In The Dirt
God isn’t more present now than He was yesterday, or tomorrow. He is as present right now as he was when He healed that blind man. It is our choice whether or not we want to experience the magnitude of God. When I have experienced God’s magnitude in my life, all I could feel was freedom. Freedom from the world; the doubt; the sin.
Through the years, I have realized more and more that I resonate the most with the adulterous woman more so than any other person in the bible. There have been times where the sin and crap in my life was revealed for many to see, just as the adulterous woman was. Thrown in the dirt, their looks made her feel imprisoned with shame and their words left her feeling as if she was a monster (just a guess). Just as she was about to be stoned she experienced freedom, she experienced God. We have a God who gets down on our level and meets us when we are covered in all of our dirt. That’s when we truly experience Him. As God restores us to freedom, our dirt drizzles off.
Why would we want to live in our old ways after He frees us? Because it’s fun? Because you get noticed? Because It feels good? How many times of seeing God’s beauty does it take to stay out of the dirt? His freedom waits for us today, tomorrow, and yesterday. His magnitude is all over; always present. When you’re covered in dirt, God sees you as his beautiful son or daughter. I feel like God sees this as a challenge to not only set us free, but to grow us.
Experience God
As I sit there facing forward, reciting what is written on the page, I notice a man sitting near me. He is saying the same exact words that I am at the same exact time. This man had no expression on his face. Was he sad? No, I don’t think so. Was he happy? Definitely not. I look around and expression isn’t the first word that comes to mind. Not even when I examine myself…
***
“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.” (I’d say that that’s something to be pretty stinkin’ expressive about)
***
…This man then stayed put as almost everyone made their way up to the alter. “Mom, why isn’t that man coming up too?” I said. “Because he must not be a member of our church.” she said. “But what if he wants to come up?” I said. “He can’t, because he wasn’t confirmed this this type of church.”…
***
“Whoever eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:54
Everyone’s free gift.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
Christ is not divided. Christ is whole.
The church is not whole. The church is divided.
***
…The hymns resounded but people’s hearts sat still. The words, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (this is the God who sent his one and only son to die for our sins) fell out of the congregation’s mouths. Still no expression…
***
“Shout to the Lord, all the earth; Break out in praise and sing for joy!” Psalm 98:4
“David danced before the Lord with all of his might.” 2 Samuel 6:14
Tradition<Freedom
Scripture>Doctrine
***
When we stand in front of our Savior someday, joy, praise, and expression will be seeping out of every pore of our bodies. I’m not going to bottle up all of this joy towards my King in this beautiful gift of life that He has given me. As a child tells all of her friends about how awesome her dad is (with a huge smile on her face) I strive to do the same.
Brie Stoner
"Come Down"
“In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence.” Hosea 6:2
(Source: gailwester)
Can’t Seem to Get My Mind Off of It
God is constantly in pursuit of our hearts. Christ pursues us with the truth so that we may live eternally with Him.
Satan is constantly in pursuit of stealing our lives eternally with lies. As long as we are on the earth, this will never stop.
The thing is though, there is safety in the presence of Jesus. He has already won when He dies on the cross FOR US. The Lord is in the process of restoring us and we are appointed to bear His fruit.
Can’t beat that, Satan.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17
This brought so much joy to my day. I don’t have anything else to say. Yep :).
John 15:4
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
It’s amazing how we forget how powerful God is. We ignore and doubt that the Lord is capable of ever fixing us. Christ remains in us so that he are free of remaining in any sort of pain of suffering. It’s been evident in my life recently that God’s love brings happiness. True happiness and clarity to consume your heart.
Try it.
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12
(via thingssheloves)
A Letter From God To Women
When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being.
When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.
But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.
From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs, supporting him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone, I shaped you… I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully.
Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.
Support man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet,to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side.
You are my perfect angel. You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues to your heart.Your eyes—don’t change them. Your lips – how lovely when they part in prayer.Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands so gentle to touch.
I’ve caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I’ve held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like me.
Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could only feel me. So, everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me. I fashioned you; my holiness; my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support.
You are special because you are an extension of me.
Man represents my image, woman my emotions.
Together, you represent the totality of God
-My small group leaders showed us this and it was so uplifting and left us all smiling so I hope it does the same for you. It can also be encouraging to you men :).
NIGHTNIGHT by DEDDY
