God is moving and shaking the plans that have been laid out since before I can remember... the plans that were deemed "perfect" in my eyes, the eyes of my parents, and the eyes of countless friends. He is so good to make known to His children the fallibility of our human hearts and minds. I am thankful... and learning. Growing. Surrendering. Waiting. Hoping.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9.
My deepest desire is to be desiring the desires of God, and submitting to His perfect, holy will... loving His people, and claiming glory for nothing, instead placing all glory at the feet of Jesus. I am resting in the peace that His indwelling Spirit will guide me through each desire, whim, and thought... and thanking my beautiful Jesus that He loves me with limitless steadfast love.
Walking with Jesus is hard. It's messy. It's confusing. It's convicting. It's challenging.
But it's filled with peace. indescribable joy. life. passion. change. anticipation. submission. awe. courage. hope. adoration. beauty. compassion. desire. love. sensitivity. zeal. devotion. humility. relief.
It's filled with un-deserved blessing and consistency.
I am thankful.
YES, change is on the horizon. But God is here. and He is there.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Transformation, Sunsets, and a Chameleon.
For as long as I can remember I've been a girl with a chameleon heart. My bright colors stand out, but I love to blend in. Even now, when I'm usually content just being myself, my identity ocasionally gets wrapped up in someone else. There are girls who seem to have it all~ amazing relationships with Jesus, handsome boyfriends, a complete understanding of what to do with their lives, and an ability to walk in 6-inch stilettos without falling flat on their face! From their wardrobe to their circle of friends, nothing is out of place. I thought maybe my penchant for comparison would end when I got out of junior high... But if I'm not careful, I'm just as likely to compare my life to another girl's even now. I've wasted too much time trying to transform into someone else, forgetting about the dreams, gifts, talents, and passions God has placed in my heart. Some lessons are harder to learn than others.
One of the sweetest lessons God taught me about identity happened on a gorgeous Sunday night after The Stirring. I jumped into my car after a worship service, my heart still reverberating with the songs I'd just sung to My Creator. I put in my Keith and Kristyn Getty CD, and clicked over to "In Christ Alone." Then I turned it up really loud so I couldn't hear myself sing. It was an incredible moment of worship. Just me and Jesus.
I rounded a corner, and saw what is, in my opinion, one of the best things my little town has to offer~ a sky full of sunset. The way the sun grabs the clouds on the way down and the way the light bends and fills every corner of blue stopped me in my tracks more than once that summer. But that particular sunset, was, by far, the best. The light was caught in a gray cloud, casting shadows and pale orange light all over the horizon. I felt as though I was driving through a painting. It was amazing~ that song, that sunset. It was a very intimate moment spent with Jesus. I'm a sky girl without a doubt. hahaha. I find funny shapes in the clouds, take (horrible) pictures of sunsets, and love to be up close for fireworks shows. I don't know if it's the hugeness of the sky or the natural beauty always on display there. Psalm 19:1 tells us the glory of God is reflected in the heavens. If the skies are just a reflection, how amazing will His glory be when we see Him face to face? It's a concept that I have a hard time trying to imagine.
That night, I realized something super wonderful.
Think of the most beautiful part of nature you've ever seen. Picture a sunset, a grand canyon or an ocean that looks like tin foil. Imagine a rainstorm, a waterfall, or the wintry peaks of the Alps. Now listen to this!~ all those things reflect His glory, but the most beautiful places in the world aren't made in His image.
You and I are.
What you and I have to offer this world~ the way we can engage out culture with the love of the Savior of the universe~ will be more beautiful than an California sunset. People may catch a glimpse of His glory when they see a breathtaking sky, but they learn about His character by watching you and me. That's an awesome responsibility, an incredible honor, and a gentle reminder that He loves us most of all.
When Jesus called us the light of the world, He meant the kind of light that staggers and inspires; the kind of light that shines mercy, compassion, and forgiveness into people's hearts. It's His love that shines through us. We can expose the sin and hurt and pain and poverty people struggle with, and help end it! We can get up, move to a new table or chair, and talk to someone we really don't know.
We really can find a way out of the addictions and obsessions that keep us in a chokehold of defeat... all because of His work on the cross. When He has chosen me before the foundation of the earth to be His daughter, and when He lives in inside my heart, there's no limit to what He can do through me.
I think it's great to have a role model. I have plenty of them. But this summer, my goal is to reflect Jesus more than I ever have before. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us to stop getting caught up in comparisons, and start transforming into Christ's likeness.
I have only one thing to say to my fellow sunset lovers and cloud watchers~ the sunsets He paints across the heavens are one more reminder of the potential we have to make our lives a reflection of His love. The way you feel when you look at a sunset is only a teeny tiny taste of the love, joy, and compassion God feels when He looks at you.
I am waiting with great anticipation to see how Jesus works in you and I this summer.
~Lyss
One of the sweetest lessons God taught me about identity happened on a gorgeous Sunday night after The Stirring. I jumped into my car after a worship service, my heart still reverberating with the songs I'd just sung to My Creator. I put in my Keith and Kristyn Getty CD, and clicked over to "In Christ Alone." Then I turned it up really loud so I couldn't hear myself sing. It was an incredible moment of worship. Just me and Jesus.
I rounded a corner, and saw what is, in my opinion, one of the best things my little town has to offer~ a sky full of sunset. The way the sun grabs the clouds on the way down and the way the light bends and fills every corner of blue stopped me in my tracks more than once that summer. But that particular sunset, was, by far, the best. The light was caught in a gray cloud, casting shadows and pale orange light all over the horizon. I felt as though I was driving through a painting. It was amazing~ that song, that sunset. It was a very intimate moment spent with Jesus. I'm a sky girl without a doubt. hahaha. I find funny shapes in the clouds, take (horrible) pictures of sunsets, and love to be up close for fireworks shows. I don't know if it's the hugeness of the sky or the natural beauty always on display there. Psalm 19:1 tells us the glory of God is reflected in the heavens. If the skies are just a reflection, how amazing will His glory be when we see Him face to face? It's a concept that I have a hard time trying to imagine.
That night, I realized something super wonderful.
Think of the most beautiful part of nature you've ever seen. Picture a sunset, a grand canyon or an ocean that looks like tin foil. Imagine a rainstorm, a waterfall, or the wintry peaks of the Alps. Now listen to this!~ all those things reflect His glory, but the most beautiful places in the world aren't made in His image.
You and I are.
What you and I have to offer this world~ the way we can engage out culture with the love of the Savior of the universe~ will be more beautiful than an California sunset. People may catch a glimpse of His glory when they see a breathtaking sky, but they learn about His character by watching you and me. That's an awesome responsibility, an incredible honor, and a gentle reminder that He loves us most of all.
When Jesus called us the light of the world, He meant the kind of light that staggers and inspires; the kind of light that shines mercy, compassion, and forgiveness into people's hearts. It's His love that shines through us. We can expose the sin and hurt and pain and poverty people struggle with, and help end it! We can get up, move to a new table or chair, and talk to someone we really don't know.
We really can find a way out of the addictions and obsessions that keep us in a chokehold of defeat... all because of His work on the cross. When He has chosen me before the foundation of the earth to be His daughter, and when He lives in inside my heart, there's no limit to what He can do through me.
I think it's great to have a role model. I have plenty of them. But this summer, my goal is to reflect Jesus more than I ever have before. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us to stop getting caught up in comparisons, and start transforming into Christ's likeness.
I have only one thing to say to my fellow sunset lovers and cloud watchers~ the sunsets He paints across the heavens are one more reminder of the potential we have to make our lives a reflection of His love. The way you feel when you look at a sunset is only a teeny tiny taste of the love, joy, and compassion God feels when He looks at you.
I am waiting with great anticipation to see how Jesus works in you and I this summer.
~Lyss
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Prayer.
Prayer is sweet to my soul.
Prayer is communication with my one true Love.
Prayer is humbling.
Prayer is my favorite part of the day.
Prayer is honest.
Prayer is convicting.
Prayer is fulfilling.
Prayer is exciting.
Prayer is filled with anticipation.
Prayer is unity among friends.
Prayer is acknowledging God's goodness.
Prayer is vocal and silent.
Prayer is reverent.
Prayer is a gift.
Prayer is without agenda.
Prayer is a lifestyle.
Prayer is a celebration.
PRAYER.
Is the way you pray honoring Jesus?
Prayer is communication with my one true Love.
Prayer is humbling.
Prayer is my favorite part of the day.
Prayer is honest.
Prayer is convicting.
Prayer is fulfilling.
Prayer is exciting.
Prayer is filled with anticipation.
Prayer is unity among friends.
Prayer is acknowledging God's goodness.
Prayer is vocal and silent.
Prayer is reverent.
Prayer is a gift.
Prayer is without agenda.
Prayer is a lifestyle.
Prayer is a celebration.
PRAYER.
Is the way you pray honoring Jesus?
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