Friday, March 30, 2012

Fear. I'm barely beginning to understand it. I know it has been much too present and prevalent in my life and the lives of many I know. I know it controls, dictates, ruins, devastates, and enslaves.  I know that I was in severe bondage to it most of my life and am only beginning to experience the journey of freedom from the rule it had in my mind. At times, it still tries to rule me. I'm in a season of fighting that right now as a matter of fact. But here's a truth we can all hang on to: 
If we face our fears- if we actually DO that which terrifies us & deal with the fears that like to try to control our minds- if we speak that which we are devastated of people knowing about us-we find freedom. Fear can no longer enslave us. The enemy loses one of his largest holds on us (fear is one of his favorites), and we become incredibly dangerous and dynamic. Becoming this person does NOT just "happen", though. Anyone who's secure, dangerous, and dynamic has done some SERIOUS work. Only when we act can Jesus begin to heal and redeem situations that caused the fear. Sometimes I wish I could just keep all hidden and have Him just fix it all quietly. I've tried that for years. However, it seldom seems to work that way. He tends to like to use The Body along the way. Something we don't embrace often enough. (because we're SCARED!) But something that is so beautiful if we do. Embrace it. Be honest. Speak that which you are scared of-no matter how foolish it may be. I'm working on it. I have this strong conviction it's THE key to something absolutely huge. 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Not about Safe.

“But I cannot tell that to this old sinner, and I cannot comfort him either; he has made himself unable to hear my voice. If I spoke to him, he would hear only growlings and roarings. Oh, Adam's son, how cleverly you defend yourself against all that might do you good!” 
-The Magicians Nephew

Amazing how He speaks in so many things. Even a children's book. This is everything we should fear right here-following in the footsteps of American Christianity. I don't just wanna hear noise when the King of the Universe is speaking to me. I want to know that voice with intimacy. Anybody else? What do you KNOW deep within your spirit you need to do that goes against others understanding? Believe God. Believe Him. He is wild. He goes against the world we're in. But admit it. You've always secretly longed for a wild adventure, haven't you? Stop looking. It's right in front of you. It's Jesus Himself. I promise. 

"Is Aslan.....Safe?" Lucy asked. 
“Safe?" said Mr. Beaver.
"Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Lessons from Alex.

There's a boy named Alex who's been around church for years. He's only 5 years younger than me, but I've sorta watched him grow up. You see, Alex has several severe disabilities that cause him to struggle with functioning on his own sometimes. But over the years he's gotten better and better and matured more and more. 

Today, he found me and we had a wonderful talk. Alex loves to talk. Most of the time, I admit that I try to avoid it because I'm always running from one thing to the next and just don't give him the time he deserves. Today, I was deeply blessed by what he had to say. He basically preached an incredible sermon that I wish we could have him get up in front of church and speak someday. It was complete truth spoken with passion.

Alex explained simply to me that he left church early today because he sees all these people who he knows every week and as he sees them goes through their life in his mind. (He has an absolutely perfect memory. He knows more about my life than I even remember.) He says that as he looks at people's lives he sees a lot of people who don't appear to have anything different about their lives than a self-proclaimed atheist would except for attending church on Sunday morning. And in his unique mind, that doesn't make sense. In his words "It doesn't add up when you calculate it. It's a lot more black and white than the grey everyone tries to make it. You know Jesus? He saved you? Okay. Why aren't your priorities about making Him known? Why don't you look any different than the rest of this world?.......I was born with a lot of problems. But God doesn't make mistakes. He loves me. He died or me. Period. I have a mission to tell everyone I see about His passion for them. So do you. Why aren't you obeying that command? Jesus said when the Spirit fills you you will go throughout the world and tell all about Him. Do it, Liz. You're turning 30 on August 2 this year-I know your birthday- Go."

Wow. Thank you Alex. Thank you for reminding me that it really IS black and white. I can't argue with Jesus. I must go. Maybe more of us should be like Alex rather than trying to make HIM fit into how WE are. 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Things I'm learning.

Things I'm learning:
*God did not leave Heaven, walk this Earth, and die an excruciating death on the cross with me in mind so that He can be a priority in my life. He did it so He would BE my life. As I look around me, I realize how hard it is in my society and culture to realize this when it breeds self-centered Christianity.  

*I'm also learning that I can't make other people have the same response to this as me. No matter how much I want to. This is hard. All I can do is answer for myself. 

*Im learning how to truly BELIEVE God. I never fully let go before this year. And since I have, I've watched Him provide, heal, empower, encompass, and bless me in ways I could never have comprehended before. 

*I've learning how to stop living on my feelings. I never "feel" worthy enough to do, well, anything! But I'm learning thats exactly it. I'm NOT! I "feel" too screwed up to do what I knew at 5 years old I was meant to do. But everywhere I look- to my left and to my right-I get confirmation. Feelings are sometimes crap. 

*Im learning that if you stop striving to be good enough, The King shows you a reckless, wild, scandalous love like none you've ever known. (You wanna talk romance?...).and that if you ask for it and you're quiet long enough, you can actually see and hear people through the glasses of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the impossible insight He gives you about people is insane.

*I'm learning that if you absolutely let go of all you want and jump knee deep into partnering with what Jesus is already up to, your life will become the most wild, crazy, adventurous and abnormal ride you can imagine. 

*In short, I'm learning that God is much wilder than I was ever taught about as a child. And if you're bored or boring, you're probably living flat out of the will of God!