The Mountain

My husband and I decided this would be a good year to take our girls snow skiing.  They are now 11, 9, and 7 years old.  I wanted to wait until they were old enough to dress themselves, keep up with their snow gear, and not whine when they got cold (2/3 isn't bad). 

We live nine hours from our ski destination.  As we got closer, the younger two girls began to discuss the mountains.  The last time they were in the mountains, they were 3 years old and 6 months respectively.  By their questions and comments, they obviously didn't remember their trip.  When we were driving through the foot hills, M, the youngest, kept asking, "Are those mountains?"  We kept repeating, "No, not yet."  They couldn't understand the concepts of snow on the mountains, going further up the mountain to ski, and how there could be a town on a mountain.

As we ascended up the winding, steep roads of the "real mountain," the girls began to "ooh and aah."  The mountain amazed the girls.  They began to understand what we told them about the mountain.  They experienced the mountain for themselves.  

The road trip into the mountains reminded me of how we experience God.

1.  Understand God's existence.

Even at a young age, I began to understand God's existence by hearing the stories of the Bible, God's message to us.  God wants us to know Him.  To relate it to our trip, it would be like I got into the car and began driving closer to the mountain (God) with every new understanding of Him through the Bible.  Also, we could have never taken the girls to the mountain.  That wouldn't change the fact that the mountain exists.  Likewise, just because people deny God's existence, doesn't mean there is no God. 

2.  Understand God's awesomeness.

With the process of learning more about God, you realize the majesty of God.  The closer we drove to the mountains, the more aware the girls became of the mountain's majesty.  They also realized how small they are compared to the awesome mountain.  Like the mountains, the further away you are from God, the smaller, less powerful He seems.  You will never understand God's power if you don't "drive towards the mountain."  Remember God provided you the road map (the Bible) and a navigator (the Holy Spirit, the very person of God) to explain the map.

3.  Understand God's invitation.

God wants you to experience His life changing power.  He invites you to "the mountain."  How silly would it have been to drive to the foot of the mountain and tell the girls, "Well, we are here."  If we stayed at the bottom, we never would have experienced the mountain.  Likewise, God doesn't force you to accept Him (drive up the mountain).  He lovingly invites you into a permanent friendship with Him.  He provided a way "up the mountain" through Jesus.  Jesus paid the penalty for your sin so you can stand before a perfect God (experience the mountain).  He wants you to accept His invitation if you haven't already.  http://stacyneus.blogspot.com/2012/04/need-hope.html 

And the final challenge for those who live on the mountain (follower of Jesus):

**Don't keep"the mountain" a secret!

Romans 10:14-15  How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

I've told several people about our trip and the mountain.  We've invited others to join us next time.  When is the last time you invited others into the presence of God?  Maybe they need a "road map" or a friend to explain the plan.  Go with the Good News! 




Linking with The Alabaster Jar, cornerstoneconfessions
 

Need Love?

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Well, it's the week of Luuuvvv (deep voice).  Because I'm married, I should put some thought into Valentine's plans.  But with three young girls, Valentine's on Thurs. night, and a busy week as usual, we may have to celebrate another night.  (Actually day time may be better since I turn into a pumpkin at 10:00 p.m.).  I do need to buy him a card, though (and write in it how sweet he is).

For some people, Valentine's week is hard.  Maybe they have recently lost a life long mate, or a child that they can't say "I love you" to anymore.  Or, their "happily ever after" marriage dream ended too suddenly.  Some remain single, giving up on the love of a mate.

For others, difficult relationships bring disappointment and a disillusionment about others.  People disappoint.  Some even hurt others in different ways.  As a result, sometimes people have a hard time trusting others.  Sadly, for protection, they may not allow other people to get close enough to love them, in fear they will be disappointed or hurt again.  They may think, "And forget loving others, its too painful when others may not love me back as I expect". 

Sadly, when people have been hurt by others, they may think God loves them in same way (not much).  They may feel unlovable.  They may think they don't deserve God's love, which is true.  No one deserves it, God's love is a gift.  Yet , they may try to act lovable, working to gain God's approval.  When someone can't accept God's love for themselves, they will have a hard time loving others. 

The opposite is true.  When people realize what a consuming love God has for them and accept His love, they can begin to love others in return. 

Want to love?  Maybe love again?

Allow God's perfect Love change your heart.     

HOW?

Acknowledge God's Love 

God IS love (His very nature).  I John 4:8 says, " The one who does not love does not know         God, for God is love."

Accept God's Love  John 3:16   “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (NLT)

After you accept God's love, you can then...

Abide in God's Love  John 15:9  says, (Jesus speaking) "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love".

Remain in God's love.  How?  Obedience.  John 15:10 says, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love."

Obey what?

"LOVE ONE ANOTHER"

Obey by action.

Act in God's Love   John 15:12 says, (Jesus speaking) “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (emphasis mine)

Why did God have to command it?

Besides He knows what is best for us, He must command it because it is difficult. I've never demanded my children to eat their dessert. I don't have to because it's too easy.  I do, however, have to demand they eat their veggies before they get dessert. Why? Because sometimes they, "just don't like them," or they "just don't want to," Or, my favorite, they "just don't feel like it." Sounds like my excuses not to love sometimes.  {Aren't you glad Jesus didn't love only when He felt like it.  I think of the time right before His death when He told the Father 'he didn't feel like it' (different words, of course)}  And sometimes we don't want to love because we feel the person doesn't deserve our love.

How should we love?  "Just as I have loved you."  (John 15:12 again)

How did Jesus love you and me? (How he wants us to love others)

He loved us when we didn't deserve it.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (emphasis mine)

He loved me without demanding me to love Him in return.

I John 4:10 says, "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (NLT)  He loved us first!

Oh, and by the way, He loved us by dying.  John 15:13 (Jesus says), "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  (Foretelling His death)

Ask for God's love to love others

John 15:16- 17 (Jesus speaking) says, "¹⁶ You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. ¹⁷ This I command you, that you love one another. (emphasis mine)

And finally,

Approach the day of judgment with confidence in God's Love

I John 4:15-17  ¹⁵ All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. ¹⁶ We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. ¹⁷ And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. (NLT)

God wants you to allow Him to love you.  In turn, You love others.  Where are you in the process?

 

Change of Heart

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Whoo! We survived our first (of many, I hope) weekend of hosting a small group of students from our church for a focused time of following after God. (I could not have done it without my awesome husband who took off a half a day on Friday to prepare for the weekend and bravely endured being greatly outnumbered!) We had eighteen six grade girls and three college girls invade our home Friday night (only half the girls spent the night, thanks to our co-hosts that live around the corner) with various activities in our home, our church, and throughout our community.
Our speaker, Ryan Blackwell from FBC San Francisco*, brought us truth from the book of Jonah all weekend.  We left challenged.  Challenged to run towards God, and not away.  The most challenging question for me this weekend, "If God answered all your prayers as "yes" over the last month, how many more people would be in His kingdom?"  There are so many stories I could share, not only from this weekend, but from the whole last week.

I could share some great opportunities God gave me this week, but I want to share a story of "what not to do."  After hearing a message from Lauren Chandler** at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma State Evangelism conference last Tues., I was feeling pretty good about myself.  She spoke about two different "trees" from Isaiah 58.  I won't share her whole message (you should hear it sometime, though), but I left thinking I was a "humble tree" as she described, not the "proud tree."  It's amazing how quickly my heart can change from a humble heart to a prideful heart just by thinking, "look how humble I am"...pride (a huge struggle of mine) Ugh!

It gets worse.  The next day I took my girls to Target to get some new socks.  I had a battle with my nine-year-old about which socks to purchase (a whole other blog).  When she finished her "two-year-old" fit, we stood in a ridiculously long line.  By then, I had no intentions of spilling hope to anyone around me.  In fact, I was spilling a nasty, impatient attitude. 

It gets worse.  Two young ladies in their early twenties stood behind us in line.  They had bleached blond hair, dressed inappropriately for public (in my modest, judging opinion.  Oh no, I'm now judging).  Then they begin a conversation I couldn't help but overhear about the last party they attended.  I tried to ignore them until one of them used a word we don't use in our house.  I turned and glared.  I used "the look" my mom taught me.  The one she used  when I got out of control sitting in the audience in the church on a Sunday morning.  She would give the "the look" from the choir, and I would straighten up immediately (well, sometimes it took a few glares).  One of the girls responded immediately "Oh. Sorry."  I felt justified in protecting my young ones' ears.

Sadly, it wasn't until the next day when I let the Lord speak to my heart.  He pointed out that I was acting like the "proud tree" when I rebuked the young ladies.  He said, "They don't need a new wardrobe, or even a new vocabulary.  They need a new heart.  Yes, they showed what was in their heart, but so did you.  Your proud, judgemental attitude will never change a person's heart.  I want you to have a heart like Jesus, a heart of compassion towards those who don't know me.  You can't change a heart, but I can." Then I asked God to forgive me and give me a change of heart. 

Oh, and by the way.  God reminded me that I used the same word the girl used that elicited my "glare" just last month IN CHURCH.  For Christmas, we same an old version of a song that didn't use the word "donkey."  I did maintain my composure when the word flashed on the screen.  Maybe I didn't need to glare at "that word".  

What I want:
1) Eyes that see others like God sees.
2) A Heart that loves others like God loves.
3) A Voice that speaks Hope (Help Others Prepare for Eternity) into the lives of others.

 What about you?  Do you have the Hope God offers? Do you need HOPE?  If you are a follower of Jesus, do you have a heart of compassion or judgement?  Are you spilling Hope to others around you?

*Ryan Blackwell, Senior Pastor at FBC San Francisco, CA
**Lauren Chandler





Linked to: Cornerstone Confessions, A Holy Experience