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Fullness of Christ

From "The Valley of Vision." I found this to be quite beautiful.

Thou hast taught me
that Christ has all fullness and
so all plenitude of the Spirit,
that all fullness I lack in myself is in him,
for his people, not for himself alone,
he having perfect knowledge, grace,
righteousness,
to make me see,
to make me righteous,
to give me fullness;
that it is my duty, out of a sense of emptiness,
to go to Christ, possess, enjoy his fullness as mine,
as if I had it in myself, because it is for me in him;
that when I do this I am full of the Spirit,
as a fish that has got from the shore to the sea
and has all fullness of waters to move in,
for when faith fills me, then I am full;
that this is the way to be filled with the Spirit,
like Stephen, first faith, then fullness,
for this way makes me most empty,
and so most fit for the Spirit to fill.
Thou hast taught me that the finding of
this treasure of all grace in the field of Christ
begets strength, joy, glory,
and renders all graces alive.

Help me to delight more in what I receive from Christ,
more in that fullness which is in him,
the fountain of all his glory.
Let me not think to receive the Spirit from him as a ‘thing’ apart from finding, drinking, being filled with him.

To this end, O God,
do thou establish me in Christ,
settle me, give me a being there,
assure me with certainty that all this is mine,
for this only will fill my heart with joy and peace.

Compassion so great...

I am a self proclaimed nerd. If given the chance, 9 times out of 10 I would rather sit on my back patio and read a book. My perfect day would consist of a lot of reading, crafts, and coffee/tea (probably too much of both). There are just some days that being an introvert sounds beautiful.

So, while I love to read, I love to really soak it all in and make it more of an experience. Especially when I read the Scriptures. I love to let the words take me in, and transform me. I love the opportunity to learn and stretch myself even more. Since I am a teacher, none of you should be surprised.

This morning I was reading Jeremiah 31. The chapter begins with Israel being restored, and there is also a lot of lamenting, but also a lot of hope, because the mourning will become joy.

I found myself entranced with Ephraim and the moment of sadness. He is frustrated because of his sin, and FINALLY realizes that his closeness to God isn't possible on his own accord. He needs help. He has this really sincere moment with the Lord where he bares it all and submits to the Lords power and mercy to transform him. Verse 20 is where I got excited...

Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him,”
declares the Lord.

The word compassion stopped me. ...I found it to be profound, so I decided to figure out more.

This word --- splangchnizomai is Greek and means "to be moved with compassion."

This word --- splangchna is the noun is derives from and it means "inward parts." I thought of 'a gut reaction'...or being 'moved'...or something like that as I read. Almost a superficial kind of compassion. As I thought of that I knew that couldn't be the same kind of compassion that my God has for Ephraim and for me. I think it's much different than any type of pity or sympathy I initially feel for Ephraim as I read this chapter.

The Lord of hosts is compassionate in a 'heart torn, gut wrenched, most vulnerable part of his body laying bare,' kind of way.

Isn't that wonderful? The God who made it all, has that kind of compassion for His children! I just have to remember in the busy-ness that each day brings, I can't do it on my own. Like Ephraim realized his closeness to God was nothing if God wasn't part of the equation, my closeness to God also depends on a constant communion with Him.

This morning I have a grateful heart. I'm grateful for Jeremiah 31, and the way God used Ephraim to wake me up to His promises this morning.

A Ragamuffin of Sorts

Last night as I drove home from a friends house, the Lord really grabbed my attention.

I was on a main road, driving back to my cozy little house as I drove under an overpass. To my right, I saw a man with a shopping cart and a couple of bags full of what appeared to be all of his belongings. He was laying on the ground sleeping. I've seen this man there for the past few weeks and I haven't had a second thought about his situation. Last night I found myself thinking "that must be humiliating..." and then in true girl fashion, the tears began to fall because I was making such a hasty generalization. Now, I'm not sure that this man woke up one morning and thought to himself, "I'd really like to live under I-540, and sleep on the cold ground..." No, I don't think that was his thought process at all.

I, my friends, make snap judgments and it is really hard for me to go back on them once they enter my mind. I really dislike this, because it robs the beauty of a story created by God, the intricate details of a journey that we are each on. When I am making these judgments, I am in essence, trying to write a portion of a strangers story and that's not my place. I am not anyone's savior- and sometimes I forget that, because I like to 'fix' and make things better.

In that brief moment as I drove under the overpass, I chose to write a portion of this man's story and title it 'humiliating.' I was critical of his current situation, and in my head immediately decided that God couldn't use that portion of Walnut Street to write a man's beautiful story.

THEN, I got home and was doing some reading before bed, and Brennan Manning got my attention with this thought:

"A person, in real sense, is what he or she sees. And seeing depends on our eyes. Jesus uses the metaphor of eyes more often than that of minds or wills. The old proverb, "The eyes are the windows of the soul," contains a profound truth. Our eyes reveal whether our souls are spacious or cramped, hospitable or critical, compassionate or judgmental. The way we see other people is usually the way we see ourselves. If we have made peace with our flawed humanity and have embraced our ragamuffin identity, we are able to tolerate in others what was previously unacceptable in ourselves."

In Acts 26:17-18 Jesus is talking to Paul, and he says...

'delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

My prayer from all of this, is that my flawed self would remember that I am just that...flawed, but through God's grace I am made whole again. That I would look to each person as a gift, with a story, and praise God that the journeys we are on have intertwined for a little while, because (thank goodness) the Lord is a better writer than I am.

Blessings.
C

Something New

Summers are typically the time of year that I escape, and head to camp. I have spent the past 5 summers at camp, and to not be there right now is weird. While camp does, and always will hold a special place in my heart, I was really excited to just spend a few weeks there and then come back and relax until school started again.

As my time at camp ended, that excitement started to fade, and I became more hesitant about removing myself from the camp ministry for the time being, and plugging into a much more low-key summer. I was anxious because I knew the amount of down time my introverted self would have. (There are only so many Pinterest DIY projects I can fill my walls with.) I was also excited/nervous about nannying two boys I had never met.

After my roller-coaster of a year, I knew when I decided to stay in Arkansas for another year that the immense peace I felt in my heart was provided by the Lord. I knew when He provided opportunities for me to have a little part-time job (so I don't go stir-crazy) that the Lord was using that to affirm that I am right where I am supposed to be, and my needs are of first importance to Him, and His provision comes at just the right time.

Even after being gone for only a month, when I came back a week ago I was welcomed with so much LOVE. I have developed really wonderful friendships, and the Lord used that to remind me, again, that I am in the midst of something beautiful that He has me here for.

My prayer, as I continue to embark on this type of summer that has become so unfamiliar to me is that I would meditate over these Scriptures, and that these words would dwell in me deeply as I walk through each day the Lord has made.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV)

I am SO excited to have even more time to be intentional with the friendships that mean so much to me AND work on the stack of books that I keep neglecting on my book shelf.

 Love you all!
C

A Rainy Sunday...

"I'll never forsake you...My love never ends."


Cannot get these words out of my head.


Last night at church Justin spoke on The Purpose of the Gospel. God's wisdom was flowing out of that guy as he humbly spoke on Ephesians 2:4-10. I was literally at the edge of my seat soaking it all in.


"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."


The person who brought us from death to life has done this for His glory - to show the immeasurable riches of His grace.


Justin spoke a lot about how equipped we are. My mind kept going to Numbers where God used a donkey to speak, and make His point. Sometimes I have to tell myself, if a donkey can do it, I can do it.


When Jesus and His disciples fed the 5,000, Jesus handed each disciple food and they took it to a group of people. Jesus handed the disciples exactly what they needed to serve Him in that situation - to do a good work. We aren't saved by good works, but we are saved for good works - to glorify God and make His name known.


Jesus gave the disciples just what they needed to feed 5000 + and He will do the same for me, for you. We will be given exactly what we need for the good works we are called to do because of the Good Work he did for us on the cross.


I am 100% confident that the God who used a cross for salvation will never forsake us, and can use our broken lives for His glory providing all we need to make it possible - because His love and provision never fails.


Humbled.

I'm on a blogging kick...

I really do love the idea of blogging, but I hate the idea of sitting down and blogging. I think I may focus less on extravagant blogs full of what I am learning. Instead, I think I will post shorter, more frequent posts with snippets of things that have been good for my soul.

And even when I fall I'll get back up

For the joy that overflows my cup.

Grace.