Shalom in Today's World

One morning as I read my Bible, I asked God a question.  The answer overwhelmed me.

It didn't come all at once.  The answer started as a word, one word, and then grew into something larger than I imagined.  It became a picture.  As all the pieces slowly fit together, I sat down here to process and share what He put in my heart.

Here's the story.

      

Once upon a time, the world was this huge, beautiful masterpiece.  Back in Eden, things were perfect (Genesis 1-2).  The little bits of glory that we find today were all unified into this grand, epic world where Jesus was everything and people literally lived in His presence (Genesis 3:8).

Fruit was juicer.  Color more vibrant.  Air more sweet.  Love more true.  Because we had Jesus.

Imagine the world as bursting with color, like the paint on a canvas that just piles up until you can't separate one color from another.  They sweep together, never ending.  They're just so huge.

But then that broke (Genesis 3).  That peace shattered into a million pieces.  Life was like a puzzle - all those shapes and colors working together as one big picture - but now it was broken into so many separate pieces.

It was as if the world became black and white.  Not everything changed, but they weren't the same.  We were left with something missing.  It's still that way today.

We hurt.  We cry.  Sometimes, life's just hard.

But, every once in a while, we see a streak of color.  A flash of red or blur of green.  It's like the stray puzzle piece that's broken in two, and we only see a portion of it.

We had peace - shalom - but we lost it.  Yet not entirely.  Because sometimes, I catch a glimpse of it.

I walk in the woods and hear the rustling of trees, clapping their hands in praise to the Lord.  And there, in that single moment, I see a flash of the color in our black and white world.

Or I receive a letter in the mail, just a note from a friend who says, "I love you."  The swirls of flowers and butterflies on the envelope make something inside me grow warm.  And I see a flash of color.

Or my family gathers with another family, all of us who just love Jesus with this radical love.  And, seated around, we sing praise songs at the top of our lungs.  We share and cry and sing, and sometimes I want to dance.  Because there's that piece of color inside us that just needs to be shared.

That peace in Eden was shattered into a million pieces.  And yet they're not lost.

Every believer has one.  We hold a fragment of that peace - that bit of color - and can give it to a lost world (2 Corinthians 5:20).  We hold the power to offer Jesus' peace because He put it in our hearts.

So I'm here.  I only have a quarter of a puzzle piece, but it's beautiful anyway.  The edges are chipped.  Sometime I forget about it and live without that peace - shalom.  But it's still inside me waiting for me to live fully in Christ.

When I choose to live in that God-given shalom, it's glorious.  I feel the peace deep inside, even when all else fails.  I love others and share that hint of color because I want them to find their own shalom in Jesus.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

- Matthew 5:9

I cultivate it in my own life.  I share it with the lost, those who live in a black and white world.  And when I gather with other believers, we bring together our broken puzzle pieces, join them together, and have a handful of whole, complete ones.

I can't wait for when Jesus returns to find every church holding up their connected pieces and declaring, "Here's the shalom you entrusted to us.  We lived in it, shared it, and are now giving it back to you!"

I wonder what it will be like when He joins the broken fragments together, back into that whole puzzle that we lost in Eden.  What glory will Heaven have if it contains the little beauties of today and a hundred times more?

Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

- 2 Corinthians 13:11

 

That's the story.

Maybe it doesn't make sense.  Maybe it's redundant and twisted and not perfectly accurate.

Oh, but how I long for that shalom.  How I can't wait for Heaven's beauty when the black and white of today will be replaced with full color!  When we return to the glory we lost in Eden, and when all of our pieces will be joined together in unity.  When we see Jesus face to face and hear Him reward our faithfulness.

So I want to live today, grasping onto that shalom, that fleeting color, and never letting go.  I want to share it with a hurting world so that they can find the hint of color and come before Jesus rejoicing.

Peace.  Shalom.  Color.

That day, I asked God a question: what is peace?  And He swept me away with images and memories and colors.  He brought me from the past of Eden to the future of Heaven and the brokenness in between.

And yet it wasn't entirely broken because Jesus was still there.  He came to earth to bring us shalom.  I rejoice because I find fragments of His beauty around me every time I open my eyes to it.

When I looked up the Greek word for peace, it defined the desire that propels me to find Jesus' beauty in my everyday life.  Now it's one of my favorite words.

εἰρήνη (eiréné):  peace; when all essential parts are joined together; the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoerer sort that is

- Biblehub

Or as another author described shalom,

Wholeness and completeness in God.  The way things were intended to be.

- A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes

That's what I'm searching for: completeness in God.  Finding His glory in the midst of this life and living my days to give the glory back to Him.

Christmas represents shalom coming to earth, and I want to embrace that, treasure Jesus, and rejoice in the gifts He gives (James 1:17).

Merry (although late) Christmas, dear friends!  No matter what, you are so loved, right now.  And that's truth, because God loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

And despite all the pain, there's beauty in this broken world.  Let's live, seeking His shalom.  ♥

 

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

- Colossians 3:15

~♥~

Christianity in Real Life || Surrender

If anyone could say they were always a Christian, that would be me.

I chose to follow Christ before I could even read the Bible.  Just exiting my toddler years, I knew there was a God who could save me from my sins.  I was scared of Hell and wanted His salvation.

Years passed, and I did all the right things.  I went to church once (or twice) a week.  I worshiped.  I prayed.  I read my Bible every day.

But sometimes, after those precious moments with Jesus, I would open my bedroom door and get a blast of real life in my face.  It was like my quiet times with Jesus were this secret haven where I was safe.  Out in the boisterous world, those Christ-like qualities vanished.

I wondered if I could have Christianity in my real life.  If those moments of peace could transcend into the craziness of schedules and noise and interruptions and distractions.  But now I'm wondering something else.

What if those serene times with Jesus are real life?

   

It's like we're in this wooden box.  Outside of the box is this glorious world - Heaven - but we only see these walls that are separating us from it.  They're rough.  Hard.  When I touch them, splinters pierce my fingertips.

But when I become still and focus on Jesus, He shows me a small break in the wood.  I peer out.  And there, my eyes are blinded by color, light, beauty.  I see a flash of color, a flash of Heaven and His glory.

It's the real world, and we can experience it.  But sometimes, we instead choose to focus on the here and now.  Instead of looking for the fragments of shalom in our world, we see the stain of brokenness and sin.

Is there a way to bring that beauty into our daily life, or does peace stop when we close our Bibles and leave our quiet place?

That's the question the Lord has been gently revealing to me.  I had all sorts of awesome verses to back up my heart, but somewhere, the references got lost.  Maybe I'll find them later.  But right now, I need to express part of myself that's a desire I desperately long for.

The key is surrender.

Every single morning, I wake up with the same thoughts in my head.  They're selfish.  Ugly.  And from the second my eyes open up, the enemy is pulling me into his territory and trying to claim my day for himself.

When I live for myself, I let the enemy have control.  I do what makes me happy.  I accomplish goals and reach deadlines, but ultimately I'm left so empty and tired.  The things that should make me most joyful are a hollow shell.  I'm looking at the wooden walls and trying to draw a picture of what's outside instead of letting Jesus show me the real thing, the glory of Himself.

But oh - one of the most beautiful and painful words is surrender.  It's painful because I don't like to let go.  But when I do, that day is one I treasure and rejoice in.

When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches.

- Psalm 63:6

To surrender means to say, "Yes, Jesus, You can do whatever You want with my day."  It means that everything I do - from my quiet time with Him, writing emails to far away friends, cooking up some muffins, laying in bed awake, or watching lectures for school - everything is done for Jesus.

Every aspect of my day is done prayerfully.  I rejoice in them.  I thank Him, ask Him for help, tell Him my problems.  I ask Him what would please Him most.

That's Christianity in real life - letting go of everything to just hold onto Him.

O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek you;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

- Psalm 63:1 

It's not always this glorious beauty though.  Last week, it meant me watching so many school videos that droned on and on.  But I strove to rejoice in them.  I shared the moments with Him.  I praised Him when He helped me answer questions.  When I failed, I asked for His help.

It's this best-friend relationship, and I love it.  He shows me the beauty of everyday life when I surrender to His guidance.

     

I want to find Heaven on this earth.  In the extraordinary and in the mundane, Jesus is good.  And all my schedules, plans, dreams, they're all nothing unless they are done with the right heart.

Maybe that's what He looks for - a heart surrendered to Him.  It's not about what we do.  We can accomplish "good" things and still fall short.  But where is our heart?

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

- Psalm 63:2

Dear friend, don't ever let yourself fall short of something so much bigger He wants to give you.  Surrender is the most beautiful decision you can make.  Give every day to Him, every decision to Him, and seek to find Real Life.

Maybe you said that prayer as a child like I did.  But don't stop there.  God has a much bigger plan for you, for us, and we can't let life surround us like a wooden box when there's this huge, beautiful Heaven just outside of it.  Seek Jesus to find that joy.

Because Your lovingkindness if better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

- Psalm 63:3

Christianity doesn't stop when we close the Bible.  It should begin with the Lord and continue to impact our every day.  That's what relationships are.

Don't do the right things; seek His heart and love.

You're never alone.

 

Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

- Psalm 63:4-5

~♥~

Life Updates and Goals || What Radical Means

What does radical Christianity mean?

Is there even an answer?  Does one reach "radical" and then settle down, or is it an everlasting journey, that endless horizon?  This race we run, never give up?

I don't know what radical Christianity looks like, but I long for that.  Because I'm so in love with this God who gave His life for mine.  I want to give mine totally back  (Matthew 10:38-39).  Is that what radical means?

A few weeks ago, I was dissatisfied with where my life was.  I call myself a Christian.  On the outside, I might appear more on fire than others, but inwardly, am I any different?  I so want to be real.  I so want to abide in Christ truly.

Thus, I made that decision.  I'm still making it.  Sometimes I fail and have to ask for forgiveness and try again, but He is still faithful.  And He still loves.

But being radical brings changes.  The following are some of the ones I feel Him calling me to embark on.  Wherever you are, I'm not asking you to make the same decisions - simply follow His calling for your journey.  He has a story for your life, dear friend, and it's so, so glorious.


Blog Updates


I started blogging three years ago, and much has changed since then.  For those years, I posted every week or even more.  But now I'm going to erase that schedule.

Sometimes, schedules feel like they force me to write, and I end up scribbling down words that don't come from my heart.  But I want every post to be directly from Him, not myself.  There's a huge difference, and I know when I write for Him or for myself.  This blog is dedicated to God.  Thus, I've decided to give myself room to not post sometimes.  When I do post, you can know that it's something deep in my heart from the Lord - at least, that's my aim.

That means, I may not post every week.  Hopefully when I do post, they will be more encouraging and focused for you, dear readers.

Also, for those who follow my blog from Google+, that option will be deleted.  All subscribers must do it through email.  In the next week, I'll be deleting "the Readers" tab on the sidebar.  This is because I easily define myself by numbers, and I'm not going to do that anymore.  I feel God leading me to write for Him, not for the number of followers I have.

This is just where God is taking me, and I have so, so much peace in it!  I'm rejoicing in the journey, and I rejoice in where He takes you!


Goodreads Update


I was a member of Goodreads for several years, and recently I deleted my account.  Wow, that decision hurt, but it was so worth it.

I asked God what really mattered in light of eternity, and He revealed that my presence on Goodreads was stealing my attention and time.  It was such a blessing and joy to be part of that site for a time, but it was time for me, personally, to leave.

Again - I just need to say this: when we follow the Lord, He gives such joy and peace.  Whatever He is calling you to, just do it.  Every sacrifice is more than worth it.  He is so good!


Social Media Update


On a more joyful note, I felt the Lord calling me to join Instagram!  I've tarried for months to take that step, but it's been such a joy sharing my heart through this new venue.  If you are on there, I'd be thrilled to get to know you better and rejoice in the Lord together - my username is hosanna.emily.

      

At the beginning of the year, I gave 2018 to God to use as He willed. There were beautiful victories - a new baby born into the family, a novel I wrote, coming so close to graduation that I can almost taste it. Then there were the painful moments - so many tears, worries, fears.

But 2018 has been good because God is always good.  I'm rejoicing in it!  With one last month lingering on the horizon, I'm so eager to discover His plans for me, for you, for us.  He has a plan and purpose, and it's glorious.

I'm excited for every pain and trouble and joy He might bring in 2019, because I trust Him.  Wherever He takes us, we can rejoice!

I will leave you with two challenges:

First, if your relationship with Christ is real, just give everything to Him.  Be radical.  Give up any idols and be willing to break so that He can be strong.  Be willing to cry so He can comfort you.  Christianity is so much bigger than what we imagine; don't let anything hold you back.  Fly to Jesus!

And secondly, let's use this last month of the year to sacrifice everything for Him.  Make goals.  Dedicate yourself to Him.  Let's live December radically.

This is my resolution for the upcoming month, and I pray your heart throbs with His love as a new month begins and an old one passes away.

For this last month of 2018, 

I purpose: 

to cultivate a heart of joy, of worship, of shalom, and of love.  To live every day loving Him.  To show that openly through my prayers, heart, conversations, blog, email, social media, and entire life.  To live for His praise instead of others.  To abide in Christ's love and Word.  And to use my glory to further His. 

This is my heart.

Live radically and love radically, dear friends.   ♥

   

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising...

The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.

- Isaiah 60:2-3, 19

(ps)  This song is on my heart today, and I encourage you to listen to it and remember how awesome God is!  You are so loved.

~♥~

First Winter Snow || a poem

First Winter Snow

Before one month ago, the roses bloomed,

and I loved it:

the crimson-pink, softness as I smelled,

nose against petal, inhaling.

sweet,

before the first snow came.

frost killed those blooms—

withering, lingering,

trying to hold on as they died.

roses edged in ice.

that month ago, they laughed.

now I cry

for what’s lost.

even when ice thaws, it returns

and hurts again,

freezes my petals.

I try to dance, but it’s cold;

I see my breath but slip on frost

and cry again.

so many days ago, innocent life

yet the snow falls, and I try

to dance.

because one day spring will come

and I’ll understand why.

   

Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

- Hosea 6:1-3

~♥~ 

Project Canvas || Interview with Alea Harper

Hello writing friends!

Today I'm excited to share a new release that's full of writing advice, inspiration, and encouragement - a book that I was able to contribute to and be a part of!   In addition, I was given the opportunity to interview the cover designer/contributor, Alea Harper!

       

COMING NOVEMBER 15TH , 2018

Summary

An international writing community.

61 authors

11 countries

6 continents

Are you looking for advice on how to create the perfect villain? Do you need the courage to put

your story down on paper? Find this and more in Project Canvas, a writing resource written

completely by teen and young adult writers and compiled by Caroline Meek and Olivia Rogers.

Project Canvas includes:

● 71 short chapters, each written by a different author

● bonus interviews with authors such as Tessa Emily Hall and Q. Gibson

● world building and character development worksheets

● and other helpful resources!

“This is a writing teacher’s dream – not a how-to book, but more of a literary testimony and homage to the process of writing. A sweet balance between the practical and the spiritual, Project Canvas is concise enough for daily meditation, yet robust enough to move the writer’s soul beyond the temporary.” –Brian Dolezal, professional development and spoken word coach at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

Project Canvas will be available for purchase through Amazon on November 15.

(you can read my review of the book here)

About the Project Canvas Founders:

Caroline and Olivia have been friends ever since kindergarten, when they met in a homeschooling group.  Their writing journey was a slow evolution over the course of many sleepovers, games of pretend, writing stories together, and finally publishing some of them.

Caroline Meek is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Project Canvas. She’s originally from Kansas City, Kansas, where she co-authored The Drawing in of Breath and attended Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences. Caroline has a passion for bringing writers together and is currently studying English & Creative Writing on the Publishing track at the University of Iowa. She’s been published in The Kansas City Star, Ink Lit Mag, Wordsmith, and blogs at Of Stars and Ink-Stained Things.

Olivia Rogers is the co-founder of Project Canvas. She’s originally from the great state of Kansas, where she showed sheep, competitively debated, and also became involved in politics. Olivia believes that writing is the gateway to change. She’s currently studying Political Science and Philosophy at Kansas State University, with the goal of becoming a lawyer and continuing to advocate for others.

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

Blog

AND NOW FOR THE INTERVIEW!

Hop on over to this link to get to know Alea (she's so inspiring!), and then check out my interview on her blog.

Or watch the full interview below.

About Alea

Alea Harper is an aspiring author of fantasy, science fiction, and any other weird genre out there, probably because she wishes it were real. When she isn't writing, you can find her blogging, reading, fangirling, chatting with friends, designing book covers, making a movie, or sipping tea.

(ps) visit here to discover more about Project Canvas, enter in a giveaway, and more

Project Canvas

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

- Psalm 19:14

~♥~

Lakeside Thoughts || Part One

Several weeks ago, I went on a camping trip on a nearby lake with some dear friends.  We camped, laughed, hiked, and explored a world without tight schedules, mounds of clutter, and technology.

And sometimes, I still miss it - the waves beating against the shores, chattering girls as we slept in the nighttime world, the fresh air that reminded us of how free life was.  We returned home and accepted normal life.  Yet I remember.

So I recorded some of the tidbits of our time.  My goal is to give you a glimpse into the serenity of lake life and get your thoughts flowing.

I don't want to leave you thinking that the beauty I share is beyond reach.  My desire is to reveal questions so that we can pursue answers.  Let's desire Christ's beauty and the life He has prepared for us.  And let's chat together in the comments - what are your views on the questions I raise?

Here's part 1.

  

So little realness.

It's dark, nearly night.  The campfire burns even though we've finished dinner and cleared away the remnants.  As one team washes off the dishes, the rest gathers together under the trees.  Seats are opened.  We draw near.

And then we sing.  Some are hymns and others are light-hearted songs of praise.  We clap our hands, shut our eyes, and sing a capella because there on the beach, we don't have instruments.  Only the wind and the waves are the accompaniments to our songs as we stand on the shores.

When the last notes fade, we sit again and turn on head-lamps.  The darkness vanishes as Bibles are pulled out.  Someone shares while we follow along, taking turns reading.  Sometimes, a younger child wants her own turn, and we slowly follow along in our Bibles with smiles.

And then each group creeps away to their tents.  We find ours and, after the girls finish their own chattering, we gather close.  Their eyes meet mine as we talk about what we read.  They pull out notes and share their thoughts.

Voices die down.  We slip back into the night.  Soon, we're on the beach again, laying against the hard rocks.  I fold a hat under my head as a pillow.

The sky is a dark near-black color, but a million stars light it up like a ballroom.  A friend points out the Milky Way.  I feel small, watching the universe above me.

And then we see shooting stars.  First one, then another.  It's like they're dancing together, and soon we lose track of how many there are.  One girl says she saw more than twenty, others are nearing forty.

But I don't count, because with every meteor I want to scream and laugh and point because it's beautiful and amazing and God put it there for me to see.  My heart is pounding faster than those stars.  Together, all of us lay on the beach and admire His handiwork, scream our excitement, and act like little children because we are savoring life that much.

Then I come home.

It's cloudy, so I can't see the stars.  But it's not the same anyway.

My schedules begin.  I hurry to keep up with things, but I miss the connectivity we had.  So many families in our culture live their own lives, and they eat and laugh and talk together.  But somehow, they don't have a connected mission like we had on the lake.  They're distracted and preoccupied.  Maybe it's okay.  Maybe it's not.

I wonder what it would be like for all Believers to have a common goal.  To just fellowship and be together.  I wonder what it would be like if families shared among themselves, became vulnerable, or maybe just stood together and sang under the night stars.

Why is our culture so individualistic when being connected draws us together?  Why aren't families living like teams but instead clash and argue and live without love?

Why don't communities sing and read the Bible together?  Why don't they share truth and their thoughts and just sit together quietly when they have nothing to say?

We're so busy, and it steals our realness.

Does it have to be that way?

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

- Psalm 46:10-11

~♥~

Keep Burning, Keep Trusting

Dear Friend, let me tell you a story.

You're in a room with a roaring fire.  Wisps of orange mix with yellow and red in the flames as they leap high under the rough, brick mantle.  You can smell bits of smoke mixed with the faintest hints of cedar wood.

But as you watch, a man hurries to the fire.  Bucket in hand, he pours it onto the flames, and they hiss, fighting against his work.  When the bucket runs out, he hurries to refill it and returns, dumping gallon after gallon of water into the flames.

They don't die.  Somehow, with every drop that sizzles in the burning flames, the fire only grows.

So you turn, walk around to the back of the chimney where you can see the rear of the fire.  And there another man kneels.  Gently, he pours a curved pitcher into the base of the fire and deep, black liquid flows - oil.

Two fighting forces.  One side fights to kill the fire, the other slowly builds it higher and stronger.

The oil caresses the flames even though they can't see it.  Still, the fire roars at the man with the water as he tries to quench its heat.  Some flames die, others quiver under the water's touch.  But they never go out.

And you realize something.  The fire doesn't know, but it's kept alive - not by its own strength but by the oil that's gently poured into its roots.

(story adapted from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress)

That fire represents our faith.  And we're under attack.

The enemy has cold water to douse our hope, and, honestly, we're helpless against his schemes.  What can a small fire do against so much water?

Yet we're not alone.  Christ is always there being our strength when we are weak.  He is our shelter in the storm, our oil when we burn low.  Even if all else fails, if God is for us, who can be against us?  (Romans 8:31)

That was my life last week.

On Monday, I had plans for what great posts I would write up for this blog.  I had a whole week ahead of me - a week to accomplish goals, grow stronger, do things I never did before.  But that Monday morning, it all shattered.

A friend died.

He was like a brother to me and my little brother's best friend.  After fighting cancer for 10 months, our friend went to be with Jesus.

It should have been a time of celebration - Heaven is a wonderful, beautiful destiny, and we are thankful for our friend's victory over sickness, death, pain.  But we also felt broken.  It sounds so selfish to miss someone who's in such a better place, but we did.  We mourned.  We hurt.

And then I thought I healed.  I moved on, tried to forget, and busied myself with other things.  If I was that fire, it was like the enemy gave me a break as he refilled his bucket.  I thought I was okay.

But on the day of the celebration of our friend's life, it all crashed down again.  I remembered every memory, every thing that I missed with our friend being gone.  As we worshiped together during his memorial service, I tried to sing along, but the words came out in broken sobs.

There were so many questions:  Why?  If I had faith, why did it not work out like I prayed for it to?  Didn't God care?  Didn't He love?

With them slowly came answers.  I felt that pitcher of oil pour into my dying flames.  And even though I still don't understand completely, I am not extinguished.

Yes, God loves.

As I walked outside in bitterly cold air, my heart matched the dropping temperatures.  But I looked up.  A monarch butterfly flew across my path.  I turned away, kept walking, but remembered.

Later, sitting at my desk, my eyes wandered out the window.  Sunlight pierced through a green field, edged in the brown of autumn.  Somehow, the light brightened the world and made it glow.  I stopped everything I was doing and embraced it.

And so many other little reminders:  yes, God loves.

I don't understand why, but He still loves.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

- Romans 8:38-39

He doesn't only love us, but He has a purpose in everything - even if it's not the purpose we imagine or dream.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

- Romans 8:28

As I felt the fresh pain of loss, He brought an idea into my mind.  I'm a writer.  In my current WIP, my main character experiences death firsthand.  She is alone, weak, scared.  Life turns upside down in ways she doesn't expect.  And she wants to give up.

As an author, I hurt with my characters.  I care about them.  I cry when I make them suffer.

But I know the big picture.  In the end of her story, my character will be stronger.  She has a beautiful, wonderful ending to her story, and she just needs to trust me to bring it to pass.

It's the same with us.

I don't know why things happen the way they do, but God has a purpose.  The end of our story is beautiful - Heaven with Jesus forever.  Even though right now it hurts, we have a good inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).  We might never find out why, but we can always declare,

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

- Job 1:21

 I believe God hurts when we experience pain (John 11:35-36, Hosea 11:3-4,9 read the surrounding chapters for full context - so rich!).  But sometimes, that difficult time is what helps us grow most.

And when we're hurting, we can remember that there's Someone behind us, fueling our flames with oil and never leaving us nor forsaking us.

There's so much more I learned from this time of mourning; I'm so, so thankful for it.  I'm learning to love others more.  To savor my time.  To rejoice.

But dear friend, what buckets of water is the enemy throwing on your flames?  What trials do you face, and how can I pray for you and be an encouragement?

You are never alone, and you are so loved.  God has a plan.

Weak and wounded sinner,

Lost and left to die,

O, raise your head for Love is passing by 

Come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus and live

...

Sometimes the way is lonely,

And steep and filled with pain,

So if your sky is dark and pours the rain 

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus and live

- Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)

  

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:31

(ps) A lovely author wrote a post that blessed me today in this topic.  Click to read God's Masterpiece by Aleigha C. Israel.

 ~♥~

You Have a Purposeful Calling

God has a purpose for you.

When I was little, that purpose was on the forefront of my mind, but I often searched for it in the wrong places.  I dreamed of what I would do when I grew up, who I would be, how I would change the world.  When friends came over, we'd ask the same question.  "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

And I had a lot of answers.  At first, I wanted to be a mom with ninety-nine daughters and one son (poor guy, I know).  Then my ideals matured to the idea of becoming a clown.  Sadly, I was never funny, nor did I like being the center of attention.  New dreams came and fell.  I'd be a jockey riding in horse races.  Or a missionary sharing the Gospel with cannibals in unknown lands.

But now I am a little older, and God has different plans for me.  I know a portion of my calling - to share His overwhelming beauty through writing.  In the future, I desire to raise a household of children for Him.  It's a good purpose but not entirely complete.

There's a calling so much more important.

   

If you know your future purpose or not, it's really not a big deal.  Because right now, right here, God has something bigger in store.

Before the creation of the world, He knew you (Jeremiah 1:5).  He knew your fears, your weaknesses, the way you'd fail.  And He has a perfect plan for you.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:11-13

We all want to know our future, and the Lord has it all planned out for us perfectly.  But there's something more important.

Our calling is to call upon Him, go and pray to Him, and seek Him with all our heart.

No matter what job we have, what house we live in, what our dreams are, that's our calling: to passionately want Jesus more than anything and seek Him with all.

When Jesus left earth, He gave us our purpose in life.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

- Mark 16:15-18

It's not that our specific calling or occupation isn't important.  As Christians, what we do isn't less important; it's actually way more vital because the way we live can make a difference for eternity.

You could have any job or dream, but your calling is the same: to be ambassadors of Jesus to a lost world (2 Corinthians 5:20).  In a word, our calling is Jesus.

You are not a label.  When I was young and searching for my purpose, I wanted a label.  I wanted something to present as who I was.  But it would be selling ourselves short to find a profession, give our lives to it, and think that's all there is to it.

The real label that should define us isn't "college degree" or "profession."  Our definition should be Christ.

So we live every moment for Him.  I write in order to honor Him.  Maybe you babysit or dance or write essays or grow gardens or perform in movies.  Do it for Jesus.  We might not know the next step or what the future holds, but we know Who holds our future.  So live it for Him.

I had to make that decision this week.  After pressing on through school for 12+ years, I finally saw the end goal in sight, the day when I could be done, graduate college, and pursue what I feel is God's real calling for me.  And then things happened.  Classes weren't accepted, and I have another semester of work.

It's not my plan, and I don't like it.  But He has a purpose for me in these months, and I am choosing to rejoice in that.

Dear friend, live today rejoicing in Christ.  Don't worry about tomorrow, because He has a purpose for it.

And it's perfect for you.  Maybe not what you expect, but His plans are greater.

Don't wait to do hard things and live radically until you're an adult or until you reach a certain place in life.  Start being the person He has called you to be right now, and let Him take care of the rest.  He can write your life story better than you ever could.

My job right now might be taking college classes, but that can't hold me back from seeking Him with all my heart.  That can't stop me from pursuing the goals He has put on my heart.

You have a purpose.

My friend Jessica worded it perfectly, and I'll end with her thoughts, "You are chosen to be a child of God, first and foremost, and there’s always a place by His side for you. That is your purpose."  (read her post, What Does Purpose Look Like?)

   

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.  Amen.

- Mark 16:19-20

 ~♥~

Live - and Love - Simply

I grew up living simply.  If I was inside, it was to get lost in a book or to finish school as fast as possible so I could go outside.  Out of the house, I spent every afternoon in imagination games with my siblings and friends.

In the creeks, we were Indians washing away our tracks to escape from the settlers seeking to capture us.  In the woods, we fled from orphanage keepers.  Playing tag, exploring unknown lands, we embraced the beauty of life God gave us.

And then we grew up.  Addition turned into algebra.  Stories turned into essays.

Life became complicated.

But I wonder if it has to be that way.

   

Maybe you noticed that I skipped posting last week.  I haven't done that in months.  But life has become overwhelmingly busy at times (college does that), and, yes, I fall short.

It's crept to other areas of life.  I can't write my sequel... because I'm busy.  I can't savor relationships, go outside to just leisurely enjoy life, take a break to simply love God.  Sometimes life is like that.

Ultimately, the problem comes down to our priorities, but there's another issue.  Life is complicated.  Taking college classes, having online ministries, starting Bible studies at Church, trying to keep up with everything - it's complicated.

So easily, I become burned out, tired, exhausted.  And I need to go back.

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

- Psalm 16:5-6

Last week, I did that.  I grabbed my 4 year old sister's hand.  We imagined that we had an umbrella that could fly, and we flew to the creeks, through brushes, and up a hill.  We discovered treasures and put them in our museum.

Another day, we climbed trees.  How long was it since I last scrambled up branches, let my skin rub raw, and tottered above the earth, looking down on the ground from a new perspective?  When I tried to swing on vines (failing but enjoying the moments) and climb up just one branch higher?

I made dinner for my family.  Baking for twelve is time consuming, but I savored the evening and doing something I had missed while working on essays and academic papers.

And so many other moments.  Walking through a cave and treasuring the beauty of it.  Laughing and talking in silly accents, forgetting that I'm an "adult" and supposed to be mature and serious *cough*.  Grabbing a childhood favorite book and losing myself in its pages.

And remembering the simple truths about God too.

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

- Deuteronomy 7:9

The Bible may seem complicated, but I remembered what is stands for.  We were created in the beginning because He loved us (Psalm 139:13-18).  Despite our failures, He is our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), and He proved that by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  In the end, that love story will be complete when we are in His presence together, united (Revelation 22).

We can get consumed by so much, when it's all supposed to be very simple.  Jesus loved us with everything.  Why don't we do the same?  Why don't we love Him and others radically like that?

Let all that you do be done with love.

- 1 Corinthians 16:14

It's not about trying so hard to overcome our weaknesses.  It's about realizing that we have everything we need for life and Godliness, and that's in Jesus (2 Peter 1:3).  We seek Him, strive to become like Him, strive to Love like Him.

It's a relationship.  He loves me, and I want every part of my life to love Him in return.

  

I don't think life was meant to be complicated.  We can be consumed by so much - being healthy, doing all the right things, keeping up with life, writing that next bestseller - when life was meant to be much simpler.

Jesus.

Living every moment as a worship to Him.  Embracing the life He chose to give us.

O my soul, you have said to the Lord,

"You are my Lord,

My goodness is nothing apart from You."

- Psalm 16:2

And somehow, when I remember that, it's enough for me.

I'll forget and go back to those long college papers, draining afternoons, and busy schedules, but I want to remember that I do all that for Him.  To love Him.  I complete my assignments to honor Him.  I worship Him through ministries, through holding that crying baby, through taking a break to love my sibling.

I might not be able to spend my life in the woods like I did when I was young, but I can go back to that simple joy I had when I loved Him, loved life, and embraced it all with thankfulness.  

My friend, live simply.  And love simply.

For Jesus.

   

But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

- Luke 18:16-17

~♥~

Replacing Lies with Truth

Dear Friend,

I've wanted to write this post for several months, but God is finally giving me the opportunity.  And the idea has grown bigger than I originally thought.

It's something I need to hear again.  And hopefully something that will bless you.

This is my prayer - that we both become more like Jesus.  That we have a heart like His, full of Love.

   

We hear so many lies.

The enemy is constantly throwing them at us.  He lies about us, those around us, God.  And most of the time, we listen to him.

One week, a friend challenged me to start guarding my thoughts.  We took every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).  By doing that, I discovered so many lies that were going through my brain.

Lies like, "I don't belong.  These people don't care about me." Or "I'm not as beautiful, as talented, as good."

There were lies that were meant to tear me down and ones meant to tear down others.  "I'm better than them.  They don't deserve...  They're not..."

It's scary.  The lies we hear can completely transform us into this bitter, selfish person who is not who God made us to be.  They turn our day sour, throw a bucket of ice water on that faith we thought we had.  The problem comes when we listen to the enemy.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

- John 10:10

That abundant life comes through Jesus.

  

When I started to guard my thoughts, I was horrified by the lies I heard.  But I also felt transformed, because I replaced those lies with Truth.  I took every thought captive and weighed them before Him.

Every time a thought came in my head, I stopped and asked myself, "is this Christ's Truth?"

When the enemy said I wasn't good enough, I remembered - my goodness comes only from Him, for He is my inheritance (Psalm 16:6).  He loves with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

When I had pride, I remembered that I'm only a servant, like Christ was (John 13:3-5).

When I was afraid, I remembered that when I am weak, He is strong.  His strength is made perfect in weakness.  (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When I didn't feel like it, I remembered to praise Him (Psalm 16:9).

  

If we listen to the enemy's lies, we will be torn down.  Bitter.  Offended.  But Christ offers love, hope, and Truth.

It's not because our lives are perfect that we can have this hope.  It's because we choose to abide in Him in the midst of our struggles, knowing that in Him we have everything we need for life and Godliness.

That week was beautiful for so many reasons as I discovered the beauty of being transformed by the renewing of my mind.  When we take every thought captive and believe His Truth, we find joy.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

- Psalm 16:11

Joy is found in His presence.

So friend, whatever is keeping you from that presence - whether busyness, idols, or those lies the enemy throws at you - replace them with Truth.  His word is Truth (John 17:17).

And that's the key of it all.  Truth is in God, in His word.  Renewing our mind means loving His word so much that it becomes a part of who we are.

That's my challenge for you:  abide in Him.  For me, that meant taking every thought captive and replacing them with His word.

Although I've fallen away from that practice, I want to go back.  I want to remember His Truth and dwell in it instead of in those lies.  But I can't find Truth if I don't abide in reading His Word, memorizing it, and praying faithfully.  I can't find Truth if I don't have Him.

What's your first step?  Let's talk below.  Share how I can be praying for you and encouraging you on this journey for Truth!  ♥

If we seek Jesus, He will be found.

Dear friend - seek.

   

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

- Isaiah 55:8-9

~♥~