After reading 'In my Fathers House' By Corrie Ten Boom, I am faced with the issue on keeping this Christian life simple. That Jesus didn't complicate things. Corrie didn't complicate things. They both went straight to the Father when times were tough, when they were lonely, when they were faced with temptations. The Father was always faithful to provide an answer, it may not have been an answer they were expecting but it was always the correct answer. They both understood a life of forgiveness and hope. Now the question for myself is how do live a life like this? How do I keep it simple? How do I continually life a life in the light? Fixed on the Father? Its dying to myself daily, hourly, minute by minute...
In the book I am currently reading I am faced with the harsh reality of love. I say harsh because I have been really struggling to love those around me. I mean I love them...But loving them as Jesus loves them. Like truly putting my selfishness aside to reach out to them. To bring them to the Father in prayer instead of complaining. To soften my calloused heart and break down walls, to not stress about the little things that don't truly matter in life. To take the plank our of my own eye before i point out the splinter in someone else's.
Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World by Pastor Rudy Rasmus has been quite inspiring. He goes on to talk about a few life lessons that he learned from his Auntie Mae Mae who was a living example of what a true Christian looks like. A woman that fought for what she believed in but always spoke truth with love and grace. Its amazing because each one jumped out on the page as how I need to re-evaulate the way I claim to be living for Christ. I desire to be strong and courageous but loving and sweet at the same time. Speaking with just the right amount of grace and truth.
Engage before Judging- I need to make decisions about people much more slowly. Even down to every situation. Its very important that I take the time to get to know people, that i make an effort to ask if I can help and that I listen. Listening is such a vital part of being a human being. When one has the ability to truly listen it shows that they can be selfless and take their eyes and thoughts off themselves. We as humans don't really like to listen, we like to talk..about ourselves, about our problems, our desires, our dreams. Its time to take our eyes off ourselves and fix them on Jesus. He is the one that will make us more able to love and listen to those around us.
Love before leaving someone's presence- Learn to love EVERYONE around me. Far too often do i think I dont have time or not enough energy or my load is too heavy..but in all actually my load isnt nearly as heavy as the one Jesus carried. He was a lover to all. He always went out of his way to make an effort to all. Why is it so hard to look at His life and think that it isn't obtainable for me. He struggled with every temptation I do and yet was still sinless. Still loved perfectly. Wow. I want this life.
Personal pain is fertile ground to learn to love- THIS IS A BIG ONE! The pain that I seem to be going through is really an opportunity to learn more about God's character and purposes than i have ever imagined. I have been experiencing a lot of personal pain. Wanting to give up. Wanting to throw in the towel and leave Mexico City. Honestly its hard. This personal pain is directly involved with the fact that I am learning to love as Jesus loves and as I am learning I am constantly being refined and corrected in a loving way. My flaws and imperfections are rising to the surface. Its hard but so good at the same time. He is the potter and I am the clay. I do not want to be a cracked cistern. I want to hold water. I want to be used for my purpose. Mold me. Shape me. Fire me. Paint me. Use me.
Real love requires defending the hopeless- In seeing the way Jesus loved, its easy to see that he defended the hopeless. He became the one of the least. He reached out ALWAYS. He always loved. 1 John 4:18
The way I see it, I have two choices, to love OR to fear. I really want to love. I want to be loved. I don't want to go through life with regrets of not loving people the way Jesus loved them. At times this is hard. VERY Hard, We are fallen humans. But whats amazing is His mercies are new every morning. He is a God of grace and forgiveness.
1 Timothy 1:15 says ' Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save the sinners- of whom I am the worst.'
Thank you Jesus for saving me. Thank you for giving me a hope and a future. Thank you for allowing me to be honest and real while walking in the light. I know I am not perfect but I am striving for excellence.
A thousand times I fail, still your mercy remain, should I stumble again still I am caught in your grace...
god is good. all. the. time.
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