Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Depending on your work situation and family life, there can be many things that require your attention and focus. These responsibilities have the potential to drain you of energy and joy. A job isn't evil and neither is family (obviously). It simply reveals the need to have an avenue where God can flow in and out of you at any given moment. It's not that He leaves us, but our awareness of Him can wax and wane.
Recently, I found myself in this kind of busy life situation. The commitments I agreed to simply began to overwhelm me. I felt more anger and frustration than I had in awhile. My hope was dwindling. I felt like a victim, like I had no control of what was going on. During this time, it became evident to me that maintaining a superficial conversation with God wasn't going to cut it. I missed Him. I needed Him to be my reality.
So, I made it a point to make the necessary sacrifices so that despair wouldn't overtake me. I didn't have hours to spare, but the time I did have, I offered it to God. I went away to be with Him. Initially this started with alone time in my bedroom, but when the Lord comes to me, it seems like I'm everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. He reminded me of previous moments we've shared, things He's said to me, and promises He has made to me. He even led me to specific journal entries from years ago. I love when He shows me I'm not crazy. :)
When we haven't spent a lot of time with God, we can often feel guilt or condemnation. Some may even think they deserve the negative circumstances they are in because of their lack of fellowship time with God. But allowing this to happen disregards Jesus' sacrifice for us. He's death, blood, and resurrection made way for us to have full access to the Father and to Himself. To think we have to earn our way back to His heart, His ear, or His face is inaccurate and insulting to His blood. He died for sins past, present, and future. Does this mean we should sin purposely because we always have a way back? The Apostle Paul and I say, "Duh... no," (paraphrased in Romans 6). If you care about someone, you do not purposely hurt him or her. It's the same with the Lord. Jesus is a person. He is God. Our choices about what we do with our time and attention affect Him. Have you ever been in love? If you have, then you understand what it's like to want to spend the majority of your time with that special someone, wrapped in his or her arms, being affectionate and just spending time together. Well, need I say any more about the similar desires of God towards us? The God who rescued and rescues us from death, sin, and the effects thereof?
None of this is meant to make anyone feel bad about choices they may have made in the past. You might still be busy with school, work, a spouse, and/or children. You may have only minutes a day to offer to God. But know in your offering, it's not being offered because you will fall or fail if you don't do it. It's because He loves you and wants to remind you that He never left, that you have a future and a greater hope. I'm convinced there are ways to access Him continually throughout our day. I hope to discover them soon.
So, as a reminder... no matter what your life looks like right now, nothing can separate you from the hot, passionate, love of God. Sometimes we just need to know He's there, living life with us, and ready to offer us better ways to live and to think. Know you've been forgiven and He wants to spend time with you. When you notice hope or joy dwindling, invite Him into your day. Ask Him to speak to you. Remind Him you haven't forgotten Him. Be affectionate, either out loud or quietly. It's always been about relationship. He still loves us... and He always will.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Hope found in the safe places...
I love finding people who are a safe places. I also love when God shows me which people are safe places. To me, a safe place is someone I can truly be myself with, exposing the good and the bad, and not fearing judgment, condemnation, or rejection.
It could be argued that people who don't know God have more genuine relationships than those tossed by religion in the church pews. I think love and acceptance can be conditional in certain church settings and relationships because of the mindset that, "Sin is dirty and I'm trying to be clean over here." If you've given your life to Jesus and started a relationship with Him, (in theory) you should be becoming that safe place for the lost. People who haven't been reconciled to God and are living in the ways of the world do some pretty interesting things. If you shudder at the thought of some of their perversion, how will you love them into freedom? They may never divulge the entirety of their life journeys, but what if sharing it and exposing their abuse brought them into a freedom and way of escape? I do not WANT to hear about sexual abuse, rape or torture, but I do WANT people to feel safe and be free with me. I desire their freedom more than my comfort. God isn't afraid of people's sin. He can never be surprised at what anyone does or says because He knows everything. But most importantly, He loves so passionately that as dirty as you may try to appear or sound to push people away... He doesn't see that on you. He's most concerned about directly taking on the role of Father and restoring your identity. Imagine if He wanted to use you in someone else's healing and freedom processes. It is a scary or exciting thought for you?
So... the reason for this blog today is that I've noticed a vast difference in certain friendships I currently maintain. While I understand that it is unwise to share everything with everyone, I do hold the people I deem "friends" to high standards. Most of my friendships are with saved Christians. I can't speak for every Christian and I won't attempt to take on such a responsibility. But personally, my thoughts and actions aren't always pretty. I need help from God and others A LOT. My freedom comes when I can be weak and honestly tell you what I'm dealing with. Sin, sin mindsets, etc., like to hide in darkness. Simply exposing to someone what you're dealing with provides a degree of freedom because now you're not alone in what you're facing. Depending on their maturity level and how well they love, they can pray with you, provide a different perspective, or best yet, provide a Kingdom perspective. Your mind can be renewed at a time of weakness when you're in a safe place.
God is bigger than any box in which we'd try to place Him. He doesn't always need to use people, but in His compassionate mercy, He chooses to sometimes. He can and is that Safe Place. But He also provides safety in Himself through others... or at least it's something He desires to do.
I want to be a better friend. I think we can all improve in this area. I would suggest that we all ask the Lord if there's anything He desires us to change in the way we relate to or love our friends. Perhaps you're not ready to be a safe place for someone. It's still better to know that now, then when that friend is in a time of need. Be honest in your relationships.
To those that have been unable to accept me in my ugly forms, I forgive you. To those that have been safe places to me at my times of weakness and low points in life, I thank you. Kris Vallotton teaches in his podcast teaching entitled, "Living in the Secret Place," that it's the people that believe in you more than you believe in yourself that call you up into your destiny. Thanks guys for calling me up. You know who you are. <3
Graphic from Pinterest.com
It could be argued that people who don't know God have more genuine relationships than those tossed by religion in the church pews. I think love and acceptance can be conditional in certain church settings and relationships because of the mindset that, "Sin is dirty and I'm trying to be clean over here." If you've given your life to Jesus and started a relationship with Him, (in theory) you should be becoming that safe place for the lost. People who haven't been reconciled to God and are living in the ways of the world do some pretty interesting things. If you shudder at the thought of some of their perversion, how will you love them into freedom? They may never divulge the entirety of their life journeys, but what if sharing it and exposing their abuse brought them into a freedom and way of escape? I do not WANT to hear about sexual abuse, rape or torture, but I do WANT people to feel safe and be free with me. I desire their freedom more than my comfort. God isn't afraid of people's sin. He can never be surprised at what anyone does or says because He knows everything. But most importantly, He loves so passionately that as dirty as you may try to appear or sound to push people away... He doesn't see that on you. He's most concerned about directly taking on the role of Father and restoring your identity. Imagine if He wanted to use you in someone else's healing and freedom processes. It is a scary or exciting thought for you?
So... the reason for this blog today is that I've noticed a vast difference in certain friendships I currently maintain. While I understand that it is unwise to share everything with everyone, I do hold the people I deem "friends" to high standards. Most of my friendships are with saved Christians. I can't speak for every Christian and I won't attempt to take on such a responsibility. But personally, my thoughts and actions aren't always pretty. I need help from God and others A LOT. My freedom comes when I can be weak and honestly tell you what I'm dealing with. Sin, sin mindsets, etc., like to hide in darkness. Simply exposing to someone what you're dealing with provides a degree of freedom because now you're not alone in what you're facing. Depending on their maturity level and how well they love, they can pray with you, provide a different perspective, or best yet, provide a Kingdom perspective. Your mind can be renewed at a time of weakness when you're in a safe place.
God is bigger than any box in which we'd try to place Him. He doesn't always need to use people, but in His compassionate mercy, He chooses to sometimes. He can and is that Safe Place. But He also provides safety in Himself through others... or at least it's something He desires to do.
I want to be a better friend. I think we can all improve in this area. I would suggest that we all ask the Lord if there's anything He desires us to change in the way we relate to or love our friends. Perhaps you're not ready to be a safe place for someone. It's still better to know that now, then when that friend is in a time of need. Be honest in your relationships.
To those that have been unable to accept me in my ugly forms, I forgive you. To those that have been safe places to me at my times of weakness and low points in life, I thank you. Kris Vallotton teaches in his podcast teaching entitled, "Living in the Secret Place," that it's the people that believe in you more than you believe in yourself that call you up into your destiny. Thanks guys for calling me up. You know who you are. <3
Graphic from Pinterest.com
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