My Heart, His Home

I love the beautiful concept of our hearts as homes. That we would make our hearts His home. 

When we have family or friends over to our home we all usually jump in and run around cleaning up!  Scrubbing down surfaces and tucking clutter in closets so that things appear "together" and somewhat clean!  Lol 😂 

With Christ, we don't have to do that!  He doesn't want us to!  He wants us to be as we are , and just invite Him in.  

No need to scurry around trying to clean it all up and make things look perfect BEFORE He comes in ! He sees us and He is okay with entering into our chaos and living there and helping us clean up the mess. 

What a relief! 

It is a high privilege to welcome, to serve, to please and to know Him in my heart, His home. 

 

Consider it all Garbage!

 Paul is desperately trying to tell the Church "Wake up! Rejoice in the Lord ...Put your hope in the Lord.... and consider it ALL garbage, rubbage, a loss ..."

Your career

Your house

Your car

Your money

Your accomplishments 

All of this is garbage in comparison to knowing Jesus.  If you put your hope in these things they will ALWAYS disappoint and you'll find yourself exhausted. 

Put your hope in Him and rest!

*Good word from Pastor Brad Tate yesterday!!!*

 

Don't Calculate Without God

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass."  Psalm 37:5

God seems to have a way of upsetting the things we have calculated without Him.  We get ourselves into messes and we realize we have been calculating everything without Him.  Ouch. 

One thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor. No wonder we are worked up when everything else has been given the same value as God when we calculate.   Love does not calculate evil, it's not ignorant of the existence of evil, but it does not take it into account as a calculating factor. 

We cannot calculate properlyand in full faith without God in His rightful place of being first and as the greatest factor NO matter what we are up against. 

LET NOT your heart be troubled .... haul yourself up and put God in the center where he belongs. calculate with HIM as the greatest factor!!!

 

Wonderfully Made !!!

We talked a bit this morning about how we were made.  When you stop to think about the intricacy of our human body and every little thing that works together it is quite amazing.  We are truly wonderfully made. 

On top of our physical anatomy add the unique character and personality of each of us and the ways in which we develop and mature based on our experiences and surroundings. We played this video this morning called "still face experiment" which displays the way we were made to need love and acceptance in order to thrive in life.  (This video was played in my class last night called "Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You." ) 

No matter what we experience in life - good, bad or ugly GOD can restore and heal and cause us to live a full life in His love.  We've seen it, we've experienced it! 

 

Celebrating that we are all wonderfully made today!!

https://youtu.be/apzXGEbZht0

 

All Things Work Together

In a world where distractions of what is truly important run deep and difference of opinions run high we celebrate an artist who has made a forever impact on our kids lives. 

Speaking truth and boldly proclaiming God's promises with a creative music presentation Lacrae does it again with his new album, All things Work Together.

Check it out: 

https://g.co/kgs/WYxise

We talked a lot this morning about our country, our faith and our responsibility to  both.  It's so easy to get caught up and worked up over so many things and yet God helped us to bring it all down to loving God and loving people.  That's what God does, he keeps it simple.  We, tend to  over complicate ! 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." -Matthew 22: 37-39

 

The usefulness of my Life

We read a story this morning written by Brennan Manning about a man who he spent some time with working and serving in France.  A group of them were talking about substandard wages and how their employers were never seen at church on Sunday, etc... and this man responded with a tear rolling down his check, " they don't understand."  

It immediately reminded him of what Jesus said on the cross.... " forgive them for they know not what they do."  

This same man ended up dying at 54 years old of cancer.  The last years of his life he spent working and sharing the love of Jesus daily at a local park.  When he did not show up one day, the people who looked forward to his daily visits at the park reported it and found out he had passed in his small apartment. 

In his journal by his bed - his last entry read: 

"All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me.  I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my words and witness. If he wants it too, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is his concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that."

We are embracing the lesson for us this morning that ...we should not worry or work hard at the significance of our lives, let God use us how He will.  Let us pray for a heart settled with God on who we are and who we are not and live a life of love.  

 

True Discipleship

"The heart of discipleship lies in commitment and worship, NOT reflection and theory."  - Brennan Manning 

This quote caused some lively conversation about what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.  It's easy to say you are a disciple of Christ and to even do some things that look like it (read your Bible, pray, join a small group...) but many stop half way. 

There are plenty of Christians who will give up possessions, friends and honors but it touches them too closely to disown themselves.  

Plunging yourself into a series of spiritual activities or lengthening your prayer time or getting involved in a church organization is not the sort of activity we are called to, we are called to a life completely commited to following God all the way, not half way.  A life of surrender without reservation.  No matter what it requires from us. 

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew‬ ‭10:38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Steps ordered by God

Sometimes we can be so distracted by what other people think and say that it totally spins us out.  We are feeling good about a certain direction or decision and then BAM, a friend says "seriously?" And now you are feeling like , now what? 

Been there?

While seeking wise counsel is good, we must seek God first and never allow others to take His rightful place.  

We heard a message yesterday about control and how we so like to be in  control of the outcome, of what others think of us and even what they do. 

Our egos and  our pride get in the way and we miss out on God's best by trying to manipulate the outcome.  LET GO!

Stop wasting time and energy on what is HIS alone  to determine  and start trusting Him with every little thing. 

Life is too short and precious to live in fear of the future and the unknown.  God offers us peace freely by trusting that He is enough and he's got this.  So let's lean in today and live different than yesterday -  be free!!!

 

Faith & Action

When I was a teen, I remember a youth leader telling me that I will receive victory in life ONLY to the degree that I trust God. 

That statement, changed my faith to action, it wasn't long after I was boarding a plane to go to India for 3 months and God met me there in the middle of the poverty and despair. I'll never be the same. 

Now, a few years have gone by  (well maybe more than a few) and life has ebbed and flowed and with it my faith has increased and yes decreased.  I've had amazing "walk on water" moments and some of the darkest nights of my soul with what felt like not even a mustard seed of faith left. 

One thing I'm learning with my age and experience is that truly God meets you as you GO.  So many times we don't know the details, the plan or what the outcome will be, but faith in action steps out into the unknown and trusts God to do the rest. 

Leaning into His sufficiency stretches us, so let us boldly ask for God to increase our faith as we  move forward, go, trust  and step out and find Him there.  

 

Seek First

Our family verse for 2017 is Matthew 6:33, it has been a lighthouse for us as we make decisions and journey this season of life.  

We are learning to not set out to establish our own plans, but rather to resign everything into His hands, to be obedient to His still small voice and wait for Him.  We have seen the wisdom in this through running ahead and paying the consequence of it!!!

Ahhh!!

Let's not interfere in His work nor hinder His plans, but rather resign to His way and SEEK Him first and let Him take care of the rest!!!!  

 

Increase my Faith

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, ask of God who gives liberally and without reproach..."

We had a really great and real conversation this morning about letting our guard down and conforming to this world. We live in a culture that will steal away your purity and simplicity and justify the consumerism over produced in hearts and our lives.  We pray - God give us wisdom in this battle. 

The days ahead may call for greater endurance and more robust faith than we've ever needed before.  Let's seek Him above all else and apply our heart to yield to His wisdom to overcome this world.  

Lord, increase our faith.  

 

God Sees You

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

 Ephesians 2:10

We heard a great message yesterday about seeing yourself  as God sees you. We all have critics, naysayers and people who just want to bring us down, but God says we are mighty warriors, redeemed, valuable, important, empowered, gifted, wanted, secure and chosen. 

Romans 8 says "...NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ...."

We were reminded from Judges 6 that Gideon had a moment where he wasn't feeling it... he was listening to others and his own negative self talk and the angel of the Lord said... "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!"  Nice.  God sees what we can't. 

Forge forward into the truth of who you are in Christ and stop looking back, you are not going that way!!

 

Where God is

Jer. 45:5

"Seek thou great things for thyself?"

Oswald Chambers challenged us this morning - 

Are you seeking great things for yourself?  If you have only come the length of asking God for things, you have not come to the a place of abandonment, you have become a Christian from your own standpoint. OUCH 

Instantly God can put his finger on our motives if we are not seeking to simply know Him , but rather for what He can do for us.  Don't be deceived, get quiet and still and ask God to search your heart and bring you to a place of complete surrender and desire to know Him. You will find God Only in that vulnerable place. 

"It hurts to feel life.  To pause. To stop and listen to your own breathing. But you have to lay yourself open to it all.  Because that's where God is. There is no life apart from God, because God is not apart from life.  If you turn away, if you run, you will miss both."  - Heather Harpham 

 

Sturdier than the Original

Gen 50 "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."

We read a story that Jen Hatmaker shared in her book "Of Mess and Moxey" about her dog shredding a very special heirloom blanket of her daughters that her mother in law knit for her. 

He tried to bury it in the backyard. 😩😮

She was so upset and took it to her mother in law and told her she didn't want another new blanket she just wanted this blanket.  Her mother in law (Jacki) washed the shredded yarn pile by hand, sorted out all the tangles and knots, and slowly, tenderly, over weeks and weeks, put the blanket back together, slightly different than before, but using all the same threads.  It was actually sturdier than the original. 

Sturdier than the original. 

The story of Joseph's life in Genesis 50 shows how God rewove the tattered shreds of his life together for good. The threads of hate, deceit, abandonment and injustice were refashioned into a beautiful story..... using all the same threads... sturdier than the original. 

In the face of despair, brokenness, pain or whatever you are going through ... we have this hope that as we come out of it we will be "sturdier than the original".

We can trust Him to reweave our lives. 

 

Back to School - 2017

Ephesians 5:14 "Arise from the dead!"

Today is a special day, it's a day I've thought of in my mind often that was in our future, way out there ... and now it's here, upon us this day.

All 3 in high school together. 

Freshman Kadin

Junior Livia

Senior Devin 

Ok, give me a sec.... gotta take a breath. 

Our summer was busy with moving and adjusting to change.  I'm telling you, these 3 can do hard things.  "From the mouths of babes" and "childlike faith"  has never been in more true form to me than now.  They have embraced our downsizing experience like bosses and have brought us all to the resolve of new place  + new pace = new perspective. 

So proud. 

This morning we are back at our familydevo  blog. We read a simple text as an example of what Jesus says to us about our life.  We have ideas, dreams and visions and then somewhere along the way we realize we have no power to make them happen or we spin out due to life circumstance and so we slow down until we stop... give up, give in. Then God says "Arise!"  Our choice is, will we?  Do we get up?!  We must!  Like the leper asking for healing and the lame wanting to walk ... he said "arise!" And THEN they were healed, THEN they walked!  We must take the initiative to overcome by getting up , by obeying and rising up and when we do a remarkable thing happens - He gives us life immediately.  

From death to life, we are overcomers because of His great love for us. Let's arise today and be overcomers!

 

He is Near

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the midst of difficulties, loneliness and pain He is my support.  He is the light in my darkness. His beauty and radiance is all the lovelier in that darkness ....yes it's true.  

In my grief, in my dispair and in my failure - His touch is more tender , more real and more kind to me.  It is most welcome. 

Rejoice oh my soul.....for He is Near. 

He holds my hand. 

 

Vision = Provision

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NIV‬

In our journey this past year we've learned in real life what it means to wait on God and to understand His promise that He will be with us, as we step into the great unknown.  

Praying ferociously not for answers but to know Him and to trust Him.  Working hard at whatever work is out in front of us like it depends on us, knowing ultimately that we rest and rely only on His final work to bring about the good in all we do. 

Oswald Chambers said "Let God be as original with other people as He is with you."  Sometimes people can't see His hand moving in your life like you can, and that's ok because our faith doesn't ride on if others "can see it or feel it" , our faith rides on who God is and when God gives a vision he always makes provision.   Too many voices and opinions weighing in to your call can cause confusion and distraction. Seek the face of one, your God. 

Delight yourself in the Lord .... in all you do .... He sees you, He knows you and He will give you the desires of your heart.  

 

Start fighting back!!!

"Say to this mountain,  move from here to there and it will move."  Matthew 17:20

There comes a time when you must quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start talking to the mountain about your God!! - Mark Batterson 

Goliath held an entire army captive through intimidation. Can you relate to that kind of fear about your "Goliath" today?  What if? How will? Why? 

Jesus kicked the enemy back in the wilderness with the Word of God. He faught back.  He did not cower in a corner and beg God to do something!  He slung His sword (the word of God) and took the victory!!!

If God is for us, who can be against us!

Greater is the one living inside of me. 

I can do all things through Christ!

In all things God works for good ..

Let's get into an offensive game here and stop talking about our problem and start talking to it!!

 

Self Hatred to Self Acceptance

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NIV‬

We made a commitment to each other around Christmas time to let every prayer we pray be drenched with radical honesty.  We've recognized that it's easy to go day to day in the same vein and prayer without much thought to "the more" God could be , probably is calling us to. 

We must crucify our self indulgent ways and surrender all to Jesus if we are to live in peace with Him.

 Obedience = Peace 

It's easy to hate on ourselves in the midst of this troubled world, but there is no growth without pain and no integrity without self denial and honest neither one  is attractive without the personal love of a Jesus !!

So, be radically honest with where you are right now, stop hating on yourself and be loved. In that love find a place to be free and at peace by obeying God and accepting who you are in Him.  He's in love with you, you can trust Him. 

 

His Praise will Ever be on my Lips!! - Gina 🎶

Psalm 89 " I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations."

We talked about His faithfulness in our lives this morning and how we can look back and see how he protected us, provided for us , healed us and delivered us.  Sometimes though when you are IN it , it is hard to see the light.  Right? 

It's then that we HAVE to recall His promises that He will never leave us , that He goes before us, that He doesn't stop loving us when we fail!  Instead He renews us and works in us to shine a light in the darkness.   He turns our faith into sight and allows us to rejoice in our heart for what WILL come to pass. 

Cast your heavy burdens on Him today and recall who provides your strength and that in Him there is NO weariness!!!

That's why we sing ... "His praise will Ever be on my lips..." 🎶

 

 

It was Ugly, but it was Beautiful...

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NIV‬

Liv read to us some insight from Brennan Manning about the suffering of Jesus on the cross.  The agony no man has ever dreamed, bloodied, despised, disfigured....could it be that the  crucifixion was beautiful?

Externally - He was naked and nailed, blood streaming everywhere - it had to be a horrible sight.  Brutal and inhuman.  

But there is more to His death on the cross. There is the interior beauty of His soul infused with obedience to God the Father.  His soul was so full of love for you and for me that it was the most beautiful act of love from a human soul. Ever. 

Consider that thing you thought would destroy you, but it didn't. Therefore as ugly as it was, it's beautiful because you have been stretched and transformed and you are stronger for it. Yes, maybe you have a limp or a scar, but it is there to remind you that His grace is enough  and that He works all things for your good. Consider the beauty on the cross. PAUSE.  

So, don't lose heart .... stand tall and brave!  Move on and embrace the beauty in the ugly.  

 

 

We have it all!!!!

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Devin decided to read a little from Tozer this morning:

The message was simple but soooo good!  When we have Him - we have everything.  It is much better to have God first and have God Himself even if we have no money than to have all the riches and all the influence in this world and not have God with it. 

This scripture is our scripture for the year 2017!!!   Love how He keeps reminding us to seek Him FIRST. It sort of resounds with our message from yesterday that the self sufficient man can be in worse  danger and more use to the enemy than a prostitite or a drug dealer in jail because the "need" is not present for a savior or help.   Scary.  Let us see the light today Lord and seek you first.   

May we go on today and know Him and love Him more dearly not for His gifts and benefits, but for the pure joy of being aware of His presence.  

 

Don't get trapped!!

Do Not Love the World 

15 vDo not love the world or the things in the world. wIf anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—xthe desires of the flesh and ythe desires of the eyes and pride of life3—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And zthe world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Larry Crabb states " Satan's masterpiece is not the prostitute or the skid-row bum. It's the SELF-SUFFICIENT PERSON  who has made life comfortable, who is adjusting well to the world and who longs only to be a little better - and a little better off - than he already is."  

We are all susceptible to this same fate except for the grace of God in our lives.  Posessions and Position go hand in hand like the pride of life and lust of the eyes.  

Position, or the pride of life says "I must be seen and respected."

There have been many CEOs and leaders who have traded their integrity in order to protect their pride of life.  Willing to engage even in criminal activity in order to maintain power and control.  You may come to that cross road one day and may God give you the strength and the courage to walk away.  

The lust of the eyes says "whatever I see, I want." 

It is the ultimate consumer lifestyle.  Satan does not seem to want us to hate a God, only to forget Him. Ugh....probably worse. In church yesterday we were reminded to let "the Jones's" win when it comes to keeping up with their lifestyle and to live our life in generosity no matter how much or how little we have.  Let it be Lord in all of our lives that we would see this snare for what it is and be free from it.

Fight the traps of position and possessions with true humility.  "The humble he teaches HIs ways.."Psalm 25 "The Lord lifts up the humble ..".Psalm 147.

 

The Scarlet Cord

“Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us”.  Joshua‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NIV‬

So we don't do this very often, but once in a while Kadin will call out a scripture with no knowledge of what it will say ... we look it up and sometimes we laugh because it doesn't even exist, then a few times it's lead us into quite a conversation.  Like this morning...

"Joshua 2:17!" He says!

So I look it up.  Ends up in the middle of the story of Rahab and the spies' conversation about how her family will be pardoned and saved from harm if she will place a .....scarlet cord in the window.  As we absorbed  those words the room got quiet.... the scarlet (red) cord ....similar to the blood on the door during Passover to save the firstborn.......similar to - Christ atonement for us on the cross.  

Silence.  For us. 

That gets close to the heart. 

As we churn the truth of this scripture into our lives today - we are reminded that God works all things for good for those who love Him and sometimes when the storms of life are upon us it's easy to give up and lose hope ...It is then  we must trust that God will provide a way - truth - He already has.  

With fresh perspective, with some new perseverance and with some driven persistence right now in HIS NAME  - be encouraged to look around you for His hand of provision and covering. Whatever might be going on in your life -  Look  for the Scarlet Cord, it's always there and never loses its power. 

 

He Sees Us!!

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Livia reminded us this morning that God does not look at us on the outside, but rather the inside.  The gentleness of Jesus is so beautiful.  The way He can read our hearts and dissect our souls with such care flows with such goodness and sincerity. 

Unfortunately people are hurt by other people.  We have among us those literally not loved or wanted and those who have ceased to grow because someone stopped believing in them. Jesus' compassion for us awakens us to lift our eyes from the empty words and selfish hand of others to see ourselves as HE sees us. 

He knows you , He sees you and He loves you. Take heart.  

 

He brings Victory!!!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:57‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes in life we are called to dig deep and to be overcomers  even though everything in front of us is screaming it's over, you've failed, it's too much, it's too hard and there is no way!!!  Dig deep in faith that God is bigger NO MATTER what is in front of you. HE IS BIGGER.  

Our faith brings Him on the scene and He changes everything.  Darkness to light , grief to joy, sickness to health, poverty to His sufficiency , doubt to faith and anxiety to trust!!!!

Ask for the victory today!  Be an overcoming , dig deep and behold the miracles He will bring into your life!!!!

 

The Way of Tenderness

Ephesians 4:32 " Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. "

Anger, defensiveness, a pressing need to change others, criticism, frustration at others' blindness, a sense of spiritual superiority, a gnawing hunger of vindication...... yuck - right?  And yet... if you are honest do you see some of these very things in yourself from day today?  I know I do.   

In allowing these things to dictate my life INSTEAD of tenderness and compassion I am alienating myself from my true self as a child of God. 

Lord, we pray this morning for eyes to see, ears to hear and souls moved toward your way of tenderness....always !

 

 

Unconscience of himself!!

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Devin led us this morning. He had a good word about not pursuing God for your own character and change but rather for God alone. We've been talking a lot this year about seeking God FIRST and our goal is to completely grasp what that means in ALL aspects of our walk with God. It's tough and it takes meditation, prayer and time to let that kind of word saturate our souls and make us understand the call. The call to be set apart!  

Let's not pursue God so that we can become Holy , even though that sounds right , let's pursue Him to know Him and allow His Spirit and Word to change us and use us for HIS Glory!!!

 

2017 Wessel Family Scripture & Word

2017 Scripture - Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you." 

2017 Word - PURSUE

Life sure is busy and can numb us to the reality and the opportunity of " something bigger and more " in life so one way we try to be intentional is to choose a scripture and a word for the year for our family.

Because of our season of change and our experience of waiting and seeking clarity from God this verse jumped out at us.  We had so many moments of being redirected as we would naturally lean toward seeking God's plan instead of His face.  Ya know what I mean?  We had the tendancy to seek answers and not Who God is and in those moments we were constantly being corrected to just know Him and by knowing Him and His ways everything else becomes clear and will be made known. 

It's not easy, it takes discipline and I have a feeling we will always struggle with doing it our way, but this scripture and word will serve as a good reminder this year and hopefully every year to follow in all of our lives that pursuing God is the way to all that you need.  

This song has resonated with us during this season - 

Before I bring my need

I will bring my heart

Before I lift my cares

I will lift my arms

I wanna know You

I wanna find You

In every season

In every moment

Before I speak a word

Let me hear Your voice

I wanna seek You First 

I wanna keep You First

https://youtu.be/RbWQV3OiRqA

 

 

Rigorous Honesty

“For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have this tendancy to hide our true self because we are afraid of rejection.  We daub spiritual make-up on ourselves to appear presentable to God and others.  This is an exhausting way to live. It's a double life and so far from true authenticity. Yet we justify it as a means to survival in this mean,  not so impressed world. 

An open prayer saturated with rigorous honesty that calls us out of hiding, to quit trying so hard to be impressive , to acknowledge our total dependence on God and the reality of our sin - will cause defenses to fall and masks to drop as we embrace instinct humility.  

Let it be.   

We've committed this year to drench  every prayer with RIGOROUS HONESTY so that we can be who we really are and then be transformed into who God wants us to be. 

Let's be real. 

 

  

Crucified with Christ

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭NIV‬

My head is going in a million different directions with this verse this morning because I've come to understand that God is not calling me to drop all of who I am to be His, He's actually calling all of who I am to be His.  Does that make sense? He doesn't want to de-program my individuality,  but instead delight in it and use me as I am to be a light to the world. This truth makes me feel hope that  while He calls me to "die" He's not saying    That he wants me to be a robot but rather alive and uniquely me in Him!!!

Also... to get back to the "million directions" (lol), this verse reminds me that it's a call to my own personal cross and that adversity and betrayal and hardships find me there, take me there  but in them it launches me into a deeper faith experience and understanding.   

Oswald Chambers said " If we do not resolutely sacrifice the natural , the supernatural can never become natural in us."  I had to read that a lot of times, but I get it!  And I want that!!!  

I am crucified with Christ it is no longer I that lives but Christ in me.  

 

Loved, Liked & Cherished

““Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If the question were put to you "do you honestly believe God loves you?" , you would probably answer "yes",  because the Bible says God is love and that He loved the world and gave His son....however how about like, does He like you?

Is God fond of you?  Does He cherish you?  That thought warms my heart, that idea brings a sense of security and strength...if only I can believe that He does.  

If I can believe that he cherishes me it will bring a relaxed breath to my lungs, a sweep of energy to my weary bones and even a compassion and tenderness towards myself for the days ahead.  What a gift. 

We can relate to this action as parents ourselves....we look at Devin, Livia and Kadin and we love them with all our hearts and we adore them with every fiber of our being and we like who they are and who they are becoming and we cherish every little bitty thing about the way they roll.

Let's rest in that truth a bit today.... and be loved, liked and cherished.