Monday, July 16, 2012

Partially loved

Something incredibly significant happened in Genesis 3. We can’t overstate the consequences of our fall. Each of us is now tainted because of our disobedience and the reality that we are ‘born sinful.’

Most of us would say that God loves us. Would you say God fully loves you? Are we fully lovable? Most of us would say, NO, BECAUSE our fall brought shame. We are ashamed of ourselves. We are not fully lovable. We can no longer be fully loved. We are so sure of this truth that we hide. We have become experts at hiding the truth inside for fear that if the truth is revealed, we will be loved even less than we are now. So we hide. We pretend. We cover up. We work incredibly hard to create an (false) image of ourselves that we believe is lovable.

And we settle for a love that really isn’t love. We settle for fleeting happiness, pleasure, and embrace even more fully a commitment to self-centeredness (which led to the fall in the first place). We center our lives on ourselves. We become the idol we worship, the image that matters, the primary focus of our attention.

Why? Because deep down inside, we no longer believe we can be loved. So we try and get what we can. When I look good, I get attention and affirmation, I’ll take that. When I strive to get what I want, I get what I want; I’ll take that. When I portray myself as a victim, I get attention and don’t have to take responsibility for myself; I’ll take that.

We get what we can because we no longer believe we can find what we need.

What does this stir up in you? Where do you go from here? How would you finish this post?

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Power source

I have a new daily workout.  It's sole intent is to help me abide in Christ.  I've been 'at it' for couple of weeks.  I'm so thankful for this help.

I am spending time alone without an agenda.  I'm back in Scripture without the need to 'use' it with others.  I'm journaling.  I'm listening.  I'm back into space with silence.  I've chosen some practices of abstinence.  I've also embraced a relationship with a coach.

All of this has come out of the invitation to be a part of the Faithwalking experience, which was started in Houston and now is making its way north.

As I began this opportunity, I kept reading in the materials how the daily workout, which is homework to be completed every week, is crucial, and the materials described it as "your power source."  I'm finding that to be true.  At first, I read this like I normally do - passive agreement, 'I get it', with little thought.  I'm really starting to finally get it, but not in some intellectual understanding, but through the experience of these past few weeks.

I really need this.  I need power outside of myself.  Let me say that again for MY OWN SAKE.  I need power outside of myself.  I need eyes beyond my own, helping to see myself clearly.  I need to be reminded of who God is and I need to hear what He is saying to me.  I need to let my mind have space to be still, to listen, and to let God get a word in.  I need solitude where I'm away from the distractions that ALWAYS come.  I need accountability in love which consistently asks, "Did I do the homework?"  "What am I hearing/seeing in the homework?"  "If I didn't do the homework, what has me stopped?"

I've always wrestled with a devotional time, both because I'm driven my performance - I want to look good, so I work on things that I think make me look good and because I don't want to 'limit' my time with God to an alloted time.  But what I'm coming to realize is that this scheduled, alloted time is critical to living the rest of my life with Him.  It is my power source.

What's your power source?  Are you plugged in?  (Sorry, just seemed like a fun and important way to end.  We can have power all around - even within - us and still live an disconnected life.)

Charles Spurgeon Quote - Hell

I received a lot of response to the following quote and thought it would be good to share.  What does it stir up in you?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon - 
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay.  If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one person go there unwarned and unprayed for.”
                (Spurgeon, Spurgeon at His Best, p. 68-78)