Worn and FREE

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." ~Galatians 5:1

 On Thursday, I got the opportunity to attend Winter Jam. I haven't been there for a few years so it was good to go back. My friend, Jessica, and I had some pretty memorable moments besides getting to worship our God with some awesome bands as one body of believers. We were blessed and COMPLETELY shocked to have been chosen to meet Lecrae. Ahh, it was crazy good!! :) "From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." ~John 1:16 (NLT)

Lecrae shared with us (and about 15 others) backstage what living unashamed is all about. Romans 1:16

I really appreciated Tenth Avenue North and the grace-filled messages they shared between their songs. The one song in particular "Worn" is a good reminder to let "heaven flood our eyes". In the midst of being tired and worn out from all that life and the world throws at us, our cry to the Lord is that He would "let us see REDEMPTION win". The struggle will end. We win through Him. Here are the complete lyrics to this song:

Worn- Tenth Avenue North
I'm tired 
I'm worn 
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes 
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

I know I need 
To lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won't let up
And I know that You can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

And my prayers are wearing thin
I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight
I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes 

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn
Though I'm worn 
Yeah I'm worn

Another one of my favorite songs from the band is "The Struggle". My favorite line in the song is "Hallelujah we are free to struggle, we're NOT struggling to be free. Your blood bought and made us children, children drop your chains and sing!"

Bottom line: We are FREE! We are children purchased by the only One who could pay the cost. The perfect One. Jesus. He gave up everything to make us FREE. We don't have to struggle to be free. The chains that have kept us bound are broken by the only One who could break them. Jesus. Our own efforts to break the chains of fear, past failures, rejection, pride, self-righteousness and sin will amount to nothing. We have nothing on our chains, but we have EVERYTHING in the One who has already broken every single one. 

So the choice comes down to, will we walk around living like we're still bound or will we throw off the chains and walk in freedom and victory in Christ who has broken every chain that was and will be. Even when we walk around acting like we can do life with chains on, God in His great mercy and grace is waiting. He's waiting for a complete surrender. I love the way He forgives always. Forgives me when I try to be my own hero. Patient when I think I can break my own chains. God is love. He desires for us to walk in His freedom and love all the days of our lives.

We will still feel worn, crushed and tired day-to-day or through seasons, but we are not overcome. We can choose to throw off the chains that once bound us. Christ has made us completely FREE. Holding onto the chains is exactly what Satan wants us to do. He knows that if we're caught up in those we will not be able to move forward. We will be worn out with no will to fight. Christ says amidst our mistakes "we are more than conquerors through Him". Amidst our weak moments "we are more than conquerors through Him." Amidst our feelings of insignificance "we are more than conquerors through Him." We are free because of nothing we have done. We are free because of everything Christ has done. 

We can be worn, but we are FREE!

We're all free in Christ together. In it together for the long haul. Let's live it. To God be the glory!

Here's the video to The Struggle by Tenth Avenue North. Enjoy!

Two Wooden Roses

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! ~Psalms 113:2

4 years ago I underlined and scratched out a quick note in the margin of my Bible on page 510. "Wooden handmade and painted roses". Psalms 113:2-3 stuck out to me in a new way. I had spent some time one afternoon with my Grandma and her friend, Gerry. Gerry was full of gladness and joy. After spending a couple hours with her, I felt like we were old friends. Just walking around her house I could plainly see that she thinks about all the little ways God speaks to her and wants to bless her heart. She loves doing life with the Lord. She had a purpose and a story to just about every little thing in her home…right down to why she placed an item in a certain place. Real home museum. Real grace shown. Everyday belongings didn’t seem so ordinary anymore. I could see how Gerry not only made her heart God’s home, but also the physical roof above her head and everything taking up space between the four walls belonged to Him. She lived in His sanctuary. She breathed in every gift He had given to her. She lives to show that God gives ordinary things purpose. 

As we moved down to her basement we came across her craft corner. She told me she had something for me then reached down in a box. She pulled out a foil package and handed it to me. Inside were two handmade wooden roses. Painted wooden roses. She proceeded to tell me that she wants me to keep them and think about what they represent. She told me, you represent one rose and God is the other. Remember that you were handmade by God. Unique and made in His image. Remain by His side all the days of your life. The colors of the roses remind you of the sunshine. “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” ~Psalms 113:3 The foil was embracing these two wooden roses. She challenged me to reflect Jesus wherever I go.

Wow. Two wooden roses were not just two wooden roses anymore. They had purpose. Something ordinary now revealing splendor. We ended our time up in her sun room a.k.a her prayer room. We finished chatting, prayed together, hugged, then Grandma and I made our way out the front door, meandered through her little garden, and drove away, glancing back at Gerry’s house in the rear view mirror.

As I was cleaning my room yesterday, I saw the two roses sitting together high on a shelf. They have become dusty, but their meaning shines on. Although I haven’t seen or talked to Gerry since that day, I've not forgotten the message behind those two roses. She planted a seed in my heart and I’m grateful for that. I was blessed to meet Gerry, a woman who readily seeks out ways to highlight God’s truths and purposes in everyday things. She encouraged me that God wants to be a part of everything in my life. He is our foundation.

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? ~Psalms 113:1-6.Friends, may we never stop praising the Name above ALL names. The Lord has done great things. Sun up to sun down, He alone deserves our praise. Remember that you were handmade by the God of the universe. You are unique and God has given you gifts and a PURPOSE. You are not an accident. God has breathed life into you “for such a time as this”~ Esther 4:14. He desires to have a relationship with you. We cannot be satisfied with anyone/anything else, but Him. His presence is what we long for. His love never lets us go. He is faithful.

Be blessed and walk forth this week proclaiming the glory of the Lord- sun up to sun down.

HOPE

HOPE. To trust and believe something will come to be. In a few words, that’s how I would define it. HOPE. When circumstances might tell you otherwise, HOPE gives reason to believe in change. A new reality. Something is shifting, weight is lifted and change is breaking forth. Transformation. HOPE transforms. Hope transforms mindsets, habits, lifestyles, hearts and relationships. Hope transforms US. God is HOPE. When we place our hope in Him, our hope is secure. We can be sure. We are full and spilling over with hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13 MMmm good!!

I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future. ~Ralph Abernathy

HOPE. Walking by faith and not sight.

This past week, I got the opportunity to take a short trip to Grand Rapids to visit my dear friend, Julie, and her husband, Nate. They are visiting in the states for a short while before they go back to their home in Mozambique, Africa. They are part of an organization called “I Reach Africa”.http://www.ireachafrica.org/ Julie is an amazing lady with a passionate heart for the Lord, people and kiddos.

Julie in action

5th graduating class of Preschoolers from her school

I will save my Africa story for another time, but it’s friendships like mine and Julie’s that reminds me that God is so much bigger than I can think and imagine. How he can orchestrate and connect lives is astounding. I thank Him for allowing my path to cross with my beautiful sister in Christ.

Julie and I met in 2007 in Redding, CA

Mozambique, Africa 2012

March 2014

While my visit with Nate and Julie was short, it was a sweet chill time hanging out and seeing some Grand Rapids sights. We decided to check out the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park because their butterfly exhibit was open. What a great thing to help hurry Spring along! It was lovely.

Metamorphosis. Physical transformation. From egg to caterpillar, chrysalis to butterfly. Amazing, God-made process. Every detail fits together to complete the puzzle. A work of art. I’m blown away by the creative God I serve. Julie and I camped out by the "Release Platforms"  for awhile to get a close up look at these miracles.

Hope birthed from the unimaginable. Hope is a miracle. Every step in the process for the butterfly is necessary. When we walk in the truth of what’s coming, we are walking out hope. Christ, in all His glory, is coming for His bride. Everyone who has confessed Jesus as Lord and has been forgiven has been given a new heart. We are changed- pure, spotless, blameless & redeemed. 

“Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who through our faith has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience.” ~Romans 5:1-3

We are partakers of God’s glory. The hope of glory. One day.

Whatever is pressing in around us, whatever is stripped of us, the pain in waiting, it’s all worth it. Miracle in the making. The hope of glory.

My favorite beauty of the day- Leopard Lacewing

Thank you Lord for this beautiful reminder: I’m being made new. A work in progress. The process is the miracle. The end- glory sharer. Amazing.

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly” –Anonymous

Friends, hope in Christ alone. Our life journey is shaping and molding us. There is purpose in every pain and every joy. Christ is changing us to look more like Him. Only and always for His glory.

Be encouraged… and think spring! :)

When your heart hurts- God is still enough

Because he was FULL of grace and truth, from him we all received one gift after another. ~John 1:16

Life is a breath. A vapor. Precious. Every day is a gift. Every moment undeserved grace. Time is how we mark the moments. Time is how we pace ourselves. Time is everything. God is over everything.

Broken clock resting on my shelf to remind me to remain broken and to rest in God’s timing and let Him be God

God has been really working on my heart the past couple of weeks in the area of trust. Who am I putting my trust in? What do I trust? Lately it hasn’t always been in Him alone. Some waves have rolled in and rocked my world. The easiest thing for me to do is try to fix it and work through it in my own strength.  Then when I’m weary and can’t take one more step I fall back into God’s arms of grace. And sometimes I fall hard. But I’m there. I’m there where I’m always meant to be. I’m there where I’m known. I’m there and safe. Time and time again, I forget. And time and time again, He reminds me. Grace takes away the striving and allows me to be broken. When I’m broken, I can be made whole.

“You (God) never hesitate, to wrap us in endless grace, when we’re in Your arms.” – In Your Arms- Meredith Andrews. This song came on my Pandora station when I shut myself in my room after a rough day. I’d never heard it before, but it was absolutely what my heart needed to hear at that moment. God’s timing is perfect. I even took a picture so I wouldn’t forget that moment. A snapshot of one more time God showed His faithfulness. One more time He showed that He sees every detail. One more time to prove that He is an ever- PRESENT help in time of need. ~Ps. 46:1

When life rocks our boat- our security, God is our anchor. He is holding us still. He is our hope. In those moments, God shows us that we’re not meant to do anything apart from Him. He sustains us. We have to become undone to see that Christ has done everything. For us He paid it all. It is finished. Our past, present and future struggles and rough patches have already been mended by our heavenly Father. When I don’t know where to look for help, I must look to His face. I might still feel unqualified, but I must trust that I’m being carried in grace and truth. I’m carried by the One that gives one gift after another.

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     Above: Gifts I received this past week from people God’s placed in my life to encourage me that I’m where God’s called me to be. They’ve reminded me that hurting for others is a beautiful thing and every small thing done in love will make a lasting impression. They might not know they reminded me of all that, but it’s true. I’m so blessed to have people in my life who take the time to find ways to bless and warm my soul.

Rest and know that you’re carried today and always by our God of grace and truth! God knows what He’s doing. Much love!