Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

I was on the schedule to write the bulletin cover for the end of June and last night someone asked me to trade with them to a much sooner Sunday and I have so much to do and won't be here for that Sunday! But praise the Lord, as I chose to actually call on Him before I freaked out, He answered me and gave me this. Thank you Father!

When I attended the women’s Monday night Bible study I learned, and was not surprised, that I am not the only person who has a deep love affair with the ocean. I often shamelessly ask someone if they are a mountain person or a beach person to see what level of friendship we might attain, though I did marry a mountain person. Still, for as long as I can remember I have loved all sorts of bodies of water, from puddles to seas, water has always captivated me. Yet, the ocean holds the highest rank. For those of you mountain people, let me explain.

I stand on the sand and look out at something that is bigger than me, stronger than me; it goes farther than I can comprehend. The ocean is full of more life than my whimsical mind could ever imagine. The ocean tide is amazingly predictable even 20 plus years from now because of its relationship with the moon. The waves are constantly molding and changing the shore that we see, the shelf that we do not see. The breakers sometimes crash right on the shore, loud and strong with the water spraying in your face. Sometimes they break farther out leaving only a gentle roll to wash onto the sand.

Sound familiar? God, though unlike the ocean He has no beginning or end, is bigger and stronger than me, His presence reaches farther than I can comprehend. He is not just full of life, He is life, a life more pure and full than I will ever see or imagine on this earth. We sing “Your love oh Lord is like the ocean’s tide” because His love is faithful, nothing can sway it, and unlike the ocean His love is dependent on nothing and no one. God is constantly shaping and molding our lives in ways we can and cannot see. Sometimes He speaks to us in ways that are loud, obvious, and either knocks us down or at least leaves sand in our hair and the taste of salt on our face. Other times He gently washes over us, tenderly loving us closer to Himself.

Please forgive me if it sounds like I am trying to limit God to an analogy of the ocean. I am not. The ocean is bigger than me, and God is bigger than the ocean. Even that sounds like an understatement to me. I didn’t mention the depth, nor did I even touch on the intricate sand. However, as we head into the summer and whether we are led to the beach or to the mountains, let us soak in the One who created the sun and the water and the skies and all that is around us to enjoy and to remind us of His amazing, comforting fabulous, stunning, washing over, incomprehensible, remarkable, mind blowing love.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth
, Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o’er them from the throne

!O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’Tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
’Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!

Samuel Trevor Francis (1875)

The Shack

I'm not sure how close you look at this blog, but you might have noticed that The Shack by William P. Young has moved out of the reading now section. I finished it about a week ago and I am just now getting to blog about it. This book is full of so much, that I don't really know where to start. I will say that it is not necessarily the greatest piece of literature I have ever read, but all the same it was a good read. The main character, Mack, has a tragedy occur in his family which leads him to a face to face encounter with God in three persons. He is put into a situation where he has an opportunity to ask God all the questions most of the world desires to ask. He is shown how to face his fear, and struggles, through a relationship with the Father, which in turn brings freedom. I can't really say anymore, I would be just telling you the whole story instead of letting you read it. But I do recommend that you read it. This book would be a great discussion book, perfect for those questioning the idea of church as an institution, for those who are questioning who God really is. Young does an beautiful and articulate job of clarifying God as the relationship paradigm, distinguishing between what man has created versus God's design for us. It's not scripture, but I personally didn't find anything that directly contradicted it. There were a few times where I started to say, "hmmm...wait a sec.." and then I would read on and say, "okay, ya..." Read it, let me know what you think.

An excerpt:

Mack was a bit taken back to hear Jesus talking about "church" this way, but then again, it didn't really surprise him. It was a relief. "So how do I become a part of that church.?" he asked. "This woman you seem to be so gaga over."

"It's simple, Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. What we are doing right now- just doing this- and being open and available to others around us. My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can't build it. It's my job and I'm actually pretty good at it," Jesus said with a chuckle.

later on...

"Mack, you don't need to have it all figured out. Just be with me."

Mom

a little tribute to my mom click here

Comfort

I have a picture in my head. I've walked into my house one evening and I see my mom standing at my sink, my grandma is next to her, holding my youngest son (3 months old) and his head is resting on her shoulder in complete comfort. I don't get to see this often as these women live 3000 miles away. But Sunday night my husband and I came home to this picture and I was filled with warmth. The women in my family, in my home guarding my children, perhaps this is no big deal to you. For me it was a reminder to not take for granted what time I have with my family, and to be thankful that I have women ahead of me that have wisdom that only come from the Lord and a willingness to love and care for me and mine.

Who Needs Who?

God doesn’t need us. I have heard it preached that He does. I don’t think that’s true. He desires us, He wants us and He has chosen to weave us into His plan. But He doesn’t need us. We need Him. Our relationship with God is not codependent. Believing that God needs us may make us feel good, and more a part of things, but once again…it’s not about us. It’s about God. I find freedom in this. Not matter what I do I cannot mess up God’s plan. The outcome is written and I’m excited that He has chosen me to be a part of it. But I am not the reason it will or won’t work out. And it will work out. Our pastor said something on Sunday that I love, “God doesn’t need us to make Him look good. God is good.” amen? amen.

Freedom and Boundaries

Growing up I remember my mom reading the writings of Watchman Nee. I picked up a few of his books at a Library sale a year or two ago and I have finally picked them up. Since I am reading a couple of other big books right now, I chose The Joyful Heart; Daily Meditations. Another reason I chose it is because it is a daily reading type of book and since I struggle with just picking up my Bible everyday this sort of thing helps me to do that. On Tuesday I read this:

"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." John 17:19

As the sinless Son of God, Jesus enjoyed freedom far exceeding any we have on earth. There is much that we may not do or say because we are so full of defects and defilement, but that was never true of him. And yet, notwithstanding, his faultlessness, he deliberately refrained from doing many things which for him would have been quite legitimate, from speaking many words which he might lawfully have spoken, and justifiably have taken. These were some of the ways in which he "sanctified" himself, refraining from much that was lawful for his disciples' sake.

What it means is that when holiness was in view, the Lord Jesus thought not merely of his own holiness but of ours. For our sakes he accepted limitations. The opposite of holiness is not sin but commonness. Commonness means: I do what is common practice to everyone. Holiness means: Others may do something but, in this instance at least, I may not. To sanctify ourselves is to accept restraint from God upon our spirits. As with the Lord Jesus, this may often be for the sake of others.

This really hit home as I have struggled with this for years. Balancing freedom and grace with living a holy and purposeful life. I love art in all forms (film, music, paintings, dance, etc.) and though perhaps the way the art is displayed as a whole appears beautiful to me, perhaps the content is not piece by piece edifying. Do I allow separation of that depending on the circumstance? Do I take into account that I'm all alone or whether or not non-believers or new believers are present, or should I just be 100% consistent in these decisions. I think that with the turn some churches are taking there is this idea of telling the world we are just like them so the world will accept us. The Bible tells us that isn't going to happen. We are not like the world and the world will hate us for it. What's the point if we are to be the same? I know that I often want to be sure that I don't come across too judgemental, or stuffy or a prude if you will, instead of being concerned about living up to the way I am seen by God, holy. He sees me this way because Christ died for my sins, rose from the dead and is now standing in front of me as a filter of light and cleanliness. I wonder if some of the choices I make spit on that.

Velcro

"No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24

I read this yesterday and was challenged in how I live for the Lord, how I give to Him. I will say to Him, "Anywhere, anytime, anything Lord." But my life often lives a "anywhoodie... la de da" and I'll ignore the Holy Spirit's leading and go my own way. I suppose I don't do that in all things, but mostly in the things that will cost me something when the push comes to shove. And it's funny because I really think I would obey in the big public things. It's the little things that affect my comfort zone that are the challenge. But then I'm not doing it for the Lord but for me, which is why perhaps He doesn't let me out too much these days. And what does it cost me really? If I truly believe that our time here is a just a breath, does it really cost me anything? It costs me my pride. That thing I keep trying to throw away but it sticks like Velcro. So I'll just have to keep ripping it off.

sidenote: in the previous post I mentioned a missing piece. so yesterday I put the puzzle away and 20min. later I found the piece...grrr...