Through a glass

I've decided there is too much life to not share. And even if no one else follows along, I'll have beautiful reminders of God's grace.

I wrote this a few weeks ago... when the supermoon appeared in the sky. I just forgot to share it till now.

Tonight I went outside to look at the moon. Apparently, tonight’s orb is a ‘supermoon’ and it showed in the brilliance and splendor of it’s glow. As I gazed upon it, I thought…

I thought of the 50 workers in Japan who are laying down their lives to prevent a nuclear meltdown that would destroy so much.

I thought of wars and earthquakes and tsunamis and all the horrible things that happen on this earth.

I thought of the glory that lies beyond this earth.

I thought of how the moon is just a miniscule reflection of that glory.

And as the clouds danced past the moon, sometimes obscuring it completely, other times magnifying its light, I thought of 1 Corinthians 13:12.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am also known.”

For now, our glimpses of heaven are as through a glass. Or as if through the clouds. There are times when dark clouds obscure our view completely. At other times, we catch glimpses of greater glory as those same clouds, or trials, draw us near to God.

But then…

Oh glorious thought!

But then, we shall see face to face.

No more darkness. No more obscurity. No more uncertainty. Only face to face glory.

Now I know in part. Then, I will know completely, totally, and utterly--as I am known by Christ.

Now we see through a glass… but then…

Grace

Church today was amazing.

The topic was the Gospel of grace… and how most of us never grasp the true meaning.

How we know the facts of Christian theology or principles, but fail to live with a revived heart.

How we claim to know God, but are falling apart because we do not recognize that the Gospel is more than just knowing the plan of salvation.

How we speak of grace, but live devoid of it.

How we replace true grace with rules and steps and principles and methods.

How the dichotomy that reigns in churches and homes and individuals is nothing like what God intended.

And how God does not ask us to do or to work or to strive. Because our striving can never get us close. Because our righteousness is like filthy rags. Because on our most glorious, righteous day and on our worst, most scarred and sin-filled day, it is only the blood of Christ that covers us. Because in God’s sight, one day is no better nor worse than the next.

Rather, Christ’s blood alone allows us to approach the throne of grace. Reconciliation has already occurred. Total acceptance is ours this very moment. There is no part that He looks at and merely ‘tolerates.’ Rather, every part of our being is fully accepted by Him, through the blood of Jesus. As the visiting pastor said this morning, “God not only loves you. He likes you.”

And recognizing that it is only, only, ONLY grace can allow us to live every day and every moment with revival in our hearts and grace on our lips.

Prayer

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed is Your name. Your kingdom come, Your 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." ~Matthew 6:9-13

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." ~1 Chronicles 4:10

"I am praying, not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one… and may they be in Us so the world will believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one... May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave Me because You loved Me even before the world began… then Your love for Me will be in them and I will be in them." ~John 17:20-25

One minute...

This is an amazing and powerful message. Sometimes the best things are the most simple... this message is only one minute long.

http://www.francisanfuso.com/wp-content/uploads/14-Francis-Being-A-Doctor1.mp3

I am convicted. Do I live my life focused on intentional healing, or do I relive the pain and hurt that has been caused? God is for me... who can be against me? I need to start living that.

New year, new goals, new blog

So... I am excited about the New Year. I have a lot of exciting goals and some great themes that God has given me for this year. One of the things I'm most excited about is that I'm going to be starting another blog! This one should have much more of a purpose and be more regularly updated than this one. :) The details will be unleashed on the world soon!

(And now that I said it, I have to stick to it. That's part of the reason I am writing this post right now). ;)

Fear... and Trust

Studying Genesis 21:8-21 with Beth Moore this morning, the story came alive in a way it never had.

She and Ishmael were sent away by Abraham (at God’s command) and were wandering the desert. Finally, in desperation, she puts her son under a bush, then leaves so she doesn’t have to watch him die. As Beth Moore puts it, “In her hopeless state, whether or not to watch her son die was the solitary choice left to make.” What hopelessness and despair she must have felt!

Then an angel of the Lord appeared and asked a question. “What troubles you?” At first glance, the question seems almost cruel from ignorance. “What troubles you???” Oh, if only he knew! Don’t we feel that way sometimes? Someone asks what troubles us and we think… “You would never ask if you have any idea what I am going through right now.”

But the beauty of it is… God did know. He knew exactly where Hagar and Ishmael were and He knew what troubled them. And with all that He knew, the next words are even more profound.

“Fear not.”

“Fear not?” Hagar must have thought. Not only does this angel ask the ridiculous question “What troubles you?” now He has the audacity to say “Fear not!?” But we know what Hagar did not. We know that God was standing before her and that because He knew what was happening, His command of “fear not” was the most beautiful that could be given.

It was because He knew what troubled Hagar that He could say “fear not.” He knew that there was nothing to fear, because His plan for Hagar and Ishamael and the world was much bigger than Hagar’s fear of Ishmael’s death. God’s plan is always bigger than our fears. And when we can see even a glimpse of His plan, we get a glimpse of eternity. And we can see that, it becomes clear that there is never any reason to fear. For God, who works all things together for our good, is painting a picture of our lives that is beautiful. Nothing that happens to us is trouble when we know God is in it. And because He sees all, we can entirely trust in Him when He tells us to ‘fear not.’

Thankful for...

Thanksgiving. Airplanes that bring me close to home. Colorado. Cold. Snow. Mountains. Two hours gazing at pure beauty on the ride home. Seeing a new home for the first time. Waking up to snowy mountains framing a wind-swept lake . Wearing my snow boots—finally! Walking through the snow with my mom. Making snow angels. Getting warm by the fire. Playing card games with my family. Five-person solitaire. Go Fish with Alyssa. Indian Rummy and War. Movies. Chick flicks on Hallmark. Clifford on Netflix. “Surrender-Ella.” The Godfather with the guys. Football. iPad and iPod games. Battleship, Solitaire, Sudoku. Getting beat at Sudoku every time by an 11-year old. Warm jackets. Many blankets on a cold night. Flannel snowflake PJs. Cozy socks. Switching hands while reading to keep one hand warm under the blankets. Bathtubs. Jumping on beds. Broken beds. Trips to the hardware store. Grocery store runs. Peanut butter ice cream! Meeting people everywhere you go. Small towns. Thanksgiving dinner. Mashed potatoes beat with a fork by a brave brother. Homemade cranberry sauce and stuffing. Gluten-free pumpkin pie. Real Christmas trees. A fresh pine scent. Ornaments that bringing a little bit of Texas into Colorado (like Texas Santa!) KLOVE. Pandora. Christmas music. Brother. Sisters. Video chat for a brother far away. Crowding around the computer so everyone can be a part of drawing names for gifts. Laughter. Tickles. Random conversations. The Chinese Boston Tea Party (???) “Cheeseman.” Little sisters with attitude. “I tore a page out of your book. I thought you should know.” Dave Ramsey. Finances. Goals. Big plans. Big dreams. Micah 7:18-20. Knowing that God is compassionate. Ice laden trees and grass. Driving back down the mountain. Watching a movie on the way. Gun shopping. Clothes shopping. Starbucks. Macaroni Grill. Saying goodbye… but knowing I’ll be back. Plane rides. Good books to read while flying. Warm cookies to eat! Getting picked up by an awesome Portland roommate who is also making Texas home. Having two homes. Missing one of them, no matter where I am.

Having the chance to do it all again at Christmas.