Lonely in the pursuit...

I was thinking about a conversation that I had with a friend the other day. We were talking about the feeling of loneliness you have sometimes when you are in pursuit of the holiness of God and striving to be more like Him. There is a loneliness that comes when you are on that path, but your friends are not. I have found myself feeling that same way, surround by people (friends) yet feeling so alone or really more heart sick for them that they were just not getting it. I remember thinking, “do they not hear the same thing I’m hearing…how can they not be moved by this…do they not know how important this is…etc”. But, then as I got to thinking more about it I wondered how many times that had been me, surrounded by friends that were getting it and I was the one that was just not in a place to hear, see, and take it in. At least not in a way that was making a difference in me or in my life. But by the grace of God, I had friends and some family that stuck in there and continued to pray for me and take the opportunities that they were give to walk through open doors in our conversations. Over time that stuff starts to sink in. The best thing we can do when we find ourselves waiting on our friends to catch up is continue to be there, pray for them and let God lead you, you will find that He will open doors for you to talk about Him and the things that matter. They may not be moved all at once, or even at a pace you would like, but you will be planting seeds and hopefully they will respond over time. Plus, it allows them to see the change that is taking place in you as well. Above all this, the choice is theirs to make, God is there waiting. I found this verse: Did you become involved in the lives of these for repayment from them or out of obedience to me? Do you love these and look for repayment, or do you love them in obedience to me? “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 It is in our obedience to Him, not in our expectation of others, that our friends and families will be blessed. Don’t get discouraged by their lagging, continue to move forward, allowing God to fill you up. When you are full of Him, it spills over...

While thoughts from my previous post are still roaming around in my head, I ran across a much needed to hear (read) post that Crystal posted last month. The post was about grace and as I read the post I was struck by the fact that grace in many situations is what others will first see in us that makes us different from everyone else. When I posed the questions in my previous post (what impact (do) you have on other people’s lives? What difference have you really made?), I hadn’t really thought to deeply about how much grace could really play a part in the answers. Do you suppose that I have made an impact on someone else’s life simply because I have extended to them grace? What difference do you suppose it made to the person on the receiving end of the grace given, if any? Don’t you suppose that extending grace to others also brings about change in us as well? Absolutely!! How simple an act of Gods love in us, yet profound in that it’s not a commonality in today’s world. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: “God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 I know for myself that sometimes extending grace to someone is not always my first reaction, at least not in the past. Instead, its easier to judge, criticize, and get defensive. It is that gut reaction to someone else’s actions, appearance, choices, etc…. But, giving grace really is not about the other person at all, it is in fact about me…its about growing in Christ and become more like Him, its about humbling ourselves. It is learning to see others the way God sees them so that my gut reactions is changed and in effect blessing the other person at the same time. “Grace blesses the recipient” through a heart that has been humbled by the grace first given to them by Christ. "We can heal their broken bodies and restore their fallen hearts if only we would stop judging them for how they fell apart in the first place." J.C. Ryle God was the first and truest example of grace in that he gave His son…who would be persecuted, and ultimately die to free us from our sins (read Crystals blog, she says all this, just better) and he extends that grace to us everyday, how grateful I am for that! Through out, He showed continual grace to those who had been shunned, and ridiculed because of their status or behavior. How much more so should we, who are called by his name, be willing to extend grace to others? Amazing grace, that saved a retch like me…could be all that someone else needs, could change a life…could save a life!

Awestruck

This morning was so beautiful. I picked up my ipod and out the door I went. I sat down in my favorite chair on the deck ready to enjoy the morning sun and listen to whatever was to be the next song on my ipod play list. Then something happened and I just stopped and took in the silence...and I simply began to pray and reflected on the things of God. How clear and blue the sky was, how green everything was getting, the flowers like little dots of colorful artwork scattered around the yard, the birds singing and the squirrels playing. God’s unspoken love language written in plan view! I read this statement somewhere once that “awe precedes faith”. This morning, my faith was definitely awakened by the sheer awe of God’s creative handy work. Could you imagine what our faith would look like if we got up every morning in awe of what God had in store for us, if we had an excitement for the things that he wants to do through us? When was the last time you were in awe of how sovereign and majestic our God is?

Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God. Chris Tomlin

Prayer of Thanks

Lord, thank you so much for my small group, for a gracious, God seeking, and passionate group leader that has been nothing but a blessing in so many ways, ways that she does not even know. For giving me just a moment in my week when all the worldly distractions are simply quieted and my heart is revived by a group that simply chooses to says, “Yes” to You and to doing life together. That seeks to truly know my heart and loves me even in my brokenness, right where I am. How great is our God, that he hears the cry of our hearts and answers with more than we deserve!!

“The yearning for deep connection describes a quality of relationship that is profoundly caring, is resonant with meaning, and involves feelings of belonging or of being truly seen and known”. Unknown

Great faith

I have this friend, she is a single mom of two, and she just found out she was going to have to move out of the place she has been renting and it came as a complete shock to her. Long story short, the landlord found someone who is willing to pay more and since she did not sign a lease…

But, the real story is not what is happening, but how much heart and faith this girl has. When she told me about what was happening, she finished by saying. “I'll not let this get me down...this too shall pass and something will work out for my benefit!! She did not hesitate to rely on her faith, in her knowing that God has a plan and his plan is better. I said to her, “I applaud your attitude”. I would hope I would be that confident, be that secure in my faith. She then reply by saying, “You know I've always learned, whether through my own experiences or through those of others, that worry causes more woes and solves absolutely nothing! A positive attitude will take you so much farther. At least if you are thinking positive you have the mindset to get things done. If you sit back and worry your mind is clouded with that worry and there is no room for anything else. Besides, why ask God to take care of something if you can't or don't trust him to do so. If you continue to worry about it then it only proves that you don't think God is capable to handle it. And if He isn't capable then I surely am not!! It will work out and I'll be posting a new mailing address soon enough…”

AMAZING! Do I have some awesome friends or what?!