movin' on up ...

the morning after the earthquake in haiti, a radio dj was talking about how he had visited indonesia after the tsunami. as his group walked down the streets, they saw people sitting what seemed aimlessly in the middle of the devastation. finally, he had his interpreter ask one man what he was doing. “sitting in my living room,” was his reply. when i heard that, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
immediately i felt like God was saying, “that’s what YOU do.” but i think it is a word that many others can relate to as well. we sit in the rubble of our former lives, not because it’s what we want, but because it’s all we know. we find safety and comfort in the familiarity when, in reality, there is nothing to protect and nowhere to rest our weary, battered hearts and souls. it’s like women who stay or keep finding themselves in abusive relationships. of course they don’t want to be abused, but when it’s the only way they’ve ever related, they don’t know how to attain, let alone function within the realm of healthy relationships. they have a hard time believing that anything better - that a beautiful home with doors and windows and a roof for protection, and furniture to provide them with true warmth and comfort - actually exists, or that they deserve it.

the image of that man in his living room is one i carried with me all week. that sunday, our pastor started a night of worship talking about entering God’s house of praise. i was reminded that, as God’s children, He has prepared a house of praise for us where we can commune with Him and experience fullness of relationship, regardless of what might be going on outside the walls. but we must choose to move in. He says we are chosen and dearly loved (colossians 3:12), but until we truly believe that and come to desire the better life we have been promised as co-heirs with Christ (romans 8:12), we will just keep finding ourselves right back in our rubble. we may need the friendly face of someone here on earth to show us the tangible hands and feet and love of God, proving to us that a better way is available, and reminding us to stay there when we are tempted to return to our former ways, but the choice starts with us.

now, everyone’s rubble is going to look different. what may seem insignificant to one is devastating to another. you may have been there your whole life, just a short while, or out and back countless times. but all that matters is that the rubble exists. you must acknowledge it, accept it, and then choose to move out of it. it may be uncomfortable leaving what you know, but really, how comfortable was it? for those bogged down by life’s rubble, i pray you will not only believe that something better exists, but that you deserve to move in - not as a guest, but as a permanent resident, able to make a home for yourself. and i pray that God will bring you someone to help you on the journey - someone willing to wade through the rubble, to hold your hand as you make your way out, to help you turn your new house into a home, and to make sure that all mail is forwarded to your new address :) and for those who are already able to live in the reality of your new home, may you always remain there, and be that hand to someone who needs it!

satan lives to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life to the full (john 10:10). whether your rubble exists because of what satan has stolen outright, or because of what you have allowed him to steal, God has promised to restore the years that the locusts have eaten (joel 2:25). “instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs (isaiah 61:7).”

disappearing act ...

well, it’s a new year and i’m finally venturing back into the world of blogging ... writing at all, to be honest ... and the lack of reflection/processing is becoming readily apparent in my growing sense of disconnection from myself, and subsequently others ... but that is another entry entirely.



today, i wish you all as smooth a transition as possible back into life after what i hope were blessed holidays, and pray you are able to experience God's mercies as truly new & fulfilling as you venture into what God has for you this year.  even through quite a few tears, it was such a joy to spend time reflecting on just that with many of my dearest friends at life group last night.



first, the leader shared from romans 12: 9-21, and challenged us to to live in such a way, not as a seemingly impossible to-do list, but as points on which to focus in replacing bad habits.



i therefore found it very appropriate when this quote came in an email today:
“bad habits fill needs, so find good alternatives for them.” —  martha beck



then, this site was brought to my attention – http://www.1c13.org/ - and i thought it might provide some encouragement in seeking to walk out your resolutions, which really boil down to better loving God, others, and ourselves in the new year.

the sister love passage of 1 corinthians 13 has been brought up many times in my life lately ... and i have to admit that it has been more discouraging than anything, getting caught up in how far i fall short.  it could be said that romans provides tangible applications for 1 corinthians, but is no less overwhelming.  now, i know that it is in drawing closer to the Father that these things are accomplished, but it was 1 cor 13:10 that provided encouragement for me today ...



WHEN PERFECTION COMES, THE IMPERFECT DISAPPEARS



this takes a load off because 1) perfection is obviously not going to be achieved until we reach heaven.  we're not supposed to be perfect here.  God does not expect that of us, and neither should we expect it of ourselves or each other, and 2) we do have the privilege of experiencing "perfect love" (1 john 4:18) here on earth and when we focus on THAT love, the imperfections – in ourselves & others – disappear. it is through perfect love that we can overcome our fear of man – both personal & public opinion, as was so aptly pointed out – and in laying aside that fear, the implicit promise is that we are “made perfect!” finally, in searching for the ‘perfect love’ verse, it also returned 2 corinthians 13:11, which tells us simply to AIM for perfection and, in so doing, the God OF love will be with us. if He is with us, and we are focusing on His love for us and others, then walking in that love – romans 12 & 1 corinthians 13 – is no longer a checklist but a natural result.

i don’t know about you, but i am still waiting on God to figure out what i resolve for this year. i do, however, know that it needs to involve expecting less perfection, laying aside more fear, and learning to rest in the perfect love through which both of those can be accomplished. i pray the same for you!