One could guess by the title I had some difficulty choosing one. If you have seen the movie or read the book, "The Help" you surely recognize the reference but more on that later. These days my memory is a little fuzzy but I seem to recall a time not too long ago when Al Gore and George W. Bush were running for President of the United States. Al Gore believed he had won the election but the victory went to George W. Bush. My intention is not to discuss politics neither is it to debate the details of that particular election, I simply want to point out that expected victories can get taken away if we let them.
As believers we know that Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, was victorious over death. 1 Cor 15:22 states: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. And still, we walk around spiritually dead and defeated. Well I demand a recount and want to know who poohed in my pie!
Why is it that we accept and believe so many biblical truths and still struggle with sin and defeat? Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we constantly reclaim them and oftentimes wallow in them. What is it about us that makes it so easy to live a life of misery and despair, because that is what living in sin is, and not cling to what we know to be true?
Why is it that something freely given, the gift of salvation, is so hard to receive? Are we so proud?
It's like having a birthday and expecting all the attention and gifts that go along with the celebration and then hating yourself for wanting the attention and gifts. Let's take it one step further and pretend you have a particular gift in mind that you are hoping to receive. You drop hints about it. You have priced it and know how costly it is but it's your birthday and you are expectantly not expecting it. The big day comes and, lucky you, someone purchases it for you and gives it to you for your special day. Instead of accepting it graciously you tell the person "oh, you shouldn't have this is much too costly and I cannot accept this". It does not change the fact that the gift was still purchased!
By dying on the cross Jesus purchased our salvation, our freedom; our victory. And here we are saying "oh, you shouldn't have, that's way too costly" and choose instead to live defeated lives. The purchase was final. There is no exchange or return. One must either accept the gift or decline it. The gift remains, for a limited time only, until you are ready to receive it.
I wonder who it was that coined the phrase "guilty pleasure". If you enjoy chocolate pie then by all means enjoy it. Do not start counting the calories and figuring out how you are going to work them off. By the time you figure everything out there is no enjoyment to be had and there may as well be pooh in the pie!
We should not feel guilty about the pleasure of knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is a gift we should accept graciously with humility and thanksgiving. We should live victoriously and celebrate the priceless gift we have been given! How dare we let the circumstances and challenges of world be the pooh in our pie. Now, ain't life sweet?
Suggested reading 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, Ephesians 2:8
Monday, July 16, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Crease and Increase
How odd that today I woke up given the phrase "You're the crease and I am the increase". What does that mean? I somewhat understand increase. Bring it on, right, but crease? Crease is that razor sharp line I used to spend hours trying to put in all my pants without creating a double crease. Emphasis on used to. These days I just throw on a pair of pants hoping the wrinkles will fall out on their own. Most times it doesn't work. But I digress.
I decided to access a handy-dandy online dictionary. Merriam-Webster.com is my go to website and it did not disappoint this time either. The first definition listed for crease was exactly what I was looking for: a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance. Perhaps I didn't know the definition of crease after all but lately I have been feeling like a pliable substance. I am the pliable substance being folded to God's will. Not just me but my faith too. Hebrews 11:1 states Faith is the substance [pliable!] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Since I have started this journey there has been an unseen force shaping and molding me and my faith. It is straightening out the wrinkles resistant to falling out on their own. I and my faith are becoming razor sharp through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit and God's word.
By no means is it an easy process, just a necessary one. Quite frankly, I do not know what it means to complete this "process' or if there is an end to it. Perhaps it's completion is the fulfillment of the purpose God has for me. Then I'll be called home having finished a well done job. What I know is that as I am being "creased" there are age appropriate assignments I am being given. By age appropriate I mean based on my spiritual maturity. When it's said that God meets you where you are He does just that and uses you accordingly as long as you're a willing vessel. He is using me while patiently (longsuffering) ironing out the wrinkles.
It often feels like a steam press but it's all for his glory. I can't wait to get to the finish line and hear my Father say "look what I've done with you and through you" after the crease has been set. I want to thank Him even though, being His spiritual child, it feels like the whippings I used to get from my natural parents! I pout but understand that it is all part of learning and the spiritual maturation process. Besides, righteously dispensed discipline does wonders to increase knowledge, understanding , and wisdom.
There are days when I feel like I am literally getting the ego beat out of me. Yet another necessity if I am to walk the walk of faith. God is the increase therefore I must decrease. So, if you are reading between the lines, yes, I have a propensity for being strong willed. Being strong willed, self-willed, rather is contrary to performing God's will. Did I mention God being longsuffering?
What does any of this have to do with increase? Good question. I looked that up too! As a transitive verb Merriam-Webster defines it as such to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity). As a transitive verb the definition is to make greater:augment. If I could describe to you what it feels like when God reveals more of himself, or yourself, showing the intentions he has towards you and for you... I am going to check with Merriam-Webster to see if they exist because right now I am at a loss.
He is patiently working the pliable substance that is me and my faith forming a straight line, my path. As He works his work in me my faith and I are progressively becoming greater. He is constantly augmenting me; shaping me into His image. You're the crease. He is the increase!
Suggested reading Hebrews 11:1, Malachi 3:3, Job 8:7, 12:23, Psalms 71:21, 105:24, Proverbs 1:5, 9:9, 9:11
I decided to access a handy-dandy online dictionary. Merriam-Webster.com is my go to website and it did not disappoint this time either. The first definition listed for crease was exactly what I was looking for: a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance. Perhaps I didn't know the definition of crease after all but lately I have been feeling like a pliable substance. I am the pliable substance being folded to God's will. Not just me but my faith too. Hebrews 11:1 states Faith is the substance [pliable!] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Since I have started this journey there has been an unseen force shaping and molding me and my faith. It is straightening out the wrinkles resistant to falling out on their own. I and my faith are becoming razor sharp through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit and God's word.
By no means is it an easy process, just a necessary one. Quite frankly, I do not know what it means to complete this "process' or if there is an end to it. Perhaps it's completion is the fulfillment of the purpose God has for me. Then I'll be called home having finished a well done job. What I know is that as I am being "creased" there are age appropriate assignments I am being given. By age appropriate I mean based on my spiritual maturity. When it's said that God meets you where you are He does just that and uses you accordingly as long as you're a willing vessel. He is using me while patiently (longsuffering) ironing out the wrinkles.
It often feels like a steam press but it's all for his glory. I can't wait to get to the finish line and hear my Father say "look what I've done with you and through you" after the crease has been set. I want to thank Him even though, being His spiritual child, it feels like the whippings I used to get from my natural parents! I pout but understand that it is all part of learning and the spiritual maturation process. Besides, righteously dispensed discipline does wonders to increase knowledge, understanding , and wisdom.
There are days when I feel like I am literally getting the ego beat out of me. Yet another necessity if I am to walk the walk of faith. God is the increase therefore I must decrease. So, if you are reading between the lines, yes, I have a propensity for being strong willed. Being strong willed, self-willed, rather is contrary to performing God's will. Did I mention God being longsuffering?
What does any of this have to do with increase? Good question. I looked that up too! As a transitive verb Merriam-Webster defines it as such to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity). As a transitive verb the definition is to make greater:augment. If I could describe to you what it feels like when God reveals more of himself, or yourself, showing the intentions he has towards you and for you... I am going to check with Merriam-Webster to see if they exist because right now I am at a loss.
He is patiently working the pliable substance that is me and my faith forming a straight line, my path. As He works his work in me my faith and I are progressively becoming greater. He is constantly augmenting me; shaping me into His image. You're the crease. He is the increase!
Suggested reading Hebrews 11:1, Malachi 3:3, Job 8:7, 12:23, Psalms 71:21, 105:24, Proverbs 1:5, 9:9, 9:11
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