God is doing something very beautiful in my children. It's something eternal and it's absolutely of the Father in heaven.
The past couple of days we've been praying, by name, for a specific little girl who needs an adoptive family. In the midst of those prayers I've seen my children's hearts become more and more alive with compassion, hope and excitement. Their hearts have been made ready over a course of seasons, to one day take in children for the sake of loving them, healing them through the power of that love, and enjoying them as brothers and sisters. It's been amazing to watch the transformation in their hearts as we talk about such things. They indeed have a heart for the orphan, and that was not something I put there. That was something only God could instill.
Tessa, my oldest (age 12), came home from her youth group last night and shared something so precious with me. She is of the age where she doesn't 'have' to share her heart with me but she chose to and afterwards, I was so glad that she did. She said that while worshipping last night the Lord put this little girl on her heart so strongly, and then, in her words, "I began to feel the Lord's heart over her; how He longs to be her Father, to hold her, to swing her, to love her." She said she began to weep with this revelation of the Father's love. May we all weep with this revelation and may we all come into this revelation, with fullness.
God, thank you for the deep work you do. For the things that are done in the depths of the soil; the things you accomplish through dry and rigid seasons. When they spring forth, they are the newness of life to us. They are the manifestation of the unseen hands of the cultivator of life. I praise you today for the eternal gift of knowing you, the Father, and would you increase it in our hearts and home. And would you give this little girl her heart's desire, which is to be perfected in love. That is also this girl's heart desire Lord, as perfected love drives out all fear.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
costly honesty for a costly offering
Luke 18:9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Even if I'm seemingly agreeing with the low opinions of others (Pharisee spirit), it's GOOD to be honest w/God about our sin. I can not be justified before man if I want to be justified before God. What God thinks of me is all that matters at the end of the day, for he knows my heart like no other. It is good to get real with God, unto repentance, mercy, and justification. No more cheap grace, God. I don't want that. I don't want something that makes me feel comfortable in my weakness but rather something that is powerful enough to move me from that place to victory! It's good to say, "This is my fear, God. Remove it from me!." It is good to declare war on this flesh of mine, especially if it means the crucifixion of it. He is faithful to do that very thing. He is so faithful and trustworthy. Did he not bare the cross for me? That's the most extravagant offering anybody has ever given me. I think I can trust his heart for me, as he poured it out with blood. I can trust Jesus to have mercy on me in the place of my guilty confession. I can trust Jesus to justify me with his blood in the lowly place of the cross. Give me greater grace, Lord, to call it what it is - sin - that I would be restored to you. You said you give greater grace to the humble. The foot of the cross is the lowest place I could ever go.
I need greater grace to seek you first, above all things.
I need greater grace to love you more, as you love me.
I need greater grace to fear you, and not man.
I need greater grace to forsake all others for the sake of knowing you.
I need greater grace to love, no matter the price.
I need greater grace to be who you've called me to be.
Jesus, release to me a greater revelation of the cross that I could overcome myself, that I might be empowered to know/love/serve you more.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Even if I'm seemingly agreeing with the low opinions of others (Pharisee spirit), it's GOOD to be honest w/God about our sin. I can not be justified before man if I want to be justified before God. What God thinks of me is all that matters at the end of the day, for he knows my heart like no other. It is good to get real with God, unto repentance, mercy, and justification. No more cheap grace, God. I don't want that. I don't want something that makes me feel comfortable in my weakness but rather something that is powerful enough to move me from that place to victory! It's good to say, "This is my fear, God. Remove it from me!." It is good to declare war on this flesh of mine, especially if it means the crucifixion of it. He is faithful to do that very thing. He is so faithful and trustworthy. Did he not bare the cross for me? That's the most extravagant offering anybody has ever given me. I think I can trust his heart for me, as he poured it out with blood. I can trust Jesus to have mercy on me in the place of my guilty confession. I can trust Jesus to justify me with his blood in the lowly place of the cross. Give me greater grace, Lord, to call it what it is - sin - that I would be restored to you. You said you give greater grace to the humble. The foot of the cross is the lowest place I could ever go.
I need greater grace to seek you first, above all things.
I need greater grace to love you more, as you love me.
I need greater grace to fear you, and not man.
I need greater grace to forsake all others for the sake of knowing you.
I need greater grace to love, no matter the price.
I need greater grace to be who you've called me to be.
Jesus, release to me a greater revelation of the cross that I could overcome myself, that I might be empowered to know/love/serve you more.
Monday, February 8, 2010
a girl named mercy
Yesterday morning before our church service I was standing near this beautiful young woman. I assumed she was an International student at JBU, only seeing her once before and being so dark skinned. She was so unique in her features. She had rich, brown skin and a head-full of tiny braids, coiled and piled up on top of her head. I just wanted to take her in visually, stare at her, she had so many outwardly striking qualities. I just knew there was something special about her. I asked her what her name was. She replied, "Mercy." I had a moment, right there, in front of her. I said, "Mercy? Wow. You are so beautiful, Mercy." I thought I might frighten her because I was so deeply moved at the mention of her name. Mercy is the theme of my life and to meet, for the very first time, a woman named Mercy, in the midst of all that God has been speaking over me was just so overwhelmingly personal. She went on to share that she was born in Uganda and raised in Kenya. And now here she stood, in my little sphere of life, in front of the coffee pot, so randomly yet divinely placed. Mercy is indeed beautiful and she has come a long way to cross paths with me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)