“I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend…” -Third Eye Blind
After a working weekend there is nothing more I want to do than to sit down and write. Learning from others and their unique perspectives, struggles, and forward progress speaks volumes in this choosing life and believing better arena. Learning how to make the most of this living full, step by step adventure, while learning from those who are walking through one of the biggest fights of their life. Two comments were said to me…”The better journeys are the harder ones” and “I’ve never had a bad day.” The skeptic in me didn’t jump right on the…they are totally speaking truth train. Who has never had a bad day?
When I think of struggle my mind automatically goes to Job. Now he had several bad days, yet what was it that kept his perspective. His faithfulness…His love and obedience.
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him…” Job 13:15. The KJV says “Yet I will trust Him.” If you’re unfamiliar with Job, He lost everything. Family, wealth, status, health. He questioned. He cried out. He didn’t stuff or pretend. His suffering and hurt was real and apparent yet he trusted and hoped.
“Don’t let who you were keep you from who you are becoming…” -Joyce Meyer
I am learning that God is bigger than our questions. He can handle my honesty. And more than anything He wants true, genuine, relationship. When I first heard about what Jesus did for me personally; when He opened my eyes to who He was; I remember having an elementary thought shortly after. “It’s like giving away free brownies.” Thankfully I’ve since grown from minimizing His love to brownies, but I literally pictured a train and free brownies were being thrown all around. Who wouldn’t want them. What a gift. I guess a part of me equated love with brownies. Or like getting to wear a state championship jacket with your name on it but you never played a second of the game. He won it single handedly. The only player. The only scorer, defender, champion…yet He gives us His jacket. You get to wear the jacket but you didn’t sweat, bleed, take a shot, or even a hit. What manner of love is this. Who can not want to know you more. How couldn’t we go all the way with You. I read that Peace means “nothing is broken and nothing is missing.” That Jesus is our Peace despite any circumstance, condition, care or concern. As I continue on this live full journey I am learning that there are very really places of loss, grief, hardship, unknowns and uncertainties that brownies can never fix. Places of being slayed yet having hope.
Where does our hope come from? Living in the past full of regret, other people and their opinions, fears and failures, status, position, appeal. What’s embroidered on your jacket? What title have you given yourself or others have pegged you for that you think defines you. Where do you believe He is not bigger still?
Psalm 139 tells us…”You have searched me, Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise: you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all of my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” He perceives our thoughts from afar. He sees. He knows. He is familiar with all of our ways. He loves us despite ourselves, our past, our fears and even our sin.
Love changes thoughts, hearts, and behavior. Love changes the atmosphere and motives. Love changes everything. Who or what is trying to pull off the jacket you were given in faith? Where do you think if I just measure up in this area, if this struggle or circumstance would just go away then I’ll be okay? Then I’ll be good enough? Then I’ll have it all together?
I hope your stitching this week is clear and visible.
Accepted. Secure. Forgiven.
Loved. Cherished. Rescued.
Irreplaceable. One of a kind. His idea. The apple of His eye.
Never to be duplicated or repeated. I hope you walk in the light of His love.
Embracing His love and life that He gave for you. His redeeming love that will always be more than enough.
In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado there is a paragraph about the strength of God’s love. I hope you let the questions, fear, and doubt; the guilt and shame that calls your name, melt away as you stay and soak in the reality of His unfailing love.
“You wonder how long my love will last? Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That’s me you see up there, your Maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding. Covered in spit and sin-soaked. That’s your sin I’m feeling. That’s your death I’m dying. That’s your resurrection I’m living. That’s how much I love you.”
I hope as you face this week…you let the sun shine on your jacket. That you remember it’s the harder journeys that are the better ones. As you walk those forward steps of faith; trusting Him more, hoping in Him, knowing that in Him you have everything you need to live the life He has called you to. Full of grace and truth. He will take you where He wants you to go and give you the strength to stand in whatever you may be facing. And as your faith rises; I hope you take those precious moments to Thank Him along the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NqtgE22w58
Love and Hugs,
Kristina
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