Part 2 of Is Jesus Enough? (God answers)

Yesterday I wrote about the question, Is Jesus Enough? While pondering a specific decision along the same lines, God answered me in the following way, just thought I'd share:

Life is more than food, and the body is more than fancy clothes. Think about those crows flying over there: do they plant and harvest crops? Do they own silos or barns? Look at them fly. It looks like God is taking pretty good care of them, doesn’t it? Remember that you are more precious to God than birds! Which one of you can add a single hour to your life or 18 inches to your height by worrying really hard? If worry can’t change anything, why do you do it so much? Think about those beautiful wild lilies growing over there. They don’t work up a sweat toiling for needs or wants—they don’t worry about clothing. Yet the great King Solomon never had an outfit that was half as glorious as theirs! Look at the grass growing over there. One day it’s thriving in the fields. The next day it’s being used as fuel. If God takes such good care of such transient things, how much more you can depend on God to care for you, weak in faith as you are. Don’t reduce your life to the pursuit of food and drink; don’t let your mind be filled with anxiety. People of the world who don’t know God pursue these things, but you have a Father caring for you, a Father who knows all your needs. Since you don’t need to worry—about security and safety, about food and clothing—then pursue God’s kingdom first and foremost, and these other things will come to you as well. (Luke 12:23-31  the Voice translation)

Here are the lessons I gleaned from this answer:

1. No need to worry, God's got it all under control

2. God has proved His trustworthiness in many ways, one of which is His obvious care of nature

2. Not only is He going to take care of us, but take care of us better than we can even imagine (He's a great      Father!)

3. DON'T WORRY (it's pointless)

4. Since we don't have to spend our time worrying about the necessities of life, we can spend our time focusing on the relationship

Is Jesus Enough?

Sometimes life is just plain hard. It's usually not fair. It often doesn't turn out like we'd planned, and it seems like more often than not our youthful dreams lay broken against the cold, hard reality of life  on a sinful planet. But there's good news! We aren't destined to stay here. This is not home. It's just temporary. Life is indeed hard, but it's not meaningless and it's not hopeless. Some days are rougher than others, but Jesus is still the same. His love is constant, His arms are strong, and His grace is abundant. 

I think each person goes through a time in life (maybe several) where they have to choose whether or not to believe God is enough. When there seems to be absolutely no earthly solutions, is Jesus enough? When the ground shakes beneath you and the heavy winds blow, is Jesus really strong to save? Can He really take our brokenness and make it whole? The answer is an unequivocal yes. He is enough, whatever comes our way, Jesus is enough. More than enough. He is everything.

I believe God is asking me to share the ways He is working in my life as living proof of His loving care, and His ability to do more for us than we could ever imagine. Mostly I just see my weakness right now, but He has promised that nothing is impossible for Him. I'm inviting anyone who reads this to be a witness. Watch God take my weakness and turn it into His perfect strength. And know that He did it. Him alone. I'm certain it won't be as fast as I'd like, but one day this pilgrimage will be at an end and I can see my Jesus as I long to. It's hard to see right now, but I choose to trust and walk forward, resting in the sweet arms of Jesus, by His grace alone.

"Often your mind may be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms." (Ministry of Healing 251.5)

Bloom where you're planted

When I was about 9 years old, my parents decided we were moving to the Midwest. I was pretty upset about this, but  I remember my mom found this article titled "bloom where you're planted". I can't remember the details now, but I remember being pretty moved by it. Basically this idea of letting God use you wherever you are.

When I was finishing up 7th grade, we moved again (back to the south!). Again, I wasn't happy about moving and leaving my friends. But God sure had some surprises in store for me. From meeting one if my my dearest friends in 8th grade, to all the opportunities and friendships I had in academy, to the awesome experiences I had in college; all huge blessings from God. 

When I was 20, God called me to serve him in El Salvador. The night before I left was one of the scariest moments of my life. I told God that I just couldn't do it. But He helped me and worked through me and blessed me beyond measure. When God let me know it was time to come back to the states, I have to admit there was a little kicking and screaming on my part. Noticing a pattern here?

Last year I decided it was time to return to overseas work. It didn't work out. I was pretty upset. But I grew a lot in that time, and turns out God had much greater blessings in store. 

A few months ago I decided again that it was time for me to go out. I had been wrestling back and forth with the idea for months. But again, it hasn't worked out, and I've been struggling to figure out what God wants me to do. For the moment anyway, I think I've decided that it's time to learn to bloom where God has planted me. I often feel like I'm in one of the hardest times of my life, but I can also say without a doubt it's  a time most filled with blessings and joys. God is so good to me, way better than I deserve, certainly. His love and care overwhelms me.

  I still feel restless sometimes, and I'm still not sure what I'm going to end up doing, but as I look back over my life, I see plentiful evidence that God has never left me. He has been working out His plan all along, though I'm often oblivious to it.

So I'm still trying to trust, working on focusing on my blessings, and walking by faith day by day. I want to allow God to use me, right where I am, right where He's put me. And I want to praise Him for giving me everything I need to do that.

He Touched Me

Was watching 3ABN while lying sick on the couch yesterday. A dramatization of the following story came on:

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. (Matthew 8:2, 3 NIV)

Here was a man who had been labeled as unclean, a reject, separated from society and deprived of human touch. His future must have looked very grim. But then one day that all changed. He had probably heard the rumors, maybe even seen Jesus heal. But he had no assurance of what would happen to him if he dared to approach Jesus. It took guts to step out (vulnerability). But really, he had already lost what he held most dear, what more could be lost? So he dared to approach Jesus. And He said: if you are willing, you can cleanse me. He didn't ask Jesus to heal his leprosy, but rather recognized his need for something much deeper. He began by acknowledging his belief in Jesus' power and ability to cleanse and heal (I understand that the Greek word used refers to a cleansing from the inside out). So Jesus reached out and touched him. Touched him! He had not felt a kind touch in so long, and that's exactly what Jesus chose to do. The man's entire life was changed in an instant, by a touch. The touch of Jesus is full of power and healing and life. It can cleanse every aspect of life (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc). It changes things, it gives hope and grace and peace. 

I feel like this leper, unclean and needing Jesus to get rid of my diseased heart and mind. So I call out today: Jesus, you can cleanse me and make me whole. I bow before you, submit to your methods, and give you permission to work in my life.

Shackled by a heavy burden 
'Neath a load of guilt and shame 
Then the hand of Jesus touched me 
Now I am no longer the same. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole. 
Since I met the blessed Saviour 
Since He cleansed and made me whole 
I will never cease to praise Him 
I'll shout it while eternity rolls. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole...

(Song titled "He Touched Me" by Bill Gaither)

The Conquered Foe

As the pilgrims (in Pilgrim’s Progress) journey on to the Celestial City, they must pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. In this valley roam great lions, seeking whom they may devour, as well as all manner of evil creatures and scary things. However, there is one very important thing to know about these creatures: they are what Greatheart calls, paper giants. They are only as real as you believe them to be. If a person believes the creatures to be powerful, then they will indeed be devoured. But those who walk by faith know that the enemy has no power to hurt them, and thus they pass through unharmed. You see, the great enemy, he has already been conquered. Many years ago, on a dark and mournful Friday afternoon, our Brother, Advocate, and Friend won the sweet, sweet victory over evil once and for all. The foe was vanquished, hell was defeated, and on that day evil lost its power forever. However, even though this is an unchangeable fact, I can still choose to give evil power in my life. Even though Christ already fought the battle for me, I can still choose not to accept that. It’s so easy to see, written in black and white, but in the heat of the battle, I so often forget that my enemy has already been conquered.

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8)

God’s Word is full of beautiful promises, which are meant to be taken seriously. For example, He clearly expresses His ability and intent to fully take care of His children. However, I can choose not to take Him at His word and spend all my time worrying about how I’m going to take care of myself (as you probably guessed, this is a very real-life example :). Whether or not I believe doesn’t change the fact of the matter (He can and will provide) but it certainly can change what happens in my life. The blessings might be right there in front of me, but I can’t see them if I don’t believe they exist. And even when God does manage to penetrate my doubts, I have wasted precious resources in misery and unbelief. I’ve often struggled with the practicalities of learning to trust God. I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way to really do that is to just keep spending time with Him, just being in His presence, until I know Him so well that I know, really know, that He is utterly trustworthy, and that His love is eternal and unconditional.

So for now, I just walk day by day, a little closer each time, and long for the day when we will truly be together.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!“
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

 Great is Thy Faithfulness

My God is Great

My God is so amazing! He's great and wonderful and so, so good. It only took a word, just a word, from Him and the great expanse of the universe was created. He is the One who controls planets and stars and galaxies, as well as tiny cells and microscopic stuff. He gives me breath each day and carries me through the storms of life. 

I really wish I has better words to describe how I'm feeling right now. I'm just so thankful for His many blessings, but especially the miracle He is working in my heart. Anyone who witnesses the evidence of a transformed life cannot deny His power and might. How He does it we can only hope to learn throughout eternity, but somehow, moment by moment, He takes the brokenness of sin and weaves it into the beautiful tapestry of love and redemption. I have no doubt that God has been wooing me and softening my heart my whole life, but it's just been in the last few months that I have really begun to see His great works, the big changes He is making in me. I am eternally thankful for what He has done and what He is about to do. Also for the people who have let themselves be used of God, and the circumstances that drive me to my knees. I'm thankful that He makes His strength perfect in my weakness, and that He is absolutely trustworthy.

"I will thank The Lord at all times. I will never stop praising Him...Taste and find out for yourself how good God is. Happy is the man who takes refuge in the Lord." (Psalm 34:1,8 Clear Word)