Lesson Learned

So I am reading this mammoth of a book called: "Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce L. Shelley. I haven't made up my mind yet as to whether I like it or not but I read this very interesting quote yesterday that I've decided is worth sharing. The context of this quote is the rapid growth of Christianity in the first two centuries.

I will highlight the parts that really struck me.

"The Event had happened. God had invaded time and Christians were captivated by the creative power of that grand news. They knew that men had been redeemed and they could not keep to themselves the tidings of salvation. That unshakable assurance, in the face of every obstacle including martyrdom itself, helps explain the growth of the church."

-p. 35

I will let that sink in: the conviction, the assurance, the joy... All of the emotions that the language may arouse in our minds and spirits. May we continue to boldly step out in the truth that resides in us. I pray that the remembrance of the cloud of witness around us may inspire us and set our hearts ablaze, totally surrendered to Him- unafraid of the world.

Grace like Rain...

So as many of you have read.... I have a garden :)

I love my garden. My garden makes me happy. Every morning I have to water it before 10 am otherwise the sun will scorch it and my flowers will get sad (seriously!)

Anyways...

A couple of weeks ago I did not want to get out of bed and water my garden. I can't remember why (I must have gone to bed really late or something) but I just wanted to stay in bed and continue to sleep. Yet my conscience wouldn't allow it. Plus I kinda felt convicted since God had been the one to give me the garden... Finally I just sort of shouted "God I don't want to do it! It'll just be one day, I'll water them in the afternoon" and hunkered down in my bed and pull the covers over my head. I was trying to convince myself that it really wouldn't matter if I didn't water them just then.

Less than five minutes later I hear: drip.... drip.... drip.... drip, drip, drip, DRIP.

It had started to rain.

O_0

Lesson learned: God takes care of His creation.

Frankly I was speechless. I think I got out of bed in disbelief to look out the window. If I was to lazy or stubborn to get out of bed to water the plants, He would do it. He did not depend on me to make sure His creatures were well taken care of... this flowers that He loves so much, He would water them. At the same time I was stunned because I thought about my life. Sometimes I falter and think that my well being is on man's hands. He was saying: "You think I can't take care of you if men decide to be disobedient or lazy? I am the One that strengthens you."

It has pretty much rained everyday (specially in the morning) for like the past two weeks. I miss watering my plants :-/ but at the same time, every time it rains I chuckle and smile; I am reminded of His grace... His sovereign grace.

candles and love songs

So, how many times have you heard that God knows the desires of your heart? How many times have you doubted it? Are you doubting it now?

Some of you will say: "Well no, of course not! He KNOWS it alright. I've told Him a billion times. What I am not so sure of is whether or not He wants to do anything about it!"

For you skeptics out there here is a story about God's.... I'm gonna go ahead and call it---------> Awesomeness.

So I had a birthday recently (tangent: Hooray for chocolate cake!) and my mom asked me a few days before what I wanted to do. I told her I wanted to work in the garden. You see, we've been working on our backyard for a while now and it is almost finished. But my secret plan (aka the desire of my heart) was this: Once we got going on the garden I would 'sneakily' be like: "Well what would you know! Since we are here cover in dirt and have all this flowers, why don't we do a little garden in front of my bedroom window?..."

I've been really wanting a flower garden outside my bedroom window for a while but I hadn't told anyone.

The day of my birthday came, my mom woke me up with the best breakfast in bed ever and peach colored roses. After she told me to have a look outside my bedroom window. Lo and behold, I had a garden!!! She'd made me a garden while I was sleeping! :) (Yes! I have the best mom in the world. And NO, you can't have her).

So there you have it folks. God knows the desires of your heart and He delights in showering you with His blessings (Psalm 68:19).

"He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

~Zep 3:17

Wild Flowers & Shooting Stars

In memory of

Wes

March 1985-May 2011

For Heaven's sake...

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it careful round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside Heaven where you can be safe from all the dangers...of love is Hell."

-C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

Great Awakening...

"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?'

...

"Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.'"

John 6: 5,7

I shared with a friend this week that I felt like the disciples in this story just before Jesus multiplies the fish & bread. In fact, when I shared it with him, I was exactly in Philip's shoes. Acknowledging the reality of my unbelief startled me but I didn't run away to hide. Instead I just sat there, by Jesus, not really knowing what to say. My friend asked me if I had yet presented what I had so God could multiply it.... hmmmm.... No, no I haven't. "Why ever not?" I thought. Conviction. Correction. Still more silence. More sitting at His feet, quiet, not wanting to be a fool but rather wait for the truth to surface. The answer came to me today. As I was driving home I asked "Why hadn't I presented You with what I had?"

"'Cause you were afraid it wouldn't be enough", came the response.

Sigh. Sometimes I can be so foolish.

I got home still thinking about it. Got online to check e-mails, fb, etc. and I came across a picture from my pastor in DC. He is in Arizona at the moment and the pics were of the "cathedral rock climb" (rock formation in shape of a cathedral thousands of feet above sea level... it looks pretty cool). Anyways, one of the pics had the caption: "Calling on heaven. God spells faith: R.I.S.K."

:)

I smile because God is good.

Have you gotten the truth that was revealed to me yet?

Philip was afraid they didn't have enough. Maybe he was afraid people would get angry and hurt them (5,000 hungry, cranky ppl can be alarming). Or maybe he was scare the multitude would be disappointed. Who knows. The thing is he was uncomfortable and he wanted Jesus to dissipate that which made him uncomfortable (Luke 9:12) . But Jesus wants to teach him to walk by faith, not by sight.

A mentor of mine has a saying: "If you want to be a person of impact, you cannot be afraid of the collision."

There is always a measure of risk in following God but we cannot be afraid of it, we must embrace it. We must call on Him who gave us the vision to supply for the need. It was Jesus who made Philip aware of the need, and it is Him who supplied for it. He always knows how He will supply, even before He makes us aware of the need ("He Himself knew what He would do" Jn 6:6). He just wants to tests us through the process, that we might be purified... that our understanding of Him would expand, increase. He wants to take us outside of our box, that we can enjoy His limitless power and grace.

May God bless you today and embrace you in the power of His love ;)

Have a great day!!

Lectures...

It is hard not to be afraid. It takes energy to stand fast and wait. I hear people talk about waiting as if it were a mindless act. It makes them feel lazy. Lazy?! Are you kidding me? It is exhausting to stand here still, trusting. How can one feel lazy when one has to constantly fight the inward battle of letting go of one's controlling tendencies and allow God to do the work He wants to do.

I feel sad for those who wait and are judged by those who don't. It is hard work indeed to get one's self out of the way AND... stay out!