Be Thou My Vision

 

I write this, because this is my prayer, my plea for all believers, and this is my struggle. And I think it is relevant to all of us.

We view people through our own eyes, 99% of the time. But really, 100% of the time, we should be viewing people through the eyes of Christ.

I love fiction novels. And my favorite fiction author is Ted DekKer. And I am currently re-reading his trilogy(now its a quadrolgy…?!) The Circle Series. It is to confusing for me to explain all that is going on, but as I was reading the other day, I was reminded of a great biblical truth, of the bride of Christ and how we should look at people. So i wanted to share a part of the book with you.

A few things; Thomas of Hunter is the leader of the Circle and is trying to woo Chelise, a scab princess who is of a different tribe (the Horde). A tribe who has rejected the way of the Circle (Justin’s follower’s). Typically, the scabs repulse all others unlike them. They smell terrible, and have scales on their skin and are pasty white and have red eyes.
And Justin, represents Jesus in this story.

Thomas has just left Chelise on her own because she is not recriprocating his love and he does not know what to do so he runs away, only to meet Justin (who does not show himself often anymore). so this is where we begin..

“Justin glanced back toward the boulders that hid the camp. ‘You left her.’
’I…’ Thomas didn’t know what to say. Why has he now seen Justin twice in one week? Any why was Justin so interested in Chelise? Justin faced him, green eyes flashing with anger. ‘How dare you leave her alone! Do you have any idea who she is? I entrusted her to you.’
’She’s Chelise, daughter of Qurong. I didn’t know that you’d entrusted her to me.’
’She’s the one my father prepared for me! You’ve left my bride to sob in the sand!’ Justin took severeal paces toward the camp, then turned back, head now in his hands.
Thomas wasn’t sure what to make of this display.
Justin lowered his hands. ‘I told you myself, I would show you my heart. I send you Michal when you began to doubt, and already you’re forgetting. do I need to show myself to you every day?’
Justin pointed toward the camp. ‘You shoudl be kissing her feet, not running away.’
’I don’t understand, she is only one woman—‘
’No! She’s the one I’ve chosen to show the Circle my love for them. Through you.’
Thomas sank to his knees, horrified by what he was hearing. ‘I swear I didn’t know. I swear I will love her. forgive me. please forgive me. I…’
"’Please, hurry,’ Justin said. The moonlight showed tears in his eyes. ‘Her heart is breaking. You have to help her understand. Don’t think I am the only one who wants her. My enemy will not rest.’
….

I wish i could just write the whole chapter in here, or that all of you could just read it. But it is completely the gospel story, and such a great reminder. That we are all the bride of Christ. There is an enemy, who is fighting for the soul’s of others. How are we viewing other people? How are treating the one’s God has entrusted to us?! It does not matter what they look like, where they come from, how annoying they may be, they are a part of the bride of Christ. God has chosen them. Entrusted them to us for the time being. No matter how big or how small of a role you play in their life, you do play a role, and you better take that role seriously.

We need to love with the love of Christ. We need our hearts and eyes opened, to see through Christ’s love, and not our own selfishness.

We see people as scabs (ugly, selfish, hopeless, stinky)…but Christ see’s everyone as His bride.

 

“Everyone needs compassion. A love that’s never failing…My God is mighty to save…”

Open the eyes of my heart LORD…and Be thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart.

flourish.

A thought I had this morning during my prayer time...

What or Who, makes you thrive?! By thrive, i mean to flourish, to grow...

I believe that God gives us people who naturally bring out the best in us, who we are more comfortable around and just seem to be more ourselves with. I do not think this is a bad thing at all.
What i do think though, is that sometimes we can find our identity in how people make us feel. So I go back to my question then...who are we thriving in?!
are we thriving in other people, or thriving in Christ?!

When we learn who we are in Christ, and start walking in that, we thrive. And through that, it shouldn't matter who you around...you should still be your thriving self, becasue your identity is in Christ and not in people.

Pride

As much as I never thought I was, or like to admit...I really am a prideful person. I am a prideful person full of insecurity and fear. (explain that one!)
Pride is rooted in us all. it just has many different facades.
It is okay to admit that your wrong, and esp for me...it is okay to mess up. and especially to mess up in front of people. I care to much what people will think, even though I know for the most part, people really do not care.

I have been reading through John, and there is one part where the Pharisee's and Jews pick up stones to stone Jesus..and he flee's becasue it is not yet His time...well, later on, Jesus gets word that his dear friend Lazarus is ill, and after a couple days, He decides to go see Laz, which means...going back to the place where they wanted to stone Him.
and Jesus says,
"...are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him." (John 11:8-10)
in the psalms it talks about what can mere man do to us? so many of us live with this fear of man...and my thought process has been basically, if Jesus was willing and unfearful of going back to the place where people wanted to stone him, it shouldn't matter if i think people will "stone" me or not...my pride should not get the best of me. no matter what facade it is showing...whether that is the facade of fear, inward pride, or an arrogant pride...

the goal of this blog...
is to realize, its okay to mess up in front of people. it's okay to admit your wrongs. it's okay to be weak. people really are not as bad or as judgmental as we play them out to be soemtimes. and really, what does it matter?! I am serving Jesus, not man. I should not be fearful of being 'stoned' (figuratively speaking), becasue I walk IN the light, and my pride and insecurity and fear should not get the best of me in those times.


The two things I want rid of in people...is pride, and selfishness. One day....when sin is no more! :)
and so Lord, please come quickly!

Purpose

Do we think about our purpose, each day?

If we were just living our lives, daily, like we noramlly do, doing the normal things we do, our routine, and Jesus came to the door and walked in....what would He find you doing? Would it be pleasing to Him?

Is what we spend our time doing drawing us closer to Him? Is it helping us fulfill our purpose for that day? Is it furthering the Kingdom of God?

What are we believing our purpose for each day is?!


Jesus completely understood His purpose. He lived according to what He knew and believed His purpose was as well. You read in scripture numerous accounts of where things happen according to the prophecy spoken of Him, and of what He said and did because He knew His purpose...
The will of God always prospers, do we not realize this?!
And Jesus followed with utter obedience. Even in the anguish, and pain...
All we need, the example we need is IN Jesus. Are we learning from Him? Are we seeing what God has for us each day?

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father glorify your name." John 12:27-28

oh pride and insecurity.

Never have the attitude that you are better than someone, or think that you need to be/should be better than anyone. If someone is better than you at something, or even overceeds your talent through their own working it out/practice, IT IS OKAY. There will always be someone who is better than you. Let that motivate you to only work harder. God has gifted you and them. We shouldn't care about having one up on someone; that's just PRIDE and finding your value in people.
Ask God to make you humble, and encourage those with your like talent no matter if they are better than you or not.

The Kingdom of God is not about competition with each other, but about serving God alongside each other.
FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

Our value and acceptance and goodness is all found in Him. Jesus Christ. He has a purpsoe and plan and good works that have been prepared in advance for us to do for all of us. God loves us all the same. So believe and find your worth in Christ and stop comparing and competing. There are greater things to use your time for.

Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming

I love music, and I love worship. and I am really grateful right now that I am being pushed and challenged in these areas to get better and to grow.

People tell me I have a great singing voice, and I can sing, yes. But the reality is, there is always going to be room to grow, and something to work on, vocally, musically, and this even goes with all things...physically, spiritually and emotionally!

growing and being challenged is hard, but it is great at the same time. I am the kind of person, who just continually needs to be pushed. and i need to learn how to push myself when no one is there to push me. I need to learn to persevere, even when all I want to do is stop. and this goes in more areas than just working on my music and singing skills.


Things in life should never stay easy for us. It is good to try things that we have no clue how to do, or even think that we can't do. This is charachter building. We should never stay complacent where we're at, in our spiritual life, our walk with Christ, our own lives, our relationships, and our gifts and talents...never get complacent in them. We should always be striving for excellency in Christ, FOR Christ. To please Him, because He is worthy, not for approval of ourselves or anything like that...but just becaues we love Him, because He first loved us.
We shoudl always be being challenged and allowing God to stretch us and to mold us, FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE and for our sanctification.


"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13