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The Ultimate Power Keeper

Dear sisters,

My husband Barrett and I both stared open mouthed at our MacBook boxes. Our ambitions and hopes of joining the marvelous Mac world laid before us in pristine white boxes with the simple MacBook graphic displayed on the front. Barrett was drooling over the promise of quick access to all programs, graphics, artistic displays of all that the computer holds, photo booth, and popup apps. We slowly took out the smooth white laptop and marveled at the look and feel of the tool-toy. Yet, all our hopes would not come to fruition without one thing…pressing the power button. Once I found it (it looked completely different than I expected), the beauty and power of the Mac world opened up to me with a musical tah-dah! I have not been the same since.

Although this analogy is a bit silly and cheesy, it helps my simple mind to begin to grasp the power of God. The power of God is the ability and strength He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom directs, and whatever His pure, infinite will demands. His power gives life and action to all the perfections of His Divine nature. He promised in the garden that He would crush Satan’s head. Without His power, that could never happen. Without His power, the Red Sea would never have been crossed, Sarah would never have had Isaac, the giant would not have been defeated, the promise of all His covenants would never be fulfilled, the Church would never last, and our sins would never be forgiven. Wow.

We have all made promises to people that have not come to pass because we didn’t have the power to complete them. Circumstances, events, or timing have kept us from fulfilling something we vowed to complete. But God’s power does not have limits like we do. He spoke…and the World was created. He rules in heaven with no need of man-made thrones, glories, or counsel. We have no power except what God has given us. In fact, He even gave the Holy Spirit to empower us to do things we can’t do in and of ourselves. We can’t claim any power that we may exhibit…even our lifting, running, and parenting power comes from God. God explained to Job His power when He asked Job a series of questions concerning creation in Job 38. Like Job, we should be speechless and humbled when faced with God’s power to do all His holy will. He has all power over creation, preservation, government, judgment, and Satan and his demons.

We have a choice then, sister: do we tremble at this power and run from it while we can? Or do we adore this God who is the ultimate power keeper? One who will never abuse power but uses it for good…our good and His glory! He used it to raise Jesus from the grave so our sins are forgiven for all time! Yes! He has the power to do this! And He did!

To return to the cheesy illustration above: Don’t just look at the MacBook box. Don’t just admire its feel, look, and abilities. Realize the real beauty comes in pressing the odd-looking power button which doesn’t look like all the others you have seen before. Like me, you will find that you will never be the same again.

Yours in Christ,

Colleen

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Honor Given and Received

Hey sis,

I see your struggle and can totally relate! We all are searching for honor and significance in this world, whether we realize it or not. In fact, this often motivates many of our decisions…how we dress, the things we post online, who we befriend, the jobs we pursue, even our good deeds. But without a proper understanding of biblical honor and significance, our hearts will never be satisfied. Let’s not shame ourselves for our improper and sinful motives, lovely ladies, but rather run to the Cross and find the joy, mercy and purpose that we crave.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” — C.S. Lewis

 Jesus desired to show honor to His disciples by washing their feet, serving them in a very sacrificial way, but Peter was not at first willing to receive this act of humility. Luke 13: 5-8: Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.

 How often do we refuse the lavish grace of God because we deem ourselves unworthy? When we close ourselves off from Christ’s love, grace, and mercy, our hearts do not find the satisfaction we were created for, and as Lewis noted above, we look for this satisfaction in worldly things. God has put eternity in our hearts, and we long for significance and honor (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Finding our identity in God as His daughters is the only means of true satisfaction!

I am a firm believer that our refusal to accept God’s Grace in our daily lives leads us to the many sinful thoughts, desires, and actions we all battle. It is GRACE that leads us to repentance, not lashing ourselves repeatedly in our minds for every wrongdoing. Romans 2:4: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”This daily pursuit by our Lord and Lover can take many forms – an offer for dinner, a gift from a friend, a gentleman opening a door, a much-needed day off, etc. Have we in our pride refused these gifts from God? James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Sister, perhaps you do not have a relationship with Christ? If so, you are refusing His sacrifice of Grace on the Cross, the gift of eternal life and relationship with Him. You have nothing to lose, but the fear of death and eternal punishment!

Returning back to our passage in Luke, we see in vs. 14-17: “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Just as we have received this grace, honor, and humble service and sacrifice from our Lord, we are called to offer it to others.

God does not show favor, as we see in James 2: 1-6: My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man.”

 True religion is showing honor to the weak, vulnerable, and oppressed. We are no better, ladies!Offer that cup of cold water from a sincere and generous heart. Wash the feet of the helpless and hurting. We might all do well to remember that ‘our neighbor’ is often no further than the roommate, friend, spouse, or difficult family member we often try to avoid. We must come to the Well of Grace and fill our souls, so that Living Waters will pour from our lives into those who are in deep need.

 

Running to Grace,

Ruth

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To Value The Honorable

Dear sister,

Do we understand what it means to honor someone? Do we understand what it means to honor Jesus? Why do we honor people? What does the word “honor” even mean? (Remember, sis, I’m the word nerd.)

To honor someone simply means to ascribe value to him or her. It is the showing of respect to someone who has earned it. We honor our soldiers with medals; actors and musicians with Oscars and Grammys; athletes with trophies; etc. Through the giving and receiving of these awards we are saying “Your accomplishment is worthy of recognition.”

But how do we as people and as believers honor Jesus? What do you give to the Son of God who already reigns over everything? The Bible tells us that Jesus has already been honored by His Father, sitting at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34). God has also promised to make His enemies His footstool. So Christ has been and will be exalted by God.

For us, honoring Jesus is going to look a little different. We can’t exactly give Jesus all authority in heaven and in earth after all. Here’s a list I put together of some specific ways I am personally trying to honor Jesus. This list is not an exhaustive one but one that can help us to jump start our call to honor Jesus. Will you join me?

1. Obey Him.

Oh this can be a tough one for me sometimes, dear sister. Let’s face it. Life gets hard. One day you’re pumped because you know you’re exactly where the Lord wants you and the next you’re asking God if you made the right decision because you’ve hit a rough patch. It’s in these moments that we need to seek to do what God is calling us to even if we don’t want to do it.

 2. Spend your time wisely.

Yikes! When I look back on my past I’m depressed by the amount of time I have frivolously wasted away. Whether it was binging on my favorite TV shows (thank you, Netflix), or simply not doing what I should have been doing, the way I was spending my time was not indicative of a Christ-centered life. As the Lord convicted me of this I started to make changes in my life that allowed me to spend my time wisely. I canceled my subscription to Netflix, took a social media hiatus, and instead I try to spend more time practicing the harp, and building relationships with those around me. What are some negative time suckers you can give up and what positive things can you replace them with?

3. Give generously.

This may be an obvious one to many of us but it shouldn’t go without mention. In the Old Testament, God required the Israelites to offer up ten percent of their goods/income to the tabernacle. In the New Testament it is left up to us to decide how much we will give. Whatever the amount give regularly and with a joyful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).

You may also consider giving your money (and/or your time) to an organization you care about that is devoted to helping others who are in a time of crisis.

 4. Value what Jesus values.

Do you know what Jesus values, dear sister? If not, take some time today to read His word and find out. A few things you might find include integrity, a pure heart, faithfulness. Examine your heart and your actions. Is the way you’re living your life marked by the things that Jesus values most? Be honest with yourself and if you don’t like what you find in the trenches of your soul, figure out a way to change it. Seek to be a woman of honor and integrity, who not only gives honor to her Lord and Savior, but is worthy of it.

How will you honor the Lord today?
Running with you,

Kayla

 

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The King…Our King…My King

Dear sisters,

We Americans are a cocky brood. It is one of our strengths as it brings ingenuity and fantastical ideas to life, but it also heeds our understanding of other admirable attributes. Living in Thailand for four-ish years helped opened my eyes to one of these attributes that has changed how I view of our Lord and King.

Thailand is still ruled by a King. He is more than loved; he is highly esteemed and honored. I was instructed early on never to step on Thai Baht (their currency) as it bears the image of the king. Think about how many times you drop a quarter and step on it to keep it from leaving your sight or to bring it closer to you so you can pick it up. This is unheard of in Thailand. His image is never defamed, his character is never questioned, and unlike our country, the media never turn up dirt on him.

Traffic is stopped so he can pass freely. The pedestrian walkover bridges are emptied so no one is higher than the king as he passes. Every movie theater begins their show by playing the king’s anthem and all stand in respect until the song finishes. Each Friday honors the king by people choosing to wear yellow shirts in honor of the day he was born. I have never talked to a Thai person who has a bad word to say about him. In his healthier days, he would sweat in the unbearable heat while walking with the poor farmers to find out their needs. His science background helped him find a way to seed clouds in the hot season to help the farmers receive rain for their crop. He is a king who loves his people and they honor him for it.

Living in this environment made me realize how much I do not honor my king, Jesus. I grew up knowing that all men and women put on their pants the same way I do and everyone makes mistakes. I was encouraged to always work hard and then try harder so I could be anyone and do anything. All good things, except my view of fallible humans bled into my view of God. I used my human experience to be my foundation of who God is rather than the truth of scripture informing me of who God is. Therefore my honor to Him was not as it should have been and my actions showed it. I prayed disbelieving that He could answer my request. I went to church not to honor Him, but to see friends. I did good things not for His glory but for my own. Honoring my king was not evidenced in my life no matter how much my mouth proclaimed it was. Thailand helped open my eyes to what it means to truly honor the king in word and deed.

How about you dear sister? Do you praise and esteem your King more than yourself? Do you live your life in a way that shows how much you honor your King? He has done more for us than seeding clouds for rain. He showed His love by becoming one of us and living in this broken world so we would know He understands our every feeling and circumstance. He died by the hands of sinful men to forgive our sin debt. He gave us His righteousness forever! He is a King that rules perfectly and knows all things! We can trust Him!

“Oh My King, help us honor, respect, and esteem you more than ourselves. May we sing your praises and stand in awe of you more than all else in our life and may we never defame your name in word or in deed.”  CC

Your Sister in Christ,

Colleen

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Delightful Presence

Dear Sister,
All too often I am driven, focused, and fulfilled by completing my to-do list. The goals of the day tend to consume my thoughts, time and energy. I find a great amount of delight in recounting all the accomplishments of the day—much as one might finger precious jewels. Until recently, I felt such an approach to life was, ahem, a rather superior one.

Suddenly it dawned on me though cleaning, laundry, cooking, creating, grading, managing the finances, etc. are all important, they will not last—in fact, they are often undone or need to be done again in a matter of moments. 1 Cor. 13:8 came to mind: “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.” Finish laundry or stop to love on my kids? Rush home with the groceries or spend a moment talking with the bagger? Jump into the morning to get some early work done or spend time with God before the craziness begins? Frankly, I feel the Holy Spirit telling me love should always win—relationships are the trump cards. It is not that God does not want me to work or to take delight in my work, on the contrary—He just wants me to do so in the right context, with the right priorities.

Yes, the work is crucial, but as a means to an end—it is the background for delighting in God’s presence and relating with others. The world, things, our creations are simply the playing field for our real work: relationships. The Greatest Commandments are to love God and to love others (Matthew 22:36-39). Those are the ultimate achievements in our world—nothing else matters in comparison.

I have discovered that I was glorying in the exquisite way I could manicure the field where the game was to be played. Oh, it was beautiful! I had disciplined myself to produce an excellent piece of work. Unfortunately, the actual game is of infinitely greater value than the field upon which it is played. With tears of regret, I am beginning to restructure my priorities to reflect my Lord’s. The necessary surgery is a painful one, for pride is involved; but He is gentle surgeon, and I know though the recovery may be long and difficult, He will not stop healing me until I too can play the game with great skill. It is a wonderful thing to find delight in His presence!
Running with you,
Rebecca