees. I also know many people that carry epi-pens in case they get stung by a bee. Talk about a good side / bad side to your life. In all that the bee does, he is just living out who God created him to be. He is not on a quest of self-discovery or hanging out in the hive reading the newest "How to Be the Best Bee You Can Be" book. He understands who and what God made him to be and he lives out his life building relationships between plants and making delicious ooey-gooey sweetness to share with others.
Hmm...building relationships and sharing with others, sounds a lot like what God calls US to do everyday as well. God knows that we are not "perfect," that we each have a pollination (potentially helpful) and a stinger (potentially harmful) side to our natures. He created us. He knows us. He accepts us. He loves us. He patiently waits for us to "get it" and step out of His way. God is willing to let us run the show AND He is willing to walk back into our lives and comfort us as He fixes what we have allowed to become broken in our own hearts.
So how can we, higher level thinking humans, learn a lesson from the bees and begin to accept who we are, who God made us to be, and start to love ourselves as much as God loves us? What baggage do we need to throw off, what mind-sets need to change, what do we need to ask for forgiveness for and then move past? What new habits do we need to adopt, what new group do we need to being hanging around with, what new words do we need to fill our heart and our mind with?
OR, How can we be quiet, alone with God, and let Him heal us. No to-do list on our part other than making time to Be With God. He knows what we need. He will direct our path. He will heal the scars that run so deep we forget where they started. And all we have to do is begin to fly out from the hive, each day a little bit further, feeling secure in who God created us to be. We can build relationships and share a part of our selves each day, but we must always return to the hive each night in order to relax our weary bodies, build community within the hive, and spend time with The One that designed the entire thing.
My prayer for you today is that you can throw away your "what I like about me / what I don't like about me" list. I pray that you can begin to feel comfortable in who God created you to bee. I pray that you will build relationships and share yourself with others today. I pray that as you return home tonight you will feel tired, after a good days work, and will be able to relax with The One that created you, The One who loves you, The One that knows you and is growing you, From the Inside Out.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
We are all very capable of listing the things we would like to improve about ourselves or the things we know others would like us to improve. We know exactly how much weight we would like to loose, how we would like to change our hair style, how we would like to be a better parent, sibling, child. We know we need to "fix" the way we spend money, how often we eat out, how long we wait to start organizing our taxes each year.
We have good intentions of being closer with our friends, of spending more time with our family, of deepening our relationship with God. But somehow we always end up sabotaging our own efforts. Somewhere along the way we decide that there is just too much to improve upon and it will take too much work so we give up and accept the fact that we will only be a small glimmer of who we really could be.
What if we changed our mind-set? What if we looked at life as a process and not a product? What if we accepted Who We Are, shortcomings and all, and realized that we are exactly as God made us to be! God, the infinite designer that created more species of vegetation, insects, and animals than we humans have even been able to discover yet. The God who decided that bees, you know the buzz-buzz, honey making guys, would have the ability to cross pollinate plants AND sting predators in order to protect themselves.
I have seen some beautiful flowers that would not be possible with out those busy little bees. I also know many people that carry epi-pens in case they get stung by a bee. Talk about a good side / bad side to your life. In all that the bee does, he is just living out who God created him to be. He is not on a quest of self-discovery or hanging out in the hive reading the newest "How to Be the Best Bee You Can Be" book. He understands who and what God made him to be and he lives out his life building relationships between plants and making delicious ooey-gooey sweetness to share with others.
Hmm...building relationships and sharing with others, sounds a lot like what God calls US to do everyday as well. God knows that we are not "perfect," that we each have a pollination (potentially helpful) and a stinger (potentially harmful) side to our natures. He created us. He knows us. He accepts us. He loves us. He patiently waits for us to "get it" and step out of His way. God is willing to let us run the show AND He is willing to walk back into our lives and comfort us as He fixes what we have allowed to become broken in our own hearts.
So how can we, higher level thinking humans, learn a lesson from the bees and begin to accept who we are, who God made us to be, and start to love ourselves as much as God loves us? What baggage do we need to throw off, what mind-sets need to change, what do we need to ask for forgiveness for and then move past? What new habits do we need to adopt, what new group do we need to being hanging around with, what new words do we need to fill our heart and our mind with?
OR, How can we be quiet, alone with God, and let Him heal us. No to-do list on our part other than making time to Be With God. He knows what we need. He will direct our path. He will heal the scars that run so deep we forget where they started. And all we have to do is begin to fly out from the hive, each day a little bit further, feeling secure in who God created us to be. We can build relationships and share a part of our selves each day, but we must always return to the hive each night in order to relax our weary bodies, build community within the hive, and spend time with The One that designed the entire thing.
My prayer for you today is that you can throw away your "what I like about me / what I don't like about me" list. I pray that you can begin to feel comfortable in who God created you to bee. I pray that you will build relationships and share yourself with others today. I pray that as you return home tonight you will feel tired, after a good days work, and will be able to relax with The One that created you, The One who loves you, The One that knows you and is growing you, From the Inside Out.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Thursday, September 2, 2010
From the Inside Out
One of the ways I connect with God is through music. I seem to have a different 'anthem' for different seasons of my life. Right now I am in a season of change and I actually have several songs that are reminding me of how God calls me to live my life.
This morning I woke up with "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong on my mind. There are several versions of it on YouTube but my favorite one has a simple black background and the lyrics scroll by on the screen. I love the message of this song and I did not want to be distracted by other images. I am actually listening to it right now as I am typing. The message so clearly says what I am feeling right now.
With my life in transition, my desire is to be wholly obedient to God and to serve Him. It would be easy for me to start thinking about running my own show, to start making my own choices, to think more about my comfort over what God has planned for my life. One of the beautiful things about God is that He loves me enough to let me do that, if I really want to. He will let me make my own choices; I have free will. I have the ability to make a mess of my own life and He will still love me, pick me up and carry me to safety.
Of course it is always better when I realize that His plan is far superior to mine. It saves me a lot of heartache and struggle to surrender my life to His direction. It is NOT always easier. It is NOT always more comfortable. But is IS always more rewarding. It IS always more fulfilling. When I surrender to His plan, my life takes on a purpose, a significance, that I can not achieve on my own.
Rather than trying to retell the sentiments of that wonderful song by Hillsong, how about I just let you experience it yourself.
My prayer for you today is that you feel God's love for you in such a deep way that you can not help but to love Him in return 'from the inside out.'
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
This morning I woke up with "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong on my mind. There are several versions of it on YouTube but my favorite one has a simple black background and the lyrics scroll by on the screen. I love the message of this song and I did not want to be distracted by other images. I am actually listening to it right now as I am typing. The message so clearly says what I am feeling right now.
With my life in transition, my desire is to be wholly obedient to God and to serve Him. It would be easy for me to start thinking about running my own show, to start making my own choices, to think more about my comfort over what God has planned for my life. One of the beautiful things about God is that He loves me enough to let me do that, if I really want to. He will let me make my own choices; I have free will. I have the ability to make a mess of my own life and He will still love me, pick me up and carry me to safety.
Of course it is always better when I realize that His plan is far superior to mine. It saves me a lot of heartache and struggle to surrender my life to His direction. It is NOT always easier. It is NOT always more comfortable. But is IS always more rewarding. It IS always more fulfilling. When I surrender to His plan, my life takes on a purpose, a significance, that I can not achieve on my own.
Rather than trying to retell the sentiments of that wonderful song by Hillsong, how about I just let you experience it yourself.
My prayer for you today is that you feel God's love for you in such a deep way that you can not help but to love Him in return 'from the inside out.'
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Just to Be With God
Sounds easy, right? We know how to Be With someone else. You sit with them, you talk with them, you share parts of yourself and they share parts in return. When you've been with someone long enough you begin to finish each others sentences, you understand the meaning behind the tone of voice used, you can communicate without even saying a word.
Sometimes we have to call our friends, or family, and let them know we need to be with them. We need something from them; encouragement, support, trust, patience, understanding, space. We have a meaningful relationship with them that allows us to ask for such things and to expect a response. We know that by expressing our need they may give us what we are looking for, and with some relationships we know that we may not receive what we are looking for but we make the ask anyway, one more time.
And in return we respond to them when they need us. We may not be able to give them exactly what they are looking for but we make every effort to be there for them to the degree that is appropriate based on our relationship. We factor in history, our opinion, comments from others in determining what level of response is necessary. But all-in-all we know how to Be With each person in our lives. We have an understanding of what we offer and what we take away from each relationship.
But do we know how to Be With God? The God of the Universe. The God that is always with us. The God that already knows exactly what we need. The God that does not need a thing from us in return. The God that knows our inner most thoughts, fears, joys, sorrows. The God that can communicate with us through any means He chooses. The God that created rainbows, insects, the ocean, a single grain of sand. The God that knows the exact number of hairs on your head. Do you know how to BE WITH a God like that?
We can not offer Him anything in return, other than our love and devotion. And with that knowledge comes freedom. The freedom of not needing to "keep up appearances." The freedom from passing judgment and from searching for the ulterior motive. God is who God is and He is the same with you and with me and with the person down the street.
So how can you Be With someone as all encompassing as God? If you're looking for a clean-cut answer, you're not going to get one from me. I am wondering the same thing. I am just wondering and processing it out loud. Being With God is a deeply personal thing and will look different, on our part, than anyone else's relationship with God. We all have a unique history with God and He uses that history to reveal Himself to us and to teach us new things.
But what I do know is that He makes some specific requests of what He is looking for from us. In Micah 6:8 it says "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly WITH your God." (NIV - emphasis added).
Do you notice that all of these things are active. They are not passive requests. They are a call to Be With our God in very real ways that will impact both our lives and the lives around us. We can Be With God, we can grow closer to God, we can share an intimate relationship with God by doing the things God loves to do. We can come to know more about who God is by living, in some small way, as God does. And part of the beauty is that He is not asking us to do anything He Himself is not willing to do or has not already done. So we know it is a winning strategy, we know we will have success.
SO how are YOU going to Be With God today? How can you act justly, love mercy, walk humbly? How can your life be a reflection of your relationship with God? How can your relationship with God become more powerful, more meaning-filled, as a result of your willingness to do as God does?
My prayer for you today is that you are able to find a quiet time to be alone with God. I pray that He will speak clearly to your heart and that you will hear His message. I pray that because of your personal relationship with Him you are able to share His love with others. I pray that your life will be radically changed because of the time you choose to Be With God.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
Sometimes we have to call our friends, or family, and let them know we need to be with them. We need something from them; encouragement, support, trust, patience, understanding, space. We have a meaningful relationship with them that allows us to ask for such things and to expect a response. We know that by expressing our need they may give us what we are looking for, and with some relationships we know that we may not receive what we are looking for but we make the ask anyway, one more time.
And in return we respond to them when they need us. We may not be able to give them exactly what they are looking for but we make every effort to be there for them to the degree that is appropriate based on our relationship. We factor in history, our opinion, comments from others in determining what level of response is necessary. But all-in-all we know how to Be With each person in our lives. We have an understanding of what we offer and what we take away from each relationship.
But do we know how to Be With God? The God of the Universe. The God that is always with us. The God that already knows exactly what we need. The God that does not need a thing from us in return. The God that knows our inner most thoughts, fears, joys, sorrows. The God that can communicate with us through any means He chooses. The God that created rainbows, insects, the ocean, a single grain of sand. The God that knows the exact number of hairs on your head. Do you know how to BE WITH a God like that?
We can not offer Him anything in return, other than our love and devotion. And with that knowledge comes freedom. The freedom of not needing to "keep up appearances." The freedom from passing judgment and from searching for the ulterior motive. God is who God is and He is the same with you and with me and with the person down the street.
So how can you Be With someone as all encompassing as God? If you're looking for a clean-cut answer, you're not going to get one from me. I am wondering the same thing. I am just wondering and processing it out loud. Being With God is a deeply personal thing and will look different, on our part, than anyone else's relationship with God. We all have a unique history with God and He uses that history to reveal Himself to us and to teach us new things.
But what I do know is that He makes some specific requests of what He is looking for from us. In Micah 6:8 it says "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly WITH your God." (NIV - emphasis added).
Do you notice that all of these things are active. They are not passive requests. They are a call to Be With our God in very real ways that will impact both our lives and the lives around us. We can Be With God, we can grow closer to God, we can share an intimate relationship with God by doing the things God loves to do. We can come to know more about who God is by living, in some small way, as God does. And part of the beauty is that He is not asking us to do anything He Himself is not willing to do or has not already done. So we know it is a winning strategy, we know we will have success.
SO how are YOU going to Be With God today? How can you act justly, love mercy, walk humbly? How can your life be a reflection of your relationship with God? How can your relationship with God become more powerful, more meaning-filled, as a result of your willingness to do as God does?
My prayer for you today is that you are able to find a quiet time to be alone with God. I pray that He will speak clearly to your heart and that you will hear His message. I pray that because of your personal relationship with Him you are able to share His love with others. I pray that your life will be radically changed because of the time you choose to Be With God.
Until We Meet Again,
Drea
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