Driving earlier today I was struck by this song on the radio. I won't post the whole thing but one lyric struck me and seeing as Easter is tomorrow is seemed more than fitting to share!
"What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave?"
In such a small sentence, such depth is conveyed.
As some of you may know, Easter is a celebration of Christ rising from the dead after His death on the Cross on our behalf. Now, to some, that may not strike you at all. May not even penetrate slightly the meaning behind it all. But let me try and convey the depth of this story and the meaning behind it. Here is a good depiction of the story. I urge you to read this in its entirety because it is THAT good of a story. Then maybe you, too, can see just how amazing God is!
"Some of the Jewish leaders hated Jesus because He condemned their sins.
They did not want to believe the truth He preached, as He urged them to
repent and turn back to God. They became jealous of the great crowds
that followed Him and believed in Him, and finally decided to get rid of
Him by having Him killed.
Since the Jews did not have the right to have a man killed without the
approval of the Roman governor, they had to take Jesus to Pilate. At the
trial they had no evidence of wrong-doing by Jesus, but put enough
pressure on Pilate that he finally agreed to have the soldiers kill
Jesus by crucifying Him.
The place where they killed prisoners was outside the city of Jerusalem
on a small hill called Golgotha or the place of the skull. Here they
laid the cross on the ground while they nailed his hands and feet to it
with great spikes. The cross was then lifted and dropped into a hole in
the ground. The entire weight of the body tore at the spikes, and the
pain was almost beyond endurance. The blood began to pound through the
body as the shock of what was happening began to take its toll. As the
cells of the body were broken down it became a living death that
sometimes lasted for a few hours, and could even last for a few days.
Since Jesus had been whipped before they took Him to be crucified, He
was already weak from loss of blood. Mercifully, He lived only a few
hours on the cross.
Even with all the pain, Jesus thought of others rather than Himself.
His first words from the cross were, "Father, forgive them for they know
not what they do". Even though He could have threatened to punish them
eternally when they faced Him in judgement, He did not do so. He thought
of His mother, who stood by the cross weeping, and asked his beloved
friend John to take care of her. On either side of Him there were two
thieves crucified with Him. When one of them expressed faith in Jesus,
the Savior answered, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise". As the
terrible afternoon wore on and His pain increased He finally moaned, "I
thirst", and was offered vinegar, which He would not drink. God blotted
out the sun as if to let us know how black the deed which was being
done, and out of that blackness Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?". His final words expressed his complete surrender to
the will of God as He said, "It is finished; Father into Thy hands I
commit my spirit". He then bowed His head and died.
Even the earth could not accept the death of its Creator and Master
without showing grief. There was a great earthquake which shook the
countryside and made all people afraid."
The amazing end to this story is that after being placed in the tomb, believed to be truly dead, Jesus ROSE from the DEAD. Death could not keep its grasp on Him and was ultimately defeated by Jesus. This is why by having new life with Christ, by accepting Him into our lives and hearts, and by recognizing what His death on the cross represented, we, too, can defeat death and live eternally with Christ!
This goes back to the lyric I introduced earlier - "What kind of love tells me I'm the reason He can't stay inside the grave."
What kind of love is that? Are we all truly capable of even beginning to comprehend this kind of love? Someone DIED for YOU. Think about it. :)
He Is Risen!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Find a happy place!
So, here's the skinny (its actually more of a fatty because this is a hefty and lengthy post).
Lately I feel as though I've been speaking one language while those around me are speaking a completely different language. It's as if I've moved to a different country and am trying to get people to understand me by an assortment of hand gestures, strange noises, unfortunate facial expressions, and awkwardly put together sentences. Yet, still, no one understands me all the while I probably look like someone who should be admitted to an insane asylum.
So where is the solution? How do you speak a language that you feel is foreign to you, but is known to them?
"FIND A HAPPY PLACE!"
This results in me talking with God. Which is the one thing I find the most comfort in because He speaks my language when it feels like no one else can. He speaks to me and either reassures me or convicts me in a way only He can.
In this conversation with God I start with something along the lines of - "God, why is everyone around me appearing to be quicker to anger, quick to speak and slow to hear? Isn't there something a LITTLE bit off about that?"
Then God reveals an answer that is so simple I feel stupid for not coming to this conclusion sooner. It's that everyone does speak differently. It's just how we all operate. That's why relationships take work because where I'm speaking one way and looking for a specific response - you're speaking a different way and looking for a specific response. When neither of those are met there is conflict. What makes a difference is the amount of time put into actually studying one another in order to know the best way to communicate with someone. That's all it takes. Oh unknowable universe!
I began my journey to more answers by first looking at some of my own weaknesses in life and in conversation.
-- Sometimes, not all the time, but all the time, I am an emotional thinker/responder. I will take your lighthearted "you need to walk with your toes pointed inward to avoid future problems with your hips" and turn it in to "No one likes you because you waddle like a duck and have you noticed how much weight you've put on lately? Surely that's attributing to your funny walk..."
--I loathe confrontation. More times than none I will often just sit there and take it without standing up for myself if/when necessary.
-- I have a hard time saying No even when it's overtly necessary to say No.
All three of these equal to one thing - a triple threat. They pose a threat not only to my most treasured and precious relationships on this earth, but it poses a threat to my relationship with God (my most important relationship). I can't welcome Gods love into my life completely if I'm spending (wasting) too much of it concerning myself with things I need not be concerned about. I don't want to waste my life or relationships.
All of this to say that I need to work to be quicker to hear, slower to speak, and slower to anger. My goal is to reach a place of understanding with those I'm speaking to so as to avoid conflicts or separation. We are to cherish these God-given relationships. Instead of fighting with one another and intentionally/unintentionally tearing one another down, maybe we ought to stop, listen, and respond in a way that conveys love instead of trying to just get a point across.
It's not always going to be perfect because we're all sinners and terribly flawed in our thinking. We don't often seek to glorify God in conversation because we'd rather prove our points instead. There is a time for everything, a place for everything, and its time we seek to put aside differences and find common ground. Isn't that what God would want? Life is too short to spend it angry at one another because we don't understand one another. If Jesus can love them, so can you. Make an effort to make it work.
I'll end with a little something I wrote earlier this evening. It's been circulating in my mind for so long and I've finally been able to purge myself of it and put it into words.
There’s a girl who has lost more than she’s won
There’s a girl who will stick by you till the end
There’s a girl, and that girl is me.
Lately I feel as though I've been speaking one language while those around me are speaking a completely different language. It's as if I've moved to a different country and am trying to get people to understand me by an assortment of hand gestures, strange noises, unfortunate facial expressions, and awkwardly put together sentences. Yet, still, no one understands me all the while I probably look like someone who should be admitted to an insane asylum.
So where is the solution? How do you speak a language that you feel is foreign to you, but is known to them?
"FIND A HAPPY PLACE!"
This results in me talking with God. Which is the one thing I find the most comfort in because He speaks my language when it feels like no one else can. He speaks to me and either reassures me or convicts me in a way only He can.
In this conversation with God I start with something along the lines of - "God, why is everyone around me appearing to be quicker to anger, quick to speak and slow to hear? Isn't there something a LITTLE bit off about that?"
Then God reveals an answer that is so simple I feel stupid for not coming to this conclusion sooner. It's that everyone does speak differently. It's just how we all operate. That's why relationships take work because where I'm speaking one way and looking for a specific response - you're speaking a different way and looking for a specific response. When neither of those are met there is conflict. What makes a difference is the amount of time put into actually studying one another in order to know the best way to communicate with someone. That's all it takes. Oh unknowable universe!
I began my journey to more answers by first looking at some of my own weaknesses in life and in conversation.
-- Sometimes, not all the time, but all the time, I am an emotional thinker/responder. I will take your lighthearted "you need to walk with your toes pointed inward to avoid future problems with your hips" and turn it in to "No one likes you because you waddle like a duck and have you noticed how much weight you've put on lately? Surely that's attributing to your funny walk..."
--I loathe confrontation. More times than none I will often just sit there and take it without standing up for myself if/when necessary.
-- I have a hard time saying No even when it's overtly necessary to say No.
All three of these equal to one thing - a triple threat. They pose a threat not only to my most treasured and precious relationships on this earth, but it poses a threat to my relationship with God (my most important relationship). I can't welcome Gods love into my life completely if I'm spending (wasting) too much of it concerning myself with things I need not be concerned about. I don't want to waste my life or relationships.
All of this to say that I need to work to be quicker to hear, slower to speak, and slower to anger. My goal is to reach a place of understanding with those I'm speaking to so as to avoid conflicts or separation. We are to cherish these God-given relationships. Instead of fighting with one another and intentionally/unintentionally tearing one another down, maybe we ought to stop, listen, and respond in a way that conveys love instead of trying to just get a point across.
It's not always going to be perfect because we're all sinners and terribly flawed in our thinking. We don't often seek to glorify God in conversation because we'd rather prove our points instead. There is a time for everything, a place for everything, and its time we seek to put aside differences and find common ground. Isn't that what God would want? Life is too short to spend it angry at one another because we don't understand one another. If Jesus can love them, so can you. Make an effort to make it work.
I'll end with a little something I wrote earlier this evening. It's been circulating in my mind for so long and I've finally been able to purge myself of it and put it into words.
There’s a girl who has lost more than she’s won
There’s a girl who is open but never undone
There’s a girl who does not back down
There’s a girl who will offer you a smile for your frown
There’s a girl who has been broken hearted
There’s a girl who will not be forgotten
There’s a girl who seeks to be heard
There’s a girl who will keep her word
There’s a girl who does not back down
There’s a girl who will offer you a smile for your frown
There’s a girl who has been broken hearted
There’s a girl who will not be forgotten
There’s a girl who seeks to be heard
There’s a girl who will keep her word
There’s a girl who would rather laugh at herself
There’s a girl who is too short to reach a top shelf
There’s a girl whose heart is soft towards her Father
There’s a girl from the North but attempts to be Southern
There’s a girl who will be your best friendThere’s a girl who is too short to reach a top shelf
There’s a girl whose heart is soft towards her Father
There’s a girl from the North but attempts to be Southern
There’s a girl who will stick by you till the end
There’s a girl, and that girl is me.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
I'm not perfect, and neither am I
As of recent I purchased a new book that I've thoroughly enjoyed reading these past few days.
Reading, for me, has always been a joyous activity. Especially when you find a book that you can't put down because it's too good.
This current book I find myself reading has not only challenged me in many unexpected ways but it has also revealed certain things about me that were quite hard to comprehend at first (meaning my pride wouldn't allow such a thing to occur. Me? Being wrong? Im.Possible.)
Swallowing my pride for a second, and hoping it'll stay down, let me elaborate on these most unfortunate, yet totally God, things this book has taught me so far. You're free to agree with such statements if you see fit, because I assure you they're true.
1) I am a very selfish person
2) I don't have ALL the answers and do EVERYTHING right.
3) I'm not better than everyone else
These three facts are things I've found myself dwelling on for some time now and they've become apart of my every-day thinking. Regretfully, I say this not in a good way but rather I've sought to confirm these thoughts and have allowed them to become cemented into my every-day-life. Phrases such as "I'm so much better than that person because ____" or "They're doing that wrong. Am I the only person who can do anything the right way?" As I type these I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame come over me. But here's where it gets good.
While I'm wrapped up in the "religion of Kait" - God comes to me and informs me that I serve Him, not myself. He reassures me that, yes, He did save me - but He has saved, and will continue to save, a lot of other people, too, and that I'm not to look at myself more highly than they. Because, like them, I'm very much a sinner. I make mistakes on an hourly basis. I needed to be rescued from my very own self daily because I'm so prone to fall into a pattern of selfishness.
Basically I don't have life figured out. I have my way of doing things and thinking, sure, but that doesn't make it THE only way to do something. I've been so wrapped up in myself and my selfishness that I've missed so many opportunities to show Gods love towards people who probably needed it. My heart is grieving at this realization. More importantly, I've grieved God.
Fact of the matter is - I am not perfect. I am not God.
There is only One who is and I can assure you there will never be another. (Exodus 20:1-6) That's why He's God. I am to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27)- not love myself with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. No, thanks.
Lastly, this book has revealed to me that I've been failing pretty miserably at my friendships/close relationships these days. Because of those three things listed above, I stopped being a friend to those around me. The second I allowed my eyes to turn inward, that's the moment I stopped caring for those around me.
Ouch.
Isaiah 66:2 "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." God is saying He will bless those who are humble, show remorse for their wrongs, and Fear the Lord.
That sounds like a MUCH better place to be than Prideful, feeling I'm better than everyone, and loving myself too much. Right? Right.
Starting Right Now: I'm going to take my eyes off myself and fix them heavenward. I'm going to work to be grateful for the moments He gives me here on this earth and the opportunities to meet new people with hopes to further advance His kingdom. I'm going to start treasuring the relationships I currently have, be it with family, my co-workers, school-friends, housemates, wherever. These people are truly gifts from God and I'd never want to take for granted their place in my life and how much they each mean to me.
Reading, for me, has always been a joyous activity. Especially when you find a book that you can't put down because it's too good.
This current book I find myself reading has not only challenged me in many unexpected ways but it has also revealed certain things about me that were quite hard to comprehend at first (meaning my pride wouldn't allow such a thing to occur. Me? Being wrong? Im.Possible.)
Swallowing my pride for a second, and hoping it'll stay down, let me elaborate on these most unfortunate, yet totally God, things this book has taught me so far. You're free to agree with such statements if you see fit, because I assure you they're true.
1) I am a very selfish person
2) I don't have ALL the answers and do EVERYTHING right.
3) I'm not better than everyone else
These three facts are things I've found myself dwelling on for some time now and they've become apart of my every-day thinking. Regretfully, I say this not in a good way but rather I've sought to confirm these thoughts and have allowed them to become cemented into my every-day-life. Phrases such as "I'm so much better than that person because ____" or "They're doing that wrong. Am I the only person who can do anything the right way?" As I type these I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame come over me. But here's where it gets good.
While I'm wrapped up in the "religion of Kait" - God comes to me and informs me that I serve Him, not myself. He reassures me that, yes, He did save me - but He has saved, and will continue to save, a lot of other people, too, and that I'm not to look at myself more highly than they. Because, like them, I'm very much a sinner. I make mistakes on an hourly basis. I needed to be rescued from my very own self daily because I'm so prone to fall into a pattern of selfishness.
Basically I don't have life figured out. I have my way of doing things and thinking, sure, but that doesn't make it THE only way to do something. I've been so wrapped up in myself and my selfishness that I've missed so many opportunities to show Gods love towards people who probably needed it. My heart is grieving at this realization. More importantly, I've grieved God.
Fact of the matter is - I am not perfect. I am not God.
There is only One who is and I can assure you there will never be another. (Exodus 20:1-6) That's why He's God. I am to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27)- not love myself with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. No, thanks.
Lastly, this book has revealed to me that I've been failing pretty miserably at my friendships/close relationships these days. Because of those three things listed above, I stopped being a friend to those around me. The second I allowed my eyes to turn inward, that's the moment I stopped caring for those around me.
Ouch.
Isaiah 66:2 "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." God is saying He will bless those who are humble, show remorse for their wrongs, and Fear the Lord.
That sounds like a MUCH better place to be than Prideful, feeling I'm better than everyone, and loving myself too much. Right? Right.
Starting Right Now: I'm going to take my eyes off myself and fix them heavenward. I'm going to work to be grateful for the moments He gives me here on this earth and the opportunities to meet new people with hopes to further advance His kingdom. I'm going to start treasuring the relationships I currently have, be it with family, my co-workers, school-friends, housemates, wherever. These people are truly gifts from God and I'd never want to take for granted their place in my life and how much they each mean to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)