Posted by Hope on September 16, 2011 at 11:50 AM in Driven by Purpose, For Change, Growing with Hope, Life at its Best, Reflections | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I’ve never met a satisfied believer and I hope I never do. I’ve never heard a believer say, “I’ve had enough. We’re good. I’m completely happy with the level of intimacy I enjoy with the Lord.”
Jesus said all the law and prophets hinged on His two greatest commandments. God is love and there is nothing more important to Him than love. He is all about entering into and maintaining intimate relationships; His ten commandments are evidence of this. The first four commandments concern our relationship with Him and the last six involve how He wants us to relate to each other. It’s altogether uncomplicated. He wants us to get life right.
I’m not one for making generalized statements about any given group of people but in this case I’m going to make an exception. I find far too many people, myself included, make being in relationships complicated particularly relationships with God.
He made it so easy for us. He gave us His Spirit and His Word yet so often we participate in conversations, and read book after book, in order to determine how best to relate with Him, how to take our relationship with Him to the next level. The truth is, there is no magical potion or formula, He’s been upfront on what to do and how to do it.
Jesus made that way for us; He is The Way. The Spirit of God is our Helper and there is nothing He wants more than to guide us in this most important and excellent endeavour. There is only one thing that we can do to grow in our intimacy with Him: “draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” James 4:8. All we have to do is want it.
He’s already done His part, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness,” Jer. 31:3.
This is how we draw near to Him:
· Read His Word
· Study His Word
· Speak His Word
· Meditate on His Word
· Behave in accordance with His Word
He said it, not me. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful,” Joshua 1:8.
Be unsatisfied and love it.
Posted by Hope on October 23, 2009 at 06:00 AM in Growing in Community, Life at its Best, Prayer is Always Answered | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I was speaking to a friend recently, trying to get to the root of an issue, when suddenly I remarked, “Not this again!” You would think after all the work that God has been doing in my life to remove the root of pride that, by now, there’d be nothing left! Sadly, there seems to be no short supply.
In my BC days, it seemed that I spent most of my waking moments trying to polish myself up for the world. It wasn’t because I was extraordinary in any way or form. In fact, I was quite the opposite. I was very insecure, filled with anger, and so brimming over with false pride to cover it all up that I kept a constant buffing vigil to make sure people wouldn’t see that it was only my surface that sparkled.
When I became a Christian, I was sure that my transformation would be spectacular, something for the world to see. I’ve watched God carefully chisel away at many of my facets. I believe I secretly expected that one fine day, He’d be done and I would be a precious gem, perfectly cut, and flawlessly displayed on His finger, at just the right spot, for His Light to shine through. Yes indeed! I’d be so filled with Light that I would just bedazzle the whole world with my glory – er – I mean His glory. Okay, I meant my glory. OY! Not this again!
A diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man. What people get often forget is that a diamond was diamond before it fell into the hands of a diamond cutter. Sure, who would want to wear a chunk of uncut diamond around town? That, my friends, may be the point. I think that’s the very part of the diamond that God prefers. God doesn’t need shiny and sparkly to know that there is value to a gem. We’re all gems to Him. I have spent so much time, since giving my heart to Christ, trying to be a gem that I forgot that anything I make has no intrinsic value. And, anything I make – I take credit for. I can polish myself up until I cause blindness, but I’ll never be as precious in any one else’s eyes but His – just the way I am – the Hope diamond – cut by the Master for the Master.
I see value in the natural; if it twinkles in the light, it’s got to be real. God sees precious in an entirely perfect way. If it twinkles in the Light, His Son must be in there somewhere. I believe God is taking me from the journey of worldly clarity and cut and making me a cut above in His eyes, not mine, and certainly not anyone else’s, lest I boast, which I do.
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption,” 1 Cor. 1:28-30.
Diamonds may be a girl’s treasure, but a diamond in the rough is God’s treasured.
Posted by Hope on October 20, 2009 at 06:20 PM in Life at its Best, OY! Not this Again!, Perspective | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on September 16, 2009 at 05:00 AM in Awesome and Wonderful, Faith Like This, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on August 17, 2009 at 06:56 PM in Driven by Purpose, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on August 13, 2009 at 06:34 PM in For Change, Hope and Grace, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Hope on July 19, 2009 at 02:00 PM in For Change, Growing with Hope, Hope and Grace, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Oops! I did it again! There are some things that people do in life so repetitiously that it just becomes second nature, a habit, a routine. There are meals I make for my children that I’ve made so many times I no longer need the recipe. I take the same route to work every day without fail. It has become so routine that I could not begin to tell you which exits or landmarks I pass; I no longer notice them. I’m not complaining – there’s something about my personality that rather enjoys routine – but there are some times, some places, and in some relationships where I have come to appreciate the unexpected . . . and I expect the unexpected . . . as long as it doesn’t upset my schedule.
In my zeal for God, and my desire for an ever deepening intimacy with Him, I seem to have developed a routine. I have a set time for devotionals, studying His Word, and praying. Last week however, I began to wonder if it seemed to Him as if I was just going through the motions – so, I shook things up a bit. OY! What point is there in trying to change something that needs no change?
As I re-arrange my schedule to it’s former way, I can say with confidence that if a person’s “routine” involves heart rather than going through the motions God says, “It’s all good”. I am the way I am which is not to say that the unexpected cannot, or will not, occur during, or outside my schedule. My heart is always open and my spirit always ready to receive. He knows me and that is what’s important.
And while I do enjoy routine in various aspects of my life, my relationship with God – whether in His Temple, within the community, or in my home – is the most important part of my life. In every place, in every situation or circumstance the unexpected is not limited to my schedule; He is so much bigger than that. How things look to me, or others, is not part of the equation.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Sam. 16:7.
Posted by Hope on July 01, 2009 at 08:34 PM in Driven by Purpose, For Change, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
When things get difficult – like learning a new job, or language, I can make myself physically ill. Then, the mental battle begins … give up … no, don’t give up. I question my motives for having begun whatever I’ve undertaken. I get easily frustrated.
I’ve been taking Hebrew lessons since March. I don’t know why … it’s just something I really want to do. I don’t think I breathe much during my lessons, which explains the headache after the classes. During a lesson – as long as I’m not called upon – I’m getting it. It’s being rooted. It’s all good. But … by the next day whatever I’ve learned has leaked out of my head … as if it was never there. I could give up. It would certainly free up much of my time. It’s surely the easiest road to choose, but then I won’t be able to speak, read, or write Hebrew. My longing will remain unfulfilled.
If I give up on learning Hebrew what will be next? How would giving up – losing hope – help me in the pursuit of my dreams and desires? Giving up – it’s not an option - no matter how many times I mull it over.
Abraham followed blindly and became a father of many nations. Moses wandered willingly and saw the Promised Land. Ruth remained committed and was abundantly blessed with a new faith, a husband, and a child; and David waited patiently to be crowned. When you put things into perspective hope lives on. Giving up – it’s not an option.
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7.
Posted by Hope on June 23, 2009 at 09:11 PM in Driven by Purpose, Growing with Hope, Life at its Best | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I don’t like purses much. Mine is pretty small and as neat and tidy as I keep it, I can never find anything. I can’t carry a bigger purse for two reasons: 1) I’m only 5' 2” tall, so a big handbag will only make me look shorter; 2) if I have more space, I’ll probably cram more stuff in there and it will just force me to look twice as long and hard for whatever I need. And now for my super smooth segue … don’t ask me how my mind works … I can’t even find my wallet half the time!
I’m a thinker. I’m glad people can’t see inside my brain because it would probably look like one of those heavy, oversized handbags that put dents in women’s shoulders. There are times when there is so much clutter in my head I can’t think straight. Some people think I’m a “black or white” kind of girl, but there’s black, white, and about 40 shades of gray inside my matter.
I’m not a person who can simply shut things off by shear desire. The harder I work at ridding myself of those useless and fruitless thoughts the worse things get. It’s as if my brain is a condominium and I rent out space in my head. To be honest … it often seems that I’m not always very discreet about to whom I rent said space … he’s the joy killer and the peace stealer - public enemy number one.
There is only one sure fire solution; it works every time (so you’d think I’d just do it all the time). I’m sure if I spent more time with my nose in God’s Word there would be no space to rent. My thoughts would be where they should be. I would be focussed. I would be peaceful – always – and in all circumstances. God is a god of order not disorder.
Mark my words, the enemy knows where I am most vulnerable. He simply starts with a thought. He’s that guy. He’s the tenant from hell. But I am the one who consistently fails to really do what I need to do. I have to stop opening the door, and on those occasions when it’s too late – I need to turn to God, the One who is waiting, with His outstretched mighty hand, for me to give Him step aside and let Him serve an eviction notice.
“fear not, for I am with you;be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV.
Posted by Hope on June 22, 2009 at 04:27 AM in Life at its Best, Perspective | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)



