Sitting in one of my favorite places, I realize that if this WAS my last day on earth, I'd have delicious chai on my lips as I enter glory. And I have no doubt that something tastier exists there. Not only that, but I'd get to cease my temporal experience in this world by singing songs of praise and hearing truth since I'll be at church tonight, wearing what I hope to be buried in. Avoiding reflection on this day has always been impossible, and I'm thankful that God has created me with that kind of mind. This type of consideration that He has hard-wired in me graciously keeps me thinking big picture and therefore acknowledging his Sovereignty. It makes me appreciate the truth of His nature: that He "determined allotted periods" (Acts 17:26) and that He "changes times and seasons" (Daniel 2:21). On this day, it's easy to forgo thanksgiving and praise, exchanging them for either the planned festivities of tonight or looking ahead to 2017, days you are not promised. I encourage you to make the time to praise Him today, to "prepare Him room" in your heart,and I wanted to share some final thoughts with you, some loose ends from this series [in which I was notably rather faithless] to ensure that all those important lessonsHe spent so much time teaching me would have an impact. USE what you've been given. BE where God has put you. In my head, I have a high-end fashion line that is ultra-chic, and I have people who sew it all for me so I can just live in design world. I also have written all kinds of books and have travel when I feel like it to speak. I'm even in a band where I sing harmony. There's even a boutique ministry where I can turn the fashion ideas of middle school girls into realities. And that's just the beginning. The reality is I started a jewelry business using products that I had at my disposal and I do all of the work by hand. God didn't ordain that I would be born into a family with money to help me "reach my dreams," but He did give me a family who would pray for me. I can blog without having to pay a dime (well, as long as I'm cool with an impersonal domain name) so that writing urge is fulfilled. He even sends me places to house sit so I can feel like I'm traveling. He's given me singleness and so I echo what many before me have said: use it well. He's granted me salvation, and I ought to relish its benefits. He's packed my life well, and I want to honor each gift well by using it. Check out this verse: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And tin this matter I give my judgement: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing itas well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completingit out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, IT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT A PERSON HAS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE. " 2 Corinthians 8:9-12 You're rich. Operate as the wealthy person you are; spend your resources for God's glory and stop pretending you're poor. Check your pride; Boast about JESUS. Pride: that dastardly inflation of self that hinders the ability to boast about Jesus. Oh, what a humbling season it has been. That realization that I cannot simultaneously boast about myself AND about Christ. One has to go, and since He is far more worthy of the title of Self-Existent One, Supreme King, and Sovereign Entity, then mine is the one that has to die. This includes all of my thoughts of being better than others, of the word "deserve" being in my vocabulary when referencing myself or anyone but the One who defines that word. Any time I want to take credit or claim ownership of anything, pride is rearing its sinful head. Or do I not truly believe that "apart from Him [Jesus Christ] I can do nothing"? Or that "it is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help at all." May we join with Paul: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 Yes, Lord, FAR BE IT. And finally, one more that He has been engraving on my mind recently. LOVE STAYS. His Love perseveres and endures (1 Corinthians 13:7). That means that for this girl who happily moves from place to place joyfully and obediently following the Lord in that way, it is harder to stay and plant and let roots happen. This isn't just true with physical location, but with so many of my relationships too. Absence does makes my heart grow fonder, I forget. I move on. I enjoy people for a season and then move on to the next adventure with another cast of characters. He has graciously given me such a life, and I look at Paul and I know I don't miss people the way he did. I don't long to see very many people. So, this truth that "Love Stays" is a big one, one that I'm sure He's only just begun to teach me. (And the fact that He isn't using a marriage to unveil such a reality, that I can learn this as a single woman is significant, and I hope my single friends are taking note. He always finds a way to reveal just what He needs you to know no matter your status.)
I pray your last night of 2016 is beautiful, that you might think the loftiest of thoughts which can only include the Most Exalted One.
1 Comment
Margie
1/3/2017 09:46:48 pm
I'm so very glad His love stays! Thank you dear friend for pointing our hearts upward..❤️️
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