I have been thinking a great deal about this concept of redemption the last few days. I think it started from watching ESPN's Youngstown Boys. It was a documentary type program about Maurice Clarett and Jim Tressel. It was SO good. If you haven't seen it please check out ESPN to see if they are replaying it.
While watching the replays of the '02-'03 season, especially the Michigan game and the National Title Game, Dave and I got goosebumps several times. We forgot just how insane that season was! There were so many close games! It was low scoring back then. A few that stood out were the Purdue game where the final score was 10-6. 10-6 people! That was the famous "holy Buckeye" game. Then you have the Penn State game (I was at that game!)...13-7. We beat Wisconsin by only five, Illinois in OT, and the 12th ranked Wolverines by five points. That was the good ole days of defense! The Michigan score was 14-9. Back then there was not a Big Ten title game so we knew that if we could clinch the win in The Game we were headed to the NTG in Tempe. When the replays of the Miami game came on Dave and I were able to reminisce about the interception in the end zone, Maurice's strip, the pass interference call on Chris Gamble, the final score by Maurice Clarett, and the goal line stand. What a year that was!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6LiLngusVM
Your welcome.
Okay, enough of reliving the good ole days. The premise of the show is a close and personal look at the life of Maurice Clarett. If your not familiar with him here is the short of it. He took the football field by storm that season. He was a true freshman and was a rock star in Columbus, Ohio. Watching the replays I was reminded just how insanely talented he was. Really the sky was the limit for him. He was living a professional football life in college and soon fell out of favor in Columbus and was eventually kicked off the team. He sued the NFL for early entry in the league, but lost the case. He tried out for the Broncos a few years later and completely bombed at the combine. The story documents his downward spiral that eventually landed him in prison sentenced to 7-1/2 years and then his rise back up. If you are from Ohio you remember the sad mug shot of a once hero. It was sad. Buckeye football went on though and Maurice was all but forgot about.
Youngstown Boys doesn't go into too great of detail about what really changed Maurice's life. I was curious so I did some searching online and on Facebook and Twitter. His posts seem to be very inspirational with references to God. I also noticed on his personal website that he was doing guest speaking at churches all over Ohio. I found a few podcasts and videos. I watched them and was soooooo amazed. This guy found Jesus Christ and his life completely changed. His testimony is absolutely incredible. Actually his whole story is absolutely incredible. My mind cannot fathom growing up in the environment he did or living the life he did. In a testimony he gave at a church he talks about the process of finding Jesus and the men in his life that mentored him. He talks about finally understanding that Jesus could make him a new creation. He tells a story about not having a home and not being able to find one because he is a convicted felon. God worked it out and one landlord was willing to give Maurice a chance at renting her apartment. The whole story is so touching. There is something completely endearing about him. He also tells some pretty sweet stories about the '03 title run!
Redemption- 1. improving of something: the act of saving something or somebody from a declined, dilapidated, or corrupted state and restoring it, him, or her to a better condition
2. redeemed state: the improved state of somebody or something saved from apparently irreversible decline
3. atonement for human sin: deliverance from the sins of humanity by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross
The dictionary gave me the definition for redemption that is above. After reading it I thought number three should be number one. It is the foundation for true redemption, for true change. Maurice explained how he believed in God, but couldn't come to terms with his past sin. He said he finally understood that Jesus Christ was what he needed. Number three on the list simply explains what the ultimate redemption is. It is the atonement of our sins, through Jesus' death on the Cross. Maurice also goes into great detail about how a mentor taught him to apply the Scriptures to real life, especially life on the other side meaning outside of the prison walls. He mentions how he felt completely hopeless and depressed. His circumstances appeared to be irreversible as the number two definition states.
You see we can't ever be truly improved without Jesus. We can act better and contribute to society, but that bridge between our sin and God can't be closed without Jesus. One of my favorite verses is 2nd Corinthians 5:17. It reads, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here." How great is that! I can say that I have never, ever experienced anything in life like Maurice Clarett has. I have no idea about that level of misery and depravity. The truth is though, sin is sin. Big sins and little sins are just something we label. In God's eyes sin is sin. Any sin separates from God. Redemption is such a beautiful word. When it comes out of Jesus' mouth it is a life-giving word. I would venture to say Maurice would agree.
http://184.154.122.108/~mycchur/mauriceclarett.php
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Words, Words, and More Words
Hey all! I hope you all are doing well. Christmas is sneaking up on us, isn't it? It's a wonderful time of year for so many reasons. The first of course, is celebrating the birth of our Savior. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I have been missing snow. I miss the feeling of Christmas with the snow, chilly weather, and cozy nights with the fireplace on. It just doesn't feel the same with a temperature of 70 outside. Today is 43 and drizzly...pretty much like Ohio weather minus the beautiful snow days.
I promise to get to my point, but have to give you the lead up to it so you can understand my thought process. Something AWFUL happened this weekend. It started at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday night. If you are from Ohio you will totally get what I'm saying. Ohio State lost. I know, I know if your not an tOSU fan you probably 1. don't care, or 2. are glad we lost. Here is the deal though. I have no animosity to Sparty. Actually, I kind of like Sparty. _ichigan folk are torn between TTUP (That Team Up North, i.e. _ichigan) and _ichigan State. 'Little brother' ruined all our hopes and dreams of playing in the Title Game and to some extent, thinking we would never, ever lose as long as Urban Meyer was our coach. Quite frankly, I dreaded getting to the Big Dance and being embarrassed yet again. I could go on and on about how our defense stinks and Carlos Hyde should have been given the ball to get that 4th and 2 with about five minutes to go in the game.
I love ESPN and couldn't resist checking it out after our game. If your a Buckeye you are used to getting zero love on ESPN. I read a few articles about our game and I couldn't help but scroll down to the comments. I do this pretty often because the comments are usually pretty entertaining when the sarcasm isn't directed at my team. All the comments I read were not written by Ohio State fans. Some people were funny with their comments, but others were just down right sarcastic and mean. One person said they hated Urban Meyer and was glad tOSU lost. Another person speculated that Meyer would probably call 911 after the game because he thought he was having another heart attack. One poster said that Urban Cryer would probably fake another heart problem and quit because he knew his team sucked all in guise that he needed a break and time with his family. According to one person he knew his Gator team was terrible so he quit because he was "sick." Oh and he left the SEC because he was afraid of Nick Saban and he knew he could win in the B1G.
Before you think I'm too serious let me propose this. Maybe our words have power. Maybe they really matter. Some people claim to be "brutally honest" when in reality they are just being jerks. Contrary to popular belief we are not entitled to sharing our opinion. I 100% believe in freedom of speech by all means. What God has been showing me over the last few years is that our words are powerful. We are not entitled to spew out everything that comes into our heads. I have found this a huge challenge as my personal health trial has gone on and on. I get in crappy moods and just want to "vent." Usually my dear husband is the recipient of this venting. Poor guy. He wants me to share my heart with him, but he does hold me accountable for my words and the heart behind them.
Proverbs 18:21) The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 1:19) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...
Romans 14:11) It is written: "As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."
The above Bible verses show us how important words are. The old saying "sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you" is so untrue. A hurtful word to a child can impact them for life. Jumping to assumptions about a person rather than really listening to their side of the story can break up a friendship. One day our tongues will acknowledge the Lord. Our words mean something. This morning I was listening to Joyce Meyer on my walk. She's such a hoot and is such an amazing teacher. The series was titled, "Your Mouth and God's Power." The premise of the teaching was that our words impact others around us and ourselves. She teaches that we need to get into agreement with what God says and not what we feel, think, see, or what others say about us. We may feel unlovable and worthless because something told us we were, but God says I am the apple of His eye (Deut. 7:6) and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). There are some symptoms that I'm still dealing with that are very difficult. I can't even fathom not living with them. It seems impossible that they could be relieved eventually. Matthew 19:26 says, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So my time is better spent speaking what God says and not what I feel.
Joyce even described how I can actually block God's power and anointing in my life with my negative speech. She described a time when she was critical of a fellow preacher. She felt their preaching wasn't direct enough and they were not good at holding the sermon together to teach a main point. She voiced this to her husband. After that she started having a very hard time preaching. She just dreaded having to teach and couldn't wait until it was over. She had never felt this way before. Weeks went past and she couldn't shake the feeling. She prayed and prayed and God seemed silent. Finally her husband said he thought it had something to do with her critical attitude. She prayed and fasted the following day and God revealed the same thing to her. I thought that story was fascinating!
It was interesting to hear these sermons after reading all the hateful comments about Urban Meyer. Reading them really got me thinking about the issue. Hearing Joyce cemented what God was trying to teach me and still is. When I'm frustrated, discouraged, angry, whatever I must speak words of trust in God, faith, hope, and peace. I want my words to impact the people around me in a positive way. I want them to feel hope and peace. I want them to feel better about themselves and be encouraged. I have a loooooong way to go, but with God I can get there and so can you.
....and at least we beat _ichigan. :-)
I promise to get to my point, but have to give you the lead up to it so you can understand my thought process. Something AWFUL happened this weekend. It started at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday night. If you are from Ohio you will totally get what I'm saying. Ohio State lost. I know, I know if your not an tOSU fan you probably 1. don't care, or 2. are glad we lost. Here is the deal though. I have no animosity to Sparty. Actually, I kind of like Sparty. _ichigan folk are torn between TTUP (That Team Up North, i.e. _ichigan) and _ichigan State. 'Little brother' ruined all our hopes and dreams of playing in the Title Game and to some extent, thinking we would never, ever lose as long as Urban Meyer was our coach. Quite frankly, I dreaded getting to the Big Dance and being embarrassed yet again. I could go on and on about how our defense stinks and Carlos Hyde should have been given the ball to get that 4th and 2 with about five minutes to go in the game.
I love ESPN and couldn't resist checking it out after our game. If your a Buckeye you are used to getting zero love on ESPN. I read a few articles about our game and I couldn't help but scroll down to the comments. I do this pretty often because the comments are usually pretty entertaining when the sarcasm isn't directed at my team. All the comments I read were not written by Ohio State fans. Some people were funny with their comments, but others were just down right sarcastic and mean. One person said they hated Urban Meyer and was glad tOSU lost. Another person speculated that Meyer would probably call 911 after the game because he thought he was having another heart attack. One poster said that Urban Cryer would probably fake another heart problem and quit because he knew his team sucked all in guise that he needed a break and time with his family. According to one person he knew his Gator team was terrible so he quit because he was "sick." Oh and he left the SEC because he was afraid of Nick Saban and he knew he could win in the B1G.
Before you think I'm too serious let me propose this. Maybe our words have power. Maybe they really matter. Some people claim to be "brutally honest" when in reality they are just being jerks. Contrary to popular belief we are not entitled to sharing our opinion. I 100% believe in freedom of speech by all means. What God has been showing me over the last few years is that our words are powerful. We are not entitled to spew out everything that comes into our heads. I have found this a huge challenge as my personal health trial has gone on and on. I get in crappy moods and just want to "vent." Usually my dear husband is the recipient of this venting. Poor guy. He wants me to share my heart with him, but he does hold me accountable for my words and the heart behind them.
Proverbs 18:21) The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 1:19) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...
Romans 14:11) It is written: "As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."
The above Bible verses show us how important words are. The old saying "sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you" is so untrue. A hurtful word to a child can impact them for life. Jumping to assumptions about a person rather than really listening to their side of the story can break up a friendship. One day our tongues will acknowledge the Lord. Our words mean something. This morning I was listening to Joyce Meyer on my walk. She's such a hoot and is such an amazing teacher. The series was titled, "Your Mouth and God's Power." The premise of the teaching was that our words impact others around us and ourselves. She teaches that we need to get into agreement with what God says and not what we feel, think, see, or what others say about us. We may feel unlovable and worthless because something told us we were, but God says I am the apple of His eye (Deut. 7:6) and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). There are some symptoms that I'm still dealing with that are very difficult. I can't even fathom not living with them. It seems impossible that they could be relieved eventually. Matthew 19:26 says, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So my time is better spent speaking what God says and not what I feel.
Joyce even described how I can actually block God's power and anointing in my life with my negative speech. She described a time when she was critical of a fellow preacher. She felt their preaching wasn't direct enough and they were not good at holding the sermon together to teach a main point. She voiced this to her husband. After that she started having a very hard time preaching. She just dreaded having to teach and couldn't wait until it was over. She had never felt this way before. Weeks went past and she couldn't shake the feeling. She prayed and prayed and God seemed silent. Finally her husband said he thought it had something to do with her critical attitude. She prayed and fasted the following day and God revealed the same thing to her. I thought that story was fascinating!
It was interesting to hear these sermons after reading all the hateful comments about Urban Meyer. Reading them really got me thinking about the issue. Hearing Joyce cemented what God was trying to teach me and still is. When I'm frustrated, discouraged, angry, whatever I must speak words of trust in God, faith, hope, and peace. I want my words to impact the people around me in a positive way. I want them to feel hope and peace. I want them to feel better about themselves and be encouraged. I have a loooooong way to go, but with God I can get there and so can you.
....and at least we beat _ichigan. :-)
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Whatever You Do...
Hey all! I have SO much brewing in my brain right now I couldn't possibly put it all on paper (or the computer screen). God has been super busy with me. Let's just say that for now. Something did come to mind this afternoon that I wanted to share with y'all.
Eli takes piano lessons each Thursday. The instructor comes to Eli's school and teaches. It's a private lesson built into his school day. It's great because 1. Mr. Little is a dear man, and 2. we don't have to go somewhere else for the lesson. It's super convenient. I have been known to spy on the session from time to time. Well, I should clarify...Mr. Little knows I'm watching, but Eli does not. Call me a hover mom if you wish, but I like to know if my little guy is being respectful and doing what he's supposed to be doing. A few weeks back Eli got in trouble in class for not listening and focusing on the instruction. Eli is six so no one expects him to sit like an adult, but what we do expect is that he be respectful and not a know-it-all. He sometimes has a better idea on how to do things. He also LOVES to talk. When I say "love" I mean it's his favorite thing to do on the planet. Time and time again Dave and I tell Eli that he is to be wise. Wisdom comes from listening to those who are more experienced than you. There is a time to figure things out on your own and a time to take the instruction of counsel. We teach him to listen more than he talks. The verses below are two that we reference often.
Proverbs 1:5) ...let the wise listen and add to their learning...
Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Back to the piano lesson. So today Mr. Little calls me to share with me that Eli did not behave in piano lessons again today. He wanted me to know that he got after him a bit and Eli started to cry. He said Eli was talking a lot and not allowing Mr. Little to show him how to play. When Eli got in the car he said piano went well, but that he was naughty a little. After chatting a bit I told Eli that there were going to be consequences. He told me that he wouldn't play Wii. I think he picked that because he doesn't really care all that much about Wii. Eli had to call Mr. Little on the phone to apologize and I also took away Floppy.
OH.MY.GOODNESS. He freaked out. Crying, nose running, trying to talk me out of it...the whole nine yards. He tells me that he's not happy and I'm supposed to make him happy. He asked if I cared he was unhappy. I explained that my job was to teach him and guide him so he can grow into a Godly man. He told me Floppy makes him happy. Ay-yi-yi. Dave is much better at consequences than I am. I don't give in, but I want to! I think it's the horse person in me. I'm used to making my horse stand in the middle of the arena until they drop their head after a less than stellar training ride. My mom used to tell me, "Anna, you have to have more time than the horse." So true in the horse world AND the parenting world. Back to the situation with Eli.
When we got home he asked if he could earn Floppy back today. There are occasions when we allow him to earn something back. Those are special occasions. I told Eli my mind was made up and Floppy had to stay in the car today/tonight. I then got blamed for causing him to not be able to snuggle with Floppy in bed tonight. It was brutal people.
When we got home Eli raced into the basement to do "something." I figured he was up to something down there, but he was very upset so I let him be. About five minutes later he came back up with a heart colored red with the words "Anna love." It was precious. I knew he was trying to win Floppy back. His face was pink and his eyes watery. I hung his offering up and told him Floppy had to stay in the car because disrespecting Mr. Little and acting foolish was not okay. He goes back into the basement and comes back with two more pictures. He tried so hard to change my mind. I picked Eli up and told him I loved his gifts more than anything, but he has to have the right heart when giving gifts. Gifts are just that...gifts. They are given because you love someone not to get something out of them.
After this situation I thought of our relationship with God. I can parallel so much of parenting with our relationship with God. I didn't tell you the above story to make you think I'm a perfect mother. Heck, I'm far from it and I know it! By the grace of God do I only have any inkling of an idea of how to parent this little human. How many times have I prayed or read my Bible or done any of those things to try and "butter" God up, so to speak. Even if I don't do it blatantly I wonder how many times it's in the back of my mind. I think that God will think I'm good or at least better than some other people I know.
I have gone through a really tough time the last 6-7 years and I have thought many times about what I could do to change God's mind. Is there anything else I can do to make God change the circumstances?! Maybe if I volunteer at church or maybe if I only listen to Christian music? What if I take Communion? or maybe I can do two Bible studies today or pray an extra five minutes? I fully understand that by His grace I am saved. I know I can't work my way into heaven with huge tithes, long Bible studies, or hours spent at church. I know there is absolutely NOTHING on this planet that makes me good enough for heaven. Yet when it comes to my trial I have felt that maybe just maybe there is something I could do to get Him to do something I wanted. Eli did something he shouldn't have. Sometimes we do things we shouldn't and therefore have consequences. Other times God allows troubles to come our way to grow us up in our faith.
After the situation with Eli today I will have a new and refreshed outlook on my offerings to God. Essentially everything we do is an offering to God. Whether we are cleaning our home or reading our Bible...it is for Him. I am going to really evaluate my motives and my heart before I pray, study the Bible, or do anything else for God. I want to do those things because I love Him and want to make Him smile.
Colossians 3:23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...
Eli takes piano lessons each Thursday. The instructor comes to Eli's school and teaches. It's a private lesson built into his school day. It's great because 1. Mr. Little is a dear man, and 2. we don't have to go somewhere else for the lesson. It's super convenient. I have been known to spy on the session from time to time. Well, I should clarify...Mr. Little knows I'm watching, but Eli does not. Call me a hover mom if you wish, but I like to know if my little guy is being respectful and doing what he's supposed to be doing. A few weeks back Eli got in trouble in class for not listening and focusing on the instruction. Eli is six so no one expects him to sit like an adult, but what we do expect is that he be respectful and not a know-it-all. He sometimes has a better idea on how to do things. He also LOVES to talk. When I say "love" I mean it's his favorite thing to do on the planet. Time and time again Dave and I tell Eli that he is to be wise. Wisdom comes from listening to those who are more experienced than you. There is a time to figure things out on your own and a time to take the instruction of counsel. We teach him to listen more than he talks. The verses below are two that we reference often.
Proverbs 1:5) ...let the wise listen and add to their learning...
Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Back to the piano lesson. So today Mr. Little calls me to share with me that Eli did not behave in piano lessons again today. He wanted me to know that he got after him a bit and Eli started to cry. He said Eli was talking a lot and not allowing Mr. Little to show him how to play. When Eli got in the car he said piano went well, but that he was naughty a little. After chatting a bit I told Eli that there were going to be consequences. He told me that he wouldn't play Wii. I think he picked that because he doesn't really care all that much about Wii. Eli had to call Mr. Little on the phone to apologize and I also took away Floppy.
OH.MY.GOODNESS. He freaked out. Crying, nose running, trying to talk me out of it...the whole nine yards. He tells me that he's not happy and I'm supposed to make him happy. He asked if I cared he was unhappy. I explained that my job was to teach him and guide him so he can grow into a Godly man. He told me Floppy makes him happy. Ay-yi-yi. Dave is much better at consequences than I am. I don't give in, but I want to! I think it's the horse person in me. I'm used to making my horse stand in the middle of the arena until they drop their head after a less than stellar training ride. My mom used to tell me, "Anna, you have to have more time than the horse." So true in the horse world AND the parenting world. Back to the situation with Eli.
When we got home he asked if he could earn Floppy back today. There are occasions when we allow him to earn something back. Those are special occasions. I told Eli my mind was made up and Floppy had to stay in the car today/tonight. I then got blamed for causing him to not be able to snuggle with Floppy in bed tonight. It was brutal people.
When we got home Eli raced into the basement to do "something." I figured he was up to something down there, but he was very upset so I let him be. About five minutes later he came back up with a heart colored red with the words "Anna love." It was precious. I knew he was trying to win Floppy back. His face was pink and his eyes watery. I hung his offering up and told him Floppy had to stay in the car because disrespecting Mr. Little and acting foolish was not okay. He goes back into the basement and comes back with two more pictures. He tried so hard to change my mind. I picked Eli up and told him I loved his gifts more than anything, but he has to have the right heart when giving gifts. Gifts are just that...gifts. They are given because you love someone not to get something out of them.
After this situation I thought of our relationship with God. I can parallel so much of parenting with our relationship with God. I didn't tell you the above story to make you think I'm a perfect mother. Heck, I'm far from it and I know it! By the grace of God do I only have any inkling of an idea of how to parent this little human. How many times have I prayed or read my Bible or done any of those things to try and "butter" God up, so to speak. Even if I don't do it blatantly I wonder how many times it's in the back of my mind. I think that God will think I'm good or at least better than some other people I know.
I have gone through a really tough time the last 6-7 years and I have thought many times about what I could do to change God's mind. Is there anything else I can do to make God change the circumstances?! Maybe if I volunteer at church or maybe if I only listen to Christian music? What if I take Communion? or maybe I can do two Bible studies today or pray an extra five minutes? I fully understand that by His grace I am saved. I know I can't work my way into heaven with huge tithes, long Bible studies, or hours spent at church. I know there is absolutely NOTHING on this planet that makes me good enough for heaven. Yet when it comes to my trial I have felt that maybe just maybe there is something I could do to get Him to do something I wanted. Eli did something he shouldn't have. Sometimes we do things we shouldn't and therefore have consequences. Other times God allows troubles to come our way to grow us up in our faith.
After the situation with Eli today I will have a new and refreshed outlook on my offerings to God. Essentially everything we do is an offering to God. Whether we are cleaning our home or reading our Bible...it is for Him. I am going to really evaluate my motives and my heart before I pray, study the Bible, or do anything else for God. I want to do those things because I love Him and want to make Him smile.
Colossians 3:23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...
Monday, October 28, 2013
A Change is Gonna Come
Happy Monday everyone! I just finished up my 31 day devotional that I was doing. I always get very excited when it's time to pick out a new one. I headed to the Christian bookstore this morning and found the perfect one. Stay tuned for my thoughts as I work through this new book.
Our time in Georgia is wrapping up soon. It has become home very quickly. There are many, many aspects of Georgia we will miss greatly. First and foremost we will miss our beloved Journey Community Church desperately. We are also able to visit with my dad a great deal which sounds funny. We actually see him more now than when we lived in Ohio! He is alone now and can pretty much come and go as he pleases. He and his dog, Sky, can hit the road often! We all just had a great weekend together. We had a fire outside, went biking, played Frisbee golf, ate great food, worshiped together at JCC, and enjoyed a big Buckeye win!
Changes are coming for our family. Change is hard. I'm not that good at change. Being a Procter and Gamble wife I have learned to roll with it. Like anything else there are pros and cons. There are so many places we could go. I think about it a lot. Sometimes I plan in my head what should happen. I have a perfect scenario.
If we go overseas it would be an experience of a lifetime. We could see the world! It would be an incredible experience. We could take Eli to see the Colosseum in Rome, the Charles Bridge in Prague, or to the beaches of Normandy. We could ski down the Swiss Alps. The possibilities are endless! There are obvious cons. Um, we would live a world away from family and friends! I would have to leave behind my sweet Jessie. Eli is also concerned about not being able to talk to other kids because of the language barrier. His schooling would be a concern also as he attends a Christian private school now. I also pause when I think about leaving the United States. I'm VERY patriotic and I absolutely adore this country. Even with her problems I just straight up love America.
There are some interesting places in the United States we could go. Maybe we would live in the west. That would be cool. We are complete mountain people and our dream home is a beautiful cabin on a lake in or near the mountains. We love being cozy! Mountain biking and hiking are a blast. Skiing is awesome not to mention how great it would be to live near the family condo in Deer Valley Utah. Snow isn't my favorite, but it is more acceptable in the mountains. Again, Eli's schooling is a concern and that is always on my mind when we discuss moving.
I also think a great deal about going back to Cincinnati, where we came from. A few years ago I would have been okay to never go back to Ohio. I didn't miss the dark, cold winter nights and minimal sunshine. I also didn't miss the dreary, rainy spring. Ohio was a painful reminder that my mom was no longer with us. It seems like as soon as I crossed the Ohio River my heart began to ache even harder in the waves of sorrow that would come over me in thinking about her battle with cancer. In the last few months my heart has changed towards returning to Ohio. Cincinnati is about three hours from our "home," but to us Cincinnati is also home. Dave lived there for five years when he attended the University of Cincinnati. We lived there for almost three years before moving to Georgia. My best friend lives in Cincinnati and I would LOVE to live near Jessica again. This time we would try to live even closer to her and her family...even the 15 minutes like before would be too far!
Speaking of Jessica I got the best note from her last night. It was so nice to just hear all about her and her life. We used to work out together, ride horses together, sit by the pool together, worship our God together, and let our kids play together...I miss that with all my heart. Even now when God reveals something big to me I want to tell Jess. I remember three years ago when I was in the ugly midst of my hormone fiasco she was so encouraging. In February 2011 my mom was dying from cancer. We knew she didn't have much time left...maybe just a week or two. Dave and I had planned a trip to Utah with Jessica and her husband Derek many months before. My dad encouraged me to go, go and just breathe. I felt awful guilty going for the four days we had planned. How on earth could I go to our winter paradise when my mom was in Ohio laying in a hospital bed literally dying? We went and it was good. It was good to sit for hours and just talk to my dear friend. It was nice to give my heart a break. I'll always remember that trip.
Okay, that last paragraph was off topic. Sorry. Jess, if your reading this...love you sunshine. Anyway, back to Cincinnati. There is something about going back that would be nice. There are great school options and I could still enjoy my horse. We would be much closer to our families which is a huge positive. It is familiar. It is a wonderful city to raise a family and there are many great churches to attend. In addition to the Tye's we have some other friends in the city that we would love to reconnect with. Beside all that everyone is an Ohio State fan there! That's not really at the top of our list, but it IS nice!
As I type all this the following Bible verse comes to mind. Leave it to the Proverbs to offer me some good, practical advice. My mom was a living Proverb. She offered practical and wise advice. I just spent five or six paragraphs talking all about my plans. It is hard not knowing what is next for Dave, Eli, and myself (and Olive the Corgi and Jessie the horse). The only thing I can do is trust God to show us where to go. I can plan and plan and plan some more, but He institutes my steps. He puts my steps into operation. It is His path I want to follow regardless of my plans. I'm not gonna lie...I have in my heart the perfect scenario. I know what I want. Life is about more than doing what I want. It's about allowing Him to establish my steps. My personal goal is to put myself in a position to listen to Him, to hear Him, and then to obey Him. So stay tuned!
Proverbs 16:9) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Our time in Georgia is wrapping up soon. It has become home very quickly. There are many, many aspects of Georgia we will miss greatly. First and foremost we will miss our beloved Journey Community Church desperately. We are also able to visit with my dad a great deal which sounds funny. We actually see him more now than when we lived in Ohio! He is alone now and can pretty much come and go as he pleases. He and his dog, Sky, can hit the road often! We all just had a great weekend together. We had a fire outside, went biking, played Frisbee golf, ate great food, worshiped together at JCC, and enjoyed a big Buckeye win!
Changes are coming for our family. Change is hard. I'm not that good at change. Being a Procter and Gamble wife I have learned to roll with it. Like anything else there are pros and cons. There are so many places we could go. I think about it a lot. Sometimes I plan in my head what should happen. I have a perfect scenario.
If we go overseas it would be an experience of a lifetime. We could see the world! It would be an incredible experience. We could take Eli to see the Colosseum in Rome, the Charles Bridge in Prague, or to the beaches of Normandy. We could ski down the Swiss Alps. The possibilities are endless! There are obvious cons. Um, we would live a world away from family and friends! I would have to leave behind my sweet Jessie. Eli is also concerned about not being able to talk to other kids because of the language barrier. His schooling would be a concern also as he attends a Christian private school now. I also pause when I think about leaving the United States. I'm VERY patriotic and I absolutely adore this country. Even with her problems I just straight up love America.
There are some interesting places in the United States we could go. Maybe we would live in the west. That would be cool. We are complete mountain people and our dream home is a beautiful cabin on a lake in or near the mountains. We love being cozy! Mountain biking and hiking are a blast. Skiing is awesome not to mention how great it would be to live near the family condo in Deer Valley Utah. Snow isn't my favorite, but it is more acceptable in the mountains. Again, Eli's schooling is a concern and that is always on my mind when we discuss moving.
I also think a great deal about going back to Cincinnati, where we came from. A few years ago I would have been okay to never go back to Ohio. I didn't miss the dark, cold winter nights and minimal sunshine. I also didn't miss the dreary, rainy spring. Ohio was a painful reminder that my mom was no longer with us. It seems like as soon as I crossed the Ohio River my heart began to ache even harder in the waves of sorrow that would come over me in thinking about her battle with cancer. In the last few months my heart has changed towards returning to Ohio. Cincinnati is about three hours from our "home," but to us Cincinnati is also home. Dave lived there for five years when he attended the University of Cincinnati. We lived there for almost three years before moving to Georgia. My best friend lives in Cincinnati and I would LOVE to live near Jessica again. This time we would try to live even closer to her and her family...even the 15 minutes like before would be too far!
Speaking of Jessica I got the best note from her last night. It was so nice to just hear all about her and her life. We used to work out together, ride horses together, sit by the pool together, worship our God together, and let our kids play together...I miss that with all my heart. Even now when God reveals something big to me I want to tell Jess. I remember three years ago when I was in the ugly midst of my hormone fiasco she was so encouraging. In February 2011 my mom was dying from cancer. We knew she didn't have much time left...maybe just a week or two. Dave and I had planned a trip to Utah with Jessica and her husband Derek many months before. My dad encouraged me to go, go and just breathe. I felt awful guilty going for the four days we had planned. How on earth could I go to our winter paradise when my mom was in Ohio laying in a hospital bed literally dying? We went and it was good. It was good to sit for hours and just talk to my dear friend. It was nice to give my heart a break. I'll always remember that trip.
Okay, that last paragraph was off topic. Sorry. Jess, if your reading this...love you sunshine. Anyway, back to Cincinnati. There is something about going back that would be nice. There are great school options and I could still enjoy my horse. We would be much closer to our families which is a huge positive. It is familiar. It is a wonderful city to raise a family and there are many great churches to attend. In addition to the Tye's we have some other friends in the city that we would love to reconnect with. Beside all that everyone is an Ohio State fan there! That's not really at the top of our list, but it IS nice!
As I type all this the following Bible verse comes to mind. Leave it to the Proverbs to offer me some good, practical advice. My mom was a living Proverb. She offered practical and wise advice. I just spent five or six paragraphs talking all about my plans. It is hard not knowing what is next for Dave, Eli, and myself (and Olive the Corgi and Jessie the horse). The only thing I can do is trust God to show us where to go. I can plan and plan and plan some more, but He institutes my steps. He puts my steps into operation. It is His path I want to follow regardless of my plans. I'm not gonna lie...I have in my heart the perfect scenario. I know what I want. Life is about more than doing what I want. It's about allowing Him to establish my steps. My personal goal is to put myself in a position to listen to Him, to hear Him, and then to obey Him. So stay tuned!
Proverbs 16:9) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Barrel Prayers
Hey everyone. I hope this entry finds you doing well. If your going through trials please know you are in my prayers. In our culture doing "well" means not having any problems. It means being happy. I love being happy! Doing well to me personally means trusting in my God despite how I feel. Some days I am doing better than others and that directly correlates to how much I'm living in trust or not. Wow, that was off-topic!7'
Many of my recent Bible studies have had two similar themes. One is the story of Abraham and Sarah. The other is the concept of praying big, gigantic prayers. Our small group is doing a study together called "The Circle Maker." We had a super discussion this past week and I intend on buying the book. I'm also reading through a devotion on declaring good over your life and the lives of loved ones. Pastor Bobby recently did an awesome sermon series on praying barrel prayers. On stage he had a cup, a bucket, and a barrel. It was a great visual. I'm not going to lie...I typically pray cup and bucket prayers because I'm too afraid to prayer barrel prayers. What if God let's me down? What if I get my hopes up for nothing? What if, what if, what if...it's the devil's game. Today's blog is going to consist of my thoughts on these topics and hopefully in the end it will make some sense to you (and me).
Matthew 6:10) ...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Think about the above verse. How many times have you prayed that prayer? I have noticed that many denominational churches recite it quite often. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but can desensitize us to the realness of the words we are saying. Essentially it is saying that we desire His will above our own. Ultimately that's the goal here, right? We SHOULD want God's will above our own. That would entail a large amount of trust. I'm working everyday to truly desire God's will above my own. It is easier to do in some things and harder in others. For example, I am better at giving our living situation over to God and struggle more with giving my health condition over to Him. Dave's job could take us to The Czech Republic, South Africa, Utah, North Carolina, Ohio, etc. Now I would prefer some locations over others, but at the end of the day I'll go where He sends us. Now with my health...it freaks me out. I get terrified that I will have to live with some of these symptoms for the rest of my life. I mean when I say terrified I mean terrified. Is this Godly? Nope. Does Satan know my weakness? Yep. I am battling him day in and day out because I WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR. So my point here is that it's easier to say "Your will be done" in some things more than others.
Along those same lines how many times do we tack on "if it's Your will God" onto the end of the prayer? Is it done because we are like uber Christians and want to sound super holy to ourselves, others, and even God? I think so many times. If we get totally honest with ourselves we tack it on to provide God an escape route. I have done it. It's my way of praying without getting my hopes up that He will actually provide what I'm asking for. Really think about this. I will not pretend I get the whole God's will thing and when something is or isn't His will or how do I know it is His will so I can pray with authority and confidence. Yeah, I don't have it all figured out. What I know is that He wants us to pray with confidence that He is going to provide something above and beyond what we ask or desire. That is a barrel prayer.
Ephesians 3:20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...
Another thought I have had recently is on the topic of my heart's desire and dreams I have buried down within me. Sometimes I think my dreams aren't worthy because they don't involve me becoming a pastor, worship leader, missionary to the jungle, Christian theologian, Christian author, mother of orphans, Mother Teresa, fill in the blank of some awesome title. They are just small things to me. They are too personal to share right now, but they are mine. I hold them very dear in my heart. They are a part of me. I have struggled with praying over these dreams because they are not good enough or holy enough. He is revealing to me a little at a time that they are important to Him because they are important to me. Is it even possible that He is the one who put them there in the first place?
Psalm 37:4) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
The more time I spend with God the more my desires become His. My prayers change, my goals change, and my desires change. For example, I used to pray that God would take my health condition away, just take it all away. I still do at times, but now I try to pray more prayers about the process. I ask Him to give me courage and strength as I go through this trial. My heart's desire is that I face it head on without fear. My desire is to be brave and wise in the face of the enemy who is whispering 'this will NEVER get any better than it is now.' I desperately want to be strong and to not quit. Those are His desires for me too. So see how my desires are aligning with His? He knows every thought I have so He obviously knows I ultimately want to be free from this condition. I do not deny I want that, but I try to not make it the main point of every prayer. My character has changed so much in the last seven years or so. I am so glad God didn't leave me where I was even if that meant living a really tough life. He loves you too much to leave you where you are at.
We are to pray with boldness, expectation. Do not be afraid to pray barrel prayers. Yes, seek God's will in all you do, but don't deny yourself those hidden dreams that are buried deep within. Wrestle with God over them in prayer. Seek Him in all you do and in time, His desires will become your own.
Many of my recent Bible studies have had two similar themes. One is the story of Abraham and Sarah. The other is the concept of praying big, gigantic prayers. Our small group is doing a study together called "The Circle Maker." We had a super discussion this past week and I intend on buying the book. I'm also reading through a devotion on declaring good over your life and the lives of loved ones. Pastor Bobby recently did an awesome sermon series on praying barrel prayers. On stage he had a cup, a bucket, and a barrel. It was a great visual. I'm not going to lie...I typically pray cup and bucket prayers because I'm too afraid to prayer barrel prayers. What if God let's me down? What if I get my hopes up for nothing? What if, what if, what if...it's the devil's game. Today's blog is going to consist of my thoughts on these topics and hopefully in the end it will make some sense to you (and me).
Matthew 6:10) ...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Think about the above verse. How many times have you prayed that prayer? I have noticed that many denominational churches recite it quite often. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but can desensitize us to the realness of the words we are saying. Essentially it is saying that we desire His will above our own. Ultimately that's the goal here, right? We SHOULD want God's will above our own. That would entail a large amount of trust. I'm working everyday to truly desire God's will above my own. It is easier to do in some things and harder in others. For example, I am better at giving our living situation over to God and struggle more with giving my health condition over to Him. Dave's job could take us to The Czech Republic, South Africa, Utah, North Carolina, Ohio, etc. Now I would prefer some locations over others, but at the end of the day I'll go where He sends us. Now with my health...it freaks me out. I get terrified that I will have to live with some of these symptoms for the rest of my life. I mean when I say terrified I mean terrified. Is this Godly? Nope. Does Satan know my weakness? Yep. I am battling him day in and day out because I WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR. So my point here is that it's easier to say "Your will be done" in some things more than others.
Along those same lines how many times do we tack on "if it's Your will God" onto the end of the prayer? Is it done because we are like uber Christians and want to sound super holy to ourselves, others, and even God? I think so many times. If we get totally honest with ourselves we tack it on to provide God an escape route. I have done it. It's my way of praying without getting my hopes up that He will actually provide what I'm asking for. Really think about this. I will not pretend I get the whole God's will thing and when something is or isn't His will or how do I know it is His will so I can pray with authority and confidence. Yeah, I don't have it all figured out. What I know is that He wants us to pray with confidence that He is going to provide something above and beyond what we ask or desire. That is a barrel prayer.
Ephesians 3:20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...
Another thought I have had recently is on the topic of my heart's desire and dreams I have buried down within me. Sometimes I think my dreams aren't worthy because they don't involve me becoming a pastor, worship leader, missionary to the jungle, Christian theologian, Christian author, mother of orphans, Mother Teresa, fill in the blank of some awesome title. They are just small things to me. They are too personal to share right now, but they are mine. I hold them very dear in my heart. They are a part of me. I have struggled with praying over these dreams because they are not good enough or holy enough. He is revealing to me a little at a time that they are important to Him because they are important to me. Is it even possible that He is the one who put them there in the first place?
Psalm 37:4) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
The more time I spend with God the more my desires become His. My prayers change, my goals change, and my desires change. For example, I used to pray that God would take my health condition away, just take it all away. I still do at times, but now I try to pray more prayers about the process. I ask Him to give me courage and strength as I go through this trial. My heart's desire is that I face it head on without fear. My desire is to be brave and wise in the face of the enemy who is whispering 'this will NEVER get any better than it is now.' I desperately want to be strong and to not quit. Those are His desires for me too. So see how my desires are aligning with His? He knows every thought I have so He obviously knows I ultimately want to be free from this condition. I do not deny I want that, but I try to not make it the main point of every prayer. My character has changed so much in the last seven years or so. I am so glad God didn't leave me where I was even if that meant living a really tough life. He loves you too much to leave you where you are at.
We are to pray with boldness, expectation. Do not be afraid to pray barrel prayers. Yes, seek God's will in all you do, but don't deny yourself those hidden dreams that are buried deep within. Wrestle with God over them in prayer. Seek Him in all you do and in time, His desires will become your own.
Friday, September 27, 2013
The Truth Shall Set You Free!
Honestly, I have no idea where the time goes! I think I say this at the beginning of EVERY blog...if I don't type it I certainly think it. It is crazy to think it is almost October and the weather here in Georgia is finally cooling off. Football season in the south is totally different than in the north. It is odd watching our beloved Bucks when it is 95 degrees outside!
The last month has been a complete whirlwind. Dave has been guiding the Augusta plant through some major changes and has been traveling a great deal. Eli and I make the most of it though and become total flakes when Dave is gone with staying up late and eating pancakes at 8:30 p.m. on the couch while we watch T.V.! Stay tuned for news on some big changes for the Limbird family.
I am still recovering from surgery. The actual physical aspect of surgery was quick to heal, but getting my hormones optimal has been much more difficult and trying. Dr. Vliet and I are making progress and I'm still beyond thankful for her compassion and expertise. There are symptoms that were bothersome before surgery that are completely gone now! Praise God. I realize now just how much pain and discomfort I was living in. There are other symptoms that seem to be hanging on longer and we continue to petition the Lord for His guiding hand. The last week has been a HUGE week for me. God, in His kindness, has revealed some helpful insight into some major metabolic issues I am having.
John 8:32) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
I am a creature of habit and sliiiiiightly stubborn. I am also extremely determined and tend to be rather intense when I have a goal in front of me. I also try to not make excuses and can be hard on myself. Have you ever done something because you thought it was the right thing to do? Or have you continued to do something because you thought it was the right thing to do. When times get tough you buckle down and even go harder. That's me. For example, every time I go to the gym I'm total balls to the wall. For those of you who don't know, the origin of that statement is not vulgar. It has to do with the throttle and the knobs "balls" being pushed to the cockpit wall. Long story short, it means going all out. Aaaaaanywho, God revealed to me this week that what I have been doing to help myself has been actually hurting.
As the revelations began to unfold my initial reaction was doubt. I KNOW I am doing what I am supposed to be doing...even if it's not working and I'm sore and miserable. The next minute after I gave up my stubborn streak I literally cried out a thank You to my God. "Thank You God for this revelation" I kept saying to Him. As I contemplated the whole thing I began to see His mercy. I began to see that He was saving me from myself. Isn't that His nature though? Isn't that His ultimate plan. I am seeing a big picture here.
Often the truth is painful. Often it reveals just how limited we are. I think truth is revealed to every person in an intimate way. God knows exactly how to get to us, doesn't He? For me I truly thought I was doing the best thing for myself. I had no idea what else to do and I didn't know how to get out of it. I had backed myself into a corner. I had no answers. Through a series of events I began to see the answer come. I had been begging and pleading God for a miracle. God is never limited and can do anything He desires. If He knows a miracle is in order then poof, there it is. I have found though that He usually sets a series of events in order to allow the miracle to unfold (slooooooooooowly). When He shows us His truth it is a huge, giant relief. It is freeing and allows us to live an abundant life.
John 10:10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
In summary, the truth allows us to live abundantly. I am so completely excited to be free from ideas and habits I had. Like I said, I am a creature of habit and I don't give them up easily, but when smacked with God's truth I can say "so long" with ease! In His love He has showed me how to get out of that corner I mentioned earlier. Embrace the truth, crave it, desire it, and seek it with all you've got. Freedom from ourselves is a glorious thing. An abundant life is also a glorious thing. On a side note, I have officially given up my old gym habits. Mark it down!
The last month has been a complete whirlwind. Dave has been guiding the Augusta plant through some major changes and has been traveling a great deal. Eli and I make the most of it though and become total flakes when Dave is gone with staying up late and eating pancakes at 8:30 p.m. on the couch while we watch T.V.! Stay tuned for news on some big changes for the Limbird family.
I am still recovering from surgery. The actual physical aspect of surgery was quick to heal, but getting my hormones optimal has been much more difficult and trying. Dr. Vliet and I are making progress and I'm still beyond thankful for her compassion and expertise. There are symptoms that were bothersome before surgery that are completely gone now! Praise God. I realize now just how much pain and discomfort I was living in. There are other symptoms that seem to be hanging on longer and we continue to petition the Lord for His guiding hand. The last week has been a HUGE week for me. God, in His kindness, has revealed some helpful insight into some major metabolic issues I am having.
John 8:32) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
I am a creature of habit and sliiiiiightly stubborn. I am also extremely determined and tend to be rather intense when I have a goal in front of me. I also try to not make excuses and can be hard on myself. Have you ever done something because you thought it was the right thing to do? Or have you continued to do something because you thought it was the right thing to do. When times get tough you buckle down and even go harder. That's me. For example, every time I go to the gym I'm total balls to the wall. For those of you who don't know, the origin of that statement is not vulgar. It has to do with the throttle and the knobs "balls" being pushed to the cockpit wall. Long story short, it means going all out. Aaaaaanywho, God revealed to me this week that what I have been doing to help myself has been actually hurting.
As the revelations began to unfold my initial reaction was doubt. I KNOW I am doing what I am supposed to be doing...even if it's not working and I'm sore and miserable. The next minute after I gave up my stubborn streak I literally cried out a thank You to my God. "Thank You God for this revelation" I kept saying to Him. As I contemplated the whole thing I began to see His mercy. I began to see that He was saving me from myself. Isn't that His nature though? Isn't that His ultimate plan. I am seeing a big picture here.
Often the truth is painful. Often it reveals just how limited we are. I think truth is revealed to every person in an intimate way. God knows exactly how to get to us, doesn't He? For me I truly thought I was doing the best thing for myself. I had no idea what else to do and I didn't know how to get out of it. I had backed myself into a corner. I had no answers. Through a series of events I began to see the answer come. I had been begging and pleading God for a miracle. God is never limited and can do anything He desires. If He knows a miracle is in order then poof, there it is. I have found though that He usually sets a series of events in order to allow the miracle to unfold (slooooooooooowly). When He shows us His truth it is a huge, giant relief. It is freeing and allows us to live an abundant life.
John 10:10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
In summary, the truth allows us to live abundantly. I am so completely excited to be free from ideas and habits I had. Like I said, I am a creature of habit and I don't give them up easily, but when smacked with God's truth I can say "so long" with ease! In His love He has showed me how to get out of that corner I mentioned earlier. Embrace the truth, crave it, desire it, and seek it with all you've got. Freedom from ourselves is a glorious thing. An abundant life is also a glorious thing. On a side note, I have officially given up my old gym habits. Mark it down!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Where Freedom Comes From
Old Rugged Cross
- On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,The emblem of suff’ring and shame;And I love that old cross where the dearest and bestFor a world of lost sinners was slain.
- Refrain:So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,Till my trophies at last I lay down;I will cling to the old rugged cross,And exchange it some day for a crown.
- Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,Has a wondrous attraction for me;For the dear Lamb of God left His glory aboveTo bear it to dark Calvary.
- In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,A wondrous beauty I see,For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,To pardon and sanctify me.
- To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;Its shame and reproach gladly bear;Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,Where His glory forever I’ll share.I personally think a strong argument could be made that The Old Rugged Cross is one of the best hymns ever written. The refrain is gripping. To understand fully the refrain it is important to look at the man who penned it. The author, George Bennard, came from extremely humble beginnings. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, shortly after the end of the Civil War. His father worked hard as a coal miner in Iowa. As a young person George met Christ personally. The local Salvation Army had Bible teachings and George had heard of them, but had never attended a meeting. His curiosity got the best of him and one day he walked five miles to hear the teaching. On that day he became a devoted follower of Jesus. He had plans! Big plans! He was going to go to theology school.What happened instead was very tragic. His father was killed in a mining accident. George was now the man of the house and had to put all his dreams on hold to take care of his mother and siblings. He worked all day and studied books on his own at night. When his responsibilities lessened he went to Chicago to work at the Salvation Army. He met his wife in the city and she also assisted in his ministry at the Salvation Army. He then became a traveling evangelist and became ordained in the Methodist Episcopal church. George came upon a very difficult time in his ministry. I couldn't find any sources that gave any more details. Suffice it to say, he probably became worn out spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He began praying that the Lord would show him a full understanding of the Cross. Pastor Bennard later said he felt as if the words from John 3:16 jumped off the page and began acting out the meaning of Redemption. While he watched the scene with his mind's eye the theme came to him. Over the next few months as he travel he would work on the song lyrics. It wasn't ready to present to anyone yet I'm sure he thought. When the song was finally completed to his satisfaction he sang to some friends. Immediately they were moved by the chords. They paid for it to be published. The rest is history.
How would a difficult time lead to his penning such incredible words? I think the refrain says so much. Since we know Pastor Bennard was feeling such pain and burden we can make even more sense of the words of the refrain. No matter our circumstances we must cherish the cross. The word cherish goes beyond like and even love. To me the word cherish has more feeling, more emotion. To cherish something (or someone) means to hold it dear, to protect and care for. Do I think of the cross as something I cherish? Of course I don't mean the actual wood, but rather what it signifies. I believe the reason why the cross wood was never found is because people would cherish the wood itself. It would be worshipped by some. Interestingly enough I just read where a part of the cross was possibly located in a chest buried at an ancient church. Anyway, I want to hold dear what happened on the cross. After all it happened for me. The cross signifies reunion and freedom. No matter our circumstances we can hold what happened on the cross dear. Even when it doesn't feel like He loves us we can look to the cross and know He does.
"Till my trophies at last I lay down," means until that day when I meet Jesus face to face. We all have so many trophies. I know I do. Success, that's a trophy. Health, is yet another trophy. Having popular, smart, athletic, perfect children (according to others at least) is a big trophy. Our cars are trophies as are our homes. Being able to take fancy vacations is a trophy. Having a certain size of clothes in the closet is a trophy. Being "happy" is a trophy. After all isn't that what life is all about!? Even doing Godly things can be trophies. Maybe you run a great non-profit, or go on mission trips, or are on the worship team at church. Romans 14:11 says, "'As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'" On that day EVERY trophy you and I have will be laid down. I believe this concept gave Pastor Bennard perspective.Years ago I bought Dave a beautiful painting as a gift. The artwork has hung in a predominant place in every house we have lived in. It is a picture of a stormy ocean. The sky is dark and the water is extremely rough and scary looking. Floating out in the water is an old wooden cross and a man clinging to it. What a picture if life it is. "I will cling to the old rugged cross," writes Pastor Bennard. No matter the trials that come we have to desperately cling to the cross. What does clinging to the cross mean in real life? How is it applicable? It means to completely accept the power of the cross and all its greatness. For me clinging to the cross has meant leaning hard into God as I endure pain, loss, frustration, and discouragement. To cling to something also means to embrace it with force and to hold on to it with all your might. Clinging to the cross of Jesus is a word picture for holding onto God's promises and what they mean for our personal good and God's glory. There have been days when I have felt so miserable physically and quite frankly extremely frustrated with God that my good reason left me. I clung to His promises which is, essentially, clinging to the cross. Here are some of my go-to verses. - Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.Romans 8:26). In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.Romans 8:28). And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
In the end we are to be heaven minded. That is a difficult mind set to have when we can't see through the woods. What good does it do to look towards heaven when I am suffering so much now? It helps because it gives us perspective. One day every treasure we have AND every pain will be traded for a heaven. All authentic followers of Jesus Christ WILL exchange everything for a crown. One day I will hear, "well done good and faithful servant."
In closing, I hope this old hymn has taken on a new and fresh meaning for you. I know it has for me. Hymns hold a special place in my heart. Please let me know how I can pray for you or what this blog means to you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)