I was out two weeks ago. Em had strep and I couldn't access the podcast in time to blog about it- sorry about that! Last week's message was amazing and I was so happy I was present for it. Pastor Janis opened with this bomb: "Other people need to shoulder their own burdens. We are called to bear one another's burdens BUT we were never asked to do for others what they are unwilling to do for themselves." How many times do we feel overwhelmed and inadequate because we've chosen to carry things that are not meant for us? God gives us new mercy every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) to do the good works he prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), but there is less grace to do the things, handle the things not intended for us.
Matthew 23:2-4 in The Living Bible says, "'You would think these Jewish leaders and these Pharisees were Moses, the way they keep making up so many laws! And of course you should obey their every whim! It may be alright to do what they say, but above anything else, don't follow their example. For they don't do what they tell you to do. They load you with impossible demands that they themselves don't even try to keep.'" Sometimes we play both parts, the pharisees and the overloaded people, in our own stories. We place all kinds of unrealistic expectations on ourselves (well, maybe I'm the only one who does that), we assume responsibility for all kinds of people and things that God did not give to us, and then we expect to handle it all with grace and ease. No wonder we're exasperated, crying out to God for help and asking him where he is in the middle of all this. What will we do when we learn we've missed the best God has for us? Will we humble ourselves and throw off the burden of over-service? It is so important to learn the difference between work and worship. In my own life, this is the lesson- over and over again for at least six months. Be over do, worship over work, rest over performance- every time.
Remember how in Luke 10:41-42 (TLB) Jesus says to Martha (and calls her name a couple times), "'Martha, Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it- and I won't take it away from her!'"? That one thing is worshipping God- sitting at Jesus' feet, learning him, resting in him. The better part? A heart centered on him alone. Easier said than done, right? Selwyn Hughes said, "Life works better when we know how to glance at things but gaze at God." I need daily solitude in order to focus on Jesus. Otherwise I run hot & cold in my relationship with God. But that's not what he wants. It takes time and a desire of my will to actively make room for the better part. I'm making Psalm 27:4-5 (TLB) my prayer: "The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I'll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies." Did you catch that last part? He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock. Amen! I want to spend every moment in his presence, delighting in him, so that the spirit realm (the true reality) becomes more clear to me than my temporal surroundings. When I gaze at Jesus I feel safe and secure and I know he's taking care of me. Just like when Peter stepped out and walked on the water (Matthew 14:22-33)- he felt safe and God preformed a miracle when his eyes were fixed on Jesus, trusting in him, but as soon as he saw the wind he was afraid (no longer trusting) and he began to sink. We must learn to abandon our emotions as a compass and start exercising our will. Don't wait until we feel like it to spend time with God. The better part is always readily, constantly available to us. We can choose to ignore it, but no one can ever take it away from us.
In Ephesians 3:17-19 (TLB), Paul prays for the church; "And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself." We were made for fullness! First things first! Take care of ourselves and nurture our relationship with God- be filled with God himself! We were created for the fullness of God, but are we ready for that? It requires stretching. It requires time in the dark room of life. Christine Caine uses the metaphor of developing film to describe our journey with God on earth. She says he gives us a glimpse of our destiny, a taste, so we can know who we really are, who he already chose for us to be. Then he takes us into the dark room where we undergo a series of processes over time in which he forges his image on us. The gift that is on us will destroy us if His light has not yet developed within us to sustain it. All of life is the process of undoing. And the promised land is in the process- not at the end. Would we prefer a God we can manage? That one burns... Know that we are as intimate with God as we want to be.
Thankfully, we're not left to our own devices to figure out how to be closer to and develop better relationship with our good, but also invisible Father. Pastor Janis gave three keys to guide us:
1. Consistency- consistency does not mean perfection
2. Creativity- there's more than one way be close to God
3. Conversation- talk to God, allow time and space to hear back from him
When we practice these things we will know where to go to be filled, where to go to be centered. Sit at the feet of our Father. He stabilizes us. He is our steady balance.
Be encouraged- we can make it! If we're feeling crushed, stretched in the dark room (NOT due to unnecessary weights we've added to our lives), we're doing something right. God will guide us through and we'll be closer to him as we trust him and worship him through the hard times. He's making us more like him. That part hurts. "But if we are to share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later," (Romans 8:17-18).
My friend Demene is back this week with more nuggets including the amazing quote featured in this post- she's inspirational!
Technology has allowed us so many ways to connect with God. As we work to unpack the sand and rocks and pebbles from our lives and put God 1st, I am amazed at the many opportunities we have to share our day with him.
I recently shared with a young lady that I subscribe to faith building sites on Facebook. I told her it is wonderful when I open my page and I am fed with positive tidbits of God's grace and love. With a touch of a button I am able to lift my husband in prayer, lift up my family and even get connected to like-minded saints. I can explore this same creativity through music and game apps. A few things that have helped me to be consistent include the fellowship of Sisterhood, my journal time and my worship as I drive from home to Ocala. These are some of the best moments in my week. In Sisterhood I am welcomed into a room where ladies lift me up and the walls of stress come down. In my journal I write "Dear Lord," and when I do I find I can't complain and he often meets me where I lay pen. Don't get me started on that worship time in the car! Ladies, it's a full-fledged concert starring me performing for an audience of one. Yeah, I am committed to this exercise. It's the best thing going and it's not a phase, it's a lifestyle.
Love you guys so much and I'm excited to celebrate this life and our Father again with you tomorrow!
Love,
Leah
Be encouraged- we can make it! If we're feeling crushed, stretched in the dark room (NOT due to unnecessary weights we've added to our lives), we're doing something right. God will guide us through and we'll be closer to him as we trust him and worship him through the hard times. He's making us more like him. That part hurts. "But if we are to share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later," (Romans 8:17-18).
My friend Demene is back this week with more nuggets including the amazing quote featured in this post- she's inspirational!
Technology has allowed us so many ways to connect with God. As we work to unpack the sand and rocks and pebbles from our lives and put God 1st, I am amazed at the many opportunities we have to share our day with him.
I recently shared with a young lady that I subscribe to faith building sites on Facebook. I told her it is wonderful when I open my page and I am fed with positive tidbits of God's grace and love. With a touch of a button I am able to lift my husband in prayer, lift up my family and even get connected to like-minded saints. I can explore this same creativity through music and game apps. A few things that have helped me to be consistent include the fellowship of Sisterhood, my journal time and my worship as I drive from home to Ocala. These are some of the best moments in my week. In Sisterhood I am welcomed into a room where ladies lift me up and the walls of stress come down. In my journal I write "Dear Lord," and when I do I find I can't complain and he often meets me where I lay pen. Don't get me started on that worship time in the car! Ladies, it's a full-fledged concert starring me performing for an audience of one. Yeah, I am committed to this exercise. It's the best thing going and it's not a phase, it's a lifestyle.
Love you guys so much and I'm excited to celebrate this life and our Father again with you tomorrow!
Love,
Leah
Great article Leah. I love the extra scripture. It really is a journey based in love. I believe once we get it his promises unfold.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Demene! And thanks for contributing! I love having you with me on the journey.
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