Getting it Right

"Paul spent himself for one purpose only-that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. " I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." When a man says he must develop a holy life alone with God, he is no more use to his fellow men: he puts himself on a pedestal, away from the common run of men." My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers. Reading this got me thinking , how do we do that "become all things to all people" without being warped somehow by the world? Is that possible? How do you practically do that without being a people pleaser? (something I fall prey to often)
Also, the book in the bible I am hanging out in right now is probably one my favorites. Romans is written by Paul to the Romans. What a huge task this must have been to him. To write a book to a city so big and powerful at the time that it would be like one of us trying to explain Christianity to the city of New York. IF it were me who had to tell the city of Reno what Christianity is what would I say? Another friend wrote recently in a blog about our worldview and how important it is that we have a proper worldview in order to really be affective. I have been really tripping out on some of the verses this time while really studying this book. The one I have been stuck on for weeks is this one " You therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you , a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgement? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" Romans 2:1-4
That last verse has really been sticking with me first of all because the word tolerance stood out to me and second of all because I have really been trying to find the balance of speaking into others lives with truth but in a way that will draw them closer to Jesus and not futher away.
I guess I haven't ever really thought of God as being tolerant like how the world uses that word so much right now, but He is so tolerant of us all the time. Our humanity in comparison to His soveriegnty is something that requires alot of tolerance on His part.
Another one that is convicting me again, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:9-10 and "If it is possible , as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" vs18
These are hard verses to live by. Sometimes really hard. I want to live by them though because I know they are at the core of what I am supposed to be doing here on this planet.
I am reminded on a daily basis how selfish I am. Having 4 children will reveal that to anyone, but I don't want to look back later on this season and wish that I wouldv'e done more for them or for others, but mostly for Jesus. I know that by loving others I show my love to Him. I want to get that right.

I wonder.....

I was reading in Matthew the other day, and pondering on the man Joseph who built Jesus tomb. My thoughts just kind of got away from me when I read this part,"and he placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock" Matt 27:60 I think that the reason it struck me so deeply is because I have been reading the recent Max Lucado book, Cure For the Common Life. In this book it states that we are all created for a special purpose, given gifts, and talents for a unique task, and that when we find out what that is we find our "sweet spot" in life. Nothing really new that I didn't already know in this book but awesome stories of how some people have come to find out what that sweet spot is.
Well, anyway back to Matthew. As I was reading this verse I was thinking,' I wonder when Joseph was cutting away at this rock , day after day, coming home with bloody knuckles, I wonder if he ever thought in a million years that this stone would hold humanities most precious gift and witness the greatest miracle of all time'. The bible says that Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus, rich, prominent member of council, waiting for the kingdom of God, bold, a good and upright man, a friend to Nicodemus, and that he didn't concent to crucify Christ. That is all the bible states about this man. So I am sure that as he worked on this stone he was thinking that it would make a suitable place for his body and maybe that of his loved ones, but I know he never imagined that thousands of years later people would travel from all over to come and see his workmanship.
Another story that I would like to share is from the Max Lucado book , a riveting story from a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, "As the waters rose around his house , this New Orleanian swam out a window. With two children clinging to his back, the man found safe refuge atop the tallest building in the neighborhood. Other people joined him on the roof. Soon a small circle of people huddled together on what would be their home for three days until they were rescued. After an hour on the building, the man realized he was on a church. He patted the rooftop and announced to the others, "We are on holy ground." His news jogged the memory of another roof dweller. She looked around at the area, crawled over to the steeple, hugged it, and proclaimed, "My grandfather and grandmother helped build this church!"
Do you think those grandparents ever imagined God would use thier work to save thier granddaughter?? They surely prayed for God to use that building to save souls... but they couldn't have imagined he would use it to save thier grandchild from a hurricane. They had no idea how God would use the work of thier hands. Nor do you. "
I am encouraged to know that no matter how small or large the task at hand God has designed each of us for a special purpose. Do you wonder if your work makes a difference? If your life is making a difference??
One final encouraging note from this book "God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed. He cures the common life by giving no common life, by offering no common gifts. "
What a treasure that lies within each of us when we are willing to just be a vessel for God to accomplish His plans and purposes in and through.
I wonder if you all know that God is moving in and through you. I wonder if you know that we serve the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

The Family of God

Family of God you are a gift to me.
Just very thankful for the family God has given me at Hillside(and formerly at the Fountainhead). I am so glad I get to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. Thanks each of you for who you are and how much you love Jesus and His people.
That's all!!! Just sharing the vitamin love!!! (my new favorite phrase)

Psalm 145:9

" He is good to everyone, and his compassion is intertwined with everything he does."

Love Divine

Love's Divine
Then the rain storm came over me
and I felt my spirit break.
I had lost all of my belief you see
and realized my mistake.
But time threw a prayer to me
and all around me became still.

I need Love, Love's Divine
Please forgive me now I sse that I've been blind.
Give me Love, Love is what I need
to help me know my name.

Through the rain storm came sanctuary
and I felt my spirit fly
I had found all my reality
I realized what it takes.

Don't bend
Don't break
Show me how to live and promise me you won't forsake
Cause Love can help me know my name.

Well, I tried to say there's nothing wrong
But inside I felt me lying all along
But the message here was plain to see
BELIEVE ME.

From the artist Seal

So listening to this song from Seal I realized that it is a song I could sing to Jesus. I really love to change my favorite secular songs to be able to sing them to Jesus. He is my Love Divine. He helps me know who I really am(know my name) , He shows me how to live and He HAS promised me that He won't forsake.
1 John 4:16-19
If you want to listen it is the song on my myspace account http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=44451930