Living Life for Christ Alone

"'That is the only really satisfactory way of dealing with evil, not simply binding it so that it cannot work harm, but whenever possible overcoming it with good.'" - (Hinds Feet on High Places) ---- "I realized that there is purpose in the pain," I said to my friend as we chatted about my life as a foster mom. I had just been explaining how sad I had been about the whole situation. How heavy the first couple months were.  I didn't know if I could keep living in it. It seemed too heavy for me.  But for some reason, the weight lifted when I realized in a deeper way that there is a purpose in the pain that comes with fostering.  A purpose that goes far beyond just the good that I imagine can come out of it.  --- The enemy is in the business of ripping families apart. I don't know if you've ever noticed that, but it is one of his specialties.  And we have waded into his territory.  Fostering isn't just ministry. It's warfare.  --- "You ...

In only a few days we will be flying down to Central America for a nine-day mission trip.  And then we will come home and life as we know it will be rapidly changing as we finish the licensure process for becoming foster parents and begin that new adventure.  Imminent change, no matter how exciting, always has me pondering, processing, thinking...  And then there has been the extra-long to-do list that I have been working on (and then adding to) every chance I get.  Yet, in the middle of this whirlwind of thoughts and to-do's, a nail-pierced hand beckons me to gaze steadily heavenward and allow my soul to rest quietly with Him. A whisper here, something someone said there, a passage from scripture, a phrase from a book... little messages rustling like a calming breeze over a troubled soul.  It's Him, inviting me into His heart -for this is where He has wanted me to come all along. //  "I don't care what God does. It's what God is  that I care abou...

"...I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is...." (Colossians 2:2) How would you finish that sentence?  I think some might launch into a long theological answer. Others might simply say, "to get glory for Himself."  Some might recite some creed they memorized a long time ago. Still more might be stumped and say nothing. Another might talk about the big dreams they believe God has for them. I'm not saying none of these are good or needed.... But what if God's mysterious plan was something incredibly simple?  What if He wants us to get our focus off of doctrine and theology alone and onto something far deeper, that touches the heart?  What if He wants us to stop pursuing some incredibly high calling, or spiritual greatness and turn our attention elsewhere?  What if He means for us to be completely awestruck with His mysterious plan because it's incredibly simple, yet profound?  Alright, alright... wha...

"'...You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed , and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" (Jesus to Martha in Luke 10:41-42) How complicated life can become!  At one moment, we are on a mountaintop and see everything clearly, and then as we wade into life's many deep waters, perspective can easily be replaced with foggy thinking.  Confession time: I found myself here this last week... It wasn't fun to have gone from such clarity to so much fog so easily.  The mountaintop of clarity was quickly replaced with a pit of sluggish mud that seemed to drag my feet down, down, down... away from simplicity, which had  been producing joy.  The worries Martha was experiencing are the types of worries I was starting to experience all. the. time.  Let's see... How did Jesus put it? "You are worried and troubled about many things."  Ugh. That's  SO  me.  How do I explain?  ...Well, ...

We naturally desire to be loved, and often, the only way to find love from others is to prove to them we are worth loving... Haven't you ever felt that way? "That person won't love me until I..." ...And then you go and do it. After that, you have love that you worked  for. You earned  it because you did exactly what you knew he or she wanted you to do. That love is conditional, because the next time you mess up and don't do what they wanted, you've lost it -that respect you earned, that love you thought you had, gone. Conditional love is very fragile. If you live to have that kind of love, your life is very fragile. Your joy comes in small doses, doses that depend on you.  That joy is not real joy, because it is easily taken over when you fail to measure up. There is, however, a love that is completely opposite. This love is a love that lives to pursue. It is the love of God.... it is God Himself, because God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16)